It had all started with the picture.
Natsuo had sent the quick photo he had snapped of the hero Sir Nighteye as he left Musutafu General but the hero in question was not the thing that really caught Shoto's attention. It was the green haired boy walking out beside him. The one with the hero's face.
So he did a bit of digging online to try and find him. A bit of research later, and he shared his findings online, Midoriya Izuku, Quirkless secret love child of Sir Nighteye. He was not expecting to discover that the boy's missing father that none of his research turned up as real to respond.
So the boy apparently had two fathers and they had hidden the connection between Midoriya and Sir Nighteye. Most likely for his safety. Interesting but not all that surprising. Shoto's own father had jumped through a lot of hoops over the years to keep himself and his older siblings from the public eye after all.
But now that the mystery was solved, he felt the itch to find a new mystery. Almost as if someone heard his prayers for a change, a little over a week after he posted the photo on the hero boards, a new vigilante appeared. Loki.
Loki was different from other vigilantes. He was obviously young from both the rumors spreading online and what his father muttered about him over the dinner table but he handled fights with an instinct that would have taken years to train into anyone. Shoto would know that better than anyone after all.
So he began to study the vigilante, the mystery of who he was nagging at his mind. But information on him was scarce, the people he helped wanting to protect him from possible arrest. With little other choice, he began to sneak out at night when he could get away with it. One thing he was grateful for was how local the vigilante seemed to be. Outside of a few odd sightings of him in Kamino, he largely stuck to Musutafu which was of course in Shoto's backyard.
He had been studying the other boy from a distance, only getting the odd sighting himself from time to time. One discovery he had made was evidently one of the Underground Heroes whose patrol route overlapped with the vigilante was not really trying to catch him, if the time he had seen them sitting together on a neighboring rooftop implied anything.
There was of course the question of the boy's Quirk though. As far as Shoto could tell he wasn't actually using it. Everything he had seen from the infrequent fights he spotted was clearly just good training in Quirkless fighting. Perhaps that is why the Hero let him be?
So, curious as to what others might think, Shoto took to the forums once more.
Is the New Vigilante Loki Not Actually a Vigilante?
Original Poster IveConnectedThem
It has recently come to my attention that there is a new vigilante going by the name of Loki in the Musutafu general area. Upon further investigation I have discovered that no one seems to have ever seen him using a Quirk. If that is true and he is really handling himself purely through his skill and training in Quirkless combat, I have to wonder if he really is classified as a vigilante?
DetroitSmashed replied
Our messiah has returned with another amazing mystery!
HereThereBeDragons replied
Oh good, you aren't shipping real people this time. From the sound of it, legally he might not be one but that would be up to the Heroes and police of the district to figure out and decide.
HeroOfMischiefLokiOfficial replied
I knew following you on here would be a good idea after I saw your post about Sir Nighteye. Yeah, I am not legally a vigilante much to the annoyance of the heroes and police in the district. It is cool to find out you are a fan though.
☆*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*(´∀｀)*ﾟ ゜ﾟ*☆
Original Poster IveConnectedThem replied
I was not expecting you to reply to my post directly. Or so quickly. Would you be opposed to answering a few questions?
HeroOfMischiefLokiOfficial replied
Go for it but keep in mind I might not answer all of them here if it could compromise my civilian identity. The last thing I need is someone harassing my family about my late night adventures.
Original Poster IveConnectedThem replied
I understand.
Why are you acting like a vigilante?Why are you not considered a vigilante?What is your Quirk and why are you not using it to help you?Why the name Loki?
HeroOfMischiefLokiOfficial replied
First off, I am taking full advantage of the fact I can't be charged with vigilantism to help train for the UA heroics entrance exam at the end of February. I need every advantage I can get and you can't beat hands-on experience. I am going to have to give you a hard pass on the why though as well as the subject of my Quirk. As for the name, I liked the costume of a PQ comic book character based on the Norse God of the same name and I am terrible at coming up with names.
Original Poster IveConnectedThem replied
I supposed asking about your Quirk would be a bit too revealing. If you are planning to attend UA next year, it is possible we could be classmates.
