The Hero Killer stared out at the darkened city of Hosu as he sat perched atop a high building. His week had been very busy after his last meeting with the Little Hero. Stain still had a duty to cleanse the city below him and had scouted out other false Heroes to go after. However, he had an itch to complete the job left undone when Ingenium had prevented him from laying down his justice upon Native.
The fake had been in hiding ever since and Stain had no knowledge of his current location. But he had heard rumors that the man would be venturing out from his temporary sanctuary soon. Since hearing that, he had been keeping an eye and ear out for his target so that he could complete his mission.
The Villain had also been kept busy by his investigation into Endeavor. He had found plenty of information on the Number Two Hero's on-the-job statistics. Chizome accepted him as a competent Hero to an extent. He was no All Might but he was effective in most situations and had prevented a lot of crime and injustice.
However, the Hero had high numbers when it came to collateral damage to both person and property. It was clear that he relied heavily on his Quirk with seemingly little regard to who or what was burned by his flames. If he weren't a Hero, Endeavor could be considered an arsonist with all the fires he has started while in pursuit of a Villain.
But Endeavor was a Hero. Ranked Number Two at that. He had protection. From money, lawyers, and the Hero Commission. As well as public opinion of his Heroic strength. Which was probably why the flaming man had not been brought to court for property damage or assault for excessive fiery force. A lack of justice that rubbed the Hero Killer the wrong way.
As for the Hero's homelife, Chizome had been having a difficult time finding more evidence other than the video he had taken of the 'training'. While the security on the Todoroki property was lacking, there were aspects that allowed Endeavor to keep his homelife private.
Cameras. Or rather the lack of them in the Todoroki household. Meaning there were no records of the goings on in that house. Which was frustrating because he had no evidence of the messed-up things that were going on behind closed doors. Nor did he know what other instances of mistreatment had taken place there.
There was one path that had born some fruit when he looked into the other members of the family. Chizome had been right that the woman who had gone to the youngest son's aid was indeed not his mother but rather his sister. The boy, Todoroki Shouto, also had two older brothers however one had been declared dead under mysterious circumstances. Not suspicious at all.
Then there was the mother. Todoroki Rei had been admitted to a mental hospital a decade ago. Exactly why he didn't know. Though he suspected that it could be connected to the scar on the youngest son's face. Because he had been taken to a hospital around the same time for a 'household accident'. Whether committed by Endeavor, the wife, or another member of the family he wasn't sure. But he highly doubted whatever happened was an 'accident'.
The mother had to be involved in some capacity. Attacking her own child could explain why she was in the mental hospital. But as to why she would have done that was another mystery. However, if she had been the one to turn on the other, it seemed that the boy was willing to reconnect as he had been noted by staff of visiting his mother for the first time since the 'accident'. She had also been visited by her other two living children intermittently through the years but never by Endeavor.
Strange.
Stain had also been poking around the underground to see if there was anything nefarious that he had missed. But the Hero seemed clean when it came to crimes outside of his home. Having only come across the grumblings of criminals who hated that the Heroes like Endeavor meddled in their illegal business. Hearing nothing about the Number Two Hero sinking to lowly corruption and collaboration with criminals. Endeavor was still a menace at home but at least the fact that he was firmly on the Hero side had some comfort.
The night was mostly still besides the summer winds that blew over the city that was settling in for the night. Stain soaked up the calm and quiet as he observed the people below. Only for his calm to be interrupted by a noise behind him. On instinct the Hero Killer shot up into a fighting position with blades drawn as he glared in the direction of the sound.
From the other side of the roof where the fire escape was popped up a head of spiky black hair. What followed as a face covered in what looked like burn scars lined with medical staples. The ones under his eyes made him look perpetually tired. There was more along his lower jaw extending from the corners of his mouth all the way to his ears in a grotesque sort of smile. That scar also continued down and around his neck past his collar bones and his right shoulder disappearing under his clothes.
"Finally, I found you," the stranger called out as he continued to climb up onto the roof.
