Okay so this drabble is basically just a huge montage of backstory to establish my MHA character. I already posted a character reference in a previous part of this book. I don't think I changed anything about the character, but I'll give everything a once over just to make sure its consistent.

Yes, this is a self-insert in the MHA universe. Yes, I have a problem with making self-inserts. Its a method of coping. An unhealthy method? Yeah, probably.

Anyways, similar to my Star Wars and Marvel drabbles, these will be posted sporadically. I do loosely have a plot line in mind, but not a solid enough plot to write a full-fledged book, you know? So drabbles it is. Enjoy if you want!

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"All right, everyone! 5 more minutes of recess!" The kindergarten teacher called to the children playing on the playground.

"Ahhh, no!" A young girl with chubby cheeks and shiny, light blonde hair pouted as she stopped pushing herself on the swing. "But it feels like recess just started! Don't you think, Shelby?"

The girl she was talking, a young, curly-haired brunette, kept her eyes trained on the wood chips at her feet. She never really committed to swinging like her friend had, her toes dragging across the ground slowly. "I guess." She shrugged.

The blonde girl frowned. "You've been so sad today. What's wrong?"

"I don't know." Shelby shrugged, her little face grimacing slightly as she shied away from the question. "I don't feel good today."

"Maybe we should tell Ms. Glenda." Her companion suggested, before nodding to herself. "Let's do that now!" She jumped off the swing, landing clumsy. She laughed at the goofiness, but Shelby watched her in silence. She didn't feel like talking to the teacher. Or Lindsey. Or her parents. Or any of her classmates. The once bubbly little girl felt as though all the energy had been drained out of her. It felt strange and scary.

Once Lindsey recovered her barings, she turned back to Shelby and offered her her hand. "Come on! Ms. Glenda will want to know that you're sick."

Shelby eyed Lindsey hand, wringing her own anxiously, before deciding to take it.

As soon as their hands made contact with one another, there was a burning sensation that enveloped Shelby's hand. Within seconds, it was like all the sadness and anxiousness left her being. A smile automatically pulled at her lips as she used Lindsey to pull herself up, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she did so. "Wow! Actually, I don't feel sick at all! I feel really good!"

Shelby's celebration halted when Lindsey let out a gut-wrenching scream. She collapsed, curling onto the ground and covering her eyes, sputtering for everyone to go away. Tears began spilling down her cheeks as she whimpered and cried for her parents.

Shelby stared at her friend in horror. "Oh, Lindsey! What happened?" She yelled, kneeling down to help her friend.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Lindsey screamed at the top of her lungs, squirming away from Shelby's hands. "Please!"

"Ms. Glenda!" A child nearby yelled. The elementary teacher was already on her way over after hearing Lindsey's first scream. "Shelby hurted Lindsey!"

"I think she used a quirk!" Another child added as Ms. Glenda knelt down next to Lindsey.

"Oh, dear. This isn't good." Ms. Glenda muttered to herself, though it was loud enough for Shelby to hear.

"Ms. Glenda," Shelby started, already feeling the energy she had just gained from touching Lindsey's hand seep away, "I- I didn't do it on purpose."

"Hush, Shelby." Ms. Glenda snapped. "You've done enough. Hailey," Ms. Glenda called to the student aide, "take Shelby to the principal's office."

~~~~~

"Mrs. Ferrell," the school nurse started, "it seems your daughter has manifested a... very maladaptive quirk."

Shelby's mother sat on a chair in the office with Shelby sitting on the bed. Shelby's hands were covered and bound in cloth to keep her from touching anyone. Her mother bounced her leg nervously as she looked between her daughter and the nurse. "I just don't understand. This quirk- it's nothing like anything in the family. Her father has a shock absorption quirk and I have a perfume quirk. This is- it isn't possible."

"It's very rare, but sometimes, a child can manifest a quirk completely unrelated to their quirk lineage." The nurse explained. "From what I've gather from the situation, when Shelby and Lindsey touched hands, Shelby essentially drained Lindsey of her self-esteem and transferred it to herself."

"I didn't mean to." Shelby whispered, tears collecting in her eyes as she stared at the cloth wrapped around her hands.

The nurse ignored her. "At this age, it's going to be very difficult for our administration to monitor such a... hazardous quirk. We recommend that she be transferred to a school that is better equipped to handle quirks of her nature."

