A/N: Inspired by Levius.

Prologue: Debut

It was round three and Izuku felt the pressure.

An uppercut slammed into Izuku's left elbow and his bones shuddered from the force. He peeked passed his guard just in time to sidestep the following left jab. His opponent finished their combo with a wild right hook, forcing Izuku to bring his guard back up.

The hit sends him reeling back and he makes contact with the elastic edge of the ring. The metal joints of his prosthetic arm creak and the steam valves crackle from the strain.

He couldn't afford to take another hit like that.

Izuku grimaced. He only had one more punch before his steam valves burst. Even so, he was resolved to win. A plan scrambled together and he almost scoffed. Mei wasn't going to be happy with him after this. Izuku let out a quick breath and his stance loosened, right arm hissing out steam. He was ready.

His opponent charges.

Izuku stands calm. He waits.

A fist rockets toward him.

NOW!

Just before the blow struck, he stepped into the punch, ducking beneath the attack and moving into his opponent's blind spot. Mid-step, his prosthetic arm swelled as the steam valves groaned. He focused on every water molecule within him, willing them to expand.

Before his opponent could turn to face him, Izuku pulled a wild cry from the depths of his heart.

"DETROIT…"

Echoing throughout the entire stadium, his right arm snapped into a punch.

"SMASH!"

Izuku's forearm valves explode in a burst of steam as his fist makes contact with temple.

The ring floods with rolling mist as his opponent collapses to the ground. The crowd surges forward as the stadium fills with cheers.

"One… two… three…"

Izuku's right arm, a mess of steaming valves and metal joints, hangs limply from his torso. His eyes mist over as intense pain shoots through every nerve ending connected to the broken prosthetic. Even so, the boy stands tall and smiles as the countdown concludes.

"...Eight… nine… ten!"

The bell rings and his victory is assured. The referee stands next to him and raises his good arm high into the air. All eyes are on him, including a pair of glowing blue ones shrouded in darkness.

"Winner: Izuku Midoriya!"

Chapter 1: Musutafu Day Dreams

The sun shone brightly over Musutafu city. Its cobblestone streets were filled with the hum of motor cars and the rabble of its denizens.

On the edge of the city where stone streets faded into rolling hills, the door to a small house suddenly opened. In its doorway was a child with green hair and bright eyes. On his feet were a peculiar pair of red shoes.

Izuku turned back.

"Bye mom! I'm going to play in the city today!"

He giggled to himself quietly before leaping off the porch and scurrying onto the main road leading into the heart of Musutafu.

Quick footsteps bounced within the house as Inko ran to the door.

"Izuku wai-"

All she saw from the porch was a trail of dust and the small figure of her son running into the distance. Inko entertained the thought of chasing after him but soon rolled her eyes and smiled.

She walked back inside and closed the door softly.

There was no stopping that boy, her son had a heart for adventure. However, Inko's smile wavered. She still worried, in the past few years tensions had been building more and more between him and Katsuki. Whenever Izuku would come back from playing in the city he'd be covered from head to toe in bruises. Mitsuki had said the same for Katsuki as well. Inko sat at the kitchen table and let out a sigh. For both of their sakes, she hoped he wouldn't be playing with Katsuki today.

Perhaps she should ask Hisashi when he got back from the front lines to give their son more self defense lessons.

-oxoxo-

"Come on Deku, is that all you got?"

NOW!

Bakugo Katsuki's manic grin was knocked off his face as Izuku landed a heavy right straight on his childhood friend. Katsuki scowled as he wobbled on his feet.

"Not at all, Kacchan."

Within the enormous bay side abandoned factory, Izuku and Katsuki circled each other. Front and center on the empty work floor, they stood encircled within a white chalk line. Surrounding them was a small crowd of neighborhood kids.

"Lucky shot..." the blond growled.

He's right, it was a lucky shot. I have to be more creative.

Katsuki's right arm fell back and he leaned forward. Izuku stiffened.

Kacchan has never used that move before, I have to be careful.

"...but it won't happen again!"

