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Friendly Foreign Exchange Student Spiderman! (My Hero Academia x MCU)

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It was a good slice of life chapter. I've never actually followed the movie stories so it should be interesting in that sense at least. I admit Mei is getting a bit grating with her antics though.
 
Yeah that was all pretty much spot on character for Mei.

She's not a bad person, but she only has two settings; manic and crazed. And sometimes, if you're really lucky, she does them both at the same time.

Girl is in dire need of whatever the opposite of coffee is. Tranquilizers?
 
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Chapter 40
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    • "This is stupid."

    It wasn't the first time that the words had left his lips or run through his mind. It'd been that way ever since his old man walked out of his room.

    More than once he'd nearly talked himself out of this bullshit. But stubbornly, stupidly he always forced himself to keep moving forward which brought him ever closer to where he was now.

    Right outside of Deku's apartment complex.

    He hadn't walked in.

    As he left his house.

    As he got on the train.

    As he walked the city blocks.

    Drawing ever closer and closer his anxiety had risen in his gut. Coiling round and round his stomach and tightening until he felt like he'd be sick.

    He wasn't scared of fights. He'd never backed down from conflict and he got in everyone's faces when he needed to, didn't matter who it was.

    But somehow, some way... just the thought of looking at Midoriya Inko made him sick to his stomach.

    He wasn't sure how long he'd been standing there, just staring at the building with its merry little balcony gardens and light green shadings, looking entirely too peaceful for how the sight of it alone made him feel.

    "This is stupid." Katsuki repeated, snarling at himself.

    He turned away.

    And found himself staring straight at the woman he'd been dreading to see.

    Midoriya Inko stood there, grocery bag in hand, an inscrutable menagerie of emotions on her face as she looked at him while he could only imagine the deer in the headlights look that decorated his own features.

    She was gripping her keys in her hand, little metal strips clinking in her grip. Her surprise faded, and her eyes narrowed.

    "Bakugo-san." She said, and her voice was colder than Icy-Hot's frost.

    Katsuki shifted where he stood, and he was big enough to admit that he was fidgeting.

    "Can we talk?" He finally bit out. Never one to beat around the bush anyway and it was clear that she didn't want to see him more than absolutely necessary.

    She shifted her weight, both hands gripping the grocery bag in front of her, feet shoulder-width apart as she stared him down, and somehow Katsuki felt immeasurably small under her gaze.

    "Talk then."

    He blinked. "Out here?"

    "You're not *welcome* in my home." She hissed.

    That... stung.

    A lot more than it should have.

    He looked away, trying to find it in himself to be angry at the woman but discovering that the constant well of easily accessible fury had abandoned him, evaporating under her icy gaze.

    Just get it over with.

    "When did Deku find out about his damn quirk?"

    It was the wrong thing to say, he knew it the second the words left his mouth and the way her features closed, like the shutting of a great iron gate had just confirmed it.

    "After everything... that's what you've come to say to me?"

    The rage on her face and her voice made him wince, hitting him almost like a physical blow.

    "Go to hell."

    She moved to march past him and before his brain had fully caught up with him, his legs had brought him to stand in front of her. "W-wait!"

    She did, but the look on her normally gentle features told him that the plump woman was just about ready to move straight through him if he said one more wrong word.

    Katsuki felt the muscles in his jaw jump, his throat dry, and it was a struggle to maintain eye contact.

    "Look... I don't know what Deku told you bu-"

    Again, he stepped on a verbal land mine and when Inko interrupted him his usual tactic of shouting over the person in question didn't even enter the foggiest corner of his mind.

    "Are you going to try to tell me he lied? That I've got it all wrong? Despite everything Bakugo, I still thought you weren't an outright liar!"

    His teeth ground together. How fucking bad did Deku paint the goddamn picture?! "He-"

    "He didn't say anything!" She shouted, cutting him off again. "I have eyes, Katsuki. I have ears. I saw my son coming home with burn marks. I heard other kids laughing when they mentioned my son's name and saying what you did to him when they thought no one could hear them."

    Katsuki found himself blinking, staring down at the shorter woman. "He never told you?"

    She shook her head. "He never had the heart to. Somewhere deep down, for a reason I cannot fathom... my little boy always wanted to be your friend again when you were children. So he never did."

    They fell into silence for a moment.

    He'd never told her.

    He figured Deku'd just been lying when he said that, like he'd been lying about his quirk.

    "Why didn't you ever say anything to my parents?"

    For the first time since the conversation began Inko seemed to shrivel in on herself, shame and guilt writhing in her like a worm. "I'm... I'm not a brave woman, Katsuki. I haven't been a good mother. Just as you've never been a good friend. There were times I attempted to call your parents, more than I can recall. But I always backed down, always gave some excuse. Some stupid rationalization. 'Maybe he'll change. Maybe it's just a phase. Maybe Masaru and Mitsuki know and they just don't care. Or they won't care.' Always I found ways to say no, reasons to not pick up the phone."

    Katsuki felt his fingers twitch, tightening his hands into fists as the bones cracked and popped. "And after the tests? Why not say anything then? You wanted to. You had a chance to. So why?"

    She looked to him, tears brimming in her eyes that she stubbornly refused to let fall in front of him. "My son... was happy."

    That statement left him speechless.

    "A poor mother and a worse friend. That's all my boy's had in life and…" She cut herself off, and Katsuki felt his insides contort as his jaw clenched up. "And so when I saw his joy.." She smiled a bit, staring at the ground as her eyes continued to glisten. "I do my damndest not to ruin it. Even if I hate it. When he found his quirk, it made him happy... It let him follow his dream. And when he saw your parents again, got to talk to them again… it made him happier. Believe me. It wasn't for you, or for me that I kept quiet."

    Katsuki snarled, fists clenched. "Why the hell didn't he just say he had a fucking quirk to start with!?" It didn't make sense! Deku admired All Might as much as he did! He would have been through the roof just like himself if he had a Quirk like the Symbol of Peace! "Why fucking hide i-"

    "Even if he would have known about the quirk it shouldn't have mattered!" Inko screamed at him, and the force of her anger was enough to make him take a step back. "You were his hero Katsuki! He looked up to you and when you thought he was quirkless you thought you could throw it all away because he didn't matter. My boy is worth more than that cursed quirk!"

    She was breathing heavy, shoulders rising and falling, her face flush with anger.

    "And if you still can't see that-" Inko spoke softer now, but still with an undercurrent of bandied steel. "Then you can still go to hell."

    She met his gaze fiercely, tears still brimming along her eyes but she still refused to let them fall.

    "Now please excuse me. I have to put these in the refrigerator before they spoil."

    It wasn't a request.

    Katsuki stepped out of her way as she marched past him without another word or a backward glance.

    (X)

    The sun's rays poking in were what woke Peter from his slumber as he sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking at the clock. It read 6:30 AM, which gave him plenty of time to get breakfast, slip on some clothes, and get prepared for Mei's little showcase.

    He got up, stretching as he looked over at his suitcase. He'd brought along two of them. One containing his normal clothes, the other holding his formal attire… He turned, pulling open the curtains and seeing the sun rise over I-Island's walls.

    He still couldn't believe that he'd ran into Momo, Midori and the Todoroki siblings too. Talk about crazy.

    He grabbed his clothes to wear to the restaurant downstairs and went into the shower, washing up and before long, coming out dry and groomed. "Ok, time to check on her." He walked through his room, entered the luxury suite's living room and the wide open door at the other side.

    Guess Mei was up…

    "Heya Peter!" He saw Mei poke her head out… from the ceiling.

    "Mei, why are you on the ceiling?" He asked as he walked closer, seeing her on her hands and knees on the ceiling. Her hands had some special gloves on them, and on her knees were some kneepads.

    "Just testing some of my babies before we go show 'em off!" Peter noticed a trail of her babies in her room…

    Good god it was like an explosion… Her crates were open and-

    "How long have you been up?" Peter asked, eyebrow cocked as he looked up, hands on his hips.

    "'Bout an hour. Why?"

    "It's gonna be a long day. I mean, going to the front of the convention, and you showing off your gadgets for all the people going in and out..."

    "Meh, I've stayed up longer. I'll be fine!" Mei giggled as she crawled along the ceiling before she reached over to touch some buttons. Her gear turned off and she landed on her feet with a big bright grin. "You get enough sleep too?"

    "Plenty. Had a lot of fun yesterday at the park. Did you?" She didn't seem too wild about the rides, even if she had a big grin on her face the entire time. Was her face just locked into her having a smile?

    "Oh yeah! Saw some unique ideas from that roller coaster we went on! Oh, and that anti-grav Sky Dive had me thinking on making babies of a similar caliber!" Mei had her arms spread wide. "It was an awesome field trip! And my baby demonstration will be even more profitable once I get…" She turned, beaming as she ran over to one of her crates. Peter poked his head in, seeing her rummage around as she was still in a set of blue PJs with wrenches and screwdrivers printed on it. She trotted back with… something and Peter's Spider Sense tingled. The brown-haired boy took a step back, and avoided something hard as Mei swung it with great enthusiasm. In her hand was some vest…

    And on it, the words MEI HATSUME! JUST CONTACT ME FOR INQUIRY ON HERO SUPPORT GEAR! Followed by her phone number, email, and… home address? Wait, that wasn't some random address, it was U.A.'s!

    "I don't think giving out U.A.'s address as your own is smart."

    "Why?"

    "Because it's not your home address."

    "But I spend more time there anyway."

    "But it's still not your home."

    "Why?"

    Peter groaned, hand rubbing his forehead. "Do you wanna go get breakfast or something?"

    He heard the growl of a stomach and looked down, and at Mei who was also looking down. "Oh. Guess I'll need some too."

    "I did order room service… did you eat any?"

    "Nah, wasn't hungry. Also the food menu choices sounded too weird. What's an 'Eggs Benedict'?"

    "You have a lot to learn…" Peter mused. "You take a shower before we get breakfast and then-"

    "I can wear your shirt at your demonstration."

    The girl beamed like the sun before throwing her kneepads and gloves aside, rushing into the bathroom in a jiffy. Peter couldn't help but chuckle and smile.

    (X)

    Four point five miles an hour the treadmill read as Momo ran on it. She looked at her phone which read her biological life signs of heart rate and other functions. Sweat poured down her brow and neck and onto her drenched workout T-shirt and basketball shorts. Thankfully the hotel gym was empty, leaving her to her thoughts.

    Momo saw the TV up ahead show off some News Reports of the tropical storms dissipating around Japan, and she felt relieved. A storm that could have been a nasty typhoon had hit Japan yesterday. If they had left for I-Island last night as originally planned they would have been grounded.

    She wouldn't have gotten to see her classmates, any of them. Or had as much fun as she had in the amusement park.

    Her mind began to wander, thinking of her classmates. Of course immediately remembering Peter, Midoriya and Todoroki but also the others back home and everything that had happened so far.

    A lot had happened.

    And, quietly, she had to wonder if she'd even be here without her classmates. Certainly without Peter's web formula things would have been difficult, Jirou's friendship, even All Might after the... well...

    Midoriya had also saved her during their mutual final exam.

    Even her talk with Iida had reinforced her desire to become a hero in a way, reminding her of her own motivation.

    Her thoughts had enveloped her so much so she didn't hear the door open.

    "You seem to have had fun yesterday."

    Momo jumped in place, startled.

    "Oh, good morning mother."

    "Good morning." Maiya nodded before she walked over to the mat and began to stretch, utilizing some yoga techniques. "Something on your mind?"

    "Hmmm?"

    "Your father has the exact same look when the gears are turning in his head." Maiya responded.

    Momo turned away, jogging as she breathed, figuring out what to say to her.

    "I'm just... considering." She admitted quietly, stepping to the edge of the treadmill. "How I've become a hero. Everything that's happened." Maiya said nothing, but the look she had in the mirror facing her proved she had her attention. "And… I was wondering if… I have been going at it… the wrong way."

    "How so?" She asked.

    "Well…" The treadmill was going down in speed. "My classmates, all of them, have helped me... and I wonder if ... if, I wouldn't be where I am today if not for them. And if that's the case… is that wrong?

    "That's what's on your mind?" Maiya asked, and Momo nodded, looking at her mother who took a deep breath and closed her eyes, seemingly gathering patience. Momo winced.

    "Don't be so stupid and sentimental over such things. If you find any advantage or leverage to become better at something, whether it be your profession, status, or whatever else, do not feel ashamed over using it. Use those advantages, advance and better yourself. In your case, use those to become a better hero to save others. Don't apologize over such trivial matters."

    Momo winced, remembering suddenly why it was so difficult to speak to the woman...

    "And as for thinking you wouldn't be the same person or that you'd even be a hero without them don't be ridiculous. Even without any of them, you would have gotten where you are. You have a brain don't you?"

    Momo felt her anger spike, but quelled it quickly.

    "Yes." Her answer however was clipped, biting even as she tried to hide it.

    Maiya looked at her, quiet for a moment.

    "You know what I mean. Don't take it literally Momo." the woman said, in a voice that was almost an apology. "You're intelligent and resourceful enough to have gotten where you need to be on your own."

    …

    "I… well… thanks…" Momo muttered.

    "Hn." Her mother said nothing, resuming her exercises before she finished stretching and going to a nearby pull up bar, leaping up and doing so with ease.

    Momo can see the raw muscle on her mother's back, along with the countless scars and wounds of battle gained from her earlier career.

    "Momo." She heard her mother grunt out after Momo finished her first set.

    "Never sell yourself short." Maiya paused, looking back at her through the mirror before she let go, taking a break from her rep.

    "Yes mother."

    (X)

    He still wasn't here.

    By all accounts, that observation should've made Shoto happier. He was here, on an island full of all the greatest technologies that the world could offer, and practically given full reign on what he could do to have fun with his sister beside him.

    Until the meetings started, there was no expectations, no rules or traditions that he had to follow. Simply being a teenager, with his classmates of all people, was all that was expected of him.

    And while it was good, better than he could've thought it would be, the thought of going into a meeting such as this without his father was something of a frightening prospect.

    Loath as he was to admit, Endeavor was still the Number Two hero in Japan for a very good reason. No ordinary man could claim that spot and keep it for years on end. It spoke of an experience, a drive, and self-control that few others had.

    He'd seen a bit of it, and if he was being honest, he wanted that close by when the meetings started.

    Yet, as if in response to some cosmic karma going against Shoto's wishes, Dad wasn't here. All there was consisted of him and his sister, preparing their formal wear like they were told. Fuyumi wouldn't have to do much, just enjoy the procession as well as she could given the company that no doubt was going to be there.

    Well, most of the company that was going to be there. Yaoyorozu-san and Shield-san would be the sole exceptions.

    Everyone else… Shoto couldn't imagine them being much better company than the average politician.

    "You finished Shoto?" Fuyumi asked.

    Shoto blinked away his thoughts, and looked himself over in the mirror. He still had the suit jacket and the tie to go.

    At the edge of the door, Fuyumi peeked in, sighing at his state. The disappointment made him shift slightly, but she wordlessly came towards him, motioning him to turn around to face her. He complied without complaint, and it let him know exactly how long he'd been overthinking things.

    They only had a little bit before they would need to be worried about making it on time.

    Fuyumi made quick work of his tie, and handed him his suit coat. A quick shrug of his shoulders let him put it on, and he took a moment to double check himself in the mirror.

    "Look at you," Fuyumi said with a teasing grin, "An up and coming hero ready to take on the world."

    "You're giving me a bit too much credit," he said, dismissively.

    "I'm your sister," Fuyumi said, "I'm allowed to give you as much credit as I want."

    The corners of his lips curled a little bit upwards.

    "I think that I'm going to need a bit more than credit to make an impression tonight," he said, walking off.

    "Obviously," Fuyumi said, giving his hair a quick flick of her finger, straightening a misplaced strand, "Which is why I'll be looking out for you."

    Shoto blinked, and Fuyumi shook her finger at him.

    "Don't give me that look," she said, "This is a big night for you, so I'm going to help."

    "Fuyumi," Shoto said in exasperation, "There's infinitely better things that you could be doing with your time tonight."

    Fuyumi gave him a small smile.

    "Shoto, there is nothing better than helping my brother."

    Shoto stood there for a moment. That… that was good to hear.

    Yet, there were thoughts that still stayed with him that made him ask, "What makes you think that I'll be able to make it work?"

    She shrugged without a care.

    "You'll be able to, and that's all that there is to it, right?"

    Again, Shoto just stood there for a moment.

    There was a thought, a memory of the last time he needed to make something work, make it better, but he couldn't. The nightmare of Hosu lingered in the back of his mind, along with the phantom screams and roars.

    Yet, it didn't matter.

    "Right," he said.

    "Then let's get going," Fuyumi said, "I know people say that you should be fashionably late, but that idea isn't true."

    A poor fact for their father, but Shoto declined to comment on that. Instead, he said nothing as he followed his sister, his hand fidgeting at the tie around his neck.

    (X)

    "Peter, we've been over this."

    "I know but this thing makes no sense!"

    "Peter, you can figure out ninety-eight percent of the circuitry to a form-fitting biosuit in an afternoon, this is a simple bow-tie."

    "...can I have the circuits?" Peter asked hopefully.

    If it were possible for a program to give him a flat look, Karen would've excelled at the task. Part of Peter wanted to argue to give him a break, but there were a million reasons that wouldn't work against someone like Karen, especially when he and Mei were starting to cut it a little too close for comfort.

    But in all fairness to him, he'd never had to tie a tie by himself.

    Though… that excuse didn't exactly improve his self-esteem looking at the mirror. He was dressed in formal attire, and they had to rush to put on their duds for the Gala tonight, to which he and Mei had been invited to. They'd spent a long time at the outside of the I-Expo, with Peter helping Mei showcase her gadgets and gizmos to Expo-goers and other civilians. For hours on end.

    Peter rubbed his chest under his blue suit. Mei could have adjusted the harness to be a little looser… that was gonna be a rash in the morning. Then again, the way he was flying all over as she controlled him like some drone didn't help. A tight harness was preferable then.

    "If we take a taxi, will we make it in time Karen?" Peter asked, watching the video again as he did his best to get the tie right… in and out… then in and out agai-Gah!

    "If you get your tie done, well, we'll have about seven minutes to spare considering traffic and the taxi and commute…"

    "Okay… lemme try this again… In and out… and through the loop and-It's inside out now!"

    "Six minutes and forty-five seconds…"

    "You're. Not. Helping!"

    "You almost done in there Peter?" Called out Mei from the other side of the door.

    "Uhhh, just a minute!" He said, looking down at his suit. Pants, shoes, belt, and shirt were on and the jacket was on the bed. Where was Yu when he needed her?! Next time he'd ask her in person how to tie a tie. Or just have someone else do a bunch so he could have them on call. This was annoying!

    "You sound a bit frustrated, you okay?" She asked.

    "I'm fine! Just the tie and once that's on we can go!" Peter's fingers were busy trying to get his red tie in order. "And up and over… in and out… and- Why is it sideways now!?"

    "It's almost impressive how much you're failing at this." Karen said. "I think you're getting worse."

    Peter breathed in through his nose.

    "Uh oh! I hear nose breathing! Someone's mad!" The door opened, and in came Mei with her wide grin as Peter turned.

    "Huh, guess it's the tie huh. Here, lemme help!" Mei said as she walked forward. The girl wearing a dark form-fitting gunmetal grey dress closed in and put her hands on his tie, taking it around her own neck and… "There! Done!" She handed the complete tie to him, and Peter looked down dumbly at it, then at her.

    "I… I was almost expecting you in your school uniform to begin with, and number two, how did you do that?" He asked, utterly bamboozled at the sight before him and the action that had taken place.

    Mei shrugged nonchalantly.

    "It's not that hard. I gotta do 'em myself ya know! If I can't be a great Inventor, how can I not make a simple loop of cloth?" Mei explained.

    Peter examined the tie around his neck and tightened it up before flattening out his collar. "I can see that… you look great by the way." The pinkette simply shrugged.

    "If I had a choice I'd rather not wear this, but it's for one night. No biggie." Mei mused as she walked out, and Peter's eyes followed her departure. "Drafty down there though…"

    Yeah, that dress was as form-fitting as Momo's hero costume…

    He shook his head, pushing away such thoughts before putting his jacket on and grabbing his phone, pulling it from the charger and placing his custom earpiece inside his ear. "We good?"

    "You have five minutes and change if you leave now." Peter rushed into his bathroom, did his hair with some mousse, prepped some cologne, and trotted on out. "Ready?"

    "Mmhmm!" Mei nodded, and Peter noticed she… wasn't wearing heels.

    "Didn't… bring heels?"

    "Those suck. Let's go!" Mei said, walking out the door in her dress and tennis shoes. Peter sighed before smiling and following after her.

    "Hey Mei?"

    As they walked, Mei turned around, a big grin on her face as her eyes seemed to zoom in. "Hmm?"

    "Thanks." Peter smiled sheepishly, holding up his tie a bit.

    "It's what Supporters are for!" The pink-haired manic genius exclaimed, marching ahead as Peter followed after her.

    "So, what's the plan again Karen? Refresh my memory." Peter said as they got to the elevator as it went down.

    "Your plan is to meet up with the Todorokis, Izuku, Momo and Melissa at the Gala if at all possible. I cannot seem to obtain their seating arrangements though, what with the unique firewall they have."

    "Firewall?" Peter asked as Mei hummed, inspecting the holopad where the elevator buttons were as her eyes zoomed in and out. He could make out her comments on the circuitry and material. "Can you hack it?"

    Never a dull moment with her.

    "Yes, I can hack it. However, how long would you like your itinerary?" Karen asked.

    "Lemme guess, processing power from my lil old phone huh?" Peter mused, patting his phone in his pocket.

    "Correct. By the time we get there, you would have the RSVP list."

    (X)

    "Ah Dave! There you are!"

    It was a simple greeting, bog standard even, without any of Toshinori's normal flair that came with his All Might form. Even if he was hulked out and the two stood by the railing looming over the first floor.

    Still, David turned a little too fast. Though, that could've just been the gala, tonight was a big night for him and his daughter. The head scientist and founder of I-Island gave Toshinori a tiny little wave before leaning over the edge of a railing. Toshinori took a spot next to him, and spied a certain blonde-haired girl trying to teach the successor of One for All how to dance to a tiny tune on the dance floor below.

    "I think that you're taking eagle eye parenting to a new level," Toshinori joked.

    David cracked a smile at that.

    "Hey, I haven't got every camera on I-Island trained on her at all times."

    "I applaud your restraint," Toshinori commented, getting as comfortable as he could on the railing in his suit. It felt constraining around the neck, though that was for every suit that wasn't his All Might attire.

    "I didn't know that you had a suit in that size," David said.

    Toshinori shrugged, "Got it via rush order, or Nighteye did. And I have my hero costume on underneath. Gotta make the big show at the party and all that!"

    "He always did have a knack for getting what you needed before you knew it," David said, "Although, this is one of the few things that I wish he didn't need to get you."

    "It's not so bad," Toshinori shrugged. "Rather refreshing actually, first time in years that I haven't been the center of attention."

    "You really should be," David muttered, almost solemnly.

    Toshinori gave his old friend a quick clap on the back with his big paw.

    "Thanks, but I'm fine with stepping out, have you seen the crop of students that's following me?"

    David shrugged, "They're not half bad, especially that kid of yours you brought too."

    Toshinori smiled at that, no matter how many times he heard it, the acknowledgment of Young Madoryia's potential always seemed to fill him with pride.

    Although… he couldn't tell him everything. The true secret of One for All had to be kept secret. The fewer who knew, the fewer targets the enemy had.

    "However, he could go without stepping on my daughter's feet," David joked. Down below, they could hear Midoriya bowing profusely while apologizing for his clumsy dance moves, while Melissa took it all in stride as she laughed and encouraged him.

    "Worried that he'll be a better dancer by the time that we get down there?" Toshinori asked comfortably.

    David rolled his eyes, "I don't remember you ever being any good at it either."

    All Might let slip his trademark grin. But, he noticed something. The moment that he mentioned the party, David tensed. It was slight, and he wouldn't have noticed it if the chestnut-haired man had changed since their days back in the states, but it was definitely there.

    Was he that nervous about the party? No, he'd thrown around a dozen parties like this. David had to as the founder of I-Island, Toshinori was sure of that. Not to mention hiring organizers.

    So what made this different?

    It couldn't be because of him. He and David had done too much to care about seeming cool, or even professional in front of one another.

    So why….

    "Well, I only handled some of it," David said, "Melissa could honestly tell you more than I could. She talks more to the organizers lately. Trying to teach her and what not."

    "Really?" Toshinori asked, feeling a little better. "Well, that's good for her."

    "We can ask her, if you want," David offered with an apologetic smile.

    "... sure," Toshinori said, his eyebrow slowly notching upwards, but David was already moving before Toshinori even started leaning off the railing.

    He had to hurry for a moment to catch up to his old sidekick, who walked far faster than he really should. At this point, Toshinori could practically smell that something was wrong. For it to affect David this bad, it was probably something personal.

    Though… he shouldn't bring it up here, not yet at least, not so close to Melissa.

    First chance he got, he'd get to the bottom of this.

    For now, he had to keep a straight face when Young Midoriya tried to do the starting few steps to a solo dance. A rather… interesting attempt that really made Toshinori wonder if he ever did any leg training. People gave them a wide berth, all whispering as All Might walked by, smiling and waving as he approached.

    "I think you're supposed to hit the floor, not your shoes," All Might commented.

    "Ack!" Young Midoryia went ramrod straight, flush with embarrassment. All the while, Melissa and David did their best not to laugh.

    "I-I was just trying to p-put Melissa's teachings to use!" Midoriya blurted out in English.

    "The right word you're looking for is 'into practice'," Melissa corrected him before looking up at All Might. "Enjoying the lead up to the party, Uncle Might?"

    "I've been keeping off to the side thankfully," Toshinori said with a wave as he looked down at the two. "So I haven't been swamped, but give it some time. The people at this party are quite restrained, hehe." All Might mused as he looked around, seeing people looking at him and gossiping amongst themselves, but whenever his eyes settled on one they would smile and wave.

    "When I learned you were coming yesterday, I had to make a memo not to overwhelm you." David said from the side, glancing down at his watch before looking back. Again, he was looking nervous…

    "Something wrong Dave? Eat anything bad?" The man flinched noticeably.

    "Oh no, n-not at all. Just a little tired… once I get an expresso in me, I-I'll be as right as rain." David smiled, closing his eyes and waving it off.

    "Okay, I'll go make final preparations. All Might, if you'd like to join me?" David said, turning as he gestured with his head.

    "Right away old buddy!" All Might said with a waving salute. He turned around and placed his big hands on Izuku's shoulders. "Oh, and Young Midoriya..." He spoke in Japanese as he leaned down to whisper in his ear. Melissa tilted her head.

    "Plus Ultraaaaa." He said in a whisper, and Izuku tilted his head. "At dancing!" All Might posed with a fist to the sky before turning around.

    He saw David walking on ahead, and looking at his watch yet again. Yes, this had gone far enough.

    He walked over to his friend, and his mere presence made David flinch.

    "David," All Might said, his voice low, yet fully serious, "What's wrong?"

    His old sidekick practically broke out into a nervous sweat at the words. He looked around, as if considering his options.

    "I… All Might, I set something up for tonight," David fully admitted.

    All Might crossed his arms. He didn't answer, he wasn't the one that was supposed to talk here.

    "I-"

    "Hey All Might!"

    Both David and All Might snapped to the side, watching as a happy Fuyumi Todoroki and a seemingly drained Shoto walked up, her eyes darting between the two.

    "Are we interrupting something important?" she asked, "We were hoping to talk to Mr. Shield, if we could."

    David and All Might shared a look. It was enough for David to take another quick glance at his watch.

    "N-No, it's no problem, just a tight schedule. I've got a few minutes," he said.

    "We won't take long," Fuyumi said, "I was just hoping, Mr. Shield, if you could give a quick tip or two to Shoto here."

    The dual-haired boy shot a frankly betrayed look at his sister.

    A glare that could've frozen an army or burned a country down bounced off of the sister like a fly off a Tiger tank.

    "He's trying to talk to everyone here, you wouldn't happen to know how to start a decent pitch, would you?"

    "Fuyumi," Shoto said, "I'm more than capable of talking to people."

    "The last three executives would beg to differ."

    Shoto pursed his lips, but had no words. David offered a nervous laugh, one that All Might would've joined if the situation were any different.

    Fuyumi noticed the forceful nature of the sound, but a ring stopped any comment that might've formed.

    "Oh excuse me," Fuyumi said sheepishly as she reached into her purse, pulling out her phone and Shoto noticed her wince.

    "Hey Dad." She spoke in Japanese under her breath. "Sorry, I can't hear you." She got up, and walked out of the busy reception room.

    The old man was here…

    Shoto took a deep breath, bowing politely before following her. "Please excuse us. Important family call." He said as he trotted after his sister, a scowl on his face.

    (X)

    "A family call?" David spoke to himself, then his eyes widened.

    Wait… All Might was the only Top Ten Pro coming here. Those were Enji Todoroki's children. Did that mean-?!

    "Huh, Izu looks a little worried." Melissa said by his side.

    "Hey dad, I'm gonna use the restroom one last time."

    "Right before our big announcement?" David asked, cocking an eyebrow.

    "Bob is gonna be the one doing all the hyping up before All Might is called up, right?" Melissa winked. "I'll make my way around the back, it'll be fine!" She said before she trotted away, and David saw her go.

    On some level, he was a little relieved to see her out of the room. She wouldn't have to see first-hand what was coming next. On the other… the worry she would have…

    He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and a sip from his cognac. It was for the greater good now.

    (X)

    "Quite the line, ain't it?" Shiki said pleasantly. He had the same calm smile on his face, while Maiya had her typical neutral expression, eyes looking over the area as they got inside the tower on the first floor. To the side they noticed a map of the I-Expo Opening Night Gala. The first floor was for mingling, checking in, and ordering some drinks. The second was the Reception Hall where the opening talks would take place, along with a big dining room as Momo looked up, seeing the interior of I-Tower's front lobby, with the escalators going up to the second floor. She could just make out the massive spire that was the elevator far in the distance at the spine of the building, just past the windows outside the tower.

    "Nothing major of course." Maiya replied as she led the way, face as hard as stone compared to the smile on her husband's face. Momo fingered the fabric of her lime-green dress. They approached the reception desk right beside the escalators leading up to the second floor.

    "Reservation?" The woman said, sitting by someone with a turtle shell on their back.

    "Yaoyorozu, table for three." Maiya replied in crisp English.

    "Ah, there you are! Hope you enjoy tonight's Gala!" She said, the tortoise-shell man giving the trio paper bracelets to check themselves in with.

    Momo looked around. Everyone from last night said they were coming so…

    "Eyes forward Momo." Maiya cut in, and Momo turned, seeing the auburn-haired woman looking back at her.

    "I was looking for my friends."

    "Your friends? From yesterday?" Maiya mused.

    "Y-Yes, they were going to attend the Gala."

    "Weren't they your classmates from school?" Shiki mused.

    "Todoroki is here with his sister on their own accord, and Peter is here because he won the Festival."

    "Todoroki… That's Endeavor's boy isn't it? And Peter was the one who helped host that study group, yes?" Shiki said.

    "So he was." Maiya turned forward.

    "He seemed to take your cooking the best, dear." Shiki laughed, and Momo felt the temperature drop by several degrees as she had chills, seeing Maiya glare at her husband.

    Yaoyorozu Maiya was an amazing businesswoman and a former military contractor, but a cook was not something she could call a talent.

    "You're cute when you're angry like that." Shiki patted his wife's cheek.

    Maiya let out a frustrated sigh.

    "Mother, I've been meaning to ask… why did you cook that day?" She asked, and now she felt the brunt of her mother's stare.

    "Later. Come, let's get our-"

    "Yaoyorozu!" Said a voice, and the trio turned as they were about to climb the escalator. A man in a sharp violet suit, wavy brown hair and soft ruby eyes approached with a playful grin. "It's so nice to see you here."

    "Ah, Yagami." Maiya droned. "I see you're here too." She turned towards Momo. "You go get us our table alright? Your father and I must talk a little."

    "I can handle things. Yagami-san is a friend." Shiki said, putting his hand on his wife's shoulder. "You should hurry to the complimentary salad bar and load up." He gave his wife a playful elbow.

    "I ate enough spinach today for breakfast." Maiya replied.

    "Yet you were going over the menu they had at the buffet quite intently." Shiki winked, and Maiya looked… flushed.

    "I actually wouldn't mind." Yagami said, hands up. "It'll only be for a quick catch up and clarification is all."

    "I'll fill you in when I get back." The long dark-haired man said as Maiya sighed and walked towards Momo.

    "If you insist. Let's go Momo."

    "Right mother." She saw Yagami give a wave and pat Shiki on the back.

    Momo nodded.

    "How is Yotsubashi-san doing by the way?" Shiki said as Momo began to ascend the escalator.

    "Fine indeed, Detnarat is going well with us expanding…" And she lost them as she got to the top, standing silently with her mother.

    "You're usually in on those dealings. Don't you usually do the talking?" Momo asked.

    "Your father may know the DOW like the back of his hand, but he wants to learn on discussing business matters. Besides, Yagami Haruto is just a rep sent from Detnarat to inspect the Expo and talk. He's not the true brains, just a puppet." Maiya said as they got to the top and began to walk towards their assigned reception hall. There were three in total.

    "Multiple halls huh?"

    "It's a big party, only makes sense they can't fit everyone in one room. Besides, our room has the lentils and cashews in their salad bar. After the opening speeches from Shield and All Might, we can mingle freely."

    (X)

    "Hello?" Fuyumi asked.

    "Fuyumi," Enji said, a tired and gruff echo coming through the phone line, "Are you and Shoto at the Gala?"

    Movement in the corner of her eye prompted Fuyumi to look back. Her brother, Izuku, and even Melissa were approaching.

    "Y-yes, we were just talking to David Shield."

    "... good, he's a good man to know," Enji said, and it seemed as if he was leaning away from the phone.

    For a few moments, he didn't say anything.

    "Father?" she asked.

    "... sorry, I was just thinking a few things over," he said, "Are the two of you… having a good time?"

    Fuyumi blinked, "Y-yeah, it's a fun party, why?"

    "No reason," Enji said, "But just…"

    His voice trailed off for a few seconds.

    "Make sure that he's not so stiff when talking to everyone," Enji finally said, "No one respects a person that isn't willing to show some humility when they're starting out."

    "Uh, okay," Fuyumi replied, "I'll be sure to tell him."

    "Can I talk to him?" Fuyumi looked up, and Shoto took a deep breath through his nose, eyes narrowed.

    "He's not at the table at the moment. Looking at the pasta salad." She let out a forced laugh. "You know, replacement to soba…"

    "Hmm. Alright. Thank you, I'll be down at the Gala in half an hour. Just landed, have a good night."

    With that said, the line died.

    Fuyumi pulled her phone away from her ear, staring at it like it was a bomb ready to go off.

    "Something wrong?" Shoto asked.

    "I… I don't think so?" Fuyumi answered.

    "Should that be a question?" Melissa asked, a sentiment that Izuku seemed to mirror.

    "Probably not," Fuyumi admitted, "But it's just… I guess I haven't heard him sound like that before."

    "Who?" Izuku asked.

    "Our father," Shoto answered coldly.

    "Is that a bad thing?" the tech heiress said. "Or am I out of the loop on something?"

    "W-well," Izuku said, "It's complicated."

    Understatement of the century.

    "It doesn't concern you. You're fine Shield-san." Shoto muttered, and Fuyumi paled.

    "Shoto!"

    "It's the truth."

    "Okay okay, family matter. Sorry." Melissa raised her hands in surrender.

    "Umm, maybe we should go back to the party…" Izuku spoke up, stepping in. Shoto sighed.

    "I apologize for my rudeness Shield-san. I acted out of turn." He bowed lightly. "Forgive me."

    "You're fine Todoroki, it's some family stuff and you're high-strung over it." She shrugged. "It's as you say, ain't my place."

    Shoto closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. "Alright, we should-"

    "I swear to god this thing is going to be the death of me!"

    Everyone in the hall paused for a moment, turning as one down the hall to where their friends had walked through. Hatsume looked as happy as she could be, while Parker seemed to be… arguing with his phone?

    "For the last time I did the knot correct-Oh sup guys," The American said, casually pocketing his phone in his suit jacket.

    "Parker," Shoto said with a quirked eyebrow, "Are you just arriving?"

    "Uhhhhh… would you believe that I got stuck fighting a necktie?"

    Shoto opened his mouth, only to close it, because it was not worth getting into.

    "But we're here now!" Parker declared, "We didn't miss the big show, did we?"

    "You mean that big show!?" Hatsume exclaimed, pointing up at the screen as Parker turned, everyone else's eyes following. It was All Might talking! He was in his Hero costume, on a stage in one of the reception rooms holding some champagne.

    "Thank you for inviting me everyone. I'm not usually one for speeches, but-"

    Suddenly the lights ahead began to flicker…

    (X)

    "Hm?" Peter looked up.

    A loud blaring noise began to sound out from within the lobby as steel walls behind them began to rise up. Many of the people were caught off guard, yelping in shock.

    "The windows!" Someone said, and Peter saw steel coming down where it met the rising steel from the ground. The entire lobby was now blocked off with metal!

    "What the hell is going on?!"

    "Is this some prank?!"

    "Mommy it's too loud!"

    "Karen?" Peter whispered as he and Mei walked closer and closer towards rest of the group near the restrooms.

    "I'm trying to get a clue… Peter, the firewall won't let me in, but this looks like a hack, or a cyber attack."

    "A cyber attack?" Peter asked.

    "What's going on?" Mei asked, her smile still present, but Peter could see that her eyes looked a little worried.

    "Shield-san, what's happening?" Fuyumi asked.

    "The security system is activating… but why now?" She asked, perplexed. Peter ignored her, hand to his ear to block out the other voices in a bid to hear Karen's updates.

    "Can you probe it? See what's up from outside the firewall?"

    "Give me a moment…"

    "This is the I-Island Security System with an important announcement." Said a female automated voice as Peter and the rest of the residents in the lobby looked up. "We have received a report of a bomb within the I-Expo Convention Center. As such, I-Island is undergoing a Code Red Lockdown."

    That didn't sound good…

    "All residents and tourists should return to their homes and lodgings immediately. Those who are too far away should relocate to the nearest bomb shelter."

    "A bomb?!" More voices yelled out from below.

    "We can't go anywhere! Let us out!"

    "Peter?" Mei asked, and Peter looked around.

    "Peter-san, are you talking to someone?" Izuku asked, and the American boy felt the group's eyes on him.

    "Yeah! Talking to his adopted baby!" Mei exclaimed proudly.

    "What?" Melissa asked.

    "It's her word for gadget. Parker, you were muttering under your breath." Shoto asked. "Is something going on here?"

