Reluctant Hero

"Why don't you just leave him alone already Katsuki!?" But in the face of other with overwhelming power I might as well have been quirkless. "Its not right to abuse your quirk to hurt other people! That'll make you no better than a villain!" He didn't care though, like me Bakugou wanted to prove his worth; he wanted prove why he was the strongest, so he showed me the world of difference between the two of us.

I don't remember how long the beating lasted when I woke up it was still sunny. "Fine you wanna hangout with Deku go ahead. You're worthless like him too." In the back of my mind that stayed with me. I really that I was such but there was one person who always kept that at bay when he was around, when he wasn't things got a little dicey, but all the same he kept me afloat.

The first person to greet me was the person who would become my irreplaceable partner in justice for the rest of my life, Deku my best buddy and pal. "A-are you ok?" He stuck out a hand and helped me to my feet. Even after all I had done this guy he was still willing to help me, even when we were teens I didn't understand how far his kindness would go and on our roads to becoming heroes I did not act like a supposed best friend should, but hey I can't go spoiling everything at once. Let's start on the day our lives changed.

~10 Years Later~

"Deku." The boy knocked on the door. "Deku." He kept going. "Deku I swear if I'm late for class again that it's going to be your- hello Miss Midoriya. I was wondering if Deku was gonna be ready sometime this millennia." He said putting emphasis on the last few words. "Is he reading the latest super hero feed? He can do that on the way to school we need to go."

The kind old lady smiled and went in for her son. Miss Midoriya brought her son out of his room and smiled at them. "You boys be safe now."

"Sorry Leone I was-"

He raised a finger. "Don't wanna hear your excuses right now Izuku we need to go to class already. Let's roll." The two teens trotted down the stairs of the aprtment building fast trying to make it on time for their first class of the morning. "So were you going any of the following: A) Watching a video about All Might. B) Reading news about heroes. or C) Writing in the hero forums."

"You forgot D."

"And that is?"

"All of the above." Leone face palmed of course he was. "I was gonna say sorry but you didn't let me finish."

"Your fanboy-ism can be a little too much sometimes." Leone squinted ahead, their usual route was being blocked by a mass of people. What could possibly be going on? "Deku I think we should," But he had already charged ahead notebook in his hand. His friend sighed and pulled out his camera at least this was a chance to collect some more data.

Izuku pushed through the crowd, once he was in the forefront he pulled his friend to the front. "Look Leone!" The black haired boy looked up to see a collection of heroes. "It's Kamui Woods you can finally add his data to your collection." Leone squared up a good shot and stuffed the camera back into his backpack. Leone checked his backpack, the clock inside showed seven fifty-five.

"How much longer is this going to take?" He mumbled to himself. "We're gonna have to stay after school if we're late again. Deku...and you don't even care do you." The boy in question was far too enthralled with the battle the heroes were waging to hear his friend. Deku was in his element again, the total fan-boying was off the charts. "I ordered some new stuff too."

Deku threw out his notebook and began scribbling like no tomorrow. Leone sighed, at least he was happy by the time they go to school it was sure to fade. "Whoa!" Midoriya screeched. "He's gonna do it!" He shook his buddy thinking that they had not been watching the same battle. "Here comes his ultimate attack! Lacquered Chain-" Over them a shadow was cast. Deku's words were cut short.

"Canyon Cannon!" The hero fanboy and Leone raised their eyebrows, what new hero could this possibly be? "Hello everyone!" she said after picking up the freshly drop kicked villain. All men in attendance started taking pictures of her. "A real pleasure to meet your ass-quaintance." 'Here it is.' was the crowd's chant as they continued to take their pictures.

Leone took a quick snapshot. "That ones special." He smiled. Having returned his camera to his bag for a second time Leone started walking. "At least there's one female hero that wears clothing to battle. It was basically skin colored though, not that I'm complaining but come on." He groaned. "You'd think after all the work those former heroes did that new ones would not need to flaunt their bodies to gain attention right Dek...Deku?" He turned around.

He was just catching up. "Sorry about that." He began. "I was writing some new stuff down for..."

The boy raised his finger. Midoriya was silenced thinking Leone was angry but in truth all he wanted to do was show off. Life slowly drained from his eyes. "Mount Lady twenty years old, chest size 87 waist 58, height 89 in her normal size. Her real name is Naori Kazuka. She likes coffee and usually only arrives at the last moment to try to steal the fame from others as you can tell." He pointed over to the woman. "She's done it in a stellar fashion this time, completely taking the attention away from Woods." Leone's eyes returned to normal. "I thought you'd like to know that. Just in case you wanted to add it to your little book."

"H...how did you know all that?"

