Author's Note:
Hey everyone, sorry for the delay! This chapter will have the first action scenes I've written in a while, so I apologize if they're not up to par with other fics. Please, please, please leave any feedback you have on where I can improve. It's important that I do, given that this story will definitely have more action-oriented chapters in the future. It is a superhero fic, after all. But before I get into Chapter II, I'll answer some of the reviews that have popped up since the last update.
Zekken182 - Thank you! And to answer your question, I don't believe that I will be, at least for this part of the story. Frankly, it may be too much of a stretch given wherein the MCU timeline I'm starting this.
the mysterious Mr.E - Haha, very funny. And thanks, hopefully, you'll like this new one!
JupitersMoon167 - We shall see.
PMC-Midnight Mariners - Thanks for the words! I don't want to elaborate too much, but keep in mind that I've established that the UN is still figuring out how to deal with the whole superhero thing. Also, I dig the Abrams profile pic.
Blazblade - Thank you for the comments! I can't exactly answer everything you've said (no spoilers), but I will say that there will definitely be interesting interactions between the heroes, villains, overarching institutions, and everything in between (probably). Also, given that there's just too much time between the movies for nothing to happen, you can expect some new events to appear.
Halo - Perhaps. Again, I will not confirm anything, but let's just say that expecting everyone to "get along around the campfire" is, frankly, unrealistic.
For'Sleep - You bring up good points. As I've said before, I won't elaborate too much, but remember that this story is only at its beginning. More is to come.
Doctor Lithon - Thank you for giving my fic a read! I know that I'm not the best writer, but I promise to do my best to continue it and to try to get better!
Guest(s) - I'll try to answer these ones in order of appearance:
1) I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm more familiar with the MCU than I am with the comics. Perhaps one day, someone (or maybe even myself) will write a direct crossover between MHA and Marvel Comics.
2) Perhaps. Again, I won't elaborate but just wait and see.
3) Indeed. Part of the reason why I'm motivated to write this thing is to depict the interactions between characters between these two universes.
4) To BlueDragon307: Thank you! I'll try my best to keep the characters authentic when they interact.
Anyways, here's Chapter II! Please enjoy!
Chapter II
For all the problems that it has had since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the nation of Sokovia was certainly a land of natural beauty. Of its numerous features, the Rinde Forest, alongside the Tretogor Mountains beside it, was the most well-known. Situated just a few kilometres northeast of the capital city of Novi Grad, they were frequented by locals, and during times of relative peace, tourists.
Deep within the Rinde was Castle Ainader. A long time ago, it was the summer home of some aristocratic line in Eastern Europe, one foreign to the historic Carpathian Ruthenian region that the small nation was located within. But in more recent decades, it had been requisitioned by HYDRA, having posed as SHIELD. Now it was their last known remaining major facility in the world, overseen by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker.
He was more than likely the last remaining leader of HYDRA left unaccounted for. Although the "leak" of SHIELD files in 2014 had revealed little about him, what was known was that he was relentless in his push for technological advancement. It would explain the infrequent but consistent "misplacements" of advanced technology over the years at SHIELD, such as Chitauri weaponry and, more notably, Loki's sceptre.
That aside, Castle Ainader's part of the forest was usually quiet despite its numerous patrols. This was thanks to the locals knowing better than to get near what most believed to have been an ex-SHIELD base. But today would be different.
The patrols were on high alert, as one of their contacts in Novi Grad had informed them of the arrival of the Avengers' quinjet. Armed with Chitauri-derived energy weapons, these troops had ample reason to believe that they had a chance against them. And with the energy shielding that surrounded the vast Castle, no conventional force could hope to get through.
But these were the Avengers.
The overconfidence that the HYDRA soldiers had in their weapons and equipment meant nothing without the experience. Many of them had never seen an actual battle, being local recruits that were convinced to join the cause thanks to their anti-American beliefs. As they continued their rounds, they failed to notice when their outermost troops failed to return thanks to the work of Hawkeye and Black Widow. But this silence wouldn't remain.
