Chapter 41: Take a Load Off
…Oh, is he floating?
Hmm…no, his feet are touching the ground. Izuku is pretty sure to float, your feet have to be off the ground. He would know, after having spent so much of his childhood trying to accomplish it. He may be 0 for 616, but he's got a feeling that attempt 617 will yield results.
But first things first, where is he again? Feeling himself pulled back, Izuku's exhausted brain provides him with some help. Right! Gorr! He's here and-
The sight of the alien lying on the ground, unmoving, brings a wave of relief. Right…right! They had won! And after Ghost Rider had used his Penance Stare on Gorr, with the fight over, Izuku had finally let himself collapse and blackout.
But neither had happened. Sort of. He had blacked out, but only for a second. And his legs had also really given out, so why hadn't he hit the ground? Izuku's question is quickly answered when he's pulled back into the arms of his friends.
Denki, Uraraka, and Iida held him up by his arms, and one of Tenko's blackwhip tendrils are wrapped around his waist while Todoroki applies ice to the back of his neck. Yeah, Izuku has some great friends. And he's not just saying that because he literally can't stand under his own power right now.
"Thanks, guys," Izuku mumbles. "I'm good now." He moves to stand, or at least, he tries to, until he realizes none of them will let him go.
Good friends? Yes. A little irritating at times? Also yes.
'Oh, stop lying to yourself, you love this.'
Izuku internally rolls his eyes at Two's words, but doesn't deny them.
"Did you… what happened to him?" Mirio walks over to stand by their group, eyes darting between Ghost Rider and Gorr.
"Punishment," the Rider answers simply, before kicking the body so Gorr is on his back. "He's not dead. Just suffering." Further proof isn't required beyond Gorr's labored breathing on the ground. But besides that, it's like the former God Butcher can't see anything around him.
"Mischief!" Gentle Hero lands next to them with La Brava in his arms, the man stumbling and tripping over his wounds until Mirio took one of his arms to keep him in place. La Brava jumps down, camera still rolling as she films Gentle giving the blond a grateful nod.
The hero gives the group a once-over. "I am most relieved to see everyone is- my word!" Gentle's jaw drops at the sight of Ghost Rider. "What a captivating quirk you have there. Would you ever consider participating in one of my videos?"
There's a small cough from La Brava. "Ah," Gentle continues awkwardly, "apologies. Not the time or place. But I am elated to see everyone is alright. I was not sure what to expect when my intern told me to meet him at this location, but it certainly wasn't this."
He laughs a little to himself. Izuku would've laughed with him if he physically could but again, very tired. "We should have emergency services reach us swiftly to take care of all your injuries."
"And yours too, Gentle," La Brava aggressively reminds the man from behind the camera. Izuku doesn't know it, but Uraraka is feeling a sort of kinship with the woman at the moment.
"Yes." Gentle clears his throat. "Of course. But the interns should take priority. We also need police to secure this villain," the hero acknowledges Gorr on the ground. "I see the poor fellow was stabbed. I assume this was your work, my boy?"
"It was mine."
As quick as he can, and with Mirio's help, Gentle places himself in between the kids and a still standing Stain, with Gunhead and Native flanking their fellow hero. Ghost Rider steps forward as well, growling as La Brava points her camera at the Hero Killer.
"Surrender, Hero Killer! You're outnumbered and wounded!" Gunhead calls out, getting into a fighting stance. "And there's no way you're running from us with that bullet in your leg; let's resolve this peacefully!"
"Peace was never an option." Stain grasps his sword in one hand, a knife in the other.
"Chizome Akaguro." Ghost Rider drops the name of the Hero Killer without warning. "You are guilty of letting innocent blood be spilled, and you must pay for your actions."
"You're right…" Stain tightens his grip on his blades, glaring at them all with such intensity, Izuku thinks he might be trying to recreate the Rider's stare. "I let those who did not deserve it suffer.
"But you want to know the difference between you and me, false heroes? I know I can be corrupted. I know I am not above the people you should be serving. I know that at the end of my days, my own blood deserves to stain the ground on which I stand!
"But you?!" It's like the Hero Killer's bloodlust is leaking from him. "You false heroes still believe yourselves above the rest! That the world needs you so badly, the people would be lucky to lick the dirt off your boots!
"You are right, I must pay for my actions. And I shall…by making things right. I'm not the only one who deserves to be dyed in blood! But before I am, I will take back what it means to be a hero! So come and get me, you fakes!! Fight your hardest, but in the end, it will not matter!" Stain's bloodlust explodes out of his body. "For the only one I'll allow to kill me is the true hero…ALL MIGHT!!"
Gentle, Native, and Gunhead are taken aback by the aura of the Hero Killer, as is most everyone else. Ghost Rider, seemingly unaffected, takes a step forward, conjuring a chain that he spins in his hand. "You will have to find me as a suitable substitute."
Stain grins, readying his weapons as he moves…only for his breath to catch in his throat and the Hero Killer to fall face first on the ground, unconscious.
Everyone freezes for a moment, the heavy aura present just a second ago vanishing as fast as it appeared. After a couple of seconds of making sure the man wasn't getting back up, Native runs up to the killer, feeling for a pulse. "He's alive, just knocked out."
After making sure Gentle was still secured with Mirio, Gunhead jogs over to Native and Stain, just to confirm what the other hero said, before they both start to work on relieving the man of his weapons. La Brava breathes a sigh of relief, turning off her camera.
It wouldn't be until later that they found out after Ghost Rider unleashed his flame tornado, he had destroyed all of Gentle's air membranes. Including one that had trapped sleeping gas that Nagant had fired at the hero. The same gas that Stain would inhale a small dosage of while trying to escape the twister.
Ghost Rider lets out a deep hum, unsatisfied, and still with the burning need to punish the unconscious villain. He readies to move the other heroes out of his way, but a scream from nearby catches his attention.
"Damn," Gunhead curses. "Criminals are probably taking advantage of the attack. Our night's not over."
Ghost Rider glances back at Stain, before looking out to the streets ahead. "I sense blood being unjustly spilled. Stain must pay for his sins. But as he is secured, I will go to punish those who are actively doing harm first. I will see you all at the hospital later." The engines behind his elbows roar to life and with a rupture of flames, he's gone.
"…Hm, kind of reminds me of Iida's quirk," Native says after the Rider is long gone.
"Shit, shit!" From atop a nearby building, Hirona scans Nagant's wounds. "Not good, I should-" she stops when she glances over at the street below her. More specifically, the group of heroes and who stands among them. Shimura.
There he is! Right there! Surrounded by his stupid hero friends, totally unaware of the danger still present. She could easily-
A wet cough brings Hirona back to the building, going back to trying to soothe the injured Nagant. Dammit, Shimura is so close! But…looking down at the former hero, her decision had already been made.
Clenching her fists, Hirona grits out, "Kurogiri, get us out of here." The portal user obliges her, creating a gateway underneath her and Nagant while she angrily stares down Shimura from above.
"You got lucky this time, Tenko. But you'll be seeing me again, real soon." And with her words, Hirona and Nagant are swallowed by the portal and disappear.
"I see…that is quite a lot of information to absorb."
"That's all you have to say!!" Tenko screeches at Iida, pacing around the hospital room, scratching his neck with one hand while rubbing his other through his hair. "Because my brain feels like it's lagging pretty hard over here!"
Izuku covers his mouth, doing everything he can not to laugh and put his friend more on edge. He isn't gonna lie, seeing people freak out about learning that they're aliens is a little funny. But at least he has tact. Denki seems to have no problem openly laughing at his friend from his bed, which didn't seem to be helping Tenko's mental state.
It had taken a little while, but the police were able to secure the site they were all at and take Gorr and Stain away while the rest of them were transported to a nearby hospital.
With the berserkers gone, the operation had changed for the heroes, moving from fighting to rescue. They had started searching the city for any survivors to get them the help they needed and rounded up any criminals who were trying to take advantage of the chaos…or whatever Ghost Rider was doing to them.
As they were heroes-in-training, the teens were taken to a private wing of the hospital to be treated and observed. But as many of the heroes involved in the fighting were injured themselves, private rooms weren't exactly available, so most of them had to share.
