"Ugh." Kiba groaned as she opened up her eyes.
She quickly recognized that she was in the med-wing(having been here quite often).
"What, how did I, oh right. Sori." Kiba grimaced, as she recalled how she got here.
Her fight with the cat woman had been…quick. Both in that, the two of them moved at extremely high speeds, and in that, it didn't last very long.
She felt frustration well up inside her, her fist clenching and her face contorting into a pout.
Her losing wasn't the worst part. She knew how strong she was, so just losing wouldn't have stung that badly.
But she didn't JUST lose. She didn't land a single hit on her!
No matter how she attacked, Sori would just dodge or redirect, or interrupt her attacks, and counter with an attack of her own.
And she hit where it hurt. Something Kiba recalled clearly, as even now her body ached in the spots where Sori had struck her.
"Ugh." Kiba groaned as she shook her head, trying to free herself of her frustration. I can't be petty! I lost because I lacked skill! I just need to improve, and then I'll beat her!
"Kiba, are you awake?"
Kiba looked to the side of her bed and saw Eri looking at her with a concerned expression.
"You really need to be more careful, you can't keep ending back up here." Eri lightly scolded her, while checking her bandages.
Eri had taken to patching up the other kids in the med-bay after their fights, as such she had tended to Kiba, many, many times.
"Maybe I just like seeing my favorite unicorn?" Kiba remarked, giving Eri and cheeky grin.
In response, Eri gave her a stern frown.
"Hmph. Fine, I will be more cautious." Kiba pouted, looking away from Eri in shame, as both of them knew this song and dance well.
"Please, please, do," Eri begged her, before looking over her wounds again. "Everything looks ok, I think you should be able to go now. Dinner should be ready soon. But before you go, drink this."
Eri turned around and grabbed a thermos that was on a desk next to her, before handing it to Kiba.
"More blood?" Kiba asked, opening it up and looking inside, to see the red, thick liquid inside. However, when she gave it a sniff, she could tell something was off. "Why does it smell so sweet?"
"It's my blood," Eri told her, with an uncomfortable and slightly disgusted expression on her face.
Kiba froze, and her face somehow got even paler. "Uh-Uh-Uh-Uh-I…what?"
"It's my blood," Eri repeated, looking away from her. "I want you to drink it."
There was a long stretch of very uncomfortable silence between the two, as Kiba was too stunned to respond and Eri didn't have anything else to say.
Eventually, Kiba managed to compose herself enough to ask the question that was on her mind. "Eri. Why do you want me to drink your blood?"
"Well, Izuku said if you keep getting hurt, you might get permanent injuries. Drinking my blood helps prevent permanent injuries." Eri explained. "It also slows down aging, helps your immune system, and a lot of other good things."
"Your blood does all that?!" Kiba shouted in shock, looking over Eri's body in disbelief. "You really are a Unicorn!"
Eri nodded. "It's why people want it so badly. Izuku says I have to be careful. People are always going to be after my blood, so I have careful."
Kiba kept looking at her, all sorts of emotions rushing through her at once.
All that power, in such a small, fragile body.
And Kiba knew exactly what someone would do to get it, someone like Overhaul.
Just thinking about HIM sent a pang of white-hot rage through her body. Rage, and fear.
"I promised no one would hurt you." Kiba reminded her solemnly. "Never, never again."
"I know. But please don't kill anyone." Eri asked her, giving her a strained smile. "And please drink it. I'm worried about you."
Kiba looked down at the blood. Normally she'd just scarf it down. Enjoy the flavor. But this wasn't just any blood. It was Eri's blood.
This was the stuff that ruined Eri's life. This was the stuff that would cause who knows how many people to come after Eri, to try and do the same stuff Overhaul did.
It smelled so sweet, but Kiba couldn't find it anything but utterly disgusting.
But saying that to Eri after she went through the trouble of getting this for her, was likely not the smartest move.
And so Kiba sucked it up and brought the cup to her mouth.
Eri's blood had…a unique taste to it. One that Kiba could only describe as very Eri-like. It was sweeter than any blood she tasted before, but there was also this unidentifiable flavor to it. Something she'd never tasted before.
A shame, Kiba would have liked it if it hadn't caused Eri so much pain.
Once Kiba finished scarfing it down, she looked at Eri. "They're done. It was very…bloody."
Eri gave her a confused look, and Kiba's face turned red with embarrassment.
Bloody!? Really!? Out of all the things I could have said, Bloody? Kiba internally facepalmed. At first, she wanted to say it taste good, but she was unsure if that was the wrong thing to say, but she wasn't sure if saying it tasted bad was the wrong thing to say, so she ended up saying…that.
