Jin Bubaigawara approached a large building, looking somewhat old and dark. It was hidden on the street; he honestly wouldn't have noticed it unless he was looking. He had gotten the address via text message of an unknown number, which he knew was set to arrive at some point that day. Many others like himself had asked for this group to consider letting them in, and many were turned down. The Hero Killer's capture started a movement for people, and they were all flocking here all the way to Yokohama City.
Entering the building, he found it to be built as an average bar. The floor was covered with wood while the walls were built with bricks. Different types of drinks were scattered across the back wall. A few people had been sitting in the many booths and talking, waiting for their turn to talk to the man who invited them here.
That man in question stood near the bartenders' table. His appearance was unsettling, being covered in what looked like severed hands. He seemed agitated, probably not happy talking to and rejecting so many different people. Likely, he was picky with who he wanted as a part of his little group, seeding more doubts in Jin.
Still, it was at least worth a shot.
When it became Jin's turn, he approached the man and saw his associate standing there next to him. His head was all purple and black smoke, not something he saw every day with most people. They definitely had the villain vibe they boasted about.
"Great, another one," Said Shigaraki, "You better not disappoint me."
"I'll try not to," Said Jin, "My name is Jin Bubaigawara, and my quirk is called 'Double'. I can copy anyone and anything I want. I'm here because I want to join your League of Villains."
"Why would we take someone like you? You seem boring!"
"I'm here because of Pro Heroes. No one likes anyone who's weird or different, because they don't fit the standard that heroes make for everyone. I fall below the line and get rejected at every turn. I just want to make the world a place where I can finally belong, and if that means rejecting the so-called 'Pro heroes', then I'll gladly do that."
Jin never thought he would try and become some kind of villain, but he was driven into a corner. Peter was the only hero he actually liked, everyone else was cruel and bias to people like him. Anyone strange or different was seen as bad, even a villain if they stretch it. If they only saw him that way, then he might as well play the part with grace.
"I say we consider him," Said Kurogiri, "He has potential."
"I don't care," Shigaraki pouted, "Just sit down with everyone else!"
Letting out a sigh, he checked himself into a booth all to himself, alone with the thoughts in his head. I think that went well! Those thoughts spoke.
"I think he hates me," Jin corrected.
He's just a whiny kid! I'm sure we'll get in just fine!
"Don't make assumptions. Not a lot of people like us to begin with, you know."
Parker supported us! That's gotta be a sign! We're gonna have so many friends!
As the hour went on, Jin was eventually joined as his table by a man in a tuxedo. His appearance was well kept, a clear amount of respect going into his impression on others. The man's hair was cut evenly, and not a spec of dust was on his suit. There was a polite yet casual vibe about him that made it somewhat inviting even to the socially awkward. The Asian man sat down and adjusted his tie, greeting Jin with a smile on his face, "Hello there," The man said.
"…Hello?" Asked Jin, "What do you want?"
"I'm trying to make friends with the new people. The other villains I work with aren't exactly the chattiest. Hard to hold a decent conversation."
I feel ya, too chatty some people! Chatty, chatty, chatty!
Jin groaned from the voice in his head, holding a finger to his temple. The man in front of him grinned curiously, "That voice is annoying, huh?"
Jin looked up, raising a brow at the mystery guest, "How did you know about that?"
The man pointed to his own temple, "I have one of those too."
Someone else who was like him? Could it be true, Jin thought? There was no one who understood what that was like; to have a voice in your head that annoyed you every second it could, taking over when it wanted. Was he serious? Did he know what it was like to take a backseat in your own body, watching another you do things you find skeptical?
"…Who are you?" Asked Jin.
The man put his hand forward, shaking Jins accordingly, "Call me Martin Li. If anyone knows what it's like to live with another you, it's me."
"…I thought I was the only one."
"You aren't. When I received my powers, I also received him, too. I have to give in to those tendencies, or …bad things happen. If I seem violent as my other self, I apologize."
"Yeah …yeah, me too."
Finally, someone who understood.
The voice started chanting the word 'friends' over and over once again. His never-ending excitement gave him more migraines than he could handle. Eventually, he decided to tune in to the television that had been playing in the back of the room. The people still waiting for their final answer from Shigaraki had been flipping through the many channels. Mostly they avoided the news; too much praise for pro heroes, they thought.
When they did come across the news channel, Jin called for them to stay on it.
He had seen an image on the newscast he recognized. Showing as the main footage was Spider-Man, who he knew as Peter Parker, the young man who convinced him to do this. The title of the show that day was "Symbol of Peace hunts Rogue U.A Student". It was the follow up to the story about his aunt. Live footage was being presented as the newswoman began speaking.
"We come to you live with breaking news," Said the Newswoman, "The vigilante known as Spider-Man was just seen leaving the hospital where resident May Parker was being kept. Witnesses see him escaping through the window of her room and making it across the parking lot, before finding the symbol of Peace, All Might, burst through the front doors after him."
The footage showed the two of them in the streets, with Spider-Man constantly jumping around to avoid any of his opponent's attacks, "It appears the two are locked in an epic battle. Some are cheering for All Might, while others praise the Spider-Man for holding his ground. We'll now join our reporters in the field for further information."
Shigaraki watched the television intently, his eyes fixated on All Might. Why was the symbol of peace wasting his time with someone so small? The kids' costume didn't even look that impressive. He hears about Spider-Man through his previous partnership with Green Goblin but had never really seen much of him until he ended up on the news. These two 'heroes' were the only thing anyone talked about anymore.
"That kid is a monkey jumping around like that," Said Shigaraki, "Why is All Might so fixated on him?!"
Could say the same about you and 'All Might', buddy, Said Jin's inner voice. Jin himself wasn't paying much attention. Peter was someone he actually liked, and now worried would be captured by the number one hero. It wasn't fair; the kid was one of the only good heroes out there, and they were hunting him down like a dog. Spider-Man wasn't the villain here, All Might was.
The kind even real villains hate.
The channel suddenly flipped off, showing an image of words in purple lettering which spelled out 'sound only'. No one but Shigaraki and Kurogiri knew what it was.
"As you may have noticed," The voice of All For One came through the speakers of the television, "All Might is battling against a vigilante, one he knows well. Normally, I would ignore his pointless battles, but this one holds significance."
