The next day, Izuku awoke with a spring in his steps. He hopped into the shower and slipped into his nicest casual wear; a green corduroy button up shirt, jeans and his usual shoes, freshly polished. After all that craziness of yesterday, he was surprised he was able to sleep so well
"You have everything?" Inko asked. "Wallet with money, keys, phone…. bear mace if they turn out to be a perv?"
"Mom…." Izuku sighed.
"Well, I'm sorry to say this sweetheart, but you did inherit my cuteness and that cuteness can attract the wrong sort of people." The Midoriya matriarch pointed out with a hint of a joke in her voice. In all seriousness, she worried for her baby boy from personal experience…at least until she met Hisashi.
"Mom, Creati and I never shared our real names, any pictures and never mentioned which school districts we…wait no, they did mention going to Aoba Academy…." Izuku started before Inko spat out her coffee, which Izuku managed to duck.
"A-A-A-AOBA?!" She asked for clarification. "Aoba Academy? As in, the Aoba Academy on an island that needs a plane or boat to get to? The Aoba Academy with a tour fee equal to Pro's year salary? The Aoba your auntie and I lost years of our lives trying to get into? THAT AOBA?!"
"Um….Yes?" Izuku said weakly, not sure how to react to his mother right now. He settled for snatching an apple and heading towards the door as she began to clean up. "Um…I…I better get going, so…."
However, when the boy opened the door, he froze at what greeted him: A man was descending from the sky, wearing a red costume with purple gloves and combat boots, accompanied by a bellowing cape topped with a hood and iron mask, breathing heavily before he reached for said mask….
"I CAN'T BREATHE IN THIS THING!" The young man gasped as he tore said mask off; revealing pale yet lively skin, curly black hair and (once he cleared the sweat off) a pair of rectangular glasses. "Mental note; check with that Support shop…."
He was cut off by the green haired boy wrapping his arms around him and dragging him inside.
"MOM! GUEST! TEA!" Izuku called out.
"Wait, what?" Inko asked, confused by her son's 180 change. "Whose at the….?"
"….Hi, Inko." The man shyly waved in spite of himself. He soon found himself wrapped into a hug by the woman, who then pulled his face down.
"You're here!" She beamed. "Oh, it has been far too long, Ben!"
RELIEF HERO DYNAMO
REAL NAME: BEN SHIGURA (Alias, real name unknown)
#4 ON THE AMERICA TOP PRO HERO LIST
QUIRK: FOUR FORCES
The young man chuckled, scratching the back of his head. He was about to say something when Inko shushed him and got him to the couch. Izuku was about to join him when his phone beeped
"Oh crap! I got to go or I'll miss the bus!"
"Wait….You're…you're actually going out?" Ben asked in shock, sounding hurt. "I thought we could do something…"
"Sorry…" Izuku winced, honestly feeling bad about this. "Its only a few hours…."
Ben smiled and messed with Izuku's hair, much to the boy's annoyance.
"I'm just messing with ya, kid, Go. Have fun. I;m here for a few weeks, we can catch up tomorrow."
Izuku beamed as he dashed out the door, wishing his mother and guest a great day as he raced to JUST make the bus.
MH-RH
"So, what brings you to the other side of the world, Ben?" Inko asked as she prepped some tea and offered Ben some breakfast.
"A guy can't surprise his surrogate mom and baby bro?" Ben mused as he munched on some toast.
"He can and you probably were planning to anyways." Inko smiled "But you often give me a bit of a heads up; I also can't imagine the American HPSC will be all to happy to see one of its Top Pros leave so suddenly."
"Inko, you know the rating and rank is bull." Ben mused. "Besides, Christine okayed my time off and our HPSC would bend over backwards for her if she asked."
"You know Stars&Stripes?!" Inko gasped in shock.
"We've done a few missions together." Ben explained. "Hurricane and earthquake. Oh, I take back what I said about rank in her case: She definitely earned her spot; I swear that woman has no understanding of giving herself a vacation more than a day…And she is so damn friendly. Odd sense of humor though; She calls me the American Hawks for some reason."
