Chapter Text
“We are gathered here today to honor a fallen hero who left this world far too soon in the prime of her life.”
“Hands in the air, vigilantes! You’re under arrest!”
“I can’t believe this! I thought you knew better! Connor, I trusted you and you went behind my back for years doing what, getting you and that girl you found nearly killed!...I hope you’re ashamed of yourself. What would your mother think!”
“The court finds the defendant, Connor Hawkings, guilty of vigilantism, tampering with public property, 20 counts of unlawful use of quirk without permission, and threatening public safety. The sentence will be decided at a later date.”
“It’s quite clear that these designs for so called “support items” are nothing more than one tweak away from being weapons. Weapons in the hands of a specifically dangerous man who has controlled this “boy” most of his life. He is unstable and a detriment to society. If it were 200 years ago, I’d see this boy hanged!”
“Dad...dad, what are you doing? Stop! STOP, YOU’RE HURTING HER!”
“That’s the idea, son! Violence is the only language these cretins understand!”
A body swung back and forth like a slow pendulum, a noose of wires keeping it suspended.
“C’e...c'est la vie....jeune homme....courir...”
A crown of beautiful ice, clear like crystal, was melting, pooling along with the blood. Blood at his feet. Blood on his hands. Blood...
A harsh whistle blew in his ear. Connor Hawkings jumped a foot in the air and out of his train seat before glaring at his friend and adjusting his messenger bag, a fire rod red and gold with an arc reactor on the flap, back on top of his lap.
“Why the heck do you have that!” He snapped and pointed at the coach whistle in the black bob-cut girl’s hand, her bangs held out of her face by a hairband with a daisy decoration. Piper Banner giggled.
“Dad said to bring it for perverts. He says Japan is full of them.”
“Dr. Banner has been watching too much anime with you. Japan is normal like everywhere else. You could’ve just, I don’t know, shake my shoulder to wake me up.”
She got an impish little grin.
“That’s not as fun.” She sang.
“What am I going to do with you?”
Piper stuck her tongue out.
“Food?”
He sighed.
“Gotta keep that happy daisy still happy after all.”
Connor Hawkings (15)
Quirk: Might of Olympus
Gifted with his late mother’s mysterious quirk, Connor has telekinetic abilities over various elements along with various other powers he has yet to discover.
Piper Banner (15)
Quirk: Strength Of Emotion
This cheerful teenager can change her mass depending on how she’s feeling and direct the mass into any part of her body. The more intense the emotion, the stronger and harder control her quirk gets.
“Okay, when till the next stop?”
“Uh.....”
She looked up at the train map.
“I’m still working on the Japanese. So....I think in a few minutes.”
The psychic hummed.
“Wake me up when we get there. Going to power nap.”
“Fine....” She sighed.
Connor adjusted his red uniform tie and sunk back into his seat. New adventure in an entirely different part of the world.
And all of it his damn fault that Piper got dragged into this mess.
“So....I’m in class 1-B. What’s your schedule say?”
Piper tried her best to peak over Connor’s shoulder but merely succeeded on wiping her nose against his blazer.
“1-A. Ugh Piper! That’s disgusting.”
He pulled a tissue out of his pants pocket and wiped his shoulder.
“Figures. Don’t want us to use class time to plot our grand crime spree.”
“Con...”
He sighed dejectedly and steered his friend past a few students and near one of the many hero busts.
“Pipe, I know you are happy and enthused about this entire thing, but you need to remember, we are being punished. We’re essentially delinquents.”
“I’ve technically been one for a long time, even before I met you.”
He really hated her want and ability to look on the bright side.
“That’s just called homelessness. You didn’t have much of a choice.”
“Homeless don’t usually do. You are just being a sour puss.”
Connor groaned. He pulled her in front of him and pointed.
“Piper, we are criminals. People aren’t going to like us, they aren’t going to trust us, and sure as hell not leaving us by ourselves or alone in a room together. If we at all look like we are doing wrong-“
He snapped his fingers.
“-We can say goodbye to any hopes of a future of anything hero related.”
She wilted.
“Oh...”
“Sorry to spoil your mood but...that’s how it is. Everyone who gives a damn are on the other side of the world. We’re on our own and the only people we can trust...is each other, okay? Soon as the day is over, I’ll do a search and we’ll have some real Japanese ramen, none of that instant stuff. After that maybe some shopping, find a few potted plants for the apartment, hm? Brighten up the place.”
He gave her a hug.
