Disclaimer: I do not own BNHA.

It began with flames. The beginning and end of a new life.

Bruised hands worked furiously, one clutching a bundle tightly to Aiko's chest and the other gripping a sword, dripping with blood. Puffs of fire came out in a steady beat from her mouth, trying to keep the newborn in her arms warm from the chill of the night.

"We're almost there, Kaida. Almost there."

Aiko ignored the deep ache in her back, ignored the stabbings of pain and gritted her teeth, determined to make it out of the damp forest. Step after step, violet eyes scanned for any signs of villains or her husband. She could see the outline of the city in the distance, the twinkling lights of billboards and skyscrapers driving her to keep pumping her legs forward. It was an especially dark night, and even with her sharpened eyesight, not much could be seen in the shadow ridden forest.

"Aiko!" a rough voice called out behind her.

She stopped dead in her tracks and tears filled her eyes when she saw the battered sight of her husband limping, the wings on his back torn and mangled.

"Haru!" she cried out, running into his chest and squeezing him into a tight embrace. Aiko was filled with relief and she shut her eyes, praying that they could make it out of this alive. Or at the very least, their daughter.

"Are you okay? Is the baby fine? God, I didn't see you and I didn't know if you were okay, the villains they came one after the other and I couldn't catch up," Haru began, voice tight with panic and worry.

Aiko cupped his chin and gave him a watery smile. "We're okay. But we have to move. Now. One of the villains has some sort of weapon that can turn off your quirk once it touches your blood. That's why I couldn't fly away."

Haru cursed. "How far away are we from the city?"

"About 10 kilometers. It'll take us longer to get there with your injuries."

"Okay. Okay. You run away. I know you can get there quicker than I could. The villains—they'll be back and—" Haru started with a grimace.

"No! You're not going to sacrifice yourself! I need you! We need you! We can make it together!" Aiko yelled, tears finally falling down her blood stained cheeks.

Haru gripped the side of his wife's face, looking straight into her eyes with a fierce expression. "Go. Live for the both of us. You're so strong, Aiko. You can do this. Take care of Kaida and raise her to be just like you. I love you. Never forget that."

He kissed Aiko deeply and kissed the forehead of his daughter, drinking in the picture of them together and locking it away.

"Please...Haru..." Aiko pleaded weakly.

Their daughter began to stir in her sleep, fussing and waving her tiny fists, seemingly sensing the sorrow that was consuming the air. Haru released his hold on his wife and turned away, wings flapping weakly, pushing him away from his home. His family.

Aiko could only watch as the love of her life flew away, deep violet eyes following the outline of her husband as he disappeared into the forest. She wanted to break and shatter into a thousand pieces, but the gurgles of her child brought her back to the reality she was facing and she grimaced, shoving down her emotions and went back to running.

"We'll get through this, little Kaida. I know we will."

Five Years Later.

The slap of bare feet against mud made Kaida giggle and she basked in the feeling of the cool earth beneath her toes. It was early afternoon and the staff at the orphanage were too busy with the younger kids to notice her slip out of the back door. She didn't like being cooped up in her room all day and appreciated the feeling of the sun on her skin and fresh grass under her feet.

She stalked off towards the playground down the block, eager to get on one of the swing sets. Usually if she was early enough, there'd be no one else there and she could swing by herself. While Kaida didn't mind the other kids, she couldn't help feel the strong bubble of jealousy whenever she saw their parents doting over them. Telling them to be safe, to play nice and that they loved them. Something that she had never experienced.

It's not fair..

She clenched her small fists and huffed, pushing down those negative feelings, determined to keep her goofy grin from slipping.

After a short walk, she made it to the neighborhood playground, the sandbox and slides devoid of any life. It was empty, save for a bug here and there. Kaida smirked and headed straight for the swings. She hopped on and began to use the balls of her feet to slowly inch backwards, trying to reach the height needed to gain momentum in the air. Kaida didn't need anyone to push her. She was a big girl. She could do it on her own. Once she she lifted her feet off the floor, she swung forward, the gentle breeze flowing through her crimson locks.

It was a good day.

