Midoriya hadn't always had a quirk.
Katsuki Bakugo, however, was different. Known by many for his explosive temper, he was who you thought of when you envisioned a hero—or maybe only when Izuku envisioned one. He was tall and fairly strong, one of the few people who'd blossomed early and developed a quirk at the ripe age of four. He was fast, quick-witted, and charming despite his ego.
Many saw him as a challenge to overcome, a road mark on the way to becoming a hero. Izuku never had at least, not in their early stages. He watched as Katsuki grew into the type of student and hero everyone would want to have save them. He had perfect grades, and a picture-perfect quirk. So many expected him to get into the prestigious school every young hero dreamed of getting into. And he did. But nobody expected Izuku Midoriya, the town's quirk-less fanboy to get in. Especially not Bakugo.
"Damnit, nerd!" Katsuki shouted, as he slammed Izuku up firmly against the wall, the smaller boy held a notebook up to his face to protect himself in case of Bakugo's quick fists. "How'd you do it?" He growled low in his throat
"How'd I do what Kacchan!" Izuku's panicked voice managed to scramble out.
Bakugo grabbed him by his backpack straps and slammed him back into the brick wall of Aldera Middle.
"You know what, Deku. How the hell did you manage to get into UA?" He let the smaller go and stepped back, he looked around gruffly before shoving his hands into his pockets and locking his angry eyes back onto Izuku.
"Well, technically nobody's gotten in yet. Not even the people on recommendation. I'm guessing that everyone with at least a 3.7 grade point average passed the preliminary. But, there's of course going to be a physical endurance test seeing as how-"
Bakugo rolled his eyes at the green-haired boy's insistent mumbling. It had been a habit of the boys since he was younger. And it was just one of the many things that pissed Bakugo off the most about him.
"Shut up, shitty Deku. Even if you squeezed past the preliminary, you'll never pass the endurance test without a quirk." Bakugo pointed to himself proudly. "I, however. Will pass with flying colors. While your left with some shitty D-lister job."
That stung. His words always did. They seemed harsher than they were, this was just how Bakugo was, and there was no changing that. Expect,
Bakugo wasn't always like this. They used to be friends, whatever being friends with bakugo might entail. But, as soon as the explosive toddler developed his quirk, along with everybody else their age, he made it his mission to remind Izuku of that every day. That he was strong, and Izuku wasn't. That he was better.
He liked reminding Izuku how pathetic he was, but unlike Bakugo, Izuku had heart and dedication in areas many lacked in. Everyone thought after losing his quirk he'd give up, but he didn't. Instead he studied pro heroes, and whatever people he could, and watched how they moved, how they carried themselves. He wanted to know what it took to be a real hero, but he had always known.
"Well. I'm glad you're so confident Kacchan. but I have just as much of a chance as anyone." Izuku said shakily.
He regretted his words as soon as they left his lips. he dropped his notebook and covered his mouth with both hands before shrinking back into the wall.
"Huh?" Bakugo tilted his head to the side, his ruby red eyes fumed with an expression that radiated the same outrage the boy always felt for Izuku.
"No. You don't Deku." He scolded harshly.
"Just pray you'll be born with a quirk in your next life, then take a swan dive off the roof of the building."
Oh. Wow.
This was different than his normal taunts, it didn't feel as angry, or as antagonizing, this felt real. The words stung Izuku hard, leaving him with his heart in flames and his limbs feeling numb. Did he truly hate Izuku that much? Izuku clutched his uniform and took a deep breath to attempt to get rid of the burning sensation he felt deep in his chest.
Bakugo's expression hadn't changed on seeing the other boy's defeated face. He stood firmly, proudly just as he always did.
He gave the smaller one a final push before walking out of the alleyway, but he stopped just before he was fully out.
"You can't ever surpass me, got it? So stop trying." And with that, he left.
His words still rang through Izuku's mind, like a freight train that would never fully stop, even after it's reached its destination, It would always keep going, the thought would always be there, in the back of his mind. And the same thought stayed in Bakugo's brain aswell, despite the confident way he carried himself. No matter what Izuku did, he was always one step behind him, and that's what bothered Bakugo, he had no quirk, so how could this pathetic loser whom he'd seen as incompetent his whole life catch up to him so quickly? How did Shitty Deku get into UA?
But, what the boys didn't know, Was that exchange changed their inevitable future.
Being cornered by Bakugo in the alley made Izuku late for his after school journalism class, he could have still attended the last 45 minutes easily, But upon the defeat and utter heartbreak he felt, he decided to just go home, and pray his mother Inko wouldn't question why.
And so, the boy walked home, clutching his backpack straps and sniffling as he took, long deep breaths in an attempt to calm his racing mind, he began muttering small encouragements to himself, which helped for the most part, but that thought still resonated within him.
Just pray you'll be born with a quirk in your next life, then take a swan dive off the roof of the building.
He walked with his head down, seeing as though he was too focused on what had just gone down to realize what was blocking the path in front of him.
He collided with what he presumed was a wall, since he was clearly not paying attention.
He stumbled back and cupped his head before slowly looking up toward the definite, indisputable figure of the number 1 hero All Might.
