The Emperor's Dragon

One Difficult Decision

"I trust you slept well," All For One greeted Inko as Kurogiri led her into the mezzanine viewing area. He couldn't tell exactly but he thought the barman had found her a simple skirt and shirt to wear. The misty man was efficient like that. The sound of her shoes scuffing on the floor told him they were simple indoor slippers.

"If one can sleep well as a prisoner," Inko retorted.

"I wanted to make sure you were here in time for this," he said, gesturing towards the window.

Inko moved forward, ignoring the doctor in the corner, though All For One saw the way she glared at the man. She was no doubt remembering that he had said Izuku was quirkless.

In the warehouse below, Izuku was sparring with Gigantomachia, and from the sounds of things, neither were holding back. His son wasn't quite up to taking Gigantomachia but he was very skilled and against most other opponents the fight would be over, especially if Izuku fought viciously.

He heard Inko gasp.

"What is it, my dear?" All For One asked solicitously.

"He's hitting him so hard!" She gasped looking down at the combatants.

There came the sounds of several very hard thunks.

"Well I should hope so," All For One answered with a half laugh. "People tend not to fight with you after you've shattered a few bones," he added the explanation, knowing Inko would think the worst.

"You've made him a villain!" She accused, not taking her eyes from Izuku.

"No. I've taught him how to survive in this world," he replied.

Izuku was jumping around Gigantomachia, mostly dodging his blows and redirecting them when he couldn't. It looked quite impressive and took quite a bit of physical fitness.

As they watched, Izuku mistimed a dodge and Gigantomachia's punch clipped him. It sent him tumbling to sprawl on the mat several meters away. Inko gasped again, the worry evident in her tone but Izuku simply rolled once more and jumped to his feet. He spat blood before charging back at Gigantomachia.

"He'll be killed!"

"Izuku will be fine. Gigantomachia knows what he's doing." As if to illustrate his point, his bodyguard matched Izuku's charge and again sent the teen tumbling.

Inko gasped and pressed herself against the glass. At least she knew better than to try to get down there. The glass would not break and she would not be heard.

All For One glanced at the Doctor who gave him a shallow nod, answering the question that wasn't asked. Things were prepared.

He waited a few more minutes, allowing Inko to see how skilled Izuku was, though he doubted she saw anything more than her son getting beaten. He wasn't, Izuku was doing well but a mother was sometimes blind to the truth.

"Now, I think it's time we discuss your future interactions with Izuku," he announced.

"What do you mean?" Inko asked, turning slightly, her voice laced with suspicion.

"Exactly what I said."

"No!" Inko said. "You can't d-"

"Silence," he ordered. Inko stopped mid sentence, cutting off the histeronics that would no doubt have followed. He might need to work on his orders but that one was simple. He took a deep breath in the silence. It was nice. "You will send a message to your co-workers, and anyone else you feel necessary telling them that you are taking a leave of absence in the aftermath of the case. You will return in a week," he instructed clearly.