Chương 99: Chapter One Hundred
The dimly lit room enveloped the last remaining members of the Seven Bullets, left alone by Chief Tsuragmae and the warden. The air hung heavy with anticipation as Shiro, Gray, and you were left to discuss the best plan of action for confronting Puzzle—notorious for her trickster ways and devious games. No matter what plans the three of you devised, a lingering sense persisted, nagging you in the back of your mind—you felt like your team was about to walk into a trap, cultivated by your unhinged sister.
You idly surveyed the room, only half-engaged in Shiro and Gray's planning, too busy feeling restless and eager to leave the confines of the prison for the impending battlefield, a sudden glimmer in a hanging picture frame drew your attention. Intrigued, you turned your body toward the frame, moving towards it, your brows furrowing, your fingers gently traced the contours under your eyes. A ghostly, yellowed hue lingered in the rims, and in that moment, realization dawned. Everything clicked into place with a sickening sensation in your stomach, and an icy shiver ran down your spine, making every breath feel like a struggle.
"-until then, keep my package nice and safe." Puzzle's cryptic voice echoed hauntingly through your mind. The weight of those words settled heavily on your shoulders.
"It's me." You whispered, taking a step back from the frame, realization, and dread intertwining in your eyes.
"(y.n)?" Shiro frowned, calling out your name. You turned to your two brothers, who froze at the sight of the panic etched on your face.
"It's me!" The words tumbled from your lips, a desperate plea for them to understand the looming threat that Puzzle's message had just unveiled.
"I don't know what to do with that!" Shiro called over your panicked voice. "We need more!"
"I have his eyes." You breathed, your stomach twisting into knots. Shiro stared into your glowing yellow eyes, and you repeated, "I have Shadow Jack's eyes!" Your voice cracked as the disgust became too much to bear. To have a piece of that monster inside you, unable to do anything to rip it out, soured your stomach. The weight of the revelation pressed down on you, and the room seemed to close in as the reality of your connection to Shooter became an inescapable truth.
"Hey!" Shiro gripped your shoulders, stabilizing you. "This is a good thing!"
"What!?" You grimly laughed.
"If you have his quirk, that means he doesn't." Shiro explained. "This is how Shadow Jack was able to escape the police and heroes for so many years. You said Tank leaked that the League of Villains was planning to bust him out of jail. It makes sense why Puzzle is busting her ass to get his quirk back."
"Yeah." Gray turned. "But why part with it in the first place if he was just going to try and get it back?"
"I don't know-" Shiro shook his head. "-but it explains why he wasn't able to slip away when he went up against All Might and lost."
"It's good we know this." Gray shook his head, turning to you. "We've always wondered about the origins of your quirk and why only you could survive the experiment to receive it, now we know, this gives us information we didn't have, which gives me an idea how to handle Puzzle and Tank." Gray grins.
"It does?" Shiro gasped, "You have an idea!?"
"Oh, shut up!" Gray snapped, "You act like I never have any good ideas!"
"I can count how many times you've had a good idea on one hand!" Shiro retorted, wiggling his hand in front of Gray's face. He stole quick glances at your shellshocked face, frustrated he didn't have the time to help you through this, Shiro reached a handout, placing it firmly on your shoulder, you slid your frosted gaze over to him.
"We're going to get through this." Gray whispered, taking your hand in his. "After this is over, we will get you all the therapies."
----
The icy wind howled as Shiro hopped off an ice mount with a sly grin. "You know us Bullets-" He declared, "-never ones to beat around the bush. So, let us cut the bullshit. We know you're here for that little package you have such a hard on for."
Gray joined Shiro's side, adding, "You know what they say: no takesies backsies."
Puzzle rolled her eyes dismissively. "I'm not going to waste my time on a pair of useless mutts. We're on a tight schedule. Little sister, come now, or this school will be torn down starting with your little friends there."
"Nah." You replied nonchalantly, shrugging your shoulders.
"Nah!?" Puzzle was taken aback, her annoyance growing.
"It's going to the grave with me." You declared firmly.
"I guess I'll have to drag you back to the Red Room myself-!" Puzzle sneered, "-and take back what's mine!"
