Prologue: The Little Tattlers Last Run.

He just wanted to help, that all he wanted to do.

He had gotten into fights before, and even been hit pretty hard before, but this, this wasn't the same. The Little Tattler crawled desperately across the battle torn rooftop, leaving a thick trail of his own blood behind him. His homemade suit was torn and stained a dark red. The cheap dollar store hero costume mask left behind ripped in half. Leaving his sandy tan hair free to the nights air and his scared thirteen year old face exposed to the villian.

He'd run if he could,he could try to escape down the fire escape, but what was left of his right leg wouldn't allow that. It was crushed by a monstrous villain and now was a broken mass of bones and torn muscle that he couldn't feel let alone move it to support his own weight. The pain got worse with each excruciating movement he made. The pain was unbearable, he wanted to yell out in pain but all that came from his bloodied mouth was a mix between a whimper and sob.

His heart beat felt like it was beating against his own ribcage. Every deafening thump accentuated by the villains slow footsteps. Getting closer step by step.

He heard someone calling out for help. They sounded so desperate so scared, which is why he ran to help instead of find a Hero like he usually did.

It was a mistake, he should have gotten a hero. And now that person was dead, all because he didn't get the hero fast enough.

This was all his fault.

He just wanted to help people, and now a innocent person and a Hero were dead because of him. The Hero had to protect him from the villian and couldn't concentrate on fighting the villain, It was his fault he died, Tattler shouldn't have been there.

He needed to get away, before another Hero shows up and dies trying to protect him.

He didn't deserve to be saved, not after tonight. A thought forced its way into his mind, one that didn't feel like it was even his own.

You don't even deserve to Live.

He pushed the thought out. He couldn't just give up, not here.

He had to get away. But his desperate crawl was halted by the edge of the roof. There wasn't a fire escape on this side of the building he could use. It was a straight three story fall into a dark alleyway.

A deep feminine broken voice that was equal parts joyful and menacing froze him to his core, every word like metal scrapping against metal.

"Nowhere to run brat."

Tattler looked back to see the villain marred with blood from head to toe approaching him. Her hard angular face was split wide with a large smile that was all razor teeth. Red jagged spines crisscrossed across her whole body. Coating her in a weapon and armor. Behind her Tattler could see the young heros bloodied body laying in a heap.

He didn't mean for any of this to happen.

The villain stocked closer and closer, He was gonna die. There was nothing the Tattler could do, nothing except...

Looking back towards the edge, if the villain was gonna kill him the fall might do it quicker. Hesitating only for a moment, The Tattler made his final choice, and rolled off the edge and fell.

The world Tattler knew faded to back with the sound of Maniacal laughter.

-------------------------------------------------------

Six hundred ago the world was changed forever. People were changed. At first it started small, a few individuals had uncanny abilities that increased their capabilities, like above average strength, intelligence or speed. At the time people believed them to be highly talented prodigies. But overtime other abilities began to emerge and in higher numbers too. Millions and soon billions of people around the world began to manifest talents of their own. Some that even defied all laws of science as previously known.

Now in the year 2038. society has been molded by the addition of these "talents" that nearly 99% of all humanity possesses in varying degrees. Before what would have taken a hundred skilled laborers to make, a person with the talent of metal manipulation can create entire buildings by themselves. Where armies were once needed to fight, a single man could take on a thousand armed combatants.

With the talents came great strides in human ingenuity and society. But along with it came those who wished to undo the progress humanity has made. These people, who use their powers for selfish and evil reasons, began to start appearing all across the world. With this rising threat a new organization had to be made to combat these talented villain's with their own talented counterparts. So the Hero's Protection Association was founded. It was formed to help those with extremely strong talents be able to use the powers safely and in a way that would benefit society.

Professional Heros have risen to fame from their deeds of bravery and action. It's thanks to their sacrifices that the world has endured decades of peace and prosperity.

Seven Years Later

-Koshi City- South Japan 3 A.M. -

Kazehaya Nobuhito ran unnoticed across the residential buildings. Jumping alley gaps and landing silently on the other side before breaking into a sprint again. Even though his talent didn't aid him physically, years of training made the movements almost as easy as breathing.

His targets; a bunch of young street thugs who just robbed an ATM a few streets back. And judging by their frantic running and worried expressions he guessed they had no real escape plan. He would even bet that the robbery wasn't planned, just a spur of the moment decision that so many moronic talent users were making with the continuously decreasing number of sanctioned heros.

Kazehaya couldn't help but wonder who was more unlucky tonight, this group of clearly inexperienced criminals robbing an ATM machine right in front of a Hero who was just about to clock out for the night. Or a VERY tired overworked hero bumping into an active crime on his way home.

