Chapter Text
“My hesitation to accept this offer mustn’t be surprising to you, correct?”
Lucy smiled, shaking her head. “No, I admit that my application was later than I would’ve liked.” Placing her hands onto the desk, she bowed her head. “Thank you for your consideration.”
“I wasn’t able to find much of your hero career online, isn’t that interesting?”The creature spoke, which Lucy found hard to believe. The Guild was impressionable, and with enough money and their popularity, they were able to cover up anything. Of course not everything could go undiscovered, but christ, they put a lot of effort into this.
“I… was not in the spotlight all that much.” She placed her hands back into her lap. The seats were uncomfortable. “My quirk makes it pretty difficult for stuff like this to be covered.”
“Your application says that you’re only nineteen, is that true?”
“I am.”
“Why is it that at nineteen, you wish to be a teacher’s assistant?” He asked next.
“I’ve always wanted to teach Hero students. I thought that if I got practice under another teacher, I’d be able to use that practice to become a teacher myself one day.” Lucy spoke the lie as simply as the truth. She hadn’t gone through all that practising for nothing.
She still couldn’t tell what type of creature the principal was, if she had to guess she’d say a rat. He hummed, perhaps he liked her answer. “You are from America, correct? And moved to Japan three months ago?”
"I thought I'd have better chances here." She said, a thin smile spread across her face. "I've been learning Japanese for a couple years, so I thought that once I settled in, I'd make the leap and send out my applications."
The rodent-creature- thing hummed in response, silent for just a moment, before speaking again. "You spoke of your quirk.." Nezu said, cutting himself off.
"What about it?" She prodded, unhooking her ankles from around each other. She sat up a bit straighter.
He turned a piece of paper around, pointing to a part of the application. "You say your quirk is called Anne but don't offer up anything else, would you care to explain your quirk further?"
She nodded, glancing back up at him. "My quirk, Anne, allows me to create a separate reality to ours." She didn't indulge any further, and with a curt nod finished her sentence.
"Interesting!" Nezu answered. His tone didn't let on anything , Lucy found it unnerving. "You've been a hero for how many years now?"
"Officially two years, since I was seventeen. Training for two years prior." She responded quickly, she'd recounted this exact information in her head many times on the car ride here, it slipped off her tongue with ease.
"And may I see your Hero licence?" He asked next.
Digging around in her bag for her purse, she retrieved the card almost immediately. She slid it across the desk.
The forgery of the licence had been prolonged, in fact; Louisa had only passed it along to her hours prior. It had her name, quirk, date of issue and the name of a Hero Agency
Of course, said agency didn't exist. In fact, it was just a cover-up created by Fitzgerald. And if Nezu made the call, he'd be greeted by her boss himself. How kind of him to spare his time.
|☆|
"Miss Montgomery.." Louisa glanced towards her, pen in hand.
She peered at her superior from her place on a couch within one of the bases the Guild had declared as their own. "Yes Alcott?"
"On the subject of making your Hero licence, I would like your opinion." She said.
Lucy stood up to walk over to the lady, giving a small nod as she stood in front of her.
Turning her clipboard around, Louisa revealed the notes.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Agency, Fitzgerald Agency
Issued XX-XX-XXXX
Quirk, Anne
'Of course he'd create an American Hero Agency named after himself…' Lucy thought offhandedly.
Louisa pointed towards a blank section with her pen, tapping it twice. Noted before the blank section, were the words 'Hero alias'. "I need your help with this part, nothing came to mind. Though I'm sure you'd rather pick what you'd be called."
"An alias?" Lucy questioned.
"Of course." Louisa nodded, turning the clipboard back around to face herself. "It wouldn't do to have everybody calling you by your name. Pick something simple, although hero conventions are different in Japan compared to America…"
"Well I wish you would've let me know ahead of time…" Lucy placed her arms behind her back sheepishly. "I hadn't even thought of it until now."
"If that's the case then I'll come back later." Her superior offered, bringing the clipboard to her chest.
"No, no! I'll think of one right now!" Lucy affirmed. "I don't want to waste any more of your time."
For a couple seconds, Lucy stood there bouncing off the heels of her feet. Really, she hadn't even realised that she'd have to make one in the first place. She really didn't have much knowledge of Heroes at all… Which was frightening considering she was about to take a position of one.
"Marigold."
"Marigold?" Louisa repeated.
Lucy hummed affirmative in response, bringing her hands in front of her once again. "That's what I'd like to be called."
|☆|
Lucy wasn't worried about whether the fraud licence would be picked apart, it was as real as it could get. Except for the fact it only dated back to being created just a day prior.
