Building Upwards
He was running, a shock springing through his legs with each step. The cargo pants restricted his movement by just a hair. The heavy trench coat made him a tad bit slower. The familiar mask makes it just a little bit harder to breathe.
Across an endless stretch of buildings, he was bounding across, never seeming able to reach his destination. Each building looked the same. And no matter how long he ran for and how many times he jumped from building to building, the clown sat on the exact same chair, in the exact same position.
He shook his head, he couldn't focus on that. He had to reach there in time, he had to stop what was going on. What was going to happen.
Once he reached the one different building, that didn't look the same as everything else. He jumped down the side. Into the alleyway below, twisting in midair as the clown watched from above.
As he grew closer to his target, he suddenly froze in the air. Trapped as if he was in honey. Unable to move closer as a man with a gun cornered a husband and wife with their young son, all of their faces covered by shadows. People he never knew. But people he failed all the same.
*BANG*
The husband was the first to go, the bullet traveling through his head and splattering gray matter onto the ground below. The shadows lifting off his face, a middle-aged man with graying hair, brown eyes and a mustache.
*BANG*
The next gunshot hit the wife in the neck, tearing open the arteries as blood gushed out and sprayed the boy in the face. The shadows too lifted around her face, blonde hair, blue eyes, her delicate features contrasting with the roughness of her husbands face
*BANG*
The final gunshot hit the young square in the chest. His brown hair fell loose, his blue eyes widening in shock.
It was only then that he fell. His breathing labored as he rushed towards the dying child younger than him by ten years.
Placing his hands on the bleeding wound as he tried desperately to keep the boy alive. All while the murderer walked away.
The boy was dying, choking on his own blood as Izuku tried desperately to keep him from bleeding out.
"H-Hey. L-Look at me. Y-you'll be alright. You'll be alright." He said to the boy as he reached into his coat and placed a bandage over the wound. The boy's small, almost tiny hands clawed at his arm as he struggled. Coughing up more and more blood.
"You'll be ok. Y-You'll…" The words died in his mouth as the boy's grip on his coat slackened. His heartbeat fading and his eyes became glossy.
"N-No. No no no no no no. H-Hey. W-Wake up." He said almost pleadingly as tears welled up from behind his mask. The boy was not responding.
"Come on. Wake up!" He yelled desperately as he shook the boy. The empty dead eyes were the only thing that responded to him.
"Heh." His head turned to the source of the sound unnaturally fast. His eyes glowing bright red as at the end of the alleyway was the murderer. Their hat obscured their face.
"Useless."
The world broke around him, leaving nothing tangible as he fell through nothingness. He fell, his wordless screams falling on deaf ears as the emptiness almost swallowed him whole.
Then he landed on a cold concrete floor, sharp pain spreading through his body in white flashes. A bullet wound in his left shoulder and side with a knife lodged into his abdomen.
He grit his teeth and pulled the knife out, wiping the blood off before tossing it away. He then ran towards the sounds of screams down the hall. He couldn't afford to be late. The metal door at the end was seemingly an eternity away. Always out of reach.
When everything returned to focus he smashed through the door, the metal groaning as it warped under his full momentum and was ripped free of the concrete.
The impact vibrated across his battered body, but he didn't care. He made it. He…
The scent of iron clogged his nose, the butchered bodies of those he failed hanging off meat hooks and laying on operating tables. Their bodies were ripped to shreds, their organs placed into jars. Pools of blood on the floor, along with bloodstain instruments on trays.
Their glossy eyes glared at him as if asking 'why?'
He collapsed to his knees; shock, anger, and guilt weighing him down.
He couldn't muster the strength to scream as he began to sob silently at the sight. He bit his fist against the cold concrete ground.
"I'm sorry." He said softly
Suddenly one body covered in barbed wire stood up, the man's hands had been cut off. Deep slashes all over his body as he walked over to the terrified vigilante. The man's face having been carved off, the bloody skull and flayed bits of muscles were all that was left.
Izuku shivered, shaking in place as the dead man loomed over him. Its blood-covered eyes looked at him in disgust and hatred.
"Useless."
The whiplash hit him hard, causing him to blackout for a second as he tried desperately to regain control.
He was then standing, his legs wobbly and his vision obscured. The smoke made it hard to breathe and the fire licked at him. The heat was almost unbearable and through the roars of the fire and creaking of the building, he could barely hear anything. But he needed to save them.
The vigilante pushed past the pain and continued to run forward, rushing through the raging inferno around him. He had to save them. He had to.
He stopped right in his tracks as the floor in front of him had collapsed and a torrent of flame shot out from below. The intense heat washed over him.
Gritting his teeth he took off his coat and held it in front of him like a shield before plunging through the fire without a second thought. The coat offered a small layer of protection against the inferno.
The fire enveloped him, singing his costume and almost cooking him alive. But he managed to jump through the fire, his coat burnt all to hell from taking the brunt of the flame.
He tossed the coat aside and continued running towards the last cries of help he heard before the building began to collapse around him.
The roof above him crumbled and almost crushed him if he hadn't leaped forward at the last moment, rolling before springing back up and continuing to run as fast as he could.
The door in view, he plowed right through the wooden door as if it wasn't there. Fire shot out from the apartment and almost surrounded him as he pushed through, falling onto the floor of the apartment in a daze.
He shook his head and forced himself up, his muscles aching and lungs burning up.
He then tensed up as he realized just what was in front of him. A part of the roof had broken off and fallen right on top of the people trapped in the room.
The fire had consumed them, their skin charred black and their eye sockets hollow.
Izuku almost broke at the sight, the three people crushed and burnt to death. His hands clenched into fists as he looked away. The sound of his heart pounding in his ears drove him mad.
Ignoring the building inferno around him as he kneeled there, guilt racking him.
The rubble shifted slightly, the noise causing him to jump slightly; his entire body on edge as one of the charred bodies cracked its neck and looked directly at him.
Malice filling its soulless gaze.
"Useless."
The fire consumed him in an instant, he didn't even dare to fight it. Seeing it as rightful penance for someone as useless as himself.
'I deserve this. For failing them. For failing everyone.' He thought to himself before closing his eyes.
Air entered his nose as he breathed in slowly, pain racking his body. Bruises began to form and he was more than sure that a couple of his ribs were broken. His left arm bent at an odd angle.
Everything hurt so much that he could barely move, looking through the world through his broken goggles.
Blood was pooling in his mouth, his breathing staggering as he saw a familiar hero kneeling in defeat a few meters away from him. His eyes widened slightly. Any attempt to stop what was about to happen only resulted in pain racking his body and a low gargle being let out.
