Can We Be Heroes?

Chapter 4• A boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do.

Intel was the real currency of today’s world. Not money nor was it power that truly ran things. Rather it was information.

Knowing the right things, at the right time, could make or break anyone or any situation and Izuku Midoriya, otherwise known as Hex, was deeply involved in that shadowy side of the world.

As a vigilante/information broker, he had become a go-to source for people looking to trade information for money or favors.

This was Izuku’s darkest secret, a side of him that no one knew—not his mother or even his closest friend, Monoma. The reason why he kept quiet wasn’t just for the shame that came with what he did,but the fear of what would happen if Monoma ever found out.

He doubted his friend would understand why he chose this path. The thrill of being a vigilante was one thing, but stealing and selling information? That was a whole new level of risk and danger, one that even Izuku sometimes struggled to justify.

Tonight, he found himself inside the shady halls of ZenoMed, a pharmaceutical company that had long been rumored to be involved in more than just medicine. Word on the street was that ZenoMed had ties to underground crime rings, and people in high places were starting to pay attention.

Thus Izuku had been hired to dig deeper, to find the proof that could take them down.

He sneaked inside the building, fully suited up in his vigilante gear. His dark green and black suit was designed for stealth, with a rabbit-like hood that had somehow given him the nickname "Hex."

Strapped to his back was his bow and a bag of self-made arrows, each one designed for a specific purpose. Explosive tips, tranquilizers, and even tracking devices—Izuku had prepared for anything.

As he made his way through the sterile hallways with controlled movements, his heart rate sped up slightly.  He had done this before, many times. Still, the apprehension of infuriating into a top secret organization such as ZenoMed was always present.

Finally, after slipping past a couple of patrolling guards, Izuku reached his destination: the database room. This was where ZenoMed stored all its sensitive information, from financial records to shipment logs. If there was any proof of illegal activity, it would definitely be found in said room.

Izuku paused outside the door, glancing at the small keypad lock. He pulled out a small device from his pouch and attached it to the keypad and within seconds, the device cracked the code. The door clicking open as he slipped inside, making sure the door quietly shut behind him.

The room was cold, the soft hum of servers buzzing through. Rows of machines glowed faintly in the darkness and a large central console sat in the middle of the room. This was where all the data was stored, just waiting to be accessed.

Izuku approached the console and quickly began hacking into the system. His fingers flew over the keyboard, searching through files, sifting through endless streams of data. He had a job to do, and he couldn’t afford to waste time. Every second he spent here increased the risk of being caught.

As the files loaded on the screen, Izuku’s green eyes narrowed behind his mask. The more he uncovered, the clearer it became that ZenoMed was indeed involved in some very shady dealings. Illegal drug trials, human experimentation, and smuggling of human organs.

It was worse than he had expected.

But just as he was about to download the files, a soft beep echoed from the console. Izuku froze, his heart skipping a beat. Somehow he had tripped the security system.

'Shit!' Izuku cursed under his breath. He didn’t have much time.

He quickly shoved a USB drive into the console, copying as much of the data as he could. His hands moved faster, knowing that time was running out. The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway outside, growing louder with each passing second.