"Good luck." Gray snorted, nodding his head forward, signaling for Puzzle to look behind her. "You messed with the wrong team."
Puzzle's ear twitched hearing a thudding sound behind her, she turned, spotting a dust cloud growing in the distance. "What is that?!" Puzzle sneered, annoyed her plans were being tampered with, throwing her off schedule.
Shiro positing himself to stand beside you. "-you fucked around and now you're about to find out."
The ominous clouds billowed overhead as Puzzle's lips curled over her teeth beneath her mask, her gaze fixated on the approaching storm of pro-heroes led by Tiger of the Wild, Wild Pussycats.
"Villains-!" Tiger's voice thundered across the battlefield, echoing the determination of the heroes. "-today is your last day terrorizing this city!"
"Heroes!" Panic rippled through the ranks of villains stationed below the imposing gate of U.A. High School, their confidence waning as they witnessed the formidable force heading their way.
'Everyone-!' Mandalay's telepathic message resonated within the minds of the crowd. '-please be advised, the villains' target is Five!'
The sudden gravity of the situation gripped the hearts of U.A. faculty and students. Katsuki's eyes snapped in your direction, a mix of concern and determination etched across his features.
'I repeat, protect Pro-Hero Five at all costs!'
You snapped around to Gray, who wore a sheepish grin that could not hide his satisfaction.
"This was your plan?" You asked, eyes narrowing at him. "Call everyone in our contacts list?"
"Pretty smart, right?" Gray responded with a triumphant puff of his chest and a victorious smile, basking in the glory of his strategic move.
Hawks descended gracefully from the sky, his vibrant red feathers swirling and cascading like a magical dance as he landed amidst the crowd of heroes. Shiro, with a raised eyebrow, turned his attention to the dramatic display.
"You control your feathers, right?" Shiro questioned, a skeptical expression on his face.
Hawks looked over his shoulder at Shiro, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Yes?"
"So, you make them fall around you all theatrical like that!?" Shiro threw his head backward in an exaggerated manner. "You're so dramatic!"
The sound of approaching heroes resonated like thunder as they surged towards U.A. High School, determined to protect it from the impending threat posed by Puzzle and Tank. Puzzle's meticulous plan unraveled before her eyes, and frustration painted her face in shades of anger.
"I'm going to kill you with your own quirk!" Puzzle's voice cut through the chaos; her gaze locked onto you, the intensity of her rage boiling within her veins. With the earth quirk you once possessed—now under her control—she commanded the ground beneath your feet to tremble. Your eyes flickered to the ground, but before anyone could react, the earth tore apart, sending grass and chunks of dirt soaring into the air. The shockwave surged through the area, flinging heroes in all directions as if they were simple ragdolls. The once-steady ground turned into an unstable chaotic sea of debris.
You were hurled through a glass window into a stairwell, the violent impact sent shockwaves through your senses as you went rolling down a flight of stairs, you landed on your back, coughing, and gasping for air. The cold, unforgiving steps provided little comfort as the villains wasted no time, seizing the opportunity and sprinting in your direction—their malicious intent focused on the price tag hanging over your head.
Katsuki jumped to his feet, ignoring the scattered villains and heroes, he propelled himself through the air with the explosive force of his quirk. Leaping through the shattered window, his crimson eyes scanned the area, and upon spotting you, he dashed down the stairs. Landing beside you, he scooped you up in his steaming hands, cradling your head gently against his chest.
"(y.n)!?" Katsuki's voice cut through the chaos outside as he held you protectively.
Your body ached, as you swallowed hard, you glanced over Katsuki's shoulder. Dread set in as you spotted the villains crawling up the school's wall and slipping through the hole you had inadvertently created. The eerie sound of glass crunching under their malevolent footsteps echoed, accompanied by the sinister laughter of the approaching villains.
Katsuki stood, pulling you with him he pushed you behind him, his fiery gaze locking onto the villains filling the stairwell.
"We can't let them get into the school." You breathed, feeling a warm liquid dropping down your forehead, Katsuki glanced over his shoulder at you.
"Stay behind me." Flames of determination flickered across his scarlet eyes as he prepared to face the oncoming onslaught of villains alone. You rolled your eyes, stepping around his extended arm, he scowled as you stood beside him, turning to the villains stomping down the stairs.
