"I'm not ready. I'm not ready," whispered Pony, who stood there shaking as they stood in line. In her hand was an autograph book she had bought while she and Itsuka had been shopping together. However, with the way she was holding it, Izuku didn't think it would last much longer as the closer they got to the front of the line the more Pony's grip on it tightened.
"I'm not ready. I'm seriously not ready," echoed Izuku, who wasn't doing much better than his American friend. All around them there were plenty of well-known heroes who had their own booths from all over the world. Nearly all of them were high-ranking pros from their own countries.
"Well, ready or not, you're up next," laughed one of the pro heroes before them. Both Izuku and Pony blinked, realizing they were at the front of the line to meet with America's Number One Pro Hero Team: Kamen Corps! Smiling before them was the blonde-haired leader of the group: Kamen America. Real name: Carly Vanders. Though, she wasn't a natural blond as Izuku knew a little about her quirk. Normally, she was a redhead but when she activated her quirk (bioelectrical manipulation) her hair changed color as well. Not only could she use electrical-based attacks but she could also fly. "Looks like you're a hero student. Where are you from?"
"A-Ah Texas," stammered Pony in English as she handed the woman known as the Patriotic Paladin her autograph book. "But I'm studying in Japan. At U.A."
"U.A.? I wanted to go there…but failed the written portion of the exam," came the voice of the blue-haired member of the team. This was Kimiko Kaneko, also known as Kamen Ramen. Her quirk was called Hydrokinesis which allowed her to control the density, flow, and even the temperature of water. Izuku was aware of her as her family owned an instant ramen company…with the creepiest mascot he had ever seen. So much so that it gave him nightmares the first time he saw it. After that, the Midoriya's never bought that brand again until they replaced it with Kamen Ramen.
"Damn," said the redhead of the group with a whistle. "That has to be like the sixtieth school you've mentioned where you flunked the written exams. How many did you take?"
"…I'd rather not say," replied Kamen Ramen with a pout. This just caused the Pyrokinesis user of the group, Kamen Comet, to burst out laughing. Izuku stared at the woman whose name was Misha Lovacova, a former Russian mercenary turned pro-hero.
"Come on now, don't tease her," said the last member of the group: Kamen Victory. Out of all the members of the group, Izuku knew her the best. Her real name was Sylvia Prestige. Born into the family that owns the largest sporting goods chain in the world, you would have thought that she had it easy. However, it was believed that she was quirkless and went through nearly her entire life being told she couldn't be a hero. Rather than letting that stop her, she used her money and influence to enact change for the better. Much like how Melissa tried to become a hero in her own way. It wasn't until recently that she discovered that she had been misdiagnosed. Her quick was called Tech Bonding. Basically, she can bond herself to more advanced technology. Anything at the level of a smartphone or above. Once this was discovered, she used her resources to create a special suit that she now wore to help fight villains in the States.
Honestly, as the autograph book was passed around so they could sign it with their own flare, he could see why they were the top team in the USA. None of them had formal educations in heroics, each one having their own prior ambitions. Vanders had been a fashion designer, both for the everyday civilian as well as heroes. Lovacova had wanted to be a fashion designer as well but had felt like she had to hide that fact in order to keep the respect of those around her. Kaneko had tried to become a hero the official way but had failed at that as well as trying to go to school to become a radiologist. While they all struggled to be heroes on their own, together they made it work. In fact, they made it work so well that they could defeat villains that a single hero with all the training struggled with.
After they handed Pony back her book, it was Izuku's turn. Remembering what Aizawa had said, he did his best to keep his questions to a minimum as he handed them one of his notebooks. Well, that was part of the reason. A bigger reason was that this was important to Pony. Not just meeting the Kamen Corps, but all the other heroes here. And he had already made her uncomfortable this morning so the last thing he wanted to do was ruin things here. He had also refrained from using some of his first-place privileges to cut in front of the lines as he feared that it might steal the moment from Pony. That the heroes would focus more on him than her when it was their turn. So, Izuku did his best to hold his own fanboy back as Pony asked all her questions while bouncing on her hooves before he asked a few of his own.