An explosion rumbled through the air as his childhood friend rushed forth building momentum with smaller explosions causing him to rotate and leave the ground.

"HOWITZER! IMPACT!

He's moving too fast, I have to block!

Katsuki's spinning aerial hook struck Izuku's hasty guard full force. Izuku hissed as the impact sent him careening back off of his feet. The world shook as his back made contact with the concrete floor and his breath escaped in short pants as he struggled with the throbbing pain in his arms. From outside the white circle, he stared blankly at the factory ceiling, a familiar sight.

I lost, again.

Izuku's loss was expected… he was quirkless after all. The gathered audience of children screamed with excitement. Izuku sat up and rubbed his abused forearms. The children swarmed Kacchan.

"Holy shit Katsuki, that was so cool!"

"You kicked that quirkless loser's ass!"

"If you were in the Hero Resistance we'd win the war for sure!"

He watched Katsuki. Through all the praise and compliments, the blonde simply crossed his arms, struck a pose and smirked. Soon Kacchan's eyes met his own.

The blond's smirk fell.

"Of course we'd win the war, I'll become the strongest hero ever! I'll even surpass All Might, and kill all those shitty quirkless bastards."

While the other children were in awe at Katsuki's bold declaration Izuku stared back, unflinching. This only seemed to piss the blonde off.

"So… which one of you shitheads is next?"

The crowd went silent and collectively took a few steps back. The children looked back and forth at each other mumbling nervously.

They're afraid of him...

Izuku noticed the slight curve in Kacchan's lips as his challenge went unanswered.

...and he loves it.

The explosive blonde stared intently at him, almost explicitly daring him to fight. When he didn't get up immediately, Izuku noticed a shift in Katsuki's demeanor. Those bright crimson eyes shone with delight. Realization struck deep within Izuku.

He wants me to be afraid too.

Irritation pooled in the back of his skull, sloshing and filling until he couldn't take it anymore. Izuku abruptly stood up, his sudden movement drawing everyone's eyes. He walked calmly until he once again stood in the white circle across from his childhood friend.

"I can go again, Kacchan."

A snarl echoed throughout the factory. Both of the boys slipped into their accustomed stances as the children backed away. A dull throng of murmurs filled the air as he and Katsuki prepared themselves.

"Again? Shouldn't that quirkless loser know his place by now?"

"He's just jealous because we're winning the war."

Izuku knew about the other children's hatred for someone like him. It was easy to pin the blame of an entire group on an individual. His brow furrowed.

The tyranny of the quirkless is projected onto me.

Izuku's eyes hardened as he fixed Katsuki an intense look. One of the children, in front of the crowd, raised a stick to an empty tin can. Two quick strikes to the metal and the fight was on.

I'll show them…

Izuku's breaths were calm and he let his nerves simmer down until all that was left was his young analytical mind.

Kacchan's going to open with a wide right hook. I've been able to block it recently but now I need to be better than that.

Katsuki's foot stepped firmly onto the concrete as he propelled himself forward with two quick blasts. With a mighty roar, Katsuki's right arm reeled back, confidence and zeel maring his grinning maw.

I can do this. I'll prove that I'm on their side.

Izuku slipped under the telegraphed right hook. His right foot stamped into the ground, the kinetic energy spreading to the furthest reaches of his closing fist.

I'll be a hero…

Katsuki's eyes widened. His infallible opening punch had missed. Izuku pulled his arm back until he felt his muscles stretch.

Just like All Might!

"DETROIT…"

Suddenly, the rusted steel doors of the factory blasted open. Small emerald flames licked at the edges of the besieged doorway.

"IZUKU MIDORIYA!"

"SMASH!"

A gust of wind swept across the factory floor. Mid-punch, Izuku's fist was stopped as a tall, harsh looking man with dark hair had effortlessly pushed Katsuki away and caught his counter. Bright green eyes burned into Izuku's heart as his fist was shoved aside. He felt everything in his body seize up.

"Dad… DAD!?"

What about the war?

Standing between the two combatants was Hisashi Midoriya adorned in military garb with the customary heroes badge pressed into his uniform. Hisashi's vibrant green irises scanned the factory, assessing every detail. They paused on Katsuki before roving onward.

