u/Ok_Coffee_9970

So Mineta had been using his quirk to scare people. Nothing new. Only eventually Izuku had lashed out and punched him when he tried to scare him.

Unfortunately Izuku had used OFA in shock…

Killing Mineta instantly.

——

“Well, Mineta is dead…” Mina smacked her lips as she and the girls of 1-A and 1-B sat around each other. “…Kyouka, no one is listening on us right?”

A nod later, the ladies started cheering.

“WOOOO!!! Our plan worked!!!”

They all popped champagne, and then spit it out because it was disgusting, before they continued to party.

“We can finally feel safe in our rooms!”

“We can propose co ed grappling practice and not have to worry about Mineta making it weird! And simply worry about reassuring the boys that they can grapple with us regularly because we trust them!”

“Shinso can join the hero course!!”

What plan were they celebrating?

Well, they knew Mineta would never change, so they got him hooked on prank channels, showed him how they always got girls, and got him obsessed with them. Then, then started drugging Izuku so Danger Sense would react more negatively to Mineta scaring him.

They planned a murder, and no one had any evidence!!

The door opened to reveal Aizawa. “Hey, are you all alright?”

The girls were all sitting down, with conflicted looks on their faces. “We know he was creepy, but it still feels bad that he died.”

Aizawa nodded grimly. “You’ll be having therapy meetings, but never hesitate to talk to me if needed.” He closed the door and they waited till he was far enough away to start cheering.

“WOOOOO!!!”

(They're in college, Bending still exists, Modern Au.)

Katara was studying hard for the medicinal track for water benders. She was capable of fighting, yes, and she knew that applying for the medic track was reminscient of when women water benders weren't permitted to learn combat techniques... but honestly she had always been more open to healing. Most people didn't even know she was combative.

Of course, not that the person in front of her knew anything about it.

"...Medicinal track. Nice." The words from Zuko, classic rich kid, gained nothing but her ire.

While medicinal practices were widely believed to be for Water Benders only, any bending could be used to aid the human body. Water was just naturally the best for it.

Meaning that Zuko was currently in the track with her.

Though it was open to all forms of bending, even non bending, she actually had no idea if he was a fire bender. Same way most people didn’t know she was a water bender.

To clarify, Bending was still an incredibly useful skill to have. It always would be. But these days with machinery, guns, lots of people didn’t see bending as the end all be all.

So if you had bending, you didn’t often talk about it. Braggarts tended to be put in their place easily.

Where was she?

Right, medicinal track.

She didn’t advertise that she could bend water, and she had no idea if Zuko had bending or not. Even though he was the son of a famous business tycoon, she… actually didn’t know much about him.

Point is, he had sat down in front of her and now they were talking. She didn’t like him, but at least he wasn’t being a creep. Plus, he seemed knowledgeable on things, which she could definitely use.

“Your necklace looks old, do you want me to buy you a new one?”

“Never talk me to again.” She stood up and left the man with an eyepatch, leaving him to look after her stuttering awkwardly.

Katara looked at the tv in the library (on mute currently) and briefly saw a headline about the Bkue Spirit and Painted Lady.

Two vigilantes. Criminals who took the law into their own hands. One wielded two blades, another seemed to be one with the mist. The news insisted they were working together. But in reality they had never met.

Because Katara was the Painted Lady.

——

When she was a child, she was never the outgoing type. The closest she had never done was save a kid from drowning, and that was only because of her bending, being close to the shore… and the fact that it had been an accident.

She had fainted from exerting herself before she could get a good look at his face, and when she woke up he was gone. Now she was N adult, and she was starting to think she had made it up.

Point is, she wasn’t some rogue Ner do well… she thought that was right.

But then she heard about the Blue Spirit.

A guy who had nothing but swords, and still helped people at risk to himself.

So she helped some people in secret, and it felt good… then she learned about the Painted Mary legend and worked through that.

Some people weren’t even sure she was real, and she perfected it that way. If she got caught she could be charged with something, and that would ruin things.

So she stayed in the shadows, did small minimal actions… things like that. She wasn’t a hero, not like-

——

The Blue Spirit stood in front of her, having helped her out when cops started shooting at them. He was an artist with those blades.

Now they were recovering in private. Katara… wasn’t sure what to do… right, she was the Painted Lady right now. “…You know I was wondering if you didn’t exist…”

Nothing but silence greeted her. “…Thanks for helping me… I actually started doing this because of you…”

He slowly turned and faced her, looking over her body. “…Oh, I didn’t get hurt, don’t worry.”

He backed away and made sure no one was listening before he sighed. “You shouldn’t talk so much. Voice recognition software is everywhere these days.”

Painted Lady could have smacked herself over the head. But she resisted it. He probably thought she was a joke right now. Ugh-

“You did well against those cops. Some of them were trained benders.” The compliment threw her off guard.

Benders could apply for jobs like anyone else, but to get permission to use their powers openly in the field like say a cop, they needed a license.

“You need to stop using your bending so visually, cops keep a database of benders so you’ll get cahght. I don’t think there’s many eye witnesses yet, so I think we can fix that.”

She paused as she watched him unsheath his blades. “I… I don’t think I can fight without bending, it’s pretty vital to my abilities… but I don’t wanna stop this either…”

Blue Spirit pointed his blade towards her. “Don’t worry. I think I can help you. I remember hearing reports that you were always appearing in mist?”

The other hero nodded. “Yeah… I read that the Painted Lady appeared in mists, so I…” Well he already knew. “…Bend the water droplets. Only works with thick fog and stuff where you can see it. Can’t really bend the air.” An awkward chuckle was replied too with quiet.

