Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Get on the ground now!!!" Shouted the masked man before shooting the bank celling with a machine gun. Scattering tiles for the ceiling could be heard shattering as they hit the concrete floor below. Everyone screamed and fell to the ground upon hearing the loud ear-piercing sounds of gun fire. A masked man watched from his high stance on the front desk of the bank as the twenty people occupying the space moved to the ground terrified, fearing their own lives could be lost. However, one of the ladies wearing fancy black pants, a designer buttoned white top and fur coat wouldn't sit. "Hey, I said get to the ground lady or I'll shoot you!" Yelled out the masked man.

"Sorry, sir I-"

"Mummy please make them stop, my ears hurt," called out a small child hidden behind the woman's leg. "Shhhh its okay sweetheart, keep quiet for mummy, okay? We are going to sit down now-"

"But I don't want to!" Complained the small boy stomping his feet on the ground with his shiny little yellow boots.

"Sweety please listen to mummy. Afterwards we can get ice-cream and buy that toy you wanted earlier, okay?" Spoke the lady in a calm manner to her child. Knowing the rewards their mother would give them the small boy began sitting down on the ground.

"Lady if you and your child don't sit down right now, I will put a bullet in both of your heads," said the masked man pointing the machine gun at the mother and child. He had clearly lost his patience by now. Quickly the mother sat down and held her child closely in her arms, stroking the little boy's golden locks that matched her own.

"Anyone else have any problems they want to bring up?!" Shouted the masked man who jumped off the front counter of the bank. A small thud could be heard echoing through the bank as both of his feet landed on the ground. "K' then. Boy's its show time!" Yelled the masked man as four more men walked inside the bank wearing the same black clothes, combat boots, black fingered gloves and black bandana mask as their leader. All of the masked people were also carrying either a machine gun or a handgun.

Suddenly two more masked men walked into the bank holding five empty duffle bags. The guards who once stood at the front of the bank had put their weapons on the ground and were forced to the ground by two other masked men. There was twelve masked men in total. This was no everyday stash and grab like most criminals, it was a well thought out operation.

And here I was, in the middle of all this shit.

'Of all the days I decided to come to work...' I thought while looking around the room. 'There must be a way out of here-' I stopped my trail of thought as I saw the two security guards by the door also on the ground with their hands behind their backs. 'Well then, that's convenient-'

"Bring them to the back," called out the masked man who was recently standing on the counter. The masked man's green eyes glinted behind his mask. The two men who were holding duffle bags walked off past the front registers into a small corridor. "You two, grab the newbie and follow the others," declared the masked man, who by now I knew was clearly in charge of this whole operation.

"Please, no! I got children!" Shouted the new employee as he was dragged away by two other masked men. My eyes widened as I saw him being taken away to the narrow corridor that led to the back of the bank. 'Their heading for the vault room, shit these people know what they are doing,' I thought in surprise. Now don't get me wrong, this is a frightening situation I find myself in, but when you experience three other robberies in the past couple of years you have been working at this place it kind of becomes an everyday thing, well, for me at least. Though it was obvious this time was different, the other three times the people robing the place just went for the front counters and there was only a couple of them, now there was a dozen guys with heavy weaponry and duffle bags ready to crack open the vault out back. If I was in another bank I wouldn't be worrying too much, but knowing the shit tone of stuff they have in our vault because it was said to be a 'good hiding place' and 'less of a target for criminals' made me quiver. By now it should have been obvious that this was a hot spot for crime and should have moved everything out of the vault years ago. But that didn't matter now.

These masked people, they knew what was in the vault.

And they were not going to leave here without it.

Even if it meant getting their hands dirty.

Looking once again around the room for any signs of a way to get in contact with the outside world I witnessed as Mr Smith was crouching on the ground, in pain from his previous knee surgery from a month ago. He had still not recovered. If he didn't get up from the ground soon, he would be in a whole lot more pain, potentially even losing his ability to walk enterally.

The rest of the people in the room didn't look like they were doing so good either but Mr Smith, he was afraid and in physical pain. Even thought I was terrified out of my mind seeing the machine guns a few of the men had I knew I would never live with myself if Mr Smith would end up unable to live properly because of something simple as not being able to sit in a chair.

Okay maybe I have lost the plot by now, but I wasn't going to leave an old man have to suffer through pain, especially knowing the events that Mr Smith had been through.

And the fact that he was one of the only people who I knew still had kindness in this world, it made me want to help him even more.

The rest of these people in the bank, they couldn't hold a candle against the bonfire of positive energy and good deeds this man had done.

That man had already been through enough and didn't need to now lose even more.

Slowly I crouched from my place behind the counter with my hands held low. Crawling to my right I tried to remain anonymous to the masked men out front as I stayed behind the large counters until I felt a pair of eyes were on me. 'Crap crap crap, what am I doing?! They're going to catch me-'

"Trying to be smart with me?" Said the masked man behind my back. Turning my head around his green eye's stared me down. Slowly he took the handgun from his belt and placed its muzzle on my forehead, pressed it down into my skin. I could feel it's cold surface making an indent on my head. "No, I would never, just, Mr Smith is a regular customer here and he has knee problems you see, I don't want him to be in pain-"

"And why should I give two flying f**ks about a man with knee problems? Sounds like more of an excuse to make a run for it," said the masked man as he was glaring down at me, gun still to my head.

"Look- Please sir, just let me move one of the chairs near the counter over to him," I said looking into the green eyes glaring at me. The man looked at me with angry eyes and continued to stare me down. I gradually raised my hands up to show him that I surrendered and did not intend to get in his way. "We all just want this to go as smoothly as possible sir, we will help you just please let me get Mr Smith a chair, that's all I ask." He continued to look at me and press the gun at my temple. 'Any moment now I could be shot, why did I even think of doing this. I swear the good-natured side of mind gets the better of me. I knew there was nothing I could do. They will not buy this I'm sure of it.' Suddenly the man took his guard down and took the gun away from my head. The green-eyed masked man looked over at Mr Smith who was trying to not shout from the pain in his knees. Then he looked over at the bank manager kneeling next to him trying to comfort Mr Smith.

"You, next to the old man," called the masked man. The manager looked up and pointed a finger at himself, trembling as he did so. "Yes you, go to the counter and grab the old man a chair then sit back down on the floor," said the masked man. "And you," the green-eyed masked man looked back at me. "You are coming with me," he stated. The man grabbed me by the arm and pulled me up into a standing position pointing the handgun at my chest. He pulled me by his side making his way to the entrance of the narrow hallway. Traveling down the cramped space I heard a gunshot coming from the destination I was being led to. We finally stopped as we reached the end of the hallway, in front of the silver round door of the bank vault. The man brought down here earlier lay dead on the floor with a gun wound bleeding out by the side of his head.

"Hey, look alive. We did what you wanted and now it's time you help us out. Didn't you say you wanted this to go smoothly~," he said while pushing me into the bank vault door causing me to almost fall on the marble floor. "Then be good and open the vault," he said holding up the gun in my direction. "Take all the time you need, no one is coming at this rate. Besides we know you are an employee here so you better open it up for us or you will end up like you friend on the ground over here. Do I make myself clear?" Said the green-eyed man.

"I- I understand sir, but please be patient with me, the code changes every week so it might be some time before I get the right one," I blurted out as I walked over to the left side of the big vault door where the keypad was located. "Don't worry about it, start trying!"

I heard a few more footsteps enter the room behind me. The thing was I knew I didn't know the bank vault passcode, only the people who came here on Thursdays to drop off and pick up from the vault knew what the correct password was. It didn't change every week, that was just a white lie I made up on the spot. I knew I wasn't going to get out of here alive, there was no chance. The look on these criminals faces, in their eyes, they weren't messing around. The fact that they killed a new employee and were all carrying firearms with them meant everyone stuck in here was as good as dead the moment these criminals got what they wanted. 'I can't let those innocent people die, Mr Smith, Miss Brown, wait what am I thinking?!... shit... I'm, I'm going to die... I'm not cut out for any of this- I'm no hero... But does that matter now?... shit, f**k it... there must be something, anything I can do- wait...' Thinking back I remembered a password was mentioned before during my first day working here, thought it wasn't the password to open the vault. It was one of a different kind. One that would ensure everyone outside in the foyer would be safe. '.... well, there's no one waiting for me at home anyways so at least no one is going to cry over me. If this is how I go out, then I'm going to go out guns blazing-'

I began typing password after password into the keypad, but none so far seemed to work. I remembered the first two digits to the four-digit password, but I couldn't remember the last two, that meant I would have to try every number from 1 to 9 for the last two digits to see which worked. It would take time, yes, but if it meant reducing the risk of the civilians out front dying then it was worth it. Besides I would rather go down with a fight instead of trying to give these monsters what they wanted when I had no idea how to give it to them. My destiny was already set, I knew that. There was no stopping it from coming either, but that didn't mean I had no control over the events that would lead to it.

"Hey what's taking so long?!" Shouted one of the men holding up a machine gun in my direction. "Just a second," I hummed, continuing to try password after password with no success. Then it hit me. I remember the password. A smile crept up the sides of my face.

"What the f**k are you smiling about? Get back to wor-"

"I remembered the passcode. But sir, I think you will need most of your men to open the vault door. Its automatic and since its only opened once a week on one day it's kept closed for the rest of the week meaning you and your men will have to open it manually," I said with a now neutral face. 'Come on, take the bait,' I thought. For a few moments the green-eyed man contemplated my request before finally walking out of the room to arrive back a minute later with a few more men from the front of the bank.

"Press the f**ken passcode in now you worthless piece of shit or I'll shoot you right here, right now," said the man, holding up his handgun at me once more. A smile filled my face once more as I typed in the first three numbers.

"If you insist~," I cooed.

I pressed in the last digit,

and all hell broke loose.

A loud emergency alarm sounded throughout the bank and red flashing lights came from above. Shouting could be heard coming from the foyer of the bank along with gun shots. The masked men behind me began running for the exit, however, a loud bang could be heard coming from the entrance of the room I was in. I knew the loud sound was probably some sort of metal bars falling down from the ceiling capturing anyone inside the vault room, leaving them trapped and unable to escape. That meant I would also not be able to escape. The men in the room would surely dispose of me, but at least I had done something unlike the corpse of a man that lay a meter away from me. An emergency signal would have also been sent out to the police about the robbery. Knowing only a couple of the masked men were left outside worried me, but at least I knew the security guards by the doors would have stepped into action by now and sorted them out. Gun shots could be still heard from the foyer. Hopefully everyone would be okay.

