Ash is running through a forest. Sweat beads down her face as she ducks behind a tree.
Ash: (Did I lose him?)
Justus’ shield slices into the tree.
Ash: (Nope.)
Justus runs up to the tree and rips his shield out of it.
Justus: I know you’re h-
Justus looks behind the tree and sees nothing there.
Justus: (Shit!)
Justus raises his shield to protect himself as an explosion goes off in front of him. He’s sent flying, but he takes no damage. He lands safely on the ground.
Justus: Clever move. You’re getting good with using your astral explosives.
Ash is hiding in a bush about 30 yards from Justus.
Ash: (I can’t believe I tricked Justus using my new astral clone move. I was even able to morph it into an explosive too!)
Justus is surveying the area, looking for Ash.
Ash: (His guard is up. He knows I’ll try to possess him now that I’m out of his sight. But I’m too far away; there’s no way I’d be able to maintain control for more than a few seconds… but he doesn’t know that. I can use this opportunity to get to the high ground.)
Ash gets up and starts running while looking back at Justus.
Ash: (He hasn’t noticed, that means I can-)
Ash runs into someone and falls on her ass.
Ash: Ow…
Ash looks up to see the muscular girl.
Muscular Girl: You should watch where you’re going.
Ash: Wh- who are you?
Justus notices the commotion and runs over to them.
Justus: Ash, what’s going on?
Ash: I don’t know.
The muscular girl turns to Justus.
Justus: Who are you?
Muscular Girl: The name is Grace.
A few seconds pass.
Justus: Aren’t you going to ask our names?
Grace: Oh, I know who you two are.
Grace smiles.
Grace: And boy, oh boy, did I hit the jackpot!
Grace points at Justus.
Grace: You’re Justus Grey, the son of the late Colossus and one of the top students in U.A. Class 2-A. You won the Sports Festival during your first year, and your quirk is a carbon copy of your father’s.
Grace slams her fists together.
Grace: You were one of the ones I wanted to fight the most once I got here!
Grace’s eyes light up.
Grace: And now I get to fight you on my first day here! This is so sweet!
Ash and Justus look confused.
Justus: (What the hell…)
Ash: Uh… Grace, right? Who exactly are you?
Grace: Huh? I already told you my name. You just said it.
Justus: She’s wondering why you just showed up out of nowhere and crashed our training session, proclaiming you’d like to fight me, and frankly, so am I.
Grace: *under her breath* Oh, right, introductions.
Grace clears her throat.
Grace: I’m Grace LaFleur, and I was the Top Student of U.A. East!
Ash and Justus are surprised.
Ash: The top student? Really?
Justus: You said “was,” why?
Grace: Isn’t that obvious? The idiots that run your school finally decided to let me transfer to the main campus. So I’m the newest student of Class 2-B!
Ash: Wh- really?
Grace: Yeah… I asked to be in 2-A, but they said there were only vacancies in 2-B. It’s whatever, though. Now that the school finally has room and board, I can live down here and attend a real hero school!
Grace cracks her knuckles.
Grace: And the first thing I want to do is fight one of the top students in my new class.
Justus: How did you even find us?
Grace: I saw you two heading into the forest outside the train station. What are you two doing out here anyway?
Justus: Ash and I have been training together for some time in preparation for the new school year.
Ash: Justus has taught me a lot about hand-to-hand combat and strategy! I think I’m getting a lot better!
Grace: Yeah, you look stronger than any of the girls back where I’m from!
Ash’s eyes light up.
Ash: Really!
Grace: It’s nice to see that my new classmates are improving. I’m sure you’re much stronger than the guy I watched win the Sports Festival a year ago.
Justus: Everyone from 2-A has been training. Let’s just say the most recent attack on Nashville has given us newfound motivation.
Grace: Wait, so even those pervert guys have been training?
Ash: Yeah, we were all surprised by that one.
Grace gets fired up.
Grace: Ah, man! I wish I got put in your class even more now! Eh, whatever, at least I can still fight you now!
Ash: Why do you want to fight him so badly?
Grace: Don’t worry, White, I’ll find you after I finish fighting Colossus Jr.
Ash: Wh- white?
Grace: You seem like the kind of chick that wears white underwear.
Ash’s face turns red.
Grace: You’ve got that whole innocent vibe going. I’m sure you tie it all together with white panties with a teddy bear on them, don’t you?
Ash curls up in the fetal position.
Grace: What was it? Something I said?
Justus examines Grace.
Justus: (If I recall correctly, Saige was the top student at U.A. West before transferring to our class. I’ve never fought Saige, but I know she’s on my level, maybe even higher. If that’s any indication of this girl’s strength, she could be quite the formidable foe.)
