My Hero Academia: Of Blood and Flames

Chapter 5: Ignite!

"I want to become a hero!" said Himiko. It was several hours after the plane rescue and Endeavor had just returned. She'd been back for a while and had already eaten but been waiting the entire time to corner the hero. He had changed out of his hero outfit and into a gym outfit.

Endeavor looked down at the small girl, the massive stuffed Endeavor still on her back. She'd been carrying it around since she'd returned to the agency and gotten many compliments from the people who worked there. "And?"

"And I want you to train me," said Himiko, not faltering in her enthusiasm. It had been made clear to her with the plane rescue and how everyone talked about Endeavor that he was amazing, even for a hero. She didn't know who 'Number One' was, but she knew that 'Number Two' was who she wanted.

"I don't take it easy, even on children." His flames flared up around him. "Are you sure?"

Himiko felt a moment of hesitation but nodded anyways. How scary Endeavor seemed right now was the point. A terrifying but beloved hero. That was what she wanted to be. "I want to be a hero who can fly and is loved."

"I see," said Endeavor. A pause, then, "Do you want to start tonight or tomorrow?"

"Now!" said Himiko. She was hoping her parents would take her home soon, so she would need to learn what she could before then.

"Fine then," replied Endeavor. "I am done with hero work for the day and was going to go work out. That should be a good place to start. All hero work, regardless of your Quirk, is physical work and starts with training your body."

"When can I learn to fly?"

"When I know that you won't hurt yourself," said Endeavor. "Flying isn't hard, but it's also dangerous. Safety first."

"How do we do that?"

"I'll show you." Endeavor pointed to the room Himiko was staying in. "First, put away the toy and get changed into some more sensible clothes."

"Like what?"

"Pants and a plain shirt." He gestured to himself. "Something like this. Not something loose like that blouse or skirt."

Himiko started to skip to the room. "Okay!"

Endeavor waited outside while she dug through the clothes that his sidekicks had brought her. "Pants and a shirt," said Himiko, repeating his words to herself. She gently set aside a cute skirt. "Pants and a shirt…" Another folded dress was set aside. As she changed, the stuffed Endeavor sat on her bed, giving silent disapproval as each piece of clothing failed to meet up to expectations.

At the bottom of the pile of clothes she found some clothes that looked like what Endeavor had described. Blue pants in a soft, stretchy material that had a long word on each pant leg. The red letters weren't in a language she understood. She put them on and found them snug. Folded along with it was a blue shirt with shorter, but still unfamiliar, red letters. She put that on as well. Twirling around for the Endeavor plush, she got silent approval from her new guardian plush.

Himiko exited the room to find Endeavor talking to a sidekick whose name she hadn't learned yet. The man smiled and waved at her when he saw her, and she did the same. He turned back to Endeavor. "Let me know if you need anything else, boss." Endeavor just nodded. The sidekick gave her another wave as he turned to walk away. "Have a good work-out. Plus Ultra!" He raised his fist into the air.

"Plus Ultra!" said Himiko, unsure what the words meant, but imitating them and his hand motion anyways.

"Fuyumi is as thorough as ever," said Endeavor looking at her. His lips twisted into a faint and brief smile.

"Do the clothes look good?"

Endeavor nodded. "They'll do.

Himiko pointed to the letters on the shirt. "What does this say?"

"You just said the words," said Endeavor. "Plus Ultra. You didn't know that?"

"Nope! Can't read them."

Endeavor frowned. "You just perfectly pronounced foreign words you'd never heard before."

"Is that good?"

"Impressive," said Endeavor. "You have a skill in mimicry."

"Yay!" Himiko jumped up and down in joy. She didn't know what he was talking about, but good was good. She pointed to her pants. "What about these?"

Endeavor pointed to the left leg. "Work-out."

"Work-out," said Himiko, sounding it out. She pointed to the right leg. "This one?"

Endeavor turned away and started walking down the hallway. "Follow."

Himiko did, skipping to keep up. "What's it say? It's not any of the other words."

They entered the elevator, and the door shut. Endeavor was looking away from her as they shifted floors. "Endeavor."

"Endeavor," said Himiko. "It's your name?"

"It was a marketing sample they sent when they found out I had a daughter," he replied. "I don't think Fuyumi ever wore them. The whole line sold poorly."

"Why Endeavor?" asked Himiko.

