Izuku almost couldn't believe it. Not that he thought All Might was a liar, no, he would die before he'd ever call All Might something so sacrilege, but the idea that he could inherit his quirk was so … fantastical! Quirks were similar to meta abilities, but there was a clear difference. Quirks, at the end of the day, were physical abilities. Mutations of the human body that came about naturally. Meta abilities, while they could be naturally occurring with the metagene, were the result of external factors. Magic, dark matter, speed force energy, radiation, those were what made metahumans.
Then again the idea of quirks had to be double checked from time to time. There were quirks that ignored the laws of inertia, that broke through known thermodynamics, could cause radical changes in species, and just look at New Order, that one allowed you to create your own physics! So much potential to study and learn from.
But the point was, Izuku almost didn't believe it … because he didn't think he was that lucky. But he was, he inherited this quirk, and now he would earn it! He would train, he would train some more, and even furthermore! Until came a time where he could dare hope to be even half as good as All Might! "Two hundred and thirteen. Two hundred and fourteen. Two hundred and fifteen." Thus, he trained. "Two hundred and sixteen. Two hundred and seventeen. Two hundred and eighteen." He was going to have to ask Star and Stripe for another dose. At this point, he wasn't feeling the weight of five times gravity.
"...So… does he just… not sleep?" Raven, the girl he saved (another girl he was talking to! He wasn't sure if this was him being lucky or unlucky) spoke softly as she and Courtney watched from the bench. She was shy and soft spoken just like him, which actually made her a little easier to talk to.
"Course he sleeps." Courtney, the first girl he was friends with (a super close call with the quirk thing though, he didn't think he would be able to talk like that again though) responded with a chuckle. "He only passes out whenever he's teased too much." Something that, admittedly, anyone he's ever had as a friend liked to do … although admittedly Kacchan's teasing could be described as just being a jerk in some cases. "So, do you just ... live here now?"
"Doctor Fate thinks it would be good for me to get out of the Tower of Fate … probably to avoid getting possessed again." Raven answered, still keeping her soft and quiet tone. "It's … strangely peaceful outside… more than I originally assumed it would be."
"What, you live in a cave all your life?" Courtney snickered.
"No, a temple in another dimension." Ah, that explained the bird name. Must be an alien thing.
"Two hundred twenty five, two hundred twenty six, two hundred twenty seven …" Just keep focus Izuku, you can do this. You can become strong enough to use One For All … you know, without losing a limb. That was a scary process. You were almost done with your ten months of training, just keep at it and you could safely use this power to be a hero. "Two… hundred and seventy eight … two … hundred and seventy nine…"
"So…Izuku…" Raven spoke up, getting his attention mid sit up. "What brings a Japanese boy to an American army/hero base?"
He pursed his lips. Okay, how to word this … "Trainer … call in … favor." Ugggh, he could recognize words when heard, but it was hard to think them up. They always got jumbled with his other thoughts. Mostly about quirks and powers and magic and-Damn it! He forgot to get Doctor Fate's autograph! That man was a long time hero too! … Sure he may have wanted to kill a young girl, but still! "Training for… hero school… in home…"
"For UA? Isn't that place like, super hard to get into?" Courtney asked. "So much so especially in the wake of the death of Superman?" Her voice dipped at the last part.
"Trainer… has… many favors." He nodded as he coughed. "Two hundred…. Seventy Nine….." Come on, you didn't get this close to three hundred to stop now! "Two hundred … eighty …"
"… Hero school?" Raven asked, her face confused.
"It's how you get trained and licensed to be a pro hero." Courtney explained. "In which case, means you're legally allowed to use your powers to deal with villains."
"...Doctor Fate's a mantle that's passed on from user to user… superman was an alien… Wonder Woman's an amazon…" Raven raised an eyebrow. "I somehow doubt they've taken hero 101."
"American laws…looser." Izuku gasped out. "Justice League, save world on multiple occasion… government of America has looser vigilante laws..." Which Izuku was mixed about. Sure, there was training to consider, you didn't want someone not professional handling it, but if someone was capable of helping at a moment's notice….
"I know it's BS, but it's the life we live." Courtney shrugged. "And the League wasn't too against it. In fact, Superman actually went down and was one of the first participants in the test himself."
"So cool…" He was still only four when… when the Man of Steel died, but he had a whole legacy of heroism to admire and adore all the same. "Two hundred and ninety eight … two hundred and ninety nine … three hundred." He gasped out. Okay Izuku, take a quick breather, then onto squats.
"Three hundred push ups a day has got to be some kind of record." Courtney snickered as she tossed him a water bottle. "I'd almost say you're trying to become a model with how toned you're getting."
"Not … enough …" He drank it. His bones and limbs still tore whenever he so much as channeled One For All. His body was just too weak to handle its power. Not worthy as a vessel. Izuku needed to continue training until he was strong enough. "And... I don't… have face for model." Everyone always called him plain looking. Except for Auntie Fubuki and Tatsumaki. They just said he was cute.