Justus turns around to walk away.
“ Colossus: So to the next generation of heroes, don’t remember me for my strength… remember me for what I represented. Don’t forget that you’re role models and inspire others to be the best they can be by simply being yourself. “ - Chapter 106
Justus: I’ll pass.
Grace: Wh- what! What are you, a coward?
Justus: I have nothing to gain from fighting you.
Grace: You’re the son of Colossus, for christ's sake! He’d never walk away from a fight!
Justus: My father didn’t fight for no reason. He fought with purpose. He battled because he had something to protect. So I refuse to indulge in a mindless battle. You’ll have to wait for the Sports Festival for a chance to face off against me.
Grace: Then what were you doing when I got here! That looked like a mindless battle to me!
Justus: That was training, sparring, to be specific. That wasn’t a real fight. It was two people testing their abilities against one another to get stronger. There was no intent to harm, and we weren’t fighting at 100%. I assume that isn’t what you’re looking for?
Grace clenches her fist.
Justus: That’s what I thought. Come along, Ash, it’s getting late. I’ll walk you home.
Ash: Huh? Oh, right!
Justus and Ash walk away from Grace.
Grace: Are. You. Kidding. Me!
Grace bursts towards Justus.
Grace: Get back here!
Justus pushes Ash out of the way and barely blocks Grace’s punch in time.
Grace: Nice block!
Justus: (The intensity behind her punch! I could feel it in the air as her fist made an impact.)
Grace: I can tell by your expression you know I’m no pushover. So, are you ready to fight now?
Justus punches Grace in the stomach.
Grace: *groans*
Justus: Are you?
Grace: Oh yeah… you’re the real deal. Nobody back east could hit this hard.
Justus: Huh?
Grace punches Justus in the stomach.
Justus: AHH! (What the?)
Grace: You like that?
Justus: Y- you…
Justus leaps back and catches his breath.
Justus: (Her second punch… it was so much stronger than her first, but she doesn’t seem like the type to hold back.)
Grace gleefully laughs.
Grace: You just got a taste of my quirk: Compound Strength.
Ash: C- compound strength?
Grace: The more I get hit, the stronger I become. My power grows with each blow. So based on my assessment, I’d say that if you punch me just a few more times, I will start hitting harder than you.
Justus: *grunts* That’s quite the quirk.
Justus takes up a fighting stance.
Justus: But it’s nothing I can’t handle.
Grace also takes up a fighting stance.
Grace: Oh, yeah, now you’re talking my language! Hey, White!
Ash: Huh?
Grace: You be the ref, okay? I don’t want to accidentally kill him!
Justus scoffs.
Justus: You’re very confident.
Grace: I’ve found that it intimidates most men, but not you. I like that. I hope there are more of you at U.A.
Justus smiles.
Justus: Oh, trust me, there are.
Grace’s eyes light up again.
Grace: R- really! I-
Grace’s stomach growls extremely loud.
Grace: Oh crap…
Grace falls to her knees, holding her stomach.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Grace: I forgot I haven’t eaten all day…
Justus and Ash are dumbfounded.
Justus: *sighs* I guess it was my fault for getting roped into an unnecessary battle. Come on, Ash.
Ash and Justus start walking away.
Grace: W- wait!
They both stop and look back at Grace.
Grace: I uh… I kind of need a place to stay…
Justus: You really came to Nashville a week early without thinking ahead of where you’ll sleep?
Grace: I just wanted to fight, okay!
Justus: *sighs* Well… I can’t bring you home.
Grace looks at Ash.
Grace: Please, White?
Ash: I uh…
Grace: Pleeeeease!
Ash: Okay…
Grace: YAY! Alright, Colossus Jr., we’ll pick this fight up again another day.
Justus: Quit calling me that.
Grace: Nope!
Saige is sitting at the table.
Hayze: Where’s Vargas?
Saige: He went into town to go shopping.
Hayze: How did you find us out here?
Saige: Vargas ratted you out a couple of days ago. He’s worried about you and called Adrian and told him you were here. Adrian has been a little busy lately, so he sent me to come to bring you home.
Hayze sits down at the table.
Hayze: Worried about me, huh?
Saige: Yeah, as he should be. You ran away from home for three months, and now you’re making stupid, life-altering decisions to avoid returning.
Hayze: Stupid? I’m trying to make sure Khaos never gets his third act!
Saige: Since when did controlling Khaos become your dream?
Hayze: Wh- what?
