14/02/2023
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The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 47 - The Groundwork for Failure
Nezu was, as many people knew, very intelligent. His quirk, High Spec, gave him increased intelligence. Contrary to popular belief, there were humans who had similar intelligence to him, but they were few and far between, and usually their intelligence was only in their area of speciality. He thought in far broader terms than them.
Which is why, watching All Might fight the villain All For One he was thinking of strategies to counter the issues that would arise. Because there were issues that would come from this.
All Might would win but the public nature of the battle was going to cause some problems. As a villain, All For One was very capable. Even his fall would inspire others. But that was a problem for active Heroes, which most of his staff were, but would not be an immediate consequence. He could think further on it before the consequences manifested.
The more immediate issue would be the Commission and their reaction to the first years going to rescue their companions. It wasn't so much the fact that they'd gone which would cause issues. It was the fact that they'd engaged.
If they'd have found a way to regain Bakugou without attacking the villains then he would have more options. As it was, he was going to have to answer questions about what was known about their 'rescue mission. From what he could deduce, it seemed that most of Class 1A and 1B knew of it. It was testament to their unity that someone hadn't informed the heroes. Even though it appeared to be purely happenstance, rather than intent on their behalf, Nezu liked that. The Commission wouldn't.
Which meant- UA could probably weather the fall out but… They were already bearing the fall out from the kidnapping and would not escape blame, at least in part, for the fight happening so publicly. There'd also be more questions about the kidnapping. This time, not from the media, but from the Commission.
They'd want to know everything since it appeared the majority of the villains had gotten away. The Commission would talk up the capture of All For One. They'd have to since he was fighting All Might but privately they'd want more answers.
Which meant they would find out about Uraraka and her possible connection to the villains. He was certain the young lady had no idea about her connection. The Commission wouldn't care.
Nezu nodded to himself. As much as he might not like it, he dealt with reality and in almost every scenario he could envisage, and he could envisage many, she was not going to remain a student of UA. The Commission would find out about the link, especially since one villain had been captured at the bar. Apparently one of the villains went to bed early and that villain was the one who had seen the favouritism shown to Uraraka.
The best case was that the Commission would keep it quiet, and use Uraraka to track down the villains but- He did not see them pursuing that option.
They'd want to be seen to be weeding out villain sympathisers. So short sighted.
So, Uraraka was going to be expelled. And… If she knew about the rescue mission he could use that as a public reason for it. It was unfortunate but it would shield UA and right at the moment, they needed that shield. There was a good chance that even without the students attacking the villains, Uraraka would have been found out but now it was almost a certainty.
He'd have a word with some of the other schools to see if they'd take her in next year but that was later and he certainly couldn't tell her.
Which left the issue of the villains that had gotten away.
All For One had obviously invested heavily in them. He would not have come out without that but… They were an issue that was not technically UA's responsibility. They were the responsibility of all Heroes but since they had shown a penchant for attacking UA facilities they had become one of his issues.
The leader, Tomura Shigaraki, was decidedly childish. Nezu had watched the footage from the USJ and the boy was childish. His name also didn't exist. There was no Tomura Shigaraki listed in Japan or surrounding countries registries. Which meant it was an assumed name. That wasn't surprising. Slightly annoying but interesting that the man-child would have that much foresight. It was probably All For One's doing.
The problem with children though, was that they could be erratic. And Tomura was definitely a child.
Then there was the fact that All For One was meant to have a son. Izuku Midoriya.
The boy hadn't been seen for more than a decade and while it wasn't guaranteed that he'd follow in his father's footsteps, it was concerning that they had no idea where he was. The boy would be sixteen at the moment, so not yet an adult but none of the villains reported in the raid could possibly be Izuku.
Nezu knew almost nothing about him and unknowns were… Even more than children, they were by definition unpredictable. Maybe he'd ask for Sir Nighteye's case files. Then he'd have a better chance of knowing what Izuku might do. He might even be able to find the child. There was no way the child was quirkless, not if his father had kept him so long and- he scowled. If Izuku had a quirk like his father's, then someone was going to have to explain the pitfalls of the world, especially if he wasn't a villain. The Commission would-
The rat sighed and reached for his tea. It was still hot. One of the best things he'd ever gotten the Support Students to make for him was a cup that kept his tea hot, without stewing it. The taste was preserved that way too.
There were issues that were going to arise from this battle and he, and UA, would just have to deal with them as they arose.
He hated such unpredictability.
-ted-
Izuku blinked sleep away as he tried to figure out what had woken him up. It didn't take long to work out. His phone buzzed. It was set to be silent but message vibrations were still on. But for it to have woken him up, then there would have had to be lots of messages. He put his hand out as he rolled over onto his stomach and put the phone in front of his face. It unlocked and he blinked at the screen. The light stung slightly but he could see the notifications for multiple messages.
From multiple people.
