-59-

Sir Nighteye

It took an hour by train to get to the Nighteye agency from UA. The ride over had been mostly silent, but only on Izuku's part. Togata didn't have any trouble keeping up the conversation, even if he was the only one doing the talking. Izuku's stomach was tied up in knots. This was his first big assignment for the Justice League, and he was determined not to bungle it. However, establishing a partnership with a high-profile agency on his own was not something he thought he would be doing on his first day. He only hoped that Oliver's faith in him was not misplaced.

His anxiety must have been displayed on his face, as Togata clicked his fingers to snap him back to reality. "Hey man, take a deep breath," he said. "Try to loosen up. But not too loose, though" he added quickly. "Sir's actually a pretty strict guy."

"So I've heard," Said Izuku. Sir Nighteye was famous for his demanding nature, on those who served under him, as well as himself. It was this philosophy that had afforded him great success in the Hero community. In every interview or report Izuku had seen of him on Television or the Internet, he was reminded how fierce and intense his gaze was beneath his glasses, and how closely it reminded him of Bruce's own severe glare.

"He may be strict," Said Togata. "But there's a whole different side of him that most people don't get to see. You need to do one important thing at this meeting if you want to be acknowledged by him." He leaned forward, speaking dramatically. "You need to make him laugh."

Izuku was dumbstruck. "I have to do what?"

"You gotta make him laugh," Togata repeated. "He may be strict, but for some reason he really values humor. Ironic, right? But if you want him to acknowledge you, then you need to make him laugh."

Izuku had no idea how he was supposed to do that. Izuku wasn't exactly an expert when it came to humor. Perhaps after spending so much time with Bruce, his demeanor seemed to rub off on him. He couldn't even remember the last time he laughed, and the only thing close to humor he kept on him was the syringe of Joker Serum Antidote he had stored in his utility belt. He was still racking his brain as they exited the train and made their way towards the agency office. As they made their way upstairs, Izuku paused abruptly.

"What's wrong, Midoriya?" Asked Togata.

Izuku pulled a small radio from his utility belt, placing a small earbud into his ear. After a few moments of listening, his suspicions were confirmed as he heard a faint scream coming from behind the doorway in the stairs above him.

"Someone's in trouble!" Said Izuku, instinctively running past Togata and towards the doorway.

"Midoriya, wait!" Said Togata, trying to catch up with him, but it was too late. Izuku had burst through the doorway, batarangs in hand, ready to face whatever threat lay before him.

But instead of trouble, Izuku stared in disbelief as he saw two individuals, one of them a young woman who was strapped to a strange device. He realized now that she wasn't screaming, but laughing uncontrollably as several feathers attached to rods moved automatically across her body, tickling her immensely. Izuku was at a complete loss for words.

What the hell kind of place is this? He thought.

"Don't run off like that, Midoriya!" Said Togata, finally catching up with him.

"Togata, what is going on?" Said Izuku.

"Oh, that's Bubble Girl, Sir's sidekick," Said Togata nonchalantly, as if this happened on a regular basis (and it occurred to Izuku it probably did). "I guess she didn't make him laugh. Oh, that sucks."

Standing in front of the laughing Bubble Girl, seemingly monitoring the bizarre torture, was a tall, skinny man in a white suit. Izuku recognized the man immediately as his intended target of interest, Sir Nighteye. He immediately drew his attention away from his sidekick and settled his glare on Izuku, who felt a chill run down his spine. He was starkly reminded of how rude it must have looked barging into his office with weapons drawn.

This was off to a great start.

"What is the meaning of this?" Said Nighteye.

"This is the kid I was telling you about," Said Togata cheerfully.

"Izuku Midoriya," Izuku said, bowing to introduce himself.

"Yes, I know," Said Nighteye. "And it's abundantly clear from your mannerisms that you picked up more of the Batman's impertinence than Mirio led me to believe. Most unfortunate."

Izuku paused, unsure what to say next. It wasn't until this moment that he was able to take in the room around him. Before his training with Bruce, not even Izuku had as much All Might memorabilia as Sir Nighteye had. His office was a veritable shrine to All Might in all his splendor. Izuku saw he even had the never-released 10th anniversary poster. Nighteye was an even bigger All Might fanboy than his reputation preceded him to be.