And that's how Izuku, Denki, Tenko, Iida, and Todoroki had all found themselves sharing a room. Uraraka had originally been taken to a shared room with a few other female heroes, but as her injuries were minor, she had been allowed to move around relatively quickly and naturally, so she came back to their room dressed in casual clothes.
Gentle and Native had been taken for a bit more intensive care as their injuries were the most severe, with La Brava sticking by his side. Well, after Gentle had personally seen Izuku and his friends to their new room and made sure their treatment began, much to the chagrin of the hospital staff.
Gunhead and Mirio had elected to return back to the field to assist in the rescue operations after making sure Uraraka and Denki were okay, respectively, with Mirio reporting updates to Sir Nighteye as the man took charge of what was going on outside.
Manual and Gran Torino had been updated on the status of their respective interns as well. And after being reassured about the kid's injuries, they had also elected to help in the city's cleanup. Both said they would be in to check on them once things had calmed down.
Well, Manual said he'd be in to check on Iida. From the way Tenko described it, it sounded like Gran Torino was coming in to enact his righteous fury onto his intern. He sheepishly asked that they all stay to be witnesses to his premature death.
Todoroki hadn't said anything about what his father was doing.
The room is a bit on the larger side, so to make talking to each other easier, the six had decided to pair up on beds and sit next to each other so they didn't have to shout across the room. Tenko and Todoroki had moved towards Midoriya's bed at the same time, but a suspicious look from Denki had them pairing up.
Izuku's worst fears are confirmed as when Uraraka moves to sit with Iida, Denki beats her to it, forcing her to sit next to Izuku on his bed. He's unable to stop the blush that appears on his face, but at the same time, he doesn't stop her when she sits close to him, either, enjoying the company after everything they just went through.
Like Uraraka, Izuku is dressed in casual clothing, as are Denki, Tenko, and Shoto. None of them were fans of hospital gowns and the nurses had given up after Izuku and Denki had started using their powers to change out of every gown they were put in. Only Iida remained in his.
And sure, they were all covered in various bandages and had different parts of their bodies wrapped. Such as Izuku and Iida's shoulders, with Izuku's regeneration working extremely slowly due to his exhaustion, and Denki with his head. But at the end of this long day, they were just happy to be together.
So, on that note, and a little time before any doctors or heroes were set to check on them, getting the nod from Denki, Izuku thought there was no point in hiding the truth from the other three in the room after everything they had seen. And the result…
"How are you two so calm?!" Tenko exclaims, pointing an accusatory finger at Todoroki and Iida. They were already told that Uraraka knew. "Gods- er, sorry, aliens exist! And a lot of them! Magic too!! And two of our friends are from space!" Tenko winces. "Not that that's a bad thing! It doesn't change how cool you guys are or anything, but it's just- you know like…"
Tenko groans, moving to an empty bed and falling face-first onto it, yelling into the sheets. "I don't know what words to uuuuuse or how to do this!" He lifts his face up. "Seriously, Iida, Todoroki, just how?…"
"It's not surprising. Frankly, I'm confused about your reaction," Todoroki replies bluntly, writing in a notebook Izuku had conjured for him. "Midoriya has told us from the first day his powers were magic. In fact, looking back on it, he's technically never lied to us. Plus, he told me directly he was an alien and I've been investigating ever since."
"You weren't supposed to believe that, by the way!"
"I didn't. But as I told you, I didn't not believe you as well." It is Izuku's turn to groan at Todorki's words. "But with everything that occurred tonight, I believe I've been given sufficient evidence to confirm your extraterrestrial status. So I will close the book on that investigation."
"Thank you-"
"However, I still have doubts on your powers being magic."
"Oh, c'mon!"
Todoroki shakes his head. "Ancient humans believed anything they didn't understand was magic. You yourself proved this when you stated that your fathers are not gods, but aliens of a technologically advanced species. So it stands to reason that perhaps your powers aren't magic, but something else. My investigation will continue."
Izuku sits there, jaw hanging open, trying to process the words, before giving up and slouching over, defeated. Uraraka pats his back in comfort. "If it helps, I believe your powers are magic."
"Thanks…"
"Fine!" Tenko hops back up. "Iida! You have to be with me on this?"
The usually bespectacled boy says nothing for almost thirty seconds, content to study his hands in thought. "Weeks ago, I was told my brother would never walk again and that his hero career was over. Tonight, I witnessed that same brother not only walk, but display abilities that shouldn't be possible."
Iida looks up from his hands. "If I were to be honest with all of you, I am unsure how to feel, because the revelations you've presented about yourself and Kaminari tonight, Midoriya, have just been stacked on top of everything else I'm feeling."
He sends a text on his phone. "I feel disbelief at the notion of aliens and magic, but I have no other explanation as to everything that occurred tonight. And if I'm being honest, my happiness at Tensei being given his life back heavily outweighs any doubts I have. Magic, miracles, gods, aliens, it doesn't matter to me how, just that Tensei is healed."
Iida stands and carefully bows. "You all came to my aid at my lowest point, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you!! And I shall strive to make it all up to you somehow!" Izuku and Uraraka immediately deny him having to do that, Todoroki nods, and Tenko and Denki wave him off easily.
When he sits back on his bed is when Tenko gets back up. "Don't get me wrong Iida, we're happy you're still here and part of the party, but that's it?! You're just fine with the whole alien and magic thing?!"
The younger of the Iida brothers chuckles. "As I said, I'm still processing so many emotions from the night, I believe I haven't gotten to the part about my friends being aliens. But I'll make sure to inform you when I do."
"Good!! Because I need someone to freak out with me!" Tenko sits back on Todorki's bed, slumping against Todoroki. "Sorry, my mana is just so depleted right now."
"That's alright." Todoroki switches hands to continue writing in his notebook. "You look pretty tired as well."
"That's what I- ugh, nevermind…"
Denki's eyes go wide before, like his cousin, they begin to sparkle with mischief. He moves carefully and leans against Iida's good side. "This alright, man? Need a breather too."
"Maybe not under normal circumstances, but given the situation, I suppose it's alright."
When Izuku turns away, he doesn't notice Denki lock eyes with Uraraka and subtly motion to her. Her breath quickens for a moment before swallowing and nodding. Slowly, she leans over and presses herself against Izuku's good side, causing the boy to freeze.
Well, more than usual considering the whole Frost Giant biology.
"I-is this okay?" Uraraka whispers.
"I-I mean…" it was more than okay, but he can't just say that! And the last time they were like this, it was by accident! But everyone else is doing it so… "Yeah…it's alright." She gets more comfortable and Izuku signs in contentment.
He also pointedly ignores the cheers of his clone Thirteen from inside his head.
And yet, Gorr's words from the rooftop keep coming back to him. From when Uraraka had protected him. "It's love, isn't it?" No, that can't be right, can it?
"Aliens…" Tenko mutters to the quiet room.
Todoroki hums. "Indeed. And I should warn you that there are many different types of aliens with different cultures and languages. So do not assume they are all the same." The hot and cold user looks at Izuku for approval, and he snorts, giving him a nod.
"Noted. Speaking of aliens, that's what that Gorr guy was, right?" Izuku confirms that he was. "I'm confused about how you beat him. Can you just take people's powers?"
"He cannot as far as we're aware," Todoroki answers for him, flipping through his notebook. "I don't have it under my list of potential powers you can obtain, am I correct?"
"So that's what that feels like.." Izuku mutters while Uraraka giggles beside him. "Oh, I-uh, yeah, that's right Todoroki."
"Then, based on my research, I'd be correct in assuming that was a symbiote?"
"Oh good," Tenko groans. "Something else to remember. So what is it?"
"Not to worry, I don't expect any of you to remember these things, so I'm keeping detailed notes to remind you all when the time is needed," Todoroki reassured them. "And they are an alien species that forms symbiotic relationships with hosts to create new entities."
"Sounds like a parasite." Tenko sighs. "But if it can equip and be unequipped to multiple people, that makes sense." He shifts a bit on the bed. "Wait, this stuff is supposed to be a secret? How do you know about it?"
