Chapter 2 - like inglorious baby chicks
Pale face. Rosy cheeks. Dark, straight hair, falling just to her shoulders. Round, golden eyes, like that of an animal.
But she looked like a doll. She looked young. Too young to be part of all those schemes.
He promised he would protect her. Take care of her.
His new purpose would be to keep her as safe as he could, for as long as he could, away from the ones who wanted the worst from her. He felt sorry she had to live that life, had always thought her to be, not pitiful, but someone who only needed love. From a parent, a father.
As much as it started as a sort of obligation, a regret, this is the girl he one day will view as his own daughter.
Quirks.
Considering how big of a part it was in this world, Azula found out about them during Week Two, Day One of her stay with Makoto.
The out of the ordinary, (admittedly) amazing abilities this world's inhabitants possessed. Ranging from a simple power to stretch out one's body to controlling hurricanes, to something as complex and extravagant as Makoto's own Quirk, to bring something alive through description and paper. (So he described).
Of course, it only ignited her will to summon her fire once more. The fact that she had to start from the very beginning infuriated her, though she had made considerable progress from her first try.
Azula flexed out her hand, a wave of resolve crashing through her. With her two-fingered sign, she summoned the fire from the depths of her being. A momentary pause, and then a tongue of orange-red flame danced directly above her hand, a core of purplish-blue peeking out through it.
Almost there.
She smirked at the victory, though she was still far from satiated. She would have to work even harder if she wanted to train her fire to its greatest extent. At this point of time, she could control a small portion of her normal power, enough to engulf herself in a thin layer if she felt like trying to do so.
After taking in the fact she was a tiny little girl, it felt increasingly less pleasing.
"Congratulations!" called Makoto's kind tone from the armchair he sat vertically to her. Azula stared begrudgingly at him. Over the course of her time with him, she'd found it increasingly difficult to read his behavior. Despite his overall good intentions, she didn't like him much.
For one, he didn't treat her like a child, and held reasonable conversations with her when she felt like talking. He allowed her to be independent and brought her nearly whatever she truly needed.
On the other hand, he was strangely observant and acted very gentle and cheerful all the time. She was not used to being around someone so apologetically friendly, just as she was not fully comfortable with everyone around them being so damn powerful.
At least he doesn't coddle me.
All her life, Azula had only ever been a prodigy. Given the fact she had always been special, especially at a young age, been above everyone in talent and status, it was a lesson of humility to learn that so many individuals held such mighty abilities, so distinctly set apart from others just because they'd won the genetic lottery, and mastered them with that superior level of control.
It had surprised her, to say something, the variety and uniqueness about each Quirk, the complexity of said abilities. There were speed types-strength types-mental types, so many variations of one kind of power.
For example-fire.
Azula soon found that one person might be able to breathe fire through their mouth, while another with a fire-based quirk might be able to emanate warmth from their skin as till it was as hot as the sun.
"You did well." Makoto continued, silver eyes creasing as he smiled, soft and benign.
Stop looking at me like that, peasant.
"...Thanks, I suppose." Azula considered the man in front of her, dismissing his caring behavior to the back of her mind. Azula stood without another regard, approaching the floor to ceiling pane of glass that blocked her from the outside.
She pressed her palm against it, feeling the slight warmth of the sunlight seeping into her skin and flesh. Outside, leaves in the color of autumn covered the dark-wooded trees. She could see figures moving down below, just as she had during her first day in this world. She caught sight of a mother and her son, the child's mouth open in what she thought might have been a laugh of joy.
She felt a sort of contracting feeling in her heart and pressed her lips together in a tight line. That was what Ursa should have been to her. Moving her eyes away from that scene, she spotted another trio of young children, playing around like little elves.
She saw a man who loomed over everyone around him, beast-like fangs curling over his mouth. He looked like the picture of a feared storybook animal...but a smaller boy was grinning as he towed the first man down the block, the two conversing amiably together without a moment of fear or apprehension.
Everyone in this universe seemed so different...and yet they all could accept each other more or less completely.
It made her want to be a part of it, just a little bit more.
Makoto was a strange person.
He was rather busy, and always had to leave the building at the most ungodly hours. She didn't mind being alone so much, preferred it sometimes. However, on Saturdays, Makoto remained home, giving her detailed lessons about essentially whatever she wanted to know.
Confessedly, he was well versed, or, in the least, enough to give her a proper vision of the world. Though presently, she was extremely fixated on learning more about the phenomenal meta abilities that over eighty percent of the population controlled. Azula sat in a large cobalt armchair in the library, small fingers clutching a conversely large book, retaining possibly all the information she needed to know about Quirks.
