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#Faian Nadal
chaos-caffeinated · 3 years
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The Illegitimate Son
Rating: T; General Angst
Word Length: 4,265 Words 
Chapter: Chapter 4, Part 2/3; The Intervention
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          He shyly knocked before poking his head in to see the counselor, and hero, sitting behind his desk, waiting for him. Hound Dog met his gaze and waved him in, taking note of Aaron’s attempt to make himself more presentable -washed face, swept back hair, straightened uniform- as he sat in the plush seat across from his desk.
          "Aaron, right?" He asked. Aaron only nodded politely in response, his body tense.
          Organizing his thoughts and being careful not to intimidate the young redhead, Hound Dog relaxed his shoulders and softened his scrutinizing glare. Aaron kept twiddling his thumbs, nervously glancing back towards the door he entered through. The tension was palpable, and it came from only one person.
          “Aaron, you aren’t in any sort of trouble.”
          The young male relaxed, a heavy sigh escaping his once pursed lips as he leaned back into the chair, but he still seemed on guard.
          It would be a gradual process, but Hound Dog was patient, he had to be. Partially because his Quirk made him incoherent when he got upset, but also because of his background as a counselor. He knew Aaron would answer in his own time, all he had to do was ask the right questions at the right time.
          “I just want to know how you’re doing. It can be difficult adjusting to a new school, let alone a new country. So, are you well?”
          His body retreated into the chair.
          His frame shrunk slightly.
          His eyes glued to the floor.
          "I am." Aaron blatantly lied, biting the inside of his lip, "I'm just...it's hard to get accustomed to... a new culture."
          This is good, he may be lying, but at least he’s talking. And that is all Hound Dog needs.
          "New culture?”
          “Um… well, not really the culture… uh, heroes? They’re seen…differently, I guess.”
          Hound Dog was silent as he thought of his reply, watching himself. “Aaron, does this difference in perspective have anything to do with this?”
          He pulled out two papers, placing them in front of Aaron and patiently waited.
          Hesitant, Aaron glanced at the fine lines of the papers, the words for him blurry but recognizable. Getting a closer look, his attention was focused on the paper that was written on. It was filled out in its entirety, even the margins had scrawling. Finally, he brought himself to look at the blank paper, his paper, beside it.
          "You left yours blank, yet you wrote your name on it and gave it back. Wouldn't it have been easier if you just kept the paper?" His voice was softer, and he leaned forward.
          Aaron clenched his jaw, he didn't want this right now, he wanted to leave. Looking anywhere besides the counselor in front of him, he shrugged his shoulders and sunk back into his seat.
          "I suppose you want to leave, want to talk about anything else, but Aaron,” Hound Dog took a deep breath, “is that really what you need?”
          Aaron flinched again and glanced at his eyes, he wanted him to be cold and critical, intimidating and unable to speak properly like the other day, his eyes boring straight through him but… they were so soft and filled with genuine worry.
          He didn't like that at all.
          "I’m not feeling well, and I'm sorry I brought it to the campus."
          "Why are you apologizing for something you didn’t do?"
          Aaron's lips quivered and he looked down, his eyes beginning to tear up. "Because... Because U.A. is a prestigious school and... I don't deserve to be here… I only applied because I thought I wouldn’t pass, and the only reason I even had to apply was because my mom got a job here and my brother moved here. I’m a skater, not a hero and I have too many problems and god dammit I shouldn’t be feeling sorry!”
          He shut down; anxiety turned to anger. Aaron hated that he felt sorry for himself. More important people had greater issues, so why should he worry about himself? He didn’t matter, and he shouldn’t.
          Should he?
          "So, you think yourself unworthy?"
          Aaron shook his head, "No I... I feel weird, when I know I’m not the only one that's having trouble and I feel bad for... feeling bad about me."
          That… was not what Hound Dog was expecting, but it was progress and that is what he wanted.
          "So, to sum things up,” he began, organizing Aaron’s jumbled thoughts, "you don’t like feeling sorry for yourself when you ‘should’ be helping someone else?"
          Aaron nodded, but the way he said ‘should’ stirred something inside of him.
          "Do you have someone you trust?"
          He nodded again. "My mom and my brother."
          "Do you talk to them about your troubles and feelings?"
          "No, and that’s the last thing I would ever do. At least…” he trailed off, unable to discern what he was thinking.
          "What do you mean, do they pry into your life or…?”
          "No, I just feel pressured and... and yesterday was what drove me over the edge, I guess. … I'm sorry, you probably have more important things to do and I don’t want you to waste your time on me." Aaron shifted forward, about to stand up and exit before Hound Dog could stop him.
          But he had everything he wanted, and knew what Aaron needed. Though, he did have to stop himself from instinctively growling at the kid when he tried to ditch.
          "Aaron, I assure you that you're not wasting my time. I take my job seriously, when a student needs help, I'm there to provide that help -whether they need someone to talk to, career advice, or simply just to vent- that is what I am here for.”
          Aaron sat back in his seat. He felt, well he couldn’t tell how he felt. This was different than when Aria or Faian said he could talk to them. He thought they said that out of obligation, but…
          “Even the top hero students need someone to talk to. It's why I'm here, to help you students out and, right now, I’m helping you. Even if you just want to scream and get it all out… Though, I do ask you warn me so I can cover my ears.”
          Aaron had the slightest hint of a smile, almost impossible to see if one didn’t know what to look for, but Hound Dog did.
          “With that said, would you like to talk about yesterday?”
          That small smile quickly vanished, and he stayed quiet for a moment, pursing his lips and taking a deep breath before releasing it in a heavy sigh. He shifted in his seat some more, finally muttering “Will anyone know?”
          Hound Dog shook his head. "Nothing ever comes out of this office; of that I can promise.
          Aaron nodded slowly, gathering himself for what he would say. A few minutes passed when tears began to stream down his face. "Uhm... yesterday...” He hesitated, worried, but he had to do this. "Yesterday I found out that my dad is alive and ... very well, actually…"
          "Oh?” Hound Dog was surprised, but the lack of a father figure did explain some things. He urged Aaron on, kindly, of course.
          "I had never met my dad, and he doesn’t know I exist."
          Hound Dog was putting the pieces together, but he wanted Aaron to tell it at his own pace, so he continued to listen.
          "My mom..." Aaron placed his hands on his knees, gripping his slacks tightly. "She had a very different mentality back then, before she met my best friend and later adopted him, and before she took therapy, too.”
          Hound Dog nodded, signaling that he was listening. "What happened?"
          Aaron paused for a moment. "She had this thought, this… fear… that the person she cared for most wouldn’t be able to keep doing what they did forever. So, she decided that she would carry this baby, his baby, and train them, train me until I was exactly like that person… like my father.”
          Aaron’s tears wouldn’t stop, and he had to take a moment to collect himself. Hound Dog offered him some tissues and reminded him that they had all the time in the world.
          He could, and will, wait.
          “I honestly don't remember much of it since I was pretty young, or maybe she felt guilty and hid it but..." He pursed his lips again, shaking his head slowly as he rested his intertwined fingers in his lap. He couldn’t bear to look into Hound Dog’s kind eyes, so he kept his focus below at his chest.
          "It's hard to think about it. That I was the product of some delusion and that I was being groomed for some prophecy that never existed…” Aaron’s words became harsh, his anger rising again. “What if I fulfilled it? What if I became a puppet for my own mother because she was afraid?”
          Hound Dog grew wary of the sharper tone in Aaron’s voice. He knew Aaron needed to let it out, but he had to make sure he didn’t hurt himself in the process.
          “Well, did any part of it come true?”
          Aaron was caught off guard, his demeanor softening. "I-I don't know anymore... that's why I wasn’t sure about going to U.A., but I couldn’t leave Faian behind. It’s why I applied to both the hero and general departments, so I could stay with him.”
          "You really trust him, your brother. Your mother must trust him a lot, too.”
          "They want the best for me, but I don't even know what's best for me. So, yesterday with the assignment, I didn't know what to write down. I know I’m not going to be a skater forever, the only career I thought about was coaching but… I don't want to be a coach. I want to help people, like really help them… I want…” Aaron rested his arms on his thighs as he paused, thinking. "I'm not special, but sometimes I think that I can be like Faian…” that last part slipped out, and he stopped talking.
          "I know he is your brother and in the hero course, but what else can you tell me about him?” Hound Dog asked.
          Aaron was honestly surprised to hear that question. Coming from a ‘middle town’ (Faian liked to be deliberate/specific), most everyone knew everyone, and he and Faian were amongst the most well-known. Though, it made sense that all the way in Japan, he would be unknown.
          "He's my best friend… my brother, has been since kindergarten. Our mom adopted him when he was 8 after… After an accident.” Aaron was a little hesitant talking about Faian, concerned he might share something he was entrusted.
          Hound Dog took note of this and thought it may be a good idea to speak to him, too.
          “Yet, despite everything he’s been through, he’s still just so… awesome. He’s compassionate and intelligent and so powerful, but he’s humble and loves helping people better themselves. He even has his moments, his lows, but he always gets right back up, stronger than ever and just…” Aaron had to stop himself, worried he was going too far, but…
          When he was talking about Faian, he realized how much in common he had with him, more than he previously thought. ‘Two sides of the same coin’ came to mind, but he internally scoffed at the idea.
          "Interesting… Does he share his troubles with you or your mom?”
          "Mm, rarely. He’s strong enough to handle some things alone, but he knows when to reach out.” Aaron realized the irony in that statement, but he continued, hoping Hound Dog would ignore it.
          He didn’t.
          “Our mom once told me she noticed the closeness of the three of us. Like, we don't necessarily have to say something, we just know, sorta like a sixth sense. But Faian is really smart, intelligent, and when I'm with him and my mom I just feel... out of my league? I don’t feel stupid, but I feel like I don’t have to talk, or even be there… Like the two can manage without me. I even feel the same with Shinsou, with how reserved and determined he is.”
          He was surprise by how much more willing Aaron was to talk about his loved ones. Admittedly, it sounded like an inferiority complex to Hound Dog at first, but with the way Aaron spoke with genuine respect and love about his family, he began to think otherwise. He thought that Aaron might be fascinated with them, that he wants to prove that he is just as good. Or perhaps he feels like they aren’t letting him flourish, having such influence on his perceptions. Of course, it was too early for Hound Dog to make any conclusion, but he knew one thing:
          Aaron knows what he wants and how to get there, he just needs a little push, so to speak.
          “Perhaps, then, you want a change of pace? It sounds like you’ve spent so long with one type of person that you could use a fresh view. Some new, more extroverted friends.”
          Aaron thought for a while and shrugs indecisively. "I don't know," his confusion evident, "I just know that... that I'm social. At least, I try to be. I’m always moving about, trying to make small talk with new people and even interacting with my… uhm… my fans…” He whispered that last part, his cheeks dusted pink.
          "Oh? Fans? " Hound Dog asked, amused. "I take it they’re fans of your skating?”
          Aaron's eyebrows raised slightly; would this be how people talked with his mom? Like they were talking to a friend? Just sharing more and more as they grew more comfortable. He had watched her go into her psych mode, the almost genuine smiles and laughs, something that would seem incredibly real to anyone but her own children who see her real smile every day.
          Hound Dog watched Aaron's gaze focus on his desk, and he leaned forward a bit. "Aaron...?"
          "It's just... weird that they're so interested in me, either for my skating, or my looks." He had a proud smile for a second, but quickly dropped it as he continued. "I do really appreciate their support, but sometimes I feel like they don’t really care about me as a person. Like I’m just there for their entertainment."
          Hound Dog rested his hand beneath his chin and smiled, chuckling even. "You're a little skeptical about their motives for supporting you, huh? Sounds like a hero thing. Do you mind if I…?” He pointed at his computer and Aaron looked at it for a moment, furrowing his eyebrows and tilting his head slightly, silently asking for clarification.
          "Well, I'm pretty sure there's something I can find that'll make you understand the real reason you have fans.”
          "Like what?" Aaron was lost completely. How did they get from him being a mess to talking about his fans?
          "You’ll see soon enough but let me ask you something else while I do this. Why did you join ice-skating? You said your mom was going to turn you into a legacy for your father, but your life seems to revolve around ice-skating.”
          Aaron hummed softly, smiling faintly at the thought. "Oh… I was 3, maybe 4? At that time my mom was either working or taking night classes and she paid the neighbor to babysit me. She was an old lady ... Lucia? I think that was her name, I don't remember her much, but I do remember this one night when we were both watching TV.”
          Wistfulness spread across Aaron’s face, his eyes staring off into the distance as he imagined the scene in his head. He didn’t remember much from his toddler years, naturally, but he remembered this.
          “She was changing channels to see what interested us until I saw a flash of something bright and shiny. I asked if she could turn it back and..." His smile grew, his eyes held an enchanting gleam as he reminisced about one of his defining moments. "She was so beautiful, her dancing so wonderful with the way she moved her legs and body… like it was easy to skate. She had a snow Quirk, so every move she made there was snow coming from her hands and drifting behind her, catching the light and making her look ethereal..."
          Hound Dog was listening intently, seemingly done with his search. He watched the young male wave his hands about, as if he was mimicking what he was remembering.
          "She captured my attention, and it was like ... like I wanted to be her. She was smiling and having so much fun, like she was made of confidence..." he trailed off and sighed dreamily. "It was a night I never forgot ... and I was so excited to show off to my mom- I was twirling and dancing about the whole time until she finally returned, a huge smile on her face as she congratulated me, but … knowing what I know now, I’m thinking she was hiding how upset she was..." He slouched back, wiping some tears from his face as he looked up at Hound Dog, finally meeting his gaze ... and realizing just how massive he is.
          "Just look where you are now: A skater for almost a decade; numerous awards; fans all over; and now you’re attending one of the best schools in Japan, regardless of whether you want to be a hero or not. And you think your mom is upset with your choices?”
          "Sometimes I think she…” Aaron couldn’t bring himself to finish his thought.
          "What if I told you that smile she had when you first discovered ice skating was genuine?”
          Aaron was confused all over again, cocking his head and asking the counselor what he meant.
          "Your mom clearly loves you dearly, whether she had you only to fulfill a fantasy or not, she didn’t interfere with your choice to become a skater. If it took her adopting Faian to change, then it only shows just how uncommitted she was to that delusion and how much she wanted you to become your own person.” Hound Dog went back to his computer, bringing up his original search, but he wasn’t done sharing with Aaron.
          “U.A. is a school of opportunities; we prepare students for a variety of careers ranging from heroics to business to design. Parents often try to control their children by choosing the choices they present them. Yes, your mom didn’t start off as a regular parent, much less a good one, but she obviously wants to rectify that and let you be you, whatever you may choose to be. She likely abandoned her plan as soon as she saw those bright blue eyes of yours open for the first time. Do you think she would have gone back to school to support you? Or let someone else take care of you when she wanted a very specific outcome?”
          At this point, Aaron was beginning to doubt everything, again, unsure of what to make of his life. On the one hand, his mother did only have him out of a grand delusion, possibly faking all the times she was happy when he wanted to do anything other than heroics, but on the other… She actually loved him and wanted him to write his own story, doing everything she could to fix her mistake and prioritize him.
          He didn’t know which version seemed more real.
          “She probably would've trained you and it is far too common for parents to force their ideals and beliefs onto their children. And what happens then? Maybe the child will be like they wanted, a puppet they alone control and empower to stroke their own egos, or perhaps that child grows up aloof and imbittered, doing all they can to further distance themselves from their heritage. There will always be a point when the child will question the decisions, the abuse, the hate, but whether they do anything about it is impossible to say.”
          Aaron was shocked at what Hound Dog was saying. He had always thought of himself as a burden, and when he learned about his father and the circumstances regarding his birth, he felt as if everyone would be better off without him. But after everything he’d heard, Aaron couldn’t believe just how wrong he had been, and how right Hound Dog is.
