Author's Note: Sooo, this isn't quite as AU as I was originally planning, but I wrote this in one sitting while watching the movie and I think it turned out cool anyway. ALSO. I have tumblr now! The link is in my profile! I'd put it in here but FF is so finicky it would just destroy the link even if I split it into multiple pieces (huffs). Anyway, come take a look if you want or drop me an ask about my characters/writing (or ask my characters a question directly) or just to look at my hyperactive fandom hopping from BNHA to Fairy Tail to FFXV and back again with some Naruto sprinkled in. Plus I put snippets up there of stuff I'm working on sooo... :DD

Review Response: Dear Guest, hi! Awww I'm so thrilled you like it! (does the happy dance) I try really hard on these. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

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I-Island was as breathtaking as Izuku had imagined it would be, so much so he could almost forget his unease at being temporarily separated from his Elements to fly here with All Might. He could feel Kacchan and the others trickling onto I-Island even as the plane landed and All Might attracted an entire mob of eager fans though, so Izuku firmly stamped on the impulse to start throwing people that invaded his personal space.

At least All Might was apologetic about it afterwards —he should be, that was one of the single most terrifying things of Izuku's life, USJ and Stain included and—. Wait. The blond girl that had just pogo-sticked her way over to them had just called All Might … uncle?

Izuku tilted his head to one side without realizing, analyzing the new information. All Might had no known family, though siblings who had children of their own weren't … an impossibility. He was so private after all, most people didn't even know his real name. She had blond hair and bright blue eyes too, but … no. His instincts were certain that she wasn't actually related to All Might, she was just someone he cared deeply for. Mine then whispered Izuku's instincts and he tried to shove that thought away because she was her own person, he didn't even know her yet so he couldn't claim her as one of his —too late, he could already feel his Flames curling silently around her in greeting and inquiry and welcome, she belonged to his mentor, which made his instincts want to protect her as one of his own—.

His mental pleading for Kacchan —who'd sensed the sudden influx of mine— to stop laughing it wasn't funny was interrupted by All Might finally remembering Izuku was there and introducing him to the girl. Her name was Melissa Shield, daughter of a close friend of All Might's and a student at I-Island's scientific academy. Izuku shook her hand with a timid smile —he still didn't know what to do around girls other than Tsuyu and Ochako—, but Melissa-san seemed just fine with doing all the talking.

She circled his suit, touching it without regard for his personal space —and instead of getting angry his Cloud Flames just hummed in curiosity, oh he was doomed— as she muttered about his design choices and lack of support gear. She hesitated when she spotted the scars on his hand —from Stain mostly, but also from the earlier fight with Shōto— and Izuku let her run her fingers gingerly over the marred skin as he muttered, "It's alright. I just had an … encounter with a villain during my hero internship is all. It looks ugly, but there's no real damage."

Melissa-san looked up from his hand, blue eyes swimming with curiosity and concern until All Might called her off and managed to coax her into taking them to her father for the surprise visit.

Meeting David Shield was … incredible. The man was probably a bit overwhelmed by the embarrassing amount of trivia that spilled from Izuku's lips, but- but David Shield. The man had been such an influential figure in All Might's past he couldn't- he couldn't not babble. At least until his intuition whispered of the pain in All Might's body and his focus switched over to his mentor in alarm. Before the adults could come up with any kind of excuse, and with a suddenness that had to be entirely obvious, Izuku begged Melissa-san to show him around the expo while Shield-san and All Might caught up —after throwing a glance All Might's way to confirm that Shield-san knew about All Might's true form, which he apparently did—.

Melissa-san was … fun to be around. Friendly and charming in a way that made it easy to forget his usual awkwardness around new people —especially new girls— and the I-Expo was incredible. They chatted all through the attractions, commented on favorite pro heroes —nobody matched up to All Might though— and talked about their respective schools and career goals. Melissa-san wanted to be a scientist like her father, with a passion in her eyes that reminded Izuku a bit of himself and Kacchan when it came to All Might —and his Elements were poking him curiously over the bonds by now, wondering who was holding his attention so thoroughly he hadn't sought them out yet—. Even though he was keeping half an eye out for the source of the uneasy hum growing in the back of his head from his instincts, exploring the expo with Melissa-san was great.

Ochako was the first of his Elements to find him, tackling him to the floor with a gleeful cry right in the middle of the science attraction while Yaoyorozu-san and Jirō-san eyed him with suspicion —wait this looked like a date didn't it, oh snap—. Everyone stared as Izuku managed to worm out of Ochako's death grip and introduce the girls to each other —Melissa-san's innocent question of whether Ochako was Izuku's girlfriend just about killed him but at least it made the other girls back off—. Izuku was eternally grateful when Melissa-san read the mood and took them all to a nice café without revealing that he'd come to I-Island with All Might —his Elements knew, he couldn't hide it from them, but the others…—.