"Aw, don't be so hard on yourself, you could totally be on the cover of farmer market monthly with how much your face blushes." Courtney teased as his face went red. "See, you totally look like a strawberry! Am I right Raven? Come on, you're thinking about it too."
"I think you're making him uncomfortable." The cloaked girl stared blankly at the star spangled girl. "Teasing like that is just another form of bullying." Thank you! Now he could relax, and then get back to training in serenity.
"...Uh, exactly what are you trying to imply?" Courtney glared at Raven. Uh oh.
"Nothing. I'm stating as a fact that you need to respect boundaries and stop yourself from saying something you can't take back." Raven clarified.
"Hey, I can respect boundaries just fine!" ….Oh dear, was this the start of a fight? A fight between two girls … This… this was probably going to kill him… best stay out of the way and keep his mouth shut.
"I'm pretty sure that grabbing and poking at him constantly is a great form of boundary respecting." Maybe he should slowly move away while he was at it. Easy, steady …
"Hey, he likes it!" Damn it, they were involving him in the conversation! "Tell her, Green Bean!"
"Ah….." Izuku sucked his lips, sweating. Maybe if he didn't answer, they'd forget about it.
"Well?" Raven asked, her eyebrow lifted… okay, not answering wasn't an option.
"I … um …" Okay, he was put on the spot … honesty was the best policy?
"Touch …. bit….much … aunts touch enough as is?" He stuttered. Which was kind of true. Then again it was a weird balance. Family hugged him, everyone else in his life beat him up. Did he associate physical contact with pain or smothering? And would that slowly lead to Izuku gaining touch deprivation where he craved warm feelings, or touch anxiety where he constantly feared any intimate and close contact with another living thing? Maybe it was the latter, the teasing always tended to leave him woozy after all. Shoot, what would that imply for helping civilians? Did he just have to tough it out, or was there a way to develop a mental block? Maybe he could ask about it with-
"Izuku, you're muttering out loud." Raven interrupted his thoughts.
"… Ah …" He was silent. "… I go back to training now … avoid awkward moment …" Alright, go back to squats, go back to squats, go back to-
Izuku, whether from the muttering, the exhaustion, or just talking from the girls, suddenly felt weak at the legs, as he found himself planted face first into the ground. "Izuku!"
He gnashed his teeth. "I'm … fine." Come on, he had more stamina than this! Push past the pain! Push pass the- "Ow…. Cramp…" He winced.
"Come on." Raven picked him up with magic… whoa… this was so cool! "I'll take you to the med bey."
Izuku sighed. "Alright …" Guess he may have pulled something. Fubuki would probably make him train less … then it would take longer to master this quirk. He was already blessed to have All Might's quirk as it is, and even more so that he was able to make it work… well, work enough. He couldn't slow down in the slightest. Not if he wanted to be a hero
"You know Raven, you've been overworking yourself too with all your magic, let me take Zuku to med-bay while you read up." Court-chan held him up, pulling him in the other direction. Wait, Zuku!? Is that an affectionate nickname!? Since when she called him that!? It's too soon!
"Oh really? I thought you would be too busy putting on your makeup, Stargirl." Raven spoke up dryly, grabbing his other arm.
His fellow in training glared. "Oh, are you sure you can do it? I barely see your limbs move. I mistook them for noodles."
Raven's eyes slightly narrowed. "Because you do so many runs while sitting your butt on that staff of yours."
"Uh huh, like you are an olympic sprinter with how you don't even so much as stand, let alone walk." She pointed to the ground, where indeed, Raven was flying suspended above the pavement.
"Least I can fly without a giant stick."
"And I can throw a punch without some fancy words."
"I … will … walk." Izuku begged. "No fight."
"Stay out of this."
"But… But it involves-"
"Stay out of this." They gave him a firm glance.
He gulped. Well, this confirmed a theory Izuku had for a long time… It wasn't just his aunts… all girls were scary no matter where you were in the universe.
Tim Drake's quirk was extendo finger … his index finger extended one foot. It wasn't much, and it wouldn't amount to much. So he tried to become better in his own way. Research was his first source, the easiest thing that came to him. He was good at it, he saw connections so few saw.
Like how Robin performed a move just like Dick Grayson. A perfect match actually. Jason was loud when Tim came over, he accused Dick of blowing his identity for 'style points'. That led to a lot of birdarangs flying around, and an almost concussed head wound, if it wasn't for the untimely arrival of Batman and Alfred … to this day, Tim wasn't sure who was scarier… money was on Alfred though, since he kind of sort of RAISED the Batman … the shotgun helped sell his point.
After that, Tim kind of was just … wormed into the business. The business of crime fighting. He found his calling, somewhat, in the detective work. It was easy to do, and it was rewarding that it helped save lives. The fighting wasn't much of a calling though. He didn't have Dick's grit or Jason's … frankly ridiculous ability to rush into danger.
Barbara had the stuff too … before the accident. "Let me get this straight." Said girl looked at the Batman himself, Bruce Wayne. Her face was inquisitive. "You want us to investigate Japan, but don't want to tell us why?"
