Doubts

Izuku is a strange boy. Though he's no longer a boy. I think he's probably about 26 by now. Every week he goes to Sensei for aging. Every week he eats his assigned food without a grimace. He knew the plan. Never once have I heard him complain. Even when he is downing the pain meds. Even when it's obvious he can barely move when they aren't working. I can only imagine the amount of pain he's enduring to age his body two years every week.

Sensei insisted that Izuku go with us to UA's USJ. Izuku wasn't to do anything. He was just to watch, to stand near me and beyond offering a few minor suggestions, that's all he did. Once we got back he never even asked about those we left behind. And even before that, he never asked about the Noumu.

Sensei said the mission would help Izuku understand. And the first thing Izuku did when he stepped out of my warp gate back into the bar was look at Sensei's TV and tell the man he understood. I'm not sure what exactly Izuku understood but there was a look in his eyes that was different. Poetically you could say it was a light, or a fire or something but it isn't anything like that. It's just a look but one that speaks of determination.

Tomura wasn't anywhere near as happy. He raged and he growled and complained until Sensei reminded him this was just the first strike. Izuku helped slightly then. He reminded Tomura that in his games he never got to try the boss level first. He always had to work up to it. And in some games, he had to make sure he had the right equipment before he went after the boss. This was the same.

In order to defeat All Might and the system of Heroes, Tomura had to make preparations. Noumu was one. And maybe further iterations of Noumu would be enough to defeat All Might but more importantly was the other preparations. For victory to be real, for the rest of the sheeple to accept it, Tomura had to set the scene. The USJ wasn't a failure, but the opening move. It was a way of announcing to the world that the League was here, that he was here.

I didn't think Shigaraki would accept it. He did. He nodded carefully, thoughtfully. He accepted Izuku's explanation and then he asked something I didn't expect. Tomura asked if that was what Izuku understood.

Izuku confirmed it.

Izuku is a strange boy.

-afop-

"It's not just age, you know."

Kurogiri started. He set down the glass he had been cleaning, turning to the green haired man who was sitting at the bar. The man's eyes were also green and for the past few hours they had been riveted on the small TV that sat on the end of the bar.

"Izuku?" Kurogiri questioned.

"What Sensei is doing to me. It's not just making me older." Green eyes turned to him. "If it was just age then there's really no point."

The bartender blinked, reviewing what he knew of the plan for Izuku. It wasn't much. The man was now meant to take over the legitimate industries Sensei ran and that meant… Ah… That meant he had to understand those industries. A fourteen year old couldn't. Not truly.

"You see?" Izuku asked. He raised one hand, letting out a wave of sparks. They were pretty but not very useful.

Kurogiri was surprised, not at the sparks. In order for Izuku to truly fit in, it had been necessary to give him a quirk. It wasn't a fancy one. It just produced multicoloured sparks but it was enough to ensure Izuki was socially accepted. What surprised him was that as mist, he had no expression, he had no tells. Point of fact, he was banned from playing games of chance because no one could read him, yet somehow the kid had… Fourteen years… No, however many years old he was now and he'd read him.

"I see. Age, and knowledge."

Izuku nodded. "Though the base had to be strong," he explained.

Kurogiri gave a small nod. That was why Izuku had spent the beginning of his time here reading all those political articles. "So you will be CEO?"

"Directorships," Izuku confirmed, "and I think, politics."

The bartender closed his eyes briefly. He understood the plan now. Izuku would control the legitimate companies Sensei left to him, giving the profits to Tomura. And when he went into politics, Tomura would use the profits to create openings to bring about the changes the world needed. But… Kurogiri opened his eyes, looking at the boy, who was no longer a boy. Everyone had their reasons. Everyone did things for some reason.

Tomura had chosen to follow Sensei because society rejected him. He supported the ancient man because... He didn't like to remember those reasons but what drove a fourteen year old to follow Sensei? What drove a fourteen year old to give up who knew how many years of his life, to abandon everything? It was a personal question. Villains didn't usually ask each other why they chose that life. Some were more than happy to proclaim it to the world. Others held their reasons close. Izuku had never hinted. Kurogiri had taken his loyalty on faith because Sensei said it was so.

"Why?" His question was soft, almost hesitant, indicating that Kurogiri knew he shouldn't really be asking.

Izuku gave him a grin. Even with aging, it was infectious. "To stop that," he replied immediately, gesturing towards the small TV.

