Author notes: Well here we go with the story, it is going faster and faster, well and darker, it won't be that easy as you thought... It seems spiderweb of corruption spreads wide in Endevour's Japan.
-Speech-
"quoted or custom name of something"
(-Hunt Or Be Hunted-) Time skip or change of prespective
Chapter 4 Evil never sleeps but Good isn't sleeping either
Deep inside the japan forest is a small looking town, there wasn't anything special with it, it were just private small homes just jolted around here and there, but in the centre of it all was standing an impressive tower, looking like one of towers that more belonged to a prison than to a town, in the window of it stood a peculiar man that was dressed in carefully measured white suit, one of his most recognizable features was his huge nose, and a tuft of hair on the fair end of his triange like head, he was holding a mug with freshly made coffe.
-Sceptic, Raport what is happening in Deika city? - Long nosed man asked off handedly while looking at his mug with interest.
There was sounds of clicking and bashing a keybord from behind him and someone spoke in raspy voice. - Nothing new Re-Destro, everything is running as it should be, we do not have further updates from our factories, so our production probably raised again by 1% without any changes, we had a slight loses on the stock market, but to be fair it always is that way when HPSC releases their new approved gear, after that we probably will again skyrocket.- Man with long black hair quickly dictates and long nosed man known as Re-Destro hums positivly at the news.
- Great but how about the plans? We got a news from our little birdie? - He says in criptic tone. Sceptic just smirks.
- Well a little birdie told me, that maybe a certain top ranked hero will be seeking a promising new students in U.A this year. So we may get some piece of a pie for our cause just now.- He says while smashing the keyboard loudly.
-Mhm, send our rat, he should be ready by now, we cannot let event like those be unsupervised without our input, what would you say? Rat versus famous rat god?- Re-Destro says while chuckling. -This will be a boundle of oportunities, many students that we infulenced around the japan will start in a hero course exam, even Trumpet seems to think this action might be fruitful.- He says while coming from the window towards a little coffe table and places empty mug on it. He twirls the nearby chair and sits on it with a flourish movement.
-Mhmm there maybe some action now boss.- Says Sceptic engaged in some converastion that he is just having right now. Re-Destro raises his eyebrows at that.
-It seems one of our communities just got busted, the local pro hero is currently in a hospital after supposed burglary and his quirk that went hiwire.- He says and stops, looking at the reaction of Re-Destro.
-And what? We can just hire some of our laywers or bail them out as always, that bulglary maybe a concerning incident but this is nothing that our investigation team cannot handle, what is really to it more? I guess you didn't said that just to take me away of my daily routine and good spirits, so just spit it out.- He says and a slight amount of his skin goes purple but quickly disapears like it never was there. Sceptic gulps and nods.
-It seems local detective has went on a case of bullying a local child and it caused him to find a recordings of this school that we commonly use there for a meeting of our comunity there. They attacked him and lost, situation is under control already and evidence has been destroyed already but underground pro hero has been engaged in this.- He said. And Re- Destro sighs like a tired salary man.
- And I suppose this pro hero is not taking bribes, there is not recordings of him anywhere, he doesn't have actual house, doesn't have a family, and our rat in HPSC is not far enough to help us with that problem.- He asks rethoricaly and when Sceptic nods he just shakes his head and stares again at his city. -Leave it.-
- Huh? - Sceptic is confused a little at this.
-I said leave it, it is a minor set back here, and won't be an issue at a long run now, we are unstoppable by now. I suggest we make our move to go to a phase two.-
And Re-Destro says and the rest are doing his comand, if only he knew, that by disregarding that one little issue will cause his future empire to crumble and a creation of a new simbol of peace.
-Hunt or Be Hunted-
Inside Izuku's head a meeting of vestiges of past users gathered up. And they are not happy. - Damn it Toshinori this kid is so dense he didn't even realized it he used one procent of One For All to knock out that runt. I thought you get the award of being the most brick-headed of us but I guess your choosing of a succesor is really to close to home for you.- Bald guy says while scraching his head.
White flamed one just shakes his head in disapointment, red and light green are just standing not saying a thing like always, Woman with back cape and white cape just stares at the distance like a gamer that can't believe he lost a match, All Might sweats a little while thinking "Dear god I wasn't that dense when I was alive do I?" and he feels like somebody strucked him with a walking cane, but he thinks it was just his flashbacks.
-And now he hangs around with a villain, what do you have to say for that Yoichi.- Says the one with orange hair. He looks like a person that won a bet and is not happy that he done it. The white flaming one just stares for a while at him and sighs.
-I do not have to say anything about that Kudo, he is not becoming like her, and from what we all seen he seems to try to help her, that is the most heroic thing that I saw for a long time, saving not only that boy a defensless civilian but also trying to save a despicable and misunderstood villain.- He grunts out sounding like he is speaking from experience. And Kudo actually pouts, yeah he pouts, adult man pouts like a child that something doesn't gone his way, well Kudo and Bruce are sceptic about the kid from the begining, not matter how many times Yagi brings out arguments about him. They say he is tainted with a grudge and growing rage, but who isn't? He when he was alive his rage was mainly a reason why he survived his brother's imprisonment, rage in itself is not villanous but the use of it, with quirks it is exactly the same. Well maybe there is something to that, One For All seems to work differently on the kid than the rest of us. It surely makes him more agressive and he surely got confidence from that rush of testosterone from before, it surely looks dangerous, but as I say, the kid have heart on the right side, and that is what must be enough for us for now. - Wait... do you munching on gold fish? From where did you get it you bald oaf!-
The white shreiks lunging at the bald one that is already escaping in the distance with a bag of gold fish.
The others just stare. Then exchange glances and they leave it at that.
-This is normal, like every friday.- Somebody says
-Hunt or be Hunted-
In the plain simple office filled to the brim with books and All Might's hero merch an traditional clock works.
Tic-tac
In the corner of the room there is a desk with a laptop on it.
Tic-tac
Before this laptop is hunched a figure that is iluminated by that light. Glasses are glinting in this light obscuring the owner's eyes.
Tic-tac
The man whole look is sunken, and he looks like haven't sleeped for a while, additionaly on his face is present a constant scowl not similiar to the one of Endevour, but this one has actually a reason to scowl like that.
Tic-tac
He lifts his glasses to rub his tired yellow eyes. Then a sound of a doors creaking wakes him up from his thinking. He looks up at the column of light that just invaded his sanctuary of sorrow. And he meets with nobody else than...
