A Fine Introduction
The line blinked in and out on her screen, stuck in the same spot on the report it had been for the last hour of her shift. Eight hours of paperwork for three weeks and not even a break for patrol. While she was thankful for the downturn in crime it meant less time out on the street. Combined with earthquake season still being a few months out, Uraraka Ochaco was bored out of her skull.
That shouldn't be the worst thing. So far, her hero career was uneventful. There had been rumblings when the Number One Hero took on a position as teacher her first year at UA. Was he getting ready to retire? Was he looking to through her classmates to find a successor? There were many great candidates.
Ultimately though, he left the school as quickly as he began, and she and the rest of class 1-A put two years of studies behind them, picked up their provisional hero's licenses, and graduated without much incident. The only real excitement came when Katsuki Bakugo would fly off into one of his fits, but after three years, everyone learned to ignore him. Except for Shoto. Uraraka couldn't be sure, but she believed Todoroki couldn't possibly be that dense. He had to be egging the explosive hero on in his cold way.
Uraraka stood from her desk and stretched her arms. The knots in her back loosened, and her neck popped. Four years into full time hero work, and she felt twice as old as she should. Mina assured her it was because she rode the desk too long at work and her couch/bed too long at home. Till recently, she'd joke the only other thing she rode was her boyfriend, but their time in and out of school together had only resulted in a handful of…rides. None of them quite memorable beyond that fumbling teenager sort of way.
"You're too young to be getting nostalgic," she rubbed her eyes and checked the clock. Five o'clock and some change. She could call it a day. She tucked her work phone into her desk and walked out the door. Her weekend was here. She might as well get through it.
As she waited the fourteen stops between work and home, Uraraka let her eyes wander. People looked happy, for the most part. In one corner a man huddled for warmth despite the late day heat. A small girl sat on her mother's lap, looking back at her. Uraraka waved. The girl tucked her face into her mother's jacket but kept looking.
Uraraka chuckled and turned to look at the train's news screen. As a little girl, she'd dreamed of becoming a hero, a famous one at that. She imagined bringing in a large paycheck from the government, and bigger ones from sponsors. She saw herself signing autographs on her way home to the large house her and her parents would sleep in during most of the year before going abroad for the summer. Those dreams were harder to hold onto in her studio apartment sleeping on her broken couch.
She turned her attention closer to the news. They were running the Shigaraki story all over again. Between this and All Might's latest "sneeze face" or Endeavor's "mean mug" it seemed to be the only story the news was carrying.
"Japanese officials are still working with colleagues in the state of Louisiana, of the USA, trying to determine what led the League of Villains founder to foreign shores, and what could have led his untimely and gruesome fate."
Here they went. They were going to show the picture again. Uraraka looked away, but the photo hung fresh in her mind. A man, roughly her age, decaying skin battered and broken to the point of almost unrecognizability, hung blood eagle style from a pair of Louisiana Swamp Oaks. She knew the media wouldn't show the rest of the picture, but the photo had been passed around to many of the pro hero agencies. She'd been visiting her friends Momo and Shoto at their little start up when the picture made its rounds.
"No one knows about the dismemberment. They're hoping someone will start bragging and we'll be able to track down the villain group or vigilante crew that did this too him," Momo slid the photo to her. The image was ghastly.
Below the man, there were no legs. The intestines were all dropped and gone into the swamp below.
"Some of the Americans believe that alligators are responsible for the missing limbs and organs, but Mr. Aizawa just got back from the States."
"What did he find?" Shoto leaned forward. Uraraka looked up at the man. He'd changed very little since high school. There was speculation swirling from his first days that he would replace his father, hell, even All Might, if he'd use his full quirk. As it stood, he rode the middle pack on ice alone and left the glory to Bakugo.
"No teeth marks. Aizawa says the evidence points to Shigaraki being torn in half. Quite disturbing."
Disturbing indeed. Uraraka couldn't fathom what kind of terrible creature could have such hatred and raw rage to tear another living being apart like that. Maybe she was soft. She'd seen plenty of terrible things in her short time as a hero, but never such overt terror. Her train pulled up to her stop.
The door to her apartment swung open on her sad little home. She shuffled off her bag and dropped her costume suitcase in the corner. She needed to eat but didn't feel like it. She chose instead to collapse on her couch. She didn't turn the TV on, nor did she move to grab the remote. She let the worn cushions hold her and began to doze.
BRRRRRTTT BRRRRRRTTT
She woke up from half-sleep. The ringing of her phone stopped. She debated checking it later but it began to go off again, somehow louder and more impatient than before.
"Hello?"
"Why don't you have your work phone? I've been calling you for forty five minutes, Uraraka!" his voice exploded from the speaker.
"Iida, I thought I blocked your number."
