Izuku stood face to face with the scarred man, Izuku noted the labored breaths from the man, no matter how much the man tried to hide it.
“I thought I recognized you, some advice kid. If you’re gonna wear a disguise, some makeup to hide those freckles of yours would do wonders.”
Izuku stared at the man in front of him, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had seen the man before.
“Look, even if I’m who you think I am, you are in dire need of medical attention, you look about ready to collapse. If hospitals won’t work I know someone else I can take you to. As long as you don’t mind owing a favor or two.”
The man's flames died down, Izuku didn’t fail to notice how steam rose from his arms, seemingly red with irritation.
The man shot a glare at him “you try anything kid and I’ll turn you to dust.” Izuku led the way. Taking the time to investigate the man. He had only been to this clinic once, when Stain had dragged him there, having the boy pay his own bills. Izuku had offered his analysis skills as payment. The doctor had an incredibly interesting quirk, it allowed him to Speed up people's recovery, with the downside that he felt an increased version of his patients pain the entire process, leading to him usually only getting the worse injuries out of the way. Before being unable to continue. Izuku had learned that painkillers didn’t help, but if he worked on someone who was on painkillers, it’d dull his pain slightly.
He was brought out of his thoughts by the scarred man “So hero kid, what made you turn villain, killing the number one hero couldn’t have come from nowhere”
Izuku looked ahead, his leg flaring up, reminding him of that day. He had thought of those moments every day since, it even haunted him in his sleep. What else could he say about it other than “No one had to die that day, If I had only been faster, or stronger.. Maybe things would be different. ”
He didn’t know why he was confiding this into the scarred man he had just met, maybe it’s because he sensed a similarly troubled past from the man, or maybe it was simply because the man had bothered to ask.
Izuku nearly slapped himself as something hit him, he had never introduced himself to the man. “ I’m Izuku by the way, although I assume you already knew that” the man stopped for a second, before uttering “Name’s Dabi”
The man hummed as they continued their walk in silence.
They reached the rundown clinic. The only thing marking it was a rusted open sign. Izuku walked in first, seeing the owners of the clinic smoking a cigar, putting it out as he saw them walk in. “Ah stain’s stray, what is it now..” the man seemed amused with a smile on his face before he noticed the man behind him. Instantly losing his casual demeanor as a frown settled onto his face and he approached Dabi quickly, circling him as he seemed uncomfortable. . “Bruised ribs, those stitches weren’t done by any professional, although it seems the damage is already done there. A sprained ankle and several bruises littering your body, alongside some burns on the arms, first degree, evidence of third degree in the past.” he turned to Izuku “this will definitely be a couple of favors and most likely a few visits to do anything substantial. The man in question spoke up “What if I just wanted the ribs and ankle done?”
The doctor looked at him “That I can do in one visit, although I’d still recommend getting those restitched, whilst it’s definitely too late to stop the scarring, you could at least avoid future infections”
The man shrugged “I’ve lasted 12 years already”
The doctor shook his head “Okay then, now as for payment, you can pay in either cash or favors. My usual fee is 74k yen.” Dabi nodded “And the Favor?”
The doctor thought for a while before snapping his fingers “I’m running low on a certain nerve damper, and one of my other patients is in dire need of it. If you can get that for me then you can consider the debt paid.” Dabi shook the man's hand. A grin plastered onto his face.
Meanwhile outside a bar in Mustafa later that night
Officer Takamakawa got out of his car. Leaving it running. He was sent to grab Tsukauchi for the Midoriya case. Please Tsukauchi.. don't be here again.
He sighed as he opened the door. The all too familiar chime ringing through his sensitive ears. Sansa's whiskers curled in on themselves as he was overwhelmed by the scent of booze. He saw the man he was looking for huddled in the corner hugging a bottle of whiskey. He walked up "Tsukauchi, the chief wants you"
The man flopped his head over to look at Sansa
"Takamakawa…. Tell him I'm hic busy… researchin..Midoriya…”
Sansa sighed dragging the man up “That’s exactly what he wants to see you about, there’s been a development.
The man seemed to sober up a little bit at that. “What kinda development?”
Sansa paid the man’s bill “It’ll be easier to show you.”
He sighed as he helped the man to the vehicle. As he shut the door to the vehicle he thought to himself. Everyone is taking the Hosu Tragedy hard, but Tsukauchi had taken it especially hard, especially when..
A few days after the Hosu tragedy.
Tsukauchi was in his office Filing some paperwork. Or at least he was trying to. But his mind kept getting stuck on the whole Nezu case. He hadn’t known Nezu all too well, but they had talked a few times and worked together a few more. And he had always seemed to put his students first, nor did he seem like one to kill heroes.. Ruining their reputations seemed much more like his kind of approach. And that didn’t even include Midoriya.. The kid had risked his life to save a stranger's life, and he saw just how much the kid had fought to be recognized in the sports festival.. It just didn't sit right with him.
