Tear Jerker / Thieves Can Be Heroes!

As a Fusion Fic between a world where "Not all men are created equal" with Quirk-based Favortism plus an apathetically corrupt Tokyo that puts Izuku through the ringer before entering Shujin Academy this page is all but guaranteed.

Moments pages are Spoilers Off. All spoilers below are unmarked. You Have Been Warned.

Chapter 1

• Izuku's dream of becoming a Hero, which was already an outlandish prospect as a Quirkless teen, becomes all but impossible once he obtained a criminal record for doing what should have ostensibly been a heroic act. This is what hurt Izuku more than anything.

Chapter 2

• Izuku's situation is so hopeless that even Igor can't help but pity him for it, causing Izuku to wince at the reminder of his Quirklessness.
  Igor: You truly are a 'prisoner' of fate. Being born Quirkless in a world full of wonderful powers, I would say that this idea applies quite well to you.
• The fact that Izuku is never going to become a Hero truly begins to sink in once Izuku runs out into the middle of traffic to watch All Might leap across the rooftops. Even Sojiro, who tried to make it clear that he doesn't particularly care about the boy, can't help but feel for Izuku's plight.
  Izuku: [grinning after watching All Might jump by] S-so cool... I actually got to see him...
  Sojiro: [chuckling] Careful, kid. You'll drool at this point. Didn't realize you were such a huge All Might fan. Though maybe it's normal for kids your age to look up to that guy.
  Izuku: [excitedly] Of course! All Might is amazing in every sense of the word! Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to be a Hero just like... just like... [his grin slowly falls as reality sets in] Oh... right...
  Sojiro: [internally as they get back into the car and drive off] Poor kid.
• He finally admits the fact while trying to work out in his room as all of the abuses and torment he's had over the years flashes through his mind.
  Izuku couldn't push his way through this situation like his bullying or his classes. None of those things had stolen his chance of achieving his dream. It was like being told he was Quirkless again for the first time. Izuku couldn't keep fooling himself.
  He could never be a hero.

Chapter 5

• Izuku learns that someone had leaked his criminal record to the student body, causing them to avoid him out of fear and misunderstanding when he hadn't even arrived at school yet.
  Makoto: I... I saw the posting of your criminal record... I couldn't believe that the sweetest kid I've ever known had somehow... ended up with an assault charge...
  Izuku: I-It's complicated... [looks down with dread] B-but what I really wanna know is... how did it get out? Why would someone... do that to me? [begins to tear up]

Chapter 8

• Shiho is just utterly broken after revealing that Kamoshida was using her for sexual favors in exchange for keeping her on the volleyball team. Izuku is utterly horrified, but his own mixed feelings of anger, disgust, hatred, and grief overwhelmed him, causing Shiho to believe he was disgusted with her, proving to be the final straw that pushes her over the edge.
  Izuku: I-it will! Y-you just have to tell them about the abuse... tell them about everything and he’ll be done!
  Shiho: Everything? [stares at Izuku with Dull Eyes of Unhappiness] If I did that, then... everyone would know. Would know that yesterday, he... touched me. Everywhere.
  Izuku: [grimaces in horror and disgust] N-no... he... he touched you... He went that far...?
  Shiho: You see? Even you look at me with those eyes of disgust. They would all look at me the same way... I guess it’s another thing I won’t have to deal with, right?
  Izuku: [realizing what he said] N-no! S-Suzui-senpai, I’m not...
  Shiho: Goodbye, Midoriya-san... tell Ann I’m sorry.
  Izuku: [screaming] SUZUI-SENPAI!
• Izuku fails to keep Shiho from attempting suicide, nearly breaking his own fingers as he tried to reach out to her through the fence. Ryuji and Morgana can only hear him scream in anguish as they raced to the roof, finding Izuku on his knees as tears streamed down his face.
  Izuku: I-I-I... I'm s-s-sorry... I-I... I-I c-couldn't save her...

Chapter 14

• Ann offers Izuku to accompany her to visit Shiho before they send the calling card to Kamoshida. Izuku agrees, but he still wracked with guilt over failing to save her. After Ann says some brief words to a comatose Shiho, Izuku gets his turn and he just breaks down.
  Izuku: I'm so sorry...[chokes up and starts sobbing uncontrollably] I'm so sorry I couldn't save you! I-I-I should have done more! I should have acted faster! I-I keep thinking of what I could have done differently a-and what I said up there! I messed up so badly, I-[takes a deep breath and his face changes into one of conviction] B-But I won't let that be the end of it...we're going to make Kamoshida pay for what he's done. To you, to the track team, to Ann-sempai, to Ryuji-sempai...we're not going to let him get away with it! I promise you...[takes Shiho's hand]So please...please wake up soon...and smile once this is all over. Okay?[Gives a large teary-eyed grin]

Chapter 17

• Futaba watches Izuku hug his mom over and over with longing, wishing that she could do that with her own mother even when she knows that such a thing will never happen.
• Izuku spills the beans to Makoto, who initially takes the revelation well, but the two break into an argument about the morality of the Thieves' actions since they brainwashed Kamoshida into doing the right thing. He knows it's wrong and admits that he never wanted things to be like this, but at the same time doesn't want to stop after seeing all over the people he's helped who would have otherwise fallen through the cracks of the Hero-filled society they live in. While Makoto agrees to keep his secret, she's clearly cross with him over it and Izuku is left feeling guilty and hopeless.

Chapter 30

• All Might blames himself for creating the Phantom Thieves, believing that his failure to inspire both authority figures and police officers along with not being there to save them led Izuku and the others to take drastic actions. The fact that his injury is cutting his Hero career short is also making him extremely depressed, which he hides behind a cheerful mask in an effort to continue inspiring the masses.

Chapter 34

• Eri makes her first appearance here and for a very short time, she did enjoy her time with Izuku and Sojiro. Unfortunately, Overhaul himself went to retrieve her and she was clearly scared to go back to him. Mirio who was passing by then rules in favor of the adoptive father and both Izuku and Sojiro were both angry and helpless to stop this from happening.

Chapter 41

• Shadow Chisaki's Villainous Breakdown continues. He's initially stubborn and refuses to see the error of his ways, which makes making his Change of Heart stick difficult. It isn't until Izuku and Bakugou start bluffing and Yusuke suggests they destroy his hands that Shadow Chisaki breaks down crying and pathetically begging, saying he needs his hands to heal the matriarch.
• When talking with Izuku, Kawakami inadvertently rubs in how his dream of going to U.A. has been ruined, though she realizes her mistake quickly and apologizes.

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