"Why should we care?!" Asked Shigiraki.
"The boy is someone close to All Might. He is likely to hesitate when fighting against him. What I see here is an opportunity rising, and you must claim it while we have the chance. Use this opportunity to take All Might down once and for all."
How were they supposed to do that, he wondered? What about this fight made him so sure they could catch him off guard this time? Was the boy really that special to him that he would hold back? It's not as though he can't fight multiple people at once.
"It won't work! That plan is stupid!" Shouted Shigiraki.
"Have some faith in me, my apprentice. I want you to take the members you have and wait for my command. You'll see what I have in mind."
With that, the message shut off and returned to the newscast, causing everyone to murmur amongst themselves.
All For One wasn't making any sense. There was no way the Symbol of Peace would allow himself to be beaten by a child such as him. Suppose however that he does hold back, and allow the boy to beat him; he would be vulnerable long enough to move in and strike. Is that what All For One wants? To wait until it's over and attack? In theory, it sounded perfect, but that was only if it went how they wanted.
Still, it was a chance to kill All Might, and he was going to take it.
"Listen up!" Shigiraki called out to everyone in the room, "Time to prove you really want on this team! We're going to kill All Might!"
Most of the bar's inhabitants stood up and cheered, some flaunting their quirks in excitement. Jin, at first, resisted the urge to embarrass himself like the rest of them. As much as the idea sounded interesting, he wasn't sure he was ready for something like this just yet.
Unfortunately, the other guy had different plans.
The migraines quickly returned as his scar burned on his face. The panic settled in as he struggled to get his mask out of his coat pocket. It's very touched soothed him as he placed it tightly over his head, letting the pain, as well as himself, fade away while the other guy took the wheel. Now under the alias of Twice, he stood up and cheered with the rest of them, more excited than ever.
Finally, he belonged.
…
Crash went All Might's feet into the road as he flung himself into the air once again. His body cut through the wind like a knife as he flew towards Spider-Man, who swung through the sky on a web. Sensing him, Spider-Man twisted his body and dodged the hero, kicking off his back and moving away from him as he continued upward.
As the arachnid landed on the ground, he spun a web at All Might's leg to stop his movement and yanked it downward. His body dragged toward the ground and slammed into the concrete, creating a large dust cloud that covered the street. Civilians ran away, shouting 'villain' in reference to the spider. What else would he be to them? Anyone who challenged All Might was considered a villain regardless of origin.
It took barely a few seconds for All Might to recover and swipe the dust away with a single powerful swing. The wind pushed against Spider-Man as he stuck his feet to the ground. The symbol of peace was toying with him, holding back so he wouldn't hurt him. That was both good and bad depending on how he looked at it. On one hand, it meant he could hold his own against him, while on the other hand, it meant if All Might decided to stop holding back, he was done.
"That's enough, young Parker!" All Might shouted with his hands on his hips, his fans cheering for him, "You have nowhere to go!"
This was a sight Peter was familiar with; a crowd of people cheering for his arrest, branding him a villain. They didn't know the real story behind him, they only knew what they were told. A single hour of research would reveal he only defending himself, fighting other villains. Instead, they assumed he was a hero-hating criminal. People always believed whatever was easier to understand; the grey area never got the love it deserved.
"Look at you, Mr. Truth, Justice and the Japanese way!" Spider-Man joked, "You think just cause you're taller than me that you're cooler? My suit is much cooler! At least I made mine! Who made yours? The government? What do they know about style?"
All Might knew what he was doing; telling jokes to make light of the tense situation. He was trying to throw him off his game by making him angry, but it wasn't going to change anything; he was already angry enough at himself.
All Might prepped his right arm and zoomed forward. Spidey's sixth sense kicked in and he moved long before the hero reached him. Spidey pushed off All Might's fist with his hands and twisted his body, hitting him in the face with his heel. It did little to affect him, and he winded up for another strike which hit directly into Spider-Man's chest. The vigilante went flying down the street, crashing into the windshield of a vacant car.
Too much, All Might thought to himself; he used too much power against him! If he wasn't careful, he could really end up hurting young Parker before he can make the arrest. When he heard everyone cheering for him, booing against Spider-Man, he couldn't help but feel upset. This isn't how he wanted things to go, not one bit.
Spider-Man climbed out of the windshield and kneeled on the hood of the car, swatting the glass away from him. His body was now littered with small cuts and scratches, most of which were bleeding. It stung, but he couldn't worry about it right now. This fight was going to end quickly if he didn't do something fast. In terms of strength and speed, All Might had him severely beaten. The only way he was going to win this was if he used his head.
Jumping off the vehicle, he verbally apologized to whoever it belonged to before picking it up over his head. By now, the police had moved in and guided people behind the yellow tape, cutting off the entire street for the two combatants. Worry was behind him as he flung the car at All Might. While his eyes were focused on the car coming at him, Spider-Man leaped along with it, obscured by the car as it moved through the air. As All Might punched the car into the ground, Spider-Man came in with all his strength and struck him.
With his opponent stumbling off balance, Spider-Man grabbed the wrecked car and swatted it at him, managing to send him flying across the street. The assault didn't cease as he charged him with his body low, leaping up and striking the hero with his knee, then bringing his elbow down on his head. He was strong, thought All Might. Even though he was the symbol of peace, the strongest hero in Japan, this kid was putting up a good fight.
As Spidey came in for another punch, All Might caught his fist and squeezed it tightly. Try as he did, Spider-Man was unable to remove his fist from his grip.
"You can't win this," said All Might, "I'm far stronger than you."
"I know," grinned Spider-Man under his mask, "But did you know I was top of my class back home? Especially in chemistry; I made my web fluid all by myself. Unfortunately, the pellets containing them tend to explode if too much pressure is applied."
On cue, webbing began to expand from within All Might's grip of Peter's hand. It caused him to release his hand too late as the webbing continued to grow and expand over All Might's body. Despite his strength, he found it extremely difficult to escape as it stuck to his body.
Spider-Man fired off two web shots on the car wreckage and swung it at All Might, which struck him to the ground. The webbing which expanded had stuck his body to the street. Half the crowd screamed in anguish while the other half cheered.
