Berserker

"Welcome, Revenant"

Revenant's blood boiled; his heart stopped momentarily. Inside his body, the flames of his quirk whipped up into a firestorm. He could feel the heat rising beneath his skin, his whole world had shifted, he needed to fight again – he needed to win. He could feel his vision already turning red, he was already on the boarder of rampaging, that didn't matter, he dropped into a stance and stared down Uwabami with glowing eyes. He could feel Eli and Momo shrink behind him, both emanating fear he had felt before, seen before, caused before. Staying at that level kept him feeling like a beast at bay, ready in a moment to lash out and kill. He did not need weapons to accomplish this goal, he was the weapon. Uwabami maintained her calm posture, with only a smirk growing across her face.

She was mocking him, he could tell, he wanted more power – to ensure no one ever mocked him again. He let out a growl, and was ready to charge her down when she raised a hand in defense.

"Now hold on there, Revenant, I'm not here to fight you, but if you'd like, Endeavor and All Might are both in the area," she threatened. He did not move, simply remaining locked on his target. He didn't know if she was bluffing, he knew Endeavor was in the area, but All Might was a wild card he didn't care to play. Relaxing his stance but maintaining eye contact and his quirk he kept focus and took a more neutral stance. "Wonderful, I'm under orders to take you to the Hero Commission."

"How do I know if you are telling the truth?" he growled out. He couldn't trust her; she could easily be trying to play him a fool. She could be trying to hurt him or those he was protecting.

"Why would I lie?" she questioned, it seemed genuine, "If what the Commission tells me is true, then you are only 13 years old and need help." Her face turned somber, "I mean it, please, don't make this difficult kid."

Something about her filled him with white hot rage, there was no way she was telling the truth, he shifted again, getting ready to launch himself at her, maybe if he killed her quickly enough, she wouldn't have time to call for other heroes? She surely meant him harm; the warm voice inside assured him that she was up to no good.

A hand was laid upon his back, it was soft, warm, heavy, comforting. He couldn't look back to see whose hand, the biggest threat laid before him. He knew the doors hadn't opened behind him; it was just the girls behind him – they were no threat.

"Revenant, please, I think its okay." A voice said behind him, he couldn't be sure who, but if he had to guess it would have been Momo. Eli wasn't the sort to trust and certainly wouldn't tell him to stop. He couldn't let her in, he needed to deal with the problem in front of him.

"Not now," he growled again. He needed to-

A pair of arms wrapped around him, and words were whispered in his ear, "Izu, its okay." He couldn't force himself to hold his quirk any longer. It exploded out as the words reverberated throughout his mind. His hands flew to his head as the words filled him with conflicting feelings and pain. He screamed and cried out in pain as he became overwhelmed by the rush of pain. He could feel himself slipping.

"Kacchan"

"Both of you leave" Revenant commanded, raising to his full height. He seemed to have started rampaging, but she couldn't tell. Whatever Momo had said to her weapon had set him off in some way. His head quirked to the side, eyes laying themselves upon Momo and herself. "Eli protect Kacchan, if you fail, you will beg for death" a shot of fear ran through her body, a realization sparked in her mind. There was no jest in his voice, no brevity, he was serious. She had seen terrible people. She had seen the aftermath of Revenant's torturing, she had seen him hurt people, she knew fear, she knew his wrath, she knew she would follow his commands.

Nodding she grabbed hold of Momo and pulled her back, eyes never leaving Revenant's back. Momo looked damn near ready to wet herself, she hadn't experienced his darker side before. "Momo," she whispered harshly, "we need to leave." Momo didn't respond but allowed herself to be dragged out of the room. Both of them stood just outside the door, shocked and feeling like a bomb had just gone off.

"Is Rev gonna be okay?"

"He will." Eli was sure that he would survive, win, whatever it took – her real question was one of whether she would see him again – what terrible thing he would do in his fury. "He's strong, we need to leave." Momo didn't argue, the pair fled the building quickly retreating to Eli's own home, she knew that they couldn't afford to expose the location. They waited in fear of the inevitable call. A call which never arrived.

