CHAPTER 35: WORDS
"Let's see…your quirk Slip and Slide lets you turn any surface you touch slick and smooth…" Apotheosis tapped his pen along the edge of his notebook in thought. "You could use this for quick escapes like we discussed."
"Yes I've tried to use it to trip up police and heroes by slicking up the streets and sidewalk, but that causes me and my gang to trip too." The tan skinny thug dressed in leather and chains said. He'd been having trouble finding a practical use for his quirk. He's pretty much nothing more than a joke to the other members of the gang at this point.
"And you can't switch it off on command. It simply wears off over time." Izuku hummed in thought at this conundrum. He started tapping his pen along his scarf covered mouth. He wasn't the first low class villain and criminal to come to him for advice on better ways to use his quirk. Ever since word got out that he could analyze quirks, break them down, and come up with new applications for them, these low lives started flocking to him. Izuku didn't complain though. This was exactly what he wanted to help him find quirks that could be used for his Infinity Gauntlet.
"Perhaps some cleated shoes for yourself and your comrades so you all can keep your balance and not be hindered by your quirk. If you could learn how to skate then maybe you could glide on the slick surfaces. Or maybe it could be used to help move heavy objects." He started speaking a mile a minute. A common habit these thugs were used to.
"Excuse me, but are you the one they call Apotheosis?" Their little meeting was cut short by a newcomer. "I need to have a word with you." Izuku stopped his scribbling and looked up to see someone dressed in a white long coat with what looked like a modern plague doctor mask.
"I'm busy, come back later." Izuku told him.
"I don't have time for that." A long tendril shaped like the hand of a clock extended out from underneath his hood, stopping at the thug's face. "Leave." Izuku's client paled and stood up, quickly taking off.
"Impatient much. Please step into my office." Izuku joked since his 'office' consisted of two beaten up rusted desk chairs in a corner of the underground parking garage. He gestured to the seat opposite him but the bird masked man preferred to stand.
"I'm here representing the Shie Hassaikai, I assume you've heard of us." He started.
"Yes I've heard of all the old school Yakuza groups that are slowly fading away to memory." Izuku mocked. Just like quirkless people, organized crime families were dying breeds.
"Well we've heard of your exploits as a criminal consultant and my boss would like to offer you a job." The masked man ignored his jab and laid his offer on the table. "Your analytical skills would be very valuable to our organization and our leader would-" He was interrupted when the boy raised his gloved hand.
"I'm going to stop your right there." Izuku frowned underneath his scarf. "I'm a freelance consultant which means that I get to pick and choose my clients. I really enjoy that freedom, so why should I shackle myself to an organization that I know nothing about let alone an organization that's probably on its last legs."
"If you knew what I know you'd accept the offer." That tone of his voice sounded dangerous.
"Is that some sort of threat?" Izuku chuckled. "Am I being threatened by the lackey of a Yakuza group that's struggling to survive?" He was acting tough, but it was all a rouse. He lacked a quirk and had yet to finish his prototype force field generator, so he had no means to defend himself. Bluffing, a lesson he picked up very quickly while around criminals.
"First of all Kai Chisaki is not someone that you say no to." He said while simultaneously naming his boss. "Secondly he's working on something big that will put the Shie Hassaikai back on the map. You could be part of that if you did the smart thing and take the offer he's generously giving you."
"I'm going to pass." Izuku had already decided before the other finished his sentence. "While I'm a bit intrigued to see what this Chisaki thinks will bring the Yakuza back from the abyss, as a small time villain I'm not really looking to make a big splash at the moment. Even then I plan on debuting alone when that time comes. Plus as I've already said your groups a dying breed and I don't want to be there when it finally goes belly up"
"Alright have it your way." Another arrow shaped tendril extended out from under his hood. "I'll just bring you to Kai and you can tell that to his face and we'll see what that gets you." The appendage stopped an inch away from his face as the click of a cocked gun was heard.
"That's our little hired brain that you're messing with." That very gun was pressed to the back of the bird masked man's head. Izuku just chuckled seeing that back up had finally arrived.