The Hero Killer said nothing and just glared at the man who had apparently been looking for him. There were more scars on his wrists and ankles. Which he could see due to the other man's ill fitted clothes. The grubby white shirt looked warn and loose. The belt rough and about to fall apart. The black overshirt and pants appeared to be two sizes too small on his lanky figure. The design of the former reminded Stain of gakuran uniforms worn by junior high school students.
The stranger clambered onto the roof and walked casually towards the Hero Killer as if he wasn't a known murderer. But he was and was not one to allow a potential enemy get too close to him. In a fluid movement he extended the threatening jagged blade of his katana at the stranger keeping him at bay.
"Woah, easy there, tiger," the mystery man said with his scarred hands up in defense.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Stain sneer with his blade still drawn.
"I go by Dabi," the man, Dabi, replied as he lowered his hands slightly. "And I hear you've been looking into Endeavor."
Masked red eyes inspected the stranger before asking, "What concern is that of yours?"
"Let's. Just. Say..." Dabi said as a scarred finger punctuated each word with a tap on the blade before pushing it away. "...I have a bone to pick with the flaming dirtbag."
"Why?" Stain inquired as he relaxed his stance but didn't lower his katana entirely.
"My reasons are my own," was Dabi's answer much to the Hero Killer's irritation but he too had his own secrets. "However, whatever you have planned for that piece of human trash, I want to help. Especially if you want to kill him."
Stain considered the stranger before him. Dabi had some sort of beef with Endeavor which was probably in connection with the numerous burn scars on his body. To the point that he wanted the man dead. Had heard that the Villain had been looking into the Hero and wanted in on whatever he had in store for him. Including murder which possibly meant the stranger was a Villain as well. Or at least a budding one as he still seemed young.
"I had considered it," the Hero Killer said. "However, I have changed my mind. Death would be too merciful for him."
Blue eyes above scarred skin widened in surprise before sinking into disbelief as he asked, "You, the Hero Killer, don't want to kill a Hero...why the fuck not?"
"My reasons are my own," Stain answered with a cheeky smirk.
It was Dabi's turn to consider him at the turn of phrase before saying, "...touché. Well why are you looking into Endeav-whore in the first place?"
The Hero Killer paused for a moment before answering, "I was...informed that while I was chasing other false Heroes there was one hidden in plain sight. Turns out h-they were right."
The stranger quirked a brow at the slip up but made no comment on it.
"As of now, I am gathering evidence against the fake," Stain added before spitting out, "Abusing his own child. How vile."
"You...you know," Dabi stated rather than asked. As if he already knew about the abuse. But how? The stranger's shocked nervousness was quickly smothered by a forced air of nonchalance. "How?"
That's my line.
"I saw it myself," the Hero Killer answered. "The night of the Sports Festival. Training late into the night with his youngest. If you could call what I saw training."
A flash of guilt flickered in blue eyes as Dabi said, "He's still...training him."
It wasn't a question. More of a statement of realization. Confirming that he knew more about the situation than Stain had originally thought. But again, how?
"Yes..." Stain replied while eyeing Dabi suspiciously. "...how much do you know of it?"
"Enough," the stranger responded as a scarred hand reached up to a scarred eye subconsciously but played it off by running said hand through dark hair instead. "I may have something to help you."
The Hero Killer watched as the scarred man rummage through his pockets. He obviously knew more about the Todoroki situation but was purposefully being vague. Why the Villain didn't know. Who was this mystery man in relation to the misdeeds of the Number Two Hero?
"There are no cameras in that house. Endickver didn't want any evidence of his crimes," Dabi explained as he continued to search through his pocket. "But there are other ways to gather such things." He took out a flash drive and offered it to Stain. "Here. Take this. Evidence of his 'training' when Shouto was younger."
Shouto, huh?
"Who are you? Really," Stain asked as he held out a hand for the stranger to drop the flash drive in.
"The answer..." Dabi replied as he placed the flash drive on his palm. "...is in there."
The mystery man then turned on his heel and exited the roof down the same way he came. The Hero Killer watched him go with a head full of questions. He decided to call it a night with supposed new evidence literally in his hand. Red eyes looked down at the flash drive that could be the Hero's damnation as well as the family's salvation. The harbinger of false Heroes clasped the drive in a closed determined fist and disappeared into the night.