Kurogiri looked. It took him a moment to see what was happening. The TV displayed the UA Sports Festival and he recognised a medal ceremony. Except it wasn't quite right. The winner was tied to a post on the podium and muzzled? He blinked and looked again but the scene didn't change. The boy really was muzzled and his hands and feet were tied. He was glaring at everything.

"That," Izuku repeated. He pointed his hand towards the TV, letting out another stream of sparks that winked out as they hit the screen.

"That?" Kurogiri couldn't help but question. He wasn't sure what was going on with the UA ceremony and he was reasonably sure that adding sound wasn't going to help.

"His name is Katsuki Bakugou."

The bartender nodded. Izuku had been watching the entire proceedings. Present Mic, who was acting as one of the announcers would have said the UA kid's name at some point.

"An arrogant, stuck up twat who believes that to be the number one hero requires grinding everyone else underfoot."

Kurogiri gave Izuku a look. That wasn't anything Present Mic would have said. There was history there with the way the words had been spat. Was this the one Izuku had wanted the paper for? He had gotten into UA.

Izuku knew what the look meant and gave the bartender a smile. In any other situation the smile gracing his features might have been considered charming but Kurogiri could see the sharp lines of anticipation that defined it. It was not nice anticipation either.

"We all have our personal nemeses," Izuku told him softly.

Ah, that explained it. Every villain had history. It was nice to finally see some of the boy's, though not everything was explained. Kurogiri could intimate quite a bit. He poured a beer and set the schooner in front of Izuku.

"To stepping stones," he told the boy.

The smile changed, this time becoming genuinely pleased. Izuku reached out, wrapping his hand around the glass and holding it high in salute. "To stepping stones."

-afop-

The UA Sports Festival is not really a viewing selection of choice for villains. Not many think that far ahead. For those who do, then it's required viewing, but most focus on the Third Years. Very few ever bother with the First Years and to be fair, coverage of the First Year's events isn't anywhere near as comprehensive as the Third Years. Still, the bar had the stream, and … Tomura didn't really watch it.

Izuku did. I was slightly surprised. He's about 35 now. Tall, lanky but with a enviable muscle tone. At least, the tone is after each session with Sensei. Each week he still tries to build up fat. Not as much now but some. He watched the First Years and I don't think he blinked. It took me a moment to remember he's same age as them. Then I wondered if I should still give him milk or juice or if… It's odd when the body is not the same as the mind.

He looked at me during the medal presentation. He gave me a smile. It was… I didn't know if I should shiver or not. And then the kid explains. He tells me that Sensei isn't just aging him, he's also teaching him. It makes sense. With all the quirk's Sensei has been exposed to I'm not surprised he has one that forces knowledge into another's head. It would make explaining things easier if you could just make someone know what you knew. In this case, Izuku is getting additional information on the businesses he's meant to run. He's getting twenty or more years of general experience that he doesn't have.

I think that just proves that Izuku is a very intelligent person.

Though, he has his own motivations. It's nice to see them. I can relate to them. Tomura can, and so will the others who have to join. So will the others Izuku will have to relate to in the business world. Of course, they will never know his true motivation but the fact that he has goals and desires will resonate with them. That's what's important.

Even if they are dark. But that's the nature of villainy and there can be no doubt, that even if so far he's done nothing, Izuku Midoriya is a villain.

-afop-

It was a lovely scene of quiet domesticity. That is, if one didn't know who the people were. The first was a young man named Izuku Midoriya was sitting at the bar. He was dressed plainly in dark slacks and a t-shirt and was intently reading a tablet. A protein shake was in front of him, about half drunk.

The bar wasn't attended. Instead, its usual attendant, Kurogiri, known to most as one of the key members of the League of Villains was wiping down some of the tables and generally cleaning. Occasionally the bar did see legitimate customers.

Occasionally.

Sensei's TV was set to voice only and there was an aura of anticipation around the electrical item. Or at least as much of an aura as any electrical product could give off.

Tomura wasn't present. The teen was still asleep but he was known to sleep late every opportunity he could, and today he'd claim that he was going out late.

Izuku sighed, finishing the article he was reading, before he looked towards Sensei's TV. "The League will be lucky if he joins," he commented, reaching out for his shake.

Kurogiri quirked his head. Tonight they were going to ask the Hero Killer Stain to join the League. Joining was a little bit more complex than just being asked but if Stain agreed, then he definitely had the potential.

Except Izuku didn't seem to think it would happen.

"That is only one outcome, Izuku," Sensei's voice said.

Kurogiri could hear the instruction for Izuku to think about the others.

Izuku sat up, swallowing a large gulp from his protein shake before he spoke. "The first outcome is that everything goes perfectly," he said.

