The Emperor's Dragon II

Make Our Own Choices

As soon as Dabi left, Izuku put his hands on his knees and concentrated on his breathing. If he did that, he could concentrate on what had just happened, not what his mind wanted to steer his thoughts to.

The talk with Dabi had gone well. Given the slip of the tongue and the focus on Endeavor, it was obvious the villain had an interest in the Todoroki's. But as Izuku had said, with Endeavor's rank it was likely that they'd have to face him. Izuku couldn't imagine the man just retiring now, not after fighting for the Number One spot for so long because he had to see that it was almost within his grasp.

Dabi's relationship with the Todoroki's had to be strong if he was prepared to give his loyalty for the return of Shouto's quirk. Izuku felt his lips form into a smile at that thought. He liked Shouto's quirk. It would have been useful but... there was going to be a certain amount of confusion with the others, when he gave back one quirk and not the others. He was not going to explain to them why he'd done it but if it ever became necessary then he could simply say that the price for the return of Shouto's quirk had been paid.

That would drive people up the wall with speculation and while he didn't know the exact consequences Shouto could be tagged as a villain, so could Endeavor. That could be fun. He'd have to deal with the consequences when they came. Well, Shouto would. Or Endeavor. Or... well whoever.

And if Dabi betrayed him... he could simply take Shouto's quirk back. Maybe he should arrange for a copy? Except Yakuni wasn't here... He'd have to do it later. Shouto's quirk was useful and powerful but... maybe later he'd get a copy after seeing what came of giving it back.

He could explain now but... thieves and murderers explained and he wasn't either.

Izuku knew the world would call him both. The world was wrong. How was he a thief when he'd simply used his quirk, the same way as so many other people did? And while people would say he'd murdered Tomura he-

Izuku shook away the thoughts that followed. He had not failed his Father! Killing Tomura had not screwed up his Father's plans... He shook his head again.

The talk had also shown him something else. When he'd asked Dabi what quirk the villain wanted returned, he'd immediately known he wasn't going to give back those two. Kaminari's was obvious. While the quirk wasn't that useful to him, he was not going to give back the quirk of the one who had been a vigilante and had gotten no punishment! He'd consider giving back Kirishima's first and he wanted Kirishima's!

Why did he want to keep Bakugou's? He felt a number of feelings at that thought and Izuku knew that he'd be okay with giving Bakugou's quirk to someone, just not back to the hero student. A part of it was based on what he'd seen. Bakugou appeared to be one of those kids gifted with a strong quirk, and an equally strong sense of entitlement. He believed that because he was stronger he was the best and that all he needed to do, to be a hero was to beat the villain into submission. It was an understandable view. That's what the news showed of All Might, Endeavor, Best Jeanist, Hawkes... All the top heroes but...

Bakugou lacked compassion and his arrogance was grating. Izuku hadn't had much to do with him but he had watched the bits of the Sport's Festival that he missed. He knew what Bakugou was like. He'd seen it in all his matches, even the one against Ochaco. And she'd confirmed it! What had she said... Kirishima had to go on the mission because he was the only one Bakugou would listen to...

Yeah, the student was not someone who should be a hero. Well, the HPSC probably thought he'd be a great hero but the rest of the world would just suffer through him.

No, he wasn't giving Bakugou's quirk back but maybe he could give it to someone. A slow smile spread over Izuku's features as he envisaged the chaos that would cause. Maybe he'd see what happened after he returned Shouto's... assuming Dabi could find him an opportunity.