"W-Well I'm famished! So I think I'll be heading to dinner, thanks for the checkup bye!" Kiba shouted, as she bolted off the bed and ran out of the room.
Eri looked on as Kiba fled, before looking down at her arm. "I hope that helps."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After dinner, Kiba decided to go to her room, and play some Super Hero Bash.
Currently, Kiba was playing against the C.P.U., readying herself to take on some opponents online.
KNOCK KNOCK!
"Kiba? Can I come in?" Izuku asked from outside.
Immediately, Kiba paused her game and responded. "You may enter!"
Izuku came in and immediately started looking over Kiba, with a worried look in his eye. "I see you've recovered enough."
"Of course! No battle could ever keep me down for long!" Kiba stated confidently. "So what brings you here so late at night Caretaker?"
"Well, I just wanted to check up on you, and make sure you're ok," Izuku explained, giving her a comforting smile. "Do you need anything? A drink, food? Anything?"
Kiba was about to say no when suddenly, an idea came into her head. No, I can't ask for that! Daddy needs his sleep I can't ask him to…but…it's been so long.
"Well…Caretaker, it has been a while since we played games together." Kiba's face was bright red from embarrassment and shame, and she had to look away from Izuku while she talked. "So…if you're not too tired…actually forget about it I'm sure you've been working hard all day and need your rest. Excuse my selfish request-"
PLOP.
Kiba suddenly felt the couch sag next to her, and she looked over to see Izuku had sat down next to her.
"So, where is the controller?" Izuku asked.
"W-Wait Caretaker you should rest! I will not allow you to overwork yourself for my sake again!" Kiba protested, pouting heavily at her adopted father.
Izuku shook his head. "It's fine. Uraraka's been making sure I don't work too much while they're here. And besides, playing games with you isn't work. It's fun."
Kiba turned away, to hide the huge grin that uncontrollably grew on her face in response. "W-Well then I guess I have no choice. Prepare to feel my wrath!"
XXXXXXXXXXX
The next few hours of the night were spent playing games and discussing common interests. Mainly, heroes.
"So then Edgeshot literally went through the entire base, and knocked out fifty men in six seconds! Before they could even think about shooting the hostages!" Izuku said, as he continued playing, using Miriko to fight against Kiba's character, who happened to be Edgeshot.
"That's astounding!" Kiba said, half amazed and half frustrated. "Now if only he could do that here!"
"Well that would be a bit unfair don't you think?" Izuku laughed.
"I don't want to hear that from an All Might main!" Kiba said, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Well, you've got me there." Izuku chuckled.
They continued playing for a few more seconds before Edgeshot managed to stun Mirko, and then knock her off the stage.
"GAME!"
"I did it! I won!" Kiba cheered, jumping up and throwing her hands up in celebration.
"Ah, I let my guard down for just a second. You've gotten a lot better since the last time we played." Izuku admitted.
"Indeed. I have been training with Amai for quite some time! Through countless losses, I have become far better than I was before!" Kiba cackled. "Fear my might Caretaker! Fear it."
"I'm shaking." Izuku laughed, looking at her with a look of amusement and affection. "Well, I guess I should give you a reward then."
"Huh?" Kiba was turned around to ask him what he meant by that, she was suddenly enveloped by Izuku's arms, and lifted up. "C-Caretaker!?"
"You are, amazing," Izuku told her, as he held her close to his chest. "And you don't have to impress anyone."
Kiba was just, overwhelmed with warm, happy feelings. Right now Izuku was giving her everything she needed. Affection, validation, praise.
It felt, so, indescribably good.
"Caretaker this is an embarrassing position." Despite herself, Kiba lightly clung to Izuku, being careful not to crush him or anything.
"Kiba, I told you that you don't need to impress anyone." Izuku reminded her gently. "You can keep the act up if you want, but sometimes I think it's ok to take off the filter and just do what you really want to do. Just for a little while."
Kiba paused.
Do what she wanted to do. Without the filter.
Could she do that? The last time she did that, she tried to leave behind her persona entirely. And it was miserable.
The queen of darkness persona was something that brought her great joy and comfort, but sometimes it could be a bit cumbersome when she wanted to express herself.
So perhaps, just for tonight, she'd take off the mask and see what happens.
"I love you, daddy," Kiba said, as she hugged him a bit tighter. Feeling a sense of embarrassment, but also relief at finally being able to say that.
Izuku's face also went a bit red, both surprised that was the first thing that she said, and over the moon that she said it. "I love you too Kiba."