Ochako pestered him with cheerful questions over their bond even as she indulged in girl talk with the others and Izuku tried to answer honestly and not outwardly react to the teasing she was throwing his way. He wasn't surprised to see Sero-kun and Kaminari-kun there as waiters, he remembered spotting the help wanted flyers around the school and he knew his classmates had wanted desperately to come to the preview of the expo. The two drooled over Melissa-san until Ochako got protective and leveled her Smile of Death —thank you Kacchan for making his Sun terrifying in all circumstances—, after which they turned into perfect gentlemen without even needing Iida-kun's flyby lecture.

Melissa-san ended up playing tour guide to the group —sans Kaminari-kun and Sero-kun who still had work— and Izuku smiled as they arrived at some kind of hero challenge mini-game in time for Eijirō's bond to light up with triumph at a thirty-three second record. Izuku clapped happily for his Lightning, "Great job, Eijirō!" Eijirō turned and waved to him as he exited the ring and- oh dear.

"Kacchan, Shōto. That wasn't a dare for you two to do better." Below him, his Mist and Storm glanced over their shoulders at him, unimpressed by his half-hearted attempt to control the rising competitive streaks he could feel.

Kacchan grinned, bloodthirsty and bright as he jogged forward first, "Introduce me to the newbie in a couple seconds, Deku. First I gotta show the rest of these nerds what a real record time looks like."

Izuku sighed, leaned against the railing and rested his chin on his hand as Ochako cheerfully explained that Eijirō, the blond maniac blowing up all the robots, and the quiet boy with red and white hair were all classmates of theirs.

Kacchan crowed over his record of fifteen seconds, then shrieked in rage —glee— when Shōto iced over the entire course in fourteen seconds. Izuku held his head in his hands —why were his Elements so competitive. Why?— but then Kacchan had blasted up to the railing and was yelling about Izuku putting "IcyHot" —oh look, Shōto had gotten an upgraded nickname, that was nice— in his place and Shōto casually poked fun at Kacchan's temper as he crafted stairs up to the railing out of ice and Mist Flames and- and-.

And somehow Izuku found himself standing at the starting line of the course, waiting for them to replenish the robots so he could take his turn —at least Shōto had melted his giant pillar of ice or else the course would be shut down for the rest of the day—.

The announcer rallied and raised her hand in preparation, all of Izuku's Elements cheered over their bonds —though for Shōto it was more a shy flicker of good luck—, and Izuku slowly sank into a ready position. His eyes slid shut, the world slowed and narrowed. He didn't need to see the announcer or her hand, didn't need to hear the roar of the crowd or the shout of, "Go!" that took an eternity to fall from her lips. All he needed was his Flame, and the intuition in his head that hummed wait-wait-wait-now.

Power flooded his frame and Izuku was airborne. His eyes flickered open, the world a blur of instinct and jump-fire-robot-kick-jump and the knife edge that came from pulling on just enough of One for All that he didn't overcompensate with his Cloud Flames and break something again even as his Sky turned the robot villains to slag. He skidded to a stop at the top of the mountain, breathing light and Sky Flames flickering sporadically off his shoulders —reaching for a form he didn't need right now and so suppressed even though he wanted—.

He blinked a few times, wondered when the world had gotten so quiet. He glanced around to check that the crowds were still there. They were, they were just … not shouting anymore. He looked over at his Elements and friends, most of whom were gaping quietly, even if Kacchan was silently laughing himself sick on the floor at Eijirō's feet.

The announcer finally sputtered out, "It- it's a new record-! I can't even believe my eyes-! Izuku Midoriya clocks in at ten seconds!" The silence shattered into cheering, Izuku blushed as he made his way back to the stands. He almost couldn't stop blushing for the rest of the trip around the expo because his friends and Melissa-san wouldn't stop talking about his record —even Tsuyu who wasn't even there, since she wasn't allowed to see the expo until tomorrow, Ochako had tattled—. Honestly if he'd known it would be that big a deal —apparently he'd just broken about five world records— he would have reined himself in more.

Thankfully, they eventually moved on to talking about other things and gasping over the Expo —which truly was amazing—. Melissa-san somehow got herself lodged firmly in Kacchan's list of People He Tolerated and by the time evening rolled around and the Expo was scheduled to close for the day, Izuku was almost convinced that Kacchan had a crush on her —stop yelling over the bond Kacchan, he didn't mean it—.

Kaminari-kun and Sero-kun got Melissa-san's spare tickets and Iida-kun insisted they all dress formally and meet up to go to the reception party together for the pride of U.A.. Kacchan told him to shut up, but Eijirō just laughed and slung an arm over his shoulder and promised the rest that he would make sure Kacchan was dressed properly for the event.

They made to go their separate ways when Melissa-san tapped Izuku's shoulder and shyly asked him to come with her for just a bit longer. She had something to show him. Kacchan invited Shōto along —honestly Izuku was surprised Kacchan had left him alone unsupervised for as long as he had— and Izuku apologized on his Storm's and Mist's behalf before coaxing Melissa-san into letting Shōto come along despite her misgivings.

She led them to the lab her school had granted her, laughed shyly when Shōto awkwardly complemented her collection of awards, "Actually, I wasn't getting the best grades for a while," she said as she disappeared into the next room, "That's why I studied really hard. Because I wanted to become a hero no matter what."

Shōto and Izuku glanced at each other, "A pro hero?"