Unfortunately, it only took a single flex of his muscles for All Might to break free of the webbing and stand back up on his feet, the people in the crowd reversing their roles. By this point, several news stations and helicopters were filming and reporting on what was happening. There likely wasn't a single person in Japan who didn't know this fight was happening. People in their homes who just woke up for their morning coffee tuned into the news to find their favorite hero fighting the U.A renegade.
With this moment of peace as they waited for the next move, Peter could see the turmoil on All Might's face. Strangely, it made him feel better knowing he hated this fight just as much if not more. Neither of them really wanted this, but they both knew it was inevitable.
"You're holding back," Spider-Man accused, "Why?"
"You think I want to hurt you, young Parker?" All Might asked, "I'm doing this because I have to."
"Yeah, me too."
All Might charged him again, missing as the arachnid jumped over him and started jumping away. Each time All Might got close, Spider-Man would simply dodge him using his spider-sense. Speed wasn't much of a problem if he could sense him coming quickly enough. He didn't need to win the fight, just stall him. Not many people knew the secret of his quirk, but Peter did, and he knew All Might couldn't hold that form forever.
As Spider-Man leaped into the air, All Might jumped after him. Even with his spider-sense, he found he couldn't react in time as he was tackled through the air and toward the clouds. Their speed sliced the air as they soared past buildings with civilians looking onto them. All Might's arms were wrapped tightly around Peter as not to let him escape.
"You didn't have to let it get this far!" Said All Might, "Just turn yourself in!"
What he said almost offended Peter, reminding him that he had no idea the real danger at hand, "You think I wanted this to happen?! I didn't have a choice!" On those last two words, he grabbed All Might by the head and flipped him around, pushing his feet off the hero's chest as they crashed through a glass window. People who were working in that building quickly stood from their desks and ran away, not wanting anything to do with the fight.
Spider-Man stood with his knees bent, watching as the symbol of peace stood up and wiped the glass off his body with ease. There were barely even scratches on his costume, let alone his body. The light of the morning sun shined through the hole in the glass, casting Spider-Man's shadow over the symbol of peace, engulfing him in that darkness.
"You talk as though this was my plan!" Spider-Man scolded as he took a moment to catch his breath, "I'm fighting against a threat you refuse to see! I've been juggling twenty things to keep myself afloat in a situation I had no choice but to be in! And here you are accusing me of letting it get too far?! Seriously?! You think I didn't try to prevent this?!"
"Whether you did or didn't doesn't matter," All Might responded, "You're a danger to yourself and others. Capturing you is for your own good. It's my responsibility."
"Believe me," He shifted into a defensive position, "No one understands responsibility better than me."
With the grips of their fists tightened, they charged for each other once again.
…
Though morning only just came, not everyone took the privilege of the night to sleep. Otto Octavius instead stayed up all night working like he often did. He had been working on the Infinity gauntlet for Lumina as she asked him to. It needed to be smaller if they were going to use it properly. The glove was meant for someone larger, like Goblin or it's original user. Using the materials of the pre-existing glove, he had started crafting a smaller version that an average-sized person could use. Making it work, getting the stones, this was all he had been thinking about since the incident at the auction house.
When Quinten Beck lost his life.
The stones could fix everything, Otto thought. His life had been ruined by people who thought they knew best. Osborn beat out his research, society rejected him as a man of vision, rather branding him insane. A woman he thought he felt strongly for failed to see the bigger picture. He was the only one who could see the full potential of the stones and their power. The reality was a mess, and he believed only he could clean it up.
Now that was harder to do with another mess-prone child around.
Every once in awhile, Otto glanced back at Mayume and Koji sitting on the couch in the back corner of the room, talking and catching up. They should have been focusing on their goal; Peter still had the stones, and they should have been looking for him. They had to do whatever it took to get them from him, even if it meant harming him. They could just undo the damage once they had the stones, so the consequences wouldn't matter. Why couldn't they see that as he did? It was difficult being the smartest person in the room.
Mayume had taken the time to sit down with Koji and work through the idea of the multiverse. She used the space stone to show him other realities she had access to, including Peter's. It was proof enough for him that it was real, and it hurt his head. It was a concept he never really considered real before. It explained how Peter seemed to come out of nowhere all that time ago, along with all those other villains.
"So, why don't we just snatch a version of our family from another earth? Wouldn't that be easier?" Koji asked.
"I wouldn't be our family," She answered, "Plus, we'd be snatching them from their versions of us."
"Or we find a version that doesn't have us."
"Even if we did, we can't steal them away from their Earth. Doesn't seem fair."
They talked like they understood the multiverse, but Otto didn't think they did. They didn't fully grasp the mentalities of the many universes in their many forms. Some were alternate timelines, others existed at different frequencies, and the rest were physically separate universes infinite lightyears away. There was so much to grasp and those two didn't have the mentality nor the drive to take it.
At least Mayume didn't.
From the very moment Koji entered the warehouse, Otto didn't trust him. He was new and different, and that wasn't something he needed right now. Otto knew close to nothing about him or where he came from, what he's been up to all this time. He can't trust someone he doesn't know, that's what makes Mayume so ignorant. In this situation, family has become her weakness.
"When I misbehaved," Koji told Mayume as they sat on the couch together with the news on a low volume, "He would lock me in this room until he thought I learned my lesson. The first time he locked me away, it was for an entire month; The longest I went was about two. It's how he conditioned me to do what he wanted, and I still feel bound to those habits even now."
"I wish I had known you were alive," Mayume spoke with sympathy, "I could have helped you somehow."
"Not that many people in his organization even knew about me. He wanted it a secret; his special project, he called me. I was just a game to him."
She never imagined her brother becoming this. She always thought he would be a police officer if he had still been alive. Knowing now he was, in fact, alive, seeing the opposite was so strange. They needed to fix it, so he can live the life he always wanted to have. There had to still be a chance for redemption, a chance to start over. To do that, she needed to know everything, "Koji …how many people have you killed?"
He had always been afraid of this question. There was no avoiding it, she needed to know what he had become, "I lost count, so I'm gonna say a lot. I killed when he asked. After I left, I killed whoever I thought deserved it, or whoever I was paid enough to target. It just …became second nature."
"It won't be forever. The stones can change all of that. The Mind Stone alone can rewrite someone's brain-" An idea hit her quickly; They may not have all the stones just yet, but there was still something that they could do, "Maybe …we have the mind stone here. We could remove those killer instincts right now if you wanted."