HeroOfMischiefLokiOfficial replied
Really? Neat! The only people I know that are trying for the exam next year personally are family. It is nice to meet a potential new friend.
o(≧∇≦o) If you have a HeroNet ID, DM me so I can add you to a chat!
Shoto blinked as he stared at the reply in a bit of shock. He had not been expecting Loki himself to find his post, let alone so quickly. Deciding there was no harm in it, he direct messaged his ID code to the other boy. Mere moments after, his phone buzzed with an invite to a new group chat.
Future Students of Class 1-A
Midoriya Izuku added Bakugou Katsuki, Iida Tenya, Shinso Hitoshi and Todoroki Shoto.
Midoriya Izuku changed their name to Secret Love Child
Secret Love Child changed Bakugou Katsuki to Kacchan
Secret Love Child changed Iida Tenya to Ingenium Lite
Secret Love Child changed Shinso Hitoshi to EraserSon
Secret Love Child changed Todoroki Shoto to String Theory
Secret Love Child: @everyone I have a fan!
☆⋆:∞.o(≧▽≦)o.∞:⋆☆
String Theory: Oh, that explains why you can't be charged for vigilantism.
You are surprisingly open about the truth about your fathers true relationship.
I am curious about the meaning behind the name you chose for me though.
EraserSon: lol
izu isn't actually uncle mirai's kid as much as he looks like it
Secret Love Child: Your name is a joke referencing a conspiracy board
EraserSon: your shipping uncle hisashi and him together is just an inside joke in our family chat
String Theory: Sure it is.
I don't have an actual board though?
EraserSon: izu you realize kats and tenya are going to flip once they are actually awake to see this right?
Secret Love Child: He is a future classmate, be nice!
I didn't really think you did
It is just a joke name like mine
EraserSon: what makes you think we will all be in dad's class?
Secret Love Child: You really think Uncle Shouta would allow any of us to end up in 1-B where he can't keep an eye on us?
Plus Todoroki is one of Endeavor's sons, he is getting in 1-A whether your dad wants him or not
String Theory: I feel a bit lost.
Secret Love Child: Sorry let me sort of do introductions as best as I can without two of us here
Like I said, the only people I know trying for the exams next year are family
This is Hitoshi, son of my Uncle Shouta who will be the homeroom teacher for class 1-A next year
Kacchan is an honorary cousin since his mom is my mom's best friend and we grew up together
Tenya is sort of an honorary cousin since his older brother is an old friend of Uncle Shouta's
String Theory: I see.
While I have never met Iida personally, I have heard of his family.
I presume his Quirk is similar to all of the other members of his family?
EraserSon: yeah
since your going to ask, my quirk is a hypnotism quirk
Secret Love Child: I thought your Quirk was now Gun
EraserSon: lol
izu no
String Theory: Gun?
Secret Love Child: Izu yes
EraserSon: i'm getting firearm certified for the entrance exam
while we don't know much about the practical, we do know it isn't very mental Quirk friendly
String Theory: Oh.
I had never thought about that being an issue.
Secret Love Child: I wouldn't have expected you to given yours is a flashy emitter type Quirk like Kacchan's Explosion
Neither of us are expected them to fail the normal entrance exam but the two of us would be screwed if we hadn't planned around that fact
Hopefully the two of us snag two of the four recommendations spots but if not, worse comes to worse, we can get in through the Sports Festival like Uncle Shouta did
String Theory: Would it help if I threw the recommendations exam?
I am going to have to take it because of my father but if what you said is true about the normal exam, I should still get in easily that way.
EraserSon: oh thank nedzu!
yes
please do
Secret Love Child: Yeah that would probably help increase our odds of getting in
String Theory: Thank Nedzu?
EraserSon: nedzu is rat god in the main family chat
don't ask me why he is in it though
Secret Love Child: Uncle Mirai added him and forgot about it by the time it shifted into just being the family chat
I don't think anyone is brave enough to consider trying to remove him beside my Dad and you know he won't
EraserSon: that is a mood
String Theory: A mood?