"What the f**k did you do! Hey, turn around you-"

"What you guys going to do, shoot me~?"

Everyone in the room held up their armed weapons ready to fire.

"Well, at least I deleted my search history-"

A bullet was shot through my chest.

I began falling to the ground as I felt more bullets pass through me. On my arms, legs and chest. After the realization I was being shot the pain came, and it didn't stop. It flowed through my whole body. I felt like I was lit ablaze and then pushed into a hot fiery oven to be cooked alive. An eternity passed before I finally collided with the ground, though I knew it was only a few seconds. My heart thudding slowly in my punctured chest, trying to pump blood through my body. Taking in air felt like breathing through a straw. I wanted to scream but nothing would come out, but even if I did what difference would that make. I was too tired. Even if I wanted to move I couldn't. My body refused to. I lay there in agony, wishing for anything to make the pain go away, and as if my prayers were answered I felt a set of hands grab my head and heard my final sound as my neck twisted, plunging me into pain free darkness.

Chapter Text

It went dark. It was quiet and there was a cold unsettling feeling going down my spine like spiders crawling up my back. But there was nothing. It was empty.

Nothing beneath my feet, around or above me.

There was nothing.

Just darkness.

And peace.

Nothing that needed to be done.

Nothing that I needed to go back to.

Nothing that was keeping me down.

I was free from everything.

But then there was light again.

Right in front of me.

And consuming me whole.

Once again, I opened my eyes to find myself in new surroundings. Everything was slightly blurry to me. I couldn't see that far ahead. The sheets underneath my body felt soft and clean. I felt tired. Extremely tired. But after everything they had just been through, it wasn't unexpected. Maybe I was in a hospital, but I couldn't be certain as my vision was blurry. Slowly and steadily, I moved my hand forward, trying to get up. Oddly enough I found it hard to even do that. Moving my arms and legs was a challenge. Maybe it was because of how many bullets were shot at me. I did pass out from the pain. I thought I had died, so of course it could be because of that. Then how come I didn't feel the pain anymore in my body? Had I been out for weeks? Months? Years? Or maybe it was something else entirely? I had to get to the bottom of this. Moving my arms forward once more I finally managed to make some progress in moving, though it wasn't much. With my blurry vision, I looked over at one of my arms. Doing so, my eyes widened in horror. I looked over at the infant like hand that lay beside me. Small, smooth and delicate.

No, this couldn't be right.

Forcing myself to move again I found that the infant hand was mine. It moved much more slower and not as in control as my original hand was.

But wait, how did I end up-

Ohh wait-

I died.

That explains a lot.

But why was I reincarnated?

Was there a purpose for this?

Does this happen to everyone?

Was I supposed to lose my memories before being put in this new life?

Does that mean I can't go back to what I had before?

Am I stuck here?

Damn it, of course I'm stuck here, I just died.

I turned my head round and managed to roll over though everything I did was a challenge. It felt like I was moving a mountain when all I was doing was Trying to change positions. Laying on my back I looked around and realized with my blurry vision that I was in some sort of cot. The sheets, the cot itself, and the clothes I wore were all white. Desperately I tried sitting up but with no success. The newly found baby body I had was too weak to do much. On top of that, I was really small even for the code itself. Was I born premature or was I a normal size for a baby?

Wait hold up now-

I just died!

I just got shot to death in a bank!

And now I've started a new life remembering parts of my last life!

Crap.....

Great, just great.....

Wait-

Was I even born back into my country? My world? My universe? Was this a completely different reality to the last one I was in?

Thinking so much caused my head to hurt as my brain wasn't up to speed with how much I was thinking yet. I stopped thinking to give my head a break. At that moment, the sound of a door could be heard nearby followed by the voice of a female. With my blurry vision I saw the Still house of a figure above me Before picking me up and cradling me. It felt so warm and comforting. Something that I hadn't felt in so long. It was reassuring and felt safe. Slowly and steadily, my eyes began to falter, and they closed on their own, leading me into a peaceful sleep.

The next time I woke, I found I was in the lady's arms again, though I couldn't see her properly because of my bad vision. We're all babies like this? Or is it just me? Maybe something was wrong with my eyesight, but I couldn't tell? I heard the lady speak, who I assumed was my mother. Her voice was soft and gentle, like that of an Angel. I didn't fully pick up what she said as my hearing was also not the greatest but one thing stood out to me.

She mentioned something.

A word.

Which told me where I was at this very moment.

She mentioned something about a meta ability.

Well.... I only started my new life...

And I already know....

I drew the shortest straw....

Chapter Text

I was still trying to figure out and piece together everything that was going on, but it was clear to me by now. I was born during the dawn of quirks. Whether it be during the start, middle of end of this era I did not care, it was still a blood bath of a time in the story of my hero academia. The very story you somehow had been reborn into.

And how were you're certain it was the dawn of quirks aside from you mother mentioning meta-abilities once when she was presumably talking to herself?

Well, the news on the tv that played in the background while you lay in your crib talking about meta-ability riots, the occasional explosion or two in nearby areas that would startle you awake at night fearing for your life and of course, the most obvious, the mention of the luminescent baby, now a man, who had been missing for the past few years now, presumed dead, from his sudden disappearance before making some ground breaking peace in this destroyed society. Thats what the news reported claimed to be the case at least.

But you knew far too well that All for One had probably stolen the luminescent baby's quirk by now, meaning, the two brothers were out there. Somewhere. And Yoichi was probably by now or soon going to be placed in that vault.

And what were you doing while sh*t was hitting the bucket all around you?

In your crib of course.

Causes that's all a baby like yourself could do with the limited movements you were capable of.

Didn't help that you figured out how you were a smaller baby than normal standards when your mother got a doctor in to check up on you a day ago. This meant now not only was your mother way more paranoid of the things happening outside in the world regarding meta-abilities popping up, but also the possibility of you getting sick compared to other infants your age.

Just your luck of the draw.

Being venerable 24/7 didn't help your situation either.

After some time, you thought by now your eyesight and hearing would have improved, but it didn't, leaving you with little clarity of what your mother looked like or sounded like.

Additionally, having to worry about the endless possibilities of being dropped, knocked, chocking and any other endless hazards as a baby wasn't the brightest ideas in your mind right now.

And not to mention the fact that right now, there was no such thing as heroes, only villains, vigilantes and everyone else in between trying to survive.

While worrying over and over in your little head some more, you feel the gentle hands of someone picking you up from your small crib into their seemingly big loving embrace. Looking up with squinted eyes your saw the blurred face of you mother as she cradled you lovingly in her arms. This feeling was very distant to you. The feeling of being cared for.

The very fact that your mother was so gentle and careful when she held you always put your mind at ease for some odd reason. Almost like a trance.

Her soft melody from humming started to fill your semi working ears making you coo in response with a smile.

You could just make out the smile on your mother's face upon seeing you do that.

You then heard your mothers muffled voice speaking right next to your ear. If it weren't for her being so close you would have not been able to tell what she was saying. But this time around you could make out her speech. Her soft caring voice lingered in your ears.

"Your perfect... not like those other kids.... your pure...."

Pure? What was that supposed to mean? You were a baby, maybe not a 100% healthy one but a infant non the less. What did she mean you were pure-

Oh wait.

I swear if she is-

"You don't have one of those curses that's popping up everywhere.... your normal.... you're not a monster.... aren't you my little white rose?" Spoke your mother rocking you back and forth in her arms making you somewhat sleepy. But you couldn't get your mind off the alarming new information about your parent's beliefs.

Well crap.

My mother hates people with quirks.

"You can't be one of them... you... -sniff-..."

Wait, was your mother crying?!

No no no... don't cry... I'm fine....

You felt the hold around you tighten but not painfully. Sobbing came from your mother as she held you and trembled. Some droplets of water fell on top of your short haired head. They were tears. She was crying. What was wrong? Why was she all of a sudden crying so much? What caused this?

She hatted people with quirks. Were the riots scaring her or was it something else? Maybe work was affecting her, but you never saw her go to work, she was always here for the short amount of time you have been with her. Were finances being affected because of the disturbance of quirks? Was it affecting her ability to keep up with paying for everything? Maybe... you had noticed that you didn't have much for an infant, a small blanky at most and a pacifier... you figured out quickly you weren't in a nursery but her bedroom also concluding your suspicions.

But this couldn't be causing her to cry. Why was she crying?

You started to whimper from the surge of unease you felt building up. Your mother stopped her crying but there was still unease and worry in her voice.

"Shhhh shhh... you're okay.... shhhh..... -sniff-.... you're going to be fine.... you're -sniff-...."

She began to bawl her eyes out holding you close to her.

You also started whaling from sensing the negative emotions coming off her, her hold becoming slightly painful and form not knowing what was wrong and why she was worried.

***

You were being carried somewhere. You were in your crib and had fallen asleep after you and your mother cried for a while, so that somewhere could be anywhere with your semi working eyes and ears. It wasn't quiet though, far from it.

There was ringing tones, chatter amongst people, occasional laughter, heavy footsteps, car horns, and other unidentified noises your bad hearing couldn't pick up.

Where was your mother taking you?

When you tried getting her attention by cooing, she wouldn't respond to you at all unlike when she was at home, she would smile gleefully and prop you into her arms. You couldn't see much either from the draped piece of fabric over the thing your mother was carrying you in making it hard on your already horrid eyesight.

You then noticed that the moving of the thing you were in stopped. Had you been placed down? Hopefully you were back home, it wasn't as warm out here like at home. You didn't hear any of the sounds or loud noises anymore, which was a huge relief to your ears. But it was too quiet for your liking. The draped fabric over the thing you were laying inside was then taken off and a hand holding out a bottle of milk came towards you. You took it and latched on and drank the milk inside hungerly. The hand left for a moment and came back with a blanket, placing it over your lower body, tucking your small frame in place. Surprisingly, another bottle of milk was placed not too far from you along with your blanky and pacifier. The hand then left and the cloth was draped back over whatever you were in once again. Leaving you alone to your meal.... or drink... whichever it was.

The sound of footsteps walking away from you didn't unfazed you as you finished off your bottle and cucked it off to the side in the small space you were in.

