Hey there! Been some time!

Almost two months that I waited for my computer to get fixed. Sadly, poor old dude is done.

Oh well, guess I will stick to writing on my phone for a while.

At least these phones keep getting bigger and bigger, right? Remember when it was all about how smaller they were, instead?

Hisashi stepped inside their hotel room with a tired sigh. He'd just finished the meeting with HPSC and the GDA representatives.

You could cut tension with the knife despite the both sides being nothing but polite and affable. They wore all small polite smiles even but every word spoken carried an edge to it. The air in the room was as welcoming and pleasant as that of a hospital hall.

"Mr. Midoriya," one of GDA"s lawyers pulled up a chair for him. "We've been waiting for you."

What followed were the most stressful hours of his life as the representatives from both agencies went over the agreement between GDA, HPSC and the government of Japan.

While he understood a good portion of the legal terms, he didn't leave anything up to the chance and would go over the exact definitions and implications of various clauses in the agreement that he was provided.

Because all of it concerned Izuku.

Stedman have his kid the license that would allow him to operate as a hero in almost every country across the world. However, he was still a child in the eyes of the law. And allowing a kid, no matter how powerful, the same rights and privileges as seasoned pro heroes would have its own risks.

The risks that HPSC and GDA offered to take on.

Collateral damage compensations. Insurance payouts. Legal fees. Any dealings with the media or the local governments, too.

Both agencies were willing to pay a lot to help Izuku and their family as a whole. From renovating their home to enrolling Izuku in the specialised programs, the offers from both groups were very generous.

Too generous, in fact.

"They are trying to bribe us, aren't they?"

Hisashi felt his wife stir weakly in his arms. She should be sleeping in bed and dealing with her cold. Instead she was worrying herself even sicker over all these meetings and talks about their son's future.

"Pretty much," HPSC and GDA were cooperating on the surface. But it was clear that both would prefer having Izuku under only one of them. If not in writing, then in spirit. "None of this makes any sense... He is just a kid."

Except that he wasn't.

Not to GDA or their own government.

Director Stedman knew that Izuku didn't have a Quirk. HPSC might have known that already as well. They knew that Izuku's powers didn't come from a Quirk. And so he presented both a threat and a potential asset.

The non-Quirk superpowers were not anything new. But they were less understood. And this lack of understanding led to suspicions and concerns.

Unlike the Quirks, these special powers could come from multiple sources. Magic amulets, ancient curses and freak lab accidents. But while the powers themselves were not much different or impressive than what the Quirks provided, the lack of certain limitations made them very useful assets.

Immortal possessed superhuman strength, durability and flight on top of his immortality. If that was a Quirk, he would already be considered one of the rarer cases whose powers allowed for multiple uses in one. But unlike the Quirk users, he didn't require the particular conditions to activate his powers.

Even Star and Stripes, recognised for the power of her Quirk, needed a physical touch and the knowledge of the object's name.

"HPSC wants Izuku to train in one of their private institutes," he heard it was the same place where Hawks trained before making his debut. "GDA wants Izuku as part of their own Guardians of the Globe."

Inko's fingers dug into the fabric of his shirt.

"Is... Is there something wrong with the current team?"

Hisashi chuckled. It was just like Inko to worry about others.

"No, they're fine," he reassured her. It was hard to imagine the Guardians just up and dying anytime soon. "But GDA wants to have the team in case something happens."

It was reasonable concern. Even if they were the world's greatest heroes, they were still mortal. They could beat invaders from other dimensions and deal with Kaijus. But, with the exception of Martian Man, they were all still people. And if they didn't die in a battle against some great evil, they could still succumb to disease or old age.

Even if Immortal could live up to his name, relying on just one person wasn't sustainable in the long term.

It only made sense that GDA would make plans for the possible death of the Guardians.

If only those plans didn't involve their son...

"We can't let him join GDA," Inko whispered. "Hisashi, do you understand how dangerous it would be for him?"

"I understand that," he sighed. "But we can't just tell Izuku what he can and can't do, either."

If he thought that could work, Hisashi would have already taken the family back to Japan right after meeting with Stedman. But this would be a temporary solution at best. One that could even play into GDA's or HPSC's hands more.