~~~~~

"This is for the best, I hope you understand." Shelby's new school administrator stated from behind Shelby. Shelby was staring out the window above her new bed, watching as her family pulled away in their cab. Back to the airport they went, leaving Shelby behind at her new school.

A boarding school. A boarding school for children with maladaptive quirks.

Shelby was silent. The effects of Lindsey's self-esteem had long worn off. She understood that she had done something bad, but she couldn't understand why no one could forgive her. She had done bad things on accident before. She had accidentally knocked a vase full of water and flowers over. She had accidentally put too much fish food in the tank. She had accidentally ran out in the road to chase a ball. And those were all things that got her in trouble, but that her parents forgave her for. Somehow, this was different, and Shelby couldn't understand why.

What she'd done must have been unforgivable.

"Shelby," the school administrator began. Shelby turned to face her, violently wiping the tears off her face as she sniffed. The woman held up a pair of black gloves, which matched her new school uniform. "Put these on. We want to make sure everyone at the school is safe from your quirk."

She set the gloves on Shelby's bed, and Shelby slowly reached and grabbed them, rubbing her fingers over the fabric as she sniffled again. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone." She pleaded.

The woman shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Put them on."

10 YEARS LATER

"While American hero schools crank out droves of unique and successful heroes every year, foreign schools and governments still continue to critique how we handle quirks within the country." The news droned on on the crappy TV hanging from the corner of the ceiling. Nobody in the cafeteria was paying attention. They would much rather socialize before class began. But Shelby sat far enough away from other students and close enough to the TV that she could manage to make out what was being said as she nibbled on her dry bagel and sour cream cheese.

"Statistics show that while America has the highest number of heroes within the population compared to any other country, it also has the highest number of villains and villain organizations. Attention on this issue has escalated ever since the League of Villains, now known as the Paranormal Liberation Front, first emerged in Japan last year. There are several similar organizations through the US, including California's very own Ángeles Caídos."

The screen flashed with three familiar faces. The two Cocolotl brothers, Alarico and Hernando, who's quirks were both reported to have different methods of paralyzing their targets, and Malaya Calinga, who's icy stare pierced straight into Shelby's soul through the screen. Shelby had seen videos on the internet of the power her quirk held; once she locked onto you, you had no control over yourself. She could shove you into a river and stop your body from fighting to keep you afloat.

"Many are beginning to look to the quote-on-quote "toxicity" that our society has shown to people with undesirable quirks. Ostracization, isolation, and discrimination based solely on an aspect of someone that they can't control. In fact, a common practice many years ago was to send children with dangerous quirks off to prison-like schools, where they are removed from society until their 18. They're then shoved back into society as adults, with little to no quirk training, and expected to function normally."

"It's interesting that you brought up quirk training, Natalie." The male news anchor commented. "In most European and Asian countries, quirk training and counselling is very common for youth with quirks deemed dangerous or undesirable. Meanwhile, in America, half of the politicians hold strong against funding of these programs."

The school bell rang loudly in Shelby's ear, causing her to jump. She looked around, dazed as she realized that the cafeteria had all but emptied out. That bell was a warning bell letting everyone know class would begin in five minutes.

Shelby stood slowly, shuffling to the trashcan and dumping the tray that still held the majority of her breakfast. She couldn't even remember where her class was- or even which class it was. Every day was a mindless blur. Her dull blue eyes didn't leave the floor as she exited the cafeteria, her gloved hands shoved into her pockets. She carried no backpack. What was the point? No college would accept her. This school was basically a grave for academic potential. This walls were for holding, not reforming, and society as a whole knew that. So what was the point of applying herself just to be disappointed in the future?