The son of Endeavor shrugs. "I came across it while researching aliens in general. There's a surprising amount of information about them out there. Especially about one alleged symbiote in particular named-"
The door to the room bursts open. "IZUKUUUUUUUUUUU!!"
The green-haired boy can't hope to get away before he's swallowed by his mother, freezing some of her tears to keep himself from drowning. "Oh, my sweet boy! Are you alright? Where does it hurt? Have the doctors seen you? Have you eaten? Let me see your shoulder- oh my! That won't get infected, will it? Have the doctors considered that? What about a fever? And-"
If Uraraka thought she could get away, she is sorely mistaken. As soon as she makes to get off the bed, the hysterical mother spots and pulls the girl into the hug as well. "Oh, sweety, I'm so relieved to see you're alright. Thank you so much for being there for Izuku! How are-"
A hand on her shoulder stops her rambling. Like mother, like son. "Inko, darling, a moment to breathe for all of you would do wonders."
Izuku melts with relief, smiling. "Dad."
Loki smiles down at him, pulling Izuku into a tight hug. "I'm relieved you're alright, son." The two share their hug for a few more seconds before separating, allowing Inko at her boy again.
The god takes a step back and looks over the room at Denki. "Your father will be here as soon as he can. He has to travel a longer distance than I."
"He couldn't use the Bifrost?"
Loki raises an eyebrow, his eyes sweeping over the other three boys in the room. One look at their faces told him all he needed to know. "They know." It isn't a question.
"They do," Izuku tells him after letting go of his mother again, who went to check over Uraraka's injuries. "I don't know how much about tonight you know?…"
"I am up to speed on everything. Gorr, the Rider, everything."
"Oh!" Wow, he knows his dad always told him the importance of knowledge, but even he underestimates how fast his dad works sometimes. "Okay. Well, they saw all of it too. And I didn't see a point in lying to them after."
"You still have so much to learn," Loki chuckles, turning around. "And you trust them?"
"I do."
Loki looks at Denki, who says the same as Izuku, before taking a deep breath and rubbing his hands together. "Very well, but just say the word and I'll have them brainwashed before you know it." Tenko and Iida pale while Todoroki narrows his eyes.
"Dad, no!"
"Loki!" Inko marches over to her husband, putting a finger to his chest. "There will be no brainwashing of Izuku's friends, do I make myself clear?"
The God of Mischief hums in frustration but agrees anyway. "Yes, dear. I will not brainwash them tonight."
"No, no!" Inko wags her finger at the man. "You will not brainwash them ever, Mister! No tricks!"
"…yes, dear."
"Uh…sir?" Loki glances over to where Tenko had stood up. "So, you're the real Loki? The one from all the books and movies?"
"So they tell me."
"Oh! Well, um…" Tenko looks unsure of what to do with his hands. "It's an honor to meet you!" The gamer looks around himself again before adopting a look of, 'might as well,' and bowing to Loki.
"Good thinking! How quickly we forget our manners!" Iida stands once again and manages a bow to Loki as well.
"No, guys!" Izuku waves his hands in front of him. "It's okay! We don't- Asgardians don't do that! You don't need to bow to him!"
"Izuku is exactly right," Loki agrees. "I'd much prefer you kneel-"
"Dad!"
"Loki!"
"I joke!" Loki laughs at the faces his wife and son make, before moving off to the side and seeing Todoroki aim a not so hidden glare at him. "Can I help you?"
"I had a rather interesting thought," Todoroki says. "You are the God of Mischief and claim to have known everything that happened here tonight, so that leaves the question, where were you?"
"And where do you think you're going?"
Loki doesn't slow down as he marches past Ebony Maw. "Midgard is under attack by an ancient villain, my son needs me." The God quickens his pace as he nears his destination, before Maw's voice stops him.
"…I'm afraid I cannot allow that."
He doesn't feel it, but the temperature drops a few degrees in the room of the ship they stand in. "And what makes you believe I care for what you will and will not allow?"
Maw huffs. "We are reaching a pivotal moment in our plans, so whether or not you care is irrelevant. You are required here until I say otherwise."
Loki turns fully around, calling upon his full height as he stands across from the leader of the Black Order. "You appear to misunderstand. I do not work for you and your forces. I work with you. And as such, I do not take orders from you."
"If you choose to believe that, fine." Loki's face hardens at the Maw's words. "But you are always going on and on about your brilliance, would a simpler solution not be to send your brother to deal with the problem?"
"Even if Thor could be there, I'd still go," Loki responds coldly.
"He cannot?"
"No, he is…indisposed at the moment," Loki answers regretfully. "I received word that a hero down on Earth could interfere with my plans, should he meet with Thor, so I lured my brother off-world to prevent this."
"How so?"
"It was simple, really," Loki recalls. "I merely plucked a man off Midgard, gave him one of my mother's old potions, and sent him to terrorize the people of a different world."
He walks over to one of the windows, looking out into space. "I then informed Thor that this 'Absorbing Man' was wreaking havoc and needed to be stopped. His heroic side had him flying off before I could finish. He's not in the Nine Realms, so even if he could get away from the fight, he'd never make it back in time."
It's silent for a time, just the ambiance of the ship fills the void, before Maw starts to heartily chuckle into his hand. "How rich. In your efforts to prevent your plot from being discovered, you may have doomed your son."
"And you find this humorous?"
"If we are being honest with each other, something I know the God of Lies isn't fond of, I do." Loki grinds his teeth. "To have something so thoroughly backfire on you is a highlight of my day." Loki says nothing, not trusting his tongue at the moment, choosing to take his leave instead of replying. But… "You are still not permitted to leave."
"And again, I wasn't asking."
"Our plan-"
Loki whips around, fists clenched as anything loose in their vicinity is sent flying. Even Maw has to anchor himself to the ground. "I am taking my leave now."
He marches out of the room with Ebony Maw calling behind him, "if you leave this ship, I will be forced to inform him of your decision. May his wisdom guide him in the search of your consequence."
The Trickster God, again, ignores him, walking through the various corridors of the ship to the hangar.
How could he let this happen?! He spent so much time lecturing Izuku on the importance of control and here he is, unable to even follow his own words?! He's had years to plan for every possible outcome. So many branches and diverging paths depending on what his enemies choose.
But no. Not even he had considered the God Butcher returning. And in that, he was stupid and careless! How could he not foresee such an obvious possible outcome?! His mother, a witch, would be sorely disappointed in him.
To let such a thing happen, he might as well turn his skin blue and go live with those filthy Frost Giants- no! That's not him! He isn't like them. He may have lost control of things for the moment, but he's always been one to adapt, and that will be no different here.
"Ohhhh, I think it might."
The air becomes heavy with everything feeling just slightly off. Cigarette smoke fills Loki's nostrils as he turns around to find a pale young human man with black hair and a nice suit leaning against the corridor wall. "It's been a while," the man greets him, taking a long drag of his cigarette.
"And somehow, not long enough." Loki looks around, trying to find a way out. "What are you doing here?"
"Heh," the man straightens, blowing smoke out his mouth. "I never liked the roundabout way you talked. Why don't you ask me your real question?"
"Fine." Loki's patience had run out long ago. "What is your father up to, Blackheart?"
Mephisto's son chuckles, clapping his hands and leaving his cigarette to dangle from his mouth. "See? Was that so hard?" He removes the cigarette. "Dad's got his own plans going tonight, so to make sure you won't interfere, he's trapped us both in our own little bubble of time and reality until everything is over."
Dammit.
"Even so, Heimdall won't let Gorr attack freely." Loki knows it's a weak argument, but it's all he has.
"We both know Mephisto can easily fool his vision." Blackheart pulls out a box of cigarettes and offers one to Loki. "To pass the time while you wonder if your son is dead or not?" He asks with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
Loki promptly slaps the box out of his hands.
"Rude."
"No more," Loki growls. "I am warning you now, whatever schemes or plans you two are making, I will personally see to it that they end in failure."
"Not everyone has schemes, you know?" Blackheart bends down to pick up his cigarette box. "Or these grand plans that are 'years in the making.'" He says the last part in a mocking tone. "Sometimes, things are just for fun. Or payback. Father holds a grudge." Blackheart shrugs, putting his cigarettes away. "But be rest assured, after tonight, you won't be hearing from us again."
