A/N: A special shout out to LordLuminous for leaving identical comments on the previous chapter on both and ao3 and to Ander Arias for posting review number 400.
Chapter 19
"Everyone have their forms?" Aizawa asked, bored. Class 1-A was gathered at the Greater Hosu Terminal, the nearest train station to U.A. with connections up and down the country of Japan. Izuku stood in a large group, his uniform case near his feet. He held, like the rest, a stack of forms sent from the offices they would be interning with. As the class nodded, their teacher sighed, relieved. "Good. Most of you are interning around Hosu, so you'll be coming with me to the intra-city trains. Those heading to other cities, your trains will be on this level. If you forget your forms and uniform, you'll be undergoing special training with All Might once you return. His punching bag budget is higher than U.A. is comfortable with, so Nedzu was courteous enough to offer any students that mess up with their internships."
Nervous muttering spread through their group. Most of them thought the words were a joke, but a few looked afraid and Izuku was surprised by the shade of green Mineta turned. Shocking everyone, the short boy had decided to forgo Mt. Lady's pitiful office in West Hosu in favor of Best Jeanist.
And I'll be stuck with Todoroki and Kacchan for the foreseeable future, Izuku thought. Both had been surprises, given the former's conflict with his father and the latter's fixation on All Might. Even with his connection partially revealed, Katsuki retained his confidence in becoming the number one hero of Japan.
"Just don't go looking for trouble." Ochako, while leaned in close to Tenya, had remained loud enough for her voice to carry across the group. He was the only student who would be walking from the station to their office. There had been rumors about the Hero Killer being his reasoning for picking a rather low level hero office, but that madman had been striking all across the city.
I suspect a number of us ended up picking Hosu with the delusion we could take him down, Izuku thought, watching with a frown as Tenya played off Ochako's worry and stalked off. I'm surprised Aizawa-sensei agreed to let him intern here instead of getting him to go elsewhere…
"Those of you heading out of Hosu, you're dismissed for now," Aizawa said, yawning. "Good luck with your internships. The rest of you, come along. Iida has permission to walk to his office."
The larger group headed down the large corridor and passed through the second group of gates to their right, all swiping cards or phones as they went. From there, Izuku and four others proceeded not down the nearest escalator, but to the second one. They stepped onto it, all quiet as they descended from the main area down to the train platform.
"Which office are you going to, Midoriya?" Todoroki asked, shocking the others.
"Your father's," Izuku said after a long moment. Both Todoroki and Katsuki shared an odd glance, one that made him nervous.
"I would've thought you'd go to one of the offices closer to All Might. Everyone have a lot of ideas about your relationship with him," Todoroki said. He pulled out his phone, clicked on an app, and scrolled for a few seconds before showing the screen to Izuku. The boy flushed at the headline: SECRET LOVE CHILD? DOES ALL MIGHT HAVE A SON? He scanned through the article and his bright pink face turned scarlet and then crimson as he read the speculation about his relationship with All Might, how his HRLT answers fit in, and even on how his father's departure for his ongoing overseas job matched the timeline for All Might's time in America before his emergence as the Symbol of Peace.
"I already told you, I'm not his son," Izuku said, defensive.
"Didn't say you were," Todoroki said. "Just that people think you are. Should I assume you haven't paid attention to the speculation around you two?"
"I read an article the day after the Sports Festival." Izuku turned away, a little embarrassed by how defensive he sounded. There was a loud snort and they all turned to Katsuki. He was holding back a laugh, though a rather scary grin was caught on his face.
"As if anyone really believes that tripe." They reached the platform and stepped onto it. He marched away from them. "Just don't get in my way, you two. I don't need some lucky idiots holding me back." His gaze focused on Todoroki. "Especially ones with daddy issues."
He strolled away and sat down on a bench while Todoroki remained rooted right before the escalator. It was only after others came down and shouted at him did he move, but even then was so focused on Katsuki that Izuku was certain he could walk away and the other boy wouldn't notice.