          “You, however… We are all given the power to choose, but rarely can we choose our choices. What's stopping you now is doubt, doubt that you’re good enough, doubt that you matter. That doubt is holding you back and eating away at all that you could be. Your mom changed, your brother loves you, and the only reason you think otherwise is because you don’t talk to them. Now, I’ve found what I was looking for, but I want you to reflect on what I said for a few moments.”
          Aaron was speechless, his mouth agape. Was he truly that afraid? Was he so full of self-doubt that he blinded himself to the truth? But … there was still the matter of Faian. He thought he felt jealous… Jealous not just of his powerful Quirk, but of his technique and knowledge and determination and and and…
          Jealous of how he always brought smiles to the faces of those he helped…
          "Hound Dog ... what about ... Faian?"
          He paused for a moment as he was turning his computer screen. "Faian. What about him?"
          “Am I really jealous of him?”
          "Hm, on a counseling level, yes, I do think you are jealous of him.” Aaron frowned but it quickly changed to intrigue as Hound Dog continued, “But on a personal level, I think you’re jealous of what he represents.”
          "So, it’s not that I’m jealous of him and the things he can do, I’m jealous of the fact that he’s a … s-symbol…” Aaron stumbled around that last part, but before it could be questioned, he hastily asked “But isn’t jealousy wrong?”
          "Hm… Well, that's really up to you. It's okay to be jealous, healthy even, in small doses. It can inspire you to better yourself, to reflect on what you have and what you can do to improve yourself and others, but if you let it control you? If all you want to do is be better than him and prove that you are the one who should be getting the attention, then you risk hurting the ones you love as you go to further extremes to do so.”
          "No, I don't ... I don't want to be better than him... I just want to know what I can… I just want to be able to help and know that I am capable of it.”
          "In order to do that, you’ll need to work on your confidence. If you don’t think you can do something, why should someone else think you can? Here, I think now is the time to show you.” He beckoned Aaron to the turned monitor, pulling up a video.
          The thumbnail was of a kid, smiling and holding up a pair of signed ice-skating shoes. It must have been recorded on a computer webcam, since the kid looked like he was in a bedroom with posters on the wall…
          Posters of ice skaters, and the most common ones featured a young male with blond hair, red in the more recent ones.
          "So, I know I'm not supposed to be on here after my bedtime, but I just wanted to thank Aaron Granchester for saying hi to me at the State Championships!!! He was just like ... like ahh..." The young boy struggled to describe his feelings or what he had seen, but he was shouting in excitement, nearly falling out of his seat as he gushed. "So cool!! The way he skated and moved on the ice! The way he just had fun and smiled and and and just- Everything was so awesome!! Here, we even took a picture with him! I'll be back!" And he scurried off camera.
          As the video played, Aaron teared up, one hand over his mouth in surprise as the other pulled at the hem of his uniform. He sobbed softly, staring into the kid's eyes, recognizing the look he had … for it was the same one he had over a decade ago. He looked down, trying to collect himself in the few seconds the child had ran off.
          The boy returned and held up his mother’s tablet, the one Aaron remembered her holding as her son ran up to ask him for a photo. On its screen was a picture of him kneeling next to the boy, a huge grin on both their faces. "Look! Can you guys see? He's so cool and amazing!! Everyone likes him, well, not everyone and they’re wrong but still! He’s just the best and- Ahhh!!!!” He beamed with joy. "So friggin’ awesome!!"
          "Language, Trance!"
          The boy gasped before shouting back "Sorry mom!" as he looked to the side then back at the camera. "But yeah … I wanna be just like him when I grow up!!! He even gave me his skates and signed them for when I fit in them! I can’t wait to start practicing!!!”
          Hound Dog paused the video, the boy’s massive grin and shining eyes frozen on the screen.
          Aaron knew what he was talking about, he remembered that day. It was the State Championships… and he had just won 1st place.
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Hope you all enjoy part 2/3 this week! One more to go, then we’ll be bringing back Adamance of a Dragon!
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faean · 4 years
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Adamance of a Dragon
Collaborator: @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
Rating: T+; Language; Puns; Depictions of Violence and Blood
Word Length: 4,723 (Got Carried Away)
Chapter 8 (2/2)- Show Me Your Will; Pleased to Meet You 
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         “I have not had a real fight in ages, and it appears I will have to wait some time more.”
         While that upset a few villains and gave me an opening to disable them, I was beginning to tire. Eraser Head had taken down many enemies, and when I joined him, many more fell.
         But we are only two people. His Quirk usage had fallen drastically, and I had to counter it by increasing my own. I was skilled in hand-to-hand combat, thanks to Aria’s training, but my strength lied in ranged attacks with my magic and right now, I was running low. My plummeting into the fountain did not do me any favors, either.
         I could not reach any of the sources of water nearby to replenish my strength, unfortunately, due to the enormous, beak-faced, exposed brain villain that was plaguing my every move. He was much too strong for me to face without considerable magic, but he also did not seem very keen on taking me out. He only kept me separated from Eraser Head, which was fine by me, especially once my little clover, Tsuyu, and Mineta popped their heads above the shoreline and observed the ongoing battle.
         Foolish, really. 
         Their mere presence could shift the entire battle and, while Tsuyu is certainly capable of handling herself, Midoriya’s double-sided Quirk and Mineta in general would only make things that much more difficult for Eraser Head and myself. We can barely keep up our efforts, and there are still a few genuinely dangerous villains on the playing field.
         “Final boss.” I heard Eraser Head say as the villain covered in hands rushed him. I had thought he would be able to HAND-le him (probably should not be making puns in the middle of a fight), but the brain villain turned his attention to them.
         It was not until now that I began to feel…
         Anxious.
         Eraser Head’s elbow was destroyed, the hand covered villain toying with him as the brain villain made his way towards them.
         “Oh, by the way, hero. I am not the final boss.”
         “Umbra!” I shouted without hesitation, triggering the creation of an intricate magic circle of shimmering silvery black light in front of my open palm, roughly two feet in diameter. Several tendrils of inky shadows shot forth to intercept the falling hand of the brain villain.
         And it was just in the nick of time. I had barely managed to stop the villain from slamming Eraser Head into the ground, and a few more tendrils snaked through the air to enwrap more of the villain. He fought against it, forcing me to pour more energy into the spell to prevent the tethers from snapping. His strength is simply absurd, and it appears natural, considering his Quirk is currently erased.
         I struggled to keep the villain immobilized, digging in my heels and flapping my wings to try and give myself some leverage; however, the few remaining low-level villains rushed me. Reflexively, I took a deep breath before exhaling a scorching blast of fire around me, careful not to damage my tethers. A broken circle of molten earth surrounded me, the villains unconscious (and covered in burns of various degrees).
         Turning my attention back to the-
         “Mierda!” I yelped, unintentionally slipping into Spanish as the hand villain began to disintegrate…
         Decay…
         My tethers were crumbling to ash and pain shot through my right arm as the spell was broken. The magic circle shattered; the shadowy tendrils that were left faded into an inky mist.
         And my vision turned the same shade of black.
         ---
         Re…ow…y…tle...ragon…
         ‘What… happened?’ I thought, my head fuzzy and body still numb.
         Rest now, my little dragonling…
         ‘Rest… That sounds…’
         My eyes snapped open as my breath hitched, the reality of my situation settling in. I was trapped under dozens of tons of rubble. Ironically, the only thing keeping me from being crushed were the several pieces of rebar that jutted from my body and were embedded into a large slab of concrete that loomed over my exhausted form.
         Right leg, left arm, my abdomen, and several throughout my wings. Fortunately, there was not a lot of blood loss, which also meant that I must not have been out for long.
         Only for a few. Rest. They do not need you…
         Rolling my eyes, I just mumbled a string of swears directed at her, most of which were in Spanish (‘much more creative’, mis abuelos would say). My little spiel ended with ‘Qué te den’ before I heard an airy chuckle that faded away.
         Sighing, I stared into the darkness, well, dimness. While it was pitch black underneath all this rubble, I did have some form of night vision; not strong enough to see clearly, but it sufficed. Either way, it did not quell my rising anxieties. I have no idea where I am, and once my adrenaline wears off, I would surely go into shock and perish before I could get any help.
         And that is assuming any one can find me, or if any one survived. With just a single punch, that brain villain sent me soaring. The sheer force of my impact was enough to bring down the building that I was now trapped in. To top it all off, I was magically exhausted, using up the last of my energy to prevent my bones from being pulverized. Even if I got out of here, I could not heal myself, and I would not last long enough to get to Recovery Girl.
         Which would be pointless, anyway, since her healing uses a person’s energy to do so and I have next to none.
         I was fighting to stay conscious at this point, the constant dripping noise of the rain lulling-
         ‘Wait… Rain! Of course, I was being too daft to notice!’
         The USJ has a ‘Squall’ zone that is designed to emulate a rainstorm. I only need to get a steady stream to me, and then I could replenish some of my strength. Without a moment to lose, I gathered every ounce (or should I say gram?) of strength left in my body and propped my free leg against the slab of concrete above me.
         I pushed with all I had left, letting out a guttural shout as I fought for my life, but it did not budge. Panting heavily, my leg went limp.
         That was my only shot.
         It was not enough.
         My brain began to cloud.
         Pain began to set it.
         My breathing became uneven.
         ‘Think. Come on, Faian. You have spent years training your body and Quirk, but that means nothing if you do not calm yourself and do what you do best.’ I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing.
         My Quirk, my magic, my person, was dwarfed by the others at the college. I lacked the same experience and skill they had. I had to work infinitely harder to contend, and I only made it so far by honing the one thing that triumphed over raw power every. Single. Time.
         The mind… as cliché as that sounds.
         I became unchallenged in analyzing, predicting, strategizing and, most importantly, adapting. I got my provisional license just months before my twelfth birthday; felled villains wanted by the State of California and beyond; overcame my own depression and grief; and…
         I have a promise to keep.
         I will not be bested by some fucking rocks and a villain with a god damn hand fetish!
         Summoning strength straight from the very depths of my being, I drew the last breath I would draw underneath this rubble.
         ---
         “I am the great grandson of Quetzalcoatl, and you villains made the fatal mistake of tampering with a dragon’s hoard!!!” I roared with renewed vigor, the downpour coalescing around my battered form.
         I flew towards the villains before me, easily sweeping many of them away with a torrent of water, freezing it as it crashed into a towering building, nearly toppling it. If any attempted escape from within the ice, not only would they end up in a comparable situation I just escaped from, but they would have to deal with the tons of jagged ice, too.
         Ducking beneath a futile attack, I turned and slammed a villain into the ground with my tail before raising my hand towards the sky.
         A magic circle of swirling water appeared above me, and the rain slowed to a stop. Snapping the fingers of my raised hand, the circle pulsed as the rain collected into a massive bubble that spanned over a block and swallowed the tops of many buildings.
         With a wide, and possibly unnerving, grin, I thought ‘Aquae’.
         The magic circle pulsed once more before evaporating and the sphere of thousands of gallons of water descended with enough speed to break the sound barrier.
         Entire buildings were reduced to nothing as I leveled the area. Admittedly, I may have gone overboard (that is like the third intentional pun I have made in a life or death situation, today!), but it felt oh so good to fight in my element (fourth).
         Literally.
         I am a water dragon, first and foremost. While I may add the moniker ‘fire’ before it on occasion, it is only to reference my skill in fire magic (technically, I cannot naturally breathe fire I do with water, but my prowess with the element allows me to do so, requiring about as much magical energy as creating a candle flame). Of course, I would be even more of a force if I could draw strength directly from the sea, but give me a lake or a rainstorm?
         Well, I think it obvious what I can do.
         Although, none of that would matter if I was still stuck in the collapsed building. Drawing from the depths of my being, I was able to summon enough strength to let loose a mighty, spiralized water breath attack that essentially liquified everything in its path. With the rain falling directly on me, I was able to pull myself off the rebar, seal my wounds with ice, and recover my strength.
         Without any more villains in the surrounding area, I began my trek back to the center of the USJ. Being reinvigorated, my senses began returning to normal, although it would still take some time. “Coincidentally”, my hearing and sense of smell were beyond average, and I could rely on those quite easily. Even with all the rain and wind.
         Fortunately, that was all I needed to discover that Kouda and Tokoyami were nearby. Although, I did briefly think about how I should have been more careful before attacking.
         My worries were dashed when Tokoyami told me that they had heard the building collapse and that most of the villains had rushed to it. They were trailing behind and picking off any stragglers, not getting too close since they did not know what had happened. Thankfully so, too, since they were behind a building not even a block from the edge of my attack.
         “I see. The situation has only become more depressing.” Tokoyami stated after I recounted what had happened.
         “Indeed. And I would like to apologize for, well, that.” I gestured to the massive hole behind me. “Either way, it is reassuring that you two are safe. Perhaps our other classmates are as well.”
         The two nodded, but before another word could be said, several more low-level villains appeared, shouting for more to converge. I took a step forward, spreading my wings to guard my companions before letting loose another spiralized water breath attack; however, I was quickly brought to my knees.
         Kouda was soon kneeling beside me, steadying me as I violently coughed, blood splattering the floor and staining my lips. Tokoyami and Dark Shadow took to defending us while I recovered.
         ---
         “Forgive me…” I rasped to no one, limping my way across the USJ.
         I had left Tokoyami and Kouda behind in the Squall Zone, trying to return to Eraser Head and the others. Naturally, the moment I left the downpour, my strength began to fade again (can you hear my eyes roll?). I could not bring myself to fly, and my senses were beginning to dull once more, making me more susceptible to surprise attacks.
To make matters worse, the ice on my abdomen melted and my wound began steadily trickling blood. I was only able to fully heal the holes in my wings before I left the storm, barely managing to at least properly seal the hole in my arm and leg, and the entry point in my lower back, but the exit on my front was still open. With no other choice, I kept my tail tightly wrapped around myself, nearly halting the bleeding.
         And if that was not enough, I could barely even speak! I hurt my throat and taxed my lungs when I used my water breath to escape from the building, but using it again shredded my windpipe. While that is a small price to pay for going well beyond my limit, attempting any major magic now would likely result in my death.
         Well, it would be more akin to every atom in my body dissolving and being reduced into a puddle.
         Fun, no?
         *BOOM*
         There was a massive, well, I do not know. Obviously, it came from where I was initially sent soaring, but there was no one there who could possibly create such a ruckus singlehandedly, not even the brain villain. Bakugou, maybe, but it did not sound like an explosion.
         Unless, of course, there were two of those brain villains, or someone of the same caliber. Which must mean that All Might final-
         “Why the hell do you look like shit, cat eyes?” A certain blond’s voice came from behind.
         Which was hastily followed by the ‘manly’ voice of Kirishima. “You can’t just say that, Bakugou! It’s not manly criticizing someone’s appearance! But, why do you look so beat up?”
         Ignoring Bakugou’s discontented huff, I answered, my hand on my throat as I croaked out “Technically, he had asked that, and technically, my eyes are reptilian.” Bakugou attempted a “menacing” step forward but Kirishima blocked him as I continued. “I took a heavy hit protecting Eraser Head and ended up in the Squall Zone. Needless to say, it took a toll on me.”
         “Woah… A villain did that to you? But you’re so manly! I mean, Mister Aizawa even-”
         “Shut the hell up, shitty hair.” Bakugou interrupted (naturally). “If you fought alongside Aizawa, then you must damn well know just what those pathetic villains’ weaknesses are. Tell me so I can kick their ass, unlike you, cat eyes.”
         I looked into Kirishima’ eyes. They were filled with genuine worry, but there was a spark of determination. Bakugou’s had an ominous glint in them, desperate for a fight. I thought carefully of my answer, knowing that if they faced the same power I had, they would face Death.
