"Get these two out of here, Kurogiri." Tomura Shigaraki scratched idly at the place where his prosthetic arm and shoulder joined. "They're exactly the kind of trash we don't need. Just a couple of useless Stain fanboys."
"Please!" The green skinned heteromorph cried out. "I am Spinner, a true disciple of Stain! I swear to uphold his vision and mission with my entire being."
"Good for you." Tomura ground out. "I don't care."
"C'mon, boss." Giran's eyes glinted behind his glasses. "They could be useful and, as you can see, they've really taken to Stain's ideology. Can't put a number on loyalty to a cause like that."
"This is the leader of the League of Villains?" The lanky, dark haired man asked, his dry voice laced with scepticism. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised he's a bratty man-child."
"At least I know some manners." Shigaraki hissed. "Didn't catch your name, patchwork…"
"Right now, I'm going by Dabi."
"That's not what I meant." Shigaraki's skin burned. He scratched the scathing flesh idly. "Your real name."
"I'll let you know when it becomes relevant." Dabi monotone. "Besides, my purpose is to carry out the Hero Killer's will. Isn't that what matters?"
"Why is everyone so hung up on Stain?" Shigaraki couldn't stand the itching. He let his arms drop to his side as he stood from the barstool. "I'm sick of hearing about him day in and day out. It's really starting to piss me off."
Dabi's eyes widened as Shigaraki leapt towards him, summoning a flare of blue fire in his palm just as inky black slashes in the air sent their hands whipping past each other. He relaxed as Shigaraki paused, pulling his hands away.
"Please control yourself, Tomura Shigaraki." Kurogiri pleaded. "We will never achieve your goals if we don't increase our numbers. For the moment, we need to be less… selective."
He extended his black mist, speaking directly in Tomura's ear, so that he could go unheard by the rest of the room.
"We must exploit the Hero Killer's cause while we can…"
"I'm going out." Shigaraki stormed from the room. The itch was unbearable.
The door handle decayed slightly as it closed.
"Forgive my master." Kurogiri continued smoothly. "The… loss of the Hero Killer affected him deeply. His standards for recruitment have always been strict, but now he goes even further. I am sure he will see the merit in you both."
"I understand." Spinner nodded, his own head dropping. "The Hero Killer would accept no substandard heroes. It would track that the League he served would accept no substandard allies."
Dabi merely narrowed his eyes, unconvinced.
"I'm looking forward to hearing your stories about how fun camp was." Mina Ashido's voice warbled as tears streaked down her cheeks.
"Looks like it's summer school for us." Rikido Sato shook his head sadly. "Man that sucks."
"I'll be sure to tell you all about it…" Kaminari smirked, leaning dramatically over his desk. "After all, those who succeed deserve a camp vacation!"
"You heartless monster!" Mina sobbed.
"When the bell rings you should be in your seats." Aizawa snapped, slamming the door open. To his surprise, every student was already sitting patiently at their desk. He scoffed. "Unfortunately we had a few failures in the finals. So when it comes to thé training camp… you're all going."
Surprise rang through the class.
"I'm glad to announce that no-one failed the written exams." Aizawa revealed, silencing the shouts with a glare. "But three of you still failed the practical."
"Wait three?!" Kirishima paled.
"Team Ashido and Sato failed outright." Aizawa continued. "But Kaminari's score was low enough to fail as well."
"What?! No way?!" Denki shouted, nearly falling out of his chair. "You can't be serious, teach!"
"Let me explain." Aizawa leaned casually on his lectern. "During the exam you were scored on how well you achieved the goal, but we were also observing the methods you used. So, while Kaminari sacrificed himself for noble reasons, it's becoming a habit of his to incapacitate himself in battle. A technique like that should be a last resort, not your main strategy. Besides, we left a way for all of you to complete the task assigned during the exam, otherwise you never would have passed. You just needed to apply yourselves strategically instead of trying to overpower a more powerful opponent."
