Title: Vigilantes Prefer Blondes Part 2

Summary: Local vigilante discovers pro hero to be a total Dad™, more at 11

As childish as it probably was, Jade Mantis had always tried to find the fun in what she was doing. Being a vigilante-especially the Number One Most Wanted Vigilante-was tough, and could very easily get her killed if she wasn't careful. So she looked for a bit of enjoyment, be that in cracking a tough case, or just seeing the dazed look on a criminal's face when a woman maybe half their size took them down like it was nothing.

Turns out, fisticuffs with a person who made their living in underground fight clubs was not fun.

Eventually, she managed to grapple him down to the ground, and strangled him out with her thighs. She let go five seconds after he stopped moving.

"Sorry about that," she breathed out, talking to no one in particular. "But you were kind of trying to kill me."

On the bright side, if they were coming after her this hard, it meant that she was going in the right direction.

About half an hour later, the criminal was handed over to the proper authorities, and both All Might and Alley Cat were on the roof of another building. Just... sitting there in silence.

"So…" he started, before trailing off. In his career, doubt and indecision were luxuries he couldn't afford. Yet here All Might was, completely unsure of how to talk to a nine year old girl. He heard a crinkling sound, and saw Alley Cat tacking a packet out of her sweat shirt.

"Are those fruit snacks?" He asked, just as the girl plopped one into her mouth.

Alley Cat nodded, and then wordlessly offered some.

Toshinori cautiously took one. Huh, apple flavored. After finishing one, young Morita kept the small packet between them-a silent offer to share. By the time they were all out of fruit snacks, he had something close to a strategy.

"I think we should probably talk about what just happened." The child hugged her legs in close to her chest, resting her chin on top of her knees.

"I got the knife away from him. That's a good thing," she offered as a defense.

The hero nodded slowly. "Yes, it is. But you have to understand that so much about what you did could have turned out wrong. Miscalculate the angle of descent, don't have enough force behind the attack...and you and that hostage get hurt. Or worse. "

That silence hung in the air of a long moment.

"Everyone keeps saying I can't because I'm too young, but I know I can help her." She gripped the fabric of her sweatshirt. "I can help, if people will just let me."

So that's what drives you, huh? Unbidden, All Might began to think of his own origin. Of telling Nana how he wanted to become a pillar for people to rely on, and the hero affectionately calling him crazy.

"Have you considered that they're not saying that because they doubt you, but because they want to keep you safe?"

Alley Cat crossed her arms and looked away. "I can take care of myself."

He raised an eyebrow. "I think your foster mother would disagree with that, Morita Kai."

The self-proclaimed sidekick did a visable double take, jumping up to her feet. "What?! How did you-?"

"Don't worry, don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret identity." He said, putting on a reasurring smile. "But if you must know, I figured it out after you showed me your quirk. Being able to heal people is a rare ability, even in this superhuman society."

Young Morita nodded sagely, looking down at her own hands. "But you want to what amazes me even more than your quirk? That heart of yours."

She tilted her head, looking up at him like a second head was starting to sprout from his neck. "Let me explain...after you were taken-"

"I don't want to talk about it." The girl cut off, and started to walk away from him.

"Okay, I understand," he acquiesced. The girl stilled, but she didn't turn around. "But what I was going to say was, after something like that, a lot of other people might only be able to see the darkness in the world for awhile. But not you-you're out here, trying to save others and share your wonderful gifts with the world. That is what amazes me, young Morita."

Her back was still to him, and Toshinori had no idea if he'd gotten through to the girl. Then stop being so damn useless and do something you idiot. A voice like his old mentor's encouraged.

"And if helping people is something that you seriously want to do, you could always apply to UA when you're older! That way, you can learn how to be a hero in a healthy environment filled with professionals who will only wish to see you succeed." (Toshinori trampled the memory of Gran Torino beating the snot out of him as far as he could). "I'd bet you'll be a real famous one, as well." He gave a wide smile, to add an extra level of encouragement.

Alley Cat finally turned around to face him. "No thanks."

Excellent, a spark ignited in the heart of a-wait, what? All Might blinked.

Apparently sensing his confusion, the girl elaborated. "People who have their faces put on everything are just full of themselves. I want to be a real hero."

"Ah...okay..." said the hero with one of the biggest brands in Japan. "My point is, you're probably too young right now to be a hero or a vigilante."

"And you're probably too old to be wearing footie pajamas." She commented.

Jade Mantis came to the final part of the hideout. Behind that door was most likely the leader of the Purple Hawks gang, and the man that she had been seeking out the entire evening. Her last obstacle was a special bunker-one way in, one way out, and it could only be opened with the boss' hand print and retina scan. It was probably meant to keep any rivals, police raids, or tricksy vigilantes away with a lock that just couldn't be picked. The Number One Most Wanted responded by dismantling the door, screw by screw and piece by piece. She removed the deadbolt with a final 'clack' before just kicking the darn thing in.

Some would call it overdramatic. She called it fun.