If Nezu were to search up the ID number in a database, he'd find a section about her, of which dated back two years. It was incredible how much money could do for you, fraudulent or not.
"UA doesn't accept new hires very often, especially so close to the new year."
"Which is why I'm thankful for this interview!" She smiled. It would've been good if she was informed of the breach earlier on, but it goes as it goes.
"And I thank you for your time, as it is the weekend." Nezu nodded, placing the Hero licence onto the table, to which Lucy grabbed it back, keeping it in her lap.
His big beady eyes stared at her for a little too long, Lucy thought of investing in mouse traps, maybe his intelligence would be all for nothing at the sight of cheese. Which was a silly thought, considering how Edgar went on about how his intelligence rivaled that of his boyfriend; dubbed rival. With how much he talked of that guy, Lucy knew the rat must be smart.
"Ah, no worries? …Is this the end of the interview?" She questioned, hands starting to fidget from the staring .
Nezu affirmed, gesturing for her to leave.
"Thank you for the interview!" Lucy bowed her head before quickly leaving the room. As she left, her phone buzzed in her skirt pocket.
She slipped open her phone case, eyes glancing over the message. What good timing.
|♡|
XXX-XXX-XXX
>> how was the interview?
As good as it could be, Twain. <<
>> we're out front! don't keep us waiting.
|♡|
She recognised from the get go that the number was Mark, he was the only one in the guild who sent messages without capital letters.
She didn't save people's phone numbers, it was either remember the last three numbers or perish. The real way.
As he said he would, a parked white car sat outside the entrance to the school, her shoes clicked against the pavement with how quickly she was walking.
She sat down in the backseat, fastening her seatbelt.
The car poured out from where it had been parked, driven by Louisa.
Ginger hair turned to face her, a grin on his face. "That bad? Do tell me that you haven't already failed your mission."
"Of course I haven't!" Lucy countered, crossing her arms, scowl placed upon her face.
"Sure, sure." Mark tutted, still not turning around to face the front.
Scowling, Lucy reached forward, slamming her hand in his face to push him back. To which he licked her hand.
"Yuck!" Lucy shook her hand up and down, as if that'd get rid of the saliva on her hand, wiping it against the car seat. "What was that for!"
"For almost failing the mission, and trying to hit me."
"I said I didn't fail! The rat principal thing- was just creeping me out!" She further wiped her hand against the seat, grimacing.
"Please refrain from fighting, you two." Louisa pushed up her glasses, and Lucy could see her light hearted glare from the mirror in the front.
"Sorry Alcott." The two of them chorused, which still didn't stop them from glaring at each other.
"How did it go, Montgomery?" Louisa asked, looking back at her from the mirror.
"Good." She said at the same time that Mark repeated the opposite, which earned a kick to the back of his chair. "Asshole!"
"I'm telling the truth!"
"You don't know the truth, you weren't there!"
Louisa coughed.
Lucy straightened up just a bit, combing her fingers through her fringe. "It went fine, Nezu seemed to not be suspicious about the ID. I could answer every question easily."
"Excellent." Louisa echoed, taking a quick right.
"And you're sure you didn't mess things up?"
"Shut up!" She kicked the back of his seat again. "Of course I'm sure!"
"Okay, okay! Jesus, can't you take a joke?"
"From you? Never." She scowled, grabbing and sliding her purse into the rightful place in her bag.
"Twain, you'll have to take the back seat when we park."
"What?!" Both Mark and Lucy echoed.
"I don't want to sit next to him!"
"Well I don't want to sit with you either." Mark spat.
"Quit it! Please! We're picking up Poe and you know he gets carsick." She sighed.
"Fine, whatever! Of course he matters more to you!" Mark slumped back into the seat.
"I don't know what you're talking about… Please quit it." Louisa sighed, taking another turn before they pulled to a stop.
Poe stood there with multiple bags in hand, what could he even be buying? Hero merch and propaganda? That seemed to be the only thing that was on every street.
With a groan, Mark hopped out of the car, and begrudgingly helped Poe load his bags into the back of the car. Once everything settled, the car started up again.
She looked out the window as they drove, and really, Heroes' faces covered the streets. She recognised most by face, none by name. Really she only memorised UA staff, even then she had trouble cramming all their names into her head.
A fist hit her shoulder. "Miss Montgomery, please pay attention..!"
In return, she kicked at Mark's ankle, but quickly straightened up. "Huh?"
From the seat in front of her, Poe spoke up. "We're taking you to an apartment where you'll stay throughout the mission. Um.. I've grabbed groceries, and other things…" He rambled on, though it was slightly muffled by how he was speaking into his lap.
