The quirkless hero

First blood

Things had gone quickly after that. Deku was taken to a small room and a man who's name he didn't know read him some rules. "If you are told to stop you stop, killing is never allowed, no outside help is allowed, you must not leave the ring until the fight is over, no weapons can be brought into the ring, as long as you follow the previous rules anything goes, you win when your opponent gives up or is rendered unable to continue."

Izuku was only half paying attention however as he was carefully listening to the crowd, apparently who ever he was fighting was well known. Multiple people were talking about previous fights he'd been in and through this izuku was able to work out his quirk.

"So what do I introduce you as kid" asked the nameless man.

In response the man got a big smile and one word "Deku".

"Look kid" the man started a hint of worry in his voice, "it not to late to back out,"

But he stopped talking when deku put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and said "don't worry about me I can take care of myself."

The man seemed unsure for a minute but the with a quick nod of his head he opened the door to ring, "ladies and gentlemen, the time has finally come, slicer has an opponent" he paused as the crowd cheered and booed, "how will our debut 'deku the quirkless' fair against a seasoned fighter, well let's find out" the roar of the crowd pounded against dekus ears and he struggled to work out his surroundings, his breath quickened as he struggled to find his bearings, he should of realized it would be louder than anything he'd experienced before should of... a warm hand landed on his shoulder snapping him out of his thoughts before carefully guiding him forwards.

"I thought you said you could take care of yourself kid." Came the mans voice.

At this izuku relaxed, the man was right after all, he could take care of himself, what's more as a hero he would have to face crowds much bigger than this, this was just practice. As he walked towards the ring he began adjusting to the noise levels. A small smile settling on his face. He was on his way to becoming a hero.

He pulled himself up into the ring with ease, all of the training he had done was obviously paying off, and focused on the man opposite him. 'Slicer' from what izuku had heard was a man who's quirk allowed him to produce knifes from any part of his body, he could also control the speed with witch they exited his body. Either allowing him to take hold of them or shoot them straight towards the opponent. It was a rather simple quirk, that could be versatile however from what he'd heard slicer wasn't inventive with his quirk usage. All considered izuku felt pretty confident.

"Start!!"

This man was a seasoned fighter he wasn't likely to waste any time so as soon as the bell rung izuku darted to the side easily dodging the knife that had shot towards him. He dogged a second knife advancing at speed ignoring the roar of the crowd, before throwing a punch his opponent barley avoided. But izuku had expected this as his opponents moves were predictable. He grabbed 'slicers' arm pulling it down so that the knife protruding from the mans palm shot into the floor then head butted the man stunning him. With a few well timed punches slicer was on the floor and izuku stood triumphant. Basking in the cheers of the crowd as they screamed his name chosen name.

"DEKU,DEKU,DEKU!"

This must be what it's like to be a hero he thought as he heard a knife flying towards him. Panic and shock struck for a second, for the briefest moment he froze before diving to the side a second to late . He felt the white hot pain of a knife slicing though his side. Another one was quick to follow grazing his shoulder. He desperately tried to avoid the copious amount of knives that where now flying towards him but they just kept coming. He could hear slicer groan slightly as he used the ring to pull himself up. Deku had to take him out quickly if he wanted to win but multiple wounds slowed him down and all his focus had to remain on dodging the knifes that came his way. The crowds roars no longer bolstered izuku they were now all encompassing once again over taking his senses. He wasn't aware of the next knife until it shot in to his stomach. His legs gave out and he fell to the floor in a puddle of his own blood. Pain was flooded his whole body as he struggled not to scream. The crowds noise defend him and he could smell nothing other than his own blood. Anger and disappointment where the last things he felt before he blacked out.

Deku awoke suddenly bolting upright before firm hands pushed him down into a soft bed.

"Your all right just lay down."

Dekus hands immediately shot to his face where he was relieved to find his mask still in place.

"How are his injuries" came the voice he recognized as Jason's.

"They've all closed, but they will leave scars" replied the fist voice.

"Good, you may leave us." Said Jason.

Deku listened as the first person walk away leaving only him and Jason in the small room.

Jason remained quiet for a moment before speaking. "That could of gone better."

"I guess I'll have to find somewhere else to fight." replied deku dejectedly.

"Oh and why's that?" Asked Jason a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I did my research, I know how these places work, for you to make money your patrons have be to be invested in your fighters otherwise they won't bet on them. It's important to make a big impression on your first fight so people want to watch you again. My first fight was shit, therefore no one is going to pay to watch me again, and you won't make any money from my fights so you'll kick me out."

Jason laughed before replying, "your a smart kid but you underestimate yourself," Deku looked over to Jason confusion obvious on what was visible of his face but didn't interrupt, "you nearly took out slicer, a crowd favorite on your first day, add in the fact your quirklesss and that's beyond impressive. In fact the only reason you lost was because you made a rookie mistake."

"So the crowd was impressed?" asked deku surprised.

"Very, I've already had some of my most valued patrons ask about your next fight." Replied Jason and Deku could practically hear the smile in his voice.

"So I can keep fighting here?" Asked deku tentatively.

Jason laughed again,"if that's what you want kid."

Deku felt tears well up in his eyes, it really had been too long since he had been accepted too long since he had someone believe in him and before he knew what he was doing he had sat up and pulled Jason into a hug, crying into his chest.

Jason seemed at a complete loss at what to do simply freezing up before awkwardly patting deku back and saying, "Jesus kid, is being able to fight really that important to you?"

Deku slowly released him whipping away all the tears he could get to without removing his mask. "I'm going to become a hero even though I'm quirkless, and that means I'm going to have to work a lot harder than most people." Said deku determination clear in his voice. "So I'm doing everything that I can to improve myself this is a opportunity I can't afford to lose."

Jason stayed quiet for a moment before he replied in a voice that was much more serious than before, "if your serious about this kid I'm willing to help, I've always hated the notion that to be a hero you need a powerful quirk and you've got potential. I can train you, you'll still have fight in the ring and train on your own, but every day you will train with me from 7:30 until 1:30 no matter what. Do you accept?"

Deku was shocked, there was no way he could of got so lucky, why on earth would a powerful fighting club owner sacrifice his own time for him? It didn't make any sense. Granted he had heard the venom in Jason's voice when he mentioned the need for strong quirks in the pursuit of becoming a hero, and Jason had been nothing but kind... then it clicked and before he could stop himself he blurted out, "you wanted to become a hero when you were younger didn't you, but I gather your quirk is painful when used on people with quirks so I doubt hero schools would except you even though you could of been a brilliant hero therefore me becoming a quirkless hero could prove to society how wrong there views are and possibly an overhaul on the whole system which would be extremely beneficial to you..." dekus speech dissolved into muttering as until he was cut of by Jason's hand landing on his shoulder. Deku stopped talking abruptly, he didn't have to be able to see to know Jason's eyes where boring into his mask. "So what's you answer?" Asked Jason.

Deku hesitated for a couple more seconds before he face Jason he'd take any help he could get. "Please train me to become a hero."