Momo slept over with Eli, which drew no eyes since both had been known to hang around one another. Both were worried about what had become of Revenant after they left, there had been no news of any violence in the city after the day ended. Eventually they needed to have Momo go home, it was her birthday tomorrow and she would no doubt be missed if she disappeared from there.

The two parted ways after Eli made sure Momo was safely within her own home, she paused at the door and considered whether to go into Revenant's house. She didn't think she was being followed, but couldn't be sure, she couldn't detect whenever Revenant would follow her around either, and supposed that whoever the Hero Commission had would be just as dangerous if not more dangerous and stealthier. She would not betray Revenant, she needed him.

Her plans required someone she could trust to fulfill her grand plans, he was her weapon, it wasn't fair for someone else to dare steal him away. She stalked past his home filled with fury, she didn't know if eyes were on her, but she hated being weak again, she was powerless once more. She stopped tears from falling until she returned to her room and pulled the blinds. Tears came easily, it was a massive part of her life that had been torn from her, and it hurt.

Momo dressed herself for the party in her room alone. Revenant hadn't reappeared yet, she was worried, he was a villain, and he walked straight into Uwabami's office and had yet to emerge as far as she was concerned. She hadn't dared check on his compound as of yet, and didn't think he would be there to protect her. She effectively shut herself in, protected by the security he created for her. The world seemed so much emptier without his presence, he was subtle in ways, but she felt his absence. She could no longer accompany him to his compound for training and spending time with the girls, her friends.

A knock sounded from her door, and it opened. In the doorway stood a man she had never seen before. He looked exactly like Revenant, but something about the way he held and carried himself was eerily different. His eyes held no fury, no compassion, nothing – they were like a pair of glowing green orbs, empty of their usual passionate fire. He wore a suit that fit all too well, not like his usual ones which were baggy and ill fitting. He carried himself differently as well, his presence was of ice and moon, crashing over her in its frigid ice floes. She shivered as she looked on his form, it was wrong. It was all wrong.

"Yaoyorozu, I am here to provide you protection tonight in accordance with our agreement." Even his voice sounded empty, like someone had cut from him all that he was. Looking at him filled her with pain, she had known him only 2 months, but knew that he was broken.

"Revenant? Are you okay?" She asked, hoping it was some sort of act, some cruel joke he was playing.

"Revenant has been captured by the hero Uwabami. I am agent Berserker, private hero of the Hero Commission." His words underlined some unconscious pain, she didn't know much, but she could feel it in her soul that he was crying out in pain. She could see him dying inside, hidden behind some walls within himself.

"Izu?" she tried, hoping the magic words would wake him up, "Are you okay?" she asked again, a bit more forcefully. She wanted this all to be a prank, she needed it to be a prank.

"Yaoyorozu, I do not understand. Who is Izu?" his words betrayed some excess emotion, those of pain and terror. She looked at him horrified, knowing he must have been locked within his own mind. She could think of only one idea that would free him from whatever he had gotten himself into.

"Who was Kacchan?" she asked, confident it would break him free of whatever spell he was under – it had caused him so much pain before, surely, he would awaken yet again.

Recognition flickered in his eyes; his head was in his hands in an instant. The feeling he emitted changed from those of ice and moon to that of fire and sun, like flipping a switch he began to emit the strong and furious flames she knew him by. He looked up at her, eyes wide, filled with their usual intensity, though still clouded in haze.

"Kacchan" he stared daggers into her before bursting forward grabbing her into a hug. "I thought I lost you!" his words were made of heat and sorrow, tears came from his eyes easily, smearing makeup which concealed his tattoos. She understood slightly better that his quirk was still rampaging in some way, some way that she had caused. Guilt ran its course through her veins as he squeezed her in a tight embrace.

"Izu, what happened?" she asked of her captor, using what she had decided was his name.

