21/09/2021

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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 04

Izuku was feeling both excited and nervous. Today was the day he'd get to help someone. Kurogiri had insisted that he dress in his best clothes today, and so he was wearing a suit and tie and his curls had been slicked back with a copious amount of styling product. Where Kurogiri had gotten the suit from was beyond him, though the misty man had tied his tie for him. He still didn't know how to make a proper knot. The misty man had instructed him to have black hair and black eyes today and then they had waited in the bar until Giran had arrived.

The broker even looked neat and tidy and after a short conversation with Kurogiri, the warp gate had opened and he'd accompanied Giran through Kurogiri. It was a bit of a surprise when Kurogiri reformed behind them.

"Yeah, didn't think I'd be allowed to take His Highness myself," the broker had commented.

Kurogiri had said nothing and Giran had quickly gotten the point. They were walking towards what looked to be a huge house. It couldn't be a house though, not really, it was far too large.

"This is an elderly care home," Kurogiri explained.

Izuku nodded as they followed Giran along the driveway.

There was a covered area at the end of it and Giran just strode into the facility with them in tow. There was a receptionist sitting there. Izuku watched as Giran spoke a few words to her and he didn't see exactly what the pink eyed man did but he did see Giran make a gesture towards the woman. It looked like he was holding something. And then they walked past her down one of the corridors.

Giran led them confidently. He checked a couple of doors, and Izuku could see there were numbers and names on them but apparently they weren't the right ones. Eventually they came to a door. The name tag said Saisho and Giran nodded before he stopped in front of it.

"This is the lady," the grey haired man announced.

Izuku instantly felt- He wasn't sure what he felt. Nervous was a definite descriptor, combined with pride and worry and everything he could possibly feel. This was going to be the first person he helped. The first person, apart from his Dad, who he deliberately took a quirk from and wasn't going to give it back. Kurogiri seemed to understand, because the misty man put one hand on his shoulder.

That was grounding. Izuku took a deep breath and nodded. Then he looked straight into Giran's pink eyes. "I'm ready."

The broker chuckled and then tapped on the door before he opened it.

For Izuku, stepping inside that room was a revelation. He could see everything, hear everything and he knew he was going to remember this room for the rest of his life. On the far side, there was a large, floor to ceiling window that looked out onto a garden. There appeared to be a small balcony- no, there was a walkway around the building and the window was actually a sliding door that opened up onto it. There were curtains but at the moment, only a light and airy curtain was drawn across the space.

There was a bed to his left but not so close that he could touch it even if he reached out as he came through the door. It was made and there was a maroon cover on it. The top pillow cover was in the same colour scheme but was patterned and had frills. A cupboard seemed to line the wall on the left side of the bed and there was a door to his right. It led to the bathroom.

In front of the window there was a small table and chairs. They were sitting chairs placed on the side of the sliding door that didn't open so they didn't get in the way.

Everything was perfectly placed.

There was a woman sitting in one of the chairs. The sun streamed down on her.

"Oh, you are here," she murmured.

Izuku looked at the woman. Her hair was so grey it was white, and her eyes were pale but Izuku could tell that they had once been blue. She gave them a smile and he realised with a small start of surprise that she was dressed in a kimono. No one wore them these days, except on formal occasions.

"I thought it best, since it's a special occasion," she said, as if reading his mind. Izuku couldn't help the small squeak of surprise he made and she chuckled. "Your expression was clear, my dear boy."

"Are you still sure about this?" Giran asked.

There was something about the question that didn't fit. It was rough and Izuku almost cringed.

"I'm sure," the woman told him. "But you two wait in the corridor. The little man and I have to have a talk," she said.

Izuku looked up at Kurogiri. The misty man was still, which wasn't a good sign.

"I won't hurt him," the lady said, "and if I try, he'll just take my quirk. Besides, I think he might find this easier without an audience," she added.

He bit the inside of his lip. She had to have some sort of mind reading quirk.

"I'll call," Izuku said before Kurogiri could object.

Giran snorted. "Better obey His Highness," he said, and then walked back to the door. "Don't take too long," the broker said.

Kurogiri reluctantly followed but Izuku saw the way he closed the door. It was left open a crack.

The lady apparently noticed as well because she chuckled again. "Come sit with me, little man," she invited, pointing to the other chair.

Izuku moved and took the offered chair. It was actually a bit hot to sit there in the full sun in his suit but Kurogiri had explained that he should be nice to the lady. He could sit here if she wanted.

"My name is Saisho Kijo."

"I'm not meant to tell you who I am," Izuku replied carefully. He felt kind of guilty for that.

"I know," Saisho smiled. "It's okay. But I want you to remember my name."

He nodded. Now that she'd said it Izuku didn't think he'd ever forget it, not with what was going to happen.

"Would you like some tea?"

There was a huff from outside the door. Saisho ignored it. Izuku shook his head, but Saisho leaned over to the table and poured him a cup anyway. She took a sip of her tea after she'd settled back into her chair.

"I wanted to thank you for accepting my selfish request."

Izuku blinked at that. He was going to help her, so how was that selfish?