The demon leans against the barrier of their new prison. "So take a load off, relax. We're probably gonna be in here for a few hours at least."
Loki studies the bubble once again, but Blackheart speaks up, interrupting his thought process. "We are well aware you could find your way out of one of these given enough time." He grins. "Why do you think I'm here?"
Two daggers appear in Loki's hands. "Then you must also be aware that I can beat you in a fight?"
Cracking his neck, Blackheart drops his cigarette, stamping on it to put it out. Smoke begins to rise from his skin as his flesh starts to burn away to slowly reveal the demonic presence underneath.
"Maybe you can? It doesn't matter either way. All I have to do is stall you."
"I promise you, I'm fine!"
Tensei stops in his tracks at the sound of an exasperated yell from a nearby janitor closet. Is that Midoriya? Or does he call him Lokison now? Shaking his head out of the confusing thoughts, Tensei heads over to the more secluded hallway the voice came from.
"Yes, please let him know I'm alright, I wouldn't want him worrying. And okay, okay! I promise that as soon as I can, I'll come to see you guys!"
The new Rider nears, with Midoriya's voice coming in clearer with each step. "No- look. You know I don't want you guys getting involved with them….Yes I- yes! I know! But will you just-…okay, someone's coming. We can talk more about this later."
Finally reaching the door, Tensei knocks. "Midoriya? Everything okay?"
"Yup! I'll talk to you later, bye." The door opens just as Midoriya is vanishing his phone back to his pocket dimension. "Hi, Mr. Iida, sorry about that. While my parents were visiting, some people I know saw what happened here and wouldn't leave me alone until I called them." The boy laughs a little. "And the hospital is pretty crowded so I came here."
Tensei smiles. "Makes sense. And Mr. Iida's my dad, kid. Call me Tensei."
He's pretty sure those aren't actual sparkles in Midoriya's eyes, right? "A-are you sure? I-I mean, of course, you are! Ingenium always is! Oh my goodness, Ingenium said I can call him by his first name! This is amazing. This is-" he gasps. "I'm being so rude! I- thank you, sir! It's an honor! And you can call me Izuku if you want…"
"Sure, Izuku." Tensei laughs. It's a wonder the kid doesn't faint. "Everything alright with your family?"
Izuku nods. "Yeah, it is. I guess because of the Rider, you know about us?" The hero takes mercy on the kid and tells him yes. "Okay, and yeah, they're good. Mom hugged me too tight and dad got grilled by Todoroki for not being there."
"Did he give a reason?"
"He was halfway across the galaxy and couldn't make it until now," Izuku shrugs. "It stinks but what are you gonna do? Still, I've never seen anyone write as fast as me in a notebook until Todoroki!"
"Well if there's someone who can appreciate speed, it'd be me."
The pair laugh together momentarily, before Izuku asks his burning question…no pun intended. "So what's gonna happen now that you're…you know."
Tensei sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I'm honestly not sure? Since Nighteye is taking care of rescue, Nezu is on his way here to help figure everything out and smooth things over. He said you briefed him on what happened?"
"I…may have sent him a few emails…"
"He had a number that was more than a few," Tensei teases. "But I know that he knows about all of this now. And from what we can gather, because they didn't join until later, Gunhead, Native, and Mirio all think the Rider is a hero with a mutation or transformation quirk."
"Yeah, I think that's what Gentle thought too," Izuku agrees, before giving the man an apologetic look. "I don't think he's gonna stop bothering you, or the Rider I mean, until you're on the show."
"I guess we'll figure it out when Nezu gets here and how open we're being with me and…I guess we can call him my new partner?" Tensei scrunches up his face in confusion. "I still don't really know much about this spirit or what this all means to me."
"That's true, but with so many of us knowing about it, I'm sure we'll be able to help you!"
The hero chuckles at the greenette's determination. "I can see why Tenya likes you."
"Thanks…oh!" The boy slaps his forehead. "You probably want to talk to Tenya! I should stop keeping you so you can-"
"Actually." Tensei reaches out and grabs Izuku's shoulder to stop both him from moving and the next mutter session. "Before we go, there was something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"I'm sorry." Tenya bows to his brother, shame and regret evident all over his face in the closet he and Tensei were in. After speaking to Izuku…and giving an autograph… Tensei went and found his brother, figuring they were due for a conversation.
Tensei sighs, before stepping forward and straightening Tenya. The younger of the two doesn't have the chance to ask before Tensei pulls him into a tight hug, holding him close. "I'm just glad you're okay."
"M-me? What about…what about…" Tenya can't finish his words before the tears pour out of him. Tensei is happy to let him cry it out, being mindful of his brother's hurt shoulder as they hug. And if he let out a few tears too, he doesn't think Tenya would mind.
After holding each other for a couple of minutes, where Tenya tried and failed to say anything, the pair let go, with the younger boy furiously trying to wipe his tears before Tensei can see. As if he hadn't just been crying on him. But the hero obliges him, waiting for Tenya to be ready.
"I'm sorry…"
"You said that." Tensei gives him a little bump when Tenya won't look up. "I was never mad at you to begin with; the most important thing to me is that you're alright."
"That's…" Tenya sniffles. "That's what I would like to say to you." A comfortable silence passes between them before Tenya speaks up again. "Midoriya told us everything. About aliens, magic, and a little of what happened to you."
"I think I might need to hear that explanation," Tensei chortles, "because I don't know much myself. About this alien stuff or my new powers."
Tensei keeps himself from jumping for joy when he sees a small smile form on Tenya's face. "Then I suppose we are on equal footing since I am also lacking in information about my new sword, all I know is-" He gulps. "Is that it is cursed and will slowly corrupt me over time, tempting me to do awful things."
"Well, it's a good thing I'm sticking around."
Tenya's head shoots up. "What?"
"You heard me." Tensei messes with his brother's hair, something he knows Tenya hates, but brotherly duties cannot be ignored. "After all of this, I'm making sure I stick close by. Besides, who better to keep you in check than the guy whose other form can sense when people want to do bad things?
"Magic, advanced technology, aliens, curses, demons," Tensei lists off. "You can't tell me that out of all of this crazy stuff, there's no way to break that sword's curse. And I'm gonna do everything I can to find it."
Maybe those words led to another sob-filled hug or maybe they both just have something in their eyes without their glasses. Who can say? But after talking for another few minutes, Tensei walks his brother back to his room and friends and to his relief, Tenya looks to be in much better spirits.
That is, until he gets to his room, his face paling as he wrenches open the door. His brother runs inside, arms chopping at a speed that Tensei isn't sure even he's seen before. Tensei walks up, listening in, not sure what-
"Aliens!!"
"Finally!! Yes! Please freak out with me! Aliens exist!"
"Extraterrestrials exist!"
"Thank you!! You see, Todoroki?! This is how people should react!"
"Think about all of the bacteria they could bring back to the planet! Midoriya, Kaminari, if you frequently travel to space, please tell me you are responsible in checking yourselves before returning."
"…That's what you're worried about!"
"The health of others as well as the devastation to the ecosystem that alien bacteria could bring should not be taken lightly, Tenko."
"I had not considered that. I'm going to make note of it to research more. Thank you, Iida."
"You're welcome, Todoroki."
There's the sound of someone screaming into a pillow.
It's Izuku who speaks up next. "Tenko is right, guys. You should be worried about a lot more. Maybe we plan on implanting eggs in you!"
"Don't give them hope, Izuku." Kaminari jokes. "For all they know, we already did!"
Another muffled scream followed by Uraraka laughing so hard, it sounds like she's having trouble breathing.
"I understand that you two are attempting to be humorous," Todoroki observes flatly. "But I will still be adding several X-Rays to my examinations to be sure."
"And we haven't even begun to discuss how things like magic could affect our understanding of the universe!"
It's Tenko who eventually responds to Tenya's declaration with a low whine.
"…I need an energy drink and a game."
Chapter 42: Smooth Sailing from Here on Out
Nishimoto Amaya smiles as she puts down the tray of food in front of her patient, before moving to check her charts. Nejire Hado gives her a blinding grin, before thanking her and digging into her jello cup.