"Well?" Said Nighteye. "What have you to say?"

Izuku cleared his throat awkwardly. "My apologies," he said, bowing again. "I heard a scream and acted instinctively. I am here to -"

"Yes, I know why you are here," Said Nighteye. "I already told Oliver I wasn't interested in working with the Justice League anymore, and he thinks that sending a child in his stead will sway me." Nighteye inspected Izuku closely, the light reflecting off his glasses as he adjusted them. After a moment or so. "The boy from the Kamino Ward incident," He said finally. "I had heard that Batman had been training another protegee. All Might speaks very highly of you."

"Thank you," Said Izuku.

"Don't thank me," Said Nighteye. "His praise is obviously misplaced."

Ouch, though Mirio as he helped Bubble Girl down from the tickle contraption. He's bombing his first impression.

"Sir," Said Izuku. "I simply want to explain myself -"

"I know all about you," Said Nighteye. "The first quirkless student to ever be admitted into UA High, the boy who took second place at the Sports Festival, the boy who took down the Hero Killer, and, of course, the first ever known case of quirk appropriation." He adjusted his glasses again. "Your resume is impressive for someone at your stage of his hero's journey. But so has every Robin before you, and every Robin there will be after you, if your mentor chooses to bring any more down that path of bloodshed."

"Sir, I'm not a Robin," Said Izuku.

"Don't interrupt me while I'm speaking," Nighteye continued. "You think you can simply waltz in here and think that simply because you represent the Justice League that will mean anything to me? I cut ties with that organization long ago. I have no time or patience for this. You can see yourself out." Nighteye turned to leave. Izuku had to think of something quick. He couldn't let this opportunity pass him by.

"Sir Nighteye," Said Izuku. "It's obvious that you admire All Might a great deal."

Nighteye stopped, but didn't turn. "Yes." He said. "So?"

"I have admired him most of my life as well," Said Izuku. "If there is something I can tell you about All Might that you don't know, will you agree to hear me out?"

Although his face remained passive, Izuku could almost see the light behind Nighteye's glasses. If Izuku had pegged him right, a trivia contest of his idol was something that he couldn't pass up.

"You know something about him that I don't?" Said Nighteye. "I hardly think that's possible. But very well. You have a deal." He looked over towards Togata and Bubble Girl. "Will you two excuse us, please?"

"You are aware of the River of Vinegar incident?" Said Izuku, waiting until after Togata and Bubble Girl had left.

"Not a very well known story," Said Nighteye. "But I'm familiar with it. You'll have to do better than that."

"And you are aware of the fight with Toxic Chainsaw?"

"Textbook," Said Nighteye. "Try harder."

"And you are aware of his training in America," Said Izuku.

"Even the most basic of followers know this," Said Nighteye, rolling his eyes. "Are you trying to bore me?"

"No sir," Said Izuku. "To be honest, I was concerned about how much I should reveal. But I believe that I am correct in assuming you know about One For All?"

Nighteye paused. "Yes," He said slowly. "I am aware."

"If you would indulge me, sir," Said Izuku. "Can you elaborate on what you know?"

"His quirk was passed down to him by his master," said Nighteye. "And her master before her. This was done when All For One passed a stockpile quirk onto his brother, who in turn passed it onto a successor, who cultivated his quirk until it was time to pass it on to his own successor."

"Yes sir," Said Izuku. "And you are aware how quirks came to be?"

"Brainiac's exobytes," Said Nighteye. "I was there when he was destroyed. A time paradox caused by Lex Luthor allowed the stolen exobytes to be released into Earth's atmosphere 100 years in the past. What are you getting at, Midoriya?"

"Please, sir, I'm getting to that," Said Izuku. "And you are aware how All For One acquired his quirk?"

"Brainiac's failsafe," Said Nighteye. "A program designed to send any surviving pieces of himself throughout time and space to prevent total destruction. That is where All For One found and fused with one of his remains. That gave him the ability to manipulate the exobytes in others to acquire, modify, and transfer them to other hosts."

"Correct, sir," Said Izuku. "Except One For All."

"That is right," Said Nighteye. "It cannot be taken, it has to be passed freely by the current holder to the next host."

"But do you know why?" Asked Izuku.