A massive surge of lightning, chaining all across the forest and arcing onto the Castle's shields, signaled the beginning of the attack. It was the work of Thor, the God of Thunder, who surged ahead of his team with Mjolnir ready in his hand.
This was followed by a spine-chilling warcry from the one and only Hulk, who leaped in alongside the Asgardian. The two of them were the heavy-hitters, the ones that would clear the way with their awe-inspiring power. As Thor made use of Mjolnir and his superhuman strength to clear through countless ranks of charging soldiers, the Hulk dealt with the armoured fighting vehicles before they could become a threat.
And unfortunately for HYDRA, they weren't alone.
The rest of the Avengers were close behind their two strongest members. Missiles and repulsor fire rained in from their two armoured suit-clad members, Iron Man and War Machine, who soared in the skies above. They aimed their heavy firepower at bunkers and other important parts of HYDRA's fixed defences.
Just below them, among the branches and treetops, were Falcon and Hawks. The two of them coordinated their efforts to amplify the impact of their hit-and-run tactics, with Falcon's guns and rockets being complemented by Hawks' deftly controlled and unusually strong feathers. They also kept an overwatch on the battlefield, making sure that none of their remaining teammates would be caught off-guard.
Leading the way on the ground was, unsurprisingly, Captain America. Mounted atop his custom Harley-Davidson, he charged into the vicious fighting, dodging incoming fire and using his famous shield to take out the HYDRA troops near him. Though his actions only drew more attention to him, that was his intention.
Mirko, the Rabbit Hero, was not as innocent as her theme would suggest. Though she wasn't as strong as Thor or the Hulk, she still hit hard. Using her enhanced, rabbit-like abilities, she hopped around the battlefield, the earth of the forest shattering beneath her every kick. Had she needed to prove her worth as a temporary member of the Avengers, she had done so and then some.
Then there was Black Widow and Hawkeye. Though quirkless, they nevertheless made an impact on the battlefield. They followed after Captain America in a stolen jeep, dealing with the soldiers he'd missed as they did.
Within a few minutes, it was becoming evident that despite HYDRA's best efforts and advanced tech, they were no match at all.
(-)
Although the battle was far from over, what Keigo had seen up to now was enough to observe the differences between himself and Rumi and their American colleagues. To put it simply, the Avengers were more willing to kill, at least when compared to most Japanese heroes.
This wasn't to say that he believed that they were cold-blooded and murderous; far from it in fact, as he had seen time and again their attempts at neutralizing HYDRA non-lethally and allowing them to surrender.
All of them, even Bruce, pulled their punches as best as they could. Falcon had even gone so far as to move the injured out of the way when the opportunity presented itself, something that Keigo had done too. But that didn't stop the casualties from mounting on their enemy's side. If he was being honest, he fully expected it to be like this considering the sheer disparity in power between the two sides even considering the quirkless status of several of those present.
That said, he wasn't naive. Unlike most Japanese heroes, the Avengers didn't hesitate to charge into what was, for all intents and purposes, a warzone. HYDRA was out to kill, their only option in what was pretty much an unwinnable battle for them. In this kind of environment, he understood that killing was inevitable no matter how hard the Avengers tried not to. And being the top lackey of the Hero Public Safety Commission, Keigo had done his fair share of "dirty" work when needed, as well. 'Not that I'm proud of it.'
To add to that, the origins of the Avengers should've been enough for anyone to be aware of their more lenient stance on killing. Many of them had some connection to the American military or espionage agencies, with some having been active members as recently as this year. Thor was one of the exceptions, but by his own admission, he had been "dealing with the enemies of Asgard for centuries on the battlefields of the Nine Realms."
Keigo had a feeling that his fellow heroes back home and the general public wouldn't understand their attitude on the matter. On the other hand, the hero commission would probably take a more neutral stance, out of "respect" for their newfound friends across the Pacific. But he knew for a fact that no matter the positive reaction to their recent media tour, public opinion was certain to swing against them in Japan.
Killing was very much a taboo subject when it came to heroes there, the sentiment having only gotten worse since All Might's debut decades ago. Keigo understood why; if you were able to, you should be sparing villains to be tried by the judiciary system. That was the bar set by All Might, one expected of all heroes since.