...
With Monday morning came the official start of the internships. Students arrived extra early at school to collect their Hero costume cases before heading to the train station together. Except for Hitoshi and Izuku who had yet to receive their costumes, but they would be training at UA anyway and instead left their overnight bags there. Once at the station, Aizawa did a final check and reminded them that they were only to wear their uniforms while on patrol under the supervision of their mentors. Otherwise, they were not permitted to wear them in public.
"Don't lose them either, got it?" the teacher said while people passing by gawked at the group of UA students. "And be mindful of your manners around the other Heroes. They could be your future coworkers after all. Now get to it."
The students gave a quick 'yes sir' and then broke up into smaller groups to say goodbye to friends before heading off to their various platforms. Their usual group of seven, minus Mei, was no different as they passed around fist bumps or hugs depending on everyone's comfort level. The girls left to catch their train. Shouto lingered a little longer before reluctantly bidding them, especially Izuku, goodbye. Hitoshi and Izuku would be staying in the area so they didn't have a train to catch. Which left Tenya as the last to leave.
The engine user had seemed fine in the past week. He had kept a brave face on though from time to time the underlying worry for his brother would pop up when he thought the others weren't looking. Izuku couldn't help but worry about his friend. A bit concerned about his mental state and if it was a good idea for him to take on an internship in the same city that his brother was attacked. The same city where Stain was still at large.
Tenya had assured them that he had no intention of going after the Hero Killer. Tensei would be able to recover with time and therapy. Perhaps he had some anger for the Villain who had attacked his brother, but the same man had also made the life- and Hero-career-saving call to the authorities. Hurting and helping him at the same time. A sort of balance to make up for injuring him when he had not wanted to do so in the first place.
But still Izuku worried. Tenya had a tendency to be impulsive when it came to his quick assumptions. Perhaps he had no intention of looking for Stain, but there's no telling what would happen in a split-second decision. It was because of this worry that Izuku did what he did next as Hitoshi left to go stand by Aizawa.
"Hey, um, Tenya-kun?" the greenette asked, while also subtly reaching into his pocket for a tracker that he had been making it a habit to have on him just in case.
"Yes, Izuku-kun?" the taller teen replied with an inquiring hand chop.
"I, uh, was asked to do a final check on your costume," Izuku lied through his teeth, but his innocent looking features helped support his cause.
"Oh, of course," Tenya said propping his case on one hand while holding it open with another.
The greenette nodded in thanks before fussing with the pieces inside. He made a show of inspecting this part or that. While fake checking out the gear, he stuck the tracker in an inconspicuous place on the costume before ending the farce with a smile.
"Done! Thanks, Tenya-kun," Izuku said with a friendly smile as he returned the item to the box. "Let me know if you have any issues. Or text me if you just want to talk, alright?"
"I will. Thank you, Izuku-kun," Tenya replied with a bow of his head as he closed his case. "Well, I must be off."
Green eyes watched him go before heading over to his mentor. The Hero quirked a brow in silent question of what he had been up to. Izuku gave the same lie of a final check and left it at that. The two students stayed standing with Aizawa as they watched the rest of 1-A leave for their various destinations.
The greenette hoped they all would gain valuable experience over the coming week. This first internship was important for the Heroes-to-be, both for the experience as well as starting to form connections in the industry. While Hitoshi and he wouldn't be attending an internship the same as their peers, they would still be learning from a prominent Underground Hero. One who had been training them for a while and so knew best what to focus on to help catch them up to the rest of 1-A.
This isn't going to be a picnic, knowing Aizawa-sensei. But I'm looking forward to what he will teach us.
Once the rest of the students had gone, Aizawa led the two teens out of the station and back to UA. Where their homeroom teacher had already informed them most of their training would happen in the coming week. Which made sense since the UA facilities were close by and would be very available what with a majority of students out on their own internships.
Well…except for Bakugou.
Said blonde hot head would be spending his week at UA for the second week of his suspension. Aizawa had assured them both that he would be training them far away from where the explosive teen would be. Their training was going to be intense enough without another confrontation. Though Izuku hoped and Aizawa figured that Bakugou wouldn't risk his stance in UA once they did eventually. But that wasn't until after the internships. For now, the focus would be on training.
