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MHA: Bat to the Future: The Other Midoriya
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The group trekked across the icy expanse, their boots crunching softly against the hardened snow. The wind whipped around them, sharp and relentless, but no one broke stride. After a few minutes of walking, Sofia's wrist device let out a sharp beep. She stopped briefly, scanning the screen.
"Found him. Wow, he's deep," she said, tilting the device to get a better look.
"How deep are we talking?" Diego asked, leaning over her shoulder. "Like, dig-a-little-hole deep or 'get a construction crew out here' deep?"
"More like frozen-solid-in-an-iceberg deep," Sofia replied, stepping forward to lead the way. "We'll need to cut through a few layers to reach him. Hope you brought your patience."
"Great," Diego muttered. "Nothing says 'epic rescue mission' like manual labor."
Anthony snorted. "It's not like you were doing much else. Pretty sure your last contribution was a bad joke."
Diego grinned. "You're just mad I deliver them with charm."
"Sofia, mark the exact coordinates. We'll set up there." Nero said, walking a few steps ahead. He gestured toward the faint outline of a ridge in the distance.
The gang arrived at the marked location, Sofia double-checking her device for accuracy. Diego scanned the ridge with an exaggerated groan, planting his hands on his hips.
"So, how are we doing this?" he asked, already looking for an excuse not to get his hands dirty.
Nero found a rock nearby, brushed off the snow with a sweep of his glove, and sat down. "I already gave you the idea on how you can use your flames. Use your imagination."
Diego tilted his head, arms crossed. "Imagination? You've met me, right? I prefer clear instructions."
Anthony walked past him, pulling off his gloves and flexing his fingers. "He means stop talking and figure it out, Diego. It's not rocket science."
Maria rolled her eyes as she adjusted her scarf, sitting on Nero's lap sideways. "Pretty sure it's harder than rocket science if Diego's involved."
Diego threw a hand over his chest dramatically. "Wounded. And why are you sitting too? Boss, I can understand. He's lazy."
Maria leaned her head against Nero's shoulder, her voice light. "Mist flames, Diego. Useless for icebreaking. But if you want me to try—"
"God, no," Diego said quickly, holding up a hand. "You'll probably make the ice thicker or something."
Anthony was already walking to the edge of the marked spot, shaking his head. "The rest of us are wasting time talking. Let's just get it done."
Halfway through his stride, his boot caught on a slick patch of ice. In one graceless motion, he went down with a heavy thud, his arms flailing for balance but finding nothing.
Diego immediately burst out laughing, doubling over and clutching his stomach. He dropped to the ground, rolling in exaggerated glee. "I called it! I said he'd be the first to eat ice! Someone owe me money for that bet."
Anthony pushed himself up, brushing snow off his coat with deliberate care. "Laugh it up, Diego. We'll see how funny it is when you're next."
Diego wiped a nonexistent tear from his eye, still grinning. "Oh, it's already funny. Perfect landing, by the way. Ten out of ten."
Anthony glared at him, pointing a finger. "You've got ten seconds to shut up, or I'm breaking every rule about teamwork today."
Diego turned toward Nero, his grin practically glowing through the cold. "This must be my Observation Haki advancing. I saw the future—Anthony face-planting like a pro. Admit it, boss, you're impressed."
Nero glanced up lazily from his spot on the rock, his arm still draped around Maria. "If you're done predicting slapstick, maybe you can try predicting how to melt thirty meters of ice without wasting more time."
Diego sighed dramatically and stepped forward. "Fine, but if I solve this, I expect a round of applause."
Anthony, still dusting snow off himself, muttered, "You'll get applause when you do something worth clapping for."
"Okay, boys," Maria cut in, adjusting her scarf as she sat up. "Enough flirting. Let's start breaking ice."
Donald crouched near the edge of the marked site, brushing a gloved hand over the slick, hard ice. His Lightning Flames flickered briefly at his fingertips as he observed the dense frost. Nigel stood beside him, arms crossed, his mask slightly askew.
"My Lightning Flames can harden," Donald began, his voice low but deliberate. "Nigel's can multiply effects. Combined with Diego's Storm Flames, which disintegrate, we could focus most of the work on him."
Nigel nodded. "Anthony can use Sun Flames to melt the core, and Sofia's Rain Flames will soften the outer layers, making it easier for all of us to chip away."
