The other Izuku's eyes were noticeably sparkling, Deku realized, as he explained to him the ins and outs of Epsi's hardware. It was interesting, even though he knew most of it. The infrared camera and the radio were a surprise, but aside from that Epsi had already showed him all the other little attachment she had it seemed.
"And this is Spider-Man's web." Izuku – the one they called Power Suit, a man in his thirties with short hair and a metal arm – explained to him, and suddenly Izuku choked.
"The what?"
"Spider-Man's web. You know, from the comics." He paused, "Or I guess I should say 'from the other Universe'."
"Woah. Wait, does that mean I could try to…"
"No." Power Suit interrupted him, shaking his head, "You can't wall crawl or do the whole 'swinging from building to building' thing. Leaving aside the fact that you don't have all of Spider-Man's other powers, like sticking to walls, which are necessary to do what he does, there isn't really that much inside. I'd say you have about five shots before it runs out, give or take one depending on how much is released exactly. Also, it's Epsi that decides when to shoot it."
"I didn't use it on Mister Izuku – The Green Scar, that is – because it's too expansive." She explained helpfully, "It's meant to be an ace up your sleeve if you ever find yourself in trouble and need it."
"Correct. Some of the chemicals used in it are native of Spider-Man's world and we can't reproduce them outside of it. The reaction just doesn't give the necessary effect. The only option is to have him import the stuff, so we don't get it often." Power Suit absentmindedly rummaged in a small locker on the side and took out a small vial filled with a white liquid to the brim, before handing it to Izuku. "Here, take a refill. Don't lose it though. Mei has been asking me to take back a vial for months, and Isaac always says we can't waste them, so you can't either."
"Uhm… Mister Izuku…"
"Call me Power Suit, or just Suit. Everyone around here does. Too many Izukus to use the real name."
"Uhm, Mister Suit, are you a Wanderer?"
The man raised an eyebrow for a moment, before his eyes went wide, "Oh right, you are completely new to this. No, no, I was, but that's over now. I got to go back home, and now just work as a consultant of sort for the League."
"How did you do that?"
Power Suit shrugged, "It's nothing interesting. See, my wife is a bit of a tech enthusiast. Eventually, after she figured how to build efficient spacecraft, she turned to portals. The reasoning was sound: there are people with Portal abilities, like Kurogiri or the Quirk All for One used to move around, so it should be replicable with a machine, like she did with other Quirks."
"It didn't work?"
"Nope. We did a few tests, that proved it was survivable, then we needed to see if it lead in the right location. All the camera seemed to be failing – you know, because as it turns out they were going in another universe – and Mei was growing impatient, so we had to figure out another solution."
"And you just… stepped through?"
"To be honest, it was me or her. She can be headstrong, and I wasn't about to let her potentially injure herself. It was just the most logical step." The man was retelling it calmly, and Deku had to admit he didn't seem bothered by it. Perhaps he wasn't, since apparently, he had found a way home either way.
"So you ended up in the Multiverse."
"Yep. Stepped through the portal, heard a loud noise, and turned around to see the rope cut cleanly in half and the portal itself gone. Lucky for me, eventually a Patroller came around and brought me here, and the guys managed to find my home. Took only six months, so it was more like a very stressful vacation. After that, we kept in contact and eventually I just became their electronics consultant." He chuckled, "Mei is super angry I won't take her here, but to be honest I'm too worried of what she would do once she gets her hands on other worlds' tech."
"Your wife is Hatsume Mei?" Izuku asked, and Power Suit nodded, a warm smile forming on his face. After a moment, he sighed.
"She is. I love her more than I can express in words. That's why I can deal with the other Hatsume, I think."
"Oh, you mean Hatsume Himiko." He asked, and Power Suit nodded.
"It's still odd to me, but past the gut reaction I found her pleasant. She reminds me of the person I love most, even when I am at an impossible distance from her for days or weeks." He took a deep breath, "Sorry, I've been here for a while and I guess I'm starting to grow nostalgic for home. I will see if Mel can take me back in a day or two."