The mist villain stopped to listen. Izuku had a very analytical mind. Sensei was fostering that, but not so that he could become a new strategist… Or maybe that wasn't quite true, except Izuku's strategies wouldn't be applied for the League. They were going to be applied for the plan. The overall plan.

"The League instantly gains credibility and gets a good boost in reputation, feeding off his reputation. Something he probably wouldn't care about since he's not driven by a desire for fame."

That was a fair assessment. Stain was one of those lone wolf villains who acted. He didn't posture and his kill count spoke for itself. He would be a great asset to the League, which was the reason they were going to ask him to join, or at least ally.

"The second outcome is that he ally's with the League," Izuku continued, mirroring Kurogiri's thoughts. "Again the League gains credibility and a reputational boost, but there are dangers with it. Ally's are not bound by the chain of command, and since he's freelance, so to speak, he won't be asking the League's opinion before he strikes at anyone." Izuku shook his head, clearly indicating that he didn't really like that prospect. "I doubt the League will want any hero kept alive but you never know."

There was something in the way Izuku said it that made Kurogiri wonder. He glanced at Sensei's TV, confident that the man would notice the movement but the League's founder said nothing. That could mean anything. Izuku might be talking about some nebulous plan for the future, or he could be talking about something going on now. It was a reminder to Kurogiri that while he was the acknowledged strategist for the League, he wasn't their ultimate strategist. That was Sensei, and even if Izuku was talking about some nebulous idea, he was sure that Sensei, if he thought the idea was good, would make something of it.

"The third outcome is that he is insulted and just walks away," Izuku said. "If it becomes known that Stain rejected the League then that may make recruiting difficult in the future."

"So how would you turn that situation into an advantage?" Sensei pressed Izuku.

The man-boy took another gulp of milkshake. "Stain won't advertise that he rejected any offer. At least, not directly. He's not that kind of man. So the first step to turn rejection to the League's advantage is to ensure only trusted members of the League attend any meeting with him."

"That is done," Sensei said. "What else?"

"The League's goals are similar to Stain's but not the same. A few slight rewordings, and a bit less ranting would make them almost identical, without compromising ours."

"Why would we be seen to lessen our goals?" Kurogiri asked, having finished cleaning the tables. He walked back to the bar, putting the rag into a small hamper before pulled out a fresh one and began polishing the glasses.

"Because at the moment, he is popular. To ride that wave, the League must seem to be a part of that wave," Izuku explained. "Though it might be too subtle."

"And it would take too long. Something else," Sensei ordered.

Izuku looked down at his tablet. He tapped it a few times. Kurogiri watched the screen change several times. The man-boy began muttering but he quickly moved to quieten himself by taking the straw of his shake into his mouth. Sensei seemed content to wait.

"Given that I think Stain will reject the League, I suppose it's fair I think of some way to get something out of it," Izuku said eventually.

"And you have?" Sensei questioned with a note of expectation.

"I think I have something workable," Izuku admitted. "The League needs to take advantage of the fact that Stain won't specifically deny an alliance. It's not like he has any opportunity to either. As far as I can tell, he has no interaction with anyone except for those heroes he kills. Of course, he has to talk to someone but he's keeping his public persona separate from his private one. So that is the League's opportunity."

Kurogiri could see the truth of Izuku's words and he could see the opportunity provided by that opening, but he wasn't sure how to capitalise on it. Not in a way that was reliable.

"If the League runs a simultaneous operation in whatever city Stain is, then the media will draw their own conclusions. The League doesn't even have to do much, just being seen should be enough. After a couple of missions, if the relationship then breaks down, it won't matter, it will already be established."

Izuku tapped one finger on the bar.

"Very good, Izuku," Sensei praised. "However, you are dissociating again."

"Sorry Sensei," the man-boy said, hanging his head.

"Why? You are as much a part of the League as Tomura," Sensei said gently.

It was then Kurogiri realised that Izuku had been saying 'the League' instead of we. That was a problem.

"I don't want to make a mistake Sensei, later when it really matters."

"Izuku," Sensei's voice was reproving. "Do you not trust your own abilities?"

Physically Izuku might be much older than his real age but Sensei was older than them all, and when he spoke like that… Kurogiri knew he hadn't done anything wrong but even he felt cowed at the tone.

"No, Sensei, it's just tha-"

"Just nothing, Izuku. You are a part of the League, and you will refer to yourself as such. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Sir," Izuku said softly but it wasn't a whisper. Sensei didn't like it when his orders were answered with whispers.

