I finally did it. I got this movie arc wrapped in time for my birthday, and let me tell you. It's been an utter pain in the urine pods. But anyway, after plenty of help from Galileo, Bearshark, and G-Viral, I wrapped this arc and can now take a breather.
So naturally, I've already started a brief bridge chapter between this and the Training Camp. I already fudged the timeline a bit, so this will be the rest stop.
There is a lot of character stuff going on here. Some revelations are made, major developments happen, and a man dies. I want to thank Viral again for cocreating Missy with me. Fun fact: She's named after a band from the 80s. Mission of Burma. One of their best known songs inspired her quirk too.
We'll see her again. We'll see the Shields again too, especially Melissa. This was a very key arc despite being based on a movie with little bearing on the main plot of MHA.
I struggled a lot with this arc but I also had a lot of fun with the themes, the development, and that ending. It's been a long time coming, but someone else is now in on the secrets of All-for-One and One-for-All. We'll see what's up with that next time.
Before I wrap this up, I want to say a few things. The entire Walk Saga turns 5 years old on the 28th but that's not all. We've just breached 200K words! Milestones upon milestones! No promises, because finances are tough, but I'll try to celebrate it right.
I hope you all enjoyed this arc and that the next chapter is fun.
Because on the 3rd night of the Training Camp...it gets real.
See y'all later.
And don't forget to comment. Feedback is much appreciated. Ciao for now~!
—-
The scene was tense as the entire building locked down. Elevators stopped, windows shuttered, and nobody could get in or out, only around via stairs.
Izuku watched as Jirou tried the elevators and Iida tried to call for help. He pondered aloud as he tried to come up with a plan. "That's no good. Melissa, is there a way to get to the party to see what's going on?"
Melissa nodded and pointed in the direction of the exit. "Yes. Right through those doors, there is a balcony overlooking the party. We can get a better look there. I can only imagine what's going on outside."
Mina paused before asking. "Why? What's going on outside? I can't check because there's no signal on my phone."
"Probably the security drones. They look a bit like 80s Doctor Who robots, but are equipped with defense protocols to take down villains. Now they're aimed at the people in the streets."
Mina looked nervously towards the door, then cursed herself for missing out on the robots. Izuku patted her on the back, and thought about the other pink-haired girl he knew that was into vintage style robots. Perhaps he could introduce her to Melissa, but that was irrelevant now. He placed his focus back on the subject at hand.
"We're probably worse off here, with the gunshots in the distance."
"Something's not quite right. Security is on high alert, but a bomb should have been found and disposed of fairly quickly." Melissa pondered. "The security exit stairs should take us where we need to go."
Izuku pondered aloud as Melissa stood by. "Hopefully there is no danger, since All-Might is present…Although…"
"What's the matter? If All-Might's there, there should be no issue." Kaminari piped up, confident that everything would be alright. Izuku, however, was skeptical.
Izuku shook his head. "That's the thing. He would have taken care of it fairly quickly, or at least one of the pros would have. I have a bad feeling. Melissa, lead the way."
"Right. Follow me." The quirkless blonde beckoned the hero students to follow her, and follow her they did. Little could they know just what awaited them that night.
X
The main banquet hall was filled to the ceiling with tension. Wulfram paced back and forth, his masked army training guns on all the civilians as the heroes were indisposed due to the security system. He walked before David with a sinister smirk on his face, playing up his every move with theatric flare.
"Well, now. David Shield. Isn't this an honor? This one of your boys?"
"...Yes. Sam is my assistant," Dave reluctantly answered.
Wulfram glanced the professor over, sizing him up. "Alright then, we're taking him and you're coming with us."
"And if I refuse?" Dave was once again hesitant, yet defiant.
"Well then…" Wulfram pointed his gun at Sam's head, then towards All-Might, and finally the door before holstering it. "You have someone on this island whose dying screams would haunt your dreams, right? So that's three dead bodies, four once we count yours. Now then, Dr. Shield, are you going to keep playing defense or will you come quietly?"
As David walked out the door with the villains, the hostages stood by in despair. Among them, several pro heroes gritted their teeth and tried to think of what to do. He hadn't felt so helpless since the day he had lost his master. The time with the mushrooms was close, or at least as close as he could remember.
All-Might looked to the ceiling in contemplation, as the chandelier lights seemed so blinding and bright. It was a vicious irony, given how dark things were looking. The hero, however, found hope. There was a particularly glaring area as a young man in a suit shined a mirror towards him to get his attention.
"Young Midoriya?" The man whispered.
Jirou placed her jacks into the floor and listened in as All-Might spoke. Her nerves were through the roof, but this was by no means their first villain encounter. Apparently Izuku, Mina, and Kirishima had encountered more than that.
"The villains have taken over the entire tower. You kids need to get out of here."
"We can't leave." Izuku stated solemnly.
"Midoriya…I know you want to prove yourself, especially in the wake of your practical exam and all that has happened, but…"
"There's literally no escape. No way in, no way out. We have experience with this, though. We have all encountered villains, bar a few of us, and are training for this. We will do what we can."
"Midoriya, I cannot abide. This would be vigilantism, would it not be?"
"Quirk use is more openly used here, though there are still laws, but it's not like we have a choice. All-Might, remember when you quizzed Mina and I about I Island?"
The pro went silent for a bit, then whispered. "Yeah. This place is as tough as Tartarus. It's even got some of the same defense protocols. Every pro in this building is restrained, myself included. Only Godzillo could provide any backup, but he is probably standing down to avoid causing damage."
Melissa responded in a downtrodden but thoughtful tone. "The defenses probably got him too. They can handle kaiju level quirks, so it's not like he'll be able to help anyway."
Izuku looked at Mina, and she looked back at him. All-Might's successor spoke calmly. "We'll be back. We just need a gameplan."
All-Might responded quietly and carefully, making sure not to arouse suspicion. "Good luck, whatever the outcome is. And please…stay safe."
X
The students regrouped, trying to figure out what to do. The sound of the armed villains and the frightened hostages barely made it through the door. They kept their voices hushed as they took stock of who was missing and what they could do.
"Midori Rush is right. There is a way to save the heroes and fix things. The villains don't seem to be totally used to the protocols, as they have not harmed civilians or us. The passwords and authentication locks have likely been disabled, so we will need to do a system reboot. If we can do that…"
"The heroes will be free and we can leave it to them, no need to fight anyone. Alright. We need a plan. Melissa, is there a way to recapture the tower?"
"Yeah. Follow me. I know the best route." The blonde girl nodded. "Wait, is this all of you?"
"Some of them got lost, apparently. I hope they're ok." Iida spoke nervously and adjusted his glasses. "We'll have to try and catch up later. Onward."
Momo halted the group. "But if the villains are on the top floor, can we really avoid fighting before we restart the system? It will likely be heavily guarded."
"We fight without fighting. Pacifist run!" Mina squealed. "Yaomomo can make some items to distract the villains, Ochako can float them, I can make slippery puddles for them to trip on, and Melissa can hack the system. Plus, Setsuna and Pony can serve as diversions too."
Jirou laughed a little. "Looks like old Cotton Candy's got a plan. How about you, Mr. Mosshead?"
Izuku blinked, looking downwards as a tiny smile formed across his face. "Heh. That was a funny nickname. Ok. That sounds like as good a plan as any. We'll reset the system and free the heroes. We can't just ignore our instincts and do nothing, especially when the pros are out of commission."
"Count me in. I want to help. Whether we're licensed or not yet, there are people that need help and I want to do what I can," Ochako chimed in, feeling a spark in her belly.
"You already know I'm in. How about you, Jirou?"
"Of course. You know it. I'm ready to go. Momo?"
Momo closed her eyes and cleared her throat before speaking. "Well if you're going, I suppose I will too."
Jirou breathed a sigh of relief, but still felt guilty. She had to make amends. "Awesome. But also, uh…sorry for getting flustered and running off. I had fun with you earlier."
Momo's eyes lit up as she gazed back at the punk girl. "Likewise. I really enjoyed it. We should focus though."
Iida stood there, out voted and a little apprehensive. Still, he smiled at his friends. "I suppose if there's danger, I'll have to run us to safety. Let's go save the heroes then."
