Lightning in a Bottle.
Chapter One. Pain of the Strong.
The halls of UA are quiet as I walk through them, the soft hiss of my suit echoing out through it. Mr. Aizawa, my new homeroom teacher, leads me through the halls, his tired eyes staring straight ahead. His capture weapon wound around his neck enough times to be more than just a scarf. Wearing black and glancing at me every now and then.
My nervousness bleeds out from my suit and my light gray eyes taking in the school's surroundings. He glanced at me, my eyes not really meeting his. My white hair tied back into a smallish bun. The uniform fit over my suit, and it was just one in a long line of them.
Ever since I started high school I had to wear my suit. The one time it broke I almost levelled the school I went to… and I was a burden on my mother's shoulders again. My quirk is uncontrollable without my suit and it hurts a lot to use, feeling drained and weakened. I followed Mr. Aizawa to the classroom door, hearing a lot of commotion there.
"Uhm, Mr. Aizawa, sir?" I ask.
"What is it, Kyukaze?" he grunts.
"I'm just a little… nervous, forgive any adverse reaction as a result of your students testing me…" I mumble, digging around in my bag for something.
"Consider it done, just don't level the school and we'll be fine," he said. I got out my little plushie axolotl and hugged it, seeing him open the door.
"Alright all of you, settle down!" A boy with dark blue hair exclaimed as I came in with our teacher.
"Dude! Yer the only one standing!" A redheaded boy laughed, making the other boy sit down in shock. I noticed one seat in the middle row was empty. Of course the introductions would have to take place.
"Everyone, this is Kyukaze Arashi," Mr. Aizawa said, "He's transferred here from Shiketsu."
I shakily nodded at the others, my eyes downcast at the floor quickly enough. I didn't want to make any enemies on my first day. So I quickly scuttled to my seat next to a boy with a rock-like head. The redhead who told the other boy to sit down was on the same row, along with a boy with golden hair and another boy with a tail. An odd set to be sure, but the redhead leaned over, "Heya, I'm Kirishima!" He held out his hand for me to shake. I looked down at it and shook it. The other boy with golden hair had a black streak in it, he reached over and shook my hand too.
"Denki Kaminari, nice to meetcha!"
The boy with the tail nodded at me and the rock boy waved shyly. Later on I learned their names as Ojiro and Koji. I got out my school supplies, remembering that Mother made sure I had everything. She was always attentive about that. I mostly kept to myself for most of class, no need to get attached at all. At least for now. Lunch slowly came around and I felt even more nervous. Mostly because of all the people here and the chances of the others seeing my face were high.
I darted straight for the cafeteria when we were let out, my hair billowing behind me, my suit hissing as I sat down far from the others. I looked around at the other students all sitting far from me and all of them with their little cliques, my row acquaintances busy with their already forged friendships.
Leaving me be. I got out my lunch, trying desperately to give my mother's cooking a shot. Mother was a very strange woman to me at first. Tall, intimidating, sometimes even hard to look in the eyes. Just… like her cooking. With a soft clicking hiss, my mask came off, my face breathing in the fresh air. Breathing in the rather pungent odors of the cooking, but I grabbed my sticks and thanked the meal, with some lea to whoever was listening for protection.
Then… I noticed someone out of the corner of my eye hurry away. Sighing and going back to my meal before a shadow fell over me. Something resembling dread sat itself in my chest. That someone was the boy known as Bakugou Katsuki. Or rather, Katsuki Bakugou. He was leering at me, reddish brown eyes murdering me with their stare. His lips spread into a threatening grin, his hands flashing with sparks. I just ate my mother's surprisingly delicious lunch. Just like her even. Bakugou still loomed over me as I gently got out my thermos.
"Hey. Darth Lame-o!" He growled, his voice sounding like grating gravel being shuttled against a chalkboard, "Why'd ya have that suit anyway?"
