Chapter 4: Gadgets and Guardians
The tour was underway, but many had broken off from the large group. Kamanari and Sero were working on getting Mineta out of the tree and to Recovery Girl's office. Bakugo had left the group, seeing it as a waste of his time, and Kirishima went with him to make sure he didn't blow anyone up wherever he went. Finally, Todoroki had left because of a feeling of unease around Wayne, and several texts from his father about when he could train with him again. With that, the group had already introduced their American allies to the classroom hallways, Lunch Rush's cafeteria, and the faculty office if they ever needed to meet with one of the teachers. Before they could turn another corner, Midoriya stopped the large group in its tracks, joined by Iida and Uraraka, all 3 wearing mildly panicked expressions.
Clark: Is… there a problem?
Izuku: N-no! No problem, just… a word of caution.
Tenya: We are about to enter the hallway of the Development Studio and related courses. In our experience, walking down this hallway would require blast protection, so to avoid any incidents in which any of you might be blown up-
Hal: Wait, blown up!?
Ochako: WE will take the lead to make sure it's safe.
The trio hesitantly start to make their way down the hall.
Diana: Do explosions normally happen around this area?
Fumikage: I have heard rumors that this is the case.
Tsuyu: It's usually because of one person. Kero.
Barry: What do you mean?
Fumikage: There are stories of a mad scientist who practically lives in the Development Studio. A girl with an inventively impressive mind, but with a penchant for devices that are self destructive.
Yuga: Oui~ She is a force of destructive prowess.
Rikido: But her tech is really helpful. Her name is-
Clark: GET DOWN!
With a burst of inhuman speed, Kent places himself between the doors of the development studio and the trio of scouts. Not a second later, an explosion blasts the doors from its hinges. Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida duck, expecting to be hit by the blast. Their eyes were locked shut for a minute as they waited. When nothing happened, they opened their eyes and looked to the side, seeing Kent had taken the blast full force. He turns to them, caked in a fine layer of soot and specks of debris. His glasses were snapped in 2, but aside from that, he seemed completely unharmed.
Ochako: Are… are you ok?
He pats away the soot and dust and wipes off his face, before smiling at them.
Clark: I'm fine. You?
Rikido: He isn't even phased…
Barry: That's Clark for you.
From the smoking development studio, the one and only Mei Hatsume steps out, goggles on and is completely covered in soot.
Mei: OKAY! Mental note- copper wiring should ALWAYS be used to keep my babies from overloading… ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES!
Diana: Babies? She has infants in the room?!
Izuku: N-no! No! That's just what she calls her inventions!
Mei: Oh, HEY 10 MILLION! ARE YOU HERE FOR AN UPGRADE!?
Izuku: No, H-Hatsume, I'm just showing some v-visiting students from America around-
Mei: YOU DON'T SAY!? Who do we have? Hm… Glasses 2.0, Green boy, SuperWoman, Sparky 2.0, Sling-Ring, Bruce Wayne, Gill Boy- WAIT, JUST A SECOND! BRUCE WAYNE!?
She is immediately in the face of the boy billionaire.
Mei: WHAT KIND OF BABIES DO YOU HAVE!? DO YOU HAVE ANY JOB OPENINGS IN YOUR COMPANY!? CAN I HAVE MY OWN LAB!? SHOW ME YOUR BABIES!
Kyoka: Jeez! Easy, Hatsume! Heel!
Mei: DON'T TELL ME TO HEEL WHEN YOU HAVE THE CEO OF WAYNE TECH JUST STROLLING AROUND!
Bruce: I take it you're a fan?
He puts on a charming, debonnaire smile.
Mei: Your company is one of the leading authorities on everything from medical tech, to support items, to police gear! It's one of my top 10 places to work, aside from when I make my own company! How would you like to become a sponsor for Hatsume industries?
Bruce: Depends… What kind of inventions do you have?
Momo: Way- er, Bruce… You're not actually considering-
Bruce: Call me curious, Momo.
