Chapter 9: Adjustment Period

Another day of cleaning and keeping this house a home. Inko led a simple life and she was happy about it. How could she not be?

Someone like her, gave birth to three beautiful and wonderful children.

Two of them famous and powerful heroes. The youngest is on his way to being just as great. Everyday her hearts fills with love, she is so proud of her children.

Right now, she is cooking dinner for her son Izuku who should be back from…wherever Toshi took him.

Knock* *Knock*

Inko: "That must be them."

Inko cleaned off her hands and went to the door. When she opened it, she got a delightful surprise.

Inko: "Tatsumaki, Fubuki! What brings you home?"

Tatsumaki: "Well…"

Izuku: "Go on."

Slowly, a small girl moved to the front and looked up at her with familiar green eyes.

Valkyrie: "Okaasan."

…

…

And just like that, Inko fainted, eyes rolling to the back of her head as her body tilted like a falling tree.

Izuku caught her with his powers while Tatsumaki sighed. Valkyrie could only tilt her head.

Fubuki: "I'll…prepare some coffee."

Tatsumaki watched as her mother slowly came to on the couch, yawning. Valkyrie was sitting beside Izuku & Tatsumaki and perpendicular to her, busy munching on some cookies that she retrieved from the cabinet.

The little girl had initially wanted to make off with the entire sugarcube jar Fubuki was using to make coffee. But one icy glare from her was enough to scare Valkyrie off.

Izuku did wonder if she needed to eat physical food as a construct? A wiggling instinct told him she was just eating things for their taste instead of their actual nutritional value.

Inko: "Ehh, Tatsumaki?"

She mumbled, confused as to why she had been sleeping on the couch. She began to sit up, blinking blearily.

Inko "I just had the most peculiar dream where I had another daughteraaaaaaAAAAAHHHHH!"

Inko had shrieked that last part out loud upon seeing the girl lounging lazily beside her two children on their couch. Valkyrie gave her a little wave then took another small bite of her cookie, seemingly contented while she munched slowly. The older woman turned to Tatsumaki, looking a little harried and distraught. She needed some answers and the eldest daughter surely had them.

And she did. Fubuki gave Inko some coffee while Tatsumaki gave her the whole story. Well, not the whole story. Tatsumaki didn't want to scare her mother to death with the knowledge that Izuku nearly killed himself.

Inko: "This is…a lot to take in. Okay, okay let me just…calm down. Yeah."

Inko: "Normally, I would think this girl has some mind-control quirk that's taking you all over-"

Fubuki: "That thought has crossed my mind."

Fubuki says quietly as she takes a sip of her coffee.

Inko: "But, there seems to be some credibility to your claims. It's not the first time I've seen something like this. In fact, a member of our family was able to do something similar…"

Tatsumaki & Izuku: "What?!"

Fubuki nearly chokes on the coffee from this surprise admission.

Izuku: "That's awesome, we had such an amazing Quirk in our family?"

Tatsumaki: "Why didn't you tell us?"

Inko: "It was decades ago, sweetie. Your great-grandmother Taiga; my grandmother, was able to create tiny little mental projections too. Little animals the size of her palm that she used to entertain me with…it seems so nostalgic now that I think of it."

Inko smiled, slowly changing places so that she was now besides Valkyrie. The girl gazed up at her, then squeezed her eyes shut adorably as her hair got ruffled again.

Inko: "You're a cute one, aren't you?"

Valkyrie: "Nn."

Izuku: "Then…this has happened before?"

Inko: "Not on this scale. My grandmother's constructs were never this detailed, nor did they have a will of their own. They were just telekinetic puppets…but this girl…she has a mind of her own, like an actual person, doesn't she?"

Valkyrie snuggled into the older woman's side, eyes closed serenely. Inko sighed, a gentle hand coming up to stroke the construct on the back. She seemed to like it, leaning into her a little further.

Fubuki: "You're taking this rather well mom. You do realize that she's Valkyrie, the notorious vigilante?"

Inko: "…Huh?"

Izuku: "Oh yeah, you should probably transform Valkyrie."

The girl stopped munching and freed herself from her mother's grasp, trudging into the center of the room and turning back to face them.

There was no sound when she suddenly transformed, only the visual effect of her growing exponentially into an adult woman like a time-lapse of a documentary, hair lengthening and skin paling. Her eyes were milky white once again, alight with that eerie emerald glow.

Now standing before them in her full glory was the infamous Valkyrie, Number One Vigilante. Wanted by several different Police departments, and at the top of Endeavor's 'most hated' list.

Inko's jaw dropped, mouth agape as she connected the dots. She looked between her son, then at the projection in her living room…and groaned loud.

Inko: "Okay, this is a surprise. This is gonna be a long night."

Inko spent the next several minutes setting ground rules. Like Valkyrie can't transform anywhere near the house, so people don't get any ideas.

She will only be allowed to be a vigilante during the Weekends. Valkyrie's main priority would be Izuku, which was fine by her.

Living arrangement was something else discussed. To Fubuki's increasing displeasure, Valkyrie was given her old room. She didn't dispute it out loud.

It made sense.

Her old room was closer to Izuku's and spacious. But this only made her darkest thoughts seem more…real.

When all was said and done, the family had dinner. Tatsumaki, Izuku and Fubuki were sitting at the table while Inko finished cooking. Humming happily all the while.

Valkyrie, back in her small form, trotted into the kitchen and peeked at the pot of soup Inko was currently the tending to on the stove, sniffing to take in its aroma.

Inko: "Hmm? Here, try some."

She smiled and lowered her ladle for Valkyrie to have some warm soup. A few moments later she tugged at the older woman's apron to ask for more wordlessly, to which Inko chuckled and lowered the ladle for her again.

