--
Ayden
"You ready?" Asked Dee as we walked to our hero class, which was in a squat building on the edge of campus.
"I guess I have to be." I shrugged.
"You'll do great." Encouraged Dee.
"I hope so." I added as we reached our destination.
"After you." Said Dee as she held the door open.
I stepped into the room, as all nine remaining students of the top hero class on campus stared at me as I walked in the room.
The desks were arranged in an arc around the teacher's desk at the front of the room. Some motivational posters were scattered around the room.
Hadrian was on the edge next to an open seat and gave me a friendly wave. The other students seemed normal enough, well, some of them.
On the far side of the room was a girl with platinum blonde hair with dark black highlights at the end. A pair of folded wings matched her hair, a white main body with a mix of black feathers on the end. Next to her was a shorter Indian kid, a bright blue streak in his long hair. Following after was a guy with short cut light brown hair, a deep black mohawk rose above his head. Sitting with her chair back facing forward, a girl with yellow blonde hair pulled into a neat braid, her bangs were pushed back almost like they were blown by the wind.
Next was a young woman with devilishly beautiful features, perfect face and gloriously tanned deep bronze skin, her chocolate hair was brushed and curled flawlessly as it fell over her shoulder, her catching eyes deep red burned with passion. I usually didn't spend time comparing myself to other girls, but damn, she was perfect, I could tell even with her sitting down that she had curves in all the right places. I wasn't a lesbian, but I don't think I would've minded her. After her was a strange boy, he seemed to crumble under just a pass over him. Antlers grew over his tawny brown hair, his long deer like ears were flitting about, but generally stayed put back. He was cute, in a childlike way.
The other two looked like average kids, nothing special, but that didn't mean I should underestimate them, even I looked average to passerby.
"Ayden." Called Hadrian. "You're sitting behind me."
"Awesome." I cheered with a smile, damn I loved his accent.
Dee took an empty seat towards the middle of the arch as the bell rang.
"Alright, that was the bell, and I apologize for my tardiness." Announced our teacher as he ran in through the door, not bothering to close it. He was wearing a simple polo with khaki pants and purple sneakers, Rei would've approved. His black hair was slicked back, but he wore it well. He was a taller guy, lanky build, with blue frame glasses over mismatched green and brown eyes.
'Two people with heterochromia at one place?' I asked myself. 'I'll have to ask Ryan the odds of that later.' But I did recognize him, it was Geometrix, a hero based out of Portland, I didn't realize he had taken up the teaching mantle.
He looked over the room. "Great, everyone's here." He did a slight double take as he passed over Hadrian and I. "Ah, spectacular. Our transfer from Defender. Welcome to my class. I'm Geometrix, but call me Mr. G." "Will do, Mr. G." I nodded.
"Did I leave the door open again?" He sighed looking at the open classroom door.
He opened a drawer in his desk before throwing a grappling hook towards the door handle, catching it perfectly, and pulling, closing the door. That was his quirk for you, anything geometric or math related he could see, and know precisely how to manipulate the environment to his needs. "Now, with that out of the way, young miss, would you like to introduce yourself?" "Uh, sure." I said getting up and moving to stand in front of the arc. I felt the whole class watching, but I didn't care. "I'm Ayden Clark." I began. "I'm from Vancouver, Canada, so I can kick all of your butts in skiing and snowboarding." I got a slight chuckle. "I do go to school at Defender, and yes I was part of the classes that were attacked." I felt a tear begin to pool. "But I'll get to that later." I dismissed. "I, obviously, want to become a pro hero. Other than that there really isn't much you need to know." I pretended to walk back to my seat, before stopping suddenly. "Oh wait, there is one more thing." I began. "My dad is Stormbreaker. Just thought I should throw that out there." The class lost it. The kid with antlers ears flashed wide. The winged girl's jaw dropped. The girl sitting backwards fell out of her chair as she tried to stand up. Dee and Hadrian lost their shit as they laughed at the whole situation. "You suck up to me and I'll punch you. Don't give me everything you got in a fight, I'll punch after the fight. You come at me with everything you got and I'll punch you in the fight then buy you a soda. Sound good?" I asked before heading to my seat.
Mr. G was chuckling as the class quieted down. "I expected nothing less from you Ayden. You really are just like your dad."