"Allow me to properly introduce you. Say hi to the C ranked villain known as Shackle Bolt, leader of the Chain Gang. You met one of their members a few minutes ago. He was that man you rudely shooed away." The Yakuza representative turned slowly to see a large burley man with a spiked Mohawk, dressed in leather with chains wrapped around his sleeves. Behind him were the rest of the gang, some pointing guns at him and some holding bats wrapped in chains and barbwire.
"Shackle Bolt, this is…I'm sorry I didn't get your name?" Izuku was very amused, they could tell by his tone.
"It's Chronostasis to you." He finally introduced himself coldly.
"You see Chronostasis, I might not have been active for long, but I have made a few friends here and there that see value in me." Izuku smiled at seeing the man retract his quirk back into his hood.
"Very well then I'll leave, but expect a visit from Kai Chisaki soon." He turned around to leave without starting a fight with the armed gang poised to attack him, but gave one last ominous heads up. "And just a fair warning Apotheosis, he's anything but merciful to people that disrespect him." When he was gone and the Chain Gang lowered their weapons Izuku nearly doubled over.
"Oh wow! I almost threw up there." He panted wiping the sweat from his brow. "Thank you for the save Shackle Bolt."
"No problem kid. You may not be part of the gang, but we consider you a valuable ally." The villain said.
It was a month later that Apotheosis went and joined up with the League of Villains. They had given him the work space he needed for his project. Luckily he never encountered the leader of the Shie Hassaikai.
PRESENT TIME
'Stain should be in position by now.' Izuku thought while he sat in his car. He'd been having his shadows keep an eye on the Shie Hassaikai ever since the hero killer's report. With a little blood and some forceful coercion Stain and his partner Himiko were successful in tracking down the source of the quirk erasing bullets. Izuku was surprised that it was a Yakuza group. These guys were practically extinct, but the name Shie Hassaikai did ring a familiar bell in his head. He remembered a time that seemed so long ago, before the League of Villains and before he created the Infinity Gauntlet. The memory of being threatened by a lackey from this particular group brought a scowl to his face. He said he worked for a man named Kai Chisaki.
Running that name through his database was interesting. An orphan who was adopted by the former leader of the organization. Brought into the fold, rising to the rank of second in command and then boss when the previous head fell into a coma. The man's record was surprisingly clean, yet information beyond the most basic was lacking. Izuku was a genius, so detecting something off about the whole thing was child's play for him. So he had the shadow of his knights' work behind the scenes to compile more info.
With a lot of digging it became clear that this man Chisaki was attempting to bring the Yakuza back to the top of the criminal underworld like it was in the old days before the advent of heroes. Chronostasis said something similar to that when they met back then.
Izuku couldn't have this happening on his watch. With All for One out of the picture, the League in his back pocket and no notable or concerning villains in the limelight. The world of villainy was pretty much in his palm. Nothing could possibly threaten what he created. This new fair and balanced hero society would be his legacy, but this upstart Chisaki and his quirk erasing bullets could ruin all that.
The curious and scientific part of him of course wanted to find out how he accomplished this, but the rational and ruthless part of him knew he had to be eliminated as soon as possible and his research destroyed so no one picked up where Chisaki left off. Weeds needed to be pruned before they infest the garden after all.
That moment was now. Izuku ordered Stain to keep an eye on the compound, waiting for the moment that Kai Chisaki left. Two hours ago he received the call that he did. The man had left the compound and alone at that. Stain was in pursuit. Normally such an assassination would be easy, but they were doing this in broad daylight, so a bit of patience and finesse was needed. Izuku decided to come to the area where it would happen to make sure Chisaki's silent execution would go off without a hitch. Plus he had to provide Stain with a quick escape. If the hero killer was captured, that would be another problematic head ache for Izuku to deal with.
"He's crossing through the alley, two blocks away from your location." Stain reported into his communicator. "Awaiting your orders."
"Off with his head…Guillotine." Izuku smirked and got out of his car. Making his way to the alley where the mission would soon be completed. Using the 'notice me not' quirk he acquired through the soul stone he slipped by random pedestrians like a ghost. When he arrived at the street where the alley ended he deactivated the quirk seeing that no one was around. Unfortunately this proved to be a mistake.
"Hey!" Izuku froze in surprise at being spotted almost immediately after turning that innocuous quirk off. He turned around to see a boy a bit taller and older than him. What stood out to him first and foremost was his cheerfully positive demeanor and the number one million printed on the front of his costume. He didn't look like any hero that he knew.