Inko: "Heh, I used to do that around my Mom, too."

Afterward, Valkyrie went back to the table and sat next to Izuku. All the while eyeing each dish patiently as they made their way to the table one by one.

Izuku smiled, watching her carefully inspect the plate that his mother handed over with some side dishes and vegetables.

Inko: "Dig in everyone. Aw, I'm so happy to have another family dinner so soon."

Izuku: "Yeah, we should do this more often.

Tatsumaki: "But you don't have to cry about it mom."

Inko: "I know, and I don't think I won't ever shed some tears. I'm just so proud of all of you."

That got the family to smile warmly, only Fubuki's was a bit frigid, but she kept it well hidden. As for Valkyrie, she looked at her plate for a moment before digging in.

Izuku: "Do you…need to eat Valkyrie?"

She shakes her head before answering.

Valkyrie: "Like it. Okaasan's food."

Inko: "Awwwww, thank you sweetie."

The little girl mumbled something inaudible.

Inko: "Hm?"

Valkyrie: "No, thank you."

Inko: "No need to thank me for the food, sweetie. I mean, it's my duty as a housewife-"

Valkyrie: "Not for the food. For…accepting me."

Inko: "Of course I'll accept you! After all, we're family."

There was a surging wave of emotion from the mental link between Izuku and Valkyrie. It was like a dam breaking and water rushing through. Izuku didn't feel it himself, though he knew what it was. Valkyrie stared at Inko for a while, then slid out of her chair to carefully walk around the rectangular table. She closed her eyes and bounded over the last few feet in a rush to bury her face into Inko's shirt, hugging her tightly.

Though Inko was surprised by the sudden contact at first but gradually relaxed, a motherly look overcoming her expression as she ruffled the girl's hair lovingly. Valkyrie rubbed her face into Inko's shirt, soft murmuring emitted from within the fabric. It was only when Izuku leaned in closer that he could hear what she was saying.

Valkyrie: "Thank you, for letting me have a family."

Tatsumaki: "Okay, I can admit that she's a bit cute like that."

It was at that moment, Fubuki got up.

Fubuki: "I better get going."

Inko: "F-Fubuki? Are you sure? We just started dinner."

Fubuki: "I'm full and I have some work I need to do."

Fubuki got her things and headed toward the door, while ignoring the different looks.

Izuku and Inko's eyes were filled with worry.

Valkyrie seemed emotionless but she also felt something.

Tatsumaki looked at her little sister intensely, trying to work out what the problem is. And how she could fix it. Not knowing that she is part of the problem.

As she opens the door, she sensed a presence behind her. She knows who it is. Deep down, she wished it was Tatsumaki that came for her. Maybe they could have a sister to sister talk. But they haven't had one since…Izuku was born…

Valkyrie: "Onee-"

Fubuki: "Don't call me that."

Valkyrie: "…Are you…alright? I'm…sorry if-"

Valkyrie could sense the compacted mess of emotions within her older sister. But how can she fix it? She wants to but…she doesn't know how.

Fubuki: "Don't apologize. I just have some work to do. Nothing is wrong."

She's lying but Valkyrie can't do anything but watch Fubuki leave.

Hours later, Fubuki is back at her agency.

The Blizzard Group.

Thanks to her efforts, it's one of the largest agencies in Japan. If she can't surpass her sister herself, maybe numbers would do the trick.

But…it hasn't worked out well. No matter their successes, it's overshadowed by Tatsumaki or one of the other Top 10 heroes.

Instead, her group is known for something she made sure her family knows nothing about.

She walks through the dim halls shadowed by some of the group's members.

"The new 17th and 18th hero have been successfully…persuaded to keep in their position."

Fubuki: "Good work. Any more rookies who want to join us or intern?"

"Not…quite yet."

Fubuki: "Let me guess, they wanted to work under my sister instead?"

"Well…"

Fubuki: "For someone who doesn't really care about her agency, she sure is still popular among the youth."

"We'll do better at improving our image. Also, congratulations."

Fubuki: "Hm?"

"We heard the news. Your brother getting his quirk. I'm sure he'll intern here and later join you. It's worth celebrating."

Fubuki: "…Yes, I suppose it is."

"So can we expect you at the celebration party?"

Fubuki: "Sorry, not today. I'm…tired."

Before he could inquire further, Fubuki entered her room and shut the door. When silence reigned in the atmosphere, she let out a breath she has been holding for a while.

Like a zombie, she took off her designer clothes, took a shower and laid down on her bed. Usually, the supremely soft, and expensive, cloth would calm her.

But not tonight.

Nightmares echo in her mind as she stares up at the ceiling. The possibilities of today's implications hang onto her like a parasite.

Fubuki: "I should be happy for Izu. He'll be a hero, have something to protect him. But…I'm not…I'm a terrible big sister."

She turns to the window and reflected in it is Psykos. She knows it's not real, she's seen it enough times to be boring.

But this time comes with an implicit suggestion. She turns away from the image.

Fubuki: "No, not my brother. I can't."

But then her mind flashes back to what almost happened today.

Izuku almost died.

Due to his powers.

Powers that will get stronger.

Powers that will draw attention.

Villains.

Danger.

Death.

Her heart quakes with the thought. Would it…be so…bad if he wasn't a hero?

He would be safe.

No powers, no trouble.

It's to protect her little brother. For his own good.

Tatsumaki did something similar to her for years before Izuku was born. Coddling her, isolating her from any friends.

All for her own good.

So no one would hurt her. Sometimes, she still does it.

Fubuki: "So…it's only fair…"

She weakly says, half in denial that this option seems so enticing. She drifts off to sleep, hoping the war in her mind settles and the right path reveals itself.

Before anyone comments, no, Fubuki will not go evil or bad. This is just a character struggle she'll have to deal with.