Each page was full of rich, delectable knowledge, ready to be absorbed by an equally intellectual soul. She was engrossed in the article, so much more than she had been in her past life, where she sat through the most mundane lessons about History and Bending, all of which she knew like the back of her hand.
Here, there were so many different cultures and religions and things to learn she hadn't even begun to scratch off. She'd just started the next chapter of her book, around a quarter of the way done, when streams of silver hair peeked out from the doorway.
"What do you want?" Azula asked bluntly, not sparing a second glance towards the doorway as Makoto entered the room.
"Hi there, Azula-chan, I wanted to talk to you."
"Alright," she responded disinterestedly, eyes glued on to her book. "Speak."
"Since I'm out so much, I was wondering if you'd like to go to this school during the fall. It's not far, I could maybe drop you off in the mornings. Or you could walk, if you'd like."
"Excuse me?" Azula's lips twisted into a scowl. "I'm fine here, thanks." A place where little disgusting brats roamed around without any bounds? Agni no, she'd rather go bald first.
"I have a very nomad-ish lifestyle, Azula-chan. We'll be leaving here around the start of winter-that's the end of the second semester anyway, should you continue to travel with me." The silvery man explained, settling into an opposing loveseat across from her.
"I thought you owned this place." Azula said sharply, eyes narrowing to near-slits.
"Oh, I do. It's just I have business in Yokohama during the cold season, and I thought I'd tell you now. Besides, I'm getting busier and this apartment of mine was more my 'lounge house' than an actual living space."
Azula scrutinized him, a bit annoyed. "Busier with what?" she asked, clicking her tongue in irritation.
"I've been getting more commissions," Makoto hummed, which was an extremely vague answer and Azula didn't like it one bit.
"I don't presume you own other little 'lounge houses' over other cities?"
"I'm originally from Musutafu, so nah, renting hotel-rooms is the usual schtick."
"Do I have to? The school." Azula asked, perfectly sweet.
Agni this bastard won't make me do such a thing-
She was only met with Makoto's disgustingly friendly smile.
"You're such a cretin."
"Hm, I've heard way worse. Anyway, this is a pretty casual little program. I thought you might like to compare your fire to what some other kids have at their age."
"Why would I do that?" It was degrading to socialize with a bunch of grubby pygmies.
"So you can learn, maybe? You are pretty interested in Quirks." Makoto responded easily.
Azula stood outside a building that looked just as squalid as the pictures had. Children ran about like inglorious baby chicks, giggling and laughing to each other in the most undignified states. Dirt and sand stained their cheeks and clothes, and she couldn't see it as a learning center more than she could a barn. Azula glared up at Makoto, sending all her blame up at the taller man. "You haven't even demonstrated yours yet." she hissed, eyeing him chillingly. Sure, he'd explained it to her, creating things, but Azula had yet to receive a proper display of said ability.
"Maybe later." Makoto lightly thunked his fist over her head, smiling slightly, and she would have set his face on fire right then and there for laying a hand on her, if there weren't as many people around. She wasn't a princess in this world, (so she lacked status) and she'd be locked away for murder anyway. Alas, she decided against it.
"You'll enjoy this," was the last thing Makoto promised, before dooming her to months of pure madness. The first thing the teacher decided to do was this thing called "show and tell". As far as she could see, it was a much more unfitting way to demonstrate how one's skills had developed over the break.
One kid had the power to turn into some sort of bat mutant. (Ew.)
Another could shoot concussive blasts of air from her fingers. (Boring.)
On and on the list went, and Azula wanted to tug off her hair. She was going to strangle Makoto. These filthy gremlins had nothing to offer besides their stubs for hands and unbecoming manners.
Sitting down in this place was wholly ignominious and mortifying. She watched, half-asleep and twitching with unrest as a blond boy proudly stood, holding up his hands. Azula barely paid him any mind...until they suddenly lit up, sparking like firecrackers.
Golden eyes sprang open at the miniature explosions, which created crackling noises that filled up the entirety of the room.
"That's a wonderful Quirk, Bakugou-chan!" gushed the instructor. "You'll surely become a great hero when you're older!"
Many of the children immediately leaned in, eyes wide with amazement and admiration. Azula watched with a curled lip as the brat's chest puffed out arrogantly, a smirk reaching ear-to-ear. Sure, the initial bravado of the ability itself had intrigued her, being it similar to her fire. However, she had no interest in annoying brats, and especially how this one flaunted his under-practiced Quirk.
There was a difference between hard work and a naturally flashy power.
"No duh I will!" exclaimed the brat, emitting a pretentious aura Azula just couldn't help but stare at piercingly. "I'll be the best hero ever-just as great as All Might!"