Once they were finished, the two walked away holding their autograph book and notebook like they were great treasures.
"Izuku," began Pony once they were far enough away from the pros, heading towards another hero. "I, ah, never got a chance to say this but thank you for what you did this morning."
Instantly, Izuku's face turned red as he looked at his blonde-haired classmate who was looking away shyly. "T-T-This morning," he began.
"Yeah," she said. "It had to be an awkward surprise for you to find me pressing up against you like that. I, ah, sometimes roll around in bed and, well, for some reason I clung onto you in my sleep. When I woke up, I thought for sure you would be disgusted to find my hooves on your leg or my tail on your hand. That you would really freak out or scream or something like that. So thank you for saying what you did about my tail. It made me feel really good…even if you didn't really mean it."
"Pony," was all Izuku could say, surprised at what he had just heard. Without really thinking about it, he wrapped around her upper back causing the girl to eep as he brought them to an area away from everyone. It wasn't a dingy alleyway or anything like that, just a shaded street with a few other people enjoying some time away from direct sunlight. A few of them were even at tables, sipping drinks with their friends and lovers. But none of that mattered as he looked at his blonde friend who was now using her autograph book to hide her lower face.
"About this morning," began Izuku, his thoughts jumbled in confusion. "Yes it was awkward but…why would you think I was just saying that?"
"W-Well," began Pony in a nervous tone, now looking away from her green-haired friend. "Most people back home weren't really nice to me because of my quirk."
Hearing that, Izuku took a deep intake of breath. "Were you-" he began, not knowing how to finish that sentence. Izuku was aware that discrimination existed based on one's quirk. For some, if you were quirkless or had such a pitiful one then you would be mocked. But for others, it was how the quirk affected your appearance. He was aware that there were groups out there that preyed on and hurt those who had more animal-like mutations or looked so bizarre that they no longer looked human. While they called it having 'dirty blood', Izuku never understood it as he thought they were amazing.
"On and off," admitted Pony as she slowly met Izuku's gaze. "It was worse when I was little. A lot of the kids would pull and yank on my tail or just grab my horns. Then, at school, they would moo or neigh at me when I walked down the hallway. And…And it really hurt when I was always cast as the animal for all our school plays. They always made me feel like I was more of an animal than a person." Slowly she lowered her autograph book, allowing him to see her lips again. "But, as we grew up, most of them grew out of that. Though some of them needed a little…help. Still, that didn't mean that it stopped completely. Once puberty hit, I would hear some guys saying how they would love to 'milk me' or how they would enjoy 'a pony ride'."
"That's," was all Izuku could say as he felt a bubble of anger rising within him coloring his judgment.
"But, that's just what they would say about my more human features," continued Pony as she looked down. "I still heard people saying stuff about my tail like it was dirty and ugly. Or my hooves freaked them out. Or that I would be cuter without my horns." Slowly Pony looked up at Izuku with a forced smile. "I know you're too nice to say something like that to me. And I know that you're my friend…but just because you like being around me doesn't mean you'd enjoy touching something like that. Once you realized it you were probably disgusted-"
"I wasn't!" exclaimed Izuku, surprising Pony. "How could you even think that?"
"W-Well," began Pony, gulping. "You're always so curious about quirks, but you've never shown any interest in my tail before. A-And sometimes I catch you staring at it when we go to a manga café before wincing." Upon hearing that, Izuku felt like slapping his forehead. Curse Albion and his sudden cries of 'No'.
In order to get himself more calm and in control of his emotions, Izuku took a deep breath. "Pony," began Izuku as he took a meaningful step closer to her. "I'm sorry if I ever made you feel that way about your body. Truthfully…I was curious about what it felt like since the day I met you. Would it be more coarse or would it be soft and smooth like your hair? It's just, where it was made it feel more awkward to ask."
At that, Pony's eyes widened as they regained the sparkle they normally had. "You mean, you like it? Really?"