"Is it that easy?"
"Sure. Mel can travel freely from one universe to another, and she just takes a bit of rest between jumps. She takes me home, we let her use a guest room for the night, and then we just schedule my next visit here."
"How often do you do that?"
"Right now, pretty often. The portal is a big project and I really want to see it completed. I want to help the guys up there, the ones that can't go home because they lack the power to do so. I was one of them, and if I can remove those months of agony, of desperately hoping someone will stumble on your world… Well, I will do it, no matter the amount of work it takes." He had grown more energetic while talking, his eyes lighting up again after they had grown sad while talking of his home. After a moment, he coughed, "Anyway, what I meant to say is to give her a chance. I know it's hard, with the person she looks like being one of your worst enemies, but she is innocent. She is just a good person."
Izuku nodded. He admitted it had been wrong of Shoto and Ojiro to react like that to her, even if it had been understandable. He had to wonder if he would have reacted any differently after what they went through. "I will try."
"That's all I ask for. Now though, let's talk a bit about your plans. When are you leaving?"
"I was actually thinking to try to start today. I will rest in the afternoon and then leave. Izuku's training was not as hard as it felt – though I wish to never experience it ever again – so I think I should just start. The sooner the better, right?"
"Good answer." Power Suit turned his arm around – literally, as Deku watched it turn upside down – and pressed a hidden button, revealing a container in the shoulder, with several small, egg-shaped objects. Izuku's eyes grew wide when he noticed they looked suspiciously like grenades. "Here, take two of those as well."
"Are those b-bombs?"
"Nah, you aren't Bakugou, I'm not about to handle explosives to a normal teenager. Those are anti-Quirks grenades. One of Mei's babies."
"You can make those?!"
"Yes, but don't get too excited. It only works in certain worlds. They are basically the equivalent of an EMP for Quirks, but it seems some universes just don't work on the same logic of ours and the grenades don't stop the powers. Still, if you have to go out there, better have every advantage you can, right?" He closed back the shoulder, his arm automatically turning back around, opening and closing his fist, "Well, all I had for you has been said. Anything else you want to know?"
Izuku thought for a moment, then shook his head. Power Suit nodded and gave him a pat on the back. "In that case, here is my final advice. Don't be afraid. There is always a way forward."
And that advice made Izuku feel better.
-x-
"And you are dead." Mariah commented coldly, Itsumi surrounded by Vines ending in appendages that looked like drills, chainsaws, and other power tools, some blown away, but one of them, a power saw, inches from her temple, whirring menacingly. If she wanted to, she could have scalped her then and there. "This is the fifteenth time, by the way."
Itsumi panted, her face and body both covered in sweat. She had fought hard, but Mariah was just too strong. She hadn't even been serious, and that perhaps was the worst part. The fact that, for all she had tried to win, Mariah had consistently knocked her down with only a handful of Quirks. One had been enough for the last bout. "Again, please…" Itsumi panted, her eyes focused on the woman.
"No, that's enough for now." The woman retracted her vines, the power tools vanishing before her hair reformed in the familiar bun.
"I can still go…"
"You could, yes. But that is hardly productive. We have been at this for over an hour. The last three bouts have lasted little over a minute. Our first match lasted longer than the last five combined. We are done for today, and that is final."
Itsumi tried to say something, but she was too tired and she knew Mariah was right. Itsumi had fought for a good eight minutes in her first round, combining her powers to keep away from the weapons Mariah had thrown at her, and in the end had gotten a blow in before 'dying'. That had been her only successful blow. "Am I weak?" She panted out finally.
"You are a clever fighter with a powerful set of powers." Mariah replied, "Your physical strength is below the average One for All user I have fought, but that is only expected of someone with only a portion of the power, and you know how to make up for it."
"But then why did I get only a single blow in?" Itsumi replied, and Mariah chuckled, making her go red with anger. Before she could say anything, however, the woman smiled.
