Origin-The Embers left behind
A hero is selfless, a genuinely good person, willing to risk their own life to save another.
But a hero is not limited to those blessed with great Quirks. No, while in today's world they are often pushed to the side, or even mocked for not brining in Villains, there are everyday heroes.
Police. Fire-Fighters. Lifeguards. Paramedics, nurse and doctors. Peacekeepers. Forest Rangers.
This is the tale of how the respect and admiration for these every day heroes returned to the world.
Izuku Midoriya was, at first glance, an average pre-teen, aside from his green hair and eyes. He went to school, worshipped heroes and dreamed of being one himself. But if one to look a little deeper, they would also a very intelligent young man with a trait sorely missing in his world's current time: A selfless heart and eagerness to help others.
It was this quality that would ensure Izuku's path and change the world; but before we hear that story, we must be told this one:
MH-RH
As he bounded for breakfast early one morning before school, Izuku paused in his step, smiled sadly and bowed respectfully at the image of a man in a shrine. This man had hair like his, only in a brown hue and with more ovular eyes compared to Izuku's. The shrine was decorated with a medal, an action figure that resembled the man and two small bowls; one of rice and the other of water. The shrine was completed with two incense candles, freshly lit.
"Morning dad." Izuku said to the shrine, a proud smile overtaking his face and some sadness in his eyes. It had already been nine years, but….
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
"Oh no, no, no!" His mother swore, cutting the moment short.
"Gotta go help mom, love you, bye!"
Izuku came into the kitchen to see Inko Midoriya, his mother, trying in vain to put out a burning omelet. He reached towards the flames, then pulled his arm back before repeating the action. As he did this, the flames and smoke seemed to leap off the pan and towards the palm of his hand. Once it reached his palm, Izuku opened a window and tossed it outside, where it briefly erupted before vanishing.
Izuku Midorya. Quirk: Catcher in the Fire; He can telekinetically pull flames of any kind towards him and condense them into the palm of his hand. However, larger and hotter flames are harder for him to get down. He also must use hand motions to attract the flames and can only hold them for a short time before releasing them.
Inko sighed sheepishly at having been caught by her son: She was NOT a bad cook by any means; Izuku and a few others preferred her cooking to eating out. it was just that Inko's repertoire was fairly limited and whenever she experimented…well, you saw a mild example of what could happen.
"It was an omelet." Inko admitted. "I took my eyes off it for a millisecond…!"
Izuku just smiled and hugged his mother before sitting down to his normal breakfast of All Might Ceral, an apple, some juice and a cup of hot cocoa. Inko meanwhi;e had her usual of sliced fruit, cottage cheese and coffee.
RH-MH
It was the final year of middle school; the year when the teachers stop babying you and prepare you for the potential hell of high school and becoming an adult. At least, that's what was supposed to be happening.
The homeroom teacher had tossed away the appitude tests and let his students show off their quirks, knowing they all wanted to be Pro Heroes.
"Oi, teach!" A proud and loud blonde smirked. "Don't give these loser hope; it's cruel! We all know none of them have the stuff to go beyond sidekick, unlike me! Sides, I already aced the mock exams at UA, so just heap that praise over my way!"
This was Katsuki Bakugo; the smartest, strongest and most gifted boy in school. He was also Izuku's childhood friend, to the shock of many; Izuku was a quiet and kind, borderline withdrawn young man while Katsuki…Well, the less said, the better.
"…Well, Midoriya is applying at UA as well." The teacher mused.
Many looked to the boy and while they might have laughed in some universes, here…they were confused and unsure how to feel.
"Midoriya at UA? I mean, he's smart enough…"
"And there's who his dad was…"
"SSSH! Dude! You don't bring that up!"
"But Midoriya's Quirk could only work for sidekick or support level heroes."
Izuku had heard these phrases MANY times before. He just sighed and looked up to his class before saying:
"They said the same thing to Crust, Mirko and Best Jeanist."
Everyone shut up at that reminder. Well, save one; Katsuki Bakugo had marched over to Izuku's desk and was glaring at him intensely. Izuku simply looked up, more confused than anything.
"….Krazy Kaji. You still got that dream of yours?"
Izuku winced, but in irritation.