He swiped the lock screen open, and squinted at the message notifications. Hitoshi had sent him twelve. His friend, while an insomniac, knew better than to message him after 9pm on school nights so this had to be important. Two were from Ochaco and there were three messages from Mei? There was nothing from Himiko though.
As the screen finally came into focus he clicked to his message app and went to Hitoshi's messages. The last few were just Wake up!
He scrolled up, blinking another time or two at the light from the screen. He really should turn on the ambient settings.
Izuku, I know you don't like All Might but they are televising a fight
That was the first message. He felt his stomach clench at the thought. All Might's fights were not usually televised. His rescues where, since they tended to take longer but the Number One Hero didn't have many televised fights because they were over too quickly.
He read further, ignoring for the moment the details of channel and the link to the live stream.
Is that your Dad? He could almost feel Hitoshi's shock but it make him feel sick. His friend wouldn't be asking unless he seriously thought it was Dad.
But Dad wouldn't be fighting All Might. Not again anyway. The only reason he might be was…
Tomura.
UA would want their students back and…
He shouldn't make assumptions. Gigantomachia would be there. He'd keep dad safe.
Izuku took a deep breath, and shook his head when Hitoshi sent him another text telling him to wake up.
I'm awake, he sent to his friend. Let me look, he added to forestall other questions. He clicked the live stream.
It took a moment to load and then a few moments for him to actually see what the camera was focused on.
There was rubble everywhere and All Might was standing in the centre of that. For an instant he thought it was typical. Heroes caused so much damage. And then the camera shifted. For a moment, Izuku didn't know what he was looking at. Then he worked it out.
"Dad." The word was whispered.
It really was his dad. He recognised the suit, the build and mostly the mask.
A million questions raced through his mind. What was his dad doing fighting All Might? Where was Gigantomachia? How had this happened? Where was Tomura? The Doctor? Anyone!
Where was Kurogiri?
Izuku shivered, but it wasn't with cold, as he got up to grab his tablet. He put the feed from the video on that as he dialed Kurogiri. The phone rang.
And rang.
And rang.
And rang.
Another message from Hitoshi came in and while the phone was ringing, Izuku went to it. Is it?
He frowned at it. Is it what? But the context of the other messages made it clear. Is it your Dad?
Izuku wasn't sure what to say. He felt sick. It really felt like he could throw up at any moment.
What could he say to that? If he said it was his Dad then… that was admitting that his Dad was a villain. He knew that. But… Hitoshi didn't. And what would Hitoshi think.
The phone was still ringing.
He thumbed his way to Mei's messages. They are televising an All Might battle!
The villain has some support gear!
Izuku almost cringed when he read that. It wasn't some support gear, it was her support gear but Mei probably couldn't tell that from the feed. Doctor Garaki had added armor plating to the design she'd produced.
That gear is… This is so cool!
That was Mei's last message. It wasn't cool. It was sickening.
Where were… He diverted his thoughts before he began the litany. There was a roar from the vid feed. He almost didn't want to look at it but he knew he had to. All Might had just…
Where the hell was Gigantomachia? Kurogiri? Why were they letting this happen?
Had his Dad… Would his Dad send them away?
The phone was still ringing.
Dad wouldn't have sent those two away. He would have sent Tomura away though.
Izuku went back to the phone screen and canceled the call before he dialed Tomura. He let that call ring several times before he went back to his messages. This time he went to Ochaco's message.
I can tell you now. Two of the students at camp were kidnapped and we were kept on UA campus until the rescue mission. All Might is on it now and…
Izuku… It's been years but… is that your Dad?
God, how was he going to explain this?
There was another cry from the vid feed. Izuku looked over at it. This time it appeared as if Dad had hit back. That was good! But…
Why wasn't Tomura picking up his phone?
Another possibility occurred to him.
What if Dad was fighting because Kurogiri, Tomura, Gigantomachia had already been taken out by the Heroes?
No. That wasn't possible. Not all at once. He was sure of that. Which meant something else had to have happened.
Underlying the sick feeling was the knowledge that most people watching this, and there would be a lot, would think there was nothing wrong. They would think that All Might beating up someone was completely normal, was acceptable. All because All Might's 'enemy' was declared a villain. That's all they saw.
They didn't see that his dad was already injured. They didn't see that his dad-
He couldn't think that.
The phone was still ringing to Tomura and the idiot wasn't answering. Had his phone been broken? Or- could the heroes have it?
No. If that was the case, the heroes would pick up and then trace his call.
Izuku looked back at the feed, trying to see if they'd said where it was, except he kind of knew already. It had to be either the bar or warehouse. Which could mean the Doctor was there?
He hung up on the uselessly ringing Tomura and dialed Garaki. He'd ring Yakuni but already knew his friend was on some mission. The phone rang.
And rang.
Izuku forced himself to take a deep breath. And then another one. He drew in air during one ring and then held it for the next before blowing out.
It didn't make the waiting any better but he did allow him to think about the situation with a slightly more level head.
Right at the moment, all he knew was that his Dad was fighting All Might. That's all.