Sighing with contentment, Kaida closed her eyes shut, letting herself swing in a steady rhythm, chirping out a cheesy pop song she heard on the radio.

Everything was fine, perfect even, until she heard the once vacant swing next to her, creak.

Popping one eye open, she watched as the most funny looking man sat on the adjacent swing.

He wasn't old, looking to be barely in his twenties, yet the bags under his eyes and scruffy appearance made him look much older. He was looking blankly in front of him, seemingly unaware of how ridiculous he looked as a grown man sitting on a swing in an almost empty playground.

Ah. He must be a pervert!

Kaida narrowed her violet eyes at him suspiciously, lips tugging down into a frown.

"Hey mister. Whatcha doin' here?" she questioned, looking expectantly. She remembered how Mari-chan at the orphanage said to watch out for scruffy old men on the street and that 99.9% were either perverts and the 1 percent were just straight up weirdos.

So, the stranger next to her was likely to be a total nut case.

He barely looked at her, giving her a lazy glance. "I wanted to swing on the swing set. What does it look like, kid?"

Kaida couldn't argue with that she supposed.

"Well. I'm Abe Kaida! Who are you?" she introduced rather rudely, turning up her nose at the weirdo next to her.

"Aizawa Shouta."

"You're kinda weird, 'Zawa-san."

"I get that sometimes."

"Seriously, what grown up plays at the playground? I thought grownups just drink that weird black stuff and complain about how their backs hurt. Does your back hurt, 'Zawa-san?"

"Sometimes."

"Haha! You are an old geezer!"

"Hey, I'm twenty."

Kaida's eyes twinkled mischievously and she began tapping her chin with her index finger. "If you're so young, can I push you on the swing?"

"No."

"Can you push me?"

"No."

What a meanie.

Kaida stuck her tongue up at him, pouting childishly and hopping off her swing. This man-child was simply no fun.

"Fine! I'm gonna go if you're gonna be such a party pooper. Bye, 'Zawa-san!"

She took off and waved at Aizawa, who barely reacted and rolled his eyes at the five year old. Aizawa hoped in the back of his mind that All Might didn't ask him to go and watch the young girl again, favor or not. Brats would be brats.

The day Kaida discovered her quirk was a week after her encounter with the non-pervert man child Aizawa. She had been coloring on her bed, when she had accidentally broke her favorite purple crayon. In her five year old eyes, it was perhaps the biggest tragedy of her life and she stomped on the floor, ready to throw a tantrum.

She huffed and puffed and huffed and puffed until her huffs and puffs turned into fire.

Fire. She was breathing fire!

Kaida stopped her antics and breathed out again, watching as red and orange spewed out from her breath. Her jaw dropped in amazement and she giddily ran out of her room, almost skipping towards the playroom.

And in her skipping, her back popped! She screamed at the foreign sensation and her grubby hands reached behind her, trying to find the source.

One hand felt hard scales lining her back.

Kaida watched in shock as blood red wings sprouted from her back, the scales rippling as she shifted her torso. The staff ran into the hallway from the sound of her screams, all of them stilling as they watched the crimson haired child seemingly grow wings. And they weren't normal wings. They were far from bird wings. No, these were distinct and rigid looking.

They were dragon wings.

.

.

.

After the discovery of her quirk, things changed.

Lots of families started to take interest in her. Kaida would proudly sprout her wings, the small dark horns on her head shining brightly as she puffed out small bursts of fire. She grinned whenever the families would be amazed, using her quirk to earn the adoration of parents. The other kids would grow jealous, thinking she was stuck up for trying to use her quirk to get ahead, but Kaida thought she was justified in her actions. She didn't need any friends anyway. She'd be the best kid there and then soon a family would adopt her!

However, despite her efforts, things would always go a little like this...

.

.

.

"What do ya mean you're taking me back?" Kaida cried to the matron of the orphanage.

Fujioka Chika stared down at the young girl in front of her and sighed deeply. The woman stroked Kaida's long locks and gave her a pitying smile.

"Oh, Kaida-chan, you know how strong the rules are on the adoption process. Especially with strong quirks like yours. Some family might take you and take advantage of your quirk. And this family simply did not meet the standards," she explained gently.

