Regressor!Izuku Midoriya x Caregiver!Katsuki Bakugo
Echoes of SHIMMER---Chapter One
This is an idea that came to me after watching Arcane and then watching MHA Season 1 for the first time. I was already familiar with some of the characters, having seen them in artworks before, but then I started the season and I feel obliged to create agere content following it.
This AU ultimately remains the same except for the fact regressors are known and the incorporation of Arcane subplots/plot devices.
@egotank I adhered, I've tagged you my interpretation of the request!
You don't have to know about Arcane to read this story, the main concept is explained this first chapter!
CONTENT WARNING:
Drug Usage and Addiction [Shimmer]
Physical and Mental Health deterioration [effects from Shimmer and Izuku's struggles]
Bullying and Judgement [Katsuki's nicknames for others and lack of understanding to those desperate for Shimmer]
Emotional Distress, Fear, Trauma, and PTSD [Izuku doesn't want Katsuki injured and Izuku's history with Shimmer]
Conflict and Aggression [Verbal altercation between Katsuki and Kyoka]
Vulgar Language [Swearing will be involved]
If there are any other warnings you believe should be on this list, please let me know! I want to make sure people know what they are delving into.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
In a world filled with superheroes patrolling the streets and age-regression a common worldwide phenomenon, one might expect a society built on empathy and protection—a world safer and kinder than any before it. However, reality rarely aligns with expectations. The existence of quirks created new heights of power but also depths of inequality, and age-regression, despite the understanding of vulnerability, did not receive universal compassion. Those who regress were often met with mixed reactions between support and judgment, treated as either fragile treasures or burdens to be managed.
The belief that these powers and systems would create an entirely safe world proved naïve. Not all heroes were as noble as they appeared, the promise of safety a lie upon the power-hungry outbursts. While heroes were busy protecting civilians and teaching teenagers to become pro heroes, a dangerous, covert industry thrived in the shadows of poorer districts—Shimmer, a synthetic drug designed to grant superhuman abilities, usually at a devastating cost, was produced and sold in hushed corners, preying on those forgotten, quirkless, or surviving in poverty.
The underground Shimmer trade was meant to be a forgotten part of Izuku Midoriya's past—a nightmare buried beneath layers of fear and silence. However, has anything gone right in his life? Whispers of the drug had begun circulating again, murmurs of its reappearance in districts not far from U.A. High School. What had once been a desperate attempt to grant power to the powerless had evolved into a thriving illicit market. News reports spoke of sudden surges of crime, with suspects displaying unnatural physical abilities with bulging purple veins.
At U.A., Principal Nezu informed the teachers to warn the students about the circulation of Shimmer and recommend them to remain on campus grounds and stay alert with a group if they decide to venture. Aizawa wasn't impressed, more asleep than anything against Yamada from patrolling the previous night. A quick and cheerful goodbye from Yamada made him sigh as he begrudgingly walked to his classroom.
The classroom was unusually silent, a tension hanging in the air as Aizawa entered the room. He knew that the students of the academy knew about the recent revelation of Shimmer. His tired eyes swept over the students, ensuring he had their attention bar the exception of a few regressors doing their own thing. He sighed before speaking.
"Listen up," he began, his voice low and firm. "There's been an increase in activity related to a substance called Shimmer. I'm sure some of you have heard rumours about it, but let me make this clear—it's not just another street drug. It's a synthetic substance that grants superhuman abilities to anyone, quirked or quirkless, for a limited time. The cost? Your body, your sanity, or your life."
The students exchanged uneasy glances, murmurs rippling through the room. It was obvious they were more nervous than before. Aizawa held up a hand, effectively silencing them.
"Shimmer isn't new," he continued. "It's been around for decades, circulating in the black market and evolving, preying on the desperate—those who feel powerless in a society built around quirks. The recent cause for concern is that recent reports suggest its making it's way into areas where it hasn't been seen before, including ones close to U.A. Some of you may think this doesn't concern you. You're wrong."
Aizawa's gaze sharpened, narrowing his eyes as his tone turned colder. "Villains have used Shimmer to enhance their abilities, and even civilians, primarily those quirkless, have turned to it. The consequences are catastrophic. Enhanced strength, speed, or quirks might seem like an easy solution, but the drug destroys you from the inside out. Organs fail, tumor growths on the body, minds break, and for most users, there's no coming back."
