Chapter 8

Jaden P.O.V

GOD FUCKING DAMN THAT HURTS

Maybe I should have thought more about what I was going to do with this newfound power of mine. I used it and punched forward and freaking blew my arm to bits and destroyed part of the wall.

It was only a matter of time before Lilly came in here to question me and scold me.

I looked at my now purple arm. That can't be healthy

"How the hell does Izuku deal with this shit?" I asked myself quietly.

I extended my other arm to my broken one and covered it in ice. It helped with the mind-searing pain I got from it.

I heard a door slam behind me, "JADEN WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?" It was Lilly. I wonder what took her so long.

I turned to look at the newly entered girl. Ah, she must have been changing or something. Her clothes seemed to be hastily thrown on.

"OH MY GOD, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ARM?" She screamed upon seeing my...you can guess.

"Well you see, it's kind of a long story. To make it short, my arm isn't going to be moving very much" I said robotically

"No shit sherlock"

"I'll explain after you check me in with Recovery Girl"

So maybe 30 minutes and one smooch on the forehead later, my arm was in a cast and I was laying down in the bed I picked out for myself.

Lilly busts the door open with a styrofoam container in her hand. "Alright, you've gotten a kiss to make your boo-boo feel better, now spill."

"Remember how Ryan knew that there was more to my quirk than meets the eye?" I asked cautiously

"Yes" She responded slowly, "Whenever you or your quirk came up, he was always going on about how that your quirk is special in many ways"

"Well, he couldn't have been more right. I think...I'm a freak of nature" I said looking at my good arm

"What makes you say that?"

"Lilly...I'm going to be deadly serious with you now. I think I have the power to copy quirks"

She looked at me skeptically. "Sure you do buddy, and I have the same quirk as All Might"

I bit back a laugh cuz for all I know, my new power could be the same. "It's true. That power I used to bust a hole in the wall, It's a power I copied from a classmate"

"How did you copy it?"

"That's the weird part. I don't know how it works. I think it was because I was touching his shoulder and said I wished I had his quirk. Then his seemed to activate differently and then my body reacted"

"So what about permafrost?"

"I think the quirks I copy are slightly different from the original. So no matter who I copied my quirk from, my father or my brother, it wouldn't matter"

She stopped for a moment. She reached into the purse she had left by the door and pulled out a set of chopsticks. She opened her container and revealed some rice and some kind of noodles. I couldn't tell what type exactly. She started shoving the food into her mouth and started asking questions again, "So...*chew* What *chew* about-"

"I thought a pampered rich girl like yourself would have better manners," I said annoyed

She swallowed hard. "I guess I picked it up from you idiots"

"Well please don't. Please, you know that drove me crazy"

"My bad man."

"What's the question you were going to ask"

"So what about this new quirk of yours?" She asked as she started eating again.

"I think it's a stockpiling quirk of sorts. It just piles power on itself until you need to release it" I half lied

"I see, why did you want to train so badly?"

"Well, I think my quirk has been altered"

She stopped eating. "How so?"

"Well, I think the stockpile quirk caused some kind of change within my Ice quirk. I think it released some power that I had yet to tap into."

She started thinking a bit. "If that's the case, isn't it possible that the stockpiling quick had picked up some changes as well?"

Shit...she's right. I never thought about it.

"Well besides color..." I stopped to think a bit more deeply. Now that I think about it, I think I felt the power try and stop itself before I released it. What if, I can let out some bits that I can handle but if I want to force out more power I can. "Yeah. I think it put some kind of limiter on itself"

Wait, is it possible for me to pass this power down? When I think about it, It shouldn't be possible for me to have the same amount of power as Izuku, what I have is only a copy, an altered one at that. So how much stronger is Izuku than me?

"So why did you destroy your arm? If it has a limiter"

"I kinda forced out more."

She put down the container neatly, turned her head, looked at me, back at her food, then reached out and smacked the back of my head.
"You freaking idiot" You know, I'm still surprised that she says things like that. And you know you've pushed her buttons enough when she busts out the actual cuss words.

"Yeah, I'm stupid"

"So what now?"

I scratched the back of my head. "I'll have to work on my ice. Even if I want to master this new power, I can't use it in front of other people. That would raise some unwanted questions" And bring unwanted attention to Izuku. He has a hard enough time not spilling his guts to everyone close to him.

She patted my arm, "Well you should get some rest, You've got school tomorrow"

I groaned. "Don't remind me. I'll have to explain this to everyone"

She picked up her food and closed the door as she walked out.

