I added a couple scenes to the end of the last chapter, so be sure to check that out if you missed it.
=============================

     Serizawa felt he was being stalked on his way to work. He just had a feeling...as all psychics do. It wasn't threatening, but, while he was on his way home from work, shuffling along the vacant sidewalk of the half destroyed town, the brunette stopped in his tracks.

     "Whoever you are, show yourself!" He demanded with that newly gained confidence of his. He spun at once to the shuffling around of discarded trash bags at his left. He eeped, quick to remind himself not to attack first. After all... it could just be an innocent raccoon or something.

     No.. this felt human.

     A blond shoved a large metal trash bin to the side and squeezed out of that den of a hiding spot. "Ho, hey, woah, let-let's not get hasty here!" It was a man with short blond hair, a scar cut diagonally through his forehead. He wore a torn gray and black costume under some discarded jeans and jacket he now wore. Serizawa gasped. He stumbled a step forward as the new guy neared, his brown eyes open wide with wonder. "I- I come in peace in case you didn't notice!" Holding his hands high and his head low, the villain approached with caution. Serizawa stood still, listening and watching carefully as the familiar face neared. "Li-li-listen, alright..? I know this must be kinda weird, since I'm just kinda popping out of the blue. Once was dead, now am not. I-- I get the feeling you know what my quirk is already, but in case you don't, hi, I'm Twice.. I- I can create perfect replicas of myself and other people. So...guess the guy you worked with was just one of my doubles... Sorry. If-it helps any, you can try to see me more as just your old coworker but with amnesia or something--"

     Serizawa caught the other man by surprise by striking out to Gran him in a hug. Just a little shocked... Okay, a lot. Bro thought he was gunna die for a second! The brunette squeezed the other tightly before letting go. "It's good to see you again..."

     Jin's now freed arms rose slowly, reaching out for the other again. His eyes were positively brimming with tears. "I know I'm a full grown man and all...but can I have another hug?" A couple tears entered the corners of Serizawa's eyes too.

     He nodded. "..Sure." ...Didn't care in the moment that his friend smelled like garbage.

------------

     Izuku Midoriya was not waking up. His body was a liar, claiming to be completely fine while the child inside was trapped in a comatose state.

     It had been three days and still his body refused to move. If not for the very slow rhythm of his heartbeat and occasional struggling breaths, it would seem though he were completely dead. His cells had been torn apart and stitched back together on such a frequent basis that by the time he finally fainted, his skin could cook a meal. This was why the doctors first feared his body might develope cancer, due to all the friction. Thankfully, that didn't play out as they feared.

-----

     "Let me GO, you idiot!!" Bakugo pushed and shoved against his classmates in the hospital. Seemed like everyone was against him, not allowing the now armless firey teen to reach the fainted one. "Why won't you let me?!" He had to forcibly drag them all along through the halls.

     "The teachers say he needs his rest!!" Kirishima grunted, about ready to dig his feet into the floor if necessary.

     "You do too, man! You're still real low on blood, right?!" Sero tugged on the blond from behind. Bakugo broke into a raging fit where the majority of his vocabulary consisted of swears.

     Bakugo just wanted to make sure that nerd was alright. It was the only thing he could think about.

     He had so much he wanted to say to him.. Needed to say to him.

-----

     "Is there not an easier way to contact your husband?" All Might stood in the hospital hall beside Inko. The green haired women clutched the old wire phone in both hands, waiting anxiously for an answer. This was her third time trying. It was really hard to reach this number.

     "I'm afraid not..." The women mumbled. It was clear just how little energy she was running on. Stress and lack of sleep had zapped the woman of most her energy, which was why her son's mentor was here to help. "The only way to reach him directly is through this woman, who only comes into a village with any phones once a week."

     "Woman?"

     "Yeah, she's a special kind of seamstress who makes small portals for a living or something. Hisashi tried to explain to me how it works one time, but his line of work is really out there."

      "Ah..."

      "She's very nice, actually. I met her once. She's raising her twin sister as her daughter, actually...since the poor girl fell into a portal when she was little and didn't age until freed."

     "...Huh." 'Man, these stories are suspicious.' Suddenly, All Might's phone rang. "Oh- hold on. Sorry, I need to take this in case it's important." The hero strode away from the woman and into a different hall. He accepted the call only after turning the corner. "Uhh, hello?"

     ""Uhhh, ni-how to you too, buddy."" That voice caught the retired hero completely by surprise! ""Anyways, mind speaking English for a bit?""

     "M-Mr. Stark?!.. It's been so long.." A smile slid onto the blond's face as he rubbed a hand through his hair. 'How is this guy still alive??' "Is something the matter?"

     The man on the other end's voice was a little muffled and distant from the phone for a moment. The old man sighed very loudly. ""Oh my gosh. This kid... You still remember interning under me, right?""

     "Uh-um, yeah! You taught me more in one year than anyone else could have!"

