Shadows of Betrayal and Redemption

The air inside the bullet train hummed with a low, rhythmic vibration, the world outside a blur of green and gray. Jace leaned against the window, his eyes half-closed, watching the scenery rush by without truly seeing it. Beside him, Izuku sat upright, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. The nervous energy radiating from the green-haired boy was almost palpable.

"You're going to wear a hole in your pants if you keep fidgeting like that," Jace said, his voice low and teasing. He didn't even glance at Izuku as he spoke, but the faint smirk on his lips betrayed his amusement.

"Sorry," Izuku muttered, relaxing his hands but still shifting slightly in his seat. "I just… Gran Torino is All Might's teacher. It's a huge deal. I don't want to mess this up."

Jace finally turned to look at him, his golden eyes sharp and unreadable. "Relax. You'll be fine. He wouldn't have agreed to take you if he didn't think you had potential."

Izuku nodded, though his expression remained tense. He glanced at Jace, his curiosity bubbling to the surface. "Why did you choose Gran Torino, though? I mean, you're amazing in combat already. What do you think he can teach you?"

Jace's smirk widened slightly, but his answer was cryptic. "I have my reasons."

When they arrived at Gran Torino's apartment, Izuku hesitated before knocking on the door. Jace stood behind him, his arms crossed, watching with mild interest as Izuku worked up the courage to face his mentor. Finally, Izuku rapped on the door, his knuckles trembling slightly.

The door creaked open, revealing an elderly man in a yellow hero suit, his eyes sharp and calculating despite his seemingly diminutive stature.

"So, you're the brats I have to deal with," Gran Torino said, his voice gruff but tinged with amusement. "Come in. Let's see what you're made of."

Izuku bowed quickly, his words spilling out in a nervous rush. "It's an honour to meet you, Gran Torino! I'm Midoriya Izuku, and I'll do my best to—"

"Yeah, yeah, save the speeches," Gran Torino interrupted, waving him off. His gaze shifted to Jace, studying him intently. "And you're the shadow boy everyone's talking about. Hmph. Let's see if you're more than just a flashy power."

Jace said nothing, his expression cool as he stepped inside. The apartment was small and cluttered, the faint smell of old food lingering in the air. Izuku looked around nervously, but Jace remained unbothered, his focus entirely on Gran Torino.

"First things first," Gran Torino said, clapping his hands together. "Show me what you've got."

The training began immediately. Gran Torino's speed was unlike anything either of them had experienced before. He darted around the room like a blur, his small frame belying the incredible power and agility he possessed. Izuku struggled to keep up, his movements clumsy and frantic as he tried to predict Gran Torino's attacks.

Jace, however, was different. His shadows moved with him, forming a protective barrier that absorbed Gran Torino's strikes and retaliated with tendrils of darkness. But the old hero was relentless, evading the shadows with ease and countering with pinpoint precision.

"You're relying too much on your quirks," Gran Torino scolded, landing a swift kick to Jace's ribs that sent him stumbling. "Power means nothing if you can't adapt."

Jace gritted his teeth, his golden eyes narrowing. He adjusted his stance, his movements becoming sharper and more deliberate. The shadows around him shifted, no longer acting as a crutch but as an extension of his body. Gran Torino nodded approvingly, though his attacks didn't let up.

Izuku watched in awe, his own struggles momentarily forgotten as he observed the fluidity of Jace's movements. It was as if he were dancing with the shadows, each strike and counterstrike perfectly synchronized.

"Focus, kid!" Gran Torino barked, snapping Izuku out of his trance. "You're next!"

The next few days were gruelling. Gran Torino pushed them to their limits, his training method a chaotic blend of combat drills and life lessons disguised as random outbursts. Izuku spent most of his time trying to master Full Cowling, his body aching from countless failed attempts. Jace, on the other hand, focused on refining his shadow manipulation, finding new ways to integrate it into his martial arts.

Despite the intensity of the training, there were moments of levity. Gran Torino's eccentric behaviour kept them on their toes, and even Jace found himself chuckling at the old man's antics. Izuku, though exhausted, was inspired by Gran Torino's unwavering belief in their potential.

Late one night, after another brutal day of training, Jace and Izuku sat on the floor of the apartment, their backs against the wall. Izuku was icing his bruised knuckles, his expression thoughtful.

"Do you ever think about why you're here?" he asked quietly, breaking the silence.

Jace glanced at him, his golden eyes reflecting the dim light of the room. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… why we're doing this. Why we want to be heroes." Izuku looked down at his hands, his voice soft. "For me, it's about proving I can be someone worthy of inheriting All Might's legacy. But for you…"

Jace leaned his head back against the wall, his gaze distant. "For me, it's about balance. Light and dark, hero and villain. They're two sides of the same coin. I'm just trying to figure out where I fit."

Izuku frowned, sensing there was more to Jace's words than he was letting on. But before he could press further, Gran Torino's voice rang out from the other room.

"Get some sleep, brats! Tomorrow's gonna be even tougher!"

Izuku sighed, setting aside the ice pack. "We'd better listen to him."

Jace nodded, though his mind remained elsewhere. As Izuku drifted off, Jace stared out the window, the shadows around him flickering faintly. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: this apprenticeship was just the beginning of something far greater.