         “Knowledge is not something I enjoy sharing for free… but be warned. If you falter in your endeavors, no amount of skill nor talent of your own will save you. Be wary… and accept that on the battlefield, there is no such thing as fair. Your only solace is that villains fight not because they have something to gain, but because they cannot risk losing everything.”
         I nearly toppled over with another coughing fit, blood caking the hand that covered my mouth. Kirishima practically lunged at me to help, but Bakugou just said ‘some help your scaly ass was’ before rushing towards the battle. I gave Kirishima a look and he paused for only a moment before following after him.
         ‘They will need help…’ I thought as I struggled to straighten myself.
         ---
         After a short detour to the lake, I recovered enough strength to fly again, cautious not to use any magic to worsen my condition. I now stood on the outskirts of the main battle, staying near the shore; however, I had a choice to make as Nomu turned towards Bakugou as he was restraining Kurogiri.
         Within an instant, Bakugou sat next to the trio of Todoroki, Kirishima, and Midoriya; All Might was in a defensive stance as he stood halfway between the villain’s extended fist and a wall with his arm bruised and shirt torn; and I stood with my claws deeply embedded in the forearm and elbow of the creature, using my limited strength to hinder its fearsome blow.
         Slicing through flesh and bone, I destroyed Nomu’s arm before leaping back towards my classmates, my strength spent as I fell at their feet. It did not do much, as the beast regenerated the damage I caused almost instantaneously.
         “These are kids, and you didn’t hold back?” All Might questioned as he panted.
         Shigaraki did not hesitate to respond. “I didn’t have much choice. He was threatening my companion. Besides, these kids are no angels. The plain-looking one? He tried to kill me with a maxed-out punch. And the one with wings? He nearly incinerated some of my men and just viciously shredded Nomu’s arm.”
         Reflexively, I shouted “In America, we call that a Sunday barbecue!” before clutching my throat and hacking up blood for the nth time. It did earn me a mortified look from my little clover and Kirishima. Bakugou smirked and Todoroki very nearly smiled, though.
         “Hm… What kind of “heroes” do something like that? You think you can get away with being as violent as you want if you say it’s for the sake of others. Well, you know what, All Might? That pisses me off. Why do people get to decide that some violent acts are heroic, and others are villainous? Casting judgment as to what’s “good” and what’s “evil.” You think you’re the Symbol of Peace?”
I very nearly interjected again with ‘No, he is so very obviously the Emblem of Order,’ but the pain in my throat (and possibly Kirishima’s hand on my mouth) prevented me from doing so.
         “Ha. You’re just another government-sponsored instrument of violence. And violence always breeds more violence. I’ll make sure the world understands that once you’re dead.” Shigaraki finally finished, and All Might said what we were all thinking (probably, I was thinking of what pun to make once Kirishima removed his hand… I think the blood loss is getting to me).
         “You’re nothing but a lunatic. Criminals like you; you always try and make your actions sound noble. But admit it; you’re only doing this because you like it. Isn’t that right?”
         “I thought that was a left hand on his face…” I muttered as I rose to my knees, but not quietly enough considering Todoroki coolly (not counting that one, too easy) told me to ‘Please stop…’ before raising his voice to speak to everyone else.
         “We’ve got them outnumbered.”
         My little clover replied. “And Kacchan found the mist guy’s weakness.”
         Kirishima quickly followed up with “These dudes may act really tough, but we can take ‘em down now with All Might’s help. Heh. Let’s do this.”
         “Don’t attack.” All Might ordered. “Get out of here.”
         Of course, his demand was met with some resistance from Todoroki, but he was adamant about it.
         “I thank you for your assistance, but this is different. It’s gonna be all right. Just sit back and watch a pro at work.”
         “But you’re too hurt. You’re bleeding. And you’re almost out of ti—” Midoriya quickly stopped as All Might gave a thumb’s up and I rolled my eyes.
         I mean, really? Can no one piece it all (might) together from his flubs?
         Either way, that is not important now.
         “Nomu. Kurogiri. Kill him. I’ll deal with the children… Let’s clear this level and go home.”
         ---
         “Now for a lesson. You may have heard these words before, but I’ll teach you what they really mean. Go beyond! Plus Ultra!” All Might bellowed as he sent Nomu hurtling out of the USJ, breaking right through the domed ceiling.
         In the ridiculous timespan of under a minute, All Might defeated the greatest foe on this field. There were exclamations from us about All Might’s terrifying tenacity and sheer strength, but as the dust began to settle about him, almost unnaturally converging on his towering form, he continued.
         “I really have gotten weaker. Back in my heyday, five hits woulda been enough to knock that guy out. But today, it took more than 300 mighty blows.” He turned his attention from us to the remaining two villains. “You’ve been bested, villains. Surrender. We all want to get this over with quickly.”
         Shigaraki began to unravel, his neck looking like what my throat feels like, and All Might’s taunting only pushed him further into despair. I folded my outstretched wings behind me, having used them to keep the five of us from being blown away.
         My classmates deemed the battle won, but the look on my little clover’s face gave a vastly different thought. Sighing, I thought ‘Plus Ultra, I suppose…’ before forcing myself to my feet.
         Fighting everything in my body telling me to collapse and drift away, I trudged over to All Might, drawing to my full height and extending a wing in front of him despite how my muscles ached and my soul screamed.
         “I suggest you heed his words,” I rasped out, my voice sounding almost reptilian, “lest you incur a wrath not of this world.”
         I fought back a shuddering cough, my tail tightening around me as I struggled to stay standing. That is when All Might, Aaron’s father, placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. He seemed to stand taller, and there was a fire in eyes, but behind that fire, I could see his doubts.
         There was no fathomable instance in which we will survive if they attack now, but we had to convince them otherwise.
         We just had to stall a little longer.
         “What? Are you scared?”
         I followed it with “Do you truly believe you can face us?”
         Shigaraki continued to panic, and it seemed we just might pull this off…
         “Shigaraki Tomura! Please, do not fret. Look at them. All Might has definitely weakened. Nomu’s attacks were successful. And the boy can barely stand. They’re on their own. The children appear to be frozen in fear. And, look, our underlings are recovering. We likely still have a few minutes before their reinforcements arrive. If you and I work together, we can do this. We haven’t missed our chance to kill All Might.”
         Kurogiri was not wrong, and Shigaraki began to compose himself.
         I slightly turned my head towards All Might, my shoulders falling. Not meeting his eyes, Aaron’s eyes, I whispered “You are more than just a symbol. Do not act when they rush us, just… Give them my regards. Aria. Aaron.”
         I focused back on the two villains before us. “My heart beats not for me…”
         ---
         “Don’t you ever do something so reckless, again, Faian!” Aria exclaimed in English as she helped me sit up, handing me a canister of saltwater. “Aaron’s message was already concerning enough, then I get here and have to fight my way through a bunch of thugs to get to my son! Who happens to be bleeding from his stomach and sounds like he smokes fifty packs a day!”
         Before I could respond, she turned to All Might, who was somewhere in between his muscular form and a skeletal one (no surprise there), she continued in English. “As for you, I swear. You haven’t changed in all these years! You’re almost as bad as my kids…”
         Finally, she turned to Midoriya, switching to Japanese and saying “I take it back. You’re as bad as them.”
         Finished with reprimanding us for our actions, she let out a tired sigh. “I’m just glad you’re all safe, now.” She wore a weary smile, and her glistening eyes brimming with tears held such warmth and love.
         “Mom… Thank you.”
         “Midoriya, Nadal, hey!” We heard Kirishima shout as he ran towards us.
         His concern was warranted, but there was a tension in the air when Aria’s eyes went wide as he got closer, and All Might fully transformed into his skeletal frame. Fortunately, a wall of dyed cement rose up, blocking him off as Cementoss reassured him that the pros can handle this.
         Honestly, the rest of the day was a blur. Midoriya and All Might were snuck out to get the medical attention they need, and Aria helped me into the school bus after I had answered a few questions for the police. I returned to the campus, changed into my casual clothes with her help, grabbed my bag, and she drove me home. She practically carried me in, complaining about how she was getting old (to be fair, I weighed well over 200 lbs. because of my mutations).
         Before she kissed my cheek goodbye, she ran the bath and dumped a container of sea salt in it for me. I heard the front door close as I eased (more like flopped) into the steaming water. A contented sigh escaped my lips as I sank beneath the water’s surface.
         After what might have been a few hours, considering how I fell asleep under the water, I got out and dried off. Changing into my pajamas and not bothering to dry my hair, I lazily strolled to my plush bed and buried myself beneath the mountain of blankets and pillows, curling about a few. I let the exhaustion in my bones lull me to—
         “Pleased to meet you, my little dragonling.”
         “¡MALDITO CARAJO!”
-----
Had a lot of fun with this chapter and got a little carried away, admittedly. Hope you heathens enjoy. Be on the look out for tomorrow’s Holiday request!
Beta Reader, Collaborator, Co-Writer, Grinch: @i-am-here-with-fanfic
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The Illegitimate Son- Ch. 3 2/2
           Aria was in her room, laying outstretched on the bed, tears staining her cheeks. She was stressed but worked up the strength to shout from her room. “Alright, I made some sandwiches to snack on. Feel free to make some dessert, Faian. I think we could use some later…” 
           She got up, trudging to the mirror hanging on the wall and saw how messy she looked. She didn’t even get out of her work uniform and her hair certainly looked like she was in a rush. Taking a deep breath, she began to fix herself up. She started with her hair, then changed into different clothes and nodded to herself.  
           ‘Here goes nothing…’ she thought. Looking next to the mirror, she gazed at the three framed pictures on the wall. Aaron never entered her room out of respect, so he had no idea as to how it was decorated, or that she had those three pictures. 
           The first picture was of a blond boy, with ruffled hair and two long bangs that were nearly blocking his eyes. He had a missing tooth, but he showed off his smile at the Kindergarten picture day.  
           The second was from when she had taken the two camping when they were ten. Aaron had dyed his hair by then, styling it back, and was trying to hug Faian as he wore a goofy grin. Faian, sporting a similar smile, kept him at bay with his tail. 
           The third one was a picture of Aaron in his ice-skating uniform, winning first place in the local juvenile league and qualifying for state. He was definitely proud of himself, showing off his gold medal to his mom as he stood atop the pedestal. It was taken just a couple months before Aaron graduated middle school and Faian received his provisional license. 
           Aria fought the urge to sob as she tore herself from the smiles of her son. With a shaky breath and a few fans at her face, she steeled herself as she stepped out of the bedroom.  
           Walking towards the kitchen, Faian spotted her first as he sat across from Aaron, whose back was turned.  
           “Mum.” 
           “Hey, Mom.” Aaron turned with a light smile.  
           “Hey, sweethearts… how was school?”  
           “It was cool…” Aaron muttered, swirling his glass around dejectedly.  
           Faian knew he was lying, and he easily picked up on Aria’s discomfort. Without skipping a beat, he broke the tension by recounting about his day. He glazed over most of his classes but went into detail about the hero training. They performed what was called a ‘Battle Trial’, pitting pairs of students against each other in hypothetical scenarios. Unfortunately, he did not get to actively participate as the teacher had showed a recording of him performing a similar exercise with some second years when he first began the process of transferring back in September of last year, followed by him having to give a thorough analysis of each pair of students. 
           “That’s amazing! I can’t believe they’re already having you guys train.” Aria responded, relaxing a little. 
           “It is not much different than the college back in the States, but I do hope I get to do more than just act as an aide.” 
           Aaron smiled and shook his head. “Imagine if Eraserhead was there; I saw him one time and, oh my god, I couldn’t stop trembling. He looks so intimidating.” 
           Aria continued chatting with the two, easing herself as Aaron talked more about his day; however, when he checked his phone for the time, Aria spoke up, her demeanor changing. 
           “Oh, I told your Coach you wouldn’t be skating today.”  
           Aaron had a questioning look in his eyes, but it soon went away as his mother continued.  
           “Well, I need the time to tell you about who your father is…and to explain how… how it all happened.”  
           She was hesitant at first, but as she took Aaron’s hands in her own, squeezing them to reassure herself, she continued. “What I did… I am not a perfect being, but what I did was unforgiveable. Before you learn who your father is, I-I want to tell you how it happened.” 
           Aaron didn’t understand what was going on, but he gave a nervous smile and urged her to continue. Faian gave them both a reassuring smile before getting up to make some coffee, tea, and brownies. 
           I had just gotten my hero license part way through school. At the time, I was working with a friend, Jae, who wanted to create a costume of metal that worked with my Quirk. She was heavily inspired by Vikings and medieval knights, so of course it was going to be flashy. Jae knew David Shield, an intelligent scientist who specialized in creating support items and hero costumes so, we all worked together. Between them two, he was the hard-working one, and I offered to buy him lunch as a thank you for helping her. 
           When we decided on a place to go, Jae joined us as I wanted to thank her, too, for coming up with the idea; however, on our way to the restaurant we heard an explosion. Forgetting about lunch, we immediately ran over to the burning building. I couldn’t stop thinking about the people trapped inside and I ran in without thinking. 
           I was carrying two people when I heard cheering from outside. It was odd but I thought a more well-known hero had arrived, so I hurried to get those I was carrying to the paramedics before rushing back inside. Being a newer hero, some of the law enforcement tried to stop me, not knowing I was able to help, but also because the building was beginning to collapse. I couldn’t just stand aside knowing I was capable of helping. 
           After finding a few more people, I began to lead them out, using my battle-axe to shield us from falling debris and cutting through any rubble in our path. Unfortunately, a column had collapsed next to us, and the ceiling began to cave in. Without a moment to lose, I pushed the civilians through the exit. Within seconds, I was buried under tons of rubble. Although I was still conscious thanks to my Quirk, the smoke was suffocating, and the roaring fire lapped at my skin. I could barely hear the shouting outside, and I thought I heard someone mention that I was still inside. Whatever the case, I soon blacked out. 
           I woke up in a hospital bed, half expecting to be dead. I would’ve been fine if I was; I got to save a lot of people, after all. Turns out, your father was the one who saved me, and he came along with David and Jae in the ambulance. I was told they wouldn’t leave my room, except when one went to get food for the others. When I finally woke up, it was just your dad, sitting in a much too small chair to my left. 
           Aria smiled thoughtfully as she recalled the first time she met Aaron’s father. While he was still unsure of where she was going with this, it did calm Aaron to see his mom had positive memories about his dad. 
           As did the scent of his tea, Faian’s absurdly strong coffee, and whatever chocolatey goodness was baking in the oven. 
           He was staring intently at the monitor, and he didn’t notice I had woken up. Until I spoke, of course. He had such a handsome face that I was somewhat intimidated, and I ended up blurting out “Are you an angel?”
           Understandably, that had taken him by surprise. He was really awkward trying to explain himself, fortunately, Jae and David had arrived with some food and helped clear the air. Turns out, he was a transfer student with this captivating idea of becoming a symbol and pillar for the people, and David had made him a suit out of gratitude to help inspire others. 
           Soon after I recovered, Jae finished her project and told me to use the armor set as much as I wanted, and that if it ever broke, I can return it to her to get it fixed. I was glad that I had the costume because I could go out and help people in need with your father. His blinding determination and faith was contagious, I wanted nothing more than to help him in any way I could. But… All things have to come to an end, and even though he had decades ahead of him, I was still terrified of what might happen once he was gone. 
           Aria’s shoulders slumped as she hung her head, resting her cheek in the palm of her hand. Her eyes held a deep regret as she paused to take a breath. Aaron was gradually beginning to connect the dots as Faian’s eyes were wide in disbelief, his vertical pupils easily noticeable. 
           Eventually, he returned to Japan, but I couldn’t shake this uneasy feeling that something might happen. With every news report that covered his heroics, I grew more and more paranoid. 
           What if it was a trap?
           What if he didn’t make it this time? 
           What if…? 