"Can I help you?" Izuku fake smiled. 'I don't have time for this.' Internally he was worried. He couldn't have any witnesses.
"Your Director Midoriya right." The blonde boy asked.
"Oh my. I wonder what gave that away." Izuku mocked as he waved his left gauntlet covered arm. Normally he would fain politeness, but this young hero was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He needed to go before this assassination took place. Hopefully Stain was hearing this conversation and would hold off until he got him out of here.
"Yeah sorry about that. Everyone knows who you are." The blonde hero just chuckled. "My name is Lemillion."
"Good for you." Izuku talked as if he was speaking to a puppy. "Is there something you need from me?"
"I just wanted to meet the legend himself." Mirio wasn't put off by his tone or dismissive attitude. Now that he finally met Midoriya in person he realized that he wasn't as intimidating as others made him out to be. While obviously powerful, he looked just any other teenager.
"I'm not a legend. I'm just a quirkless person trying to make a difference in the world." Izuku turned to stare at him harshly. "Don't put me on some pedestal please."
"I get it." The young hero apologized. "Legends are hardly ever what they appear to be anyway."
"That's right." Izuku finally took a good look at this person. "You look familiar, have we met before?"
"I doubt that, but I'm a third year student at U.A. You might have seen me during the sports festival." Mirio supplied proudly.
"Oh now I remember you were the one that got completely naked and they had to cut to commercial." Izuku actually laughed a real honest laugh right then and there, taking the wind out of the other boy's sails. "That was really funny."
"That was an accident." Mirio tried to argue.
"Well if your plan was to make a lot of people laugh, I think you accomplished that." The gauntlet user chuckled. Still though, this guy needed to leave. Time was not on his side and they were standing right at the mouth of this dark alley where Kai Chisaki was supposed to meet his end at Guillotine's blade any moment now.
"So what brings you to this part of the city Director Midoriya?" Mirio asked changing the subject.
"Simply taking a stroll. Watching the heroes and my robots keeping the peace." Izuku lied. "Sometimes I like to remind myself that what I do is worth it."
"Is it worth it?" Mirio questioned. 'Was all the lying, stealing and destruction worth it?' That was what he really wanted to ask, but couldn't.
"Of course." Izuku smiled at him. "Well I'm sure you're busy, wouldn't want to keep you held up from saving someone." He needed to leave now or the mission would have to be aborted.
"We have a problem kid." Stain whispered into his communicator. Izuku frowned at his words and dire tone. Before the hero killer could explain himself the problem, as he called it, bolted out of the alley and crashed right into Izuku Midoriya legs. Quickly catching the small figure from falling Izuku took a look at her. A small pale little girl with messy off white hair, big bright red eyes and a small horn sticking out of her forehead. But what immediately caught his eye and the hero next to him were the bandages covering both her arms and legs.
"Woah there." Izuku knelled down to make sure she was alright. "Hello." The girl looked up at him with wide frightened eyes. "Is something the matter?"
"There you are Eri." A voice said from alley that the child just emerged from. Mirio and Izuku looked up to see a tall dark haired man in a forest green jacket and oddly enough a beak shaped mask over his mouth. Midoriya immediately recognized him as the target that Stain was supposed to eliminate. It seems he pulled back because of the girl. Smart move on the hero killer's part since he knew Izuku didn't like it when children were involved. "I'm sorry for any trouble she may have caused you."
"It's no trouble at all." Izuku said politely. "And you are?"
"I'm her father." He said emotionlessly. Izuku doubted that. There was no information in the database that said Chisaki was married or had a child.
"Aren't you part of the Shie Hassaikai?" Mirio suddenly blurt out. Midoriya levelled a glare at him for his bold statement. "You guys are pretty famous."
"You could say that." Chisaki said. "If you don't mind we'll be on our way. Come along Eri." He spoke in a tone that threatened the child not to make him tell her twice.
"Please." Eri quietly whispered, just loud enough for Izuku to hear. "Please help me." Green eyes narrowed at Chisaki.
"May I ask why young Eri's arms and legs are covered in bandages?" Izuku questioned out loud.
