To give his classmates their fair due, they're taking the news about as well as Izuku had expected during the all but five seconds it took him to make this decision.
"You. Are. An. ALIEN?!!"
Nezu had quieted everyone down just long enough for Izuku to give his full explanation on what exactly he is. Unfortunately, that seemed to be as far as his principal's generosity would stretch.
"N-not just me! Denki is technically one too, remember?!"
"Oh, you motherfu-"
Looking back at the teachers for help, All Might seems to be checking his wrist for the time. He is not wearing a watch. Uncle Logan appears to be enjoying the show while smoking a cigar by an open window. Aizawa's bulging eyes are slowly returning back to normal as his homeroom teacher cranes his head toward Nezu at a measured pace. As for the principal himself, he stares back at Izuku in the eyes, absolutely giddy and vibrating in anticipation.
Usually, when Nezu is excited, it means they're in for a world of hurt.
"I've spent the entire year going on and on about loving aliens, and in the back, those two just sat there and laughed to themselves about how they could make my dreams come true and did nothing!!" Mina complains.
"And not only are they aliens!! But technically part gods too! Which just doubles everything! How come they get to be both aliens and gods when I can't even turn my invisibility on and off?!" Toru sleeves fly erratically around her. "What kind of luck is that?!"
"This throws not only our class into question, but society as we know it." Yaomomo cups her chin, her leg bouncing.
"I know what you mean!" Jiro agrees. "I mean, if Kaminari of all people could hide from us, who knows how many aliens we've seen and not known about!" Denki pouts while Tokage pats his back, trying to hold back her laughter.
"Not very manly of them to lie to us…" Kirishima adds. Next to him, the crackling in Bakugo's palms had failed to slow down. "But I can't really be upset? I mean, it's not like they could've walked into class on the first day and said, 'hey, we're aliens.' Especially if they weren't allowed to."
Shoji hums. "The world's governments keeping their existence hidden for centuries is…concerning. And could have bigger implications than any of us here realize. As such, the lying doesn't bother me either."
"I feel it is necessary to point out that Midoriya never lied to us." Several students turn to Yaomomo. "He has always said that his powers are magic-based. Of course, he knew his claims were outlandish and, given his general demeanor, would not be believed by anyone who didn't take his words at face value."
Several heads around Izuku turn to look at Todoroki who is confused by the action. "What?"
"Even so," Yaomomo continues. "Much like his approach to hero exercises, Midoriya's words live in the technicals and half-truths, using our own assumptions and preconceived views on what is 'normal' to do the lying for him."
"Guys," Izuku swallows, feeling what he would guess is similar to prey about to be eaten, as the rest of the class digests everything he told them and slowly comes back to their senses. "A little help here?"
"Okay," Ochako nods slowly, backing up next to him, "I know what we could do." Izuku sighs in relief. He knows he can always count on her to- "We can throw you out of a window," Ochako says with the utmost seriousness. The trickster doesn't know if he should be proud or terrified of what his influence has done to his girlfriend.
Looking a little embarrassed, Ochako is quick to correct herself. "No, wait! I mean after I remove your gravity!"
"I kinda like the original way better," Denki mumbles.
"Those are safety windows. Ribbit." Tsu puts a finger to her mouth. "They can't be opened without a member of the hospital staff." She looks directly at Izuku. "And I doubt they'd be willing to help you after what you put them through these past couple of days."
"I'm sure a large donation to this hospital by Endeavor may persuade them," Todoroki mentions off-handedly.
Tenko rolls his eyes. "I can just decay it," he suggests like it's the most obvious thing in the world. When everybody looks back at him, he stares back confused. "What?"
"You've never mentioned using your quirk so casually before," Tsu points out. "It's nice to see you more comfortable with it."
Even with his ears burning, Tenko looks back to Izuku. "I will decay whatever you need."
"Decay me!"
"…Eh?"
"Finally!" Izuku cheers, shaking Tenko by his shoulders. "Do you know how long I've been waiting to hear you say those words?! I've had so many pranks with your quirk backed up in my head, I've had to ask my clones to start remembering them! We could start basic and I make an illusion where everyone thinks you decayed me by accident! Oh! Is Gran Torino coming later to pick you up?! He loves pretending to be dead! You could pretend to decay him too! It would really freak everyone-" There's a light chop on Izuku's head. "Ow…"
"Midoriya! I must insist you stop making plans to traumatize your classmates this instant!" Iida lectures harshly.
"To be fair, I wasn't just gonna do it to them-"
"Be that as it may!" Iida cuts him off. "Inflicting trauma onto others is highly uncouth for a hero student!"
"It'll be fiiiine," Izuku retorts. "A little trauma never hurts anyone. Look at me! I've got loads of it and I turned out fine!" His smile begins to dissipate at the worried glances he receives. "I am! All the voices in my head agree!"
Ochako simply gives him a warm side-hug. "We're going to keep working on that," she whispers.
"Okay…how about a switch of approaches," Iida suggests. "Midoriya, what would your parents say about your pranks?"
"My dad would say, 'well done, Izuku. Now find a way to stab them too-'"
"Not. Him."
Shivering a bit about how his mom would react - she'd always be the first to call him out if his pranks were too mean - Izuku concedes. "Fine, I guess-"
"HEY!!"
Cringing a bit at the volume, Izuku looks around and- oh, Mina is glaring at him. It seems the class had time to process the information dump he had given them and were ready to attack. Dangit, he got so excited talking about pranks, he missed his chance to escape the angry mob that was poised to swarm him. Why does that happen every time?
"Uh, hey…" Izuku offers a lame wave. "So… are we good?"
"Are we good? Are we GOOD?!" Mina screeches. Nevermind, he shouldn't have said anything. "No, we aren't good!! You're an alien!!"
Worth a shot.
"Technically a demigod-"
"What's the difference?!!"
"Several things really." Mina's eye twitches when Todoroki speaks up, flipping through one of his smaller notebooks. "An alien can be defined as someone from a foreign country, such as Melissa Shield and her father, David Shield."
Melissa tilts her head. "Was that an insult? I don't think it was? I guess legally Papa and I are aliens, but not like those green men from the movies. You know what, I'm going to choose to not take it as one."