Gritting his teeth and forced himself to crawl forward to the battered hero, taking any chance he had to save the man. Ignoring the pain shooting through his body, the pain was temporary.
A shadow loomed over the battered pro, a being filled with hatred and malice forming from the shadows themselves.
It was massive, its black metal body blending in with the darkness. Its face shaped like a predator beyond comprehension. Its eyes glowing a blood red.
The beast's blood-stained metal talons punched through the hero with ease, making the man gurgle and squirm in agony; the machine's fist exiting through the pro's abdomen.
Slowly the villain speared his other hand through the pro's stomach, Death Arms struggling desperately as he coughed up blood.
In a quick, almost robotic motion the Ripper tore the hero in half without any hesitation.
Guts and blood splattering all over the place, bits of gore landing on Izuku's motionless body.
Death Arms face contorted into one of surprise as if he didn't expect this to happen.
The Ripper let go of the dead hero, the body parts plopping on the ground. The Villain striding towards the defeated vigilante. Arrogance radiated off of the murder as Izuku wallowed in guilt.
His air was constricted as he was picked up by the throat, metal talons digging into the flesh as the Ripper reared his other fist back.
This was it, no massive final battle. No sudden victory. He couldn't win. He couldn't win against this… this thing.
No words were uttered as the mechanical beast's fist crashed into his face, caving the skull in as brain matter forcefully gushed out of his nose and ears. He was dead in an instant.
Izuku awoke with a gasp as his entire body tensed up; covered in a cold sweat, ready for any combatants that were in his room. His eyes scanned the area before he slowly calmed down. Sighing as he held his head in his hands.
Anotha spooky dream? Hank asked nonchalantly.
The tired lad rubbed his eyes. 'Yeah, second one this week.' He responded tiredly, mentally drained. Rubbing the earplugs in his ears, making sure they were still there. They were, we wouldn't have to deal with the constant noise of the city.
Huh. Next time you just wanna chat in your subconscious? No training, just chatting and shit.
'That's surprisingly nice of you to offer. Are you going soft on me Hank?'
Blow it out your ass duke.
Izuku let out a small laugh, the contents of the nightmare slowly leaving his mind. But they lingered there. Clinging to the back of his mind, refusing to leave.
"Hey… Hank…" The young man said aloud before trailing off, searching for the right words.
Yeah kid?
"Do… you ever feel guilt? Doesn't matter for what, just guilt over something you regret." Izuku asked
Hank was silent for a small while, contemplating something.
I know what you mean. What you really mean. I've only ever regretted killing one, maybe two people out of the couple thousand or so I've booted. And I've done some things I'm not proud of.
'Really?' Izuku asked, genuinely shocked to hear the words Hank had uttered.
Don't act shocked picklehead. The mutant assassin man has regrets too, shocker I know. Hank's voice leaked sarcasm.
Izuku shrunk up slightly. 'Sorry.'
Hey hey hey. None of that. We're bantering. Ya know? Trading jabs. Whoever gets angry at you for a joke is a smooth-brained moron.
Izuku grimaced slightly before sighing, a small smile on his face. He liked this, despite Hank being… well… Hank. It was nice to talk with him. It made him forget the orchestra of noise going on around him all the time. It was nice to talk with the man.
'Thanks. Guess you're not completely bat shit crazy.'
That means a lot coming from the vigilante with no self-preservation.
'Remind me. Who's the dead one here?'
Listen here you little shit.
Izuku laughed, chuckling to himself before losing himself in thought. 'Is this what it's like? To have a friend.'
"Hey, Hank. Thanks."
You're welcome… I guess. Wait what are you thanking me for again?
"For being my first real friend." Izuku said gratefully.
… That's kinda sad.
Izuku looked at the bathroom mirror closely, inspecting his appearance. The black jacket over the white long sleeve shirt he had. The kanji for 'shirt' on the front. A pair of blue jeans and a pair of red converse on the bottom half of his body.
Ya know. I just realized this but why do you have shirts that just have the word 'shirt' on them?
'I don't know. I just like it.' He said with a shrug as he put on his tea shades.
Now that's just weird. I can excuse the constant muttering and hero worship. But your sense of fashion sucks fuck.
Izuku scoffed. "You're the one who has a ninja costume, Hank." The young man said out loud.
First of all mossbrain, it's a tactical getup. Second of all, the mask is there to hide my ugly ass face. And lastly, fuck you it looks cool.
The young hero in training laughed slightly, he had to admit. It did look cool. Shaking his head he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
It had been five or so hours since he woke up, with it being 11 am. Which was good. He had time, maybe he'd make a quick detour.
He pocketed the phone before leaving his room and entering the living room, his mom on the couch watching a soap opera. Hearing him coming she glanced at him.
"Are you going somewhere Izuku-Kun?" She asked as she then gave him his full undivided attention.
"Yes Mom. I'm gonna go hang out with a friend." He said truthfully.
"A-Alright. Just don't stay out too late." She said in a slightly worried tone.
"I will. I'll be back around six." He said before leaning down and hugging her, the small woman hugging him back, he knew for a fact she was struggling to let him go.
"You're growing up so fast." She whispered, fighting not to tear up. Izuku sighed fondly and tightened the hug.
"I know." He gently broke the hug, tears of pure joy welling up in his mother's eyes.
"You're growing up into an adult." She said as she pushed the tears away. "And I'm so proud of you. I hope you know that."
"I know." He said with a smile as he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Thank you." He said gently.
Inko wanted to say something, but the words caught themselves in her throat. So she simply just nodded in response.
"Stay safe." She managed to finally say.
"I will." Izuku said with a smile as he made his way to leave, walking through the door as Inko hesitantly sat down on the couch.
Once he had locked the door behind him he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of Bluetooth earbuds and put them on as he pulled out his phone and began to search through his playlist.
Putting on a shuffled list of songs he liked as he began his walk, slow and steady while making his way through the city one step at a time.
After a few songs had passed, one song he had never heard before came up. Pausing the song he pulled his phone out and looked at the title. 'Bonkers'.
He raised an eyebrow when he saw it. He hadn't heard of the song before. He shrugged and played it. The upbeat song playing caused him to bob his head slightly as he began to walk toward his destination. Reaching a bridge he had to get there and began walking up the crowded stairs.
'I wake up everyday is a daydream. Everything in my life ain't what it seem.'
The unusual but funky rap song was some nice background noise as he walked towards his destination. Vaguely he could hear Hank saying 'Your welcome' in the background.
'I wake up just to go back to sleep. I act too shallow but I'm in too deep.'