"Well we're very fortunate you didn't. Now-"
Click
It was a small action, but a grin began to creep across her face. A warm feeling of satisfaction filled her chest and spread to her cheeks before the phone rang again.
"You dumped me, remember? Something about me not being up to the standards of the Iida family name?"
"First off, I never said that. It was implied by my grandmother and some of my aunts…"
Uraraka waited, seeing if her ex could get himself out of the hole he was determined dig.
"Furthermore, if you had your work phone on you, like a professional hero should, you would know I'm not calling for social reasons."
"Lucky me."
"This attitude is not becoming, and unlike you."
She let that sit for a minute. Almost eight years of friendship, five of them together romantically, and he really couldn't figure why she might be less than her chipper self?
Uraraka waited until a sigh came from the other end of the phone.
"Look, I know our break-up wasn't…ideal by any means. But we must be able to put those issues aside for the sake of our work. The Iida Family Agency has put in a request to team up on an undercover operation. We will be infiltrating a popular night club that seems to be at the center of a new villain organization."
"Sounds exciting. Call Mina."
"I have already. Asui Tsuyu as well. Even Bakugo. The fact is the cover for this outing is an informal class 1-A reunion. It appears the owner has a fondness for heroes. While that doesn't rule him out as a suspect, we might be able to overwhelm him with our combined presence and glean greater insights into if this night club is indeed Villain affiliated."
"You've got it all figured out, so have fun. I'm not going."
"Ochaco, please."
She waited. There was a time where she waited forever for him to call her by her first name. Hell, anything other than her hero name was an accomplishment. Now, coming out of his lips, it felt wrong.
"I can't show up to this thing…stag. It would be improper and look wrong. Even Bakugo has a date. Someone will actually put up with the hot head. If I show up alone, it will arouse suspicion."
"You mean it will hurt your ego."
"That's not fair-"
"Goodbye, Ingenium," she clicked off her phone again. She waited for a call back, wondering if her message got through. When her phone remained silent she smiled a little more, and walked to her excuse of a kitchen to make cheep ramen.
Uraraka made it through half a bowl of ramen and had started a penguins documentary when the knock on her door came.
"This is low even for you, Iida," she called through the door.
"Girl, do you really think it's that motor blockhead?"
Uraraka got up, wiped a stray noodle from her shirt and sweatpants, and went to the door.
Standing in her hallway Momo, Mina, and Tsu smiled at her, and then tried to hide it as their eyes traveled the length of her frumpified form. She tried to ignore their gazes.
"Uhhh…come in. It's great to see you," she said as her friends filed into her studio apartment.
"We stopped by to make sure your…" Mina trailed off.
"It's worse than you told me it was, kero."
"Nice to see you too, Tsu. When did you get in from the coast?" Uraraka loved her best friend, but she could cut you deep with her manner.
"Just now. Momo and Mina said it was an emergency."
"And I was right," Momo gestured to Uraraka. "Clearly she needs her friends."
"Thank you for your support and concern, but I'm fine."
She tried to go to the couch, but they stood between her and her comfort.
"No, you're not."
"Mina and Momo say you've been avoiding patrols, so you don't have to run into Iida, kero."
"And we haven't seen you on your days off in months."
"Months? I haven't seen my Ochaco since my wedding! Yeah the first year of marriage is great, but I need some time away from the rock head and you're MIA!" Mina flailed her arms about, emphasizing her point while blocking her way to the couch.
"You're turning into Mr. Aizawa, and not in a good way," Mina finished. Uraraka turned to look at each of her friends. Their mixture of exasperation and concern touched her. She slumped against her wall and hung her head. Tears fell from her eyes soon after.
"I just don't know what to do. I don't want him back, but I can't figure how to move on," the sobs continued, punctuated by ugly heaves and gasps for air. Her friends guided her to the couch and sat around her. Tsu's cold blood sapped the heat away from her face and Mina patted her back.
"You don't have to do this alone. That's why we set up this sting operation. We get to do our job, and have a good night on Iida's dime, all while showing him what he's missing, kero."
"Tsu, that's terrible."
"I know, kero. That's why we all agreed it was the best idea," her friend wiped the tears from her eyes. Her friends held her closer, and for the first time in what felt like awhile, the world seemed a little less shitty. Then she turned to the half build Ikea closet holding her clothes.
"I'm not going to have much in the way of club wear."
Momo held her close and laughed.
"Don't worry. I know a girl who can take care of that."
Uraraka waited for the driver to open the door, and followed Momo and Shoto into the night air. It was brisk, but Momo had insisted that a short, slim red dress would be the ticket. While she was nervous that desk duty may have thrown off her heroic physique, a quick mirror check and wolf-whistle from Tsu bumped up her confidence. Add a light shawl courtesy of Momo, and for the first time since her break up, she felt like someone people should be asking autographs from.