"Dammit Kaachan, when are you going to stop calling me that?" Izuku groaned.
"Depends on your girlfriend's reaction to it."
Izuku burst into a blush.
"She's not my…! I mean, I don't have a…! We haven't even….!" Izuku stammered before glaring at his best friend. "I hate you. You're a bad person."
"Oh, you're breaking my heart." Katsuki faux whimpered with an exaggeration pout and whimper before turning to the teacher. "So teach, you going to hand out these tests, or you just damning everyone to mediocrity?"
As the teacher picked up the tests and handed them out, one student turned to another to ask something.
"Apparently, Midoriya couldn't pronounce any word associated with 'fire' or 'blaze' when they were little, so Bakugo calls him that to irritate him. It's an inside joke between them."
"And that dream of his?"
"You ever heard of The Rescue Heroes?"
"…Which one?"
"No, not the specification. The TEAM called 'The Rescue Heroes.' They had a TV show, toys…"
Evidently, not everyone WAS familiar with this, but the teacher dropped the aptitude tests in front of them prevented the conversation from going any further.
MH-RH
"Hey, Kaji. You never answered my question." Bakugo asked, more subdued than usual as the students began to pack up for the day. "…You…you still want to try it?"
Izuku, a smile growing on his face, simply answered:
"The offer will always be standing. It'd be a great way to become bigger than All Might, helping to save people in major disasters instead of just blowing up baddies."
"….I'll keep you posted." Bakugo smirked, a playful punch on the green haired shoulder as he collected his things. "I want to rise to the top on my own, but I can definitely see the merit in teaming up every now and then."
"Oh, Kaachan!" Izuku called out, delighting at how his friend winced at that nickname. "I almost forgot: Mom's making Katsudon for dinner and is using chilies this around! You interested?"
Katsuki's eyes widened in anticipation. He LOVED spicy foods and if Izuku brought this to his attention, it meant whatever his auntie was using was…. possibly not completely legal. He almost accepted right away, his mouth salivating at not only the challenge but his aunt's cooking, when he recomposed himself and shook his head.
"Sorry, Kaji. Got a tournament to get to." His face turned devious. "She thinks she SO high and mighty, hiding behind that big sister attitude and that gorgeous orange hair WHAT ARE YOU EXTRAS LOOKING AT!?"
The class winced and retreated, save for Izuku, who sighed.
"…You are never going to let that go, are you?" Izuku asked
"I'll beat her yet!" Katsuki howled as he raced out the door.
"…He likes her." Izuku said aloud to the onlookers. "Just too masculine to admit it."
"…WHO?!" Many asked, but Izuku had already left.
RH-MH
A few minutes later, Katsuki Bakugo found himself at a stadium, sitting down to some cola and popcorn as he waited for a martial arts tournament to begin. Open weight for anyone under 18, one on one bouts with knock-down equaling elimination . And one person had Katsuki's attention:
She was a very cute, nay, beautiful girl with orange hair in a sideways ponytail: Itsuka Kendo; a second-generation karate practitioner…and the one person Katsuki Bakugo had never beaten.
While the blonde didn't regret it; there had been a time where, in his adolescent mind, his Quirk had made him the biggest, baddest and strongest in the world (or so he believed). With those thoughts had come the idea of keeping 'extras' in their places, whether through mocking nick-names or unleashing his explosive sweat on them. And most had ignored/toned down his actions, focusing on how great a Pro he would become.
Izuku, or Kaji as Katsuki called him, had immediately stepped up and tried to stop his friend. Sadly, this had ended badly for the green haired boy. It was also short lived due to a tragedy…
But then Kendo, whose family had just moved in, had spotted Katsuki picking on another kid. She had taken Izuku's place as his deterrent….and unlike Izuku? She kicked his ass with nothing but her family's skills and techniques.
Hell, even today, Kendo rarely, if ever used her Big Fist Quirk in fights. And it drove the blonde boy INSANE! After getting to second place before forfeiting to her next opponent; she winked at him from her podium, further annoying him.
"Honey, why do you vex Katsuki so?" Her father asked.
"At this point?" His daughter responded "It's hilarious. Sides, if he DOES do something, I win."
Katsuki had stayed after everyone left and marched down to see her.
