My hero academia:Am I worthy?

Upon seeing his mother alive, Izuku rushed into her embrace, disbelief painting his features. It was as though he feared it was a fleeting vision, one that would vanish if he blinked. His arms wrapped around her tightly, as if it was the last time they would ever meet. Overcome with emotion, he finally spoke the words he had long yearned to express.

"I love you, Mom. You're alive—I can't believe it. It feels like a dream," he admitted, his voice a mix of awe and relief. Inko, hearing her son's heartfelt confession, simply smiled, holding him close.

"I'm here, Izuku, more alive than ever. Did something happen? Did you have a nightmare? You're hugging me as if we won't see each other again," she teased gently. Her words, though playful, struck a chord within him. It ached, yet the warmth of her presence was undeniable. Perhaps, he mused, this was merely the residue of a bad dream, a haunting specter of recent unsettling events.

"Izuku, dress up. It's time for us to go on vacation with your father," she said, the mention of "father" sending an unfamiliar shiver through him. As the door creaked open, there stood Hisashi Midoriya, unchanged from the memory Izuku held: black-haired and clad in a suit. Tears welled up in his eyes, and overcome with emotion, he flung himself into his father's arms. Hisashi, though caught off guard by his son's fervor, returned the embrace, patting his back reassuringly.

"I... I thought I'd never see you again," Izuku whispered, his voice quivering. Hisashi knelt to meet his son's gaze, gently wiping away the tears with a comforting hand. Despite the tears, they were of joy—a cathartic release. Izuku, overwhelmed by the reunion, flashed a smile that had remained dormant since Inko's passing.

"I'm so grateful to see both of you. You have no idea how much I've missed you," he confessed, his voice laden with sincerity. His parents exchanged a look, puzzled yet touched, perhaps chalking it up to remnants of a nightmare.

"Hey there, cowboy, freshen up and have some breakfast; we're heading out for some fun," his father chimed in with a light-hearted tone. After being alone for so long, the warmth in his parents' voices melted away any lingering solitude, filling him with a sense of belonging. Breaking away from his father's embrace, he hurried to the bathroom for his morning routine. In his haste, he failed to notice the absence of his reflection in the mirror. Yet, that detail seemed insignificant compared to the joy of seeing his parents again, their presence a balm for his soul. Exiting the bathroom, a shadowy figure with white eyes mirrored his own height in the glass. The silhouette remained, frowning as Izuku remained oblivious to its presence.

Entering the kitchen, he found his parents seated at the table—his father engrossed in the morning paper, his mother catching up on news via her phone. As he joined them, he couldn't avert his gaze from their familiar faces, a warm smile overtaking his features as he eyed the delicious spread his mother had prepared. Engrossed in the meal, he didn't notice the concerned glances exchanged between his parents.

"Izuku, are you alright? You're acting a bit odd," his mother gently probed. Izuku hesitated, unsure of how to articulate his feelings. It was the first time his family had been united, and he deflected their concern with a light-hearted jest. Deep inside, however, a sense of longing persisted—a void left by someone not of his family, yet close enough to be a part of it.

"Ahaha, don't worry. I was just really hungry, and I can't let Mom's cooking go to waste," he quipped with a grin. His mother, touched, teared up slightly and, reaching over, ruffled his unruly green hair before planting a kiss on his cheek. Blushing, Izuku glanced at his father, who nodded approvingly. Surrounded by laughter and warmth, the 14-year-old basked in the familial love, finishing his meal just as the doorbell rang repeatedly.

"Izuku, dear, could you get the door? We're a bit tied up here," his father said. Energized, Izuku rose from his seat and headed toward the insistent ringing.

"Who could it be at this hour? I haven't seen mailmen rush like this before," Hisashi joked, his eyes still on the newspaper. Smiling, Izuku opened the door, only for his smile to falter as surprise took hold. Standing there was the person he had missed dearly. Her long blue hair cascaded to her waist, and her eyes, an oceanic blue, sparkled with life. Her presence was like a missing piece of his heart snapping into place. Her smile was the final touch before he lunged at her, knocking her off balance. They tumbled to the floor, and without hesitation, he planted kisses on her smooth face, his elation palpable. Nejire, though stunned by his enthusiasm, was equally delighted to see him.

"I'm glad to see you too, Freckles," she laughed, her voice filled with affection as he showered her with kisses. Finally, he pulled back, meeting her gaze—those blue eyes he could lose himself in. Succumbing to her charm, he leaned in, ready to kiss her lips, only for his father's voice to interrupt.

"Oh, look at young Midoriya, not even fifteen and already smitten. Son, when should we expect grandchildren?" His father's teasing broke the spell, and Izuku, realizing their position, flushed a deep red, stumbling over his words. Nejire laughed, amused by his embarrassment, and together they rose to their feet.

"Hello, Uncle Hisashi and Aunt Inko," Nejire greeted the Midoriya family warmly.

"Welcome, Nejire-chan! We're thrilled to have you here. Would you like to join us at the amusement park?" Inko asked, noting the sparkle in Nejire's eyes as she nodded eagerly, her blue hair swaying with enthusiasm.