Izuku was a good kid and he would have done as told. But he was still a teenager. One that was just handed a key to his greatest dream.

Taking that away using only their authority as his parents wouldn't work. It might even foster the resentment in their boy's heart that would lead him away from them.

"We are his parents, he should listen to us."

"And as his parents, we should be able to talk to him about his future."

Inko sighed as she rested her head against his chest.

"I don't like this at all, Hisashi. What if he doesn't listen to us? What if he joins GDA and... ends up hurt?"

He had spent the entire ride back here thinking about this. A hero's line of work was dangerous enough already. But working with GDA would put their son on the frontlines of it all. And if he grew even stronger, then they would throw him at bigger and greater threats.

What would they do when their only son was sent after a villain stronger than him?

What would they do when he faced something he couldn't punch away?

What could they do when Izuku was strong enough to just not listen if he didn't want to?

In the end, Hisashi had only one answer.

"Then we will help him get back on his feet," he hugged Inko tight. "No matter what the world says or does, we will be there for him."

Inko hugged him back without another word.

=I=

Not even half a year ago, Izuku wondered if he could ever become a hero. He didn't have a Quirk. He didn't have training or equipment to make up for that either. All he had was a dream and he was ready to do anything to make it a reality.

Now, he was facing an opposite problem.

I can be a hero.

Strength, durability, speed and flight.

It was a whole package without any conditions or downsides to use his powers. Even better, if Robot's analysis was correct, he could grow even stronger over time. Perhaps even stronger than Immortal or All Might.

His entire life, Izuku felt that his dream was not supported by those around him. His teachers saw it as just a dream. His classmates mocked him for it. Even mom and dad didn't believe he could do it.

But it was different now.

His dream was within his grasp. And there was a whole agency ready to help him achieve it. The Director of GDA even gave him his own hero license. And Robot approached him with an offer to join GDA's own Guardians of the Globe.

The program would provide him with the best equipment, training and education he needed to become a hero. And while they would be under supervision of the GDA's mission control, he and other candidates would still be able to act as full-fledged heroes anywhere in the world.

All he needed to do was sign some papers and get his parents' approval. And from there, he could achieve everything he ever wanted and more.

So why was he hesitating?

"Midoriya, is everything alright?" Robot's voice came from above, shaking him out of his thought. "You seem... distracted."

Izuku looked at the scattered pieces of the robots around him. Robot said these were the prototypes of new security drones. Supposedly, they would be strong and durable enough to withstand the national average of Quirk-users.

In practice against Izuku? They weighed nothing and folded under his fists easily. Like they were made of cardboard or paper. It was an impressive display of his strength and speed.

But he was supposed to be working on his restraint with these. The last thing he wanted was accidentally injuring or killing someone because he punched them too hard. He was glad that Robot offered these machines to use for an exercise instead of sparring with Dupli-Kate.

"Sorry, Robot," he apologized as he stepped out of the ring. "I am still trying to get the proper hang of it."

He and Robot went over the exercise and checked his stats. He didn't grow stronger from it, obviously enough. But he wasn't tired from it either despite spending close to two hours punching and maneuvering around the machines.

"You have quite the stamina," Robot commented. "Care to do another round?"

"Maybe another time? I think I need to clear my head."

After taking a quick shower and changing into his normal clothes, Izuku plopped doen on the couch in the living area. He tried to distract himself by scrolling through the news about heroes but nothing could take his mind off his situation.

GDA wanted him to join their program. They were ready to give him every resource and advantage he needed to become the world-class hero like All Might or Guardians of the Globe. And he wouldn't even be alone in this program. He would have Robot and other members of the Teen Team with him here.

Yes, GDA expected him to work with them after he completed the program. And if he joined this version of Guardians, there was a chance he wouldn't be able to establish his own hero office back home due to how much time his international work would take up.

But that was a given if he wanted to be a world-class hero. And hey, even that wasn't strictly out of possibilities since Darkwing did just fine with Midnight City.

Hesitation simply made no sense.