Izuku blushed as he looked away, scratching the back of his head. "Have you met me before?" he asked. Then he looked at the girl before him. "Pony, I do like you. Everything about you, from the horns and hooves and even the tail to the way you get all excited about the manga's you like. I can understand your passion and you always give things your all. Because it's all the things that make up you. And, you are one of the first people I could ever call my friend along with Itsuka. So, I didn't want to cross a line and ask to touch you somewhere that might make you feel uncomfortable." Then, his face turned bright red. "And, about this morning. I was trying to be confident and honest with you because I was freaking out. So, I meant everything I said."
Upon hearing that, Pony's face lit up and her cheeks became bright red. She opened her mouth to say something. However…
"Hey there cow tits," came a male voice from behind Pony, reaching around as a hand began to squeeze her breast. Right there. In public! As Pony stood there for a moment, the light of happiness leaving her face, Izuku shot a glare at the person doing this. It happened to be a teen around their age, his accent indicating he was from the USA. Despite being taller than them, he had a young face that made Izuku think that he was around their age. His light brown hair was cut short, and styled in a way so that it looked like waves of curled back spikes with the sides buzzed. His green eyes seemed to shine with confidence and lust, the rest of his body being well muscled to show he could back up any claim.
"I'm going to show you a good time," said the teen, seeming to ignore the look Izuku was giving him as well as the shock of the few others around. "So how about I take you to my room and you can get on all fours."
"Hey!" shouted Izuku, but stopped when Pony raised a trembling hand.
"Izuku, remember how I said that some needed help growing up?" she asked, her voice sounding pained though her face remained neutral as if she were trying to put on a brave face. Midoriya, on the other hand felt his legs getting ready to move, not really listening to what she was about to say but stopped when he noticed her raising a leg. "Allow me to show you how I did that." With that, Pony back-kicked her sexual assaulter. The teen let out a cry as he was flung backwards, rolling and skidding across the ground ruining his designer clothing. That as well as drawing the attention of everyone in the area. The sexual assaulter didn't stop until he crashed into a table, the contents of those seated there spilling all over him.
"Pony," cried Izuku as he felt his breath returning to him and his legs finally moving on his command again. He reached out, touching her arms causing the girl to jump at the contact but she did quickly calm down. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she whispered, her voice tinted with disgust.
"Hey, what the fuck you cow bitch??" shouted the stranger as he slowly got up, ignoring the looks he was getting from the people at the table he had crashed into. People who had seen and heard him, directing their ire towards. "Do you have any idea how lucky you that you're human appearance is good enough for me? Well? You should be grateful that that someone like he is even giving you the time of day so we can both get some milking done!"
Izuku found himself staring in disbelief at this person. At first, he wanted to compare this guy with Mineta from 1-A. However, the more this teen spoke, the more of a comparison he began to make. While Mineta was, well, a total creep and a coward from what Toga had told him, he seemed to realize when he had gone too far. Though that wasn't saying much as 'too far' usually meant 'too late'. This guy, on the other hand, seemed to possess all the confidence in the world. That he could just walk up to someone and do whatever he wanted without a hint of shame. Though maybe that wasn't really confidence as, the more he spoke, the more he sounded like a spoiled child who had never been told no a day in his life. That it was more expected that he get whatever he wanted. And judging by the way everyone else was staring at him, they seemed to agree.
"Oh, I think I get it," continued the other teen, still oblivious to the rest of the world while a sneer appeared on his face that caused Izuku's stomach to flip. He could only imagine what it was doing to Pony. "I bet you prefer to munch on carpet. Yeah, you seem like the type if puny little shits like that green-haired pansy are the people you hang out with. Never had a real man show you how it's done. Well, just let the future pro hero-"
The guy was cut off as a fist collided with the side of his face with so much force that everyone looked away. As the stranger clutched his face, rolling around on the ground and screaming in pain from the blow, Izuku turned to look up at the person who had struck him. It was a woman, maybe in her late to mid-thirties, dressed in a blouse that was half black and half light blue with a leather jacket on top along with black ripped jeans. Her eyes were covered by sunglasses, but her face showed utter rage. But, there was also something about her short, light blue hair that was styled like a teardrop.