Inko chuckled as she poured herself and Ben some tea.
"Well think about it: you're both barely in your 20s, have a successful agency and hold Quirk Records."
"Yeah, but Hawks is a hypercompetent wannabe slacker who's good with public relations. I, on the other hand, focus on a very limited part of Heroism….Which I do damn well in!"
Inko smiled at Ben's words.
"Besides, he had to deal with the Japanese HPSC for his training. I lucked out with you guys…"
Ben's eyes wandered to Hisashi's shrine, a sad smile crossing his face. Downing his tea in one sip, he excused himself and made his way over to the shrine, getting onto his knees and praying to the late hero.
"Arigato, Hisashi-sen….Tou-san." He whispered, clearing a tear before getting back to his feet. Inko was there, arms out for a hug which he took.
"Why are you really here, Ben?" Inko asked gently once they parted. "To help Izuku train?"
Ben smiled weakly; he should've known: Inko may not have been a hero in the eyes of the public, but when it came to children or friends, she could read them like a book.
"That IS the main reason." Ben confessed. "The other reason is I picked up on an interesting rumor. Two Weather Manipulators."
Oh, that's what it was. Inko sighed. She knew where this was going…
"So, where is Izuku heading to, anyways?" Ben asked, deliberately changing the subject. "I don't think here are any conventions today…."
"He's gone to meet someone he met on the Internet. Someone just as smart as him in analysis."
Ben had stopped listening after 'met on the Internet.' His mind went to the worst possible scenarios…
"If you're going out, could you do me a favor and drop off some and he's gone." Inko said before shrugging, "Well, Kushi and I were going to have tea anyways."
She then gathered up the baby supplies and headed out the door, where she was spotted by a familiar face.
"Shinji?"
"Hello, Inko-Sensei." The Wood Hero said, embarrassed to be seeing her so suddenly like this. "…Was that Ben just now?"
"Yes, he's going to spy on Izuku meeting someone he's been talking to online." Inko replied. "I'm off to visit Kushi if you'd like to escort me…Maybe we can talk?"
"I'd be delighted, Inko-sensei." Shinji beamed, taking the packages from her arms.
MH-RH
Izuku felt so horribly out of place here: This café had been Creati's choice and it SCREAMED 'even the waiters make more than most.' He'd been worried about being turned away, but the head waiter had motioned him without another word and offered him a menu.
Remembering that Creati had mentioned they always wanted to try it, the boy had started off his order with a pot of Gold Tips Imperial tea….and with that single pot, his allowance for three months was gone.
"At least its really good tea…." Izuku mused as he sipped at his cup, glancing around at the other patrons; older and wealthy folks, who paid him no mind…..
"Billy Blaze?" A soft yet regal voice asked.
Izuku turned around to find the source of the voice. Like it had for his parents, the world suddenly stopped.
She was beautiful in every manner: Her poise, cat-like eyes, her raven locks and a ponytail so fierce it should be made illegal for anyone to wear a ponytail.
"Creati?" Izuku asked hopefully.
The girl smiled and took a seat across him before gasping
"Golden Tip Imperial?"
"I remembered you wanted to try it…" Izuku weakly explained as he poured the girl a cup. She took a small sip and smiled at the delightful taste.
"Thank you! I'll pay you back if need be." She assured him. Inwardly, Izuku was grateful. "I chose this place because it was so close to my hotel room…I hope you didn't have too much trouble finding it…."
"No problem at all." Izuku assured her, only to become worried when he saw her giving him a look.
"You were reckless yesterday."
"…Oh." Izuku muttered in realization. "You, um….I'm guessing I made the news?"
The girl nodded.
"You should've had an escape route planned; you know?"
"I know…" Izuku moaned, downing his cup before he saw the girl's firm face softening.
"Still, you DID save that little girl and two Heroes knew and vouched for you, so….We'll just have to hope UA drills that lesson into your head…Izuku Midoriya."
Izuku chuckled.
"And might I know your name?" The boy asked, before taking it back. "I mean, unless you're not comfortable with that! I mean…"
"Momo." The girl smiled, offering hand to shake. A smiling Izuku took it. "Momo Yayorozu."