"Any form of knowledge is power. Now come on we need to get to school. I can wow you with more useless facts later."

At their junior high the two boys filed in with the rest of their class as quickly as possible. Deku sat in the middle of the class, Leone sat just a few seats behind him. The day, as per usual, progressed in its boring fashion. They had their usual lectures, lunch, more lectures, P.E then even more lectures! School was about to come to a stellar conclusion but there was one more thing to top it off.

"Alright everyone I'm finally done with your essays related to your future careers. I'm pleased about a few of them others..." He paused looking at Midoriya. "Not so much. It appears that we have two applicants for U.A. I'm glad the school could use some good publicity to start off, Katsuki Bakogou." A few murmurs spread around the room such as, 'Obviously, Of course, and He's been bragging about it.'."

"Of course I'm applying for U.A I'm the only person who's gonna be able to get in at this backwater school." He laughed. "And don't you worry teach I'll make up for all these failed abortions."

The class up roared at the boy's claims. "Hey my mother said I was a happy accident."

"That's a lie and you know it!" Katsuki spat back. They all knew better to attack him however, other than fear of expulsion deep down they all believed that Bakugou was right. "Now who's the idiot among these retards that think they can contend in this dog fight!?"

The teacher continued. "Izuku Midoriya."

The entire class aside from one other person, broke out into laughter. "What the normy really thinks that he can get into U.A what a total idiot!" Other such taunts followed up to this one. Midoriya kept his head to the desk. Leone sighed, nothing could be done, they only had one more year with these people. Bakugou smashed his hand into the desk, Deku fell back and cowered as always.

"What are you thinking Deku!?" The bell rang, everyone began to leave. The teacher asked them not to go too far with their 'boyish game' and left as well.

"Well I was- I was-"

"Back off Kacchan." Leone mocked.

Bakugou's gaze followed Izuku's he smiled. "You must really want to get your ass beat today! Don't act like you're somebody!" The boy fell to the ground, Bakugou had smashed his foot into Leone's side. He tried to fight back but Kacchan's sheer strength overpowered him and forced him back onto the ground. He made the pummeling quick but painful.

The fight was over before it even began. The bully grabbed the boy by his hair and pulled him up. "This worthless extra!? He's even less than you Deku, less than the rest of the piss ants in here, he's garbage, no," The blond threw his victim to the ground. "He's less than garbage." Finally he ended with a swift kick to Leone's stomach.

Izuku ran over to his friend, he tried to glare back at Katsuki but was met with an even fiercer one. "Try me!?" His hands crackled. "What's this?" He had picked up the book. Bakugou and his friends rummaged through the pages laughing at the fanboy's dedication. "Freakin' stalker." He ignited the book then tossed it out the window. "Later losers. Oh and Deku maybe you should try jumping off the roof, isn't that the only method you haven't tried yet?" They left.

"Leone you ok?" Midoriya shook his friend. Moments later it yielded results and Leone pulled himself back up to his feet. "Thank God you're ok. Bakugou went way too far he shouldn't treat you like that." Deku reached into his back back and reached for the cotton swabs and alcohol. He cleaned up his face. Leone went about collecting his things that had scattered from Bakugou's harassment.

"Thanks. You ok? He hurt you?" Izuku shook his head. Leone sighed of relief. "As long as you are its good. Come on let's get out of here."

Outside Deku found his notebook. The koi had taken minuscule bites out of it but nothing significant. "At least its still together for the most part." They started walking. "So Leone...when teacher was talking out all the students applying to U.A a little while ago I didn't hear your name called out. D-didn't you say that you were going to apply, I mean after all you can-"

"Deku..." This was a conversation he was truly dreading. After weeks of asking what Izuku wanted to do for a future career he had only been met with false leads and lies. He needed to hear this better from him than anyone else. "You need to stop. I thought you had given up that foolish dream a long time ago." He sighed. "Do you know what'll happen to someone like you if you try to take their exams? They'll break you. You'll have no chance. Worst case scenario you're crippled for the rest of your life; best case you're dreams crushed. I think- I think- its time you stopped trying to be a hero."

The wannabe gripped his chest. He pushed back the pain. Despite Leone's harsh words he knew there had to be some other reason why he was saying this. He had the potential to be great why wasn't he going to realize it? "But what about you! With your quirk you'd be able to get in! Don't tell me that your gonna give up on your dream too!"

Leone shook his head. "My dreams had died a long time ago, the only thing left for me's a life of mediocrity." The green haired boy could feel his heart feezing over. This wasn't happening. " I can't be a hero Deku. The only thing left for is to fade into the background. I learned my role a long time ago Deku, its about time you did too. We're just extras we have no true place in the world." He finished with a sigh. Now it was all in the open. "Well you just sit on the alright? Please take my advice...I don't want to see you get hurt. Besides being a hero is stupid anyway."

