Author's Note: Jeez people, I've had such a fire lit under me for this story. I don't know why but after I put that first chapter out... I just had to write more. Well, there's the encouragement from you guys, which is great by the way, but really if I had to say it has to be that MHA chapter. If you don't know which one I'm talking about it'll be clear after you read this. Bakugou is such a wonderful character to write by the way. He's so unique and doesn't give me any problems when I'm trying to be suitably dramatic or over the top in my writing. As you can probably tell, this chapter is mostly Katsuki along with a bit from another character that I'm going to have some fun with. Might not be what you're expecting but you'll have to see. I want to talk about other stuff but I'll see you down at the end. Please read and review, I love interaction from the community.
KATSUKI
There's something like a stifling fog that falls over Katsuki's mind for the next few hours. He remembers meandering the streets and idly watching the strange, surreal figures that walk through this archaic city.
In a vague attempt to understand and comprehend the madness that inundates him there's a library he visits. As if he's back in grade school he's picking through pages following the strange characters that tread across the parchment with a deliberate finger. The written language writhes in a way he doesn't comprehend, that he knows is foreign and yet can read all the same. The information he gleans from these worn tomes is just as mythical and dreamlike as everything else in this place.
Katsuki has no fucking idea where he is.
There's a name that's mentioned.
Orario.
It's a city of great production and commerce where people follow trends of enchanted equipment or argue over the most cost-effective potions to buy. People in Orario don't work nine to five's, or send their kids to school or even campaign for their favorite politician.
This antiquated city is ruled by a collective of 'gods' and 'goddesses' that create laws based on practicality and overturn them without any notice or explanation.
Adventurers live here. Adventurers like in the fantasy role-playing games he used to play as a brat. These adventurers are apparently fixated on some inane thing called 'the Dungeon'. He knows absolutely fuck all about what that is but his thoughts pictures eight-bit images of slimes and zombies.
He's five completely unrelated books in when he decides that this is not some elaborate set or quirk and has completely eviscerated his own suspension of disbelief. Fuck, they even have elves and dwarves here! How is any of this reality?
Katsuki is lost.
There's so much information he has to process, so much so that he really can't be blamed for not being careful enough to watch where he's going.
He's been simmering on the inside. Boiling in fear, confusion and so much rage for hours now. It's not his fault his mouth defaults to the nuclear option when he conveniently needs something to punch.
"Oi, watch where you're going blondie." It's not even a hostile statement, just a statement to remind him to pay attention. And yet in imitation of the explosions he loves so much, once his mouth goes off he can't. Just. Stop.
"Why don't you fuck off and learn how to walk properly extra?" Katsuki snarls viciously his outward aggression dialing up like his blood pressure.
The man turns. He's older than Katsuki but still young. Oddly light but thick gray hair, furred canine ears and some kind of blue face tattoo that's distinctive but Katsuki's mind is already whirring, already assessing the situation.
Switching from dissociation to awareness has never felt so raw.
Disorientation racks him even as he examines the brick-lined street, the pub with the nondescript sign and the suffocating amount of people around him. He growls silently at the creeping feeling up his spine but remains relaxed.
Yet that doesn't change the fact that he's cataloguing faces in his mind, reading angles and scouting exits.
Nearly a year of urban combat and rapid response has turned his mind into a finely tuned machine that shifts from standby into combat-ready in an instant.
While the crowd on the street is filled with appearances that invoke curiosity and caution, it's the man's companions that he examines.
The street is silent in the face of the sudden, harsh hostility that Katsuki exudes but his focus isn't on those faces.
It's the way they stand, their posture that gives away their experience and relationships. The hobbit, whose name immediately becomes Bilbo, looks curious if exasperated. Vine-head peers at Bilbo in expectation and dismay as if she's willing him to deal with this. Probable leader. Thing #1 is labeled Braids until further notice and thing #2 is asking for Cheshire by the look of anticipation on her face.
"The hell did you just say to me?" Tattoo-face steps closer to Katsuki as if trying to look down on him.
"Oi, what is that kid doing? That's Fenris, he's a level five." Someone murmurs and the crowd seems to whisper similar sentiments.
The hero is grateful for the growth spurt he's gone through over the past few months because now he can look this fucker in the eyes as he spits. "Are you dumb and deaf old man? I can be louder if you really need me to."
The dog-eared fucker takes another step towards him even as the blonde-haired hobbit grabs at his arm. "Bete." He warns and the asshole clenches his teeth but his body stills.
"Listen brat, I don't know what the fuck you're trying to pull but you need to walk away. I'm a level five, I don't have the time to put a nobody like you back in their place."
Katsuki just laughs, ugly and loud in disdain. "I don't give a fuck about whatever you think your 'level' is asshole but it sounds to me like you're afraid of me shoving your teeth down your throat."
Instantly, the man growls like a beast and Bilbo lets his arm fall with a sigh. "Captain, give me some room so I can put this dumbass in the dirt where he belongs."
As Bete's companions clear the street, Katsuki can hear the crowd.
"Poor kid, he's gonna get slaughtered."
"What an idiot, he must have a death-wish."
"He'll be lucky if he survives after this."
And Katsuki is absolutely seething. The familiar sensation of adrenaline pumping through his veins settles him as he falls into his stance. Focus.
He's without his combat gear, so he can't go all out for too long without breaking his body. But he's managed without before. Tattoo-face is clearly some kind of close-combat fighter which is absolutely perfect because that means he won't try to run when Katsuki's trying to cave in his skull.
Bilbo comes up between them. "I, Finn Deimne Captain of the Loki Familia will oversee this match. If it goes too far, I will step in." The brat even dares to look at Tattoo-face as he says this. As if Katsuki is bound to lose.
Like he doesn't matter.
Bete is casual, slouched over with his hands in his pockets as if he can't even be bothered to take this seriously. Then he smirks at Katsuki. The taunt is clear. And Tattoo-face is lucky because Katsuki is in a generous mood.
"DIE!"
BOOM!
In one instant Katsuki is in a ready stance separated from Bete by at least twenty feet. In the next, he's hammering a reinforced combat boot into a barely raised guard.
Tattoo's shocked expression and wince of pain is fucking glorious.
But all the same Katsuki grimaces as he backflips through the air, cursing. His shitty body is tougher than concrete, what the hell?
Bete shakes out his arms and glares at Katsuki. "What kind of fucking magic is that?"
And the hero grins like the devil himself as he raises a hand casually and sets off a small explosion. "The kind that'll leave you six fucking feet deep if you don't take me seriously."
