Chapter 12: The First mission.
Italy, 5 miles from the front.
Izuku addresses a crowd of soldiers dressed in his ridiculous super-hero costume. He is ready to rally them up to victory. However, there is one problem. They hate him.
"How many of you ready to help me sock old Adolf on the jaw?" asked Izuku eagerly. However, he received only silence. They don't wanna to listen this kid who is trying to teach them about the war. "Okay. Uh… I need a volunteer."
"I already volunteered, kid! How do you think I got here? Bring back the girls!" answered one of hecklers. These words earned him a collective laugh and cheer from entire audience.
"I think they only know the one song. But um…let me…I'll…I'll see what I can do", stammered Midoriya. He is starts to get afraid of them. He don't know what to do.
"You do that, sweetheart", the same heckler said mockingly.
"Nice boots, Tinker Bell!" joked the second one, which causes the crowd of soldiers laugh.
"Come on, guys. We're all on the same team here", pleaded Izuku. He tries to calm them down reminding everyone that he is one of them. Unfortunately, that is far from truth and he knows it.
"Hey, Captain! Sign this!" screamed the third one. He stands and pulls his boot down and then throws at him. This encouraged every heckler to throw different things at him.
Fortunately, Izuku had a shield to protect himself from the falling objects. Seeing that he is not welcomed here, he just left the stage.
"Bring back the girls!" screamed the fourth heckler throwing a rock at him. Seeing that girls finally enters the stage, the crowd starts to cheer.
However Izuku is going away sad and tired. He don't blame this people for throwing objects at him. He understands them. These soldiers fought for people. And he just an actor who plays as a soldier. They have any rights to feel insulted.
"Don't worry, pal. They'll warm up to you. Don't worry", encouraged Gary thinking that it was just a minor setback.
'No. They wouldn't', Izuku thought. 'Why should they? They are risking their own life to win the war. And here comes me. A kid who tries to show them that he alone can win the entire thing. Well question for you Captain: then why you are here on stage, not on the front lines?'
Later, Izuku sits on the edge of the stage sketching as rain pours down in the background. He always drawing in his notebook when he is sad. Right now he finished the sketch of how he feels. Sketch of who he is. Sketch of Monkey riding a unicycle dressing in his suit. This day shows Izuku something that he denied many years. It's not his place. He is not one of them. And never would be.
"Hello, Izuku", suddenly greeted Peggy walking to him.
"Hi", he greeted nervously. He is happy that at least someone is pleased that he is here.
"Hi", she giggled. She didn't know how he can make her laugh with only words.
"What are you doing here?" Izuku asked. He is curious, wasn't she supposed to be in America.
"Officially I'm not here at all", Peggy answered smugly. As someone could stop her. Before her face made a sympathetic frown. "That was quite a performance.
"Yeah. Uh… I had to improvise a little bit. Crowds I'm used to are usually more uh… twelve", he agreed meekly. He wouldn't perform for some time. That's for sure.
"I understand you're "America's New Hope"?" she asked him.
"Bond sales take a ten percent bump in every state I visit", Izuku answered the same lie, which he told Todorokis. However, she knows that there is more than meets the eye.
"Is that Senator Brandt I hear?" she asked sharply.
"You think that I like doing this? Any actor could my job better than me. At least he's got me doing this. Phillips would have had me stuck in a lab", he answered in despair. He didn't want to tell her about his problems. And she makes him losing his walls.
"And these are your only two options? A lab rat or a dancing monkey?" Peggy continued to ask questions sharply while looking at his notebook seeing the drawing. She can't let him to mopping around and do nothing when he can do many things. She is gonna wake him up. "You gonna let people decide for you all your life? You gonna let them to push you around? Dr. Erskine chose you for a reason. You gonna let him down? You were meant for more than this, you know?"
When she mentioned Erskine Izuku wanted to scream at her face what he thinks of her. However, he stops himself. Why he should scream? She is right about him. He always letting people step on him. He should fight. But how could he? He is a coward. Seeing sad frown on his face makes Peggy ask a question, "What?"