"Yes." Bruce, as Tim was habitual to call him, even though the man responded more to Batman (which was a concerning sign, but why split hairs now when he was the third ever Boy Wonder?).
"You're acting surprised that the B-Man wants to keep things to himself." Stephanie smirked.
"Oh no, I have long since accepted that he has a closet of skeletons." Barbara nodded. "I just expected that when he finally took one out, it wouldn't be halfway done."
"I have reasons to keep it as inconspicuous as possible." Bruce explained as he went on the Bat computer. "Japan has a surplus of heroes, the number rivaling those of America even for its small size, but quality and quantity are not equally exclusive. There's too much potential for corruption among their ranks."
"Like Lady Nagant's snap?" Tim asked, frowning deeply. "So this is a false hero hunt type schtick?"
"Not exactly." Bruce answered. "I can only give full details to who I'm sending over to investigate."
"So we don't have a say?" Steph asked.
"No no, he makes a fair point." Tim nodded. "Me and you are known. Do you remember what happened when Tornado realized the 'Boy Wonder' jokes weren't jokes?"
"I still find it difficult to believe someone so small could break father's spine." Damian noted, his lips thinning as usual. "And that they did it by using Wayne enterprise sign as a javelin."
"We were so lucky Flash was on call." Barbara sighed. "So, what vigilante are you sending out, or are you going to use the baby robin assassin for his first official solo mission?"
"I will weed the sin from those wretched souls." The boy held up his sword.
"I'm sending Cassandra."
Everyone waited for the punchline to that joke… until they remembered Batman didn't have a sense of humor as they turned to the mute girl, who was sulking in the back, bowing her head once she was acknowledged by everyone.
"...You're kidding, right?" Barbara glared.
"Tim and Stephanie are too well known, the Tornado threat was accurate." Bruce acknowledged. "You're not fit for field work, and Damian is still too young."
"What about Kate?" Tim asked.
"She's still independent." Bruce noted at the mention of his cousin.
"Lucas?" Stephanie asked.
"On standby in case I need to leave the city."
"Huntress-" Barbara brought up.
"No." Bruce growled out.
"Is he mentioning father's fling with-" Damian began to ask.
"Okay, no." Tim spoke up in a finality tone, shaking his head. "You of all people do not get to bring up Bruce's flings." Considering he was a product of said fling… which was putting things lightly.
"My mind is made up." Bruce caught everyone's attention.
"I mean, I'm glad that my bestie gets to go." Stephanie spoke up as Cassie stood next to her. "But this sounds like something you would normally entrust Dick with."
"...Dick's gone out on his own." Bruce spoke after a moment of silence. And you had to really know Bruce to tell, even with his even tone, it was breaking him up on the inside.
"He still cares …" Barbara assured, moving her glasses nervously. "He just … needs space. I … know what that's like."
"Are you just saying that because you broke up with him?" Stephanie asked bluntly, getting glares thrown at her. "Sorry, sorry, bad time."
"Besides, Cassandra's the perfect candidate for the mission. She's mostly unknown with her hero identity, no one in the wider hero community knows her civilian identity… and she's in the right age range for U.A." Bruce explained further.
"Hold on, hold on, the hero school?" Tim blinked in bafflement. He had many reservations … but before anything else, this HAD to be said. "So she's finally going to suffer highschool like the rest of us." For the first time since he's known her, a look of genuine horror overcame the mute girl.
"Can I just say that this may as well be one of your worst ideas to date?" Barbara spoke out, agreeing with him.
"You can not." Damian spoke bluntly. "The only idea of father's that would be considered horrible is the shorter shorts on the Robin's original costume." Tim shuddered. The horror… it was like running around in underwear… even more so than Batman's costume, which literally HAD underwear on the outside!
"Cassie can't even speak! She just barely got down reading!" Barbara called out in retort.
"She can manage just fine." Bruce stated evenly.
"Her quirk isn't exactly the most hero friendly..." Barbara pointed out again, frowning.
Tim and Stephanie both sent her looks. "Something to say?"
"Oh you know what I meant! Her quirk could get someone killed!"
"So can everyone else here when given enough preparation." Bruce called out. "Cassandra has the willpower and strength to hold herself back. I trust her to use sound judgment with her capabilities."
The girl herself said nothing, other than bowing, which for Cassie, was like her jumping for joy. "Who the heck is Cassie staying with?" Barbara asked with an annoyed sigh, continuing to be indignant about the whole thing. "She's not old enough to rent without looking suspicious, especially since she can't sign her own name." The silent girl flipped her off.
"I'm assigning Nemuri Kayama."
The group blinked. "… The stripper?" Damian asked, there was a genuine disbelief in his calm voice.
"She's a hero-"
"And a stripper." The kid was only five years old, how the heck did he know when a stripper was? "That seems… illogical."
"Japanese heroes treat their students as either soldiers or advertisements. I looked for someone that would see her as a student first and foremost." Bruce explained.
