Shatter the Stars: The Hero and His Knight.
Kai Chisaki was a man who hated filth. He hated incompetent subordinates even more. He looked down at the files the League gave him on the student body members of UA that were going to be part of the raid. He thumbed through the files.
Hado.
Togata.
Amajiki.
Midoriya.
Uraraka.
Asui.
Yaoyorozu.
Bakugou.
All of them child soldiers. It didn't sicken him, it never did. What sickened him was their quirks. They were sick, and the little girl whose blood made those bullets was the means to cure them. Eri tried to run and it frustrated him.
He hated complications. He hated things getting in his way. He passed by the blood on the wall and smirked underneath his mask. A vulgar display of power, a way to keep his men in line. Just like Renegade, who held back his power, had complicated tactics, and…
A bleeding heart. Everything Kai lacked. He hated that about Renegade. How much of a kind heart he seemed to have. Not just that, but he was working with the same bastard who was about to take the mantle of Number One.
"Boss, we're ready for another batch," His assistant, Chronostasis, a man in a long white cloak with a full mask said.
"Good, I'm on my way, make sure she doesn't run again," Kai stated. He looked down at his hands, and they shook a little bit. He was sick. And there was no cure. He passed into his boss's room. His boss laid in the bed, unmoving.
"Sorry… things are gonna get noisy…" he sighed.
I walked in with the others, seeing Fatgum and a few others. Nighteye was in a grey suit with a spotted tie, his two-toned green, and yellow hair neatly combed. He rose and strode over to me, holding out his hand. He was tall and lean, towering over me and his gaze was serious.
"Nighteye," he stated.
"Renegade," I said, shaking his outstretched hand. He seemed to activate his quirk, looking into my future, and looking down in sadness.
"The brightest lights die the fastest," Nighteye sighed. He walked away, and I didn't know that he was talking about me. I felt a large, warm hand on my shoulder, Fatgum turned me around and he was happy to see me.
"Yo, Renaru!" he greeted.
"Oh hey, Fatgum! How're things?" I asked.
"Y'know, I was kinda surprised to see your girlfriend be one of my applicants, but she's honestly a huge help with all the cool stuff she can make… and her tactical strategies are a huge help, too!" he said, making Momo blush and look away, she wasn't used to compliments.
"Even more surprisin' is why you're here instead of Endeavor… you're just a kid…" another man piped up, I didn't speak, just stared at him. He was stern-looking, slightly taller than me, dark-skinned, he was glaring at me.
I casually rolled up my sleeves and removed my bands, showing the man the deep scars and heavy calluses on my palms. The vicious scar on my face wasn't proof enough for him, huh? My hands shook and I sighed.
"Look, I tore my body up to hell and back, I understand that we're children, but that doesn't mean that we didn't earn the right to be here. The only one who hasn't is me, and I fully stand by your statement, sir," I said, "I was HANDED my license, I didn't fight for it… so that's my goal, to prove that I earned the right to stand by the heroes' side… this raid will prove it,"
The other heroes and my friends looked at me, "If I die… it's okay, I'll find a way to make it memorable one way or another," I said, shrugging. They all were in shock, "Ren… don't say that!" Momo snapped.
"Hah, just a joke! Hahaha!" I fake-laughed, with Nighteye nodding at me, it hit me. Like a runaway train.
He saw my death. I sat next to Momo, who grabbed my hands, I wanted to blast that fate to hell, I won't die. I can't die, not now… not when…
Not when Momo needed me. Not when I knew I could fight against it. I wanna become the hero that defies death again and again. I knew that I could beat fate, I beat it before. I'd beat it again and again. I needed to.
I HAD TO. I had to beat it. I had to. I had to beat fate and prove my value to the heroes. To be more than just the Coffee Boy, to be more than just the boy with Quirk Palsy, to be more than just a kid playing hero. I needed to prove my strength. In a world that mercilessly beat down people like me, I'm the one fighting for a future.
I'm fighting for so much more than a little girl, I'm fighting for the happiness of my people. I'm fighting for the little girls and boys that have conditions like mine, who look at me and see a brave hero. See a boy like them fighting alongside Endeavor and seeing a true hero rising from the ashes. Seeing someone like them win the Sports Festival, seeing someone like them save the day.
I resolved to be more than what society labeled me as...
I wanted to blow away the storms…
I wanted to become Renegade, the hero without fear. The hero that took down a psycho. I pulled my bands back on, grimly sparking, today was going to be the day I die. Huh… why am I not angry?
