David sits in his lab, he always found sanctuary in his lab. It was a good place to work, to think and on certain days, to hide. Today's reason was unfortunately the latter; his phone rings but he ignore it as he attempts to immerse himself in whatever happened to be present at the time, but he's not so lucky. It's less than a minute later before the intercom comes over the speaker in his lab, which he was convinced he'd unplugged multiple times.
"Professor Shield; visitor for you." spoke one of the lab workers.
"Shit." David curses as he tries to find that very handy button that locked the lab door, however he's not quick enough as the lab door flies open, followed by a very hearty chuckle.
"David! I'm here!" bellows All Might, David sighs as he internally puts on his social mask, before turning to his old friend with a smile on his face.
"Ah! Toshi, how are you?" he asks politely as All Might stomps in, his costume lighting up the otherwise grey room. If only his facial expression did the same these days.
"Good and bad. I was hoping I could to talk to Melissa? I wanted to give her one of my famous pep-talks!"
David sighs, he could invent anything in the world that needed making, but he couldn't invent a way to tell his best friend that he didn't want this life for his daughter.
"She... she should be kicking around here somewhere." he says quietly, only for a small whoosh to sound from the lab door, an excited voice following behind it.
"Hey dad, do you know where- Uncle Toshi!" Melissa said excitedly
All Might turns and smiles as the closest thing he had to a child jumps into his arms, there weren't many comforts in the life he'd chosen but Melissa was one of them.
"There you are my dear! I was wondering if you'd want to take a walk with your old uncle? I wanted to hype you up for your coming exam!" All Might exclaims.
Melissa grins from ear to ear, her uncle All Might was the coolest! He was the reason that prompted her to move from inventing things for others to inventing things for herself so that she could help people, she wanted to be a hero, just like Uncle All Might.
"I'd love that! You wouldn't mind would you dad?" she asks her father.
David minded, of course he minded, anyone else, anyone else but his daughter throwing herself into that life of chaos and frenzy that was heroism. But he just couldn't say that to her.
"Go on, go Melissa. Just don't take too long, okay?" he replies. Melissa was practically beaming as she hugs her dad, before walking off with her uncle. The door shuts behind them, leaving David to slump in his chair as he lets out a great grunt of frustration.
"Damn it." sighs David.
Melissa and All Might walk through the luscious gardens of I-Island together, she couldn't help but smile giddily like she was a kid again. Like the first time she ever saw her uncle in that trademark outfit of his. It lit a fire under her and she wanted to brighten up the world with its glow.
"Tell me Melissa. How're you feeling about the exam?" All Might asks
"I'm really confident! I've got all sorts of equipment ready to go: Armour, support items, the works really!" she replies cheerfully
"Hmm. As I thought you would be. You know you can get points in the exam for helping others so if you see someone in trouble, you can use that too." he instructs
"Come on Uncle Toshi, I thought you weren't gonna give me anymore hints." Melissa replies with a frown.
"Well I can't have my niece going in blind, can I?" All Might chuckles.
Melissa couldn't help but laugh too as she thinks about how she's about to start one major journey. But there's still one fact glaring her in the face.
"Uncle Toshi... Do you think I'm good enough for this life?"
"Melissa... what prompted that?" All Might asks confused.
Melissa stops walking along and leans on the small guard rail, looking over the shimmering beauty of I-Island, her home.
"I'm quirkless after all. I don't just have to show up and expect the best, I have to meticulously plan every small thing I'm going to do." she says wistfully, her uncle sighs as he nudges her gently.
"Well. If it was anyone else, I'd say it was far too risky to even attempt it."
"Maybe I should just apply for the support course instead..." Melissa says looking away.
"But you're not anyone else. You're you, Melissa." All Might says as his eyes shimmer with that blue power. "Everything you can do, everything you've ever done, you're truly one of the most exceptional people I've ever met and I've only known you a fraction of the time I've known the others in that category." concludes the invincible pillar, it was enough to make his niece smile.
"Thanks Uncle Toshi..." she murmurs. All Might turns his attention down to her wrist, seeing that very familiar red wristband he'd heard so much about from her.
"Besides... if things get dicey, you can always use... ya know." he insinuates
"I'll only get one go with it. It's the best I could do given how much power you're apparently able to put out in a single attack." she explains.
All Might nods in agreement, he didn't tell Melissa where his power came from or even how it worked, not truthfully anyway, he didn't want to drag her into his world, especially with Young Togata already there as a prime candidate to take over his mantle when needed. Still, giving her a portion of DNA so that she could manifest his incredible might as a last resort of defence was one of his better ideas.
"Well... in this exam you might only need one." All Might teases as he's nudged by his niece.
"No hints!" she jokes.
All Might couldn't help but let out a sigh as he smiled, looking over the island. His nemesis may be out there doing who knows what, but this era of peace that was so heavily enforced by his invincible might... It was nice. It was what he always wanted.
"Uncle Toshi. If I pass, I'm gonna be just like you." Melissa says with determination on her face.
All Might's heart warmed at that, he'd never had children of his own so to hear that from the closest thing he had to one, he couldn't help but chuckle... But if he loved it so much; why did hearing her say that make his stomach ever so slightly churn?
--------------------------
"Hey sir! How goes it?" Mirio gleefully answers, holding the phone up to his ear as he leans against the changing room locker.
"Good actually. Fairly quiet day today. I was more calling in regards to you." Nighteye explains. Mirio smiles to himself hearing that, he'd always liked how much Nighteye cared about his wellbeing.
"Oh! Well I'm honoured! I'm actually having a good day today! Amajiki told me the most hilarious joke earlier... haha. It's still cracking me up!" Mirio informs him, Nighteye couldn't help but smile on his end of the line, it was refreshing considering his recent dip in form.
"I heard that you're gonna be helping out with the entrance exams?" Nighteye asks
"Oh yeah! They want me, Amajiki and Nejire on hand to help out in little bits, might have to join in considering how fun it looks!"
"Would you... want some company? I've got a free day on that day." Nighteye responds hopefully, Mirio jumps up and down with delight.
"Are you kidding? Of course! That'd be awesome! Amajiki can tell you his joke!" Mirio giggles.
"I look forward to it... I love a good joke."
Mirio looks and sees Amajiki head back into the changing room, his hood was up, because of course it was.
"Oh, Sir I've gotta go. We can talk more at the entrance exam yeah? Mirio asks
Nighteye's face turns to one of worry. He was missing his window of opportunity.
"Oh, uh Mirio?" hastily says Nighteye.
"Yes sir?
Nighteye thinks for a moment... and sighs. No. This wasn't the time.
"... Don't worry, I'll tell you tomorrow." Nighteye says calmly
"Okay sir, see you then!" Mirio says and with a beep, Nighteye's phone only plays out a small whirring as he puts it down on his desk. He couldn't keep putting this off... but then how do you tell the potential next symbol of peace that you thought it was a terrible idea?
Made by truen