           So many different tragedies ran through my head, and even when he came back to America years later to catch up with David, I still had those crippling thoughts. So, I came up with an idea, and made a secret promise to him that no matter what happened, he would have someone to continue his legacy. 
           Choking back sobs, Aria took a moment to compose herself, terrified of what her son may think of her. Faian gave her a light pat on the shoulder while Aaron had one hand covering his mouth, the other clutching his teacup tightly as tears welled in his eyes. Those brilliant blue eyes that were so very much like his father’s. 
           “I invited him out for drinks, and…” she wiped the tears from her eyes with the hem of her blouse, “and what we did… what I did… It was unforgivable… Fuck. Aaron, please know th-that I did what I-I thought was r-right… I gave him his heir. I had you…” 
           Aaron was silent, uncertain how to react. As his mother stood up to give him a hug, to try and reaffirm that she does actually love him, Aaron flinched. He clutched his stomach in pain, quickly excusing himself by saying ‘I don’t feel so…’ and rushing to the kitchen sink, retching uncontrollably. He held onto the sink for dear life, his knees buckling and needing Faian to support him as he continued to vomit. 
           When Aaron had finished, panting heavily, he turned to face his mom. Wiping off his saliva, he muttered “Who… who is my dad?” 
           Aria looked down at her feet, trying to find her words. Finally meeting his gaze, she answered the question he had longed to know. “Aaron… Your father… His name is Toshinori Yagi, better known as the Symbol of Peace- All Might.” 
           Faian was quick to catch Aaron, helping him to the table for a seat. Aria was kneeling by him, her arms holding him close as she cried into his shoulder. Aaron was still in shock, and Aria was in no condition to continue.  
           “I am not one for speaking when it is not desired, but I cannot, and shall not, lose another family. Mother, you clearly know you have done something awful, that alone is admirable, and you have spent so many years trying to right that wrong. It shows. I do not think Aaron would have wanted to model himself after you if you did not atone for your sin.” 
           Faian’s voice washed over Aria as she looked up at him, a soft inviting smile on his lips and his arms open. She stood, lingering by Aaron’s side before leaning into her adopted son’s embrace. His steady heartbeat calming her, he turned his attention towards Aaron. 
           “Brother. I do not pretend to know what you must be going through. My parents may have been heroes, and my great grandmother instrumental in normalizing Quirks; however, your father is a symbol. That is not to be taken lightly, but please understand that you do not need to follow in his footsteps. I think Mum has made that clear over the years.” 
           Aaron stood from his seat, steadying himself with the table before joining Faian and his mother in the embrace, tears streaming down his face as Aria burst into tears once more.  
           “No matter what stories we may weave, or the tales we may spin, there is no fathomable way to avoid the truth. We must accept it, and while it may render us apart, it is only temporary. We are indomitable, and we will continue to grow and learn and better ourselves in ways we cannot begin to imagine. I have no doubt that we will have our share of disagreements but know this- For so long as my heart beats, it beats for the two of you.”
--- 
           Aaron watched the streetlights pass by, his head leaning against the cool glass of the car door window. Once everyone had composed themselves, it was agreed that Aaron would spend the night at Faian’s, as he and Aria would need some time apart. Currently, Aria was driving to the two-story Victorian, her eyes fixated on the road ahead of her. Faian sat in the passenger seat, holding a parcel of the brownies he had baked during the reveal. 
           When they arrived, Aria was afraid to give Aaron a hug or approach him. She was terrified he saw her as a villain, and when he refused to meet her gaze, her eyes began to sting. With a simple nod, she turned to Faian and hugged him, thanking him for his help and letting him know she’ll pick Aaron up after school. 
           Aria drove off and Faian opened the door for Aaron. As they entered, Aaron spoke for the first time since leaving his mom’s apartment. 
           “I forgot to tell her I love her…” 
           “Aaron…” 
           “Do you think she loved him? I mean, really loved him. She’s a huge fan, but I… I don’t know…” 
           Faian only gave Aaron a reassuring hug before leading him to the guest room upstairs. After suggesting he take a bath before getting some sleep, Faian kissed Aaron on his forehead, wishing him a ‘pleasant night’ and leaving him to his thoughts. 
           Alone in the room, Aaron could only do as Faian suggested, still in shock that he is the son of the single greatest hero known to humanity. It shook him to his core, but he knew he had to figure something out. 
           Does he believe Faian and return to his mother, accepting the truth and begin a new chapter in his life? 
           Or does he reject it, pretending it was all just an elaborate lie and live in denial knowing he could do more? 
           He sat on the bed, his damp hair framing his face as he stared intently at the bedroom door. With a deep, shuddering sigh, Aaron shook his head as he came to his decision. Climbing under the covers, he kept to one side of the bed, his arms outstretched towards the empty half. He wept with a racing mind and heavy heart, unaware that halfway across town, his mother was curled up on his bed, a picture of her holding a newborn baby as she lay in a hospital bed resting on a pillow beside her. 
           Meanwhile, Faian stood in the middle of a room lined with bookshelves burdened by books and mementos, a projector hanging overhead as a magic circle slowly spun beneath him, the room bathed in an ethereal glow of gold and silver. 
           No one got much sleep that night. 
---
Beta Reader, Editor, and Collaborator- @starrylegend
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chaos-caffeinated · 3 years
Text
The Illegitimate Son
Rating: T; Language
Word Length: 1,039 words
Chapter: Chapter 4, Part 1/3; The Counselor
---
          Today was a new day, but for some it wasn’t enough.
          Aria woke up more tired than ever, not getting any sleep due to the events of last night. She laid down in Aaron's bed, hugging the extra pillow he would hug, wondering and worrying about how he is feeling. It pained her to see him so upset, but he asked her a question, and she thought it was time to finally give him an answer.
          Forcing herself to the kitchen, she made lunch for Aaron and herself, thinking she could drop it off before he got to school; however, she remembered something, and as ashamed as she was, she decided to text Aaron.
          Leaving to retrieve her phone, Aria picked it up from its resting place on the nightstand. She hesitated, reading over her simple message for what seemed like hours before finally hitting ‘send’.
          Good morning, sweetie. Would you like me to drop you and Faian off at school?
          Aria, again, read the message over and over and over, stressing about whether or not Aaron even wanted to have anything to do with her, but she had to shift her attention back to making lunch.
          Aaron didn't sleep well either and it could be argued he didn’t sleep at all. He shed many tears, completely shocked that his father is alive. He couldn’t keep himself from imagining different scenarios about him. The whole night was plagued by emotions of guilt and shame, the opposite, he thought, most people would feel if they discovered one of their parents was the best hero in the world. He just couldn’t wrap his head around it all.
          All he knew was that he thankful Faian left him an empty trashcan in case he threw up again.
          The morning was no better. He couldn’t bring himself to fix his hair, and he barely washed his face. He left his uniform jacket open and was without his tie. If he could just skip school he would, but he knew Faian wouldn't accept that, and deep down, neither could he.
          Unresponsive to any of Faian’s attempts to humor him, Aaron remained disconnected, not showing any response. To Faian, Aaron was all but catatonic, and it cut straight to his core.
          Though he didn’t want to eat, Aaron knew that it wasn’t healthy to skip meals as an athlete, and that Faian would not rest until he was taken care of, so he tried his best. Anyone who knew him, especially the two most important people in his life, knew Aaron was happy to eat, even in spite of the strict diet he followed to stay fit for his skating (although, with two amazing cooks in the family, it was easy).
          It was depressing to watch him pick at his breakfast dejectedly, and his voice when he mumbled to Faian that it was ‘time to go’ was heartbreaking. He trudged to the door; his backpack lazily slung on his shoulders.
          Some people might have been upset that the father they never knew was All Might, while most might have been excited but… Aaron? He was broken.
          And he did not think he would ever be whole again.
          Completely numb to the world, whether it be to keep from hurting others with his emotional outbursts or to figure things out, Aaron was the type of person who put others ahead of himself. Much too far ahead. He refused to believe himself worthy of any help or kindness and held himself to a standard that couldn’t possibly be reached.
          It was why Aria trusts, respects, and thanks Faian for staying by his side no matter what.
~~~
          Class was unsurprisingly worse. Shinsou was unaware of the events that unfolded the evening before, that Aaron didn’t know how to react to the fact that his entire life was manufactured with the sole intent of creating a legacy.
          Though he tried many times to get his attention, Shinsou respectively backed off, understanding that he needed his space. But he still thought it frustrating that Aaron was so unresponsive.
          Class after class, Aaron remained that way. He wasn’t taking notes, he wasn’t listening to the lessons, he couldn’t even bring himself to pick up his pencil. All he could do was drown in his thoughts, his own silence deafening.
          He almost got away with it until U.A.'s counselor, Hound Dog, walked by the open classroom, immediately noticing his dead stare. He remembered the kid from yesterday- Aaron Granchester. In that brief moment, Hound Dog took note of his disheveled appearance and knew what he had to do.
          It was the period before Lunch when Aaron was called up to the office. It took Shinsou roughly pinching his side to get a reaction. Aaron was irritated but he was happy to finally see him do something. It was utterly saddening to see his friend like this, even if they had only known each other for a few days.
          The announcement repeated itself, and Aaron stood up, sighing softly as he left the room, his irritation growing.
          Passing the restroom on the way, he slowed to a stop, deciding he should at least clean himself up a little bit before heading to wherever he was summoned.
          Upon seeing himself, his eyes widen in shock at his appearance. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment and he stepped back slightly before he started to closely scrutinize himself.
          He began to run his fingers through his hair, combing it back and tucking his bangs behind his ears. He wiped his face with a cool, damp paper towel to reduce the redness and puffiness around his eyes.
          "Fuck..." he whispered to himself as he watched his hair slowly fall in front of his eyes.
          "I'm an embarrassment...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." he apologized to no one, standing up shamefully as he looked directly into his reflection's eyes, exhausted, and fixed his jacket and hair once more,
          He still looked less than presentable, but it was better than nothing. He left the restroom and began to search for the room he was called to. Upon finding it, he hesitated to enter as he read the sign on the wall next to the door.
          ‘Lifestyle Guidance Counselor- Hound Dog’. 
---
Caffeine here! Hope you all enjoyed part one of this exciting chapter! As a reminder, The Illegitimate Son will update weekly before switching to a biweekly schedule.
P.S.- While I will be taking over as the head writer for TIS, Chapter 4 was written entirely by @i-am-here-with-fanfic / Chaos, and I only partook in the editing process.
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faean · 4 years
Text
Adamance of a Dragon
Collaborator: @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
Rating: T+; Mild Language and Some Conflict
Word Length: 2,396
Chapter 8 (1/2)- Show Me Your Will; Prepare Thyself 
         ___
         Soon, my little dragonling…
         I awoke with a start, tossing several pillows as a golden white spear appeared in my left, readied at the empty space before my bed. Realizing I was alone, I heaved a heavy sigh before calming myself, folding my wings behind me as my tail swished about my waist. Slipping out of bed, I began my morning routine.
         Blonde roasted Kona coffee being brewed as I changed from my pajamas into a plain black long sleeve and blue jeans, my moccasins on and jacket draped over my shoulders. Aaron’s favorite breakfast on the stove as I drank straight from the coffee pot and called him downstairs.
         He was… Understandably disheveled. He did not bother to fix his hair, and his uniform was sloppily buttoned. None of my attempts at lightening his mood succeeded, and he remained, for the lack of a more appropriate word, catatonic.
         Sluggishly picking at his food, he merely mumbled ‘time to go’ before trudging to his bag and out the door.
         While I had my suspicions, and was not entirely surprised to learn that All Might is his father, I could not have predicted he would be so…
         Broken.
         Aaron is a strong and caring person, but he refuses to rely on others and rarely opens up about how he is truly feeling. It is why he pushes himself during his practices, and why Aria asks me to keep an eye on him. He has hardly, if ever, been careful about his personal health, although, I must admit I am not much better.
         But merely holding back is not as self-destructive as holding it in.
         ---
         School was not much better. We had to make our way through a massive crowd of reporters and journalists; fortunately, a little magic goes a long way when tampering with electronics. That was not the end to them, of course. During lunch, as I sat with Shouji and Tokoyami, there was an uproar.
         People began scrambling to escape the cafeteria as an emergency bell and warning rang. Rather than be jostled and shoved every which way, I took to the ceiling and spotted Aaron clinging to the wall.
         I glided towards him, and he pointed at the strikingly familiar mob of reporters swarming Aizawa and Present Mic. While obvious to us that they were the cause of the chaos, it took Iida spinning through the air and slamming into the wall above the entrance as he shouted to regain order and calm everyone.
         One good thing came of it, though, as Aaron seemed much more receptive. I do not think he will ever be the same after yesternight, but I do hope he decides his own fate. He has so much potential, and I know he can be so much more than just a figure skater (which is saying a lot, given his numerous accolades and offers).
         The path he chooses is up to him, and I will support him for as long as I can but, for now, I will simply remain at his side until he needs me.
         And until that time comes, I will-
         Prepare thyself, my little dragonling…
         A shiver ran down my spine as I trailed behind Aaron out of the cafeteria. We were making our way back to class before lunch ended, and there was nary another student in the halls, much less a female one with an ethereal voice that echoed in my fucking head.
         It probably was not best to unseal my Anima form. Unlike the splitting migraines caused by my Prudentia form, this one caused something a little more…strenuous, I suppose. It dulls my senses and makes me more susceptible to mind-altering effects, such as hypnosis and invasive telepathy. Fortunately, segmenting my magic like this reduces the damage done to my body.
         Of course, using my Quirk correctly and freely is the best option, but I…
         Let us just say that a time will come when I shall fight at my best and beyond, but until that day, I would prefer not to draw attention to myself. There is a reason my hero suit is an all-encompassing cloak.
         “Faian, can you drop my stuff off at mom’s later tonight? I forgot to bring it with me…” Aaron spoke, bringing me out of my thoughts.
         While he still had a wisp of exhaustion in his voice, he looked better. Answering with a simple nod, I gave him a small kiss on the forehead before bidding ‘farewell’ as we entered our respective classrooms.
         I hope you’re ready.
         As much as I wanted to ignore her voice, she is powerful. If she claims something is going to happen, I must keep attentive. Of course, she cannot be trusted, so it would be wise not to take it to heart.
         Paradoxical, no?
         Looking at the clock in the empty classroom, it read ’12:38’, still twelve minutes before the next period, which is hero training. I was hoping to get some rest, shifting out of my school uniform and pulling a container of saltwater from my bag when a few of my classmates returned. Downing it quickly, as my body requires it to stay physically nourished (much like how a regular person would need to drink plain water, but it also helps with my limited regeneration), I placed the bottle back in my bag as Yaoyorozu and Todoroki took their seats. Shouji and Tokoyami went to the back of the classroom near me and were joined by Asui.
         Tokoyami was the first to speak, asking “So, who did you vote for, Nadal? You didn’t receive any which means you didn’t vote for yourself.”
         “Were you the one vote Iida got? He did say he voted for someone else.” Asui chimed in.
         Nodding, I answered “Indeed. I have no desire to lead, and his suggestion of a democratic vote simply demanded my own. Truthfully, not voting for himself only cemented my support. A good leader realizes their people take precedence, not themselves.”
         “Yes, but, by that logic, you would also make a good leader.” Yaoyorozu claimed.
         Todoroki was quick to add “You appeared calm and rational in the recording All Might showed us yesterday, too. Not to mention you have more experience in hero work. Why else would our teachers trust you as their aid, Faian?”
         While there was some surprise that Todoroki used my first name, I did clarify that I do not use his, and that if any of the four of them wished, they may use it as well. After all, I do enjoy their company, even if it has only been a few days. Although, I did have to help on pronunciation (Fae-in, it means ‘being of/belonging to magic’).
         ---
         “If we’re pointing out the obvious then there’s something I wanna say… about you, actually.” Tsuyu said, her attention on Midoriya.