The doctor chuckles, double-checking her papers and enjoying what might be her only silence in this hospital room for the night, as the food seems to be the only thing that had stopped the girl and her endless train of questions. Sure, people had always found her rainbow-colored hair that floated around her head like it was underwater interesting, but not that interesting.
"Looks like everything is normal, Ms. Hado. If you're feeling any extra discomfort, please press the assist button," she advises the hero student, making sure to speak slowly and deliberately. She admires the kids, but most of them can be so headstrong about their injuries.
In maybe one of the few lucky moments of her night, Hado agrees, content to eat her food and go back to the video she was watching on her phone. Nishimoto tries to not let her relief show. With the mess in Hosu and the hospital nearly at capacity, she'll take any small victory she can get tonight. If it was this bad here, the young woman didn't even want to think about what the hospitals actually in the city looked like.
She goes to leave, the news report on the girl's phone starting to play as she hits resume. "And we're back with our latest news and updates regarding the tragic events in Hosu tonight. The latest update, our cameras have confirmed the rumors! The once revered hero, now turned murderer, Lady Nagant has escaped Tartarus!"
Nishimoto shouldn't, but she stops to listen, her curiosity getting the best of her. "We've been hearing for weeks from various sources that the HPSC was covering up something big and tonight, we found out as channel 11's own cameras caught the infamous villain free tonight in Hosu! But that's not all!"
Checking her cell phone to make sure no one was in need of her immediate attention, the doctor walks back over to watch the news report while Hado eats. "As you can see in the video caught by our helicopter team, Lady Nagant is standing with none other than Hirona Shigaraki of the League of Villains! Could she be the newest member of Japan's newest and possibly most deadly villain group?! But ladies and gentlemen, it only gets worse!"
The video widens to reveal the League standing on top of a building, with Stain standing across from them. "Your eyes don't deceive! That is the Hero Killer! What role does he play in all this? Were the League and Stain working together tonight to bring Hosu to its knees?! We'll have the most up to date information coming at you soon! The representatives of both the HPSC and Tartarus refused to comment at this time."
With the report ending, Hado adopts a contemplative look on her face, before clicking on a new video. "Hello! And welcome back into our deep dive into Japan's new villainess, Hirona Shigaraki! We'll go over everything we know, everything we think we know, and what the police aren't telling us! So if you wanna know everything you can, then don't click off-"
Nishimoto decides it's time to move on as the young blue-haired girl settles in to watch her video, exiting the room to continue her rounds, but she's surprised when she finds another young woman standing outside of the room, looking in. The medic couldn't tell much else about her, on account of her being covered by sweatpants, a gray sweatshirt she kept her hands in with the hood up, and a mask covering half her face.
"Oh, hello," Nishimoto greets politely. "Can I help you?"
The black-haired girl eyes her suspiciously, looking the doctor up and down. "No," the girl whispers.
A lightbulb goes off in Nishimoto's head. "Oh! I'm sorry. Are you one of Hado's friends? You can go in if you like?" They looked to be around the same age.
"No!" the girl yelps loudly. "I mean, no, we're not friends. I should get going anyway."
The teenager turns around and starts to walk away as quick as she can, keeping her head down as she takes out her phone and starts to type away on it. "Hey, hold on a second!" The girl ignores her, picking up the pace. "Wait!"
The teen runs into a supply closet, slamming the door behind her but when Nishimoto opens it only seconds later, the girl is nowhere to be found.
Hirona sighs, putting her hood down and taking her mask off as Kurogiri closes the portal behind her. "Thanks."
The portal user silently nods, continuing to dab a cloth on Nagant's head as the former hero laid across the couch, already several bandages wrapped around her. "I got the special ointment." Hirona takes out the burn cream she stole from the hospital and kneels by Nagant's arm, grimacing at the burned flesh.
"This stuff was supposedly made with help from someone with a healing quirk, so it should hopefully work." She screws the cap off and squeezes some onto her hands. "I'm gonna have to touch your burns to apply this so it might hurt-"
"Just get on with it."
Gulping, Hirona takes a second to breathe and steady her hands, before applying the burn cream to Nagant's arm and leg. The older woman sucks in a breath quickly, shutting her eyes and refusing to make a sound as the ointment sizzles on her skin.
The younger girl picks up her pace as best she can, making sure to get every spot, and after a minute, the sizzling slows and Nagant relaxes a bit, letting Hirona apply the last of the cream in silence. "There, that should be good."
Kurogiri stands and heads over to the bar while Hirona sits on the couch next to the other villain, turning on the tv for some background noise, looking for any channel that isn't playing the news.
Settling on a rerun of some old show, Duck-tective, Hirona rubs the back of her head, clearing her throat. "Are you…are you feeling better? Can I get you anything?"
Nagant opens her eyes to give the younger villain a look. "I'm fine, kid. I've handled much worse. So what you can do for me is fucking relax."
"Right…relax. Okay!" Doing her best to seem relaxed, Hirona stiffly crosses her legs. "Relaxed."
"…That's not relaxed."
"Okay…how about now?"
"No."
Kurogiri saves the girl in his care by returning with tea for the both of them, one that Nagant is able to enjoy using her non-injured arm. "You gonna tell me now what's wrong?" The former hero asks after another minute.
"I was kinda hoping you'd just let it go?" Hirona asks sheepishly.
"I'm a sniper, kid, I'll wait all night if I have to."
Hirona snorts. "Fine. I just…I just feel bad, ya know?! I feel like I could've done so much more to prevent you from getting hurt and burned. I know you said the platforms were enough but I just think-"
"You're right."
Tripping over her words, Hirona tilts her head in confusion. She doesn't think she's ever had anybody tell her she was right about something before. "Huh?"
"You're right," Nagant repeats, carefully sitting up, "about one thing. You could've done more, but that's on me for not letting you." She laughs a little, shaking her head. "I let my damn ego get in the way and should've let you actually fight."
Nagant finishes sitting up, leaning back into the couch slowly. "Sorry, still getting used to this whole working with other people thing. Probably would've won if you had been in on it since the start, but I guess we just need more practice." She gives Hirona a small smile and finally, it looks like the other girl relaxes.
"Thank you…but besides that, um, how'd I do?" She flinches at how awkward she sounds and berates herself for it, her face heating up in embarrassment as Nagant snickers at her.
"You did great, kid. Platforms were a bit wobbly and I had to self-correct my footing a lot, but with the little time we've had to work on it, I don't think it could've gotten much better."
"Wow, thank you! Thank you so much! That means a lot coming from you-" Hirona's jaw snaps shut as she covers her babbling mouth to stop herself. "T-thank you…" Nagant rolls her eyes but lets it go.
Hirona lets a few more minutes pass by before asking, "So you think I did well on everything?"
It doesn't take long for Nagant to realize what she's saying. "You're talking about the hero kid."
"Yeah," Hirona confirms. "Was I right to let her go?"
"What do you think?"
The black-haired girl shrugs, mirroring Nagant's pose and leaning back. "She saved my life first; it was only right that I return the favor." Hirona knows it sounds like she's trying to convince herself that's the only reason, and that's partly because she is, but she doesn't dwell on those thoughts long.
Instead, the heir to All for One inquired about something else that's been on her mind. "If I had told you to shoot her, would you have?"
Nagant doesn't take her eyes off the tv. "Asking questions like that is pointless. It's better to focus on what actually happened than what-ifs."
"You're right," Hirona agrees. "Thanks for, you know, everything."
"You don't have to thank me, kid."
The conversation naturally ends there, and a couple of hours later finds Nagant sleeping on the couch, covered by a blanket provided by Kurogiri with Hirona returning from her room back to the couch, intending to spend the night there as well.
She opens her laptop, places her headphones on, and searches the internet for what she's looking for. Given the event, it's not hard to find. Hirona clicks on it and settles in to watch.
"YEAAAAAAH!! And welcome back to the 3rd year Sports Festival!! Past Mic told you to stay tuned for the third round and Present Mic is glad that you did! First up, we have the spotlight on Nejire Hado!"
