Walking with them through the halls Nick put his hands in his pockets, despite being followed by two high-rank pros and being led to a back room he showed no signs of fear. Nothing at all.
Looking over his shoulder at Gang Orca he smiled a bit as he said. "You alright Gang Orca? Hopefully, I didn't hit you too hard did I?" His voice was monotone, just making idle conversation.
Surprisingly Gang Orca didn't respond to the provocation with any aggression. His manner was tame. "I am perfectly fine, your control over your quirk is very impressive Hendrix. I do say, even if my movement wasn't restricted by the weights I don't think I have a chance of beating you. I would be interested in facing you underwater sometime if you ever were interested. Your control over matter would certainly make you dangerous no matter how harsh the environment."
Nodding his head Nick was surprised, then again Gang Orca was an incredibly calm person. "Thank you, I would be interested in that too. Although I am sure the element of surprise did help me in subjugating you so quickly." Redirecting his words to be more polite. No use razing him up or trying to.
Although he didn't know what the situation was, getting two pro heroes to follow him was… pretty threatening. It clearly wasn't meant to be an escort.
Cracking his neck he kept his quirk active ready to activate at a moment's notice. His gaze looked around as he felt the corridors, no one else was around. It didn't seem to be an ambush.
But his instincts were telling him something was wrong.
He felt it, the tension in the air.
The sound of Mera's footsteps beating along to the thump of his heart.
The cold sweat rolled down his temple.
The seriousness of Hawks who he knew was all but sensible unless…
The situation called for it.
As the door swung open to the room and Mera stepped aside to let him inside he looked at Mera, his eyes trailing over the man as he stopped just before the door. "I'll make it clear Mera. Whatever is going on here, I won't hesitate to respond in kind. You saw my strength yourself."
With Mera tensing up behind him Nick walked into the room and sat down in the chair across from an official man in a suit. His eyebrow raised as he asked.
"Is that a threat that you just gave to my subordinate? I could have you under arrest for that." The man said matter of factly, a slight smile on his face.
So that was the game, they either controlled him or they tried to lock him away? Maybe, it was likely.
"No sir, I would never threaten someone without reason. I was simply stating that my manners will reflect your own." His voice was bland. Cold, they both knew that is not what he meant, but he couldn't say anything that they could use against him.
With Gang Orca and Hawks standing on either side of the door Nick leaned back in his chair. The nerves slowly work their way through his feet and into the floor. Spreading his range, touching the soles of everyone's feet. He was ready.
Whatever they did he could freeze them all in a single moment.
The entire building was something under his control right now. People would only come in and out with his say.
"May I ask what this is about? To get two top pros to escort us, it must be something serious?" His voice questioned as he leaned forward, forearms against the table.
"I wish to make you an offer Nicklaus Hendrix. I am one of the members of the committee. My name is Mihara Masato, it's an honour to meet such a strong and upcoming Hero such as yourself, even if you have made mistakes." His voice was polite as he shook Nick's hand.
"Mistakes?" Nick asked as he took his hand away. His brows furrowing.
"Ah yes, after revision of what happened in the license exam we have thought it best to postpone you getting yours, you see you seemed to eager to battle and your action, while quick, was reckless to think you could stabilize an entire city. Although that is not what we are here to talk about-" Masato started to say, before trying to move on.
"Wait? So you are not giving me my license because I acted to quickly and 'could' have messed up?" Nick asked, his mind blown. Were they that desperate for an excuse.
"W-Well yes, if you had messed up the entire situation would have been much much worse. It was honestly a bit, rash?" The man said, raising an eyebrow. His frown grew as he said, "But on to what I was saying." He started to continue.
Oh so they let him pass in front of the crowd to make sure that people didn't question it then they took it away when he was alone and they wouldn't suffer fallback. Confident enough about hiring him that he wouldn't say anything. He was just a kid after all.
Leaning back into his seat he didn't say anything. Just listening for now.