In the end he knew the ones who were gonna really be regeting tonight would be them. And because they are making him run when his legs already feel like they are barely supporting his own weight...

He wasn't going to take it easy on them.

The one in the front, a young man of massive size, with muscle mass barely fitting in his tight stretched hoody ran at the head of the group, Making Kazehaya believed that he was most likely the groups lead.

His two lackeys that followed behind him, a kid with slick grey skin that reflected every light like he was covered in a mukus was close behind the first, and the last a much more average looking kid with a rats nest of brown for hair that hung low lamost obstructing his eyes. That one in way more of a panicked state than the others were. As they ran, money they had grabbed in arm fulls flew out of their grasp leaving a clear trail to follow.

He'll be sure to make them pick up each and every one of them, even if it takes till morning. An additional punishment for illegal talent usage.

The bulky one who had grabbed the atm and ripped it open like a toddler on christmas day continually hurled taunts and insults to his two accomplices.

"COME ON YOU WEAKLINGS! HE'S GONNA CATCH US IF WE DON'T GO FASTER!"

Despite his additional muscle mass it didn't seem to help him run any faster than the other two.

"W-WHAT WERE YOU THINKING YUN?!" Yelled back one of the kids.

"HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT DAMN HERO RONIN WAS JUST GONNA TURN THE CORNER?! ONE OF YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON LOOK OUT!"

"Lookout?! What are you talking about?! We were just gonna try to steal some alcohol from the store, not rob their ATM!!"

Their yelling went back and forth for a bit. And judging from how exhausted their voices started to sound, Ronin decided they wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight. Sprinting ahead of them and then jumping from the roof he landed in front of them in a crotch.

His hand settling on the hilt of his sword and his signature cold stone stare already placed on his face.

The group came to a stumbling stop, the curly haired kid couldn't stop fast enough and slammed into the bulky kids side. His much smaller frame bounced off Yun like he hit a brick wall, causing the money he was holding to fly everywhere.

"S-hit...How'd he get ahead of us?!"

Yun, the bulky kid, took what he thought was an intimidating stance with his chest puffed out and arms back. And earnestly tried to put a 'serious' face on.

"B-back off Ronin! Or.. Or I'll."

Glare time.

Yun stopped dead in his place before he could finish his threat.

It took him years to perfect it. Just the right amount of furrowed eyebrows to show you are not pleased, and a slight tilt of the head to give it an edge of warning.

It wasn't his talent like some believed, but the two defiantly were connected at this point, you could almost call it an adaptation.

"Come on Yun, let's just turn ourselves in." Said the curly kid.

"If we go in willingly they might let us off with a warning."

Ronin bit back the urge to correct the kid. There was no way he was going to let them off the hook for the slew of illegal acts they've committed. Robbery, resisting arrest, littering, Illegal talent usage, public endangerment, disturbing the piece, he could keep stacking them on and on, but the last one the most important one. Pissing him off wouldn't be overlooked.

Hoisting the still sheathed sword over his shoulder, it clinked on his kevlar padded armor, modeled in a mixture of traditional samurai armor, and modern police fatigue.

"I gave you boys the chance to do the right thing when I saw what you were doing in front of that store. you're going to be taken in one way or another so how about Listen to your curly friend Brauns. He seems to have the brains"

Yun's face reddened like a ripe tomato.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"

Okay maybe antagonizing wasn't the most professional thing to do.

The kid charged without another word. It was a slow approach, with only blind rage fueling it. With a ducking slide and spin. Ronin moved out of the charging toddler's path and delivered a swift jab of his sheath to the kid's back knee buckling it.

He stumbled and then crashed into a wall. His mass and momentum left a crack in the cement wall.

"Damage of Public property" Ronin added to the list.

It didn't take long for the kid to pick himself back up again. Meaning his talent limit gave him exceptional high durability too.

If Yun was red before, now he was red like a raging fire. And now that Ronin noticed it, was he smelling something burning?

Yuns body began to smoke, black soot poured from the kid's mouth mixing with the blood from his split lip.

"O-Oh you shouldn't ahh anger him Mr. ah Ronin sir." Said the smallest of the kids.

So, bulky brawn hasn't just a strength enhanced crotch goblin. There was something else to his talent.

Taking the moment to collect his thoughts he reassessed the kid. His body seemed to swell with more muscle as smoke poured from his pores. His face twisted with increasing degrees of rage.

So the angrier he gets the more smoke pours from his body and the stronger he gets, concluded Ronin. But how much control of himself does he have?

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"You think you can make a fool of me!" He said through bared gritted teeth.

