Justice Across Space and Time: Year 2
Chapter 22
Okay, first chapter now that the system has started working again. Nothing too convoluted, just an idea for a future problem. One that will hopefully be handled better compared to how it ended up in the canon. As well as readying for another future arc. So on with the show.
(No POV)
"Another true meta speedster huh?" Izuku said after he and Itsuka's groups returned to UA. The red headed martial artist nodded and said, "yeah. Felicity Shroud. I looked her up and she….. *whistle*. She's hot and was outspoken in Europe for a time. But she dropped off the map six months ago. Now we know why."
John stepped in at this point and asked what other details about the speedster's powers the trio had. And Itsuka just ignored him while Ojiro and Toru were willing to fill him in. He sighed before saying, "have to say that is impressive how she's figured out her capabilities. Let alone Itsuka turning what Sahiraah told her about those power types into better weapons."
"Still didn't stop her from escaping though." Itsuka grumbled while thinking back on the matter. "Well at least you're somewhat willing to respond to me. Even if it's in annoyance at yourself and what happened on your mission." John said with a light smirk.
Itsuka grunts before saying she was heading back to her dorm. "Itsuka! C'mon! Look, you need more help with this. If nothing else, at least let me help you train some!" John says as the girl storms off. Leaving the big hero sighing and a bit sad.
Izuku gives his friend a raised eyebrow before leaning back and saying, "I know you're not surprised about her being mad. And….. well, I kind of am too. But I think you need to give her a more little time." Melissa nodded and noted that it was a big shock when he just vanished. "Especially after that whole adventure in the underworld," she noted with a smirk.
"I know, but I had a good reason. And well…. Look I know I was wrong, and that I should have maybe trusted you guys more. But we all know I had to get away for a while. I had to take back what they took and maybe avoid massive damage on par with what happened in my world."
The younger heroes look down and nod in some minor agreement. With the big hero noting that he didn't know how to reconnect with her or Sahiraah, given they were ignoring him. Ochaco looked between her friends before saying, "maybe…. Maybe we could help with part of that. With you and maybe Itsuka coming along for a long term Team Up Mission." She gulped before pulling up her phone and showing a message from Uwabami.
Izuku had a sour look on his face and it was matched by Melissa and John. Ochaco's wasn't much better, but she swallowed it to read off that she was asking the three of them and any others who would be photogenic to come to her office for a few jobs and patrols.
"She says that, but it'll probably be all modeling. I gotta go." Izuku said with a shake of his head. When asked where he was going, Shoto was the one who answered. "We're going to my mom's house for dinner. We're meeting Midoriya's parents too. His father is finally able to be home more consistently thanks to…. Nevermind."
The bi-colored teen trailed off on that before checking if Izuku was ready. Before the pair left though, John caught them about a matter. "Listen, I know you've still got….. issues with your dad Shoto. And Izuku, you're still mad at me so you might not take my suggestion. But something is off with Endeavor. I noticed during some news reports, and I could hear a few things. Let alone smell them on him. He uh…. Might be one who needs help himself."
The smaller teens narrowed their eyes and grumbled a bit before John reminded them of something important. "A hero should meddle to save someone. Even if, that someone may not want it right away."
That caught the pair off guard as they looked back at John. He just had a small smile and a gentle tilt of his head, but his presence seemed similar to All Might in the moment. "Damn. I hate that you can do that without trying hard at times. But you're right." Izuku grumbled before saying they might look into things.
While that was happening and the pair were making their way to Rei's house, Endeavor was out on patrol as usual. 'Gah. Head's pounding. But I guess that's a bit of my own fault. Wait!' Enji thought to himself before hearing someone call for help.
He focused his flames beneath his feet and rocketed to deal with a trio of incidents. One involving a thief, another was a crazy concrete manipulator causing chaos, and the last was a runaway vehicle. While the rescue of the runaway truck is fine, the first two were less than stellar.
"Yesh boss. Turned the heat up a bit too much don't you think?" Burnin asked while looking at the burns the thief had on his body. Endeavor coughed in response and admitted he went a little overboard. "Then there's this guy and the surrounding buildings. You melted a number of panes and supports. Not to mention messed this guy up pretty bad." Onima said while reporting on the situation in a different area.
The current number 1 grumbles before saying it was fine. "I responded quickly to the situation in progress. Just a hero should." Endeavor said before pulling out a water flask from his belt. Burnin though catches his arm and stops him.
When he asks her what she's doing, the sidekick just has this to say: "you think I can't tell you've been hitting a bit of sake lately boss? Something you rarely do period." Endeavor's eyes widen slightly but he doesn't retort. He lets out a breath before offering the water he had to Burnin to show he wasn't drinking on the job.
She smelled it and couldn't tell that there was anything in it. But her eyes were still narrowed as she took a drink. Though not tasting booze either. The sidekick grumbled before saying, "I'm still sure something's off boss. And look aside from that, you've been off your game lately. Ever since….. ever since your wife was release and moved into that new house with your kids. Look be honest: are you really okay?"