He gasped loudly and finally gathered the courage to look his hero in the eyes, All Might seemed to radiate the energy Izuku thought he'd only see from the screen of his computer, but now he was left to bask in it. To soak it all in for himself.
"All Might!" His small voice squeaked. "Please! You have to sign my notebook please!" he reached into his bag, but he realized he'd dropped it back in the alley when he covered his mouth. He wanted to throw himself off a bridge. Of course, the one time he met All Might he didn't have his notebook. He'd only been waiting for this moment his whole life!
All Might laughed, his voice echoed through the small neighborhood Izuku lived in.
He extended an arm and hoisted Izuku's small body up off the floor.
"Ah, worry not boy" He smiled. The same smile he held while saving people, gosh Izuku could faint right then.
"I would have never expected to see YOU here! I promise i'm usually more prepared than this!" he jumped up and down in excitement, Then suddenly stopped in his excitement. "
Wait, why are you here? Is everything alright?"
All Might laughed and shook his head
"Everything's all right young Midoriya."
"How do you know my name?" The curious Izuku turned his head
All Might smiled and pulled out Izuku's notebook from his pocket and held it out in front of him.
"I found this on a walk, and upon trying to see if I could find the owner, I read a few of the many pages you had on analyzing heroes. It's truly incredible work young Midoriya, i must say I was a bit flattered when I got to my section of it." All Might seemed to blush
"Really?" Izuku didn't know how much longer he could contain his excitement.
"Yes!" All Might beamed. "So! What's your quirk boy? Certainly something positively Plus Ultra for the amount of dedication you have towards being a hero!"
All Might tapped the cover of his composition book, and stared down at the young boy with a big, plastered smile.
And yet the boy held no hint of smile, Izuku's excitement faded as soon as the word quirk left his mouth. He looked down quickly and took a deep breath before he answered.
"I don't have one, All Might, sir."
All Might's eyebrows raised before he smiled gently, not the same 'I am here' smile Izuku was used to seeing on the news, it was genuine. Which made Izuku feel even worse, even All Might pitied him.
"Fear not boy," he said proudly. "You too, can become a hero."
"Really?" Izuku's heart pounded inside his chest, he didn't think All Might of all people would play with his emotions like that. Not about something as serious as being a hero.
"Meet me at Takoba Beach, tomorrow at eight sharp. And don't be late young Midoriya, you won't regret it." He ruffled the boy's green curls before walking away.
All Might tossed Izuku's notebook behind him, and the small boy caught it quickly.
"Eight sharp!" All Might reminded hastily.
The notebook fell open to the last blank page, now signed in yellow, the big plastered signature of All Might.
Izuku traced it with a large smile plastered on his plain face. All Might's words ran through his mind.
'You too, can become a hero.'
***
The summer passed quickly. he trained daily with All Might, and passed extremes he never thought he could. He pushed as hard as he could, whether it was going an extra ten miles on a jog, lifting more weight than he knew he could handle, and cleaning Takoba Beach by himself. All Might watched as the small frail boy he met turned into a real hero potential: But one thought stayed in Izuku's mind, fueling the work he put in. Will this be enough? Can he finally surpass him?
***
When his first day approached, and he had officially inherited All Might's quirk, he felt something he hadn't in a long time. Hope. And that was all he needed. He had a good chance at beating him now. He spent all summer working for this. He had to beat him. No doubt about it.
But, when he opened the doors of UA, and there stood Bakugo. he felt as though he swallowed a basketball. He felt all the emotions he'd felt that day in the alleyway of Aldera but intensified. he didn't know why, he wasn't quirkless now, he was strong, he had the capabilities of All Might himself, but seeing him stand there he felt different. Less confident. Bakugo had gotten stronger. Taller. More explosive than ever.
He turned his head slightly, almost like he sensed his presence. (Or heard his nervous mumbles)
He tsked, and jerked around. He walked toward him until Izuku's back hit the door of the classroom.
"I saw your little shitty act yesterday." he snapped. "Where's that fancy quirk from, huh? You've been holding out on me? Well newsflash Deku. You're not the only one who got stronger this summer shitty nerd. I don't care about you, or your dumb quirk, even with it you can't surpass me. Got it? Cause I'm gonna be number 1 and you're gonna be stuck being some shitty D-lister."
The class had gone silent by then, and all were watching the exchange with wide eyes and nervous looks.
"What extras?" Bakugo snapped, finally acknowledging the people watching. But, they weren't watching the two boys, they were watching what was behind them.
The door opened, making Bakugo and Izuku tumble onto each other and onto the feet of their new teacher.
He scoffed as he looked down at Izuku's pathetic face. He quickly got up and made his way to an empty desk. Izuku followed suit.
Aizawa walked to the front of the classroom and slammed his hands down on the desk. His gaze fell over the students, as if assessing them.
"Okay class, my name is Shoto Aizawa, and I'll be your teacher for the year. Everyone pick a partner. You'll be doing nightly watch guard, and training exclusively with whomever you choose. You may not change unless it's my decision. This ruling will stay until the end of the year, understand?"
