This My Life Now

by Lucifer S Moringstar

All Roberto Rodrigo Robles wanted to be since he was 13 was a hero. Now he is attending UA Academy, this is the story of how he achieved his goal!

8. I am Insurrection

A/N: So I took a break cause, Christmas. I am currently working on two what if tales that are MHA based. At the end of this will be several time skips sorry but this series was always meant to be 12 parts. This is the last part for a while I kinda need to rewrite a few things, even will have to probably reupload or edit this one, for now I give you what I have. There is one story that my best friend wrote that takes place between Part B OF THIS STORY and Part 11: I am Established. I also have a story that takes place immediately after Part A of THIS STORY so yeah a lot happens in this part. Shout out to all the new subscribers, "How you doing?" To the faithful, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!" TO ALL, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let go PLUS ULTRA! Tra La for now!

~Lucifer S. Morningstar

---

I am Insurrection

July 15: The Heat with Niesha Summers, pilot episode:

I have never been to a television studio before, least inside, in Japan I would flyby several TV stations but never thought about going in. The tours were mostly tourist traps for visitors and the easiest way to obtain extra revenue. Jacob was with me, to which I was extremely grateful for. "You faced monsters, waves of enemies, and this scares you?" Jacob could not believe the irrationality of it all.

I see our show's host. "At least I knew my target Jacob, this, this is a whole different beast." She hears my words and I hear a ummph.

Her eyes narrow, crap did I say something to offend? "Excuse you?" Dammit.

I start to back petal as I hear the tap of her yellow stilettos. "Forgive me Ms. Summers, I mean, I am sort of out of my element here, I do not mean you." I give an uneasy smile.

She then chuckles lightly and I feel my sphincter ease. "I know what you mean Commander Spectre, it will be alright, you'll be fine." Now that I could breath I could actually look at her fully. She was wearing a black pencil skirt with a blouse that had cheetah print accents on the sleeves. Her hair was done in an aline bob with the right side longer than the left. From what I could tell her hair was natural, either that or her stylist was amazing. She takes notice, "It's my own hair commander." Her skin was fair, dark and smooth, her face had a strong jawline and slightly oval, all in all she was made for television. "Come on, it will be okay."

"Famous last words." Jacob laughs as we both shoot him daggers.

She took my arm, she was strong, and shot back, "Stop that Mr. Downing you'll scare him." She smiles at me, her teeth were perfect and a bright beaming white, she wore only clear lip gloss sensuating her natural lip tone. Jacob just shook his head and made his way to the green room with an aide leading him to his destination.

I give her a smile as she leads me to hair and makeup,"Thank you by the way for not having a live audience." She smiles at me again and I notice light hazel eyes, no doubt she could have anyone she wanted with just a look.

"You are quite welcome Commander Spectre," She cooed, oh she was good, I could see her planning, "however if I have you again."

Bingo, "If." She catches my inflection, sharp, intelligent, a woman after my own heart.

"If." She repeats my response, "I have you again you will have to face one." Her hand touches my arm and I notice her french tipped nails. "You know you do not have to be in your hero uniform commander."

"If." My uniform was stuffy but I felt secure in it. "I do and I will adapt IF I come back." Her smile told me that she knew I was not going to budge on the uniform. I sat in the chair bringing down my cowl. As several staff members came to attend to me.

"Would you like us give your hair a touch up?" I declined, I was going to back to Samson for that.

"Well commander I will leave you be, the producers want to go over the social feed questions with me." She smiled tapping my shoulder.

"Thank you Ms. Summers." I said politely, "I will do my best tonight." She just smiled and left me with hair and makeup.

Jacob Downing: The Heat with Niesha Summers, several years later.

"Welcome to The Heat with your host, me, Niesha Summers." She was wearing the same outfit on as she was on that day. "Unfortunately Mrs. Asui-Robles could not be here to continue our interview. Her father passed away. We here at The Heat send her our most humblest condolences during this time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family." That was a bit of a shock for us as well, Matthew was already on a plane to Japan, along with Dezmond, Terrin, Andrew and Bernadette. Since I was now in charge of Delta 12 I had a few loose ends to take care of before we would head out. This being top of the list. The wife would have killed me if it was not.

This would have been the stage on that day, "Tonight however is actually the anniversary of The Heat and coincidentally Commander Spectre was to be my first guest, so I have a bit of a treat for you all tonight." I see the camera pan out, "I have with me as my guest, Commander Spectre's right hand man and my husband, Jacob Cruder Downing, Blue Worx."

At her words I had to chuckle, I never would have thought I would meet the one to make me whole again. "Hey beautiful, it is a pleasure to be here." I take her hand and loose myself in her light hazel eyes as I kiss her hand.

"Thank you honey, so here we are after all these years, I finally get to film here!"

"I know right, they moved you to studio 12 after the attack." I mused remembering the aftermath.

"As many of the well versed fans of the show know, The Heat's original pilot episode never got recorded, due to us being attacked." She remained posed as she addressed the TV audience.

"That was not a good day for any of us." I looked up at the ceiling remembering when it suddenly got caved in. "He did not even think twice."

"Commander Spectre showed us all just how capable he was and why Slim Shade chose him." My wife took a breath, "So tell us and the viewers at home, Blue Worx, what was it like working with The Knightmare Hero?"

"You just said it, a literal nightmare at times, Roberto was a very driven man, you yourself saw it that day." I began to tell my account of that day's event.

July 15, several years before.

Everything was going well, I could see my best friend setting up for his interview. They were having trouble placing his mic, so my friend did the most Spectre thing he could think of- he had Mei hack their audio so he could just use his ear bud mic. Efficiency, cheez itz, spam, and garlic, my future wife was the only one who found this amusing. The producers, however, were already reading me the riot act in the green room. It took some convincing, the signing of several NDAs and legal hell, but they allowed it. I was going to strangle my best friend at the end of all this.

That was when HE struck, an explosion went off in the studio and all I could think of was that Roberto was never, EVER, going to do an interview AGAIN! I rushed to the stage only to find him engaging the subject of Commander Jinn's case. I looked around, I could hear our host's voice, so I suited up. Mei had totally changed my uniform, it was now running completely off my quirk, with a solar back up. It was all white, any blue seen was from my own quirk infusing it with life.

There were some elements of my original uniform, like the armor gauntlets overshadowing my hands. However, she had turned me into a walking shield, every section of my plate armor could detach and, through the use of my quirk, combine into various barricades, walls, personal shields, or encapsulate an entire team protecting them from heavy bombardments. Downside was I was left with Light Yū armor, it protected me but not like when the armor plates were attached. The armor plates were made from the same material as the Spectre V9 suit only folded in on themselves several times and ultra hardened. Like Spectre's it was stored on a disc, a signature standard in all her designs.

"Help." I could hear her voice.

"I'm coming!" I called out to her.

I hear her audibly sigh and she spoke,"Great another one pump chump!"

"Very funny." I was not amused, as I continued to search for her.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I am frightened, the roof has caved in on me, and my show is probably gonna be cancelled." Her voice was so as-a-matter-of-factly there was no time to cringe. "So excuse me- if I comfort myself with my own witty banter." I get a location on her.

Well at least she was talking, that was always a good sign. "I see you Ms. Summers give me a minute." I look around then activate my uniform's strength enhancers.

"What about the commander?" I look up and I see him use a flashbang on his attacker. "He's taking him on isn't he?" her voice was flat and very much monotone.

"Yup." I pull a giant light bar off a tower, then remove the light tower. "Almost there." I was thanking God I had Mei's strength enhancers as I finally broke through and pulled her out.

"My hero." I smile and she drags me down kissing me then releasing me back on my feet. I shook my head, was not expecting that, "Snap out of it hero, your commander needs you."

"Do you have a quirk?" Who knows maybe she could help?

She read my mind, "I don't think our attacker needs smooth supple skin."

"Glycerin?" She clicks her tongue and points a finger gun at me. I see Roberto hit him with an aftershock sending him out of the building. "Spectre." He sees me and nods as I see him touch his temple. "Looks like he has just received Tech Mage's profile." I tell Ms. Summers.

"Coming Blue?" I nod waving good bye to my future wife and follow him out.

Mei was already tracking him, that was when she cued us in on his com and who he was talking too. He spoke slowly, like he was trying to hide an accent, "Fool provided me with me own escape."

"Got dammit." he just read his quirk, "SON OF A BITCH!" Mimeo. Actually quite common among mutant class quirk users. It gave its wielder the power to copy whatever it encounters, however it varied on what it can actual copy. For Tech Mage aka Logan Arcados, it was technology. Anything he could touch he could replicate and understand even if he had/has no previous knowledge of it. Now he had Mei's tech all of it.

"Tyche send me what you got." I requested.

"Already done, this is bad Jacob." I looked at my HUD and my stomach churned.

"I know, what do we have on this…" A flash came across my screen, "We got a bigger problem Tyche."

"Spectre." I could already hear his aggravation.

"Yeah I see it." I hear him growl, that was not good, "US Central Intelligence Agency."

"Thieves!" Mei was pissed.

Roberto did not care who hell you were, person, entity, or government agency, "Yeah not happening, Jacob fall back I…" No one messes with Mei or anyone he cares about or loves.

"Do not even, this will not stand." I poured every skill I had into finding this bastard. "Tyche he has to have a handler, find them." While I focused on finding Tech Mage, she could handle the other part. Roberto told me to take lead on this, so I came up with a plan. "Commander, how about we have him come to us?" I could almost see the smile on his face.

"Would make our job a lot easier." I hear him say with a tone I was very familiar with, he approved.

I switched over lines, "Tyche can you modify a projector to hide my identity?"

"No need, Spectre can use decoy mode to hide you." Nice, I tell Roberto to launch a decoy to take me out. Moments later I am fighting an amalgam of several of our past villains in one body. They 'take me out' sending me into a building and come out only to do an 'encore' on the commander.

"Target is down Arcados, retrieve that armor." They did not know we were listening in. That means they had a satellite on Robles, that was intent. The enemy they saw had retreated, now was the chance to strike. Tech Mage approached the commander and tapped his chest twice and retrieved the disc. He examined it and then gave into temptation putting it on.

I steady my breath,"Hold guys." The armor adjusted to him and we had him, "LOCK HIM IN!" Sparks flew as the armor locked him in place, his head was exposed. I leaped in and encapsulated all three of us with my armor. Just as shot ricocheted off the shield, that meant a 3rd party most likely an asset. Before we could do anything Roberto hit him with a right cross sending a cyanide cap flying out of his mouth.

"Huh, thought that was only in movies?" Roberto mused and I had to admit I kinda was hoping it was true too.

"Radio signal blocked." Mei said through my shield. "Scanning, damn, disabling bomb." Arcados yelped as the bomb shorted out at the base of his brain stem. "All clear."

"Dank you fahr freein me frahm dat, 'is name is Agent Stuart Aires." Irish, I then see Roberto cracking a smile and holding back laughter. "What de foehck is yooehr prahblem, yoo sahn o' whahre." Roberto was losing it, he turned to face me, "Why de foehck is 'e laoehghin?" Roberto just could not, "Its like 'e's never 'eard de Queen's Englesh befahre?"

I looked at him like he was from a different planet."That is not the Queen's English, far from it."

"Bloody 'ell," He took a breath gathering himself, "Look you set me free from those bloody bastards, please let me go."

"Oh its all fine and dandy now," Roberto rolled his eyes at his audacity, "little Logan was forced. Aww yo po' wee lad."

I touch his shoulder and he looks at me, "Roberto you saw the bomb."

"Look laddy, I have no quarrel with you," We both could see and hear that he was being sincere. "nor do I care for the CIA."

Roberto gritted his teeth. "My tech."

"Sorry but unless you have an EMP." Roberto looks at me and the room flashes, "Sahn o' a prahtestant whahre, what de bloody 'ell man, de foehck wro'g wi'ch ya foehckin' coehnt!" Roberto snorts but then falls back laughing his ass off. "Foehck you ya stupid coehnt, you damn near erased me gaht damn memahry, jesoehs, you cooehldn't wait fahr me to explain, gaht damn bloody heathen!" The armor releases him and he gets out holding his head.

"You have no loyalty to them why?" Roberto asked him before I could.

Arcados just shook his head,"Why the fuck else, freedom, 'murica, wheeoo."

"Then why not come to High Specs?" I asked myself, this made no sense.

"Why should they when they can just claim one lad should not have such technology." He shrugged his shoulders, "They can spin it however they want, even expose his little war on Delta 12 as evidence enough to the media."

I shook my head, I looked at Robert, who I could see was already hatching up a plan, so I tapped my com."Tyche?"

"Agent Stuart Aires, you know him, well Delta 12 does, namely Matthew, who actually embarrassed him." Mei said as I took a breath, not good.

"How?" I hear a knock on the shield.

"He's there right now, ask him yourself." Mei informed us.

Roberto finally spoke, "We clear?"

"From what I can tell." Mei replied.

"How much have you gathered on him?" I ask her.

"Most is blocked by CIA firewalls," I hear her sigh, "I could brute force my way in, but do we really want that?"

"No." I see Robert get into his armor as Mei reboots it. "You ready commander?"

"Yeah drop it." I do as I am told, the armor plates come down and return to their proper places.

"Barrier." Agent Aires says as suddenly we are pushed away from Logan Arcados. A silent pfft from a Walther PPK and Logan is no more. "Take them out." Two shots followed by two bullets ringing from falling dead and bouncing up. Spectre's kunai flies towards Agent Aires shoulder, he screams as the commander pulls locking the blade in place.

"GET THE FUCK OVER HERE!" He pulls sending Agent Aires into his awaiting fist. More pffts, as I see the commander go to work on him. He opens his mouth and rips out his wisdom teeth. More screams as Roberto tosses the cyanide caps away. "Tyche." He is stopped by a call from an unknown number.

"Commander Spectre you are in violation…" The commander gave him no room to finish.

"You try to assassinate me and my friend." he tells the voice on the other end.

"Allegedly." Mei informs us she has tracked the caller.

Robert gave no tale of what Mei is doing. "I am sure the video will say other wise." Mei then informs us who it is.

The man on the other end is the CIA Director, "Agent Stuart Aries is a rogue agent." Mei informs us she has blocked a cyberattack and has traced back its origins. I watch and listen as she gives us updates in real time. "You have no evidence."

Roberto's eyes never leave the agent's, "Its over Roberto." He says coyly as the CIA Director continues smugly.

"Spectre 3 snipers' bombs disabled and they have given us some wonderful intel. Compiling now."

The CIA Director was now feeling himself, "That armor of yours will be seized." Mei was recording and broadcasting the whole conversation between them over social media.

"High Specs starved off an attack same origin adding to the file." Mei was rabid now.

The director was arrogant, he had no idea what was coming."We are the got damn CIA, boy, we take what we want. Deal with it." To him Roberto was just some punk kid in Delta 12, one of many hero agencies throughout the US. Which all, in his mind, operated at the CIA pleasure.

"Delta 12, twelve different attacks, how poetic, all averted, compilation complete. Sent." Roberto did not give away his hand.

"Oh but I have." I hear Roberto say as he pulls up a breaking news feed, it was live on every national media outlet. The conversation had been broadcasting in real time. Agent Aires just looked on in horror as the line went dead. He then pulled out his kunai and stabilized Agent Aires wound. "Secure him." My armor flies out and traps him. "Tyche put me through to those snipers."

"Connected." Mei acknowledges, I then hear breathing on the other end of the line.

Roberto cut right to the chase, "You are free under conditions."

"Always something." One of them replied as the others groaned in agreement.

"Retire." I heard them gasp. "I am willing to provide you with safe houses for you and your families."

"So you can track us?"Another replies, Roberto laid it out before them.

"Yes, to make sure you stay retired," They were still dangerous, "I will be the only one who can find you."

"If we don't comply." The third one asked.

"See how long it takes till you are right back were you started." One by one they agree. Mei sends them files that I cannot access and then the lines cut. Roberto was a driven man, he kept his word, and I was not going to pursue.

Another moment later he received a call forwarded from Delta 12. "Commander…" He cut him off promptly.

"Here is what is about to go down." Roberto did not let him speak, "You are going to be my new resource." He then cut the line. And looked at Agent Aires, "Now what to do with you."

Agent Aires was stable but lost color in his face, "Well lookie here." he received a bold call, they did not even hide who they were on the caller id.

"Kill him and we will give you the world Knightmare Hero." 9 holo screens popped up with the heads of the Tokyo Underworld.

"What makes this one so special." I saw him cross his arms, that was never a good sign. Roberto wanted to know everything and give nothing in return. This side of him aggravated me to no end, I can only imagine how it made them feel.

Their elected speaker mirrored Roberto's mannerisms, "You want Rappa, the warden, we will give them to you and so much more."

Roberto's eyes narrowed, he wanted Rappa more than anything. "You did not answer my question." Focused as ever, he never missed a beat.

The speaker's face was blank hidden behind a white mask with only eye holes to see. He spoke through a mic in his mask,"Just say he has been the source for much grief among us for many years."

"Must have been doing good." Robeto smirked, he hated yakuza, I could not blame him.

His eyes narrowed, "He's a slug, an extortionist, serving only his own goals, not that of his agency." Bad move.

"Hello kettle meet pot." Robert gestured with an open hand then put it back recrossing his arms.

"Our end goal is for the longevity of our families, he is just a cockroach that will not die." Roberto looked at Agent Aires. He was seriously considering it, Roberto please.

"Roberto do not do this, I am on Rappa, give me…" he raised his hand to me.

I saw him take a breath then, "Your kind killed my mother, go fuck yourselves."

"You have made a grave mistake." The holo screens punched out, I then see him grab Agent Aires tapping his ear bud and instantly got through to the CIA Director.

"You will give me everything on Logan Arcados, dispose of this body quietly, as for this sack of human excrement." He pulled him inches from his face, "He will happily play liaison between us." The director whispered to one of his aides and Delta 12 was given the complete dossier on Logan Arcados. Mei then uploaded the redacted parts to Mount Olympus.

"Its done, if you do not mind I have a shit storm to deal with." The media was eating this up, within the hour of our conversations, Washington D.C., and Langley were under siege via civil protest. "Good going Agent Aires, enjoy playing whipping boy for this bastard."

"You have no one to blame but your own arrogance Icarus." Logan Arcados' body was disposed of. At the time I did not know why he wanted it to be this way. He kept it, like most of his plans close to his chest.

The Heat with Niesha Summers, several years later.

"Who would have thought I would find you." She smiled at me, I never got tired of seeing it. "So that was how it happened." I nodded my head remembering my friend. "He was my best friend, the one I knew I could trust, love." I had to take a moment.

"So my last question, I am sorry, but the viewers want to know." I knew what she was about to ask me. "In your own words, when Spectre died."

"Mixed emotions, I knew why he did it. He was family, and he died protecting his. Not a day goes by that I go by his old office at Delta 12 thinking, 'he took a day off. He'll be back.'" I was trying to hold it together, "I'll see my best friend again."

"Thank you hubby for your time." She was hurting as well, she knew how close we were. "I'm Niesha Downing and this has been The Heat."

82

Robles: Present time: Mid September.

I never thought I would be a hero, much less a father. I was loving every minute of it. However, I was fighting off every temptation to give up being a hero to just be a dad. Was I wrong for this? I could not tell, everyday I see them growing up before my very eyes. Honestly I had skipped work for three weeks now, Tsu seemed to love it. Its not like I could not do so, especially now. Fat Gum did not mind, surprisingly, he knew I did not need a job. We had him over a couple of times, he could not believe the change in me. That aside I finally willed myself to go out on patrol, but I was not focused, my mind was always drifting to my kids. Their faces, they knew who I was, they looked up to me, they knew my voice, it was the purest form of love I had ever experienced.

I landed a top of Tokyo Tower, why could I not focus? I hit my com and he picked up on the first ping. "Do you have any got damn idea what time it is?"

"Yet you answered my call." My voice slightly flirtatious.

He was already use to my antics, his voice was not even annoyed now, I missed that. "Why would I not, let's see Roberto," I hear him take a breath, "maybe, I dunno, because you nearly got killed because all of the Tokyo's Criminal Underworld decided to go to war with you!" I busted out laughing, he really did care."Does that about cover it Roberto?" His voice was sincere and warmed my heart.

"Aww you do love me cupcake." I feign swooning at his words.

I hear a slight chuckle, "Yes I do," After we were attacked Matthew changed, I still was never going to have him, but he was more open with me. And. Honestly. I could live with that, "but that is beside the point."

I stop teasing him, "Matthew I am conflicted."

He sounded like he was expecting this, "Yeah, you just became a father, you are probably thinking about giving up being a hero right about now."

He was insightful, wow, that was so hot. "Yeah, I actually am." Damn him he made my pulse race with his answer.

"Its natural," The bastard knew, "I can just have you be a trainer, no hero cases par say but have you advise on them." He had this planned out, dear god!

"You would do that for me?" My voice revealed that he was turning me on.

"Roberto," That mother- he was enjoying this! "running an agency is more than just sending heroes out in the field." His intelligence was causing me to pant and he knew it! "You are more than that, come on man you know this."

Suddenly I sober up, I had not thought of this. I then suddenly felt unclean. So this is how they must feel, eww. "Wow, seriously, that was not even on your radar?" I groan and he laughs, "Oh my god, so this is how it feels to be on the other side." I continue to growl as he is overthrown with full blown laughter. "Man this was so worth getting up for."

"Matthew is that Robby?" I knew that voice as my eyes narrow, you sly dog.

"MATTHEW BRUNO RATHERS THE THIRD!" He is suddenly not laughing, "Hello Mei darling."

I could almost see her beautiful smile, "Hey a girl has needs and Mr. Rathers here was most accommodating, right sugar." I now hear Matthew groaning in pain. "He is always a good booty call Robby." I audibly hear him die and I burst out laughing.

"Oh is that so," I honestly was relieved by this sudden revelation. "well I am happy for you both."

"I want to die." I hear him whimper as we giggle like school girls.

I hear Mei kissing him, suddenly I was jealous I missed her lips. "Oh shh. Shh. Shh. Let mama make you feel real good," I hear her probably doing something naughty, "so are you done talking to my stress relief Robby?"

"Yes Mei," I let out a slight chuckle, "I do believe I am."

"Alright, because I am rested and ready." I cannot describe what type of sound I hear from Matthew, but I was jealous, I wished he was mine. "Send my love to Tsu and your babies Robby."

I snap out of it, we were no longer together, who knows maybe she actually made a connection."I will, good night Mei, I am so jealous."

"I bet you are hehehe." She cuts the line after we both laugh at Matthew's predicament.

After I left Tokyo Tower I made my way down town, I stopped a robbery, petty crime really, but so long as I saved someone I was happy. I saw some foreigners that spotted me, they were actually from Detroit, so I took a photo with them. That's when I saw him, "Aw crap." he landed in front of me in full hero regalia, "Enji, its over between us, I am married now." I hold my arm and force a blush. The tourists I take a picture of us as he grabbed my shoulders pulling me to his face.

"We need to talk." I caress his face, I was trying to embarrass him so he would leave me alone. He smacks my hands away, "Quit fooling around Commander Spectre." Shit this was not working, welp, Tsu would understand, I suddenly grab his face and kiss him. He lets me go as I hover there having the worse time of my life. He sucked at this, I was giving him my best but he was clueless on what to do! He pushes me away, "What in the actual…"

"You have no tongue skill." I brush my cowl back turning my back at him.

He suddenly felt insulted, "EXCUSE ME!"

I lay it out for him, "You. Todoroki Enji. Have. No. Kissing. Skills." He stares blankly at me.

"My skills are, wait- you were trying!" It suddenly dawned on him what we did. "ARE YOU INSANE!" He was wiping his mouth in disgust.

I give him a flirty smirk, "How would you rate me?" My voice filled with sass, he looks at me dumbstruck for a moment.

He then gives me a smug look, "7." Now I was offended.

"FUCK YOU THAT WAS A 9 at least!" How dare he give me such a low rating, I gave his ungrateful ass an S class tonguing.

"You are good," He was loving it, but then he realized what he was celebrating, " wait-what.. No, ragh!"

I felt my honor restored, "See 9, I shut off your brain." He looked at me like I was gonna burst into flames. "Bet you suck in the sack, a one pump chump."

"THE FU…" I close the distance between us his eyes burning into my own.

"We can get a room and I can judge you myself." I whisper to him seductively, he is now trembling with rage, as his flames shoot out his back. "I see I turn you on Enji." I kiss his nose. I dodge his fist, then parry a kick.

"You sick fuck, you do this even though you are married." It kinda felt like the kettle calling the pot black.

"Trust me my wife loves it when I go full yaoi." He is suddenly disgusted with me and flies off. I look back at the tourists I took a picture with. "Trust me I have better taste, have you seen Slim Shade?" They bust out laughing as I fan myself thinking about him then take a few more pictures with them.

I stop by my house for lunch and show Tsu my encounter with Endeavor. "Babe you can do so much better." She giggles I was hurt.

"But I pulled the #1 hero in Japan!" I exclaim my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"But # 30 in looks see." She shows me the magazine she was reading.

"How am I #7?" I was hurt and where did they get that picture? I was shirtless and outside the hospital. "I was recovering, that is not a fair representation." I pull my shirt off, I was back to six pack abs and most of my muscle mass was returning. I see Tsu lick her lips as I pose for her. She leaps out of her seat and kisses every square inch of me. "Calm down beautiful."

"Your fault." She laughed as she smacked me. "I'll send them a pic."

"No, I will go there personally tomorrow." I then look at the magazine again, it was ridiculous how much it bothered me. I then turn to the top three, "Huh, Mirko is #1, followed by Ryūku and- Mt. Lady, how lurid."I threw the magazine to the side.

I hear my kids coo, then cry, looks like they need changing. I get up and become dad as I go off to take care of it.

Two dirty diapers later, I leave heading to Fat Gum Agency, thankfully I am not harassed by flame head. I land in front of the building and go in. I see Eli, greet him warmly, he responds in kind and hugged me but now had set boundaries. I missed him, but sadly I understood, "Eli can you believe I got ranked #7 in terms of looks?"

From here we go rapid fire back and forth,"No, but you and your flaming boyfriend are trending on Sparrow."

"I can explain."

"He was trying to get you to take that mission."

"Yeah."

"So you tried to embarrass him."

"He gave my kissing skills a 7."

"OH HELL NO!"

"I KNOW RIGHT!" I looked at him in utter shock, "He had no idea what he was doing and I was giving him my best." He smacked me, "I deserved that."

"Yeah, you can do better, why did you waste your skills on him?"

"Shock value and possibly him discovering something about himself." He smacked me again, "Okay one more time we are going to have a scrap on our hands Eli."

He chuckles and points to Fat Gum's office,"Fat Gum is expecting you." I gave him a smile, I spotted Suneater, I give him a high five as I walked by. Tetsu was studying in the conference room. I greeted him, he looked up and gave me a smile as I made it to the stairs that lead to his office overlooking a training room. I knocked on his door and he told me to come in.

Fat Gum was sitting in his chair and got up. He made his way around his desk and greeted me, "Commander how are you?"

"Endeavor is getting on my nerves," I relived my earlier encounter with a shudder, "but other than that I could not be more happier in my life."

"Endeavor," My boss' eyes narrowed at his name, they then returned to normal as he recalled something, "I have seen the pictures on Sparrow, honestly you can do so much better."

I was not amused, "Ha. Ha. I was trying to get him to leave me alone."

"He's been calling my office since this morning, apparently you offended him." I shoot him a look. "Yeah, yeah, I know, heh, heh, you told him he was a one pump chump with no tongue skills."

"He gave me a 7, a 7!" My boss then busted out laughing, "Can you believe that boss?"

"You are on the verge of a scandal and him rating your kissing skills is what bothers you?" He then thought about it, "Wait you didn't sleep with him?"

I looked at him like he lost his damned mind. "What- god no, bitch, I have an S class ass, he doesn't even rank." As I slap my behind at him.

"More like B class if I am to go by the recent poll." This sent me into a fit.

"Hell no, I am not got damn #7." Fat Gum bursts out laughing again, "Boss that picture was taken when I was recovering in hospital."

"I see you are not suffering for ego." I take off my shirt in front of him, he applauds my display as he continues to laugh.

"DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE BODY OF SOME 7th RANKED SEXIEST HERO?"

"You are seriously upset about this?" Fat Gum really could not believe me. "You know what, no, this is you, why am I not surprised?"

"Boss I have some pride." I suddenly hear Eli, we both get up and we see Endeavor. "Excuse me I need to take out the trash!"

"Robert wait!" It was too late I was already out the door. I leapt off the railing igniting my oni mask, Endeavor sees me and we clash as our hand clasp one another.

"Red Riot, Real Steal, Suneater stay out of this!" I say as we grit our teeth at one another. "You know my answer Enji."

"You will not defy my authority." This man had it out for me, why the hell could he not take the hint!

"I laugh in defiance of your authority, you want to get violent…" He flinches and I pull his arms down as he roars. "Then allow me to oblige you! Your ego knows no bounds, being #1 does not give you any authority."

"Actually it does." Fat Gum words distract me, Endeavor gains the upper hand headbutting me, then tossing me into the training area. I get back on my feet, I see Endeavor leaping towards me and I meet him head-on sending a cold aftershock into his jaw embedding him into the arena.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!" I look at my boss as if he had turned traitor. "Where?"

"First section paragraph b, commander you are not a pro hero yet. He is and can request you at will." This was hurting him but he had to follow the guidelines.

"I know that regulation but I got my license in America," I pointed out. "I am also an active hero operating out of Detroit, Mi." I was not subject to this.

"You also are working out my agency." My world comes crashing down and I hear Endeavor enjoying every minute.

I looked at him begging him not to do this."Boss, do not make me."

"Commander Spectre as a hero working out of my agency, Japan's #1 hero requests you and I must abide." I could not believe this.

"Boss please, you are sentencing me to death." I plead with him as my family flashes before my eyes.

I see him close his eyes."Roberto you must." I begin to panic.

"I quit!" I shout, causing my men to look at me. "I QUIT!" I see Endeavor get up with a smirk. I land and make my way past him, Fat Gum tries to stop me but I send him flying back with a kick. "Traitor." My former men stand in front of me, "You know what will happen if you get in my way." They look at Fat Gum, he's dazed, "He's your first priority." I pop my fists as I exit the building. Endeavor soon follows me looking back at them with an evil smirk. He does not engage me but laughs in victory as he leaves. Fat Gum then meets up with me, "How far do you think he is willing to go?"

Fat Gum sighs,"He will not stop Commander Spectre, how far are you willing to go?" Endeavor had taken the bait, now it was all on me.

"You know that answer," I cross my arms watching Endeavor disappear in the distance. "I am sorry Fat Gum."

"For the kick, quitting or dragging me into this?" He was being sarcastic but was speaking from his heart.

"Yes."

He then took a breath, "He's gonna go after your allies."

"They will be fine, I am not working for their agencies, Tsu is on maternity leave as is Momo." I assured him, he could not request them. Even if they were not I would just kill him out right, they meant more to me than being a hero.

"He won't be foolish enough to do that." Fat Gum knew that to be true, "What of Rumi?"

I smiled she could most diffidently take care of herself. "She's educated me on how to be a hero on your own in Japan."

"Well, you seem covered." I see him look to the side hurt, I turn to him, "You didn't have to call me a traitor." My heart breaks and hug him, "That really hurt Roberto."

"I am so sorry boss, I had to make him buy it." It hurt for me to say that to him, it was a shitty thing to say. "I am so sorry boss, I am so sorry."

"I'm no longer your boss, but I forgive you Roberto." he releases me, "Good luck Commander Spectre."

83

After my last encounter with Endeavor I was left unnerved. The lengths he was willing to go, the harassment, the way he targeted my old agency just to get me to do something he was too chicken shit to do himself. I thought of my family, he did not care, would he support them if I died? No. I wanted to see my kids grow up, I wanted to be there for their first steps. To be there as they step in to whatever they want to be, I wanted this more than breathing. I decided that Tokyo Tower would be my home base, the Tobu Railway didn't mind, I actually brought them more visitors, more profit. It was here above the city skyline my resolve to be a hero was made anew. I had to now, for them, I had to keep them safe.

After I gathered my thoughts I took a breath then started my patrol, I was independent now. Endeavor could no longer lord over me, suddenly I realized why Rumi worked alone. Yeah it was true that she did view working with a team or partner as weakness, but she did not want to be subjugated by who ever was #1. I also found out that agencies could independently contract out cases to heroes like Mirko. It was sort of like hiring out a superhero bondsman and also quite lucrative.

However, this caused a new problem for me. I would take a case only for it to be solved by you guessed it, Endeavor. He claimed he was just in the 'area', the truth of the matter was, the other agencies were too weak to stand up to Japan's #1 hero. This meant a loss of revenue for me, granted I was well off, but the fact of the matter was you do not mess with someone's money. No matter how well off they were, I was not the only one who he was messing with. I landed atop a building overlooking Endeavor Agency, Rumi was there waiting for me.

"Hey flyboy." I smiled at her nickname for me.

"Bunny girl senpai." I gave her a dark smile,"You ready for some payback?"

She shared my smile as she popped her neck, "I am working with a partner, something I do not do." She slugged my shoulder, "That should tell you all you need to know."

I looked away feigning being hurt, "Here I thought I was someone special." She then took me in her arms and looked into my eyes.

"You are flyboy, just too bad you are already wifed up." She licked her lips, "Then I could show you just how special you truly are to me." I was flattered and a bit turned on. I hugged her and kissed her forehead, I hear her giggle. "I wish I met you earlier."

I let her go, "We cannot live on shoulda and wouldas Rumi."

"I like bunny girl senpai." She smiled at me.

I smiled back then noticed something, "Bunny girl senpai, oh look." We see Endeavor take to the air as we both smile.

She tries to suppress her giggles, "Intel says drug bust at the east docks."

"Lucky for us I own them." I share in her amusement, "You want to mess with us, then we will embarrass you."

Mirko sends the anonymous tip to the NHK. "Media alerted."

"The workers already know what to do for their raise and bonus." We could take our time getting there. We took a bit of a scenic route enjoying each others company. We arrive at the docks and Endeavor on full display, suddenly my mobile goes off. Mei had texted me, "Right on time." We look at the canal as a cigarette boat is high tailing it out of there. I nod at Rumi as she departs and I go to face the bane of my existence.

I land with a thunderous boom. "What in the hell do you think you are doing!" Endeavor sees me. "Why are you harassing my employees asshat!"

He looks at me through narrowed eyes. "Drug bust fool." He knew I owned this dock. He was looking to rub my nose in it, a drug bust on my own property.

"No, you busted a highly secure transport of priceless artifacts for the Tokyo National Museum." He looks in and most of the artifacts are shattered, "AT MY PLACE OF BUSINESS!" they were fake but that was not what a reporter for NHK saw. I spot him and manage to suppress a knowing smirk. "Well, how lovely, hello there, please take a look of this." I show him accurate paperwork leaving Japan's #1 Hero looking like a fool. "Obviously you failed in basic intelligence gathering Endeavor." I pointed at the shattered cargo rubbing his nose in it. "Look what you have done!"

My com went off, "WHAT!" I run and take off to the opposite side of my property. There I see Rumi taking out the real criminals as I join her as an owner, who, also happens to be a hero, and finish them off. I see Endeavor looking on, "You just proven my theory!" I say it loud enough for the reporter to hear and record. "You only care about your ego, why are you just standing there while drug paraphernalia and amphetamine suppliers are attacking YOUR fellow heroes?"

"Its because we are independents, we are below him." Rumi adds with a sinister glee. Endeavor is left there speechless and without a response. Soon more news reporters arrive, he gives no comment, and to top it off they heard everything. Rumi and I stay giving the media highly detailed answers to all their questions. When I arrived home Tsu was feeding our children and watching the whole ordeal on TV.

"You do know this is only going to get worst?" Her voice went serious.

I replied back knowingly, "Not if he is smart, and gives up this suicide mission for me."

"I agree with you Roberto but I fear for your safety." Endeavor scared her, he was ill tempered, imminently more powerful of than me and dangerous.

I could see the fear in her eyes,"He would not be so foolish." I would not forgive him for making my wife feel such a way.

"Roberto, your life is not your own anymore." I look at my children and caress their heads, she was right, of course. "Do not give in to his ludicrous demands, but remember not to loose yourself in this bad blood." I wanted to save them, I even thought about sending her with our kids along with Momo ahead of me.

"Honey, I love you." She could tell something was up, "What if I send you and Momo ahead of me?" Her eyes then seemed to tear. "Tsu." She shook her head.

"No, I waited too long for us to be married, to start a family." She was speaking from angry tears. "When you left to America the first time my heart broke everyday you were gone." I tried to reach for her but she pushed away. "Now because of this egotistical maniac you want to send me, and our kids away?"

"Tsu."

"No!"

"You said it yourself love, he's dangerous."

"Roberto I can't!"

"If something was to happen to you or them- I-I-I would die."

"Ribbit, and if you do and I am in America I will." She declares her voice strikes my heart. "Roberto I know you want to keep us safe but running away will not."

"I have allies here for me love, I also have them in America, Mei." At her name she was driven to tears. Soon after she agreed to go.

Police Chief Tōgata Mirio:

This Endeavor-Spectre War was getting dangerous, Tokyo was just recovering from the yakuza one, now I have this to deal with. Both of them were actively antagonizing one another escalating this insanity. In my heart of hearts I sided with Spectre, Endeavor wanted to sentence him to death by clearing out Tartarus. The man just became a father, however the corruption within the prison was getting out of hand. Allegedly, seven guards had been killed, all without families but high morals. Every investigation killed, strangled by red tape, it was like Tartarus was a nation onto itself. PSIA, INTERPOL, and my own police force were barred from entry for one reason or another.

We needed an in, Roberto's intel had been helpful but was out of date and the experience he had was thrown out due to his actions with Chisaki Kai. We overlooked it due to the fact he got us more information than we ever got on our own. That and the fact they did indeed set him up, however the video of him taking on 18 trained armed guards at once? Jesus, what in the world did we just watch? In short he effectively canceled out his actions leaving us with shit!

I had inherited a right proper shit storm from my predecessor, the raid left us short staffed and a loss of face with the public at large. We needed this, Tartarus needed to be cleaned out, we needed The Knightmare Hero, Commander Spectre. Endeavor had been coming in on the daily, surprisingly he really did not want him to go in. Not because of their bad blood, in truth, Endeavor highly respected him and even admired him. Even though Roberto loathed and hated his very existence. So why did he take the role of an asshole?

Why else, pride, he refused to be humbled by my former classmate. He was not going harm his family, I was there when Roberto called him when he was attacked. When I heard him tell Japan's #1 Hero that he was going to kill him, and showed him the evidence. I had to admit I was going to help him do it. He put the fear of god in him, that was when I knew he did not do it.

Endeavor is a proud man, a good hero, yes, Roberto was right about his ego, but when it came down to it, he would give his life to save just one more. He saw this in Spectre more than he saw it in himself. The look in my former classmate's eyes, "You. Will. Die. Tonight." Endeavor knew he was going to die, what scared him the most, well what he told me, was he did not know how he was going to do it. I shared his fear, I instantly went back to my 3rd year and how he demolished me that day. Roberto was indeed dangerous, and at the time he thought Endeavor put a hit on him, God have mercy, for he had none.

My computer boots up on its own, "What the?" Its first filled with static then I see him. "DAD?"

