Powerless - A My Hero Academia/ DC Crossover

Chapter 27: Ultimate Failure

Bruce Wayne sat at his desk in his large, spacious office of Wayne Tower, back in Gotham city. He had just returned to Japan, the Sports Festival having ended three days ago. The students at UA were given a week off to recuperate from the Sports Festival. Bruce hadn't heard from Izuku since his surgery. All attempts to contact Izuku were ignored. The boy was avoiding him. After the festival Bruce had to return to Gotham for his work, but Alfred had requested to remain behind to watch over Izuku and his recovery. He had taken his loss to the young Todoroki very hard, and it was taking its toll on him. He spent most of his time in the warehouse, training to near exhaustion. His mother had said that he was sneaking out at night, sometimes not returning home until almost morning. She was worried. Alfred was worried. Bruce was worried.

Midoriya was at war. Both internally and externally. He had followed his instincts during the match and goaded his opponent into using his full power, in the end costing him the match. This reality clashed constantly with another, kinder reality, that he had tried to help his friend in need, at his own expense. But both were overshadowed by the harshest reality of all: even at his best, he couldn't beat Todoroki at full strength.

Not without a quirk.

Bruce knew that despite his rapid progression, Midoriya would eventually hit a wall. But the boy was resilient and strong, and had accomplished so much, he didn't expect him to take it so hard.

Bruce's thought was interrupted as his watch began to beep. He was receiving a call from Alfred.

"Sorry to disturb you, sir," said Alfred, after picking up. "But I need you back here urgently. It's about Master Midoriya."

"What happened?" Asked Bruce, alarmed.

"He had come for another one of his training sessions at the Warehouse, but slipped away when my back was turned," said Alfred.

"He's free to come and go as he pleases, Alfred," said Bruce.

"Yes, sir, but there's more to it than that," said Alfred, a slight nervous look breaking across his usually placid face. "He has taken one of the cars."

"What?!" Said Bruce. What was the boy thinking? He wasn't old enough to drive. If he got caught, the fallout could cost him his spot at UA. Worse yet, he or someone else could get hurt. "I'll have the Watchtower send me there. What car is it?"

Alfred's voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "The car, sir."

The realization of his words passed over Bruce like a cold shadow.

Shit.

"We've been at this for an hour," Said Izuku. "My patience is running out."

He stood in the middle of a small office, overlooking what used to be a factory used by the cartel to ship drugs. Tables and workstations were tipped over, both cartel guards and workers beaten senseless. All the heavy machinery was broken, sparking and smoldering from the explosive blasts used by the intruder. Izuku had walked through them all, one by one, making his way to the Drug Lord's office. He was there for answers, and he was going to get them, one way or another.

"You're dead, you hear me?!" Shouted the Drug Lord. "You think you can just come in here and smash up the place?! Don't you know who -" his words replaced with a loud scream as Izuku used his explosive gauntlets on his exposed arm, which began to blister and bleed.

"Those are third-degree burns," Said Midoriya, his voice deep and distorted from the mask he wore. "Any more damage sustained and you'll be needing skin grafts." He leaned in closer as the Drug Lord stopped screaming. "I'll ask you again: where is the sludge villain?"