We are the Future
Author's Note: I realize I forgot to take the last note out of the chapter when I eventually did decide to cut the chapter in half. So just to be clear let me repeat myself... the legal jargon I'm going to be spouting later in the fic is not necessarily accurate… as much dedication as I put into my fics I cross the line at reading law books and such, so bear with me.
Chapter: Epilogue
~Two Days Later~
Izumi woke in a hospital bed, her eyes blinking as she glanced around the room. As she tried to move she grunted and glanced down at the devices holding her hands and keeping her pinned to the bed. When she tried to use her warp quirk all she got was a sputter of smoke. The cops and doctors, she thought with some amusement, weren't taking any chances.
"Well… can't really blame them." She murmured and wiggled some trying to get comfortable. She glanced to the side, and her heart just melted. Sitting in the love seat was Shoto, flanked by her sons, all three of them asleep. "Damn where's a camera when you need one?"
The snap of a camera had Izumi turning her head the opposite direction and her smile bloomed as she saw Bakugo, bandaged and holding his phone out.
"Don't say I never do anything for you." He grunted. "Deku was relatively unharmed except for his concussion. He went to go get us some food."
"Good, cuz I'm starving. How pissed off are you at me?" She wondered with a smile.
"Not as pissed as I should be." He admitted setting his phone down. "What you've been doing over the past decade has just been stupid. You should have told your family what was going on from the start, it would have saved everyone from a lot of heartache." He nodded his head to Shoto in particular and Izumi shut her eyes nodding.
"You're right… but I can't take it back… can't make up for the mistakes I've made. I can only move forward. I don't know how long I'm gonna be imprisoned but… at least I can take solace in the fact I won't be going there alone. All for One is exactly where he belongs."
"The serum you used to take away his quirk. Izuku told me about the Chisaki case from his internship. Is that how you've been taking away criminals quirks all this time, or have you been personally removing them yourself?"
"The serum mostly… I only have about ten quirks myself most of which I gained by accident rather than design. The first two quirks I absorbed back in high school, after picking a fight with some gang members. I didn't realize what All for One had done to me until it was too late. Then I absorbed Super Regen and shock absorption from the Nomu that attacked Izuku and I at Fairy Land. Once I realized I was stuck with this quirk I couldn't bring myself to be a hero."
"Why the hell not? You could have just learned to control it, and ignored it."
"I wasn't confident I could… and It's not the kind of quirk that a hero should possess. It doesn't help that I'm not the kind of person that can put people's minds at ease and give them hope. I constantly question the society, its rules and regulations, and have too much blood on my hands to be anything but a disappointment in that regard."
Bakugo remained silent. He wanted to scream at her… but found he couldn't. Instead he huffed and slumped back into his bed.
"You're better than you realize, Izumi. It shows in the people who care about you."
As if on cue Hiroki stirred from his nap and glanced up. He saw his mother's eyes were open and he quickly jumped up.
"Mom!" The shout woke up Shoto and he looked at her groggy for a moment before snapping to attention himself.
"Izumi…" He stood the still groggy Nowaki to his feet before getting up and stroking her hair. "You alright?"
"Define alright…" she looked down at the devices and her eyes went sorrowful. "I'm really sorry, Shoto. I should have told you what was going on."
"I'm used to your surprises, Izumi. While I wish you were more truthful with me, I can understand why you kept it hidden." He stroked her cheek staring into her eyes with a sorrowful expression of his own. "I wish there was something I could do."
"I made my bed, now I must lie in it… so to speak." she smiled gently, wishing she could touch him. Her smile brightened as her boys climbed in the bed and hugged her and she nuzzled into them.
"You were awesome, mom!" Hiroki cuddled in happy his mom was okay.
"Yeah! You took on the bad man and won. I knew you'd make a good hero!" Nowaki curled up in the crook of her arm.
"I'm not a hero, Nowaki. I was just being your mama, and protecting you." She leaned up kissing his cheek and then Hiroki's. "Both of you mean the world to me."
The door opened and Izumi glanced him, offering a half smile to Izuku, and then a firm scowl at the policeman who came in behind him.
"Mrs. Todoroki… I'm glad to see you're feeling better." The detective stepped up and Shoto turned and placed his hand on Izumi's shoulder, showing that he stood for her.
"Just couldn't wait until I've healed to arrest me, could you?" She said with a mix of sarcasm and sadness.
