Quirkless

Your Next Number One Hero, Izuku Midoriya

Katsuki settled into his seat. They'd been placed at the front of the hall, since he was the guest of honor, which sadly gave him the worst view of the room. He could hear the crowd chattering behind him, but couldn't scan it unless he craned his head awkwardly. Deku sat next to him, not even trying to blend in as he twisted his neck back to search the seats, likely for Shinsou and Q.

The screen behind the stage lit up as the dinner officially started. In Memoriam rolled across it as the orchestra started to play softly. Slowly the pictures of the heroes they'd lost in the past year flashed on the screen. They always started with the heroes that had made it to retirement and passed away peacefully, showing old glamour shots that made everyone smile before transitioning to the more painful deaths. The music swelled as familiar faces started to appear. Some had been lost to villains, while others had given the 'ultimate sacrifice' as the Commission called it, giving up their own life for citizens.

Katsuki knew there were faces missing. In recent years, it had gotten harder for the Commission to conceal the growing number of pro-hero suicides and overdoses, so they had stopped discussing them all together. They claimed it was to avoid the civilian public feeling guilty about the mental toll heroics took, especially among rescue heroes, but he had his own suspicions. Admitting to the public that heroes were human - susceptible to the trauma anyone would acquire in their jobs, would hurt their image, and in turn, cut the ten percent they skimmed from each hero marketing campaign.

As it reached the conclusion, the words "They Will Not Be Forgotten" shone across the screen. The blond hero gritted his teeth at the irony of the words. As the music finally faded, anxiety started to build in his chest. Stage workers wheeled out a sturdy podium - his cue.

Katsuki stood and walked steadily up the podium. at the podium, scanning the audience. The entirety of his graduating class was here, all of them well known heroes in their own right. Why he volunteered to do the introduction for Deku, he would never know. He pressed his lips together, inhaling through the nose, and spoke.

"Good evening," he started. It was a lame start, but he needed to keep this speech simple for the sake of his sanity. "Tonight I have the burden of introducing one of the top heroes in the country, who also happens to be the kid who's had my back since before I can remember. Everyone in this room has either been saved by him," Pause for effect. "Or had to save him." Chuckles rolled through the audience. "Not only does he have one of the strongest quirks I've seen, but he's the most selfless person I know. This man will save anybody, even a villain."

Yeah, that had been a long hospital visit. Nothing says thanks for not letting me die like an attempted suffocation.

"He's fiercely loyal to his friends, even if they don't deserve it. Those of you who graduated with us know exactly who I'm talking about." Me. He cleared his throat. He'd had this speech written for two months now, since his therapist had suggested it, but it didn't make it any easier. "Deku is one of the only people I'll willingly say is deserving of the title of hero." He put on a practiced smirk. "Besides myself, of course." His publicist would die if he didn't keep up the bravado that had earned him so many fans. "So without further ado, your next number one hero, Izuku Midoriya." He gestured to the man seated in front of him, avoiding meeting his gaze as he stepped aside from the podium. His mouth was dry and his palms sweaty as he took his seat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three. Shinsou pushed the door open as Q pierced a can of paralytic and tossed it into the room. Following the hissing can, she had to immediately dodge a punch from her right. Someone had been waiting behind the door. She glanced around, noting a crouched figure with a rifle aimed at the stage. They were each wearing gas masks. Goddammit.