Making his way through the long bridge, walking past dozens of people going on with their lives in the busy bridge, the young man easily weaved through the crowds of people and made his way to the general store at the halfway point to the arcade.
'And all I care about is sex and violence. A heavy bass is my kind of silence.'
Moving at an even pace as the crowd slowly began to disperse when he reached the end of the bridge.
'Some people think I'm bonkers.'
Izuku paused as his spine shivered, he looked ahead and saw two familiar faces. Long Fingers and the fat guy with wings. If they were here…
'But I just think I'm free!'
"DEKU!" Izuku swore under his breath as he glanced back and saw Katsuki pushing through the crowd, three no-name cronies following him from behind.
'Man, I'm just livin my life!'
Izuku walked faster through the bridge, the cronies and Bakugo slowly closing in on him as he looked around for an avenue of escape.
'There's nothing crazy about me!'
His eyes locked on something, he glanced back and saw another two cronies come into view. 'His gang crew.'
'Some people pay for thrills.'
"DEKU YOU GREEN-HAIRED BASTARD! DON'T YOU FUCKING IGNORE ME!" He growled as Bakugo and the other almost had him corned.
'Man, I'm just livin my life.'
Nine of the putrid fuckers were almost on top of him. But he wasn't worried. They wouldn't catch him.
'There's nothing crazy about me!'
One of the delinquents then rushed him, Izuku taking off in a sprint as the song reached its peak.
'BONKERS'
Izuku jumped on the railing of the bridge before leaping off, landing on the roof of a nearby three-story building, without skipping a beat he jumped off onto the roof of another building and ran across the top of a wall. He then jumped onto the sidewalk below.
"DEKU! YOU PUSSY! GET BACK HERE!" He smirked as he heard Katsuki setting in rage, the constant stream of people making it impossible for the jerks to follow him.
He simply flicked the bird before walking away, the song continuing to play as the sweet sound of Bakugo's rage continued on behind him.
Izuku made it to the meeting point. A small strip mall he used to go hang out at when he was younger. His place to get away from the stress of life. Before Katsuki found it. The cracked concrete roads had seen better days and the building itself was slightly disheveled, a small layer of grime on the outer walls.
He shook his head at the memory. Ignoring it as he pulled out his phone and paused his music while taking out his earbuds. Stashing both objects in his pocket he began to look for the person he was going to meet up with. He just hoped she found her way here
"Izuku-kun!" He tensed up slightly before relaxing as Ochako ran over to him, a big smile on her face. She wore a pink hoodie with a black skirt and leggings. The girl stopped right next to him.
Oh great, it's the bitch. Izuku felt a surge of rage rise up inside him as he almost insulted Hank. But stopped when Ochako wrapped her arm around his, the sudden contact-making his heart beat faster.
You gonna stand there or say something?
"H-Hi Ochako-San. Glad you made it" Izuku greeted warmly as she stood right next to him, her smile transitioning into a small pout.
"Hey, call me Uraraka-chan. Ok?" She said with a small hint of finality as Izuku felt his cheeks heat up.
"B-But I-" He was interrupted when she elbowed him slightly. A small grin on her face.
"Come on Izuku-Kun. You're my friend!" She said truthfully, a genuine smile on her face.
"Alright… Uraraka-Chan." The smile on her face grew wider. Izuku found his own smile growing.
"Now come on Izuku-Kun. Let's get something to eat before going around."
"Sounds good. I know a place that has some good burgers. It's… a favorite place of mine." Izuku said bashfully.
I can never understand how you like that garbage.
"Well if you like it then it's gotta be good. Lead the way Izuku-Kun."
Seems like your date has even worse taste then.
Izuku ignored Hank and nodded and walking with his arm looped around Uraraka's, they made their way to the only restaurant in the small strip mall, a 1950s American style dinner. It was also the cleanest building in the mall.
'GIL'S BURGERS AND FRIES'
"Looks neat." Ochako said to herself as the two reached the restaurant. Izuku holding the door open for his friend.
"Thanks." Uraraka said as they entered, the smell of oil and food entered both of their noses. The scent was particularly strong for Izuku because of his enhanced senses.
As soon as the two walked in, a large hulking and bald gray-skinned man in the kitchen stopped and looked at Izuku, a smile forming on his face. The titular Gil himself.
Yeah… that guy.
"IZUKU! MY Second best customer!" The man said as he walked out of the kitchen and towards the two. The American man is easily taller than Izuku, standing at 6'8.
"My god you've grown big! I remember when you were just a tiny squirt!" The man joked as he slapped Izuku's shoulder, the young man smiling fondly. Gil's was a comfortable place for him, the man was like an uncle to him.
"Hey Gil! It's been a small while."
"Been half a year! At the rate you're growing, you'll be bigger than me!" The jovial man joked before noticing Ochako, towering over the girl.
"Ah! Forgive my manners, little lady didn't see you there. I'm Gilliam Herbert the Fifth."
"Nice to meet you Gil-Sama!" Ochako said with an equal amount of energy.
"Gil, this is my friend Uraraka-Chan. I wanted to show her around." Izuku said as the two bowed to each other in greeting.
"Fantastic. I'm glad to have you both in my little corner of the world. Both of you sit down. I'll take your orders personally in a bit."
"Gil you don't hav-" Izuku was interrupted by the large cook.
"Nonsense. You're like a son to me kiddo. You kids relax." Gil said before turning and making it towards the kitchen before any further argument could be made.
Izuku wanted to say something but Uraraka just grabbed his hand. Causing the boy to tense up slightly.
"Come on Izuku-Kun!" Izuku instantly relented and followed the girl towards an empty table near the windows. Izuku and Ochako sitting across from each other, Uraraka admiring the restaurant. She paused when she spotted various pictures lining the walls. Particularly the pictures of the previous Gils.
"They look… interesting." Uraraka said with a small shrug as Izuku looked at the photos, and now that he looked at it… he noticed something.
Every Gil looked almost the exact same. Like each Gil was a clone of the last one, only one thing changed between each Gil.
The first Gil was green. The second one had a mustache. The third one had an eyepatch. The fourth Gil looked the most… average. With the fifth Gil being bulkier than the others.
But something else quickly caught his eyes, other photos that he never noticed before. Pictures of him in his vigilante costume… pictures of the wraith. Caught on the restaurant's security camera.
Woah. I'm getting a serious sense of Deja vu. This guy really is related to Gil.
Before Izuku could ask what Hank mean, Gil returned, a comically small notebook and pencil in his massive hands along with two menus. Handing one of the Menus to Uraraka, but not to Izuku. When Izuku was about to ask, Gil just shook his head.