"Would have assumed you'd stick her with Eraserhead." Damian pointed out. The guy is the closest thing Japan had to a Batman.
"I wanted to give the man some kind of break." Cassie looked like she didn't know how to take that. "Prepare to leave tomorrow, this mission is going to be for the long haul." The girl bowed once more, and disappeared into the shadows.
"Should we ask her to look after the Endeavor kid case while she's at it?" Tim asked.
"No. The HPSC buried evidence too deep." Bruce stated with a small growl. "I'll wait until she's in the country for further oversight."
"Sure, send the former child assassin over to another country, that will turn out swell." Barbara muttered.
"I'll have you know I've carried out several successful assassinations overseas when I was three." Damian spoke up. He wasn't really helping like he thought he was.
Toga rubbed the precious cheek of her latest lover, smiling. "So adorable …" Of course, it was hard to respond with no voice box, but Toga knew the sentiment was there. "I know this is what you would've wanted in the end. All of you, in all of your beautiful red glory will now flow out for everyone to see… and I'll keep a part of you in me wherever I go…"
This ... this was the only true way to love someone. To become them, to have their warm blood rush down your throat and become them, mind, body, and soul ... to live their lives and experience it as your own … that, was true understanding.
So 'Yuto Kiba', the Prince Charming of Housu High, walked the streets. She would be the charming perfectionist, caring for her new sister, helping her new father do the lawn, and slowly charm a girl … fall in love with them … become them … such an endlessly beautiful cycle, wasn't it?
She walked out, offering a more stoic hum, less cherry. She had to match the mood of Yuto, he wasn't bubbly, he was smooth. Like a silk curtain. His arms were so lovely when they held her. And they bled such a lovely, velvety red …
It wouldn't last, sooner or later, the blood would run out, and she would have to find someone else to love…until the day she could find someone that loved her back … or had a healing factor strong enough for her to repeatedly stab them… but they also had to look cute. A lot of people who healed looked ugly. She didn't want to end up looking like Doomsday or anything.
… Then again that Stain guy looks kinda cute … all covered in blood and with an angry scowl … such bloody determination in his eyes. Oh how she would adore to step into his shoes and experience his pleasure and agony! Oh, if only Saito loved being covered in blood, then she would've had her dream crush! Cute, baby faced, and covered in blood! So much FUN to be had!
Now, could she cut someone up before she had to play 'Yuto'? Mmm … technically she could, but she JUST manifested these clothes, and getting them bloody would arouse suspicion … stupid dumb society. Why couldn't they just accept her love and get bloody!? If more people stabbed each other, then everyone would be happy-
She paused in her movements as she turned her head. Someone was coming close. Her quirk was transformation, but you didn't live on the streets without learning a few tricks, like how to keep yourself unseen by holding your breath, or when to tell when you were being stalked.
Now, question was if this was someone who wanted her or wanted someone. A simple mugging was probably the best case scenario … no wait, best case scenario would be a cute girl tying her down to her bed claiming to be her soulmate as they cut each other.
Either way, act casual. Shrug, and keep walking. Make them think that you didn't notice their eyes. Check reflections, locate the target … there. Thin dude, white hair, cute red eyes. Kind of old looking, but age was just a number, right? "Ahh, you've noticed me… good. I was informed that your senses were acute and sharp as your fangs." He smiled.
They turned back, creating a stumble. "I'm … sorry sir, I don't think we've met." She gave a nervous chuckle. "Are you looking for someone?"
His smile remained. "And not a hint of any reaction of that outside of a common teenage boy upon the revelation you were caught. You can truly put on a good mask." The guy spoke. "Stumbling needs work though, it was too balanced, you need to make yourself vulnerable to truly sell it."
The man was reading her up and down… it was kind of hot, but don't get distracted now! Cuteness didn't mean they could love you. "Ah come on, I think you put too much flattery on little old me. I mean, I don't even have the pleasure of knowing who you are when you have all this knowledge on me." She chuckled, making a few steps forward to the man.
"Oooh, pardon me, where are my manners?" The cute old man bowed. "My name, is Brother Blood."
Blood… blood…. "If you have blood in your name, then you better not be screwing around." Toga dropped the act, part of her face melting. "You better mean every word you say."
"Oh I do." The man's smile seemed to widen just a tad. "I would like to invite you, Toga Himiko … to my school." He held out a pamphlet … Eh?
"You're kidding right?" She asked with annoyance, unimpressed. Why does she have to go school again…where she pretended to be 'normal', not being herself?
"Not at all." He smirked. "Do you know how old All Might is?"
"Eh … mid fifties?" She guessed, shrugging.
"Correct. He's leaving behind a generation … the next one." The man nodded. "All of the old timers are. But they aren't scared, they have successors and legacies that will live on … but what about us?" He grinned. "The villains, the adversary, the outcast and misfit of this super powered society."
"… First you had my curiosity … now you have my attention." And the closest a girl could have to an erection … which, given she was still wearing a boy's body, was pretty close.