"You're going to set the club on fire tonight, kero." Tsu said behind her. Her friend stood in contrast to her in her Emerald gown. Momo's all black complimented Shoto's white suit, and when Tokoyami showed up as Tsu's date in his best all black suit and black choker, Uraraka thought to herself, Damn, we look good.
The feeling was mutual. Outside the club a line of hopeful partygoers stood slack jawed looking at the dressed up off duty heroes. The gazes were annoying but touched that small animal part at the back of her brain that recognized and appreciated being noticed and being worth noticing.
"Ochaco, I must say you look quite spectacular this evening, and I promise to make it as enjoyable for you as possible without compromising the mission or bringing up our painful past."
And there went the night. Uraraka turned and faced her ex. He'd only grown into his looks as they'd matured. His family's money put him in a nice if inoffensive suit. His sharp cheek bones and square jaw quite handsome. She wanted to smash it.
Mina and her husband drew up behind him, both well dressed, if a little uncomfortable in Kirishima's case. Uraraka managed to smile. The young couple looked tired. She was sure Mina wore the poor boy out at every opportunity. They hadn't held much back before the wedding, and a part of her hoped, for his sake, that her friend would slow down now with a ring on her finger. She had not.
"Oi, fucking extras! Let's go already and get this over with," the shout carried over the group like a storm cloud.
The class hot head and unfortunately top student, Katsuki Bakugo strode to his colleagues with all the air of a pissed off bulldog. Pomeranian had been the more apt description in his younger days, but with his short kempt hair and impressive stature, there was no mistaking his rage as cute anymore. This was a man who was dangerous. Uraraka gave a silent thanks every encounter that he was on their side.
That Camie from Shiketsu followed grenade boy, elegant if not unsurprising in another skintight suit, and somehow good natured. Uraraka could here Shoto sigh from beside her and guess what was coming already.
"Ice pack, you and I got a problem already?"
"No, I agree with you. Let's get this over with."
"Good, then stay out of my way. Let's infiltrate this stupid club and go home. I have work to do."
"This is work babe," Camie stepped forward. She was replaced by a long haired Bakugo pulling at his roots.
"MY QUEST FOR THE TITLE OF NO 1 HERO CAN NOT BE PUT ON HOLD FOR ANYTING! EVEN TO MEET UP WITH MY CLASSMATES AND TAKE MY GIRLFRIEND OUT TO A FANCY NEW DANCE CLUB!"
"I DON'T SOUND LIKE THAT! AND WE AREN'T DATING! FUCK BUDDIES AT MOST!"
"Yeah yea, where's the rest?" Camie patted Bakugo as he stewed and his brain broke, looking towards Momo.
"Over here, waiting for Bakubro to calm down already."
The group looked over to see Kaminari and Jirou waiting in line. Everyone made their way over with Kirishima wrapping the safer blonde boy in bear hug.
"Bro! I'm so glad we get to see each other! I thought you were still on tour."
"We were," Jirou answered for her crushed friend, "but when I saw we were scoping out Shoot the Sky, I rescheduled the show and got the idiot into a suit. We've been trying to play this spot since it opened. They say the guy who owns this joint is a real king maker for live bands."
"Unacceptable," Iida scooted to stand in front of Jirou. "We're investigating this club for possible Villain connections. You'd want to work for an establishment that supports Evil?"
Uraraka rolled her eyes. She used to find Iida's unwavering devotion to the rules and regulations of the world, the strict enforcement of heroism, noble. After the breakup though she'd found some dates and times that didn't quite add up in the Stain files. She couldn't prove it, but she had a suspicion the Iida had been involved in that fight well before they'd received their provisional licenses. Sure, he wasn't active anymore, but nor was he caught. Uraraka thought that might not be the case if a certain someone had been on school grounds the night Stain went to ground instead of "with her studying," as he'd asked her to say in the hospital.
"The building isn't committing any crimes, motor boy. If they are involved in some evil stuff, maybe my band will have to pick up a permanent home," Jirou turned away.
"So you're only doing this for personal gain?" Iida tried to follow her but Bakugo pushed past him.
"Settle down, and fall in, fucking nerd," Bakugo followed Jirou to the front of the line.
"But…this is my agency's mission."
"Then you can foot the bill," Mina said as she took her husband's arm and joined her friends. Iida waited for someone to back him up. Tsu took Yami's arm walked past him. Iida looked to Uraraka.
"Should be a fun mission. We'll try not to break your bank," she pushed past her ex and made her way to the line.
The bouncer took a look at their group, sighed, and clicked his ear piece.
"Riggs, more heroes. Someone needs to stop telling them the Boss is a fan."
The man listened to this Riggs. Uraraka shifted her weight between her feet and looked at the line.