"I already know what you want, little guy. I'll come back around with your food and ask the lady what she wants. But before I go." Gil then seemingly pulled out a wraith action figure from nowhere.
Sweet mother of god.
"Could I interest either of you in a limited edition wraith action figure?" The giant asked with a smile on his face. Izuku looked at the toy bug-eyed, he had to fight every instinct in his body for his jaw not to drop.
"Sure." Uraraka said jovially as Izuku's jaw then dropped in disbelief.
Typical.
Izuku shook his head as Gil handed the action figure to Uraraka. "You don't gotta pay me a dime. I insist." Ochako was slightly surprised but grabbed the toy anyway.
"Thank you." She said, Gil nodded in response.
"No biggie. Now, what do you both wanna drink?" Gil asked as Izuku continued to look at the toy in disbelief.
Are you fucking slow?! Act natural!
Izuku mentally slapped himself as Uraraka looked at him, slightly worried.
"You ok Izuku-Kun?" Before the former vigilante could respond Gil laughed.
"Don't worry about him. Probably saw a ghost." Gil said with a shit-eating grin and a wink. As if he knew something nobody else did.
Izuku glared at him while Uraraka looked slightly confused. Her eyes shifted gaze from the fry cook to the almost homicidal-looking teenager.
Mustering all of his willpower Izuku schooled himself. "I'll have Bepsis." He said while looking away, slightly embarrassed.
Gil nodded while Ochako raised an eyebrow. "I guess I'll have some Kiki-Kola."
Gil nodded, writing both down. "Gotcha. You kids have fun, I'll be right back with your drinks."
The massive man left the two alone, Uraraka looked at the action figure in her hands before storing it in her hoodie's pocket. Izuku forced himself not to sigh in relief.
Look at fuckin James Bond over here.
The former vigilante had to stifle a groan.
"Hey. Are you alright?" His attention was then focused on Uraraka who looked at him with concern.
"I. Uh. Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just… surprised you liked that vigilante guy." Izuku managed to say, falling over himself just a little bit.
Smooth.
"You mean The Wraith?" Ochako said, her eyes lighting with a small bit of joy. "I think he's really cool. Same with other vigilantes. They sacrifice everything to help people without wanting fame or money."
She looked away while blushing slightly. "It's weird to say it out loud but… I always thought of vigilantes as the best kinds of heroes."
Huh… She seems cool.
'But I thought-'
Don't think about it.
Izuku mentally sighed, ignoring Hank as he focused his attention on the girl in front of him. Quickly thinking up a response.
"I… I think I agree." Izuku paused for a moment, nervously rubbing his hands together.
"While I respect vigilantes for risking their lives without wanting any benefit. But… they're still breaking the law." The former vigilante and current hypocrite said with a straight face.
Real rich coming from you.
Izuku continued to ignore Hank while Uraraka thought for a moment.
"Maybe." She said with a shrug. "I still think they're cool." She said with a small giggle.
Izuku smiled slightly while nodding. But before he could say anything, Gil came out of seemingly nowhere holding two trays with ease. On one tray was a ludicrous amount of food, with the other holding five soda cups.
Uraraka looked at the two trays bug-eyed as she looked at the literal mountain of wrapped up burgers and fries on the tray. Izuku tried to keep calm as he realized that the food on the tray was exactly what he usually ordered when he was the wraith.
Once Gil placed the first tray in front of him, the receipt had something written on it that shocked the former vigilante.
'Your secret is safe with me. Also, I'm selling merchandise based on you and I'm not going to give you any money because I trademarked these toys.'
Izuku looked at the note utterly baffled, he then glanced up at Gil who just gave a vague shrug as a reply. Uraraka did not notice the silent exchange as she continued to look at the massive pile of burgers and fries in front of her.
"Alright. So what do you want, little lady?" Gil asked, which caused Uraraka to be knocked out of her trance as she looked at the musclebound fry cook.
"Uh. A chicken sandwich, please." She said as the fry cook nodded.
"Gotcha. Chicken sandwich comin up. I'll be right back." Gil then spun on his heel and walked away before anything else could be said.
… Wait, what the fuck just happened?
'I-I don't know. B-But he knows-'
I know he knows but how the fuck does he know!? Ya know?
'I… Maybe he recognized my voice?'
Maybe. But enough about that. Focus on your date bozo.
Izuku blinked and noticed Uraraka holding a cup of soda, what he assumed to be the kiki-cola she ordered.
"So uh. You sure do eat a lot. Does it relate to your quirk?" She asked, gesturing to the large pile of food. Izuku blushed in embarrassment.
"Yeah. It's a side effect of my quirk, not the main aspect of it." He quickly explained, Uraraka instantly understanding.
"My quirk is… it's basically enhancing my body; it allows me to be in peak physical condition while also bypassing the natural limiters of the human body by making my bones stronger and my muscles more densely corded. It also allows me to think at a faster rate than the average person and complete advanced equations and learn skills at a faster rate and… "
Izuku continued talking rapidly about the various aspects of his quirk, and how it affects his body. Uraraka, while overwhelmed, listened patiently. A small smile on her face once she was able to keep up.
Hey. Slow down a little bit. Your speed muttering again.
Izuku stopped dead in his tracks when he heard Hank speak up. His mind lagged for a moment before he realized what happened.
"O-O-Oh! I-I'm S-Sorry I-I" Izuku stammered out while Uraraka looked slightly panicked, waving her hands slightly as she tried to calm him down.
"Oh no! It's fine! It's fine!" She said, a calm smile on her face as Izuku looked completely embarrassed.
Hey, hey. Slow down. Take a deep breath, and take a sip of your soda. Alright?
Izuku nodded, taking a deep breath as he grabbed one of the cups of Bepsis and took a long gulp of the soda through the straw. Once he placed the cup back down he was calmer.
"I'm sorry. I tend to… talk really fast sometimes." Izuku said with a nervous chuckle. "My brain fires too quickly and my mouth has trouble keeping up."
"Oh no, it's fine. I totally get it!" Uraraka said in an upbeat manner.
"And don't apologize, I'm not going to berate you for something you can't control. Besides, you seem really passionate about quirks and stuff. Are you training to be a quirk analyst?" She asked sincerely.
"I… I've considered it in the past." Izuku admitted while rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "But… It's always been my dream to be a hero."
"Really?" Uraraka asked, her smile growing wider. Izuku was somewhat taken aback but nodded anyway. Suddenly Uraraka leaned forward and grabbed Izuku's hand, the girl seemingly ecstatic. Izuku blushed slightly.
