Hawks, Mineta, and Midoriya arrive on I-Island.
I do not own My Hero Academia, it is owned by Horikoshi
Chapter 13 - Full Gauntlet
Charter Airplane: (30,000 ft)
Izuku Midoriya replayed the video his mother made again in his head wishing he could turn back time. At the same time he felt incredibly guilty about how he hadn't been trying to help Minoru, cause to Minoru, Inko had been his real mom, someone that actually cared for him...
"Izuku," Minoru tugged on the larger boy's sleeve, "Izuku..."
"I'm here, I'm sorry Minoru, it's my fault..."
"I remember you telling me something when I was blaming myself for Aoyama," Mineta looked at him, "Now don't be a hypocrite, there was nothing you could do. Would mom want you to be acting like this."
"No," Izuku said, and looked out the window to take in the view of the plane flying over the clouds, "So Mineta, do you know what we're doing out here? This can't just be vacation."
"They want someone called David Shields to see if he can come up with some items to let you go over your limits in an emergency," Mineta shrugged, "I think Hatsume could have come up with something, though there would likely be safety concerns."
Midoriya's eyes failed to change from the dull look he had had the entire flight., "I know who that is, he teamed up with All Might when he was in the States, he designed All Might's suits, he's also received the Nobel Quirk Prize."
"I know it hurts, but I'm hoping a change in scenery can help," came a voice behind them, "You may be helping them set up exhibits and stuff while we're here, it is legal for you to use your quirks in public on I-Island, just be responsible okay."
"Not many people would want to see my quirk," muttered Mineta.
"Don't sell yourself short, it's not flashy, but it's pretty powerful," Hawks commented, "You also get to wear your hero costumes there. In fact I think we should be seeing I-Island pretty soon."
Mineta glanced out the window as the flew over a break in the clouds. "Wow this is amazing, it is a floating island designed to be able to be moved to keep villains from kidnapping scientists. Midoriya you should see this..." Mineta felt heartbroken at the look Midoriya gave at that moment.
"You two should get changed," Hawks suggested.
I-Island Grand Plaza:
"Okay kids the hotel is over this way, let's get the luggage dropped off and..."
"It's Hawks," we need to get an interview.
"And it's the Press..."
"So Hawks, why are you here at I-Island after what happened to your..."
He moved the press away from Midoriya. "Look not in front of the kid," he replied smoothly, "I just got him distracted from well..."
"So why are you here?"
"Well because certain parties wanted me away from that investigation due the fact I may not be level-headed about it, so they suggested I take these two here for the time being," he smiled, "I'm sure you can keep this quiet for the time being, Ms. Kizuki."
She nodded and walked with him away from the two boys.
"Under other circumstances, I would have wanted to interview the 2nd youngest person to ever receive a provisional license, but right now it would be...tacky," she sighed, "Just please make sure when he's ready to talk about that portion of his day, not the...other part."
"I take it you also want to interview Tokoyami," Hawks gave a cheerful smile.
"Yes, I'd like to interview him too."
"Well, I'll see what I can do, maybe it will help Midoriya be less camera shy."
She chuckled at that, "Now that's actually a rather endearing trait, especially in a young hero, instead of being arrogant and full of himself, he's incredibly shy, it's certainly a lot better than Mt. Sluddy."
"I'm not going to comment on that one," replied Hawks as he accepted her card, "I don't want my pad stepped on." She actually laughed in response.
"So you know certain parties were not too amused by what happened, and are looking into it, off the record..."
"Off the record, all I have to say, is good hunting, but tell those parties to be careful," Hawks suddenly shifted to a more serious tone, "That guy was not just some random thug, despite the image that Rocky is just some child friendly hero, he isn't exactly a slouch when it comes to fighting."
"He is at a serious disadvantage in a straight up fight though," she replied, "Unlike those fools over at Channel 9, I know he's done underground hero work and he's handled some dangerous situations in the past, but he has to fight from the shadows and when that's compromised he's often in trouble, which is why he normally has backup. What happened?"
"From what I understand, sources had indicated it was just some small time hoodlums trying to make a name for themselves," Hawks answered, "Rocky was just called in to provide eyes in the sky for the law enforcement agents to have some notice and information on their positions. What they got instead was professional mercs with military grade hardware, they were especially not expecting someone that could control metal pipes and use them as weapons that launched like javalins. He sent a distress signal as soon as they pulled up. What I'm furious about is where were the other heroes, I got there as fast as I could but..."