Laying there you had nothing to do.

It was painfully boring.

But you didn't mind most of the time cause usually there was at least something in the background your mother was listening to that would keep you mildly entertained. However, there was no radio, no music, no tv channel, nothing, not even some background noise of someone moving around.

Where were you?

Was your mother still there or had she-

No, she wouldn't have left me that's absurd!

She probably went to grab something and then would come to pick me up again.

The more you waited the colder it got, and the darker it got inside your little space. Sure enough you got hungry again and grabbed the other bottle beside you filled with milk, it was cold, but you had it anyway. Chucking it off to the side with the other bottle you continued to wait.

It got colder and it was now dark, pitch black. Not like the slight light you had back at home from the night light that was in your mother's room. Something wasn't right. She should have come back for you by now. It was dark. Did she forget you?

A couple of sirens could be heard in the distance from where you were laying. Some occasional rumbles here and there also probably from quirks going off of some sort. The sounds of pattering rain hitting the hard concrete floor was close by as the temperature dropped some more making you shiver in your little form.

It was clear to you by then.

Your mother had abandoned you.

She had left you.

She didn't want you.

She wasn't there anymore.

No one was there.

No one knew you were there.

No one was coming for you.

The whimpering from your throat began building up into a whaling sound. You couldn't do anything, you were stuck in a small space with no way of getting out cause of the weight from the blanket on you and the hunger starting to make your small stomach grumble. Squirming around didn't help much either, only tiring you further.

You were helpless.

You were unwanted.

You were going to die again.

You didn't want to die again.

You didn't deserve to die again; not like this!

***

"Yoichi! Get back here-"

"No! I'm just going out for some fresh air! Can't I at least do that without you being adamant in keeping me near you all the time? You got to get over this brother, it's beyond a joke at this point-"

"If you do not come back here, away from the front door I will not hesitate to-"

"What? Take away my quirk? That won't work brother, cause I have no quirk for you to steal from me unlike your so called followers..."

"Yoichi I-"

Yoichi slammed the front door as he left the apartment. He just couldn't take it anymore. The constant pressure of having to be around his brother all the time like he was more of a trophy than a human being in his eyes. Yoichi, the name his brother began calling him when they were young.
The first thing given or bestowed to him, tch- what a joke. Who did he think he was? He didn't own Yoichi, he was his own individual. He was his own brother, that was it. They were all they had, each other since the very beginning. But how could he not understand the basics of human nature? That what he was starting to do was beyond human morality? Family should understand of all people how other family members are feeling and respect that! Not tossing it to the side and going by their own selfish beliefs. It's not rocket science, it's just common sense.

Yoichi continued to think in annoyance while walking down from the big apartment complex and onto the wet streets bellow. It had been raining for the past few hours and had finally lightened up, leaving a drizzle of rain droplets on his white shirt.

The misty damp cool air filled his lungs and left with a warm sigh of relief. The peace and quiet was tranquil and calming in every way. But deep down he knew his brother within the next few minutes would probably come to get him and drag him back to the apartment complex. For now he was going to soak up the peace and short freedom he was experiencing as he walked through street after street with a small smile on his face. The rain that was wetting his face and hair trickled down his neck, causing him to shiver ever so slightly. This made him feel alive for once. Being able to breathe fresh air. Having the heavens rain down upon him. It was perfect.

Utill, he heard a weak whaling sound coming from an alleyway he was passing.

Yoichi stopped, back tracking his previous movements, looking down the alleyway where the sound had come from. Was he now slightly going insane too? He wouldn't be surprised by how he was being treated by his brother since he declared he was going to become the demon lord, the biggest and worse villain to walk the earth. Didn't help that he was planning in bringing him to his now finished building off in one of the Tokyo districts, most definitely made from his blood covered dirty money.

Before he tried walking again, thinking he had finally lost his mind after so long he heard it again, weak whaling coming from further inside the alleyway. His heart strings tightened and throbbed. There was a very likely chance it was someone using their meta-ability to drag him in and use him as bate for his 'beloved big brother' to come rescue him.

But it sounded too real, and right now, he didn't care too much as All for One would be coming around any minute now to collect him anyway.

Yoichi sighed and forced himself to walk into the alleyway without a care of what was about to happen, it was all the same, but the thought that an innocent toddler or even younger child was somewhere in their scared-

He needed to help. His heart told him so.

As he ventured further, Yoichi discovered an abandoned old cardboard box; tucked away behind a dumpster, covered with a lightly stained cloth used in any normal home kitchen. It was a sorry excuse of a roof, but it was better than nothing.... maybe. The coverage possibly kept out some of the wind that has been coming down this small garbage filled place. At least there was a big drainage system overhead acting as a form of protection against the downpour of treacherous rain that had picked up more since he came down here.

The smells of expired meat, leftover takeout, moldy ripped up or out of fashion clothing from months ago, alcohol cans, cigarette buts, and other ghastly odders filled the air, along with the now softer whaling from the semi-soaked cardboard box.

Should he leave it be as it could be another villain trick?

Probably.

Would his brother be disapproving of him being careless and discarding his 'precious' safety?

Most definitely.

However, there was no saying anything against his own nature. Yoichi had to at least check, to go beyond his own comfort and take the chance. His heart and gut told him this was the right things to do. So, he would do it, even if he had regrets in the long run from doing so. At least he can say he tried, unlike other people who did nothing at all as they passed by.

If it turned out to be a trap, his brother could scold him later for his naiveness.

Yoichi reached out and took the stained cloth off the boxes top.

Nothing.

Just some heavy blanket not suited for an infant and-

milk bottles?!

Something underneath the heavy unkept blanket moved, whimpering, crying for help.

Without considering the consequences and going by his instincts, Yoichi yanked the heavy blanket.

He was not ready for what he found.

A small baby.

TOO SMALL.

White hair and deathly pale skin.

Barely moving around.

Exhausted from the cold, hunger, and whaling.

How long had this child been out in the cold like this?! He had to warm them up and fast. This was no place for a baby, let alone a small weak sickly infant like this.

Yoichi picked up the baby carefully. They were an ice block in his arms, shivering, snuggling into the little warmth he was able to provide. He had to get her to safety, to warmth, and the only place he knew was-

Screw it there had to be another way-

No there was no time he had to save this infant before they died in his arms.

He had to get help from-

"There you are, I was worried you managed to get into the back of a vehicle this time. No wonder it took me a bit longer to find you little brother. Using the smaller paths for escapes this time now hm?-" Said a shadowy figure floating down from one of the rooftops about, avoiding fall damage and the pipe system using an air meta-ability and some other unknown powers he possessed in his growing collection. Yoichi stood there not knowing what to do in that split second. 'Damn it moovvvee Yoichi!'

"-I'll have to take extra care in my searching next time you wonder off. Come on now Yoichi it's time we head back to the apartment one last time before the move. Tomorrow seems like it would be a good day to get a head start on finishing off the packing. Maybe we can get something sweet while-"

"B-brother get us back now!" Yoichi cried out in desperation after finally mustering up the courage causing All for One to become off guard.

'Was there a threat about? No, I would have detected it by now using 6th sense. A gas- no, the air is clean as can be aside for the stench- was Yoichi injured?! But he seems completely fine aside for being drenched- I'll need to scold him for that later-'

"Big brother!"

All for One snaped out of his train of thought in a millisecond. It had been a good while since he heard his little brother call him that. If it was different circumstances, he would have snatched him up and hugged him tightly, teleported him and Yoichi back to the apartment and stayed like that for a good while.

But this was serious. Something was bothering his little brother a great deal-

"Get us back now! There dying! Please I beg you, please, for once have a heart!" Yoichi cried out once more in a panicked worried state.

What was causing him to be this way there was nothing-

He froze looking down at the small bundle in his little brother's delicate arms.

"Yoichi- where did you get-"

"Found them in a box- please save them! I won't run away for a month- no two months! Just save them! Pllleeeaaasssee!!!" He said through teary eyes.

The villain was about to speak to his brother and tell him how unhygienic that was. How he should have left the child because he knew from the few heat sensing meta-abilities and the one heart detection meta-ability he accidentally stole in his youth after killing a doctor that the infant was far gone and would die in a few hours. A couple of times without Yoichi knowing he had helped out small infants he found- if they weren't about to die. He tried saving one when they were on the brink of death, but it was no use even with his meta-ability collection.

He had seen countless young children like him and Yoichi when they were younger in this day and age suffer and die countless times due to the harsh environments this modern age had put them through. Them being born and thrown out like garbage because of financial stress or because they had a meta-ability.

But his voice got caught in his throat when he saw it.

How could he have been so foolish!

He may have felt like sh*t last year but this?!

Hadn't he put things in place to prevent this happening?!

He was careful surely-!

But they were there regardless, left to die in some forgotten alleyway.

How dare whoever the mother was for leaving them here! Of all places!

He should have double checked when he was in a better state of mind after the sh*t last year-

But he couldn't have predicted-

He would end them-

That carrier would die-

Be tortured severely even after they begged for mercy-

He would not let famil-

no-

THEY WERE DYING!

Revenge later, Yoichi and- and them first-

Everything changed when he saw the little infants short unkept snow white hair, their trembling hands, their palms to be exact.

The hole that resided inside both of them.

A mirror image of his very own.

Chapter Text

Actions speak louder than words; that's what people always say. Just giving your word is never going to be enough in a world going through such devastation leaching of decay, breaking away from any formulation of promised peace and justice.

People seek harmony, at least this is what they always seem to claim.

In the end or under a crisis situation that all comes crashing down upon them, reveling the abyss of endless fears that penetrates their very soul. At that moment, when someone is most vulnerable, their character type is breached, showcasing to the world their true nature that was covered by the thick fog of deception they built from the very moment they were born.

***

The door slammed behind them, clear cracks had formed on the walls around the front door, but the tall man, who's usually pristine suit was now crinkled and torn, storm onwards. He didn't care. It wasn't All for One's priority.

Yoichi hadn't seen him like this before.

He had seen his brother get angry or protective of him when they were younger and out on the streets, barely able to get their hands on scraps of food, but this was different. The look in his brothers' eyes were filled with destress, he showed more emotion than the younger brother had seen in a long time. Yoichi tried talking to him but All for One simply picked him up and threw him over his shoulder in the alleyway. All for One, his brother, wouldn't listen keeping Yoichi held with one hand and the infant with the other as if something had snapped inside of him. It took them mere minutes to get back here compared to the usual 15 from where they were located prior.