And to be fair to the Avengers, they were trying. 'But to Japan, that won't be enough.'
Brushing those thoughts aside, he turned his attention back to the battle around him. He skillfully flew in-between the treetops, using his signature feather blades to incapacitate those unfortunate enough to be in his way. Thanks to his experience and training, he knew where exactly he could hit to take them out of the fight without killing them. He couldn't risk his public reputation, and thus, become a liability to the commission. As he did that, he listened in on the Avengers' comms using his in-ear communicator.
"JARVIS," yelled Steve, "what's the status of the castle's shielding?"
"I have yet to identify a weak point in its defences, Captain Rogers. However, I do believe that its energy source could be taken out."
The supersoldier grunted as he did his best to weave through the forest on his motorcycle. "Alright, Tony, Rhodes, you heard him! Get into the castle, we'll deal with their forces outside!"
"Copy that!" replied Rhodey.
From the forest below, Keigo could see the afterburners engage on both Rhodey's and Tony's armours as they made their way to the castle itself, waiting for JARVIS to tell them where to unleash their combined arsenal.
He flew up to one of the bigger trees, standing on a branch to take stock of the current situation. From what he could see and hear, it appeared that HYDRA was nearly at the point of being routed. While this was good news, he knew that they couldn't let up.
Jumping off, he flew through the air once again and spoke into his communicator. "Sam, what's your position?"
"I'm over here with Steve and Thor, just dealing with some reinforcements!" The distinct sound of Sam's guns briefly overtook the comms before he continued. "Don't worry about us, we've got this! Go on over to Clint and Natasha!"
Taking his hand off his ear, Keigo blasted off to where the two quirkless heroes were. Within seconds, he made visual contact with them, with Rumi nearby as well, busy pummeling away at HYDRA's forces on her own. "Hey guys, where do you need me?"
Clint was the first to answer, having taken cover after blowing up a bunker with one of his high explosive arrows. "Nice of you to join our little party, kid. I'm good over on my end, but you s-"
At that moment, Clint had been suddenly thrown into the air by a blur. Thankfully, Keigo had already sent his feathers his way, catching him before he moved the archer behind the cover of a large tree. The archer opted to sit down, no doubt winded from what happened.
"Clint," began the raptor-theme hero as he attempted to spot the blur, "are you okay?" The other Avengers also voiced their concerns, with Natasha even making her way over to her long-time fellow SHIELD agent.
"Ahhh, a bit roughed up, but I'll be fine thanks to those feathers of yours," he replied, his midwestern accent as strong as ever. Keigo could hear the man wince somewhat before he continued, this time on the comms. "We've got an enhanced somewhere out there! Be careful, he's too damn fast!"
Just as Clint said that, Keigo saw the blur in question appear in front of the sitting archer. He appeared to be a man in his early twenties, of medium build and with silver-coloured hair. "What?" he questioned in a sarcastic tone. "You didn't see that coming?"
He then disappeared, moving out of the way in time to dodge a ground kick by Rumi. "Hot damn, that speedy fucker really is fast," she spoke aloud. Unbeknownst to her, she had spoken into the comms, which led to an unexpected interruption.
"LANGUAGE!"
Static reigned over their comms before an indignant voice replied back. "EXCUSE ME!? What the hell did you just say, old-timer?"
A sigh could be heard from the supersoldier, all too aware of his minor blunder. "Sorry, it just slipped out."
Landing near her, Keigo heard the rabbit-hero making a disapproving noise. This wasn't the first time that the supersoldier had corrected her colourful way of speaking, which had frustrated her to no end. "Tsk, he's just like All Might," she remarked.
The two of them ran over to Clint, where they found Natasha checking over him. "I'm fine, Nat. Birdboy here was able to catch me in time," he said pointing at Keigo. "Drinks are on me next time!"
As the four of them stood there, their comms came alive once more, this time with JARVIS on the horn. "I have scoured the files that Ms. Hill was obtained. Strucker may have been engaging in a fairly large-scale human enhancement effort. Based on the encounter from a few moments ago, it appears to have been somewhat successful."