Normally I'd punch Nighteye in the face for even insinuating it. But I had an odd feeling from the autopsy reports of 'Overhaul's' victims… It seemed to shred. Not cut. Not like other matter-destroying quirks like the 'Black Sunday Murders'.
This guy had a condition like mine. The MO wasn't similar, mostly he'd take money. Anything valuable. Where he'd touch would get shredded, exploded. Momo had a death-grip on my hand.
"Okay, we'll split into teams, Team Fatgum is Creati, Suneater, and Renegade. Team Eraserhead is Deku, Lemillion, Lock Rock, and myself, the job of Team Ryukyu is damage control, staying on the outside. Renegade, if you find Chisaki and his daughter, DO NOT ENGAGE," Nighteye advised.
"Gotcha," I nodded, "Still, I'll win," I assured, Momo looking like she was holding something back. She steeled herself and let go of my hand, her hands clenched into fists. She raised her fist and drove it into my cheek.
Momo was silent, "How dare you…" she muttered.
"How dare you be so cavalier about your death!" she hissed, "You don't need to prove yourself to anyone…"
"Oh yeah? How about the rest of them? They don't know what I had to do to make it this far!" I snarled, "You don't know, you never knew. You were handed UA and everything else! I've gone without, I've fought for this, I've only got one life, Momo… If it's gonna be cut short fightin' by your side? There's no better death than that,"
Momo grabbed my shoulders, "Nighteye, is that true? Did you see his death?" she asked him. Nighteye looked at me and nodded, Momo sighed and she looked into my eyes.
"Then it's set, right?" she mumbled.
"Nah, I don't think so," I decided, "If it was set, wouldn't I be reactin' a little worse?"
"I don't care if today's the day I bite it, I'll give that bastard a fight he'll live to regret…" I vowed, "I'll burn just like an explosion, bright, loud, and destructive,"
"If I die, I die. If I live, I live," I sighed, smiling widely, feeling my sparks light up.
"Let's go, and when we get done, I'm gonna make sure these guys remember who took 'em out!" I yelled, blasting through the front with my arms smoking, seeing all kinds of thugs waitin' for us.
"Aizawa! Izuku! We'll cover ya! Lead on, Fatgum!" I snapped, my sparks burning on my back and face, making me look like a demon comin' for their souls. Or the Dread Pirate Roberts, take your pick. We weren't even in the main facility proper, it turns out that there were downright labyrinthine paths in here.
We steamrolled the thugs and moved to the left, with Fatgum taking point and Suneater our six, we took the sides, Momo had her shield up and a one-handed sword in her other hand. She looked at me and tensely nodded.
I smiled, feeling like we were lost, "What the hell?" I asked.
"Where's Fatgum and Suneater?" Momo asked, "We were just with them…" she mumbled.
"Dunno… but stick close, got it?" I snarled, hearing footsteps.
"A group of heroes and all they send to stop us are children?" A low, smooth voice scoffed.
"Whatever, Tengai, a fight's a fight…" A growling, rough voice snarled, "An' I heard these two are somethin' else!"
We saw two men step out of the shadows ahead, and one of them was massive, taller than me and Momo even if she stood on my shoulders, I lowered myself into my stance, grinning ferally. The other guy looked like a monk and they both wore plague masks.
"Oi! Seems like the burning one's got SPIRIT! I like 'im!" The Big One snapped.
"I'm The Full Salvo Hero: Renegade! Bring it!" I taunted.
"Gahahahaha! Man, you're somethin' else! Name's Kendo Rappa! And this piece a' shit's called Tengai," Rappa laughed, dropping into his stance.
We faced off, "Momo, you find a way to deal with Miroku there, I'll deal with Star Platinum!" I commanded.
"No, we're together, and if anything, we're going down together!" Momo snapped, "I'm not letting you die on me…"
Rappa charged and I blasted in, clashing with him, our blows ricocheting off each other's fists. My blazing fists were blocked by a barrier, leaving me open for a barrage, feeling someone hit me out of the way, I went flying, skidding back and seeing Momo blocking the hits with her shield.
"Protect the innocent! Guide the way! No matter what! That's what my father taught me! That's what I'll use against you!" Momo yelled, breaking away and coming to me.
"Got any ideas?" she asked.
"We can't directly attack while Miroku's awake… and if we stay outta Rappa's range… we gotta keep moving, and Momo?" I asked, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek.
"That was badass," I said, "Keep going, my Knight! Let's burn 'em to the ground!"