"Yeah. We've got this. And Izuku?"
"Yeah?"
"We've all got this. If you start feeling like you're losing confidence, hold my hand. I'll pull you out," Mina reassured while shooting him a tender smile.
Izuku felt light, like he could cry right there. The time for tears would be later, though. For now, it was time to be a hero. He stepped for the door, nervous but determined. "Right. No turning back. Together."
X
The party of teenagers ran up the stairs, feeling their legs burn as they cleared flight after flight. In a tired fit, Kaminari ran for a door, much to everyone's exasperation.
"No, don't!" Melissa shouted, reaching for the boy as he opened it. The security system flared, signaling the robots to descend upon the party.
"Dumbass!" Jirou stomped on Kaminari's foot, chastising him swiftly.
The students fought back but beat a hasty retreat, running for the top. Little did they know that they were being watched. Eventually they reached an atrium area, framed by planters and greenery. Kaminari looked around.
"Sorry about the door, everyone. I'll have to make it up to you."
"We won't hold it against you, dude." Kirishima patted his friend on the back.
Jirou smirked teasingly. "I will. Melissa, where is this?"
"Wait. Somebody's coming. Everybody hide."
The group hid behind the tallest planter, feeling on edge as they watched the elevator open its doors. Three villains stepped out, two men and one woman.
"I see you kids. Stop messing around or we'll drag you out."
"Now now. No need to be rude. My friends and I got lost on our way to the ballroom and we're simply trying to get back. I thought this pleasant young lady could help, being American and all."
"That's not how it works, Monoma!" Pony pouted. "This is my first time on I Island!"
Missy stepped out of the elevator, pushing the other villains aside. Pony turned pale and gritted her teeth, whispering her realization to her friends. They looked at her in concern as she took the lead, stepping in front of them. "I know her. You've fought Snipe. And my aunt! And Skycrawler. I thought they had put her behind bars! Stand behind me, I'll take this."
Missy retorted as she holstered her gun and smirked. "Well lookie here. You think this little class outing will drive us back? I've tussled with worse. Don't worry. I'm not here to kill any kids. I don't use my bullets on kids or anyone vulnerable."
Pony gave a sigh of relief before being sent flying by a kick. She winced in pain as she dusted herself off. She took an offensive stance, causing the gunwoman to scoff.
"Doesn't mean I won't rough you up, cowgirl. I'm still meant to apprehend anyone crazy enough to interfere, so surrender and I'll make it easy on you. Can't guarantee the same for these ugly hombres," Missy stood her ground, drawing the ire of her uneasy allies as she insulted them.
"Did you really have to go and say that? You know I'm self conscious about my appearance," Daigo exhaled in agitation.
Missy barked at the man in frustration. "Go to therapy then. We've got a bunch of kids to take care of. We need that quirk of yours to do it."
"Would you really say three is a bunch?"
Pony looked taken aback but determined. She was sick of being lost in an unfamiliar location and being cornered by villains. What's more, even though she was scared, she could be of help here, by engaging an enemy that was on her radar.
Stepping to the front of her class once more, in as brave a fashion as possible, she addressed her foe sternly. "Missy Burma! I may not be a pro yet, and we may be lost, but I am going to make you move out of the way. Please. Don't make this hard. We just want to leave."
"Well isn't that cute. The little farm animal thinks she can intimidate me." Missy chuckled, tipping the brim of her hat upwards with her gun. "Wait…Don't tell me that slab of dried Beef is related to you. Is she an aunt? Mother? Grandma? Frankly I don't care. Your friend with the lizard dress is more intimidating."
Setsuna leaned in to her friend and whispered. "I hate agreeing with a villain, but she's not wrong."
Pony turned to face her friend in a huff. "Whose side are you on Tokage?"
Setsuna laughed a bit, then spoke again. "Yours, of course. Alright, then. Who is she?"
Before Pony could give a proper explanation, Missy stepped in. "This is taking too long. Boys, take em down. If they use any projectiles, I'll lay down suppressive fire. I don't think these kids will be too tough, especially Cow Lady Jr. over there."
In a flash, a wall of ice shot out, alerting the villains to the arrival of the 1A students. Kirishima and Todoroki took point, engaging with the weasel faced villain and his compatriot.
Unfortunately, the attack didn't last long, as Daigo broke through the frozen barricade. He slammed a fist into Kirishima, who had stepped in to protect Todoroki. Izuku watched all this, lamenting the "No fighting" plan, but he supposed it couldn't be helped at this point. It was clearly going to take time and effort the teens couldn't afford to expend all at once.
Todoroki looked up at hole in the ceiling and shouted to his friends. "Get on!"
Izuku, Kaminari, Iida, and the girls were all sent up on an ice pillar as Monoma, Kirishima, and Todoroki stood their ground against the villains.
"KIRISHIMA!" Setsuna cried out desperately as she reached a hand out. The boy just gave her a bashful smile before directing his focus downwards.
After the pillar reached its destination, the remaining hero students faced off with the villains.
Todoroki slid around on his ice as the weasel-faced villain slashed through and displaced his trail at breakneck speed. "You're keeping up rather well. This isn't good. I'll have to go faster."
He put up an ice wall to try and contain the villain. Unfortunately, the other villain broke through it in a hulking beast form. His muscles bulged and his hair grew down the length of half his back.
"Try not to lose yourself, Daigo. I'd rather deal with these brats and move on with the job. Boss man's probably already headed there himself," the weasel-faced villain addressed him.
Daigo spat defiantly, taking great pride in his strength and control. "Fuck off, Nobu. I can tank them all," the beastly villain growled while he still had some semblance of self control.
"You idiots look like you've got these brats. I'm chasing the others," Missy shouted back towards her two compatriots, already seeking to move on.
Nobu's webbed fingers spread out as he smacked through the ice with enlarged claws. The displaced ice left traces of snow, falling to the ground like diamond dust. The clawed villain shot a belligerent look towards Missy as he chastised her. "Don't you dare ditch us. Boss sent you down here. You follow orders."
Missy was already over it, however. If she couldn't even shoot anyone with her quirk and just had to resort to what she saw as 'glorified goonsitting', then she saw no reason to linger. "So we're just…going to let those kids get away. Two of them are All-Might's tagalongs and one is David Shield's daughter. You're just going to let high priority targets slip through your fingers?"
Nobu slammed Todoroki into a wall and held up a webbed claw to finish the job. "Go ahead if you want, then. It's your ass, not mine."
Missy scoffed as she cocked her gun. "My sentiments exactly. Oh…you might want to stay alert, dipshit."
Nobu looked back to see himself getting flash frozen. Doing a double-take, he broke the ice at the last moment. "Fuck, that's cold. You little ba-" Nobu was cut off by his partner being thrown his way.
"A little Scarlet special," Kirishima exclaimed with a grin before doing a fully hardened elbow drop. Unfortunately, he was intercepted by Daigo before the move could connect.
"Denied, spike. Here. Let me show you how it's done." He grunted in agitation as he slammed the teen into the ground.
"Pardon me. Can I cut in?"
Monoma felt himself get stronger, though the mutation did not fully take hold.
He punched the villain away and reached out a hand to help Kirishima up. "You may thank me now."
Daigo got back up and roared with anger. "You little shit!"
Todoroki slid in and created a wall of fire at the last moment, causing Daigo to flinch in surprise.
"Sorry, big guy. I'm hard to put down."
Kirishima delivered several strong punches to Daigo's jaw before finishing him off in unison with Monoma. The two unconscious villains were frozen in ice. And left in a corner.
"Should we take the elevator?" Kirishima asked, looking towards where the villains had come from.
"I think the third villain took that way, so it might take a while. Might be a better bet going…" Todoroki looked up to see where his ice pillar from before had blocked the exit. "I didn't think that through."
The bell of the elevator rang its electric tone as the doors opened. Kirishima and Todoroki looked over to see that Monoma had already decided for them.
"Elevator it is, boys. Going up!"
X
The group arrived at a humid industrial room, its atmosphere a red haze of pipes and steam.
"This is a maintenance floor. We should be careful. It's one of the main hubs for the security drones."
