Chapter Text
The fic gets better, trust. I just don't feel like editing the early chapters right now🙏
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'I... am going to die in here.'
Lying in the fetal position on the floor of the smoke-filled room, those words echoed in your head. You couldn't move your arms. Your legs had already given up. And when you tried to open your mouth to call out for help, your throat felt like it was getting stabbed by a thousand needles.
'I'm going to die in here... and they're going to put that god-awful school id photo of mine on the news when they show the faces of all the victims.'
Earlier that day your mother had pressed a wad of bills into your hand with a wink. “Get the perfume, grab yourself a treat, and don’t tell your father.” You’d beamed, clutching the money like it was treasure. At ten years old, it didn’t take much to thrill you. But as you skipped into the candy store with a shopping bag slung on your shoulder and a fistful of dollar bills in your hand... You had the feeling something great was going to happen.
...So much for that prediction.
Now the once-bright store was a war zone. Somewhere in the corner a teenager whimpered, blood seeping down her temple and staining her bangs. Two younger kids were pressed against the freezer unit, their eyes wide and wet.
And you… Curled up on the floor of the candy store, you could barely keep your eyes open.Your senses were surely giving out, and you frowned as you thought of your mother. From your position on the floor you could clearly see the faint glow of fire slowly inching it's way towards you, though you were too drained of energy to do anything but watch.
Too dehydrated and tired to even produce tears, much less activate your quirk, you couldn't help but think that if your mother were still in her prime, she would have soaked the entire building to extinguish the flames within an instant.
You coughed halfheartedly, futilely trying to expel the smoke you were inhaling, and as you began to succumb to the alluring call of sleep you could only think of your parents. You really hoped your mom wouldn't blame herself when she found out you'd died. You hoped Dad wouldn’t cry alone in the garage. You hoped—
...One moment you were finally fading out of consciousness, the next you felt wind on your face and a powerful arm wrapped around your waist.
Sucking in a breath tentatively, you found that the smoke your lungs were now inhaling was much less pronounced than it had been before you passed out, and as you slowly opened your eyes, you were met with the unmistakable side profile of All Might—the Symbol of Peace.
Or that was what you thought you were seeing, at least. The tears that had suddenly decided now was the time to make their entrance partially obscured your vision, but you were sure of it. You were being rescued by All Might himself.
Hearing your sniffling, the man turned his head towards you and shifted his hold of another child in his arms in order to wipe your tears. As you blinked, you were nearly blinded by a smile bright enough to rival the sun. There were other small children in the man's arms, one even draped over his shoulder, but you hardly noticed them as you locked eyes with your new idol.
"𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮. 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚."
...Something great happened that day indeed.
"[Name]! You applied for U.A., didn't you?"
Your teacher smiles at you, silently imploring you to continue where he left off.
You grin, shutting your book with flair and standing like you're already center stage, causing the students in the classroom who hadn't been listening before to perk up. "That's right! I'm gonna get accepted and train to become a pro hero!" Grinning widely, you ignore the exasperated sighs and laughs of your classmates.
"[Name]? She's been talking about going to U.A. since forever! You think she'll actually make it?"
"That school's like mega selective. If she's gonna have a chance at getting in, she'll have to train hard."
You smile at your book as you sit back down, shaking your head. They'd better believe it. You'll pass that exam if it's the last thing you do.
At that moment the bell rings, and you're the first person out their seat, hastily packing up your bag and making your way to the door.
"[Name]!"
You stop and turn as Ruby barrels toward you, her feathered wings flapping with each hurried step. "[Name]! You weren't planning on leaving me, were you?" The girl quickly catches up to you and immediately links her arm in yours, giggling as the two of you walk out the doors of the classroom.
"So..." You give Ruby your attention, tilting your head as she pauses, seemingly contemplating her next words.
"You ended up applying to U.A. after all, huh."
Smiling excitedly, you turn forward again, your arm still intertwined with hers.
“Of course I did. It’s all I’ve wanted since—well, you know.” You lean closer and stage-whisper, “All Might went to U.A, Ruby. All Might.”
The girl sighs, though there's no annoyance behind the action. She just lightly slaps your arm with her free hand, grinning at you. "Yes, I know. You only mention that every single time we get on the topic of him, so yeah."
"But..." She winces, and you see uncertainty flicker over her features. "I know how much this means to you, but have you even told your dad yet?"
You stiffen. It’s subtle, but she notices it in the way your steps falter. Frowning, you keep your eyes trained in front of you and chew the inside of your cheek, not knowing how to respond to her question.
