Chapter Text
Not all men were equal. It was a story across the worlds. Some were born powerless, others were born with the wrong powers. At four years old Kikumi Midoryia sat with her class as her best friend discovered his quirk. His hands popped like firecrackers. The class was in awe of his quirk.
“Wow Bakugou!” One of the kids said. “Your quirks so cool, you’ll be a hero for sure.”
“Yeah! you can beat any villain with a quirk like that!” Another said. Kikumi was just as awed, nodding along with her class. “Just like All Might.”
“Just like?” Katsuki scoffed. “No way! I’ll be the best damned hero ever! Even stronger than All Might.”
“But All Might can punch the weather away!” Kikumi said, gasping in shock. The very idea of her friend being stronger than that was absurd. Katsuki grinned at his friend. “How would you do that Kacchan?”
“I’ll just get stronger!” He said. A cocky grin spread over his face. “Just watch I’ll be the best hero one day.”
“That’s so cool!” Kikumi said. “But I’m going to be number one!”
“What? No way. You don’t even have a quirk yet.” Someone shouted. It was true, Kikumi was as of now the last person in her class without their quirk. Some of the kids were already laughing at the “quirkless loser” despite the fact that the doctor said she’d get one. Other kids started jeering at her, laughing and throwing insults. It continued until a large boom silenced them, smoke rising from Katsuki’s hand.
“Shut it.” He said, glaring at them, then he grinned at Kikumi. “If you're gonna be number one you’ll have to get through me. That’s not happening.”
“It will!” She countered. The two launched into a heated debate about who’d be the number one hero. Or at least, heated for four year olds. Eventually a teacher had to step in.
“Alright alright you kids.” He said, trying to get all of their attention. Eventually the kids did settle down. “Now come on, we still have class to get to. I know you're excited but there will be time after school.”
And that was how school went for a few weeks. The kids would flee class and gather on the playground to marvel at each other's quirks. Katsuki’s quirk mostly. Kikumi was with them but her words were drowned out or ignored. The shame of not having a quirk yet was building and the jeers were slowly turning into full bullying. The girl was far from a fool, she could tell the teachers knew. It was a sad reality, the child who had no quirk was bullied and ignored while the best quirk got nothing but praise.
After a particularly nasty bout from some kids Kikumi went home nearly in tears. She hadn’t seen her father in almost a year and her mother was waiting for her at the door. She turned to stalk straight up to her room but her mother stopped her.
“Kikumi, sweetie, what’s wrong?” Inko Midoriya said as she came into the living room. “Did something happen at school?”
“I… I will get a quirk right mom?” Inko’s heart almost broke at the way her daughter asked the question. Sure Kikumi’s quirk was a touch late but they’d been assured it’d come.
“Oh sweetie, of course you will.” Inko pulled her daughter into a hug. “It’ll be any day now, don’t you worry.”
“Okay mama.” Kikumi nodded and went to put her school things away while Inko made dinner. Inko could tell that while her daughter's mood had improved she hadn’t actually solved anything at all.
It was a quiet night for the two, as most were. They ate dinner while talking about the latest hero news, Kikumi almost forgetting about the day's events. She and her mom loved talking like this, each offering little insights into the fights and how cool hero’s were. Later in the night the two decided to watch a movie.
Ultimately Kikumi forgot her troubles for the day as she was going to bed. It had gone from a pretty rough day to a great time with her mom and the bad parts were simply forgettable. She was able to fall asleep pretty easily, her dreams were the usual fair of being crowned the greatest hero but something was off tonight. In the middle of the night the girl jolted upright. It was strange, she was having a nice dream. Why was she waking up?
“I guess it was nothing.” she muttered, laying back down. “Just go back to… why’s it so bright?”
Kikumi got up and glanced out the window, it was still the middle of the night. With her mind clearing she could tell it wasn’t bright like it was day time, everything was muted, closer to gray and black than anything else but she could see. She gasped and sucked in a breath, the shadows flickered and rushed towards her as she did. Quickly she’d consumed some of the darkness in her room and squealed in joy afterwards.
“Kikumi? What’s wrong dear.“ Inko said as she entered the room. Kikumi grinned up at her mother, a bright cheery look.
