16th of August, 20XX
05:34 p.m. in a side alley near Tatooin Station
Ah… u-uh. Who were you again?
One sentence – one little sentence that kept replaying and replaying in his head as he walked down the street, paying only marginal attention to his surroundings.
Who were you again?
Numb, apathetic, indifferent, the asphalt under his feet and the walls lining the lane becoming little more than random objects, perceived without being processed, empty husks devoid of any significance.
Who were you again?
Yes, who was he? What was left of him?
Who were you again?
What meaning did his existence hold, after all this time? What had he left?
Who were you again?
Had he really just forgotten about everything? About his ideals, his aspirations?
Who were you again?
About the dream he once cherished?
Who were you again?
He, who had once vowed to become a man so great that his name would appear in textbooks?
Who were you again?
Was there truly nothing left for him but growing old? Full of bitterness, remorse and regrets?
Who were yo…
Then came the scream.
A few minutes earlier…
"What? What's wrong about Nitro Kill? Short and to the point!"
"Eh…" Izuku chuckled, drawing a glare from Katsuki. "Well… your Hero name should be 'a beacon of hope to those who are hopeless, a beacon of power to those who are powerless, and a source of fear to those who wish others harm'."
Katsuki shot him an irritated look. "The fuck?"
"All Might said that in an interview," Izuku admitted, as if Katsuki didn't know that it had been the interview from January 9th, eight years ago, when he'd just won against Dantalian's Circle in Shinjuku, and been interviewed on his thoughts about symbolism in names by Ava Ridge. "And… you know, don't you think that 'Nitro Kill' overdoes it with the 'source of fear' part a bit?"
"Tsk. Just because some sissies get-" Whatever Katsuki had wanted to say beforehand slipped from his mind when they rounded the corner.
In the middle of the alleyway stood a person. A person they'd seen in the newsflash this very morning. A person whose photo had featured a caption.
Dangerous Individual.
His coarse-pored skin was an unnaturally bright yellow and every word he spoke revealed a flash of pale flavescent teeth. A tuft of grassy hair sprouted from his head, and hints of a heavily muscular build showed through his beige trench coat.
He didn't look suspicious at all.
The man had been talking to somebody at the phone, but as soon as the words had slipped from Katsuki's mouth, the villain turned around.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," he said with a strangely squeaky voice that was at odds with his masculine appearance. "I'll call you back later, 'kay? No, no problems. Just some brats who walked in on me." He shut his phone and smiled yellowly. "Alright, kiddies. I'm sorry, but it's impolite to walk in on people when they're on the phone, right?"
No. This couldn't be happening. Of all the streets in Musutafu, the escapee had to cross their path? The odds for that bordered on nonexistent! So, why? Why?
"Who the hell are you?" Katsuki demanded, but Izuku knew he was bluffing. They'd seen him on TV together.
And apparently, the villain had, too, because he snapped, "Don't get coy, now. It was all over the news, wasn't it? Though, I have to admit it's quite satisfying to know that people will not forget the name of the villain Lime that soon." The man looked at them, his eyes flashing danger. "So don't lie to me, boy, I could burn your face off in a single-"
"Lime?" Izuku asked. "But that name doesn't inspire… fear… at all…" He shut his mouth with a click as he realized what he'd just blurted out.
"Deku," said Katsuki with an eerie calm. "Sometimes I wonder how someone with your brains could possibly manage to be such a fucking idiot."
The villain rushed in and Izuku screamed, changing into rubber as he remembered the rings he'd forgotten to take off after training. Lime punched him square in the face and sent him flying backwards, crashing into the wall. Through surprise and pain, Izuku noted that some sort of liquid soaked through his clothes, making them give off fumes.
"DIE!" Katsuki bellowed while Lime was occupied. The surprised villain wheeled around, only to be met by an explosion to the gut. He staggered backwards, a strange smirk on his face.
A moment later, Katsuki screamed in pain as his hands lit up in a torrid, burning, crippling pain. Horrified, he watched at the skin on his palms started to disintegrate.
"AAARH! What…"
"Interesting, isn't it?" Lime asked, seemingly amused despite the smoking hole in his trench coat. "My Quirk is a plant-based one, called Lemon. Among other things, it enables me to emit highly concentrated citric acid, which leads to the result you can observe right now. Unfortunately, citric acid does not dissolve certain substances, which is why your little rubber-friend has gotten out unscathed. Meaning I'll have to finish him-"
"Leave Kacchan alone!" Izuku punched the villain with a fist of iron, making the man hiss in annoyance.
