AN: I don't own MHA
Snap out of it!
It started like any other for Enji. Suit up in his hero uniform while patrolling. The only differences were the area. It was further from his usual territory in downtown parts. Ever since his fall, Enji has been tracking through here more often. Usually, this was a job for newer recruits and sidekicks. It was a good experience since many petty crimes can be found here. Harassment, purse stanching, street fights, the whole range. It was an attempt to his up-hero status since his approval ratings were going nowhere. Expect for down. So, he's been taking smaller jobs. An act of theft here, an overbearing man there, now a bar fight.
How this fight happened was a complete mystery to him. All he heard was yelling outside a local bar. Some shattered glass. Then a random drunk falling out the door. When he looked inside the confrontation seemed to be between two men. Both of them fought over something that looked like a ski mask. Now he wasn't sure if that mask was important, or they were both drunk. Could be a combination of both since one of them looked hammered. Eyes daze, face flushed and yelling slurs.
The other was sporting gibberish too. Just a different kind of gibberish. It was frightened. Demanding the mask back as if his life depended on it. The lookers did nothing to help. Only watched with bored curiosity as if this was a normal occurrence. Normal or not he had to intervene. Enji got between the two men. His fire flaring hotter. The sudden shock of heat forced the two to let go of the mask. That's when things started to take a weird turn. Since he came directly between them, he accidentally burned the mask.
This made one of the men snap.
"What did you do?" He yelled with a combination of angry and…fear? Especially in their eyes as they gazed down at the ashes of the mask. It was as if the world was burning in his eyes, and he could feel it crumble around him. At first, he tried to attack Enji, but since the hero was much stronger than him. It was easy to apprehend him. Defeated, he fell as he babbled: "I'm splitting. I'm splitting." It was like a toxic chant that took his sanity away. Little by little it cracked. "The worlds spinning. Ahhhhhh!"
Those in the bar started to leave. Some whispered if the hero did something to the man to make them crazy. Others went about their day. This was nothing new, but it was to Enji. How was he supposed to deal with his guy? He's dealt with drunks before, but this was a whole other thing. The man was not drunk. At least he didn't think they were. They just kept rambling about nonsense. Splining, not being real and death. At some point, the hero had enough.
"Snap out of it!" He yelled while bringing a slap to the face.
There was a moment of quiet. A look of disbelief formed on their face, and he touched himself. Making sure all his body parts were there. Legs, arms, head, they were all there. He was still there. Suddenly, the man started to cry, "I'm still here. I'm alive. I'M THE REAL ONE." Then he faced his hero with snot running down their nose and ugly tears. "Thank you!" He cried while pouncing on the flame hero. Neglecting any possibility of getting burned.
Yup. This was a weird day.
After his patrol was done and the paperwork was written, Enji put on a trench coat and placed it over his be defamed suit. Along with an oversized fedora to hide his face while he walked towards the main street. It would be like any other day. If it wasn't for the fact the stranger from the bar started following him like a lost puppy.
After the riot was sorted, the blonde man followed him. Everywhere. He tried to yell at him to get lost, but it seemed his words went one ear and out the other. So, they just followed him while rambling about the strangest things. One minute it was about the weather and then the next it was about some weird cat video he tried to show him. They kept flipping back and further with this shy person, and this more outgoing one. All be it a little rude. He did manage to pick up one useful bit of information. Their name: Jin Bubaigawara.
"Oh, and sorry if I acted weird back there. I got excited." Jin finally finished, after he gave a long-winded speech about how amazing hot dogs are. Then after running after a hotdog guy dragging Enji with him.
"Never thought anyone would get excited from being punched," Enji grumbled. He would punch him again but that won't be smart. He didn't want to risk the chance of some reporter caching the moment and spinning the story out of his favour. Plus, it would be rude.
"Yeah, well it's complicated," Jin mumbled with his mouth half full. "You don't need to listen to my sob story. You're probably very busy being a hero and stuff."
They couldn't have said that 3 hours ago when he was busy with hero stuff! Sighing heavily, Enji hung his head. "I'm in this deep. I think I can squeeze in a complicated sob story." Besides, it seemed like the man would say so anyway.
It all started when his parents died in a villain attack. Leaving Jin alone. An orphan since he had no other family members to adopt him. He was passed around with a few foster homes until he came of age and was forced to go out in the world. Unwanted. He didn't know why he was unwanted. His life was pretty normal before his parents died. They were good people who cared for him as any other parent would. But after them nobody wanted him.
His luck changed when he found a kind boss. They gave him work, food and shelter. Everything a young adult down in their luck would need. Then things changed for the worst when a trip on his bike got him in a crash. The other guy was fine with only a broken arm. As for him, he got off free of charge. He was completely in the right. Following the rules of the road.
The thing was the guy he crashed into was a long-time well-paying client of his boss. They demanded they fire him for what he did to their arm as compensation. Jin had hope that his boss would have pulled through for him. He did nothing wrong. It was the other guy that broke the rules by being drunk while driving. He was innocent and was a good worker. Wasn't that worth more than this client?