"Thanks." I said.
"Now, why don't the rest of you just say your name, so Ayden knows what to call you."
The winged girl went first. "I'm Astraea."
The line followed in suit. "Yodhi."
"Slain."
"Charlie."
"Opal."
"Jack."
"Dee."
"Eli." "Paige."
"Hadrian."
"Great. Now that that is out of the way. Today is going to be quite the day. It's supermove developing time."
"Yes." I cheered loudly. I had been working on this for a while, and oh boy was it epic.
"Glad to see someone is enthusiastic." Said Mr. G. "Now, get changed into your hero suits and let's get rocking."
--
I walked out of the locker room as I tied up my ridiculously long hair. I was tempted to get it cut short, but I like it long, but it was also a hassle to deal with in the mornings.
"Dang, that hero suit looks nice." Complimented Hadrian as he looked me up and down.
"Are you checking' me out?" I managed to squeeze out as my hair tie was in between my teeth.
"Hey, you look good in orange." He defended cheekily. His hero suit was interesting. A purple toga, which showed off his ripped physique. On his feet and arms were gold colored metal boots and gauntlets, tucked under one arm was a gold colored helmet. All were Roman style, while the helmet was a Greek spartan esque helm.
"I really hope you have something under that toga."I joked, looking him up and down.
"Are you checking me out now?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Possibly." I said, holding my head higher. "You look good in purple."
"Alright students." Called Mr. G. "Let's head outside. It's time to work on those super moves." The class filed out of the room and out onto an amazing field full of concrete slabs, massive rocks, barrels that I assumed were full of sand or water, and several running waterways on pumps. Targets spanned out over a large field, high walls on either side. It was a quirk training paradise.
"You will push your quirks to the absolute limit. I expect you all to be so worn out that you can barely pick up your fork at dinner." Shouted Mr. G. "Just kidding on that last part, but seriously push yourselves. I expect a lot after last year. Now get to work." I looked to Hadrian and Dee. "Wanna work together, or at least near each other?"
"Sure." Answered Dee. Her hero suit was simplistic, a dark crimson top and bottom that left her midriff open, which was quite toned. Over the top was a lighter red piece that was more rigid, sticking out over her shoulders like pauldos, it was triangle shaped and narrowed down to a point in the middle at the bottom of the top piece.
"That might be fun." Said Hadrian as he pulled his helmet on.
I almost screamed at the sight. Hadrian's helmet completely blacked out his face, only those gold rings around his pupil glowing. It was unsettling and intimidating, completely hiding the kind and fluffy haired boy underneath. "Woah. That is quite the change."
"That's the point." He answered his voice losing a human quality, it sounded hollow, like there was no soul.
"Makes me wish I wore my headpiece." I mumbled, pouting.
"Huh?" Asked Hadrian.
"Nothing." I dismissed.
I walked over to one of the waterways and powered up my quirk, the blue flames traveling down the lines in my hero suit, the blue light turning a few heads from the class.
"Nice." Said Dee with a thumbs up. "That looks awesome, almost like Endeavour." "Where do you think I got the idea from." I said with a cocky smile before taking a deep breath.
I closed my eyes, if I was going to pull this move off I would have to pour all the energy I had into it.
"AHHHHH." I let out a roaring scream, feeling the flames around my body flare, my hair tugging in the bun as some of it caught fire. I plunged my hands into the shallow water, the sound of ice cracking stone and rending metal, the air had a chill to it.
I opened my eyes and looked at the carnage. Spread out in front of me was a wave of ice, the stone was pushed up from the water, the pump had exploded, sending a geyser into the sky before quickly freezing. The ice carried far enough to freeze and rupture pumps and stone on the other waterways.
I dare not look back at the students as I prepared for what came next. I wasn't through yet, it all had to be melted now.
I felt the flames grow once again as I took a deep breath in, I let my hands float a few millimeters off the ground before feeling fire escape from my hands, the flames expanded and I could feel the steam as water boiled instantaneously.
I panted, feeling my legs shake, I let the flames die down across my skin, even after all my training, I still wasn't strong enough to do something like that without expending so much energy.
I turned to face Hadrian and Dee
"Hahaha." Laughed Hadrian as he jumped up and down, his helmet in his hands, letting his little curls bounce up and down. "That was awesome." He shouted.