Iida nodded sternly and started to jog in place. The speedster spoke to his comrades. "We should get a move on then."
Izuku looked down at the pit, concerned for his friends. Iida clapped a hand on his shoulder and spoke again. "We can do this. We'll save the heroes, then leave it to them."
"I should have done more to help. Kirishima, Todoroki, Monoma…"
"They'll be ok. All we can do is trust in them and act swiftly. I still think it's best not to take the law into our own hands, especially after Hosu. However, you're right about one thing. We can not leave it to the pros when they are incapacitated."
Momo chimed in, walking up behind her vice president. "Iida is correct. If we want to save everyone, we need to free the pro heroes."
Izuku gave a weak smile, trembling as he spoke. "Sorry I'm not exactly a leader in the field. I couldn't…"
It was Kaminari's turn to speak. He took a deep breath, then shouted. "Oi! Don't beat yourself up so much, dude. Look…take it from someone who is seen as a joke. Bottom of the class, rendered a mess by my quirk…but you? You're one of the best dudes I've ever met. I haven't always shown that, probably because of jealousy, but I'm saying it now. You've got this, Midoriya. Leave it to us!"
Everyone was taken aback by this outburst. Iida wanted to chastise the other boy, but was stopped by Mina, who pointed to her boyfriend. Izuku looked upon his friend with wide eyes and a contemplative expression. Behind him, Melissa gazed at the boy with surprise and a growing sense of admiration.
This was certainly a side she hadn't seen of Kaminari yet. Granted, they had only met today, but he had mostly come off as a goofball. UA students were certainly full of surprises, but they definitely stood out. Melissa had no idea where these thoughts came from, or why. However, there was something almost gallant about the way Kaminari had stepped up, but those were thoughts best saved for later.
"Besides, I got us into this mess. Now let me clean it up, even just a little," Kaminari continued with a smile. He stood his ground and took another deep breath. "This is going to render me useless, so don't let me slow you down. I'll catch up."
Jirou shouted, not wanting her friend to hurt himself. "Don't be an idiot!"
And yet he fired back. "I will in a second. Find someplace safe, Jirou. I don't want you all being caught in the collateral, so don't touch anything metal just yet!"
Izuku watched in awe as his classmate unleashed an electrical assault on the drones,
Izuku rushed forward and wound up a punch. "Full cowling: 30% Carolina Smash!"
The row of security drones was sent careening as the group made their way towards the next flight of stairs.
Carrying his incapacitated classmate on his back, Iida walked alongside the rest.
"There should be a door here. There it is."
Setsuna looked at a vent above the door. "Mina, can you melt that grate? I think I can get a hand and an eye through there so I can let us all in."
"That's some fast thinking, Tokage."
"Daughter of a doctor and a professor, baby. Plus I'm a recommended student. Can my lovely assistants help?"
Mina stood on Izuku's shoulders and melted through the grate enough for it to be removed. "Your turn. Climb up and yank it."
"Mina, you should work on your phrasing."
"We can worry about that later. Sets, are you set?"
Setsuna gave a sharp smirk, then detached her right hand and left eye. "Easy peezy. Let me just crawl in…"
Her eye moved along with her hand as it crawled through the vent. As it got to the other side, she gave a thumbs up with her remaining hand.
"There we go. One open door, coming up."
X
It wasn't long until they were all in the server room, the nervous system of the tower, and indeed the entire Island. They were nearing the top floor at a surprising pace. Unfortunately, they were also soon overwhelmed by the security robots again. Wave after wave rose up from the floor, advancing on the rescue party.
Setsuna took a step forward, looking over her shoulder at her friends. She wondered what the ones in the planter room were up to. All she knew, though, was that everyone was doing their best. Now it was her turn.
She could do far more than infiltration, after all. With hesitation at first, Setsuna addressed her comrades. "Guess we're going to have to split this party up. Pony, go with Midoriya and the others. We'll handle these angry roombas."
Izuku protested. "No. We can find another way. We'll all make it to the top together."
"It's not like we're going to die here. These may be terrorists, but they haven't killed anyone yet. They clearly could, with the heroes out of commission. Something's up, so go sort it out," Setsuna brushed off his concerns, or rather, she tried to alleviate them. "This is how I can help for now."
Pony was not having it. "Don't be stupid! You could get…get…" She didn't even want to think about what could happen to her friend. She was worried enough about Monoma and the others.
Setsuna smiled and reassured her. "I'll catch up. I promised, right? A bunch of robots? We trained for this. I'll even brag to Mina's cute friend when we meet up."
Izuku felt frustrated. He knew what would be the best option, and he trusted his friends, but the choice did not sit well with him.
"Hey. She's right. We'll all catch up, but you have to get Melissa up top. Me and the Poindexter will handle it from here," Jirou chimed in, giving a wink as she gestured to Momo, Setsuna, and Iida. "When Jamming Whey wakes up, We'll get out of here faster. I promise. I need to see how your training has panned out."
Izuku bit his lip and closed his eyes as the words cut to his core. "Alright. Let's go. They've got this. I have faith in my friends and my student council members. As long as they promise to meet with us later."
The robot drones advanced, increasing in number with every one that was destroyed. Izuku managed to take several out, as did Mina and Pony. Ochako used her gravity quirk to levitate a few, then drop them to the ground with a clatter.
Jirou looked over at Momo, cheeks flushed red as she spoke. "Momo…if we don't get out of this, I want to apologize for running off."
"If this wasn't tense as hell due to killer robots, I would be punching the air right now," Mina cautioned.
"Kyouka, we will get out of this. For now, we have to buy some time and hold these robots off, the best we can."
Jirou blushed, unable to take her eyes off of Momo. Her heart kept beating faster, but she had to focus up and do her best.
"Right. And after this…Um…I'll tell you later."
"I'll hold you to that." Momo panted, feeling the exhaustion as she overused her quirk. "Why are you still here, Ashido? Get going. We will catch up with the rest of you!"
X
As everyone else was gradually left behind to take down villains, only five teens were remaining as they climbed to the top floor.
Pony looked concerned, having to have left her classmates behind, while also being ineffective against someone her aunt could beat, albeit with help.
"Cheer up, Pony. You're in good company. A fellow American girl, a fellow nerd, and a fellow hornbuddy. Plus a fellow cutie-patootie with Ochako," Mina teased, trying to help soothe her friend's nerves. Hers were pretty shot as well, if she was being honest.
"I guess. Sorry. I just want to do more to help. I came to UA all the way from Arizona to go to the same school as All-Might and Snipe. I want to show I'm worth it…Sorry. I know this is important and I shouldn't worry about such things."
Izuku listened intently, turning Pony's words over in his head, again and again. He could connect to her feelings and yet here he was, still so down. He wasn't alone in any of it.
Unfortunately, they were pursued by the gunwoman from earlier.
"Well well. Ain't this a fun bunch. All-Might's little Mightsketeers, Cow Lady Jr, and David Shield's pride and joy. And who are you, rosy cheeks?" Missy approached, gesturing with her gun towards Ochako.
"None of your business," the Gravity girl glared at the villain.
"Oh, see, that's where you're wrong. Putting punkass heroes down to fulfill the contracts my clients designate. Unfortunately, I am essentially on a short leash and having a rough day. So how about you kids come quietly before you get overly familiar with my size 9s. Does that sound like a good deal?"
"Izuku, listen. You, Ochako, and Melissa head to the top. We'll catch up."
"No. Come on. There are armed villains. Let's face her together." The green-haired boy pleaded. His girlfriend held his hands and smiled..
"And I'm a hero student with acid hands. Those funky droids are going to arrive at any moment and make this whole thing messier. Pony and I have got this. I'll see you after this, baby boy. It's like I told you: I've got your back. Pinky promise."
The door shut, leaving Mina and Pony behind as Izuku screamed. He knew what he had to do. He knew his girlfriend and friends were more than capable. It didn't make it easier. "Alright. Let's go."
Ochako looked at her friend with concern, speaking softly while Melissa stood by helplessly. "Izuku? You ok?"
"...We need to keep going, so we can save everyone. We're freeing All-Might, we're getting Mina and Pony back, and everyone else."