"If you don't wanna talk about it right now it's fine," she quickly backtracks, her small wings flapping behind her in distress. "But... I really think you should at least mention it before you make the decision. You know how he feels about it."
Sighing, you drop your arm as the pair of you reach the block your house is on. Looking back at your friend tentatively, you open your arms and pull Ruby into a hug, smiling against her shoulder. "No. You’re right. I’ll tell them tonight. I owe them that much. I'll let you know how it goes when I see you." Releasing her from the hug, you're surprised to see small tears gathering in her eyes.
"Ruby?"
The girl pulls you into another hug, nearly crushing your ribs in her strong hold.
"I hope it all works out, [Name]. I'll still be sparring with you over the weekend regardless of what happens, so you'd better be ready for me!" She huffs with new determination in her eyes.
Finally letting you go, Ruby grins at you once more, before turning back to go to her own house.
"You did 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?"
You should have expected your father's fuming when you decided to tell him about your applying to U.A, but you still involuntarily cower as the man frowns at you in disappointment. "Dad, you've got to understand! This is what I want to do! I've been training, and I seriously think I have a chance!" You pause before pouting. "Don't you want me to be happy?"
Your father crosses his arms, refusing to take the bait.
"You know it's not a matter of whether or not I believe in your abilities. Have you already forgotten what happened to your mother- Ow!"
Looking behind your father, you see your mother rolling towards the two of you in her wheelchair, glaring at her husband as he recovers from the blast of water she shot at his back.
"What's going on here?"
Your father sighs, attempting to wring out the back of his shirt as he turns around.
"Honey-" You mother glowers at her husband in response, shutting him up before she looks to you, sympathy washing over her features. "[Name], what is your father pestering you about now." She shoots him another glare and your father sighs in defeat, not wanting a blast of water to the face.
"Mom... I applied to U.A." Eyes immediately widening in delight, your mother rolls over to you, grabbing your waist and pulling you into a hug.
"Really? [Name]... You don't know how happy I am to hear that... I've always hoped you would decide to follow in your old mom's footsteps."
Behind your mother, your father clears his throat, causing the pair of you to pull away from each other. "Honey. I know you're happy about this, but shouldn't we think this over before throwing our daughter headfirst into danger? You decided to become a hero and look where that left you! Stuck in this wheelchair and unable to use your legs."
Your mom shifts. “I remember what happened. But I also remember why I fought in the first place. You don’t get to take her dream away from her because of me.”
Your father's expression darkens as he looks at his wife, though he quickly recomposes himself. “You don’t know what it was like,” he says to her. “Watching the footage on the news. Seeing your body go limp when that villain crushed your back. Then looking into our eight year old daughter’s room and wondering how to tell her. Wondering if she’d ever get to say goodbye.” He pauses, gazing at her with a faraway look in his eyes.
"If you hadn’t been healed in time… you would’ve died, and I wouldn't have been able to do a damn thing to stop it."
He turns to you now, the whites of his eyes tinted pink.
“I can’t go through that again. I almost lost her. I can’t lose you too.” You step forward when you hear him sniffle. "[Name]... Every day you look more and more like your mother. Believe me, I know you have what it takes to be a hero. I've seen you training in the backyard late at night when you think everyone's asleep."
He pauses, looking you in the eye. "It's a selfish thought, but when you got caught up in that villain attack back then... A part of me hoped going through such a life-threatening experience would be the final straw for you to give up on being a hero altogether." He pauses, before allowing a wistful smile to spread across his face. "But I should have known how resilient you are."
Your father finally allows his tears to fall, his bottom lip trembling as you pull him into a bone-crushing hug.
"I know, dad. I know you only want whats best for me, but U.A. Is a reputable school. Nothing bad could possibly happen within those walls." You look up at your father, meeting his teary gaze. "Let me try. I know I can do it."
Your father closes his eyes and exhales through his nose, before finally nodding once.
"Okay." Stiffening, your eyes widen in surprise. "Really?" Your father opens his eyes and smiles at you, nodding again. “I don’t love this, but I love you. And if this is your path... I’ll try to support it.”
Grinning, you squeeze tighter, causing your father to yelp in protest. "Ack- don't kill me, please."
With one last squeeze you finally release him, looking back to see your mom smiling at the two of you, her own eyes starting to fill with tears.
"We believe in you, [Name]." She smiles wider. "Now go make us proud."