"I leave you alone for one minute and you pull this crap?!" the woman practically roared before grabbing the teen by the shirt. She looked ready to drag him away, the boy screaming at her and calling her an old hag, but stopped when she noticed a few of the other heroes watching them. Most noticeably Kamen America who was holding two lightning bolts in her hands as if they were daggers. Behind her were the rest of the team along with plenty of I-Island security.
"Excuse me," said Kamen America, her eyes locked onto the pair. "But before you go, you will need to talk to security about that little stunt your…" She let her sentence hang, indicating that she wanted to know their relationship.
"He's my idiot cousin," said the woman, with clear disgust in his voice. "The idiot was supposed to be with the rest of his class on a tour of the island but missed his damned flight because he was too busy screwing around. Seems like the screw-up didn't learn his lesson." She then looked Kamen America directly in the eye before speaking in a sharp tone. "If you need to make a report, I understand. But, afterward, I'm taking him to my hotel room where he will be staying for the rest of the trip while I call his parents."
Kamen America seemed to think about it, but only for a moment before flying over to Pony so fast that it amazed Izuku. "Hey there," said Kamen America. "No pressure, but I need to know what you want to do. Go easy on this guy or-"
"No," said Pony as she shook her head. "I've dealt with this before. If I let him get away with this, he'll never learn his lesson."
"What the fuck!" screamed the guy as he looked over at the two blondes. "That bitch kicked me and I'm the only one getting in trouble?"
This went ignored as the Kamen Corps went to work along with I-Island security robots. The four American heroes went around, collecting statements from everyone who would give them including Izuku. As they did that, the U.A. student watched as the robots scanned a card that the blue-haired woman had on her. Probably a room number. After that, Kamen Comet asked them for some additional information like their names and what school the guy belonged to. Sadly, Izuku didn't get to hear everything that they said. But he did pick up the name Wrouble and Detroit Mercy School of Heroics which, according to Pony when he told her this, was one of the top hero schools in the state of Michigan and ranked among the top ten in the country.
"Well, that was something," said Izuku after everything had settled and everyone had left. Especially that jerk. "So what do you want-"
"You two! Where is your chaperon?" came a newer, gruff voice that interrupted Izuku. "I had to race halfway across this island because I heard a few of our students were causing trouble! So turn around and begin explaining! NOW!"
Confused, Izuku and Pony turned around to see what could only be described as a gym teacher. This was because the man was dressed in a red and white tracksuit with a whistle dangling around his neck. The man was large, reminding him of an All Might or Endeavor build. The man's blonde hair was buzzed and his large chin was covered in stubble. However, his narrow eyes showed only irritation.
"Sorry, but we don't belong to your school," said Izuku, doing his best to de-escalate the situation. "We belong to-"
"Don't give me that!" roared the man as he shoved a meaty finger right into Izuku's face. "I just heard you talking in English. Meaning you have to be one of our students."
At that, Izuku blinked as he tried to make sense of the man's logic before something dawned on him. During the entire time they were here with the international heroes, the pair had been speaking in English. Even after the incident when they were alone, Izuku had chosen to speak in the girl's native language to help make her feel more comfortable. So he supposed that hearing them speaking in English might have given him the wrong idea. But why would they lie when they said they weren't his students?
Before Izuku could try to explain more, the man reached out and grabbed them both by the wrist. Naturally, the two struggled as the man began dragging them away while taking in the clear scent of cigarettes on him. After a moment or two of this, the man seemed to grow even more frustrated.
"Fine, act like little kids!" he roared. "But you won't like the outcome one bit!" With that, he released them. However, the moment he did, Izuku felt a great invisible weight on his wrist where he had been grabbed. So great that the teen fell down along with Pony. As the man pulled out his phone to text someone, the two teens redoubled their struggles to get away from this creep. However, it felt like their wrists were now attached to thousand-ton weights!
For five minutes they remained in this state, yelling at the man that they weren't his students. However, the man just picked his nose while pulling out another cigarette. Then…
"Ok Deadweight, did you find who…why is the first place champion of the U.A. Sports Festival on the ground?!" This came from an elderly man who, judging by the wrinkles and the whiteness of his comb-over hairstyle, was either in his sixties or seventies. The man wore a dusty, black suit with golden chains coming out of his pockets. He walked using a gnarled cane with an old-fashioned clock embedded in the wood.