Nighteye paused, contemplating Izuku. "That is the way that it has always been," He said. "It was a mutation caused by the quirk being passed down from host to host."

"No sir," Said Izuku. "That is not the reason why."

Nighteye started in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"The real reason why One For All can't be stolen," Izuku continued. "Is because Brainiac won't allow it."

"How could you possibly know that?" Said Nighteye, shocked.

"Because," Said Izuku. "Brainiac told me."

Izuku sat across the desk from Sir Nighteye, who had taken the moment to sit down, putting his head in his hands, collecting his thoughts. They had sat there in silence for at least five minutes while Izuku waited for him to compose himself.

"Explain," He said, finally breaking the silence.

"When All For One. . ." Izuku paused, his voice catching in his throat. "Captured me, he passed a quirk onto me and brainwashed me."

"I'm aware," Said Nighteye. "Continue."

"Well, during that time, I could hear a voice in my head," Said Izuku. "I couldn't be sure, and at first I thought it was All For One, but it didn't sound like him. It sounded . . . metallic. Almost as if someone was speaking through a voice synthesizer."

"You're sure of this?" Said Nighteye.

"Very sure," Said Izuku. "The voice told me about itself. It said that it's true name was Brainiac of Krypton. I don't remember much of what it told me, but I do remember this: All For One did not just transfer exobytes to his brother."

"What do you mean?" Said Nighteye.

"You said it was a stockpile quirk," Izuku continued. "Exobytes have the ability to copy and store data, but the body can only hold so many before the body begins to metabolize itself. That's why many of the Nomu experiments failed."

"Yes, I am aware of this as well," Said Nighteye. "The only reason All For One is able to hold so many quirks is because of the shard of Brainiac that he fused with. Wait," He said, his eyes widening as if it suddenly dawned on him. "You're not saying. . ."

"All For One wanted to turn his brother to his ideals," Said Izuku. "And so, he transferred a piece of Brainiac to him."

"No," said Nighteye, horrified.

"But what All For One didn't know," Said Izuku. "Is that his brother wasn't quirkless at all, but the exobytes in his body lay dormant. When upon receiving the piece of Brainiac, the exobytes reactivated, and he discovered he was able to pass his quirk onto others."

"And when the One For All is passed. . . " Said Nighteye.

"So too is Brainiac," Said Izuku.

"But you said that Brainiac wouldn't allow One For All to be stolen back," Said Nighteye.

"Yes and no," Said Izuku. "Before All For One, Brainiac did not inhabit physical life-forms. As hyper-advanced artificial intelligence, it has always been able to transfer itself to other cybernetic bodies when it has been destroyed. However, after fusing with All For One, it began to notice changes to its programming. It began to align itself with All For One's ideals. It wasn't satisfied with merely collecting data as it was before. It now had a new purpose in its new host."

"I see," Said Nighteye. "So it was influenced by All For One's desire for power."

"Exactly," Said Izuku. "And what I said is true, Brainiac won't allow One For All to be stolen, but not All For One's. I mean All Might's Brainiac."

"Of course!" Said Nighteye. "It makes sense. If Brainiac was influenced by All For One, then one can assume that the piece that was transferred to his brother was influenced by him and the hosts that followed him."

"That's my assumption," Said Izuku. "A Brainiac with the ideals of Justice."

"Who else have you told about this?" Said Nighteye.

"No one," Said Izuku. "Not even Batman. But to be honest, I think he already knows."

"That would not surprise me," said Nighteye. "Do you remember anything else? Even the slightest detail might be significant."

"No," Said Izuku. "All I know is what it told me. Whatever Brainiac is left in All Might has changed. It's like All Might told me once: 'an ironic part of life, is that justice -'"

"'- so often spawns from evil,'" Finished Nighteye. He paused again, looking Izuku up and down. "He told me that he had chosen you," he said finally. "To inherit One For All. That is part of the reason why I agreed to let Mirio introduce you to me."

"He told me you weren't talking?" Said Izuku, surprised.

"We hadn't talked for years," Said Nighteye. "I was excited to hear from him again, only to my surprise to hear that he had chosen another successor, and the student of Batman no less." He said, spitting out the last words as if they were poison to him.

"But I am pleased to see that you did not accept his offer," Continued Nighteye. "I have found a worthy successor in Mirio."

