The Monster's Apprentices
“So, why are you here? Please tell me you’re not going after another hero.”
“You know?”
“Not hard considering the news like to cover you a lot.”
Izuku said as he sat on the edge of a building with Chizome standing behind him, Chizome laughed as he shook his head while Izuku looked around and found the penthouse that was used as the base for the three vigilantes he had struck a contract with, Izuku looked back at Chizome as Izuku saw that Chizome had a katana strapped to his back.
“So, uh, Chizome, or Stain?”
“I’d prefer Stain, so, care to explain why you’re so far from home doc?”
Chizome asked as Izuku got a better look at Chizome’s attire, he still wore a black combat suit with armour and a knife strapped on the right side of his belt, although his right arm and chest was covered by metal plates as well as some exposed wires and small hydraulic systems, Chizome’s bottom legs were replaced with two metal cylinders covered with more metal plates on each missing leg, acting as bone replacements and completely metal shoes.
Izuku looked behind to see that small tubes were extended from Chizome’s backbone area into the metal body parts which all had visible fleshy parts in them, and Chizome’s face was weirdly missing a nose as it was covered by a bandage as well as a red scarf Chizome wore around his neck alongside of a red bandana on his head, Izuku looked at the long messy black hair as well as the two weapons Chizome had, his katana and a unique looking glove on his left hand.
“That glove, you stole it didn’t you?”
Chizome just chuckled as the glove’s centre light glowed red and from Chizome’s fingers came out red claws that seemed to be made out of blood, “Yes I did borrow it from one of your establishments, but don’t worry, I always keep it in good shape.”
“And I’m guessing the power source is derived from your own blood, right?”
Izuku asked as he recalled the day he had Akaguro Chizome as his first test subject, the day when Izuku started his quirk-based experiments, that day was when he and Leo were still newbies to the quirk research industry, Chizome had volunteered himself as a test subject to one of Izuku’s published theories under Leo’s name, science alongside of Yuno’s quirk, Izuku had successfully implanted the theory into life.
Chizome was once an amputee, missing his two bottom legs and travelled with a wheelchair, but after the experiment, he could walk normally and jump for the first time in his life, Chizome was once a student aiming for the hero course, but after witnessing the corruption inside, he was expelled from the school based on just his ideas for a better society, a vigilante he became for the first few years, who got helped by Izuku who made Chizome’s metal arm with the same principles as his legs.
“Taking a trip down memory lane huh? Well too bad the name Stendhal is gone now.”
“What, happened?”
“I guess my eyes were opened, to see that actions speak louder than words, by giving people a way to question the society they’re in now.”
Izuku nodded as he stood up and looked at his phone before facing Chizome again, Izuku grabbed his left hand and inspected the glove, it was the first model of the electromagnetic field generator which was used to manipulate water in the user’s palm, after Izuku finished inspecting it as he saw it was in near perfect condition which made Izuku smile.
“Well at least you took care of it.”
Chizome chuckled as Izuku was about to leave back into the penthouse but he was stopped by Chizome who grabbed Izuku’s right arm before yanking Izuku back in front of himself, “You didn’t answer my question doctor, why’re you so far from home?”
Izuku broke eye contact as he felt uncomfortable trying to answer Chizome’s question, his tongue didn’t want to move as his mouth snapped shut as Izuku got vivid memories of confronting Leo again, although he was snapped back into reality by Stain shaking him slightly, Izuku took deep breaths as he saw Stain seemingly feeling guilty about asking Izuku the question.
“Sorry if I overstepped, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to doc.”
“*Sighs, it’s fine, I mean, it’s just that I’m kind of on the run now, it’s, confidential…”
“Okay doc, you need a place to stay?”
“No, I already got that, in exchange for some trigger antidote.”
Izuku replied as he made his way towards the penthouse while Stain trailed right behind him, which slightly confused Izuku as he stopped in front of the door while Stain leaned on a nearby pole, Izuku opened the door and entered as he was greeted to a, sight, Izuku saw that Pop Step and Crawler were fighting over something around the living room while Knuckleduster was no where to be found as Izuku looked at the table which was missing four trigger antidote syringes.
