Chapter 25 - Izuku Vs. Todoroki

"I don't want to be the kind of guy he is!"

The small child sobbed heavily in his mother's arms, shaken to his core. His father had hurt him. He always hurt him when he didn't perform his training to his satisfaction. It didn't matter to him if his arms broke, his skin tore, or his ligaments burst. The alternative of perfect performance was usually far worse for the 6-year-old Shoto.

Shoto wasn't allowed to play. He wasn't allowed to go near other children, not even his own siblings. His father said it was for his own good. He said it would make him stronger. He said he didn't have the luxury afforded to the others, and this would allow him to surpass them. He said it was his destiny and duty as his greatest masterpiece to beat All Might, and to become number one.

You live in a different world than the one I have planned for you.

Shoto didn't want to be the number one hero. He didn't want to beat All Might. His father brought him pain and misery. His anger was as hot and fierce as the flames on his face, but his eyes beneath those flames were as cold as an arctic wind. All Might was different. All Might made him feel safe. He made him feel hopeful.

But the hope would always die, overcast by the dark shadow of his father and his ambition.

Shoto sobbed harder. "I don't want to be someone who bullies you and hurts people, Mamma!"

His mother held him close, lovingly rubbing his back to calm him down. "But Shoto," she said. "You still want to be a Hero, don't you? Just remember: stay true to yourself."

"It's the final round!"

The stadium roared as Todoroki took the stage for the final match of the tournament. His previous match with Tokoyami had been difficult. His Dark Shadow quirk was immensely powerful. But the more that he continued to use his ice, the weaker the creature appeared to be. It wasn't long before Todoroki realized that the creature's weakness was light, and the reflection of the sun against his ice only exacerbated it's weakness. In the end, Tokoyami was backed into a corner, and had surrendered.

Todoroki clenched his fist as he watched Midoriya enter the ring across from him. This was the moment that he had been waiting for. The truth was he didn't hold any animosity towards Midoriya at all. He was often impressed at how resourceful and skilled he was, despite having no quirk, and his performance during hero training, the USJ incident, and the Sports Festival up to now was nothing short of incredible. As much as it pained him, it was necessary to pick a fight with him. His connection to All Might in truth mattered little to him. He was simply a means to an end. This was his chance to show that old bastard that he didn't need his quirk to be the best. He would reject him, and everything he stood for.

Midoriya ignored the roaring crowd around him, tightening his gauntlets and utility belt. Todoroki would have to play this cautiously. He had underestimated him twice before, and each time it had cost him. He couldn't take that risk this time. He would keep him at a distance, as far away from his gauntlets and tools as possible. He had to make this count. It was his last shot.

"These two heroes-in-training have both been the front-runners since the beginning of the festival!" Shouted Present Mic. "Midoriya vs Todoroki! Who will advance to be this years' Grand Champion?! The prodigious son of the Number 2 Hero, Todoroki? Or the mysterious upstart that no one saw coming, the protege of the Dark Knight himself, Midoriya?!"

Midoriya finished his preparation, finally making eye contact with Todoroki. What he saw puzzled him greatly. Midoriya was looking at him in a peculiar way, a way that Todoroki couldn't quite place. It wasn't a look of fear, anger, or determination. It was a look of pity. No, not pity. It was more than that.

Sadness. It was sadness.

Before the final match.

Izuku made his way back to the preparation room. Todoroki's battle with Tokoyami had just ended, and they had some time to rest and prepare for the finals. Izuku had to be ready. He no longer had the luxury of his opponent's ignorance to use to his advantage. Todoroki would be ready for him, and his tricks wouldn't save him this time. He would have to fight him on his terms.

Privately, Izuku was growing concerned about his gauntlets. He had used them more than he had wanted in the past few matches. They were still only prototypes, and he was worried about their integrity. He would have to use more glycerin then he was comfortable with to fend off Todoroki's attacks, and if they were compromised in the blasts, they could do some serious damage, both to himself and Todoroki. He had to be careful.

Izuku was so lost in thought that as he walked along the hallway that he didn't even realize he had almost bumped into someone. Looking up from his gauntlets, he jumped back nearly a foot, startled by the figure in front of him.

Endeavor.