Rappa spread his arms out, "COME AT ME! LEMME FEEL IT!" he thundered, not seeing me charging in, I blasted in, "SMASHER SERIES: VILLAIN BUSTER!" I yelled, sledgehammering him in the back of his head.
He blocked it, "Nice…" he growled, breaking away and charging at me, "BUT NOT HARD ENOUGH!"
His fists flew and I felt my body scream in pain, but I took it, my sparks taking the pain and stoking up, using Fatgum's Distribution Method… my pain faded and my adrenaline pumped up. I then saw the monk drop and Momo restraining him.
"Endeavor Series… HELL ZONE BARRAGE!" I screamed, clashing with Rappa once more, our fists going at full tilt, my explosions turning the area to powder, "HRRRRRRRRRR AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! WITH ALL MY MIGHT! ALL OF ME! I'LL BE THAT HERO!" I screamed, with one final punch, it was all over, Rappa skidded back, holding his side and gasping.
"Ha… hahaha… wow… You're good, Renegade… That's one helluva move…" he gasped,
He then rose, "I still got some fight in me… an' you left your partner wide open!" he yelled, blasting me back with a heavy right hook, kneeing me in the stomach. I staggered.
"MOMO! LOOK OUT!" I screamed, seeing Rappa barraging her and her shield almost breaking. No. I won't let that bastard have the goddamn satisfaction! I pulled off my bands, seeing Rappa draw his fist back and was about to knock Momo out when I activated Burning Full Salvo.
"HEY! BIG MAC!" I thundered, making him freeze.
"You're not gonna hit her, not when I'm here! So come on! I'm at my max!" I snarled, "You wanted a good fight, right? WELL, YOU GOT ONE!"
Rappa smiled and I flashed in, my speed and power rivaled Endeavor's, and due to my training at the camp, I could stay in BFS for a total of ten minutes. I only needed five seconds!
Or just one.
"SMASHER SERIES… GENOCIDE CRASH!" I yelled, slamming full-force into him, burning him to a crisp as I slammed him into a wall, busting through it and landing in a pile of rubble, my arms and legs burning. Momo brought my bands to me and I pulled them back on, their coolant cooling down my arms.
"Hah… whoa… no wonder… you're the apprentice of Endeavor… fuck… you did a number on me Renegade…" Rappa gasped, "Overhaul was right about you…"
"What?" I asked.
"He said you'd never give up… and I can die happy… knowing that a kid… NO, a Man like you beat me…" he muttered, "There's a… med room just back here… patch yourselves up… you… Kakgh! Earned… it…"
Rappa fell, and I realized something… He was human. Not just a villain. He holds a respect for me and somewhat for Momo… He was a pure warrior, not like All For One or Stain. He lived for combat and I gave him the fight of his life.
"Rappa, rest now," I sighed, "I'll remember our fight,"
*Pap pap pap!*
"Bravo… bravo…" a neutral, cold voice sighed.
"Forgive Rappa, he suffered from an… excess of personality… now then, down to business," the voice echoed around us, "TELL ME YOUR WEAKNESSES!"
I couldn't stop myself, I tried to, "My weakness is… my… my…" I resisted, "NO! I can't…"
"My weakness is…" Momo mumbled, "I… It's him! He's my weakness!"
"My… weakness… is her…." I said.
"Ah," the voice calmly intoned, "So your bonds are your weaknesses… good news…"
Momo and I snapped out of it, looking around.
"What the? It just… slipped out…" I mumbled.
"It was some sort of quirk like Shinsou's I guess?" Momo asked, "I don't know…"
I felt a chill slip down my spine, grabbing Momo and pushing her down. I saw Izuku and Aizawa fighting… THE FAKER! Momo shook with rage.
"That… BITCH…" she growled.
"Momo, control that rage… Katsuki's been through that same shit…" I cautioned.
"No… she stole you… I won't let her get away again!" she snarled.
I held her, "Babe, easy…" I soothed, "I'm here now, you had my back, now look at us!"
Momo held me tighter, "I'm scared… I'm scared to let go…" she admitted.
"Momo, we're okay, you're my knight, got it? We're gonna make it, I'm gonna wreck fate!" I snapped.
"I'm gonna burn this place down with… huh?" I mumbled she was gone.
"Momo?! Where the- What the-" I snapped, standing.
Crystals shot out of nowhere, "Shin's quirk is useful…" a man with crystals for eyes said.
"Also, we'll be taking your 'Knight' Master Chisaki would like to talk with her," another voice said, a man in a white cloak with a mask said.