         I was seated beside Todoroki, who I believe is currently napping. I would do the same, but these classmates of mine sure are entertaining.
         Midoriya become flustered at the comparison to All Might but calmed when everyone began to talk about their own Quirks. I would not be surprised if he had a connection to All Might as personal as Aaron’s, especially if his Quirk is not his own; however, my thoughts were quickly interrupted as Kirishima began making comparisons.
         “Well, if any of our classmates have pro Quirks, it’s Todoroki and Bakugou. Nadal, too.”
         Tsuyu added, “Sure, but Bakugou’s always angry, so he’ll never be that popular. And we haven’t even seen Faian in actual action.”
         That certainly seemed to rile the Iratus Catella. He began to argue, but Kaminari soon pegged him as having an awful personality (his verbiage was a bit… lacking). Naturally, this only spurred him on.
         Fortunately, Aizawa reestablished some semblance of order as he told us we had reached our destination.
         As we stood, gathered in front of the massive structure towering over us, the Space Hero, Thirteen, greeted us. She, or is it he? They?
         Thirteen began to explain that they had created the facility before us ‘to deal with different types of disasters’. It was dubbed the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, USJ for short.
         While I was admiring the sheer volume of the USJ, the conversation between Aizawa and Thirteen definitely caught my attention, more so when my little clover seemed to understand what they had meant by All Might exhausting his power. This is turning out to be quite an interesting week.
         “Listen carefully.” Thirteen began. I’m sure you’re aware that I have a powerful Quirk. It’s called Black Hole. I can use it to suck up anything and turn it into dust.”
         After a few comments from the class (Midoriya) about how they’ve used their Quirk to save people, they continued. “That’s true, but my Quirk could also very easily be used to kill.”
         I take it back; the past twenty-four hours have been exceedingly exciting.
         “Some of you also have powers that can be dangerous. In our superhuman society, all Quirks are certified and stringently regulated so we often overlook how unsafe they can actually be. Please don’t forget that if you lose focus or make the wrong move, your powers can be deadly. Even is you’re trying to do something virtuous, like rescue someone.”
         They were right. While not as obvious in Japan, many other countries, including the States, suffer from a rather disproportionate percentage of villain attacks and Quirk misuse.
         “Thanks to Aizawa’s fitness tests, you have a solid idea of your Quirk’s potential. And because of All Might’s combat training and Nadal’s review, you likely experienced how dangerous your powers can be when used against other people. Carry those lessons over to this class. Today, you’re going to learn how to use your Quirks to save people’s lives.”
         It will be their own that they must save, my little dragonling…
         I tensed and readied myself for what may come as Thirteen continued to give their instruction.
         “You won’t be using your powers to attack enemies or each other, only to help. After all, that’s what being a hero is all about. Ensuring the safety of others. That’s all I have to say. Thank you so much for listening.”
         Many of my classmates gave a cheer before Aizawa began his part of the-
         Show me your will.
         Electricity crackled, and the fountain in the center of the USJ began to sputter before a misty spiral of black and purple spun into existence, warping the area.
         A portal. One that burst into the foreboding shapeless body of a person as villains spilled from its depths.
         “Stay together and don’t move!” Aizawa commanded. “Thirteen. Protect the students! Legend, on me!”
         Confusion spread over the class as Aizawa barked at them to ‘stay back’. I made my way to the front, my hood obscuring the upper half of my face.
         “This is real. Those are villains.”
         Two of the villains spoke, revealing that they infiltrated U.A. and were behind the press storming the campus. My concern only grew as they continued to speak.
         They came for All Might.
         They want Aaron’s father dead, and it appears as if they have prepared for this. If they believe they can face the strongest hero, as well as Eraser Head and Thirteen, then they cannot be trifled with.
         A man with grayish-blue hair was making the threats, and while his childlike demeanor and the numerous hands adorning his body definitely grave credence to his villainous intentions, he made a fatal mistake.
         He underestimated us.
         Admittedly, that would be more reassuring if the alarms were not being blocked and if my classmates would calm themselves.
         “Thirteen, get them outta here. And alert the main campus. Actually, if they’ve got the ability to block our sensors, then they might be jamming our regular communications, too.” Aizawa was on top of things, managing to keep himself and the others collected. “Kaminari, try using your Quirk to contact the school.”
         Midoriya quickly interjected, claiming Aizawa could not face so many villains on his own.
         “You can’t be a pro if you only have one trick. I’ll leave it to you, Thirteen. Legend, make sure no one makes it past the stairs.”
         With his final order, Eraser Head leapt from his position and confronted the assortment of villains. I gave a nod to Thirteen as I sauntered down the stairs. Extending my left to my side, I summoned six rapiers of swirling wind and lighting before launching them at the base of the steps, already blowing back and electrocuting several villains when they embedded themselves in the ground.
         Although, I did not have much to do. Eraser Head was effortlessly making his way through the villains, and I merely sat at the bottom of the steps, my blades preventing whatever villain thought they got passed him and could take on a kid.
         You’re slipping.
         She was right. With my attention on Eraser Head, and his own fixated on his next target, the misty warping villain had gotten past us. I took one of my blades and incapacitated a few villains with their backs turned near me before one countered me and knocked it out my grasp.
         Leaping into the air after and connecting my feet with the hilt, I kicked off it, rocketing back up the stairs as the blade shot back at the villain, piercing through the earth in front of them before letting off a small tempest.
         Summoning a great Zweihänder in my right, I prepared myself to face the villain, but he was much too ready. Creating a swirling dome of mist, he ensnared most of the class and Thirteen, and opened a portal directly in front of me. Unable to slow down or dodge it, I turned to try and see if another would open as my exit point.
         I was sent hurtling into the fountain, destroying it and momentarily losing consciousness from the impact. It was for a moment, but enough to dispel my constructs and undo the seal hiding my natural form.
         Thankfully, my cloak was made specifically to accommodate any transformations (mainly just my natural form; Prudentia and Anima were a later experiment and are not as drastic). Figuring most everyone else was teleported, I deemed it best to aid Eraser Head more directly. I should save my magic and take advantage of my physical prowess.
         ___
I, surprisingly, had a great deal of fun writing this chapter. I cannot wait to share the next part!
Also, for those who celebrate Thanksgiving (being Native American and European, I definitely do), have a wondrous time! For those of you who do not, all the better for getting in those Black Friday lines sooner.
Beta Reader, Editor, and Co-Author- @i-am-here-with-fanfic
6 notes · View notes
faean · 4 years
Text
Adamance of a Dragon
Collaborator: @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
Rating: T; I am too tired for this.
Word Length: 2,138
Chapter 7: So, It Begins
Author’s Note: Terribly sorry about the delay and apparent inactivity. It has been a... curious few months. Fortunately, I am back. And I intend on staying, my filthy heathens.
                                                       _________                                                      
           “Amazing… I’ve never seen a Quirk like yours so up close. I mean, I’ve seen some heroes who have Quirks that allow them to use magic or have mythological references but they’re usually vigilantes and most of them happen to be European or in the Americas due to the media coverage although there’s the Dragoon Hero but-”
           “Deku, you’re muttering again. It’s honestly kinda creepy.” Uraraka mentioned as we ate our lunches.
           My little clover was quite the adept interviewer; he had been asking me questions about my Quirk every chance he got since the deal we made before homeroom. My interest was piqued when I suggested an equal trade of knowledge regarding our Quirks and that seemed to rattle him as he began spewing excuses. It was…
           Curious.
           Instead, we settled on my answering any question he asked me regarding my Quirk within a twelve-hour time period and, in exchange, I was allowed to read through all thirteen notebooks of his. My little clover was ecstatic, especially when he learned of how the trade works. While his questions were open and any one can understand them, my answers could be heard by Midoriya Izuku alone; to anyone else it was as though I did not say a word.
           A similar effect would happen when my little clover recorded my answers in his notebook. Were Uraraka and Iida to attempt to look over at his journal and ‘sneak a peek’, all they would see were strange scribbles; however, it appeared as his own writing to Midoriya. He was indeed free to share that information if he desired, and the writing would become clear to those who know of my Quirk, like Aaron.
           Also, I did have to revert to my natural form to make the deal and stay in it for as long as our deal lasts, which startled a few of our classmates. Many of their reactions were warranted, although being referred to as a ‘winged devil’ by Mineta was a phrase I…have become accustomed to, as unfortunate as that may be; however, there were a few compliments, which was… Well, it was certainly welcome, to be honest. Praise was not given lightly back in the college, and I was expected to perform exceptionally in spite of my young age.
           Especially because of my age.
           Either way, I had handled the comments by my classmates quite well. Assuming my backing into a corner and trying to quell the stream of questions aimed towards my appearance as I tried not to knock anything or anyone over with my wings and tail counts as ‘handled well’. Fortunately, Aizawa arrived and ordered us to get into our seats.
           “I think that covers everything…” My little clover trailed off as he looked at the filled pages.
           “Of course. I shall-”
           “Oh!” My little clover exclaimed. “I completely forgot to ask about the magic part of your Quirk; I spent all my time on your Quirk mutations and draconic abilities! Magic type Quirks are already rare, but to have one with your dragon Quirk is crazy! What sort of magic are you capable of using? Or do you have your favorite types that are better suited for certain conditions? And what sort of energy do you use to power it? Is it life energy, or mana, or do you have something-?”
           Iida quickly cut Midoriya off, trying to establish some sense of order as he rambled query after query, not giving me a moment to respond. “Midoriya, please. I’m certain you have many more questions, but Nadal does need some time in between each to give you an adequate answer.”
           “Several things: Firstly, Iida, while I do appreciate and understand your intentions, do not ever speak on my behalf. As for the questions, our deal was that I would answer every question Midoriya has until 7:52 tonight, so long as it pertains to my Quirk. Unfortunately, I am afraid we will have to continue another time, Midoriya.”
           With that, I took my leave, much to the confusion of the trio; I had a few different errands to run before lunch ended.
           I deposited a small note in Aaron’s locker to notify him that I will pick him up after school by the main gate.
           I stopped by the principal’s office to drop off my application for work-study.
           Finally, I…
           There was a small rune etched into the door to the 1-A classroom. It was the Celtic symbol for ‘vital fire’ and ‘fate’, “Nyd”. It was jarring to see her call sign here. Of course, while incredibly important to me, it was just that.
           Important to me.
           With a simple snap of my fingers, the rune disappeared, and I entered the empty classroom with a single thought in mind, ‘Soon…’
                                                       _________                                                      
           “Oh, gods no.” I muttered as All Might proceeded with the lesson.
           We were all dressed in our hero costumes in preparation for the first lesson in hero training. Of course, as we were exiting the classroom with our costumes, All Might requested I ‘hang back for a moment.’ As with Aizawa during the apprehension test, I received different instructions. Rather than participate in the ‘Battle Trials’, I would offer insight on every match, helping to mark my classmates and provide advice on how they could better themselves in future lessons.
           No doubt making use of my previous experience in hero work, as well as the fact that I may or may not be less than keen on cooperation.
           “Now then! Before we begin with the first trial, I’d like to show you noobies a recording of a similar exercise to give you an idea on what is expected of you! I’m certain you may recognize at least one of the students in it!” All Might’s voice boomed as he played the recording I dreaded.
           It was of a simple training exercise the principal had me undergo in autumn last year with some of the second-year hero students. Honestly, I do not recall their names as readily as I should. Even with the recording, all I could remember was the odd trio of blond, periwinkle, and indigo hair.
           There was nothing spectacular about the mock battle, considering the second years had just recently gotten their provisional licenses and had barely begun training similar to what I had experienced. Our two opponents had a fighting style that heavily relied on melee combat while my ally for the match was long range, and my preference for mid-to-long range battle gave us the upper hand.
           Once the recording ended, All Might began the trials, and I began my analysis...
           After reprimanding him for being so careless with the first trial. Not even the most grizzled of professors back in the States would ever be so careless with their students; however, U.A. and Japan are vastly different from the college and America.
           The trials went by rather quickly, and some of my classmates attempted to converse with me. Admittedly, I did enjoy the company.
           Yaoyorozu was amiable and our shared insight was praised by All Might.
           Shouji was fairly interested in some of my abilities that were shown in the video, and Tokoyami was fascinated (enthralled?) by my navy and crimson wings, and the four horns sprouting from my head. Although, he did mistake my scales for being black.
           As usual, Todoroki was distant, but he did compliment my costume. He may have regretted it, though, as I immediately had to stifle a laugh when I first saw his.
           Asui was also rather friendly, and she was much more understanding about my reservations. We were even touted as ‘Blank Stare Pair’ given our base facial expression.
           I did not enjoy the company of Kaminari nor Kirishima; they were much to boisterous and handsy for my liking. Obviously, Mineta was less than respectable. And may or may not have a bruise on the back of his head after his blatant ogling of several of the female members of the class.
           In short, a fairly enjoyable afternoon. Of course, it did not last. Bakugou essentially threw a tantrum and barged out of the classroom some time after we finished the trials. As if on cue, Midoriya arrived from Recovery Girl’s office and then confronted Bakugou outside. It appeared to be a personal dilemma, so I avoided listening to their conversation as best I could. Until Midoriya confessed he obtained his Quirk from someone else.
           While it did pique my curiosity quite a bit, my attention remained elsewhere. I still have no idea why Aria requested I fly Aaron home and stay. Nor did I forget about the message from her, and what it entails.
           This is certainly turning out to be an intriguing day.
                                                       _________                                                      
           “Who… who is my dad?” 
           Aria looked down at her feet, trying to find her words. Finally meeting Aaron’s gaze, she answered the question he seemingly longed for. “Aaron… Your father… His name is Toshinori Yagi, better known as the Symbol of Peace- All Might.”
           I had to catch Aaron, his knees buckling from the revelation of his parentage. I helped him to the table, and Aria quickly embraced him, crying into his shoulder. After taking a few moments to fully comprehend the situation at hand, I heaved a long sigh as I realized what I must do.
           “I am not one for speaking when it is not desired, but I cannot, and shall not, lose another family. Mother, you clearly know you have done something awful, that alone is admirable, and you have spent so many years trying to right that wrong. It shows. I do not think Aaron would have wanted to model himself after you if you did not atone for your sin.” 
           My arms were open, and my lips donned a small, soft smile. Aria slowly stood up, her hand resting on Aaron’s shoulder for a few seconds before she leaned into my embrace, her head resting against my chest. I looked at Aaron, who stared blankly at the table.
           “Brother. I do not pretend to know what you must be going through. My parents may have been heroes, and my great grandmother instrumental in normalizing Quirks; however, your father is a symbol. That is not to be taken lightly, but please understand that you do not need to follow in his footsteps. I think Mum has made that clear over the years.” 
           Soon, Aaron joined us in the hug, and we remained that way for some time.
           “No matter what stories we may weave, or the tales we may spin, there is no fathomable way to avoid the truth. We must accept it, and while it may render us apart, it is only temporary. We are indomitable, and we will continue to grow and learn and better ourselves in ways we cannot begin to imagine. I have no doubt that we will have our share of disagreements but know this- For so long as my heart beats, it beats for the two of you.” 
           I had no more words to say, and I did not need to say anything else. Once we had the time to compose ourselves, I suggested Aaron spend the night with me. He would need some time away to figure stuff out. Aria agreed and went to go pack a bag for him, and I finished the brownies she asked me to make, leaving some for her as I put the rest in a parcel for Aaron and me.
           After finishing packing for him, Aria drove us to my house, saying goodbye and that she will pick him after school the next day. As we entered my house, Aaron spoke for the first time since learning about his father.
           “I forgot to tell her I love her…” 
           “Aaron…” 
           “Do you think she loved him? I mean, really loved him. She’s a huge fan, but I… I don’t know…” 
           I gave him another hug to reassure him that all will be well. Leading him upstairs to the guest bedroom, I suggested he bathe before getting some sleep. Planting a small kiss on his forehead and wishing him a ‘pleasant night’, I left him to his thoughts.