Ochako frowned, feeling unsure as she watched her friend struggle to keep his emotions in check. She could have sworn she saw flickers of black as electricity sparked off his body.
"Of course we will. Our friends are too tough to get taken down, hero students or not. We've faced bigger robots than this. You and Melissa need a boost?"
Izuku was too distracted to feel flustered by his proximity to Melissa. "Hold tight. We're heading up."
Out of nowhere, more security drones closed in, starting to swarm the area.
"Ochako! Come with us!"
"Nah…sorry. I'll catch up. Still haven't nailed the whole 'not vomiting' thing yet. Just do your best, Midori Rush. You're the one who can turn that Deku into Dekiru." She gave a thumbs up as Izuku turned his eyes upward, burning with determination as Melissa screamed in anguish over another new friend being overwhelmed.
Kirishima, Monoma and Todoroki burst in at the last moment to assist Ochako.
Izuku's eyes lit up. "Guys!"
"Missed us, huh?" Monoma asked with a flourish.
Todoroki shouted towards him. "Stop messing around. Grab my fire side, then let Kirishima throw you."
"Is there a reason for this?" The boy curled an eyebrow as he spoke. "Oh, right. The fan. Leave it to me," Monoma grabbed hold of Todoroki, then ran towards Kirishima.
Using the trajectory of his strong schoolmate, Monoma redirected the fan towards Izuku and Melissa.
Seeing an opening, Izuku used the boost from the fan to aim for the tower and punched straight through.
X
Izuku and Melissa ran towards the main control room, ready to reset everything and call it a day. Hopefully then, their friends would all be safe. And yet, something was wrong. There, near a giant vault, were Sam and Professor Shield, celebrating.
"We did it. It took some planning and a grand act, but we finally have what we need," Dave declared joyously.
The celebrations were cut short, however, by a tearful Melissa and a confused and frustrated Izuku.
"Papa, why? Why did you do this?"
"Melissa…I…it's not…" The exasperated professor broke down. He had to come clean. "You have to understand. I did this for All-Might…his quirk isn't what it used to be and he's losing strength every day. If I can use this on him, we can restore him to…"
Izuku was shaking. He couldn't believe all this. He was beside himself at this moment and ready to lash out. "Professor Shield…do you really think he would agree to that? I get it…A world without All-Might is scary and uncertain, and I would probably do whatever I could for who I love…BUT YOU ARE LITERALLY SMARTER THAN THIS! Please stop this and make the right choice. Put this back, let us reset the security system, and then you and All-Might need to have an open dialogue."
"Not to mention what Midoriya and his classmates went through to save the hostages. They fell behind because of all this!" Melissa backed him up.
David was stunned, unable to believe what he had just heard. And yet, deep down, he knew it to be so. "What do you mean? They're actors. Fake villains. It should have been an act."
"Oh I assure you, Professor Shield. It was a ruse alright. But you were the one who got played. Sam, the briefcase." David Shield's assistant brandished a gun, taking everyone by surprise. Everyone, that is, but his secret business partner. Wulfram stepped from the shadows, making himself known
Dave was stunned, barely able to get the words out. "S-Sam?"
Sam had no time for it, however. He had frankly had enough. "I deserve payment and recognition for my work, not to slavishly stand in a hand-me-down shadow. You're totally going to prison for this. You're tanking your reputation on a little practical joke to get back an invention we worked on…all to keep that old flame of yours burning and clinging to relevance…It's my turn, David. I'm taking the stage now."
A gunshot rang out as Sam was shot through the shoulder. Wulfram sneered as he spoke.
"On the contrary Dr. Doughy. You're taking your final bow."
The villain aimed his gun at Sam's head and pulled the hammer back. The blonde man's eyes widened as he became subject to his own sudden yet inevitable betrayal.
"Sam, no!"
"Don't try to play hero now, doc. You can never go back now. Your career as a scientist and a researcher are over. You're no different than us." Wulfram lectured. "Which is why you're going to help me mass produce this little toy of yours."
"I…I've had a rough day. Rough few days. Has everyone gotten their betrayals out of the way?" Izuku panted, having tackled Sam out of the way. "Nobody's dying today!"
"It's cute that you think you have a say, kid."
"Midoriya…I'm sorry. This is all my fault."
"You can apologize when we get you out of this safe. You really need to talk to All-Might. Stuff like this isn't healthy…Sorry. I'm out of line."
"No, you're not wrong. If anything, you probably get it. Sorry I made a mess of things." Dave apologized.
"We'll get you somewhere safe."
Izuku rushed towards Wulfram, getting smacked around by the metal of the floor as it shot off in tendrils towards the boy. He dodged narrowly as he closed in on the villain. His heart pumped wildly as sparks danced around his body.
His muscles burned as he increased the intensity of his movements by 1%. With the full gauntlets, it felt like a breeze.
"Guack!" Izuku coughed as he was slammed into a wall by one of the tendrils. He was down an arm and somewhat exhausted, but he couldn't give up yet.
"Mina…please hold on."
X
Mina stood her ground against the female villain. She had hoped that Izuku had made it to the control tower's top floor by now and taken the villains out. Something didn't sit well with her about it though. Either way, she was hoping she could join Izuku at the top and provide backup.
"Wait. I saw you at the airport! When we were still in Japan!"
"Caught me red handed, Pinky. I was already there for another job when a frequent client of mine came by with a new target and a new paycheck."
"H-How do you know my hero name?"
"Wait…is that seriously your hero name? That's…kind of on the nose."
"I think it's cool."
"Thanks, Pony."
"Enough of this. I can just shoot you both right here."
"You won't shoot me."
"Do you want to bet, kid?"
"Exactly. Kid. You don't kill kids. You said that earlier when you pistol whipped my boyfriend, remember?" Mina crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at the gunslinger. "I don't always pay attention in class but I pay attention in the field. So let me go to the top floor so I can kick that Mankind looking dick's crusty ass with my boyfriend."
"You're making me rethink that policy. Move. This isn't worth it."
"I call your bluff. Think you can take me? Go ahead on."
Missy lowered her gun and walked away. "My boss ain't gonna be happy. Whatever. I'm freelance."
"Wait, you're letting us go?"
"Don't be so relieved. Those tin cans are closing in. I'm no hero. I will never shoot a kid…especially with my quirk…but that doesn't mean I'm saving your hides. You're the heroes. That's your territory."
Missy spat her words condescendingly, putting up a shield to deflect any insinuations of her being in any way noble.
Mina called her bluff. "Then how about we make a wager. If you can take out more of these things than us, we let you go. If we take more out or it's a tie, you come with us?"
Missy pondered it over for a moment and looked at her trigger finger. She could feel the tingle and twitch of her quirk before she silenced it.
"I respectfully decline. As much as I appreciate a good challenge, I'm not easily duped. If you take them out, it doesn't benefit me at all. In fact, it seems to me like you're roping me into doing your dirty work and, frankly, that ain't my kinda rodeo. I've got another score to settle."
Missy placed a device on the door, opening it and closing it within minutes. She was through the door and out of sight before Mina could even say a word.
Mina looked at Pony, agitated but in no way unmotivated. "Guess it's just you and me, pardner."
Pony huffed in response. "I don't sound like that…but I think I like our odds."
The two girls stood their ground and braced for the coming battle. Just then, they heard the familiar voice of Kirishima.
"Howdy, Horn buddies! Care to make this a party?" He asked with a grin, causing both girls to grin from ear to ear. The cavalry had arrived.
X
Izuku took a deep breath. There were three people in need of saving at the moment, one without a quirk. His whole life up to that point replayed in his mind, as if reminding him of what was important. Melissa refused to run away, which was dangerous. However, what he was doing was just as dangerous, if not more.
"Melissa, get behind me and work on getting that system rebooted. If anything approaches you, run and hide."
"What are you going to do?"
Izuku smiled at her. "The best I can. Now move. I'll cover you, then I'll save your dad and everyone else. And just to finish off, I'll take this guy down."
Swordkil lunged for the boy but he left into the air and landed on the villain's sword arm, stomping it onto the floor.