“Mama! My quirk!” She shouted, jumping up in front of her mother. Inko shook her drowsiness in an instant. She turned the lights and crouched down next to the girl.
“Well, what is it?” Inko said, her own joy growing at her daughter’s excitement. “Can you show me sweetie?”
“Yeah!” Kikumi jumped up and turned the lights off. Inko blinked at that and went to question it only to marvel as her daughter sucked in a breath and the darkness with it. “See mama? I got my quirk!”
“You did! That's amazing sweetie.” Inko said, mind racing with what they’d need to do. “We’ll take tomorrow off and go see the quirk counselor okay?”
“Yeah mama!” Kikumi crawled back into bed, excited about her quirk but more excited to learn what it did the following day. She already had so many ideas. Her quirk let her see in the dark and suck in and eat shadows, could she do something with the shadows? Despite her excitement she fell back to sleep quickly as she questioned things.
The next day Kikumi practically launched into the kitchen while Inko was making breakfast. The girl was dressed and rocking slightly in her seat. Just excited for the day. Inko laughed as she placed the plate in front of the child.
“Now remember Kikumi, the counselor said not to test what you can do until the session, okay?” Kikumi nodded and she started scarfing the meal down. Inko sighed, getting an appointment on such short notice had been hard, luckily there was one that had a night secretary. Her usual doctor was a no go.
“Mama, I still feel hungry.” Kikumi said once she was done, frowning at the plate. “But I’m full?”
“Hm.” Inko glanced at the quick list of idea’s the secretary had provided based on Inko’s short description of Kikumi’s quirk. There was one thing there. “Do you want to try what you did last night?”
“Yeah!” Kikumi ran off to the bathroom and closed the door. Inko was a little surprised to see a faint purple glow under the door. One idea the secretary had said was that most quirks with a dietary aspect manifested that first. If she was consuming darkness it was possible she had to do so to live. Kikumi seemed to confirm this as she came back out. “That worked mama! How’d you know?”
“The councilor's secretary mentioned it.” Inko said, Kikumi nodded.
“They’re good at their job then.”
“Yes they are.” Inko couldn’t help but feel better about the last minute choice at that. Would her usual doctor’s office have even thought a head let alone provide something so helpful? Probably not sadly.
It would be a short time until their appointment. Kikumi spent most of that time marveling at her ability to see in the dark. It wasn’t often Inko felt jealous of a quirk, especially not family quirks, but that was something she could envy. Kikumi was excited when Inko called her to go. The girl had been waiting almost a full month later than everyone else.
“Come on mama! We’re going to be late!” Kikumi had gotten ready at what must have been a record breaking speed and was now bouncing on her feet. Inko hurried along and the two left quickly after that.
The office was mostly empty, as Inko expected. The secretary had said that Mondays weren’t all that busy. It was just a few minutes while another patient was in before it was their turn. They were ushered in quickly.
“Alright, Midoriya?” Inko nodded. “Great, as I’m sure you heard I’m Dr. Tekami, my quirk is Diagnosis. I can quickly diagnose and deduce most aspects of biology. What did you say has been displayed so far?”
“I can see in the dark.” Kikumi said. Tekami nodded. “And I can like breath in or maybe eat shadows.”
“Oh now that’s very interesting.” The doctor said as she and Kikumi launched into a discussion about Kikumi’s quirk. Overall they talked for almost an hour before Tekami took them outside to test some of their theories.
It turned out Kikumi could use the shadows to enhance her body, becoming faster and stronger based on how much darkness she’d consumed. It was overall, in a strange way, the opposite of her fathers quirk. After their experiments Inko and Kikumi were getting ready to leave.
“Thank you so much for agreeing to see us on such short notice.” Inko said, Dr. Tekami shrugged.
“You don’t always get notice about a quirk.” She said. She handed Inko a note. “Just wish other offices realized that middle of the night activations happen. Just remember, if anything strange happens give us a call.”
“I will, thank you.” Inko said, ushering Kikumi out.
What Inko couldn’t predict, wouldn’t want to predict, was that Kikumi’s quirk coming in wouldn’t solve the girls troubles. Kikumi was excited for school, she had a quirk now they’d have to stop making fun of her. She wasn’t the quirkless loser anymore. Her quirk was great too, she could lift almost four times her body weight at full power. Just one night before she went back to class and could show it off.
