Truthfully, Ben wasn't expecting to hear that Izuku had gained the same quirk of All Might but if anyone was worthy of One for All, it was him. Izuku had told him that his task was to train his body before he could receive the quirk. Which was to restore the coastline of trash for a large section of the beach. Half the time All Might wasn't there so Ben was to keep him company.
The green eyed teen sat on an old fridge criss crossed as he watched Izuku struggle to move the large amounts of garbage and metal around. Ben would give him a hand but that would be going against the point of his training. He had to do it all on his own.
"So where do you live Izuku? I've been meaning to ask you."
Midoriya had informed him of where he was staying while struggling to push a washing machine which caused Ben's eyes to light up at the answer.
"Really?! Huh. I wonder how we've never run into each other considering I moved in next to your apartment."
The young Midoriya stopped suddenly tripping into the sand after hearing what Ben said before getting back up.
"Wait, seriously?! You moved in next door and I never noticed?!"
Ben nods and shrugs.
"Well technically not really? All my stuff was there once I arrived due to a friend of mine but yeah, basically. But regardless I think you're doing a great job Izuku!"
Ben gave a thumbs up to the teen from on top of the fridge and Izuku smiled and nodded before grabbing the straps of the washing machine and continuing.
That's how it was for the majority of the days really. Ben would sit down in the background and cheer Izuku on as he moved the rest of the items. Ben was especially proud when he saw that Izuku was going at a faster pace. Sure, not by much but progress is progress.
As he did so he'd do training of his own to get back the muscle mass he lost from deaging when walking through the portal. After all the stronger his human self was the stronger his aliens.
He even spent a bit of time practicing magic too if only to somewhat get to the level of his Ultimate future self was, he just wished it didn't take years of study to learn it the normal way. At least he could use simple Mana constructs now even when in alien form.
That was always more of Gwen's area anyway but there was nothing wrong with learning some of it. You never know what can happen or how it can help. The tracking spell he's mostly gotten the hang of has been immensely useful so long as he had a piece belonging to his target anyway.
Ben chuckled to himself as he remembered when he first got his Mana to work a year ago, he should have probably expected it to be as green as his Omnitrix activating, though the natural DNA symbol wrapped around his Mana blasts was definitely a surprise. Though a welcome one since when thrown the orbs grew into quasi drills as the DNA spun wildly giving his blasts more penetrating power than normal.
Though this vacation was proving to be quite efficient. No one knew who he was, there wasn't constant admiration or news reporters flashing millions of cameras in his face. He even managed to make a new friend. Ben looked up and continued to watch Izuku move the rubble and trash in awe.
"You know, it's really inspiring how dedicated you are to training now. Though I do have to say it is a bit odd how not fit you were given you wanting to be a Pro Hero and all."
"Mph! Yeah, I guess it was just one of those things...when you're dreaming of something and you don't really research or prepare for it...All Might saying I'd receive his quirk did throw me for a loop!"
Izuku grunted out as he picked up another heavy piece of machinery and carried it away from the rest of the pile. He was glad that he was getting the training in order to inherit All Might's quirk but do people seriously not know how to throw away their trash?
"Hey Izuku, I've been wondering, why is all this stuff on a beach anyway? Especially piled up so high. This isn't a landfill after all. You'd think the government would have never let it get this bad."
Ben bravely fought the urge to turn into Lodestar and compact everything into a soda can sized ball, a look of disgust on his face at the clear lack of effort put on by sanitation and tourist workers. A beach would have done something to draw people after all.
"Ugh! Well, due to the currents anything that's dropped in the water ends up around here...Some...some people have taken advantage of that when it comes to their trash!"
Ben nodded with a twang of anger on his face. Seriously, how hard was it to get rid of your trash normally? Instead of ruining places like this by throwing it into the water. If he didn't respect Izuku's training, he would deal with the problem himself.
"Still shouldn't there be massive fines or something? It's making a public property unusable after all."