Toshinori groans as he sits down on the chair in Nezu's office, always happy to feel the proof that the principal does not spare expenses when it comes to his furniture.
Graciously accepting a cup of tea from the quirked animal, and not just because Nezu wouldn't take no for an answer, All Might sips carefully on the hot beverage as the others in the room situate themselves. Tensei and Logan, as he insists on being called, take two of the other seats in front of Nezu, with Colossus opting to stand behind them, admiring a piece of art on the wall.
"Well!" Nezu claps his paws, swirling his tea around in its cup. "Yesterday was certainly a day, wasn't it?"
"It certainly was," Toshinori nods. "It's not every day you have an entire city fall under attack."
Logan snorts. "Yeah, try living in New York, bub. City under attack? It's just another Tuesday and people still gotta go to work." All Might stares while Colossus nods furiously behind his fellow X-Men.
"Indeed." Nezu puts down his tea, opting to type rapidly on his keyboard. "The attack was unfortunate, but it did let me test several damage control protocols I've had set for years and others I had to update due to recent…revelations. But I will confirm, they all went splendidly if I do say so myself."
Ah, yes. Revelations. Another reason why Nezu had chosen the particular people in this room. They are all aware of the existence of aliens, and the knowledge of who Midoriya and Kaminari actually are.
Toshinori was surprised to learn his co-workers from America knew, but he supposed that someone who's been around as long as Wolverine has would stumble upon a secret or two. Fortunately, he had revealed to them his true form of Toshinori Yagi when they had accepted their positions at UA, so no further explanation is needed on his shrunken form.
What is needed is an explanation of what had happened to Tensei Iida last night. In a short frame of time, All Might has gone from thinking he held the biggest secret in the world to wondering if One for All would even break the top ten at this point.
At least with aliens, it was easy to rationalize once he had calmed down. The universe is a big place, of course, aliens exist. And he thinks he handled being told their secret very well.
Midoriya grunts down on the training mat from where Kaminari had knocked him down, spitting out some blood. Toshinori readies a new mat.
"Young Midoriya, do you have-"
"No, All Might, we don't have acid blood or spit."
Kaminari lowers his phone to the approaching All Might. "Yes, sir?"
"Hello, my boy," he whispers. "I just wanted to let you know that if you ever needed, let's say, a 'phone home.' I am willing to assist you."
"…Thanks?"
Midoriya and Kaminari laugh themselves silly over something Tenko said during lunch as All Might happened to be walking by. They laugh so hard in fact, Midoriya knocks over a water bottle that spills onto Kaminari's hand.
"No!" In a flurry of speed, the hero rushes the blond to Recovery Girl's office. "Are you okay? It didn't burn you too bad did it?"
Kaminari gives him a confused look, getting down from his arms. "Uhh…I'm fine?" He shakes the water off while a furious Recovery Girl watches.
"Are you okay, sir?" Midoriya asks concerned as he, Toshinori, and Kaminari walk back from Dagobah beach after the hero had taken the day to observe their training.
"Hmm?" All Might blinks, tearing his gaze away from the pair of men in black suits that had just walked past them. "What was that, my boy? I apologize, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't being watched…"
"Young Midoriya?"
The green-haired boy walks away from his group of friends in the classroom over to him. "Yes, sir?"
"I just had to ask, with you being on Earth now, there isn't going to be another species of aliens that comes…how should I put this? They're not going to come looking for you, are they? To hunt you or make you a trophy perhaps?"
"What?!" The greenette exclaims. "No, no! Nothing like that!" All Might sighs in relief while nearby, Todoroki scribbles as fast as he can in a notebook.
Yes, Toshinori has handled himself tremendously.
But even with his newfound mental fortitude, not even he was ready to be told what had happened to Tensei.
Demons.
Because, of course, it's demons.
It's just his luck that his co-workers were once again aware of the existence of demons, so Toshinori had to suffer in silence. But again, he, as the number one hero, handled himself with professionalism and integrity.
He excused himself so he could go to the bathroom and have his existential crisis there.
Admittedly, he will probably have to do it again later but for now, Toshinori is focused on the task at hand as Nezu prepares to update them on a few matters but for now, the most important thing has been taken care of. Tensei.
They were going to go the simplest route. One of Nezu's tried and true methods. Quirk bullshit. The rat had used humanity's lack of understanding of how quirks worked to his advantage for decades, and the situation with Tensei is no different.
At the moment, the public is unaware of who the Ghost Rider is, but at the end of the week, they planned to announce that Tensei Iida, while being transported from the city, had been hit by the quirk of a monster last night that had granted him his new abilities.
An obvious lie? Maybe. But still more believable than saying Tensei had made a deal with the devil to save his brother's life.
Nezu is confident the plan will work. As no one had encountered the monsters before, how they interacted with people is a mystery. And with no trace of them left, there is no way for anyone to disprove their claims. Something that Nezu said is key.
"In science, one must prove their own theories," Nezu said. "That is why those who used to believe the Earth was flat were brushed aside. They would claim their theories and then expect the scientific community to be obliged to disprove them, and that is simply not how it works. That is, of course, disregarding if they were to actually listen to someone disproving them, but I digress."
Nezu hummed in approval, taking a sip of his tea. "When one makes a claim, you must prove it. We have made our claim that Mr. Iida gained these new powers and our proof is conveniently playing on several different news stations. If someone wishes to disprove us, they must provide proof. Something that is impossible to do."
In addition to the announcement of his new abilities, they also planned to announce that Tensei had been granted a position at UA High School. Something Nezu said was for Ingenium's protection as their security kept the media out, but the glint in his eye told Toshinori that maybe, the principal enjoyed having those with other-worldly abilities close to him.
Much like with Tensei's new found powers, this is not something Toshinori can prove nor will he try.
So that is the lie that will be told to the public and staff alike. In addition, UA's facilities would make helping Tensei train his new powers all the more convenient and out of the public eye.
Naturally, with all of this set in motion, Toshinori had revealed his shrunken form to Tensei as well, with the young man joking that even as a flaming skull, he still looked better than Toshinori when he shrunk down. A good quip that allowed him some much needed laughter.
"So, what's the situation?" All Might asks since Nezu had called them all back here.
"Ah, yes, quite right." Nezu moves away from his computer, putting his paws together. "Firstly, since most of his closest friends know, Midoriya has informed me that he plans to tell Ms. Asui their secret as well when she returns from her internship."
That's fair, Toshinori supposes. Asui seemed to have a good head on her shoulders from what he could tell. Even if he wishes the girl wasn't so blunt sometimes.
"Makes sense." Tensei unknowingly agrees with him, leaning forward, his face strained in worry. "You told us the chief of Hosu police had visited the kids this morning. What happened?"
"They were informed of the penalties of the actions they had committed last night. At least, those who were facing penalties," Nezu informs them. "Mr. Midoriya, Kaminari, and Ms. Uraraka were given express permission to use their 'quirks' to assist during the fight, however, Young Iida, Tenko, and Young Todoroki, were not.
"So!" Nezu rubs his paws together. "The choice they were given was simple. The three with permission could receive credit for assisting in the villain's capture while the others faced consequences. Or none of them receive punishment or praise. As expected, despite some pushback from Young Iida, they all accepted the latter offer."
"Thank goodness…" any stress left in Tensei's body seems to evaporate at that moment as he sunk down in his chair. "Tenya's gonna be okay…and the others are doing okay too? I didn't get to talk to all of them last night."
"Guys, look!" Tenko rushes back into the hospital room, dropping a plastic bag on the bed that all the teens sat closest to. "Went to get a soda from the gift shop, and the people there gave us free candy!"
"Free?!" Uraraka gasps, snatching the bag to rifle through it. Izuku snickers, trying to get his hand in to look through the mountain of sugary goodness, before finding something he likes.
"Ooooh, I love white chocolate!" Uraraka gushes at the snack Izuku had picked out. "Is there any more?"
"Me too! And let me check…" Izuku searches the bag again. "Not that I can see…"
"Oh...can we share?"
Like Izuku could ever tell her no. "Sure." He gives her an easy-going smile, before breaking off a piece of chocolate and handing it over, his face heating up at the smile she gives him in return.