"Full Cowling: 6%! Detroit Smash: Pinky Style!" Izuku delivered the All-Might staple square to the villain's jaw, but as a devastating uppercut. The young hero stepped off the blade at the last minute so that he launched the blade villain into the ceiling. Then, as Swordkil fell to the floor, Izuku jumped once more and gave a vicious right hook, this time with a Delaware Smash.
The villain careened and ragdolled as he hit the floor in a heap. Without missing a beat, Wulfram used his quirk to assault Izuku with the room itself, shooting out like mad, metallic tentacles.
David and Wulfram were gone, as was the briefcase. "Son of a bitch! Grrrrrr…"
Izuku made for the nearest door, coming to the conclusion that Wulfram would be making a break for it with his hostage in tow. The young hero threw open the door and ventured outside, where he was greeted by the loud whirring noise of propellers. Sure enough, there was a helicopter descending onto the roof, ready to extract Wulfram and Dave.
Injured from his previous fights, but in no way deterred, Izuku forged on. The night air blew through his hair and filled his lungs. It was like a bellows for the fire in his belly right now. Melissa was doing her job with the security, so now it was up to him to save her dad.
"You give…Professor Shield back right now!" Izuku demanded, doing everything he could to catch his breath.
Wulfram shouted back in response as he fired his gun at the boy. "Sorry, Junior, the adults are talking. Or do you want to be put in time out?"
The villain used his quirk to attack the boy when the bullets had failed to find their mark. Izuku screamed as he ran along the pillars and arcs of metal that Wulfram attacked with.
"Shut the hell up! I'm going to save him. I haven't done the best at times. I've screwed up. I'm not a pro. I have a long way to go. But too many people helped me get here. Too many people are depending on me. I can't let them down, now let him go, dammiiiiiiiiiit!"
Izuku held onto the helicopter for dear life, trying to enter it before it got too far away. "Professor! Take my hand!"
"Forget about me. Get to…"
"Your family is waiting for you! Melissa and All-Might! Don't leave them behind!"
Just as the helicopter was about to make its way into the distance, a huge burst of wind blew past Izuku and rocketed into the sky, smashing through the helicopter. Descending to the ground with both the pilot and Dave in tow, All-Might stood triumphantly.
"Melissa filled me in on everything after she rebooted the system. You look like you've seen better days, lad."
"I have. Is the villain…"
All-Might knelt by Dave's side, tending to the wounded Professor. "You look like you've had it worse."
"I deserve it. Toshi…I'm sorry. I-"
"Melissa filled me in. You got taken advantage of."
"I still broke the law and endangered everyone. Wulfram's not wrong. I can't look the scientific community in the eye anymore. I don't know how I can ever…"
"Dave. I'm sorry too. I made you worry. We really ought to have a nice talk and clear the air. Just you, me, and our daughter." All-Might spoke softly, the light of the fire illuminating him as he spoke. Behind them all, the distant shadow of a pan placing something on his head went completely ignited until it was too late.
The tower trembled as parts of it were torn off and drawn towards the wreck of the downed helicopter. A faint blue light glowed from beyond the flames as David was grabbed from All-Might's arms.
"I'll be taking your man back, thank you. This invention of his really is a wonder. Let me give you a demonstration, big guy!"
Wulfram roared with power as the device worked its wonders. Everyone watched in horror as he took on a more monstrous form.
Izuku rushed towards the fire, hoping he could find an opening. Unfortunately, he was denied this by the villain's defenses at every turn.
"All-Might couldn't even put a dent in me and I sent him flying like a paper football. What makes you think you can do any better, Brussel Sprout?"
Izuku was sent careening towards the ground but was caught in the nick of time as a blur of colors did a baseball slide to break his fall.
"Hey there. You should watch where you're going." Mina smiled down at Izuku as she cradled him in her arms.
"You're safe."
"Of course. You think guns and robots can scare me off? As if."
Izuku wrapped his arms tightly around her, tears streaming down his face. He should have known she would be fine. He trusted her. And yet everything had hit him at once.
"I love you too, but we should probably focus on the big mass of metallic death."
"Right. I've got to give it my all," Izuku gazed down at the full gauntlet and clenched his fist.
The others soon arrived, lending their aid as they made an effort to draw Wulfram's attention. Todoroki and Monoma laid down suppressing fire while Iida charged ahead.
"It seems that fighting is unavoidable now. So be it. We've got All-Might covered. Do your best to support him."
Izuku glanced at his friend and nodded before narrowly avoiding another tendril.
Wulfram sneered, noticing the pushback from the young hero students. "So you brats wanna play, huh? I'll humor you!"
He generated a series of metal golems with the use of his quirk, sending them out like soldiers to fight for him. They all resembled him to some degree, in an incomplete way. A clash of flesh and steel caused shockwaves as he focused his attention on the two heroes buzzing around him and making a beeline towards his main body. Wulfram laughed in a monstrous voice as he addressed the heroes, especially the eldest of them.
"I guess what that man said was true. All-Might really is getting weaker. And to think his little tag along there is next in line. That's just too rich."
Izuku felt a fire burning in his heart as power coursed through his body. He glared at Wulfram, then breathed through his nose.
"I've failed…let people down, including myself…but I will not let anyone die here tonight. This ends now! I'm the one who can. I'm the rush of green whose heart beats for love and Justice. I might not believe those words just yet at this moment, but I will live them with every breath!"
Full cowling activated in the boy's body as he ran full speed up the metal tendrils shooting from Wulfram's body.
He sped along the massive assault of metal and technology as it charged his way. His senses were alert and his body felt more alive as he parkoured his way towards Wulfram. At his side was All-Might, a culmination of two generations of the same quirk.
"My family…my students…Seeing them do their best and hanging in there invigorates me. Time to go beyond my limits and secure their future!"
The hero was grabbed by several cables and rubber banded into Wulfram's waiting clutches. "Surprised, huh? I had a little help on this job. He said he wanted to work with me. I asked him why, and he said 'I wish I could be there to see All-Might's face contort in pain and despair, so I'm sending you in to do the job'. It really brings a grin to my face, knowing I can wipe the smile from yours."
All-Might felt the heat of the flames and the sting of hot metal smacking into him like a truck. But more than that, he felt the utter terror and anguish of those words. His blood ran cold in his veins as the specter of death clung to his shoulders. It was just further confirmation that the bastard was alive. And yet All-Might hesitated.
"A…All-for-One?" The words burned on the way out of All-Might's throat as he spat them out.
A vicious, sadistic laugh emanated from Wulfram's throat. "That's right! All-for-One! The old man is still alive, and he helped make this possible! I'll give him your regards!"
Izuku had felt the pressure of having to be the next All-Might, but now he could feel his heart pumping into overdrive. Did he really hear what he thought he did?
While this went on, everyone did their best to support the two heroes. Iida smashed through shrapnel with his reciproburst while Momo blasted away with a cannon.
Mina looked on and did her best to keep up. She believed in him.
"I might not be able to keep up now, but I'll be by your side, one way or another!"
She slid back down but kept going, trying to give it her all. From a distance, Missy watched at a distance, keeping herself hidden from the rest of the hero students.
"Mina! Try this!"
Pony shouted as she shot two horns out towards the pink girl. Picking up on the plan, Mina took a leap of faith and landed on the horns, riding them as close as she could to the action to provide support.
"Thanks, Pony. I'll make it up to you."
"I am Midori Rush, the hero who doesn't give up, even when it hurts!" Izuku growled, sparks emanating from his body as he ran for the villain. "And if you really spoke to All-for-One, tell him…"
"EAT THIS! DETROIT SMASH!"
Izuku and All-Might attacked in Unison, giving it their full strength as they overwhelmed the enhanced villain. His body trembled as the full power of both attacks overwhelmed him on impact and broke through his defenses.
Dave fell to the ground and felt his whole world slow down. He saw visions of All-Might in his prime, giving way to the two heroes claiming victory, backed up by several students.
He was caught by All-Might and brought safely to the ground.
"If you want to thank anyone, thank those kids. They gave their all, especially young Midoriya…and our daughter. Dave…I'm sorry I kept you in the dark."
