Twin Bombers
A New Symbol is Born: Wolf and Dragon.
"Mommy! One day, I'mma make you proud! I'mma be like Endeavor! Big an' strong, nothing stoppin' me! I'm gonna be so strong that even Endeavor's gonna hafta say I'm stronger!"
It all started… with a spark. A single spark after falling into a river, after evaporating it with a huge blast.
"Hack! Haugh! Ugh… Ka… Katsuki? What's happening to me?! I'm… I'm all shaky!"
It all started with those snobby words…
"Mrs. Bakugou… your son can't become a hero,"
It all started the day Endeavor saved me.
"Picking on a kid with Quirk Palsy? How shameful…"
After that day, I never gave up. After that day, I never surrendered. After that day… I met the girl that changed my life.
"BLASTER SHELL!" I yelled as a corona of explosions sent the three-pointer flying backward in pieces. I ran back over to the girl. She was on the ground, her dark hair a bit loose and her dark eyes staring up at me in awe.
"You okay?" I asked, hoisting her up.
"Y-yes, I'm alright. Thank you." She said, a small smile on her face, making me blush again. I found her to be rather pretty, but there were more pressing concerns at the moment, like beating my brother's score.
"Uh... you're welcome!" I stuttered, dashing off before the girl could respond with anything more.
Momo… I'm gonna save you… Just like you did for me! I forgot my fear of heights, blasting towards where Metal Guy was last seen, it was in my neighborhood. Hosu was my home. I passed through so many of these places, untouched by the color gangs, mostly given a nod and a smile. Nobody troubled me for long, 'cause they knew I could rearrange their faces.
Now I was a man on a mission. I wasn't gonna stop until this Wolfram guy was dead at my feet and Momo was back in my arms. I skidded in, my sparks intensifying. I didn't need help. It's just one guy, I can take that.
Where I was in Hosu was called The Jungle. It was a mess of industrial park chaos, I knew that this wasn't good. Whatever could be in there I didn't know. All I knew was that Momo was somewhere in there. I slammed my foot down, my sparks going into Burning Full Salvo.
I knew that I might die. I knew the risks going in. I didn't care, all I wanted was to get her back. So here I was, about to enter a place where hell was six feet deep. About to save my girl. I was ready to take this guy out and be back in time for dinner. I stepped in, passing through the catwalks and derelict conveyor belts. This was a playground of metal.
Everything jangled and clunked, everything had a sound, the crackling sparks were overpowered by the metal. Everything was loud.
I still stepped onward, I knew I needed to get her back. That's what I was here for…
"So… you're here," Wolfram said, a team of Nomu behind him.
"Sorry for not callin' ahead, I'm usually a lot more courteous than that," I sighed.
"Hah! I like you, kid! Already sixteen and thinking like a big boy!" he laughed, "In all seriousness, I will make sure your death is gonna be the hardest thing for your girl to watch…"
"Killing you is gonna be the hardest thing I ever enjoy…" I growled, my hands flaring into sparks, my burning mode active and ready to turn his little Nomu menagerie into a slag heap!
"The hardest thing you'll ever enjoy? Not if my Nomu don't tear you to pieces first! Delta! Phi! Mu! Take him!" Wolfram roared.
"YES!" they boomed, coming at me, I flipped back, keeping myself in midair. I beckoned them. Phi took the bait, clashing with me, I blasted the thing back, knowing that I was probably on a time limit. 'C'mon! You're stronger than them! You've pushed and pushed as far as you can! Endeavor taught me so much! Fatgum… Aizawa! Everyone! I'M GONNA DO RIGHT BY 'EM!' I thought, taking a hit and letting my blasts strengthen…
On the outside, people gathered to see the Jungle light up, seeing the bright glow, they all started to film.
"Which one is it? Big Baku or Lil' Baku?" one of the men asked he knew 'Lil' Baku'.
"Lil' Baku, definitely!" one of the others yelled, "Get this online! People gotta see that Hosu's got a new hero!"
Phi and Mu were working together, and by now, my bands were burning. I tore them off. "I DON'T NEED 'EM! ALL I NEED IS POWER!" I screamed, gathering my blasts in my right hand.
"SMASHER SERIES: FULL SALVO PUNISHER!" I yelled, blasting forwards and atomizing Phi, Mu fused with Phi to slam me into the floor.
"GLAH!" I yelled, "You… got some wicked power goin'... don'tcha…?" I asked.
"Po-wah? We… got the power?" Phi Mu asked.
"Yeah… lemme just tell ya somethin'... I've been buildin' up power this whole time…" I growled, Phi Mu pitched me to the side, I skidded to my feet, the slam wasn't all that strong, Phi Mu wasn't the threat here… it was Delta. The one I already killed seemed to have some new toys with him. I smirked.
"Can ya get outta the way, Phi Mu? I got a girl that's waitin' on me!" I yelled, spreading my hands out, 'Sorry! Things are gonna get REAL LOUD!' I thought, bringing the two spheres together into one concussive beam.
"BURNING FULL SALVO: FINAL BUSTER!" I yelled, blasting Phi Mu through the wall, making daylight stream in and leveling a nearby abandoned apartment complex. Little did I know that a ton of 'neighbors' came out to see my work.