The Todoroki patriarch sighed before saying, "I've just… been a bit down and out of it lately. I'll be fine. Listen, forget about me. We need to focus on the town and planning for future offers of internships and work studies. I've been looking at extending one to Kibou alone with Shoto and that electric boy in 2-A. We should… hold on. Trouble."
"Wait don't run off! And he's gone. Crap." Burnin cursed before hurrying to catch up to the number one hero. Only for both of them to be surprised when they arrived. What was initially looking to be a large battle with a number of villains, was being wrapped up as Endeavor arrived.
Courtesy of the visiting USA number one and Hibiki Ten. "The air hardens fifty meters above me!" Star calls out as Hibiki runs in and knocks a few of the conscious villains into the air. Then he runs in a circle so quickly that he creates a funnel that pushes the criminals into the hardened wall of air that Star created. Between the impacts and wind, the remaining villains are easily dealt with.
"Damn. O'clock might have been just as fast as you at one point, but I don't think he could do it as consistently. And the whole reason is that your true meta powers actually generate a field around you that lets you breathe at that high speed?" Kate asked while picking up a few of the goons and tossing them over her shoulders.
Hibiki or Toshinori coughed and acknowledged the accuracy of her statement. "Jotaro, John just explained that it was a natural part of our abilities. Or rather a natural part of speedsters like me. Still trying to figure out all of the aspects though," the man explained with a scratch of his chin.
As he was saying this, Endeavor and Burnin had arrived and helped restraining the gang for the police. While they were though, members of the media had arrived and were taking pictures of all of them. Not to mention commenting on the fact that Endeavor happened to be a bit slower than his usual pace. Before asking the two number ones to shake hands.
The flame manipulator grumbled a little before taking a drink but was moving to do just that. Only for her to be distracted by Hibiki talking to her after getting a report on a radio installed in his costume. "Trouble down by the docks," he said before the American said "after you."
"You don't exactly have a choice." Hibiki joked before sprinting off. Endeavor was tempted to jet after them, but he stumbled slightly as he was sweating more. "Sir? You look a little over heated," a person taking pictures said. Others looked to the hero with worry and unease as he stood.
He shook his head a few times before saying, "I'll be alright. But I think it would be best if I left this matter to them. I think I might have put out too much heat." With that he gave a slight wave/salute to the crowd before heading back towards his agency.
Burnin followed along and quietly said to him, "you can't keep this up. And I'm not sure how you are disguising it, but I'm still sure there is something in those water pouches. More than just those electrolyte boosters." Endeavor glared slightly at his sidekick but didn't say anything more. Shaking his head as he was walking, trying to shake the fog in his mind.
"Guess John was right. Something is a bit off with him." Shoto said while sitting in the living room as Rei and Inko were cooking a bit. "You ask me there's always been something off with dad. It's only now that everyone can see it." Shoto's brother Natsuo said while helping to set the table.
The only sister of the Todoroki kids, Fuyumi, said that Natsuo was being too harsh on their father. "Enough about all of that. Let's talk about other matters." Midoriya Hisashi said with a shaky smile similar to his son's. He had darker fluffy hair and glasses on, and aided the maternal duo. By using a small amount of his fire breathing quirk to gently light the stove as the pilot lights were out. As well as bringing some wine from overseas and helping to chop vegetables.
Inko and Rei agreed and changed the subject with, "so I hear that Jotaro boy is back right? Why didn't you invite him?" Izuku and Shoto flinched at that while flipping channels. The pair grumbled and tried to dodge the question. Only to get a disapproving glasses flash glare from the resident teacher in the room. Making the pair shiver under Fuyumi's gaze.
Izuku sighed before saying, "I'm…. I'm still a little mad that he just bolted and said we'd be dead weight. And then he jumps back in and thinks everything is all good? Not to mention bringing the freaking number one of America here."
"That alone made it feel like we were replaced by her. And he still feels like lecturing at times." Shoto said with a bit of a brooding scowl. Only for it to drop again when Fuyumi adjusted her glasses again. Making him admit he was mostly jealous and didn't like John advising that they check up on Endeavor. "I prefer we just leave it alone now that we're free. Maybe Touya can rest easier now."
Natsuo said this while gripping the silverware tightly. Chilling it and the table before moving away. Izuku narrowed his eyes a little at the matter before humming. He could also see that Rei had something of a thousand yard stare after hearing the departed's name. So he asked if Fuyumi and Shoto could come with him. Gesturing to his parents to maybe try and calm the other two.
Once in a different room, Izuku finally asked more about the past of Todoroki Touya. Shoto looked down and admitted he didn't know much. "It's just that he and my other siblings weren't allowed to be near me after Touya attacked me as a baby. And after an incident, my father became so much worse of a person."
Fuyumi gripped her fists tightly while thinking back on that night. A few tears in the corners of her eyes before letting out a shuddering breath. "Its true that night was the real start to dad's fall. But before that, he tried to be gentle about the matters involved with Touya. Namely, he wanted him to give up trying to be a hero. Because his body would never be able to take it. Thanks to his quirk and….. well our mother's constitution."