"The Pro-Hero Five-!" The villain taking lead of this ragtag team of misfits curls his sneer, "-the things I've heard about you." He breathed, bringing his enlarged fist in view, flexing it while his eyes drink you in.
"Yeah?" You smirk, "All good things I hope."
"The rumors don't do you justice."
"-the fuck you doin' eyeing up my girlfriend?" Katsuki sneered, placing himself in front of you.
"Girlfriend!?" The villains burst into laughter; you counted eleven crammed in the stairwell.
"I wouldn't call Five girlfriend material." A side villain interjected with a mocking tone.
Another chimed in, "Yeah, maybe a good fuck, but other than that—"
Katsuki's anger surged through his veins, boiling over like a volcanic eruption. In a flash, he whipped his hands upward, unleashing a searing explosion that filled the narrow stairwell. The intense heat radiated through the d the narrow stairwell, setting the atmosphere ablaze while your ears rang.
The self-assured villain took charge, a smug grin on his face as he raised his enlarged hands. They extended, widening ominously. Your eyes narrowed as you witnessed the villain effortlessly catch Katsuki's explosive blast. The gathered energy coalesced, morphing into a vibrant, swirling ball within the villain's grasp. In one fluid motion, he swiftly launched the concentrated blast back in your direction. The force of the explosion threw both you and Katsuki through the double doors, sending you tumbling into the hallway of the second floor.
The lockers groaned beneath the unexpected force, bearing the weight of the impact as you and Katsuki collided with them, leaving a permanent dent in their metal surface. The self-assured leader of the troublesome group swaggered into the hallway, exuding an air of entitlement.
"I believe you've grasped by now-" He sneered while you struggled to rise from the floor, "-any quirk you attempt won't make a dent on me. That's precisely why your beautiful sister out there sought me out, her exquisite planning-!"
"Oh God-!" You cut the villain off, "-could you suck her dick any harder!?"
"She'll be sucking mine after I bring you to her."
"Keep dreaming." Katsuki scoffed, his sneer mirroring the villain's arrogance.
"Ugh-" You groaned, "-hang on while I go throw up." Katsuki smirked.
The villains lunged forward; their intentions clear. Swiftly sidestepping the charging assailant, you pivoted on your heel, seizing the opportunity. Gripping the back of his neck, you harnessed his momentum, forcefully planting him face-first into the lockers. The metallic echo of impact resonated as he crumpled to the ground.
With agile finesse, you ducked backward, redirecting your attention to the next assailant. Locking eyes, an immediate unease settled on the villain, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. In a calculated move, you seized his arm, utilizing your elbow to deliver a swift strike to his nose. The villain winced, his eyes watering instantly.
The rim of your eyes emanated a chilling blue glow as ice rapidly traversed his arm. Capitalizing on his disorientation, you skillfully spun the villain into the lockers, where the freezing effect seamlessly bound him to his comrade.
Hearing the villain approaching from behind, you dropped low, swiftly extending a leg to sweep out his legs. The villain tumbled onto his back. Placing your boot on his chest, you glared down as ice encased him, muffling his cries. Surveying the scene, you noticed two villains knocked out against the lockers, smoke wisping off them.
Suddenly, a sword sliced through the air as you jumped back to avoid the onslaught. The villain, sporting swords from all angles, taunted you. "Your poor girlfriend—" You breathed, he charged forward, "—or boyfriend—" You deftly ducking his strikes, "—I don't judge, man." He continued his assault, but you rolled your eyes and pulled your gun from its holster, firing three shots. The gunshots resonated through the hallway. Although the villain dodged the first shot, he was unable to avoid the last two. Falling backward, he became a testament to the adage, "Don't bring a knife to a gun fight."
A sudden explosion echoed behind you, prompting you to duck and spin around. As you stood, you gazed at the mangled lockers and the burnt, empty hallway.
"What the fuck!?" You sprinted forward, following the commotion. You checked room after room, passing two more unconscious villains. On the fourth room, you peered into an unoccupied classroom where three villains remained, and Katsuki faced off with them. Stepping into the room, Katsuki's back was to you. Rushing to his side, Katsuki glanced over as you reached out, the rim of your eyes glowing as you sent a gust of wind, throwing two villains out the window while the third managed to hold on.