"Dad, I'm so happy you're back! But wait, why are you back? Is the war over? Did we win?"

Izuku rushed forth to give his father a hug only to stop and flinch as Hisashi's scalding eyes fixed him a harsh stare.

"We're leaving, Izuku."

Right… the first thing he comes back to...

Izuku's eyes fell to look at his own clenched fist and the callouses that had formed across his knuckles.

...is me fighting. His tone was so cold… he must really be dissapointed.

Despite his best efforts to keep himself calm, Izuku felt a mist come over his eyes.

"Yes sir."

Hisashi spun on his heel and strode out of the factory, Izuku trudging beside him. Just as the father and son had turned the corner out of the factory door way, Katsuki shook his head and returned to his senses, a scowl quickly forming along his lips.

The blond surged forward, running out into the vibrant afternoon sun.

Above the rabble of the bayside citizens and motor car engines, Katsuki bellowed, "This ain't over Deku! Just because your dad bailed you out doesn't mean you can just walk away. We're settling this tonight!"

Izuku's hand clenched into a fist but kept walking, even as the tears began to fall.

-oxoxo-

All was quiet in the rumbling motor car. By now Izuku had dried his eyes and was looking out of the passenger window. It had been nearly three years since he'd seen his father.

I have to say something, he deserves an explanation.

Izuku turned to regard Hisashi, the larger man's focus on the road and at the wheel. Without looking over, as if understanding his son was ready to talk, Hisashi broke the silence.

"How long have you been fighting with the other kids?"

Immediately Izuku's eyes fell to the motor car's carpeted flooring. Every word was a struggle.

"I… well... a couple months."

Hisashi sighed.

Izuku winced.

After a pause, Hisashi spoke, "Why Izuku? I told you before I left I didn't want you to fight with the other kids, especially Katsuki. You could get seriously hurt."

He sounds so sad now.

The motor car came to a halt behind another. Hisashi turned, taking his eyes off the road and placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder.

"Fighting… war, it's not a game. Us heroes fight so you kids don't have to."

I'm a bad son.

The cars began moving again and Hishashi pulled away. The car fell back into the bed of silence as Izuku struggled to put his thoughts together. He fiddled with his fingers, nervousness creeping through his digits.

"I know Dad. It's just…"

It's not about fighting. It's not about the war. It's not about fun… not entirely. It's just...

"...I have to prove myself."

His father's neutral expression shifted into a slight frown.

"They make fun of you, don't they," Hisashi stated.

Izuku's restless hands froze and slowly curled into fists. The events of today's bout fluttered through his mind as months of violent memories began to rise. He thought of those bright crimson eyes and he grit his teeth.

"Yeah, they do."

After a moment of thinking, his father nodded. Izuku couldn't tell if that was for him or Hisashi himself. A sad smile formed across the older man's lips, an understanding settling in.

The rest of the ride home was spent in silence. Nothing more had to be said.

-oxoxo-

Hisashi pulled into the driveway of the small house among the hills. Creeping past the windows and parking out of view, he turned to his son.

"Now Izuku, you remember the plan, right?"

The boy nodded energetically, his hand reaching for the car door handle.

"Of course, she's gonna love it!"

Izuku leapt out of the car, a spring in his step as he made his way to the front door. Hisashi took this time to look in the motor car's mirror, giving himself one last check. He chuckled to himself as he caught his own eyes in the reflection.

"Come on Hisashi, you've been married to Inko for nearly two decades. You've got this."

He stepped out of the motor car and trailed to the storage compartment. Opening it, a fresh bouquet from the upper city market lay carefully wrapped in gilded papers tied off with ribbons.

A timid smile touched his lips.

He could use some peace, there wasn't much time left for it anyway.

-oxoxo-

Inko, walking back from the window, could have sworn she'd heard the engine of a motor car. Funny enough, she didn't see one outside. Sitting back down in her favorite lounge chair, she picked up the half made sweater she was knitting together and started the next line.

