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An explosion echoed through streets that only moments ago were quiet. Glass and debris fell from the 8th floor of Kenranzaki Industries. Almost immediately, employees of the company began pouring out onto the streets, screaming and panicking.
“Help! Help!”
“Someone call a hero!’
“Oh my God! I think it’s the League of Villains!”
Another eruption from the 10th floor sent more glass falling down towards the crowd below, causing a chorus of more terrified screams. However, before the debris could hit anyone, a wall of vines shot up and reached over to cover the crowd.
“Look, it's the hero, Vine! We’re saved!”
Ibara Shiozaki, a.k.a Vine, was one of UA's acclaimed heroes. Dressed in white, she used her vines to create a perimeter around the building and moved the civilians to safety. Alongside her was the Man of Steel, Real Steel, or Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu. He crashed through the front door. Floor by floor, he went through clearing a safe path for the workers to escape and freeing anyone who was trapped.
As he started to make his way up the building, he heard banging and screaming coming from the elevator. He pried the door open on floor 5 only to see that the elevator was stuck between floors.
“Hey! Everyone stay calm! Real Steel is here! I’ll have you out soon!” He shouted. Loud sighs of relief and cheers came from inside the elevator car. He raced up to floor 6 to reach the trapped people at a better angle. However, when he got there, everything was in chaos. The company’s in-house security team was currently fighting against Jin Bubigawara, the villain known as Twice. The villain could make copies of anyone down to their quirk. While he was once able to make an army of copies, he had to limit how many clones he could make without hurting himself. This was due to an injury he had sustained during a battle. He was still, however, a terrifying person to fight against. But he was fighting glorified mall cops as himself. Where was everyone else?
Real Steel charged through the fight and tackled two of the Twices. When one of them disintegrated he took the other and threw him at another Twice. Both of them disintegrated, leaving three more to deal with at least.
“Get out of here! If you find anyone else who’s trapped. Help them. I’ll handle this criminal.”
“Yay! It’s hero time!” Twice cheered before cowering and panicking. “Shit! I thought it was supposed to take more time for the heroes to get here.”
While one Twice made more of himself, the two remaining Twices attacked Real Steel. They struggled and fought, but Real Steel was called the Man of Steel for a reason other than he could harden his skin into steel. He punched harder and faster than Twice could ever do as himself. However, just as it looked like he was going to take Twice out, one of the Twices tripped him. Sending him careening out the window.
Real Steel braced for impact as Twice looked out the window and waved goodbye.
“I gotcha ya!” Yelled Ochaco Uraraka, the famous top hero and UA graduate, Uravity. She tapped Real Steel, making him float, and guided him back inside the building.
“Thanks,” he said once they were back inside the building. “The elevator has people inside and is trapped between this floor and the one below.”
“Let’s get them and then take care of villains,” Uravity said and followed Real Steel to the elevator. He pried open the doors, and Uravity used her quirk to gently lift everyone out the opening. Real Steal broke open one of the large glass windows while Uravity floated everyone down to a platform Vine had made from her vines. As the civilians descended, one of the children among them waved at Uravity in awe of her while clutching an Uravity doll.
With everyone safe, they set their sights on the real threat; the League of Villains. The league was once a small ragtag group of villains that came together under the Hero-Killer Stain’s influence. After their leader, the dreaded villain, All for One, was captured, for a short time, it looked like there was hope they would disband. However, after All for One died mysteriously, that hope died. The new leader, Shigaraki gained a new sense of focus and took on the mantle as the new All for One.
The new League of Villains was more terrifying than they had been before. Yet, with them was a whole new group of young and powerful heroes like Dynamight, Lemillion, and Chargebolt ready to save the day.
It wasn’t until they got to the 10th floor that these particular professional heroes had come in contact with the villains currently attacking.
“Wow! So it’s Tetsutetsu and Uraraka today?” Deku, known also as the Quirkless Terror, is the extremely intelligent brains behind many of the league's plots and one of All for One’s right-hand men. Dressed in the scarf of his mentor, Stain, and a tattered black and green costume, the man in his early 20’s had an array of weapons and devices to supplement his quirkless nature. “What an interesting combo but not a bad idea at all. Man, I would love to see you two in action, but we really must get going. Sorry, we can’t stay!”
Deku took a silver briefcase and tossed two grenades at the Real Steel and Uravity before escaping towards the roof exit. Both of them dodged, expecting a big explosion, but they were just flash grenades. When their ears stopped ringing, they sprang back into action and followed Deku.
While ascending the staircase to the roof, the stairwell suddenly started to feel very cold, Real Steel and Uravity’s feet stuck to the ground.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you two to continue.” At the top of the stairs was Frost Fire. He was dressed in a red and white suit that was similar to the blue one he used to wear when he was training to be a hero. It matched his red and white hair he had grown long and had pulled back into a braid.
“Thanks, Frost Fire. I can always count on you,” Deku said as he ran through the door to the roof. Real Steel roared and started using his metal fists to punch the ice creeping up his legs until it broke. Uravity tapped him to make him float and pushed him up towards Frost Fire.