"We are very sorry that we can't give you a license, but with your skills, we more than believe that you at least deserve one." He started to say, taking out some paper that he put on the table between them.
"In terms of combat skills, we are more than happy to provide you with a position as one of the members of the HPSC. After all, it is not just Villains that can cause trouble. We actually have a spot that opened just recently and it was very fortunate timing for us to see your skill with this opportunity open. We are willing to provide you with a job and work as a Hero this early on. All you need to do is sign some papers and you will be able to start work straight away far ahead of your peers. Just like young Hawks over there." Masato said as he motioned to Hawks. Taking out a pen and putting it on the papers he spun around and pushed towards Nick.
Looking at Hawks who just waved Nick looked back towards Masato and said, "I'm not interested, I'll take the make-up lessons in March. Is this all?" His voice was cold, he didn't appreciate being set back like this. "It's going to be a shame, but I am sure my class and teacher will understand. Nezu will probably want to hear about this as well, his wisdom is bound to help me grow in the future." His voice grew lower as he looked over the table. Eyes narrowing.
Masato's eyes widened a bit at the refusal of the offer, he hadn't expected that, to get to be a hero like Hawks early on was most kid's dreams and would be eagerly jumped on, especially one focused on combat. Pausing the papers sat between them, still against the table as tensions started to rise in the air.
Had he rushed this or said something wrong? No… this kid was… he knew.
"Oh, that is a shame… a real shame. I guess the make-up lessons in March might have to happen then. But by then the files for your involvement at Kamino might go through. What you did, the killing of a person, even if they were a villain and illegal quirk usage… isn't allowed by people who are not Heroes." His voice suddenly dropped as well, his back straightening. He was trying to be intimidating.
Chuckling lightly under his breath Nick looked up at Masato as he put his hands on the paper in front of him. Shaking his head he said. "You can try to turn me into a dog Masato, but if you back me into a corner. I will fight back." The paper exploded into deconstructed matter that floated to the ground.
"I don't planning on becoming a dog. Sure, go ahead and release the incident. But I am sure All Might, the symbol of peace would be happy to clarity what happened and my heroic action of stepping in to stop the unknown threat. Nezu is also on my side, two of the biggest figures, if not the biggest figures in the hero scene. You have power sure, but enough to arrest a kid who saved All Might? I don't think so." Nick explained as he stared at Masato
--- Masato --
Masato could see the cold look in Nick's eyes grow colder. He would have this boy under his control whether he liked it or not. Hell, he could even use his family against him if he had to.
As he thought that the boy's eyes grew colder. Harsher. As if he saw something was wrong.
He was nervous, something was wrong.
--- Nick --
He would not be used.
He could see something about Masato had changed, something that made him uncomfortable, something inside his soul was telling him, from instinct, that the man had intent harm more than just him to get what he wanted.
Just as Masato was about to respond the ground suddenly shook, a violent explosion shaking the foundations of the building as dust fell from the ceiling.
As the right wall started to cave in Nick just stared across the table at Masato, his gaze cold. Something in there was missing.
Nick hated this, they wanted to chain him. He hated the feeling.
As Nick stared at Masato the remaining threads of Dabi coiled through the soul. Influencing just by being woven into the same thread that tethered Nick to life.
--- Masato --
Masato knew the wall to the right of him was exploding, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from Nicklaus. His gaze was locked on the young man whose eyes had grown colder. But in the depths of his gaze, there was a fire, a threat.
A promise.
'I won't hesitate to respond in kind.'
As the wall caved in Masato tore his eyes away from the boy, there was a fire, a light coming from the other side. The start of an explosion that was about to blast into the room but Gang Orca was quick to act. His blast of supersonic sound threw the air back as the fire started to be disrupted and Hawks quickly flapped his wings. Blowing the fire away.
Just as Masato was about to say something a giant mechanical arm threw itself through the crack. The black carbon metal, covered in grotesque designs flew from the wall webbed in cracks, grabbing Hawks by the chest and yanking him out of the room. As he disappeared into the smoke and the fire Gang Orca was about to go after him but the ground collapsed at his feet as he started to fall into the rubble.