"Mom! I'm home!"

Sooner than she could react, her son raced into the room, a bright smile on his face as he took a seat farthest from the front door.

"Oh! Izuku, welcome home. Did you have fun in the city today?"

"Plenty, now Mom you have to come here! I want to show you something."

Inko's smile widened. It had been quite a while since she'd seen Izuku this excited. Something really good must have happened today. Maybe he and Katsuki made up. She set down her half-made sweater and strode over to her jubilant son.

Inko kneeled down beside Izuku, as he rocked back and forth in the chair.

"So what is it that you want to show me?"

Izuku's eyes darted away from her and a flicker of concern slithered through Inko's mind. His bright green eyes were looking passed her.

"Izuku…" she said softly, "what…"

The front door opened gently.

Panicked, Inko spun around and her arm shot back against Izuku's chest protectively. Nobody was going to hurt her baby.

Tall, dark, and handsome confined in military garb. Hisashi Midoriya stood nervously as he leaned against the front door frame, a bouquet of flowers tucked underneath his arm.

"Hey... Inko," he said warmly.

Inko… will you marry me?

She stood up slowly.

Of course I will, silly!

Footsteps soft as she tread closer, he reached out to her.

Inko… I have to go, I can help them. They need me, I can be their hero.

Her fingers curled around his. The image of him blurred as heavy tears began to fall.

What about Izuku? Huh? He needs you too!

Inko's grasp tightened as Hisashi set the flowers down on a side table. His arms tentatively wrapped around her and pulled her close.

I'm sorry Inko.

It was hard to tell when the first sob hit, but afterwards she didn't bother keeping herself composed. Inko held onto the front of his uniform as she pressed her face into his chest. Hisashi's embrace tightened and her shaking only worsened.

Please… don't go.

A few minutes passed before calm had settled back into her. All was silent except for remnant sniffles. In a quiet and vulnerable voice, she confessed.

"I was so worried."

Hisashi ran fingers through her hair, the flow of it soothing both of them. He whispered back.

"So was I."

I love you.

-oxoxo-

Hisashi sat beside her. The flowers he'd brought were on display atop their dinner table. The sweet scent set her at ease along with Hisashi's callus hands held within her own.

Izuku sat across from them and talked animatedly with his father.

Inko released a breath she had been holding for a long time.

Too long.

All was well again.

-oxoxo-

The Midoriya household was quiet. The sun had begun to set. Izuku had gone outside to play in the front yard while daylight lasted. Inko and Hisashi remained inside. Inko had just returned from the kitchen setting down two fresh mugs of coffee. Before she could return to her seat, Hisashi smirked and placed a hasty kiss along her neckline as she leaned over.

"Hisashi!"

Startled, flustered, and excited she playfully smacked Hisashi's arm before settling back down beside her husband.

"Couldn't help it," he said innocently.

Inko rolled her eyes but she smiled all the same. Hisashi never changed. His hand reached out and held her own. They sat close, each sipping at their steaming beverages. Inko closed her eyes, letting this moment sink into her memories.

He was home, he was finally home.

"Inko, I do have something to tell you."

But there was always something. Her eyes opened softly and she regarded her husband. Hisashi's carefree smile had fallen into a tense nervous one.

"There is a reason why I'm back… you see… um… well…"

For the brave, selfless, and charismatic man that Hisashi was, when it came to Inko, he always reverted back to that timid school boy following her around. He needed reassurance from time to time.

Inko squeezed his hand with her own. His eyes made contact with hers and his thoughts seemed to clear and gather together.

"The war isn't over. In fact, it's getting worse. Last week we lost Kamino Ward… we lost so many good men and women."

His fist curled and he paused to compose himself. Memories passed through him and for an instant she felt his pain. Then, in a hollow tone she'd rarely heard from him, Hisashi spoke.

"They're coming here, Inko. Musutafu, it's next. Intel expects their assault to come within the next week. Evacuation starts tomorrow."

All she could do was stare. Her eyes trailed across the walls of their home. Pictures that lined the walls, the awful interior paint Hisashi had picked out, the dishes they'd received as wedding gifts, Izuku's home, all of it. The shimmering image of broken glass, distant fires, and rubble struck her.