"You know for the longest time since I was a kid I dreamed about coming overseas and being on the front lines. Serving my country. Protecting innocents with a brave smile. Being a hero for a world. I finally get everything I wanted, and I'm wearing tights", Izuku said telling her everything about his life, his dreams, his hope. He couldn't contain them inside himself anymore. His words touched her heart. She always saw men as greedy, shameless, dirty and cowardly egoists. However, Izuku is not one of them. He is kind, caring, brave and honest. And seeing him letting out of his thoughts, fears and worries made her understood why Abraham chose him. He maybe was small but he have the most biggest heart in the world.
However, their moment is interrupted by honking in the background as an ambulance arrives with wounded soldiers. They turn around to watch in horror. These people look like they are ready to die. How did it happened? Who did this? Seeing these men at the doorstep of death, Izuku couldn't help but said, "They look like they've been through hell."
"You almost right. These men more than most. Akaguro sent out a force to Azzano. Two hundred men went up against him and less than fifty returned. Your audience contained what was left of the one-oh-seventh. The rest were killed or captured", Peggy explained but she didn't noticed how Izuku's face lost all his color.
"The one-oh-seventh?" the moment she told him the number of the regiment Izuku paled. "But that's Shoto's…"
"What?" she asked frighten at seeing the paleness of Izuku.
Suddenly Izuku jumps out and running to the biggest tent. Peggy goes after him.
"Come on!" he encouraged her to come along. He can't wait any longer. This is important. He needs to know status of his best friend. Is he even alive?
Col. Phillips is tired today. All day he was writing condolence letters to people who lost their sons, husbands, brother and fiancés. They just never ending. That is a part of the war. Sacrifices are inevitable. He is mourned every soldier who died today. He couldn't know how this day could become worse.
"Colonel Phillips", called Izuku entering the tent with Peggy.
Right now this day had become worse than before.
"Well, if it isn't the Star-Spangled Teen With A Plan. Or a you a Man? And what is your plan today?" he asked sarcastically. He don't have a time or patience to play with this child-actor.
"I need the casualty list from Azzano", demanded Izuku. He didn't care what colonel thinks about him. Right now he have more important things. Like status of his best friend.
"You don't get to give me orders, son", Phillips said in anger. He didn't live so long to let actors to order him around. This kid thinks that he became so important and high. Well, he then will be the one to remind him his place in army.
"I just need one name. Sergeant Shoto Todoroki from the hundred and seventh", pleaded Midoriya desperately.
"You and I are gonna have a conversation later that you won't enjoy", Chester said to Peggy knowing that she didn't supposed to be here.
"Please, sir. Just tell me if he's alive, sir. T-O-D-O-R…" before Izuku could continue colonel interrupted him.
"I can spell", interrupted colonel before looking down at soorow and grief remembering captured soldiers. "I have signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count. But your friend's name is unique. It's impossible to miss him. I'm sorry."
"He is so young", said Izuku, who couldn't believe that his friend is probably in prison of enemy or worse dead. "He is a year older than me"
"Really? I thought you are the only one", col. Phillips commented. He always thought that Izuku is the only one who lies in his form. It means that he is not only one. "Why you kids can't enjoy the day in the playground and let adults do the work?"
"What about the others? Are you planning a rescue mission?" Izuku asked desperately. They couldn't let the people to sit in the prison like caged animals.
"Yeah! It's called winning the war", answered Chester breaking all Izuku's hopes.
"But if you know where they are, why not at least…?" asked Izuku demanding the answer.
"They're thirty miles behind the lines. Through the most heavily fortified territory in Europe. We'd lose more men than we'd save. There are so many risks", he interrupted Midoriya again explaining him the elementary things. "But I don't expect you to understand that, because you're a chorus girl. You know when you screamed at me in Brooklyn I started to see that you have balls. I could even let you join my regiment in some years later. However I see that you just decides to join a senator's circus and play propaganda around USA, showing people a lie. It shows that the army is not for you."
