I do not own BNHA or its characters.

Enjoy Chapter Two of "Catalyst"

Cowritten and proofread by aoimikans on Tumblr.


Connecting the Dots

Toshinori's ears twitched when two medical droids entered the office. He set aside the warm mug of tea Aizawa gave him, watching as they rolled into the room.

"Start prepping for surgery," Recovery Girl ordered the droids as she rounded Isamu's bed. They each responded with a mechanical "Yes Ma'am" and "I know."

Recovery Girl suddenly shoved a couple towels into Toshinori's arms. He blinked in surprise, carefully holding the folded towels to his chest.

"I need the three of you out," Recovery Girl stated. "I can't operate until the droids sanitize the space, and before I examine you," she prodded Toshinori's thigh with her cane, "you desperately need a bath."

"If you two want to help," she pointed her cane at Aizawa and Izuku, "get him to the room next door. The showers in there are for patients and have benches to accommodate the sick and injured. Eraserhead, if you would, find All Might a fresh change of clothes. And Midoriya, it would be best if All Might didn't fall. Look after him."

Izuku jolted and nodded earnestly, "Y-yes Ma'am!" Then he popped up and faced Toshinori, "I can hold the towels if you like."

"All Might," Aizawa interrupted, voice flat and even as ever, "Do you have a preference of clothing?"

Toshinori felt a lopsided smile on his lips at the attention, waving away Izuku's offer.

"Ju..st a shirt and some sw-sweatpants will do, Aizawa," he answered.

Aizawa nodded with a soft grunt and excused himself.

Hopefully, he can find the right drawer, Toshinori thought.

He blinked. When was the last time he'd seen his room in the dorms?

A poke at his arm pulled him from his thoughts. He looked down.

Recovery Girl frowned up at him and gave him another poke with her cane, "Go. Bathe. I have a surgery to perform."

Izuku stepped closer, and Toshinori put a hand on his shoulder. He pulled himself up carefully, his legs still unsteady. Furrowing his brow, he pushed himself to stand tall.

Pain flared in his hips, and he winced.

"Don't force yourself."

Toshinori glanced back at Recovery Girl, who gave him a peculiar, stern look as she donned gloves. He bowed his head with a rueful smile and allowed himself to bend slightly, just enough to ease the ache in his joints. Same as ever, Chiyo.

He squeezed Izuku's shoulder, shifting the towels in his other arm, and gave the worried boy a tired grin, "Lead the way."

Izuku walked slowly, holding the door out of the infirmary open until Toshinori's tail curved into the hall.

Toshinori's claws clacked against the tile as they made their way towards the showers. He looked around, puzzled yet relieved that the school was devoid of its familiar life and chatter.

"What day is it?" he asked, squinting up the hall toward the cafeteria.

Izuku glanced back at him, his hand pausing on the doorknob, "Sunday. Um, or do you mean the date?"

"Ju..st the day," Toshinori sighed, too tired to ask, not yet sure he wanted to know how long he'd been… missing. He caught the pensive look the boy gave him and squeezed his shoulder, "It's.. It'll be alright, my boy."

Izuku hummed, brows furrowed in thought, and looked away. He pushed the door open and helped Toshinori inside.

Click!

Toshinori flinched, hackles raising and eyes closing against the bright light. Pain lanced through his skull.

"A-All Might?" Izuku's voice was tense with concern.

"Can you tu..rn off the lights? They're… a bit bright," Toshinori managed, cringing at the roughness of his voice.

"Y-yeah, here." The lights snapped off, and Toshinori breathed a sigh of relief as his headache ebbed. He rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palm.

"Thank you, my boy," Toshinori gave Izuku's shoulder a grateful pat and followed him into the darkened bathroom.

Izuku squinted, "I haven't been in here for a while. If I remember right, the benches should be on the left wall …"

"I see them," Toshinori said. Five benches lined the left wall, one under each showerhead. Each shower station was fully stocked with soaps and bushes. Opposite them were a few large baths. It smelled of flowery soaps and bleach.

"You -?" Izuku glanced up and blinked in surprise, "Oh."

Toshinori looked away, not quite able to meet the boy's cautiously curious gaze, and froze.

