Raw666 - I guess that makes sense, if you compare the relationship tags between the two stories. Huh. Thank you.
(***)
"You're kidding." Mina is the first one to voice the surprise. "He… he kinda looked bigger in that hoodie." Kirishima is also willing to add 'and more intimidating' to that sentence. Especially when he discharged the green electricity from his body and moved too quickly for Ejirou to notice him.
"Yeah, he does." Uraraka replies. "I kinda think that he is actually floating himself a bit all the time to make himself look taller." That sounded like one way of dealing with that issue. "He is super nice, very smart, and his meta-ability is kinda terrifyingly strong."
"You didn't even get to see his fight against Overhaul. That's some 'terrifyingly strong' stuff." Suddenly, there is a new (girly) voice in the room. It's coming from a laptop. "Also, I'm Alchemist, nice to meet 'ya. I don't live in the base, but I support you with stuff. I handmade Defiant-kun's armour, among other things. Also, I absolutely have to get some samples of Ashido-san's acid."
"Oh… alright?" Mina is slightly taken aback by that.
"Who is that Overhaul guy?" Kirishima asks. He knows he sent Mustard after them, so he probably also sent the thugs. He prefers to find out at least some things about him.
"Head of local yakuza." Alchemist announces. "And a supervillain with a meta-ability to match Defiant's. He can reassemble whatever object he touches with his hands at will. He touches the ground, and suddenly you are impaled on a spike. He touches you, and suddenly you are reduced to one per one centimetre bits scattered around. Defiant fought him once when we were trying to rescue a little girl with a meta-ability that he abused."
"That's super manly." Kirishima announces after hearing the last bit. Saving a little girl from an abuser? One THAT powerful? Defiant might not look like much, but this requires balls.
"He uses 'manly' as pretty much his one and only positive adjective." Mina comments while rolling her eyes. "He once told me that my dancing is manly, and he meant that as a compliment. Replace the word in your mind with whatever word feels gratifying enough and keep going."
Uraraka chuckles. Alchemist actually does so as well. Kirishima blushes a bit.
Why is everyone reacting like that? Manly is a powerful word.
"Though yeah, it was totally manly." The laptop girl adds. "I agree with that assessment. But when Overhaul cornered them, he lost control for a second and 'sparked' for the first time. He slammed Overhaul into a wall with enough strength to turn half of him into soup. Fortunately or unfortunately, that guy simply reconstructed his body back to full health at the spot. That's what 'terrifyingly strong' meta-ability means."
Oh. Well, Kirishima understands that. He might have been alright with being manhandled to this degree if he figures us out how far his hardening goes, but… few others can tell the same about themselves.
"And then he freaked out that he almost killed someone." Alchemist sighs. "Seriously, he is too pure for this world, methinks." There is a sound coming from her side. Kirishima has no idea what it is. "Oh. I need to go. Tell him I think I secured some funding for the Network, enough to make you survive with a few more members even if you don't start earning money yourself. Gotta go."
Then the connection was severed.
Huh.
(***)
Shino Sosaki is happy about her job.
She is a war veteran. She fought during the Third World War. On the frontline, no less. And she picked up a lot of technical skills (they all did when the GSDF was collapsing and you had to piece working equipment from whatever scraps you had left).
But when the war ended, lay-offs started. Shino wasn't surprised by it. Then again, she also wasn't particularly keen on staying in the army. She - and the friends from her unit - all wanted to live peacefully and happily.
They figured out that with their skillset, becoming bodyguards should be an option. They pieced up enough money to receive some proper training in that field. Somehow, just somehow (she blames their cousin whom they accidentally saved during the war) they ended up getting Hatsume Industries' attention. And then (once again, somehow, Shino does not know how that really happened, it just kinda did) they became the de facto babysitters slash bodyguards of Mei Hatsume. The dreaded chaos gremlin of the family.
They were one of the very few people out there who knew about the peculiarities of her eyesight. The NDAs her parents had them sign about it were absolutely terrifying.
They could get her better and more costly bodyguards, but she was seldom leaving the Hatsume Industries headquarters. She had an entire floor to herself there. So it was babysitting more than body guarding, except for some very rare cases when she did leave her kingdom.