It was bright and early when she left for school, Dr. Tekemi had given her a prescription for super strong sunglasses to handle the light. She only had regular sunglasses at the moment but that was okay, she could manage for a few days.
“Hey guys!” she said running up to the class. One of the boys took note of her glasses.
“What’s with the funky glasses?” He said. Katsuki, who was part of the group, scoffed at the question. What’d it matter?
“It’s for my quirk.” Kikumi smiled brightly as she spoke. “Bright light hurts my eyes.”
“What? Can you see in the dark or something?” Someone said, Kikumi nodded. “Wait, that it?”
Kikumi grinned at that and moved into the school’s shadow. She took a deep breath and the shadows lurched up towards her. She only took enough to show them. When she was done she watched the class kinda glance at each other.
“Isn’t that kind of a villain's quirk though?” Kikumi’s smile faded at that. That boy had no idea, and probably still didn’t, but he’d just set in motion Kikumi’s torment for the next decade and a half.
Kikumi had to endure jeers like that for the rest of her time before embarking on a journey to be a hero. Constantly being called a villain in waiting, sometimes even being called a classmate's first villain. She hated it. Luckily she still had Katsuki as a friend, even if their differing outlooks and interest lead to them drifting apart.
At some point Kikumi’s hair started fading to a dark almost black purple. She liked the green though so she tried to maintain a bit of that at least. Over time though she began leaning into the image of her quirk, if the rumors of her being a villain didn’t scare off new students the goth aesthetic might. Though, it was always the rumors. One day, when she and her friend were around seventeen they were the last one in class.
“You gotta stop letting them walk over you Kikumi.” Katsuki told his friend. They’d grown apart, sure, but he wasn’t going to ditch her. “Show them their the fucking loser ass weaklings, just extras.”
“Confirming their views of myself at the same time.” Kikumi said. “Eventually they will meet the real monsters that lurk in the shadows, then they will wish for my darkness.”
“I don’t get your poetic bullshit.” Katsuki said. “I’m going to the arcade, see you later.”
“Enjoy your time.” Kikumi said, packing her analyst book into her bag. Leaving last was, counter intuitively, the best course of action. No one was willing to wait after all their friends left. She had a specific route home, it took her through a dark tunnel.
Even with all the mocking, dark places offered her comfort in a way that she couldn’t explain. As she entered the tunnel she had a feeling that things were going to change rapidly for her. Her training for the UA entrance exams had been going well, maybe she could up her weights? As she walked and through she sucked in a little of the darkness with each breath. It was a strange exercise, doing it rapidly helped increase her speed at it.
What she couldn’t realize was that across town an event began that would alter her future forever. A man with a slime quirk that left him little more than liquid had robbed a convenience store and was attacking people as he bolted. What he failed to notice, what anyone would have failed to notice, was the gaunt blonde man he passed in his mad rush.
“Huh, always something.” the man sighed, smoke pouring off his limbs. “Don’t worry everyone.” -He boomed.- “For I am here!”
There were murmurs through the crowd and a loud ‘oh shit’ form the villain as All Might charged after the villain. For being little more than slime the villain was fast, managing to duck into the sewers before the symbol of peace could reach him. All Might himself slammed down within the sewers and glanced around.
“Agile and crafty huh.” He observed. He quickly managed to find some kind of trail though. “But not quite enough of either!”
All Might Rushed after the villain, pursuing him around corners and eventually finding the entrance he’d clearly exited through. All Might however found himself once more cursing his injury. By the time he’d exited the sewer he found the villain half way through drowning a teenage girl. She was struggling admirably however, even getting her limbs free only to be snagged right back up.
“Damn, nice quirk you’ve got kid. Can’t wait to take it for myself.” The villain said, All might grit his teeth. So this man could control bodies he’d taken over.
“I think not!” He shouted, placing one hand on the girl's shoulder and pulling her free while throwing quite the haymaker with his other hand. The villain simply burst apart. The girl seemed coherent enough however she quickly passed out. He checked her for injuries. “Ah you seem to be okay, that is good.”
