Time Taken, Time Given

The End of a Future-Past, The Beginning of a Past-Future

Izuku couldn't tell how much time had passed since he'd last slept. Seemingly infinite amounts of adrenaline coursed through his veins, showing no signs of stopping.

Izuku would not (rather, could not) rest until he found Shigaraki.

He searched yet another building in the vicinity that they were able to trace Shigaraki's last call from. And, once again, he found no evidence of the man being there. Shaking his head in frustration, he continued on.

Whilst sprinting to the next building, he felt the telltale vibration of his phone from his pocket; another message from one of his friends.

He didn't have the time to give them a response. Not when there was so much on the line.

This time, when he entered the building - an old, run down apartment complex -, it felt as if an ominous chill washed over him, the air now stifled.

This was it.

He ran through the dimly-lit hallways, floor by floor, until he passed by a slightly-cracked open door, blood smeared on the handle. Izuku turned around and stepped through the door frame.

Immediately upon entrance, footsteps sounded from deep inside the apartment, with heavy, ragged breaths accompanying them. Izuku had little doubt as to whose they were, and the words spoken next only confirmed his suspicion.

"You've joined us, I see. Now I have a complete collection of everything I absolutely despise," Shigaraki drawled.

"I'm done playing your games, Shigaraki. Where is he," Izuku demanded.

"Oh, but can't you see? He's right here." Upon this statement, Izuku found a sight he never wished to see: All Might - or rather, Toshinori - crumpled on the floor, clearly wounded and barely breathing. His blood ran cold, rage seeping into his every pour.

"How dare you-"

"I was finally able to destroy him, and you're next. I'm going to have everyone watch their new 'Symbol of Peace' die before their very eyes." At this, Izuku noticed a camera present in the room, honing in on him.

"I won't ever allow that to happen. A world controlled by fear is one that will eventually crumble, Shigaraki. Your plan is destined to fail." He turned on full cowl and sent a kick toward his enemy, who slid across the floor evasively.

Izuku then began to bounce across the walls of the room, doing his best to disorient Shigaraki and find an eventual opening to grab Toshinori and evacuate him before fighting the villain with every ounce of his power.

Appearing behind the villain, Izuku sent out a dark whip and captured Shigaraki's midsection. He directed the whip towards the ceiling and thrashed his captor back and forth. After a few rounds, Shigaraki sent his hand out and grabbed onto the dark mass, disintegrating it and causing Izuku to falter momentarily.

He soon darted towards Toshinori, hoping that this previous exchange gave him enough of a window to grab his beloved mentor and bring him to safety. As he hurried over to All Might's helpless form, Shigaraki appeared in front of him and punched with some sort of strength enhancer quirk that he'd stolen.

Izuku coughed up blood and crashed through the window, with Shigaraki following him close behind. A single helicopter flew above, recording the events taking place below.

The hero began to float to prevent himself from crashing into the ground. Shigaraki, upon reaching him, employed a similar quirk, and they soon began a dance in the air.

Izuku landed a few well-placed kicks, and received quite a few blows from Shigaraki as well. They kept at this pace for a while until Izuku found an optimal opening and sent the blue-haired villain flying into the ground, creating a sizable crater around him.