Aidens apartment, 3rd POV

The atmosphere in Aiden's apartment remained tense, the four heroes still recovering from the bruises he'd left them with. Despite Eraserhead's attempts at diplomacy, Aiden's patience was wearing thin like brittle ice. Midnight, Present Mic, and Cementoss stood to the side, watching as Aiden crossed his arms and stared them down, aura of annoyance surrounded him.

"We're taking you in," Eraserhead finally said, his voice calm but firm,"we can settle this down at the station."

"I'm not going anywhere Mr. Nap-Time," Aiden scoffed, sitting on his couch, arms crossed,"you have no right or reason to take me there. I haven't broken a single law."

"Look, we don't want to make this difficult," Midnight said, rubbing her temple,"but—"

"But nothing," Aiden interrupted, his voice sharp,"you broke into my home. You tried to arrest me for no reason, and now you're telling me to go to the police station? Give me one legal reason why I should go with you."

There was a brief silence, with none of the heroes having a solid answer for him. Cementoss shifted uncomfortably, and even Eraserhead hesitated, knowing Aiden had them on a technicality, the others two silently whistling tunes. They couldn't force him to go without just cause, they were just told to enter here to try and bring a person for questioning.

Unfortunately for them, they got the room of the kid who hates Heros and people breaking in. So...this is awkward

"We'll wait," Eraserhead finally said, glancing at his team,"this isn't over."

"It's over when I say it's over Nap-Time," Aiden stated

Aiden rolled his eyes and walked over to his workbench, ignoring them as he fiddled with a small gadget. An hour passed, and finally, there was a knock at the door, for once.  Though this time, it wasn't another hero barging in, or they get the same treatment like the others.

Nezu, the principal of UA, walked in first, followed by the president of the Hero Public Safety Commission. The tension in the room spiked as the heroes stood straighter, and Aiden glanced up, unimpressed. Nezu, ever the polite diplomat, offered a small smile, hoping this goes well for all of them.

"Good evening, Mr. Wolfe," he started off,"I apologize for the intrusion earlier. It seems things got...out of hand."

"Out of hand," Aiden asked, raising an eyebrow,"that's what you call breaking into someone's house?"

"Yes, well...that's why I'm here. I'd like to extend an offer to you. We believe that your skills and knowledge could be put to excellent use at UA. We'd like to invite you to join us, where you'll be given access to resources, labs, and an environment where your talents can truly thrive."

"And why would I want that?"

"You'd have the opportunity to make a difference, to work on your projects with the full support of the school. You wouldn't have to do it alone."

Aiden's response was instant.

"Hell no."

The room seemed to freeze at his words. Nezu blinked in surprise, but kept his composure, as he didn't want to cause an incident or get Aiden on his bad side. He knew the boy, he saw what he can do and he just wants him to progress in a friendly environment and focus on less...deadly inventions.

"I understand this might seem sudden, but I assure you—," he says

"I don't care," Aiden cut him off, his voice icy,"I don't want to join UA and don't need your resources. And I definitely don't need anyone telling me how to do my work."

Before Nezu could reply, the president of the Hero Public Safety Commission stepped forward, her expression hard. She, unlike the others here, didn't care about Aiden, she just wanted to keep him docile and under control, or the work of the HPSC would be ruined and they lose money if he continues. Plus his ideals weren't helpful and they need to change that

"Enough of this," she snapped, her tone far less diplomatic than Nezu's,"you will join UA. I don't care what you think, and I don't care about your personal feelings. You will do as I say, or there will be consequences."

Aiden slowly turned his head, locking eyes with the president, his face hard as ice and a glare that would make Batman, a notorious comic book hero, take a step back. For a moment, the room was silent, and the tension became palpable. Then, he smirked with a chuckle, a cold, sarcastic edge to his expression, and the chuckle sent many chills down their backs.

"You know what," he said, his voice cutting through the air,"you're all dumbasses."

The president's eyes flared with anger, but before she could speak, Aiden continued.

"You think you can just tell me what to do? That I'll just fall in line because you're in charge? You don't own me, I'm not a hero, and I don't care about your stupid system. You can try to push me around all you want, but it won't work you hag.

You're so caught up in your own power that you don't even realize how ridiculous you sound, I mean seriously I'm jealous of Deaf people, I would do anything to stop hearing the idiotic words coming out of your mouth.

So how about you leave, I'm not going to waste another millisecond listening to your senseless blabbing, you raggedy ass bitch."

Nezu looked between Aiden and the president, clearly sensing the conversation was at a dead end. He sighed softly, realizing Aiden wasn't going to be swayed, at least not today. The president's jaw clenched, but she said nothing, glaring at Aiden as if she could intimidate him into compliance.