Saisho chuckled. "You are delightful, you know that? Your expression is so honest," she complimented him. She took another sip of tea and then put her cup down. Her pale blue eyes looked over into Izuku's black. "My quirk is not going to go out of control," Saisho said simply. "But I want you to have it," she added before he could object.

"Why?" Izuku asked. If it wasn't going to hurt anyone, or herself, then why did she want someone to take it? It didn't make sense.

"Little Man, I am 93 years old. I've seen the world change more than anyone could imagine in that time. I've seen powers, quirks rise to be normal and I've seen the changes society has made for them. I find myself now, wanting to see more but being so tired."

Izuku really didn't understand that.

"Ah, youth," Saisho said softly. "I'm going to die soon, Little Man. I can feel it, and so, I want to give you my quirk, so that some part of me lives on and that some part of me can keep watching, through you."

"I thought I was going to help you," Izuku said delicately. He wished he could take off his jacket. It was getting really hot in the sun. How was she wearing the full kimono and not feeling the heat?

"You are going to help me," Saisho replied immediately. "I see your guardians haven't explained," she added with a sigh. "Will you let me explain?"

Izuku nodded.

"You are going to help me die in peace," the old woman said as gently as she could but there was still a certain amount of callousness that was present when you spoke of death to a ten year old. "While I want to watch the world continue, there is a part of me that is tired, and that part is growing, hence, Little Man, I know I will die soon and I will die with regrets.

"But, if you take my quirk, I can die without regret. Because the part of me that is in my quirk can watch the world continue. You will give me the peace I need to pass on. And that will help me greatly."

Saisho took up her cup again as Izuku thought about her words. He still didn't understand, not completely but if taking her quirk would help then he would do that.

"Okay," Izuku whispered. He didn't really like thinking about dying. It still felt too raw. He could still remember seeing his dad in that tube, the blood smeared on the control panel at the bottom. The fear was… Dad is safe, Izuku reminded himself, forcing himself not to shake his head. He had to pay attention now.

She gave him a smile. It was small but Izuku could tell it was heartfelt. "Thank you, Little Man. I'm sure in the future, you will take other people's quirks, especially if they are a threat to you but my one, you take with my full permission and blessing."

Saisho set down her tea cup and they sat in the sun for a few moments. "Now, is there anything I need to do?" she asked, somewhat curious.

Izuku shook his head. "Are you ready?" he returned his own question.

The old lady took a deep breath, and then smoothed the lap of her kimono. "Yes," she replied.

Izuku nodded, and closed his eyes as he reached out with his own quirk. It wasn't quite the same as doing this with his Father. She felt different. He felt different. Her quirk was an odd mix of yellow and green. It was almost like the too hot sunlight they were sitting in hitting a deep forest, or soft moss. It was rather beautiful. He gently touched it with his quirk and tugged. There was a slight resistance, but not much. Izuku pulled it again and this time it came to him.

"Ah, there it goes," Saisho murmured with a contented sigh.

He settled the quirk within him, cradling it slightly. "What is it called?" Izuku asked. It was odd, now that he had the quirk, the sunlight felt like it was just the right temperature.

"Solar Force," she told him. "It's not that powerful. It just allows me to create energy from the sun."

"Oh, like a reptile?" Izuku asked before slapping his hands to his mouth. They'd learned about cold blooded creatures in school and how they took some of their energy from the sun. It was fascinating how little they needed to eat because of that.

The lady grinned. "A bit like that, but my parents decided that 'Cold Blood' wasn't a good name, and it wasn't true, either. There is nothing reptilian about my quirk. It's more plant based. Solar Force was considered a good name for it."

Izuku nodded, relieved that he hadn't insulted her.

Saisho leaned back in her chair, tilting her head back into the cushioning. She looked tired. "Now, Little Man, I want you to live a long and prosperous life because the part of me that is with you wants to see how the world changes." She shifted slightly, looking down without leaning forward. "And maybe you will make some of those changes, hmm, Little Man?"

He gave her a tentative smile. "Maybe."

That got another chuckle. "I want to rest now," Saisho said.

Izuku immediately got up. He bowed at her and then turned to the door and walked as quietly as he could towards it. Just as he reached it and was about to slide it open, Saisho spoke again. "Thank you."

He nodded towards her, not knowing what to say before he turned away and slid the door open.

Kurogiri was standing there. Giran was leaning against the far wall.

"We're good?" the broker asked.

Izuku nodded.

"Then let's go," Giran announced.

"Here?" Kurogiri seemed surprised.

"Unless you want to speak to the receptionist," the broker replied lazily. "She'll know we are gone and will allow people back into this corridor."

The misty man sighed and then opened into a portal.

A few moments later the corridor was empty.

-ted-

I was going to put another scene in this chapter but I think the event was important enough by itself but I do appreciate this chapter is short. On the whole though the average length of chapters for Fledgling are 175 words longer than Nestling :p Yes, I have a spreadsheet that helps me work out useless details like that... and the fact that as the fic has progressed the chapter length is on a definite upwards incline, despite my best efforts to 'flatten the curve', to use topical terminology.

I like Saisho. I hope I managed to convey that she's one of those fiery old ladies who's going to get things her way, whether you like it or not. But she is also old, and tired, and in need of comfort and Izuku gave her that. Yay, Izuku!

-ted-

Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!