He had yet to talk to his parents, too. Dad was busy dealing with the legalities of it all. Mom was still not feeling well, no doubt further burdened by the stress of the situation. They wanted what was best for him. But they didn't believe that GDA's offer was that.

He could understand their concerns. It was one thing when he wanted to go to U.A. He would have three whole years to train and study in safety and comfort of the country's best hero school. Then he would most likely spend a few years as a sidekick before, hopefully, opening his own agency. Despite the obvious risks of the profession, being a pro hero in Japan was much safer than becoming a Guardian.

He could reject Director Stedman's offer. Say that he didn't want to stress his parents too much.

But that would be an excuse. He wanted to join and be a hero. He just didn't understand why he was holding back.

"Maybe a little walk could help you."

"Yeah, maybe it could."

It took a moment for Izuku to register Kate's presence. And another to realise how close she was.

He leapt off the couch and into the air from the heroine. His face burned red from embarrassment as she smirked.

"K-Kate-san? Sorry, I- I got lost in my own thoughts."

"Yeah, I figured. You talk to yourself a lot."

"Sorry, Kate-san."

"I am fine without honorifics," she shrugged. "So… Having trouble with the decision?"

That was putting it lightly.

"You could say that. No matter how I look at it, the offer is just perfect for me. And it's not like GDA is just giving those licenses out to anyone. Logically, accepting it should be no brainer."

"But?"

"That's the thing. There is no real downside to it. I mean, yeah, it would be sad that I would spend time away from home. But it's not like I will be locked away in a training facility for years or something. So, honestly, the only reason why I haven't signed up yet is this weird feeling I have absolutely no justification for."

"Maybe it's just the nerves," Kate suggested. "A change is always pretty hard on most people. Especially when it comes out of nowhere."

He didn't think about it that way. While it didn't really make the feeling of doubt go away, the idea that this hesitation was caused by the nerves helped him just a little bit.

"Are you and the others joining the Team?"

"I can't really say what Eve is thinking. Her personal plans are for her to share," Izuku could respect that. Even if the way Kate put it implied that Atom Eve wasn't on board with the idea. "Rex is keeping things close to his chest, too."

"And you?"

"Oh, I am definitely in," she smirked. "Don't take it the wrong way, I love Teen Team. We all started the whole thing together and it will always be a part of who I am. But if I am going to continue the career as an independent heroine, joining the Guardians of the Globe comes with better benefits."

So it was about money for her?

Izuku mentally slapped himself for that thought. It wasn't really his place to judge why someone would want to be a hero. What mattered the most was that they helped people, after all.

"Do you think it would be wrong if I rejected GDA's offer?"

"Not really," she said. "At the end of the day, it is your life to live. I am not saying that you should just do whatever you want with it. But trying to satisfy everyone will just leave you miserable and unfulfilled."

There was a brief moment where he caught a glimpse of something in her eyes. As if she was looking at someone else in the room. Did she perhaps have an experience like that before?

It was not that hard to imagine.

With the power to produce infinite duplicates, it was possible that she tried to do everything by herself before. Izuku could even remember some forums discussing the hypothetical ways someone like Dupli-Kate could solve a list of problems or crises.

"Well, that's pretty much all I can say on the whole thing," It was clear that she had shared more than she intended to. And while he wanted to prompt her further, he doubted she would be comfortable enough to follow through. "If it's any help, I don't think that GDA or Robot are going to rescind the offer even if you reject it."

"Really? What makes you say that?"

"I don't know much about Director Stedman. But from what I heard, he always keeps an eye on those he considers useful. Rejecting him now won't magically make him forget about you and your powers. As for Robot, he is just that stubborn when it comes to his decisions. I hope that this helps you."

Weirdly enough, it did.

As selfish as it may sound, knowing that rejecting the offer wouldn't close the doors for him did lift the weight off his shoulders. If he rejected the offer now, he could always take them up on it later.

And if they didn't want him by then? He could accept that, too.

"Thanks. I owe you one."

"No problem," she stopped at the exit. "You know, the Team was going to go out for the movies later tonight. You could join if you want to."

He never went to the movies with anyone but his parents before. And he did the entire time mulling over his decision ever since they came to I-Island.

Where was the harm in relaxing just for a few hours?