Violet eyes narrowed dangerously. A low growl came from Kaida and her pointy canines portruded in a faint snarl. "Who cares if they just want me for my quirk?! This isn't fair! They adopted me! ME!"

"I'm sorry Kaida-chan. Now calm yourself and let's go. Now."

Tears threatened to spill out of the red headed girl, but she clenched her fists tightly, reeling in the anger and pain she was feeling.

It's not fair.

Kaida followed the matron and gave the mother and father she could've had a longing glance.

It's never fair.

.

.

.

Each adoption attempt was turned down. Time after time, parents would put in their application only to be rejected. Some would fight for Kaida, others would simply move on. All were never accepted.

Kaida gave up on the idea of a family. She went to the playground each day, sitting alone on the swing set, watching with a sense of loss as children played with their siblings or parents would kiss away their small injuries and pack them their lunches.

Her head lowered to the floor, tangled hair covering her face. She didn't want to look anymore. The swing creaked weakly, her beat up sneakers motionless on the ground. Kaida wasn't in the mood to push herself.

It's not fair.

"Kid."

Dull purple peeked out the curtain of hair to see a hand holding out a ball of packaged mochi.

Aizawa was standing in front of her, eyes half lidded and posture slouched. Kaida stared at him for a few seconds before slowly reaching out for the mochi. The packaging was a pastel pink with a cartoon mochi on the front. It was pretty cute.

"Thanks, 'Zawa-san," she murmured to the older man.

He shrugged. "Stop brooding. You're too young to be making that face. Eat the candy, brat."

Dull purple eyes twinkled once more and Kaida grinned, unwrapping the candy and taking a bite. She didn't get to eat sweets too often, but mochi held a secret place in her heart. It filled her with warmth at the small gesture, never given a gift before, even as small as this.

"Ya know, 'Zawa-san, I don't think you're a weirdo anymore. You're a pretty cool dude!" Kaida smiled, even as Aizawa just rolled his eyes.

"Don't get used to this, kid."

"Push me?"

"No."

"Meanie!"

Aizawa soon became a strange constant in Kaida's life. He never visited the orphanage, but every other week he would sit next to her by the swings, giving her mochi or a rice ball. He never talked much, but Kaida simply babbled about her daily life, happy to have someone—anyone— to talk to. The other orphans would always go and play heroes and villains and made her the villain anytime she did decide to play. They still didn't like her much from her previous boasts over her quirk.

It was fine, she realized. Aizawa was much better company anyway.

Today she was at their usual spot, showing him her quirk. Kaida wanted the man to show off his and figured if she showed hers first, he'd be more willing.

Scaled wings sprouted from her back with a poof. Kaida wasn't sure how to actually fly in the air yet, and quirk usage wasn't exactly allowed back at the orphanage.

"Look, look! Ain't my wings cool? They're totally cool right?" Kaida exclaimed, jumping up and down, eagerly awaiting Aizawa's reaction.

A blink.

Kaida waited a beat.

Another blink.

"Zawaaaaa! You're supposed to go like, 'Wow, Kaida-chan! That's so cool! What a cool quirk!' Gimme a smile at least!" Kaida pouted.

And yet, another blink.

Kaida grimaced, cracking her knuckles and puffing her cheeks in determination. She focused on the heat in her stomach, letting it grow and wander up her throat before letting it out in a loud roar.

A small, weak burst of flames shot out her lips.

Kaida blushed angrily, trying to let out a stronger burst of flames while Aizawa watched impassively, a look of mirth in his eyes.

After several attempts, Kaida groaned and sank to her knees dramatically. "Ugh! Last night I made a huge one! I swear, Zawa!"

"Oh, yes, I'm sure."

Tiny fists pounded on the pavement. "Stop making fun of me! I know you are!"

An exasperated sigh came from Aizawa and he nudged the red head with his foot. "Aren't you like five? Of course your quirk isn't any good yet. You're still a gaki."

Kaida sniffed. "Five and a half!"

Another eye roll. "Such a big difference."

