Ashes to Ashes, Power to Power: Chapter 2.1

The crowd of emergency workers and nosy reports began to thin out as I sat on the curb, the adrenaline from the recent events beginning to fade away as I began to think about what I'm going to do now.

My apartment is gone, my job is non-existent and technically speaking, Eric and Kevin are still there, but now I'm just...Kevin, I guess?

'That's not mentioning my Quirk.' I thought with a frown as I placed my hand on the stone curb, flexing my fingers and watching as the stone slowly creeped up my arm before it crumbled away as I removed my arm.

It wasn't any Quirk I've seen from the manga, but then again, I only read the manga up to where Shigaraki was woken up by Mirko before the war could start so it might have shown up after that.

The only thing that intrigued me the most was the fact that it looked eerily similar to a certain favourite character of mine from one of the most iconic cartoons I've watched in my past life. A power that was also one I quite enjoyed seeing used with how versatile it could be in the right hands.

'So I'm Kevin with Kevin E. Levin's powers...that's a pretty good one.' I thought with a smirk as I felt the lingering heaviness that came from turning my arm into stone, which made me remember the feeling of it cracking and shattering when I pushed it too far.

'I wonder though. Is it a time limit or a stamina limit?' I thought before a soft vibration in my pocket pulled me from my thoughts. Taking out my phone, I could not believe that the screen's edges was only cracked slightly before I frowned as I saw the name.

Mom: Kevin! Kevin, are you okay?!

'Five messages and one missed call? Shit, I really need to call her.' Quickly typing in her number, I wasn't surprised when it only rang a few times before she answered.

"Kevin! Kevin, is that you?!"

"Y-Yeah, it's...it's me, Mom." I answered and I felt my heart clench as I heard her sob, realizing that Kevin's connection to her was still with me as I forced my own tears back.

"I-I saw the news when the feed was cut off...I just assumed the worst."

"I'm sorry, Mom. Everything happened so fast and I couldn't respond fast enough."

"The reporters...they said some boy was being attacked and you...you jumped in to save him. What were you think-!"

"I know, Mom. It was an idiotic thing to do, but I'm okay now. A bit banged up, yeah...but I'm alive." I cut in gently, hearing her shaky inhale before she spoke.

"You've always been like this. After everything...you know you don't have to prove yourself to everyone." Her words cut deeper than I expected and I remembered that Kevin always felt isolated from the rest of the world because he didn't have a Quirk.

'Well, used to not have a Quirk.'

"The news said that the apartments were destroyed. Where are you now?" She asked and I looked around to see the sky darkening and only a few officers and fire fighters still around.

"Still at the scene. Sitting on the curb like some action movie extra." I joked, trying to lighten the mood and smiled as I heard her give an exasperated sigh before silence came from the other side.

"Then come home." Her words caught me off-guard and I blinked before responding.

"Home?"

"Yes, home. You're my son, Kevin. There will always be a place for you here. Stay with me until you're back on your feet."

"You sure I won't be a bother?" I asked even as I felt the joy in my soul and she paused for a bit before answer.

"Well, you'll have to get used to my new book club, but you won't be a bother."

"...Okay, Mom. I'll come home."

"You better and we're making sure to celebrate this. I'll make your favourite."

"Ramen and fried chicken?" I asked, feeling the hunger settling in as she giggled at my excitement before answering.

"Home-made. Not that instant ramen and microwave stuff you like to buy."

 "Sounds perfect. Give me a couple of minutes to salvage what I got left."

"Text me your location and I'll come pick you up, sweetie."

"Will do. See you in a few." I answered and smiled as she hung up, taking a deep breath before standing up and making my way to the wreckage of what was formerly my apartment.

Time to see what I could salvage.

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"You're hungry, huh?" Mom asked with a smile as she picked up the dirty dishes and I chuckled as I finished wiping my mouth clean.

"For your food? Always."

"Because only I make it like you like?" She asked with a smirk and I patted my stomach while standing up from the dining table.

Looking around at the living room as I walked into it, I smiled as I remembered how she won it during the divorce, especially since the judge involved in it was quirkless as well so she had no problem forcing the sperm donor to had over half of what he had.

"I see you haven't put these away." I said with a smile while looking at my baby photos, to which she smiled as I picked up one of them.

"Why would I? How else would I embarrass you when you come home with a girl?" She asked and I rolled my eyes before turning my gaze to the photo for a moment longer.

The young Kevin was grinning wide in the photo with a few scratches on his arms while holding a struggling cat in his arms. While I couldn't exactly fully remember the memory, the warmth and pride I felt at said photo was indeed real.

"Man, I've always been one for chaos."

"More like you've always been one to rush headfirst into chaos." Mom answered from the kitchen and I chuckled as I gently put the photo down. Walking over to the kitchen island that separated the kitchen from the living room, I smiled as I saw her humming while cleaning the dishes.

"Need some help?"

"Nope, your old mom's still got it in her to do the dishes on her own." She answered and I shook my head before biting my lip as I looked at my arm.

"Mom, can I show you something?"

"Sure, what is...it...?" She trailed off with her eyes widening as I placed my hand flat against the kitchen island, my skin taking the properties of the same dark grey marble as the kitchen island before I took my hand away.

"What...Is...But the doctor..." She was lost for words and I didn't blame her as I deactivated my Quirk and let the material fade away.