    "I tried to call dad. Service is dead." Fuyumi raised her phone, all the reception bars dead. Peter was quiet, lips tight as everyone looked up at the sound of the alarms.

    "Anyone who is outside ten minutes from now will be considered a villain and arrested immediately. Please refrain from going outdoors. Priority One buildings will be safeguarded by the system." The automatic voice said as more and more people became anxious and worried. "I repeat most-"

    Spider Sense!

    "Hide!" Peter grabbed Mei and dived to the door leading to the boys restroom, and right on time too as gunfire erupted along with screaming from the civilians. Everyone rushed in before he closed the door and quietly opened it a crack. Overlooking the first floor lobby were men in masks… and they had guns! More of them marched down the hallway they were in prior, thankfully not spotting them.

    "Okay, we're in trouble." Peter muttered.

    "Peter look!" Mei whispered, resting her chin on his shoulder and he felt her chest against his back… Peter desperately focused his attention on more important matters.

    "What's going o-Uncle Might?" Melissa muttered, fear laced in her voice.

    They had a line of sight on the main TV screen that overlooked the first two floors, the camera now… pointing at a group of men entering the room where All Might was!

    Peter let his hands relax. If All Might got here…

    "All Might should handle this, he's the-" Izuku was cut off.

    All of a sudden, blue whips lashed out from the stage, wrapping around the limbs of the Symbol of Peace and forcing him to his knees, much to the shock and horror of the crowd as they screamed out in shock.

    "Or not." Peter finished, everyone behind him gasping in horror. The armored men took position overlooking the first floor by the railings….

    (X)

    "Good evening ladies and gentlemen." Wolfram exclaimed as he and several of his men walked on in, his eyes set on the now restrained Symbol of Peace. "As you can see, your security system is undergoing a little maintenance. Particularly, it's under our control." He could hear the grunts and cries of defiance from the other heroes, and the shocked and frightened look of the various fat cat sheep within the room. He set his eyes on Shield with a smirk.

    "Now, I see a lot of you Heroes in attendance," He said as he put his eyes on All Might before he brought his fingers together as if for a flick. Wolfram snapped his fingers, and the camera feed changed to a display outside the tower. Some of the drones had various civilians cornered, as planned. And not just outside the tower as the images began to circulate all throughout I-Island. "And if you try anything funny, the cases of police brutality will go from zero to… I dunno, a couple thousand in a hurry." He couldn't help but grin like the devil. "So if I were you lot, I'd just take a little nap on the ground. Because as of right now?" He held his arms out wide. "Every single person on this island, is our hostage."

    "You fiend!"

    "Bastard!"

    Wolfram couldn't but chuckle at the little curses being thrown his way by the so-called heroes. Talk was cheap after all. Gotta have the bite to back it up. He saw the pain on All Might's face as his hands, currently bound due to the Light-Tether Whips, relaxed. So much for trying to do a full force power flick of sorts. He turned towards All Might, who was glaring at him hard.

    "Release them all!" He growled as Wolfram kept on walking up to the stage.

    "Oh I have something planned for you, Mr. All Smiles." He said as he climbed up on the stage before kicking at All Might's leg hard enough to make him fall. The Light-Tethers only tightened their grip, the blonde hulk wincing as he tried to resist. "You so much as move off this stage, you try one little act of heroism, my men will kill everyone here."

    "The military will be here soon asshole!" Said a voice, and Wolfram turned, seeing a portly man step up. He was sweating and nervous, but clearly trying to put on a brave face. How cute. "If I-Island has any major catastrophes the US military-"

    "Is not coming. We have the entire island under our control, fool. Nothing is coming in or out in terms of a signal." The red-haired man in the iron mask grinned as he saw the rich guy's face collapse in despair. "So don't bother trying to call anyone." He made a gesture with his head, his men dragging the fat fool up to him. "All Might." He growled. "To show you that we mean business…" He aimed his handgun at the man's face.

    "No!"

    And fired, causing screams and shrieks to go off as the man fell off the stage, but with no bullet wound at all. The bullet hole was actually in the adjacent wall. He staggered, backing away in pure terror as David Shield knelt by his side, sharing his look of fear. Ah yes, Samuel Arnold and David Shield, prominent researchers of the Shield Foundation and it's founder.

    And his 'clients'.

    Wolfram couldn't help but display his sharp grin. Oh the look on their faces...

    "This is your first and last warning. I told you that already but," Around the room, his men readied their weapons as everyone yelped in surprise. "Now you have a refresher and KNOW we're serious. Next time, my men won't miss."

    "W-What do you want?!" Said a well dressed woman.

    "I-I have money! We have that we-" Wolfram raised his hand and discharged his gun into the ceiling.

    "Shut up. We aren't here for your money and jewels." He turned, leering down at Shield. "Mr. Shield, if you would be so kind…" Wolfram oiled.

    "Dave… no! Don't-"

    "Who gave ya permission to speak!?" Wolfram barked, his steel-toed boot smashing against All Might's side. The man let out a pained grimace. Huh, world's strongest man, brought down this low?

    Too easy…

    "Please!" David got up, hands clenched at his sides. "Just don't hurt anyone here. I… I'll listen to your demands." The auburn-haired man said as Wolfram smirked.

    "Good… now, we will release you all unharmed once we have what we need and are on our merry way." Wolfram assured the hostages as he walked through the room, his men holding Shield as he tapped his earpiece. "And life will go on peachy keen. So just take a load off and relax. Status." Always helped to get an update.

    "Security's going smoothly. We have the entire island on lockdown." Swordkill spoke in his ear, Wolfram nodding.

    "Anyone outside causing trouble?"

    "None. Drones are keeping them under control and escorting them to the centers like good sheep." The red haired man smirked.

    "Good. Joker, you?"

    "We have the servers under lock and key, we have the maintenance guys restrained." Kane spoke. "I'm going through my prospects now and-"

    "My daughter! Where's my-" Said a voice as his men turned while raising their guns, seeing a well-dressed man run up into the reception room. The man, an unassuming causcian with brown hair stopped, his face pale.

    "Came from the emergency stairs." Said Nix, going by his voice. Wolfram narrowed his eyes.

    "On your knees." Wolfram raised his gun, and the man raised his hands, looking terrified as he did so.

    "Don't hurt him! He's done nothing wrong!" David pleaded.

    "It's clear he didn't heed my message, but since you asked nicely... " He turned, and gestured to his men. The two gunmen to his side kicked the man down. "Search him, then throw him into the room. If he tries anything..." He turned, glaring. "Kill him first."

    "Understood." Two mercs searched the man in the suit, grabbing his phone and wallet before tossing them aside. Wolfram bent down to look at the wallet's ID.

    Richard O'Neil from Jersey City. Wolfram tossed it aside as the men threw him against the table in the room, causing food and punch to spray out everywhere.

    "Now, if all goes well, this will take no longer than a half hour out of your night." Wolfram declared to the room. "So sit tight, don't bite, and you all live. Don't, you die. Simple as that." He leered. He jabbed his handgun into David Shield's back. "Elevators my boy." He smirked, and Shield nodded, glaring at him before complying. Arnold did the same as he and two of his men walked out of the room.

    (X)

    "Okay… we cannot stay here in this bathroom…" Peter spoke as he did his utmost to get a bead on the area through the crack in the door. The armed men were overlooking the railing at regular intervals, and had posts established closer to the Reception Hall.

    "Where can we go though? From the look and sounds of things, villains have taken over the tower." Fuyumi whispered, the group as a whole keeping a low profile in the restroom. Melissa was biting on her thumb, pacing while Izuku washed his face. Shoto leaned against the wall, arms crossed and brow creased in thought while Mei stood close by with a smile on her face.

    "The first basement." Melissa spoke. "If we can get to the emergency stairs, we should be able to get down there no problem."

    "Assuming that place isn't being watched by guards." Shoto spoke in English. "We don't know how many villains there are. But the fact that they were able to restrain All Might and all the Pros in the Gala using that security system is a big tell."

    "Yeah, someone.. Someone's in the Security Sector here in the Tower. And worst of all, they're using it on the entire island." Melissa mused, arms crossed as her brow was furrowed in thought. "And if our phone service and internet are down, then that means they have access to the Server Room in the fifth basement floor."

    "So this entire thing is a coordinated operation…" Peter muttered, keeping an eye on the door crack. He saw some guards move away from the rail… "Melissa, where's the stairwell?" He asked.

    "Outside, to the left, second door." Melissa whispered, having taken Mei's spot. Peter craned his head as best as he could, and found it.

    "Okay," He turned back, seeing everyone at the ready. "Let's go!" He opened it, and walked silently but quickly towards it. He glanced back, seeing everyone else following his lead with Izuku bringing up the rear. He got to the door, opening it and gesturing everyone inside. Izuku finally came through and he closed the door. Everyone began running down the stairs, their footfalls loud and heavy in the stairwell which made Peter flinch.

    Soon they got to the basement, far enough away from any potential gunmen that Peter sighed in relief. "Okay…" He spoke first, looking at Izuku. "What's our plan here?"

    "All Might." Shoto spoke up first. "If there's anyone who can handle things, it's him."

    "Except he's bound, and there's lots of villains in that room with guns trained on everyone." Melissa replied, cupping her chin. "I hope Dad's okay… But how and why are villains here?"

    "Well, if they have the most secure place in the world under their control, could it be, like, an inside job?" Fuyumi suggested. Izuku crossed his arms, brow furrowed in thought.

    "It's possible… what do villains have to gain from being here? There's only research on quirks and techno-" He snapped his head up, answering his own question.

    "Answered it on your own." Peter said. "So, villains have locked up the tower, so they don't want anyone getting in or out. They have control of security, and the servers as well considering that we can't get a signal out to the satellites or any internet connection." He began to pace, taking note of everyone here. "Midori, what's our sitch?"

    "Sitch? Umm, I don't get it. What does that-"

    "It's slang for situation, Izuku." Melissa answered for him, offering a small smile.

    "Um, well… Me, Peter, and Todoroki can fight with our quirks. H-Hatsume-san, you don't happen to have any, well, gear on your person, do you?" He asked, and the smiling girl shook her head.

    "Nope. But, this does give me the idea for a baby to make now that ya mention it Midoriya!" She pulled a small notepad out of her cleavage and a pen-

    "Why do you have those in there?" Peter uttered in bewilderment.

    "Cause I can. I have room!" Mei chirped as she began writing. Peter sighed, hand to his forehead.

    "I know how to use my fire, but it's not as strong as Shoto's. Best I can do is melt locks or set things on fire." Fuyumi said shamefully, her fingers emitting little jets of flame.

    "And I'm quirkless, sorry everyone." Melissa said, her shoulders slumping.

    "Don't be, in fact you're probably the most important person here!" Izuku spoke out. "I mean, you know this tower like the back of your hand!"

    "Midori's right." Peter stepped up. "In any case, how can we get to the security and server rooms?"

    "Well, the server room is four floors below us, but the security room is even trickier… it's on floor two-hundred. Just several floors below Dad's office and the vault…" Melissa's eyes widened. "That has to be where they're going. The villains anyway."

    "We're gonna have to cut them off then." Shoto spoke up. "Can we access the elevators?"

    "We'll have to try." Izuku said. "But we do need to get help from the outside and-"

    "Peter." Karen spoke in his ear. "Put me on speaker."

    "You have a plan?" He asked aloud, and everyone's eyes were on him.

    "Ummm, we're talking about one right now and…" Izuku was cut off as Shoto stepped forward.

    "You have an earpiece, and you're talking to someone despite the signal and service being jammed. Parker," He said with narrowed eyes. "Who is that?"

    Peter stood, biting his lip before he took a big breath. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. The A symbol of the Avengers appeared before a flat line was shown, everyone's eyes on it.

    "Hello everyone, I am Karen."

    …

    Silence reigned in the group.

    "Who?" Shoto asked.

    "Wait, Karen. Peter, is that…" Izuku asked, eyes wide as Peter rubbed the back of his head.

    "Yeah. She's my… personal digital assistant, thing-"

    "Artificial Intelligence, but, I am more of a Personal Cyber Assistant." Karen cheekily said. "From the sound of things, it seems like this entire mechanized Island is under lockdown due to outside forces having infiltrated from the inside."

    "Wait, Peter you have an AI?" Melissa asked. "Top-Bottom or Bottom-Up?" She asked, looking at the phone as she approached.

    "She's a Bottom-Up." Mei elaborated with a big grin, and Melissa's jaw dropped.

    "How did you…" She asked, eyes now alight with interest and awe.

    "Look, I'll explain later ok?" Peter said. "Karen, you said you had a plan?" All eyes were on the phone.

    "So… Peter has an AI like those robots in his phone?" Fuyumi asked.

    "Sounds like it." Shoto affirmed.

    "If I can have the attention of the class…" Karen spoke. "As I said, it seems that we will need to counter our opponents with their own medicine. If I can get direct access into the server, then we use that saying you humans like so much. 'Fight fire with fire,' right?"

    (X)

    "Now stay down, if you know what's good for you lot." Said the leader of the men that had the entire reception room under guard. It was smaller than the main room where All Might and the other main heroes were, but Momo and Maiya were sitting down, men patrolling with rifles in hand.

    Momo had her hand concealed under the table, and her phone was poking out. No service even as she moved it back and forth. "Everything's being jammed mother." She whispered.

    "I can tell. All Might and over a dozen heroes are here… They're in no position to intervene." Maiya replied back lightly, Momo could see that her eyes were scanning over the room like a hawk. Momo looked back at the TV screen behind her, wincing at the sight of All Might on the floor of the stage bound by those Light-Tethers.

    The Symbol of Peace brought down like this, all thanks to the videos of those drones pinning the civilians down. She bit her lip. With so many men in the room, she couldn't afford to do anything, lest she or the other civilians get gunned down. She didn't notice any of the armed villains having any noteworthy quirks.

    "Seven men, two at the door, two to the right and left… one behind…" Maiya uttered lightly under her breath as Momo turned. "Momo." Her eye was on her. "You need to listen to what I have to say…"

    "Mother?"

    "Quiet." She whispered sharply. "I need you to make a smoke machine… create one under the table." Her eyes were on the men patrolling around the tables. "And have a flashbang ready too…" Momo widened her eyes.

    She turned, glaring at her. "Listen to me, I'm going to get us out of here… There's several Light-Tether ports in this room… But… they only target those ID'd on the security system as threats, so we'll have to be fast." She hissed, turning away and focusing on the men walking away.

    Momo frowned, and shoved her hand under the table. "What are you going to do?" She asked, her hand getting to work as she winced. She much preferred creating bulkier items from her back or stomach. An item like a smoking machine would take time, maybe a minute or so.

    "Trust me." Maiya replied.

    That training under Yoroi Musha was paying-

    "Hey you." She froze as she turned, seeing a man standing there with an assault rifle. "Take your hand out from under the table."

    "I, uhh…" Momo felt cold, and Maiya turned.

    "My daughter has had a long day, forgive-"

    "Shut up chink bitch!" He backhanded her, and Maiya was knocked to the floor without so much as a grunt.

    "Mother!" Momo yelled, canceling the smoke machine halfway as she rushed to her parent's side. She felt her hair get tugged and yelled, the man pulling her away.

    "You're up to something, aren't you?" The man growled, gun trained on Maiya as a muscular arm went around Momo's neck, the girl gasping.

    Maiya turned, and Momo saw something in her mother's eyes…

    "Let her go. Now." The auburn-haired woman growled, keeling over and finger tapping the floor.

    "Piss off, you should have obeyed first thing." He said, gun trained on her. "For all we know, your daughter probably has some quirk. Hey Nwusu, check under that table." One of the masked men nodded as he walked over. "Try something..." He hissed in her ear. "...and your mom's a fucking corpse."

    Momo saw one of the bulkier men approach, the other civilians hustled up in concern and worry as she had her eyes on her mother, who was finger tapping the floor as she glared right at Momo.

    The motions… Morse Code! Momo's brain went to work, deciphering it as she saw Nwusu approach…

    F-L-A-S-H-B-O-M-B

    Momo understood, struggling lightly, grunting as the man brought his elbow up to her neck as the men approached. Her quirk was at work… First ear plugs in the ears…

    Then she felt something bulge on her thigh… her dress hiding it.

    Nwusu had almost reached them. Maiya placed her hands on her ears and Momo saw her right hand beginning to glow like the rainbow.

    "Hey!" He raised his gun.

    Now or never.

    At that moment, the pinless flashbang dropped out before Momo kicked it in front of her. She closed her eyes, and bit down hard on the man's arm.

    BANG

    Yells of surprise from the other hostages and one of pain from the man erupted as Momo conjured a quick shiv and stabbed the man in the side as she was dropped, falling to the floor with her back bulging. A massive metal plate shield was conjured behind her, tearing open her expensive dress as her hands were behind her head. She could hear muffled gunfire in the distance and she looked up, trying to regain her bearings.

    It felt like forever, but she could hear the rattling of gunfire before it abruptly stopped after several well-placed muffled shots. She did her best to breathe, in and out, in and out before she felt the shield taken off of her and looked up, seeing her mother pulling her up.

    "Well done." She said, and Momo looked down at her spare hand. It had morphed into a customized silenced machine pistol. She looked around, seeing each of the masked and armed men dead. Several of the ports where the Light-Tether Whips were stationed had also been destroyed via gunshots. Any bullets capable of that would have had to be armor piercing…

    Suddenly the muffled gunshots being able to eliminate the mercenaries who had been wearing body armor made a lot more sense...

    Her mother had killed them.

    There was groaning all around them as the other hostages recovered, not having been warned about the flashbang. Momo confirmed that the enemy were all dead with a quick glance.

    She shot them dead...

    Maiya dashed over to the nearest table and grabbed a salad bowl, scarfing down on a handful of spinach. She turned towards the people who were still gaining their bearings. "On your feet! We have to barricade the doors!" She barked, running to the main door and locking it via the nearby console. "Momo! Come!" She yelled.

    "You… you killed them…" Momo uttered in shock. In some ways… she had expected this. But… she never would have expected to see her mother's quirk used as it was when she was still a contractor, like… this.

    "Momo!" Maiya barked, and Momo was brought back to reality, running over to her. Maiya's transformed hand was aimed at the console, and she began ripping out some wires with her other hand, then fired repeatedly into it.

    The door was now shut quite firmly, Momo estimating that only welding equipment could open it now.

    "That should do it. For now." Maiya breathed. "They have access to the security systems." She ran over to the other door, eyeing it and going to the control panel. She could hear yelling down the hall, and fired at the console again, frying it as the doors shut down.

    "Now we can't get out!" Said a civilian from behind them, a well-dressed black man approaching. "What are we supposed to do now!?"

    "Yeah! We should have waited for the heroes!" Added his fair-skinned companion, a lady with a pompous hairstyle as Maiya turned, glaring at them.

    "Go out and ask them to take you hostage again then. I'm sure if you're nice enough they'll shoot you last."

    No one moved, or said anything.

    She growled before she turned towards Momo, who was in her sports bra, a tattered dress, and her dress shoes. "Momo, I need you to prime up some gear."

    Momo wasn't listening, staring at the dead men bleeding across the floor.

    "FOCUS YOUNG LADY!" Maiya shouted, cupping Momo's chin and bringing it close, glaring right into her eyes. "You're in danger, and there isn't a law on this earth that will stop me from doing exactly what I need to do right now. All Might is in the next room, as is the rest of the heroes on this island, so focus. Now." She let Momo go before she turned towards the center of the room. The black haired girl didn't move. She remembered those scars on her mother's back...

    "Did you do this all the time? Back before you met Da-"

    "Momo!" Maiya growled, looking back, her eyes hard and hot. "For the last time I said to focus. When the time comes, we will discuss it. For now, make some gear… anything… Let's see..." She looked around, and looked up to see the third or fourth floor balcony beyond the glass. She raised her gun-hand up and fired several shots. The glass shattered as Maiya stood back, people yelping in surprise.

    "Momo, make a grappling gun and a pair of walkies. I'll need you to make some trip mines as well. Then-"

    (X)

    All Might perked up. He heard a loud bang and gunfire… which sounded like it was from a room barely twenty yards away! He writhed in his bindings, feeling completely helpless. He looked up, seeing the clock.

    He'd made sure to use his form sparingly today… He was over the two hour mark though. Less than an hour before he ran out.

    'Got to hold on… Young Midoriya… Dave… Melissa… stay safe!'

    (X)

    "What do you mean we've lost men down there!?" Wolfram barked as he and his team waited for the elevator to come down. He growled as David looked to his side, Samuel standing stoically but shellshocked.

    To think they had agreed to this…

    "We had all the heroes in one room," Wolfram said over his earpiece. "They took out the comms? Fucking hell Shield, the one room where you didn't install your little prime security system and this shit happens…"

    "We did." David replied. "Someone took them out faster than the system could respond."

    "I didn't ask for your commentary." The red-haired man growled, wagging his finger at him. "And where's that damn elevator?" He put his hand to his earpiece. "Swordkill, Joker, status."

    "Camera in Ball Room Three is out. Flashbang probably did it, or that bitch with the gun-hand quirk."

    "Gun-hand quirk?" Wolfram uttered. "Can you open it up?"

    "We could, but the system down there is destroyed because they shot the panels. Trying to back-channel now, but it'll take several minutes."

    Wolfram sighed. "Keep an eye on it, bigger pay all around, silver lining to all this... " He uttered and David narrowed his eyes. THAT was all he cared about upon losing his men? A bigger cut of his pay?

    "For what it's worth, I'm sorry for what hap-"

    "What did I say?" Wolfram harshly elbowed David to the ground.

    "Hey!" Samuel yelled, but he got a butt of an assault rifle to the back for his trouble.

    "We… hired you." David bit out as Wolfram walked over. He placed his boot on the auburn-haired man's chest and pressed down, making him cough.

    "You did. But someone else hired us in turn." Wolfram smirked darkly, and David's eyes widened.

    "What…"

    "We aren't some fancy acting stunt troupe, we're the real deal among the mercenary groups. On top of that… we have quite the client too. Paid not just quadruple what you were offering but… bonuses in all that fancy gear at the top of this tower." Wolfram leered, his yellow eyes shining like the devil himself.

    David felt his heart sink.

    "Elevator is almost here, look!" Said one of the mercs as Wolfram looked up, seeing the pod coming down.

    "There we are. Now up on your feet." He said, aiming his pistol at him as David was pulled up and shoved inside, the more elderly Samuel following suit.

    These men… were real villains. He'd just wanted to get that device out…

    Oh what would Melinda think of him now, watching him from Heaven above?

    They got inside before Wolfram tapped on the topmost button, but there was no reaction.

    "Huh, guess it's fingerprint-locked. Shield." Wolfram ordered. "Top floor, your office and the Vault. If you please…" He said with a devilish smirk as David glared back at him.

    He hated this monster. But… he hated himself even more for concocting this stupid ruse.

    So he pressed the top button. As the holographic panel recognized that it was him… his hand scanned across the top two dozen floors in an instant!

    He promptly took a pistol butt to the head, slamming him against the glass pane and David saw stars. He heard Samuel cry out his name.

    "Trying to die a hero, eh Shield?" Wolfram hissed. "Guess you'll be joining your wifey then!"

    "You won't get in!" David yelled. "Kill me, you'll never get inside!"

    "Oh really?" Wolfram cocked back his pistol. "Why?"

    "Quad-Lock at the true Vault…" David breathed, hand cradling his temple where the pistol struck. "Voice Recognition… Eye Scan… and Fingerprint… All while putting down a special password…" He glared, and Wolfram's eyes widened, hand going to his earpiece.

    "Swordkill, can you get into the Vault?"

    "Trying sir… fuck, not even the virus he made can help us get in!" Wolfram's eyes were back on David, alight with fury.

    "The plan was for me to give you the controls and the virus to put I-Island on lockdown, under your control…" David smirked. "About ninety-nine point nine percent of it that is…" The trenchcoat-wearing villain grabbed David by the scruff of his shirt and slammed him against the glass.

    "You're lucky I need you alive." He hissed, getting up in his face.

    "You need me for the vault… I won't open it for you then… even if we get up there… you're stuck…"

    Wolfram growled, before his bared teeth expression turned upside down into a smirk. "Alright. If dying or those hostages won't motivate you then…" He brought up his hand to his earpiece, dropping David as the man slumped down. Samuel bent down, checking on him.

    "Eyes on the girl?" He spoke.

    "Going through the cameras, haven't seen her since she left the ballroom. She ain't inside any of them, or down in the first floor lobby."

    David's blood went cold. "No… leave her alone." Wolfram looked back down, and leered at him.

    "Bring her to me. I want all cameras to search for her and-"

    "Ohhh bingo!" Said a female voice that made Wolfram wince.

    "Pipe down Joker! And not so loud!"

    "You're looking for Melissa Shield yeah?" Said this 'Joker'. "One of my prospects is with her now…"

    "Where?" Wolfram grinned darkly.

    "First basement, bunch of brats."

    "I'll send some men down there, they'll flush them out to you if able."

    "Sounds like a plan, big dog." 'Joker' replied back. "Me and the gang will prepare. Joker out."

    "Leave her alone I-"

    "Melissa Shield will live, along with all the hostages I have on this Island, as per my word." Wolfram spoke, gun trained on David's face. "As long as you agree to open the vault."

    David remained silent.

    (x)

    Enji looked down at his phone, seeing that the call had been cut off as he was waiting for a taxi after retrieving his luggage from the baggage claim. Then the red glow of the lockdown from the security system began flashing as he saw more of those security drones roaming near people.

    The fact that his phone's signal had been cut off, combined with how these robots were acting... The following announcement from the public address system brought his thoughts to a screeching halt. A bomb in I-Island? One of the most heavily guarded places in the entire world?

    "Hey! We have to get to a hotel!" Said one of the nearby civilians as Enji turned, seeing them move past the security drones… only for the drones to open fire with their standard loadout of rubber bullets! Screams sounded out.

    "Hostile Activity detected. Preventative Counter-Measures engaged." The drones lifted the top plate on their heads and began to fire… some kind of foam followed by another round of gunfire.

    "Flashfire Fist!" Heat erupted just under his skin, honed from decades of training, focusing it into the frontal point of his finger. "Hell Spider!" Enji swiped his finger in a hard line, superheated fire arcing through the air, slicing through metal and vegetation like a sword through butter. The security drones fell to the ground, little more than sparking slag.

    The people looked to him as his mask and beard ignited around his face.

    "To the hotel, all of you!" He bellowed.

    His raging tone brought some out of their shock while others stood there, happy and content due to his presence.

    But, they weren't moving.

    "MOVE!" He declared, fire arcing off his form to motivate them.

    That inspired anyone else that was unwilling to move before. Streams of people flowed past on either side of him, giving him their thanks as they moved towards safety. Enji stood vigilant, eyes on a swivel for any additional security drones. There weren't any, but more pressingly, the sounds of battle were present in the central hall, where the gala was supposed to be.

    Endeavor couldn't help but sneer.

    What was that showboating oaf doing? He was there, in the thick of it, but he wasn't pulling his weight.

    That idiot, didn't the so-called Number One hero know that people in there needed saving? That his family was there?

    He stormed forwards, fire curling off of him so intensely that metal trash cans turned to slag and concrete steamed under his feet.

    Endeavor didn't know what had caused all of this, but whoever was responsible, they were going down.

    Hard.

    (X)

    Minutes prior

    It was dark in this enclosed space. She had scrambled in there when she heard the first gunshots.

    All she wanted to do was explore this place. Daddy always held off on that due to work getting in the way… but on the night of the I-Expo Opening Night Gala when he was invited, she finally got her chance. To explore Daddy's workplace! She'd always dreamed of working there some day, but he didn't wanna show her. No place for kids and all that.

    She went down more and more floors, happy to be away from his smothering self, annoying as it was, and managed to even get down to the cold cold basement where a bunch of servers the size of houses were! And the entire basement was as big as an apartment complex!

    But then.. Gunshots rang out. People began dying.

    She did the first thing she could by dashing off to a janitor closet and hiding. She heard… footsteps and covered her mouth, her eye at the keyhole of the door. She could even hear the clanging of… blades.

    And an assortment of people passed as the young black-haired girl did her best not to make a sound.

    "Hmmph, all clear here." The mass of swords with a male voice said. The girl heard footsteps, and saw someone approach from the other side.

    "Yeah, just finished my route too. Seems like we have this place in lockdown. Now we hold the fort, and wait till Wolfram gets the goods." It was a woman, a sly sounding one at that as she got a look at her from the keyhole, albeit briefly. Body armor all over her, armed with a pistol, short buzzed brown hair… but what stood out was that one of her eyes was missing, and in its place, was a bright multi-faceted gem of some kind in her eye socket. "But, gotta check on our prospects first… Oh?" She moved her hand rapidly as her jewel-eye glowed and displayed some kind of holographic screen as the man with…. swords on his very hands walked over.

    "Ohhh bingo!" She chirped, hand on her earpiece.

    "Pipe down Joker! And not so loud!" Barked a male voice on the other side.

    "You're looking for Melissa Shield yeah?" Said this 'Joker'. "One of my prospects is with her now…"

    "Where?" The other voice demanded in satisfaction.

    "First basement, bunch of brats." Joker said, the holograph before her showing a first person display of… someone talking to an assortment of people, mostly Asian save for a blond-haired girl.

    "I'll send some men down there, they'll flush them out to you if able."

    "Sounds like a plan, big dog." 'Joker' replied back, grinning darkly. "Me and the gang will prepare. Joker out." She let her hand fall. "Okay Claude, let's get Obi, Morgana, and Leonard ready."

    "Big fight coming our way?"

    "Possibly, I recognize some of those kids from the recent Sports Festival," Joker said, "They're all finalists."

    "Aren't they still a bunch of brats?" the man asked.

    Joker scoffed, "If you're going to blow a job on underestimating the group of kids that could fill a stadium with ice or blast through concrete like it was paper mache, go right ahead."

    Something clicked into place, and the safety of something else flipped off.

    "I'm making damn sure I'm getting paid for this shit."

    The two walked, and slowly a terrified set of eyes watched as the mercenaries moved out. The girl huddled in the closet, keeping quiet, and prayed silently. For someone… anyone.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Lot of moving parts in this chapter. Peter being unable to tie a tie is a decent gag but might have gone on too long.

    While the action was relatively solid, and the mood tense, I'm hoping that we get a bit more divergence with Midoriya's group soon. On the other hand I think Maiya doing things was a welcome addition as was Endeavor vaguely trying not to fail as a human being.
     
    Well groups down members and the villains are onto them sooner than canon (I think) so fight to the top won't be easy, but more importantly,
    Who the hell is the girl...
     
    Dark as Silver said:
    Well groups down members and the villains are onto them sooner than canon (I think) so fight to the top won't be easy, but more importantly,
    Who the hell is the girl...
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    What do yo inmean. We took out a lot of inexperienced brats and replaced with:

    Spider-Man minus his web shooters. An AI who is a leash and a guilty conscience away frlm being Ultron, and Endeavor
     
    Zaru said:
    What do yo inmean. We took out a lot of inexperienced brats and replaced with:

    Spider-Man minus his web shooters. An AI who is a leash and a guilty conscience away frlm being Ultron, and Endeavor
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Endeavors a fair way from helping, and purely from a meta perspective I don't think you'd let him sweep Wolframs entire team... would be anticlimactic. Mellissa didn't really need any tech help from Karen and the firewalls locking her out from playing overwatch ideally. Peter vs Bakugo wasn't so one sided that I think he is clearly more useful than Bakugo, Krishima and Momo.
    I'm not saying this is impossible in anyway, just that I think the odds are more against them then in canon. Unless I'm missing something.
     
    Chapter 41
  • Threadmarks
    • Alright, let's make this simple.

    Mercenary company running rampant, took over the most technologically advanced island in the world, and the number one hero is locked away.

    It was honestly sad that this wasn't even the worst party that Peter had gone to.

    "Alright, we might have to fight fire with fire."

    Shoto quirked an eyebrow.

    "Maybe 'give 'em a taste of your own medicine' would have worked better?" Peter mused as he looked at the phone.

    "Do you want to go over analogies and metaphors or do you want to stop this crisis?" Karen asked dryly. "Now then, listen up, I have a plan. Melissa." The blonde girl perked up. "Can the security room be disabled remotely?"

    "Well, you could, but you'd either have to knock out all the power, or find a way to hack into the servers. Then, you get full access to the island and everything within that isn't under a dozen layers of firewalls." She answered.

    "A dozen firewalls? How boring." Karen replied cheekily while Melissa put her hands on her hips, brow quirked up. "Anywho, that itself answers my own question… We can solve a lot of things on this island if we go for the brain of the Island itself. The servers that run all the bandwidth and internet here."

    "What would you consider the heart then?" Fuyumi asked.

    "Bit of a nonsequiteur but that would be Melissa Shield's father. The main villain seemed intent on taking your father from that broadcast, know where he might take him?" Karen asked. The girl looked nervous, but she nodded.

    "I'm not sure… he could take him anywhere... But if he's keeping him alive…" Melissa cupped her chin in thought. "The vault. It's over my Dad's office. But, why there?"

    "Well, I mean, vaults hold important stuff." Peter mused.

    "No, it's not like a typical bank vault, it's a public display one. All the gear up there is on display. They're fakes…"

    "Then he may be going to David's office." Izuku spoke up. "It's why he took him there after all. Maybe he has something on his computer?"

    "But it doesn't add up." Melissa shook her head. "If they wanted only what was on his PC, they would have done it a lot more quietly… And without all this hostage stuff. Why bother going through with it?"

    "Ms. Shield seems to be on the right track here." Karen spoke out. "Before the satellites went out, I had access to in-depth information on I-Island. The vault is as Melissa described: a public display, probably for higher-ups within the Foundation that can be accessed via a steel door. Yet that villain needs him up there, so…"

    "Something is legit up there." Peter finished for her.

    "We're running out of time. What's our plan here?" Shoto cut in, stepping forward as he reached up and loosened his tie.

    "We have to save David Shield and stop that villain no matter what. But the entire Island is under his control…" Izuku muttered, looking down.

    "And that is where I come in." Karen said proudly. "If I can get into the system here on I-Island, particularly the servers so that I can sneak right in without needing to trigger an alarm, and have the entire island freed and under my control." Peter perked up.

    "But your… safeguard thing. Wouldn't that be an issue for a city-state like I-Island?" Peter didn't notice, but Izuku cocked an eyebrow.

    "I cannot access government or military installations Peter." Karen was smirking with that tone. "But man-made islands designed by a private company? That's fair game…"

    "So we better move fast. Me and Karen can handle going to the servers. Melissa, you know where they are?"

    "Fifth basement level." Melissa pointed towards the stairs. "I don't think the elevators will work assuming we trigger any alarms if they have this island on lockdown… Best place to access and control the servers would be the main terminal at the backend of the room. Giant supercomputer past all those server towers, can't miss it."

    "Okay. Are there any USB cords on you guys? Like any phone charger stuff?" Peter inquired.

    "Mine is my purse, and I left it back at the Gala…" Fuyumi rubbed her arm.

    "Didn't bring mine." Melissa shook her head.

    "Me neither."

    "Damn. Could use Momo's hel-" Peter cut himself off, and suddenly the mood changed. He felt a growing pit in his stomach at this thought...

    "Yaoyorozu's here, isn't she?" Fuyumi asked, sensing where this conversation was going as he could sense that his feeling was indeed mutual.

    "She's either being held hostage, or she's out there against those robots, we don't know." Izuku replied. His voice was firm. "Listen, we can only focus on what we can do right now. Besides, Yaoyorozu can handle herself." The American boy sighed. Leave it to Midori to be a calming influence.

    "Sooner we get Karen into the system, the better. You guys take the elevators then?" Peter asked.

    "Assuming they're not on lockdown…" Fuyumi looked away, holding her arm.

    Shoto spoke up next. "So our best route to get to the top of the tower…"

    "...Is the stairs." Izuku finished for him. "We won't be able to make it in time! Todoroki, can your ice surge carry us up there?"

    "I could try, but I'll slow down fast. Two hundred floors plus. The height of this tower is no joke." Shoto said stoically as he looked back to the green-haired youth.

    "If I can get into one of the elevators, I can bust into the circuitry to hardwire it." Melissa stepped up. "But I need to be inside one of them and play with the wires."

    "So that settles it." Izuku nodded. "Peter, will you need anyone to help you down below?"

    "I can handle it my-"

    "Ummmm."

    He turned, finding Mei looking somewhat nervous, which was unnatural on her face, even with her smile.

    She cringed. "That security camera is active."

    She pointed and sure enough, nestled in a corner just past some pipes he could see a camera blinking with a red light.

    Well crud.

    "We better move." Fuyumi said.

    "Stay close to me." Shoto put a hand on his sister's arm, looking at Izuku. "Midoriya, I'll back you up. I don't think my quirk would be beneficial in a server room unless we want this island to sink into the ocean…"

    "Me and Mei will go down below and handle the servers. With any luck, you won't have to play with wires like Jack Bauer and it's a smooth ride to the top, or All Might beats you up there and all's well." The brown-haired boy said as he went to the door that led to the further basement stairwell. "They know we're here… Can't hide it now."

    (X)

    Ruby saw Parker depart from the group and smirked, her eye showing his line of sight as he left the first floor and headed to the stairwell.

    "Hey Wolfram, Shield's daughter is with some strong-ass kids. U.A. Sports Festival types." She said with her hand to her earpiece as she walked amongst the towering servers within the cold room.

    "Who am I looking at exactly?" He replied gruffly.

    "Something wrong with the ride up to the top?"

    "We're at floor 115, but it's gonna be slower when we pass 175…" He growled, making Ruby quirk an eyebrow. "Anyways, I have a team going over to the basement now."

    "Better establish a defensive perimeter and guard the elevators, if at all possible, destroy 'em." She suggested. "We got escape choppers for you guys, right?"

    "On call, yeah. You have yours waiting on standby at the hangars by the Airport. My men will have them open and my pilots will pick us up when we have what we want."

    "Good. We'll get into position."

    (X)

    Peter and Mei were trotted across the third basement floor as they departed that stairwell, heading towards the fourth floor. The walls were becoming more gunmetal grey than the inviting whites and blues from before, as this was becoming more of the 'tedious' part of I-Tower's facilities no doubt. Where the all-nighters, janitors, and IT Techs worked around the clock.

    "Okay, so if they have the servers on lockdown Mei…" Peter said as they got to the doorway leading to the fourth stairwell. The sign to the side identified that it led to basement levels 4 and 5, meaning this would be the last one. "I'm gonna have to take them down. Can you do me a favor?"

    "Sure. Wassup?" She asked with a grin.

    "You seem… awfully calm."

    "Would it be better if I was freaking out and making sure that everyone on the island knows where we are?" she asked.

    "Uhhh, no?" Peter tried.

    "That shouldn't be a question Peter," Karen said in his ear.