“Uh, am I interrupting something?”
Pop Step and Crawler in their civilian attire stopped what they were doing and looked at Izuku who went to made his way through the messy floor, Izuku grabbed a sock that was lying down as he ignored the, other pieces of clothing which the two vigilantes rushed to grab and throw into the laundry basket while Izuku went to fix the chemical equipment up and put them away when he looked at the Crawler who went to wore his Allmight hoodie and a mask.
“Hi uh, Midoriya wasn’t it?”
“Yes, nice to finally meet you in, well, in peaceful terms.”
Izuku smiled and nodded as he saw the Crawler swiftly going to the refrigerator with some kind of key while a blur came rushing from the presumably bathroom which Izuku identified as Pop Step who went to put Crawler in a chokehold, Izuku tried to ignore the rustling and chaos behind him as he set the chemical equipment neatly and tidy on the side of the table but flinched as a huge bang was heard and Izuku looked back to see that Pop Step in her costume was fighting over a cup of ramen with Crawler.
“Give me that Koichi! You had yours already this morning!”
“That was Knuckleduster! Not me! I need this more than---”
“*Coughs, am I interrupting?”
Izuku heard Stain’s voice which made the two vigilantes froze in Stain’s presence who stopped at the door frame, Izuku laughed which attracted the two out-law’s attention as Izuku grabbed a nearby can of coffee and threw it at Stain who caught it, “No Chizome, uh, you two don’t mind right?”
The Crawler nervously laughed before going behind Izuku as she whispered something into his ear, “That’s the hero killer you know that!!!”
“Yeah? Why---?”
Izuku’s senses felt rumbling as he saw a blur of red run past him while Pop Step yelped right as a fist made it’s way towards Stain’s previous position, Izuku saw that Knuckleduster was back with her fist pointed at Stain who was in front of the sink facing Knuckleduster, Izuku saw Pop Step rush towards the other room while the Crawler seemed to be very concerned as Stain and Knuckleduster kept their eyes at each other, seemingly preparing to fight, although the silence was broken by Izuku who clapped his hands and pointed at the door.
“Uh… I know that this isn’t my house but, fights on the outside.”
Stain sighed as he begrudgingly walked out of the door right before throwing a card to Izuku who juggled it in his hands before catching it while Knuckleduster looked unbelievingly at Stain who went out without any sort of resistance before looking at Izuku, Crawler’s mouth was gaping under her mask while Izuku went to face Knuckleduster.
“Did the trigger antidote work?”
“Yeah, like a charm, Crawler, get Pop Step out to take over.”
The Crawler nodded as she and Pop Step went out of the penthouse while Izuku looked confused at Knuckleduster who laughed right as the other two vigilantes left the room, Knuckleduster went to the fridge to get a can of beer before looking seriously at Izuku.
“You know Stendhal?”
“You know him too?”
“Stop dodging the question Midoriya, how did you meet Stendhal?”
“It’s kind of a long story…”
Izuku said as he grabbed a can of sugared tea and opened it as he took a sip while Knuckleduster sat down on the chair while keeping her eyes at Izuku, after a minute of silence, Knuckleduster spoke again.
“Enlighten me, I have all day.”
Izuku smiled fondly as he took a huge gulp from the can as he sat down across Knuckleduster who seemed very interested with Izuku’s story which Izuku started with one sentence. “It all started one day, a man chasing a dream met a man who’s aiming to change the world for the better---”
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“What do you want Giran? I don’t have all day.”
Stain said as he was in a dark alleyway with a slight elder woman wearing purple while smoking a cigarette and had small black glasses slightly under her pink eyes, the woman named Giran chuckled as she had a suitcase on her.
“Well Stain-san, I have a client that’s very invested in, meeting you.”
“No, I have no interest in meeting others.”
Stain solidified as he was about to scale the wall next to him and run away but Giran had been his ally for a long time so Stain sighed and tapped his foot impatiently as he closed his eyes under his mask while he waited for Giran to finish her attempt at convincing him.
