Reset and Rewind

Chapter 44 - Father

Izuku decided to follow up Mirio's advice and go see Tenko. He'd given him space, and now it was time to talk, to show him he wasn't a threat, that he only meant well. Izuku didn't know what he'd do if that didn't work, though. Maybe that was one of the reasons he'd been postponing this in the first place. He sighed, taking a deep breath before knocking on Tenko's door, as if he hadn't already heard him unlock the countless security measures Eraserhead had placed on this door, or that Izuku never actually expected an answer before entering his space.

He couldn't answer him, after all. The walls were pretty sound-proof and if he were able to open the door from the inside out just like that, it wouldn't be a very good holding cell. Izuku had to flick the light on when he entered, the thought of Tenko sitting in his room in complete darkness worrying him. The man was huddled underneath the covers, grumbling and mumbling about something. Izuku made sure to close the door before approaching him, unsure of how he was going to react.

"I don't want food," he hissed.

"I'm not here to bring food," Izuku said, seeing all movement underneath the blankets stop. "...Can we talk, please? I don't want to fight with you."

There was no answer, which Izuku took as a good sign. It wasn't until he was standing next to the bed that he could hear the mumbled 'Go away'. Yeah, he expected that much. But they had to do this, whether they wanted to or not.

"I'm sorry," Izuku started. That's always a good way to start, isn't it? "I know the relationship between All For One and One For All is...complicated. Strained. I didn't mean to put you in that position... Didn't want to make you feel as though you're betraying father by being close with me."

"Shut up," Tenko grumbled, still hidden away underneath the blankets. Izuku could see him moving, could hear him scratching his neck. That wasn't good. Tenko scratching his neck meant he was suppressing his quirk, it meant he was agitated, letting his anger build up inside of him. Izuku bit his lip, pausing for a moment. Touching him wouldn't be a good idea, nor was telling him to stop.

"I don't want to fight with you," he repeated, clenching his fists by his side. "Please talk to me, Tenko-kun."

"Don't call me that!" he hissed, shooting up from underneath the covers. Izuku quickly stumbled back, startled by the sudden movement. "Don't call me Tenko! It's not my name!"

"...But it's-"

"My name is Tomura Shigaraki!" he yelled. "I'm a Shigaraki!"

Shigaraki, All For One's last name, as well as Yoichi's. And if that name were to be passed on to the son, well, then Izuku- No. No, he'd never. Midoriya. He'd always be Midoriya. But maybe... In this situation...

"I'm a Shigaraki," Izuku repeated, meeting Tenko's eyes dead on. There were clear red scratch marks on his neck and his wrist, right around the quirk erasure bracelets. This wasn't easy for him, which was something Izuku understood. He hated the fact that he had to put even more strain on him in order to move forward. "And you're not. No by blood, at least."

"My name is-"

"I know what father named you," Izuku interrupted. "I'm just saying you're not related by blood, unlike me."

"...What?" Tenko breathed, his hands slowing down. His fingers still rested upon his neck, but he wasn't scratching anymore. Izuku had effectively stunned him, which completed step one of his plan. A plan he'd come up with in seconds, one that wasn't thought through at all, but it was better than nothing. It was a miracle Tenko was even willing to indulge his ridiculous claim at all, but then again, when had Izuku ever lied to him?

"All For One's last name is Shigaraki," Izuku explained, dreading the words that would follow. He had to say them, though. Had to admit reality and face all the possible consequences of sharing this part of him with Tenko. "And I'm his son, his biological son, so that would make me a Shigaraki too, right? It would make us brothers."