“Water is… the element of change. It’s fairly adaptable. Human bodies have eighty percent water, so if you concentrate you should-“

“You’re talking about Blood Bending.” Her voice has turned cold. “That’s forbidden unless-“

“Authorized by the government. The government that just shot at you.” Oh… was that a joke? “Regardless, you don’t have to bend their blood. Sweat, tears, if you’re smart about it you can become a master of hand to hand combat. And as long as no one sees you visbly bend water, it could play into your whole mystique and people will stop looking for a water bender. It’s not an official name, but it’s a subset of each bending ‘Silent Style’. Bending your element without letting anyone know you’re a bender. People have used it to become prodigies in the past. At least it’s theorized.”

Silent Style… wait… “So… you’re going to train me?”

“…That’s what I said. Well, I said I could help you, but it’s kind of the same thing.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “You… you’re pretty funny.”

Blue Spirit titled his head at her. “…Thanks. Guess we’ll be teaming up for real.” He turned away and started walking. “I’ll make sure the coast is clear, we wait a bit, discuss our next plan, then we each head out.”

He was so in command, and sure of himself… so cool. “…You said you started doing this because of me?” The question made her slowly nod, hoping that wasn’t weird. “…That’s flstteirng, thank you.”

“Well, it was kind of inevitable. Someone sees a guy risk everything for other people, makes someone else do the same. An endless cycle of good deeds.” They both sat next to each other. “…Do you have a reason you do this? Or no?”

His emotionless mask was silent. “…I was saved… but I don’t know by who. I figured if I save as many people as possible, it would eventually repay her.”

…She might actually be developing a crush.

——-

“I’m sorry…” Zuko stood in front of Katara. “I… I don’t know what I did wrong, I just… wanted to get to know you… I didn’t mean to insult you.”

Katara didn’t wanna give this guy the time of day… but he seemed genuine… ish. “…This was a gift from my mom before she passed away.”

She watched the horror seep into Zukos eye as he looked at her in pain. “I… I’m so sorry.”

That apology was enough to get his foot in the door. “…You’re not good with people, are you?” A head shake was all her answer was. “…Why did you come up to me to study?”

“I… you seemed confident… and I could use a friend.”

Katara slowly sighed. “Okay, it was nice of you to offer, but some people like things for more than beauty. If you wanna talk with people, ask them about their accessories, that can usually be a good starter.” Zuko nodded, while Katara smiled. “You seem smart, just… bad at things. I can teach you, don’t worry. We’re gonna be taking medical classes together anyway.”

Zuko looked at here as they walked together.

Katara… seems very nice. Like… He thought back to when he had been saved as a kid by another kid. He went off to go get help, but the kid was gone by the time he got back. …No way it’s her… “So…What is your necklace made from?”

Katara smiled at him. “That’s a better question. You’re going to be great.”

——-

In summation, Katara likes Blue Spirit, who is Zuko. Zuko likes Katara, who is Painted Lady. Katara saved Zuko when they were kids, but neither knows it was the other one, and neither knows the other one is the hero identity. They also both inspired the other to be a hero.

Clear? Yay.

They fight crime together.

Also Oozai is a crime boss, Azula works for him, yada yada.

“…What?”

“I created a new timeline okay?! I just tried to use my powers and I made a new timeline.” Eri said as she walked around. “I don’t know what’s different though. I just need…” She slowly paused and looked at Denki walking down the hallway.

Only he was a cyborg.

Like he was half robotic.

“…”

——

“Okay, so Denki got injured and got robotic parts. Now he got injured protecting Momo and Kyouka, so they’re now like his caretakers.” Eri said as she surveyed the events, while Kota frowned.

“Seriously? You did this to him?”

“Well I specifically didn’t do anything. And he seems fine. He’s got two lovely ladies looking over him.” Eri said happily.

Only for Denki to start glitching. “I-I-I-I-“

“Okay Denki.” Momo said as she helped him, while Kyouka patted his head.

“Let’s get you to bed.”

“…” Kota glared at Eri. “…Yeah, he seems SO much better off.”

“Oh screw you.” Eri then paused and smacked her lips. “Okay, because Denki got injured in the USJ attack, UA was under siege and unable to do the Sports Festival, and internships didn’t happen…” She read through the news articles. “So Ochako died in the Training Camp forest attack.”

“…Still trying to justify this timeline?”

“Yeah I’ll get right to fixing this.”

“I only use my ice. It’s pretty simple.” She spoke softly. Izuku frowned at that.

“Why?”

“…I don’t want to…”

—-

Later during the sports festival….

“WOOOOO!!!!” Shoko laughed excitedly as she fought with Izuku. She used both her flames and ice and started Hakari dancing. “I FEEL ALIVE!!! IZUKU!!!”

The green haired boy grinned at Shoko.

“LETS GO ALL OUT!!!”

——

“HAHAHAHA!!”

Everyone looked at Shoko, who was dancing in the dorm. “…Okay, she’s still going high energy.”

“IS THIS JOY?! I LOVE IT!!!”

“…She should be done with this soon.”

——

Shoto is both genderswapped and personality swapped into a party girl after Izuku gets her out of her shell.

——

The class groaned as Shoko kept partying. “She’s never gonna stop is she?” Denki groaned as he covered his ears and tried to sleep. They were all in their own rooms, but Shoko was partying so hard.

“WOOO!!! IM DOING COKE UP THE BUTT!!!!”

They all groaned in aggravation.

——

The class glared at Izuku. “What?!”

“This is your fault! You brought her out of her shell and now she won’t stop partying!”

“We don’t know this is my fault!”

“Yo Izuku!” Shoko slid in on her ice. “I gotta thank you for being the SOLE reason I’m a party girl now! I’m going to start doing coke up EVERY HOLE I HAVE!!! And it’s ALLLLL thanks to you! Now I’m gonna go streaking, come join me later!”

She then slid away, while everyone glared at Izuku.

“…Okay so MAYBE this is my fault.”

—-

Endeavor looked at news and slowly sunk into his couch. “…I’ve failed as a father.”

——

Dabi watched the news. “…I have to end my own life.”

"Here... let me..." Momo looked around before she bought an apple. "Here, these are pretty sweet." She reached out to the boy who was scratching himself. Only for him to flinch away. Momo paused before continuing. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna hur-" He tried to grab the apple, only for it to turn to ash.