But he had already done the damage even if he thought he was helping. Leo left Izuku there and went on about his business. He stopped by the convenience store for some food to cook for him and his guest. He thought, his browsing became slower. "Maybe I was too hard on him, no. I'm thinking too much. He'll realize I'm right and get over it." A song started playing, Roundabout. Leone checked his phone. "Hello? Oh uncle, when will you be by? Oh you had to make a stop to help out some fan. That's fine I was just out shopping, I'll be home within the hour. Ok, see you then."

~Leone's Home~

A tiny apartment building. His home was on the bottom floor at the very least so he wouldn't need to walk far at least. "Finally my package came." He opened up the front door. Cockroaches and other insects scurried out, bags of trash were piled near the entrance. "Ah home shitty home." The singular light that swung in the kitchen was turned on, a mound of dishes were in the sink.

He set the groceries somewhere on the counter and went back to his room. The door burst open, clothes following suit. He climbed into his room and threw his backpack somewhere into the junk. He turned on the T.V. Their were a few news stories going on at the time but none that interested him, he turned off the set and forced his way out of his room once more. "Deku'll probably be looking into those. Might even get himself killed, god I hope not." He gulped.

Leone sauntered down the hall. He felt around in the dark for light switch in the room he entered. His father's room had remained untouched for the most part at least. The teenager pulled a book from the shelf and was whisked around into a whole other room. It was filled with a variety of test tube and beakers, most of which were broken but still usable none the less. The back of the room had huge vats filled with some unknown liquid.

Papers were scattered all throughout it. He made his way to his desk. There were pieces of tape marking what was his and his father's. All those marked with the father's were labeled 'Papa' and his were labeled 'Leo' followed by a crude drawing of a lion that looked more like a tiger. He wondered if it would be better to just get rid of those but decided against it yet again.

The young man threw on a pair of goggles and tapped three times in a rhythmic pattern on his desk. Another table flipped up with an assortment of gadgets, all labeled. Cryo bombs, flasbangs, smoke bombs, nets and launchers, as well as various enhancements. "A blue print for a suit of power armor...where'd the hell this come from?" He shook his head he wouldn't need it anyway. "I'll need to finish these up and head down to the police station."

With a cracked of his knuckles and slap of the hands he set about using his tools. He took one deep breath, "Here comes the worst part." His brain lurched information rushed into him. "Trial to see how long I can hold this state starting...now!" He smashed his hand down on the timer. His hands began to start working faster, faster, and faster still.

Once those were done he stood up and rushed over to the other side of the room. He typed into the keypad and pulled out a small mechanical machine in the shape of a person. He continued to work but gradually began to slow down. "No! No! I'm almost- almost-" He could feel himself losing it. "Just...one more part." He had finished. "One whole minute." He wiped around the rim of his eyes and mouth. "Just barely on the verge of passing out." He sighed.

He picked up the video camera and set it up to unveil his newest creation. "Hello, this is experiment C.C trial two thousand eighty-nine. C.C has taken many years to complete. With this I'll be able to do my work far faster and will be of some use finally. My inventions can hopefully be massed produced soon and the police will actually be able to aid the heroes in fighting villains. I am now going to turn it on." He pressed the button, but nothing. He pressed again, still nothing, once more.

Leone sat down. He took another deep breath trying to get his quirk to activate again. For a moment he felt something but fell backwards, blood and vomit flew out of his mouth. He rolled over to his side and picked himself up but immediately nausea took a hold of him. He reached over for anything to help him keep balance but nothing was close enough. He fell over on the desk then fainted.

In the distance a scene played, a memory, something that wanted to be forgotten. "L-leave him alone Kacchan!" The bully laughed, someone like Deku trying to stop him. Deku had come to save him that day even after all the horrible things he had done along side Bakugou. Even to this day he still didn't quite understand what caused Izuku to act in such a way on his behalf.

"Aw come on Deku we're just having a bit of fun over here. Aren't we Leone?" He said punching the child in the face again. "Its nothing you should be worrying about Deku. Leone's just been saying a lot of bad words recently and needs his mouth washed out." He took a handful of sand and forced it into the boy's mouth, he even went as far to force him to eat some. Bakugou wiped the spot where he had been hit. "Now Deku you better get out of here before I remind you of your place."

Midoriya took Leone away from Bakugou, though fear was in his eyes he still resolved to help. "I-if you don't stop Kacchan...I swear I'll never forgive you." Now there was the icing on the cake. Katsuki and his friends assailed both the boys leaving them battered and bruised.