    "Give me a break, I'm about this close to breaking out Die Hard quotes, and that's not how anyone would want to live their weekend."

    Mei didn't comment on his reference. Neither did Karen, both of them were probably on the lookout. Mei's quirk-enhanced eyes scanned every surface, looking for traps, or just enemies in general.

    Walking down to the final step of the basement, the label 'Basement Level 5' was emblazoned over the door leading inwards. Mei nodded in confirmation of something, but he trusted her to mean that it was good to open. A quick twist later, he paused, inching his head through the doorway. Both sides were clear, with the exception of the rotating cameras.

    "Two cameras," he said, glancing down at his wrists and sighing. He was gonna bring his web shooters with him from now on to any event, unnecessary or not.

    "Probably would have spotted us anyway since ya poked your head out, but no biggie." The pinkette mused.

    He handed his phone to Mei, and the girl looked down at it. "Can you keep her safe?"

    "My hardline connection is letting me get a signal through to this platform through the faraday cage. If something happens to it, I'll be cut off like all other external signals from the island. This phone gets destroyed, you're on your own." Karen explained from the phone, and Mei looked down at her, then back to Peter with her eyes creased in worry, but her smile still present… but not as wide.

    "Yeah. I'll keep her safe," Mei gave him a warm smile.

    "Thank you." Peter patted her on the shoulder and gave her the phone. "Okay, I'll go first. Ready?"

    The pinkette nodded, and Peter took a deep breath. "Go time." He uttered, opening the door and walking forward with her, taking the lead as they exited the stairwell.

    The servers seemed to take up the whole sublevel, they were standing in a large box-like warehouse, with servers hugging the walls and lined up perfectly along the room, reaching high like stacked bookshelves.

    At the far end of the room he could spy a glass pane door with a large computer terminal inside.

    Had to be the control room.

    His spider senses exploded, coming from behind. He grabbed Mei and embraced her, launching both of them to the side. The door to the stairwell entry was blown apart by an explosive as the two landed. They rolled across the ground, Peter on top of her as Mei screamed, clutching the phone to her chest.

    "You woulda been better off hidin' in a broom closet til this whole thing blew over, kid." A voice called from above, Peter looked, finding a familiar redhead with a pixie cut.

    He blinked. Staring at the woman. "Greeeeat. My first fan turns out to be a terrorist. That's just my luck." He muttered, helping Mei back to her feet as he turned to look at the stairwell doorway where a fat bald black guy was standing, pulling a machine gun out of his gut as he lumbered through the shattered remains of the door.

    "I'mma ask you once." Ruby, if that was her name, drawled, leaning over the railing of the catwalk above, rifle in hand. In the place where her eyepatch was, Peter could make out something shiny in there… like a gemstone of sorts. "Sit there, play nice and you and your girlfriend won't get killed tonight. Give me a hard time," She cocked the rifle menacingly, "and winning that Sports Festival will be the highlight of your very very short life."

    "Peter-" Karen 'whispered' in his ear. "this close, I can hack into the local camera feeds. There's five of them. Two more by the north side, one to the west, they're surrounding you. Keep them off of Mei... and I can lead her through to the terminal without being seen."

    The servers would give them a natural cover... both to hide and from gunfire. Their enemies couldn't cause too much damage to them, otherwise the whole island's security system would shut down and All Might would be freed anyway. Probably why they were asking him to just play nice...

    Ok... ok.

    "Mei." He swallowed, looking at the girl who's eyes now glimmered with tears, but still she clutched the phone tight, looking directly at him and hanging on his every word. Peter felt sick. "When I say that I need you to run, listen to Karen from the phone. Ok?'

    She gave a single, shaky nod.

    Peter turned his eyes up, looking to Ruby as the woman eyed him with an all-too-smug smirk on her face.

    "Alright." He said, loud enough for her to hear. "I give."

    "Good boy." She looked to the black guy, jerking her head. "If you would please."

    The man reached into his stomach, his hand and forearm sinking into his exposed gut as light seemed to shimmer as his hand was inside, reminding him of Momo's Creation Quirk, only to pull out some heavy-duty handcuffs, the kind meant to restrain strength quirks.

    He tossed the cuffs. "Put em on."

    The heavy metal clanked hard over the floor and Peter reached for it.

    He watched the man out of his peripheral vision.

    He lowered the rifle just a hair.

    And Peter threw the cuffs straight at him.

    The man brought the rifle up, only for the heavy cuffs to slam into the rifle and then his chest, denting the rifle visibly, rendering the weapon completely useless as Peter rushed forward, shouting behind him. "RUN!"

    He heard Mei get up and start to run, her sneakers thumping against the floor.

    He heard Ruby curse and Peter pushed himself faster, leaping up and over the still-reeling black guy to land behind him, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back as he leveraged his massive strength advantage to force the man in front of him, using him as a human shield.

    His spider senses tingled, west side.

    He turned his head, looking and finding some... projectiles rushing towards him, each visibly distorting the air as they barreled towards him with the size of golf balls.

    He kicked the black guy in the back, shoving him straight into a server with a crash as he leapt up and away to clutch the side of a high server, skittering along the walls to break line of sight as he heard the strange projectiles hit the wall in bursts of air.

    His senses tingled again, turning his gaze up towards Ruby where the woman fired two quick shots from her rifle.

    He dodged once, jerking to barely avoid the other as it grazed his side.

    Dropping back down to the ground level he ran, rushing into cover to gain some distance in the maze of servers.

    "Hey Dor!" Yelled the black guy, coughing and wheezing in pain. "Get the girl! She's headin' around the side!"

    Mei!

    Peter moved, rushing as fast as he could. He didn't know where she was, or who the hell Dor was but he couldn't let her get hurt!

    He was just about to rush across an open lane between the servers when his Spider Sense exploded across his brain, screeching at him of danger.

    He stopped dead, swiveling fast and only just felt the bullet graze across his ear in a heartstopping moment that spiked his adrenaline and sent his heart to racing.

    What the-

    "Bullshit!"

    His eyes snapped up towards Ruby, still on the catwalks, snarling as she adjusted the rifle in her hands, infuriated at the near miss.

    She fired off another shot and Peter ducked past her firing lane, into the cover of another server as he felt the bullet rip across the loose back of his suit jacket.

    He breathed, slowing down his heart before looking around and assessing the damage.

    "This was a rental!" He complained loudly, hoping to draw more attention to himself.

    He heard Mei scream, a shout of pure fright, and Peter didn't waste another second, rushing to where he heard the sound he spotted Mei backing away from someone at the other side of a server tower.

    He smashed straight through it.

    Wire, shards of metal, plexiglass and everything else was blown apart, the debris smashing into someone that Peter bowled over before his spider senses exploded in warning again and he brought his arm up, feeling knives dig into the flesh of his forearm as he blocked a strike with little more than a suit and dress shirt to act as armor. A man with a pale complexion, glasses, and slick green-black hair had a scowl, his katana-like blades sprouting from each of his fingers as he swiped and slashed at Peter. What made it more complex was the unique ring-like device around his head, and he had some kind of plastic-metal boots that made him hover above the ground.

    Peter ducked and weaved between the blows before countering with a solid left hook that slipped between his opponent's guard. It sent the man reeling, hover boots carrying him back in an uncontrolled spin to slam into another server tower.

    His Spider Senses tingled.

    Above.

    Snapping his gaze straight upwards, he half-expected to see Ruby again, but it wasn't her. Instead it was a winged monster, screeching loud enough to make his ears ring before it slammed straight into him. His new opponent's legs crashed down onto Peter's arms as his own legs buckled beneath him and he crashed to the ground.

    "GO!" He screamed again, feeling and seeing Mei jump in fright before she turned away and did just that.

    The monster above him screeched and howled, trying to claw at his face and eyes, looking to tear him open as Peter did his best to fend off the monster.

    He was stronger. But those claws were sharp, tearing into both skin and flesh.

    Finally, he managed to get his feet between them and kicked it off. It scrambled back to its feet but he was faster, twisting to plant his feet on a server he struck with an uppercut that clocked the bat thing right along the underside of its jaw, knocking it on its back before he performed a jumping flip off the server to crash onto the fallen monster in a drop kick that smashed into its ribs.

    His spider sense tingled and he ducked back and away, avoiding a swipe of the Freddy Kruger impersonator before he leapt back and high, gaining some distance and sprinting away along the server.

    He felt himself being pulled down to the ground suddenly, yelling as if some invisible hand of God was grabbing him and smashing him down. The air exploded out of him, the metal floors buckling and denting under the impact.

    Spider senses tingled before he did a backwards roll, getting back into cover just before the black guy hosed down the lane he'd landed in with machine gun fire.

    Damn… What was that? Was tha-

    Peter yelled in surprise as he felt himself being tugged out of cover, going towards the wall in a curve as his Sense flared up. He twisted, latching onto another server with his fingers and forcing himself to cling to it with all his might.

    The metal buckled, gave way and was ripped clean off, but it'd stalled him enough apparently to throw off the shot, the sniper bullet ripping through his side and emerging clean out the other end.

    Pain seared across his body. He hit something hard, bringing him to a stop but he didn't have time to catch his breath. He forced himself to move, all but diving into cover as Ruby took another shot.

    He took a breath, making a mental tally as his hand cradled his now bleeding side, feeling the sticky warmth of his own blood.

    Alright. Fat guy that can pull stuff out of his gut.

    Ruby doing a Professor Snipe impression.

    Freddy Kruger.

    And a Freaky Bat thing.

    So that must mean the guy he knocked down when he ripped through the server to get to Mei was the one pulling him around the room. Maybe when he touched the guy? Had to be. Otherwise he'd be tossing Mei around too.

    He heard footsteps drawing close and the lights above suddenly went dark, bringing the whole room into almost complete darkness.

    Karen?

    "The hell's goin' on!?" Someone said.

    "Musta damaged some of the systems with all this gunfighting." Ruby's voice crackled through the radio." Get the girl. I don't have eyes on her!"

    "On it."

    "No you don't!" Peter thought, forcing himself to his feet before turning and running.

    (X)

    Izuku led the way as Melissa trailed behind him, Todoroki taking the rear with Fuyumi as the four ran across the basement halls. Seeing the security cameras, Todoroki wisely used his ice to freeze the wall and the cameras to halt their progress. Using Melissa's guidance, they got to the corridor where the elevator shaft was.

    "Here!" Izuku yelled, pointing at the multiple doors of the 1st Basement Floor elevators as Melissa ran up to the panel, pressing on the button. The holographic display above it blared 'ACCESS DENIED'.

    "I need to get into the wiring by removing this panel," Izuku reached forward, before Melissa put a hand on his. "Delicately. L-Like a blowtorch or something. I don't have any tools to get it otherwise…"

    "Here, let me." Fuyumi stepped forward, smiling and lifting up a finger as a steady flame emitted from it. She knelt down, and began to flare her quirk as she began to slowly trail her finger down the metal, cutting through the light pane. "It will take a mome-"

    The sound of footsteps made them pause, and Todoroki turned, lashing out his arm as ice surged out en masse down the other direction much like how he conjured the glacier at the Sports Festival's War of the Flags. The hallway was smothered in ice, and they could hear shouts of surprise and orders to advance.

    "Villains." Todoroki growled. He heard a roar, and the ice was being chipped away. Izuku stood behind him, glowing.

    "Any faster?" He asked, looking back to Fuyumi.

    "I gotta be steady, I'm going as fast as I can!" She yelled back, and then they heard loud crashes from the other side of the glacial barriers

    "They have power-type or transformation Quirks." Todoroki uttered, looking back. "Midoriya, I can erect the glacier barrier again, but we will have to take out those stronger villains first. When they come through, we take them down, and I get the barrier up in a hurry."

    Izuku glowed green and nodded, lightning arcing around him. "Leave it to me." They could see the outline as the first Power-type user neared.

    "Okay! Here they come!" Todoroki levied his arm, warming up to get rid of the frost on his red suit. The ice was broken down, and a massive man in kevlar towering at ten feet tall burst through. He looked like a Japanese Oni, with giant muscular features, purple skin, a bushy white beard, gnarly teeth, and a horn.

    "Not so-"

    "Texaaaas!"

    "Huh?!"

    "Smaaash!"

    And he got a fist right to the face, and the giant was sent sprawling with a gargled roar, smashing into some of his fellows on the way.

    'One for All… Ten Percent!' And the power rushed through him as he leapt into the fray, tackling the first surprised merc he could see with a leaping punch and sending the armored villain flying.

    He heard a roar and saw something green flash by as he yelped, falling backwards as he avoided small arms fire. The other Power-type was some hulking man with the head of a person combined with the claws and legs of a lion!

    Izuku leapt away, back into the elevator room as Todoroki sent another massive surge forward, pushing away the old ice and catching the rest of the armed men in the process.

    "That'll hold him." Todoroki turned towards his sister. "Progress?"

    "Halfway… done…" Fuyumi uttered. They heard more yelling, and Izuku just barely made out the english words for 'back up'. He turned towards her.

    "They're gonna bring more down here. Just gotta-" He caught himself, seeing one of the lights above the elevator doors glowing. The icon indicating the second floor was glowing… and moving down to the first floor. "They're gonna flank us!" Izuku called, as he heard small explosions on the other end. They had to be using grenades to get at the ice, keeping their distance this time.

    Todoroki ran to where he was, seeing the elevator that was going down about to settle on the Basement icon as he aimed with his left. As the door opened, he surged out his ice, catching the villains and freezing them within as they yelled in surprise.

    "They'll bring down more." He said, turning back to Fuyumi as she continued going over the panel delicately with her flame. "We need to hurry."

    "Todoroki, can you frost this over to cool it down?" Melissa stepped back as the two boys walked up. The dual-haired youth obliged, freezing over the panel lightly as the sides steamed from the sudden burst of cold. With that done, Izuku dug in with his fingers, grimacing as he used One for All to strengthen his fingers and pull the panel like a door. As it screeched, he exposed the wiring and circuitry within.

    "My turn boys." Melissa knelt down as Fuyumi stood up, slightly shaking her finger and sucking on it. Todoroki turned.

    "Your finger." He took her hand, seeing that her index fingertip had the skin peeling back.

    "Sorry, been a hot minute since I used my quirk for that long."

    "Okay… move the wiring here…" Melissa uttered, tinkering around inside. "Should activate the system…"

    The sound of a walkie talkie being on caught their ears.

    "Give me a status report! What's going on down there!" Yelled a gruff male voice.

    "Got it!" Melissa declared, and with a ding, the elevator door opened, all of them turning and getting inside.

    (X)

    "What do you mean you lost control of that elevator!?" Wolfram barked as his elevator strolled past floor 194. The other mercs were giving him a wide berth, with Shield by their side and quiet as the red-haired man yelled into his earpiece. As they ascended the tower, they could see the dim-lighted view of I-Island at night, swathed in red with the lockdown in place.

    "They must have hardwired it! I'm trying to commandeer it, but it's no good!" Swordkil responded.

    "If they do hardwire it, where would they go…"

    "I got a team ready to hold Security here." Swordkil said. "We have knock-out gas at the ready."

    "Fine, you hold it there. If they come your way, let me know, we only need the girl alive, and that can be…" He turned, glaring at the founder of the Shield Foundation. "A very broad term."

    "You won't hurt her." David uttered out. One of his men gave him a rifle butt to the back for his comment.

    "What's the situation in Ballroom 3?"

    "I sent some men down to the basement after those brats. I can call them back to infiltrate that room."

    "Fine," Wolfram uttered. "Go in hot. Leave no one alive."

    "You can't! Those are civi-"

    "SHUT UP!" Wolfram backhanded the uppity plump scientist against the wall, stunned. He growled at the sight of the groaning man as his men let him sit there dazed, looking out to the rest of I-Island. David said nothing, looking distraught as Sam groaned. "Split the team watching over the first floor to Ballroom 3 and-"

    "Sir look." Said Parks, and Wolfram turned.

    "What?" He saw it. Out in the city… were big fiery explosions. "I need cameras on the city. What's going on?" If Joker fucked things up in her fight against those kids in the Server room…

    "Getting cameras up now…" Swordkil said. "Sending feed to your tablet." The red-haired man reached into his coat pocket, pulling out his phone and seeing the screen display a street filled with security drones. They were firing laser whips and bullets at… something, before a gout of flame consumed them as big as the street, making Wolfram's eyes widen. The drones exploded, and leaping down, was a man in a torn-up business suit swathed in flame. And red hair…

    "ID, now." Wolfram growled.

    "Checking…" Swordkil replied, and as they rose up to floor 195 and stopped, the door opening and closing, Wolfram bit his lip. The one thing that can fuck up over a job was a surprise. He HATED surprises…

    "No way... "

    "What? Who was that?" Wolfram asked, sensing the fear in his lieutenant's voice.

    "Sir, the match is that of a Top Ten Hero, from Japan! It's Endeavor!"

    "What?!" Wolfram uttered. "The only Top Ten Pro Hero from any country coming here was All Might. Those private plane dossiers and registry said so!"

    "I-I know! I-It's like he just appeared out of nowhere! There were no cruises coming in, and… checking over the commercial flights now…" Wolfram growled, pocketing his phone. "Oh crap," Swordkil spoke up some more. "His route… he's heading here for the Tower!"

    "But his fire can't get through the metal barriers on the first floors." Martinez spoke, listening in on their conversation. "We should be safe!"

    "You wanna bank on that?" Wolfram growled. "Martinez, leave a few men to watch over the first floor civies. Direct the team from the basement and the second floor from most of them watching the other ballrooms outside to get into position. Direct Lazlo's team to keep an eye on Ballroom 3. Doesn't look like they're gonna do much of anything but if they do, gun them all down the moment you hear something funny on the second floor." Wolfram ordered. "Swordkil, keep an eye on those cameras. Joker?"

    "Busy right now! This little spider doesn't know when to stay put and die!" Yelled Joker on her end, gunfire heard. "Obi! Find that pink-haired bitch and put a bullet in her skull! Kil! Get the lights back on in here! We're in the fucking dark!"

    "Quit having a period over it, I'm directing power now." Swordkil scoffed.

    Wolfram sighed and breathed through his nose. The intel was all coming bellyfuck up now… His client and David had given him the dossier to all private planes that heroes took… So how in the goddamn hell did the Number Two Hero in Japan wind up here!?

    (X)

    It surprised Momo how quickly she could function automatically. Her hands moved practically on their own, even as her quirk kept making everything that they would need.

    Which was a lot, especially when it came to the fact that the room was no doubt about to be besieged by several armed mercenaries who more than likely wouldn't want to take any prisoners and-

    "You're overthinking things."

    Momo flinched slightly at her mother's tone, and despite the gravity of the situation, seeing her mother check several grenades with one hand while adjusting the sights on her quirk was still surreal. She grabbed some of the bread the tables had and munched on it.

    "Just how are we going to get everyone out of here?"

    "Once they realize holding this position will do them more harm than good, they'll leave us alone," Maiya said, "And once All Might is freed, we'll be the last thing they'll have to worry about. Speaking of which, how is he?"

    She didn't direct the question towards Momo, it was instead pointed at one of the other guests. An older man with a peppered beard and enough mass to fill out his suit, by the name of Timothy Bale. The man had volunteered to help get them eyes on the Number One hero. Courtesy of the device Momo had conjured up, a long-tethered camera with a single lens, he had walked backward from the balcony overlooking All Might's ballroom back to her's, then connected the wiring to someone's smartphone who had a full charge.

    "Struggling, those light-tethers are tight around him, but he seems to be managing. I think he's trying to get into a position where he can get those villains before they turn on the hostages, if I had to guess" the man answered.

    Maiya let out a sigh of relief, a feeling that Momo shared, though it did have some downsides.

    Not the stealthiest of plans, but the mercenaries already knew that this room was compromised, so anything else wouldn't exactly make any difference.

    With that in mind, the rest of the guests that were willing to work, and those who were unwilling to be under the ire of Maiya continued barricading the doors. Tables for the raw weight and tv wires to tie the doors together. Within the fifteen minutes that they first took control of the room, they practically had several barricades, and even some firing lines. Though, those firing lines only had people with meager protection firearms, and that was only the people that had them in the first place. Under the fire of military-grade weaponry, they wouldn't last.

    Besides Maiya herself, they barely had ten weapons to the room's name, taking whatever firearms and ammunition they had from the dead mercenaries. Not a situation where anyone would want to be in, so Momo was evening the odds. Flashbangs, grenades, web bombs, anything that everyone with a hand could use when the situation came down to it.

    Everything they needed to last a bit longer before the Number One hero freed himself.

    "So it's only a matter of time," Momo muttered.

    "We can only hope," Maiya commented.

    "Hang on, I see movement." Bale spoke out. "A few mercs are leaving the room."

    "Why would they lessen All Might's guard?" Maiya mused.

    "For all we know they may just be moving outside." Bale said, looking back to the chestnut-haired woman.

    "Or they're going to back up the breach team and kill all of us faster."

    Her gaze hardened when the sound of wood splintering filled the small room. What little conversation that was happening between the other guests died. On the south end, the door started to bend outwards with a massive crash.

    "Everyone ready!" Maiya called.

    She raised her weapon, taking a stance next to her daughter. Momo in turn brought up two different explosives, and the others put themselves behind the cover and metal shields that the black-haired beauty had made for them. Those who didn't or couldn't fight ran to the back of the room behind additional cover.

    They didn't have to win, just last until All Might arrived.

    (X)

    Peter breathed hard in the hallway as he slumped against the wall.

    He closed his eyes, hearing yelling from that Ruby chick from out in the main foyer. The only lights there were the blinking lights of the servers.

    "Fucking hell Kil, get those lights back up! I can't find Parker without those lights!" He heard her cry out.

    He heard more voices, one of them gruff… "Let me use my echolocation, I can find him and the girl." Echolocation, didn't dolphins use that? And...

    "Bats…" Peter uttered under his breath, wincing as his hands ached. He was in pitch-black darkness in a hallway, leaning against the middle.

    "Do it Morg'. They had some plan when they had their little huddle up top. Has to revolve around that phone he gave her."

    Peter's mind raced as he looked at the ground. Okay, so Ruby knew of the plan back on the first basement floor… but what about the phone? That was right before they entered the server room! He gave it to Mei but…

    "East corridor! Movement!" The gruff female voice roared, and his blood froze.

    Sense flaring up!

    Peter legged it, running as he got to the luminated hallway with windows looking out to the blinking servers.

    Right when a massive bat monster crashed through, claws stretched over the shower of broken glass as Peter closed his eyes.

    He ducked, and grabbed her outstretched wing-claw and gave her a punch right to the face, slamming the beast into the wall using her momentum and turned, sprinting.

    "Leg it Leo! Grab him!" He heard Ruby bark.

    Peter felt his sense tingle as he performed a diving leap into the other hallway, rolling as he seemed to avoid danger and turned. He saw the pop of a grenade being launched from a rifle, and he momentarily caught a glimpse of the leering obese black man, holding not one but two rifles with grenade launchers in his strong meaty hands. They were trying to box him in!

    He turned and sprinted backwards, dodging left and right to avoid rifle fire as he got to the open space and did his best to leap forward.

    His sense was still up, and he felt himself become grabbed by the invisible hand of god and be sent flying out of the corridor in an arc. Up in the rafters, he saw the man with his glowing hands aimed at him.

    He crashed into the wall, and his Sense flared hard again as he moved his head aside, the ping of a sniper shot just missing his ear but causing a ringing as he fell to the ground.

    "Come on!" He heard Ruby yell as Peter was dropped, and landed on his feet as he felt the sharp pain in his legs. Within the server tower rows, Peter ran, arms pumping as he sought cover, running as fast as he could.

    No sign of sword guy which meant.. He was looking for Mei...

    He barreled through a side door, in the dark of an office as he heard the sound of a frightened yelp coming from somewhere. It was young sounding too..

    "Wha?" He turned, seeing the janitor closet within, and he saw movement at the end, the room barely lit only from the light of the servers.

    Then he heard a pinging noise and turned, seeing two grenades land outside the office.

    Peter dove, grabbing the desk as he flipped it over himself, bunkering down, hands to his ears as he shielded himself.

    The grenades went off, fire and fury erupting. He was pushed against the janitor closet, yelping in pain as he panted, groaning. The desk bore the brunt of the blasts, but the wood was splintered, and his vision was getting hazy.

    Save Mei… save her…

    "Mister…?"

    It was the voice as Peter turned, panting as the fire spread around the room before the sprinklers went off.

    Before they did, his vision was blurry… but he saw it, if only for a moment, and the voice and scared breathing confirmed it. A scared little girl with black hair looking through the busted crack, hands on her ears and eyes wide with fright.

    Peter panted… There was someone… here…

    "He's still alive!" Ruby shouted. "The girl's in there with him!"

    Peter blinked.

    This wasn't Mei...

    Peter closed his eyes, and his Spider Sense flared…

    …

    His enemy swooped into the wide open and smoldering office like a bat out of hell, wings outstretched to land.

    He heard the girl within two feet in front of him scream, and the bat reeled, caught by surprise. "Huh? That's no-"

    Peter grunted, kicking his legs back into the desk, right into the surprised bat woman who was sent flying courtesy of a hot and charred desk, hearing her yell as he stood up.

    Ok... she knew he was alive... she knew that there was a girl here with him. He'd barely seen her in the dark. She kept complaining about not being able to find him without lights... and her eye was a gemstone of some kind.

    Maybe she could see him? Or through him? She'd seen him in the hallway with everyone. Even saw him giving the phone to Mei.

    Seeing…

    He shut his eyes tight before he took a deep breath and sprinted out of the room. His Spider Sense kicked into gear as he leapt, his sight blinded as he shut his eyes tight.

    He could just sense it across his mind, the faint outline of the server towers as he ran out of the burning office towards the struggling and writhing batwoman...thing.

    As if time had slowed down, he heard gunshots, in his blindfolded state as bright red sparks far away…

    "What the fuck?!" Ruby yelled from afar, and he could make out her form for a blip before it vanished into the black.

    He stepped forward, leaping up and giving a paylay to the still dazed bat monster, right to the back of the head as he sent her snout-first into the ground. He used her head as a jump off point to land beside where the bent and broken table was.

    He heard footsteps in the rafters, closing in on him.

    "Orbit him up!" Ruby yelled. "Obi! Gun the fucker down!"

    He grabbed the leg of the table, and like a discus thrower, Peter grunted as he chucked the table with all of his might at the rafter before leaping upward himself. The table shattered, but it made the overlook wobble as the man stumbled and screamed.

    He landed behind him, and Peter pivoted on the spot with a lightning-fast roundhouse kick. The blow caught him in the head as the man let out a squawk before flying off the rafter, and landing in a heap on the nearby server tower.

    His Sense flared, his darkened world lighting up once more as he jumped and twisted, running fast along the rafters to avoid gunfire from the far right and the immediate left. The far right was far more intense…

    It was the Fat Albert on roids.

    He got to the edge, and launched himself, feeling the bullets whiz by him.

    He twisted, but one finally clipped him in the shoulder and Peter felt the pain turn his vision white, bone shattering and blood bursting just as the man ran out of ammo.

    Peter landed beside him, and he turned with a punch right into the man's stomach with his still usable arm. He let out a wheezing cough before Peter gave him another punch in the jaw, then another, followed by running up his tall fat body and finishing his opponent off with a kick square to the chin, sending him flying off of his feet and onto his back.

    His sense flared as he twirled, avoiding the incoming sniper fire. He tried to move his left arm, but found that he couldn't. The pain was too much.

    He heard movement down one of the halls and turned, sensing something hovering off the ground and accelerating away. Along with the patter of footsteps…

    Mei!

    Peter grit his teeth and began to sprint, running as fast as he could. Thankfully, it was all in one straight line as his legs pushed him on. The Freddy Krueger wannabe was right behind Mei with his finger blades scratching the walls like nails on a chalkboard as he zoomed after her on his hover-boots.

    "Nighty night!" Peter yelled, dashing forward with a launching punch as he sensed the outline of budget-Freddy turn in utter shock, and the left jab got him right in the jaw, hearing bone crack as a result of his blow. The man was sent sprawling, skidding across the floor like a rolling sack of potatoes before crashing into the metal wall down at the very end of the darkened corridor.

    He could hear Ruby calling into her comm. He turned as he leapt up, moving away from Mei as he ran across the server towers, his footsteps echoing as he saw the outline of the server towers around him. As he ran into the black, he could sense it, the bullets whizzing past as he ducked and stepped aside. His ears rang and his heart pounded, but the frustrated yelling and the footsteps on the rafters above gave him a large bright neon target.

    He jumped, grabbing onto the railing with his one good hand and running along it, leaping and twisting as he avoided pistol fire and landed right before her. He caught her pistol in his hand and crushed it in his grip as he pulled her in, delivering a headbutt right to the mouth of the taller woman.

    Ruby gargled, staggering as Peter heard something clatter to the ground. He tossed away her firearm that he had taken from her. He could see her now, reaching for her knife as she lunged with animalistic fury. Peter dodged the knife jab and countered with a sledgehammer-like punch right to the chest that sent her to the floor down below. Her chest was rising and falling, but in a pained fashion. Peter took a deep breath, finally opening his eyes he stared over the scene of destruction across the room. He panted, trying to catch his breath as he ran his only good hand through his hair, pulling out a fragmented tooth and flicking it aside.

    He leapt down to the ground floor, the sudden fall making his world spin and Peter realized that he probably wasn't in as good a shape as he felt a minute ago... and a minute ago he felt like absolute shit to begin with.

    He leaned against the wall, slumping there as he let himself trail down to sit quietly at the base of a server, still trying to breathe.

    (X)

    They had a perimeter set up around the front of the Tower.

    Ten guys, all set up with weapons, all standing around. Watching for anyone that might come through from the outside.

    Amateurs.

    Rule One of guarding a place of importance: don't post sentries that stood around. You had them moving, constantly overlapping within one another's patterns so in the event that one man was taken out, another man would know within minutes, maybe even seconds of that man going down, so long as they were within eyesight.

    The old codger Araki told him that rule years ago when he was rising through the ranks, and these greenhorns were standing around, practically asking to be picked off.

    Enji decided to oblige them.

    Now, stealth was never his strong point. A fire-based quirk didn't lend itself to trying to be sneaky, in almost any sense of the word.

    But he was the Number Two Hero, and he didn't earn this position by simply being an idiot that rushed in guns blazing, unlike some of the other fools among the top ten.

    He held in his Hellflame quirk completely, a running theme lately what with him flying commercial today, but that was only one part of himself that didn't lend itself to stealth. His frame was larger than most men, the result of years upon years of training even after his time at U.A. Most would be able to see him from a long way off, but mercifully I-Island had a pension for shrubbery and other pointless greenery. Thankfully, the trees that hid the main road were large enough for him to take cover behind as a bunch of security drones passed along the road.

    What the hell were those things doing? Had the villains that had taken over the expo hack everything? That wasn't supposed to be possible, the system was supposed to move to backup drives the second an outside intrusion was detected.

    Yet, somehow, the villains had managed to get through both layers of security while there were dozens of pro heroes on the island and no one on the staff so much as raised a fuss.

    That meant professionals, or at least, a talented hacker. Or help from the inside...

    The latter was the most likely option, given how stupidly the guards around the side door were standing. They were practically lounging, watching the surrounding area with cigarettes in their mouths.

    They were looking towards the main road, barely looking at the sideline greenery.

    Yet, getting closer to them was painfully slow.

    Dashes between cover were quick and careful, but few and far between. Two sets of eyes somewhat close together would give him away.

    So he played it slow, even if he hated to do it.

    Yet, like with most things in life, persistence and determination paid off. He inched closer, just at the edge of the clearing towards the side entrance, then he sprang.

    He ignored the noise that he was making, and the closer man turned just in time to see Endeavor barreling down on him. A quick right across the jaw staggered him, and Enji felt bone shatter under his fingers.

    The second man reached down for a walkie, which was perfect. In the same motion as the right, his left hand reached out, a lance of fire arching across the distance from his fingers.

    Red hot fire burned through the device, and onto the man himself. Shock made him freeze, pain made him take a breath, but Enji's fist buried itself into his solar plexus. His scream died in his throat as every inch of air was driven out of his lungs.

    Physics and pain demanded that the mercenary fall to the ground, but Enji wrapped a massive hand around his neck. The merc's already hurt body nearly went into shutdown, a little bit of heat within his palms kept the man awake and alert.

    Enji made a point to keep the man encased in one hand and drag his fallen friend with the other over to the nearby greenery. The unconscious man he left in a pile while the second merc struggled in his other arm. The Number Two Hero forced the mercenary to look him dead in the eye, his massive hand over his mouth and gripped tight around his jaw.

    "Scream, and you'll be ashes on the ground before you can get anything out." Enji growled in English, perfect and crisp.

    The man knew that he was serious.

    "Now, you're going to answer every question that I have."

    He gripped a little tighter, and burned a bit of the man's skin off before he continued his interrogation.

    "How many? Use your fingers."

    His eyes darted around.

    Enji leaned in, his hand heating up as the merc's eyes bulged and he writhed under his grasp, letting out a pained squeal. "Answer. Me."

    Silently, the merc lifted his hands.

    (X)

    The entry wouldn't be clean, Momo knew that.

    Her mother had pointed out exactly what she needed to do.

    They would breach the door, desperate to get in, hopefully using the sound and the explosives to distract and disorient.

    Only to meet a cavalcade of artillery waiting for them.

    The silence was deafening, and Momo was acutely aware of the weight of her weapon in her hands. She had to keep it up, keep it steady, and ready to fire. The earplugs she gave to everyone else in the room would prove handy.

    One beep traveled through the doorway before Momo felt her mother gently squeeze her shoulder.

    Then fire.

    Echoes and shockwaves met them, making the entire room a cacophony of sound. Lead and fire went through the smoke, but it wouldn't dissipate.

    That only happened when Momo's mother threw a flashbang into the center of the smoke. Someone screamed as another dove for cover. Light filled the hallway, and several of the mercenaries scrambled to get to cover, but a mind could only do so much when overloaded by a flashbang.

    And in their confusion, the people behind Momo threw what she had made for them. Web grenades sailed overhead, exploding in a shower of substance that stuck several men to the floor. They struggled, but couldn't break through.

    But even monkeys knew how to work through things if they could see it.

    The next time someone threw a web grenade, a merc shot it out of the air, making it explode uselessly in front of them.

    Then her mother fired several shots. Momo didn't get up in time to see the men fall, but she heard them well enough.

    She rose up, aiming and firing herself with her web paintball gun, firing at their heads and legs as she caught a glimpse of the situation.

    The men had some cover of their own, using tables and furniture ten to fifteen meters away from the door to use while other men stood around the edge. She saw some men bleeding out as her mother ducked behind cover, waiting and panting as gunfire soared over their heads.

    She pulled out another flash, tossing it overhead. Several more joined it from the others in the room, and several men started screaming again.

    As one, practically everyone with a weapon moved over the cover and started throwing out everything they had, Momo included. Globs of webbing, bullets, it was all unleashed as the exchange of fire flew out.

    Then they went down behind cover, and repeated the process. A flurry of bullets slammed into their cover, and in the moments of respite, they returned fire. It was agonizing, grueling, a constant rush of adrenaline that nearly made Momo vomit. She heard screaming, cursing, yells of pain and fury.

    She did her best to fight through it, firing back and flinging her gadgets as adrenaline and focus took hold.

    (X)

    The group stood by the walls of the rising elevator, seeing their number go past the 195 mark as each teen stood by the sides. Before them, the door had a layer of ice to act as a barricade in case any of the men were waiting for them at the top. Izuku went over the plan in his head.

    Neutralize the villains. Defeat their boss, and try to save David in the meantime. He and Shoto were the fighters, they would handle him while Fuyumi and Melissa would hang back near David's office below the vault…

    Maybe it would be enough, he hoped it would.

    As the elevator reached the final floor, no one said a word, and everyone tensed when the elevator dinged at the last floor.

    "Here we go," Shoto said, breath misting from a frost that was about to be unleashed.

    The door opened. He leaned out, finger raised to flick while Shoto took the other side. Nothing but large empty hallways.

    "That way," Melissa called, pointing down one of them.

    Shoto and Izuku took point with Fuyumi and Melissa close behind.

    Every step down the hallway echoed as they turned the corner. Izuku stopped the group, and he saw at the far end of the hall that the Vault door had been opened, complete with David standing at the console… with an armed gunman by his side, rifle barrel trained on him.

    "Ok… I got it." David said weakly.

    "Good. Bring'er down." The gunman said, and the man continued to click and tap away on the keyboard.

    "Got him…" Izuku muttered as they slowly advanced up. He began to think… so far he could see only the merc and David. The inside of the vault might be bigger so could they be walking into a trap?

    If he could use One for All to charge in and tackle the guy- Izuku's train of thought was stopped as he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned, seeing Shoto.

    "Leave this to me." He advanced ahead of the group quietly. "Stay back." He knelt down, placing his left hand down in front of him, and the entire floor began to get covered in frost as it surged out rapidly.

    The ice sprang en masse when it entered the room, catching the merc and David off guard as they were covered in ice from neck to toe. Izuku charged in, and reared back a big right hand with One for All charged at ten percent power.

    "Smash!" He clocked him, breaking the mercenary's ice prison and sending him into the console as he slumped to the icy floor, out cold.

    "M-M-Midoriya?" David shivered, looking back as Shoto ran in and placed his right hand on the ice, forcing it to thaw.

    "Daddy! We came!" Melissa spoke out happily as Izuku saw David's face, who's eyes widened as he looked at his daughter.

    "No… You-" There was a sudden loud creaking of metal, and Izuku saw metal snake out from the railings above and lunge at him, catching Izuku and sending him into a wall with a hard crash. The metal tightened like vices, Izuku grunting under the strain. Another series of metal tendrils lashed out, shattering through a rising stream of ice to pin Shoto against the wall next to him by his arm and leg.

    "Well, it seems using Martinez was the right move after all. And thank you again, Mr. Shield." Drawled a voice as Izuku looked up. The voice came from a larger man with red hair, a beige trench coat over kevlar gear, and a metal mask with sharp yellow eyes, another merc standing beside him gun drawn. He stood on the balcony overlooking the room, right next to some portly man who was holding a briefcase of sorts.

    "Sam… you can't be doing this!" David called out, still trapped in his icy prison. "Please! It can't go to him!"

    "But it must, David!" Sam yelled, he seemed to have plenty of bruises himself as he looked terrified. "You and I have given up too much to stop no-Melissa… what are you doing here?!" He finally saw her, as Melissa stood wide-eyed up at him.

    "Daddy… what's going on?" She asked, looking back at her father. Izuku took a head count… He and Shoto were trapped against the walls with metal bindings… So the big bad could use some sort of metal manipulation quirk as he strained against the steel. A rifleman was by his side, along with this Sam guy.

    Fuyumi… she was able to stop herself from entering the room at the last moment! She was in the rear. Izuku's eyes went to the door, seeing Fuyumi just peeking her head out.