He was practically dragged into the studio before being shown Hatsume's various "babies' ' and blueprints for "babies' ' at a pace to which even Allen had a hard time keeping up with. She brought out a specific one to Wayne after a tangent on some power armor she was in the process of perfecting.
Mei: I'm not sure what I can do with this one yet, but I'm sure I can find a use for it somewhere!
It looked almost like a walkie-talkie with wires poking out of it, and a small antenna with a circular bulb on the end. She presses the button and it emits a high pitched sound that makes everyone plug their ears.
Mei: SO FAR IT ONLY MAKES THIS HIGH PITCHED RINGING THAT KEEPS GETTING HIGHER! I MADE A SPECIAL PAIR OF EARBUDS TO ADJUST TO THE NOISE! ONE OF THE ONLY PROBLEMS IS THAT WHEN I TESTED THIS A FEW NIGHTS AGO, I GOT SWARMED BY A BUNCH OF BATS!
She presses the off button and everyone uncovers their ears. Wayne Inspects the invention, stroking his chin.
Bruce: … Do you think you can clean this up a bit… make it smaller and… paint it black?
Mei: Pfft, easily! Why?
Bruce: I'll give you 429790.50 Yen ($3,000) if you can do that by the end of the day.
Nearly everyone's eyes widened at the amount of money Wayne was willing to pay the mad scientist, especially for such an odd piece of equipment. Hatsume's own eyes nearly popped from her skull, showing off the cross-hairs around her pupils.
Mei: DEAL!
Wayne hands back the device and pulls out a check, before writing on it and handing it to her.
Mei: This is going to get me SO MANY baby making supplies!
As she turns and gets back to work, Bruce leads the way out of the room.
Momo: I can't believe you spent all that money for a half-made sound device!
Bruce: I saw a good investment and I capitalized on it. I was only able to barely keep track of the inventions she's described, but I can tell she has a gift for her craft. Someone like her deserves more credit than people are willing to give.
Izuku: So… are you able to work up to becoming a hero because of inventions like that?
Wayne stops in place, which makes the others do the same.
Bruce: I was wondering when that was going to come back up.
Momo: Bruce… when we met, you never expressed any interest in becoming a hero… What changed?
Bruce: Nothing changed… at least, when we met. Despite my Quirklessness, I knew that I can't be held back by simple biology. When mankind can't solve a problem on their own, they make their way around it and progress. That's the way things have been before quirks and it will continue that way. Did humans stay in the shadows because they can't see in the dark? Did they stop traveling long distances because their bodies couldn't keep up? No. They learned how to make and sustain fire and light. They invented transportation and learned how to properly carry supplies with them. People today often forget how there was a time before Quirks, and I'm one of the few to remind them that with the right training, the strength of mind, and the right equipment, a Quirkless man can be as great as any Symbol of Peace. That even someone on the "weaker" side of the gene pool can protect the innocent and make sure no one has to lose someone they care about.
His eyes had taken on a steely, hardened look as he spoke. His bachelor's smile had disappeared and a grim scowl had taken its place. It was as if they were now looking at someone else. It was odd, though, that this side of Wayne feels much more natural, as if the charming billionaire boy was simply a disguise of its own. He turns on a heel and continues down the hall.
Tokoyami: There is a darkness hidden within your comrade.
Clark: You've only seen a portion of it… Bruce once told me that his path to where he is now is like looking into the abyss… filled with hardship and suffering… but in the end, as he stared into that abyss… the abyss blinked…
Mashirao: … If Kirishima were here, he would say how manly that is…
Mezo: The question remains… How did he end up looking into the abyss in the first place?
Momo: If I had to guess-
John: His parent's death.
They all turned to Jones. Those who didn't know gasped in shock with slack jaws.
John: When Bruce Wayne was 8 years old, his parents were shot down in an alley in his hometown of Gotham City. The criminal got away and Bruce watched the whole thing happen. It wasn't any super villain, there were no heroes around, and he had no family to console him. It was a mere Quirkless human with a gun…
Kyoka: Oh my god…
Clark: Bruce swore the night after his parents funeral that no one would have to feel the pain he feels ever again. He would wage a 1 man war on crime if he had to and bring fear to the criminal element, no matter who they were or what their powers were.