"I'm creating a school, hidden away. Scouting the finest outcasts the world has … I've got a bit of a mental quirk, a talent." He smirked as his eyes shone. "You may not be 'evil', but you will forever rebel against norms, crave blood from living people, and find your own love …" He handed her the pamphlet. "I think you're a good fit."
"H.I.V.E academy…." She read the title. "Hm….the yellow would clash with any red I wear…. Exactly what do you want to teach, Bloody Senpai?"
"Only the finest in villainous tendencies and plotting. You may be good at your job, yes. But be honest with yourself. With how you operate now, how long do you expect to function?" He leaned in close. "And how damaging and hurtful is the lack of friends?"
"...It's like someone tears out my heart every single day." She muttered quietly.
"Here … everyone has damage." He chuckled. "From hating the world, to superiority, to not being smart enough, so many problems … and you want to know the best part?" The man looked deep into her eyes. "You'd fit right in. Loved."
Love… she'll… she'll get to have love… maybe… maybe she'll be loved back… "Do I get to cut up students?"
"If they die by your hands, clearly they're not up to standard."
"Then I'm in!" Joy! "Oooh, I have to pack! Gotta get all my blood to share with my brand new besties!" Himiko smiled in eagerness.
Bloody Senpai grinned. "Meet me on Ine bay this Friday. It'll be a pleasure having you, Ms. Himiko."
This…. This was the BEST DAY EVER! A life… a life where she was free to love as she pleased… if the world called her a villain, let them… she would finally be free!
Garfield winced. His leg was definitely out of alignment. It was gonna hurt to shove back in place. How could someone go through so much training in one day? He was 14 for Pete's sake, he wasn't freaking All Might!
But did Beast Boy get to air any of these frustrations? Nope! Cause that would be insubordination, and insubordination wasn't tolerated around here. "Come on team, move it!" Shouted the biggest source of criticism within the team. "No lollygagging!"
"Tell that to Larry, his body is literally limp!" Cliff shouted as he pointed to the mummified man, who was indeed laying on the floor.
"Guess the negative spirit decided to play hooky." Rita muttered with an eyeroll.
"I'll get to him tonight, for now I may as well focus on what I can do. Which is improve us!" Mento screamed out from the front of the line. "Come on!" Day in and day out. Training, missions, failure, training, missions, failure, training, missions, failure, training, missions, failure.
Garfield grimaced as he shoved his leg back into place, holding back a scream. Showing pain would just lead to more exercise and disappointment. All their missions were getting more and more intense, and no matter how much Garfield improved, it was never enough. Turning into a dolphin to save Cliff from drowning, Mento yells at him for letting Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man get away. Flying Rita out of a cliff when her leg was damaged, got yelled out for letting Madame Rouge slip away. Help Larry make breakfast for everyone, get grounded for 'wasting time cooking when he could've been training'! There was just no pleasing to this guy!
Every single day, they were repeating this cycle over and over and over again! The others argued with Mento to get him to back off, but it never got through that thick skull of his. He wondered if even Batman overworked the Robins like this? There was a new one of them almost every year, which must've been a fun gig if people just kept getting added. Or the old guy just kept quitting …
… Quitting … it was always on the tip of his tongue, but Garfield never did it. Sure Mento sucked, but the rest of the Doom Patrol was his family, he didn't want to just leave them … it would hurt. He'd be alone… and being alone was just the worst. What's the point of living if you were alone. Plus he was a hero, what was he going to do, go solo… could he even go solo? He could turn into a dinosaur, that meant he had SOME potential as a solo hero… right? Aquaman was a fish dude and he kicked butt.
"Garfield, stop daydreaming and march!"
He bit down a retort. "Yes sir!" Just keep it up for the others, for Rita, for Cliff, for Larry. Just keep pushing it, just keep pushing it, if you didn't question your place on the team, you kept your family. And if you kept your family, you'd stay happy. He kept running through the pain and exhaustion, kept running through the shouts, just keep on running, running, always running.
"Just keep it up …" How long would this go on? Would they keep struggling until there were just no more bad guys left? How long until Mento finally took a chill pill?
"I keep telling you guys…" Cliff grumbled as he ran. "Running, is… POINTLESS FOR-!"
POP
One of his knees gave in on itself, making Robotman fall to the ground. "All friggin frackin frack!" He cursed in displeasure.
"Cliff, you alright!?" Rita called out to him as they stood him up.
He sighed. "Yep, just wounded pride…. And phantom pains… nothing more than usual… ugh… all the training is stressing out the bolts." Made sense, better-
"Cliff, fix yourself up. Rest of you keep it up." Mento ordered sternly, unconcerned… Keep it … up … ignoring … always … Garfield walked over to Cliff, turning into a gorilla as he grabbed the man's arm, pulling him forward. "Beast Boy, I said-"
He changed into human form. "I heard what you said and I'm ignoring you." He argued. "Because, I QUIT!"
"...What?" Rita blinked in shock.