"No, I have that up early on. I'm quirkless after all." Izuku's breath faltered for a moment in surprise and Shōto's face was blank but his emotions uncomfortable over their bond.

Izuku stared down at his hands, tried to imagine what it would have been like to never have a quirk —to never have the Flames that had saved Kacchan that day in the park— and shuddered, "I'm sorry to hear that."

Melissa-san cocked her head as she reemerged from the other room, "Why? I don't have a problem with being quirkless. At least, not anymore. My Papa always said that I didn't need one to become a hero anyway," she smiled and tapped her temple, "I just needed my head and my heart! Besides, I had a goal close to my heart. Papa never got to use his quirk for his work, so I didn't need one to be just like him. Anyway," she opened the box and carefully took out what looked like a red bracelet, "I made this a long time ago while watching Uncle Might."

"Uncle … Might?" Whispered Shōto even as Izuku carefully examined the bracelet of red metal —that felt alive somehow, like Melissa-san had put a little piece of herself into it's creation and, oh, maybe she wasn't as quirkless as she thought—.

"Her father is David Shield, you know, the guy who created All Might's signature costumes?"

"…Oh."

"Well," interrupted Melissa-san unknowingly, "Aren't you going to try it? Just press that button."

He did, then gasped softly as it grew and spiraled up his arm, encasing his scarred hand in a faintly vibrating sensation of protection-affection-strength that definitely wasn't his imagination. Shōto leaned closer to examine the gauntlet as Melissa-san explained how it worked and how she'd tested it —it could withstand three All Might-grade punches, that was incredible—.

Izuku smiled breathlessly, thrilled to have it even as he asked if it was really okay for him to keep it. Melissa-san just laughed and said that was what support gear was for, to be used by heroes that needed them. Izuku thanked her profusely, and Melissa-san apologized to Shōto that she didn't have anything she thought would be of use to him. Izuku quietly gaped in shock when Shōto replied, "It's fine, Melissa-san. I'd rather Izuku have something than me, anyway. It's hard enough to keep my little brother out of trouble without having to worry about him overdoing it and hurting himself too. So thank you."

Melissa-san's eyebrows shot up, "Oh-! You-! I didn't realize you were brothers! You're last names are different and all…" and they didn't look that much alike at all was an unspoken addition. Izuku tried to find words to clear up the misunderstanding without hurting Shōto's feelings —because he did love Shōto like a brother, same as he loved Kacchan and Eijirō, but Melissa-san assumed Shōto meant brothers by blood and—. Shōto possessively laid a hand on Izuku's shoulder, his expression deceptively flat as he explained, "Our mothers are two different people, we take after them rather than our father."

Melissa-san made a few faces as she processed the implications of that —because she knew who Shōto's father was and that he was still married to his first wife— and Izuku internally begged the earth to swallow him whole because he'd already had to deal with the Endeavor rumor at school everyday, did he really have to deal with it here? "Shōto…"

"Have you ever actually met your father?"

"Well, no, but-."

"Then how do you know it isn't true?"

… Izuku had no way to respond to that, so he just held his silence and let Shōto herd him away after they got an angry phone call from Iida-kun. Shōto ended up dragging Izuku to his hotel room instead of Izuku's because he didn't want Izuku to go alone, insisted they were close enough in size to use one of his spare suits anyway so it would be fine. Izuku went along with it mostly because it was either that or strangle himself with his failed attempts to properly knot his own tie.

They were in the middle of preparing, Shōto carefully knotting Izuku's tie —spare suit his left foot, the shirt of the suit Shōto had given him exactly matched his Sky Flame and the black tie had teeny tiny diagonal stripes of violet on them—, when Izuku felt it. His intuition, which had been humming nervously all day —new place, not all of his Elements at his side—, suddenly snarled, so loud and furious in his head that Izuku had yanked Shōto behind him and raised flaming hands in defense on instinct despite being alone in the room in an instant.

Danger-danger-danger-danger- seethed his instincts even as Shōto touched his shoulder in concern and all his Elements clamored to know what was wrong and Izuku could see that there was no one else in the room to act as a threat.

Izuku took a deep breath, then two, lowered his hands and listened to what his intuition was saying under the scream of danger. Infiltration-traitors-danger-traitors-hunters-thieves-danger-. Izuku straightened up, grabbed his black suit jacket off the bedpost and put it on like a man going to war —he'd prefer his suit, but that could tip off whoever the threat was—. He reached out to his Elements, "Something's wrong. There are villains on the island. I don't know where, or what they're planning, but I think it has something to do with the party."

Shōto stiffened and Kacchan's snarl filled Izuku's head while Tsuyu fretted, "How is that possible? This place is supposed to be as secure as Tartarus!"

Izuku bared his teeth silently even as he began fishing through his uniform's utility belt for whatever little tools he could hide in his suit —he had Melissa-san's gauntlet in its bracelet form too, that could come in handy if his intuition drove them into a large fight—, "Security means nothing if a traitor lets them in."

The silence that followed that declaration was heavy. Angry. Wary. Tsuyu was upset that she couldn't come with them, the rest were worried about what to do —or who to hit in Kacchan's case—. "What should we do?" asked Shōto softly.