"I think I have a solution to your problem." This was Roberto's AI, dear god, "No Lemillion, I am acting on my own." How was that any better? "Please hear me out."

"Alright, I am listening." He tells me to sign for a package coming in. My phone goes off and I head to the front desk. I return and open the package, it was from High Specs from Mei a holo-projector. I set it on my desk plug in the AC adaptor and it comes to life. DAD vanishes from the screen and is projected in the chair in front of me. "I have to admit DAD this is a bit unsettling."

It/He ignored my comment, "I know why Endeavor is acting like a complete asshole."

"Oh." I raised an eyebrow.

"Your police force has lost face with the public." I nod, I could not lie, "Endeavor is too prideful to humble himself and explain this to my son because your department is already suffering enough."

I cringe, "Its bad, really bad DAD. We need this, in a bad way."

"My son's plan was good but he is the son of Officer Zeniya Phavion." I nod, "I can see you have thought this through bravo Chief." I scoff, this was insane it really was like I was talking to a human. "My son now has children of his own."

"Do you think I want to put him in danger?" He shakes his head no, "The last thing I want to do is take away their father."

"But you need the public to trust you again." I felt the shame rising within me. "You should feel shame chief, but I am going to help you."

Three holo-screens open up, its Mei, Matthew, Tsu, "I am not going to like this am I?"

"How do you think we feel!" They all shout at me at once, this was going to be terrible.

My mouth drys as I see her,"My husband and kids' father." I had to look away, remembering that day. I could hear her tears already, I suddenly felt ill.

"The man I love." Mei, this was the woman who made my rival nigh unstoppable.

Matthew, we shared one of several beers together when Roberto was recovering at hospital. "My brother, commander, I feel like I am losing-Truth." I learned how Roberto tore his agency apart. It scared the shit out of me, but by the same token it did not surprise me. He also told me about a different side of Roberto, how he forgave him, gave up everything to save him, to give him justice for his wife and Truth. Roberto was everything to them.

"Do you see the gravity of what you are asking?" DAD asked me, everything within me wanted to give up on this case. "I have a plan, but nothing is fool proof, if he dies."

My eyes go cold,"I will commit Seppuku."

"Mirio." Tsuyu replied, "What of Hadō?"

"I could not live with my choice, much less myself." This mission was dangerous, my life was worth the price. It's what he would do in my place.

"Very well, Roberto is going to die." My eyes widen, this was NOT what I wanted.

I shouted "WHAT!"

"Well, this form of him." His mannerisms mirrored Roberto's.

I could not support this plan. "How is that any better, no, no, hell, no, screw this no!"

"Endeavor will." He gave air quotes, "kill him." My eyes were wide and now I was filled with rage. "No, they all know my face, I'd have to be dead before anyone could begin to take on this op." He sounded exactly like Roberto, he was playing back what he said. Then I get it, "Logan Arcados, villain name Tech Mage." Unknowingly Roberto gave DAD the foundation to formulate a plan I just needed to execute it.

"Roberto has to be the one to solve this." This had to be top priority.

I see DAD close his eyes then look at me, "Roberto's mind will be safe, in his place I will play the role of Arcados."

"I have his identification covered, also Arcados is a known villain so he will not be discovered." Mei chimed in.

I look at her then back at DAD. "And what of the real Arcados shows up?"

Matthew got my attention, "He will not, he's a ghost." They had been working hard on this.

"Okay, so I take it we will be the only ones to know of this plan?" I assumed.

"Yes." They all answer me.

I was almost afraid to ask. "How will you do it?"

"My guess is three maybe less encounters, Endeavor is going to loose it or my son." I take a breath, I was not prepared for his answer. "When that happens, the minute, he, uses his quirk on him a 'malfunction' will happen turning him to a burning husk."

"That's evil." My jaw just dropped.

DAD's eyes went red, "Fuck him, this will humble that bastard!" I jolted back, his emotion was so real. "Despite his reasons, his history infuriates me."

I took a breath but I had to ask, "Okay say this works, what happens if it all goes south, worst case scenario."

"He will not be alone." DAD responded immediately.

"Wait." It suddenly dawned on me.

"Endeavor will not put up a fight, to him he would have just committed murder, he'll turn himself in." He was right, he was a hero, this would break him. "Worse case scenario, I will turn control over to my son. Endeavor will make sure he would get out alive, even if it costs him his life." Damn this was a good plan.

"I know how Endeavor will end up in Tartarus, how will Ro-Arcados?"

Matthew the spoke up,"Your fine police department will get a top priority call from Delta 12 about a known super villain that is headed for High Specs International World Headquarters."

Mei then added, "There Arcados will 'steal' Spectre V10 armor."

"Backup number 3 huh." I could not help but be amazed at their intellect.

Mei looked at me smugly, "Yes, as well as the device to get you what you need to crush Tartarus."

"Backup 4, His team will be on their way to assist you with Arcados especially when they realize what was stolen." Matthew's face went serious, "I will tell them myself if we get a worse case scenario, trust me Roberto's safety is my only priority, you can burn in hell." This man loved him, "Trust me once they know their commander is alive and in danger they will tear down that prison brick by brick, body by body, to get him back." I was convinced.

84

Endeavor: October 1st …

I had to admire the tenacity of this guy, no matter how I came at him he never gave in. Honestly I hated doing this, he was scared, not of me, he was a father now. From what I can tell, he was better at it than me, his wife and another woman with her left the country. Good on him, last thing I wanted to do was get them caught up in our crossfire. However this made him even more dangerous and I had to complete my mission. The police needed this done, yes, I told him about Dabi and his plan was brilliant, but it has to be him. He was that brave officer's son, the public's faith in their police had to be restored, so who better than him?

The news broadcast of my utter failure hurt, I could careless about my reputation, but now I LOOKED LIKE A FOOL TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE! Had this been any other mission I would abort and do it myself. The new chief needed this and honestly I wanted to deliver. This hero, Commander Spectre, was, to put it simply, amazing. No one had the spine of this kid, any lesser hero would have given in long ago. Not him, he pushed me, fought back, gave me breath of fresh air. I did not want to be his adversary, he showed me humility, invited me into his home. Got dammit, I can now barely look at myself in the mirror. I do not want you to do this, just as much as you do. I am a father, not a great one, in truth a monster, but I would do anything to protect my children. Even Dabi, Tōya, my god, my boy, what have I forced you to become? I am just like you Roberto.

So why can I not just tell him, pride? A bit. I may have inherited this title but its suffocating. I cannot show weakness, not even if I know, and I do know, I am wrong for this. I have to stay the course, you are needed and I will deliver. Things are escalating, I did not wish for this- to go this far, but the kid will not be bested. I almost had him at Fat Gum, but he refused to be commanded. I take his cases, he embarrasses me, confront him in public, now the internet thinks we are in a relationship. God, the fanfiction, the doujins, I cannot even sleep due to the depression. Does it effect him, no, of course not, this man made out with me in public and did not even bat an eye! Yes, you sick bastard it was a 9!

Now he has gone on the offensive, someone is leaking my cases to him. I show up and he gives me a dose of my own medicine. What do I do? I return the favor, we have been at arms more than once. He keeps pissing me off, just do this for me! He's bolder now that he believes he does not have to worry about his family. Its worse than what that Delta 12 owner had to deal with, I messed with his family his gloves are off. I have to admit I am at my wits end with him, but I will deliver on my promise.

Downtown, I snapped, I screwed up! I cannot believe I did this! He once again humiliated on national TV. He got a hold of one of my high profile cases, the bastard solved it before I could even look at it. Then fed me false information, I showed up to a bank heist that wasn't there. He had taken out the criminals hours before, sent some wanna be freelancer paparazzi to the bank exposing my failure. I tried to confront him but he was there standing smugly. My tempter got the best of me, before I knew it…

October 1:

Front Page Headline: 'Endeavor-Spectre War Tragedy'

On the morning of October first, Pro Hero, Todoroki Enji, The Flame Hero: Endeavor came to blows with Japan's newest and brightest hero, Roberto Rodrigo Robles, The Knightmare Hero, Commander Spectre of Delta 12. The two heroes had been at odds since after the yakuza conflict, where Commander Spectre was directly targeted at his place of residence in Musutafu, Japan. The source of their conflict is currently unknown.

Downtown Tokyo, hours ago.

Endeavor roars as he charged Spectre, "HOW DARE YOU!"

"That's a question you should ask yourself Enji!" The two trade blows back and forth. Suddenly Spectre disappears and slams his fist into Endeavor's jaw in a spray of cold ice and steam. Endeavor takes blows to his sides and center mass, it lasts a minute but the pro hero is brought to his knees. "Rising!" Endeavor catches his fist taking the first bar as he headbutts Spectre to his own knees.

"I am done with you!" Endeavor tackles him and slams him down with a power bomb causing Spectre to bounce up a foot into the air. He leaps upon him and sends his fists raining down on him, each strike heavier than the next, causing him bounce with each one.

"FATE'S GATE!" Spectre's armor begins to bleed red as he disappears with the last bounce. He reappears in front of his target, his mouth is bleeding, his face is then covered by his red burning oni mask. One hit he launches Japan's #1 Hero in to a garbage truck. He follows through with another hit launching him into the air. "You come after me!" A blow to his solar plexus, "I bring you into my home." Endeavor coughs up blood from a follow up kick. "You see my VAILD reason!" Three more hits to his chest and center mass. "YOU GO AFTER MY FRIEND!" With a hammerfist Spectre sends Endeavor rocketing into a beach. Fate's Gate ends as he ignites his boosters sending an aftershock ready fist into his jaw. It explodes in shower of ice and steam, only the strike does not connect but rather is caught in a flaming hand.

"I am done." Spectre is caught off guard, "I tried, but you have ran my name through the mud long enough." One strike Spectre's shields are overloaded and down. "YOU WILL COMPLY!" Another hit and Spectre is launched into a wall, Endeavor explodes with power sending his fist into Spectre's chest. His sternum cracks as crimson is splattered upon his fist from his opponent's mouth. In rapid secession Endeavor unloads all his anger on him. The young hero falls on all fours before him.

Both a men are breathing hard, "I AM INSURRECTION!" Spectre leaps forward aftershock two bars to his armpit shattering the pro hero's shoulder. "YOU WILL NOT HARM MY FAMILY!" Endeavor cannot even yell from his shoulder being shattered. Spectre grabs his head sending his knee into his face sending blood and snot flying. The pro hero tries to regain ground but his punch is deflected and his knee is shattered two more bars unleashed. "YOU MONSTER!" Right cross, left , right, left fists strike his face. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO ORDER ME!" Endeavor gathers the remainder of his energy and with a flaming fist.

'Endeavor-Spectre War Tragedy': continued from front page.

With a flaming fist the Flame Hero: Endeavor ended the life of Roberto Rodrigo Robles. He was 18 years old, he leaves behind a wife, Asui-Robles Tsuyu, 18, twins Roberto Rodrigo 'RJ' Robles Jr. and Robles Homura Aimi both 1 month old.

Tokyo beach hours before…

"No. No, no, no, no." Endeavor looks at the outcome of his actions, "Roberto." He roars to the sky.

"LUNA ARC!" Mirko witnesses the final blow as she embeds Endeavor into the ground. She scrambles to Spectre grabbing his body and leaping away. "No, no, Roberto wake up please, no, no, ROBERTO!" She checks his pulse, none, she wails holding his burnt body. She screams pulling him to her chest. "NO! ROBERTO NO!" Her voice gives out as the ambulance arrives and carries him out in a body bag.

Detroit, Michigan.

Dezmond, Terrin, Andrew, and Bernadette burst into Matthew Rathers office. He knew this was going to happen, they slam a tablet with the breaking news down on his desk. Matthew knew was it staged, but the AI made it look convincing, he was crying. He bowed his head as they gathered around him. Before he could say anything Mei and Tsu entered his office. It was too real for them, Jacob was at Tsu's house watching her kids. Tsu collapsed, DAD had succeeded on the realism. Mei tended to her but was failing fast. Dezmond looked at his boss, who nodded, no words were exchanged as he signaled for the others to follow him. Rathers already had their tickets ready by the time they reached their destination. He collapsed in his chair, he knew Roberto was fine but he could not help but be effected by it. "God forgive us for what we have done." it was the last thing he said before succumbing to his emotions. He covered his face as he wept for his friend.

'Endeavor-Spectre War Tragedy': continued from front page.

Todoroki Enji surrendered to police custody without incident and is currently in the medical wing at Tartarus. Robles' body was discovered with Usagiyama Rumi , The Rabbit Hero: Mirko, after she retaliated against Todoroki, no charges were filed at this time. The hero community is shaken to it core and mourns the loss of one of their own. The first quirkless hero, Japan's own, Roberto Rodrigo Robles, The Knightmare Hero will be missed, his death ends like he lived his life, making history. The world will never be the same.

Robles:

I woke up in the white hot room. No. Not this. That bastard is still alive! They are not safe! DAD SEND ME BACK! SEND ME BACK! I looked around seeing a vast void of white. No matter where I turn its white.

I hear DAD's voice, "Roberto calm down."

I call out to him. "DAD, he is still alive, I will not let him." A screen opens up and I see Endeavor being taken away in handcuffs. "What?"

DAD manifests in front of me, "You got your wish, congratulations son you took down the #1 Hero." I turn around and face him.

"I felt him burning me alive, but I know I am not dead." I been through this long enough.

He looked away from me. "Well." Oh God!

I see a news article, why was it in first person? "Wait WHAT!" I read the article I am dead. "WHAT DID YOU DO DAD!" I was beginning to panic.

"Calm down son." DAD put his hands on my shoulders, I tear away from him.

I WAS NOT GOING TO CALM DOWN! "No DAD, they think I am dead!"

"No." He shows me what he has been up till now.

I move to strike him only for him to scatter like ash. "TRAITOR!" I scream out into the white hot room.

I hear his disembodied voice as I turn around trying to locate him,"Look in the mirror son, you and that fool were tearing up Tokyo!" He manifests in front of me and tackles me!

"He…" My voice fails me and I cannot fight back.

"What was the end game Roberto!" I look away, "You had no idea did you?"

He is right, for once I had no idea, "Yes, you are right. FINE! I HAD NO IDEA!"

"I understand, you were protecting your family, but at what cost?" I am shown the damages from our war. "And you were going to kill him?" My face goes cold, "WHAT WOULD HAVE THAT SOLVED?"

"Heroism be damned, so what if I… " DAD slaps me across the white hot room. He charged and grabbed me by my collar slamming me down.

"Would be locked away at Tartarus for the rest of your life?" His voice struck me deep. "You really think Japan would just accept you killing their #1 hero? A GAIJIN!" My fist clench at his words, "RJ, Aimi would never know their father, and when they grow up they will be ridiculed because of the actions of a father they never knew." I was burning with rage, "You think the government would side with you, a gaijin? Please tell me you are not that stupid."

"He wanted to send me to my death." I bite back at his words.

"No. He was just too prideful to tell you why, can you imagine, the #1 hero of Japan seeking the aid of a quirkless gaijin?"

"You side with him?" I was now infuriated!

"No, but you are not seeing the bigger picture son," He pulls me inches from his face. "HE DID NOT WANT YOU TO TAKE IT BUT HAD TOO."

"BULLSHIT!" I punch him knocking him to his knees the grab him by the neck.

He looks me dead in the eyes. "The raid on Tokyo PD HQ, think about it from the view point of a citizen." I drop him, no, did not want to, no. "What do you think would happen? GO ON!" He made me think as I fell to my knees. "Roberto ANSWER ME!"

"They lost faith in them." My hand covered my hair grasping it, I was nearly pulling it out. "Their sense of safety taken away. DEAR GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE!"

"Paid the price of doing what was right, for every action there is an equal or greater reaction. This is more than a mere law of physics, it is a truth in life." Moments passed like days. "Roberto, have you figured out why he target you?"

"I'm her son." DAD nods and sits down next to me. "I have to take responsibility, restore the people's faith in them, make them feel safe again."

"Not alone, I have a plan, but I need your permission to execute it."

"By all means tell me." DAD then lays it on me. "Its brilliant." I sigh but rub my arm.

"Roberto, the odds are stacked against us, our situation is beyond scary." DAD was not lying. "Roberto, Tsuyu is safe, so is Momo, your children. Matthew's only concern is your safety, your team should be arriving soon." I look at him, "Creator almost pulled the plug on me, but I convinced her." Mei still loved me, after all the shit I put her through. "Your safety is her top priority, its every one's. Matthew told Mirio he could burn in hell, you were the most important element." I nearly, nope, there they are the tears.

"I love him." I hug myself think of him in my arms.

DAD puts his arm around me, "They all love you, so what is your decision."

I turn my head to face him, "Where are we right now?"

"One of the assets you freed has replaced your 'burnt' body." I did not ask for more details. "Currently you are under Tokyo Tower, your body is now healed."

"Do it, I give you full control, execute the plan." I say with a nod, I hear a confirmation sound and DAD disappears.

The white hot room explodes and I am back home, but why I am having dinner with Rumi? She is frozen mid-conversation and DAD reappears as a butler. "DAD what is this?"

"This might take a while," He gives me a wink."so have fun with this."

"Why Rumi?" I raised an eyebrow, DAD had made a simulation so I did not have to just be in a white hot void. A what if I made a different choice, instead of continuing my current mission.

"She was the last one you saw before lights out," He shrugs his shoulders "She is imprinted in your mind, I cannot change it."

"That's fine, I kinda want this." I always wondered what could have been?

"You are only limited to Tokyo and Detroit as destinations." This could be fun. "Have fun, oh just to make things easier no Tsuyu. I-this-this was as far I could take you."

"The day I told her about my network being compromised." I remembered when I broke her heart, but this will be different this was not it. With that dad disappeared and the ceiling flashed sealing me in. I could pause this simulation at anytime, restart it, pull up a holo-screen of what was currently going on in the real world, and control how much time in this simulation has passed and reverse it if I wanted to redo or go through again.

Rumi comes back to life as I hit play. "So you ready to start our new lives together."

A cup appears in my hand. "And raise a thousand bunny children." I smile as I take a drink of my tea.

85

Zeniya Rokurō: October 2nd …

My son. My boy. Phavion, I failed-again. That bastard killed him, he told him no, but he kept coming. He showed him kindness, pleaded with him, but he just slaps him across the face. Now? He kills him! Life in Tartarus? FUCK THAT! I rise up and sheath my swords. No, he took my son- our son, there will be blood.

Tartarus.

Do they think they can keep me out? No, I will not be denied, I will not be stopped, let them come, they will taste my wrath, my vengeance. I leave the compound and I see him.

"Roc." I stare him down.

"Shota, my son held you in high regard, please step aside." If I have to knock him out I will, Roberto would not want me to hurt him. He smirked at me, he creeped me out.

"Zeniya Rokurō I am here to take you in, you are under arrest." I am in shock as I draw my blade, I charge "I am to take you to Tartarus." I stop my blade inches from his neck.

"What?" I raise an eyebrow.

"You are a wanted yakuza bodyguard." He smirks and I surrender my swords to him and let him cuff me. "And you tried to assault me."

"Guilty as charged Erasure Head take me away you caught me." He places me in the side cart of his motorcycle and we are off to Tartarus.

We drive a little ways and he speaks, "You think you can just walk into there and do whatever it is you…."

I cut him off abruptly, "I am going to kill him." We nearly crash but he regains control.

"And you tell me." His answer was cold, uncomfortably so.

"HE KILLED ROBERTO!" He pulls the break and we slide to a stop.

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT ROKURŌ!" He meets my headbutt with his own, "LISTEN." I take a breath, "WHY DO YOU THINK I AM…" He pauses to gather himself.

Before he can speak, "You cannot Aizawa."

"The hell I can't!" He was not hearing me, he was speaking from grief.

"No, not you, I won't allow it." He catches my contraction, he pauses. "You were his hero, you can't" I didn't care anymore, "For Roberto, let me do this, please, not you." I see him close his eyes that were welling up with tears shaking his head.

"He was my partner." I place my cuffed hands on his shoulder, "He did not want this, he fought to save his…" He finally breaks down, "That bastard took their father away, how is this just?"

"I will get justice, for both of us." He looks at me, "I am yakuza, remember." I grin, he places his hand on me and concedes. "I will get our justice, it will be swift, and more than he deserves."

Robles: In The White Hot Room's Simulation…

I did not like where DAD started me, so I pushed and willed it to go back where I wanted it to be. If this was DAD's way of showing me an alternate timeline I wanted it to be perfect.

I met with Mirko for lunch, despite it all I was early, just like her. "So are we set to leave this country behind?"

It was starting, she was just as beautiful as I remembered. "You would love that wouldn't you?"

"Would it be so bad?" She was telegraphing, how could I have not seen it before?

I close my eyes I loved this part."Leave the hero business and start a family of bunny children?"

"I think I'd be a good mom, and with a handsome papa our children would be adorable." She took my hands in hers, "Am I not wife material?" not going to lie my heart still went a flutter. Her eyes shifted, I still could not read her (at the time), was she serious or not. She loved every minute of my struggle, she suddenly took her hands away in a huff. "I've bared my all to you," she blushed and looked away, "you've seen every part of me that night." People started to stare, I began to sweat, "Yet you refuse to take responsibility!" My eyes widen.

I narrow my eyes and darken my tone,"I was at death's door, we were soaked."

"I still remember the warmth of our bodies, connected." I heard forks drop and people staring daggers at me, she winked.

"Yet you never stay the night." It was my turn to turn the tide, "You use me then leave before…" I look away, "I'm just a toy to you, I'm only 17." Suddenly the daggers turned to her and whispers "You've seen me too, but yet you constantly leave, you shattered my esteem as quickly as you build it up." She was beginning to sweat, "Responsibility? I gave you my best, you were my first." Scandalous! "Now here we are where it all started." Her eyes widened she was now prey, not hunter. "I can't take this anymore." We hadn't ordered anything so I left to the cheers of several customers.

"Roberto wait!" She got up and chased after me as the crowds hissed at her. "I'm sorry." I turned it up a notch and refused to look at her, "You are not a toy, I just couldn't tell you." The crowd went silent and she gave me a look, oh no, you wouldn't. The crowd, the wait staff, host, and even the owner waited with baited breath. I looked at her and she gave me a sly smile that the crowd could not see. Crap baskets! She began to cry, holding on to me laying it on thick. "Roberto, I couldn't tell you, I tried over and over." Tension was rising, "I'm married." The crowd gave out a gasp, "And pregnant with your bunny." She grabbed my hand and placed it on her belly, she made her abs twitch and almost convinced me she was pregnant.

I took my hand away and pulled her close to me, whispering in her ear, "You literally almost got me with your abs."

"We could make a bunny if you wanted." She whispered back, my manhood went to attention, "My god." I pulled her closer, her eyes widened, I was hiding my shame.

"I so hate you right now." I remember what she did to me.

"I'm so horny." Her words still turn me on to this day.

"Stop." Don't stop.

She laughs in a whisper, "Your fault."

"Excuse me?" I took a breath and regained composure, "Its him or me." I exited the restaurant, and she followed after me. I turned down an alley as soon as she cut the corner, she slammed me against the wall, lifted her leg to prevent my escape.

"Roberto, you naughty boy." I almost fell for her that day.

"Rumi." Crap baskets! Her eyes changed at the sound of her name, she was the hunter now. "Rumi, please stop, before we both do something we will regret." My voice was sincere, snapping her out of it. Our little game of flirtation had got out of hand, I saw her eyes tear up.

"What if I regret not doing it?" She removed her leg then placed her ear bud in my hand, "I know about your network being compromise, Aizawa told me." She looked away with tears as I took it.

I remember the pain in her eyes and in my heart, "Rumi."

"I have to go." I grab her hand, "Don't Roberto."

"You weren't role playing." she still looked away but showed no resistance, "How long?" She turned pinning me to the wall kissing me deeply, she then broke it, leaping off. I was not going to let her go, not this time, I hero up and blast towards her.

"RUMI!" She leaping from building to building, "RUMI!" She lands on a building, "STOP!" She freezes as I land next to her, take off my earbud. "Stop." I let it drop and hold out my arms. She turns to face me, "Rumi."

"Roberto." I walk to her as I see her place a hand on her chest. "Are you?"

"Do you want to go on an adventure with me?" I see her ears perk up, "Honestly I am…" She runs into my arms and we kiss, fast forward.

I break Mei's heart. We split the pot and I leave her with the files. "Your mother." She tells me over the com, "What of your vow?" I look at the woman I am about to marry.

"She has released me from it, now I must live." I hold Rumi in my arms as we stand in front of the civil justice court building. "Mei I am free, I love you, but."

"She now holds your heart." I hear her cry as it tears me up inside but I look at Rumi.

"I love her, I have to, no, I want to go on this adventure." My earbud shorts out, it was over. I grab my bride to be and head inside. Izuku is there along with sensei as we exchange vows.

"You may kiss the bride." I do, fast forward.

We have been married now seven years, we have 3 of the most adorable bunny children. Rumi did indeed become a great mother, twins a boy RJ and a girl Usagi, our last child is a boy, Kaminari. I have graduated from Tokyo U with a bachelors in business security and management. My oldest brings me the mail and I get a letter from Matthew Rathers, CEO of Delta 12. Fast forward.

We leave Tokyo for America, I got the job, Head of Security for Michigan's largest hero agency. A year later Matthew is killed, he took out Dr. Konkoktion but at the cost of his own life. We mourn for our boss, Jacob had graduated and was now running Delta 12. He sees potential in me and we become fast friends, though I left the hero life behind I still kept in shape as did my Rumi. She sometimes wants to be a hero again but loves being a mom to our 3 bunnies. I look back at my life since that day I took a chance, I do not regret a thing.

Suddenly time is frozen, I knew this day would come. I am at my home in Detroit, a six bedroom, 3 bath, one story ranch style home. I answer the door and its DAD. He tells me its almost time, I look back at my family of bunnies, my beautiful wife, my precious children. "Can I finish peacefully?" He nods, 40 years have passed in an instant, my bunnies are now rabbits, two are lawyers, my youngest is America's Top Hero: Raydou. I have finally retired, "I miss you Bunny Girl Senpai." I stand at my wife's grave, she passed at 65, stroke. My children soon join me as we pay our respects to her, I see DAD waiting for me by my best friend Jacob. I hug each of my children, they know this is it. I kiss each of their foreheads telling them how proud I am of each and every one of them. I don't want to let go, my heart is breaking, the cemetery begins to explode as I hold them all one- last- time.

I let go and run towards DAD as my age reverses and I get in. "Status." I say as I wipe my eyes.

"Mei has all the information we need." I can tell something is wrong.

I am almost afraid to ask, "But."

"Tartarus is a warzone, Pops is involved." Well this is not good, with that the simulation ends. I am then pulled into what is currently going on.

Endeavor: 2nd month, December, into his Life Sentence.

The warden can go fuck himself. I spend my days in the S class cells, I put most of these bastards here. 'You have killed the one who embarrassed this unit, work for me as a trustee and you won't have to wear the quirk collar.' I killed that kid, I don't deserve my quirk. Every night I see his face, his body burning and then turning to ash. I should have let it go, I should have told him why. Why did I expect him to summit, he changed the hero landscape because he defied society.

'They will grow up without a father.' I see him in my cell telling me this every night. I haven't truly slept since arriving. He's burnt head to foot, wearing that got damn oni mask, well I guess I conjured up this demon. Least I am not alone. 'You wanted me dead, but you did not want to soil your hands.' No. 'Guess what, it was by your hands I was murdered.'

He really has become a specter, my own torturer, the warden of my own personal Hell that I created. When I do finally pass out from exhaustion its isn't any better. He has become my Knightmare, I relive that day over and over, I know what is going to happen, but I cannot stop myself. I see him scream, that haunting scream, I see his wife, his kids, Dabi laughing, my son Shoto looking away from the monster I have become. I wake up in a cold sweat and he is there sitting on my chair, repeating the same lines. 'Murderer.' I snap and choke him while he is laughing, 'Go on kill me again, murderer.' I scream as I let him go and his fan club cheers me on.

"You're my hero Endeavor!" Shigiraki triumphantly shouts.

"You stole my kill!" Chisaki Kai chants.

"Way to go dad, you killed an actual hero. I am so proud!" Dabi laughs, my own son.

They have us close together, the warden's sick joke at a family reunion. I have tried to end my life but I am constantly on suicide watch. The warden is patient, waiting for me to finally crack and give in. I won't give him the satisfaction, Roberto never gave in and it costed him his life. A life, I took, with these hands, these blood soaked hands. With that the cycle repeats itself.

Dezmond Brown: October 3rd- Hours after arriving, .

"Endeavor." I am greeted by the chef of police, we were flagged as soon as we arrived.

"Medical wing at Tartarus." I look at him like he lost his damn mind.

"They are treating that motherfucker?" I nearly attack him as my team, yeah, mine. I am/was Roberto's second-in-command, held me back.

"Commander." Bre calls grabs my shoulder, I am not him, how can I fill his shoes? "Rocaphella." I look at her and I calm down. All of our emotions were running high, we just lost our bro- our commander. For what? This asshole wanted to force him to do something that he knew was a guaranteed death sentence. We wanted justice, we wanted blood, I wanted revenge for the man who showed us all- kindness. We shoved passed him, I had heard enough from his mouth.

He could not stop us."Wait!"

"Yeah go fuck yourself." Terrin shouted back as we all just raise our middle fingers up as we continued to walk away . We then take off to the compound, Roberto's Pop would actually be very helpful. "Dez man what's the plan?"

"You know besides cancel that fool." Andrew chimed in.

I nodded slowly, "We gotta see Pops, that what I got so far."

"Fair enough man." Terrin agreed, we all knew he would be the man to go to, no doubt he was already writing this asshole's obituary. I looked at my team, we all had mad love for the commander. Even Bernadette, she had not even been on the team long, but she was already ride or die for him.

I took a breath, "Guys I am gonna be straight with you."

Bre shook her head cutting me off. "Dezmond, we don't expect you to be him."

"Thank you, WE are going to have to come up with a plan." I was grateful she said it, the others agreed, Roberto would probably already had this in the bag.

Terrin scoffed, "No doubt, that's something Roberto would expect."

"Yeah, but Pops is damn good start." Andrew smirked to which we all could agree to that. It did not take us long to get to the compound, there was a man already waiting for us. As we got closer, "Oh snap that's Roberto's partner."

"Hell yeah, we already got this." We land in four booms in front of him, before we even said anything we bowed like Roberto taught us to. This man taught the commander, in our eyes no one deserved more respect than him. "Aizawa sensei you humble us sir." I began.

He returned the bow in kind "He taught you well, he's not here."

"What, where's Pops?" I asked, we were all confused.

"I arrested him." We paused for what seemed like ages.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" We all replied as we readied ourselves.

"It was the quickest way to get him inside." It took a moment, then we relaxed, "My guess is you want him just as much as Roc." He saw the look in our eyes confirming his suspensions. "He's going to kill him himself." His voice was cold, emotionless, this was not his usual deadpan response, this was- a sinister icy cold truth.

I ran my hand through my hair, "Aw shit, no man!" this was not the response I wanted to say, but it was what came out.

"HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL!" His response shocked us, "Roberto was more than just my student, my partner." He did not even hide it, he wanted revenge just as much as we did, no, more than us. "I saw him through it all, when I saw that creature kill him, I lost more than I ever thought I had, I lost family, I lost a son."

"We lost our brother." I replied, Aizawa did not discredit our claim. "Mr. Aizawa, we can't just leave Pops there."

"Are you insane, you think I have not thought of that?" We raised a collective eyebrow. "He's gonna need back up, even Roc is not that dumb."

I looked at him, I think Roberto rubbed off on me, "He stopped you didn't he." He caught the contraction but did nothing just nodded yes.

"My plan was to get us both in, take out anyone that stood in our way and then kill Endeavor." That was what I was planning currently, they probably would get further than us though. "He told me no, reminded me who I was to Roberto."

"He would not want you to do that in his name." Andrew grabbed his arm rubbing some unknown itch.

I looked at Andrew then looked at the one man the commander respected more than any one else besides his mom, "When the commander told us about you, he spoke of you like your were some heroic deity."

Terrin looked at me then at the man before him, "For real, no one compared to you, not All Might, not Hawks, no one was as good, or as great as Sensei Aizawa." Aizawa gave a slight chuckle, "Pops made the right call sir."

He could not hide his emotion, he was hurting and a bad way, "He always gave me more credit than I deserved, in truth Roberto surpassed me."

"Isn't that the point sir?" Aizawa looked at our newest member. "For our successors to do better- to be better?" We see Aizawa bow his head, Bre hit it on the head. "Sir I am…" He raised his hand.

"You're right, you are absolutely right Lady Tremor." She gasped and then he looked at each and everyone of us calling us by name. "Each one of you, Roberto would go on and on about, he was proud of his team. Never a bad word, he trusted you, he knew with you he was invincible."

I could not take this anymore as I shook my head then spoke. "So with you waiting for us here, you two must have a plan."

Aizawa gave us a creepy ass smirk. "You got three months?"

"I'm down." Without hesitation I threw down my lot.

Terrin bump my fist then Aizawa's, "Who you kidding, for the commander I'll move here."

Bre looked at him like he lost his mind, "If I have to transfer and learn Japanese I'll do it for the commander."

Andrew clicked his tongue, then crossing his arms. "I'm willing to break some laws before learning it, let's go."

"Good, Pops is learning the layout, since I am a Pro Hero I do not have to be recorded when talking to him. Tyche upgraded my goggles guaranteeing privacy."

"So where do we fit in." I asked knowing this was going to be good.

"We are going to be called in to 'suppress' a prison riot." Oh I was so down for this plan, we all were. "Roc will take care of Endeavor." He paused a moment, "Do you really want to get in the way between a father and his revenge, especially him?" We collectively swallowed and shook our heads no. "I did not think so."

"So we are just back up?" Andrew raised his eyebrow, yeah we were not feeling this.

"Nope, Tyche sent me a device to get into the warden's secure network." He shows us a thumb drive. "Five of them." He hands us each one, "Whoever gets to that office first, get that into his computer at any and all costs."

"This is that mission that asshole wanted Roberto to take isn't it?" He nods his head. "You all heard him this is our top priority now got it?" My team nods, backup plan #6 was made and we did not even know it.

Arcados/DAD: October 3rd at the same time.

I was given full autonomy, my son was trusting me with his very life. I scan his body, bruised and battered, nothing serious. I got off the little half wall I was on top of, the body was a bit stiff. "Well, dis defferent, 'e's a lettle steff boeht we'll adjoehst." I was appalled, was this how this villain sounded like, "Dis'll naht do." I HATED IT! I felt the twinge of embarrassment and nobody was around. I began to scan the interwebs till I found the accent that would work. I adjusted the range of the voice, slightly lower, "Okay now this betterrr, yes this will do. Now let's get to worrrk ." My accent was Eastern European or Russian. I tapped my chest and the uniform manifested itself.

I made some adjustments, I separated the cowl in three pieces, The top of my head was a red-orange beret, a single screen HUD scanner over my right eye, and a compact gas mask-rebreather over my nose and lower half of my mouth connected to neck armor and full black on black tactical gear. From gauntlets to boots I was dressed in medium armor, the belt was now a vest of tactical pockets filled with my support items. The cowl section retracted into the neck as I pulled out Mei's newest 'baby'. She combined the clothing tech along with her light refraction technology, the result was a breathable balaclava. I put it on and it sealed to the contours of my son's face, the material was made from several reflective strands that acted like billions of holo-emmiters. No one really knew how Arcados looked like save the CIA, Jacob, and my son.

I took advantage of this, I made his face like weathered leather, strong, with a single scar coming from the left temple to the bottom right chin. My face now looked like I was in my late 30s- early 40s. Taking a breath then looking at my reflection in a pool of water, I concluded this will do. My chosen cowl design then returned, I do believe my son would approve. I then hit my scanner, Matthew appeared on screen. "DAD?"

"Arrrkados, Matthew what is the status of mission komrrrade?"

"Comrade? I think Roberto's horrible taste in movies has corrupted your programming, comm-rade."

"Fouck you."

"Right back at you Arrrkados." Matthew just shook his head, "One thing for sure you look like a complete badass, well done on that."

"Thank you komrrrade."

"New developments, honestly this was to be expected."

"Go on."

"Your team has gotten involved with Aizawa Sensei and Pops."

"Not surrprrrised, this just makes tings easier."

"No, Rrroc is going to kill Endeavorrr," I caught the imitation, tch, pretty sure he enjoyed my son's taste in horrible movies as well. "and they arrre going to help him."

"Would it be so bad komrrrade?"

"Underrr differrrent cirrrcumstances, I would say good rrriddance to bad rrrubbish, but no." I clicked my teeth, "DAD, he is an innocent in all this, despite what he is."

"Affirrrmative Matthew, underrstood." I had to agree with him, Roberto would not want any harm to come to this BAKA. "How would you like to prrroceed?"

"Just make surrre they do NOT kill him, that is all, no more, no less komrrade." He was really getting into this. "Mei." He said as Mei popped up on a different screen.

"Whoa, Roberto influence you much DAD?" She was being sarcastic.

She could see my cheek rise in a smirk, "Maybe a little, molodaya ledi."

"Okay I love it." I smile under the face mask. "Damn him and his 80s action flicks." She rolled her eyes, the one she was thinking of was about a Russian Moscow Militia Captain, who came to America to solve some case. It made no sense the actor was a man from Austria, his accent did not take much to do, hell he pretty much spoke like that in all his films. "Uploading High Specs Data and Spectre V10 location." I receive the data, "I will not make it easy for you DAD."

"It will not be believable if you did crreatorr." With that I clicked off.

I trigger alarms, I got their attention now, outside I hear Tokyo PD sirens. As I make may my way down into sub-basement 4 past generator-C. I adapted my own AI to the one that ran the building. To put in human terms, I just got laid. She opened up to me like a date on prom night. I saw Mei on various screens cursing her buildings AI, "YOU FREAKING WHORE!" I hear screaming at me or her AI, probably both of us. Okay, yeah giving her AI a female model then having it give my Avatar fellatio maybe had a bit to do with it. "FUCKING WHORE!" Yeah, Roberto would be so, so proud of me. I get to my prize, Mei tries to genuinely stop me but I quickly put an end to that. Roberto's influence, I had to be the best, even against my own creator. I snatch the armor disc and install the device in it.

My scans go off, they had arrived. 'DAD test them.' I hear my son tell me, I smile and make my way up. I see them coming down through the sonar. I meet up with his newest recruit. One thunderous clap later I am slammed into the hallway of the first basement. She's limited here, delicate equipment, I charge, wall run up the side flipping behind her and unleashing a bar. Her eyes widen as she reports this over her com, I can hear it. They. Are. Pissed. I smile to myself, good. She sees me put on the disc, the uniform looks like its between a grim reaper and a dark priest. The armor is form fitting robes and a loin cloth like belt in front. Its color scheme is black, gold, with red accents. The face is concealed with glowing burning eyes.

"Arcados has the armor!" I hear her say over the com I blast forward disposing of her with the quickness. As Roberto's AI the armor inhibitors are off so I am moving at breakneck speed up flights of stairs. I slam Pointbreak into Jenesys then launch them on top the roof. There I see Rocaphella, he's changed, his face is hardened.