"Somewhat? I'd say that making someone faster than nearly any other hero I'd seen to be more than a success, JARVIS," replied Keigo. "Can you give us any specifics on how many enhanced people we may run into?"
"Unfortunately, I cannot. I will continue looking into the files to see if there is anything I have missed."
"We'll just have to be vigilant out here," added Steve. "Tony, is our Sokovian liaison on the way with backup? We'll need someone to look after the prisoners and wounded as soon as we charge into the castle."
There was a bit of a pause, as Tony and Rhodey were still preoccupied with finding a way into the facility. "Yep. Our guy, Zemo, is already on the way with forces from the Sokovian military and the local police. They just got held up by some protesters trying to blockade the roads in the capital."
Keigo shook his head at that. He'd known that the Avengers wouldn't be well-liked in the Eastern European country, having heard of the American intervention in the Sokovian Civil War of 1999. And considering how early into the so-called "Age of Heroes" this Earth was, then this visible mistrust was to be expected. Still, it surprised him to hear people willingly act like that considering who they were facing. 'It's almost like they prefer HYDRA over the Avengers,' he thought.
Steve then continued over the comms. "Alright. Sam, Nat, Clint, Keigo, and Thor, you five stay out here with Bruce and deal with the remaining HYDRA forces. Tony, Rhodey, Rumi, and I will breach the castle to find the sceptre and capture our VIPs. By the time that Zemo arrives with his forces, we should be close to done here."
As the affirmations to the orders rang out, Tony had something different to say. "And for gosh sake, watch your language!" All present smiled or laughed, with Rumi cracking out a wry grin.
"That's not going away anytime soon," said the sighing supersoldier.
Afterward, they all split off, aware of what they needed to do to finish off HYDRA once and for all. It was a long-time coming, but the end for them was near.
(-)
A while later, and the Avengers would hear good news.
"DRAWBRIDGE IS DOWN, PEOPLE!"
From what Rumi Usagiyama could see, it seemed that Tony and Rhodey had solved their shield problem through the classic tactic of throwing as much shit at it as they possibly could. I mean, if she had their firepower, she would've done the same thing. 'But that ain't my thing anyways.'
No, the rabbit hero was absolutely a physical brawler, having worked on her strength, agility, and athleticism to become one of the best at fighting in Japan. 'If the hero rankings were just about who could fight best, I'd be top 5, easy.'
The Avengers were not so different. While she hadn't voiced it at all so far during their mission out here in "Sokovia", she'd seen the aftermath of their fighting so far. Though they were trying their best to be merciful, allowing the villains to surrender, it still seemed to her that fighting was their natural element.
Hell, they didn't even seem to have much of a problem with killing, which happened a few times today already. Truthfully, she didn't care as much as she thought it would. While Rumi herself was largely against killing, there were times when it was the only option. This just happened to be one of those times.
Her indifference was also helped by the fact that the Avengers were likable and friendly, regardless of the misunderstandings over her choice of words at times. Individually, they were all their own distinct people. Thor was boastful, Tony was cocky, Steve was a boy scout, and so on. But all of them wanted the same thing, which was to help people. This ultimately showed in their actions and their outward appearance as a team.
'Almost like having a group of people who could act like All Might but fight like Endeavour,' she thought.
She had refrained from killing herself, however. As much as she loved to fight, Rumi knew to hold back, especially against the quirkless. Of course, these HYDRA troops were kitted out with some of the most advanced stuff she'd ever seen, but none of that mattered in the face of a roundhouse kick or her signature Luna Arc.
And as much as she disliked it, she still had to care about setting an example to the public back home to keep up her rising popularity, something that enabled her to operate independently. If she wasn't careful, the unthinkable could happen- she might have to join or start an agency.
'Then again, my time with the Avengers so far hasn't been awful,' she admitted to herself. 'If I had to, I'd work with them again over most other heroes.'
"Rumi? Are you ready to head in?" said an all-too-familiar voice. "We don't have much time to waste before Strucker tries to escape."