"I don't know, they aren't in costume, but I know one of them is Ground Zero, so I don't expect he'll want the-"
Uraraka was so busy watching the line, feeling their eyes on them and the sudden overwhelming knowledge that they didn't belong here, that she was the last to notice the bouncer looking at her.
"Yeah hold on, I think Uravity is with them. Yeah that's definitely her," the bouncer left his post and approached her. He towered over everyone, large blocks at the end of tree trunk arms. Uraraka looked up into the mans security glasses. In a fight or rescue, she wouldn't think twice about the man, but she was on his turf. The bouncer smiled.
"My apologies miss if this is forward, but would you happen to be the hero Uravity?"
"Yes," she said. The rest of her friends and colleagues looked at her. Most of them were bigger names, if not just in the gossip columns. She didn't even have merch to speak of, so why would anyone want to seek her out?
"Excellent. If you would, you and your friends are most welcome to Shoot the Sky," he handed her a small chip and began to open the door.
"Upstairs you'll find the club, I'm sure you won't miss it. Riggs will see to your drinks. He insists. Just hand him the chip and he'll take care of the rest. Enjoy your evening."
Uraraka walked past the large man followed by the rest of the party. They entered a large dim lobby and the door shut behind them.
"Well this is fortunate. The Iida agency won't be going bankrupt due to you hooligans' debauchery."
"Oh shut it you cheapskate," Mina clocked the back of Iida's head.
"Just be happy the owner seems to have a thing for Recovery Heroes. By the way…" Mina got right next to Uraraka and whispered.
"The Owner of this place might just be really into you. A rich, successful-"
"Possible villain!"
"Iida shush! You don't get a say here."
"It's the mission!"
"He could be old and creepy," Tsu pondered.
Everyone stopped. Uraraka faced her best friend.
"He could be old and creepy. He could have a thing for Recovery Heroes because he thinks they're weaker. There've been a lot of creeps sending me messages and saying they'd break me and such."
"Tsu, is that why you brought me?" Yami looked uncomfortable.
"Kind of. Bakugo had a date and I need someone scary to ward off pests. Also you might be lonely and high school Tsu had a thing for goth boys. Worth a shot, kero."
Uraraka enjoyed the blush that fought it's way to Yami's face, but couldn't disregard what she was hearing. Iida was right, the owner was their target.
"Here," Jirou reached over and tucked something into the back of her dress.
"Momo helped me whip these up when we were working that Yakuza case that went cold during work study. You keep this on you, and I'll be able to hear you as long as you're not in the air or something. Just keep it on you, and if you get close, see if you can get some intel on him. If you feel unsafe, call in the calvary."
Kaminari and Kiri pumped their fists.
"Tch, she means me, extras."
Uraraka nodded and let Jirou adjust the bug.
"Right. Let's do our best," the words left her mouth before she could think of them. She tried to hide how awkward it made her feel, but no one's expression gave way their noticing. She took it as their support, and she began her way up the stairs.
The stairwell started off as wide as the small room they began in, but quickly funneled to a single person width at the top. As everyone climbed, each hero took in the lack of windows, the low lighting, and the chokepoint this created. This stairway was built for defense, even if it serviced a club.
At the top stood a sturdy door. The faint thumping a loud bass heavy music vibrated through the stone and wood. Even high up, Uraraka imagined the seedy kind of den this club would reveal itself to be. She didn't want to jump to conclusions, but her mind's eye saw exactly the dirty little dive this club would be. She took a breath and opened the door.
The air and light hit her like a wall, and her eyes struggled to adjust. Before lay a large expanse of lighted dancefloor ringed by a balcony and terraces above that. A well stocked and frenzied bar serviced an endless gathering of partiers on the far right side of the room, flanked by a stage any band would envy. Uraraka gazed skyward and noticed that while there were lights running above her, the last rays of the Japan sun shone into the club through a retractable roof. The dazzling oranges and reds of the evening played across the scene. Her breath caught in her chest, and she wondered if she would breath again.
"Uraraka move so we can…kero. Wow. This is impressive," Tsu said beside her.
The rest of her friends and comrades filed in behind her. Each took their turn being speechless, even the resident hot head.
"Momo, is this what it's like to live your life?"
"No Mina. I don't think I've seen something like this before."
Uraraka could have stood at the beginning of that beautiful place all night, except something at the bar caught her eye. Someone from behind the bar shot forth on what appeared to be rope. Ascending to the lines holding the lights, he ran along their length before dropping down in front of the heroes. He beamed at all of them, and settled on Uraraka.
"Ahhh good. The boss's special guests have arrived. Your token, madame."
He bent into a deep bow and held out his hand. It took some nudging from Tsu, but Uraraka remembered her chip, and placed the token into the outstretched hand.