After arriving at UA, the two interns followed their mentor to the main building so Hitoshi and Izuku could change into their PE uniforms before heading to one of the empty gyms. Once there, they teacher had them warm up same as he had when helping them train for the Sports Festival. Stretching, running a number of laps, sit ups, pushups, squats, etc. General exercises to warm up their muscles before their special training began.
When Aizawa was satisfied with their warm up, he had them start to spar against each other for a while. Which was also something they had done in the weeks leading up to the festival to prepare them for the one-on-ones. Like in their final match, Hitoshi and Izuku found themselves having fun fighting against each other, trying their best to trip the other up. All while Aizawa would give out pointers and corrections from the sidelines. Every now and then stopping them to fix their fighting stances. With each piece of advice allowing them to keep their fights going just a little bit longer.
They kept at it for a few hours and before they knew it, it was time for lunch. To the students' surprise, as their mentor called for a break, Yamada walked into the gym with bento boxes. Not that they were surprised to see the man as he had attended and helped with their training for the Sports Festival. But that was when Aizawa had looked more reminiscent of a mummy than a Hero. They also figured the Voice Hero would have been busy with his own intern or at the very least with one of his three jobs.
But it turned out that Yamada had not taken an intern and since most students were on internships, he basically was down to two jobs for the week. Hero work and his radio show on Friday. Leaving the perpetually busy man with more free time than he knew what to do with. That being his reason for joining their training. At least one of them.
After they finished a lunch of karaage paired with cucumber salad and rice topped with furikake, Aizawa announced that the second half of the day would be dedicated to Quirk training. At this, the tired man earned confused looks from both of the problem children. Yamada jumped in to explain that he wanted to help Hitoshi with his Quirk. While the Voice Hero's Quirk was more tied to his vocal cords and Hitoshi's was a mental type, there were still some things he could give advice on.
Upon seeing their continued confusion, or rather calculating contemplation on Izuku's end, Yamada brought up the civilian made manuscripts of all of Hitoshi's Sports Festival fights.
"You utilized some different techniques for getting your opponents to respond," Yamada stated, then counted on his fingers as he continued. "Jokes, misdirection, insults. All great ways to catch someone off guard. But not the only ones."
"That's true," Izuku spoke up, hand on his chin. "We also brainstormed some other ideas. Like using jingles or impressions. Mei-chan and I have been working on designing a mask for Hitoshi-kun to help mimic other voices. Like artificial vocal cords to manipulate his voice without negating his brainwashing which doesn't work through speakers and such."
"That would definitely be a great Support Item for the listener!" Yamada praised with finger guns. He too knew the importance of Support Items as he had his Directional Speaker to help with his Quirk.
"However, it would do well to not rely on Support Items solely if you can learn to do it yourself," Aizawa added with his usual neutral tone.
"What do you mean?" Hitoshi asked.
"You could use that proposed mask to do things like impersonations," Yamada explained. "But there may be times when you can't. Whether due to the mask breaking or a Quirk canceling it out. You never know what could happen so it's best to have as many options as possible."
"Correct," Aizawa interjected.
"So…what you're saying is…" Hitoshi prodded.
"You're going to have to do your best to impress," Izuku chimed in cheekily while Aizawa sent him a glare.
"Well, I am an impressionable youth," Hitoshi shot back earning his own glare. Then the taller teen looked to Yamada. "Alright, I'm down for whatever you have planned. But what's Izuku going to do?"
"Midoriya will utilize his time with his Support Items," Aizawa replied then turned his attention to the greenette. "You made progress this week rebuilding your gear but I'd like to give you a bit more time in the studio before we go on patrols. For final checks and all that. I'd also like to go over what you plan to have on your person so I know our options when the time comes."
"I'd appreciate that," Izuku responded with a nod in thanks. "I was basically able to make all the gear I would like to have but a bit more time in the studio would be helpful. And you knowing what all I have makes sense."
"Glad we're on the same page," Aizawa responded with his own nod.