"I wondered when you'd join the party Five!" The leader bellowed.
"What's taking you so long?" You questioned the blond ignoring the villain's comment.
"Hah!?" Katsuki snapped his head around, glaring at your smirking face. He faced forward, causing your smile to disassemble. You turned to the two villains, if the Mr. Misfit could deflect quirks, then—you pulled your gun, aimed, and fired seamlessly three shots. The second villain in the room jumped forward, his body morphed into a flat shield, blocking Mr. Misfit, absorbing the impact of the bullets.
"That's just annoying." You breathed, holstering your gun. You exchanged looks with Katsuki before each of you stepped forward, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the two villains.
"One to ten?" You shouted over to Katsuki—who furrowed his brows, focused on the main villain who had insulted you.
"What?" He grunted, concentrating on his fight. You kicked your opponent, sending him tumbling over a desk. Using this moment, you pulled your gun and fired but the villain flattened himself against the floor, slithering to safety.
"Bitch." You mumbled, "On a scale." You clarified to Katsuki. "How pissed are you?"
Katsuki, in his relentless assault, ducked Mr. Misfit's enlarged grasp, seized his wrist, and twisted it until he cried out in pain. With a swift punch to the jaw, Katsuki sent the villain crashing to the ground. "Eleven." Katsuki replied, his voice flat.
"Do you two need your own room-?" Your opponent tried to mock, causing your blood pressure to spike, you snapped around, eyes glowing blue as you sprayed ice forward, coating half the room in ice. The temperature plummeted, and you could see your breath. The villain attempted to slink out from under the desk but gasped out in pain, dropping to his knees he returned to his normal shape. "-what-what did you do!?"
"Dropped the temp to below freezing." You calmly replied, "You probably shouldn't stretch or whatever the fuck it is you do, the cold will likely cause you to snap."
"Stupid bitch!" The villain sneered, you shrugged.
"That was pretty vanilla, what else you got?"
"Shape!" Mr. Misfit called out, launching himself in your direction but Katsuki slid in front of you, hands stretched out, delivering a blow directly in the villain's face, sending him flying backwards into the chalkboard hanging on the wall.
"Shape?" Katsuki snickered, "That's the best villain's name you could come up with?"
"Did you just use me as bait?" You placed a hand on your hip, Katsuki turned stepping towards you. He reached out taking you by the neck, pulling you in him, capturing your lips with his, he wrapped an arm around your waist. You were wide eyed, staring into his scarlet eyes for only a moment, before slowly letting your eyes close on their own accord. You couldn't stop yourself from leaning into the kiss, savoring Katsuki's kiss.
"You scared the hell outta me!" Katsuki cursed, breaking the kiss.
"I-"
"You should have told me what happened!" Katsuki scowled.
"I couldn't." You replied monotonously.
"Dammit (y.n)-!"
"You are my partner-!" You snapped, "-not my parole officer! There is shit you're not going to be able to tell me and vice versa, that is just how this job goes!"
"I would have told you." Katsuki breathed; you shook your head.
"No, you wouldn't have." You replied, stepping closer to him, but he took a step back. "If my life was on the line, you wouldn't tell a soul." You say, "I wanted to tell you, but I just couldn't."
"Those damn Extras knew, and I didn't!" Katsuki shot back.
"They only knew because they were the ones kidnapped!" You snapped back, "Shiro, Gray and I all threatened them to keep their mouth shut but we forgot they were fucking morons with loose lips!"
"You were arrested (y.n)!"
"Yeah-!" You nod, "-I know, I was there!"
"Why didn't...why didn't you request to see me..." Katsuki breathed, causing you to frown.
"What?" You blinked, "You act like there was a way to make fucking reservations! I was in Tartarus Prison, Aizawa and Toshi barely got in with Naomasa, who is basically my fucking lawyer! What is this about?"
"Nothing." Katsuki refused to look you in the eye as he contemplated what Hawks had said to him.
A thunderous explosion drew Katsuki and your attention toward the shattered windows. You peered through the broken glass, the heroes engaged in a fierce struggle against the villains, while Puzzle and Tank observed the chaos from their perch on the gates. You exchanged a glance with Katsuki, and without uttering a word, both of you stepped onto the window ledge and leaped back into the heart of the ongoing battle.
