Hey, guys welcome to my new story! There are a few things that I want to establish before the story starts.
First of all. Please don't ask for updates. The story will get updates whenever the next chapter is ready. That should be like, every other week maybe. Maybe!
Second, this fic takes place in an alternate future of the MHA world. Some of the events in the canon have happened, some of them didn't and some of them happened in different ways.
Anyway, that's it for now. Onto the story!
Fireworks lit off in the sky! And the buildings of I-Island were covered in bright lights.
"We are here at the International I-Island Technology Expo! The most exciting show of technology in the world! Said a Newswoman to a camera. "Now, after the tech demonstrations! It's time for the award ceremony!"
The crowd cheered inside the stadium as the head of the expo, Melissa Shield took the stage.
"Hello everybody!" Melissa said into the microphone. "Thank you all for coming! I hope you've all been enjoying the expo so far!"
"WOOOHHHHHH!" The crowd cheered.
"I think that answers my question." Melissa smiled. "Then without further ado! Let's get the award ceremony started!"
"YEAAAHHHHH!" The crowd went wild.
Melissa's assistant came and gave her the award.
"Now. At most award ceremonies, they save the best for last! But! We're not going to make you all wait in suspense! Let's start with the big one!" Melissa exclaimed. "The award, for most advanced support technology, goes too….Midoriya Industries!"
The crowd cheered, but a little more quietly this time.
"Now as per usual, Izuku Midoriya won't be appearing in person, and instead his lovely wife will be receiving the award. Give it up for Ochaco Midoriya everyone!" Melissa said.
Ochaco walked up to the stage to roaring applause, and a few envious glares, in a fancy yet rather simple dress.
"Thank you, everyone!" Ochaco said, taking the award. "Me and my husband are happy to receive this wonderful award, for the fifth time in a row. And of course, I'll be happy to accept all the other awards we'll be earning tonight."
"Oh, a bit cocky aren't we?" Melissa playfully teased. "Well then again given past expo's I can't exactly fault you."
"Yes, but before we go on." Ochaco pulled out a flashcard. "Izuku wrote down a speech for once."
"Some words from the elusive Izuku Midoriya! Make sure to pay attention everyone!" Melissa said.
Ochaco cleared her throat. "Thank you, everyone. I am honored and overjoyed to be receiving such an important and prestigious award. While I am the one receiving the award, I would like to bring some attention to all the people who helped me get to where I am. To my employees, my investors, and of course my customers. To my mother who supported me through everything. And most of all...to my wife, who's been with me since the beginning...and who without I would be nothing."
"Awwww." Went some of the crowd.
"We as makers of support gear, are in charge of helping the heroes who keep us from destruction. We are the ones who help them overcome obstacles that wouldn't be able to otherwise and we are the ones in charge of boosting to new heights." Ochaco continued. "I may be the one winning the award, but we all have an important role to play! Let's continue the good work!"
"YAAAAAAA!" The crowd gave a rousing applause.
Ochaco bowed and walked off stage.
Later, in the hotel room.
Izuku Midoriya, C.E.O., and owner of Midoriya industries was currently sitting on his hotel bed typing away on his laptop, working on new technology, when suddenly the door slammed open and Ochaco walked in.
"God I hate these things!" Ochaco said, referring to her overly expensive and very uncomfortable heels.
She quickly unstrapped her feet from the height extending torture devices, before throwing them to the other side of the room.
"I said you shouldn't have bought those. I told you your feet would hurt." Izuku closed his laptop and directed all his attention to her. "You could have just gotten something more comfortable."
"Yeah, but comfortable and good looking don't go together." Ochaco sighed as she kept getting undressed. "And if I don't look my best then we'll get fifty online posts about how I might secretly be a Nomu. And besides these shoes were a steal! They look way more expensive than they actually are."
"You always look your best," Izuku grumbled. "And anyone who calls you a Nomu isn't worth listening to."
Ochaco gave a kind smile at her husband, walking up to him and cupping his face in her hands. "I know, but not everyone can see things like you do. And I have to make sure the public opinion is high."
Then, Ochaco's expression changed from loving and tender to upset and disappointed. "Speaking of opinions. The card."
"Yeah, you changed it." Izuku pointed out.
"Of course I changed it!" Ochaco yelled, taking her hands off Izuku and pulling out the card. "I'm not if really deserve this! I wouldn't be able to do anything without help! Izuku, what have I said about self-deprecation!"
"I wasn't doing that, I was just being humble!" Izuku argued, waving his hand defensively.
"Ok, first of all. There is a time and place for humbleness. If you're too humble or are doing it at the wrong time, then it actually makes you sound arrogant. And two, no you weren't!" Ochaco scolded him.