"Most excellent. A balcony has been prepared for you. The stars are by the bar. If you require anything, please pull the rope in your suite. I, Riggs, will be by shortly.
The rest of the group started for the stairs by the bar, but Uraraka was held up by a hand from the still bent over man.
"If you will please wait here a moment."
Uraraka looked to her friends. Iida stared at her, and Jirou nodded. Whatever this man had to say, she might need to hear it. They were on a mission after all.
"Thank you for waiting."
"Of course."
The man unbent himself and gave her a polite smile. She could tell he was an older gentleman, at least twice the age of the Bouncer they'd met already.
"My master, with your permission, would like to meet you later during your evening with us. Would that be okay with you?"
Master huh? It seemed Tsu's old creep theory had some legs after all. The idea of an old crime lord fetishizing her all night all but killed the little enthusiasm she had for this evening. But it was the mission. If she had to get perved on by some old bag, she'd do it. She'd survived high school with Mineta. She could handle an old geezer.
"I don't see why not. Who will I be looking for?"
"Excellent, Miss Uraraka, and trust me, he'll make himself known."
Riggs gave her another bow and then ascended to the lights. She watched him scamper across the length of the room and lower himself back to the bar. She wondered if this bar had a permit for its workers to use their quirks in commercial settings. Maybe that was an angle she and her peers could pursue.
Her mind raced and mulled this option over as she made her way across the dancefloor and to the stairs. Reaching their balcony, she noticed her friends were already enjoying what appeared to be complimentary bottles of gin, saki, and whisky. A small fridge held mixers, a tiny box of notecards recipes. All of these being ignored at the moment as Mina had elected to lay on the table as Jirou and Kaminari poured equal parts tequila and sourmix into her mouth.
"This is unacceptable! We are on a mission!" Iida fumed.
"We're at a party," Mina got to her feet, staggering just a hint, and leaning onto her husband. "It'll be suspicious if none of us, you know, enjoy ourselves."
"She's right, kero." Tsu said from her corner. She took a sip from what Uraraka remembered was called a grasshopper.
Fitting she thought to herself.
"If we don't appear to be having a good time like the others, we'll stick out."
"Fine, but we should at least try to-" Iida was cut off as Mina coaxed her husband onto the table. Kaminari's roars of approval and the music drowned out all forms of protest.
Shoto poured some ginger ale over ice into a lowball glass and handed the rest of the bottle to Momo. Uraraka noticed her friend watching as Momo followed suit, but slipped whisky into her glass while Shoto wasn't looking. She then handed the brown bottle to her, but Uraraka refused.
She needed a clear head. Or, clearish. Among the assorted bottles her friends had already opened or perused, an open bottle of champagne sat in it's chiller, half full. Picking up a glass, Uraraka poured some into the tall flute, and took a drink. The bubbles filled her mouth and tickled the back of her throat.
Oh well, a glass or two won't hurt.
An hour and a half into the mission, and things were FUBAR. Uraraka sat in the balcony nursing her fourth glass of champagne. The first bottle had given way to a second, and even with her nice buzz and low tolerance, she could look out on the club and feel she was holding up alright.
Below her, her classmates moved about throughout the club. Tsu made a move on Yami, but the bird boy's awkwardness convinced her to enjoy her night elsewhere. She currently was dancing with abandon with a group of sailors she recognized from work, a rather handsome one getting closer and closer to her with each passing song. Uraraka was happy for her friend having a good time. She was doing better than her ex.
The pressure of trying to keep everyone on mission drove Iida to drink. His family insisted on gin, which cracked Uraraka up. Iida never managed to hold down hard liquor. One time when they'd snuck out for a date, Senior year, Uraraka snagged a bottle of Bombay with Iida's brother's blessing. After a night of persuasion, curiosity got the better of Iida, and he drank the warm liquor from the bottle, spitting up the mouthful all over Uraraka's dress. At least the man kept the gin in his mouth this time. He now slouched over one of the toilets in the men's room according to Kirishima.
Out of the rest of her party, only Jirou remained sober. She danced with the others, locked into the music on stage, a strange but enjoyable mixture of rock and edm. Right up Jirou's ally, but Uraraka could take it or leave it. She liked dancing, but she wanted to move with a partner, not be moved on. She drifted off, thinking about the early days when her father would come home and put on a record he had brought over from America. The music was old even then, but the lively rhythms and big band sounds always got her jumping up and down and clapping her hands. Dad would put her on his feet and they'd go around the living room, her doing spins in the air as he lifted her like a feather on a strong wind.
Uraraka was so lost in her revelry that she barely noticed the young man who'd entered her balcony. He didn't say anything as he entered. He cleared the empty bottles, put the half full ones to order, and restocked what was needed. When his work was finished, he took a seat at her table, and stared out on the dance floor.