"It means to keep pushing forward and improving yourself, regardless of what is in front of you," replied the hero. The elevator opened and took them into the agency's gym. Endeavor stepped out into the room. "It's a reminder to myself."

Himiko followed the hero. There was a decent amount of activity in the room. About a dozen people were using the various machines, from sidekicks to interns to the regular staff who worked in the building. Himiko waved to people as they passed and when they could they waved back. Some who were occupied just nodded or smiled at her.

The entire room was covered in wall-to-wall mirrors, with a railing running along the perimeter. The pair made it to an empty corner of the room without any machines. Endeavor pointed at a spot. "Stand here." Himiko did so. He took up a position facing her. "Do what I do."

Himiko nodded. He moved his legs apart slightly and she did the same. As his hand moved, so did hers in the same arc. His eyebrow raised at that, and she tried to get her face to do the same. Endeavor scowled, and she did the same. He looked like he wanted to say something, but as his mouth opened to speak, so did hers, and he stopped himself. Was she doing this correctly?

Endeavor raised his right arm, keeping it straight, and brought his left underneath it. Himiko did the same, feeling the stress in her arms. He kept the position for a few seconds before switching his arms. She did the same. Next, he grabbed hold of a railing next to them. Himiko had to reach up to her head, but she managed to do the same. Endeavor then shifted his weight onto his left foot, lifted his right foot and grabbed it with his right hand. Himiko did the same, instantly feeling the stretch in her leg. She tried to get it into the same position as Endeavor, but it started to hurt, and her balance started to waver.

Endeavor let go of his leg and she did the same, feeling relief at the release of the stretch. He frowned. "Do not copy me exactly," he said. "You should feel the stretches, but they shouldn't hurt. We don't want you to be injured, so once you sense you're at your limit, stay there."

"But I want to be a hero," said Himiko. "Doing what you do."

"I have many, many years on you," said Endeavor. "I wasn't stretching like this at your age, you're already ahead of me. The first rule of heroism is to not endanger yourself. You can't save anyone if you're in danger, understood?"

Himiko wanted to argue, but she smelt burning. She looked at the railing and saw thing whisps of smoke from where he was gripping it. His body language was tense, pained. She didn't get it, but these words meant something to him. She nodded. "Got it. I'll stay safe."

The smoke disappeared and his posture relaxed. "Good." Endeavor shifted his leg. "Now, for the other leg."

They continued like that for quite a while. Endeavor slowly demonstrating various stretches while Himiko copied every movement as closely as she could. Without hurting or pushing herself, of course. She was surprised to see how flexible the large man was. After they finished all the stretching, Himiko was already feeling tingly throughout her whole body. She was starting to realize just how much she'd walked at the mall, and how much she'd lifted with the Endeavor plush. She didn't like that she was already tired, but she could keep goin-

"Now sit down over there," said Endeavor, gesturing to a spot in the corner. Himiko did, relieved at not having to stand anymore. "Wait. I'll be right back." He strode across the room to a large clear plastic box. She couldn't make out what, but he opened the door, reached in, and grabbed something. A few more steps and he'd returned, a water bottle held out to her. "Here, drink this. Slowly."

"Thank you!" said Himiko, taking the bottle, uncapping it and trying to drink it slowly. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was. The cold water made her feel instantly better. Once she'd drank half the bottle, she looked up at the hero. He'd already finished his. "What next?"

"Now you just watch," said Endeavor. Himiko pouted, but he stood strong. "This is your first night. Stretches were enough to start. And you walked through a mall. You're not pushing past what I tell you to do, understood?"

"Got it," said Himiko, once again feeling like he was talking to someone else instead of her.

He nodded in satisfaction, then made his way to a machine. "Just observe what I do." She did, taking notes in her mind. Whatever he was lifting, it made a loud clunk whenever it came back down. Would she ever be able to lift that much?

They spent quite a while in the gym, Endeavor moving from machine to machine. Sweat dripped down his body, his shirt dark and wet with sweat. It occurred to her that he'd saved a plane previously, yet he was still able to do this much. She didn't have a basis for others, but this seemed impressive to her. After a bit she stood slowly, Endeavor watching her, and she slowly repeated the stretches they'd done earlier. He didn't stop her as she worked through the motions once more. She didn't work up a sweat, but it felt good to do them again.