I closed my eyes with a small huff, "It's to halt what my quirk entails. Imagine Hurricanes stronger than any in recorded history, lightning that is constantly cloud to ground, and tornados registering an EF5 on the Fujita Scale," I was exaggerating some of it, but the lightning wasn't a joke.
"Tch. Whatever. That's just talk!" he snarled. I just finished pouring my tea. He loomed over me still like an annoying yapping dog. I tensed, my hand shooting for my mask and I looked up at him with my eyes narrowed, my hair straining against the hair tie I put it in, my chest tightened. My eyes shut, trying to shove the storm back into my body. 'Not again. Not again. If I hurt anyone they'll lock me away. They'll throw me into a padded cell where I'll rot!' I thought. 'Mother will be mad at me…'
Bakugou stalked off and I shakily raised my tea thermos, taking a sip of the mellow brew and keeping to myself. He had succeeded in laying down the law. I just busied myself with my slow nursing of my tea.
The cafeteria din was the backing track of the rest of my meal. My eyes tended to wander when I was alone. My eyes were shifting and sifting through the faces of my classmates. All I wanted was to mostly have an uneventful school life, free of worry and stress. Free of troubles… the girl that scurried by. Bright pink skin, golden eyes with black sclera. A… A something… she was talking to a few other girls, blushing a deer pink hue, more like a Fuchsia. One of the other girls, with short dark hair and earphone jacks glanced over at me.
"Quick! Smile!" My face shakily did so. A pitiful attempt at trying to ease them. Smiles were easy, but actual interactions were more of Mothers wheelhouse.
The girl looked away, talking to A about me I'm sure. I stopped smiling and almost was about to put my mask back on until I felt another shadow fall over me. A pretty girl with dark hair and dark eyes, her hair was in a ponytail and had a little bang that swished as she sat down across from me.
She seemed to be watching me, "Are you here to watch me?" I asked.
"Oh, forgive me. I didn't mean to stare, I just have a few questions," she said.
"Ask away then," I stated.
"What's your name? I'm Momo Yaoyorozu," she greeted. I nodded. Straightening and refitting my mask.
"Arashi Kyukaze, I'm fifteen years old and my mother and I live in the villa district. I am currently unemployed and single and have no desire to pursue romance. I don this suit in order to keep my quirk from going wild," I said, my eyes flashing a little, "I rarely spend money, as I am a frugal boy, not that Mother is lacking in money"
Momo sat there, listening to me, "What I know of my birth family is very scant, truthfully it's because of my quirk that I am here, my desire to become a hero stems from my need to seek the truth of my origin." I started softly.
"So you're just trying to find somewhere you belong?" Momo asked.
"Right," I said, "Somewhere where those with quirks like mine can live just as normally as those without them. Where the strong and weak can coexist in harmony. Something my… my brother dreamed of."
"But what would constitute the weak?" Momo asked.
"Ah… I'm not sure. My brother was vague about that too…" I mumbled a little, "Then again, he did get revenge on our town…"
Momo's eyes widened, "Oh goodness…" she said.
"Yeah, it's a lot to take in," I sighed, "Forgive me for being so dark, Momo," she smiled and waved it off.
"Oh no, it's fine sharing your past with me," she said, "Anyway, did you miss anything important in today's lectures? I noticed you were staring off into space." I saw her get out a few notebooks, "Here, take a look,"
I saw her meticulous notes, easy to understand and easy to write and read. "You don't have to do this, but thank you." I said, nodding. 'Why was she being so kind to me?' I thought. 'Mother is kind to me because she loves me, but…' I felt my hair billow a little, a soft rumble echoed through the cafeteria. I took a breath, my inhibitors kicking in. the thunder stopped, and the billowing in my hair did too. I got a little too excited. Breathing heavily, trying to resist it. I wanted to feel happy, but I couldn't because of my suit. It inhibits my natural emotions, sort of like a set of restraints. Yet they are too eager lately to do that.
