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sparrowhero · 1 year

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Special Ch.1

Tomura Shigaraki x Quirkless! Reader

Starts one year prior to the events of the series, Shigaraki lacks 'something' that he can't find on his own, and he finds that in you. A companion, a friend, and one day...something more. For now, though, you're more than content to coexist. CONTAINS POTENTIAL MANGA SPOILERS! Read at your own risk!

All For One rarely makes mistakes. Even the tiniest of setbacks can scarcely be called ‘mistakes’ in his mind, for they are rarely irreparable. Everything done by design, to the smallest detail, is what he excels in. Tomura Shigaraki, his poetic masterpiece, is obviously included in this. However, he understands the good doctor Garaki’s intentions when they meet up for one of his ‘assessments.’

“He’s got issues. Nobody is going to follow him like this if all he cares about is destruction.” Dr. Garaki intones as he turns away from the screen, displaying the teenage Shigaraki from a few days ago. All For One knows that the doctor will follow him near unconditionally, and with regards to that loyalty, will say the truths that others under his command would falter. Perhaps it’s the decades-long relationship between them, not to mention the complicated history of scientific procedures, that allows for this near equal relationship. All For One taps his index finger on the desk, knowing that Dr. Garaki has a suggested solution.

“Get him a companion. Not like Kurogiri– A real one, someone his age.” Dr. Garaki elaborates. All For One has kept the young man isolated for a reason, to mold his anger, cultivate his hatred into a fine work of art– but he lacks the finer social skills, the striking charisma that he has. He’s admittedly assumed that it would come in time, with his careful guidance, but if Dr. Garaki is bringing it up, the idea must have merit.

“We still have some spares from the Nomu ingredients. I’ll give you a list that you can pick out that you’d think would be suitable for curbing some of that temper of his.” Dr. Garaki hands a list of the surviving teenagers, fitted with pictures and brief descriptions of skills and personality, to him. He’s spoken to most of them personally, built up rapport, but there are a few names on there that he isn’t familiar with yet. Ever the overachiever, that doctor. Surely it won’t be hard to find him someone of a good temperament that Shigaraki would mesh with?

How quickly do such thoughts prove themselves wrong in the end.

Shigaraki only nearly kills one of those chosen for him (It was mostly an accident…An attempt to intimidate gone a little too far), but the rest of them have the opposite effect of what he and the doctor intend. His red eyes glare at whoever is introduced to him, and he snaps at the slightest inclination of someone infringing on what is his, on his place. He always finds something to complain about and those who do end up beside him become underlings, something crushed under his will– Not the kind of relationship he’s looking for Shigaraki to cultivate. It cannot be true equality, of course, as there has to be loyalty to Shigaraki and his orders– but he has enough of a yes man and caretaker in Kurogiri. Shigaraki needs someone to challenge his beliefs in his own solidarity.

The solution to this is admittedly very simple, so much so that it causes a soft laugh to escape. Of course, of course! He’s been choosing those he interacts with for him, based on his own criteria, rather than factoring in Shigaraki’s personal tastes. He doesn’t necessarily need a hyper-competent companion. Nodding in satisfaction, he sends the amended list towards Shigaraki through fax, and asks him to choose who he’d like.

Shigaraki, blurry from the screen, takes a look at the printed list. All For One waits patiently. There have been enough mishaps, no need to rush things. It’s a good sign that Shigaraki’s red eyes focus, flitting down and across the pages. The shaggy blue hair that covers his eyes obscures most of his face like this, but his body language is the same as it’s always been whenever he takes on a task: stiff and hunched over, with only a couple of fingers to flip through. Eventually, he points to a portrait on the last page, one that was added at the last minute. As always, his pupil is full of surprises.

“I see, I see.” He intones over the speaker, curiously going over your file. “Are you sure?”

Shigaraki just barely nods his head with an affirmative grunt.

“This one doesn’t look as stupid as the rest of them.” The bland response is more or less expected as there’s no other identifying information, just a name and a face. A spark of interest is all that he needs, as well as the fun little surprise that he’d get when they met.

Perhaps even ‘blanks’ have their uses?

–

You owe everything to him. Life on the streets was hard, but the orphanage was what saved you. You can still remember the gentle hands of the benefactor. You never learned his name, but his hands were warmer than anything that you’d ever felt. Food. Shelter. A place to call home– Fuck, he gave you a purpose to live on. You’d do just about anything for him, so obviously, when the doctor called you in, you were bursting with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

“We have someone we’d like you to meet. He’s a difficult, immature child, but I trust you to do what you’ve been entrusted with.”