"Okay." Lucy responded. Somewhere in-between, Karl had squeezed himself out from Poe's arms and crawled into the backseat, placing himself on Lucy's lap. She smiled, gently petting the racoon.
"Ah, where was I…" Poe hushed himself, a few seconds passed before he spoke up again. "Oh, Twain, would you help bring her things in?"
"If you say so." He frowned, rolling his eyes.
"Don't give Poe an attitude." She kicked him again
"Thank you, Montgomery…" Poe spoke, almost in a whisper. Seemed like his speech was over and done with.
" Ow !" Mark had kicked her back.
"Grow some skin, you're gonna need it when like thirty fifteen year olds are going to be on your case."
"Can you stop?"
"You started it."
"You can both stop, right now!" Louisa sounded exasperated.
"Yes, Alcott."
|☆|
She had Mark have the honour of bringing every part of her luggage, and groceries; into her apartment.
"God how can you have so many things, you're like, nineteen or something." He groaned, dropping everything onto the ground.
"Careful now." She warned, eyes glancing over the apartment, it was… different. "Don't break my things."
"You could've helped me."
"Could've, should've, didn't." She hummed, taking a step forward. It was furnished, mostly, pretty much bare except for the couch and chairs.
"I'm so glad you're going to be gone." Mark dragged the grocery bags onto the counter, unpacking the items out of the noisy plastic bags. "Won't have to deal with you anymore."
"Thanks." Lucy spoke, sarcasm dripping in her tone, grabbing her luggage to drop into the bedroom. It was small, just how she liked it.
"You can figure out where to put all this." Mark called from the other room, before letting out a curse as something dropped onto the floor.
She placed her bags onto her bed, shaking her fringe out of her face. Pivoting on her foot, she walked straight back into the main living space. Groceries were emptied haphazardly across the table. "Thanks for the help."
Mark just hummed in response, before taking a leisurely pace back to the still wide open front door. Lucy followed.
Her mouth threatened to fall to a frown, but she didn't let it. "I'll miss you."
Mark blinked. "What was that?"
Her face heated up. "I won't miss you actually, you should leave, right this second!"
A smile spread across his face, and he linked his arm around her shoulder. "I'll miss you too, do good."
"Whatever…" She glanced away. "You'll be going back to America?"
"Can't stay in Mustafu, you know this."
She frowned. "I do."
His arm around her shoulder fell, and instead his hands replaced it on each side. "You'll do great, trust me! We'll only be a phone call away."
"Okay."
"Hey, don't be upset! You knew it'd come to this." He poked her cheek, and she slapped his hand away.
"I knew that! It doesn't mean I can't be upset about it!" Shrugging off Mark's other hand, she crossed her arms. "Let me have my feelings."
"Sorry, sorry." He sounded genuine with it too, which made Lucy even more upset.
Being left alone in a whole new country that she's rarely visited is frightening, especially on an infiltration mission of all things. Sue her for not wanting to be alone.
Without warning, arms wrapped around her. She blinked, face heating up just slightly. "I'll make time to visit, I promise."
Lucy returned the sentiment, arms reaching around his lower half, she mumbled. "I don't want to be alone, this is going to suck."
"I know, but you'll do good. I don't doubt that for even one second!"
They stood like that for a couple moments, and Lucy blinked away the stinging in her eyes.
She pulled away first, taking a step backwards. "You should go. Quit leaving Poe and Alcott waiting.”
"Want me to leave that badly?"
Groaning, she pushed him out the door. Flipping her braid over her shoulder. "Get out."
"I'll see you Montgomery, keep in touch."
"You know I will."
|☆|
It'd been a couple days after her interview, Lucy had to admit she was a little nervous. All that anxiety was dissolved like cotton candy in water when an email popped up on her burner 'hero' email.
She had been summoned back to UA. She was actually going back. This meant either Nezu was going to bring her all the way there to deny her application, or, the more likely option, she'd actually been accepted.
This was why at nine AM on the dot, she was entering the UA building. Confidence was key, that's why Lucy walked with a pep in her step.
The hallways were completely empty, except for the sounds of her shoes clicking against the floor.
Fist raising to the door of Nezu's office, she knocked against the door three times, then once more for good measure.
A non-committal hum indicated for her to come inside, and once she was, she was met with the rodent principal once again. "Nice to see you again, Montgomery." She nodded, standing by the door. "Thank you for coming back to meet me so early, I'd like to discuss some things with you, if you'd sit down?"
Complying, Lucy sat in that same uncomfortable seat. "What is there to discuss?"
“For one, I welcome you to the UA staff team!" Nezu said, clapping his pawed hands together in a mock celebration.