EraserSon: oh my sweet summer child
if you are going to be hanging out in insomnia chat, you have a lot to learn
By the time Shoto closed the chat for the night, he was both extremely confused and surprisingly happy. He had never had friends before but he was pretty sure that the two boys had decided he was one. It was, if nothing else, a novel experience. Plus, despite being on the track to becoming heroes themselves, they were fiercely critical of existing pros but Shoto supposed that made sense given that they were related to both an Underground hero and the former sidekick of All Might.
He was not expecting Loki to refer to his father as a flaming pile of trash though. While an accurate opinion, it was still surprising. Of course, as a vigilante in the territory covered by Endeavor, an opinion like that should probably be expected even if they hadn't crossed paths in person before while Loki was out in costume.
They had discussed meeting up in person at the upcoming HeroCon that they were all planning on attending in cosplays the next weekend. Shoto was pretty sure he would be able to go if only because his father was attending for a few hours for an autograph signing like he did every year. But who to go as…?
---MiM-MiM-MiM---
Izuku found himself bouncing on his toes as he walked in full vigilante gear into his Uncle Mirai's hero office for the first time. From the expression on Bubble Girl's face, Mirai had not warned his Sidekicks in advance. Shifting his voice to his normal Loki one, "Hi! Sir Nighteye is expecting me."
"Uh, can I get a name?"
"Loki."
She nodded, staring at him completely puzzled as she picked up the office phone to call the Pro Hero. "Sir? There is a Loki here to see you?" There was a pause as she listened to his uncle on the other end. "I'll let him know." She hung up the phone, still looking confused. "Sir says he's running a bit behind schedule and asked that you wait here. He'll be down momentarily."
Izuku bobbed his head. "That's fine. I'm in no rush."
She studied him carefully. "So, uh, why are you meeting with Sir this afternoon?"
Izuku grinned at her, not certain if she could tell with his mask on. "Oh, he is taking over babysitting me for Eraserhead this week since Eraser is taking the week off. For some strange reason he doesn't trust that I would stay out of trouble doing patrols on my own."
She blinked in clear confusion but before she could question further, Mirai appeared in the lobby. "Thank you for not running off Loki."
Izuku gave him a thumbs up. "It's all good. I know how to behave myself."
His uncle gave him a disbelieving look at that. "You claim that despite moonlighting as a legal vigilante."
"Keyword being legal there Sir. You didn't warn your Sidekicks I was coming?"
He shook his head. "It slipped my mind. I recently started a new case and it has become a bit of a distraction."
Izuku shrugged. "That's fine. Whatever case you're working on is probably more important than humoring me. If you want I could go so you could go back to working on it."
Mirai sighed and pulled off his glasses to rubbed the bridge of his nose. "No, I could use a break. Besides, I did promise both Eraserhead and Tsukauchi I would keep you out of trouble."
"Honestly, the way you all talk, it is almost like you guys forget that the only times I seem to really get into trouble are when I am out of costume."
Mirai shook his head. "Please don't remind me. Come on, let me show you the route we will be taking for the next few days."
---MiM-MiM-MiM---
Dabi felt himself let out a grunt as a smaller body fell on top of him waking him up from his nap on the common room couch. Opening his eyes, he met the unrepentant gaze of Izuku in full Loki getup. "What?"
"Your brother Shoto is apparently a fan of mine."
Dabi blinked as he processed that statement. "Come again?"
The boy shoved his phone into his hands, opened up to a hero forum post. One about Loki. "I didn't realize it was him until after he DM'd me of course. I wasn't expecting to see the name Todoroki when I added him to the new chat I made since I figured adding him to our main chat would be a bad idea with Tomura in it."
Dabi looked around to check to see if any of the others were around. "How long have you known who I was?"
"Oh it was pretty obvious once I thought about it. Your fighting style and Quirk are pretty similar to Endeavor's but you lack any fire resistance which makes sense with your mother having an ice Quirk. Plus it explains why you hate him so much."
"Why haven't you mentioned it before then?"
"Well I never had a reason to bring up your siblings before. Anyways, why would I deadname you? That seems rude. You don't see me doing that with either Tomura or 'Giri."
Dabi found himself laughing at how simply the teen had put it. "Thanks kid, I needed that. So are you and Shoto friends now?"
