Amelia sat in her dorm room, her thoughts a tangled mess of frustration and worry. Nezu had ordered her to stay put while they continued to investigate the strange green liquid. She understood the reasoning—being near the substance caused her pain, and they didn't want to risk another exposure. But that didn't make it any easier. She felt like she was being sidelined, unable to help or contribute to the mission.
She tried to distract herself by reading a book, but it was hard to focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the substance and the mysterious villain who seemed to know her so well. She wondered if showcasing all her power during her training had been a mistake. Maybe if she had kept a lower profile, she wouldn't be in this situation. But then again, she knew she couldn't regret her decision. She had always believed in giving her all, no matter the cost.
The dorms were quiet, almost eerily so. Her classmates had no idea she was still on school property, and without her presence in classes, she felt more isolated than ever. The loneliness crept in, making the large dormitory feel even emptier. Only Izuku knew she was here, but he had his own responsibilities, and he was likely in class right now, just like the rest of them.
Feeling restless, Amelia decided to make herself a snack. She rummaged through the kitchen, finding some leftover bread and cheese. She quickly assembled a sandwich, trying to find some semblance of normalcy in the simple act. But even that felt strange. After all the hero work, training, and danger, something as mundane as making a sandwich felt almost foreign.
With her snack in hand, Amelia settled back onto the couch, picking up her book again: The Philosopher's Quirk. It was one of her comfort reads, a familiar story with a twist, perfect for taking her mind off things. She quickly got lost in the super magical world, her worries fading into the background.
Eventually, she found herself in a rather peculiar position, lying upside down on the couch with her head dangling just above the floor. Her feet were up on the armrest, and she was holding the book above her face, trying to find a more comfortable angle to read. It was an odd posture, but somehow it helped her relax.
She was halfway through a particularly intriguing chapter when she heard a throat clear above her. Startled, she glanced up—or rather, down—from her upside-down position. Her eyes moved slowly from the floor up to the familiar red shoes, then up to the school pants, the shirt, and the oddly done red tie. Finally, she met his gaze, her eyes landing on the familiar face and unruly green hair.
Izuku Midoriya stood before her, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He looked like he was caught between wanting to laugh and being slightly puzzled by her strange reading position. Amelia felt a wave of happiness surge through her, but before she could react, the book slipped from her hands and landed right on her face with a soft thud.
The sudden, silly mishap broke the silence. Izuku's restrained chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh, his eyes crinkling with genuine amusement. Amelia could feel her cheeks heating up, a mix of embarrassment and joy bubbling inside her. She missed this—missed him.
"I see being all-powerful doesn't stop you from being clumsy," Izuku teased, his voice light and filled with warmth.
Amelia pouted, rubbing her nose where the book had hit her. "Hey, that was totally the book's fault," she mumbled, trying to maintain her annoyed expression but failing miserably. Inside, she was smiling, her heart lightening at the sound of his laughter.
Izuku stepped closer, his expression softening as he reached down to help her up. "Come on, let's get you upright," he said gently.
Amelia took his hand, allowing him to pull her up from her awkward position. As she stood, she couldn't help but notice the way his hand lingered on hers, the warmth of his touch spreading through her like a comforting wave. For a moment, they just stood there, close enough to feel each other's presence, their eyes locked.
She tried to maintain her pout, but it was impossible to keep up the act with Izuku standing there, looking at her with that soft, caring expression. She could feel a smile tugging at her lips, despite herself. "You caught me in a weird moment," she said, her voice softer now, a hint of a smile breaking through.
Izuku chuckled again, his thumb brushing against the back of her hand in a comforting gesture. "I think it was a cute moment," he replied, his tone sincere. "But it's good to see you smile, Amelia. I've missed that."
Her heart fluttered at his words, and she felt the weight of the past few weeks lifting, if only just a little. She realized then how much she had missed him too—missed his laughter, his presence, his unwavering support.
"Thanks, Izuku," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. "I've missed you too."
They stood there for a moment longer, the world outside their little bubble seeming to fade away. In that moment, amidst all the worry and the uncertainty, Amelia found a small pocket of peace. And for now, that was enough.
As they stood there, Amelia suddenly realized just how close they were—close enough that she could feel Izuku's breath, see the subtle rise and fall of his chest. Her heart started to race, and she quickly stepped back, her face flushing a bright red. She tried to hide her embarrassment, looking down and clearing her throat.