He didn't know why, though he could make some assumptions but he had to acknowledge they were assumptions.
He didn't know where Kurogiri, Gigantomachia or Tomura were either but again, he could make some assumptions.
With all the assumptions, he needed more information.
And he needed his Dad to put All Might down and get away…
But that didn't appear to be happening.
So… Izuku closed his eyes and cut off the audio from the video feed. He didn't need to hear the commentator cheer every time All Might hurt his Dad.
He had a few things he needed to do as soon as he got in contact with anyone. He needed to know why they weren't there. He needed to know what had happened. He needed to be there to help his Dad.
Then later… with his friends. It was only Hitoshi who had recognised his Dad. Ochaco had met him but, it was a long, long time ago and Mei never had. That was something. He didn't want to lie to them but he also knew he couldn't tell them the truth.
But…
What if his Dad lost?
What if the heroes found him?
He had to consider that…
He hung up on Garaki since the man wasn't answering. But… He opened his eyes long enough to set up a group call. Kurogiri, Tomura, and Garaki. If one of them answered, he'd be able to talk to them. Then he closed them again as he thought.
If the heroes were going to find him, they should have already been through the door. Though… they weren't so… they didn't know where he was but they undoubtedly knew he existed so they might be searching for him.
So what could they do if he was caught?
Legally, nothing. He was 16… Not legally of age. Though he would be associated with a villain and that wouldn't be good. And… that was legally. He knew well enough that the system didn't need legality.
So he'd need to be on the watch for heroes or…
He could disavow his father. He was living independently. He could say that he'd left his Dad.
No! He knew absolutely he wasn't going to do that.
But he'd deal with that problem if it materialised. For now he had other things to worry about.
Such as why no one was answering him and what to tell his friends.
Which really meant he was thinking about what to tell his friends.
He could speculate on why no one was answering him. He could feel sick that he couldn't get there to help. But it would only be speculation. It would be better to be calm and wait for answers.
If Tomura, Kurogiri, the Doctor or Gigantomachia were captured then the heroes would announce that. Not now, it would take a day or two but they'd definitely announce it. And if they weren't…
Then they owed him answers as to why they weren't there. Well… maybe not the Doctor. He wasn't a fighter but the others did.
Okay… for now, he'd keep calling and would wait to find out what happens with them… which meant he had to decide what to tell his friends.
Ochaco didn't know it was his dad so he could probably tell her something. Mei… might find out, depending on what happened and Hitoshi… Hitoshi knew it was his Dad… what did he tell him?
Even though his phone was still dialing it pinged with a new message. Reluctantly Izuku opened his eyes. It was from Hitoshi.
Izuku… Even if that is your Dad, it's not you. You aren't a villain.
He read the message and bit at his lip.
"Yeah, but I might be," he whispered a response he couldn't send. He might be.
And Hitoshi knew that… Or at least could now figure it out. Hitoshi knew that his Dad had given him a choice. Hitoshi was the one who had made it so that he wouldn't worry until he'd made a choice. Hitoshi knew that the choice was to follow into the family business or go his own way. And with Hitoshi now seeing his Dad fighting All Might… The type of choice the family business represented was clear.
He may not have made the connection.
But he would. Eventually. Hitoshi was smarter than he let on.
What would he do then?
The group call rang out with a beep. Izuku hit re-dail. They'd have to answer eventually.
Maybe he should just admit it to Hitoshi… Or at least lead him to the right conclusions. Maybe he could then explain.
Izuku felt his muscles pull into a face. He didn't think he'd have that chance but…
He could try.
He looked down at his phone, focusing on Hitoshi's last message before he gulped. It is Dad, he typed. But… it's not what the Heroes say, he added before pressing send.
His message flicked from sent, through to delivered and then read very quickly. Then the dots that indicated Hitoshi was replying appeared.
It never is, he sent back.
And I'm not just saying that, came the addition.
Izuku snorted softly. It was something you expected people to say.
I mean it.
He looked at the message. Hitoshi probably did. I don't think we should discuss it over text, he sent to his friend. The symbol on his message immediately went to read.
Fair, Hitoshi wrote back. And I think you have other things to do, he added.
Yeah. Talk tomorrow? Izuku offered. He hoped he had time to talk tomorrow. Only time would tell.
Definitely, Hitoshi replied but Izuku could tell he was curious. And he knew that between now and then, his friend would put more of the puzzle together.
He just hoped that by the time they talked, Hitoshi was still his friend.
-ted-
When you have super powered beings running around politics is never far behind and at least Nezu is keeping an eye on that. But for the moment, most of the world, like Izuku is caught up in the unfolding events. Unlike Izuku though, the world has to watch, he is trying to get in contact with others... and failing. But hey, at least Hitoshi gets it! That's something. Izuku's friends aren't the goody-goody's they are in canon. Finding out Izuku's dad is a really good villain... oh, that explains so much!
My discord is on this code: TcBnRN7aDn FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. There's a heap of other authors there, so come along and chat to us all!
-ted-
Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!