"Just one blow? I feel like I should be insulted." The woman replied, "Don't pretend that was an easy feat, or you will only disparage yourself. I do not enjoy many of the perks of other All for One users, such as regeneration, given I do not steal Quirks on a whim, so my defense has to compensate for that. The fact you broke through it once was commendable."
"Commendable won't really help when a violent All for One comes after me, will it?" Itsumi asked back, with just a bit more poison than she expected to. She couldn't help it: the sense of dread she felt for All for One was still there.
Mariah paused, "No it won't. Commendable is what every One for All user from your Universe was, I presume."
"She got that right." The Vestige commented. Itsumi didn't expect it, given he had kept silent for so long, and jumped in surprise, making Mariah rise an eyebrow.
"Good of you to finally come back." Itsumi commented.
"Sorry, I just… Felt a bit overwhelmed, it's all. I'm better now." The old man sighed, "Finding out four of my friends are gone wasn't easy, and I also was… sorry. I shouldn't make excuse. I left you alone." "It's alright." "I should have…" "Calm down now. I thought no one was perfect. Did you suddenly decide that isn't valid for you?"
Despite himself, the old man could not help but laugh. "You runt. Fine then, I promise to do better and call it a day, is that alright."
Itsumi smiled, and suddenly realized Mariah was still there, staring at her. "Sorry…"
"Vestige, I take?"
"Yeah."
"I guessed so. You had One for All since you were a kid, it's only natural your Vestige would be fully communicative." She moved to the side of the room and launched a bottle of water towards Itsumi, who grabbed it quickly, "Drink, go take a shower, and then rest. We will do another training this afternoon, if I can squeeze in the time."
"Really?!" Itsumi gasped.
"I like people that put in the effort." The woman replied, "You better keep it up though. I think I have some ideas for your Quirks, but I want to see if you can find them on your own."
Itsumi nodded, and she started to drink. 'Mom, dad, I am going to become stronger. And when I come back, we will defeat Alien King together.'
-x-
Lunchtime was a busy affair for everyone. While The Green Scar and Zuzu-9-Beta prepared the food for everyone – the latter arguing that the former should have stayed out of the kitchen – the majority of the people present in the room seemed more interested in Izuku's decision of leaving later that day.
"Are you sure it's a good idea?" Ojiro asked for the fifth time.
"I am." Deku replied, "The sooner I start, the sooner we can go home."
Melissa – who had apparently joined their group permanently, judging by the fact she had sat down with them immediately, dragging the far shyer Dekiru with her – had a worried expression on her face. However, before Deku could ask her why, she nodded quickly, "It's probably for the best, right? You can definitely do it."
"Thanks. I mean, I wish there was a better, but there isn't, right? Isaac isn't around today, but I doubt he would have a problem with it either."
"Not like he can stop you." Izzzuku pointed out, yawning above his head. The dream being had been following Deku lazily, sometimes hidden in his head, sometimes hovering nearby, since that morning, so he clearly was more than ready to go.
"I mean, it's not a problem either way. I have Epsi, the suit and you. I just need to put on my Hero Costume."
"Actually," Epsi corrected, "I would suggest forgoing the whole costume, or at worst taking it with us in the backpack."
"At least the gloves and shoes…"
"Yes, that seems acceptable. I just suggest a more casual look. It's unavoidable that you will attract looks because of your appearance in some worlds, but normal clothes will be far easier to explain than going around in a full costume."
Todoroki nodded, "Just remember we are also looking for allies."
"I know." Deku replied, "Is why I will try to at least look around the world for a bit instead of just jumping from place to place."
"Works for me, will probably make my job a lot easier." Izzzuku replied.
"Why is that?"
"Power limitations, like with everyone else. I have conditions to follow to use my Multiverse jumping."
Izuku blinked twice, "Uh, you never mentioned that."
"You never asked. But yeah, there are rules to everything, even to yours truly abilities. Don't worry though, it's nothing bad. If you plan to go around that world for a bit, I can just solve them."