"I'll show you hero! I’ll crush you like I did that ATM machine."

The kid pushed off the wall, smoke trailing from him like an old steam powered locomotive.

The street broke beneath each footstep as his increasing strength pushed him faster and faster.

Ronin readied himself to leap out of the way once again. But something made him pause, behind him he heard the unmistakable sound of electricity crackling. Shifting his gaze slightly he saw its source. One of the other kids, the one with the grey slick skin had electrified his hair. Each oily black strand strand of it stood up on end zig zagging as power pulsed through them, giving off a blue ora of light.

He's part electric eel, great.

Keeping his ever present calmness, he re-adjusted his plan.

Before the eel kid could come within physical touching distance, Ronin with his outstretched hands, linged forward at Yun, the movement startled both attackers. Few ever expected to be charged when they were charging.

Yun’s momentary hesitation gave Ronin the opening he needed.

Following his charge with a jumping somersault over Yuns head Ronin brought his sheath down hard on the boy's shoulder, causing him to redirect his momentum towards the electric kid.

"HEY WATCH OUT!" cried the eel kid, but it was to no avail.

They collided in a tangle of muscle, mukus and electricity. A combination that electrified both of them until, the eel kid finally passed out. Stopping his talens limit was reached.

Ronin landed unharmed a few feet in front of the last kid. The one who had tried to convince the others not to attack him. He still sat on the ground, never getting up after bumping into Yun.

The kid looked panicked even more than before.

Now that he was in front of him Ronin was able to get a full look of the kid. He had a small body that had a few signs of malnourishment. His brown curly hair is messy from being unkempt. And clothes that look well past ‘well worn.’

It wasn't an uncommon sight, especially in this part of town. Good kids with bad situations getting tangle up with the wrong people.

Admittedly, though only to himself, he might have gone too far with the other two. Gazing over to the others, they both laid unmoving on the ground unconscious. Maybe this kid who showed some actual restraint didn't need the same lesson.

Ronin held out his hand to the kid.

The boy flinched at the gesture, probably out of habit, thought Ronin.

"Relax kid I'm not gonna-" that's all Ronin got out out before he saw what the last kid's talent was.

The boy's face shifted from fear to a monstrous smile, before being followed with him spitting a sharp barb from his mouth.

Instinct took over in that instance. In a series of fluid motions Ronin tucked in his shoulder, the barb barely glancing off the Kevlar padded shoulder pad and spinning off into the night. His left hand gripped his sheath, the right grabbing the handle. Stepping forward he slammed the bottom of the sheath into the kids foot before pulling the handle up and slamming the hilt into his lower jaw.

The kid yelped in pain and clutched at his throat, trying to stifle the pain. Through his hand covered face he glared daggers back at Ronin, who cooly slide the half drawn blade back into its sheath before returning a glare of his own.

"Do not try that again kid." Ronin said, in a neutral lecturing tone.

But the kid seemed unphases, he removed his hands from his mouth and tried to spit another barb, but the attempt only left the kid gagging as nothing happened.

"W-what did you do?! I can't use my talent!" he strained out, his voice causing him pain to use. yet he continued to try to spit a barb but all that came out was his own spit.

"Your talent is like a muscle. Hurt the muscle, stop the talent." Ronin replied. It was a basic concept taught in the Hero Protection Association Hero courses. It surprised him how many people didn't fully understand their own talents limitations. Those lack of knowing your limits is what often lead people to break the law, thinking because they have some strong Talent they can get whatever they want.

Ronin turned his attention to the two still unconscious on the ground. He didn't see any gang or mafia markings on their clothing so that meant he wouldn't have to worry about some retaliation actions.

In the few seconds his back was turned the the Curly kid he had gotten up and started moving again. Ronins patience was completely gone at this point. He gripped his sheath and swung it up to block the kids knife that he had stashed away on him. But before the two weapons met A pillar of concrete shot up in front of him and slammed into his attacker's face, breaking multiple teeth and sending him backwards once more in the process.

"Gu-ahhh!"

His attacker hit the ground, quickly grabbing at his bloodied face. And muffling screams of pain through his hands and drumming his feet into the ground.

"NEVER FEAR! CONCRETE PETE IS HERE!"

Ronin let out a sigh that he didn't realize he was holding in. Another hero must of heard the commotion and headed over. They can handle the rest and let him finally get some sleep.

But that didn't seem quite right to him he had to think for a moment. He's never heard of a hero named that. And the voice sounded… Could it be.. No, For the love of God please no.

Turning slowly he looked to the newcomer. A man stood in the light of one of the street lamps, he wore a yellow construction helmet, his costume clearly homemade with visible seams and colors schemes that would give the costuming department a heart attack. Which could only confirm Ronins fear.