           Retreating to my bedroom, I showered and changed into my sweats and long sleeve. Once I was certain that Aaron was asleep, I made my way to the study. As I entered the room, my eyes scanned across the bookshelves burdened with books and mementos. I stood underneath the projector that hung from the ceiling, steadying my breath and focusing intently, my eyes tightly closed.
           A large magic circle came to life beneath my feet, slowly spinning and casting an ethereal glow of gold and silver throughout the room as my eyes shone with raw magical energy.
           Unbeknownst to me, neither Aaron, Aria, nor myself got any sleep tonight.
                                                       _________                                                      
Beta Reader, Collaborator, Owner of Aria and Aaron Granchester, and Creator of The Illegitimate Son storyline- @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
All right, again, I do apologize for the hastiness of this chapter, and my, well, procrastination; however, I do intend on staying active, and fulfilling requests once more. While I will start updating this story with @i-am-here-with-fanfic every other week, starting the 22nd, I will complete one request every week.
With that said... Enjoy, my filthy heathens!
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faean · 5 years
Text
Adamance of a Dragon
Collaborator: @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
Rating: T+; Mild Language
Word Length: 3,276
Chapter 6- First Day Jitters
           First day of school! I still cannot believe I convinced Aaron to leave this early in the morning so we could arrive at our classes before most everyone else. I also just wanted to spend more time out of the house after being stuck inside for the last two weeks of March having to fight my heat. The train station was still fairly busy, but there certainly were fewer people.
           Eating a breakfast burrito to pass the time as I waited for Aaron, I received a good morning text from Todoroki. After learning a bit more about his childhood from his sister over the past month, I began to cherish these small efforts by him far more. Even with the loss of my family, I had Aaron and Aria by my side. I simply cannot fathom feeling so lonely for so long with one’s family so close by. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I tried to push the thoughts out of my head. Dwelling on them any longer would likely result in my holding a grudge against Endeavor, and I do not wish to choose sides unless absolutely necessary.
           “Hey, Faian. You ready to go?”
           I must have been quite engrossed in my thoughts to not notice when Aaron arrived. With a simple nod, we began our trek to U.A.
           Casting a side-glance at Aaron, I saw the odd look on his face. I could even smell stress sweat through his deodorant, though, I did not need my draconic senses to do so.
           “Nervous, little flame?”
           “A bit. It’s just the pressure of going to such a well-known school. It’ll pass. Hopefully.”
           It did not take long to arrive, and we had three quarters of an hour before class even began. First stopping at Aaron’s shoe locker so he could switch his footwear (I kept my moccasins on, and wore my jacket draped over my shoulders/school uniform), we continued through the school, looking for our classes and generally just exploring.
           Until Aaron decided to head to class early, wanting some time to gather his nerves. Bidding him farewell, I decided to do the same and wait for class to start. While in class.
           Yeah.
           ‘Oh gods, I am a mess’ was the first thing to pass through my mind as I entered through the massive door. Although, any thoughts of anxiety were dashed when I noticed just how peculiarly the school made their accommodations for having an extra student enrolled. There was literally just an extra desk in the row furthest from the door, and it looked incredibly out of place.
           I mean, could they not have just centered it? Or changed the lay out? Schools back in the States easily accommodated over 30 students in a single class room; at least, that is what Aaron told me, considering I have not been inside a class room in nearly five years.
           Shrugging, as there was little point in continuing this line of thought, I took my seat in the back corner, feeling a bit like some sort of protagonist. Although, I would probably be more of an anti-hero than anything. Perhaps my time in this course will change that. Then again, that would require altering my very nature as a dragon.
           Ah, well. I doubt that will come into focus any time soon.
           Crossing my arms on my desk and resting my chin on them, I took note of the students who gradually filled the room. Some were rather, well, vivid. I suppose being a hero does require a certain energy and amount of extravagance, but some of these characters were a tad over the top.
           Fortunately, I was able to avoid much of the ruckus they caused and greeted Todoroki when he arrived; however, the young lass who sat ahead of me was kind enough to introduce herself.
           She had a lovely voice and carried herself with an aura of confidence. Her luscious black hair and warm onyx eyes, along with the sweet smile on her lips also painted her with a caring attitude.
           “I’m Yaoyorozu Momo, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
           “Nadal Faian. I apologize if I sound formal or my Japanese is a bit odd. I am originally from the States; California to be precise.” I answered after she bowed, bowing my head in response.
           “That explains the extra desk. U.A is known for accepting only a certain number of students. You must be pretty special for them to make an exception.”
           A small blush dusted my cheeks at the compliment. I nodded sheepishly, unsure of how to respond. Thankfully, I did not have to as a green-haired male entered the room, causing a stir that drew the attention of many of the students, including myself and Yaoyorozu. Admittedly, with all the noise, I could not discern who said what, nor what was even said until a familiar tired voice cut through the commotion (I may have also not been paying attention until said voice).
           “If you’re just here to make friends then you can pack up your stuff now.”
           Being so far in the back, I could not see who was speaking (I had an idea), but he continued.
           “Welcome to U.A.’s hero course … It took eight seconds before you all shut up. That’s not gonna work. Time is precious. Logical students would understand that.”
           By now I could confirm who was speaking. Aizawa Shouta, a fairly tall male with messy black hair in a black outfit, a scarf resting atop his shoulders and a sleeping bag(?) in his grasp. “Hello, I am Aizawa Shouta, your homeroom teacher.”
           His introduction shocked the trio in the front, and several other students in the room; however, he remained unfazed and continued speaking. “Right, let’s get to it. Put these on and head outside.”
           He pulled what looked like a physical education uniform out of his sleeping bag (I am curious as to why he had it in there of all places). No questions were asked, though, as everyone followed his instructions.
           I was the first on the field we were to meet at, having forgone changing in the locker room in favor of simply shifting my current outfit into the new uniform (still had to place the new uniform in my locker to do so). It had earned me a few glances but, to be fair, I did look a bit off with the subtle mutations from my quirk in the first place. Aaron had once described the feeling as entering a room where everything was moved a couple inches in one direction and knowing something was off, but not being able to tell what it was.
           While I was still the only one present, Aizawa had approached me and asked (it was more of an order) if I could aid in the upcoming exercise, leaving out exactly what it was I would be helping with.
           I agreed.
           Once the rest of the students had gathered, Aizawa announced that we would be partaking in a quirk assessment test, which led to several students to repeat the words in confusion. A brunette, whom I recognized as Uraraka, the girl I had tied with, also asked about orientation, exclaiming that we would be missing it by taking this test.
           Not bothering to look at the other students, Aizawa stated “if you really wanna make the big leagues, you can’t waste time on pointless ceremonies.” Several students gasped at his bluntness before he continued. “Here at U.A., we’re not tethered to traditions. That means I get to run my class however I see fit.”
           More gasps.
           “You’ve been taking standardized tests most of your lives. But you never got to use your Quirks in physical exams before. The country’s still trying to pretend we’re all created equal by not letting those with the most power excel. It’s not logical. One day, the ministry of Education will learn.”
           Turning to face the students, his attention landing on one in particular, our teacher kept up his lecture. “Bakugou, you managed to get the most points on the entrance exam. What was your farthest distance throw with a softball when you were in Junior High?”
           All eyes were trained on Bakugou as he answered. “Sixty-seven meters, I think.”
           ‘Thank gods I excel in mathematics, otherwise the metric system would have screwed me during the move,’ I thought before Aizawa requested Bakugou to throw the ball using his Quirk. Having been in a different area than him during the entrance exam, I knew naught of his Quirk, nor the applications of it. My lack of knowledge piqued my interest as I watched intently (although, the thought of being needed for something still lingered in my mind).
           Standing in the circle, Aizawa told him that he can do anything with his Quirk, so long as he remained within the circle; followed by him berating Bakugou for wasting time (it had only been a few seconds!). Although, it did not phase the ashen blond one bit, his nonchalant response serving as evidence.
           However, I was rather baffled when he loudly growled ‘Die’ and launched the ball with what appeared to be an explosion.
           While the ball was still soaring through the air, Aizawa plainly said, “all of you need to know your maximum capabilities,” pausing to let the ball hit the ground, he faced the rest of the students, revealing the impressive distance of 705.2 meters on his phone (I think it was his phone) while he continued to say, “it’s the most logical way of figuring out your potential as a pro hero.”
           Hear that? Even more gasping.
           After the initial shock wore off, many students began to voice their excitement about being able to use their abilities; however, our teacher was quick to silence them.
           “So, this looks fun, huh? (By the gods, gasping again?!) You have three years here to become a hero. You think it’s all gonna be games and play time? Idiots. Today you’ll compete in eight physical tests to gauge your potential, with Nadal here,” he gestured to me briefly, “demonstrating each test and setting the bar you should aim to surpass; without using his Quirk. Whoever comes in last has no potential and will be expelled immediately.”
           Two things. First, I now realize that it was Aizawa who expelled an entire class, once upon a time. Second, I cannot believe he is using me as the control. Well, actually, I can. After all, he was the teacher I had to meet with to fill out the paperwork for my enrollment (alongside the principal). Still, it would have been nice to have received a warning, especially with some of my classmates now murmuring about me (it did not help that I could hear everything, fully attentive this time around).
           After reminding us that he gets to run this class as he sees fit and telling us to just leave if we have a problem with it, Aizawa received several complaints. Specifically, from Uraraka, who passionately believed the threat of expulsion to be unfair and question his ruling.
           Once again establishing why we are here at U.A., our teacher answered with a string of scenarios. “Oh, and you think natural disasters are? Or power-hungry villains? Hm? Or catastrophic accidents that wipe out whole cities? No, the world if full of unfairness. It’s a hero’s job to try to combat that unfairness. If you wanna be a pro, you’re gonna have to push yourself to the brink. For the next three years, U.A. will throw one terrible hardship after another at you. So, go beyond. Plus Ultra-style.”
           Aizawa held a look of contempt on his face, challenging the students with a beckoning motion of his hand. Also…
           More god damn gasping.
           With that said, we began the tests. The first test we took (and the first for me to demonstrate), was the 50 meter dash. Complying with the parameters set by my teacher for me, I traversed the distance without using my Quirk. This earned me a total time of 3.51 seconds and was the goal the other students were supposed to pass (which was done by the male with mufflers in his calves, whom I learned was named Iida Tenya).
           We continued this pattern throughout all eight tests, with some of the students capable of matching my base numbers and even surpassing them. My results for the remaining seven tests were…
           Grip Strength- 453 kilograms.
           Standing Long Jump- Cleared.
           Sustained Sideways Jump- I do not recall; I sort of got distracted.
           Ball Throw- 1,327 meters.
           And the last three were only regular old fitness tests, not exactly worth mentioning. Admittedly, it was indeed unfair for me to act as the control since my body is naturally superhuman in order for it to withstand my Quirk. Also, I am certain Aizawa knew this from our previous meetings and exploited it; as if threatening expulsion was not enough motivation.
           Especially when the small green-et was singled out by Aizawa during the ball thrown. His Quirk was self-destructive but, I must admit, I took a liking to him. I remember just how much my own Quirk would break down my body until I began channeling it properly. Even his minor speech was rousing, and I could not prevent myself from helping relieve some of the pain of his broken finger (I made a splint using some earth magic).
           And I was not the only one with an interest in him. At some point during these tests, I noticed All Might (of all people) watching from around a corner. He was quite enthralled by Midoriya Izuku, and his obvious excitement during his ball throw reminded me that Aaron and I saw him training Midoriya.
           Aside from those few things, and Bakugou nearly assaulting Midoriya, the assessment had come to a close with out much issue. Aizawa displayed our overall standing, not bothering to go over individual scores, as well as admitting that his threat of expulsion was no more than a ‘logical ruse’. Or a ‘rational deception’, I am not sure which (I still have some trouble translating back and forth). Fortunately, Yaoyorozu figured that out and, hopefully, a few other students did.
           I would expect nothing less; however, of the girl who was one of two people who beat the base line average Aizawa had me set (Todoroki was the other, of course). With that, most of us went back to class, with the exception for Midoriya, who had to head to Recovery Girl’s office.
           The rest of the day was uneventful, well, until I was awaiting Aaron after school.
           “Oi! Cat eyes!”
           Sighing, I turned towards the owner of the raucous voice, Bakugou Katsuki, to answer. “Ello, Bakugou. How may I be of assistance?”
           Stormy eyes glared into mine as I stood stooped before the shorter male, my expression maintaining its natural disinterest.
           “You can tell me how the hell a damn extra like you pulled off those stunts without a Quirk! Did Aizawa have you cheat to make us look bad?” The edge in his voice and sparking of his palms would have been intimidating if he was, well, intimidating.
           “Ah, dear Bakugou, there is no need for you to fret. Aizawa merely wished for me to provide more competition. As for how I accomplished such feats,” I took a step closer, a mischievous grin dancing across my lips as I honeyed my words, “such knowledge requires an equal trade, Iratus Catella.”
           With that, I strolled back towards the school, leaving the ‘angry puppy’ behind to contemplate what I told him; however, I was not paying much attention to my surroundings as I was focused on finding Aaron. As a result, I knocked into someone. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around the person and spun so they would land on me (it happened a lot when Aaron and I were kids).
           “What luck you must have,” slipped my mouth as I smiled lazily on the ground.
           Noticing the ruffled emerald hair tickling my chin, I realize it was Midoriya who I rushed into it. I also remembered that he had broken his finger during the assessment test, and I grew worried I may have damaged it further. After all, such a small yet defiant young lad requires-
           ‘Oh, my gods, he is adorable!’, was what shot through my mind as he pushed himself up, the warm light of the afternoon sun cascading over-
           ‘Why the hell must it be so bright?’, was the second thought that went through my mind as Midoriya became ridiculously flustered and scrambled off of me, apologizing profusely as three other students -Iida, Uraraka, and Aaron- approached us, asking if we were ‘okay’.
           “I am quite all right, thank you. I am more concerned with the little clover. I do hope I did not aggravate your finger,” I say, sitting up and crossing my legs.
           “Oh, no! It’s completely fine, I mean, I should’ve been looking where I was going and if you didn’t catch me, I probably would’ve needed to head back to the nurse and it would have been super embarrassing to go back so soon after already breaking my finger!” He finally took a breath and started to calm down, asking if I needed a hand.
           Picking my jacket off the ground and shifting my uniform into my regular outfit, I stood without assistance, thanking Midoriya for the offer as he, Iida, and Uraraka held a look of mild confusion.
           Iida was the first to speak, asking “May I inquire as to what your Quirk is? It must be quite powerful if our teacher recognizes your strength.”
           “That’s right! Aizawa had you set the bar for everyone. Didn’t he have you do it without your Quirk, too?” Uraraka followed.
           “I suppose it would be best for me to share. The name bestowed upon my Quirk is ‘Draconico Vitae’, better known as Dragon of Life,” I gestured to a few of my noticeable draconic features. “Simply put, I am capable of anything a dragon of my kind is, including having the ability to perform powerful elemental magic. As a result, my natural capabilities as a human are far greater than the average person; otherwise, I would not have survived the backlash of my Quirk.”
           “Physical traits and abilities aside, Faian also shares the same nature as a dragon. He hoards knowledge and anything of importance, is inclined to disinterest, and tends to be lazy,” Aaron added.
           Iida and Uraraka were impressed, while Midoriya was ceaselessly scribbling in a damaged journal. Being much taller, I could see that he was taking notes on my Quirk, as well as sketching several of my traits and jotting down possible fighting styles. Admittedly, his mumbling was much more interesting, but he was speaking so fast I was unable to understand most of it.
           “You know, I would be willing to share more on my Quirk, for a price.”
