4 Getting Adopted?!

A while later

The boy came out, naked, holding the mask.

The man looked at him and threw some clothes, saying "Come with me." The boy dressed himself backwards, the man sighed and fixed it. The boy held the mask tightly, rubbing it with his fingers as he smiled kindly at the man.

The man patted his head and said "Come on." the boy followed him and they came outside as the man got dressed in his vigilante costume. He looked at the boy, saying "You watch, okay?"

The boy nodded and followed him as he walked out, going to do some vigilante work.

The boy kid behind a mailbox as the man attacked a villain, beating the shit out of him. The boy watched as the man questioned the villain for advice before killing him. The man waved at the boy, who ran over quickly, grabbing the man's trench coat, looking at the body without fear.

The man pointed at the corpse, saying "Villain, understand?" the boy nodded and the man sighed, "I'll have to teach you how to speak… Nah, forget it. You'll learn. Come on, kid. You watch me and figure out what you want to do." he looked at the boy and grinned "I'm Knuckleduster."

The Boy smiled happily at him and nodded, saying "Hero!" Knuckleduster laughed and shook his head, rubbing the boy's hair as he asked "What's your Quirk?" The boy froze and looked down at the ground in shame, shaking his head softly, struggling to speak "N-No Quir-Quirk."

Knuckleduster hummed and said "That makes sense. These damn bastards don't care about Quirkless folks nowadays… But leaving a kid in the streets to fend for themselves… Hmph!"

He looked down at the boy and squatted down, poking his chest, asking "Do you want to be a Hero?" The boy's eyes sparkled and Knuckleduster grinned, pointing his thumb at his own chest, "I don't have a Quirk either."

The boy blinked and Knuckleduster poked him, saying "Quirkless." before poking himself, "Quirkless." The boy was shocked and stared at Knuckleduster in awe, saying "Strong!"

Knuckleduster laughed and replied "Train!" The boy looked at Knuckleduster and held his coat, an excited smile on his innocent face, "Hero!" he gestured at Knuckleduster before tapping his own chest quickly "My Hero!"

Knuckleduster paused for a moment before smiling gently and ruffling his hair, laughing, "Let's go, kid. I'll teach you for a bit, but it's too dangerous for you to stay." The boy tilted his head and Knuckleduster, saying "Me. Train. You!"

He gestured to the boy, who was instantly shocked, his eyes turning to stars! Knuckleduster chuckled and gestured again, tapping his wrist, saying "1 year. Or. Bad." as he made a throat slitting gesture.

The boy pouted and Knuckleduster picked him up, bringing him away.

The next day

The boy went to train with Knuckleduster, who said "I need both of you." The boy pointed at the mask in confusion. Knuckleduster nodded and the boy put the mask on half his face.

Knuckleduster curled his fingers, saying "Fight! Train. Hero." The boy smiled happily and attacked, swapping between personalities in an instant.

After that, Knuckleduster trained the boy for a year, making him come along on Vigilante trips, teaching him how to be a hero. He helped the boy train, showing him exercises that he could do on his own, and fighting against him everyday.

He also taught him the meanings of words and how to understand them since he wanted to speak normally with the boy, however it seemed to have no effect.

Finally, on the last day.

Knuckleduster sat the boy down and told him that time was up, "I have to go now." The boy looked sad and Knuckleduster ruffled his hair, smiling "You're a lot stronger than a year ago, kid." the boy looked up at him, tearing up, "Leave? Angry?"

Knuckleduster shook his head and said, "No, I'm not angry. I have to go so you can be safe. Villains, lots of villains." The boy looked sad and Knuckleduster continued, "Kid, look at me." The boy looked at him and he went on with a smile, "You're strong… But one day you're gonna have to get rid of that mask."

The boy held the mask, seemingly understanding his words. Knuckleduster went on, "I don't want you to be a Vigilante like me." the boy looked confused and Knuckleduster added, "A lot of kids are just like you, got no Quirks, get bullied… Even their parents don't want them, they end up in the orphanages…"

Knuckleduster grabbed the boy's shoulders, saying "It's tough, but you can be a hero, kid! I know you can. You can change the lives of so many people. It's all on you now." The boy was dazed, he just wanted to be a hero, what was this heavy burden?

The boy didn't even fully understand, just knowing that his hero wanted him to be a hero! There was nothing else to understand, he agreed!

The boy clenched his fist and nodded, "Ah!" Knuckleduster laughed and shook his head, patting the boy's as he got up, leaving "Next time I see you, you'll be a hero!" he looked back at the boy, who nodded with tears in his eyes, "Bye-Bye, my Hero!"

Knuckleduster laughed at himself and muttered "I haven't been called a hero in a long time…" before leaving the warehouse and disappearing.