“Sorry you got mixed into all this but...I’m glad you’re by my side.”
Piper wiped at her watering green eyes as he released her.
“Keep an eye on your translator, make sure the battery is good, and don’t be afraid of asking for the teacher to repeat. I know Japanese but you’re still working on it.”
He gave her a peck on the forehead.
“You’re going to do great and I’ll see you at lunch, okay?”
She nodded.
Vigilantism in the age of quirks and heroes was a serious crime, but time flows different for every soul. Where one sees a child in over their head and delusions of grandeur, another sees a reason to disregard society in order to make it a better place.
Connor didn’t do what he did for money nor fame. He sought to right a wrong that no one so far could. He wanted the destruction of a single man who destroyed his trust, even if it took his entire future. He would avenge the lives that were taken, even if the rest of the world saw him as a fool.
He barely had anything to lose anyway.
Connor headed to the top floor and went towards his assigned classroom, following the sound of laughter coming from a crack in the door to 1-A.
“I’d like to see you try, pretty boy!”
“Whaddyou call me!!”
“There it goes!”
The psychic paused, hand outstretched. This was new territory for him. Twenty students, all his age.
Plato and Aristotle didn’t exactly teach him how to interact with peers. Their views were on the world in general and humanity. Humanity didn’t exactly classify teenagers well, at least from the movies he’s watched.
Could he handle this? He didn’t know the world through their eyes. All the books he found were stereotypical and optimistic about friendship, teen life, and pop culture. He knew the entirety of Aesop’s Fables, could quote many of the Greek plays, he could take apart and build equipment out of the most basic of scrap metal. He was not ready for this. How could you prepare against the human equivalent of black widow spiders or harpies.
Aw crap, he wasn’t ready for this at all!
Connor gave himself a quick smack.
“Alright Hawkings, you are overthinking way too much. This is high school, not a villain’s lair. You are going to be fine. Piper’s going to be fine....oh sweet Zeus strike me down now.”
“If you’re going to keep mumbling like that, you can at least get out of the way of the door.”
Everything immediately clicked into standby mode as the voice came from behind him. He didn’t hesitate. Connor turned, leg up and immediately went for the abdomen with a kick.
The attack was evaded and his ankle grabbed firmly.
“Hmph. Was warned you have a tendency to do that and not to surprise you. Was expecting an elbow, not a leg.”
Everything clicked back into place and the one having captured his foot was a tired and expressionless Shouta Aizawa. The principal showed him a picture when he and Piper came in to discuss their first day.
“Can do much more damage with a foot than a joint. Knocking a person off their feet is better than a simple stun anyway, Mr. Aizawa.” Was the psychic’s flat reply, not even struggling to keep his balance.
“Yet in this position you leave your self open to a quick knee to the gut, stunning you, not me. Easier to just simply jab a knife and let you drop.”
His homeroom teacher let go and Connor bowed slightly from the waist.
“So you’re the new problem child. Read the police report. Three years, perhaps more of illegal quirk usage and vigilantism. I have every right to expel you right now and ruin your life. You did just attack me.”
Connor inwardly sighed. Great, nice going, Hawkings. Least he didn’t have to learn how vicious his supposed peers were.
“But I won’t.”
He snapped back at attention.
“You did not know my voice, I could’ve been a villain for all you knew. You immediately went to action without a hint of what you were going to do, seeking to temporarily disable a possible threat. It takes years to hone that sort of quick decision making. Even some of our third years still hesitate.”
“Many consider my actions...” Connor began.
“What your government thinks doesn’t concern me, Hawkings. You are going to complete the terms of your probation here at U.A., get your provisional license, and show that you can follow the law both here and at home. You disregard my authority and I will make you wish you picked prison. We clear?”
The psychic nodded, looking away.
“...Does the student body know they are sharing air with a couple of criminals?”
“No. Nor will they unless you tell them yourself. You two been through enough judgement. Don’t need it from your class too. Also...Nedzu wanted me to pass on a message. From Stark.”
Connor looked up.
“He’s not proud how you got here, but he forgives you two for just trying to do the right thing. Also to answer your damn phone.”
“Yeah....I’ve been avoiding the uh...talk. We both were...never mind.”
Aizawa grunted and opened up his classroom door.
“Alright, I got an announcement and no, this time it isn’t anything soul crushing.”
And Connor thought he knew some characters. Did being a pro hero also mean being weird too?
