《MHA: Ben 10_Down With The Heroes》


 Fist Fight.

    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRING!!!


    The bell chime announcing the end of class was music to the ears of most students. Noisy classrooms grew noisier with all regard for the teachers vanishing into thin air. Something felt different that afternoon, however.


    The air was charged with excitement as the kids ran through the hallways, heading for the outdoor basketball field behind the school. A crowd had already formed around the wire fence surrounding the field.


    Those fast enough got the first seats while the others had to stand on their toes and hope they could get a peek. Some dragged the nearby dumpsters and used them as platforms to stand on, others gathered on the roof of the nearby building.


    Several groups with expensive cameras and drones were given special spots so they could record the court properly. Seeing it from afar, one would think a celebrity was visiting the school or some kind of event was happening on that small basketball court.


    At the center of it all stood one guy. He was a tall one with muscles for days and a rather mean look on his face, which was blue in color just like the rest of his skin. His head didn''t have a single strand of hair, only one big fin that stood like a mohawk. That and the scales covering his chest and forearms were clear signs of his mutation-type quirk.


    ¡°Hey Tom!¡± One of the spectators called. ¡°Just give it up, man! You seriously don¡¯t want this beef!¡±


    The blue guy, Tomas Fisher, decided to pretend he didn¡¯t hear anything. Even then, the repeated tapping of his right foot grew faster and the veins on his bald head seemed to pulsate.


    A steer in the crowd drew his attention to the opening in the fence. He noticed that the other kids had parted to the sides opening a path for someone to pass.


    His face was obscured by a dark green hood. His height was nothing to speak of, nor was his build. His clothes looked a little shabby, and so did the bag hanging on his shoulder. He walked in slow, unhurried steps, not caring to glance at the gallery on either his left or right.


    Once he entered the court, the path behind him closed as if to show that retreat was out of the question.


    ¡°Well look who¡¯s finally here,¡± A wide brin split Tomas''s face, revealing his jagged teeth. ¡°For a moment there I thought you had run.¡±


    ¡°Yeah yeah. I just had to go get something.¡± Green Hoodiegrabbed his bag and rummaged through it. ¡°You can¡¯t get these inside with all the metal detectors.¡±


    He tossed the bag toward the fence and equipped the items he had just retrieved. They were a pair of golden knuckle brass, ones with quite the sharp spikes sticking out of them.


    ¡°Now, since I¡¯m a fair person, I will give you a chance.¡± Green Hoodiesaid. ¡°Say ¡°sorry, I won¡¯t bother you ever again¡± and I will just let you go.¡±


    The crowd suddenly went silent.


    Noticing it happen, the smile disappeared from Tomas''s face and he had to stop himself from looking around. While keeping his eyes on Green Hoodiein front of him, he felt a strange tingle on his skin. Realizing it was fear slowly taking over him, his brows came together in an enraged glare and he leaned forward, preparing to pounce.


    ¡°Know your place, you fucking invalid!¡±


    As if a gong had been struck, Tomas lunged forward. He closed the distance between them in a second while Green Hoodieraised both of his fists and took a standard boxing guard.


    Tomas intended to end the fight in a single strike so he didn¡¯t hesitate to brandish his claws. He swiped with his right and for a moment it looked like his attack had connected, but that impression shattered as a violent tremor spread across his body.


    The crowd suddenly erupted with cheers, adding to his confusion. Green Hoodiehad docked at the very last moment then landed a clean hook to his side. Realizing that, Tomas moved back a step and swung with his left.


    What followed was a series of quick swipes none of which grazed Green Hoodie. He weaved around the attacks, keeping his guard up and bidding his time. His steps followed his opponent¡¯s, retreating when he advanced and advancing when he retreated.


    With enhanced endurance being one of the perks granted by his quirk, Tomas had enough stamina to last for a while. He swiped, kicked, and punched, each move calculated and precise despite what it might have seemed. Even then, none of them landed.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The boy facing him dodged each attack with great precision, never allowing even his clothes to be grazed.


    The rumors he heard started playing in Tomas''s head and with each of his strikes missing the thought that there might have been some truth to them began to feel all the more believable. Shaking the idea out of his head, the blue guy leaped a couple of meters away. His opponent was quick to follow.


    Tomas activated one of the abilities granted to him by his quirk before the distance he created could be closed. His blue skin gained a faint luster, but it wasn¡¯t sweat that covered it. Water gathered on its surface and the layer kept increasing in thickness.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see you dodging this!!!¡±


    Translucent whips shot out following him swinging both of his arms. Time seemed to slow down as they cut through the air, closing in on the guy in the Green Hoodiefrom both sides and leaving him no escape.


    The whips crackled, and as the water scattered into a shower of tiny droplets, Tomas could only stare in shock.


    Green Hoodiehad crumbled to the ground at the last instant as if all the bones in his body turned into into jelly. A roll propelled him forward, and with the same smooth motion he got back on his feet, kicked the ground, and lunged at his blue-skinned opponent.


    Underestimating the invalid was a mistake. By the time Tomas realized that much, it was already too late. The confidence he had in that attack assured him that there was no need for a follow-up.