"How dare you take what is his." I see his body disappear in bright white, he strikes, 3 bars. He was not messing around, each blow is burning into me. The others cannot assist him, the heat is too much for them. I block and parry, his support items are exploding in various types. I cannot see, his fist slams into my gut and blood is splattered in my face mask. "Solar." his other fist nails my throat and explodes, "FLARE!" My face is fried my HUD is going critical. Blow after blow explosion after explosion, Rocaphella was rocking my world. "I read your file Arcados, Tech Mage, quirk Mimeo." His hands clap on my temples, "Lets see if I can erase your memory!"

My HUD was sounding several alarms as it finally explodes. "HOW DARE YOU WEAR HIS ARMOR!" He launches me across the roof with an explosive haymaker. He returns to normal his own armor gone. I fire out several darts at him, all but one are destroyed as it hits its mark. He pauses he tries to reignite his quirk's secondary ability.

"DEZMOND!" The others notice, turn to me but I fire several more hitting my marks depowering them all. They look at each other their face changed from surprise to pissed.

Dezmond shakes his head waving his finger no. "You think just because you took away our quirks…"

"You think you have won?" Terrin finishes his statement.

"Just." I see Andrew pop his neck.

"Who." Lady Tremor's fists are shaking with righteous fury.

"The." Terrin snarls at me.

"FUCK YOU THINK WE ARE!" Dezmond charges, "Surround him!" They surround me as Lady Termor throws a flashbang at me blinding me. Jenesys knocks me into Pointbreak who injects me with a purple poison. My vision blurs, I cannot decipher real from hallucination. Dezmond finally grabs my neck, he's stronger than what his file lead on. "HE trained us to be more." I feel several different strikes before lights out, I later find out it was all Dezmond. Our battle is over less than five minutes. Roberto is screaming with pride as I fall to my knees, he looks at my chest. He looks at Jenesys who tosses him an earbud, he confirms with the police outside then switches lines. "Tyche."

I could hear the pride in her voice."Yes commander?"

"Can you use this armor and hack Tartarus from the inside?" He looks at at his team who are staring at him in shock.

"Yes, that's brilliant." He nods as police arrive on the roof. Dezmond briefs them and they take me to Tartarus. Dezmond clenches his fist in frustration, it ignites. "Quirk suppressants, I had the quirk killer rounds reversed engineered." I see the others soon have their quirks returned. "Well done Commander Rocaphella, Roberto would be proud." She had no idea, Roberto was losing his mind, so much joy, my son was crying tears of joy.

My armor ejects and is confiscated by Tartarus COs, they took the bait. I am processed, put in gen pop, then forgotten. On my neck is a quirk suppressant collar, fools. I make my way through the inmates, time to make friends. My face was burnt, well the balaclava, the R.A.W System was repairing it, making it look like I was slowly healing. Spectre V9 was still unnoticed by them, my 'armor' looked like it was torn to shreds by my encounter with my son's team.

By the second month I had made friends with several sub sects of the prison. Through Mei, I was made untouchable, a valued resource to the prison gang economy. I was the man who could get things. It was amazing how truly corrupt this institution was, I was seeing the worse of what humans were capable of. Fight clubs in the lower rec halls. It was there I found Roc. He was untouchable nobody could best him, he was now a trustee of the warden. His personal cell was in the A and S class wing, right where he wanted to be. Unlike the other A and S class villains his cell was right before the hanging cells. The warden pretty much ran Tartarus like his own totalitarian country. Nothing pleased him more than red tape, bureaucracy, and just overall frustrating, infuriating, and confounding government law agencies.

By the third month I was given pretty much free reign of the prison, everywhere, nothing was off limits. That was when Roc struck. He turned on his handlers over his cut of his prize money. They had been slowly taking more than they lead on. I learned later Roc knew this all along. Roc did not hesitate, he ended them with extreme prejudiced. Roc believed redemption came from the souls of the damned. His soul would be restored with every damned soul he collected for the devil from whom they sold it to. Guards were called, suddenly his collar dropped deactivated. His quirk revealed every weakness it had, he just remembered were they where when they put him in it.

I joined him when more guards showed up, "The enemy of my enemy."

"Is my friend." He looked at me then freed me from my collar. It dropped and then we started to drop guards. I just disabled them and he took notice, then soon followed suite. Did he know? "Come on." I followed him as we made it to gen pop. The other inmates see us being chased, they see me and all hell breaks loose. I was their supplier to the outside word. Take away everything from a man, and then have me give it back to them? We started a riot, each floor we went up and at each cell door he was calling out where to hit the collar as one by one they dropped deactivated.

Special Operations Response Teams (SORT) responded with gusto trying to retake the prison. Treat a man like an animal, oppress them, take away the one thing they most likely based their life around, they will fight back to their dying breath. Tartarus was going to fly a lot of flags at half mass tonight.

Tartarus was a warzone, the warden was not giving in, he would rather the place burn to the ground than call for aide. He had dug his own grave. I look around and I see Roc grab a high ranked guard, a female, he had paralyzed her and was now heading to the A and S Class cells.

"Aw shit!" I knocked out a guard and see an earth mover emitter inmate. He nods and makes a way for me to catch up to Roc. Suddenly the automatic alarm went off, the warden could not stop this, the shields came down and a signal was sent to the Tokyo PD and PSIA. We had about 10 or so minutes before everything would be undone. I duck into a multipurpose room activating Spectre V9.

Suddenly the doors lock, Mei came through. "Crrreatorr."

She pops up on a screen, "Drop it." I comply.

She was all business now, "How is it coming?"

"I got what I need but to upload would take too long from where it is." I see her shrug.

"That makes no sense." I take a moment and then get it. "Understood." I close my eyes.

"Mei has all the information we need."My son can tell something is wrong.

I hear the concern in his voice. He is almost afraid to ask, "But."

"Tartarus is a warzone, Pops is involved." With that I returned control back to him.

Aizawa Shota: October 1st to Present.

That bastard killed him. Roberto. What can I say that others have not said before me. I want revenge. I want that fucker's head on a platter and his corpse paraded in the streets. I want… I want- I want my partner back.

I was about to propose to Fukukado Emi, Ms. Joke, when I saw the headline. I just saw Edeavor-Spectre, I and… all I thought was- what the hell did the kid do now. I was embarrassed! The news was being projected on a big screen on some skyscraper, I returned to Ms. Joke and she wasn't smiling. I looked at her, she was crying as she pointed to the other building behind me showing the same news reel. I turned just as I saw Enji set my partner ablaze. They played his end uncensored for all to see, my body shook, trembled, HE KILLED HIM! I was embarrassed by him, but HE KILLED HIM! She reached for me, but I fell to my knees "ROBERTO!" I screamed his name over and over. She tried to reach for me, but I turned away from her, I left the ring there on the table. I had work to do.

I could not tell you where I was, my mind was only focused on one thing. I WAS GOING TO KILL ENDEAVOR! At one point I ran into Rumi, she had just seen the news. I never seen her so distraught, so enraged, she soon overtook me and got to the bastard first. "LUNA!" I see her come down connecting with a powerful axe kick. "ARC!" She did not stay to check if she did the deed, she just grabbed my partner's body and was gone. When I arrived he had already surrendered, so regrettably, I could not get to him.

I was embarrassed by him. I had been through the best and worse times with my partner. I. Why should this been any different? Was. Roberto was always making headlines good, bad, or history making. EMBARRASSED! What the fuck was wrong with me! ESPECIALLY WITH THIS! He came to me asking for advice, he told me what he was going through, what he was doing. The icing on the cake? He was doing exactly what I would have told him to do. I could have done more, interceded, told THAT BASTARD OFF! My god I almost lost him no more than month ago! Now… my partner is dead.

I knew time was running out by the next day, I knew what was coming. Zeniya Rokurō. The one Roberto called Pops, no doubt, he was planning or already executing a plan. The question was I too late to join in?

Zeniya, damn him. He knew exactly what Roberto would say. Dammit kid, why? Because I am your hero. My heart breaks, he killed you!

I could hear him 'Sensei, please not you.'

He took you away from me.

'You are better than this- better than me.'

No. No- I am not. I-I am just as human as you.

'I am a monster sensei, you are- my- hero.'

You are not a monster kid, I've- contraction-heh- seen monsters, kid you are not a monster, you slay those monsters. I taught you all I could, you have excelled at everything I tossed at you. Conquered, showed everyone just what one man can do. You showed everyone that they can be a Hero Too! Now- you- you are gone. HOW IS THIS RIGHT! HUH! JUST HOW! I have screamed this a thousand times.

After I booked him at Tartarus I knew I had to get back to the compound. No doubt they were coming, wanting blood, vengeance, justice for their brother, their commander. Roberto always said when he formed his team he was granted invincibility, he loved them like family. They were his family.

When the one called Pointbreak, Andrew Rollins, was so brutally taken out, Roberto was ready to sell his soul to whoever would give him the power and location to get to Rappa. He was out for blood, he called me distraught, Mei and Tsu had already told me what happened. That little girl, Eri, my little girl, the adoption papers are already filed, I honestly put them in when she came into my life. She heard the whole thing I did not hear her walk in. Her tiny fists hit me, she screamed at me telling me why? She loved my partner, kid how do you do it? Roberto heard her and quickly changed his tone, it was too late, she already heard his voice, his tears. She wanted to help with everything within her, he did not even ask.

His team, this plan is already a guaranteed win. He taught them well, everyday they prove themselves why he choose them. His second-in-command, Rocaphella, he feels the weight of Roberto's full command. I see it in his face, his actions, his team sees it as well. Every night he's going over the plan, I tell him not to think like Roberto. He wants to do right by him, no mistakes. "Trust your instincts kid." He was standing behind a table going through the blueprints Roc gave me when I visited him.

He waved the holo screen away, "How the hell did Roberto do this on the fly like nothing?" He slams his fists on the table frustrated, I've been there, so many times.

"I have tried to wrap my head around that since he was a 1st year." He looks at me and I hand him some peppermint tea. He smells it, pauses, probably remembering his commander, he gives a small smile then drinks it.

He places the cup down bringing up the holo-screen up again, "Mr. Aizawa, its like his mind was psychic or something."

I cannot begin to remember how many times I pondered the same thing. "He was not, UA put him through so many tests, quirkless." I rub my head remembering them, Nezo had to tell them to stop. "Roberto was just gifted."

"How the hell am I suppose to fill his shoes?" He shuts down the holo screen, his eyes were aching, he finished the tea. "Good shit."

"You don't." He turns to me ignoring the contraction, "Roberto did not choose you because you could be him."

He rubbed his temples then looked back at me like I had all the answers. "He said it was because I had more charisma than him, you believe that shit?" I really wish I could give you the answers kid, I would tell you in a heartbeat.

"Yeah, Roberto had his reasons, believe me kid, if he choose you he saw something in you." I tap his shoulder, "You just need to figure it out, because he did not tell me."

He scoffs, "Figured, that asshole kept everything close to the chest. I want to make him proud."

"You will." I look at the time we should be getting the call any minute now.

Endeavor: January; Prison Riot…

I was getting motion sickness from all the commotion going on in the rest of the prison. Suddenly my cell begins to move, visitor? No. My tormentor lies in my bed as I loose my lunch in the toliet once more. I feel weak, my body shakes, I had not been eating much lately. Why should I live when I ended his life. 'Death will not be kind to you.'

"I know you were Death's Acolyte, you really believe your own hype."

'She tells me you will freeze for a thousand years' His burnt hand rubs my back as I continue to vomit. I can feel it, it is so cold it burns. 'Then burn within the fury of a thousand suns for another thousand years.'

"Why doesn't she just take me now then."

'DO NOT QUESTION MY MISTRESS!' I feel a hand, a real hand, on my back.

"WHAT THE HELL!" It pulls me and my eyes adjust only to be met with fist of the one who grabbed me.

"You fucking monster." I know that voice, "YOU TOOK THE ONE THING SHE LEFT ME!" My collar drops and I feel my quirk activate. "YOU TOOK MY SON!" At his declaration the other cells go wild chanting his name.

"Roberto." Chisaki says.

"Rodrigo." Dabi adds.

"Rrrrobless." Shigaraki finishes and the chant begins again.

"THE KNIGHTMARE HERO, SPECTRE!" They say after they say his name three times. He walks out of my cell and I follow him out. I see the ghost of the one I murdered laugh and follow in behind me. The chanting is maddening, this was Roc, the kid's father. "Looks like we have ourselves an execution."

'So it begins.' His ghost laughs, I look behind me as I crack my neck.

"Do it." I drop to my knees, "I will not fight you." I see he some how retrieved his swords. This was fitting, it was something I did not deserve, Roberto did not deserve what I did to him. "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!"

"Roberto would give you time to repent." It was taking everything within this man not to follow through already. "I- will- honor my son's wishes." I shake my head as my own tears fall on to the ground. I was not worthy of repentance, I took his son. I look up, my quirk activates, I push him aside as I send my flaming fist into an intruder. He looks at my actions as he lands to the side. The body lands engulfed with my Hellfire. It screams out in pain as the room echos with HIS VOICE.

"Sacrifice received and is accepted." The cells are screaming with fear knowing who was talking. "I AM DEATH!" My blood runs cold as I fall back on my ass pushing away from this akuma I had summoned. Roc is terrified at what was occurring before our very eyes. The body falls to its knees and erupts in green flames. "FOR I HAVE CONQURED IT AND THE GRAVE!" A and S Class cell blocks are now silent. From the green flames I see him. I look towards Roc he sees it too, we want to scream but nothing comes out. I have never feared anything more than what I was witnessing in front of me. "Where there is corruption, injustice, and those who cause it I will be there." My eyes widen as the flames cut off abruptly. "I will be your worse fears manifested, I am the instrument chosen by fate to balance the scales." The smoke settles, "THE KNIGHTMARE HERO!"

"SPECTRE!" We all shout out in complete and utter terror.

"At my name my enemies will scatter." We say his name again, "I will find you, there will be nowhere to hide, no dark alley to disappear to. No rock to crawl under or sewer to seek refuge in that I WILL not find you." I see Chisaki Kai's cell shake as he screams his name over and over. "I am Roberto Rodrigo Robles it is by my name you will fall." He reaches out to me, I look at him as if he is a vengeful demon with his oni mask burning like it was on that day. His mask then disappears, no hatred, no anger, its calm, no emotion. "Rise." His face changes as he pushes his hand towards me, "Take my hand and rise." I reach for it, "Be forgiven and rise." I grab it and he pulls me to my feet and pulls me in. "Be better Enji." I break down as he embraces me as my tormentor busts into ash setting me free.

He releases me, I watch as he walks towards Roc. He is crying, he cannot get to him soon enough. Roberto opens his arms, "My son!" He holds him kissing his forehead, "Its really you!" He looks at him then embraces again. "My son, my precious boy, YOU'RE ALIVE!"

"Contraction." He says as Roc laughs bursting into more tears, "I'll let it slide." I see him break his embrace, "Pops let this go with Endeavor." His face looks at him, "No more dad, no more." Roc looks at me, then back at his son and nods hugging him again. He breaks his embrace and walks past me, he looks back, "We got work to do." My flames come alive as he tosses me my uniform, he then tosses Roc his, "Suit up and let us end this."

86

Robles:

We exit the A and S Class Cell blocks, "Mei." I hear her instantly respond.

"Roberto you're back." Her voice was filled with tears, I smile steeling my resolve.

"I am." She knows my tone.

"Roberto I will." I cut her off.

"Forgiven." I whisper, "All of you." I hear several people crying in the background and I know each and every one of their names. "Connect me to my team."

"Done."

Just outside Tartarus…

"Commander Spectre to all units." Aizawa Shota, Dezmond, Terrin, Andrew, Bernadette freeze in their tracks. "Acknowledge." His voice is steady as they call in.

"Commander Rocaphella here. Explain." He could not believe it.

"I gave you my own support items after I thought that crook killed you." Dezmond falls from flight he is breathing hard. "Commander Rocaphella."

"Not even death…" His eyes were wide, how?

"Please tell me I am not dreaming." Aizawa can barely form words, "I cannot handle…"

"Every night I wished we would become one happy family with mom." At Roberto's words they send him on all fours.

"Bro, man don't be playin with me." That was Terrin.

"All that muscle makes you a rock." He shows no shame as he openly cries.

Andrew can barely say something. "Fearless leader…"

"Maim him, take away his pride." Andrew cocks his rifle and sniffs.

"How…" Bernadette is just stunned.

"My dear Lady Tremor, I always keep my word." At this they all rise, "Fall in men, let's end this."

Robles: Inside Tartarus.

They acknowledge as I turned to my companions now fully dressed, I open my hand as a 3-D Map of prison manifests. "Work as one and pacify gen pop. DO NOT retire." They nod and leave me, "Tyche where is it."

"His office he wanted it for himself." I hear him cry out in the background. "Freaking troglodyte." She sends me the coordinates and the quickest path to him.

"Send it to my team." She acknowledges as I slowly walk up towards my destination. I hear them report in and say they see Endeavor, "Leave him that's an order." My voice goes off like a steel trap, they confirm my orders and make their way in.

I turn a corner and inmates look at me like they have seen a ghost. They run away, I ignore them and continue my way up. I get to the admin office, several officers see me losing all the color in their faces. They run past me, he's alone now as I calmly open the first door. I see his daughter, she charges, I parry her attacks and grab her mouth and slam her on a desk.

She struggles to get the upper hand I just shake my head releasing her. "Its over." I motion towards the door behind me, "Your choice." She looks towards Warden Shishikura's office as tears fill her eyes. "Do not weep for fools or you will be crying all day." She screams and I cave her then wrap her in cable. I say nothing more shaking my head then enter his office. He looks at me as utter fear overtakes him.

"Yoo-u are dead!"

"Was, didn't like it so I came back to take everything from you." I look at him locked in what is mine. The doors behind me open as I look at over my shoulder, they all see me.

"Awaiting orders commander." That was Commander Rocaphella.

I look back to Warden Shishikura, "Return." My hand reaches out as I eject Spectre V9 armor tossing it to Dezmond. He takes it replacing the the light armor he was wearing. I hear the disc whirl and seal in place on him. Warden Shishikura collapses as Spectre V10 hits my hand wrapping around me manifesting in form fitting robe like armor. I look at my second-in-command, he is wearing a red and white version of his first armor, jacket and all. I smile underneath my hood as horns and flaming eyes appear. A flash, four bars, another flash maxed out at eight.

"Take him down." I order as they engage him, I could not tell you what the warden's quirk was or if he had one. He could engage several opponents at once, but could he handle my team? I hear Dezmond giving out orders, he learned tactics. I chose Dezmond for a reason, he was a diamond in the rough, with a heart as big as my own, bigger in fact. He had photographic memory, but lacked direction, he was brilliant, just not challenged, I doubt he even knew this. I did. I catch him and stand him up. "What do you see commander?" I see him watching the battle, "What are you missing?"

"He is using only one arm." I nod, "ITS FAKE!" He sees Andrew, "Pointbreak, RAPPA!" I see Andrew fall back as Terrin grabs Bre pulling her down. A purple streak fires from his rifle as everything behind us is obliterated, the fake arm is erased, revealing it to be some sort of sonic weapon. "LT FINISH HIM!" I then see Bre launch forward her quirk sends him flying into the steel door behind him. Our cowls cover our ears cancelling Andrew's rifle's soundwave, we see Warden Shishikura's ears bleed as he falls deaf from the aftermath. I walk over to the fallen warden, grabbing his hair puling it up. I open my hand showing him his files as it disappears in front of him and uploading to The Mount Olympus Database. I release him, he collapses defeated and broken. "At your command Rocaphella."

"Jenesys secure this sorry sack and lets go home." Jenesys grabs him wrapping him in cable and drags him out of the office. We all fall in behind him, Pops and Endeavor call in the prison is now back under police control. I exit the prison to the flashes of several cameras. They see me, my team protects me but I tell them to let me pass.

Cameras are rolling, news is spreading that I am alive. I see my partner and I launch into the air my cowl is down and I can not get to him fast enough. I grab him and take to the sky. We are crying, no words are exchanged. I hold on to him as if my life depends on it, he does the same cause it does. A news copter catches up to us, we ignore it, I had my sensei back and he had me. We stay up there for the longest til I finally land and release him. He places his hands on the sides of my head, "You are alive." he kisses my forehead, "My partner, my student, my son, my best friend, you are alive!" He hugs me again, "I am so sorry." he remembers the day I 'died' "Never again, no matter what."

"Sensei whatever it is I do not care, if you need forgiveness, I need not know the reason, I give it and I give it abundantly, however much you need, I do not care." He was my hero, my teacher, the most important man in my life. He was hurting and all I wanted to do was take away his pain.

"Roberto. I was embarrassed by you." His words do not even effect me.

"When don't I do that, sensei, its who…" He cuts me off.

"No, I acted…" I pull him close to me shutting him up.

"It does not matter now." I hear him cry like I did all so years ago when I loss Tsu. "Just do better sensei, isn't that what you tell me." Sensei cried in my arms as he accepted my words. I look up and I see her as she covers her mouth.

"Its true." I see her crying, I smile at her and motion her to me. "You're alive."

"Bunny girl senpai." She collapses at my words wrapping her arms around me as I comfort my sensei. Her fur is soft around her neck, she snuzzles me and then suddenly our lips touch. "Forgive me." She kisses me and I give in to her demands. She breaks it, "You know my heart."

"I do." I tell her softly. "They are probably so pissed off right now."

"I had to, and I can handle it." Suddenly Mei, Tsu, and Momo appear on holo-screens.

"We allow you this one time." They say in unison as Rumi kisses me again with vigor. "THAT'S ENOUGH!" Rumi laughs as she steals a few more seconds before breaking it. Like I said they are pissed.

"Not that I mind Ms. Rumi" Rumi looks down realizing she is crushing my partner. She laughs and stands up, I let go of sensei who wipes his eyes. I smile as I see my wife, my mad scientist, and my baby mama.

"I am coming home." I tell them, where ever my heart was was my home, not a country but where it was. Right now my heart was in The States with my children. They all smile and punch out save Tsu. I tell sensei and Rumi to go on ahead. They nod and head to Tartarus. "Hey beautiful." I see her face filled with tears as she croaks.

"I betr…"

"Do not finish that sentence, you know that is not true."

"You tried to save us, went through- I- we put you through hell."

"DAD came up with a plan, I for once had no end game." I hear her croak again. "Tsu, I am alive and safe, the plan was brilliant I could have not come up with anything so detailed." I look at Tartarus in the distance, "My enemies now think of me as more than human. That is a win-win. Hell Endeavor was scared shitless."

"Come home please." I look back at my beautiful bride, "We need you Ribbit." I smile at her.

"Trust me I am finishing up here ASAP and I will leave tonight if I can." I see her face light up. "I miss you more than the air I breath mi amor. But." I see her face go grim. "I am not #7." I hear my wife give me a sinister croak. "Don't give me that!" she ribbits still angry, I give her a humph.

"JESUS it's just a magazine!"

"ITS LIES!" This will not stand! I see her roll her eyes then punch out she gave up. I arrive just as I see my men about to square off with Endeavor. "Stand down." I see Endeavor back up as do my men. I put my arm around Endeavor, the media have their cameras on me. "I forgive you." Endeavor falls before me bowing as humbly as he could. His pride stripped away, the jaws of my men drop.

"Gomen'nasai." I hear him breakdown live on air, "Gomen'nasai for all I did to you." he repeats his apology to me over and over till I finally kneel and embrace him. He continues to breakdown and I help him to his feet.

"You did well Enji." He looks at me as I smile, "The mission to clear out corruption in Tartarus was a complete success." I then reveal DADs plan, Endeavor is shaken, I wanted to give credit to DAD but he told me I needed to for my mother's precinct. I then tell them in cooperation with Tokyo PD we came up with a plan, Endeavor was instrumental in ensuring its success. He admits he was physically shaken by it but would go through it again to save just one more. I then introduce Pops detailing his involvement and his 'undercover work' with this and the former Shie Hassaikai. "I hear by motion that Officer Zeniya Rokurō be restored to his rank and file within the Tokyo PD." I see Mirio come to me with my Pops badge and dress blues.

"As the current Tokyo Police Chief I agree with Commander Spectre." Pops takes his badge, his honor restored. "I also would like to announce him as Tartarus' new warden with all the rights and privileges there of his commission."

"I accept this commission Chief Tōgata." he then looks at me with pride in his eyes saying thank you son.

I then look at the cameras which zoom in on me, "Lastly on a more personal note." I see some one with the dreaded magazine, they spot me and I hold out my hand. I turn to the page showing me as the 7th ranked sexiest hero in Japan. "WHO IN THE HELL WROTE THIS SHIT!" I rip the magazine in half then tap my chest three times leaving me in nothing but boxer briefs. "DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE BODY OF SOMEONE WHO IS RANKED 7th!" I pose for the cameras as Tōgata and Pops cover their faces. Rumi makes her way towards me. "She makes sense. Hell even Ryūku!"

She stands next to me and I pull her towards me, "You are my #1 Roberto." She then boops my nose.

I see Edgeshot #4 in the crowd directing people, we lock eyes and I see him cross his arms, "Hey." I call out to him. Suddenly he uses his quirk and quickly comes to my side. I see him unfold, "You are the 4th sexist be honest with me."

"Mt. Lady ain't shit!" I smile and pull him close, "Ummm, aren't you married?"

"My wife wants me to have a boyfriend." I wrap my arm around his waist pulling him closer, "Intere…" Before I can finish he pulls down his face mask and kisses me. He's good I release Rumi and draw him deeper, the media is going wild at this new development. We break our kiss.

"I am so sorry but I wanted to get your attention." You clever bastard. "You are actually #1." He then offers for me to stay at his place, I agree. "You are a really hard man to get a hold of."

"So I have been told." I laugh.

"So do you really want me?" He still was unsure if I was just pulling a publicity stunt.

"Yes, I need a reason to come back." I spend the night at Edgeshot's home, where I learn his name is Kamihara Shin'ya. He had been stalking me since my debut, and was the one who took my picture at the hospital. "You still willing to be with me?"

"For now, you were amazing, no promises though." I was not going to hold him back that would be cruel.

"Fair enough, so long as you…" he places his finger on my lips with a shhhhh.

"Make time for you when you visit? Hell yes. Safe journey stud." I meet my team along with sensei and Pops at HND soon after. We say our good byes to them, to Japan, a new life awaits all of us in The States. My wife is waiting for me, my children, and of course my baby mama. I could not wait to see them again.

End Part 10A… READ DARK REVERIE then return here!

Entr'acte 3- Rumi Usagiyama

Roberto. Damn him. Every time he does this to me every freaking time. I pride myself needing no one to help me, teams are for the birds, for the weak. He makes me weak. Why can't I get him out of my mind? I tried to stay away, but then he comes in like a knight in shining armor to protect me from the #1 Hero. Endeavor. What the hell was he gonna do? Huh?- He was going to fight him to his very last, if it meant I would be safe. Me, the #5 Hero- He's sweet, caring, powerful, intelligent, handsome, sexy…rrrrghhh stop it RUMI! He's almost a decade younger than you! I see him and I forget my damn name, I cannot help it since I saw him in action 2 years ago.

I could hear him following me, that flight gear of his, nothing silent about that thing. He stayed a bit a ways, I was a curiosity to him from the corner of my eye I see him pause. I bank right, he's busy with a call, if I hear them right, he is talking to Fat Gum. Nice guy, so this one can't be all bad, if being independent wasn't so lucrative or if I did not hold on to my beliefs, I would go with his agency. He doesn't see me.

"HEY KID!" I call out, I know Fat Gum hears it.

"Ah crap baskets." I suppress a chuckle, he knew this was not good as I look at him.

"What's your name kid?" I look up at him hovering inquisitively, being the smart ass he is he replies.

"Hero or name name?" His smile was just as handsome then, I knew he was harmless. Oh how little did I know.

I toss my hair back, I was flirting with him, "Preferably both, why are you following me?" I hope he liked my sass.

That smirk, thump, what the? "Spectre, as for my name, well lady's first." he says politely.

"Mirko, and no, are you a fanboy?" I had to make sure, thump, is something wrong with me? It had been a while since I had a proper physical, maybe he would want…RUMI what the hell he's just a kid! STOP! He is handsome though.

"Sorry never heard of you til just now from my boss Fat Gum." Okay, not a fanboy, but that kinda hurt. Wait oh hell no!

"Fat Gum, I don't do agencies." Was his curiosity just a false flag?

"I'm not here for recruitment," Thump, thump, every time he spoke, so confident. "just a work study with him." He doesn't seem to be a 3rd year. "To answer your first question, I was on patrol when I saw you. Got curious and here I am." Awww, he wants to learn how sweet.

"Work study, which high school, flyboy." Flyboy, I cringe remembering when I first said it. This kid amused me, the smart ass kid in armor.

"Flyboy huh, I can dig it, UA, Thumper." So generic not like I had not heard that one before. UA huh, that confirms his obvious intelligence.

"Ha, how original, UA huh, good school."He lands in front of me, He was just shy of 6'0", He looked me over up and down then tilted his head, I struck a pose teasingly, "Enjoy the view, just don't touch." I smirk, He was no slouch, muscular all around, great posture. The armor he was wearing only enhanced the good parts, whoa, whoa, RUMI staaappp!

"Not even a handshake?" I shook my head no stretching my arms giving him a good look at me from all angles, "Thumper is not shy is she?" We both knew exactly what I was doing.

"Nope, besides you don't look stupid, trying to figure out my quirk, no, that's not it." I had to test him, I send jab towards him and he parries it. I kick and he dodges feeling the wind from it, I catch him caught off guard. Was he analyzing my strength? "Not going to attack?"

"No, I'm sorry, normally I would but honestly, I'm just curious to where you were going." He ducks just in time to miss a round house but I nail him with the following kick sending him flying back into an A/C unit. "FAWK, cheeze lady." I chuckle, that was my bad, I'm sorry. "Look I do not want to interfere with whatever case you're on, I only wish to observe from a far." Awww, he won me over, he's so sweet. I cannot let him know so I humph like some sort of a tsundere, "Com'on don't be like that, let me learn from afar, no team up, please." Why am I acting like this! I am the hero no one fucks with! Damn him, how is he doing this! I shake my head then walk over and pull him out.

"No interference?" He raises his hands, "Guess that won't be too bad, you hear that Fat Gum?" I hear his response but I want ask heeheh, he spots my inquisitive look.

"He's asking how I managed this." I smile at him as he does the same.

"He's charming." Did he just blush, suddenly a light blub goes off in my mind. "Wait that's not your quirk is it?" I could feel his boss' cringe with his response.

"Truthfully?" I suddenly cover myself, I really felt exposed, "Really Thumper? Now you're shy, cut the crap." No crap, but I have to maintain my self image so I go into a tropey superhero pose laughing, "I have no quirk."

"WHAT!" I yell at him I cannot believe this, no way, I take a bit to acclimate. "You got some stones kid." He was completely serious! Okay if he got a work study at an agency, then he really must be something special.

Oh how little did I know.

I look towards an adjacent building, he follows my eyes and takes off. "Stay there." I see him toss me some of his support items in a small attachable pouch. I still have it to this day.

"What the hell are these?" He smiles, damn that smile always turns me stupid, I see him land on the building and take position.

"I wanna hear everything" his voice comes from the bag, I open it and take the ear bud then put in my ear and smirk. "Not interfering, the other stuff is a gift for your kindness." Thump, thump, thump, oh my god I am infatuate with him, no, no, no, okay one date maybe, yeah just one.

This is not fair! I have to regain control, lookie here ROMEO! "Awww cute, guess this means we are dating now." I tell him as leveled and flirtatious as I can as I attach the pouch to my hip, I know he is watching as I stretch it giving him a full view.

"If I was single, I no doubt take you up on your offer Thumper." DAMMIT COMPETITION! Wait- WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING!

Do not show him you are shaken, "Ooo, Flyboy is sweet and faithful." I tease and leap down to what seemed like a warehouse.

Looking back then that's when I fell for him, he was brilliant! He was slick how he got me to use the support items. He protected my beliefs at same time protecting me. I wanted him, I still do, WHY DOES HE ALWAYS DO THIS TO ME? As I look in my room I just cringe, wall to wall, floor to ceiling, JESUS HE'S BEEN IN MY APARMENT! Dear god if he saw my room, his fucking ego is large enough! After his debut as a hero, the memorabilia just rolled out, and I bought it all! I some times cry thinking of what I have become, then I just laugh at my own madness! He only saw the oversized shirt I wear around my apartment, its my favorite, wrapped in my flyboy. Oh God just shoot me already! My most prized possession is that bag, due to my quirk my sense of smell, like a rabbit, is highly acute. I can still smell him on it, it lies on my dresser close to me as I sleep.

If he only knew how I truly, no, he does, I told him foolishly when he resurrected. Damn my taste in men, no, this one man, Roberto Rodrigo Robles, the hero who conquered death itself. Okay, so he really didn't but I do not doubt he could if he told me that. I wonder what might have been if he and I gave up everything and we just left heroism behind. We probably be married two years now… RUMI STOP! No, let me fantasize, let me fantasize about the man…I….love. I feel my own tears, I admit it, DAMN HIM! I grab my body pillow, Spectre, DAMMIT WHY DID NOT MEET YOU SOONER!

I hear my door bell ring, I put on my favorite shirt and open the door. Huh, I have a package, I sign for it, tip them and close the door. I place it on a table and open it. "High Specs International?" I see a note, its printed out.

Mirko,

Take this gift, I know you love my son.

"DAD?" Only he spoke like that what is this?

He would probably delete me if he knew I gave you this. That or put me on a short leash. Hell he almost did that with the plan I came up with. When the world thought he was dead.

"I knew it, Roberto was smart but not that smart!" I then took a moment and it then dawned on my why he took credit. "Tokyo PD, DAD you are truly amazing."

He was safe I assure you, my son means everything to me. So I created this. The VR equipment is normal, you can you use it for games and other things. So have fun with that! But there is a file only you can access, just say his nickname and it will recognize your voice and autoplay. Use the HUD to control your experience. I give you what he was seeing and experiencing, his actual emotions when he was in what we dubbed 'The White Hot Room'. When you activate this the Roberto you see in there is/was him, no dialogue changes, no alternate endings, there is some but very little and limited predictive capabilities but its him.

"What did DAD create?" The excitement is unreal, what was this gift, wait how the hell, yeah he would know my feelings about Roberto.

When you go on this adventure, it will be from your POV, replacing how I believed you would react. You know he cares about you, he really almost gave it all up for you.

I suddenly realized what this was.

You are really special to him, so enjoy this alternative narrative. There is no Tsuyu in this story, so enjoy yourself to the fullest.

I lock the door, turn off the phone, close the curtains, I was going full NEET for this. I took the VR equipment to my room, it was all wireless save the power cord to the main docking console. My headset and controls were fully charged, I took one look at my literal shine to this amazing man that is my room and kissed my body pillow with his likeness. Man I am such an otaku for this man. I pull it down and turn it on, "Flyboy."

I hear him begin the narration. 'I did not like where DAD started me, so I pushed and willed it to go back where I wanted it to be. If this was DAD's way of showing me an alternate timeline I wanted it to be perfect.'

'I met with Mirko for lunch, despite it all I was early, just like her.'

I touch my mouth remembering and I see my cue, I gather my wits about me "So are we set to leave this country behind?"

'It was starting, she was just as beautiful as I remembered.' "You would love that wouldn't you?" I almost miss my cue as tears fall from my eyes at his narration.

I don't leave my room for the rest of the day, thank you DAD, thank you for this. I get to the part where I leap away, he's chasing me, and my heart thumps as we kiss.

I am a Father

87

Robles:

Tartarus left me spent, that would be my last mission in Japan for a while. For now, I looked forward to seeing my wife and kids, Mei, Momo, and the second most important man in my life and partner, Matthew. The City of Tokyo paid for our journey back home. They went all out putting us in business class, anything we wanted on the airline, speciality meals, drinks, it was all paid for by them. I looked at my team, we each had a seat in between us in our isle. No fighting over armrests! I took a window seat, Dezmond next to me one seat over. Isle a head of me was Andrew at the window and Bre, Terrin behind me at the window seat. I smiled to myself, my team is the best, I had the best second-in-command, who exceeded all my expectations. All was great with the world, "Hey Andrew."

"Wassup fearless leader?" Andrew turned around and looked at me.

I smile at him,"Thank you for introducing me to the others."

"The hell you mean introducing, you met me first." Dezmond called me out.

"True, but it was Andrew who told me more about you and Terrin." I smiled to myself, "He was my guide at Joe Lewis, so we chatted a bit before our official introduction."

"Commander." Bre spoke

"Yes." Me and Dezmond responded, to which she laughed.

"Spectre." She smile apologetically at Dez.

I look at her my head resting on my finger tips. "Lady Tremor we are not on the field its okay to call me Roberto."

Her face became uneasy as she looked at me. "It kinda does not feel quite right for me, I like it when you call me Bre though, I just…"

"Its alright Bre," I smiled at her looking at me through the cracks in between the seats, I wanted to put her mind at ease. "if it makes you feel comfortable I will not protest."

"Thank you commander." She then turns fully and looks at me over the seats, "How, just how did you pull this off? I mean really."

"DAD." I say off hand.

"I KNEW IT!" Dezmond, Andrew, and Terrin exclaimed!

" ?" Bre was confused.

"No not Pops, DAD." She looked at me confused so I manifested my gauntlet and opened up my hand. "DAD you there?" DAD then appeared as a floating head hologram. "Bernadette Copeland meet DAD my AI." Her eyes opened wide as DAD smiled in greeting.

She just realized that male hologram at my wedding was something completely different than she originally thought. "DAD stand for something?"

"Not yet Ms. Copeland but that does give me an idea or a billion." The others looked back over their seats at DAD. "You have no idea how proud Roberto was when you took me on at High Specs."

"WAIT WHAT!" They all were in shock, "DAD we are so..."

"You all did well, your commander was in tears how quickly you took me down even without your quirks." I then explained the real plan and how I had no input.

"Okay DAD not going to lie that's scary advance, like potential AI Overlord status." Dezmond was genuinely scared along with the rest of my team.

"I will not do that, humanity is precious, despite everything, I will not do that. I love my son too much." DAD then paused a moment then looked at Bre, "How does Database Attack Detection sound Ms. Copeland?"

Bre raised her eyebrows then returned to normal. "Fitting since you care so much for the commander."

"Not only him Ms. Copeland, I care for all of you and everyone my son does." Satisfied with D.A.D's intentions their fears were put to rest and my AI returns to the white hot room.

Hours later we landed at DTW, we did not have any luggage so we quickly made our way out to pick up. Our families were there waiting for us, the others went a head of me. They filed in two rows then went to attention, Their uniforms manifested causing everyone in the airport to take notice. Dezmond speaks, "Commander on site!" they all go stiff, "SALUTE!" They raise their hand as cameras flashed as I walked in between them in full hero regalia. They see me and I hear my family give me a hero's welcome. In unison they drop their salute and fall in behind me in one straight line.

"At ease." I try to remain professional, failing, they go to parade rest, "This team is dismissed." I crack a smile, "Welcome home team go to your families, live…" I see the love of my life, and I break down, "And don't stop." I run to her lifting her high into the sky and bring her back down into peppermint. Nothing else mattered in that moment, "Mi amor." We kiss again, I missed her more than anything at that moment.

"Ribbit." Our foreheads touch as we clasp each others hands. "No more." her voice cracks, "Stay with me." I nod giving her my promise, "Do not stop being a hero." I kiss her lips another promise made, "Thank you Roberto." I lift her up as she wraps her legs around me.