She scoffed. "I'm always ready, Captain. And don't worry, we ain't letting that scum get outta here. Not if I have anything to say about it."
Nodding, they both made their way through one of the castle's service entrances. Steve led the way on foot, having memorized the most up-to-date map of the castle that they could get their hands on. Soon enough, the tunnel that made up the entrance gave way to a set of stairs. Stopping, Steve took the time to check his corners before moving in any further.
At the top of the stairs, they found themselves near a helipad. There, several quinjets of HYDRA-spec waited while HYDRA troops worked away to evacuate both themselves and their precious research materials. With their backs turned toward them, the two heroes took the initiative and attacked.
Steve kicked things off as he threw his shield at several soldiers loading crates onto one of the jets. Thanks to his precise accuracy, he was able to get it to ricochet off them before returning back to him.
Meanwhile, Rumi had leaped up into the air, using her quirk to get above the other remaining quinjet. She then raised her right leg before bringing it back down onto the aircraft with incredible force, breaking through its armour and disabling it from use.
Right after that, she directed her attention at a group of troops taking aim at Steve, who was occupied with a different group. Launching herself at a low angle through the air, she extended both legs and used her forward momentum to propel herself into an aerial cartwheel, a move that she called the Lunar Ring. Slicing through the air, her legs were on the mark, easily incapacitating all her targets.
Grinning at her work, she looked around to see more combatants massing, clearly not understanding that they wouldn't win. But that didn't phase her; it just meant that she could show off a little more. Conveniently, they were lining up quite nicely.
Rumi charged at them, using her agility to dodge their incoming fire. Steve helped too, as he threw his shield at those firing from the rooftops at the both of them. Then, once the distance was closed, she lifted her leg and delivered a front-facing kick at the lead soldier running at her. Thanks to her strength, the act launched the man at those behind him, knocking them all off their feet with considerable force.
With that, the helipad was cleared. Yet as both Steve and Rumi took stock of their current situation, a new figure entered the battlefield. A woman, wearing civilian clothing, with red hair. Staring at the two heroes briefly, she made a sudden gesture that unleashed streaks of red energy at them. While Steve was able to sidestep it, Rumi was a little too late with her reaction. She was lifted off the ground and thrown at the supersoldier, who hadn't expected it. The move had left the two of them on the ground, just as more HYDRA troops made their appearance.
But before they could take advantage of their plight, there was intervention from up above. "Cap, Rumi, stay back!"
As they did, the War Machine lived up to his name, unleashing a barrage of repulsor fire that knocked out their remaining adversaries. "AND THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT!"
Rumi shook her head as she got up, disappointed with the way the fight ended. "Where'd that little witch go?"
"I lost sight of her almost as soon as I fired," replied Rhodey, who had landed and now stood beside them. "Sorry."
"Tsk, don't apologize," she retorted, before pausing briefly. "I couldn't help but notice all that firepower you let out. You overcompensating for something?"
"Haha," replied the armoured man, "very funny. Where's the thank you? Aren't you pro heroes supposed to be nice like that? And you are a rab-"
"Rhodey, Rumi. We're still on a mission," reminded Steve. The two of them quickly shut up, aware that their banter wasn't over. "Rhodey, where's Tony?"
"He's downloading data from the computer database we found," he stated. "I was going to stick with him, but he insisted that he'd be fine with JARVIS watching his back."
"Got it. Team, what's the situation outside?"
The comms went silent for a few seconds until Sam spoke. "There's only a few stragglers here and there, Cap. Keigo, Thor, and I are handling them, so that's under control. Clint should've made contact with the Sokovian forces by now, and Natasha and Bruce are doing their little sunset thing."
The three heroes relaxed somewhat, now that most of the battle seemed to be over. With the Sokovian forces nearby, they would soon have the area in lockdown, leaving little in the way of escape routes for Strucker and everyone else left. The two enhanced would be a problem, but with the full attention of the Avengers on them, they wouldn't be for long. Similarly, the heroes' reprieve was short-lived as JARVIS interrupted.
"Captain Rogers, Mr. Stark isn't answering his comms. His vital signs are also strange, though he doesn't appear to be under any physical duress."