"...Okay... we can figure this out... you wanna come home with me and get cleaned up?"

He nodded slowly.

____

Could Momo have brought him to the police? Well hindsight was twenty twenty. She was never one to think ahead in the heat of the moment. Sure she could make plans ahead of time, but aside from that...

"Let's just...." The kid coudln't touch anything with all five fingers without it turning to ash. Gloves? No those would... Oh wait a second...

Momo kneeled down to him. "Sweetie, just hold out your finger. Carefully now." She needed to do this gently, without spooking him. "We're calm... we're all calm... don't worry..."

Eventually she managed to make a wrapping on each of his fingers. "There we go. See, simple." She was smiling, but inwardly she was panicking about how close to death she had been. Still, he had an amazing quirk. Whatever the case, she was fine no-

"What in the blazes?!"

"Mother, Father!" Momo said excitedly as she turned around to see her parents. "Meet... okay I don't know his name yet, but I'm helping him out. His quirk is fascinating! He can destroy anything by touching it with all five fingers, he can't control it yet but-"

"WHAT?!" She watched her parents faces be blanketed in fear as they stepped back, looking at all the dust piles she had used to test his quirk. "AND YOU BROUGHT IT HERE?!"

"I... well he was a kid and he needed help so-"

"GET THAT VILLAIN OUT OF THIS HOUSE!!!"

Momo had never seen them like this... though looking back on how they spoke about villains on tv and... okay she could see it now.

"...No." She said as she stood between them and the kid. "This is a kid and-"

____

They kicked her out of the house. Her and the kid were now homeless. Was this illegal? Well she was teenager so yes, but her parents were rich so going to the cops would be a hassle, plus she didn't want the kid to go into the system.

She smacked her lips and looked at the kid, who looked distressed and sad. "Hey hey..." She crouched down to his level. "You're not to blame for my parents being short sighted. We are going to figure this out... I have a credit car- Canceled. A canceled credit card... and my phone is below fifty percent... okay. We have some issues..."

Momo started trying to think of plan. "First things first... money! We need money, and we... I can make anything as long as I know it's atomic makeup. And I... have memorized some things... like gold... we can work with this."

____

Ratty basement of an abandoned building...

"...YOu know what? This is perfect. We have food, we can make money, as long as I don't overdo it no one will be able to arrest me for illegal quirk use!" Momo smiled while the kid looked at her hesitatnly. "...Hey, look, is this situation ideal? No. But I bet it's better than you wandering the streets alone?"

The kid slowly nodded.

"Right, and I can make anything, and you can... destroy anything. We cancel each other out, so we're perfect... me... a teenager taking care of a... how old are you?" The kid shrugged. "...Would five be an accurate guess?"

A nod was her answer.

"Good enough. And hey, once I'm eighteen I'll be able to apply for UA college. They have on campus dorms and maybe they'll let us live there!" The kid stayed silent, but lightened up a bit. "UA college is where people go to be heroes. Did you know that?"

Another nod.

"...Do you want to be a hero?" The kid froze and looked away, looking at his covered fingers. "...Okay, I'm gonna be honest with you. Your quirk is problematic, dangerous, and needs effort to be controlled." He looked sad as she sat in front of him. "But, every kid needs a little help with stuff. This is no different. You're not a villan, you just need a little extra help." She ruffled his head and stood up. "Okay, I'm gonna make a mattress for you to sleep on, while I-" He grabbed her arm and looked at her beggingly. "...You want me to sleep on the mattress with you?"

A nod.

"...I can do that...I’m gonna need to give you a name…”

____

A teenage Momo becomes homless with Tomura, who was born later and therefore a kid.

...Meaning she's basically adopted him.

——

“Where is Tenko?” AFO asked coldly as Garaki sweated.

“We’re not sure. We were following him, but then he was gone. We think someone took him in.”

“You cannot be serious.” AFO said in a mock tone. “If you saw a a kid with ratty clothes a vacant look, you’d leave it alone. No one with common sense would take him in.”

“Well except someone like All Might.”

“That’s it!” AFO said in fury. “That fool, that bumbling oaf! He must have taken Tenko and found him somehow! I knew it!”

“…Or it was someone with a small shred of decency?”

“No one in their right mind would take Tenko in, especially once they realize what his quirk is. This world would see him as a villain and cast him aside. I’ve ensured will be fraught with naught but peril unless I take him in. Ergo he must either be on the streets, or All Might somehow found him.” AFO glared and clenched his teeth. “All Might… how you constantly torment me, how all you One For All users torment me…”

“…You know we have a ton of back up kids for this, right?”

“No, it has to be Tenko. The others are paltry.”

“There’s Touya, son of Endeavor.”

“Oh, invest in that one, he’ll make a good back up. But find All Might, and we find Tenko.”

(AU where Zuko and Katara are adults and Azula is a teen.)

“You don’t mean that.” Zuko said offhandedly, to which Katara groaned.

“Yeah… I don’t…” Katara got off the couch. “You’re Fire lord and you gave her a second chance for a reason, but I still think we’re in way over our heads.”

“She’s a kid who doesn’t even know what right and wrong is. She deserves someone to help her… like you helped me…” Zuko smirked as he hugged Katara around the waist.

The water bender rolled her eyes and kissed Zuko. “You… were a different story… you always had some form of good in you… you just needed a lot of help.”

“And so does Azula.”

“…Let’s just have dinner.”

——

Aang could have taken away Azula’s bending, but they wanted to try and treat Azula like she wasn’t a criminal.

But, with all three of them sitting at the table, it was still pretty tense. “Zuko, you made this pretty well.” Katara complimented, only for Azula to grab the plate and throw the food at them. She used the distraction to attack both of them.

Zuko didn't flinch at that. He calmed down the flames while Katara trapped Azula in water "...Guess I didn't make it that good."