"Well with your reputation for running, we thought it best to keep you confined. You'll be in the hospital for another day according to your doctor, and then we'll have to put you in lock up… but I'd like to get your statement before we officially incarcerate you."
Faces went grim, Izuku stepping back to be beside his sister, showing he too would stand up for her.
"Excuse me, but just who are you incarcerating?" A voice from the door had everyone looking up and Izumi's brows rose up.
"Whiz? The hell are you doing here?"
"Saving your stupid ass… I hope you appreciate what I'm doing for you, you idiot. I don't hop on a plane for just anyone, yah know. It's bad enough I had to bribe your pilot, which I'm including in your legal services." Whiz adjusted his tie. The suit he wore made Izumi want to break out into laughter. The yellow color paired with a purple tie clashed in a way that hurt her eyes, and it did little to hide his pudgy form.
"My… legal services?" Despite herself Izumi smirked at him. "I know you graduated from Harvard, but…"
"I'm certified, and as your lawyer I'd like to tell this monkey…" he jerked a thumb at the detective. "He has no jurisdiction to your case."
"Um…" the detective pocketed his notebook. "I'm afraid I do, Mr…"
"Maxim Kane, Mrs. Todoroki's attorney, and no you don't. You only have jurisdiction to natives of Japan." He pulled out a file and slapped it on his chest. "Section 1A, article C of international affairs states that any criminal act committed by a U.S. citizen across seas will be handled by the U.S. government. Seeing as Mrs. Izumi Todoroki and Mr. Tadashi Todoroki had yet to complete their Japan Citizenship papers, She's still considered a U.S. citizen."
"That's in matters of simple acts of crime. When a person is facing murder charges…"
"What murder charges? From what I hear, All for One has already confessed to these murders for the entire world to see. Even if you wanted to subjugate my client for attacking a man with a deadly weapon, it would be up to your heroics committee to punish her as she is licensed to use force if felt threatened."
"Licensed?" Shoto looked down at Izumi who suddenly went blue in the face. "You got your hero's license?"
"Sort of… I do have a U.S. provisional license I used to help me find work... but it doesn't really count as I didn't use my real name." Izumi started to explain but Whiz tsked her.
"On the contrary, Izumi-chan. That license if perfectly legal. You took the hero's license exam after the birth of your children. Before that when you turned 18 you applied for U.S. citizenship under the name, Izumi Toshinori. While it isn't your given birth name, by U.S. standards it is the name you chose to go by, and is legally documented in many different forms… your school records, your green card, your driver's license aaaannnd…" he opened the folder he gave the detective showing off her provisionary hero's license. "Your hero's license."
"So… you're saying all of No Mercy's actions have technically been legal?" Izuku scratched his cheek
"Oh I wouldn't say all as Izumi's been at this since before she was 18… but seeing as no one can provide any proof of her involvement during that time, and as All for One has confessed to the other crimes, I'm afraid the worst thing this monkey cop can do to my client is have her deported."
"Izumi!" Izuku hugged his sister tightly laughing. "This is so great! You don't have to go to jail!"
"Whiz I could kiss you." Izumi said with tears stinging her eyes as her family cuddled in around her all shouting with glee.
"Well, don't let me stop you." He puffed out his chest smirking boastfully.
~One Week Later~
"Well I'm glad that's all finally over." Endeavor said with a cocky smirk. The case was closed, and as predicted with all of Whiz's evidence, and knowledge of law Izumi was pardoned from all charges… providing she be deported back to America. That had been his input. Get rid of the girl, make her leave the country, and everything could go back to the way things were.
"Yeah, whatever you say, old man." Shoto muttered staring out the car door with sorrowful eyes, and a grim expression. It hadn't sat well with her family, but Izumi had been more than happy with these particular consequences. She'd been deathly afraid they'd try to take her kids away from her, and he supposed this action was definitely the better end. Still he couldn't quite feel… content with the way things were.
He was happy Izumi felt her life was starting to right itself again, happy she could keep her children, happy that she'd be safe from All for One. She'd do as she promised and retire from being No Mercy. She talked on the phone with a realtor finding some good suitable land in the country where she and the boys could live quietly, and peacefully.
There was just one problem.
~Flashback~
"You're… not coming with me, are you?" She looked at Shoto with sad eyes.
"I want to… but I can't, Izumi." Shoto said looking just as miserable. "My agency is here, and I have responsibilities I can't just ignore."