"I think so? Your brother is really poorly socialized to the point that Hitoshi seems to be more extroverted than him."
Dabi had to think for a moment to remember which kid was Hitoshi. "That is the purple one with the puzzle right?"
Izuku snickered. "Yeah that's him. I'll let him know that one of the most memorable things about him for you was that he spent most of my party doing a puzzle despite the fact he was one of the three other people besides myself and Tomura to talk to you during the party for an extended period of time."
Dabi felt his face heat up slightly. "Give me a break, there were a lot of new people in a short span of time."
Izuku shifted so he was laying on top of him on his back instead of his stomach so that he could type on his phone more easily. "I know, I'm just teasing."
"Are you going to get off of me?"
The boy turned his head to meet his eyes. "You aren't planning on moving for a while right?"
"No, I was napping."
"Then no. You're warm and comfortable for my sore muscles after patrol."
Dabi snorted. "Why were you even out on patrol anyways? Don't you normally only go out at night?"
"I went out with Uncle Mirai, Sir Nighteye, since Uncle Shouta, Eraserhead, is taking the week off for mental health reasons. He does afternoon patrols."
"You aren't worried that you going out on his patrol might cause issues?"
Izuku shook his head. "Word is starting to get around that I can't be charged as a vigilante thanks to Shoto. Most of the police departments in the territories I cover knew, of course, but now Heroes not tied directly to my case know to leave me be so long as another Hero is supervising me. Not that I think anyone in Uncle Mirai's district would have said anything even if I was a proper vigilante. Bubble Girl sure didn't despite not knowing what was going on."
Dabi nodded before shifting slightly to resettle the kid so he wouldn't fall off. "Well I am going back to sleep. I guess you can stay put so long as you're quiet."
"Thanks Dabi."
With that, Dabi tossed one arm back over his eyes and allowed himself to drift. He hated to admit it to himself but he was enjoying hanging with the kid and his family, as strange as they were. It reminded him of how he had always wished his own family to be. While he was still not one hundred percent sure about if he was going to stick around long term, they had been good for Himiko and would watch out for her even if he left.
He wasn't really sold on Handjob being the one in charge of the League though. While there was no denying the guy had a brain for strategic planning based on the one job they had pulled together so far, he also had a hell of a temper. There had been a few close calls between the two of them when the guy had escalated an argument to the point someone else had to stop them. Himiko herself had taken what Izuku had done at his birthday party as an example of what to do and had thrown knives between the two of them more than once to try and stop them.
That had scared Dabi the first time it happened, not because he had been scared by the knife but because he had no idea how Shigaraki would react. It was one thing for his younger brother to do such a thing then Himiko to do it. Thankfully the younger man had just shook his head and muttered that Izuku was a bad influence before shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets and leaving.
Kurogiri at least was a nice enough guy, though Dabi had to wonder why he had agreed to join Shigaraki's League. Unlike Dabi and Himiko, he wasn't a Villain. Not even close to one despite being on All for One's payroll. Hell the guy had been a member of the UA Hero course at one point. Dabi had to wonder if the guy only joined because his boss man asked him too.
And that was the other thing that Dabi was less than sure what to think about, Shigaraki's and Izuku's father was All for One. On one hand, the guy was clearly as dangerous as all the rumors in the Underground said, but on the other... Honestly, had his first introduction to the guy not been to see him literally possessing the body of a cop he apparently had on payroll, Dabi was not sure he would have been so nervous about the man. He had accepted Dabi and Himiko staying with his sons and Kurogiri without a second thought after Kurogiri had mentioned they were homeless and both on the run, though for different reasons.
It was strange to think that the Symbol of Evil could honestly be such a nice person. Or have a child that was the incarnation of pure sunshine. While he wasn't sure how to feel about the rest of the family, Dabi did have to admit he was a bit attached to the kid. Like Himiko, he had triggered a part of him that he had long forgotten that wanted to look after and protect them like he had once upon a time felt with his younger siblings.