___

Katara sat next to Azula in the room they had made for her. "... You're looking awful."

"Shut up."

"Okay, so you can talk." Katara said with an eye roll. "You have to eat if you don't wanna starve." Katara looked at Azula, who kept silent. "...You know Oozai wasn't your parent, he was just the guy who happened to create you."

"...What's your point?"

"...All parents love their kids, even if they aren't that good at showing it. So I know your mom loved you."

"She thought I was a monster."

"She just didn't understand you." Katara said slowly. "...Besides, what's wrong with being a monster?"

Azula simply glared at her. "... You were raised like a peasant, praised for mediocrity. I don't expect you to understand me."

Katara nodded. “Yeah, that’s fair. Praising mediocrity in kids isn’t exactly conducive. Forcing them to be better in order to gain their attention allows them to develop faster. But at the same time, one of the worst things you can do to someone is make them feel like they aren’t enough.”

“Some people aren’t enough. Some people are better than everyone else. Others are just garbage.”

Katara figured she’d say something like that. “…You’re right. It’s a delicate balance. If you praise below average talents, that doesn’t lead to any progress. But if you don’t let people know they’re loved, they can work themselves raw and breakdown.”

The phrase ‘just like you’ went unsaid.

“Is it stupid to want to care for you even though you tried to kill us? Yes. Are you a jerk who hurt a lot of people? Yeah. But you’re also a kid who never got the fundamental levels of a childhood. Zuko and I don’t think it’s fair for you to be treated like a war criminal. He can redirect your lightning, and I can trap you with water bending. Lash out as many times as you want. I can’t promise we’ll be perfect, but I can promise we’ll care about you. Throw your tantrums, get your anger out, and we’ll see what happens.”

She placed a peach pear in front of her. “I know you’re not as bad as Oozai, so if you think that your only future is in a cell, you’re wrong. It won’t be easy, but you can still have a future. We’ll be here for you when you want it, but regardless you still need to eat.”

——-

Azula sat at the table with Katara and Zuko the next night. “…This food tastes like garbage.” She stood up and went to her room.

“…Progress.”

—-/—

“This is a stupid game.” Azula looked at the board game. “Just burn everything to ash.”

“No, that’s not the point of it.”

——-

“You’re joke, it’s funny.” Katara said with a smile. “Battleships getting pierced. It’s hilarious.”

Azula couldn’t help but grin a bit. “…Thanks.”

——

Many many years later…

“Mom, I’m heading out with my friends! I’ll be back later!” Azula said as she walked out the house, with Katara and Zukos mouths gaped open.

“…She called me mom before she called you dad.”

“It’s not a competition!”

“It is when I win!”

"You know how the HPSC has assassins?" Nedzu said slowly. "Well, I thought I could do the same thing. So I did the only natural thing and faked the death of multiple convicted serial killers and started training them in a secret facility."

"...What?" Aizawa asked with a shocked face. "...The fuck?!"

"I'm not a fool, I had the place rigged to explode to ash if anything went wrong." Nedzu explained. "I had several fail safes, all to make sure that those deranged maniacs didn't get out."

"...So what happened?"

The rat mouse dog bear smacked his lips. "...Somehow... someone... disabled the security measures... and let them all out... and everyone thinks they're dead..."

______

I hand picked each one of them to be apart of this experiment because of how unique they were.

A pink skinned girl smiled and gripped someone by the mouth, a hissing sound coming out as she melted the bottom half of their face.

She inhaled and laid on the corpse. “Fresh air… it’s so good…”

______

But the one thing they all had in common was the ability to immediately disregard the moral depravity that came with taking a life.

"Stab yourself in the neck." A purple haired man said whille someone in front of him slit their own throat.

____

Now that they're out, it's going to be a massacre.

A woman was beaten to death by an unseen force. "LOOK AT ME!!! LOOK AT ME!!!"

____

"...How many were there?" Toshinori asked after deliberation.

"Twnety. The average number of students in a UA class after all." Everyone groaned while Toshinori sighed.

"Okay, get Izuku and Class 1-A to go after them. It needs to be all hands on deck for this."

(Class 1-A is just Class 1-B with Izuku.)

____

"So, question." Momo asked while she made supplies for a man in a suit. "Why did you break us out of Nedzu's little rat trap?"

"Honestly? It just seemed like fun." AFO said with a smile. "The world could use a little more fear."

Momo smirked and headed off to start her killing spree.

It was fun.

Yes it wasn’t as good as the original, I was one of the first people who said it was a mistake. I think… I don’t remember my initial thoughts when this first got announced.

But point is, it was fun.

They focused on Sokkas trauma, we had more time with Ba Sing Se, we saw a Painted Lady and Blue Spirit Team Up.

Yes it had flaws, they took out some very fun scenes and lines, and Toph joining them was very rushed.

But the cast did its job and while it Defintely wasn’t perfect, it was an enjoyable watch.

Plus we got to see more Sai and Sokka. That’s fun.

Both Class 1-A and 1-B were all holed up in the building at camp. “Okay, we all stay here and wait for the-“

“We all have quirks!” Katsuki yelled. “Let’s just go and-“

“Actually, it’s the quirk erasing bear.” Everyone turned to Koji.

“…What?”

“Yeah, no quirks work when you’re near it.”

“…Okay then…” Aizawa and Kan headed out. “Legs just deal with this q-“

——

“So Aizawa and Kan are dead.” Momo said, causing some of them to start crying. “Shut up! We’re gonna have to fight the bear on our own!”

“But they’re dead…”

“Who cares!? We have to kill that bear as retribution! Plus he made us run through that forest!” Denki yelled. “We have to kill that bear and work together!”

——-

“So some of Class 1-B is dead.” Shoto said casually. “But I think we can bounce back from this.”

“Come on!” Monoma said angrily.

“Monoma, can YOU even name all of your Class 1-B students?”

“…No, I’m too busy hating you.”

“Excatly.”