"Remove them? They can do that?"
"Do you wanna try?"
To be without his killing side would be nice. It was a part of himself he had come to regret, but also one he came to rely on. He wanted a fresh start, and that meant changing to become a better person. There may not be enough time in the world to undo everything that was done to him the old fashion way.
And yet, he found himself hesitating. In fact, he found he was feeling defensive. All For One always told him he was strong, despite not originally having a quirk. What if he loses that fighting spirit in the process? His motivation? He'd be just like everyone else, weak and spineless.
To do what he needs, he can't be spineless.
"Not yet …" He finally answered, "Maybe hold off for a bit."
"Of course, I won't push you," She kindly accepted his answer.
Koji turned his gaze away from hers. He couldn't look at her, not with what was on his mind. The truth was that he was afraid of losing the part of him that wasn't afraid to fight. It's what has kept him alive all this time, and he clung to it as though he had nothing else, mainly because he didn't.
He was scared to lose it.
Glancing at the television, something in the story currently playing had caught his eye, so much so that he grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. What ended up playing was a story about Spider-Man fighting against the symbol of peace, All Might. The footage playing was of their fight, carrying throughout the city as Spider-Man did everything he could to avoid his enemy's attacks. Mayume had tuned in at the very sound of his name, standing up to get a closer look. All Might was fighting Peter? He actually went through with the assignment after she suggested he not do it? She did tell him to make his own choice but had hoped he wouldn't follow through with this decision.
"Damn it, All Might …" She whispered, "Damn that truth and justice bull-crap."
"Why are we concerned?" Asked Koji, "Isn't Peter our enemy?"
"Peter is not the enemy; he's just fighting from a different angle. He also has the remaining stones, which All Might could get his hands on if he wins."
Otto hadn't listened in on the television before, only drawing his attention to it when she mentioned the jeopardy of the stones. It was always apart of the plan to steal the stones from Peter, but to take them from someone like All Might instead can prove impossible. Finally, he abandoned his craft and joined them on the couch.
"If All Might gets the stones, we may never be able to retrieve them," Said Otto, "We must do something to help Peter."
"How do we fight someone like him?" Asked Koji.
"We can't," Mayume cut in, "But we can play rescue. We can get Peter out of there before All Might beats him. We'd just have to be really quick about it."
"The gauntlet isn't ready yet," said Otto.
"I only need the space stone," She pulled the space stone out of her pocket to flaunt it for emphasis, "I'm heading down there. Someone has to help him."
While the results of aiding Parker would benefit them all, it was in different ways. Koji and Otto only wanted the stones for their 'fresh start'. Mayume seemed to genuinely care about Peter, not wanting him to get hurt during this fight. He didn't argue with her, as once again, they all benefited.
Mayume rushed over to her office to grab her suit, leaving the two men alone together for the first time since they met. There was an awkward silence between them, an obvious tension had been there since Koji's arrival.
"Saving Peter is a waste," Otto said, "We should focus on finding the stones."
"Mayume wants to help him," Said Koji, "But I agree. Peter is our enemy whether she admits it or not."
"What do you want the stones for?" Otto asked so suddenly, "Aihara says you want your family back too, but I just don't buy that."
"I do want them back."
"But there's something beneath the surface. She offered to use the mind stone to help you and you refused, even though you want a fresh start? It doesn't add up."
"What about you?" He accused, "Mayume told me about how you changed after Mysterio's death. You've started to become the same villain you once were. How do we know you don't have a hidden agenda?"
Otto practically growled at him, is arms extending from his back, "His name was Quinten Beck!"
Seeing Lumina come out of her office forced him to retract his metal arms. He didn't want her to see them fighting, not with so much being on her mind. As she slipped her helmet onto her head and locked it into place, she gripped the stone tightly and created a large portal in front of her.
"If I'm not back soon, come after me," She said before stepping through without hesitation.
Otto watched as the portal faded away, scoffing to himself and staring down at the floor, "She's blinded by her sympathy."
"…Can't argue with that," Koji agreed once more.
Despite their differences, it was fascinating how much Koji agreed with his thoughts. That was the reason why he knew there was something more to Koji than what was on the surface. No one can predict the kind of man he is considering his history of torture and trauma. He was dangerous, more so than Mayume was willing to admit.
Unless she did see it and chose to ignore it.
…
As morning finally began to shed its full potential, the students of U.A made their way to school as they've always done. This morning, Itsuka Kendo and Kyoka Jiro walked together as they chatted. There was much to discuss with everything that occurred in Hosu. As it turns out, the two got along rather well. It's not likely they would have found a reason to chat before, considering they are from two different classes. Classes 1-A and 1-B never interacted much on a social level, often staying in each other's backgrounds. Of course, there were exceptions.
The further they traveled, however, the more they noticed people running in the other direction. Not running from something, but rather toward something. Usually, this meant people were getting excited about a Pro Hero battle that was going on somewhere in the city. Police always informed people to stay back, but no one ever really listened.
What made them pay attention to the crowd was when they saw students of U.A following them, including those of their own classes. Kyoka had to jump into the fray to stop Mina Ashido from running off with them, "What's going on?" Asked Jiro.
Mina looked frantic, not wanting to stop for anything after the news she just heard, "It's Peter!" She exclaimed, "All Might is fighting Peter!"
None of them had ever expected their teacher to go on the offensive against the wall-crawler. Kendo upon hearing his name had bolted with the crowd, wanting to find the source of the conflict as quickly as possible. Jiro tried calling out for her, but she did not listen. Even Mina broke from her grip and chased after the masses.
Mei Hatsume had been carrying her tools to school with her in a cloth bag when people had begun to pass by her at high speeds. It nearly caused her to fall over and drop all her expensive equipment. "What's your problem?!" She shouted at everyone, keeping her balance as best she could.
An explosive quake erupted from the ground as two streams of dust flew through the sky. The event was rather far away, but Mei could see it from where she was. Her quirk, allowing her to see long distances, zeroed in on the figures flying through the clouds. It was none other than All Might fighting against a hero in a blue and red costume.
