Chapter Text
The world changed when a "luminescent baby" was born in Qing Qing City, China, possessing a unique, glowing superpower. Following that first anomaly, superpowers—dubbed "Quirks"—began appearing all over the globe. A "Quirk" is a unique, superhuman ability possessed by roughly 80% of humanity. Quirks typically manifest by age four. They vary wildly in category—including Emitter, Transformation, and Mutant types—and function biologically like muscles. As superpowers became the norm, society collapsed into chaos because laws couldn't handle the influx of meta-abilities. Eventually, individuals with strong Quirks stepped up to protect the peace, giving birth to the profession of "Pro Heroes”, and “villains”.
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When she reached the familiar doorstep, the urge to swing the doors open, throw the groceries on the ground, and spend hours just purely arranging flowers, was immeasurable. Nyx held back though, knowing she would have plenty of time for that after she unpacked her luggage. With the grace of someone under a strict time limit, she opened the doors and set the seeds on the shop counter, before walking upstairs, and unpacking all of the other groceries. She had practically skipped back down the stairs at the thought of arranging flowers. Making it back down, she grabbed her customary pot that she always filled with a different arrangement of flowers each day, and began her work. She grabbed 2 Daffodils placing them opposite each other. Then added a snapdragon in the middle, followed by a handful of violets, so around 5, scattering them throughout the vase. Lastly she picked 4 Adonis flowers and put them in a square on l for edges of the pot. She stuck in a vine or two, keeping the shrubbery to a minimum like the old lady had taught her. Once she was satisfied, Nyx walked over to the door and flipped the sign, letting it read ‘open’ to the world.
The first customer to come in was the elderly old man who ran the barber shop down the road, he was one of her regulars, always getting an bouquet of Red Tulip’s, Dahlia’s, and Orange blossoms. One time only had the man shared the story behind the flowers. The man had said that it was the same flowers his wife held on there wedding day, and that the way Nyx arranged them was an almost spot on replica of how they looked. He had never shared more, but the hollow sadness behind his eyes to the rest of the story, that words had never bothered to finish. It was clear to Nyx his wife had passed, but he was holding strong, and that gave her hope in her own life.
The next regular to enter her establishment was always a youthful young boy. He had grown since the first time he’d walked in and Nyx was working there, but that was almost a year ago, so of course he grew. The little boy always got 3 flowers, Pink Carnations, Orchids, and Squash blossoms. The third flower he always got had made Nyx giggle on occasion, because she knew exactly what it ment, plus the boy had no problem showing off some of his Mexican features. The boy had built a habit of leaving 500 yen as pay. Not only did it settle the bill, but it served at a tip as well. The boy apparently did his math, because he had been leaving exactly 500 yen when he left every time.
Lastly, her third and final regular, was a dull looking man, probably in his 30’s. He always ordered a single flower. A measly Gladiolus was rung up in the register every time he came in. The man had sunken eyes, that were red at the edges, like he had held them open for a long while. It made no sense to her why the man always seemed tired, even though he walked with practiced ease. He confused Nyx, to the point of almost just straight up asking for his name, cause at least she could get someone on Reddit to find out everything about him with that. She kept that thought to herself though, and as always, rung the man up in silence that lingered to long at the edges.
With her regulars take care of, the rest of the day was smooth sailing. From a group of teenagers probably on a double date, to a very kind old lady that looked like the shop owner, but didn’t act like Nyx personally shoved a stick up her ass. It was peaceful. A stray little girl walked in at one point, and needed directions home, so Nyx took her well deserved break, put the closed sign up cause there was no one to cover for her, and escorted the girl home. The tiny little gremlin had complimented Nyx’s hair and vowed to get a wolf cut just like hers (that part made Nyx blush. She wasn’t used to compliments about her hair). Eventually she found the girls parents, and Nyx made her way back to the shop. She finished off her shift and closed the store. She took off the apron that had the flower shops logo, hung it on a hook near the stairs back to her apartment, and decided she’d go get a haircut. Her hair had grown a little, and she needed to fix up her layers so the wolf cut looked natural. She took the chance to go to the old man’s barber shop having gotten accustomed to his personality, because he was a regular, and made her way down the road. It was quiet, except for the distant hum of the city at night. Nyx was walking at her usual leisure pace, taking in the scenery that was once forgotten. The night seemed to call for her. It grabbed at her, wanting to drag her into the shadows of her former life. But that would never happen again, Nyx had vowed to it.
Hitting a brighter topic, the lights at the barber shop were still on. Nyx quickened her pace subtly, hoping the old man would have room for one more on his list. She got to the door, opened it, and was met with the smell of clean, just clean. No undertone to carry the clean scent away, it just smelled clean. Nyx relished in the warmth of the shop, it was contrary to the night air outside. She walked to the counter and confronted her regular.
