MHA: I Am Homelander

The group had settled into the jagged edges of an old maintenance alcove carved into the wall of the underground tunnels.

Cracked tile, stale air, and a low humming silence surrounded them.

Everyone was quiet, the only sounds being the occasional shuffle of feet or a distant drip of water echoing down the cave-like halls.

Yuka moved between the wounded, her sleeves rolled up as she gently dabbed blood from scrapes and burns. Her face was calm, focused.

Near the edge of the group, Kiyoshi gagged softly, once again vomiting in the corner.

But after a shaky breath, he crouched and focused in a familiar position, utilising his Quirk the best he could to send out another message.

Children clung to older teens, weeping quietly. Their fear was a soft, heavy thing that filled the air.

Meanwhile, Loid sat alone, his back to a wall, legs pulled up to his chest. His eyes stared down, deep in thought.

"I see..." he whispered.

He closed his eyes.

He felt it.

The low tremor of footfalls, faint vibrations through the stone floor, dozens of meters away. His mind mapped them out like sonar.

Miles ahead and all around, like he was connected to the tunnel system itself.

He sniffed. Each person nearby had a scent: oil, sweat, rust, blood, panic. He could pick them apart one by one.

He listened. Muffled sirens echoed faintly from the world above. Heartbeats thumped in erratic rhythm. Yuka's soft breathing. A child's hiccuped sob.

He opened his eyes—and saw everything.

Not just the dim room. But beyond. Through stone. Through darkness. Through bodies.

He turned his gaze to Kain, the soldier keeping watch by the entrance. Kain's flesh melted from view, revealing bones and organs outlined in soft heat.

Loid's breath hitched.

"It's not just laser vision. It's everything. Homelander's full kit… but why not the rest? Where's the super speed? The super strength?"

He spoke, even making sure by attempting to crush a rock with his bare hands, but to no avail.

He couldn't help but think back.

The first time—his dream, overwhelming rage.

The second—cornered, powerless.

Both moments of crisis. Both triggers.

So then… how much further did he have to be pushed?

But even with those questions answered, something still buzzed under his skin. A panic not yet faded.

'Why are my hands still shaking?'

Not just his hands. His heart raced and threatened to leap out of his chest, adrenaline still coursing through his veins.

A tug on his sleeve pulled him from thought. Two kids. A boy and a girl.

"Thank you," the boy whispered, his bright smile making him seem as though he was oblivious to the situation they were in.

"Are you gonna protect us now?" the girl asked. Her eyes were big, full of innocent hope.

They were the only two of the children who even looked at Loid. He was almost positive it was because they hadn't exactly seen exactly what he'd done, but rather heard that he was the one to defeat one of the villains.

Loid stared at her. Didn't speak. Didn't move.

A voice interrupted, teasing and dry.

"That's a pretty creepy smile you've got there."

Loid blinked, looking up at Yuka in confusion. "...I was smiling?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Guess so."

She knelt down beside him, gently nudging the kids away.

"We're really grateful for what you did," she said, watching his eyes. "Without you, that could've gone really, really bad."

He lowered his head. "You're not going to ask?"

"Ask what?"

"About my Quirk. I did claim to be Quirkless after all."

She chuckled, leaning back. "Nah. Don't care. You don't have to explain anything to me. As long as you keep blasting those bastards, we're good."

She stood up, stretching. "But heads up—others might not be so cool. If you've got any more surprises, now's a good time to share with the class."

She walked off. Loid looked around. Only now did he feel them.

Stares.

Some curious.

Some afraid.

Some still in awe.

His hand trembled harder.

He paused.

Whispers reached his ears—across the room.

"Be honest with me, Kazuo. Did you guys lie to me about him being Quirkless?"

"No. I swear. This is new to me, too."

Loid could hear the conversation between the two familiar voices, Kain and Kazuo from across the structure.

"I'm just as curious."

"Will that mean you'll confront him about it?"

"Confront? No. I'll ask him and listen. "

Kain paused, staring.

"Right. Sorry, I should have worded my sentence better. Mind if I tag along?"

Kazuo shrugged. "Whatever."