Well isn't she forward.
"I'm planning to be a hero too! We could be partners once we both graduate." Uraraka paused, letting go of Izuku's hand as the boy's blush lessened.
"Which hero school do you plan on going to?" The jovial girl asked.
"Uh. I'm going to try and get into U.A." Izuku answered honestly. The answer caused Uraraka to grow even more ecstatic if it was possible.
"I'm trying for U.A too! I hope to see you there. Hopefully, we'll be in the same class. That way we can be hero friends." Uraraka said with a small giggle.
"I-I hope to see you there too. And I'd love to be hero friends." Izuku said earnestly. A giddy and warm feeling spread through his chest as he began to smile in full.
'My second real friend!'
"Am I interrupting something?" Both teens jumped in their seats when Gil spoke up, Izuku looking at the fry cook shocked that the man was able to seemingly appear and reappear at random. Uraraka was just generally confused by Gil's existence as well as his particular set of skills.
Jesus fuck. This guy really is related to Gil! The fucker would snoop by my house almost undetected all the time. The only reason I never killed the fucker is that he always gave me a lot of money.
'Wait really? This is too weird. It doesn't make sense. Gil always seemed off but… it doesn't explain how he's able to do this now?'
I guess it's just one of those things that'll be important later in the story.
'W-What!? What the- What the fuck are you talking about!?'
Don't question it.
Completely baffled, Izuku just remained silent as Gil placed a tray in front of Ochako, which contained a wrapped chicken sandwich, a bottle of ketchup and mustard. And a carton of fries.
"Oh. Thank you." Uraraka said earnestly. Izuku glanced at Gil in a mix of suspicion and confusion.
"Think nothing of it, little lady. I'll leave you two alone to eat now. You kids enjoy." Gil said as he quickly turned on his heel and left in a hurry.
Izuku unwrapped one of his many burgers and unwrapped it, eating the whole thing in three massive bites. Loving every second of it.
"Oh, man. So good." Izuku muttered while eating another burger in three bites, Uraraka unwrapped her own sandwich as she tried not to look at Izuku scarfing down his food.
"So uh. You seem to be enjoying yourself there." Uraraka said before taking a bite of her sandwich.
Izuku nodded while sipping from one of his sodas. "Yeah, I've been going to this place since I was really young. My mom came here all the time when she was pregnant with me." Izuku said before eating a handful of fries.
"You know they tried to shut this place down a small while ago? Don't know why." He said offhandedly. Uraraka looked slightly uneasy.
While the food was good, really good; she had to be sure. So she looked at the window and then sighed in relief at the 'B' ranking the restaurant was given.
With her taking another bite of the sandwich, the flavors were almost like a party in her mouth. The experience of eating food this good was what made her understand her friend's love for this restaurant.
"Wow! This food is good. How do they do it?" She asked aloud, both she and Izuku pondering the question.
Gil walked through the kitchen without making a sound, none of the cooks daring to gaze upon him. The man carried about him an almost unnatural presence. When he entered his office at the back of the kitchen, he closed the door behind him and locked it.
The room itself was simple, with only a desk and a computer in the middle. Gil strode past the desk and towards a small hole in the wall. Reaching into the abyss of nothingness he pulled out a key made from the finger bones of things long dead and inserted it into the hole.
Gil phased out of reality as he traversed the umbral plains of the other place. The souls of the damned begging for release from their eternal torment. Their pleas fell on deaf ears as Gil began to phase into a new realm.
A small room made entirely of darkness and despair. Also known as the broom closet. But instead of brooms, in the middle was a large pentagram. The sta marking all four elements. Around the pentagram were lines of Hebrew scripture carved on the edge of it.
Closing his eyes and touching his forehead with one hand and placing the other hand on his chest. He began the invocation.
"Cahf ah nafl mglw'nafh hh' ahor syha'h ah'legeth, ng llll or'azath syha'hnahh n'ghftephai n'gha ahornah ah'mglw'nafh"
Inside the pentagram sparks of nexus energy began to form. Strange hues of red, purple, and blue all fighting each other for dominance.
"Irae Unum Ra'Ga'ies. Invoco te." Gil's voice began to distort as the swirling nexus energy began to take form, the color becoming a dark yellow as a thing beyond mortal comprehension took shape.
A swirling mass of scared and maimed hands formed from the warped energy. The hands interlocked and weaved together as they formed into a humanoid shape.
Two hands bulged open as human eyes pushed out of the palms, looking at the burger flipper with disdain.
"Who are you, that dares awaken me?" The nexus entity growled out, its voice reverberating across the room before attempting to advance on Gil. Only to be stopped as a barely visible barrier halted it in its tracks.
Looking down at the pentagram the entity grew angrier. "Damnable warlock." The entity spat out.
"What do you want, insect?"
"Well, that's rather simple." Gil started with a full smile. "I want you to ensure that my food is top of the line and is the best in the city." Gil then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small orb.
"This here contains all the souls of the bureaucrats and Colombian officials my grandpappy killed when he was a drug baron. I trust this is sufficient payment." Gil finished with a winning smile and a wink.
The Nexus Entity, a being that had first formed 50,000 years ago when humanity began to expand and develop. Born from the collective consciousness of human souls and having made pacts with thousands of warlocks. A being like itself that was so powerful it could rival the auditor himself. So for the first time in its life, it was absolutely befuddled.
"What?"
-/-
"Guess we'll never know." Izuku said with a shrug as he finished his last carton of fries. "It's good though so it doesn't matter."
Uraraka nodded in agreement as she finished her own sandwich. Grabbing her cola and dowing the soda. Once she was done she sighed contently as Izuku finished his last burger and drank his last soda.
"That was good. Thanks for telling me about this place." Uraraka told Izuku, her tone grateful.
"Oh. Y-Your welcome." Izuku replied, just glad she liked the food.
"You kids enjoying yourselves?" Both teens jumped in their seats when Gil suddenly appeared at their table. A full smile on his face.
"Uh… Yes! I enjoyed the food very much, Gil-Sama." Uraraka said respectfully, but slightly uneasy at the man's general vibe. Izuku, and only for a brief moment, felt like he was in mortal danger. But that one moment was enough.
'We gotta go.'
Agreed.
"The food was good, like always." Izuku said evenly, maintaining eye contact with Gil. "Come Uraraka-Chan. Let's go." His words caused her to blink in confusion.
"Oh. Right now?" She asked.
"Well. There are other places I wanted to show you. Besides, it's on the house." He reasoned while glancing at Gil. The man didn't visibly react, just continued to smile.