"So, um... why are you here?" she asked, trying to sound casual but failing to mask the slight tremor in her voice. "Shouldn't you be in class or, you know, saving the world or something?"
Izuku chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck in that endearing way he always did when he was a little embarrassed. "I wanted to check up on you," he admitted, his voice sincere. "I wanted to see how you're doing. I was worried, you know, after everything."
Amelia felt a flutter in her chest, a mix of flattery and something else she couldn't quite place. She tried to keep her cool, biting her lip to keep from smiling too broadly. "Oh, you were worried about me?" she said teasingly, spinning around on her heel and letting out a light giggle. "Well, do I look fine?" She spread her arms out, flashing him a playful grin.
Izuku smiled, his eyes softening as he watched her. "You look great," he said, his voice gentle and warm. "But I still wanted to make sure. It's not just about how you look, you know?"
They both laughed, the tension easing a little. Amelia felt herself relax, the nervous energy dissipating as they settled into a more comfortable rhythm. They started talking about school, catching up on everything that had been happening while she'd been stuck in the dorms. Izuku shared stories about their recent lessons, the latest training exercises, and some of the more amusing antics of their classmates.
Amelia listened intently, her heart feeling a little lighter with each story. She hadn't realized how much she missed this—missed hearing about all the little things, the everyday moments she was missing out on. It was comforting, like a taste of normalcy amidst all the chaos.
"So, how's hero work going?" Izuku asked after a while, his expression turning more serious. "I've seen you a lot on TV recently. You've been pretty busy."
Amelia hesitated for a moment, her mind flashing back to the mysterious substance and the villain who seemed to know her too well. She forced a smile, keeping her tone light. "Yeah, I've been doing a lot," she said vaguely. "Just the usual hero stuff, you know—stopping bad guys, helping people. Nothing too exciting."
She didn't mention the substance or the villain. She didn't want to worry him or burden him with more than he already had on his plate. And besides, she wasn't even sure what to make of it all herself.
Izuku nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. "That's great to hear," he said. "You're doing amazing work, Amelia. Really."
They continued to chat, the conversation flowing easily between them. Izuku talked about his own experiences, and his recent internship with Gran Torino, an old friend of All Might. He told her about how he had reached 20% of his power, how he had met the vestiges of One For All.
Amelia listened, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this story—knew what would happen after he met the old users. She had to keep herself from saying too much, from revealing what she knew. Instead, she focused on just being present, on sharing in his excitement and pride.
"That's incredible, Izuku," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "You're really growing so much. I'm proud of you."
Izuku blushed slightly, scratching the back of his neck again. "Thanks, Amelia," he said softly. "That means a lot coming from you."
They talked for hours, the time slipping away as they shared stories and laughter. It was late when Izuku finally brought up a more sensitive topic, his voice soft and tentative.
"So... how are things with your parents?" he asked gently.
The question caught Amelia off guard, and for a moment, she went silent. She felt a familiar ache in her chest, a heaviness that she couldn't quite shake. "Well," she began slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't seen or heard from them much, still. But that's according to them. I sometimes check on them, you know, from a distance. Like the other day... I flew to the house to see my mom alone at home, working. My dad came much later. They don't really talk to one another anymore, but when they do, it's always about ways to keep me safe. I just… I just wish they felt I was safer with them than away from them. its odd I can be out in the open, on TV and all but I can't be with them."
There was a heavy silence, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Izuku didn't know what to say, his heart aching for her. He could see the pain in her eyes, the longing. He moved closer, wrapping his arm around her in a comforting embrace.
"They love you, Amelia," he said softly. "You can see that. They're not forgetting you, so at least now you know."
Amelia leaned into him, allowing herself to take comfort in his words, in his presence. She felt a small tear escape her eye, but she quickly brushed it away, not wanting to show too much. She took a deep breath.
"Yeah," she whispered, her voice steadier now. "I know. Thanks, Izuku."
As the atmosphere between them eased back into a more relaxed state, Amelia and Izuku found themselves chatting about random topics, letting the tension melt away. The mood was light, and soon they settled on watching a quirky sitcom that Amelia had recently discovered. The humour was odd, but it had them both laughing and making playful comments about the characters on screen. They sat comfortably on the couch, shoulders brushing occasionally, their shared laughter filling the room.
