Powerless - A My Hero Academia/ DC Crossover

Chapter 47: The Red Hood

Izuku stood perched on the edge of a building. He was overlooking what looked to be an abandoned toy factory, using the thermal vision of his cowl to view the interior. He could see a body heat signature in the middle of the old shop floor. It wasn't moving, and seemed to be strapped to a chair. It had to be Melissa. Surrounding her were other heat signatures, some patrolling the around floor, some standing still. He counted at least two a dozen men, and upon switching to detective mode in his cowl goggles, he confirmed that each of them were armed. Most of them had guns, some carried blunt instruments or knives. Izuku was thoroughly outnumbered and out-gunned. It was an obvious trap, and Izuku intended to spring it.

He felt guilty for leaving Wayne Manor after Bruce forbade him to involve himself. He remembered his escapade with the Batmobile when searching for the Sludge Villain, and was afraid of what Bruce might do to him for disobeying him this time. But seeing how frightened Melissa was when she was taken, and how helpless he was to stop her, he had to do something. He had to save her.

Steeling himself, he checked his utility belt and secured his gauntlets at the wrists. They were newly-upgraded from WayneTech, designed to work with his explosion quirk. But he had to be careful. The events of his clash with the Hero Killer flashed in his mind. If he used his quirk as an unlicensed hero, he doubted that even Bruce would be able to save him from facing criminal charges. He had to use his quirk as a last resort.

Melissa struggled at her restraints. She was surrounded by armed guards, and the woman Harley Quinn was shouting orders to them. From what she had gathered, they were planning to ransom her to her father. Harley had told her that she wasn't going to be hurt if she cooperated, but Melissa was still frightened. She had heard the stories and seen the reports of what the Joker did to his hostages. Most of the time, they did not survive, even when the ransoms were paid.

Melissa jumped at a loud explosion emanating from the other end of the factory. She heard several screams and what sounded like gunfire. Flames began to grow as the old toys on the abandoned conveyor belts began to catch fire.

"The Bat's here!" Shouted Harley. "You two stay here." She gestured to two of the guards. "The rest of you, find him!"

The guards converged on the explosion, Harley following them, leaving Melissa alone with the two guards. Harley and the guards struggled desperately to put out the fire, not wanting the inevitable attention it would draw to their location if it grew. Melissa heard a brief grunting sound from her captors next to her, looking up only to see both of them laying sprawled out on the floor before her, unconscious, with a dark figure in combat armor standing over them.

"Izu-" she began, but he swiftly covered her mouth, putting his finger to his lips to silence her. She nodded, and he let her go and began to work on her restraints.

"That won't distract them for long," he whispered. "Just long enough to --"

Something hard and heavy crashed against his side, sending him flying away from Melissa. Harley was back, carrying a heavy mallet in her hand. "You must think I'm some sorta idiot, don'cha?" She said, swinging the mallet as Izuku struggled to his feet. "He's over here boys!" She shouted as the men converged on their location. "Remember, Mistah J doesn't want him dead yet! Just rough him up a little."

Izuku stood his ground as the men surrounded him. One of them advanced on him, swinging a heavy bat. He ducked swiftly under the blow and struck the man hard in the abdomen. Doubling over, Izuku delivered a swift knee to his nose, knocking him onto his back. He flipped over the assailant and grabbed his arm, twisting it until hearing the sickening snap of bones cracking. The man howled with pain and rolled over, passing out.