"I'm sorry Rita, I tried to stick it out, I really did… but I don't want to stick around a team with a leader that… that…." Garfield grumbled.
"I'm what, Beast Boy?" Mento glared down at him, daring him to finish his sentence.
"...That is a cold…. heartless…Prick!"
SLAP
And Garfield found himself on the receiving end of Mento's hand, stumbling into the ground. Mento glared at him harshly, unapologetic. "… You have till tomorrow to pack your things."
"… Come on Cliff." He turned back into a gorilla to lift the heavy, metal man.
"Kid, think about what you're doing…" Cliff protested out of concern. Beast Boy just kept walking.
"Mm." He's been thinking about it for years. He didn't need to think about it anymore.
"Come on Garfield, don't stop talking to me just because you're in animal mode now."
"Mm." Even if he knew how to talk like this, it wouldn't change anything. Mento wouldn't care about them, obviously by how easily it was to just quit. If they didn't follow his plan, he'd just let them go…
This wasn't a family, it was a team. He had family in the team… but as long as Mento was around, one side would always trump the other. "MENTO!" Screamed a giant casting a shadow over them.
"… But you are right to leave the blast zone." Cliff noted fearfully. "Run monkey, run!"
Kayama grinned. "Welcome to your new home, Ms. Wayne! Or should I call you Cassie?" She asked the foreign student friendly.
… The young girl stared at her in silence. She was informed about the girl's muteness… amongst many other things, when Bruce Wayne (and he may have been on the older side, but man, was that face just absolutely yummy), one of the richest and most influential people in America informed him of his young, for lack of a better word, ward's interest in being a hero.
It was a little out of the ordinary for her, but not completely unseen. An unknown-known fact within the hero community was that Bruce Wayne provided a lot of funding for the Justice League at large, along with Oliver Queen and Mister Terrific, so the man definitely had the pull. Kayama herself was no stranger caring for children, she was a teacher of course.
Although there were two main concerns about the child in question. One was their inability to use their quirk. Not that this was necessarily debilitating, as there was a good number of heroes that didn't use their quirks … but the entire point of obtaining a license was gaining the legal ability to use their quirk or meta ability in the field. Just seemed like a weird path to send her to a hero school.
Second … that unnerving glint in her eyes. Midnight may have been the 'r-rated' hero, and she was proud to parade herself as such, but part of her charm was the ability to get to know people, disarm them mentally and emotionally before doing it physically. It was a good day when she didn't have to use her quirk … but this girl, Cassandra Cain Wayne, her eyes were no stranger to hardship. They've seen fights … although maybe it was more apt to say she's seen massacres.
"... Want a tour?" Kayama questioned.
The girl looked at her, as if she was studying her intentions, before giving a curt nod.
Nemuri's grin remains patient. "...Excellent, let's begin." It wasn't the first time she's dealt with a mute student before, but that was mostly for the cases of those too shy, meek, or just needed the right push to bring out their passionate youthfulness. "Over here is the living room. I like to keep it spacious." She gestured out. "There's the TV, the kitchen, just let me know when you're hungry alright?"
The girl nodded again, showing no signs of emotion or flinching.
"Following that is my room, the guest room you'll be sleeping in, and the stray room." They tilted their head in confusion. "I see a stray, I keep it in there until I find them a good home." The girl looked around, then pointed to herself. Midnight snorted. "No, I don't mean people… most of the time." She mumbled before smiling. "I have a friend. Gruff on the outside, but has a huge soft spot for cats. You know anyone like that?"
The girl stood still for a moment, before making a curt nod once more, her hands signing 'Mr. Wayne.'
Two things of note. The formalness of speaking to her guardian, which may have indicated respect, but not so much love of the parental kind. Secondly… "Oh, you're able to sign?"
They gave a shrug.
"We'll work on it." Kayama nodded. The fact the girl was willing to communicate at all was a miracle. "I do have a small gym upstairs, so if you feel like relieving stress, or even are in need of some new equipment, just let me know." The girl was in very good shape from what she could tell from her figure. She definitely wouldn't have any trouble showing off if that's what she wanted. The Wayne smiled and ran upstairs … "Didn't even wanna unpack first, did she?" She asked no one in particular with fake annoyance.
"Oh boy, you just had to accept a favor from the first cute face you saw, didn't you." Kayama groaned as she leaned back into her seat. So what did she know about Cassandra Wayne? She was mute, stoic, likely highly traumatized, or at least, refused to speak out of some past event(s), had a quirk that was dangerous by most standards, and, from the files that Mr. Wayne oh so provided, spoke only in 'the language of violence', as in, the way she communicated and talked to the world around her was through actions alone.
Developing social skills were going to be most paramount. Couldn't exactly be a hero without being a little friendly … unless you were Endeavor, Batman, Tornado …
The girl came back down the stairs, carrying one hundred pound dumbbells with little strain. "..." She expressed with her left hand.
"...You wish to go heavier?" Kayama blinked as the girl nodded. "...Well, who am I to deny someone who goes plus ultra?" She chuckled after shrugging. "But fair warning, if you get too heavy, you'll stay short."