It was like All for One wasn't fully there.

Only taking notice of what he had to do and nothing else.

Like a fight or flight mood had kicked in out of nowhere.

Yoichi didn't understand why his brother was acting this way. On one hand he was beyond relief that his brother seemed to agree silently to save the infant but the way he was acting wasn't something he was expecting.

He watched as his brother at a quick pace speed walk down the short hallway and into the living room, not caring about turning on any of the lights in the apartment. A faint glow illuminated down the hallway signifying that a quirk had been used to turn on one of the lamps in the living room, and the subtle sound also signaled the heater had been turned on.

His brother had officially for the first time ever not paid attention to his presence. Almost every day and night Yoichi would become sick and tired of his brother checking up on him, going out of his way to spend quality 'family time' with him, give him physical touch to show that he cared for him like a hug that guaranteed barely being able to breath, and most recently being given gifts which started off simple but had increased in price over the last couple of weeks.

A brick had fallen into Yoichi's stomach, making it plumet to the floor. Although he was glad, he didn't have his brother breathing down his neck this behavior was completely abnormal. Why was All for One suddenly caring about this infant so much?

Wait-

'Did the infant have a quirk he needed?! Or did the infant have a powerful quirk that would be useful to his plans?!' Thought Yoichi in fear. He had seen his brother take quirks from strangers off the street before when they were kids just because he 'needed' or 'wanted' them in his hoard of quirks. He knew from seeing which quirks his brother occasionally used around the apartment that he was still doing it when he was not around. Just that thought alone made his feet feel cold.

Worry about other theories of why his brother cared so much about the infant plagued the young man's mind. Yoichi's emerald, green eyes widening. In a hurry he ran down the hallway to the living room, bursting inside before coming to a halt.

The room had a warm glow to it from the golden glob of the lamp. A grave contrast to the tension and unease of his brother who was searching for blankets left and right, chucking them on the floor while still holding the small form in one of his arms. It was obvious he was using a couple quirks to balance the small bundle and another to increase his speed as he moved around. As Yoichi tried getting his head around what the heck was occurring right before his very eyes, his older brother placed the infant carefully on top of the pile of blankets and positioned the fabrics with upmost care around the small form.

His brother then proceeded to take the infants damp onesie off and that's when Yoichi finally found his ability of speech again. "Brother... what are you doing?"

All for One didn't respond and delicately took off the baby's simple onesie before chucking the clothing aside with no care. He then began to reposition the blankets again around the infant, who was barely moving around and had their small eyes closed.

"Brother? Big brother? All for One..... are you listening? What are you doing?... All for On-"

"Be quite Yoichi." His brother spoke firmly in a low voice without looking up at him, freezing for a moment. The villain stared at the small baby before placing a finger lightly on their small forehead seemingly to check their temperature.

"Too cold..." All for One mumbled under his breath in, worry?

Yoichi was about to ask again regardless of what his brother had previously said, but his eyes spotting something on the infant that made him stop in his tracks.

His eyes widened once more and be felt sick to the stomach, holding back a gag reflex.

Yoichi felt a cold sweat fall down his face where a look of confusion and slight horror succumbed his features.

His brother....

How did his brother have a child?!

'How did- no- babies are made when- yes but did his brother really- but he didn't even seem like the type of person to be stupid enough to go through with something like that! Why would he even do that- wait- last year- did he do that when I managed to stay hidden for a few months?! Was he really that low-'

"-Yoichi," came a voice snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked at his brother who was trying to cover up a worried expression but failing miserably. All for One looked like he had aged years from the look he was giving, how his usual perfect exterior was destroyed and replaced with a whatever abomination was seated uncomfortably on the floor as if ready to jump into action at a moment's notice.

"Don't go anywhere. Don't leave the apartment. Don't touch- don't touch the infant unless absolutely necessary or I permit you until they are in a stable condition-"

He blabbered on as if he was in autopilot mode. He went to grab a phone out of his pocket and dialed a number on it, placing it to his ear.

"-I'm being pulled thin as it is Yoichi, don't go testing my patience right now or I will take drastic measures." All for One warned giving him a glare. A shadow covering part of his older brothers face and his eyes slightly glowed red like they did when he wasn't in a good mood or when using his quirk more then he normally would. A shiver went down Yoichi's spine.

"Hello boss, what do ya' nee-" Came a small voice from the other side of the phone once it answered. Almost instantaneously All for One cut off the voice with his own.

"Get a doctor. Preferably a high paying one and bring them to where I'm located. I don't care if they are willing, just take them from their office and bring them here to me alive- make certain to get whatever they require once they are brought here. And get someone else to buy the supplies I send to you." He hung up without waiting for a reply and handed the phone to Yoichi quickly from where he was seated on the ground.

"Type up what I saw quickly and then read it out to me," said the villain once again checking the infant's temperature.

Needless to say, for the next hour Yoichi for once complied with everything his brother asked of him. From writing up the list, to grabbing items from around the apartment, to opening the door and staying out of the confused doctor's way once the man was dragged inside. Thankfully, the doctor knew what he was doing and had some experience with infants. The blond male did everything he could to help the small baby while sweating, looking over his shoulder occasionally at the taller white-haired male burned holes into the back of his head with his ruby red eyes.

After hours of back and forth talking between his brother and the doctor, the blond male finally left but was told by All for One to come back in a few days to check on the infant.

The doctor nodded and bowed his head multiple times at Yoichi's brother so much so that when he left out the front door Yoichi was not surprised to see the blond male running for dear life.

Yoichi wouldn't be surprised in the least if the male tried leaving the country even in its current state.

However, Yoichi also knew if the doctor tried it would not end so well.

His brother already had a primary use for him and All for One was not one to let people he actually needed go.

***

You remember the cold. The freezing body numbing sensation. You felt some water had dampened your clothing making you freeze faster. It wasn't good for babies to be out in the cold for too long let alone one of your size. The last thing you remember was slight light entering the top of the box that had begun to open and the stillhouse of a person leaning over to grab you.

Waking up slowly hours later the first thing you felt was warmth. Not just that but something soft underneath and on your sides, sort of like a nest around you. It was comfy.

Too comfortable.

You tried moving around but you felt so weak. Your thin clothing was obviously taken off you as you felt the toasty air on your skin, aside for your lower half, which was in a nappy still. Though this time around the nappy felt a little softer than they one's you had worn previously, as if it was higher quality then your mother's standard ones.

Did mum come back for you?

But it didn't feel like the simple crib you usually rested in.

Before you could contemplate any more a slight pain hit your little stomach, and you knew all too well what was casing it. Hunger. You shuffled around slightly with your weakened movements and whimpered.

Usually, your mother would come in a few minutes or a little longer and then get you something to drink but fate had other plans for you today.

"Brother.... she's waking up." Came a soft muffled voice from not too far away from you on the left, which you could barely make out the words to. If only you had good hearing. At this point you wouldn't be surprised if you were born partly deaf and partly blind.

The ever so slight sounds of footsteps walked into the room and instantly came to your right. To you it seemed silent as soft sounds were hard to pick up for you. It was hard for you to even see ten centimeters in front of you most of the time. You whimpered to yourself and slightly opened your eyes. At least you could see a warm glow and the stillhouse of two figures, the one on the left with long hair and the one to the right obviously the bigger of the two.

A second noticeably sharper pain rippled in your stomach's depths. You whimpered louder because of this, and some tears collected in your eyes. You fussed a little though not much.

"She's probably hungry," stated the one to the right as if it was a matter of fact. As if on cue you saw the figure to the right holding something and bringing it towards your face.

"Is it warm-" Questioned the male to the left before being intercepted halfway through his sentence.

"Yes, it is. I don't need a microwave, and I tested the temperature." Spoke the male to the left with a somewhat tired and blunt tone.

Once the object was close enough you realized it was a bottle. You stopped whining and eagerly tried latching onto the nipple with no success for the first few tries till it was expertly guided into your mouth by the person holding it. Without thinking you began the prosses of draining the bottle at a fast pace.

"Is she going too fast?" Came the voice from the left again.

The other voice replied instantaneously, as if slightly eager to reply to the former. "A little, but as long as she isn't gasping, gulping too loud or pulling away upset she should be okay- oh- well look at that..."

You tried drinking more but there was nothing left. That didn't matter to you though as you were used to only getting a bottle of milk even though you wanted more. You didn't understand why you wanted more and didn't feel full even though it was clearly enough for a baby. Maybe it had something to do with your genetic makeup. You didn't quite know. Your mother clearly abandoned you by the looks of it-

You froze and it came at you like a bus.

Your mother had abandoned you. She had left you because you most likely had a quirk- a meta-ability. Because in the dawn of quirks people with such gifts were seen as a cancer to society.

Some tears built up in your eyes along with a whimper and then a soft cry. The fact that you were a baby made it hard to control your emotions making any minor thing feel like a disaster. And when you realized that your mother really did just up and leave you in nothing but a small cold place to die it felt like the world was ending.

You didn't notice the worry coming from the two males in the room, nor the pair of hands gently lifting you up, nor the fact someone was holding you close, you just continued to cry your tired little lungs out softly till sleep once more took you into a world of bliss.

Chapter Text

"Isn't this a little too much?" Questioned Yoichi as he looked around the room which was once All for One's office before the villain had moved files and furniture out of the space to be brought to his newly developed building. The once dark and gloomy office space had become the complete opposite of its previous atmosphere.

The walls were now a light shade of blue with white painted stars scattered around the place. The ceiling matched the themed with a dark blue background and glow in the dark stars stuck to its painted surface ready to light up once the lights were out. Towards one wall sat a basic set of white draws with the essential supplies needed for any baby in each individual draw with a changing station set up on top ready for action. On the opposite side a floor lamp sat alone in the wall near the white wooden cot that was nestled into the right far corner of the room. Inside on dark blue sheets covered with white stars a little girl was fast asleep in a slightly too big onesie with its theme based off one of the leading characters in the comic series Captain Hero.

".... of all the onesies you could have picked for her," sighed the younger brother in annoyance as he witnessed his niece wearing that dreadful demon lords design, the very villain he hated in the comic book series that he fully read when growing up. All for One seemed pleased with his decision as he looked over and gave his little brother a smug smile before looking back down at his little bundle of worry and joy.