"I love you Mrs. Robles." She giggles as she kisses me again.

"As do I dear husband." At her words I fall in love with her all over again.

I finally take notice of the outside world, they were staring at us. I put my wife down and I see the other women in my life holding my children. I see them and they are reaching for me. I run to them and take them both in my arms. "I will always come home little ones." I pull them up to my face as I love on them like I had not seen them in years. Sure felt that way, they cling to me and hold them in place. "Daddy is home, he will not leave you again." I cuddle them and finally open my eyes and see him. He has his arms crossed looking at me, I give him a weak smile.

"Welcome home Commander Robles." I see Tsu and Mei hand them my children, then salute him.

"Thank you Lead Commander Rathers." he breaks rank and hugs me tightly he kisses the side of my head, then whispers in my ear. "I am so sorry, Roberto, I was…"

I whisper into his ear, "It was beyond scary Matthew, but I trusted your judgement call." I hold him tightly, "You owe me a date."

He laughs in between tears, "I will take you somewhere nice."

"Our first date." I tell him and he laughs harder saying yes, he does not care the others are watching us. "I love you."

"So do I, you fucking fairy." I laugh in response, I loved it as he broke our embrace wiping his tears. He sees Bailey, Momo, Mei, and my beloved Tsu just eating this up. "Eh."

Bailey runs to me, "My step zaddy's home" she hugs me tightly as I do her, Matthew does not even fight it as he shook his head. Momo was next, she was showing, I gently kiss her cheek then kneel placing my ear on her belly.

"Hey kid, its dad, I am so sorry we have not talked much." I feel a hard kick, "You are going to be a strong one aren't you." Two kicks and Momo twinges, "Not fond of contractions I see, your grandpop is gonna love that." I then feel my unborn child move, "I promise you, I will always be there, you are not excluded, I love you, I will protect you, even unto my dying breath." I kiss Momo's belly and look up to her, she's in tears. She then gently hits me with her fist.

"You bastard, I wanted to be mad at you." She hits me again and I laugh, "I know it was not your fault but dammit I thought you really got yourself killed. DAD!" DAD shoots out of a projector. "YOU EVIL BASTARD! WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME!"

"Honestly I forgot, the plan literally took every terrabyte of my memory to come up with. Check my logs, creator please."

"I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY FUCKING LOGS!" I was about to say something but she shot me a death stare. I see DAD analyzing her emotions and understands.

"Ms." Momo shoots him a death stare.

"DAD." She says sinisterly.

"Momo?" She nods and I think I see a sigh from him, "Momo, with every terrabyte I am made from, I am so very sorry. Please forgive my faulty programming." Her anger subsides as she accepts DAD's apology. Mei, Tsu, and Matthew really thought DAD told her, so she had no issues with them. DAD returns to the white hot room as I get up and look at my mad scientist.

"Roberto." She says and runs into my arms. "I was so scared for you." She holds me tight and kisses my cheek. I honestly, was kinda sad, but understood. "Never left my screen for 4 months."

I look up at Matthew,"She just camped out in your office Roberto, I could not… no, I was not going to tear her away." I then looked at the rest of my family, I smiled at them. They were all worried about me, Ms. Hillsong, Ma, just looked at me and opened her arms. I went to her and hugged her like I did my mom when she dropped me at UA all those years ago.

"Honey you need to be more careful, that and stop getting women pregnant." I laugh, "Jesus, child, what the hell is wrong with you."

"I nearly die, and that's what you got for me?" I cried I loved this woman.

"Oh hush boy. Now get your ass home with your wife. Dinner is tomorrow at 1900hrs don't be..."

"I would not dream of it Ma." I kissed her cheek, she smiled at me and like that we left the airport.

I arrived at my new home in Harper Woods, just outside of north east Detroit. The house is simple, Tsu loved it, three story, basement, ground, and second story. 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath, Matthew had it renovated, its foundation leveled and furnished it with temporary furniture. The ground floor had the half bath, master bed and bath, living room, den, and kitchen. The basement was ready to be furnished, the laundry room was there with a combination washer-dryer in one. He knew I loved efficiency. The second floor had the other four bedrooms all with small walk-in closets. One of the rooms was the nursery with three cribs that grew with our children to full size beds. He made sure we did not have to want for anything.

Each room, save the fourth bedroom, which was another master and bath. All mirrored each other like my homes in Okinawa, with room enough for a queen bedroom set. The second Master was just as big as the master on the ground level, room enough for a California King Bedroom set. Other than the nursery, the interior of my new house's color was uniform, light cream, we would repaint it later. The kitchen, well Matthew knew I loved to cook, everything I had in my home in Japan was here. From the Viking range to the island with the 2.5 sink. I hit my com and he picks up in one.

"I love you." Is the first words that come out of my mouth.

I hear him chuckle, "Take it you approve of the house."

"You do love me cupcake!" I already can see his cringe and it brings me such joy.

I hear him laugh, "You saw the kitchen, cost me a fortune."

"I will cook you anything your heart's desire for the rest of our lives!" I declare as I hug Tsu, this was amazing.

"Damn straight you will you fucking fairy." His words do not miss a beat.

"Matthew I love the house, thank you so much, I… I am at a loss for words." I was losing it.

"Please don't leave." His voice was different, "I know your plan…"

"Matthew…" Thump.

I hear him hesitating, "Maybe I am reeling from the events in Japan but Robert please don't leave."

"You really do, don't you." Thump, thump.

"Baka." He says quietly.

"Bailey is in the room huh." He grunts, "Matthew she does not care."

"Do you realize what you have done to me you bastard." He tells me flat out.

I take a breath my heart racing. "Maybe it was always there?"

"No, ever since you came into my life, got dammit." He was struggling with it.

"Then embrace it, you know my heart, jump I will catch you." I would do anything for him.

I hear his trademark sigh, "Roberto it is not that simple."

"We are partners so what." I was not going to let this go.

"Think about it Roberto, you came to Delta 12 at 17, underage, can you imagine the scandal, culture differences or not, this is America." He had a point but I did not care.

"But I am 18 now." My heart was breaking, "We can now."

His voice was soft, he was hurting, "Picture this Roberto, use that brilliant mind of yours, you can see it can you?"

"My rank, hero license, our partnership…" I was now crying I wanted him so badly, "it would all be undone, you, us, we would be…" I was dying, Tsu could see my agony, she knew how much I loved him. "Give it to Jacob, I will take care of you, we can be together, all of us."

Tsu chimed in, she liked Matthew, she knew we were meant to be, "Matthew, he loves us, more than you can ever imagine."

"Damn… you really are in love with me." My words struck him hard. "Roberto, wow…" I was completely serious, all three of us knew it.

"But I am asking you to leave your dream." I knew this man all too well, Delta 12 was his world, that he shared with me.

"Yes."

"Daddy, he loves you, you can see that can't you?" Bailey was pulling for us too, she seen the change in me, in us.

I hear him struggle with his emotions. "More than you could possibly know, Bailey."

"I would leave Edgeshot…" He cuts me off before I can even finish the sentence.

"About that. WHAT IN THE HELL!" He screams at me, this was new.

"It just sort of happened?" I gave an uneasy laugh.

He was mad, "Sort of happened?" I was trying to take my words back. "You did not even think about it." Suddenly it hit me.

"Hold up, Matthew Bruno Rathers the Third." He catches my tone, but its too late. "You are jealous!" Tsu motioned me to go as she clicked on the com. He did not even noticed. Bailey did.

"You went with some sort of emo punk!" I hit my chest as my uniform manifested as I took flight. I was still in awe.

"Oh. My. God." I listened as he went on a rant on my poor tastes in men, how I would get paper cuts in intimacy.

Bailey was just loving this ridiculous display before her. "Get'um Dad!"

"Really Bailey." I egged her on with my sarcasm.

She could not stop laughing. "You should see his face right now step zaddy, he is furious!"

He was beside himself, he really was losing it, "Have some fucking pride Roberto! I'm no catch but that, that, that…" he was stammering now, yup this was genuine.

"You sell yourself short my love." That seemed to calm him down. "You are my #1 sexiest male hero."

His voice went soft. "I understood why with Endeavor."

"Bullshit dad, step zaddy, he pitched a bitch of a fit when he saw the pictures on Sparrow!" Bailey was laughing at her dad's renewed rage, "He felt so betrayed, he called off of work for a week and a half." Tsu and I were in shock, this man, I love him so. "Poor dad you made him so depressed, so hurt. I had to make sure he ate, he was just lying on the couch miserable." I land at Delta 12 entrance, muted my mic, I see some of the heroes we had, it was late so I told them to go home. Part of me thinks they knew how I felt about their boss. I hit my cloak and disappear.

"You kissed him like you meant it, it was horrible!" I see him ranting and Bailey losing her shit. "Endeavor…" I got in real close and decloaked as he turned.

"It was horrible for me too." I grabbed him and kissed him putting all my skills into it. I hear Bailey literally swoon, it only spurred me on, he was melting in my arms. He falls on in his chair as I mount his lap without missing a beat. I break my kiss, "You've improved lover." He growls at me, "Ooo, zaddy likes."

"Shut up Robert." He then grabs me returning the favor with his own skills. "I" he kisses me again. "hate" another my pulse was racing, "you so" another yes daddy yes, "fucking…"

"MATT?" Suddenly we stop our make out session and see Jacob. "I'll come back later…" Mood killer dammit, I die a little inside.

"MEI!" We both shouted out, we knew good and damn well she was watching, Jacob's armor manifested then locked him in place.

"Look I'm cool with it, I don't care." Matthew eyes were blank, frozen in embarrassed anger. "Hi Bailey." He said sheepishly, she was burnt out and barely waved. "Can you please unlock my armor." He looked at us.

"I have to kill him." Jacob's eyes widen as Matthew begins to rise, I push him down. "He's seen too much."

"Easy babe, calm down, Jacob is family, right Jacob?" I see Jake nod his head rapidly yes. "Jacob dear, you known my feelings for Matthew yes?"

"How can I not, especially now, so what if he is closeted, my mouth is sealed, all I see is that Commander Spectre fell into Slim Shade's lap failing to change a light bulb." He looks at Bailey who is confirming rapidly shaking her head yes. "I mean its obvious that when the commander fell it looked like he was making out with Slim, but nah, no, no, he fell from the desk like some sort of BAAAKKAAA!" The story he came up on the fly was amazing, "Classic anime trope, yeah, I am sorry Roberto I know you hate clichés but come on that's what happened right?"

"Unfortunately, yeah, that is exactly what happened." I slowly got off my prize, my hand slowly lingering on him but I remove it. Mei releases Jacob, I gather myself and quickly exit.

"Roberto." Jacob calls out to me. I don't look back as I exit the building and take to the air. I let my tears flow, "Roberto!" I try to go fast but I cannot, he catches up and grabs me. We crash on top a roof, I take the blunt force saving us both. "Roberto."

"No." I cannot look at Jacob, I need, I need to get away.

I go to take off and he grabs my arm."Roberto, stop." Let me go Jake, please this hurts too much.

"Its like you said." I am holding back my emotions. Failing. "A stupid anime…." He pulls me in and embraces me. "I'm so stupid." I pound his chest, "I know better… I just thought… this time… SO STUPID!" It's awful I want this pain to end to stop.

Jake is being my best friend "Roberto, you deserve better," He fights me as I cry and lash out but he is there. "you have better, your wife." He's trying to console me, to get me to understand.

My Tsu, I love her more than anything, but. "I know… But he's just like me."

"What?" Jacob is confused, I see someone I can view as an equal.

"He does not give in, he's brilliant, he started Delta 12 from nothing. He sees me, the real me, he's not afraid to call out my own bullshit, he trusts me, believes in me when I don't. Jacob, I lost Rappa, I have failed my mission, yet he still believes in me."

"They all do Roberto, you are not making any sense." Jacob looks at me,"Rappa is out there I know he is. Or we would not be having the conversation right now."

I have to get him to understand. "Jacob I cannot focus any more, my every waking moment is about my family."

"So what? It's suppose to be that way, Roberto you are not alone, what does this have to with Matthew?" He still does not get it, I am a failure.

"I'm no longer the man he saw a year ago, I want to be him again maybe then, he, we, could..." I gather myself, "He would be mine unashamedly."

"Roberto." I hear his voice and look behind me. I look away but I am already in his arms "You are better than the man I met a year ago." I get lost in his eyes and he grasps my hands as his eyes turn yellow. See Jacob, this beautiful man, knows me. He knows how to get through, I love him. "I do love you, Roberto, I still have no idea why you want to be with me? I'm so fucked up, I cannot even tell where I am going sometimes." I am crying as I look into his beautiful eyes, can you not see? He grabs the side of my head, his hand is warm. He closes his eyes and pulls me in our foreheads touch.

He speaks to me gently, I take in his scent, "But there is this guy, this hard headed, love struck, brilliant man who is just stupid enough to listen to me, save me, love me, despite all our history saying the opposite." His hand continues to caresses my face, suddenly he looks away. "That I constantly let down, keep hurting, emotionally confuse because I am just as confused as well."

I lay my head on his chest and listen to his heart beat, its quickening with each breath. "Named Roberto, who I am just as stupid to trust, to listen to, who got dammit pushes all my buttons that I fight myself from wanting to devour." I look up at him, "Yeah you fucking fairy, you turn me on constantly." My eyes look into his, "Like right now, I hate you so fucking much." I seize the moment and kiss him, he fights me wanting to be the dominate one but I fight him back.

"Um guys. Oye…" We ignore Jake, "SERIOUSLY GUYS!" I pull my kunai and Matthew his Beretta pointing at Jacob as we break our kiss. "Whoa, whoa, chill! Listen." This better be good, "Look, I am your PR man, I want to help you both out." I roll up my kunai as Matthew puts away his Beretta. "If you two are serious about…" He gestures with his hands in a circle, "This, there has to be a way I can make this happen."

I leap into Jacob's arms, "Don't you dare kiss me!" I laugh and just hug him. "If you both want to pursue this, well I know Roberto does. Matthew do you truly want to be with him. Its easy to spin with Mrs. Tsu." He looks at me then at Matthew, "Don't hurt him Matthew, he loves you, he's my best friend. I warn you, cause God help me if you do I will completely and utterly destroy you."

"Jacob…" we both say, he had my six, he looks at me and smiles.

"Before you answer look at him, your quirk is active does he mean as much to you as you do to him." Matthew looks at me, "Because if he does not…"

"He does." He says flatly, "I admit it, I love him, I've know that for the longest, when I saw his 'death' at Endeavor's hands I was going to kill him or die trying." My heart skips, "DAD made it look so real, I knew then as I do now," He looks at me his eyes tearing. "almost that entire time I was at home crying for him. I knew he was okay, but his death scream, my world shattered. Roberto…." I silence him with a kiss, "I do not want to go through that again not with you."

"Well that settles it, this is going to take some time guys." Jacob shakes his head, are those tears? "I will make this work, I swear to you both." We both hug him, "I am happy for you both."

Matthew shakes his head drying his eyes as he closes them,"Yey surprise I am gay, yey." his fist pumps with the joy of a flaccid, well…

"Honey you are not gay." I kiss his lips again.

He pulls me in and I get lost in his arms. "Could have fooled me dear."

"You are bi, and you are free to be with any woman you want love." I boop his nose.

Jacob was working with a literal Knightmare."Arghhh, this is going give me an ulcer figuring out a gayme plan."

"HA very punny, thank you Jake, you really are my best friend." I then look at my new boyfriend who now sported a scowl.

"Edgeshot." His teeth were gritted, jealousy really did not look good on him.

"Who is Edgeshot?" Jacob was almost afraid to ask.

"This harem protagonist latest conquest," I see something go off in is mind then his eye twitches, he puts it away for now. "wait till you hear this." He looks at me as I sheepishly grin.

Jacob shoots daggers at me with his eyes."Roberto. Spill it!"

I shrug my shoulders with a cautious chuckle."Japan's #4th top and sexiest hero by poll, I am #1 by the way in that category."

Jacob's fists popped, heh I rubbed off on him as his eyes narrow, "So. Happy. For. You."

"And well." I show him the clip, I hear him slap his face with his palm. "He's sort of my current boyfriend in Japan."

"So, just so we are clear, my boss and your partner/love interest is your SIDE PIECE!" They both loom over me as I fearfully giggle.

"I AM NO ONE'S SIDE BITCH!" He grabs me by my collar pulling me to his face. "I refuse to share you with anyone but them."

Jacob raised his eyebrow, "Wait Tsu, Mei, and Momo?"

"No not Momo, Tsu had good intentions but, well, you saw."

"Okay… I can work with that, tell me about Mei other than what I already know." He prepared to suspend his moral compass.

"I am her booty call." Matthew does not hide it, I hear Jacob scream into his hands. "And well… Roberto please talk to her." I notice the change in his voice, "Babe just trust me, okay." I melt at his words and comply.

"Cheez itz, spam and garlic Roberto anything else currently, your past before Matthew is clear."

I muse about it for a bit, "Well Rumi, the #5 hero in Japan loves me."

"You haven't done anything with her, any hidden children?" Jacob was preparing for the worse.

I shake my head no. "No we haven't had sex, came close a couple of times."

"Okay then let her have her happy." Jacob then notices Matthew cringe, "Cheez itz, don't tell me you both had sex and one of you has an STI. Please what now?"

"No, and God no I'm clean!"

"Then what?" Poor Jacob.

"He finally added me to his harem." I see him shake and curse himself, I try to comfort him, "I so fucking hate you!" I kiss his head and cuddle him as Jacob screams into his hands again. My poor bestie, I was going to drive him insane. "I love you honey."

He looks at me."Break up with Edgeshot then."

"No." Jacob tells us and Rathers is infuriated. "Roberto before you left Japan, tell me exactly what you did and said with/to this Edgeshot."

"We had some amazing sex!" Matthew suddenly strangles me, as Jacob tries to pull him off me.

"YOU FUCKING HORNY BASTARD!" I am tapping his arms, "Just went for it huh, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

"Matthew he was not with you, let him go!" Jacob finally pried his hands off me. "Cheez itz. What else Roberto?" I look at my very pissed off boyfriend as Jacob stands between us.

"Asked if he still wanted to be with me, you know long distance relationships do not tend to last." I could see Jacob being physically relieved, "He said no promises, and I agreed because I am not that cruel."

"Break up with him without mentioning Matthew, do this in about a month." I nod, "Matthew you are eventually are going to have to come out as Bi." I see Matthew swallow hard as I take his hand. "Its going to have to be very public, from there the public already knows Roberto is pansexual, Sparrow took care of that." I smiled as I placed my head on Matthew's shoulder.

"From there you tell the truth, how you have struggled with this for a long time. Obviously, you have to just look at the man on your shoulder who clearly loves you." Matthew pulls me closer to him, "Roberto was there being a good friend and partner hearing you come out to him." It was the truth, "You fell in love with him, Roberto comes on reveals he has had feelings for you for the longest time."

"So true." I look into his eyes, those beautiful hazel eyes.

"Tsu is next to join you, revealing she is accepting of this telling everyone their marriage is only open to you and you alone." Jacob was really good at this. "There will be backlash, however, open marriage is not uncommon here in The States. But in the end this is the best course of action. It will be gradual, over the span of a year, but in the end Delta 12 should come out on top. If anything a more diverse group of heroes will want to be apart our agency so that is a BIG win."

He took a breath as I hugged him thanking him for making my dream come true. "For now be professional, go out together, enjoy one another, BE SEEN TOGETHER, this will make this plan a whole lot easier. Keep PDA at a close friend level, then gradually especial after Roberto breaks up with this Edgeshot, increase the PDA."

"What about Tsu?" Matthew asks, aww he cares.

"Bring her along with Bailey on some of your outings." he tells him then looks at me. "Roberto your children are a plus when its just the two of you."

I could see it in his eyes, he wanted to play daddy again."Those kids are adorable dear."

I smile at him as I rest my head on his chest. "I like to think so myself honey."

Jacob took a breath wiping his brow, "I am still a little shaken by all this but as I said I am happy for you both."

88

Dinner at Ma's was delicious, how could it not, the woman was a goddess in the kitchen. She actually invited everyone, my team, Matthew, Bailey, Jacob, Mara, Mei and Momo. It was there I dropped the bomb, "Ta da we are together." I hugged Matthew in celebration. Ma just looked at me and shook her head.

"Well at least he's good looking." She laughed, I had told Ma a few days after I met her about my fancies. She did not care, she then asked who I was after on my team, I told her no one. "And how do you feel about this dear?" She then saw how my wife, along with Mei and Momo were panting. "Well damn."

"Damn our fearless leader's power knows no bounds!" Andrew found it hilarious.

Bre looks at him,"Yeah think?"

"I dunno I kinda like this." That was, surprisingly from Terrin, "Everyone deserves their happy, our boy here most diffidently does." I had to look away, "Real talk Roberto, I am truly happy for you you deserve it." I held on to Matthew.

Bre was just smiling at us, "Look at the commander he's so happy."

"So I take it we are the first." That was Mara, she was not really in shock, surprised yes, but not shocked.

Jake then spoke up, "The process will take a year, but yeah you'll are the first, because, well they see you as family." I release my prize, then pulled in my wife and made a love sandwich as I grabbed Matthew. He was still getting use to being with a man, but he was taking it in stride. We loved each other and that's what mattered the most.

"Well you know we got your back commander." Dezmond wiped his hands with a napkin. "Right?"

"No doubt, damn, your freaking harem just keeps growing." Terrin just laughed and raised his glass to us.

Andrew laughed and kissed Mara, "I see nothing but happiness, fearless leader."

"They were meant for each other," Bre giggled, "I knew that on my first trip to Japan."

"I got a new Step Zaddy!" Bailey pulled Matthew and me to herself.

"No more boy, please." I did not hide anything from Ma, when Yū and Rappa with Dr KonKoktion threaten us all, I stayed with Ma. I did not sleep a wink that night as I just stood guard in the living room. Ma knew I was awake, I did not make any noise, but she just knew. Terrin and Dezmond were snoring away, Andrew was out like a light due to him taking a sleeping pill, the snoring was maddening for him. She came into the living room and sat on the sectional. She called me to her and it was there I told her everything about myself. Who I was, how I was raised, mom, I kept my foster life pretty censored at the time. She listened, as I showed her via my holo-projectors pictures of mom and the video of our very… last training session before The Shie Hassaikai Raid.

"Trust me Ma," I kissed my Matthew, "He is the last and only man for me." Ma then looked at Matthew.

"Don't hurt my Roberto no more." I told mom about how Matthew and I first met, she did not approve of his actions. Later on, when I became a commander within Delta 12 she was dumbfounded. So, that afternoon, when I became officially a commander, I took only mom to celebrate. Granted I was going to celebrated with my team later that evening as well but I wanted this to be special.

After we ate, believe it or not she took me to a church, it was a beautiful cathedral, a former catholic one turned baptist. We sat in the back pew, the church was pretty much empty, the pastor came and greeted us then went off to do whatever pastors do. When he left I confessed my sins to ma, she slapped me. I took her licks as I went into great detail. She was horrified. I thought I lost her then, thankfully to whatever deities or deity out there I did not.

I told her how I got my revenge but it wasn't enough. I had his database, but I was not satisfied. He violated me. I had to get my pound of flesh, that was- until I told her what I saw. A broken man. I saw myself, I had taken from him what I also sought for myself, justice. I cried as I explained my next course of action, we had found the bastard, I had to make it right.

"Never again, for once I am actually happy since my Sara." He looked at me, "I love him, he's amazing, and he loves me despite it all." Mom was happy for us, as everyone toasted this new development. The celebration lasted not too much longer than that, Matthew made sure Momo got home safe at my former safe house apartment near Joe Lewis Hero Academy. Mara went with Andrew, they were now living together at her condo in Dearborn, south of Detroit. Dezmond still had his 'Fortress' in Grosse Point east of Detroit and south of me. Mei, Tsu and I said our good byes to Ma and Terrin then headed back to my house in Harper Woods.

She wanted to talk to us and how could we refuse. We sat in the den as I got us some peppermint tea. She seemed nervous, why, we were all family. "Is something the matter Mei?" I took my tea and wrapped my arm around Tsu. Suddenly I saw her eyes tear up, "Mei what is wrong dear?"

"I love you Roberto you know that." She opened up, did she have feelings for Matthew?

"I do, Mei tell me." Me and Tsu just look at her very concerned.

She wiped her eyes, "I have no right to ask this."

"Mei, ask me whatever you want and if it is in my power I will give it to you without question." Tsu held my hand and was in agreement. "We love you, I love you, tell me please." She then looked at me with tearful eyes, she was breaking my heart, anything she wanted, if she wanted the moon I would personally drag it down from orbit for her.

"I want to be a mom." her words struck me dumb.

"Alright, does Matthew know your desire." She shakes her head yes. "Mei if you want to bare his child you do not need my permission."

"BAKA!" She yells at me, suddenly I realized what Matthew meant. "No, he is a booty call, a good one, but no."

"Mei I…"

"Do it." Tsu says flatly.

"Tsu."

"Roberto, Mei has been with us since the beginning, we both love her, she has become more than my best friend."

"Roberto I trust you, love you, since I thought I saw you die, twice, all my research, your new armors, everything, I realized that it would be for not." I should not be stunned by this but I was. "If you died tomorrow, I would lose everything, left only with the memories of the man I once loved." Her 'babies' were no longer enough for her. "I do not need to research this, for once I am going to follow my heart, please Roberto."

I look at Tsu and think of my children, then I look at my beautiful mad scientist. "Mei, you have been with me from the start, been my confidant, my closest friend, my lover, and you still continue to be with me." I walk over to her, kneel in front of her and then take her hands in mine. "You have given me your everything, now it is time for me to give back." Her face lights up, "So be it, so how…" She leaps upon me and finally after so long, I taste of her lips again. I lose myself in them, I once again have my lover's kiss. She does not stop nor do I, how I missed her lover's kiss.

She breaks it, "I missed that, I missed you, I missed my soulmate." with that I pull her in again, I needed her, my heart was whole again as I tasted of her lips.

"You are moving in, your room is upstairs the second master." Tsu does not protest as she joined us and we were one again. I did not care for how long, I was in paradise, I had them both back in my life. She holds on to me kissing me up and down.

"Thank you Robby." I tell her to say my name again, "I love you Robby, thank you."

"Got damn harem protagonist." Tsu kisses me then smacks me, "You always get what you want, Me, Mei, Matthew, freaking Momo!" I laugh as I hold my the two most important ladies in my life close to me. They hold my hands and then each others, "I missed you sis."

"I did too," She smiles at Tsu then looks at me, "It was so hard to stay away."

"You don't have too, especially now."

"But." She looks at Tsu.

"Its not when we are as one, we, all of us belong together can you feel it?" They pull me up putting me in between them, "Look" Tsu takes her hand in hers then places it on my chest. "Can you not feel him, hear his heart calling out to us?"

Mei shakes her head yes, "I do, I heard it everyday along with my own." She then looked at me, "Robby, it cried out for you, I did, I still do." I hold her close and shake my head.

"Stay with me and you never will cry out again." I kiss her, tasting her lips, her tongue my drug. "I love you Mei." She breaks the kiss and looks at Tsu, she laughs knowing what was on her mind.

"I need to check on our kids Romeo, I'll leave you to it." She went to the nursery as I take Mei's hand.

"I will buy you whatever you want so you do not have to go back…" I actually had no idea where she lived, she notices.

"I live at my job, the top floor is my penthouse." She giggles as I just shake my head, of course she would. "But since…" I kiss her and pick her up, taking her upstairs like my bride. "Eager." Her eyes turn lustful, "SO AM I!" Mei was more aggressive lover than Tsu who was more sensual and passionate, a slow burn. Mei was dominate, controlling, she wanted to be made to be submissive, a wild fire, all consuming. She ripped into me a like a wildcat, my poor clothes, she could not get them off fast enough. It sent me over the edge and I returned the favor. Clothes and undergarments torn to shreds and scattered about everywhere. She pushed me down and mounted me her head launching backwards, wow that was quick. Suddenly her head shot forward so fast I thought it was gonna snap. I did not make her submit, she left me nearly dead and twitching.

I woke up the next day, Mei was next to me, it was not a dream she was back in my life. She held me close like a teddy bear, I did not even fight it. Till I heard my kids cry. She seemed to naturally released me without breaking her REM cycle. I left her room and check on my kids, changed them, then looked at the time. Feeding time my angels, we had a mini fridge fill with bottles from pumping. In the closet I pulled out the bottle warmer Matthew bought us, he was right this did save time. I held my children and played with them while their bottles warmed up. "I am a Father."

"Its great isn't it babe." I look behind me and saw him, when did he get here? "I wanted to get breakfast with you Tsu let me in." I smiled at him as he walked over to me. I kissed my children as he kiss my head. My baby girl reaches for him, "Well who am I to deny a beautiful angel." The warmer goes off and I check it it needed a few moments before I could give it to them.

I looked at him, "Wanna help me out?" Matthew already had Aimi in his arms his hand was out gesturing for the bottle. I gave him one then picked up RJ, we then feed my children.

"Honestly I think this is better." Matthew looked at me as we sat in opposite rocking chairs. "I forgot how much I loved doing this when Bailey was born." I give him a smirk and nod towards the door. Mei and Tsu were at the door taking in the scene before them. "Well I see Mei is back, hey lover."

"Hey Matt, looks like you are going to have a long break, my boy toy."

"I cannot say I am not looking forward to it." My daughter pulls his beard, "Well I think she likes me."

"She's my daughter of course she would have great taste honey." I look down at my son he was finished with his bottle and fell asleep hugging me. I smile kissing his forehead, "I will be strong for you, both of you even when you can take care of yourselves." he yawns as he lets me go, my heart kinda hurts but it passes. I look at Aimi turns out she just wanted to pull Matthew's beard.

"Owww, ow, wo, ow." We laugh at him as he stands up begging her to stop. She finally lets go. Tsu takes her and rubs the side of his face with a giggle.

"Its so soft." She is fascinated by it, "Like a plushie!" Matthew laughs batting her away. "My kids are going to be surround by so much love, with two daddies." Her words touch his heart, "Awww." She kisses his cheek.

We ended up going out for lunch, Matthew began telling me that Midnight had proven to be a great asset to Delta 12. Her experience was worth it and more than valuable, especially with training new heroes. I had left Mineta in the hands of Dezmond and my crew. Andrew was already working on university, he got into U of M, he came by every once in while but he was officially out of the hero business.

I told Dezmond to call me when he believed him to be ready to officially join Spec Ops Agency. I was not going back to work or start university till after my kid was born. Speaking of which, "Keep me posted love."

"I will, I cannot wait till you come back to work babe." We get up and give each other a bro hug.

"I want to kiss you so badly." I whisper in his ear.

"You are not alone." He whispers back and we break our embrace. I hated to leave him but I had to check up on my baby mama.

I knocked on the door, "You have a key Roberto." I hear her, so I let myself in. She sees me and I greet her warmly, "How ya been baby daddy?"

"Quite well, I just wanted to see you both." She smiles and we sit together on the couch.

"I feel like a beached whale." She looks at me with wide eyes, "My feet hurt." I shake my head and smile then lean back. She places her feet in my lap and I massage them. "THANK YOU GOD!" I then move to her ankles, she was loving this. I see lotion on the side table by her and gesture towards it. She grabs it and tosses it to me, I catch it. Her poor feet and ankles were swollen, I had to give her some relief as I massaged the lotion into her skin. "You're so sweet." I just smile.

"There, so how have you been baby mama?" I say offhandedly.

She looks up at me "Honestly?" She has my attention.

"Honestly."I assure her.

"Horny." She looks at me licking her lips as I roll my eyes. "Please." Well I was the cause of this so I nod my head. Before I can say anything she attacks me, "Stay with me tonight."

"Momo…" I gasp as she straddles me. "Fine, we have to go to the doctor tomorrow anyways." Tsu and Mei knew about the appointment so my call was expected.

"Do whatever she asks of you, I know what she is going through." I heard Tsu sigh, "Do not tell me any details, freaking harem protagonist." I spend the rest of the day with Momo, we order in as she uses me to exhaustion. It was not that bad I loved feeling my child kick and move.

"I think its a boy, lov..Roberto." She catches her words.

I instantly feel bad, "Its okay Momo, its just you and me."

"I love you," She gets back on top of me and kisses me, "you have made me the happiest I have ever been."

"I am glad." She cuddles up next to me, I feel her tears, "I'm sorry Momo." She shake her head.

"No its just my hormones, but just for tonight let me have this." I kiss her and she pulls me in, I give in to her wishes. I could be that for her whatever she wanted here and now I could do that. I feel a strong kick, Momo yelps, "I know its a he and if he turns out to be anything like his father, he will change the world."

"You give me too much credit my dear." She places her forehead on mine and we fall asleep together.

The next day we get the news from the doctor, Momo was right we were having a boy, a strong healthy baby boy. We go out to celebrate and I take her to were Matthew first took me. She loved it, I then once again spent the day with her. I wanted to spoil her, we picked out colors for his room at the safe house. Created a registry for a baby shower, I had already bought tickets for her parents to come see her. They still did not approve of me or what happened, but they were glad I was taking responsibility for my actions. When we got back to her apartment I opened up a screen. Her parents were on, Momo held my hand as we told them the news. They were happy to have a grandson but I was still a deadbeat to them. I knew I was never gonna win so gave Momo a hug but she held on to me. "He's a good man papa." I took a breath and bowed my head.

"He's married and got you pregnant."

"He was not yet."

"So he treated you as one last horrah?"

"No, he was my one, I fell in love with him."

"Does he feel the same way?" I took a breath, "You took advantage of her."

"It was consensual for all parties involved, I was responsible but contraceptive is not 100% you know that."

"Still."

"Would you rather me not be involved in MY child's life?"

"Yes."

"Sorry not happening, my children deserve to know their father as do I them."

"You are no better than that Endeavor."

"Excuse me? My children are not the product of one madman's attempt at perfect quirk balance."

"How about being the result of a fling."

"Fuck you, both of you. I love my child, yes the circumstances were not ideal and accidental but I am not a deadbeat father. I will raise my boy to be better than me, he will be better than me. Its my blood that flows through his veins, this world will hear him thunder across the land. It will be by that thunder he forges a new path of his own."

"Raidou." I hear Momo say as she hold her belly, "His name will be Raidou Roberto Robles my boy, our precious son." I look at her as she looks at me. "He's kicking hard love, he likes his name." I kneel down and touch her belly.

"Raidou huh, he does like it, well my son, I cannot wait to meet you." I then look at her parents, "See you soon." and I cut the line. "Momo…" She touches my lips.

"Don't you dare, love, you named our son."

"Technically."

"Shut up and accept it." I kiss her forehead, "I know you have to go, please don't stay away."

"I won't Momo, I promise." She smiles at me and I head out. Raidou, a strong name for a strong son. I head for Delta 12 and enter the heroes that were on shift see me then quickly salute. "At ease, at ease, I'm not back yet." I see Bailey and she greets me with some peppermint tea. I thank her as she calls me step zaddy. I head to my office, surprisingly Tsu was there with my kids. "Hey beautiful." I see her in my chair, she makes it to me in one hop.

"I wanted to see your office now that Mei was no longer camping out here." She looked around her, she approved.

I was a little confused to why she was here. "Okay, where is our little mad scientist?"

"She had some things to tend to at High Specs." She kisses me again and I only see RJ. "Aimi really loves being with Matthew." I raised my eyebrow, that explains it. "She's with him in his office, she would not stop crying, when I called him her eyes sparkled when she saw him on screen." Well this was interesting. I picked up RJ and headed to Matthew's office. I heard him say it was open.

"Hey honey, I am jealous." I see him working on his computer with my-our daughter in his left arm.

He looks up at me with a knowing smirk."Kid has taste what can I say, babe." he then continued what he was doing. "So." I call Tsu in and she closes the door. Jacob had returned to LA to finish up his schooling. Matthew was true to his word, he paid for the rest of his education. It was a good tax write off honestly. I hit my gauntlet and Mei appeared on screen.

"A son." I tell them, Tsu kisses me as Matthew grabs my free hand. "Raidou Roberto Robles."

"And a name too, wow, Path of Thunder if I recall." My eyes light up at Matthew's statement. "I've been trying to learn, babe."

"We've been teaching him Ribbit." Tsu kisses me, "Its been tuff, but he wants to learn for you." I come around his desk with RJ and kiss his head, I look down and Aimi wants me to hold her. I trade with Matthew and hold my little girl. "Hello my beautiful flame." She giggles as I bury my head in her little arms, "Now, daddy Rathers is mine." She gives me a scowl, he raises his eyebrows at her reaction. "Well looks like I have competition honey."

"Nope, she beats you every time babe." I feign my heartbreak, "Sorry." We suddenly hear a commotion up front.

"Just who the hell are you?" I hear a hero say, we look at each other then head for the door.

Bailey comes in, "Um' Robert, Dad." I look at her, "We have a VIP from Japan." I walk out to the lobby.

"Commander Spectre." I see him, I blink twice surprised at the site before me, "You are needed back home."

"Endeavor?" I say questioningly.

89

At his name Tsu with RJ in her arms stands beside me, followed by Matthew. The scene suddenly becomes hostile, Matthew activates his uniform as do I with a thought. "This a not an order from my ego, its bad." I look at him then Matthew, "Commander Spectre please hear me out." The tension eases into confusion. I motion him to my office, Matthew follows me RJ reaches for him. I nod he would not be foolish enough to attack me in front of my children. Matthew takes him and Tsu joins in, there is nothing more frightening than a mother defending her children. I open my door and my daughter reaches out to Endeavor. I try to stop her but she keeps reaches for him. "I am not here to attack you much less hurt your little ones." She protests fighting me, kicking me, he reaches for her and I am beyond frightened. I try to protest but give in not wanting my little girl to hurt herself and he takes her in his arms. This man now has my baby hostage. I am shaking, we are all scared, he sees my fear as he lifts her up as she laughs with his interaction. "You have no idea how scared your father is right now little one."

"Robles Homura Aimi." My voice is shaking, I will do anything now to get her back safe in my arms.

"Beautiful Flame, yes you are little one." He then cradles her gently, I am dying inside. I just want her back, I'll do what you ask just give me back my baby girl. "Your father is a great man little Robles, I could ask him to fall to his knees before me and he would do it just to get you back." He looks as me as I begin to fall, he raises his hand, "Tempting, but no, he is just being a father, I will not hurt you little one or be as so low to use you like that." Aimi reaches for his flames, my eyes widen, before he could turn off his quirk she is there and I scream! I pull out my pistol, but she is fine.

"Aimi." I see her draw in his flames, I fall to my knees as we all look on in horrific shock. She pulls her tiny hand from out of his flame and laughs as I see her glow.

"She's warm." Endeavor is shocked, he cannot activate his quirk. "What did she do to me?" She then grabs him, he winces, "She took my power and made it her own." then pulls herself up to his face and headbutts him. Endeavor is bleeding, she sees this, and becomes sad then touches his face. His power returns and she is back to normal, she reaches out to me. I cannot get to her quick enough.

"Aimi mi hija de todo de my vida." I hold her close as my tears flow, "My baby girl." She hugs me, I am dying but to her, her daddy is just loving her. I just kneel there hugging her, nobody comes near me.

"Commander Spectre." His voice gives me no comfort.

I look up at him my eyes red from tears, "Can you blame me Enji."

"No, I do not, Roberto I would not hurt them." I hold my child squeezing my tears, I failed to protect her.