I could still feel things like nervousness and fear and joy, but at the same time I couldn't feel too much. I notice more and more that my suit tends to trigger at the drop of a hat. In other words… I am Neutral as long as I wear my suit yet it uses screws that drill into my flesh to stop my quirk. I sighed and Momo tilted her head to the side.
I smiled, "Forgive me, my suit activated. I thank you for this," I stated, "It is almost time for us to move on, so I will reaffix my mask," with a soft click my mask came back on, the hiss pressurized the suit.
It was just a mobile prison. Keeping me from really experiencing what it was like to have friends or anything close to that outside of home. I waited outside for my Mother's car. Being who she was she'd most likely be busy. I stood there, my suit quietly whirring away. Mother hated my suit. She always apologizes for it. Her car pulled into the school, winding around the way being a little too… casual for who she is.
By casual, it was a mini cooper, red and white. Oddly small for her but cute enough for her tastes. She slowed down and rolled down the passenger side window, leaning over, her necklace and earrings dangling.
"Hello Arashi!" She called, "How was school?" she asked, drawing attention from the students lucky enough to walk home.
"Oh my god!"
"He's related to her!"
"I didn't even know that she had a son!"
I hurriedly got in and shut the door behind me, Mother hit the gas and drove off, she hated attention sometimes. Her red eyes flicked over to me. Watching me settle in and stare out the window, hand on my chin, the hiss sounding out.
"Arashi, dear, I asked a question," she said.
"Mother… It was nice." I hollowly sighed. She nodded and pursed her red lipsticked lips together in thought.
"Would it work if you-"
"No. I… I have to take it all off." I mumbled.
"Oh…" Mother huffed, "I hate seeing that ghastly thing. I really thought they wouldn't do that to you…" she reached over and ruffled my hair a little, smiling to herself. I just went back to staring out the window at the cars and city whizzing by.
I missed our other family members. Uncle Rudolf was too busy in Germany to come in and see us. Uncle Eugen barely comes out of his house and Auntie Maryanna is running around with Mr. Fatgum.
Mother drove calmly, her eyes focused on the road, "So… meet anyone new?" she wondered.
"Yes." I said.
"Want to tell me about them, dear?"
"No."
"Okay then."
That was normal. Mother and I didn't talk much as we used to. She ran her hand through her long and wavy white hair for a moment, "Arashi, once we get home, can you take off your suit and talk to me?" she asked.
"… Sure." I looked back at her and felt her sympathy and sadness pouring out of her like a wave. Mother smiled, but I knew she was trying hard not to cry. Mother's quirk was used well in her side job, being a psychologist. She could influence feelings as long as she stayed in close physical contact with the aitent.
Our house was spacious, but comfy in a good way. Mother's tall frame needed high ceilings and it was hard to get. Mother held open the door and I went immediately towards my room. Passing happy pictures of me and Mother together throughout my childhood. Me and Auntie Maryanna hand catching fish, Me and Uncle Rudolf wearing matching uniforms and marching side by side, Uncle Eugen and I taking care of his garden with my cousin Ibara. My favorite one was my mother and I on my sixth birthday. She made the cake and we all couldn't admit it was bad.
In fact, I ate almost all of it. It was me blowing out the candles on it. No sign of hero merch anywhere. I got to my room at the end of the hall, opening the door and closing it behind me. There was an odd booth on the wall, and I step into it. Standing there and having robotic hands taking off my suit is weird. It's a gray suit with glowing blue livery. The collar unfastens, the mask undoes itself, magnetizing to the mannequin in there. My suit assembles onto it with the arms gently pulling out the securing bolts that dig into me whenever I get too dangerous.
With a hiss of pain I get out of the booth, breathing hard and collapsing to the floor. My body always felt horrible without it. I got to my feet slowly, putting on a dark blue compression shirt over my lightning bruised body, scarred and marred with attempts at using my quirk. I sild on loose sweatpants, also blue and with white stripes on them. My old Shiketsu uniform glared at me from the closet. I ignored it and walked out of my room, limping slightly. Mother noticed me and smiled.