Liquid heat bubbles underneath his skin and he flexes his hands as all of the anger, fear and despair at his situation is siphoned and focused like a laser directed at exactly one person.
Bakugou Katsuki might be out of his depth and drowning in fear and confusion but he was a goddamn Hero. He was a lethal fucking weapon and he finally had something to kill.
"Try to keep up."
With a roar of incandescent rage, Katsuki's palms ignite, bright conflagrations of his will casting shadows across the street. The crackling thunder of his explosions echo his movements like a war drum beating to a rhythm only he can hear.
Each of his limbs strike out in a flowing, never-ending pattern as he viciously drives Tattoo-face back.
The adventurer is seemingly helpless under his ceaseless offense as he backpedals. Yet Katsuki knows it isn't nearly enough to deal any real damage. He is dominating the fight so far. But while he is bruising his opponent, Katsuki feels like his hands and feet are going to split and bloody themselves from how solid the man's body is. If the man is as strong as he is durable then Katsuki can't let himself be hit.
Not even once.
His grin warps into something unhinged as he blazes into Tattoo's guard. That was damn fine with him! He strives to be the best ever! Katsuki makes perfectionists look lazy.
Tattoo-face's arm is raised, he has managed to turn up his speed enough to be able to fully block his attacks as Katsuki's barrage continues. He won't be able to land a solid hit like this.
Katsuki's crimson eyes glare into Bete's with menace even as he punches forward.
Katsuki's hand opens a mere breadth from the other man's head. Katsuki whispers, malice dripping from the syllable. "Boom."
And the hero's palm fires off like a cannon, his loudest explosion yet thundering into the fuck's sensitive ears. Tattoo crumples to his knees, crying out in pain as his ears weep blood.
The bomber shows no mercy as he soars up into the sky like a missile trailing cinders and smoke. The dance reaches its climax as his spins and blasts peter out and he reaches the apex of his optimal range.
For a single moment, Orario holds its breath as Katsuki hangs in the sky under the moon with his hand outstretched towards the ground as if to clutch it in his grasp.
His second hand cups against his first, the movements as fluid as instinct.
"AP Shot!"
Teeth grind and eyes flare with anticipation as an explosion rings out and his body jolts back in recoil. And at that moment a missile of fury, sweat and flame screams towards Bete like a comet.
A single relentless explosion with enough force and heat to blow through concrete delivered at an ideal angle against an immobile and vulnerable opponent.
It's fucking perfect.
And it amounts to scorched clothing, faint burns, copious bruising and broken skin where a single drop of blood falls from his foe's forehead.
As Katsuki lands he grits his teeth, a snarl rising up in his throat. Of fucking course he's tougher than that! If I had gone with AP Machine Gun...
No, that's wrong. He isn't actually trying to murder his opponent here. In the face of the unknown you start small and work your way up. It's more efficient and leads to his foes knocked out, not burnt corpses. But it's also tedious as fuck.
He has to admit though, given the effects of AP Shot, he doubts that his machine gun variant would've had much more success besides more blood and a smoking, wrecked street.
Katsuki's trying to avoid civilian injuries and property damage as much as he can. But to beat this man he needs more than he's using right now. His more potent techniques need range and are destructive in the extreme, especially his Cluster fueled variants.
Bete rises to his feet with a deep, guttural growl. "That. Fucking. Hurt." Tattoo-face's amber eyes pierce through the air between them.
Despite the lackluster results Katsuki stands proudly. "No fucking shit. Maybe you-" Katsuki cuts himself off unwillingly as he starts cackling wildly.
Bete's only clue is the finger pointing at him and so he examines himself still not sure what's so funny. "The fuck's so hilarious chucklehead?!"
Finn interjects with a polite cough. "Bete, your tail."
Ever so slowly Tattoo looks behind himself as if in disbelief. What greets him is his limp tail. His half-furred tail. The second half naked, exposed and a bright pale pink where it's exposed to the air.
Katsuki swears he hears the man's neck crack when Tattoo-face turns towards him with an unhinged grin.
"You're dead brat."
At that moment Katsuki definitely doesn't feel like he might've bit off more than he can chew.
A howl breaks the silence of the night as Bete's body crunches audibly, shifting and expanding into a monster Katsuki can only recall from a fucking storybook.
A werewolf.
Katsuki is fighting a goddamn werewolf.
A moment passes.
And then Katsuki is in flight again diving, blazing and rocketing through the air. But this time, the dichotomy is reversed. Bete is a wild animal as razor sharp claws and muscled limbs cut through the air like a bullwhip. The roars and growls of the beast Tattoo has become jars Katsuki as the momentum he has completely flees from his grasp.
Even now with all his speed he isn't fast enough, isn't strong enough. Every time Bete's claws even graze his body Katsuki's skin splits open like paper against a monomolecular blade.
He should know. Ponytail girl is a menace with that shit.
"Fuck." He grunts out as a talon slices through the skin on his abdomen.
Focus! He needs to do something! He needs to retake the momentum, the rhythm! If he stays on the backfoot he is as good as dead. And dead is useless.
And Bakugou Katsuki isn't fucking useless.
That's when Katsuki pulls out the only card he has left.
Cluster Fuselage.
His strongest and most destructive technique.
It is the rocket that Katsuki straps himself to in order to compete with those far above him. With this ability Katsuki is able to blow through monsters and self-styled gods like so much chaff. Yet it wreaks the most havoc to his own body with extensive use. His Cluster allows him to condense his sweat more than tenfold allowing him to scream through the air like a jet or level city blocks like an airborne bomber.
Katsuki's limit has always been his mortal body. His quirk is the fire burning away at the wick of a candle. The glands on the palms of his hands just can't handle the amount and size of the fuel he produces in this state even as he constantly ignites it.
Explosions can't be held back or controlled. Only directed.
And when the bombs scream and set his body ablaze, his pain can only be directed outwards. Rattling through his bones, echoing from his organs, boiling into his veins, spilling out onto his skin until it lights up and detonates with the fury of a sun against the maw of an untamed beast.
BOOM!
Katsuki grins widely with bloodstained teeth as he fucking finally lands something that can't just be shrugged off. Bete's eyes are popped wide open, bloodshot even as he growls through blood in an attempt at defiance. And then the wolf barrels backwards leaving rings of pressurized air in his wake.
The hero's pride is only stoked when the werewolf breaks the side of a building with his hulked out body.
But even now, with this tremendous blow he's struck Katsuki winces as he pulls his fingers back into place. He might've dislocated the beast's jaw but Tattoo's durability did Katsuki no favors in return.