After taking in the man's appearance, Izuku's eyes flashed with recognition as he turned his attention back to Deadweight. He had thought this quirk was familiar! Deadweight was a US hero who had the shortest hero career in the world due to the amount of verbal abuse lawsuits! Wait? Was he a teacher now?
"Are you off your meds again Robstone?" demanded Deadweight, spitting on the ground as he spoke. "A scrawny kid like this? There's no way it's him. They have to be one of our students."
"Did you not watch the first years?" questioned Robstone, sounding annoyed. "If you had, then you should be able to recognize that this young man is Izuku Midoriya, first place winner! And…" The man then turned to look at Pony. "Is that the young woman who tied for third place? Deadweight, release them! They are definitely not our students!
However, Deadweight did not release them. Instead, he rolled his eyes. "Like there was anybody worth watching that day," said the man with a sneer. "Look, I heard there was an incident involving our students and I found these two at the heart of it. So, let's figure out who is missing before we suspend them for causing a scene here."
"Excuse me," said Izuku, gaining their attention. "I could show you my student ID. Would that help clear all this up?"
"What a wonderful idea," said Robstone, laying it on a little thick as he shot Deadweight a look. The gym teacher looked ready to argue but the elder man slammed his cane on the ground. "Release them Deadweight! Now!" Grumbling, Deadweight snapped his fingers allowing the two teens to stand.
Instantly, Izuku pulled out his wallet to show them his student ID. As he did, several new people showed up behind Robstone who all looked around the same age as Izuku and Pony. The first that drew Izuku's attention was an African American girl. Her costume was simple, a black skintight material that clung to her fit body like a second skin with red metal shoulder guards with holes in them. Her hair was cut short save a long ponytail that reminded Midoriya of some of those old cheesy kung-fu movies that Mr. Kendo loved to rip into. But a sudden movement proved him wrong as that was not hair, rather it was a long scorpion tail coming out of the back of her head complete with a stinger! Slowly, Izuku lowered his eyes noting that her arms from the elbow down were covered in a heavy black exoskeleton-like armor.
Standing close to her was a guy with slicked-back light blue hair along with eyes of the same color. His costume was pretty basic, a skin-tight blue long-sleeved shirt with an equally blue vest with white trimmings. His blue pants were held up by a white belt which held six containers, three on each side, of water. While not a part of his costume, there were small golden looped earrings on each ear. As Izuku wondered what the teen's quirk was, he slowly took notice of the teen's hands. At the end of each finger was a slit that, at first glance, looked like a paper cut. Only there was no blood and the slashes looked too even as well as deep.
Standing a bit more to the side as if he didn't want to be seen with the group was another boy who looked like he had stepped out of a fantasy anime. This boy had long blond hair that went halfway down his back with elf-like ears poking out of the side. His hero costume had a green, metallic look to it decorated with gold colored vines and leaves running down the chest piece with a long flowing green cape. What really caught Izuku's attention were the four curved blades strapped to the other teen's belt.
The final teen that Izuku and Pony noticed was also the strangest in terms of appearance as her hair looked like it was made of a sickly yellow slime that rolled down the sides of her head and down her neck before being swept under something to keep it in place while her skin was bright grey. As for her costume, it consisted of a lime-colored trench coat with metal embedded in the shoulders to act as protection as well as around the cuffs. Beneath that, she wore a skin-tight material of the same color save for her sides which looked like a collection of black dots or blobs all connected to each other in a random pattern. The outfit started right above her breasts, showing off a tasteful amount of cleavage before showing off the rest of her figure. Finishing up the costume were a pair of combat boots with metal straps on the front instead of laces.
There was also another adult with them hanging out in the back, constantly looking down at something with concern. But when she lifted her face up, Izuku's eyes almost began to sparkle as he knew who she was. The Life-Giving Hero: Pack Master! She was a Korean American woman in her thirties with long hair that had a few feathers tucked into it on the sides. She wore a costume he had seen many times on the net, a tight-fitting piece with a V-cut neckline that showed off some of her cleavage. While the majority of the costume was black around the torso and legs, one of the long sleeves had a leopard design to it while the other had the same color and texture to it as alligator skin. Along the V-cut was brown fur that reminded the teen of a loin's mane while the area below her knees was covered in grey wolf fur.