Izuku: It was like listening to the origin story of a tragic hero. One who had his life yanked out from under him. We were then told about how Bruce had traveled the globe learning from martial arts masters, escape artists, detectives, and scientists to mold his body into the peak form it is now. He took the information like a man obsessed before returning home and becoming a vigilante for a short time… which led him into the hands of Amanda Waller.
Wayne listens to his allies tell his tale of woe, but pays it no mind. His story isn't private and he didn't ask for pity. His focus was on the future ahead of him, as a guardian.
Ochako: So… Are you sure Bruce doesn't mind you… talking about his past like this?
Clark: He trusts us and in turn trusts our judgment when it comes to talking about each other and our histories, though, not all of us have as… grim a past as him.
Barry: We all have our own tragedies, but they aren't really the inciting incidents for our reasons to become heroes.
Tsuyu: So, if you don't mind us asking, what are your pasts like, Kero?
Clark: Well… mine is… kind of embarrassing…
He blushes a little.
Barry: Clark here is a pure, farm raised, country boy.
He and Hal snicker
Clark: C-c'mon guys, you didn't have to phrase it like that!
Tenya: Country boy?
Clark: Yeah… I… grew up on a farm… in Kansas…
Koji: An actual farm? With cows and pigs and sheep?
Uraraka: Oh my!
Clark: Yeah… I would help Pa by making repairs and helping to plow and seed the fields. I can still smell Ma's famous apple pies…
He has a far away look as he takes a deep breath through his nose and smiles.
Izuku: So then… What made you want to be a hero?
Clark: When my… Quirk manifested… I knew I had a responsibility to use it to its best potential… I knew there were people out there who could use help from a guy like me with powers like mine… Ma and Pa told me that if there was ever someone who needed help, I shouldn't bat an eye to their problems. They said I should be there, faster than a speeding bullet, to make sure they can see another sunrise.
He puts his fists on his hips, chest slightly puffed. His broken glasses now hung on his shirt, but that didn't take away from the fact that he looks and sounds like a proper hero in training.
Izuku: I think your parents are right.
Izuku smiles at him.
Izuku: Powers like ours shouldn't be used idly… we need to use what we can to do what we can to save everyone… to be there with a smile on our faces and say "I Am Here"… Just like All-Might.
?: Someone say my name?
The group looks ahead to see a deflated Yagi Toshinori, AKA the retired Symbol of Peace. All-Might.
Yagi: So, these are the visiting students I've heard so much about.
Barry: It's… it's him… it's really him.
Hal: All-Might…
Clark steps forward, moving toward the once greatest hero, before bowing with respect.
Clark: Mr. All-Might, on behalf of everyone, citizen and hero, back in America, we thank you for your services and hope that we can live up to-
A hand is set on his shoulder. Clark looks up to see the sunken-eyed man smiling.
Yagi: There's no need for that, young man. I don't want anyone to live up to me… I want them to live up to the greatest possible hero THEY can be… I can see in your eyes that you have the makings of a great hero… I can see it in your eyes, as well as the eyes of every aspiring hero here in front of me and in the school in its entirety. As long as you can uphold the values of Truth and Justice… I'm sure you can all move the world more than I ever did.
He gives Kent a thumbs up and a final smile before moving past the group.
Yagi: I'll see you all in class. I look forward to seeing what you're all capable of.
He looks Midoriya's way and the duo's eyes lock for a moment.
Yagi: Show them what you can do, Young Midoriya.
Izuku: I'll make you proud, All-Might.
Toshinori goes around the corner at the end of the hall and the students keep staring.
Barry: WOW… So THAT was the Number 1 Hero…
Hal: I've… I've got chills… I've got LITERAL chills…
Diana: His presence… it's like static in the air…
Arthur: How does he do it… even in retirement?
Izuku: That's who All-Might is… he's still an inspiration to others, even after his job is done…
Midoryia's smile grows brighter.