"But you told us the teachers won't hold back?" Ojiro ventured.
"I said that to get you all nervous." Aizawa smirked. "It worked like a charm. Besides, the training camp is structured to help build your strength and overcome your weaknesses. Something those among you that failed clearly need the most. We were never going to separate you. That was just a logical deception we used."
"A LOGICAL DECEPTION?" The class protested vocally.
"He does that." Tokoyami sighed, explaining the situation to Izuku, who wore a look of complete confusion. "A lot."
"I need to stress that failure is still failure." Aizawa snapped, instantly silencing the class. "we've prepared lessons for you, and to be frank they'll be far more difficult than anything you would see at summer school. Class dismissed. See you all back here on Friday."
"Looks like we'll be at camp a whole week." Izuku noticed, pointing out the information on his leaflet to Tokoyami and Todoroki. "I'm gonna need a bigger suitcase."
An explosion detonated from inside the classroom.
"DEKU!" Katsuki Bakugou exploded into the hallway. "YOU DAMN NERD! I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"
A singed Denki Kaminari stumbled out of the door after him, followed by the rest of the class.
"Kacchan?" Izuku was very proud of the fact that he didn't even flinch. "What's up?"
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, HUH?!" Bakugou demanded.
"In a personal sense or a metaphysical one?" Izuku's mouth tugged with a smirk.
"THIS ISN'T FUNNY, YOU BASTARD!"
"Ok, what did I do?" Izuku donned a thoughtful expression, completely ignoring the belligerent blonde for a moment, and put a hand to his chin. "Let me think… I'm pretty sure I still ended up scoring lower than you on the exams, but I didn't fail and embarrass the class… I also didn't congratulate you today, since I know you hate that-"
"That's my whole damn point you damn nerd!" Bakugou growl "Did you have to go and tell the whole damn world it's my damn birthday?!"
"It's your birthday?" Tokoyami wondered as Shoto's eyes widened.
"DAMN YOU DEKU!" Bakugou snapped his head between the two so fast, Izuku thought it would pop off.
"I'm sorry, Kacchan." He replied sincerely. "I really didn't mean to. Class 1-A just seems so close, that I figured they knew already."
"We really should celebrate though!" Kirishima bumped Bakugou's shoulder companionably. "I'm serious! Go have lunch or something!"
"Great idea!" Mina added. "Actually, now I think about it, we've never actually hung out as a class before!"
"Hey, you're right!" Toru gasped. "Besides, there's a lot of stuff we'll need for the camp right? We might as well do a shopping trip!"
"I can't think of anything more annoying!" Bakugou shouted.
"C'mon!" Kirishima beamed, punching Bakugou's arm. "It'll be great for class morale!"
"No way!"
"We can use it as a chance to get to know our new members." Kirishima continued, unphased. "Sure, Deku and Kendo have been with us for a while, but Shinsou only joined a week ago. Think of it as encouraging class cohesion. You need to set an example for the rest of the class after all."
"Fine!" Bakugou snapped, the veins in his head standing out. "Listen up you damn extras!"
"YES CLASS REP!" 1-A replied in unison. Shinsou started, looking between his classmates in shock.
"Be at the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall at 9:00 AM sharp." Bakugou demanded with a growl. "We'll meet up for a briefing at whatever restaurant Shitty-Hair says on the class group. After, we'll break off to get our supplies for camp. Ponytail and I will make a list tonight and send it through. You got me?!"
"YES CLASS REP!"
"Yes, class rep!" Shinsou replied just a second later.
"Icyhot." Bakugou fixed Todoroki with a stern glare. "You're excused."
Todoroki nodded in thanks.
Even after being in class A for months, Izuku still couldn't believe the change in Bakugou.
Bakugou sat between Kirishima and Kaminari, grinning and even making a joke or two himself. All the while he never lost his signature scowl.
Izuku couldn't believe it.
"It's not the hair this time." Tokoyami wondered from his left, mimicking the way Izuku held his chin while thinking.