           However, Aaron was quick to remind me of the time, stating “Faian, now is not the time for you to make trades. I’m certain they want to know more about your Quirk, but we need to get going. You did order a bunch of new furniture that was supposed to come in today.”
           “My Victorian-era furniture! We need to get to my house before the delivery truck, otherwise they may skip it and I shall lose my payment!”
           “You wasted a lot of time not using contractions.”
           After casting a playful glare towards Aaron, I bid farewell to our new friends. Picking Aaron up bridal-style, I unfurled my wings and took off towards my house. 
Beta Reader, Collaborator, Owner of Aria and Aaron Granchester, and Creator of the Illegitimate Son storyline- @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
PS- Check out her tumblr and SPAM it.
7 notes · View notes
faean · 5 years
Text
Adamance of a Dragon
Made in collaboration with @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
Rating: T+; This chapter is actually pretty tame.
Word Length: 1,971
Chapter 2- Friendly Uh... Friends?
           The heterochromatic male (slightly) waved his free hand reassuringly, the other holding a bag of, presumably, groceries as he spoke. “It’s all right, it was my fault for not paying attention.” His voice was steady and calm, but he sounded disinterested, stating everything. “As long as you aren’t like those girls who ‘accidentally’ bump into me, you are forgiven.”
           I had noticed that Aaron had a slight blush, likely out of secondhand embarrassment, as the stranger gave his apology. However, I was intrigued and what he had meant about others bumping into him intentionally.
           “Truly, do others do that? How peculiar must one be for one to purposely act so childishly…?” I inquire, cocking my head and trilling in curiosity.
           He nods, scrunching his brows in confusion at the sound I made, if only for a second. “The girls attempt to flirt with me, and I am left no choice but to be rude to get them to stop; one can lead to a group very quickly.” He sighs as he finishes, a tired look in his eyes.
           In the few moments the three of us had spoken, I realized that we were standing near a grocery store, which confirmed my suspicions as to what was in the other male’s bag. He had admitted that he may be to blame as he believed he could be clumsy, and Aaron joined in.
           After apologizing for interrupting, he added, “You shouldn’t feel bad about being clumsy, I sometimes bump into old ladies.” A sheepish grin spread across Aaron’s face as he spoke, and the corners of the other male’s lips turned up ever so slightly.
           With our initial conversation now done, Aaron began introductions (which slipped my mind, embarrassingly enough). Extending his hand, he kindly began. “I’m Aar-… Right, I’m Granchester Aaron, and this is my best friend, Nadal Faian. We recently moved here from the States.”
           “Todoroki Shouto. Welcome to Musutafu.” Todoroki plainly said, shaking our hands in turn. “Are you two planning on taking the U.A. entrance exam?”
           Nodding, Aaron answered quite excitedly. “Yep! I’m hoping to get into the general course, since my quirk isn’t really flashy. Faian’s taking it out of curiosity and for extra training. He got in on recommendation.”
           A wide grin spread across my face as I confirmed Aaron’s statement. Unfortunately, evening fell, and the sun began to disappear behind the towering structures of the city. Checking the time, Aaron realized he had to head home as Aria needs him to help with dinner. Saying our goodbyes, he began the walk to the station to take a train home. With Todoroki and I left alone, I offered to help him carry the groceries, considering I had little else to do.
           “It’s alright, Nadal, I just got some ingredients to make soba. You’re welcome to join me; my sister won’t be home for some time and… I could use the company.” He spoke genuinely, despite his lack of expression. Guess I was getting through to him.
           I accepted the offer and we began walking, presumably to his house. Along the way, he asked me about my quirk, and I must admit, I may have been overexcited and began rambling. His stoic expression only offered the slightest hints of expression, usually a slight eyebrow raise in question or a small nod in acknowledgment. His interest was piqued (I think) when I began to explain how I could channel magic through my body; although I wasn’t able to share the more intimate knowledge of my quirk, mostly just secrets I can only share with those part of my hoard (it’s part of my dragon nature).
           By the time I finally reeled myself and stopped, we had arrived at his house. Inviting me inside, I followed closely behind him, somewhat awkwardly as the house was… Well, it was comfortable, and his family certainly must be wealthy from how well furnished everything was, but it didn’t feel like a home. I had to suppress some of my draconic senses from the overwhelming stench of frustration, like it was from a middle-aged man undergoing a midlife crisis.
           Fortunately, Todoroki took no notice of my initial recoil. He led me into the kitchen, and I had to restrain myself from fawning over the set-up. It wasn’t a dream kitchen, but I was jealous, nonetheless. Once in the kitchen, Todoroki began setting out the ingredients he had bought, and started a conversation.
           “Your quirk is quite fascinating, Nadal, but I would advise you to keep from rambling to just anyone. You never know who would try to use it against you, whether they’re capable of it or not.”
           I flashed a small smile as I responded. “Thank you, Todoroki, but I have had my fair share of scuffles back in the States. Also, are you certain it is not of any trouble for me to dine with you? I do not wish to impose, especially with how brief we have known each other.”
           “Don’t worry, you’re what I can consider… a friend. Normally people would treat me differently, but not you or Granchester. The two of you were kind, and for that, I thank you.” He turned towards me amidst his sorting and had the faintest of smiles.
           A small blush dusted my cheeks from his calling me a friend. I could not help but smile widely, and I started to purr slightly. Attempting to keep the conversation going, I inquired about his family, but instantly regretted it. Todoroki tensed, his eyes burning with hate and a look of disgust upon his face. I profusely apologized, saying it wasn’t in my place to ask and that I would do what I must to make it up to him.
           He just shook his head, hesitantly speaking. “No… It’s okay, you didn’t know. My old man is the #2 Pro Hero, Endeavor.” He turned back towards his soba and began preparing it, chopping vegetables and mixing the sauce to accompany it. “I’d rather not continue talking about him. It’d just add to his ego.” Every word he spoke about his father was laced with venom.
           I looked down, saddened by the trouble I caused. Wanting to make things better, I moved to help Todoroki in the kitchen, careful not mess up any of his appliances.
           “If I may ask, what is your quirk? You do not have to answer if I am overstepping my bounds.” I spoke softly, hoping to keep from upsetting him again.
           “Most people call it Half-Cold, Half-Hot. I can create fire and ice, but I prefer to fight with ice.” He answered, his tense posture gradually melting away. “It’s pretty strong, and it’s how I got into U.A on recommendations. Although, I won’t be taking the exam for practice, like you are.”
           My attention shifted from the pot on the stove to Todoroki at the reveal of the name of his quirk. “Was that the best name for it? I suppose naming quirks would follow a different pattern than back in the States. Sometimes, we rename our quirk when we get our license to make it official, as opposed to whatever it was dubbed when we were younger. At least, where I grew up that is what we did. The name is often symbolic and has a deeper meaning.”
           Todoroki did the same as I had when I implied I had a hero license, turning towards me with a quizzical look. “You already have your license?”
           “Well, I took a load of advanced courses and special programs, with the help of Aaron’s mom, and I was able to join an agency that supported gifted individuals; whether they had quirks or not. As long as I operated near other heroes, or was paired with someone else in the agency, I was allowed my license.” I began to finish making the soba as Todoroki started getting out dishes to set the table.
           Continuing with my longwinded tale… “However, after moving, many of the programs I participated in had no equivalent in Japan, and my license was temporarily suspended. I can still invoke it in emergencies, but as far as most are concerned, I am just another regular citizen; hence my application to U.A.”
           With my explanation now done, the soba was soon to follow. I helped with plating the dish, and Todoroki and I moved to the table. Unfortunately, my hand brushed against the stove, and it went haywire. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I gave a quick apology to Todoroki. I was able to fix it, having dealt with my magic interfering with machinery before.
           That minor inconvenience now behind us, we made our way to the table, and I mirrored Todoroki’s actions, trying to hide the fact that I was not versed in the different culture. I was also silently reprimanding myself for not taking the time to practice and learn, like Aaron had. Unfortunately, he took notice. Fortunately, he taught me how to properly sit and other normal conventions for a meal.
           Enjoying the cold soba, Todoroki continued sharing on the different traditions and appropriate behaviors for residents in Japan. Thankfully, most mannerisms were rather similar, and as Musutafu is home to the top hero academy, I had no need to hide my quirk mutations if need be. Although, it would still be some time until I do so voluntarily.
           We continued talking, finishing the snack and washing the dishes. I had only known Todoroki for a couple hours and I honestly quite liked him. We had even planned a training day together before the exam.
           Speaking of training, I had to get home and plan some activities for Aaron so he could improve his quirk. As Todoroki walked me out, his sister (I assumed, correctly) was just arriving from work.
           Bearing a small smile, Todoroki greeted his sister. “Welcome back, Fuyumi. This is my new friend, Nadal Faian. He recently moved here from the States.”
           His sister was kind, her smile warm and almost motherly. “Hello Nadal, I’m Shouto’s older sister, Todoroki Fuyumi. It’s nice to meet a friend of his.”
           Todoroki appeared more physically relaxed with his sister here. To be fair, I also felt more relaxed, and I wished I could stay a little longer, but I had to get home. And I did have to finish settling in, considering I had not fully furnished my new house. Oh, and I was supposed to train with Aaron tomorrow. And got to the store. And… Oh gods, I have so much to do in just two weeks.
           “I was just walking Nadal out, he said he needed to get home.” Todoroki’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
           His sister looked slightly disappointed. “Aw, and I had just got here. Well, next time tell me when you bring someone over, silly. I’d love to know more about your friends.” She playfully hit him on the shoulder with a textbook (I suppose she’s a teacher). Turning towards me, she continued, “I’m sad to see you go, Nadal. My brother seems genuinely happy to have you over. Feel free to visit again.” Her warm smile never once faltered.
           “Of course, thank you for the offer.” I step out the door, waving goodbye. “Farewell, I had lovely time! Until the exam!”
           With that, I walked towards the street, unsealing and unfurling my wings to take flight. As I was soaring the sky, I began thinking out loud. “Ah, I certainly had a wondrous time. I should tell Aaron, he would be delighted to know I was no longer fumbling about, socially speaking.”
           I landed in my backyard, entering my house and stretching as I made my way to my bedroom. Sitting at my desk, I get to work for tomorrow.
           “I hope Aaron will be ready. This is going to be fun.”
Second chapter now complete. I was supposed to post Tuesday, but I am nearing finals and am being swamped in work. I will try to update this coming Tuesday.
Beta Reader, Collaborator, Owner of Aria and Aaron Granchester, and Creator of the Illegitimate Son storyline- @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
PS- Requests will remain open for a few more days. If my quota is not reached, well... @yarabi99 knows what happens when I am left to my devices.
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faean · 5 years
Text
I was left unsupervised...
So, I got bored, and figured that with all the BNHA content on my blog, I might as well jump to that universe and see how my magic adapts to it. 
This happened.
Full Name: Faian Nadal
Gender: Male
Age: 15 (when attending U.A); 25 (as a Pro hero)
Height: 6’ 0”; 6’ 3”
Quirk: Dragon Will- Has the characteristics/abilities of a dragon, such as enhanced senses and reflexes; fangs and claws; a tail and wings; and access to powerful elemental magic. Many of the physical traits are passive/always in effect but are suppressed when recovering. Overuse of the magic breaks down the body, much like cracks on porcelain, and these cracks radiate from specific parts of the body and cause immense stress/pain when aggravated. Recovers from the affliction over time.
Description: Due to draconic traits, is naturally muscular. Has ivory skin; long, wavy black hair that is often tied back with a ribbon; eyes are naturally a deep chocolate, but are often crimson and cobalt (left and right, respectively) due to draconic senses; fangs and claws are retractable; tail and wings hidden using magic. Wears jeans, random graphic tees, an oversized sweater, glasses (when not using dragon sight), and simple moccasins.
Personality: Usually appears withdrawn, but can be quite amiable. Is compassionate and considerate for close friends. Along with being intelligent, has a dark sense of humor, swears occasionally, loves puns, and is incredibly sarcastic. However, another trait from quirk is that use of magic can influence personality by emphasizing certain traits (such as compassion, morality, etc).
Hero Name: Starry Light Hero- Legend, Starry Dragon
Hero Suit: A skin-tight suit woven from enchanted silk that allows unrestricted movement (cobalt blue base, crimson highlights/embroidery), worn underneath a cloak with a shifting starry night sky pattern (essentially space, but on a cloak and shifting). Mask is made of mirrored flames and icicles (left side has flames going up, right side has ice hanging down). Hair is worn in a high ponytail with bangs framing face.
It was fun while I was there. Unfortunately, I cannot leave this realm for too long, lest I wish to be tracked. Maybe I’ll visit again and chronicle my adventures? Definitely better than wasting away in this realm of ignorance.
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faean · 5 years
Text
OC(s) Head Cannons (BNHA-verse) Part 1 of Probably A lot
OCs: Faian Nadal (@starrylegend); Aria and Aaron Granchester (@i-am-here-with-fanfic)
Title: Magical Mischief
Note from Author- These may or may not (necessarily) be cannon in the collaborative story(ies), but do hold many truths, nonetheless. 
Elementary School:
Faian was still learning the ins and outs of his magic
Really only skilled w/elemental magic (at the time)
It didn’t stop him and Aaron from messing around
Much to Aria’s dismay/amusement
Aaron once convinced Faian to make infinite cookies
It didn’t work
They had to work at a local bakery for two weeks
Faian enchanted a tree to talk
It only criticized people’s hairstyles
They tried to recreate a scene from Disney’s Fantasia
You know, mops and buckets with sentience
It was to get out of doing chores
They flooded the entire block
Faian enchanted Aaron’s pencil to write for him
It wrote only in Shakespearean Sonnets
And it hated muffins, for some reason
It also tried to overthrow Croatia
The two boys didn’t even know what Croatia was
Aria had to snap the pencil when it started to flirt with her
Middle School:
Faian had nearly mastered his elemental magic
And got better with other magic
He enchanted Aaron’s backpack to never be heavy/have endless storage
Actually worked, but they lost many good pens
And maybe a shoe
And an entire casserole
Faian was able to create a spell for wireless communication
It was like using earphones for a phone call, but magic
Which helped on training missions for Faian 
he still struggled with electronics
Also, Aaron couldn’t use a phone in class
He could also connect to Bluetooth
Most things in Faian’s house were enchanted at this point
Mostly to help with cleaning and maintaining the house
after it was destroyed and he had to rebuild it alone
Idea for sealing his magic came from seals on the house
mainly to suppress his draconic nature 
especially when he started experiencing ruts and heat
it also kept out intruders
and Faian could remotely access the seals for various purposes
usually to let Aria or Aaron in when he was out/busy
or pull pranks on Aaron
Faian developed a way to temporarily share some magic with Aaron
Aria was terrified when she saw Aaron flying
But started laughing when Aaron trapped himself in a tree
It also drained both boys physically, so they passed out the first time they tried it
High School/U.A.:
Faian had gotten skilled with enchantments and minor spells
Most of these spells required small chants and drained him faster than elemental magic
Aaron also discovered a spell book for Faian
it had a lot of spells that were really vague
they had to be careful
especially when they started attending U.A.