Saige: Because from what I’ve been told, you aren’t planning on leaving here before the start of school. You know you’ll be expelled if you stay out here, right?
Hayze doesn’t respond.
Saige: You’re seriously willing to give up your hero career to stop Khaos? Even if you do, what will be the point if you’ve lost everything you’ve worked for! Great, now you have this extraordinary quirk under your control, but it cost you your dream! Whoopty-doo!
Hayze clenches his fist.
Hayze: He killed Dr. Moore…
Saige: Don’t pull that card.
Hayze: Huh?
Saige: I know this isn’t about Khaos, not anymore, at least. Fatal forgives you… for her eye… and her sister.
Hayze looks away.
Hayze: I know you’re lying.
Saige: I’m not. You, her, and me, we’ve all been through this. She knows better than anyone else that blaming you for her sister’s death isn’t fair and isn’t right. Dr. Moore left a note explaining everything. She knows Khaos is the one to be mad at, not you. Fatal just wants to make sure you’re okay. Everyone does.
Hayze: I don’t believe you.
Saige: I’m telling you the truth. Fatal doesn’t blame you for-
Hayze: Not that, the last part.
Saige: Huh? Do you really think none of them care about you?
Hayze: Why should they? I’ve got a fucking murder crawling around in my head that could pop out at any moment and kill all of them! He may not be me, but he’s using my body! The blood of two people is on my hands even though I didn’t put it there. Their ghosts haunt me. The images of their deaths are scarred into my mind to never be unseen. Sure, I didn’t do it, but I have to live with the memories Khaos gave me. He’s a part of me that I can’t control, and I hate that! They all saw him during Iota’s assault. How can anyone care about a guy that could murder them without a second thought because his deranged alter-ego broke loose?
Saige: Sure, they saw Khaos, but do you know what else they saw? You chopping off Iota’s hands. You were the hero that stopped that lunatic from taking over the world. You were a hero Hayze, you are a hero, and they’re willing to forgive you, but only if you tell them the truth. And stop running down this dark path.
Hayze: Why go through the trouble of having them forgive me when I can just remove myself from their lives. What are they losing by never seeing me again? I have my demons, and I need to take care of them alone. I’ll go back after Khaos has been reeled in.
Saige stares at Hayze.
Saige: I never told you about mine, did I?
Hayze: Huh? You’re what?
Saige: My alter-ego? The one that caused me to go through the same amount of trauma you’ve been through.
Hayze: N- no… y- you haven’t.
Saige takes a deep breath.
Saige: Her name is Chagrin. She embodies humiliation, embarrassment, and shame. She would fill my mind with every embarrassing memory, every time I failed, every humiliating moment in my life to fuel her power in an attempt to take control of my body. She wanted control so that she could act as me and humiliate me in any way she could think of. Revealing all of my crushes, telling people my darkest secrets, or making me do… shameful things. She exists to torment me and drove me to near insanity before I was even 12. It took a long time, but I could finally stop her and reclaim my life.
Hayze: How?
Saige: I moved up my standards for embarrassment. I became a “flirtatious floozy,” as Blair calls me. The idea of being half-naked in public doesn’t scare me. I learned to always act confident to push Chagrin back and reclaim my independence… even when I’m not. That’s why I am the way I am.
Hayze stares at Saige.
Hayze: That explains… a lot about you.
Saige: And you know why I don’t fight often?
Hayze: Why?
Saige: Because to use my quirk, I must feel embarrassed… and hate that feeling. I hated using my quirk. That’s why I only fought when I had to. I used the excuse that it’s because I’m confident in my power and don’t need to test myself, but I was actually lying. Using my quirk requires me to become the girl I once was, and I hate that. It wasn’t until I fought Alexis that I realized that if I wanted to improve myself, I had to just go ahead and do it.
Hayze: You fought Alexis? When?
Saige: A week or two before the Showcase. She showed up at my apartment and told me she had to fight me to prove something to herself, and she basically forced me into a fight from there. That inspired me to prove that I’m capable of moving past the trauma Chagrin caused me. No more lying to myself. It’s time to let go, including using my quirk more than just the bare minimum.
Hayze: But… all those times we trained, you would-
Saige: You know what the worst part of my story about Chagrin was?
Hayze: Huh?
Saige: I had to go through it alone, and that wasn’t a choice.
Saige clenches her fist.
Saige: So, imagine how goddamn annoying it is to see someone going through the same exact hell I went through and actively choosing to do it alone!
Hayze doesn’t have a response.
Saige: We’ve been through this before, the first day I met you.
“ Saige: I understand what you’re saying, but I speak from experience: you don’t want to go fight this battle alone.