Concern appeared on their faces. "Rhodey, you lead the way. We've got to find Tony, now."
(-)
Tony hadn't expected the central building to be an absolute cakewalk. When he and Rhodey barged into what they thought was the central complex of the facility, there was nothing but a computer database present. The whole area seemed strangely abandoned, though the two of them disregarded it as HYDRA having evacuated quickly. Since they had found the main computer database, Tony elected to stay behind to make sure that they could salvage their data, all the while Rhodey went off to help the others. He'd promised his friend that he wouldn't take any unnecessary risks, but Tony being Tony, that didn't last for long.
His curiosity had gotten the better of him once the data transfer between his suit and the database began. It was an automated process thanks to his AI butler, which meant that he had an opportunity to investigate the room. He'd felt more than comfortable to do so, given that JARVIS was also acting as his sentry.
And sure enough, after enough prying and scanning of the walls, he'd found a secret passageway. But that alone wasn't enough to satiate him. And so he had stepped in with the intent to discover where it led. Looking back, it was a dumb move, at least without his suit.
Now, Tony was in what he could only describe as his literal nightmares brought to life. The massive room that he was in showcased a future that he feared would happen. At the forefront was a very realistic portrayal of his teammates and other heroes, all dead or dying. They were in New York, or at least what remained of it, given the burning skyline. The skies above were being invaded by countless legions of Chitauri, with no one left to stop them.
This was the scenario that he'd feared since the attack in 2012. Of a world where its heroes weren't enough.
It only got worse when he walked up to the dead Avengers. Natasha and Clint sat back to back, clearly having died while fighting alongside one another. Meanwhile, Bruce was twitching in his Hulk form, about to die from the grievous wounds he'd sustained. Thor was nearby, his right arm gone, and Mjolnir broken. Sam and Rhodey didn't fare any better either, the two of them having fallen alongside other heroes like Keigo and Rumi. Then, there was Cap. He laid on the ground right in front of him, his shield shattered and his costume in tatters. Approaching the man who he'd come to consider a good friend, Tony leaned over to have a look at him.
But unexpectedly, Steve grabbed him, speaking his final words before dying. "You... you could've stopped this. Why... didn't you do more?"
The words haunted him, repeating on his mind on an endless loop.
Clutching at his chest, he felt his heart pound away faster and faster, no doubt because of the panic attack that came over him. While he was far from any danger of anything serious, it certainly wouldn't be pleasant if it continued for any longer. Thankfully for him, it didn't.
"TONY!" yelled Cap, still very much alive. He held his friend, letting him down gently as Rumi and Rhodey searched the room. "Tony, what happened? Are you okay?"
"I- I'm fine," he answered, clearly shaken. "I just thought I saw..."
Looking around at the room once more, the nightmare that he'd seen was gone. The Avengers were not dead. The Chitauri were not back. Instead, it was just a room filled with mechanical parts and an assembly line.
"Tony?"
He took a deep breath. "I'm fine, Steve. I'll be fine."
"Alright. But you're getting looked over once we're out of here," he stated, concern evident in his tone. "For now, I'll take the sceptre."
Tony was confused, but then he looked down. There was the staff in question, gripped firmly by his left hand. He quickly gave it to Steve, who left him alone to compose himself. As the other Avengers handled things, Tony couldn't help but notice a monocle nearby on the ground, one that was familiar to him somehow. Walking over to it, he squatted down to examine it closely. There it was, shattered as though it had been dropped suddenly.
It was also sat on top of something.
A pile of dust.
And that's the chapter! I hope you all enjoyed reading it. If you have any criticisms or comments (especially about the action scenes), please let me know, because I'm always happy to read them :)
In the meantime, you can expect another chapter after this weekend. I'm actually in my final term of college, and I've got finals coming up. I'm sorry, but I'll be focusing on that for now. However, as soon as that's done, I'll continue work on the next chapter. I hope you all have a good rest of your July in the meantime! :)
Oh, and on a random note, what's everyone's thoughts on the title and description of this fic? Should I change/improve it, or is it fine as-is?