"I know. I was shocked too when it happened during the apartment crumbling in."

"...It's like mine." She whispered and I blinked as I watched her holding a form between her fingers before her fingers took on the same sheen as the fork.

"Yeah, except you can only coat your hands, right?"

"Yeah. W-What does this mean, though?"

"What do you mean?" I asked and watched as the thin sheen of steel faded from her hands while she frowned.

"You've always wanted to be a hero, but you didn't have a Quirk to do it. Now, you do and we both know you never gave up your dream."

"Actually-!" I was cut off by a knock coming from the door, making me flinch slightly as the knocking had been polite yet firm as if someone was here with a purpose.

"You expecting someone?" I asked as I made my way to the door, Mom frowning as she shook her head while I placed my left hand against the marble and took on its properties on said arm.

Peeking through the eyehole Mom had on the front door, I blinked and took a step away from the door before looking through it.

The woman standing behind it looked stoic as she knocked once again, dressed in a gray business suit with her black hair in a bun and rectangular glasses on her nose. What made me take a step back was the golden pin on her left breastpocket, the letters on the front of it making me hesitant to open the door.

U.A. High.

'What the hell do they want with me?' I thought with a frown as I cautiously opened the door, just enough to peek through while still keeping the latch on just in case.

"Kevin Nagatomo?" She asked, to which I frowned before nodding.

"Yes, may I ask to whom I am speaking?"

"Rei Hoshikawa, U.A. High's Outreach and Recruitment Division. May I come in?"

"If you don't mind, may I see some identification? Just for safety reasons and all." I said with a smile and she didn't mind as she took out a badge before handing it over to me.

With zero hesitation, I took it and took a discreet picture while looking it over before making sure the picture was clear and handed it back.

"Sorry about that. A lot of scammers and robbers running around." I answered as I fully opened the door and she just nodded before I turned as Mom walked out into the hallway.

"Hello, ma'am."

"Kevin?"

"Mom, this is Rei Hoshikawa from U.A. High and she's here to talk to me about something." The moment I finished speaking, her demeanour shifted from hesitant to protective as she walked forward with a frown.

"He is still recovering from recent events that happened earlier today. if this is about you want to put him in danger-!"

"No, ma'am. It's about giving him a future." She cut her off and Mom bit her lip as she looked at me before sighing.

"Come in." Mom said after a moment as she walked to the living room and I gestured for Rei to pass while closing the door behind her.

Noting her looking at my left arm, I looked down before giving a sheepish smile at the dark grey marble coating on my arm, quickly dismissing it and ignoring the feeling of heaviness vanishing from my arms.

Sitting down besides Mom as Ms. Rei sat down in front of her, she didn't say anything for a bit as the three of us stayed in silence before she began.

"We have been looking through your records and it showed that you were Quirkless. Am I correct in assuming that your Quirk manifested recently?" She asked while taking out both a notepad and a pen from her jacket and I smiled before nodding.

"It did. First time today."

"I see. We've reviewed the footage we received of the incident earlier today, Mr. Nagatomo. Your Quirk appears to be one that allows you to convert your skin and flesh into that of whatever your body is in contact with."

"If I may ask, how did you manage to get footage of today? CCTV cameras?" Mom asked and Ms. Rei smiled softly before shaking her head.

"U.A. has access to emergency response drones that we place all across the city to monitor it in case of situations. We also found that you saved a life today, Mr. Nagatomo. A boy by the name of Katsuki Bakugo."

'Right, the guy that explodes anything that irritates him.'

"I did, though he didn't seem to want to say thanks."

"His parents wanted to. That is why his mother asked us to pass on this envelope and this message. She wishes for you to meet them at this address written on the note inside so they could thank you properly for your help." She said as she handed the envelope over and I just nodded as I took the note.

"Is that all?" Mom asked and Ms. Rei looked at me before speaking.

"You could have gotten away and left Mr. Bakugo alone to be rescued by others. Why didn't you?" She asked and I held her gaze before smiling while shaking my head.

"Honestly, I don't think I was thinking when I saved him. All I saw was a frightened boy and the monster keeping him from feeling safe. I did what any adult with the means would do." I answered and she looked at me before nodding with a smile and reaching into her suit jacket.

"It appears you have passed your first test, Mr. Nagatomo."

"First what?" Mom asked with a raised eyebrow and Ms. Rei just smiled as she took out another envelope and handed it to me.

"Open it and read it, please." She said as I looked from it to her and I raised an eyebrow before looking back at the envelope and opening it, Mom reading along with me as I took the note before my eyes widened at the name on it.

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Hahahaha~!! Hello once again, Young Kevin! It is I, All Might, speaking to you through this note.

I have been sitting and thinking of your brave act of heroism and I feel that you may have what it takes to become a hero.

If you're willing, I'd like to meet you, properly this time. Come to Takoba Municipal Beach Park tomorrow at 4 PM sharp. Do not worry if you do not see me for I will find you.

-All Might 

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"A-All Might...the All Might...wishes to see him?" Mom asked, sounding both bewildered and awed, to which I could not blame her as I looked up from the note to see Ms. Rei smiling.

"Indeed. If you wish, you may say now and I will come pick you up after your meeting with the Bakugo family to take you to him." She said and I looked back at the note before taking a deep breath.

'This is All Might we're talking about here, a guy that could get me a job with just one word. Do I...Do I take it?'