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The villain isn’t really powerful enough to warrant the amount of backup called in to dispatch him, but he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Endeavor is first on the scene, and it’s an admittedly bad matchup given that the strange kraken-looking creature is levitating out over the water, overturning boats and attempting to drown survivors.
Froppy and Selkie mount a speedy rescue effort, somewhat frustrated by Endeavor pitching ineffectual fireballs at squid boy. It’s a good distraction either way and it would be a rather ill-advised move for him to lift himself over the water when one wrong move would leave him useless or torch people struggling in the dark waters.
Ground Zero and Red Riot are the next pair on scene, but they’re similarly situated with Endeavor. Bakugou has excellent flight skills but one wrong move and he or someone in the water will be in real trouble, and Kirishima can’t exactly swim out in unbreakable form. But, the rescue goes on and there’s going to be hell to pay when Froppy and Selkie finish fishing everyone out of the dangerous waters. For now, though, it’s best to bide their time.
The villain’s managed to knock over two huge boats and it’s slow going. The water’s cold and they’re in serious danger of running out of time for the victims in the freezing waters, even if another water rescue hero shows up. Hell, a whole team wouldn’t be enough at this rate. The heroes on land grit their teeth, a huge amount of firepower all but useless and they’re starting to consider the more desperate solutions.
“Fuck this. Oi! Fire fuck, don’t fucking hit me.” The size of that explosion would be catastrophic.
“Be careful, dude.”
Bakugou gives him a wolfish grin. “I’m gonna beat this asshole to death.”
“Still not very heroic, my dude.”
Bakugou jerks his head towards the former number one hero. “Competition’s pretty slim today, anyway.”
Kirishima snorts and Bakugou turns away and takes off with a controlled explosion, neither checking to see if Endeavor heard their digs, and neither particularly caring. Paramedics begin pouring onto the scene and Kirishima helps fish the survivors out of the water and herd them towards medical care.
“DIE!” Bakugou screams, one hand propelling him forward and the other raised to blow this idiot villain to smithereens, and he can feel the taste of victory on his tongue all the way up until a hurricane-strength wind sends him flying back towards shore. He flips and lands, skidding on his knees through the gravel and spluttering like a wet cat.
“Goddamit baldy!”
“MY APOLOGIES GROUND ZERO! PLEASE ALLOW ME TO JOIN IN ON YOUR HOT FIGHT!”
Bakugou folds his arms over his chest and very much does not pout. “Still talking in caps lock like a freak. I hate that guy.”
Kirishima pats him on the shoulder reassuringly. “Come help me with the victims.”
“I am not a rescue hero.” He hisses, but trails after Kirishima obediently, a good move because Inasa slams the villain down onto the ground with a vengeance and a tornado only feet from where they had been standing.
Bakugou checks to make sure the villain isn’t getting back up, but it’s halfhearted, as much as he hates blowhard, he’s competent or whatever. He’s also standing with one big-foot sized shoe on the tentacle monster’s chest, laughing boisterously. Bakugou doesn’t know how much one of blowhard’s feet weighs, but he’s betting that villain’s down for the count.
Bakugou just rolls his eyes and hauls a man out of the water, half-carrying him to the triage station. It’s worth it. Endeavor’s all puffed up like an angry cat and stalking angrily over to where Inasa’s standing and Bakugou knows a fight brewing when he sees one. “Holy shit this is gonna be good.”
Even the half-dead victim, supported by an arm slung over Bakugou’s shoulder looks up in interest. Bakugou sends him a look, not forgetting his duty and the man shakes his head. “Hell no, I wanna watch.”
Bakugou likes this guy.
“That was unnecessarily reckless! You should never have taken that risk, throwing a villain at the paramedics! Do you have any idea how much damage you could have caused?”
Inasa’s eyes narrow nearly to slits as he measures up his former favorite hero, a man he once looked up to above all else, and even started to believe in again after a series of apologies.
That was before he heard the whole story.