Apparently not since his boss gave in to their demands. They vowed that he would never return to their business. Jin was heartbroken. There was barely any remorse in his old boss's eyes as they headed him this dismissal notice and his last paycheck. He was forced out alone and unwanted again. The loneliness got to him, and he had the bright idea to use his Quirk: Twice. It allowed him to make a near-perfect copy of anyone so long as they knew their measurements. Who better to be his friend than himself? Someone he could trust.
However, being broke and now having to take care of more of himself became an issue. He tried to get a new job, but once again nobody wanted him. He was desperate. Put into a corner. So, he started committing crimes. Theft after theft with his clones at his side. It was easy. Thanks to his quirk he could create his own band of crooks. If any of them fell, he could just make more. Life finally got easier. Too ease.
Jin began to abuse his powers, as laziness settled in. He forced his copies to do all of the difficult work for him. That was a mistake. They were copies of him who shared his personality. So, they also wanted an easy life. Then revolted by slashing him in the forehead and trapping him in a chair.
Nine days went by as they argued about who was the "true Jin". Nine days they fought until all the clones were killed. Leaving only one Jin. The struggle got to him. He watched himself get murdered by himself. In the chaos he though: Was he the real one? He was too afraid to find out. So, he never did until now.
"My clones disappear when a certain amount of damage is done to them. So, when you punched me, I finally knew I'm the real one. I'm still alive, right? And that's pretty much it." Jin finished solemnly.
"That's quite the story," that was all Enji could say while absorbing all it. If he was ever in such a situation, he would go a little mad too. There was one thing that stood out. That quirk. It's rather impressive. "What will you do now?"
"I don't know," Jin sighed while munching sadly on his hotdog. His mind has been going in every which direction. Wondering if he was real. Fake. He was always so afraid to get hurt just encase he was a fake. That could die with a push, but he was real. He could start a new life. "Guess I should start by going clean. Get a job. Don't know what I'll do. Would be hard to land one with a criminal record like mine." It was then it finally hit him who exactly he was talking to. Fearfully, he turned to the hero next to him. "You're not going to arrest me now, are you?"
He really should. The man just gave an outright confession to all his crimes …and his reasonings. A criminal is a criminal. As a hero, he should take him down but… He may grow to regret this, but it won't be the first time he lets things slide. At least for now. "You technically haven't done anything wrong in my presents. By witness report, you were the victim of the fight. I'll let you go. This once."
A smile erupted on Jin's face. "you're really cool sir! So much nicer than that fucker. I mean I get it. Had to stop me an all, but that was this one crazy!" The man physically shivered at the memory. It was the most terrifying experience in his life. Just another day of thievery and suddenly this flying demon in a white suit and top hat came out of nowhere. They chased them down like a hunter to prey. "I'll never forget those dark blue eyes and those flying blue swords. I really think he was trying to kill me."
For some reason that sounded oddly familiar. For now, Enji kept that thought in the back of his mind. Too distracted by another. An outrageous idea. More so a suggestion he was willing to convince the man to go along with. "Have you ever thought of hero work? You're quirk. It would suit it."
Jin looked at the hero as if they were the crazy one between them. Him. A hero? Now he heard everything. "Nah, man. Its so much work. Besides I don't even know where to start."
"Then be one of my sidekicks."
The second he heard that Jin almost choked. It was so out of the left field. He wasn't so sure what to say. Or think. How was he supposed to react? One of the top heroes of the country was asking a bum like him to join them. What could he possibly offer? He's not exactly hero material. This had to be another one of his weird hallucinations. Was the hotdog spoiled?
But it wasn't since the hero kept talking. "It's not as hard as being a pro. My agency offers accommodation if you need them, and it will only cost ¼ of your salary. It's a respectable sum, even if not the rank of a pro. If you need training, I know someone that could help."
Jin was so confused. He was hearing things. That was the only explanation. He tried to clean his ear with his pinkie hoping that would fix it. Yet the hero still kept talking.
"I'll be straight. With that quirk of yours, I think you'll be useful for my agency. I could use the manpower to get my reputation back up. If you do accept my offer, I won't be light," Enji continued to push. He knows potential when he sees it and this man. As strange as he appeared to be, they had it. With the right guide, they could be something great, but he won't force him. Maybe persistent but he won't force. Being forceful never helped him anyway. "You can also choose to decline. It's just a suggestion. In the end, it's your life. You're free to do what you want with it."
Speechless, doesn't even begin to describe his feelings. A petty crook with barely any skills. Always thrown away. Always unwanted. Someone wanted him. It made his heart hum warily. "Are you sure really want me?"
"Yes," Enji replied while holding out his hand.
