So this chapter was just getting bigger and bigger so I am breaking it up into 2 parts. Here ya go
"Fucking bullshit," There, no it can't be, a common crook shot Eraserhead! No, no it was very possible, even the best heroes could fall to the smallest things. Deep breaths. I can't leave him here. It would only be asking him to die from either; bloodloss, infection, or some other criminal coming to finish the job. Trying to use my flames were out of the question. He needed Gran, shit I needed Gran right now. He would be at the gym, only a few blocks from here, alright. Alright this could still work.
Slowly approaching Eraserhead I reached out to him, expecting something from the underground hero. Unfortunately I was uncontested as I pressed my hand to his throat. Feeling a flighty pulse, it was going so fast but still weak. Looking down at his injury his arm was still bleeding. That shouldn't have taken him out as fast as it apparently did, so there could be more than just this effecting him. Looking at his limp capture weapon it was likely the cleanest thing here. Reaching out and taking it I began to tightly wrap Eraserhead's arm. I was rewarded with little less than a groan from the injured hero.
"Alright, hopefully you weigh far less than 70 killos," pulling up my sleeves and removing my weights. I could come grab them later and hopefully Toshinori would understand it they were lost. Grabbing Eraserhead's arm and pulling him up into a fireman's carry. I would need to be fast, and hopefully no one was going to care about a winged kid carrying a tall thin man too much.
I slammed my foot into the door, quickly stepping inside, my legs were going to kill me in the morning.
"Brat, what the hell are yo- who is that?" Gran Torino went from mad to calm and clear as I quickly moved to the empty reception desk we used as a medical table.
"Eraserhead, he's been shot," Carefully putting him down, Gran Torino pushing a chair up to stand on and look him over. Reaching up and pulling my cloth face mask off of my face.
"Help me get this off, you did good with what you had." He praised and with shaky hands I started to help. Pulling the bloody capture scarf off of the man and letting it fall to the floor. Gran moving in to cut off the sleeve. "In and out, he's rather pale, work on getting him dry, consider it fire training."
"You want me to use my quirk on a pro," I hiss, it was worse than vigilante work in the eyes of the law. Heck it usually carried the longer sentence and got you into the villain circuit, fully out of the civilian courts that might take pity on some people.
"And I am a pro telling you to get him dry, now work," He snapped back at me. I resisted the urge to hiss cause Gran did have a point. Taking a deep breath to recenter myself I looked over the unconscious Eraserhead once more, water was leaking off of him in small drops. As his quirk had no physical manifestations it was likely something in him. So I shouldn't need to worry about that. Reaching into the medical bag and pulling out a lighter I flicked it twice till the spark produced a flame. Bending the new flame and taking control of it. Letting my energy seep into it rather than making a flame of my own. Like a year ago this flame wanted to burn and consume. It would not due to touch anyone with it, but for this it would certainly do. Over Gran's head I pushed more energy into the fire, thinking of the burning cans in the winter. Where I and others would bundle up in the snow and try to get warm. The imagery was just want I needed, an orange fire radiating warmth smoothed out like a blanket hovering just about a meter over my head. The fire crackling and still wishing to burn, but it also just wanted warmth. The type of fire I was wanting to make.
"Good, now hold it, it gives good light," Gran snapped, making the fire flicker with him breaking my concentration. "Focus girl."
"Sorry, focusing," I apologized, I had a feeling this was just the beginning of a long night.
Soon he was dried and under Gran's orders we moved him down stairs to my small apartment, it was a single bedroom, a small bathroom next to it and a living area with a couch in the middle, with an arm chair next to it, facing a old tv, a computer against the wall a small kitchen right behind the couch. We set Eraserhead on the couch and covered him with a blanket.
"What now?" I ask softly, looking to Gran.
"Now we wait, now go do your homework," That had grown to be part of the deal. Gran Torino had been outraged to find Toshinori had let me stay out of school after finding me, and now I had been working on the computer, not just to catch up but to keep up. By the sound of their whispers last time they spoke about it, they wanted me to actually go to high school, and I wasn't all that too sure about that.
"But-"
"Ep ep ep, no buts out of you, go sit down and get to work, your patrol is done with you bringing a stray home." He was using that tone, with a shutter and a grumble I went to the computer and logged in and started on my work.
I lost track of how much time had past before a groan had pulled me out of my work. Looking back to the couch to see Eraserhead sitting up reaching up with his bad arm to his head.
"Easy now, you lost a fair amount of blood, sunny boy," This had Eraserhead jerking his head to look at Gran, his reaching to his knife in his belt, had me growl, low but it filled the air, having the hero turn towards me. "Don't mind her, I'm the one talking to you right now." Erasehead turned back to Gran.
"Where am I?" he hissed at Gran.