"You'd...mpf...think so but there's so much herowork being done that I think everyone is just choosing to ignore it! Doesn't justify it but it does explain it!"
Ben nodded rubbing his brown hair back and looking back at the beach and realizing it was much more emptier than when Izuku had first started. The sight caused the teen to smile widely.
"Hey, you're almost done Izuku, just a bit more! I'll help you get it to a manageable size once you've cleared everything!"
Izuku smiled as he heard what Ben was saying and nodded giving even more effort in pulling and pushing the amounts of garbage. The task was tough, tiresome, and harsh but he was getting there and he was even almost done!
Ben had dozed off for a moment with his hand on his face to keep him from falling face first into the sand. He didn't wake up until he heard cheering and someone yelling his name. His eyes twitched before they slowly opened once more.
"Ben! Ben! Wake up, wake up! I did it! All the trash is away from the area! Look at this!"
The tired teen rubbed his eyes yawning before he looked forward clearly at the sight in front of him in awe. Izuku had done it and the beach was gorgeous with all of the trash out of the way. Ben smiled at his friend's success and got to his feet to help manage the garbage into a manageable pile. He knew just the alien for the job.
He grinned as he stretched.
"Great job Izuku! As promised I'll help with the clean up!"
With a thought and a flash of green in Ben's place was a bee colored metallic being with a floating head and prongs for hands. With an outstretched arm all the junk Izuku moved to the side started the compact together and in no time at all it was reduced to a can sized super dense metallic wad.
Lodestar floated over to Izuku before turning back into a grinning Ben. It was definitely nice to see the look of shocked surprise from someone who didn't know what Ben 10 could do. And based on Izuku's look of wonder and awe, he was definitely impressed.
"Holy crap that was awesome Ben!"
Ben chuckled at the admiration he was getting from Izuku and shrugged.
"You think that's cool? Just you wait and see what else I can do!"
Izuku didn't have to wait long at all to see what Ben meant by that. Now that the beach was clear and Izuku's trained his body enough to receive All Might's Quirk, Ben decided to come clean to the only two people he was really close to in this world.
But first he needed to deal with that nasty wound All Might had.
"Hey, Toshinori how long exactly have you had that wound of yours? To the day if possible."
He asked once All Might arrived at the scene of the now clean beach. All Might raised an eyebrow in confusion at Ben before answering giving Ben exactly what he needed to hear. Ben nodded before his body was overtaken by another bright green flash and what remained was a round, yellow robotic form. Clockwork.
"Excellent! Diz won't take long at all, rather it'll take a negative time!"
Before either of them could react Clockwork's head screw spun and a green bean shot out at All Might. The robot's words soon became clear in their meaning as All Might grew visibly younger and his wound that's plagued him for so long rewound as well. As quickly as the beam hit him it was gone, and All Might could feel the spark of his power grow into an inferno he never thought he'd feel again.
Stunned silence was broken by the fwooom of Ben turning back to normal as he turned to Izuku.
"I know you're about to get his Quirk and all but I'd figured I'd let you both know I don't actually have one of my own either."
The two looked at him dazed, especially Izuku who was just completely shocked as he struggled to speak.
"Y-You mean...you're just like how I was?.."
Ben nodded, which caused Izuku to continue talking.
"T-Then how are you able to do all that cool stuff?! And how have I never heard of you then?!"
"Well it's all thanks to the neat gadget on my wrist and to answer your second question. I'm not...really from this universe."
The silence turned absolutely deafening as they stared at him as he shrugged unbothered by it.
"Truth is I'm on vacation from my everyday life back home. Being a universally known superhero is…. rough. Also, no, I'm not exaggerating the universal part. Hell at one point I was actually sued by the entire universe for breaking a law I didn't even know existed at the time after I… nevermind. I think it's best if I don't elaborate on that seeing as both of you look like you're about to pass out from shock."