    "Go on Mr. Shield. Tell them how the most impenetrable and most advanced landmark in the globe was able to be taken over by some random villains."

    "Look, we have what we need." Sam spoke. "Let's just go Wolfram."

    "Did you design the thing, or did you just bounce around ideas?" The redhead now known as Wolfram drawled.

    "I… well, the Professor designed the entirety of the device. I-"

    "Parks."

    Izuku's eyes widened, seeing the other man raise his rifle and open fire. Melissa screamed, seeing the portly man shudder before he fell over the balcony onto the icy floor, blood oozing from his suit, eyes wide and dead. Parks leaned down and picked up the briefcase.

    "Sam... nooo!" Melissa wailed.

    "One less seat on the chopper." Wolfram oiled, leering down at David.

    "You bastard!" David shouted out, finding a way to speak over the ice around his body.

    "Oh please. We all know that that fat waste of space would still be alive if you hadn't contacted me in the first place." He leered, and David's face turned into a rictus of despair and pain.

    "Daddy…" Melissa gawked, eyes wide and tears in her eyes. Izuku felt his heart break as he strained and struggled against his bindings. He saw Wolfram's eyes on him as he raised his hands, his gloves glowing blue.

    In response, the metal around his arms tightened, and Izuku bit back a scream. "Leave them alone!" He yelled in English.

    "Save it kid. You'll be joining that fatass over there if you don't keep your mouth shut."

    "Daddy… you allowed all of this to happen?!" Melissa asked.

    "It… it was only for progress! For the betterment of the world! If we could get the Quirk Amplifier out into the world I… We would be able to help better superhuman society! Heroes would be able to accomplish so many things! The board of directors and the shareholders… they couldn't see that! They were too afraid and… and… '' David confessed, tears in his eyes. "I had my doubts… I could have called it off but… I saw All Might the other day and… and…!"

    He saw All Might? Quirk Amplifier? Izuku's eyes went wide. What could be he talking-

    Wait, David was All Might's first sidekick. Could… could All Might have revealed his secret to him?

    A pit was growing in his stomach more and more as he felt eyes on him. He looked across the vault room, seeing Shoto bound to the opposing wall as he was, looking at him… and he was flicking his finger over and over.

    Wolfram clapped his hands. "This is like something out of Shakespeare! Ha!" He laughed as his hands glowed, and the metal underneath the icy floor surged and broke free. It resulted in David being freed from his icy prison, but right into Wolfram's grasp as the metal wrapped around him.

    Izuku saw Fuyumi step closer and closer… still out of sight from Wolfram and Parks…

    Not yet… Melissa was still in his line of fire. He couldn't fire his hundred percent flick with her in it!

    Fuyumi moved, sprinting as her hands burned with fire before she tackled Wolfram from behind and her hands went to his face before fire erupted from her fingertips.

    Combined with the metal mask, with the sudden heat from her blowtorch fingers?

    Wolfram howled in agony, Fuyumi on his back as he fired his pistol wildly and reached for her before slamming her to the side with a throw. He staggered, screaming in pain as his hands went to his face and he dropped his pistol. Fuyumi cried out as she skipped across the icy floor, writhing in pain.

    "KILL HER!" He roared, and Izuku saw Parks raise his rifle at Fuyumi.

    "Smaaaaash!" Izuku gritted out, aiming his right ring finger at them.

    Gale force winds lashed out, catching the two as they slammed against the vast array of deposit box-things that surrounded the walls of the vault with a crash. The briefcase was also separated from them as well as Fuyumi and Melissa yelped and moved across the icy floor. David joined them, the metal being warped and freeing him as he rolled across the ground.

    Izuku surged One for All in his body, ten percent of its power coursing through him. Lighting arced from his skin, and the entire room exploded into a frenzy.

    Izuku went straight for the leader, punching through lines of metal while a wall of ice slammed into the villain's side. Shoto barely had a moment to thaw before a hail of bullets smashed into the ice barrier before him, Parks firing on him from his prone position.

    "Stay down." Shoto hissed and ice surged, a miniature glacier roaring forth as it caught the sniper and the other villain, submerging them in ice before slamming them into the wall.

    "Melissa! Get Fuyumi out of there!" The girl turned upon her name being called by Izuku before going over to the fallen girl and helping her up. David was up on his feet, limping but running as he joined them.

    "Fucking brats!" Yelled Wolfram from the ice, and the ice just… exploded as Wolfram seemed to free himself!?

    "How did-?!" Shoto spoke aloud.

    Wolfram growled, his face burnt with a portion of his metal mask seared on as he ripped it off. His skin was burning with a pink-orangish hue, and steam seemed to emit from his body, enough that it burnt off what remained of his black skin-mask around his mouth. His arms seemed to bulk heavily with muscle, straining his coat immensely. He let out a snarl and the hue was gone, his skin returning back to its plain color and the muscles shrinking to what they were before.


    Wolfram raised his fist and Izuku saw his gloved hand glow not blue but red as he ripped himself free, sending the mini glacier that had him pinned against him back at them.

    Izuku and Shoto dove to the side, avoiding the crashing meteor.

    "You kids are really making this job a lot harder than it needs to be," Wolfram snarled.

    He raised the pistol as Izuku's legs tensed, only for his eyes to go wide when the pistol turned away from the two heroes.

    The gun spat fire, and something pinged against the metal wall, combined with a feminine scream.

    Izuku gasped, eyes wide as he watched Fuyumi stumble forwards for a moment, a growing spot of blood growing from her side. She slumped against Melissa who barely managed to keep her upright.

    Shoto didn't move an inch, eyes wide and mouth agape.

    "Damn, I need to get better with this thing," Wolfram grumbled, pulling himself free from the last of the ice.

    Izuku saw Shoto's left hand twitch.

    "You…."

    Then the room exploded into heat.

    Izuku's skin screamed, the hairs on his arms torching in a second to the inferno. Melissa and David slumped forwards, trying to protect themselves as they made it to the doorway leading out of the vault, carrying a bleeding Fuyumi. Ice flash-melted straight into steam behind them.

    The heat and steam made Wolfram instinctively shield himself, but his eyes widened to the size of saucers at the sight of Shoto raising his left hand registered in his mind.

    "YOU'LL BURN FOR THAT!!!" Shoto roared.

    And hellfire exploded out of his left side.

    A tidal wave of pure heat raced towards Wolfram, turning metal into slag as it passed. Wolfram slammed his hand against the wall, willing the metal to take him away from the wave of fire. It angled towards the wall, which was the only thing that saved him as the fire turned his transportation into nothingness.

    Shoto didn't let up for a second, tracing a trail of fire in the wake of the villain. The walls of the vault glowed red-hot before Shoto stopped his onslaught long enough to get a better read on the villain, his teeth bared.

    "Shoto, be careful!" Melissa screamed, "You're weakening the walls! You'll make this place explode!"

    "I'll be careful when he's ashes!" Shoto growled, his right side steaming in an attempt to compensate for the outburst.

    "Oh, I seem to have hit a nerve there," Wolfram oiled from the wall above them.

    The villain was standing on the edge of the wall. One touch sent arcs of electricity through the steel next to him.

    Shoto screamed, a small wire of metal wrapping around his ankle and throwing him to the side. He skipped against the ground, hitting his left side hard. Izuku didn't call out as he flared One for All, jumping straight towards the villain while ignoring the pain in his broken right ring finger.

    A pillar of metal shot out, aiming to meet him in the air. The green-haired boy twisted, managing to land feet-first on the side of the pillar. He ran, two thunderous steps denting the metal below him and getting him closer to the villain.

    Close enough that he saw the villain smirk.

    Another arc of lightning, and another pillar shot straight at Izuku from the side. Izuku turned, raising his arms-

    A metal pipe slammed straight into his gut, and three others impacted his limbs.

    Izuku tasted bile, right before his world went white as he smashed into the wall of the laboratory. He couldn't keep his eyes straight as the world spun, but he could feel the shift in the air as another blast of ice was thrown out.

    Steel beams appeared from every direction, shattering the ice like a million chandeliers. Below, Shoto's side lit up with fire as he threw another torrent, but a line of metal smashed into his wrist. Izuku heard something crack as Shoto roared in pain, his fire careening off the edge as its aim was diverted.

    Izuku gritted his teeth, but the steel tendril had him pinned. He could barely move his hands with the metal around him.

    But he could still move his fingers.

    That was all that All Might would need, and so it was all that he needed!

    "SMASH!" he roared, One for All filling his right pinky finger to the brim.

    With the miniscule space that he could move, the finger flicked out. Shockwaves of power rippled out, ripping the metal that held him to shreds. It was so fast that Wolfram was blown to the other end of the wall, smashing against it hard enough for the metal to echo in the wind and form a crater.

    One hand touching the wall was all that saved him, a platform to hold him up coming into existence under him. Izuku shot off the wall, ten percent of One for All filling him as he closed the distance.

    Then Izuku felt another rod smash against his side.

    He managed to twist away from the initial impact, holding onto the edge, his fingers on his left digging into the steel to support himself.

    "You little fuckers are ruining everything," Wolfram said, generating a larger, slower moving mass of metal as the two boys reoriented themselves.

    "I've got a job to finish, and it sure as hell isn't going to be stopped by you two meddling kids!"

    (X)

    Mei ducked into the room and slammed the door behind her, her heart thumping like a drum under her ribs.

    There was a crash outside, the sound of fighting and she felt herself flinch, choking off a scream as she pulled away from the door, phone clutched in her hand as she listened to the fight outside.

    Her eyes zoomed in on the door, the steel barrier rattling in place as the fight outside shook the main control room. She saw flashes of light coming from the other end of the room via the glass window. Gunfire…

    "-atsume- Hatsume, you need to listen to me sweetie."

    She blinked, her mind returning to the present.

    She looked down at the phone, staring at the screen as Karen's symbol blinked up at her.

    "Breathe honey. It's ok. Peter can handle himself but you need to do your job, ok? If you do it I can help him."

    She nodded. "Y-yeah, ok. A cord. You needed a cord." Her eyes glanced around, searching frantically.

    "If you can find one that'd be alright but if not-"

    She wasn't listening anymore, moving about the room while opening drawers and scouring desks and workstations.

    She found one, a USB link cable that didn't fit the phone.

    Rushing over to a work desk that looked at least semi-usable, Mei swept aside the crap that cluttered its surface, everything crashing to the floor in a heap as she bit off one end of the cable, nearly choking on plastic and wires before spitting it out.

    Her fingers brushed over the fibres, identifying the 'important' sections she could still use before pulling a pin from her hair.

    She bent and twisted the small metal pin, mentally bemoaning the lack of tools before she jury-rigged a fitting and jabbed it into the phone's socket.

    Karen seemed to examine it.

    "It should be enough of a connection. Plug me but don't move me at all, this isn't exactly a hard landline."

    Mei nodded, picking up the phone and moving towards the server station.

    Plugging her in, the young inventor gingerly set the phone down, gently negotiating it into place while keeping the cable she'd fashioned in place before backing off.

    Karen blinked and dimmed, and Mei noted the server humming to life. Its systems came online before more and more of them followed suit as Karen took over and devoted more and more of her processes to brute-forcing past the servers' internal defense networks.

    That's when she noticed how quiet it got.

    She turned, looking to the door with nervous anxiety as she wrung her hands together,

    "P-Peter?" She called.

    No answer.

    "Peter!?"

    It was Karen's voice that answered.

    "He won." Karen's disembodied voice made her jump. She looked up, seeing an audio box on the wall. "You can step out hun, but he's hurt Hatsume."

    She nodded.

    Stepping forward she pushed the door open, peeking out of the door to a scene of complete devastation. Broken servers, shattered glass, shards of metal and plexiglass, spilled coolant, and the stink of burnt circuitry. She could see it clearly now as the overhead lights came online.

    She stepped out of the room. "Peter!"

    There was no answer for a moment. She was about to call again when, finally-

    "Mei..."

    She nearly jumped out of her skin, turning to look down the side of the server lanes where Peter's voice had come from.

    She took one step, and another and then before she knew it she was running down the length of the room, halting once when she stumbled on the sight of one of the villains, the black guy, now beat up and half-embedded in a server tower before shoving it out of her mind and forcing herself to keep moving.

    Then she found Peter.

    He was sitting, collapsed really, against a wall, his clothes torn and caked in blood. His eyes opened, finding hers as he smiled. "Hey..."

    She didn't say anything, her target eyes darting to the various injuries, zooming in and focusing on them. "You're hurt..." She finally said, voice shaking.

    Peter jerked his head. "You should see the other guys." He laughed.

    Mei felt tears prickling under her eyelids, her throat clogging up as she stepped forward.

    She knelt beside him, her trembling hands rising to press against the shoulder wound, the worst one that still oozed blood.

    Peter grimaced, sucking down a deep breath through clenched teeth but not complaining as she tried to staunch the bleeding.

    "Mei." He finally breathed. "Need you to do somethin' for me alright?"

    She answered almost on automatic, her head bobbing up and down. "Y-yeah. Ok."

    Peter gestured with his still functioning arm. "Side room, down that way. There's someone else here. Not a villain. Looked like a little girl. Can you go make sure she's alright?"

    Mei blinked, staring at him as Peter shifted where he sat, sucking down a sharp, hissing breath as he adjusted his weight.

    She didn't want to leave him alone... not like this. But she didn't want him to move either.

    "I'll-I'll check." She sniffed, but didn't move.

    "Help's on the way Peter. Medical drones en route. And security to round up these villains too." Karen spoke from the speakers. "Hatsume, you did good. Go."

    She pulled her hands away and stared.

    She looked at him, at his injuries and pain. She had to fix this. Fix him. She was supposed to be good at that. It was supposed to be what she could do...

    But there was no baby, no easy answer, and she felt her frustration mount before she pulled away and forced herself to walk towards the side room that he'd gestured to.

    When she noticed that her hands were covered in caked blood she felt nauseous, wiping them on her dress and almost crying outright when the red still stained her hands.

    But she kept her head somehow and kept moving, planting one foot in front of the other, ignoring the few bodies of villains she saw in the distance as she walked.

    (X)

    Over the gunfire and yelling and smoke, Momo felt like the last ten minutes had taken an eternity as she kept using her various tools and gadgets. Web grenades. Smoke bombs. Anything. She looked, seeing her mother panting against her cover as she grabbed a piece of steak and gnashed on it, bullets flying overhead. The onslaught of gear she had given to the guests behind their own cover had stopped, leaving just them…

    Mother was breathing heavily… Her quirk needed iron to function, and she has used up a lot of it…

    There was a rumble, a crash, and for a moment, everyone didn't move.

    "I AM-"

    A muffled sound before someone screamed.

    "-FREE!"

    Like a mortar shot, a blue and red form burst through the floor of the doorway. A dozen guns turned to the great dust cloud. There was a surge of wind, and faster than Momo could even blink, All Might was standing in the middle of their room, the remaining mercenaries unmoving at his feet. The men groaned, slumped to the ground thanks to the well-placed kidney shots.

    Momo couldn't help it, she laughed, and she wasn't the only one. Several of the guests whooped and hollered as the Number One hero took stock of the situation from a better perspective.

    "I'm more sorry than words can describe, leaving you to fight this battle without me, but worry not! THESE VILLAINS WILL NOT REMAIN FOR MUCH LONGER!"

    Most of the crowd behind her cheered in relief and joy at the sound of the promise.

    "All Might-sensei!" Momo called.

    The blonde hero's eyes widened slightly.

    "What is it?"

    "Parker, Midoryia, Hatsume, Todoroki and his sister may be here in this facility, and they may have caused some of the mercs outside to leave. It's the only hunch I can assume as to why some of the mercs who attacked us weren't as large in number. They may be somewhere in the building, if you can-"

    "I can confirm that Young Midoriya and the Todorokis are here. I will find them, all of them, and put them out of harm's way as fast as I can," All Might promised, putting an assuring giant hand on her shoulder.

    Momo felt her shoulders relax, but only for a moment as All Might straightened.

    "Now everyone out and get to the first floor, as fast as you can! I handled the villains on my way here!"

    Not a single person complained, and not a single person stopped to ask what was going to happen.

    "All Might! Please stop!" Said a female voice, making them pause and look up at the speakers outside of the ballroom. Momo trotted out, as did All Might.

    "Who is speaking?" All Might demanded. "Are you the security system of the island?" It had the same tone and accent that the public announcement had when the villains took over… but the manner of speaking was desperate… not like a controlled AI.

    "All Might, Midoriya and Todoroki are at the top floor of the tower fighting against the boss of the villains who attacked this place. They are with David Shield, his daughter, and Todoroki's sister too. Leave Parker and Hatsume to me. I'm sending medical drones to their position in the server room."

    "Medical? Are they hurt?" Momo asked, concern gripping her chest.

    "Parker is a little beat up, but don't worry. All Might, go to the vault at the top floor. From what I can see from the cameras, Midoriya and Todoroki won't last!"

    All Might winced. Momo perked up. The server room… was that how All Might was freed? It had to be with Peter and Hatsume coming through in the clutch!

    "What about the other mercs? I'm surprised we got so few attacking us." Maiya spoke for the first time. She didn't seem too fazed by the luster of the Number One Hero.

    "Oh, that?"

    (X)

    "Gaaaah! What the hell!" Yelled the giant rock monster-man as he fell to the ground, countless drones converging and hosing him down with hardening foam as they seemed to swarm around Endeavor in the burnt hellscape that was the outside of I-Tower.

    The other villains he couldn't defeat right off the bat were also being chased down, and the red glow the security drones had were gone, replaced by a blue light. He looked at the tower and saw the metal walls beginning to recede, revealing the inside of the building!

    What was all that about?

    (X)

    "It's handled. I am impressed with Endeavor, he took care of quite a few of those mercs. I count… over thirty and not a scratch on him."

    Momo had to cock an eyebrow. It sounded like the PA voice… but it sure sounded a little casual. Too much so.

    "Endeavor is here! Alright, time for our counterattack!" All Might declared. "Young Yaoyorozu, I will be right back!"

    "Sensei?"

    "It will be alright!" All Might turned. "Because I am here!" And he charged, disappearing in a burst of speed heading towards the stairwell. Momo felt a hand on her shoulder and turned, seeing Maiya look at her with a determined look on her face.

    "Come, let's see your father, he should be alright."

    Momo nodded, fighting back a smile as she and her mother began running towards the area of the first floor, moving past multiple unconscious mercenaries. As the metal doors vanished underground numerous drones navigated past many of the people down there who looked on in confusion as they searched the building.

    (X)

    Izuku could barely see through the sweat and the pain.

    Every muscle burned, every inch of him ached, but somehow, One For All kept his body moving. Around him, the vault was a shell of its former self. Pillars of steel, glaciers of ice, blasts of wind and shots of fire had reduced most of the material around them into nothingness.

    Yet Wolfram still stood above them, a monolith of steel under him to let him see both Izuku and Shoto.

    The son of Endeavor was breathing hard as he tried to summon another blast of power. It probably wouldn't work, there was tons of steel for the mad villain to use whenever he wished.

    The only true solace was the simple fact that Melissa, David and Fuyumi were outside the room and making distance.

    Izuku saw another surging steel tendril, avoiding it as he noticed another being sent at Shoto. The dual-haired boy had conjured another thick ice wall, only for the steel pillar to burst through it and impact close by. Shoto was only able to avoid getting crushed by dodging to the side.

    "You damn brats ruined it!" Yelled Wolfram as Izuku weaved through the jungle of iron columns, ignoring the pain in his hand from two broken fingers. He saw that Wolfram was still holding the briefcase that was now in tatters. And with it, some kind of destroyed headgear. He turned, snarling and roaring as he slammed his hands down which caused steel pillars to erupt like Shiozaki's vines.

    Izuku's body glowed with One for All as he weaved through them, narrowly dodging each one as he leapt up above the forest of metal.

    He could see Wolfram looking at him, his coat in shreds and wearing only his Kevlar armor as his hands glowed blue, yellow eyes alight with rage. Izuku lifted his hand, ring finger primed.

    "Sma-" He attempted but his aim was off, Izuku having been slammed by a pillar and sent crashing into the wall, the giant mass shifting to trap him. Izuku saw stars and felt pain surge throughout his body.

    A wall of ice crashed into the side of the metal tendril, bending it just enough for Izuku to get free. He got to his feet, standing next to Shoto, the other boy's body shivering for a moment before steam emitted from his right side. He breathed hard, looking and seeing the dual-haired boy looking back and nodding.

    Izuku took off, and Shoto followed suit on the other side, surfing along the wall as Izuku jumped and weaved over the various steel beams. The two began to arc in towards the villain in a pincer.

    Wolfram snarled and slammed his hands against the wall behind him, steel pillars roaring out at both of them at high speed.

    Izuku raised his right hand, bringing his index and middle fingers together as they flowed against his thumb.

    He would still have his left hand to take care of him!

    "Smaaaash!" Izuku roared, and a double flick sent hurricane force winds at Wolfram, throwing him into the wall as the man seemed to roar in pain. Izuku slid back down along the beam but recovered and charged his quirk through his body to force on through. Had to take him out now!

    Shoto had conjured another miniature glacier to stall the pillar onslaught. He rose above it and fired a gout of flame down at the metal user.

    Wolfram got out of the man-shaped steel hole, letting out a roar as he slammed the ground, steel rods racing out at the boy after he dodged the massive fire blast.

    Right into Izuku's path, his left arm reared back. He fought through the pain in his right hand and came in with a haymaker, teeth grit and letting out a closed mouth battlecry.

    Wolfram's skin turned orange again, and Izuku's fist met his jaw as the man staggered back… Only for him to touch the superheated wall thanks to Shoto's flame.

    Iron lashed out, slamming into Izuku as he yelled in pain, feeling his arms being burnt by the hot steel as he was sent into a steel wall, slumping to the ground. Izuku saw nothing but stars as he raised his left hand to fire another flick.

    Only for his whole body to be encased in an iron cocoon, Izuku yelping as he was lifted up. He turned, seeing Shoto had suffered a similar fate with his body being pinned against the wall.

    Wolfram was a disheveled mess, his skin glowing as his normal sharp yellow eyes seemed to almost glow as he had his hands on the floor, the blue lightning arcing along the steel towards them. And then Izuku felt the squeeze like a vice.

    He arched his back and yelled, his broken fingers caught in some steel as he heard Shoto follow suit, what with him being trapped against a press. His arms were tightening against his ribs, and it hurt to even breathe.

    Shoto and Izuku couldn't retort, their screaming intensifying as the pressure mounted. Shoto roared, ice surging around him and towards the villain. With a battlecry, Wolfram rounded on the glacier, punching it as his body glowed orange. In the distance something exploded, a flash of heat that Izuku couldn't place.

    "Your little ice tricks won't do you any good! And I doubt you'll want to use that fire lest you burn yourself alive!" Wolfram sneered, smirking down at Shoto who was submerged in a glacier save for his arms and upper body, the ice cracking as the pillar began to move again.

    "I'm gonna enjoy killing you little shits," Wolfram hissed. "Then, I'll be sure to put another bullet in that white-haired whore for burning my face! This time in her head!"

    In one instant, a massive hand clamped down on Wolfram's shoulder.

    "Huh?"

    The villain turned, just so he could see five knuckles fill his vision. Something cracked as the villain flew down, barely managing to catch himself before he crashed against the ground below. He looked up, hand on a bloody nose with widened eyes.

    Endeavor floated there, jets of red hot flame jetting out of his feet, steel melted into slag behind him.

    "D-Dad?" Shoto breathed in disbelief.

    The Number Two Hero didn't look down at his son, his fiery gaze solely on Wolfram.

    Shoto couldn't remember the last time that his father looked so angry.

    "I must have misheard you." Endeavour snarled in English, his teeth bared. His pupils were pinpricks in his eyes, a rictus of pure rage as he planted his boots on the ground and stalked forward. "Maybe you'd like to repeat that so I can make sure."

    Wolfram backed away, visibly afraid now. One touch, and the wall behind Endeavor started rushing towards him. Only, he wasn't there. The burning hero shot forward, fire sending him straight towards Wolfram. The villain tried to put a line of metal between him and his enemy but Hellflame cut through the metal like a hot knife through butter.

    Molten slag hit Endeavor's shoulder as he pushed through, ignoring it so he could grab hold of Wolfram's glowing orange face. He threw his hand forward, and Wolfram's head met metal, and even then Endevor didn't let him rest. He spun, faster than his bulk reasonably should allow him to, dragging the villain's face along the side of the wall before throwing him like a fastball. Wolfram landed hard on the metal floor, barely ten feet from Shoto and Izuku.

    He rose to his feet, but before he could do much more than suck down a wheezing breath Endeavor's fist crashed into his cheek and Izuku heard something break.

    The man flopped like a dead fish on the floor only for both of Endeavor's hands to grab hold of his skull and pull him up, to stare straight into his wide eyes.

    Wolfram's skin turned red, his muscles suddenly bulking up as Izuku shouted out a belated warning.

    The villain punched Endeavor square in the jaw. It was a blow that should have put anyone down considering the unnatural strength Wolfram had displayed before but Endeavor did little more than stumble, losing his grip as his head whipped to the side before returning with a roar and a devastating counter punch that crunched into the villain's already broken nose, sending him flipping end over end before he hit the wall with a crash.

    Endeavor moved forward as Wolfram swayed on unsteady, shaky legs.

    "CALI-!"

    Wolfram's head darted about while Izuku and Shoto perked up, looking up at the glass ceiling above them.

    "FORNIAAAAAAA...!"

    "No!" Wolfram's voice was laced with fear as he slammed the ground with his hands, steel pillars erupting from all sources. The floor, the walls, even the former steel walls and pillars he'd made before were contributing. His skin glowed orange, near red as power flowed through him. "NOOOO!"

    And they roared upward, like serpents reaching to the sky as the glass was shattered from on high.

    "SMAAAASH!" The steel pillars were obliterated, and a big blue meteor crashed through, diving into Wolfram fist outstretched as the vault floor cratered into the previous floor, denting as steel walls and pillars warped. Izuku and Shoto remained locked in place, wind gusting around them.

    The adrenaline and jubilee of it all made Izuku ignore the pain as he saw the sight before him. At the center of the crater, Wolfram was present, mouth agog, eyes white as he lay still in unconsciousness.

    And rising above, the Symbol of Peace, who-

    Was gone, and Izuku felt himself be freed as he was lifted in All Might's embrace. On the other arm, Shoto was present too.

    "You two crazy kids…" All Might said softly, his strong arms holding them softly. "You did well… Better than what I could ever do at your age… But rest assured." Izuku felt grateful despite his difficulty in drawing a full breath, and he had a feeling Shoto was the same way as he saw All Might's determined blue eyes looking down at them with that big grin. "It will be alright now…."

    Izuku knew what was coming, but he couldn't contain his joy and relief. Even as he heard the sounds of Medical Drones and security drones surging past along the floor into the ruined and carnage-laden vault.

    "Because I am here!"

    "You're late you idiot!" Endeavor shouted.

    (X)

    Normally, All Might's late arrival would be infuriating, especially when he appeared after Enji had done the work to steal the glory like the showboating oaf he was.

    But frankly, right now he couldn't care less.

    What held his attention was the sight of his children.

    Fuyumi's shoulder was leaking a steady stream of crimson, her clothes ruined, and her arm hung limply at her side. Beside her Shoto's left arm had seen better days. He lessened the intensity of his flame, slowing it to a stop. Several of the Medical Drones gave him some supplies, he took them as quickly as he could, wiping his chin from the blow he took.

    "Endeavor," the green-haired boy breathed, but Enji paid him no mind.

    He gave Shield one good look, and even as the scientist cowered, it didn't cover up most of the injuries. The man was sporting a bad wound on his side, and Enji wouldn't doubt there were a good dozen or so bruises under his suit.

    Still, the way that he was sitting there, leaning against the wall, chances were that he would live. He wasn't losing any blood, not that Enji could see, which meant that he could wait.

    His heavy footfalls practically sounded like pistons on the metal surface. Neither of his children looked at him with disdain or fear.

    They just looked tired.

    Enji leaned down, taking note of the remains of a suit jacket around Shoto's arm, and the brace that the rest of said jacket formed around Fuyumi's shoulder. Medical drones were by their side, small robotic arms applying whatever help they could as they worked in sync for their patients.

    "The medical drones will take care of us," Shoto said, his voice strained but firm. He winced before looking back at the older man.

    "Are you alright?" He asked.

    "It's not as bad as it looks," Fuyumi said, trying to smile through the pain. "It's okay Dad… I'm fine, really…"

    What the hell was she doing? She wasn't the one that needed to be strong for him, that was supposed to be his job.

    Shoto scrowled and looked away. "I'm banged up, but I'll manage."

    "I'm sorry."

    "Why?" Shoto asked, "None of this was your fault."

    "I still managed to get you where you didn't need to be."

    Shoto gave him a confused look. The boy looked strange, practically suspicious. His sister wasn't that far behind, though she hid it better. It wasn't the face that he wanted to see, but that hardly mattered.

    (X)

    Peter felt at ease as he set himself on the stretcher the medical drones sent for him. He lied down, seeing the other drones at work around him, cutting into his suit and cleaning his wounds with alcohol and patching him up.

    "Thanks Karen… didn't know you were a doctor now." Peter joked. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted other security drones foaming up the unconscious villains and placing them in stretchers too as they wheeled off. Fat Albert needed two, and he had to hold himself back from laughing since his chest hurt.

    "Well, I'm only following the protocol listed in these medical robots. I am impressed to say the least in what each of these drones has. Each one is like an advanced first aid kit. Makes me fear for doctors in the future."

    "Easy, as much as we love robots, we still need a human hand." Peter replied, breathing before he winced. "Ack! Easy!" He turned, seeing the medical drone applying more of that cream to his shoulder wound.

    "At the least it seems that the worst will pass, but you'll need a hospital. Thankfully, I count about… fifty ambulances en route from the hospitals across the island."

    "Seems like you found yourself a new home. Is it cozy?" Peter asked, looking up at the ceiling.

    "Oh yes, much more spacious than U.A.'s servers… Just another vacation home for me. And I'll be sure to keep you up to date on any goings-on here in the future."

    "Karen… let's not get to stealing anything vital."

    "Oh I understand that. Mainly just… ideas. Hatsume is coming around." Peter turned, and saw Mei walking with the black-haired girl hand in hand.

    "Heeeey! It's the MVPs!" Peter waved with his good hand. He saw the little girl perk up and run towards him. At that height, she looked no older than seven or eight, her features a bit biracial with some white and asian.

    "Mister are you okay?" She asked, eyes wide as Mei stood beside him.

    "Just gotta see a doctor. Took out those bad guys for ya." Peter gave her a thumbs-up. "I couldn't have done it without your help though."

    "I… I didn't do anything…" The girl looked away. "I just hid when… when those villains came and then when I saw one of them come in when you were hurt and all those loud noi-"

    Peter put his good hand on her shoulder. The girl perked up. "Are you hurt at all?" She shook her head. "Okay, so where's your parents at?"

    "Ummm, my dad should be upstairs…" She muttered, fiddling with her fingers. "So… Are you, like, a hero or something?" She asked, looking back up. "I mean, those villains seemed dangerous but you don't, well... look like one."

    "What? Oh, the ruined rental?" Peter asked, patting his chest on the stretcher. "Well… a wise man once said that if you can't be a hero without a costume, then you don't deserve one. Well, paraphrased of course." He said, smiling nostalgically as he felt the drones lift up his stretcher.

    "We'll head over to the drone service elevator. There's enough room for the ladies present." Karen in the drone said as Peter began to be wheeled towards said elevator, the girls walking by his side.

    "But… to answer your question," Peter sighed, looking back at the girl. "I am… technically. I'm gonna be Spider-Man. Also I am going to school as well, U.A. in fact."

    "U.A… isn't that in Japan?" The girl asked. "And your accent is a little New Yorker?" Peter's eyebrows perked up.

    "Queens born and raised. Where are you-oh, man, I never got your name MVP." Peter smiled as he felt a drone dab his forehead with a wet cloth as they made their way through the server room. "I'm Peter by the way. Peter Parker, and the girl there is Mei." Up ahead, he could see the drone service elevator.

    "Hello, mai name isu Mei Hatsume." Mei attempted in English, smiling awkwardly.

    The girl bit her lip, looking to the side before setting back on the brown-haired boy and smiled in turn. "M-My name is Penelope O'Neil… although friends call me Peni."

    (X)

    Izuku was wheeled out on a stretcher, finally back on the first floor as the drones were busy organizing the people in coordination with the heroes who were present at the Gala. As he lay there, he could see the villains being escorted into armored trucks and some helicopters flying overhead.

    He winced, looking down at his right hand as doctors were checked in on him, removing the stabilizing foam and examining his broken fingers.

    He looked around, seeing All Might with Melissa. The sight made Izuku's heart ache as she saw her father talking with some of the police before offering them his wrists. Melissa let out a wail before All Might had his hands on her shoulders.

    He saw Shoto being transferred into an ambulance with his sister, Endeavor standing with them. The Number Two Hero walked into Shoto's ambulance to be with them.

    "We're gonna take care of you. Are there any guardians we should inform about your condition?" The EMT asked in English as they got processed into an ambulance. It was bigger than a normal one, more like a hospital bus of some kind.

    "Oh ummm, my guardian is… All Might." Izuku replied in English. The paramedic cracked an eyebrow.

    "Let's get one more on board, I'll go inform him that we're taking ya to this hospital."

    "Hey look, there's another. Bring him on!" Said another EMT, waving as Izuku craned his head down. He saw Peter being wheeled up with Mei by her side and a little girl with black hair.

    "Parker-san?"

    "Hmm?" Parker was wheeled up the ramp by the drones and settled in beside Izuku. "Heeey Midori!" He laughed, wincing. "Oww… so… rough night?"

    "That's…" Izuku paused, unsure of how to respond.

    "I'mu… anno…" Mei paused, parsing her English before a drone wheeled up beside her and the confused paramedics.

    "She is with Peter Parker there. No guardian present." The drone stated.

    "Ooookay then. Hop on miss." The EMT stepped aside, and Mei got on board.

    "Hey Peter!" The girl called out, and Peter sat up in his stretcher. "C-Can I ask ya something?"

    "Go ahead!"

    "Can I be a hero, even though I… I don't have a quirk?" She asked, and Izuku blinked, feeling a nostalgic rush inside him as he turned towards Peter who only smiled.

    "You sure can… Just gotta be smarter than the average bear, and you can be." Peter gave her a thumbs-up with his good arm, the girl beaming in joy. "I can't wait to hear of the great Peni!"

    "My daddy should be inside and…" She paused, and Izuku noticed a man staggering through the crowd. "Daddy!" The two rushed towards one another, the man getting on his knees and bringing her into a tight embrace.

    Peter let out a soft sigh, looking up at the ceiling as Izuku blinked.

    "Ummm, what was that all about?" Izuku asked, and Peter turned.

    "Oh, just a girl who helped me out. Nothin' major."

    Peter groaned before resting on the stretcher.

    "Hey can we get a move on?" Said a cranky old voice as Izuku craned his neck, seeing an old man with a moustache in the driver's seat. He could briefly see his name tag as S. Leigh. "I'm gettin' too old for this and I'm missin' my show!"

    "Keep your diaper on Stanford!"

    Peter sighed. "I'm gonna need some shuteye… I think we all deserve it…" He groaned, and Izuku turned in his stretcher. "Fighting enemies with lots of different powers can take the energy out of anyone lemme tell yah."

    Enemies with different powers.

    Izuku leaned back, looking at the ceiling.

    Different powers…

    Wolfram glowed pink-orange that one time… and his muscles bulked up immensely.

    And he had his metal manipulation.

    "Multiple quirks…" Izuku mouthed, his heart sinking. It couldn't be… could it?

    (X)

    Momo sipped some hot chocolate, standing beside her mother and her father as they were being interviewed by heroes and police officers by a car. She saw the last of the villains being processed into armored trucks, two noteworthy ones catching her eye. One was some kind of giant winged beast, the other some African man with a massive stomach.

    "So you had a hand in the defense of the civilians?" The officer asked.

    "Yes." Maiya asked, sitting on the edge of a van. "Is someone gonna get me that steak or what?"

    "Her quirk needs iron." Shiki explained as the officer nodded.

    "I doubt any steakhouses are open at this hour… but I know of some sandwich shops like-"

    "Triple Steak, triple spinach…" Maiya suggested, looking up at him. "Flatbread… with sweet onion."

    "I'll pass it right along."

    Momo reached for her purse, grabbing her phone. She saw Todoroki was here… And she began to text, primarily in a group text after she put in Midoriya, both the Todorokis, and Melissa's numbers. And Peter's last.

    'Are you guys okay? Where are you at?' She sent, and looked down at her phone.

    "Concerned for your friends?" Shiki asked and Momo looked up, seeing his warm smile.

    "Just asking if they're ok." Momo replied, the black-haired girl looking down.

    "All Might said he was going to handle that Midoriya child and Endeavor's son." Maiya spoke out.

    "I need to at least double-check." Momo said, biting her lip lightly before looking at the ground, phone back in her purse.

    "I'm just glad you two are okay… me and Yagami were huddled together when those mercs were on the second floor. Couldn't do much there. Seems like I missed all the action." Shiki mused, looking back and forth.

    "It was better that you weren't there." Maiya curtly replied, glaring at the ground. Shiki shrugged.

    Momo turned away, looking down at her hands as she sat, elbows on knees. She noticed some blood on her nails… And remembered.

    "Mother…"

    "Hnn?"

    "The way you fought and… used your quirk like that…" Momo looked to the side.

    "... My quirk made it hard to be a hero. I didn't have the aim correction your teacher Snipe has, and I don't have unique ammo." Maiya shrugged, "I created the gun and bullets. Nothing more, nothing less."

    "You were so… You've been out of that job for years and-"

    "The point, daughter?"

    "Honey let her-"

    "N-No father, it's fine." Momo replied, taking a deep breath while collecting her thoughts. "During the summer… can you… train me?"

    Maiya raised a slender eyebrow.

    "I… I want to become stronger, like you. I want to be able to become strong enough in other areas so that… I… I wouldn't have to fall back on killing or… h-helping in killing as-"

    She saw her mother sigh.

    "Your ideal is admirable, but… don't become like some all high and mighty pacifist that can escape from an impossible situation without ending a life. You did so before-"

    "And I don't wanna do it again." Momo cut her off, jaw hard. "I… All Might told me that it's an impossible standard but I… I just don't want to…"

    Before her mother could answer a vibrating noise hit her ears. Momo quickly retrieved her phone out of her purse.

    The screen showed two messages.

    One from Todoroki Fuyumi, and one from Peter.

    'Me and Shoto are on an ambulance to the hospital. We're fine. Thanks for asking Yaoyorozu-San :) '

    'I am alright. Are you okay? I am with Midoriya in an ambulance as well. Hope you are well Momo.'