She walked over to the door, before opening it and yelling down the hall. "Chizome! Bring me one of the awards!"
Izuku gave her a confused look. "What are you-"
Their bodyguard, Chizome Akaguro, showed up quickly with one of the awards they had gotten. "Here you are."
"Thank you. You're dismissed." Ochaco said, letting Chizome bow and take his leave before closing the door.
Then she grabbed Izuku, dragged him in front of a mirror, and stuck the trophy in his hand.
"Look at that," Ochaco said. "You did this. You earned this!"
"Yeah, but I couldn't have done this without-" Ochaco cut him off.
"And without you, this could never have been done," Ochaco said. "Repeat after me. I deserve this."
"I...deserve this?" Izuku said hesitantly.
"Louder!" Ochaco chanted. "More confidence! Don't look at me, look at the mirror!"
"I deserve this," Izuku said, slightly more confidently. Like he was trying to convince himself.
"Louder! Believe in yourself!" Ochaco encouraged.
"I deserve this!" Izuku yelled at the mirror.
"Again!" Ochaco shouted.
"I deserve this!" Izuku repeated.
"One more time!" Ochaco said.
"We deserve this!" Izuku shouted, a smile forming on his face.
"That's right-hey!" Ochaco said. "That's cheating."
"Maybe. But I feel better about taking credit for things if you're taking credit with me." Izuku laughed.
Ochaco started laughing with him. "Fine, fine. If it helps."
Ochaco moved Izuku's arms up, moved in front of him, and then lowered his arms around her, then put her hands on Izuku's.
"There. Feel better?" She asked, smiling brightly at him.
"Much." Izuku smiled back at her.
The two of them laughed for a little while before returning to their conversation.
"I'm sorry for making you go out there by yourself." Izuku apologized.
"Aghhh! Izuku I love you but you need to stop apologizing! Trust me, I'll tell you if you've done anything you need to apologize about." Ochaco said. "Understood."
"Understood." Izuku smiled.
"Good. And, if you want to make it up to me." Ochaco slid out of his arms. "You'll go to the investor tech demonstration."
Izuku's smile fell, and he started to look away from Ochaco. "Ochaco I…"
Izuku put down the award, as he began thinking over the request.
"Izuku, look at me," Ochaco said, making sure his attention was on her. "You haven't gone outside in years. You need to show your face to the public again. Or at least just our investors for now."
Izuku looked at her, his eyes conveying his inner confliction, before eventually sighing and giving in. "I'll do it...for you."
"Thank you." Ochaco leaned in and brought her lips to his.
The kiss didn't last long. But it served its purpose of comforting Izuku, putting him at ease about his decision.
Their lips parted, and Izuku looked down at his smiling wife.
"Don't worry. I'll be with you. Always." Ochaco whispered.
Izuku smiled back at her. "I know."
For that night, Izuku put his troubles aside. And let himself be at ease.
A few weeks later
Izuku breathed deeply, as the limousine brought him to his destination.
On his right was Ochaco and on his left was Chizome, doing his job as his bodyguard and making sure he was safe.
Right now they were heading towards a special compound that they used to test out their technology, and going to show off their E.F.E. gauntlets. Energy focusing enhancement gauntlets.
Truth is, Izuku is a shut-in. Once his company had gained enough money, power, and acclaim, he simply disappeared from the public eye altogether.
The only time the public ever heard of him afterward is when he was being credited for things.
Ochaco had helped him with being in public back in the days when the company was first starting out, and after they had gotten married she had been encouraging him to go outside more and get back into the public light.
These attempts have been mostly fruitless, but today was her first success.
The limo stopped.
"Looks like we're here," Chizome said, opening the door and looking around, before getting out of the way so Izuku could leave.
Izuku got out of the car, blinking rapidly as his eyes tried to adjust to the sun.
The three of them, as well as a few guards, walked into the facility.
"So...what kind of people are the uh...investors?" Izuku asked.
"They're investors. They want money." Chiziome said. "Show them something that can make them money. And you're on their good side."
"Which shouldn't be hard. The E.F.E. gauntlets are some of our most impressive products yet. Pretty much anyone with a quirk that shoots out any sort of energy is gonna want it." Ochaco said. "Nejire, Endeavor, Chargebolt-"
"Ground Zero?" Izuku suggested.
"No." Ochaco and Chiziome said in unison.
"He is permanently banned from receiving any of our gear." Ochaco grit her teeth.
"Now is that because he bullied Izuku when they were kids or is it because he is almost single-handedly responsible for your hero career not taking off?" Chiziome asked.
"Yes!" Ochaco shouted.
Ochaco had tried to be a hero in order to provide for her family. However, after failing the entrance exam and being put in general education, her only chance to get in would have been to impress U.A. at the sports festival.