As she realized the young hero had to be Peter, her equipment dropped straight out of her hands and fell flat on the pavement. Her usual plucky attitude faded instantly as distress overtook her. Her feet hesitated to move, unsure if it would be ok to pursue what her emotions had drawn her toward. If it was anyone else, anyone else, she would have turned around and gone into the school. But this wasn't anyone, this was Peter; This was her friend.
Finally, emotions took over, and she followed the crowd.
Dozens had gathered at the edge of the street, held back by the police officers who used their vehicles as a barricade since the yellow tape proved to be insufficient. Beyond the barricade they create was a battle between two super powered heroes, one of which who's title could be debated by the public. All Might had been doing most of the attacking, while Spider-Man remained on the defensive. Everyone cheered for whoever they sided with, but the combatants weren't listening, too focused on surviving each other.
Kendo tried to get as close as she could to the barricade so she could see what was going on. The very thought of Peter facing All Might sent fear running through her spine; if he were to get hurt, she would never forgive herself for not being at his side.
"Missed me! Missed me!" Spider-Man taunted, dodging another one of All Might's attacks, "Now you gotta kiss-…someone, I don't know. Actually, do you have a wife? Girlfriend? Something? Never actually asked."
He had barely finished his joke when All Might's fist came slamming into the ground, forcing Spider-Man to jump over his body and land behind him. The concrete shattered beneath All Might's hand and sent pieces flying; the crowd cheered his name and scolded the wall-crawler.
"There's no way Peter can't keep this up," Kendo stated, "Why is All Might fighting him?! Why is Peter even here?!"
As if she had been summoned to answer, Uraraka Ochaco appeared behind all her friends with a look of distraught on her face, "His aunt," She answered, drawing their attention to her. She had come to see the fight just like everyone else, having known more information than the rest of them, "Peter's aunt is in the hospital …he must have come to see her." She only knew about his aunt because she had spent time with Midoriya the night before. Of course, that fact was a little too embarrassing to divulge at the moment.
"May is in the hospital?" Kendo questioned, looking back at Peter who had been fighting hard to keep out of All Might's grip, "Oh, Peter …" She could only imagine what must have been going through his head right now, grappling with the idea of his Aunt being hurt or worse, while also having to fight the greatest Pro hero of all time.
Many of the students didn't know who they were supposed to cheer for. One of them was their teacher and idol, someone who had been guiding them on their way to becoming heroes. The other was their former classmate and friend, who inspired many of them to not just be better heroes, but better people. Who were they meant to cheer for? It seemed as though no matter who they picked it would be the wrong choice.
For everyone else, Spider-Man was nothing more than a villain. The news, bloggers, everyone was saying he was a villain, and All Might was trying to stop his rein of terror. Peter had never actually hurt anyone, he had only tried to help people, but that didn't change the title he was given.
"Kick his ass, Peter!" Shouted Mei Hatsume, who seemed to have no problem picking sides unlike everyone else. She was the first of the U.A students watching the fight to verbally express who she wanted to win, "Don't let that jerk beat you!"
No one had ever seen Hatsume get this passionate about someone else. She had only ever shown interest in her own inventions. Yet, seeing her cheer for someone- and in this scenario, someone who wasn't All Might—it was somewhat Inspiring, and made many of the civilian's question who they were cheering for.
The reporter examining the unfolding scene had taken notice of Hatumes outburst, and turned the camera onto her, "Excuse me," the reporter addressed the young inventor, "What can you tell us about the masked villain fighting All Might?"
"Villain?!" Hatsume sounded highly offended, "Idiot! He's not a villain! Spider-Man is a hero! All Might's only fighting him because he's a jerk!"
The second that she had insulted the Symbol of Peace, they turned the camera away from her and focused back on the fight. The very idea of All Might having any sort of flaws was something they couldn't comprehend and refused to do so. To them, All Might was always in the right, regardless of any accusations or evidence.
"What are you doing, Hatsume?" Asked Kendo, who looked at her in confusion and offense, "You can't say stuff like that on live television!"
"Why not?" Mei questioned, "Isn't Peter your boyfriend? Why aren't you cheering for him?"
"Where did you hear that?"
"Places. Come on! I know you want to!"
She was right. Kendo wanted to cheer for him and give him the support he deserved. The issue with that was that All Might was their teacher. For her to publicly disrespect him, she would never hear the end of it. Talking negatively about All Might was a concept unheard of. He was the greatest hero of all time, no one was going to say anything bad about him. It just didn't happen. It wouldn't surprise her if she was branded a villain for even trying.
Spider-Man dodged another attack, landing with his body facing the crowd. It was here that he finally saw each of his former classmates watching him. Other than those he saw at Hosu, he hadn't really seen his class since the festival. Seeing them here, now, it gave him pause. Those who once trusted him now watched and judge, some likely hoping he would fail. Mei Hatsume was the only one actually cheering for him, while the others remained reserved.
It was hard to look at them, so he kept his eyes on Kendo.
The girl who challenged his ideals of vigilantism, before coming to understand them the way he does, stood there and watched him as everyone else did. He missed seeing her, to look into her eyes and feel safe. Feeling safe wasn't something he had these last few weeks. More than anything, he wanted to run to her and hold her close to him, but now wasn't the time for that.
Her beautiful face suddenly showed an expression of fear, "Peter, watch out!" she shouted.
His spider-sense sounded off, but not fast enough. He turned around just in time to receive a powerful uppercut from All Might that sent his body flying far into the air. He traveled high above the buildings soaring through the sky temporarily unconscious. When All Might leaped into the air after him, the crowd dispersed and tried to follow wherever they went. Unfortunately, the distance they made was too great for them to keep up with.
Spider-Man faded in and out of consciousness, feeling the wind around his body as he grasped for the light in his eyes. Eventually, his spider-sense finally woke him up in time for All Might to reach and grab him, holding his body by the shoulders. The young hero was unable to get any quips out before All Might winded his right fist back, and struck him directly in the chest. The strength of his attack shot him downward, plummeting toward the local baseball field.
Spider-Man tried shooting webs to slow his fall, but the area around them was devoid of building close enough to latch onto. His body crashed into the field at an angle, dragging across the grass and leaving a trail behind him, building up enough dirt until he had dug up enough to create a pile that stopped his momentum.
His body laid unmoving in the pile of dirt, twitching as he tried to move. Parts of his costume had ripped from the impact, including one of his mask lenses. All Might landed on the other side of the field and started moving toward where Peter landed.