“Well hello again!” Her smile was bright, tugging at the edges of her eyes. “Oh! Hello Nyx, I was about to close up, but I think I have room for one more.” That caught her off guard, the feeling of making space for her was nice. “So what can I do for you?” The man had already set up a chair, and guided Nyx too it. He rapped the tissue around her neck, before waiting for her answer, “I would like to fix my wolf cut. It grew and is looking kinda flat.” The man chuckled. “Well I’ll get that right up for you! Did you wanna dye your hair again?” Nyx paused, trying to figure out what that ment. “What do you mean?” The man paused this time, both of them playing a confusion limbo. “Well your hair color isn’t natural! neither are your eyes. So I assumed that you either wore contacts and had naturally oxblood red hair. Or you dyed your hair and had naturally denim blue eyes!” Nyx buckled over herself, laughing like her life depended on it. “Hahh…you’re really funny old man, both my hair and eyes are natural, so don’t you worry.” The old man looked like he was ashamed of himself for assuming things, but Nyx eased his worrying.
About 15 minutes later her hair was finished, she pulled out her debit card and payed, then left a 300 yen tip. Before the man could deny it, she slipped out the door letting the bell at the top signal her disappearance.
Nyx made her way back up the hill she’d walked down from, noting how dark it had gotten. That fact didn’t seem to ease her nerves, as she felt the feeling of eyes on her return. This time she didn’t brush it off a a passer by. She turned into an alley way, scaling her way up pipes like they were ladders ment especially for her. She got to the top and hid herself in the shadows of the roof, waiting and watching for the figure to come out. When they did Nyx saw the bright blond hair that was pulled back in two messy space buns, and bright golden eyes searching the streets for something. If Nyx was correct, then the girl dressed In a modified version of a yandere school uniform, was looking for her. She let herself think about who this could be, her thoughts wondering back to the faceless man from her past.
An image flashed through her mind. A tall faceless man in an untouched suit stood over her. He had pulled her aside in an alley while she was on patrol. Back when she considered herself a vigilante to prove her parents wrong. He had given her a promise of a quirk, unaware that hers had just come in. (Early that morning she had noticed the goo protruding her hands pores. A trip to the doctor had confirmed her quirk had come in, and it was an especially deadly poison that flowed in her bloodstream) The man called himself All For One, or afo for short. He talked about his command over the ‘league of villains’ -whatever that means-, and asked if she wanted to join. She had declined his offer, but not before he vowed to make her change her mind. That part sent shivers down her spine.
Returning back to the present, Nyx snapped out of her thoughts. She recognized the girl as Toga, one of the ‘followers’ of afo. Nyx was pissed the man had sent people to watch her. She jumped down from the roof, having found what she needed, and deciding to head back home like she had never climbed that roof. Before her night could go back to the prospect of normal, and scream echoed from the alleyway to her left. She paused, turning to see a large heteromorph woman being kicked by a group of men carrying bats. The lady was what looked to be 6,6, however it was hard to tell because she was hunched over. The Women looked up, her mouse like face meeting denim blue eyes. Nyx didn’t wait for a cry for help, or a command to run the opposite direction. Her instincts flared, relighting an old burned out match.
Nyx jumped on top of the mad standing in the middle of the other 2 directly in front of the woman. Nyx rapped her legs around the guys neck, squeezing till he dropped to the floor on top of her. He stopped struggling, and Nyx hoped up, pushing the man off her, and beginning her next assault. The man at her left had lunged at her, bat over his head like gravity was gonna slam it down for him. Nyx pivoted on the balms of her feel, grabbing his vacant arm, and body slamming him onto the first guy. His breath caught, and he struggled for air. Nyx ripped the bat out of his hand, striking him hard on the head. When the man passed out on top of his comrade, the third guy turned to run. Nyx didn’t let him, and with one devastating motion she lunged off the ground, getting air time while winding up the bat in her hand. Gravity did the rest, slamming down her weapon right onto the back of the last man’s head. He stumbled, lost motion, and fell face first into the concrete. Nyx dropped the bat on the ground, and turned to address the woman still cowering at the back of the alley.
“Are you okay ma’am?” Her voice carried steady, hints of gentleness seemed to sooth the heteromorph. “Y- yes…t- thank you!” Nyx only nodded in response, putting her hand out for the women to stand again. She took it and ended up towering over Nyx. Nyx paused taking in the height difference, before leaving the alleyway. She pulled her phone out and dialed 911. It rang for 2 beats before picking up on the third. “911, what’s your emergency?” The voice came through Nyx’s phone, almost robotic. “Hi, I was walking home when I saw three guys start beating a heteromorph in an alleyway, a person stepped in and took all three of them out before leaving. So I thought I’d call the cops so you could arrest the three men.” The lady on the other end asked her usual questions, Nyx answered them politely. When she was told that an officer would be there shortly, she nodded and continued her walk back home. The events of the night eventually caught up to her when she got there, but she brushed it off, making her way inside. She climbed all the way up to her room, without stopping for anything. When she stood in front of her bed, she fully relaxed her body, plopping down on the bed. She didn’t have time to adjust her position when sleep took her, but the rest was welcomed so she didn’t complain. She let the rest of the day fade by as she dreamt, awaiting the coming day.