"You….fight…good…As usual." The managed, diverting his gaze from her and holding back a rant on why she didn't use her quirk to assure her victory.
"And your growls are almost adorable." Kendo smirked, finally enlarging her fist to pat him on the head, her closed eyes missing the blush on Katsuki's face.
RH-MH
As Izuku walked home, he found himself getting a notification from SupPlug (they REALLY needed a better name); the top Social Media site focusing on Hero Analysis. When he saw WHO it was from, his happiness grew
Creati: Hello Billy. Did you see the fight in Mufasta this morning?
They hadn't met face to face yet, but this 'Creati' had helped Izuku during a dark stage in his life; being someone just as, if not even better at analysis than he was.
As for the fight they were referring to, Izuku had seen: A purse snatcher with a gigantification Quirk had been causing trouble in his attempts to escape, causing the trains to almost run behind schedule and threatening mass property damage. Luckily, the newly mint Kamui Woods had arrived on the scene rather quickly.
Billy Blaze: Hello Creati. Yeah, on my way to school. Nothing too great.
Creati: Aside from that…. debut….
Said 'Debut' was for Mount Lady, who had stolen Kamui's victory and soaked up all the attention. Or rather, her skintight costume had.
Billy Blaze: Yeah…
Creati:….Have you started an analysis of her?
Izuku stumbled
Billy Blaze: No. And not going to.
Creati:…
Billy Blaze: Seriously! I'm not interested in her! She stole Shin
Izuku stopped himself and restructured his response. As he did this, he took a different turn
Billy Blaze: She stole Kamui's moment.
Creati: I understand WHY Pros are competitive, but…
Billy Blaze: Yeah, me neither….How's it your neck of the woods?
Creati: I WISH we were in the woods! Get away from everything….
Izuku smiled; whomever they were, Creati was brilliant and kindhearted. They were also very literal-minded.
Creati: My school is having a field trip to a museum tomorrow, but otherwise its so boring…and none of my schoolmates care for anything but money and coasting through life….Oh! I got into the UA recommendation test
Izuku's eyes widened
Billy Blaze: CONGRATS! Keep me posted!
Creati: Will do. Actually, I'll also be in Mufasta for a few days starting tomorrow; would you like to meet up?
Izuku's response was immediate.
Billy Blaze: DEFINTELY!
Creati: You'll login later tonight?
Billy Blaze; Will do!
He then closed the app and then saw he was NOT on his usual route; he was now under a bridge of sorts. Then he heard a moist rumbling of sorts. However, that was the most he made out before something pulled him away from the bridge. Leaving the confused villain no time to wonder what had happened to his 'meat-suit.' The moment he realized he had been denied his prize, a shadow appeared him and shouted:
"TEXAS…SMAAAASH!"
Meanwhile, Izuku spied what had pulled him away from the bridge; a measuring tape.
"Watch you Melvin, kiddo! You come here often?" A voice cut in, first seeming angry out of concern, then generally interested.
Izuku spied his rescuer; a blonde man in disheveled clothes who smelt of smokes and had a five o'clock shadow on his chiseled cheeks. His eyes were large and expressive, yet carried nervousness. The most noticable thing about him was the stich on his forehead.
Anyone else might be scared of this man, but Izuku's face burst into a great big smile, even some tears escaping his eyes as he opened his arms to embrace said man.
"UNCLE JIN!"
"WHOA! NO TOUCHIE! Come here, you little broccoli boy!" 'Jin' first roared, then hugged the boy back with great happiness. For a good minute, they remained hugging before Jin ended the hug to get a look at the boy.
"When are you hitting your growth spurt? SO DARN CUTE!"
Izuku beamed. Anyone else might be annoyed or concerned by Jin's behavior, but he had known the man since he was in diapers and knew the reasons.
"What brings you to my humble abode?" Jin asked. "You're finally going vigilante and need a crazy homeless man to teach you to fight! I've waited my whole life for…!"
GURGLE!
"…Pay no attention to the stomach rubbles." Jin asked. "FEED ME! FILL MAH BELLY!"
"…Uncle Jin, when did you last eat?" Izuku asked worriedly.
"Food is for the weak! Why, just this very morning my dearest godso.."
