What up y'all I was going to have a little skip here but I had an idea in the shower and decided to go a slightly different route. This might be a bit boring but I promise it'll pick up. Let's go!

"Pass those potatoes!" Sero called out. There was plenty, as every item of food had backups and backups to the backups. Three bowls of mashed potatoes, couple bowls of sweet corn, etc etc. It worked perfectly for the whole class.

"Wow! This is amazing!" Mina called out from one end of the table, stuffing her mouth with food and flailing her arms. "I agree, good work, Sato." "Thanks, Jirou. But, I had a few helpers, especially Uraraka."

"Oh, it was nothing!" The floating girl had a smile and light blush from the praise before she looked back down at her plate. "Well, what do you think, Freeman?"

Slade sat at the end of the table, mouth full of food. He looked around and gave a thumbs up before an audible gulp was heard. "It's amazing. Just like I'm back at the states."

The usual full hum of several conversations filled in the silence that followed. Seconds were quickly divvied out. "Hey, Freeman, what was your entrance exams like?" Midoriya asked while buttering one of the yeast rolls. "Oooh yeah, I was wondering too. We had to fight giant robots!" Uraraka punched at the air.

"Oh, yeah, we didn't have that. Our exams were a written exam, then a practical exam, but no robots. It was mainly get from point A to point B. You were graded on if you made it, and helped anyone." "Are you serious?! That sounds like baby's first hero class! What kind of crap are the American schools trying to pull?!"

Slade held up his hand, swallowing what was in his mouth. "Did you have to run through a hail of bullets?"

Everyone was dead silent.

"Military personnel set up. Sniper nests, MG nests. Live ammo. 7.62 to 5.56 to .50 caliber, all firing at you. Actually, my class was the first class in three years to not have someone die."

The silence was deafening. Momo and Uraraka was covering their mouths. Even Bakugo was stunned. Slade looked over at everyone's face, before he snorted and started to laugh.

"Wait, what are you laughing at?" Jirou asked as Slade kept snorting. "Everyone's faces! Oh, I was messing with you all, we didn't have to dodge bullets." There was an eruption of both laughter and annoyance now.

"Ohh, my god, that was just mean!" Momo said with a huff. "We had to dodge paintballs. I can't believe you bought that!" "Well, it is America," Midoriya brought up. He had a point. "Nah, remember that duck shooting game? It was like that, except with teenagers. Which sounds kinda weird, but it's true." Slade rearranged himself in his seat. "It was a long path, basically the length of a football field. The security had paintball guns and was supposed to shoot at us, and there was limited cover."

"Oh, that's interesting. It's not perfect, mind you." "No exam is perfect, Deku. I mean, my friend, Brooke, her quirk is intangibility...or something like that. She just strolled through it. But my other friend, Madison, he has like a fire storage quirk, so he couldn't do much there."

"What did you do?" Sero called from the end. "It was outside. Big mistake. So, naturally, I made a big wall, and just strolled through. After that, I held it up and let everyone else run through. The principal was pissed at that."

"I can imagine. *chop* It's a simple but effective test, *chop* and to have one student with a quirk *chop* that can 'break the system' like that would be rather infuriating." "But if the idiots are going to make a test that easy, they can't be mad if it's exploited like that," said Bakugo, putting his utensils on his cleaned plate.

"Sasageyo Sasageyo shinzou wo Sasageyo!"

The song rang through the common room as numerous people froze, curling their arms and putting a fist over their chest in the Survey Corps salute. Shoji, Kaminari, and even Todoroki was among the many.

"Crap sorry, forgot to mute my phone." Slade grabbed for his phone in his pocket. "Dude, I didn't know you watched Attack on Titan!" Slade looked at Sero and smiled a little. "I watched a lot of anime to help me learn Japanese. Uh...415 number, I don't know anyone from San Francisco."

"Answer it!" A few of his classmates were goading him on, as Slade shrugged and hit accept. "Yello?" His Midwest accent became severely noticeable when he spoke English, making several of his classmates chuckle.

Slade found silence on the other line. Or rather, what might be identified as heavy breathing. "Who is this?" More silence. "If this is about the extended warranty on my car, I don't have one!"