With that, the two students split up for their respective training. Yamada and Hitoshi left for one of the gyms made specifically for Quirk training. While Aizawa and Izuku headed for the Support studio. Maijima greeted them when they arrived before the Support teacher turned back to whatever he had been doing. Izuku put on a pair of overalls before he led Aizawa over to his area and pulled out his various projects.
The greenette gave his homeroom teacher a run down as he took out each device. With each piece, Aizawa appraised them and gave his own comments or asked questions he had on the functions of the gear. Most he was already familiar with like the goggles, mask, escrima rods, and belt. The Jet shoes as well but it was his first time seeing the new version of them. The student gave a quick rundown of the tracking app he had made before showing him the arm wrappings.
The Erasure Hero was surprise but pleased that Izuku had based a Support Item off of his own. Using and redesigning pre-existing technology was logical and saved time. The change from a scarf to arm wrappings was intriguing and he was curious to see how Binding Cloth style would work with them. He offered to help train him with Hitoshi on that fighting style in addition to his other plans for training. Izuku enthusiastically agreed.
Satisfied, the teacher prompted the teen to get to work. The tired man claimed a nearby chair and leaned back against the wall as the boy eagerly got to work. The Hero closed his eyes to snooze but would eye the Quirkless boy from time to time as he tinkered. Dark eyes watched in fascination as the teen's deft hands worked with practiced ease. Studious green eyes flitting about between the gadgets and his notes on them while nimble fingers manipulated the technology. Instinctively knowing what to twist, turn, poke, or prod that would mystify those not in the know.
They didn't stay long in the studio since Mei and he had managed to get them pretty much finished over the long week and weekend. Aizawa had his student gear up so they could have him practice with having them on while training. The tired man made sure to text the other Hero of the change in locations.
Once at an available gym, Aizawa had Izuku try out each Support Item separately. Such as skating around on his Jet shoes, breathing fire from his mask, and going through the different features of his escrima rods. Then the Erasure Hero started teaching the very basics of using his capture weapon.
Let's just say Binding Cloth style was…complicated. No wonder Hitoshi managed to tangle himself up in the weaponized cloth. Izuku didn't as much since his version was shorter and on his arms. Though he did manage to snap the ends of his arm wrappings against various parts of his body. Which really hurt by the way. Like when someone twists up a towel and then flicks it at you.
But even in the span of an hour, the student was managing to get some sort of handle on it. He had always been a quick learner and had been studying the Erasure Hero's movements way before UA. So, he had had guesses of how exactly his capture weapon worked and was familiar with how the man manipulated it with practiced ease. Plus the teacher was able to instill his six-year long experience on his charge to speed up the learning process.
After a while, Hitoshi joined them in the gym having finished Quirk training for the day. Turned out Yamada had him to vocal exercises to strengthen his vocal cords. Reason being that despite his Quirk being a mental type, his power still required a vocal element. A question, statement, or other from Hitoshi and a response from his target. Or potentially multiple targets though that might have to wait to be tested until after the internships. But either way Yamada wanted to help train his voice which was as essential to his Quirk as his power to brainwash someone.
However, the Voice Hero hadn't wanted to overwork Hitoshi and so had called it a day. Yamada himself would suffer from a sore throat if he overused his Quirk so he knew to not push him too much. The blonde had even given the brainwasher some ginger tea with honey to help sooth his throat just in case. One of the many soothing teas the Voice Hero had in his post-Hero-work aftercare repertoire.
Since Hitoshi was there, Aizawa had him join in on the training using his own capture weapon. Still sticking to the basics of Blind Cloth style of shooting the ends out and pulling them back in. Eventually letting the interns use the move on each other to practice capturing another person and using the Support Item to pull them where they wanted. A move that could be used in a fight or to pull someone out of danger.
When their mentor called that part of training finished for the day, Izuku asked if they could go back to the studio so he could show him the mask Mei and he had been working on. Aizawa was actually impressed that the greenette had found the time to help build it while also remaking his own gear. The teacher agreed and they headed to the studio together. The two friends talked as they walked and Izuku was describing the mask as they entered the studio. Maijima, having overheard as they entered, walked over to regale the other teacher of the inventing storm that had been Mei and Izuku the past week.