It was a relatively calm job of occasionally defusing something about to explode (never enough to destroy anything more than its most immediate surroundings) and dealing with something mildly poisonous that Mei accidentally spilt. Or discharged.
Way better than the frontline. Also, they were paid much better, had very good healthcare AND prospects of early retirement. What's more, their employers actually acted nicely towards them. Hatsumes were pleasant people. They really didn't give off that 'I'm wealthy and thus I'm above you' vibes that Shino felt from Yotsubashis' when they visited for some trade negotiations.
Mei was a bit of an exception, but only to a degree. She tended to not notice their existence, but it wasn't because she treated them as part of the furniture or something beneath her notice. It's just that she often got so hyper-focused on something that stopped noticing anything besides whatever she was working on. Often to the point of not sleeping (unless they forced her), not eating (she had to spoon-feed her once while she was tinkering with something, and she wasn't sure if she noticed that) and sometimes even not wearing clothes.
Her female babysitters-slash-bodyguards tried to ease that problem, but it was mostly useless. Then again, occasionally, she did listen to them. Very occasionally. And that was more than her parents could say about anyone else.
But then Mei began to act in an oddly subdued manner. She stopped forgetting to wear clothes. She started to eat regularly. She kept her manic working regimen, but Shiretoko swore that she once saw her looking through some clothing catalogues on the internet.
And that's odd for someone who would probably get buried in her workshop overalls. The one and only type of clothing that Mei Hatsume (occasionally) accepted on herself. The idea of her becoming actually conscious about her clothes was rather… alien to her bodyguards.
Shino Sosaki is getting increasingly worried. But before any of them can do something about it, she is invited (okay, shoved into) her lab and confronted by Mei Hatsume herself.
"Sosaki-san, I have a question." She announces with the most serious expression Shino has ever seen on her. "You are a woman, right?"
Should she feel insulted? Then again, it's Mei. She is living in her own world, and it tends to be weird. So Shino simply nods.
"Great." Mei nods back. "Do you know how to make a man realize that you want to give birth to his children?"
Ohmyfuckinggodwhatdidshejustsaid
"What?" Years of urban warfare didn't prepare Shino Sosaki to deal with the madness of this magnitude.
"Do you remember that person who I met in Musutafu?" Mei promptly replies. Shino nods. Chatora was accompanying her, but Shino got the report from him." Well, I'm still in contact with him through the internet, and I came to believe that I want to engage in sexual intercourse with him…" Shino sputters something in shock, but Mei isn't letting her forge that into some actual words. "... with both procreation and mutual enjoyment in mind. But I have absolutely no idea how to proceed with that."
Shino Sosaki wasn't equipped to deal with that. She had no guidelines on how to react to such a statement from her parents because everyone at this point just assumed that Mei has absolutely zero interest in sex, relationships, and so on.
Everyone recognized her genius and wanted her to realize her engineering dreams (both because her parents loved her AND because it was already rather profitable to them, she got them a handful of patents even before reaching the age of legal adulthood), but Shino was led to believe that the actual heir of the Hatsume Industries would be her younger brother.
He is seven years old now. So for the time being, she was the official heir apparent.
Once he would inherit the whole zaibatsu, she would be relegated to the job of the head researcher or something like that for the Hatsume Industries. Letting her design and produce things in peace, without having to bother with finances. She would - and that was a common belief - absolutely suck as an actual CEO.
Getting into a relationship was seen as even less probable.
But now it turned out that Mei Hatsume was simply waiting for the right man to turn her attention back to such mundane issues as love life. And when it happened, she dove into it hard.
"O...oh." Shino blinks at her a few times. Trying to piece up something resembling an answer. The only thing that really comes to her mind is a joke that she heard from Tsuchikawa, the one claiming that getting laid as a soldier during the war is a simple thing, for as long as you don't run out of stun grenades.
She isn't sharing that joke with Mei. She would take it seriously.
"Well, uhm…" C'mon Shino you can do it. You faced horrible things during the war, you can face Mei Hatsume. "Did you try to, like, talk with him about it?"