Her quick was one that governmental hero departments around the world heavily regulated. It was called Chimera. She had the ability to fuse two or more creatures together, somehow able to pick out the traits she wanted in order to create creatures of wonder and nightmares. However, whenever she used her quirk, she created a newborn that she would have to raise. Further, under no circumstance could she ever use her quirk on another human. Which was a major blow to a younger Izuku when he found out as he had hoped she could have fused him with an animal so he could call it his quirk.
"Could still be fake," grumbled Deadweight, drawing Izuku's attention back towards the man. He was looking at their IDs, with clear distrust in his eyes. That or he just seemed to be the type that refused to admit he was wrong.
"Deadweight," said Robstone, his tone carrying both a warning and a silent threat. This seemed to finally get through to Deadweight as he slowly gave the two teens back their student IDs. Once done, Robstone turned to Izuku and Pony. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Dean Robstone of Detroit Mercy School of Heroics. On behalf of my institution, I would like to apologize for the way my staff treated you in his…less than professional manner. When the expo is over, I will contact Principal Nezu about options to deal with this situation. Like revoking his tenure." That got a growl out of Deadweight, which Dean Robstone seemed to ignore as he turned around briefly. "Though, I will admit that the situation is strange. It seems that all the students we brought to the expo are present."
Hearing this caused both Pony and Izuku to deadpan as they exchanged a look. Did Deadweight really forget which students they had brought with them when there were so few? Then, Izuku remembered something.
"Excuse me," said the Divine Divider, raising a hand to gain everyone's attention. "I overheard a woman who was with him. I didn't get her name, but she said that the student in question missed the flight and that she brought him here on her own."
At that, Robstone's face became very concerned. "That should be impossible," he muttered before stroking his chin. "Everyone who is supposed to be here is present. Though, there were more than a few who were unhappy with the decision. Perhaps this student lied in order to get woman to bring him here." Robstone then looked at Izuku. "Forgive me, but did you happen to hear anything else?"
"I think I heard the student say his name was Wrouble," offered Izuku. That got a reaction that the teen hadn't expected from all of the American Heroics students as well as their teachers. Robstone's eyes widened in surprise as did many of the other students. However, both Pack Master and the slime-haired girl looked on in disbelief before turning to look at something in the back. As for Deadweight, he whirled around while veins seemed to pop out of his neck.
"Wrouble, get your sorry ass here front and center!" he bellowed.
"It wasn't Bleak!" shouted Pack Master, holding out an arm to the side. As if she were preventing someone from moving forward. "I told you, remember? He came to my room this morning after that-" The woman then cut herself off, as if she were about to say something that she knew she couldn't disclose.
"Again?" asked the slime-haired girl, speaking with a Hispanic accent while also revealing that she had sharp, jagged teeth. "Andrew, why didn't you tell us?" As she spoke, Izuku noticed that more veins were now appearing on Deadweight's arms as his face turned red. However, he was no longer looking at his students. Rather, he had his gaze turned to the hotel.
"I-I'm h-handling it," stammered a voice from the back. Slowly the students parted, revealing a figure Izuku could never forget. It was the teen in white he had seen in the hotel, the one with the bad eye. The bad brown eye.
"That wasn't him," said Izuku.
-x-
"You stupid screw-up!" roared the voice of Wolfram followed by the sound of his fist colliding with flesh. This was then followed up by Will Wrouble crashing into a wooden crate, his screams filling the air as he felt numerous cuts and splinters on his back. As the teen got on his hands and knees, he could hear all the other low-level goons that the man had brought with him laughing which seemed to be amplified thanks to the hanger they were hiding in. Panting, he glanced to the side finding Miss Drop and her three silent underlings just standing there.
His attention was then violently brought back to Wolfram as the man's boot collided with his face. "What part of lay low did you not understand?!?" the man yelled again.