"Forgive me Aimi." She laughs in my arms, I look down at her and she smiles back up at me. "¿Aye mija, por que?" I slowly regain my senses as I get up. Tsu comes near me and she reaches for her. She takes her and promptly slaps me. "I deserve that." She slaps me again the then wails on me, I just take it all. Endeavor gets the full force of her tongue. It hits his shoulders surprisingly knocking him to his knees. She then whips it up knocking his head back, then folds him down.

"You bastards!" Our punishments received she falls back to Matthew who is in full agreement with her. I see Endeavor about to say something and I just shake my head no let it go. I get up first then reach out my hand.

"No hostility." He takes it and I pull him up.

"None." I offer him a seat as I move to my own but head to my wife, I look at my wife she gives me a humph, as my daughter looks up at me. I kiss her head then take my seat. I see Tsu by Matthew on the love seat against the wall that connects Matthew's office to mine.

I then direct my attentions to Endeavor, "What happened #1 hero."

"I am no longer that." I see him close his eyes, "Thanks to you, I don't even rank." Tsu gasps.

"Damn." I share his sentiments, "I cannot say I am sorry."

"Don't, if anything, thank you, you set me free." he laughs, "Funny that, the weight is gone, I can breathe again, actually feel human for once."

I take a breath, "That I can be happy for you, so what's next?"

"Unknown and I cannot wait to find out, but back to the matter at hand." I nod, "You need to come home Comm..." I cut him off gently.

"Roberto, you've earned that."

"So be it Roberto."

"Why should I come back to a country that I love, but shunned by due to my heritage?" Honestly the way my country treated outsiders broke my heart as much as it filled me with rage. I needed a break from it for a while.

"That's… not the case anymore," This caught my attention, "once again you bent society to your will."

"Well they can wait, sorry…"

"Edgeshot is dead." His voice is cold as I am cut off mid sentence.

"What." I look at him like he is insane.

"Murdered right in front of us."

"Shin'ya," I was trying to process this, "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN! US!" I get up slamming my hands on the desk.

"Hawks, Jeanist, Miriko."

"Rumi!" The room was spinning.

"She's alive, safe, he was targeted Roberto." I take a breath of relief.

"BY WHO?" I see him look away, "ENJI TELL ME!" He squeezes his eyes and leap over my desk and grab him by his collar. "You want me to go, I am already gone, TELL. ME. WHO. WHO. KILLED. MY. BOYFRIEND. ENJI!"

He cannot even look me in the eye, and whispers "Rappa." I let him go as I lose all my strength, I fall face down on my desk, I SCREAM!

"TELL ME YOU ARE LYING!" I yell into my desk, Rathers leaps from his position grabs Endeavor and his eyes go crimson. Endeavor cries out in pain! "TELL ME THE TRUTH FORMER #1 HERO! WHO KILLED MY SHIN'YA!"

"RAPPA FOR GOD SAKES RAAPPPAAAA!" Rathers let's go and falls back. I am slowly losing my mind, I remember our night together. Our kiss, so gentle, my hands are shaking. I cannot process this, I look at my Matthew he sees my pain. I want to lash out, destroy everything in my path, Rappa. "Roberto. Roberto!" I look at him, "That bastard targeted him, he knew your relationship with him."

I look up then collapse in my chair my head falling down as my hands comb my hair back. Edgeshot, Shin'ya, I am so so sorry, you did not deserve this. "Enji." I take a breath remembering the day my mother was murdered. I had to focus, center your pain Roberto, just like mom taught you. A sharp mind prevails, I look at him with my bloodshot eyes, Tsu knows.

"Ribbit, no." She is already crying, "Not again, no Ribbit no!" Matthew looks at me, it finally clicks why my wife is crying, I have shut off my emotions. I have one goal, one objective, I will not be denied, I will not bend, I WILL NOT FORGIVE NOR WILL I FORGET.

"Tell me. Exactly. In great detail, what happened to have 5 of Japan's top heroes so completely and utterly fail." Endeavor looks at my cold emotionless eyes, he starts, "Do not skip anything." He looks at Matthew and holds out his hand. I see Matthew sigh, he grabs his hand, Endeavor does not fight him letting him completely in.

"Endeavor how do you feel about this?" Matthew asks him to show me that he was in control.

"My heart breaks for him." He looks at me, "I tried to get to him, I wanted to save him. He was meters away, the nomu."

"Nomu?" What?

"I never seen anything like these advanced prototypes. They had no eyes they could." Please no.

"Find you, no ears but knew exactly where you were coming from?" I thought there was only one.

"Yes. How." Dammit!

I started to remember that day at UA. "They had flaps that opened up right above their beaks, then scream bloody murder before they attack you."

"How the hell?"

"How many?"

"26 give or take, they kept…"

"Regenerating but not completely, did you destroy the cores?"

"My god you faced these monsters?"

"One, it attacked UA my second year."

"Spectrum." Tsu covered her mouth.

"Who is, nevermind, Roberto you killed it."

"Not alone, continue."

"Rumi figured out the core weakness, relayed it to us." I just stared at him taking in all the information he was giving me. "Rappa suddenly regrew his lost arm, it was black like the nomu." I took a breath, he figured out how to take their power. "I swear to you I was… trying to get."

"I believe you."

"How can you…" I slam my fist on my desk snapping him back to reality, "Roberto."

"Tell me." I felt my tears drip down.

"You are hurting, Roberto please, don't…" He started to resist Matthew. "Make me." I take a breath, and start to look up, "It was horrible, please." I had to know. Slim's quirk, Truth Serum, released his inhibitions, Endeavor let him in and now he was laid bare before me. "FINE, He beat him to death! The bastard found an opening, closed in, Edgeshot did not have a chance! I fired a blast to get him off him, but he just kept beating him, my god his fists, I could not see them." I could not stop my tears, "Roberto the bastard was not just satisfied with beating him to death." He swallowed hard, "He was already gone, dead,- and this animal- removed his head in one punch." My mind shattered as I covered my head in my hands. I try to scream but nothing comes out. Tsu and Matthew look away as Endeavor takes my hands, "Rappa's last words to me were 'Say hi to Roberto.'"

"Message received." I look at him, I was going to kill him, heroism be damned. I tap my cowl as the room lights up and showing all of Mount Olympus' glory. "Hermes, Rappa and known associates." Rappa's picture pops up and line link to all known associates. "Remove closed files." Over half of them vanish.

"What, what in the hell is this." he looks around at all the gold holograms on display.

"Mount Olympus." Endeavor looks at Matthew, "Every known database Commander Spectre has is stored here in Hermes."

"Hermes?" He knew the reference but he was struggling to come to terms what he was seeing before him.

"Messenger of the Gods and my husband's satellite." He turns to Tsu as she explains.

He looks at me "Who or what the hell are you?"

"Vengeance, I am The Knight, I am The Knightmare, Spectre." I stop at one file, "He is no longer in Japan, that was just to get me out of this country."

"Los Angeles love?" Matthew says and Endeavor looks at him. "Hard not to fall for him." Matthew just leaned back on the love seat gesturing with his hand at me.

"Affirmative." I pull up a map of LA, "Jacob."

He answers in one, "Roberto?"

"Your location currently." My words were cold, he was on alert now.

I hear a car door shut, "Heading home what's up?" I hear him pull out of a parking lot and onto a city street.

"Edgeshot has been killed." I hear him hit the breaks and slide.

"How?" He was surprised as I heard car horns blaring in the background.

"Rappa." My voice like a steel trap going off.

"Oh shit." I take notice of his profanity, that was interesting.

I push further, "Information now."

"I have it at my apartment." Jacob was all business now.

"Till then." I say.

"Rob…" I cut the line. I then look at my wife and Matthew, they know exactly what was about to happen.

"Rappa is mine, and mine alone." I get up and exit my office, Endeavor follows me followed by Matthew. "Rocaphella."

He picks up in one. "Commander."

"Is Mineta ready?" I ask, I can tell he knows something is up.

"Almost, why?" He was not going to be denied.

I did not have time for this."Tell him to meet me at Delta 12 now."

"Rob, What's wrong?" Even I knew that was not going to fly with my commander.

"Rappa killed Edgeshot." I drop the bomb in a sigh.

"I got you I will gather up…" I cut him off.

"No, he's mine, Endeavor is coming with, so is Matthew I need Mineta for this mission."

"ROBERTO its Rappa, Andrew…"

"I am retiring him, personally." Dezmond can hear my pain, he protests but he gives in.

He hated this, but he also knew how I was. "Rob, bro, please come back to us man."

"I am in good hands Dezmond." He acknowledges as I hear him call Mineta and order him to Delta 12. I head to the elevator and then to the armory, I scan my hand Endeavor and Matthew nearly miss the doors. I pull up Hermes, and adjust it to California. I pull up the file, Nightshade. I look at the name, Rachel Cortez, I look at Matthew who has now turned pale confirming my suspensions. I turn back to Hermes who is now above Jacob's Apartment. I push the video to the side as the elevator dings. The officer at the armory sees us and nearly jumps to attention. I wave him off, "Lethal force authorization Spectre Echo 2." The guard confirms then looks at Mathew.

"Slim Shade Echo 1." He confirms then opens the door, Endeavor is told to wait as we enter in. I trade in all my support equipment, as does Slim. "Roberto, are you sure?"

I did not liked being questioned. "Matthew you seen what this monster has done, to my team, to me."

"Roberto, I know but." I kiss him and hold his hands.

I break it, "I cannot let this animal live, he is after me, he will kill again, who will he kill next? Tsu, Mei, my children, Momo, Bailey,- you Matthew." I grab the side of his face, "I WILL NOT LET that happen."

"Roberto, I need you alive." It always seems like I get myself in these situations, I hated it, but I always keep my vows even unto death.

"I will be, you are with me." I then return to the table, I pull out my Beretta 92F, eject the mag, remove it, then pull the slide back removing the one in the chamber. I unload it quickly, then grab incendiary ammo and load them in, then replace the mag and cock it back and place the top of the slide to my forehead.

"When that day comes and you are left with no choice... Use this cutlass sword to bring down divine judgement upon your enemies. Unleashing your righteous fury upon them, burning them to ash." I say it as a prayer.

I take a breath, my fury burning to the very depths of my soul again. I tap my chest manifesting my armor as I placed the pistol in my leg compartment. I feel his hand on my shoulder. I look at him, he knew that I took no joy in this.

"If you take a life to save someone, to protect those you care about and love." I lean on him as he embraces me, "Your soul is safe because they have forfeited their own, sacrificing it in the name of their own evil." He remembered my mother's creed, he then whispers in my ear, "You are safe my love, worry not, I will not let you lose your soul." He kisses the top of my head. "I am here, we are here."

I take another breath, as I place my chained kunai on the desk, I detach the weighted end and attach a morningstar in its place. I look at Matthew he had changed his Beretta for a glock-9 with incendiary ammo, he sighted it then put it away and then pulled out his tactical Bowie and began to sharpen it with a wet stone. Satisfied he put it away as he gathered grenades storing them in his uniform's compartments. We finished and returned to Endeavor.

Mineta met us in the foyer, "Commander?" This had been the first time I have seen him since he graduated. He was in hero regalia, gone was that ridiculous diaper like uniform, Mei had built his new uniform from the ground up. Mineta had learned to use turn his quirk, Pop Off, to be a second layer of dense armor. Yū fiber, as Mei now called it, came from the sample crystal I tore from Hōjō Yū, it was the more flexible than my current armor, Metal S, made from her reverse engineering the metal from the blade I got from the old man.

She made Mineta's uniform from it the seams were connected by breathable tungsten/carbon fiber fabric allowing his quirk to seep through and cover his entire body. It made his uniform have a purple metallic sheen to it. Turns out once exposed to oxygen for ninety seconds Pop Off became jello-like and very absorbent to kinetic energy. On his left chest plate he had my agency's logo proudly, he smiled at me when I noticed. He no longer had his yellow cape opting for a yellow scarf, like my partner back home with Δ12 on the end. I had to smile, "You are really trying to gain our favor with that scarf aren't you?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about." His lisp was not as prominent as it once was, that made me sad a bit. "It works better with my quirk tis all." I was feeling such rage, but Mineta disarmed me. "What's the mission Commander Spectre?"

"Rappa." Well that did not last.

"SSshiit!" Was all he could say, "And you choo…." I place my hand on his shoulder.

"Will you trust me?" He looked at me and nodded his head, "Good, just know and believe me." And like that Mineta's doubts went away. "How is your flight training?"

"I still cannot believe that I do it now, I LOVE IT!" once again his optimism brought me back from wrath, I knew I made the right choice with him. He then saw Endeavor come out of the Delta 12 building. "HOLY SHIT!" Endeavor then spotted him his eyes widened then looked at me in disbelief.

"You cannot be serious Commander Spectre?"

"Eeeendeavor…. and he calls you commander?" He is stammering his lisp on full display I just shake my head with a smile.

"Have you reason to doubt me Endeavor?" He takes a breath, then shake his head no.

"I've seen you do more with worse, no commander I do not." At the former #1's words he fell on his back. I then see Endeavor close his eyes then cringe painfully. "GET UP BOY!" Mineta was instantly resurrected. I smirked then nodded at Slim Shade as he took to the air, followed by me, Endeavor, and finally Mineta. "I still cannot believe Midnight picked you."

"I still cannot believe you got laid more than once." I had to stop mid flight, "Bitch." I hear him say his neck rolling as he said it.

"That's what I'm talking about boi." I gave him a bro hug, "Don't take take that shit from him, cause he hatin' that you got the baddest bitch in Japan."Mineta was loving this.

"Hell yeah, fuck you Endeavor." I hear my man say, "She a bad one Mineta, much respect on that." Midnight quickly rose to Jinn's second-in-command, she could not get enough of her. Endeavor had to just eat it, Slim lead us to a smaller private airport, he used this when we had to travel with certain armaments, like the ones we had on us now. Delta 12's Stratos 716 was white and silver with the identification number near the tail. It was honestly gorgeous, fueled up and ready, the sleek aerodynamic curves and wings was just pleasing to the eye. "Say hello to my baby." I then turned to him, he was so proud, "I take it you approve?"

"You are gonna teach me to fly it right?" I looked at him with a sly glance.

"Babe it will be my pleasure." I was beaming with pleasure from his words. Endeavor and Mineta did not share my fancies but hey whatever, they were still happy for me. We loaded up, Matthew ran me through the preflight checks and rechecks, talked to the control tower and we were soon on our way. "Roberto call Jake." I pull up Hermes on my HUD, Jake had just arrived, I saw him go into his apartment. Slim had just set the autopilot, so I sent a shared screen to his HUD. I could not get a read on Jake, then I turned on thermals. "Why are there 3 people in there?"

"No." I switched to a more detailed thermal filter and I made out the third person warm all around with a cold right arm.

"Roberto call him now." I hit my com and have him listen in.

"Jacob do not acknowledge me, act like you just got a call from school."

"Hey Tim, yeah I am home, wassup?" I tell Slim to book a hotel now, he does so.

"How many people are in that room with you?" I inquire as I look at my holo screen.

"Nah man, not tonight man, its just me and Rachel, alone time you know." I hear her giggle in the background.

"Are you sure? No third person on your couch." I see him turn to pop his neck.

"Yeah man I am sure, Tim, the pub sounds really good right now but not tonight." I look at Slim who gave me the okay it was booked.

"GET. OUT. NOW." I tell him through gritted teeth, "I have a hotel booked for you."

"Oh for real I need that," I hear him looking in his bag, "man that is a big assignment for me good looking out I'm leaving now." I hear him tell his girl he'll be back, she laughs calling him forgetful. Rappa shows no movement just watching them interact. I see Jacob leave with no problem. I watch him get in his car, the scan from Hermes clears him. "Roberto what the heck is going on."

"Get to the hotel, Slim and I are almost to LA."

"Roberto…" He knows the inflection in my voice, "tell me."

"Bye Mr. Downing." My reply is all he needs to know as I cut the line. I tell Mei to suspend Jacob's access. She tells me he just tried to log on, he did not pursue. I take a breath, as Slim tries to reach for me but I pull away.

"Roberto you serious do not think?" I cut Slim off coldly.

"You tried it with me remember." That hurt him, he takes a moment.

It was unfair, but I had to make my point clear even to the man I love."Even so this is JACOB, he has been working tirelessly…"

"My boyfriend was murdered," I see a mix of anger and jealousy in his eyes. "then I see him in his apartment?"

"One night," He grits his teeth, turns out my current man is very possessive. "yes I see your point," He was snarling at me. "love, but you have read her quirk."

"Believe me I have," I was sorry but I had to look at this objectively and without emotions. "I hope to whatever god is out there that it is just her quirk."

Though hurt, pissed off and jealous he understood,"I swear I hate the way your thought process works, its Jacob, does that even factor in?"

"Matthew it does," I declare, I did not want it to be true with everything within me. "its what I am desperately holding on to, ask yourself am I stupid?"

"No Roberto I never think that of you. Worse case scenario, I hate it that you start from there." It was so cold, Matthew hated it especially when came to one of his oldest friends.

"I do it to better prepare myself." I tried to comfort him, yeah that was not working.

"To give you the edge, to act," To him I was like a some sort of droid, a robot, a machine. "my god is it really a simple switch with you?"

"Sometimes it is its what I am." SHIT! Wrong thing to say, I instantly regretted my words, especially to him.

He catches it. "No, what you are is a man that has be forged by the worse this world has offered hardened to something…"

I close my eyes,"Monstrous." My own hideousness was on full display, I was ashamed.

He wasn't my partner right now, he was the man who loved me, "No. Something that this world has never seen, something beautifully made, powerful, intelligent, Roberto, I ask, no I beg of you, if you are right, and god I hope you are not, do not kill him."

I clenched my fists, I had to keep my emotions out of it, and I was failing. "He might have been hiding the man who planned my mother's murder Matthew."

"I know what I am asking of you, but Roberto, I am begging the man I love please, do not kill him." I swallow hard as I look into his eyes, "Because you are going to have to kill me too." My eyes widen in disbelief, "I will be just as guilty, I know your moral compass, I brought him into your life. Guilty by association and all that." Could I kill him? The man I love? The man I almost died for- twice! Was Jacob's life worth his? I am suddenly hit with our entire history at once, my hatred, his redemption, when I fell in love with him, his confession, how I felt, No. Jacob was not worth my Matthew, no, he was priceless, no one was worth me tearing my heart out for.

"No Matthew, I cannot d-d-do that." I grab him and kiss him, "Not at that price, or any you are worth more, without a price, I am not willing to pay that if it means I lose you." I kiss his neck, "Mi amor, no."I pull him close, "Never, I would rather commit Seppuku."

"Please don't love." He releases me.

"You two, truly belong to one another." Endeavor was eavesdropping.

"I feel the same for Midnight." Mineta crossed his arms, "Especially now."

"Mineta?" I look at him as he smiles. "No way, for real?"

"Congratulations." Endeavor shakes his head at his news, I leave the co-pilot seat and move him.

"Please don't kiss me." I laugh and hug him, he was going to be a father.

"You crazy little pervert, I am so happy for you." I nearly crush him I was so happy.

He was trying to get out of my arms,"So yeah, please keep me alive."

"I got your back man." I finally release him to his relief.

"We all do bro." Slim tells him from the pilot seat.

"Cause I want to tap that ass till we both are old and grey then die from climaxing." We all throw up a little in our mouths at his declaration. Not a bad way to go but still, urrrh, do you boo boo, urrgh. I return to the co-pilot seat as we prepare to land. We get the okay and start our decent, to another small airport outside greater LA.

We did not have any luggage, we came for one thing, Rappa and that was it. Activating our flight gear we along with Endeavor took off to the hotel. I was not prepared to see Jacob yet as I landed in front of the hotel. I sent Endeavor and Slim Shade ahead. Mineta stood by my side, "Commander, Roble…"

This was weighing on me not Jacob it just could not be, "Mineta, its okay right now, I, do not feel like a commander."

"Minoru." He extends a courtesy.

"I like the way Mineta sounds." I give him a slight smile, he understands.

"I like how Robles sounds, easier with my lisp." He was trying to calm me down, yeah he was Spec Ops material, he won me over.

"Your most enduring feature little buddy." He laughs remembering when I first called him that our first year.

"You were the only who did not make it sound like you were making fun of me." he remembers.

"Never Mineta, proud pervert or not, I really wanted to be your friend." I smile, "Still do."

"I tried my best to be you at UA, failed a bit." I raised my eyebrow, "When you transferred out, we did not know why, Tsuyu was tight lipped." He looks at me, "Now I see it, Robles you are amazing, now you want me on your team."

"Because I trust my instincts, Mineta, being under estimated is your most powerful tool in your arsenal, anybody who says otherwise is a fool and is too stupid to realize your potential in a team." He smiles, "Do you think I am stupid?"

My words catch him off guard, "No, not at all, I am just…"

"Trying to figure why you?" He nods, "What happens when gunk gets into a machine's inner workings?"

"It stops, slows down." A light bulb goes off in his head.

"Exactly, Rappa, is a deadly adversary, even more so than Overhaul was." He pops his fist remembering what happened to me, "His quirk strongarm, is limited to his shoulders."

"Gunk that and he is done!" He was quick on the uptake.

"Bingo, he has a nomu right arm now because my team took his original." I see him narrow his eyes, he wanted to be what I needed to be.

"No problem I will. Shut. Him. Down." I smiled approvingly, yeah he belongs in Spec Ops. I give him a hug, he's taking back a moment. My little buddy helped me focus my mind.

"Thank you Mineta, I think I can do this now." I release him then walk in, "You coming?" He nods and falls in behind me, the front desk already knows why I am there. I take the elevator with Mineta to his floor. The hotel was old, the carpet was designed to look like it came out of an old 1940s speakeasy. I take a breath as I get to his hotel number, I clench my fists as Mineta touches my shoulder.

"He's a friend, no, closer." He was perceptive.

"My first real best friend here in The States, I told him my past before I exposed it, he did not see me as monster."

"Commander you can do this, you are Roberto Rodrigo Robles, the first of our class and the first guy without a quirk to get his hero license. You got this!" I stepped in and Jacob looks at me with complete and utter fear in his eyes. Was he acting? I looked at Slim his eyes were normal. He looks at me as one would look at their own executioner. I look at Endeavor, no tells, they were waiting for me to arrive. Jacob cannot form words as I stare at him. Moments pass like hours.

I pull out my kunai and drive home my point, "Jacob Cruder Downing I stand before you as your accuser." My blade pointed at his head.

He was not having it as he objected, "Roberto I would not betray you I gave you my word!"

"Rachel Cortez aka The Villain Doctor, Nightshade." I pull up on a holo screen her file and open it. He looks at it and the female in it.

"That's not my Rachel." Slim Shade gives me a picture of Jacob and her in each other's arms at a zoo. "Roberto I have been with this woman intimately, I know every square inch of her." He points at the picture, "I do not know, nor have I ever seen that woman in my life." I pull up the footage Hermes took, he sees the positions of himself and Rachel. He also sees Rappa in front of him sitting on the couch. "Roberto there was nobody there I swear I would have seen him." I then show him how when he left Rappa was actively following him and even closed the door. Jacob is scared out of his mind. "This makes no FUCKING SENSE!" Jacob curses, I known him for a while, he does not do that. I look at Slim Shade, he's known Jacob longer than anyone. Jacob does not curse unless he is pushed to the extreme. Much less, say anything close to the word 'fuck.' He looks at me as I take all of this in, "Roberto, please you have to believe me, I swear to almighty God I…"

I put away my weapon, "I believe you." He falls to his knees at my words as walk to him and kneel. "Mei." I place my hand on his shoulder, "Restore my best friend's access." I pull him and hug him. I was thanking whatever deity out there, that I did not have to go any further.

She picked up in one. "OH thank God, how is he?"

"Got dammit Mei." Jacob held me tightly, no doubt he felt the same way.

"Yeah, even I know he does not curse like that." I hear the others over the coms sighing with relief. "Roberto get this bastard, and that bitch!"

"HEY!" my best friend shouted as I released him.

She was caught up, she really cared about him,"Sorry Jacob, I know how my man is and trust me…"

"I know Mei, I do, I am grateful." I help him up as Slim Shade gives him a bear hug. "Matt." Jacob holds on to his long time friend and boss.

He was grateful that I trusted my instincts, "I begged him not to do what he was thinking, do you have any idea?" I could see Jacob fearfully laughing.

"I think I do, I've worked with him. Cheez itz, spam, and garlic, how can one man put the fear of god in me so." I place my hand on his shoulder, and he turns to face me. "Seriously Roberto, how? Why?"

"Practice, experience, me studying everything about those I work and fight along side." They see Endeavor just shake his head, "I have to Jacob, not because I am a hero, because I have to know how to utilize them properly." I then take a breath, "Or in case of fallen angel."

"And if its you." Endeavor states.

"I expect the same courtesy." My words shut the conversation down.

90

It took a while for Jake to calm down from his nerves being rocked, he would have fought me to the bitter end. I was glad that it did not come to that, we sat at the bar in the hotel and I got him as many whiskeys on the rocks as he needed. "You do not have a problem, do you best buddy?"

"Roberto I thought I was about to get into a duel to the death with my best friend." He downed his drink and order another, "Forgive me if liquor is my go to coping mechanism." He then took a sip of his fourth Maker's Mark, "Besides you are buying, look at my hand." It was still shaking, I just patted his back and dropped down $300 dollars down.

I patted his shoulder and got up, "One more man, we still need to get that asshole."

"Fine by me." He finishes the drink and stops, "I was done anyways." I let the bartender keep the change. Surprisingly enough, Jacob can really hold his liquor, we walk out of the hotel. I wanted to go right to his apartment and take him down but I needed to know what I was going up against.

I tap my ear bud, "Mei what do we know?"

"Nightshade, quirk: Semblance." Her quirk gave a spectral appearance of purple mist emanating from her body. Those caught in the mist are given an assumed or unreal appearance of the world around them with in her power's radius. She could make it seem that people are not there and a vision of an empty room, apartment,etc. So long as her target was in her mist, they would only see what she wanted them to see. The room remained the only true thing but living things could be hidden at will.

"If Rappa has been in the room why didn't he attack me?" It did not make sense to either of us.

I chewed the fat on this before speaking."Rappa's smart, planning ahead, staying ahead."

"You think he knew that you would come to LA?" Jacob pondered, I shook my head yes.

"Would not be surprised, if anything, if you do not show up tonight, he will know I am here and Jacob is dead." Jacob looks at me, "You are imprinted in his mind, he won't forget your Arc Light attack."

"But why would he know you are here?" He did not get this concept.

"Edgeshot was a message, he is getting desperate, he told me himself he has never faced someone like me, he took joy in killing… him." I shake my head, "Jacob, you are a threat, so why not have your nemesis eliminate him?"

Though this disturbed him, "You still have not answered the question."

I took a breath then answered his question. "After Slim and I's charming visit to Tartarus, he popped up on a holo screen, the warden was his bedfellow, after we left, the warden would have given him the info how I knew where he was."

"So I should go home?" He looked at me, and by the tone of my voice he was not going to like where this was headed.

"No."I tap my com, "Tyche."

"Go ahead Commander Spectre." Mei what would I ever do without you, my beautiful mad scientist.

"Is Rappa still there?" I already knew the answer, to him Jacob really did need to step out.

"Yes, however Nightshade, seems to not notice him, she already almost sat on him twice." I take note of this. "Got a plan commander?"

I had indeed had one. "Time to put on a show, well a newscast."

"You suck at acting though." That hurt, it was true, but it hurt.

"I can fight though, isolate the TV at Jake's apartment, work your movie magic." I upload footage of the hotel and my accusation of Jacob. "Find the channel he is watching or that is on, get their attention both of them."

"Will do." She chimed back then punched off.

"I think I might have another reason why he did not attack you." I look at my team, "Jake you ready to die?" The color left his face as he saw the smile on my face. I hear Slim cough, I look at him and the others they are shaking their heads. "Poor taste?" They tilt their heads looking at me. "Fine. Sorry Jake, I am calling you out for a rematch." The color returns suddenly to his face and slams his fist into his hand. "Win or lose we will get what we need. Do. Not. Hold. Back."

Jake and I take to the air at max burn, "Slim make it look good my love." I tell him over the com. "Endeavor, Mineta follow his lead this has to be convincing."

"Who are we after you or Jake?" Mineta asks to my aggravation.

"Follow. Slim's. Lead." I then look at Jake switching over to him. "Get ahead of me you will know when to start." He follows my orders as we race across the LA skyline, even if the local news catches us it will only serve to make us even more convincing. We race around skyscrapers, up and down city streets, people point up at us. I fire blank rounds at Blue Worx, they explode harmlessly but serve to create mass panic. Blue fires back at me his blast hits my shield 2 bars, "Jake they were blank."

"Sorry." Little too convincing I see as I catch up to him.

"Ready?" I see him smirk as we engage one another spiralling up into the sky. Explosions go off as we tear into each other, my abilities and his quirk clash sending a firework-like display above the city. I nod to him saying now was the time to get real, we strike launching us in opposite directions!

"SPECTRE HE'S INNOCENT!" I hear Slim calling out as we strike again another firework! "STOP!" I see Endeavor launch a fire blast at me, I grab Jake making him take the blast. He is launched back as I point to him.

"YOU'RE NEXT ASSHOLE!" I fire a cryo-dart at him it hits sending him down in a giant iceblock. I then turn but meet Jake's blast, it overtakes my shields. Max bars. A silver glowing aura surrounds me and I disappear then reappear in front of him caving him on my fist. I disappear slamming him down to the roads below, I disappear and reappear below him launching him skyward. I am down now to six bars. I explode towards him as I see him recover then go bright.

"Nice trick I can do that too!" Before I reactivate he turns the tide his strikes are hard, precise and just as powerful as mine at maximum level.

"STOP!" We hear Mineta call out and he nails us with Pop Off, I take notice as Jake's hits me with his fist covered in it. Its not as powerful.

I grab Jake "EJECT!" I send 10,000 volts into him directly, theory confirmed as he cries out in pain, no faking that. "So you just channel!" Only Slim, Mei, and Tsu knew Jake's quirk's true nature. He had sworn them to silence. Pop off covers us completely as we drop like a rock. Jake is in danger he cannot channel any electric currents we were effectively insulated. "Let's get out of the city."

"WE. ARE. FALLING!" Jake tells me, "AFTERSHOCK AND GET US OUT OF HERE!" My hand glows green and I melt the viscous liquid off his hand. "Anytime now bestiest buddy, please hurry."

"Don't be an infant bestie." He's free and grabs my collar. "Ooo kinky."

"ROBERTO!" His eyes are wide as he calls my name.

"Ooo yes daddy!" Jacob is quickly losing his mind, "Say my name again!"

"ROBERTO RODRIGO ROBLES I DO NOT WANT TO BE A FREAKING STREET PIZZA!" I cry out in climax, "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME! YOU GOT OFF ON THIS!"

I really did, no joke, it was the best orga…"Was it as good for you as it was for me, I need to so change."

"You know what, I can live with this, you sick hentai protagonist." He shrugs his shoulders, "I welcome death, yup. Yup, welcome it." I activate my aftershock ability 100 feet from hitting the ground, our containment erupts harmlessly sticking to poles and glass. Jake and I fly in opposite directions looping around and back up the center.

"You sick bastard Roberto," I hear his voice crack, okay that was a little much. "I wanna go take a shower and cry the rest of the night."

I was still coming down,"That was better than sex." it was euphoric.

Jake was livid, "You know what Rappa is not going to kill you, I am."

"Honestly I just finished- I am going to need about five minutes…" I dodge a blast, "Nope, guess not, so we're doing this!" I fire back a flashbang as we spiral again then launch out of the city at breakneck speed. "Jacob?"

"I hate you so much right now, why?" He felt so unclean is was amusing,

"Come on Jacob, tell me you did not feel that rush?" I say innocently.

"Yes, BUT I DIDN'T CLIMAX ON MY BEST FRIEND!" He yells at me.

"One, it was in my suit," I hear him cry, "aww, I'm sorry Jacob," I hear him groan, "ok I am not," more crying, "two, I am not comfortable."

"YOU THINK I AM!" He shouts as-a-matter-of-factly.

"And three, I did not get it on you." I hear him face palm.

"You just popped off." It was too late when he realized what he said.

I was loving every minute of this."HA! PUNNY!"

Jake closes his eyes in rage filled laughter through gritting teeth, "I am going beat you till you stop moving." I give a moan, "ARGGHH!" We land and slide in opposite directions encircling one another. "Tyche you best be recording because I am going destroy your man." She copies my moan and I echo her. He half chuckles and half cries in complete rage. "Hate you both." We hear three booms as Slim, Mineta, Endeavor arrive.

"Roberto think about this!" I hear Slim call out to me.

"YOU SAW THE FOOTAGE!" I shout back, Jake was gas'd up we charge and we are back at it. We strike, kick, parry, I nail him with full bar sending him tumbling across the ground. He gains control as he uses his momentum to spin then begins to flip forward as I see sparks flying.

He gets near me, leaps forward, sending his fist flying "ARC STRIKE!" I take the hit as my body shakes and I fall. My HUD is shooting off warnings, I pull the plug and eject out of the armor. I am still a little shaken, but it soon passes, I look at Jacob coming for me, he was pissed. I stand before him in the analog version of my armor waiting for my main armor to reboot. His arms and eyes are blazing with blue static electricity. I make a break for it, he gives chase, I spot Mineta as he launches more of his quirk at me. I catch it with my arm straight and then begin to bend and open it like a mad man. I repeat the same process with my other arm. I then slide changing my direction back to Jacob. He charges and sends another Arc Strike, I catch it cancelling its effects, Mineta's quirk insulates and discharges his ability.

"Guardian down!" Jake's uniform locks up, I see the fury in his eyes, "Oh shit." I try to run but he blasts out of his armor. I am sent tumbling upturning earth as I come to a painful halt. "Fawk me." I try to pull myself up as I block a soccer kick from Jake, tanking the hit I lock his leg bringing him down as I roll. He falls face down with me a top him pulling his left arm and chest up with a jerk. He cries out as I finish it and crack his neck one way then the other. He drops face forward. I hear my men with me shout no. Slim falls to his knees followed by Mineta. I check him and whisper, "You good?"

Is he moaning? "Not gonna lie that felt really good, the creak in my neck is gone."

I suppress a laugh as we continue to talk."I can do the rest of your body of you like later if you want."

"Promise nothing lewd." Oh Jacob, Jacob, I have my Matthew buddy.

I blow on his neck,"Can I bring pizza?" I say innocently.

He did not like that, "Nothing. Lewd. Pizza. Yes."

"Its a date." I declare.

"I hate you." He wants to bang his head on the ground but cannot.

"I love you bestie." I take his pulse for the camera.

"Heehe, he, love you too best buddy." He tells me as I get up and ROAR! "Crap he won, eh, but my neck feels phenomenal!" He stays there selling the fallacy.

"Got what I need, complying" Mei says over the com, "Jake you alright?"

"Man my neck feels great." He gets up rubbing it, Slim is by his side in a flash. He looks at me evilly, but Jake shakes his head.

"Trust me, let him crack the rest of your body you will be sent to nirvana." Mei tells him over the com.

"I got a date from him." I say smugly as I cross my arms.

"JACOB!" Slim turns on him, as Jacob clenches his fists in rage.

I wrap my arms around Matthew from behind. "Easy there love, just gonna make him feel good." The back of his head hits my nose, I deserved that, he then knocks me on my ass.

"Do you hear yourself right now?" he was jealous, I was loving it as I wiped the blood from my nose.

I give him sad puppy dog eyes. "Honey I only have eyes for you." I tell him sweetly.

"I made him orgasm." Petty bastard! I give him a death stare to which he flips me off. Sore loser!

"Ah shit." I hear Matthew breathing hard he was furious. "Honey, baby, it was."

"Shut. Up. Now. Dear." I hear Jacob laugh smugly, he catches my Matthew's fist to the face and gets knocked on his ass. I had to admit it was hot, as he walked away. "Assholes both of you." We looked at each other, as we laughed at Matthew. "So. Dear. What now?" I placed my hand on my chest, now I could speak, Jacob just gave me a look to stop. I close my eyes and nod. "Thank you." I get up and then help my best friend up.

"We wait for Tyche to finish her masterpiece." I pop my neck, "Celebrate my crushing victory against Blue Worx." Jacob turns to me as I smile smugly. "Its 1-1, technically 2-1 me."

"That. Did. Not. Count." He says through gritted teeth, "When this is over."

"After my kid is born, please." I disarm his emotions as he bows his head shaking it. "You really do not like to lose huh Jake."

"No, I do not like ties." I smile, "Say what you are thinking and its round 3." I lift my hands in surrender. "HA I WIN!" It then dawns on me.

"YOU PETTY BASTARD!" I slug his arm as he laughs at me.

"There now we both have technical wins." He smiles so proud of himself leaving me in my own aggravation. "But yes, later we will settle this."

We land somewhere just outside of LA, switch to civies, well all of us except Enji. "Do you even own any civilian clothes?" He looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

"I do but when do even have time to wear them?" I face palm, and pull out my disc off me and shut down most of my tech and slam it on his chest. "What the hell?"

"Blend!" The disc activates takes a moment to size him then seals in place. "Turn off your quirk and think of your civies." He looks at me, turns off his quirk and my uniform manifests a grey suit. "Not bad. He shakes his head at what I am capable of. "Well I am hungry, who's hungry?"

"What happened to all your…" I shoot Endeavor a look assuring him I have not forgotten. "How?"

"Trust me vengeance is my top priority, for now I must be patient." I then break back into smiles.

Endeavor looks at Matthew "And he does not make you question your choice?"

"Not really, he loves me so that pretty much ends my questioning." I quickly move to his side and take his arm. "That and I learned to just accept him and all his psychosis, as he does with me."

"Awww, I love you too honey." and I kiss his cheek, "Wherever you want to eat love we will go."

"Cheez itz, Matthew how do you keep up with him?" Jacob was still confused to how our relationship worked and came to be.

"I ask myself everyday," He touches my cheek I love this, "but I see him and fall for him over and over again."

"Don't question their happy." Mineta stands up for us, "Its insulting." from what I gathered from Tsu, Midnight and him have been criticized due to their age difference. They defend each other, but still their relationship viewed as akin to Midnight being sexual predator. It pissed me off to no end, I have faced the same thing due to me be polygamous and well LGBTQ+. I hated labels, I had their backs as did most of Delta 12.

Matthew choice was a steakhouse, we both did love our steaks, ha, ha, ha, thought I was gonna say meat and turn it into an innuendo. No. I have… no class. HEheeh, 'our meat'. It did not take long to get a table, it was near end of lunch rush so that helped. We discussed potential strategy in code, as we wait for our meals. We ate and surprisingly Endeavor picked up the tab. Maybe he really was not a bad guy after all. Endeavor's hand buzzed, he flipped up it up and Mei appeared on screen.

"WHY THE HELL IS HE IN MY SUIT!" She pointed at Endeavor.

"I was just wearing my hero outfit." He explained, "Truly a magnificent technological marvel Ms. Hatsume."

Mei was a sucker for praise on her 'babies' "Huh huh, I'll give you a discount."

"I'll take it, this blend tech alone is worth whatever price you quote me." oh my god he had charm, son of bitch.

