68: 𝚉𝚎𝚕
After freeing Zel from her self-made prison of hair Nova got a better look at her.
The woman was younger than most pros Nova knew of, probably in her mind twenties. She was Around Nova's height, minus an inch or two, her skin was dark and her eyes in contrast, were a grey color. Similar to Nova's but warmer and less unsettling.
Her most noticeable feature was of course, her hair. Which was long and curly, until the woman insisted Nova helped her cut it off.
"Ugh stupid nightmare. I swear I usually have better control than this." The woman said after pulling herself out of layers of hair. "Damn clown dream."
She stood in a pile of hair, her own chopped short by Nova who was wielding a knife formed from a spoon left on the table beside the couch Zel had apparently slept on last night.
The hair reminded Nova of her own, making her feel guilty for cutting it. Even though Zel had insisted it would be fine.
"That's not really the meeting I had hoped for..." Zel sighed and put out her hand. "But I'm Zel, the rebel hero." She introduced with a wide smile.
Nova looked down and took her extended hand and shook it in greeting. "And I'm..." She looked back up at her face and frowned.
Hadn't her hair been shorter?
"Nova. Got it!" Zel nodded, ignoring her intern's surprise as her hair grew until it reached the middle of her back. The pile of cut hair still sitting around her feet. "We're going to have so much fun!"
Nova smiled slightly. She shouldn't be surprised, they lived in a world of quirks after all. And apparently Zel's own obviously had something to do with her hair. "Okay um... Let me clean this up really quick! I will warn you I have literally NEVER had an intern before so we're both learning this week. But you probably already knew that."
"Do you need help?" Nova asked, looking at the large amount of lost hair.
"Huh? Oh nah." Zel waved her off and held a hand over the hair. Which rose to her fingers like metal rose to Nova's.
The hair swirled together and began to form a twisted black staff. Still shiny like hair and about three feet long. It seemed to harden and soon the mess was completely cleaned up, Zel twirled the staff in her fingers.
"Don't let that little incident fool you. I know what I'm doing. But my quirk sometimes activates when I'm sleeping. Then I roll around and... Get a little stuck." Zel explained. "Usually I try to braid it or wrap it up but I was kinda exhausted last night so I forgot and just passed out."
"Oh... I see. So your quirk is... Hair?" Nova asked. She briefly wondered if Zel could also manipulate and grow other people's hair. The idea of having her own back excited her.
"Yeah, I can control, change and grow my own hair." Zel nodded. "No offense but I kinda figured you would know that..."
There goes the idea of having her own hair back.
"Oh... Right..." Nova said in embarrassment. She really should have done more research on Zel before coming, she really didn't even know who she was until Aizawa told her. Nova wasn't really well versed in the hero world. Despite it apparently being her chosen profession. "Sorry... I..."
"Nah I get it, slim pickings right?" Zel asked knowingly. "I'm guessing you didn't get many offers."
"Not really... Only two." Nova admitted.
"Who else?" Zel asked. Nova hesitated, but the guilt she felt over lying to Midoriya earlier was enough to convince her to tell the truth.
"Um... All Might..."
Zel looked at her for a moment and Nova was worried she wouldn't believe her, but then she laughed. "Ha! And you picked me?! That's awesome! I'm cooler than him anyways. He's so boring, all he does it like... Punch."
"Right..."
"You don't talk much do you? That's alright I talk enough for the both of us. Go suit up, it's about time I start patrol. Tomorrow we'll get into the real training but today I guess I can take it slow..." Zel said, then she smiled. It was less jolly and more devious, but in a playful way.
"I have big plans for this week."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
Nova put on her hero costume for the first time since the USJ attack. Her jacket has either been replaced or completely cleaned. There were no stains reminding her of the blood shed in the fight against the villains.
She pulled on the boots and snapped her belt together before walking out. Zel had apparently suited up as well. Wearing a simple tight black suit with the gear Nova had seen earlier strapped on. The belt itself sat on her waist while the straps wrapped around her entire body, mainly her legs and torso though. Connected to the boxy belt were what actually looked like guns. Her hair was floating around her and Nova realized she was actively braiding it using her quirk. The complicated tight designs that Nova assumed would usually take hours and outside help Zel formed in minutes. Without even touching her hair.