Blood boiling, Katsuki huffs out an angry exclamation, steam leaving his mouth like the breath of a dragon.
"C'MON BETE! I CAN DO THIS ALL NIGHT MUTT!"
The answering howl is like something out of a nightmare.
Bete leaps out of the crater with a vengeance, a lust for blood in his luminescent eyes and murder lacing each of his limbs as he lopes towards Katsuki. His dislocated jaw hangs and bobs furiously with the movement, the only physical proof that Katsuki can win.
He can't lose.
He has to win.
He isn't useless.
Katsuki rockets forward with a scream just as high and haunting as Bete's howl. In that moment, it's not clear who the monster is.
The hero rears back with a left hook, eyes analyzing angles and charting tactical maneuvers like a fighter pilot picks out targets and notes hot zones.
The ensuing crash is something out of a fantasy even for those that live in Orario.
Razor-sharp claw and steaming fist meet adamantite in an unnatural song that sends shudders down the audience's spines. The clash ignites the air with smoke and sparks that spread out as one.
"Wow! You're really strong!"
Katsuki is instantly and abruptly shaken out of his rage by the blinding grin he meets with.
"Wha-?" He mutters uncharacteristically. That grin is something he hasn't seen in a long time. It reminds him of better times. Times when he isn't used as a weapon, a soldier in a war against senseless chaos. Like Izuku when they were just little shits running around the playground.
Even as Bete struggles against a similar opponent Katsuki gathers himself with a deep breath and roughly fixes the fingers on his left hand. "Thanks." He mutters absentmindedly as he looks away from the short girl. He's not sure how he didn't notice earlier but Cheshire's ridiculous weapon is in complete contrast with her size, the double-sided sword looking more like a slab of steel than a proper weapon.
"Oh, you can't control it yet can you?" Cheshire asks with a pout as she gazes at his fingers and the spontaneous bruises he's sure are blooming underneath his skin.
Katsuki growls in frustration at the perceived disappointment. "Of course I can fucking control it. This is just the price for using it." What the fuck is he doing? He doesn't even know this chick and now he's being amiable just because of a smile?
"Why the hell did you stop us?" He asks harshly, ignoring the pain that is building up in his body. The dark-skinned girl giggles nervously. "You didn't notice? You broke part of Mama's restaurant."
Katsuki opens his mouth to inquire as to who the fuck Mama is and why the hell he should care when said mama herself steps out of the damaged building.
Instantly, Katsuki knows that he's fucked up.
Even without any kind of display, he intimately knows what this feeling is. This atmosphere. Complete subjugation. He's felt it a handful of times in his life. Most of those by All For One himself.
And yet this time he feels that way towards an average height, stocky woman with brown hair, an apron and a scowl that reminds him of his own mother.
Oh.
"I don't care who started this fight or how it happened. All that I want to know is who is going to pay for damaging my restaurant and frightening my girls."
Futilely, Katsuki and Bete stay silent. As if being quiet is enough to absolve them of their guilt.
"Well?"
Finn steps forward to address the woman but without fail, each and every person in the crowd points their hands to Katsuki.
"So it's you brat." He doesn't even have time to feel betrayed or indignant before her eyes narrow down on him, pressuring him with her mere presence. "So what familia am I sending the bill to?"
There's some kind of deep-seeded fear in Katsuki that keeps him silent even as he rages on the inside, desperate to unveil his rage, his frustration and his spite. Who is she to fucking order him around like he's some kind of extra?!
In that moment she asks in disbelief. "You have a familia right brat?" And Katsuki's anger mixes with that fear like a cocktail and he lies.
"Of course I do hag!"
The lady is undaunted by him as she steps closer cracking her knuckles menacingly, each pop as loud as one of his explosions. "Well? Which is it?"
"There you are! What did you do this time?"
Katsuki is struck by surprise once more as a young woman steps up next to him, grasping his arm like they fucking know each other with a frown of disappointment on her face.
He barely restrains himself from tearing his arm away from her. What the fuck is a familia?
"Ah. I'm so sorry for the mess Mama Mia! We've only just come back from outside Orario, he hasn't been here before." He turns his head to the shortstack about to tell her off when Katsuki sees her in full for the first time. She's attractive. Despite her dusty outer cloak the clothing she wears underneath is white and pristine with hints of blue that complement her dark hair in bows.
But that's not what bothers Katsuki. He's never been one to be bothered by a pretty face.
It's this feeling of pressure that's similar to what the Mia woman projects yet different all the same that strikes him when he looks at her. Like she's more than what she appears. Like there's this strength to her that he can't comprehend.
And for some crazy reason, Katsuki doesn't find the familiar bristling pride and frustration in him at the realization. And that is what causes his confusion, slight fear and anger.
In the end, despite his misgivings, he only tears his arm from hers and looks away like a disobedient child rather than ripping into her for touching him without his permission.
Mia gives what looks like a smile. "Ah, Lady Hestia. It's been quite some time, I'm glad you've returned." Then that smile transforms into a frown. "But, can you pay for this?"
Even Katsuki hears the doubt in her voice and there's some murmuring in the crowd at the same time. Someone's known for being broke.
But then Hestia smiles proudly at the large woman and beckons a hand. "Bell!"
That's when Katsuki is hammered by intense deja vu as a stoic white-haired teenager strides forward. Todoroki?
But of course it's not Todoroki. This person is entirely too big and is missing the crimson hair that burns when Shouto uses his powers in full. He feels like Todoroki though. Like he's unsure of how to act or feel, doubting himself as he walks up and pulls out a large bag that clinks together in the silence.
The teenager is tall, taller than Katsuki by at least a foot and broader too. He possesses red eyes like Katsuki's own but they gleam in the moonlight so much brighter and vibrant even as they contrast with the blank expression painted over his face. His hair is white like the moon is tonight, almost gleaming as it reflects the light and immediately Katsuki has a nickname for this extra.
Bunny-boy.
It's demeaning, it's descriptive and it's accurate. And for some reason he just can't wait to use it.
Mia seems to be surprised for a moment before she takes the coins. He's assuming it's gold coins or some shit, he really doesn't know nearly enough about this place.
"Good. Well, as long you don't do this again kid, we won't have any problems." She's looking at him as she says this and Katsuki really, really wants to explode again.
But he doesn't. Because no matter what this bitch says he's not a brat anymore. He hasn't been one for some time.
He's a Hero. He's been a soldier for the people for almost a year now. And he knows how to keep a lid on it. Especially when the consequences most likely involve pain, his face and the street and not necessarily in that order.