"Ah, I've been looking for you," Said Endeavor, pointing at him.

Izuku cursed internally. What is it with this family and their obsession with me? He thought to himself. "What can I do for you, sir?" He asked aloud.

"I've been watching your fights against the other students," he said. "I have to say, you have impressed me. That doesn't happen easily. You have made such short work of the other contestants, Not to mention freeing yourself from the control of that brainwashing student. You're strength of will is astounding."

Izuku was taken aback. Was he actually receiving compliments from Endeavor?

"All of this without a quirk," he continued. "It is unfathomable. It is a shame that fate dealt you such a hand. If you had a quirk you could truly become unstoppable."

And there it was.

"If you'll excuse me," Izuku said, not bothering to hide the impatience from his voice. "I have to get ready."

"My son tells me that you were trained by Batman," said Endeavor as Izuku began to walk away. "I was not aware that he had taken another student. One would think that he would have let the ground settle before moving on to the next sidekick."

Izuku froze. "What do you mean?" Izuku asked. Endeavor cocked his head in confusion.

"You did not know?" He said. "He did not tell you about him?"

"Tell me what?" Asked Izuku, alarmed. "About who?"

"About the last Robin -"

"I AM HERE!"

As if out of nowhere, a large yellow blur came rushing down the hallway, flipping clear over endeavor's head and landing next to Izuku. "To say hello to Endeavor!" Finished All Might.

"All Might," Endeavor snarled. Izuku was startled by the intensity of Endeavor's glare.

"It's been a long time," All Might said. "I haven't seen you since we had that press conference ten years ago. I saw you talking with Young Midoriya here and figured I would say hi."

"Did you now?" Said Endeavor. "Well then if that's all you wanted to do, then we're done. I wasn't through talking with Midoriya."

"Come on, why the cold shoulder?" Laughed All Might. Endeavor scowl deepened. "After all," continued All Might. "You should be thrilled! After all, your son has made it to the finals, just using half his power. You must be a great teacher!"

"Are you implying something?!" Snapped Endeavor.

"No," said All Might. "I want to know your secrets. How do we train the next generation of heroes?"

Endeavor snorted. "Do you really think I would tell you anything I've taught the boy?" He said. "Your all flash and no brains as usual. Let me assure you of one thing, All Might. That kid of mine will beat you, someday. I'll make sure of it. That's why I made him."

All Might's smile faded slightly. "You did what?"

"He's in a rebellious phase right now," Endeavor continued. "But he will take your place. I'll make sure of it. It's my Shoto's duty to surpass you as the Number One Hero." He turned his gaze back to Izuku. "This fight against you will be a good testing ground for how much training he has left. If he can't beat a some vigilante's quirkless whelp, then he has longer to go than I feared. Make sure you hit him hard. Use every toy and gadget you have at your disposal. Don't disgrace him or yourself by holding back."

"Now wait just a minute -" All Might began angrily, but Izuku stepped in.

"That's enough," Izuku said. "I'm sick of this bullshit." Both Endeavor and All Might were taken aback by Izuku's sudden candor. He looked Endeavor right in the eye. "I don't know what kind of sick fantasy you have playing in your mind, but if you ask me for the work you've done all you've managed to do is raise a son that hates your guts. Now you've dragged me into this family squabble based on imagined connection you've made between me and him." He gestured to the stunned All Might next to him. "Well I'm gonna lay it out for you: There. Isn't. One. I am not the next All Might, and your son isn't going to be the next Endeavor. Even if he beats me today, even if he beats All Might someday, it will be in spite of you. Not because of you."

"Why, you insolent. . ." Endeavor said furiously. All Might quickly stepped between them.

"I think you should take a walk, friend," said All Might warningly to Endeavor. "Go see your son before the match."

Endeavor hesitated, his eyes darting back and forth between All Might and Izuku. Finally, he turned on his heel and walked away. All Might turned back to Izuku. "Way to stand up to him, Young Midoriya," he said, placing a giant hand on his shoulder. Izuku shook it off, shot a glaring look at All Might, and then walked away.

All Might sighed, scratching the back of his head in thought. "So Bruce hasn't told him about Jason yet," he said. "This could be bad."

