Azur Heroes

Chapter 14

Time for Izuku's rebuilding of himself. As well as a few other fights getting started. One of which most of you were either waiting on or hoping to see. The other… well it's something I dreamt up for a while. So on with the show.

(No POV)

"Alright. Let's get started." Kotov said with a smile directed Izuku's was. He could see that the boy was still nervous. But he was buckling down and taking the next steps to get better. Bouncing back from what he lost.

Izuku follows the elder commander to a separate area of the base to get started training. And is startled by the sudden fist coming at him once they were away from the docks and barracks. "Shit!" Izuku says as he moves out of the way and falls on his butt.

John smiles down at the boy before holding a hand out to help him up. But Izuku doesn't take it and tries to attack from his position. "Good. You suspected something so you didn't automatically take the hand offered," he said while taking a stance.

Izuku notices that it was a standard slugger boxing stance. One he compared to All Might and Star and Stripes. 'Guess that fits. Especially with how he's bulked up. But that doesn't feel right for me.' Izuku thinks before trying to take a stance of his own.

But the more experienced hero surprises the boy with a kick and then stomp with his prosthetic leg. "So what are you hoping to teach me!? Or are you just going to attack me?" Izuku asked after evading a few more attacks.

"You'll understand soon enough. But in the meantime, I need to get a feel for how you fight." Kotov says before attacking again. He mentions that Izuku may have trained in the use of a sword, he now had a different weapon to go with it. "And the use of it will require you getting accustomed to fighting bare handed."

Izuku was still uneasy about the whole matter, but he was willing to trust John's judgement for the time being. For the next two weeks they continued to spar this way. The first week was more focused on really refining Izuku's potential fighting style. With Izuku eventually getting in some solid hits and stunning the man.

And Izuku was amazed to get a special workout program from All Might. With the same shared with John to make sure on the way to space out his training. "This will also be for later young Midoriya. You should take this as a way to keep growing. And we'll be supporting you all the way!"

"Thank you. All Might. For a lot of things. Okay master! What's next?!" Izuku says excitedly. John blushed at the term used and looked over what All Might had written. And noting that he'd taken the first week into account as it would be the time to get Izuku used to moving. 'Wow that is scary,' was what the man thought before addressing Izuku again. Saying he'd be running for now and they spar later.

The second week, John took to showing how to use the weapons of his new appendage in a combat situation. Initially by demonstrating his special mini rockets and torpedoes in his leg. "Obviously we still don't know what your arm could all do. But it should give yoooo-what is that?!"

Izuku had been looking at his arm a bit and then shifted it to what he thought would be a gun or similar attachment. Only to be shocked when he suddenly had what could only be compared to a battleship grade trio of gun barrels for his right arm (if you want an image to go with, thing that the barrels would be in a sort of circle. Or like the Three Crown Coach Gun from The Order 1886).

He was even more shocked when he could fire them for a trio of heavy shell impacts. John meanwhile was shell shocked and it continued as Izuku seemed to change his arm into a few different guns. From quick firing light caliber guns of a destroyer, to some heavier firepower of a cruiser with the potential to set things on fire. He even launched a few rockets and torpedoes while testing it out.

"REEEENNNNOOOOOOO!" John shouted after finally shaking off the shock. "Hey, hey commander! Oooohhh! I see the upgrades Akashi and I put in worked out for you!" the perky cruiser said with a bounce in her step. And a bounce elsewhere that drew Izuku's eyes.

'What the heck?! You think I'd be used to that after dealing with Atago!' Izuku thought while shaking his head. And then he saw Kotov behind her and he was now grinding his knuckles into her head while chewing her out for "experimenting with tech she didn't understand and could lead to catastrophic danger".

Reno meanwhile was crying a bit as he was doing that and calling out 'uncle' after 'uncle' to hopefully get him to let go. Akashi then runs up and asks John to ease up on her friend. "She just thought that we could help Shikikan to get better," she says while her eyes tear up a bit while looking up at him.

Kotov grunts and lets out a breath before saying, "fine. But no more crazy experiments! I heard about that group of nuts from, where was it? Deika City? And how that ended with a mecha zombie apocalypse."

The two ship girls salute and then offer to help Izuku get a better feel for the changes they made to the arm. With Reno helping Izuku get used to and practice with a special grapple attachment she put in. "Huh. Not a bad idea. But something else feels off with the kid. Ah it's probably nothing."

Kotov murmured this while watching how Izuku was handling swinging around some of the cranes and grappling up the sides of buildings. Once the boy landed though, the two got back to sparing. With the elder glad to see Izuku having some fun while trading blows. After another week of working out the kinks of his arm, John wanted to test how well he'd learned.