"It's okay, I understand." She swallowed hard fighting off tears. "If things were different I'd stay… but I'm not allowed to stay in the country for more than a few days at a time. Just one of those consequences I should have been expecting."
"I'll come visit you and the boys whenever I can." He took her face in his hands. "We can make this work, Izumi."
"Yeah… we can. I'm more than willing to put in the effort." she hugged him laying her head on his chest. "Even if it's only one day a year, it'll be worth it to be with you."
"Even if it's only a few hours out of a year, it'll be worth it to have you and the boys in my life." He kissed her one last time… and a few days later watched her, the boys, and a piece of his heart depart on a plane to America.
~End of Flashback~
He was an idiot… an absolute idiot for letting her go a second time. What the hell was wrong with him? Shoto shut his eyes and clenched his fist over his heart. Why did he continue to deny himself the one person that always made him happy?
"Don't look so down son…" Endeavor said with a smirk. "You're better off without that wretched girl. She was nothing but a distraction, and a tasteless one at that. You can do far better."
"Maybe… but I don't want better." He muttered as the car pulled up to the ancestral home. As he stepped out he heard his father make a choking sound. Lifting his eyes up from the ground they widened when he saw a big empty lot where the house used to be. "What the-"
"H-How… what… WHERE?!" Endeavor comically reacted and stepped forward looking around. He spotted a piece of paper taped to the statue that once graced the front stoop. He took it, read it and let out a roar of anger and disbelief. Before he could set it aflame Shoto snatched the note from his hand and read it himself.
Dear Baka In-Law,
The house is still mine, but you can have your land back. The papers are with your lawyer.
Izumi Todoroki.
"Pfft… HAHAHAHA!" For the first time in days Shoto burst out in laughter and held his sides. "Oh my god… oh my god she got you good!"
"This is hardly a laughing matter, Shoto! I'm going to my lawyers right now and sorting out this mess." He stormed back to the car. Shoto folded the note and pocketed it.
"While your at it, tell him to draw up papers for my agency." Shoto said with a smile.
"The hell are you talking about?" Endeavor glared at him.
"I'm tired of choosing my career over my heart." Shoto said pulling out his phone and smiling at the picture of Izumi and the boys that graced his background. "I made that mistake once and no way in hell I'm letting it happen again."
~In America~
"Thanks again for your help, Compress." Izumi stood in front of the ancestral home, now conveniently located in the mountains of Connecticut, a stone's throw away from New York City. "I have to say I'm impressed. I wasn't sure if you'd be able to compress the entire house in one go, but it looks exactly the same."
"My pleasure, Izumi." Compress bowed. "It's the least I can do for you after you got me that show on Broadway."
"Your talents were being wasted on crime." she affectionately pat his cheek. "Now you can mesmerize everyone with your slide of hand and magicks."
"You must do a show with me, a death defying disappearing act that will blow spectators away!"
"Nah… as fun as it sounds I think I've pulled more than enough disappearing acts than I can handle." She grinned at him. "I do want front row seats to yours though."
"Consider it done, my dear." He kissed her hand and waved goodbye before getting in his car and driving off.
Izumi waved him and let out a small sigh sitting on the front step of her home. There was nothing but green and land for miles. Plenty of quiet and room for her boys to run around and have adventures in. While they missed their old school in Japan, they were more than happy settling back in America, using their experience across seas to gain popularity with their new class.
"Things are coming full circle… so why do I feel incomplete?" She pulled her legs to her chest and lifted the locket up opening it. She admired all the faces, then flipped the panel so Shoto's face stared back at her. The ache in her heart increased and she felt the tears starting to spill.
"Shoto…" She sobbed and cried into her drawn up knees. "Shoto…"
She let herself cry for a good two minutes just letting it all out. She was glad the boys were preoccupied elsewhere, or she'd have a hard time trying to explain the emotional rollercoaster going on inside her heart.
When she heard a car drive up the gravel path she quickly composed herself wiping tears away. Thinking Compress forgot something she stood up to face him with a smile… but stopped when she saw the yellow Taxi… and the man that unfolded himself out of it.
"Shoto…" She walked… and then ran to him. Flinging her arms out she jumped into his and laughed happily as he swung her around. "I'm so happy to see you! I didn't think you'd be able to get away so soon."
"Things changed… and so have I." He set her down and contented himself by kissing her long and deep. She slipped into his arms more than happy to return the passionate embrace.
"How long are you staying?" She murmured between kisses and smiled as he traced some over her face and down her neck.