     ""Uhuh..."" Sarcasm dripping from the phone. ""Then I suggest you use all that invaluable wisdom I taught you!""

     "Wh-what do you mean??!"

     ""Yeah- um. I read on here that you ran into a warzone with nothing but a glock and a hell of a lot of luck! You're making the Alamo look like a food fight in comparison, kid!""

     Murmuring, "Alamo...? Well I-- I don't really know what to sa-ay." Chuckling. "I'm sorry?"

     ""Hhhhh, eyeyeye... likePetersoinsufferable... At least I had the common sense to develope remote controlled suits after Thanos forced me into retirement. I was hoping you'd know a little better.""

      "Well, I'm sorry for worrying you.. I-"

     ""Say no more. You're coming to America.""

     "Sir-???"

      ""Bruce is currently laughing his a## off in the other room over what you did. I bet he'll be happy to see you again.""

     "Wait, what?! What for!?" Toshinori, All Might, didn't really want to leave anyone, especially Izuku and his mourning mother, right now.

     ""A suit for you of course! I've already started on the basic schematics but am going to need a lot of measurements and input from you. You're fine with that, right? Public transportation's been cut off, so I'll have to send in a private jet. I already invited Shield as well... Your friend. Not the organization.. Just to clarify.""

     "No!. No, please. This is..too much. Really." All Might crouched a little, cupping his hand around the phone while blushing as a nurse walked past.

     ""Hey! If you're going to keep getting into fights like this then I have no choice now, do I?.. Neither do you. Now, hurry up and start making plans to visit or Pepper's going to flood you with spam mail of men's shaving products."" Immediately after, Mr. Stark hung up. All Might stood there in stiff silence for a little bit, unsure of how exactly he should take in what all had been offered to him.

     Guess he would have to go, but at the very least he requested a week or two to prepare. That should give him some time.. In the meantime, guess he should go check on Midoriya.

----------

     After Inko managed to send a message out to Hisashi (Who knew how long it would take him to respond to it and return home? He still hasn't responded to the others yet.) she and All Might reentered the boy's room to sit and wait for a little while.

     There were a couple other patients who hadn't woken up yet. One or two died even after a couple days in the hospital, Ms. Midnight tragically being one of them. So, Izuku wasn't the only one carrying everyone's worry. Of course that made it no easier for those who loved him the most.

THUMP!

     The door to the hospital room shook. "OPEN THIS ####### DOOR OR SO HELP ME!!" Bakugo's voice hollered on the other side. The voices of his friends hissed at him to stop, but he wasn't giving up.

THUMP... THUMP...

      Toshinori stood and ambled across the room. Between thumps, he cracked the door open and stood out of the way.

     "Wai-wai-wai, Bakugo, it's open!!!" Kirishima.

     All the children fell through the door in one mass, some in front of and others behind the driving force that brought them here.

     "All Might?!" A few of the kids shouted. The teens squirmed to their feet, Kirishima helping prop Bakugo up. "I'm sorry! We tried to keep him out of here!" The red head apologized for the lot of them.

      "No.. No. It's alright." All Might sighed, lacking the energy to smile. "There aren't enough seats, but you're all free to sit wherever you want."

      Bakugo didn't want to sit, however. He marched up to Izuku's bed and stood at the door of it facing him. "IF YOU DIE, I'LL KILL YOU!! GOT IT!?!" The ash blond waited, anger bubbling even more at the freckled one's lack of response.

      "Katsuki, please..." Bakugo's eyes shot to the right, where Mrs. Midoriya sat in a chair beside her boy's bed. Her eyes were filled with tears, pleading with him quietly to calm down. The spiky blond's eyes softened. He just stared for a moment, feeling like there was nothing he could do or say.

     Hopelessness. The same feeling that now haunted him wherever he went... There was nothing he could do.

     As the blond stared coldly at the foot of Izuku's bed, a little moisture collected in his eyes.

      "There is so much I need to say to him... So you better not die on me, alright?!" Hissing through his teeth, forcing his voice to be a tad quieter. "Don't make me any more p###ed off than I already am!" Bakugo's eyes lifted in a half glare at his fallen classmate. Izuku was still unresponsive. ..It wasn't like the teen could even slap the other awake. His arms were, well... There was hardly anything left past the shoulders.

     Griping incoherently under his breath, Bakugo spun around and marched back out of the room. There was no point in sticking around feeling sorry if there was nothing he could do to help.

     He'd never been so lost.

---------------

. . .

     Izuku was okay.

     Later that day, after dinner, while most were getting ready for bed, he just...sat up.

      Claimed to be completely fine. All physical tests checked out. He was a bit fatigued still, but functioned well enough to consider sending home right then.