Deku was about to ask what conditions he had when Itsumi moved her eyes from her plate and looked at him, "Just don't get hurt, alright? We need allies, but if something happens to you that will make everything worse. If you have to choose between running into danger or running from it, choose the latter."
"I guess I will try."
Itsumi looked at him for a second, then sighed, "You really are just like dad. Fine, that's the best I can get I suppose."
"Sorry."
"Don't be sorry, it just means you are planning to do the right thing." She replied with an encouraging look, and Izuku couldn't help but grin back. Itsumi was in a much better mood than she had been since they had found out about All for Deku's attack on her world. He was definitely going to not ruin that.
Ojiro sighed, "Still, I don't like the fact you are going all alone."
"Ehi!" Izzzuku and Epsi replied in unison.
"Oh uhm, I mean… I guess I mean without anyone else that can, you know, help him with doing… stuff… alright I'll shut myself up."
"So miracles do happen." Todoroki's dry remark made Melissa choke on the water she was drinking and got a snicker out of Itsumi too. Even Dekiru and Deku couldn't help but chuckle, while Ojiro made his best impression of being offended. Everyone could tell he was actually enjoying this. He put an arm around Todoroki's shoulder and started complaining about having to talk for two, which in turn got Todoroki to remark on how he should have picked Bakugo as a friend so he would be deaf by now. It was clear it was all in good taste, and it got multiple laughs from the table.
After a good lunch, though, the mood became more tense as Izuku slowly walked to his room and prepared his things in his new backpack. It was a black, rectangular shaped bag that used apparently sturdy straps to hold itself to his back. It was also airtight, because the last thing he wanted to do was bring an infesting bug from a world to another. The League really thought of everything, Izuku mused as he filled it (and it was still weird to talk about the League and not use the term to refer to the League of Villains, his mind added). The canteen on the side was complete with a long straw to drink on the fly, about two liters large in case he couldn't refill it often. That made the bag a bit heavier, but One for All made it a non-issue. Aside from it, there were clothes, a backpack, his Hero Costume, washed, folded and dried by Zuzu-9-Beta after his training, and some dry food in case he needed to eat and couldn't find a way. Finally, Izuku stared at the two small bags inside.
The first contained the two grenades Power Suit had given him. He didn't want to risk losing them in his pockets, so the best solution had been putting them in the bag, on top of everything else. The second, as he found out opening it, was a weird collection of bills, coins and even some shiny stones that, Izuku realized bewildered, were gold nuggets.
"It's emergency currency." Zuzu-9 explained when he called her to ask about them. "You might need to buy food, water or shelter, and not every word will accept Yen, Pounds or Dollars. In that case, sell the gold to obtain whatever currency is used there. It's not a perfect method, but it's futile and cumbersome to try and give you every single currency in the Multiverse."
Izuku nodded, closing the box and placing it back in the bag, after adding a few of the coins Prince Shor had given them as a reward after their fight with Lord Arkin. It just seemed a good idea to add some of his own gold. 'I still can't believe I own solid gold coins.' He found himself thinking.
Once he had activated the pin, that he placed on the back of his shirt, under the bag, where it would be protected so long as he was wearing the backpack, he stared at himself in the mirror. It was a little odd to be wearing only his shoes and gloves. He had never done the former, and the latter only when he fought Gentle, and by poor coincidence. He noticed they had been cleaned too, probably by Zuzu-9 or Hatsume Himiko. Overall, he looked normal, so long as no one noticed his strangely stiff bag or the metallic shoes. 'Although, if I end up in a world like Izo's, that's not going to be true anymore.'
He shook his head. Be as it may, this was less conspicuous, on that much the others were right. He stepped out of the room, and walked upstairs.
There wasn't a real reason for them to use the gym specifically, but apparently it was some sort of tradition to start from there, or so Izzzuku had said. Most of the people he had met in his stay at the League's Headquarters had decided to be there. Melissa, Dekiru and the Green Scar, plus of course Ojiro, Todoroki and Itsumi.