His offices invoice chimed “Tsukauchi you got some people here to see you”
He hit the button ‘tell them I’m busy” . He had more important things to do than to have another person tell him he should ‘take it easy’.
The reply came quickly “They’re with the commission.”
He couldn’t ignore this. “Shit, Alright send them in.”
A man and a lady in suits walked in. “Detective Tsukauchi, we apologize for the intrusion but the commission has a request, and something you’ll probably want to see. They plop a folder onto his desk with a soft thud. He picks it up, opening to find a picture of one of those Nomu, this one had wings. “This was found dead near the Endeavor scene, blades puncturing its wings and head. No hero claimed the kill as their own.. But the reason we brought this to you is on the next page.”
He turned it over to see a blood test, the paper reads
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Subject had been found to be genetically quirkless, The blood belonged to one Makoto Saikai, a quirkless boy who had been reported missing from his home by one Tsukauchi Naomosa of the Mustafa Police force alongside his parents.
Tsukauchi felt his hands shake as he put down the paper, he turned to the two in his office “This has to be All For One’s doing”
They nodded “Indeed, we had even found some of his presence in the commission, And without All Might I fear we don’t have someone who can simply go toe to toe with the boogeyman.”
These two were being far too open “Why tell me all this.”
“We shouldn’t have to tell you that lately unrest has been.. less than ideal. Some are even beginning to doubt the government's ability to handle actual threats and are rioting on the streets because of it. So all we would need is for someone who's word people can trust. Someone who's quirk makes it near impossible to lie."
Naomosa rubbed his temples. "My quirk doesn't work anymore.. not much of a lie Detector without it." He hated how true that rang out in his own thoughts. He realized he had relied far too much on his quirk to parse people's intentions. To the point he couldn't really do his interrogations without it.
The official on the right gave a grin that seemed far too genuine "yes, but the public does not." she had said that as if that was it, that it solved everything. But it had lit a small fire in Tsukauchi’s heart
This made Naomosa slam the folder he had been clutching onto the desk “So you want me to lie to them? Is that it? Lie to the public and tell them we have everything under control!”
She sighed, sitting down on his desk “Look detective, we are asking you to keep the peace like your good old friend All Might would’ve. Sometimes we have to make concessions to protect the greater good. I’m sure you understand that.”
Naomosa hated himself for seeing the reason in that, every bone in his body wanted to scream out. Demand that they tell the public everything, give everyone a fair chance to not become another casualty under his belt.
“And how about this, give us this, and we will give you anything within our power. Just name it.”
Naomosa thought hard, He knew the only reason he was still on the force was his friendship with the chief. But those higher than him were starting to take notice of his lack of productivity. The constant refusals to work with other departments.
What was he thinking, he shouldn’t even be debating this.
The man shrugged his shoulders. “Heard your chief was retiring soon too. It would be a shame if someone else got the Midoriya case, I know how much you fought for that one.”
Tsukauchi lowered his face, staring at the open folder showing the boy he had failed to save. His body mangled far beyond recognition. Forgive me All Might, Chief. But I can’t let anyone else die under my watch.
“Fine, I’ll do your damn conference”
“Perfect!”
“Under one condition however, That I get every bit of information and support for the Midoriya case”
The women stood up, Shaking his hands “Of course, now we got a car ready outside for you”
They practically dragged a reluctant Tsukauchi down to the vehicle before he even knew what was happening.
This will be good, Less people rioting on the streets is always good, right?
Tsukauchi hadn’t heard from his old friend since his farce was released. Post mortemly Condemning the man he had once had a few nice chats with, who had never once shown suspicion or hesitance around him. Alongside using his faux Quirk to condemn a child whom he wasn’t even sure was guilty. All for the chance to save him.
He had slowly begun spending his nights drinking. To clear his mind, allowing him to sleep. He had stopped eating as much, spending most of his waking day finding any and every lead on both the Midoriya and the quirkless trafficking ring, which suddenly had a lot more people assigned to it after its correlation with the league of villains. He slowly got delegated to a supporting role in an investigation he used to almost solely run.
Back to the present.
Naomosa had sobered up a bit on the car ride over. Downing a cup of coffee. He half listened to his friends chastising whilst he thought of what they could have possibly found on the Midoriya case.
They walked into the station, people running. Must be a busy night. He faintly remembered his department being part of the couple that relieved most of the Hosu district's responsibilities after what had happened. Many good officers had died that day. Leaving the Hosu force at a mere 60% strength. The decline of heroes in that city didn’t help with the growing problems with petty crimes.