"Just outside of Southside, my charge here found you bleeding out in the garbage and brought you here. We also tended to your arm," Gran explained clearly for the Underground Hero.
"And you are?"
"I am the Hero Gran Torino, and this is my student, Izuku, you should thank her, you scared the living-"
"It's fine," I cut Gran off, ignoring the answering glare. "He's one of the few heroes who patrol out here, it is a thanks to help him out." I huff, making a show of looking back at my work, but my entire focus was on the heroes.
"How long have I been out?" Eraserhead questioned Gran.
"Around 4 hours, i doubt it was a long run from whatever trash pile she pulled you from." Gran grumbled as Eraserhead slowly stood up.
"I have to go," He grumbled, reaching up to grab his capture weapon that had ended up on the arm of the couch.
"Try not to get shot again," Gran grumbled but made no motion to stop the underground hero from leaving. As the door closed I looked back to Gran Torino who was smiling rather feral at me.
"Hero worship much, Brat."
"Hey, tell me he is not one of the good ones." I snapped back at him. He only crackled as I ran a hand over my face. What had I done in my life to get Gran Torino involved in my life? Peering between my fingers at the elder, I could feel a smile coming to my face, hidden by the palm of my hand. Something right. Something very right.
"Up and atem Izuku!" The sound of crashing pans had me groan. It was my off day, I was aloud to sleep in, but the banging of pots persisted and soon I was opening my door to snap at the far too happy gremlin that was Gran Torino. Who crackled as he vanished down the hall in a blur of yellow. With a sigh I closed the bedroom door, looking at my reflection in the floor length mirror against it.
How much had changed in a year in a half, to have the novelty of having sleep wear. Something as simple as a pair of shorts and a two size too big shirt. Pulling my shirt up I looked at myself a little more. I would hardly consider myself vein, but the 4 pack and lack of ribs. It made me wonder once more, when had my life gotten this much better?
"Young Zu, are you still up?" Toshinori asked from the other side of the door, dragging me out of my mind once more.
"I'm up, about to get dressed," I informed him as I turned away from the door to head to my box of clothes.
"That is good, in about an hour I am wanting to introduce you to someone." He sounded nervous, was it that I would say no? He hadn't broken my trust yet, but
He still could, adults are just as much a monster as Them
Shaking my head I pulled off my shirt.
"Who is it?" I ask, sure he would answer my question as I put on a compression shirt and reach for another to use as a top.
"Principle Nedzu of U.A.," This had me turning around to look at the door shocked. He wanted…. Well if this week isn't the most random of things.
"Why?"
"I would like to see about getting you into U.A.. Not only would it be a first big step towards a Hero's license, it would also help in networking. A hero does often work beside other heroes." Toshinori continued to talk through the door as I got dressed. Soon stepping up to the door and opening it, finding Toshinori leaning against the wall next to my door in his skeleton form.
"U.A. is a prestigious school, I doubt they would want a trouble maker like me there. Let alone a Vigilante." Grabbing my jacket from the hook just by the door before stepping out. Tucking my wings into the fabric and pulling the coat up. Hiding my wings from the world, making most assume I was just wearing a back pack. Pulling the hood up over my head to hide my hair.
"It is a good school, and if it isn't the school for you than we can find other ones. But U.A. would give you the best start."
"Why do you care, Toshinori," Looking up into his eyes. It had been bugging me for awhile now. "The training, the food, the shelter, now connections, you have been playing the role of a benefactor, but to what end, what do you want from me, All Might?" Wanting a clear answer, he looked away guilty. Making my stomach turn.
"I want you to be my replacement," That was nothing like what I was expecting.
"Your- but your All Might, how- replace the Symbol of Peace, that- that's just-" Not sure how to combat that verbally.
"Not entirely," I jerked my head up to look him in the eye again. "I wanted you to be like me, in the light shining and strong. A heroine with a smile always on her face, but as I got to know you, to see you work. I know that is not the type of heroine you will be." I open my mouth only to stop as he held his hand up. "You will be something better, you are going to be the hero that stops and listens. The type of hero that like me when people see you know they are safe. You will be like me to put it all at risk to keep those you care about safe. You will be the hero that doesn't bring peace, but hope. And all I want, is to see you become that." A gentle hand came to cup the side of my face. A thumb wiping away tears that I hadn't even realize had started to fall. "I know that you can do it, with our without me because you just are that strong, my dear Izuku. Now, there is another matter that we should probably speak about, but that can wait for after our meeting with Nedzu. Is that alright?" He asked gently. Very slowly I nodded my head.
"After the meeting with Nedzu," Repeating his promise for more answers.
