Heroes of Tomorrow

Part 24~Eagle

Akiko sighed as she walked back to the dorms from therapy. She did not need those revelations today.

"Tough session?"

Akiko lit up, seeing Ava waiting outside the UA dorms. Ava had changed slightly since last Akiko had seen her. Her hair had grown longer, showing off the black roots, and Ava had pulled it back in a low ponytail. "You have no idea. What are you doing here?"

Ava grinned. "Well, since you've gotten yourself a semi-normal sleep schedule and we restarted operations, I haven't had a chance to see you. I've missed you." Ava smiled softly as Akiko grinned.

"I've missed you too. Does this mean you're back in Japan?"

Ava nodded. "For a few days. We're dropping off a few of the immigrant's processions and picking up some stuff, and then we'll be in China over the weekend."

Akiko frowned. "Oh, you're going so soon."

"Yeah, I wish I could stay too, but we do actually have to keep up the job, or we'll starve. And don't even suggest buying us food."

Akiko held up her hands with a light laugh. "I would never. I learnt my lesson last time." Akiko laughed as Ava smiled.

"So, how are things?"

"Therapy is shit but class is good. I've been working on this new technique that will allow me to use both my roots and vines at the same time."

Ava frowned. "I wasn't aware you could only use one at a time."

"Well, technically, I can use both, but the amount of concentration to control all twenty is more than I can handle right now. We're working on improving my control and getting certain attacks into muscle memory so they're less taxing."

"Woah. Cool. You're seriously cool."

Akiko blushed as she scratched the back of her head. "You're kidding. You're cooler than I am. I mean, you took on a hero in Australia without a quirk and won."

Ava blushed, too. "I wouldn't put too much credit on me. He was pretty new to being a hero."

"You still beat a hero." Ava lowered her head, resisting the urge to hide as Akiko laughed wholeheartedly. "You guys are all cool. How are the rest?"

Ava sighed. "Liz is doing the best. She has been working on giving us protective gear. Some of the stuff she's designing is amazing. I keep suggesting she gets a Support Hero degree, but she 'doesn't want to help those useless heroes'."

Akiko laughed. "Sounds about right. Maybe she should design hero tech that screams at people if they're being unheroic-like."

Ava's eyes lit up. "That would be fucking epic."

"What about the twins? How's Dante?"

Ava shrugged. "He's... He's processing. Alfie's death hit him hard, but Gael is keeping him company."

"And how are you?"

"I'm... I'm okay. Sometimes I go about the ship, and I think he's still there." Ava hung her head as she spoke when Akiko wrapped her arms around her.

"Hey, it's okay. Grief takes a long time for everyone, and Alfie is still with us in here." Akiko pointed at Ava's head as she snickered.

"Aren't you meant to point at the heart?"

"Why would I do that? If he was in your heart, you couldn't remember him." Akiko smiled as Ava relaxed, leaning into Akiko's side. "Hey, how about this? Meal by the seaside?"

"That... that sounds great."

Akiko grinned, taking Ava's hand and pulling her along.

~~~