Chapter 41: End of the Beginning, Beginning of the End

All Might and Batman stood next to each other in silence in the elevator as it descended downward. The building they were in was a top-secret facility that not even most pros knew about. They were in the highest-security prison in the country. It was a place where they housed their most dangerous criminals in the country, and all of them who had entered never saw the light of day again. A place where villains were sheltered away from the society they tried to destroy forever with no hope of escape, a veritable purgatory on earth: Tartarus.

And the man they were seeing could be Hades himself.

The elevator door opened and Batman and All Might stepped through. They were greeted briskly by the guards and informed that they would only get ten minutes with the prisoner. They were led into a large hallway lined with numbered vaults. The hallway and the vaults were all layered with reinforced titanium strong enough to withstand a nuclear blast, and the tempered glass viewing windows were only used when under heavy guard and with a hero present. Truly, Thought All Might. This is a place of no return.

They made their way to the end of the hallway to one of the largest vault doors, which slowly opened as they approached. Sitting in a small wheelchair attached to several medical devices sat All Might's long time foe and nemesis, All For One. Despite the fact that gnarled skin had replaced his eyes long ago, he smiled under his oxygen mask at the approach of the two heroes.

"It's about time I received visitors," He said. "I've been quite lonely. And by two prominent members of the hero community, no less. The infamous Dark Knight," He motioned his head to Batman. "And the Symbol of -- Ah, forgive me, the ex-Symbol of Peace." He added shrewdly to All Might. "The second semester must be starting soon. I would have figured you would devote yourself to teaching, but instead you come to visit me."

"We're here to get a few things straight," Said All Might.

"You have no idea how stifling it is in here," Said All For One. "If I so much as try to scratch an itch then every gun muzzle in this cell immediately points at me." He moved slightly in his chair, and true to his word, the automatic guns immediately honed in on his position. "My brainwaves and vital signs are being constantly monitored by these machines. One thought about activating my quirk and I'll likely be put down like a rabid dog. Even I would have a hard time getting free."

"You're trapped here," Said Batman. "I've made sure of it. You'll never go free."

"I'll let you believe that," Said All For One, laughing softly. "So what do you have to say?"

"I want answers," Said All Might.

"And I'll happily give them to you," Said All For One.

"That's very forthcoming of you," Said Batman.

"Don't feel flattered," Said All For One. "It's nice to have someone to talk to."

"Where is Shigaraki hiding?" Said Batman.

"Haven't the slightest," Said All For One. "Unlike your bird, mine has left the nest. Tell me, how is Young Midoriya? I do hope he is enjoying the use of his friend's quirk. You haven't had a Robin with superpowers yet, have you Batman? That'll disrupt the balance of power for sure."

"Mention him again and you won't have to worry about the guns around you ever again," Snarled Batman.

"Quaint, Batman. But Brainiac has told me everything there is to know about you, and unlike me, you have a rule against killing," Said All For One, yawning. "Still, it wasn't my intention to hurt Young Midoriya. I simply saw this as an opportunity too delicious to pass up. The boy is already so strong on his own, thanks to your training, Batman. I felt he simply deserved to have a power to match that strength, considering that he didn't want to be the next holder of One For All. Yes, I do know about that," he added to All Might at his surprised look. "The boy told me many things during his time with us. His connection to you is palpable, despite his hatred for you. Your body no longer supports One For All, but it is still there, so he obviously rejected your most gracious offer to be the next Symbol of Peace."

"What else did he tell you?" Said Batman.

"Many things," Said All For One. "But strangely enough, he did not divulge your identity, nor the identity of your cohorts, despite all my attempts to persuade him." Batman's mind immediately flashed to Jason, and a sense of sadness swept over him. Midoriya endured torture and brainwashing at the hands of a villain, just as Jason did. "Perhaps if I had a little more time with him, I could have pried it out of him," continued All For One. "But alas, time was short."

"What were you trying to achieve?" Said All Might. "What are you hoping for now? You devote your time to exploiting and controlling people, toying with innocent lives for no reason. Why?"