"Let the final match," said Present Mic. "BEGIN!"

Todoroki immediately sent an enormous pillar of ice towards Izuku. The ice towered over Izuku at least fifteen feet, and approached with an intense speed. Todoroki wasn't taking any chances, he wasn't playing it safe. He wanted to see how far Izuku would go to beat him, and how much it would take him to beat Izuku.

Izuku fired off a blast from his gauntlets, shattering the ice barrage and sending an intense cold wind throughout the audience. The recoil from the blast sent ripples of intense pain through is arms. He had no way of knowing just how strong Todoroki's ice attack was going to be, so using this much power in his gauntlets was necessary, but he didn't know how much his hands could take.

"Whoa!" Shouted Present Mic. "Midoriya countered his ice attack with a gauntlet blast!"

Another ice barrage came at Izuku, faster than before. He shot another blast from his gauntlets, shattering the ice again. He felt an intense pain in his fingers that made him wince and recoil. His thumb and index finger were broken.

There was no way Todoroki didn't notice. Now he knew the amount of force to use against him. If his ice attacks didn't stop him, then all he had to do was wait Izuku out until he was too injured to continue. He was smart. Very smart.

Izuku couldn't collect much data from Todoroki's fighting style. He rarely got in close, and his ice attacks were so fast he could barely discern them. He obviously anticipated Izuku's penchant for explosives, as he braced himself by throwing up a wall of ice behind him. This would prevent him from being thrown out of bounds.

He'd have to change tactics.

"Let's continue," said Todoroki, sending a third ice barrage his way. Izuku was prepared this time, running towards the ice. At the last possible moment, he used his gauntlets to launch himself into the air above the ice, and towards his opponent. A look of surprise briefly broke across Todoroki's face as he barely dodged Izuku's incoming attack.

"You're trying to get in close," said Todoroki. "But I won't let you." He launched more ice towards Izuku as he landed from his attack. Izuku jumped too late, and his foot was encased in his ice.

No, no, no! Thought Izuku. Ice continued to grow around him as Todoroki tried to entrap him. There was nothing for it. Izuku had to go for broke. Putting his gauntlets at full power, he slammed them into the ice below him, sending an immense explosion toward Todoroki, shattering the ice and covering his adversary in smoke and soot. Izuku cried out in pain from the blast. His shoulder was dislocated, his clothes were seared and torn, and the skin on his arm he used from the gauntlet blast was blackened and burned. His muscle fibers were visible beneath the torn flesh from the burns, and blood seeped gushed from an open gash on his forehead mixed with the sweat, tears and smoke in his eyes, making it difficult to see. He looked down at his hands. The gauntlet on his injured arm was destroyed. His other was still intact, but sparking and leaking fluid. With his gauntlets nearly out of commission, he had to be extra careful now.

"That was much stronger than before," Izuku heard Todoroki say as the smoke cleared. Izuku was shocked. He had anticipated Izuku's counter attack and had surrounded himself in thick ice pillars, protecting him from being thrown out of bounds. He was different from the last time they fought one-on-one. During the hero training, Izuku was able to get the drop on him easily. His quirk had afforded him an advantage that no one else had, and was able to beat people just through sheer overwhelming force alone. But now that he no longer underestimated him, he was calling upon every skill and ability he could muster: not just his quirk, but his judgement, mobility, reasoning, all of his abilities were plain incredible, and combined together made him dangerously powerful.

But it was when Todoroki pulled himself out of his ice protection is when Izuku finally noticed: his right side was covered in frost and ice, just like in his previous matches. Without his left side to regulate his body temperature, any more big ice attacks will add to the frost, and slow his body down. The exact reason why he wanted to avoid a drawn-out match.

There was Izuku's window.

"I'm sorry about this," Said Todoroki, looking into the stands. "But thanks for drawing it out. Look at him." he gestured towards the fuming Endeavor, watching angrily from the stands. "He's furious I'm not using his power." He looked back at Izuku. "You don't look like you can fight anymore. Why don't we end this." Without even moving, he sent another pillar of ice towards the injured Izuku.

"Whoa!" Shouted Present Mic. "Todoroki continues his overwhelming attack! Could this be his finishing move?!"