"So, have you decided what you want for brunch?" Their waiter asked with a smile.
The two teens than looked over the menus, Momo clearing up what some of the items were.
MH-RH
Unknown to the teens, someone was watching them. Four people, in factl three from a rooftop and another from an alley.
On the rooftop
"Ben." The two Japanese Heroes said, alerting Ben to him no longer being alone.
"Shinji. Ken." The American retorted at the sight of the off duty Kaumi Woods and Rock Lock.
The three young Pros went back to watching over their little brother figure.
"…Been here long?" Ken asked.
"Just arrived half an hour ago." Ben replied.
"Lucky Over-powered bastard…."
"Awww, is Kenny-wenny jelly?" Ben smirked.
"I can and will kick your ass for spying on Izuku."
"Try it. And I am not spying, I am watching him vigilantly. For all we now, this 'Creati' could be honey-trapping him or be related to someone with a grudge of Hisashi-sensei."
"Wait…Holy cow!" Shinji mused. "Do you see who he's with?"
The two shrugged.
"The Yayorozu heiress!"
The two joined Shinji in spying
"….She's a cutie." Ben mused. "Nice Izu. Nice."
"Meh, Kushi's cuter." Ken mused.
"Oh sure, just rub it in, why don't you?!" Ben groaned.
"Awww, is Benny-wenny jelly?" Ken smirked.
"I see what you're doing there…And I guess I deserve that one."
"Yo, Tweedledum and Tweelde-dumbass! I got a creepy old guy in the alley." Shinji pointed out.
"He's mine." Ben said. "Don't lose sight of them."
In the alley
The fourth watcher found himself being lfited upwards as gravity
"Mind explaining what the Symbol of Peace is doing stalking two teenagers?"
"Well, I was...I mean, you have me mistaken! I'm his secrartary!" Toshinori half lied.
"And why are you, the Secretary of All Might, following Izuku?" Ben asked.
"Because...he's worried about Young Midoriya's innocence?"
Ben rose an eyebrow, making the man sigh
"Are...you aware of what happened yesterday?"
"Refresh my memory."
"Izuku saved a little girl with a fire quirk from a Sludge Villian that had given All Might the slip. And he did that with no training and plan beyond 'saving the hostage'...and while others just stood by."
"Yeah, that's a problem with this society..."
The two stood silence for a bit before Toshinori countinued:
"All Might saw the whole thing and was moved. He''d like to offer to cover Izuku's scholling and possibly offer some training. Although, if America's Dynamo is on that...Yes, I know who you are."
"I'm flattered."
"Your work in disaster relief is astounding."
Ben chuckled at this praise
"What sort of training did All Might have in mind for Izuku? I was honestly just going to train him reflects and speed."
Toshinori explains the plan and Ben clicks his tongue.
"Yeah, see, that ain't gonna work."
"...Um...Beg pardon?"
Ben hummed.
"Look, how can I explain this...? You're focusing on making Izuku's body stronger, which, yeah could be good for him...But your plan is WAY to fast way too soon. Plus, he's aiming to be more of a rescue hero..."
Dynamo's face adopted a sad smile for a moment, pride and nostalgia filling him before he continued.
"While you're training is going for a boisterous bruiser. Not a good fit. That, and if Izuku learns ALL MIGHT of all people is behind this, he'll immediately start overdoing the plan and do himself more harm than good."
Toshinori nodded.
"I see...I will inform him of what you told me."
Ben smiled sadly
"Well, when you do, tell him...Thanks. It means a lot to me and the others that someone, his hero of all people, sees his merit."
Ben smiled before he realized he had lost sight of Izuku…and Ken and Shinji were nowhere to be seen either.
He took the skies, desperate to find his little brother figure and leaving Toshinori befuddled
MH-RH
After brunch, Izuku gave Momo a tour around downtown; with the highlight being a bookfair where they each bought something that had been on their wish list for a while: In Izuku's case; 'The History of Heroism: A Graphic Novel' and for Momo 'Heroines, Helixes and Harmony: Pretty Pioneers of the Qurk Age and before.'