On the wall opposite the door there was a long mirror. Two eyes reflected a blue-gray in the muted colors of the dark. His silhouette -

Toshinori shifted and pointedly fixed his gaze on the ground. A small frown twitched at the edge of his lips as they stopped by the first shower.

You have to face it sooner or later.

Toshinori slowly sat on bench, ignoring the way his claws scraped against the tile floor and his tail wrapped around the rest of the seat.

"Ah, um, would you like me to run some hot water in the bath area," Izuku said, gesturing to the side and lifting his index finger, "A hot bath does wonders for aches and pains… a-at least they do for me." He awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, fluffing his hair.

Toshinori chuckled and nodded, "That... would be nice, my boy."

Izuku grinned and went off to prepare the bath, careful not to bump into anything in the dark. He called out, "I'm right here if you need anything."

Toshinori smiled, affection blooming in his chest, and hung his towels on the nearby hooks. With clumsy, clawed fingers, he struggled undoing his belt, mildly surprised when he found the belt went over his tail while the waistline of his pants curved under it.

That young man's doing perhaps… he thought, tugging down the shredded remains of his pants and setting them aside. Nude, he quickly covered himself with the smaller towel to preserve his modesty despite the dark. Reaching up, he snagged the shower handle from its place and turned on the hot water. He held the showerhead in front of his hand, waiting for the water to warm. It pooled by his feet and soaked the long hair on the tip of his tail.

Toshinori sighed and closed his eyes as he wet his hair, the warm water running down his back and chest. How long has it been? He mentally shook the question away and ran his hand over his scalp, carefully brushing out the knots. His claws caught painfully on some.

I need a haircut, he thought with a grunt.

The provided shampoo and conditioner smelled like lavender, and the body wash like lemon. It drove away the stench of hospital, sweat, and rust and filled the shower room with a pleasant aroma. He paused mid-rinse, running his hand down the back of his neck.

Ah. Right.

He hooked the shower head back on the wall and snagged a long handled brush. Covering it with soap, he worked up a lather in the line of hair down his back.

Toshinori snorted in amusement, moving to wash the hair along the base of his tail, I'm going to need to buy more shampoo.

His movements slowed as the warm water soaked his back and soothed his sore muscles. The tip of his tail swished absently, sweeping water across the floor. The unconscious movement splashed water up against the rest of his tail and legs. He shivered slightly at the cooled droplets' touch.

Toshinori bent down to pick up the wayward tufted end.

He flinched as his scar twinged. A bone deep ache flared and spread down his spine. He forced himself to sit still, breathing slowly as he waited for the pain to pass. His tail unraveled from around the bench, swishing in irritation at his pain.

Stop it. Hold still, damn thi-

It moved below the showerhead.

Toshinori tensed and shuddered as the hot water hit and ran over his tail.

New.

Wrong?

No.

Just new.

His eyes lost focus as another shudder ran down his spine.

The water flowing evenly across his skin felt both familiar and entirely foreign. It soaked and weighed down the hair along the tail.

Heavy.

The new limb twitched, and he felt every miniscule movement.

New information crashed against his skull: the weight on his lower back, the goosebumps rising on his skin, the twitch of new muscle, the ache in his bones.

The scrub brush dropped to the floor with a clatter.

His claws gripped at his wrists as the water, almost scalding, ran down his arms and crossed the raw bands. Water and soap stung his twisted legs, burning the fresh cuts and skin around his ankles. He felt the phantom weight of shackles on his skin.

He smelled blood.

No. I'm not -

His breath quickened.

The air was thick.

His heart pounded.

Escape.

"All Might!"

Toshinori jolted and looked up, panting.

The water shut off, and a towel wrapped around his bent shoulders. He gripped at the cloth and grimaced as he struggled to catch his breath. He blinked, looking around the empty showers. His hackles were stiff under the towel. He shuddered at the ache along his spine, pulling the towel closer around himself.

Izuku stepped closer, "All Might… are you hurt?"

Toshinori took several deep breaths and smiled weakly.

"I'll… be alright, Midoriya, my boy. Just… not used to feeling with," his tail twitched and curled heavily on his lap. He shivered as the water cooled on his skin. "Maybe," he unconsciously rubbed at his wrists, "Maybe I'll hold off on the extra soak."

