Tragic Hero

In ancient times, long before quirk or even modern conveniences were even imagined, there was a trope in Greek theater about a tragic hero. It was a character who had high potential and who should have had the world in their hands, but fell from grace because of their own hubris and tragic flaws. Is there any other way to describe Endeavor's recent downfall?

Inko: Oh, Izuku's writing another article.

Mei: Isn't he supposed to be in the hospital or something?

A press conference earlier today revealed that Dabi, a serial arsonist and member of the league of villains, was revealed to be Touya Todoroki. Endeavor's oldest son was reported dead almost ten years ago at the age of thirteen, but that is obviously not the case. It remains to be seen whether that story was a coverup by Endeavor or whether he, too, genuinely believed his son was dead. Even if that is the case however, it begs the question: how bad must a father be that his son, so grievously injured that he should have died, would choose to recover on the streets rather than returning home?

Dabi(scowling): Very.

Sadly, though, this doesn't come as a surprise. After Endeavor's defeat by Stain and with his track record, it was only a matter of time before the evidence became too much to ignore, which is why his arrest, which a year ago would have been the only newsworthy story for two weeks, was completely overshadowed by that of his son and his band of murderous misfits.

Hero arrests always make the news, but Endeavor was never truly a hero, was he?

Todoroki: Nope.

"I thought you were supposed to be resting! What are we supposed to do with you, Deku, when you won't even take care of yourself?!"

Recovery Girl: I've been asking that question for months now.

Izuku winced as Sir Nighteye's voice carried through the hospital, "I feel fine, Nighteye! And look! I'm in bed! That means I'm resting, right?"

Mitsuki: Nope that does not count!

Uraraka: Seriously Deku, get some rest.

Jana: Never did get why using gadgets doesn't count as resting...

"Nice try kid." Eraser huffed. He seemed more tired than usual today, but he had evaded the question when Izuku tried to bring it up. "You realize we all saw the article you published, right? Taking down the former number two hero does not count as resting."

"Oh..." Izuku blushed. "Uh... I mean, it was just an article, it's not as if I was walking on my broken leg or anything, so I don't think that should count."

"It's still mental work, kiddo, so yeah, it counts." Ms. Joke ruffled his hair. "If Shinso broke his leg, would you want him brainwashing people left and right?"

Midoriya: Uh no...

Izuku sighed in defeat, "No..."

"But scolding aside," Mr. Brave grinned, "that was pretty cool!"

Aizawa: Brave!

"Brave!"

"What?" Brave shrugged innocently. "Kid gets kidnapped, turns his captors on eachother, somehow rids the world of, like, the worst villain to ever live, then turns around and takes down an abusive hero the next day. You can't say that isn't cool!"

Gran Torino: Don't encourage him.

"Don't encourage him." Eraser hissed.

"Yeah." Joke agreed. "And I think you're forgetting that All for One's death wasn't intentional on the kid's part, be sensitive."

"Oh..." Brave glanced toward him. "Right."

Izuku balled his fists into the sheets, "He wasn't a good person. I know that. But the worst part is that I led to someone's death and I didn't even care. At the time, I was just thinking better him than me. Does that make me a bad person?"

Joke(sympathetically): Oh kid...

Hawks(quietly): No it doesn't. You're just glad to be alive.

Eraser's hand on his shoulder was grounding and Izuku let a few tears drop as he felt befi squeeze, "Kid, I think it's probably high time we got you some therapy."

Hound Dog(looking at his very large stack of notes): Yeah obviously!

"I..." Izuku started to protest, then stopped himself. He was going to be a hero. They learned in rescue classes how traumatic things like kidnappings or hostage situations could be to civilians, so what made him think he was better than anyone else at handling this. If it were Katsuki or Uraraka, Izuku would obviously encourage them to get some help, at least for the first couple of weeks, so what made him any different? He took a deep breath, "I think you might be right."

(everyone cheered that he finally admits it)

"So..." Toga leaned over the couch while Ochaco was watching TV, "how's the big bad media taking the rescue?"

"Surprisingly well." Ochaco sighed. "Better than they took the kidnapping at least."

Aoyama: Well that's good.

Toga's face twisted in disgust, "I can't believe they were blaming him for getting kidnapped. He literally sacrificed himself to save everyone and they were acting like he was some damsel in distress. Super uncute!"

Spinner: Is that your only word to describe stuff Toga?

Twice: Yes. No.

"Yeah, well, some people are just prejudiced." Ochaco slumped back. "I don't get how Deku deals with it everyday. I would snap!"

Mineta(muttering): Mastermind snapped...

Toga nodded somberly, "I would definitely stab someone."

(everyone winced)

Toga: Yeah I definitely stabbed a lot of someones.

"I'm just glad we're in the dorms and he doesn't have to take the train anymore." Ochaco said. "There were just so many times he would come in, casually saying that someone had given him a death threat or told him that he would never be a hero. I can't even imagine."

"I guess it's a good thing Deku's so strong then." Toga shrugged and jumped over the couch to sit next to her. "Maybe that's why you like him so much!"

Uraraka: Seriously does she have a sixth sense for crushes or something? She told me she thought I was in love with someone when she tried to stab me at camp!

