Chapter 10: In Death, He Lives
Third Person POV
Beep. Beep.
Inside a sprawling mansion on I-Island, the faint beeping of medical equipment filled the silence of a dimly lit room.
On the only bed lay a boy, his entire body wrapped in bandages, his chest rising and falling in shallow rhythm.
His fingers twitched. A low groan escaped his lips as his eyelids fluttered open. He tried to move—only to gasp and sink back down, pain shooting through his body like fire.
"You shouldn't move. Your wounds are yet to heal."
The voice came from the chair beside the bed. The boy turned his head with effort and saw a middle-aged man with light brown hair and sky-blue eyes, legs crossed, studying him calmly.
'He looks familiar… do I know him?' thought the boy.
"Um… where am I?" the boy asked, his voice faint and nervous.
"This is my house you're in," the man replied with a small smile.
"How did I end up here?"
"You tell me." The man leaned forward slightly. "You appeared in an alley near the site of the Washington DC attack. I just happened to be there. You looked like you were about to die, so I brought you here for treatment."
He paused, then added, "Your injuries were severe, but you're out of danger now. So tell me—what's your name, and how did you end up there?" His tone was almost teasing.
"Ah… thank you for saving me. I'm Aaron Black." Aaron hesitated for a moment, debating whether to give his real name.
And then he remembered who this man was: David Shield, All Might's former sidekick.
David's smile widened. "By the way, your costume was in tatters, so I had it repaired."
Aaron looked at him again, noticing the mischievous grin. David wasn't guessing anymore. He already knew. Aaron could only smile and lie back.
"So," David continued playfully, "should I still call you Aaron? Or… Hero?"
"Whatever you like." Aaron shrugged. If All Might trusted this man, so would he.
"How long have I been unconscious?"
"Four days."
The words hit like a lightning strike. Aaron bolted upright despite the pain, startling David.
"My aunt will eat my ears off for not calling her for days straight!" Aaron groaned, clutching his head.
David burst out laughing.
"You don't understand. Once she starts nagging, she doesn't stop!" Aaron shot back.
"After all the chaos you've caused, you're afraid of getting scolded?" David teased.
"What chaos?!" Aaron blinked in confusion.
"You've become a national sensation," David said, suddenly serious. "To the people, you're the one who sacrificed everything to save them. A beacon who stood tall when they needed it most."
Aaron frowned. "What sacrifice? I'm alive, aren't I?"
"Look for yourself."
David switched on the television with a remote.
Aaron's eyes widened.
Upon seeing the news Aaron was in disbelief.
For some reason the Pro Hero Association had declared him dead.
A business tycoon had even erected a monument with all the names of the deceased etched on it. Hero being at the very top.
As if that wasn't enough, people had started laying flowers and light candles on the site where the battle took place.
It was now his graveyard along with every hero and civilian that died that day.
The business tycoon had said that Hero had once saved his daughter Samantha Williams and so he is doing this to honor Hero and the rest of the fallen.
Aaron exhaled slowly. "Well… that's a lot to take in."
Then a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "But maybe it's for the best. Since I'm leaving America in a couple of days anyway, it won't matter."
David raised a brow. "Leaving? Why?"
Aaron's voice softened. "You probably know this already, but… I lost my parents a few years ago. My only family now is my aunt in Japan. I'll be moving in with her—and I intend to join U.A."
David's smile returned. "That's something to look forward to. But before dreams of the future, let's talk about your condition."
His expression hardened. "When I found you, you were in critical condition. Your left chest had been punctured, injuring your lung. You'll recover, but you'll struggle for a few months. Your left arm was completely broken, fractures all over your body… the fact that you're alive is already a miracle. A healing quirk-user helped, but your body's still weak. You must rest."
Aaron listened silently.
David continued, "And don't worry about your aunt. I've already told her you'll be staying with a friend for now. So rest. We'll talk again later."
"Thank you… for saving my life."
David chuckled. "Consider it repayment—for saving my daughter." And with that, he left the room.
....
The Day of the Attack
Cathleen's POV
'…All those deaths could have been avoided if I had been faster. I should've been there when they needed me most.'
I forced myself to watch the recordings. The chaos, the screams, the lives lost—it burned in my chest like acid.
Now, I stood outside an observation room, waiting as doctors assessed Leonard's condition.
One emerged, his expression grim.
"When will he wake?" I asked.
"He's in a coma. We healed the injuries, but… when—or if—he regains consciousness, we can't say."
I gave a curt nod.
Moments later, the chief of police arrived. "He's nowhere to be found, Stars."