Uraraka looked at the stranger as he sat and really saw him for the first time. He was a man probably her age, a busser most likely, with a sharp suit vest that accentuated his slight but well-developed body. His legs looked graceful in a pair of slacks that ended at cashmere socks in sharp dancing shoes, too fancy to be the non-slip work shoes that were required in bar work. His red tie didn't quite match her dress, but complimented it, and under a slightly shaggy mess of hair, his green eyes locked with hers.
"While I can't say I mind, you are staring."
Uraraka blinked and looked away, shaking herself back from her thoughts. His voice was smooth, but he spoke with a touch of a Southern American accent. Not like the ones she saw in TV shows from that country, but distinct. She couldn't place it. Uraraka gathered her thoughts and smiled at the man.
"I'm sorry. I'm not used to seeing busboys dressed so sharply."
"I thank you, though you've misjudged my profession."
"Oh? I'm sorry. I saw you tidying up and thought-"
The man raised a gloved hand. He smiled at her. It was warm and genuine. Something she didn't expect from people who made their living smiling for people. How many times had she practiced her own smile? Staring in the mirror making sure no matter how much she hurt, no matter how much she wanted to be anywhere else, that smile stayed on? Her cheeks worked till they felt like they would fall off her face. His looked effortless.
"A host takes care of his guests, especially those he holds in high esteem."
"Host?"
She looked the man over again. There was no way. He was so young! It couldn't be.
"Allow me to introduce myself. Izuku Midoriya You may call me Izzy."
He held out a hand to her from across the table. She took. For a second she expected him to bow and kiss it, but he held her gaze and held her hand in his.
"Ochaco Uraraka."
"Ochaco, I've wanted to meet you for a while now."
Her gut tightened. This "Izzy" wanted to meet her? that didn't make sense. This was too weird. He was too smooth.
"Oh, you have…"
"Yeah, when you saved those villagers three years ago after the tsunami using your anti-gravity to make a makeshift raft out of telephone poles I was like…"whaaaaaat?' That's such quick thinking! It must of taken years to master your quirk to such a-"
Uraraka watched as his green eyes lit up and he never let go of her hand, listing off some of her favorite even if not more noteworthy saves that had been in the news.
Oh my god, he's a fan boy. That's…kind of adorable coming from him. Hear I thought he was scary.
She laughed to herself, the small sound causing the gushing fan to stop and look at her. He let go of her hand and blushed, scratching he back of his head.
"S-sorry. I guess I never really grew out of my hero fanboy phase."
The blush brought out freckles that dotted his cheeks. She wasn't sure if it was the champagne or not, but he may have been adorable. Uraraka decided to be bold.
"Let me guess, room full of All Might posters and everyone of his action figures?"
"Who have you been talking to? Am I being watched?"
He laughed at her face, but at the back of her Mind Uraraka was kicking herself.
Don't give up the game you moron! You're supposed to be investigating the cutie!
She paused, chalking up the last part to having one too many glasses. She straightened up and smiled.
"Just a lucky guess. So why the interest in me? There was a whole group of top tier heroes here for this little class reunion."
"Maybe in the rankings, but not many of them compared to you."
"…explain."
"Gladly," Izzy stood up and made his way to the rail. She followed him. Gesturing to each of her friends in turn, he listed off their strengths and weakness in a way that felt like she was back in class getting a debrief from Mr. Aizawa.
"Shoto is known as the ice hero, but still allows his hatred for his father to hold back his potential. He could be in contention for his father's spot in no time if he learned to look past his self-hatred."
"Okay, but-"
"Mina and Kirishima are a wonderful team, but they've stopped trying to improve. Early parenthood and being media darlings hasn't helped either. They're hearts are in other pursuits."
"That's just mean."
"I mean no disrespect. It's just my assessment. Neither one of them wants to lose what they have in each other. I admire that."
Uraraka paused. She looked at Izzy, trying to gauge his sincerity. He had a gentle smile on, but no signs of lying. No tells.
"But self-sacrifice is the cornerstone of heroism. You should know that as such a fan."
"I do. However, knowing yourself enough to know what you won't give up to achieve your goals may not be heroism, but it is necessary and respectable. Like understanding there are some sacrifices you must make that will disappoint those close to you but bring you closer to the happiness you need in your soul."
She looked out at the dance floor, and too the restroom.
"I'm sorry, I've gone a little deep and upset you."
"No, no it's…just something I've had to think about."
They shared a moment of just sitting there as the music washed over them. Uraraka let the thoughts of Iida drain from her mind as she refocused on the mission.
"You're forgetting the Number 5 hero. You haven't given me your thoughts on him."
"Mostly because he's not worth thinking about."
That shocked Uraraka. Gone was the gentle smile, replaced by the grim look of a man who…where had she seen that look before? Some of the pro heroes carried it. A determination, an almost knowledge of something out of sight but close.