      Of course, he didn't really have a home to go to. So, he stayed in the hospital for the night, since that was what the staff preferred anyways. Izuku was still wrapping his head around the concept of him being asleep for more than three days straight! He had spent most of that time speaking to and training with the vestiges inside his head, which to him only felt like maybe a few hours. But now here was his mother clinging to his side while bawling her eyes out. Now that her son had been returned to her fully, the woman demanded a real reason for all that had been going on the past year. Hesitantly, All Might and Deku agreed to tell Inko the whole story. This took about an hour of the two going back and forth, adding details where the other lacked, until at last they were caught up with the present. The whole time, Inko held on dearly to her precious child. She soaked in every detail of their story like a sponge, until at last, she cried a little more, now knowing what her baby had gone through.

     It was...a lot to take in. Izuku was brought to quiet tears as he hugged his mother back. Inko, though it was in her motherly blood to protect her baby by pulling her son out of this school for good and make him forget about all of this...she also understood that this was far bigger than herself. Her little boy was growing up so fast. And he had always wanted to be a hero. Expecting her little boy to not get an injury here and there from pursuing said goal was simply childish. ..Besides, with Hisashi's profession, she'd sort of gotten used to fearing for the lives of the ones she loved most.

     This was why, when a mission was later offered to Izuku -- for him to join a handful of other heroes in tracking down All For One -- she reluctantly allowed her little boy to leave her yet again.

     For the first time, he would be entering a world realer and deadlier than any child should tackle.

     ...But, this was what he needed to do in order to ensure the ones he cared about were never attacked again.

     Izuku would become the hunter this time around, seeking mighty prey.

-----------

     The sky was filled with clouds that day. After school hours, Zeya roamed the crowded sidewalks in the part of town untouched by Mob's storm.

     She kicked the damp pavement as she walked, dreading the destination she was headed toward.

     After an hour of dragging her feet around town, she at last arrived at an apartment complex. Nothing was special about it. Rather bleak and gray.

     The silver haired girl stood at the front door of the bottom floor apartment furthest to the right. Above, a balcony shielded the girl of any sprinkling rain.

     Her eyes were brown now, and she wore a pair of big, boxy crimson glasses. After sighing slowly, the teen knocked on the door.

Click
   Creeee

     "Is that you, Zeya?" A man no taller than the teen herself stood in the cracked doorway. He wore glasses, a dark brown beanie, and a wardrobe of old cotton clothing that screamed 'old mountain man' vibes.

     The teen nodded, slipping the glasses off of her face. "Yeah.. Just me this time too. Wanted to see how the Mino is doing." A weak chuckle. A small creek and other faint shuffling noises sounded from behind the man.

     Mr. Mineta tucked his chin over his shoulder. "Ay, Minoru! Yo-your girlfriend is here... Wanna say hi?"

...

     "...Sure." A voice behind the door. Zeya smiled faintly to hear he was alright. However the boy's dad stopped her at the door.

     "-He's been..better..before. I know it might be tough, but try not to bring up the chair right now."

     "The...? Okay.." Speaking softly, Zeya pushed through the door and into the cozy space. It was dark and messy. All the furniture was shorter than average to accommodate for Mineta and his father's below average height.

     Only the dim gray light from the curtained off windows shown through. That, and the light of the TV in the middle of the living room. Minoru Mineta sat on the couch facing the TV, unmoving even as Zeya entered.

     She approached while wearing a forced smile. "Hey there, buddy.. What you watchin'?" The girl stood beside the couch, but before she could identify the show, Mineta switched to an entiredly different channel. Her smile dropped. "...Listen, I know this probably isn't the best time for me to visit, but I just wanted to make sure you were doing alright-"

     "-Thanks... No, really... It means a lot." Mineta's head turned from the TV. For the first time that she could remember, dark bags hung under the shorter one's eyes. A tiredness like none other having washed over his body and soul alike. The kid's eyes drifted away from the silver haired girl. "...Let's go outside to talk."

----------

     The light pitter-patter of drizzle hit the concrete and wood. A continuous, rhythmic sound made by the delicate drops.

     Zeya sat criss-crossed on the ground beside the little teen in his specially made wheelchair. Side by side, the two sat in uncomfortable silence for a good while.

     "...So... I take it you're not coming back to UA then?"

     "Of course not." Mineta growled. He glared at the ground ahead of him as puddles slowly started to form. Zeya pursed her lips and shut up for a little while longer.

     "...Sorry.... Guess I... Guess I was hoping this was all just a dream~." Chuckling. Mineta wasn't exactly amused. His hands fidgeted with each other atop his lap.

     "...I wish it were just a dream..." The purple haired boy murmured. Zeya hummed in agreement, nodding beside him.

     Awkward silence struck the two again. Zeya watched the occasional traveler scurry past. She half laughed at a poor young man who couldn't get his umbrella to work!

      Mineta stared down at his flexing fingers. "-I don't think we should be together anymore."

      "Wh??" That caught the girl off guard! Her eyes bulged slightly, "Wait, what do you mean??"

