"Hey, Protean?" 'Ayumu stood in the doorway of Protean's room.
Something in her voice made him look up. Ayumu's face was contorted in concern. Her phone was held out in front of her with both hands. Protean closed his notebook and put his pen down on the desk before turning and giving Ayumu his full attention.
"What is it?"
Ayumu fidgeted uncomfortably for a moment, "It might be nothing, but… one of my classmates sent me this text message."
Ayumu handed Protean her phone. He examined the message Midoriya had sent Ayumu. His location was displayed on her screen in the middle of Hosu. Protean clicked on it and zoomed in on the map. His brow furrowed in confusion and he looked back up to Ayumu.
"Is this the boy who walked you here on your first day?" He asked suspiciously.
Ayumu shook her head, "No, he's just a classmate. We don't even talk that much, that's why I'm confused."
Protean screenshotted the picture and sent it to himself. "You can go back to your room. I'll call some of the pros in the area and see if they can go check it out. I'm sure it's nothing."
Ayumu took her phone back and nodded as soon as she turned away, her phone started to ring. She pressed the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Where are you?" Shinso's voice came through the phone in a panic.
Ayumu paused for a moment. She had never heard him sound like that, "I'm at my agency in Tokyo. Where are you?"
A deep sigh came through the phone, "Thank God."
"Hitoshi, you're scaring me. What's going on?" Ayumu questioned turning back to face Protean.
Protean had already gotten to his feet and was watching her carefully.
"There's a bunch of villains in Hosu, it's all over the news." Shinso's voice came through the phone much calmer. If she hadn't known him she would have thought he sounded indifferent, but the fearful undertone was still held in his voice.
"Villains in Hosu?" Pieces started clicking together in Ayumu's mind.
Protean didn't wait for her to say anymore. He clicked on the TV he had on his desk and flicked through the channels until he found what he was looking for. Chaos had erupted in Hosu, there were fires and screaming. The newscaster was broadcasting from a helicopter, just above the heart of the action. Protean dropped the remote and started running.
"Stay here, I'm going to go see if I can help." Ayumu followed him as he threw himself off of the steps in front of the agency.
His feet never hit the ground. In his place was a large lavender bird, "Radio me if anything happens here. Don't leave." With that, the bird flew off in the direction of Hosu.
Ayumu could hear Shino's muffled voice coming from the receiver and pressed the phone to her ear once again.
"Hitoshi, I have a really bad feeling about this."
It felt like days before Protean came back. Ayumu sat up in the main office of the agency and waited. Shinso stayed on the phone with her. The tightness in her chest wouldn't ease up.
"I can come over there if you want me to." Shinso offered.
Ayumu shook her head, "It's like an hour train ride. I'm sure Protean will be back soon." She stood up with the phone and started walking around the agency. "I wish I could have gone with him."
"I'm glad you didn't." Shinso stated, looking bored, "Lately, you seem to have a way of finding yourself into trouble."
Ayumu rolled her eyes "You sound like Bakugo." Ayumu looked up at the sound of keys jingling. "I have to go, I think Protean is back."
"Let me know what happens."
"Will do." Ayumu hung up and waited for the door to open.
Protean pushed open the door and closed it quickly behind him. He squawked in surprise at seeing Ayumu still up. He closed his eyes for a moment and smoothed back his hair causing a few lavender feathers to flutter to the ground. Ayumu waited patiently.
"Why are you still awake?" Protean asked.
Ayumu pulled on the sleeves of her sweatshirt, "I wanted to make sure everything was alright. Midoriya-"
"He's fine. Everyone was fine." Protean assured, "He happened to be in the area and was just trying to alert some people."
Ayumu let out a breath and felt the tightness in her chest release. Everyone was fine. She nodded, "I'm glad it worked out."
Protean nodded, "Now go to sleep. Just because there was some excitement, doesn't mean you get to skip patrol tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
"You're really getting the hang of this!" Protean smiled down at Ayumu, "Your father would be so proud."