"That depends on you…" He pulled back staring in her eyes.
'On me?" She grinned obliviously.
"Yeah… I hear getting a green card isn't easy… but it'll be a lot easier if you marry an American." He stated matter-o-factly.
"Green… Marry…" She looked at him wide eyed and stuttering. She stepped back and let out a gasp when he went down on one knee and pulled out a ring. Instead of the bold big diamond Tadashi had given her, this one had a mix of blue and fiery stones. "Shoto!"
"I told you, how my father gave my mother a gift for every child she gave him."
"Yes… the diamond bracelet for Tadashi… I still have it even though it's… oh god, Shoto-" Tears filled her eyes. "This is…"
"Yeah… He'd given her earrings when I was born, rubies and sapphires… but I had them take out the stones and had this made for you instead. It's symbolic, I think, for what you've done for me. When we first met I was forced into a position I didn't like… and I cut myself off from my full potential refusing to be what my father wanted. You helped me see the special qualities in myself, and helped me to recreate them. I'm the hero I am today because you cared enough to interfere, and gave me back the people in my life I'd all but forgotten. My mom and I have a solid and beautiful relationship thanks to you, and Tadashi got the chance to know what it's like to be a part of a family thank to you. I'm eternally grateful for what you've done."
"Shoto…" her heart pounded, and she held it feeling it ache and soar high at the same time.
"I know to the world it may seem too soon after Tadashi's death… but I've been waiting for you for eight years Izumi. We've had more than enough time to think about where we stand with each other and I'm tired of denying my feelings, of denying myself the one person who could make my life complete."
Izumi held her mouth tears falling down. From the doorway Hiroki and Nowaki watched with avid curiosity.
"What's Uncle Shoto doing?" Nowaki wondered aloud.
"Looks like he's begging for mercy." Hiroki answered. "I wonder if Mama is scolding him."
"Izumi Midoriya… Toshinori… Todoroki…" he laughed at the long winded name and she couldn't help but laugh with him. "Will you Marry Me?"
"Yes! Oh god yes I will!" She leapt into his arms again knocking him to the ground and kissing him breathlessly.
The boys looked at each other, shrugged and then ran up to both of them jumping onto the pile. Shoto broke the kiss laughing as he sat Izumi up and wrestled the boys before hugging them to him.
"Hey, did you miss me?"
"Yeah! Were you getting scolded uncle Shoto?"
"No, i wasn't…" he stood them up and knelt in front of both boys grinning. "I was asking your mom to marry me." Both boys stare long at him then look up at their mom.
"Did you say yes?" they asked almost in sync.
Izumi, who was smiling even while crying, just nodded. Both boys let out a war whoop and hugged Shoto hard.
"Yay! We have a daddy again!" Nowaki shouted joyfully.
"You have two of them." Shoto corrected and pulled back to look them both in the eyes. "Remember boys, I'm not here to replace Tadashi. You're always going to be his sons because he was there when you were born, he helped raise you and made you happy."
"We know…" Hiroki nodded and hugged him still. "We miss him lots… but we can still miss him and like you as our dad right?"
"Of course you can, because you're my sons too, and not just legally." He watched their faces go blank and he shook his head laughing. "You'll understand more when you're older."
"So does this mean you're gonna come live with us again?" Nowaki asked.
"Yes, this is my home now too." he stood up and took Izumi's face in his hands stroking her cheeks. "Let's make some good memories here."
"Yes…" She cupped her hands over his. "...and a brighter future."
The End
~Ask Briry~
Briry: FINALLY DONE! Yay… okay well sort of. I feel like there's a lot of places where I rushed, or didn't cover very well because I got too focused on the main part of the plot. One thing in particular was Bakugo and Izuku's relationship… soooo what I've decided to do is…
NEW ARC!
We are the Future: 2nd Act
I'll be focusing on two different aspects one of which will be Izuku and Bakugo's perspective as it will revolve around their relationship, and lives. Situations will include Izuku finally telling All Might about his relationship with Bakugo… and later on Freya, Hiroki and Nowaki will be taking their first steps towards becoming young heroes in the new evolving society.
I'll need some time to iron out the details so more than likely this story won't be released until after Hero's Kingdom is complete. I also want to work on my KH fics as I've been ignoring them due to… reasons. *coughKH3Cough*
At any rate I hope you all enjoyed this fic and how it turned out despite me rushing through it a bit. Thanks again for being loyal readers and I'll see you next time!