"I personally think it's perfect on her. Don't worry, I'll let you dress her up soon... once she's better of course...." Stated the villain with a hint of worry evident in his tired voice. All for One found that more often than not his little girl wouldn't cry much only when she needed to be changed or wanted to be feed. It wasn't that he didn't thank his lucky stars that she didn't take away all his sleep, it was the fact she only cried rarely. He would have preferred her crying all the time than her only crying when she was practically starving or in dire need for a dipper change. It was as if she had learned from her previous parent that she would only be taken care of when it was required. That left an unsettling feeling inside of him, one he hadn't felt since him and Yoichi were children, not even.

Over the past couple of days, he had been keeping an eye on when she should be feed and come in a little early in hopes he could train her out of her old habits and into new ones that would benefit her health in the long run.

At least the little one didn't hesitate to drink her fill. She was a really hungry baby for her small size. It made him wonder where all that milk even went. It only clicked recently that it may be due to her having a similar quirk to him or being starved of the essentials needed for her development for far too long.

He still needed to track down that woman who dared harm his innocent little princess, then again Yoichi and her were his whole world and he wasn't in the mood to track her down just yet. The thought of leaving that to a day when he was pissed off or an operation not going as planned sounded much more favorable in his mind.

"Do you think she's blind All for One?" Came a peculiar question for his little brother's mouth. The taller male turned his head over at his twin brother.

"Why would you say that little brother? She's perfectly fine-" He rebutted a bit offended by the accusation that his child was underdeveloped in such a way. The serious face Yoichi then gave didn't make him any happier.

"Think about it, almost always misses the teat on her bottle, doesn't stare at us, rubs her eyes frequently, squints, and her pupils are a little cloudy.... she may be partly blind if not fully... I may be wrong but-" The younger brother stopped speaking when All for One carefully picked up the sleeping baby and lifted her into his arms. Slowly she wriggled around and whimpered from being woken from a good rest.

"I know... it's okay... just checking something little one..." Cooed the elder. Slowly the infants' eyes opened up revealing her red irises looking upwards at the ceiling.

***

You felt slightly cold air around your once warm blanket covered body. For the past couple days now these same two males had been looking after you. It was annoying at first having to unknown strangers you had to completely depend on for every basic thing, but it dawned upon you only recently if it weren't for them, you would have definitely died that night in that small cramped icy dark space with no one.

This, even if it was odd, was better than perishing like disposable garbage on a nature strip, forgotten by all.

You heard the muffled voices of the two males talking again and could tell the taller one was holding you again as you felt the hum of vibrations against your secured small form. The onesie you had on felt warm, but you still felt the draft coming from the possibly nearby door. whining usually worked to be deposited back into the warm comforting space you assumed was a cot. Soft cooing came from the one holding you and you were rocked slowly.

Great, they wanted to hold you this time and not put you back. You were sleeping so well too. Why did they have to wake you up now? Couldn't it wait until morning?

"I know... it's okay... just checking something little one..." Came a faded voice that you almost missed picking up on. With nothing better to do your eyes opened slowly and you tried squinting to look up at the male in hopes you could actually see him this time. Once more no luck on discovering one of your mystery saviors.

".... hmm... you may be right little brother... can't believe that doctor didn't pick it up...." Spoke the one holding you slightly tighter this time.

The grip they had on you wasn't crushing you, but it did feel a bit too much for your comfort. Then slowly a hand was taken away from under you and lifted to your face. Not wanting to have your eyes potentially poked out you closed them which was a good move as the hand was gently placed over them.

A warm tingly feeling entered your eyes before it felt like a burning sensation for a couple seconds. Hence proceeded the whaling from the sudden pain. Why did he do that? Was that a quirk? Still, it was too hot and ripped at your eyeballs.

"Its okay, shhh shhh... I know I know it hurt... That was scarry wasn't it? Don't worry daddy's got you..." Spoke the man in a soft calming voice.

Wait-

what did he just say?!

Your eyes flew open, and everything seemed brighter than usual, you blinked a number of times looking at the ceiling, but... it was easy to see what colour it was now. Dark blue and were those stars? They looked cool and were possibly glow in the dark from what you could tell.

A small chuckle came from the form holding you. The bubbling curiosity made you look over at their face.

First thoughts.

You wished you hadn't.

Of all the people holding you right now why did it have to be him?!

How did he find you?!

Was he going to steal your hypothetical quirk?

Tears flooded your eyes, and you brought your mini hands up towards your face. The palms that greeted you made you want to cut your hands off. So that's why he called himself your father before. Once again you had pulled the worst draw possible and had lost the game.

"Brother- is she okay?" Spoke a recognizable voice now that you had seen the villain who was currently carrying you. Turning slightly the sight of a straight white haired young male with emerald green eyes greeted your view.

More tears collected in your eyes and once again the water works started off.

Why did you have to be related two these two of all people?

Couldn't you get a break?

Chapter Text

You squirmed in Yoichi's arms. It wasn't like you had something against the poor man, it was just that you were restless upon finding out a few days ago that he and his brother were related to you; Yoichi your uncle and All for One your..... f.... fa... father.

The though made you throw up a few times, but the two men just suspected you weren't used to holding down so much milk. Right now, Yoichi was carrying you carefully in his arms. The hold felt right and actually comforting unlike your male parent's which felt like he was clinging to you for dear life; thankfully he had reduced that habit slowly, but it was still there lingering.

"You hungry (Y/n)?" Questioned the soft green-eyed male holding you gently swaying back and forth standing in the kitchen. He was an angle. No ifs or buts. Why did he have to be in such a situation like this?

You reduced your squirming feeling guilty for making him worried. He didn't deserve your squirms at all, and you would behave around him, plus you were a little hungry and felt the insides of your small stomach grumbling. It was clear to by now you required more milk than a normal baby, hopefully that wasn't a sign something else was wrong, you were small and sick as it was.

Yes, the villain was gone for a few hours and Yoichi was watching over you. Compared to the tall stalking man always hovering over Yoichi's shoulder this was a nice change of scenery. It actually felt homely and much safer. Although it was technically more safe when All for One lurked around each corner, it dragged along an unsettling sensation up one's spine; like having an invisible pair of eyes watching your every move.

For the past few days, All for One had been moving boxes of his filing from the apartment to his new building. Other similar boxes lay scattered on the tiled flooring of the kitchen and along other floors in the normal apartment. By now you had clearly understood they were moving right before you were found. The building you assumed all the items were going to be transported to was most likely a tall office complex based of hearing All for One ramble a couple times over the phone about moving items to the 78 floor and so forth. And from what you could recall from the manga in your past life you knew that it wouldn't end well if you ended up there with Yoichi.

You didn't want to end up in that building.

Knowing the villain he probably made it fail safe so Yoichi and now you couldn't get out as a measure to keep you both 'safe' from the chaotic outside world. Hopefully there was no vault installed yet. Then again, your luck lately could say otherwise.

The kind male holding you close walked over to a nearby fridge to begin his task preparing a feast fit for any small new human. You however didn't pay much mind to what was occurring; your thoughts instead clouded your mind.

At least you figured out one thing with all the spare time on your hands; you had All for One, though it acted differently than the original quirk the villain had.

In your case you found the holes could easily close up and reopen. Additionally, if you concentrated enough, you could see a glowing coloured light in a person who had a quirk.

The first time you tried doing it while All for One was organizing items in the nursery you almost went blind from how many lights there were. From what you could tell the tall man didn't even realize yours had differences to his own and just assumed you ended up with an exact copy of his own quirk; which he seemed proud of to no end. The coddling at this point was getting beyond your nerves, who knew one man could spend so much time with his family without his rising empire collapsing.

For now, as least, you had the upper hand in that regard for the time being. As long as he believed he knew everything and had control over you, things would work in your favor in the coming years.

On another note, two brothers appeared in their early 20's meaning in a year or more Yoichi would be put into the bank vault and later on escape with the help of the second and third users of One for All. With your ability to see quirks in people and a lot of trial and error you saw the stockpiling quirk was already within Yoichi and had been forced upon him, attempting to mix with his original quirk. It was worrying seeing right in front of you as two lights slowly day by day merged together, but there wasn't anything you could do.

For now, you could only watch and learn. Besides, no one would suspect an infant to pay attention to adult conversations let alone understand what they were saying. You still did question a lot how you understood Japanese so well and could read it, oh well, you probably got it from your past life, or something happened between then and being reborn. All you knew is if you kept on looking too deeply into it you would never find the answers and only end up with a mini baby headache.

Carefully Yoichi held you in one are as he placed a bottle of what you instantly knew was milk for you into a cup that had warm water inside it on the countertop. Hopefully everything would turn out just fine in time.

But only one could hope.

-~*~-

Hours later, cooing at the elder you moved your tinny hands up towards his face patting his cheek, well, more like gently slapping it. Apparently, it was still too hard for you to move around much which you weren't too surprised as you only recently were brought here under the two brother's care. There was a weakness in your body still, but you were feeling slight improvements, very slight improvements.

The warm glow from the lights in the room reminded you of when you were first brought here not too long ago. To think you could have passed that night if Yoichi, your uncle, hadn't stumbled upon you. He probably heard your cries of desperation for help, to be taken away from the torturous cold and hunger. You would be forever grateful for him finding you. He had such a big heart, a heroic and loving heart.

-~*~-

Yoichi held the small infant close as she cooed up at him cradled in his arms. He sat on the one leather couch in the living room. It was a cozy room with the warm lighting and polished wooden floorboards with a green woolen rug, but of course his brother decided black leather couches would go well with the rest of the layout. Clearly brown would have finished off the inviting atmosphere better but of course his brother preferred a more modern or classical approach to furniture. Unfortunately, this time around it was the former.

Baby (Y/n) with wide curious eyes slapped his right cheek with a small open fist. If felt incredible to know he had found her by coincidence and saved her, like those comic's he loved reading when he was younger and even to this very day occasionally. To think he saved her that day from such a devastating fate.

His little niece was such a surprise, but she was a good one in all the darkness that had surrounded him lately. She was his beacon in these trying times. All he wished was that her life could have turned out better than this. That he could have gotten her somewhere else safer than here away from his older brother.