"Great, get ready; we'll be leaving in 15 minutes by car. Make sure you're both there, or I'll leave you two alone at home," Hisashi chuckled, observing the couple's mixed reactions. Izuku blushed like a tomato, while Nejire beamed with excitement, clinging to her friend.

Izuku led her to his room, joy bubbling within him at seeing her after such a long time. However, an undercurrent of unease lingered—a shadow of doubt he couldn't shake. Yet with Nejire by his side, that anxiety was soothed. Craving her warmth, he embraced her again, resting his head gently on her shoulder.

"I missed you, Nejire. You can't imagine how happy I am to see you," he murmured, overwhelmed by emotions as tears threatened to spill. Concerned, Nejire began bombarding him with questions, her voice filled with worry.

"Izuku, what's wrong? Did someone hurt you? Did I say something wrong? Can I help you, Izuku?" Her questions flowed rapidly, but Izuku responded softly.

"No, Nejire, I'm just so happy you're here," he reassured, pulling away from her embrace. They composed themselves and stepped out of the house together, where his parents awaited. As they approached the car, Inko called out to him.

"Izuku, dear, could you bring my bag? I forgot it," she requested, handing him the keys. Without hesitation, he agreed, heading back inside to fetch the bag, unaware of the figure in black he passed on his way out.

Returning to the car, he was met with a shock: the vehicle was empty, devoid of his family. Alone, a sense of foreboding washed over him. Exiting the car, the once sunny skies turned ominously cloudy. The vibrant world around him dulled, losing its color and becoming monochrome. Turning to look at his house, he found it inexplicably vanished, replaced by emptiness. As he surveyed his surroundings, he realized the world had dissolved, leaving him solitary in a void devoid of life.

Panic gnawed at him internally. His parents and Nejire had vanished, leaving him stranded. Desperately, he searched and called their names, but only silence answered his pleas. Falling to his knees, he was gripped by the fear of abandonment. It was all a facade, an illusion he had naively believed in, knowing deep down that the people he held dear were not truly there. Collapsing, his breath came in ragged gasps, thoughts chaotically swirling until he noticed the white void being consumed by a dark, viscous substance.

From his chest, something foreign began to emerge, terrifying him. He frantically clawed at the slime spreading across his torso.

"Get away from me, leave me alone!" he shouted, eyes squeezed shut. Venom manifested before him, revealing its grotesque face. The slime originated from his chest, and when Izuku dared to open his eyes, he was met with a sight both horrific and captivating. Enormous, predatory white eyes stared back, filled with an insatiable hunger. A mouth lined with sharp, menacing teeth grinned at him. The creature lacked a nose, its body composed of pulsating black ooze. Their eyes locked, and neither spoke until the symbiote initiated the conversation.

"Poor... Izuku... Midoriya. No mother... no father... no Nejire... utterly alone," it taunted, its voice a sinister melody. Izuku recognized the truth in its words, no matter how much he wished to deny them. The truth was a bitter pill, one that gnawed at him daily, though he had sought refuge in an imagined world where his family and Nejire existed. The vision of a life with them was the symbiote's manipulation, reflecting his most intimate desires. Venom had delved into his memories, laying bare his inner yearnings, crafting illusions that mirrored his deepest longings. Despite knowing they were false, Izuku had clung to them, desperate for them to be real.

Faced with the creature, Izuku's fear was palpable. His knees shook, and his mind screamed for escape, but there was nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. The alien entity's gaze was piercing, burrowing into his soul.

"Who are you, and what do you want from me?" Izuku demanded, his voice trembling. Venom chuckled, relishing in his trepidation. Their bond was unbreakable, and Venom was not willing to forfeit such a promising host. It hadn't destroyed him during the initial merge, instead penetrating the depths of Midoriya's mind, selecting him for his quirkless nature. Yet, in examining his memories, Venom felt a pang of something akin to sympathy, though it did not comprehend human emotions or morality. It was drawn to Izuku's indomitable spirit and what humans called heroism, qualities that defined him, yet he lacked confidence and support, often overshadowed by shyness and perceived weakness.

"My name is of no consequence, for I am the nameless, the unknown," Venom declared, observing the boy's reaction with amusement. Izuku feared the creature, avoiding its gaze, and as he attempted to flee, Venom's laughter echoed around him.

"There is no escape, Midoriya. You cannot evade me; I am part of you now. Did you really think, upon gaining a quirk, that you would reject it when you longed for it so desperately?" Venom's words were a calculated manipulation, seeking to sway the teenager. At the mention of "quirk," Izuku's anxiety eased slightly, yet he remained wary, unsure of Venom's intentions. He had never encountered such a living quirk before. Izuku realized this might be his opportunity to become the hero he had always dreamed of being, though he was unaware that Venom could read his thoughts, an open book to the symbiote. To test his host, Venom retreated into his chest, and the world around Izuku began to transform, forcing him to relive his most painful memories, intensifying the agony with distorted figures and twisted recollections.

Izuku found himself at home, witnessing his mother weeping, her face buried in her hands. Unable to bear her sorrow, he approached her.