Hesitantly, Jin stared at the hand. This was the greatest opportunity being presented to him, yet he couldn't help but hesitate. Him being a hero. It felt wrong. "But I'm really nothing special. I'm just a nobody crook from the slums. You've done good to me, sir. I hate to drag you down."
Enji's hand lowered, but he never retracked. He watched the other closely. Their nerves in their eyes. The low self-esteem. They believed they weren't good enough. Unworthy. All because of the mistakes they made. The past they held. It irritated him in away. That they didn't believe they shouldn't be given this chance.
"I know a man." He stared catching the other's attention. "He doesn't have the cleanest of past. Forced into some unsavoury roles. He's not exactly the most stable person, but I feel comfortable enough to call him a friend. I know another man. Head of a fallen criminal organisation. Now wishes to run a bakery for his family. Hoping to move away from their previous villain image. Then there's me who many consider not hero material because of things I've done. Even if you do drag me down. I'll just get up again," he finished off grinning. When you look at that sample line-up. It seemed less crazy. "I don't it's impossible for a petty criminal with a few screws loose to become a sidekick."
Jin chewed on the thought. A literal job opportunity was being presented to him on a silver platter. A very pricy silver platter. It sounded like a lot of work, but the beliefs outweighed that. It's not like he had anything better to do. It was either this or aimlessly wondering what to do with his life. "Ok," he agreed while shaking the hero's hand nervously. "I'll do my best…"
Slam!
Out of nowhere, a red ball came flying and headshot the poor man. Enji held the other's hand tight and hooked his arms under their waist before they fell. They seemed completely out of it. their eyes a dazed and their head twirling back and forth. Hopefully, he'd be ok. They were in the middle of making a deal.
While he checked the man's head injury, he heard a rustle of leaves. He turned to face the bushes that moved and bent to make a pathway. What he saw to his breath away. They were children. Two boys were no older than his youngest. One was blonde with explosive spiky hair. Their eyes were a sharp red. The type that will cut you if you look at them the wrong way. Their posture suggested as such. With a mean pout and balled fists. He looked annoyed, but wasn't the one of interest. No. That belonged to the other boy.
"I'm terribly sorry," the other boy said as he bowed his head. "We didn't mean to hurt anyone." Polite would be the first word to come to mind. A near opposite of the other child. Good manners aside the most striking thing about them were their dual colour hair and eyes. One side was snow-white hair with and a frosty grey eye. The other side was a fiery red with a warm turquoise eye. A perfect mix.
"Yeah, whatever. Give us back my ball." The other boy rudely demanded. They seemed to want to get on with their day. Unbothered if they hurt anyone.
This caused the other boy to yell back at him. "Katsuki! You should apologise."
"What? It's my ball. It's their own damn fault for getting hit by it, and you for not catching that easy shot."
"Katsuki!"
Enji watched the two young boys' argument. The blonde said he's too much of a goody-two-shoes while the dual colour one continued to call him rude. He couldn't take his eyes off that boy. It was too clear. Too obvious. He never thought he would ever lay eyes of this child. Yet there they were. In his reach. He wasn't so sure how to feel about it.
Eventually, the dual hair boy grabbed the back of the other's head and forced them to bow. "My friend would like to apologies," he lied while bowing next to them
"I'm not apologising for nothing princy," the blonde growled. Most sounding like an angry dog. They sure bared their fangs like one.
This didn't affect the other child who counited the apologies like a little gentleman. "We're deeply sorry. Can we have our ball back?"
Snapping from his daze, Enji unconsciously tipped his hat down to hide half his face. He carefully kicked the ball back and the children said their thanks. Well one of them did. The blonde just started dragging the other back with him the second he got his ball back. Enji watched them for a while. The two of them run into a playground with a couple of other children. There was only one adult he could spot. A woman with features similar to the blonde. Down to their fiery attitude since they two started to have a yelling match. He couldn't find the person he was looking for. Not that he knew what to look for. Maybe something green but he supposed it doesn't matter now.
"He's ok," and Enji was content with knowing that. He could see the boy is well taken care of. They seemed healthy. Have their own group of friends. Probably loving parents. There is no need for him to interfere and complicate things. They have their life, and he has his.
"Ohhhhhhh look at all the pretty stars."
Enji stared down at the man in his arms. He sure they're fine.
AN: Merry late Christmas everyone here's a semi early event. Well, it's still Christmas where I am but not for long. Hopefully you all had a good one. I'm usually busy this time of year so I wasn't sure if I would be able to post this on time, but I just about made it.
Guest – yup. If Izuku doesn't fine the trouble, trouble fines him. I'm sure you'll be fine Spinner.
S43M1 – little bit of an early update as a merry Christmas. And thanks, it was a really fun. Mainly with Arata going full mama bear mode and Enji and Touya sweet moment. Sai maybe gone but I may sprinkle in some mini stories of him and Arata since he's not someone Arata can forget. Still debating is I should do this spin off work for them. Put that on the back burner. I try to answer most comments. This is just the only way to answer guests but glad your happy.