Tenko uses the opportunity to snatch the bag back. "No, no, no, oh wait. They do have more chocolate in here." He pulls the bar out of the bag. "It's dark chocolate. Does anyone want-"
"No," the rest of the group answers in unison. Tenko shrugs, tossing the candy to the side and continuing his search.
"Certainly." Nezu refills the engine user's cup, pushing it back towards him. "I believe they're doing just fine. As for their internships, only young Iida is not able to continue his due to injury. The rest were given today to rest and have elected to return to their internships after."
"Admirable," Colossus speaks for the first time in a while. "But rest and recuperation are important."
"I agree, but so is honoring the wishes of my students," Nezu counters. "So, as a compromise, they are returning to their internships, but no patrols. They will be learning more of the administration side of heroics."
Tensei laughs. "Tenya's gonna be so jealous!"
"Consequences must be paid somehow," Nezu chuckles. "Although, Gran Torino would not confirm to me this was his plan. Toshinori, you may want to check on them."
The number one hero pales. "Yes, sir…"
Nezu turns back to the X-Men. "I received your report from your time defending the command center. Was there anything you wished to add?"
Logan and Colossus share a look.
"Oh, baby, how did you know I was a fan of spontaneous date nights?" Midnight purrs, using her whip to bring down a part of a destroyed building on a few berserkers.
"I'm sure your next partner will be very excited to hear that," Colossus tries to put gently. A big contrast to the many berserkers on his metal hand that he smashes down very roughly onto the street. "I must apologize for any confusion, but this is not a date."
After the attack on the city had begun, almost every hero had been called into Hosu to help contain the beasts. Including Piotr, who had gotten a hero license in the country. He's always happy to help, but he can't help but feel a little bad about ending his date with Nemuri early.
Of course, she, being the outstanding woman that she is, was completely understanding of the situation. How did he get so lucky?
"Hey, date, hookup, whatever you wanna call it is fine by me." Midnight smirks at the X-Men, who feels his ears go hot. A sensation that goes away quickly when he sees a few berserkers running at her from behind.
Piotr rips a manhole cover from the ground and throws the world's most dangerous frisbee at the shadow monsters, destroying them. Midnight smirks but Colossus gives her a genuine smile in return.
One that shifts to horror quite suddenly when the woman rears her whip back, aiming at him. Was Piotr worried about being hurt? No. If none of the creatures had been able to get past his armor, he's confident that Midnight's whip would not be up to the challenge.
He's worried that he had offended her in some way! Which is something Piotr would never want! Perhaps after the battle, he should ask Nemuri what his mistake was? She is always insightful on these matters.
Nevertheless, the hero lets her whip fly at him, only for it to wrap around something behind him. Colossus moves as Midnight had been able to snag a rather large shadow monster behind him, swinging it around her like a giant weapon, taking out Berserkers left and right before letting go.
"Guess we're even now, sorry about that big man." Midnight saunters over to him, licking her lips. "Looks like we'll need to find some other way to settle this."
"The metal on my body may be dense, but I'm not, madam." This actually causes Midnight to burst out in laughter, much to his confusion, but she motions for him to continue. "I understand what you are implying but, I'm sorry, I must deny the invitation once more."
Midnight opens her mouth to retort, but a call over their comms cuts her off. "Midnight, get back to the command center. We have injured civilians that need to be put to sleep so the doctors can work on them before their fidgeting causes more damage."
Midnight acknowledges the call from Nighteye, before checking on the heroes around them briefly. "Looks like everyone will be okay without me for a bit. Try not to miss me too much, sweety…and when this is over," she grins at him maliciously. "Let's Блядь."
Steam might as well come out of Piotr's ears at the other hero's words while he believes he understands what she was trying to say. Midnight, meanwhile, looks like she's having the time of her life. Colossus' face is left red and hot as Midnight gives him a teasing wave, running back the way they came.
"…you seriously don't see what's going on there?" Piotr turns to find an annoyed Logan, a death sentence for many villains through the years, holding a berserker down by stabbing it through its head and skull with his metal claws.
The monster tries fruitlessly to swipe at the old hero, but he's just out of reach every time, not even paying it any mind.
"What do you mean?"
"Nevermind." Logan rips his claws from the berserker, destroying it. "We got too many of these things to worry about first."
"One Fastball Special, coming up!" Piotr lifts the older mutant up and launches Wolverine at crowd of berserkers, the mutant's battle cry loud enough to be heard by all.
Wolverine drives his claws into the first monster, taking it to the ground before looking up at the group of approaching creatures. "Ahhhhhh!!"
To most, he may look a little crazy for it, but Piotr smiles as Logan lets out an animalistic yell, charging in and destroying berserkers with no remorse. They hit and stab, but he keeps moving until each one is dead by his claws. Yup, just another day at the office for them.
After glancing up at the news helicopter filming them to make sure they were okay as it left, Colossus goes back to defending the command center, his powers proving to be invaluable in protecting those dropped off by Majestic, who had been relegated to flying around the city and getting civilians out.
"Colossus!" The man looks back at Power Loader, who was waving at him. "You're strong right? I need your help in setting up some automated defenses!"
"Of course!" Piotr happily agrees, always ready to help. "But I am unsure how much time I will-"
"Don't worry about that!"
Power Loader groans as Mei Hatsume zooms past him on her hover boots. "Mei!! You are here as my apprentice to help in building the command center's defenses! Not to fight!"
"And as soon as you guys are done, we can switch!" The girl unstraps something from her side. "But I'll never have a better opportunity to test the modifications I made to this baby!"
Modifications?… Baby?!!!
"She means invention." Power Loader must've seen his thoughts starting to spiral. "And you need my permission before doing anything like that, Mei!"
"But you never said I couldn't do it!" It seems someone had been spending time with Midoriya.
"Okay! Mei, you can't-"
"Can't hear you over the sound of progress, Sensei!!"
Any more questions Piotr might have are silenced when the teenager aims a strange looking rifle at a berserker and fires, destroying it with a plasma bolt. Oh, it's a plasma rifle…where did she get that?
Power Loader mirrors his thoughts out loud. "I still don't know when she had the time to make that thing. It just appeared after the Sports Festival. Not to mention she still has to get certified with Snipe to actually use it!!" he yells at his student.
"Wait, wait! Just look at what it can do!!" She flips a switch on the side of the rifle, making the gun hum.
"Be ready to save her. It's probably going to explode." Power Loader says to him, not even bothering to lower his voice. But to his credit, Mei didn't acknowledge what he said while she lifted the weapon.
"Look at how I improved this baby!!" She pulls the trigger. "I made it automatic!" And to Piotr's horror, she's right. Mei howls with laughter as the rifle mows down berserkers with its plasma bolts, now firing like a machine gun.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA, yes! Yeees!! She's working perfectly!"
Piotr clears his throat, no longer having to worry about fighting as Mei destroys any shadow monster that gets even close to them. "Should I step in?"
He looks down as Power Loader lowers a flask from his face. "I wouldn't."
"Should we help her?"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA Oh you and I are going to do much together! Next on the list, flamethrower!!"
Power Loader shakes his head. "I think she's fine…and Wolverine is here so maybe we should just fix those defenses?"
Colossus nods. "Yes…yes, I believe that would be wise." The two heroes walk off, the sound of Mei's cackling following them.
"No."
"Nothing."
Nezu laughs a little to himself, going back to his computer. "Very well. And to the last order of business, one that you will be made aware of once you leave here. The HPSC is forming a task force to hunt for Lady Nagant, and in addition to that, Gorr, who has escaped."
Much to Nezu's disappointment, Toshinori and Colossus spit out their tea while Logan simply groans. "They always do…"
"Do try not to make a habit of wasting good tea," Nezu lightly scolds them, before gathering a couple of new cups. "And I must rephrase. To the HPSC, Gorr has escaped. However, given his state, this is impossible as well. It was decided that Gorr's alien biology, which could lead to very difficult questions by doctors down the line, was too sensitive to keep here on Earth. So he is being moved to a more secure prison off-planet."
"Wow…" Toshinori says, stunned for a moment. "That's quite the call to make, sir."