You found yourself standing beside Aizawa, who acknowledged your presence with a nod. Katsuki, the fiery hero at your side, crackled with explosive energy, ready for the decisive confrontation. Puzzle, surrounded by chaos, noticed your approach, and shot you a venomous glare under her mask.
Aizawa, with his capture weapon at the ready, surveyed the situation. "We made a plan to defend the school, your job is to just keep the villain out of U.A." He instructed with a stern expression, his eyes reflecting the urgency of the moment.
You and Katsuki nodded in agreement; your shared resolve clear. With a coordinated effort, the duo joined the sounds of clashes, quirks colliding, and your stolen earth quirk surged under Puzzle's control, creating obstacles and barriers in an attempt to confound the heroes.
Aizawa's sudden movement caught Mina's attention, the blade in his hand caught the sun's rays, reflecting them into her eye. Her heart sunk watching him turn the blade in the direction of your turned back—quick on her feet, she leaped into harm's way, shielding your body from the incoming strike, as her scream got lost in the mayhem of the battle.
You twisted on your heel, feeling Mina's body pushing you forward, you turned in time to see Tank descended with thunderous force, his massive fist slamming Aizawa into the ground. Your heart twisted, sinking into your stomach as your muscles tensed—your body cringed at the memory of Tank crushing your leg.
Tank's impact revealed a sickly truth—Aizawa was just a clone, a deceptive ploy by Puzzle. Before anyone could question the whereabouts of Aizawa, Tank pivoted toward you, urgent in his voice.
"(y.n), we need fire, now!"
Confusion briefly clouded your mind. Glancing at Puzzle, now standing on the gate with clenched fists, you quickly understood the situation. Turning to Todoroki, you nodded decisively, "Come on, Pyro."
"Pyro?" The dual user frowned but followed your order, nonetheless. Todoroki went up against you in your evaluation; he knew controlling your fire quirk wasn't guaranteed, especially in a crowded battlefield.
Stepping together at the forefront of the heroes fending off the villains, Todoroki and you prepared for the combined assault. The students at the windows watched in horror as the battle unfolded below, uncertain of the outcome.
As you and Todoroki unleashed a torrent of flames, scorching the onslaught of villains, they began to melt away like wax in a furnace. The heat consumed the illusions, revealing the seemingly overwhelming army of villains was nothing more than Puzzle's clones. The battlefield, once filled with the chaos of countless adversaries, now revealed the true nature of the threat – a handful of real villains masked among the clones.
"Looks like I won't be able to continue being your inside man for the Cobbler." Tank muttered stepping to your side, feeling the intensity of Puzzle's stare lingering on him, her plans thwarted because of him.
You shrugged, a smirk playing on your lips as you glanced at your brother. "Shiro doesn't take up much room. I could use another roommate."
"Hm." Tank hummed, contemplating the offer. "I might have to take you up on that. I always wanted to better my education."
Your laughter echoed through the chaos, your chest feeling lighter with the presence of your brother by your side. "How do you want play this?" You questioned, glancing at Tank's masked face.
"I'm unsure how Puzzle will alter her plan now that I have betrayed her." Tank replied, "Your guess is now as good as mine."
"Fanfuckingtasic." You sighed.
"Language." Tank replied as the two of you followed Todoroki back to your classmates who were oddly huddled together.
Aizawa was crouched beside Mina, desperately applying pressure to her bleeding abdomen. Mina coughed, blood escaping between her lips, her once vibrant energy now dimmed by the shadow of pain.
You quickly rushed to her side.
"Mina?" You breathed, realizing with a jolt she had sacrificed herself, jumping in front of you when Puzzle's clone attacked. "What the hell were you thinking!?" You scolded her, the lump in your throat growing with each passing moment.
Mina managed a weak smile. "You-You're always are the one coming to our rescue." She coughed out, struggling to speak. "I-It was my turn to save you."
"Mina..." You whispered, your voice trembling with emotion, as you masked your concern while clearing your throat, glancing at her wound and then back to her face. "You're going to be fine." You reassured her, though a sinking feeling in your chest contradicted your words.