They all saw me and they all started to cheer me on.
"Renaru! Lil Baku! Get 'em!" they all chorused together. I didn't have time! I needed to hot-foot it! I ran back towards the back of the complex, my blasts guiding my way as I pulled out my spare pair of bands that came with my suit.
My sparks lit me up and I raged through much smaller Nomu, not caring if I got hurt, but someone did. Someone I knew all too well.
"BRO!" Katsuki yelled, busting in and dealing with the Nomu in front of me, "Me an' the guys'll hold 'em here! You get to Wolfram!"
"Katsuki?! What the hell?! I thought…" I gasped.
"Like hell, I'm gonna letcha die without me! Just get going!" he urged.
I nodded and grinned, seeing that they called in the cavalry. Katsuki was here, but he was with Fatgum and Miriko, Ryukyu too. Fatgum waved as he was being punched by one of them. I smiled like a lunatic and raged on, hearing them fight on, hearing the explosions grow softer and softer the deeper I went.
I've never been in the Jungle, but I lost connection with Katsuki right about halfway to what I think is administration. I knew that they wouldn't let me go in alone. Blood trickled out of my mouth as I ran, I didn't break anything, but my body was signaling me to stop running and gunning, but I knew that every second that ticked by, the more those tubes were putting more shit in Momo's body. I used my rage to keep me going, used my faith to keep me going, and well… Miriko bounded by my side.
"Can't letcha have all the glory, huh Rookie?" she taunted.
"Miriko… uh… thanks for the backup," I admitted.
"Oh come on, it was Fatgum's idea! Yer, not the only one fightin' today… Endeavor and the Great Flying Dumbass are fightin' some new kinda Nomu…" she explained, "I'll take on Delta, you got Wolfram and yer girl," she decided.
I smiled, seeing Delta smash down the wall, pixellating and rushing towards us, Miriko kicked the reformed Nomu back, it sparked on the heavy linoleum, she smiled and thumbed downward.
"Hey! Yer fightin' me now!" she snapped.
"Target… is… Renegade… Must not change… directive…."
"T'hell with yer directive! To fight is to have freedom!" Miriko yelled, slamming her foot into Delta's face, I fell into the lift, seeing Delta fight Miriko and lose pitifully. One thing about her I learned today… never judge the power by a pretty face… and to never mess with thighs…
Because holy shit… she BEHEADED DELTA.
My body was screaming, it was at its limit. I remembered my training at the Camp, and the whole time I was using Blast Moderation. I was getting closer and lower down, deeper and deeper. I saw the fire and the smell of molten metal meet me.
It reminded me of an old animated movie Katsuki and I used to watch when we were little. I felt the lift stop and I saw Wolfram at a console of some sort, he looked so satisfied.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I yelled.
"Well… your little woman's quirk is quite useful to me and my… employers," Wolfram said, "Of course, you're well acquainted with the League, I take it?"
"Yeah, I kicked their asses enough to know who they are," I snarked, "What do they gotta do with you?"
"Do you know about a drug called Trigger?" Wolfram asked, "And do you smell that smell? It should be familiar,"
I moved my mask down and sniffed the air gently. I knew it. Glycerine. I felt it hit.
"You…" I gasped.
"Shhhh! Spoilers, dear Renegade!" Wolfram growled, "Let's see who's stronger!"
I looked to the door behind him, the smell emanating from it.
"Just one more door, Renegade… one more door and your girl is right there!" he goaded, "So come! COME AND PROVE THAT YOU'RE WORTHY OF BECOMING A HERO!"
He slammed his hand against the metal, the catwalk shattered and I barely had time to dodge it, "C' mawn!" he urged.
'No! No! Don't panic now! It's a catwalk! Not a building!' I thought, trying to keep my fear in line, my special bands could take Burning Full Salvo kinda well, but I knew my body couldn't take it for long, I knew that I had to play the waiting game.
"C' mawn! Hit me! HIT ME!" he yelled, sending a hail of tools at me like bullets, I tried to dodge, but the tools got me and pinned me against the far wall, I saw a huge block of the metal rise behind him.
"Y'know, if you joined the league, things would be easier…" he sighed, "Now you're pinned, about to meet your maker, just a little hint, your buddies, your precious little woman, and EVERYONE you care about is going to see your end!" he snapped, "Then I can finally be the man that broke Renegade's little dream… that broke the Symbol of Change!"
I was frozen to the spot, seeing the block come screaming towards me, my sparks ignited and my hands met the surface, my sparks trying their best to overcome it. I tried to push back, I tried and all I could see was All For One and All Might, seeing the building topple down on me.
'I can't…! I can't do this! Endeavor! Everyone! I… I can't… I can't! I…' I thought, everything faded out, I saw the little version of me, staring up at me, with Little Endeavor in his free arm and he clenched his walker handle.
'I wanna be just like Endeavor! Isn't that cool?!' Little Me gasped, 'He's always so strong! He never backs down or gives up!'
I saw myself running at a crowd of bullies, hefting my walker over my head, 'TAKE THIS!' I tossed the walker.
