Powerless - A My Hero Academia/ DC Crossover

Chapter 44: Internal Struggle

With trembling fingers, Izuku slowly opened the door that led to the deepest recesses of his mind. The corridor behind it was pitch black, leaving Izuku to determine from there what lay in wait for him on the other side. This was not at all what he thought he was getting into when he started his hero career. Supervillains and criminals were one thing, but this was on a new level entirely. Shooting a nervous glance at J'onn, who simply nodded, Izuku steeled himself and walked through the door.

The hallway seemed to go on for eternity. He could hear sounds of cries and screeches that came from all around him. He tried to push his fear aside, but it continued to creep into his heart. Izuku turned to look at J'onn following behind him. He was glad that he was with him. He didn't know what he would do if -

J'onn was gone.

"J'onn?" Said Izuku into the darkness. No reply. "J'onn!?" Again, no reply. Only darkness. Izuku began to feel panic enter into his heart. He began to run down the hallway, calling for J'onn as he ran. He had to get out of there. He had to wake up, but there was no way out. He was trapped.

He felt his feet slip from under him, falling hard to the floor. He lay there, for how long he did not know, tears streaming down his face. "Don't leave me," He cried. "J'onn. . . Bruce. . . All Might. . . please, help me."

"Oh, Izuku," Said a voice from above him. "You're not alone."

Izuku raised his head, ready to cry out for joy that J'onn was back. But it wasn't J'onn that stood before him. He let out a gasp of fright as the figure emerged from the shadows, showing himself at full form. He would recognize the scarred, faceless visage that appeared before him anywhere, the very man who haunted his dreams.

All For One.

"I never left, Izuku," He said, his mouth twisting into a perverse smile, his hand reaching forward and grabbing Izuku by the throat. "And I will always be here, right beside you." All For One lifted Izuku high by his throat, completely off his feet. He struggled to free himself against his captor, but it was futile. He had no weapons, he couldn't use his quirk. He couldn't even scream.

He was powerless.

Batman stared silently at J'onn and Izuku in their collective trance. It had been only five minutes since they had started, but already Bruce was feeling concern. He knew the boy was strong, but he was still young. Most adults weren't prepared to handle the sheer psychological trauma he had experienced. He was thankful J'onn was there to guide him through the process.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Izuku and J'onn doubled over, as if experiencing some sort of synchronized pain. Izuku suddenly began to convulse into a seizure-like episode, falling out of his chair and onto the floor, where he continued his convulsions.

"Midoriya!" Shouted Batman, rushing to his side.

"What's happening?!" Said Superman, alarmed.

"It's All For One."

Batman turned to the source of the voice. J'onn had come out of his trance, but Izuku continued to thrash about on the floor.

"What's going on, J'onn?!" He said sharply.

"All For One's hold on Izuku is stronger than we anticipated," Said J'onn. "It's fighting back."

"What do you mean?" Said Wonder Woman.

"We had just entered his id when something had taken hold of me and expelled me from his mind," Said J'onn. They began to carry Izuku to the medical wing down the hall, placing him on a stretcher. The medics began their work, trying to quell the seizure and stabilize Izuku, but Batman didn't know how much good it would do.