Izuku suddenly lifted his dislocated shoulder upwards sharply, shrieking in pain as it popped back into place. He reached into his utility belt and pulled out a canister of explosive gel. "I'm not done yet!" He shouted.

The ice had nearly reached Izuku when an immense explosion, greater than the ones before completely shattered the ice and sent Todoroki flying towards the edge of the ring, stopping himself from falling out just in time. He stared in stunned silence when the smoke cleared, seeing the empty explosive gel canister and Izuku's injured arm outstretched. Only bits and pieces of his broken gauntlet were left on his blackened hand. His fingers were mangled and his arm stuck out at an odd angle. The sight sickened Todoroki. Midoriya had sprayed the explosive gel on his injured hand to punch the ice in an effort to both stop the attack and spare his uninjured arm.

"You're too hurt to fight, Midoriya!" Said Todoroki. "Why are you going this far?!"

"You're trembling, Todoroki."

Todoroki was taken aback. Izuku wasn't looking at him, instead hanging his head and concealing his eyes. When he spoke he sounded odd, speaking in a quiet but deeply disturbing growl. "Are you feeling cold?" Izuku continued. "It's easy to forget that quirks are first and foremost physical abilities. You're fast approaching your limit. If you used your left side, this wouldn't be a problem. But you won't. And that pisses me off." Finally his eyes met Todoroki, who stepped back in disturbed surprise. Midoriya looked as if he had been pushed over the edge, a look of mania, pain and anger.

"I've been quirkless my entire life," Izuku continued. "I've had to claw my way up with my fingernails to get here. I've trained until my bones broke, studied until my eyes bled, and worked past the point of exhaustion. And then there's you, gifted with an amazing ability far beyond the dreams of even the average Pro. I can't understand what you've gone through in your life, but the very fact you would limit yourself out of some piss-poor sense of rebellion against your douchebag of a father while the rest of us desperately give it everything we have just to be here..." Izuku walked closer, wrenching his crooked arm and fingers back into place, making Todoroki wince at the sickening cracking and crunching they made as he did. "You spit on everything that we. . . that I have worked for! Look at me, Todoroki! You haven't managed to get a single scratch on me yet. And if you can't beat a quirkless weakling like me than you don't deserve to be a hero!" Izuku broke into a full sprint towards his opponent.

"STOP SCREWING AROUND AND FIGHT ME WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!!"

In the VIP box, Bruce watched the match unfold, his face passive as usual to the untrained eye. But he gripped the arms of his chair so tightly that his knuckles and fingers had lost their color. Izuku was pushing himself too far. He had abandoned his cautious approach before and was now out for blood.

"My God," Said the woman in the wheelchair in amazement. "He relocated his shoulder and set his broken bones by himself in the middle of the match."

"That's frightening," Said the long-haired man. "But so badass."

"They need to stop this match before he kills himself," Said Alfred, worried.

"No," said Bruce. All three of them looked at him in surprise. "This is something he needs to do for himself."

"You can't be serious, Master Bruce," said Alfred incredulously. "Just

look at the state of him! He could have permanent damage."

Bruce didn't answer, continuing to watch the fight. Of course he was concerned for Izuku, but he knew the boy would never forgive him if he stopped the fight. But it was more than that. Bruce could see that Izuku wasn't just trying to beat Todoroki anymore. He was trying to draw him out, get him to use his full power. He was trying to get him at his full power. He looked over towards Endeavor, who scowled angrily at the match below. Todoroki had refused to use his fire quirk in the tournament, his father's quirk. There had to be a reason for it. A reason that Izuku seemed to know, and was now exploiting in an attempt to draw out Todoroki's full power. He's not trying to beat him anymore, thought Bruce. He's trying to help him.

Bruce couldn't help but feel proud. It was easy to beat your opponent. But helping them fight their demons, helping them get better, was the mark of a true hero.