Dr. Garaki makes a dismissing gesture towards the mass of fog and black mist that materialized seemingly out of nowhere. You’re a little shocked, having never seen this before, but you don’t let it show on your face. A distinguished voice echoes out from inside of it, or perhaps…maybe this mass of darkness is the voice.

“Hello.” He’s the epitome of manners and class; you’re sure that if he were in a more physical form, he’d be bowing at a perfect angle. “My name is Kurogiri. I’ve been instructed to escort you. Are you fully prepared?” His glowing yellow eyes flicker as he waits for your answer.

You nod. It’s not like you have much to your name outside of the clothes on your back and small overnight bag of essentials. He humbly invites you to take a step inside of him, reassuring you in the same lofty voice that absolutely no harm would come to you. Despite not really wanting to do so, you take a deep breath and step inside. It’s not unpleasant like you expected. A strange feeling covers your entire body, but it’s neither cold nor hot, physical but also your hands seem to faze through. He advises you to take a step forward, as you’ve reached your destination. The entire interaction couldn’t have taken more than a few seconds, but as you step out from the darkness and into the dimly lit room, you’re definitely nowhere near your previous destination.

It’s some kind of dive bar, but the interior is clean and well-taken care of. You’ve been in and around enough of them to know one when you see one. Kurogiri is behind the bar now, and you can get a better look at him. He wasn’t joking about you being inside– what was visible outside of the dapper bartending outfit is the same material that took you here.

“I will inform Shigaraki of your arrival. Please, feel free to have a seat.” He politely inclines towards a bar stool before disappearing up the stairs.

Tomura Shigaraki. You haven’t heard his name before, but you remember some of the whispers around the orphanage about the director’s beloved protege. You know that Dr. Garaki is not one to mince words, and ‘difficult child’ could mean a hundred different things– you just know that part of the reason you were chosen is because you’re basically the same age.

Footsteps reach your ear, and you turn to look at Kurogiri,who has just returned, and the young man who would, unknown to you, become your destiny.

Your first thought about him is that he’s skinny and his posture is bad. His hair hasn’t been brushed, or if it has, he’s done a half-assed job of it, and his expression is completely unreadable due to the pale hand covering the majority of his face outside of a sharp, red eye. A slightly raspy voice comes out muffled from behind it.

“This them?” He asks Kurogiri first, rather than address you. Kurogiri’s misty form shimmers as he nods. Shigaraki hums and aims his gaze back at you. “Stand up.”

You raise an eyebrow, but do as he says, and he starts to circle you like a cat. Shigaraki gives you the up-down, but it’s not creepy. Well, that’s a lie– it kind of is, but it’s not the kind you’d normally expect when someone asks you to let them take a good look at you. He’s analytical.

“What’s your name?”

You answer dutifully, watching him as he watches you. There’s tension as the both of you take the other in. As much as he seems like your typical shut-in at first glance, you can feel the danger on him.

“Quirk?” He asks immediately. Nothing like going straight to the point.

“I don’t have one.” You answer back simply. There’s neither a hint of apology nor shame in your voice. “I thought you knew.”

Immediately, he stops. Not being able to see his expression doesn’t mean that you can’t read the surprise from his body language. He takes an exaggerated, deep sigh.

“What the hell, man?” Shigaraki asks, as if to no one in particular. “This is like rolling for a rare character but coming back with nothing but materials.”

The gamer lingo goes slightly over your head, but you can tell it’s nothing good. It doesn’t matter in the end; this treatment is what you’ve gotten all your life. You can’t lie, it hurts getting it from the beloved pupil of someone you respect, but Dr. Garaki’s words ring loud and clear in your head. This is a test.

“Do you have any uses?” He asks pointedly, regaining your attention. Shigaraki seems a little irritated that you spaced out for a moment, and points a finger at you rudely.

“That’s for you to find out.”

He growls. “I can’t stand smartasses.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The air stills between the two of you as the tension from before rises.

“What the hell does some quirkless nobody think they can do? Shouldn’t you be cozy at home getting protected by heroes?” His questions sarcastically, his chin lifting in the air in a patronizing manner. “If you’re just going to get in the way, then just go home. I hate posers even more than I hate heroes.”