     "I mean us dating. .. I just... it's a lot of things... I don't think I have the energy for it anymore. I don't really care what happens to me-"

      "Minoru, don't ####### talk like that! You can still do amazing things! And-and people can still love you! I still love yo-"

     "-Just quit it." The boy clenched his fists, tears uselessly leaking from his tightly shut eyes. "...I've been thinking about this for a while now...

     ...I just don't think we should be any more than friends...

     There's still a lot I need to figure out on my own."

     For some reason, though nothing had changed, the rain got really, really loud.

     "...Okay..."

----------

     On her way back home, the rain got a little heavier, falling with more frequency and volume.

     A ding from her pocket startled the teen. Her eyes tore from the growing puddles to her black cargo pants. From them she slipped out her phone. All of a sudden, her class' group chat from last year was going crazy! It had gone somewhat dormant after the school year ended.

Scissor Face:
Hey, you guys heard about Midoriya, right??
Heard from Kirishima he just left!

Pi** Hair:
Wait what?!

Machrix:
That's spooky. Didn't he just wake up from a coma or something?

(A few others):
What??? / Why???

Silver Psychic:
Wait, who?

Xx_DarkShadowDemon69_xX:
Bushy green hair boy who shouts "smash."

Silver Psychic:
Really???
Isn't he, like, the most powerful person on campus right now?! Why would he leave like that!?

Scissor Face:
I'm not sure if it's just me, but there's definitely something going on that class 1A won't tell us! It's so infuriating!!

Local Blacksmith:
I know right?!

Machrix:
No, not just you.

Silver Psychic:
Guess I never thought about it before, but yeah...

     Zeya slid her phone away and dug her hands into her pockets as she moseyed along. It was weird, wasn't it? That green haired kid, though he never really stood out to her, did have some pretty big secrets, didn't he? He was always treated just a little differently by the staff, AND he got into a lot more trouble too!

     And now he was going somewhere? Was it some kind of mission?

     Either way. There was something going on. And Zeya hated not knowing what.

-----------------

     Suzuki might need to find a place to hide from the incoming storm if the rain kept up like this. Puddles drenched the ground he stood on, leaking down brick walls and pattering on the tops of tin trash cans.

     The sun was beginning to set on the world around him, making it a little harder to see as well.

     The now vigilante's attire was nothing too flashy. In fact, it was the opposite. A recycled black and white motor bike helmet with a visor so dark no one could see his face was a little cracked and warm from its previous user(s). His pants were baggy, simple, and black with several pockets to hide away necessary supplies in. His shirt was simple and gray. An army green, grayish tinted coat held many zippers, pockets, and components that allowed him to hide small trinkets away in. Most of this was used for self care reasons, as he needed to eat, drink, and break a lock same as everyone else.

     But, it was admittedly harder than he intended; this lifestyle of his.

      The lifestyle of a vigilante constantly on the run.

     Since he never picked out a name for himself, was given a few different ones. Sometimes, Suzuki heard others calling him the "bike-less biker," "nameless vigilante," or "helmet head." He had no opinions regarding these terms. The only thing he could bring himself to care about in these trying times was that his ex-wife and son were safe. A task which he had succeeded in so far. The neighborhood his son lived in was by far the safest in the district. Of course, in order to keep others from tracking his whereabouts and discovering his secret identity, the ex-supervillain fought crime elsewhere as well. He never sought criminal organizations, per say, but it was a common rumor by now that if "helmet head" caught you committing a crime, there was NO getting away.

      The tales told were the things of borderline horror stories. Only the friends of said criminal victims could tell the tales of their lost comrades and how they failed to escape the scarily powerful vigilante. Worst of all was that no one could exactly gage HOW powerful this man was, nor what the extent of what he could do with said power might be. He tended to play conservatively with his quirk, never revealing too many of his cards at once. This meant that if you were ever unlucky enough to get on his bad side...one might liken your chances that of a helpless fly caught in a web.

     Whatever the absurd rumors, at least everyone could agree on one thing.

     No one was stupid enough to pick a fight with that man.

...

     Suzuki stood leaned against a wall in a pale lit alleyway under a small balcony. Hardly any color shown, the sky was so dark and gray. Rain trickled past his visor, depending the ground at his thick rain boot covered feet.

     The masked one's arms were crossed, lazily scanning left to right, then right to left, for his dead son.

      The young ginger was supposed to be arriving soon with his dinner. Only rarely would the man dare eat with his family. This life was a solitary one, but one he felt he deserved all the same. Not like he necessarily had any self hatred for himself. But if Tartarus wasn't destroyed and his family's lives weren't put at risk, Suzuki was perfectly fine with the idea of returning there to serve the rest of his sentence. Yes, he would prefer to be free. But, he also was no sore loser, and knew when he had been beaten and what punishment for his actions entailed.

     "See that man over there?" A male voice whispered from deeper within the depths of the alleyway. Suzuki listened without turning his head. "Alright, now do what I taught you and intercept him!" The joyful voice roared.