I looked at my left hand.

I wonder if I...

I tried pulling again this time, but this time I was far more gentle. Instead of commanding it out, I more so coaxed it like a kitten.

My veins glowed with that blue color once again but this time the power abruptly stopped shortly after. It lingered a bit and then dissipated.

So this is what it would act like if I did it normally

I focused my ice power into the palm of my hand causing a ball of ice to take shape.

I moved it over to the edge of the bed and dropped it.

It hit the ground with a loud thunk. Well, it's true, my ice is stronger now and I have very little control.

I reached my hand out towards the light and suddenly an icicle shot out my hand, breaking the small lamp.

I winced at the sound of the lamp shattering against the ground. I could already imagine what Lilly was going to say. "Is breaking something your way of saying that you have something you want to tell me? You know you could just text me whatever you have to say"

I pulled the blanket over my head and tried to drift off into sleep.

.

I looked around, I was in the robot zone. It's a simple area. A circle with some large rocks sticking out the ground. In every direction, there were large steel doors.

I remember this dream. I've had it so many times. This is a dream where I'm left with two choices but both lead to the same outcome.

I'm at the very limit of my quirk, my body is freezing and at the edge of the common risk for the ice users in my family.

It's just a dream I reminded myself as I took a shaky step towards the exit.

A large bang occurs behind me. I hesitantly turn my head to find a hulking figure. Not just any figure, one with ice cased around its hands.

This is the choice, I either fight it off using the last bit of my quirk, or it grabs me and uses some kind of quirk on me that triggers the additional effect overuse of my power will cause.

I reached my hand out towards the barreling body mass and shot a single icicle into its past. Then the icicle exploded into a large piece of ice when it came close enough.

"There-" I was cut off by a searing pain in my torso. I felt like my insides were being ripped out, stuck into a blender, shoved back into me, and frozen to unnatural temperatures.

I fell to the ground with a thud. I could feel my body freezing and my heartbeat lowering. Each breath was becoming more difficult to keep consistent.

Any second now Ryan would come and rush me out off here.

At least that's how the dream used to be. I was on the ground for hours. Maybe even days. Before my body surrendered to the pain it was going through.

My eyelids slowly fell as I drifted into a deep sleep that I knew I wouldn't wake up from.

.

I woke up on the floor. Facedown of course. I lifted myself off my almost healed arm.

Man, that hurts.

I got off the floor, threw my blanket onto the bed, and stumbled towards the shower.

After a quick shower, I checked my phone to find several messages from my family, and I had about 10 minutes to get to school.

I shoved my uniform on and looked in the mirror.

I saw my hair was more of a mess than normal, my eyes looked tired and my arm seemed kind of weird.

I adjusted my sling and threw on a jacket to cover my arm for a bit.

It was still warm outside but the nightmare I had was still weighing on me.

That was something I had kept from everyone. If they found out they'd limit how much quirk time I have.

My quirk doesn't only run the risk of hypothermia or frostbite, I also run the risk of going into hibernation. A hibernation that I probably won't survive. Especially if I was forced into a fight like that dream.

It only happened once before and that's when the dreams started. Ryan had saved me that time it happened and in the dreams, he did there too. I guess I shouldn't have thought about him so much and my ice within a set amount of time.

My body may resist the cold a great deal but this more so impacts my inner temperature. No matter how tough someone's body is, their insides are still fragile.

I made quick work of running to class and learned that it was going to be training with All Might.

Ugh.

Everyone was paired up randomly and put into 2 groups. Heros and Villians

The goal was simple. The Villain group has to defend their "Weapon" and the heroes have to capture the weapon or the villains.

The Villains were given a small head start to hide their weapons and prepare for the heroes.

First up was Bakugo and Lida Vs Izuku and Ochaco.

Well, we know what this is going to be like. Izuku fights Bakugo and Ochaco is going to struggle against Lida.

Other than that I don't know what to expect.

I entered the surveillance room with everyone else and leaned against the wall.

This was a fight I wanted to see. As Izuku entered the building, my head hit the wall and I...fell asleep. I blame it on my nightmare and bad waking up position.

I woke up shortly after, Izuku was on a stretcher Ochaco holding onto the rocket, Lida ended up the MVP due to him being the only one that was practical, and Bakugo was pissed that he lost to not just anyone, but "Deku".

After that, I don't really know what happened. All I know is I joined the villain team with Toru and Ojiro. They were up against Shoto and Shoji.

