Leo Simon
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All For Myself Chapter 47
🕑 Added 2023-08-27 20:35:00 +0000 UTCHawks knew that something bad was going to happen when he agreed to take part in this mission. He just knew that this was definitely a trap and he knew that they should have gone about this whole thing an entirely different way. But, like always, he had no choice but to obey the HPSC's instructions and follow his orders as a Hero.
Like always, he never had any say in the matter.
When All Might and the others went ahead, he was told to just sit back in case something went wrong. Afterall, Hawks could admit that he wasn't much made to put down power types, and enclosed spaces put him at a disadvantage. If the battle left the hospital, then he was fine with joining the battle, but otherwise he was fine with just being backup.
But, nothing happened for a little bit. Then their radios were all fried. That was practically evidence that something went wrong, so he went down to follow the others and investigate what was going on.
When he did, you know what he found? A solid steel wall that looked like it could take a walloping, and the others were obviously trapped behind it. But, just as he was about to head back and tell the other Heroes and police officers what was going on, the steel door burst open with familiar orange and white flames, he nearly got turned into fried chicken wings.
Hawks was then met with the sight of an enraged looking Endeavour, with Mirko, Eraserhead, and Best Jeanist in tow.
But, no All Might. Their Symbol of Peace was nowhere to be found.
Endeavour bellowed as he shot forward, using his flames to propel him forward and yelling to Hawks in a rushed tone simultaneously." Hawks, it's a trap! We need to get to All Might, he's in danger!"
The flame Hero didn't seem like he had time to fully explain the situation, so Hawks settled for following his idol, though with his speed that wasn't really a challenge.
"What's going on?! Where's All Might?!"
Endeavour explained quickly and efficiently, staying to the point as they glided through the narrow tunnel." All Might went ahead without us, when we got there he'd disappeared and a recording started, it told us that All For One would be fighting All Might outside this hospital, we need to go."
Hawks frowned slightly at the explanation, his mind racing with possibilities as the exit came into view. What exactly was this Villain's game? He's obviously smart enough to anticipate their next moves, hence his trap working in the first place, so why bother even telling them his plan and practically invite them to take a crack at him? How could he make such an obvious mistake?
Unless, it wasn't a mistake. Maybe he wants the Heroes to come for him. He could just be confident that he could beat them all, but that just didn't sound right either. He knew that Ryoto knew, if they all came at him, he would lose, no matter how many Quirks he had.
What was his plan? It felt like he was missing some key information.
His and Endeavour both burst out back into the hospital, only to be left confused at the sight of any Heroes on standby for battle and evacuating civilians missing from action.
This subtle change went noticed by Hawks almost immediately, and he also doubts that Endeavour wouldn't have also picked up on something so plainly obvious in that moment. Did they all flee? No, that would be unlikely. These were the top Pro-Heroes in the country, and a large number of police officers them fleeing was impossible.
So, where was everyone?
Hawks felt unbelievably frustrated, and a little scared, at the complete lack of answers he was receiving at that moment. Immediately he activated 'Fierce Wings' and let a handful of his feather out to scan the perimeter and help him find someone in the building to tell him just what exactly happened to make everyone disappear.
The years he'd spent practicing with his Quirk paid off as his mind partly blocked out the outside world, him only focusing on what his feathers were picking up. The vibrations in the surrounding area guiding his every move as he tried to locate someone.
There are forums online that are constantly theorising about what his Quirk does specifically, and how he can use them all with such extreme precision. Most people assume that he can somehow see through them and that's how he can use them all so precisely.
They're dead wrong. He can't see through his feathers like he can through his eyes, however, he can sense vibrations in the air near his feathers and use them to determine his surroundings. But, each feather individually adds to his senses, and he needs intense focus to guide them with any amount of precision. Focus he'd gained through the harsh training that the HPSC drilled into him since he was just that little boy hugging an Endeavour plushie.
This is why he was so sought after by the HPSC as a child. Even as just a six year old he saved over a dozen people in a car crash, the Commission got wind of it, and when his mother sold them to him he lost his right to make his own decisions. Whilst, yes, he isn't a slave per say, he wouldn't exactly say he was completely free either. Anything that the HPSC asked he had to do, even if it meant bending his moral compass and biting the bullet. It was all to maintain the safety of the people and fight for the greater good of society... is what the HPSC tried to make him believe.
But, unfortunately, he's not an idiot. He damn well knows that not everything that he's done for them was for the greater good, some of it was for something as trivial as saving face or nipping a possible problem in the bud. Taking people down before they could even commit a single crime.
It's no surprise that his senior ended up cracking. He's heard a few rumours about the kinds of missions she'd been assigned during her time as the HPSC's assassin, and he almost feels lucky in comparison.
But, his life is what it is, and he doesn't have much of a choice in the matter. Some choice? yes. But, not nearly enough to be considered free. All he can do is obey, at least for now.