     "Yes, Papa!" The young voice of an innocent child chirped in response. Only a few seconds after, a dark, black and purple scaly beast with a long neck and bat-like wings crawled out from the shadow. It was about the size of a horse. The slithering creature spat green fire at the ground as it raced nearer, its tail whipping about wildly.

Bz-tbbtz! Bz!

     The mighty beast, however, stood no chance against Suzuki's firewall. The dragon hit the wall of pure energy and blasted off in the opposite direction, tumbling into a pile of trash and bins. Suzuki didn't even flinch.

     "SON!" A man with pitch black skin, four arms, and dark gray samurai armor leapt from the shadows toward the dragon. The dragon, once in his father's arms, shrunk and changed form until it was revealed to be a small boy with bright blond, bowl-cut hair. His clothes were simply a black hoodie with painted on rib designs and black pants, a purple belt and purple and black cape. The kid couldn't have been any older than six or seven. His bright green eyes opened, fearfully darting around until they settled on the comforting sight of his father. The adult cradled his little one with three of his arms, the fourth striking out to point viciously at the unmoving Suzuki. "How DARE you hurt my son like that!!"

     A little peeved by the situation as a whole, the vigilante nudged himself off the wall and took a step toward them. "It isn't wise of you to bring your son to...occasions.. such as this." Digging his hands in his pockets, the vigilante tilted his covered head slightly. It was a rarity that Suzuki ever spoke to anyone outside his own small family, but he was willing to make an exception in this case. "What are you trying, exactly?.. Training your son to commit petty crimes? Not exactly the best use of your time." As Suzuki ambled a few steps forward, the quad-armed villain set the child down and took a defensive stance in front of him, fists raised.

     "My son and I are not just petty criminals! I am Lord Garmadon! Commander of the shadows! And this is my son! King of reptiles!!" One arm of the man's arms dramatically flaunted his son off. The little blond boy stood partially behind his dad, visibly trembling as he held up his fists. But he had one of those cute, angry and determined faces that reminded Suzuki a lot of Sho when he was younger.

     Suzuki sighed, visor covered face falling into his hand as he realized what was going on here. He couldn't believe it. After months of fighting the worst scum you can find on the streets, he ran into a man more childish and delusional than his past self. The kind who thought they could take over the world.

     "...Wait, what did you say your name was again?" The vigilante asked.

     "Uh-Garmadon! .. Lord of-"

     "-Alright, found you." Suzuki was currently googling the name. "Ah. An escapee from Tartarus I see? In that case, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to take you in."

     "Wait what!?!" Garmadon stumbled back, bumping into his son. The villain's eyes widened, frantic and in a panic as all the pieces clicked into place. "Wait, you're that 'helmet head' vigilante, aren't you!?"

     "Mhm, now come peacefully and I won't be forced to resort to violence."

     "NEVER!" The villain thrashed out his arms. Suzuki's ankles were grabbed by his own shadows, which tripped him up and forced him to the ground.

     Luckily, his helmet served more uses than one. He was unharmed by the fall. 'Ugh. That man used his childish mannerisms against me. I didn't even consider his quirk. What was that anyways? Some kind of shadow manipulation?' His limbs were picked up like those of a doll, body plucked up off of the ground by his arms. Suzuki dangled for a second, looking around for those shadows. However, there was nothing this time. The villain grinned brightly as two of his arms were extended to hold the vigilante in place.

     "How do you like my second quirk~?! Bone Manipulation! Works on both the living and the dead! All For One was kind enough to offer it to me in exchange for my loyalty~ So yeah.. Mess with me; mess with the big man."

     "You're a fool is what you are." Suzuki growled. "Though... I can't deny that I am unlike you. I too have a son whom I tried raising to follow in my footsteps, and I too once thought I could conquer the world."

     Garmadon grinned nervously. "Wow. Heheh... Pretty crazy story you got there."

     "It's no fairytale."

Crack! Crunch...crnch...

      Suzuki broke his own arms with telekinesis to be free from Garmadon's hold. They would immediately click back together and heal before the villain and his son's very eyes. For obvious reasons, this greatly disturbed them both. Again and again, Garmadon grabbed a hold of Suzuki's bones with some kind of telepathic power, but the ex-villain would simply break and reshape those as well. This continued all the way until Suzuki was on his feet and had the villain and his son backed into the dark corner.

     "But do you want to know what happened?.. My own son turned on me because he was wise enough to see just how childish my dreams were. And I was forced to learn a basic truth about the world..." The vigilante then used his quirk on the other man for a change, increasing the gravity to force both he and his son to their knees. The poor kid groaned as he laid on his stomach, which worried his father to no end. But before he could open his mouth to plead for it to all stop, the vigilante's hand landed on his shoulder. Suzuki was unharmed by his own circle of heightened gravity. "No matter how powerful you think you are, there will always be someone greater." Garmadon gasped as he peered up, his eyes meeting with two faintly glowing red orbs, which shown through the visor. His whole being trembled.