Dabi did not regret leaving often, but when he did it was the guilt of leaving them behind. Not that he really thought it would have been good for him to have brought them with him when he ran. The first several years on the streets had been hell. He had been lucky to make it on his own that the possibility of trying to help his younger brothers and sister get by along with him was clearly just a fantasy. He had been just 12 at the time after all and they had been even younger.
A part of him was jealous of Shigaraki. The younger man had ended up on the streets himself, but he had been saved unlike Dabi. True, the guy had probably needed saving more than he himself had given that he had been even younger at the time, but that didn't change the fact that after a few tough weeks, All for One had swooped in and given him this cushy life. Part of Dabi had to wonder what his life would have been like if he had been the one All for One found instead.
But All for One hadn't been looking for another kid when Dabi had run away. He already had Izuku and Shigaraki by that point so why would he have been? Still, the idea that perhaps had All for One known about him, that he would have taken him in under his wing like he seemed to want to do now…
Dabi fell deep into dreams of another life.
---MiM-MiM-MiM---
When Tomura wandered out into the common room, it was to the sight of his brother snuggled up on top of a sleeping Dabi who had pulled him into a hug. Izuku was still very much awake but seemed content with where he had managed to find himself. "Does Hot Topic know he is cuddling you in his sleep?"
Izuku looked up from his phone to offer Tomura a grin. "No idea but I am not going to complain. I am too sore right now to want to move off of him. He's like a living heat pack."
Tomura snorted before reaching over to ruffle Izuku's hair with his gloved hand. "You seen Knives anywhere? I've been meaning to check to see if she is still interested in joining up as a member of the League now that she should be feeling more human."
"She is with Tsukauchi and Mom. They are getting the murder charges dropped against her for her Quirk accident and are going to pressure her parents into signing away her custody to Mom."
Tomura blinked as that was processed. "Are you saying the next time we see her she will be our sister?"
Izuku grinned. "That is what it sounds like."
"Does Father know that they are doing that?"
Izuku held up a hand in a so-so gesture. "Mom says he has no say in it since he went behind her back to get you so I have no idea if she has told him the plan or is just doing it though given Tsukauchi is involved, he probably already knows."
"Huh. Does Staples know we are keeping her?"
Izuku snorted. "No idea. Do the two of you have something against just using each other's names? You guys are as bad as Kacchan."
Tomura felt a smirk play over his face and he fell into a seated position on the floor with his back now to the couch, fishing out his vintage Gameboy from his pocket to play. "Do not compare me to your pet Pomeranian or Bacon Face."
Izuku snickered. "You guys are terrible. So how do you feel about it?"
"About what?"
"Himiko becoming our sister?"
Tomura shrugged. "She's a nice enough kid albeit a bit crazy. I was going to offer her a place with the League to keep her around but this works too."
"I mean she could still join the League probably. She just will be able to go back to finish school now…" Izuku trailed off. "Tomura, did you go to school? You have been legally dead since you were a little kid."
Tomura rolled his eyes. "Father and Kurogiri homeschooled me, dumbass. Kurogiri finished high school the same way."
"Oh that makes sense." A pause. "I just realized Dabi probably never finished school."
Tomura paused in his game of Tetris as that thought registered. "That explains a lot. I thought it was weird that he was struggling so much trying to follow along when we watched that old Disney movie in English before we turned the subtitles on."
"Do you think if we bring up an offer to do homeschooling to finish learning what he missed out on, he would take it?"
Tomura found himself shrugging before pulling himself back up off the floor. "No idea but it couldn't hurt for you to ask when he wakes up. I'll go bring up the issue with Father and Kurogiri. He ever mention to you how long he has been on the streets?"
"No but I know from his brother that he faked his death back when he was 12, which was a little over 10 years ago."
Tomura studied the man who was evidently 3 years his senior. "So no school outside of elementary? No wonder your Quirk technobabble goes right over his head."
Izuku turned his head to look up at the face of the sleeping man. "Yeah. He's probably done some self study but he is probably missing a lot from those 6 years of missed education."
Tomura nodded. "I wonder if I should add an offer to finish missed school years to my advertisement for joining the League at this rate." He shook his head before beginning to walk out to the main bar to call their father. "I'll let you two know what Father says."