"Not that it's any of your concern, but Eri is a very clumsy girl, she falls down a lot." The plague masked man claimed.
"Really now?" Izuku gave him a skeptical smile. "I remember falling down a lot when I was her age. Yet it was never anything a little ointment and a few band aids couldn't fix." Mirio watched, something was happening here. He could tell by the tension in the air building up every second these two looked at each other.
"Are you implying something Director Midoriya?" Chisaki leveled a glare at him.
"Oh so you know who I am, but I'm afraid I don't know who you are?" That was lie, but Izuku didn't want the Yakuza leader to get wise that he was on to him. He placed a protective arm around Eri's back.
"Kai Chisaki." He introduced himself. "And you are?" He turned to look at the hero boy that also found himself entangled in all this.
"Lemillion." Mirio followed his own example of polite introductions.
"Nice to meet you Chisaki." Izuku dropped his smile. "Now if you don't mind, why don't explain to me what you're doing to this little girl?" And just like that all pleasantries were gone.
"I'm not sure what your insinuating." Chisaki narrowed his gaze at him. "As I said, Eri is a clumsy girl, she gets herself into accidents." Each word spoken had a razor sharp edge to them. Izuku wasn't afraid of him though. He's stood before scarier villains than him.
"Is that why she's practically sobbing into my suit and hasn't even once turned around to look at you." Izuku pierced him an equally threatening stare.
"Let's all calm down." Mirio tried to placate both parties. "I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding." He placed a hand on Midoriya's shoulder before someone did something irrational. Even he could tell that there was something not right with the way Chisaki spoke about his daughter and the terrified state she was in.
"Take your hand off me Lemillion." Izuku snapped at him calmly before turning back to the real threat. "I'll have you know Chisaki that under the law any hero or government official level five and higher has full authority to take protective custody of a child suspected of being abused."
"Is that so? That is…if you have any proof of such accusations." Chisaki replied back. "Which you don't." He took a dangerous step closer to them.
"You're right I don't." Izuku could feel Eri gripping his jacket tighter when he said that. "However as a level six official I can legally take her to a doctor without your consent. If she shows signs of abuse, then she won't be going back with you."
"I see." The masked man sighed as he reached to remove his glove. He paused when the boy spoke up again.
"Luckily for us I know a doctor who can see us immediately." Izuku smirked at him as he opened up a portal directly behind him. "We can take care of this right now." Reaching down he scooped Eri up in his arms and stepped back into the hole in space. "Are you coming, you are her 'father' after all." He said that word father with obvious sarcasm. "You should come to Lemillion, you are an eye witness after all."
'Dammit. I underestimated his intelligence and quick thinking.' Chisaki scowled under his mask. All that careful planning and work to make sure Midoriya and the H.R.D would never even notice him and his organization was now down the drain. He was told by Shigaraki himself not underestimate the 'Strategist' as he called him, but he was still outsmarted by the brat. He was bringing Eri and himself to an unknown location most likely surrounded by more witnesses, completely boxing him in. With no choice but to go along with this farce Chisaki followed them through the portal to what appeared to be a very public health care center.
"Excuse me." Izuku spoke to the woman at the front desk while still holding the girl. "I'm here to see Dr. Higurashi, tell her I'm here and have a patient she needs to look at immediately."
"What are you doing?" Mirio leaned over and whispered to him discreetly. There was more going on here.
"Just go along with whatever happens. Everything will be fine." Izuku whispered back while they waited for the doctor to show up. It didn't take long. Dr. Higurashi came rushing in, knowing that Midoriya showing up unannounced must mean that she needed him for something important.
"Director Midoriya? Is there something you need?" Curiously enough he was carrying a young girl wrapped in bandages. She didn't pay any heed to the young hero standing next to him or the bird masked man that was busy looking around the lobby in disgust.
"Lemillion, Chisaki this is Dr. Higurashi a pediatrician in charge of this health care center for children." He introduced her to them before explaining his reason for being her. "Doctor this young lady here needs a check-up. We have reason to believe that her father behind me here has been less than kind to her" Izuku gestured to the child in his arms. "We need you to clear this up for us. Do you have time to do that right now?"
"Well the kids are busy with recess right, but we can extend that for a few more hours." She smiled while adjusting her glasses. "I'm sure they'd love that."