Which was the right choice to make however stopping at that moment didn't stop Izuku from actually passing out and collapsing onto the sand. Ben and All Might rushed to the unconscious boy's side. He'd be fine but it was sort of humorous how shocked he was when he eventually woke up.
Ben coughed awkwardly once he did, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"Sorry about that back there. I.. didn't think you'd actually faint. You should have seen All Might though, it was honestly kind of odd seeing him bounce around like a kid on a sugar rush. Though I suppose it's understandable given his circumstances. But I hope this doesn't change much?"
Ben asked holding out his hand to still dazed Izuku who soon smiled nodding and taking his hand to pull himself up.
"Yeah, that is definitely a shock but if anything that makes you even cooler! You can do all that crazy stuff without a quirk! That's just so awesome!"
While Izuku was nerding out at Ben's revelation, All Might coughed into his hand getting the attention of both boys as he soon smiled.
"While that is incredible, Young Midoriya! You have completed the task with nothing but your hard work! Now, for your reward Izuku Midoriya!"
All Might raised a powerful hand into the air and plucked out a single blonde strand of hair holding it majestically. Ben cocked his head in confusion at why he did that.
"Someone told me this once! There's a difference between being lucky and being deserving! One's an action and the other, a reward! Never get the two confused! Take that to heart young man! This gift, you've earned it with your own valiant efforts!"
Izuku nodded with determination as he tightened his fist and All Might held the strand of hair closer to the teen.
"Eat this!"
The two teens just stared at All Might with two different expressions clear on their face. Izuku's was one of pure shock while Ben's was one of snickering.
"Just be glad you don't have to help eat a planet Izuku."
"To inherit my power, you have to swallow some of my DNA! That's how it works!"
"This isn't exactly how I imagined it!"
"Come on there's no time! You'll be late for the exam! Eat! Eat! EAAAT!!!"
The sounds of the beach were soon drowned out by Izuku screaming and Ben's loud laughter.
The two teens stopped just outside of the school and stared forward as Izuku tried to catch his breath while clutching onto his backpack straps.
"Looks!..like...like we made it just in time."
"I mean, we could've made it a bit earlier if I transformed. Still not really getting why you declined."
"Sorry, it's just that I wanted to see if I felt anything different moving on my own since All Might gave me his quirk!"
"Well?"
Izuku sighed and shook his head. He was sure that it was in there somewhere but he just wasn't feeling anything at least not yet. He supposed it wasn't a quirk that kicks in quickly.
"Hmm well hopefully we'll be in the same examination centre for the practical portion. I just hope it isn't too combat oriented since not all powers are suited for that and really, that mentality would just perpetuate a cycle of violence."
Izuku nodded as the two continued to walk forward before hearing someone speak.
"Stupid Deku."
"Kacchan!"
"Get out of my way before I set you on fire!"
This threat led to Izuku spilling out whatever thought came into his head which included good morning, how are ya, good luck, etc.
Ben frowns at the brash kid as he walks past.
"What the hell is his problem? Also did he just threaten you with severe burns?! Why the hell is someone like that trying to become a superhero?"
"Uh well that's Kacchan! And...well...it's...it's nothing Ben. I'm used to it from hilm. I'm pretty sure he wants to be famous and become the richest hero. Or at least that's what he told the class a while ago."
Ben's frown just turned into a grimace, a mentality like that is sure to bring up all sorts of Captain Nemesis knock offs.
"You being used to abuse doesn't make it right. It just makes him a shit person who shouldn't even be here. Has he ever used his Quirk on you?"
Ben makes sure to look Izuku in the eye to catch every twitch his body makes. Even though this 'Kacchan' is long gone there's still plenty of tremors.
"J-Just once when we were younger...ever since then it's just been threats."
Izuku finally admitted while trying to stop himself from shivering and twitching. He wasn't used to anyone really asking him about these sorts of things. They usually just move on and it continues again later.
Ben tried very hard not to glare and show the anger he felt at that as he hugged Izuku with one arm in an effort to distract him and lead the way into the building.