Just as they were getting into the show, the door opened, and All Might walked in, immediately "poofing" into his weaker form. Behind him was a visibly tired Aizawa, his steps slow and weary. The sudden intrusion made Izuku turn his head toward the teachers, his curiosity piqued. All Might and Aizawa hadn't noticed Izuku yet as they seemed to be deep in conversation.
"Evening, young Amelia," All Might began, his tone serious despite his frail appearance. "I've received the report on your recent mission with Aizawa. They've just given us more information about the substance—"
Aizawa, still in the doorway, suddenly stiffened and turned his gaze toward Izuku. But it was too late.
All Might continued, oblivious, "—that's been specifically made to hurt you…"
Izuku's head whipped around sharply, his eyes wide with shock and concern. "Hurt Amelia?" he echoed, his voice laced with confusion and rising fear.
"That's right, Young Izuku, if consumed, it could kill her—wait, Young Izuku!" All Might turned toward the sound of Izuku's voice, his eyes widening in surprise.
But the damage was done. Izuku's face had already turned a shade of pale fury. "It could kill her?!" he exclaimed, his voice rising with anger. "Amelia, why didn't you say anything?"
Amelia opened her mouth to respond, but she was too taken aback by Izuku's sudden outburst. She had never seen him this angry before—no, not just angry, he was furious.
"Izuku, calm down," she tried, her voice soothing, but Izuku wasn't hearing it. He shook his head vehemently, getting up from the couch.
"No, I will not calm down!" he shouted, his voice filled with a mix of fear and frustration. "Some substance out there, made by someone who could be after your life, and you didn't tell me, Amelia?!"
Amelia flinched, not in fear, but at the intensity of his voice. Izuku's rage was palpable, and it shocked her to see him like this. All Might and Aizawa tried to intervene, moving toward Izuku to calm him down, but he was beyond listening.
Izuku turned on All Might, pointing a trembling finger at his chest. "How could you let this happen?! Aren't you supposed to protect Amelia as her mentor?! What is Mirko even doing, then?! You guys are so useless!!"
The words hung in the air like a sudden crack of thunder. All Might and Aizawa were taken aback, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern. This wasn't like Izuku. Something was happening.
Before anyone could say another word, the air began to hum with a strange, almost electric energy. Amelia felt it immediately—a static current that seemed to vibrate through the very room. She glanced around, trying to find the source, but it wasn't coming from anything. It was coming from someone. From Izuku.
The air around him seemed to shimmer, the static charge growing stronger, and then, suddenly, it happened. The air around Izuku exploded outward, sending a powerful shockwave through the room. All Might, Aizawa, and Amelia were all pushed back by the force. Long, dark tendrils shot out from Izuku's body, whipping around violently.
Amelia's eyes widened in recognition. She knew what those tendrils were—it was Blackwhip. The first of many other quirks Izuku would manifest. But this wasn't how it happened in the anime. Izuku never manifested Blackwhip in the dorm; it was during one of their lessons. But here he was, manifesting it out of sheer anger.
The tendrils lashed out wildly, reflecting Izuku's fury. The angrier he was, the stronger the quirk became. And by the looks of it, he was very, very angry. She knew that if the user lost control of their anger, the tendrils could become uncontrollable. She had to do something, and fast.
"All Might?" she called out, her voice raised over the roar of the wind generated by the tendrils. All Might, now in his strong form, was leaning against the force, his face grim.
Aizawa was behind her, his eyes narrowed as he tried to get a clear shot to cancel out Izuku's quirk. But the wind was too strong, and his eyes were already dry from the strain. She couldn't rely on them; she had to do it herself.
Amelia took a deep breath and started moving toward Izuku, her steps slow and deliberate. "Izuku, I'm coming to you," she called out, trying to keep her voice calm and steady. The tendrils danced around her as she moved, always moving, but never touching her. It was as if they recognized her, sensed her intent.
She reached him, her hand gently touching his shoulder. She could feel the tension in his muscles, the anger radiating off him in waves. She didn't want to use one of her trump cards against him, but it was the only way. She needed to calm his mind, to bring him back from the edge.
Taking a deep breath, Amelia activated a power she rarely used—one of Superman's abilities that she had only ever read about in theory. She took control of his mind, pulling both of them into his mindscape.