"Hmm…" Mei seems to consider that concept for a few long seconds. "My research into the subject suggested that it's a necessity. Proceeding to sex is often delayed by dozens of chapters if both sides are only beating around the bush instead of announcing their intentions directly." Did Mei Hatsume READ ROMANCE MANGAS?! And she considered them to be a source of valuable info?! "Alright, it's decided. I'm going to Musutafu. In a… three days, or so, let's say? And I'm going to spend at least a week there."
ALRIGHT IT'S TIME TO PUT AN END TO THAT
"Mei, that's…" The chaos gremlin doesn't let her finish her words.
"Also in case you wanted to warn my parents or stop me from visiting my future husband, I'd like to warn you I have compiled extensive and completely fake evidence for many crimes you and my other bodyguards committed while in Hatsume Industries' service." Mei announces. "From defrauding our money to stealing my panties. Evidence is fake, but it's convincing. Especially when I, the looney girl, will stand beside them. After all, what interest would I have in lying? And who would believe that I have a secret lover?" Mei finishes, and beams at Shino, as if entirely proud of herself.
Shino Sosaki is the first person to realize that Mei Hatsume would be a terrifying CEO if someone actually motivated her to put her back into this role. The world isn't ready for that.
She closes her mouth, calculates her survival chances, and surrenders unconditionally.
"At least use protection, please." She replies. Mei's smile doesn't falter for a second. "Does he know about your eyes?" That's supposed to be a super-secret.
"Yup." Mei promptly ruins Shino Sosaki's long-term prospects of a happy life. THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SECRET GODDAMMIT. Her parents are going to have her bodyguards' scalps for that! "He has a meta-ability too. That's how we met."
What?
"Meta-ability?" Shino blinks at her ward a few times. "Like, your eyes?"
"Yup." Mei nods. "But his is super strong. And he has a few allies with meta-abilities. He is actually a superhero! I'm supplying him with gadgets. I have wanted to give birth to his children ever since I saw him save a six-year-old girl by using the things I invented and battling an actual supervillain. That was… I think the right term is 'super hot', right?"
On that day, Shino Sosaki's life stopped making sense.
(***)
Izuku Midoriya wakes up, still feeling like a zombie. But slightly less (also the table's surface has imprinted itself on half of his face, oh joy). He raises his head up from his half-eaten breakfast, wondering how much time he just wasted on a nap.
He sees the rest of the Network (save for Mei) and the two new rescuees chatting happily. Well, this is pretty great. Then the faces turn towards him as they see he is awake and Izuku realizes he doesn't enjoy being at the centre of attention of a larger group of people.
Ugh.
"Did I miss something?" He asks.
"Just some introductions." Uraraka decides to help him. "Names, meta-abilities and… uhm, Alchemist mentioned she secured some fundings for us, you should ask her about it later."
That was actually pretty reassuring. Izuku had absolutely no idea how to keep the Network floating otherwise. Tsuyu could catch only so many fish every night. And people need more than food, water and electricity to live.
"Can I ask for the introductions again?" Izuku leans back in his seat. His sleeping arrangement wasn't very good, and his back was protesting about it.
Kirishima Ejirou, meta-ability that hardens his body to some rather impressive degree while making him look like he was made from stone. Mina Ashido, ability to secrete and control acid, with solubility and viscosity according to her desire. Two powerful meta-abilities with many applications.
"Also, are you still looking for more superheroes?" Kirishima asks once the introductions are over. Izuku loves hearing these words. "I mean, I'm not sure how useful I'd be. My meta-ability feels way weaker than yours or Overhaul's, but I think saving people is a very manly thing to do."
"Don't sell yourself short!" Izuku says with a (tired, but trying) smile. "Your meta-ability is powerful. Overhaul is just a terrible match against you, just like I'm against him. And unlike me, you are actually bulletproof when you harden. That's a great asset!"
That elicits a smile from both him and Mina. She even elbows him a bit with an 'I told you' kind of smile.