A train arrived at their platform and the others got on, heading not into the Hosu center, but for the suburbs on the city's far side. It was likely they had been scared from the center by the Hero Killer, a mysterious figure known as Stain. Little seemed to be known about the figure other than his preference for killing moderately wealthy and popular heroes, ones not powerful enough to threaten him, yet he more often ignored new and inexperienced heroes. It was a concerning trend and Izuku wouldn't be surprised if Endeavor focused them on trying to hunt down and corner the Hero Killer long enough for the number two hero to take the criminal down. Either way, only a few members of their class would be in the man's operation range.
"I never did ask," Todoroki began, standing near Izuku. "Why did you select my old man's office? I'm going there because I have to and Bakugou seems to think his explosion quirk and my, uh, father's hellfire quirk work well together, or something like that."
"More like Kacchan thinks he can get stronger learning from Endeavor," Izuku said. He glanced at the heterochromatic boy beside him and sighed. "You do know that your father's office is the same one that All Might started at? It had a different name, but they're technically the same facility and office."
"If you say," Todoroki commented. Izuku waited to see if he would say more, but that was about the time the train arrived, rumbling into the station. They stepped onboard, Katsuki keeping at least seven feet between them. Won't last when we reach the office, but if Kacchan wants to stay over there, he's free to do so.
The train ride from the station to the station nearest Endeavor's office was quiet, with only a few people in the car during the entire trip. The others whispered, glancing at the U.A. students with curious looks. Izuku kept calm, trying to rely on the little meditation he had been taught during those early years when he thought he had a quirk that had yet to emerge. Todoroki put in headphones almost immediately after leaving the station and Katsuki was barely visible from where the other two sat.
He nearly sighed in relief when they reached their destination. The three boys stepped off the train through different doors, yet ended up being shoulder to shoulder as they walked up the stairs to the ground level. Diagonal across the intersection from where they emerged was the office, a looming twenty-story structure of metal and glass. It was pushed back from the sidewalk, with a stone outcropping with the office name emblazoned, almost burned into the stone.
The Endeavoring Heroic Office
"Your dad isn't one for subtlety, isn't he?" Izuku asked, more rhetorical than serious.
"It's the only thing I'll admit I got from him," Todoroki said as the light changed and they crossed the street. Katsuki grumbled, "Your hero name isn't subtle, Deku," but was ignored as they waited for the lights to change once more. They crossed, walked around the sign, and entered the office building through the central revolving door. The interior was expansive, all marble and gleaming tile, revealing parts of the first five floors above.
"Are you the interns from U.A.?" a secretary asked. Her desk was so close that Izuku was surprised they hadn't noticed upon entering. They nodded and she pressed a button. "Please wait for the central elevator at the right-hand elevator bank. It will take you up to Mr. Endeavor," the secretary told them. They headed over to the directed elevator bank. There they waited near fifteen minutes, ignoring as heroes and civilians alike passed them by, using the other two as they stood around.
The central elevator dinged after twelve minutes, the doors opening to reveal it was empty. They entered and as the last stepped through, the doors sealed and the car shifted, rising quickly. One of the buttons to the side glowed, the words beside it declaring: 'Penthouse Level – Endeavor'. Todoroki sighed while the other two boys only glanced at him. The stop was as sudden as the start and when the doors opened, they stumbled out, a tad dazed.
"Come forward, you three," a deep, serious voice commanded. They walked over and stood before Endeavor's desk. His fiery beard was shorter than usual, more a goatee than a full beard. He looked from his son to Izuku to Katsuki and back. "Set your cases down and place your paperwork on my desk."
They did so, setting their uniforms down and walked forward. As they set the forms down, a quiet padding of feet went to the cases. They turned as the same secretary from the entrance walked away, carrying all three containers with a single hand.