Like in season 3, Enid becomes jaded and angry at the world. And Wednesday sees this and tries to cheer her up.

Enid: I hate everything.

Wednesday: …Cheer up?

Katsuki raised his eyebrow. "What?"

"You know how we're all 18 and UA is a college?"

"You're wasting my time."

"I've been having sex with your dad."

Katsuki paused and slowly turned around. "...What?"

"I had sex with your dad. And your mom watched. Actually she paid me to do it. And then she acted like she was getting humiliated by it but being turned on. I'm not really one to judge peoples fetishes so eh."

"..."

"Also me and him are in a pretty stable relationship and it's turning your mom on even more. We're actually giving her head pats and stuff and basically treating her like a pet. It's odd, but everyone's happy."

Katsuki smacked his lips and inhaled. "...So... how long-"

"Oh like a month."

"...And... and how-"

"We go like seven times a night. And your mom watches every night and cries that she isn't good enough, whines that she wants to join and we say no. Like I said apparetnly being cucked and humilated is her fetish. It's not hurting people so it's fine."

"..."

"She also has us call her a bad girl, spank her, she calls us masters, make us give her permission to do... lots of things, anything to humiliate her in private."

"...Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I'm going to marry your dad while Mitsuki tries to stop it, but she's going along with it... and she's going to be dressed as a skimpy cat maid while it happens."

"..."

Ojiro watched tears stream down Katsuki's face. "...Are you crying?"

"YES I'M FUCKING CRYING!!!"

(Don’t know if this counts)

“I’m going to be working as both a hero and support course. Support so I can sell my inventions and start a business, and hero just in case I need to fight or something like that.” She said with a smile.

“You… you’re a robot?” Ochako asked.

“Well, I’m specifically an Android.” Mei explained. “My parents, Izuku and Mellisa, created me since they couldn’t have children.”

“Wait, Izuku and Mellisa? Aren’t those two like geniuses?” Katsuki spoke up in interest.

“Yes. Though my mom died before I was born. She was sick, and so in order to give me free will, her brain structure was used to create me. My soul, my heart.” Mei frowned. “It had to be transplanted while she was alive, so in a sense, she died in childbirth.”

“…Can I just say-“ Mineta spoke up.

“I was created several months ago.”

“-You seem like a very logical person and I respect that in every platonic way possible.” Mineta shut himself up.

Mei smiled. “I was named Mei because it was short for Mellisa, the acronym was created afterwards. My body is full of weapons in case I need to be protected.” Her hand turned into a gun. “I’m always armed. Also I can fly.”

She then started walking away. “I’m gonna be in the support course! And I’m not gonna be following any safety protocols because I’m a robot!”

“I thought you weren’t a robot?”

“I can call myself a robot!”

\_\_\_\_\_

Izuku, an adult, walked into the support room. Which was freshly exploded. "...Mei, you have to stop exploding things. You're going to hurt someone."

Mei smiled and turned to her dad. "I made sure the room was void of people." She hugged him tightly. "What brings you here from I-Island?"

"I'm analzying the peoples quirks here. Trying to make them better heroes." He rolled his eyes. "Though I would have taken any reason to come visit you."

Mei smirked. "Really? Sure you're just not trying to bring me back to I-Island?"

Izuku sighed. "If I wanted to make you do things, I would have put a remote controller in you. Unfortunately, I have to rely on the fact that I'm your dad... though you barely listen to me anyway." Mei giggled while Izuku got solemn. "...I... also have your mom's body."

Mei paused. "...What?"

"She wanted to be buried somewhere... she could be close to you. So she made me promise that wherever you went to school, I would bury her near there."

"...Okay then..."

\_\_\_\_

Mei and Izuku looked at the grave, while Mei tried... to ask something. "...Hey, why didn't you implant Mom's brain into this body? You could have had your wife back."

Izuku thought about it. "...I could have... but then I wouldn't have had you. She used her brain structure and life to make you so you would have a bit of her, since I would be the one raising you." Mei rolled her eyes.

"You've told me this before."

"But... what I haven't told you is that originally, *I* wanted to be the one who gave up his life." Mei froze at Izuku's words. He inspected her gears as he talked. "I... I've never been the smartest between us, I was always more focused on Quirks and how they worked. Mellissa was the one who knew machines. She was an artist... If anything happened to you, she could fix you. But... she was sick. So..."

"..."

"...I..." Izuku frowned. "...I've never been good with people. Quirkless... but.. she was like brilliant light... I want you to live your life. It's why the only person who can control you is you... I see the things you make and... Mellissa was... concious, during the transplant. So she got to see you being born. She wanted to watch you blink into existence, even if getting anesthetic would be easier." He chuckled at that. "She was always so... happy... And she would have been able to be the perfect accomplice to your genius."

"...I could have made you my wife, added code, things like that... but that would be wrong. I created you, it's my duty and honor to raise and protect you."

Mei looked at Izuku as he kept talking. "...You don't have to say anything. Just know this. As long as you're happy, she and I will always be proud of yo-" Mei hugged Izuku.

"You're not as smart as me... but you're the best dad I could ask for." She smiled and looked up at him. "Love you."

(Modern Au where Katara and Zuko are adults and the rest are younger children. Bending is still a thing)

"...Okay, let's do a list." Katara said as she counted on her fingers. "One, my younger brother who we adopted. Two, Aang, the kid that ran away from home. Three, Toph, who's parents were taken into jail for shady business dealings."

"Yeah, remind me again how that happened?"

"....Well the news reports say that two vigilantes were responsible for it."

Zuko looked at his wife dryly. "...We've gotta stop going out as the Blue Spirit and Painted Lady."

"But that's how we met!"

"It's also dangerous now that we have kids. One of which is possibly the greatest earthbender of all time." Zuko said dryly. "Besides, it's not like we can bring them on outings as heroes."

"..."

"...No."

"No."

"...We can begin to think about evaluting a consideration for them to maybe possibly start training." Zuko said slowly, while Katara nodded.

