Work Text:
His heavy breathing raked against his throat and sent ripples of sharp pain cascading through his chest. The only thing he could hear apart from his own breathing and frantic heartbeat was the incessant dripping of some unknown liquid in the opposite corner of the room. Apart from that, and the restraints digging painfully into his wrists and ankles, his senses failed to provide him any input from his surroundings.
Izuku raked his useless eyes across the room for what felt like the 500th time that day, desperate to see even just a speckle of light, but all he saw was a darkness so thick it seemed to strangle him. His breathing grew all the more unsteady, coming out in pathetic wheezes. He wasn’t entirely sure what time it was or even what day it was. It could have been weeks since he arrived here, maybe even months, or maybe it had simply been a few hours. Time passes you by rather strangely when your senses are deprived.
He jolted slightly as he heard the door open ominously, uneasy shivers crawling down his spine. With his senses as useless as they were, he felt vulnerable, as if he were prey laid out bare and helpless on the dining table, unable to move as he awaited an inescapable demise. The person walked towards him, their faint breaths catching on Izuku’s ears slightly and their footsteps resounding within the metal room.
“Midoriya,” The person cooed softly, and judging by their raspy voice he immediately recognised the person to be Shigaraki. “Are you willing to give up that quirk of yours yet?”
Ah, that’s right. Last time Shigaraki had been in here, he’d demanded Izuku give One For All to his master. When he’d denied the man, he had chained Izuku to the wall and beat him until he was sure at least a few ribs were broken. Izuku had no doubt that if he said no again, the man wouldn’t hesitate to punish him far worse than he had before.
“No.” He spat, despite the impending consequences for his refusal.
“Oh? You and I both know that’s not the right answer. Are you sure?”
“And you and I both know that I’m not giving up One For All, Shigaraki.”
With no warning, the man lurched forward and grasped Izuku’s right wrist tightly and pain immediately blossomed from the area, causing him to scream loudly. Sharp, stabbing agony sunk into his wrist and spread rapidly up his forearm, causing the flesh to flake away nauseatingly. Sweat beaded on Izuku’s forehead and he screamed once more. He slammed his jaw shut so hard his teeth might have shattered as he was met with another onslaught of pain. He struggled violently against his restraints, thrashing his limbs about uselessly to try and ease Shigaraki’s grip on his wrist and screaming profanities at the man he had never uttered in his life.
At last, the man let go of his arm, yet he didn’t feel any better; his skin was still slowly flaking away. If he’d been able to see it, he would have seen the revolting sight of his exposed muscles, caked in a sickening amount of blood.
“Did that teach you to be obedient, Midoriya?” Shigaraki hissed, pressing four fingers against his upper arm as a warning. Despite the pain he was in, Izuku snarled inhumanly and shook his head, spitting at where he believed his captor to be. The man reeled back, cursing and slamming his fist onto the wall next to Izuku’s head. “You will behave. And you will give me that quirk. Is that right?”
“Never.” He held his head up defiantly, face contorted in an ugly, animalistic way. He squeezed his useless eyes shut, awaiting the inevitable pain that would come with refusing Shigaraki, but it never came. The man scoffed, and Izuku could feel his chilling grin cool the air significantly despite not being able to see it. He left the room, shutting the door harshly behind him.
Izuku should have slumped in relief, yet this reaction from such an immature, impatient man left his nerves tingling and his heart slamming against his broken ribs. What was the man planning?
Forever seemed to pass. Izuku was anxious and paranoid, unseeing eyes darting around helplessly, trying to find anything to prevent him from falling into insanity. The perpetual dripping which had once grounded him now sent a flare of irritation and anger bursting through his chest. He hummed to himself, the low vibration of his vocal cords calming his nerves somewhat.
Izuku immediately jerked when he saw a shadow scurry in his periphery. His heart picked up the pace once more, hammering in a way that made him feel like doubling over and throwing up. Not that he had much to throw up anyways. The silhouette appeared once again, closer this time. Was it Shigaraki? Another villain from the League of Villains?
“Who-who’s there?” He called out. His trembling voice simply echoed about the room, heralding no response from the unknown figure. “Who the hell are you?” He raised his voice impatiently.
“Hello,” The figure said in a taunting tone, causing Izuku’s breath to hitch and his heart to stop. “It’s me, Katsuki.”
Izuku’s world stopped. His ears became deaf to anything but a persistent ringing and eerie static as he stared at the figure before him. The figure possessed the features of the person they claimed to be, but it couldn’t possibly be Kacchan. Izuku had seen with his own eyes as the boy died on the battlefield, his heart failing to sustain his body. He had been there at his funeral, sobbing and clinging onto Uraraka. He had spent countless nights weeping and mourning the many deaths in the war, including Kacchan’s.
“You’re not Kacchan.” Izuku breathed, almost angrily. The supposed Kacchan looked surprised, and then his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.
“Sure, I’m not, nerd. I’m right here. Are you blind or something?”
“I…are you really Kacchan?”
“Why the fuck would I lie about that? Are you stupid?”
Izuku promptly burst into tears. He extended his arms to hug the boy but to no avail, only whining as his injured arm moved. He struggled to try and escape the chains imprisoning him, keeping him from hugging his best friend who he’d thought was dead. Kacchan stood, unmoving, looking at him with an unreadable expression as he pitifully attempted to free himself.
Without notice, Izuku was met with blinding pain. He screamed a guttural, anguished scream, tears streaming down his dry face. The pain washed out the confusion at the situation. Pain similar to when Shigaraki had used his quirk on him before enveloped his entire being, radiating from his arm and travelling to his chest and shoulder. He immediately began coughing, choking on his own screams as his throat became hoarse. Distressed, he writhed and flailed his limbs around, attempting to ward off whatever evil was causing him this torment.
“Please…stop.” He begged, whimpering despite his greater dignity. “Stop it.” The universe seemed to finally pity him, as the pain subsided slightly. He bent over and retched, tears mixing with bile on the floor in a sad and grotesque manner.
“If you don’t give me One For All, I’ll disintegrate the rest of your limbs until you’ve got none.” Shigaraki spat. Izuku sniffed and gave in, his heart heavy with guilt. He knew Shigaraki wasn’t making empty threats, he’d been taught that much. Despite his heroic urge to resist and put up a fight, he was so tired. His eyelids drooped with exhaustion and his limbs felt like lead.
“Alright.” He murmured, his voice cracking painfully. “I’ll give it to you.”
The man gleefully plucked a strand from his scalp, leaving him there alone as he left the room.
One For All was gone, because he hadn’t been strong enough.