All For One let out a deep sigh. "Of course you would come here with a tired topic. Even if I told you, you wouldn't be satisfied. There are some people who will never understand each other." His smile deepened under his oxygen mask. "We are the same, All Might. You would never admit it, but it's the truth."

"We are not the same," snapped All Might.

"Really?" Laughed All For One. "Just as you longed to be the Symbol of Peace and Justice, I too had an ideal dream and the power to see it enacted, thanks to Brainiac. A dream of a world remade in our image. If I could live forever inside my dream then why would I begrudge the effort to make it a reality?"

"Why would you need a successor, then?" Said All Might.

"You, of all people, ask that?" Said All For One. "It is to laugh. Look at my body. I may be alive, yes, but only because of tubes and machines. My infinite potential, the potential to make my dream a reality, suddenly became finite. Just as Brainiac passed his power on to me when he was destroyed, I will pass on my legacy to Tomura."

"Let's go, All Might," Said Batman, turning to leave. "This is pointless."

"Oh, don't put a damper on things," Said All For One. "I want to keep talking. The world was probably shaken up by your retirement. So tell me, how are things actually looking on the outside?"

"We are keeping him isolated from the news," A voice over the intercom said immediately. "Please refrain from giving him any information."

"You heard the man," Said All Might.

"No matter," Said All For One. "I have an active imagination. They're worry about your sudden absence is mixing with their worry about Endeavor as the new de facto leader, and making them question the unity of Hero society in Japan. Meanwhile, those who are lurking in the shadows are compelled to act in the wake of the vacuum of power you left when you retired. They think this could be their chance to change how the world works and are starting to band together."

"They can try," Said Batman. "They'll fail."

"I'm sure most of them will," Said All For One. "In answer to your previous question, I think Tomura will continue to hide for the time being. He's going to try to ensure that it's their organization that rises to the top."

"We're leaving, All Might," Said Batman. Both of them stood and walked towards the door as All For One continued to laugh.

"Do you know what I love about this the most?" Said All For One, calling after them. "Any rise in crime moving forward is due to you concealing your fading strength. And now, you've been relegated to the sidelines, doomed to watch as villains flourish because of your own arrogance, powerless to the end of your days."

All Might paused briefly as he walked, but said nothing, and continued to follow Batman out of the cell.

Izuku was lying in a hospital bed in Kamino General Hospital, placed under heavy armed guard. It had been three days since the incident with All Might and All For One at Kamino Ward. As soon as it was safe, Alfred had received orders from Bruce to take Izuku directly to the hospital, where he was met by both Bruce and Detective Tsukauchi. They had to completely debrief him on the events that transpired during his capture. The truth was, Izuku couldn't remember much after his meeting with All For One. It was assumed this was an after-effect of the brainwashing.

The media was already calling what had happened the "Kamino Ward Incident." All For One was taken into custody after the battle and didn't put up a struggle. The casualties as a result of the battle were significant, more so than had been seen since All Might's debut. The news outlets ran continuous reports on the Symbol of Peace, who was taken to the hospital and reported to be in stable condition. The world continued to praise All Might for his actions, but with the seemingly abrupt loss of his power and retirement, many of the news outlets began to question his fitness to continue teaching at UA. Some believed that UA's troubles began once he was hired on as staff.

Since the battle, Izuku had yet to hear from Bruce since they debriefed him at the hospital, though he was visited by Alfred, Dick, Barbara, and his mother shortly after he was admitted. His injuries he had sustained from the attack on the training camp had all but healed inexplicably during his incarceration. He was having difficulty sleeping, plagued by a recurring nightmare: a frightening hand reaching for him, immobilized and helpless as it changed him, warped him into something else, something unnatural.

Several doctors continuously came in and out of his room to examine him. Each one of them were more baffled than the last. Izuku had become patient zero overnight for a condition that the scientific community hadn't believed was possible: quirk appropriation. For all intents and purposes, Izuku was healthy. The quirk had completely bonded with him as if he had been born with it. But to Izuku, it was as if a foreign entity had invaded his body. He would often watch his hands as they sparked and crackled when he activated the quirk, but it made him sick to his stomach. Every drop of nitroglycerin-like sweat that dropped from the pores of his hands seemed to scream at Izuku.