But Aiden simply turned his back on them, returning to his workbench.

"If you're done," Aiden said over his shoulder, "there's the door. I have more important things to do."

The heros, Nezu and the President soon left, closing the door as he sighed. He hates people, talking with them made his anxiety go through the roof and it annoys it when they force him into a conversation with strangers. It also didn't help they try to force him to change his ideals cause it hurts their little feelings and their naive views

He wasn't gonna change either way, he was himself and nothing will force him to do it. As he sighed, he looked down and suddenly had tickmarks on his forehead. They broke his window.

"YOU OWN ME A NEW WINDOW ASSHOLES," he yelled, loudly enough for them to hear

A few days later

Aiden leaned against a park bench, eating a cheesy hamburger and drinks a soda, his expression as unreadable as ever. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over the city, making him appreciate it a bit, he likes the winter months. Hanta Sero sat nearby, his usual easygoing demeanor faltering slightly as the weight of their conversation sank in.

"So...let me get this straight," Sero said, drinking his soda,"you had four pro heroes break into your apartment, thinking you were some kind of 'threat', and you kicked all their asses?"

"Yeah, not that big of a deal, though," Aiden nodded, his eyes fixed on the horizon, clearly unbothered by the memory,"they weren't there to actually arrest me. Just to give me a 'talk'."

"Dude, that's freaking crazy. I mean, what did they think was going to happen? They just walk in like bosses and expect you to not defend yourself?"

"They probably figured they could strong-arm me into something," Aiden replied, still calm, his gaze unchanging,"didn't work, not that it ever does. But that's how the HPSC operates, force compliance, bend people to their will."

"Man, I thought UA was strict, but that's on a whole other level," Sero chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his neck

"Heroes think they're above everyone else, the Commission feeds into that," Aiden said as he gave a small shrug, his tone sharp,"they don't like people who don't fit the mold, especially people like me, who don't care about their precious hero system."

"But still...sounds like a lot to deal with. So what are you gonna do now, you're not actually going to UA, right?"

"That's the plan, for now, it's a stepping stone," Aiden said,"UA's got resources I can use, and as much as I hate it, being there keeps the Commission off my back for the time being."

"Makes sense, I guess. But wasn't there that other school you were looking at, Horizon Academy was it?"

Aiden's expression shifted slightly, a brief flicker of something resembling interest, maybe even happiness, crossing his face.

"Yeah, Horizon Academy," Aiden said,"sponsored by I-Island, built to recruit inventors and innovators from around the world. That's where I should be."

"So why UA instead of Horizon," Sero asked."if you don't like UA, why go there and not your dream school?"

"Because the Commission is blocking me. They know if I get into Horizon, I'll be out of their reach. They can't control me if I'm in a place that's beyond their jurisdiction, thus they can't make me like Heros or get my inventions to sell to greedy assholes."

"That's messed up, man. I didn't realize they had that much control."

"They do, they want to keep me where they can see me," Aiden replied, his voice low,"UA's part of their system while Horizon isn't. So, for now, I'll play along, go to UA, get what I need, and figure out a way around them."

"I dunno, man. Horizon sounds way more up your alley. It's all about tech and innovation, right? You'd be killing it there."

"Oh, I will," Aiden smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes,"once I get past the roadblocks they're throwing at me. Horizon Academy is where I belong. But until then, I'll use UA for what it's worth."

Sero nodded slowly, impressed by Aiden's determination. He and Aiden have been good friends since middle school, Sero was just a kid trying to get through and struggling with his assignments, luckily Aiden came and helped him with his work. The two hit it off pretty well, Sero would be the only one not effected by Aidens harsh and cold attitude, heck he was the only one who made the guy smile

"Well, if anyone can figure it out, it's you," Sero said,"just be careful, okay man? The Commission sounds like a real pain."

"They are, but they're not smart enough to stop me," Aiden's smirk widened slightly,"Horizon's my goal. UA's just the detour."

"Alright, man. Just don't let them get under your skin too much. And hey, if you need someone to talk to who isn't a hero-worshipper, you know where to find me."

"I'll keep that in mind man, be nice to be among people who don't have their heads up some heros ass."

The two laughed as they ate and drink, enjoying their time together till Sero had to leave or his parents will get worried. Aiden smiled a bit as he got up and walked around, killing time as he waited for night time, getting ready to see if he can find a shop that sells...well...the illegal shit he likes. He hummed as he walked in the shadier area of town, sipping his drink as he went down an alley

He looked around and saw a lot of questionable characters, a few thugs, hookers and stores of black market sellers in the town. He ignored them till he reached a smaller one in the far back, he entered the small, dimly lit store tucked away between two crumbling buildings. The only sign it was open was a flickering neon light above the door.