Izuku paused, bit his lip, "We can't tell anyone. We don't know who let them in or how many they are. Depending on how long they've been here, they could be wearing disguises. Plus, we have no evidence. Tsuyu, the rest of the class are all staying in the same hotel, right? Keep an eye on them, if an attack happens outside the party, try to run damage control and protect the civilians until we get there. Everyone else, wear your formal clothes, but come prepared. We don't want anyone to know we're onto them, but we're not going to be caught off guard."

"Right."

Festive mood thoroughly ruined and replaced with one of wary alertness, they all filtered to the central tower in which the party was taking place, meeting a frantic Iida too late to see the start of the party. Kacchan began cursing over the bond, because apparently he'd been too busy looking out for enemies to realize that Eijirō was the one leading the way and with Eijirō spectacularly bad sense of direction… they were lost. They were somewhere in the building, but they had no idea where and without their phones that they'd forgotten, they had no way of pulling up a map.

Iida threw a fit over their absence until the loudspeakers beeped and echoed with, "This is an announcement by the I-Island security system. We have received a report from the security system than an explosive device was placed in the I-Expo area. I-Island will now be in high alert mode. Residents and tourists should return to their homes or lodgings. Those that have come a long way should go and wait at the nearest evacuation center. Anyone still outside ten minutes from now may be arrested without warning. Please refrain from going outdoors."

Infiltration-traitors-danger- hissed Izuku's instincts as blast doors began rolling down during the announcement, cutting off the building from the outside, "In addition, most of the main buildings will be sealed off by the security system. I repeat-" the security system cut off abruptly. Izuku bared his teeth.

The others whispered to themselves, and Sero-kun uneasily piped up that there was no phone signal or television reports anymore. A quick test of the elevators showed they weren't working either. Melissa-san frowned, "I can't believe the security system would switch to high alert mode just because they found something explosive." She looked around the room as if it was alien to her somehow, foreign in its unexpected actions. Izuku mentally broadcast it all to Kacchan and Eijirō, told them to stay out of sight and try to find their way to the party still, then took over, "Iida-kun, everyone, let's head for where the party is taking place."

"Why?"

Because that's where the danger is, Izuku didn't say, instead he tried to smile reassuringly, "All Might is at the party, he'll know what to do."

The non-Elements bought the excuse and Melissa-san led the way up the emergency stairs to the party. As they hurried up the stairs, Izuku touched the panel of Melissa-san's gauntlet, let the comforting hum of it settle against his skin, a reassurance that when a fight broke out, he wouldn't have to hold back for fear of breaking his bones with Cloud Flames and One for All combined.

They made it to the floor above the party, as the party's floor was locked down —trap-trap-trap whispered his instincts, if they'd been on time they would have been trapped too—. The roof of the party room was a glass dome with viewing rails, and it didn't take long to look down and piece together what had happened. Villains armed with guns prowled the room, frightened civilians huddled in groups while the heroes lay frustrated and still in glowing blue restraints.

Including All Might. Trapped on the center stage where everyone could see him, unable to move for the sake of the hostages, unable to de-transform if his time limit ran out.

Izuku circled around to be in All Might's peripheral vision and took pictures with his phone, both for evidence and to use the flash to attract his mentor's attention. All Might's head turned fractionally, spotted him, and in shadowed sockets, blue eyes widened in alarm. Izuku signaled Jirō-san, who listened intently as Izuku pointed at his ear where All Might could see. Moment's later, Jirō-san began relaying All Might's words, "Villains have taken over the tower. They have control of the security system, and everyone on the island is their hostage. All of the heroes have been captured as well. It's too dangerous, get away from here as soon as possible."

They retreated to the emergency stairwell to avoid notice while they discussed their options. Iida-kun and Yaoyorozu-san immediately insisted on obeying All Might's directions and escaping, they were students without licenses to fight, it would be better to escape and tell the heroes outside to mount a rescue.

Melissa-san pointed out that escape would be almost impossible, I-Island had the same level of security as Tartarus, and now that security was in the villains' hands. Kaminari-kun suggested waiting for someone to figure it out on the outside, Jirō-san stood up indignantly and protested that sentiment. Izuku found himself speaking before an argument could break out, his voice carrying over Sero-kun's protests despite how quietly he spoke, "We have to do something." Everyone turned to look at him, protests on the lips of Iida-kun and Yaoyorozu-san and Kaminari-kun, but when Izuku stood up, shoulders back and eyes glittering amber, they quieted to listen, "We can't escape. One mistake and the villains would use the security system to kill the innocent people outside. We can't just wait here for someone to notice on the outside either, that could take days, and by then the villains will have either succeeded in their plan and have no more need of hostages, or witnesses, or someone else without our training will have tried something and gotten other people killed."

Izuku stared thoughtfully at the stairwell around them, "As it is, we have an advantage. The villains don't know we're here, and we are in the heart of their stolen stronghold. This is where the security center is, yes?" He glanced at Melissa-san, who nodded, "Then if we infiltrate the security center and defeat the villains guarding it, we can shut down the security system. That would allow the captured pro heroes to free themselves and take care of the rest of the villains with minimal risk to civilian lives."