"Hello, son."

Slade froze. His eyes widened, his face paled, and his breathing caught. "Who is it?" Midoriya asked, noticing his classmates sudden change in looks and demeanor. Slade was speechless. As much as he wanted to play it off as a prank call or joke, he recognized the deep rumble and dripping venom of the voice on the other side of the line.

"Freeman...who is it?" asked the green haired teenager again, snapping Slade out of his stupor. Slade put his phone on speaker. "You...how are you calling me?!" "Oh, they allowed me one phone call, so I figured I'd use it wisely..." There was a soft chuckle that raised goosebumps from a majority of the class. "I have to admit, you got me good. Your mother in protection, you disappearing...ratting me out to that dumbass Thundersnow. It was smart, a lot smarter than I thought you could ever be, you FUCKING INVALID!" The booming yell made Slade drop the phone on the table, his breathing quickly speeding up with his heart rate as he clutched his hair in his hands.

"I TOLD YOU WHAT I'D DO TO YOU IF YOU EVER RATTED ME OUT, YOU WORTHLESS WASTE OF A HUMAN!" The yelling only put Slade more on edge. He looked close to tears and started to quickly rock back and forth in his chair. "I will honor my promise, you mongrel. When I get free...I'm going to find you and your mother. And I will strangle the life out of the both of you!"

Everyone was shocked. English might have been a second language, but they knew a majority of what was said. Also, once you factored in the mood of both parties, they knew it was bad. Really bad. "HEY!"

Bakugo stood up, slamming his fist against the table. "You bastard, how about I come through the phone and kill you?!" Of course, Bakugo would pick up all the English swear words along with 'kill'. "WHO SAID THAT?!" "I did, you limp dick! Or you can crawl through the phone yourself and I can blow you to hell!" Slade looked up at Bakugo, who was walking toward where Slade and his phone sat. Several more stood up and did the same.

"Big talk coming from a pendejo on the other side of the world, hijo de la puta! Ven aqui, te voy a sacar los pinches ojos, guey!" Sero had chimed in now adding a little Spanish flair. "Yeah! What he said!" Kaminari gave a thumbs up, feeling awfully confident even though he didn't contribute that much. Mina walked over behind the panicked teenager. Leaning in, she whispered the first thing that came to her mind.

"He's on the other side of the world, in prison. He can't get out. And we have your back..."

The words she whispered in his ear suddenly broke the cloud. Slade sat up straight, his face changing from fear to indifference, to anger. A surge of confidence he hasn't felt in a long time shot through him like an adrenaline shot. Clutching the phone once again, he brought it up to himself. "Hey, old man!" "The hell you call me?" Carter's voice grew more agitated by the second. "What's wrong? No alcohol or kids to punch? Must be hard to release your pent up anger."

Several teens started grinning at their classmate. "Listen here you l-" "No, you listen! I'm done with your shit, you abusive drunk! Yeah, I put you away! I hope you never see the sunlight again! Actually no, I hope they bring back corporal punishment just for your sorry ass!"

"You ungrateful sack of shit!" "Shove it up your ass, you vile, insecure, egotistical, maniacal, pathetic excuse of an oxygen waster! Good luck feeling like a big man without a woman and child to beat!" Slade's own anger was now showing, as his face was turning red and his spittle showing on the surface of the table.

"You better sleep with one eye open, you little bastard!" "KNOW WHAT? I hope you break out! That way I can beat you half to death like you always did to us! Oh, and Carter?! Don't drop the soap."

Slade slammed his finger on the End Call button as the whole room erupted in cheers. "Hell yeah! That's how you do it!" Receiving praise from Bakugo felt odd but Slade smiled still. "Yes! That's how you do it! You tell that nasty man what's up!" "I think he told him more than that, Uraraka," Momo said, but still clapped. Slade's breathing was loud hisses, but he quickly brought it down with a deep breath, giving a thumbs up. "Almost lost my cool there."

"Way to go, Freeman. We're proud of you." Mina's words froze the teen for a second before looking over his shoulder. "What?" "I...I said, we're proud of you?" she repeated, her sentence unsure if what she said was the right thing or not to say. "Th-thank you...No one's ever said that..."