"I won't hold back against you anymore, young Parker!" All Might declared, shouting loud enough to be heard from the distance, "It's over, you've lost!"
All Might had expected that attack to render Spider-Man immobilized. He was shocked to find him managing to stand on two feet despite how bruised and beaten he was. All Might hadn't used his full strength in that last attack, but he used more than he would against weaker criminals. There was always a safety limit he kept in mind when dealing with those he doesn't wish to harm too badly. Though he has now chosen to surpass that limit, Parker was still standing where others would have fallen or given up.
Spider-Man had risen his hand to shoot a web in hopes of making an escape, but nothing happened. His web cartridges were completely depleted. Instinctively he reached for his belt hidden under his costume to grab more web pellets, but each pouch was empty as well. He was now completely out of webbing; there was no escaping this fight now.
He needed a way to win this or somehow immobilize All Might. Though Spider-Man had since removed the mental block that held him back, he was still no match for All Might when it came to raw speed and strength. His spider-sense was the only reason he had been able to keep up. Everyone had a weakness, even the symbol of peace.
That's when he remembered that he did have a weakness, one that very few were even aware of.
With a limp in his left leg, Spider-Man began pacing toward All Might, following the dirt trail he left on impact. The smile All Might kept on his face was now gone, finding it difficult to keep that positive attitude that his fans admired so much. As he moved toward Peter at an even pace, there was still no happiness on his face. He did not enjoy doing this; he did not want to hurt his student.
Their paces quickened into a jog, then a full sprint toward each other. All Might was ready to use enough power to knock him out, even if it meant hospitalization. He had grown desperate to finally bring this madness to an end.
For Peter, that meant further betraying All Might's trust.
Their fists winded back and pushed through the wind toward each other. All Might had to aim down due to Spider-Mans' shorter size, and Peter should have aimed upward in response. Instead, however, he aimed low and kept his body closer to the ground. His fist twisted down to the left of his stomach. With everything he had left, Spider-Man struck All Might in the side, digging his knuckles deep into the painful and scarring wound that the Pro Hero kept hidden by his muscles.
All Might coughed up a flurry of blood as his entire body erupted with pain, agony attacking each of his nerves. This was the first of his attacks that did any real damage. It left the hero stumbling to recover as Spider-Man came in with his left fist and struck in the same spot. Another surge of pain flew through his nervous system, rendering him numb from pain. To finish it, Spider-Man hit him with a powerful uppercut that sent him up in the air before crashing back down on his back.
All Might laid there as his strong form began to deteriorate. The pain he felt was more than just physical, it was also emotional. The wound given to him by One for All—of which dulled his abilities over the years—was a secret he kept closely guarded. Only a trusted few knew the full scale of his quirk and his wound, and he had almost forgotten Peter had been one of them. He trusted him with that secret, and he used it against him.
"You …you used my secret against me," Said All Might, weakly coughing up blood as he struggled to maintain his strong form, "I trusted you with that knowledge …and you took advantage of it, just as a villain would!"
He had hoped accusing him of such a thing would make Peter rethink what he was doing, perhaps even turn himself in out of sheer guilt. Unfortunately, that was not quite what happened.
"I like you, All Might," Spider-Man said with his anger rising to the surface, "But you really are a serious dumbass. No matter how hard you squint, you really can't see it, can you?! Me?! A villain?! Are you kidding me?! Is that what you're choosing to believe? Does it make you feel better branding me the villain because you refuse to see the world for what it is!"
"And what is it?"
"Complicated!" He threw his hands into the air, "Surprise, All Might, the world is complicated!" He shouted as the word echoed through the field, scaring off birds in the distance, "Not everything is either good or bad. Believe me, I didn't see it for a while either."
"See what?"
"The grey area! You and so many other Pro heroes see the world in black and white. Something or someone to you is either good or evil, but the real world isn't as simple as a comic book! People are far more complex than that! Not every villain is completely beyond redemption, and not all of them are out for world domination. Sometimes, they're just in so much pain that 'villainy' is the only option. That's how it is for Lumina, for Otto, and how it was for Beck."
He didn't recognize the last two names he mentioned, but he figured they had great importance to him, "I know that, but villains still need to be stopped-!"
"You're missing my point; you all miss my point!" he shouted, "You simplify the definitions of hero and villain to such a small level that you can't see anyone as anything in-between. In this world—this weird and bizarre world—anyone does just one bad thing, and that defines them forever because no one wants to think about any more titles than 'good' or 'bad'. People make mistakes and it defines them forever because no one wants to see the complexities of the world. It scares them! It scared me too! But eventually, I let myself finally see the truth. Not everyone is all good and not everyone is all bad."
"…And what are you?" All Might asked, "If you're so hellbent on this idea of the middle ground, what do you make of yourself? Are you proud of everything you've done!"
"No! Of course not! See, here you go again, trying to make me the villain! Open your eyes, All Might! I'm breaking the law to save lives! The safety of others outweighs my own, so I damn my own safety to hell where it belongs! There are thousands of people who refuse to see anyone for who they really are. We brand titles to make it easier to understand. Someone is either black or white. American or Japanese. Minority or Majority. Good or Evil. And no one will look at the middle."
Despite his resistance, All Might was listening to what Peter had to see. He was so passionate that he couldn't not listen to him. It wasn't just some excuse he was coming up with on the spot. Peter had been sitting on this for a long time, probably longer than they've been chasing him, "What's in the middle?"
Finally, Spider-Man let his shoulders rest with his voice, "The grey area, All Might. It's what happens when the good and the evil mix together. Someone can be good and bad, and there is always a stronger reason beyond just an unhappy childhood. There are more details than that, but people …everyone just ignores it. I know you care about people, you care about the law, and I respect that so much. But if you can't see the complexities of the individual, you will never see the world for what it really is."
"…complicated."
Could Peter have been right? Had All Might refused to see the grey area? Did he truly only ever see villains as nothing more than an obstacle to be stopped? He knew everyone was unique in their own way, but what if he wasn't considering villains as apart of everyone? How many people had been put away for life because a pro hero deemed them an evil supervillain?
Spider-Mans hand reached for All Might, surprising the Pro Hero as he first flinches in the assumption that it was another attack, "We don't have to be enemies. It doesn't always have to end that way."