"Great, so I'm the star of the show," Diego quipped, snapping his fingers to ignite a small, crackling flame at the tip. He turned to Nero, grinning. "What's the protocol here, boss? Do I get a bonus for carrying the team?"
Maria shifted slightly in Nero's lap, her voice laced with mock seriousness. "Bonus for what? Finally pulling your weight?"
"Cold," Diego said, mimicking a stab to his chest. "Almost as cold as this glacier we're about to destroy."
"Sure, sure," Nero gestured toward the frozen ground. "Sofia, start softening it. Everyone else, get into position. Diego, if you're going to keep talking, do it while you're working."
Sofia rolled her eyes and stepped forward, her ring shining with blue light as she activated her Rain Flames. A soft blue glow emanated from her hand, spreading outward in a gentle mist that settled over the ice. The frost hissed faintly as it began to weaken, the layers softening into a slushy texture.
"That's your cue, Storm King," Anthony said, stepping back to let Diego take the lead.
Diego held his hands out, letting his Storm Flames build up into a swirling sphere of energy. The vivid crimson of his flames crackled with contained fury as he knelt near the ice. "Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to witness magic." He thrust the flames downward, the sphere exploding on contact and tearing through the softened layers in a series of sharp cracks. Steam rose as the surrounding area shook slightly.
"Show-off," Sofia muttered, focusing on keeping her Rain Flames steady.
Donald stepped forward, joining Diego at the edge of the slushy crater. He extended his hand, and his green Lightning Flames sparked to life, merging with the swirling crimson of Diego's Storm Flames. The combined energy hissed against the icy ground, sending a faint ripple through the surface.
"Nigel, your turn," Donald called without looking up, focusing on stabilizing the flames as they tore through the next layer.
Nigel stepped closer, rolling his shoulders as he extended both hands. His Cloud Flames sprang forth, pale and faintly luminous, enveloping the already destructive mix of Lightning and Storm Flames. The air thickened slightly, the Cloud Flames amplifying the destructive force of the other elements. Diego let out a low whistle, impressed despite himself.
"Well, would you look at that? Teamwork's not so bad when I'm the star of the show."
"Save the commentary," Anthony muttered, stepping into position. "We're not done yet."
Anthony raised his hands, igniting his Sun Flames in a burst of warm orange light. He thrust the flames downward, channeling their intense heat directly into the softened ice. Steam billowed upward, the combined efforts of the team rapidly carving a path downward.
"Not bad," Sofia said, keeping her Rain Flames steady around the edges to prevent the heat from destabilizing the surrounding ice. "At this rate, we'll hit him in no time."
Maria watched the coordinated effort from where she stood, her Mist Flames flickering faintly in her hand. "Need me to pitch in?"
"Not unless you plan on summoning an ice monster to scare Diego," Nero held her tighter.
Diego grinned, glancing over his shoulder. "Oh, I'm terrified. Please, no more monsters."
Sofia's voice cut through the focus of the group as she adjusted her position, her device glowing faintly against the icy backdrop. "I can see the Valkyrie. Remember, that thing carries a lot of bombs. Be careful not to set them off."
Diego paused mid-motion, letting the swirling Storm Flames in his hand dissipate slightly. "Wait, bombs? Since when was that part of the deal?"
"It's the HYDRA suicide aircraft, Diego," Sofia replied sharply, her tone matter-of-fact. "Did you think it came with airbags and a cup holder?"
"Just making sure I heard right," Diego muttered, stepping back cautiously. "Last thing I need is to go out in a blaze of glory because someone forgot to mention the explosives."
Anthony gave him a sidelong glance, his Sun Flames still burning against the softening ice. "If it happens, I'm writing your obituary as 'died doing what he loved—making a mess.'"
Diego flashed a grin. "At least I'll go out memorable. Unlike you, Mr. Face-Plant."
Nero nodded toward the steadily melting ice. "Let me give you some context before Diego decides the Valkyrie is a glorified sled," he began, his voice calm but carrying weight. "After defeating Johann Schmidt—Red Skull, for those who don't read history—HYDRA planned to drop this plane on American cities. Loaded with enough explosives to destroy a state. Steve Rogers stopped most of them. But this one was too far gone, too close to its target. So, he flew it here instead."