It sounded selfish but if he could have found someone else to help her with the knowledge he knew now, he would have done so without question. He wished he wasn't an idiot and had just looked over her a bit more to connect the dots. Maybe then (Y/n) might have had the chance to live freely away from his brother's possessive grip over the both of them.

But deep down he knew it was only time before All for One would have discovered her existence. Avoiding the inevitable would have just made things complicated and worse for everyone.

Sighing he kept down a few tears as the guilt of dragging her into his brother's arms set in. Yoichi looked down at his niece once more speaking in a hushed somber tone, "I'm sorry I brought you into this.... you don't deserve to be trapped with.... him.... I promise one day we will leave him together. Just.... not today.... but it will come.... I'm sure of it (Y/n). When that happens, we can go have ice-cream by a park and I will buy you a comic or two, once I gather enough money of course. How hard can it be right?" He concluded with a chuckle.

He paused momentarily as a small smile wiped off his previous neutral face. "I bet you'll adore those stories about heroes and villains. In truth, I want to help people too (Y/n). But heroes like the ones in comic's aren't real. The line between good and evil right now is twisted beyond recognition. But you know what? I have hope that there will be hero's worldwide saving people in the future... just a gut feeling... some people with quirks in America are trying hard to be hero's I heard, so it's only a matter of time that someone stands up against evil that is lurking everywhere right now... but (Y/n)... with a meta ability like yours, you could be anything you want. But even so, don't stray too far from the light. It's not the power that determines the person; it's the person that determines their own fates... For now, I'll keep you safe from-"

"Safe?" Questioned a deep voice from behind the couch. Turning his head round the younger of the two twins saw his brother standing by the doorway with a smile, his dark grey coat and black fedora hat still in place meaning he just returned.

His older brother's eyes flashed momentarily with red as he grinned at his little brother. Yoichi just dreaded inside already at whatever the villain's next words would be after having his time with his niece destroyed.

"Is someone becoming protective? Oh, baby brother I've been waiting for the day for you to understand the complexities behind the desire to keep family safe and loved," the tall man spoke beaming with pride at the display he assumed was his brother vowing to keep HIS little one safe. What else would he be saying after all aside for swearing to protect her with his life?

The short haired male chucked the coat off to the side along with the hat and both floated over onto the plastic coat rack by the door. The villain made a mental note to install more desired ones in the new housing he was arranging for his family.

Walking around and plonked himself right next to his brother even though there was plenty of room on his side the villain wrapped a hand over the others shoulder and pulled him closer. "You never seem to stop surprising me little brother. It appears my little one is keeping you occupied. You haven't attempted a single escape in the whole week she has been around. If I had known sooner that this is all it took to keep you in one spot, I would have done this a while ago..."

Yoichi listened and tried not to grimace at the thought. They were both only twenty this year. His brother was already way too young to have a child and he though it sounded okay to have one even earlier? All for One really didn't halt in filtering his own opinions around him sometimes. He could recall the numerous occasions where his brother's openness had made Yoichi question his brother's morals and mental health. Then again, his brother was trying to achieve becoming a demon lord and ruler of the world so it shouldn't have been much of a shocker to him in his younger years on the streets.

"Now come on Yoichi, hand her over. You've had plenty of bonding time," stated his brother and reluctantly Yoichi passed over his niece to him. His brother didn't wait a moment to swiftly hold the infant close and give out some ghost like kisses. Unfortunately for his brother she cried from the sudden affection. Yoichi bit down on his lip hard holding back laughter at the scene.

-~*~-

Yoichi lay in his king single bed awake. The captain hero themed clock that All for One had gifted him to the side of his bed read 2:31am. He had once again not been able to fall asleep. It wasn't from the occasional cry which was rare as (Y/n) was a saint like that compared to other infants but because his mind was buzzing with thoughts.

Last year he had managed to get away from his brother for months using multiple methods. The main one being dying his hair a ridiculous red colour and using some cheap crappy make up to change his facial appearance. Yoichi by that point was at his lowest when he discovered how deep his brothers corruption was getting. Seeing firsthand in that warehouse by pure coincidence and timing the unmoving environment before him and the stench of blood that flooded his airways with his older brother standing amongst it all unfazed by his latest massacre.

He continuously during his time hiding and, on the run, never spent more than twelve hours in one set location and changed it up every time so it was less predictable. One night an alleyway, another night offering to wash dishes at a restaurant in exchange for a place to sleep the night. While he was away being 'rebellious' as All for One put it, his older brother became more destructive and determined to grow his already blossoming power and control over others to prevent another escape from ever occurring. During that time his brother had also dabbled into other things Yoichi never expected his own brother to consider doing leading to (Y/n).

And how was All for One able to find Yoichi?

It was by pure chance when Yoichi was temporarily serving at a restaurant to achieve another safe location to sleep the night. That night All for One was meeting up with some possible new connections and found the red head waiter oddly familiar, till of course he saw the waiters face a few more times realizing it was indeed Yoichi.

He spent days with All for One clinging to him and not letting go for a second in fear of losing him again. It took a lot of time afterwards to achieve some level of privacy and personal space once more, which was still destroyed when his older brother was in one of his clingy possessive moods.

However, that wasn't what was flooding Yoichi's brain at the moment. It was what occurred while he was able to achieve a small amount of freedom last year. When a group of people spoke together at a rundown dine in mentioned rebels that were planning to strike back against his very own brother and other criminal activity. Those words that floated on the wind clung to his mind ever since and gave him more hope every day that change could actually happen, that there was a chance to make things right.

Maybe, just maybe, hero's did exist out there, but people had just labeled them as rebels instead.

Yoichi could only hope as he heard his bedroom door opening signifying his brother had discovered his unrestfulness.

Chapter Text

Stepping out from the vehicle unnerved Yoichi, not because of the fact his brother even owned a black luxurious car and had someone drive it around but from the destination it had come to a final halt before. It's astounding height towered over the surrounding office buildings demanding presence over the city scape. With the large, tinted windows, and art deco style fitting along the lines of what Yoichi presumed would fit into line for what his brother considered fine architecture.

He knew All for One would have one way or another inevitably left the apartment with Yoichi in tow to keep in a more 'secure' and 'safe' place. Now however, he wasn't the only one being brought here.

But that wasn't Yoichi's biggest concern at the moment. Seeing this highly secure place for the first time didn't perplex his mind at all in how challenging it would come to be to even get out of such a place let alone wonder the streets like he previously did against his brothers wishes. This time around All for One wasn't messing around when it came to keeping himself and his niece in the palms of his hands. To him they were both his 'greatest possessions' which to any normal person they would surely daunt at the prospect, but Yoichi had passed that point bygones ago. Right at this point in time though the younger brother knew he would for the time being have to be in his brothers good books to secure any chance of making another escape attempt.

(Y/n) was enough on his elder brothers' hands for the time being but that didn't mean All for One couldn't multitask. Hence, once an opening came up, when he could obviously leave, he would not. After all, Yoichi knew deep down that his brother could occasionally be taken off guard when he didn't see things coming his way. All for One loved having everything set out in front of him and purposefully guiding his strategies to success, like a game of chess. And like a game of chess Yoichi just had to be patient and wait till he could guide his own hopes forward, like a pawn drawing closer to becoming a queen.

When that happened, he would strike. In the meantime, he would play happy families. That didn't go in saying he would be too foolish and swap personalities overnight. Yoichi would just gradually appear less tempted on the idea of fleeing his brother's line of sight and appeal more drawn to keeping (Y/n) company.

Yoichi stood there waiting as he looked over his shoulder at All for One taking his time pulling (Y/n) out of the infant safety seat. One the way here the little infant had drifted off to sleep and it appeared she still was out like a light. If only Yoichi could easily fall asleep like that. He smiled softly as his brother took her out of the car with expert care in cradling her close in a-

Wait-

Was that what Yoichi thought it was?!

A smug smirk filled Yoichi's face as he witnessed his brother placing the sleeping infant in what seemed to be a baby carrier. All for One looked absolutely comical with his normal attar on while wearing the item securing the infant to around his front. Oh, Yoichi was not going to back down in mentioning this moment as many times as he could when his brother was feeling all high and mighty. Guess Yoichi wasn't the only one who was wrapped around his niece's tinny finger.

-~*~-

To say the new living situation was an upgrade was an understatement. The eldest of the two brothers had gone above and beyond when it came to the design of the new living space, after all, All for One wanted his family to live a comfortable lifestyle which he could more than comfortably afford now that everything was going according to plan. His organizations and connections were flourishing before his very eyes as of late and not showings signs of stopping.

It was something the villain knew would drive his younger precious brother up the wall like a cat, so he didn't dare mention any of his progress in front of Yoichi in a time like now. Everything was peaceful, calm, Yoichi was hardly arguing with him at all, his brothers eating habits were improving and he hadn't attempted any escape attempts at all. Deep down All for One knew something was off, that his brother could be up to scheming a way out of his grasp, but he had no insight on what Yoichi was plotting in that mind of his aside from playing nice for now. It infuriated him internally and he so desperately wished he had a truth quirk of some kind right about now to have some sort of indication of what was going on, but he didn't.

Yoichi was trying to take the long road to his victory. All for One would just have to cut him off at one of the side streets, problem was he didn't know which one to go down at the moment.

He may have won this round; however, it was only a matter of time something would happen.

He just couldn't see that something.

And it left a bad taste in his empty mouth.

Walking into the new place Yoichi looked around with a neutral expression trying to appear unimpressed with the high ceilings and large open space. All for One, having known his brother his whole life saw the look in his green eyes, giving away slight surprise to the entryway. A simple chandelier hung from above the black and white metallic epoxy stone floor. It didn't seem to be fully furnished yet as there were some covered pieces of furniture off to the corner of the entry way along with some valuable paintings.

All for One stepped forward and continued on under the chandelier towards the center hallway that connected to the large entryway. His brother reluctantly followed along behind, after all, this place was new to his small helpless brother. The hallway ended moments later leading them both to a larger space where a living room with ash grey leather couch with a tv sat on one side and on the other side resided a transitional style kitchen. It was perfect place for a family to spend their time together in, if it weren't for the input that one of the said family members intended on keeping them in the said space as often as possible.

Turning around with (Y/n) peacefully sleeping in the baby carrier strapped to his chest, the older brother smiled fully at Yoichi with a glint in his eyes. "Welcome to our new home little brother," he spoke whole heartedly.