Enchanting was easy, since it was just pouring magic into something
Faian’s hero suit is the result of enchanting
Aaron is the only one who knows the difference between ‘spells’ and ‘Spells’
Now at U.A., Faian is careful about how often he uses spells
Especially after an incident where he turned half of 1-A into dogs
he couldn’t change them back for two days
almost didn’t change Bakugou back (he looked adorable)
Aizawa asked if he could change them into cats next time
He also accidently switched his and Aaron’s gender
Aria wasn’t phased at all when they came home as females
Shinsou and Todoroki each had nosebleeds
the girls in 1-A were very kind and helpful (much to Aaron’s embarrassment)
Mineta was stuck in Recovery Girl’s office for several days
Faian accidently went to the boy’s locker room to change instead of the bathroom
several people are now questioning their sexuality
Aaron had it easier
people would comment on his new endowment
and Shinsou would shut them right up
Faian often looks different when he is recovering large amounts of magic
Aria and Aaron are used to it
But not 1-A
Faian wears his hair down, is usually exhausted, and he loses his dragon sense (so he has dark brown eyes and needs glasses)
but he neglects to bring his glasses
or shave his face
people kept confusing him with Aizawa
he even held a full conversation with All Might before Nezu had to point it out 
Midoriya has to fight the urge to call him ‘sensei’
Todoroki, Yaoyorozu, Sero, Ashido, and Asui all pitch in to prevent Faian from stumbling around or passing out
Bakugou “helps” by shouting at him to keep him awake
Faian has a tendency to use his wings and tail to emote/grab stuff/use as a pillow and blanket
Bakusquad once got a hold of the spell book
They couldn’t do anything with it
but it didn’t stop them from trying
they used google translate on it
apparently, there is an entire section for “personal enhancement”
Faian has since hidden the book after several requests 
I apologize for not posting the All Might request; I’m afraid my schedule has been rather volatile with finals approaching. Rest assured, this Saturday will feature two or three posts: Ch. 3 of the BNHA-verse collaboration; All Might x Female College Reader; and possibly another Head Cannon like this one.
I do hope this was mildly enjoyable. Also, @i-am-here-with-fanfic, when is chapter two happening? :D
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faean · 5 years
Text
Adamance of a Dragon
Made in collaboration with @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
Rating: T+; Innuendos are always fun.
Word Length: 3,122
Chapter 4- A Different Perspective
           In the likely event that I would be teased for befriending Todoroki so swiftly (being bisexual and a dragon gave my adoptive family a lot of opportunities), I was not about to let Aaron ‘get off the hook’, so to speak. Besides, he had no need to worry about being kissed on the cheek; he was straight, despite the fact that many people back in the States thought he and I were dating. Bloody idiots, we are like brothers!
           Not sure why that was where my mind went, especially when mum began scolding Aaron.
           She was shocked to hear of the incident, pulling on her son’s cheeks as she questioned, “Do you have any idea on how many people you worried? Did you already forget the basics?”
           When she let go, Aaron rubbed his cheeks, a few tears welling up in his eyes. “I said I couldn’t contain myself… I’m sorry.” He slumped down in a chair nearby.
           Aria sighed as she shook her head. “Thank you, Faian, for letting me know. From what you’ve told me, I think he has been punished enough. In any case, how did training go for the both of you? Aaron, were you able to absorb your iron back into your system? And Faian, did you lengthen the duration you can wield your blades,” she asked, walking towards the kitchen to serve dinner.
           Getting up from his seat, Aaron followed and helped her set the table. He told her he was able to not only reclaim his iron but was able to create a dagger instead of just a needle. Mum congratulated him, sitting at her spot as Aaron and I sat beside her at the table. Turning towards me for my ‘evaluation’, I told her I increased my duration for each elemental stance by two minutes, a total of seven minutes for each element, forty-two minutes all together. She had a warm smile, and I could not help but smile as well, until she ruffled both mine and Aaron’s hair.
           Giggling while pleading for her to stop, we asked her about her day at work when she finally did. In between bites of food, she told us she was doing well at her new job, working at the police station as a private counselor for heroes. It was her first day since moving here, and she has funny stories to tell us; something Aaron and I are greatly fond of.
           Obviously, she must keep all the information of her actual work confidential, but many of the officers try to pry and find out the secret of the heroes she counsels (it being her first day, they likely thought she would slip up; she did not). So, her natural reaction to these attempts is to feign ignorance and act forgetful; which nearly broke me. I mean, Aria is like ‘Super Mum’- cooker of excellent food and kicker of ass. The mere suggestion that people could believe her to be incompetent is absolutely hilarious. Even Aaron was stifling his laughter. Well, trying to.
           Part way through dinner, I got up to get a drink from the refrigerator. It was at this time that mum asked me how my evening with Todoroki went yester night, and if I had any plans to visit him. I could feel Aaron smirking as she asked.
           I also no longer felt any guilt (assuming I had any) for revealing the train fight to Aria.
           “It went well. We shared some soba, he taught me the proper etiquette for a meal, and I met his elder sister. We also plan on having a training day together, should he have the time.” I said as I returned to my seat, hoping to avoid any jo-.
           “You’re going to spend an entire day getting hot and sweaty with a boy?” Aria insinuated.
           “And dream of your sweet Romeo on lonesome nights?” Aaron teased.
           Taking a deep breath, I first looked at Aria, staring into her dark blue eyes. Speaking with oversaturated sincerity, I inquired, “Ah, silly mum, you remember that I am near-immune to either extreme of temperature, no?” Turning to Aaron, I continued, “and dear brother, did you forget my dreams are of the fantastical variety? I have not any control over them.”
           It was silent for a few moments, my blatant sarcasm settling on their ears. Aaron was the first to speak.
           “I have some condoms from sex ed. before we moved. They’re good for another two or three years.”
           SMACK
           Aria slapped Aaron on the back of his shoulder, exclaiming, “NO sex jokes until you’re 18 young man! But good PSA.”
           “I am 14 bleeding years old!” I had shouted, slamming my fists on the table for more dramatic effect. Also, to show that I truly do feel abashed by this.
           Without missing a beat, Aria responded. “You’re also a dragon. And your ruts and heats are getting worse,” her voice took on a more concerned tone, “you’ve less than two years before you’re stuck indoors for entire months. Aaron and I don’t have the capacity to care for you during those times. I know you aren’t looking for a mate, but at least bond with more people. Please?”
           A heavy sigh escaped from me as I slumped back into my chair. I gave her a small nod and agreed with her once more when she asked me to start using my Prudentia form after I start class.
           She was the one person I simply could not defy. I mean, she had taken me in after the death of my entire immediate family. She raised me alongside Aaron and the three of us were content together. Even though I am not of her blood, I shall fight for her as if she had undergone those months of pain carrying me; just like my true mother had.
           After all, ‘The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.’
           Aaron and I were washing the dishes while mum was tending to her garden. She had planted quite a few sunflower seeds, claiming they reminded her of her favorite hero- All Might. They had yet to start growing, but she was adamant about caring for them.
           Speaking of All Might, he smelled vaguely familiar. I could not quite place his scent, considering I was on the verge of sensory overload from being in the ocean and using my quirk to rid of some of the trash. Then, there was that blond skeleton who restrained Aaron at Tatooin Station (I am loving all the references in this town). He smelled a lot like All Might and I could barely discern Aaron from him. It is possible they just have similar scents, after all, there were dozens, if not hundreds, of people nearby. I would not doubt if I got confused.
           But there was the matter that Aaron looked fairly like the skeletal man. They had comparable striking eyes and Aaron’s hair before he started styling it would be nearly indistinguishable. My suspicions were raised even further when a bang fell from his hair, framing his face before he tucked it behind his ear.
           Before I could form any questions, my phone went off. I received a message from Todoroki asking me if I would like to spar with him, his sister acting as the referee. I replied, accepting his offer. Finishing the dishes, I told Aaron and went to tell Aria, letting them know I was about to head off. Fortunately, no attempts at innuendos were made. 
P.O.V. switch for the first time! Let us see how it turns out, and I shall leave it to you heathens to decide if you want more changes in perspective(s).
           I was sitting with Fuyumi while we waited for Nadal to arrive. She was happy that she’d be able to see him again and learn more about his quirk. Although he told me the basics of it, it was easy to tell he had a lot of hidden power; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten his license so early. Then again, I guess that doesn’t matter since he moved, and it was suspended.
           “Whoops.”
           That was, apparently, the only warning my sister and I got for Nadal’s arrival. He spiraled from the sky, catching himself last second with his crimson wings. Folding them around himself and sealing them away, he flashed a toothy grin, his sharp fangs rather noticeable. Fuyumi and I stood to greet him, walking towards him as he waved and gave a simple ‘Ello.’
           “Hello, Nadal. It’s good to see you again. I hope you’re ready for our sparring match.”
           Fuyumi pouted, “C’mon Shouto! He’s the first friend you’ve had in awhile and the first thing you tell him is to get ready to fight?”
           I have to admit, she had a point. Granchester and Nadal were the first people to genuinely be kind to me, and Nadal was peculiar. He doesn’t appear at all what someone with his power and stature could be assumed to be.
           I’m glad my old man had to stay late at his company so I could invite Nadal over, even with it being just the second day we have known one another. It’s refreshing to get to have someone else to talk to.
           “Well, I hope you are ready for a tussle. It has been too long since I battled someone other than Aaron. I am afraid he knows me much too well!” Nadal was still smiling, and he removed his jacket, tying it around his waist.
           I noticed the different colored bands around his wrists and on his neck, but it was Fuyumi who asked, “are those to help you control your dragon traits?”
           He nodded, stating, “I also use them to channel my magic. Overuse tends to break down my body as if it were made of porcelain, unfortunately. I am often constrained by time limits for a majority of my magic use.”
           Interrupting, I mentioned it would be better to see him demonstrate his quirk instead of just talking about it. Nadal agreed and I led him to the sparring area. We took our places, awaiting my sister’s command to start.
           “Fight!”
           I sent a wave of ice at Nadal, wanting to keep the pressure on him to prevent him from being able to retaliate. It didn’t work, though. With a simple kick, he sent a surge of electricity through the ice, shattering it and forcing me to create a wall to block the debris. Then, the wall of ice shifted until it was behind me, the ground unnaturally warped in its path.
           Nadal charged me with blinding speed, stopping in front of me before sending a spartan kick with his right leg. I was barely able to cover my abdomen in ice to absorb some of the force before I was sent flying into my previous wall. The force broke most of it, but it only demonstrated the amount of control Nadal had over his own power. He charged me again, sending more kicks charged with electricity. He kept me on the defensive, but he didn’t land any more serious hits.
           His fighting style relied on speed and emphasized powerful kicks, a dangerous combination as he only needed to land a single good hit to incapacitate someone, his speed giving him a better chance to do so. Fortunately, there was a break in his assault as he leaped back. I took notice of the cracks appearing on his ankles as his pants billowed with his movements. Before he landed, I covered the floor in ice, and he stumbled. Fuyumi briefly cheered for me before she composed herself, smiling widely as she watched us fight.
           My opportunity presenting itself, I moved in close, staying within his reach to prevent him from kicking effectively, despite close quarters not being my strongest point. I used my ice to enhance my punches and created walls to throw him against or restrict his movement even further.
           Unfortunately, I realized the battle was lost once he started to command the sky and earth in unison. Nadal had been sending surges of electricity into the floor as we fought, and with a snap of his fingers it evaporated, steam obscuring my vision. I tried to send a blast of ice around me to disperse it and push him back, but I couldn’t. Having used the steam to his advantage, Nadal concentrated it around me, dulling my senses and keeping me from noticing the vines and roots that sprouted from the ground and immobilized me.
           I was about to use my fire side to burn them away but thought it better to create a shell of ice around me and expelling it. Not only did I free myself, but I got a lucky hit off Nadal. Several of the ice shards had impacted with his legs, and he flinched. It was the first time I had caused any observable damage to him.
           With him currently distracted, I froze the area around him and tried to encase him in ice, copying his earlier attempt at restraining me. Instead, I was met with a coffin-shaped plate of light that pushed me back. Nadal changed his style, the band of white gold on his left wrist glowing and spinning slowly. The light plate flew back to him, resting near his forearm like a piece of levitating armor.
           Recalling that his light magic was used mostly for defense, I took advantage of the new distance between us. I sent wave after wave of ice after him from all directions, freezing the ground beneath me to slide around him, careful not to get close. With the relentless attacks and damage to his legs, the possibility of him slipping up and me getting a hit off and turning the tide of-
           “Piercing Light.”
           This was the first time Nadal spoke rather than huff or grunt, and his husky yet modulated voice caught me off guard. A shaft of light shot through all the ice and pierced straight through my chest, anchoring me to the ground. I was paralyzed but felt no pain, nor was I bleeding. It was as if the spear was acting as a focus for Nadal’s magic that kept me pinned.
           I was right. As Nadal walked out of the ice and neared me, he had several of those plates around him, another spear of light in his grasp. The closer he got, the more obvious the vein-like light that spread across my body, starting from the spear, became. It was in this moment that Fuyumi called the match and declared Nadal the victor.
           All of his light constructs dissipated, and I was able to move again. Fuyumi and I moved to congratulate him, but he toppled over. It was apparent why, as the cracks across his left arm reached his elbow. Fuyumi helped him sit up as I kneeled next to him, asking if he needed to rest.
           He rolled up his pant legs to see the amount of damage and, much like his arm, the cracks spread up to his joints. “Worry not. A few days of rest is all I need, along with suppressing some of my senses; however, I do appreciate the offer to rest here over night. Admittedly, I have faced far worse repercussions for using my magic like that. You certainly are a formidable opponent, dear Todoroki.”
           “That was amazing, Nadal! I thought Shouto had you there before you sent that spear! No wonder you’re getting into U.A. on recommendation. Although, are you sure you don’t want to stay to rest, even if only for a few hours?” Fuyumi’s concern was warranted, but Nadal appeared unfazed by his own condition.
           “Thank you, but my victory was not a result of my own skill. Todoroki Shouto, if I may impart some of my knowledge, a battle is like a balance. Only by tipping the scales in your favor shall you claim victory. If your opponent is faster, you must be stronger. If they are tougher, then be relentless. Should they be more powerful, then outwit them. The inverses are also true.”
           Nadal’s advise washed over me, as though it were embedded in my mind. I guess it has to do with him being a dragon.
           “I understand. My old man always told me that raw power and tenacity are all that matter in a fight.”
           This earned me an uproarious laugh from Nadal. It was contagious, and Fuyumi began to giggle as a I felt the corners of my lips tug upwards. “It may be true … to an extent! After all, you relied so heavily on your ice that I was able to formulate a strategy around it rather quickly. Todoroki, you may not want to utilize your flames, but there will come a time where your victory, and possibly your life, shall be determined by your use of the fire.”
           Again, Nadal’s words rang clear and true. It was weird how he made me feel, but I brushed it off, thinking it was due to him disagreeing with my old man’s philosophies. “Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. I will become a pro hero without having to use his quirk.”
           “Shouto…” Fuyumi was upset with how much we were insulting Endeavor, but Nadal responded before I could.
            He spoke softly, resting one hand on my shoulder, holding his free hand between us as he created a heart from fire. “Many elements have multiple facets to them. Air is kind yet ruthless. The earth can be compassionate or unforgiving. Light will blind and shadow obscure if your judgment is in question. Fire may be symbolic of anger and hate, but it also represents desire. Passion.
           His natural deep chocolate eyes gazed into mine, his touch was comforting and the fire between us warmed my very soul. Continuing, “With water, it is the culmination of life; it represents the will of a person. But it could easily turn to apathy and freeze one’s own heart.”
           Nadal demonstrated this with the flaming heart dying out, ice encasing it.
           When it was done it disappeared and Nadal looked down. “Forgive me, for I am certain I overstepped my boundaries.”
           Fuyumi and I stared at him. She held a look of utter disbelief at the sudden shift in his demeanor. I wasn’t sure how to react, and I didn’t get a chance to. We all heard the front door open, Endeavor announcing he’s home. Nadal took that as a sign to depart, but not before leaving my sister and I with one last piece of insight.
           “As payment for me sharing my knowledge, please, refer to me by my first name. Farewell, dear friends.”
Beta Reader, Collaborator, Owner of Aria and Aaron Granchester, and Creator of the Illegitimate Son storyline- @i-am-here-with-fanfic.
PS- I apologize for my inactivity. I have gotten back on track and starting next week, my schedule will be fixed.
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