He reared his head back looking at her with a confused face, "Kacchan, what do you mean? Oh! You must mean my body! I got stronger!" his words were filled with pride as he explained every gruesome detail of his body modifications and drug usage over the course of the last 4 years. Momo struggled not to vomit as he explained how the doctor who operated on him repeatedly tore open his flesh, fiddling with his insides in various ways. Her heart wept as he explained how he had gone catatonic after they took his eyes from him and made his brain better, all while the continued to experiment on him without anesthesia. Horrified, she listed as he explained how he lost his memories until he was helped by some teacher. His involvement in the Ice barrier incident and his subsequent capture and torture. How he killed so many people.

Momo had known for as long as she had been around him that he had a body count, but not once had she heard him talk about his killing, not once had she been explained all the pain and scars, not once had she been forced to hear about his history. She wrapped her own arms around him for fear that he would disappear to whatever hell he lived in if she let go.

He began to stroke her hair, cooing "Kacchan, it's okay, Izu is here." It wasn't okay nothing about the situation qualified as okay in her mind. He was beyond broken, he was shattered into something else, she wanted her Revenant back. "I met a lot of nice people along the way too, the last one was really nice. I like Momo, I think you would too!" she could feel his smile, it emitted the heat of the sun and stars above, it only hurt more to know this was who he was before his life began to tumble. "her quirk is super cool and really strong; she can make anything she wants. I think she's letting her own definitions limit herself, but even so." The statement left her with pause, what did he mean by limiting herself? "I was going to ask her to make me a new combat suit out of carbon nanotubes, Mei and I had been looking into them as a basis for my hero costume." As he spoke the word "hero" something about him began to be in conflict. As though he were struggling with some unseen foe.

"Izu?" she asked, looking up into his crying eyes. They stared back, flickering between ice and fire, moon and sun. she figured he was fighting for control of whatever had been done to him. She didn't know how to help him though. "It's Kacchan, please don't go" she begged, burying her face into his chest, a mixture of embarrassment and sadness filling her. She wasn't anything compared to his big sister, was she, she was a pale imitation. It hurt to admit that to herself, but it was true, he became himself for Kacchan, not for Momo.

"It's okay Kacchan, I'm still here, I'm not going anywhere." His words were soft and comforting, like a parent soothing a child.

"What did they do to you? The HC?" she hoped not using the group's full name wouldn't illicit the same response as before, and she was right, there was no shift. She could feel him thinking, growing frustrated.

"I-I don't know, I can't remember the last little bit, I remember…" he didn't finish before his eyes glazed over yet again, Momo could feel the temperature of the room drop has fire and sun was replaced by ice and moon. "Miss Yaoyorozu, it is most unprofessional to embrace like this." The fake self had returned, his words empty, he released Momo from their hug and stepped back. "If you are quite ready, I need to borrow your makeup vanity, seems my makeup has been damaged." Momo hated her inability to deny him as he galivanted over to the vanity and pulled out a pad of makeup and repaired the damage his tears had caused.

She stood idly by as she watched his movement, they were meticulous and calculated, no wasted movement, like he was perpetually ready to fight. He held no flair, no excess that she knew him to have. Revenant and this person were completely different, of that she was certain. This "Berserker" was just riding along in his body, for certain. Pulling out her phone she sent a message to Eli.

> ASL?

> Rich Bouncing Printer

> Hey Mo, what's up? Oh and Happy birthday.

> They did something to Rev, he's here, but it's like they destroyed him Eli.

> I'm on my way, I'll call Mei too, make sure we can get in – I will break into the house if need be.

> Okay, please hurry!

Momo closed her phone and the app that Revenant had made for all of them to chat, he said it was based off some website and acted as a private server, but that was beside the point, she needed to get Revenant better. Momo looked back at the husk working on their makeup at her vanity. It felt wrong, he didn't feel like Revenant, and she couldn't get past it.

Berserker couldn't understand why the young Yaoyorozu was making such a fuss over him, he was there to protect her from any bad characters she may have attracted during her time with the villain Revenant. Yet she seemed to insist on crowding around him and talking with him like the two were close. It was illogical, and dangerous – what would become of such a bright example of potential heroics if they continued to align themselves with villains? Surely nothing good. He would not like to kill her, but he would hold nothing back against a villain, he never did.