Suddenly, she smashed into something- a person, causing both of them to stumble and fall onto the tiled floor. Shelby looked up to see a lanky ginger girl prop herself up on one knee. She glared at Shelby with fire in her eyes, her hair twisting and turning as the stringy strands melded into red and orange vipers on her head. "Why don't you watch where you're going?"

Watching her hair twist and churn into snakes made Shelby remember her name. Nicole. She was newer here. Well, "newer" as in she was the same age as Shelby and arrived here when she was ten. That was a five year difference in experiencing the hellhole that was this school. And Nicole's spirit had not yet waned.

Shelby's response was nothing. She just stood up and brushed off her pants. Nicole's snakes hissed and swirled as she brought herself to her feet, cutting Shelby off from the rest of the hallway. "Are you stupid or something? Apologize!"

Shelby blinked. "No. Move."

Every snake tried to take their respective swipe at Shelby as Nicole brought her fist up to punch. That's a loud crashing sound filled the halls, followed by shrill screaming. Shelby turned towards the noise as Nicole froze, her snakes shrivelling into nothing but harmless wisps of hair. "What was that?" 

From around the corner, teachers and students alike came running, their faces pale. They knocked into Nicole and Shelby, trampling over them in an effort to save themselves. When the crowd cleared, Shelby struggled to her feet. She was only able to get on her hands and knees before a menacing shadow loomed over her.

Nicole let out a sharp scream as the figure lunged. Shelby watched with her mouth agape as a creature stomped towards Nicole. He was at least 7 feet- maybe 8 feet tall, and instead of skin, he donned a rough exoskeleton. Shelby brain buzzed wildly as she realized this creature was no creature, but a person with a mutation quirk. A mutation quirk that gave him the appearance of a giant scorpion.

Nicole tried to run, but she acted far too late. As she scrambled to her feet, the sharp tail of the scorpion man came down and pierced her back. Nicole gasped, falling to the ground once more. The attacker seemed satisfied with his hit, and turned his attention to Shelby.

But Shelby wasn't there.

Suddenly, from the shadows behind the scorpion-man, where Shelby had skirted to, she leaped out, pressing an ungloved hand to a spot with bare skin. Shelby's body seemed to fill with power- quite literally. The self-esteem transferred from the scorpion-man to her filled her chest to the brim with a electric feeling. Every muscle vibrated within the confines of her skin, ready for action. Meanwhile, the scorpion-man fell over, wallowing in his own tears.

Shelby flashed a wide smile. So few times in her life has been able to use her quirk. So few times has she been allowed to experience the pure euphoria that washed over every fiber of her being. She felt like she could run a marathon. Punch through wall. Hold her breath for hours on end.

She was so inexperienced with her quirk. She had no idea that limitations it had. Her eyes locked on the shivering figure of the scorpion-man. What happened if she touched him again? She extended her hand towards him, practically feeling electricity flow around her finger tips as she descended towards her target.

Then, she couldn't move.

If Shelby could widened her eyes, she would. But she couldn't. She was still blinking and breathing, but at a different pace than before. Her body moved itself into a stiff stance as a girl skirted around her peripheral vision, coming to stand in front of her.

That's when Shelby's eyes locked with the gleaming gaze of Malaya Calinga.

There would have been a reaction if she could give one, but Shelby was still frozen. From behind her, she heard two more sets of shuffling footsteps.

"Damn, Will got folded so soon?" A honey-like voice asked from behind her.

"Maybe he wasn't cut out for this sorta thing." A similar, but younger voice stated.

Malaya's stern expression didn't waver as she pointed at Shelby. "You can blame her."

"She brought Will down?" The second voice laugh. "You're kidding, right?"

"I watched it." Malaya stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Interesting." The first voice muttered. "You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"

There was a small scoff. "Well, we weren't planning on taking hostages today, but whatever.