She explained that the eldest had impressive fire potential and their father believed at one point that he could surpass him. Only for their mother's genes to take over enough that Touya would have been better with an ice quirk rather than the impressive flames he could generate.
"More to some of what John meant when he said quirks were bad for people in general." Izuku muttered to himself before asking if this was common with all of the Todoroki children. "Uh yeah. Natsuo and I both have ice quirks and of course so does Shoto. Mom too. And apparently a few family members have similar powers. Though we haven't really met them."
Hearing that makes Izuku suspicious but pushes it aside to ask more about Touya and how he responded to being told not to follow the hero path. "From what I know, he was as stubborn as you and my dad Izuku. And just as self destructive as you can be. He kept burning himself until he couldn't turn down the heat and his body was consumed in his own fire." Shoto explained with a shrug. And Fuyumi confirmed the matter.
Izuku's suspicions continue and he asked for what Rei's family name was. "And if it really was that bad, why didn't she go back?" he asked with some confusion. Fuyumi admitted she didn't know. "Mom never really talked about her parents, but….. well Touya had his own opinions. Namely that she was sold to dad and that was all they cared about. Maybe she felt even with his abuse, it was better than her parents."
The green teen's eyes narrowed on the matter and Shoto asked what he was thinking about. "It's nothing. But I do wonder if that's had more influence than we realize. Given the nature of quirks after all. Perhaps they made sure that only their ice quirks would stay strong through their own selective breeding. Which has made it to where you all are paying some price."
"Are you serious?" the two Todoroki's asked with incredulous looks on their faces. Izuku shrugged and admitted he had no proof or more of a link to understand it. "But, back around to something John mentioned, I do think there is something more up with your dad Shoto. It may be that…. He's in another stage of grief. The depression stage."
Fuyumi's eyes widened at that before looking down and agreeing that it could be possible. "Denial when he first found out about Touya hurting himself more and more, before dying in the fire. And then what? Trapped in anger for over a decade?"
"That would fit. But isn't bargaining next? He shouldn't be at depression." Shoto said with a shrug. Izuku noted that it might have to do with the new house they had been living in for the last few months. "His bargain might have been getting all of you away from him. But now….. I think that leaves him more vulnerable than we realize." Izuku said while thinking about his own trouble with depression and self loathing.
Before more of those thoughts could continue though, Inko called the three in for dinner. They shared a look to say 'let's not talk about it more right now' and had some pleasant conversations with each other. Natsuo talking about his physical therapy classes, Fuyumi joking about her students, Izuku and Shoto talking about their hero classes, and the adults each complaining about or joking about work.
Back at the old Todoroki house, Enji was looking at the Japanese styled building with a mixture of regret and anger. 'Don't know why I keep coming back here. It's just a lot of bad memories I made. All because I tried to make a hero who could surpass me,' the man says with bloodshot eyes before getting a bottle of sake from a cabinet.
He has a drink before cooking up some spicy noodles. Only slightly burning them and his clothes in the process. While eating, his mind keeps going over all of the things that he failed in or broke him down during his lifetime.
The death of his father before he went to UA. The painful gap and overwhelming sense of defeat, envy, and anger at being stuck as the number 2 hero for over 20 years. Taking the suggestion of temp at his agency that he could make the next number 1. Touya had potential, but his body was breaking down because his body and quirk were mismatched. Focusing on his job as a hero alone for years while pushing everything on Rei. Then lashing out when she couldn't stop Touya from following the path he'd tried to set him on. Causing so much pain to Rei and Shoto that she burned the boy because his face reminded her of him and made the boy resent his father more and more. And finally, Touya burning himself alive to prove he could do what Endeavor initially believed he could.
"Have I made any truly good choices in my life? Or is everything I've done just been nothing but failure?" Enji thought aloud to himself before taking another drink. Before sniffling and crying a bit to himself and tossing the bottle away. His flames not even sputtering as he went to the training room to try and work out something. But he could barely produce a candle light as he was. Collapsing to the side as more tears flowed.
This was a bit harder to write because of a few things. Lead two being that I was out of town for a family vacation. The other though happened during said vacation. Hit a pretty nasty low in my mood and emotions. To the point….. well let's just say Izuku isn't the only one who has considered what Katsuki suggested at the start of the series.
I'm doing better though. Getting some help and taking some more time to get centered and grounded. Not trying to bait reviews or anything, just something of a report on what's going on. A way to deal with this in my head if you will.
Back to the story though, I wanted to push Endeavor into his next phase of grief by having him stuck in depression currently. Not only do I know how that feels, but I also know what it's like to sink into drinking or similar when you feel down. But I'm looking to have the others work on pulling him out. Because that is what you need in those times. Also I do really think someone could have "suggested" or inspired his idea for the next generation hero thing. I don't think that was his idea alone. Please review!