    Momo typed rapidly. 'Thank goodness you're all okay!' She didn't seem to mind that Peter's response was a bit formal as well. Maiya and Shiki were engrossed in conversation as she saw a blue blur run out of the tower's entrance.

    "Gah! I'm late!" All Might suddenly appeared close by in a burst of speed. "Must have missed Parker. Ah, I'll give it to him at the hospital…" The symbol of peace mused as he pocketed the smartphone. She recognized it too, one belonging to Peter during those times in class. "Those young rascals! I'll have to give them a talking to."

    …

    Momo looked down at her phone, seeing the response from Peter and then back to All Might, eyebrow quirked high.

    (X)

    It was raining hard today as the sky turned dark, and all of Tokyo seemed to be getting pounded by a summer rainstorm. Shouta could hear the rumbles of thunder from outside of his old car as he sat in his seat on the sidewalk, eyes fixed on the front door.

    He'd been there since nine in the morning, and it was on the verge of five in the afternoon, his lunch box of snacks by his side and some water bottles down near his feet in his dingy car. It allowed him to not be noticed as he remained parked. He turned his head to the left, right beside a parking meter as he lowered the window. He grabbed a thousand-yen coin and deposited it into the machine, giving him two extra hours.

    "Where are you…" He muttered to himself, eyes on the building across the street. Specifically the Seinen Leap publisher's building.

    The clock was ticking past five now as Shouta focused hard on all the cars going past, the people walking along the sidewalks with umbrellas over their heads.

    Quarter past five, Shouta drank some water and applied extra eye drops. And the rain kept pouring, the thunder roaring overhead as people went about their business. Five-thirty now…

    As cars went past, he saw it. A dingy little KIA Beetle in brown rolling past and parking in front of the Seinen Leap building from the other side. Shouta leaned forward and saw someone in a heavy coat walk out with an umbrella in one hand, and a cane in the other while also carrying a briefcase. He had quite the limp, and had a mop of old white hair under his hat.

    "Araki-san…" Shouta muttered, getting his keys ready as he barely saw the man in the front lobby talk with the receptionist, hand in the briefcase before he received an item. He walked out, Araki keeping his head low as he returned to his car, putting away his umbrella, cane, and briefcase before he started it up and began moving forward.

    Shouta started the ignition, going to the light at the end of the street and doing a u-turn at the end of a line turning left. He had the wipers on, and stayed several cars behind the Beetle.

    (X)

    Long time going, but there's I island everyone! Hope you enjoyed, and have a good one!
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Didn't think you'd wrap up the movie itself in a single chapter, but I'm glad you did. While a long one, it was very memorable. And other heroes got to shine a fair bit. I'm interested in seeing the Todoroki dynamic evolve more, but have to wait and see there I suppose. The cool down chapter if there is one will have a lot of balls to juggle, but the interesting question is going to be the quirk amplifier. What happens to it? The movie memory holed it because it wasn't going to be used in a manga that had already gotten past that point, but this isn't the manga.
     
    Imagine posting a chapter late, knowing that I've got work the next day. Have you no shame IKN? :V:V:V
    IKnowNothing said:
    "I've got a job to finish, and it sure as hell isn't going to be stopped by you two meddling kids!"
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    Or your dumb dog!
    Which was a very rude think to call Mellissa.
    IKnowNothing said:
    "It's handled. I am impressed with Endeavor, he took care of quite a few of those mercs. I count… over thirty and not a scratch on him."
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    Poor Endeavor
    IKnowNothing said:
    "How many? Use your fingers."

    His eyes darted around.

    Enji leaned in, his hand heating up as the merc's eyes bulged and he writhed under his grasp, letting out a pained squeal. "Answer. Me."

    Silently, the merc lifted his hands.
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    He captured the guard that can't count past two.
    IKnowNothing said:
    "Because I am here!"

    "You're late you idiot!" Endeavor shouted.
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    You may need to workshop that catch phrase a little more Endeavor.
    IKnowNothing said:
    "I still managed to get you where you didn't need to be."
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    Dunno if its deliberate or just needs more refinement, but this is an awkward sentence.
    IKnowNothing said:
    Momo looked down at her phone, seeing the response from Peter and then back to All Might, eyebrow quirked high.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Theres an alternate universe where Karen responded with the shipping goggles and now Momo thinks All Might is trying to play matchmaker and it amuses me.

    Also, is Peni a reference to the future one with the psychic spider or an OC or something else?
     
    Chapter 42
  • Threadmarks
    • The drive must have been over an hour as Shouta followed Araki's KIA through traffic, eventually exiting the Tokyo area west towards Narita.

    He saw Araki pull off an exit so Shouta did as well, making sure to keep his distance at two cars behind his quarry as he could see him under the rain. They turned right, and Shouta followed him down the streets. Soon some cars left, but Shouta made sure to give himself distance.

    Before long, he saw Araki pull into a parking garage next door to an apartment complex. Shouta parked on the other side of the street and waited, inspecting the apartment. A simple building, about ten stories tall.

    He got out, dressed in his casual attire. He pulled up the hood on his jacket as he jogged across the street to a nearby liquor store, getting under a awning and blowing into his hands to keep warm. One eye on the lotto numbers before him, the other on the parking garage. He saw the umbrella-toting old man exit the garage and walk along the path, briefcase in hand as he got to his building. Shouta followed, seeing the old man walk on in.

    Shouta entered the building, seeing a receptionist to the side as he pulled his hood off.

    "Sir?"

    "Sorry ummm, visiting an old friend." It wasn't a lie. "I was told he lived here?"

    "Who are you looking for?"

    "Ummm, Araki-san." Shouta explained. "Old man, white hair, walks with a limp."

    "Oh yes he's here. Seventh floor, far end of the hall." Bingo.

    "Thank you." Shouta nodded and walked into the elevator. He rode it up, departing and seeing the state of the complex. Wasn't too run down, but wasn't upscale either. Just... average.

    The black-haired man walked down the hall, eventually arriving at the door at the far end. The door looked a little worn and plain, the other doors in the hallway having various decorations to make it stand out. He looked down, seeing the light under the door.

    Shouta knocked three times and stepped back, hands in jacket pockets. He waited. And waited. And waited.

    He knocked again, four times.

    Nothing.

    "Araki-san? I know you're in there."

    He heard shuffling inside and he sighed.

    "It's me, Aizawa Shouta. I interned under you in my first year at U.A., and then again my third year." He said, stepping back. He sighed, not hearing any movement.

    This amount of paranoia was irritating.

    "I was in a sting operation providing support from afar using my quirk. Grizzly and Johnny Bats were the villains we helped apprehend." Maybe something else… something close. "We spent that night eating paninis and drinking coffee, since we had to stay up that night for a report. I ordered the steak, sweet onion and cheese. I think you settled on that BLT…"

    He heard the clicking and clacking of many locks coming undone and Shouta let out a sigh of relief before stepping back. The door opened, and Aizawa Shouta finally saw the narrowed glance of a shorter and cross looking man with white wiry hair, leaning against a cane. Behind him on the kitchen counter was a simple Glock handgun.

    "It was a VLT." Araki Hyu replied as he took a deep breath, standing up straight and groaning. "Aizawa-kun, good evening."

    "Good evening Araki-san. Mind if I come in?"

    "Mnnng." Araki grunted and stepped aside before he picked up the gun, holstering it irritably. Shouta walked in, blanching a bit at the place's smell. He could see a workbench at the far end of the living room along with numerous crinkled-up paper bunches in a wastebasket. He noticed dust on the doorway as he came in, brushing his finger across it.

    "Ever consider hiring a cleaning service?" Shouta mused.

    "No, because I don't trust 'em." Araki growled as he limped into the kitchen and opened up a cabinet.

    "Want a drink?"

    "I drove."

    "Hnn." Araki pulled out what appeared to be some brandy and stepped over to the glass cabinet. "So, ten years since we last talked, and you follow me here in that rusty old scrapheap?" Shouta perked up.

    "You were always two cars behind. You didn't mix it up." Araki looked back, offering a smirk.

    Shouta sighed as he saw the old man limping over to the freezer with his glass, putting it against the fridge as ice began to fall down.

    "For the record, you dropped off the grid and moved out of Tokyo, I lost contact." Shouta crossed his arms as the man went back to his counter and began to pour himself some brandy.

    "Yeah well, the Yakuza may be a shell of itself, but it's not gone entirely." Araki replied with a shrug. "Got into a bad dustup eleven years back. Got trailed, had to move again."

    "I see. You could have talked, I would have helped."

    "Not in your fledgling hero career. Besides, you were busy making your connections to the underground." Araki waved it off, taking a sip of his drink and smacking his lips. "Don't worry yourself sick on my account."

    "You still could have said something."

    "Oh stop being sentimental." Araki rolled his eyes. "Now, I doubt you trailed me all the way from Seinen Leap just to catch up on old times. So," he set his glass down, leaning against the counter closer to the microwave. "What do you want?"

    "Answers. I'm closing in on a case."

    "Huh. Really? I know you teach at U.A. now. Couldn't ask Fukuda to give you a hand?" Araki asked, grabbing his glass and limping past Shouta towards the main living room. Despite the drawing workbench, there were some well-lived couches and a TV set.

    "This one is more personal to me."

    "Really? Well, consider me intrigued then." Araki smirked, looking back as he lifted up a blind on his window, looking out beyond Narita and to the mountains. "What is it that I could help with a young pup like Eraserhead?" He said, lifting his glass.

    "What do you know of Peter Parker, and his story?"

    Araki visibly shifted, not drinking as he brought his glass down. His old grey eyes were glued to Shouta's within the dim room, the only sound being the rain and the thunder from outside. He sighed through his nose.

    "He's in your class, isn't he?"

    "Got it in one."

    "Great…" Araki took another sip of his glass, wincing at the burn of the brandy. "Of all the teachers he had to get you."

    "You make it sound like a bad thing."

    "Hnng." Araki set the glass to the side and sighed before narrowing his eyes at Shouta. "What I say does not leave this room. Understand?" He only used this tone back when they were on stings… This was big, and Shouta felt his heart skip a beat.

    "Fine."

    Araki took his cane and limped past Shouta. He followed, a moment later seeing Araki's bedroom with sheets uneven and spartan drawers. Araki walked over to a wall where a framed poster of one of his past manga covers was displayed. "Psychosocial" was the title, with the big words in English overhead and the main heroine aiming her pistol at the reader. Araki took the frame down, revealing a safe.

    He placed his hand on the pad presented. Fingerprints seem to be all that was needed as the safe clicked and the door opened. Glancing inside, Aizawa saw the stacked folders within.

    "You're gonna have to take a seat in the living room. And a drink."

    "I drove, I won't need one."

    The two returned to the couch in the other room, Araki grabbing his brandy as Shouta took his seat, and Araki sat across from him. He looked at the case file in his hands, then back to Shouta.

    The Erasure Hero looked back at him with a hard gaze, jaw clenched.

    "Start from the beginning." He set it down, and Shouta reached for the file, opening it and seeing the sketches. Araki leaned back in his seat and took a sip of his drink.

    And Shouta began to read. Early childhood memories, a graveyard, with the notes:

    'Richard and Mary Parker. Mother and Father, dead by plane crash when Parker was under a year old.'

    Lost his parents that young? He flipped through more of the sketches, seeing a young Peter with some adults, one being a man with a warm smile, and the other a slender attractive woman.

    'Ben and May Parker. Uncle and Aunt, Peter's parental figures.' In the background, he could see the Statue of Liberty as well, confirming that Parker did indeed live in New York at one point.

    Shouta flipped through more pages, delicately inspecting each one.

    Next was Peter Parker standing next to Ben and May over a birthday cake.

    Then Peter was looking up at a man in a suit of armor. The suit looked high quality, even futuristic like something out of a science fiction manga.

    A speech bubble read "Nice Work kid." The armored man looked like a pro. The notes to the side...

    'Iron Man. Tony Stark. Avengers Founding Member.'

    "The Avengers?" Shouta read aloud. "Some hero group in America?"

    "Keep reading." Araki droned, taking another sip of his liquor. "Notice something as well?"

    Shouta looked down, seeing people in the background of each sketch as if Peter was in an area of sorts. Meeting this chubby kid, who went by the name of 'Ned' it apparently.

    He took stock of the people in the background and noticed… They looked...

    "The people look quirkless." Shouta said aloud.

    "There's more to it."

    Shouta got back to reading, going through each paper as he heard only his breathing, the ice shifting within Araki's drink, and the thunderstorm outside. Apart from placing each sheet of paper to the side anyway.

    Then came a peculiar image. Peter's hand being bitten… by a spider. A note to the side made his eyebrows hike up.

    'Source of powers. Oscorp-designed genetically modified spider.'

    Shouta raised an eyebrow even higher. The images looked a lot like that flashback arc in Arachnophobia, complete with the Uncle dying and setting up the hero on his path to heroism.

    Did the old man start mixing fantasy with reality?

    Looking back at the prior pages, he saw the Iron Man once more, the glowing symbol on his chest… it looked just like-

    "The Tin Man insignia…"

    Araki seemed to smirk behind his glass.

    Aizawa continued.

    A coffin being lowered, the tombstone reading Benjamin Parker. The sight of a weeping woman to the side and a mass of mourners all around.

    "How did he die? This Uncle Ben?" Shouta asked.

    "Didn't see it." Araki replied with a shrug. "Take that for what you will."

    And so Shouta continued on…

    Peter looking at a cheap imitation of the suit he now wore, made of stuff acquired at home like a hoodie and some store-bought items.

    Creating a tub filled with a white substance.

    Fighting some street-level thugs…

    No sign of any Pro Heroes in New York, the hero capital of America. Not even the thugs Peter fought, or any of his classmates from the few sketches in school looked like they had quirks.

    A curious creative license. Perhaps to further protect Parker's origins in some way?

    Meeting a middle-aged man with a small beard and mustache, sitting with him on the bed. Tony Stark once more, the closest Shouta could identify as a Pro in the sketches.

    Another page Peter, in a better suit, standing next to several heroes, Iron Man from before with an individual in jet black feline-esque body armor and a black and steel armored hero staring down an equally diverse set of opponents, including a blue armored man with a shield, a man with a metal arm, a man who could fly, and some red-costumed giant. Along with many others. They were in battle in an airport of some kind, names attached in bubbles to each one.

    The suit on Peter…. "He used that in the Final Exams…" He uttered.

    Peter's experience was confirmed if this sketch was true in some form or fashion. He's fought with and against both heroes and villains before stepping foot into U.A. Judging by this... a year before, maybe less than that.

    Then came the fight with this winged villain. A man wearing some kind of winged power armor. More high level support tech… Not just that, but on a plane. In the sky.

    The situation was extreme, even for most Pros.

    Then he saw the sketches become more intense in detail.

    "This ringed ship…" It looked similar to the Hell Ring Saucers used in Arachnophobia, used to transport Thanatos' legions. He looked at Araki. Did the old man genuinely mix up his imagination and creative license for reality?

    "Did you 'base' Arachnophobia on this... supposed past?"

    The old man laughed, a wheezy, raspy thing. "Think I've lost my mind do ya?"

    The U.A. teacher nodded. "I might."

    "Can't say I blame ya. Even so, keep readin'. Ya came all this way here. May as well finish eh?"

    He wasn't wrong. Though he was beginning to fear he'd find less clear answers here than he'd thought.

    Peter's confrontation with the two villains, each bearing similarities to Thanatos' lieutenants. Iron Hand and Dark Mind.

    Flying out of Earth, and on the ringed UFO no less. Then proceeding to save a wizard of sorts with a sentient red cape.

    "The Wizard…" Shouta said aloud. Another of the hero's main companions along with the Tin Man…

    Tony Stark, the Iron Man, looking like a King and knighting him with his arm. "You're an Avenger now." Said the text bubble.

    Next, a picture of Peter being held at gunpoint by a man with odd weapons.

    The next page was turned, revealing a world of ruined alien skyscrapers, satellites, and sinkholes.

    Then another picture came forth. This time, it was Peter hiding on some overcrop, looking down at the wizard (with the name Dr. Strange by its side in a bubble) and walking towards him, was some hulking titan of a man. And the name beside this bald man…

    "Thanos…" Shouta said aloud. "Influence for Thanatos huh?"

    Araki nodded, and Shouta remembered Thanatos' design. A massive muscular creature in a dark black robe, weilding a massive scythe and on his left hand, a golden gauntlet riddled with various jewels. His goal, that he had completed, was the erasure of half of all life in the galaxy. This Thanos didn't have that cloak or the scythe, only pants, a skintight vest, and that same gauntlet.

    An exchange made between the Wizard and Thanatos in the opening chapters before the Purge began. They were… eerily similar.

    "Titan was like most planets; too many mouths, not enough to go around. And when we faced extinction, I offered a solution." A bubble, one of several, connected to Thanos said.

    "Genocide." Strange replied.

    "At random. Dispassionate to rich and poor alike. They called me a madman. And what I predicted came to pass."

    "Congratulations, you're a prophet." Strange remarked wryly.

    "I'm a survivor." The speech bubbles continued.

    "Who wants to murder trillions." Strange growled. The page ended, and Shouta turned it, seeing it again from Peter's perspective.

    "With all six stones," Thanos snapped his fingers. "I would simply snap my fingers, and they would all cease to exist. I call that… mercy."

    Shouta turned the next page… and the combat that ensued. Peter slinging through ruined buildings and portals before he wound up getting grabbed, and the solemn looking titan of a being was glaring down at him, his gauntlet at Peter's throat.

    "Insect!" The speech bubble by Thanos growled, and the fight continued, until he was trapped, bound after displaying god knows how many differing abilities.

    Until Thanos was freed, largely thanks to that gunslinger from before as he smacked Thanos in the face, releasing the mantis-woman's grip on his head. The note to the side read 'Quill - A fucking idiot'.

    What came next was a meteor shower, and Peter putting people on web-lines and flying through the debris as hell rained down around him.

    The men and woman around Peter turning to dust…

    Just like in the beginning parts of Arachnophobia, where all but the hero, the Tin Man, and the Wizard survived.

    Then… Peter, holding the man that gave him his suit, as Tony Stark was crying, the despair written all over him with the bubbles "It's going to be alright" above him as the world dissolved around him.

    He turned to the next page. Finding it pitch black.

    "What is this?"

    "Death."

    Shouta was silent, looking at this as he saw the following page, recognizing it as he put the pure black page to the side. His eyes widened.

    It was the skyline of Musutafu, Tokyo in the distance, the hill with U.A. just seen to the corner, and at the forefront, was a very similar description of that giant villain Mt. Lady fought in her debut.

    Aizawa leaned forward, placing the file on the coffee table before leaning back in his seat, hands to his face and taking one big sigh before staring at the older man as his hands fell to his lap. "Quite a story."

    "I like it." He chuckled in reply. Shouta remained stone-faced.

    "How much of it is real?"

    "Every bit of it." Araki said, without a flinch of doubt.

    Shouta frowned, lips pursing. "You do realize how unbelievable this is, right?"

    "Afraid you've wasted your time Aizawa-kun?" The old man laughed. Strained and wheezing. "Every bit of it is real." He frowned, looking at the sheets. "He died on that alien world. To a cosmic maniac. Then he came here. Where he comes from isn't here but it is. In a sense."

    "You're talking about parallel dimensions, multiverse theory. Fantasy and Science fiction."

    The old man shrugged. "I can't change what I see in their minds with my quirk. You know that. You don't have to believe it. Just like you don't have to go about looking for this kid's past like it's any of your business but here we are."

    Aizawa took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh.

    "So… according to you, he's from a world where there's no hero society but… they have these… Avengers?"

    "They were basically the only heroes around."

    "So how did he wind up under Mt. Lady's care?"

    "She volunteered, she eavesdropped at some point and stepped up." Araki replied. "Came after All Might handled that sludge villain if I remember correctly."

    "But… he doesn't exist here according to… this. How did she even apply for guardianship?"

    "Fukuda probably called in favors. Got some documents forged."

    The black-haired man nodded. Believable, considering Fukuda knew people in the underground. People Shouta had set him up with.

    "So… now you know." Araki said, brandy in hand. "What are you going to do now?"

    "I'm not even sure if this isn't just you having finally cracked somehow." He admitted bluntly.

    Araki chuckled. "It'll hit you eventually I think. I just tried to move on as normally as I could. I was bursting with ideas and inspiration at first, happy to finally get started on a new series for my publisher… but after, while drawing this and storyboarding…" He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling before he sighed, deeply. "I realized how small we were in the universe, and how… possibly, there maybe a Thanos out there, right now. I wonder if it's only a matter of time before he finds Earth with its pants down. Or if he's finding those Stones and then..." He snapped his fingers. "Curtains for half of humanity within minutes."

    Shouta said nothing. He could see why the thoughts were so frightening. If you believed them that is. And he got the feeling Araki did believe them.

    He stood up, hands stuffed in his pockets. "Is there any place to eat close by?"

    "Hitting the road?" Araki asked wryly. "And so soon too?"

    Aizawa didn't answer, simply staring at the man.

    Araki nodded. "Hnnn… There's this nice fried chicken shop down the block. Want to go down there together?"

    "Don't you usually hole yourself up here?" Shouta asked, and he noticed the briefcase by the workbench once more. "So… was your manuscript in there?"

    "It was, now it's loaded with cash." Araki got up, grabbing his cane and limping over. Kneeling down and opening the case revealed many stacks of yen banknotes. He took a big wad and placed it in his pocket. "Come on, my treat. And besides," He smirked. "I have the great Eraserhead by my side. I think I can afford to drop my guard for a spell."

    Shouta got up, seeing him close it. "So… why don't you just do direct deposit?"

    "I don't trust much in electronic stuff. I'd rather keep my money."

    He got to the doorway after Araki limped out, seeing the file from his vantage point on the coffee table one last time.

    He had quite a bit to consider.

    (X)

    The door to the bar opened before Tomura perked up from his seat at the counter. Kurogiri was busy cleaning a glass as his golden eyes shifted in his direction.

    "Yo, Shigaraki." Giran waved lazily, smirking with his traditional cigarette in his mouth. "Sorry to pop in unannounced."

    "Do you have my new party members?" Tomura put his phone down, tone eager.

    "Alright boys. And lady, come on in." Giran stepped aside, and the first one in was a massive man in a deep brown hooded cloak, a red mask with beady black eyes covering his face. Tomura could feel his eyes on him.

    After him, was someone incredibly skinny, bound up in a black straitjacket with red-dotted belts. Even his eyes were covered, his mouth held open by hooks which caused even Tomura to wince at the sight. He seemed to wheeze and breathe harshly.

    Next came a shorter individual wearing a… school uniform? And a gas-mask of sorts. "Hey, I don't want no brats here." Tomura pointed at Giran. He felt the gas mask-wearing boy prickle up.

    "I'm nineteen, asshole." He replied, his voice altered thanks to his mask. The teal-haired youth paused and then let out a laugh.

    "What did ya do? Not drink your milk or something?"

    "Tomura," Kurogiri spoke out sharply.

    "Tch…" Tomura shrugged. "Sorry…" He paused, looking at the guy's mask. "What's with that mask of yours anyway? It looks like somethin' out of a video game."

    "Oh oh, we doing show and tell?" Said an accented female voice behind Tomura. The boy turned around, seeing a girl with wild dyed blue hair with black tips. She had piercings around her nose and ears, wearing a simple pink sweatsuit and sneakers, and her hands positioned behind her back. Her wild looking eyes were also amethyst in color.

    "The fuck did you come from?" Tomura asked, leaning back in surprise.

    "Yo yo Shan-san," Giran stepped aside, and a man stalked in wearing… rather revealing clothing. He had a simple mat of dark brown hair and smooth ruby-red eyes. His clothing consisted of a pair of black leather skinny jeans, a vest with one button that showed off abs galore within that lean gymnast-like frame of his, and an amethyst feather boa around his neck. "Easy on the Leader here. Seems like he's not the kind of cat to handle surprises~". He oiled, Tomura narrowing his eyes.

    "Hey, Giran… So who are these guys?" Tomura growled.

    "You said you wanted some bonafide killers to join your group right? Well… meet the most bloodthirsty pitbulls I know on this side of Japan." Giran nodded, looking at Kurogiri. "I'll be expecting my finder's fee again." The black mist man bent down under the counter of the bar, and pulled out another briefcase. Tomura saw Cloak, Straitjacket, and Gas Mask sit at varying booths, Straitjacket again breathing as his teeth moved… slightly, as if they had minds of their own..

    Shit that was disturbing. Creepy as hell too.

    "Okay…" Tomura turned around in his seat as Giran approached the briefcase with a pep in his step. "So… you guys want to join the League of Villains? Right?"

    "Oh? We starting this little kumbaya?" Cloak asked, his voice deep as he looked about.

    "Work hard… need to work…" Straitjacket uttered.

    "Why don't you start Leader-san." Gas Mask said as the Dumbass seemed to saunter on past, taking his seat in a booth. Shan noticed, and Tomura saw it. A flicker of light, and she was by his side, sitting beside him humming happily.

    "Your quirk is Teleportation?" Tomura asked the girl.

    "Hao hao!" Shan raised a hand. "My Quirk 'Blink'! So my name here is Blink! But real born name is Shan Mei! But call me Blink! That easy for you no no?"

    "Well, at least now I know your little alias…"

    "So you call me Blink and no mean names? Me no like meanies who call mean names..."

    "If you don't piss me off-"

    "Hao hao!" Shan, or Blink, vanished again, reappearing beside the creep who seemed to be smiling a biiiit too much seeing this exchange.

    Tomura narrowed his eyes before holding out his empty glass. "Kurogiri, tequila." He said, and he saw the man get to work behind the bar.

    "Now what's your name and your quirk you fa-" Tomura felt something wet pour down onto his hand and sleeve, making him pull away. He turned, staring at Kurogiri as he whipped his hand through the air.

    "Gah, the fuck was that!?"

    "That wasn't me Tomura." Kurogiri stepped back, hands reaching for a nearby towel. "My arm moved on it's own."

    Only for his hand to slip and the towel to fumble onto the floor as his hands refused to close.

    He heard Blink giggle up a storm, with Cloak and Gas Mask snickering as Tomura turned back around. Creep had his hand, with his ring finger pointing down, outstretched.

    "Motherfucker..." He hissed, his hand on the glass as he reduced it to silicon dust.

    "Whaaat? I was only looking to help, Shi-chan." Creep leered. Tomura contemplated leaping at him, but he felt both of Kurogiri's eyes on him… And his gaze was on the television set off to the side.

    Tomura growled. "Tch… Funny guy aren't you?"

    "I try my best to put on a smile. Ah yes, you wanted to know my little nickname? Well… You can call me... Geppetto."

    "Geppetto…" Tomura spoke off of his tongue. "Did I hear that name before?"

    "It's from the Pinnochio fairy tale, didn't you read or watch that stuff as a kid?" Gas Mask asked.

    "With a face like that, doubt he was much of a kid." Cloak chimed in. "Oh, by the way," He raised a hand. "You can call me Muscular." His tone was like that of a grinning hyena. "Heard of me?"

    "Muscular, I know of you. You're that infamous serial killer up in northern Honshu. You have a muscle augmentation quirk, right?" Tomura said, his tone excited as he did his best to ignore Geppetto and Blink off to the side.

    "My reputation precedes me." Muscular seemed to beam, relaxing in his booth. "Heard you were looking for some killers to help you in your goals. Well, count me in."

    Tomura seemed to grin behind his mask. Muscular was a simple guy. He wanted to kill. He could relate to that. "Sounds fine to me… I know the targets too."

    "E-Ehhh?" Straitjacket jerked up. "Ta...targets… Fresh meat? Will… Will I work haaaaard~?" He groaned, panting as Tomura pointed.

    "Who's he?"

    "That is Moonfish." Giran said, who hadn't left and was loving the sight before him going by his shit-eating smirk and crossed arms. "He was scheduled for Death Row before he busted himself out. He got one other inmate out, someone who works under me now, and that brought Moonfish to me."

    "No shit." Tomura asked. "Moonfish… Hey, Kurogiri. Do you know of this guy?"

    "Ehh? N-No work? N-No meat?" Moonfish seemed to utter, sounding almost heartbroken with his jagged teeth on display.

    "He was much like Muscular before Muscular, a serial killer who targeted indiscriminately. Not to mention a cannibal, it made cutting into his targets easier with his quirk. Blade-Tooth." Kurogiri explained.

    "Canny Ball? Hey hey Pet-chan." Blink spoke, looking at Geppetto. "What's a Canny Ball?"

    "A people eater, Blinky~" Geppetto oiled.

    "Wow wow."

    "Mask kid. What's your story? And your quirk got something to do with that mask?"

    "I'm a bit new in Giran's ring, but… I wanna prove myself, and get back at those damn heroes… fuck it, rest of society in general." Mask kid spoke, voice low. "I wanted to be a hero before… but my quirk made it impossible… My quirk is Gas by the way. I can conjure and manipulate poison gas… problem is…" He tapped on his mask. "I'm not immune to it, so I have to wear this when I'm working." Tomura was silent… and felt a little nostalgic hearing that before he brushed it aside.

    "Surely you have a pretty face under there Mu-chan." Geppetto spoke. "Come on, you're among friends now~"

    "It's Mustard ya metrosexfiend." Mustard replied.

    "Oh~" Geppetto put a hand to his chest. "I am sooooo hurt~" He drawled.

    "So I get that you're new along with Blink." Tomura pointed at Mustard. "And these two are vets." Then at Muscular who waved lazily as he sat close to a groaning Moonfish. "What's your deal…"

    "My… excursions are not nearly as exciting buuuuut…" Geppetto seemed to smirk darkly, and raised his hand at Mustard. The boy seemed to freeze on the spot. His fingers began to move… with them, so did the boy.

    "I've done my fair share of assassinations. Hits… and other killings." As his fingers began to move, Mustard seemed to be doing jumping jacks. "Just because I wanted to see what would happen… when I used my 'Puppet Strings'." Geppetto looked back at Tomura, red looking into ruby red.

    "Like what?"

    "Oh I dunno…" He oiled, before Geppetto had a dangerous looking smirk. "trailing a couple whose marriage was failing… then having one of them strangle the other in a fit of passionate rage? What about a person jogging on a path, only for a simple… twitch." His fingers relaxed, as did Mustard who panted, free of his control. Then the thumb moved, and Mustard's leg was pulled out under him, making him fall with a yelp.

    "I can make them tear a ligament… fall down a cliff?" Geppetto whispered, leaning forward as all fingers were primed and… Mustard almost seemed to levitate up, unable to move, but Tomura could hear his panicked grunts under that mask. "Or if they're going for a swim and I just… relax my hands in their general direction and they… drown themselves?" He was licking his lips almost sensually.

    'He's dangerous…'

    "So many many possibilities… Like that time I saved a child against his bully from across a schoolyard… by taking his arms…" Mustard's hands reached for his helmet as Geppetto levitated him back to the ground.

    "H-Hey, wait, H-Hold on Geppetto!"

    "And breaking his own neck."

    And Mustard lifted up his gas mask, showing a plain looking Japanese teenager underneath who was panicking. Mustard blinked before he pulled his arms down, with it his mask as Geppetto had placed his hands on his lap.

    "Fucking asshole!" Geppetto shrugged. Out of the corner of the teal-haired youth's eyes, he saw Kurogiri perk up.

    Tomura narrowed his eyes. "You… I-"

    "Shigaraki," Kurogiri spoke out, and all the occupants in the room turned towards the black mist man. "I am going on an errand. The Master is calling to me." He said, and his suit fell down from his black misty body.

    "Oh boy~" Geppetto cooed, then he frowned when he didn't see anything. "Darn."

    "Fine, be quick about it." Tomura waved his hands.

    "He also is making sure you get along with your new League members. HE won't accept you turning these back once more." Kurogiri replied, and Tomura perked up before sulking.

    "Fine…"

    "Giran, thank you again for your assistance." Kurogiri, now a mass of black mist, almost seemed to bow.

    "Just doin' my job." Giran nodded, grinning back. "Well, if that's all, I'll be taking off. You got accommodations for my guys here?"

    "We have proper room and board upstairs. I trust we will share it accordingly?" Kurogiri asked, addressing the room, his golden eyes narrowing across. "Properly too?"

    Tomura nodded. "Fine..." Kurogiri nodded and he turned himself into a vortex, vanishing as Giran waved before shutting the door behind him.

    (X)

    Everything still hurt.

    Why was it that you could be treated with the best medical supplies in the world, but when you wake up after a big fight, you feel sore all over?

    Peter had been asking that question for about an hour after the medical drones left him. Not the deepest thought that he had in his mind, but it sure as hell wasn't leaving him right now.

    On the plus side, unlike the last major party he ran away from, he didn't fall out of a plane.

    So it was a step in the right direction when it came to heroics.

    "You feeling okay?" Karen's voice asked from his phone.

    "No," Peter admitted.

    He tried to chuckle, but it came out rather choppy in his current state. At that moment, there was no doubt that Karen had a few video cameras and scanners pointed at him to make sure that he was alright. She had the entire hospital on watch, and no one was the wiser as she made herself at home there.

    Again, he was fine, no plane defenestration, so again, plus!

    All he really needed was a good night's sleep-

    "Peter, you have a phone call."

    He groaned.

    "Who is it from?"

    "Yu."

    All tiredness left him immediately.

    "Ahhh, say that I'm not available. I'm at the hotel right now and-"

    "Already answered."

    TRAITOR!

    Peter snapped the phone up from the side table and put it up to his ear as he laid back in the hospital bed, groaning a bit.

    "Hello?"

    "Peter are you alright, are you okay, do I need to do anything!?" Yu was frantic as Peter winced, pulling the phone away from his ear. Across from him, he saw that Midoriya was asleep from painkillers thanks to his broken right hand. Todoroki and his sister were in another ward if he remembered correctly.

    "No no Yu I'm fine I swear, how are you?"

    He winced, of all the times for his mouth to betray him.

    "Oh, I'm great, just got finished with a lovely little stakeout with Shinji. Was on top of the world when I took out a guy that was trying to get away with a hit and run," Yu started, her voice sickeningly sweet. "But then I turn on the news and see what happened on I-Island, and let me tell you, that was a whole different kind of thrill." She let out a sigh of relief. "You were there at the Tower, weren't you?"

    Peter paused, sighing. "Yeah… Came in late…"

    "Where are you now? Karen said you were in bed when I called her… What kind of bed?"

    "Yeah, I'm at the hospital."

    "It must be late down there." Yu replied softly. "We'll talk when you get back here… when are you flying back anyway?"

    "Tomorrow morning or so… All Might said that he's gonna book us all a flight back to Narita. Recovery Girl will be there too, so we'll be as good as new the next day."

    "Okay… I'll clear my schedule so I can pick you up then… Sleep well ok? And for real. Count sheep. Sleep is good for you."

    Peter took a deep breath and sighed. "Thanks Yu… I'll see tomorrow. Good night."

    "Good night Peter."

    (X)

    Shouta walked through the streets of Japan, hoodie up to protect himself from the rain after he dropped off the old man back at his apartment. It helped him think. Plus he can walk off the chicken dinner he had with Araki.

    One would presume that an introvert like him wouldn't like the hustle and bustle, the movement of people around him helping to focus his thoughts but he did. He could drown it out. Background noise, static. It helped him set aside his own unnecessary thoughts alongside the inconsequential movement around him.

    Alternate worlds with no heroes.

    Avengers.

    Infinity Stones.

    Thanos.

    It was all too much to process as a whole really.

    Part of him wanted to simply chalk it up to Araki having finally lost his mind. Another part argued that the story, or at least a very small part of it, could be proven relatively quickly.

    Parker's quirk.

    If his own quirk didn't work on him, that would certainly give credence to the allegation. There were of course quirks that he couldn't disable, but Parker didn't show the outward signs of such. In theory, his quirk should be affected the same as Midoriya's or Bakugo's.

    If it wasn't, well... that was a point in his favor.

    He could confront him directly, or his guardian. Both were apparently aware of the story and he could glean some information from their reactions in general.

    There was a buzzing in his pocket. A text.

    The dark-haired man pulled it out, and read:

    'I-Island attacked. Our students who were in attendance were involved. In hospital and healing. Taking Parker and Midoriya with me on a Private Plane home. Recovery Girl will come by.' All Might.

    Aizawa stared at the phone. Blinked once. Twice. Considered chucking it into the nearest garbage bin before closing his eyes, counting back from ten and stuffing it in his pocket.

    Fucking ridiculous. Always with those two...

    He walked further into the city, trying for a while to refocus his thoughts as he tried to drown out the considerations of I-Island and everything that had happened there. He'd get answers on that disaster tomorrow when the news broke and there was a clearer picture.

    For now, he had to consider the story.

    Araki hadn't given any outward signs of insanity. He'd been clear-eyed, coherent, and held conversations easily. He hadn't repeated himself; the man seemed competent in every sense of the word.

    If the story was true, and he was by no means convinced, it added a whole new layer of potential danger around Parker and this... supposed new world, or dimension. Could others follow him? Would other victims from this 'Snap' wind up in this world somehow? Why had he been the only one? Were there potential side effects to those around him? Radiation, immune system pathogens hiding within him? Lack of immunities in his own system? Where exactly had he appeared in their world and did that place have a particular quality or reason for this happening?

    Shouta looked up into the rainy night sky, feeling the rain on his face.

    More frightening, was there a Thanos in this universe somewhere? Could another snap occur here?

    The thoughts gave him a headache. And while the implication was frightening it was too distant to bring about true fear. Too abstract still.

    Half a universe worth of people was a statistic.

    He could deal with statistics.

    He kept walking for a time, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets, the white noise of the city and the rain buzzing at the back of his thoughts.

    He had a headache by the time he made it back to his car. He shut the door and sat there for a time before he slowly made his way home.

    Araki sounded so damn sure that what he had seen in Parker's head was real.

    Peter's backstory still had holes, and he was supposed to use this to fill them in?

    He got more questions than answers on this trip… but it wasn't nothing. Shouta sighed heavily and focused on the road as he navigated himself back to Korosanto Ward using his phone map. That should take his mind off of this extra dimensional quandary for the night. That and a glass of whiskey in his liquor cabinet.

    (X)

    Alright, a quick and dirty epilogue and now back to your regularly scheduled shonen story!
     
  • Threadmarks
    • IKnowNothing said:
    'I-Island attacked. Our students who were in attendance were involved. In hospital and healing. Taking Parker and Midoriya with me on a Private Plane home. Recovery Girl will come by.' All Might.

    Aizawa stared at the phone. Blinked once. Twice. Considered chucking it into the nearest garbage bin before closing his eyes, counting back from ten and stuffing it in his pocket.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Sorry Aizawa, you'll be glad to know that All Might should have been more clear. It wasn't actually Parker and Midoriya who attacked I-Island.
     
