SCP 963-3

???'s Sanctuary

When Izuku went through the portal, the other side was a paradise. The sun shone gently, with a natural blue sky. Everyone that had made it through the portal was in awe of the beauty of this place. It was as if 343 had sent them to Olympus, the kingdom of his visage, but there was an... unnerving feeling in the back of Izuku's mind that something wasn't quite right. And that feeling was personified when a woman's voice called to them all. "I see that desperate times called for desperate measures..." They all turned to see... an angel. One devoid of color, save for her eyes.

"And I am not one to turn away those in need." Her gentle smile was soothing to most... but not those who realized who this was. Her staff was taller than she was, and she herself was 8... 9 feet tall? It was hard to tell her height. Long silver hair flowed down her back. Large wings, made from perfect white iridescent feathers. She possessed an otherworldly aura, reinforced by her multicolor eyes, which housed a rainbow, a different color depending on what part of the iris you looked.

Izuku got to the front of the crowd, placing himself between them. "Who are you?"
Still smiling, she looked down at the boy with an aura of authority, hidden behind a mask of kindness. "I am known as many things. Creation, Goddess, Pale Angel... it does not matter to me how you refer to me. Just know that I am not your enemy, Izuku Rabenherz."

He glared at her. Isa backed him up, and other foundation soldiers, the few that remained... trained their weapons on her, putting civilians behind them. He called back, knowing everything. She was the reason Dr. Judas died. Why he died. This was all a front, and they both knew it. "That... is not my experience."

Eyes still on him, her expression turned... sorrowful. Regretful. "It's true that... the Deathslinger was a bit... harsh... with my instructions, but that is in the past. Besides," gesturing to him with her free hand, she smiled warmly, "...you got better. Allow me to help your people..."

Remembering that he wasn't alone, Izuku glanced back. All the worried, dirty, hungry, haunted faces, and knew he had a duty to them. In one manner or another. The greenette sighed. "Very well. They are more important."
"Good." With a wave of her hand, a new building was created floating off the clouds. A path led to it, connecting this floating isle to it. "That will be your home until I can create a world free from those dangers you endured before. You have traveled far, survived much. I respect you all for your bravery, determination and endurance. Relax, and make yourself at home. I would like a word with Izuku and Isa Rabenherz, however."

After they had ingratiated themselves to the new home, Izuku and Isa strode to the main part of the floating islands that was the pale angel's home. Escorted by two individuals. One in silver armor, with a distinct lack of color of her own. Her eyes glittered like diamonds, and her main weapons, a pair of oversized daggers, rest in their hilts upon her belt. Meanwhile, the other wore dark iron, with dark green hair, oddly similar to his own. However, hers was smooth, a few tints lighter, and styled more like flowing water than the mess he'd have. On her belt was a rather cruel spiked whip. They didn't say a word, probably under orders not to speak. They did seem familiar, nonetheless.

It did allow them to speak to each other, regardless of being overheard. Isa broke the silence first as they continued to walk. "Dr. Judas was right, it seems."

Izuku agreed, eyeing the guards with uncertainty. They were nothing like the Deathslinger, and yet... they had a very similar presence. That being unnatural. Deathly to behold. Turning away, he, in hushed tones, agreed. "Yeah. 343 regarded her as a threat, though."

His mother sighed, glancing down to him. "Just let me handle things, Izuku."

It was as if she read his mind. While he was able to be brave, that really didn't mean much considering his condition. "That was the plan..."

A few seconds of silence passed, only the clanking of ethereal armor punctuating it, until they, too stopped. In the end the entourage arrived at what the guests thought would be a throne room, but turned out to actually be a study once the large gilded dark oaken doors parted. She sat behind a desk, her wings draping over the chair elegantly. Taller than any he knew, yet monochromatic. Her eyes threatened to consume him, not just because of their unique natures, but they held power beyond what he was now used to confronting. Each color seemed to radiate a different aura, from benevolence, to truth, to growth, to consumption.

Her eyes alone were the only thing that needed to be said, as it bore enough to recognize her as a true threat, unlike anything before. With a gentle kindness, the deity beckoned them in. "Welcome. Please, take a seat."

The two mortals entered, but the knights merely bowed elegantly, before closing it behind them, the humans watching them do so. When their potential exit was sealed, they turned towards their host, finally seeing her for the first time. Approaching, the two carefully sat down on the surprisingly comfortable wooden chairs. Giving her attention equally between the two, the angel began to speak again: "I have a gist of what happened... and I'm sorry to hear that it did. I prefer to let worlds run the way they want to, but this... this is total collapse."

Isa spoke diplomatically, "Thank you for your concern and generosity at the current time. I hope we do not prove ourselves to be a burden..."

Waving her concerns away, her gesture also put a stack of books back on their shelves, without any crimp or bend. "Of course not. Here, I have the resources and power to accommodate anyone, especially those in need of help." A momentary pause, before she resumed what direction she wished the conversation to go. "However, I assume you do not wish to stay here." Glancing at Izuku, she smiled sadly, "I know you do not like me, and that is fair, given the Deathslinger's nature..."

Isa was going to continue when Izuku asked, blurting a question that shocked his foster mother in the process. "Why does he look like me?"

Meanwhile, the Angel laughed gently, and gave an explanation. "Oh, dear boy... that is because he is you, from another fracture. He has an entirely different story, but you do share a history, of sorts. You share a mother, a life, and a legacy. Your methods may be... different, but you are both guardians... and I'd like to make it more official with you."

And that revealed everything about her intentions, at least on the face of it. The term had meaning beyond just a protector. "Guardians?"

The angel, however, belied her true intentions by giving an explanation which conveniently didn't explain why she was interested in having these. What benefitted her from this? "Yes. Protectors of your world... or your people. Not all of them are physical. Some are more metaphorical, anchors of your reality, per say. It is your choice, but I'd prefer if you took the offer."

"That sounds like..." Izuku was about to speak, inquire more...

...but Isa interrupted him, "A hefty responsibility. One that he is not yet ready for. Could we talk about, first, before he decides?"

Leaning back against the chair, she agreed. After all, she had all the time in the world, and the bargaining power to match. "Of course. I'll give you all the time you need. After all, it is the wise thing to do." Her smile, while kind, gave both of them shivers. There was an angle she wanted, but what, was beyond the scope of their knowledge. Oh, they knew she wanted Izuku for his position as guardian, but after? It was... unknown. At least for now.

Later, he thought to himself, as he relaxed in this paradise away from reality; At least everyone is safe. He leaned into his mother, a foreign action, but one she strangely insisted on when they sat on the sofa next to each other. Eve leaned into him on his right, and Eri sat on his lap, the four content as they watched the surrounding... realm. Requiem, its name was. For now, the last refugees of his world would take shelter here, until a better solution could be found. The surviving children played amongst each other, the adults communed in solidarity, and for once, in Izuku's life, things were peaceful. His happiest day was arriving to the Foundation, getting a mother, a girlfriend, a little sister... right now, it was the one time he got to finally act like he was in a family, and it was the happiest he could be. The future is uncertain, but it's at least I can face it with my family. Whatever that Angel wants, I'll find out. And when I do, then I will have to make a choice.