The New York cityscape shimmered under a persistent rain, its myriad lights illuminating the urban sprawl, yet a shroud of night still clung to the bustling metropolis.
From a hamburger establishment emerged Winston Oxton, a scientist of considerable renown. His intellect had birthed numerous revolutionary technologies, propelling medical and technological science forward with remarkable strides.
Winston, a man of imposing height (183cm), possessed striking black hair, vibrant electric green eyes, and a beard mirroring the shade of his hair. A pair of glasses perched on his nose lent him an air of scholarly refinement. His attire was casual: a white sweater adorned with green accents, a black shirt, black jeans, and white shoes.
He was just leaving his preferred eatery, celebrating a recent triumph. His newest invention, a collaborative effort with David Shield, had achieved resounding success: a machine capable of identifying individuals' Quirks with an impressive 89.2% accuracy. This marked a significant leap from its predecessor, which only managed a 56.7% success rate.
"Ah... nothing quite hits the spot like a couple of Fenix Diner burgers to commemorate a win, huh? Too bad the rain had to dampen the mood... but such is life," Winston mused with a faint smile playing on his lips.
His destination was home, seeking a well-deserved rest. A sense of caution lingered, given the late hour when villains typically became more active. However, he wasn't unduly worried; New York City, after all, was diligently protected by numerous prominent hero agencies, ensuring that any incident would be swiftly addressed.
As he ambled down the street, once again admiring the familiar city lights, he hailed a taxi and requested a drop-off near his residence.
Upon nearing his destination, he decided to complete the journey on foot...
... until...
"Uwa u-u waaaa!"
A baby's cries pierced the urban din from a nearby alleyway.
Winston quickly diverted his path, hurrying into the alley. The distressing sounds led him to a trash can. Pushing aside the lid, he discovered a cardboard box, within which a makeshift bed of fabric cradled an infant.
The baby appeared to be no more than a few months old...
'WHO, IN THEIR RIGHT MIND, WOULD ABANDON A BABY HERE?!... Deep breaths, Winston, this isn't the moment to pinpoint blame... They don't seem to have been left long... but with the rain and this precarious spot, it was only a matter of time before the baby would fall ill, or worse, succumb to hunger in a few days.' Winston thought, carefully lifting the infant and cradling it close to his chest, offering a much-needed warmth that gradually quieted its cries.
He briefly observed the baby nestled against him. It had warm brown eyes and a sparse tuft of hair on its tiny head, clinging tightly to Winston's arms as it wept in the cold rain.
Winston sprinted home with all his might, oblivious to the chilling rain soaking his clothes or the shouts of confused passersby.
He finally reached his doorstep.
His house was spacious but fell short of mansion status; Winston, a solitary occupant, found larger residences wasteful.
Once inside, he gently placed the baby on the living room sofa, then hastened to retrieve towels to dry both himself and the infant.
Afterward, he thoroughly checked the baby's condition, finding nothing amiss, which brought a profound sigh of relief. He then wrapped the infant snugly in towels to keep it warm.
Having ensured the baby's immediate well-being, Winston reached for his emergency phone and dialed David.
"Did something go wrong with the machine--?!" blurted out David Shield, one of the era's foremost scientists, his voice strained.
David stared at his friend's disheveled state in bewilderment. Though slightly drier, Winston was still visibly drenched from the downpour.
Noticing David's puzzled and perplexed expression, Winston quickly clarified. "Whoa, calm down, it's nothing like that. The machine is functioning as intended, no worries. I'm calling for an entirely different reason..."
David exhaled in relief, assuaged about the machine, but his curiosity was piqued as to why his friend would call so late. "Oh, I see. Then why the call? You're not one to use the emergency line for trivial matters..."
"The thing is... well... I found a baby on the street, but I have absolutely no idea how to care for one. Your daughter must be around one or two by now, right? So you must have some experience with infants, yes?... Can you help me?" Winston inquired, a touch of discomfort in his voice.
"..."
"Hello? Are you still there?"
"Y-yes, I'm here. I'm just astonished that this is the reason for your call... I'll send you a file with all my knowledge... and I'll include some feeding recipes and other sundry details," David replied, regaining his composure after the sudden revelation.
"Thank you, David, you're a lifesaver..." Winston sighed with genuine relief and gratitude.
"No problem... but, uhh, I do have a question..."
Winston smiled. "Lay it on me, I'm listening."
"Are you going to keep the baby or give them to an orphanage?" David asked, curious about his scientist friend's decision.
"I... mnnnn..." Winston began to ponder the question seriously.
Winston had never planned on marriage; his only significant relationship was in high school and didn't last. However, he had grown weary of the relentless pursuit of scientific advancement. It no longer brought him the deep satisfaction it once had; creating something new or improving existing technology used to fill him with a profound sense of accomplishment and pride.
But that feeling had waned. Now, even novel inventions felt... merely commonplace to him, despite their significance to others.
Turning his gaze back to the small creature peacefully slumbering on his couch, Winston, with a gentle smile, made his decision.
"Well, I was actually planning to retire from the scientific community to live a peaceful life on the proceeds of my inventions. So... I might as well do it with some company. I'll adopt the baby and devote everything I have to their care..." Winston declared, his voice filled with determination.
David smiled at Winston's resolve, a quality that almost reminded him of a certain super-strong blonde. "In that case, congratulations, Winston... Now, I must go; I'm quite busy. The file should be with you in a few minutes..."
Once David ended the call, the house fell silent once more, save for the persistent patter of heavy rain.
Soon after, a flood of recipes, advice, and baby-related information arrived on Winston's phone.
"Now... what name should I give you?" Winston mused, gazing at the baby.
He approached the infant to confirm...
...It was a girl.
After several minutes of intense thought, engaging his full intellectual capacity, he finally settled on a name.
"Your name will be Lena, Lena Oxton!"