Hayze: Trust me, I’m more than used to that feeling. I’ve relied on others for too long. It’s time for me to fight my own battles.
Saige: Just because you’re used to it doesn’t mean you need to stay that way. “ - Chapter 51
Saige: It wasn’t until I forced Wrath to retreat back into your mind that you realized I could help you. That’s when we started training together and getting closer as friends. So, what changed? Why don’t you want me to help you anymore?
Hayze stares at Saige.
Hayze: You put in all that effort to help me, and Khaos still came back and killed another person. You came all the way from out west and transferred schools to help me, and I was still too weak. Hell, Khaos even shot and nearly killed you; I thought you would hate me for that… for wasting your time. And I thought all the others would hate me for lying about my quirk and concealing that a killer lives inside my head. It’s better if I disappear and you guys don’t have to think about me anymore. I understand that you came out here to try and change my mind, but nothing you’ve said has deterred me from what I believe. I have a problem, and I refuse to let it be anyone else’s but my own. I’ve been alone my whole life, and I can handle it staying that way forever. You don’t need to waste more of your time on me.
Silence…
Saige: Come outside.
Hayze: Huh?
Saige: I want to fight you.
Hayze: Wh- what?
Saige and Hayze are in the woods a sizable distance from Vargas’ cabin.
Saige: Alright, we’ll do this the same way we always do: Whoever pins the other for 5 seconds first wins.
Saige cracks her knuckles.
Hayze: I don’t want to fight you, Saige.
Saige: Why? Because you’re afraid you'll lose?
Hayze: It’s not fear. It’s a certainty. We’ve done this 30 times before, and I’ve lost every single time. What’s the point?
Saige: You’ll see once this is over.
Hayze: That doesn’t exactly do anything to change my mind.
Saige: Look, I flew all the way out here from the East Coast. Will you at least humor me?
Hayze: *sighs* I guess you have a point.
Hayze and Saige face off.
Saige: Go!
They both immediately leap backward to create distance.
Hayze: (Saige’s quirk allows her to fight from any range she likes, so she’ll typically play to the weaknesses of the person she’s fighting, but the versatility of quirk means she has to wait until I choose an element to make her first move. So, I get one free shot, and I have to make it count.)
They both duck behind trees; Saige creates a drone in her left hand and a controller in the other.
Saige: (Information is power when you’re fighting Hayze, he’s always looking to be a step ahead of you, but if you know more than he does. You can leap far beyond his reach.)
Saige flies the drone in Hayze’s direction.
Saige: (Now… where is he-)
Saige sees on the drone’s camera a ball of razor wind careening towards her. She immediately jumps out of the way as the ball slices through the tree and causes it to fall.
Saige: (He threw that knowing I would dodge it, which means-)
Hayze jumps down from the tree above Saige with a Typhoon Boom in his hand.
Hayze: Take this!
Saige creates a bazooka in her hand and fires it at Hayze, but he quickly uses the Typhoon Boom to redirect the rocket’s course into the sky, where it disappears. Saige leaps back as Hayze lands on the ground she was just standing on.
Saige: You knew I would try to figure out where you were with my quirk, so you were watching for which tree my object would appear from.
Hayze: But I also knew you’d see my attack and dodge out of the way, so as soon as I threw it, I maneuvered to the branches above you.
Saige: You created a Typhoon Boom in your hand, but you knew there was no way I’d allow that attack to connect, so in actuality, you made it to deflect my future counterattack.
Hayze: It’s an exciting challenge to fight someone who knows your moves like the back of their hand.
Saige smiles.
Saige: I can tell that your power has increased substantially. You glided over my head so fast that you actually caught me off guard.
Hayze: Yeah? Well, maybe it’s time you stopped holding back and started fighting for real. I’ve taken you by surprise twice already. That’s not normal.
Saige: Fight for real, huh?
Hayze: Yes.
Saige: Okay then.
Saige transforms her bazooka into a massive pair of scissors.
Saige: Try this.
Saige bursts towards Hayze.
Hayze: (Scissors…)
Hayze begins channeling wind around his body.
Hayze: Whirlwind Wall!
Hayze fires off a gust of wind in every direction. The winds collide with Saige and stop her dead in her tracks. She’s forced to cover her face with her arms to keep her eyes open.
Saige: (This is new!)
Hayze creates another razor wind ball in his hand.
Hayze: Hurricane Hammer!
Hayze launches the ball at Saige.
Saige: (Another ball is flying towards me. I can hardly see, but I know it makes a very acute sound from last time.)