The girl shrugged again as she continued to do reps… oh boy, she had a workaholic on her hands. That was never fun in the long run. "… So, wanna watch a baking show together?" She asked hopefully.
The girl looked at the tv… and just proceeded to keep exercising. "...Good talk. I'll just… have it on in the background for you." Maybe this was why none of her friends ever had kids.
Stain wiped his sword of the blood of the false hero. "Another blight erased." He murmured. Another false hero gone. Such was his role in society, in this corrupted society full of false idols and prophets. Heroes were a necessary component of society. Society needed heroes in order to run, that was just the way the world had always worked.
It needed justice … a justice that had died as of late. It wasn't a quick death however. The first seeds of it rooted itself from the death of the world's greatest hero, Superman. The only one that could rightfully have been called a god, yet was too humble to ever accept such a title.
He was passion, justice, freedom, love … just as Darkseid was the embodiment of true evil in the universe, Superman was the embodiment of true good. Superman was. But now he is not … and the world started to crumble for it.
False heroes became more prominent, the job became nothing more than marketing and merchandise. Sure, many people, falsely, felt safe with the number of heroes around, but quality did not equate to quantity, and vice versa. And many heroes in Japan, not only didn't meet that standard, they reveled in their debauchery and unworthiness.
But, Stain wasn't blind to say that the world was devoid of true heroes. There were a few that managed to crack through the mold. Batman, the mere mortal who used the shadows to exact swift vengeance upon the cowardly and superstitious. Wonder Woman, the Amazonian who sought truth for all life in the world, fighting for peace even as centuries wore down upon her. The Flash, a heart that always moved to save those, at any time, at any place, to never have a single civilian die within their city due to the actions of evil. All Might, the symbol of peace who fought purely because people cried in need of help, a source of hope for many, and perhaps the only one that could ever even attempt to be the example that Superman was.
These were the beacons that burned the way to a brighter tomorrow… but it wasn't enough. People like Booster Gold, Captain Celebrity, Tornado, Endeavor, Ingenium, all of them were pure rot to the name of hero. Heroes who didn't inspire hope but fear, heroes who only cared for fame, heroes that caused more damage to life than the villains they sought to beat!
Stain thought he would fix the world once … but it wasn't enough. Knuckleduster taught him as much, that naivety cost him his nose. It opened his eyes to what grit and steel could truly accomplish. To the good that must be done. To cleanse those that do wrong by this system! He will cleanse it all!
"Hero Killer eh? Quite the total you have for yourself." Spoke a … nasally high voice. Very high. He turned his head to see a buffed man in a skeleton looking Halloween costume, the jaws of his exposed skull grinning. "Much potential, much potential indeed."
"Who goes there?!" He shouted aggressively to the man, preparing to slice the potential threat.
"Yes, introductions." They chuckled. "I am Lord Death Man, master of yoga, and arch nemesis of the Batman! Tremble at my visage!"
…
"You are clearly unwell." Stain rolled his eyes as he sheathed his blades. "Refrain from getting in my way or you will know the end of my blades."
"In your way?" The skeleton asked flippantly. "Not at all. I am curious about your way." They skipped over to Stain. "It seems quite insidious from an outside perspective."
"Then you clearly can't see beyond what is in front of you." Stain growled. "My methods are horrendous, I will hold no shame or doubt about it, but for a clean society where the word hero can mean something, I will be the stain that removes the rot from it."
"Interesting …" The man muttered. "And what of the Lanterns? Or Aquaman? Do they count as heroes to you?"
"Aquaman is a king protecting his own kingdom and the world at large. The lanterns, however, are glorified cops, too much risk of unworthy candidates, like that of the red head of Justice League International." The one everyone referred to as the 'asshole' lantern.
"So slaughtering Lanterns is fine and dandy, but if All Might himself came to stop you …"
"Without Superman around … only All Might is worthy to end me." He declared, absolutely serious. No other hero in this country was worthy. "If I were to meet my end by his hand, I would welcome it with open arms."
"So, tell me… which heroes constitute death?" The man sounded excited at the mere mention of the word.
"Why should I divulge anything further with you?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Because… I'm the only one in the world that can make your dream a reality."
"And you expect me to indulge in your insanity?" He questioned with a scoff.
"No no, just a bit larger scale." The Skeletor knock off chuckled. "Instead of merely killing them one by one … how about forcing the world itself to change!?" He grinned. "I'm talking city wide wipeouts! A complete overhaul!"
Shink
"… You speak of genocide, villain." He growled as the criminal gargled and fell to the ground. Rolling his eyes, he sheathed his blade. "I aim for heroes, not those who-"
"Christ!" The man in a skeleton costume stood up. "Give a man a warning next time!" He complained as if he hadn't died from being gutted at all.
Stain stared, genuinely caught off guard. "...You… you didn't die."