"Uh. If you say so." She turned to Gil. "Thank you for the meal Gil-Sama."
"Oh don't worry about it Lil lady." Gil said with a chuckle. "Besides, you're doing me a favor by lookin after my second favorite customer. Kid needed some friends." Gil said with a wink.
It was then that Izuku grabbed Uraraka's hand and began to leave with her. "Thanks for the food Gil. See you around." He said coolly as they both left the restaurant. Uraraka looked at Izuku in faint amusement, after all, she was the only person that could see the embarrassed blush on his face.
Bajezzus. The Gil I knew was a dick. But that guy was just straight-up spooky.
'Yeah. And to think I've never noticed before… What should we do?'
Nothing. You're not a vigilante any more moss head. No more ass-kicking. Even if I hate that order, it's still an order and we've gotta obey it.
'But-'
"So, where to next?" She asked while bumping into Izuku, the sudden contact causing him to get knocked out of his thoughts.
"Uh." He got out before getting himself back under control. "There's a small place we can go to. It's just right over there." Izuku said before pointing to another part of the strip mall, a small arcade and manga store called 'Otakufest'.
The sign glowing bright with red and blue neon, the outside of the store had dozens of posters plastered on the windows depicting various heroes and manga covers.
Uraraka raised an eyebrow. "Certainly seems like a 'you' kind of place." She joked.
Izuku bashfully rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, it's a favorite of mine."
Uraraka let go of his hand and bumped into him playfully. "Well if you like it, it has to be good." She said with a cheeky smile. "Come on!"
She said before walking towards the arcade with a small pep in her step. Izuku followed close behind.
Once the two entered they found a small crowd of people, most playing video games in the expansive arcade while others were in the store. Buying merchandise, manga, and American comics. The store itself had the vibes of a 1980s arcade, with the rugs having brightly colored patterns on them and the walls being painted a bright purple.
At the entrance were a couple of token dispensers. Izuku pulled out a fifty yen note before sliding it into the dispenser as Uraraka looked the place over.
"Ooh!" Uraraka exclaimed with excitement as she pointed at one game in the center. 'Black Raven: Bloody Doom'
"Let's play that one first!" She said as Izuku got the tokens and put them in his pocket.
Before he could even say anything Uraraka grabbed his hand and practically dragged him over to the arcade game. He let it happen but he was still surprised by her strength.
Once they made it over to the machine Izuku got a good look at it. It looked to be a rail shooter, with the 'guns' looking like bulky heavy assault rifles. A button on the side of what looked like a grenade launcher was attached to the rifle.
But he couldn't help and notice the imagery of brutal viscera and monsters on the side. And the gameplay of 'gibbing' the various monsters with a multitude of weapons.
"This is a uh… I didn't expect you to like these kinds of games." Izuku said, which caused Ochako to pout slightly.
"What? It's cool." She defended as she picked up one of the guns. Izuku smiled and looked at the game again.
"Yeah, it does look cool." He said before inserting four tokens, which caused the game to start.
{"Fresh Victims of the ever-growing army of the undead. Start the game if you dare."} The machine said, the voice sounded gravelly and psychotic.
Without hesitation, Uraraka pressed the 'player 1' button. Stars in her eyes.
{"Ready player one. Get ready to rip and tear."}
Ew. She's a gamer.
'Hank, I'm a gamer.'
Then shut up and press play already.
Izuku mentally sighed before pressing 'player two'.
{"Ready player two. You're both dead, neither of you knows it yet.} The voice rang out one last time.
Hmm. Ya know. This guy sounds vaguely familiar.
Izuku raised an eyebrow but ignored the assassin.
The screen went to black as the game loaded in. After a moment the screen changed to that of a massive graveyard of corpses, a large castle off in the distance. When suddenly, two undead soldiers clad in some kind of black combat armor rose from the grave.
{"Find the Necromancer's castle and kill the son of a bitch. Who you are isn't important, just go out and kill things."}
The game then started. The screen moved forward as the first few monsters showed up. Decrepit-looking zombies armed with axes and machetes.
Without even thinking Izuku began to fire at the horde of zombies on the right while Uraraka fired at the monsters on the left.
The zombies exploded into chunks of gore after they were killed, some being torn in half while others were turned into a pile of bleeding holes. And within moments the zeds were dead.
They continued one, moving on to the next part of the graveyard. Where they encountered more zombies as well as some walls for cover. It was then that Izuku noticed the pedal on the button part of the machine. Uraraka already had her foot on her pedal. Izuku placed his foot down on his pedal as other zombies armed with guns started to fire at them.
Quickly ducking into cover as the automatic fire kept their heads down. The zombies with melee weapons slowly shambled closer. Both Uraraka and Izuku shared a look before they popped out of cover.
Izuku shot a grenade at the melee zombies while Uraraka mowed down the ones with guns. Blood and Guts decorated the floor in the aftermath.
The cycle continued as they continued one. More undead waited for them, greeting the pair with a hail of lead as the massive horde of axe-wielding zombies shambled closer.
And once again they shot at the horde of undead, their health slowly whittling away. But Izuku noticed a glowing weapon that one of the enemies dropped. A minigun. He shot the gun, which then instantly equipped it to him.
'Oh… Yeah.'
'BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT'
He opened fire, the minigun spinning for a moment before spewing lead death. Most of the zeds were torn in half by the constant stream of the devastation wrought by the minigun.
Uraraka grinned slightly at the devastation as she took care of the stragglers with precise headshots.
At the end of the battle, Uraraka got an LMG from one of the downed soldiers. And with their superior firepower they continued on to the next arena and mowed down the hordes of the undead.
They continued to mow them down in four more arenas before they ran out of ammo for the guns and found themselves in a town, just before the castle.
Uraraka grinned in excitement while Izuku retained a stoic expression on his face. And once they entered the village they were almost instantly surrounded by more undead and what looked like demons too. The demons flinging fireballs at them, both of them barely getting into cover.
They waited for a moment before they popped out and fired at the demons first. Izuku used his last grenades to wipe out the undead while Uraraka wiped out the demons.
They repeated this process while wiping out the rest of the monsters in the small town. Using their combined fire to take out the last of the supernatural army. The town itself was torn apart from the constant fighting.
"That was intense." Ochako said as she wiped off some imaginary sweat before giggling slightly. Izuku smiled before turning his razor-focused attention back on the screen.
"Yeah. But we've still got-" Izuku was cut off by the sudden appearance of a large stone-colored demon. The being snarled at them viciously as a health bar filled in above the demon.
{"Boss Battle."}
Both of them began to fire at the demon, whittling away at its health bar as it began to chase them. The screen shifted away from the demon as it threw massive fireballs and tried to swipe at them.