The boy sat on the couch and looked at the mask as the voice asked "Hero?" the boy replied firmly "Hero! Real Hero!" the voice laughed happily "Real hero! Fun!" the boy smiled and left the warehouse as well.

2 years later

The boy was 13 years old, still living in the alley. He was covered in dirt and blood with a white mask on the top of his head, rolled up. He sat down on a garbage pile, eating as he looked over at a commotion.

He walked to the edge of the alley and saw a beautiful woman with purple and pink hair. He was stunned, he remembered her!

5 years ago…

The boy was sitting in an alley and saw the woman chasing down a villain. He watched from the alley without his mask, seeing her chase down the villain before killing him. He made a noise and she pointed her gun arm at him.

The boy was terrified and fell backwards, tearing up. She looked at him and sighed, walking over and showing him a gentle and soft smile, asking "Are you okay, sweetheart?"

The boy swallowed and nodded, she licked her thumb and wiped his cheek softly. The boy scrunched his face up and she laughed. He got up and held his hands together before bowing and running away.

She watched him go with a smile before sighing and leaving.

Back to the present.

The boy watched her from the alley as she reached out to shake a little girl's hand, but pulled her hand back suddenly, making an excuse and walking away quickly. The boy was stunned and quickly followed her.

She came to an alley and held her face, squatting down and seeing only blood on her hands, even though there was nothing.

The boy walked over hesitantly, before saying "Hero?" The woman pointed her gun at him in an instant and he was petrified! She said in shock after a few moments "It's you!" The boy looked awkward and held his finger, turning to the ground.

The woman got up and said awkwardly, "I have to go… Sorry, kid." the boy was startled and said quickly "Ah! Wait. Wait." the woman looked at him as he ran off. She watched him go and thought he was getting a notebook or something, but she froze as the boy ran into an alley before coming back with a cloth.

He came back and opened the cloth, revealing some food. He looked at her and smiled kindly, "Food. Hungry Hero." the woman froze and stared at him before asking gently "Do you… live on the street?" The boy blinked and pointed at the alley, smiling happily "Home."

The woman pointed at the food and looked at the boy worriedly, "For me?" the boy nodded happily and held out the food, but she frowned sadly, "What about you?" the boy blinked before smiling, replying "Full!" while shoving the food to her.

The woman's eyes were complicated as she looked at the boy.

He must be only 12-13 and he was living on the streets… He even offered her his own food, it couldn't be easy to find… She looked at his tattered clothes, seeing scars under them, she quickly hugged the boy tight and teared up, saying "Full."

The boy was startled and tried to push her away, but she hugged him hard. The boy was worried but the woman let him go and smiled gently, holding his little cheeks, saying "Thank you."

The boy looked away and said awkwardly, "Food…" the woman smiled gently and asked "Family?" The boy looked sad and shook his head, gesturing "Trash." before pointing at himself.

The woman was shocked and angry, she took a deep breath and calmed down before saying "Me?" The boy looked at her in confusion and she smiled at him, letting go as she used sign language, saying at the same time "Me, you. Family."

The boy was stunned and turned red in an instant. She laughed and said "Mom." while knocking on his head. The boy froze and stared at her in a daze, saying absentmindedly "Home? Mom?"

The woman nodded and smiled softly, licking her thumb and wiping the dirt off his cheeks, "Wait. Soon. Family. Okay?" the boy nodded quickly, hugging the woman tightly and crying.

The woman smiled gently and made a decision in her heart.

After this next mission, she was done! She was leaving this country and taking the kid with her. This bullshit HPSC Agent garbage, she didn't need it anymore!

She held the kid and asked "Name?" The boy looked at her and shook his head blankly. The woman sighed and pointed at herself, "Kaina."

The boy smiled fondly, "K-Kaina. Mom. Hero!" Kaina smiled sweetly and tried to think of a name for the boy, he touched her hair and smiled happily, saying "Mom." before giggling innocently.

She suddenly smiled and touched his chest, smiling "Bullet." the boy pointed at himself and said in confusion "Bullet?" Kaina pointed at herself, "Kaina." before pointing at him, adding "Bullet."

Bullet's eyes sparkled and he said excitedly "Bullet!" Kaina smiled happily and rubbed his cheek gently, "Wait. Soon." Bullet nodded happily and Kaina took off a lock of her hair, shaping it into a bullet before making a necklace and putting it around his neck.

Bullet touched the necklace and smiled happily, smiling at her with closed eyes. She touched the 'X' scar on his face and smiled before leaving, saying "Wait. Okay?" Bullet nodded and waved, saying "Mom."

Kaina covered her mouth and left quickly.

Bullet went back to the alley, rubbing the bullet necklace happily as he sat in a corner with his mask in his tattered pants pocket.