"Welcome to the team, then." Izuku continues. "Just figure out a codename. And your, uhm…" What exactly is their relationship?
"...girlfriend." Mina replies. It's either something recent or Kirishima is really love-struck because he actually beams when she says that. "As for me, I… I just don't know, really."
"Mina, do you want them to know?" Kirishima asks quietly. "If it's too hard, then I can…" She shakes her head, and he goes silent.
"I'll tell them." She turned her head towards them. "I don't… exactly like my meta-ability. It made me look… odd, so I isolated myself in my house. Then some criminals caught wind of me, killed my parents and kidnapped me. I spent several months locked in some basement, dissolving corpses and evidence before I melted the wall and escaped. Kiri helped me hide and…"
She is interrupted when Uraraka suddenly sneaks up on her and hugs her.
"Wha…" Mina is clearly startled.
"I lost my parents too, not because of my meta-ability, but…" Uraraka's voice trails off. Mina, without a word, hugs her back. Then she cries. Uraraka might be crying a bit too, but Izuku doesn't see her face from his current position.
He looks at Kirishima who shrugs.
"I used to know her before she 'died'." He replies. "She travelled through several prefectures on foot to find me. She might have looked and acted different, but it was still Mina. So I helped her."
Izuku decides that he really likes and respects Kirishima Ejirou even more than he did before that talk.
(***)
Kirishima spends a few minutes debating himself over the hero's codename. Eventually, he settles for Gargoyle. Which, considering his scary aesthetic when fully hardened (sharp teeth, sharp claws and so on) is really fitting.
(***)
He phones Mei to learn more about the money. It turns out, she persuaded her parents to give her some allowance. She told them she has some small, secret project that she wants to surprise everyone with (not a lie, except for the word 'small') and she needed some money for that.
Mei's monthly allowance, by Izuku's calculations, was enough for ten people to live a simple life. For as long as they didn't pay taxes, rents and bills. But they would not have to worry about food and clothes for the time being.
They have a quick talk about the new meta-abilities (Mei is thoroughly exasperated by how Mina's acid is almost certainly complete chemical bullshit considering her ability to alter its properties at will). Izuku shares some ideas about Gargoyle's soon-to-be gear. Mei tells him that Baby #3 - so, Uraraka's hero gear - is almost finished.
Then she announces she is going to drop by in three days. With a bodyguard. Who, apparently, knows about the Network, but will tell no one because Mei had her blackmailed.
Huh.
(***)
His mom was… protectively furious at him.
He is approaching the limits of what he can bullshit his way off. Mom tells him to his face that if he didn't look so happy with what he was doing (for the first time in years, really), he would be under house arrest until his death of old age.
She inquires. He doesn't have any way of dodging the questions entirely, so he goes for damage control. He admits that he helped someone break a girl out of yakuza's grasp. And that he is trying to find someone from the police ready to defend the girl in question (not exactly, but close enough).
He tells her he wasn't telling her all that because he was worried that she would be worried. And since she almost fainted at him when she heard the word 'yakuza', he had a point.
Eventually, he is done weaving his cover story. His mom looks at him in silence for a few long seconds. Then she sighs.
"You really resemble your father, you know?"
Izuku freezes. She rarely spoke of him and was dodging his every question for years. A year ago, she finally admitted that it was just a one-night stand, and that she didn't even know his name.
"My father?" He blinks at her a few times. "Wait, didn't you say that…"
"That it was just a single night, and that I knew nothing about him?" Inko sighs. "You aren't the only one who is keeping secrets in this house, Izuku. Your father was the bravest and most heroic person I ever met. And that's why he is dead now, and why we're living here, away from prying eyes."
"Mom, that's…" He says, but she makes a step forward and pokes her finger into his chest.
"I will not tell you anything about him." She replies promptly. "He sacrificed himself so that we could hide. His killers are still out there. This secret dies with me. But I know how much of his desire to help others you inherited. The only way of stopping you from doing what you're doing is to kill you. So… you're free to keep doing it. Without telling me about the details. Just…" Tears are glistening at the corners of her eyes. "Just please, be careful. I already lost him. I don't want to lose you too."