"Uh, I didn't expect this many people around just to watch me leave." He commented, a bit embarrassed. "And I expected to see Mel, since she said..."
"Eh, I was just curious, so I offered to do the goodbyes for her. She had something to take care of so she won't be back for a while. Still, I'm curious." The oldest Izuku commented with a grin, "It's the first time I get to watch myself leave for another world willingly."
"I just wanted to wish you good luck." Melissa added with a smile. "Mariah would be here but she got a call from an office in the city and she had to rush there." At that, Itsumi seemed to pout a bit, but Izuku didn't even have the energy to ask. He was too nervous for that.
"I wish you good luck too." Dekiru echoed, "We didn't talk much but that doesn't mean I can't at least hope you will be safe."
"Thank you, guys." Izuku smiled genuinely before his attention turned to the others. Ojiro's wide grin grew as he moved closer.
"You know Izuku, I do owe you my life still."
"W-We are even, you know that. You accompanied me and it's my fault if you are stuck here anyway, so…"
"Kid, don't try that. I will pay you back one day, so make sure to come back alive, is that clear?" The man grabbed him under his right arm, "I don't know if Izzzuku is in your head or what, but tell him that if something happens to you, he will pay."
"Oh come at me, Tailless Man. I'm trembling in fear." Izzzuku's voice quipped inside his head, unheard by everyone but Deku. He had to wonder if that was intentional or an accident.
"I will." Izuku nodded quickly, and Ojiro let him go as Itsumi walked up to him, extending her hand so he could shake it.
"Come back alive so we can save our worlds." She simply said, but her tone was encouraging and Izuku understood what she really meant. He felt a smile grow on his face once more as he grabbed her hand and shook it, the girl chuckling, "We are counting on you. And don't worry about Ojiro and Shoto, I'll babysit them while you are gone."
"So we are really considered more immature than two teenagers now?" Ojiro asked Shoto out loud, and the ice-and-fire user snorted.
"I guess we are." The man moved closer to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Izu, we have gone through a lot together. I'm not sure about my thoughts on this whole situation, but… thank you. You were our first ray of hope. Make sure to come back to us I… Deku."
Izuku's eyes went wide, even as the man scowled and mumbled something that sounded very much like a swear word, before nodding once more, with even more conviction. "I will. We will save our universes."
"Yeah yeah, whatever, just start doing your thing."
Izuku nodded, and stepped to the center of the room, since it seemed to be the right thing to do.
"Alright, remember what they told you and then jump. Goodbye and good luck Izuku." The Green Scar recited out loud. Izuku wondered for a moment if he knew the same thing was what Mel had said to him before, but he guessed he would never know. Instead, Deku nodded, and focused on the task ahead, using Teleport to try to travel the Multiverse for the first time, aiming at Isaac's home, the Star Tower. He closed his eyes, and then the lighting behind his eyelids changed. After a momentIzuku opened them, and took in what he saw.
(xx)
Time for the Multiverse! And oh boy am I excited for this. We have gone though a lot over this adventure so far, but Multiverse-wise, that was the tip of the iceberg.
For the rest this chapter has a lot of setup for the journey, giving away the final details on Izuku's equipment. I hope this clarifies what Izuku has with him currently.
Itsumi, Ojiro and Todoroki staying behind was actually a very difficult choice, but I had other plans for them. We will see, of course.
A quick reminder I'm still looking for a Beta reader. I might be some 30+ chapters in, but I wouldn't say no to someone to help. Someone also asked me about TVtropes and the answer is: I don't know TVtropes well enough. If someone wants to do it though sure, it'd be amazing.
Usual shout out:
Dekiru is from Dekiru the Fusion Hero by | OmegaInfinity |
The Green Scar is from The Green Scar by Quantum 01 (worldbuilding thread) and Pro-Man (fanfic)
Power Suit is from Rejected Stones, the recently finished fic by FullParagon