He sent a quick text to mom and dad, informing them about being late. He also promised to talk to them about his choice regarding the offer from GDA. With their permission granted, he pushed all the heavy thoughts aside for the rest of the night.

"So… What are we watching?"

=I=

Isaac Topp, more commonly known as Isotope, was not a good man.

He could come up with excuses, blaming bad home and terrible luck. But why would he? He was a scumbag and a cheat and a lot of other things. But he was honest about being a trash person.

And he liked to think that this made him just a little but better than other people in their line of work.

He didn't work for Machine Head because he wanted to provide for his family. He didn't have any particular loyalty to the man either. He was in this for money and power that came with working for the guy.

Like many others, Isaac always wondered how Machine Head was able to rise to his power so quickly and effortlessly. He had his own gang, sure. But they were small potatoes and didn't have the means to grow beyond that.

Until the night Rairosu in Japan went up in flames. All the gangs and clans and criminal organisations that were building power in that district were wiped out. And from the ashes of these groups, Machine Head built his name and his empire.

In just one night, Machine Head went from robbing some stores with his buddies to running his own criminal organisation on I-Island.

But how did he do it?

He was smart, being part machine and all that thanks to his Quirk. But the power to slightly alter the video and audio feeds didn't really translate into starting gang wars.

The rumors said that he used some kind of secret weapon to pull this off. Some said it was a piece of illegal alien tech. Others believed that Machine Head made a deal with the devil of some kind. While others were sure that the boss just came in and claimed the credit.

Many men have died trying to find out Machine Head's secret. Isaac never had such interests. He was just fine with his place in the organisation and didn't want to know anything about his boss' secret weapon.

And yet here he was, standing right in front of her.

"Inko Midoriya, it's a pleasure to have you here," his boss greeted the woman in a usually polite tone. No mockery. No sarcasm. Shit had to be deadly serious, then. "How may I be of help?"

Five minutes. That was how much time boss managed to buy them. Five minutes of keeping whatever bugs have been planted into the hotel room on the loop. Just five minutes until he would teleport this woman back to her room.

Boss said she could kill both of them in less than a minute, though.

This was a woman who killed all the gang leaders and oyabuns back in Rairosu. And just like she made Machine Head the man he was today, she could end him just as quickly.

"I need you to follow the instructions on this drive," she placed down a small device on the man's table. The boss reached to insert it into his computer but Inko stopped him. "I want you to insert it into your head."

Her tone made it clear, this was not a request. He never saw the boss be so scared. Boss could be surprised, annoyed, unnerved. But not scared. And yet he was.

Just four more minutes.

"A-As you wish."

The boss jammed the drive into his head and sunk into his seat. Normally, Machine Head took a certain kick out of it. Something about having the information just flow into his mind scratched that twisted itch.

Not this time, though.

His boss was shaking in his seat as he tried to digest everything that was going into his brain. He was always hard to read. But even his metal face could not hide the fact that he didn't like what he was seeing.

Three minutes remained.

"I- This is-" Machine Head looked at Inko, voice low and shaken. Disturbed. "Are you sure that this-"

"Is there a problem?"

Did they want to be problem? Were they going to be the problem?

The office was quiet for another minute.

In two minutes, it would all be over.

"No," boss whispered. "I will follow the instructions."

Inko didn't smile in satisfaction or gratitude. Her expression remained neutral, same as it was the moment he teleported her in here. Their cooperation was never up for negotiation.

"Then we are done here," she said, voice even. She turned to Isaac, eyes not even looking at him. He was not a person to her. None of them were. "Bring be back to my home."

He couldn't follow that order fast enough. With the woman gone, both men sat in complete silence. Her presence was still heavy in the air, making the entire rook feel so much smaller and hotter than it was.

"Boss?" he whispered, afraid that he might piss the man off. Or worse, somehow summon that woman back into the office. "Just what the hell does she want from us?"

His boss didn't answer.

Instead, Machine Head sent him for a bottle of some fancy wine and told him to leave. Before Isotope even left the room, the boss was already on his second glass of it.

Closing the door behind himself, Isaac did his best to ignore the quiet angry sobs coming from inside the room.

Till next time!