“Fine, who’s this client?”
“I’m pretty sure you’ll like him.”
Him?
Stain wondered as Giran grabbed a card from her suitcase and gave it to Stain who under his mask, eyes widen in shock of realization as he saw the name embroidered on the card, a name he is very familiar with, Leo Harvard, Stain looked at the card closely to make sure it wasn’t fake as he recalled what Izuku had just told him: ‘on the run’.
“So, why does this man want to meet me?”
“Oh, I don’t know, but he’s a very ambitious man I’d say.”
“Shut your nonsense up, you never take clients without certainty.”
Stain said as he unsheathed his katana and pointed the edge at Giran, who slightly panicked and stumbled back, Giran cleared her throat as she looked around to make sure no one was near and whispered to Stain.
“He didn’t specify the details, but he said he’ll tell it to you if you agree to meet him.”
Stain took a minute of silence before putting his katana back into its case and looked carefully at the card then to Giran as he walked past her and slicing a strand of her greyish white hair off as Stain scaled a wall and stopped as he held on by a pipe and faced Giran.
“I’ll consider, but Giran, if you ever try to trick me again, just be glad I assassinate you swiftly.”
“Ye-yes, of-f co-course.”
Stain heard Giran stutter as he scoffed and jumped onto a pole on the roof, Stain looked at the evening sky and looked at the business card one more time before going deep in thought as Stain made his way towards his next victim.
Midoriya said he was on the run, now his friend Leo seems to be up to no good, last time I saw those two were a couple of years ago… and people can really change, something’s wrong with those two.
Stain stopped at the top of a hospital as he pulled out a phone from his pocket and scrolled through his contacts and stopped at a number alongside of a name which was abbreviated to Y.N. that Stain called while he stood on the edge of the building, after a few rings, the other end of the phone finally answered by a feminine voice.
“Hey Stain! How you doing?”
“Yuno-san, I need some help, do you know where Midoriya and Leo are?”
“Not really, why?”
“Listen, something’s fishy in the background, and information is what I need.”
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“Izumi! Wait up!”
“Huh? Uraraka, Iidai? What are you two doing here?”
Izumi exclaimed as she went to hide her locket under her U.A. uniform and looked back to see that her two friends were catching up to her, Izumi looked around warily as she saw the two finally close enough to her.
“Well, since us three use the same bus, we were wondering---”
“If you would like to ride with us.”
Iidai interrupted Uraraka as her aquamarine braided hair turned anti-gravity and messy courtesy of Uraraka’s quirk as she let a huff while Iidai frantically tried to keep her hair nice and tidy, Izumi chuckled as she saw the bus approaching.
“Sure, why not?”
Uraraka yessed as Izumi saw the bus stop and went up alongside of Iidai and Uraraka, the three made their seat on the bus next to each of them, the three gravitated to a small and comfortable conversation as Izumi kept glancing to her pendant and her friends until the bus stopped abruptly and entered a man wearing a black hoodie as he sat on a nearby seat while breathing erratically that Izumi could pick up by her Fire Heat Quirk.
“Hey, isn’t that a man?”
“It seems so, I wonder what she-I mean he is doing here?”
Izumi eyed the man carefully as she got a bad feeling from him but kept it secret while she and her group of friends got back into chattering, Izumi saw a familiar landmark leading to the bus stop she could walk to home from, but instead of taking a left turn, the bus kept its direction and stopped.
“Huh, I don’t remember going here before?”
Uraraka commented as Izumi stood up and went to the front part of the bus and tapped the shoulder of the driver but got no reaction, red flags went flying in Izumi’s mind as she looked back to see that all of the people except for her and her friends were frozen in their spot, Iidai noticed this too as she went to look at her phone and that it was normal.
“What is going on?”
Iidai questioned but a second later, Izumi saw a small string pressing at Iidai’s neck as she froze in fear, Uraraka was about to act before she felt a bunch of strings almost piercing her skin around her wrists and ankles, Izumi stopped in her tracks in fear hurting her classmates when laughter filled the bus, Izumi looked to see that the man stood up revealing a wrist of three bracelets, which Izumi froze as she saw the man point one of the strings right at the eye.