"Mom, what happened? Who made you cry?" he pleaded. Inko's tears were a source of profound pain for him, and as he drew near, she uncovered her face, revealing a sight that chilled him to the bone. Her eyes were absent, replaced by hollow, black voids. The sight was horrifying, and Izuku scrambled back, falling as his mother rose, her voice laced with accusation and a sinister echo of Venom's.

"You! I don't need a quirkless son. You've become a disgrace to our family. If it weren't for you, my husband would never have left, and I wouldn't be working to support such a burden," she accused, her finger pointed accusingly. Her words cut deep, each syllable a dagger to his heart. He couldn't endure it and began to cry, the air around him growing heavy, his heart constricting painfully.

"If you hadn't been born, I wouldn't have died on that fateful day, and I wouldn't regret having a son who's a burden to society, unable to fend for himself."

"No! That's not true! My mom would never say that. It's all lies!" he cried, his voice breaking as he fled the house. His legs felt like lead, and he found himself in the familiar yet empty corridors of his school.

"Hey, Deku!" a familiar voice called, and Izuku recognized it as Bakugo's. His face was equally eyeless, dark and menacing. Before he could react, Bakugo seized him by the collar and hurled him into the lockers.

"Want to be a hero? Jump off a roof and hope for a quirk in the next life," Bakugo sneered, launching into a vicious assault. Izuku fought back desperately, but the pain was relentless, the beating continuing until he was spitting blood, his nose streaming crimson.

"It disgusts me to see you and your fat mom. Do us all a favor and join her; spare us your stupid face and meaningless existence," Bakugo taunted. Izuku remained silent, unable to respond, rising to meet Bakugo's gaze, only to be struck down again, consciousness slipping away.

The cruel words of his mother and Bakugo echoed in his mind, and when he finally opened his eyes, he found himself on a playground where he and Nejire had once played. His head spun, his face a bruised and battered mess. In the distance, Nejire stood, eyeless and accusatory, her words a final blow to his spirit.

"I don't want to be friends with a quirkless freak like you. Get out of my life, you underdeveloped piece of society. Forget about being a hero; you'll never be one," she spat. Izuku crumpled to the ground, the only friend he cherished abandoning him, the one who had supported him at their first meeting now destroying him with harsh truths. Exhausted, he lay on the ground, eyes closing in defeat.

Unworthy

Underdeveloped

Quirkless

A waste of air

Pathetic shell

— Quirkless hero, how laughable

— Pathetic Deku

— You'll never be a hero without a quirk

— I'm sorry, but your son is quirkless

— Reckless idiot

The words reverberated in his mind, and he surrendered to them. The words of All Might and his mother's attempts to dissuade him from his heroic dreams echoed in his thoughts. As he opened his eyes, he saw Venom watching him.

"You're pathetic, Midoriya, and you always will be unless you accept me," Venom declared, showing him fragments of his life. Izuku watched, his gaze lowering as he fell to his knees before Venom.

"Face the truth. You've clung to an unattainable dream. You're willing to live a lie, denying the reality you know deep within. Even when you knew my illusions were false, you believed them," Venom accused.

"You're right," Izuku whispered, lifting his gaze to see Venom's cruel smile, laughter filling the void. Seeing Izuku's despair, Venom began to reveal the life he longed for. Witnessing his ideal life, Izuku broke down, unable to hold back the tears, and seeing himself happy, he collapsed, head bowed to the ground. The weight of it all was too much to bear.

He surrendered.

"You can cry all you want, but it won't change a thing, Midoriya," Venom taunted as Izuku began to sink into a pool of black slime, unable to move, descending into the abyss. Consumed by the symbiotic substance, Izuku uttered the words Venom had longed to hear.

"Please, stop," he begged, and Venom knew he had won. Izuku had accepted him, surrendered to the symbiote, and now nothing stood in the way of their fusion.

"Take my hand, and you'll gain power beyond your wildest dreams. When no one believed in you, I will. Even when your idol deemed you unworthy, I will tell you that you are worthy. When your friends turned away, I will stand by your side and become your ally. We don't need anyone else, no hero; we will become the heroes others fear and respect. We will have everything we desire," Venom offered, extending a symbiotic hand.

"Remember, there is only me and despair," Venom intoned ominously, watching Izuku. With his head lowered and hand outstretched, Izuku accepted Venom into his life. The symbiotic hand morphed into tendrils, slowly enveloping Izuku, feeding on his emotions. Starting at his hand, it wrapped around his torso, moving down to his feet, binding him tightly as black tendrils reached his head, encasing him completely. When Izuku opened his eyes, he saw himself in a black suit with a white emblem on his chest and large white eyes. He felt power coursing through his veins, a sensation unlike any other, exhilarating and indescribable.

In the real world.

Izuku stood atop a skyscraper, suspended upside down on a symbiotic tendril, his reflection staring back at him. He was clad in the symbiotic suit. (Notably, it bore resemblance to Spider-Man's symbiotic suit). He scrutinized the suit, feeling an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

"Where am I?"

To be continued.