She feels the collar of her shirt grabbed as Mei yanks her over. "Who cares about aliens?! Do you know what this means?!!" Melissa isn't given a chance to answer. "Alien tech! Futuristic alien tech! Think of all the babies we could make together! Why aren't you more excited?!"
"Um…" Melissa fixes her glasses. "Because I already knew?"
This is the wrong thing to say if the dark aura around Mei is any indication. "You. What?"
Melissa gulps. "This alien would like to go back to her home planet now."
"I don't care about definitions," Mina tells off Todoroki. "Alien. Half-alien. Demigod. Martian. Xenomorph, I don't care! Aliens are real!!" She picks up on what Melissa said. "Home planet! The place you live? You said it was a place called Asgard, yeah?"
"Uh," Denki raises his hand. "My dad says Asgard isn't a place, it's a peop-"
"Your dad?" Jiro gets back up, as does most of the rest of the class. "As in the freaking God of Thunder. That dad?" She gives the blond a pleading look, as if she's hoping he'll say 'just kidding!' at any moment. Given the pranks they've already been through, Izuku can't blame her.
"Oh my god…" Kirishima's jaw drops, before his head whirls back to look back at All Might. "He- he was at UA…he was in our final exams… we got to watch All Might fight a god!!" A huge grin spreads across his face. Izuku knows what he's gonna say before he does it. "How did the manliest fight I've ever seen become even more manly?!"
"You let a god into our school during an exam?"
Aizawa crosses his arms, narrowing his eyes at his boss, who snickers into his paw. "My my Aizawa. You make it sound as if allowing a being from myths and legends into my school is something I wouldn't do."
"Helloooo!! Back to me!" Mina points to herself. "Do you have a spaceship to get back to Asgard you travel in?! Does it involve cryosleep? Please tell me it involves cryosleep!"
"You just wanna be woken up early because an alien got loose on the ship!" Toru accuses.
Mina gasps, placing a hand on her chest. "How dare you accuse me while having the gall to be absolutely right!"
"Uh…" Izuku raises his hand like the socially awkward butterfly he is to get the girl's attention. "No, I don't have a spaceship? I've never seen cryosleep, and we get to Asgard with the Bifrost. You know, the bright rainbow-colored thing I used to get you guys off the island…" Izuku trails off, not sure where to go.
His rescue comes from an unlikely source.
"I personally prefer the very shiny mode of travel, Monsieur Midoriya," Aoyama compliments. "Why, in the future, I can only hope to put on as dazzling of a display when I arrive to help those in need as a hero!"
"So that rainbow teleported us here?" Toru questions.
"Sorta?" Izuku shrugs. "It's kind of hard to explain-"
"Just think of it like this." Logan catches the attention of the class. "The Bifrost is like the thing from that show. Fuck. What was it? Beaming. Yeah, it's like beaming from… from… what the hell had Hank said it was…Star Trek! Yeah, that's it. The shit's like the beaming from Star Trek."
He's met by twenty-four confused stares looking back at him. The old hero opts to go back to smoking out of the window. "Fucking kids these days…"
"Whatever!" Mina moves on quickly. "Spaceship, rainbow teleporting, I don't care." She grabs Izuku roughly by the shoulders. "Can you take us there?! Pretty pleeeeease?!"
"I- I mean…" Izuku scratches the side of his head, trying to think of a way to defuse this situation. "It's not really like the alien planets you see in movies. You'd probably be disappointed-"
"Disappointed?!" No, it isn't Mina who screams this time, but Ochako. "What do you mean?! It's beautiful! The whole place is floating on a comet! You can see space all around you and more stars than I ever thought possible! The Rainbow Bridge feels like it's the road to heaven, and it might as well be with gold freaking palace waiting for you on the other side-"
Air catches in her throat as she realizes her grave mistake; Mina's eyes narrow in on her new target. "You've been there." Her voice is low and it's not a question. Giving Izuku an apologetic look, Ochako looks down in shame, before nodding. "You've been there!!" She rounds on Izuku. "How come she got to go?!!"
Todoroki glances up from his notebook. "I believe it was for an attempt at a pre-courtship ritual." Izuku and Ochako facepalm… hard. Okay, granted, he wanted the whole class to be on the same page with everything now, but still-
"ARE YOU TWO DATING?!!!"
Next to her, Toru squeals alongside Mina, shaking her friend, with even Aoyama jumping up front, eager for an answer. Izuku peers up at Ochako from underneath his curls to ask her a silent question, and when she looks up at him, they both nod at Mina.
Ojiro leans back in his seat. "Out of all the crazy things that have happened this year, that's the least surprising."
"Indeed," Shoji agrees.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Mina had begun to hop up and down on the balls of her feet and didn't seem intent on stopping anytime soon. "Did you take her there to confess?!"
"No!" Ochako stands in between her boyfriend and his interrogator. "There weren't any plans or 'rituals.' He took me there so I could technically be an astronaut-" she slaps a hand over her mouth. "I really have to stop…"
"That's so SWEET!!" Izuku yelps when Toru wraps him in a hug suddenly, trapping his arms and lifting him into the air. "You're so adorable! Why can't more boys be like you?!"
"Yeah, why can't they?" Tokage raises an eyebrow at Denki, who at least has the decency to look offended. "Don't look at me like that! He made her dream of being an astronaut come true! Why can't you do the same for me?!"
"Your dream is to hang out with dinosaurs! I can't do that, dinosaurs don't exist anymore!" Logan coughs. "So the only other way would be time travel, but that doesn't exist either!" Both Logan and Izuku cough. At the expectant look on Tokage's face, Denki sighs and slumps over. "Yup, thanks for raising the boyfriend standards impossibly high, Izuku. Thanks a lot."
"Are you two even actually dating?" Shinso raises an eyebrow.
Denki raises a finger and opens his mouth but stops, confused. "Uhhhhh…" he glances at Tokage but regains his confidence, smirking. "What's the verdict, Dino girl?" He sticks his hands in his pockets. "I know I feel a 'spark' between us but what about you? Not scared off 'cause of my godly status, are ya?"
"Dude, I ain't scared of nothing!" Tokage bares her sharp teeth with a grin. "I'll ask you out right here right now."
"Yeah, I-" Denki shakes his head in surprise. "Wait, what? Nuh uh. No way. What makes you think you'll be the one asking me out?"
"Well duh!" Tokage rolls her eyes playfully. "I gotta show you who wears the pants in this relationship from the beginning."
Laughing and enjoying himself, Denki meets Tokage's challenging gaze. "You?! Hell no, I'll be the one asking you out right here right now!" Tokage protests, but a lightbulb goes off in Denki's head, his expression changing into a look of realization. It isn't helped by Izuku making an illusion of a lightbulb turning on next to his head.
After giving his cousin a sufficient glare, Denki wheels back to Tokage. "How about this? We each come up with a first date idea and do both. In the end, the person with the better idea gets to be the one who asked the other out first?"
Tokage hums, narrowing her eyes in thought. "Hmm… fine! Seems fair to me, even if you are still going to lose and you're just delaying it."
"You're on!"
"I would just like to say," Tsu speaks up. "On his first date with Ochako, Midoriya let her eat Mochi on the moon. Ribbit." Izuku shoots the frog girl a look of betrayal as Denki and several other guys swarm him. Her expression doesn't change, but Tenko can tell when she's smirking.
"That's so romantic," Toru coos. "How did you come up with that?"
Izuku stutters through a few letters. "Uh, well you see-"
Just then, a traitor appears next to Izuku, smiling and giggling. "He has a notebook that he uses to brainstorm date ideas!" Clone Thirteen yells to the whole class without a hint of remorse for the betrayal he just committed.
"I thought you guys said you'd never betray me?!" Izuku accuses.
"Tsk, tsk." Clone Thirteen wags his finger, "you never said we couldn't tell people about the book, that's on you!"
"Oooooh, how's it feel, Midoriya?!"
"Trust no one, not even yourself."
"Unlucky…get it?… because its number is- nevermind."
"HEY!!" Clone Thirteen seems to suddenly realize that coming out probably wasn't the best idea as he turns around to face an angry Mina. "You knew they've been together! Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Because Izuku asked us not to?" The duplicate shrugs apologetically. "Plus, you saw them and how they were before getting together! I didn't want to put pressure on the beginning of their relationship…also you being this upset about finding out late made it so worth it."
"…Be very happy I can't melt you right now Thirteen…and you two!" She points an accusatory finger at the newish couple. "You both better give me all the details you're comfortable with! I need to know about confessing in space and eating dessert on the moon!"
Ochako taps her chin. "Um…" Her face goes a bit red before whispering to Mina. "Did we mention we were floating in each other's arms when we confessed?- Ack!"
Mina pulls her two friends into a crushing hug. "You both are literally goals in so many ways!! I'm so happy for you!!" She pulls back, looking at Izuku. "But, that won't stop me from forgetting why we're here in the first place! And you are still answering all my questions about space! First off, how is space?! What's it like?"
"Space is…good?"
Someone clears their throat, causing Toru and Mina to back up a step as Yaomomo and Jiro walk up. "Hello, Midoriya," the heiress greets. "Would you please answer a few of my questions directly?" He nods. "Thank you. Are there any politically correct terms or pronouns to refer to you as?"
Izuku shakes his head, but Denki speaks up. "Your highness works- ow!" Tokage elbows the stupidity out of him.
Yaomomo chuckles underneath her hand. "And Tokage? What about Venom?"
Before she can answer, several students jump when the head of the symbiote emerges suddenly from the green-haired girl's back. "He, they, it, we do not care. Just stay out of our way."
"'Our' way?" Tokage gives the alien a hard stare.
"We shall speak after this."
"Very well, thank you." Yaomomo inclines her head slightly. "I apologize as none of the social situations my parents had me prepared for involved meeting those of half-god descent…"
"If it helps you feel any better, whether they're demigods or not, you're still a goddess to us, Yaomomo!" Mina cheers, eliciting several agreements from the rest of the class. Suddenly, Mina's expression drops. "Unless…" she runs up to the other girl, who straightens in surprise. "You really are a goddess! If you are, now is the time to confess!"
"No, no!" Yaomomo answers hurriedly. "I apologize Mina, but I would probably know if any part of me was related to a Norse god."
"To be fair…" Denki moves his head side to side in thought. "I didn't know until a year and a half ago when my dad came back?"
"Yes, but both of my parents have been with me my entire life."
"True."
Yaomomo takes a moment to gather herself. "This is all just a lot to take in. Extraterrestrials, magic, other dimensions, it feels as if everything I've learned is so miniscule in comparison."
Izuku leans forward. "You're not going to faint, are you?"
"…Why do you seem enthusiastic about that?"
"Because if you did, it means I'm firmly winning our war!" Izuku responds happily.
"Our…war?" Yaomomo looks to Jiro, who sighs tiredly.
"Yeah!" Izuku gets more excited. "You know, the war between our factions! Mine tries to prank and your side tries to stop us? That war!" The trickster points to different students. "See, I have my original friend group on my side, with Shinso, Tokage, Tokoyami, Mina, and Toru!" The two mentioned girls high-five. "You have everyone else in the class."
Sato slowly raises his hand.
"Participation in the war is mandatory," Izuku quickly says.
Sato slowly puts his hand back down, but replies, "Okay, but what if you just want to be a neutral party who makes cookies for both sides?…"
"…You are excused."
"Hold on a moment." Yaomomo raises her hand. "Does that mean Bakugo is on my side?"
"That's more of default," Izuku reasons. "Because he'd probably attack me if he was on my side." The greenette waves happily to the explosive boy leaning against the wall next to Kirishima. "Sorry, Kacchan! By the way, thanks for taking this all so well!"
"Any shit I want to say to you, I'll do it without an audience."
Izuku tilts his head. "Wait, so you believe me that easily."
Bakugo rolls his eyes. "Either you became the best liar in the world overnight, or you're an alien. The alien stuff is more believable." Kirishima bursts out laughing but quickly stops himself. "We'll talk when Racoon Eyes isn't fawning all over you."
"Of course he finds a way to be grouchy even at a time like this…" Mina mumbles loudly. Bakugo turns his glare to her, but she merely blows a raspberry at him.
"It is interesting…" Yaomomo rubs her chin, grabbing Izuku's attention once more. "You claim we have been at war, presumably since I became our vice-president?" Izuku confirms that. "Which means I have won several battles without even knowing we were fighting…"
Should- should he be worried?
"Very well!" Yaomomo crosses her arms in front of her, looking down at the shorter president. "I accept this proclamation of war. I believe that later, we should meet and discuss rules and regulations of our conflict, a geneva convention of sorts." Jiro whispers something to her. "Ah, yes." Yaomomo clears her throat. "And henceforth, let it be known, I will destroy you."
"Jiro!" Ochako raised a hand to her mouth. "Stop teaching her to say things like that!"
"Is trading allowed?"
Izuku spins back to Yaomomo. "What?" he asks in confusion.
"Is trading allowed?" Yaomomo repeats. "Are we allowed to exchange members on each of our sides. If so, I would like to acquire Shinso."
"W-what- no!" Izuku shakes his head in disbelief. "I'm the one who's put in all the work in unlocking his full potential! To helping him become the purple gremlin I know he can be! I'm not just gonna trade him! Besides." Izuku crosses his arms in finality. "He was my friend first and is part of my friend group now."
Shinso looks away, trying not to show how touched he is. "Are you both fighting over which of you gets to be my friend?…"
"No?" Izuku inclines his head. "We're both already your friends. This is purely for the factions!"
"Positive affection!" Shinso chokes, putting a hand over his chest. "Too much…gonna kill me…"
"Human defibrillator coming in!" Shinso screams when Denki tackles him in a hug, taking them both to the ground. "Don't worry buddy, I'll bring you back!"
"…Since when did friendship involve so much pain?…"
Izuku hums. "I won't trade Shinso. Best I can do is Iida."
"Midoriya! I am a person! You cannot simply trade me without my consent!"
"Imma trade you!"
"No!!!"
"Who would you like?" Yaomomo inquires. Iida chops in the background are going supersonic.
"Jiro."
"Absolutely not."
"Sero."
"Wait." The tape user points to himself. "Me?!"
Yaomomo hums. "Iida's speed, intelligence, and knowledge of your tactics would be useful…" she summarizes. "Very well." She holds out her hand. "I accept."
Izuku shakes her hand before looking back at Iida. "Don't worry, Iida! I still think you're one of my best friends! But you are always trying to stop my pranks, so this makes it a bit more official."
"If it helps, Iida," Tsu begins. "Do you remember that scorpion that scared you in the auditorium during the entrance exams? That was an illusion created by Midoriya."
"You told her about that?!" Izuku seethes to Ochako, who rubs the back of her head, laughing nervously. He looks back up. "Tsu, why?!"
"You said you enjoy chaos."
"Yeah, but-"
"Ribbit."
…Izuku thinks he might be underestimating Tsu…and he also thinks that's exactly what she wants.
"Midoriya." He does not like how calm Iida sounds. The blue-haired boy fixes his glasses. "You will be happy to know I still consider you one of my closest friends. I know this conflict isn't made to be taken personally." Izuku tries not to show himself sighing in relief. "However, in light of recent discoveries, know that I will give my full effort and participation to Yaoyorozu and her attempts to stop you. I will be returning the favor for the scorpion incident."
"Oooooh," Denki laughs from the ground. "That's the politest way I've ever heard someone say 'it's on, bitch!'"
"If the war stuff is handled…" Sero pulls Denki back on his feet, shaking him vigorously. "Dude!! We have, like, a million questions for you!"
"Sero…" Aizawa warns, walking to the front of the room. The tape user apologizes, rubbing his two gloved hands together. The boy's quirk had been acting up the last few days, and no one knew why, so precautions are being taken.
"Sensei!" Izuku tries to step away, but Toru keeps him from getting himself and Ochako away. Ah well, at least the barrage of questions has stopped now that their teacher is here. "You're taking all of this surprisingly well!"
"As a hero, you learn to roll with the punches and deal with issues as they come." He crosses his arms. "However, before I let your classmates continue to overwhelm you," Izuku slumps in defeat, "you will address some of my concerns. Your abilities not being a quirk is why my Erasure didn't work on you when we first met, correct?"
Izuku nods.
"And all the times you told me your quirk was magic?"
"Never lied to you, Sensei."
"And my sleeping bag?"
Izuku rubs the back of his head. "Yeah, I used the Bifrost for that…"
Aizawa raises an eyebrow. "Let me get this straight. You used an ancient technology straight out of fantasy, a bridge of dimensional energy that according to you in your explanation, could be used to move entire armies or destroy planets, to prank me over my sleeping bag?"
"Uh…" Izuku smiles innocently. "C'mon, Sensei. You act like you believe that's something I wouldn't do." Aizawa's eye twitches while Nezu cackles in the back. "Plus I'm hardly the first! My dad and uncle used to do it all the time! It's how he got away as DB Cooper!"
"Who?"
Logan swears where he stands. "I fucking knew it…"
"Final question," Aizawa barks. "Are you able to teach others to use magic? Like Eri?"
"No, not unless they can already use it."
"Thank god-"
"But I can give her magical weapons from Asgard!" Izuku continues joyfully. "They can give her light magical usage!-"
"Grounded!"
"What?" Izuku questions blasphemously. "You can't ground me!"
"According to the recording Mic has of you bursting into our announcer's booth before the Sports Festival, on some level, you see me as a father figure. So, grounded," Aizawa reasons.
"Does that mean I can use the same name for you Eri does? You know, Dadza- ack!" The capture scarf is still remarkably capable of cutting Izuku's air off.
"This class is not learning that word. You all have enough ways to torture me…" Some of Aizawa's old glare leaks back into his expression. "As for what we have learned today, any and all magical beings or those with extraterrestrial abilities," he side-eyes both Tokage and Tokoyami, "will still follow their teacher's instructions, and if I activate my quirk, magic or not, your powers stop, am I clear?"
"Yes, Sensei!" Despite him only addressing a few of the students, the entire class answers him.
After some more time for explanations and talking, the entire class is let go, with most of the class having to get ready to leave the hospital later that day. Before Izuku can get very far out of the room though, Vision waves him over. "Yes, sir?"
"Izuku," the hero greets. "According to your teachers, you have a bit of time before your summer camp begins. I was hoping you'd be willing to take a brief day trip with me somewhere to discuss some things I noticed on the island?"
After getting the go-ahead from his teachers, Izuku turns back to the hero. "Of course, sir. Where are we going?"
Setsuna shuts the door behind her with a soft click, leaning against it and letting all of the tension out of her body. Actually, now that she thinks about it, it's probably not her-
"You would be correct." Venom forms itself outside of her body. "I am relaxing your body from all of your silly teenage worries, so that you may focus on more important things."
"Let me guess, like finding you a 'real' host?" The green-haired girl questions, sarcasm dripping out of her voice.
Venom swings to the other side of her head. "Must you always answer me in such a negative demeanor?!"
Setsuna stares at him flatly. "Dude, you showed me part of your past. If they had to put a picture next to angsty and edgy, it'd be you. Don't come at me about being negative." The teen shakes her head, walking over to her bed so she can fold her clothes and start packing up.
"That's true," Venom acknowledges. "Out of all the first human hosts that I had - Wade, Marshall, Flash, Eddie, and Peter - Eddie was by far my most compatible. Our mutual hate of Spider-Man made us a formidable team."
"So, what you're saying is, all we have to do is team you up with someone who hates Spider-Man." She taps her chin. "Shouldn't be too hard, he's just one of the most popular heroes in the world. Want me to toss you out by a prison on my way home?"
"Once more with the negative demeanor."
Setsuna scoffs. "Yeah, well, try getting told over and over in your head that all you're good for is a ride by an annoying voice that won't go away in your head, and see how good of a mood you're in." She throws some of the toiletries her parents brought into the bag with a little more force than necessary.
Venom hums. "It's true. You do not possess nearly enough killing intent for my liking, you are moody, indecisive, and I have to work overtime to keep your hormones in check, especially around Thor's offspring. You are far from the ideal host." Setsuna opens her mouth to yell, but Venom beats her to it. "And that is exactly what I require right now."
Confusion wouldn't even begin to cover how she's feeling right now. "Eh?"
"What I said was true." Venom slowly circles her head. "Our mutual hatred for Spider-Man is what made us strong, or more specifically, our hatred for Peter Parker, but as you may have noticed, he is no longer around."
"Yeah?" Setsuna's eyes follow the symbiote as it floats around her. "And?- ah!" The teen grabs her head briefly, the ache from Venom pushing knowledge into her brain fading away. "Oh. It's-" Her eyes widen. "You haven't had a host in so long, and without a person to hate…you don't know what to do."
She thinks back. "Back on the island, I asked you what you planned to do once you found your host and you never answered me. It's because you couldn't!"
"No need to dwell on it!" Venom snaps. It deflates at Setsuna's victorious smirk. "I always thought that I would resolve what my purpose was once I got off that damned island, but the answer continues to allude me. So, until it does, I will stay with you and dinosaur chicken nuggets."
Somehow, Setsuna nearly trips while standing. "Woah, what?! Hey-"
"It is difficult to find host bodies I am compatible with," Venom continues, ignoring her. "So, it seems only sensible that I stay with you while I experience this new world. With several of your peers already containing extraterrestrial abilities, we would fit right in. Yes, yes. Not to mention, if the chaos we just experienced in the other room is any indication, boredom will not be an issue-"
"Hey!!" Setsuna's yell finally cuts the symbiote off. "So, what then? You're saying you stay and the decision is made? No one else gets a say?"
Venom thinks about it for a moment. "Well, yeah."
"Nuh uh!" Setsuna musters up her best glare, placing her hands on her hips. "When we met, you went on and on about how great we could be and all the things we could now do. We we we! But now the choice to stay is only yours?! I don't think so, dude. So." She crossed her arms. "Convince me."
"…Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Setsuna doesn't back down. "Tell me why I should let you stay in my body."
Venom growls in annoyance. "Because I won't give you a choice."
She grins. "Search my memories for a guy named Present Mic. Try to stay without my permission and I'll have him yell in my ear until you leave." It's easy to see when Venom finds the man, the whites of its eyes expanding. "Good, now convince me."
"I offer us so much extra power."
"Was already planning to be a hero way before you." Setsuna fakes a yawn, checking her nails. "Try again."
"We have the knowledge of all symbiotes across the known multiverse."
"Maybe you do," the green-haired girl shrugs. "It hurts my head too much to look at that stuff."
"…"
"Is that it, Venom?"
"I can make you a better hero than you ever would have been before." That causes Setsuna to finally look back up at the symbiote. "Think about it. With only your quirk, could you have saved Melissa from the Ultron assaulting her? What about your mate? Could you have saved him and his little friend without me? Hell, do you believe you would have survived without me?"
Setsuna grimaces, looking back down. Venom leans in closer. "The only reason you and all of your friends were able to free yourselves in the ballroom was because of me, because of us. We saved all of those people. We gave the ashy boy the means to decay that final Ultron." She flashes back to Tenko watching her before covering his hand with his quirk, much like Venom covers her own body.
"Your world is quickly expanding, Setsuna Tokage," Venom purrs. "If you believe what you have seen is all that it has to offer, then you are very much mistaken. It's not even close to what waits out there. For your friends to survive, they need us."
It's silent after that for over a minute, neither saying a thing out loud nor telepathically. Venom is the one to break the silence. "I can feel your emotions; you do not have to say anything for me to know what you are going to say."
Setsuna chuckles. "Guess you got me there. Still feels like you're blackmailing me with my friend's safety to let you stay."
"You would be incorrect," Venom replies. "If I was blackmailing you, I would be the one threatening to hurt those other meatbags. I am merely offering you a deal. You, Setsuna, offer me something close to a purpose again and a cure for my boredom, and I offer you the power to protect yourself and the other humans."
"Hmm." Setsuna narrows her eyes, straightening and closing her bag. "Fine. But!" She raises a finger to Venom. "No more abuse from your end and no more trying to eat people!"
"How will I severely punish those who enrage me then?!"
"Venom…"
"I can promise neither of those things!"
"Venom!"
"Very well. I can promise one of those things!"
"Venom!- Ow!" Setsuna rubs her eye. Venom had detached the finger she had been pointing at him and used it to poke her. "Dude…" She takes her hand away, blinking her eye open. "Uncool."
Getting her bearings and reattaching her finger, Setsuna turns back to Venom. "Look, you're all about this being 'we' and 'us,' yeah? That means we have to compromise if this is going to work. So, for not eating anyone, we'll stop at the store and I'll get you some chocolate and nuggets, alright?"
Venom doesn't take long thinking it over. "Very well," it grumbles. "And I suppose in return, I will not-"
"Be a bitch?" Setsuna smirks.
"Don't push your luck." Venom's threat loses most of its heat from the grin on its face.
"You wished to see me, young Tenko?"
"All Might!" Toshinori chuckles when the boy, who should've been packing, nearly drops his handheld gaming device on the ground. "Holy shit, don't just spawn in out of nowhere like that!" Tenko makes sure his game is paused before tossing it on the bed. "Did you roll a crit on your stealth check or something?"
"Language, young man. And, uh, no." Toshinori responds, shutting the door behind him. "Your passive perception must be low today."
"Maybe. Haven't really slept that well the past few nights because of everything that's-" Tenko's eyes widen. "Wait, what did you just say?"
"Ha!" All Might laughs. "You're not the only one who's been studying, my boy!" He taps his phone repeatedly against his head. "I have been using the internet to study your 'gamer lingo,' as you call it," Tenko cringes, "and I've been getting much better, if I do say so myself. You can let Gran Torino know my head is used for much more than decoration when you see him tonight!" Toshinori bangs his phone against his temple too hard, hurting himself. "Ow…"
Tenko snorts. "Not bad."
Toshinori hums. "Indeed. And you'll be happy to know that Stark Industries has gotten back to me and is already sending you replacement parts for the armor you lost on the island." The decay user nods in thanks, finishing up his packing. "But I suppose that's not why you called me, is it?"
"No," Tenko shakes his head. "Before we left, I just wanted to say thanks…I guess." The teen gives his neck a little scratch before forcing his hand down. "You said I'd find a way to use my decay before Ultron initiated combat on I-Island, and you were right. It helped me believe in myself to use it, so thanks…again. Why did I thank you again? Why am I like this-"
"You're more than welcome, young Tenko." Toshinori does his best to contain his chuckle so the teen doesn't think he's laughing at him. "I always knew you- oh!" He unlocked his phone, looking up a list of slang terms. "Ah, here we go. I always knew you 'had that canine in you.'"
"Nooooo!" Tenko buries his face in a pillow. "It's 'had that dog in you' All Might, stop!" He lifts his head. "And where'd you find that slang? It's really old!"
"Come now, young man, don't be so," he checks his phone, "shaken."
"It's shook!" Tenko yells in despair, laying back on the hospital bed and pressing his fingers up and down his face.
"Young Tenko, what are you doing?"
"Trying to decay myself."
"You know your quirk isn't capable of that."
"You heard Midoriya during his whole alien explanation," Tenko drawls on, done with everything, most of all his mentor. "Multiverse is real, which means there's a bunch of different versions of me out there. Odds are one of them got this glitch to work."
"Well, either way…" Toshinori pushes Tenko's arms down from his face. "I'm overjoyed to see you much more comfortable around your native quirk."
"Yeah." Tenko sits up. "And not just that one." He fires a strand a Blackwhip at his backpack, plucking a few chocolate bars out and pulling them back to him. "Who knew that almost dying twice would make for great quirk practice." Tenko looks down at the two candy bars he had picked up, pulling away the white chocolate, before decaying the dark chocolate.
"While not the ideal way I would have chosen for you to train with One for All," All Might confesses as Tenko begins eating his candy. "It would be foolish for us to not take advantage of this headstart you've gotten with your quirk and build on it."
"Yeah…that's not the only thing the island gave me. And it's the other reason why I wanted to talk to you." The symbol of peace tilts his head curiously at his protege. Tenko finishes his candy and decays the wrapper, rubbing his hands together and inhaling deeply, before looking up at the hero. "I figured out my hero name. And I wanted you to be the first to know."
Toshinori straightens, knowing this is important to Tenko, as the boy looks down at his hand in thought. After a few seconds, he clenched his fist. "Cheat Code. That's gonna be my hero name." All Might brightens at the name, loving it already. "Because with decay and One for All…that's pretty much what I am. And that's who I'm going to be, as a hero."
Tenko looks back up at All Might. "And it's going to be the name I have the next time I face her."
The doors to the I-Island lab slide open to reveal a peculiar sight for Loki. "Ah, your group arrived here quicker than I had anticipated."
Hirona turns around, raising an eyebrow to the God of Mischief. Behind her is what amounts to more of a banquet hall than a lab. Long rows of tables overflowing with random tech. Workbenches lining the walls with experiments at differing stages of development. Display cases for some of the more sensitive projects stand few and far in between.
Various League of Villains members stroll around the room, picking up diverse weapons and suits to examine. "I didn't realize we were on your schedule," Hirona replies to Loki's comment, her tone as impudent as ever. "Kurogiri brought us here after All for One started whatever fancy medical procedure they got for him here."
"Yes, of course," Loki acknowledges, striding slowly up to the teen. "With Ultron and this island, a whole new world of possibilities has opened up for us. And it wasn't just the League and All for One. Various alien ships and other forces under their banner had already begun landing on the island, setting up bases of operation.
"Besides." He stops, examining a thin and gold-colored piece of tech that flipped open to reveal a screen on top with green and white buttons below it. "Why should only the heroes be the ones to get fancy new toys?" He pockets the device.
"What? You think we'll automatically be impressed 'cause you put a bunch of shiny stuff in front of us?" Hirona gestures to the room around them with her head. "You'll have to try harder than-"
"Look at all this cool stuff!" Hirona groans as Mustard runs past her; carrying a box of scraps. "Think of all the drones I can make!!"