Yoichi looked back at him with eyes of worry making All for One's smile widen painfully.

Chapter Text

Sitting upon Yoichi's lap (Y/n) glared over at the tall red eyed man by the counter with pure determination to try making it obvious she did not want him nearby. The red eyes he had once before faded back to their usual white pupils, reflecting back nothing in which he saw. To her utter dismay the villain just smiled like he was in a fantasy world surrounded by fairies and eating strawberry short cake at high tea.

This bothered the troubled infant to no end.

Lately she had been carrying on around him, crying her lungs out at random times for no apparent reason to mess up his whole sleep schedule, put up a fuss whenever he held her and even tried spitting on his suits as 'she was a clumsy baby with no control over what she did'.

But....

The man didn't give two flying f^cks and was more overjoyed than she ever saw him till this moment, while looking over at her and her uncle with some dark circles under his eyes even his quirks couldn't manage to hide.

Why was he so happy all of a sudden?!

She was making his life purposefully a living h^ll!

Any sane person would be broken by now with how she had been acting around him in contrast to her perfect behavior around Yoichi. Surely, he must be questioning his parenting skills by now. Maybe he was at his breaking point but didn't want to show it?

She looked up at All for One again and sure enough he was beaming as he placed some snacks into a bowl, almost missing the whole thing entirely. Nope, he was definitely acting off for some reason and it was creeping the heck out of her.

As the man eventually ventured over to the couch Yoichi and (Y/n) occupied, he didn't even go to grab one of the remotes to the tv, just placed down the bowl on the coffee table and sat beside Yoichi suffocatingly close. The grin didn't fall from his sleep deprived face, "Seems like someone isn't so sick anymore~," the villain spoke as he reached out his left arm and patted her little head gently with affection. As Yoichi and All for One began having their own conversation (Y/n) was confused as to what had just happened, until it clicked at last.

Had she actually been getting better?

Now that she thought about it the last few weeks, as Uncle Yoichi and her had been occupying this new spacious apartment home her clothing had been swapped over. It didn't occur to (Y/n) till this moment that she had indeed most definitely gone up a size in her baby clothes, which wasn't much, till she considered how small she was technically for a baby before. Now, it became clear she was catching up to the size she should have been to begin with, meaning she was technically now 'healthy' as the villain had generously put it.

So that's why he was all holly jolly.

He was just happy that his child was healthier.

Well so much for trying too purposefully reduce his quality of life. Might as well catch up on some much-needed rest tonight, maybe that would freak him out by not crying at all.

-~*~-

The sun beamed down warmly on Yoichi's skin illuminating his pale pigmentation from lack of vitamin d for so long. The sky was blue above Japan for once instead of its usually cloudy conditions due to a multitude of reasons including meta-ability usage and conflicts happening within the urban area. Cold winds slightly nipped at his skin before a warm larger hand grabbed his shoulder bringing him out of his momentary bliss.

"Make sure to zip up your jacket all the way Yoichi. You will end up getting sick again if you're too careless," spoke All for One as he half forced the green eyed male to face towards his taller form before the villain took his hand off Yoichi's shoulder and grasped the zip, pulling it upwards.

"Zen I'm f-"

"Yoichi," All for One said looking at his little brother straight on, his eyes that crimson hue. "Do not use that name so openly. Especially around others and in public. You know better than to-"

A small giggle came from the stroller that the older brother was previously pushing along. The two halted their initial deep and meaningful argumentative conversation and looked over at the small infant giggling happily as three butterflies fluttered around her. At this time of year, they shouldn't be around because of the cold, yet the colorful blue spotted pattern and fluttering majestic wings proved they were definitely butterflies.

Till they flew off away from (Y/n).

And then (Y/n) pouted at the loss of her previous excitement.

Yoichi looked at his niece with a soft smile. She was so innocent and clueless to what was going on in this world, if only she could understand the gravity of her situation, then again, he wouldn't want her to suffer knowing the truth. When she was older, he would explain everything to her, now was the time for him to try enjoying the momentary sort of peace he was given, side for All for One's insistent involvement, though sometimes it wasn't all that-

A flash of light startled Yoichi momentarily and he tensed looking to where his brother was expecting a disaster but what he found instead made him deadpan. All for One looked over with a toothy grin. "You cannot blame me for capturing the moment, just look at you two~"

The villain stated like a matter of fact displaying his phone screen to Yoichi's awaiting eyes. He saw himself of course with a soft smile but also (Y/n) looking over at him with curious eyes. Yoichi sighed as he did have a point, the image was worth keeping, but he wouldn't admit it, so he turned his head away and continued to walk along the path.

If his brother actually used his meta ability for not his own beneficial gains, to help others and resolve the global dilemma, then Yoichi would possibly see him as a completely different person, one who was just worried about his family and didn't see them as just possessions on a mantel piece.

But that wasn't Yoichi's brother.

That reality was far out of reach.

One could hope for change, but change doesn't always come.

After all, old habits die hard, and All for One didn't see anything wrong with his current ones.

-~*~-

She was board.

Extremely board.

The park was beautiful, with its warm glow even in these cooler conditions and the falling of autumn leaves of fiery colours, but there was only so much she could look at. Being this age sucked. Yes, she didn't have to worry about anything at the moment but laying around all day every day with nothing, but baby toys and blocks had its limits. Just sitting in the seat of the stroller and not being able to run around free or explore or even figure out a way to help Yoichi agitated you. At least those butterflies were pretty. (Y/n)'s eyes then wondered off into the distance already knowing what was there.

Past the park she could see the devastation.

Buildings snapped in half and toppled over, with holes through the sides of them and debris of buildings right, left and center. It was like a battlefield full of chaos, as if a tornado had gone right through the whole area. (Y/n) knew this was the dawn of quirks. That it was a horrible time in history to live through in the world of my hero academia, however, seeing just kilometers away how bad it all really is left an unsettling notion. Till now aside from how she started off she had been living in her own little world of mostly peace, boredom and being cared for, which was one of the best outcomes she could have had after she had convinced herself there were always worse realities to be in, side from the very fact her literal father was trying to become the world's next biggest calamity.

"Ice cream! Come and get your ice cream!" Came a booming voice from a nearby stand. No one else was about. Seeing one lone ice cream stand of pink and white by the lake ready and waiting on their exact route of the park sent off alarm bells in (Y/n)'s head. Either one of two things was at play. One, this was a villain trying to do something or two All for One hired the guy to serve ice cream to you three in the middle of autumn.

Turned out her second prediction was right as when (y/n)'s stroller was pushed over the ice-cream man was shaking from head to toe. He didn't want to be there, serving ice cream in a short sleeve shirt and pants with a pink hat. Anyone with common knowledge would know. He was forced to be waiting there. All for One, while retrieving his and Yoichi's cone's held on a little longer than expected before letting go and turning around with a smile.

"Here you go Yoichi, it's your favorite of course," he spoke with a hint of forcefulness underneath his kind works and smile. The look in her uncles now dulled eyes showed it all; All for One was trying too hard to please him and make everything seem fine. But it wasn't. This relationship between two brothers was not fine at all.

Green, emerald eyes landed into her gaze and then the fog lifted with a soft smile on his face.

(Y/n)'s gut turned. She was keeping him from lashing out at your father. That's what All for One obviously saw to. Why else would Yoichi be sticking around and trying too much to act fine when he was clearly not?

He wasn't worrying about just himself anymore.

He was worried about her too.

He wouldn't leave unless he could also leave with (Y/n).

That's why All for One did certain things. Why his room was in the middle of both Yoichi's and (Y/n)'s rooms to 'make sure you are both okay'. Why All for One would insist to hold onto her whenever Yoichi wanted to head out of his sight. Why right now at this very moment the villain was the one to push the stroller instead of letting Yoichi have a turn occasionally. And why the man known as her father asked Yoichi to hold his ice-cream while he picked her up into his arms and retrieved his ice-cream again.

The infant tried but failed at pulling away, so she gripped onto his suit shoulder tightly with one of her small chubby hands.

He was making sure every chance there could be for Yoichi to leave with (Y/n) was sealed off. So only Yoichi could potentially leave, but at the cost of losing something greater, the very thing that he's heroic heart was trying to keep safe from his brother's interference.

Yoichi knew things would turn to worse if she was left with him.

Left alone for the villain to hide her away, take her away, never to let Yoichi see her again.

Everything right now was at a standstill where either some miracle would occur or something beyond siniste-

In mere seconds (Y/n)'s arm was carefully pulled away from her father's shoulder. It startled her at how quickly it had been done resulting in wide eyes to be directed at the villain, ruby red ones looking back at her coldly. He had never looked at her like that before. (Y/n) held back a whimper in her throat as he continued to give her that stare that she had seen only from what she recalled in her previous life.

"Brother....?" Came a voice from behind her. Yoichi's voice sounded worried and held a hint of fear within it. Moments later All for One's eyes faded back to their original white pupils and his face-

He was smiling.

But not one of those ones he usually gave that made him appear normal and happy to those who didn't know him.

It was one of pride, almost like a grin, but not quite.

It was forced.

There was fear in his eyes, not meeting the rest of his face. The fear a wolf held when deciding if they should flee or.....

"It's okay... you didn't do anything wrong... When you are ready, in time, I might let you have one. But not now little one. Not yet. It's okay with others... but never mine. Unless I give it to you of course..." He spoke down to her, his voice half straining as if he was keeping himself from not faltering while speaking in his usual warmer tone around her. But he was failing at doing so.

The villain looked back over towards his younger brother, his smile twitching at one of its ends. "Don't worry, everything is perfectly fine... (Y/n) just... did something unexpected is-"

"Did she steal a quirk?" Yoichi spoke before his brother could continue.

A long pause filled the cold air.

All for One could only look at his brother with a neutral expression before sighing.

"No, she almost got a hold of something much more valuable than that..." He let the words hang in the air before continuing going back to his 'normal' self as if nothing had just happened.

"But that's okay... it just means I left my guard down and that I will need to do better to ensure it never happens again," He spoke looking down at (Y/n) who was still frozen in place slightly shaking. A frown of concern formed on the villain's expression.

Holding her close with her head against his shoulder he rocked her softly, trying to mimic what he had seen other parents do with their children. "It's okay.... shhhh... I know... Don't worry daddy was just shocked. But you taught him something he didn't know... something very interesting he will have to look into..."