"On the chance that they're all well rounded." Katara smiled. "Four, Suki, who's very good at Martial arts for her age. Five, Mai, the gloomiest girl who we've ever met. Six, Ty Lee, who can chi block. And that makes... seven, Azula, your baby sister."

"Yep... We'll work on it." Zuko then heard screaming. "And the kids are fighting. Yay."

____

Zuko looked at Sokka, who was drawing in his design room. He was only a kid and he had all of these designs. "...Everything all right?"

"...Azula made fun of me for not being able to bend."

"...That's gotta suck." Zuko held up one of the designs. "...What is this? Like a catapult?"

"...Automatic hairbrush."

Zuko smacked his lips and looked at the kid. "...You know I don't care that you can't bend? Just because you're different, doesn't mean you deserve ridicule. You're smart, you're unique, and you-" Sokka reached out and patted the scar on Zuko's eye.

"...You're a good dad."

_____

Katara walked out and smacked her lips, eventually stopping near a bench outside a prison. She looked at it and saw a child sitting there. "...Hey Azula."

"What do you want?" The kid asked cynically as Katara sat down next to her. "Here to punish me?"

"I'm just sitting. Anything wrong with that?" Azula stayed silent, leading Katara to keep going. "...Wanna tell me what happened with Sokka?"

"He was weak, he looked mad when I pointed out that he couldn't bend, I left because I knew you'd kick me out."

"Do you want to be kicked out?" Katara watched Azula get angrier as they both looked at the prison. "...You think you'll end up here if you're bad enough?...With your dad."

"I shouldn't have let myself be taken from him. He's the only person who understands me. Who I am." Katara shrugged at that.

"Well, you're not wrong. I don't understand you, and you can be creepy at times. But that doesn't mean I don't want to understand you. If that counts for anything."

Azula clenched her fists. "...I...I'm just like him."

"You were groomed your whole life into who he wanted you to be. There's a difference." Katara looked at her seriously. "Azula, I can't promise to do everything right, but I promise you, all I want to do is help you."

"...I don't understand things. Why do you treat all of us the same? Aren't some people better than others?" Katara could hear the unasked question.

Aren't some people worse than others?

"Well... it's complicated. Saying every child is special is a way of saying no child is. But at the same time, it's awful to make someone feel like they're not wanted when they just want a place to belong. So there has to be balance. Praise exemplary talents, but embrace those that aren't that good. It's hard, but the other option is making you kids feel like we don't want you around."

Azula didn't respond, but she did listen. "..."

"Azula, I can't promise I'll do everything right, but I can promise that I'll love you. And that you don't have to end up like Ozai if you don't want t-" She was cut off by Azula hugging her. Katara hugged her back, not letting go until Azula wanted to. "...You wanna go home?"

"Yes."

"...You know you'll have to apologize to Sokka right?"

"Ugh."

_____

"...You know the Avatar cycle decrees that the next Avatar be an Air Bender, right?" Zuko asked while watching the kids play in the yard, Aang making an air ball to ride around the others. "And that based on when Roshi died, Aang was likely born around that time."

Katara was on her phone and slowly nodding. "...Yeah... Governments are looking for whoever is the next Avatar in order to raise them... probably turn them into a weapon."

"...On the small minute chance that Aang is the Avatar, I'm thinking we don't tell anyone."

"My thoughts exactly."

____

"I know you want to not wear shoes, and you're an earth bender, so here's my idea." Zuko held up socks with cut out spots. "These protect your feet, and still offer connection to the ground."

Toph glared at him despite being blind.

"...Look can you just try them out... for me?" He gave her puppy dog eyes even though she couldn't see them.

"...Fine." Zuko smiled and affixed them to her, smiling at her reaction. "...Okay these aren't that bad... thanks dad."

Zuko let her on her way. "...Wait, what did you call me?" A wall shot up around him. "Hey! You can't deny this! I know you called me dad!"

____

"Katara... what are you doing?" Zuko asked while he looked at his wife, who had Suki, Mai, and Ty lee hanging from her body.

"...Having.... fun... Okay the little acrobat here wanted to put on a show and the other two got jealous."

"...Can I join in?"

___

"Alright, story time." Zuko said as all the kids sat in their beds. "What do you guys want to-"

"The story of the Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady!" Aang yelled excitedly, causing the others to smile and Zuko to smirk. "...Please?"

"Okay, fine. Centuries ago, two spirits found each other. One wore the mask of a demon to frighten evil doers, while the other did simple acts of kindness to those in need. They were destined to meet, and through their eyes they both changed the other for the better. Across the world, even now, there have been many people who donned disguises and did good under the mantle of these spirits. This is because their wills were so strong, that they inspire people, even if they aren't real."

"Are they real?" Mai asked, causing Zuko to smile.

"Well, it's hard to say. Hundreds of people have taken up that mantle, you can see evidence of it in history. And now with social media, it's clear to see that people still do so. But who knows, maybe two of them ARE the actual Blue Spirit and Painted Lady. But regardless of anything, all you need to do is soemthing good without the promise of a reward, and you'll have honored their spirits."

Azula scoffed at that, while Zuko patted her head. "Night kids."

_____

He and Katara laid in bed, relaxing next to each other. "...You and I both know we would don those masks and disguises again if we needed to protect those kids, right?"

"Without question."

"...Remember when we met? I was the Blue Spirit and I had stopped a crime, and you were still trying to figure out how to do your water bending without ruining your makeup." He smirked while Katara groaned.

"Don't remind me... We spent years together without even knowing each others name, but I would have done anything for you. I fell in love with someone I knew nothing about. Does that make me a fool?"

"Yeah, in every way possible." Zuko then kissed her. "But only a fool would do something and not want a reward." He and Katara looked in each others eyes, before they both heard someone come down the hall... mutliple someones.

"The nightlight broke, can we sleep with you?" The seven kids asked, to which the answer was clear.

"Come on."

