Chapter 3: Don't Dream It's Over
Kendo was in the hazy half-waking state that she was often in now, sleep was close, but fear of nightmares kept it at bay. She'd taken to trying to follow news on Stain. Now that Uwabami had faded from the news, replaced by another hero and then another after that, she kept track of the areas where Stain stalked his prey. She wanted to avoid them at all costs. Not that she left her house very often now.
A part of her had been relieved that his last kill had been further away from her home. The realization had sent her into a spiral that ended with her dry heaving over the toilet. She was glad that murders were happening further away. And she'd considered herself worthy of being a hero? What a joke.
It was late at night when Kendo saw the first report, refreshing the front page of Heroic News Network. In an instant, the report about the career of esteemed hero Death Arms, Stain's most recent victim, was replaced by huge block lettering that dominated the page.
All Might Captures Hero Killer!
Kendo blinked at the sight, mind wrapping around the words. All Might captured the Hero Killer. She scrolled down and stared at All Might's gleaming smile as he carried a body over his shoulder. But it was just a body in black clothing. She couldn't see his scarf or his face. It was possible it wasn't even him.
She clicked the article, scanning through it and then abandoning it to look at others. Words didn't matter. Claims didn't matter. She had to see him. She needed to see that it was really him, had to make sure it wasn't a fake or a copycat. The next site had grainy dark footage, not at all enough to get the detail even after playing it twice over. She went to another site, and then another as her heart pounded.
There wasn't a mugshot yet. He was in the hospital. Could he get out of a hospital? They had to have police guarding him, didn't they? Heroes too? She just needed, needed to see his face, to be sure.
The door to her room opened and she nearly shrieked, half expecting him to be there, in the flesh, to prove that this was all a lie. Instead, it was her father, a phone in his hand and a smile on his face. He almost missed a step when saw the news report on her screen, but caught himself and pulled her into a quick hug before pushing the phone into her hands. She looked at it and put it to her ear.
"Kendo?" It was Vlad-sen… it was Vlad King, "I know it's late, but I wanted to let you know that All Might caught Stain."
She trembled, barely keeping hold of the phone, "Are you sure?" She asked, "I-I've been looking at the news, but I can't see him."
"All Might told me-"
"But what if he isn't? What if it's just one of the copycats?"
Vlad King hesitated as her father's smile turned brittle. He sat down beside her, arms wrapping around her as her former teacher faltered, "Kendo, he matched every description you and Yaoyorozu gave. His weapon matched as well."
"B-but everyone knows about that now! It was all over the media." She trembled in her father's arms, tears rolling down her cheeks, "Why didn't anyone take a picture of him? Why can't I find a picture of his face?"
Silence from the other end of the phone, as her father whispered comforting words, holding her close.
Vlad King seemed to mull that over for a moment before speaking again, "I'll see if I can get clearance to visit him in the hospital so I can take a picture. Would that help?"
Kendo twitched and nodded, words refusing to come. Her father relayed her answer verbally and thanked him before ending the call.
They sat there, reassurances whispered in her ear as her father ran his fingers through her hair as he used to when she was a child. And yet her mind rebelled against the comforting words. It wouldn't be over until she saw Stain until she knew it was him. She wouldn't be able to accept it until she saw his face. She wouldn't be safe until he was gone.
She didn't know how long it took for her former teacher to call back. Her dad's phone rang a few times, calls from her mother perhaps, or maybe family friends who heard the news. He didn't bother to answer, quickly checking it before dropping it the moment he saw who it was.
It was the buzzes of texts that got her, causing her entire body to tense as she buried her face into her father's chest. Each and every one set her nerves on end, panic and hope warring with each other until he set his phone down again.
And then he didn't.
Her entire body tensed as the moment went on. She all but forced herself away from her dad, looking up at him desperately.
He looked at her and turned the phone around. In front of her was Stain. It was him, unmistakably. But he was so different from when she'd first seen him. Yes, he looked like someone who'd been in a fight, his lip was split and he had a black eye, but those seemed like minor changes. Lying insensate in a hospital bed, he lacked the intensity… the madness that haunted her dreams.
He was just a man. Just another villain, defeated by All Might.
She felt tears streaming down her cheeks as she lowered the phone, and her father returned her to a protective cocoon, gently rocking her until she fell into a dreamless sleep.
Grading essays was always a chore, and it wasn't made any easier by a lack of sleep. The previous night had been a late one, busting through red tape to get that photo for Kendo, but it was worth it if it helped put her mind at ease. He truly hoped it did.
He yawned and reached for his mug of coffee when someone, and he has a very good guess as to who, knocked on his door. He sighed and put aside his need for caffeine for the moment, "Come in."
The door opened and Iida marched in, a folder under his arm, "Sir, can I speak to you for a moment?"
He looked uncomfortable. Hardly surprising considering the day he'd had.