Kain turned. "Daiki, on guard."

The two approached. Loid feigned ignorance.

"Hey, Laser Man, you gotta be careful, if you stare too hard you might set someone on fire." Kazuo joked, nudging Loid as he sat beside him. Kain followed.

"How you feeling?" Kazuo asked.

"Why?" Loid replied.

Kain didn't sugarcoat it, his no nonsense demenour cutting through any banter Kazuo had used to lighten the mood. "Because you just killed someone."

Loid shook his head. "I'm fine, really."

Kain smiled faintly. "I've seen a lot of people go through it. Including myself. Just know—it's okay if you're not okay."

But Loid wasn't shaken.

He wasn't haunted.

In fact… he'd nearly forgotten that what he'd committed was indeed an atrocity. Murder.

He stared at his hand again, this time not questioning this part of his mind that surprised him.

He inwardly sighed as he made a mental note on the list of things wrong with him today.

Kazuo was watching him.

"This morning…"

Kain and Kazuo both glanced over.

"This morning was when I realized I had a Quirk," Loid said. "I guess I was just a late bloomer, never Quirkless."

Kazuo's eyes widened. "This morning? Is that why you were so weird on the way to school?"

Loid nodded.

Kazuo looked down. Said nothing.

Silence descended, but in the next second, a bright and soft smile blessed Kain's face as he looked up to Loid. "I see. I'm glad."

Loid didn't question it. He already knew Kain had been eyeing him since the kill.

He could understand why. Due to the life the Military Man had lived, it had become second nature to always be attentive, to look over his shoulder and question everything, never allowing himself to feel "Safe".

But for now, it seemed as though his story was enough to paint him as a somewhat regular middle schooler once again.

Kain extended a hand. "Thanks for saving my ass. Should've said it earlier. Still shedding some bad habits from my time in the military."

Loid shook his hand. "No problem."

Kain smiled. "Glad to have two fellow aspiring heroes."

Kazuo smirked. "He's not an aspiring hero. He doesn't care about that stuff, never has."

Kain shook his head. "To me, a hero's someone who uses their abilities to protect those who can't protect themselves. By that definition, Loid already is one."

Kazuo nodded. "Like All Might pulling people from rubble in that one video."

Kain chuckled. "I'm no All Might, but thank you. I've got limits. Used to piss me off when I couldn't be the best. But I've learned—it's not about being the best. It's about doing your best."

Loid added, "That shows in how you use your Quirk."

Kain laughed. "You noticed that, huh? I could throw a car, sure—but it'd mess me up. So I choose efficiency instead. You know, redirect instead. Throw off balance. More sustainable."

He leaned back. "I know there'll be times I can't save everyone. But by focusing twice as hard on the things I can control… I might make a real difference."

Kazuo nodded, then turned to Loid—and froze.

Loid's face was blank. Darker than before.

But before either could ask, Kain rose.

"Let's join the others."

They moved to the main group, who now sat in a loose circle as Kain did his best to lighten the mood, sharing stories to lift morale.

They then went around, each sharing something and soon enough, it no longer felt forced as everyone spoke on their own accord, some even laughing and smiling.

Kiyoshi was mid-speech.

"I'm gonna be a commentator," he said, smiling faintly. "Host the biggest sports festivals across the world. Maybe even start my own news station. I live for the thrill of capturing breaking news and wild events, you know?" He rambled, making exaggerated gestures with his arms. 

Meanwhile...

"I would've helped you."

Loid turned to Kazuo who had suddenly spoke. "Huh?"

"If you'd told me," Kazuo said, "about your Quirk. I'd have helped you figure it out. Train it. You know that, right? I hope there isn't a part of you that doesn't trust me to do that much."

Loid smiled, clapping a hand to his back. It was clear he'd struck a nerve by revealing the events of this morning.

"I know you would, buddy."

Then, after a pause—

"I was just afraid you'd feel bad knowing I could kick your ass now."

Silence descended amongst them, and despite his thought process and emotions, Kazuo's lips couldn't help but curl upwards.

"You wish, jackass." Kazuo grinned as the two laughed.