"Midoriya-kun!" Hissed, Iida-kun, "We cannot fight! That would be breaking the law-!"

Izuku cut him off impatiently, "I-Island is considered its own sovereign territory and as such holds to different laws. Quirks are not restricted here nearly as much as in Japan or any of the mainlands. Public, commercial, and self-defensive quirk use is permitted so long as there is no resulting loss of life or hospitalization. We don't need to have licenses here, Iida-kun, we just need to have just cause." He spread his arms out to encapsulate their situation, "What better cause is there than the protection of civilian hostages?"

"Besides," added Shōto in the quiet that followed Izuku's declaration as he moved to stand by his Sky's side, "we're trying to become heroes. Does having no license make it all right for us to stand aside and do nothing while people get hurt?"

The others looked doubtful, but Ochako stood up too, "I'm with Deku! I want to save them!"

Izuku scanned the group, weighed his words, "We do this with as little fighting as possible. All we have to do is get to the security center and restrain the villains there. Sero-kun, your tape would be invaluable in that, as would Yaoyorozu-san's creation ability." He took a deep breath, "I understand if you don't want to come and risk it, if you want to stay here and wait for a rescue, then that's fine." He locked eyes with each of them, felt his two present Elements stand on either of his sides in solidarity, "But we are going do this, whether you come along or not."

Melissa-san was the first to move in the wake of his declaration, hands pressed against her chest in an agitation that hummed faintly against Izuku's senses like the tang of ozone before a storm, "I'm coming with you!"

Shōto hesitated, "But you're quirkless. This would be even more dangerous for you than it is for us."

"I don't care!" She insisted, "You need someone to work the system, don't you? You wouldn't know what to do, but my father designed the security system! I can restart it for you! Please, let me help protect my home!"

Izuku brushed Shōto's arm in silent reassurance, "We'll do our best to protect you then."

Ochako pumped a fist, "Yeah!"

One by one, the others stood and joined his cause, Iida-kun being the only one to place the condition of turning back should it become too dangerous upon them —there would be no turning back, not from this, there would only be vengeance against those who dared restrain and threaten Izuku's second Sun, but Izuku did not say that—. Over the bond, Tsuyu seethed that she couldn't come, but she had rounded up what classmates and children she could find and was protecting them under the guise of group games to pass the time. Izuku mentally thanked her and told her to keep an eye out for trouble.

Izuku ducked out to the glass to stare down at All Might for just a moment, silently promising to help him despite the frantic protests gleaming in All Might's eyes. Then he turned and ran to save his friends and his second Sun.

Taking the stairs to the top floor —two hundred floors who needed a building that tall— was tiring for Izuku, even though he constantly reinforced his energy levels with Cloud Flames. The others were wheezing by the sixtieth, and Izuku doubled back to pick up Melissa-san and carry her by the sixty-fifth despite her protests for him to save his strength —he was fine, really, the only reason he was winded was he was saving his Cloud Flames for combat as much as possible, if he flooded his system with them he wouldn't be breathing hard—. As it was he was only using enough to carry Melissa-san without trouble.

On the eightieth floor, they ran into their first true obstacle. A blast shutter over the stairs. They debated what to do until Kaminari-kun, in a fit of winded stupidity, opened the door to the eightieth floor, setting off an alert. The others hissed insults at Kaminari for his stupidity even as they ran for the stairwell on the opposite side of the floor, cutting through a massive greenhouse to avoid the blast doors trying to box them in.

They had to hide when they spotted the active elevator, watched from the bushes as two villains wandered out complaining about stupid kids. Izuku settled on his toes, ready to pounce at any moment, and Shōto's Mist Flames whispered in preparation. Then Izuku felt Kacchan's and Eijirō's Flames burn, close and familiar in the air and he couldn't stop a tiny laugh from escaping him as the villains managed to get out two words before Kacchan was on them with burning red hands and a roar of gleeful fury.

The shortest villain went flying from the blast, the second dodged Eijirō's punch and flung out some kind of wind blast with his quirk that went straight for Eijirō's face-. Ice sprung up to shield Izuku's Lightning as Izuku rammed his fist into the villain's gut, then roundhouse kicked him in the face with enough force to send him into the wall. Izuku smiled pleasantly —the villains looked up and trembled at the aura of death pressing down on them, the contained fury that burned amber and violet in the strange boy's eyes— as he said, "Excuse us. We're just passing through on our way to the reception party."

The short villain stopped being short as his quirk activated and turned him into a giant monster, Izuku didn't bat an eye as the villain charged him, just sent a quick impression of strategy to his Elements and let them handle the giant while he dissuaded the second from getting up again with a bone cracking punch that sent the man flying into Shōto's restraining wall of ice. Eijirō and Kacchan dealt with the giant quirk man, Lightning sparking off Eijirō's shoulders and arms as he caught the giant's punch before it could reach Izuku while Kacchan blazed into the villain's side with a blood-red spinning leap of fire. The villain went flying, unconscious and badly singed, and Izuku eyed the walls warily. They wouldn't have much time before more backup arrived for the villains.