There was a lone figure in the final bunker, a broad-shouldered shadow sitting behind a desk. How absolutely cliché. "Haga Tatsuya," the vigilante greeted, keeping a touch of a distaste in her voice.

"Jade Mantis," The man acknowledged. "It always was going to come down to you and me."

The vigilante extended her batons. "How about we skip the fluff and get to the part where I kick your ass?"

The crime lord looked at her a moment. He then grabbed the metal chair beside him, his quirk shaping it into a sword.

Jade Mantis gave a wolfish smile.

All Might could tell that Alley Cat was starting to tucker out. The young girl was leaning up against his side now, and he could see her struggling to keep her eyes open through the goggles.

Just as he was about to suggest taking her home, they both saw movement. All Might and Kai were sitting on the rooftop in the industrial district. Across from them was a rather simple looking brick building. Its back door swung open with a 'clang' and there was Jade Mantis. She was dragging the leader of the Purple Hawks behind her like a trash bag. Interesting.

"Jade!" Alley Cat gasped, and jumped down to go greet her. All Might reached out, maybe about to advise that they not let the vigilante see them. Too late.

Jade Mantis looked at him, then down at Alley Cat. The surprised look on the Number One Vigilante's face quickly hardened. He could feel her glaring at them through the lensed mask. "Rooftop meeting. Now."

"I know you're angry—" Kai started.

"I'm not angry, just disappointed." Inko said, leveling a steady look at the girl. "You see, I know for a fact that you're smarter than this. So I'm disappointed that you didn't use that big brain of yours."

All Might tried to interject. "Jade Mantis, if I may—"

"You may not. I haven't even gotten to you yet. Running around at night with a school age child fighting crime? Newsflash, this isn't a movie, and she's not your plucky sidekick. Alley Cat could have—" Inko pinched the bridge of her nose, and forced herself to take a breath.

"I'm going to run her home, stay here and don't follow us." She picked up Kai, and started her leap across the rooftops, leaving All Might behind.

After running Kai back to Vronskaya, Jade Mantis came back to the rooftop. She didn't know why she was surprised that All Might stuck around.

She silently landed on the rooftop, and then placed her hands on her hips, and cleared her throat. He spun around to face her. The Number One Hero was giving her the 'I'm sorry' eyes, so at least he knew he did something wrong—though whether he was sorry he did it or just sorry they got caught remained to be seen.

Inko lets the silence hang in the air, making her disappointment apparent without having to be said. All Might was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Good. "So this kid walks up to you and says that she's my sidekick, and you just go along with it?"

"It's not like I actually thought she was your sidekick,"

"You say that like it's an excuse." She pointed out.

"Look, at the time I didn't have a clue of who she was or where she lived. Not like I could just scoop her up and take her back home." He tried.

He had a point there. Not like she would tell him that though. "So you still allow a nine year old to play at being a vigilante, walking around one of the most dangerous neighborhoods. At night."

He stepped backwards, rubbing his hands together. "I had everything completely under control...upuntilshestabbedaguy…"

The mother hadn't thought that she could possibly be more angry than she already was. She was wrong.

"...she healed him though."

"That doesn't excuse it." She growled out, even though her anger wasn't directed at him at the moment.

"Of course not!" All Might agreed.

Inko forced herself to take a breath. As much as just yelling at him more would make her feel better, it wouldn't change what happened. He already knew what he did was wrong. Further yelling wouldn't accomplish anything. "I know you did what you did with the best of intentions, but the fact remains that by allowing her to keep on doing it, you were sending the message that it was okay."

"That being said…" Inko took another breath, mentally changing gears. "What kind of total cornball symbol of peace lets himself get dragged around by a nine year old?"

He blinked, apparently taken off guard by her apparent sudden change in mood. Then, All Might started laughing. Not his hammy 'Symbol of Peace' laugh, but a chuckle that probably belonged to a man named Yagi Toshinori. Inko didn't hear it as often, but she liked it whenever she did.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm kind of a sucker for children."

"That much is obvious," she deadpanned.

"It is exciting though, to see such determination in someone so young."

" Exciting for someone not responsible for enforcing her bedtime ," She mumbled in Russian.

"What was that?'

"Nothing."

There was a companionable silence.

"She was snippy. Kids usually aren't snippy to me." He said, sounding confused and amused at the same time.

"Well," Inko huffed in understanding. "You don't have to deal with them on an extended basis."

"She told me I was self-centered."

"I beg your pardon?" The Jade Mantis raised an eyebrow.

All Might gave a soft smile. "Well, not directly, but when I said I thought that she could be a famous hero one day, she basically said that famous heroes have their faces plastered everywhere, and that just means they're self-centered." Inko couldn't help it, she let out a snort of amusement.

"Hey!" All Might pretended to be insulted.

"No, no, it's just—" She immediately quieted down, "—I actually used to think the same thing about you, once."

He didn't say anything to that, just blinked at her.