Once the pair were done, Endeavor escorted her back to the living area. Fiametta took over to take her to bathe. As Endeavor turned to leave, she called out. "Wait!" He paused, turning back to her. "Thank you for training me."

He turned away, back to her when he responded. "We'll start again tomorrow morning after breakfast. Get plenty of sleep." And with that, he walked away.

"Got it!"

Himiko's new mattress and sheets were like sleeping on a cloud in heaven. After she'd washed off, her clothes taken by Fiametta to be cleaned, she collapsed face first into bed. She might've even been unconscious before she'd stopped bouncing up and down on the mattress. She'd never had a nicer sleep, this time no strange dreams haunting her.

When she awoke in the morning, she felt great. The Endeavor plush, who she'd decided to name Endee, took up half the bed, but the tightness felt great. She'd love to have more of her stuffed animals from home. Being surrounded in bed was the most comforting feeling in the world.

Once Fiametta was awake, the pair dressed, then headed down to eat. They found Endeavor already there, his plate almost empty as he read through a stack of papers. They joined him.

"How are you feeling?" asked Endeavor.

"Great!"

"You're not sore?"

"Nope," replied Himiko honestly.

"Good to know," said Endeavor, returning to his papers. They all continued eating in silence.

Once Himiko finished eating, Endeavor stood and addressed the pair.

"Fiametta, you can do your regular duties for the day." The sidekick nodded. Endeavor turned to Himiko. "We're going to go do some training with Dr. Cauterize today. Are you ready?"

"Yep!" said Himiko, jumping out of her seat. She skipped after Endeavor while the pair headed to the elevator.

Himiko couldn't help but hop up and down as they went up to the doctor's office. She almost toppled over as the elevator stopped but managed to stay up by grabbing the railing. Endeavor didn't say anything as they exited into the empty office.

"What are we doing today?" asked Himiko, circling him excitedly. "How are we going to train?"

"Training this early?" asked Dr. Cauterize from his seat on the couch. The same place he'd been the other day. The man looked just as tired as when she'd met him. His hair was disheveled, his face covered in stubble and there were bags under his eyes. His voice was steady as he solved a crossword puzzle on the table in front of him. "This is a place of healing, not training."

"It can be both," said Endeavor, stopping in front of the man. "Do you have any pressing business today?"

Dr. Cauterize laughed. "Not unless you're planning to get injured. Need something from me?" He looked at Himiko. "The little miss is still here?"

Himiko hopped over to the scruffy man. He looked scary and his touch hurt, but she knew like everyone else in the Endeavor agency that he was nice. "I'm training to become a hero!"

"Weren't you going home?"

Himiko felt the words slam into her and wipe the smile off her face. She barely noticed as her feet planted themselves in one spot. "I'm…"

"We're still working on it," said Endeavor, taking a step to stand next to Himiko. "I want you to help me study her Quirk so that we have more information when we send her back to her parents."

Dr. Cauterize frowned, then nodded. "Understood." He reached a gloved hand out to Himiko. "My apologies for my thoughtless words, little miss. I'd be happy to help you train."

Those words brightened Himiko immediately. She hopped into the air. "Yay! I'm going to be a hero."

"I'm sure you are," said Dr. Cauterize with a smile. He glanced to Endeavor. "What do you want me to do?"

Endeavor stuck out an arm. "I want you to take varying amounts of my blood and record how long she stays transformed for the amounts. See if it's consistent or not."

"Makes sense. Should I check Quirk use?"

"Not until I'm there to supervise," said Endeavor.

"Aren't you going to be here?" asked Himiko.

Endeavor shook his head. "I have something important I need to do. It's not going to take me all day though. I'll be here for the first part of your training, and we can do some together after I return."

Himiko wanted to complain, but she kept that to herself and just slowly nodded. "Got it," she said, having to force the words out through a pout.

Dr. Cauterize stood. "I'm on babysitting duty as well then?"

"Do you have a complaint?" asked Endeavor.

"Not at all," said Dr. Cauterize. "I guess I can use the company every so often." He gestured for them to follow as he headed to the same office as before. "Let's get this done."

Once seated in the room, Endeavor rolled up his sleeve and Dr. Cauterize prepared a machine and some vials. Once they were ready, Himiko watched with horror as a big needle was stuck into the hero's arm. That horror turned to excitement as dark red blood flowed through a tube and into the vials in turn. Each was filled with increasing amounts of blood, and it was a beautiful sight. Made even more exciting by knowing that the blood was for her. Gifts being prepared by the man she was growing to admire as a hero. She couldn't wait to drink all of it.