A gesture from Izuku and Shōto lifted them up to the walkways high above in search of a way out. They found a vent leading outside the building, talked the stick-thin Sero-kun into going out and using his tape to grapple up to a higher level and let them into the maintenance room above their heads —in the security center, the villains began to curse the students who were evading them so easily, and fear the kids who could so effortlessly take down two of their best—.

The next room was filled with security machines, and their first plan of using Kaminari-kun to electrocute them failed when the machines turned out to be electrically resistant. Down one member, Izuku snarled as he and Kacchan and Iida-kun broke through the tidal-wave of machines with their quirks, Shōto bringing up the rear to guard the others from any stragglers as they fled. Up more floors, around more corners, they entered the server room and were met with a veritable tidal wave of robots and a warning from Melissa-san to not damage the server room, or else they could make the security system malfunction.

Iida-kun, Yaoyorozu-san, Sero-kun, Kaminari-kun, Jirō-san, and Eijirō all stayed behind to hold them off while Izuku, Melissa-san, Ochako, Kacchan, and Shōto ran, the sounds of battle echoing behind them.

They made it outside, surrounded by slow moving fans and with a door high above them. Shōto formed a platform of ice beneath them and began lifting them up when the doors opened and more machines poured through. Shōto cursed, jumped down to help Kacchan fight while Ochako lifted Melissa-san and Izuku into the air with her quirk. Izuku steered with his Flames, pulled back his fist and slammed a fist of Cloud Flames through the wall. Ochako released her quirk from below and they tumbled to the ground.

Izuku sprung to his feet, intuition seething in his head even as Melissa-san checked to see if he was alright-. There. Izuku ducked under the incoming blade swipe, snarled in rage as the man slipped by him and nicked Melissa-san with his quirk before Izuku grabbed the yelling villain's shirt and flung him away hard enough to crumple the stairs on impact. Izuku breathed deep, reined in the rage that was bubbling, carefully treated the cut with antibiotic cream and wrapped it with the little roll of bandages he'd hidden in one pocket, "Let's go, Melissa-san. The others will catch up later."

Melissa-san stared at him in surprise for a moment, then nodded and up the stairs they ran.

Two more villains tried to get in their way, Izuku felt no shame in slamming their heads into the wall after dodging their bullets. His Flames were humming louder and louder now, driven on by the agitation of his Elements and Melissa-san's fearful determination and the instinct in his head that was screeching traitors-traitors-traitorslouder and louder the closer they got to the security center.

Then they spotted Melissa-san's father in the storage room.

Then they learned of the betrayal.

Izuku stared while Melissa-san shook in shock-hurt-denial and Izuku seethed through the excuses —theft of an invention he wanted to use to help All Might, denial of something Izuku could already see would be weaponized if it was mass produced, a desperate plan to use "fake" villains to cover up stealing it back—.

How dare they.

How. Dare. They.

The theft of the invention was heartbreaking, but what about the lives at risk? All Might's identity? And what about the villains who used real bullets and tried to hurt people were fake? Were actors playing a role?

Even if it was to help All Might remain a hero, what gave him the right to spit in the face of everything All Might had ever stood for in order to give his so-called "help"?

Melissa-san showed her oozing cut, and Shield-san had just enough time to be astounded when Izuku's instincts screeched and he whirled, fire exploding from his hands and reaching for the threat-. Metal slammed into him, dragged him across the room and pinned him like a mummy so he couldn't move or speak as the head villain strode in.

The assistant betrayed Shield-san, and each gunshot —one into the assistant, one into Shield-san who defended his assistant even to the last—, drove him further into rage. The villain struck Melissa-san, stunned Shield-san with a blow, raised the gun to "remove Shield-san's attachments"-.

Izuku roared and his Flames roared with him. Metal exploded out in bits of slag as he lunged, wall buckling under his jump as he lunged for the villain who dared touch those under Izuku's protection. The floor rose in a wall to stop him, melted and shattered less than a second later, another wall rose, then a third. The fourth to appear within the space of feet and seconds made Izuku finally pause. Izuku stopped, stepped back, turned to Melissa-san with eyes that burned, "Melissa-san, get to the security center and restart the system, I'll get your father back."

Melissa-san nodded and ran for the exit. The second villain lunged for her, Izuku shattered the restraining metal walls that tried to hold him back like glass as he leapt after her and guarded her escape. He swatted the minion villain aside like a fly, saw fear and disbelief shine in the eyes of the metal-wielder before the man upended the entire room to try to smother Izuku while he fled with the suitcase and the captive Shield-san.

Izuku struggled under the weight of the metal, the lack of oxygen for his Flames. One of the sharp edges of metal had pierced his side, and his blood felt slick against his skin and clothes as he shook from the strain. His Elements raged with him over their bonds, shouted that the machines had gone silent and they were on their way. Melissa-san had done her part.

It was time for Izuku to do his.

I. Will. Not. Yield. Metal groaned as he pushed, forced his legs to stand as his Flames pulsed in time with his heartbeat, Give him back. Give him back. You-dare-take-my-Sun's-Territory-my-Territory-give-him-back- Izuku screamed, One for All burned under his skin just like his Flames and metal gave and shattered with a cacophony of sound. Izuku ran despite the throbbing pain in his side as his Cloud Flames made more-more-more blood to replace what was running down his side.