He must have noticed her barely hidden contempt, because ruby eyes as hard as rock narrowed, looking straight at her. "What the hell are you looking at?" Bakugou growled, the explosions growing bigger as if he was trying to intimidate her.
Funny.
"I could ask the same thing of you," she replied irritably, voice contemptuous, even through her mocking smile.
"Eeh? D'you think you're better than me or something, newbie?" sneered the blond kid, a harsh mix between a fierce scowl and a rabid smirk on his face.
"N-now Bakugou-chan, let's not be-"
"I saw the way you were glaring! Jealous!"
Where in Agni did he come up with that-
"Why would I be jealous?" Azula questioned crisply, perfectly poker-faced.
" 'Cause you're bound to have a shitty quirk, compared to mine! Lemme guess, is it cat transformation? Those eyes look pretty feral to me!"
Well, you look like you're full of rabies.
Azula blinked, giving into a long eye roll. As a newly reborn nine year old, the remains of her well-composed self and dignity were beginning to crumble.
What were these idiotic instructors doing, letting two nine year olds argue right in front of them? She restrained from glowering at the pathetic excuses of teachers who watched on silently after being interrupted.
"Peasants," she muttered under her breath, ire darkening her tone.
I hate these disgusting little midgets.
"The hell you say?!" screeched Bakugou, eyes screaming bloody murder as he stomped his way towards her.
"Take an ego-check, Blondy-chan. Not everyone has grossly boring Quirks." Azula smiled sweetly, producing a ball of blue fire to prove her point. Slowly, she let it morph into a small dragon shape, scales and teeth and all curling over her shoulder as it's blue tongue lisped in and out. In her past life, such a level of control hadn't been achievable to her, despite her meticulous maintenance. Or, to be frank, she'd never tried to till Makoto remarked it to her, showing pages and pages of paintings and ink and animals she thought perhaps held relation to his Quirk. His creativity in art just leaked into her own way of practicing, forcing her to watch her concentration and form the most minuscule of characteristics.
"HA? You call that powerful?" An arrogant smirk crawled up Bakugou's face.
Azula's expression could only be described as disdainful, truly a product of staring down unbecoming nobles and wordlessly shutting down those that opposed her.
"What, you think the explosions that you're creating are any bigger?" Still smiling a pseudo beam, scorching pulses of burning heat surged from her skin in a volatile aura, eyes glowing eerily, provoking the children beside her to scramble back in a mixture of fear and just the instinct to not get burned by the uncomfortable heat.
"A-azula-chan! I know you're new, but you should really wait your turn!" the instructor of their group sputtered, and Azula dismally toned down her heat, casting an innocent grin up at her.
"Sorry, Miss Aiko, I was a little upset before. I'll quiet down now!"
Apparently, that was enough for their pathetic teacher, who nodded and commanded (unsuccessfully) for Blondy-chan to calm down-even despite his "We're not done here! Come at me Yellow-Eyes!"
Oh, the horrors of day-care.
"Oi."
The brat is back.
Azula's head turned slightly to view Blondy-chan approaching her, fists clenched and the trademark scowl glued onto his features as he was trailed by his henchmen, one of which had jade green hair that reminded her somewhat of broccoli.
"Hn. Yes?" Azula glanced at the blond kid disdainfully.
Are you any less boring now?
It was recess, or so the teacher said, a bit like a time slot for children to frolic about when they weren't learning about math or this 'katakana and hiragana' system.
She'd chosen the time to read more about this fascinating topic called Quirk Singularity, since their lovely teachers didn't allow 'Quirk' usage without adult supervision. Too bad she couldn't just walk up to them and tell them firebending wasn't a Quirk.
"I want to know how your Quirk works!" Azula blinked, paused, and then burst into laughter. It continued even when the blond kid's face started turning red in anger and foul words ensued.
Stupid gremlins.
"Hey! Stop laughing, dammit!"
Azula casually wiped a stray tear from her eye, the smirk on her face almost feral. "I create fire. What else is there to explain?"
It really wasn't that simple, obviously. Firebending was an art in itself, not everyone with the capability to perform it executed with the understanding of how it could be used to its highest potential.
Drawn from the power of the sun, representing life and energy, originated by dragons-there was so much more to just controlling a bit of heat. Azula wasn't going to tell that to these nitwits, though. It was her secret to keep, and besides, she doubted these little midgets would understand anyway.
"Psh! It can't be that obvious! My Quirk depends on how much sweat I create! It's like nitroglycerin!"
"How disgusting," Azula said blandly, chin propped on her palm, praying for a topic-change.