"All this to go after a kid over a dumb rumor..." she shook her head, "What? He was obviously the target as a way to get at All Might. They didn't even bother doing the due diligence to check and find out the boy has the wrong blood type to be All Might's kid for goodness sakes. Anyways, I'll keep this conversation off the record. Just you keep your promise about those interviews..."
"Sure thing," said Hawks waving as he walked back to the boys, "Lets get stuff stored away."
"Thanks," said Midoriya, "I don't think I'd do well being interviewed right now."
The reporter walked to an area she wouldn't be overheard and made a phone call.
"So Curious, what did you find out?"
"They are hiding something about that boy, it's odd for a quirk to just suddenly appear just before entering U.A.," she reported.
"You think he's tied to the League of Villains, their mole?"
"No, though he may have been kidnapped and experimented on, only to be rescued and it was kept quiet," she replied, "He's been looked after by his homeroom teacher since the start of school as well as an elderly pro hero being suddenly hired at U.A. to alternate teaching with All Might. Additionally said pro hero, has been teaching this kid specifically."
"Skeptic could only find out limited information on Gran Torino," the voice replied, "He apparently was All Might's home room teacher at U.A., his circle of friends seems to be small but rather influential. Story is he showed up at USJ and saved three students from a series of villains."
"Changing subjects, I went over the security footage from that apartment attack," she gritted her teeth, "Seriously, if some of those neighbors had done something, that boy's mother might still be alive."
"Yes, the laws involving quirk usage are incredibly stupid, you do owe Skeptic for that footage."
"I know, anyways Skeptic went fishing for the boy's medical records, did he find anything interesting in his medical records?"
"Some brain activity scans that would suggest he suffers from classic DQMS, Skeptic assures me they're genuine."
"Which could mean that things are exactly what they seem and his quirk did awaken that late, and maybe someone recognized the signs," she sighed, "Maybe he witnessed something or those that tried to wipe him and his family out think he witnessed something."
"Probably," came the voice, "Did you learn anything else of interest?"
"Yes, a certain winged hero revealed information about those scumbags that nearly killed your secretary and her two year old daughter in that rampage. Apparently the boss of that group can manipulate metal, this information was of course off the record."
"Good to know there is a hero out there with a brain, do you think he can be recruited?"
"Doubtful," she answered, "Given the apprenticeships, the provisional licenses, and other sudden efficiency of bureaucrats, he is likely tied to the HPSC, but unlike the ones running that corrupt organization, he's willing to at least listen and have an honest conversation. Sad thing is, I think he's naive and believes it can be cleaned up."
"So he may side with us eventually," the voice sighed, "or he may do the impossible and clean up the cesspool, either way benefits us. I guess we'll have to wait and see."
What she hadn't noticed was the small feather floating in the air.
'Jeez, my boss will want to hear about this,' Hawks thought, 'Though if they aren't planning on violence, they can be reasoned with in a rational manner.' He led the boys into the Hotel got them checked in and left the luggage in their rooms. Then led them back out.
"So where are we going?" asked Midoriya as Mineta trailed behind.
"You'll see," grinned Hawks taking them into a building and then up an elevator.
A balding heavy-set man met Hawks, "So you're here to see Mr. Shields?"
"Yeah, I'm not late am I?"
"No," the man walked back to a door in back of the room, "Hey Dave your appointment's here."
"Thanks Sam, you should go get yourself some lunch."
"I know, just don't forget to meet your daughter at 4."
"So Keigo, I can call you that right, Hawks?"
"Sure," the hero shrugged.
"I'm not sure why you wanted me to look at your protege, I'm not into designing things that can boost people's quirks into being weapons..."
"Actually it's something of the opposite," Hawks replied, "Dr. Shields meet Izuku Midoriya, Midoriya this is Dr. Shields."
As the two shook hands David Shields made the connection, "Izuku, I'm sorry for your loss, I'm guessing you're blaming yourself and you really shouldn't. You were in school, you were where you were supposed to be, it would be something else if you were out goofing off, okay? You weren't were you?"
"No, I was in our Midterms and then some other paperwork for my Provisional License," he kept his eyes on the ground.
"You don't do drugs?" Upon hearing that Izuku looked up at him with an indignant expression. "So they went after your mother because they were really bad people it isn't your fault." He looked over at Hawks, "Why did you drag him out here? He should be in grief counselling and therapy."
Hawks pulled out a thumb drive, "You're gonna want to see this."