“Endeavor.” He says coolly, stretching up to full height. He’s grown some since their meeting in high school, and they’re nearly eye to eye now. Burning flames and cutting wind. It’ll be a catastrophe if they get into it here, and Bakugou can’t fucking wait.
“I’m sorry I interrupted your valiant attempt at burning civilians alive, but I’m a hero to save people.”
Inasa doesn’t wait to see Endeavor’s reaction over his indignant spluttering, instead bending to hoist the prone villain up off the ground and handcuff him, a mostly useless gesture since the guy’s out cold and Inasa can lift him one handed. Endeavor’s flames burn brightly for a second in his flash of rage, and Kirishima, ever the peace-keeper, moves to put himself between the two powerhouses.
“Hey, guys, we got the villain right? That’s all that matters! It was a rough situation-“
“We had it under control.”
“Is that what you call lobbing lukewarm fireballs off target? I’ll have to adjust my definition of ‘under control.”
“Look here, boy. I’ll teach you manners if that’s what you’re here for.” Inasa’s face loses it’s teasing edge, apparently that was the exact wrong thing to say. Even Bakugou recognizes that one though, he’s heard the stories, too.
“Endeavor! Gale!”
The smile spreads back across Inasa’s face, a little crueler than Bakugou’s seen it since the Provisional Licensing exam when he and Todoroki were at each other's throats, but certainly not his normal face.
“It’s fine Riot, he’s just mad because his son calls me ‘daddy’ too.”
Everyone in the area hears it. Paramedics look up, hands stilling over patients. A reporter drops her microphone and her jaw. Kirishima’s jaw drops, too. Bakugou grins, this is the best day of his life.
“Oh, that’s right. He doesn’t call you at all.”
Bakugou can’t help it, he barks out a laugh and doubles over. Now it’s the best day of his life. Tears prick his eyes as Endeavor’s flames spike high enough to burn, and Inasa carefully counters with wind as Kirishima snaps into his unbreakable form with a panicked yelp.
“Was that really necessary?!” Kirishima snaps, shielding his eyes. Inasa just booms out a laugh in response and Bakugou finally gets control of himself enough to continue escorting the victim he’s still half-carrying over to the paramedics.
***
Todoroki and Midoriya, a short ways away, are having a much less eventful night, chattering companionably. Well, Midoriya chatters and Todoroki smiles amicably and chimes in every once in a while, content to let his friend carry the conversation.
“And I was thinking for out anniversary I could get them a trip, something really romantic because I have enough money saved up from all of our hero work that I could splurge and do something really great, you know?”
Todoroki does know, he’s been listening to this plan for Midoriya, Iida, and Uraraka’s anniversary for nothing less than two months and the plotting is getting ridiculous, though this is far from the wildest thing Midoriya has come up with so far.
“I think they would both really like that, and I’m happy to do my part and cover whatever shifts you need. You all deserve to do something nice.”
“Aww! Todoroki!” Midoriya reaches in for a hug just as his emergency line chimes.
“Deku and Shouto here.” He says, all business in a way that makes Todoroki smile.
“Oi, Deku. We need Icyhot right now.” Right on cue, flames explode over the tops of the buildings east of where Todoroki and Midoriya are.
“Roger. We’re on our way.”
“Better hurry, Deku.” Midoriya is a little suspicious of the borderline-gleeful tone of Bakugou’s voice, but the fire looks serious and Shouto is the best choice for dealing with fires…
Sounds of a scuffle sound over the line.
“I swear to fuck, Kirishima! Get off of me! I’ll kill you! Don’t take this from me-
“Midoriya? Do not bring Todoroki here! I’m serious, Midoriya don-”
The phone line goes dead and Midoriya blinks down at it for a second and then back up at Todoroki.
“What do you . . .” He trails off, catching sight of the TV’s mounted behind Todoroki. “Oh."
Todoroki turns and his eyebrows shoot up as they see the coverage playing on every channel. They watch in silence for a few horrified seconds before Todoroki snorts and doubles over, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Midoriya pats him gently on the shoulder, making a mental note to send their PR rep a fruit basket.