"Later," She gave him a smirk, "It should be airing right about." Hermes pulls up Jacob's apartment, "NOW." Rachel falls to her knees as Rappa is celebrating. He is suddenly launched into a wall as Rachel seems to be screaming. Rappa is swinging wildly at nothing. Jacob sees Rachel and gets up leaving the table, I try to go and join him, but Matthew stops me shaking his head no.

"Give him a moment Rob. Trust me, we were all the same way with you." I give in, the look in his eyes. I wanted to comfort him, tell him, 'hey man this all part of the plan.' However, to be honest, that would not have worked, thanks Matthew. "He's not gonna be fine, and I know you are fighting every instinct inside of you." No kidding love. "You have a good heart, look he's back." Jacob says nothing just signals me to follow. I squeeze Matthew's hand then follow him out.

Jacob and I leave the steakhouse and take to the air. I follow him till we reach W. Grand Centre and touch down on its rooftop. "How do you do it Rob?" He looks at me, "Separate your emotions from what has to be done?"

"You give me too much credit, you all do." I reply, "Jacob you've seen me work, my emotions are never separated, I just channel them in my speech, my questioning, my actions."

"Not from my POV, Roberto even now." I drop my emotional armor and he jumps.

"Jacob." I shake my head no, "It takes Matthew to use his quirk on me to truly express myself to him. Yes it is not as much since we got together, but I hold back, because I do not want to lose him."

"Matthew." I raise my hand.

"Is very dear to me, I finally found my equal, but we just began, I want to bare my all to him, but I have to slowly do it and it frustrates me to no end." I look into my best friend's eyes. "I do not have to do that to you, you know more about me than my own wife, that alone should tell you something."

We both look at each other for several moments. Unsure on what to say to each other.

Jacob finally speaks as he rubs his eyes, "It does, it fills me with fear Roberto, but I would not have it any other way."

Another moment and I speak, "So tell me, how can I reach you, Jacob, I really want to…"

"Protect me. Roberto when I got the news you were killed I was dumbstruck." I bowed my head, "Pissed off, crying, I lost the only other person that got me, that finally understood." He started to pace, "That I did not have go into exhaustive detail on my actions, now." I think I was getting it. "I am being forced to takedown." I move to him and hug him, he was not sad about Rachel thinking he was dead. "She's my heart Roberto, I am forced to rip out my own heart."

I was not looking at how this would effect others, if it wasn't for Matthew drastic proclamation. I would not have given it a second thought if Jacob ended up being a traitor. "I cannot promise you that it" I released him and placed my hand on his chest, "or she will not be harmed, I only want Rappa." I see Jacob give me a weak smile. "Do what you have to do, she is not on my radar."

"Thank you Roberto, for understanding and being my best friend." I smile as my hand relaxes and my leg compartment holding my chained kunai closes. I check the feed on Jacob's apartment, "She is really going at him."

"That explains why Rappa did not attack you, she feels the same way for you."

"Then why hide him?"

"Let's go ask her."

I let the others know Jake is okay, for now. "Head to Jake's." I tell them as Slim acknowledges. I look at Jake I clasp his hand and pull him in for a bro hug. "I have your six."

"And I yours." He says and I take notice, "What?"

"You broke your armor." I say sadly, he looks at himself and shares my sadness. "I fix!" An extra disc pops out of my back shooting over my shoulder and I catch it. I then toss it to him like a frisbee. He catches it and attaches it to his chest with a whirl it seals into place. Black armor manifests over his civies.

"Looks like Blue Guardian is back." We smile at each other and we take to the air. He taps his helm, "I am sorry Mei."

"Don't be Jake you gave me some really good new data, I am already working on your new set Blue Worx." She gives him a crazy giggle. "I love new data."

"I am glad… I think?" He looks at me as I give him a smile. "My life has never been this… this…"

"Exciting?" I chime in.

"Perplexing." I lose my smile, "Exciting too."

"Then why perplexing?" I was concerned.

"HAVE YOU MET YOU!" I laugh at my best friend. "Cheez itz, spam, and garlic, just the fact I throw my best at you and you still get up and fight."

"Eh, I am a masochist." I hear him groan, he snapped out of it. "You don't regret our meeting?" I hope not.

He gives me his best smile, "Never best bud." I smile, I loved my best friend. "Never."

We land just outside his complex, we hear the commotion and the rage filled screams. I look at Jacob, then my team. "Good to see you back Blue Guardian." Slim says mockingly to Jacob just shakes his head with a smirk.

"Ha. Ha."

"Better than Blue Worx." Slim said with a shrug he honestly did not care for the name.

"Well that hurts." Jacob says sarcastically as we enter the building, neighbors are looking from their doors. "Evacuate, orderly, and quickly." Jacob began as we help get the innocent out of the building. Jake lived on the fourth floor, so we split up in partners save Endeavor who cleared the top floor. We returned to the ground floor and met with the local police force. They recognized Slim Shade and Jacob, they explained what was going on. America did not have villain class ratings like A, B, C, and S. Hell they did not even have a rating system! Slim told them the villain in Jacob's apartment was wanted for a latinity of crimes, the worse of which was the murder of pro hero in Japan.

They then see Endeavor, "This is Endeavor, he sought out Delta 12's assistance." One of the officers was Japanese and said he was his country's #1 Hero. We went with that. Slim told them to form and maintain a perimeter.

A window shatters and we see Rappa, I break rank before anyone can stop me and blast head first making a beeline for him. "COMMANDER!" I could not tell you who was calling out to me. I grab his neck slamming him into a wall.

"Robles." His voice is sinister as I look deep into his eyes.

"Why?" I tell him pinning his arm to the wall. "WHY!"

"For that look." He kicks me away and disappears from my view. I can no longer hear him as I look around at an empty room.

"Why hide him?" I call out to her.

"Asesinaste a mi corazó killed my love."

"¡No, solo quería SACARLE!No, I drew him out!" I take a hit and I see Jake enter through the door. "¡Mira!"

Nightshade drops the illusion, I see Rappa, charge as I take his strikes, my Aftershock bars slowly rising to max level. Rappa draws back his new right arm as I do my own. Our fists meet and I unleash 3 bars at once obliterating his arm, he screams as my body glows silver. "RAPPA!" I disappear from his sight reappear to his left then right, the back in front of him.

My first blow caves him, my second and third rip of his mask and send teeth flying. I have to work quickly and not let up for I see his arm regenerating. My fists strike hard and fast I am not going to stop, at my last bar I send my fist deep into his right side unleashing it. Blood and spit fly upon impact. "I am going to KILL YOU!" I pull out my pistol and unload the clip into him sending his body up in blaze. He drops in a husk, as I change mags, he gets up as he regenerates in an instant. He slams his fist into my jaw sending me flying into the kitchen.

Slim sees me fly by as he cracks his nightsticks and engages Rappa. He slams them into his neck and under his arm. He twists the grip and hooks pop out, he pulls up and flips over him locking it in. Rappa screams as he pulls down shredding his left side. Blood sprays like confetti as does his neck, "YOU!" He charges sending a front kick to his back launching him into a wall. "YOUR KIND TOOK EVERYTHING FROM HIM!" Rappa his covered in blood along with the wall, each blow from Slim sends more flying. I see Rappa recovered as he tanks one more hit, grabs his arms twisting it up wards. I hear Matthew's arm snap, and I only see red.

"NOO!" I launch towards him I my hit my mark, knocking him off of Slim and into Endeavor. He grips Rappa's neck and sets him a blaze slamming him into the ground with both hands. Rappa's body bounces up and all I see is flames with Rappa being dribbled like a flaming basketball with each blow. Endeavor stops, Rappa roars and an advance Nomu's arms burst through a wall and grabs the former #1. It pulls him through. Another roar and Mineta is taken, I look around, no more nomus, Slim is injured. I look towards Jacob. He turns bright, leaps through the hole that the Nomu made in the floor when it grabbed Mineta. "Nightshade!" I call out, "WHY!"

"None of…"

"YOU BETRAYED HIM!" I call out to her.

"NO!"

"¡MENTIROSA!liar!" Clench my fist as I spoke calmly. "No tenes razón para El do you not care about him?"

"I do!"

"THEN WHY! WHY DID YOU HIDE THAT MONSTER!"

"He was not going to hurt him, it was in our contract." Her voice suddenly changed, it was English, like British. "I am bound by my contracts."

"He nearly cause me…"

"HOW! HOW THE HELL COULD HAVE YOU KNOWN!"

"I keep track of my friends because of animals like the one you hid!" She then appeared in front of my in her mist form. "Jacob is my best friend."

"HOW THE BLOODY HELL DID YOU KNOW!"

"Thermal vision via my satellite." She narrowed her yellow eyes within her mist. "So tell me is that your real body?"

"I need a host to survive, the girl is innocent of all this."

"How long?" She looks away, "30 years, she's young how many?" No, "50?"

"I have been around a long time, the advent of quirks is nothing new."

"How long?" I pressed.

"I am over century old, I've seen 2 world wars, evil has no bounds."

"So can't beat them join them?"

"Fool, I am not evil, I choose no sides, every host I have had gave of themselves willingly, the poor are forgotten, the orphans, I offered them freedom, they gave me a host." She then looks at Rachel. "This one, however, she was an accident."

"What you were dying." I cross my arms.

"Yes, she, killed my next host, drunk one night, hit and run." She then spoke in her hosts real voice, "Oops there's another one, daddy will take care of it, just some homeless thing anyways." Slim and I were shook, "I have been alive for a long time, just once, I forced myself onto a host. My worse mistake but I feared dying, I regret nothing." A blast from the floor and Jacob returned with a core. He goes to shatter it but Rappa leaps at him taking it. He pulls his fist back as Nightshade swirls forward and gets in front of him. She switches to her true human form and Rappa nails her in the chest, CRACK!

"RACHEL!" I hear Jacob scream! Her mouth erupts in a spray of crimson.

"So that's how you truly you look like." Rappa smirks. I see Jacob ignite, he looks at Rappa who strikes but is repelled. He looks back at Rachel.

"So you- did see- me." Jacob looks at her confused as she points at her host.

"What, who is that?" She grabs Jacobs face, looking longingly at him. "Rachel…" His eyes dripping with electric tears.

"You saw me this whole time, so long."

"Rachel what the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh my beautiful Jacob, a century I have waited for someone to see me again."

"You are not making any sense Rachel."

"My name is not Rachel, that host died years ago mi amor." Jacob hears her voice change. "My name is Florence Nightingale, born May 12, 1820 disappeared August 13 1910 when my quirk evolved, I have lived many lives in decade long cycles."

"Oh my god." He looked back at the host.

"No Jacob," She wheezed, "that was me every time" she was fading, "we made love," fast. "I can become human every three days."

He chuckled through tears, "Not bad for a century old gal." She laughed through pain.

"I loved our time, I love- you…" She took her last breath, "My Jacob…"

"Babe, Rachel, baby…" He tapped her cheek as she closed her eyes, "RACHEL!" Her body then turned to mist and disappeared.

"The bitch was a terrible nurse." Jacob slowly turned to face Rappa, "Aww the avenging lover." What looks like a lighting bolt strikes Rappa, he cries out.

"I think I see it now." Another bolt hits Rappa, he screams and Endeavor returns core in hand, I spot it as he melts it with hellfire. "You have lost your way." Two bolts and Rappa tries to punch through but is repelled back in pain. "This is no longer the plan, you just want to kill him." Jacob points to me, "No, its more, isn't it Rappa, you went after those he cares about. Edgeshot had no connection to you other than his boyfriend." A huge bolt strikes him, "I was next, but MY RACHEL WAS PREVENTING YOU!" Three more bolts, "YOU KNEW THE COMMANDER WAS WATCHING OVER ME SO YOU SICKED HIM ON ME!" The bolts stopped, "You just failed to realize, HE ALREADY THOUGHT OF THAT AND EXPOSED YOUR SORRY ASS!"

"He's been a thorn, pushing himself deeper and deeper, HE FORCE…." A bolt strikes him.

"Silence." Rappa was trapped, "I bet you are wondering how I am doing this." He snarls at him, "How you sealed your fate when you murdered her." He took a breath as an eerie familiar calm came over him, one that I knew all too well.

"Jacob no." I move to him but Jacob looks at me and my shields turn on me repelling me back. "JACOB DON'T DO THIS I BEG OF YOU!"

He then looks back at Rappa, "One thing my friend has taught me, listen up class is in session." He looks at Rappa who is slamming his fists into his entrapment. "You have to know your own quirk and what it can truly do, utilize it and execute." He taps his chest changing to his civies and places the disc on a side table. He adjusts his tie and smooths down his shirt. "I channel the world's electric currents through my body, I can bend them to MY will." He unbuttons his sleeves and folds them up to his biceps. "The natural- nature, you and me. That is the focus of today's lesson." He stretches out his hand and makes a fist, Rappa's electric cage shrinks and then expands.

"Your point…" Jacob hits him with a bolt.

"No talking." His voice was flat. "The human body has its own electric current an aura if you can comprehend it you TROGLODYTE! I can see it, feel it and you are just full of it!" he chuckles softly, "The body is- in its most basic form- is made of atoms, electrons that are negatively charged, its why normal people don't fall through solid ground." Jacob smirked, "Without these electrons the atoms loose charge and slow down. Just. Like. You. Are." Jacob then cracked his neck, "That bubble I have you in is your own body's electrical aura turned against you, the more you fight the stronger it hits back, I.E. Those bolts hitting you." Jacob then begins to glow, the bubble suddenly returns to Rappa as his body erupts in fleshy boils that burst. "YOU ARE GOING TO FEEL EVERY SINGLE LIFE YOU HAVE TAKEN!"

Rappa cannot even scream, "You are wheezing, you cannot scream, because, your so called brilliant mind is lacking the necessary electrical impulses to form the process!" Rappa is a bloody mess, slowly, painfully, dying. "You deserve this, but I am merciful, when you get to Hell tell Lucifer who sent you!" Jacob charges up as the room sparks, shakes explodes but gets absorbed, by him, Endeavor's flames go out. I am terrified beyond the capability of thought. "VIP!" Jacob takes aim, "ARCLIGHT BLAST!" He fires on Rappa, his body is melted, then sent flying out of the apartment and into the sewer drain. The energy dissipates and we, Slim, me, Endeavor, and Mineta fall back in sheer terror from what we had just witnessed. "Class dismissed."

We do not move. We could not. What in the actual hell did we just see? Jacob turns to face us and I am frozen in terror. I. I. I do not now how to process this, I have no idea how to combat this, his explanation revealed just how dead we all actually were. "Guys." We just look at him our faces pale in terror. "Roberto."

"You win, please do not kill me." Jacob pauses, "You are best, I forfeit, nope, tie broke. " I was just stammering, I was scared, my mind was fried, who in the hell was this man? "Nope, nope, nope, nope, I have lost, please do not kill me."

"Roberto, snap out of it." He comes closer and I close my eyes, he touches my face, he sighs. "Roberto, why would I do such a thing?" All I could think of was my family back home. I open my eyes slowly as I looked around, everyone was sharing my fear, he then embraced me, "I'm sorry Roberto, I." He snaps me back to reality, "I had to, I am so sorry." I then share his actions and I hold him, my best friend. "I am so sorry." He was crying, the gravity of what he did, how he ended Rappa. The one man that brought me such grief and sent me down this spiral. "I had to."

"Jacob, you have nothing to apologize for." I began to cry, "Thank you." I drop all of my emotional armor as I break down in my friend's arms. "You set me free." The burden I had carried since my mother was killed before my eyes was gone. "You shattered my shackles, and set me free." I just release every memory, pain, and burden in his destroyed apartment. "Mom, it's over mom. I-we got them all." I laugh. "You can finally rest in peace mom." Jacob holds me as I continue to cry for the longest time.

91

The next day, I wake up early, Endeavor was already up or still up. He looked at me and I motioned him to follow me. We booked 2 more rooms at the hotel we had Jacob in. Matthew was still snoring away as we left the room. We exited the building then fly up to the rooftop. We land, the sun was barely rising to the east. "Are you alright Roberto?"

"Enji, elated, I can finally breathe my mission is over." I turn to him and look up into his eyes.

"Are you returning to Japan?" Endeavor asks then looks behind me.

"Yes." At my words I hear someone land, I turn its Matthew.

"No." He heard my response, "Roberto…"

"Matthew." I sigh and he is on me.

"No, Roberto, please no." I smile at him, and bow my head. "Please…" I raise my hand.

"Not for long Matthew, I need to do this," I take him in my arms and smile. "I finished my mission." I loved this man with all of my heart.

He felt my heart, He suddenly knew what I meant, "Of course, I understand, just- come back to me."

I touch the side of his face, "I will, you have my word my love." He takes my hand, then pulls me in and we share a kiss.

"Want me to watch your kids or will they be going too?" I laugh, "You know I do not mind."

"You want hold them hostage so I will come home, you bastard." He does not even hide his intentions. "If you could that would be awesome, let them get to know their dad more." he laughs, "I love you Matthew." He smiles and shakes his head. I tap my helm. "Hey beautiful."

"Ribbit!" I had not talked to her since I got here. "How are you, you get…"

"My mission is complete." I add Mei, she just heard the end bit.

Mei can barely form words. "Robby you mean?"

"Jacob retired Rappa." I hear them both gasp. "I am free loves." I hear them cry.

Mei says through her tears,"Its finally over."

"She can finally rest." I hear Tsu add through her own.

I take a breath,"I am headed to Japan with Endeavor, please."

"Already booking our flights." I hear Mei tapping away.

"Thank you." I look at Matthew who connects to our conversation.

"Tsu, I got you, they'll be safe." Matthew tells her

We hear her croak, "Thank you Matt, are you sure?"

"What kind of dad would I be" he loved his new role in our lives. "if I didn't?"

"He just wants his boyfriend to return, he's taking them hostage." Mei says sarcastically. Matthew just laughed, she exposed him. "See."

"Shame on you Matt." Tsu knew why, but she found it cute.

Matthew looks at me with a smile. "Am I wrong for that?"

"No." We all reply in laughter then cut the line.

Jacob and Mineta land on the rooftop, apparently they could not find us and when they asked the front desk they showed us on the CCTV. Me and Matthew hide behind Endeavor. "What the hell you think I can do?" Jacob raises his eyebrow, "Who am I to a god?"

"Excuse you?" Jacob look at us confused, "A god?" Mineta looks at Jacob then quickly joins me and Matthew. Endeavor swallows hard.

"Jacob, we do not know what else to class you, you're terrifying." I say from behind Endeavor who is trying to get us out from behind him.

"I thought I was S class?" We all look at him with wide eyes shaking our heads no. "Seriously will you guys stop."

"Mr. Downing." Jake looks at the former #1 hero like he lost his mind. "Jacob?" He nods. "Your will be done, Jacob in all my years as a pro hero, I have only encountered one being even remotely close to you."

"All-for-One." Mineta squeaks.

"Indeed, Jacob what you showed us, the control you have, the power you posses, well you see the commander's reaction. That terrifies me." Jacob took a step forward, honestly I was still afraid, best friend or not.

"Roberto, I swear." he look away, he felt like a freak, so I swallow my fear. My palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy, nervous, but on the surface I was failing to look calm and ready. I walk to my best friend, I had to show him, though he now terrified me, I still had his six.

"Least you are on the side of the angels." I say nervously, "Jake understand, what we saw, please give us time to acclimate, I still have your six, always." I hold my hand out to him, he takes it and pull him in with a bro hug. "Got damn you are amazing." He laughs, "I meant what I said tie broken."

"I feel cheated." I just laugh, the others come out from behind Endeavor like chicks from a mother hen. They each reassure him they had my best friend's back, "Thank you." Endeavor holds out his hand and Jacob takes it.

"Well done Blue Worx, thank you for, setting him free." Endeavor knew more than he let on about me. He knew I was hunting down those monsters, he defied the orders given by The Hero Public Safety Commission. I deserved to find them and he had faith I would do it right the way. He was not going to stand in my way, if anything he was going to help me if I asked him. Yeah, that was not going to happen. Jacob looks at me and I tell him what I am going to do. He understood, how could I not, he set me free of course I had to go.

Mineta flew back with Matthew, Jacob well he went back to school. I paid for the rest of the week for him at the hotel. Matthew told me he would make sure Jacob was taken care of. Endeavor and I entered LAX and then we were off to The Land of The Rising Sun.

Our plane arrives late that night, I thank Endeavor for everything he did. "They know you are here." We look up the news media was already outside the airport. I did not need this right now. "Welcome to the hero life." He motions me to follow him, "Trust me it will be easier this way."

"You mean look better for you." I pop my neck in reply.

"Parish the thought Commander Spectre." was he being sarcastic?

"Oh we back to this now huh Former #1 Hero, Endeavor?" We turned to face each other.

"No." I give him a look. "Okay a bit, one thing about the media, being formal is key, thus Commander Spectre."

"Can't you just call me Spectre?" I cross my arms.

He mirrors my actions, "Media loves titles, besides you've earn my respect long ago." A smirk, this was new.

He catches me off guard, "Well thank you for that," I actually meant it, despite our former bad blood, he always referred to me by rank then name. I thought it was just professional courtesy, guess I was wrong. "Flame Hero, Endeavor."

We turn to face the news reporters and begin to walk towards them. "I hate this." Endeavor shares my sentiments. "I just want to go to my mom's grave."

"You will, want me to escort you there when they arrive?" Empathy, who was this hero beside me?

"After you apologize to Fat Gum Agency and Mirko." He took a breath then nodded, "I mean it Flame Hero." He cringes feeling what Mirio and Matthew felt when I did the same thing to them. "They did not deserve what you did."

"You have my word." No fighting back, he just accepted my terms. We get to the entrance security is holding them back. I crack my neck, tap my chest and my uniform manifests and I pull down my hooded cowl.

"Welcome back Commander Spectre, Tsung Jin , NHK, Your boyfriend Edgeshot was murdered and you just now show up?"

"Case closed, his murderer has been brought to justice."

"What?"

"Rappa murdered Kamihara Shin'ya, he used- him to send me a message." Shin'ya, I am so sorry, your death I will carry with me, you did not deserve- I am so, so- sorry. "He wanted me out of the country, to target my allies in America, my family."

"What was the message?" Another reporter asked.

"I am going to turn your world to ash." I said coldly, "My allies." I look at Endeavor place my hand on him before continuing. I then look at the reporters before me, "Without which I would never have solved this case." Before someone could ask, "A hero is as strong as his willingness to humble himself in times of great distress. I am human, I hurt, Shin'ya- I take full responsibility for his death and it weighs heavily on my soul. I had to seek out help on this, to bring justice to and for him."

"Where is Rappa now?" I could not tell who asked due to the flashes of light.

"Retired." I took no more questions as Endeavor opened a path with airport security for me. I find an open area and I took off. Endeavor followed me for a while then broke off to his home.

I just flew through the night sky, I landed in sensei's backyard. I was going to knock but I saw something that brought a smile to my face. Ms. Joke was in his arms, I then launched back up into the air and flew away. I was not going to ruin his happy, but I did not want to go home.

I landed at HER penthouse, I see her through her patio door. She was celebrating, was that a body pillow? Of me? I had a feeling, but I ignored it. Should I go home? I smiled at her, she was really hugging that pillow. She looks out the door at me, her ears shoot up. I smile at her as I crossed my arms, she looks back at her body pillow and tries to hide it. I smile, she looks so happy. She makes it to the door in one hop. This was not a bad idea. I tapped my chest and turned off the locator then removed the disc. "Roberto!"

"Hey Bunny Girl Senpai." I open my arms and she hops into them and I give her a big hug. I kiss her forehead, "How have you been?"

"Better now that you are here!" We rubbed noses, "When did you get in?"

"Well if you seen the news about twenty minutes or so ago." I put her down and we link arms as she leads me in her penthouse.

Suddenly she was very sad and could not look me in the eye "Roberto."

"Don't Rumi, I got him, please don't." She hugged me tightly, "I miss him, but do not blame yourself, those nomus were advanced, I barely took down one." She looks at me in shock. I then tell her about my second year at UA and Spectrum.

"Jesus, and you wonder why I love you so?" I smile, "Damn that smile of yours, gets me every time. Alright- Roberto, still, it hurts." I hug her again, "I should be comforting you." She was now crying, "But here you are, being all fucking Roblesly and noble. GOD I love you." We sit down in her living room. "Edgeshot fought to the bitter end, what that asshole did to him afterwards." I then pull up the video on how Rappa met his end. "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!"

"Rumi, I do not blame any of you, especially my Bunny Girl Senpai." I wiped her tears, "Never you." She hugged me.

"Its not fair Roberto, we should have been married two years now." I shake my head did I hear her right? She covers her mouth catching her words. Her mind fires off her inner thoughts. "If this is another simulation or dream please bring me out." I am in complete shock. "Nope!" I nearly drop as she brings my face back to her hers. "Roberto I." Her words make my heart flutter, smile and laugh as I bow my head, "I told you, you were special to me." She is blushing and its driving me wild, I suck in a breath and shake my head.

"Simulation?" Wait a minute, she catches my sudden realization. "Explain." Her ears perk up and she looks-like-a-deer-in-the-headlights. She swallows hard and takes my hand. She takes me to her bedroom. At first I am apprehensive, but I follow her. My eyes notice my likeness everywhere, she bows her head.

"Now you know my secret." She looks away, I am hit with quite a bit of baggage to unpack. Fear, flattery, sadness, joy, just what in the hell was I looking at? A shrine?

I notice her nightstand, the pouch. I smile at the memory it brought me, "You are still just as beautiful as the day I met you." I grab it, she notices my actions and stops. "After all this time."

"Its my first memory of you." She pauses, "Roberto are you sure?" I look at her, "I am a bit.." I place the pouch down.

"Are you?" I turn the tables on her. "Rumi, I wish the same thing you do but you have to…" She cuts me off.

"Look at my room, I cannot get you out of my head." She looks like she is about to lose it. "You made me weak, one moment, a compromise, you wanted to learn, I gave in." I felt guilty as I look down, she pulls my face to hers "I want to give you my first." It never occurred to me, "Look at me Roberto, you know my personality, you shattered that, that day when…" I see her tears again, she was completely in love with me.

I hug her I want to say something anything to take away her pain. "If it was not for her, I would have…"

She finishes my sentence, "Gave it up for me?"

"How." How did she know?

"I know about the white hot room…" I grit my teeth, "Roberto please don't- you don't know how it has helped me." I look at her, her eyes begging me not to be angry, "I was suffering, like you would not believe after that day." I took a breath, "Your narration, please do not be mad at him, please." I nod my head, I had no room to talk I was in here. She then showed me the note, the VR equipment, dammit DAD you knew what you were doing. I wanted to be angry but instead I was grateful. She told me things I already knew, she just confirmed them. We talked for hours, then fell asleep in each others arms. I really hoped this helped her.

I woke up hours later, she was using me as a body pillow. I looked at the time 0700 hrs. Tsu and Mei would be here in two hours. "I have to go Rumi." She slowly wakes up.

"She coming?"Rumi looked at me, and I nod my head.

"Both." Even in the dark, I could still see her beauty.

I see her look down, "Roberto."

"I do not regret it." I pull up her head and kiss her forehead.

She giggles, "Nor I but."

"I know, I can live with it can you?" Moments pass as we stare into each others eyes.

"I can, thank you." I change and exit her patio door. I grab my uniform and place it on my chest. I get pinged. "Hey beautiful."

She picks up in one."We just landed where are you?"

"Rumi's" I tell her the truth, why hide it?

"WHAT!" She took it well.

I continued with the truth, "I wanted to celebrate with sensei, well, sensei was with Ms. Joke."

"Ms. Joke really?" That distracted her, I could hear Mei in the background.

"I could not interrupt them." I said honestly, sensei was happy.

"WHY RUMI!" Mei finally got on the com.

I took a breath and explained, "She was the closest and still up watching the breaking news of me coming home."

"I guess that makes sense." I hear them both say.

"I did not want to go home, both were close, and if I passed out at least I knew I would be fine." If she only knew, how close we were to making a mistake.

"Alright husband, come meet us at HND." I should have felt guilty, but my conscious was clear, nothing happened. I tapped my chest and took off to the airport. I got there fast as I landed at the entrance. She sees me and leapt into my arms. "Rrrr, I smell her on you." I just look at her, "That horny Bunny Girl Senpai is always so touchy!" I shake my head, "You will shower!" I nod my head, yes dear I will. I see Mei Tsu lets me go as I take her in my arms.

"Rumi…" Mei growls, "Horny rabbit. None of this- till she is off you!" I laugh nodding my head yes, I was not ready to see mom yet our flights were long, we were tired. So we head home and I promptly shower. I still was not fully at my best, jet lag, wear and tear I was exhausted, they were exhausted. I slept most of the next day, Mei and Tsu were dead to the world and stayed that way . We were in no hurry, especially now, the mission was complete, I could live free now.

Tsu and Mei were struggling with jet lag so I went to go see sensei. I arrived at his house, he buzzed me into his front yard before I could even hit the button. He met me half way, this was different, we hugged and he brought me inside. He was smiling, I saw Ms. Joke, I saw her finger, that was why he was smiling. "Congratulations sensei and to you Ms. Joke." he laughed thanking me, I have never seen my partner so happy.

"Congratulations to you Roberto." his face was somber now, "You had."

"I did not kill him, Jacob did." I looked away Jacob's view was that of righteous fury, yes, he killed Rappa, but he took a Christian point of view. Was he justified yes, but to him he still took a life and prayed for forgiveness.

"What?" Sensei was in shock.

"Nightshade, I am still ambivalent on her, one hand she hid this man under his nose." I clenched my fists, "This man that had been the source of all my grief and suffering, Edgeshot."

"He was…" He suddenly he faded out and my world began to spin.

"Yes it is, if he didn't… what have I done?" I started hyperventilating, no, I closed my eyes, slowed my breathing. Sensei knew what I was doing.

"Roberto don't." He hated when I internalized everything it was not healthy.

"Not here sensei, I will not ruin this day for you." I was back, sensei just shook his head. "The other hand she was staying true to her contract with him. I can respect that, however she paid the ultimate price, I had a hand in that." Sensei looked at me, "I made a plan to draw Rappa out, it worked, Rappa went for Jacob and she saved the man she loved. Sensei," It all hit me at once as I fell to me knees. "I say I am death's acolyte sent to balance the scales, but have done anything but balance. I have ruined three lives."

"No." Sensei reached out to me but I pushed him away.

"I failed to save my mother." I bowed my head, "I got my boyfriend, the #4 hero killed for just being in a relationship with me." I placed my hands in my hair. "Now, I got the love of my best friend's life killed. I AM a MONSTER!" I get up I cannot handle this, before he can get to me I am out the door.

I take off, "I am no better than than the ones I have put away." I launch straight up into the air, I ROAR as I go as far as I can take. Above the clouds I scream into the empty sky. "A monster, I have not honored my mother, I- I- I"

"You have invaded my domain." I hear a voice, I look around me. "Its quiet up here, leave."

"Excuse me?" I turn around searching for the voice's source.

"I did not stutter kid, beat it." I still cannot trace his voice, where was he.

"And just who in hell made." My shield flashes, 3 bars, another flash, a bar. "Stop, now." I see what hit me, a red, feather? I grab it.

"Huh, this is new." I finally look up, I have never seen him before, least not in person. He looks down, he dives, my shield flashes, 2 bars, and he stops I reach out and grab his throat. "Shit." He flaps his wings feathers fly go ridged, I activate my strength enhancers, he gags.

My HUD scans him and I am given his dossier, "Normally, I would be honored to meet you, #2, well #1 hero now, The Winged Hero: Hawks, Keigo." I pull him in switching my grip to his wings pulling them around me. The feathers strike as his teeth grind, "Guess when they got their target you release control." I turn up my enhancers gripping his wings tighter. "I have no quarrel with you #1…"

"I am not #1."

"Endeavor is out."

"I refused."

"I was not aware that was something you could do."

"And I didn't think I would meet The Knightmare Hero up here Spectre."

"Excuse me?"

"Normally the top heroes stay out of each others areas."

"I am not a top hero, much less, a pro."

"Who do you think was chosen for #1?" I release him, the backs of his wings are bleeding. "That's right you left for America, before it was announced."

"I checked the boards yesterday, its vacant, figured you had yet to accept."

"They offered it to me, to inherit it, no kid." He adjusts his goggles, "I nominated you, guess who the public voted for?" He crosses his arms, "Especially after your war with Endeavor, who they thought killed you, then comes Tartarus where you resurrect yourself." He looked at me like I was insane. "Kid you made history from the first day you debuted as the world's first quirkless hero, even before that Ministry of Education ring-a-bell." I narrow my eyes, "I have my sources and my eyes and ears miss nothing." I was trying not to like him. "You are a…"

"A murder, a curse, and monster."

"Kid, Edgeshot was not your fault. That asshole killed him not you."

"He died because he got with me."

"He died fighting an evil you vanquished."

"I did not kill him, my best friend did after he killed the woman he loved."Before he can respond I continue, "My mother, them, everyone I come in contact with…" I bow my head, "Always gets hurt or killed." I shake my head trying to wipe away my tears. "How does that make me the new #1?"

"Spectre, your mother, that brave officer, how can a sixteen year old known or predict that a monster would have taken her life? Much less get to her in time?" I take a sharp breath, he notices. "Robles, I cannot even begin to imagine such trauma, but get it through that brilliant mind of yours, HER DEATH WAS NOT YOUR FAULT!" I try to protest but he lifts his hand, "NO, It. Was. Not. Your. Fault."

I slowly begin to break down, "You want to know why I nominated you besides your record?" I look at him my eyes bloodshot, "You rose above it all. Against overwhelming odds, odds meant to be stacked against you, and everyone like you, the quirkless. You did not just break the mold, you completely obliterated it." I close my eyes, "The actions of those who do evil are not your own. As much as it hurts and feels like a curse, it is what we face as heroes- we embrace it- just to save one more." I look at him, as he shakes his head. "Its because of that right there you deserve it."

"I spent the night with Rumi" He looks at me with raised eyebrows, "Nothing happened sexual wise, but it felt right."

"Well from what she told me you two are pretty close, what brings this up."

"I cannot describe it, we both seemed to have some sort of closure." He tilted his head.

"Closure?" He asked me with a raised eyebrow.

"I almost-we almost, gave up the life to be together, honestly I never felt that way, giving up my vow I made to bring those bastards to justice, can you imagine?" he shook his head no, "Then Endeavor happened, I thought he was going to force her to do the Tartarus mission I did not know, at the time, that he had no power over her."

"Feelings came back huh." I nod my head, it stuck with me.

I shook my head "Hawks, I would have done the unthinkable if he would have harmed her."

"From what we saw with your war with him, we all believed you could. Jesus kid, you have the biggest balls we have ever seen. I can see why Edgeshot was crazy for you, then you asked him. It was the happiest I have ever seen him, we went out for drinks and he burned his black book on the bar." I looked away, "Kid, he wanted you since your debut, he told me many a time he would give it all up, everyone, if he had you." I did not know how to process this. "He tried to contact Fat Gum, Mirko, he wanted to meet you so bad. I guess I know why Mirko did not help him now, I knew she was a fan but well damn."

"Damn, stalker much." Superhero stalker to boyfriend, my luck huh?

"Yeah. He wrote for that magazine for a while as a side job and well the rest is history." He gave me a quiet smirk.

I offered my hand. "Thanks for the therapy Hawks."

"Keigo." He took it.

I shook it. "Roberto." I then descended and landed in front of my sensei's house. He saw me coming down, he had been waiting there the whole time.

"Roberto." I just hug him, "Roberto you."

"I know, I was just overwhelmed, survivor's guilt." He looks at me. "The actions of those who do evil are not your own. As much as it hurts and feels like a curse, it is what we face as heroes- we embrace it- just to save one more."

"Hawks." he smiles at me and I nod. "I was hoping you would run into him."

"What, he's the hero's therapist?"

"Pretty much, you just confess to him." My eyes slightly twitch he catches it. "Just like you did."

"Shit."

"He holds a lot of secrets, he's a good guy." Well, I am screwed, "He keeps them, did he tell you?"

"The #1 spot is vacant, apparently its mine." Sensei just shakes his head, "Sensei I am not a pro hero."

"I know you still got a long time for that." He smiled at me, it was announced after your press conference. "Emi heard it then leapt into my arms." So that's why they were celebrating. "Roberto, I am so proud of you take it."

"Sensei, my life is in America now."

"Your mission is complete. Come home."

"Not yet, I fulfilled my vow to my mother, but I have committed to Delta 12."

"To Rathers."

"We are officially together. I love him sensei."

"So…"

"I was going to break it off with him, long distance-"

"Would not have worked out. Why him Roberto, you have a wife, kids."

"Tsu loves it, so does Mei."

"Mei too?"

"She wants a child by me, Tsu and I discussed it, she has been there from the beginning, committed to me despite it all."

"I honestly agree with your actions for once. I don't agree with what happened with Momo, you both were wrong, poor girl was too caught up in you."

"I know and I take responsibility for my actions, I can't wait to meet my son Raidou."

"Name picked out huh, Path of Thunder. Son you are one of a kind."

"I miss you too old man." I hugged sensei, my partner, my hero. "So when will you make an honest man of yourself?"

"Three days, will you stand by my side?" I choke up.

I hug him tightly and whisper in his ear. "Do you even have to ask?"

"Courthouse…" HUH no, no, hell to the no.

"Oh hell no!" I protest, "Where ever you want I WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN!"

"Your compound." I look behind sensei. "Please, the pictures are beautiful."

"Who am I to deny my sensei's bride her desire?" She hugs me, "Do you have a dress or whatever you want?"

"We want to keep it simple, the compound was what we really wanted." She held on to him, as I smile "Thank you Roberto."

"Anything you both want I will move heaven and earth to get it." I look at them both.

Sensei is almost in tears as he smiles at me, "I have everything I want, right in front of me just bring them both."

"Roberto, I am so happy." I see her hug my sensei and kiss him.

This was for the man I respected more than anyone. My hero I had to make this perfect for them. "Do you have family Ms…"

"Emi. Please and no, parents passed, only child." I wanted to make sure no one was left out of this union. "Roberto, thank you for this." I smile.

"Well I have to go I have preparations to make, well cleaning. Sensei if you have a minister, priest, judge whoever you want just send it to me." He smiles again, "I'll take care of everything." I then took off as I saw them embrace then kiss.

92

I got home as soon as I could, Pops moved out of the compound so I had to hire a cleaning crew. I landed at home, Tsu and Mei met me at the door. "Sensei is getting married in three days."

"WHAT!" They both exclaimed.

"I have to prep the compound."

"On it Roberto." Mei was already looking for cleaners.

"They just want us, real simple."

"A cake." I shrugged my shoulders, "I'm on it" I then pulled up vacation sites, I was going to give them a honeymoon. I had resources dammit, I was going to use them to their fullest.

Mei gave me a thumbs up then turned to me. "Got cleaners they can do it today."

"Ultimate package, if they got it, just pay it!" She nodded her head then told me done. "Flowers for the bride." She was on it.

"What kind of cake?" Tsu asked.

I had no idea, well screw it. I hit my com, "Sensei." he picked up in one.

"She likes chocolate."

"How did."

"Its you and I know better than to fight you. Got dammit kid, cake is fine, Lillies Mei." I hear Mei giggle in the background. "Simple please. I sent the minster's info."

"I'm sorry sensei its just…"

"I love you too kid. No more."