David Shields plugged the drive into a port at a computer hooked up to a wall monitor and Midoriya saw a scene that felt like a lifetime ago where he destroyed the 0 pointer. "I see," said David, "It's not that you want me to come up with something to amplify his quirk, but something to help him handle it... But shouldn't he have been training it?"
"DQMS," replied Hawks, "His quirk only manifested a few months ago."
"Well the level of power Izuku, you mind if I call you that?"
"No sir, I don't mind."
"Well the level of power Izuku is demonstrating is on the level of All Might, I could see where the rumors started, but the green lightning seems to indicate the mechanics might be different."
"So you'll do it?"
David thought about it, "So is this just for an emergency situation I take it?"
"Yeah, I don't want him using something that would enable him to go full out all the time and using it as a crutch," Hawks replied.
"I think my daughter worked on something that would be almost a prototype, do you mind if I make a copy of that video so I can show her?" he sounded eager not to work on his original major project in Hawks mind. "Also Midoriya I would like you to come with when I meet with her."
Mineta was watching the situation trying to decide if it was a good idea or bad.
"Maybe we should have coffee while the kids talk," suggested Hawks.
The scientist looked up at the clock, "Sure let me introduce her to the two boys... I don't think you introduced me to the other boy."
"Meet Minoru Mineta, aka Grape Shot, I forgot to mention Midoriya's current hero name is Deku," Hawks commented, "Mineta had been living with the Midoriya family after his teacher discovered his mother was stealing his artwork and marketing it as her own."
"So that's why he's here and not your other apprentice, cause he might be targeted too," said David filling in the blanks, "Okay I'll take the two boys to meet my daughter..." The door opened.
"Hey Dad," smiled Melissa Shields, "You seemed to be running late so I came to rescue you."
"Melissa, this is the appointment I told you about," he put his hand on the back of his neck.
"I thought you were going to reject it?"
"Well, I changed my mind because I misinterpreted what was actually being asked," he explained, handing her a tablet and letting her watch the video.
"Oh wow, this was his entrance exam video, he's probably about as strong as Uncle Might!"
Both boys looked startled, "You mean..." Midoriya began, "he's your uncle?" Mineta finished.
"Not by blood," she laughed, "Dad and Uncle Might are really good friends."
Midoriya looked torn at that comment.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Melissa do you remember that news story about that kid being targeted, because people thought he was All Might's kid, well he's the kid who was targeted," said David, "Look I apologize."
"It's not your fault and it wasn't hers, she didn't know."
"I imagine you blame understandably blame Uncle Might..."
"I don't blame him, not really, he's one of my teachers, but it's..."
"Well at least that explains why you seem so down," she smiled, "I'm sure they'll find the villains responsible, you know if you keep acting like that, you're letting them win."
"Melissa, you had a project you once did for a support item to protect someone's arm right?" asked her father.
"Yeah, it should be able to handle his full strength, though how can his quirk be that ridiculously overpowered for his body..." she questioned, "oh yeah, Delayed Quirk Manifestation Syndrome they covered that in a health class, but it's kind of rare anymore."
"I'm thinking that could be the working prototype," her father stated.
"It may have to be a little stronger, though given those metal soles and shock absorbers you fight a lot with your feet, though it would be good to have something for your arms too... I'll go get it if dad can order a pizza and drinks."
"Sure," he replied, letting her take charge.
"I'll take her there and bring her back," Hawks volunteered, "that way the food will be hot when she gets back."
While Midoriya stared out the window, David decided to try to talk to Mineta.
"I'm sorry if it seemed like I was ignoring you earlier," he apologized.
"It's not a problem," replied Mineta sounding a little distracted, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure?"
"Why are you so eager to drop whatever your project was?"
"What?"
"Izuku's been through enough, he's the one that noticed there was something going on concerning me and that my mom was emotionally abusing me," Mineta looked up at the scientist, "I owe him, and what's more his mom was like the mom I never had, and now she's dead. It's like you don't want to work on it, you're reminding me of how I used to be. I'm concerned you're endangering Izzy."
David Shield sat down sighing, "It is something that could augment an existing quirk particularly for people whose quirk factors have been damaged due to injury..."
"You mean it's for All Might?" both boys asked, with Midoriya looking up.
"What? Of course not..." he trailed off as Mineta looked annoyed and Midoriya just gave a 'suit yourself' shrug.
"So what's the problem?" Mineta asked.
"I think it could potentially be misused, and just wanted it to be given to All Might," David admitted, "Sam was trying to get me to sell it..."