“We got a foreign exchange student all the way from the States. He’ll be in both Support and Hero, a first for a U.A student. Try not to sneak up on him, alright?”
Connor glowered.
“Get in here, Hawkings.”
The psychic took a deep breath and stepped into his fate.
Izuku Midoriya could’ve sworn he’d seen the transfer before, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember where. Oh, this was going to drive him nuts.
“Uh...Midoriya, what on earth are you mumbling about?” Mineta asked, tapping him on the shoulder.
“He looks familiar, but I can’t remember where I’ve seen him before.”
“Hello, my name is Connor Hawkings.” The American greeted, bowing.
“I’ve been homeschooled most of my life, so this is the first time being in a classroom.”
“He’s so....cute.” Mina moaned, eyelashes fluttering.
“Wonder if his red is natural. Maybe he can recommend a dye.” Kirishima wondered, messing with his own fiery locks.
The new student pushed a few rust colored strands behind an ear.
“Where in the states are you from?” Jiro asked, raising her hand.
“I was born in California but...I live in New York now with my god father.”
“Have you been to any Broadway shows?” Yaoyorozu asked.
“I love New York.”
“Well...Not live. I don’t tend to get out much. Tend to get hounded by reporters.”
Connor’s cheeks were soon becoming flush with embarrassment.
Then it clicked and Midoriya paled. Now he remembered and he really wished he hadn’t.
“Whoa, you alright, Midori? You’re looking a little...well green.” Sero asked, leaning over.
“His dad...is Damian Hawkings. One of the most wanted villains on the planet.”
“WAIT, WHAT! HIS DAD IS A VILLAIN!”
Just then all the windows and phone screens in 1-A broke with a resounding CRACK. There were shouts of surprise, Bakugo cursed, swinging his head around and demanding who did it.
Then Connor bolted.
“Damn it! HAWKINGS!” Aizawa yelled after him.
“I’d rather be in prison than this!”
Toshinori Yagi sipped his tea and stared at his computer screen, not really taking it in. Stain was on the forefront of his mind. He felt like Dr. Frankenstein, only his monster was not purposefully created. It was because of him being the Symbol of Peace that bred the Hero Killer.
To say he felt guilty would be an understatement. At least none of the students died. Had he had the temper of his old teacher, he probably would’ve torn into that hospital room and shouted their ears off for how stupid of a move taking on such a person was.
But no, All Might was stewing over the could’ves, the would’ves, and the should’ves. Beating his very non
existent ego to a pulp was a past time of his after all.
The pro was then violently ejected from his thoughts by the faculty room door being violently opened and then slammed. Toshinori looked away from his computer, confused. Most everyone was in class right now. Heck, that was the loudest he ever heard that door, not even Midnight on a bad day would be that vicious.
Then he heard the sobbing. He only knew one kid who still bawled on a regular basis at U.A. and he sighed.
“Young Midoriya, is everything-“ He began getting up and passing to see the doorway more clearly.
His voice died when he didn’t see his heir, but another person entirely slumped in front of the door. Rust colored hair covered their face and a red and gold messenger bag clutched to their chest.
“God....god damn it....” The student whispered hoarsely in English.
“I wanna go home...”
Then it came to him who the kid was.
“You want to take in vigilantes?” Midnight asked as she looked at the police report.
“It’s either U.A. or jail and frankly, 15 is a little young to be in the slammer.” Vlad King snorted.
“Hawkings....where have I heard that name before.” Toshinori mumbled, rubbing his chin.
“Damian Hawkings.” Nedzu replied sadly.
“Techage?! Wait a minute, than that means-“
“He is the same kid in that hostage case a few years back that took thirteen heroes lives.” Aizawa stated flatly.
“Why on earth did you stick your neck out for this, Nedzu? U.A’s reputation isn’t exactly stellar right now.”
The principal sighed.
“I know. I felt I at least owed his mother enough to have her son come to her Alma Mater. Her killer was never found and her husband never caught...thought at least something should go right for the poor boy.”
“And the girl?” The underground hero asked.
“Seems she was abandoned to the streets before Hawkings took her in. Apparently she is one of the few that can calm The Hulk, so Dr. Banner adopted her. They are very close, these two.”
“Best separate them between class 1-A and 1-B. Don’t need a Bonnie and Clyde on our hands. Boy made most of their tech, even a way to scramble the toughest security. He’s the brains of the operation.” Snipe stated.
“Eraser, think you can handle it?”
“Turn an almost criminal into pro hero material? Yeah. I’ve taken tougher.”