Ayumu gave him a small smile, "Thanks."
Protean waved to people as they passed and Ayumu smiled at a few people as they passed. Heroes walking the street gave people reassurance and a sense of peace. Like there was someone looking out for them. It also kept villains on their toes. Villains were less likely to commit crimes if they thought there was a chance that heroes could stumble upon them. Ayumu tried to make herself taller as they walked through the city.
"We only have two more days together so I hope you really take what you've learned and apply it when you go back to school." Protean reminded.
She looked up to him, "Of course!"
A familiar shouting caught Ayumu's attention. Across the road, Bakugo stood with Best Jeanist. Ayumu paused in her patrol and watched as Bakugo screamed at a couple of little boys. Protean stopped as well and followed her gaze.
"Isn't that the boy who walked you to the agency the other day?" He asked, his tone disapproving.
Ayumu nodded, "Yeah, that's him. Where are you going?" She asked and immediately followed as Protean began to cross the street.
He glanced back to her, "I'm going to introduce you to Best Jeanist. It's important to have relationships with other pros in the area so you can work together if you need to. Plus. as your mother's former sidekick, I think it's important for me to check out this boy you're hanging around."
"What do I do with him?" Best Jeanist mumbled as the little boys backed away from Bakugo's wrath.
"Jeanist!" Protean called as they approached.
Bakugo looked up and caught sight of Ayumu and crossed his arms. Best Jeanist put one hand on his hip and looked down at Protean.
"Protean, what a surprise. I didn't realize you patrolled this way today." He stated simply.
Protean ran his fingers through his curls, "I don't usually, but I wanted to show my intern here all of the routes we take so I'm taking her on an extra patrol. This is Suzuki Ayumu. She's Tunnel Vision and Sureshot's daughter."
Ayumu held out her hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir."
Best Jeanist shook her hand gently. "I was just starting out as a hero when your father passed. It was a great loss to the hero community." Ayumu thanked him. "This is my intern, Bakugo Katsuki."
"I saw him dropping her off at the agency earlier this week."
The two pros continued to speak to one another and Ayumu turned to Bakugo. "How's the internship going? Are you having fun?"
Bakugo glared at her and snapped, "Do I look like I'm having fun?"
She looked him over and held back laughter, "Not really, but you do look like you changed your style up a little bit."
He looked down at his jeans and scowled.
Ayumu laughed at his reaction and took a step back to pretend to get a better look at Bakugo's outfit. She felt herself tumble backwards off of the curb. Before she could even think about trying to catch herself, she felt a hand wrap around her hand and pull her back into an upright position. Bakugo's other hand grabbed onto her shoulder roughly. The hand that wasn't in Bakugo's hand reached out and grabbed onto his bicep for support. He held her close to him, pressing their joined hands between them.
"Why are you so damn clumsy?" He snapped.
Ayumu felt herself redden and she swallowed hard. She looked up at him under her lashes. He glared down at her, completely annoyed with her for tripping, but for a second she thought she saw something else there too. She loosened her grip on his arm, but kept her hand rested lightly in his.
"Thanks, but uh… You can let go of me now."
"Huh?" Bakugo let go of her and took a step away, "Dumbass, watch where you're going! I can't keep saving you all the time."
Ayumu felt the embarrassment from falling melt away her and a smirk met her lips, "Not a super heroic thing to say in front of your mentor, but okay."
Protean spared a glance to Best Jeanist who returned it knowingly. Protean put his hand gently on her shoulder and smiled at Bakugo, "Well, we should get back to it. It was nice meeting you."
Protean led her away from the scene and Best Jeanist continued down the road with Bakugo in the opposite direction. He waited until they were out of earshot before Protean turned to Ayumu with a half smile on his face, "I like that kid, make sure he picks you up from the agency when you're leaving. I want to talk to him."