-Awata-san what brings you here.- He just asks bluntly in his usual way of speaking without any emotions.
The steps hurry up and he is meet with another pair of yellow eyes.
-Hi sensei! Today we made your favorite strawberry smoothie! All Might's style!- She answers him bubbly, like a Bubble girl she is. At which he just sighs and grumply takes the offending smoothie from his sidekick's hands. Then he just stares at her.
-I guess if you are still here you are about to say something more?- He asks not changing his expression. Bubble girl looks around like she is about to reveal some national secret on the way.
-It's about Eraserhead he found a new lead on the Meta Liberation Army.- She says to him making unnecesary moves like moving forward and actually whispers to him. He rolls his eyes at her antics and rubs his eyes again.
-Anyway, just let him in, what is in it anyway, some bunch of lunatics following dead villain from a death row cell. What is more to do in it? - He asks in annoyance looking at the door like it offended it personaly or more like he watches at someone at the door.
-By the way he is already here.- Bubble girl smiles nervously and sir Nighteyes scowls even more.
Eraserhead great. Now face of sir nighteye is looking like a pug, this definetly beats his record of biggest frown.
- Welcome Mirai, I would say you look good like always, but this time I must certainly say I look better than you.- Eraserhead begans.
-And you tell me why do you start a case from past six years, orbiting around small cult of destro supporters just now when everybody has full hands with Jakuza.-
Eraserhead just gives his best deadpan stare.
-You should be better than that to assume I would just start looking for small secluded groups like that for no apparent reason. Catch this.- Eraserhead throws him a pendrive and sir Nighteye catches it sharply and loads it into his laptop right away. He opens and scrolls through some files.
-And why the hell are you giving me...- He says but he slows down his speech and his eyes widen as he sees amount of evidence and a map, actual map of red tiny dots across the Japan. He just stares at it dumbly.- No...-
-Yes..- Eraserhead smiles giving his best creepy smile to Nighteye.
-You can't be actually serious, this cannot be what you are thinking it is... if you are right... oh my god.- It just strucks him finally and he actually breaks into a cold sweat. He scrols more of the files and looks at the particular bunch of documents of shipping materials and every damn thing just belongs to Detnerat Support Company, he scrolls further and sees regular donations towards Hearts and Mind party. He goes paler by the seconds. His eyes frantically scan the documents left and right. - And where did you found it? Tell me.- He says deadly serious.
-A little birdie told me.- Eraserhead smiles widen to ridiculous size. Mirai almost flips him off... almost.
-Just told me.- He says in ice cold voice. He is to tired for Eraserhead antics.
- Lets say maybe a more than popular certain vigilante returned to the line of work of personal vengeance and he stumbled upon something bigger than he actually should, and maybe this vigilante likes brass knuckles.- Eraserhead says stealing Mirai's cold coffe from the desk, he just scowls and takes his strawberry smoothie closer to himself protectively.
-And you had no one else to drag into this mess.- He just says stating a fact and Eraserhead didn't answer for a while just sipping his freshly stolen coffe.
-No, I could but the one, I usualy would call for this job went off radar months ago, and to add salt to injury he always wasn't known type before, he is even more underground than me, at least more for me to not detect him.
-You know I can just call him, right?- Sir Nighteye says with deadpan expression on his face.
-I know, but you would want to get to the case anyway, and now you have actually a reason to call the old man.-
Nighteye scoffs for the countless time today. Meanwhile Eraserhead finishes his stolen goods and just casually leaps out of the window.- See you soon.- And he leaves like that, Nighteye just stares and ushers for Bubble girl to close the window, she closes it with finality and finally nighteyes sighs like whole soul left his body.
-Why, just why is this keep happening to me.- He says while holding his face. And Bubble girl just leaves the room with too-wide sidesteps and closes the door, and he hears her from the door running away like a maniac.
Is this his life from now on?
-Hunt Or Be Hunted-
Tsukauchi Naomasa was tired, and suffered from serious coffe deficiency. And it was his third mug already, but he also cannot take anymore because he is full for now he is almost sure he hears somewhere Eraserhead saying "pathetic" with disgusted expression shuning him for his weakness for not taking more.
Then he looks at the current cases and scans the section looking for particular case. He scrolls and scrolls but cannot find the one he looks for. He frowns, this is not good, did somebody forgotten to place the case already. When he will get them in his hands...-Uh..- He releases undinified sound and crawls out of his desk looking barely alive from overtime he willingly put on himself. Just a little nap, and it will help, but when his eyelids were coming together he jolted and straightened. -No I cannot, not until I see what happened to Midoriya's case.- He grumbles barely recognizable mutter not directed to anybody.
He stumbles on his feet towards coffe machine with his mug, and stares at the coffe machine as if it personally ofended him.
After throwing some curses at the coffe machine and taking few sips of fresh and hot coffe he moves towards reception desk.
And on it is sleeping Garvey, yeah, he is sleeping and a drool is slowly dripping on the ground creating a small puddle. He brings coffe on the desk and slams it with open palm, and the man actually jumps, he looks franticaly around and after a while catches gaze of certainly too tired detective.
-What the hell are you even still doing here Garvey, you have work only in mornings and afternoons.- He says in a zombie like way, more grunting than speaking.
-Jin is sick. And you shouldn't be here either.- He grunts in the same tired way.
-Damn him and his motorcycle, I told him countless times that without vest he is going to get sick, and where it leads him, bastard.- Detective grumbles.- Anyway where do the recent case went that one about Aldera Junior High?- He asks tiredly.
Garvey for a while grumbles and stumbles to his seat and clicks on the computer grumbling something about Jin and his placement of files. -It's closed, due to insufficient proof.- He says.
-Ahh, yes- Detective says, then shoots up and glares at the poor man looking like a maniac with his red eyes and zombie like apperance.- What do you mean its closed?! Who did it?!- He yells probably waking everybody up.
-I do not know! the only thing is written there were some changes from the administrative side!- He says making calming motions with his hands.
But Naomasa doesn't listen to him and just sprints towards police commander office. When he is just before the door he knocks. He hears a faint "enter" so he enters to bee meet with his commander, he is a balding chubby man, that he knew for entire life, he has a sets of round glasses on his nose and he is looking at him from the pages of book he is reading.