"Alright, that's enough sentimental crap! There's a mountain of dishes to do!" "Aww, sounds like he needs a hug, you guys!" Slade's announcement made the blonde teenager instantly go on the defense. "You better not! I'll blow anyone to hell who even gets close!"

XXX

"So, how you feeling today?" The pro hero Ms. Joke was quick to notice the very drastic change. Well, it wasn't a complete 180, but she saw him from the window walking with a certain pep in his step. "Last night, Deku asked me to come downstairs, where they cooked a large Midwestern meal for me to make me feel more at home..." "Awwww! That's so precious and generous of your class!" she swooned, while scribbling. "And how did all that make you feel?"

"I felt...great. The food was amazing, and everyone was enjoying themselves. It was almost perfect..." Her eyes quickly darted up from her notepad, sensing an incoming 'but'. "Then...I got a phone call." "Okay...dare I ask who from?"

The teenager was laying on the couch again, staring up at the ceiling like the day before. He casually turned his head, looking at his counselor. "It was my dad."

"BWAAAAAT?!" Ms. Joke sputtered and tried to comprehend what he just said. "Yeah. I got a call from a San Francisco number, and completely did not put two and two together about the Rock being in that area..." "But...okay so, what happened?"

After a quick recap, Ms. Joke nodded slowly and started writing. She was silent for a couple minutes before she broke the silence. "Facing your demons literally, that takes quite a lot of courage." "Yeah, but I was surrounded by my classmates then. I don't know what I'd do if I was alone with him."

"What do you mean?" The teen sighed. "I had courage with my classmates. But...alone...I would probably just crumble. There's no way I'd stand up to him or take him." "Then why are you here?"

The question hit the teenager like a shot. Before he gathered his thoughts, she spoke again. "Why come here even? Why pursue bettering yourself? You yourself said "I want to be the hero who anyone can come to in a time of need and know something will be done'. So if you don't think you could take him, why waste your time here?"

What she said was harsh, but made so much sense. Slade was quiet for a moment. Why was he here? Mainly to be somewhere else when they arrested his old man. But, why did he pick here?

The news clip of I-Island ran through his mind. Kids his age, doing magnificent things and being heroes even if they're so young. Coming from the fabled UA. He knew the gap between his school and other overseas schools was wide but, that night it was put into perspective. The team work, the honor, the bravery, the discipline. Most others are just trying to cruise through the school for a paycheck, but he wanted more. He wanted what the class of UA had.

"I see those gears turning..." The teenager sat up and looked Ms. Joke in the eyes. "I came here to be better, stronger. Physically and mentally. I came here to be a hero. I've learned more in two days here than I have in months. And...I'm not stopping now. Nothing is stopping me. Even if I'm only here for a year, I'm going to retain everything I learn and apply it to the streets to be the best damn hero in the Midwest. And if I ever see my d-...Carter, again? I'll lock him up again and again, as many times as it takes! All the abusive spouses and parents will be brought to justice so that the victims can know peace."

Ms. Joke slowly started clapping, her grin somehow widening. "That's what we want to hear!" Slade took a deep breath and calmed down, before plopping down on the couch. "Let's switch gears...how do you feel about kids?"

Slade tensed up. "I...don't know..." "You afraid?" He nodded. "Afraid of messing up?" He nodded again. "Afraid something will happen and you might get angry and hurt the one you love?" Nodding intensifies. "Well, I spoke with Aizawa, aaaand after some slight persuasion, he agreed to volunteer someone!"

The teen looked at the pro hero with confusion. "What do you mean?" "I'll be right back!" Ms. Joke jumped up and exited the room. She must not have had to go far, as she was back maybe 30 seconds later. "Freeman...I want you to say hi to our volunteer!"

In stepped a young girl, maybe 7 years old. She had an adorable red dress that matched her eyes. In contrast, her hair was like a light gray almost white with a little horn on her forehead. "Go on, say hello." Slade sat up again, looking at the girl. "Um...hello. I'm Eri."