     "Sto-sto-st-stop! Let us go!!"

      Suzuki's power eased off of the pair. He turned his back on them momentarily while digging through the pockets in his jacket. "If you recognize me, then know the rumors are true. Even if you find a clever way to escape now, once on my list of targets..." He drew a small silver casing from his inner-most jacket pocket. "...there will be no escaping your fate." Turning around, Suzuki revealed the small case to the other. Garmadon squinted up curiously. At the moment, he was too preoccupied with making sure the boy was alright to escape. Suzuki knew the kid was fine. While not going on record for being the gentlest man alive, he made sure nothing he did was enough to permanently damage the child. "So, now would be about the best time to tell me who the mother is so I can get him home safely."

     Suzuki earned himself a pained glair from the other. "...He has no mother.. In fact, I'm the closest thing to a family he's got!"

     Suzuki stopped mid step and waited for a thinking second. "...Hm... Then perhaps you should have thought twice before adding 'criminal' to your record..." It was very simple in the vigilante's mind. One less criminal on the street meant one less threat to his own growing son. Though, he had to admit he bore sympathy for this man. "...Since I hold some level of sympathy toward you, I am going to offer you something better than certain death by the law." Suzuki opened the case, reaching for the gadgets inside. "I'm sorry, but I am not lying when I say The Shadow Realm is perhaps your safest bet."

     "The what!?!"

     "From what I heard, it has functioned as a final holding cell for many in the past. A far kinder punishment at the moment... The few who managed to escape lost all memory of their past, however, so I wouldn't recommend trying to claw your way back out."

      "No! I refuse!!"

     "I'm sorry. But you simply don't have a say in the matter."

      "Ay, Dad!" Sho at the entrance of the alleyway held a wrapped box of food high over his head.

     Suzuki spun around. "What did I tell you about staying incognito?"

     "Relaaax! I already checked for cameras and witnesses!.. Ooo! Are you apprehending some crooks right now??" The teen jogged forward excitedly, then stopped and crouched to get a better look. "Awh, the little one's so cute! You're not going to arrest him, right, Dad?!"

     "So this is your son, I take it?" Sitting on the ground still, Garmadon studied the red head with amusement.

     "Hhhh, yes. I--" Suzuki's attention followed his son and his son only as the boy was flung back. Sho flew, flipping and slid on his feet as he landed. But the assault didn't stop there. Every one of his bones started to twist in directions they simply shouldn't. Yes, even his neck vertebrae.

     "Sh-sho!" Suzuki threw his hand outward at once, reversing the villain's control while being careful not to hurt his son in the process.

     Garmadon grunted behind him. "M' sorry...but I can't let you take me away from my boy either..." Suzuki, hearing the desperation in the villain's voice, knew this wasn't the time nor place to pick up a real fight. Not while their children were involved. So, the vigilante let the villain slip away just this once. Neither spoke another word. Only after Garmadon was long gone did his hold on Sho's skeletal structure relinquish.

     The kid stumbled back and coughed. "I'm sorry for getting in the way.." He apologized.

     "Don't... I memorized his aura, so it won't be hard to track him down later." Suzuki stepped closer, landing his hand on the teen's shoulder to give it a gentle rub. "Were you harmed?"

     Stretching his shoulder, "Nah, not any more than when I tried to stop you that one time at least! Heheh.."

     "Right.." Suzuki's hand slipped off of the boy's shoulder. "Any news from your mo-"

      "-Oh!! There's something I need to warn you about first!"

     Suzuki, spipping his front foot back, stared through the visor down at his son. "...I'm listening."

     "Okay, so I just heard about this other vigilante that entered town! From what I've heard, he seems like a pretty big deal. Green and yellow costume. Wearing a muzzle of some kind. Seems to possess a lot of quirks too! Some think it's a new Nomu, but he only seems to be after criminals for now!"

     "And what does this have to do with me?"

     "Ugh... Dad, Dad.." patting his old man on the shoulder, "this is why you need a guy in the chair... Thing is this new guy is brutal, man! I'm talking can take out a villain with one punch brutal!. And, well, I just wanna make sure you don't accidentally get in his way is all, since he seems to be after anyone and everyone who could pose as a threat to whatever mission he is on."

     Suzuki scratched his chin idly. "...I see."

     This job potentially just got a whole lot more complicated.

-----------------

     It was pouring rain late that night. The only ones daring to go on patrol out here were the police, who weren't targeted as the heroes were.

     Shoji and Hagakure followed their three headed police chief, Karuki Otoko on a late shift. Their chief in question was extremely tall and buff, his three shining heads perfect for surveillance, especially in dark nights like this. He was a really nice guy too! Loved karaoke and anything mangos.

||| Karuki Otoko
||| Quirk : Stop-light

     Shoji and Hagakure were still a little in shock about how much things had changed since they left UA. Police work suddenly became a much more preferable profession among the public compared to hero work. It was because of this that the two started running into more and more small-time heroes getting jobs as simple police officers or firefighters instead. These somewhat retired heroes were still allowed to use their quirks as long as they had their heroing license. They just had to wear the uniform now and act only if commanded by the upper ranks.