"That's Multiplia. She typically has three or four copies helping around the office. Whenever she creates a copy of herself, she can imbue it with the abilities of another's quirk, as long as she is touching them while the copy is produced." He focused on Izuku and Katsuki. "I expect you to thank her for her help. She has a bright future as a rescue and disaster hero and an important part of these internships is building connections. You never know when they'll come in handy."
Endeavor then stood. He walked around his desk, ignoring the confused looks of his three new interns. "You have decided to entrust your future potential as heroes to me. A smart choice for all of you." He turned to them, crossing his arms. "While you are in this building or in uniform, I am Endeavor. That applies to all of you." His eyes focused on an annoyed Todoroki. "Now, what are your hero names? They wouldn't send you here without letting you decide and confirming them."
"Shouto," Todoroki said, snappish.
"I'm Explodio," Katsuki said. "I might change it, but that's it right now." He jabbed a thumb into Izuku's chest. "This is Deku."
"What? My codename is – "
"Deku," Todoroki cut in, smirking at Katsuki.
What are they doing?
"Shouto, Explodio and Deku," Endeavor repeated, nodding. "Not the best hero names, but not the worst either. You'll find Multiplia and your uniforms on floor seven. You're dismissed."
Before Izuku could correct the pro hero, Katsuki and Todoroki grabbed his arms and led him to the elevator. They followed him in and once the door closed, laughed.
"Wait, were you both in on that?" Izuku asked, frustrated.
"I thought it was childish, though I didn't expect my old man to accept it." Todoroki said. There was a slight smile on his face that quickly went away. "Consider it payback for the Sports Festival."
Katsuki scoffed. "You may not be a worthless Deku, but you're definitely still a Deku. I can't believe Nedzu accepted that name. Green Might? At least Kirishima can be respectful to his hero."
"Hey, All Might likes the name." Izuku didn't mention the way his mentor had laughed, but he did have a shockingly immature sense of humor at times. "Just let me correct it with Multiplia, at least."
Todoroki and Katsuki shared a few odd looks. "No skin off our back if she doesn't believe you," Todoroki finally said.
They arrived at the seventh floor to find a half dozen pro heroes rushing past and into another elevator, all dressed in their costumes. Once they were gone, the three students began to wander, searching for Multiplia. While a few people gave them odd looks, most just smiled at the sight of the gray blazers and red ties of U.A. I wonder how many know we're here for internships, Izuku thought. While there is a slim chance they're already aware, it seems… doubtful. He sighed as they stopped, having somehow made their way back to the elevator bank.
"Oh, there you are," came a vaguely familiar voice. They turned and watched as Multiplia approached. "Follow me to the changing rooms. Mr. Endeavor would like to begin your training today.
The three students exchanged nervously excited glances, yet only Katsuki grinned.
It seemed everywhere Izuku turned, everywhere he looked, there were flames. He felt certain they were Endeavor's, but Katsuki – Kacchan is Explodio during training exercises – had been trigger happy, using his special gauntlets to turn aside the Number Two Hero's Hellfire quirk. It's annoying and as good as the ventilation is, the smoke is becoming too thick. He coughed, covering his mouth. I also don't know where the others are and this is supposed to be a team session.
He was a green blur, moving through the huge chamber. While the office was twenty stories tall, Endeavor preferred to use the subterranean chambers whenever he would use his quirk seriously. Izuku would bet that the building burning freaked out too many people, so the pro hero had moved his training downstairs.
As he passed between two pillars, a burning sound filled his ears and his eyes slowly turned left. "Too slow, Deku!"
He lunged forward, moving faster than the flames. "My hero name is Green Might!" Izuku shouted as Endeavor began to pursue him.
"It'll be 'burnt and crispy' if you don't improve, brat."
Izuku gritted his teeth, ducking beneath another gout of flames before having to leap towards a wall and off it as if he was in a platforming video game. I should look into parkour classes. I think Mina does something like that…
"There you are!" Explodio screamed, blasting into Izuku's confrontation with Endeavor. Once within an arm span, he unleashed a wild volley of explosions. They pushed the pro hero back, but did little actual damage.