However luck was never on her side, as for the first two sports festivals, she got put up against Bakugo in the first round. And in the third sports festival, her first round was against Shoto Todoroki.
So as you can imagine she already didn't like Bakugo that much, and when she found out what he did and said to Izuku, she hated him, even more.
"God I hate that prick!" Ochaco exclaimed. "How has Stain not tried to cut HIS head off yet!"
"Ochaco!" Izuku gave her a serious look.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry! That was wrong." Ochaco said, looking ashamed. "I just...I really hate that guy."
Izuku sighed. Bakugo had always been a bit of a sticking point for the two of them. Izuku had always tried to point out the positives of Bakugo, something that got easier as he(Kicking and screaming) matured into a more rational and less aggressive person. (By Bakugo standards)
Ochaco would then often point out the many, many, many, many not so positive qualities. Like his short temper, violent tendencies, past history of bullying(with the main victim being Izuku himself), foul mouth, a large amount of property damage he caused back in his early days, etc.
When the company got big, Ochaco had desperately wanted to expose Bakugo's past to the public, and bring his hero career down.
Izuku managed to talk her out of this, and the two came to a compromise. They would keep quiet about Bakugo's bullying, but he would be banned from obtaining any of their support items.
Ever since then they didn't mention him much. The only time Izuku would ever bring him up is when he tried to convince Ochaco to unban Bakugo. This was always met with stonewall rejection.
After a bit more walking they finally reached the test chamber.
The test chamber was a small viewing box that looked down at a large white room. The only thing separating the rooms was thick glass.
Inside the viewing box was a bunch of old-looking men in suits. The investors.
"Ah, Mr. Midoriya." One of the investors said. "It's a pleasure to see you."
"A pleasure and a surprise." Said another investor. This one is not sounding as happy. "After so long I had thought you would never have come out of your hole."
"I apologize for that." Izuku bowed.
"Enough," Ochaco said to the investors. "You came here to talk about technology. You know, the thing that's making you money. Not my husband's usual lack of presence."
"I agree." Said an impatient investor. "I would rather get this over with quickly."
"Good, now if everyone could direct your attention to the test chamber," Ochaco said.
Inside the test chamber was a man, who was wearing the E.F.E. gauntlet, and three targets.
"Everyone, this man has a quirk called air bullets. He can condense air into pellets and shoot them out of his hand." Ochaco explained. "This quirk has two major issues, however."
Ochaco then lifted up her hand and spoke into her watch. "Sir, please demonstrate your quirk without the gauntlet."
The man lifted the arm without the gauntlet and aimed at the targets.
He shot out a bunch of weak air pellets for his hand, most of which went flying all over the place, and the few that hit the targets didn't do much.
"His pellets are difficult to aim, and are rather weak," Ochaco explained. "However, with the gauntlet. Sir, please demonstrate your quirk while using the gauntlet."
The man raised his other arm and used his quirk again.
This time, rather than a bunch of weak, scattered pellets coming out, instead a single, focused air bullet flew out at the target and destroyed it immediately.
The investors looked impressed.
"Izuku if you wouldn't mind explaining the gauntlet." Ochaco put the focus on him.
"Oh, ah...Well, the gauntlet focuses energy projectiles and condenses it, before focusing it outward. This causes any energy projectiles that are fired from the gauntlet, to become stronger, faster, and more focused." Izuku explained nervously. "Mind you there are some drawbacks. For one this only works for energy-based projectiles and it also doesn't allow for wide attacks. However, the gauntlet can be deactivated, allowing heroes to use their wide attacks again."
"Hmm. Very impressive. I can imagine this will sell quite well." Said one of the investors.
"Agreed." Said another investor. "I-"
Suddenly, everything started to shake.
"What was that?" asked one of the investors.
BRRRRR! BRRR! Intruder alert! Intruder Alert!
"Intruders?" Chizome went on edge. "Alright everyone get out! We need to-"
And the roof collapsed. And everything went dark.
Sometime later.
"Ahhh." Izuku groaned as he slowly regained consciousness.
He opened his eyes and saw that he was in an unfamiliar room. It was rather plain and dull. As well as being extremely clean.
"Where...where am I?" Izuku asked no one in particular.
He tried to move but found that he wasn't able to. He turned his head and saw he was tied down to a chair.
Izuku's eyes widened, as alarm bells rang in his head.
Before he could act on the panic that was rising within him, the door in front of him opened, and in came what he assumed were his kidnappers. A man with black hair, a large coat, white gloves, and a bird mask, another man with a similar mask as well as a white hood that completely covered his face, and a strange black bird doll.
"Hello, Midoriya Izuku." Said the man in the coat. "Welcome to the Shie Hassaikai."