She cries. Izuku cries too. That seems to run in the family.
Izuku has a lot of questions now. But Inko refuses to answer them, and Izuku isn't sure if he wants to know what she is hiding.
(***)
As if the day wasn't full of events, Mei phones him during the evening.
"Izu, I have good news!" Mei pipes at him from the phone. Izuku Midoriya's mind breaks.
Izu. It counts as a cutesy nickname, right? And a girl gave it to him. A pretty girl that he spent a lot of time with (even if mostly through the internet) recently. His virgin heart has problems taking it.
Then again, she was from one of the wealthiest families in the country. And he sort of has issues picturing her being in love with anyone who isn't made from polymers and metal. So whatever his dumb teenager brain is picturing is certainly not an option.
"Oh, uhm, alright." Izuku replies intelligently. "What news?" He adds after a second.
"I think I established contact with a group of metahumans from Hosu." Mei announces triumphantly. "Group of comparable numbers to the Network, but I think we beat them up in financing, combat experience and so on."
Oh. Ohhhh.
"That's brilliant, Mei!" He replies. Then he freezes suddenly. "Unless it's a trap." A bit early for Overhaul's another move, then again… who knew how Chisaki's mind worked exactly?
"Well, I didn't tell them anything confidential." Mei promptly replies. She seems to be worried by Izuku's suggestion, however. "I set up a meeting with them. In five days. You should probably be super cautious, though."
That's the secret of Izuku Midoriya's (questionable) success as a superhero. He is always cautious. Unless there is someone that needs saving in front of him.
(***)
The next morning, he gets another phone call. This time, surprisingly enough, it's the police. Or, to be exact, whoever got the phone that he handed to that detective.
Huh.
He runs back to his room and then picks it up. While secretly very happy that Mei installed a voice-alteration program on his phone because he left his mask at the Network's headquarters.
"Yes?"
"Detective Tsukauchi from Musutafu Police Department speaking." Izuku decides that the voice is vaguely familiar. "I believe that we've met on a certain rooftop."
Oh, that one.
"Yes, I believe so." Izuku replies calmly. The voice alteration software smooths his voice out, making sure that the policeman does not know how nervous the superhero is. "So, did you find someone willing to talk with me about it?"
"Yes, I did." Detective replies. "Superintendent Aizawa Shouta wishes to have a meeting with you. And asked me to set it up."
"Superintendent?" The voice alteration didn't seem to cover up a hint of disappointment, at least judging from the fact that the detective picked it up immediately.
"Higher ranks of the police have been messy since the war." Detective replies. He doesn't go into reasons for that, but Izuku is painfully aware of those. And why Tsukauchi prefers not to talk about it. "He might be technically only a head of the precinct, but he is the head of police here in Takoba city. It's more a first among equals situation, though."
This probably explains why the police were too disorganised to figure out the superhero/supervillain deal.
The war decimated the police. Especially once the front passed over them. Then some policemen tried to sabotage the occupational government (and many were shot). Some cooperated with too much enthusiasm and were shot or dishonourably discharged once the tides turned and the People's Republic of China retreated from Japan.
The government was trying to reorganize everything, but it was still complete chaos. Too many people were promoted too high because everyone above them in the ranks died or was fired. The databases were in shambles. People kept accusing each other of what they did during the war. Financing was a mess too, especially with the economy skydiving (the entire world was in a massive economic recession and it showed).
Izuku was almost certain that there were local precincts that were aware of superpowers, either because they had a run-in with a supervillain or because they had a friendly local superhero. But they weren't reporting it to the higher-ups, either because they didn't trust those, were afraid of losing their superhero asset, or because they were afraid of being laughed at.
What a goddamn mess.
He eventually sets up a meeting with that Aizawa fellow in a week. He has a rather strict timetable for the so-called meantime.
(***)
Run, Izuku. Run. Mei set her sights on you and she isn't letting you go.
There is something oddly fun in the concept of the Pussycats (yes, Shino Sosaki is Mandalay) being soldiers members of the same tank crew. Bonus points if they gave their tank some cat-related nickname. Yes, I'm weird.