All Might chuckled, trying to wrap his head around the very idea of this kid. He wasn't afraid to break the law if it meant doing the right thing, but All Might was taught to believe anyone who broke the law was doing something wrong. Peter was a clear enigma on this idea, "I just don't understand you, kid."
"You can start by letting me help you up," He smiled.
As he reached for his hand, his spider-sense began ringing uncontrollably. He felt that familiar chill run across his back and up to his neck. It wasn't All Might; he was down for the count right in front of him. The new threat was getting closer as time slowed down for the wall-crawler. It didn't matter what it was; all that mattered was what he did next. Spider-Man reached forward and grabbed All Might with both hands before leaping into a forward flip away from where they were.
A large green metal tail struck down on the ground where they once were, glowing a neon green color to match. The man connected to the tail was wearing strong emerald armor with a red visor over his eyes. A large tail was connected from the back and moved in sync with his own body. The only part of him not covered by armor was his mouth, which grinned sinisterly at the bug and the weakened hero. Spider-Man knew this man well; he was one of his greatest foes from back home.
If he was here, then his new friends were too.
Behind the armored man were several more villains, some of which he recognized well. One was a pale man with blue hair, wearing a black trench boat over his body as he floated above the ground. His sharp teeth yearned for their prey, and his favorite to play with was the wall-crawler himself. His nails were sharp simply because he refused to cut them that short; it was part of why all his victims had claw marks, making the police assume it was a wild animal.
Another was a man wearing a simple tuxedo, but everything else about him was anything but simple. His entire body was inversed by color; his skin purely black and his suit a vibrant white. He was glowing from head to toe, the light trailing off him like the northern lights. He adjusted his suit, making a strange sound, like an alarm swinging around on a carrousel.
The rest were those he didn't recognize, not even bothering to wear a fancy costume for distinction purposes.
"Scorpion, Morbius," Spider-Man greeted, referring to the armored and pale men, treating them like old friends, "How long has it been? Could have sworn you moved to prison-town or something."
"It didn't work out," Scorpion taunted.
Spider-Mans eyes darted to the man in odd reversed colors, slightly more disappointed in seeing him, "Martin," He said, "Could have sworn you were in rehab."
"Martin Li isn't here right now," He scolded, his voice sounding rippled like speaking into a fan, "There is only Mr. Negative!"
"You guys have henchmen now?" He asked, looking at the small crowd of people behind them, "What's up with that?"
"Big trail mission for them, orders of the league," Scorpion said, waving his metal tail around.
"Enough stalling!" Shouted Morbius, "It's time to feed!"
Morbius flew straight for the wall-crawler, motivated by his craving for the bugs radioactive blood. The spider grabbed All Might and dodged the attack, moving across the field in big leaps. He placed the weakened hero in the dugout and told him "Stay here" before heading back into the fight. All Might wanted to join him, but he was still feeling the effects of the attack on his hidden wound.
"You guys love your team-ups, huh?" Spider-Man taunted as he approached them with a mocking strut, "Vampires, color swaps and insects, oh my! You guys know I've been out on the streets for a while now, right? Why are you only targeting me now?"
Normally, he'd expect a quirky response about this was the end of the bug. No one, however, chose to take the role upon themselves. They remained silent, playing around their feet as they waited for an opening. Their vow of silence didn't make sense unless there was something they were hiding. If they were really here for Spider-Man, they would have gloated the fact. They were with the League of Villains according to Mayume, and the League had one goal.
Kill All Might.
"I feel so cheated on!" Spider-Man scolded them, "You aren't here for me, you cheating …cheaters! I thought we had something special! A healthy give-and-take! I have been utterly betrayed!"
"Stop talking!" Shouted Scorpion as he lunged forward much to his partners' dismay. He swung his tail to which Spider-Man easily dodged. While in the air, he wrapped his arms around the stem of the tail before pressing his feet to the ground. He swung in a circular motion and hurled Scorpion overhead, watching him crash into the dirt and send a flurry of dust sailing through the air. Just as he finished, Mr. Negative hit him with an energy shot and sent him rolling back into recovery.
Morbius instead of attacking Spider-Man charged through the air toward the dug-outs. Despite his desire to feed, he was focused on the goal they were sent here for. He has heard so much about the symbol of peace; he would love to get a bite out of him and see if he lives up to the hype. Spider-Man wanted to swing toward them before he remembered that he was completely out of webbing. His only option was to throw all his strength into his legs and leap forward at an angle, gliding across the air at high speeds.
The hero crashed into Morbius just as he reached the dugout, slamming his body into the ground face first. Spider-Man kept his foot on the back of his neck to ensure he didn't move. All Might recoiled but otherwise remained stationary.
"Get out of here, All Might!" Shouted Spider-Man, "They're here for you! You're weakened because of me!"
"Parker-" He tried to speak, wanting to say something to convince him this wasn't his fault. Just seeing the single exposed eye of his mask told him the boy wasn't going to let this go; he was one to hold worlds worth of guilt over his shoulders no matter who may protest.
Faster than his spider-sense could alert him, something quick had just barely sliced across the wall-crawlers' face, leaving a small cut on his cheek that forced him to stumble off of Morbius and let him fly away to recover. The blood oozed quickly from the hero's wound as he tried to cover it with his gloved hand. It only made it sting as his hands were still covered in dirt.
From atop the dugout emerged another figure. He was dressed in a black and grey suit, and a mask he found most familiar. In his hands was a roll of measuring tape sharper than a sword and quicker than a knife. He hadn't seen much of the mask since Hosu, but he knew who it belonged to.
"…Jin?" Spider-Man questioned as the man leaped to ground level. The body of the suit was new, but he knew the mask was what he wore when he needed to keep from 'splitting'. This was his alter ego, the one he called 'Twice.' What was he doing here with them?
"Hey, friend!" Exclaimed Twice, "Nice to see you! Love the outfit!" His attitude suddenly changed to a more serious one, "I'm sorry to have to do this, it's nothing personal. Gotta prove I can fit in, you know."
Suddenly it all started making sense. The League of Villains; they were the group that Jin was talking about last time they spoke. He said he found a place he could fit in. A group of "Outcasts" he called them. Peter had no idea he was referring to the League of Villains.
