The Emperor's Dragon

Not Brothers

"Tomura."

The boy looked up at him as he waved Kurogiri away. Gold eyes were confused.

"What happened last night?" Hisashi asked. Izuku had told him what happened but beyond 'Tomura tried to use his quirk on me' it wasn't worth attempting to get details out of an almost five year old. Besides, he'd promised he would talk to Tomura today and if he didn't, the boy would have thrown some sort of tantrum. Not that it would bother him but if he tried to hurt Izuku again, then Izuku would again take his quirk. And then they'd be back to where they were last night.

He really couldn't blame his son for that action and should perhaps look into finding Izuku a quirk he could use to counter Tomura's other than his version of All For One.

"He was being stupid," Tomura snapped. After a few years of encouragement, the boy was much more confident when speaking with him.

"How?" All For One probed, already knowing the answer would be something about heroes.

Tomura huffed. "He kept blathering on about how he was going to be a hero with his quirk! It was annoying."

If there was one singular thing that impressed Hisashi about Tomura it was that the boy had no fear. He knew Izuku was his son. He knew that he at least cared a little for Izuku but he was still prepared to attack Izuku with his quirk! Most would call it stupid and while it could definitely be argued that at Tomura's age, he should know there were consequences to his actions, All For One saw something more. There was a spark in the boy, something he could use and nurture.

And even if it turned out that the spark snuffed out in his teenage years, Tomura had other uses. Tenko Shimura was a name that had potential, if used at the right time. Tomura, would either grow to be his lieutenant, or would be a throw away line at an opportune time.

Besides, Izuku was smart enough not to let Tomura hurt him and had figured out how to protect himself. Usually emitter type quirks were the easiest for Izuku to take but the threat of disintegration had meant that Izuku had worked out how to take Tomura's quickly enough. And Tomura hadn't yet truly realised that he was strong enough and big enough to hurt Izuku in other ways. Tomura always went for his quirk first which was why he was bound to transfer it back.

"Izuku is still young," Hisashi said. He couldn't claim to know that Tomura had gone through a hero phase, but he imagined the boy had, back when he was still Tenko.

"Heroes are stupid," Tomura objected.

"They are," All For One agreed. "But do you know why I brought Izuku here?" He'd told Kurogiri but he was pretty sure the Warp Gate hadn't told Tomura.

"No." The reply was sullen.

All For One smiled at Tomura. Getting loyalty from children relied on encouraging them but also providing some boundaries and goals. He'd encouraged Tomura since he found him, and had Kurogiri provide some boundaries. Not many, the same as Izuku wouldn't have many boundaries so long as he was loyal. For Tomura it was now time to start introducing some goals.

"You will, when you are older, support me," he stated clearly.

The boy's face soured. Not greatly but enough for Hisashi to know there was an issue. All For One didn't let his smile waver. "There's not that many player characters I can trust," he added in a whisper. "And when you support me, I will support you on your quests."

That soothed Tomura slightly. "I will not be the party leader forever," All For One continued. He would be but if things worked out Tomura would have enough autonomy that he'd believe himself his own leader, and that he had just been the guiding mentor at the beginning of the quest.