Chapter Text
Fire Breathing. He had always been told that was his father's Quirk. An ability to produce flames with a breath. He only ever saw smoke billow out from his nostrils at parties. However, now? As he sits with his mother in the living room, barely a toddler, yet so excited for what comes on the television.
He watches him use it for the first time, a pair of young emerald eyes glued to the grainy television screen, as a man of impressive physique wearing a shimmering red star themed costume evaporates an entire rock slide with one breath. Gold linings with black stars.
Other super heroes all work hard to save lives from the active volcano, the dormant super mass now forced into a rumbling rampage from a group of horrible villains, with an unseen battle happening within the base.
Space Hero: Thirteen, uses her Black Hole Quirk to suck up as much debris as possible to allow people freedom from being buried under rubble, though earthquakes keep her busy as structures continue to fall.
But not all, thanks to the ever stylish Fiber Hero: Best Jeanist, using his threads to keep the most populated buildings standing and looking cool as ever doing it.
While the Punching Hero: Death Arms, and the Excavation Hero: Power Loader, tunnel through debris to save those trapped in precarious situations.
There is a collective shout amongst the distressed citizens as a deafening explosion sounds from the volcano. Another eruption, but the blazing star acts swiftly, flying high then swooping low as he digs another trench into the ground that keeps the flowing lava from reaching the city.
Another one sounds, as from the base comes a geyser of fire, and the spectacle of a battle coming out to the forefront.
A monster, bipedal with glowing cloven hooves and made from the element of fire itself with a rocky hide, resembling the ancient Minotaur of Greek legend lands at the edge of the city.
[ "HAHAHA! LOOK HOW MANY OF YOU IT TAKES TO STOP JUST ONE OF ME!" ]
It notices the camera, then gestures to itself, speaking in great pride.
[ "I am, Minotaurus! AND I WILL BRING FIRE UPON THE WORLD!!!" ]
A number of Heroes show up, all that the boy watching has bought merchandise of, all except one. The fire breather. Coming in from above like a shooting star, he barrels into the flaming beast, a visible wave of kinetic force appears from impact as the monster creates a small canyon from its body.
[ "You five! Focus on civilian safety and collateral damage reduction! I'll take this one away so the others will calm the volcano down!" ]
[ "Huh?! Who do you think you are giving out orders like that?! You just showed up out of nowhere! How can we trust-!" ]
Asks one of the older Heroes, a veteran at this kind of thing, one that is interrupted as the fire breather catches Minotaurus' arm as the monster returns at the speed of lightning. A thundeclap sounds as fist meets palm.
Immediately, the flying wonder expertly puts the beast into an arm lock, before spinning around at such speeds that a hurricane wind begins to form. Before it becomes too much, he launches Minotaurus over the horizon far above the sky and towards the sea.
[ "My name, is Star Man." ]
That is all he says before he flies away, a great gale nearly pushes the camera man off of his feet, while other camera cuts show Star Man flying after the monster.
This day also saw the debut of another. A man that could do the impossible when all thought it unthinkable, saving as many lives as a hundred heroes, all by himself.
[ "Fret Not! Don't Give Up! Smile Through It All! Wanna Know Why? Because, I! Am Here!" ]
Wearing the all-American colors of red, white and blue, with sharp arrows and a golden mane with two tufts of hair sticking up like horns is a man that holds up a building with one hand. While doing so, he carries the weak and injured all over his body.
[ "I! Am All Might!" ]
On that day, two polarizing stars were born in the eyes of the media. The Symbol of Peace in the Number One Pro Hero: All Might. The ideal Super Hero. A perfect white smile, brimming with positivity and optimism, a true social butterfly that could make even the darkest of days shine bright with the power of his fists.
But then there is his Polar Twin, the Ice Blooded Nova: Star Man. His helmeted mask opens to a small vent where his mouth allows him to blow unstoppable flames, but that is all anyone has ever seen of him, and at times all they hear. Stoic, blunt, and a full-force fighter. Rarely does Star Man ever help in saving lives, though he never ignores pleas for help, he is a warrior first and foremost.