With every attack it launched it revealed a weak spot that the two took advantage of, dealing massive damage as the fight continued.
When suddenly the demon's eyes glowed a bright red. The beat shooting out a torrent of fire from its eyes, the stream hitting Izuku's character dead on. Killing him almost instantly.
{"Player two. Dead. Boohoo."}
"Ah. Dang it." Izuku muttered to himself as he set the gun back into its spot as Uraraka continued to fire at the demon. But her retaliation was short-lived when the demon swiped and hit her.
{"Player One. Dead. When will the hurting stop?"}
"Ah." Uraraka slumped in defeat. Izuku patted her on the back to try and cheer her up.
"Don't let it get to you." Izuku said before spotting the skee ball game. An idea formed in his head.
"Hey… Hey! Why don't we play some skee ball?" Izuku said once the idea came to fruition. "We could uh, compete. Whoever gets the most points wins."
Uraraka grinned slightly. "Oh you're on!" She said as the two walked towards the skee ball machines.
Once they made it Izuku inserted four tokens into the slot, causing the game to boot up.
"Just a fair warning. I've pretty much mastered this game." Izuku said, which caused Uraraka's eyebrow to raise.
"That so? Well why don't you show me how it's done?" Uraraka said with a giggle. Izuku grinned slightly as he picked up some of the skee balls.
"You sure? Cause I was gonna go easy on you."
Uraraka rolled her eyes. "Come on big man. Dazzle me with your skill."
Izuku chuckled. "Alright, You asked for it. Prepare to be destroyed." He said as he tossed one ball into the air before catching it. He then threw the ball in an underhand motion, watching as it zoomed across the slide and bounced when it hit the ramp.
The ball then bounced again on the sidewall before it landed almost perfectly into the 100 point hole.
Uraraka's eyes bulged slightly at seeing the almost effortless ease at which her friend scored.
"Eh!" She said as Izuku scored yet another 100 with extreme ease. And in reply Izuku simply shrugged.
"Like I said. I'm a master."
You better be grateful I lent you my Skee ball skills.
'I think it was a combined effort. I was already good at the game, you just… helped.'
Yeah. No.
Izuku and Ochako walked toward the ticket booth, Izuku holding a large bundle of tickets in his hand. Uraraka had a smaller bundle than her friends.
Izuku set the tickets down on the counter, an almost childish gleam in his eyes.
The clerk behind the counter had a reptilian, almost alligator-like head. His eyes widened at the large number of tickets he had been given.
"I'll have a limited edition, Voltron defender of the universe ring." The massive geek known as Midoriya said. "Please." He quickly added.
"And I'll have a… 13 plush." Uraraka said as she placed down her own tickets.
The man nodded as he grabbed the tickets and placed them aside while fetching the two objects.
As the clerk did so Izuku stared at the ring with stars in his eyes. "Had my eye on this for a while."
The clerk stood back up and held the ring with an almost holy reverence as he handed it to Izuku.
Almost treating it as if it was a coronation for becoming the next emperor.
"You are now the proud and regal protector of the planet Arus." The clerk said in an almost proud tone as Izuku silently geeked out. The clerk then handed Uraraka her plush.
"And you, now have a cute plush." The clerk said. Uraraka smiled as she held the plushie tight.
Holding their new prizes the duo left the counter in search of new games to play. As they walked Izuku slipped on his new ring, a big grin on his face.
Suddenly Uraraka wrapped her arm around his while pointing at something excitedly. Izuku followed her gaze and found… Vance Vance Revvvalation. Izuku looked absolutely befuddled at the game.
A dance game with a guy with a chainsaw for a head as its mascot.
A man with a chainsaw for a head. A chainsaw man. Who was dancing on the screen. For some reason, there were also lollipops in his hands.
Suspending his confusion with the realization that it hardly was the weirdest thing he ever had to deal with. Given the fact that a literal ghost lived in his head.
In the current circumstances, I don't take offense to that.
'Thanks.'
No problem. Now stop staring blankly at nothing.
Izuku blinked; realizing he had indeed been staring at the game blankly. He then noticed Uraraka looking at him in concern.
"Are you alright? You're spacing out a lot."
"U-uh… Y-Yeah! I'm alright. I'm just." Izuku rubbed the back of his head. "I don't… really know how to dance." He said truthfully, almost embarrassed.
"Oh. That's fine." Uraraka replied with a smile. "This game is more about agility and coordination than actual dancing. I'm sure you've got this." She said to reassure him.
Izuku looked at the dance game with hesitation before nodding. "Yeah, I've got this. How hard can it be?"
Izuku felt like he was going to die. His lungs burned and his eyes could not at all keep up with the arrows flashing on the screen.
Each move he did was sloppy as he missed each and every beat in continuous succession.
How are you this bad!?
'I don't know! Leave me alone!'
Unlike her friend, Uraraka was able to easily keep up with the hard dancing game. Only slipping up once or twice, moving fluidly with each step. Almost as if she was actually dancing as she pulled off moves that added to the notion she was dancing.
'Oh wait, she is actually dancing.' Izuku thought to himself.
"Having trouble?" She asked him as she continued to keep up with the rhythm of the game.
"I-Uh… Yeah." He muttered out as the game came to an end. Urarka patted him on the back. They stepped off, Uraraka thinking for a moment
"I… I'm sorry." She squeaked out. "I just thought… you said you had enhanced… everything so I thought that-"
"O-Oh no. It's fine it's-"
"No!" She protested. "It's not fine, I shouldn't have assumed and I probably embarrassed you." She said while tapping her fingers together nervously. Izuku's heart squeezed slightly at the sight. He then sighed before patting her on the shoulder. The contact caused her to look at him.
"It's fine Uraraka-San. Trust me when I say, I've been through worse." Izuku said, briefly flashing back to all the times he got beaten up.
Uraraka looked at him with concern in her eyes. "Alright." She said softly.
Izuku thought for a moment. "Hey, there's an ice cream store a small bit away."
Uraraka's eyes lit up. "Do they have mochi?"
Izuku smiled. "Yeah, they have mochi."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Izuku waved goodbye as Urarka's train departed, the girl waving goodbye back through the train window. The young man smiled fondly, he was happy. The first time in who knows how long he got to just… relax, and hang out with a friend.
It was nice.
Izuku put both his hands in his pocket and walked away from the train station. Making his way back home.
Well, that lasted far longer than it should have.
'What's your problem Hank?' Izuku scowled. 'Now that I think about it, you've been acting strange. You don't like Uraraka but you constantly try to help me when I'm with her. Why?'