The next thing Shelby knew, a new figure was upon her. She stared into the eyes of Alarico Cocolotl before she could no longer see. Then he muttered, "Relax," into her ears, and suddenly, she couldn't hear anything. Then, with the brush his skin against her's, her skin became numb to the touch. And she was at the complete mercy of the Ángeles Caídos.

~~~~~

Shelby wasn't sure how much time had passed from when the Ángeles Caídos had arrived at her school. Quite frankly, she had no idea of anything. With her three most important senses snatched from her, it was almost like she was sitting in a deprivation tank. She could still smell though. The scents came in waves. Fresh cut grass. Cologne. Gasoline. Cologne. And then mildew. And that was it; she sat in a place filled with mildew for who knows how long. All she knew through her taste buds was that she was getting very thirsty.

Slowly, her senses came back. The first to come back in full swing was her sense of touch. She was hoping that her sight would come first, because that was the sense that was taken first, but given she didn't know the ins and outs of Alarico's quirk, she couldn't really predict anything.

She could feel that she was sitting and leaning against something hard. Cement, possibly? She was too scared to move with no sight, so she stayed as still as possible, except for her shivering. It was also very cold.

Then, came her hearing. She could hear muffled talking through the wall. A staticy TV? She couldn't hear what it was saying.

After some time, she heard a door open, and footsteps approached. Suddenly, she was overcome with the smell of cologne. That cologne. The one she's been smelling for hours and hours now. The footsteps of this individual approached lightly before she felt someone sit down next to her.

"Water?" She heard the voice ask; it was the younger sounding male voice.

Shelby blinked. "If you're holding a cup out to me, I can't see it."

"Oh, right, sorry. Alarico's quirk is funky." He muttered. So this was Hernando. Shelby even felt someone try to grab her wrist. She jerked away, holding her breath. "Woah, woah! Settle down. I'm not trying to do nothing."

Shelby frowned but stayed still as he gently grabbed her wrist again, and then guided her hand to a cup of water in his. She could feel the skin on his hands was very rough and cracked just from feeling and brushing the pads of his fingers. And they were very warm as well.

Shelby took the cup and slowly brought it to her lips, drinking in the cool water quickly. When she finished, she held the cup at her stomach. "Where am I?"

"Our headquarters." Hernando stated nonchalantly.

"And why am I here?" Shelby challenged. "Why couldn't you just kill me like Nicole?"

"What?" He asked in surprise. "Oh, you mean the ginger that Will stung? She's not dead. She's here. Just in a different room."

Shelby pursed her lips. "And you kidnapped us because..?"

"Eh, why not? Just for shits and giggles I guess." Hernando stated. "Chaos is fun."

"And you just stash hostages away where you work? So when the authorities come and rescue them, they get to discover where you work at the same time?"

"Well, my brother and I are not unfamiliar with hopping from place to place, so its whatever. And Will and Malaya don't seem to mind." Hernando paused. "Why, you think that a hero is going to come bust through those doors any minute to save you?" He asked in a mocking voice.

"No." Shelby stated firmly. "No hero's coming to save me. Did you see the school I was at? I live there. No family, no friends. All because of my quirk. No one will care if I'm gone."

"Well, that's depressing as hell." He muttered. "I guess worse case scenario you can just be one of us. That quirk of your's is pretty cool from what Malaya and Will told us."

Shelby scrowled. "I'm no villain."

She heard a loud gasp. "I take offense to that. I am no villain. We're just sticking to the man, you know? This society has lost its way as it mass produces mediocre heroes. That's one of the reasons we attacked your school. We were aiming for the administration that was meeting there that day. We were gonna send a message that what they're doing to students like you is disgusting. But then we found you. Well, Nicole too, but she's more of like, a witness that Alarico said we couldn't leave behind."

"I'm not interested." Shelby stated, more harshly this time.