Another rumble, no, a gurgle came from Jin's stomach, along with some….unpleasant sounds.
"…Come on, Uncle Jin." Izuku said, pulling the man to his feet. "Mom's making a big dinner tonight, it'll be good for you."
"Oh, thank you, sweet Izuku. ARE YOU DAFT, PUNK?! I CAN'T SEE YOUR MOTHER LOOKING LIKE THIS!" Jin shouted in shock before spying something on the ground, which he picked up and slipped onto his face. "There. That's better."
What now covered his grizzled, big-eyed face was a black and grey mask.
MHA-RH
"Ah! Here he is!"
When Izuku and Jin walked into the Midoriya abode, they were called out by a synthesized voice.
"Izuku! I'm in the computer room, come say hello!" Inko called as she looked away from a group Skype call. Izuku dropped his bag and motioned Jin to the kitchen. The man saluted his nephew and began to make himself a snack.
Entering the computer room, Izuku saw that Inko's Skype call had quite the membership…Most of them Pros:
Space Hero 13, Selkie, Wash, The Water Hose duo and their young son Kota, Gang Orca and finally….
"Hey Izzy!" Rock Lock beamed, his wife comfortably on his lap, only to wince and hold onto her stomach.
"Honey, careful…I think Junior's getting a little jealous."
Rock Lock smiled and kissed her belly before doing the same with her lips
"Rock…There are kids here!" Mizu and Sumi, AKA Water Hose, said as they covered Kota's eyes.
"What? They're just kissing." The boy pointed out. "You guys do that all time."
"Where did that sassiness come from?" Gang Orca asked, smirking.
"So sweet!" Selkie cooed.
"Let me know if you need anything." Inko reminded the soon to be parents. "Food, baby clothes…Name it and I'll bring it over."
The couple smiled in apprtiation before everyone turned their attention to Izuku.
"How was school, kiddo?" Selkie asked, getting a shrug as Izuku hugged his mother and then waved to everyone else. He was about to mention Jin, when….
"So Izuku, has Inko told you yet?" Thirteen asked.
"…Told me what?" Izuku asked.
The pros, wife and child suddenly tensed, with Rock Lock's wife looking at Inko.
"You haven't….?"
"Couldn't find the time?" Inko weakly responded, motioning th others to continue.
"Well, Izuku?" Selkie mentioned. "The lot of us..."
"WASH! WASH!" Wash cut in.
"Yes, and Shinji too, I didn't forget him." The Seal hero continued.
"Where is that rookie, anyways?" Rock asked.
"Honey, be nice, he's just starting out." His wife noted. "Anyways, the lot of us got to talking…"
"And we were wondering if you'd be okay with…." Sumi and Mizu continued.
"All of us recommending you for UA?" Rock Lock finished.
Izuku's world went silent.
"A-a-all of you? W-w-wanna recommend ME for UA?"
"That's what we said." Gang Orca nodded.
"Well, I can't recommend, being UA staff…" Thirteen cut in with shame in her voice.
"ABOUT TIME! Something we can all agree on!"
They all turned to see Jin, a sandwich in his hands, peeking through the open door.
"…..Um….Hi guys. YOU DON'T SEE ME! I'M NOT HERE!"
The response was NOT what one would expect if they saw a masked man in the same room as two dear friends. Instead of fear or desperation, the reactions were of either elation and or worry.
"WASH!"
"Jin, is that you?" Selkie asked, a look of concern on his face.
"You look…." Mizu started, but then lost her words. "…You've been better."
"Why are you wearing dirty clothes?" Kota asked.
"KOTA!" Sumi hollered.
"What? It's a good question!" The boy noted.
"What happened to you?" Rock Lock asked, worry and some rage in his voice.
"Why is the first time we're seeing you in….Kami, how many years HAS it been?" Gang Orca asked.
Inko turned around and cupped the masked man's head into her hands.
"Jin, you know you can come to us for anything." She said softly. "You're Izuku's godfather and were Hisashi's best friend."
"A TRUE MAN TAKES CARE OF OTHERS AND HIMSELF! I can't burden you guys….Seriously, I step anywhere near your Agencies or homes and I get chased away by your staff or neighbors.