"It's not!" roared Blondy-chan.
Boo-hoo.
"Yeah!"
"You can't say that about Bakugou!"
"Take it back!" yelled the lackeys.
Ugh.
"Sure, sure, Blondy-chan." she crooned.
"My name is Katsuki Bakugou!" sneered Blondy-chan.
"And?" Azula said dryly, oddly amused. Just how hard could she tug his strings?
So easily.
"AND?" spluttered Bakugou. "Don't call me fucking Blondy-chan!"
"Mmkay," Azula said dismissively, before flicking her fingers in a "shoo-shoo" motion. "Can you go now? I want to read."
What I really want to do is burn you to ash.
"I'll fucking destroy you!" he shouted, and for a second she wondered if he was going to blow up from how red he was turning. A fitting end for a lousy brat.
"K-kacchan!" the green haired boy suddenly tugged on the blondy's sleeves, provoking Blondy-chan/Bakugou to growl at him and shrug him away.
Who's this munchkin?
"Back off, Deku! 's not your problem!"
"B-but you're being kinda m-mean right now!"
"The hell?! Go away, stupid Deku!"
Azula sighed, picking up her book lightly and using the chance to slip away, rolling her eyes. She was not remotely interested in a childish argument. Her poor ears ached.
"HEY! COME BACK HERE!"
Azula sat under a shaded tree with ever-reaching branches, atop a small wooden bench. It was now half a month into her new school, and she had already resigned herself to this fate, misery in every sweet smile and faux giggle.
Sure, it was a little colder outside now, and most of the other children preferred to remain indoors. She avoided Bakugou as much as she could, (an annoyingly difficult task since the blond boy scoured her every day, looking for a fight-that brat) and stayed away from the other little girls who asked if she wanted to play dolls or dress-up with them.
Her attempts had somewhat been a success, (if you just ignored Bakugou), the girls gave up their futile attempts and Azula had taken on the role as the nice, smiley, but quiet girl that liked to be left alone most of the time.
Didn't stop others from gushing over her 'Quirk', however.
"Azula-chan, can you cook my marshmallows for me!" (Agni, no I will not.)
"Azula-chan, I'm cold! Do you mind warming me up?" (I do indeed mind.)
"Azula-chan, make fireworks!" (Who the hell do you think I am?)
She had gotten more or less used to the little gremlins approaching her for their less-than-important requests, so she barely looked up when she noted someone starting towards her tree, ready to shoot out a snarky comment if said child was Blondy-chan (she should have set his hair on fire from that last trick he pulled, dumping her notebooks into the fish pond indoors-).
"U-um, M-miyazaki-san?" Azula glanced up, faintly surprised to see broccoli-boy gazing at her with wide, emerald eyes.
"Oh. Hello, Deku-san."
"M-my name's Izuku Midoriya!" the boy stuttered, ducking his head down.
"Hn. Broccoli-san it is," Azula spoke carelessly.
Izuku Midoriya. He was another of the boys who followed Bakugou like a baby duck and idolized this fellow named 'All Might' as much as practically everyone else in the group. He was plain and freckled and alas, boring, due to his sad Quirkless state and crippling lack of self-confidence.
His determination to be a hero was perhaps the only thing he had going for him, but he hadn't a single angry bone in his body, (as far as she had seen) and simply faded into the background as his 'best-friend' received praise and admiration that served only as ego-boosters to his already headache inducing personality.
She really wouldn't be surprised if Bakugou was told he'd one day rule the world.
"Hn. Call me Azula." Azula stated casually, only half-focused.
"H-hai, Azula-san. U-uhm, I wanted to ask a-about your Quirk. I think it's super cool, though I was wondering if you drew it from a source? I-it's also blue, so maybe that makes your fire more dangerous-ooh, or hotter than usual orange flames! Is-"
He stopped, freckled cheeks turning cherry-red as he realized Azula was staring at him blankly. "Sorry!" cried the green-haired boy, bobbing his head as he bowed in apology. "I tend to mumble a lot…"
"I can tell," Azula remarked, smile sharp. Deciding to give him an answer, (really, what was the harm?) he wasn't like Bakugou who was annoying and pestered her and made her want to commit homicide, she said,
"Yes, you're kind of right. My fire is drawn from the sun-but not solely on that. Take comets, for example, or even the core of the planet."
Broccoli-san's eyes glimmered with utter delight and excitement at this new development. "Wow! That's so cool!"
"Mmhm." Azula hummed, once again half-listening. "Mind if I ask why you asked? You're Quirkless, right?"