"Is it the jacket?" Kendo asked, mirroring Tokoyami.
"You guys are hilarious." Izuku rolled his eyes.
"Do you have a crush on Bakugou?" Mina asked from next to Kendo, startling Izuku.
"What?!" Izuku blanched. "Why on earth would you think that?!"
"You have a petname for him." Mina counted on her fingers. "You're constantly trying to talk to him. And you stare at him."
"A lot." Kendo and Tokoyami chorused.
"Seriously. Your quirks should be called 'Joke Shadow' and 'Big Quips'." Izuku grumbled. "No. I do not have a crush on Kacchan. I don't even-"
He gestured, unable to form the words he wanted to.
"It's not like that." He finished lamely, falling back in his seat. "He was my best friend growing up. But since he got into UA, it's like he's a completely different person. The Katsuki Bakugou I thought I knew wouldn't ever have done… this."
Bakugou punched Kaminari's arm, laughing, while Kirishima cried tears of laughter at Bakugou's side.
"Sometimes I look at him and…" He waved his hand, failing to find the words. "It's like I don't even recognise him."
"UA's changed all of us." Tokoyami said seriously. "Class 1-A survived an attack from real villains. Several of our classmates were injured, our teacher too, and one of our classmates died. If that doesn't change someone, I don't know what will."
Izuku watched as Bakugou somehow simultaneously smiled and glared at Kaminari, while Kirishima placed a small cardboard box on the table. From across the table, Yaoyorozu made eye contact with Izuku and nodded.
Kirishima undid the folded clasps on the box, removing a small chocolate melt cake from the box. He tapped Bakugou's shoulder and watched with smug satisfaction as Bakugou's face flushed.
"Damn it, Shitty-Hair." Bakugou growled, eyes burning. "I told you I didn't want anyone else to know!"
"I know." Kirishima smiled sheepishly. "That's why we're gonna keep it low key."
Bakugou felt his phone vibrate. He gave Kirishima a look that a man would give a minefield, then pulled out his phone. Scrolling across his screen were notifications on the class group as each member of 1-A silently wished him a happy birthday.
"I know you don't wanna make a scene." Kirishima's smile brightened. "But everyone here appreciates you, and we wanted you to know that."
Bakugou's mouth opened and closed, speechless.
He felt… disjointed without the hands.
Mother's hands did not choke his neck, making him breathe more than he should.
He scratched his neck with his prosthetic hand, desperate, trying to relieve the itch. The skin was already red.
He couldn't bear the ever present itch.
Allergies. What a load of crap. He knew what made him itch.
It was always worse while Grandmother and Grandfather no longer clasped his elbows and arms.
He watched them, laughing and smiling, completely carefree. The insipid, idiotic sheep, so secure in their false safety.
He grimaced. Hana did not hold his wrists to keep him whole.
A passerby swore as he bumped into him, but he did not lash out. He kept the hood pulled over his face, running his tongue over his chapped lips.
Father did not hold him back.
While he wore the hands, he felt so disgusted that he wanted to vomit. But they kept him whole.
He could feel the absence of the hand Master had given him. The lack of pressure was like a hole in his head, leaving him open and decaying.
A group of school children laughed ahead. He didn't understand how they could be so delusional.
He… recognised that one. The green haired boy and the bird. With a stab like a spear in his gut, Tomura Shigaraki realised the school children were from 1-A. He watched with hungry eyes, but could not see the one who took his arm. His shoulder itch. He scratched until skin piled under his fingernails.
"I still can't believe how many of these shops stock gear for different quirks." Izuku muttered. "I wonder how they decide on what to stock and what not to. I never really thought about it before, but it does make sense that they'd accommodate a heteromorph customer base…"
"You're going to scare the children." Tokoyami warned playfully.
"I can't believe people still remember us." Ochako said quietly, giving a friendly wave to a group of raving Sports Festival fans.