"THEY WHAT?!" The other Pros screamed in rage. The next day, they'd be FIRING somebody!
MH-RH
It took a while, but eventually, the Pros calmed down and allowed Inko to leave so that they could catch up with the two late arrivals and finish prepping dinner. Admittdely, Jin became the center of attention when the others saw how poorly he had been taking care of himself, but they always returned to the green-haired boy's future at UA, which they had assured with their recommendations.
Sadly, the calls had to be cut short due to emergencies the Pros needed to check out. Either that, or family coming over.
"I'll say hi to Ryuko for you, Jin!" Mizu promised, delighting at the blush on Jin's face.
Inko then served her son and his godfather a delicious Katsudon dinner, smiling at her boy before finally saying:
"Izuku? I know…I know I haven't always been supportive of your want to be a hero. I know that you probably…"
"Mom, I understand." Izuku cut her off, his eyes wandering to the shrine of his father. Jin followed his godson's eyes and instantly his mood dampened.
"Excuse me for a sec."
He then stepped away from his meal and knelt at the shrine, hanging his head and fighting back tears. He the stood tall and saluted the deceased, his face serious as he said four words:
"With my life, Hisashi."
He then returned to his meal after muttering an apology, getting each Midoriya to place a hand on one of his own and smiling kindly at him. He returned the smile and began to enjoy his meal, allowing mother and son to continue their chat.
"Izuku, I just have one condition for you to go to UA." Inko said, her face beaming with pride. "Become so great, no disaster or villain can stop you."
Izuku's face mirrored his mother's as he nodded in agreement.
MH-RH
"Izuku, take Jin to that motel not too far from school." Inko requested, stuffing a wad of bills into her son's hand after dinner. "That should be enough for a week, plus some food."
She had offered Jin the couch, but the man stubbornly refused, not wanting to burden the family of his best friend. However, he had accepted leftovers and the chance to shower and shave and was mow looking much better.
Plus, Inko had known Jin long enough to know that while he could deny her and the others, Izuku was the one person he could and never would deny.
"I'm fine! Bless you Inko….!" Jin snapped and then whimpered as he and Izuku left. the apartment
MH-RH
The Sludge Villain was nobody special; but this evening would ensure his place in history.
All Might's punch had sent his core flying away from the rest of his body, allowing him to escape. He had then rested for a few hours before spying a family leaving a doctor's for a Quirk's analysis. The child had run ahead in excitement, and he had pounced.
The little girl in question possessed a fire based Quirk, so the Sludge villain had been going on a rampage, burning anyone and anything he saw; the Pros barely able to keep the crowd back.
And then in happened.
It happened so fast, yet so clearly:
A green haired boy leapt towards the scene, pulling his arms in and out as he raced towards the Sludge villain. As he did such, the fires seemed to streak away towards him, culminating into his hands. Then, as he tossed his backpack (now set aflame by the flames siad hand had been holding) into the monster's eye, the other hand threw itself upwards, sending the fires into the sky.
As the Sludge villain had screamed in pain as his eye began to go blind and his body slolwy turn back to human, Izuku grabbed the hostage, now gasping for air, by their shoulders
"I got you!"
then, with strength he didn't know he had, he flung said hostage towards the crowd
"SOMEBODY CATCH HER!"
As he had done so, he fell to the ground...and the Sludge villain glared at him with hate clear in his one eye.
"YOU LITTLE...!" The villain growled, ready to suffocate the boy in front of him, when:
"SAD MAN MARCH"
An army of black and greyed masked men suddenly manifested, many pummeling the Sludge villain even as they snuck in.
"UNLCE JIN, No!" Izuku called out as he felt someone pulling him out; one of the man replicas, who had lifted his mask to reveal his face.
"I got you, Izu!" One of the clones promised as he pulled and then tossed the boy into the arms of Death Arms, just as the Sludge Villain burst forward, gasping for air and growling at this second offender.
Off to the side and amidst all of this, the eyes of Kamui Woods, who had been rescuing civilians, opened in shock and recognition.
"I-I-Izu?" He asked, rushing towards the boy before he saw the Sludge Villain leap forward towards the heroic newcomer. "JIN-SENSEI?!"
Memories filled the young pro and without another thought, the young Pro willed his branches to STAB the Sludge Villain into a wall.