"Sorry to butt in Hero, but it looked like you needed a little help." gleefully said the self proclaimed vigilante. 'Concrete... Pete'

No. Just no, Ronin wasn't gonna deal with another wanna be hero who plays by his own rules. And especially not tonight!

The wanna be hero killer got to his knees. blood still pouring from his broken nose, and mouth. Ronin had to be impressed with the kid. A hit like that would have knocked out most people. If the kid ever cleaned up his act he could make a good hero. But that would only happen if they brought him in to face his actions to night. And maybe get the kid some therapy.

"Who the HELL! Do you think you are! You broke my teeth!" grumbled the kid.

"Isn't it past your bedtime, sport?"

"You As-"

A concrete cube snapped shut around the kid encasing him, and muffling his response.

"Maybe I need to send you to your room."

Ronin honestly debated if dying by being stabbed would have been better at this point. If it meant he didn't have to deal with ANOTHER Vigilante this month, and their little quips.

The vigilante stood there for a few seconds, clearly happy with what he had done.

Ronin let out a slight cough to get the guys attention

“Ahem?...”

"Hm? Oh! Are you alright, fellow good do'er!" The man said with a beaming smile walking over to Ronin.

Ronin didn't answer, instead he gestured to the cube that held his would be assassin with his sword. If he listened closely enough he swore he could still hear the kid rattling on in there, accustomed with the sound of his knife striking the walls. Answering the question he asked himself before this night turned out the way it did. He knew who truly was the unlucky one tonight. It was him.

Noticing where he was looking Pete's confident smile returned.

"Like my handiwork? Not bad for my first murderer catch. If I do say so myself."

"You added air holes to it right?" Replied Ronin.

Pete was gonna respond until realization crossed his face.

Slamming his foot on the ground and spreading his arms, a hole opened up in the top of the concrete cube.

His head bowed low and both hands raised high. "My apologizes Evil doer!"

The sound of gasping was heard.

"W-Were you trying to kill me?! What Kind of hero are you?!" came the kids' voice.

His arm shot out of the breath hole still clutching the knife, swinging it randomly, like a caged lion clawing at anything it can.

"When I get out of here I will hunt you down and-" His threats continued on for a while.

Yea, he's defiantly not hero material.

Ronin turned to face the vigilantly. Better to get over with this now.

"Good thing you did that, or else I would have had to add unintendedly killing a child through illegal talent usage to your criminal record."

'Concrete pete' looked back with shock.

"M-my what?" he stammered out.

Ronin tried really hard to not roll his eyes. How so many vigilantes fooled themselves into believing what they were doing wasn't illegal because they had good intentions is beyond his understanding, or patience at this point. But nevertheless he continued.

"Vigilantism is illegal, so is unauthorized talent usage on someone, I doubt you were trained to use your talent in a combat situation."

"Well no, I-I was-.. Truthfully I was a construction worker, but I felt like I could do so much more. By helping people. Like I helped you! I saved your life Ronin!" A hint of anger in his voice.

A vigilante going through a midlife crisis? That's a new one.

"Then go become a Hero through the H.P.A." Ronin replied matter of factly. He his voice never showed anger, even now, regardless of the amount of times he's had this exact same conversation.

"I can't do that.. Look... You went through them, you know how unfair judges are. I wouldn't stand a chance in there. They wouldn't accept a 40 odd something construction Forman as a Hero."

"And yet you think just because you don’t have what it takes to be chosen. That gives you a pass to break the law? Just because you can encase someone you THINK is doing illegal activities in a prison of concrete gives you the right to do that? You can make the judgment call when lives are on the line with zero understanding of the outcome of those decisions?" Retorted Ronin.

Pausing slightly, seeing that his words were luckily getting through to him. Seems like his brains not made of Concrete at least.

"There's a reason those courses are so strict. It's to keep people who have strong talents from just running around and causing even more damage because they don't know what they are doing. I’ve seen vigilantes get hurt and far worse in this line of work. and more importantly sometimes their actions hurt others more times than I care to keep track of at this point" Ronin continued.

"You hear about that Vigilante in Hakemura, that could combust water in to fire. he thought it was a good idea to try that on the water inside a robbers body. The criminal had to be flown out with third degree burns all across his body. And than there was also the Vigilante in Kyoto who had a flying talent, well after a fight where he got knocked on the head pretty hard he tried to fly away only to pass out while flying and fall to his death."

Pete's head hung low now.

"I-I just wanted to help." He choked out, clearly trying to fight back some tears as realization set in that he might ernastily die doing this.