Slade was rather stunned. How did you talk to children? He had no idea. He never mingled with any kids ever. Well, unless you want to count his buddy Phoenix's little brother, but he highly doubted shoving a kid in a baritone case would apply much here.

"Hello...I'm Slade." "Hello." She bowed a little, as Slade was quick to stand and follow suit as he forgot about custom. "Eri, I want you and Freeman to get to know each other. Just chat it up!" "O-okay." He felt some apprehension coming from her, which he couldn't blame her for. He was a stranger.

She hopped up and took a seat on the other side of the couch. "So..." Well, this is going smoothly. "Ms. Joke says you're from America. What is it like there?"

It's big, loud, and full of crazy people doing shit in the name of 'patriotism' or whatever. It's like a meth house with a nice attic.

"It's..." How do you describe it to a young kid? "It's not as nice as here." Nailed it. "I never got to go very far, but where I was was loud and full of bad guys and mean people. But, there was times it was nice and quiet. Very cold winters and hot summers."

Oh yeah, talk about weather to a 1st grader that'll be perfect. "I see..." She seemed very guarded for a kid. Almost reminded him of...

He looked at Ms Joke, who just watched the two with an idle expression. "Eri..." She turned to the teenager, and there he saw it in her eyes. The same look, but much deeper down. Pain, anguish.

Helplessness.

He darted his eyes at the counselor again, knowing exactly what was happening here. "You were hurt too, weren't you?" The words came right from Eri, and punched Slade right in the heart. She brought her hand up, as he resisted the urge to move away with all his light as she touched a scar on his cheek with her finger.

"Overhaul would hurt me...break me apart and fix me. Over and over." Slade started to shake slightly, partially from anger but also just trying to keep it together. "But...then Lemillion and Deku saved me! They were my heroes, they saved me from Overhaul. Did you get saved?"

His breathing was quick, in and out of his nostrils causing a slight wheeze. "N-no. I...had to save myself. And my mother." Eri looked at him in awe. "Wow. You must be super strong."

Slade was cursing whatever deity would listen for making Eri hurt, but also whomever made her so adorable. "Th-thank you..." "You have to keep smiling! Deku taught me that!"

"I go to class with Deku...little guy, looks like broccoli?" She burst into infectious giggles, and smiled wider. "Mmhm!" Even Slade found himself smiling a little. "He also taught me that not everyone is bad. There are good people..." Slade slowly nodded, not sure how to feel about a kid teaching him.

"That is true..." "Are you a good person?" Eri asked, looking him in the eyes again. "I'd like to think so..." Why did he feel like he was suddenly being interrogated? "You can't be a hero and be a bad person..." She was apparently not familiar with how the American hero system worked. Time to change the subject to something light, and happy!

"So Eri, what's your quirk?"

WRONG TOPIC! Her face was downcast suddenly. "Aizawa says its some kind of rewind quirk...but I can't quite control it yet. It hurts people..." Open mouth, insert foot. He had to save it... "I have the same quirk as my father...the one who hurt me. I hated it, but now I'm learning to use it for good." Nailed it.

"Ooooh...what is it?" "I can control dirt..." The girl looked at him for a few seconds before snorting. "You control dirt?" Was he being razzed by a child? "Yeah. I can use it as I want, and even make myself into this biiiig dirt monster!" "That was you yesterday?! I thought that was a villain attacking..."

Well, crap. So much for that... "Yeah...I was scared and panicked. Deku was trying to help me but...I wouldn't let him." "It's okay...I know what it means to lose control."

There was an awkward silence for a good minute. "Hey...guess what?" "What?" Slade asked. "Chicken butt." Ms. Joke sputtered loudly, as the teen fell for the oldest trick in the book. "Woooooow you got me too," the older of the two said, as Eri giggled. However, it was exactly what was needed to break the tension in the air.