"I think I understand just fine", agreed Izuku with colonel.
"Well then understand it somewhere else. If I read the posters correctly, you got some place to be in thirty minutes", said Phillips going to his table.
However, he didn't saw as Izuku looking at map studying it completely. He always could remembers things very fast. And serum enhance this ability further. And he learnt where exactly is imprisoned people. In Austria.
"Yes, sir. I do", answered Midoriya before walking away. He knows that people waiting for him. And he knows where exactly he needs to be.
"If you have something to say, right now is the perfect time to keep it to yourself", said Col. Phillips to Peggy not even looking at her.
But she didn't cared at all. She is afraid for Izuku because she knows what he is planning.
When Izuku learned that they don't plans to save Shoto. He decides to take matters in his own hands. He will go to the Austria break into the HYDRA base and save his friend. No matter what.
"What do you plan to do? Walk to Austria?" asked Peggy entering the tent seeing how Izuku wearing brown coat and green trousers which fitting him good.
"If that's what it takes", simply answered Midoriya.
"You heard the Colonel, your friend is most likely dead", said Peggy trying to stop him.
"You don't know that. He could be alive", said Izuku trying to made his point.
"Even so, he's devising a strategy. If he detects…" she said only to be interrupted by him.
"By the time he's done that, it could be too late! If he is alive and I couldn't save him then I would never watch in the eyes of his family!" he screamed while walking out to a jeep. "You told me you thought I was meant for more than this. Did you mean that?"
"Every word", she answered honestly. "When I first met you. I thought that you were just a kid wanting for attention. But I saw how you were trying. You didn't let your weak body to stop yourself. You was fighting no matter how difficult it was for you. No matter that entire world are against you, you never gives up. And I finally understood why Erskine chose you. Because you have a biggest heart on the planet."
Her words puts Izuku in the stupor. Nobody ever told him such kind words and with such honesty. That's why putting his hands on her shoulders he said, "Then you gotta let me go."
"I know", Peggy said finally agreeing with Izuku.
They were staying at that place for some minute but for them it felt like eternity. They could staring at each other's eyes forever. And nothing could stop them. However some good things ending so fast.
"Hey, lovebirds!" shout of Mitsuki Bakugo startled them making them letting go of each other with faces blushing red. "Did I interrupt something?"
"N-no. Y-you d-didn't. T-there w-wasn't a-anything w-wrong", stuttered Izuku in nervous voice. "And what are you doing here? And how much did you heard?"
"I am here because you need my weapons and I am showing how they works", Mitsuki answered smugly. "And I heard everything."
"What are you gonna do to us?" asked Peggy already preparing for the worst.
"I want to help you", she answered surprising the two. "Riding on this rustbucket couldn't get you in time. I can send you two to Austria much faster."
"Why are you doing this?" asked Izuku. "What we are trying to do is treason. We would put you in danger."
"I don't care about rules, colonel or danger. I am doing things my way", Mitsuki explained. "But why I am doing this. I have my own reasons. Are you coming or not?"
Without the words, all three of them making their way to hangar. Meanwhile at the backstage, girls are getting ready for the next performance. However there some difficulties on the way.
"On stage, girls. Five minutes!" said Gary telling girls to hurry
"Where's my helmet?" asked one of the girls which couldn't find her helmet with 'A' on the forehead.
"Has anyone seen Midoriya?" asked Gary who want to know where the main star is.
Sorry, Gary. But Captain Midoriya on his first mission.
When Izuku and Peggy enters the hangar, they weren't surprised to found 5 planes made by Bakugo Industries. What surprised them that in the cockpit already sitting a man. They don't understood how Mitsuki find a pilot so fast.
However they hadn't time to guess as the plane suddenly fly to the sky. Right now they are sitting in the vehicle watching a map, trying to guess the location of HYDRA camp.