"Long day, Arashi?" she asked.
"Yeah…" I sighed, "I hate that thing so much…" I sat down on the couch, "You wanted to know who I met…"
Mother nodded, smiling a little wider, "Was it a girl? You're blushing!" She teased.
"Yeah. Her name was Momo Yaoyorozu. She gave me her notes to copy and talked with me at lunch," I undid my hair, "Then there was Kirishima. He seemed friendly enough, but I didn't wanna get too close," Mother nodded, her red eyes sparkling with joy.
"Awww… my little Arashi is making friends already!" she cooed, "Maybe that Momo girl could be a girlfriend!" I blushed and looked down at my knees.
"As if she'd like a weak little thing like me…" I muttered, feeling a stinging smack and Mother getting angry, her hair billowing a little.
"Now listen here, son. Don't you dare ever call yourself weak! You go through pain every day wearing that ghastly inhibitor suit! If that's not enough strength to impress a girl and protect what you hold dear I don't know what is!" She yelled, hugging me tightly, almost hard enough to make my bones pop, "You're my son, Arashi. No matter what. No matter if I die tomorrow, no matter if a villain separates us. You're my son and I will support you no matter what."
I felt tears sting my eyes, "Mother… I… I…" I mumbled, feeling her hand run through my hair, "I don't want to wear that thing. I don't want to… I don't…"
"I know. It's not your fault, Arashi. You lashed out. You didn't mean to." she said, crying as well, "I know how much it hurt…"
I settled against her heart, remembering it.
The day started like any other, coming out of my dorm room, missing my mother and wearing my Shiketsu uniform. Normal day. Just like any other. Confidently striding, my body light and without my gray inhibitor suit. Then… they came. My friend Inasa was late. The bullies I had. They were bigger than me. I could barely remember their quirks or their names or even faces. Only the horrible insults. The ain of them throwing me and hitting me.
"Monster!" They'd yell.
"Weirdo!" They'd chorus.
"Demon!" They drive their knives in with that one. Inasa was late. And I remember being on the floor, my hat tossed away, taking their hits. But something made me not take it anymore. A memory snarled into my mind. My brother. Tall, gray eyes cold, flanked by his three friends. Laying there, framed by the burning town around us, he looked at me.
"You're the weakest one of us all…"
In that moment, the windows shattered, the air tearing through the building, my hair billowing. My eyes flashed a bright blue as the sky rumbled like a great beast. My bullies cowered before me. That's when the area around us exploded, my bullies tossed and the debris blasted to shards. Amongst the howling winds and crackling lightning I stood. My face had a bright smile on it. Seeing them all backing off as I wanted to bring the wrath of the sky down on them.
Then… a huge agonizing pulse tore through my body, making me crumble and sit out some blood. My body gained another bruise from my quirk, my hair in my eyes, seeing the bathhouse around me burning. The entire school was watching. Shocked and scared of me. Inasa came out and knelt, his dark eyes on me, he smiled.
"Hey… hey, take it easy, Arashi." he said, "Just look at me." He reached out his hand, I flinched away, the wind blowing him back a little.
"S-stay back! Just… hhh… haah… please!" I gasped, "Just… just all of you, st-stay back! I don't wanna hurt anyone else!" Then I passed out, my eyes closing, my storm ending as quickly as it began.
After that came the suit, came the Commission, Came the expulsion. No trial. No defense. Mother had to pay for damages. Everyone treated me like a bomb about to go off. Momo, Kirishima, they treated me like a normal person. Not like a monster. Not like a weakling. If only I could feel like they could with my suit on. Mother hugged me as I cried new tears. I smiled and cried. Which meant I was happy. Mother just smiled and sat with me, holding me close.
UA wouldn't be so bad after all…