Concern flashed in Izuku's eyes, but he smiled and nodded, "Later then."


"The guy was huge!" the young woman exclaimed, pointing again to the blurry photo on her phone, "Just came out of that alley with some guy on his back all bloodied up."

Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi nodded, jotting down the additional detail in his notebook. He pointed to the nearest alleyway, "That one there?"

"Yeah! Rushed out of there like a bat out of Hell! Pretty sure I saw it take a swipe at someone," said the shopper's partner, clutching to her arm and nervously fading in and out of visibility. "I still say it looked like one of those things in Hosu. I was there you know!"

Naomasa frowned grimly.

"No, no. He's got to be some sort of new vigilante," the first woman said, wrapping one of her four arms around the smaller woman. "They keep popping up more and more since All Might retired. Don't be scared, Hana."

Naomasa sighed and closed his small notebook, "Thank you for your time, ladies."

Over thirty people, Naomasa thought, rubbing at the deep bags under his eyes as the two shoppers turned away, and no clear picture or description.

The detective tucked his notebook in his pocket with a tired grunt and ducked into the alley. It was nondescript and empty aside from a single dumpster on the side of a cafe. Naomasa walked slowly, scanning the ground for any-

He crouched.

On the dirty pavement were two drops of blood, still relatively fresh.

"Sansa!" Naomasa called over his shoulder.

Officer Tamakawa quickly entered the alleyway, "Yes sir?"

"There's blood here. Mark this and cordon off this alley," Naomasa ordered, standing, "I don't want foot traffic in here until crime scene techs are through here."

"Yes sir," Officer Tamakawa replied with a small salute.

Naomasa heard Sansa return to their squad car for the police tape, and he refocused on the droplets of blood. He jerked in surprise when his phone rang loudly.

"Detective Tsukauchi," he answered quickly.

"Good morning, Detective," chirped a familiar voice.

"Nedzu?" Naomasa's gut clenched, and his grip on his phone tightened.

"He's back."


Naomasa walked briskly down the halls of U.A. His shoulders squared stiffly in apprehension. Dread and hesitant relief fought in his chest as he turned toward the main building's infirmary.

He froze, and his heart leapt. He'd recognize that shock of hair anywhere!

"Toshi-!" He paused mid-call.

Toshinori was bent, his steps slow and unsteady. He wore his old, faded U.A. sweatshirt, grey sweatpants, and a small towel draped over his shoulders. He walked beside Izuku Midoriya, leaning heavily against the boy.

Midoriya smiled up at his mentor, "Would you like me to carry you on my back like old times?"

"Nonsense! I can still walk, my boy!" Toshinori threw his head back, and his barking laughter echoed down the hall.

Naomasa relaxed, and he stepped forward with a lopsided smile.

Toshinori looked up.

"Tsukauchi?" Toshinori straightened, something long waved behind him. He flinched, his free hand pressing against his hip.

Midoriya halted, right arm swiftly curling around Toshinori's waist.

"Take it slow," the boy looked down at Toshinori's legs, carefully helping him adjust his stance, "Don't move just yet."

Toshinori stiffened, standing frozen. His eyes lost their spark.

Naomasa's relief drained away. He knew that look.

I'm making another.

"Okay," Midoriya said, shifting a little to better support Toshinori, "That feels better right?"

"Hmm?" Toshinori blinked, the light in his eyes slowly returning. He frowned slightly, confusion weighing heavily on his furrowed brows, "Y..yes."

Toshinori's hand left his hip.

The detective stared, following the movement. His hand looked-

Naomasa heard a click on the tile as Toshinori shifted. His eyes snapped down and saw his friend's bare feet.

Oh Toshinori… Naomasa's heart sank.

Toshinori looked back up, and Naomasa did his best to school his expression. He approached the two, taking off his hat in greeting, and tried not to look for any more … changes.

A flash of blonde hair waved behind Toshinori and caught Naomasa's attention.

Despite his best efforts, he stared.

Toshinori shifted awkwardly, gaze dropping to the side. The tail disappeared behind him only to reappear and wrap around Midoriya.

Naomasa mentally shook himself and smiled, "Glad to have you back, All Might."

His friend gave him a forced grin, "Glad…" He coughed, frowning and rubbing at his chest, "Glad to be back."