Dave gazed into his partner's eyes, then watched as Izuku fell to his knees. The rest of the hero students ran for him to check if he was ok. Melissa was nearly at the front but one voice rose above the others.
Mina cried out with concern as she joined her boyfriend's side. "Izuku! Are you ok?"
Izuku spoke with a gentle smile. "About as ok as I can be after this."
Mina knelt by his side, observing his injuries. "Are your arms-"
She was cut off before could continue, wrapped in the embrace of her boyfriend. Izuku spoke softly, his every breath pushing against Mina as he came down from the fight. After tonight, he refused to let go of her.
"My arms are fine, thanks to Melissa's invention. But even if my arms were shattered, I'm not letting go. Let me have this."
Mina patted her boyfriend, trying not to sob at how affectionate he was. "You're such a goober," she sniffed, tears rolling down her cheek. "A goober who nearly died,"
"I didn't though. I was worried, you might have." Izuku chuckled through the pain. "Wish I could say the same for the Full Gauntlets."
Melissa chimed in, reassuring her new friend. "I still have the specs and the data. I can make you some better, more durable ones, but it might take a while."
"That sounds fine. Thank you," Izuku smiled fondly, secure in what he could do. He looked up at the starry sky, knowing he could never forget this night.
"So I take it you're feeling better?" Mina leaned in and whispered, eyes sparkling with concern. Everyone else looked similarly worried.
Izuku answered with a haggard breath. It took some time to reflect on the answer, but seeing everyone around him under a starry sky helped bring it all together. "Getting there. Thank you. You, All-Might, everyone…you helped a lot."
"Hey, that's what we do, babe. Come on. Let's make sure everyone is safe and make sure Mr. Shield is ok," Mina gave Izuku's shoulder a light tap. She held out her hand and helped him up. He took it and joined her, walking back inside with everyone else.
As the heroes left, they heard a gunshot. Izuku stared in horror and confusion as Wulfram lay dead, swaying in the breeze like a scarecrow. Izuku felt a shiver down his spine as he watched blood drip down the head of the lifeless villain before it hit the ground.
Out of the corner of her eye, Mina saw Missy take her leave by repelling down the tower. Pony walked over and stared over the side.
"I'm sorry I didn't stop her. My family could but I couldn't stop her from escaping or…or…"
Monoma patted his classmate on the shoulder and comforted her. "None of us expected it. We had thought the battle was over. There was no way anyone could react…Midoriya," The blonde addressed Izuku, seeking to comfort him.
"Perhaps…Let's…Let's go…Villain or not, I was not expecting that."
Mina held his hand and accompanied him, alongside the rest of the group. The battle was over, but the aftermath had yet to be fully accounted for.
X
Mina wandered around I Island, confused and more than a little worried. She had decided to meet up with Izuku, but she had not seen him since the morning. She saw Bakugou looking pretty vacantly at the path ahead of him as he was flanked by Monoma, Pony, and Tetsutetsu. Setsuna had wandered off with Kirishima in tow, on her way to get a photo with Godzillo. Everyone seemed to be up to something. She just hoped she could find him soon.
She had asked Tsuyu earlier if she had seen Izuku at all. "Sorry. I did hear Jirou talking to him on the phone earlier. No idea where he is, though. Ribbit."
Mina had looked around, even texting Izuku to find where he would be. He had not yet read her messages. Alas, her boyfriend was nowhere to be found. Luckily, she was approached by someone who could help.
"Mina, wait up. You're looking for Izuku, right?" Melissa walked over to the other girl with spring in her step. The pink girl raised an eyebrow at the other girl calling her boyfriend by name. Melissa blushed and backpedaled a bit, to Mina's amusement.
"Sorry. Still totally not used to referring to people by last name first, though I suppose I should acclimate myself to it. So anyway, yeah. Your boyfriend had to clean up his injuries and wanted me to bring you to the stage while he prepared. He should be ready soon," Melissa smiled, offering a hand to lead Mina towards a performance area.
"Sure. And yeah, I'm not upset. Just teasing you a bit, Shield. Lead the way~"
Jirou looked over at Momo, who was perplexed but intrigued. The class president professed her surprise. "I had no idea Midoriya could sing."
"He probably can't but it's the thought that counts," Jirou played coy, not letting on that she had given the boy some pointers.
The karaoke room darkened as a quiet stillness took over. The gift was about to reveal itself as several spotlights danced around the room before converging into one and landing on Mina.
"He probably picked something soft, like a ballad. That seems fitting for the guy." Kaminari chuckled to himself. He had no idea how wrong he was.
"What can I do for you?~" The young man's voice rang out through the private chamber. The song was instantly recognizable and Jirou could feel confusion hit her brain like a sledgehammer. As the words kicked in again, they were accompanied by a driving dance beat and lots of stage effects. Izuku and Melissa definitely went all out on this whole thing.
Momo watched intrigued, curious to see a side of her vice president she did not realize existed. She supposed it wasn't that odd, as he seemed more outgoing with Mina around. Plus, the more she listened, the more the lyrics fit.
Nobody was more into it than Mina, however. She was utterly engrossed in this display her boyfriend was putting on right now. He had been so fierce and determined in his and All-Might's takedown of Wulfram. Seeing him shine these past two nights had set her heart into overdrive.
What's more, his failure of the practical exam and the encounter with Shigaraki seemed to have taken a toll on him, emotionally. One could be forgiven for thinking this was a mask to hide his insecurity and fear. Mina could see the truth though. This was an act of love and gratitude. He even incorporated dance moves she had taught him.
She would not let it go unpaid before they left I Island. That was her next goal. Luckily, All-Might was busy with Dave at the hospital.
Izuku reached a hand out from the stage as he sang, beckoning Mina to join him. Yeah, he definitely earned baseball tickets. That is, if All-Might left them alone long enough.
"Well, someone's getting a happy birthday," Jirou blushed, flustered by the thought of it. "Glad I could assist."
"So that's part of why you left?" Momo gave a sideways glance towards her close friend.
Jirou sighed. She was guilty as charged. She might as well explain, she thought. "That and I…I got overwhelmed. Momo, I like you. A lot. Seeing you smiling and excited, I just…my heart was so close to exploding. I needed to get my head together. I'm sor-."
Momo cut the punk girl off with a kiss on the nose. "It's quite alright. I was nervous too."
While this was going on, Melissa had snuck over to Todoroki, who was watching with a soft smile. He didn't fully get it, but as long as his friends were happy, he was satisfied.
"I can't believe you thought Izuku was All-Might's love child. That's kind of funny," The blonde laughed.
Todoroki wasn't sure why it was so funny. It's not like he didn't have evidence, even if it was a bit circumstantial.
"Oh, just call it intuition and a little bit of insider knowledge." The girl winked, handing the bicolored boy something before turning to walk back towards the other girls.
Todoroki looked over the slip of paper he had received and was in shock. He had proof via a DNA test, alongside a handwritten message. "I think your blonde friend is cute."
Todoroki blinked, then stopped Melissa. "Wait. So you're All-Might's…"
Melissa nodded with a smile. It was a relief to not only figure it out herself, but to have told someone else.
Todoroki looked back at the slip of paper, then towards Melissa. "Blonde friend…Do you mean Monoma?"
Melissa held in a laugh and blushed. "No. And before you can ask, not Tsunotori either…though she is a cutie too, I suppose."
Todoroki finally put it together and looked towards Kaminari. He glanced back towards Melissa and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You have low standards…but I think that's sweet. I can't say I fully understand that kind of thing, but he's a good enough guy. You probably won't see him for a while. Or any of us."
Melissa slumped, then adjusted her glasses. "Maybe. It's not like I'm making a grand declaration, but even if he's a bit goofy, I don't know…I kind of like that. Anyway, I'm going to say bye to everyone, then visit my dads. Take care."
Todoroki offered a slight smile as he replied. "Likewise." He knew that David Shield would likely face a less than ideal future, at least based on what he had gleaned earlier. And yet, the bicolor boy was glad he had met someone with not one loving father, but two. He envied that, in a way, but knew there was no point in jealousy at this point.
Melissa gathered her things and offered one last look back. She then headed towards everyone, putting a finger to her lips as she spared one last glance at Todoroki.