"Why are you barefoot?" "I don't like wearing shoes. Plus, I'm used to it as I have to be touching the ground to use my quirk." "Ooooh...you got big feet." "Eri, be nice," Ms Joke commented, the first thing she had said in the last 30 minutes. Slade was chuckling, agreeing with her. "Yeah I know. People always fall over my big shoes." Eri was then pulling her shoes off and holding her feet up to his, comparing. His easily dwarfed hers. He curled his toes like he was trying to grab her feet, making her laugh. "Ooo, I like your toenails." He noticed she had little red polished toenails. "Thank you! Would you like me to do yours?!" He could tell she was getting wound up and on a role, and he didn't want to break this streak. "Sure, why not?" he said with a slight shrug. She hopped off the couch and ran to the door. "What's your favorite color?" Oh...never thought of that. "Uhh...green." "Good choice!"

As Eri darted out the door with the speed of a child on the way to grab a cookie, he looked at Ms. Joke and shrugged. "Good choice!" He mirrored Eri's words, causing his counselor to laugh. "Not bad so far, Freeman. Not bad."

By the time lunch came around, the two were chatting like best friends. Slade now had dark green toenails, and he convinced Ms. Joke to use the dirt from the potted plant for some entertainment. He only grabbed a handful, which was enough. he created a little 10cm figure of Eri that stood in his hand, making it spin around and do all sorts of things. She would giggle and do requests, like make it breakdance or do cartwheels. He was in the process of having it do something along the lines of the Excalibur dance from Soul Eater when Ms. Joke reminded them of the time. "Unfortunately, Eri has to go back to her classes, and it's lunch time for both of you." "Awwww." They both deflated slightly.

"Don't worry, Aizawa has your class babysit Eri from time to time, so you'll see each other again." Slade made the mini-Eri slide like a penguin down his arm back into the potted plant. "Well, Eri, I had fun today." "Me too!" She jumped onto her feet and dove, hugging his neck. He tensed, not expecting her to do that at all. He slowly moved one arm around her to hug her slightly. Kids are jumpy...that's normal. She pulled away, smiling. "Thank you for playing with me today. And for getting me out of classes. They were boring." Slade snorted and laughed at that. That was a mood. "Hey, thank you, Eri. You've taught be a lot today. And if you need anything, or anyone bothers you...you call on Uncle Golem," he said while pointing a thumb at himself. "And I'll be there!"

With that, Eri was escorted back to her room, and Slade was putting his shoes back on. Seeing the sloppy polish on his toenails made him smile, before he put his socks back on first. "Well, I got to say, it was rocky at first but you pulled it off," Ms. Joke said, while standing in the doorway of the room. "Yeah, to be honestly I wasn't sure if I could dig myself any deeper. But then she pulled that chicken butt joke out and it was all up from there." "You did well, Freeman. You were very caring and patient with her, which means you're nothing like him..."

She was right. Actually, it was quite easy. However his own father acted toward him, he just did the opposite. Boom. "Yeah, I guess there aren't bad influences, just people who influence you to not do what they do..." Ms. Joke let out another laugh, and gave him a thumbs up. "Perfect! That's the right attitude to have! Now, next we'll drop you in a room full of 5 year olds to see how you do!" "God, please, no!" Ms. Joke laughed and waved her hand. "Good. So, how about-oh!" Slade didn't forget. He hugged her tight, but quick. He smiled and nodded at her when he broke the connection. "Thank you."

XXX

It was the other classmates turn to jump from the loud clank of a lunch tray hitting the table. "What up, gang?!" The Dekusquad looks up with his smiles. "Freeman!" "H-Hey, how's it going so far?" Slade sat down, grabbing the burger from his tray and turned slightly toward Midoryia. "Little rough at first, but better. I spent the morning with Eri." Uraraka and Midoryia's faces looked like they might split from smiling at the mention of her name. Even Tsuyu perked up a little. "Awww that little cutie!" "How did it go?" Deku asked, as Slade took a bite from his burger. "Good. Kind of awkward at first. Kids are very perceptive, man. Saw through me like I was Invisible Girl."

He felt a hand on his shoulder, making him tense up. He slowly turned, seeing Aizawa standing over him. "I talked with Ms. Joke. She says you passed." The table let out a little cheer, but Slade was confused. "Passed? Passed what? I didn't know I was being graded." Aizawa blinked slowly, as if trying to think of how to phrase what he was about to say. "Ms. Joke wasn't just there to counsel you. She was there to rate you, and see if you had the aptitude to be a hero."