"Usually I get around quickly using gear. But since I don't have time to teach you how to use it today we'll go on foot instead. Besides it's easier to talk when we're not flying through the air." Zel explained, snapping the final straps together in what looked like a harness. "Think of today as the introduction, I'll explain my plans and answer any questions you have. If trouble arises I'll handle it and you stand back unless I give you instruction. But since I plan on staying in Musutafu today I don't expect anything crazy."
"Right." Nova nodded. And with that they left the house. Zel locked everything up and the gate slammed shut behind them. Zel didn't take a car or vehicle. Not that Nova minded, it was a nice day outside. Warm but not so hot that it was uncomfortable to wear her jacket. Which she kept shyly pulled up.
"So we only have a week together. At least for the official internship. I'll train you to use my gear tomorrow. I think you'll pick it up quickly based on how you handled the obstacle course in the festival." Zel explained. "But it might take you using your quirk which will make us run into a whole lotta stupid legal problems. So I have a proposition for you."
"A proposition?" Nova asked with a frown.
"I want you to be able to keep up with me this week and after. In order to do that you'll have to use your quirk." Zel turned with a smile. "Usually UA waits until their student's second year for licensing. But legally anyone over the age of fourteen can try to get a temporary hero usage quirk permit. with the approval of a hero in possession of a license older than three years. And of course passing the test."
"Wait." Nova stopped walking. "You mean you want me to get a hero license- permit thingy... This week?!"
"Sure why not? I got mine at fifteen. You don't have to go through UA, the commission holds tests every month." Zel shrugged as though this was no big deal. "I'll just have to claim full responsibility for you, and you won't be able to fight without my permission or the approval of another pro hero. After this internship and after you get approved for a license I can take you on as a work study student."
"But..." Nova stammered.
"You're already light-years ahead of your classmates. At least most of them. Just because they have to wait doesn't mean you do. Besides we can keep it on the down low if that's what you want." Zel shrugged. "It's just for emergencies really. I don't expect you to jump into actual combat. But if you're forced into it I don't want you to get in trouble."
Nova bit her lip. That made sense, if Nova were to be attacked now and defend herself she could get in trouble. Although usually cases of self defense were dismissed by the police... Nova was a special case. Already being seen as a criminal by some people. She wondered briefly if Zel understood that.
"There are a few other more... controversial reasons people In Japan don't like her, but these are the reasons I believe are... fair ones."
The other reasons Aizawa has mentioned, the unfair ones... Nova had a suspicion of what he meant. Why she'd be lower on the popularity polls. Which was where the people voted for their favorite heroes...
Dark skin wasn't common in Japan. Especially not as dark as Zel's. Nova had a feeling one of the reasons the woman took her on... Was because she understood what it was like to be treated differently because of something you couldn't control. Like Shoji did.
Nova didn't mention it.
But she had another question, actually several other questions. "So... Is Zel your real name? Or just a code name?" She asked, glancing over at the slightly shorter woman.
"My name is Dalila Sade. Though not too many people call me that anymore. Zel is just my hero name." Zel, or rather Dalila shrugged. "I thought repunzel was a little to corny. But Zel had a nice quick ring to it."
"Oh... I get it, like the fairytale?" Nova said in recognition.
"Yep. I thought it was fitting, all things considered." Zel shrugged, holding up a lock of hair that she grew out.
"Though I'm not exactly what most people picture when they hear the name."
A/N: Rahhhh Zelllllll
Yes ik you're all thinking it...
Zel uses gear suspiciously similar to odm gear from attack on Titan...
And the gear used by the police force in legends of Korra...
(Although theirs comes from the armor somehow, odm gear seems more realistically functional)
If you read the rant book on my page where I originally pitched the idea for this fic you might've seen this coming lol.
Her quirk is as stated... the ability to manipulate her own hair.
She can grow it, change its texture (to the point of hardening it completely and forming locks into a single piece creating weapons) and color, and manipulate it.
But there are a few rules.
After the hair has been cut she can't make it longer.
And after it's grown in order to make it shorter she had to cut it.
Also if used too much it causes her extreme pain in the scalp and even bleeding.
Overall she's an icon and I had fun creating her
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