With misty eyes, she sighed. Inhale. Exhale.

Inko's lips curled slowly as she opened up and faced Hisashi through the tears.

"We'll be okay. As long as we're all together. You'll keep us safe."

Hisashi embraced his wife, holding her waist and cradling the back of her head. All he could do was nod and hold her close.

One last time.

-oxoxo-

Dad got in the way but that had to have been my best smash yet.

Izuku stood beneath the branches of a large tree a small hill away from his home. He stared intensely at the bark in front of him.

Alright, just like last time, left leg in.

Izuku stomped with his left, ducking under and invisible right hook.

Pivot at the waist.

His right fist cocked back as he turned.

"SMASH!"

Izuku's fist collided full force with the base of the tree. The wood resonated, the impact sending stray leaves raining down as the green haired boy recoiled. He clutched his hand, the shock rumbling through his bones and the bark biting into his knuckles.

He sucked in air through clenched teeth as he controlled his breathing. Even so, he smiled to himself as he observed his irritated knuckles.

I'll beat him next time, I can do it. Kacchan won't know what hit him.

"Yo quirkless!"

Izuku spun around, following the voice and settling into a readied stance. Cresting the hill, one of Katsuki's lackeys smiled at him condescendingly. Izuku's eyes narrowed and his fists clenched even tighter as the lackey came to a stop across from him.

"Can I help you?"

Despite such an innocent question, a sense of mild hostility radiated from Izuku.

Looks like it's only him. I could take him if he tries anything. It won't be like before. I've learned to defend myself.

"Oh calm down quirkless, I'm not here to start shit. Plus, even if I was, I'd wipe the floor with you. Keep dreaming."

The last two words came out in a snarl but the lackey maintained a calm composure.

"Look I'm not here for you, in fact I'd rather be doing anything else than being within ten meters of you," the lackey peacocked to the tree and leaned his back against it, crossing his arms, " Bakugo sent me, you and him have unfinished business."

What?

Izuku was shocked for an instant, but soon the jolt traveled throughout his body and he felt the current of competition. Katsuki's words echoed in his mind.

'This ain't over Deku! Just because your dad bailed you out doesn't mean you can just walk away. We're settling this tonight!'

"Come to the factory at midnight. He'll be waiting."

With that, Katsuki's lackey kicked off the trunk and began to traverse back down the hill. Before out of earshot, the lackey spun around, apparently having thought of one last taunt.

"You better show up! We have a wager running to see how long you last before Bakugo puts you down AGAIN! Later quirkless!"

Shut up… I had him today. I was so close. Kacchan knows it too.

Izuku watched the lackey shrink into the distance back to Musutafu. His hands shook, knuckles white. He thought back to how this all started. They always made fun of him, always cornered him after school. A particularly painful memory brushed by and he physically winced. His hand mindlessly cradled his left shoulder protectively.

I have to fight and prove myself. It's either fight in the warehouse, or go back to being jumped by Kacchan and his lackeys after school.

Izuku's breaths calmed.

At least in the warehouse it's my choice.

Tonight would be the night.

They hate me for what I am.

Izuku gave one last determined glare toward Musutafu before turning his back to the distant sunset city.

That's fine. I'll just have to show them WHO I am.

For a split second, his mind drifted to the reigning symbol of hope for their side of the war. Izuku smiled to himself.

I'll show them that I AM HERE.

-oxoxo-

Far to the west of Musutafu, past the rolling hills and further forest, a tall dark figure stood along the edge of a cliffside plateau.

"Tomura…"

The dark figure addressed a small pale boy standing beside him. Having been called, the boy looked up expectantly.

"Are the general's men in order?"

The boy glanced back, the reflection in his scarlett irises revealed hundreds of armed soldiers preparing for war.

"Yes master."

All for One cracked a smile. The boy mirrored him. The fake intel had worked, they were vulnerable.

"Good. We attack at midnight."

Musutafu will fall.

A/N: Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading.