Iron Fire Reforged
Chapter 10: Main Aftermath. The Proof of My Power.
"The thing that had interested me in you, Sido, was that you have massive potential, and don't take that lightly," Doctor Strange said, taking us deeper into the sanctum. I held Momo's hand as she led me along, Mjolnir was in her free hand as we followed the sorcerer carefully.
"You're a once in a generation genius that built a replica of Stark's suit from metal you found in the local scrapyard. Then two more with his help, but it was mainly yours, don't sell yourself short," Doctor Strange sighed.
"And you have me…" Momo supplied, her royal blue eyes shining, she wrapped her arms around my middle as I smiled. She was as warm as a fire, the air tingled.
The good doctor turned to me, "Alright, hold still," he instructed as he put his hand on my forehead. All I felt was some sort of odd pulling at something. Some sort of sealed power started to awaken within me. I started to thrash as the power became a roaring in my ears. Then it settled gently. Doctor Strange removed his hand from my head and looked puzzled.
"Normally I'd be able to unlock it no problem… but something is holding me back from doing so, not that it matters anyway, you already have your suits," he waved his hand as Momo and I glanced at each other.
"I still have information that might be useful to All-Might, give him a holler," he said as he opened up yet another sparking ring and pushed us through. We ended up on the outside of the USJ, our friends and classmates all clustered together as a crowd of our parents and relatives were there. I knew that Momo didn't have anybody so I sought for my family.
"Sido?!" a familiar voice called out, I turned towards it, seeing my mother's deep gray eyes and long white hair, she must've gotten out of the hospital. I do remember my sister saying something to that effect. She ran forwards and embraced me tightly, she was shorter than me. She looked up at me as I stared at the ashen shell of the Iron Monger suit.
"After all that, and they're still trying to preserve what little they've got?" I sighed heavily. Why would they want to? Mom looked at the suit, seeing the charred black place where my father once sat. The suit's arms were busted, the once pristine steel and metal charred and flaking.
"Yes… it's cruel, isn't it?" she determined as I sighed softly. Momo was off checking on everyone, making sure they were all okay.
"Yo, kid!" Tony called as he ran towards us. His eyes were an odd golden-hazel. His grin was wry and infectious. Mom smiled a little bit.
"I got some news for ya, the good news is that your mom was discharged… which you already knew, but, your dad, he's gone," he sighed as my hands clenched around my Mother, my arms and shoulders shaking.
"Wh-what?!" I gasped.
"He… he combusted, I'm sorry, Sido," Mom sighed, kissing my cheek gently as Momo came back with someone in tow. It was a woman, with long black hair that was graying, she wore thick-lensed glasses and was dressed like she was on business.
"Mother, this is Sido, remember?" Momo introduced sheepishly as Auntie Yao looked me up and down in shock.
"I-it's nice to see you again, Auntie," I said crisply. My mom and Momo's mom were old friends. She smiled as my mother let me go back to Momo's side. Her mother's job required her to travel long distances, so she wasn't home for very long periods of time like Thor was.
"I heard that you had to fight him, and you've grown into a handsome young man," she said, looking to Tony.
"Although his presence might corrupt you if you're not careful. Although I did marry Momo's dunderhead of a father…" she sighed as I let out a jolt of laughter. I was saddened by my father's loss, sure, but therein lies how I react to trauma and traumatic experiences.
I hide behind a mask of glee and humor. Only Mom, Momo, Tony, Shouto, and the rest of my family could see through it.
"So, what now?" I wondered.
"For now, we can go home," Momo interrupted, knowing that her mother was going to leave soon and she'd be alone again. She grabbed my hand and led me away.
"Wait for a second, Momo! I wanna say goodbye!" I gasped.
"Hehe… okay, Machine-Head!" she cheered as Momo's mom and my mom giggled at our interaction like they always did when we were little. It was ironic that they thought I was the one in charge here.
"Well, Mom, Auntie, see ya later. I'll be around," I said as Mom waved me off. Tony was waiting.
"Kid, I got a question for you," he said.
"Yeah?" I wondered.
"Have you ever thought about rebooting the Avengers? Just a suggestion…" he wondered as I shook my head.
"I'll think about it when I'm older, okay?" I sighed.
"Yeah, it's alright. Don't rush it," Tony agreed as Momo and I left the area. We just went back home, to the one we made. I just took off my suit and changed into my usual 'at home' clothes, looking into the mirror and wondering how much more is going to change. I came out of the bathroom, sitting on the couch and turning on the news on the TV.