This quirk does not belong to you.

"Mr. Midoriya," Izuku was shaken from his thoughts as one of the Officers assigned to him had entered his room. He was tall with a cat-like face and a bell attached to his neck. "You have a few visitors here to see you."

"I don't want to see anyone right now, thank you," Said Izuku.

"I think this one you might," said the Officer, stepping aside. Several bodies began pouring into the room, shouting his name. Class 1-A had come to visit their friend.

"Guys, you're all here!" Said Izuku.

"We wanted to see you sooner, but the police wouldn't let us," Said Uraraka.

"Are you doing okay?" Yaoyorozu.

"Thanks to you," Said Izuku, motioning to her, Todoroki, Kirishima, Uraraka and Iida. "You broke the rules," Izuku added seriously. "You could have gotten in serious trouble."

"We knew the risks," Said Todoroki.

"We had to come save you," Said Kirishima. "You would have done the same for any one of us."

"We all saw what happened on TV," Said Mineta.

"We agreed we weren't going to talk about that, Mineta," Said Asui.

"No, it's okay," Said Izuku. "You don't have to pretend. The whole country, no, the whole world saw me attack All Might." He added bitterly.

"That wasn't you," said Uraraka immediately. "They did something to you, it wasn't your fault."

Izuku turned away. Everyone had been telling him that since he had returned to the Warehouse, but somehow, he didn't believe it. He had been playing the event over and over in his mind, and he could come to no other conclusion: he was the reason the villains attacked the camp. He was the reason his classmates got injured. He was too weak to defend himself and his friends against their enemies, despite all his training.

And worst of all, it was because of his weakness that the country no longer had the Symbol of Peace.

"You were able to break free," Said Todoroki. "You fought against his mind control just like at the sports festival. You broke free and fought back against them."

"I've never seen anything like it," Said Tokoyami.

"So, it's true," said Kaminari slowly. "What they've been saying. . . do you have a quirk now?"

Izuku paused, then raised his outstretched hand. His classmates gasped in awe as they saw the sparks crackle and pop from his palm.

"How?" Said Yaoyorozu, astonished.

"It's complicated," Said Izuku.

"Explosions?" Said Mineta. "Kinda on the nose when you think about it?"

"That's no accident," Said Izuku.

"What do you mean?" Asked Shoji.

"Wait," Said Kirishima. "Didn't you say you had a friend with an explosion quirk?"

Izuku fell silent, a dark shadow creeping over his face. After a moment, Ojiro cleared his throat. "Maybe we should let Midoriya get some rest," He said. "He's been through a lot."

The rest of the group murmured words of encouragement to Izuku as they left, but Uraraka, Kirishima, Iida, and Todoroki stayed behind.

"Deku," Said Uraraka. "Is it true?"

Izuku didn't need her to elaborate on her question. "Yes," He said.

"How is that possible?" Said Iida, shocked.

"I don't know," Said Izuku. "He seemed to know everything about me. He knew about Kacc--" the name stuck in his throat. "The quirk's previous holder. He knew my connection to him. This was all part of some twisted ploy."

Izuku felt tears running down his cheeks as he lifted his hands to his face. "All my life I waited and wished desperately for a quirk of my own, and this is how it happens," He said through the sobs. "I'm not worthy of this quirk. I don't want it. I don't know what to do."

Uraraka and Kirishima sat down next to Izuku on his bed, comforting him through his sobs. Izuku had been bottling this for a while. He hadn't told Bruce, Alfred or even his mother.

"Make it your own."

Izuku looked up to Todoroki. "That's what you said to me at the Sports Festival," He said. "'It's your quirk, not his.' I can't understand the circumstances of which you have received this quirk, but I can understand the feelings that come with an unwanted quirk. But if you are true to your own word, then it does not matter where this quirk came from. It's your quirk now."

"Todoroki," said Iida. "Don't be insensitive."