Clark: You're all lucky to have him as a teacher.
Izuku: We're lucky to have him in our lives, period.
Combat class was drawing closer and the students gathered in All-Might's classroom, including those who had split off earlier.
Denki: Wait, he just spent ALL of that money for a gizmo that isn't even finished!?
Kyoka: It sounds crazy, but that's what happened.
Barry: Yeah, Bruce has a very interesting method to life. Either he buys something to take control of it or exploits its weakness.
Hanta: Sounds kind of like a spoiled philosophy…
Barry: Oh, I don't mean that in a bad way… for example, when Clark's farm was about to get foreclosed on, he bought the bank that was gonna do it.
Nearly everyone stares in shock for what felt like the 10th time that day.
1A: HE BOUGHT A BANK!?
Bruce: It wasn't a big bank.
Barry: Bruce, as your friend, I have to say… money is your Quirk.
Bruce: You know very well there's more to me than money.
Barry: Trust me, I know.
He turns to the rest of the class again.
Barry: Bruce helped all of us during our time training together… He even solved a case that police back home never solved correctly.
Izuku: An actual police case?
Barry: Yeah, one that I've even been working on since it happened, when I was 7.
Ochako: What do you mean?
Barry: Well…
He takes a deep breath.
Barry: On the night my Quirk emerged, my mom was… killed…
Ochako: Oh… I'm so sorry…
Barry: Everyone was… and still is… especially when they heard that my dad had done it.
Shoto: Your father?
Barry: I refused to believe he had done it. My dad was a doctor like Bruce's. He'd never so much as hurt my mom, let alone kill her. He was put in prison for a crime I know he didn't commit.
Tenya: So… what happened?
Bruce: I found out about Barry's investigation earlier on in our time together. I offered my services to which he accepted with hesitance.
Barry: It was a sore subject, so you guys can understand why I didn't want too many people to know about it.
Bruce: With our minds and a fresh perspective on the case, I found evidence that there was someone else there the night Barry's mom was murdered. Between the murder itself and Barry's manifestation, the officers and heroes on the case overlooked pieces of evidence.
Tsuyu: So then… who did it?
Barry: We still don't know… but with the newfound evidence, Bruce and I got my dad released from prison… All we know is that whoever did it was capable of committing the crime without being seen, that he used the electrical interference caused by my Quirk or potentially even his own, so he couldn't be caught on camera, and he's still out there…
Bruce: I managed to retrieve the file on the case and found traces of a yellow friction-proof rubber and silicone polymer at the scene of the crime. Such a combination is used in several suits and costumes for heroes and villains alike, especially if their quirk has fast paced motion.
Barry: And neither of my parents were heroes or villains, and I had just gotten my quirk that night.
Ejiro: Freaky… it's cool that your dad is free, but… who could have killed your mom? And why?
Barry: Isn't that the question of the decade? Everyone loved my mom. She didn't have any fights with anyone… I'd never heard her raise her voice… There are no other reports of a killing like this from what Bruce and I have read through… whoever it was… it was someone in a yellow suit… and my dad was the scapegoat.
Katsuki: Are all of you American weirdos so damn dramatic with your backstories!?
Hal: Sorry that our family trauma is annoying you "Spike".
Katsuki: What'd you call me, you jewelry wearing bastard!?
Before it could escalate, The American students were in their seats. It was like a switch had gone off on them as their backs went straight and their eyes locked forward. All-Might walks in, though he seems slightly more on edge than before. It could have something to do with Waller walking in behind him. The other students got to their seats immediately, out of respect for their teacher.
Izuku: How did they know that Principle Waller and All-Might were about to walk in? Did they hear them outside the door? Did one of them see All-Might outside?
All-Might: Good! You're all here! Principle Waller and I have made the arrangements in Ground Gamma for your combat exercise, so grab your hero uniforms, and get suited up.
Amanda: To my students, your uniforms are already in the locker rooms. Don't keep us waiting.
Now Class 1A would see what these visiting students were capable of.