Katsuki snorted from his seat, rolling his eyes as he leaned back against his seat with his arms crossed. "Sounds like it really only affects the quirkless losers trying to find shortcuts into becoming a hero." He looked at Izuku, who was sitting at his desk playing with his fingers nervously while staring fearfully at Aizawa. He sneered at him and looked back to the front. "Damn wannabes.."
Aizawa's eyes narrowed at him. "And should one of those prescribed 'losers' attack someone you care about while hopped up on Shimmer? Or perhaps a friend turns to it, believing there are no alternative options? Power doesn't make people immune to desperation, Bakugo. You'd do well to remember that."
He sighed while the room fell silent, Katsuki grumbling to himself as he remained quiet.
"Shimmer isn't just a threat because of the people who use it. It's because of what it represents," Aizawa continued. "The gaps in society—the cracks people fall through when quirks don't solve their problems. You're training to be heroes, and that means protecting everyone, not just those who fit into neat little categories. This isn't just a lesson; it's a warning. Stay vigilant. If you see or hear anything related or involving Shimmer, report it immediately. That last thing we need is one of your asses getting involved and suffering from it. That's all for now, I'll be back, I have to report this back to Principal Nezu."
Upon the conclusion of Aizawa's speech, the room buzzed with hushed voices. However, Izuku sat rigid in his chair, his hands trembling slightly before he clambered underneath his desk. It was common for him to hide whenever he regressed, the class and Aizawa had learnt that pretty early on. It never stopped Aizawa from being concerned and attempting to speak to him about his fear. He pulled his legs up to his chest, burrowing his head into them to escape the reality that Shimmer had been revived from the dead. His eyes flickered between green and purple as he whimpered quietly to himself, hoping none of his other classmates heard him.
As Aizawa disappeared from the room, the tension and curiosity lingered like a fog. Most of the class huddled into small groups, whispering about the Shimmer and its potential dangers, sharing their own thoughts about the drug. Katsuki, however, remained in his seat, an irritated scowl plastered on his face.
"It's just a damn drug," he muttered, loud enough for a few people to overhear. "Weaklings use it because they're too pathetic to get strong on their own and the quirkless want to replicate a quirk for themselves."
Kyoka, who had been leaning on her desk and chatting with Mina, turned her head sharply. "You're unbelievable, Bakugo. Did you not hear what Aizawa just said? It's not just about the people using it, it's what pushes them to that point."
Katsuki snorted, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Oh, I heard it loud and clear. It doesn't change the fact that anyone who takes it is just asking for their own destruction. If they're too weak and useless to handle life without shortcuts, that's on them."
"That's rich coming from someone who acts like being strong is the only thing that matters. Not everyone has the same advantages as you, Bakugo. You have a powerful quirk that can protect you from so much, what about the people who don't?" Kyoka replied, straightening up, her eyes flashing with annoyance.
The room went quiet, the other students turning to watch the brewing argument. Kirishima noticed Izuku's trembling figure underneath the desk, watching the argument with fear. "Guys... maybe you should knock it off," He interjected, trying to de-escalate the situation. "This isn't the time to be arguing, you're scari—"
"Stay out of it, Shitty Hair!" Katsuki barked, standing abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "You think I don't get it? You think I've had everything handed to me? I've worked for every damn thing I've got, and I'm not gonna sit here and pretend like people who take the easy way out deserve sympathy!"
Kyoka didn't back down, stepping closer to him. "It's not about sympathy, it's about understanding! Not everyone has the luxury of working their way up like you did. Some people are desperate, some don't see another way!"
The two were nose-to-nose now, voices rising with every word. Around them, the class murmured nervously, some suggesting to find Aizawa.
"What, you think I'm supposed to feel sorry for them? For people who screw themselves over and then cry about it?" Katsuki glared, his gaze fixed on Kyoka who had the same amount of fiery determination and passion.
"Maybe you should!" Kyoka shot back. "Maybe if you stop acting like the whole world is some contest, you'd actually understand what Aizawa was talking about!"
Underneath his desk, Izuku sat frozen. His heart pounded as the argument grew louder, the intensity of their voices forcing him to cover his ears. The flickering in his eyes started again—green to purple, purple to green—his mind breaking itself to understand the difference between his classmates and villains. The Shimmer had appeared and he was fighting for control that wouldn't come easily.
And then it happened. Katsuki's voice hit a sharp crescendo and Izuku moved without thinking. He scrambled from underneath the desk as he stood, his legs unsteady but his resolve ironclad;
Katsuki was in DANGER.