“Young Hawkings? Is everything... alright?”
The student stiffened and looked up at the change in language. Immediately Toshinori yelped as he was thrusted backwards nearly a foot and fell. A stream of blood fountained from his mouth.
“Oh god! I’m so sorry!” Connor shouted, rushing over.
“Where did I hurt you? I swear I didn’t mean it!”
He then began apologizing profusely, the speed of his words as he began rambling from English to what sounded like French, German, and he could’ve sworn Italian.
“Kid...kid! Get a hold of yourself!”
The student immediately shut his mouth as the pro sat up and wiped at his mouth.
“Relax, just a medical condition I got. Also I can’t understand half of what you’re saying.”
Connor went as red as his bag.
“I...have a tendency to switch languages a lot when I’m stressed out. But are you sure, I already attacked Mr. Aizawa and he threatened to expel me or I think he did. Oh this day is going horrible. First that green haired boy now this...forget Piper, I’m the one screwed.”
“Oh for the love of-“
Toshinori sat up and tapped his knuckles on the student’s head.
“Yeesh, you’re a pessimist. Will you relax? Your quirk fired off when I surprised ya. Not that big of a deal. I’ve been hit with worse.”
The skeletal man then got up and grabbed the student’s coat collar, lifting him to his feet as well.
“Now, care to explain why you came in here like that. I’m not mad, just concerned.”
Connor looked down, opening his mouth to speak. He froze.
There was a pool of blood at his feet.
Blood at his feet. Blood on his hands. The woman with a crown of ice slowly melting, hanging from a noose of cables.
“Forget your things, we have more than enough to get you whatever you wish in...London. Yes, a perfect place. Think of the history you’ll see. I’ll take you wherever you want, son. Wherever you want to go.”
“YOUNG HAWKINGS, BREATHE!”
Connor snapped back into reality and half collapsed against the teacher, knees shaking.
“I’m sorry...I’m so sorry. I should’ve done something. I could’ve...”
The door then slammed open to reveal an irate Aizawa.
“Of course the last place I look is where I find him!”
“Shit, Aizawa! Trying to give a heart attack?” Toshinori yelled.
“I really don’t care. I’ve been looking for my latest problem child for the past 15 minutes. He ran off after a certain fanboy’s knowledge had to kick in.”
Aizawa sighed.
“What happened here?”
“I really don’t know. It’s like he was having a panic attack and-“
“Blood.” Came the faint reply from the student.
“I can’t stand the sight of blood.”
Toshinori looked down.
“...crap. Easy, kid. You stay with us. No need to faint.”
“No! I get flashbacks, I’m not scared of it!” The student snapped, voice a bit more strong and eyes shut tight.
Aizawa saw the small pool of blood between the two and grabbed the student’s hand to lead him out of the mess.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Aizawa, I panicked, I-“
“Enough.” The underground hero said.
“Look. This transition has your nerves frayed, I get it. But-“
“I need to do better. The only thing I really know how to do is hero work. I’m sorry. But I’m not a teenager like those kids. Just a set back. I’ll be okay in a minute.”
Forget frayed, this kid’s nerves were shot. He’d even bet Hawkings was on the edge of a mental breakdown.
“...Think you can get him to Recovery Girl to rest? Now that I at least know where he is, I’ll explain what is going on to 1-A. When he’s calm...we’ll try again.”
Connor’s eyes shot open.
“No! I can handle it.”
The psychic jerked out of the pro’s grip, red with shame. He lost control, a horrible thing. He hadn’t caused such destruction since he was a kid, emotionally or with his quirk.
“No, you can’t and that’s clear to see. Having a mental quirk isn’t easy, controlling your emotions and keeping the extra part of your brain from short circuiting. Suppressing and pretending everything is fine might’ve gotten you a pass with your tutors, maybe even encouraged, but that’s not how U.A. works.”
“But my probation-“
“You’re at school, you didn’t skip, and I know where you are. That’s all your law system needs, right?”
Connor looked down and wilted.
“Yes, Mr. Aizawa.”
To Toshinori, the kid looked crushed. True, they never got much in the realm of records, especially anything before junior high, but his many tutors while under Tony Stark gave remarks of him being highly intelligent, never shirking assignments, and giving a hundred percent.
Now that he thought about it, none of them ever mentioned his mental state....or did they even care as long as they were getting paid.
“Just...let me....”