"You're under arrest for kidnapping, attempted murder, robbery, vandalism, and illegal use of Quirk!"
The Villain whimpered Kamui's words and stayed perfectly still as the young Pro raced towards the now panting man in grey and black as Mount Lady and the other Pros collected the villain.
"WOHOOO! THAT WAS A CALORIE BURNER! Man, I am out of shape…" JIn half cheered and then gasped. He then looked over his shoulder to see the young Pro approaching him with concern.
"Are you okay, sensei?"
"Wait, you KNOW this crazy guy?" Death Arms asked.
"This 'crazy guy' is a friend and an old teacher of mine!" Kamui snapped, before Izuku joined him:
"AND HE IS NOT CRAZY! HIS QUIRK AFFECTS HIS MIND!"
"Looking good, Shinji!" Jin beamed as he hugged the younger man, then the brows on his mask furrowed into annoyance and he pushed the younger man way. "OH, SO MR. 'FUTURE #7' IS TOO BIG AND POPULAR FOR OUR SKYPE CHAT, EH?!"
"Wait…" Shinji asked, his eyes then widening in terror. "THAT WAS TODAY?!"
"HOURS AGO! You missed nothing, don't worry!"
"...Izuku, be honest..." Shinji begged in a muted tone. "Did I miss anything?"
The boy nodded, but before he could continue...
"What were you thinking, running in there?!" Mount Lady asked.
"You could've been killed!" Another hero remarked.
"And you made a bad situation worse!" Death Arms added.
Kamui Woods stepped in front of Izuku protectively, along with Jin, the two glaring at the critics.
"This kid did what none of us were even doing!"
"Did it occur to you morons to attack the eyes?!" Jin snapped before adopting a smirk. "Man, you guys are dumb!"
No hero responded.
"Yuu, why didn't you shrink to normal, THEN GET BIG WHEN YOU WERE CLOSER?! DO YOU REALLY NEED TO MAKE AN ENTRACE WHEN LIVES ARE ON LINE?!"
Mount Lady was aghast and opened her mouth to retory...but then saw he had point and hung her head in shame.
Kamui Woods sighed and rubbed his brow before turning to Izuku
"That was real stupid of you, kiddo."
Izuku sighed and nodded, only to feel a wooden limb on his shoulder.
"But then again, it is that selflessness of yours that's making me, Sakumo, Selkie, Mizu and Sumi recommending you." The Pro smiled, chuckling. "Pretty sure that's a record of recommendations for a single student."
"DARN TOOTING! Bah, he doesn't need it." Jin responded, giving Izuku a noogie. "Now about my motel…Oh, Shinji! Can I crash and let Izu keep the cash Inko gave him for me"
The two looked at the mentally imbalanced man, before smiling lightly. Izuku deposisted the money into Kamui's hand as the Pro gave him the okay to head home before forcing the money into Jin's pocket and swinging away as the police came.
Now normally, this was VERY unbecoming behavior for a hero, and yes, Shinji probably would get in some kind of trouble for this; but he didn't care.
MH-RH
Unknown to everyone else, the Number One Hero observed the scene from afar, alongside someone in the sky….
Next Time: Origin-The Rescue Heroes. The amazing story how a simple man with no aspirations for Pro-Heroism formed one of the greatest teams of the Quirk age, who rose to All Might near heights….and then fell apart.
This is the replacement story for 'Four Force Izuku'; a celebration of not only heroes with Quirks but the everyday heroes. I hope you like it. And not to worry, the Four Forces will appear in this story as well. Hint: We've seen their user.
Major shout-out for Devil Dragon Stand, epsiecally for helping developing the climax of this chapter. He has been a huge help in many of my stories, so give his a read and review when you can, he deserves it.
Now originally, 'Creati' was going to show up in this chapter as the Sludge Villain's hostage, but after some thinking, I decided against it and used a general civilian in order to truly show off Izuku's selflessness. A wee bit of a downer, because we had a sassy 'Creati'…..Perhaps I'll make an omake of that.
And Kamui's point to Mount Lady is something I think has never been brought up in other fic I've read. If anyone has, please point me to the fic.
Read and Review, would ye kindly?