Without any sense of mercy.
Villains shudder at the mention of their names, people cheer at the sight of them, and all cry out in adulation.
One day, Star Man does something unexpected after subduing a giant monster that crawled out of the ocean, forcing it back to the watery depths below. He lands on the beach and the press immediately floods him.
[ "Star Man! Star Man! Are you going to answer some questions today?!" ]
[ "Hey! He's looking this way! Wow you're bigger this close!" ]
[ "Say, what's your Quirk? Is it some kinda furnace thing?" ]
[ "Star Man, why do you show no remorse for the lives you've taken!? Do you think of yourself as above the law?!" ]
[ "Do you have any comments on the theories of your origin? Are you even human?!" ]
Star Man looks at the cameras, eyeing one by one until he finds it.
The news station, and thus, the camera that his boy is looking through. A pair of young green eyes widen in shock as this heartless hero points at him and states.
[ "I only stopped to say one thing! There are many young faces that are the future of tomorrow! I'm not the one they should strive to be! They need to be better, they will be better, because we will show them how to be better! I know you're watching, and one day, it'll be your turn out here!" ]
For the world's newest generation of youth, an endorsement like this from the cold-hearted super vigilante had quite the effect, as a boost to activity would skyrocket. Heroes, Vigilantes, and Villains are all emboldened by these words.
But for one young boy, those words meant the world, and would be the catalyst of a long journey towards greatness...
"I apologize, ma'am, but your son is Quirkless, Midoriya-san."
Says the doctor. Izuku Midoriya, a young boy of only four years old, sits there in his mother's lap with a stunned smile of disbelief plastered on his face. Inko Midoriya glances between him and the doctor.
"A-Are you sure? It might be something subtle-! I mean I can only lift small objects within close range-!"
"I'm afraid it isn't something like an Emitter type. It's this."
He pulls up an X-ray of Izuku's foot, pointing at one of his joints.
"He's missing a specific joint right around, here. Everyone that has a Quirk is born with one, whether the manifestation of one is obvious or not, so without it... One cannot hope to develop one."
"B-But there has to be something you missed? I mean, my husband is-!"
She stops herself, as if she had remembered something vital, mumbling and muttering under her breath with a hundred words a second. The doctor, somewhat unnerved by her incoherent ramblings, clears his throat which brings her back to reality.
"Is your husband, Quirkless? I wouldn't blame it on him! It happens more often than you think-! Quite a few families just happen to have a Quirkless family member among them!"
She shakes her head, a small yet forced smile on her face.
"No-! No, not blaming, it's... Complicated. Thank you for your time, sensei."
The drive back home was awkwardly silent for both mother and son. She expected him to have a thousand questions, though he has always been a quiet and polite boy, unlike his father.
The only thing those two shared save for their noses, was that they were incredibly quiet people, and that made it hard for them to bond.
She knows her son loves Hisashi Midoriya. A lot of people around the world do. However, just as many do not, as they only know him as the infamous Star Man. He is rarely home due to his heroic duties, often on camera, often cheered on by Izuku.
However, the rare times he is home, the two can barely speak to each other. She can see it gets to them both. Izuku does not know the man behind the helmet, and Hisashi is unsure if he should even allow him to, considering his lifestyle and choices.
Every and any controversy tied to his actions would immediately fall upon the boy. That is not even to bring up the fact that he is not human at all. It is that fact she must now have them both confront. A fact they agreed to keep from Izuku unless absolutely necessary.
"Izuku... There's something your father and I have been meaning to tell you."
"Huh?"
He asks as her voice takes him from his own day dream.
"I-I know the doctor said you're Quirkless... And he may be right... However, so is your father."
Izuku's eyes widened at the reveal.
"B-But, his Quirk! Isn't it called Furnace??? He heats up and becomes super powerful from all the heat energy!"
She giggles, thinking back on the old conversation she had with him, shaking her head as she replies while reminiscing.