He nodded, then went back to mingling with his classmates.
X
While his wards were enjoying the Island and taking in the Expo and the tourism, All-Might was attending to unfinished business. Dave was under a probationary period for his role in the villain attack, but a defense was being assembled by his lawyers.
"I am here…with flowers. Are you feeling alright, Dave?"
The scientist was silent, lost in thought over the mess he blamed himself for. He finally spoke. "I should be in prison."
"You were held hostage by the villains, and led astray by your lab assistant. At least in my eyes. In those cases, however…I spoke with some legal experts I know. They can't get you off entirely Scott free. You will be doing some jail time. You were an accessory, intended or not. However, if I testify, we can get you a plea deal. Your reputation may never recover, but it's the best we can do."
"Toshi…I…"
"The boys in my life sure are trouble, huh. I suppose it's kind of my fault. I haven't been exactly forthcoming…You know about All-for-One…It's time I told you about One-for-All…And maybe we can start fresh…as a family."
"Toshi…"
"So my quirk…I wasn't born with it. My mentor who died to All-for-One…she had passed it on to me. I was the only holder of that quirk to be born without one…until young Midoriya. He carries that torch now. The reason I am losing control is because all that I have left of it are embers. All-for-One did a number on me, so I needed a successor. That boy proved himself worthy."
"Does Ashido know?"
"Well…she was there when I promised to train him and when I bestowed my quirk. When I had met Izuku…I had told him he couldn't be a hero without a quirk. It's harsh but it was reality. At least that's what I thought in my jaded mind. But I saw him move on his own, to save a boy who tormented him. Right then and there, I knew he would be the best fit. Mirai had someone else in mind, but it was my decision to make, and I chose right."
"So I assume Ashido was supportive of him?"
"She gave me an earful for what I told her boyfriend before I could even apologize. They certainly keep each other in check. Kind of reminds me of us."
"I guess in the end, Midoriya was right. We really did have to hash things out. Between him, Melissa, Ashido, and the rest of your students…the future looks bright."
"I'm sorry for worrying you…for pushing you into this because you feared a world without me…but you and Melissa make this world just as wonderful, and I'd hardly be the man I am without you today. I don't have anything fancy…but I kept putting it off…I want to marry you, David Shield. Let's be by each other's side and build something more important than a symbol: a future for Melissa, and all my bright and shining pupils."
"Are you sure? It's not exactly easy for us to move right now, plus you're still the number one hero. You still have a presence to uphold."
All-Might sighed, realizing the man was right. "Perhaps. Plus it is risky. Tonight proved that. However it also showed me just how much damage these secrets and lies can cause. I trust you, Dave. You're probably one of the men I trust most. I'll visit often and call just as much, and when it's possible I'll retire here with you and watch that egghead daughter of ours out-egghead her old man…one of them anyway."
All-Might caressed his old flames cheek, gazing fondly at him. "I love you, Dave. I'm not too strong to say it. In fact, I feel weaker for having not told you enough. But I'm here now. And that's all that matt-"
Dave leaned up and kissed the taller man on the lips, then spoke as he chuckled. "You can be a real blowhard, Toshi. I'm glad you're back. I love you too."
"Good to know. Where's Melissa? It's about time I tell her I'm not her uncle."
"I figured it out already. I did wish you had told me earlier. Both of you," Melissa spoke out in an unamused tone. She had dropped by to check on her father but hand lingered in the doorway as she listened in on the conversation.
David was taken aback. He supposed he should have asked how long she had been there. Instead, he was apologetic. "Melissa…I planned on telling you. I'm sorry."
"I know. You had your reasons. I get it. Just some transparency from my dads, please. That might have saved us all of this."
All-Might put his hand on his daughter's shoulder, then hugged her. "You're right. We really should have talked this all out. Seems the kids really have my number, so I'll have to step my game up."
"Melissa, come over here. I want to give you a hug too. You've really embodied the future. You're the best of Toshi and I. I'm proud of you."
"So am I…That's why you will always be welcome at my house. You two are my family. And while I have a duty to Japan and to the world, you two are too precious to keep at a distance anymore." All-Might hugged both the Shields, feeling overcome by emotion.
All-Might could have sworn he had seen a vision of Dave, 17 years ago, holding a baby girl in his arms. He snapped back to the present. He had a decision to make and he would do what was best.
"When you get out, I want to work with you, help build back what was lost. Maybe we can be a family…like we should have been."
"Melissa… I am giving you a choice, since your father will be facing jail time. I can stay here with you. Retire early and step up as a dad, or you can come to Japan with me…at least until Dave gets out."
"Toshi…She is 17. She'll probably be a legal adult by the time I get out. Besides, I am disgraced…even with a plea deal. I would like to retire alongside you…if you'll have me."
"I'd like nothing more. How about you, kiddo?"
Melissa brushed her arm uneasily. She was surprised, for sure. Plus it would be fun to visit Japan and get to know her other father more. And yet it was all so sudden and heavy. She took a deep breath and responded.
"Papa…Both of you…If it's alright, I want time to reflect on that decision."
David nodded. "That's fine. Take your time, dear. Just know…"
"We both love you, kiddo. Very much," All-Might finished. He then gave gentle kisses on the forehead to both his partner and his daughter. "Anyway, I should get going. Take care. Both of you. I'll keep in touch. I promise"
Both Shields agreed and smiled sadly, watching as the hero walked away. It was a bittersweet departure, but at least it wasn't the end.
X
Izuku sort of knew what might be happening. It wasn't the first time they had enjoyed some time to themselves. And yet he was, on some level, unsure.
"Mina, why are we headed to the hotel room? Didn't you want to sing something too? A duet maybe?"
"Izuku…We've been together for years and you mean a lot to me. That whole battle kinda shook us all up, huh? And your performance was like an arrow through my heart. I love you, you big dork."
"So, are you sure about this? Your birthday is soon and mff," Izuku blustered, red in the face as his girlfriend kissed him on the lips. She lightly pinned him against the wall and grinned.
"It's your present too. And we're not doing anything major. We're just taking a breather, ok? I think we both deserve one," Mina cooed.
Izuku could feel his legs start to buckle. He was nervous but it's not like he didn't want to be alone with her. Mina could see his hesitancy and offered a kind smile, her pink hands trembling a little.
"I'm nervous too, you know. I mean we've kissed and stuff. Not sure I'm ready for that yet…but I just…I can't contain how amazing you are. So please. Let me say thanks. We can lay in bed and watch animals. What do you say?"
Izuku said nothing, merely nodding. He picked Mina up in bridal style, then finally uttered the words "Upsy Daisy."
His legs buckled for a moment, not from the weight of Mina's body but from what the future might hold for them. The main focus now was the immediate future, which was still fairly scary, but the two hadn't really been alone.
That meeting in the park years ago had forged a bond that they carried with them like precious candles, flames dancing delicately in the night. The years had helped fan those flames to be even more resilient, from their first date, to Dagobah, and beyond. It was young, but strong, not unlike them.
The two headed inside and shut the door, locking it carefully before settling in. The night was young and so were they, and room service was open to them. They switched the TV on to the first channel they could find. Oddly enough, it was a baseball game somewhere in America.
Mina stifled a laugh as she and Izuku plopped down on the bed and curled up next to each other.
"Play ball."
X
All-Might walked through the halls of the hotel, doing his best to keep up his muscle form. He had thought back to his conversation with Dave, about what would be best for them and their family. He knew he would have to tell his students, so he decided to tell them in person.
As he opened the door, he heard cursing and a panicked ruffling of fabric. "I am here, entering the hotel roh…I should have knocked, I suppose."
Izuku stuttered out, hiding behind the covers, while Mina hid her face behind a pillow.
Later that night…
"I feel uncomfortable with this."
"Too bad, kid. I'm a dad. Not about to ignore this sort of thing."
"I finally have a dad around and he's not even mine."
"You're not sleeping together on my watch, kids."
"Hey, All-Might? There's something else I want to ask. You'll probably say no, but last night opened my eyes a bit."
"You want to tell your mother, right?"