The shop's interior was cluttered with shelves of strange gadgets, stolen tech, and various parts most people wouldn't even know how to use. The shopkeeper, an older man with graying hair and thick glasses, a pudgy stomach, sat behind the counter in the far back. He looked up as the door creaked open, recognizing Aiden immediately, he was a regular from time to time.

"Back again huh kid," the shopkeeper said, his voice gruff and scratchy,"what is it this time?"

"I need parts," Aiden simple said as he stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning the shelves as he moved closer to the counter.

"What kind of parts are we talking about? You're usually more specific when you have something in mind, not cryptic like Gandalf form those old books."

Aiden reached into his pocket, pulling out a small list he had scribbled down earlier.

"I need reinforced hydraulic pistons, high-durability actuator motors, and advanced shock absorbers. The strongest you've got, and those old books are better then pansy ass shit they're coming out with lately."

"Reinforced hydraulics," the shopkeeper asked, eyes flickered with curiosity,"sounds like you're building something heavy-duty."

"You got them or not?"

The shopkeeper hummed thoughtfully as he stood up, moving around the back of the shop to pull out a few dusty crates. He had a very simple, yet complex system in his store, he made his valuables were in separate areas so no one gets any bright ideas to try and steal from him. He rummaged through the crates, pulling out a few components and placing them on the counter.

"You sure know how to ask for the hard-to-find stuff, kid. Got these hydraulic pistons from an old construction mech. Strong enough to lift a car, and these actuators are military-grade. Used in some heavy-duty equipment back in the day, better than those self propelled shit thats cleaner for the environment."

Aiden picked up one of the actuators, inspecting it carefully as his mind was already racing with calculations, piecing together how each component would fit into his latest project. Gorilla Arms, a pair of cybernetic arms designed to drastically increase his physical strength. He'd been developing the blueprint for a while now, and these parts were exactly what he needed to bring it to life.

"You don't talk much about what you're building," the shopkeeper said, watching him with a raised eyebrow,"on't suppose you're gonna tell me what this is for?"

"Let's just say it's for...self-defense," Aiden smirked, placing the actuator back on the counter.

"With parts like these, sounds like more than just self-defense," the shopkeeper chuckled, leaning back against the counter.

"Better to be prepared for anything," he shrugged it off as he pulled out a wad of cash,""that should cover it."

The shopkeeper counted the money with a quick glance and nodded, sweeping it into his register.

"Fair deal," he said,"you know where to find me if you need more."

Aiden gave him a brief nod before grabbing the components and turning toward the door. As he stepped back out into the alley, the shopkeeper called after him.

"Hey, whatever you're working on, try not to blow up half the city, yeah," he asked him

"No promises," Aiden smirked over his shoulder, his voice cool

With that, he disappeared into the crowd of people on the streets, parts in hand, already focused on the next phase of his project. The Gorilla Arms were about to become a reality one he has been working on for years, and when they were done, he'd have more than just self-defense. He'd have the strength to stand up to anyone who tried to control him.

"Lets see them try go against this shit," he said as he chuckled as he made it to his apartment

The door creaking as he stepped inside, he soft hum of machinery filled the space as his workbench came into view, tools scattered across its surface. He placed the components from the black market shop onto the bench, eyes already analyzing how they'd come together.

Sitting down, he pulled the reinforced hydraulic pistons closer, his fingers moving with precision as he attached them to a custom-built exoskeleton he had been crafting for weeks. Sparks flew as he welded the high-durability actuators to the frame, connecting intricate wires that would later allow him to control the immense force coursing through the cybernetic arms.

Next came the shock absorbers. He modified them, ensuring they'd handle not only immense strength but also prevent damage to his own body. The Gorilla Arms weren't just about raw power, they had to function seamlessly, as if it was an extension of himself. Every piston had to fire with perfect timing, every joint needed flexibility to increase the damage.

He mounted the pistons onto the frame, double-checking the calibration as the gears meshed together with a satisfying click. With a final test of the wiring, he attached the arms to his own cybernetic system, watching as they responded flawlessly.

With the Gorilla Arms operational, Aiden paused as he had a thought, could they coexist with his Mantis Blades? A quick check confirmed that both systems were separate but integrated into his neural network. He grinned, he could switch between the brutal strength of the Gorilla Arms and the lethal precision of the Mantis Blades in seconds.

Standing up, he flexed the Gorilla Arms experimentally, feeling the sheer power surge through them. Perfect. They worked together—just as he planned.

"I am a bad man," he said with a chuckle,"let's see a Hero try and mess me now."

He cleaned everything up as he laid on his bed, sighing as he closed his eyes and soon almost fell asleep until he had a singular thought.

'Hmm...I wonder how Grace is doing,' he thought before the darkness of sleep took over him