"What are you trying to do here, Midoriya?" Said Todoroki angrily. "You want my fire? Did that bastard bribe you or something?! Now I'm mad!" As Midoriya reached the middle of the arena in his sprint, Todoroki began to run towards him as well, but his movements were slower and sluggish. He had used too much ice. Midoriya didn't break his sprint as Todoroki ran towards him. He was going to face him head on, and Midoriya was too injured to -

But as soon as they reached each other, Midoriya found his opening and landed a powerful blow to Todoroki's abdomen, causing the remaining gauntlet to explode and send him flying backwards. Izuku cried out, the explosion causing intense pain through his broken index finger and thumb. Todoroki had managed to touch him on his injured arm, and ice spread quickly on it before letting go from Izuku's punch.

Todoroki staggered to his feet, coughing from the force of the blow. Why? He thought angrily. Why is he doing this?

Aizawa watched the match unfold below him as Present Mic rambled on with is commentary. He was deep in thought as he watched Midoriya struggle throughout the fight. Midoriya was pushing himself past his breaking point.

He was full of adrenaline, and probably didn't realize how much pain he was in. To go through so much damage and still put up a fight takes an absurd amount of resolve. He looked over towards Wayne in the VIP box. What's driving him? He thought to himself. Why is he so intent?

Izuku and Todoroki continued their brawl. Izuku's remaining gauntlet was finally destroyed, and the rest of his fingers were broken from the trauma. He continued to launch himself towards Todoroki, using his remaining explosives to destroy his ice attacks. He was running low, and his fingers made them difficult to grasp and hold. Todoroki continued desperately to ward off Izuku's attacks.

"Why?!" He shouted. "Why are you putting yourself through this?!"

Izuku lunged at Todoroki, launching into a flying kick that connected squarely on Todoroki's chest, sending him backwards. Izuku hit the ground hard, unable to stop himself. Both of them struggled to get to their feet.

"I want to. . . become what. . . he isn't," Said Izuku, panting heavily. "The man who told me I could never be a hero, that my dreams were unrealistic. I want to show everyone who tried to decide what's best for me they were wrong! I want to show everyone that you can be a hero, no matter what your circumstances are. I want to stay true to myself! I want to be a pro!"

Todoroki's eyes widened. An image of his mother flashed through is mind.

Shoto.

A hard kick connected across Todoroki's face, sending him careening sideways. "And that's why I'll give it my all," continued Izuku. "Just like you should be! Stay true to yourself! Become the hero you want to be, not what he wants you to be!"

Todoroki stumbled to his feet, blood seeping down face from Izuku's blow. "Shut up," he said. Frost continued to build across his right side. "SHUT UP!"

Shoto, you still want to be a hero, don't you?

"That's why I'm going to win this!" Shouted Izuku, landing another blow. "If you can't accept yourself and who you are, then you'll get left behind! I'll surpass you!"

Todoroki felt like his mind was going to crack in two. He could hear the voices he had long since forgotten, relived memories he had buried deep inside himself.

Get up! If you get beaten that easily you can forget about beating All Might, or even a small-time villain.

A gruff, angry voice.

Stop pushing him, he's only five years old!

A kind, gentle voice.

He can take it. Get out of the way!

Pain.

I can't raise him anymore. I want to run away!

The burning pain.

Moronic woman. To hurt you at such an important time.

Where did momma go?

She tried to hurt my masterpiece, so I sent her to a hospital to keep you safe.

It's your fault.

To keep you safe.

You're the reason she hurt me!

My masterpiece.

I will reject you.

"I refuse," Said Todoroki. His body ached. He was shivering, barely able to stand for the cold and the pain. "I refuse to use my left side. I won't give him the satisfaction -"

"Fuck what he wants!" Shouted Izuku. "IT'S YOURS! YOUR QUIRK, NOT HIS!"

That's right. Children often do inherit quirks from their parents or develop similar power sets.

A different voice. A stronger voice.

But the most important thing to remember is that a quirk is what you make of it, regardless of your history.

He knew that voice.

You decide how you'll use it. Only you can decide to become a hero, no one else.

All Might?

Just remember, stay true to yourself.

The gentle voice again...

You are not a prisoner of your lineage. It's okay to use your power.

Mom!

Become who you want to be.

The audience gasped in horror and amazement as the spot where todoroki stood in the ring ring erupted in a blaze of orange and red. A wave of heat and light pulsated throughout the stadium.

"WHOA!" Shouted Present Mic over the speakers. "Todoroki is using his fire!"