-Ah Detective Tsukauchi! What a suprise! Please enter, make yourself comfortable.- He says in kind way, Tsukauchi smiles forgetting for a while why he came here indeed. Mr. Carmine was a plump looking old man that served his years in the police force, it is good to say he lived his entire life in servitude of a law. Today maybe he looked kind of troubled?
-The cicumstances are like always mr Carmine, I didn't came today for a pointless talking.- He says his smile not disappearing while looking at the man, this old man had such a disarming air around him when he was around him. In the meantime old man grabbed a tea pot from the small shelf behind him and started pouring them some tea. Detective gingerly took a sip of tea and melted in its comforting experience, his mouth was a bit dry after rows of rows of coffe, it was refreshing.
-So what is leading you here today Nao?- He says using his nickname he only uses when talking to him in private. He also takes a sip of his tea. Naomas can't help but feel that something is not right. Something is missing but... what is it? He looks around the room tuning out his conversation with old man, just normal office room, packs of papers, standard desk, lamp, and a bunch of books.
His blood frozen still.
He looked up at Carmines hands and recognized book held in his hands. It were simple title but it held so much meaning and dread into it.
It was titled "Meta Liberation War" by Destro.
He tried to hold on his shaky smile and hold on to his gun, he slowly unlocked the mechanizm and hold on to the weapon.
He saw how with seemingly lazy movement Carmine reached for a stack of papers, he saw a glint of a gun barrel inside those papers, probably silenced.
So before he reached for this gun he quickly reached for his and took a shot.
BANG
And he exploded the old man head into a tiny pieces. He stared at what he have done in shock, then he gripped his heart, he felt different.
Poison.
But not enough to kill him, not yet. He didn't knew when but he went deaf in the middle of all of this. He didn't knew if it was from poison or from stress, he scrambled to the ground. How could I be this stupid? How did I not realized he was using his quirk on me? His quirk is called camaraderie, it makes its victims more susceptible for suggestions and lowers their guard down, he knew about it but he still fell for it, he probably used his quirk on people nearby for years, but who would suspect that, that your friendly neighborhood high ranked police officer is a villain. He still felt guilty for what have he done, he didn't meant to explode his head, but he also accidentaly get rid of probable source of information on MLA, his hands were shaking and he felt his vision going small and black.
The last thing he heard was a voice of nobody else but his friend Tamakawa, he went to uncounciousness being sure, he will take care of his safety.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
Izuku was sitting watching his traditional All Might videos, from a simple reason, school has been closed for a while due to investigation and he can't find anything else to do, so here he is watching eleventh time this day the same video, the only new thing that has happened is his new contraption, well a contraption, its better just to call it junk, because he made it from the parts he got from the Takoba beach, its just a simple dumbel made from pipes and lead junk cobbled together, he wrapped it around in a thick layer of cloth, to not accidentaly hurt himself. Normal person would just buy things like that from the store, but Izuku is not a normal person, in addition to that he and his mom are rather poor, not an actual poverty, but they are close, All of their things inluding clothing is very old. His mom works very long hours in a job without perspective, her poor treatment in job is mainly because of a 'weak' quirk his mom have. It's not actual harrasing or any of those things, but she is certainly looked down upon. But that is the way of this world.
It always has been like that, huh?
He felt a minor headache but ignored it, unknown to him Toshinori in his head was mercilesly eaten by guilt.
-How did it came to this?- Izuku asked himself this question.
A question he meant to ask himself long ago, why does it has to be this way? Society was mainly constructed to protect the weaker parts of it so all can benefit from eachother even if their input is small, but now he thinks, it has failed. It all failed him, his mother, his father, all of them. After what he saw that day when the blonde boy got bullied for his 'disgusting' and 'villainous' quirk his mind opened like a broken dam. He remembered everything that happened to him, and others, long ago Katsuki attacked an other kid with 'weak' quirk and Izuku came to defend him, and from that moment Katsuki has been his tormentor, but he got a feeling even when he wouldn't do anything that day, he would be bullied by this monster anyway. He remebered the purple haired kid he saw one day being bullied outside the mall, he didn't reacted cause he already was severly damaged from his encounter from Bakugo, and he remembered that nobody came to help him, just like with his situation, they said 'hero will came and help him' , he probably provoked them, 'boys will be boys' , 'it is just rough housing'. No person come to help people like him, no police officer, no pro hero, the only one that helped him at this point is...
His eyes burned with iron.
"I found my conviction."
He decided. He decided that if nobody would help people like him then he would. Even if he have to stand against them. Even if people call him a vigilante and a villain. He will save those that nobody has helped, he will be there for people that nobody else been.
He will be hero for all.
He gripped his Dumbel to hard and it snapped in half.
He looked at it with astonishment.
-Huh I guess it wasn't as strong as it thought it would be.- Izuku said shrugging. He sweared he almost heard somebody scream 'you just used one for all dumbass!' but he dismissed it, he is tired probably. Yeah today is Katsudon. And images of katsudon invaded his mind drowning the shouting from his head.
And now he heard shouting for dinner. He salivated like a beast.
Before he knew it like a zombie guided towards brains he already was stuffing himself with his mother Katsudon that she made.
'mmmm yes, katsudon'
-Hmm... by the way... one for all...- He murmored to himself that even mom before him didn't heard him. -That would be good hero name.-
-Hunt or be Hunted-
-I finally found out what a hero I want to be!- He said to Knuckleduster that looked at him like he was some interesting type of bug.
-Yeah? And what did you found out short stuff? - He asked while punching and Izuku dodged.
-I want to be a hero that saves everyone! A hero that saves those that are demmed unsavable or those that nobody wants to save!- He declared with iron conviction that would certain noseless man proud if he was here. Of course not because of his conviction but by strenght of it. Knuckleduster only raised an eyebrow and looked at him like he was searching something.