    Not even once did he think that the special move he had practiced so often would be dodged so easily and he could only watch as the golden knuckle brass headed straight for his face.


    What followed was a series of devastating blows. A punch to the face and another to the stomach. A third one to the left shoulder and another to the right.


    A downward swing at the right knee took his balance and a uppercut to the chin met him as he tumbled forward. The mutant¡¯s blue skin gradually turned red and purple, and as he fell on his back the cheers around him grew louder and louder.


    ¡°FINISH HIM!!!¡± Someone shouted.


    Tomas heard the words but didn¡¯t understand. He was on the ground, no longer able to fight. He had thought that would be the end of it, but when a shadow fell on his face he knew he was sorely mistaken.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve stayed in the water,¡±


    A fist fell once, then again, then again. Each time it rose, a little more blood covered the knuckle brass, their color turning from gold to crimson.


    The cheers ignited with each blow, but at one point they died down andthe excitement left the crowd. Their expressions warped in horror as the fist continued to fall, while some couldn¡¯t take it and had to look away.


    Green Hoodieraised his fist intending to bring it down once more. At that moment a violet beam shot down from the sky and enveloped it, holding it in place and preventing it from moving. Remaining still for a while, he slowly lowered his fist and looked down at his handiwork.


    A bloodied face filled with bruises and broken teeth. A low groan could be heard coming from the mutilated fish face, the only sign that he was clinging to life after the beating he had just received.


    ¡°Damn it Ben!¡± A voice shouted from above. ¡°Why must you always do this!¡±


    The violet beam shrank as its source descended and landed a couple of meters away. It was a girl with a thin but firm frame and flowing ginger hair. She wore a knee-length skirt and a blue blazer over a white shirt, the insignia on its left breast pocket an indication of it being the uniform of a particularly prestigious school.


    The girl kept her right hand extended, the beam shooting out of it binding Green Hoodie¡¯s fist. She could have pulled him back anytime but chose to wait until he got up by himself.


    ¡°Gwen Tennyson!¡±


    ¡°Lucky Girl!!?¡±


    ¡°No way!¡±


    ¡°In the flesh!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it!¡±


    ¡°What is she doing here?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? Those two¡­¡±


    ¡°So they really are related¡­¡±


    A steer ran through the crowd and the excited whispers got louder by the second. The atmosphere surrounding the basketball court quickly shifted and everyone seemed to forget about the bloody beat-down that just took place.


    Glancing at his barely conscious opponent one more time, Green Hoodieclicked his tongue and stood up.


    ¡°Seriously, can you crank it down a little?¡± The girl, seeing that he had simmered down, let out a sigh and lowered her arm. Her power deactivated at the same time and the violet beam faded away like it was never there. ¡°Uncle Carl will be so angry when he hears about this. Do you even know what he has to do to clean the mess you cause? Did you forget about the last time you¡­¡±


    She spoke without reserve, paying no mind to the crowd gathering around them. The one she addressed didn¡¯t seem interested in the conversation, however. He walked to the corner where he tossed his bag and took out a towel.


    After wiping the blood off of his hands, he stashed his stuff into the backpack, slung it on his shoulder then made his way out of the court.


    ¡°Hey! I¡¯m talking to you!¡±


    ¡°Fuck off, Gwen.¡± He said, not bothering to stop or look back. ¡°Keep your nose out of this.¡±


    Same as when he arrived, the crowd parted to let him pass. Though he paid them no attention, their whispers inevitably found their way to his ears.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡­¡±


    ¡°He actually won¡­ with his bare hands¡­¡±


    ¡°Fisher wasn¡¯t that weak, you know. He was aiming for Colombia''s hero course...¡±


    ¡°Is he really quirkless?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s his whole thing¡­¡±


    ¡°Man, this one was bloodier than the last¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s messed up in the head¡­¡±


    ¡°You just realized that?¡± Despite it mixed in the crowd, one voice stood out among the rest. ¡°An invalid picking those fights couldn¡¯t possibly be sane.¡±


    Stopping, he stood motionless for a few seconds then shifted in the direction of the one who spoke those words, his gaze silencing anyone it came across.


    "Benjamin Kirby Tennyson! Don''t you dare ignore me now!"


    Sighing, he ignored the girl¡¯s shouting voice and continued on his way.

 Book.

    A faint clack followed the closing of a door. Ben stood at the entrance for a few seconds then heaved a sigh, relieved that he was the only one home.


    He made his way upstairs and tossed his bag onto his bed before heading for the adjacent bathroom. Piece by piece, he took all of his clothes off and went into the shower.


    As the cold water fell on his body, he remained still and watched the small streams of red whirl around the drain before being washed away by the flowing water.


    Five minutes later, he turned the water off and wiped himself. Though it was quite refreshing, the reflection in the sink mirror wasn¡¯t that of someone who had just enjoyed a nice shower.


    The lusterless green eyes stared back at him, the judgemental look in them hard to ignore. A few seconds later, another sigh escaped him as he reached out and opened the small cabinet, took out a few things then sat down on the toilet.