"You joined them?" Spider-Man spoke in disbelief, "I don't understand …why would you do that?"
"They're some of the only people who understand," Jin—The real Jin—Was shining through, "I've been an outcast of society for too long, kid. I won't wait for them to change, so I'll make them change."
It was now Peter finally understood; this was all his fault. Jin was having doubts back at the Soup Kitchen, but it was Peter who pushed him. He told him to pursue this if it meant finding a place he belonged. Had he known Jin was referring to the League, he wouldn't have given the same response. All he wanted was for Jin to find a place where he can be accepted and loved by others like him, where they can confide in one another like a support system.
Now, he joined the list of good men Peter helped corrupt.
"Jin, you don't have to help them," Spider-Man begged, "Help me stop them. I know you want to belong, but it doesn't need to be like this, with people like them."
"Aren't you the one who said people like me are misunderstood?!"
"Yes! Every villain has an origin, but that doesn't mean we ignore the dangers. Help me stop them so we can help them! There is a different path for you! For all of you!"
If it was anyone else, he would have thought he was lying, but Jin knew Peter was being truthful. He really wanted to help however he could. Unfortunately, the society they live in won't ever see him as anything more than dangerous, a villain. They were the ones that needed to change, not him.
"Sorry, Parky!" Shouted Twice with a smile under his mask, "But I'm just having too much fun!"
He swung his measuring tape at Spider-Man who quickly ducked to dodge it. It sliced across the ground and carried dirt into the air. He continued to swing as Spider-Man continued to dodge. As they fought, Mr. Negative moved past them and toward All Might, who was still too weak to get away in time. A few of Twice's attacks managed to further cut his skin, drawing more blood that splattered to the ground. Finally fed up, he held his breath and grabbed the tape measurer with his hand, squeezing it tight despite the pain it caused by slicing his palm.
"Jin," He cried, "I'm sorry."
Spider-Man pulled him close and struck him as hard as he could, sending him dragging across the ground and into the inner ring of the baseball field. His hand still bleeding, he leaped into the air and aimed his body at Mr. Negative, tackling him before he had a chance to react.
"You're better than this too, Martin!" Shouted Spider-Man as he held him down by the neck, "Remember the man who wanted to help others?! I know he's in there somewhere!"
"The other guy is sleeping!" Mr. Negative said with a smile, "Best not to wake him!"
Just as he charged an energy blast, Spider-Man hopped off him before he fired it off, barely avoiding the scorching power of his abilities. He backed up into the fence of the dugout as the villains approached them. The other lesser-known thugs started to creep their way onto the battlefield, finally feeling confident enough to help out.
"Seriously, none of you respect the one-on-one rule!" Spidey complained, "Does no one here have honor?! Boo you! Boo you and all your violent tendencies!"
Distracted by their advance, Spidey failed to see Morbius flying toward them. As he did take notice, he assumed he was coming in for the attack. Instead, Morbius flew into the dugout where All Might was hiding and grabbed him by the shoulders, lifting him out and up into the air. Spidey called for All Might, using the dugout as a launchpad and leaping off the top, heading toward them like a model rocket.
"I wonder what your blood tastes like?!" Morbius threatened, "A hero's blood is always the sweetest!"
Without thinking, Spider-Man tackled Morbius and forced him to drop All Might. By this point, they had already flown several stories into the air. If All Might was in his strong form, this wall would do little to nothing. He was weakened, though, which put him in a lot more danger. Peter couldn't reach the hero without his webs, so he kicked off Morbius and launched himself downward as they approached the ground at accelerated speeds. Even if he could catch him, the fall would be bad, so he would have to be All Mights cushion if he was going to come out unharmed. It was the only way.
Until it wasn't.
Behind Spider-Man as he dived toward the ground, a purple portal opened up wide. A figure blessed in pure light shot through it like a bullet, flying through the air at three times the speed they were falling. Her shoulder capes flapped through the air, aiding her with trajectory as she reached for the wall-crawler in desperation. Spider-Man grabbed All Might just as she grabbed him. There was no time to be surprised as a second portal opened below them, and they fell through just before hitting the ground.
The portal then closed, leaving no trace of the trio.
…
Elsewhere
The portal reopened in a new location at a sideways angle. Rather than emerge falling downwards, the trio emerged flying at a flat angle. Their momentum drained from the altered gravity and they crashed safely onto an anonymous roof, tumbling to the ground as their grip on each other failed. Everyone rolled in different directions but remained close to each other regardless, each needing a moment to recover from the incident.
Lumina was the first to stand up, taking the least damage from the scuffle. Her immediate concern was Peter as she rushed to his side, a hand on his shoulder as she turned him around, "Peter?! Are you ok?!"
Spider-Man opened his eyes and looked at her with utter shock. He hadn't expected to see her today, much less have her save him. Yet, despite their history, he didn't react negatively. This surprised her more than anyone as she stood up to give him space. Hesitantly, she reached out a hand to help him up.
He took her hand with ease.
Now on his feet, he wiped some blood from his face that had been stained by dirt, blinking a few times to get the eyelashes out, "Hey …" he greeted out of breath.
"Hey …" She greeted back, "I expected you to …I don't know, punch me or something."
"Well …we're on different sides, but that doesn't mean we have to be enemies, right?"
This was new. She hadn't heard him talk like this before. There were hints of it back at the warehouse when he was held captive, but this was those thoughts coming full circle. It was nice for him to see her as a friend again, even if they weren't allies anymore.
All Might groaned as he got to his knees, looking around to see Spider-Man and Lumina talking. He had never seen her in person, but he recognized her from all the reports. She was the villain hunting the stones; what was she doing here?
"Parker," All Might called out, "What's going on?"
Spider-Man turned around, remembering All Might was here. He was going to try and come up with an explanation, but that all fell apart when he saw where they were.
Behind them was an open area in the middle of a large city. The walls of buildings were covered in large screens, playing adds in English instead of Japanese. Below, people were moving from points A to B, getting pictures with tourist attractions. The detail that got him the most was on one of the massive screens shining impossibly bright lights onto the crowd below. It was a newscast by an organization he recognized.
The Daily Bugle.
All Might took notice of the area as well, and he didn't recognize it at first, "Where are we?" He asked.
Spider-Man took off his mask so both his eyes may see the familiar place; the place he called "Home."