"I promise." He punched off just as I saw a vacation package for a big cat safari in Africa pop up on a travel site on my HUD. "Huh, sensei likes cats, all inclusive, hotel, food, fun. BUY!" I got the the full experience, two weeks, heheeh, they need a vacation. "Mei." She looks at my selection, she smiles approvingly, Tsu glaces at it too and agrees. "Make sure they can have all the fun they can, open an account for them." She smiles then does so and rushes the cards. Conformation and tickets were sent electronically, I printed them out and put them away. In little over a half an hour it everything was set.

The next day I still was not prepared to see mother's grave. Maybe I was afraid, maybe guilt, I was just not ready. So what did I do? I called up Endeavor and forced myself to go. Mei and Tsu were proud of me, but I was scared. They held my hands as Endeavor pulled up with a limo, he got out dressed in a black suit. I was dressed in white along with my wife and Mei. We entered followed by Endeavor, he gave us each white and red roses. The ride was somber, I was slowly losing myself, I had pushed it down for so long. It was bubbling to the surface.

"You are human Roberto, its alright, its normal." I looked at my former adversary, I had never seen this side of him. He had empathy, I knew he did not want to be my enemy but had to.

"Enji, I am not a great man." He looked at me confused, I needed a distraction. "By now you heard." He knew what I was getting at. Mei and Tsu looked at me, they had been recovering from jet lag.

"Yeah, they want you to be #1. The Hero Public Safety Commission." At his words Mei and Tsu looked at me dumbstruck. "Who told you?"

"Hawks."

"Figured, saw his wings injured, you?"

"Yeah, said something about his."

"Domain, yeah that's - a thing. Unspoken, but yeah, why were you past the clouds."

"Existential Crisis."

"Nightshade?"

"Among a litany of other things."

"You should take the #1 spot, at least you earned it. I seconded your nomination." he held up his hand, "Rumi third. Edgeshot after her. Roberto if I may speak candidly."

I crossed my arms, "I prefer it, give it to me straight."

"You need to. I failed, you proved that, I want it back, but I want to earn it, you've done that." Mei and Tsu looked at him then back at me, "Its not about how many cases you solve, length of your career, or history you have made." He shook his head no. "Its how you inspire others, civilians and your fellow heroes. Jesus kid, you've done that and more. You know who told me of all your antics?"

"Do tell I would like to silence that spy." He had my undivided attention.

"Your old boss Fat Gum." My blood ran cold at his words. "Quell your anger for moment." I took a breath, "I wanted my son to work study with me, but he, as you know, failed his PHL. I still needed to fill two spots, because the other one I wanted, Bakugō, failed as well." I uncrossed my arms, "Along comes Fat Gum, honestly I consider him a friend." I shot him daggers, "Don't give me that look, I worked with him since he was a officer in Tokyo PD. It was why I so desperately and foolishly tried to get you to take the Tartarus mission. Him."

"I am at a loss for words here." This was different, even for him.

"Good, you are better when you are silent."

I flip him off and he returned the favor.

"He told me of his latest trainee, how he never seen anything like him since he became a hero. Tactical savant, natural leader, someone who just drew people to him." I felt a little proud, "Hardheaded, stubborn, a bit of an asshole." I died a little as my wife and Mei giggled. "But who would lay down his life before any harm came to his men or civilians. He told me how you screwed up your trial, but turned it around, yeah you wrecked his agency but you took control and prevented it from going beyond those walls." I smirked. "I called bullshit, then he showed me the footage, I was stunned. Quirkless."

Endeavor closed his eyes and shook his head. "He told me you came from UA, so my investigation on you started there. Got in by S & R, saved more than anyone in past exams, adopted son of Officer Zeniya Phavion Tokyo PD." He smiled at that. "I saw your battles with Chief Tōgata, I was impressed, I could use you, but then when I inquired, Fat Gum refused, you chose his agency, loyalty, so I thought."

"I remember the offer, I took a lighter to it in front of him." He smiled at the irony.

"You remember your words on it?" I smirked and nodded.

"Go fuck yourself." We both said in unison.

"You did not like me even then, then the raid. Your mother, I'm sorry." He took breath, "I saw the footage of what you did to that creature, you would have been justified. You proved to have more control even though you witnessed her death." he looked at Tsu, "Thank you for helping him." Tsu grabbed my arm and shook her head. I looked outside, we were nearing our destination. "Fat Gum, I never seen someone so proud of a trainee, so when he found out what happened to you in America, he was all too eager to tell me what his pride and joy did. Your wife, Ms. Hatsume and you, brought him to his knees. I was awe struck, then you turn around, save him, become his business partner, Roberto you still do not think you deserve to be #1. "

"Enji I cannot, I gave my word, I live there, he's there." I smile and Endeavor shakes his head.

"Now he's yours." We pull up to the cemetery, "Roberto its more than just public opinion."

"I know Enji I know, but I keep my promises." Mei and Tsu nod.

I open the door and get out followed by Tsu and Mei, "This is it" I tell myself. They link their arms with mine, I see a scout dial his mobile. Let them, we walk up to my family's grave marker, I see him. "Pops." He looks up at me, I unlink with Mei and Tsu meeting him halfway and embrace.

"Thank you son." We tighten our embrace, "You did it."

"Not alone Pops, not alone." tears flow from eyes. "Its over." I bury my head in his shoulder, "The nightmare finally ends." I pull away and he wipes my tears and I his.

"I'll leave you to it." He swallows hard then embraces me again. "She's waiting." I nod as I break away walking past him. Tsu and Mei meet him greeting him with loving embraces. I swallow hard as I walk to it, the marker is a tall stone monolith a little over six foot tall. My family name written in normal letters at my behest when Dad was murdered. I kiss my hand then touch the picture of my father in a frame embedded within the stone with his name, Daniel. The name of my mother is faded, I could afford to redo it, but I saw it the way I have always seen her, a mystery. I could not tell you what her name was to begin with. Below the faded name was my mother's picture, my hand shakes as I reach for it. I touch it and suddenly I feel as though I am transported into another world.

I look around me, "DAD if this is you."

'It's not I son, I would not dare. Shall I intervene?'

"No DAD, its alright." I look around, I was surrounded by fog, a river before me with a Japanese pagoda-esque shine on island in the distance. I see a dock and a boat with a lantern. I look at my hand two 1¥ coins as I approach the boat, a woman in beautiful robes manifests before me. As I get closer her face appears, she's beautiful, she welcomes me with open arms.

"So we finally meet my acolyte." She laughs, its hypnotizing, I shake my head "You are not dead acolyte, I have brought you here welcome."

I smile at her,"Well that's good to know my mistress."

"Oh Roberto, we are not lovers, however if you wish." She disappears then reappears in my arms. She truly is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. "We can be." Her face is like a porcelain doll, but soft, she allows me to touch her. I draw her near, its cold, alluring, her face shines revealing a reaper face but back to a beautiful woman.

I run my hand through her ghostly silver hair, "If I want this will I die, since I have been evading your grasp?" Her offer was tempting so I weighed my options.

She nestles her head in my hand she approved, "No, for the record, you have not be evading, if I wanted to I would have taken you long ago, science or not, I am deity." She laughs and we kiss, its cold, beautiful, loving, there are no words. "The first time at the docks, you were meant to die then and there, but she begged me." Death points to the shrine, "Her precious Roberto Rodrigo Robles, then I hear you call to me."

"I was not done, I offered myself." I kissed her hands that flashed from reaper like to normal porcelain.

"Delirium, I allowed you to keep your life." I spin her around as I lift her up dancing to some unknown melody in the distance. "I like this, is this your answer?"

"You are the most beautiful sight I have ever beheld." I was captivated by her, I wanted her, I desired to be with her. "You have not answered my question completely."

"You are clever my acolyte, you will not be with them in the here after, you can visit them but you will take your place as my husband at my side." Her eyes disappeared into hallow sockets then flashed back to beautiful purple eyes.

A goddess wants me, "Define visit." interesting.

She laughs, "This why I want you to say yes, fearless even face to face with a deity." She smiles as we share another kiss it's intoxicating. "I will never deny you seeing your love ones, your wives, yes, you know it, Tsuyu and Mei are your wives, your beloved husband Matthew Bruno Rathers The Third. Kinky. Shin'ya misses you. However I am the only one you share intimacy with, you give up your right to that. Kiss them, love them, embrace them, but THAT belongs to me! Least you be erased. These are my terms my acolyte." She gives a slight giggle at the last word. "I love that, my acolyte, so absurd, Yū bought such a concept, they all did, such an imagination, but I will allow it, even the stupid powers you made up, granted it amuses me." Purple energy exits her and enters through every orifice in my body. I light up then return to normal it pleases her. "I will grant you another power if you wish to be mine."

I was unsure how to address a goddess. "Do tell. Madam?"

"Call me Nix, Roberto." She takes notices, her voice was sultry, powerful, it drove me mad with desire.

"M…" Her eyes go red, "Apologies, Nix." She smiles as I say her name.

"You will be able to visit me here at midnight every night no matter where you are." She smiles as she touches my face, "You will be my first, my only, you will live for as long as you are destined to. That I have no idea, different department as it were." She gestures with that hypnotizing laugh.

I was all in, "I accept your terms." She looks at me with a smile and the coins vanish from my hand. She embraces me and we kiss as she transfers part of herself within me. I lift her up carrying her in my arms as we get in the boat. "I take it, this is here for me to introduce you to my mother?"

"And father, the one who birthed you, well, since no one else remembered her." I looked away and cursed myself. "The dead must be remembered by the living, by the next generation, its what maintains balance. She was not hurt or felt any pain, the laws are not cruel." It still weighed on me, "That was not on you, my love, nor were the others, please believe this. Evil is cruel and has had its eyes on you since your birth. You defeat evil by never giving into its sorrow, press through, those you have loss I protect them, even more so now my dear husband."

As the boat heads to the island I take her in my arms, "Enjoy me now, and when you visit, when you come to me at the end I will be your only one." I proceed to give us both joy till we finally arrive at the island. She tells me to go, when I call for her she will be there at my side. I walk up the the steps to the shrine, around me it seems like a dream, fog dances around my feet with each step. I hear voices at the top, I know them. I tap my chest activating my armor and launch to the top. I go past the top, I see her! I see them they look up at me and I land. My armor returns to my chest, I see her, I see him, they look at me, "¡A pa! ¡Mamá!" I call out to them I rush to them as they meet me halfway.

"Mijo! You are here, no…" Dad suddenly becomes sad.

"No pa, I am alive. I, later, please." Dad understands and I hold him tightly, he's warm I look at his face, its the same like time never touched him. His warm dark eyes, his weathered face, the scruffy 5 o'clock shadow, full dark hair combed back, his clothes were the same, no hole in his chest. I cry has I hug my father.

"I have been watching over you since that day, I broke when I could not protect you mijo. I was helpless." I cry shaking my head no, it did not matter, I was with my father. "I love you so much mijo beautiful son" I have no words, I just want to be held by my father, who I missed so much, I love you DAD, but this was my real father. He pulls me away and looks at me, "Look at you mijo, you are everything I imagined since you were born." I bow my head suddenly, "Mijo no, that's not your fault, they allowed me to see her before she vanished." They were not cruel, still. "But mijo mirason look you are here, a real hero, I cannot tell you how proud I am. Your sexual deviance not so much. I don't care who you love but damn. I understand though why."

"A Pa…" He cuts me off, as I took a breath, there was so much I wanted to say.

He smiles at me, "Des pueshowever, YOU ARE HERO!" My father could barely believe it, "I love you mijo, for now our time is up."

"PA!" NO I DID NOT WANT THIS TO END!

I nearly lose it again at his smile, "Mijo, you have one more to see, we'll catch up when you visit." With that my father embraced me once more and vanished. Well, he ruined my surprise.

"Roberto." I turn around and I see her. I cannot hold back, I run to her losing myself in my mother's embrace. "My precious, precious Roberto, The Knightmare Hero, Spectre." The tears return like a dam breaking open.

"I did it mom!" She smiles, "You can rest now, I. Brought. Them. DOWN!" Mom wipes her tears, "I stayed true- I."

"Oh my sweet Roberto, so driven, yes you fulfilled vow." She continues to cry.

I suddenly remembered the yakuza wantabe I used as a meat shield. "I know I lost part of my soul doing it, but mom I had to." She pulls me in kissing my forehead. "I could not let them get away with it."

"I know my son, I know." I had missed her so much, now she was here, why was she crying? "I am not crying about that." She pulls me back to her chest, shaking her head no atop my own."You should never seen what happened to me. I."

"No mom! That fucking monster killed you, I failed you." It was my fault, I failed her!

"Roberto what could have you done my son? Die with me? No, no parent wants that." I embrace her as if my life depended on it. "My death was NEVER your fault, get that out of your head COMMANDER!"

At my rank I go to attention. "Roberto, you must live now, your mission is over, so-" I see her tears, my heart breaks, "My dear son live!" I salute her suddenly she is in her finest dress blues, she returns my salute. "This is your new mission Commander Spectre of Delta 12, The Knightmare Hero, you must live, with every fiber, every neutron, with your everything, LIVE. Show them all who I raised, live and keep on living, for your wives, your husband, my grandchildren you must LIVE."

"I will Sgt. Zeniya Phavion, Nix." She appears in a cloud of mist then fully manifesting at my side. "Mom, meet."

"Oh dear god, he got himself a goddess." she suddenly loses all emotion as Nix kisses me. "Roberto, what?"

"My acolyte has become my betrothed. Hello mother."

My mom is speechless as my father returns, "Pa?"

"Yeah I saw this coming, where do you think he got it from Phavion?" Mom looks at my father who smiles proudly. "What happened to my son was horrible, but his natural attraction to pretty much everyone, yeah that's all me, save I am straight, but yeah that's my boy." My father laughs proudly, "So you gave it up for a goddess?" He shook his head.

"Oh daddy, I am not cruel, the sex is all mine, he can see them when their time comes. I will even allow him one last round with each of them, I love my betrothed." She boops my nose, "He is mine and I am his."

"Yes, mistress." I regretted nothing.

"Well, wasted no time, huh, son." I smile at my father. "My parents worshiped death, not like some devil worshiping cult, she was just the goddess they worshiped like a normal church going nuclear family. Hehehe. Way to go son, your grandparents would be so proud like I am, hahahah." Death laughed with him, she embraced him as mom was horrified.

"Oh mother, I am not evil, I just well, look at his track record. He called for me, be careful what you say, you just might get it."

"So is Roberto is some sort of prophesied- conduit?" Death fell over laughing at her words.

"No, no, no, no, I just really wanted him. To be with him." I help my future wife up as she wipes her tears from laughing. "Besides he kept teasing me with his heroics, how could I not take notice?"

She bows down "Welcome to the family my godd-" Death touches her lips.

She gestures her not to bow, "Just Nix mother."

"Nix." She gave a scared smile, I hugged my mother as Death wrapped her arms around me.

"You have one last person to see my love, he waits for you at the beach, go to him." I wanted to stay with mom longer, "Dawn approaches, you can visit them again." I tap my chest manifesting my uniform, I heard my future wife moan, she approved. I then took to the air waving good bye to my father and mom, then dived down to the beach below. I landed and he leapt into my arms, we kissed.

"Shin'ya. I." He touched my lips.

I just looked into his eyes, "I knew what could happen, I regret nothing Roberto."

My eyes turn cold. "He paid the price."

"I know honey, I knew you would avenge me, I died knowing that he would pay." He kissed me again, "Thank you for making me the happiest I have ever been in life."

"Shin'ya…"

"Do not apologize babe, I fought to the bitter end, for you. He did not go away unscathed. Do not feel guilty, live please." We embrace as our foreheads touch and we clasp hands. "Dawn is approaching, they are waiting for you." We kiss one last time and Death takes me away.

My family's marker lights up and I walk out of it. Its morning? I look around, it was real? HOLY CRAP DEATH IS MY FIANCEE! What in the hell? I touch my helm "Tsu, Mei?"

"ROBERTO!" They shout in my com.

"Yeah, I am back, I don't…" They cut me off, they were scared and losing their minds.

"A light consumed you and you were GONE!" Shit that confirms it. "Where were you?" I hear Tsu croak.

I took a breath, "I-I-I broke my vow to both of you." I had not regretted my choice, but I still felt guilty about it. It confused the hell out of me this weird guilty-not guilty feeling.

"What? What do you mean, where were you?" Tsu croaked.

"The afterlife, met Death, she's beautiful, got engaged to her, had sex with her."I paused my word vomit. "Tsu, Mei." I heard them stop breathing.

Tsu finally broke the silence, "If we did not see you literally disappear before our eyes without a trace we would have you committed." Hell I still thought maybe a few months in an asylum would do me some good.

"Was she a good lay?" I hear Tsu hiss and croak sinisterly at Mei. "I'm curious dammit."

"I literally go to the afterlife and out of everything you could ask, you wonder how Death, like the literal goddess, is in bed." I hear her chuckle, she was dead serious.

"Yeah." I could almost see her eyes rolling.

"I see you have your priorities straight." I say sarcastically, "Well, she is not cold, save her kiss, I literally was melting inside of her, my goddess, she was the best lay I have ever had. Sorry loves." I could not lie, mostly due to the fact I had no idea what Nix would do if I did.

I hear Mei laugh, "I would hope so, since you know, GODDESS!"

"Not mad?" Now I was confused, I literally cheated on them with the goddess Death.

"The goddess Death, a goddess, wants you, do you think we can even compete with that?" Tsu did have a point, they could not, hell I still could not believe I was engaged to her.

"If anything, hehe, my husband can pull gods!" Tsu was more impressed than anything.

"So hot." Then Mei had a thought, "Wait does that make you some prophesied figure head?"

"No, I just turn her on and she wants me to be her husband. Mom asked the same thing." I said offhand, I then heard them gasp.

"WHAT!" They both said in unison.

"Yeah," my voice cracked, "I saw her, my father, and Shin'ya." I was breaking down as I relived it. "They want me to live. Mom commanded it as my new mission." I smiled as I saw the sun begin to rise. "Thank you mom" Tsu wanted to cry as did Mei, but held on because I was set free.

I returned the next night, and the one after, it was like walking through a door. I just thought about Nix then opened any door and I was there. "Curious Nix, if we keep making love will you have my child?"

"No, not till you are with me forever." We laid in the boat in each others arms. "Does this sadden you love?" I pull her close to me and I kiss her.

"No, was just a bit worried." I rest my head atop hers.

"You love your children, you do not wish to seem like you are abandoning any if I were to conceive." She got a top me, she moans then kisses me to our rhythm. "Oh my love, worry not." Dawn was approaching, Nix manifested a door, "Till you return, time flows differently here Roberto. If you stay there and not come back for days, weeks, years it will be like a day for me."

"Tired of me?"

"No, I just do not think you understand time here, you will always be the same age I met you no matter how long you stay way."

"So while I am here I am essentially immortal, forever young?" She nods, "Even if I think I look better later on in life?"

"Then share it with me and you will instantly be that age." She kisses me, "You must be at or past the age you want." Good to know and I go through the door and return to my present.

We stayed at the compound to set up for sensei's wedding. Tsu and Mei worked through the night setting up decorations. I was on spot cleaning duties and cooking my ass off. Despite his reserved nature, sensei loves fried seafood, so I was deep frying fries, crab, cheese sticks, fish, hush puppies, shrimp, and wings, because I love wings. Emi loved grilled veggies from what sensei told me, she ate seafood, but loved chicken. It was now noon, I had set the buffet table covered the food and well two lovely ladies were waiting for me in the bath. We changed to formal ware, I wore a black tux as sensei requested, Tsu and Mei wore simple backless gowns, the minster arrived, took care of him. I then see the white limo pull up, we make our way to it and I open the door. Sensei and his bride were dressed simply, black tux and a simple white gown with a small veil. She requested Mei to give her away and Tsu to be her maid of honor. Mei took her hand with Tsu beside her as I grabbed my Sensei and head inside.

"Simple Roberto." He was irked.

"I obeyed, but I was not going have you drive up here." I gave him a smile as he shook his head. "Its just us like requested, trust me I was tempted."

"I smell fried food." I smiled again, "You have been cooking all morning huh?"

"You both are gonna be hungry." He bursts out laughing, "Forgive me for…" He hugs me tightly tears in his eyes.

"I love you kid, thank you." We make our way to where I got married, I was now standing by his side. A holo projector manifested and DAD appeared. "I was wondering if you were gonna show up?" He motions for him to stand by me.

"Sorry for crashing." he said as sensei just laughed. The doors opened and cherry blossoms fired into the air as 'Here comes the Bride' plays Emi appears as Tsu comes up the side taking her spot. Mei walks with her up to us, she is smiling.

"Who gives this child away."The minister asks.

"I do, her sister." Mei then places Emi's hand in sensei's. They go through the motions. As Mei moves to Tsu side, vows are said.

"Do you Aizawa Shota take Fukukado Emi to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

I see sensei look into her eyes, "I do, with everything I am." Tears flow from my eyes. More vows.

"Do you Fukukado Emi take Aizawa Shota to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

She gives into her quirk as a blue aura engulfs her as she laughs at sensei. Sensei lets it take him and he laughs uncontrollably. She stops as joyful tears flow from her face. "You finally let me in," her voice quivers, "I get to see your beautiful smile, oh Shota, you do love me." Her tears overwhelm us all, "With all my heart and soul I do."

"Then you may kiss the bride." The minister smiles and my sensei pulls back her veil and they share tender loving kiss. They break it looking into each others eyes. "Welcome with me as I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Aizawa Shota." Once again it happens like a stupid romance anime cliché, that I love, the cherry blossom tree releases its bounty. Cameras go off around the courtyard, Mei's doing.

The reception I set up worked out as I served us all. The bride and groom loved everything I cooked. They soon cut the cake we got them, after everything was settled I got up. "Sensei, I love you with every fiber of my being." I look at the new Mrs. Aizawa, "My heart is bursting from the seams, thank you for loving the most important man of my childhood, career, my hero, my sensei, thank you Emi." She smiles, "Thank you, well, I have one more thing for both of you." I pull out an envelope and I place it on the table in front of them. They look at each other then sensei grabs it.

"What did you do boy?" I burst out laughing at sensei's words. Emi pushes him to open it. He does so, their eyes widen.

"I love BIG CATS!" Emi jumps up and she pulls me to her in a hug. "Thank you!" Shota shakes his head and embraces me.

"As do I. Roberto…" I raise my hand, and give him my biggest smile. "I will never win with you." I shake my head no. Tsu gives him more tickets, "Okinawa?" Emi looks at me and I toss her keys.

"Your honeymoon flight leaves in a week from Okinawa, stay at one of my mother's" Aizawa comes from behind the table at the mention of my mother. "Why would I not?" Aizawa is in tears as he hugs me tightly and kisses my cheek,"beach houses or both they are yours for that week." Emi covers her mouth, "I gave you a simple wedding like you wanted but I will be damned if I was not gonna go all out for both of you afterwards." Mei hands Emi another envelope, "Last one I swear." she opens it revealing two visa cards. "Everything in that account is for both of you, do not question it, do with it what you will."

"Roberto, why?" Sensei could not understand why I was going all out for them. I place my hands on his shoulders. I was trying to keep my emotions in check but I was failing fast. From the looks of my partner he was too.

"You are my family that is why." They both embrace me, sensei had been with me through it all. I could never repay all of his kindness, his patience, his love, for saving me when I could not save myself. "Why would I not?" I break from their embrace Mei and Tsu embrace them one last time and the limo takes them to HND.

93

April 17… After sensei's wedding, all matters in Japan were settled. I did not accept #1 position, for now. I had slowly been returning to my duties at Delta 12, I still left Dezmond in charge of Spec Ops, it was good experience for him. It was gonna be all his when I eventually head back to my homeland. I was in my office, Matthew had a case he wanted my team to investigate, he needed it done quietly. My com goes off, "Its time Roberto!" I take a breath, it was Momo, I've had 2 false alarms. "My water broke." Okay this was indeed it. I took another breath, "Say something!"

"I am on it, bag packed?" she confirms, "One moment." I call a non emergency number let them know my baby mama was going into labor. It was different now, I had been through this all before. I finish up with them and I click back to Momo. "Ambulance is on its way, Detroit Mercy."

"You coming with me?" She asks filled with hope.

"I am closer to the hospital dear, I will be by your side okay." I hear her deflate, "Momo I will be there I swear." I can hear the EMTs enter the house, I hear them take care of her. She gives me a humph then punches off. I shake my head then put the case in my file cabinet and lock up. My hands are shaking, I was putting up a front. I was slowly losing my mind. I walk over to Matthews office. I knock and he tells me to come in.

Matthew looks up and notices my distress. "Here we go again, help me love."

Matthew was there for one of the false alarms."You sure this time?"

"Water broke, and from what I heard the EMTs say in the background, yup." He gets up and pours me a drink. I take it and down it, slowly I stop shaking. Matthew pats my shoulder and pours me another. I sip it this time. "So yeah I am gonna head out."

Matthew laughs, "Yeah think?" He hugs me and I leave his office. I see my step daughter, I tell her the news and she gives me a hug congratulating me. I exit the building and head to Detroit Mercy. I let Tsu, Mei, and the rest of my team know what is going on. They give me their congratulations as well and tell me they will be there. I arrive just as the ambulance arrives, they pull up and I do my best to stay out of their way. Momo sees me, I see her take a breath of relief. I follow them in, still in full hero regalia. Suddenly I am put in a cap and gown? "What the?" They escort me to a sink and tell me to wash my hands. I do so and they put gloves on me, this is different.

I am with Momo holding her hand as she gives birth to our son. The doctor asks me if I want to cut the cord. I shrug my shoulders and do so, they go through the motions and I hear my son cry. My world stops. I hear him as the tears flow. They clean him up, 12lbs, 30 in, my kid is big! I take him in my arms, "Hey Raidou Roberto Robles, I am your dad." I kiss his head through the mask and I bring him to Momo.

"Hey, Raidou I am your mama, Jesus you were hard to birth." Momo cries as she laughs. "I do not want any more kids." She tells the doctors they nod. I do not question her. They take my kid away, I then leave them to it. I exit the room and head to the waiting room to meet my family.

"Healthy, big, and strong." I tell them and they surround me with love. "30in, 12lbs. My Raidou is a big boy." Bailey, Tsu and Mei cringe with sympathy pains. I am a Father again.

May 5… Its my birthday, I have my children and team with me, Matthew and I had celebrated the night before. He was amazing and I well… that's none of your business, but it was the best birthday gift I ever had. So he needed to recover. Mei gives me a small box, I open it and I get another surprise. "Happy Birthday you are going to be a dad." I kiss her and lose myself in her lips.

"Alright guys listen up." I pop my neck then adjust my shirt. "After this no more for me, I have already traumatize this world enough." Dezmond takes my hand and pulls me in.

"Thank god!" He gives me a bro hug, "Man being an uncle is hard enough." Other than Matthew, Dezmond was my kids favorite, all three fought for his attention. "I can only imagine… you know what nevermind bruh." I think I know what he meant, yeah, probably have more than 3. Tsu and I agreed to have Momo live with us for a while. I wanted my kids to grow up together, to show them that I did not choose favorites. I had returned to work in a limited capacity, least for right now. I advised on cases, commanded operations, because quite frankly, I excelled in this.

I got accepted into University of Michigan, go blue and maze. Honestly, I really did not care about their sports. I was to start in June and go full time. I still worked at Delta 12 but Matthew wanted me to focus on university, thus the limited capacity. If the case required a specialist I was brought in. Hi-test and V got our other heroes to open up, they knew I was good at my job, but history. However little by little they began to trust me more. Slowly they came to me when they were stuck, as did I them.

Jacob had graduated earlier than expected, after what happened with Nightshade, he just wanted to get out of LA. He took his degree and then left, graduation meant nothing to him.

I went to pick up my best friend at DTW. I missed him dearly, as soon as I saw him walking down to baggage I ran to him. He saw me met me halfway. "God I missed you!" I held on to him tightly, "I need my right hand man back."

"Good to see you Roberto, so I hear you now have three kids."

"Four, Mei is pregnant!"

"Cheez itz, spam, and garlic, will your horny ass just stop?"

"Trust me that's it!" I rolled my eyes, "Soon as this one is born its snip snip! PERMENANTLY!" Jacob started laughing, "Seriously Jacob how have you been my friend."

"Terrible, I had to get out of LA, I sold the condo Matt bought me, made a bit of a profit off it. Heroism has its perks." I felt bad for my best friend, he catches my look. "Roberto don't, please brother don't."

"It's hard not to Jake, I am so, so." He lifts his finger up. "I made you kill." I whispered.

"No, I saved countless lives by extinguishing that evil." Jacob had already came to terms with his actions. After I came back to Detroit a week later I went back to LA. Jacob met me at LAX and we then had a long discussion at his condo. It was more therapy for me than him, but we both put the matter to rest. I still felt its effects, but Jacob he kept telling me he was fine. He had being seeing a psychiatrist, one based in his faith and it had helped him come to terms with his actions that day. I told him about Hawks and The Hero Public Safety Commission wanting me to be the #1 hero. I had not told Matthew about it, and swore Tsu and Mei to secrecy.

He looked at me and crossed his arms."You tell Matthew yet?"

"Eventually, Jake." I say with a sigh.

"Do you love him?" I look at him like he lost his damn mind. "Then tell him." Jake wanted me to take it, but I was not going to go back on my word.

"Besides I cannot I start school in June." I smile then I see a light bulb go off in his head. "Jake?"

"We need to get to Delta 12 now!" He heroes up, followed by me, I grab his bag and we take off.

We land at Delta 12, Bailey greets us and he takes her hand. I look at him crazy and follow him to Matthew's office. Matthew sees him motioning him to come in, he does and I follow. He shuts the door. "Jake how are you?"

"PRIDE festival!" Matthew looks at him blankly, Bailey gets it! I look at them lost like a goose in the fog.

"What is this PRIDE Festival?" I ask and Jacob explains what it is and my eyes light up. "When is it?"

"June 9th." Matthew replies as he smiles, "Jacob you are a genius!" He smiles happier than I ever seen him. "Bailey get in contact with the festival coordinators, Delta 12 is going rainbow!" He takes my hand, "Roberto."

"You are not ashamed?" He kisses me openly for the first time. The entrance to his office was windowed as was mine. He wanted his people to see everything he was doing. Integrity meant everything to him. I was lost in his kiss, I wanted him more than ever.

We break our kiss and he turns me around, "Is this proof enough." Our employee's were shocked, most of them anyways. He boldly took my hand and we exited his office. "No more rumors, I love him." I felt a mixture of emotions, fear, pride, happiness, relief as I looked out into the crowd.

"I knew it!" Hi Test called out, "Do you boss, I have your back."

"Heh hehe, better than being scared he would finish the job." V smiled, "Besides everyone here knows Commander Spectre earned his rank. Say anything contrary you are a damned fool." He lifted up his visor, "Besides, if the boss didn't go for it I was." He winked at me and I smiled, Matthew was not amused. He then pulled me close to him, "That's hot, way to go Commander Spectre I am happy for you." Surprisingly enough our relationship did not effect our agency too much. Matthew had always been open to all heroes, sexual orientation wasn't a factor in hiring. If they were good, he hired them.

Bailey was quick with getting us to be sponsors for PRIDE. They did not have a venue yet so Mei jumped at the chance. Hart Plaza for the most part was restored to what it was, save Mei's building, she wanted this from the start. It was why most of her departments were underground, Hart Plaza was a landmark for the city, she wanted to keep it as such. The city rewarded her efforts through tax breaks and a spot on the board of directors for the city. Profit was not her priority, we had capital, so she invested most of her profits into education, scholarships, anything to get her employees near her level. She changed, she wanted actual people working for her, she saw what staff she had, they adored her as she did them. Janitor to HR she made it a point to treat them all the same. Now she invested into the community, for the whole month of June the fountain and her building had a rainbow theme.

Delta 12 along with High Specs International were announced as official sponsors of this year's PRIDE. It was the first time an actual hero agency had ever done so. It was going to be at PRIDE were my division was going to be officially introduced, we were ready. My division had been working with SWAT and various other police operations and raids. We were known, but kept on the low, we wanted it this way. I proposed it Matthew, he was apprehensive at first but, I explained that we need to build a track record. Now it was solid, my team trusted, my leadership valued, we had stopped several trafficking cases varying from human to drugs to children. The last part I made it my goal to never let these creatures in human skin to escape.

94

June 9th, I was to be co-host to the MC when Hart Plaza officially opened PRIDE. I could see protesters across the street, we welcomed them to join us so long as they were peaceful. "Niesha Summers here at High Specs International at The New Hart Plaza." Yup she jumped at the chance to host this especially when she heard Jacob was going to be there. "Welcome to the Future! I am joined by you know his face, Detroit's, well America's newest hero, Delta 12's own, The Knightmare Hero, Commander Spectre!" I walk up the stairs to the platform where our Master of Ceremonies was. Her show did not get cancelled after what happened last year, if anything it was number one now in ratings for its station.

"Thank you Ms. Summers I am so happy to be here, I did not even know this was a thing!" The crowd cheered me one, they were loving it.

"It is Commander Spectre, this year PRIDE returns to Hart Plaza, finally, after it was destroyed 3 years ago today."

"Indeed Ms. Summers, High Specs International has restored it to its former glory and it is indeed glorious!" Mei had made it her personal mission to get every detail right, it costed a fortune but she got it done. It started out with Dodge Fountain, then restoring the greenery and stone work to the amphitheatre and the restored Pylon. "I cannot wait to walk around and take it all in."

"Nor I, so what brought this about with Delta 12?" Niesha went right for it.

"Well has most of you all know via Sparrow, I am LGBTQ+, my wife does not mind but more on that later." I gave a knowing smirk, Niesha was eating this up. "As co-owner of Delta 12 when I found out about this Slim Shade and I decided to sponsor." I see Jacob, "There he is! Jacob!" I bring him to the stage, "Our Media and Public Relations Head was behind all this." Niesha looked at Jacob, I had bought him a new suit for this event, I think she approved.

"Hello Ms. Summers, commander." He shook Niesha's hand, was that a blush? Jacob did not notice.

"Well this is a treat ladies and gentlemen, especially for me I am surround by heroes." She fanned herself hyping up the crowd. "So Blue Worx, will you suit up for us? For me?" Jacob smiled, Mei had just finished his uniform and Jacob was more than willing to show it off. He tapped his chest and his suit vanished, I see Niesha lick her lips, oh my god, she likes him! White Yū Fiber Armor manifested itself via nanites as Jake leaps into the air. His quirk activates as a blue explosion goes off like a firework, her eyes never leave him. Bright white segmented armor plates fire out of his chest spinning around him. Jake was showing off, the crowd was eating it up, all he needed was theme music. The plates sealed in place taking shape as gauntlets, armored boots, chest and back armor, support item belts that crossed his chest and waist. He landed as his quirk danced around his arms and legs covering vital areas.

"Blue Worx everyone!" I hype up the crowd as they cheer and cameras flash.

"I love it!" Niesha touched her chest as she looked at him.

"So do I High Specs has been good to us, to the city, just look at Hart Plaza." He was selling this, Niesha looked out for a moment then back to him. Jacob open your eyes man! "I am proud to be protected by them." He looks at her and briefly pauses, he does notice! I smile as we go to commercial. I pull Jake aside.

We were under the stage. "I know you are not stupid."

"Roberto, are you serious right now?" Jake just shook his head.

I raised an eyebrow, "You do notice."

"Notice what?" We both froze, shes smiles at him and grabs his collar pulling him inches from her face. "I would like to know." he gives her a cheeky grin.

"Umm. Would you like to get dinner?" She nods.

"Famous last words." They look at me, I just raise my hands in laughter. He looks back at her and she steals a kiss from him. "He's doomed." She flips me off.

"More later hero." She was a bold one, I'm still laughing at my best friend who just has a look of confusion.

We returned to the stage Jacob has gone to promote our brand leaving me and Niesha with the cameras. "You know Commander Spectre I never got that interview."

"You will, for now…" The crowd was chanting 'in-ter-view' over and over.

"You hear the crowds commander." I gave a weary smile, "DO YOU ALL WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT COMMANDER SPECTRE?" She hyped up the crowd, she was better at this than Jacob. I looked around and smiled at the happy people enjoying themselves.

"You all humble me so, I am no one special." I truly felt that way, I was just a man trying to do what was right.

"Bullshit!" I hear a drag queen say from the back of crowd. "Honey, you are, you have no quirk yet you are a licensed hero."

"Someone has done her research." I say with a smile. The crowd chants again, "Okay you all win, I will on one condition."

"Which is?" Niesha was nearly foaming at the mouth. I fire off a holo-projector and Slim Shade appears on screen.

"Partner can you please join me on stage." Matthew smiles with a laugh nodding his head. The crowd is loving it, Niesha eyes widen, very rarely Matthew ever gave an interview. "And can we please get some chairs up hear, comfy ones too, please."

"Well, we will be right back, with an exclusive interview with the owners of Delta 12! You all heard the commander get us some chairs! My feet are killing me!" We head back off stage as the stage hands get to work. I tell them to get a love seat and to trust me. They shrug and do as I ask. "Okay you are planning something I know it."

"Patience my dear Ms. Summers." I say coyly.

We return to the stage and the prompters tell us we are on the air. "Welcome back to our broadcast here at PRIDE in The New Hart Plaza!" Niesha had changed her clothes, I chuckled a little, she was wearing the same outfit when we were attacked.

"Hopeful that outfit brings us luck this time." I point out with a chuckle.

"Oh ha, ha, Commander Spectre." The crowd points to the sky and I beam with PRIDE, ha, wordplay! We get up and Slim Shade lands between us, he looks at Niesha and nods.

"Hello Ms. Summers." Niesha is loving this! He then turns to me and I look at him. I open my arms he suddenly picks me up. "Its time." He brings me in and we share our first kiss as an official couple at PRIDE. Niesha falls back in her chair, the crowds are sent into a frenzy. I am beyond happy, no more hiding, we were opened to the world now. Cameras are flashing, cheers from the PRIDE goers and disgust from the protesters behind us. "I love you Roberto Rodrigo Robles."

"As do I Matthew Bruno Rathers, The Third. I am so happy right now." I look behind Niesha and I see Jacob clapping, I mouth to him a thank you. He just smiles shaking his head mouthing your welcome. We then sit down together holding hands.

"Well this was diffidently not expected, wow." Niesha's eyes were wide in shock and awe.

"Let me answer the question that is on everyone's mind." I had called Tsu on the last commercial break. I see her just off stage. "May I have my wife come on stage Ms. Summers?" She turns around, she smiles, then signals her to come up. A stage hand brings up another chair as the camera focuses on my wife hopping up. She makes her way to me and I get up and meet her half way. We share a long kiss as I take her hand to sit beside me. The crowd is in awe. "Ever since I lived in Japan I have always been in a polygamous relationship. I love my wife she is my soulmate, but I am also pansexual, love is love and that is just how I view it." The crowd cheers at my words.

"Its also a big turn on for me." She looks at Rathers, "Just look at him he's handsome!"

"Umph, you are not so bad yourself honey." The same drag queen calls out to which Tsu blushes, "Awwww.."

Matthew then spoke up, "Honestly since my Sara was killed, I had been lost." Matthew was speaking from the heart. "Other than my daughter I thought I had closed off that part of my life. She was my everything." He then looks at me. "Roberto and I started out as pretty much enemies, then, in the most selfless thing I have ever bared witness to, he turns around and brings me justice giving up everything for me." I look at him and I fall in love all over again. "He set me free, then I had a bit of self reflecting. My Sara could rest now, Truth and his family could. Maybe, just maybe I could finally wonder, could I revisit that part of my life."