Once giving blood was done, and Endeavor ate an energy bar, they re-entered the waiting room. Himiko had a hard time tearing her eyes from the vials of blood but did so when Endeavor cleared his throat loudly.

"I want you to start with stretches again," said Endeavor. Himiko nodded and prepared to follow along, but he didn't move. "Without me this time. Do what you remember."

"Okay…," said Himiko, moving her arms but forgetting how she'd positioned them the night before. "Like this?"

Endeavor shook his head. "Try a different one. She did, no success. "Another. Order doesn't matter. Do whichever you remember the best."

Himiko thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, she said, her eyes tearing up. "I don't remember any of them…"

"There is no reason to cry," said Endeavor. He took a stance in front of her. "I'll demonstrate again. This time don't just mimic but try to learn.

"Got it!" said Himiko, copying his stance.

Dr. Cauterize went back to his crossword on the couch as the pair ran through the stretches again, this time with Endeavor explaining each motion. Himiko still wasn't sure by the end that she knew every stretch, but she felt better. Maybe a few more times and she would get it by herself. Once that was done, Endeavor turned to the Doctor.

"I remember that you wanted to clean the backroom, is that still true?"

"I'm surprised that you remember that after a year," said Dr. Cauterize, putting down the crossword. "My back isn't what it used to be, and I didn't want to do heavy lifting from high places without an assistant. You finally get someone for me?"

Endeavor pointed to Himiko. "Her."

"Her?"

"Me?" asked Himiko, pointing to herself.

"Yes, you," said Endeavor. He took the smallest vial of blood. "At least if this works like I think it will. It's part of your training."

"You have one hell of an idea about training," said the doctor.

"I can do it!" said Himiko. Whatever it was, she could do it.

Endeavor chuckled. "Good. Doctor, could you get her a medical gown? We don't want her clothes to be destroyed when she transforms."

"Sure," said Dr. Cauterize, standing. He stretched his arms over his head, cracking his back, then gestured to Himiko. "Come along." He led her into the same room as the other day.

Himiko sat down on the paper covered table like before. Endeavor waited just outside the room, watching them. The doctor dug through a cabinet and pulled out a large blue cloth with lots of strings around it. He handed it to Himiko. "Here, take off your clothes and put this on. Knock when you're done." With that he exited the room, closing the door behind him.

Himiko did as she was told, getting off the table and taking off her clothes. She'd put on her work-out clothes expecting training in them. Now she removed them, folding everything carefully on the paper of the table. Once that was done, she flipped around the gown, trying to figure out how she was expected to wear it. It took a few minutes, but eventually she realized that she needed to put her arms through two large holes and drape the thing on herself from the front. It was weird having her back exposed, so she wrapped some of the excess around her back. That was much better.

Once she was comfortable with how she was dressed, Himiko knocked on the door. "I'm ready." The door opened and both men entered the room. "What now?"

Endeavor held up the smallest vial of blood. "Now we test how your Quirk works." He uncorked it and held it out to her. "Careful now.

"Will do!" said Himiko as she swiped the vial from his hand. She held it in front of her face with both hands, feeling her heart beating wildly. The color was pretty as the liquid slowly shifted inside the vial. She could smell something bitter, but more like coffee than medicine. After a moment she opened her mouth and just poured the blood right onto her tongue. Warmth spread through her as soon as she did, and she swallowed it quickly. As the warmth enveloped her, she felt her entire world shifting. Where once she was barely to Endeavor's knee, the next moment she found herself standing eye to eye with him.

"How do you feel?" asked Dr. Cauterize his glance working up and down her. "That was near instantaneous, although there was a brief moment of some sort of sludge coming out and covering you."

"I feel great," said Himiko, her voice deep and gruff. Just speaking made her feel strong. A voice people would listen to and not ignore. "I'm so much taller…"

"Can I have the vial?" asked the doctor. Himiko carefully passed it over. Where once her hand had barely wrapped around it, now she could cover it completely. He took it, put it on the table and continued observing. "You grew right into that gown. It's fascinating that the transformation copies the doner's clothes as well. So, there's probably a genetic and mental component to the Quirk that combines perception into the transformation…"

"Is that bad?" asked Himiko, not understanding the man.