Unbeknownst to you, Puzzle had silently descended from the gates, and the pro-heroes forming a barricade in front of you tensed as they noticed her sinister movement. Puzzle seethed with rage as her eyes locked onto Tank, standing resolute beside you.
Katsuki, sensing the impending danger, snapped around, leaping over, and enveloping you in his protective arms just as Puzzle closed the distance, contorting her body into a nimble mist to effortlessly slide past the heroes.
Tank, ever the stalwart defender, reacted swiftly, intercepting Puzzle's blade and preventing it from piercing Katsuki's chest. Puzzle, flipping in midair, redirected her fury into Tank, impaling her blade into him.
The air echoed with your anguished cry.
"No!" You shouted, untangling yourself from Katsuki's grasp. Ice surged forward, a feeble attempt to push Puzzle back as you frantically scrambled to Tank's side.
The pro-heroes descended upon Puzzle, who sneered defiantly in their direction. She cursed them, hurling her own followers at the heroes' feet, callously using them as steppingstones in her ruthless quest to save her own freedom. With a quick twist over the gates, Puzzle vanished in a thick vortex of fog. The heroes, frustrated by her escape, exchanged worried glances.
In the aftermath of the chaotic clash, the once pristine grounds were now scarred and battered, with the gates bent, windows shattered, and blood staining the sidewalks. The school bore the visible wounds of the battle on its hallowed grounds. Sirens wailed in the distance, echoing the chaos that had unfolded.
You remained glued to Tank's side as your classmates and fellow heroes were sent out to collect lingering villains and search for Puzzle.
"Tank, why...why did you...?" Your voice wavers, unable to articulate the tumult of emotions coursing through you. Your hands firmly pressed against the gushing wound on his stomach, you could not ignore the warmth of his blackish-purple blood staining your skin.
"I'm sorry." Tank calmly breathes, his eyes reflecting a blend of regret and acceptance.
"What...?" You furrow your brows, searching his masked face for answers. "Why...sorry for what?"
"I tried to get you out of this life." Tank confesses with a weary exhale. The weight of his words hangs heavily in the air, and you struggle to grasp their full meaning.
"You stayed with Puzzle because of me?"
"You're my little sister..." Tank breathes, lifting his shaky hand to cup the side of your face. His touch, once a source of comfort, now carries the weight of a painful revelation.
"But why...?"
"I promised Mom."
"M-Mom?" You furrow your brows, a sense of confusion settling in. "But...but she...?"
"I loved her too." Tank breathes, his words laced with a bittersweet nostalgia. "I helped you and her get out, but Shadow Jack found out. He tracked you down."
"What happened to her?" You breathe out the question, a knot forming in your stomach.
"I don't know." Tank admits, his gaze distant. "After he returned with you, he never mentioned what had happened to her."
"Tank..." Your voice trembles with a mixture of sorrow and longing, the revelation opening wounds you never knew existed. The complexities of your past unravel before you, and in this moment, the pain of loss and the weight of unspoken truths create a symphony of heartache.
"I am so proud of you." Tank breathes, his words carrying a mixture of admiration and love. "You're the hero I always wished you'd become. I just wished I could have been more around for it."
"I..." You are left speechless, the weight of his approval and the realization of his sacrifice overwhelming you—you glanced over to Katsuki; his back faced you as he barked out orders. You fight back the stinging behind your eyes, emotions threatening to spill over.
Tank smiles beneath his mask, he brushed his thumb over your cheek. Your wide eyes blink back tears as medics rush onto the scene, pushing past you to quickly take over the application of pressure to Tank's wound.
Aizawa's hands grip your shell-shocked shoulders, guiding you out of the way as Tank and Mina are lifted onto stretchers and rushed into waiting ambulances.
As the chaos unfolds around you, Aizawa stops you from following Tank into the ambulance. He shakes his head, stating he will drive you. He uses the excuse you'd just be in the way of the medics working on your brother, but Aizawa is concerned about the impact witnessing Tank's potential death could have on you. The sirens wail in the background as the ambulances speed away, leaving behind a scene of both victory and heartache.
----
Fun Fact: The villain 'Shape' is named after a Marvel character.
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