Even as Nick 'tried' to seal the ground his quirk was just a bit too slow.
It didn't act quick enough.
--- Hawks ---
Hawks was shocked, how did he not sense this coming? He felt sluggish. His head was woozy as he dodged another mechanical arm. The attack was fast but he should have been able to dodge it easily but it missed him by the width of a hair.
He felt his quirk was… sluggish, something was affecting him.
Dodging another blow he saw it, a figure with a mechanical suit standing in the fire of the explosion as he attacked with his arms. He clearly was just trying to hold his attention. He had to get out of here and fast.
--- Gang Orca ---
Gang Orca felt the ground give way beneath his feet, he felt Hendrix try to save him, the ground trying to catch him but clearly Hendrix was being affected by something. The boy stumbled suddenly as his nose began to bleed. Hawks had been taken by something and how he was falling into the ground.
As he fell he turned around to roll into a landing. The ground was rough against his feet. When did such a large pit appear? Was it a villain attack?
He didn't know what was going on, but he felt dizzy, something in his brain was muddled. He imagined this was what being hit with his blast felt like. His limbs were even more sluggish than with the weights.
--- Masato --
As the smoke cleared in the room Masato stood up from where he had fallen from his seat. Both Gang Orca and Hawks had suddenly been pulled from the room. Leaving him alone in the room with Nick.
"Do something! Weren't you strong enough to transform an arena! Go and do something!" His voice was desperate. What was happening, was it an attack? Who was the target…
I am…
That was all he could think of as his body froze. The words of Nick cutting through his shock and making his body freeze in fear.
"I can't act too quickly, it's… what was the words. Rash. I don't know what you were planning Masato… but I don't like whatever it is." His voice was cold, empty. Something that the boy had before was missing, it was some of his humanity… the blue flames that licked out the corners of his mouth carrying… anger.
--- Nick --
Nick didn't want the safety commission to hinder him. He had made a mechanical person that his brain was in control, and he had used his connection to Hawks and Gang Orca to subdue their quirks, giving him an excuse for why he didn't attack. He was being targeted by it as well, his quirk required fine control after all so minor disturbances hindered him… at least that was a good excuse.
Making his nose bleed was easy.
The rest was just the same, he had been left with plenty of time to make it all after all. With one brain focusing on controlling the mechanical person that was attacking Hawks he turned his attention back to Masato
Walking over to him, the smoke coiling through the room all he knew was that it was safest to get rid of this threat. He wouldn't let his family or anyone he cared about be hurt because some selfish people want to control him.
And it wasn't abnormal for villains to attack a committee member, these ones were just better than the rest. And Hawks and Gang Orca could back up that he didn't do anything, after all, they saw him being affected.
Stepping towards Masato he wondered what he should do. His control over a brain was limited, but he had made one. How hard would it be to falsify some memories… closing his eyes he dived into the mind of Masato, he wanted to find his intent. And depending on what he found… would change what happened.
---
Midoriya looked at the building. Villains had just invaded, going after a committee member, one who had been talking to Hendrix. With the lack of power being displayed Midoriya was getting really worried.
Looking at the smoke that was billowing out of the building he watched as the building shook with a wave of energy before it started to stop crumbling.
Nick was okay.
As the fire was suppressed a figure emerged from the lingering smoke carrying both Gang Orca and Hawks over his shoulder, both of them covered in blood. Laying them on the floor Aizawa ran up to Nick to ask what happened. Being kept back by the HPSC members as the police started to arrive he couldn't help but worry as they started to tape off the building.
There was another figure with Nick… the Committee member.
Looking at them he couldn't see if they were breathing or not.
Were… were they dead?
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Thanks for all the support! Let me know what you think of the chapter, I think I might need a bit of an overhaul. But I might just be tired haha. Let me know what you guys think!
Thanks for all the comments and reviews! Any advice you all have is more than welcome!