___

Laying in bed with your wife and seven kids was crowded, uncomfy, stuffy, and annoying... but Zuko woudln't give it up for anything.

“I’m going to be working as both a hero and support course. Support so I can sell my inventions and start a business, and hero just in case I need to fight or something like that.” She said with a smile.

“You… you’re a robot?” Ochako asked.

“Well, I’m specifically an Android.” Mei explained. “My parents, Izuku and Mellisa, created me since they couldn’t have children.”

“Wait, Izuku and Mellisa? Aren’t those two like geniuses?” Katsuki spoke up in interest.

“Yes. Though my mom died before I was born. She was sick, and so in order to give me free will, her brain structure was used to create me. My soul, my heart.” Mei frowned. “It had to be transplanted while she was alive, so in a sense, she died in childbirth.”

“…Can I just say-“ Mineta spoke up.

“I was created several months ago.”

“-You seem like a very logical person and I respect that in every platonic way possible.” Mineta shut himself up.

Mei smiled. “I was named Mei because it was short for Mellisa, the acronym was created afterwards. My body is full of weapons in case I need to be protected.” Her hand turned into a gun. “I’m always armed. Also I can fly.”

She then started walking away. “I’m gonna be in the support course! And I’m not gonna be following any safety protocols because I’m a robot!”

“I thought you weren’t a robot?”

“I can call myself a robot!”

_____

Izuku, an adult, walked into the support room. Which was freshly exploded. "...Mei, you have to stop exploding things. You're going to hurt someone."

Mei smiled and turned to her dad. "I made sure the room was void of people." She hugged him tightly. "What brings you here from I-Island?"

"I'm analzying the peoples quirks here. Trying to make them better heroes." He rolled his eyes. "Though I would have taken any reason to come visit you."

Mei smirked. "Really? Sure you're just not trying to bring me back to I-Island?"

Izuku sighed. "If I wanted to make you do things, I would have put a remote controller in you. Unfortunately, I have to rely on the fact that I'm your dad... though you barely listen to me anyway." Mei giggled while Izuku got solemn. "...I... also have your mom's body."

Mei paused. "...What?"

"She wanted to be buried somewhere... she could be close to you. So she made me promise that wherever you went to school, I would bury her near there."

"...Okay then..."

____

Mei and Izuku looked at the grave, while Mei tried... to ask something. "...Hey, why didn't you implant Mom's brain into this body? You could have had your wife back."

Izuku thought about it. "...I could have... but then I wouldn't have had you. She used her brain structure and life to make you so you would have a bit of her, since I would be the one raising you." Mei rolled her eyes.

"You've told me this before."

"But... what I haven't told you is that originally, I wanted to be the one who gave up his life." Mei froze at Izuku's words. He inspected her gears as he talked. "I... I've never been the smartest between us, I was always more focused on Quirks and how they worked. Mellissa was the one who knew machines. She was an artist... If anything happened to you, she could fix you. But... she was sick. So..."

"..."

"...I..." Izuku frowned. "...I've never been good with people. Quirkless... but.. she was like brilliant light... I want you to live your life. It's why the only person who can control you is you... I see the things you make and... Mellissa was... concious, during the transplant. So she got to see you being born. She wanted to watch you blink into existence, even if getting anesthetic would be easier." He chuckled at that. "She was always so... happy... And she would have been able to be the perfect accomplice to your genius."

"...I could have made you my wife, added code, things like that... but that would be wrong. I created you, it's my duty and honor to raise and protect you."

Mei looked at Izuku as he kept talking. "...You don't have to say anything. Just know this. As long as you're happy, she and I will always be proud of yo-" Mei hugged Izuku.

"You're not as smart as me... but you're the best dad I could ask for." She smiled and looked up at him. "Love you."

"Those two are together 24/7, and Ochako hasn't had a girls night out in forever!" She got on her bed and talked to everyone. "We're going to get her back, and we need ideas!"

"Alright! Idea one!" Momo stood up. "We makeout with Izuku and send the pictures to Ochako!"

"Like that energy! Idea two! We make Izuku think Ochako has like an Std! Kero!" Tsu said energetically.

"Love that love that! Idea three! We make their lives so hectic that they have to break up!" Kyouka shouted.

"More more more! Let's all do this!" Toru and the ladies all fist bumped while they also drank some beer.

_______

"Okay so we sort of went overboard." Mina said to Ochako, who was now a baby. "And we had Eri turn you into a baby... We probably shouldn't have been drinking..."

"Bagagoogoo." She crossed her arms.

"But, now we have a schedule, we can all take care of you, we can spend a bunch of time with you, and everyone is happy. I just hope that Izuku is fine."

_____

The guys all stood around a now baby Izuku. "...Okay we shouldn't have been drinking and planning."

"...Okay, you all know I wouldn't be asking for your help if I wasn't REALLY desperate." Mineta said to the ladies of Class 1-A and 1-B.

"Mineta, why did you call us here?" They all asked the short pervert. They were clearly suspicious of him.

"Okay... you're just gonna have to bear with me. I pissed off a womens undergound vigilante group and they stole my balls."

Everyone smacked their lips and stayed silent, trying to make a response to that. "...So... the balls and..."

"The entire thing. I've got nothing down there in my crotch area. Pee comes out of my butt now."

"...." Mina and Setsuna hummed. "...I...I know we shouldn't laugh at this, but it's kind of funny..."

"Screw you all." Mineta glared. "Point is, you all have to go undercover and get my balls back. Please."

"...."

"...."

"...We really doing this?"

"I'm begging you."

(Quirkless AU)

Himiko was tied up in a straight jacket, and currently being interviewed by a doctor. Ochako Uraraka. She sniffled while she looked at the pictures. "They... They just looked so happy... the way they looked at each other..." She was clearly sad, and her eyes were watery.

"Right, I'm told you only went after couples. Can you tell me why didn't go after say, a child and their parent?"

