Chapter 3: Look Up
Izuku smiled as he entered the bullpen and glanced around at the chaos. Horikoshi was barking at the gathered crowds wanting reports. Izuku pushed his glasses on his nose and joined the crowd. "Uravity stopped a bridge collapse." "Shoto and Creati stopped a bank robbery last night." "Grape Juice had more sexual harassment charges filed against him."
"What about this new guy?" Horikoshi asked, "This Superman?"
Izuku looked down and flushed as one reporter threw out exploits. "He stopped two train crashes, one in Tokyo and one in New York, stopped a terrorist attack in Paris, stopped a dam from breaking in California, diverted a tidal wave off the coast of Hawaii, defeated three villains, one in Boston, one in London, and one in Hong Kong, and got a cat out of a tree three blocks from here, and that was all in an hour's time…"
"How many quirks does this dude have?" another reporter asked.
"He says he doesn't have any, but he hasn't explained HOW he can do all that without them," another responded.
While they were discussing the new hero Izuku glanced up at the news monitors and saw one break report that a plane was about to crash near southern Japan. He silently eased out of the group and removed his glasses as he entered a closet.
A few minutes later he stepped out, adjusting his suit, and found the group now talking about how Superman had just saved the lives of everyone on board the plane by catching it in mid air and lowering it to the ground.
"There you are, Midoriya!" Horikoshi pointed, "I need you downtown! I want you to cover the construction of the new Central Agency Hub."
"That's not really my expertise, Chief," Izuku replied. "I'm more of an analyst."
"I know that," the editor nodded, "The construction company is owned by Uravity's father. Maybe you can get some more insight on her while you're at it."
"I guess," Izuku nodded, grabbing his bag from his desk, "I'll get right on it, chief!"
"Good," Horikoshi nodded, "And stop calling me chief!"
-S-
Izuku got out of the cab and started toward the construction site and was about to flash his credentials when a familiar voice called from behind the gates. "DEKU!"
He smiled when Ochako came rushing toward him, out of her hero gear and now in a pair of form fitting jeans and a pink tee shirt. "He's with me," She said, grabbing Izuku by the arm.
"I was hoping it would be you covering this, Deku," She smiled at her friend, not once releasing his arm as she all but skipped into the construction yard.
"I was kind of surprised they picked your parents company for this, no offence," Izuku noted the quirkless workers and machinery at work.
"None taken, we were, too," She smiled at him, "But don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Daddy always says!" She then glanced up and grinned, "Speaking of which… Daddy!"
An older man looked up from a table with prints and smiled and waved at the heroine. "There my hero!"
He then glanced to the young man his daughter had yet to release her vise grip on. "And you must be this reporter she won't shut up about."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Uraraka, sir," Izuku held out his hand and the foreman took it and nodded at the firm grip.
"Pleasure's all mine, Deku," He smiled, "It is Deku, right?"
"Izuku Midoriya actually, but Deku is fine," He nodded, "Do you have time for some questions for the paper?"
"Will after I get that damn problem with the crane up there straightened out, got some questions for you as well, young man," He said, giving him a firm stare down.
"You keep your boyfriend occupied while I do my thing, Babygirl?" Mr. Uraraka asked, and both Ochako and Izuku flushed.
"We're just friends, Daddy…" Ochako choked out, finally letting go of Izuku's arm.
"Sure, it always starts that way," He chuckled in reply, "Next we know, I'll be paying for a wedding…" He shook his head, "I'll be back soon as I get this piece of junk working again."
"So…" Izuku said, breaking the awkward silence, "What do you really think about this?"
The smile and color faded from Ochako's face, "I hate it." She took a deep breath, "When this is done, the chains will be fixed right here. Sure, the world will have a big shining white symbol of a fake hope, but it's going to be such a mess…"
"Any idea what the end game is for all of this?" Izuku asked as they walked around.
"Who knows," She shrugged, kicking a piece of dirt.
"But…" She turned and saw the massive Shimura Tower, "There's a reason he made his home the tallest building in the city. He loves to look down on those he feels are under him."
Izuku frowned and stared at the tower, he lowered his glasses slightly and zoomed in to see Tenko Shimura watching the site closely, as if he was waiting for something.
Izuku closed his eyes and tuned out Ochako and began listening carefully to the construction site for anything out of the ordinary. His eyes widened when he picked up a faint signal going from the broken crane to Shimura tower. "Hey, Ochako? Is there a potty nearby? My lunch isn't settling well…"
"Oh, yeah, sure, Deku," Ochako smiled understandingly, "It's right around the corner that way."
Izuku nodded, and quickly ducked around the corner, soon as he was out of her sight, he reached up and pulled open his shirt, revealing the symbol of his uniform under his suit.
Ochako watched him leave before turning back to look out over the view of the city, but the city was the least of her thoughts. "Boyfriend? Hmm…" She said, bouncing the idea in her head.