I then spoke up, "Despite it all, I found out Matthew was not an evil man." I kissed his hand as I held Tsu's. "He was a man hurting, a hurt I very much could relate to with the murder of my own mother." I looked at him, "I could not deny the connection but with American culture." I looked away, "I could not act on my feelings. Were it in my home country I could pursue, here I had to wait."

Tsu chimed in, "When my then fiancee told me of his feelings I was all for it, my fantasy come true, but things were different in The States from Japan."

Niesha raised an eyebrow, "What was the difference?"

"Lower age." I said.

"How much?" She was curious.

"Look it up yourself." Tsu and I declared, and our host backed off.

"So what changed?" She asked Matthew.

"I knew about Roberto's orientation, he was very up front about that and well." Matthew laughed.

"Can anyone here blame me?" The crowd laughed, Matthew is handsome, several of Detroit's civilians have confirmed this while on the field.

"Roberto has always never been shy about taboos, in fact he enjoys pushing them. Did he get me to reevaluate myself and preferences, yes. After the Belle Isle Raid, I saw him in a different light, this was a kid that for the life of me I have never encountered. He worked the mission like a seasoned pro, you all have seen his team, the tech he proudly sports. I would have been a fool not to see his value."

I chuckled to myself, "It was hard to not consider, but I am glad I did."

"After he accepted, I learned more about him, we got closer. I ended up telling him of my struggle. Turns out he ended up becoming a confidant, he slowly helped me come to terms, no influence, he just listened without judgement." Matthew was looking at me with his beautiful hazel eyes.

I laid my head on his shoulder, "I turned eighteen, and I told him how I felt about him."

He kisses my forehead as he grabbed it. "It did not happen overnight, but eventually here we are on full display." Niesha smiled then turned to my wife.

"Mrs. Robles."Niesha asked politely

Tsu smiled, this was fun for her. "Tsu please."

Our host was trying to wrap her head around our relationship."Tsu, how do you feel about this?"

Tsu tapped her chin with her finger."As I said its a fantasy come true, Roberto and I have been polygamous since we were at UA Academy so this, this is normal for us."

"No jealousy?" Niesha raised an eyebrow.

"No, you kidding me I am surrounded by two of the sexiest men in Detroit, we both love him, Roberto more obviously, but I see this as a blessing." She shrugged her shoulders then wrapped her arms around both of us.

"Your children." Tsu cut her off.

"Have a second dad, I know this is strange but I honestly love this." Tsu settled that quick and in a hurry. "I trust Matthew, we are only opened to him. Please respect that." With that she won the crowd, as she did Niesha.

"Alright Tsu I will." I smiled at our host and Tsu kissed me and Matthew on our cheeks. "Thank you Tsu for joining us, please stick around we will be right back."

Off the air Niesha came clean, "Okay I had a feeling this was going to happen, I am actually very happy for you both." We looked at her then at each other. "I knew I saw something that day, how long?"

"Pretty much after we closed the Tartarus case." I said politely.

"Officially yes, but it this was hard for both of us." Matthew felt like he could finally breath. "I wanted him before but… Everything could have been undone."

"His rank, your credibility, even his license and yours." Niesha could see the implications.

"I thought I lost him, honestly, when it finally hit me, I was foolish when I let him leave." He looked at me, "Him and Jacob were gone by the time I was out the door." I honestly was going to leave, I felt shame, embarrassment, hurt, I was going to break my word. "I have to thank Jacob, if it was not for him. I probably would have gave it all up." I looked at him, he meant it, he looks at me. "Roberto you have no idea how much you mean to me. I do not want…" He silences himself.

"What." I give her a look and she does not pursue.

"Well we have one more surprise in store." Matthew says proudly as I make a few calls. Niesha was loving this, she only wished that this was on her show instead of a TV special. Her producer came and told her that the ratings are through the roof. Jake came in and told us our surprise was trending on social media, so was Delta 12. They were calling us the power couple. All I could do was laugh, Matthew well. "Jesus I hate this." Social media was the bane of his existence, honestly, he stayed off it, he barely had internet at his home.

Surprisingly he lived simple, a minimalist lifestyle, he had pictures of his family but not so much of him. Save his bedroom, that was where he had pictures of his wife and him. His wedding day with Truth as his best man, he lived alone in this big home, he could not leave it. He bought it with his Sara, it was were he was going to raise his family. On his nightstand though, was the picture of us in Okinawa when the bartender thought I proposed to him. Above it on the wall was our first date at the Greek restaurant, the owners knew who he was and asked us for a picture. He reluctantly agreed, I had no idea he asked for a copy. We went all the way that day, happy birthday to me.

Back to the present, we were about to wrap up so we could enjoy the rest of PRIDE. "Well, today has been just full of surprises, we are trending on Sparrow along with just about every social media platform!" Niesha was enjoying every moment. "My co-host The Knightmare Hero, Commander Spectre had to step away and prepare to… oh look!" She pointed to the sky showing me with my team coming in. "I now turn it over to the founder and CEO of Delta 12 Agency, Matthew Rathers, Slim Shade. I am Niesha Summers, HAPPY PRIDE EVERYONE!"

Matthew and Jacob were in the amphitheatre, the seats were filled. "Thank you everyone for making Motor City PRIDE a complete success!" Matthew began as the crowd cheered and roared. "Today here at PRIDE I am proud to introduce everyone a new division of Delta 12!" He looked at Jacob who stepped up.

"Delta 12 is committed to the safety and security of the citizens of Detroit and of our wonderful State of Michigan!" Jacob was working the crowd. "Working hand in hand with law enforcement." Several Police Chiefs from Detroit and its surrounding charters and townships came in and lined up with their SWAT and Special Ops. "Worry not everyone this is just a show of unity with Delta 12." From where I was watching him calm the crowd.

"So what is this new division, you are probably asking?" Matthew smiled, "Since The Belle Isle Raid, and the capture of the yakuza boss, Hōjō Yū, Jacob and I followed Commander Spectre to Japan for the transport." Matthew took a breath as he relieved the memory then looked at Jacob who was trying to forget.

"It was there we were infiltrated by two of Japans most wanted, there we witnessed just who and what Commander Spectre was capable of." Jake raised his hand and a holoscreen showed them an abridged version of what happened in the transport plane. The crowd was shocked at my actions. "Without Commander Spectre, it would have been a flying tomb for us all. He was in total control of the situation, he turned the tide with his skill and tactics."

"However it did not stop there, we stumbled into something we were vastly unprepared for when we landed." Slim signaled and a picture of Toga Himiko popped up. "Meet the second-in-command of Japan's #1 Most Wanted Super Villain Shigaraki Tomura, Toga Himiko." A short video of her in action then her demise at my hand. "The commander actions were to save his fellow heroes, but he kicked the hornet's nest."

"The commander first action was for the safety of us and his team." Jacob smirked, "Yeah, we were not gonna abandon one of our own."

"Upon landing Commander Spectre once again took control and in an hour after arriving, had put together an operation for a preemptive strike." Slim then pulled up the video of my operation. "I have never seen anyone, nor have these men before you, pull something like this off as quickly and efficiently as the commander."

"He showed everyone that day just why he is called The Knightmare Hero, he took down JAPAN'S MOST WANTED and his ENTIRE TEAM!" I landed first to the cheers of the crowd.

"So, I thought, how can I use what I saw to help our city." He walks to my side. "For the past few months since he came back I decide to try something new." He turned it over to Detroit PD' Chief of Police.

"I thought Matthew was insane, this- kid, was to work hand in hand with my SWAT?" He laughed, "How absurd!" Then his laughter stopped, "I was wrong, working with Commander Spectre and his team we stopped several criminal operations from drug labs to child trafficking." He turned it over to Eastpointe.

"We were the first to get his armor upgrades, cannot tell you how many lives he has saved, for it is nigh impossible to count. His team working with my detectives, dropped the homicide rate, closed drug supply lines from Canada to Mexico."One after another each police department told of my team's involvement and success they had gained by it. Matthew then stepped up again.

"The experiment worked, so now, here at Motor City PRIDE Festival, I am proud to announce Delta 12's newest successful division along with its Head of Command." I stepped forward center stage as the others parted and one by one my team landed around me. "DELTA 12 PROUDLY INTRODUCES TO YOU ALL- SPEC OPS AGENCY!" The crowd was on its feet with applause. "AND ITS HEAD OF COMMAND, THE KNIGHTMARE HERO, ROBERTO RODRIGO ROBLES, COMMANDER SPECTRE!" He the joined the audience applause and turned it over to me.

"By now after this morning, you all know who I am, so allow me to introduce my team." I start with my first recruit, "She is the first one I recruited after my original team. She is Quaked in Elegance, my crown jewel, Bernadette Regine Copeland, Lady Tremor." She then stepped forward and slammed the ground sending a controlled aftershock through the crowd. "He is my newest member of Spec Ops, we have history since my days in Japan at UA Academy, his hero name may have changed, but I give you Mineta Minoru, Purple Reign." Mineta now wore his 'hair' in a long mohawk-like ponytail, he stepped forward pulled out one of his bubbles then turned it into a whip and cracked it.

The crowd was eating this up as I looked to my brothers-in-arms, my heart was a bit heavy. I really wished Andrew was here, yes, he was doing well in university, but still I missed my specialist. They saw the look in my eyes, they felt it too, they missed him too. I put on my best smile and calmed the crowd, "Now." I looked to my brothers. "These next two have been with me since before I was with Delta 12." I walk over to them then stand between them, I wrap my arms around them and they me. "They are my original ride or die, for some reason decided to listen to my craziest plans of this division. I love them as my family, my brothers through and through."

"Man, commander I have no idea why we listen to you, oh yeah, your track record, Bae-Beee!" Dezmond fist bumps me as does Terrin.

"Bruh, ride or die we stand by your side commander." Terrin gives me a bro hug as does Dezmond.

"And I you, so without further adieu, he is my team lead, team trainer, Making All Things Anew, Terrin Levi Hilsong, JENESYS!" He steps forward raising his hands hyping up the crowd to a frenzy! I smile proudly as I look at the first person I met after Rathers dropped me off at the safehouse. He smiles at me and I turn off my mic, "You ready to officially step in to your commission?"

"We took Tartarus back, hell yeah I am ready." The crowd was now officially hyped. We step forward as Terrin falls back to the others.

"So who leads these heroes? Well me, but every commander needs a second." I turn to Dezmond my face beaming ear to ear. "Meet the public face of Spec Ops, my second-in-command. He is Rising Like The Phoenix After Death, Dezmond Elijah Brown, Commander Rocaphella!" His raises his white hot fist to the sky, I stand beside him my fist also raised, Terrin at my opposite side, Lady Tremor and Purple Reign opposite of Dezmond. "But wait there is one more." I look just off stage, "Meet my lead advisor and my right hand man, you know him, you seen him before, welcome back to the stage, The Master of Currents, Jacob Cruder Downing, BLUE WORX!" In a blue streak of electricity he is at my side. "THANK YOU DETROIT! WE ARE SPEC OPS AGENCY! HAPPY PRIDE EVERYONE ENJOY THE FESTIVAL!" I nod to Jacob who slams his fists a blinding light flashes, by the time they recover we are gone.

95

Dezmond and I started U of M soon after PRIDE, we made sure to take the same classes on the same schedule. If we were going to graduate top of the class, we had to work together. I turned our time at the University of Michigan into a completion, honestly it was the best way to keep us disciplined. Terrin was true to his word and joined the US Marines. We were there to see him off, to comfort Ma. Matthew and I had prepared for this but, it still hurt, more for me, but he stayed the course. Bre, with a little help from me, graduated early. Her job as a model for Uwabami brand, was grueling. She, Uwabami, made her her brands ambassador to the West. From Detroit to New York, down to Miami back to LA, she was a hot commodity. Uwabami treated her, along with her many other models, better than the other main stream brands. The Snake Hero, treated them like family, merging with Ryūku Agency had made her do a complete 180. Ryu had effected her the way she ran her brand, ending up being the best thing to happen to her.

The Minetas, yeah they eloped as soon as they got to America. Despite it all, they had each others back. Midnight was now on maturity leave per Matthew, he did not fool around when it came to these things. Despite it all, he was a parent himself and had seen the horrors other companies and agencies treated expectant mothers. It pissed him off to no end, his hobby was to fight these assholes, I joined him. Each win, he would absorb their remains, put someone with some got damn sense in charge then step away. He kept a 10%, well now 5% splitting it with me, control in the company. He really was very business savvy I had to say, I learned much from him. As for Midnight, she was unhappy but also grateful, as for her dear hubby, well he could not wait to become a father. They were going to have a daughter, he was nervous wreck.

My children were growing up so fast it was almost my twins birthdays, cheez itz, spam, and garlic. Where did the time go, just yesterday RJ took his first steps, now today Ami. Raidou was not far behind, he was already trying to prop himself up on furniture when ever he could. Man, it seemed I blink and they do something amazing, they were so smart. As I look at them in their huge play pen in my office, yeah I kept my kids with me as much as I could. Just watching them from my desk, time just seemed to flyby. They were pretty popular among our employees, I hit my com, "Matthew could you be a lamb and come to my office honey." I loved working with my boyfriend.

"Sure, almost done here, need help feeding our little mascots." Matthew did not mind my actions, I was a co-owner, he understood how my mind worked. It gave Tsu and Momo a break, efficiency.

"No, nothing like that, take your time." He laughed and I cut the line and went back to studying and looking over cases. About fifteen minutes later Matthew knocked on my door. I smiled and told him to come in, my kids see him and fight to get his attention. "They love their dad." Matthew gave them each a hug.

"I love them just as much." I came from around my desk, Raidou sees me, "Well lookie there, he wants his papi." I pick him up, he was strong, heavy but not really in a baby fat way.

"Hey Raidou." He hugs me and I melt, my twins reach for Matthew who picks them up.

"Our kids have me working out more." I give him a lustful smile.

"I've noticed, here I thought you were doing that for me." Matthew laughs at me.

"Partially, but I enjoy holding both of them at once." He gave a wiff, I put down Raidou and took Ami. I had a curtained off changing station, one diaper change later, I cleaned up. "So what is on your mind Roberto?"

I popped my neck, "Childcare is ridiculously expensive."

"Yeah, cost of being a parent." He agreed with my statement.

I then rubbed my chin like my wife, Matthew put down RJ back in his play pen with Ami and Raidou."Our people are well compensated, and honestly we have been really good on budget."

"What are you thinking." I had him curious.

I smiled and he crossed his arms. "A new department, I wish to invest in our people."

"I am listening." I offer up my hand, he took a breath and held on almost instantly we had our connection.

"We offer childcare, go through the licensing process, I am more than willing to pay for it out of pocket for it." I gave him my proposal.

"Wow, you are really taking parenting seriously." Matthew was beside himself. "Honestly its not a bad idea I'll have Bailey and Jacob to look into it." I smiled, I wanted Delta 12 to be the best, and heroes worked best when they knew their children were safe. "We could renovated the third floor conference room into a daycare center."

"The second break room there can be turned into a kitchen, I think we can do this. It would mean more jobs for the city." That was always a good thing.

A few months later Delta 12 started going through the proper channels to offer its employee's free childcare. Mei caught on to my idea, she was now showing, as soon as my daughter was born, she was going to do the same. Mei now worked from the comfort of her room at my house. I loved every minute of it. I had both my soulmates with me, my children, the world was mine. Dezmond and I were doing extremely well in university. Between work, school, my kids, I learned to keep it all balanced. If Dezmond and I had a test coming up we took off work to study for it. Luckily for me I had Mei, Tsu, and Momo during this time to child rear. As soon as the test was passed I took over giving them a break. This was just how we did it.

Momo ended up working with Mei at High Specs, she ended up liking it better than being a hero. So she went back to school getting accepted into Wayne State for engineering. Tsu well honestly, she just enjoyed being a mom for now. I asked if she felt like going back to being a hero. "Eventually, right now, being a hero to our children is amazing love." She soon discovered Wayne State had online college, that appealed to her immensely, she ended up wanting to learn accounting.

Time rolled on-January 9th …

This time we had it down pact! My daughter came into this world smoother than all my children before. Mei and I made an agreement, she wanted our daughter to have her surname, I would name her but she kept Hatsume as her last name. Believe it or not Bre was having dinner with us when Mei's water broke. The ambulance came and she rode with us to the hospital. Once again I was in the delivery room, I cut the cord and went through the motions. I waited to name her till she came in with us. Bre saw her and then I named our daughter. "Regine Robles Hatsume." Yeah my last name ended up her middle name, Mei found it hilarious!

"You clever bastard Robby." She laughed through tired breaths.

"Regine…" Bre fell back as she looked at me her eyes were watering.

"I fell in love with the name when I heard it." She hugged me suddenly.

"Commander." I gently held her in my arms. "I do not know what to say?" She was crying.

"Thank you works, and would you like to be her godmother?" More tears as she shook her head yes. "Mei you approve." She nodded yes.

"Bre would you like to hold her?" Bre could not get to her sooner, she took her in her arms.

"Hello Regine, I am your godmama." She was still crying, "Your daddy is crazy about you but I think I have him beat." She kissed my daughter's head as she coo'd. "Thank you Roberto." I looked up and smiled, "Now it feels right sir."

"I am so glad." I swallowed the lump on my throat. "Thank you." I whispered. Bre continued to hold her and hum to her some beautiful lullaby, it put Mei to sleep. "Regine… my goddaughter…Regine."

Ten years go by in what seems to be a flash, I am 29, Dezmond, Andrew and I have graduated top of our class. Terrin finished his tours and is recovering from slight PTSD, but we rally around him, get him help, and do not leave him behind. He left E-9 or Master Gunnery Sergeant, we all missed him dearly, I bought him a house upon his return.

"Commander you do not…" He is silenced by my smile, in the end he still knows my heart.

"MSG Jenesys," He turns to me and I embrace him, "Please let me, I've missed you so much." He gives in, Dezmond takes him out to furnish it. Andrew handles all his legal matters pro bono. Bre… well, turns out they had a spark and they are married now 5 years. Bre retired Uwabami's top model, she still gets her latest styles from her personally. As in every new line she creates, she comes to Detroit personally to visit her and gifts it to her. That and she begs her to come back for a line or two. Terrin finds it hilarious, but she is honestly enjoying retirement, besides both of them work for me.

Terrin made us all go through his current regime to be apart of Spec Ops. Its hell on earth, our main team and I pass but we have lost a few heroes. I do not question his training, its why I hired him, if I pass it, anyone can. He does not discriminate, quirk, no quirk, he points to me and it settles all arguments. I keep his duties scheduled orderly, it helps him adjust and I actively help him relearn to be flexible, not just physically, but mentally, Dezmond helps him spiritually along with Ma. Slowly but surely through patience, camaraderie, with lots of love from us, his family, Master Gunnery Sargent Terrin Levi Hilsong comes back to us as better version of himself and yes that is his rank in Spec Ops Agency.

Andrew, Andrew, Andrew, my dear Andrew, he was true to his word, top scores and rank for his class. Me and Matthew got him into Tim Goldstien's Law Firm as an intern. Andrew knew his mission. He learned as much as he could, I kept him paid, since technically he still worked for Delta 12. He quickly made friends and silently worked his way to associate, Matthew and I would slide him legal work that got him noticed. Delta 12 was Michigan's Largest Hero Agency, he played them like a master conductor. He won case after case, in hero law, he was the best. He made sure of it, his commander would not expect any less.

Then he landed the law firm's biggest client Delta 12. Tim Goldstein himself tried to take it from him. Under the guise of offering partnership with in the firm, Andrew took it. The year Bre married Terrin, the bastard struck, Matthew knew it was coming. Andrew said he was going to start his own firm, so Goldstein let him out of his contract legally. The fool dug his own grave, he treated those under him like trash, replaceable, first family of law indeed. Andrew had covered his tracks better than the old man, he did not even need my resources, they were his use, he was my soldier, family. He made completely sure that he was safe from legal backlash, both parties agreed to an NDA and an ironclad agreement of legal language I could not even began to explain.

Matthew and I showed up to Goldstein pissed off that one of his sons showed up to our offices. "Where is Andrew?" Matthew asked directly, I got us into his boardroom. The law firm's biggest client showed up madder than a kicked hornet's nest in the Summer. He stammered then said Andrew had left his firm and his eldest son would take over our…

"Oh, not you?" I saw the firm's owner's face turn pale as Matthew and I looked at each other then back at him. "Then the owners of Delta 12 have this to say."

"YOU ARE FIRED!" We said in unison, I pulled up my mobile and showed Matthew. I shot out a holo projector as the owner saw a number dialed and ring.

Andrew popped up on the holo screen"Rollins Law, how can I, Commanders!"

"Mr. Rollins we just found out you branched out on your own." Matthew smiled.

I popped my neck and spoke, "Indeed Mr. Rollins, Mr. Goldstein" I see Matthew give a smile only one who has been on the other side of my inflection could give. "failed to inform us of your departure, moreover, he brushed us off to one of his lesser associates."

"Jason is my son!" He protested.

"As my partner said, his lesser. Associates." Matthew just shot daggers at him.

I smiled at my man then looked back at Andrew. "Are you looking for new clients Mr. Rollins?"

Andrew could not help but smile, "Why yes Commander Robles, I am."

"When can we meet?" Matthew added as we see the clients Goldstein was meeting with look on with shocked curiosity.

Andrew glanced at nothing then back at us with a smile. "As a matter of fact I am free now."

"Perfect so are we." I cut the line as we flipped off the owner and exited The Law Offices of Tim Goldstein. My family was now back together and ready to face what may come our way.

My twins and Raidou are now 10, Regine is 9. Ami was the first to manifest a quirk, after some research, Tsu and I found out it is called Heat Sink. She has the ability to steal the quirk energy from others, namely heat based ones. She then could redistribute it where she needs it, be it strength, speed, or say an intelligence boost.

RJ, my first son was next, Jet Engine, mutant quirk, he could super cool the 'engine' in his thighs and shoulder blades through his breath to extend his speed or launch him to his target. My twins could breathe underwater and stick to walls inheriting it from Tsuyu.

Raidou, my middle son, like his name in tells could harness lightning, because of this his muscles were always active. He is strong, immensely so, it took some time but for someone so young he learned to control it. He was the most like me, always wanting to push himself to be better.

My youngest Regine, well she developed something entirely new, we called it Techformation. Basically, she take something like say a lamp, touch it, picture something else break it down and reform it to what she wanted. This only worked with items that had a power source. Due to Mei, she inherited vast intelligence, she also showed signs of my tactical prowess. This scared both of us because it could mean she had both Mei and I's strengths and none of our weaknesses.

The one thing I wondered as did Tsu, Mei, and Momo, was why were our children's quirks so vastly different from that of their mothers. I was quirkless, this, for the life of me- frustrated and confused me to no end. After several tests, come to find out I had the DNA coding for a quirk but it remained, for whatever reason, dormant in me. This DNA code was, for the lack of a better term, was undesignated, meaning when it finally activated in my children it was a literal roll of the dice. As I looked at my children, I cannot help but laugh, I rolled high!

From the time they could walk, my children were fascinated on how I trained with their mothers. Despite them, them being Tsu and Momo, choosing different paths, they still had the hero mentality. Mei concentrated on her business but enjoyed testing her newest 'babies' on me. Tsu and Momo were all to happy to assist her in all her endeavors. Matthew would trained with me sometimes when Mei's baby was meant to engage multiple targets, it was then that Momo or mostly Tsu used the invention on me. Mei noticed how our children loved watching us and made a child safe viewing area.

My children were raised together, because of this I had to move to a new bigger home. It was still in Harper Woods however I loved the home Matthew bought me so I kept it, maybe one day I could give it to one of my children, or my team's kids. For now Mineta and Midnight were its caretakers, they had their own children, yeah my classmate did not stop at one. However after she had twins, she made her dear husband get a vasectomy, a permanent one. I told him it was not bad, you still functioned just could not have kids. To me they were family so in that light there were no strangers living in my home.

My new home was just as big as Matthew's home, 3 master bedrooms and baths, 4 bed, 2.5 baths, basement/ laundry room living room, dining, kitchen, 4 car garage. I converted the backyard to a training ground with the help of Terrin. Terrin was beyond clever in his design, it looked like a huge playground, looked. In actuality, each part of it trained my children's muscle development and coordination. I loved it, we all did, to our kids their parents were actively playing with them, really we were training as well.

Eventually when our children got older and left the nest I would down grade. For now we all lived together. Mei would remain with us not because of our current living situation, but because she came to terms that I also viewed her as my wife as well. Tsu had no problem with this, she viewed her the same way, they were my soulmates and they loved me as much as I loved them.

My kids went to public school, I believed in the public school system and with some anonymous donations, investigation into the city it's self, Detroit's school system was revitalized . With the combine efforts of Matthew, Jacob, and Andrew we made sure the donations went first to the schools that needed it the most. Delta 12 security division was then given contract for these schools' safety and welfare of its staff and students. The price was heavy, but the results were extraordinary reaping great reward. I then turned my eyes to Joe Lewis Hero Academy, I did not have many fond memories of it. Connor K. Patrick was still in charge, I made a promise to my original team that I would change that. Mrs. Rollins had kept me updated on the man's growing closet of skeletons.

96

Three years later…

My personal investigation into Connor K. Patrick was complete, Andrew had been diligent in his studies, just for this. He expanded his law degree into corporate law as well. His staff now consisted of former irate Tim Goldstein interns and junior associates. Andrew was sinister when he wanted and needed to be, Patrick had used him to promote his own agenda not the school. Like me, he never forgot, Patrick was given no forgiveness and no quarter. Goldstein was Patrick's counsel, it could not be more delicious for him. He served Connor K. Patrick personally in full Pointbreak hero regalia. Mei had not forgotten about Andrew, she kept him up to date with the latest and greatest. Andrew in her mind never left my team, he just moved into a different role. I had to agree with her, Andrew is my brother, and I never abandon family.

Joe Lewis was the headline for every local news media outlet for the better part of the year. Corruption, faulty equipment for non-premium students, subpar for those coming from the well off. Bribes, embezzlement, theft of Mei's holo tech, yeah he never returned them upon my graduation. Corporate espionage, he sold them to Arma Inc. They could not reverse engineer my beautiful mad scientist's work, besides they were so outdated it was laughable. The icing on the cake, to which Mrs. Rollins led was the raid of his home in Grosse Point.

Mrs. Rollins knew about my past it was public knowledge now since my war with the yakuza. She held on to a final piece of evidence, which she had with her when she entered my office at Delta 12. He had been involved with the trafficking of minors from Detroit's homeless population. My city was not perfect, no city is, I protect everyone, poor, middle, upper, Detroit's citizens trusted in not only the hero agencies and law enforcement but its heroes as well. My entire team was her squad, including Pointbreak. Tyche stopped everything for this raid, she was our eye in the sky with Hermes V waiting, watching, ready to act.

I broke down the door as soon as the warrant arrived, we found this sick bastard balls deep into a minor masked performing for the web camera. Tyche went to work back tracing its viewers. She turned over the information Mrs. Rollins who distributed it to local police departments. It was the story of the decade and that was how Spec Ops Agency became official partners with the FBI. Agent Rollins became head of their new branch working hand-in-hand with me. Joe Lewis Hero Academy was up for grabs!

May 4, Matthew's birthday, we usually celebrated our birthdays together, but this time I changed it up. I picked him up at Delta 12, yeah I still hated driving but for Matthew I did today. I promised him I would not make a big deal he was turning 41 today and we had now been together for little over 13 years as a couple, 14 years as co-owners. Despite me still seeing that 27 year old man I fell in love with so long ago, he felt the consequences of being a hero. Till Mei came along with her tech, his armor took a toll on him. I could see it then as I do now. He wasn't feeble by no means but honestly I wanted him to just be an owner now. "Matthew, you know I love you right?"

"In our 14 years together, you still question me you fucking fairy." He laughed, as he held my hand. I felt his quirk and pulled my hand away.

"NO, not this year my love." I see him smile promising he would not. "Least not right now." He nodded, he did not like surprises, I tried to resist his quirk, but eventually I gave in. As he got older it became stronger or maybe easier for him to use on me. Despite this I hated how it ruined my surprises for him. I took him to where we had our first date, the owners had long since passed on and now their grandson ran it. "My dear Matthew, you recall Joe Lewis being up for grabs."

"Yeah, I tried my best to get it but was outbid, same bullshit." I then handed him an envelope. "What is this?"

"Yeah I was there when you got the news." I was crushed when I saw his face. "Open it." Matthew looked at me quizzically. "Go on." He smiled at me shaking his head as he opened it.

"Tell me this is real." I smiled shaking my head. "You fucking bastard." I laughed as he pulled me in the envelope fell open as we kissed. Joe Lewis Hero Academy was now his. "Roberto, why didn't." I kissed him again.

"Because I never get tired of seeing you smile." I gave him what he desired most.

"Oh shit who..." I touch his face causing him pause.

I pull him in and our foreheads touch, "Matthew, I know Delta 12 is your dream come true."

He smiled as he scoffed. "What this your idea of a takeover?"

"No, I could have done that years ago and you know it." I smile back.

"True, then what, my handsome fellow, is going on in that bag of feral cats you call a brain?" He pulls away and looks at me with yellow eyes, bastard got me, smart.

"Lead the new generation of heroes, become its headmaster." I drop the bomb I knew what he was trying to do.

"Principle, its not elite ivory school." He corrects me lifting up a finger as I roll my eyes.

"Whatever you know what I am getting at." I chuckle I loved this man.

"This why you made me go back to school at 30!" He remembers my request, we sparred for a good hour and I got the upper hand. It was winner takes all, and I won, thus he went back to school in the realm of education.

"Didn't take long, besides you got to admit you enjoyed it." School was never fun for him growing up, for the longest time, growing up working class, people thought he was slow. His father, the monster, abused him on the daily telling him he was nothing. His mother died of an overdose of heroine trying to escape the pain she was in. Few days after that, his father murdered his sister in a drunken haze, Matthew had enough and took a chef's knife to the bastard's throat. No charges filed, case close. He was then sent to his uncle's thankfully, where he found out he was dyslectic, not stupid, my Matthew was and still is a genius. He got the help he needed, then turned his tragedy into a legacy.

"Damn you, what are you going to do without me?" He closed his eyes as he spoke. My beautiful Matthew, I am so glad you are in my life.

I swallowed hard then looked away."That's the other thing." This was going to hurt, I made a promise years ago with Mei.

"Roberto are you?" Matthew knew what was coming, I told him when we became business partners that I was going start Spec Ops Japan eventually.

This was killing me, "Matthew I love you with all of my heart."

"Are you breaking up with me!" His eyes seemed to go wide with panic.

"ARE YOU INSANE! I FOUGHT LONG AND DAMN HARD FOR YOU!" I was appalled, "WAITED FOR YOU, ALMOST DIED FOR YOU!" I was about to beat his ass till he grabbed me then silenced my tangent.

He broke our kiss, "I know I just wanted to see that look." I chuckled to myself wiping away tears. "Roberto, I know I just want you here with me."

"Then we'll vette a principle, you retire and live with us in Japan."

"I knew you would say that but…"

"You are a stubborn old bastard, who keeps my heart captive."

"And you mine."

"Am I wrong for this?" I see Matthew shake his head no. "Is retirement really that bad?"

"Honestly I ask myself that question more now than I did when you graduated." Matthew had no words when I forced myself to take on more and more classes. In between raising my children, Delta 12 and Spec Ops, dealing with 3 women vying for my attention I managed to graduate a full year early. Dezmond could not keep up with me, he still graduated with honors, but I did it first.

"What?"

"I knew it was a matter of time before you would go back to Japan." Matthew was never naive, he knew I stuck to my goals. From the first day I arrived, when he went to war with me, when I took down my target, hell when I pursued him romantically, to now. "I know you hate clichés but am I wrong for wanting you here?"

I smiled I loved this man so much. "No my dearest you are not." Our smartphones go off and we laugh. "They love their dad so much." A picture of my kids holding up a banner saying 'Happy Birthday Daddy Matt'

"And I them, Roberto, you have given me so much, I never thought I would experience parenthood again. Yeah I had Bailey but she is all grown up." I held his hand. "So tell me what can we do?"

"Change the world." I smile at him, "Raidou wants to go to Joe Lewis as does Regine." Matthew closes his eyes I can tell he just made a his decision. "RJ and Ami want to try for UA."

"So who will be our inheritors?" This was indeed the question.

"I already turned over Spec Ops Agency to Dezmond." Matthew looks at me in shock! "He takes over in two days at the press conference."

"You are leaving THAT SOON!" Oh my man is about to have a break down.

"No you silly man." He takes a breath, "I am not leaving till after my kids graduate."

"But RJ and Ami." He did not understand, they were going to be in Japan on their own. Be it in my mother's house or at the dorms in UA they could handle it, I trusted them.

"They both want to be like their old man and forge their own path, they got my home in Musutafu. They told me, if they do not get in to UA they will come home." Matthew looks at me knowingly, "Yeah I know they will. I lived on my own since I was 16, they will be fine, I trained them, their mother taught them money, they are far better prepared than I was."

"You will miss them." He was going to miss them.

"I already do and they haven't even left yet." How could I not I loved being a father. Matthew had been with me through it all, teaching me how to be the best father I could be.

"So why turn over your agency?" Now he was curious.

"Raidou." I said with a smile.

Matthew dropped his head."Why does he fight you so much?" Puberty hit my middle son early, combine that with his quirk, the poor kid was going through it. He wanted to take on the world, like his old man, he hated failure. I had been training our kids from an early age in martial arts, I even up'd the lessons with Raidou to help him focus along with banging my head against the wall between various doctor visits. Having a kids with vastly powerful quirks was a hell unto itself. Sparring helped my son the most, it did with me when mom took me in. She helped me through my trauma, stifle my anger and pain. If only she could be here now.

That was behind the scenes, what Matthew saw was a father and son tearing into each other like two pitbulls in a dog fighting ring. "You think we are estranged?" I laugh to the utter confusion before me. "Raidou, wants to continue my legacy." Matthew looks at me strangely, "They all are my legacy, but Raidou wants to be more, better than me, can you imagine?"

"I'm terrified." Matthew laughed nervously. "How does Momo feel?"

"About the same as you, my son has a quirk, is me to a Tee, more so than the rest of our children." Matthew bowed his head, "Oh my dear husband." He looks up at me. "Almost two decades together yeah." I pull out a ring box. "I should have given you this long ago." I open it revealing a wedding ban with diamonds embedded in the gold band. "I know we…"

"Yes. I am yours and you are mine." He pulls out a ring box of his own. He opens it revealing a wedding band similar to his but in white gold. "I saw it two weeks ago when you stayed the night." We place them on each others fingers we then paid the check. Matthew decided to retire that day and in two days he was going to turn over Delta 12 to Jacob at the press conference I set up. We were going to go public about Joe Lewis and how Matthew was going to be its principle.

May 5, I gathered my team and Matthew called in every hero we employed. We owed it to our heroes to tell them first beforehand. Delta 12 was filled with 120 heroes in the City of Detroit at our main office, connect via Hermes V, the branches in Grand Rapids, 30, Traverse City, 20, Marquette branch 100. "Thank you for coming to this meeting." Matthew began. "Since I founded Delta 12 Agency, I never would have thought I would see this day." His voice cracked, "I am going to be direct, I a-as of yesterday at 20:00 hrs I am now retired." His words as expected shocked them all, "I thank you all for your service but we are not done, my journey has come to an end but not Delta 12." He motions for Jacob to come up beside him, "Jacob Cruder Downing, it is to you I leave Delta 12 in your more than capable hands."

"Matthew." Jacob chokes up and breaks rank and embraces him. "I accept this commission." I look at him and salute him, salutes back to me then hugs me. "Guess you made him a house husband."

"You would be wrong." He is in shock, "Matthew you want to tell them?" He smiles.

"I- We" He grabs my hand as he looks back at his former agency, "acquired Joe Lewis Hero Academy." At this a roar of cheers echoed across our branches. "My journey begins anew as its principle." He then turns it over to me.

"We have already began revamping its curriculum, it will now be a hybrid system accredited by two nations. America's first 3 year high school in its current history and the first America-Japan school that will reforge the meaning of being a hero." I then pull up the plans on how to attend. "Entry is by exam, written, physical, and random scenario based."

"So pretty much a PHL test?" V spoke up.

"Yes." I then explained how High Specs International, ARMA INC, and several other hero equipment manufactures from both nations have come together to give a new generation of heroes the tools they need to go beyond, PLUS ULTRA! "Delta 12 along with several other hero agencies both in the US and Japan have united to bring forth something the world has never seen before. Joe Lewis will be the forerunner paving the way for a new era the like of which I can not even begin to comprehend enough to put into words." After I concluded what was in store for Joe Lewis I brought Dezmond up beside me.

"I am ready my brother." He says to me as I place my hand on his shoulder.

"I came to Detroit 15 years ago for one mission, to bring the bastards involved in my mother's murder to justice." Those who were around during that time took a breath. "Well that did not go exactly to plan." I saw some of them cringed as they relived the memory. "I ended up staying, rose up to the rank of commander in Delta 12 and founding Spec Ops Agency." I look at Dezmond, "Many of you know my plan was not to remain but to return to my homeland." I see a few bow their head, "I am not leaving just yet, but I am turning over Spec Ops Agency to Commander Rocaphella as it's new head." I turn to Dezmond, we salute each other, "Commander Dezmond Elijah Brown, Rocaphella do you accept your new commission?"

He drops his salute, "Wholeheartedly Commander Roberto Rodrigo Robles, The Knightmare Hero, Spectre." I then embrace him and he turns to his men. They go to attention and salute him.

"Awaiting orders Commander Rocaphella." They say as one.

"PRESENT ARMS!" He calls out as they salute as one, he turns to me. "Your final order commander." I swallow the lump in my throat.

"This is my final command." I take a breath, "I could not be more prouder of this unit, serve your new CO as you have served me. Continuing to fulfil your commissions as Spec Ops operatives and as heroes." I salute them, "I leave you all with my former school's motto and creed. GO BEYOND! When you can not go on, reach deep with in yourself, gathering all your courage and fight on, PLUS ULTRA! Then go beyond that to save just one more." I stay strong for my former team, though the tears flow, I stay strong. The next day we announced everything to the public. I then return home to my family, they greet me like they have not seen me in years. I feel like I had just returned from a war as I embrace each and everyone of them. This was the start of a new chapter in the saga that was my life.

End of Part 10

Addendum:Los Angeles Sewer System several years prior…

Where am I? Oh yeah, I am dead. But why is it blllaaaccckk….. What is going on? I feel like I am being remade and destroyed all at the same time. I feel so cold. A light, a sewer, what the hell? The nomu core, it just gave out. My arms, my body! I am alive! No, I do not feel my heart beating, least I can see. My mind is on fire! BLUE WORX! Jacob Downing, no he was just avenging her. He is not the source, HE is. Be it by devil or luck, I live! I will have my vengeance, I will take everything away from HIM. Then when he is broken, alone, his world turned to ash, I will just let him live. I will become his Knightmare, oh you should have made sure. You should have calculated better my dear Roberto Rodrigo Robles, commander of your pathetic Delta 12, The Knightmare Hero, Spectre.

I have time, do you? Wait till you get a load of me. Rappa Kendō has returned to collect his pound of FLESH!