Broccoli-san visibly shrank, the light in his green eyes dimming slightly. "Y-yeah. I'm Quirkless. I-It's just that Quirks are so interesting! There are so many applications to a single Quirk-and, well, yours is so powerful!"
"Hm. I know," Azula said in a low drawl. She blinked at him, or well, past him, eyes unfocused. She really hoped he caught the hint and just left and went back inside. She was bored of their short conversation already, and well, that couldn't be a good sign.
Can I go now?
When Broccoli-san made no move to leave, Azula herself stood up. "Sayonara" she sounded, stepping around him and making her way to the door into the building.
"Wait!" There was a light tug on her sleeve, and Azula turned.
"Yes?" she asked, too annoyed to stop the exasperated tone in her voice.
"I want to be your friend!" Broccoli-san shouted, voice squeaky high and even more annoying than two seconds ago.
Azula stared at him. Blinked once. Thrice. "Why?" she asked, voice perfectly apathetic. She had no time for Broccoli-san, and she was moving at the end of the semester anyway. There was no need to befriend someone she wouldn't stay in contact with.
"You're really cool, and you stand up to Kacchan, and well, your Quirk is super powerful and really really amazing! A-and you're super smart and athletic, uhm,"
"You met me half a month ago." Azula said plainly, bluntly, like she was talking to a mentally handicapped child. But again, time probably passes without a care for third graders, so she really shouldn't have bothered.
"I-I know! B-but I can teach you all about heroes! And their Quirks! And the Billboard Charts! All Might is the number one hero, though you're kinda like Endeavour, who's number two! He manipulates fire too!" Broccoli-san's eyes were so watery and puppy-like Azula almost gave in.
"Well, I'm really not interested-"
Izuku looked like he might cry now, like a poor baby bird who'd just been abandoned by its mother. Eyes watery, (she could just see the fat drops that were encroaching) Azula blinked and saw a small boy in a pony-tail and dark brown hair instead of the greenette in front of her.
The Princess Azula of 'before' would have sneered and turned on her heel, muttering curses and annoyed words, or stared down mockingly and laughed at the weakness the little boy showed. Or, maybe, she'd fry this annoying brat into a pile of ashes for poking at her so much.
The Azula Miyazaki of 'now' blinked tiredly, huffing a long, (still-frustrated) sigh. "Fine, alright," she rolled her eyes for what felt like the fiftieth time. "Stop crying, Broccoli-san. Let's be friends."
She was different now.
Different.
Bright eyes stared up at her. "Really?"
"Yes, yes." She mustered a smile that was perhaps a percentage less fake than all the others. " I suppose I'll take on those Hero lessons you talked about."
.
.
.
.
"...Hey Miyazaki."
"Hn? Yeah, Azula-chan?"
"Apparently, I've made a new friend."
"Oh? What's their name?"
"Broccoli-san."
"E-eh?"
;-; Hewo! I know, I know, it's been a while. Many apologies ;; Hopefully this extra long chapter satiates you guys. I've finally worked out the gist of how I want things to go.
Flashyyyyyyy: I hope I can keep your interest! Uwu. Ships undecided!
Courtneyfraser02: Thxxx! We see some rivalry with this chappie! Wahhh, thanks for your support!
Guests: Thank you! I really didn't want to rewrite the events of the canon timeline. There'll be some links to some events, eventually, at least if things go as planned, but yes! Heh, hopefully this was a good enough chappie, I quite like it. ~w~
M2R: Yes, will be explained! Ik I promised more Makoto explanations in this chapter and it didn't really happen too much. XD I'll elaborate his Quirk more in a future chappie. The OCs from the first chapter will be explained...in the future.
Guest (ch 2): YES! You are so right! Thank you lots for that catch, ;-; I really didn't think of that. Very constructive! Thank you! Azula wishes to remain inconspicuous and just blend in to the world in her 'new life'. I suppose you could think of it as information gathering. As for the heroes who were looking for her...well, let's just say not all is what it seems.
I've been working on Azula's tone. Rewrote parts of this a couple times as a result. Azula seems really apathetic here, yes. I've been trying to keep her sorta sarcastic with a hint of her old mean streak. She's toned down a bit, more calm I guess you would say? I bet a lot of you think she was really mean (or just ignorant) to Izu. Heh. She'll grow to tolerate him. Hopefully. On the other hand, there's Bakubro and she doesn't really like him. ;u; but what can ya do?
Alas, we wait till the next chapter! Some Izu-Zula bonding! (if you can even call it that.) Or, in other terms, Izu teaches Azula about dun-dun-dun-heroics!
Till next time! Don't forget to R&R! I love your feedback!
Chlo