"What?!" "I didn't tell you, because we couldn't have you forcing it. It had to happen organically. I guess Eri took a liking to you, and that's what pushed her to clear you." Slade's head was spinning. He really was almost kicked out. "You're still suspended until lunch tomorrow. I would advise you to go to the support division, and get a new hero suit." The teacher sauntered off, leaving a confused teen. "Well...you passed! Yay..." The weak praise fell short. "I didn't know I was this close to just flunking out. How was I supposed to get home if I did? What if I was stuck? A homeless American in Japan...sounds like a horrible anime..." "Hey...no need to worry now, Freeman. You passed. We all knew you would..."

"Wait, you knew?!" His head shot up at Midoryia, who balked a little after realizing what he said. "I-I-I m-mean, m-maybe..." He was sputtering and hoping for someone to save him. "Hah! Nerd's all stuttering again!" The arrival of Bakugo wasn't overlooked, as Slade held up a hand. "Quiet, Jazz Hands, the adults are talking. You knew I was being evaluated?" "We all did, ribbit." "Hey! Don't tell me to shut up!" "Baku-bro, calm down, man!" There was entirely too many conversations happening at once.

Slade stood up with his tray. "I'm going to find an empty table. Whichever one person wants to come forward and spill it, you'll know where to find me." He walked off before anyone else could say anything. The rest of the teens looked around, some with confusion but mainly with shame. "Someone has to go tell him..." "It's not that easy, Uraraka. I don't think Kachan, Mina, you, Kirishima, or I should go over there...he stuck his neck out for us and we didn't tell him he was almost kicked out. It should be a neutral party member..." "I'll go!" Iida raised his hand. "No, you were here at the table, so that eliminates Todoroki and Asui. It should be someone else..."

"What about Dunce face?" Bakugo suggested, but Deku shook his head. "Nah, he'll just mess it up...plus, he's too light-hearted for the situation...wait, light-hearted. That's it!" Midoryia snapped his fingers. "What you got, nerd?"

The clank of a tray alerted Slade of the surrogate voice of his class. He looked up, shocked to see Tokoyomi sitting across from him. "I...wasn't expecting you..." "I was best deemed fit to deliver the word." "Well, the bird is the word..." Slade muttered, finishing his burger. "Freeman, it's quite simple. We were busy last night, ensuring you felt like you belonged. Cooking that large meal. It never occurred once to tell you of what Mr. Aizawa said. And honestly, do you think that would have changed the outcome?"

He had a point. Slade picked up a fry and bit into it, thinking. "No..." "'Exactly. It had to be natural, and what your heart really wanted. We knew you could break through of your cloud." Speaking of which, Dark Shadow appeared from behind Tokoyami, seeming to put it's elbows on the table and sit with them. "Come on, dude! Spit it out!" Slade snorted, flicking a French fry at the apparition, which caught it and munched. Huh, his quirk ate food. Wonder where it goes...

"What I'm trying to say, Freeman, is we have our sincerest apologies. We are sorry for withholding that information, we did what we felt was right." He flicked another fry at Dark Shadow, who ate that one too. "Alright, fine. I don't know why that rubbed me the wrong way...guess I was overwhelmed by all the people and what Aizawa said. I accept your apology." "Good! We don't have to listen to Evanescence on blast in the showers!" "Dark Shadow!" Tokoyami scolded his quirk, but Slade let out a short laugh. "That was a good one, DS." "See? He thought it was funny!" Dark Shadow said before retreating back inside of the teenager. Tokoyami waved back at the crowd of teens from his class, as they all waved back.

XXX

Slade stepped up to the door he remembered Deku taking him to. He knocked hard, hearing grinders and impact tools inside. It swung open, revealing Power Lifter, one of the teachers he didn't get to meet yet. "Yes?" "Uh, hey...I'm here to get a new suit?" "NEW SUIT?!"