Maria adjusted the scarf around her neck as she glanced toward him. "And the genius plan was to crash it into the ice?"
"To save millions, yeah," Nero said simply. "Even he figured he wasn't walking away from it. He even said goodbye to his lover."
Donald crouched near the edge of the crater, his Lightning Flames flickering faintly as he studied the thick ice layers. "So, we're not just saving Captain America. We're cleaning up a time bomb."
"Pretty much," Sofia said, still monitoring her device as it calculated the remaining depth. "And from the looks of it, this bomb's been sitting here longer than most of us have been alive."
They all turned toward Nigel, whose face twisted into mild annoyance. "I'm not that old," he said flatly, brushing off the snow clinging to his coat.
Diego leaned back, a sly grin spreading across his face. "You sure about that? Because this whole 'HYDRA relic from the ice age' thing seems like it's right up your alley. Maybe you even piloted this plane back in the day."
Nigel shot him a look. "Keep talking, Diego, and I'll demonstrate why my Flames aren't just for warming hands."
"Temper, temper," Diego said, holding his hands up with mock innocence. "You'll scare the children."
Maria chuckled, resting her chin on Nero's shoulder. "Can we focus? Nigel's ancientness aside, we're sitting on a buried flying bomb with a frozen soldier inside it."
The group groaned but kept working, their combined efforts slowly carving a clear path through the icy layers. Sofia monitored her device, calling out updates intermittently as the temperature around the site fluctuated from their Flames clashing with the cold environment.
"Depth reads three meters to the edge of the plane," she announced. "Keep it steady—any sudden heat surge could compromise the structure."
Nigel adjusted his position, his Cloud Flames enveloping the fissures created by Diego and Anthony. "Compromise how? Explosion? Implosion? Or the fun option—avalanche?"
"Probably all three," Sofia shot back, not looking up. "So keep the Flames balanced, or we're going to be explaining to SHIELD why the Arctic now has its own crater."
Diego wiped his forehead dramatically, though no sweat was visible in the freezing air. "If it comes to that, I'll let you do the talking. You're great at sounding like you care."
"I do care," Sofia said dryly. "About getting this over with."
"Touché," Diego muttered, redirecting his Storm Flames in a tighter arc as they tore through another thick layer of frost. "You're so goal-oriented. It's inspiring."
Finally, a metallic glint appeared beneath the remaining ice. Sofia glanced at her device, confirming the reading. "That's it. We've hit the Valkyrie."
Anthony crouched near the exposed section, inspecting the metal frame. "It's intact. No visible damage from the crash, at least on this side."
"Good," Nero said. "Donald, keep the structural integrity in check. Sofia, monitor the heat levels while we clear the rest."
"On it," Sofia replied, already adjusting the settings on her device. "But be careful. The explosives are still reading as stable, but one wrong move could change that."
"That's comforting," Diego muttered, stepping back to let Anthony and Nigel handle the more delicate sections.
Maria glanced at Nero, her expression thoughtful. "What's the plan for extracting him? The plane's clearly not going anywhere."
"We don't need the whole plane," Nero said. "Just Rogers. Once he's out, we leave the rest for SHIELD to clean up."
"Do we have to leave it intact?" Diego asked, his tone hopeful. "Feels like a waste not to blow it up."
Nero shook his head. "I'll take the bombs. I drew a Dimensional Storage ability from the system. I'll store them in stasis there. They'll be frozen in time—perfect for when I want to drop one on some alien invasion."
Sofia stopped her work momentarily, looking up at him. "You're telling me you've been carrying around a pocket dimension this whole time, and you're just now mentioning it?"
Nero gave a small shrug. "Seemed like the right moment."
Maria smirked, leaning slightly against him. "Very dramatic reveal, boss. I approve."
Diego threw his hands in the air. "Oh, great. Pocket dimensions, time-frozen bombs—meanwhile, I'm over here digging through ice like a peasant. Where's my system perk?"
"Maybe the system knew you'd waste it," Nigel muttered, stepping around the exposed frame of the Valkyrie to inspect the edges.
"Waste it?" Diego repeated, mock offense dripping from his voice. "I'd use it responsibly! Probably."
"Responsibly in Diego-speak means throwing a party with a bomb centerpiece," Anthony said, crouching near the site. "Let him take the bombs, Diego. Trust me, no one wants to see your version of creative."