Before she could entertain it any farther, she gasped when explosions rocked the construction site. The blast threw her on the ground, and she looked up to see the site in ruins. "DADDY!" She screamed, climbing back to her feet, and rushing to find her father and help who she could.
She rushed in and began helping to lower the weight of the rubble for the workers trying to help those trapped. "Where's Daddy?" Ochako asked one of the workers.
"He was in the crane working on the controls when the explosion happened," one of the workers said, pointing up at the crane that was about to fall sideways and was already on fire.
Ochako gasped when she saw her father unconscious and the flames inching close to him, "Daddy…"
But before she could do even make a move toward it, Superman swooped down from the skies, and landed on the crane.
Superman glanced around the construction site and could see Ochako and the uninjured workers had it mostly under control. He then glanced down and used his super hearing to pick up a faint heartbeat, but a heartbeat none the less and breathing. He narrowed his eyes and triggered his X-Ray vision and could see multiple broken bones, but his spine was fine, he could move him. The crane wouldn't last but a few more seconds, so he had to move fast but gently.
He grabbed the door and ripped it off before sliding down into the Crane's controls he unsnapped Mr. Uraraka's harness and gently lifted him into a cradle. He lifted off as the Crane began to fall, and he flew quickly around and caught it by his shoulders. 'Now what are you going to do, Deku?' Superman thought to himself as he looked over his situation. With Ochako's father's injuries he had to hold him with both arms to avoid farther injuries, but he was in an awkward position holding the crane.
"Hold on!" he heard Ochako's voice and glanced up to see her and the workers running toward them with massive steel girders obviously made light by Ochako's quirk. They stood them up under them, and Superman gently lowered the Crane down onto them then continued down toward Ochako.
"Daddy!" She gasped as Superman landed before her. "Is he…"
"He's hurt, but he's alive," Superman replied comfortingly, "Has anyone called an ambulance?"
On cue the EMS pulled up and rushed out with a stretcher. Superman gently laid him down and told the first responders of his injuries.
"Thank you for your help today, everyone," Superman said, glancing around at the gathered workers, "Your fast thinking and acting saved a lot of lives today. You're real heroes." He smiled before he took to the sky again.
Ochako watched them load her father into the ambulance and the adrenaline began to finally fall, and she realized someone was missing. "IZUKU!" She gasped, and began looking around, she saw where many of the porta-potties were destroyed in the explosion, and she felt her inside clinch in fear. Finally, she saw the slicked back green haired reporter rushing toward her.
"Ochako what happened, is everyone …" He was cut off when she grabbed him in a massive hug.
"Thank God you're ok…" She said with a shaky voice.
She pulled back to look him over, his suit was perfectly fine, not a sign of any injury, but he still smelled of smoke. It caused a small amount of confusion, but it was practically a war zone. "I'm fine, are you ok? Is your dad?"
"Superman saved him," Ochako nodded, "I think he'll be ok… I'm going to hurry to the hospital. I need to call mom… and I need… I …"
"Slow down, and breath," Izuku said, "I'll go with you and sit with you till your mom gets there. I don't want you to be alone."
"You don't have to …" Ochako started to argue.
"I don't have to do a lot of things," Izuku replied, taking her hand, "I'll hail us a cab, you call your mother."
Izuku sat quietly while Ochako called her mother, keeping his focus on the tower with Tenko Shimura in an elevator already on his way to the ground floor, practicing a speech.
He hadn't even noticed they arrived at the hospital, or that Ochako was clinging to his hand and pulling him out of the cab till he was moving. Izuku remained by her side and listened to her ramble about her dad, he could tell she was scared to death, but he would occasional slide his glasses down and look into her father's room to see them checking him over. The explosion happened faster than he expected. He blamed himself for not getting there in time to prevent her father and some of their other workers from being injured, but he didn't want to imagine what would have happened if he didn't get there.
"Deku?" he blinked and pushed up his glasses and glanced up to see Ochako with an older woman who had to be her mother. "This is my mom."
"Oh! Pleasure to meat you, ma'am," Izuku smiled to the woman.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," she replied, before turning to her daughter, "Any news on your father?"
"he's ok," Izuku blurted out, gaining curious looks from the women. "I mean… Superman said he was ok, and he has X-ray vision and super hearing so I'm sure he would know…"
"He does?" Ochako blinked.
"I … I mean, I'm a hero analyst, right? It's my job to pick up on these things!" Izuku scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously.
"How many abilities does he even have!?" Ochako blurted out. "Just wow…"
"Heh, yeah…" Izuku chuckled and glanced to try to hide his blush, which Ochako did not miss.
Their eyes turned to the TV as an emergency broadcast broke in. "We are coming in live at the site of the future Central Agency Hub where an unexplained explosion occurred just a short while ago leading to several injured, but thanks to the hero Uravity and this enigmatic Superman no lives were lost."