So even though vitriol bubbles up his throat and threatens to spill out of his mouth he nods back to her. "Sure." He rasps.
Twin-tails turns to him and scowls but he can hardly take it seriously. She's too short and non-threatening to intimidate him. "You, go apologize to him."
And that's when Katsuki seriously considers blowing her off. Even with this strange feeling she's releasing he can't help the anger that bubbles in his gut at being ordered around. But once again, he holds back. Deep breath in, Deep breath out.
She's right. Kind of.
Even though Tattoo-face was an asshole, an extra and definitely not better than him, there is no denying that Katsuki baited him and started the fight just because he wanted to hit something.
He's not that brat that walked into the entrance exam thinking that no one else is good enough to be a hero besides him. That he's only one with real power. What he did wasn't heroic. Not at all. And that's what fuels the shame in his gut and makes him walk over to this 'Loki Familia'.
At this point, the man is back in his human-like form, the same height as Bakugou. There's some kind of glow surrounding him and healing his wounds now, the green-haired elf stretching a staff out towards him. Huh. So that's magic.
Tattoo's other companions turn towards him with polite smiles. Hah. He can see the tenseness in their postures, the grip they have on their weapons. There's a bit of amusement that dances in his mind when he sees that they're wary. Good.
He's just opening his mouth when Bete takes a step towards him and looks away in indignation. "Sorry. I shouldn't have gotten so serious."
And then something in Katsuki resonates with this prick however much he doesn't like it. Because it's clear they're both being forced to apologize. Neither of them regret the fight they just had and they're both just itching to reignite it.
So Katsuki looks the other way as well, not willing to look him in the eyes. "S'my fault. I shouldn't have baited you like that."
At once they turn to look at each other, some kind of twisted respect in between them that says 'You're better than I expected, but you're not as good as me asshole.'
"Tch, work on your rhythm Tattoo-face. You're fast but you couldn't even react to me." Katsuki unwilling says. He's NOT being nice. He swears. He just wants a better fight next time. So he can get stronger.
Bete snorts. "Fucking get stronger Blasty. You can have all the speed you want. But if you hit like a bug I'll wipe you out like one."
Katsuki realizes that isn't quite true but he's aware they might not have the level of science he's used to here. Velocity increases mass and all that.
Nevertheless, he nods accepting the criticism. He's never been as physically strong as his other classmates with quirks that augment their strength. Sure, he's been told he hits like a wrecking ball but that doesn't mean anything in the face of his fellows like Big Lips, Deku, Tentacles or hell, even Bird-brain.
"D'aww look at the doggy making friends!" Cheshire says clapping her hands. Bete snarls as he turns on his heel at the girl. "Shut the fuck up Tiona, you don't know what you're talking about."
Braids smiles condescendingly at the man. "Don't worry Bete we'll set up play dates for you two!"
Part of Katsuki wants to growl at being included in the 'play date' line. But the other part wants to laugh. So this is what it looks like when racoon eyes or dunce face gets a rise out of him.
And then his heart sinks for some inexplicable reason. Because he remembers that he's still fucking lost and he doesn't even know if his squad is even alive.
Bilbo nods to him. "I apologize for Bete, he can be reckless sometimes. That said, I'm sure he'd love to spar with you again."
Katsuki doesn't know what's in his future. But he doesn't mind fighting this prick again. They're similar in some aspects.
"Sure, as long the Tattoo-face doesn't mind me blowing him into the fucking dirt again."
Bete snaps at him. "You wish Blasty. One solid hit from me and I'll break your ass."
The hero snorts and starts to turn. "Oi! Asshole! What's your name?"
And there's part of Katsuki that absolutely preens as he stands, posture picture perfect, turns back, grins like a predator and points at himself. "I'm Bakugou Katsuki. And I'm gonna be number one."
Number one what? A shadow asks in his mind but he shoves the anxiety away with sheer fucking confidence and gall. He'll figure out all this complicated shit later. But Bakugou Katsuki will always be number one.
"You wish prick! My name's Bete Loga, fucking use it."
"Sure thing Betty!" He yells and turns back, tuning out the growling and indignation from behind him. At first, he's not really sure where he's walking but as he sees the genuinely sincere smile on the face of Hestia, he can't but help follow her.
"So your name's Bakugou?" Hestia smiles up at him like she fucking knows him. He sighs. She doesn't deserve that.
"Yeah. Bakugou Katsuki. And you're Hestia?" He asks. Something tickles him as being familiar as he says the name. Like he should know it.
She nods, all proud and beaming. "I'm the goddess of the immortal flame, Hestia!" She crosses her arms underneath her bust and tilts her head up proudly.
Katsuki chokes.
And then he laughs.
A lot.
By the time he's finishes, Hestia looks angry, cheeks puffed out as she tries to glare at him. It's kind of like a toddler. Adorable.
Katsuki dismisses that thought with a shake of his head before grinning savagely at her. "And I'm the fucking Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight!"
Hestia's eyes go wide and he sees her brain short-circuit. "What? But you don't have any divinity. How are you telling the truth? And you said your name was Bakugou Katsuki!"
He snorts at her. "It's just a damn title, like yours."
She scowls up at him. "I really am a goddess you know?" Katsuki nods in acquiescence. "Sure." Like hell she is. Katsuki's never been particularly religious or an atheist. He's just never given a shit. Though if there is a god, he'd wonder why they would allow something as evil as Shitgaraki to be born.
Then Katsuki sobers as he looks at her intensely. "Why'd you fucking cover for me? I don't even know what a damn familia is and I'm definitely not a part of yours."
Shortstack reacts with shock and disbelief again. "You don't know what a familia is?! How? You're so strong, there's no way you're not blessed!" Katsuki doesn't understand half of that sentence but he nods in frustration and decides to humor her. "Listen lady, I don't even think I'm in the same fucking world anymore. I don't know anything about this place at all. Familia? Gods and goddesses? Blessings? Monsters and the dungeon? That all just sounds like made up fantasy shit to me."
And that's when Hestia stops in her tracks on the side of the street and he stops with her. She's doesn't blink when he turns to her. "Not the same world?" She rubs her forehead. "That doesn't make sense. There aren't any other worlds. But you're telling the truth."
Katsuki raises an eyebrow. "How the hell do you even know that I'm telling the truth?"
She looks at him seriously for once, her mouth pressed in a thin line. "Gods and goddesses can tell if mortals are lying. And you think you're telling the truth. You didn't hit your head did you?"
The hero shakes his head in disbelief. Fuck. Was he actually taking her at her word? But why would she lie? There's absolutely no benefit to it. He could just walk away and ask someone else.
