You Can't be a Hero [MHA x Quirkless Male Reader]

IV - You Can't Be A Hero

"I am here!" A charismatic, booming voice exclaimed.

A flash appeared in front of Y/N before coming to a halt and the muscular man placed his fists on his hips. Y/N knew exactly who it was from the voice, and looked up to the tall man's face with a hung jaw. It was his idol, the one he had looked up to for as long as he could remember. It was All Might.

"Ah- I-" Y/N stuttered on words that he couldn't even produce. He was speechless and stunned.

"Hello there young Y/N! I was hoping to find you around here somewhere!" All Might jovially boomed.

Y/N was overwhelmed by the fact alone that the number one hero knew his name! And he wanted to see him! It was unbelievable, so unreal that it must be a dream. Maybe it was a dream. Over the past few days so much had come out on the now infamous 'Sludge Villain Attack', that that was all Y/N had been looking at. Videos, articles, you name it. All Might featuring in all of them, so maybe he had been spending too much time studying the hero that now he was in his dreams.

"I'm not dreaming, am I?" Y/N managed to spit out.

All Might let out his signature laugh. "Ha Ha Ha! No, not at all! I wanted to speak with you, and commend you for your actions during the Sludge Villain Attack."

Y/N was overwhelmed by the fact that his hero was acknowledging him! Before he could thank him, an important detail resurfaced in his mind.

"But All Might, I didn't do anything." Y/N remembered watching Izuku run to Bakugou amidst the flames and destruction, while he was frozen in place.

"Exactly! You did just what someone in your position should have done!" All Might said.

"Oh. If I was a hero I'd be a pretty lousy one."

"Ah but you are not, leaving a dangerous situation to the pros is-"

"But I want to be one!" Y/N interrupted.

All Might was afraid this would happen.

"Hero work eh?" The number one hero pondered. "It's a tough job, filled with even tougher challenges and obstacles."

"I know, but I'm up for it! Even though I don't have a quirk, I can still be a hero!" Y/N happily beamed. Though he noticed All Might's smile droop slightly, causing his own to falter as well.

"Right?" He asked.

All Might sighed. "Being a hero is not easy, young Y/N. We face villains every day, strong villains who will exploit your every weakness. As a hero it is my job to keep people safe, and I wouldn't be a hero if I allowed you to walk into danger."

All Might's voice faded away as Y/N stared blankly ahead. He knew what was going to be said. The pity in All Might's voice, he'd heard it a million times before. Whenever he let his dream slip out by accident, if he wasn't made fun of they would give him a talk in that same tone. It hurt at the time, knowing that everyone doubted him, but the thought of being like All Might one day always cheered him up. Now that same man was telling him what everyone had said all along. You can't be a hero.

"Not to worry though!" All Might's regular tone returned. "There are plenty of other things you can do to help others! Being a hero isn't your only option!"

Y/N returned from inside his mind. "Oh, uh, yeah. Thanks All Might." The boy mumbled before continuing in the same direction he had been going before he was blocked off.

All Might turned around and watched the broken boy walk down the sidewalk. That wasn't an easy thing to do, but it had to be done. The kid would only hurt himself, or worse, if he continued down that path. It was a sad truth, but reality.