He bounded up the stairs, barely touching any of the steps as he sprinted for the helipad on top of the building. He got there just as the helicopter turned on, "Give him back!"

The villain turned, surprised, covered his unease with a grin and didn't hesitate to pull his pistol free and point it at Shield-san's head, "Oh? That eager to see him brought to justice?"

Izuku paced the far edge of the platform, not daring to come closer and hating every moment of it as he spat, "No. I'm here to save him."

"Him? He's practically a villain!"

"Even if he was, I would still save him. That's what heroes do. Now," Izuku stilled, his rage settled abruptly into something far more dangerous than blind anger. He smiled at the villain, saw the man flinch away from the expression while fire licked Izuku's shoulders and danced in his hair, "Give him back, and I won't hurt you."

The villain laughed, but it sounded shaky, "I don't think so. You can't do anything to me while I have him. Can you, hero?" The villain touched the platform with his hand, more metal rippled, slammed into Izuku and threw him off the platform while the villain hurried into the helicopter and it took off. Izuku found himself free falling, tumbling end over end while Melissa-san's father got further and further away.

No. Izuku reached into his core, his Will, his Flame, I will not lose to you.

In the night sky over I-Island, wings of fire bloomed hot and wide.

Izuku surged skyward, carried upward by his Will alone, slammed into the helicopter and seared the inside of the machine with his Flames as his wings furled around the restrained professor —inside the wall of fiery feathers, the professor gasped, stunned by the sudden arrival, stunned even more that he wasn't burning even as the villain who had captured him screamed pained curses over his new burns—, "I'm taking you back, Professor. Melissa-san is waiting for you."

The floor of the helicopter buckled and shattered under a swift strike of purple-coated hands and Izuku held tight to the startled, gasping professor as he leaped clear of the wreckage and flew back down to the roof of the building. Just as he set the professor down, a familiar Flame burned against his senses and All Might's laugh echoed from on high, "Well done, Midoriya-kun! That was a spectacular job!" All Might landed next to them, grin in place despite the pain he had to be feeling. All Might's large hands reached out for his friend and Izuku stood aside —this wasn't his place anymore, Shield-san was All Might's Territory first—.

Metal swatted All Might aside like a fly before he could touch his friend, coiled around the professor and dragged him away to where the metal of the tower was writhing like a living thing. Izuku snarled and gave chase, was knocked back with a startled cry when the metal proved suddenly resistant to his Flames.

Inside the writhing growth of metal and wires and pipes, Izuku could see the strange headband on the villain's head as he laughed. All Might lunged, was thrown back same as Izuku had. They stared as the tower of animate metal began to rise-rise-rise. The villain announced his plan to sell the device for any price. After all, what wouldn't people pay for the device that had killed All Might as a demonstration?

The floor upended, Melissa-san screamed in fear as she was flung away by the metal and Izuku caught her in his arms as he cleared the danger zone with a few flaps of his wings. All Might… His second Sun was at his time limit, and with the metal chasing Izuku around, he had no time to put Melissa-san down and help him. He reached out to the fury of his own, called for them in silent fury-command-help-him, smiled as ice turned metal brittle and red-tinted explosions disintegrated them altogether.

"How can you get beat up by such a d*mn lame last boss, All Might?" His Storm roared as he blew away assault after assault, "Get up and fight!"

"Get the villain! We'll hold off the metal!" Shouted Shōto as fire licked at his shoulder and Mist turned his ice into a roaring dragon of blue.

His friends were here.

All Might rallied, went on the offensive as Izuku's classmates harassed and destroyed any metal they could reach. Izuku landed next to Yaoyorozu-san and Ochako, set Melissa-san down with a silent command to his Sun to protect her in his stead. Then he straightened up and faced the tower, wings flaring as he watched his mentor blow through his opposition and send out shockwaves of power as he reached to knock the villain off his pedestal.

Faltered, as metal caught All Might in midair and the villain wrapped a glowing hand —a second quirk how did he have a second quirk— around All Might's throat and said something to All Might that Izuku couldn't catch. Whatever it was, Izuku could feel the fury-pain-disbelief it caused in his mentor right before All Might was thrown back, trapped in a mass of junk that held him in place as metal spikes surged upward to tear him apart.

Melissa-san's scream rang in Izuku's ears even as he leaped forward, "Don't touch him!" He cannoned into the junk, fire exploding outward, forcing apart the metal, melting the spikes to slag before they could reach All Might, shattering the restraints with fury alone. They landed in a tumble, All Might throwing off a piece of rubble before it could hurt them and sputtering out that Izuku was being too reckless-.

Izuku just smiled past the rage bubbling behind his teeth, "But it's a hero's job to save those in trouble, isn't it?"

All Might paused. Laughed a bloody laugh of rueful pride, "Thanks. It's true that I'm in a bit of trouble right now. Care to lend me a hand, Midoriya-kun?"

Izuku clasped his mentor's outstretched hand, stood without fear or hesitation despite his bleeding side, "Let's do this."

