Izuku was born with a powerful, yet unusual quirk. It's called "Verbatim", which allows him to permanently replicate the quirks of anyone he chooses simply by touch. However, he is not allowed to use his quirk because under quirk law, it would be considered theft to do so. Bitter, Izuku develops a rebellious streak, but this doesn't stop him from becoming a hero.
Switch The Colors is a My Hero Academia/In Famous Second Son fanfic by Micromanaged417. The fic can be read on Archive of Our Own here
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This fanfic provides examples of:
- Adaptation Personality Change: In canon, Izuku could best be described as Badass Adorable; an altruist who wishes to be the next symbol of peace. This version of Izuku is much more cynical and sarcastic, routinely defacing All Might's billboards with graffiti and throwing shade at other people. Sure he's still very much hero material, but he's far from the idealist his canon-counterpart was.
- Bad Powers, Good People: Copy Quirks have developed a reputation in society for being a quirk for weaklings, cowards and thieves, certain laws put in place to keep Izuku from actually using "Verbatim" under the pretense of it being "theft". This can also apply to the quirks that Izuku gains along the way, both his Smoke and Neon powers having been taken from villains he has encountered. With that said, Izuku still aspires to be a pro-hero regardless.
- Famed In-Story: Izuku ends up developing a Banksy-esque identity as "The Might", having created some rather popular street art at the expense of a few All Might billboards.
- In Spite of a Nail:
- Despite how radically different this version of Izuku is, All Might still encounters him and decides to give him "One For All".
- Bakugo still hates Izuku, but while in canon it was for his quirklessness and whatever "undeserved cockiness" he had in spite of this, here it's because of his "copycat" quirk.
- Fusion Fic: Switch The Colors isn't so much a Crossover of My Hero Academia/inFAMOUS as it is a My Hero Academia fic with elements of inFAMOUS loosely applied. Izuku acts as a setting equivalent to Delsin Rowe who gets his smoke powers from a random, runaway villainess and his Neon Powers from a random mook at the USJ with a backstory similar to Fetch's.
- Power Copying: Izuku's quirk "Verbatim" works the same as Delsin Rowe's Power Absorption ability, allowing him to replicate another person's quirk by touch, and can even glimpse into that person's memories while in contact.
- Smoking Is Cool: As part of his rebellious phase, Izuku had taken up smoking. After he receives his smoke-quirk, cigarettes no longer have a physiologically negative effect on him and it increases his power reserves, allowing him to switch to his smoke quirk at full capacity.