Saige closes her eyes and listens closely. She hears the ball approaching and angles her scissors, so the wind ball gets caught inside the finger hole of her scissors. It rapidly rotates around the rim of the finger hole.
Saige: Two can play that game!
Saige launches the Hurricane Hammer back at Hayze.
Saige: (His whirlwind wall may be able to hold back my attacks, but not his!)
Hayze: I told you to start fighting for real!
Saige’s eyes widen as Hayze begins channeling more and more air around him to the point where the air currents are visible. Finally, Hayze’s eyes turn pure green.
Hayze: Gale Force Winds!
The air Hayze is channeling around himself shoots out in all directions, but this time the force of the wind is strong enough to knock Saige off her feet and send her flying backward. Hayze bursts towards her, immune to the current of wind he’s creating. He glides up next to her.
Hayze: Tornado Tackle!
Hayze attempts to punch Saige into the dirt, but she blocks with the pivot point of her scissors.
Saige: It’s not that easy!
Saige separates the scissor blades and attempts to slice Hayze. But, he grabs the sword with his hand, cutting his palm.
Saige: Well, now, we’re at quite the standstill. You’re blocking my attack with one hand, and I’m blocking your attack with one hand.
Hayze releases the Gale Force Wind, causing Saige to fall to the ground with Hayze standing beside her.
Saige: Okay, or that…
Hayze’s eyes revert to normal.
Saige: Hey! Why did you do that!
Hayze: If you’re not going to fight for real, what’s the point? That’s four times I’ve caught you off guard. You’re clearly holding back.
Saige stares at Hayze.
Hayze: I appreciate that you came all this way, Saige, but I’m not going back. I need to stay here.
Hayze starts walking away.
Saige: I wasn’t holding back.
Hayze stops and turns around.
Hayze: What?
Saige: I haven’t trained at all this summer. I’m at the same level of strength I was the day you left.
Hayze: Then… then why did-
Saige: You’ve caught up to me. We’re evenly matched now.
Hayze has a skeptical look on his face.
Hayze: That doesn’t make sense. Why wouldn’t you have trained?
Saige: Because I’ve spent the last three months looking for you.
Hayze is speechless.
Saige: Hayze, when I first met you, I told you you’re the reason I came back to Nashville. You’re going through the same thing I did with the serum. You’re the only person my age who knows what I’ve been through. You’re the only person who can truly understand me… which goes both ways. I know you better than anyone because of that. We’ve both known what it’s like to be alone, but we don’t view it the same way. You’ve only been alone in your life, so you don’t know how to function any other way. You created this perception in your mind that you deserve to be by yourself, so you drive anyone who tries to get close to you away out of fear. That’s why I pushed so hard; I wouldn’t let you drive me away. Because I’m afraid as hell of ever being alone again. So, as long as we have each other, we are never alone. I refuse to live in solitary again, and I’m not letting you do it either. So, I put every ounce of effort in my body into finding you so I could bring you back. I know you, Hayze, I care about you, and you deserve to be cared about.
Hayze stares at Saige.
Hayze: I…
Hayze falls to his knees.
“ Vargas: You know what one of my biggest pet peeves is?
Hayze: What?
Vargas: When someone tries to justify their selfish behavior by saying they're being selfless. “ - Chapter 108
Hayze slams his fists on the ground.
Hayze: I was being selfish… I was so afraid of having people in my life who really cared about me that I ran away to avoid it. I convinced myself that you would all be mad at me and hate me, but I was just trying to justify my cowardice.
Hayze clenches his fists hard.
Hayze: I made you worry and devout so much of your time trying to find me, all because I’m a fool. I probably made the others worry too, and now they must REALLY hate me. I created a self-fulfilling prophecy… I nearly threw everything away because I hate myself and that hate is what fuels Khaos. I’m a fucking idiot!
Saige walks over to Hayze and places her hand on his back.
Hayze: Huh?
Saige: Yeah, you are an idiot, but just be happy that you have me.
Hayze sits up and stares at Saige.
Hayze: I’m sorry… I thought your “pushy” behavior was just your way of messing with me. I mistreated you when you were only trying to help me.
Saige: It’s okay. Like I said, I understand you better than anyone. I’m just happy you’re out here and not dead.
Hayze: How can I ever repay you?
Saige giggles.
Saige: Let’s make that an IOU for now, okay?
Hayze: I don’t like the sound of that.
Saige: You shouldn’t.
Hayze and Saige both stand up.
Hayze: So, we really move-in in just a week, huh?
Saige: Yeah… and there’s A LOT you need to be caught up on in that time.
Hayze: Oh yeah? Like what?