I glared at Migel and AJ, who were, somehow, still on the ship, impressively withstanding my quirks heat.
"So this is what that block did," Migel hummed, "it compressed your flames. Look at those eyes... How lovely."
"They're weird," AJ commented, I frowned and sighed.
The phoenix mark has appeared?
"Lionel!" a voice shouted from high above, I looked up to see my mentor, Pyro-Shock staring down at me, zeroing in on my eyes in wonder, "what happened to your eyes?! No never mind that, get off the ship. It's going down."
"Right, thanks for the heads up," I nodded before turning and beginning to walk to the edge of the ship.
"Oh no you don't," I was caught in a choke hold from behind and Migel appeared in front of me.
"Open," Migel demanded.
I stuck my tongue out at him mockingly and then used AJ as support as I threw my feet up and kicked him as hard as I could in the gut before swinging my legs around and sweeping them against his legs. AJ crumbled to the floor like a ragdoll as I was dropped to the ground safely.
I looked at the supposedly unconscious man and smiled.
"Next time it won't be just your damn legs," I glared at him before grabbing his collar and then grabbing Migel's and dragging them both to the edge of the ship, tossing them in the water and then diving in after them.
I regret jumping.
My shoulders burned, everywhere the charred skin from my quirk touched burned. My body just in general burned and that drug that I'd managed to isolate during my fight for control wasn't making it any easier.
Pushing myself up to the surface of the ocean, I gasp, wincing as I tried to swim without getting any of the bad burns wet from the cold salty ocean around me. Just to fail, of course, life apparently ain't that easy.
"Hey, kid, you did good," Pyro-Shock hovered in front of me, "grab a hold of me."
I nodded and grabbed his ankles, the flames (sparking with slight fingers of lightning skipping out from the flames) pulled us up and over to a speed boat filled with pros and sidekicks.
"You're not looking too hot, are you, Lionel?" Fat Gum asked.
"Ha ha... very funny. Joke about heat when I've just burned down a ship," I rolled my eyes before stretching and lying down on the base, "I need to cool off so just leave me be."
"Pyro, go round up all the swimmers," Sir Nighteye looked too the pro who was still hovering, "bring them to shore and we'll help out from there."
"Jee—why'd I get stuck with all the work?" Pyro-Shock complained.
"Because you're the only one who can do anything on the water at the moment," Fat Gum said.
"What about Ryukyu?" Pyro-Shock exclaimed.
"Ryukyu is going to fly Lionel back to the shore so he can get checked out faster," Sir Nighteye replied.
"Not ok with that," I said, putting my hand up like I was going to answer a question, "I can wait."
"Reckless idiot, let Ryukyu help you," Pyro-Shock scolded. I rolled my eyes.
"Didn't you just say you wanted her to help you?" I asked, "make your mind up, you fool!"
"Uh—um—gah! Fine! Ryukyu come help me. He'd probably complain if you held him wrong anyway," he said.
"Alright then," Ryukyu nodded and then someone began sailing back to the docks as she flew away with Pyro-Shock by her side.
"How you feeling down there?" Fat Gum asked.
"Hot," I replied as I shifted so I wasn't on my shoulders, "and hurting."
"Did your eyes always look like that?" he asked as he suddenly appeared in my line of sight.
"No," I replied, "my mental block against the temperatures my flames can get to broke so the full phoenix strength is out. I'll put the block back up later."
It's dangerous. Last time my full heat was available, I almost burned down an entire street. Gotta get this back under control as soon as possible again.
"Why would you put it back up? Isn't it your full power?" he asked me.
"Because my flames get way too hot to cope with," I replied, "physically for me and for quite literally everything and everyone around me. Plus the hotter they are, the faster I burn out which is not, you know, great."
"Ah I see," he moved out of my line of sight, and it fell silent again.
A few minutes of listening to the jet boats engine rumble, we eventually made it to the docks, and I was escorted over to the on-site medics by Sir Nighteye who was also coming over to check on the other three.
After a light scolding from him, we were left to be treated.
"That looks like it hurts, are you ok?" Nejire asked, her eyes were swirling with worry, and I just smiled.
"Don't worry about it. I'll be back to normal in no time," I assured her before wincing and letting out a hiss as the guy trying to treat my crisp black burns pressed down too hard.
"It... might be best to deal with the drug and these burns once we get to the hospital," the man told me as he jumped out of the ambulance and gave me a weak apologetic smile, "excuse me."
"Anyway, are you guys ok?" I asked, turning my attention back to my three friends, "I'm sorry for punching you... and attempting to use my quirk on you..."
"It wasn't your fault," Togata patted my shoulder but instantly regretted it as I hissed, moved back, and glared at him, "Oh whoops... ahaha..."
I rolled my eyes at his reaction and looked to Amajiki who was pretty beaten himself.
"And you?" I asked, "I'm sorry I couldn't stop them."
He shook his head and looked away.
"I-it wasn't your f-fault," he said, "I-it's not yo-your job to prote-ect me all t-the time."
But I feel like I have to with your ever-increasing anxiety.
I sighed and patted his head once I had stood up.
"Hey! You should sit down!" Nejire exclaimed, "You're still cooling down."
"Yes, I'm cooling down, I don't got broken legs, Nejire," I smiled, "walking around won't kill me. Plus I want to find Pyro-Shock and ask him about my Dad before he decides to... You know... Disappear until he calls me to tell me I have a job to do."
I swear that man is the height of irresponsibility.
"I-I'll come with y-you," Amajiki jumped to his feet, visibly wincing before looking to me with determination.
"Uh—are you sure?" I asked, he nodded, "ok then. You two stay here just in case one of the pros come back. Tell them we're looking for Pyro."
Togata and Nejire gave us unsure looks but nodded either way.
After that, me and Amajiki began our journey through the docks and to where all the men had surprisingly been rounded up and captured.
"There's Pyro," I pointed to Pyro-Shock and Delta and began walking over to them, Amajiki followed close behind, "Hey, boss!"
Pyro-Shock turned to me and smiled.
"Ah, good to see you on your feet, even if it's not back to 100% normal," he greeted me, not hesitating to smack my back.
"You idiot, he's injured, remember?" Delta punched him on the top of his head before looking to me, "should you really be moving around? Both of you?"
"Yeah we're good," I nodded, "We're stronger than we look, you know?"
"I'm sure you are," he nodded before looking at the group of criminals, "you four did well this evening. You stopped their plot and totally evaporated and burned up all the drugs they had on that ship, not even one got out. Well, excluding the one stuck in you for the moment, of course."
"And my Dad?" I asked.
"A free man once again," Pyro-Shock grinned childishly. I let out a sigh of relief and nodded.
"Then we'll head back now if you don't want to see Fat Gum while we're here," I said to Amajiki, he shook his head and muttered out something along he'll talk to him later.
As we turned to begin walking back, one of the gang members broke free of their restraints and shot towards us.
"You idiots ruined everything!" the man shouted, "enjoy your punishment!"
Me and Amajiki didn't have enough time nor energy to react and both of us had this weird dude push his hands against our foreheads and then everything went black.