"I'm sorry," Said Todoroki. "But it is the truth. This is no longer your friend's quirk, it is yours. Fighting against it will only hurt you and your growth as a person and a hero." He placed his hand on Izuku's shoulder. "I lived my whole life hating my father's quirk only for you to help me realize that I don't have to, because it's my quirk and not his. You don't have to go through what I went through."

"You have your friends, Deku," Said Uraraka.

"That's right," Said Iida. "We will help you through this."

"We're here for you, man," Said Kirishima, patting him on the shoulder. Izuku felt his tears flow freely, but they were no longer tears of pain and sadness.

All Might was walking down the street toward Izuku Midoriya's apartment. They had released him yesterday, and today he and Aizawa were meeting with the student's parents to discuss a new policy implemented by Principle Nezu in an attempt to increase student safety while attending UA: on campus dormitories.

To their surprise, the students' parents had all been supportive of UA, most likely due to All Might's heroic actions at Kamino Ward. He had given up everything trying to save them from a seemingly impossible-to-beat villain. Even without his powers, and despite all the bad press, they still trusted UA enough to guide their children in these frightening times. It was a humbling experience for All Might.

But then there was Midoriya's mother.

He had asked Aizawa to let him speak to her alone while he went to visit the other students. He was only a short distance away, but the walk seemed to last an eternity, with each footstep getting heavier. He hadn't spoken with Midoriya since the incident at Kamino ward. He wanted to visit him in the hospital, but the last time he did that the results were less than ideal. He figured that he was the last person he would want to speak to anyway, and didn't want to awaken any unnecessary trauma from what had happened. The poor boy had suffered so much, and deep down, All Might blamed himself.

He had to make this right somehow.

"Toshinori."

All Might was pulled out of his thoughts at the sound of his name. He had made it to Midoriya's apartment complex, but he wasn't alone. Leaning against a shiny Rolls Royce was Bruce, who had appeared to be waiting for him.

"Bruce?" Said All Might. "What are you doing here?"

"Midoriya is my student," Said Bruce. "I am as much responsible for his abduction as UA. Come on," He gestured for All Might to follow him. "This isn't going to be easy."

Bruce and All Might sat across the table from Izuku and Mrs. Midoriya. She had provided coffee and cake for them, was polite and courteous, but they both could feel the icy glare that came from her eyes. Bruce stood stoically as usual, but All Might felt like he was sinking in his seat.

All Might cleared his throat awkwardly. "You probably already know why we're here," he said. "You received a notice that UA is moving our students to dormitories."

"Yes, I saw it," She said simply.

"Wayne Enterprises has seen to it that the dormitories are equipped with the highest security measures available," Said Bruce. "And having the students on campus will allow UA to closely monitor who is coming and going from the school. The security measures utilize DNA mapping so that only those with matching signatures can access the campus, so --"

"I appreciate the lengths you have gone through," Said Mrs. Midoriya. "But I have made up my mind. Izuku won't be returning to UA."

Izuku gasped. All Might flinched slightly, but wasn't surprised. Her boy had been kidnapped and UA was powerless to stop it. If he had a child, he would feel the same way. He looked over towards Bruce, but his expression was still passive, almost calculating.

"Mom, you said yesterday -" Izuku began.

"I know what I said," Mrs. Midoriya replied. "But I've changed my mind." She looked directly into All Might's eyes. "Izuku had admired you for so long, ever since he was a child. And you," She turned to Bruce. "You believed in him and gave him the chance to fulfil his dreams. I know that he has worked so hard for this, and has achieved so much, but. . ." she paused, quivering slightly. "When I received the call that he had been kidnapped it felt like my world had come to an end. I saw him on TV, suddenly using a quirk, and attacking All MIght. That wasn't the sweet baby boy that I had raised. The police told me what they did to him." Tears began to flow freely from her eyes. "I won't let him go through that again. I can't go through that again."

"I understand your trepidation," Said Bruce.

"With all due respect, Mr. Wayne," Said Mrs. Midoriya. "I know about your reputation as a playboy. How could you possibly know what it's like to lose a child?"

"Mom!" Said Izuku.

"It's okay, Izuku," Said Bruce. "Let her speak."