"Of course they only remember some people." Jirou grumbled, watching enviously as Momo and Kendo signed autographs for a queue of fans.
"He really just left like that?" Mina asked as she and Kirishima rejoined the assembled 1-A.
"Yeah." Kirishima flushed, rubbing his neck nervously. "To be fair, I think we put a lot of strain on his social battery. I'm honestly surprised he stayed this long."
"I should get some outdoorsy shoes." Kaminari pondered.
"Great idea!" Toru agreed. "I'll help you look!"
"Good idea." Yaoyorozu nodded. "We've still got a lot to do. Let's split up and look around."
"We can meet back here in, let's say an hour?" Kirishima suggested. "That should give us enough time to get the rest of the stuff we need before the stores close for the day."
"Sounds perfect!" Mina piped, slinging an arm around Tokoyami's shoulders. "C'mon Tokoyami, buddy system! besides, I've been meaning to ask you…"
Tokoyami looked over his shoulder, trying to catch Izuku's eye. Izuku just waved, shaking his head with a smile.
"You wanna take a look around together?" He asked, turning to the only member of UA who hadn't dispersed with the rest.
"Not really." Shinsou shrugged. "I'd prefer to have some quiet after… all that."
"Yeah, okay." Izuku sighed, pulling out his phone to take a look at the list Yaoyorozu made. "Hm… bug spray. Everyone else will probably get some, but it's better to be prepare and get my own."
"Oh!" A man rasped. "It's someone from UA. Nice!"
Izuku started as the man threw a comfortable arm over his shoulders, grinning through dry lips. Dark circles dominated the skin under his eyes.
"Can I get an autograph?" The man's voice was like sandpaper on rusted metal. "You're the guy who turns into that fire monster, right?"
"That's me." Izuku tried to smile through the man's body odour.
"Man…" Shigaraki laughed like grating bone. "I am such a big fan. I can't believe I'm running into you like this. What a coincidence, wouldn't you say?"
"Yeah." Izuku tried to pull away politely. "What did you want me to sign?"
"And you're one of the students who helped fight off the Hero Killer in Hosu, right?"
"Well, no. I just helped fight his minions." izuku clarified, desperate to get the interaction over with.
"Of course!" Shigaraki laughed. "How could I forget, the guy who fought him died, right? He's not called the Hero Killer for nothing I guess."
"Right." Izuku frowned. "Listen, I'm really busy today. What did you want me to sign for you?"
"Hero Killer…" Shigaraki shook his head. "Stain. Can you believe they're selling merch of that guy?"
"What?" Izuku started. "Really? No way…"
"Crazy right?" Shigaraki continued.
"Can you imagine them selling merch of the League of Villains? Or action figures of a Noumu?"
Izuku felt a cold chill run down his spine.
"You didn't say Noumu earlier, did you?" Shigaraki laughed quietly. "My bad. Don't make a scene, hero."
Izuku felt the man's hand snake up towards his neck. He took a short breath, then slammed his fist into the man's side, breaking his grip enough to scramble away, activating the Omnitrix as he went.
"Villain!" Izuku cried, keeping his eyes fixed on Shigaraki as the crowd around them began screaming and running.
"You little brat!" Shigaraki shouted. "I just wanted a chat!"
"I don't make a habit of making conversation with criminals!" Izuku narrowed his eyes, hand hovering over the Omnitrix dial. "With all this noise, the police will be here any minute!"
"You idiot!" Shigaraki shouted, sprinting towards the crowd. "Do you have any idea how many people I can kill before they get here! I'll be more famous than the Hero Killer! And you can't even touch me without breaking the law!"
He extended his hand, flexing his fingers as they closed on a terrified woman's arm. His eyes widened as he slammed into the ground, turning in shock to see a canvas of sickly green slime sticking his feet to the floor.
Stinkfly whizzed past, picking the woman up in his claws and placing her out of the way on the second floor, all the while keeping two of his eyestalks on Shigaraki. Stinkfly buzzed back, hovering just out of reach as Shigaraki tore free from the slime.