Some might guess why I joined them. I knew that Shoto would crush them just by stepping into the building so I was there to give them a fighting chance.

The catch of me joining was that, only the team I joined knew so Shoto would have no idea if I went in there. Shoji would try and sense us out but I hid within some ice that would block the sound of my breathing.

The second Shoto covered the building with ice, I busted my way out of my little square.

"Jaden! Help us!" Toru called out to me

"What? No! I thought I could take them all on my own" I said my voice dripping with sarcasm.

I moved the ice away from their bodies and I took off the sweater I was wearing and threw it at Toru. Unlike the rest of the class, I didn't want to wear my hero costume so I went with the UA uniform and had a sweater on top. "Wear that for now," I told her, based on the fact she was naked.

"Wow, this is warm!"

"Yeah, my body builds up extra heat to help with the cold"

I sat down, waiting for my cousin to walk through the doorway.

"Ojiro, Toru, you guys sneak past, use the map on that table to find a good way past him, to sneak up on Shoji," I said softly to them. "I'll handle Todoroki"

"Oh ok"

"Got it! You can count on us to do our best"

They looked at the map and just before they could leave Shoto walked into the room.

He took one look at me and said with his usual monotone, "I figured you would be here"

"Fuck yeah I would." I tilted my head as if I was challenging him, which I was, "I wanted to see how far you've come. Maybe I could give you a few pointers on how to reject your father a bit more"

His face hardened a bit, as he lifted his arm he said "I'd love nothing more"

I then completely covered his body in a giant icicle with a swipe of my hand.

"Hurry, you got like 20 seconds before he thaws himself out" I call out to Toru and Ojiro who started to run out into the corridors.

I sat around for 3 more seconds, made sure I couldn't hear my teammates, and then grew tired of waiting and pulled the ice off Shoto.

"Sorry bout' that. Just needed my little teammates to put some-" I stopped talking to dodge an ice pillar he shot at me.

I put my left hand over my heart and said in a voice full of mock hurt, "How could you interrupt my monologing," I lifted my sling a bit, "and you attacked an injured man without any hesitation. Shoto I thought you had better manners than that" I "scolded" him

"I just thought you were taking too long"

"That's cold man" I winced at the unintended pun, glad that the cameras in the viewing area don't have sound

If it was even possible, his face went into an even deep deadpan than normal. Great, even he knows that was a bad one.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that" Glad he had some respect for my social life.

"Thanks"

We were both just staring at each other now. Waiting.

In a fight like this, it's all about making sure you have every advantage possible. The risk of attacking first could be fruitful but he probably has some kind of counter for whatever I could throw at him, he most likely expects me to get impatient and attack first, disregarding my better judgment.

"Well, this reminds me of something. Does this bring any memories for you, my dear younger cousin?"

This reminded me of that one day Shoto and I got to play together like normal kids. Instead of my bitch ass uncle forcing Shoto to train, he got a day off with me after I had dragged someone's parent with me.

Endeavor, not wanting to look like a trash father and get the cops called on him, had Shoto and I play with the child of the parent I brought over.

We ended up in this same situation, sitting there, and waiting for the other to make the first move.

"I do remember that day...I never thanked you properly for that day have I?"

"It's no biggy, I didn't want you to go without a day of your childhood with you not feeling a bit like a normal kid for once."

We stayed frozen for a bit longer until we heard a shrill scream.

"Well...looks like my teammates got caught," I said dryly

"Yes"

"Then I suppose," I said as I stood up, dusting myself off, "we should get this over with"

"Ice Armory"

A Bo staff emerged from a patch of ice I left on the floor. I reached out and pulled it out of a small hole it had been formed from.

"Interesting move you got there"

"You ain't see nothing yet"

I leveled the bo staff to my stomach area and held it tightly even though the weird feeling from holding it in one hand. I have no idea how I should be using this, but I saw enough from the movies.

I charged straight at him, and he started to put some distance between us.

He already knows using Ice that I can see is pointless, due to me being able to just control it.

I stopped running. "Didnt realize we were playing tag."

I grinned as I slammed my bo staff into the ground and froze the floor of the room we were in.

"Welcome my little winter wonderland" I placed my bo staff against the wall and willed more ice into it, causing it to elongate, moving me a bit closer to my relative.

He tried moving away but then I increase the speed of the bo staff's growth, shooting me across the room, not too far away.

He formed ice around him, most likely to keep him from sliding in any unwanted direction. This time he shot ice at me, which I quickly stopped and slammed into the ground.