"A hero fan who doesn't think much of one of the top 5 heroes? I'm afraid that doesn't make much sense."
"OI, FANCY BOY! TALK SHIT TO MY FACE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!"
Uraraka turned around to see her teammate. Bakugo was drunk, swinging back and forth unattended with a beer in each hand. She could see it now. Izzy would turn around and try to deescalate the situation. Bakugo would break the beer bottles and hold them to Izzy's neck. The Hero Association would offer Izzy a large payoff to forget that this whole thing happened.
"I SAID TALK SHIT TO MY FACE IF YOU'RE GOING To…no." Bakugo stepped back. Izzy had turned to face the young hero, face still grim.
"Mr. Bakugo, I'll have to ask you to control yourself while in my establishment," he said and stepped forward.
"How…why…no," the hot head seemed at a loss for words. Uraraka tried to keep track. Was this Izzy's quirk? Was it something like Shinso? What was going on here?
From behind the dazed Bakugo, Riggs appeared. He took the young man in his hands and guided him down the stairs. No words were exchanged.
"I'm sorry for that," Izzy turned back toward her, the smile beginning to creep back onto his face.
"I'd hate for such a lovely evening to be interrupted by him. This may be too much, but would you mind accompanying me to my club?"
Uraraka blinked, trying to get her bearings and understand.
"I thought we were in your club?"
"Yes, and as far as the world needs to know, it's the only one," he held out his hand. "But aside from the odd appearance and work, I prefer to spend my down time a little more at my speed."
She debated everything. On the surface, Izzy was a kind, cute, and successful man who was asking to get to know her better. On top of that, he was the target of her investigation. She could humor him, get a little ego boost from having this handsome fanboy fawn all over her, and get the intel they needed to complete the mission. Yet what he did to Bakugo…she'd never seen that happen to the man. Not in training. Not in the field. The guy was an asshat, but he was unflappable.
"You're free to say no, it won't hurt my feelings, but I'd really like the chance to hang out with you some more."
Uraraka nodded and took his hand. She followed him down the stairs and to the far side of the room across from the bar. As she crossed the floor locked eyes with Jirou the two women nodded. The mission was a go.
A hidden spiral staircase wound its way down the building and opened up on what looked like an alleyway. Uraraka was confused; based on the scouting the police had down of this club, the alleyway shouldn't exist at all.
"Forgive me. It may be over the top, but I came up in bars of a certain nature. The theatrics and setting make if feel a little more like home.'
"And where is home?" she asked. She followed Izzy down the Alley and through a couple of turns. The wall on either side were brick, and the streets brick again, not paved. Above her the night sky stood a stark black, light pollution blocking out the stars.
"Well, I was born and grew up here in, Japan…"
They turned another corner. Up ahead the alleyway T'd again, and to the right Uraraka could make out the faint glow of a neon light spilling out into the alley.
"But I came up in New Orleans. That's where I started becoming who you see today. Or at least, this version of him. To be honest, it could have gone a lot differently if she hadn't found me."
"Who?" they turned the corner and she could see it. At the end of the Alley stood a large neon sign over a walk down doorway.
MS. JOSEPHINE'S
"I named the club for her. She was my Master if it's not too corny to say. She taught me everything."
"Such as?"
Izzy led her down the stairs. The door stood before her, intricately carved and smooth in spots from use. He opened the door, and led her inside the club.
"She taught me to be patient. How to take my time. How to recognize what is precious and what is required to hold on to it. That's why I admire you. Recovery heroes learn to prioritize and protect their people. I can empathize with that. You more than any I've seen handle it well."
Uraraka barely heard the words coming from his mouth. They washed over her with the sound of a big band playing on stage. Before a large wooden dancefloor dominated a room ringed in red leather seats and populated by the laughing and dancing bodies of beautiful people. A woman stood at the front of the band, handling the microphone with vigor.
"What is this place?" she asked. Izzy led her to a both at the back of the club, took her shawl, and helped her to a seat.
"Home."
Jirou tried to look inconspicuous, but the longer she went without results, the more worried she got.
"FUCK!"
"Whoa, I didn't expect that from you, kero," Tsu said, hanging from the back of a very happy sailor.
"Gather the team back at the balcony. We need to make a plan."
Tsu took a second to clear her mind but understood. She turned the man's head around with her tongue, leaned over, and kissed him deep.
"Sorry Ras, I'm back on the clock."
"Raincheck?"
"Maybe. You're kind of backup booty."
"Understandable. So are you."
Jirou watched as her friend gave the sailor another deep kiss and hopped off, going through the crowd to gather their team.
"Just once. Just once I'd like to make normal friends."
She went to the balcony.