He handed me a report. "We examined the site. Beside Leonard's blood, we found a significant amount that we're certain belongs to Hero. With that much blood loss, survival is unlikely. Either he's dead and someone took his body, or he managed to escape somehow."
"There are too many oddities surrounding Hero," the chief went on. "His strength, his courage, the willingness to risk everything—"
"All this," I cut in sharply, "was done by a kid. If the public knew a child sacrificed himself to save them, their faith in Pro Heroes would falter."
"You are right, Stars. The people are demanding answers about Hero's condition, and the voices are already growing louder. I say if we don't find any trace of Hero till tomorrow, we declare him dead. That will calm the people down." He suggested.
"You are right with those injuries he certainly won't be appearing anywhere anytime soon." Though I didn't feel good about it, I had to agree that this is the best solution to calm down the masses.
...
Back to the Present
Aaron's POV
It had been far too close.
I underestimated Leonard's madness. At the last moment, he let go of the falling building and thrust his telekinetic spear straight into my chest. My fist struck his face, but his hand punctured my lung.
Then the building crushed us both.
Barely conscious, I used the last of my strength to steal Leonard's quirk. After that, I felt myself falling—through something—then hitting solid ground. Before blacking out, I thought I saw David.
And now… here I was.
A grin spread across my face. "Now, let's look at my haul."
I'd hit the jackpot.
Two weak mind related quirks. Clear Mind and Recall.
Two strong combat orientated quirks. Telekinesis the prized quirk of Leonard and Pyrokinesis from that fireman in the crimson suit.
And lastly a teleportation quirk, Gatewalker, I think I got this from that butler.
"F***ing hell, this is gold. PUHAHAHAHA!"
James would get Telekinesis—he deserved it. Pyrokinesis paired perfectly with my Aerokinesis. Clear Mind and Recall had utility written all over them. And Gatewalker? For now, 50 km was the limit, but training would push it further.
The sound of a door opening pulled me back.
A blonde head peeked in. Startled, she straightened and walked in.
Melissa Shield.
"Ahem," she said nervously. "I… wanted to thank you for saving me back then."
Aaron smiled. "Well, hello Melissa. I'm Aaron Black. And your thanks is much appreciated."
She perched on the stool. "So what was it like? Fighting all those villains?"
Aaron chuckled. "Fun, honestly. Thrilling. Even the near-death part—it was like a cherry on top."
Her gaze fell. "It must be great to have such a strong quirk…"
Aaron winced inwardly. "Ah… you're quirkless, right? Don't worry. Late awakenings happen. Just wait—you'll awaken something amazing."
They chatted a while. Aaron told her about U.A., about Japan. She brightened but eventually rose.
"You should rest now. It was nice talking to you."
"Likewise." Aaron extended his hand. "And trust me—you'll awaken a quirk."
They shook hands. At that moment, Aaron transferred Recall into her. She didn't notice. Just as Izuku hadn't noticed when All Might gave him OFA.
But she would. And when she did, her engineering genius would surpass her anime counterpart.
....
Third Person POV
That very day, Aaron bid farewell to the Shield family, despite their protests.
Two days later, before boarding his flight to Japan, he met James one last time—and secretly gave him Telekinesis.
With everything in place, Aaron boarded the plane.
The chapter ends here.
...….
The following is a list of quirks in Aaron's possession.
Aaron's Quirks
Kinetic Leak – Allows Aaron to absorb and redirect kinetic energy, turning enemy attacks into fuel for his counterstrikes.
Double Up – Doubles the power of his physical stats for short bursts, giving him overwhelming speed and strength at the cost of stamina.
Push & Pull – Grants him the ability to attract or repel objects and people, functioning like controlled polarity on the battlefield.
Titan's Pulse – A devastating strength-based quirk that lets Aaron channel explosive force through his body, amplifying raw power for crushing blows.
Barrier – Creates protective energy walls that can block incoming attacks, giving him both defense and creative utility in combat.
Aerokinesis (Wind Manipulation) – Lets him generate and control air currents, from sharp wind blades to massive blasts capable of leveling opponents.
Clear Mind – Sharpens focus by suppressing distractions, fear, or pain, allowing him to fight with complete clarity in critical moments.
Pyrokinesis (Fire Manipulation) – Enables him to summon and control fire, which becomes even deadlier when combined with Aerokinesis to fuel blazing infernos.
Gate Walker (Teleportation) – Opens portals to instantly travel up to 50 km to any place he's physically been, though limited by range and stamina.