"Oh, I didn't make the decision." Nezu chortles a bit, finishing the mixing of their new tea blend. "I simply did not argue with the god who did."
"I told you that you were going to enjoy your day off." Thor ruffles Denki's air excitedly, dropping the tightly secured Gorr into the annoyed arms of Loki next to him. "And what better place to spend it as a reward for your victory in battle!"
Denki doesn't answer, still trying to process the trip in the Bifrost they had just taken, his eyes wide and glossy, as if the answers of the universe had just been shown to him. Izuku giggles, glancing over at Uraraka who had a similar look, before breaking out in a wide smile. "We have to do that again!"
Heimdall removes his sword from its place, shutting off the Bifrost so he could make their way toward them. Obviously, there was no way Izuku was gonna miss a trip to Asgard with his dad, Uncle, and cousin. And when he heard that Uraraka was planning to spend her day off alone at Gunhead's dojo, how could he not bring her too?
"This is sooooooo lame!"
"Not again," Izuku's clone Two mumbles, standing up straight. "We are not spending a day in Asgard just to hear you whine all day about Izuku and Uraraka, again."
"Uuuuuuugh!" The clone Thirteen groans loudly, bashing his head into the tree behind him. Thankfully for them, the part of the Asgardian forest they were in seems to be void of people. "I just hate this!"
"Yeah, yeah! Izuku and Uraraka are being dumb and should just confess already, we've heard you over and over," Two drones on. "Let it go. It happens when it happens."
"But what if it never does!" Clone Thirteen fires back. "You've heard how devoid that viridian is of common sense's thoughts! He has no other reasons to not confess! But he's just not gonna! And I'm willing to bet Uraraka feels the same! They both know there's literally no reason not to at this point! But instead, there they are, just enjoying the sights of Asgard."
Two gives him a look to let him know he's ready to hang him from a tree. Seven decides to step in instead. "C'mon, maybe you should try focusing on something else?" The hero fanboy suggests. "What about Star and Stripe's induction ceremony into the Avengers soon? That oughta be really cool!"
"Yeah, that, or focus on the stuff that really matters." Seven sighs when Eight manifests next to clone Thirteen, the new clone's anxiety already radiating off him. "You know, questions like: Do I really matter in the grand scheme of the universe? Would anyone miss me or hell, care if I was gone? Trying to figure out how to tell people not to believe in me because of how terrified I am of letting them down-"
Before any more of Eight's very depressing questions can continue, Four covers his mouth. "No more of that out of you! And how about this? You hate how slow burn Izuku and Uraraka are being, yeah?" Clone Thirteen confirms this. "Then we spend some time doing some fast burning! Starting with the forest!"
The prankster dashes deeper into the forest with Two calling out after him. "No burning down the forest!"
"It's just a prank, bro!"
"Just let him have his fun," Ten drawls, taking a drag of his cigarette to help temper his anger. "We're illusions right now; we can't do anything bad."
"I know but better to stop that kind of thinking now before we can actually do real harm!" Two snatches the cigarette from Ten. "And what are you doing smoking? Izuku has never even thought about trying this."
"It seems the more Izuku uses his scepter, the more independent we become." Three taps his chin, appearing next to his clone brethren, trying to think of other logical answers.
"Yeah, sure, that. Yo, Eleven!"
The self-sacrificial clone manifests at Ten's call. "Yes?"
"Conjure me some cigarettes."
Eleven, instead, waves his hand in front of Ten's face. "You don't want to smoke…"
"…Are you trying to Jedi mind trick me?!"
Another wave. "You don't want cigarettes…"
"That's not gonna work!"
"You want to go home and rethink your life."
"Guys!!" Clone Thirteen yells. "Focus!! Izuku! Uraraka! Getting them together! I have a plan and want to know if any of you will help?"
Two narrows his eyes in suspicion. "What kind of plan?…"
The thirteenth clone laughs him off. "Don't look at me like that! They're so close but neither of them will take that last step, so that's where I come in! You know the saying, love is like gravity, all it takes is a little push!"
"I don't think that's how it goes-"
"SILENCE!" All the chatter between the different Izukus dies off at clone Thirteen's shout. "I said what I said! And I'm not gonna twiddle my thumbs for months while those two idiots dance around each other. My patience is gone and I'm done waiting.
"Besides!" Clone Thirteen conjures a hammock between two trees and lays down on it, relaxing. "What better time will we have? We just beat the God Butcher! Should be smooth sailing from here on out."
"You're right…I let those who did not deserve it suffer."
A young man with black hair narrows his turquoise-colored eyes as he rewinds the video of the Hero Killer's speech in a shitty Internet cafe. No one is around to see his grin, everyone staying away due to his patchy and wrinkled purple skin and scars that cover his body, attached by rudimentarily placed staples.
And if he started crying blood in his excitement, no one was around to see that either.
"But you want to know the difference between you and me, false heroes?"
A muscular woman leans back in her chair, watching the video intensely, a giant magnet wrapped and perched against the wall behind her.
A brown-haired American watches the news coverage of Hosu with passive interest from his hotel room. He certainly picked a hell of a time to come to Japan, but the mercenary had been in contact with Lady Nagant recently and he wanted to see this job she was offering.
The man drops a suitcase on his bed, opening it. He just hopes it pays as much as she promised. It better anyway. But before then, he had a few tasks to complete. He grabs the blue, white, and orange suit out of the case, and who's better at that than him?
"I know I can be corrupted. I know I am not above the people you should be serving."
The shut-in stares wide-eyed at his computer from between his pinkish purple hair, the negative thoughts about his reptilian appearance fading as he watches the Hero Killer's speech. He starts to feel something new. Something he's never felt before.
Hope.
"I know that at the end of my days, my own blood deserves to stain the ground on which I stand!"
Yellow eyes with thin slits shine brightly in a dark alley from the reflection of a phone screen. The girl brushes a bloody hand through her blonde hair, not worrying if the two messy buns come undone, giggling at the video she's watching.
A man that appears young sloppily drinks from a can of beer, before tossing it aside and cracking open another, the news playing on the tv. Something about a city under attack.
The half-Japanese man scratches at the tattoo that covers his left arm, preparing to change the channel when the feed changes to helicopter footage of a few heroes defending their base of operations. It zooms in as they fight and the man zeroes in on Wolverine.
He crushes the can in his hands.
"You false heroes still believe yourselves above the rest! That the world needs you so badly, the people would be lucky to lick the dirt off your boots!"
A middle-schooler looks up from the project he's working on in his basement, spare parts and tech lay haphazardly throughout. He leans forward, trying to get a better look through both his gas mask and the several different colored gasses that filled the room.
On one computer monitor was Izuku Midoriya's match against Denki Kaminari in the finals of the Sports Festival and on the other, the video of the Hero Killer's speech.
The boy walks up, looking from one monitor to another, before picking up the new one-way acrylic glass helmet he had been working on. Gripping it tightly, he knows what he has to do.
"You are right, I must pay for my actions. And I shall…by making things right. I'm not the only one who deserves to be dyed in blood! But before I am, I will take back what it means to be a hero!"
A man dressed very peculiarly in front of a mostly dark alley tilts his head to the video on his phone, his expression hidden behind the black and white mask on his face and top hat on his head. He shifts in thought under his brown trench coat, flicking a blue marble in his hand up into the air before catching it.
He can't help but feel excited.
Truly, it has been too long since a challenge like this had appeared to him. Since the original Spider-Man had passed long ago, he thought he was cursed to wander the Earth forever, aimless and lost.
But peering at the news, he knows the truth. He knows Gorr the God Butcher was defeated tonight. And only truly worthy prey could accomplish such a task! He must find out who is responsible! And when he does…
The hunt will begin again.
"So come and get me, you fakes!! Fight your hardest, but in the end, it will not matter!" Stain's bloodlust explodes out of his body. "For the only one I'll allow to kill me is the true hero…ALL MIGHT!!"
Giran laughs, pausing the video and looking up at the guy he had brought in. "So what do you think about that?"
"He makes a good point. I think that guy is fucking nuts!! "
"Yup!" The clone Thirteen rocks the hammock back and forth, letting himself unwind while putting his hands behind his head. "Nothing to worry about."