No, he was the dagger the Hero Commission held in reserve, a dangerous weapon designed to eliminate threats and resolve issues that were left over by villains. There was nothing else about him other than his duties to the Hero Commission, he lived by their hand ever since they saved his life, he still bore the scars from the wounds of that terrible villain, ______. He hated _______, but was glad to have eliminated the villain with the help of numerous other heroes. He would pay back his debt to the Hero Commission by working for them.

His working to complete the protection contract of the recently captured Revenant was only one facet of his duties, even so he would complete the job with gusto and return to base for his next assignment. It was all important work he would have to do. There was no one else who could be counted upon for these sorts of activities. He knew the Hero Commission had hired Revenant before, but they had done so only to gauge his threat level, he was a dangerous individual and with his capture the world had become a safer place.

It did not help Miss Yaoyorozu continued to stick by his side and continue to talk with him about any number of random things, which only got worse when two additional girls joined in her jeering and teasing. Did they expect him to crack under some sort of pressure? What a laughable concept, he was a professional who had worked and fought countless villains.

"Stop being an asshole and wake the fuck up!" his mind continually struggled against him; it was some trauma he had received while working against the villain ________. His therapist had said not to listen to the voices. That's all they were, voices, clawing painful voices. More than once the blond, Eli they repeatedly called her – likely a first name, attempted to get physically intimate with him, much to his distaste. He had no time for a fling, he had work to be done. "Then stop dicking around and WAKE THE HELL UP!" the voice was exceptionally irritated today; he couldn't understand what about the situation would cause it to act up like this.

"Is this want you wanted Kacchan?" a different voice asked, a new voice – one he didn't recognize as the voice of anger. "Is this the hero you wanted me to be?" the voice was filled with remorse, it stung him like a thousand needles.

The lights in the hall shut off, instantly Berserker moved to protect Yaoyorozu, he quickly scanned the room, 8 targets had made a move to block the doors, another 6 were approaching from all around. He breathed easily; these numbers were nothing. He focused on the foes around him.

He heard a scream; one he could feel reverb throughout his being.

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Momo let out a yelp as she was grabbed from behind, that was a pressing issue, more pressing was the change she could feel in Revenant – he switched back to being of fire and sun, and his was letting off insane amounts of bloodlust in that instant. It was as intense as at Uwabami's office. She could hardly breath in the man's arms, she needed help, she knew she did, so she did what she felt would bring her help the fastest. "IZU! HELP!" she screamed as loud as she could. the pressure she could feel in the room intensified further; it was like death himself had descended. The pressure of the man's arms went slack and a new pair of arms held her, she looked up expecting to see familiar green suns, she was instead greeted with hate filled red supernovae.

"Kacchan, close your eyes, I will make them go away." The words held no comfort, no room to argue, they were worse than those of the fake. She couldn't move under the gaze of the red eyed man. The lights returned to fill the room, she realized that the man who had grabbed her was on the floor behind her, his arms were in front of her. She stared dead ahead at Revenant, his face had been splashed with blood, revealing a new tattoo, one she didn't recognize. He pulled at his jacket and tore it from his body, bearing his body for all to see, it was a flashy gesture, one still out of character for him. Bands of black triple triangles formed bands on his body, serving like cuffs along the Mjolnir tattoos that outlined his limbs.

"R-Revenant?" she asked with a shaky voice.

"I told you Kacchan, Revenant is gone, but don't worry, Izu is still here, Berserker is here" she couldn't decide how she felt about that declaration, was he supposed to be some sort of amalgam? She didn't really have time to question as he dashed around her and punched one of the men, knocking him to the ground like a sac of potatoes. "Seriously, close your eyes, this is gonna be a bloodbath." His words were made of confidence and fire, it was a promise. She squeezed her eyes shut. "You too Mei, this isn't something to see. Eli you're a big girl do as you wish." His words held some degree of humor, but overwhelmingly he was scolding them.