The news of Stain's arrest was everywhere, with praise being heaped onto All Might for the capture. His students, save Iida, were positively thrilled by the news. Less so because Stain was off the street and more because they were sure that Kendo would be returning.
Which was why he knew this was coming. He motioned to a chair, "Of course. Take a seat."
Iida looked tense, pulling the folder out, "That won't be necessary sir, I'm only here to-"
Kan bit back a sigh, his voice taking on a firmer edge, "Take a seat, Iida." The folder hung limply in his student's hand for a second before he nodded stiffly and obeyed. Kan nodded and leaned forward in his chair, "I know why you're here and the answer is no."
Iida looked caught, going stiffer than normal, "No?"
"You're here to drop off a withdrawal form, aren't you?"
"Y-yes sir," he stammered, "how did you know?"
Kan resisted the urge to chuckle, "I've been a hero for thirteen years and a teacher for seven. I'm not Hound Dog, but I do like to think I understand how teenagers think."
"Oh," was the best the boy could muster.
Kan relented and reclined in his chair, "Let me ask you something, Iida. Do you feel better knowing that Stain has been captured?"
His student gawked at him for a moment, as if the answer was obvious, "Of course!"
Kan smiled and nodded, "Of course you do. But do you feel better personally?"
That he didn't drop it only seemed to catch Iida further off guard, "I-I'm not sure what you mean?"
Kan looked the boy in the eye, "Iida, I know why you were removed from 1-A." The teen tensed at the words, cringing ever so slightly, "I know you went on your internship to try and find Stain." His student was deathly silent as he nodded shakily. "So, do you feel better? Are you less angry?"
"I-"
"Be honest." Kan softened his tone, before continuing, "You don't need to be ashamed."
Iida looked trapped for a moment, between expectation and honesty. Finally, he let out a breath and shook his head.
Kan gave him a soft smile, "That's okay."
His student twitched at the admission, "But sir-"
Kan held up a hand to stop him, "I have been a hero for almost as long as you've been alive, Iida. I've seen people hurt, people I care about. I'm still angry at the villains who hurt them. That doesn't make me less of a hero, it just means I'm human."
"But I wanted to…" Iida's voice strained until suddenly cutting off, unwilling or unable to continue.
"I understand, Iida." Kan let out a breath, "I've wanted to as well." His student looked up sharply and Kan knew this was his chance to do more than just connect, but to chip away at the chains that had held his student back ever since his return. Aizawa's lecture before unceremoniously booting him had been well-earned, in a sense, but his peer's expectation of perfection had always irked Kan. It was as if he didn't notice that he too was fallible. "Heroes aren't gods, they're human beings, and humans make mistakes. You can learn from your mistakes, that's what school is for. That's one of the reasons I offered to let you rejoin the Hero course."
Iida swallowed as if attempting to take in the lesson and digest it. Then a sour look crossed his face, "But sir, Kendo didn't make a mistake."
Kan nodded, "You're right, she didn't. But that doesn't mean she'll be returning either." He let out a heavy sigh and looked at his cooling cup of coffee, "It's like your anger, Iida. Her pain isn't going to go away just because Stain was captured. I hope she gets better, I truly hope she does, but that doesn't mean she will. And even if she does, it will take time for her to work through everything," He glanced up at Iida once more, "you understand?"
Iida nodded, slow and stiff, "Yes sir."
"Good man," Kan offered up a lopsided smile, "now I need to ask if this was your idea or were you pushed into it."
Iida went rigid, "No sir, it was my idea."
Kan snorted, "I have ears, Iida. I could hear everyone talking about Kendo coming back. I just want to make sure you didn't do this because your classmates told you to."
Iida shook his head, "I wasn't pushed into it."
"Good." Kan nodded, taking the boy at his word, "But just in case, I will speak to the class tomorrow. I don't want any of them trying to get you to drop out just so there will be a spot for her."
Iida hesitated, "But what if she does come back?"
Kan let out a sigh, "If she returns, we'll work something out, but not before then."
Iida nodded sharply, "Yes sir, thank you, sir."
Kan chuckled, "Now then, I know it's late, but I'd like you to speak to Hound Dog before you go, he should still be in his office."
"Of course," Iida said, nodding again, "thank you again. If you'll excuse me, I'll go visit him now."
"Go ahead," Kan waved him off, wondering if his coffee was even worth drinking at this point, or if he should make a new cup before returning to grading. Iida opened the door to leave when the obvious struck him, "Oh, and Iida?"
His student stopped in the doorway, looking back at him in surprise, "Yes sir?"
Kan smirked, "Good job on your essay."
Author's Notes: Why yes, I do believe Aizawa would have expelled Iida if he found out that he went rogue in Hosu while the city was under attack. As far as reasons to expel a Hero Student go, this is probably the most justified.
Also, just to be *absolutely* clear. This is a reprieve, not an ending. Trauma doesn't just end because the bad man went away.
Finally: Vlad King is a good teacher. He is looking out for his students' best interests.