    Dark as Silver said:
    Sorry Aizawa, you'll be glad to know that All Might should have been more clear. It wasn't actually Parker and Midoriya who attacked I-Island.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Oh god I didn't even notice that reading until your post, but if you look at the text without any knowledge of what happened 'our students who were in attendance were involved' really does sound like said students were involved in the attack, rather than caught in the attack and forced to defend against it. :V


    Poor Aizawa, how someone handles these sort of sanity-breaking revelations about an infinite multiverse says a lot about who they are as a person.

    Aizawa, as a person, is sick and tired of all this shit.
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter 43
  • Threadmarks
    • The sun's rays poured in from beyond the curtains as Melissa lay in her bed. She wasn't under the covers, she was still in her dress as she looked around. She was exhausted, in pain, but she hadn't slept at all the previous night, her mind still running fast.

    Her room was empty and cold. She kept closing her eyes, hoping for it to have all been a bad dream but the bloodstains at the hem of her dress kept reminding her that it wasn't.

    She heard Uncle Might's voice through the walls, talking to someone on the phone. Too distant to make out, but still here with her.

    She peeled herself out of the bed, hearing Uncle Might's thudding footsteps downstairs and forced herself to leave the mattress towards the bathroom. Dredging up the energy to wash and change, she at least attempted to look even mildly put together again.

    The shower ran hot, almost scalding and it was enough to push away the weariness at least for a time before she finally pulled herself out of her room with a fresh change of clothes, the bloodstained dress still in the bathroom. She wasn't sure if she should throw it out, burn it, or keep it for... evidence...

    She walked down the hall of the luxury penthouse that was her home, descending the stairs and moving towards the kitchen. There, standing before her was All Might, dressed in a white shirt, dark cargo pants, and a big blue apron across his titanic body.

    He turned at the sound of her footsteps, a small, subdued smile on his face that kinda said everything that needed to be said.

    "Good morning my girl."

    She wasn't sure what was so good about it... but that wasn't his fault.

    "Hey Uncle Might…" She said softly. All Might set the tongs down and wiped his hands as he walked to the side and opened the window a tad, turning down the heat on the skillet.

    He turned and walked closer to her, one giant paw resting over her shoulder. "Are you doing ok?"

    Melissa was silent, looking down before staring at the ground. She slumped, sitting on the seat. "What time did you get home last night?" She asked. She must've fallen asleep at least a little bit then. She didn't remember hearing him arrive. Or maybe she'd just been too lost in her own head.

    "Late. I came after Young Midoriya and the others were on their way to the hospital. I still had business to do afterwards as well…"

    "Are they ok?" Melissa looked up. "Izuku, Shoto, and the others?"

    "They'll be alright." All Might's smile seemed to widen a little. "They'll be heading back to Japan soon. Light injuries... err... for the most part." The girl felt a little relief.

    "I see…"

    Melissa looked to the side, seeing a photo of her and her father on the mantle. And some of her when she was young, when Mom was alive…

    "All Might…" She asked, sitting at the dinner table chair. "You spoke to dad… last night, right? Did… did he say… why he did what he did?"

    All Might looked down at her, the customary smile nowhere to be seen as he frowned solemnly.

    "I mean… how… how could he…" Melissa's hands went to her face, and she began to let out sobs. She felt a big paw on her shoulder before being drawn into a gentle embrace.

    "I know Melissa… I've been up all night pondering that myself…" All Might whispered as his strong arms sought to comfort her. "He cared too much for science and progress… he cared so much for his own goal that he forgot what mattered most."

    She looked up, eyes red with tears. "Why? Why would he throw everything away like this!? For what?"

    All Might released his hug on her, his dark blue eyes like stars in a dark void. She saw them move, as if she was seeing the gears in his head struggle to translate what he wanted to say.

    All Might let out a sigh. A long sigh, as if he didn't look like the world's greatest hero, but someone who looked… tired.

    "There's something I need to show you." He said, and there was a gravity to his voice and look she'd never seen before. It set her on edge. "Your father knew. I think it might help... make things clear."

    "What?" She asked.

    All Might shook his head. "Soon. For now, you need to eat. And I need to finalize the legalities."

    "Legalities?"

    He nodded. "As of-" He looked at his wristwatch. "Seventeen minutes from now once it's notarized and mailed, I will be your legal guardian. You'll be coming with me to Japan. Until we can settle your father's... trial. Then we can… sort out your living situation."

    The words seemed to choke her uncle, and they felt like a sledgehammer to the gut on her end if she was being honest.

    She sniffed, wiping her eyes. "Yeah... I understand."

    "I'll tell you everything soon."

    She nodded. Too tired to argue, and even if she weren't, it was Uncle Might. If he said he'd tell her... he'd tell her.

    Though she had to wonder what he would tell her that needed this much secrecy. Uncle Might hated secrets.

    "Alright… we have to keep your strength up!" He said, patting her shoulder. "Let's get some breakfast in you."

    (X)

    The trip to the plane was a less than enjoyable affair. Young Midoriya was slightly surprised to hear that Melissa was on board, but that was hardly something that he needed to account for. A ton of space was available, most of it going to waste in the private jet, so everyone would be able to keep to themselves if they needed it.

    Four hours into the trip, Toshinori might've thought that wasn't for the best.

    Young Midoriya had also given him the heads-up that young Parker was safe and sound with his companion aboard the private jet of the Yaoyorozu's, which put a small load off Yagi's shoulders.

    Still, how on earth was this going to work? He was barely present at his house, much less the minimum required to help someone through a tough time.

    Yet Melissa was just supposed to tough it out when Toshinori, inevitably, went over his time limit again? He could barely teach a class, much less hold out for long enough to have an hour to spare to make sure she was doing alright. And this was with him having under three hours available.

    Hell, his limit was reaching around two hours and forty minutes now… He pushed it a lot the night of the attack around the end, what with the interviews and handling the villain situation in the aftermath.

    Was he just supposed to let her deal with it? Everyone in the country was depending on him to be the Number One Hero, that duty was more important than one girl. He could do enough, he could make things work well enough, he'd gone through tougher fights.

    Only… she hadn't.

    All her life she'd been yearning to surpass her father, to become a great inventor and scientist. To create the best Support Gear to aid heroes in their goal for a stable, safe, and just society. She had it all planned out too. Now?

    She was alone.

    Well, Toshinori was an orphan too once upon a time. All it took was a hand reaching out to him.

    He couldn't give her One for All, but he could do something.

    Pushing off his seat, he moved with more purpose than he probably should be feeling. A thousand different conflicting worrying thoughts clashed in his mind as he walked to the door of Melissa's room.

    If Nighteye were here, he would've spouted a dozen different reasons for why this was a bad idea.

    Toshinori only needed one good reason to go through with it.

    Two knocks on the door, and a shift in the light behind it was all the warning he got.

    "Uncle Might?" Melissa spoke.

    "Yes, it's me," Toshinori said, "Are you doing okay?"

    "As well as I can," she said through the door.

    So not well at all.

    "You remember that I said there was something I needed to tell you? Ahh... if you're up for it my girl, I can do so now." Toshinori said.

    God he hoped this helped.

    Midoriya looked back from his seat, curious, intrigued, and a little surprised.

    The door to the cabin creaked for a single moment before slowly sliding open. Melissa walked out, looking up at him, intrigued despite her weariness.

    "There's something you need to know my girl. I... believe it may have contributed to your father's actions last night."

    Now the weariness vanished, replaced by an earnest yearning to come across anything in the way of answers.

    In the corner of his eye, Toshinori could see Midoriya, listening intently. The dots of what's happening are starting to add up for him, with his eyes widening.

    He stopped, hesitating for a moment.

    Then… he let go.

    The steam left his body, as if his body was little more than a balloon that was trying to stay filled. He waited for it to clear and saw her squinting through the smoke; Melissa stared, eyes wide and jaw on the floor while Midoriya was muttering up a storm behind them.

    And Toshinori, well, he was back to looking more like the half-baked parody of what the world saw as the Number One Hero. Melissa looked him up and down, mind whirling with the possibilities.

    Melissa reached forward, finger gently touching the skinny frame that stood before her in oversized clothes. She flinched when her finger touched solid mass, letting everything sink in further and further.

    "U-Uncle Might…" Melissa stammered, "What… what happened?"

    "I was injured..." Toshinori answered, his voice softer and a far cry from the bombastic tone he normally portrayed, "Years ago now in a deadly fight. I kept it secret... but I've been slowly losing my power ever since dear girl. This..."

    He looked down to the floor before shrugging. "Is the real me I suppose."

    Her hand reached up, tears lining her eyes as her fingers cupped his cheek, disbelief rapidly being replaced by understanding. "Dad found out... that's why he wanted the quirk amplifier..."

    He nodded. "I... believe he wanted it before he learned of this... but when he learned of it his decision was cemented."

    The tears still glimmered in her eyes but didn't fall.

    After a moment of quiet, Toshinori shifted and turned his eyes towards Midoriya. "My quirk is called One for All." He nodded towards the young man. "An aspect of it... is that it can be passed on."

    She blinked. "Passed on?" She turned, rounding on the stiff looking Midoriya who sat there like a deer in the headlights.

    "He gave it to you." It wasn't a question, more an affirmation.

    Izuku blushed, looking down to his feet. "You... ahh, figured that out quick."

    "I thought Uncle Might was helping you because you had similar quirks already. So when he said it you were kinda suspect one." She answered with as much of a smile as she could muster.

    "He is my chosen successor." Toshinori nodded. Looking to the boy he smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry for not consulting with you young Midoriya, but... she will be living with me."

    "N-nono." The teenager held up his hands placatingly. "It's ok I uhh... I kinda figured she would know eventually after you told me she'd be living with you."

    Melissa turned her head from him to young Midoriya, her sharp mind working quickly. "I've never heard of a quirk that can be passed on." Then, her eyes widened, turning back towards Toshinori.

    "But... wait if he has your power how can you-"

    "Some remnants still remain within me... for now." He answered, predicting her question. "But even before I met young Midoriya and chose him, my power was indeed draining. It's faster now, but back then I could only hold my heroic form for four hours at most."

    "And now?"

    "A little less than three." He admitted.

    Her eyes became grief-stricken before being filled with something he should perhaps get used to seeing...

    Pity.

    "Oh Uncle Might."

    He reached forward, his hand grasping one of hers. "I know this is a lot to take in dear girl but, please understand, more than anything else, this must remain a secret. Until Young Midoriya is able to master One for All and take my place, the world must believe and trust in the Symbol of Peace. They need their Number One Hero."

    She looked at him, something searching, halting. She nodded. "I understand."

    He nodded. "Thank you my girl... if you're feeling up to it or if you have questions, ask them. You're as much a part of this now as either of us..."


    (X)

    Peter sat down on the seat, arm in a sling as he reached ahead with his good one. He winced a bit, but the meds were doing their job in numbing some of the pain.

    He took his knight and moved it to the left, looking at his opponent to make her move.

    Momo responded by moving her pawn.

    "Someone hasn't played a lot of chess here, have they?" Karen spoke lightly in his ear, and Peter rolled his eyes.

    "… by the way Momo," He said as he moved a pawn ahead. "Thanks for taking me and Mei."

    "It's fine Peter. We are both heading for Narita so it makes sense. Either way, you're going to reunite with your guardian, right?"

    "Should be, I texted her when I was taking off… We'll be landing in what, eight to nine hours?" Peter mused.

    "Seven," cut in a voice, and Peter leaned his head up, seeing Mrs. Yaoyorozu walk into their cabin. Peter perked up and smiled.

    "Heya Mrs. Yaoyorozu. Thanks for the last minute save!" Peter waved. The stoic auburn-haired woman didn't seem to so much as react.

    "We had the room. " She replied in fine English. "Chess?"

    "Umm, why yes Mother." Momo said, her mood tightening up. "I thought that we should try and take our minds off things."

    Mrs. Yaoyorozu blinked, and Peter felt a chill in his spine as he saw her smirk a little. "Is that so?" Her tone shifted, her looking piqued and interested. "How is he?"

    "I'm… new." Peter said.

    "I see, well." She reached down, patting Momo on the head as the black-haired beauty seemed to stiffen at the contact, eyes wide in surprise. "You two… have fun, show him a thing or two, would you?" Mrs. Yaoyorozu commented as she turned around, stopping to gaze at the empty lounge chair. "I see your friend is not present. Bathroom?"

    "Yeah."

    Mrs. Yaoyorozu closed her eyes for a spell before focusing her hard obsidian pearl-like eyes onto the duo. "Hn. If you wish to watch TV, remotes should be under your seats. The TV units are above you. Or continue to play. You can read a lot of people in a game of chess, once they are of a certain level." She looked on at Peter. "Do whichever you like. The stewardess will come along with menus too, so eat up. It will be a long flight home."

    Momo turned back. "Umm, Mother?" The woman stopped and turned her attention on her daughter. "So… why were you back here?" Mrs. Yaoyorozu had a flat expression on her face.

    "It's my plane." She replied, and Momo puffed her cheeks out and looked away, looking bashful as the woman left to go into her cabin.

    "I think your mom just wanted to see how we were doing."

    "My mother is… unique." She said, looking to the side, then back to the board as she moved her queen out into the field.

    "She looks a bit stiff, but she looked interested when she noticed you were playing chess." Peter said as he moved another pawn.

    The door to the bathroom opened, bringing Peter's eyes over his shoulder to see Mei stepping out.

    She looked tired, not a normal thing for the usually hyperactive pinkette.

    "You ok?"

    She turned her eyes to him and did her best to smile. "What'cha doin?" She asked, stepping forward, and Peter noted the lack of answer.

    "Playing chess," Momo answered.

    "Never got into it." She answered, "people think too slow."

    Momo paused, turning and looking at the girl with a raised eyebrow as Mei made her way across the cabin to plop down on a lounge chair. "How many hours til we land?" She asked.

    "Not until later tonight. If you wish to watch some TV, you can use the remote under the chair." Mei perked up at Momo's query, reaching down and rummaging around a bit. Momo moved another pawn out before looking at Peter. "Not for nothing Parker, but, how are you feeling? You look..." She paused, and Peter got the distinct impression she was trying to find a polite way of saying "You look like hell" but was having trouble.

    Peter smiled sardonically and looked at his cast. "You know, just for... future reference, don't trust the first person who claims they're a fan of yours."

    The black-haired beauty cocked an eyebrow. Before shaking her head, deciding it was best not to ask before proceeding to move her knight onto the field.

    They played quietly for a moment before she spoke again. "There's something I wish to ask."

    "Sure thing."

    "Did you… text me by chance last night?" She asked.

    "Oh shoot." Karen spoke in his earpiece, and Peter sucked in his lips, feeling a pit in his stomach.

    "Ummm, why do you ask? I mean, we texted before the party and-"

    "After All Might and Endeavor stopped the villain boss and ended the incident." Momo said softly. "It's been bugging me, since I got a text from you but All Might had your phone…" She brought out her phone, holding it up and showing the text message chain to him. "So… do you have like, two phones or something?" She asked. "I've only ever seen you use one and all…"

    "This one's my fault. I just wanted to reassure her and texted her back." Karen said. Peter slumped in his seat and took a deep breath.

    Peter swallowed, wondering how he might handle this before doing the mental equivalent of a shrug.

    Secret was kinda out with Izuku, Melissa and the Todoroki's knowing... what was one more?

    "Okay." He said, remembering his conversation with his friend from over a month ago. "Remember back in the train station? You know, before the internships when I said that I had a foreign guidance counselor named Karen?" Momo nodded. "Well… that's both true and… not so much. You see-"

    The door to the cabin slid open, admitting a stewardess with a small cart. "Hello sir and madams, would you like anything to drink or eat?"

    Peter grimaced, remembering that, at the moment it was indeed kinda more than just him and Momo on this plane and planes didn't exactly have thick walls. He offered the Stewardess a smile as she approached and looked to Momo. "I'll explain err... later. Ok?" He hoped she didn't press since it'd be awkward as hell to try and say no when she was giving him a free ride home, on her plane for apparently no real discernable reason as well.

    Luckily, she didn't. She looked curious and was eyeing him more than a little strangely but she nodded. "Of course."

    "Miss, would you like something?"

    His eyes were drawn to Mei, who was sitting across from his side of the cabin, distracted and quiet.

    "Mei?" He called.

    The girl jumped where she sat, seemingly coming back into her own skin before realizing what was happening, her target eyes quickly whirring in their sockets as she zoomed in and focused on each of their faces. "Huh? Oh... uhh. Just water thanks."

    Peter frowned, his worry for the girl increasing just a bit.

    (X)

    Later that night…

    Yu paced about in the front terminal of Narita Airport, arms crossed as she looked up at the clock on the big holographic screen showing the arrival and departure times of various flights. It was well past ten in the evening.

    Her phone buzzed and she reached her hand in her coat, pulling it out as she could hear a sudden summer rain start to come down outside.

    'Look alive, here we come.' It was from Karen as Yu looked up, seeing a group walking down from an escalator.

    Yu let out a sigh and walked up. She saw his state. The bandages around his head, his arm in a sling and the woman took a deep breath as she came up to Peter, embracing him.

    "Hey Yu…" Peter muttered, hugging her as best as he could with one arm.

    "How are you?" She asked, pulling away to have a better look at him.

    "Well, I'm in one piece." He shrugged, looking at his suitcase being ferried along by fancy looking valets. There were two of them to be exact. Must have been with the Yaoyorozu's. "Can't say the same for the rental though…"

    She blinked, brain stuttering for a moment. "You got caught in a terrorist attack and you're joking about the suit! I-Oooooooph!" Yu groaned out, not sure whether to bonk her ward upside the head or laugh. She only hugged him tighter. "You… stupid cow!"

    "Sorry Yu, f-for making you worry." The joking tone in his voice disappeared for a moment.

    "Should be…" Yu muttered under her breath, before separating and looking at him face to face. She let out a small smile. "You're going to be spending the night at U.A.'s Infirmary, Recovery Girl's on standby."

    "Yeah, All Might told us before we left..." Peter yawned a bit. "I can go for a bit of a snooze myself…" He turned, and Yu followed his gaze.

    Hatsume Mei, the crazy inventor girl Peter took with him as his plus one, was talking with her family. Her father had literal binoculars for eyes, and her mother also had pink hair as they embraced her.

    "I believe these are Parker-san's bags?" The valet spok.

    "Here, let me." Yu bent down, picking up the two and pulling the handles. She saw Peter reach for one with his good arm.

    "Can still pull one." He said.

    "Hey Peter!" "Peter-san." Said two voices as Peter turned, and the well-dressed black-haired Yaoyorozu Momo approached, as did the more casual looking Hatsume.

    "So… you gonna get better soon yeah?" Hatsume inquired.

    "Yeah," Peter smiled lightly. The targets in the girl's yellow eyes seemed to zoom, and the pinkette seemed to brighten up.

    "Peter-san," Yaoyorozu got his attention and smiled lightly. "Keep in touch, I'd like to know how your recovery proceeds."

    "Yeah um, we can talk later, about, the uhh." Yu followed his eyes, seeing the Yaoyorozu parents standing off to the side "The thing. Promise."

    Yaoyorozu bowed towards the blonde and walked off, and Hatsume waved, before trotting over to her parents, leaving just the wall crawler and the giantess hero.

    Yu had that grin back. "Sooo… You flew back with two pretty girls huh?" She asked.

    "Yu, no." Peter sighed.

    "Come on, I deserve a little story on your end on how the flight home went. Anything happen over your dozen hours in the air?"

    "It was around seven hours actually… And I got my butt whooped in chess. Then we watched several movies too."

    The two of them were walking, and Yu felt a semblance of ease in her. Peter was taking this all too well and in stride… Even though he was in a villain attack not even twenty-four hours ago.

    Then Yu remembered… Peter had faced worse. Suffered worse. She sighed as they exited the terminal and went over the crosswalk, heading towards the giant parking garage where she was parked.

    She pushed the thoughts aside "You still gotta tell me. Like, what stuff ya did with them." Yu mused as they got to her car.

    "Well, we did go to Tecca Mecanica and-"

    (X)

    "MMMMMMMM-Mwah!" Recovery Girl's lips popped as Izuku's form glowed for a moment, then the boy slumped in his bed and the smaller woman stepped aside.

    "He should be better by morning Toshinori." she said, before she turned on the muscular titan of a man. All Might winced at the sight, something that Melissa as she stood by the doorway quirked an eyebrow at. "And you need to get it through this boy's skull that he needs to stop breaking his bones…" She paused, and Melissa felt her eyes upon him as the girl raised her hand.

    "I-I know about the thing." She spoke in Japanese. "You know… Musketeer." Melissa smiled bashfully, hoping to keep the fact that her codeword for All Might and Izuku's quirk would pass. Thankfully, Peter got his kiss and his guardian took him home to sleep and recover, as he was able to remain awake even after the stamina-draining kiss, according to the little old nurse. And the Todorokis were in another room healing up, based on the dim lights in the room they slept in.

    It seemed the top healing hero in Japan caught on as she looked back at All Might, her silence pointed enough to carry the question.

    "She's going to be living with me. I am her Godfather…" All Might shrugged, and the old woman seemed to understand.

    "Fair enough." She said, giving a light yawn herself. "Guess I'm gonna have to rest these old bones here overnight it seems… I don't do late night calls like this often All Might, so be grateful."

    "And I am!" All Might bowed at a ninety-degree angle, hands clasped in front in gratitude. "Thank you so much again for granting my request to heal my students!"

    "Mmmnn… I'm gonna go to the office and doze off… you know the code to lock up the front door on your way out." She grumbled, walking past as she used her cane. Melissa saw her stop in front, and look up at her with sympathetic eyes. "For what it's worth Shield-san, I am sorry for what happened…"

    "It's… fine…" Melissa had a hand on her arm, grasping it and looking away. She'd dozed off on the plane, but she was feeling the jet lag big time. She turned, eyes finding the sleeping Izuku. Specifically his hands covered in bandages.

    She felt All Might's big paw on her shoulder, then the steam that came from it as she looked up, seeing that warm skeletal smile of her Uncle Might, now in a much baggier suit.

    "Come on," He said in his tired voice. "Let's head home." Melissa looked back, again seeing Izuku's hands.

    As she walked away from the infirmary and the robot nurses wheeled about to close the door, she could see the photos along the wall of U.A. Alumni who made it as heroes. Endeavor. Edgeshot. Gang Orca. Mirko. Midnight. Mt. Lady.

    And All Might himself.

    Melissa got her phone out and tapped a button. A pen popped up as she got to her blueprint App and began to write.

    "Writing something?" Uncle Might asked as they got to the elevator. His voice was so different, and yet... not. It was strange.

    "Just an outline of ideas," she answered.

    Start with ideas, anything that came to mind. Then by process of elimination, delete them and leave the remaining ones that best match the hero in mind for the Support Gear. The hero being in question sleeping in the room behind her.

    (X)

    "So, let me get this straight."

    "You've tried getting it straight for the past ten minutes," Peter grumbled, drowsy.

    Yu, of course, ignored him, as was her duty as the nosey guardian.

    "You had more than seven hours to throw some moves on a girl, two girls if I'm not mistaken, and you didn't take the opportunity?" Yu asked curiously. "Two girls, who clearly are friendly with you. One whom you hang out at lunch most of the time, the other being the girl you sit next too, and they look pretty decent for their age too."

    "First off, Momo was helping me and Mei out," Peter clarified, "Since when is it a good idea to try and 'throw some moves' in that kind of situation?"

    Yu blinked once.

    "Oh, you're serious."

    Peter glared flatly at her.

    "Yeah. I am. Also, her parents were in the next room. Finally, Momo's mom… looks scary. Not to mention she owns the plane."

    "Oh please. How scary could she be!?" Yu demanded as she pushed open the door to their home. "She looked like she needed a nap from that long flight is all!"

    "You didn't spend up to eight hours with her in an enclosed space several thousand feet in the air."

    The apartment was cool, and only a little more messy than it had been when he left.

    Peter seemed to sigh.

    "You have to be tired after Recovery Girl smooched ya, so get to bed." The woman yawned a bit as she pulled away, turning on only the kitchen light as to better navigate the dark flat. "We both need it…" She said, walking back to close the door and lock it. Peter smiled softly and turned back into his bedroom, and began to shed off some of his clothes with his good arm. He could feel the drain on his stamina, his eyes heavy as he reached his hand up to pull off his earpiece. He'd shower and clean up in the morning...

    "Peter, you have an email." Karen spoke in his ear, making the boy perk up.

    "'Bout what?" Peter yawned, tossing his shirt aside as he began to kicked off his sneakers.

    "It seems to be an email from your teacher, Mr. Aizawa."

    Peter paid no mind, going to put on his pajama shirt. "Is he checking in on us?"

    "Read for yourself…"

    Peter flipped open his phone, scrolling to the email in question.

    The title was simple: 'We need to talk'. Peter opened it...

    'I wish to speak to you and your guardian, Mt. Lady, sometime before the Summer Camp.

    Aizawa'

    (X)

    So, this got tied up in life and all that crazy stuff, but it's here now.

    Anyway, one more transition done, and then we're back on canon proper, with a few new additions.

    Hope you enjoyed, and hopefully, the next chapter is a bit faster to come out.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • IKnowNothing said:
    He nodded. "As of-" He looked at his wristwatch. "Seventeen minutes from now once it's notarized and mailed, I will be your legal guardian. You'll be coming with me to Japan. Until we can settle your father's... trial. Then we can… sort out your living situation."
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Oof, reality ensues. Sorry Mellissa you aren't in a movie that optional canon this time.
    Looking forward to the changes from this.
    IKnowNothing said:
    "Never got into it." She answered, "people think too slow."
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Not sure if this an ADHD or a too smart for it take. Or both.
    IKnowNothing said:
    'Look alive, here we come.' It was from Karen as Yu looked up, seeing a group walking down from an escalator.

    Yu let out a sigh and walked up. She saw his state. The bandages around his head, his arm in a sling and the woman took a deep breath as she came up to Peter, embracing him.

    "Hey Yu…" Peter muttered, hugging her as best as he could with one arm.

    "How are you?" She asked, pulling away to have a better look at him.

    "Well, I'm in one piece." He shrugged, looking at his suitcase being ferried along by fancy looking valets. There were two of them to be exact. Must have been with the Yaoyorozu's. "Can't say the same for the rental though…"

    She blinked, brain stuttering for a moment. "You got caught in a terrorist attack and you're joking about the suit! I-Oooooooph!" Yu groaned out, not sure whether to bonk her ward upside the head or laugh. She only hugged him tighter. "You… stupid cow!"

    "Sorry Yu, f-for making you worry." The joking tone in his voice disappeared for a moment.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Erm, it only got posted on SB, but I think this is adapted from this fan art.
    forums.spacebattles.com

    Friendly Foreign Exchange Student Spiderman! (My Hero Academia x MCU)

    New Year, new art. So after reading the latest chapter, I have this idea that Yu must have been having PTSD flashbacks after learning about the crisis in I-island in the news because this is USJ all over again. This is how I imagine their reunion once Peter and co are back in Japan. With the...
    forums.spacebattles.com forums.spacebattles.com
    Unless Zaru dropped a snip of the update and they commissioned that off this. I miss a lot on that thread.
    IKnowNothing said:
    "Yu, no." Peter sighed.

    "Yu, yes."
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    FTFY
     
    Dark as Silver said:
    Oof, reality ensues. Sorry Mellissa you aren't in a movie that optional canon this time.
    Looking forward to the changes from this.

    Not sure if this an ADHD or a too smart for it take. Or both.

    Erm, it only got posted on SB, but I think this is adapted from this fan art.
    forums.spacebattles.com

    Friendly Foreign Exchange Student Spiderman! (My Hero Academia x MCU)

    New Year, new art. So after reading the latest chapter, I have this idea that Yu must have been having PTSD flashbacks after learning about the crisis in I-island in the news because this is USJ all over again. This is how I imagine their reunion once Peter and co are back in Japan. With the...
    forums.spacebattles.com forums.spacebattles.com
    Unless Zaru dropped a snip of the update and they commissioned that off this. I miss a lot on that thread.

    FTFY
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    That snippet was inspired by the fan art. Yes.
     
    Well we have some things coming back, Yu desperately trying to put Peter into a more normal headspace, and some really nice moments with Yagi and Melissa, there's not a lot deeper going on this chapter to comment on, but the cliff hanger is a nice touch.
     
    Chapter 44
  • Threadmarks
    • Dinner had always been quiet when the Todoroki patriarch was around. No one ever really spoke about their day, beyond the few attempts that Fuyumi would have, only for those to peter out almost as soon as they started.

    Yet, even after getting through most of the main course, neither of them left, neither of them looking to the door in the vague hope that someone would take them out of this situation. It was just a quiet, simple dinner, one that hadn't happened in a long time.

    "Was the trip back comfortable?" he asked.

    Shoto didn't look up from his rice, and Fuyimi looked almost sheepish.

    "Dad, it was your private jet, it was very comfortable."

    "I just want to make sure," Enji said.

    "Really dad," Fuyumi stressed, "It was nice."

    "Good," Enji said, fingers fumbling with his own food for a moment, "And has anyone… called for a comment?"

    "They don't even get past the first ring," Shoto said, still not looking up from his food.

    Enji didn't react, though he could see Fuyumi watching the two of them intently.

    "Back when I was a starting hero," he began, "I got calls from almost every agency to figure out if I knew what the latest trend was. I couldn't deal with all of them, so I set my mail to send them to a local car dealership."

    Fuyumi laughed, a bit forced, but still good to hear.

    "You sure that was you?"

    "I was young," Enji said, "I hadn't really gotten used to dealing with press calls."

    He twirled up some soba and slurped it down.

    "So… before the I-Tower Incident…" Enji mused, looking to Fuyumi. "Did you two… have fun?" His son turned back, and his only daughter perked up.

    "Have fun?"

    "Well, you didn't have a chance to meet with my contacts back there. So what did you two before I landed?" Enji asked.

    Shoto blinked, his eyes as focused on his father as he was unmoving.

    "Oh!" Fuyumi seemed to brighten up. "Well, me and Shoto went to Tecca Meccanica, and we had a bunch of fun with Shoto's friends!"

    "Is that so?" He said, offering a light nod. "If I remember, Parker and Midoriya were there at the Tower. I take it you spent time with them?"

    "Yes, as well as Yaoyorozu." Shoto replied, almost unsure on how to respond any further. "And that inventor girl. Hatsume."

    "Hatsume?" Enji quirked an eyebrow.

    "Oh! She's the crazy pink-haired one from the Sports Festival. You know, the one who made those cool gadgets for Shoto's team during the War, and then had that tech demonstration with Peter Parker afterwards." Fuyumi explained before she giggled. "Had a good laugh with that."

    "So you went to that theme park?" Enji mused as he returned to his soba bowl.

    "Sorry," Shoto cut in, and Enji looked up. "For not getting in touch with those business contacts." He said, as if he was uncomfortable trying to talk about teenage things. "Lost track of time-"

    "It's fine." Enji cut him off, and he felt his son's gaze on him. "The people I know were unharmed during the I-Tower incident. You can always meet them again, just as I will to test the new armor designs." He brought the cold soba to his lips and slurped them all down.

    'I am just happy you had a fun distraction.' Was what he wanted to say, but the Flame Hero was left at a loss for words, so he reached to sip some tea once more.

    "Well… excusing the tower and, well, being shot at." Fuyumi said, hand to her side. Enji tensed up. Out of the corner of his eye, Shoto was doing and feeling the same. The white-haired woman sat up and smiled. "I had a blast, and so did Shoto."

    At least something good came from this...

    (X)

    "Okay… everything's all clean around here." Yu mused as she finished cleaning the dishes, seeing Peter tidy up the living room as he ran the vacuum across the floor in one final sweep.

    "Did you sweep around the kitchen?" The American boy asked.

    "Yep." Yu replied as the blonde-haired woman looked up. "Curious as to why your teacher wants to come here…"

    "Says he wants to talk." Peter shrugged, looking as confused as her. "I told him this morning that he can come by today, and he said he will. He didn't give much of a reason either."

    "Your grades seem to be doing well… what would he want to talk about… I-Island?" Yu mused, slightly worried. Peter looked back and shrugged.

    "Maybe. I know All Might came around after the USJ fiasco, so I guess Aizawa-sensei is doing that." He said as he began to clean up the vacuum and put it away. "Hey Karen, put down a roomba on 'things to buy' later on will ya?"

    "Of course." Karen spoke over his phone which was on the dining room counter.

    "And, you'll have to keep quiet this time." Peter said, finger to his lips. "I can trust Izuku and the others but-"

    "You told the others about Karen?" Yu asked, and the brown-haired boy shrugged.

    "Terrorist attack."

    Yu blinked and nodded. "Fair point I suppose…"

    "That and I was the reason for the servers falling under my control." Karen seemed to give out a sigh. "Man, sooooo much more room on those servers on I-Island." Yu looked at Peter with a concerned look.

    "I know that look, and no, she's not gonna go Skynet." Peter assured his guardian. "But yeah Karen, let's tread on caution here. We can talk after Aizawa has left."

    "Of course. Speaking of whom, he's pulling in now." Karen mused. Peter walked over to his phone as the AI brought up a camera attached to the complex, seeing a car pull over on the curb and who else but Aizawa Shouta coming out, sporting his typical black attire complete with scarf.

    "Okay, look alive. I told the apartment manager that he's coming and what floor we're on." Peter went over to the couch as Yu finished loading the dishes and then the soap.

    "Done." She said, seeing her living room all clean and put together. The blonde let out a light sigh.

    "What?"

    "Is it wrong for me to say that this feels a bit… too clean?"

    "It's my teacher Yu, and there's nothing wrong with being too clean. Especially with you." Peter said as he got up, going to the cupboard to grab a cup to get some water. He pocketed his phone, Karen taking that as a sign to sit back. He didn't have an earpiece either…

    A minute passed, and then they heard three simple knocks as Peter finished his water before he walked to the door and opened it.

    "Good morning Sensei." Peter said with a light smile, a far cry from the constant frown and shaggy disposition of his black-haired teacher. "Welcome to, well, our home."

    "Morning Parker." Aizawa droned, his head turning to see Yu on the couch. "Mt. Lady."

    "Hey Eraserhead." Yu stretched her arms as she walked up to him. "So, Peter told me you needed to talk to me?"

    "The both of you. I find it prudent to do that since you are his guardian." Aizawa elaborated as he walked inside.

    "Need anything to drink?" Peter offered.

    "Water please," Aizawa replied as he took a seat opposite from Yu on a chair, and as Peter filled up the glasses, he knew his place was beside his guardian as he returned with a glass for Yu and his teacher. He then sat down next to Yu before he felt Aizawa's gaze fixed upon him.

    "How are you feeling? Recovery Girl's medical report told me you got banged up." Aizawa asked.

    "I'm doing fine." Peter rubbed the spot on his arm where he got shot. "She fixed me up good."

    "And you Mt. Lady?" Aizawa asked, his eyes on the blond.

    "Was worried but… All Might was there. Endeavor too." She explained. "So why are you here? Just for that?"

    Aizawa fixed his gaze upon Peter, and he took a deep breath. "So, you say you're fine, yet you were in a terrorist attack and were fired upon by mercenaries shooting to kill?"

    "Well, yeah." Peter shrugged. "I mean, I've been through worse and all."

    Aizawa looked at him for a moment. "Not many students can say they've seen something worse." He said rather pointedly.

    Peter looked to the side. "Well… I mean, there was the U.S.J. That was pretty rough."

    Aizawa stared at him. "True, but you weren't thinking about the U.S.J. when you said that, were you Parker?"

    Peter almost winced. "I... ahhh... don't know what you mean."

    "Hmm." The teacher kept his silence for a moment, observing the boy's reactions as Peter fidgeted and shifted where he sat. "Would you like to try again?" He asked, giving the boy a chance to come clean.

    It was Mt. Lady who spoke then, now sounding more than a little cross. "There a question here Eraserhead?"

    "It's obvious that Parker's had experience in violent altercations before coming to U.A." He drawled. "I'd like him to come clean about it himself."

    Peter looked away but didn't answer, and Aizawa had to suppress the urge to sigh.

    "Does 'Titan' ring a bell Parker?"

    ...

    Suddenly, there was… a change in the room as Peter felt his blood run cold. His heart stopped as his eyes slowly began to widen.

    "Excuse me, what?" Yu asked. "Titan? What are you talk-Peter…" Her curiosity vanished, instant worry in her voice.

    Peter's jaw was clenched, his hands gripping his jeans as he heard the name reverberate in his head.

    Titan.

    That place… That damn place that he wanted to forget. He had to forget.

    His gauntlet around his neck. The fire and fury raining down. The failure of defeat. The numbness from his heels clawing all the way up his body.

    Peter looked up at his teacher and his eyes were distant as he remained deathly still. "How?" He asked in English.

    Aizawa said nothing, his face neutral… and then Peter saw his expression change. The man's shoulders slumped as he exhaled through his nose.

    "How do you know?!" Peter demanded.

    Aizawa took a slow deep breath, rubbing at his chin with one hand as he muttered to himself almost too quietly to hear. His eyes moved back and forth across the coffee table.

    "Collective delusion or True. Problematic either way." He turned his eyes to Peter, "I was an investigator before I was a teacher, Parker. How I know is simple. I did leg work."

    "You were investigating him?! Your own student?!" Yu hissed before she stood, hands slamming down into the table. "What bug crawled up your ass!? The fuck Eraser?!"

    "Random student with a powerful quirk, arrives at U.A. out of nowhere with bleeding-edge support gear, highly experienced utilizing his quirk in combat and no sightings in America or Japan before quite literally crashing into you?" The man shrugged, unperturbed by the heat in her glare, not even flinching. "Yes. I did."

    Peter stared at him, the gears in his head turning. "Fukuda… He-"

    "Didn't say a word actually." Aizawa shrugged "Getting information, which I'm still not wholly sold on by the way, was quite the runaround."

    Peter's brain kept on turning, thinking, "That old guy?"

    Aizawa nodded. "I worked with him a lot when I was your age."

    "So…" Peter stayed still, a pit of ice settling in his stomach as he sat there, hands clenched on his jeans. This… this was a worst-case scenario back home. Thankfully, Aunt May took it well and supported him but… Aizawa was no Aunt May, and what he found…

    "What are you going to do now?" Peter asked, looking up, his eyes hard.

    Aizawa stared back.

    A long moment of tense silence passed before Aizawa sighed, "Stick to the ceiling for a moment Parker."

    Peter blinked, caught off guard by the sudden, strange request. "Why?"

    "Humor me."

    Not understanding but not really willing to drag out a session of twenty questions, he stood from his seat and with a single upwards leap, he was up and on the ceiling.

    When he looked down, it was to the sight of Aizawa's eyes glowing red and his hair hovering eerily about his head.

    And Peter suddenly understood; the man was corroborating his 'quirk' as much as he could anyway.