-You took a very long and dangerous path for yourself kid. People not going to like you for what you do, since in this society everybody that is deemed a villain or useless by them are below their notice or a useless endeavor. Most of even those that are true heroes try to do those things quietly, I would advise for you to do the same, and maybe even go underground if you manage to get that 'golden ticket'.- He sneered at the end, but look in his eyes was pitying, but not like it was earlier, it was a look of someone who tried to do the same, and already knows what will entail such a patch.. - Besides, if you save a villain from his villainy, goverment wouldn't like that, those guys don't give second chances, not matter their reasons, so you won't be able to, and they wouldn't be able to redeem themselves even if they wanted. I know what I am saying kid, I am the only exception, not a proof of it that it can be done, if All Might didn't helped me by then I would be in Tartarus by now.- He says in a grim tone. Then tripped Izuku by the legs. And Izuku stared at his legs as if he failed at his existence. - Never skip the leg day kid... what? You thought I got that far just by doing punches? How would I get to the action if I would tire myself in halfway to the target! - He said and they came to their bags of trash and traditionaly taken it out to the trash containers. - Take the scrap too, we are going to junkyard today, I promised didn't I?
So they loaded the scrap on the back of the truck that Knuckleduster get for them for this occasion and they were on their way towards Junkyard.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
-And we are here- Knuckleduster said while they were turning left and suddenly before their eyes they seen a huge pile of trash that was surrounded by a fence with a small house beside it. Even from there he saw rust, hell even the house look rusted, it was made from metal too. Before the house was a Volkswagen 1962 van, it was freshly painted but it was missing a front and instead of a fron of a car were a two pairs of huge crustacian legs, around the car were grouped thugs throwing and beating the poor truck with something inside it... or someone...
Izuku then looked at the Knuckleduster head, and he had a purple vein pulsing on his forhead and he already had his mask on. -Wait here kid, I need to throw some trash away.- He said in an ice cold tone and exited the car closing the door with a THUD.
Izuku opened the window to listen a little to their conversation.
-Hey freak! Get out!- One of them yelled he had some sort of forcefield around him that gave yellowish glow.
-You are not welcome here mutant freak! Go eating rust elsewhere!- One yelled he had a horns on his head like a devil.
-Pay up you overgrown crab and get out! Your monthly subscription of living is coming up!- One of them said, he had red eyes that were shooting lasers at the supposed crab legs.
Rest of the thugs were far less noticable and they looked more like drug addicts, or like him when he was just an underfed stick not actually muscled as he is now, knuckleduster was stepping toward them calmly and even from distance he could feel his fury, how the hell those thugs cannot feel him coming is beyond him.
-Hey you- Said knuckleduster and tapped one of the guys at his shoulder. Izuku suspected he is going to do what he done to blonde guy bullies but the guy whipped his hand around trying to hit knuckleduster but he catched his hand and crushed it into a mushy mess, the thug screamed like a pig that was being killed. The others quickly whipped their head around to see very, very pissed knuckleduster still holding mangled hand of begging now, thug.
-Come on now, you wanted to play? Get someone that is at least in your league.- And it did it they all rushed at him from where they were standing. And knuckleduster didn't moved. He just stood there. Menacingly. Waiting for their first move.
The first one was one with the force field, before he even get close with his raised left hook Knuckleduster launched right hook with support of his whole body weight shattering his barrier in an instant, as he hit him there was sound of breaking ribs and a squishy sounds, guy coughed up blood and fainted from pain.
Izuku winced at this display of violence, he was almost sure this caused some internal damage, but he didn't have time to pity the thug because another one entered range of knuckleduster fists. This was guy with horns, he charged like a bull towards Knuckleduster and with full force rammed to him, he got knocked a little back but he quickly losen the momentum, while he was holding him by horns, at the end the horned guy stared at knuckleduster incredously, and he only smirked back. -Wait! No,nonononnonono! Wait! Wait!- Thug begged for naught.
-Hey kid a wish bone! Make a wish!- Knuckleduster says with insane expression on his face.
And rips the horns of the guy with audiable crack, he then lifted the one longer triumphaly and muttered something, probably a wish, Izuku just stared.
-Holy fuck.- Izuku said taking use of knuckleduster repertuar of curses. This made him a little green.
While no-longer-horned-guy losed counciousness from pain the laser one bored his sight towards knuckleduster who taken from his pocket a freaking cosmetic mirror like the one that ladies carry in their pocket to correct their makeup. He directs it at the guy own eyes, making him scream bloody murder and thug starts scraching his face like he could get something out of himself, he soon too faints from pain.
-Good, anyone else?- Knuckleduster asks the rest of them, they look at eachother and then bolt leaving their weapons behind.
He then gives Izuku a sign with his hand to come towards him, Izuku comply and runs up to Knuckleduster who is in front of the crab looking thing. -Hey Lurker, it's me Knuckleduster.- He says while knocking at the front legs of giant crab-thing. Then it stirrs, and before he know it legs part and give place for pair of long antenas, that are followed by two shorter and then he sees two pair of eyes also on peduncles. He just stares at him without blinking, then Izuku understands that this guy cannot blink due to his mutation. He looks like...
-Omg! You look like a hermit crab!- He says and newly identified hermit crab stares with distrust. -You are...- Izuku says and Lurker recoils a little waiting for the boy to say.
-AMAZING!- Izuku screams on top of his lungs making Knuckleduster chuckle and Lurker for a while doesn't register what he said and when it clicked he stares at him like he is some strange otherworldly creature not from this planet. -Omgdoyouactuallyliveonabeachforanexpale?Doyouhaveurgetochangeyourshellwhenyouseeonemadefromstrtongermaterial?Andoh!Canyoufeelvibrationsthroughyourantenas?Whatdoesyourquirkiscalled?Canyousurviveunderwa...-
For a moment Izuku just rambled and rambled and knuckleduster just was laughing at him while Lurker stared between the two, like he was asking 'I am needed here even anymore?' Knuckleduster just shook his head and for a while they both just stared at him until he finally catched up to reality.
While he was mumbling apology after apology and getting redder by the second Lurker released a sound akin to two knives meeting eachother. Izuku guessed this was Lurker's laugh. -My god, young boy, this is the first time I laughed since... I do not know when, but it was god damn long, too long...- He says while trying to compose himself.
Then his face returns to seriousness, or at least his eyes did, becuase his face is very unhumanlike and is difficult to read his emotions. -All right I guess you came here for a reason, and I do not intend to waste your time by now, I am very thankful for your help, but you know how it is with me... my quirk causes me to stress if I' am too long around the people, paradoxaly to my what my human mind needs, so what do you want?- Lurker said and explained why they need to be quick about it, it seems he really has a problem with his quirk, I guess not every quirk is a blessing after all... Meanwhile knuckleduster and Lurker were talking Izuku's mind was wandering to a different things. Why didn't hero helped him? Where are they when they are needed the most? In those districts like his Mustafu heroes are nonexistent, and its even worse here, because even police here don't show up on patrols, he needs to know why, just why would heroes and police not help the people in need.
