Ch. 3 Liam Harlo
In point five seconds Sam went from confused to straight-up terrified.
Did Mike send this guy? Was he an undercover cop? Were there any others around?
Sam's eyes darted around the cafe, a familiar buzz throughout her body. Adrenalin, most likely preparing itself to make like a rabbit and zip right out. She needed to get it under control. Freaking out would only solidify his assumptions. She needed to convince him she was nobody.
Inhale. Exhale.
Steeling herself, Sam went straight into the war zone.
"Sorry, but I think you have the wrong person."
"Actually, I'm pretty sure I don't," his smiles and cheerful attitude didn't waver " I was asking more out of formalities."
Sam shakes her head, "Do you have some sort of proof or something. Cause otherwise, I'm going to cut this short before I become a kidnapping case."
She starts to get up but pressure on her shoulder cuts her short. Out of reflex, she jumped back into the far part of the booth. The man had put his hands up, to which Sam glared at.
"Sorry, I can see you're unsure about this but," he shifts through the folder of papers, "I would appreciate just a moment of your time."
A piece of paper with a photo was pushed towards Sam. The girl came face to face with herself. The name 'Samantha Windsor' was printed right next to her photo. Bright and clear
Well damn.
The stranger had a halfhearted smile, "I know this seems strange, but-" he rubbed the back of his neck, "can I sit."
It took Sam a few seconds to process. Against her better judgment, the teen nodded her head. He let out a sigh that was far too loud.
"Thank you," he placed his folder on the table. "I see I've caught you at a bad time."
'Understatement of the year.' Sam chewed on the inside of her cheek as the man sat on the other side of the booth. She was watching him like he'd yell 'gotcha,' and she'd be body-slammed by a dozen cops.
"But when I saw you I couldn't help myself," he laughed, "See, I've been meaning to talk to you, but had to deal with some paperwork beforehand."
He gestures to the folder. Sam examined the mess of paper, some of which showed signatures and contract babble. She had no idea where the paperwork fit in with wanting to talk to Sam, but it didn't sit well with her.
"And just as I finalized everything, I ran into you. It was like fate."
Now Sam was back to being confused. This bubbly guy was talking so fast. Like he was excited to talk with her. A genuine conversation. Not drag her to the nearest police station.
"Ah, sorry, I was rambling and forgot to even introduce myself."
A hand was shoved at Sam, who flinched.
"Liam Harlo, head recruiter of the Hero recruitment agency Alpha."
A deer in the headlight. That's what she felt like. Her wide eyes switched from staring at the stranger's hand to his happy-go-lucky grin.
"What."
The grin flattered to another halfhearted smile, "Alpha, you know, the famous company for finding some of America's top heroes."
"Yeah, I heard that," Sam nodded her head much like a sloth, "just, why are you, what."
Liam retracted the hand to lean back in his booth. Head cocked, he gave the girl a once over. Whatever he was looking for he found and gave another sigh as his eyes closed.
"Seems I got a little too excited. Let's start this over," his eyes opened, determination ablaze, "Samantha Windsor, I want to recruit as my next hero in training."
The fuck.
Yeah, that didn't help much. In fact, it caused Sam's brain to burn a fuse. It must have destroyed all but one of her brain cells because his words just repeated over and over again with no signs of being processed. Wait, when did her coffee get there?
"I know this is abrupt, but I've been working on this for a few months now." Lima opened the folder and started sorting through the papers, "and everything has been going according to plan. In fact, all I need is for you to accept the offer and we can move on to the last steps of your new journey."
He laid out the papers in neat piles all over the table, "this is all the paperwork and legalities for you to be fully accepted and what this recruitment will entail for you. I suggest looking through all of it before making a decision. And, of course, I will answer any and all questions you may have." He was grinning at her again.
"So, what do you think."
Sam blinked very, very slowly.
"I think you really do have the wrong person."
For the first time, Liam Harlo frowned.
"How so."
Sam shook her head, "There is no way anyone would want to recruit me, sir," anger and disappointment bubbled under her skin. The words she spoke felt like she'd willingly swallow fire.
"I'm sorry to say this, but neither the Hero's or my family will allow this. Not to mention the biggest issue of them all…"
Head hung low, she let out a bitter laugh, "I'm quirkless. And everyone knows people without a quirk can never be a hero."