"Woah." Said Dee, her jaw dropped. "That was nuts."
"Impressive, Ayden." Said Mr. G. "But can you do something like that for a longer period of time, and multiple times?"
I thought for a second, feeling the eyes of the class on me. "No, I can't. I can do what I just did, two bursts of ice or fire, or a long burst of ice or fire." "Then you haven't made a super move." He commented nonchalantly.
"But I." I blutered.
"But you haven't done anything except create an opening for a potential assailant. If your attack misses you are now tired and out of breath." He snapped his fingers. I felt a boom before something kicked me square in the back, hard. I flew forward.
"What is she, your attack dog?" I grunted, standing up and brushing off the gravel dust. I cast a glare back at the blonde headed girl named Charlie. She had her arms crossed, her hero suit was a dark green flight suit zipped up to her chest, showing off a bit of cleavage, with a purple hip cape. "That wasn't fair."
"Neither is a fight against villains, or your own classmates." Snapped Mr. G. He took a deep breath. "Can you please come with me?" He asked walking away from the group.
I realized that I had no choice in the matter.
I ran, as best I could, after my new teacher.
He stopped and turned to face me, I saw that we were standing in the middle of the range.
"Ayden." He said with a sigh. "I apologize for snapping earlier. But I expect more out of you."
'Great, my parentage causing more problems, but I should've seen this coming.' I sighed internally.
"And it's not about who your father is." He said, his mismatched eyes downcast. "It's more to do with what you have been through. These kids made it through an internship, and two of them saw any real fighting. What you have been through, the attacks on Defender, the deaths of Alana and Kiarra. I don't want you making fatal mistakes."
His voice and eyes were heavy, too heavy, even for someone his age. 'His eyes looked like Asher's.' I realized. 'He's been through something, something that changed him.'
"I share this with you in complete confidence." He began again. "From one survivor to another." He looked up at me. "I haven't been a hero for that long really, only about six years. I was given the title of pro hero right after the Chicago Freeze. I lived through that, I was there. I was on internship, my last one actually. I had been there for three weeks, I had grown close with my partner, his name was Drake. He was an awesome guy, one of the nicest people you would ever meet." Mr. G let out a slight smile. "On that day, when the Cold Hand attacked, we were dispatched to fight." Tears crept into his voice.
"We fought harder than we ever had in our entire lives. We were growing closer as friends with each second we were out there, fighting for days on end as the city was under siege. We were fighting a villain, just the two of us. He used his supermove, he drained all of his energy, he could barely move, and while he recovered I watched him get sliced in half." He stopped his horrifying tale.
He didn't need to say anything else.
He knew that I understood.
I steeled myself for the week ahead.
--
Back at Defender
Rei
"Where the heck are they?" Asked Johnny as he checked his watch. He was leaning up against his car.
"I have no idea." I answered with a shrug. "Ryan said that he and Valerie were on their way."
"The question was rhetorical and yeah I know, I'm in the group chat." Sassed Johnny.
"I just hope we aren't bothering Ayden." Said Iz as she mindlessly twirled a lock of hair.
"She'll be fine." Dismissed Haru with a wave of her hand.
"Hey Johnny." Called Ryan as he and Valerie walked up the car holding hands, Valerie trailing behind Ryan. "Sorry we're late."
"About time you two got here." He said with crossed arms. "We were about to miss all of our appointments."
"Sorry." Said Valerie quietly, stepping out from behind her boyfriend. "It was my fault." She tugged at her jacket sleeve with a gloved hand, which she wore despite the slight heat, and we all knew why she wore it. "Hey, Ryan." She looked over. "Can you help me get this jacket off?"
"You sure?" He asked, concern in his voice.
"What's wrong?" Asked Johnny, vocalizing all of our concerns.
Ryan stood in front of Valerie with his back to us, as if to shield her.
I saw Valerie begin to pull off the jacket, before gasping, along with the rest of the crew.
There she stood, beautiful as ever. She was looking down at the ground, her face flushed, and her arm was holding onto her scarred arm, as if to still keep it hidden. She was wearing short sleeves.
"Oh my gosh Valerie." Iz ran to her friend and wrapped her into a massive hug. "This is so different, but I'm glad. I will be fine with whatever you choose to wear. But, this, this is huge."