All might shrank back down to his regular form as he carefully laid the girl down. He’d have to gather the villain up and he may as well stay until she awoke. He did have a couple two liter bottles, it was a shame to have to dump his groceries but he had a job to do. Once he had the villain rounded up her belongings, her notebook catching his eye.
“Hero analyst hm, volume twenty one.” He flipped through a few pages, quickly impressed with what he saw. She’d actually deduced that he was operating on a time limit even. “This competes with some of my analysis team's work.”
All Might signed a pair of blank pages and moved to check on the girl. She was clearly coming too so he bulked up immediately. She winced and covered her eyes. Now that he thought about it, this girl was familiar, like he’d seen her before. As she sat up she started checking over the ground for something.
“I believe you are looking for these?” All Might said, holding out her sunglasses. The girl sighed in relief and quickly put them on. It was a touch harder to tell but she seemed to be seeing better with them.
“All Might!?” She scrambled to her feet upon realizing who was before her. With the glasses she was easier to place oddly, she was one of the hero hopefuls Nezu had recommended he keep an eye on. Not out of any sense that she’d be a good hero but her quirk and One for All would mesh quite well. “What are- no that’s-. I apologize sir, it’s quite the shock to encounter the number one hero. May I ask what about our neighborhood needs your shining light?”
“Ah, I happened to be nearby on business is all, don’t you worry, miss.” All Might said, mostly deciphering her words. “You have quite the talent, I hope to see you among pages like those some day.”
The girl blushed at that. The number one hero hoping she’d be in some hero nerds notebook? It was a dream come true. All Might stretched slightly.
“Now I simply must be off, I have many things to do you see!” And he lept, barely registering the call to wait. What he didn’t struggle to hear was the panicked scream of the girl clinging to his leg, both legs and one arm. Her other hand was holding her glasses on. “Careful there! Can’t risk letting- That’s an incredible grip actually.”
He hit the roof he’d intended pretty easily even with the extra weight. Even while weakened he managed to put too much into a jump. The girl took a moment to collect herself, even muttering something about hoping to be able to do that herself one day. That made him laugh even as smoke began filling the air.
“Well I am glad you are okay but I simply must be going.” He said, moving to go towards the roof door.
“Wait All Might I have a question to ask!” she called and he paused at the door. What question? She had so many ideas behind his time limit that it left him wondering. “Can one as gripped by darkness as me hope to be the number one hero, a hero like you?”
“Er, What?” He said losing hold of his muscle form and shrinking back down. He hadn’t expected a question like that and hoped his immediate thoughts were wrong. “You’ll have to be a little more clear, kid, I’m not great at metaphor.”
“Could someone with a quirk rooted in the shadows that house villains be a hero like you?” She repeated, that certainly clarified, but not quite enough. “Someone with a villain's quirk, someone like me.”
Oh he really didn’t like that. Had the schools failed this girl that badly?
“Someone with my outlook?” the schools had really failed this girl. She didn’t seem phased by his gaunt form, so there was that at least.
“Look kid, I could say yes, you can be and move on but I’m going to trust you can handle the full adult answer alright?” She nodded and All Might continued. “The truth is that no, someone with a villain's quirk can’t be a hero, because there are no villinus quirks, just villains who have quirks.”
“Oh.” the way she said it was if it was the first time anyone had bothered to tell her that. Maybe Nezu had something to look into.
“Being a hero like me? With your more… lets say grim attitude, no.” He said, he winced afterwards at the crestfallen look. Okay maybe too blunt. “But being a hero like me shouldn’t be your goal, be a hero like you. Be the symbol you want. There are many types of heros kid, the symbol of peace is just one.”
“Of course. Thank you for your insight All Might.” She bowed. “Does your injury cause you pain?’
“Now that’s none of your business. Let me worry about myself.” He stepped out and made it halfway down the stairs when he realized something was wrong. He tapped his pockets and then stuck his hands in, finding a hole at the bottom. “Shit.”
He bolted down the stairs, the girl getting by him at some point. He had to find where the villain was, his time was gone but he could still report it, get hero’s on the scene. What he found was a flaming plaza and the green sludge villain with a hostage.