The chief greeted him, his ears down as his nose wrinkled. “Tsukauchi I’ve got something to show you, this way ruff”
He followed the chief to an observation room, seeing a giant of a man sitting there on the opposite side of the glass, tapping his fingers on the table. “This man was caught in Hosu after rampaging through the city, apparently chasing after someone who’s description you might recognize.”
He looked at the artist's rendition.
The chief continued “Besides the hair color and general attitude this description meets Midoriya to a tee.”
He was right, even the freckles matched up with the photo they had of him. Sure the boy seemed generally taller and much more buffed out, but it seemed to be the same kid.
“And Here’s the kicker, he says the boy attempted to stop an altercation between him and another man, before running off with his ‘friend’. “
Tsukauchi raised an eyebrow “Doesn’t seem like the same boy who had maliciously cut down both the number one hero and his former mentor.”
The chief nodded “Yes but we don’t know all the facts… and this is the best lead we have had in months. But well, the man won’t tell us where in Hosu this happened, and with all the destruction there..”
He understood the implications all too well, with the lack of established infrastructure in some parts, and the general lack of data keeping recently. Finding the boy in the wrecked city would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
The chief shrugged, “You can try talking to him, but we were lucky to get that much outta him, that and he broke the last interviewee’s arm.”
Tsukauchi nodded, reading the small file before walking out of the observatory and into the cramped room.
“Hello Goto Imasuki, I’m detective Tsukauchi and will be interviewing you tonight.”
The man laughed “What? Couldn’t get a sober one to come in after what happened last time, damn cowards.”
Tsukauchi ignored the jab. “So can you tell me exactly what you were doing when you met this boy?”
He plopped the artist’s rendition on the table.
The man shoved the paper back “I don’t know why you all give a damn about that kid, seemed like a weakling. Didn’t even try to fight me.”
Tsukauchi stared at the man as he glared at Tsukauchi. “If you help us with this, I can try and make your cell in Tartarus nicer Muscular, you’ll be going away for a long time.” He knew the chief would hate the idea, but he needed any information he could get.
Something seemed to click in the man’s head before he let out a guttural laugh. “Don’t tell me… That kid is the same that helped end Endeavor.” Tsukauchi merely nodded as he broke out into full out laughter. “Damn now I really want to fight that pipsqueak. Tell you what, you let me out and I’ll hunt down that kid for you.”
Tsukauchi sighed “You know we can’t do that. I’m afraid this conversation is over.”
As he was about to leave the muscular man stood up, as guards rushed into the room “can’t blame me for trying it the easy way” He swiped up the picture putting it in his fists as he was escorted out by guards and heroes alike. Quirk suppressing cuffs firmly on his wrists.
Dabi stalked the hospital late into the night, about to enter the side entrance when a figure jumped out of the second floor window, a bag in hand. He landed directly on top of Dabi.
Dabi felt the heat rise to his hands before he saw the smiling face of the kid.. Izuku from earlier in the day. He hissed out “What are you doing here”
The kid dragged himself up, pulling dabi with him as an alarm began to sound “Helping you of course,”
Dabi didn’t have the time to process that as he was dragged into an alley, the kid climbing the building as if he had been doing it his entire life, standing at the top bag in hand “I’ll head there with the goods, Just don’t get arrested for being shifty alright!” The kid jumped the buildings heading towards the clinic. He can’t believe the kid had followed him here.. Wait how had the kid followed him this far, he had made damn sure to make sure he wasn’t being followed. Sirens began to sound in the distance, forcing Dabi to move on his feet, walking through the alleys he had been a second home to after he had made the streets his home. Making his way swiftly to the clinic. Only to see the kid sitting on the steps. “Sorry for intruding, but I had to make sure you could actually pay your debts. “
Dabi scoffed “Let’s ignore the whole stalking case, since you had to have been following me for a while, I thought you had been a hero kid. Isn’t stealing a big thing for you?” he ignored the inner voice of his that chastises him for pushing his best lead away.
The kid simply smiled. Dabi noticed that the kid had changed his hair color, the tell tale freckles gone. “That hospital has been known for having quirkless patients mysteriously die in their care, if they didn’t straight up refuse them to begin with.”
Dabi saw the look in the kids eyes, the look that screamed for him to say something.
He sighed picking up the bag “Fine then, oh one thing, do you happen to know what happened to Endeavors kid that had been with him?”
Izuku flinched , “I’m not sure. Why do you ask?”
Dabi sighed “No reason in particular, they just seem to skip over that in the news is all.”
The kid raised his eyebrows at him but left it alone as Dabi walked into the clinic, his ribs nearly on fire from how much he had strained them during the run. He had a feeling he wouldn't be shaking away this kid anytime soon, since he seemed to hover over him like a damn mother hen.