"Deku..." Leone turned to his side. "That was stupid of you. Why'd you do that? Don't you know how much stronger he is than you? Your actions are illogical, suicidal almost. Who do you think you are? Do you think that you're a hero?" Little did he know that the boy wanted nothing more than to be that, a hero. Someone who could save others no problem.

"You-you looked like you were asking for help."

He couldn't believe his ears. Leone stuck out a hand and helped Deku to his feet. "So that's why huh?" Both Leones snickered. "Can't believe I forgot something so simple. Despite all that...thank you for protecting me. Promise to tell no one else this ok Deku? ...I want to be a hero too."

He woke up. Leone picked himself up and wiped his face, his lab coat became covered with both his blood and throw up. He groaned at another ruined one. He checked his watch and listened out for the doorbell, his uncle had still not arrived. He flung the finished gadgets into a bag and left the lab. "I'll head by the police department really quickly, should probably leave a note too." So he did.

The walk wasn't too far he would be back in no time at all. There were a group of people just down the street. Leone ventured towards it wondering what could possibly be going on. Flames and heat whipped around in conjunction. He saw Deku. "Heroes." He concluded. He walked up and poked his friend in the back. "Hey Deku, who's fighting over there-"

Someone was crying out. Both teenagers found themselves being able to see through the crowd. The person crying out was none other than their tormenter, Katsuki. Deku was mumbling to himself he mentioned the villain and doing to me what he's doing to Kacchan. Leone deduced that Deku had a run in with this villain and possibly someone else had come to save him too. If so that person was probably still around. Even if they weren't it served Bakugou right now he would know how it felt for someone to abuse their quirk to hurt others.

"Serves him right. Deku I think justice is finally about to be-" But he was gone, this time he had left Leone behind. He was rushing into the flames and fire. Leone's eyes widened. "What are you doing?" It was like ten years ago all over again. "Why are you doing this? After all Katsuki has done you're still rushing in to save him!? To save Bakugou!? The man who's tormented you for years! Why Deku why're you!?"

"I wanna be a hero too!" Echoed in the back of his mind. A tiny Izuku was pumping his fist an equally enthralled Leone. "I know we can do it together alright?" He hugged his brand new friend. After some time Leone returned the hug, it was genuine, kind. "We're gonna be the two best heroes whoever existed as long as we hold onto our dreams."

Even til this day Midoriya was trying to attain his dream. Leone felt like he was going to explode. "Why are you so dumb! Risking your life for someone like him!? You really do think that you can be a hero..." It all rushed back every single moment til that day. "Why does every hero have a fucking death wish!" He jumped over the barrier. "Deku wait for me!"

The boy turned back a smile widening on his face. "Leone!"

"You idiot. Do you have any idea how to stop this guy?"

"I know he's liquid based so maybe if we had something to counteract that!"

Leone bit his lip. Days of work were about to go down the drain. "Here!" He handed a few of the bombs to Deku. "Make sure you hit a limb or something. As long as you don't hit Katsuki he'll be fine. I'll distract him." He rushed forward. "Hey you big, ugly slug over here!" He waved his arms. "I bet you couldn't hit the broadside of a barn."

"Can't you come up with anything more clever than that kid?" The villain swung. just barely dodging the attack Leone tumbled. A follow up attack came, he flinched, the attack stopped short. The villain's appendage was frozen solid. "Wh-what did you just do to me!?" His vision was on Deku now. The former target took the rest of his bombs and threw them at the monster's back. "You little maggots!"

"Now's our chance." They reached into the goop struggling to get Bakugou free.

"Legohe...Debu!?" They freed his mouth. "Why are you two here?"

Deku was the first and only one of the two to speak. "Y-you looked like you were asking for help." He said tears in his eyes. Too pure.

"Well spoken young man!" A golden flash. "Maryland Smash!" It was over. The hero's punch broke through the sky, the monster was defeated. Press came by quickly to get an interview with the fabulous All Might. Midoriya and Leone were scolded for their reckless actions while Bakugou was praised. Once their scolding was over the two left the scene.

On the road home, for a time the two walked silently. "You...are possibly just the damn dumbest person I've met in my entire life." Then this broke through.

"But Leone you came rushing in too! Come on don't call the kettle black when you're a pot too. We're both heroes in a way." He smiled.

"Yes I know I'm stupid." He sighed. "Guess I'm a hero too I guess, albeit reluctantly. If you're gonna keep running into trouble then I guess there's no helping it." THe boy smiled back he put out his fist for Deku to bump. "I'll stay with you and help you realize your dream." Deku ran up to his friend and hugged him like he did when they were tiny children this time he didn't take forever to reciprocate it. Today was a new day, a day to be reborn. This is a story of how I became the most reluctant hero.