And at this moment he recalls that Bete belongs to the Loki Familia. And he knows that's a Norse god.
He opens and closes his mouth, not really sure why he's deciding to be honest but feels that he's so fucking done with being confused and not knowing shit. And what's the point in holding back? If she decides to dissect him or some shit like he knew his government would if he was from another fucking reality then he'll just blow this joint.
Katsuki's a survivor.
"I was fighting a damn important battle." Flashes of the violence blind him suddenly and he takes a second to breathe. Fuck.
"We were fighting this fucking monster. He thought he was supposed to be some sort of shitty demon lord." He swears. Every word that comes out of his mouth tastes like acid and the palpable rage and disgust in the air he's exuding makes her polite smile strain at the corners.
"He wanted to tear down society and rebuild it under him. Typical delusional mastermind villain shit. But this guy had the power to back it up. We had hundreds of fucking heroes on our side. And he had more power than all of us combined."
He swallows remembering the screams of every hero who got too close, the devastation left in the wake of every attack and the corpses of the strongest heroes in the world left on the ground like trash.
"But there was this one guy, this one fucking dumbass that had enough strength to fight him one on one." Even now that age-old insecurity burns in his chest. Despite all the apologies he's muttered to Izuku. Despite his growth and how strong he's become.
"No matter how far you come or how hard you push, you'll always live in Midoriya's shadow."
He can't help but feel frustration and anger. Towards Izuku... and himself.
What kind of friend is he? A shitty one that's what. He's tried. He's been trying. To be a better hero. A better friend. He's not so sure it's working. After all, he failed in the end didn't he?
A soft hand grasps his clenched, shaking fist. "Bakugou." Hestia looks contemplative but she smiles reassuringly. "If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to."
Hah. How pathetic is he? She's a fucking stranger and here he is unloading on her. But he can't deny this inexplicable sense of safety around her. Of warmth. Like his Dad's arms wrapping around him in a hug or his Mom carding her fingers through his hair.
Katsuki shakes his head. "It was shit, that's all. Anyways we were winning. Or I thought we were winning. But the whole time we were just dancing in his hand. He ripped us to fucking shreds before we even realized."
Katsuki folds his arms. He's trying to impress the seriousness of the situation on her. His hands aren't shaking. His hands aren't fucking shaking.
"I thought I died. I'm pretty sure I did anyways. And then I woke up here just a few hours ago. Alone, in a shitty alleyway wondering where the fuck I was."
Hestia looks at him with something resembling pity and he turns away because he doesn't need fucking pity. No one fucking pities Bakugou Katsuki. "And then I needed to punch something and Tattoo-face was right there."
She giggles despite the atmosphere. "And then you became friends with him?"
Katsuki snorts in disdain. "Like hell. We both just want to beat the shit out of each other."
Hestia laughs even more. "Well, Bakugou, it sounds like you need help." Katsuki turns away from her but doesn't say anything. Obviously. He's really, really fuckin' lost. He can't just waste away around here while his friends fight for their lives. What if they lost? The thought is devastating.
But what if they won? Strangely enough that thought also suffocates him, the impression that they never needed him, that all his strength was for nothing is prevalent in his mind.
Shortstack once more gives her warm, inviting and genuine smile. Like she's fucking happy to have met him. How fucking pure. He'll make her regret that. I always do...
"Bakugou. Join my familia!" She demands impetuously.
Katsuki raises a brow, unimpressed. "You realize I still don't know what a fucking familia is."
"You should join."
Katsuki does not screech or scream or yell in surprise. He definitely doesn't do any of those things as he turns to that white-haired teenager from earlier who is now standing way too close for Katsuki to not have noticed.
"The fuck!? Learn how to breathe shithead!" He reprimands. And yes, he's that close that even breathing should've been enough for Katsuki to notice.
The hero backpedals a step so this fuck is outside of his personal space. The teen simply frowns before pulling out a shitty notepad and writing as he speaks. "Learn how to breathe."
Hestia giggles. "Bell, you don't have to write that down. You know how to breathe. Bakugou was just surprised because you never introduced yourself."
Katsuki was not fucking surprised. He absolutely knew that the seven foot tall teen was right beside them the whole time. He just chose to not mention it.
Bunny-boy, or Bell, as Hestia calls him, turns to Katsuki with a blank expression. "I apologize. I didn't mean to startle you. Hestia and I spent some time in the Far East and I have a hard time adjusting my presence to normal after the training I underwent."
He bows and straightens. "My name is Bell Cranel. This is only my suggestion, but you really should join the Hestia Familia. Your strength is more than admirable for someone not even having taken their first step towards divinity."
And Katsuki's really not sure what to do with that. The Far East? Was that some kind of reference to China or Japan? Was this guy some kind of fucking ninja? How the hell do you 'hide your presence' when you're seven feet tall and as built as a bodybuilder?
But as Katsuki always does, he catalogs but ignores the information that isn't a priority and asks the important questions. "The hell do you mean by first step?"
Bell pockets his notepad as he speaks and Katsuki can't help but wonder what kind of dumbass needs a notepad to remind themselves to learn something normal people do instinctually.
"When people gain a falna, otherwise known as the grace or blessing of the gods, they receive a Status. This Status always starts at level one or the first step towards divinity. I refer to it like that because increasing in level is what makes us closer to the gods."
Bell raises a finger as his unflinching gaze stares down at Katsuki. "If it was not for you, I would say that those on the first step towards divinity, or level ones are incomparable to those without a falna."
Katsuki wishes he had some sort of reference for how strong each level is. Because Bete was a level five. And if he was something like four times weaker he's pretty sure he might not even need his quirk for that.
"Adventurers that possess a falna receive a portion of a deity's power. Therefore, even if you are newly blessed, you are stronger than those that have none. Additionally, those that gain excelia or experience in combat are able to nurture that spark of divinity, creating a closer connection to your god or goddess. This allows greater strength, magic and ability overall but also increases your lifespan."
Wait, so adventurers grow definitively stronger with every fight? Like fucking EXP in a fucking video game. This world is insane.
Bunny-boy continues like that's just the most logical thing in the world. "In fact, there is a theory that if one advances their level enough, one might become immortal. Though, since high level adventurers tend not to have long lives there is doubt that something like that is even possible."
Bell's speech is stiff, factual and surprisingly useful information. He's gotten so used to the half-and-half bastard spouting useless shit he already knows, it's a surprise that his look-alike knows how to do more than that.
He'd never admit it but Todoroki's blunt realizations are hilarious even when they are kind of sad.
Is it really possible to gain strength that easily?