Ah, he’s challenging you. That’s probably why the others left.

“Do you wanna find out?” You ask, fishing into your pocket and pulling out a shiny, metallic yo-yo. His eyes flicker towards it, and you know you’ve piqued his interest. You do a couple of warm-up tricks in the bar, the yo-yo in your practiced hands practically comes alive.

“What’s with that toy? Do you think I’m some sort of kid–” He starts out, but immediately hops back when the yo-yo flies towards his face faster than it reasonably should have. Shigaraki can feel the force behind it, and his eyes widen when you angle the string and it changes trajectory right back to him. He avoids it and tries to grab it, but it’s just out of his reach as you pull it back cheekily.

His eyes shine maliciously.

“Not bad… Are you serious right now?” His hands flex dangerously at his sides, his stance lowering. You voice your affirmations while toying with the yo-yo in your hands. “Fine. If you impress me, I’ll let you stay. But…” He lunges forward with a feral kind of ferocity. “Don’t get mad if I kill you, okay?”

Hand-to-hand combat is what you shine in. You’re dextrous; something that’s saved your life. Shigaraki isn’t a slouch, though. You know instinctively that you ought to avoid his hands, since he keeps trying to grab you, or your yo-yo– whichever he can get his hands on first. He really doesn’t care if he kills you, his intent rolls off of his body in waves.

What are his weak points? You explore with your fists, your feet, and your yo-yo. THe only time he’s even slightly flinched is when you nearly hit him in the face. Neither of you have hit the other yet, though not for not trying. Shigaraki grabs your jacket, and you use the momentum to throw him to the ground with it. However, it only half-works since it’s dissolved in his grip faster than you thought possible. You make a mental note of his quirk, but the shock isn’t enough to make you fuck up this one chance as he knocks into the bar.

The steel yo-yo slices through the air and just barely misses him– taking some hair with it, but leaving a large crack in the countertop. It continues spinning, digging itself into the stone and denting some of the metal structures. While he focuses on that, you leap over at him, and the two of you tussle, rolling on the floor as you keep his hands away from you and he tries his damnedest to kill you. Eventually, you end up on top, both of his hands pinned above his head and the two of you breathing heavily in a sort of stalemate. Silence overtakes you both for a few moments.

“I hate…what you hate.” You breathe out. There’s no real way else to communicate the depth of your resolve, the depth of the same anger and hurt that stews inside of you at the state of true rot around you. A place where the only value you have is how much your quirk is worth and if it can paint a pretty picture to sell. The director promised you that he would bring about a better world, one where people like you aren’t abandoned. If Shigaraki truly embodies his will…then hopefully he can understand you.

He stares at you long and hard from between the ghastly, pale fingers, but you feel a flicker of recognition when he hears your statement. Then, he turns his head towards the bar where Kurogiri still stood, taking in the damage to the bar. “Kurogiri, is the other room upstairs ready?” He asks.

“Of course.”

“Fine. Show them the way.” Shigaraki addresses you once more. “You. Get the hell off of me. You’re heavy.” He orders, and you cautiously, carefully lift your body up from on top of him, and he, in turn, doesn’t immediately try to disintegrate you. He stands up in a huff and dusts himself off.

“I guess you can stay, so long as you don’t get in the way.” You nod, and turn around, but Shigaraki suddenly grips your arm with four fingers. Immediately turning around, you inhale sharply as he points to his face…or rather, the hand on his face.

“I saw you going for this. Let me give you a bit of advice…Don’t ever try that again, or I’lll kill you for real.” He hisses in your ear, and gives your wrist one more warning squeeze as a little goodbye present.

“...Understood.” You nod, and he seems satisfied at the cold chill he gives you.

“My room is right across from yours. Don’t make too much noise, don’t bug me with irrelevant shit, and don’t bring anyone over unless you think they’re going to be useful. You’re on your own when it comes to food. Bathroom’s upstairs.” Shigaraki gives you a bland run-through of his rules as he walks upstairs, unbothered by the slight chaos of the bar around him. He gives you one last, lingering stair as you apologize to Kurogiri about the bar.

You’re weird.

But you’re the unofficial first ‘party member.’

#bnha x reader #mha x reader #tomura shigaraki x reader #shigaraki x reader #special series #gender neutral reader #shigaraki tomura x reader #the first chapter originally had them interacting more but i think it's best broken up like this

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