Powerless - A My Hero Academia/ DC Crossover

Chapter 26: Fight On

The sky was dark with clouds and rain, pouring down on the solemn procession below. People dressed from head to toe in black, gathering around to pay respects to the slim tombstone, representing all that was left on this earth of Katsuki Bakugou.

The parents of the young Bakugou stood silently by the grave, thanking those who came to pray for their son's spirit, for fortune in his next life, and that he may finally find rest.

Izuku had strongly considered not going to the funeral of his friend. It was his fault that the villain who killed him had escaped. News about Izuku or All Might's involvement in the attack had not reached the media. He had assumed that since no one had seen All Might rescue him from the villain, that he simply had escaped the Hero's pursuit before managing to get himself cornered by the other heroes. He figured that since Izuku knew about his secret, he wanted to keep him away from the press at all costs.

It continuously played in his head, as if on a loop. He had caused the villain to get away from All Might. If he hadn't had grabbed onto him as he jumped away, the creature would have been in police custody already. How was he supposed to live with this? With himself?

"Izuku."

Izuku was brought back to the present by Bakugou's mother. He had reached the front of the viewing line without even realizing it. "Mrs. Bakugou," Said Izuku.

"Thank you for coming, Izuku," Said Mrs. Bakugou. "I know that you and he weren't exactly friends in the end. He was always picking on you. But I had hoped one day he would. . . that you two could be friends again." She finished, choking up. Bakugou's mother was a strong woman. Although she tried not to show it, Izuku could see the heartbreak in her eyes. It made his stomach twist even more. He hung his head to avoid her gaze.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice cracking. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," she said. Izuku could feel his stomach wretching inside of him. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. "I swear to you," said Izuku finally. "I'm going to become a hero. And when I do, I will find the monster who did this."

"Oh, Izuku," He felt a hand placed on his shoulder. He looked up, but jumped back in startled surprise. Mrs. Bakugou was gone. Instead, she was replaced by the sickly, withered form of All Might.

"Some villains can't be beaten without a quirk, young man," he said, his voice garbled and distorted. He opened his wide gaping mouth, and a foul, green substance began to spew from his maw. It quickly wrapped itself around Izuku, covering his mouth to prevent him from screaming. "Don't worry kid," said the distorted voice. The voice of the Sludge Villain. "You can still be my hero."

His wicked laughter rang out throughout his mind. He felt as if it would crack in two. He struggled to break free, but it was useless. He was suffocating.

Please, he tried to cry out. Someone help me!

The sludge drifted away, and he found himself staring at his reflection. But it was different than what he was used to. He was wearing a red suit, a golden cape, and a black domino mask. He heard a cry in the distance

Izuku!

A crater opened beneath him. He began to fall. He reached for his utility belt, but nothing was there. The cries continued to ring out.

Izuku!!

Still he fell, his voice caught in his throat, preventing his screams. Falling deeper and deeper into the darkness.

Izuku!!

Izuku gasped, awaking from his dream with a start. He lay in the hospital bed in Recovery Girl's trauma center. His arms, legs and hands were wrapped up and bandaged heavily. He was shivering, not from cold, but from the pain of his injuries. He struggled to sit up, but something was holding him down. He turned to see Bruce gently holding him back, keeping him from moving further. Both Bruce and Alfred were standing beside Izuku.