-Because it is not worth it for them- Knuckleduster answered because he was probably mumbling again. - And by the way it is not like heroes doesn't like to come here, they just aren't paid for being here. - Izuku looks at knuckleduster like he grown a second head. -What? You think heroes are all charity? They also need to earn money to eat, so I doesn't hate them much for it, the same is with the police, for the city this places just are not worth investment in the police force, for them it is like this is some sort of untamed land. A untamed land that they created with their own negligence.- Knuckleduster says without a hint of anger or any emotions, like it always been that way.
-Then when I become a hero I will come here to people and save them!- Izuku says, and Lurker laughs again in his creepy way while knuckleduster shakes his head.
-I wouldn't advise you doing that kid, even I have to be on guard in those parts, its like a nest of hornets, you strike one the rest are come flying at you already, that is why we are so short on time here.- Knuckleduster said, and just now Izuku recognized that he is scanning their surroundings like every conrner there could pop out some villain and attack them. They arrived at the junkyard gate and Lurker just grabbed the gate and opened it up, not like it is made from heavy metal mixed with used tires and compressed cars. Izuku just stared in awe and opened his notebook and started writing new page in his notebook about Lurker. They just looked at him, but didn't said anything.
Then they entered inside, it was a junkyard, well he suspected that it. They moved around a countless piles of trash but unlike on the Takoba beach they were mostly scrap metal or electronics, though there were full cars stored there even. For a while they just moved around in silence surrounded by trash. Then Knuckleduster stiffened and said. - Huh, looks like you got your first battle trial early, go kid I am going to secure the flanks.- He said in conspiratorial tone. And Izuku gulped but nodded seriously then he moved towards the wreck of a car that knuckleduster pointed out to him. Lurker wanted to say something but when he saw Knuckleduster unhinged grin he stopped himself and with a huff he grumbled something unrecognizable.
He was ready, he needed to, it is his first time in action, so here he is moving with steady steps toward the wreck, but when he got closer he moved slower and slower, for two reasons, he didn't wanted to alert someone to his presence and the other he was scared shitless and was unsure of his abilities. He stilled his resolve and tried to grab the door of a car wreck, important note, he tried. Because when he did, the car exploded and he was welcomed by something soft and landed on his back in a daze. He went out of his daze quickly and he was meet with a two oval soft mounds pressed to his face, he recognizaed the density and what actually is being pressed on him almost instinctinctualy, mainly he got that instinct from bear hugs from auntie Mitsuki, not like he didn't liked them but he liked to breath, thank you, so he moved his face slightly up and saw a face that grinned with absolute insanity, her eyes were looking at him, or maybe not at him but behind him, like he wasn't even there, her hair were a pink dreds banded together with a cloth, he couldn't help himself and he went beet red.
-Oh! Are you are here to make some babies too?- She asked him and his mind went blank after the last words. He disolved into a stuttering mess and couldn't move anymore in any sensible way. He waked up from his stupor when he heard laughing, both from Knuckleduster and Lurker. He quickly tried to grab the shreds of his dignity that were still left and he moved from under her and standed upwards like an arrow on a bow. She also standed up and looked around completly not paying any attention to them all.
-Izuku meet Mei! Our standard junkyard scougrel that messes around with thing and helps us build support gear!- Knuckleduster said gesturing towards Mei that just registered in her mind that there are people around her, and still she seemed disinterested in them. But it wasn't rude type of disinterest, he recognized in her gaze a passion, so burining it could turn you to ash if you step to close... or blow you up to pieces, like what almost happened a while ago. He recognized it because he harbor the same kind of passion to analizing quirks and their potential uses.
In simplification in some way... she was just like him, but she didn't cared what people thought about her, not at all. It's not like he is going to listen to Katsuki and his goons, but she seemed carefree. Yes, that is appopriate thing to say. She already went to her car again not paying any atention to us at all.
-And what? You let her take stuff from your junkyard just like that?- Knuckleduster asked while raising an eyebrow. Lurker just snorted at that, or did something close to it at least.
-No, in fact I didn't let her but she doesn't care, not at all, besides she pays me in inventions, she just creates some support equipment that would put even Detnerat support company to shame!- He said and added.- I earned a lot of money from selling this stuff to the ring.- Lurker said in conspiratiorial tone. But Izuku catched that anyway.
-What is the ring?- He asks and knuckleduster puffs his cheeks getting himself together to give appropriate answer.
-You see kid, in poor parts of town, there are things that are called rings, in those places gather local vigilantes and helpers of those vigilantes, this is basically how it looks like there, if you want to for example bust a gang drug meet up, you get there to the ring leader and he will plan for some things, you see when you are working without the ring you do not have this safety net that the ring provides, and that is basically me, it is also a place that is infested with a lot of underground heros and goverment agents, so it is not a clean place I guess, but if you would really want to be hero for all, then the only path left for you is vigilantism, that I am seriously advising you against it. - Knuckleduster says but like he already know that it will not discourage Izuku he adds. - I'am serious kid, try the hero course with underground path, you may not get money from this but at least you will get to help people that are left behind without axe looming over your head.- He looks at the Mei that again exploded something and she looked completly fine, he does not know how this girl do that without some resistance quirk.
Hmmm, maybe she got some natural resistance or something from so many explosions, or like me just experience, katsuki wasn't merciful with his treatment at all. Wait what is knuckleduster talking about? Shit!
-N-no! I don't want to become vigilante at all! Why would I do that? I' am going to help people! - Izuku completly not understood what Knuckleduster was suggesting. But it made knuckleduster a bit relieved at his frantic denying, good, that means he didn't think of doing something like that yet.
-All right kiddo, we are going to get you support gear, Lurker probably has some things that would help you, he is expert in those kind of things, told him what I told you, you need I' am going to get a smoke.- He said leaving. Izuku raised an eyebrow, from where did he get to be responsible adult and stopped smoking in places that you shouldn't smoke. He shook his head, its never mind this man just got his antics. He wanted to dwell a bit more about it but he got asaulted by a mop of pink dreds and eyes glowing like a lantern.