"The attack on the Unforeseen Simulation Joint was bravely beaten back by the first years of class 1-A. Sadly, we have gotten reports that the Pro-Heroes Spider-Man and Thirteen were injured in the attack and the Iron Endeavor had returned. Only to be beaten by the combined efforts of Iron Fire and All Might. We solemnly hope that they make a full recovery and are watching Iron Fire's career with great interest. Now we join our field reporter on the scene," The news anchor said as it cut to a man with a square jaw and long golden hair tied back from his face.
"What started as a routine rescue exercise for the students turned into a fight for their very lives when villains suddenly struck. But with struggle, come heroes. The students all fought hard, and I'm here with Shouto Todoroki, the older brother of Iron Fire. What was it like to see your brother fighting villains?" Shouto took a breath before answering.
"He never once held back, he gave more than one hundred percent. Yet he felt fear. I could see it in his eyes. When the chips are down he can pull a miracle off. He's more than Iron Fire… he's… my brother,"
I turned off the television, looking down at my hands as the floodgates broke. They could never understand fully what I went through to get here. Tony and I were two sides of the same coin, but he was older and more experienced. But something was off, something was WRONG. The Nomu went down too easily. He intentionally gave up.
I saw Momo come in, she was wearing comfy clothes too. My sword sheath was in my hands, I tried to calm down. But I couldn't stop thinking about if I didn't fight my father if I didn't assist with Nomu. Momo sat down next to me.
"Sido? Are you alright?" she asked, her hair was down as her royal blue eyes were full of worry. I knew that she could read me like an open book.
'What am I without my armor?'
"What am I without my armor? Without this beautiful piece of tech…" I sighed, closing my eyes.
"You're a genius, an empathetic person, and my best friend. I don't care if you become a hero or not. You're still Sido, and I'll always remember that meek little boy I met who carried that Iron Man and Mothra plush around with him," she sighed, her hand drifting to my hair and petting me. I leaned into her touch as I finally let my tears go.
'Take that armor off and what are you?'
'Genius heroic swordsman with a hot Asgardian girlfriend that never holds back. We both never hold back,'
'We're a team.'
"I don't know what to do… I don't- I can't- I…" I sobbed, hugging her tightly as she smiled and let me cry into her shoulder.
"I was so scared!" I sobbed heartbrokenly. I held on to her so tightly, as I pleaded to anyone above for her to never let me go. All I had was her and Tony and Shouto…
Momo dried my tears as she held me, the static electricity making my hair spike.
"It's okay, I know that you just… lost it. I must've been frightening, right?" Momo asked as we heard a knock on the door, rapid and clipped. I grabbed my sword as Momo summoned Mjolnir. We edged towards the door as I carefully opened it.
"HAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" I screamed, bringing it down as a huge metal clang sounded.
"Holy shit, kid! It's me, it's Tony," Tony soothed as I sheathed my sword sheepishly. I noticed that my blade was between his fingers, and they were metal, he was metal.
"Mo, drop the god-hammer…" I sighed as she set it on the nearest table. He smiled.
"Sido, I have one more thing to say… and that's the reason why I have a body now," Tony said.
"Are you… are you saying goodbye?" I asked.
"No, I'm not, I decided to take a step back and watch you do things yourself… see you around, kid. Remember, you're not alone, you're not useless, and dammit, you're strong!" Tony said as he left.
"See you around, Sido," he sighed as we saw him walk down the street. Momo and I went back to the couch, putting on Godzilla and Mothra Vs. King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. I had absconded with my dad's Gojira collection when I sent Lil' Dum-Ee out to get my stuff. I also brought most if not all of my personal collection of Ultraman films. As we watched the Kaiju battle it out for supremacy, I popped some popcorn as Momo got a text from her friend Jiro.
"Oh, we won't have class tomorrow!" she gasped.
"Oh no, what a tragedy!" I sarcastically sighed.
Momo giggled as she texted her friend back.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Don't mention it, Momo.
So… what are you doing?
I'm about to practice my music, what's up with you?
I'm watching one of the old Gojira movies with Sido. He's making popcorn.
Soon, it was done and I sat next to the girl of my dreams, watching Mothra pulling a heroic sacrifice as I chowed down on my popcorn. Momo smiled as I cuddled up next to her. I kissed her neck gently as the movie finished. She giggled.