The doctor shook his head. "I'd say that's a good thing. Curious, but good. At least it means you're not left naked." He glanced over to Endeavor. "But the real question is...,"

"Can she use my Quirk?" finished the Flame Hero. He looked at her, eye to eye. The flaming mustache on his face flared briefly. "Currently, you don't even have my mustache active."

Himiko touched her face. Cold. "Can I copy that?"

"That's what we want to find out," said Endeavor. "Whether you can or cannot will decide whether I leave you here or not."

"What do you mean?" asked Himiko.

"If you can use my Flame Quirk then I will need to stay and supervise whenever you're transformed," he said.

"And if I can't?" asked Himiko, cold creeping into her heart.

"Then we'll train until you can," said Endeavor.

Himiko smiled at that. "Yay!" she jumped up, her large form causing various instruments in the room to shake when she landed back down. "How do I use it?"

Endeavor held his hand out, palm up. "Copy this." Himiko held her hand out. "Close your eyes." She did so. "Take deep breaths in with your mouth, let them fill your chest then release them through your mouth." She could hear his breathing, and she tried to copy his pace, eventually falling into a rhythm. "Keep that steady pace while I talk." She did so, only struggling slightly to listen and breath like she was told to. "Do you feel something warm in your chest?" She searched for the warmth. It was tough to find since she was currently wrapped in a warm Endeavor shaped embrace. But as she breathed in and out, she felt something growing inside her chest. She nodded.

"Good," said Endeavor. "Use your breath to feed that flame. Make it grow." She kept breathing steadily, feeling her chest get hotter and hotter. Her breath became warm. In the darkness of her closed eyes, she saw a small orange bird of fire, hopping up and down, pecking at the inside of her chest. Chirping to get out. Himiko's chest was a cage, and the little birdie wanted to be free.

So, she released her. Endeavor was about to give further instructions, but she didn't hear them as chirping overtook her ears. She breathed in, and every time she let it out, she helped push the birdie further and further up her body. Slow, gentle pushes. Each part of her burned as the birdie touched her. The birdie got more desperate in its cries, and she got more desperate to let it out. She needed to free the birdie. She needed to be free…

"Holy shit…"

Himiko wasn't sure who said that. She was too busy feeling relief as the birdie left her body, dancing and chirping happily on her palm.

"Open your eyes," said Endeavor, his command breaking her out of her trance.

Himiko did as she was told and was greeted by twin flames. One in Endeavor's palm, and one in hers. They were dancing, side by side as they twisted or moved. Hers was smaller, but it was there. Here eyes went wide, a smile growing on her face. "I did it!"

"You did it," said Endeavor, an unfamiliar emotion in it. "Good work."

"Thanks!" said Himiko. She stared in joy at the flame, mesmerized. Her breath was taken away in awe at what she'd created. Unfortunately, as she forgot to breathe, the flame disappeared. "No!" She wanted it back.

"I've never seen a transformation Quirk that can copy other Quirks," said Dr. Cauterize while rubbing the stubble on his chin. "And she learned to do so at such a young age."

"A natural talent," said Endeavor, a broad smile on his face. "With a Quirk like this you can surpass anyone."

"Is that good?" asked Himiko.

"It's perfect."

Himiko smiled at that, feeling warm inside from the praise. Her body started to feel weird the next moment though. The warmth that had been surrounding her since she'd drank Endeavor's blood started to fade. She felt a brief panic as the warmth slid off her and her eyesight got dropped so that she was once again staring at Endeavor from the ground and not eye to eye. Grey goop covered the room's floor up to her ankles.

"Interesting that it leaves a residue by-product," said Dr. Cauterize. He glanced at his watch. "That was about twenty-seven minutes from that amount of blood."

"A decent amount of time for the cost," said Endeavor. "We'll have to change the training schedule. I didn't expect you to manage a fire so early."

"I want to make more fire," said Himiko, excited by the chance to see the beautiful flame again. She was about to ask if she could try again immediately, but the words were stuck in her throat as she felt lightheaded, and her vision started to narrow at the edges. Her stomach churned uncomfortably, and she felt little dots of numbness spreading through her body. She forced words out as bile filled her throat. "I-I don't f-feel so good…"

Himiko took a step towards Endeavor and her body gave out underneath her. Endeavor catching her was the last thing she remembered before her consciousness faded.