"You are a pesky little brat, aren't you? Too bad you're too weak to deal any actual damage… aren't you?"
With that, he casually backhanded Izuku which left him reeling, then followed up with a powerful punch to the stomach that left him on all fours, gasping for breath.
Lime then advanced on Katsuki who was writhing in pain, oblivious to his surroundings. His world was filled with pain. With terrible, mind-breaking, nerve-searing anguish as his hands split open in front of his eyes. In a single swift motion, the villain reached down and grabbed him by the head in an iron-grip.
"I recommend you don't try anything foolish now, boy," Lime said conversationally. "Otherwise, I might have to…"
"GO TO HELL!" Lime's arm jerked upwards as Katsuki hit it from below. The boy then backed off as the irate villain delivered a kick towards the point where he'd stood moments earlier.
Lime wasn't in the mood for games anymore. He didn't have much time left before a Hero on patrol would be on location, especially after the boys' screams. He'd have to finish this quickly.
"You know," he said with a frosty smile, "quite a number of lemon trees actually has thorns. Funny, is it not?" From his hands arose two arm-length wooden batons, crooked and gnarled, but covered in dangerous-looking spikes.
"Acantha Strike!"
Faster than they could comprehend, Lime was between the two boys, bringing the rods down on them without hesitation.
CLANG!
BOOM!
To say that the three were surprised would be an understatement. Izuku had reflexively changed the top of his head into metal. Katsuki had shielded himself with an explosion, but… it hurt! Fuck, fuck, fuck him! It hurt! His blood boiled, his skin flared. Blood dripped from his hands, a good portion of epidermis dissolved.
"You are quite the obnoxious brats, aren't you?" Lime sighed, and the fight continued. Izuku and Katsuki were defending themselves to the best of their abilities, moving in sync like they'd practiced. No move was wasted, no words spoken. They fought with everything they had.
But. In the end, they were still just children, were still just nine years old, not to mention wounded and exhausted from their previous training. And Lime was an experienced fighter, driven into a corner.
The "fight" barely lasted half a minute. After that, two boys laid on their backs, constrained by spiky vines and barely conscious. Lime stood on top of them, his hands dripping with acid.
"Now, rubber-runt, you be nice and transform back, otherwise I will have to burn your little friend's eyes out. Be a good boy and-"
Suddenly, the villain was yanked back from the kids, and a voice declared:
"Gently Sandwich!"
With that, the villain suddenly found himself suppressed by an immense load, weighing him down like a pile of rocks – except that it seemed as if it was nothing but air that was nevertheless pushing him to the ground.
"Sandwiches are supposed to be light and refined foods. As much as I dislike piling that many layers on it, I concede that it was necessary."
Everyone in the small alley looked at the young man with silver hair who had seemingly appeared out of thin air and had somehow managed to subdue the anguished-looking Lime who had started to secrete a small puddle of acid around himself
"I must ask you to cease your efforts immediately", the man chided, as the pavement slowly started to corrode (which didn't sit right with Izuku's image of citric acid at all). "While I am not fond of violence, I will not hesitate to take action should you decide to push your luck."
"A-are you a Hero?" asked Izuku. "P-please, K-kacchan is injured and…"
"I'm afraid I am no Hero," the man interrupted. "Actually… I am not even sure why I intervened. How strange."
Katsuki grimaced in pain along with Lime. Apparently, the citric acid had started to affect the villain's own skin by now. The man startled from his reverie and began to remove the vines from the boys' bodies. He simply did that by pulling on them, making them stretch as if made of rubber. After they were freed, he explained, "Takeshita should be here soon. He will make sure you receive medical attention. Now, I…"
"But why aren't you a Hero, mister?"
Izuku himself didn't know why he asked that question instead of worrying about Kacchan, thanking their savior, or freaking out about being attacked by a villain. He really didn't. But the man stiffened as soon as it had left his mouth.
"I'm afraid it's because…" the man hesitated, "I'm simply… not cut out for the profession. I had a chance at it, once, but I failed. Nothing more."
Danjuro really tried not to sound bitter in front of the small boy before him, but after what Takeshita had said…
Who were you again?