It shattered the area around me, bouncing off and clattering to the ground before me. And there I was, little me, orange-colored.
"Are we gonna lose?" he whimpered, I knelt, seeing the past me cry, "Aren't we gonna save Momo and Mom and Katsu?! Aren't we gonna become the bestest hero ever?!"
I pulled him into my arms, "Yes… Yes, we are… We're gonna save her!" I promised, feeling my sparks reignite… feeling the metal cave, hearing the screeching and shrieking of metal bending and snapping, I looked at my sparks…
And they burned so beautifully, "BURNING FULL SALVO: FULL BODY CRASHER!" I screamed, bursting the metal block apart, seeing the sunlight streaming in just behind me, "I won't… EVER BE WEAK AGAIN!" I roared, "SO MANY… SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON ME! TO BECOME THE SYMBOL OF CHANGE!"
Wolfram smiled, readying more bullets of metal, "I… Won't let pain stop me! I won't let fear stop me! I AM RENARU BAKUGOU! AN' THAT NAME'S THE NAME I'LL CARRY TILL I DIE!" I screamed aloud, charging in, feeling the metal melt, and burn my skin! I never felt more alive! I never felt more alive!
"Hosu needs a hero… and it might as well be me!" I snarled, my body screamed in pain, my eyes burned with fiery tears, my blood screamed and boiled to the surface, "SOUL SERIES: ENDEAVOR SHELL!" I screamed, rocketing my fist into Wolfram, finding that he strengthened himself with some knock-off All Might Quirk.
I became something so much more than myself at that moment, the sun streaming in, the crowd roaring, my soul was burning, blazing, and scorching the metal back to liquid. I pushed against him.
'Conquer this, conquer this! You've got this! KEEP PUSHING, RENARU! KEEP PUSHING! PROVE THEM ALL WRONG!' I thought, 'Endeavor believed in you! Everyone you know and love is with you! THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEPPING STONE!' I burst into a blue flame, my eyes widened.
"PLUS ULTRA: SHATTERING STAR!" I thundered, throwing him upwards and blasting him through the roof, screaming, hearing him howl and scream, hearing it all go into white noise. I pushed myself farther once more...
"RENARU! YOU BASTARD!" Katsuki screamed, seeing the pillar of blue flame rip the upper level of the Jungle apart. They all got out okay, but Renaru was still fighting.
"Ren… Goddammit! You pushed too far again!" Katsuki snapped, seeing the blue flame fade, hearing the news team.
"I don't believe it! Renegade… he's… HE'S STILL STANDING! HE'S ALIVE!"
Katsuki started to sob, kneeling and sobbing in relief… little did he know that Renaru would have to do one more thing...
I stumbled towards the door, ripping it out and seeing Momo kneeling there, eyes closed and strapped to some odd machine, she opened her eyes, "Ren! Get out of here!" she urged. Her eyes were full of fear and desperation.
"Momo! Momo, I'm here to save you!" I snapped back.
"Renaru… don't be stupid! For once just… just listen!" she snapped.
I hesitated, "This machine… it's pumping me full of Trigger… making my body saturate and create glycerine, which means… I'm a bomb, Renaru…" she explained.
"No… no… there's gotta be an off switch! There's… there's gotta be a releasing mechanism somewhere!" I denied, "Please! Please, Momo… Please tell me there is!"
"There isn't… I'm sorry, I already tried to escape…" she sighed, "It's useless… not unless you tore off his hand…"
"No, no… there's… there's gotta be a wire I can cut! A panel I can bust open! Momo… I…" I gasped, extinguishing. I felt despair rip through my heart. Not her. Not her…
She smiled, and I knew what she was going to say, "Renaru… the only way to stop this… is to destroy me…" she sighed, I saw tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were shining.
"Momo… I can't! I can't hurt you! After all, I did… after all… after all, we did to make it… and…" I started to sob, "I just wanted to be happy! I just wanted you and a nice hero job…"
"Renaru… all I'll feel is quick, it's… it's like the roller coaster, remember?" she asked.
I nodded, "Okay… okay…" I sighed, standing.
"Renaru… my time with you… it was amazing…" Momo sighed, "I'll be waiting…"
"Momo… I… I love you," I choked up, igniting, shutting my eyes, "T-to… to the m-moon… and BACK!"
I felt my blast go off, and there was no sound, the machine was rubble. I looked for any sign of her. Something, anything. A hand, a leg, something! I started to dig and claw through the rubble, trying to find her, the heavy smell of napalm and gasoline hung through the air. I saw a single, glimmering thing, it survived…
Her ring.
Her necklace, her neck, her body! It… it was her! Covered in burns, passed out, hair charred a little, but I picked her up, happy tears coursing down my cheeks as I tore my way out of the rubble, running as fast as I could, not sure if I was carrying her or her dead body. I still ran, ran like a madman, steadily and without any slowdown.
I needed to know, I needed her… I still have so much to show her… I ran and stopped once they took her in.
'Momo… please, please dear God be alive…' I thought, finally succumbing to exhaustion and plopping onto a bench, my ruined old bands sliding from one of my hands, dirty and soot-covered. My head downcast, I shut my eyes…