"If you think it's dangerous, then it should stay locked up here," Mineta replied, "Don't you think that All Might joining U.A. means he already has a plan in motion to cover what you're concerned about?" The boy gave the scientist a knowing look and nodded.
The scientist could read between the lines as to what small boy was telling him, and smiled at that as though a weight had been taken off, "Thanks."
Hawks arrived back just as the pizza arrived and we all had dinner. At first, Hawks and I took up a good chunk of the conversation, until we finally got Izzy to open up. He's trying to hide it, but I know he's still a wreck, I don't know how he manages to compartmentalize how he feels like he does, it isn't healthy. That said I think he'll pull through. - Minoru Mineta
Melissa took what looked to be a bracelet out of a small box.
"A bracelet?" asked Izuku as she placed it around his right wrist.
"Okay hit that button there," she suggested.
He did as he was told and it suddenly transformed itself into a glove, "A glove?"
"I designed it after watching Uncle Might use his strength," she grinned, "I'll call it full-gauntlet, it should be able to withstand Uncle Might's full strength 3 times."
"You're giving it to me, but it's yours?! I don't deserve this!"
"Promise you'll use it to do good things," she told him. Midoriya nodded in affirmation.
"In any case, that's just the prototype," David commented looking over the old blueprints, "I should have a matching set of working models in the next few days that should be slightly stronger."
"Uh how do I get this off?" Midoriya asked.
"Is it waterproof?" asked Hawks
"Yeah it can handle being up to 100 meters underwater with no issues," Melissa shrugged, "and by water, I mean sea water or chlorinated water."
"You're leaving it on for the foreseeable future," Hawks ordered.
"But I'm not supposed to..."
"It's for emergency situations only, not to show off, situations where you have to go over your limit in an emergency."
"Can you make the finished product so it won't stick to my quirk?" asked Minoru.
"I could why?" asked David.
"If I have to work with Izzy in the future, I don't want him getting trapped due to my own quirk."
Later that Evening:
"So, they said they could," Sam began.
"Sam, no," replied David.
"But..."
"It's just asking for trouble," he replied, "I know you were trying to help get that thing off the Island like I wanted, but after thinking about it, I realized that thing needs to stay locked up, while it is an incredible invention, but the potential for misuse is too high."
David thought for a moment that Sam was going to argue with him, but then Sam nodded, "I understand, I'll tell them you aren't interested."
Sam's apartment:
When Sam got home he dialed a number on his phone, "Bad news, he won't go along with it."
"So is this a bust?" came an annoyed voice, "Getting set up cost money."
"I didn't say it's a bust, just he won't go along with it," said Sam, "Let's do it anyways."
"Then it's a go," replied the voice and the person on the other end hung up.
"Sorry Dave, but I'm doing this for your own good," Sam muttered.
Hotel Room 507:
Hawks finished getting off the phone talking to the HSPC President about the reporter and suggested they try not to provoke whomever she was associated with. Then he checked in with the two boys looking over what he'd managed to rope them into for the next few days.
"So he's having the two of us help with setting up the displays for some of the students at Melissa's school," Midoriya commented, "Should we be wearing our hero costumes?"
"No, because you don't want them getting stuff on them," Hawks commented, "Also Dr. Shields wanted to treat those Iron Soled clodhoppers of yours so they don't rust."
"I see..."
"Anyways, you should have a lot in common with Melissa, Izuku."
"What do you mean?"
"She is quirkless, like you were; she's the only kid in her class that is quirkless, but not the only one at her school that is," Hawks shrugged, "The ratio is closer to how it is in the rest of the world here compared to Japan."
"Must be hard..." Midoriya looked at the ground.
"I doubt it is as bad for them as it was for you," replied Hawks, "After all they are also the children of some fairly important people, and are highly intelligent."
"Is Melissa going to get credit for that 'full gauntlet?' asked Mineta.
"Her dad submitted the patent in her name, though his improvements would be under his name," answered Hawks, "Anyways get some sleep you two, you're going to have an interesting next few days."
Notes:
In canon Midoriya often puts his personal feeling on the back burner, even it isn't healthy for him to do. If just about any other member of his class had gone through what Midoriya did, they'd probably have a total breakdown, and he's rather close to it.
Since we don't know when Sam convinced David Shields to go along with the theft, I'm treating it as though he hadn't quite managed it by the time of Hawks, Midoriya, and Mineta arrived.