"If you don't like the ice that much, you could just melt it ya know?"

That seemed to piss him off. "I will never use my right side in a fight."

I froze the air in front of me into blunt fragments. "Well, it's using it or lose"

I shot them forward at him and he caused another wall to shoot up in front of him.

Perfect, nearly completely surrounded.

I dropped my weapon and reached my hand out, all the ice around him pulled away and formed into hands that snatched him out off the ground.

"What do you like dem apples?" I chuckled.

I saw it start to sizzle. I walked over and wrapped his ankle in capture tape. "Not so fast 'hot stuff', your out"

I looked around, "It's just me and Shoji huh?"

"Most likely"

I held my hand out in front of me and moved my pointer finger in a come here motion. All the ice outside rushed into the room and stopped right at my feet.

My ice power is certainly interesting. I still wonder how I'm able to control and shape it like this.

I turned my hand over and flicked my finger toward the door, causing all the ice to rush out. About 2 minutes later, I heard the game over noise and figured I caught Shoji in the ice.

After that win, everything passed by me in a daze. Before I knew it, I was stumbling down the hallway of UA to get to recovery girl. I think I had planned to ask her for more healing assistance and when I should be healed again.

Before I could open the door, I heard someone call my name.

"J-jaden"

I turned to see a floating bit of clothes. Oh, she must be trying to return my sweater.

I tilled my head towards her, "Oh hey Hagakure"

She seemed...on edge you could say. Maybe she's afraid of me? Or might not know how to talk to me.

"I came to give you your sweater, I meant to give it back earlier but you dozed off and then walked away pretty quickly" After she finished speaking, she extended it out to me.

I took the sweater out of her hands and accidentally grazed her hand.

She shivered at the contact, I yanked my hand back, "Sorry about that, I'm a tad bit colder than your average person"

"No, It's fine" she started laughing

I looked at her confused, "what's so funny?"

"I-I didn't know how I should approach you" she managed to get out between her laughing

"Well, I'm not as cold as Shoto or my power" I made that joke with a dry tone.

Hagakure for one seemed to like it though. After a bit of laughing, she asked me a question that I'm surprised no one asked earlier. "So what happened to your arm?"

"Oh, that? I got a little carried away with some training last night"

If I could see her face, I'm sure it would be full of skepticism.

"Well, Nice chatting with you but I got to check in with Recovery Girl. Bye"

"Bye"

I opened the door and let out a small greeting, "Hello, sorry for the wait"

Recovery Girl turned her chair around to face me, "Ah Jaden, nice to see you show up again"

I walked in, closed the door behind me, and sat down on the bed. "When should my arm be healed again?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Straight to the point I see. I would say after I give you a little boost again, 1 to 2 days"

"Oh that's great"

She gave me a small kiss on the forehead and I shook my arm experimentally. "I assume you have questions. I have one of my own"

"Well nice to see you are as sharp as a tack"

"What information regarding my arm did you hold back?"

"You picked up on me holding things back due to your friend being there with you? Very impressive. Well, Your arm can only take so many more hits like that. Unlike Izuku your arms aren't as prepared for it."

I sighed. I'm not surprised that this is the truth. "I'm going to assume you've already connected the dots then."

"I have"

"Long story short, I don't even understand this whole thing myself. All I know is that I might be able to copy the quirks of others permanently."

"That is very interesting. Did you mean to copy the most self-destructive quirk in your class?"

"No, not at all."

She turned herself back to her desk, "Well be careful. I'd also suggest if you find a better way to use that quirk, maybe drop some hints to Izuku"

I stood up. "Thank you again" I walked over to the door and opened it. I took one more step before turning back to drop one more comment. "Before I forget, the copied quirks aren't the same. They're mutated in a way that seemingly benefits me."

I then closed the door behind me and walked out.

What a drag I thought to myself as I looked up at the sky. It was a mixture of pink and orange. The sky was always an interesting concept for me. Something that only changes between a few colors, it still looks beautiful and different nearly every day.

Sometimes I wish I was a cloud... Just floating along, going wherever the breeze takes me. Part of the reason I became a hero was because I thought life would've been more interesting as one... I suppose things aren't gonna be that simple

Man, I feel dumb as hell. I was planning on making a late Christmas special for this story but then realized I had this chapter tucked away without posting it. Apologies if this chapter is bad, I doubt this is any good after I spitballed and slammed it together so long ago.

I made a few references and want to see of anyone noticed