an ODST among Heroes.

2

The flight back to the ship was lively, to put it mildly. Ever since Izuku overheard Grace mention the word "Spartan," he was practically bouncing in his seat with questions, each one spilling out before Daisy even had a chance to answer the last.

"So, how did you become a Spartan? Are there more of you? Do you all get super armor? Can you, like, jump over buildings?" Izuku's eyes were wide with excitement, each question barely separated from the next by a breath.

Grace couldn't entirely blame the boy. This was the first time anyone from his Earth had encountered Spartans-let alone spoken to one face-to-face, without the imposing armor they were known for. She could see Daisy's patience fraying with every question, the Spartan clearly unused to being bombarded with such innocent curiosity.

Finally, Daisy sighed, fished out a candy bar from her pocket, unwrapped it, and gently but firmly pressed it into Izuku's mouth. The sudden taste of chocolate hushed him at once, his eyes blinking as he adjusted to the unexpected but delicious treat.

Grace couldn't resist a smirk. "Thought fighting the Covenant for all these years would've toughened you up, Daisy."

Daisy shot her a look, cheeks slightly flushed. "Shut up, Grace."

When they arrived back on the UNSC ship, Dr. Halsey stood waiting, a faintly amused expression playing on her face as she watched the ragtag trio disembark. Joshua, already grinning at the sight of a candy-silenced Izuku, stifled a chuckle. "Seems like your report will be... interesting, Daisy," Halsey remarked dryly as Daisy quickly excused herself to get some breathing room.

Grace stepped forward, recounting the unexpected encounter with Izuku and Daisy's heroic intervention against the bullies. She filled Halsey in on every detail of the trip back, making sure to include the boy's endless fascination with the Spartans.

Meanwhile, Joshua crouched down beside Izuku, offering him a gentle pat on the shoulder. "You did great out there, kid. Not everyone would've held their own around Spartans." He smiled encouragingly, and Izuku couldn't help but grin back, feeling a rare sense of pride and belonging.

For the young boy, who had been thrust into a world beyond anything he could have imagined, this small gesture meant everything. And in that moment, surrounded by Spartans and mysterious figures from another world, Izuku Midoriya felt the first stirrings of hope for a future that felt exciting and possible, one where maybe, just maybe, he could stand among heroes.

----

Dr. Halsey sat at her workstation, a thoughtful expression on her face as she reviewed Izuku's medical scans, while Nolan, the ship's AI, projected beside her.

"It's clear he cannot remain on the ship," Nolan stated, his voice calm but firm. "Bringing a civilian child into a classified operation-even one from another Earth-is an unnecessary risk."

Halsey paused, tapping her fingers against her mug thoughtfully. "Perhaps. But this situation presents a rare opportunity."

Nolan's expression shifted, as much as an AI's could. "Don't tell me you're planning to strip another child of a childhood, Doctor. The last time-"

"Last time was necessary," Halsey cut him off, her tone sharp but quiet. "Besides, he wouldn't have much of a childhood down there, now would he? The conditions are less than favorable, to say the least. His world may not be facing the Covenant, but chaos finds its way everywhere." She looked back at the scans. "However, the medical results show Izuku Midoriya has an impressive genetic profile. Everything a Spartan candidate would need-except the physicality. He wouldn't meet the requirements for the current Spartan program. But..."

She trailed off, her mind already racing with possibilities.

"What are you thinking?" Nolan asked, though he already sensed where her thoughts were leading.