"Thank you." Muttered Valerie meekly.
"Same goes for me." Added Johnny, he looked to Haru and I. "And I think I speak for Rei and Haru as well." "For sure." I agreed.
"Can I put the jacket back on now?" She asked, looking to Ryan. "I'm still afraid."
"Yeah of course." He passed Valerie her jacket as Johnny got in and started the car.
"Valerie, you're riding up front." He said. "I don't want any funny business in the back of my car." He joked.
"If you had a girl you'd be having a grand old time in this car." Countered Ryan.
"Just shut up and get in." Teased Johnny.
With Valerie and Johnny in the front, that left Iz, Haru, Ryan, and I crammed into the back seat.
"We really need to get another car." Complained Haru.
"You're the small one." Shouted Ryan.
"You don't got wings." Countered Haru as the car lurched forward. "I have to constantly lean forward."
"And you don't have a tail and two extra arms." Added Iz.
"And my horns graze the ceiling." I added.
"Iz, Rei, if you mess up the ceiling of my car." Johnny didn't finish his threat. We all knew the consequences would be disastrous.
"Sorry." Said Ryan in surrender, raising his hands.
"Hair appointment is first, right?" Asked Haru.
"Yep. I got us a place in town, they'll treat us good." Answered Johnny, who was surprisingly reliable when it came to scheduling for his friends, but not always himself.
"What about me?" Asked Valerie. "I'm not exactly popular."
"Don't worry. I talked to Sweets last week, she'll be joining us as an adult. So you've got nothing to worry about." Answered Johnny. "Also she gives students candy."
"There's always an ulterior motive with you." Accused Haru.
"What not to like about candy." Objected a clearly exasperated Johnny. "Also great word choice. Your vocabulary is getting larger." "Shut up and drive, shit face." Swore Haru in Japanese.
I struggled to contain a laugh.
"I'll take it that wasn't a compliment. You got any input, Rei?"
"No comment." I said quickly before stifling my laughter.
"But seriously though, did anyone else get a license over the break and not tell us?" Asked Ryan.
"I did." I said. "I got it right before break ended."
"And you failed to mention it to us?" Asked Johnny incredulously.
"We kinda had something come up." I said flatly.
The car got awkward.
"Anyways. I did get a license. And I was able to make a phone call to a certain pro hero from Ottawa."
"And." Said Haru.
"I got a ride on the way."
"You're kidding?" Asked Iz.
"You got a car out of your internship?" Asked Ryan.
"Not a car." I said. "A Polaris slingshot."
"Ohh. Nice." Said Johnny. "I've seen those things around a few times. They're nice." "Yeah."
"So when does it come in?" Asked Iz.
"In two days." I answered. "Korrina said she had it custom made. So I have no idea what it'll look like."
"Can't wait to see it." Said Haru.
"Same." I said. "Mostly cause it's my ride."
--
"Here we are." Said Johnny as he parked in front of a hair salon.
"This is going to be interesting." I said getting out of the car.
"Relax. It'll be fun." Said Johnny.
"Yeah, and who's paying?" Asked Ryan.
"We all are." Said Haru.
"You guys know what you're getting?" Asked Iz as I held the door open.
"No clue." I answered.
"Me either." Said Valerie.
"I think I'm gonna get some purple highlights." Answered Haru. "I wanna add some pop to my hair." The hair salon was neat, chairs lined the side and rear walls, separated by multicolored dividers. Our shoes clicked slightly on the hardwood floor.
"Ah, I'm guessing this is the Chicas Party? Asked the guy standing at a register. He was wearing a simple white and pink polo with khakis. His sandy brown hair was swept back with a little flair as it fell off the side.
"Yes." Answered Johnny.
"Great. Do all of you know what you want?"
"No." Answered Ryan with a shake of his head.
"Alright, take your time then. Who does know what they want."
"I do." Answered Haru.
"So do I." Said Iz.
"Same here." Added Johnny
"Alright. We'll get you three started. Everyone else can look through these magazines. Just give us a shout when you're ready." I watched as Iz was taken to a chair with a female stylist. She pulled out her phone, showing what she wanted done, the stylist nodding before running a comb through Iz's hair.
Haru early told her hair styler what she wanted: her hair curled slightly with long purple highlights."