"Read me like a book, sir. I won't tell anyone else. Not yet. I know that One-for-All has to stay secret for a reason. I respect that."
"I'll allow it. I know not telling your friends is hard. It's best to keep it under wraps for now."
"Perhaps. One day. Especially because I know I'll need allies, people I can trust. I'll follow your lead for now. Thanks for listening."
All-Might stared at the ceiling, thinking of how much his family meant to him, especially now that he had them back.
"No, thank you, kid. You give this old man a lot to think about."
The air was silent for a moment before Izuku asked a question that had been bothering him. "So is the professor going to jail?"
"...I won't sugarcoat it. He will have to. I'll advocate for him and we can work something out for a reduced sentence, but justice must be served…I feel like he wouldn't be there if I had just told him about One-for-All. He had every right to know. He helped make me who I am today, in so many ways. If I had let him in, we could be a family…There's no point in wallowing, though."
"Maybe. I hate to see a fall from grace. However, I guess we're both learning to make better decisions…and to not let our mistakes define or control us…" Izuku yawned. "We'll both get there. Good night, All-Might."
Before All-Might knew it, both kids were fast asleep. He looked to his left, and then his right. They looked so peaceful, yet not totally. He sighed. "Not like they'll do anything under my watch, especially now."
All-Might was too awake to sleep anyway. He carefully scooped his ward up, making sure not to jostle him awake. Slowly, he crept over and laid the boy down next to his girlfriend. Both were out like the room lights, and yet as they tossed and turned, All-Might could see the difference. They had found each other and a more restful sleep. He continued his thought from earlier. "Besides…it would be a shame to separate two lovebirds such as them. Enjoy it, Youngsters."
All-Might walked to the far end of the room, so tired, yet so restless. That was his life now, he supposed. He exhaled a haggard and solemn breath as he gazed out towards the ocean through the large window of the hotel room. He opened the sliding doors and stepped into the crisp island night, sea winds tousling his hair as he gazed out at the sea and the stars. He looked towards the hospital, where he had just been. He knew he would be looking out at it alone, as David was recovering still. It was only a matter of time before the consequences of the Incident would deny him even those simple pleasures.
All-Might smiled sadly and spoke in a wistful tone. "Good night…Dave…"
After hoping in his heart that on some level, the other man could hear him, All-Might headed back inside, closing the doors behind him. He slept that night, but not well.
X
Morning had come and the plane was taking off from the runway before the sun had even risen in the sky. Missy rested in her seat, having disguised herself in order to lay low. She might not have been spotted by police, plus she killed a fellow criminal. She wasn't exactly setting off major alarms. However, discretion was a key part in her job and she took it seriously.
That wasn't to say she couldn't do things for pleasure, however. She had certainly made the most of room service under her fake persona, to treat herself for a poor day of work.
Not being able to kill any of her targets, due to both personal boundaries and the ground rules set up by her employers, had taken its toll and she was over it. It was taxing. Still, it wasn't without interesting interactions. The children she had to face off with certainly had potential. "Who knows? Maybe in a few years, I'll get the pleasure of putting them down."
She tugged on the neckerchief she had tied into a babushka, having decided on a Hepburnesque choice of attire. She smiled to herself, knowing that the trip wasn't a total bust. Besides, even if she had kept Wulfram alive, he wouldn't have mattered much anyway. The device was as battered as he was and, even if Professor Shield was likely jailbound, he would never want to play for any side but the self proclaimed 'angels'.
Missy slid further into her chair, just as she had the cover identity of Vis Tremtu. There was no alcohol on the flight, so she might as well catch some sleep, she thought.
As the plane soared off into the sky, she wondered what her next mission would be and if it would pay better. After all, she had more than herself to care for. Missy took a sip of water and swirled the ice around in her glass, then spoke to herself. "One thing is certain. I am definitely increasing my hourly rate."
X
The plane ride from I Island went by fairly fast. Izuku and Mina were exhausted, their luggage heavier and their phones filled with more photos than before. It was definitely a memorable experience, all things considered. Izuku had made sure to give his best to David and Melissa, but not before awkwardly asking for an autograph from the former.
Izuku looked at his girlfriend and gently shook her awake, smiling softly at her as he spoke. And yet, beneath that tenderness was worry and uncertainty about the future.
"Mina?"
Mina yawned and groggily answered back. "Yeah, Izu?"
"I'm nervous."
The pink girl woke up a little after that and eyed her boyfriend compassionately. "Have you given thought to what you want to say to your mom?"
Izuku sighed, then spoke. "Every day. If only that made it easier. Am I making the right call?"
"I believe in you, babe," Mina rested her head on his shoulder and answered him in a dreamy, sing-song tone. "Mama Inko is amazing and I'm sure she'll take it well. If not, call me and I'll tag in. In any case, your mom can be emotional but she loves you. She should get it."
"You really are my hero. Thank you, Mina." Izuku squeezed her tight, feeling blessed as he smelled the strawberry perfume she had put on that morning.
"Awww shucks. Thanks, Izu-bean…just leave out some of the events of this trip. Your mom might flip out over you fighting terrorists."
Izuku laughed gently. "Yeah. Bad enough I'm apparently supposed to face the greatest evil of all times…and yet I think that will still give me less sleep issues than all my All-Might merchandise tonight…considering…"
Mina blushed and hid her face, giving a shy chuckle. "Yeah. Let's not worry about stuff like that til my birthday. It is kind of funny in a way. Too bad the joke was on us."
Izuku scoffed back gently. "Yeah. Hey…we should have a date after this…a proper one. I want to take you to a fireworks festival…you and me. We can get the most out of this summer. What do you say?"
Mina perked up, lilac flooding her cheeks as her eyes sparkled with a calm enthusiasm. "I'm still not used to you being this bold, but I'd like that."
"I mean, you bring out the best in me," Izuku admitted bashfully, earning a gentle stroke to his hair. The atmosphere soon changed to one of concern on Mina's end as she recalled not just the fun of I Island, but the trauma they had faced.
"Guess so…how are you feeling? After the battle…and the stuff with Bakugou, I mean."
"I'm still not entirely sure, but I'm better than before. I know I will probably have to work with him unless I tell the truth. I'm not even sure I can really forgive him. And yet, on some level, I still kind of hope he can grow. Even if I don't trust him, I trust 1B more than I distrust Bakugou…if that makes sense."
Mina rested once more, happy that at least he was feeling better. "You're more mature than me, Izuku."
Izuku averted his gaze, with a mischievous air of insinuations. "I mean…"
"Shut up, you doofus!" Mina pouted, lightly shoving her boyfriend as he gave a playful laugh.
"Sorry. You bring this side out…but thank you, Mina. For everything."
The pink girl nuzzled her boyfriend and chuckled to herself, happy and content by his side. "Any time, Izuzu~"
The flight went by like that, All-Might rolling his eyes and smiling as his young wards teased one another. It wouldn't be long until they faced greater struggles, but at least they had each other.
X
All-Might had dropped his young ward off at home driving off towards Chiba to do the same for Mina. What was to happen now would be tough, but it was Izuku's choice.
The air outside the Midoriya household was tense. Izuku felt like it was raining from how hard he was sweating. Still, Mina had squeezed his hand and All-Might had given his blessing. The secret needed to be a secret for the sake of peace and security. However, the events of the I Island trip had put into perspective just how important transparency could be.
As soon as he opened the door, he was enveloped in a big bear hug. "Oh, Izuku. I'm glad you're ok! I saw the news about I Island!"
Izuku grimaced. He wished he had considered that factor. He was still pretty exhausted from the flight, as well as the trip in general. "Yeah. It was…kind of scary. I'm glad everything worked out, though," Izuku smiled, deciding not to go into too much detail about having fought terrorists and won.
Inko was still very much frazzled, but relieved. She dusted herself off and addressed her son again. "Well, in any case, welcome back. I was just about to make dinner. Is Mina not joining us?"
"She went home to sleep off the flight. Plus her parents wanted to give her some home cooked food before the training camp," Izuku waved lazily, putting his luggage to the side. His pulse was racing. He knew if he didn't do it now, he might not ever. "Mom, can we talk? I have something to tell you...It's about my quirk. "