the copycat hero: Deku

Chapter 48

The room was silent apart from the humming of the machines, Izuku glaring at the galaxy…man…thing in front of him.

"Quite confident, aren't you?" the teen muttered, getting unsteadily to his feet, his head still swimming slightly, "What makes you think that you'd be able to succeed? Or are you just that arrogant?"

The man chuckled, leaning forwards slightly, his face coming into the dim light. Izuku recoiled, staring at the blank scarring that covered the top of the man's head, the eyeless face grinning at him as numerous tubes and needles pierced its skin.

"My, you have quite the attitude. Perhaps you should behave," each word seemed to hit Izuku physically, weighing down on him like a chain. Izuku almost fell to his knees, his mind fogging as he felt the weight of the words

The teen gritted his teeth, staring into the massive star filled void in front of him, frantically searching. He saw it, the star that pulsed and twinkled as the man spoke, latching onto it as he felt his own quirk twist and shift.

"You're not the only one who can do that," Izuku grunted, almost smiling when the man seemed to recoil back slightly himself, his grin dropping as he seemed to inspect Izuku with interest.

"My," the man said, "That is quite impressive. It seems my usual methods won't work on you."

"Not unless you're ready to have them thrown right back in your ugly face."

"Now now, no need to be rude," the man laughed, his twisted grin back on his face, "But you must be hungry and thirsty! You have been in that box for quite some time."

The man snapped his fingers, Izuku jumping as the cart was wheeled out of the shadows, being pushed by a short overweight man with a bushy moustache and thick goggles. With his attention on the scarred man, Izuku hadn't noticed him, even though he must have been waiting in the shadows since the start. Izuku's stomach grumbled as he saw the Katsu-don, steaming hot and waiting to be eaten, a tall glass of cold water beside it.

"Thank you, Doctor," the man said calmly, "You may leave us now."

"Of course, Sensei," the man nodded, turning away and walking back into the shadows.

"Come now, young man," the shadowed man chuckled, "Eat, drink, make merry!"

"I'm good," Izuku hummed, "I don't trust you enough to risk eating any of your food."

"It's not drugged, I assure you," the man laughed, reaching out and picking up a piece of the meat, popping it into his mouth and chewing, before swallowing it, "Would you like me to try some of the water as well?"

"No," Izuku replied, stepping towards the bowl, "You don't have any chemical resistance quirks, so you're probably not lying."

"Of course I'm not, what good would it do me to violate your trust when we've only just met," the man laughed again, making Izuku supress a shudder, "Now, what can you tell me about the good Doctor's quirk?"

Izuku looked at the man as he shovelled some rice into his mouth, chewing slowly as he stared down the blank skin where his eyes should be.

"It's not his," Izuku huffed through his food, "And that's not just because you have the same one. I don't think yours is even the original version either."

"My, how very astute," the man hummed, sitting back in his chair, watching as Izuku continued to eat, "Now, what can you tell me about my quirk?"

"It's called All for One," Izuku replied, "And it allows you to take the quirks of others."

"Not entirely correct, but good enough," the man huffed, "My quirk also allows me to give quirks, as well as take them. Do you understand what that means?"