(Y/n) half listened as she understood her own actions and how quickly things could have gone south.

On the floor below, a strawberry ice-cream lay discarded on the sidewalk, splattered and smeared, not to be picked back up.

Chapter Text

"Where are you off too little one?" Came a voice from not too far down the hallway. You froze upon hearing his voice, one you had come to recognize over the time you had spent here in this place with your uncle. Turning your head in the general direction, back down the hallway he walked leisurely to where you were, stopping and crouching to your height.

That look was on his face again spoke more than a single word. No, you didn't want to be tormented once more by him, not after it happening all day. Even Uncle Yoichi at one point mentioned for him to stop but he hasn't. Why can't he just stop, it's pointless. Eventually you would do it but for now you just didn't want to be always around him.

As suspected, he picked up your smaller form with his large hands before you had the chance to walk off and lifted you up into the air. You looked at him with tired light blue eyes before they turned red from your annoyance. To the villain unfortunately it didn't faze him at all, quite the opposite actually as a soft coo left his mouth.

"Awww is someone grumpy? Such a fierce face..." He spoke with a smile while walking back into the open door of your room. The layout was grander opposed to the prior living conditions of the smaller apartment. Spacious was a light was of putting the vast space, with a walk-in closet on the left side of the space alongside a door leading to a bathroom. Alas the villain would not allow you to enter either yet, preferring to bring you to the shared bathroom down the hallway instead, after all you were still little and in need of assistance.

A littering of kissed were soon deposited on all corners of your face. Seems like he was going to be persistent, but you wouldn't give in. A fake frown to attempt making you feel guilty befell his face. "Come on now my little thief, I know you can do it. You are smart, I know you have the passion to try," he urged while strolling to the opposite side of the room where your crib was with a dresser, two filled bookshelves', a wooden toy box filled with age-appropriate toys and a rocking chair. As he got closer to your crib he stopped.

An automatic glare was shot at your father for such betrayal, then to attempt manipulating his actions a few tears to filled your eyes. He didn't budge a millimeter. He knew you were bluffing and not actually going to cry.

A soft smile formed as he stared at your play of drowsiness, "Now now, you may fool your dear uncle, but such cunning acts won't work on me so easily. I can see right through you, my little blossom." He sometimes called you that, it was annoying really. Turns out you were born in spring some time, so he had a new habit of calling you spring related things like 'baby sprout', 'bud', 'duckling', 'cub', 'sweetpea', 'sweetheart', 'petal' and now more recently 'little blossom' like the iconic cherry blossoms. You hoped as time passed, he would calm down on the nicknames because he didn't seem to do anything like that with Uncle Yoichi aside from calling him little brother at intervals in the day. Then again, you were his only kid, and that little thief nickname was a common one he used on you, much to your dismay.

Being suddenly lifted up into the air and spun around caught you off guard and the fake tears left your eyes. Moments later you were brought back down eye level with him, "hmmm seems like you are gloomier than per usual. We can't have that now can we~"

With that he wondered swiftly to the awaiting rocking chair and sat down right before beginning his on slaughter of attacks to your stomach. Holding back laughter was like trying to hold freezing cold water in the middle of winter.

He stopped for a moment.

You thought you were safe, till his eyes tinted red and a grin formed.

You looked at him as if you were experiencing stage fright then provided a pleading look in hopes he would show mercy.

He did not.

Uncle Yoichi put a stop to him minutes later while passing by the room to the villain's disappointment.

-~*~-

Yoichi sat comfortably on the leather couch reading a novel from the collection All for One had purchased for his entertainment. (Y/n) was curiously walking about the living area while the villain himself held a gloomy exterior with his head piled in his hands, his elbows rested on his knees. For once Yoichi was glad his brother wasn't inside his personal bubble but now it was a little unnerving. All for One had been trying for a few weeks now to make it happen. His niece however had other plans to not give his brother the satisfaction of winning it seemed.

It was amusing to pay witness to the ruthless villain who was set on taking on all the world under one rule failing miserably to make his own child speak.

Thats right, all the infamous villain was trying to achieve was his one and only daughter saying her first word.

And she hadn't even mumbled yet.

And what word was he trying to make her say?

"(Y/n)," he called out trying to sound cheerful, yet the defeat had already settled into his voice. Yoichi observed, all he was at this point was a by stander. Maybe he should have taken up on the offer of a snack before from All for One, popcorn would have been perfect right about now.

The little girl walked over to her father on unsteady legs before stopping a meter away from him looking up innocently. His brother looked down at her sighing, "duckling, please.... I'll let you have ice cream, some new colouring books and anything else to add to your room.... you just have to try speaking... please my darling little girl... please... say daddy...."

The younger of the two twins gave a straight-faced look at his brothers attempt at bribery. Yoichi had seen him trying everything, from speaking the word to her for hours, 'tickle interrogations', overuse of affection, the promise of sweet treats, even the promise of going outside which Yoichi at one point hoped might have worked because it had been some time since he had left this 'home'. All for One had even stated a number of times to Yoichi that his little girl did understand them, she just didn't like to show it, which he obviously didn't believe, for the most part. All children her age at least understood who their parents were, and basic needs but not speech-

(Y/n) shook her head.

Both All for One and Yoichi stared.

Yoichi spoke first with astonishment at the revelation, "did she just-"

All for One cut him off smoothly as he stood up and went to pick up (Y/n) who tried backing away but was unfortunately too slow, "baby please.... stop being like that.... it's just one-" Tears collected in (Y/n)'s eyes and a few moments later whimpers left her mouth. Hastily the villain shhhed and cooed at his daughter before sighing.

Silence filled up the open air of the large room till it was broken by the elder brother, "as I have said before little brother, my little one understands at least basic speech, but for some odd reason she is against speaking herself..." A frown appeared on his face as his eyes became its vibrant hue while he stroked (Y/n)'s white short locks.

"She's scared after what happened last time," concluded Yoichi out of seemingly nowhere. His brother turned to look at him better while holding (Y/n) close to his chest, "what happened last time? Yoichi, she hasn't spoken before." He looked confused yet a few seconds later All for One appeared ready to have an argument, "Wait- are you saying she has, and you haven't told-"

"When she walked for the first time," the green-eyed male emphasized.

A few months back (Y/n) was still crawling on the ground around the couches while Yoichi was searching for one of his captain hero comics he had unfortunately left out. All for One was in the proses of making a phone call for 'business' and had temporarily vacated the room. It was at that moment (Y/n) stood up off the floor on shaky legs right as All for One came down the hallway, his phone to his ear as he spoke. No one at the time had noticed her starting to walk till Yoichi had seen his niece at the corner of his eye putting one foot after the other.

His older brother moments later did notice also causing him to crush his phone (by accident), drop the remaining material to the floor uncaring, speeding over to her with the obvious usage of a quirk and picking her up.

(Y/n) ended up crying her lungs out from not only the startle from a full-grown man hurtling towards her but additionally the face All for One pulled at her once in his brothers hold.

"She's worried about you making that face again," Yoichi pointed out. Deep down he knew (Y/n) was really scared about how he had acted that day in the park, how that very face was the same as when he celebrated her first steps. His poor niece was traumatized, and his older brother obviously couldn't see that.

"Don't be ridiculou- ow-" (Y/n) pulled at an available strand of her father's hair.

Yoichi smiled, "see? (Y/n) understands me at least..." The youngest of the brothers spoke condescendingly.

All for One carefully pried (Y/n)'s small hand out of his hair, "but I didn't do anything wrong-"

"You jump scared her AND gave her a smile she isn't accustomed too, or what most people would also not be used to," he mumbled the last part more so to himself than Zen.

The villain walked over and sat next to Yoichi on the couch while keeping (Y/n) close. His elder brother looked confused and worried, he had been doing a lot of that around the smaller human in his possession. Sighing Yoichi spoke, "maybe promise (Y/n) you WON'T do the same as last time and she will comply... just... don't push it if she isn't ready. It will happen when it happens."

Zen looked over at his daughter just about as willing to try anything to appease her to get what he desired as his followers did for him. To think he was going as low as that, Yoichi knew if he pointed it out his brother would deny it. "(Y/n), if I am calm and don't overwhelm you like last time, will you at least try my little thief?"

She looked at him as if staring into his very soul. A slow nod came shortly after.

His eyes became slightly brighter at the unspoken negotiation. Although he was more used to being the one in control All for One didn't mind it if it was his cute little (Y/n) pulling at the strings. She looked like someone in deep thought, concentrating hard on what word to say or at least trying to vocalize sounds. A small smile formed on Yoichi's face. At least his brother listened to his advice for once. Although it appeared Zen thought this would be easier said than-

"D-d.... d-d-da.... da.... d.... D-Daddy-y!" She spoke loudly with a fumble on the pronunciation.

All for One looked like he had regained all those months he had lost to stress. Yoichi staired at (Y/n) perplexed on how his niece had pulled that off so easily, surely it would have taken more tries.

Stading up quickly Zen was practically ready to jump for joy but refrained himself to twirling his child around. On this one-off occasion (Y/n) smiled and laughed.

-~*~-

So, this is where they all end up.

It took countless tries to get here, but he had finally managed it. All for One looked out into the dark misty starless place to which should be pitch black from no sun being present, but it was as light as any normal day. Strange, this place didn't work based off normal fundamental principles, almost like a dream space yet so distinctly real.

Red eyes looked out into the distance spotting the lone figures.

They were all eerily similar to the ones he has always had nightmares about; those people who tormented him. So, this is where they lived. Where all his meta-abilities lived.

A gleaming smile formed, till his eyes caught on something else further. Two distinct lights. He knew they were meta-abilities, but not his, distinctively different yet with some similarities, one more so than the former.

He began walking forwards towards the lights, past the large cluster of people, of the vestiges that remained inside each meta-ability he took. The lights never got closer regardless how much he walked onwards even running didn't work.

It seemed distance didn't apply to this place either as when he looked back those same people appeared right where he had started. Testing a theory, he kept an eye on the vestiges while striding away till they were out of sight, that was till he turned his head around and to no surprise they were there again.

He was going around in circles.

Unfortunately, he would have to figure out how to get out of the continuous cycle and how to reach those other meta-abilities.

The space blurred into darkness around him, signaling his time was up in this place, for now.