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Silence. Silence engulfed the graveyard, the place of the dead, of the forgotten. How else would it be?
In front of a mossy gravestone, a figure clothed in black stood with their hands in their pockets, gazing below, reading the not-quite visible words from the old stone.
Even though the full moon was shining upon the place, leaving its light on grass and statues, it seemed as if the figure was see-through, as no light hit them, only went through.
As if there was no one there at all.
And from the cloudless sky a bird -- no, a crow -- flies down to land upon the figure’s outstretched hand.
Gently, gracefully, simple in a way like in the stories.
It lands, chirps softly to no one in particular, until the figure that was still gazing down, suddenly turns their head, hood and all, raises their other hand, and gingerly pest the crow’s head.
“Thank you for the information, my friend.” Izuku says, because if it were not for the crows’ and ravens’ help, he’d be very tired everyday. But alas, with this new information, he can begin his next mission. Well, not really a mission, more like a hobby, something he does everyday as usual, something he likes.
“Of course, my Lord,” The crow bows its head, a silent act of respect, secretly teasing.
“Oh stop it, just call me Izuku, already.” He laughs, knowing how playful the birds are, and loving them nonetheless for it. Unlike the time when he was still alive, and didn’t have this job (which he loves, mind you) ‘playfulness’ was not so…
You know…
But anyways.
“I should finish this one quickly, it seems… a sad sight, in a way. To lose yourself so wholly to anger and revenge.” He sighs, before taking a step back from the gravestone and turning around, crow still latched to his shadowed fingers.
“Sad sight indeed, my Lord.” The crow replies, bowing its head only a fraction.
Izuku hums, walking out of the graveyard, letting the crow fly away, free from its duties, and beginning his journey to Kamino, singing softly under his breath; a song his mother would sing when he was still with her, when he was still a child, and the world seemed perfect.
It didn"t take long to find the hideout, considering it was in plain sight, only visible to those who knew where to look and invisible to those who were ignorant.
He walked through the door, taking a moment to admire the bar inside and its state, which was clean, might he add, without considering the three mortals in silence. The one who was cleaning a glass, obviously the bartender, a young adult, and-- oh, seems like Kacchan has been captured. Not that he didn"t know, he still follows the news however he can.
But the young adult looks so angry, so hateful; looks like he’s waiting for someone to arrive. Probably more of his buddies.
Ah, what a pitiful sight, his crow would have agreed with him.
Walking past the three towards the door at the back of the room, (unacknowledged, because he was not there, for them at least) he walked through the door, and down the creaking stairs, even though they did not creak when he walked onto them.
This whole place was dark, old, and dusty. It wasn’t very well looked after, simply… forgotten about.
How poetic. Wow.
Nonetheless, Izuku walks through a door one last time, and comes to stand in front of the man himself. Er, except the man was sat down and connected to all sorts of tubes. Yet another sad sight.
He sighs. Even though he’s used to seeing things like this, it never really stops being…
Hmm, how would one say it? Pitiful. What a waste. .
Him and his empathetic heart, his mother used to say.
Ah well, whatever, he has a job to do.
“All for One.” he speaks, suddenly corporeal, able to be seen, but only by this man, who seems capable of hiding his flinch rather well, he must commend. He"s still a human, bad guy and all, of course he’d still flinch.
“Who are you?” he answers just as politely, which is nice, given most people always start by attacking him or sounding fearful, which can get annoying sometimes, especially with the fact his voice sounds more like wind and whispers, or something. At least that"s what that one human said. She was quite interesting.
“I am Death.” He introduces himself the same to all mortals he takes care of. Names are quite important. The effect they have once spoken is important, and why not name himself after what he truly is? Makes more sense to him.
“Ah,” All for One says, “So have you come to take my soul?”
That earns him a chuckle. All the myths and scary bedtime stories are so full of bullshit.
“Something similar,” he replies, “As much as I’d like to stay and talk, I’m kind of busy. Though I"m sure you understand.”
He starts walking towards the man, scythe already summoned and everything, when he’s interrupted by laughter.
“You really think you can fool me? As amusing as whatever you think you are, I"d advise you to leave immediately, or I"ll kill you myself.” All for One says, sounding bored. Bored!
And isn"t that annoying? Izuku stops walking, sighs, pinches the bridge of his nose, breathes in, breathes out. Like those therapy sessions he stalked often would say.
Not everyone ever believes when he says he’s Death, either take him for a fool or mock him. Well, everyone but the elderly, who have accepted death already. They simply know . And it"s very interesting each time, makes it a lot easier too.
He doesn"t have enough patience for this however, this man has succumbed to hatred and anger so much, it looks like he really thinks he’s above mortals. He"s arrogant too, which is a pain in the ass.
Izuku resumes walking, even when the villain uses some deadly quirks against him only to see they do absolutely nothing then starts to panic.
He doesn"t say anything as he reaches him, or when he raises his weapon, or when he cuts his head right off, or when he sends his poor soul to the place where souls go, which must be unspoken of.
Neither when he comes back up to the bar to find new occupants talking with the hero-in-training, trying to convince him to become a villain, which might be the most foolish thing he’s seen so far. That boy will never become a villain, not with his determination and ‘good heart’, as he once heard one of his teachers describe him.
Whatever, his job is done, he will not interfere with these mortals’ stupid squabbles, it’s not his place to.
But he really really wants to, to see how they’ll react, to see what they’ll do.
Plus, it"s really fun spooking them, he giggles.
He takes one look at everyone, settles himself among the villains and in front of Kacchan, and lets himself be seen.
If he’s being honest, it’s quite amusing watching them get startled and try to immediately kill him, only to have absolutely no effect, because, after all, you can"t kill what"s already dead.
“Terrible fools.” he tells them, a hint of pitying and mocking in his tone, which serves to make them even more angry, even the hostage. He giggles once more, which makes Kacchan’s eyes widen and his body tremble. Oops, looks like he realised something, not like he’ll be believed anyway.
However, it looks like he has his next client, and he has to go now.
He waves half-heartedly, then walks casually through a wall and floats towards the ground onto the street, letting himself be invisible once more.
It doesn’t matter.
Because at the end of the day, their time is ticking, but Izuku’s is not.
Not anymore.