It was true. Not because it wasn't possible, but because society refused to accept such a notion. Sam had tried enough times to realize this. No matter what she did, it was never enough. No matter how many times she proves herself capable, they'd ignore it. No matter how many times she picked herself up, someone would always shove her back down. Sam could fight and escape foes twice her size.
But she couldn't take on the whole world.
"Not everyone believes that."
Raising her head Sam saw something in Liam's expression she never thought she would.
Honesty.
"I know who you are Samantha, I know that you are one of the eight percent,"
He leaned across the table, voice lowered.
"I know how capable you actually are, Gidget."
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit. SHIT.
How, how in the name of satan did this guy know. Not even a majority of the best Hero's knew about her identity. So how did this guy manage to get the answer to a secret the damn government itself had help in hiding. Better yet, why want to recruit her? He knew who she was and what she did. Most people would laugh at the idea of her being 'hero material.' So what was with this guy?
"Then you know this is all for nothing," Sam grabbed her cup. Her hands were shaking so much that some of it had spilled. It was a miracle she even got a sip.
"That's not true. Like I said I have-"
"It doesn't matter what you have," Sam snapped. Even the smooth drink couldn't hide the sour taste on her tongue. "No one is going to allow this. Never have, never will. So drop this prank and leave me alone."
"This isn't a prank, I'm being serious Sam." There was a crack in his voice. A telltale sign of hurt and-or anger. He had been offended by her words.
She didn't want to admit it, but maybe this Liam Harlo was being serious.
"Then you're an idiot," she took another sip.
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose, "Listen, I understand why you are skeptical."
"Then give it up,"
"But," a hand was placed on one of the piles, "I knew this was not going to be a walk in the park. That's why I've taken so many precautions before even talking to you. So please, just, give me a chance to explain and show you that this is the real deal."
Sam placed her cup down. Her mind was reeling. This guy was crazy. He really thought he could allow Sam to become a hero under him and his company. But was he insane like Sam thought, or had a plan convoluted enough that even she hadn't thought about and tried.
Sam sinks into her seat. Running a hand through her hair she admits defeat. "Fine, I'll hear you out."
Liam's entire posture went loose.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. I agreed to hear it out, not run with it." Sam glanced at the surrounding Cafe. There were fewer people around, meaning it was safe for their conversation to continue further, "But please, enlighten me."
At this point, Liam looked done with Sam's sass.
"Yes, well, to explain the situation I need to ask you a question first." The air around him shifts.
The blond was taken aback by his change. Sure, he was sitting straight now. He also dropped the smile for a neutral look. Those were not what changed his persona. It was how his tone transformed into a man of respect and deserving of attention.
And of course, Sam's dumbfounded response was, "Okay,"
The genius of the year.
"You have heard about All Might's retirement, correct."
The teen laid folded hands in her lap, "Yeah, it's the biggest tragedy we've seen in decades."
Liam nodded his head, "Yes, but it gets worse. There's a group called the League of Villains who have managed to take this situation and create strife among the civilians and their trust in Hero's as a whole."
Sam had heard this before. Mike and Jez were talking about it a few weeks ago, trying to find a way to help boost morale.
"It's not good Sam," Liam rested his head on propped and clasped hands. "There was already trouble brewing with the League's attacks on UA, but it's become worse. People are losing more and more hope in Hero's every day, which in reaction means the League is growing stronger. And at this point in time, no one has a solid plan on how to approach it."
There's a smirk on his face that makes Sam uneasy.
"I, however, have a plan. And it involves you."
There it was. Sam's worries had come to light.
"Gidget's ideals stand close to the league's, only on far more moral grounds. I realized this when trying to find a loophole for you to have a chance at being a Hero. And if my theory is correct, you could cause discourse among the Villians and cut the League's own recruitment rate drastically if you pushed your mantra with the Hero community at your side."
"I have spent an ungodly amount of hours working out all the details and ways to get everyone on board. And like I said before, everything has been going according to plan." Liam pulls a piece of paper out and hands it to Sam, "Just today I got the final ok to allow you the chance to train among other aspiring Hero's."
Sam examined the contract and lost the ability to breathe. It was like he said. A contract for her probation to be tweaked. She sets the paper down.