Kaida reluctantly picked herself up from the floor and sat back onto the swing. The summer sun was beaming bright on them today and she secretly wondered how Aizawa wasn't breaking into a sweat with all the black he was wearing.

"Zawa? What's your quirk?"

"None of your business."

"PLEASEEEEEEEE-"

"I can erase a quirk when I make eye contact with someone. It comes back when I blink."

Kaida's eyes sparkled with wonder. That was an extremely impressive quirk. He would make an excellent hero!

"Woooow! Now that's cool! I thought you would have some weird one like a vampire quirk or somethin'!"

Aizawa turned his head to look at the young girl with a raised brow. "Why would you think that, brat?"

"Cause youre so pale and gloomy lookin'! You got bags under your eyes and look like you need blood I guess!" Kaida explained very seriously.

Aizawa scratched his head, looking a bit ruffled at the indirect insult.

"It's okay though! I bet you could be a hero with a vampire quirk anyway!"

Aizawa snorted. "Yeah I bet."

Kaida tilted her head, eyes looking at the man in front of her curiously. He laughed...

"Hey... push me?"

"...fine."

And as Aizawa weakly pushed Kaida on the swings, she felt something deep in the pit of her stomach, a strange sensation of hope and something else. She giggled happily, locking the memory in her mind.

It was unfair. But...she would be okay.

Eight Years Later.

Purple sneakers hit the pavement quickly, tanned legs working extra hard to make it to class on time. Kaida was sweating, her school jacket stuffed haphazardly in her worn backpack. A metaphorical clock was ticking in the back of her head and Kaida grimaced, knowing she wouldn't make it at the pace she was going at.

I hate doing this crap during the day!

Large, majestic wings formed on the plane of her back and flapped in a steady rhythm, twisting to lift her from the concrete floor. Once in the air, her wings gave a powerful flap and lurched her through the sky. It was disorienting at first, but years of practice made Kaida feel at ease in seconds and she made her way to school, weaving through the tall buildings of Musutafu, looking down at the throng of people commuting to work.

Her ears twitched and she strained her senses, dread filling her when she could hear the school bell ringing in the distance. She was still a good two blocks away from her junior high. Kaida gritted her teeth and amped up her speed, her red hair slapping against her cheeks and an occasional bug landing on her forehead. She couldn't be late! It would be her tenth tardy in the year. If that happened, she would be expelled. That would make it the third time she would have to switch schools and the matron was already getting fed up with her. Kaida couldn't afford to live on the streets if the orphanage kicked her out.

The image of the building came closer and just as she could hear the late bell starting to ring, her wings gave one last flap and she shot out toward the window of the second floor, threw it open and flew inside.

She landed harshly on the floor, her head giving a soft plonk on the hard floor. She tentatively removed her cheek from the ground and sheepishly grinned at the class.

"I'm here!"

Laughter ensued.

"What a loser! Who the heck flies in like that?"

"Doesn't she own an alarm clock?"

"Did you see how she landed? Aren't dragons supposed to be graceful?"

"Che. How disruptive."

"She's always causing trouble."

And the comments continued on and on. Kaida lowered her eyes, blushing partially out of anger and embarrassment as she went to her assigned seat. Her teacher gave her a look of annoyance, one that promised that'd she be cleaning the classroom at the end of the day. Nothing new.

Troublemaker? I could live with that.

Her grin turned into a frown and she pulled out her now wrinkled blazer out of her bag, smoothing it out the best she could and put it on. She grabbed her math workbook and pen, trying to seem unruffled and prepared.

As their teacher began the lesson, Kaida could already feel her eyelids drooping at the mere sound of equations. It didn't help she had been out the entire night before. Since quirk usage was strictly regulated at the orphanage she barely had any chances to train. So she'd go out every night and test out her skills. From flying, fire breathing, her senses and strength.

If she wanted to make it out of that orphanage and have a chance at being someone she'd have to work hard. Being a hero was no joke and seemed like the appropriate job choice for her. Her quirk was a neat one and coupled with the hefty wages she would be paid, being a hero didn't seem half bad. Plus, how hard could it be?