"Okay. Now then. Lets see you put it together with that swordsmanship." Kotov says while drawing a sturdy practice knife and a gun with rubber bullets. Izuku nods while drawing a bokuto in his right and holding a gun with his left.

The two circle each other while looking for a tell to attack. And Izuku spotting it first. John adjusted the grip on his blade and then rushed Izuku. With the boy coming forward right inside of his swipe. He strikes hard at John's core and sends the man back.

But during the engagement, the mentor noticed something. Both in how it looked and what it felt like. 'I think Reno's experiment did more than she realized,' he thought before subtly activating his quirk. Not to a high degree, but to compensate for something. The few broken ribs he now had after that attack.

He was a bit more cautious this time but gave Izuku the challenge he needed to put his new fighting style together. Exemplified when during the spar, he quickly transformed his arm into the battleship cannons and made John back off. And when he used it later, rather than try to shoot he used the barrels as a shield and club.

"Good thinking. Also, hope you don't take that kneecap rocket to your chest personally." Kotov said while said ports were still smoking a bit. Izuku grunted before saying it was fine. Patting his chest where the rounds had exploded. "They were just stun rounds anyway. And I should have expected it."

John hums before reengaging and trading blows once more. And subtly upping the amount of power he's putting in from his quirk. To his somewhat surprise, Izuku keeps up. Confirming his suspicions before using one last trick to defeat his student.

With a strong kick, John uses another device Reno had added to his prosthetic. In an instant, Izuku is bombarded by sound and mess with his inner ear enough that he starts vomiting. "Sorry about that kid. But you need to be ready for almost anything. And don't think an attack is as simple as it looks."

The exercises is called, but Izuku has one last surprise for his teacher. "I know that pretty well. But there are ways to make someone pay for when they think they've won." He held up a remote and pressed a button on it.

Suddenly, John Kotov was covered in paint from a handful of paint bombs that had been stuck to his leg over the battle. And the biggest one attached after the kick he hit Izuku with. "Well done. Ugh. Guess I deserved that."

The shipgirls applauded and congratulated both of the fighters as they went to clean up or recover. A few heroes had been watching as well. All Might being one and he could tell something else was up. 'Kotov used his quirk during the fight. And yet young Midoriya wasn't falling behind at all.'

Hawks meanwhile clapped at the way the two worked with everything to get a victory. While Best Jeanist and Ryukyu were both looking at Izuku and considering how they could give him a costume to go with his station and possibly being a hero like they were. "Though I doubt Kotov-san would approve."

"I agree. I hear he isn't a big fan of the pro hero system period. He was basically forced to become one and to becoming the new number two hero." Ryukyu said while looking over the two. Endeavor listened to this as well and laughed at some of the irony. Comparing it to him who wanted to earn the number 1 place on his own merit. While Kotov was pushed to the position despite protests.

Mirko though was annoyed and tapping her foot in a bit of excitement and anger. She'd been trying to face off with Kotov for the last two months. But he kept brushing her off or denying her. With one month him using the excuse he was helping Izuku get used to him new limb and state.

But now after watching his fight, she wasn't going to let it go. As soon as he'd cleaned up, she rushed him to goad him into a fight. John just groaned before using his quirk a bit to amplify his perception and dodged around her attacks.

"C'mon! I've been dying for a good fight! Most villains aren't causing as much trouble and you're one of the best heroes from another country! I want to face off in a way that gets my blood pumping!"

Mirko said this while throwing kick after kick at Kotov, but the man wasn't letting her get to him. And it wasn't him that stopped her attacks. Instead, Reno stepped in and blocked her kicks with a new barrier device she'd built. Then fired concussive shots from her gauntlets.

But this seemed to only entice the Rabbit hero more. "If you don't want to fight me, why not one of the ships?! C'mon! Let's do this Techno girl!" Mirko says while bouncing back and forth on her heels. Reno puffs her cheeks before saying, "it's Cyber Brawl!"

John hums before smirking. "Okay Bunny Girl. You want a fight with a shipgirl. I'll give you one. Tomorrow though. I need to make sure she isn't scheduled to go out on patrol." Mirko's smile widens and she tells him that she can't wait before bounding off.

"What are you thinking?" Reno said with a look to her commander. His smirk didn't waver as he leaned down to whisper the idea. And the cruiser's eyes lit up before laughing to herself about what was to come.

The next day, Mirko was back and bouncing with excitement at fighting a shipgirl. 'I'd wanted to fight them for a while, but they kept saying to leave them alone since they were defending against the Sirens. But now I can face off with one from another country!' she thinks while going over the ones she'd seen.