"Very good," the voice from the TV accepted Izuku's words. "I will give Tomura several Noumu for some missions," he added, speaking to Kurogiri. "Stain will be a benefit to the League," Sensei said.

"One way or another," he added before the TV went blank.

Izuku sighed. "I'm sorry Kurogiri," he said before swallowing the last of his shake.

"Izuku?" The warp villain asked, not sure why he was being given the apology.

"I am a part of the League."

The bartender nodded. "That you are," he agreed. "That you are."

Words wouldn't change that.

-afop-

Tomura is continuing to learn, lessons Izuku appears to already know. Case in point, Stain. The vigilante doesn't share the same goals as the League but he has his own agenda. He has his own beliefs. Tomura didn't respect that and so didn't understand. I think he does now. But again Izuku had to explain why the coverage at Hosu focused on the vigilante, despite the damage the three Noumu's did.

It's really not that hard to understand even without the knowledge of beliefs and ideals. Even though he was captured, Stain has killed heroes, and killed one of the UA's first year hero students. That gets news time. The League, though infinitely more dangerous, has just got property damage to our name. And the forced retirement of a first year hero course student. Officially that is. Unofficially, if you include Sensei's record then… But most don't include Sensei's record and so to the world we aren't that dangerous.

Not yet, anyway. That's the future though.

Izuku understands that even if people do not agree with Stain they understand what he is wanting. There is an appeal to Stain's motivation, to the vigilante's beliefs. There is a lure in wanting to make a hero truly a hero rather than the fakes we have now because it is simple. If the heroes of today were truly heroes, in the way they are meant to be, rather than just those with flashy quirks, and the desire for riches and public acclaim, then there wouldn't be many villains.

But such is not the world we live in.

Izuku is almost ready to go into the world. He looks like a younger middle aged man. Soft spoken but there is a drive in his eyes that I've only ever seen in those who are truly willing to do anything to succeed. He hides it well. He relates well to those few patrons who come to the bar. Giran likes him. The two have long chats but it's more than that. Izuku is truly likeable in a way Tomura isn't.

Sometimes… I shouldn't. It's wrong. I shouldn't doubt Sensei. I know he's the master tactician in a way that just can't be described but sometimes I wonder if it's not Izuku who should get everything. And by everything I mean everything. The League and the legitimate businesses that are Sensei's cover. I wonder if Izuku shouldn't be the one to replace Sensei. I think he could do it in a way that Tomura cannot.

Doubts are new. I've never had doubts before…

But… No. I cannot doubt. Sensei has never been wrong. He's not wrong now.

-afop-

"Kurogiri."

The bartender turned to the voice. It came from the TV that displayed only darkness. Sensei. He nodded.

"Come to me." The instruction was firm.

Behind the bar black mist expanded in all directions before it vanished. Kurogiri warped himself into the room Sensei spent the most time in. It was a simple room overlooking the warehouse the Noumu's were stored in.

The ancient man was sitting and appeared to be looking out into the warehouse. There were several tanks there, each containing a Noumu at various stages of completion. The newest, those barely begun looked mostly human. The liquid kept them asleep and there was a respirator on their faces to ensure they could breath.

"You have doubts," Sensei spoke before Kurogiri could.

The warp gate villain froze for an instant. The constant movement of the mist that made up his form didn't move before he sighed. "I'm sorry, Master," he managed to say. Regret coloured his tone but there was no denying the ancient man's statement.

The master villain looked over at him. Of course, he wasn't really looking. Not with the top part of his head being a featureless mass but Kurogiri knew he was being examined.

"I understand, it's natural," he replied. "Izuku is many things that Tomura is not," the ancient man saw straight to the heart of Kurogiri's concerns.

"That is true," Kurogiri replied when the silence between them stretched.

"That is why Izuku has a different path than Tomura." Sensei's lips curled into a knowing and somewhat pleased smile. "But his path is just as important. Possibly even…" The ancient man stopped speaking, as his smile grew. Kurogiri knew that his Master was engrossed in thoughts of the future.

"One that requires him to be older?" Kurogiri prompted, ignoring the unfinished sentence.

"Indeed." Sensei gave a small chuckle. "Do you know what he said to me, when I told him I could make him older?"

The bartender shook his head. Izuku didn't tell anyone much of what happened in the sessions he spent with Sensei.

"The quirk I've been using to age him is usually fatal," Sensei said, instead of replying directly. "It is a form of immortality that relies on stealing years from others. Usually the body of the one who lost the years can't handle the strain, especially if too many years are taken at the one time. The body ages, using all its resources and then dies of exhaustion. But if you take only a few years at a time, to a body that is prepared and has been supercharged, then they survive."