"Daddy is there a way I can get stronger. Like a lot stronger?" Kiba asked, sounding slightly distraught.
"Well, you're already learning martial arts and you're regularly practicing with your quirk." Izuku moved to the bed and sat down, gently rocking Kiba in his arms like a baby, in a way that made Kiba feel very happy and extremely embarrassed. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"Eri gave me a cup of her blood because she was concerned about me," Kiba admitted, letting out a sigh filled with worry and frustration. "And it was because I lost a fight. And not just lost, I was beaten like a rag doll!"
"You lost to Sori. Who is a well-trained bodyguard who was bred to be the strongest feline quirk bearer." Izuku told her, trying to show her that it wasn't that bad. "She has a lot more experience and skills than you. Sai beat all of 1A without getting hit either."
"Yeah, but none of them have to drink blood to get their power!" Kiba yelled out in exasperation, before looking down at herself in dismay. "What's the point of hurting people for power, if I can't even use that power to protect them!?"
"First off, you're not hurting people," Izuku told her firmly. "Yes you're taking blood, but people give that away all the time. Sometimes they give it away for free. It's a minor inconvenience. Second, most of the time. Skill and experience trumps power. Not all the time, but most of the time. I heard from Sori that even though she trained for years, exercising and eating in ways to maximize her growth, you still were just as fast as her, and decently stronger than her. But her training and experience let her get through the battle, and the only reason she didn't get hit, was because she specifically focused on not getting hit because she knew a single hit from you could shift the tide of the battle. You ARE strong. But everyone needs time to gain skills and experience before they can take on people like Sori."
"Even All Might?" Kiba asked.
Izuku shrugged. "Well a rookie All Might could definitely beat Sori through pure power, but he better hope he's not fighting her in the city, because otherwise, he'd likely destroy everything around him. So yeah I would say even he needed to gather skill and experience. Look at Mt Lady. She's new, so she lacks a lot of experience when dealing with villains. Which is why she keeps causing so much property damage. Which is why, despite being powerful, she keeps losing popularity contests to Wash."
Kiba snickered. "Wash is funny. The fact that one of our top heroes is a washing machine with googly eyes never fails to make me laugh."
"That's another reason Wash keeps getting so high up in those rankings," Izuku said before his expression turned serious. "Now, I want you to tell me more about Eri giving you her blood."
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Eri was just laying down in her bed, unable to fall asleep.
Was it because of the phantom pain coming from her left arm after she carved it open with a knife earlier?
No, she'd long since gotten used to phantom pains. Eri could sleep through those no problem. Especially this. This was nothing compared to what she felt while under Overhaul.
The real reason Eri couldn't sleep is because she was because of a…inner conflict.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Eri, are you awake in there?" Izuku asked although he didn't sound as gentle as normal, and his tone carried a sense of urgency.
"Uh-um, yes!" Eri responded as soon as she could. "C-Come in!"
Izuku opened the door and entered the room.
And he did not look happy.
"Eri, I heard that you gave Kiba some of your blood," Izuku said, but Eri could tell something was wrong. His tone was ice-cold, something that was kind of freaking Eri out a little bit. "I'd like to know how you got it out of you?"
"Um…." Eri started sweating, looking away from Izuku as feelings of fear, dread, and guilt rose up inside her. "I-I-I-I"
Izuku looked over her sternly. "Eri, did you cut yourself on purpose to draw blood to give to Kiba?"
"I-I-I just wanted to help!" Eri defended herself, pretty much admitting to what Izuku accused her of. "You said if Kiba keeps getting hurt she might get a permanent injury! A-And you said my blood can help with that!"
"That doesn't mean you can cut yourself open!" Izuku almost shouted at her, his voice full of anger and concern. "Just because you can heal yourself, doesn't mean you should be hurting yourself."
"But my blood can help!" Eri argued. "You said my blood can help people, so why don't we use it more!"
"We're already using it to help people Eri," Izuku argued back, crossing his arms and giving her a stern look. "That's why we're taking some every month."
"But why don't we use it here?!" Eri asked, looking like she was on the verge of tears. "W-W-We could use it to make sure they don't get sick, or-or stop permanent injuries or-"
"Eri." Izuku cut her off, taking the edge out of his tone, and once again speaking gently. "What's this about?"
"I…I'm not as useful as my blood." Eri said, looking down with shame. "I-I still can't control my quirk. So I still can't help anyone with it. But my blood can. S-So…even if it hurts a bit…"
Izuku sighed. "Eri. You and Kiba are more alike than you might think. You both lack patience for one. And you both don't value yourselves enough. It takes time to master a quirk, and you're already so much closer to controlling it than you were before."