Frost Fire backed up and created a wall of ice to block Real Steel. With his focus elsewhere, he didn’t notice Uravity using a knife to chisel her way free. Once she could move, she floated up next to Real Steel and helped him break through the ice wall, but Frost Fire was no longer there.
On the roof, Twice had made a clone to pilot a helicopter. The helicopter hovered in the air, waiting for Deku and Frost Fire to get in via ladder. Deku was almost up the ladder and passing the briefcase to Twice when Uravity and Real Steal busted through the door.
“Aw, Uraraka did you really want to play together like we used to do in the old days? Come on, I miss you too, but we’re really busy today. Next time, I promise!” Deku was blushing as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. Twice rolled his eyes but also sighed as if it was the most romantic thing in the world.
“Where do you think you are going?” Real Steel said as he pushed his floating body upwards so he could grab onto the ladder. He shook it until Deku fell off, then started climbing it to get to Twice and the briefcase.
Meanwhile, Uravity launched herself towards Frost Fire. The two began battling hand to hand. Uravity’s floating gave her increased mobility but even at this close range, Frost Fire could still use his quirk to block using ice and to hit using fire.
“You know you can’t win. So why do you still fight? You’re adorable, do you know that?” Frost Fire teased in a voice that gave away the fact that he was only half trying. Gritting her teeth, she feigned a punch but kicked him instead. Frost Fire stumbled back towards the edge of the roof then slipped on his own bit of ice.
“Shoto!”
Deku raced over and dived off the edge. The two men grabbed each other’s hand, and Deku tapped his feet together, activating his rocket shoes. The two of them rose into the air. With one arm wrapped around Shoto’s waist, Deku used his other hand to pull out a modified gun and started shooting at Real Steel. The gun was not meant to kill but to incapacitate. It shot disks that once attached would send strong electric shocks into the victim.
Real Steel groaned but he didn’t let go of the ladder. So Twice cut it, causing Real Steel to fall to the ground.
“Bye, bye. Uravity and Real Steel. I hope you can impress me more next time,” Deku said. He flipped a switch on his gun and it shot out a large black portal that quickly swallowed the helicopter. Deku and Frost Fire laughed as the portal wrapped around them and warped them away. Just as quickly as it arrived, the dark portal disappeared, leaving Uravity and Real Steel alone.
~*~
“Looks like those three got away with some experimental tech. It’s surprising they even knew it was here,” Uravity explained to Vine and Real Steel after talking with the police and representatives from Kenranzaki Industries. “Thankfully no one was hurt but still. They wouldn’t even tell me what it was the league stole.”
“Figures,” Real Steel scoffed. “How exactly are we supposed to recover it if we don’t even know what it is?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. I guess just look for something that you’ve never seen before,” Uravity shrugged and sighed.
“Well, thanks for your help, you two. We’ve been short-staffed lately.”
“It is my duty to stop perverse sinners like them from tainting the souls of the innocent,” Vine said and gave a small curtsy. “If you ever need anyone to help you punish the wicked, it would be my honor to do so.”
“Thanks.” Real Steel snapped his fingers as a thought popped into his head. “What are you guys doing after this? Since you helped me, I’ll treat you two to dinner.”
Vine accepted thankfully, leaving all eyes on Uravity. She had plans later, but it wasn’t every day she got to team up with her old classmates. So, reluctantly, she agreed.
~*~
“For once, I’m with you on the whole ‘perverse sinners’ thing. It looks like the crazy ones always get attached to Uraraka,” Tetsutetsu said, shaking his head in disbelief. It was supposed to be a short friendly dinner, but it turned into a long dinner and then a trip to the bar. Uraraka was surprised Shiozaki had agreed to continue and was one of the first ones to buy a glass of wine. “First it was that um... that Toga girl back in high school and now it’s those two creeps.”
“It sadly comes with the territory when you’re a female hero,” Uraraka chuckled darkly. Shiozaki placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. The three of them had since changed from their hero costumes and were now hanging out in civilian clothes. While it didn’t do much to discourage people from coming up to them, it usually took a minute for people to realize who they were.
“I understand. You would be surprised about how many impure fiends lust after me for some reason.” Shiozaki shook her head and finished off her third glass of Chardonnay.
“Sadly, that‘s not as surprising as you think, Shiozaki,” Tetsutetsu said, eyeing her long hair and imagining the different people to whom her aesthetic would, unfortunately, appeal to. He coughed awkwardly. Uraraka smiled, then looked at the clock hanging on the wall.
“Oh, man is that the time? I have to get going,” Uraraka said and stood up. She finished off the rest of her beer and placed money on the table to pay for her drinks.
“You’re leaving? But it’s so not even 10 pm?” Tetsutetsu asked. It wasn’t often he could meet up like this with old classmates besides Itsuka and Neito. “We still have so much to catch up on.”
“I know, but I have an early morning tomorrow. Besides, if I get home too late, my Bunny’s going to get grumpy and Peppermint always gets so lonely when I'm not home." She bowed quickly and then waved goodbye. “Thanks so much for the food. I really appreciate it. We should do this again sometime and invite everybody.”