     Apparently, this had been going on ever since the rise of that quirk erasing drug and Ryo's antics. Not only were police targeted less by the villains, but by the general public as well. No one really cares whether the average cop showed up to enforce the law or not. It was only the profession of heroism that was under fire right now. Most citizens were still willing to listen to law and reason.

     Which...unfortunately, was a bit of a problem for the police here. Having relied on heroes for so long, your average cops had turned more into a clean-up crew than anything else. Now, however, that they were expected to deal with such a big mess without the help of as many heroes, well, this wasn't even double the work. More like TEN TIMES that!!

     Hence, young cops in training like Shoji and Hagakure were being allowed to get involved as long as they had someone more experienced there with them.

     It was chilly this fateful afternoon. Shoji hung a side of his rain jacket over the smaller girl to assist in shielding her from the pouring rain. The chief ahead of the two suddenly stopped, holding his hands out to halt the teens behind him.

     "Wh.. what is it, Chief-?" Shoji glanced up at the back of the elder's heads.

     "-shh!"

     All three were quiet for a moment, listening carefully as the sounds of splashing and hollering bounced through the rain. A tall woman with some mutant quirk was being chased down by a small crowd of yelling men, who carried metal poles and baseball bats with them.

   "This is our town, Nomu!"
   "Get out of here!!"
   "We know what game ur playin'!"
   "Don't come back!!"
    "Stupid Nomu monster!! Leave us alone!"

      "I think you two should handle this. Remember what I taught you about handling angry mobs." Otoko gently nudged the teens past him. They both nodded to their chief and jogged ahead.

     The poor woman slipped in an oily puddle and fell against a stone wall. By the time she sat up, all the armed men had surrounded her with their makeshift weapons.

     "Please.. I don't want to hurt anyone!" She held her hands out and closed her eyes tightly.

     "Everyone, stand down!!" Hagakure took the lead. Both her and Shoji slipped between the crowd and the wall to stand protectively in front of the woman. They held their tasers at the ready, flashing their training badges to the crowd of men.

     "We have this situation under control! No need to take this any further!" Shoji's tone was sterner than it ever was before. Wasn't exactly fun to imagine his past self being treated the same way...

      The men standing around weren't so quick to give up their hunt, but.. eventually they relented and ambled off back to where they came.

     The teens sighed together in relief. They both looked to each other, and with racing hearts chuckled as the stressful situation dissipated.

     But their attention quickly shifted to the young woman now crying on the ground. Shoji removed his rain jacket and offered it to the woman. "Here... you might catch a cold.."

     "Oo! I have some pocket warmers too if you want some!" Hagakure offered with a warm, bright as day smile.

     The mutant sniffed and wiped the tears away from her eyes. "Wait, you're...not here to arrest me?"

     "Well, I mean. Did you commit any crimes?" Shoji smiled down at her.

     She smiled a little too. "No, I- I guess I was just expecting you to..."

     "Why are you out here anyways? This part of the city isn't exactly the safest, especially at night!" Hagakure leaned in more, plopping the two small hand warmers on the other woman's lap.

     "O-oh... Thank you.." The mutant grabbed one in each hand and held them snugly. "I- I guess I was hoping for things to get better! You know... they said the city would be repaired months ago. I was just hoping things would return to normal sooner than later. Not...this..." She started to cry again though quieter. Shoji frowned. "I finally decided to leave my home and seek shelter elsewhere, but none of the shelters would have me..."

     Shoji stepped to the side of her and draped his rain coat over the woman. All the while his eyes were filled with a stoic compassion.

     "Hey!! You can go to UA!" The light green haired girl bounced. "Our principle is literally a mouse, after all!. He won't care!"

     "I thought UA was destroyed?"

   "It-WHAT?!"
   "Wait, you mean that's not just a rumor??"

     The two ex-students' only real connection to the news was via police scanners nowadays. Though they heard about it, there was plenty of suspicion going around that this was either an exaggeration, or simply not true. But the woman nodded, fairly certain that was the case thanks to having talked to plenty of other people in, near, and around shelters.

     The two officers in training helped to the tall woman to her feet and brought her toward their Chief.

     On their way, Shoji looked up with a question. "If you don't mind me asking... If you're having such a hard time seeking shelter because of your quirk..why not get rid of it? It doesn't have to be permanent, and the medicine for it is pretty cheap now." The woman hummed uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, it's just that I was a mutant too before having my quirk removed. You don't have to answer that!" Chuckling nervously.