Ronin waited for the man to get a hold of himself before continuing his 'lecture.'

"The HPA offers pre-hero courses." Ronin began pausing making sure that Pete was paying attention.

"It was made a few years ago to give Vigilanties a chance to become heros. And it requires a nomination. Now because you did 'help' tonight and seemed to show some restraint with your Talent I'd be willing to sponsor your application. But only if they are willing to put in the work for it. And even if you don't pass the course, or you change your mind on your career choice. Completing the class will remove the charges you earned from tonight's 'illegal and reckless'(Ronin put extra emphasis on those two)actions."

Pete's head lifted up with that last part. A smile started to spread across his face.

"You.. you mean I can be a hero!?" A tinge of hope in his voice.

"That's up to you." Replied Ronin.

"With every fiber of my being! Thank you Ronin!" Pete said with confidence.

Ronin nodded in response

After a few seconds of awkward silence Ronin could see Pete had a question he wanted to ask. Raising a slight eyebrow for a sign from him to ask, luckily he picked up o the subtle sign.

"So--.. What now? Do i have to turn myself in?" Asked Pete sheepishly.

"I'll call in what's happened here, and the police will take you in for a bit just to ensure you haven't done anything else, illegal, and will put a ankle tracker on you to prevent you from running off as soon as your application process is complete. You'll be free to walk around by tomorrow morning."

Pete gave him a quick nod, fear, but a little bit of determination in it too.

Ronin had to let out another sign he didn't realize he was holding in. All these vigilantes have really been doing a number on him if he was actually worried they'd all try to run away.

Suddenly remembering he'd missed his last check-in time Ronin put his hand to his earpiece.

"Kraiger, this is Ronin.."

"Ronin?! What happened, you missed your clock out time, is everything alright?" His handler sounded relieved to hear him.

"Yea, Everything's under control, just some street thugs and a new vigilante." Giving Pete a slight glance of his eyes.

"Another one?! That's the third one this month!"

He could hear a very heavy sigh come from his handler.

"Oh-kay tell me. What's this one's gimmick."

"Well, he goes by Concrete Pete. He managed to stop a killer from stabbing me by encasing them in a concrete box."

"Huh, that could be handy if trained properly. How does it work? Does he liquify the concrete than shape it? If that's the case he could easily capture dozens of villains by sinking their feet into the ground. Or he could also..." Ronin let Kraiger get is rant out about the talent, hes' found its better to let him get out all his ideas now before he has time to think of more to tell him later.

"Do you think he's willing to complete the course?" The question jolted Ronin back to the conversation, just now realizing that the rant had ended.

Ronin thought for a moment before answering. "I believe so."

"That's a relief, we don't need any more untrained talent users running around the cities at night. There's already enough villain's doing that as is."

Ain’t that the truth. The past three years of increased crime rates were in direct relation to the increased number of Hero deaths while on patrols. Which was most likely why Kraiger responded to Ronin missing his check out time the way he did.

"I'll be sponsoring him for the courses"

"I'll start the paperwork and have it ready for you in the morning. If you keep this rate up Ronin and half of all the new Heros in the next few years will be reformed vigilantes thanks to you."

Ronin didn't know how to respond, he wasn't happy about it. Vigilantism meant the people were losing faith in the Hero's around them, and when people did that Villain's became embolded and take on riskier heist and jobs, which leads to more casualties.

On the other side of the comms his handler cointuned.

"I don't know what's going on... I swear ever since that first kid vigilantly showed up there's been new ones every week."

Ronin knew where that conversation was going. and Kraiger proved him right as he continued.

"Speaking of him, you actually met him didn't you?"

Yep, he knew his Handler couldn't resist the opportunity to snoop.

"Yea seven years ago. Never caught the kid."

"Huh wow, that's pretty impressive for a kid to give Ronin South Japan's fourth most renown hero the run around. He must have had one powerful talent to pull it off. With any luck he might sign up for this coming semester! I'll be sure to keep my eye out for him. I wont let Hibaki snag another one of my promising pupils!"

Kraiger sounded very optimistic, probably just wanting to get another high skill hero student under his roster so he can flaunt over the uniques of their talents.

"I wasn't experienced back then. I had only a year of actual hero work at the time. It's my fault things turned out the way they did."

Ronins left arm still boar the thousands of cuts he had received from that monster that night.

Ronin had a strong suspicion of what happened to the kid. A Hero and Villain fight was no place for a kid. Especially against such a deadly talente user. But no matter how many warnings he gave that kid, he just couldn't stay away.

If the 'Little Tattler' is around somewhere he's about the age of the new hero trainees, maybe he'd see him.

But after what he saw, he knew not to get his hopes up.