-You need support gear! I'am going to get you the baby you need! In fact I already have one baby... no! All the babies that I want you to test out!- She said with maniac grin and Deku felt like a rabbit under a gaze of predator that is just about to devour him, then she grabbed his wrist with an iron grip making him release a startled yelp. How the hell this girl have so much strength for crying out loud! He is maybe still not in top shape but he isn't a stick either! He send a pleading look towards Knuckleduster and Lurker. Lurker raised his multiple limbs in a gesture of prayer and had a look "I would remember you as a mighty warrior, goodbye"
-R.i.p. Bozo- Knuckleduster said while making military salute like he was on some fucking american funeral of a high ranked officer. Damn it! Don't write me off yet! He tried to struggle but it only caused him to fall and instead he was being held by a boot and Mei didn't minded him screaming bloody murder, she was already in her world where only her and her babies existed. Let's say Izuku was less tramatized about 'wish bone' incident and forget about it after what Mei has done to him.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
They were both siting on the roof on his first mission on traveling in the urban jungle. Knuckleduster was giving him a lecture about standard routs of commision heroes and standard places where gangs can be found or some other foul business, he knew exactly what places attracted villains like flies. It was apparently easy pattern to remember and useful one at that too when he become underground hero, yes he decided that after everything that happened he doesn't need glory and fame, Kacchan can sit on his golden throne of number one hero for what he cares. He has other priorites, like actually saving people, not nessecary fighting villains. And after Himiko (Partial) taming he was sure villains can be saved too! And what hero doesn't save people? He will save EVERYBODY.
-Get yourself together kid, we have our first action. Get the knuckles you get from that nutjob. - Grunted knuckleduster jumping down without any warning having Izuku only few minutes to orient himself in the situation. Just below them was a drug meeting. One masked figure, 3 tough looking guys, probably gang from the tatoos, Gators probably.
CRASH!
A loud crash echoes through the alley and in the mist of it and the cloud of trash comes out knuckleduster knocking out one of the thugs stricking him right in the chin, he was sure if life would be a cartoon this guy would be out of his shoes, he even jumped a little after this punch. But Izuku didn't fallen down either, or he did ironically, he wasn't teached how to safely climb down yet from building, but he was teached how to fall down of things that would cause your fall to slow down.
So he jumped too into the alley and just behind the drug dealer that pulled out some sort of support gun. No! Not today! So he without any hint of hesitation punched the guy in the back, a cowardly move, but it does the job, so what is wrong with a little ambush? Electrodes inside knuckle spring towards guy back and pierce his leather clothing like it never was here and makes him dance like probably some of his clients from shit he is selling them. He took a sick pleasure from that, it was honestly addicting, this feeling of power... he now understood Bakugo throughly. After drug dealer fell down like a log he quickly took care of the case filled with drugs. By the time he was done with the drug dealer Knuckleduster was already done bounding them all up. Izuku did the same with the fragment tossed by knuckleduster wordlessly.
Before anybody could do anything Knuckleduster called for police department, using one of his contacts that will actually come. -He is a slick bastard, that will probably take all of the deed for himself, but that is good for us, we do not do this for fame, and if this idiot is helping our job, then so be it.- Said knuckleduster that jumped with suprising agility towards nearby fire escape, and reached it, it was honestly ridiculous, with a man of his stature, he looked like a mountain that barely moves, yet he was more agile than Izuku ever hoped to be. That is one of the reason more and more of his merch was knuckleduster themed, though he would never admit it to him. He would rather jump out of the window again. He sweat dropped, how the hell this happened to him even once?
And soon he followed him with drug case in his mouth. When he arrived up knuckleduster just ripped it away from his mouth still talking to the phone to someone, not interested in Izuku's protests and pouting. Knuckleduster left the case on the roof, leaving gathered info that he collected earlier. They jumped to move far away from the crime scene it was serene and liberating scene he and his sensei jumping from roof to roof and the only thing acomapnying them is the moon and the night cold air. He can live with that, he jumped from ledge to ledge with ease, he guessed sensei choose special route so he wouldn't need to move between wide spaces. When they were almost on their location knuckleduster stopped and looked back at the Izuku.
-All right kid we need to talk.- He said and Izuku was all ears. - You know what we basically did today was an act of vigilantism do you?- He asked, but Izuku felt a hint of trap hidden here but couldn't feel what he was talking about, so he tried to play this safe, keyword tried.
-Yes, sensei, I know, I just don't know why would..- And he was punched in the face again.
-You see the laws about vigilantism are pretty simple, it is using of your quirk, without a recquired license.- He said while circling around Izuku like some sort of predator, that was still clutching his bleeding nose. Then knucleduster standed right in front of him piercing him with his gaze.- I guess somebody as educated as you should know that.- He said.
-So tell me what is your quirk- Knuckleduster finally asked the thing that was bothering him since the doctor files that he brought to him.
Izuku's eyes widened and he dissolved to a stuttering mess, but after a huff of annoyence from his sensei he stopped and sighed. - I do not have a quirk sir. I' am quirkless , I do not even have my own quirk factor to begin with.- Izuku says sounding haunted and his voice felt hollow. Knuckleduster takes his chin in his bulky hand and forces Izuku to stare at this eyes. He stares for a long minute and Izuku stares back, then he scoffs.
-Sorry kid, I guess I' am still salty about what happened years ago.- He says and sits on the roof besides Izuku that is trying to stop his nosebleed but he listens. - You see, doctor found out that in thruth you have a quirk factor, in fact you have it enough for 8 and a half people. - He says in a thoughtfull manner. Izuku just stares for some punch line that never cames.
-You, you are saying. *sniff* That I may have developed a ...- Izuku quickly dissolves into a sobbing mess and knuckleduster swears he would need a boat soon to not drown in his tears, is this his quirk? Tears multiplication or something? - ... a quirk? -
-I do not know it kid, maybe yes, maybe no, quirk factor is only one of the factors, heh, that take in a procces of having a quirk and actually using it, but from what doctor said, the nearest mad scientist would probably want to vivisect you to learn how the hell are you even alive, and goverment would probably lock you up in some facility on the far end of japan to study you.- Knuckleduster says off handedly like it isn't a big deal and he isn't shattering boy's world anew. -Wht I' am trying to say, do not show this to anybody, otherwise, some bad people would get interested in you, since All Might died, crime and corruption is going wild, and this bastard Endeavor actually supports them or is too stupid to notice it, what of many personality traits that All Might had Endeavor seems to share only one with him that he is huge oaf. - Izuku didn't protested, since All Might once even said in his interviews that he is a simple person, show him a bad guy to punch and he will do it, but he is not the one for complex investigations, that's just how he is... was.