"Shigaraki! Look at this!" Spinner shoves a glove under her nose. "It has a specialized magnet with these throwing knives that make them come back to your hand after throwing them!! I've always wanted throwing knives!! Just like Stain!!"
"If you like those, you should check what's behind that door over there." Loki winks, cocking his head behind him.
Spinner rushes over excitedly, yanking the door open. "Woah! New swords! And what kind of metal is Muramasa?!"
Loki gives Hirona a victorious look. "You were saying?" He takes another step closer, but a new voice interrupts him.
"That's far enough."
He snickers, enjoying himself, before glancing over at the corner of the room where Lady Nagant glares at him. "I mean none of you any harm. We are all on the same team, are we not?"
Getting in between Hirona and Loki, Nagant doesn't drop her clear distaste for him. "Yeah, being on the same side doesn't mean shit. You can be attacked from anywhere at any time. And anyone who doesn't understand that deserves what's coming."
"You don't trust me at all, do you?" Loki smiles.
"I don't trust any of you."
"Good," Loki compliments. "With that attitude, you may survive what is to come. But know this, my dear," the god relishes in how much Nagant wants to shoot him, "if I truly wanted to hurt any of you, you would not see me coming." Even still, Loki adopts his pleasant smile once more, backing up. "I notice a few of your members are missing. They had no desire in what the island had to offer?"
"Some didn't." Hirona eyes him up and down as Nagant moves to stand beside her. "Toga and Compress went to explore on their own once we got here."
"Uh, Compress?"
The thief sighs, gazing up from the modded camera in his hands to Toga, who dangles upside down, caught in a tangle of wires. "Look at me! Hanging upside down like a real vampire!"
"Don't vampires typically turn into bats before performing such an act?"
"Everyone's a critic!" She sticks her tongue out at him.
"Indeed." He walks over, examining the wires. "And did you ascertain a plan on how to lower yourself back onto the ground?" Toga's silence speaks volumes. "I thought not. Never fear, as always, I am here to rescue you."
Toga cheers. "Great! Are you gonna marble me to get me out?!"
"No, that would not teach you a lesson."
"Wait, don't use your!-"
Toga has no more time to protest before Compress pulls a single wire, causing the structure to collapse and dump Toga on the floor with a loud thud! "Hey, that hurt!!"
"You have survived worse." He easily pulls her back into her feet. "Now, assist me. Do not forget why we are here."
"Yeah, yeah, I know!" The blonde skips over to a different table of tech, sifting through it while throwing junk onto the floor. "But you know it's important to have fun too!"
Compress' head shoots up for a moment, before going back to the cabinet he is in. "Certainly." He picks up a thick briefcase marked 'ghost tech.'
Hirona taps her chin. "Daken and Dabi were the ones who didn't care. I think they said something about staying back and getting to know each other?"
"Alright, you all know what this is!" People scream and run out as Dabi breaks down the door of the Uwabami branded jewelry store, the scarred man making a beeline for the manager and grabbing her by the collar before she can escape. "Daken, you good?"
"Yeah." The mutant uses his claws to back the two security guards against a wall. "The challenge this time is 'no bloodshed,' yeah?"
"Yeah."
"So, what kind of bloodshed are we talkin' because-" one of the security guards screams and Daken looks back over, not realizing when he had turned around to speak to Dabi with his claws out, he had accidentally sliced one of the guards in half, spilling the man's guts all over the floor. "Ah, fuck. That means I gotta pay for drinks the next round," he bemoans, shaking some intestine off his shoe.
"Well, I guess that leaves one of us to pass this time." Dabi rolls his eyes before whirling back to the manager. "Since I'm having a good day, I'll let you choose, lady. Would you rather be burned alive or strangled to death?"
"B-but you said no bloodshed-"
"I promise that neither will make you bleed," Dabi grins.
The manager's face morphs into a scowl. "F-fuck you!!"
"Burned alive it is!"
Loki catches an arrow just before it hits his head, everyone in the room stopping to stare at Kraven, who holds a futuristic crossbow in his hands. The Hunter hums curiously. "Interesting, the arrow was supposed to explode."
"I'm sure." Loki breaks it half, tossing it casually to the ground, before addressing Hirona once again. "And the Taskmaster?"
"What else? He's doing a job for us." Hirona adopts a glare similar to Nagant's, which the god finds endlessly entertaining. "The casual talk is really annoying, so why are you here?"
"One cannot simply check on another?"
Hirona scoffs. "If you're trying to look after me just because you brought me back to life, then save it. I've had enough terrible father figures in my life, I don't need another."
"Rest assured." Yellow lines glow around Loki, putting him in a suit and trench coat, a fedora in his hand. "I do not need you to be a terrible father. I simply wanted to offer my assistance." He holds out a business card, which Nagant swipes after a moment. "When you require help getting to the kid's training camp, call me."
"We have a person on the inside to give us the location, and Kurogiri can teleport us anywhere on the planet, we don't need your help."
Loki puts on the hat and turns away. "Again, when you need my help getting there, call me."
He begins to walk away, but Hirona stops him. "The boy from the USJ…the one with green hair…you both said the same thing to me, that you are 'burdened with glorious purpose.' What is he to you?"
The God of Mischief doesn't say anything for a few seconds nor turn around. "…He is my son." Nagant and Hirona look at one another, but when they turn back, Loki is gone.
"Once again, Izuku, I wish to reiterate that you being here does not mean you're in trouble."
"I-I know that. Of course I know that! I've always known that! …What makes you think I don't know that?"
"Well, and excuse my bluntness, it appears as if you might puke at any point."
Izuku grimaces, placing a hand on his stomach. Vision isn't exactly wrong, he did feel like he might be sick any second, and he can't even tell how! Not to mention his lightheadedness or the fact that his legs just won't. Stop. Wobbling!
Not that the teen feels he could be blamed for feeling the way he does. It's not like he was whisked away everyday to the freaking Avengers Campus in America!!