"Oh great, the Prequelle is here… WHERE THE FUCK IS MY MOMO?!" I yelled, "Great, just fuckin' great! You shits made this personal! I hate when that happens!" I then saw a column of Tentacles grab Crystal Guy.
"I've got you!" Suneater snapped, "Renegade, get going to Sir and Miri- I mean, Lemillion! They need your help! They got a hostage!"
"Fuck! That's what their game is?!" I snapped, blasting in the wall and running towards where I could know they ended up.
"Not so fast!" Cloak said, pointing his gun at me.
"How would your girl like it if I took your quirk?!" he snapped.
"I'll still kick yer ass!" I snarled, flaring, "Plus, I can get hot enough to melt bullets, almost instantly!"
"Well then, let's test that, shall we?" he asked, firing, I dodged and flash shelled him, he cut me with his hair and I felt slow.
"There we go! EAT IT!" Cloak screamed and I screwed my eyes shut, "Huh… you were right," he commented.
I thanked my lucky stars that my quirk was so dangerous… but I had to hurry. Momo was in danger, and so was the VIP. I had to save her again… but… I didn't know if I could. Sir never told me the specifics of his vision, other than my death, and seemingly Izuku's, too.
I had to get up, I had to keep going.
"You're cooling down… that's good for me!" Cloak yelled.
"Wait," a voice said.
"What? B-boss?!" Cloak gasped.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, and there he was, "Hey," he greeted, his cold golden eyes staring down at me.
"Let's talk, man to man, struggle to struggle, maybe you can call the others off?" he asked, "I haven't done anything to your girl…" he assured me.
"I better fucking see her with my own eyes that you didn't touch her…" I growled, "Or I'll bake you alive and feed you to the crows!"
"Whoa, whoa, easy there, Napalm Man," Overhaul smoothed his coat, "Man, Shin was right, you DO care about her,"
"When a Bakugou man meets a woman we love, we STAY with that woman… life or death," I snarled.
"Oh yeah? You're pretty serious, it's a shame I might have to kill you, we could've been…" Overhaul faltered off, sliding his sleeve up.
I gasped. There, on his arm, shining in the artificial light was all the proof I needed.
Overhaul had a metal brace on his arm, the hand shook mightily despite the brace steadying his arm.
"Such good friends… you know, we're the same, you and I… I took my path and you chose the way of the hero, but… when I saw that one of us won the Sports Festival… I knew that I found the one hero that was worthy enough to stop me," Overhaul smoothly stated, "The Renegade, the man with no fear, right?"
He poured me some water, "Your friends and my associates are fighting so hard, and Rappa was the test to see if you were strong enough to prove your side right… now we can fight, the stakes are pretty high," he said, putting the glass down.
He motioned to Cloak to open a nearby door, we were in a cushy office, and Cloak brought Momo in, she looked worried, scared, trying not to freak out.
"You win, you and your associates can arrest my men and me and take Eri, you lose… well, It'd be a shame to waste such a catch like your girl, and just imagine the backlash, Renegade: The Full Salvo hero with his life cut short and his legacy turned to dust…" he sighed, "And this wonderful woman gets to watch it all go down, her boyfriend fighting to the very last second… down to the wire, right?"
I looked at Momo, she looked back at me with fear in her eyes. I didn't know what this guy was capable of… but what choice did I have? Chances are that Katsuki would come to avenge me and get wasted, then Mom would die too… not to mention my hero friends and the guys.
"How do I know you're not fucking with me?" I asked.
"Hah, c'mon, you think I'd drop a building on you? I'm a yakuza, but not a savage…" he said, undoing his brace and putting it on the table, holding out his hand. I looked down at his hand and glanced at Momo. She looked dead into my eyes and shook her head.
"C'mon, think for yourself instead of what society wants! You want to be a hero, right? You want to be the hero that saves the day and passes on into legend?" he urged, "Go on, shake my hand, I know you want to,"
I reached out reluctantly, Undoing my band and hesitating. Momo looked so tense, almost hoping I would just blast him. My hand started to spark and I smirked.
"Sorry," I stated, point blank blasting him and grabbing Momo.
"NO DEAL!" I yelled, running out of the office and almost slamming into Izuku, Mirio, and Nighteye.
"Guys, I may or may have NOT pissed him off," I reported.
"Good news first, I got Momo, the bad news is…" I was cut off by the floor exploding.
"THAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHTTTT!" I yelled, falling with Momo in my arms. We fell into the darkness, clinging onto each other, and screaming.
Turns out I fell for her… literally.