They ran.

Rubble rained from above only to be smashed by his Storm. Pillars were frozen by dragons of ice. Izuku didn't stop, never stopped, swatted aside what he could not dodge with his gauntlet-covered hand —Melissa-san's Will, a gift of her Lightning Flames that she didn't know she had—, followed in his mentor's footsteps as they went up-up-up-.

He was dimly aware that he and All Might were shouting something, something about heroes, about limits and breaking them. He could hear the villain promising to destroy them as he summoned a metal cube the size of the building to kill them all.

Izuku and All Might went airborne, Will humming between them in a way that was almost Harmony as they struck the cube at the same time, identical war cries on their lips as they fought gravity and metal and malice and forced it to yield. To break.

The cube exploded, Izuku soared higher with a flap of wings as the cube shattered into a ring of slag. His Elements thrummed in his blood, screaming for him to go-rise-fight-fly- and there was a heady moment, as he shot up-up-up high above the tower, above All Might's trajectory that was straight for the villain, where he felt it. Felt One for All sing under his skin, filling him with memories-Flame-Will that weren't his —but also were, because he had inherited this, this was All Might's gift to him, this was his torch to bear now—. They gave him strength of generations that had come before him, all of them unaware of the Will burning beneath their skin, all of them giving that Will away when they passed their torch on. Sun, Storm, Rain, Cloud, Mist, Lightning-.

Sky…?

Sky Flames that weren't his curled around him, memories so strong that for a moment they were a person at his back, an impression of black hair and grey eyes and a wide-wide-wide smile of pride and glee as a woman's voice laughed in his mind, "You're gonna go far, Kid. Now you go show Toshi-Boy how it's done, ne?"

Everything clicked into place as his Flames, for just a moment, fully merged with One for All and his words mingled with hers as her wide-wide smile danced on his lips and his wings stretched wide, "Go beyond…" All Might joined their chorus without knowing, Sun blazing against Izuku's senses as he tucked his wings and dived, "Plus Ultra!"

The gauntlet shattered under the strength of combined Wills and the tower followed, buckling like glass as Izuku pulled up just in time to avoid crashing and shot into the air again.

.

.

.

.

Below, David Shield opened his eyes in confusion to what he thought was the brilliance of sunlight, stared in awe at the form of the young boy that Toshinori had brought with him —the boy he'd thought was just a shy nerdy student, the boy who had bled and raged and risked life and limb for him even when he didn't deserve it— swooping high into the air again, one fist still extended, a fire of dawn orange blazing on his forehead and his wings-.

The boy's wings looked like an aurora. A dawn. They filled his vision with twisting colors of rainbow pinions and gleaming orange primaries and oh-.

This was why Toshinori hadn't been afraid of a future without him in it. Because this boy…

This boy shone even brighter than All Might ever had.

Toshinori landed beside him and a moment later so did Midoriya-kun. They bandaged his arm, Toshinori unafraid to reveal hints of his true form around Midoriya-kun before Toshinori sent the boy away to reassure Melissa that he was alright and see to his own injury —the boy's side was a mass of blood, how had the boy not passed out by now?—. Midoriya-kun ignored Toshinori's concerned fluttering, and instead examined David with a gaze that saw straight into his soul. Amber-violet eyes judged him for what felt like an eternity, then the flame on the boy's forehead flickered out and he smiled, "I'll go tell Melissa-san that you're alright. The EMTs should be here soon to treat you."

He turned and bounded up the rubble before David could say a word, and after a moment of silent staring as his daughter flung her arms around the boy's neck in gratitude, he whispered, "I was so scared to lose your light, Toshinori. Afraid of losing the peace you brought. But think I understand now. The hope of the future was right there in front of me all this time. In my daughter, who seeks to follow in my footsteps … and Izuku Midoriya … he's your successor … isn't he?"

Toshinori laughed a little breathlessly as he helped David stand, "Ah. He's still rough around the edges, but inside …" They both watched as Midoriya-kun's friends clambered up the rubble to hug —and loudly swear at— the boy, "Inside him hides the possibility of shining as a hero more than anyone else. More than I ever did. Or could." Toshinori took a watery breath, "He reminds me of my mentor, Nana, sometimes. I sense him out of the corner of my eye, or hear him when he's passionate about something and I swear I see her light, brighter than she ever had a chance to shine."

David considered that, the stories Toshinori had shared of the mother-figure his friend had lost too soon. The woman who had formed Toshinori into the person he was. If Midoriya-kun reminded him so strongly of the woman without even trying, shone even brighter than the hero to whom Toshinori held himself as a standard… "The future is in good hands then."

"It is." Toshinori's grin returned, "Those kids are going to change the world, David, and I can't wait to see it."

Above them, the sun finally rose, bathing the children in its light, and if, for a moment, David could almost see those multi-colored wings of Flame again, stretching out to protectively cover David's daughter —if Toshinori's breath hitched because the shadows the dawn threw almost made him think Nana was up there too, slapping Izuku's back and laughing—, neither of them said anything. This was a moment for the young ones to enjoy, to bask in the light of their own future.