"The HYDRA camp is in Krausberg, tucked between these two mountain ranges. It's a factory of some kind", explained Peggy pointing at the map.
"We should be able to drop you right on the doorstep", commented Mistuki sitting at the second sit in the cockpit. "What do you think Masaru? Can you fly us there?"
Masaru Tingles is a man in his late twenties. Probably the same age as Mitsuki. He's average height and build who has short brown hair similar in style to Mitsuki, a short mustache and rectangular glasses. He is best aviation pilot in his generation. He was send to Bakugo Industries to test new planes for a war. That how he first met Mitsuki and they become friends. Despite being friends with Bakugo he is seems to be more calm and less prone to violence. He also don't like his username because for everybody it's hilarious.
"I am sorry, but it's too dangerous. We couldn't survive", answered Masaru.
"He is right. It's too risky. Just get me as close as you can", agreed Izuku before remembering about punishments they would get when they get back. "You know, you three are gonna be in a lot of trouble at the lab."
"And you won't?" asked Mitsuki from the cockpit.
"Where I'm going, if anybody yells at me I can just punch them", reassured Midoriya.
"They will undoubtedly shoot you", argued Peggy.
"Well, let's hope it's good for something" he commented knocking at his shield, which he took as a weapon. He knows that without a weapon, he wouldn't last a second there but he can't shoot to save his life. However, he can block the strikes using it. "Also I can't thank you enough for what you are doing for us Mr…"
"Masaru. Just call me Masaru. I am not so old", interrupted Masaru. "Mitsuki's friends are my friends. Also if we all survive how about we stop off in Lucerne for a night fondue next week?"
"Masaru is the best young pilot I've ever seen. He was sent to test our planes. That's how we met", Mitsuki said her history with him showing them that he is good at what he doing. "He's best to brave this airspace, we're lucky to have him."
"I am curious. How do you convince him to fly us there?" asked Peggy wishing to learn who will be mad enough to fly to the enemy's territory.
"I can be pretty convincible", Mistuki answered with smirk. Her smirk explains Peggy everything.
"So are you two…? Do you…? Fondue?" Izuku asked Mitsuki with red face. Apparently he thinks that this 'Fondue' is something indecent.
His question puts Masaru in confusion, Mitsuki in bewilderment and Peggy just ignores his awkward and confused rambling, thinking that she will explain Izuku everything when they get back. Before giving him a little box.
"This is your transponder. Activate it when you're ready and the signal will lead us straight to you", explained Peggy giving him a transponder.
"Are you sure this thing works?" he asked skeptically at the device.
"It's been tested more than you, pal", answered Mitsuki with smile.
However her happines was short as suddenly their plane is being bombarded. It's means that HYDRA noticed them and now attacking them.
"They're attacking us!" screamed Masaru alarmed. "We need to head back!"
"We can't! We are too close to the destination!" argued Mitsuki back.
"No! Masaru is right! You need to head back!" said Izuku loudly while putting on parachute.
Izuku now knows that they don't have much time. He needs to act now he then goes towards the opened door of the plane to jump.
"Get back here! We're taking you all the way in", said Peggy triyng to stop him from leaving the plane.
"No you don't. You are almost out of time", argued Midoriya back. He couldn't let any of them die only because they are helping him. "As soon as I'm free, you turn this thing around and get the hell outta here!"
"You can't give me orders!" she screamed desperately. She couldn't let him alone. He could die at the base.
"The hell I can't! I'm a Captain!" he argued back saying his final argument before jumping out of plane.
Peggy is standing at the same place as she watches Izuku who is falling down to the ground. Thankfully, he opens his parachute. The moment he said her the he is a captain she felt like he changes completely and she couldn't do anything but watch. The same thing happened back to the Brooklyn. She now get it. He did change. The moment he exit the pod he stops being shying stuttering little boy and become a man. She now believes that he will complete the mission.
Now it's time for his first mission.