You prevented the Hero from executing the rescue.
At this point, I have to recommend you drop out altogether.
No. Stop. He simply could not afford to wallow in self-pity now. He'd saved these two boys in a truly gentlemanly fashion, had he not? Therefore, he needed to ensure that they were doing well. He shook his head to push aside the memories and got to work.
He used his trusted handkerchief to carefully dab at the green-haired boy's face, as well as the other one's hands. He had to act quickly – the Heroes would arrive any moment now, and he would be in trouble if he was found at scene, that he knew. He had used his Quirk against a citizen without being licensed to do so again, so he'd have to make his exit soon.
But then the second boy, the blonde one, said something that truly blindsided him.
"Well, you better try again then."
Katsuki had been quiet for an unusually long time, and his voice was subdued as he spoke. "You got this fucker in a single strike, and he was enough of a threat to appear in the news. So you better…" He looked at him, his expression bordering on furious. "So you better become a Hero, damn it! What's wrong with you? 'Not cut out for the profession', my ass!"
Of course, Izuku then realized. Katsuki was… frustrated. He aspired to become not just a great Hero, but the greatest, yet all he'd gotten from the fight were spike wounds and shredded skin, while the man who'd taken him out in a single blow proclaimed himself lacking.
"I… I am afraid I must depart now. The villain has lost consciousness, but even if he had not, he still would not be in any condition to pose a danger to you."
Contradictory to his distant words, Danjuro was deeply shaken. He had sworn to himself years ago to never hope again. He had been ready to fall into despair after realizing Takeshita had forgotten him. It would have been the final push, he was sure of that. And yet… those two little boys looked up to him, their eyes shining with the same light that used to fill Danjuro's own upon seeing a Hero. The first one fiery and defiant, the second one awestruck and filled with determination.
Could he really allow himself to… give his dream another try? Could he?
"What's your name?" Izuku blurted out. At least that much he needed to know.
Memories, suddenly much more vivid and less melancholy. A tiny, tiny smile crept on his face. "Call me… Gentle."
Simultaneously, in another place…
The door collapsed into a puddle of molten metal, opening the registry to the intruder. The cannon fodder had fulfilled its purpose and lured the Heroes away from the registry. Now was the time for swiftness.
Smiling and humming a merry little tune, the trespasser glanced around the gigantic room, divided by dozens of racks filled with file cabinets. Swiftly, she crossed the room and scoured the cabinets. Quickly, quickly… there. Delight rushed through her body; she could feel it, hot and burning like magma under her skin. She paused.
The cabinet in front of her did not differ from any of the surrounding ones in any remarkable way, but she knew she was right. Still smiling she sorted through the files, her nimble talons only brushing each one before moving on to the next, until finally… yes.
There it was, right in front of her. Her mood soared like that of a small child who had gotten her Christmas presents early. She couldn't hold it back any longer; she threw back her head and laughed. She laughed stridently and without restraint, bright and giddy while the heat finally broke out of her skin, instantly alighting all the surrounding racks in flaming hot beauty and incinerating everything but the file in her talons.
The intruder left, setting the shelves ablaze left and right, all the while shrieking with laughter until she arrived at the building's roof, where the concrete sizzled under her touch. She forced the heat to settle down – she'd have little use for the file if someone noticed her now – and locked the blaze in her body. Then, she spread her wings and flew into the clear blue sky.
A/N. Surprise, surprise! Gentle's entrance!
And yes, I am aware that Gentle and Takeshita's encounter actually was two years earlier. But to that I can only say: This is fanfiction! If I change canon in some ways, you gotta deal with it (otherwise, just read the manga), and tbh, all I did was deferring a minor event to a point in the timeline in which I needed it.
Also, as already mentioned, I wanted to focus on some of the minor characters in this fiction. We've already seen a good deal of stories with the core team of Midoriya, Bakugo, Uraraka and Iida, and while that is undoubtedly fun, there are other fictions that already do a great job with them. My DekuSquad will be heavily modified, so consider yourself warned.
Plus, in my opinion, Gentle is one of the most wasted characters in Bnha, while simultaneously being one of my favorite villains. So let's call this encounter artistic freedom ;-)
Constructive criticism is welcome, flames aren't. But keep those Reviews coming!
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PLUS ULTRA!
Ramses, over and out