Momo also tasted soda for the first time…and her reaction was adorable:
"Izuku! This stuff goes fizz-fizz!"
Izuku had to hold back a chuckle.
Sadly, the day came to an end, with a limo arriving to take Momo home.
"I could give you a lift." She mused.
"I apprtiate the offer, but I can manage with the bus. Besides, I have some….nosey neighbors."
"Ah." Momo realized. "Well, lets stay in touch; I'll see you at UA. Oh! And…"
She then got out and gave Izuku a hug.
"Thank you for a great day."
Izuku. EXE stopped working at the realization a pretty girl had just hugged him. She liked him! He rbooted, smiled and went to return the hug, only for Momo to try and end it but then get caught in his arms
"Oh! Sorry, I…!" They said together, blushing and then chuckling. Momo then restarted the hug, with Izuku returning it. They then parted and she waved goodbye, a happy smile on her face.
As the limo drove away, Izuku smiled as he kept waving.
"I know you're there, Ben, Shinji and Ken." Izuku said.
…
…
…
"Coo, coo! Coo!"
"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"
"Twee! Twee! Twee!"
"THERE AREN'T ANY BIRDS IN THE CITY!" Izuku snaped, making the trio jump up at the volume in his voice. "IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE PRETEND TO BE AN ANIMAL, AT LEAST GET THAT RIGHT!"
Next time: Training AND Recommendation Exams!
Izuku's journey to Pro-Hood starts, with some familiar and new faces at his side. With a different past and mission, will he be able to change certain events at the Exams? And what exactly WAS/IS Dynamo's training regime?
A full profile of Dynamo will be posted with the next chapter, with flashbacks fleshing him out to follow in other chapters. But to wet your appetite…..OMAKE TIME!
'Babies make everything Better'
13 Years ago
12 hours.
That's how long they had been waiting. Screams and curses erupted from the room they all waited behind. They had known this day was coming, but it still took them for a shock. The screams were so bad, the three boys almost wished for an emergency to come up just so that they had a reason to leave.
They then felt disgust and anger in themselves for thinking such a thing!
Two of them were UA students on Work Study. The other was the unofficial 'mascot' of the Rescue Heroes, although they never called him that. He was currently berating himself for not understanding his Quirk enough to make this go faster and easier; he knew he could!
Suddenly a final scream, louder than any other erupted, followed by silence….and then the wailing of a baby.
The boys leapt to their feet, Shinji making his way over to an intercom
"I…I think they're here."
Wash then stepped out, exhausted but happy. They then looked at the three teens and gave up a thumbs up as the others made their way to the room.
"Wash? Wash, wash washer?" They asked. Everyone turned to Mizu, who smiled
"It's a boy."
Selkie and Sakumo began to squeal as the hooded boy followed Twice in. The clone hero fell to his knees and began to sob at the sight:
His partner and the woman said partner loved, tired yet glowing. In the woman's arm was a smiling baby boy.
"Ben? Would you like to hold Izuku?" Inko asked
Ben pointed to himself in a tense shock, not believing what he had heard: His teachers, nay, his parents wanted HIM to hold their firstborn? Inko and Hisashi nodded, the Blazing hero taking his son into his arms and pecking his forehead.
"Say hi to your big brother." He cooed, finally putting the newborn in Ben's arms and stepping back to admire the scene.
The young 'delinquent' locked up as he held Izuku as best he could, his legs turning to jelly as he did his best to keep himself from dropping the little bundle. Izuku's eyes then fluttered open, and he let out a smile, reaching for Ben's chin. The second the baby's tiny hand reached it's target...
"….I love him!" Ben bawled, ugly tears rolling down his face. Izuku stopped and looked on, then reaching as if trying to clear Ben's tears as Ben handed him back to his mother and left the room to compose himself.
"He's such a sweet boy." Inko cooed as Hisashi nodded in agreement before they returned to introducing their son to the others. Despite all the faces, Izuku always seemed most happy or interested in his 'big brother', who Shinji had to wrap a branch around to keep him from flying/running away.
Two years later, Izuku's first word would be 'Ben.'
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!