Kurogiri nodded. That explained the need for the high calorie, high protein, high calcium foods and the multivitamins Izuku had been required to have. They were what kept him alive.

"Before I started though, Izuku told me I was welcome to the years. He told me to use them well." Again Sensei chuckled. "His dedication at such a young age is admirable."

"Tomura," Kurogiri felt obligated to point out.

"Does not count," Sensei over rode his objection. "Tomura was raised to his position. Izuku could have been so different but, he isn't. He's ours and he will play a role in changing this ugly world, just like we all will." The ancient man smiled. It was a particularly pleased smile of one who knew that things would work out for him. "If I could, I would give him All For One but my quirk is not transferable. I've given him two others instead."

Kurogiri felt his eyes widen. That was… Sensei had never even suggested anything like that in the past. He forced himself to breathe normally as he considered the words. Two quirks? Izuku had been open in displaying showers of sparks. He had never even mentioned another quirk. The warp villain knew better than to ask but he would watch for any sign.

"And I will give Izuku a new name, a perfect name for one who is going to be in the spotlight, for one who will stand there and not be truly known."

The bartender shifted slightly. It indicated his question. He understood that Izuku would be in the spotlight in the way the League should never be. The League would get acknowledgement, would get reported on but that was just like any other villain. They would not be available for interviews. Izuku, as the acknowledged controlling interest in Sensei's legitimate businesses would have to be respond to the news, the other stakeholders, the other board members. He would be seen and his motives known.

There was no fear that he would be recognised. Izuku still looked like his younger self but was obviously a middle aged man. Some might suspect a family relationship but there would be none to find. Kurogiri already knew the papers and identity that Sensei would supply to Izuku would be perfect. He would have a history, he would be his new name.

"Ichimokuryozen ni kakurete," Sensei said the words. "In English?" the ancient man prompted.

"Hidden in plain sight," Kurogiri translated the phrase.

"Yes. Since All Might so likes his American, Izuku's new name will reflect that, in an appropriate mockery, of course. His name will be Imoku Kakurete."

Kurogiri nodded. It was a mockery. One that was hidden so that only those who knew would understand but it was enough. Usually Sensei didn't bother with such gestures. He was above them but occasionally he indulged.

"Master," Kurogiri said gently.

"You have questions?"

"I do."

Again the ancient man smiled. "You really only have one question," he murmured. "Why Izuku?" He stated the question for Kurogiri.

The warp gate villain made no movement for a few moments before he nodded again. That really was the only question that mattered. Everything else he might want to know came from that question. "Yes, why Izuku?" Surely there was someone else of the right age Sensei could have used to run his business empire. Why take a fourteen year old and have to do ageing, quirk, information… everything. Truly, using Izuku complicated things.

"It is true that Izuku adds complexity," Sensei admitted, reading his thoughts. Kurogiri knew the man wasn't truly reading his mind but the ancient villain had known him for a very long time. He knew what movements meant what. "But the advantages outweigh the complications."

"Advantages?"

Sensei smiled. Another contented knowing smile. "His will. His charisma. Those things can not be faked. Those things can not be a mere act. His lack of knowledge has been fixed. He's now every bit as knowledgeable as someone who has lived the years I took from him. The only weakness he has now is social interaction and contacts."

"Which is not a weakness," Kurogiri pointed out. Sensei had more than enough contacts who could cover for Izuku… Imoku. Who would swear on their mother's graves that they had known Izuku for all their lives, even if they had been the one to put their mother's in those graves. They would do whatever Sensei told them, and they would like it. Kurogiri took a deep breath. "He's not just going to run companies is he?"

This time Sensei actually chuckled.

Kurogiri remembered something Izuku had said previously. Directorships and… "Politics," the warp villain said.

Sensei waved one hand. "Japan has come a long way in ridding itself of many cultural insecurities such as racism. We now accept those of mixed origin far more easily. I am forced to allow that it's one of the few good things All Might has inflicted upon this country but one thing Japan has not been able to change is our love of old politicians." That was all the explanation he gave.

It was enough. Thirty, even mid twenties would have been old enough to take over the directorships of some companies. It would have been young but Izuku, with the right backing would have been fine, especially as the shell companies Sensei ran all had overseas ties. They could have played off that. But politics was still an old man's game… Izuku was still young for it but… It would be enough.

"You see, different paths," Sensei said. It was nice that he didn't point out that their conversation had started about doubts.

Kurogiri nodded. Sensei always covered all the angles.