"Okay Eri, this nice woman here is going to take care of you." Instead of calming down, Eri just clung tighter to him .That reaction worried him to a large degree. Since she didn't seem to be letting go anytime soon Izuku decided to take her into the hospital wing himself. "Okay it looks like I'm coming with you." The three males followed the doctor through the hallways until they entered a basic medical clinic. Chisaki hadn't said a word, not a single protest from him. Midoriya didn't know what to make of that. One thing that did please him was that the leader of the Shie Hassaikai looked very uncomfortable to be in a medical center. "I'm going to have to put you down now Eri." She seemed reluctant, but eventually let go, so he could place her on the cushioned table. "I'll be right outside, call if you need anything." He smiled warmly at her. Stepping out into the hall, he closed the door behind him to let Dr. Higurashi and Eri have some privacy for her medical examination while he joined his two tag-alongs.
"So what's going to happen now?" Chisaki almost growled out.
"I'd like to know that as well." Mirio also turned to face Midoriya wondering what the former villain was up to. He didn't like that a child was involved in all this, but thank goodness that Izuku had a heart and wanted to do what he could to take Eri away from her potential abuser. Turns out there was some light in him after all.
"Dr. Higurashi will look her over for signs of physical harm. If she shows signs of abuse then I'll be contacting the police and keep Eri here until everything is sorted out." Izuku explained. "Chisaki, you'll be questioned, depending on your answers you might be arrested at worst. At best you'd be asked to leave to await further investigation."
"And what if you're wrong?" Chisaki gave him a nasty look that wanted nothing more than to see him dead.
"Then Eri will be released back to you and I'll give a formal and personal apology for the inconvenience." Though the gauntlet user doubted that would happen. After nearly forty minutes of awkward silence, well mostly silent as Mirio kept attempting to make pleasant conversation and failed, Dr. Higurashi finally came out holding a clip board.
"Well other than feeling a bit hungry Eri is quite healthy. No broken bones are injuries." Izuku frowned at that diagnosis. There had to be more than that.
"What about the bandages on her arms and legs?" Mirio beat him to the question.
"I had a look at that. She has some extensive scarring." The doctor began. "It seems too random for it to be done on purpose. I've seen some quirk related accidents like that before" Getting an evil idea Chisaki decided to finally speak up.
"It's because of her quirk." They all turned to face him. "Her quirk causes her to frequently fall and get hurt. I've been getting her help, but it's slow going."
'Clever.' Izuku thought. "And what is her quirk if you don't mind me asking?"
"She can levitate her body. This often happens at random, sometimes while she sleeps." Chisaki said while thinking quickly. "I'm not too keen on tying her down to her bed at night, so we simply tuck her into the blankets tightly."
'Oh he's great liar.' Izuku was honestly impressed by the man's silver tongue.
"If that's the case then it would explain her scars." The doctor looked at her clipboard again. "She's perfectly healthy and I don't see any signs of abuse." Well there goes the plan to get Eri away from him the easy way.
"Can I have a word with her?" Izuku spoke up and without waiting for an answer opened the door to office and stepped inside. Eri looked up from the floor when the door opened to see the person who carried her here, but behind him she could see Chisaki in the hall glaring at her with murderous intent. Closing the door behind him Izuku walked up to her. "Hello Eri. I don't think I introduced myself. My name is Izuku Midoriya I'm the head of a government division called the Hero Regulation Department." The child looked down at the floor again nervously.
"Am I…in trouble?" She asked while looking anywhere but at him. Izuku just smiled warmly at her.
"You're not in any trouble I can assure you." He walked closer to her knelled down so they were at eye level. "But I would like for you to tell me the truth." With his right hand he gently tilted her head up. "Is that man Kai Chisaki your father?" Eri looked like she wanted to deny it, but then hesitated.
"Y-Yes." She wanted to say no, she really did, but that look that Chisaki gave her was haunting her thoughts. Eri didn't want anyone else to be destroyed because of her. Especially these nice people.
"Is he hurting you?" Izuku asked, locking eyes with hers.
"No." Eri didn't stutter this time when she lied to him. The green haired teen sighed in mild frustration.