A smile crossed her face, this is exactly what they wanted. "I.. thank you so much!" She feigned excitement, in reality she was dreading this. "I do have to ask… who am I going to be shadowing?"
|☆|
It was a Wednesday morning, and still break for education derived staff, and now Lucy was informed that Nezu had specifically called in all the UA staff to meet her. Without her knowledge. That rat.
If she knew that was going to happen, she would've dressed up even more! Good impressions are important, but now she's the reason a bunch of people are up at ten AM before their break ends. How considerate!
She knocked on a door, it was the one that Nezu had told her was a conference room. When she opened the door, she was met with thirteen people, all sat lounging around a long desk. All eyes were on her, and she couldn’t help but feel her face heat up a little bit from all attention being on her.
“ You’re the student teacher?” A gruff voice spoke, she glanced over at the speaker. It was a dog. A whole dog. With a muzzle and all! His tone seemed confused, if anything.
Blinking away her surprise, she stood up a little bit straighter. “Ah- yes, that’s me!” She bowed her head, a show of respect, and so she was able to quit eye contact for just a second. “It’s nice to meet you– all of you!”
“Come, sit, sit.” An old lady who she recognised to be Recovery Girl, pat at the seat next to her. With a smile, she sat down next to her. “I’m sorry, Nezu didn’t inform us much about you…”
Which Lucy expected, the rat didn’t seem the type to let on much information, even if she was a new hire. “What do you know?” She asked instead of a comment about Nezu, she was sure if she happened to let something slip, that’d cause a bad impression.
Nobody answered, the Heroes surrounding her glanced at one another. Seriously?... “Nothing?”
“Apologies, we would’ve asked for your application but–” A hero wearing a spacesuit looking outfit spoke up, Thirteen, she recalled. “Nezu didn’t stick around to answer many emails.”
“That’s fine…” Lucy nodded, the back of her neck felt it was on fire. She wasn’t good at public speaking, and speaking in general. It was quite stressful… Why did Fitzgerald pick her again? “I don’t know where to start, I’m sorry.”
“Oh, don’t apologise!” She glanced over at the new speaker… And Lucy wasn’t quite sure how this was allowed. Skin tight bodysuit, and Lucy felt herself blush. Midnight, she supplied in her head. “Stuff like this can be quite daunting, you know?”
Next to speak was an extremely thin man. Lucy couldn’t recognise who this was. “Would you rather us ask you questions, then? Instead of supplying things yourself?” Nope, Lucy still couldn’t tell who this mysterious character was. Though she just nodded. “What’s your name?”
“Lucy Maud Montgomery.” She replied. Absently, she crossed her ankles, leaning slightly into the chair, which was as uncomfortable as the ones in Nezu’s office.
“That’s an English sounding name.” Present Mic said. If Lucy wasn’t on a mission to get herself liked by her new co-workers, she would’ve laughed out loud about his hair.
“I’m Canadian, I moved here months ago.” She said, earning a surprised look from the former.
“How about your quirk?” The next person asked, the mask and cowboy hat was enough for Lucy to realise the identity of the hero; Snipe. She thought that if it weren’t for a difference in views, she’d get along with him.
“I call it Anne .” She didn’t indulge anymore information. She simply smiled as the confused looks came her way. Clearly, they were waiting for her to explain the logistics of her ability, to which Lucy was apologetic for the disappointment.
“What about your Hero name?” An extremely grey square man spoke; Cementoss, she recalled.
“Marigold.” The name was unusual on her tongue, but she liked it all the same.
From her far right, a voice spoke. “How old are you?” Ah, right to the point, and not beating around the bush!
Lucy had done her fair bit of searching around wikipedia and the UA page for information about the staff members of the school. Which allowed her to find out that all of the staff were… quite out of her age range. “Nineteen.” All the people surrounding her were in their late twenties to early forties. And well, she wasn’t exactly sure of Recovery Girl’s age but it was a far away number.
“I see…” He spoke, ‘he’ being Eraserhead. If she wasn’t listening in so carefully, Lucy wouldn’t have caught on to the stunned tone that escaped his voice.
“Do you have any allergies?” Lunch Rush was next to speak up. To which Lucy answered, ‘no’, but added on her affinity for sweet things.
Lucy clicked her tongue, sitting up a bit straighter. “Nezu told me that I’d be shadowing Eraserhead and…” She paused. “All Might?”
The string-cheese looking fella suddenly brightened up. To which Lucy realised… “Ah, this is highly confidential information, so it’s important that this stays in this room and this room only.” He started, speaking so quickly that all attention on Lucy was brought to him. “But I’m–”
“ You’re All Might?”
Theoretically, if a pen happened to drop, it wouldn’t be so cliché.