Split Second

Mock Battles Part 1

It was only the next day of school in the middle of an English class that everything clicked into place.

He was in Japan.

Everybody here spoke Japanese.

But he didn't know Japanese.

And yet here Percy was, able to fluently speak and understand Japanese without a hitch.

It must have been like some kind of magical translator in his mind, otherwise there was no known reason for him to suddenly understand a language he'd never learnt.

However, the sad thing was, despite being in an alternate universe with a different language, the hasty English written on the board still refused to be caught and interpreted, the letters swimming off the board.

Damn dyslexia.

So though for once he could easily understand if he could decode the new words his dyslexic mind formed, Percy was relieved when the class was let out.

After lunch, which was what followed English, Percy had hero training. He was still attempting to rap his head around that. Hero training. He supposed it wasn't all that different to what they'd do at Camp Half-Blood, though maybe a little less dangerous and where he was from they did it more just to stay alive.

His class was just sitting around, buzzing on to to each other with their own conversations while he sat there quietly, fingers drumming on the desk when the door banged open and swinging in came a man in bright colours.

"I HAVE...!... COME THROUGH THE DOOR, LIKE NORMAL." He declared.

Percy looked up, having received a shock at the sudden outburst. At the man's appearance, excited whispers about him echoed around Percy.

"It's All Might! He's really going to teach us!"

"Isn't he so cool!?"

"...He gives me goosebumps."

Percy studied the man, All Might, with a new interest. He must be one of those 'pro heroes' Percy kept hearing about.

"I know you're not from around here, but that's All Might. He's the number one Pro Hero." Todoroki leaned over to whisper. "He is the best of the best."

The best of the best eh?

"Really?" Percy replied. He wanted to try talk to Todoroki more, after all, he was living with the boy, but already he'd turned back to face the front, and reluctantly Percy did too.

"Hero basic training! The class that'll put you through all sorts of special training to mold you into heroes! It also gives a ton of credits." Everybody was quiet, listening to the hero speak intently. "No time time to dally, today's activity is this!"

All Might held out a card that had 'BATTLE' written on it in bold. "Battle training!!"

Percy winced at the loud noise. It seemed that All Might only knew how to speak in, well, 'all caps', for lack of better wording.

Percy's attention was caught suddenly by the wall sliding out, revealing mini locker type things with bold numbers on the doors.

"In accordance with the 'Quirk Registry' and the special request forms you filled out before being admitted-"

"COSTUMES!!" There was an excited roar as people grabbed their costumes from the mini lockers. Percy blinked in surprise. Everybody had one. Weird and wacky, cool and colourful. There was something of every sort. Everybody except well... him.

"After you change, come out in ranking order to ground Beta." And then everybody funnelled out to the changing rooms.

Percy stood and rose his arm awkwardly. "Uh, sir? I don't... have a costume..."

All Might looked at him in surprise before a smile overtook his face. "That's alright, we'll find something for you right away! Tell me, what's your quirk?"

"Water..."

"Soak heavily in water before use..." Hestia's instructions rang in his head as he recalled the outfit he'd received, which thankfully, was currently in his bag, because Percy had doubted he'd be needing it at home and gathered it was probably for school use.

"Actually... I think I do have one..." Percy turned and pulled the plastic bag full of costume parts and material.

"Yes! That'll do! Now off you go, get changed."

And thus Percy did.

Inside the changing rooms, Percy made a beeline for the tap, figuring it'd be easier to drench the costume now, and if it didn't work, Percy could always just dry the suit with his ability and try again.

It didn't escape his noticed that he was receiving odd stares from people as he ran the tap, but he didn't care. They'd see soon enough. The cold water running over his hands was soothing enough to keep him from snapping at them.

Once he was done, he awkwardly shimmied into the costume, feeling the water fabric rubbing against his skin. Percy self consciously pulled on the shirt, aware that he was getting stares, probably from the mass of scars decorating his chest and back. He glared at anybody who stared too long.

Once his costume was fully on, a suddenly a soft orange glow emitted from it, encasing him in a warm feeling. The outfit seemed to thrum with power and was no longer dripping off it, now it seemed to weave around the fabric, constantly moving, ready for him to use. He attached the scabbard to his waist, which looked slightly odd and pointless with no sword to fill it, but beside it was  a pocket, in which Riptide took its place.

By the time he was completely finished, Percy was one of the few left in the changing rooms. He walked past the stragglers and out onto ground Beta, where everybody else had clustered.

Let the mock battles begin.

~~~~

Exams are overrrr thank the gods. As of the next chapter, we're closing volume 1 and heading into volume 2.

Peace,

BTSWD
Borntosingwithdrama