Her initial thoughts went to Reno who proclaimed herself the sidekick of Commander Brawl. But she denied that as it wouldn't be much of a fight the same way. Her mind then went to New Jersey and Ticonderoga. Imagining the fight those two ships could give her.

"I can't wait to face off with that New Jersey girl!" Mirko said as some reporters were taking pictures or video of the fight to come. "Did we need to bring the leeches?" Kotov asked while shooting a glare towards the members of the media. Sugita shrugged and said the HPSC asked them to allow it.

"I guess they're hoping a friendly match between a hero and a foreign shipgirl might bring up some spirits," the admiral said before asking who Kotov had in mind for the match. He smiled and said he'd see soon.

Mirko stretched once again and then asked John who it was she'd be fighting. "C'mon out!" he said towards the lab hanger. And the one who walks out isn't who Mirko was expecting or hoping for.

"*Yawn*. Commander? Is this funny bunny Laffey's opponent?" Laffey asked while yawning. And then she pulled out a flask and took a drink. Mirko though looked dumbfounded and then enraged. "You've gotta be kidding me?! Someone this small!? Bring out of the real ships! Like that girl from yesterday!"

"I can't. She's on patrol with New Jersey, Ticonderoga, and a few of Izuku's girls. Besides, I doubt you'll make Laffey sweat." The blunt way John phrased that was like a slap to Mirko in more than one way. She snarled a bit before acquiescing. Saying, "once I beat her, you'd better call one of the bigger ships!"

The media gets their cameras ready and focus in on Mirko and Laffey. With some wondering if this was going to be any kind of fight at all. Laffey yawned again before rolling her neck a bit and subtly taking note of her opponent.

Mirko meanwhile wasn't taking Laffey seriously and thought this would be over with one attack. "I don't need an ultimate move to finish this. Going down little girl!" she said before rushing Laffey with a kick aimed at her head.

But right as she was sure her attack would connect, Laffey easily dodged. With a gentle lean that put her right under Mirko's kick. The Rabbit hero was wide eyed at this, mostly because Laffey had her eyes closed as she was attacking. And her shock grew as Laffey eased into a kick of her own. One that sent Mirko spiraling almost 100 yards.

Most of the civilians and some of the heroes were shocked by the turn of events. "Never underestimate a fighting ship." Kotov says as Mirko shakes her head and realizes how far she was kicked. 'Okay. Didn't expect that. Guess I shouldn't underestimate her that much. But I still don't think she can really give me much of a fight.'

Mirko rushed in again and struck at Laffey as rapidly as she felt was needed. But the little ship easily dodged and blocked all of the blows coming her way. Even countering her more than once and turning some of her attacks against the hero.

"This is crazy! Are you seeing this?! What kind of ship is that girl?! He called her Laffey I think. Wonder where all this is coming from!" the reporters say as they continue to film the match between hero and shipgirl. Though some were wondering if it was really much of a match.

Mirko meanwhile was panting a bit and nursing a few probable bruises. Laffey meanwhile wasn't even scratched. 'Okay now I'm pissed! I have to get at least one good hit in!' Mirko thinks while watching her opponent.

Laffey yawns again before bringing out her flask to get a drink. And this is the moment Mirko pounces on. She goes at full speed towards the distracted shipgirl and kicks with everything she has. Laffey's eyes go a bit wide as she blocks but gets knocked back hard.

She takes another hit before sending Mirko back with a solid punch. "Umph! (pouting Laffey face) Funny rabbit girl is really….. rude." Laffey starts while feeling for her flask again. But not finding it and starting to look around in panic.

While the media is confused, John is getting concerned. "We might need to call this off! I'll get to Laffey," he says while looking around for the missing article as well. Sugita and a few of the heroes are confused by that. Some start doing rock, paper, scissors to talk Mirko out of the fight.

Laffey's searching gets more frantic until she finally spots her flask. Her eyes light up and she smiles while running toward it. Only for it to be dashed when Mirko leaps back in. And stomps right on her flask.

"Man! I didn't think you'd pack that much of a hit little girl! I guess I should give you a bit more respect. I'll finish this with one of my best moves! Luna Rush!" Mirko said while rubbing her jaw from the punch Laffey hit her with. While tapping the foot that was on the flask rapidly before rushing in with her attack.

Only it didn't go at all like she thought. Mainly because she didn't get past her first kick. Laffey caught her leg while she was putting all of her strength and speed out. And the little ship wasn't letting go. "What the!? How are you holding me guck!"

Mirko started to question what was happening when Laffey struck with all her might. A powerful palm blow impacting the hero's solar plexus and sending her flying into a concrete barrier. Impacting it hard enough to leave large cracks.

Though that didn't compare to the fact that Laffey was on her in an instant with a powerful knee to the woman's face. One that sent her body through the concrete barrier and broke a few other bones.