"Oh boy..." Power Lifter stepped to the side as Mei jumped up, grinning wide and covered in grease. "'New suit, you said?! Ohhh I remember you! The American! Yes! Come come!" She grabbed his hand, yanking him in the door, making him yell. "W-wait!" "No time! Come on!" Slade shook off the girl's grip rather aggressively. "Sorry, I don't like being touched..." "That's okay! Let's check your measurements!" In one ear and out the other. She was in his face with a tape measure, measuring every nook, cranny, and crevice he had. "P-please, I don't want anything fancy-" "NONSENSE!" You game to me, and you'll have the best!" "I came here, you drugged me to you..." Slade muttered as Mei started scribbling on her notepad. "Wait...I don't even know your quirk!"

"I control dirt..." "Dirt? Fascinating!" Mei kept writing, and Slade was in danger for the papers life as he swore he saw smoke coming from it. So, lets start from the...grooound up! Hehe, get it?!" Slade gave a half-hearted laugh, adverting his eyes to the teacher, who gave this 'I don't get paid enough to deal with this' look. "What shoes you like?" "I don't like shoes."

Mei froze. "You...don't like shoes? Not even boots?" "Well, I kinda li-" "BOOTS IT IS!" Mei slapped down a large piece of graphing paper and started sketching. "W-wait wait! I can't wear shoes with my quirk, I have to have contact with the ground!" Mei froze, looking up. "OOooh...that's a toughy...okay! I'll work on that later! Pants! You like tights?" "No." "Dressy!" "No." "ROBOT EXOSUIT!" Slade facepalmed. He pulled his phone out and showed a picture of his outfit before it got tore up. "That's what I wore before."

"Oh that's...just sad!" "Thanks..." Slade commented sarcastically. "Nonono we can't have that! What is that, denim? Eckk!" Mei gagged before drawing up some pants, scratching her chin. "Room to move but not flappy or flashy...actually..." She whipped out a pair of pants from somewhere, holding them up. They were black, and very plain. "My own material! It's like a stretchy demin. I call them jeggings, but the guys hate that. It's fire-resistant!" "Actually, I kinda like tha-" "PERFECT! NEXT! What about a shirt?" "Just a simple tank top..." "Ehhh, like mine?!" She pulled her tank top out a little, showing waaaay too much cleavage and making the teenager blush. "Y-yeah, kinda like yours! Maybe the same material..." He turned his head, holding out a hand to block anything. "Okie dokie!" He sighed, thinking he was done with this.

"Headgear?"

He wanted to scream. "I don't like head gear..." "God, you're boring." "I'm not boring! I'm just low maintenance. I don't want to be a flashy hero. I like being under the radar and sneaky and...wait, can you make some small tactical goggles? Something simple to cover my eyes when I go underground?" "Nooooow we're talking!" She brought out a small pair of goggled, like the kind you swim in but less dorky. "Scratch resistant! Aaaand-" Mei pulled out a hammer and slammed it onto the goggled, making Slade almost have a heart attack. "-nearly indestructible!" "U-uh, yeah...sure, that'll work."

"What's your color scheme?!" "Blacks and dark green." "Oooh, emo kid, works for me!" "I'm not...ughhh!" He was exhausted. Five minutes with this girl drained his batteries. "There! All done! With luck, I'll have it done by tomorrow! Your boots are the missing link..." "Yeah, awesome, thanks." He stood up to leave but she put up a hand, stopping him. "Yes?" Her eyes, which he finally got to see now that she wasn't spazzing out, stared at him. The cross iris' she had seemed to zoom in and out. "Hmm...you're an odd duck, American boy. I like you!" "Thaaaanks..." "That's all! Bye bye!"

Slade stepped out of the room, confused and drained. He quickly walked back to the dorms, heading upstairs to his bedroom where he plopped down, sighing loudly. it'll be a few hours before the others get out of class, so he had time to sit there and be alone with his thoughts. Yippee. A buzz from his phone made him grab it, holding it up. It was another number from the states calling him. He groaned, wanting to ignore it. However, something drove him to hit accept, holding it up to his ear. "Hello...MOM?!"

Hello all, I know it was a dry episode and a bit mushy, but I had to get it out of my brain and onto this screen. The next chapters will start picking up, I promise. Please feel free to comment, maybe with ideas or critiques. Until then, bye!