Hawks felt his mind sharpen as he finally found someone. Or, more specifically, multiple people. Five in total, and only two of them are conscious, one of them is struggling violently-
His feather picked up the sound of their breath evening out as the fourth fell onto the ground, unmoving asides from their own body breathing on instinct.
He narrowed his eyes under his visor, and made the split second decision to make his feather attack and aim to incapacitate whoever he was sensing. He had seen enough- okay not see specifically, but felt more like- and whoever he felt had to be bad news. So, he quickly flapped his wings and, without explanation, started to make his way to the feathers location whilst he simultaneously sent his red feather to-
His senses on that feather were silenced and he was greeted with that same void sensation he received whenever one of his feathers were destroyed. Hawks felt a touch surprised at that, the speed at which his feathers can move is no joke, and most people can't even keep up with them just using their eyes.
So, he's dealing with somebody fast.
His eyes zeroed in on a room with a small hole in the door, courtesy of one of his feathers, and in just a split second he closed the distance whilst cladding himself in his usual red feather swords, the moment he opened that door he-
The white door of a small office was slammed open as Hawks quickly scanned the area, only to be met with the sight of a few wisps of purple fog... and five unconscious bodies. Those of the Hero team, The Wild Wild Pussycats.
Out of concern for his fellow Heroes, Hawks quickly ran to their side and checked their conditions. They looked like they were on the edge of unconsciousness, but they were also doing their best not to fall asleep. They were sweating profusely, but other than that they appeared totally fine. As though they weren't being targeted for murder, since they didn't have any fatal injuries on them. A few signs of resistance and light bruises, but nothing more than that.
Suddenly, the greenlet of the cat Hero team. Ragdoll began to mutter something low under her breath, it was quiet, almost inaudible, but Hawks heard it, and when he did his spine froze.
"My- my Quirk it's not..." She trailed off as her eyes finally lost their light and she passed out.
Hawks could only feel a pool of dread form in his gut.
This was not good. Not at all.
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"No... don't-" Izuku silenced the green haired Heroine as he thrust his bare hand roughly onto Ragdoll's face, allowing the ecstasy of stealing a Quirk to flood his senses as an aura of green surrounded both him and the fellow green haired woman.
Usually, Izuku would have felt guilty for taking the Quirks of Heroes like the Wild Wild Pussycats. They were honest and hardworking Heroes, the weight of his actions should have been ebbing away at his conscience. Yet... he didn't feel as remorseful as he figured he would. Slightly regretful, yes, but it was a necessary evil if he wanted to complete Paragon's objective of changing the world. He was given a decent amount of different Quirks by Ryoto, to jump start him, but he needed to gain advantages wherever he could, and this also has the benefit of de-powering the Heroes already in place by taking such useful abilities.
Plus... he wanted to stockpile some more abilities. With 'All for One' in his two hands any ability he desires is his to wield, so why would he, someone who was Quirkless for so long, not take advantage of his newfound power? He'd have to be an idiot not to take a power as incredibly useful as 'Search', that one will make his goals considerably easier.
When the glow faded he felt 'All for One' supply him with information on the ability he just took and a basic rundown on how to activate it. For some reason, this information mentally visualised itself in the form of one of his notebooks that flipped through itself at a speed that should have been too fast for him to keep up with, but for some reason, everything was absolutely coherent to him.
Quirk #38: Search - The user can see the locations, physical weaknesses, and the co-ordinates of up to 100 people at a time. When monitoring someone that person will appear as a star-like vestige which can be seen from anywhere in the world. However, locating somebody close to the user is much easier than trying to find a person that is a large distance away. The backlash of Quirk overuse are migraines.
Izuku felt the real world come back to him as his grip on Ragdoll loosened, though he payed little mind to the Quirkless Heroine as he stared at his hands for a moment.
He then turned his eyes to the Hero group, testing out his new Quirk as he mentally marked them with the ability, before his irises glowed a rainbow colour and he made use of 'Search'.
Izuku couldn't help but feel a rush from using his new Quirk. This felt incredible! His mind was mapping out every little detail of their bodies and sending information on their physical condition back to him. He could tell that they were exhausted, he could tell that they were in discomfort, and he could tell that their bodies were weakened from their previous resistance.
Wait, what if he-
Scanning + Search... Status Report!
Izuku reeled back slightly as the combination of those two technical Quirks gave him a sudden surge of information on the condition of those he marked with 'Search' previously. He literally felt what they were all feeling in that moment. Their bodies sluggishness, the hollow feeling in their chest which occurred due to them not having their Quirks anymore, and the unsettling void he received as an indicator that they couldn't even think straight.. Plus the blankness he got as an indicator that the four of them were indeed Quirkless.