Why? I'll tell ya why, I don't like watching you bumble around like a dumbass when talking with some girl. It physically pains me.
Izuku scoffed. 'Glad to know you care.'
Yeah yeah. Fuck you too. Also, before I forget. We'll start training again, nothing too major. Just some basic weapons stuff.
The hero in training nodded. It sounded reasonable.
'Alright, that's fine by me.' Izuku replied as he made it to his apartment. Opening the door he found his mom watching some novella.
"Hey mom." Izuku said with a small wave, she waved back and smiled.
"Hey, did you have a good time with your friend?"
"Yeah, I had a good time. Gonna prepare some stuff. Love you mom." He replied before walking up the steps to his room, Inko nodding as she returned to her novellas.
Entering his room Izuku kicked off his shoes and sat down on his chair, thinking about something. He opened a drawer on his desk and pulled out the ledger he had gotten so long ago. Holding the book in his hands he opened it, looking through each and every name he crossed out. All except one, the last person on the ledger. A person with no name and no address. Just the money transferred.
Hey. What do you think you're doing?
'I'm thinking.'
Well, do less of that. It's movie night, remember? I've got another classic to show you.
Izuku smiled at the assassin's giddy tone of voice.
"Alright." Izuku muttered as he booted up his computer, the All Might wallpaper greeting him. He then pulled up his browser and a totally legitimate streaming site.
"So what's the movie?"
You're gonna love this one. It's called Robocop.
Opening his eyes he found himself in an all too familiar gray warehouse. Izuku looked down and saw that familiar gray jumpsuit that he usually wore when he trained with Hank.
Speaking of, the Assassin stepped in from seemingly nowhere.
"Waddup kid. Ready?" Hank asked, the assassin holding two training katanas made of wood.
"Yes sensei." Izuku replied, standing at the ready. Hank smirked under his mask before he tossed one of the wooden katana towards Izuku.
The ever receptive disciple caught the weapon with ease. Holding it calmly.
"Alright, The katana will be the first actual sword I'll teach you how to use since you already know how to use batons and short blades. We'll start off slow."
Izuku nodded as he gripped his katana by the handle tightly with both hands.
"First, put some distance between your feet, right foot back and left foot front. Once you've got that, bend your knees a little. That's good." Hank pondered something before standing next to his student.
"Now shadow me." Hank said Izuku nodding. The assassin perfectly fell into his default stance. He then raised his katana almost over his head before sliding his right foot forward. Izuku mimicking his teacher's movements.
"Now tilt your blade at a forty-five-degree angle… And Slash." Both of their blades came down in almost perfect unison.
"Good, now back to form." Izuku and Hank reverting to the default stance, Izuku glancing at Hank every now and then to make sure he was doing it right.
"Watch me one more time then do it on your own."
The student nodded as they practiced the moves one more time. Izuku shadowed Hank with each step they took. Ending with a slash.
"Now do it on your own."
Izuku nodded and repeated what Hank had told him to do. Moving slowly as he performed the steps. As soon as he finished the process Hank hummed to himself.
"That wasn't horrible. Do it again and this time use your hips to add extra torque to your swing."
"Ah. Yes Sensei!" Izuku replied, redoing the steps and using his hips to add extra power to the slash.
"Better. Now we'll move onto some more advanced stuff and-" Hank suddenly stopped, looking off into the distance.
"On second thought, we'll continue tomorrow night. Get some rest kid."
Izuku looked at Hank in confusion. "But-"
Hank waved his arm and suddenly Izuku was woken back up. The boy looked around in confusion at Hank's sudden dismissal of him.
"Hank?" He asked aloud.
No response.
The hero in training sighed and rubbed his eyes.
'What the hell just happened?'
Hank looked at the spot Izuku had been standing in for a moment before grumbling and turning around.
"What the fuck do you want this time?" Hank growled out impatiently. Glaring at 2BDamned.
"It's quite simple Hank. I want a status report, and I also want to know why it's taking you so long." The doctor asked simply.
"Well, that's pretty obvious. I'm too busy plowing your sister. Now fuck off and let me do my job."
"... Do I have to remind you of your place Wimbleton? Or is it that the most dangerous man in the world is getting attached?"
Hank glared at Doc, his goggles glowing brighter as two white spots began to form.
"Glare at me all you want Wimbleton, but we both know that you could have turned that boy into a killing machine."
Hank continued to glare at his superior officer. "Maybe. Maybe I couldn't have. Kid's stubborn as a mule." The assassin said evenly.
Doc glared back, his eyes narrowing. "That so?"
"Yeah. It is so. So hurry up and get back to boss man."
Doc scoffed. "Right, I'll let you goof around just a little longer. And only because of the old days. But if I detect so much as one fuck up. I'm booting you out of the A.A.A." Doc then left in a flash of nexus energy, leaving Hank alone.
The assassin stood still, rage filling him in waves. Curling his hands into fists as he almost reached his breaking point.
'Hank?'
He stopped, Hank breathed in deeply as he tried to get his rage under control. After a moment he stepped out. Transforming into a shade, sitting next to Izuku who was somewhat surprised at Hank's appearance. But that surprise quickly changed into worry.
"Are you ok Hank? You cut training off pretty abruptly."
"Yeah… Yeah I'm fine kiddo. Don't worry bout me. I'm pretty much the ultimate life form." Hank replied, imitating an edgy hedgehog with his last words. Causing Izuku to laugh slightly.
"Good to know. I'll keep that in mind next time I try to fight people in my pajamas."
"Hah. Yeah. You better." Shadow Hank paused, tapping his leg with his hand. "We'll train some more tomorrow, alright? Just rest for tonight."
Izuku looked like he was about to protest but nodded regardless.
"Alright. Uh. Good night Hank."
"... Yeah, good night kid."
Subject Midoriya should have been ready five months ago. Agent Wimbleton is stalling for time.
{Let him. Subject Midoriya, while promising, isn't a high priority target as of now. Focus on finding Christoff. He's the only one that can help with Project: Slayer.}
Affirmative. I'll keep tabs on Midoriya as a precaution.
{Noted.}
Yo, it's me. Cock man. And I just wanted to say, we're finally reaching the part where Izuku is about to get to UA. Next chapter is gonna be the entrance exam where he fight robits. And hey, Uraraka showed up! It only took 78k words. Lmfao.
Now that I actually have a general idea where I want to go with this fic that isn't just 'Woah, cool fights' I hope the quality of it also increases. But yeah, you sexy sons of bitches keep on doing what you're doing. Until next time.