"Hello, Lord. Death. Man. I command death, I am it's apex! All hail to the king." The man cackled. Stain now wonders whether the man's skull mask is fake or actually real. "I control who lives and who dies… and now I'd like to help you strike the fear of death into all heroes … and weed the world of fakes!" He cackled louder. His grin widened. "Are you in, Stain?"
This man was a villain, quite mad and deluded … but there was a strange flame … a curious one. One… one that could provide the change he so desperately wanted. "How do we implement such a task?" Stain asked, frowning curiously.
The villain called Lord Death Man laughed wickedly. "With memorization, attention grabbing, and a not so insignificant amount of C4!"
Raven took a deep breath as she concentrated. "Kōiu iikatadesu ka...?" She's spent the last few weeks coming over to the army base to… spend time with her… with someone she was hoping to call her friend... she's never been alone with anyone long enough to form such a connection.
There was a language barrier between her and Izuku, but, as an avid reader and lover of reading, that was an obstacle they could hopefully soon get over. "Good, very good, much better." Izuku smiled at her with that bright grin she couldn't believe could actually exist. "You catch quickly language."
"I've... always been a bit of a quick study." It was two fold. She got to learn a new language ... and the two of them had the excuse to just... talk and be in each other's presence. It wasn't anything big or spectacular … and Raven was the kind of person who preferred it that way. "So … what do you write in your notebook?"
"Heroes, quirks, meta, magics, all stuff." He answered, his smile brightened at those subjects. "Path to hero is study hero."
"You… study to become a hero?" She lightly grinned. That was the kind of thing people usually didn't think about when they chose something like that.
"Yeah … not strong or flashy like everyone else." Izuku nodded. "So I study because I thought it could help."
"… You lost your arm on the first punch."
"And before, I barely lift ten pounds." Izuku explained, rubbing his head sheepishly. "Quirk strong, but body not... body is left behind…so... so train body, train mind, be best hero." He smiled. "Pardon for rudeness, but, what is power of you exactly?"
She sighed, knowing answering him was the least she could do for him, but getting into something specific about herself… it unnerved her a bit. "Meditation and emotional control to allow myself to contain and command my inherited magic." She explained. "I work best at controlling shadows, but I'm also an empath."
He paled. "You read minds?"
"If I want to, but I mostly read emotions." She clarified. "I can read when someone is overly happy, or if they're sad .." She looked at Izuku. "... Or when they suddenly feel flustered."
He jumped. "Sorry, sorry! I really don't mean disrespect. I admire what you do. Power very impressive, it perfect for hero." Her lips quirked slightly.
"Heh…. That's the last thing I think I'll ever be." Raven sighed. "My magic… there's a dark side to it... if I'm not careful... people get hurt around me…" People already got hurt around her.
"I get hurt … I think it fine." And suddenly she felt that strange tingle … that very faint trace she got every now and then of a deep and crystalized self loathing. She knew the feeling well. "Just need time and training."
Time... time wasn't exactly something she had… she... she let the Enchantress possess her because of that limited time... sooner or later…
No… Izuku, whether he knew it or not, gave her more time. She was given more time… if she had died, then the world would've been safe... she knew it was better for everyone if she had died... but... but…
God… call her selfish and awful ... but she wanted to live… she wanted to keep living… and thanks to this kind, sweet, clueless boy... she got more time to live. "Would... would you mind if we train together?" Raven asked. "We … we start small, of course…. If you want."
"Of course." He smiled. "What should we do? I little experience with magic."
She thought for the moment. "Well, the simplest spell I know is levitation."
"Oooh, I many notes on that!" Izuku grinned, pulling out pages. "Aunties talk about their experience a lot… they really like talking about it."
Rachel smiled a little. "Heh, you... you close with them?"
"Yeah, one say too close." The boy muttered as she felt emotions of… resentment? There was affection and joy... but also a dreaded feeling of uneasiness "Loving and … protective … very protective … you saw Fubuki-chan, right?"
"From…" She slowly nodded, "a distance." The way the woman held a grip on everyone… the control was amazing and horrifying at the same time.
"If trouble lifting many things at once, best to have mental image to help. Like, having four arms, or a multi handed backscratcher, or strand of pasta split into multiple ends."
Raven snickered at that. "Pfft…. Sorry ... sorry but… but that metaphor was lame…" And now the boy was sulking. "I'm not making fun of you-pffft," She covered her mouth, "seriously I'm not-aahahahahaha." Laughter… so… that's what it felt like… to share joy with someone else.
"Okay …" He nodded. "So, levitation?"
"Right." She began floating up. "It's a strange mental relaxation needed. I can't put too much force if I want to remain stationary, but …" Was he feeling flustered? Rachel turned to see Izuku … staring at her exposed legs. "...You… alright?"
"Fine, fine!" Izuku quickly turned his head back, his entire face looking like it was turning into a strawberry.
She wasn't even showing off that much skin….did… did he think she was attrac-No, no, full stop, now was not the time to indulge those emotions. She was already feeling happy, that should be more than enough. You had a friend… and for however long you had left… you would spend as much time as you can with that friend as possible.