Kain stepped forward. "Alright, people. Huddle up. We're moving out soon."

The defensive squad gathered.

"We've most likely been surrounded," Kain said. "The heroes on the surface should be ready to breach, so we need to coordinate. Kiyoshi—reach out to the outside and coordinate with where the Heroes want you to go. Yuto—get ready to guide yourselves there."

Kazuo frowned. "What? Us? What about you?"

Kain nodded. "I'll stay. I'll draw them in and distract them. Make sure you have a clean exit."

The group immediately objected.

"You won't last alone."

"You don't know what Quirks they have."

"I know." Kain stopped them before they could continue. 

"That's why I'm not planning to fight them. I'll look around, finding a few strays. From there, as they call for backup, I'll stall and upon them arriving, I'll use my Quirk to bury the tunnel between us, buying us all enough time to get out of here."

"And what, bury yourself in too?" Yuka added. "The structure here is too fragile, the Heroes said it themselves. A plan like that could have you buried and crushed."

Kazuo nodded in agreement. "Not to mention that's if you can last till then. We were all just struggling with just three of those bastards."

Loid raised a hand before anyone could say anything else.

"I might have a solution."

All eyes turned as they stared at the boy who'd already had a little too many surprises for comfort.

"I can see through walls," Loid said. "Kind of a side-effect from my laser vision. Not perfect. But enough..."

Daiki squinted, cutting him off. "And you're just telling us now?!"

"I didn't know until earlier."

Loid stepped forward.

"If Kain's going to be the decoy… why not send him straight to the boss? We surprise them. Cut the head off, bury the tunnel and flee. It'll buy us the most time."

Yuka shook her head. "That's insane—"

"I'll do it," Kain cut in. "Loid—help me locate them, I'll be grateful if you could."

Loid extended his hand.

"No, I'm the one who's grateful. For everything. Thank you, Sergeant."

They shook hands, each giving the other a nod of recognition and respect.

And as Kain turned, Loid walked past him.

Everyone turned as Loid faced the wall behind them.

"This is the plan," he said. "Kiyoshi contacts the heroes. Yuto gets us moving. Kain hits the boss. We get out."

Loid closed his eyes.

Then—

ZZZZMMM!

Bright red beams flared from his eyes.

The others flinched.

But of course, this was all a show Loid was putting on. He didn't need to do any rituals like this to activate his X-Ray vision.

But it had to look convincing...if he wanted "That" to work.

"I see them," Loid said.

Kain dashed through the tunnels, heart pounding, focus sharp. He cut right and moved with certainty like never before, his mind repeating the directions he was given.

Then—he stopped.

"Who the hell are you?"

His heart dropped.

Ahead of him. Behind him.

Dozens of figures emerged.

Gang members.

Scarred. Skull-masked. The same bastards from earlier.

One stepped forward.

"Three of our boys are missing. You know anything about that?" he said. "You've got one of their trackers, after all." The figure spoke, his eyes darting to Kain's pocket.

Kain's eyes widened.

'W-What...what's going on...this wasn't the plan...'

He looked down, his hands twitching as it drifted into his pocket, puling out a device.

A blinking disc now in his hand. Beeping softly.

He hadn't noticed it.

He didn't put there, so it only could have been someone else.

Him? The man who knew himself to have trust issues? When could have anyone gotten so close to him and put something in his pocket without him noticing?

'W-Wait...'

Only one moment came to mind.

A moment where he had his guard down...a moment he now looked at in a different light.

That handshake.

The blonde haired and blue eyed boy who'd walked past him.

"...He set me up…"

A tall man leaned against a wall deep within the tunnels.

White coat dusted with dirt, revealing his bare and muscular chest. A scar curling down his lip. Gold chain around his neck. Calm. Unreadable.

From the shadows:

"You really sent everyone away. That tracker could've been bad news… if I hadn't killed Villain #3 and bolted."

The boss raised a brow. "Who the hell are you?"

A figure stepped into the faint light.

Blonde hair.

Blue eyes.

"Me?"

Loid's eyes burned.

"I have a feeling you're going to find out pretty soon."

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