Eri still looked unsure.
"Also, remember, your quirk runs on a limited amount of energy. If you keep using your quirk to heal yourself, you might run out of energy and not be able to use your quirk when you really need it." Izuku explained, seeing Eri's eyes widen. "It'll also leave you with less energy to use for practice, meaning it'll take you even longer to learn how to use your quirk."
Eri stayed silent, although she did look considerably more regretful.
Izuku patted her on the head. "I understand not feeling like you're useful, but your just a child. None of the adults are expecting you to be as capable as them, no matter what your quirk is. What your doing with your quirk training and you're helping out in the med-bay, is more than enough. And if something happens where your blood is absolutely necessary to fix an issue, I will talk to you about it, and we can extract it in safer, less painful ways. Understood?"
Eri nodded somberly.
"Good. Now, you're grounded for tomorrow. After 1A leaves, I want you to stay in your room. And stay there until dinner. Understood?" Izuku told her.
Once again Eri nodded somberly.
"Alright. Well, then I'll see you tomorrow." Izuku said before letting out a sigh. "I'm not angry with you Eri, I'm just concerned. You know I hate it when you kids hurt yourself."
"I'm sorry," Eri said quietly, looking down rather than at Izuku.
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to yourself. You're the one you disrespect. You're the one that you hurt. And remember, when your hurt, it hurts your family too." Izuku told her, causing Eri to wince in shame. "Just remember that whenever you feel like hurting yourself. Goodnight."
And with that Izuku left, letting Eri reflect on her actions.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was the next day, and all of 1A was outside, with the kids right behind them, with Sori and Sai standing in front o them.
The time had come for 1A to leave, and by now everyone had said their goodbyes and were just waiting for the school to them up.
"I AM HERE! TO PICK YOU UP! All Might shouted from inside a school bus, that was driven by Aizawa.
"All Might," Sai muttered, her eyes fixed on the number 1 hero.
"You've met?" Sori asked her curiously.
Sai shook her head. "No, but…I did always want to work together with him. I wanted to witness that overwhelming power in person."
"Yeah, I get that. I always wanted to fight him." Sori smirked, cracking her knuckles.
"You'd lose. Immediately." Sai said, giving her a deadpan stare.
"Maybe. Still wanna give it a shot though." Sori shrugged.
Izuku opened up the gate, and the bus came inside.
Aizawa drove up to the house, parking just in front of the Grimm tree, before parking.
"Ahahaha! Good to see you young Midoriya! I'm glad to see you've hired some help!" All Might said stepping out of the bus and looking over at Sai and Sori before leaning down and whispering. "And by the way, how's the situation without American friends?"
"Everything going well for now. I'll tell you if anything goes wrong." Izuku whispered back.
All Might nodded, before turning his attention to 1A. "It's good to see you all again students! You all look a bit stronger than when you first got here!"
"I'm just glad none of you have been skipping out on your training," Aizawa said, also getting out of the bus, looking just as tired as usual.
"As if! I train every day to be the manliest man I can be!" Kirishima said, flexing his muscles.
"We'd never slack off on our training sir!" Iida said, chopping the air like he normally does.
"Yeah, we've been working hard over here sir! It was wild!" Mina shouted.
"I'm glad to hear it!" All Might said. "Now let's-"
BRRRRRRR! BRRRRRRRRR!
Suddenly, Izuku's phone came to life and blared out a loud alarm noise. "Huh?"
Izuku quickly took out his phone, and saw a big red notification on it that it said, "Intruder Alert."
"WHAT!?: Izuku shouted out in shock.
But before he could press on the notification, a swirling vortex of black mist appeared in front of the bus, behind Aizawa.
Aizawa's eyes widened, and he immediately jumped back.
Sai and Sori ran in front of Izuku, pulling him behind them, as the vortex got bigger and bigger.
"Sensei what's going on!?" Momo asked, confused and a little scared.
"I don't know, but stay behind us." All Might said, standing in front of the class.
By now the vortex had gotten big enough to eclipse the bus completely.
And out of the smoke, came an army of people, of all different shapes and sizes, but what they all had in common was that all of them looked incredibly vicious.
Soon a small army had come through the portal, and in front of them, was a man with light blue hair, who was covered in hands.
"All Might." Tomura Shigaraki said as he laid eyes on the number 1 hero, peering at him with a sadistic glee that promised terrible, terrible things. "It's finally time for the symbol of peace to crumble."
The league is here. Let the attack begin.
Please review and have a nice day.