In the next instant the room exploded into activity, the sounds of screams and gunshots, yells of rage and explosive quirks filled her ears, like a symphony of death which cruelly conducted itself around the actions of one man. The sounds of knives embedding themselves in flesh, the unfamiliar, yet familiar roar of Revenant as he was wounded and pushed further. Screams of pain which sent her clutching her ears for hope of blocking out the sound, a futile effort. Blood splashed upon her, unbelievably hot and smelling strongly of iron. The dull thumping of bodies crashing to the ground. It felt like it went on for hours.

Screams of men who suffered blow after blow under the tyrannical and hysterical weapon that was her Revenant. She hated the feeling of suspense, of being rescued by Revenant.

Eli had seen a lot from Revenant up until this point, she had seen him crush a man's wrist with his bare hands, seen him pluck a man's eye from its socket for offending him. She thought she had seen his most terrifying at Uwabami's office when Momo triggered a rampage. She thought she understood how far he could and would go.

She had never been more fearful in her life.

He was a blur moving between the villains who had assaulted the party, delivering a few blows before sending them into a pile together. His eyes glowed an evil red color, no traces of their usual emerald hue. Then there was the new tattoo, thanks to his obsession with studying his quirk she had learned a few Nordic symbols – this was one such symbol. A Valknut, symbol of a god who could bind and unbind anyone, or something like that.

She had to close her eyes when he snapped a man's leg in two, bone protruding out from his thigh. It wasn't like any other time, this was violent, uncontrolled, not like torture. Her blood ran cold as he let out another roar in response to a gunshot. In a few moments later there was a gut retching crunch. She dared open her eye for a moment only to see his food embedded ankle deep in a man's skull. She lost her stomach and vomited at the horrific sight. She sealed her eyes and placed her hands over them to ensure nothing could penetrate them.

Mei held her eyes shut, hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming. It was terrifying being in the same room as this Revenant. She could barely stand to be around him when he was working, but being anywhere near him while he was on a rampage, controlled or not, was a nightmare for her. She hated the smell of blood, so unlike oil, it wasn't something she had any appreciation for, it was bad. She wished she could be anywhere else in that instant. She would rather have been spending time being girly with people at school. She would rather have been in English or Japanese class. She would rather be listening to Eli rant about idol work.

She dreaded being in the room as the sounds of death and destruction circled round like hungry sharks. She could hear the screams of help as Revenant silenced each voice, he was a dangerous person – she had always known, but she had never experienced his fury directly. She would be the first to call his eyes like those of green suns, full of passion and bright energy, they were warm compared to the assholes at school. His new red ones were brighter, but not with energy, with malice, with hatred, with death, the energy they held was not bright, but blacker than night – like a void which consumed all within their gaze.

Momo felt a hand place itself on her shoulder, it was heavy and warm – Revenant's hand. She reached forward with her own hands, placing them on him to make sure he was really there. Confirming his presence, she opened her eyes and looked at her violent protector. His eyes were no longer red, but a familiar and welcome emerald, she could have cried at the warmth those eyes held for her had it not been for the levels of shock she was still experiencing. He was coated in blood, if it was his or someone else's she couldn't tell, she didn't want to know, either would be horrific. He pulled her into a hug.

"Kacchan, I'm sorry you had to see this" she wanted to cry even still, he didn't see her. Would he ever see her? "I have to go, there are some bad people who made me forget you" his words were heavy with regret.

"Please don't go" tears came from her eyes as she looked to him, his face held a mix of determination and pain. She could tell he didn't want to leave, but he had something to do.

"I am sorry, I'll come back, no one will stop me" he held her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. They were determined, passionate, filled with power, "how else will I be your hero?" Momo's world stopped spinning, in that instant she didn't care that she wasn't who he was talking to, it was a few words that filled her with inspiration.

She reached forward, taking his head in her hands, and brought their lips together. She didn't know what she was doing, it felt right. The kiss was short, more akin to a peck. She pushed him back slightly and stared into his eyes, filled with determination and power form the kiss, "Come back to me Rev."

"You got it, Momo" in another moment the man disappeared. In another moment Momo realized she had just kissed Revenant. In another moment she realized that Revenant had called her by her name instead of Kacchan.

In another moment, Momo passed out at all the revelations and stress.