"So, what now? A Disney movie? Another Gojira movie?" she asked.
"I never took your dad for the Disney movie type… How about… uhm… Hercules?" I suggested, holding up the DVD and putting it in once Momo nodded. The song I Can Go The Distance made me tear up, Hades made me laugh. Those two movies were great levity from what happened earlier.
"Sido, I knew you could relate to Hercules, He was treated like a freak because he was too strong. But now, look at you, you're working hard and-" Momo said, being shut up by me. I already knew that I found my place, MY OWN PLACE.
We continued to kiss and hold each other, her arms wrapped around me and mine around her. I noticed something odd… my phone was buzzing.
"Oh, e-excuse me…" I mumbled as I answered it.
"Hello, brother," Shouto said.
"Hey, Sho, what's up?" I asked.
"Come back home, okay? You can go back, but Mom wants everybody together… and HE'S back," Shouto sighed as I hung up and got dressed.
"Hm? Where are you going?" Momo muttered.
"I'm gonna go see my family, apparently someone is back. See ya later," I said, putting on more casual clothes. She hugged me.
"Come back soon, alright? I love you," she said, kissing me on the forehead as I marched out. I took the train to the neighborhood. The old place was huge, and I saw Natsuo's car out in front. I walked up to the front door.
I knocked as the door opened. Revealing a man that was taller than me. His black hair was stiff as his azure eyes peeked out from his shadowed face. His jaw, neck, area below his eyes and arms were covered in dark purple skin. He smiled, and something immediately tipped me off that something was extremely wrong. His smile… it wasn't friendly, it seemed fake.
"Ah, if it isn't my little brother Sido! Nice sword. A bit tacky, but it's alright," he greeted as I held my sword's hilt in my hand. My eyes darted around nervously.
"Brings back a lot of bad memories, right?" the man said as Shouto joined me.
"Stay sharp, I think something's off, WAY off…" I muttered to him.
"Yeah, I know that," Shouto whispered back.
"Oh wow, barely even ten or twelve minutes into this and there's already whispering…" he crooned as a blue fire appeared on the tip of his finger. I flinched as the guy brought the flame closer to my face. I unsheathed my sword and held it up. My fear of fire resurging after the USJ incident.
"Keep that back, I'm warning you!" I stammered as my hands shook.
"How hypocritical… You have fire in your hero name. But, you're scared of it," he marveled as I kept my sword pointing up.
"Where's everyone else?" Shouto demanded as I nodded.
"Oh, them? They're here, c' mon," the guy motioned as we reluctantly followed. He led us down the lit hallway, leading us back to the main living room. Mom, Fuyumi, and Natsuo were sitting on the couch as we came in.
Mom looked up at us, smiling serenely, "Ah, I see you've already met him," she said as I kept standing.
"I bet you all are wonderin' who he is, right?" Natsuo said, raking a hand through his hair and watching this mysterious man sit on the arm of the recliner. I still had my sword out. I didn't have my suit, but I had my blade.
He stood up as I still glared at him.
"My name is Touya Todoroki. My quirk is Cremation. The reason I've gathered you all together… is to finally reveal me to you all. I'm also here to wipe it all away! All of the past, and due to our darling father dying… I'd much rather burn it all down," He sighed, smiling as I clenched my teeth.
"No, you can't burn away the past! You have to accept it… let it be. If you burn it away, then you'll lose your motive. Your purpose, too," I snarled as my sword glinted in the light.
"Then what is your purpose?" Touya asked, raising an eyebrow as I glared at him.
"Boys… don't, not here," Mom warned.
"My purpose is to be a justice of the quirkless! To show that we can be powerful too! I am their sword, their guardian… their armor of hope!" I said, my conviction laid bare.
"Hah! That's childish," he snarled as in a flash, I was clashing with him. My eyes burned in the blue light of his flames, my fear of them rising.
"Then allow me to prove it!" I snarled.
"Fine, Quick Draw, first one to draw blood wins!" he agreed as his flames shaped into a blade.
We went outside as I swallowed my fear, I held my blade the usual way as he held it an odd way, like a stick and not an extension of your body. I closed my eyes, sheathed my blade, and kept my hand on the hilt. I breathed out, breathed in. I opened my eyes and unsheathed my blade, clashing with my brother as we blocked and parried. I dug deep down for the power Doctor Strange was talking about, trying to find some way to bring it out.