     "You were?.." The teal furred one hummed sadly. "...I don't know, really. It would make things a lot easier..but.. I don't know..." Staring at the ground bashfully as she walked, the woman rubbed her arm. "I...like the way I look. Sure, sometimes it can be a little inconvenient being this tall, but...I wouldn't do anything to change me."

     "Hmm..." Shoji's eyes landed on the ground, watching the amassing puddles carefully. Reminded him of when he was younger. If not for all the kids commenting on how creepy his arms and face were...he wouldn't have thought anything of his looks. It was just...him.

     They reached the chief shortly after. Even the tall and muscular one stood almost a foot shorter than the woman. "Way to go, cadets!" The man held out his arms with such pride, happily striding toward them.

     "Thank you, sir!" Both students responded with relieved smiles. No doubt that situation could have gotten really bad.

     As they started walking toward the station where they planned to drop the woman off for now, Shoji picked up his pace, shuffling up beside the chief. "Hey, um, sir?"

      "Yeh?" One of the man's glowing faces turned the young one's way.

      "Um... Why did you have Hagakure and I handle the situation? It wasn't exactly protocol..."

     "Hhh.." His shoulders drooped. "Don't tell the others about this, alright? But-- ... You saw what those guys were like.. With all those lab experiments running free...people get scared sometimes. They lose rational..and make some bad decisions." The chief was looking a little down. His attention wasn't entirely there. Clearly, there was a lot on his mind. "Some people just don't know what it means to be 'human.' ...That is why..I don't think I would have made the situation any better."

     "Huh... I see..." Shoji scratched his chin. His eyes remained on the puddle filled streets as they walked. The downpour wasn't quite as intense as before, though it was still a lot of noise. His hair was now damp with cold rain water.

      This whole mutant thing was far beyond himself. And he was forced to be on the fence about it. After all...you can't exactly complain about the hardships mutants endure if you are no longer a part of said group... Yet, the emotions were still there. The attachment to these specific struggles, as well as a sense of belonging to the cause.

     This was weird.

      "-Uh?" Shoji gasped as his chief threw his hand out in front of him. Hagakure gasped from behind.

     There. Drenched in rain water. A monster with the head of a fish stood hunched over in the middle of the empty street. Red dripped from its clawed hands. The monster's finned back was turned to them still, but before it lay the bloodied corpse of an unrecognizable person.

     "Get behind me." Otoko hissed to the others. They listened easily, sliding behind the three headed officer. Only a few small clicks sounded as the chief converted his backpack into a tripod minigun. "Now stand back!" As those following so did so, he let it rip!

Du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du!

     Shell after shell littered the ground as the horrifying Nomu was showered with bullets! The fish face turned to the loud noise, the victim's blood gushing from its gaping mouth. Though flinching a little under such intense fire, the scaly creature went otherwise unaffected. It rose its arm so that the thick blue tinted scales along its forearm could take the bullets. It prioritized defending its brain as, steadily, the Nomu trudged forwards.

     "NOW'S YOUR TIME TO RUN!" Otoko wasn't a fool. He knew he didn't have long!

     "WHAT?!" Hagakure.
     "We're NOT leaving you!!" Shoji.

     "Not like you really have a choice, kids!!!" One of his heads hollered over his shoulder. "You can't kill this thing, so find out what else you can do!! Like saving the citizen!!"

     But the two were so torn. Yes, it was hopeless, but they couldn't just leave their chief behind either!!

D'vvvvvvvvv---BAAAAAM!

     A string of light shot down from the roof of one of the buildings, resulting in the Nomu's head EXPLODING in all directions! Blood and guts spilt into the rain water as the beast came crashing down.

     A small man dressed in dark teal or green stood hunched over where the monster landed, feet still on its decapitated and concaved head. Panting a little, the young one stared down, absently noting his now blood stained pants and shoes.

     Shoji stood in shock with everyone else. He couldn't believe his own eyes! That guy moved with the speed of a raging bullet! Teal sparks of energy danced off of the shorter one's skin. What kind of power WAS this??

     ...He was like a human bullet.

     "Hm?" Suddenly waking from a daze, the masked hero turned to the others. There was something oddly familiar about the metal and green cloth mask despite the rugged appearance. "Is-is everyone alright?" Raising his white and teal gloved hands, the shorter one stepped forward. Shoji was the one who took the boldest step forward to match him.

     "Midoriya?! Is that you!?"

     The kid paused, stood a little straighter, then tilted his head slightly. "Shoji. It's good to see you!" There was something forced about that brightened tone, even though he was being genuine. "You too...Hagakure." Nodding to the girl.

     Thunder rumbled quietly overhead. It seemed like ages of nothing but the two parties staring at each other followed.

     "Anywho, I think you should leave the big threats to me, alright?" Using Black Whip, Izuku grabbed the edge of the building beside him. Those darkened, sullen eyes. Though the boy was making his best attempt to sound cheerful, those soulless voids; those shredded pits of darkness said it all.

     Something was deeply...and utterly wrong.