"It was before I really knew you. When you debuted, I saw the video and heard that ridiculous laugh of yours and went 'no way that's real, he's faking it'. And then I started seeing you everywhere, from magazine covers to cereal boxes and I guess that familiarity brought a bit of annoyance." How much has changed. "I used to look up at the Mighty Tower and think 'it's probably that big to contain his massive ego'."

"Oh." He said, giving her a look that she couldn't really interpret.

Jade Mantis elbowed him in the side. "That, and I would joke that you were probably compensating for something."

He sputtered, while she laughed at the overdramatic embarrassed look on his face. "If—if I might get this conversation back on track." He said, after she laughed for a few more seconds. "It's obvious that young Morita wants to follow in your footsteps. And if she does follow your example, I have no doubt that she has the potential to be a great hero."

Jade Mantis felt a thu-thump in her chest, and unsuccessfully tried to shoo it away. "Yeah, I wouldn't really call myself a 'role model'. Anything that she achieves, it'll be despite me, and not because of it. But I agree with you, she's going to be amazing, no matter what path she chooses."

She caught a look of concern, right before All Might pulled up his usual jovial mask. "Nonsense, my friend! Despite your vigilante status, you are a hero to the people of Mustafa, and an inspiration to the next generation."

"Look, big guy," Inko sighed, really not in the mood to go into her own issues right now. "Whatever I do as…well, Jade Mantis, yeah I get shit done. But me as me," she gestured to herself, "I'm kind of a mess."

"I doubt that."

"You don't know me."

All Might gave her a look. "I may not know your name, Jade Mantis, but I know you. You're brave, kind, intelligent…trying to save people that others ignore, and all on your own …how could someone look at you and not be inspired?" He said, with that goddamn genuine tone of voice that brokered no argument.

Midoriya Inko felt a stab of affection. It took her another ten seconds to figure out that what she was feeling wasn't the kind that stemmed from friendship.

Oh . Oh, no.

Fucking shit. Inko needed to go punch something, immediately. Except she just got done punching an entire building full of really bad people and now he's looking at her with those big blue eyes and puppy dog smile and ahhhHHHHHHH .

"Uh, Jade Mantis?" All Might asked, and she realized that the silence had started to turn awkward.

"Nothing, you cornball." She managed to get out, her voice only slightly more high pitched than normal. Then, she got an impulse. Something that probably wasn't that good of an idea. And in classic Inko fashion, she rolled with it. She leaned herself up, and gave the Number One Hero a peck on the cheek.

"Thanks for taking care of the kid. See ya!" The vigilante said like it was no big deal, and then took a running start off of the lip of the building.

After about five blocks, the Jade Mantis dropped down into an alleyway. Inko placed her face in her hands, and let out a long, drawn out Russian expletive.

(She couldn't see the way that Toshinori cradled his cheek after that, a dusting of red across his features. "Jade Mantis was just thanking me" he would justify. "Just, ahem, being affectionate. Apologizing for yelling.")

Not long after, Inko was back in her civilian clothes and standing in front of the liquor section at her local grocery store. She had been standing there for awhile when a sales associate approached her. "Can I help you with anything?"

"Yeah, if you just found out that you're hopelessly in love with someone and it'll never work out, what would you drink?"

The sales associate looked at her, then at the alcohol. "Vodka."

"Vodka." Inko nodded her head, grabbing two bottles of Smirnoff and headed towards the check out.

Omake:

One Week Later

"Alright, I'm heading out," Inko gave a final announcement, grabbing her purse. "Remember, she's still grounded for sneaking out at night and stabbing a guy. That means after she finishes her homework, no TV, no non educational websites, and no parkour lessons."

The Russian waited a total of five minutes before pulling out her cell phone. "Nedzu, it's Vronskaya. Mamma Hen has left the coop, I repeat, Mamma Hen has left the coop."

There was a knock on the door not ten minutes later. Vronskaya opened the door, and Kai brightened the moment she saw who it was.

"Nedzu!" The girl immediately ran up and gave the animal hero a crushing hug. It took a moment, but the mammal returned it, patting the girl on the back with his paws.

"So, training?" The girl asked, practically bouncing with excitement. Both the hero and the spy shook their heads.

"In respect to your mother's judgement, we will be postponing your self-defense lessons for the time being," The pro hero stated, putting down his backpack. Kai pouted.

Nedzu pulled out a laptop and a mini-projector. "However, today I have prepared a lecture on the iconography, symbolism, and meaning behind various tattoos in Japan's criminal subculture."

"Yay!"

"What's hotter than a guy who cares about your feelings, respects your boundaries, and devotes his whole life to putting as much good into the world he can? Nothing! And then that asshole had to turn around and babysit my kid for an entire evening, *hiccup* Life is so damn unfair"- Quote from Midoriya Inko, about halfway through a bottle of vodka and lying on Vronskaya's couch

Yes, Inko fell in love with All Might the same way that I did, by finding out how much of a an absolute Dad this man is.

As always, if you have some thoughts about this chapter, or just generally want to scream your feelings at me, comment below and let me know!

I am also chess_blackfyre on tumblr and will also be happy to talk with you about this story there