The stylist's eyes bugged out as she started looking over Haru's massive amount of hair. I wondered what she would think if Ayden was getting her hair done.
Johnny was already getting the sides of his head cut short, and he was clearly looking forward to what he was getting.
"I think I know what I'm doing." Said Ryan after a few moments of contemplation.
"Great." Said a female stylist as she walked up to him. "This way." "That just leaves us." I laughed, looking to Valerie.
She cracked a small close lipped smile. "Yeah. I don't know what to pick for mine though."
"Maybe something to emphasize your eyes?" I tried.
"Hmm. But my eyes already stand out from how blue they are."
"Maybe dye your hair?"
"Yeah. I've always wanted darker hair. But there isn't much that would look good when my hair grows out again."
"What about highlights, like what Haru is doing?" She thought for a moment. "Yeah. I think that'll work." She turned to me. "But what are you going to do?"
I shrugged. "I have no clue."
Valerie leaned over. "What do you think Iz would like?" She asked.
My mind started racing. 'Does she know? Was she baiting me?'
I felt my face flush. "I, I don't know." "I think you should go with this look." Valerie pulled out her phone and showed me a quick image search.
"This looks like my current hairstyle." I noted.
"Yep. All you need to impress her is a bit of a cleanup."
"But, I. Why?" I asked quietly, confused.
"Isn't it obvious, Rei." Whispered Valerie. "Iz likes you."
"I don't think. I don't think I'm ready for that." "Why not?"
"Because, because of me. I'm, not like her. Not like you, or Ryan, or Johnny."
"In what way?" "I'm." I gulped. I hadn't told anyone else this yet. "I'm asexual, and I'm afraid that she won't, understand that."
I looked up at Valerie, her cold blue eyes filled with compassion. "Rei, whatever choice you make going forward is yours. But trust me, Iz likes you for you. Now, let's get our hair done." She looked up towards the register. "We've figured out what we're going to do." "Excellent." Said the guy who greeted us. "Ms." He looked towards Valerie.
"Valerie." She said.
"Ms. Valerie." If you could follow Elana here." He motioned towards a stylist who was walking up. "She'll be taking care of you today." He looked to me. "And if you'll please follow me, Mr." "Rei." I answered. "Call me Rei."
"Alright, Rei, if you would please follow me."
As I walked to the chair. I saw Haru laughing with her stylist, Johnny was talking up a storm about something, Ryan was tense, straight faced and eyes forward. Valerie was comfortable with the large apron over her, as if she was protected by it. Then there was Iz, smiling that beautiful smile. There was something so wonderful about her.
"So, what are we doing today?"
"Just getting a cleanup." I answered, sitting down. "I want to keep what I have, just make it neater, cleaner." "Sounds good to me." He said getting his clippers ready. "So, you doing this for that darked skinned girl on the other side?"
My face flushed, I could see it in the mirror.
"So that's a yes." He said with a teasing smile.
"I guess." I answered quietly.
"Lemme just tell you. Don't rush things." He advised as he moved behind me. "Take your time. Believe me. I made the mistake of not being sure with my first boyfriend. But enough about that. Let's get you lookin' nice."
--
We all walked out of that place looking better than ever.
I had a new cleaned up haircut that I was loving. Ryan now had dark brown frosted tips, Haru and Valerie were loving their new highlights, purple and auburn respectively. Johnny now looked like Hispanic Chris Hemsworth, an old hero that used a hammer in combat and called himself Thor. Iz looked amazing, her hair was slightly curled and tousled, giving it her signature messy look. She looked absolutely amazing.
"Alright." Said Johnny as he revved up his car. "Now let's rock this town."
"Woooo." Shouted Haru as she ran towards the car.
This evening was about to be crazy.
--
NAHA Headquarters
St. Louis, Missouri
This case was killing Agent Wilkson, to say the least. He was worked ragged. The African-American detective and his team had dubbed the case Labyrinth.
It had been over two weeks since the attack at Defender, and NAHA tasked him, along with three other agents, to look into the history of two things: The Dallas Incident, and pro hero Flamespitter, and connect her actions to recent events.