Kamui Woods was on scene, but without support from a water hero the flames were holding him back. Backdraft was there but with the fires and rescue he was too busy, Mt. Lady was either a normal human or too big. It was a pool of terrible match-ups, no one could do anything major. Death Arms was also doing nothing. The man's strength while maybe not enough could at least buy time damn it. If only he had time, he’d be able to stop this, end it all in an instant.
Had he really let this injury stop him like this? How could he live with that? Being unable to save this boy right in front of him. Being useless when someone was in trouble, it made him hate the world, hate the monster who’d done this to him but most of all hate himself. He should be out there.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a flash of purple. She wasn’t, but no, she was.
Kikumi rushed past the barricade, the fires and monster cast long dark shadows that she gulped down as she ran. Beneath her sunglasses her eyes shone with a hint of purple light as she approached. Katsuki even encased and drawing saw her coming and looked more determined, he angled an explosion to burst the tendril sent at her.
Kikumi twisted midstride, filing her backpack at the villain's eye and locking hands with her friend. She pulled with all she had as he reached up with his other to clear his throat. For a split second time stopped, it was just her and the burn of her muscles pulling her friend free, inch by precious inch. And then there was a hand on her shoulder.
“Truly incredible girl!” All Might was there, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. “But I am Here!”
All Might’s hand left her shoulder as he reached out and pulled Katsuki free as if he was simply lifting the tv remote. The villain's eyes were wide as he watched the symbol of peace re-join the frey. In one motion All Might pushed the kids behind himself and wound up for a punch.
“It’s time I practice what I preach!” All might coiled his body and then rapidly uncoiled. “DETROIT SMASH!”
Calling it a punch was like calling a Molotov cocktail alcohol. The wind kicked up could be an attack all it’s own as the villain was sent splattering around the plaza. The sky was darkening and Kikumi could feel the raindrops starting. He punched so hard it was raining, she sucked in a breath. It was incredible.
The other heroes came rushing in, pulling Katsuki away and checking over him as All Might turned to face them. Death Arms went to approach her but All Might spoke first.
“Fantastic thinking my girl, but please, leave it to the professionals. I’m sure you’ll rank among us in no time.” He said. All Might turned to the assembled heros after that. “Kamui woods, excellent work on recognizing your weaknesses and prioritizing what you could. Backdraft, fantastic fire management. Mt. Lady, protecting bystanders is an often thankless job, perhaps however work on choosing your size. Death Arms, I understand the difficulties of strength but seconds can mean life or death, if all you can do is buy seconds do so.”
The hero’s bowed their heads and All Might nodded.
“Excellent work, all of you.” all Might said, getting ready to leave. “Just remember, be a better hero than you were yesterday.”
Once Katsuki and her had been checked over Kikumi was on her way home, a new resolve burning in her chest. All Might saw something in her, she’d do everything to bring it out. She’d have to rethink her entire training regiment. What she didn’t expect was for All Might to slide into place in front of her and immediately shrink down to his gaunt form.
“My girl! I had one question for you.” He said. Kikumi nodded slowly, stunned that the number one hero had sought her out. “Why did you step in to save that boy?”
“I don’t know, I was running towards him before I could think.” Kikumi said. All Might smiled at that and held his hand out to her.
“Many great hero’s have similar stories. They’re bodies simply moved. It sounds like that’s what happened for you.” All Might said. He made a grand gesture out of his excitement, he’d found the right one finally. “Not only do you have what it takes to be one of the best but I deem you worthy of inheriting my power.”
“Inheriting your power?” She looked flabbergasted at the idea. “Quirks are inherent to the person, to think you could pass one down.”
“My Quirk, One For All was passed to me by my master, and to her from its previous user. I am the eighth holder and you, should you so choose, will be the ninth.” All Might explained, watching as the girl seemed to grow more determined. “It’s been passed down like a sacred torch, stockpiling power since the dawn of quirks.”
“I accept!” She said, All Might grinned at that and handed her a note with a location to meet him tomorrow so they could get started as soon as possible. There were obvious things that had to be done otherwise, such as speaking to the girl's mother. All Might had had a long day however and honestly just wanted to get some sleep, he’d speak to the woman after their first day.
While Kikumi had clearly practiced a level of stoicism, All Might couldn’t help the smile at her squeal of joy once he’d walked away. Now, he simply had to plan something out, tomorrow he’d get a solid baseline however.