"I don't need to hurt you to keep you from hurting anyone else!" Stinkfly asserted.
"You think you can stop me?!" Shigaraki screamed in frustration. "You're just another bug to be squashed!"
"Can't squash what you can't reach!" Stinkfly teased in a sing-song voice, shooting a glob of slime directly into the villain's face.
"Stand down now!"
Twin columns of sand swirled down the hallway, pulling the lower body of the Sand Hero, Snatch, after them.
"Surrender now!" He called, forming two fists of sand as he faced the two villains. "Don't move while I restrain you, and I won't have to hurt you!"
"No, wait!" Stinkfly turned into Izuku in a flash of green light. "I'm not a villain!"
Shigaraki lunged. Almost in slow motion, he watched the villain's hands close on his arm.
"I can't believe a villain attack happened right here at the mall." Kirishima whistled. "And I still need bug spray."
After the evacuation, the students in 1-A had slowly gathered together outside.
"Boy can we be glad Bakugou left when he did." Kaminari added.
"You said it." Mina shuddered. "We would have had to drag him away."
"I don't think we could have dragged him away." Kirishima grinned.
"It feels good not to be the target of a villain attack for once." Mineta grumbled.
"Minoru!" Yaoyorozu scolded. "That's a terrible thing to say! Someone could be hurt in there."
"Rather them than me, that's all I'm saying." Mineta muttered under his breath.
"Hey…" Uraraka wondered aloud. "Does anyone see Midoriya?"
The conversation stopped abruptly.
"I don't see him." Shoji said, worried, as he extended his tentacles above the gathered crowd.
"Oh man…" Kaminari looked pale. "You guys don't think…"
"The class group." Jirou suggested, pulling her phone from her pocket. Her fingers blurred as she typed. She waited as the responses piled in. She flinched. "Man… Bakugou can be harsh. Everyone is accounted for except Midoriya and Shinsou."
"Hey, what's going on?" Shinsou asked, elbowing his way through the crowd. "I say the tentacles."
"Get your phone off mute, man!" Kirishima demanded. "Come on, we told you how important it is!"
"Sorry, geez!" Shinsou rolled his eyes.
Ochako kept her eyes fixed on the mall's entrance where the police line held the crowd back.
Snatch reformed his arms, towering over the unconscious Shigaraki.
"I told you not to move." He groused, then turned to face Izuku. "You okay, kid?"
"Y-yeah." Izuku grit his teeth, gripping his arm tightly to stop the bleeding.
"C'mon, let's get you to safety." Snatch formed a tendril of sand, hardening it to hold Shigaraki aloft. "Can you walk?"
"I don't usually walk on my hands." Izuku tried to smile reassuringly, but only managed a grimace.
"Funny." Snatch grinned back. "In a society of quirks where schoolboys turn into bug people, you never know. Door's this way, smartass."
AN:
Impromptu update because a friend told me today is Bakugou's birthday. Next chapter, the forest training camp, should be up by Saturday at the latest.
:)
|| Review Review || Review of the King ||
CCSakuraforever
I'm glad you liked it! I'm not gonna reveal who's looking for the Omnitrix just yet, but as to your second question, He doesn't just mess with the earth, He conquers dimensions.
TheRealD3lph0xL0v3r
I love writing Shinsou. He's up there with Paradox as the most fun to write.
I thought it would be a really fun way of integrating the worlds of Ben 10 and MHA together, by having the Omnitrix be the reason quirks exist. It gives this version of the Universe a unique flavour, I feel.
It's not that Ben wants to give Izuku the same problems he had necessarily, more like he just wants Izuku to experience all the aliens and have some fun, instead of just choosing the perfect hero for every situation.
In fact I'm having a lot of trouble not just using Big Chill. You'd be surprised how many MHA problems Big Chill just outright solves.
You're 100% right on Ben's pettiness though.