"You're all just jealous of my flair for the dramatic," Diego muttered, folding his arms as he stepped back.
Nero gestured toward the exposed section of the plane. "Nigel, Anthony—keep the structure steady while I extract the payload. Sofia, keep monitoring for any instability. If anything shifts, let me know immediately."
Donald adjusted his gloves, crouching beside Nigel. "Want me to buffer the frame? The Lightning Flames should keep it from collapsing."
"Good idea," Nigel said, glancing at him. "Reinforce these supports, and I'll amplify it. That should hold long enough for Nero to do his thing."
The two worked in sync, their Flames flickering faintly as they strengthened the fragile sections of the plane. The metal groaned slightly under the pressure but held firm.
Nero stepped forward, his ring glowing faintly as he extended his hand toward the Valkyrie. The air around him seemed to ripple slightly as the Dimensional Storage activated, a faint distortion forming in front of the exposed bombs. One by one, the devices were enveloped in the shimmering energy and vanished into the pocket dimension.
"Efficient," Sofia noted, watching the process. "How much can you store in there?"
Nero glanced at her. "Enough. You planning on making a list?"
"Just curious," Sofia replied, turning her attention back to her device. "It's not every day you see someone casually stash high-yield explosives like they're groceries."
Diego grinned. "See? She gets it. You're basically a walking armory, boss. That's badass."
The last of the bombs disappeared into the Dimensional Storage, and Nero lowered his hand. "That's it. The payload's secure."
Anthony straightened, brushing frost off his coat. "What about Rogers? Is he stable enough to move?"
Sofia scanned the area with her device, her brow furrowing slightly. "Vitals are steady. He is sleeping like a baby, but his body's in rough shape from being frozen this long. We'll need to keep him in stasis until we can fully revive him."
"Convenient," Diego said, his tone laced with amusement. "So he's basically a giant popsicle right now?"
"More or less," Sofia replied, not looking up. "But this isn't as simple as defrosting a steak. We need to control the process, or he could—"
"Yeah, yeah," Diego interrupted, waving a hand. "Spare me the science lecture. Just tell me he won't wake up pissed."
Maria chuckled. "If he does, we'll point him at you first. That should keep him busy."
Diego licked his lips, an exaggerated grin spreading across his face. "If the posters are anything to go by, he's handsome and buff. Maybe we can wrestle."
The gang rolled their eyes. The collective groan was instant.
Nero stood and clapped his hands sharply, cutting through the banter. "Diego, save your fantasies for later. Anthony, use your Sun Flames to revitalize him. Sofia, heal him with your Ring Flames. Nigel, amplify their efforts."
Anthony stepped forward without hesitation, his Sun Flames already flickering to life. "You want me to keep it focused on his core or spread it across his body?"
"Core first," Nero replied. "His heart's the priority. If we can stabilize his vitals, the rest will follow."
Anthony nodded, crouching beside the frozen figure. The soft glow of his flames intensified as he placed his hands over Rogers' chest, channeling the energy carefully. The ice around the figure began to melt slowly, a faint warmth radiating outward.
Sofia moved in next, kneeling opposite Anthony. Her Rain Flames shimmered in a steady flow as she directed them toward Rogers' head and arms. "This should reduce any internal damage from the freezing. Keep the Sun Flames steady—I don't want to overwhelm his system."
Nigel joined them, standing just behind Anthony. His Cloud Flames enveloped the others, amplifying the effects of both sets of flames without disrupting their flow. "Let me know if you need me to focus on any specific area."
Diego hung back, arms crossed as he watched. "I feel left out. Should I grab a coffee or something? Maybe cheerlead?"
"You can carry him back to the jet," Maria suggested, leaning casually against the exposed section of the plane. "That should be right up your alley."
"Manual labor," Diego muttered, shaking his head. "I'm too delicate for that. But I will suffer for the gang."
Soon, all the ice around the man was thawed, and color began to return to his face. The group took a step back, observing the results of their work. Captain America lay motionless, his body no longer encased in frost, though the faint rise and fall of his chest was visible.
Sofia glanced at her device. "Vitals are stabilizing. No immediate signs of distress."
"Good," Nero said, standing over the figure. "Wake him up. Let him know we're his saviors before SHIELD takes him."
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