"I am so… grateful to those who stepped up and saved lives today," Tenko Shimura said before a podium before the reporters. "But what we have seen is just something we have to learn. Sadly, this is just another example of why those … unequipped to deal with any and all situations should not be selected. While I by no means say the quirkless should not work in these fields, but to not utilize those with abilities that could have prevented this accident today is sadly irresponsible. I'll be bringing in another company that will be better suited for the task at hand. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Uraraka and those injured today. Thank you."
"It wasn't an accident, you bastard!" Ochako shot to her feet and shouted at the tv, before flushing at her mother's look. "Sorry…"
"I know that, Ochako," Izuku said, gaining Ochako and her mother's attention, "And I'm going to prove it. No major workers comp injury in years, and suddenly a massive explosion? No way. Don't worry. I'm going to clear your dad's name."
"Deku…" Ochako breathed at the steel in his voice.
"Uraraka family?" Mrs. Uraraka turned to the doctor and Izuku started to stay seated, but Ochako would not have it. She grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
"He's arm is broken in three places, his ankle is going to need some screws put in, and he has some minor burns. It Superman hadn't got him out of there when he did, the fall would have been the least of his problems…" The Doctor explained.
"So when can I get back to work?" Mr. Uraraka's voice broke in, and the two women rushed to his side, hugging and kissing him thankful he was alright. "I'm alright, I promise!" He said embarrassed by the attention.
They stopped for a moment when they heard sniffling and glanced up to see Izuku silently sobbing. "Deku?"
"It's just a beautiful moment…" He said, wiping his eyes.
-S-
Later that night, Superman flew over the city, holding a phone on his ear. "I'm glad he's doing better. Keep me posted on how his surgery goes tomorrow, ok, Ochako?"
"Thank you so much for everything, Deku… and for believing that it wasn't Daddy's fault," Ochako replied.
"Everyone will believe it by the time I'm finished," Superman smiled, "keep an eye on the papers…"
"Will do," she replied, and he noticed a slight hitch in her voice, "Uh… Deku?"
"Yeah?" He said, no longer really listening to the phone but focusing on her apartment downtown.
"Tomorrow night, I mean, if Daddy's surgery goes like they expect," She said, nervousness showing in her voice, "Would you like to have dinner? Like a date?"
His eyes widened for a moment, "I mean, you don't have to. It's silly, just you've been there for me lately and I …"
"Sure, Ochako, just call me tomorrow and we'll work out the details, ok?" He couldn't contain the smile.
"Great! I mean that's good; we'll do it! I mean, make plans…" She stammered. "Thank you for everything, Deku. Goodnight…"
"Goodnight, Ochako…" He replied, hearing her hang up the phone, then he heard her shouting "Yes!" from her apartment.
He had one more job to do before he called it a night himself.
-S-
Tenko Shimura fumed at footage of Superman saving the day again. This wild card was becoming a problem. But he's dealt with worse problems. His sensei taught him well. He would use his quirk well, and soon the world will be back as it once was. Once again… All would be for One…
He blinked when he senses someone staring at him.
He turned his desk chair to see Superman hovering in the air above his balcony, arms crossed and death glare on his face directed right at him.
He got up and walked out on the balcony, looking up at the Man of Steel and smiled. "Superman, what brings me the honor of meeting you?"
"Do you need advice on joining a hero agency?" Tenko smiled, "I can line you up!"
"I'm not going under your control, Shimura," Superman replied.
"Oh, but that's too bad, seeing as you can't use all those marvelous quirks of yours legally without joining an Agency," Tenko laughed, "It's the law… you know?"
"I have no quirks, and I don't mind being tested to prove it," Superman replied, "What I can do, it's something beyond you."
"Fair enough, What's your price?" Tenko asked.
"You can't buy me either," Superman shook his head.
Tenko laughed, "Everyone has a price, it seldom is money. Mt. Lady loves her fame and beauty, Midnight… rather not talk about that one, wives, husbands, children, family, even All Might has a price. So, what's yours I wonder? You're constantly saving Uravity? Is it the lovely Ochako?" he noticed a slight flash in the hero's eyes.
"My price?" Superman smirked, "You gone from power."
"Oh, but that's impossible," Tenko chuckled, "everything below me," He motioned to the city, "I control it all, the businesses, everyone works for me whether they know it or not. Every single hero, even the ones not officially sold out yet, they're mine. Even Ochako…" he laughed and scratched his neck, "Nothing but little toys for me to play with."
"I don't know what your plan is, Shimura," Superman said, "But know to achieve it, you'll have to go through me. And if you want to find me…" Superman smirked at him, "All you have to do is look up."
Tenko growled in anger at the dig at him as Superman took to the skies.
He stomped back into the office, picked up the phone and pressed a hidden button. "I need the League gathered. Now."
To Be Continued…