Uraraka looked around the room, her feet tapping to the beat of the band. Everything seemed so lush and vibrant. The music, the people, and the drinks! As they'd sat down someone rushed them a pair of cocktails. The chilled glass felt cold in her hand and when she took a sip, the liquid neither burned nor made her feel like she needed to scrub her mouth out to get that lingering stickiness off her teeth and tongue. It was cool, fresh, and crisp, which she needed. While not uncomfortable, this club was a tad hotter than Shoot the Sky. It enveloped her and lapped at her skin, pulling her into the place.
"It's not a bad little spot, is it?"
"This is wonderful. It's so…alive."
'Yes, you get it!"
Izzy slammed the table and laughed.
"I get why everyone loves upstairs so much, but down here there's real life to be had and enjoyed. There's the human element to dive into."
"And the music's better," she said and took a drink. Sting or not, she was enjoying herself. Izzy put his head on his hand and looked at her. It had to be the cocktails, but she started to blush like a schoolgirl.
"So you like swing then, huh?"
"Yes. Dad used to play it in the house. We would dance and he would twirl me. It was the first time I felt what it was like to be weightless…" Uraraka began to blush harder and finished her drink. She set it down for another to take its place as she looked away. Izzy laughed as she stared at it and started stirring it with her finger.
"Sorry, that's corny. You don't want to hear about my childhood stories."
"I want to hear everything, and for you to give me a dance," and he held out his hand. Uraraka looked at it, and shook her head.
"No, not tonight. I'm a little too drunk and it's getting late. I'll have to find my friends.
"Okay then, a dance next time."
"Next time?"
"Of course," he said as he scooted next to her. He took her hands in his and looked her in the eyes.
"I want to see you again, Ochaco Uraraka. I want you to come and see me here tomorrow night if you want, and I want to dance with you and here your stories," he said and leaned into her ear, one of his hands finding her back.
"On one condition."
"Okay, so we've completely botched this mission, lost my girlfriend,"
"Ex-girlfriend, dumbass."
"Whatever, and somehow someone broke Bakugo?!" Iida shouted to the assembled group as everyone looked with worried eyes to the back of the balcony. Camie stood there trying to coax the angry young man to a semblance of himself. As it stood, all Bakugo could do was stare down at the floor puzzling through something he wouldn't or couldn't share with the rest.
"As anyone tried the door Ochaco followed that man through, kero?" Tsu looked around the group.
"Not yet, as it would arouse suspicion."
"Arouse suspicion, we're missing our friend, Shoto."
"I understand that Mina, but we need-"
"To let hubby smash down that door and get our friend back! They've kidnapped her at the least!"
"Kidnapped who, Mina?" Uraraka asked as she stepped onto the balcony. Everyone turned to face her, Iida shooting straight to her side.
"Where were you? I was worried sick. We didn't know where you were. Have you been injured? Let me-"
"Stop, I swear I'm fine. We should get going. We can talk about it later."
She made no room for argument. Instead she floated down from the balcony and made her way to the door. She was at the door before she noticed the rest of her class following her.
The bouncer opened the door for her without knocking, and bowed to her as she passed by. Outside the line of people didn't seem to have diminished. Throngs of people waited to get a chance to be inside. She wondered to herself how many would get to see it, and how much. She smiled knowing she'd be back again tomorrow night.
"Be careful."
"Hmmm?" she turned around. Bakugo stood behind her, no malice in his voice or his face. The rest were making their way toward them. The man drew close to her, making sure they weren't heard.
"I don't know who that man is, but he looked like an old…well someone I know is dead. He has to be dead."
"Why do you say that?"
Bakugo looked her in the eyes, tears in the corners. She'd never seen the man cry before.
"I killed him, Uraraka. I watched him fall. They said they never found a body, but I watched him fall. Izuku Midoriya is dead."
With that, the number 5 year, the young up and comer determined to be Japan's next unstoppable force for good, slumped off to his car. Uraraka watched him go, and thought about what he said.
"One condition"
Izzy slid his hand down her back and plucked the device Jirou put on her at the start of the night.
"Our time will be just you and me. I know you're here to spy on me. Report back whatever you want, but when you come here next, come alone. Would that be okay? Just you and me?"
Izzy crushed the device in his fingers. She weighed the options, knew what she had to do as a hero. Knew what she wanted to do for herself.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, Uraraka stood up, and Izzy followed suit. He walked her back to the stairs leading to Shoot the Sky. He watched her go to the balcony, and float across the room to leave, and allowed himself to hope for the first time since Miss Josephine's death that maybe, just maybe, there was more to the world than death, vengeance, and power. Still, death, vengeance, and power he would have.
"Brother's dead, and you have to know you're next old man. It's going to be fun being back." Izzy whistled to himself as he walked back down the stairs and into the dark.