"That was just a lie we made up on the spot. Most buy it, some don't believe it, but the truth is he uses a special tool that allows him to breathe fire for a short period of time. That's it."
His eyes widen into dinner plates, gawking with each new mind blowing revelation.
"B-But he! He! He flies!!! He can carry a mountain!!! He punches super hard-! And-and-and! He can breathe in space!"
She laughs further, lighter, for she loves seeing him brighten up. Seeing him happy is the greatest feeling she has known.
"Well, first off! He doesn't breathe in space. He just, holds it, much better than we humans can. Secondly? All of that isn't a Quirk Ability... That's just how he was born. I'm thinking... You might be like that too, someday."
"... Be like, Dad?"
He says with wonder. Is she getting his hopes up? She should probably ground him before he throws himself off the roof.
"You don't have any powers or the like, now! So don't do something silly, like running into traffic, or jumping from scary heights, okay?! And! This is an important secret! Your father worked hard to try to fit in. Please, don't tell anyone else?"
He nods rapidly, excited. Whatever dour funk that possessed him before has been exorcised by the sheer joy of this new discovery.
She sighs, wondering if she did the right thing...
"Are you an alien?"
Izuku asks at dinner. It had been some months since his physical examination, and now, for the first time in the year, the whole family has dinner together. Of course, Inko had thought to bring the matter up herself, but Izuku had ruined whatever subtlety she wanted to use.
"Yes."
Hisashi casually replied, shocking his wife.
"Hisashi-!"
"He's four years old, he should know these things by now, but why ask?"
Izuku's eyes begin to sparkle which, to her further confusion, seems to make this apathetic statue of stoicism that she calls her lover... Smile?
"Mom said you were! We-We! We! We did my Quirk test! I... I failed..."
His mood dampens slightly as he watches his father, pleading for his input without verbally asking for it. He gets his answer as the large man continues to eat his meal, taking his time to enjoy the flavor Inko added to each bite.
He does not look at his son when he answers, but he does not hesitate either.
"That's good."
At that, both Inko and Izuku look at him oddly. The silence finally gets him to look up from his meal, black dots dart between them before he elaborates.
"My DNA should make it difficult for a Quirk to even manifest, and even if you did have one, it could potentially be phased out as time goes on. You told him about the Hell Pits?"
"Please don't call them that..."
Inko begs with a weary frown. He grins. The gesture knocked her back, for he rarely smiled. The only times she can recall him smiling is their wedding, and Izuku's first birthday, for that is how rare the expression is.
"Well then, what about Blaze Pops?"
"Much better-! And I did. That's all I told him though. I figured you'd be better at telling him the rest."
"Good call."
He brings the bowl up and swallows the remaining scraps, leaving his dish clean, but displeasing his wife in the process as Izuku copies him with less than clean results.
"Don't eat like your father, dear."
Hisashi stands from his seat and then makes his way over to Izuku before picking the boy up from his chair.
"Listen to me well, son. I am from a planet very far away. We were going through our own troubles, something I'll tell you about when you're older, but we soon learned how to be better people. How to fix pollution, how to solve hunger, poverty... Well, we worked hard and we're continuing to work harder to make the universe a better place."
He brings him in close for a hug.
"I was sent here to do just that for Earth. One day, someday, I hope to introduce you to the rest of our people. Then, you won't be so lonely anymore."
Izuku hugs his father back, tighter than he had ever hugged him, for this is the first time his father ever hugged him first... Let alone, at all.
For Inko, that day marked a breakthrough, that she had finally achieved her goal in making her husband more human. For Izuku, it would be the day everything changed, and hope had never left his heart as he heard about his destiny.
"Can I be like you and All Might?"
Hisashi laughed.
"I'd prefer you be like him rather than me. Anything worth doing in life isn't easy, Izuku. You'll have to work hard, every day, do you understand?"
He asks, putting him down, and the boy nods eagerly.
"Yeah! I'll do everything I can! To be a Hero!"