“You’re Izumi Midoriya right? I’m looking for her, a young aged woman.”
“What do you want sir, I’ve been taught to use violence as a last resort, but I won’t hold back.”
The man seemed unfazed as his let out uncontrollable laughs while Izumi gritted her teeth in annoyance as she looked at her fear frozen friends, the man walked closer to Izumi as he grabbed a knife from his pocket and held it right below Izumi’s chin.
“I got myself a fine bounty from catching you, so be a good girl and follow me, so nobody gets hurt, you understand?”
The man said with pride which made Izumi felt sick as the man strengthened the strings around Uraraka’s and Iidai’s body while Izumi’s eyes widen in realization at a closer look of the three bracelets around the man’s wrist which had a logo on it, a symbol that Izumi knew all too well.
“Onii-sama, WHERE’S ONII-SAMA!”
“Stay quiet kid! You’re coming with me---”
The man said as he grabbed Izumi’s arm and forcefully dragged her but right as the two were about to go out of the bus, Izumi’s arm glowed as the man hissed in pain and reeled his hand back but before he could react, Izumi’s flaming hot fist collided with his face and sent him flying and crashing through the bus door’s windows and onto the street, the man coughed as he stood up but noticed that he had attracted the attention of a nearby hero and police force.
“Izumi! You need to calm down!”
“Yeah! Deep breaths, and let go!”
Uraraka yelped as she and Iidai who both were freed from the strings tried to calm Izumi down as she let out actual steam and small fire from her hair and shoulders, Izumi squirmed as she tried to get free but she and her friends saw that the other passengers were back to normal, the bus driver opened the window and Izumi looked to see that the man was looking around for an escape as the bus and him was surrounded by the police with their weapons pointed at the villain as the Pro Hero named Edgeshot.
“What’s going on here mam?”
“THAT man! He tried to kill us all!”
As Izumi calmed down, she saw that the passengers were raged at the man who stood up and got apprehended by the police as they grabbed the bracelets off him while they grabbed the man and dragged him to the car as he tried to get free, but the pro hero Edgeshot twisted his insides as she used her quirk and the man fell to the ground while the police went to confiscated the bracelets that made Izumi went out of the bus and wanted to grab them but she got floated by Uraraka and got dragged back by Iidai and Uraraka back.
“Calm down Izumi!”
Izumi took deep breaths as she was let back down by Uraraka and Iida helped him up while the police took care of the situation, although Izumi still had her eyes on the confiscated bracelets which had a logo of a wolf with a M drawn in it, the man spouted some nonsense as Izumi was wondering.
Why did he have your micro string controller bracelets Onii-sama?
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“Are you sure about this Crawler-san?”
Izuku asked as he and the vigilante Crawler were in the empty warehouse he had trained in a few hours ago, after Izuku had told his story of meeting Akaguro Chizome to Knuckleduster (his half made up story that is), he accidentally slipped up telling her that he had an artificial ‘quirk’ of his own, and after he told Knuckleduster all of his ‘quirk’s’ ups and downs, she told Izuku to go with Crawler so the two could train.
“Well, Knuckleduster did say you had, a quirk for yourself… and I’m up for a challenge!”
“Uh, you can get hurt, I don’t have confidence, in controlling it………”
Izuku replied as he put down some extra blood supplements on a nearby flip-able table he brought here, the Crawler seemed unafraid as she did basic stretches and prepared a stance and possibly smiled under her mask.
“Ready whenever you are Midoriya.”
“*Nervous laugh, yeah.”
Izuku solidified himself as he knew that this was a once in a long while that he could train his mentality to fight the desire for blood from another living human, so Izuku took a deep breath as echolocation was back into his vision, a single foot tap was all that the Crawler needed as she activated her quirk and circled Izuku who took a second to get used to his vision, Izuku’s eyes followed the Crawler’s echolocation silhouette as he felt his blood desire coming back and let out a hiss as Izuku prepared to charge.
Now or never, time to control this thing.