"If you mean to fight, then fight!" Endeavor shouted. "I am not your instructor at U.A., who will hold back to not severely injure you. I train heroes willing to fight the worst villains and face the most dangerous disasters!"
Izuku grimaced, springing away with every ounce of speed he could squeeze out. Even so, there was a couple times where he thought Endeavor was going to barbeque him. This is the difference between a pro hero and us. His level of experience and fighting instincts isn't something you're born with. It has to be trained.
As he moved, there was a slight hint of movement to his right. He burst over, arm drawn back to incapacitate whoever had distracted him. He was shocked, encountering Shouto as the boy used his own fiery quirk to disguise his position.
"Is this what you've been doing the entire time?" Izuku hissed, scowling at Shouto. "Using your own fire to hide from your father?"
There was a terrible roar of flames, but it wasn't close or directed towards them. "Keep your voice low," Shouto whispered, barely louder than the flickering flames around him. "As much as I hate using my fire, it is most convenient right now. That trigger-happy idiot is to blame for this. He was supposed to find and bring you here so we could plan as a group." A strong wind kicked through the chamber, shifting the flames this way and that. "And he isn't supposed to engage!"
"No point in planning," Izuku said. "We might as well step in and fight. Think your ice can contain Endeavor?"
Shouto frowned, thinking. "It might. My fires aren't as strong as my old man's, so using them to fight him would only make it easier for him."
Before Izuku could respond, Explodio was launched through the nearest fire and collided with them. They were pushed back a few feet before Shouto's ice slowed them down. Endeavor pushed through the flames, letting them swirl around him like the morning mist.
"Got all three of you together." He grinned, increasing the size and intensity of every fire in proximity. "About time too. This training has gone on for too long."
Ice rushed forward in thick blocks. Within seconds of appearing, beads of water traced down every face. Some of the largest blocks cracked from the heat. Before they could reach Endeavor, he waved a hand before him. A hungry wall of fire burst forth and struck the ice head on. Steam filled the air as the powerful flames overwhelmed the ice and vaporized liquid water. Izuku gulped, letting One for All flow fill his legs. He had been holding a consistent level across his body, but with the way things were heading, running could be the best bet.
For all of my strength and training, it feels like all I can do against Endeavor is run. All Might wouldn't run but he's…
Izuku slapped his cheeks, drawing attention to himself. Explodio and Shouto both frowned, but clearly decided not to ask what was wrong with him. The green hero launched forward, skimming along the high ceiling as Endeavor looked up to focus on him.
"What an interesting surprise, Deku!" Endeavor shouted. Izuku bit back a complaint. At least it's possible for heroes to change names early in their careers. Hopefully the press never caught wind of the false name. It would be terrible, seeing that stupid nickname from his quirkless childhood permanently connected to his name. Worse would be the fact Katsuki and Todoroki would hold it over his head until they retired. Or died, the nervous, terrified ten-year-old inside him whispered. He pushed down the thought as he guided his flight over Endeavor with his hands, almost using them to run along the ceiling.
That was when Shouto went overboard with his ice. Wider than three men and up to the ceiling, a huge block of ice shoved forward. It caught Endeavor in the back, still focused on Izuku. The boy in question grabbed one of the dozen plus bars holding up the ceiling and swung around it. He landed several feet away as the ice pushed past where he had been. The block stopped once it hit the far wall and silence fell upon the chamber.
"Did you get – " Explodio began when the ice shattered in a mass of flames. Endeavor emerged, breathing heavily. His fire beard was mostly gone, revealing a sad goatee beneath.
"Impressive, for some brats. You three go get healed up and then find Multiplia. If she has nothing for you, prepare write ups of what you did during this training session and give justifications for every decision." They nodded and headed for the single door in and out of the training level. Izuku sighed, relieved to be finished with the practical training.
It's nothing like my previous trainings. There are moments where I honestly fear I could be seriously injured. He glanced back at Endeavor, who was stretching a shoulder. I wonder what else he'll have us do.