"Fine, fine. I'll leave you be." Hernando muttered. Shelby listened as he left the room, shutting her in silence.

Time kept creeping on. Shelby couldn't keep track. There was no way to. However, her vision was slowly returning. First, she could see the light on the ceiling beginning to shine through the darkness. Then, she could see the lighting reflecting off of the shapes of objects in the room- though Shelby couldn't tell what they were.

By the time she was able to make out the fact that the object right next to her was a bed, she heard a large explosion that rattled the building. Her heart jumped into her throat as she clumsily shoved herself under the framework of the bed in an attempt to protect herself if the ceiling caved in. She listened as there was shouting and fighting; the sound of guns going off, a boisterous roar, some shouts that quickly turned to silence. This lasted for a bit, but the chaos ended as abruptly as it started.

Shelby watched the door swing open, and who she recognized as Malaya and Hernando stepped into the room, both of them disheveled and slightly breathless. Malaya's eyes locked on her instantly. "There she is. Under the bed."

Hernando's brows furrowed. "So they rescued Nicole... but not her."

Shelby's stomach churned and dropped. They didn't rescue her.

They forgotten her.

They abandoned her.

Mayala and Hernando left without another word, leaving Shelby to crawl out her hiding spot and onto the creaking bed. Tears stained her dirty cheeks as a chorus of cries shook her body. She was truly and utterly alone in this world. Her family didn't care, her school didn't care. Not even the heroes cared.

A bit later, the door opened again. Shelby barely turned her head to look. She knew it wasn't a hero coming to save her. It had been too long. No one was coming.

Instead, Hernando stepped in with some bread, a bowl, and a cup of water on a tray. "Dinner. Sorry its late. We were a bit occupied."

Shelby didn't respond.

Hernando took a deep breath, meandering towards her. "So, the heroes rescued the ginger girl." He stated, sitting down in front of Shelby with a solemn expression as he set the tray aside. "Tell me, Shelby... who's coming for you?"

Shelby's lip quivered as she shook her head, looking down at the ground. "Nobody." She inhaled a sharp breath, trying to calm her nerves but to no avail. "N-nobody's coming for me."

"Why's that?"

"Be-because I'm nothing. I'm nothing to everybody." She cried, her entire body shaking.

Hernando frowned, reaching out and cupping Shelby's cheek in his hand. Instantly, a feeling of relief washed over Shelby's body. She felt completely at peace. "Maybe out there you are." He muttered softly. Shelby watched his lips move as he spoke, her eyes half closed with relaxation. "But Shelby- you could be something here. We could use someone like you."

Shelby's eyebrows raised. "You could?"

"Absolutely. You've probably never been told this in your life, but you have an extraordinary quirk. You're very powerful. But because of how society has cast you aside and labelled you as dangerous, you've never reached your potential." He used his other hand to cup the other side of Shelby's face, leaning in close. Shelby's eyes closed, complete tranquility washing over her. "You could be something... remarkable."

Shelby smiled, placing her gloved hands over his as she leaned into his right hand. "... remarkable."

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Meet the Ángeles Caídos I've written so far

Alarico Cocolotl - Leader of Ángeles Caídos. Hernando's older brother. Quirk: limbo (depending on what kind of contact he makes with the he victim, he can take away a certain sense. For example, if you lock eyes with him, he can blind you. A kiss could allow him to take away your taste (has to involve tongue tho, not just a peck on the lips). If he touches you, you lose your sense of touch. So on and so forth)

Hernando Cocolotl - Alarico's younger brother. Shelby's boyfriend (in future drabbles). Quirk: zen (once he touches a victim, they become very calm, complacent, and tranquil)

Shelby Ferrell - Hernando's girlfriend. Quick: self-esteem (even the the touch from one finger can suck the self-esteem out of her victim, and it's converted into power (manifesting in various forms) for Shelby to use)

Malaya Calinga - Quirk: Mirror (once trapped in Malaya's trace, her victim mirrors her every whim)

Will Reagan [no picrew for obvious reasons lmao] - Quirk: Scorpion (he's a scorpion mutant)