"There is nothing new to find." Complained Agent Nakagawa, throwing a pencil at the wall to show her frustration. "The team did all the research years ago after Corruption and Legion destroyed Dallas. Vendetta, Phoenix, Flamespitter, Amazon and a dozen other heroes and villains were grilled for hours to get every possible story. Half of the villains are dead and so are some of the heroes. Vendetta himself killed Corruption, and Corruption was never around Flamespitter."
"And Legion was cleaned up neat and tidy afterwards. The villain organization is gone." Added Agent Rassmuson, who had brought word of Flamesptter's reemergence with the attack on Defender.
"But there clearly is." Countered Agent Neely, a new hire who graduated top of her class in criminal investigation and psychology. "Chief wouldn't have us digging through mountains of files if there was nothing connecting the two other than a conflict. It's taken me a week to get through half of what I have to, even at my reading speed." She was referring to her quirk, Rote Memorization, which allowed her to read and intake information at massive speed. "And there is definitely something big connecting Flamespitter's actions and Dallas."
"I agree with Neely." Said Wilkson. "There is more here. There are so many pieces. We just need to find out how they all connect."
"Maybe we should try doing it visually?" Suggest Rassmuson. "It's cliche but maybe we should set one of those connector boards that we see in old TV dramas." "Anything is worth a shot at this point." Sighed Wilkson.
The team scrambled around the offices, printing, copying, tacking up.
After over half an hour of connecting leads and papers, trying to find their way in the Labyrinth, everything was laid out, and it was huge.
From one wall to the other stretched case files, mission reports, interrogation transcripts, villain organizations and their member, hero agencies. So many little threads leading in so many different directions.
Wilkson ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair. This was going to be his hardest case yet.
"Now that we have the monstrosity finished, let's begin again with what we know led up to Flamespitter's freakout at her family residence in Arizona."
"She had recently started talking to a guy. But she never mentioned his name." Said Neely. "At least to Phoenix, the only one to survive."
"Do you think that her and this guy had a kid?" Asked Nakagawa.
"It is a possibility." Said Rassmuson. "The incident happened in early January, so that means they could've had a kid."
"Yeah, but that's seventeen years of possibility." Said Nakagawa.
"Then we start with kids born from today to seventeen years ago, to that January." Said Wilkson. "Look for characteristics that she would have that carried over to the child, jade green skin or eyes, scales, horns. Make sure they're adopted, too. She won't be taking care of her own child, most likely."
"But what does this have to do between Dallas and the burn down?" Asked Nakagawa.
"It has to do with what is happening now. What happened at Dallas is connected to now through Flamespitter. If we can find some connections now, we might be able to link them to Dallas." Answered Wilkson. "And we're investigating more than Dallas. We're investigating Flamespitter in more detail, and why she chose now to attack Defender. We need to figure out everything we can. Especially if there is still a mole inside Defender, which I think there is. Flamespitter is cunning and crafty. She'll leave a mole in someplace we don't expect."
"So, we need to be looking for anything?" Asked Nakagawa.
"Yes. Anything that could make us understand why Flamespitter did what she did, and what she has yet to do. A child, someone you want to be like you, would fill that causation logic. The connection between Dallas and the Burnout in Arizona, I think, can be answered with what we originally thought, that Corruption somehow made contact with Flamespitter, and the future was set in motion."
"So, are we fighting Corruption, or Flamespitter?" Asked Neely as she leaned against a bare wall.
"Both." Answered Wilkson. "And so much more."
--
Vendetta's Office
She was pondering.
Her mind was buzzing with possibilities as always, but one was sticking out like a fire on the water. What was she going to do with Rei Koizumi?
She gazed out to the mountains.
"Should I tell them or not?" Asked Elijah
"We don't even know if he really is your nephew." She said. "It's a theory at best."
"I know."
"If we tell NAHA about what we think, it'll change his life forever, whether it's true or not."
"I know."
"But do you understand?" Asked Vendetta, turning to face her long time friend. "There are massive, massive implications for being labeled a villain's child."
"I don't think I could ever understand." Admitted Elijah.
"That is why you, why we, will not tell NAHA." Ordered Vendetta. "You and I know all too well what would happen if someone at this school was called out as a villain's child. Especially so soon after what happened."
Elijah was silent.
"Let the boy live his life. He might learn in time, he might never learn. But right now, he needs to live, to enjoy. Not be burdened by shadows."
—————
Betaread by Scottken