Himiko shook her head no. "No no no... that love... I knew it... before my parents got all weird they loved me... but then they visited the doctor... and... and then they started treating me like I... I wasn't like them... But... The more I looked around... the more I wanted what other people had... the way you look at someone when they... they love you... and wanna spend the rest of their lives with you... I never got to experience that... so when I saw people happy... happy together... I just wanted..."

Ochako took over. "You took pictures of them together before you killed them. A way to remind yourself of these happy times. And then, you mixed their blood together to drink it."

Himiko nodded quickly. "Y-Yes.... The way they tasted... they tasted so happy together... There is... There is nothing wrong with wanting to be loved...."

Ochako smiled gently. "You're correct. Now, the first person you killed, he was a boy you liked?"

"Mmhm..." Himiko answered. "I told him I liked him... and... and he laughed... he called me a freak... because I.... liked blood and stuff..."

"That sounds very mean of him."

"He was! He was very mean!" She cried as she thrashed around. "All I wanted was someone who loved me! He was mean! He-" She was injected with the sedative and knocked out. Ochako looked at her sadly before she left.

_____

UA.

Unnatural Asylum.

Criminals with odd mentalities were taken there to be studied. Himiko Toga was one such person. Diagnosed with a mental disorder she was treated as an outcast. When she confessed her feelings to a boy and was rejected she killed him and drank his blood. She would go on to stalk other couples and photgraph them before soaking the photgraphs in the victims blood and consuming them.

____

"Iguro." Mezo Shoji said to a man playing with stuffed animal dolls. "Would you like to talk to me?"

"Mmm... Sure..."

"Good. It says here you were born with a skin condition that gives you scale like skin? Tell me what that's like?"

"Lizards like me... but people think I'm weird." He pouted. "People called me lizard face... and I like it... but they always put flies in my food..."

"That sounds awful. Can you tell me about the people you killed? Why did you do it?"

"They were mean to me..." He shook his head. "They were rotten..."

"Ah, but you didn't simply kill them did you?" Mezo looked at the notes. "It says here you multiated their bodies, grafted appendages onto them, making them look like animals, and you made them look at themselves before killing them and dumping their body in public places."

"I...I..."

"Let me describe one such victim. Tongue was cut out. Hands and feet burnt off and covered with metal, made to look like hooves. And Antlers welded to the skull. All in all, a humanoid deer... oh and you also sewed a tail onto them."

"Oh... she was the deer... I remember her."

"Ah, please tell me about her." Mezo would write these details down. He was finally getting somewhere.

"She was a teacher... she would always turn away whenever I was bullied... like a deer running away... so I kidnapped her and kept her alive, so she could see what it was like to be a freak, and then for everyone to see her as a monster..."

Mezo smiled and gave him a pet lizard. "We've made real progress here."

_____

Izuku looked at Ten... Shigaraki. "Tomura... wanna talk to me about your family?"

"They... They made fun of me..." He said while he played video games. "They thought I was a wimp for wanting to learn how to sew..."

"...Is that why you cut off their hands?"

Shigaraki nodded slowly. "Yes...I wanted them to feel powerless like me..."

"And then... you sewed those hands to your own body?"

"Yeah... I made sure the needles were sterlized. So I won't get sick..."

"Thank you for talking to me about this."

______

Shoto sat in front of a man with burns. "You broke your families bones and then lit their bodies on fire, burning them alive. Can you tell me about that?"

Dabi tilted his head. "They... Dad hurt me... he hurt everyone... and Mom didn't do anything..."

"Why did you hurt your siblings?"

"They.... they were sad... they were crying... I needed to help them…. And I helped other families too…”

Shoto hummed and wrote it down. "You wanted to save them? Like a hero? But there was one that escaped wasn't there? Your brother?"

Dabi nodded. "Yeah... He escaped cause he got lucky... still got that burn that Mom gave him though... I'll save him once I get out of here..."

Shoto Todoroki looked at his brother, who didn't even recognize him. "...I wish you the best of luck with that."

"Thanks."

_______

Ejiro looked at the man with a scar down the middle of his face. "...Who am I speaking too?"

"Me! No me! No you're speaking to me! Let the other guy talk! No he talked last time!" Ejiro walked him flip from side to side to side before he started talking.

"May I tell a story? Stop me if it sounds familair." Ejiro waited for approval before going. "A boy needed to always work for his parents store. He was always so lonely, so he made friends inside his own head. Eventually though, he made a couple that wanted to get back at them. So he staged a one man army and killed them both. But now he was stuck with all the people in his head. Sound familair?"

"...I think he and all his friends were just really lonely."

Ejiro nodded. "I think so too."

____

There were others, and they were all locked away and studied. Leaving the doctors to gather in the breakroom.

"...Okay, so these guys are all nuts." The doctors all spoke to each other in the break room. "Let's just keep studying them and make sure these absolute wackjobs don't escap-"

The power suddenly went out.

"...Oh f-"

When I first started watching I thought it sucked, but that was because I was binging the entire series, so I went straight from season 6 to season 7.

The animation change was jarring, the voice actors were different, they didn’t even act right, it was clear they were all rusty from taking such a long break (the writers I mean).

But as it slowly went on I started begrudgingly liking it… then I was casually liking it.,. Then I was just liking it.

The theme song is catchy, the animation style works once you get used to it, the new characters are fun, they actually live in Singapore where some of my family members live (it IS always warm in Singapore), they still have the girls change outfits, they expand more on each girl (Sam made a video game, Alex being competitive in her sports, Clover having a pen pal), and most importantly they’re all still close friends who love each other.

It’s not perfect and I wouldn’t call it my favorite season, but it’s fun and it does new things.

Like having Mandy be an actual ally (kind of).

I hear they’re getting season 8 and I hope they do more with Mandy being like an ally they begrudgingly have to work with.

To summarize, it’s not perfect, but it’s fun and it captures the spirit of the show. I enjoyed it. Though it took a while for all the episodes to come out.