The inventing duo had practically dominated the studio whenever they had been in there. Clearly on a mission to prepare Izuku as well as Hitoshi for their internships. Mei was on her own internship along with the other Support students same as the other courses. Izuku wished good health to whoever had gotten his baby crazy friend. Mei was a genius when it came to Support but she was…well, Mei. An eccentric intellect who followed the beat of her own drum.
Seeing that the mask was already made and with Maijima's report that it was functional, Aizawa requested for Izuku to show Hitoshi how the mask worked. The teen agreed and took off all his gear before grabbing the voice changing mask. The two students with the two teachers to supervise headed to one of the Support testing rooms. Izuku walked Hitoshi through the different functions.
The mask was black in color and made up of several plates that could be adjusted to change the sound and resonant of his voice. Reason being was that Brainwashing lost its effect through normal voice enhancement devices. So, instead the plates helped manipulate his voice without that. Allowing him to mimic another person's voice with the turn of a dial.
The greenette demonstrated as such by adjusting the plates to mimic the voices of some of their friends. A practice he and Mei had done while testing the device intermittently the past week. His impressions of a deadpan Shouto, bubbly Ochako, blunt Tsuyu, strict Tenya, and eccentric Mei earned various snorts and snickers from Hitoshi. Pleased, Izuku then offered the mask over and walked him through the steps.
Izuku had him start with himself. The greenette said a standard greeting for the other teen to listen to while adjusting the plates. It took him a few tries but eventually he got the mimicked voice right. Which was so cool but weird to hear his own voice coming from someone else. But then Hitoshi had to ruin it by teasing Izuku with his own voice. Professing his liking of a certain element wielder in a sappy version of his voice while the greenette tried to rip the mask off his jerk face. Aizawa had to use his scarf to separate them with a Quirked glare while Maijima just shook his head.
After messing with the voice changing mask for a while, Aizawa called it a day. They briefly returned to the studio to drop off the Support Item as well as pack up the rest along with Izuku changing out of the overalls. They then stopped at the locker room for the students to change back into their uniforms before dropping by the classroom to pick up their overnight bags as they headed off campus.
Aizawa drove a standard black car while the radio was on a classic rock station. In the backseat, the two interns sat quietly while messing on their phones. Sharing silly memes or cute cat pictures from time to time. Though Izuku found himself wondering what their mentor's home would be like.
Would it be a house or an apartment? With all the comforts of home? Or would it be empty and bare with no furniture? Knowing the tired man's level of giving no shits about most things, Izuku would not be surprised if it was a single room hole-in-the-wall apartment with only sleeping bags and juice pouches.
It didn't take them long to arrive at a nondescript but well-kept building. Aizawa parked in the garage below the building and guided the teens to the elevator after retrieving their bags from the back. The tired man tapped an access card to the pad on the wall next to the elevator to summon it. The trio entered once the doors opened and Aizawa pressed a button for the top floor.
"This apartment building primarily houses other Heroes or those who wish for extra security or privacy," Aizawa explained as the elevator rose. "Don't be surprised if you see someone you recognize but don't bother them." The second half of that last sentence was directed at Izuku who stuck his tongue out. "Just leave them to their business and they will do the same to you. Got it?"
"Yes, sir," both problem children replied.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened to their floor. The two teens followed after Aizawa down the hall. The anticipation for the mentees was building until the tired man stopped at one of the many doors. In the blink of an eye, Aizawa spun around to his two charges with eyes glowing red and black hair floating about as he shot his Capture Weapon towards the two gremlins.
"Now, what you see and hear behind this door is of the top most secrecy," the Erasure Hero growled to the two bound teens. "If I ever find out that either of you breathed a word to anyone. Well…let's just say they'll never find the bodies."
"Kinky," Hitoshi quipped earning a snort from Izuku and a twitch of the corner of Aizawa's frown. As if he were holding back a smirk.
After swearing to not tell a soul about whatever they witnessed in the apartment, Aizawa released them and turned to unlock the door.
...
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Notes extension: post/661059303183187968/part-2-chapter-26-internships-begin