Standing outside the main entrance of the imposing building, Izuku, wearing simple jeans and a green t-shirt that reads 'I enjoy pantomimes,' has never felt smaller. Especially when he has to crane his head to see the top. To be honest, he had thought Vision was kidding when the hero had told him that he, some random kid, had to come back with him to America for a couple of days to have a meeting with the team.
Okay, he knows he's not some 'random' kid. He's technically an alien demigod with magical powers and an uncle who's part of the team blah blah but still! What they could possibly want with him, he has no idea. Izuku imagines they have more important things to do.
"Are they all gonna be here?" he asks hesitantly.
To both his relief and disappointment, Vision shakes his head. "I'm afraid not. Even with the important matter at hand, some of our members are handling duties they could not be pulled from. But I believe you'll still meet quite a few?"
Izuku nods, happy that the conversation is making him think and taking his mind off of his anxiety. "I've met a couple of them once or twice." He bites his lip. "If you say it'll be okay…but you still haven't told me what this is about?"
"You will understand once our discussion begins why I cannot tell you outside of closed doors." The hero places a comforting hand on his shoulder. "And because I have not had the chance to tell you before this, know that I was fully impressed with the way you spoke to Ultron in the tower. Very few would have the courage to say such things to him."
The demigod feels his face go red at the compliment from such an experienced hero. "T-thank you, sir."
Vision gives his shoulder a squeeze before letting go. "Just remember that the line between courage and arrogance is thin; keep yourself on the right side." The pro hero straightens. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go make sure everyone who is set to attend is here. Your escort will meet you in the lobby. I will see you shortly."
Putting a hand up in good-bye, Izuku waits until the hero is out of sight before letting out a full body shiver, hyping himself up for whatever was about to happen. He takes a step but stops when he feels a vibration in his pocket.
Taking out his phone, both of Izuku's eyebrows shoot up when he reads the caller-ID, answering immediately. "Dad?"
The cool air of the Avengers facility hits Izuku harshly as he steps into the lobby, not that it bothers him, while pocketing his phone. Any fears or worries melt when he sees who's waiting for him. "Uncle Thor!"
"Izuku!" Thor laughs as the smaller boy jumps onto his arm, thankful to see any of his Asgardian family in person after I-Island. "I see your encounter with Ultron has made you no less excitable!" The god chuckles, plopping his nephew down.
"Sorry." Izuku rubs the back of head in embarrassment. "It's just that a lot happened this past week and- how's Asgard?! Heimdall? Is he okay? How mad was Grandpa? And what about-"
The green-haired boy glares when a giant hand covers his mouth, licking it to get his uncle to move it, much to Thor's displeasure. "Ah! Sorry, Izuku, I was unsure if I'd be able to get a word in otherwise," the god apologizes as he shakes his hand. "To answer your most pertinent questions…" Thor sighs. "For now, Odin has decided to strip Heimdall of his power and remove him as gatekeeper."
"He can't!" Izuku fights through a crushing feeling on his chest. "It's my fault we needed him! Tell grandfather-ow!!"
Izuku rubs his head from where Thor had flicked him. "None of that, boy. The only one truly at fault for this is Ultron. And before you say it, Heimdall does not blame you either." Izuku opens his mouth to respond with 'he should' but a stern look from his uncle stops him. "He wanted me to tell you that if he had to do it over again, he'd still save you and your friends."
"Still…" Izuku checks the hand that had been rubbing his head. "He still deserves an apology from me in person. Wait, who's controlling the Bifrost now?"
"A temporary gatekeeper has been assigned."
"Temporary? But that means they don't have Heimdall's power?" Izuku questions. "How can Asgard watch over the Nine Realms without that? And what about being able to see if an attack is coming?"
"Your father brought up a similar concern, so he has brought it upon himself to find a suitable replacement." Izuku sighs in relief. "Now, I believe we have a meeting to attend?"
All of Izuku's nervousness comes rushing back as Thor leads him into an elevator and scans a keycard to take them to a secured floor. The ride is quick. Too quick. And before he knows it, the greenette finds himself standing in front of two large doors. It's okay, Izuku. Don't freak out, don't freak out! Just don't forget why you're there… wait, he doesn't even know why!-
"It will be okay." Thor pushes open the door, and Izuku embraces his frost giant ancestry fully, freezing on the spot. The room is large, much larger than he would've guessed from the outside. In the middle, a long wood table sits with chairs pushed against it. Around the room, inviting chairs and couches are strewn about, some with coffee tables next to them, some without. The back corner even appears to have a small makeshift kitchen.
But it's less the room that has Izuku doing his best impression of a green popsicle, and more the people in it. When the doors open, Bruce Banner looks up curiously from a mug of coffee. Okay, it's fine, just one of the smartest people in the world doing something mundane, it's alright-
He loses the ability to breathe as Thor begins to push him inside. From the kitchen, Star and Stripe waves happily at him, a huge grin on her face. 'Oh my gods!!! I knew she had been sworn in recently but I ever thought she'd be here-'
His thoughts crash when Rock Lock offers him a nod from his spot at the table. No! Wait, not Rock Lock anymore. That was the name the half-Japanese, half-Wakandan hero went by as Izuku grew up. Nowadays, he is better known as the Black Panther.
It's only thanks to Uncle Thor's hold on him that Izuku doesn't jump back and fall over himself when a figure lands from the ceiling beside him. He is imposing, donning a white, red, and black suit. Light, almost see-through byte material is located under his arms, it almost looks like it could be used for…gliding…Izuku glances at the spiked gauntlets up the figure's arms and-
This is Miguel O'Hara. Izuku is standing next to Spider-Man. And now Spider-Man is giving him a cheeky little wave. He turns around. Nope, no one behind him, Spider-Man is waving at him. And Izuku is just standing there. Staring. Not doing a dang thing. Wave back you cow-handed mooncalf!-
"Izuku Lokison." He immediately shuts off all new thoughts at the sound of a new voice coming from the back. A man walks out holding a stack of papers and Izuku can't stop his jaw from dropping. "Self-proclaimed Prince of Mischief."
Dr. Stephen Strange sighs before dropping the papers onto the table. "Alright, kid. Let's talk about your scepter."