Izuku had a lot to take in this night, and had a lot to catch up with things, he needs to confirm knuckleduster informations for sure, but he was a little confused why knuckleduster was so angry at him, that he maybe has a quirk and don't know activation for it, so here he is on his way outside the no go zone towards his home, maybe he had some personal encounter with people with huge quirk factor that made him wary?... maybe some villain? Izuku asked himself not being aware how close home he actually guessed.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
Before Izuku knew he was already at his door's home, he entered like normal and always. Putted his shoes next to... wait, I do recognize those shoes, shit. The detective is here, does he know what we did? No, he cannot, it cannot be. Maybe this snake that knuckleduster mentioned spilled the beans? No, he wasn't present when we busted this drug deal, and he has no knowledge of me being a vigilante. He is seriously considering just leaving right now and returning later, but what would it change? -Sigh, lets just be done with it already.- He whispers. -Mom I' am here!- He says and before coming from the corner he adds.- And it's good to see you detective Tsukauchi, what do I owe the pleasure.- He adds and his voice is dripping with sarcasm. And he again meets his mom and detective siting next to the table, but he looks a little suprised I knew he was there.
Tsukauchi looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't and his mom looked like she could kill him with her sight. He audiably gulped. And that broke the tension and finnaly Detective speaked. -I really I am sorry about this Midoriya-san, that I didn't told you anything before your son came here, because I believe he might wanted to be present what things we are about to talk about next.- He says and Izuku imagines his mom wrath and looks like a victim of ptsd with his mom flashing and her frying pan with her hands. He unintentionaly shivered. But his mom wouldn't do something like that... would she? He sweatdropped. - The frist thing I want to say to you, as you are already here...- Detective draws a large breath. His mom probably commited countless war crimes on him already in her head. Izuku feels his head is on the chopping block and then the axe moves and...
-That I am sorry.- Detective says while bowing with visible discomfort, but not from the humiliation but from pain. Is he hurt? Knuckleduster said to him couple of things how to recognize if someone is hurt of is not truthful in his intentions. While his mind is copeing with his analisis his mom looks like she was slapped with dead fish in the face. She completly didn't expected that, not at all. When detective straightens up he continues his speech.
-I... I promised you that we will help you with your school about the case of bullying and negligence, but it appears... we had been outmached.- Detective states with neutral expresion but Izuku feels from him cold fury, but mainly at himself it seems. Izuku doesn't even know what to think about it, in some way he was disappionted, but in the other he knew that those bastards were untouchable, so this was no news for him. His mom just stared trying to comprehend what two of them speak about, but when she heard 'bullying' and 'negligence' she quietly gasped. - Appartently all of the teachers that attacked me yesterday had been bailed out of the arrest and to add salt to injury our evidence has been destoryed by no one other than police force commander. Who appeared to belong to this scheme as well. I'am sorry Izuku-san that I cannot help you or said you more. I truly failed you. - He says bitterly.
Izuku just sighed. And give detective a tired smile that could give Eraserhead run for his money. - I'am not mad, nor disappointed to be honest detective. - Detective Tsukauchi stares at him disbeliving. - In fact I suspected the outcome before it happened, and like my sensei says, if something looks to good to be true it mostly isn't. - Izuku just says sitting on a couch next to his mom. But before she could speak to him he beat her to it. -No mom, we cannot change schools, cause we do not have money for such things already, and besides, its not that bad, I already learned what I should do and shouldn't do. Besides, meeting new people and all of that starting a new, it doesn't make sense.- Izuku just said like this was the most normal thing in the world and honestly detective felt ten times worse just from seeing that interaction.
After detective left looking traumatized Izuku got to deal with his mother waterfall of tears and wailing that she is awful mother and him crying to trying to say to her it is not true. It is true to say that neighbours thought that a flood hit japan that day.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
After Izuku's nightly escapade Izuku came to few relizations, first, he needs to bulk up, he almost lost knuckleduster twice, how fast he was hoping between the roofs, second he needs to learn how to properly land on things, his ankle is still aching after that fall, but he is lucky it isn't sprained or broken and third, he needs to know why places like Mustafu exist at all, why do heroes avoid them like a plague and why Hpsc doesn't pay hero or police for being there, he is sure that a simple phrase like 'it would be waste of resources' is not it, they have budget to rebuilt Endeavor tower three times already but doesn't have ones to actually take care of Mustafu or Kamino Ward, he is suspecting that there are foul things at play, but he is praying on the other side that is not it. So he began his reasearch, first on just like normal people seeking he internet and watching the news or reading newspapers, but he knew it won't be enough soon.
-I need to ask Pop step about some things, she was taking care off big actions from the vigilanties alliance part.- He murmours to himself. His mood rapidly sours when he learns he is going to return to Aldera Junior High just tomorow. He hopes by time he have to there he will be ready for everything, because he is afraid that knuckelduster and detective didn't told him everything that happened there. And this attack from the teachers, he is certain that they belong to some bigger group, and Detective and his sensei knew what group they belonged to but didn't told him from some bullshit reason like investigation or not to hurt himself.
He looks at the gear Hatsume girl gave him, he is not defensless now.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
He didn't know is he tired to the bone or his bones are tired, guess that knowledge comes with age, from what knuckleduster once said to him when his back was aching, he is pretty old, well he think he is. And now he is again before this cursed school on his another rodeo. Fuck it if he is going to die here, he is going to die with his head held high, from this moment on, he has enough of being weak, of all this bullshit. He could say he has a quirk... or at least quirk factor but from what his sensei said it would be a stupid idea, he doesn't know why would goverment want do something to him for that but he will listen for now. He still doesn't believe that yesterday acutally happened. He might have a quirk, but its dangerous to tell somebody about it. He decided against it to told his mother about it, he do not want to get her hopes up for nothing, and here he is, for now everybody stays silent, and nobody wants to kill him for now, well silent and not violent towards him, they all speak about what happened with the teachers and the shoot out with detective Tsukauchi, he overheard in conversation that everything is cort for now, and it seems it would be like that for years.
Fuck me.
