Chapter Text
It starts like this: There’s a library a few blocks down run by a lady whose quirk is called Akashic Lite. It gives her a pocket dimension filled with exactly one copy of every book ever written. There’s a special door installed in the library that connects to her quirk and any books removed from the pocket dimension automatically return themselves after seventy-two hours.
Izuku Midoriya is eight years old. He has passed the point of attempting dangerous stunts to awaken a quirk he’s come to accept he doesn’t have. He has also studied enough history to know that the earliest heroes predated quirks by centuries.
He lives in an urban area, so he can’t exactly go treating with the fae or off on a shamanistic spirit journey. He cycles through a number of ancient religions before coming to the conclusion that none of the old gods are willing to acknowledge him. What he can find on sorcery is inconsistent at best, and none of it really works for him anyway. His attempt to learn Onmyodo is objectively a disaster, but he makes his first friend in years (he’s still not sure if she’s got a fox quirk or if she’s an actual kitsune though) so he calls that one a win. The book with an eye on the cover whispered of power, but Izuku was smart enough not to read anything that looked like it could read him back.
Which brings us to the present.
Izuku had checked out the latest set of books a couple days ago. The ritual he was currently preparing was from one of them, supposedly a streamlined version of the basic summoning ritual that brought forth his best match. He wasn’t stupid – quite the opposite – and this seemed like the sort of thing that might only work once, so going with his best shot was probably a good idea.
And then he was done, and then starting, and the circle was lighting up green, and then as he finished, the entire thing lit up with crimson flames. When the fire faded, there, standing in the middle of the circle was a pretty blonde woman.
“Hi, what’s your name?”
“I’m Charlie. Who are you?”
The books had mentioned use names, that giving away your real name could be as dangerous as your True Name. That the more people who associated your use name with you, the more protection it gave you. It made sense, it was like a Hero Name. “Call me Deku.”
“Hello Deku, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too Charlie!”
The demoness looked around the room for a bit. “So, what can I help you with Deku?”
“Oh, well, I’d like a quirk please?”
“…You’re going to need to explain that a bit more.”
“Oh!” he flushed and shrank in on himself. “You see, I’m quirkless.”
“Um, what exactly do you mean by ‘quirk?’”
And suddenly Deku was bright and vibrant again. For the next hour.
“So basically a quirk is a unique power everyone has except you and you want one?”
“Yep!”
“Alright, yeah. Power, I can do that. And in exchange… I run a hotel. I’d like you to come work there as a bellhop, say… once a week?”
“What’s a bellhop?”
“Basically if anyone checks in or out, you help them with their suitcases. You’d also help run the elevator. Do we have a deal?”
“Okay!”
They shook hands.
“Right, first things first, I need to get you your uniform and introduce you to the rest of the staff. Step into the circle so I can take you there?”
“Sure!”
And so the two departed. No trace of Charlie’s visit itself was left. The books, having reached their time limit, returned themselves.
Inko Midoriya came home to find her son gone, his bedroom open, and the remains of a demonic ritual in his room.
“This is Angel Dust, he’s our longest guest, you’re not allowed to be around him without adult supervision.”
“I do have some limits.”
“This is Husker, he mans the front desk, you’re not allowed to be around him without adult supervision.”
“Screw you too.”
“This is Alastor, he’s the radio demon, you’re not allowed to be around him without adult supervision.”
“Hello there young man, do I have a–”
“Nope! No deals; this one’s mine.”
“This is Cherri Bomb, I’m not entirely sure what she’s doing here right now, you’re not allowed to be around her without adult supervision.”
“Awwww, but he’d make such an adorable little arsonist.”
“This is Niffty, she’s the maid. You are allowed to spend time alone with her.”
“HIYA!”
“This is Vaggie, she’s my best friend, she’s also the only person besides me who counts as adult supervision.”
“Oh Hell, there’s two of them.”
“Right, now let me show you around the hotel.”
“Okay!”
“…sure you remember I mentioned all members of my hotel’s staff get their own rooms free, and this one is yours!”
“Really?”
“Yep. Why don’t you take a bit and familiarize yourself. I’ll be in my office doing the paperwork for our deal, come find me when you’re ready to go home.”
“Okay.” Deku stepped into the room and softly shut the door behind him. There was a walk-in closet, a huge bathroom, a nice dresser and plenty of bookshelves, and a big fluffy bed with some kind of candy on the pillow. He only wanted to see how the blankets felt at first, but it had been a long and exciting day, and he was exhausted, and…
“So. Deku.”
“Yep. He’s such a sweetheart.”
“Uh-huh. Charlie.”
“Yes Vaggie?”
“I thought the point of the hotel was getting people out of Hell. If the kid’s making a deal with you he’ll end up down here eventually.”
“Okay, yes, bu~ut, when he does it won’t be for long. I mean, look at him, he’s so pure! And good, and… well look at him!”
“Which is part of why I’m confused. If he were already hellbound, it’d be one thing, but he’s not.”
“Exactly! So once he does come down full time it won’t take long before he gets redeemed!”
“I… have no argument for that.”
“I know that it’s not… the nicest thing, using him like this, but…”
“…You’re not looking at it right.”
“Alastor!?”
“Hello. Listen, the kid wants to be a hero right? Well what better way to start than by trying to help save the unsavable? Bet if you explained to him he’d still agree.”
“…You’re still not allowed near him without supervision.”
Inko had run out of tears for now. Instead she was focusing on making breakfast for the officers who were taking their turn waiting in the apartment with her.
Which is why, when the woman who said she was from Cult Crimes stumbled out of her baby’s room shouting, she jumped to help.
There was green light spilling from the room. When she got close enough to see through the door, she idly noticed that the light was coming from the giant circle. And it was getting brighter. Then there was a rush of flames, and…
Izuku. Her Izuku was back.
“Ah. Hello there everyone. What’s all this?”
“Y-you brought him back. You brought my baby back.”
“Mrs. Midoriya, stay back! For all we know she might be the one who took him in the first place!”
“Ah, yeah. Sorry, there was a lot going on and he kind of fell asleep so I just let him spend the night. Anyway, I’m Charlie, Princess of Hell. Deku here summoned me, but if there’s anything I can do to help the rest of you?”
And that nice detective with the truth quirk let out a string of expletives that would have impressed Mitsuki.
“Hey Charlie?” it had been a few hours since the police had left and Izuku was in the living room with his new friend.
“Yes Deku?”
“Uh, the quirk you promised me…”
“Ah. Now, I can’t give you a quirk exactly, but I can give you power, so…”
“That’s good enough. Thank you so much. What… what do I need to do?”
“Ah.” The blonde reached up and plucked a hair from her head. Held it out to the boy. “Here. Eat this.”