She was out the door, but Tetsutetsu chased after her and stopped her again. He frowned and looked around at the busy street filled with cars passing and people enjoying the nightlife.
“I know we were joking about it but seriously are you going to be okay?” He asked, still scoping the area, looking for anyone that might be paying too much attention to them. “You’re staying vigilant when you go home, right? Do you want someone to walk with you?”
“Aw, thanks! But I’m being careful. I promise. You guys, too. Be careful, okay? There are people out there that are just as obsessed with you as those two are with me.” Uraraka said with a big comforting smile on her face. Tetsutetsu shook his head but got out of her way. He watched her as she walked around a drunk group of bar-hopping office workers and towards the train station.
Even though the two had departed, the same thought was on both of their minds:
No one was as obsessed with someone as Shoto and Izuku were obsessed with Ochaco.
~*~
The area Ochaco’s apartment was located was usually quiet. As a hero, she was able to afford nice things and the nicest thing she owned was her home. She spared no expense. It was a pricy penthouse apartment decorated by a skilled interior designer and with all the amenities a woman could desire. This is why it was rather odd to see a mysterious and a dented black van parked right in front of it.
Before she could react. A hand covered her mouth, while an arm snaked around her waist, pulling her into a dark alley. She struggled and was about to scream when she heard her assailant whisper in her ear.
“Sh! You don’t want to wake people up now, do you? It’s late.”
She stopped struggling, and a young lovey-dovey couple on a date walked by. Once the distant sound of a door opening and closing echoed through the streets, her assailant let her go. She immediately turned around and pushed him.
“Ow,” he said and rubbed his chest where she had shoved him. The assailant stepped forward out of the shadows, revealing to be a man with long hair and a scar over his left turquoise eye. “For someone so nice and sweet with her old classmates, you are very violent with me.”
She glared back at him and a small sly smile graced his lips. He raised his hands up to show he had no intention to attack or guard himself if she chose to hit him.
“Are you still mad that I called you adorable? It’s true, though.”
“I don’t want to hear that from you!” Ochaco punched Shoto’s arm. “Idiot! Why did you have to do that earlier? I was really worried for a second there. What if you really had been hurt. What would I do?”
Shoto walked over to her and cupped her face in his hands. She moved her head away but he gently guided her face up and kissed her forehead. He held her in a tight embrace and apologized.
“You did kick me, though. I had to make it look convincing. We can’t have people figuring out the truth.”
“Well, maybe you should stop showing up to my apartment in a suspicious-looking van,” she grumbled as he petted her hair lovingly.
“I’m not the one who went out drinking after work. We can’t just walk up and kill every bastard walking the streets that thought about bothering you. We needed somewhere to do it cleanly. The van was just the safest option.”
“And they say I’m the hero,” she said and chuckled. Shoto gave her a hooded jacket and mask to help hide her face. She put these on and the two walked hand in hand to the van. Shoto helped her into the passenger seat before climbing into the back. In the driver’s seat was Izuku, who looked more than a little distressed. Ochaco greeted him with a quick peck on the lips but this only calmed him a bit.
“You’re late, you know?”
“I know. I’m sorry. I had to go to dinner with those two from before.” Ochaco rolled her eyes as she buckled herself into the car. Once everyone was settled, Izuku started the van and took off.
“Well, don’t worry. Soon you won’t need to be nice to those pathetic excuses for heroes anymore. Seriously, their fighting style is all wrong for their quirk.” As Izuku proceeded to rant and nitpick about everything he found wrong with the fight earlier that day, Ochaco watched as the world outside flew by. The lights ran together like streaks of neon.
“You were wonderful, though,” Izuku said once he was done with his rant. “But um what was I talking about?”
“The plan,” Shoto said as he texted Toga their eta.
“Oh yeah! Sorry. I was saying that the next phase of the plan is about to begin! With the plans and data we stole, we have what we need to make a temporary quirk erasing gun.” As Izuku talked, Shoto handed Ochaco a prototype of the gun. “Once we start mass production, you will be free and won’t have to pretend to be a hero anymore. Isn’t that great?”
“You mean we can finally be together in public?” Ochaco asked. Izuku nodded and Ochaco hugged him. “Oh, that’s great, Bunny! I’m so happy!”
Izuku blushed. The hug was only slightly unexpected but it still made Izuku swerve into the next lane. Several cars honked their horns at him but he corrected himself. Thankfully the windows on the van were tinted so that it was impossible to see inside. Otherwise, the other cars would see one of the best and most loved heroes cuddled against one of the most feared villains.
“Calm yourself, Sunshine. Wait until we get back to HQ in one piece. Then we can do whatever you would like,” Shoto warned. Ochaco chuckled and released Izuku from her grip. She turned around in her seat and winked at Shoto.
“Okay but, I’m going to hold you to that, Pepper,” she said with a giggle.
And so, zooming through the streets, the three villains discussed their plans to destroy this world and build a new one they could control.