'I already have it… I already have the power…' I thought as it rushed through my veins.
*KA TANG!* our swords clashed as I parried again. My eyes were closed as I listened, I smelled, and I felt. I danced around him, my legs moving like liquid. My arms like a machine. I dodged and weaved gently, bobbing around him as his frustration mounted.
"This isn't a quirk, this is just pure focus," I sighed, sweeping my blade and knocking him down. I helped him up as I noticed I caught him on the arm.
"You're good, Sido, let's go spend time with our family," Touya said as I felt his hand ruffling my hair. It felt so familiar. Even his smell seemed familiar. Something about him made me reminisce about all of those times differently.
We went back to them, and I smiled, really smiled. I looked into the red sky and sighed.
'Dad… you'd be so happy, right? Happy that I became so strong… the real dad that showed me all of those old films, and told me to keep on going… you never once hated me, did you? I'm… going to miss you, and I hope that we can meet again as better people, in the end, I'll push and shove my way to number one, the way you wanted us all to do. My sword isn't just a means to an end… it's a promise, a promise that I owe you, even if you hated me, even if you abused me, this sword's name… is going to be Endeavor, as the past is my burden to carry and hold the best moments dear…'
'I built this… I made this. My promise is to lay down this sword once my job is done, and rest.' I thought as I had fun with my family under the red sky. I never want this to end… I want it to go on forever… tomorrow is a mystery, and yesterday is history… but today is a gift.
Life is always about how you build it. Be it fast, be it slow… be it well-made, or shoddily done, if it works for you, then live with it.
I walked back home, my sword on my waist and my step lively, I wanted to just go home and work on my suits. I didn't see Momo anywhere, but I just dismissed it as her taking a nap. I hung my sword on my suit's back. I started to work on it, trying to fix the jump jets as I felt someone's arms around my waist.
"Mm… welcome home, Sido…" Momo's voice sighed, she leaned down and made eye contact with me, I pushed my goggles up and kissed her on the cheek.
"How was your day, babe?" I asked.
"It was alright, a bit lonely without you…" she said, nuzzling me as I noticed that she was wearing one of my shirts. Under normal circumstances, I'd be okay with it, but given the fact that it was a little too tight on her, I just slid my goggles back on as she sat on the bench as her feet kicked back and forth.
"Are you okay?" she asked as I pulled up my goggles and put down my tools.
"Let's make a promise, right here, okay?" I asked.
Momo nodded, clearly listening.
"Promise me that you'll have my back, and… put on one of your shirts… that's a little indecent," I sighed as she smiled mischievously. Her royal blue eyes were half-lidded and sultry again.
"Awww… c' mon! All work and no play makes Machine-Head a dull boy!" she wheedled. Her cute face making a pouting expression as I just felt guilty. I put my goggles up as I stood.
"Tch, fine… I was trying to fix the jump jets anyway… not that those bastards wanted to work anyway," I huffed as Momo cheered up a bit, she smiled as I wiped off my sweat.
"I'm gonna take a shower," I sighed as she smiled winningly.
"Whatever you're thinking, no. Also, whatever you're about to do, no," I sighed as she pouted again.
"C' mon, I know several guys who would KILL for that," she sighed.
"But not me! So, no! Zip it!" I snarled.
"Make me…" she invited.
"I'd love to, but no," I sighed as she grabbed me.
"C' mon, Machine-Head…" She crooned, grabbing my hand and leading me into the bathroom.
'Oh, sweet Tony Stark… give me strength…' I thought.
"I was just kidding about that… wow, you're so gullible," Momo giggled as I wrapped my arms around her, kissing the back of her neck.
"Still, you're half-Asgardian…" I sighed.
"My Aunt Val has a bet with my father…" Momo started, smiling as I leaned up to her ear.
"And what would that be…?" I whispered in my huskiest voice possible.
"She bet that you'd… get with me, and my father bet with her… then my Uncle Loki said you would too… Mr. Parker, Tony, and Doctor Strange are on the side against that. Now, look at us, sharing a bed as I'm in the arms of a mechanized swordsman that's also my best friend…" She sighed as I continued to kiss her.
"Mm… I guess your family was right…" I mumbled as I rolled over, ready to fall asleep.
Momo grinned as she joined me, her arms around my body as mine were around her. My face was buried in her golden and black locks. We didn't need a wall anymore.