What Lies Behind The Mask?

Chapter III: What Am I Doing?

Trigger warnings for this chapter. This is the only warning you'll get.

The pitch-black laboratory became illuminated by the neon green sludge. Sensei sighed and leaned back on his chair. He knew he shouldn't be this affected. He was the one that wanted to test it.

But seeing him get tortured every single day made him feel things he shouldn't. He felt angry at the Doctor, his only friend for the past 60 years. He knew he shouldn't be doing this to him.

All for one watched the doctor rest inside a tank filled with neon green goo. His face was displeased with his actions. He understood the ventures the Doctor was taking. It was his orders, after all.

So he sat back and watched his friend be reborn to the same man two hours ago before he killed him. It pained him seeing his only ally be killed all over again for the orders he gave. He was a hypocrite for sure but seeing his son, his sole heir, be tortured, stabbed, waterboarded, and electrocuted just so his eyes would change.

He hated himself for taking him away from his wife. The only woman that made him feel loved, secure, and safe. All for one knew how shit he was acting; Stealing their son to experiment on him, to turn Izuku into a monster of a man.

Lord only knows how depressed Inko would be after he took him away. I hope she's doing okay, he thought, staring at his friend inside the tube floating peacefully.

She didn't deserve a man like him. He knew that. She deserves a man that will give his everything to her. Not like him. Who ran away when his son was being born. Who ran and hid from the world for who he is.

A villain. That's what he was, a villain. A villain that slaughtered thousands of people, a villain that stole riches from the world, a villain, for once in his life, wanted to be free.

He got that chance when he met his wife. Inko, my sweet, sweet Inko. Will you ever forgive me for the sins I had done? All for one pondered,

slowly rocking the short glass in his hand half empty of whiskey. The sweet perfume danced around his nostrils. How he missed that smell.

The low neon light coming from the tube illuminated him before taking a sweet sip from the glass. He once hated drinking whiskey - it reminded him of his past. Taking a deep breath, Sensei leaned back on his chair and watched the bubbles from the tube rise.

Will you ever see the purpose of me taking our son? He then took a cigarette case out of his jacket. He knew how hard it was to stop. It was all thanks to his wife that he finally found the courage to throw away the damn thing.

But here he was again, lighting a cigarette. He took a drag and closed his eyes, thinking how disappointed Inko would be. Filling his lungs full of smoke as he slowly breathes out - How he missed that sensation.

Will you blame me for the reasons I had for taking him? He inhaled a long drag while staring at the ceiling. His lungs filled with smoke with every puff he took.

I bet you would be mad, he chuckled, hollow and subdued. You loved our son. But I cannot live knowing I was the reason he's cursed.

You saw the curse I gave him. He pondered before taking another drag, his whiskey softly swirling on his other hand. I'm the reason why he was quirkless. Weak and defenseless. Just like him.

All for one took a final swig before dropping his glass on the floor. Kurogiri would clean that, he thought. He left his cigarette in his mouth as he continued his train of thought.

Being born from that generation was a curse and a gift. Sensei gazed at his hands, picturing all the blood that once painted his clean palms.

You, of all people, knew what I went through. From being imprisoned to fighting for our freedoms, living with a quirk was a curse back then. But it was also a gift. We, and only us, can do the impossible while the government tries to silence us.