She shook her head, trying to focus on the lesson once more. The droning voice of Tamaki-sensei was talking about something different for once it seemed. The entire class was listening in rapt attention to their sensei's words.

"As you all know, your time at junior high will be coming to a close soon. It's time you all start thinking about your careers and which high schools you all want to attend. I know many of you will be applying for the hero course and you all need to make sure to do excellent on your exams to receive acceptance from the schools you want. I will be passing down forms for you all to fill out. Sign your name and list the school you want to attend. Even if you arent sure yet, list any school. Once you are done, pass them back to the person behind you," Tamaki-sensei explained in his usual monotonous manner.

The students around her gasped with excitement, the class now bubbling with chatter over high school.

Sensei gave the form to her first, as she was seated in the very front of the row closest to him. Kaida accepted it and clicked her pen, furrowing her brows.

If she was being honest with herself, she didn't know shit about any schools with hero courses. Studying and reading and all that stuff made her brain hurt and she preferred to go run in the park barefoot and explore. It didn't help that her knowledge about heroes was very limited, there only being one TV back at the orphanage. The smaller kids usually took over and she'd end up watching cartoons. There were only a couple heroes she knew about, the first being All Might.

She remembered something about All Might graduating from...Yuuei? That was most likely a school with a hero course if the number one hero graduated from there.

Well, something's better than nothing.

Kaida scrawled down her name and Yuuei High on the form and passed it back to the boy behind her.

"What the heck? Haha! Guys, Kaida wants to attend Yuuei! The best freakin' hero school in Japan! What a joke!" the boy, Raku, jeered behind her.

The rest of the students began to join in the laughter. Kaida whirled in her chair, eye twitching in irritation. "And? What about it?"

Raku sneered at her condescendingly. "Do you really think you could pass the entrance exam to Yuuei? You have the worst grades in the class and can barely use your quirk. You will never be good enough to get into there. Or be a hero. Che, how annoying."

Kaida grimaced, her lip quivering, feeling the familiar sense of doubt enter her brain. Comments like these weren't new, but never quite so direct. She turned back to face the chalkboard, not wanting to give everyone the satisfaction of seeing her affected.

"Look, I think she's gonna cry!" Raku called out. She could hear people whispering and laughing, and felt the nasty remarks and jeers hitting her back like knives.

I'd be a hero. I'd prove them wrong. It was unfair. But I would make it fair, dammit!

Kaida suddenly stood, expression stormy, and stomped to Raku's desk, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him close to her face. He faltered and his eyes shone with fear, not having expected her to react.

"Listen up! All of you. I'll pass the entrance exams. I'll even rank in the top ten scores! And then I'll graduate and be a better hero than you could dream of asshole!" she snarled, her fiery red hair seeming to rise in anger. The room somehow dropped several degrees and the rest of her peers shivered at her tone.

"Got it?"

"Y-Yes!"

Kaida let go of him roughly, and went back to her seat with an eerie sense of calm. Tamaki-sensei stood frozen, surprised that she lost her temper like that. He weakly cleared his throat and tried to resume teaching, a single bead of sweat rolling down the side of his face.

The rest of the school day passed in relative peace, Kaida skipping to and fro like nothing happened. Like she would let some snot nosed prick like Raku bring her down like that! She was tough as nails. She'd prove them all wrong. Kaida would be the strongest, smartest and kindest hero there could be.

Yuuei has no idea what's to come!

AN:

Hello! This is my first time writing for this fandom and I'm quite excited to write this fic! I recently stumbled upon BNHA and binged watched every season in an impressively short amount of time. I fell madly in love with the fandom and was eager to put something down! My guilty pleasures consist of including OC's in fics and the idea of creating any quirk I wanted inspired me. The possibilities are endless... I lowkey feel like Izuku sometimes when I think about quirks...

Anyway, I'm hoping whoever reads this enjoys this first chapter! I was tempted to make it longer, but I really wanted to just set the stage for my lovely OC, so the main cast will probably show up next chapter. I haven't wrote in a while so I do apologize if I'm a bit rusty. I hope to update at least once a week, as this school semester has been relatively lax for me.

Please feel free to leave any questions or comments! Reviews are love.

-Carla