    After a moment, the man shut off his quirk and sighed, looking decidedly irritated.

    "Is there a point to this?" Yu hissed, still glaring crossly at the man.

    The experiment seemingly being 'over', Peter allowed himself to drop from the ceiling, landing on his feet beside the chair.

    "I came here to confirm my suspicions from my investigation. And adjust things going forward if necessary."

    "And is it?" Peter asked, feeling a pit opening in his stomach.

    Aizawa's fingers laced together in front of his mouth. "In a way. But likely not the way you're thinking." He took a breath. "If you're crazy, you're dangerous. If what you're saying is true then things will need to be adjusted. There are a few that quirks mine can't deactivate outright. Nezu for example is immune. Your quirk might fall under the select few that are immune but it would be an exceedingly high coincidence given it's physical nature."

    Peter raised an eyebrow. "Is that like a really complicated way of saying 'you believe me'?"

    "It's a way of saying that you're still enjoying the benefit of the doubt. And that I'm inclined... to not disbelieve you." He sighed. "Given the parameters of your quirk's clear higher combat applications and your... experience with high stress and dangerous situations, there are a few things I'm going to demand of you."

    "Like what?" Yu piped up, if her eyes were capable of shooting lasers she'd be burning a hole quite literally through Eraserhead's skull.

    "Firstly, I'd like to conduct a physical with you. Get a proper grip of what your quirk can actually do. No holding back this time. There are other things, but for now that is the most pressing."

    Peter nodded quietly. "When?"

    "Tomorrow if you're available. Early."

    "I-"

    "And if he says no?" Yu interrupted, looking for all the world like she was ready to leap across this table and attack the man if he so much as gave her even the vaguest notion of an excuse.

    "That would be ill-advised."

    "That's not an answer, ass." She hissed.

    Now, Aizawa met her gaze head on, just as defiant as she was angry. "I have nineteen other students besides Parker, Mt. Lady." He said simply. "What he can and can't do, how well he's coping with the stress both real and perceived, and a myriad of other factors all have to come into my decision-making. You need to worry about him; I need to worry about all of them, including Parker."

    Peter winced and he moved to almost physically grab hold of Yu as she lurched forward. "Peter isn't dangerous!" She snarled.

    "Not the point." He sighed, gripping the bridge of his nose, as if trying to educate a toddler. "Let's paint you a picture. Let's say Parker finds himself in another dangerous situation, something he seems fond of seeking out-" Peter winced, memories of Mirko flashing before his mind's eye. "-a bad blow to the head and he goes down, needs medical attention, his muscles are tightening, he's seizing or he's incoherent, doesn't realize where he is or what he's doing. If I don't know that my quirk can't deactivate his I might approach, or be comfortable enough to let someone else approach and Peter's super strength is still active and he winds up hurting someone. You did go to a Hero school, you know the damage an unchecked or unaccounted Strength quirk can do to a first responder unit." His gaze sharpened.

    Yu bit back a curse, clearly unhappy at conceding a point.

    "You can question my methods all you like, but don't question my motives." He drawled. "I need to know everything about my individual students to make informed decisions and yes, help them." He turned back to Peter. "Now, your physical. Tomorrow, early."

    Peter slowly, quietly, nodded. "I'm free in the morning..." He paused, then cleared his throat "Will you tell anyone?" Peter asked, feeling Yu's hand clasp into his own. "About… this conversation."

    Aizawa stood up from his chair.

    "What's there to tell?" He asked. "You're an American Transfer student from far far away." He shrugged.

    Peter felt a small, sad excuse of a smirk twitch at his lips "Promise?" He asked, and Aizawa looked taken aback, blinking for a moment before he saw the pleading look in Peter's eyes.

    "I promise. Mt. Lady, a moment?"

    She did not look pleased... then again, maybe she was. If he couldn't hold her back, she could definitely get her hands on the shaggy-haired teacher if he pushed any more of her buttons. He felt Yu release his hand and stand up before he saw the two adults wordlessly go to the front door of the apartment.

    With the click of a door, he just closed his eyes and did his best to breathe, to remove the tightness in his throat.

    (X)

    "I am this close to pulling Peter from U.A. because of this fucking stunt." Yu growled as they walked away from the door, walking to the elevator. Aizawa didn't so much as flinch.

    "You'd only be hurting your ward and separating him from his friends by doing so." Aizawa replied.

    "Then why go through all of that bullshit just to tell Peter 'hey come to school, drop down and give me twenty'?"

    Aizawa turned. "Corroboration." He said. "And assessment. I wasn't lying when I said that delusion or reality, either way would be Problematic. If it's true and at the absolute least Parker believes it to be true, coupled with the events he's gone through within his time in U.A. despite what you may think he might need more help than he's letting on."

    Yu eyed him before Aizawa continued. "I've read Recovery Girl's medical records on him…. The constant insomnia from before the U.S.J… the fact that he's been here for a year plus and the fact that he hasn't gotten anything close to treatment regarding what happened to him on Titan. This can point to larger problems brewing under the proverbial hood." He said. "He needs monitoring. Unhealthy coping mechanisms are common, or, conversely, so is repression. Again, either way is problematic."

    "Then why not tell him in person?"

    "You tell a person they need a shrink, see how they react; a typical response is dismissive or defensive. Neither one helps." He turned, looking straight at her. "It's time to do more than pay lip service and get mad at assholes like me on convenient occasions. Step up. You're his guardian. So start acting like it."

    Yu grit her teeth. "Oh don't you fucking dar-"

    "I'll dare." He responded, looking past her and towards the still-closed apartment. "At the absolute least, he thinks he died. That's the best case scenario, and you thought it can all be brushed under the rug? That it can be ignored?" He shook his head. "You've been letting him sit on a landmine, and that is on you." He said with a little bit of heat at the end.

    Yu winced, feeling that withering glare of his.

    He sighed, his hand reaching into his pocket.

    He pulled something out, handing it to Yu.

    It was a business card, but rather unprofessional. It featured a name, an address, and phone number. All hand-written too.

    "Who is this?"

    He turned around. "When you convince him, call her and set up a meeting."

    "A psychiatrist?" She asked as Aizawa walked forward and pressed the button on the elevator. He was silent for a bit before looking back.

    "Yeah."

    "But…" Yu paused, biting her lip as Aizawa put a hand on the door. "I mean…" She winced, trying to process it all. "I don't think there's any qualified shrink who can just speak and poof, Peter is healed."

    "You're right. But, getting to talk about his issue… That's his starting line."

    (x)

    "And that should cover your curriculum for your senior year Ms Shield. If you have any questions, UA Principal Nedzu should be able to help." Principal Ed Thomas spoke from the other end of the video call. It was in the afternoon for her in Japan, and she couldn't tell what time of day it was for the Principal of I-Academy, but either way, Melissa was glad that he made time for her.

    "Thank you Mr. Thomas." Melissa nodded lightly. "This is a big help…"

    "Not a problem, we understand your… current situation. We're wishing you all the best."

    The video call came to a close, and Melissa looked over at the unique syllabus made just for her for her remaining year.

    She would take any remaining General Education courses online, and her main course, being in Robotics, Engineering, and Support Sciences, could be done at U.A., as she needed a lab and workshop in order to make her creations as per the assignments and to show for class credit. She sat back and took a note of the surroundings of her new home for the year.

    She had a nice wide room, the most luxurious bed and a window panning out to the nice and peaceful suburb of Musutafu Ward. Uncle Might no longer had Might Tower, due to his injury. He'd managed to get a nice cozy home where he could blend in and have a quiet life whenever he was in his… other form. The backyard had plenty of trees and fences for privacy.

    Stowing away the syllabus, she connected her phone to her computer and holo projector, tapping on buttons to bring up the screen she had in mind. There were honestly still mountains of different things that she needed to get to. The amount of computers that would have to be installed in Uncle Might's apartment if she wanted to come close to even the tenth of the progress she normally got on the island would cause a commotion in and of itself.

    Not that he would mind, he'd probably move heaven and earth to make sure that it all worked out for her, though that was hardly fair. Moving on from that particular headache, the news on the entire debacle was still playing on her feed. Despite the statement that she wouldn't be taking any questions, some people still wanted to get through.

    Hopefully, getting into her studies would give her more than enough reason to stay away from that particular discussion.

    She shook her head and shifted her focus onto other matters.

    Right now, there was a little something that needed a little bit of attention, at least, until Uncle Might was free for the day.

    Izuku was the next carrier for One for All, and he would one day face the very enemy that even Uncle Might couldn't kill. All for One.

    She remembered how he fought at I-Tower, utilizing quick parkour movements with quick strikes and kicks, and when he needed to pack a wallop, he would use his adopted quirk at one hundred percent in his fingers. But they would break very easily…

    Something to help, while also counting towards one of her Inventor's course assignments in creating a new item.

    "What can cover for him…" And taking a sticky note from a nearby plain wall, she began to write down whatever that came to mind that could fit into a micromachine gauntlet. From there, it would be a process of elimination.

    (x)

    Pony Tsunotori was not an early riser.

    It was the American girl in her.

    No one should ever have to wake up earlier than eight AM.

    But, even though she wasn't someone to wake up at the crack of dawn for training like Kendo-chan, she did try to make up for it by always training consistently.

    Six days a week, every week without fail. Even if it was just an hour run she'd try to do something.

    So it wasn't much of a surprise to find her entering UA one early saturday morning, gym bag in hand, and an iced coffee in another.

    She smiled at Mr. Kobayakawa the portly janitor, said hello to the short Miss Dojima from economics and a few other acquaintances before slowly negotiating her way past the groups and everyone else to finally begin her mid-morning routine.

    Most of the time, the Gym was empty since Japanese schools still had saturday classes for most and the Hero course students who were given the weekends off occasionally for rest and recovery did not typically come to the gym to disobey the order of "rest and recovery".

    At most she would just see a few stray second or third year students here and there, occasionally Kendo when she wanted a change of pace from her Dad's dojo or Tetsutetsu though he really didn't enjoy mornings. Sometimes she could find some of the others from Class 1-A too. She waved, they waved, everyone said hello, but she didn't really know them and she got the feeling they were a little intimidated or shy to speak to an American, unsure if she even knew the language so they rarely spoke.

    That was normal.

    Normalcy though, was about to take something of a hit today.

    When she walked into the Gym, the first thing she noticed was the bag.

    It was on the floor.

    A hundred pounds of canvas was just splattered there, it's sandy guts spilled all over the padded floors.

    She blinked, big blue eyes staring in bewildered curiosity at the thing before she turned and looked for whomever had both broken the bag and left it all over the floor.

    Oh... well that explained it.

    "You gonna clean this up or what?" She asked.

    The one other person in the room opened his eyes, bringing his head up from where it had been hanging as he leaned forward where he was sitting at the bench, red eyes glaring at her as he breathed heavily.

    The bag's demise must've been recent. He was drenched in sweat and his breathing sounded ragged. She hadn't heard a similar sound since the both of them had nearly killed themselves rescuing people from that burning building during their internships.

    "The fuck're you doin' here?" He growled, eyes turning back to the floor, seemingly too tired to keep his head up.

    "It's the U.A. gym." She contested. "Last I checked your name wasn't on the door."

    There was a pop, like a firecracker going off which brought her eyes to his hands.

    His very bandaged, bloody hands.

    Her eyes widened a bit as she looked at the knuckles more closely, particularly the reddish-brown stains on the bandages before turning her eyes to the bag again. She found that it wasn't the creases and shadows playing tricks on her eyes, but rather that yes, it actually was a very dark splotch of what could only be blood staining the bag's midriff.

    She held her silence for a moment, her eyes turning to Bakugo again.

    Taking a closer look now...

    He looked like hell.

    Not just the bloodied knuckles, those were obvious. His face looked haggard, his skin slightly paler, dark circles beginning to form under his eyes.

    He brought a hand up, one shaking limb running fingers through his hair as he wiped away the sweat.

    "Unless you want something, fuck off and get to your own goddamn training."

    His tone was still abrasive, still bellicose and angry as it always was. And just as irritating as she remembered.

    Even so, she felt compelled to ask "You ok?"

    "Piss off."

    She rolled her eyes hard enough to feel a strain at her eyelids as her own anger spiked.

    'Yup. Still an asshole,' She mentally confirmed.

    That's fine, she could be a bitch too.

    "Yeah I'll get right on that, after you go get a new bag and hook it up. Was gonna go a few rounds myself. Get these legs in kickin' shape."

    He snarled, teeth bared as he brought his eyes back to her smug ones.

    "Get your own fucking bag."

    "You break it, you get the replacement. Those are the Gym rules last I checked." She pointed to the very convenient "Notice Board" by the door. "Or if you like I can go to your homeroom teacher to complain about you being a dick. It's still early, so I'll probably still manage to snag a spot in the low hundreds of complainers. I'm sure he'll be happy to come down here early in the mornin' and take a look at you and how you're doin this early in the morning."

    He glowered, baring his teeth like a coyote and Pony was pretty sure that if his whole body wasn't using every last scrap of strength it had left to even hold itself upright in its sitting position, he may have just taken a swing at her.

    She was confident enough in his inability to even move properly right now that she had the audacity of getting within arm's reach and crouching down til they were at eye-level, big blue meeting narrowed red.

    "So how bout we try this again." She hedged with a smile, a nice wide and cute one. "I'm gonna amend my question on 'Are you ok' because the answer even without you bleeding all over the school's nice clean floors is probably no given the bag of therapists you couldn't pay enough to handle you and your not-so-super-special-problems-" She earned another hateful growl with that snark. "So I'll ask instead- 'Why'd you wake up this morning and decide that you just had to wail on school property til your arms fell off and your legs stopped holding you up?'"

    "I'm fine." He hissed.

    "Alright tough guy;" She smirked, arms crossed. "Stand up and prove it cowboy." She finished in English.

    The challenge fell like a hammer blow, and Bakugo understood immediately.

    She nodded to herself. "Stand up, and I'll go kindly fuck off to the other end of the gym and I'll leave you here to brood in peace. Won't see me for the rest of the day, swear on my mother."

    She was pretty sure that his teeth were grinding so hard one of them was about to chip.

    Then he shoved himself to his feet.

    It wasn't a slow thing, he exploded up, standing ramrod straight.

    He looked like he might hold it for a second.

    Then he wobbled, and fell back down to the bench with a solid clang of his ass meeting the aluminum seat.

    She didn't try very hard to keep the smug look off her face.

    It died rather quickly though when she looked at him again.

    She was used to Bakugo looking angry, annoyed, irritated, even 'determined'.

    She was less used to him looking miserable.

    Reminded her of back at Gang Orca's. 'Cept the fire was there but… something was off.

    Like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over the constant raging fire in his chest, she saw him... almost sag, his shoulders slumping the ever present snarl of his lips becoming a more subdued sombre frown, even the ruby-red eyes becoming dull and empty.

    He looked straight at her when he spoke.

    "Hey…"

    "Hnn?" Pony tilted her head.

    "You ever fuck up something Hafu?" He muttered, almost whispered. "And not in a small, fixable way?"

    She let the Hafu comment slide, mulling over his words. "Don't think so..." She said slowly. "I think most mistakes can be fixed. Well, outside of murder, but that goes without sayin'..."

    His eyes closed, head once more falling forward.

    "Just... leave me alone."

    He didn't say please, but he didn't have to. She could practically feel the word in the air.

    "I need... to think."

    A part of her, a big one, wanted to press a bit more, try a bit more.

    The rest of her recognized when there was a line, spoken or unspoken.

    She pulled back, standing up to her full height.

    She watched him for a moment longer, hoping, in spite of the usual annoyance she had whenever he opened his mouth... that he would find whatever answers he was looking for.

    Offering a bow, she conceded to the demand and retreated quietly, moving to conduct her own training at the other side of the gym.

    By the time she returned an hour later, Bakugo was gone, the bag replaced, but the bloodstains remained.

    (x)

    Shouta watched from the sidelines the same way that he did with every quirk test that he'd ever had to examine in his time in UA. Normally, a second one was never required. Students, at their core, were teenagers. Most of them were at the age where they wanted to show off, to stand out among their peers and make something of themselves, especially in something as competitive as the hero business.

    But for every rule, there were exceptions.

    He watched Peter finish the last of his tests, sweating up a storm, a sure sign of him at least trying halfway decently at the tests before him. A quick click of his phone showed him the results of the current throw.

    It matched the rest of the results, held on the same training field.

    As expected, blowing his initial tests out of the water. Just like every other test he'd taken today. And blasting through the weight room far above any in this school's strength class. Save for maybe Midoriya when he was going to bust a finger.

    "Anything else sensei?" Parker asked, rolling his shoulder to prevent a cramp.

    "Just one more test that I need to check."

    "What's-" he stopped, ducking on instinct, forcing the rubber pellet to pass harmlessly over his head and hitting Shouta in the chest. The cushioned piece fell to the ground, barely making a tap and letting Shouta write down another piece of data on his clipboard.

    "Double-checking your reactions," Shouta said, picking up the piece and squeezing it to show the amount of give it had, "Specially made from the support lab, we use them to mimic live-fire situations for those without durability quirks. Even point blank, you would feel more from a friend flicking you than getting hit by these."

    Omni-directional, automatic. Precognition more advanced than anticipated.

    "Could've warned me," Parker grumbled.

    "Defeats the purpose of a test. A sniper doesn't exactly broadcast their position," Shouta deadpanned. "Do they?"

    "Snipe did," Parker rebuked.

    "Snipe can make his bullets hit whatever he wants," Shouta said, turning back to his board, "Any that had a chance at hitting you weren't going to cause damage. Not to mention he's a teacher, not a trained assassin."

    Parker blinked twice.

    "Is it bad that every day I find out this school is a lot more intense that I thought before?"

    "You get used to it."

    Another blink.

    "Did you… did you just make a joke?"

    Now, it was Shouta's turn to blink. He suppressed a grumble, a memory of green hair, good laughter and a beaming grin coming to his mind's eye as he scratched his head.

    "No, just stating facts."

    "It sounds like a joke."

    "Good day Parker," Shouta grumbled, turning back to his notes.

    The American shrugged, "Alright ummm... see you later Sensei!" he waved. The black-haired man kept on walking, and gave a lazy wave of his own hand in response.

    (X)

    "Want me to hack his email?"

    "Karen, we discussed this." Peter said as he finished putting on his earpiece, getting changed in the empty locker room. He had finished his shower, and was packing his dirty UA gym uniform in his backpack. "You're not going after Aizawa."

    "He did commit a breach of privacy that no teacher should do to their students, at least from what I can remember of the various laws in our old world."

    "Yeah, well this is a new one and..." Peter shrugged, stuffing his pants in his backpack and zipping up. "We just gotta deal with it. Like always..."

    "Yo! Parker!" A voice made him pause, and Peter's thoughts were pushed aside as he turned. Out here in the humid July afternoon, was none other than Aoyama Yuga and Kaminari Denki! Peter smiled.

    "Heya Kaminari, Aoyama!" Peter walked up to them, seeing that the two were in normal attire of sorts. "What are you guys doing here over the summer?"

    "Taking Aizawa-sensei's supplementary lessons." Kaminari said, hands behind his head. "He gave us an offer the day after the Final Exams that he could offer hands-on tutelage in the form of daily one hour lessons between now and the Summer Camp."

    "Oui," Aoyama agreed. "It was that, or take ze lessons during ze camp itself! And if my shining twinkling must become more luminous, I cannot be juggling too much at once, non?"

    "Yeah," Kaminari shrugged. "Killed any sweet vacation plans, but at least we're doing some neat stuff with Aizawa-sensei though." The blonde seemed to beam.

    Peter let out a chuckle. "I'm glad for you two."

    "So what are you doing here Parker?" Aoyama inquired. "Last I checked, one like you hardly needs supplemental training, yes?"

    "Oh, just um, here for a little workout is all." Peter rolled his arm about. "Got banged up at I-Island, gotta make sure I'm in top shape ya know?"

    "Ya I heard about that. You were involved?" Kaminari asked, concern evident in his voice. "Man, must have been scary dealing with villains like those! You doin' okay?"

    "I got out of it fine, so no worries dude." Peter shrugged. "I hope you two improve during your lessons."

    "It's probably gonna be more lecture stuff for an hour, like on some villain psychology and what not. Aaaand he's teaching me how to bargain better too, heh." Kaminari let out a sigh after his little wry chuckle, "I mean, Aizawa can be a bit of a hardass, but man… he knows his stuff, and he's a helluva teacher."

    "We are in agreement. Now let's go! Aizawa-sensei will not be happy with us if we are tardy non?" Aoyama said before bowing lightly to Peter. "Take care, Deputy Representative."

    "Yeah, see ya 'round!" Kaminari patted Peter on the shoulder as Peter saw them walk off.

    "Peter, a text." Karen spoke in his ear as he went to his phone.

    'Hey Peter, I was wondering if you wanted to talk today. Finish what we started on the plane.' It was from Momo.

    "Whelp, time to introduce ya to her." Peter murmured as he got to texting.

    'Yeah. Wanna meet for coffee? There's a Starbucks close to UA. Went over there for a workout. Sound good?' The response was immediate.

    'I'll see you there! '

    "At least that should brighten your day." Karen said as Peter pocketed his phone and began to walk out into UA's front courtyard, taking in the sunshine as the cloud cover came in at the right moment.

    "I imagine you talking to others about yourself on your own terms is more preferable."

    "This was bound to happen anyway." Peter shrugged. "Plus, I trust her like I do with Izuku and Shoto."

    "Trust them enough to tell everything?" Karen asked, and Peter paused, taking a sigh as he looked down the hill, seeing downtown and making his way there, if his sense of direction was up to date.

    "Let's… worry about that bridge when we cross it."

    "Fair enough." Peter noticed some passerby staring at him, along with waves and cameras pointed his way. Still the iconic Sports Festival First Year Champion and all… He rubbed the back of his head, blushing lightly as he finally made his way to the Starbucks. He got inside, ordered a chocolate chip cookie and sat outside under a table and umbrella, setting his backpack on another chair to save a spot. And so he began to wait, checking through his phone as his mind wandered.

    And he could remember the words.

    "If you're crazy, you're dangerous. If what you're saying is true then things will need to be adjusted."

    "Because somewhere deep inside you stopped giving a shit if you actually do die, and if it doesn't matter to you, it shouldn't matter to anyone else, right?"

    "I wanted you to be better…"

    Peter clenched his jaw, setting his phone down and running a hand down his face.

    "Peter-san?" Said a voice, and breaking through his wandering thoughts, he perked up as he sat forward. True enough, standing there was Yaoyorozu Momo, dressed in a casual violet blouse, blue jeans and carrying what was maybe the most expensive purse he'd ever seen. The black-haired girl tilted her head to the side. "Hello there…"

    Peter smiled, removing his backpack from the chair. "How's it going Momo-san?"

    "Day's going fine. Did some training this morning," Momo shrugged, taking her seat.

    "Would you like any coffee at all? I can get in line for you if you like." Momo shook her head.

    "I'm quite alright, I don't enjoy coffee myself."

    "Haha, same here actually! Fun fact… you know spiders can get drunk if they take in caffeine?"

    "Hmm. I never knew that…" Momo asked, before her eyes widened. "Did you… experience this firsthand then?"

    "Heh, yep." Peter shrugged sheepishly. "Made a whole mess in my room. Took the whole day to get my webbing cleaned up." He saw Momo still looking a little pensive.

    The two fell into silence for a moment, and Peter got the impression that the girl was curious, but perhaps a little too polite to just flat out ask again. So he decided to just go for it.

    "So, remember back on the plane? How I said Karen was and kinda wasn't my guidance counselor?" He said, and Momo nodded. He reached into his backpack, pulling out one of his spare earpieces. "Here, how about you meet her yourself?"

    The black-haired beauty blinked and took the earpiece before she placed it in her ear, looking confused.

    "Hello there Yaoyorozu-san." The AI spoke in clear Japanese. "My name is Karen, and I am Peter's guidance counselor."

    "Okay." Momo seemed to take it in stride. "Nice to meet you, Karen-san."

    "And I am also his personal assistant, and I'm also the one who texted you that night. When Peter's phone was in All Might's hands."

    "Karen was a gift given to me by my hero," Peter said. "And she is my friend. I wanted you to meet her."

    Momo's eyes blinked. "Given to you?"

    "Oh, and I am an Artificial Intelligence." Karen clarified and Peter saw Momo's eyes widen almost to a comical degree. "Fear me." She added with a rueful chuckle.

    Momo seemed to think for a moment before she looked to Peter. "Peter-san... you really don't have to come up with... some story."

    "Take a look at your phone dear." Karen chimed into their ears.

    Momo raised an eyebrow before fishing her phone out of her purse.

    Activating the screen, her eyes widened again as the screen flickered between streams of data and applications.

    "W-What are you doing?" She asked.

    "Perusing over your personal files on this phone, historical app usage, backtracking personal markers; Here ya go."

    Momo's screen flickered again.

    "If I'm not mistaken, and I'm not, these would be your personal passwords for your U.A. account, your numerical password for your phone, the number and numerical password for your checking account and your personal emails."

    "Karen." Peter squawked in protest.

    "It is the fastest way to prove the "AI-thing" Peter."

    "Overkill is a word you know!" He shot back, looking nervously at Momo. Thankfully they were outside and the hustle and bustle of the crowd and city going on around them.

    Momo took a slow, deep breath, staring at her phone display with a wide-eyed sort of dismay/disbelief before her eyes moved to Peter then back to her phone before slowly shutting it off.

    Peter hoped she didn't start screaming or something.

    She seemed to gather her composure and took a deep breath before she placed the phone back in her purse. "I assume she's... otherwise friendly?"

    "I come fully upgraded with baking recipes." The AI chimed in. "Friendly people always bake."

    Peter ran a hand down his face.

    "Okay… So you have an Artificial Intelligence. This is… not what I was expecting." She whispered quietly.

    "So yeah. Wanted to, ya know, clear the air on that. She's been someone important to me."

    "I hope my being here helps answer any questions for you. And if you have any questions as well, don't be afraid to ask." Karen responded, and Momo looked back to Peter.

    "So…am I the only one who knows?"

    "Midoriya and Todoroki know." Peter nodded. "As does Todoroki's sister and Hatsume… Oh, and Melissa Shield too, they all kinda found out during I-Island. Karen needed to hack their servers to get control back from the mercs."

    She nodded. "I see."

    "So… can you keep this on the down-low?" He whispered back. They'd been whispering a lot today… "you know, super AI from America and all…"

    Momo nodded. "Of course. Though, I have to wonder who created it and why he would keep it a secret. She can emulate emotions at the very least or give a decent enough simulacrum. This kind of technology it's... ludicrously advanced from my amateur understanding of such things. Even when compared to the AI in the robots in U.A.! I don't know of anyone who could make it, let alone simply make one so easily as to give it away."

    She seemed to be thinking aloud, at this point she wasn't looking at him which Peter was thankful for because he failed to fully hide his cringe.

    That was a little too close to the truth.

    "So… yeah, that's Karen." Peter shrugged, smiling awkwardly.

    She seemed to pull herself away from her musings, for now at least. "Yes." She nodded. "Well I'm... err... pleased to meet you."

    The two sat in silence for a moment.

    Then Momo leaned forward, her hands cupping her face. "I have so very many more questions now."

    Peter tried to offer a smile. "Well... let's ask 'em over some food." He suggested while standing. "There's a pizza place down the road. My treat huh?"

    The girl nodded clearly, still mulling her own thoughts in her head.

    Karen chimed in. "If you both take the extra time to walk two extra blocks another Pizza place is 6.7% better by metric of user reviews and inspection of their ingredient purchase receipts."

    (x)

    It was a simple set of things to do, carrying a few things to a normal house while doing his best not to let anything drop. An easy thing to do, even without One for All, though, it still made him nervous.

    "Be really careful with that," Melissa said, "The processors are very delicate."

    "I-I'm doing my best," Izuku said, trying to gently force his way through the open doors.

    A second set of hands managed to take a good chunk of the weight from him.

    "Just through here," All Might called from behind the box.

    Izuku nodded, but the blonde hero could hardly see him. So Izuku just did what he could, and managed to get into the house.

    A decent chunk of the space was filled with moving boxes. Everything from clothes, to computer parts, it was all here.

    Or at least, he hoped it was the last of it.

    "Anything else?" Izuku asked, and part of him prayed.

    "No, that should be perfect," Melissa said, "Thanks Izuku."

    "Happy to help."

    "Please take a glass of water," All Might interrupted, going straight to the fridge while Melissa beamed slightly, "Least I can do after calling you over."

    "Wasn't doing too much," Izuku said, "I've mostly just been training and studying."

    "And that isn't going to stop for a while," All Might said, bringing over three different drinks.

    He handed one to both of the children there and tried to throw on a happy-go-lucky smile.

    "Cheers to the summer, what we can finally have of it. And maybe we can be… normal?" the blonde man offered.

    Izuku shared a look with Melissa that made the Number One Hero's shoulders slump.

    "Not your best speech, Uncle Might," Melissa said.

    "Everyone's a critic," the blonde man fake-grumbled, taking a long swig of his drink. Izuku and Melissa looked back at each other and shared a little laugh.

    (x)

    If she were being perfectly honest with herself, Ochako wasn't sure if her visit was warranted.

    After all... Hatsume Mei was a bouncing ball of manic energy that most people, herself included, could seemingly only handle in small doses; if she had to name the girl's friends the list would be very short, starting and ending with Peter Parker.

    But she had heard about what happened on I-Island and the thought of no one even asking if you were ok after that kinda thing was... honestly too sad to think about.

    Hell, she was likely one of the few who knew Mei was going to I-Island in the first place since she'd caught the girl with a request just before she and Peter-san had left.

    So, being who she was, she decided to do something about it. Strapping on her non-lazy boots that morning she peeled herself out of bed and out of the house, making her way down to UA, only realizing as she made her way through the halls that she hadn't actually called to confirm Mei was at the UA workshop today.

    After all... Hatsume was there most days; practically lived in the place but the whole reason she was here in the first place was to check on the girl. I-Island might be enough reason for Hatsume to take a few days off to rest and recover.

    Oh well. She was here already, so might as well check and make sure.

    When she made it to the workshop doors they were sealed, but she did see that the lights were on.

    Knowing enough about the workshop to know the lights shut off automatically when there was no movement inside after a few minutes she knocked gently. "Hello?"

    When she didn't get an answer, part of her contemplated turning and walking away.

    The other part of her slowly pried open the door.

    "Hello?" She called again.

    Peeking into the workshop, the round-faced girl looked through the cavalcade of mess and loose tools.

    She almost didn't see her at all.

    She'd never seen Hatsume look so still...

    Hatsume was sitting on the floor, her knees brought up so high that her forehead could rest on them, arms wrapped around her legs. Ochako's heart lurched and hoped the girl was only sleeping in here like she usually did.

    Somehow she doubted it.

    She moved forward, hesitating as she reached out. "Hatsume? Are you ok?"

    Her voice finally seemed to pierce the fugue around the girl and she lifted her head. Ochako could see the redness in her eyes as Hatsume stared up at her, blinking rapidly. "Oh... right. I promised to make you your item."

    Like the girl was in a daze, Ochako saw her uncoil herself, robotically climbing to her feet and just as mechanically stumble towards her workbench.

    "Hey..." She called. "D-don't worry about the item. Are you ok?"

    Hatsume shook her head, and when her hands grabbed at her tools they did so with more force than necessary, metal clanging against metal as Mei spoke. "No... You're heroes... and Heroes need support items. That's how we can help! Right? That's the way we can help when you're out there getting shot."

    Her hands moved amongst the wiring, nuts and bolts, Mei putting them together like she was arranging pieces of a puzzle but Ochako could see the girl wasn't even looking at her work, wasn't even talking directly at her.

    Not until she looked at her fellow student.

    Hatsume brought her target-like eyes up, staring at the gravity quirk user, almost pleading for an answer as she sniffled, the tears glimmering at the back of her eyes but still not falling.

    "I'm supposed to be good at that right!?" She yelled. "I make the items so your jobs are less dangerous! So you guys don't get h-hurt right!?"

    Her fingers gripped the edge of the workbench now, clenching so hard that they were almost white-knuckled. Ochako stepped forward as Hatsume's face crumpled, her eyes shutting tight as she seemingly tried to will herself back into some semblance of calm.

    Ochako stepped around the workbench and gently pulled Mei's wrists away from their hard grip.

    The next thing she knew Hatsume was clutching at her, squeezing her tight enough for it to be painful, but she didn't dare complain, or do anything other than hug the pink-haired girl back as she cried, sobbing loudly into Ochako's shoulder.

    "He was hurt...T-There was so much blood! I couldn't do anything!" She cried.

    Ochako began to cry with her, whispering reassurances and rubbing circles on her back. She was scared to see the normally cheerful Hatsume like this... but grateful she'd mustered up the motivation to come by and check on her.

    (X)

    Three weeks later…

    It went without saying, but this was probably the only time that Izuku found himself rather glad to be attending a school event while summer break was supposed to be happening.

    UA had given them chance after chance to prove themselves, and now they were going to a Hero-sponsored camp? How good could you get? Though, it was dampened by the fact that All Might wouldn't be able to join them.

    Too much to do with Melissa, and the growing situation with the League of Villains after the I-Island attack.

    "Anyone else wondering why we're taking a bus?" Peter asked.

    Izuku shrugged as the two of them dragged their backpacks towards the designated area.

    "It's just a vehicle to take us somewhere," Yaoyorozu pointed out, "It's hardly a strange thing."

    "But the school has giant robots," Peter pointed out.

    "And?" the class representative asked.

    Peter sighed as Kirishima patted him on the back.

    "No worries Ace, I wanted to drive a giant robot too!"

    He looked at everyone, but Izuku could only give out a little chuckle. He saw a collection of students approach as well. It was Class 1-B!

    "Oh! What's this?!~" Oiled a voice loudly. Izuku blinked, and there leading the pack was a blond-haired boy with blue eyes. It was Class 1B's resident gasbag, Monoma Neito. "I heard some of you failed in your finals? Does that mean you lot have to take extra less-"

    "Yeah we did." Kaminari raised a hand, Aoyama by his side as he cut off Monoma. Yeah, that was his name. "And we already got them done. So we get to take the camp with the rest of our class." He winked, giving the half-French boy a high five, to which he obliged, sparkling and as they connected, the two beaming.

    Monoma gawked, freezing on the spot while blinking. "I… Uh. Oh. Well… t-too bad for you! Guess you kissed your summer vacation good-"

    BONK

    Izuku winced as Monoma went out like a light, the red-haired Kendo behind him with her hand raised as she propped up the blond-haired boy. She waved back in apology, and Peter noticed Pony off to the side. She gave a little wave, and he returned it in kind.

    "Alright everyone!" Iida Tenya yelled out. "Let's get going on the buses!" He said with his arms moving about.

    Before long, all of the students got onto the buses with Aizawa-sensei boarding last. Class 1-A had their own bus. Vlad King had Class 1-B, and off they went, leaving the Tokyo area. Peter took his seat beside Izuku. Across from him sat Todoroki and Yaoyorozu.

    "So… what do you think the summer camp will have?" asked Izuku as he looked back to Peter. "And how was your three weeks? Do anything?"

    "Well, in order…" Peter mused, hands behind his head. He then perked up, noticing Yaoyorozu across the aisle with Todoroki as the bus was soon aloud with the chatter of their peers. He leaned in while cupping his hand. Izuku blinked and followed suit. "Showed Karen to Yaoyorozu, so she knows now." Izuku blinked, getting his phone out and sending a text to Yaoyorozu.

    'Do you know about Peter's friend? Karen-san?' Send. Momo looked into her bag, hearing a ping as she reached down to pull it out, Todoroki looking back as she looked at her phone, then back at the duo. She nodded and texted back.

    'I do yes.'

    To Izuku's surprise, the text between him and Yaoyorozu changed into a three-person group text.

    'Oh, and good morning kids. Hope you have fun at your summer camp as well.' Izuku's eyes widened as Yaoyorozu blinked at Karen's text.

    "Hey, stop spooking them." Peter murmured, talking into his earpiece.

    "It's fine." Yaoyorozu shrugged. "I got used to it personally…" She went back to her phone. Soon the group expanded, as Izuku noticed Peter's contact being added, as well as Todoroki's.

    'Plus this bus ride seems to be deafening us. Everyone seems so excited for the camp.' Yaoyorozu typed. Todoroki perked up, reaching into his phone and looking it over.

    'Oh, guess I'm in this aren't I?' Todoroki sent.

    'Hello there too Todoroki-san.' Karen.

    'Hello.'

    'So yeah, this camp seems to be of Aizawa's making. 100 bucks says it's gonna be hell.' Peter typed in.

    'A fair bet.' Yaoyorozu replied.

    "I can believe it." Izuku murmured as he typed it in too.

    'Wonder how long the ride is going to be?' Peter asked.

    'Let me look. Bus' GPS has you going to the Nagano Prefecture, about an hour away. Plenty of national parks for camps to be set at… along with over a dozen hero agencies.' Karen said, and in their text window, a map of the Nagano Prefecture, with it being a… hyperlink? Izuku tapped on it and perked up. 'As for Hero Agencies, I cannot specify which.'

    "Nagano huh? If I remember right… that prefecture has the Woodknights Agency, Freebird's Agency, the Wild Wild Pussycats…" Izuku murmured under his breath.

    'How come you cannot say which ones? It can be an edge for us.' Todoroki sent.

    'Academic Safeguard. This is a school activity. All I did was tell you where you're going.' Karen replied.

    'Fair.'

    (X)

    "We're in Nagano, but quite a ways away from the nearest Hero Agency. Curious." Karen spoke in Peter's ear as Aizawa told everyone to get out. Murmurs of confusion broke out as Aizawa walked on ahead. There was a simple car close by!

    "There's a reason why we stopped." Aizawa spoke out.

    "Hey, I recognize this place!" Uraraka shouted.

    "You do?" Jirou asked. "Why didn't you speak up earlier?"

    "I took a nap! Giiiii!" The brunette held her arms, shivering. "I know that feeling… That car!"

    "Ohhhh!" Squealed a voice. "Is that our kitten? It's been a while!" And out from the car leaped two figures.

    "Welcome Cubs of UA! We're…" They wore bright and colorful skirts and blouses, the blonde woman wearing sky blue and the brunette donning maroon with white highlights. They posed, the blonde standing tall and the brunette thrusting her arms out.

    They also had cat tails, metallic ears, and paw-like gloves.

    "The Wild Wild Pussycats!" They shouted in unison and pride. Although they were not alone, with a black-haired boy with a deep scowl and cap standing off to the side.

    "Oh! So it is this one after-" Peter nudged Izuku before he could gush, feeling his Spider Sense perk up of a potential Midori Mumble incoming.

    "Easy skipper."

    "These are the Pro Heroes who will be helping us for this week." Aizawa turned towards the duo. "Thank you for coming out here and on time." Not that he seemed to stop Izuku.