Izuku looked towards the door that Togata had walked through in surprise. So this is why he took on Togata, he thought. He was grooming him to inherit One For All.

"If what you say about Brainiac is true, then the legacy of One For All must live on," Said Nighteye. "And I hope that All Might will see that Mirio is the right choice to continue that legacy. As for you," He added, looking Izuku over. He put his hand over his mouth, and Izuku could hear what he thought sounded like a small snort. "You surprised me. That doesn't happen often." He held out his hand. "Give me Oliver's contract."

Izuku produced the contract from his backpack, watching as Nighteye signed it and stamped it with his seal. "I had already decided that I would accept your offer when I heard Oliver was sending you," He said. "Though you are definitely your mentor's student, you are not entirely lost to his corruption. But I wanted to see that for myself." He walked towards the door of his office and beckoned in Mirio and Bubble Girl.

"Sir!" Said Mirio cheerfully. "How did it go?":

"Our agency will be formally allying with the Justice League for the foreseeable future," Said Nighteye, handing the document back to Izuku.

"All right!" Said Mirio. "You did it, Midoriya! I guess you made him laugh after all!"

"I look forward to working with all of you," Said Izuku, bowing. Though he tried to hide it, he was grinning from ear to ear. He couldn't wait to bring the contract back to Oliver.

"You're working with the Justice League!?"

Oliver had been ecstatic when Izuku had dropped off Sir Nighteye's contract back at the agency. After wringing his hand for several minutes, he directed Izuku to go home and get some sleep, as the "real work" was to begin the next day. Izuku had come back to realize that he was the only one in his class so far to get placed for the Work Studies.

"You're a credit to us all!" Said Iida, patting him on the shoulder.

"Not only that, but you'll be working with the Green Arrow and Sir Nighteye?" Said Sero. "That's seriously cool, man!"

"I wish I could find an agency," Said Uraraka. "But Gunhead's agency doesn't have enough internships or Work Study students to qualify."

"Same with my internship agency," Said Asui.

"Fourth Kind doesn't even accept work study students," Said Kirishima glumly.

"With all these restrictions, it's hard to find an agency who will take us," Said Kaminari.

"Makes sense, though," Said Ojiro. "If something were to go wrong -"

"The blame would fall on the pros."

The students looked up to see Aizawa walking towards them. "Only pros who are the real deal will take on rookies like yourselves," he said. "Tokoyami," he added. "It looks like you've got an offer from one of them. Hawks has invited you to work with him in Kyushu."

"No way!" Said Sero.

"He's the number three hero!" Said Kaminari.

"I respectfully accept this invitation," Said Tokoyami.

"All right, then," Said Aizawa. "I'll make sure you get the relevant paperwork later. Let me know when you are expected in Kyushu and I'll sign off on your absences. Kirishima, Uraraka, Asui," he added, turning to the three students. "Amajiki wanted to speak with you, Kirishima, while Hado wanted to speak with you two." He gestured to Asui and Uraraka. "You can meet up with them tomorrow or whatever." He yawned and walked towards his room without another word.

"Amajiki?" Said Kirishima. "That's crazy. I wonder what he wants?"

"I could be about the work study program," Said Asui.

"No way!" Said Uraraka excitedly. "That would be too good to be true!"

Izuku's classmates began chattering excitedly among themselves. Izuku was absently sharpening a batarang from his utility belt. He wasn't sure what possessed him to tell Sir Nighteye about what Brainiac told him. He scarcely believed it himself when it had happened, and wondered if he had been dreaming the whole thing. But the voice of Brainiac was too vivid in his memory to simply dismiss it. He couldn't even bring himself to tell Bruce, or All Might about it. Perhaps they already knew, but if they did, then why didn't they say anything when the first told him about One For All? And now, Sir Nighteye was looking at Mirio to be the next successor.

Only a year ago he would have cut off his arm for a chance to inherit All Might's power. But now, the legacy of One For All appeared to Izuku to be nothing more than a burden. He already had a legacy to live up to of his own, and though he was strong, he didn't feel like his shoulders were broad enough to carry both.

Regardless of what happened next, one thing was for sure: tomorrow was his first official day with the Justice League, and his first official day as a licensed hero.

He couldn't wait to get started.