This opened up a whole world of possibilities! He could constantly keep tabs on his allies, he could check on the status of his enemies, he could-
A red feather, which he'd noticed a long time ago, likely from Hawks, suddenly shot his way at blinding speeds, but all he needed to do to cut it off was activate a flame Quirk and a single small burst was enough to burn the annoying little thing into nothing. The flames weren't as strong as Dabi's, but they did the trick.
Though, Hawks would be aware of his location now, so he needed to scram.
"Shouko, take me out of here-"
He didn't even need to finish his sentence, a cloud of purple fog just formed in front of him, and he grinned as he quickly dived through, not even waiting for it to fully form, and after a strange scent that was almost like vinegar clouded his senses, he emerged on the other side. Unscathed and safely away from the grasp of the no.3 Hero.
Well, probably number two after tonight.
He gracefully floated onto his feet as he landed besides Shouko, the older woman cancelling her Quirk and the purple mist surrounding her form dissipated into nothingness.
She regarded him with a no-nonsense tone as she bluntly stated." Ryoto is fighting over there, if you've got the cat lady's Quirk then do what you need to do, we need to leave and he needs to... well fight." Shouko added that last part with a slightly sad look in her eyes, the fact her leader was making them go through with his insanely reckless plan obviously giving her doubts and sadness. Afterall, Ryoto was more than just her leader, but her close friend and saviour, parting with him like this, even if not permanently, couldn't have been easy for her to accept.
Izuku could share the sentiment... or at least he did before. For some reason, ever since he received Ryoto's Quirk things like sadness and guilt have been... well dulled for a lack of a better word. It just feels like Ryoto wasn't even really leaving them, like Izulu didn't have anything to worry about. He was relaxed even, almost relieved.
It was so strange.
Shouko used 'Warp Gate' to create a portal for her to walk through and go back to where they would be staying, she'd be ready to teleport Izuku back in a heart beat if he just spoke the word, and Izuku watched the mist fade away with batted interest. 'Warp Gate' was such an amazing Quirk, deep down he just felt this hunger, this dark urge to take that ability for himself and-
Izuku shook his head. No. Ryoto told him about the urge he'd be feeling, he needs to manage these impulses.
Instantly Izuku began to hover in the air, long since accustom to the function of 'Air Walk', but this time he could do more than just hover. He could fly.
Izuku activated a Quirk called 'Repulsion Ring', this ability lets him generate rings that would allow him to gain momentum and boost himself forward, increasing the speed of his flight and maximizing 'Air Walk's' effects.
A ring formed under his feet which suddenly flashed green boosting him out of the alleyway and upwards into the sky. Then, using his birds eye view of the city, he used a vision enhancing Quirk to locate his white haired leader.
Staring to the east, Izuku couldn't stop himself from smirking as he saw the enraged face of Ryoto holding the emaciated form of All Might by the hair as he spoke into the drone they'd set up to talk to Japan.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment though. Oh, don't get him wrong, the sight of All Might being humiliated and exposed was something which he deeply relished, but the situation felt lacking. He wanted to be the one holding All Might by the head as Japan saw the fraud for what he really was. It should be him down there, even if he knows that his leader is the only one who could really do the deed.
He shook his head. No. He'd get his chance to serve All Might what he deserved, however, as for right now, he needed to be patient. He should just enjoy himself and do his job.
He'd get his justice soon.
Izuku marked both Ryoto and All Might with his new Quirk, certain he'd be able to see their every move from now on, and he just spoke into his earpiece.
"Shouko, I'm done here. Please, pull me out."
Though, deep down, Izuku mourned what this day meant for him. Not only was his best friend leaving him alone for the time being, but he couldn't see his mother or Eri anymore. With Ryoto on live TV Eri is bound to tell his mother who Ryoto really is. He always was insistent that she only look at his real face, so he used a Quirk that makes a person see what he wants them to see and faked his mother out. She wouldn't support what he's doing right now, she might even tell the police on him.
He needs to leave them for now. He'd return eventually, but he needs to do his job.
He stared at his hands as he thought about his adoptive sister. She was innocent, despite what the world had done to her, she was happy, despite what the world had done to her, and she was kind, despite what the world had done to her. She was a person who thought of other people like no other, she truly would make a good Hero if she stayed that way, and it wasn't because she was strong or special. It was simply because she was compassionate and she cared about others.
'Rewind' was an amazing ability, Izuku would know, but there's no such thing as a special power, or a person who's born special. Even 'All for One' didn't make it's holder special purely because they were born with such an extraordinary power. What makes a person special is what they choose in life, not what they are born with. Bakugo wasn't special, Ryoto wasn't special, All Might wasn't special. They were just people at the end of the day. Being strong didn't make them more valuable than those born without power.
A portal opened behind Izuku, and he took one final look at a partly destroyed section of the city, and floated through the fog.
Ryoto might have made the first move, but it was his turn now. And he'd keep running to the future he wants until his dreams came true.