Katsuki's so used to sweating, bleeding and screaming for every inch of power he has that this idea of 'receiving a blessing' is completely foreign. It feels like... cheating. Like taking a shortcut. And Katsuki's never taken a shortcut in his damn life.
"I don't know." He finally says. "Tell me more about what a familia is."
While they walk to some unknown destination, Katsuki is bombarded with facts and information that makes his eyebrows climb higher and higher on his face.
The Dungeon is some kind of sentient 'thing' that gives birth to monsters? Adventurers actually need to constantly delve into the Dungeon because otherwise the monsters will invade the surface?
There's just a fucking lot to unpack.
Apparently a familia is kind of what it sounds like. A family. At least that's what Hestia says it should be. When Katsuki hears that word, should, he thinks of how a particular hero used to treat their family and grimaces.
It sounds like the purpose of a familia is up to their deity and members. Some explore the dungeon, some travel the world and trade goods and some craft and forge equipment and weapons. Their roles are as varied as can be.
And of course some just want to conquer the world. He thinks sardonically of Rakia. Someone always wants to conquer the world.
That's another thing. As Hestia tells him more and more about this world, he can't help but compare it to his own. Rakia sounds like an analogue for ancient Rome and the same goes for the 'Far East' and Japan. He's not so sure about what 'the Empire' or the Elven forests are supposed to be but he knows history wasn't his strong point.
He also never finished high school.
Katsuki is then filled in with a very brief history of Bell and Hestia's relationship. Apparently, none of the adventurers in Orario were good enough for her, so she somehow found Bell when she left and ever since they've been tied at the hip.
Hestia seems to consider Orario her home and Bell just follows Hestia like a robot. It's clear enough that the teen is his own person, but he also seems to never be sure about what he wants or how to communicate his intentions. Hestia is the epitome of patience with him, helping him articulate his thoughts and emotions.
It's fucking annoying.
But the point is that Hestia doesn't have anywhere to stay, which is fucking news to Katsuki because at this point he just wants to lay down and sleep for an eternity.
Without his combat gear, his quirk takes a greater toll on him but nothing he can't push through. That said, his entire body aches like a bitch because he decided to use his Cluster and his mental state after all this bullshit shouldn't even be mentioned at this point.
He just wants to sleep and forget everything that happened in the last 24 hours.
But apparently that isn't an option. Hestia's plan is to show up at a friend's house and ask outright to stay there despite the fact that it's plainly obvious that she hasn't spoken with anyone from Orario since she left.
If Izuku showed up at his fucking door after being missing for seven damn years he sure as hell knows he wouldn't lend the idiot even the couch. He definitely has more self-respect than that.
Hestia proudly spreads her arms in front of the mansion as if the property is hers. "Welcome to the Stardust Garden!"
Bell claps.
Katsuki yawns.
Hestia is disappointed even as she drags the two to the front door and tells them she expects their best behavior. Yeah fucking right. Katsuki's always on his best behavior.
The door opens at Hestia's knock as if someone was waiting for it. The goddess Astraea of the Astraea Familia is actually the closest thing he's seen to a god or goddess since he got here. Which doesn't say a lot but it does say something about Hestia's casual nature.
Her only concession of surprise seems to be her, "Oh my." as she opens the door. As Hestia does, she babbles and Katsuki looks away as he recognizes the pleading expression on her face. For the life of him, he can't figure out why she seems so fucking human.
Why is she fucking begging like a mortal when she's a goddess? Katsuki doesn't even recognize the name Astraea when he recognizes Hestia's and that has to mean something.
But eventually, Katsuki shoves his frustration and impatience deep down where all the other unacceptable ones go and follows Hestia as they enter the mansion.
"Of course you can stay here Hestia." Astraea grasps the other goddess' hands. "Your familia is always welcome."
Hestia smiles widely. "Thank you Astraea! Thank you so much!" She then grimaces slightly before turning a gaze towards Katsuki. "But Bakugou isn't technically part of our familia yet. He's... not from around here and just needed some help finding a place to stay."
Katsuki does not feel guilt. He does not feel bad for not accepting her barely thought out offer even as she looks more disappointed than he's seen all day.
Astraea just smirks before turning to Katsuki. "Well, I'm sure he'll find his path eventually. If you hadn't claimed him already I might have asked him to join my familia despite my restrictions. He seems to have a strong sense of justice."
He wants to laugh at that because how can someone tell that just from looking at someone? But part of him also smirks proudly for the compliment.
Astraea folds her hands together demurely. "It's a little late, so I'll introduce you to the girls in the morning." She says to Katsuki and Bell before turning to Hestia. "Just, Hestia be careful. A lot has changed in seven years."
Katsuki would raise an eyebrow at that but he's beyond caring about anything but where his room is supposed to be.
Hestia takes the warning with the sobriety it deserves and Astraea seems to relax. "You can take the rooms on the west wing, do you remember where those are?"
Shortstack nods before grabbing at both Katsuki and Bell's hands. "As long as it hasn't changed too much I do! Thank you again Astraea I really appreciate this. I'll see you in the morning though."
The taller goddess just smiles serenely and laughs softly. "I'm glad you're the same as always Hestia. Have a good night."
Without further ado, the diminutive goddess drags both teenagers through the mansion. The inside is a blur of pristine marble walls, colorful flowers and wealth. Before Katsuki can even protest, he's deposited by a door at the end of the hallway. As his bleary eyes look for his captor he's treated to the sight of Hestia giggling at him before entering a room with Bell.
Katsuki shakes his head.
He literally couldn't care less.
Passing out has never felt like such a relief.
Of course, Katsuki's sleep is uninterrupted because he just can't catch a break.
As he sits up in bed clutching his sheets in helpless frustration he can only recall a vision of broken bodies, decayed flesh and smoke filling his lungs until he chokes.
Katsuki rests his face in his hands heaving a sigh.
"What the fuck am I supposed to do All Might?"
He laughs brokenly. "Like All Might has ever died and woken up in another reality."
Katsuki then growls, getting to his feet with clenched fists.
Put a fucking lid on that shit Katsuki.
He paces angrily, back and forth in his room, wearing tracks into the room as he thinks.
He needs to get back home.
He will get back home.
He doesn't how this has happened or who did this shit to him but he knows there has to be a way back. Katsuki was sent here somehow so there has to be something that can send him back.
For a moment, Katsuki has a dark thought. Darker than usual.
If I died to get here then what if I...
And Katsuki takes that shit and throttles it back so deep down inside of him that it hides behind the guilt that rests there from saying something similar to his oldest friend.