Everyone got up, and the classroom fell into gathered chatter that bordered on the brink of chaos. Izuku stayed put. and so did Bakugo.
"Oh." Aizawa turned back to face the classroom. "Who were the two at the door earlier?"
A tall, blue-eyed boy with glasses pointed directly at Izuku and Bakugo.
"Narc," Bakugo muttered.
"You two will be partners."
"What!" We said in unison, making Katsuki even more irritated.
"Your first assignment is tonight. Patrol UA's borders. Stay alert." he looked directly at the two boys, then began sorting papers. "When you have picked your partner, make a neat organized line so I may write down-" Aizawa gave further instructions but all Izuku could focus on was the boy behind him whose rage became more and more palpable.
But, Izuku liked this. He liked that they were partners. Because he could finally prove that he could surpass him. This was his chance to beat Katsuki Bakugo.
***
Night fell shortly, and Izuku dressed himself in the green hero costume his mother had gotten designed for him when he got into UA, he wished she didn't use a reference that she found in his elementary school journals though. But, a costume was a costume. And that's all he cared about.
"What are we patrolling anyway, i thought the point of UA's security system was so nobody could break in." Izuku kicked at a rock nervously
"It's not to catch any villains. It's to make us stay on guard." Bakugo said unamused, leaning against the lamp post. "You may have a fancy shit new quirk Deku, but if you can't see something as simple as this then you're not ready to be a hero."
"Hmm." Izuku sighed. He had a feeling though, something was lurking, something close. he walked by Bakugo and looked down, assessing footsteps in the dirty next to theirs.
Bakugo noticed. He noticed everything Deku did.
"What is it?" he sighed after Izuku had stood there for at least five minutes.
He finally got up off the lamp post and walked over. With both of his hands in his pockets, he leaned over to see what Deku was looking at so intently.
"Who do you think it is?" Izuku asked
"Hm," Bakugo grunted. "You're being paranoid, nerd. I told you, nothing's gonna happen."
"Well, Kacchan, sometimes you can't just wait for stuff to happen, it's better to be prepared-"
There was a sudden loud crash, earning both of the boys' attention.
Izuku smiled, he'd expected this, his first villain, Bakugo tsked and ran ahead, but Izuku caught up. He wasn't going to let Bakugo take the credit.
The crash happened somewhere off campus near the training grounds they'd had admissions at, it took them around five minutes before they arrived, but the damage had already been done.
Izuku looked around the area, trying to find anything out of place, or suspicious. But he found nothing, it was hard to tell with all the wreckage. He took a deep, exasperated sigh.
"If you'd have just trusted me, this wouldn't have happened," Izuku said quietly, looking at the destroyed buildings in disapproval
This didn't make Bakugo any less angry at the situation.
"Shut up shitty Deku, you weren't even looking in this direction, you were gonna go the other way."
"But if you'd worked with me maybe we could have gotten here before this happened."
"Shut your trap nerd, Quit acting like you're better than me just because of your shitty quirk." Bakugo snapped.
"This isn't even about that!" Izuku said exhaustedly. "You can't just rely on a quirk all the time! You have to think stuff like this through, if there's a villain on the campus, now we're totally unprepared and completely vulnerable. You didn't trust your gut, I know you had the same feeling I did Kacchan, you wouldn't have asked me what I thought if you didn't."
"Shut up!" he snapped. He turned and stepped forward. "Just shut up nerd, I made a mistake, okay? I get it! You don't have to rub it in my face." He took a deep breath.
"Okay calm down. We're here now, and we can fix this, okay? You just have to trust me."
"No. fuck you. I'm not trusting you." Bakugo snarled, and walked away. he knelt down at the start of the wreckage, his hands laid over the cracked cement, there was still debris in the air. Katsukis hands crackled with tiny fireworks as he heard Izuku approach behind him.
"Why do you feel you can't trust me? You've only known me since we were five, Kacchan. Seriously. If you can't trust me then who can you trust?"
"Me. I can trust myself," he said quietly. "Because I never kept such a big shitty secret from anyone."
"What are you talking about?" Izuku felt dumbfounded.
Katsuki turned to face him. "Your new fancy quirk? You've just been what, hiding that for ten years? So you can come out of hiding to humiliate me?" He gripped his chest as he felt an unfamiliar sensation arise, it felt uncomfortable and invasive. His humiliation turned into anger.
Bakugo stepped forward, but instead of flinching, Izuku closed his eyes, All for one was in his disposal and he wasn't going to hold back, because he was ready to face whatever Bakugo had for him.
He'd spent years assessing the explosive boys quirk, he knew his every move, He had the ability to fight him no, much more so the courage to act on it. This was his chance. Izuku now understood why every coming to be hero wanted to compete with Bakugo. He was a stepping stone to a much larger path.
But before both of them could act, they were yanked backward. Izuku stayed calm, despite his boiling anger which he held down, he hated being unprepared, but still he tried to assess the situation and see what he was dealing with just as All Might taught him during there many months of training, meanwhile Bakugo thrashed and lashed out with unnecessary explosions towards whomever held them hostage, which made both of them incapable of doing what they needed to do.
This was going to take a lot of work.