Toga: Oh yeah, I did say that!

Shigaraki: Seriously Toga?

"What?!" Ochaco stammered. "I don't... I mean, how did you..."

Mina: Just ask him out already! Everyone's waiting!

Toga giggled, "It's not a bad thing, Ochaco! Having crushes is super cute, and Deku's a cutie-pie, so you picked a good one!"

Ochaco sighed, "I don't know. Even if he likes me back, which isn't a guarantee, we're both so busy being heroes..."

Midoriya: Well yeah but... everyone's got time for love, right?

Toga sat up so that she was nose to nose with Ochaco, "You're never too busy for love. You're just too scared, but heroes aren't cowards, get it?"

Ochaco leaned back, eyes wide, "Got it."

(everyone giggled)

Toga smiled, her fangs on full display, "Good! Now let's watch a movie, the news is so boring!"

Mr. Compress looked around the room, wondering why they had all been gathered. Well, not all of them. Muscular and Moonfish hadn't been invited to this little rendezvous, but then again they hadn't agreed to give blood to the vampire and turncoat on the league. Shortly after Compress had been led here, officers had arrived leading Spinner and Mustard, who had been dropped off with little explanation. They had simply been told to wait for the heroes, who had an offer for them.

Compress: So we really did turn traitor huh?

Toga: Well you did get arrested and it might help lessen your sentence or something...

"What do you think it is this time?" Mustard asked. "They already arrested Shigaraki, and All for One is dead. So what else do they want from us?"

"I don't know." Spinner said. "But the ones we've been meeting with seem like true heroes. They're trying to save people, not accumulate worthless glory."

"I am glad you think so!" Nezu piped up behind them.

(everyone jumped and Spinner shrieked like a little girl, making everyone laugh)

They jumped to their feet to see the principal of UA smiling at them. They hadn't even realized that the door had opened. Eraserhead was standing in the open doorway, and the boy standing behind him could be none other than Deku, the one they were supposed to kidnap and ended up saving instead.

"Well," Compress said cautiously, "if I'd known there would be a party, I would have worn a nicer coat."

(the LOV shook their heads, chuckling. Compress really did like his coats)

Nezu chuckled, "Then perhaps you'll have to come over for tea another day so we can see it."

"That'll be pretty hard to do, seeing as we're going to prison and all." Mustard rolled his eyes. "So thanks, but no thanks."

"Actually, the commission is a little more lenient when they're desperate." Eraserhead rolled his eyes. "And with everything that's been going on, they're giving the green light to things without reading the full terms and conditions, but that's their loss, so let's talk."

Mirko: Huh really?

Spinner: Okay what's going on...?

Compress glanced between the heroes in confusion, "I am afraid that I find myself a tad lost. From my observations, the commission did not seem desperate to save a quirkless student, no offense to young Deku here."

(everyone scowled at the screen)

"None taken." Deku said. "If they hadn't had a team of heroes pushing to save me, the Commission would probably have been happy to make me a martyr and let people keep thinking that quirkless equals useless. That's partly why I need to thank you. Without your help, it would have been much more difficult for Toga to enter the league's hideout undetected, so thank you. I owe you my life."

Mustard looked shocked and Compress could have sworn that Spinner was blushing, "Uh... it's no big deal. Just what true heroes would do, right? Like Stain taught!"

Spinner: Yeah... and he rescued Midoriya too...

"Exactly." Nezu said. "However, the commission is not necessarily fond of the place that Stain has taken in the hearts and minds of the people of Japan. That's where you come in."

(everyone paused)

Tsukauchi: Uh Nezu what are you doing?

"Really?" Mustard snorted. "I doubt they'd like a bunch of villains any more."

"But you're not a bunch of villains." Deku smiled. "At least not according to public perception. My kidnapping was better news than your capture, so your information was never released and as his followers, you know Stain's ideology better than anyone."

Kurogiri: Wait...

Spinner looked at him suspiciously, "What are you getting at?"

Jirou: Good question...

Deku's smile got wider, "Society needs to change, we all know that, but you've read the articles I wrote. Murder isn't going to be enough. The fight for a true hero society can't be fought with knives and swords."

Nezu nodded in agreement, "To win hearts and minds, one must be prepared to use words as weapons."

Tetsutetsu: Okay stop beating around the bush already I want to hear what you're planning!

"So, you want us to... what?" Mustard asked.

"Be the face of a new ideology." Deku said. "But really, it's just a repackaging. Keep the portions of Stain's ideals that make society better and spin it so that it sounds like it's coming from the civilian side, rather than villains. It will make the changes seem a bit more conservative and get more people on board."

Spinner: Huh... is that going to work?

Shigaraki: This is the rat we're talking about.

"Basically, the plan is for you to become social media sensations and popularize a rebranded version of Stain's ideals." Eraser explained bluntly. "Who knows if it'll work, but it'll count as community service while you serve house arrest."

Compress exchanged glances with the other two before grinning, "Then let's put on a show."

Bondo: Do you guys think it'll work?

Mt. Lady: I don't know but... it wouldn't hurt to try.

Compress: So... are we not villains anymore?

Toga: I guess not...