Izuku crouched in a casual manor atop the cliff, gazing down at the destruction before him. It oddly made him smile, knowing who was behind it. The blue flames devouring the dense forest kept him enraptured as he watched them dance and roar, the panicked cries from below reaching his ears.

"Fire. Such a versatile instrument " he muttered to himself, making mental notes to put in his journals later. "And so hot too! I am jealous."

A surprised squeak came from behind him and Izuku turned his head lazily. A small kid, less than 10, was standing a few steps away, clearly not having expected Izuku to be there. He held a controller and a small bug like drone sat on his other hand. Izuku raised an eyebrow and smiled behind his mask as he recognized his own workmanship. His equipment had been shipped prior to his disappearance and it seemed that the Pussycats had been allowed to keep his inventions. There was something relaxing about seeing his own tech once again, and his shoulders rolled forward at the sight of the adorable bug drone.

He waved nonchalantly. "Hey there kiddo. Whatcha got there?" Kota held the mechanic closer to himself, not answering Izuku's question. "Hmm. You probably slipped out before the attack started didn't you?"

"A-attack?" Kota asked, his voice betraying the fear he was working to hide behind false blustery confidence.

Izuku pointed outward, gesturing to the flames below. "That attack." Kota's eyes widened as he finally realized the danger he was in. Izuku sighed and stood, patting his coat free of dirt. He took a step towards Kota, the boy backing away. Izuku halted and put up his hands placatingly. "I'm not here to hurt you kiddo."

"Why should I trust you?" Kota accused, taking another step backwards. The bug drone flicked it's wings, ready to do what it's controller and/or master wished. It didn't posses any combat capabilities, but it's wings would be a pain if they came in contact with skin while working at full power. Not that Izuku would have allowed that anyway. He put a vocal override code into each of his mechanics and all responded to his wishes over any controller.

Izuku tilted his head, thinking the question over. "Good point. You know nothing about me and, while I haven't done anything threatening toward you, I seem completely unfazed by the prospect of a villain attack. Therefore, the natural conclusion is that I am one of the villains in this attack." Izuku shrugged, remaining calm and aloof. "But as to why you should trust me," Izuku turned as a cloaked figure emerged behind them, grinning in malice "I'm the one standing between you and him."

Muscular stepped forward, observing the two. "Who are you two? You're not on the list are you?"

Izuku stepped forward, as if a host welcoming his guest. "No! We are not on your list." He bluffed, not sure what list this was.

Muscular grinned wider, lowering into a fighting stance. "Good. Means I can kill you and no one will care."

Izuku swore internally, but kept his cool. "Oh, I don't think so." He pulled out one of his knives and his short sword. "Do I not look familiar to you at all?" Muscular hesitated, trying to place where he had seen the teen before. "Do you even watch the news at all? I was all they could talk about these past two months."

Muscular started as he realized the bratty teen before him was none other than Stain's Apprentice. "So you're Stain's brat huh? Figured you'd be older what with how Handsy Face had been treating you. He won't let your fanatics meet you."

Izuku shrugged. 'This thug is not worth my time and effort.' He rolled with another lie, hoping to get out of this situation without violence for the kid's sake. "Yes, that was my request. I don't like to be pestered. Dear Tomura, you see, called me here for separate business, and we agreed that it would be best if I wasn't being bothered by them."

"Then why are you here now?" Muscular jumped in at the plot hole in Izuku's story.

"I ran into this child, and I would rather you didn't kill him. Innocent lives have no need to be wasted so."

Muscular grinned insanely, licking his lips and staring at Kota. "Oh, but that's where we differ! Innocent lives have every need to be wiped off of the face of the planet."

Kota started crying from shock, recognizing the horrible villain as the one who killed his parents, but Izuku only stepped defensively in front of the child. "I would not do so if I were you." He looked imposing, a wisp of smoke rising to the cliff and curling around his ankles. "I have no morals against killing other villains, and if you should by some chance succeed against me, Shigaraki would be most displeased with you."

Muscular laughed. "You think you can beat me?!" Muscle layers began piling onto his body, the cloak tearing and fluttering to the ground. "Have you any idea what I'm capable of?!"

"Oh, I know everything you're capable of." And Izuku did. He had been watching all of the new members of the League very closely and had been doing extensive searches on all of them. "Your problem, is that you don't know what all I am capable of." Izuku took a step forward, challenging the older man. "Did you forget how quickly I dispatched Endeavor? The only reason he is still alive right now is simply because I want to see him suffer." He looked Muscular in the eyes, the blue fire reflecting off of his goggles. "If I were you, I'd leave now, and let me deal with this child."

There was a still moment, then Muscular turned and headed back the way he had come.

Izuku wasted no time, turning and sprinting the few steps to where Kota was. He bodily hefted the child upwards, sticking him high on a tree branch, and turned and swung his blade out. Muscular had attempted a 'surprise' attack, but underestimated his smaller opponent. The blade caught Muscular on the cheek, blood splattering across them both. Seizing the free moment, he tossed a small compact device to the child before kicking Muscular away again. The sound of Izuku's steel toed boot connecting with the older man's chin made a disgusting pop.

"Send that back to camp with the bug drone, and hurry!"

Izuku lowered into a fighting stance, Muscular rising to his feet and grinning with bloodlust. Kota whimpered in fear, hastily doing as he was asked and fumbling with the devices to the point where he nearly dropped them both.

As the bug drone started it's journey towards the relative safety of camp, a timer that would end in life and death started as the two combatants rushed each other. Death would come to at least one on that cliff, and all it depended on was if Izuku could hold out and defend Kota until the drone reached its destination.

A/N

Hello my dearest dears! Sorry for the rather short chapter. Hope I haven't disappointed you readers. And so many of you already, the first chapter has only been up for a day. And lots of comments and questions so here we go!

ILiekFishes: I am not continuing this in this first book for multiple reasons. One, because I say so, and I'm the author. Two, people (from my own experiences) are more likely to read a 20k word, 20chapter book in a series (and yes there will be three books in total (and probably another side book going over things that aren't discussed (such as things in the jump inbetween bks 2 and 3, Stain's meeting with izu, and more))) than a 100k words in one 70chapter book (idk if it'll actually get that long). Three, the reason why is because it's more compact and less content heavy. Four, the first arc ended at the end of bk1. A whole new arc, with its own mini arcs, is beginning here, and just like you start a new paragraph/chapter with every new action/cliffhanger/whatevs, you start a new book at the end of every major arc.

Camadianblitz: old character. It was Todoroki from the end of bk1 remember? If I didn't explain it well enough, chapter one opened up about a month before the training camp. Then a week passed and the Woods moved in permenatly, then a little while longer (as izu needed to rest) then he went to the mall to meet Todo. Now jump a few days later and here we are. Sure, it may not fit perfectly into canon bit idc.

Mc arno: at this point, Izuku's wound has healed plenty more. He's stopped moping around, feeling sorry for himself and ignoring all common sense, and has started taking better care of it (and himself) to the point where it has mostly healed at this point.

A fan: Has Izu joined???? YOU SHALL SEE (assuming this chapter didn't completely give it away) However, you shall not see in the next chapter. One more (probably) after the next, and all will be made clear!

I believe that's all. Heads up again, next chapter is entirely fighting and violence, so be prepped for that. It also may take me a while to get it out, so 'Pologies in advance if that's so.

So long my Lovies!