"You also have Batman training my boy," Continued Mrs. Midoriya. "I've seen on the news what they say about him. They say he's an unlicensed vigilante with a violent history. His path is paved with blood. As is yours," she added to All Might. "As a citizen, I am thankful for what you have done to save this city. But as a mother. . ." She turned to Izuku. "I know you want to continue going to UA. But I can't take it anymore. He was kidnapped, tortured, and was given a quirk by force and brainwashed into fighting the Heroes trying to save him. I don't understand how such a thing could have happened, and to my son. I don't have the nerves to trust my son to attend UA, not after everything that has happened."

"It's not their fault, mom!" Said Izuku.

"They're your teachers, aren't they?" Said Mrs. Midoriya. "Isn't it their job to keep you safe?"

"But if it wasn't for Batman, I wouldn't be where I am today!" Izuku said.

"You're right," Said Mrs. Midoriya. "You wouldn't be. And who knows where you'll be tomorrow. Dead, like his last sidekick?"

All Might and Izuku blanched in surprise. Bruce remained stone-faced. "They said that his last sidekick was killed by a villain," Mrs. Midoriya continued. "How can I possibly let you go back to that man and trust him to protect you when he couldn't protect him?"

Silence stretched between them. "I may be acting like an overprotective parent," Said Mrs. Midoriya, breaking the silence. "I don't want to steal my son's dreams away from him. There are other schools out there besides UA, and other people who can teach him besides Batman."

Izuku looked helplessly at Bruce, who didn't break his gaze from Izuku's mother. He stood to his feet and sighed deeply. "I'd like you to come with us, Mrs. Midoriya, if you don't mind," He said. "There is something I would like to show you."

Bruce, All Might, Izuku, and Mrs. Midoriya all drove in silence in Bruce's Rolls Royce. He hadn't explained where they were going, or why he suddenly wanted to leave now. Izuku was scared. His dream of attending UA and becoming a hero seemed to be over just as it had begun. And Ironically, after he had finally obtained a quirk. He wondered what Bruce was going to show them, but he had little hope it would change his mother's mind.

They drove until they reached Wayne Tower, but they didn't drive to the parking structure. Instead, Bruce took them to the false wall, pressing on a small device to open it.

"Bruce!" Said Izuku. "What are you doing?"

"It's okay, Izuku," Said Bruce.

"Are you sure about this?" Asked All Might.

"She has a right to know," Said Bruce.

"What is going on?" Said Mrs. Midoriya.

"All will be explained soon, ma'am," Said Bruce, driving through the opened wall. Izuku's mind was racing as they descended to the Warehouse. What was Bruce planning? How was this going to help. He wanted to ask a million questions, but felt it was best to remain silent for now.

The elevator stopped at the bottom level. Bruce stepped out and let the rest of them out of the car. Izuku's mother gasped in surprise as she took in her surroundings. "What is this?" She demanded. "Some sort of military bunker --" She stopped in shock as her eyes fell upon the Batsuit in the storage container. Her eyes darted between Bruce and the Batsuit, completely at a loss for words. They all turned as the door adjacent to them opened, Alfred walking through only to stop short at seeing Izuku's mother.

"Alfred?!" She said.

"Mrs. Midoriya!" Said Alfred, a slight look of surprise on his stoic face. He looked between her, Izuku, Bruce, and All Might for a few seconds before finally speaking. "Ah," he said awkwardly. "I see you have come across our little secret. I suppose there is no use in denying it." He bowed his head in mock shame. "I am the Batman."

It was all Izuku could do to stifle a laugh.

"It's okay, Alfred," Said Bruce, smiling slightly.

"Jolly good, Sir," Said Alfred. "I'll go get the kettle on." He disappeared back through the door, leaving the four of them alone. A few minutes later, they were all sitting around the table, Izuku's mom having composed herself.

"You're telling me. . ." Mrs. Midoriya said. "All this time. . . and those things I said. . . ?"

"It's okay, Mrs. Midoriya," Said Bruce. "You said what you needed to say. And you are right to say those things," he added. "I wasn't able to save your son before they took him. I wasn't able to keep him safe. For that, I am sorry."