The reason for the new power and speed was that Laffey had drawn her rigging. Meaning she was taking this seriously now. Mirko shook her head while getting up from the flying knee and tried to reengage. But Laffey wasn't letting up.

She threw a punch while holding her gun rig. Mirko evaded that but was hit by the same clenched fist. Propelled with some extra force thanks to Laffey pulling the trigger on the guns and using that to backhand fist smash Mirko's face.

Laffey did this a few more times before Mirko tried to punch the girl. But this left her open again as the little shipgirl deflect the hit before striking Mirko's face again. And then joint locking her arm to get at more points to break. Using her knees to crack ribs, punches to injure some of her leg bones. Before finally breaking every bone in her arm and dislocating Mirko's shoulder.

The media meanwhile were dumbfounded and terrified at what they were seeing. This wasn't a friendly spar anymore. This was….. they couldn't even begin to describe it. Some made an alliteration that it was a brutal bunny beatdown ballet. But no one could tell when this might end.

Mirko meanwhile was bleeding from multiple points and could barely stand after all the hits Laffey gave her. Each time she'd tried to block or get a hit of any kind in, the destroyer girl made her pay for it. To the point she was certain she had internal bleeding.

"I'mph not! Going down like thisph!" Mirko shouted while nursing a broken jaw. Laffey was still glaring at her and Mirko put all of her strength and adrenaline into getting one hit in. "Luna Arc!" she shouted as went for her strongest attack.

But Laffey wasn't impressed and quickly moved to speed up the rotation of her kick. Leaving the hero's back open while she was looking up at the blue sky. Laffey was under her in a moment and did a powerful double upper kick to her back. Sending her up in the air.

And she wasn't done. She used her cannons to propel herself up for another barrage of attacks and blows. Even pulling out her torpedoes to bludgeon the rabbit woman and send her into an impact crater. And for one last blow, Laffey pointed her guns to the sky and rocketed towards the ground at Mirko. Landing in her midsection with a four point stance. Making Mirko cough up blood and vomit while the ground broke around her.

Laffey pulled herself out of the crater and brushed herself off. She then pulled Mirko out by her hair and dragged her over to some broken concrete. Taking the back of Mirko's head, she looked ready to slam it the stone. Mirko crying and bloody as she felt the movements.

But she was saved by a different angry visage. Before Laffey could move further, Kotov caught her arm and glared down at the young ship. "Let her go, NOW," he said with a stoic ferocity Laffey could only compare to when he was in his dark phase. So she did as he said and unceremoniously dropped the hero.

He let out a sigh that sounded like a mix of anger, sadness, and frustration. Kotov then held the flask out to the young ship before telling her she was going to be in the brig for a while. Laffey crying as she held it to her chest. Mirko though was stunned at the fact she got so mad over something she didn't even notice.

"That flask means more to her than you could believe. It was her captain's back in the day. Each time she has a sip from it, she can see their faces and the memories when they sailed with her. In a way, what you did was akin to kicking or desecrating a grave marker. Insulting the memory of those she cared for, and who cared for her."

Kotov's description of what the flask meant to Laffey rang true with a few others. Izuku stood with him and noted it was the same for Atago and her sword. Same for the other girls such as Kirishima and Akatsuki. They stood with their commander and glared at the rabbit her with contempt.

The media had a massive field day with the matter after it was all said and done. With some saying Mirko was lucky to be alive and others wondering if it was safe to have shipgirls around people. Bringing up an image of Inko taking Eri away from the match as it started getting more savage.

And this would have some new repercussions for the base and those on it. Not just because of some human personnel being asked to leave or keep away from shipgirls and their commanders. But also, because a certain someone recognized Eri.

"So that's where that little bitch took her. Looks like we'll have to make a move to get her back." Overhaul said while feeling the eyepatch over his missing left eye. He didn't know how she did it, but he was never able to restore the missing organ.

No matter how hard he tried with his quirk, it couldn't be restored. So he was looking to take it back from Yuudachi the hard way. While looking over the larger number of goons and powered up thugs he'd amassed. With a stitched up black haired young man, an odd split personality cloner, and an angry woman in a man's body among his newest recruits.

Yeah I know. I'm putting in the ones from LOV in the Yakuza. But frankly, it's not like they'd gather or work together without that. AFO and Shigaraki are dead, Stain isn't trying to remove more fake heroes, and UA doesn't have the same focus anymore.

So a somewhat charismatic Overhaul promising them a way to change things or give them a chance to strike at society. I think they'd take it. That aside, Izuku's going to have a new set of danger and threats to deal with. And it'll be a chance for him to find out what else has changed for him. Please review!