Coming to a Cat Cafe to meet one of the smartest beings on the planet, was not what I was expecting when they said we were meeting Nedzu of all beings. Gran chose not to come, saying something about hating cats and back in my day yada yada, the old hero would be fine. Toshinori ushered me inside and rather than being nervous or fearful as he normally is when he first sees Gran each time. Soon assured into one of the private rooms with a teapot and cups in his hands. Once I was sitting down I was jumped on by a tabby cat. Smiling softly as I started to scratch the cat down her spine, earning a happy pur.
"Am I a Mouse, am I a dog, a bear who knows! All you need to know is I am Nezu!" And in walked the Chimera himself. My fire flaring as instincts woke it, pinging the smaller white being as prey. Shaking my head and shoving the thought and instincts with it down into a dark pit where it belonged.
"Principal Nezu, I am honored you decided to meet with us on such short notice," Toshinori bowed low to the Chimera. I didn't dare disturb the kitty on my lap, even as another started climbing up my legs.
"Ah, thank you for the invitation, I am happy to hear that you have found a successor to your mantle at last," the Chimera moved over to the seat across from me. The kitty that had climbed up my pants now perching on my shoulders, butting their head on my cheek. Reaching up with my second hand to scratch under the kitten's chin. I was glad to be in the loop about the successor business now.
"Hello dear child," Nezu spoke directly at me this time once he was settled into the seat across from me, Toshinori sitting down next to me on my right, pouring the tea.
"Hello Principal Nezu," Not really sure what to do with them. He offered a small smile, doing his best to mimic the human look.
"I am told you go by Zu, is it alright for me to call you that?" He asked, smiling again when he got a small nod. "Well Miss Zu, I have a few concerns that I thought best brought up here in a neutral place." I straightened up some, focusing more on this place, on Nezu and his words.
"If this is about my job-" I hiss, unwilling to give up helping people.
"Oh no dear, in fact I must thank you for helping my student, Eraserhead, the other night" I relaxed a little at this. Though I did need to reach up and pull the kitten on my shoulders off gently putting them down on the chair.
"He is unaware of who I am, we gave him very little information," I hummed as Toshinori handed me a cup of tea. I held it with both hands, letting the warmth seep into my fingers.
"Yet he has taken an interest in you, though he likely won't admit it," I sighed trying to cover my groan. The Principle laughed, it was something soft and while an imitation was unique. "But this is not the issue that I bring to you today, Ms Zu. Toshinori has told me you wish to come to U.A. and even if you did go to another school there is a large problem."
"My status," I asked him, lifting the cup to my lips and drinking.
"Yes, Ms Midoriya, your status as dead for the last 3 and a half years." I clutched the cup just a bit tighter bring it down on the table.
"I won't go back, I refuse, nothing you do can make me go back," I hissed, wings straining under my jacket as I glare at Nezu.
"And I'm not asking that you do," Holding his paws up in surrender. "You are not the only one with contacts in the Underground my dear." I shuttered withdrawing as far back as I could in my chair. Eyeing him carefully, now knowing that he knew something of my past.
"What do you want," glancing at Toshinori who was remaining very silent as he looked between the two of us, good he had no idea what we were talking about.
"To help, it would be a welcome challenge to take one such as yourself." He smiled. "So putting in the work to have you pronounced alive and getting-"
"I am not going in the system either," I snarled, it would be just as bad, well maybe not but there was still the risk.
"Getting Gran Torino to take official custody of you." He finished as if I hadn't interrupted him. This got me to blink a little.
"What?"
"Gran Torino was once a teacher at U.A., it was only for a year, but when I asked him to help he renewed his hero and teacher's licenses, giving him the ability to take on the role of an emergency foster. As far as the law is concerned you have been in protective foster custody since you came to live at the gym," Toshinori filled me in on what I was missing. This had me rather shocked.
"Who knew the ball of sunshine that is Allmight, has a manipulative brain," I utter still trying to think on all the strings on his grand scheme as Nezu laughed, and Toshinori sputtered.
"It was Gran's idea!" He tried to defend himself.
"That only let's me feel a little better," Gran was definitely the smart one of the group, when it came to actual smarts and experience to use said smarts.
"How delightful," Nezu still crackled, though soon calmed right back down. "I will get to work on the being pronounced alive, but that does mean I need you to speak with authorities," I was about to snark about walking into a police station when Toshinori butt in.
"I have a detective in mind, he is a dear friend, it would be good for the two of you to meet, you can trust him." Toshinori looked rather hopeful with this as well. Thinking it over for a moment I sighed in defeat before reaching for my tea.
"Fine, but I choose the place," I bargained, cause while I trusted Toshinori and Gran I didn't trust others much.
"As long as it is a place with coffee," was his stipulation, which wasn't that much of an ask, a lot of public places served coffee.
"Now for the matter about your studies," I sighed this was just going to get more complicated wasn't it.