"Well you won't have to worry about that anymore. If he tries anything I won't even have to transform to beat him."
Izuku was shocked at the one armed hug but slowly nodded as they walked into the building. He never had anyone stand up for him before. But it felt...nice.
The two were soon in the auditorium with all the other students. "Kacchan" had taken a seat next to Izuku causing Ben and him to switch seats just so he wouldn't have to. This gained a glare from the angry looking blonde but Ben just kept looking forward.
Soon enough the school's DJ "Present Mic" showed up trying his best to get the students amped up and excited but to no avail. If anything, it was just kind of awkward. Midoriya was fanboying over him which simply caused Ben to chuckle.
The voice hero soon started explaining the rules and regulations of the test in his extravagant voice. Everyone looked at their slips of paper causing "Kacchan" to speak.
"I see...they're splitting us up so we can't work with any of our friends. Damn...I was really looking forward to crushing you Deku."
That definitely caused Ben to give him a side eye.
"Did you just call someone you bully a friend? You clearly don't know what friendship is."
The response got an eep out of Izuku to which Bakugo looked at Ben dangerously while sparks of flames appeared at the tips of his fingers.
"You trying to start something pal? I'll burn that smug look clean off your face!"
That actually got a chuckle out of Ben. It was kinda cute in a sad sort of way knowing he thought himself to be intimidating.
"So that's your Quirk huh? Explosions? No wonder Izuku gets full body shivers whenever you're around. To think you've actually used it on him."
Ben leans forward and glares, one the most heinous of villains back home knew to fear. An angry Ben was something no one wanted to face more than once. Not after what happened to Vilgax the last time they fought. He whispers his next words making sure he never loses eye contact.
"Better people than you have tried, but if you really feel like throwing the first punch I'll be more than happy to end you. People like you make me sick."
The blonde simply glared, baring his teeth and tightened his fist while Izuku was just staring forward trying not to get in the middle of the two arguing.
Soon enough Present Mic explaining the point system and the different amount of robots that would be in their battle stations. Soon one student started asking about the fourth robot and went on about how mistakes like this from UA are disgraceful. Plus, the glasses wearing student pointed to Izuku commenting on his muttering and telling him to knock it off which embarrassed the green haired boy.
Others laughed but Ben placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered to him.
"Ignore them. Don't let them get to you dude."
Ben turned around and frowned at the teen.
"Hey if you're going to complain about distractions why're you yelling and pointing out someone's nervous habit? The laughter didn't help anyone concentrate after all."
This shocked the teen who didn't answer but simply sat back down which led Present Mic to intervene and keep talking. Izuku looked at Ben with a shaky thankful smile to which Ben just gave a thumbs up in response.
"Alright, alright, alright! Thank you for leading me into my next point! The fourth robot is worth zero points! That guy's just an obstacle we'll be throwing in your way! There'll be one in every battle center! Think of it as a hurdle you should try to avoid! Not that it can't be beaten but there's kind of no point! My advice is to focus on the ones that can actually gain you some points! That's all I got for you today! I'll sign off with a little present! A sample of our school motto! A true hero is one who overcomes Life's misfortunes! You ready?! Good luck! Lets hope you practiced hitting more than books!"
Soon enough the kids were at the location standing outside of a gate. Izuku was shaking in his shoes with a shaky smile. He slapped his hands on his face to calm himself down. He wasn't going to let all that training with All Might go to waste.
"Izuku!"
Ben suddenly yelling his name got him to snap out of it and he looked at the teen next to him.
"Calm down. You've been training and preparing a lot for this! Just take a deep breath and calm yourself. You got this."
Izuku felt a smile form on his face as he looked at Ben more confidently as he nodded. Right! He wasn't going to let anything stop him from doing his best! He owed it to All Might and himself. Izuku straightened his look and looked forward with a face that carried no fear...while on the inside he was shaking full of fear.
I will become a hero! Just like I always dreamed! I won't let myself down!