Fire pulsated from Todoroki's left side, while ice continued to grow from his right, with steam and smoke billowing around him like an angry storm. "You fool," Todoroki said. "Even though you said you wanted to win this, you decided to help me. Now who's screwing around?" He dropped down into a fighting stance. "I want to do it," Todoroki continued. "I'm going to be a hero!"

For the first time since Izuku had met him, Todoroki smiled. A smile of more than euphoria or happiness, but of sheer, intense passion. He had found his passion. Izuku couldn't help but smile back, dropping down into a fighting stance himself. "It's about damn time," He said.

"YES SHOTO!"

A deep booming voice broke the cheers of the audience. Endeavor was cheering, the flames across his shoulders and chest blazing as he walked down the stairs of the audience towards the ring. "Have you accepted your purpose?" He said. "That's it. Very good! This is the dawn of a new era for us! With my blood in your veins you will surpass me! You will live up to the reason I created you!"

The audience around him were staring in blatant confusion at Endeavors sudden outburst, which contrasted completely with the silent, brooding character they had come to know as the number two hero.

"Endeavor suddenly shouts words of. . . encouragement?" Said Present Mic, bemused. "What a doting father."

But the world around them fell on deaf ears for Todoroki and Izuku. "Why are you smiling," Asked Todoroki. "With those injuries, the situation is hopeless. You must be crazy."

"All the best heros are," Said Izuku, laughing.

"Just don't blame me for what happens next," Said Todoroki.

The two ran at full speed at each other. Todoroki's ice and flames grew, and Izuku reached into his belt and pulled out every last explosive he had. Cementoss began to throw up barriers between them, and Midnight released her knock-out pheromones, trying to stop the match, but it was too late. Todoroki threw the largest barrage of Ice and fire that Izuku had ever seen, and Izuku used his grapple gun to launch himself at todoroki at full speed.

"That's it, Todoroki!" Shouted Izuku. "Give me everything you've got!"

Todoroki absently felt a small sense of relief well up inside him. I see now, Midoriya, he thought. I see what you wanted to do. Thank you.

The explosion completely shook the foundations of the stadium. Midnight and Cementoss were blown away, debris and wreckage flew in every direction as people ducked in cover. Not even the VIP box was safe from the shockwave.

"Good lord, Izuku!" Alfred shouted, shielding himself from the blast with his arm. Bruce couldn't take his eyes off the ring, though it was completely obstructed by smoke and debris. Fear began to creep into his heart as he searched desperately for Izuku. Finally the smoke and steam began to dissipate in the wind. People craned their necks in all directions trying to see the victor, or to see if anyone was even still alive.

"There he is!" Shouted the long-haired man.

Slumped against the wall of the stadium was Izuku, unconscious in a crumpled heap. There was a wave of concerned voices and screams of fear at the sight of him.

"Midoriya is...out of bounds," said Midnight, shaken. "Todoroki is this year's Sports Festival Champion!" The crowd around them erupted in cheers. Todoroki simply stood there, staring at the broken image of his classmate, when a man in a black suit jumped from the bleacher wall separating the audience and into the stadium, landing next to Izuku. He stooped down, scooping him up into his arms, and ran off down the hallway leading to the preparation rooms.

Todoroki left the destroyed ring as Cementoss and the clean-up bots went to work. Still shocked by the outcome of the match, Todoroki barely noticed the person waiting for him at the end of the hallway.

"What's the matter?" Said Endeavor smugly. "Not going to tell me to get lost?"

Todoroki ignored him.

"You need to learn to control your left side," Endeavor continued. "It's dangerous to release so much energy like that. But I'm glad you're finally seeing reason. Now that you're through with your childish rebellion, we can get back to what's important." He stuck his hand out for Todoroki to shake. "Once you graduate, you'll work by my side. I'll lead you down the path of the mighty, Shoto."

"I haven't abandoned anything."

Endeavor cocked his head, confused. "What do you mean?"

Todoroki was looking at his left hand, almost in curiosity. "Your a fool to think my feelings can be so easily reversed. Instead. . . out there . . . for that one moment, I forgot all about you. Whether that's a good or bad thing, I don't know. Maybe I don't need you." With that, Todoroki walked past his stunned father and back to the preparation room.