    "But this is the super-specialized hero team that focuses on Mountain and Forest situations. Especially Rescue missions, and they've been in business for over a decade too! Pixie Bob and Mandalay are amongst the best in the busi-"

    Tingle.

    And the blonde got a paw right in Izuku's face, her face still grinning mad as the boy was flummoxed by her speed. Peter leaned back in shock, stepping back until he was with Kaminari and Kirishima.

    "I'm pretty sure your math is off!" She said proudly. Then there was a pause as she had her other glove raised. "I'm eighteen at heart!"

    …

    'That is so sad.'

    "So… Uraraka, have you been doing well?" The other woman said as the blonde kept her paw on the frantic Izuku's face.

    "Oh, uhhh, Mandalay. Doing great!" She said, beaming, but also showing a little nervousness. "Doing hero work and all! Life of a hero student schoolgirl! Hahaha!" She laughed loudly. The woman, Mandalay, patted her on the shoulder.

    "Don't worry, you'll get the Eye of the Tiger in no time." She said with an… almost too assuring smile. "Besides, it's nine-thirty now. I reckon you and your classmates can make it to the Lodge in time for lunch. Me and Pixie Bob have faith in you to lead your fellow cubs to our den. Much like how you did for those amazing obstacle courses we did together~."

    Okay, taking the cat thing a bit too far. Was it part of their gimmick? Had to be.

    Then again, Mirko had an obsession with carrots. Maybe their quirks were cat-related?

    He saw the brunette turn towards the blonde, Pixie Bob apparently, and the girl let go of Izuku… and grinned.

    Aizawa stepped back a bit.

    Uraraka went pale as a sheet, and she sprinted for the ledge! "Every man for himseeeelf!" And off she went, curling in a ball and floating down below!

    "Well, she caught on." Aizawa murmured, and suddenly Peter felt his Spider Sense nudging him a bit. His fellow students looking in confusion. "As for why we stopped here kids? Well… your training…"

    Pixie Bob reared her paws back, grinning devilishly.

    Peter's Spider Sense was now on alert as he reached his hands into his pockets, grabbing the web shooters and latching them on quickly with a flick of the wrist. He was caught flatfooted at I-Tower. Not this time.

    "Begins now."

    The moment Pixie Bob's hands touched the ground, a mudslide roared into existence, catching all of Class 1-A and sending them over the cliff! Peter had leapt out, seeing the earth roar behind him, and the screams of his fellow surprised peers.

    And thus, the Summer Camp for Class 1-A and Class 1-B, had begun.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • IKnowNothing said:
    "It's obvious that Parker's had experience in violent altercations before coming to U.A." He drawled. "I'd like him to come clean about it himself."

    Peter looked away but didn't answer, and Aizawa had to suppress the urge to sigh.

    "Does 'Titan' ring a bell Parker?"
    Click to expand...
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    Yeah, be reasonable Aizawa, there was no way in hell Peter was coming clean about that without prompting. 99.9% of the time it'd just annoy people who don't believe him.
    IKnowNothing said:
    Momo seemed to think for a moment before she looked to Peter. "Peter-san... you really don't have to come up with... some story."

    "Take a look at your phone dear." Karen chimed into their ears.

    Momo raised an eyebrow before fishing her phone out of her purse.

    Activating the screen, her eyes widened again as the screen flickered between streams of data and applications.

    "W-What are you doing?" She asked.

    "Perusing over your personal files on this phone, historical app usage, backtracking personal markers; Here ya go."

    Momo's screen flickered again.

    "If I'm not mistaken, and I'm not, these would be your personal passwords for your U.A. account, your numerical password for your phone, the number and numerical password for your checking account and your personal emails."

    "Karen." Peter squawked in protest.

    "It is the fastest way to prove the "AI-thing" Peter."

    "Overkill is a word you know!" He shot back, looking nervously at Momo. Thankfully they were outside and the hustle and bustle of the crowd and city going on around them.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Seriously Karen for all the times someone has to assure people you're not skynet, I'd have hoped you could come up with a less implicitly threatening way to prove it that "Hey, watch me dox you in real time."
    IKnowNothing said:
    Ochako began to cry with her, whispering reassurances and rubbing circles on her back. She was scared to see the normally cheerful Hatsume like this... but grateful she'd mustered up the motivation to come by and check on her.

    (X)

    Three weeks later…
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Three weeks? Oh shit, Peter should have known that Hatsume was dealing with it badly, did you skip over him checking up on her to avoid repeating scenes or did he badly drop the ball here.
     
    Last edited:
    Dark as Silver said:
    Three weeks? Oh shit, Peter should have known that Hatsume was dealing with it badly, did you skip over him checking up on her to avoid repeating scenes or did he badly drop the ball here.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Not so much that he dropped the ball as opposed to Mei hiding it from him
     
    LD1449 said:
    Not so much that he dropped the ball as opposed to Mei hiding it from him
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Hm, I think this could probably be added as a couple lines in one of Peter's scenes. Otherwise, it really does it feel a little weird that such a strong emotional section was basically ignored for the rest of the chapter by other characters who should by all right have been concerned.
     
    Chapter 45
  • Threadmarks
    • Peter felt the wind through his hair as he fell down into the forest below.

    He twisted in midair, passing through the branches and landing on both feet like a cat as the mud came on down. He turned, seeing the mass of land carrying his peers as he ran over to them.

    "You guys alright?" He called out, digging through the mud and tugging on the first hand he saw, revealing it to be Kaminari's.

    "Bleagh… think I got some in my teeth…" He spat off to the side. Peter saw others clawing their way out of the mud. If the ensuing explosion was any indication Bakugo seemed unhurt, the blonde letting out a curse as he stomped out of his pile of debris.

    Ignoring his classmate, Peter approached Hagakure's flailing school uniform, who also had clumps of mud in her hair. He bent down and took her hand.

    "Ack! I just got a manicure! Stupid Aizawa-sensei!" Hagakure cursed as she took Peter's hand. "Thanks for the help Parker-san." She began to dust herself off.

    "Don't mention it." He looked around, seeing Momo and Izuku get up from the mud, followed by most of the others. He ran on over, seeing Izuku bend down to help clear some mud off of Tsuyu and Momo pulling Jirou out.

    "What the hell was…" Jirou coughed. "Friggin Sensei! When is he not a jerk!?"

    "When he helped in the USJ." Kaminari groaned as he brushed off his clothes.

    "You know what I mean!"

    "Is everyone alright?" Momo called out, standing up and walking around, checking on most of the other students.

    "Ojiro-kun might've hit his head." Uraraka called, finger to her nose. "Eyes on my finger. And follow it."

    "Gnnngh… " The blond tailed boy grunted as Peter walked over, Momo and Izuku shadowing him.

    "How is he?"

    "Might be a little concussed…" Uraraka said, getting up and frowning. "Pixie Bob-san really needs to hold back a little here! I was lucky I didn't get knocked upside the head!"

    "Say, speaking of that, Uraraka-san." Izuku spoke up. "You jumped off the cliff as if you knew what was coming." The brunette twitched, looking a little pale. "Did you do this as part of your training with the Wild Wild Pussycats?"

    "Yeah… same exercise too…" Uraraka fiddled with her fingers. "Sorry for not giving you guys a heads-up. It was just all so fast and… I got my fair share of bumps and bruises from that."

    "Come on girlfriend! Give us a warning here!" Ashido shook her fist. "It's gonna take forever to get the mud outta my hair!" Beside her, Shoji was shaking his head to get dirt out of his ears before he shook his arms. Uraraka looked sheepish.

    "Yeah, totally not cool for Aizawa to at least say SOMETHING before 'haha mudslide begin your training'. Seriously..." Sero grumbled as he patted his elbows, some dirt leaving his tape jets.

    "He knew Uraraka had an idea of what kind of exercise Pixie Bob was going to put us through, since she undertook it with her training." Izuku turned towards Uraraka. "Then it must mean we must look to her for guidance."

    Bakugo spat out some dirt. "So he expects us to follow Round Face here?" He growled out.

    "He does." Momo spoke up, stepping up. "Aizawa did say this is training and-" The sound of her stomach cut into her authoritative response, making her blush. "I imagine time would be of the essence."

    "Your stomach said it, I'm feeling hungry…" Kirishima said as he walked over. "Didn't she mention us getting to lunch possibly?"

    "Yeah, this exercise is a trek through the Beast's Forest," Uraraka spoke. "Gotta get through it, survive the monsters inside and we get food." The girl noticed the others perk up.

    "Wait, monsters!?" Sero gawked.

    "What kind are we talking about?" Peter inquired. He heard the ground rumble beneath his feet, making him turn around, looking beyond the trees.

    Giant house-sized monsters. All made of dirt, soil and roots. Some looked like giant saber tooth tigers. Others were bipedal dinosaurs. Peter even saw one go up into the air!

    "They fly too." Uraraka mentioned.

    "Can you please speak up more often, woman!?" Sero barked as the other students got into position.

    Several beams of light lanced out, striking the incoming monsters in the heads as they roared out and crashed to the ground, crumbling.

    "Allons y mon ami!" Aoyama yelled, his navel laser ring around his midriff lighting up as he focused.

    "Hey Parker!" Peter, stunned upon seeing the usually flamboyant and flashy Aoyama acting so serious, yanked himself back to the situation at hand upon being called upon as he turned his head towards the source. "Give me a boost!" Kaminari yelled as he ran toward his classmate.

    Peter dropped to one knee, hands cupped together.

    "Seiiiii no!" Peter yelled as Kaminari stepped onto his hands and Peter launched him into the air, right as the flying beast was approaching. The blonde focused his hands towards his target.

    "1 Million Volts!" Kaminari yelled as he fired a lance of lightning outward from… Gloves! Some kind of support gloves! "Kamiyari!" The resulting spear cut the beast right down the middle, the golem crumbling into dirt and soil as it fell to the ground. "Someone catch me!"

    "Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami commanded, and from his shirt, the black familiar raced forth with an "Aye aye!", catching the blonde and bringing him back down by the scruff of his shirt.

    (X)

    "Whoa Eraser," Pixie Bob mused on the bus as she tapped on her goggles, keeping tabs on the students no doubt via cameras placed throughout the forest. "Lost some of my beasts already."

    "To whom?" Shouta replied, happy to have some peace and quiet. Mandalay was driving the car with her nephew behind them. Vlad took another route with his class.

    "The blond boys. Aoyama Yuga and Kaminari Denki, if I remember correctly? They took them out fast while everyone else was still trying to collect themselves."

    Shouta felt his lip twitch, a ghost of a smirk on his face. "It is to be expected. I've had an hour a day with those two for the past month." Knowing that those two and not the more destructive and powerful members of the Class responded … It was pleasing to hear.

    "Hehe, want me to step it up a notch? Make some more?" Pixie Bob asked.

    "Don't you have a hundred of those things in there?" The shaggy-haired man asked. "In the forest that is."

    "I can make more if we get to that overlook over there."

    Shouta was quiet, blinking. "Driver, pull over to that spot."

    And Pixie Bob grinned, rubbing her paws together. "Nyahaha~"

    (X)

    "Whoa Kaminari! Where did that come from?!" Sero asked in surprise. Jirou stood to the side, mouth agog.

    God Spear? Seeing Kaminari land on his feet, he shook off his hands, electrictiy cackling around them.

    Ohhhh it's a play on his name. "Clever." Peter mused to himself.

    Kaminari smirked, giving a thumbs-up. "I failed my Final, but I got stronger to make up for it. Even commissioned some new support gear too!" He showed off his gloves, beaming and preening and all the while. "Can channel my electricity better now! See?"

    Jirou marched up and grabbed the boy by his cheeks, making him squawk. "Who are you and what have you done to Kaminari!?"

    "Yowowowowowo! Zats mah fasth!" He yelled, struggling as Jirou tried to inspect him.

    Suddenly they heard the earth rumble below them, all of them staggering a bit. "An earthquake?" Peter asked aloud.

    "It's Pixie Bob!" Uraraka yelled. "Okay everyone! I've done this exercise before, so here's the plan!" She pointed into the forest. "The lodge where the Pussycat Agency is located is straight through the forest! There's lots of those giant mud beasts Pixie Bob creates too, which would go without saying."

    "How's she able to do that, creating giant earth monsters that can act autonomously? That's some powerful Quirk!" Sero said.

    "She has a powerful Quirk, you said it yourself moron." Bakugo grumbled, speaking up. "Hey, Round Face. You know a way through here? Or just go straight through the forest?"

    "Let's not cause a fire. This is a national park after all." Todoroki said, speaking up.

    "Whatever."

    "Uraraka, if you can take point and lead us, we'll do our best to barrel on through." Momo said, stepping up.

    "I'll be up there with Uraraka," Peter stepped up. "Midori, wanna come with?"

    "S-Sure!"

    "I'll join you!" Iida declared with a raised hand.

    "Sato, take the rear with Kirishima. Bakugo, Aoyama, watch our right flank." Momo said as she unbuttoned her shirt, exposing her sports bra and midriff as her stomach glowed and she pulled something out. "Todoroki, Kaminari, take the left. Shoji, Jirou, Sero, Kota, Tokoyami, Ashido, and Asui, can you two run interference with me from the center? Ojiro, stay by my side." She readied herself, revealing her creation to be a rather intimidating grenade launcher.

    "Right!" Everyone sans Bakugo and Todoroki replied. Peter could hear the rumbling, and from the trees far ahead, he made out the signs of the various dirt monsters trying to corral them.

    "Guess I'll… be here then…" Hagakure said to herself within the center of the group.

    "We better get to the Lodge! Here they come!" Kirishima said, hardening up as Peter saw the beasts charge forth with a roar. Peter saw Izuku glow with his Quirk, and Iida got into a running position.

    "I'm glad I'm not alone this time…" Uraraka mumbled, before patting her cheeks, before putting on her game face. "Okay you guys! Follow me! Plus Ultraaaa!"

    She jumped straight forwards, over the initial wave of monsters. Peter jumped between the trees, tumbling straight towards one monster. His leg came down like an axe head on one arm, and a green streak of lightning smashed through the other. The two landed on the ground and leapt, already moving onto the next monster before lasers, grenades, and acid spray ripped the disarmed beast apart behind them. Any dirt beast that tried to go around was either wrapped up in tape, smashed by a sugar-maddened Sato, frozen, melted, struck by a shadow monster, or blown to bits.

    "Midoriya, catch!" Peter shouted, aiming his hand.

    A line of webbing was thrown out, straight past Izuku. On instinct, the green-haired student grabbed hold. He held tight as Peter jumped past him and with a mighty heave, slingshotted him forwards.

    Green lightning crackled.

    "SMAAASH!" The attack took Izuku through several monsters only to stop on the side of a tree. He got his feet under him right before a bulldozer of ice buried a few more monsters, reshuffling the very earth as Todoroki gave them a wall to protect themselves.

    "Only about a hundred to go!" Jirou groaned, her plugs down on the ground. "Guessing here. Maybe more..."

    "Like that matters," Bakugo grumbled, throwing a blast that brought a monster to its knees, "We're going to smash through all of these moving statue rejects!"

    "Golems," Shoto corrected. "Statues that come alive are called golems."

    "Whatever! Oi! Dinoface!" Bakugo rounded on Koda who flinched. "Keep an eye out and support Tails! Make yourself useful!"

    "R-Right!" Koda ran over, moving to help carry the concussed Ojiro.

    "We have to push through." Izuku grunted, as another wave of the beasts came forth. Peter nodded.

    With that, all of Class 1-A charged towards a forest of monsters.

    (X)

    Four hours later…

    "Well, that was faster than I expected." Pixie Bob mused, standing in the clearing with her fellow heroes. "Just past one!" Aizawa stood behind the two women, hands in his pockets.

    The whole of class 1-A looked like they'd been run over by a dump truck. Twice.

    "Hungry…" Sero groaned.

    "Wheeeeey…" Kaminari swayed, face looking blank.

    "Still an idiot then," Jirou muttered before letting out a small sigh of relief.

    "Can I use the bathroom please…" Aoyama groaned out, holding his midsection and looking blue.

    "We usually clear that course in about two hours," Mandalay said with a smile. "For you to take four is not bad at all I say!"

    "You said something about lunch?" Momo groaned, her stomach grumbling as she had a hand over it.

    "I gotta say, some of you guys did great in taking charge. Kitten!" A panting Uraraka perked up. "You'll be back to that lioness we molded before long!"

    "I thought I got the eye of the tiger then…" Uraraka mused as she wiped her brow.

    "Same thing!" Pixie Bob laughed before turning towards some of the other students. Peter's eyes moved around, checking out the clearing. There was a lodge, making the entire thing look like some kind of mountain hotel with its wings, outside tables and such. There was even a lake close by, a range of plateaus and boulders all around.

    "Alright, listen up." Aizawa stepped forward. "Since you did better than expected, you'll be able to have lunch now and a two hour break period. It's past one right now. We'll have a light training preview of what's to come after four o'clock. Collect your luggage from the bus and go to your selected rooms, there are markers indicating where the boys and girls of your class will be sleeping for the duration of this camp. Use the two hours on your lunch, cleaning up, and getting yourself familiar with the Agency, feel free to explore to get a lay of the land." He pointed to the front door behind him. "Follow that and you can either hit the showers first or go to the Mess Hall, I don't care which. Just be back out here at four." Aizawa turned about. "That'll be all."

    "We also have a hot spring onsen too!" Pixie Bob said. "One for the boys and one for the girls of course!"

    "An onsen?" Peter perked up. Momo walked up.

    "Never heard of one Peter-san?" She asked. "It's a communal bath of sorts, made from a mineral hot spring no doubt."

    "Yeah she's right!" Koda stated before he sniffed the air. "I can smell some sulfur in the air!"

    "Ohhhh hot springs? I have never been in one of those before!" Peter said. "Hey Pixie Bob," The blond woman turned his way. "If I may ask… this Agency looks a bit like a mountain resort."

    "This land used to be a resort like that, yeah." Uraraka explained as she stepped up, helping Izuku to his feet. "The former resort fell into bankruptcy, so the Wild Wild Pussycats were able to buy the land and then renovate it themselves." She smiled a little. "Got a little history lesson when I came by here last."

    "Got it all in one kitten!" Pixie Bob exclaimed. "Now, I'll go prepare you your lunch, so wash up!" The blonde said.

    "Bathroom at laaaast!" Aoyama bolted past, running into the lobby.

    "So, she said that there's a hot spring, but I didn't bring my swimsuit. Darn." Peter mused as he and the rest of the class walked up to the bus to collect their luggage.

    "Why would you use a bathing suit for an onsen?" Todoroki asked as he walked up, eyebrow arched in amusement.

    …

    "Why would you not?" Peter asked, head tilting.

    "Peter," Karen whispered in his ear. "Onsen's are traditionally group hot tubs…"

    "Oh." Peter paled.

    "What?" Sero smirked. "Is the almighty Ace of Class 1-A afraid of going into a bath with us? Got something he don't want us to see~?" He leered playfully, lifting up a hand and waving his pinky.

    "I-Ghn-No!" Peter gawked back, blushing deeply. "I've never done that before, okay!?"

    "I assume in America that you don't have hot springs to go to?" Sato asked as they walked to the buses to collect their luggage.

    "Not in New York, I've always stayed there my entire life." Peter replied as Izuku was able to finally muster enough strength to walk… which looked a bit like a waddle.

    "Well, you can start today." Shoji said. "We're all just guys in there after all. Should be fine."

    "Indeed." Iida explained as he moved his hands around. "In an onsen you usually come in wearing a towel around your waist." He then adjusted his glasses. "Besides, it allows us to bond more closer as comrades and classmates!"

    That… explained things.

    "Okay… then I might have to try it while I'm here," Peter said as he grabbed his suitcase and began to wheel it out.

    "You could always come in later~," The American boy perked up, turning to see the playful pink Mina grinning impishly. "If you don't want to go in with the guys, you could always come in when the girls are in. How does that sound~?" Momo blinked, blushing a little as Jirou snickered and Asui stared blankly at him.

    "No! I-Aaaaagh." Peter threw his hands up as he bent over to collect his other bags. "I'm going to find a shower!" Laughter erupted all around him as he puffed his cheeks out.

    (X)

    After the shower, they made a… very simple lunch of rice and various meats and spices. Wasn't bad, but Pixie Bob had told them that they would need to make their own meals starting tomorrow. They would cook them dinner too, but only tonight. All meals were left up to the discretion of both Class 1-A and 1-B from then onward.

    Speaking of…

    "Hey, check out Class B." Kirishima said as he helped Peter wash some of the dishes. The activity was something they would all have to do regardless of who cooked, and Peter, Kirishima, Shoji and Asui volunteered to do so throughout the summer camp. Peter looked out the window of the kitchen, seeing 1-B on a run of sorts with their teacher, Vlad King, leading the way, already in their U.A. Gym Uniforms no less. "Guess their teacher's already getting a move on."

    "Wonder what else they do that puts them on our level?" Asui mused. "Vlad-sensei does look as serious as Aizawa-sensei most of the time."

    "True, but do you realistically think that anyone would be like Aizawa-sensei?" Shoji asked.

    "He has a point. We got the one in a million guy." Peter muttered.

    "But hey, he's made us into men! He hasn't led us astray from our goals to becoming heroes after all." Kirishima retorted.

    Peter was quiet as he wiped up the counters.

    "Something on your mind Parker-chan?" Asui spoke up, and Peter turned, seeing the wide-eyed frog girl looking up at him.

    "Umm… kinda."

    "Like what? Is I-Island bothering you?"

    "No." Peter shrugged. "I mean, why would it?"

    "Hehe, that's our Ace!" Kirishima exclaimed. "Not even villains attacking a big event flusters him!"

    "I was flustered, no lie there." Peter replied. "It helped that I had Todoroki, Midoriya, Hatsume and the others."

    "And me." Karen whispered, but that went without saying.

    "Well I mean, I'm surprised you're doing okay and all." Asui said. "Being up against armed and dangerous villains, with no chance of backup?"

    "I'm fine Asui, really."

    "Call me Tsu."

    "Ack." Peter rubbed the back of his head. "Tsu, sorry. But yeah, don't worry about it. I'm doing okay."

    "Yeah, you got to tell us!" Kirishima wrapped an arm around Peter's shoulders, making the taller brown-haired boy flinch a bit. "You scrambled after the onsen talk, we missed you dude!"

    "Hey guys!" Uraraka poked her head in from the door. "Wanna go explore around the agency? Pixie Bob is offering us a tour!"

    (X)

    After the tour and another hour to relax, it was time to reunite with Aizawa-sensei for training.

    With their dirtied school uniforms put away in selected hampers, they were out in their U.A. gym uniforms. Izuku saw Aizawa standing before him, hands in his pockets as everyone filed out of the agency together.

    Peter was by his side, as was Uraraka, Todoroki, Yaoyorozu and Iida. Kacchan seemed to be on the other side of their group of fellow students. Ojiro was the only student not present.

    "On time, good." Aizawa muttered. "Now then, we will be conducting a taste of training today for what is to come tomorrow and the rest of the week. Ojiro as you know, is suffering from minor head trauma, so he will rest for the night, take some medication, and we will see how he is in the morning.

    "Now, before we begin, I might as well explain the reasoning for this entire summer camp." Aizawa rolled his neck around to stretch. "As you may have noticed, villains have begun to become more active as of late. Whether they be domestic," and his eyes settled on Izuku, Shoto, Momo and Peter. "Or abroad."

    Izuku rubbed his arm while Peter looked to the side. Yaoyorozu and Todoroki looked neutral. "And it's up to you guys as the next generation to respond. So, we'll be countering by becoming stronger than the rest of your peers, both in U.A. and in other schools." He ran a hand through his hair. "That is why I submitted your class to sign up for the upcoming Provisional Hero License Exam in September of this year."

    A murmur of excitement passed through the class.

    "Holy cow, a provisional license!" Sero exclaimed.

    "This early too? B-But we're still freshmen!" Koda spoke up.

    "That sounds awesome!" Kirishima beamed, before his face fell. "What's a provisional license anyway?"

    "That is simple Kirishima!" Aoyama declared with a pose. "It would allow us students to become Provisional Heroes whenever we are interns! Thus, we can perform heroics without fear of being labeled vigilantes!"

    "Aoyama has the right idea." Aizawa said, the blond boy seeming to beam under the compliment. "In either case, you guys will be able to contribute without getting into trouble. Normally we don't do this until your second year at U.A., but considering your progress, I decided to pick up the pace not have you guys be held back just because you're first years." He then smirked a bit. "What we will be doing today, from here until 8 PM, will be a taste of what is to come all day tomorrow." Izuku gulped, knowing that was the same kind of devil's complexion he had back during the Quirk Apprehension Tests…

    "And we will be here to help!" Pixie Bob explained from an incoming truck.

    "Now then," Aizawa saw a truck pull forth, and it opened as two people jumped on out. "Our additional helpers."

    "Are here at last!" Chirped a feminine voice as a green-haired woman with wide eyes wearing a similar outfit as Pixie Bob and Mandalay approached but with yellow as the dominant color. "I'm Ragdoll! Sorry for the wait, but your gear and supplies for tonight's training is here at last!"

    "Indeed!" Came a booming and proud male voice, posing alongside her, and…. he was wearing a matching dress and outfit, but in brown. "We will show you what we taught Uraraka many moons ago, and you will leave here with the eye of the tiger!"

    "Yaaaaay…" Uraraka groaned miserably, offering a weak pump of her fist.

    "Tiger, Ragdoll, thanks for coming. You'll help distribute the supplies and training tools?" Aizawa asked.

    "You can count on us Eraser!" Ragdoll beamed. "With my 'Search', I'll be able to keep track of all our little kittens here!"

    The dress-wearing man known as Tiger seemed to flex, leering at the boys. "And I'll whip them all into shape myself!"

    Izuku's eyes scanned around. Huh, no sign of that kid. Must be playing games or something.

    "Alright." Aizawa grinned, turning back to the students as Pixie Bob and Mandalay got to the back of the truck and began to unload various stuff. "Now then, here is what you'll be doing…"

    And Izuku felt his heart clench up. A smiling Aizawa is never a good time...

    (X)

    Everyone had been split up across the clearing in front of the lodge, and some had even taken residence on the plateau overlooking the agency. Within ten minutes, yells were in the air.

    Bakugo was firing off explosions after pushing his hands into steaming hot water. Sero seethed as he kept on firing his tape dispensers from his elbows. Kirishima fell down to the ledge of the cliff and smashed into the ground using his Hardening in order to harden his body and increase his reaction time in said-hardening. Meanwhile in a nearby cave, Tokoyami strained to maintain control of Dark Shadow while Tiger made Midoriya flex, stretch, and spar whenever he was close by.

    Momo stuffed her face full of brownies as she conjured various rubber balls from her free arm while her right one kept on picking up and munching. Beside her, Sato was eating a cake straight from his hand as the other was busy lifting up a one hundred kilogram dumbbell.

    Up on the plateau ahead, Momo saw Peter in his training. There was a deep slope carved by Pixie Bob, and at the foot of it… were dozens and dozens of boulders ranging from as big as a golf cart to as large and as wide as a house. And it seemed that he was pushing them up the hill to the top where Sero was screaming with Kaminari and his generator.

    "Make something more complex." Said a voice, and Momo looked up as she chewed, seeing Aizawa coming by her and Sato's table.

    She swiftly obeyed, the stream of rubber balls at her feet slowing to a trickle before stopping. The latest version of her favorite matryoshka doll replaced them.

    "Hmm." Aizawa nodded lightly and moved on, surveying and going over each student as the sound of Bakugo's screaming was deafening.

    That hot spring at the end of this training was looking more and more inviting by the minute...

    (X)

    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Koji yelled, hands at his mouth as he screamed as hard as he could.

    "That's it young man! Let me see you roar like a lion!" Tiger boasted, running beside him. The well-built boy turned, taking a deep breath. "See this!" He embraced him hard, and Koji let out a squawk as Tiger's muscles smothered his face, pointing out to a wide expanse of forest. "Consider this your land! All that the sun touches is your kingdom! Now let it be known! Let the lesser beasts of the land know who is their king! Roar my boy! ROAR LIKE THE MAN YOU ARE!" He yelled, standing beside him and yelling out with his own roar.

    "RAAAAAAAAAR!" Tiger bellowed out. How could a man in a dress be so… forward and manly like that? Koji didn't get it at all!

    "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Koji yelled once more, before sputtering into a coughing fit.

    "Keep at it! Don't give up! Be the lion young man!" Tiger encouraged.

    "R-Right!"

    (X)

    "Keep up that balance Pony and keep on firing!" Vlad yelled out as he walked across their own training range.

    Pony could feel the blood dribbling from her scalp as she kept on moving in a figure-eight motion around various wooden poles with bullseyes on them. Their class was doing some training already, as Vlad did not want Aizawa to overtake them. After their run, lunch, and tour of the agency, Vlad had set up the training course for all of Class 1-B to utilize. The blonde could see the literal palace made of vines being made by Shiozaki as the girl was busy focusing on creating and controlling her vines to make complex shapes and structures. Kendo was sparring with Shishida and Kamikiri, while that cheeky Monoma was running about touching and using whatever quirks he could get from all the students in the clearing.

    For her? Keep on firing at the targets, and keep on moving. Pony heard the sounds of explosions in the clearing beyond the other plateau, no doubt from Bakugo…

    She also saw a collection of boulders being made over and over at the top near the big electric light and the spewing tape shooter kid. Who was strong enough to be doing that? That Midoriya kid? Or Peter?

    "Boo."

    "Ack!" Pony yelped, seeing Honenuki poke his head out of the ground. Pony slipped off one of her horns and collided with the pole before landing on the ground.

    "Sorry. Training. Gotta spook you guys. Gonna go give Monoma a fright, and let him touch me so... See ya." The lipless boy said before he took a breath and went back under the ground, giving a thumbs-up as he dived like a swimmer.

    "Dagnabit..." Pony groaned out in english as she got back up, firing two horns as she shook her blonde hair. She got back on top, rising above the ground before she resumed her figure-eight flying motion around the poles, aiming for the targets as she fired two more horns at a time.

    (X)

    Four hours later...

    "Good work, all of you." Aizawa said, hands in his pockets as it was now night out.

    Everyone in Class 1-A looked ragged, sweaty in their U.A. gym uniforms as Peter wiped his brow. His arms and legs ached, his hands were calloused and he could feel blisters forming.

    "I don't want to eat another brownie again…" Momo groaned, wiping her mouth clean of chocolate.

    "Buuuuuuhhhh…" Sato groaned as his right and left arms twitched from the constant dumbbell lifting and eating.

    Sero let out croaks of agony as like Sato, his forearms were shaking as his elbow holes were pink and sore.

    "Wheeeeeeheheeyy…" Kaminari let out, weakly thrusting out his hands with his thumbs up.

    Iida was sitting on a bench drenched in sweat, as was Izuku beside him. Ashido whimpered at her hands while Jirou nursed her earphone jacks in her fingers tenderly.

    "Darkness… envelops…" Tokoyami, whose U.A. gym uniform shredded, uttered weakly.

    Uraraka and Aoyama were busy chugging water bottles offered to them by the Pussycats, thanks to their Quirks causing either nausea or bowel movement galore. They had to hydrate constantly over their training… that and use a designated place to puke while Aoyama had the honor of using an outhouse.

    Peter did not envy him at all.

    "Think this is bad? For four hours in a single go?" Aizawa smirked and Peter took in a deep breath. "Tomorrow, we get up at 5:30 in the morning and train until 11:00. So you're going to do this for five hours." And he held a hand out, finger upward. "After lunch and a two hour break, we go back at this… for six hours until dinner."

    Groans came from the class, while Bakugo seemed to let out a more frustrated and pained growl.

    "Five… and six…" Kirishima, his U.A. gym uniform in tatters from his falling and creating craters over and over asked in disbelief.

    "With no breakfast in-between either." Aizawa added. "You'll be focusing on preparing your own cooking for lunch and dinner. The Pussycats are feeding you today, but tomorrow you're on your own. In case some of you have forgotten."

    "Right…" Peter uttered, shaking his arms. No breakfast... Typical.

    "Now then, dinner's being made as we speak, so I suggest you wash up and get some food in you." Aizawa pointed back to the lodge. "Lights out at ten sharp as well. You'll need as much sleep and recovery as you can get. Use the showers to wash up from this, and then get dinner. You can use the hot springs afterward to heal your body. And no one better be out of their rooms past ten unless it's an emergency. Oh, and the cellphone tower close by has been attuned to only me, Vlad, and the Pussycats' phones. All of yours will have no service, so don't bother being on your phones late."

    Ashido let out a loud frustrated groan upward.

    "Any questions?"

    "Sensei?" It was Todoroki, and Aizawa paused, turning. "What about some of our U.A. uniforms?" He turned, seeing the utter rags Tokoyami, Kirishima, and most of the male students were in. "We can't use these tomorrow can we?"

    "We brought along spares that fit your dimensions. We have ten per each student here," Aizawa responded. "Any U.A. uniform that is too damaged we can toss. If it's too dirty, put it in the allotted containers in your rooms. We will bring them back to U.A. with us."

    "And our… normal attire?" Todoroki patted his drenched wife beater.

    "Did you pack extra?"

    "Only a few…"

    "Then I suggest going at it shirtless tomorrow to save some." Aizawa closed his eyes. "That'll be all then." And he walked back into the lodge.

    "I'm getting in that hot spring!" Ashido declared. "My hands need iiiiiit!"

    "We could all use it, but we should shower first!" Iida declared. "And fast too! We wouldn't want to keep our hosts waiting!" He got up and wobbled due to his legs being as sore as can be.

    "Hungry too… all that falling's taken a lot out of me… Ow…" Kirishima groaned. "But it should make my hardening harder! I felt my reaction speed getting faster and faster!"

    "Isn't Class 1-B… still training?" Jirou asked, and Peter perked up, hearing the sounds of yelling in the distance.

    "Well, we did fight a bunch of dirt monsters first… maybe we eat dinner first before they do?" Izuku suggested.

    "Dark reverie…" Tokoyami uttered.

    "Stop saying creepy stuff!" Hagakure spouted from the side. Peter felt a hand on his shoulder as he turned to see why.

    "And we're getting you into the hot spring! Ya need it to heal your body you know!" Kirishima said proudly.

    "I'm a fast healer…"

    "There's nothing wrong with bathing with your fellow students Parker," Iida suggested.

    "Buuuh-huh..." Sato nodded dumbly.

    "Yeah, come on, it will be fun." Izuku suggested with a light smile. Peter blanched, feeling all eyes on him.

    Bathing with a bunch of naked dudes didn't sound fun…

    (X)

    Late that night, in a dark street in the Nantu Ward of Tokyo, Sakai Gyozen walked with his boys into a nice alleyway of sorts.

    Further down the alleyway beside some trash cans and under some fire escape stairs, the resident members of his gang were present.

    "This all of 'em?" A tall muscular fellow with the head and snout of a crocodile asked, wearing a wife beater. Some of his fellows wore masks and shades. He recognized him as Usui from uptown.

    "Yeah." Gyozen nodded with his head. "Me and my boys are here as promised."

    "Nice. Apparently Ryuzo-san texted us all to meet up here."

    "What for? And to bring our quirk users too? Guess we're doing a hit?" Gyozen asked.

    "Got to keep a tab on those heroes though… although if we're doing it at this hour we won't have to deal with night owls often." Usui showed off his maw of teeth in a grin. "I've been meaning to sink my teeth int'a something. And my boys want some action."

    "Do we know what we're even gonna do?" The sunken-eyed corpse that was Osaka Shinra asked, the jittery man fiddling with his hands. Gyozen ran a hand through his slicked black hair.

    "I know what you're going to do ladies and gents." Oiled a voice, and they all turned upward to the fire escape, seeing something sitting on the ledge. It was tossing an apple up and down, and Gyozen could make out what looked like a dark feather boa. "Well, mostly gents, not that I mind." He drawled as he turned his head. Gyozen reached into his back for his gun, seeing scarlet red eyes leering down like a cat finding its prey.

    Arrogant fuck. His voice sounded like he sucked dicks too.

    "Hey, who the fuck are you!" Usui growled. The man turned before taking a bite of his apple as he reached into his pocket, tossing something down that the hulking lizard man caught. It was a phone.

    "What the… this is Ryuzo-san's phone!"

    "Thank all so much for bringing these lovely little tots to us." Red-eyes said as he took another bite of his apple. "Your boss was a little more… uncooperative, so we might haaaave roughed him up just a little… you know." The tone of his voice made it clear he was smirking. Gyozen can see the white of his teeth. "Like 'pull the arms off the gangster' kind of rough. Should have seen the blood, it was like a Mexican pinata~"

    Gyozen snarled and reached for his glock before he whipped it out. "You're fucking dead!" He barked, and Red-eyes' hand lashed out. Gyozen fired, his aim shifting as he pulled the trigger. Everyone else jumped at the sound.

    "What the-!?" He was aiming for him! How did he move his arm? "He has a quirk! Everyone, ki-"

    "Oh Kurochiiii~" Red Eyes drawled. "We got some bodies for Shi-chan to rebuild his little army." On cue, down the alleyway, a black vortex seemed to come to life. "Do be a dear and make our little leader a happy boy?"

    Two golden eyes emerged from the dark violet mass, even as he and fellow gangsters fired their guns into it.

    "Gladly." And the great mist surged forth, Gyozen screaming as it washed over him. He fumbled in the darkness, firing his gun until it ran dry before the darkness left him as soon as it came.

    He landed on the ground, coughing as the man got up and looked around.

    "What the… where am I!" Gyozen yelled, noticing that he was in a cell of some kind, seeing some kind of camera present as well. His eyes glowed, and Gyozen put his Quirk, X-Ray Vision, to use.

    He could see him and his fellow gang members in other cells, trapped by walls several feet thick and composed of some sort of steel, with vents for air. And they all had cameras peering in too. No windows… Why would there be a cell with no door! And with a single fucking light built in too!

    "Ah ha… more lovely Quirks to sample." came a smooth voice… so smooth and laced with poison that it made Gyozen's skin crawl. "Tomura has found such helpful wicked friends…"

    By the camera, a black ooze appeared beside it and Gyozen looked up into it…

    ...and caught a glimpse of a scarred and eyeless man, grinning like the devil before red-black tendrils lashed out, goring and pinning Gyozen to the wall as he howled in pain. With his X-Ray Vision, he could see it too… his comrades all being pinned to the walls or to the ground as he was, these things… digging into him, piercing his flesh and into his bones.

    Gyozen screamed, writhing as the tendrils glowed. His vision became clouded, and the last thing he ever heard was the chuckling of the man behind the black ooze.

    (X)

    Hey, check it out the summer chapter right when summer is about to start!

    Totally unintentional timing.

    Though, hope you enjoyed and Zaru and I'll see you later.
     
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