No. He won't let that be an option.
Think. This is a city straight out of fantasy. There's magic here. He thinks of Vine-head casually healing Tattoo-face's injuries.
There has to be some kind of magic for this.
It's such a far-fetched notion but he needs some idea on what to do.
But that doesn't sound like something he can do on his own.
Then again, he isn't exactly on his own with this. Hestia invited him to join her familia. Katsuki would need to let her know that he would leave, soon hopefully. But he's positive she would help him out.
She's impossibly nice and pure, almost to the point where he has to think she's acting. But for whatever reason, he doesn't.
He's not such a cynic that he thinks every extra has some kind of dark plan for him. Just most of them.
So without hesitation he exits his room and enters Hestia's shared room with Bell.
God, he hopes they're not fucking.
HESTIA
Hestia has had a day. A long, exhausting and exciting day.
Coming back to Orario is like coming home.
It was where she descended from heaven after all. It is where most of but not all deities exist in the mortal plane.
And yet, that is why she left the city in the first place.
Gods and goddesses are nothing like mortals. Most are shallow, cruel and apathetic. Towards each other and especially so for mortals.
She wouldn't say that she hates any of them, she's not sure she's capable of that. But Hestia does know many of them think of evil as a mortal construct.
A millennia ago, when they inspired mortals to beat back the monsters and seal them under the earth, only a handful of them did it out of any sort of compassion, love or justice for the mortals.
Most just couldn't stand to see their playthings be taken away.
And so when Hestia descended from heaven to live as a mortal she was ecstatic. The mortal realm has only a few gods compared to heaven and more importantly, the mortals are down here.
Mortals are so much more than gods and goddesses that sometimes she just has to stop and stare while she appreciates their existence.
They feel everything so genuinely and they live such fulfilling and meaningful lives that it takes her breath away. Mortals have reasons for everything they do even if they don't know it themselves. They have lives full of turmoil and success and despair and joy.
Deities have empty existences and can do despicable things in order to try and fill that void. She knows that even the most atrocious divine acts are done by desperate deities looking for a purpose, looking for meaning. She doesn't think she can hate them for it but all the same she won't forget.
Although Hestia claims to be different, she knows that her actions come from the same place.
Heaven held nothing for her.
But she believes that she's found her purpose, here among the mortals and experiencing their world firsthand. She believes in an intrinsic goodness within each and every mortal. Hestia is convinced that her purpose on the mortal plane is to nurture that at every opportunity she comes across.
And Bell is her first. Her first mortal child and she will love him for eternity for that.
He has shared so much with her. His growth from child to teenager has passed in a blink of an eye. But through him she's learned so much. How mortals can heal from trauma, how they heal and dream and thrive if you only give them love. It's baffling to her that other deities can stand to be so apathetic or cruel to their children. She knows that they aren't all like that. But too many of them are.
Traveling away from Orario was probably one of the best decisions she could have made. While partially, she genuinely did need a break from the constant careless cruelty of other gods and goddesses her actual reasoning is based solely on Bell.
Her child was seven years old when his entire village was slaughtered by a herd of minotaurs. And he survived by beating one to death with a pitchfork.
She hasn't seen that kind of natural ability since the time before the Dungeon was sealed. The Age of Heroes.
And after she cleans and bandages his wounds, she instinctually fears what the other deities will do to claim someone like him.
She knows that they cannot return anytime soon. So until she has faith that Bell can take of himself, until she won't give herself a heart attack out of worry whenever he leaves her side, they travel.
Despite the lack of contact with the few goddesses and gods that she's close friends with, she does not regret her decision.
Bell and her see so much of what mortals are capable of, their beautiful and unique cities, their colossal monuments and notable figures, some of which even put the deeds of adventurers to shame. But more importantly, Hestia has time to help Bell heal.
He was broken that day. In some ways he is still fractured today. But he's made so much progress. Every time he expresses a desire for himself or gives her an opinion she feels this burst of pride in him. He's come so far from the little boy who never let go of her hand and refused to speak.
Still, Bell will always worry her in some way. It was foolish to think that if he was strong enough she might not worry anymore. A mother will always worry.
But coming back to Orario now, she knows that her Bell is strong. Strong enough to stand up for himself.
And selfishly, she thinks, too dependent on her to ever leave.
The biggest surprise, as they settle into Orario, is not how much the city has changed in her absence.
It is one Bakugou Katsuki who is so similar but different from her Bell that it gives her a headache comparing the two.
When they come across the streetfight, Hestia is transfixed by Bakugou.
The teenager is like a dragon as he fights. Spitting fire and rage as he pridefully soars through the sky. There's a strict discipline in each deliberate move he makes. But it doesn't appear rigid or stiff as he moves.
Bakugou dances through the air, smoke and cinders trailing from his hands in some inexplicable magic that trails his flight like the most violent and vibrant fireworks show she's ever seen.
She doesn't recognize his opponent but she knows he must be strong. She sees Finn and Riveria from afar and recognizes that he must belong to the Loki Familia. And Loki has always hoarded strong familia members.
And Hestia sees Bakugou winning and she assumes he must belong to another strong familia she's not familiar with.
And then Mama Mia comes out and bluntly asks him if he's part of a familia and he lies.
She's not sure if it's compassion because no one should have to suffer Mia's wrath or if it's curiosity because how can someone this strong not have a familia? But she steps in, lying for his sake even as she knows that at any given point in the future he can simply admit he's not one of her familia and Hestia will be branded a liar for all of Orario to know.
But he goes along with it and of course Bell does as well. He knows her thoughts almost as closely as she knows his after all.
And then she spends time getting to know Bakugou. Almost instantly she knows, like Bell, Bakugou has been broken before.
So much of him is a mystery, an enigma but his emotions are so painfully raw that it's not hard for her to understand what lies at his core.
Bakugou Katsuki is a bonfire of rage and frustration that is fueled by a deep hurt and a mountain of insecurity.
Like Bell he has trouble expressing emotion. Though instead of projecting apathy he clings to frustration and anger like a shield.
She's not so prideful that she believes that is all the teenager amounts to but she does know that this explains the root of the behavior she has seen from him.
He's surprisingly entertaining to speak to. When not angrily glaring at her for not understanding something she says, he's colorful. He swears as easily as breathing and she can tell that this is just another language for him. That he feels the only way to adequately convey his thoughts is to curse and yell.
She's never met someone quite like him. There's so few people that speak to deities in such an honest and vulgar manner and she finds it delightful that he's so genuine.
But she can easily imagine how the fight started.