"I want to help you Eri, but I can't do that unless you're completely honest with me." She wouldn't meet his eyes anymore. "Just say the words and I promise I'll get you away from him." Not another word came from her mouth. After a long quite pause Izuku finally relented. "Alright, then I'm afraid you'll have to go back with him." That seemed to spark fear into Eri's face, yet she still didn't make a protest. Picking her up again he gently placed on her bare feet. Walking to the door Izuku opened it leading Eri out into the hall.
"Well everything checks out." Izuku said out loud. "You have my sincerest apologies Kai Chisaki." He bowed respectfully. "Please allow me to return you and your daughter to your home."
"That won't be necessary. I made a call to my driver to come pick us up." The bird masked man said almost distastefully. "It should be here any second." Chisaki didn't want Midoriya to know the location of their compound. Unfortunately for him Izuku already did.
"Then allow me at least to walk you out of the building." Izuku kept of his polite demeanor, but inside he was seething. Defeated by the lies of a man and the silence of a child. A first time experience for him. He didn't want to let this child back into this man's grip, but legally his hands were tied. Chisaki was using on obvious lie to explain her scars and Eri was too afraid to speak the truth for some reason. "Are your coming too Lemillion?"
"Yeah." Mirio went with him keeping a close eye on Midoriya and the girl that walked between him and Chisaki. Without another word on the matter the group made it to the lobby where a car was clearly seen waiting outside the main entrance. After apologizing again for the inconvenience Izuku watched them get into the car with a seemingly neutral face. Chisaki bid them a good day, while at the same time giving Midoriya a smug victorious look that he thought was hidden due to his mask, but the green haired teen could tell by his eyes.
'He didn't even help his daughter get into the car.' Both Mirio and Izuku noted.
"Lemillion." The gauntlet wearer spoke as he watched the car leave. "Why do you want to become a hero? What's your goal? Your dream?" He needed a minor distraction from the simmering rage that was permeating him right now.
"I want to save a million people." Togata told him the truth. "All with a smile that will bring smiles and happiness to others."
"So that's the reason for your hero name and that number on your chest." Izuku finally turned to face him as if noticing him for the first time. "It's a promise, no a vow is more like it."
"Yes. Exactly" The blonde boy nodded proudly. There was more he wanted to say to Midoriya, but now was not the time to draw that kind of attention to himself.
"Reminds me of Allmight a bit." Izuku smirked at the memory of his defeated enemy. Enemy was a loose term there when he didn't really consider that shriveled skeleton of a man as a proper adversary. "Unlike him you might actually live up to your promises. We can only hope." He chuckled lightly. "Which hero office do you work for?" Izuku pointed his gauntlet at the open air next to him as the blue space stone glowed to life.
"Sir Nighteye, but I'm sure I can find my way back from here." He politely refused the offer of transportation.
"Please I insist. It's the least I can do for dragging you into this situation." The younger teen generated a portal that would lead directly outside the hero's office. As the director of the H.R.D he knew where all these agencies were located.
"Thank you." Mirio thanked him and stepped through the portal. He looked back to say one last thing, but the gateway slammed shut behind as soon as he arrived. Oh well. He'd make sure to have a proper conversation with him the next time they met.
So this is the new chapter 35. Just pretend the previous version didn't happen. Like it was all a dream. This is how it was originally supposed to go before I went off my notebook. I wanted the first time that Izuku and Mirio meet to be like this, where Mirio is kind of beneath his notice for now. He wasn't supposed to figure out that Mirio was Allmight's successor till later in the story. I kept the flashback part, because I really liked that bit.
I want to try and explain Izuku's power and authority. I've tried to illustrate it in previous chapters, but here's how it works. His jurisdiction is the heroes, he doesn't have the legal power to arrest villains. He can only deal with villains under specific circumstances, like if his life is being directly threatened or if the heroes are in a situation that requires his intervention. So in case your wondering why he doesn't just crush Overhaul, legally his hands are tied. However that's why he has Stain, Himiko and Dabi working behind the scenes to take care of villains off the record. Izuku has other powers too. He can order police officers, he can also take people into protective custody. And of course some diplomatic immunity applies to him.
I'll probably talk more about how the H.R.D works later on, but for now that's a basic rundown of where his authority begins and ends.
Thank you for reading and being patient. Stay safe.