"Did you really expect a hero like me to just sit on my hands doing nothing all day?" yelled Will, again trying to look at the villain with defiance. "I'm not like the rest of you, got it! Do you have any idea who I am? I'm the future number-one hero Rockback! And it's not my fault that bitch was ungrateful!" Will was about to activate his quirk to show these people why it was a mistake to treat him like this only to stop when the barrel of a gun was pressed against his forehead. Slowly, the teen looked up at the murderous and un-amused gaze of Wolfram. That, as well as seeing the man's finger was on the trigger.
"How long are you going to keep up this delusion?" asked Miss Drop, speaking for what felt like the first time since Will's, no, Rockback's beating had begun. "You're no longer a hero student. Haven't been since the day you got caught bringing drugs into your precious school. Honestly, you should be thankful to the boss and on your best behavior since he's helping you pay back the debt you owe him faster. If it were up to me, I would never have brought along such a worthless piece of shit."
Despite the position he was in, Rockback clenched his teeth as he looked at Miss Drop in pure anger. "You bastards set me up!" he roared, recalling their part in his disgraceful ejection out of Detroit Mercy. It had all started shortly after the beginning of the school year with him walking along the city looking for some fun. And he found the man who would be the beginning of his end. The man had been friendly, inviting him to parties, and seemed interested to know what was going on at the school. Well, telling him was the least he could do as thanks for all the free drugs and women. All while keeping it secret from his girlfriend. Except, it had all been a lie. That bitch was a plant within the school with his returns from the parties being used to smuggle drug in. Then, when he was caught by the stupid school Rockback lost everything. He had been forced to attend a cremation of his hero identity, watching as his costume was burned in an incinerator before being told he was expelled. Then, he found out his party patron hadn't been supplying him with free drugs and women making him now on the hook for it all. Including the drugs the school collected from him.
It wasn't his fault! None of it was his fault! It was their fault. It was Andrew's fault he was in this position!
Rockback suddenly felt a hand grabbing his shirt, realizing that Miss Drop had closed the distance between them and was now holding him out. A new wave of fear washed over him as she then placed a hand over his face. A half second later, a sphere of water surrounded his head. Rockback screamed, watching bubbles fill the water sphere as he felt her let go. On instinct he tried to run, to move out of the sphere but found his head unable to move from that spot. Quickly changing tactics the future hero began to claw at the water, but no matter what he did it felt solid to his touch. Solid and unbreakable.
"Did you at least clean up his mess?" demanded Wolfram, lowering his gun as he turned to look at Miss Drop. An action that caused fury to burn within Rockback now that they were ignoring him.
"I had no choice," answered Miss Drop. "Use the card that the good doctor gave us when the robots were called. By the time they figure things out, they will have much bigger worries on their plate. So there's that at least."
"At least," agreed Wolfram while Rockback felt his lungs beginning to burn from a lack of oxygen and his vision beginning to become hazy. "If he screws up again?"
"Put a bullet in his head for all I care," replied Miss Drop with a shrug. "You'd be doing me a favor if you did that. The little shit screwed up my last job so bad I made national headlines. The only reason my boss hasn't ended his life is because the guy owes him a lot of money. And you can't squeeze blood from a dead stone." Then, as if on some silent command, the orb of water fell to the ground. So too did Rockback, taking in deep breaths of air. The teen then looked up at the bitch who did this to him only to find that she was looking back at him with hatred. "With that said, the boss is getting tired of his whining. I doubt that he'll lose any sleep if we come back with one less person. Patchwork, fix the screw-up."
With that, one of the Miss Drop's underlings moved towards Rockback while dragging its leg. When it got closer, Rockback could see the ugly face of what they said was a girl underneath the hood of its sweatshirt. Its face seemed to be a mesh of patchwork skin, almost appearing to be stapled together. It let out a whimper before placing its hands on Rockback, slowly transferring the pain and injuries to it while healing the hero of the story. Rockback ignored its cries as he stared at the two who had put him in this pain. Soon, he would make them pay. He would make everyone who had screwed him over pay. From the man who ruined his hero career, to Robstone, and even his own brother.