Thankfully, Bell doesn't take offense easily and she's even more grateful that he's grown out of his impressionable phase where he tried tying his hair up like hers and imitating her speech.
It was quite adorable but not so healthy for his burgeoning individuality.
She has to admit that there's greed in her for Bakugou. She undeniably wants such a wonderfully unique mortal in her familia. But Hestia has never been ruled by such whims like other deities.
Hestia wants Bakugou for much the same reason she wanted Bell. She wants to help this broken child heal. Though she somehow doubts Bakugou will ever quite become as domesticated as Bell.
She learned how to help Bell heal, working progress as it is. All she needs is to repeat the same process with Bakugou.
She's quite grateful for the patience that motherhood has brought her. Because she feels that this might take more time than she realizes.
Bakugou stumbles into her room sometime past midnight. The sound of him coming in is rudely loud but must be deliberate.
At least he's considerate enough to warn her that he's invading her privacy.
Hestia sluggishly yawns as she uncurls from Bell's grasp. His soft snores a constant balm on her sudden nervousness.
What could he possibly want this late at night?
Had she pegged him as entirely the wrong person? She'd only known him for a few hours after all.
"Bakugou? It's a bit late." She giggles lightly in spite of the heavy feeling his serious demeanor gives her.
The teen crosses his arms over his chest, stoic as he frowns and looks in the corner of the room.
"Twintails." And there's that nickname of his. While he doesn't insult everyone, she knows his nicknames can be easily conveyed as such.
She takes it as a compliment.
"You know I'm not from this shitty place."
That is an egregious understatement. It is always painfully obvious that nothing of Orario is familiar to Bakugou. He stares oddly silent at the structures and the people and is so confused by their terminology that it makes her laugh at times.
"I don't know who or what brought me here or even how. But I need to fucking go home."
Hestia bites her lip in consternation. "Bakugou, I'm a goddess. I've been around for more time than I can honestly remember."
She looks up at him with remorse in her eyes. "But I've never heard anything about other worlds or any kind of magic that does something like this."
Hestia is astonished by how painful the look of anguish is that crosses his face before it's buried beneath an absolutely furious scowl.
She sees how Bakugou's body tenses in rage and acts before he does something he'll regret. "But I don't know everything. There could very well be something or someone out there that can help you."
Even that doesn't seem to relax him and as she sees him dig his fingers into his palms hard enough to bleed she furiously searches for something, anything to soothe him.
"There's a story." She practically gasps out, mouth moving swifter than thought.
His eyes snap open wide towards her and there's so much raw heartbreak and emotion in them that she continues without even comprehending the consequences of her words.
"It's about the Dungeon. The truth is, even the gods aren't sure what gave birth to it. We don't know how or even why it works the way it does. But there are stories."
Bakugou is hanging onto each and every word that leaves her mouth like a lifeline and she can't help the sinking feeling in her chest.
"That the Dungeon is home to a spring of eternal life that gives birth to its endless hordes of monsters. That there's something down there, something even beyond the gods themselves." There's a bit of hysteria that bubbles up as she ironically speaks blasphemy.
"That if you only reach the end of the Dungeon, any wish you can think of can be granted. Creating something anew like the Dungeon itself. Ridding the world of monsters forever. Even becoming a god. Who can say what that anything encompasses?" She breaths out softly.
"Maybe even something like crossing to other worlds is possible." Hestia is disgusted with herself in that moment.
And Bakugou does exactly what she wants.
"How do I join your familia?"
Hestia is baffled by Bakugou's Status.
"What the hell is a quirk?" She hisses because she can't believe she's messed up her second falna so badly that it reads so incomprehensibly different from Bell's.
Bakugou chuckles for the first time she's met him.
And then in a dark bedroom, with Bell's quiet snoring and the midnight breeze drifting through the window, he tells her about his world of steel monoliths that touch the sky, roaring carriages that drive without horses and heroes and villains that wage war above the skies and below the earth.
When Hestia's fevered visions of costumed mortals with nonsensical and potent abilities end, she has to wonder.
She tried to throw Bakugou a rope to save himself.
But as she drowns in poisonous guilt and acidic self-loathing, she has to wonder.
How long it's going to take Bakugou to hang himself with it.
Author's Note: How did you like it guys? I actually wrote this really fast for my standards and I'm happy to say it meets my standards for quality at the moment. Now, I know a bit about what you guys might say. First, keep in mind I'm a My Hero fan before I'm a Danmachi fan. I don't really keep up with the Danmachi anime or LN's so most of what I know is through fanfiction and the wiki. I've literally only seen the first season and read the first LN so that's about the extent of my canon experience. That said, I'm not going to jump through hoops to keep all of my characters strictly 'in character'. This is fanfiction, I want to see these characters we know go through new situations that will challenge them in ways we haven't seen before. The most drastic example of this is Hestia and Bell. For Hestia, I've tried to dive into her character so much because I think she can play a pretty special role here in the story besides helping her kids level up or comedic relief. I am trying to stay true to her optimistic and bubbly personality but she's a goddess. She's been around for a long time and seen some shit. I also like the idea of her compassion towards mortals being something that stems from a larger problem that plagues every deity. That their existence has become so meaningless that they resort to drastically cruel or insane ideas to create entertainment for themselves. This is a theme that you will see a lot in this story going forward. And that's in contrast to Katsuki who's used to a society with strict laws for supernatural abilities, now being thrust into a city where you basically live by the law of the jungle. Bell on the other hand is and will be completely out of character when compared to his canon self. This Bell is completely inspired by a story from Paulzies called Champions of the Past. That's about all I will say about him for now. I'm sure the smart people can guess. As for Katsuki, I've also taken the liberty of changing up some of the events everyone's familiar with concerning him. (SPOILERS... OBVIOUSLY) For this Katsuki, Japan has been in chaos for nearly a year. Tomura and AFO have both been reigning free for this same time period. But Tomura remains in control of his body while AFO is in control of his own. And they rarely work together. Turns out Tomura has some issues with Sensei trying to take over his body. Because of this the heroes are stretched thin between AFO's attempts to gather an organized villain force and Tomura's mindless destruction. Neither of them are obsessed with gaining OFA for whatever reason whether it be AFO's arrogance that the quirk will eventually find itself in his hands or Tomura's childish pride that he doesn't need a hero's power to create a new world. Honestly, not the best backstory I could've come up with but it serves my purposes in giving Katsuki much more experience and it also lets him come to terms with his newest ability as well. I hope you guys like the name by the way, I thought it was pretty cool. Anyways, that was a long ass AN but I had a lot to say. Again, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review.