And before either of them knew it, said student was crumpling to the ground, nose flowing freely with blood. Aizawa managed to grab him before his head hit the floor.
“Yagi, Recovery Girl!”
All Might gave a unmanly squeak and rushed out the staff room towards the nurse’s office.
“ALRIGHT DEKU WHO THE FUCK IS THIS HAWKINGS!” Bakugo shouted at his childhood classmate. Midoriya squeaked and shielded his head.
“I don’t know much! Only that it’s a name on the world’s most wanted list! All the hero agencies have at least a poster up from Interpol!”
“Ribbit, now that you mention it, I think I saw one at my internship but I was too busy to notice.” Asui said.
“My father has a wall dedicated to wanted lists from every country in the agency, but I didn’t get a good enough look.” Todoroki stated as well.
“Uh, what’s Interpol?” Sero asked.
“It’s international police, been around since before quirks and I think they used to hunt down terrorists and of course, international criminals.” Momo answered.
“Now they mainly hunt down villains who cross borders and stuff. There is an entire mass of international heroes that have special licenses and everything. I heard it’s even tougher than just being a regular and they get paid even more than my parents do. It is a dangerous job. They don’t have time to go on shows or publicize to augment their income.”
Iida was stiff and pale in his seat as if in shock. He had yet to berate anyone for being out of their seats soon as their homeroom teacher ran out of 1-A after the new transfer student.
“Uh, Class Rep? You okay?” Jiro asked, poking a cheek with one of her jacks.
“...T...Techage.” Was the meek reply.
“He....He’s the son....of that murderer...”
The entire class went quiet, all except for a certain blond.
“Oh, speak up, four eyes!” Bakugo shouted.
The engine quirk student then snapped out of it and adjusted his glasses.
“You’ve...never heard of Techage?”
“Well...name sounds familiar...” Kirisima answered.
“He is one of the most dangerous cyber thieves in the world, having stolen secrets from all over the world and sold them on the black market. Those who face him....”
Iida then swallowed.
“Most of them end up hanged from a noose of wires or worse. The only one hero I know of that didn’t end up like that died in the hospital a while later with...cables impaled through his body.”
Uraraka put a hand to her mouth along with a few others, looking like they were going to be sick.
“Most fear him for the reason that his quirk is technopathy. He can hack into any modern computer system and...it’s made him sort of a boogeyman. Almost a Yokai. Heroes fear facing him because they say those who announce they will are viciously blackmailed and those who still do end up dead.”
“Dude, I think your family has been feeding you a load of bull.” Bakugo cackled.
“Most of what Iida says is true, listeners!”
They all jumped as the door swung open to show the English teacher and voice hero, Present Mic.
“Good news! Your new classmate has been found and is sleeping off one heck of a migraine and bloody nose! Those with mental quirks can’t take stress like many of you can! They have more nerves and blood vessels than the average human to power an extra lobe in their brain! There’s some trivia for ya!”
“Is it true, then?” Mina asked, shooting up.
“Is he the son of a villain?”
The English teacher sighed, shut the door, and sat on the lectern.
“We all thought it best not to freak you students out but...yes, he is the son of Techage, but that don’t make him a villain too! Before ya’ll were born, Techage was a hero! He saved plants from going nuclear and found criminals like nobody’s business! But...uh...”
The boisterousness began to die from his voice as he took off his sunglasses.
“When ya’ll were probably about....9 or ten I expect, probably at school or something...His wife, another hero, was killed in the line of duty. Techage just kinda...snapped. Was news to all of us when he kidnapped his own kid and began to steal military secrets. Turns out he was a lot sicker than anyone thought.”
Present Mic put his glasses back on.
“I better not hear nothing of ya’ll judging the kid for shit his dad did! None of ya, I repeat, none of ya, are responsible for anyone’s actions but ya own! Should have at least enough self respect for that! Besides-“
He waved his hand like he was shooing away a fly.
“Techage ain’t nearly so scary as the stories make him sound! Reason why hasn’t been caught yet is cause he covers his tracks too well, was part of the hero business, after all! Now back to us! Ya’ll got your English homework for me?”
Midoriya wilted in his seat, knowing full well his part in this. Being the child of a villain had to be just as bad or worse than being quirkless.
Just couldn’t keep his mouth shut, could he? Sure, when it came to Stain but...
Now he kinda felt like a bully himself. That made the ball of guilt in his stomach tighten even worse.
“We’ve officially lost Midoriya.” Todoroki muttered.
“He really needs to stop thinking so much.”