    He let a few drops of alcohol seep into the white fabric of some sterile cotton then placed the small bottle on the sink.


    ¡°Fucking fish bastard¡­¡±


    His knuckles were in a pretty bad shape. The skin was torn off for the umpteenth time, and despite being used to the process by now, he couldn¡¯t help but wince each time he felt the sting while cleaning the wounds.


    The distinct sound of the front door closing reached him just as he was done wrapping his left hand in bandages. Pursing his lips, Ben tossed the blood-stained cotton and bandages into the trash can then put on some clothes.


    ¡°Benjamen!¡±


    He came out of the bathroom and deliberately closed the door forcefully to make his presence known.


    ¡°Yeah yeah, I¡¯m coming..." Muttering to himself, he ruffled his brown hair then sighed for the umpteenth time.


    Judging by the tone of that call from just now, it was obvious he was in for a lecture.


    ~[ ]~


    A laptop was placed in front of Ben the moment he sat down at the dining table. The screen displayed a video of a familiar basketball court. A big crowd surrounded the fence and a guy with blue skin stood at the center.


    Ben didn¡¯t need to watch the rest to know what would happen so he pressed the space bar and paused the video. A hand reached out from beside him and pressed it again.


    This time, the video continued until the end without interruption. The silence returned to the room right after. Ben continued to stare at the screen, his expression as indifferent as it was through the entire watch. Eventually, a sigh came from his left and the lecture began.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°I thought we already talked about this. You-¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Ben interrupted before it could go on. ¡°You did all the talking. I never got a word in.¡±


    ¡°So you just ignored everything I said?¡±


    ¡°Not really. I just didn¡¯t bother following your advice.¡±


    ¡°You think this is a joke? The kid is in the hospital!¡±


    Ben narrowed his eyes and shifted his gaze to the left. A man was sitting right beside him, an angry look making the wrinkles on his face worse. The two shared the same brown hair and green eyes, but the resemblance only became clearer the longer one looked at them.


    His name was Carlton ¡°Carl¡± Tennyson, Benjamin Kirby ¡°Ben¡± Tennyson¡¯s father.


    ¡°So?¡±


    The curt response painted the man¡¯s face red. His balled hands trembled and he looked to be struggling to hold something in. Ben watched him for a few seconds then turned to face the laptop screen.


    ¡°The bastard picked a fight. He got no right to complain.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point!¡± Carl slammed the table with his right hand.


    ¡°I told you to cut it out! Do you think things would always turn out this way? Why do you keep treating your life so poorly?¡±


    ¡°So I should just shut it and let them step on me?¡±


    ¡°Nobody would be stepping on you if you didn¡¯t go around provoking people!¡±


    ¡°Oh, so I¡¯m provoking people now?" The boy scoffed. "Guess invalids really are a problem.¡±


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant!¡±


    ¡°Then what did you mean, Dad? You want me to keep my head down and pray those bastards forget about me? How did that work out for you?¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to get hurt, damn it!¡±


    ¡°I will get hurt either way so might as well hurt the bastards while I¡¯m at it!¡±


    The shouting match suddenly halted. The two noticed that they had stood up at some point and were glaring each other in the face. As it went on for a while, Ben let out a sigh and sat back in his chair.


    ¡°I told you to keep your nose out of my matters.¡± He said.


    ¡°As if you¡¯ve given me a choice.¡± Carl''s voice softened, though he remained standing. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to end up in a hospital bed, or worse¡­¡±


    Silence permeated the dining room once more. Ben kept his gaze averted, the frown never leaving his face.


    ¡°Ben... those kids did nothing wrong...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t keep doing this."


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Ben¡­¡± his jaw tightening, Carl suppressed the bitter sensation in his throat and spoke in a trembling voice. ¡°Revenge won¡¯t bring them back. Just let it go already.¡±


    The boy didn¡¯t react at first. Seconds later, he slowly turned to look at his old man.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Carl looked him in the eyes and took on the anger contained within them. He then reached into the bag hanging on his chair and took out something. It was a small paperback, the title of which came into sight once he placed it on the table.


    [The League Of Villains.]


    Staring at the book for some time, Ben then turned his eyes to his father, asking the question that came to his mind the moment he saw the dark red cover.


    ¡°Where did you get this?¡±


    ¡°I found it while cleaning the Rust Bucket,¡± Carl replied. ¡°Someone is looking to buy it."


    Ben shot up to his feet, the abrupt motion causing the chair to fall with a clatter.


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re selling it?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Closing his eyes, Carl added, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time coming.¡±


    Ben opened his mouth only to close it a second later. He kept at it for a few more seconds, and after a few failed attempts, some words finally sounded from him.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s grandpa¡¯s¡­¡± His voice dripped with pain. ¡°You¡­ how can you¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to move on. We-¡±


    Carl didn¡¯t get to say the rest. His son, the boy he raised for seventeen long years, stormed out without saying another word. He glanced at the table and saw that the book was gone. A loud bang signaled the front door closing, and hearing it from all the way in the dining room, Carl could only sigh and hand his head.