"Master Bruce did not sleep for the entire time Master Izuku was taken," Said Alfred, offering her a crumpet. "He spearheaded Izuku's search and rescue with the police."

"I. . . didn't know that," Said Mrs. Midoriya.

"There is one thing that you got wrong, I'm afraid Mrs. Midoriya," Said Bruce. He pulled out his wallet from his suit coat pocket, producing a small picture from within. Handing it over to his mother, Izukur recognized the boy in the picture immediately.

"Robin. . . Jason. . . was more than just my sidekick," He said. "He was my son."

Mrs. Midoriya looked up from the picture in shock, handing it back to him. "I'm so sorry," She said. "I didn't know."

"There's no way you could have known," Said Bruce. "In many ways, your boy reminds me of him."

"But you should know then why I don't want him to go back," Said Mrs. Midoriya. "Why I want to keep him out of danger."

"I do understand," Said Bruce. "Just as any good mother would want to."

"Then what is going on here?" Said Mrs. Midoriya. "What are we doing here?"

Bruce leaned over and turned on the holographic projector on the table. "I wanted to show you this," He said. Izuku was surprised to see it was footage of his time training in the warehouse. "Your son has accomplished so much. When others had written him off as a lost cause, it was his determination to become a hero that allowed him to push past his limits. I didn't recruit your son just to get him into UA High." The camera switched over to Izuku coming to Uraraka's aid when she was accosted on the street. Izuku was surprised (but not completely surprised) that he had this footage.

"Your son was already a hero before I met him," Continued Bruce. "We live in a world where in order to be called a Hero you have to hold some sort of special license. But in reality, anyone can be a hero." He turned off the projector and turned back to Mrs. Midoriya. "I don't believe that your son needs UA, me, or anyone else to be a hero. I think that he had what it takes to be a hero from the start. And I believe. . . I know that he is going to accomplish great things. No matter the school, no matter the teachers."

"He's right," Said All Might. Izuku jumped. He had almost forgotten he was here. All Might stood, suddenly entering into his muscle-form, and knelt in front of Izuku and his mother, bowing his head till it touched the floor. "I owe you both an apology," he said. "I was one of those doubters who had written him off as hopeless. I, the person who he admired and believed in the most, did not share his belief in him." There was a small flash of smoke as he returned to his de-powered form, but he stayed in his bowed position. "I was foolish not to see what Mr. Wayne had seen in him. Foolish and blind. But I see the truth now. I do not just believe that your son is already a hero, but I believe that he will one day surpass me as the Number One Hero. I believe with all my heart that he will become a greater hero than I or Batman could ever be."

"What are you saying?" Said Mrs. Midoriya, shocked at his words. "What is this?"

"I apologize for not believing in your son," Said All Might. "I apologize for not being there to save him. I should have been giving him my all as his teacher, but was too foolish and stubborn to see his full potential. I'm sorry. I implore the both of you to forgive this past weakness." He finally rose from his bowed position, standing. "It is true that my and Bruce's path is filled with blood, but that is the exact reason I believe that Young Midoriya should remain as his student. Together, we can show him how to find his own way, free of the mistakes that we have made in the past."

"All Might," said Izuku softly. He had never seen this side of him before.

"The heroes at UA know that things can't continue as they've been," Continued All Might. "We are committed to keeping your son and all our students safe. I will protect your son, even if it costs me my life."

"As will I," Said Bruce, standing next to All Might.

Izuku felt tears well up in his eyes. He looked at his mother, who was wiping her own tears from her eyes. "I don't hate any of you," said Mrs. Midoriya. "I don't hate UA either. But I want Izuku to be safe and happy. All Might, Mr. Wayne, Izuku needs you, all of you, to protect him, guide him and raise him in ways that I can't. But my heart will not take losing him again. If you can promise me that you can keep him safe, then he can return to UA.

"You have my word," Said Bruce.

"And mine," Said All Might.

"Izuku," Said Mrs. Midoriya. "If you go back to UA, you have to be so careful."

"I will," Said Izuku. "I won't make you worry."

"All Might, Mr. Wayne, and even you Alfred," Said Mrs. Midoriya. "Please take care of my boy."