Just when he got ready and entered the classroom he was meet with everybody on their seats so he sat down and waited with everybody giving eachother side glances. Then doors open and a teacher enter, its a new one, but Izuku feels its the same kind as those before him, since the pig still is a principal. Well, he didn't fought the police actually so they had nothing for him, probably, Izuku doesn't know what exactly happened there but he can speculate, and he will find the answer, hopefully.
But now he sis a blue skinned woman with long hair and a fur coat walking here like she owns the place.
-Welcome brats, to our first lesson of english, My name is Rei Chitose and from now on I'am your english teacher, you got the lesson the blackboard, now get going and do not waste my time.- She barked out and unceremoniously polped down on the chair with her legs on the desk and her eyes on the phone.
What the hell is it? Did she won her teacher license in chips or something? The rest of the lesson passed in silence and when somebody said something she subtracted points from behaviour, so everybody just shut up, and the rest of the day went similarly. Nobody think to bully me since they were so captivated by the change of teachers, but he is afraid everything will go back to normal as always. Katsuki began giving his pointed looks so I suppose it will start all over again, I give him one to three days and he will start another thing again.
-Hey you nerd!- Or he starts it now. I guess I set the bar to high for him.
I fastened my walking pace, we are already out of school now, so I do not need to stay here anymore.
-Don't ignore me Deku! Are you looking down on me!- I hear another footsteps coming up to us and I turn around to see pissed off Katsuki and walking behind him longfinger guy, I never get myself trouble remembering name of one of Katsuki 'extras' and probably he doesn't remember their names either.
-Hey Bakugo leave him alone.- Izuku's mind went blank for a second, wait what did he freaking said? I have halucinations right now? -Just leave men he is not worth it. I've got the hero merch you asked for. - He says and Bakugo lets out an explosions from his palms but he lets go. And walks away with longfinger who sends me scared looks.
What the hell I did to him he is scared of me shitless now? I'am literally to tired for all of this shit now. Or maybe those looks weren't towards me...
-Hi! Zuku-chan!- He hears behind him and a standard knife at his throat. Right, it wasn't me they were afraid off.
-Hi Himi-kun, what are you doing here.- He says and turns around to see her and she gives him a kiss on the nose efectivley turning him unresponive.
-Ah! Zuku-chan! I never knew you were so bold!- She says while leaning on him. I swear she does it just to get a blush out of him, she enojoys this! - I wanted for you to meet someone! - She says and takes his hand dragging him somewhere. He just moves ahead with her not wanting to get stabbed. No, thank you.
Soon they found themselves out of Mustafu and she is still draging him forward. Where the hell is she dragging him anyway. But before he finds his courage to ask she finds some alley and moves in with him dragged.
-Mr Stainy!~-She says in singsong voice. And his eyes widen for a moment, just before them there lays someone on the ground bloodied and beaten up, he has a businesman attire and looks like someone rich, his golden watch is glinting in the alley like a gem. Soon the man identified as Stain jumps down the fire escape and lands before this guy. Himiko squeals like one of Pop step fangirls on one of her concerts that he watches from time to time.
-Toga...- He just says menacingly. Then Izuku says him as he steps into the light. He has an armoured boots with spikes, He has black pants with holsters for a knives, then above he has some military grade black west with holsters, he is sure half of the things he is wearing are highly illegal high grade equipment that some heros would kill to have. He has his hands bandaged up and even from them he sees knives mixed in, on his sharp and pointy face he has a white mask that belows behind his back with his scarf that is dangling from his neck. - You shouldn't come here... or drag somebody here just like that. Move away boy or I'll have to kill you too.- He rasps out in a voice that is so dry it sound like it is coming from a corpse. Izuku frezes up in primal fear, he was in some way acustomed to a killing intent and a presence of a killer or what knuckleduster calls it, but this, was an absolutely monstrous aura, even Knuckleduster couldn't release something like that when he was angry at those punks that attacked Lurker, and this man is doing that without even trying or looking at him. He feels like a prey in front of a major predator.
-Uoohh...- She pouts and strucks a thinking pose that in Izuku opinon is cute. He shakes his head to stirr hit thoughts of the subject. - But Mr. Stainy! This one wants to be a hero! A hero like an All Might had been!- She says cheerfuly and Stain gaze hardens. Damn it, shouldn't let her into his room at all. She probably got a wrong idea. Before he has time to protest and saying something Stain is already at him, before he knew it he held his head in his hands that could squzze it like a watermelon. And he was meet with his mad gaze. It was like an ocean of fury and violence, he sweared he was looking through him into his soul and seeking something.
After a while of staring the moment passes and he is still holding him like that. But before he tries to say something Stain beats him to it.
-He might be.- He says in disinterest. Wait. Did he just told him he can be a hero like All Might?! And he hears it from a hero killer no less. Izuku heard legends about this guy, he even has a website that is dedicated to him, though from time to time goverment takes it down, it contains his manifesto and reason for a kills he caused. Though administator of this website is saying he doesn't have a contact with Stain and only tries to translate his deeds for people to understand and he calls it actually a fanpage. -But he is not ready now, not yet, come back after year or two. Then I will find you again... if you are worthy.-
And with those words he just moves with such a speed and agility he can't follow him even with his eyes, but he says a fragment of his scarf last on the roof above. Himiko takes him out of his thoughts when she cheers and jumps up and down like a fangirl she is.
-Yeey! Mr. Stainy likes you!-
-He does?-
-He didn't killed you! And that happens not very often to someone that claims something about All Might.- She says like she knows about him everything.
Izuku visibly sweatdropped. Its not like he doesn't want to be hero like All Might but he didn't told Himiko about this and she guessed it anyway and told local hero killer about it. Or not... he looks at the cooling dead body before him. He might be just a serial killer not only hero killer.
-So... what now?- He asks and Himiko just stares at him.
After a while she answers him. -Honestly, I don't know, but we are to be doing something cute!- She says excitingly and sees a pool of blood that is coming of the dead guy. Her eyes enlargens and she pulls out something out of her pocket. It is a freaking straw, like one that you drink a milkshake. What does she is going to do with it? She stabs the guy on the neck and drinks his blood making face of utter ecstasy.
Yeah. Fuck my life.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
Author notes: All right folks after this chapter there would be a major time skip that will open up a new ark, so yeah this all was basically a steping stone into the story you might say. Stay tuned for future updates and don't shy from Reviews!