"Ok, but, how am I going to do this while both in school and America. Cause last time I checked, this is all happening in Japan."
Liam looked ecstatic that Sam asked such a question.
"That's the best part," He leans back and adjusts his glasses, "Tell me, Sam, how do you feel about attending UA as a foreign transfer student?"
Sam was seriously starting to think she was dreaming.
"Excuse me, what exactly are you insinuating."
"What I'm 'insinuating'" Liam made quotation marks with his fingers, "is that, as your recruiter, I want you to attend UA to prepare yourself for your future Hero career."
"And how in gods name did you get that cleared"
"I spoke directly with the top Heroes in Japan along with the teachers and principle of UA and convinced them of this plan as well."
Sam was at a loss for words.
"The only thing left is for you to accept this offer and do one last thing," Liam tapped the table, "becoming a student at UA already throws you into the crossfire of the League of Villains, and it will only get worse when we implement the plan. The staff of UA is already worried about their students' capabilities and wants to take full precautions before accepting you for good."
"And what precautions would those be."
"Simple, take the Hero licensing exams like the rest of the first-year students and pass."
Sam blinked.
"That's it."
"Yes, that's it"
It was silent between them. The only sound being the chatter of customers and staff. It was such an appealing offer. And if it had been given to her just two years ago Sam would have taken it in a heartbeat. But this was the present, and she had already jumped through enough hoops to be uncertain about this working. Liam might have the signature and agreements of a lot of people, but even that didn't set things in stone. Too many times has Sam thought people couldn't back out. That this was it, there was no way they could say no. And every time they snuck their way out of it. Leaving Sam a little more heartbroken.
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept it."
Liam flinches, mouth gaping as Sam stands up. It was like she had slapped him. In reality, the words were probably worse than a slap. But it was Sam's answer, and she was already walking away.
"Wait, what, why." he jumps from his seat and runs after Sam.
"Because, I've been through this too many times to know the end result," She hands the waitress from earlier her payment. With a thank you the girl turns and walks out the door.
"You never know until you try."
Liam catches the door out before Sam could shut it on his face. She rolls her eyes. He was persistent.
"I appreciate you trying, but out of the two of us," she points at him and then at herself, "I am the expert in this sort of thing." She continues to walk out the doorway and onto the streets. Liam followed close behind.
"Sam, please."
"Don't you get it" the girl spun around, grabbed Liam by his shirt and yanked him down, "this isn't going to work. Those people are appeasing you, but the moment we succeed they are going to rip the rug from underneath us and laugh." She let's go, "and we'll just be hurt in the end."
Liam's brows are furrowed, his lips pressed in a tight line. The face of a man who has a million things to say but no right way to portray it. He truly seemed genuine, but that's why Sam was being so blunt. She once had hope and determination like that, but it was long gone. Which was strange considering their age. The thirty-year-old man full of youth and rose-tinted glasses, and the cynical teenager who held the world at such low expectations.
It would have been funny if not for the circumstances.
"You made hundreds of people view Hero's in a different light."
The sound of Liam's voice brought Sam back. Albeit surprised.
"You encouraged others to challenge the system for the better. You made people think without inflicting fear and death."
Sam was unable to move or look away. Her entire body locked in place as the recruiter stared back with sheer determination in his eyes.
"You messed with and escaped pro Hero's like it was child's play. You took troubled souls and brought them to a better path. You taught them how to hone their quirks better than any of those so-called quirk experts and guidance counselors."
He reached out and grabbed the young woman's hand.
"In a time where societies' trust in Heros are plummeting and villains are rising up, you are what we need, Sam."
The intensity of his words shook her very core. Never had an individual spoken about her in such a way. As if she actually had something to give.
It hurt.
"The world needs the elusive Anti-Hero," Liam is near pleading, "they need Gidget."
Why couldn't he have been there two years ago.
Sam looks at him with a blank face. It's all she can give him without breaking. Without caving and taking another lost cause. So she slips her hand away. The ghost of a voice falling past her lips.
"You may be right, but," she turns, feet begging to take her away.
"The world doesn't want Gidget."
And like that, Sam admitted the one thing she fought to prove wrong.
That her dreams would never become a reality.