"How are you?" Naomasa asked, his tone soft and serious.

Toshinori glanced at Midoriya before answering, "Better now th-"A shudder shook Toshinori's frail form, and he swayed unsteadily.

Naomasa moved closer, extending his arm, "Here, let me help."

Midoriya shifted to make room and -

Toshinori inhaled sharply, eyes widening. He hunched, claws gripping at his sweatshirt, "Sh-shit!"

"All Might!" Naomasa echoed Midoriya's surprised shout.

Toshinori fell, slipping from Midoriya's grip, and caught himself with his hands as he stumbled forward. He stood, panting and trembling on all fours.

Naomasa stared in horror at his friend's warped body. What did he do to you?

There was a heavy thump, and the detective looked over Toshinori's bent back. His tail lay on the ground, curling tightly around itself. The tufted tip twitched with agitation. His arms and legs shook and gave out.

Naomasa quickly knelt and grunted as his friend's full weight fell on him.

"All Might," Naomasa squeezed his shoulder, "What's wrong?"

"Back-" Toshinori gasped for breath, "Another-," A pained noise cut off his words and groaned low in his throat. He pressed his forehead against Naomasa's shoulder.

"Midoriya, help me get him inside." Naomasa said, keeping his voice even for the boy.

Midoriya nodded sharply and helped lift All Might, barely controlled power zipping across his skin.

"Recovery Girl! It's All Might!" Midoriya announced as they burst into the infirmary.

Recovery Girl got up from her desk and briskly walked around the first bed, "Can't get a minute of peace with you two. Put him on this bed."

Naomasa and Midoriya obeyed, gently carrying and laying Toshinori on the second bed. Recovery Girl quickly shooed them aside, taking his pulse.

"What hurts?" she asked.

Toshinori grit his teeth. A sheen of sweat coated his forehead as his eyes squeezed shut and his claws dug into the mattress.

"Spine," he spat out as a spasm wracked him.

"All Might…" Midoriya's voice shook, "What's -"

"One moment boy," Recovery Girl interrupted. She rounded the bed, unceremoniously yanking up the back of Toshinori shirt up. "TB-2, scan his back."

"Yes Ma'am," the droid replied, turning from the person in the bed over. A thin bar of red light scanned Toshinori from his head to the tip of his tail. "Scan complete. Significant calcium buildup along vertebrae C1 to T12."

Recovery Girl's brows furrowed slowly, "TB-2, retrieve spinal data from previous patient."

"Yes Ma'am," the droid hummed, "Significant softening of calcium deposits along spine. Diagnosis?"

"Proceed."

"Weakening of connection to spinal pedicles. Shedding."

Recovery Girl paled, expression grim.

Naomasa looked back and forth between Recovery Girl and the droid, "What's happening to All Might?"

Midoriya shifted nervously, his hands covering his mouth, "He's getting another one, isn't he?"

Recovery Girl sighed, pressing her fingertips to Toshinori's spine and running them down his back, "Yes, boy. I think that is a safe conclusion."

Another shudder wracked Toshinori, and he curled in on himself and panted.

"Ma'am," the TB-2 droid chirped, "Without intervention, the risk of bone embrittlement is high."

"Prepare calcium and vitamin D supplements and an IV drip," Recovery Girl ordered. She glanced across the bed, "Detective Tsukauchi, help me remove his shirt."

Naomasa nodded, brows furrowed as he came forward and lifted Toshinori's torso from the bed. He frowned, concern constricting his lungs when he felt the feverish heat of his friend's skin.

Toshinori groaned, teeth bared in pain as Naomasa removed the sweatshirt and passed it to Midoriya.

Naomasa wrapped his arm around Toshinori's back to lay him gently down. Something tickled the inside of his wrist. The detective glanced at Toshinori's back and winced at the line of blonde hair along his friend's spine.

How many quirks did he -? Naomasa pressed his lips tight, as he helped his friend onto his good side.

"IV prepared," TB-2 said with a beep.

Recovery Girl didn't look up from her examination of Toshinori's back, still pressing against his spine with her brows furrowed, "Administer."

"Yes Ma'am."

Naomasa pulled Midoriya aside as the droid approached, sterile needle extended.

Claws flashed.

Cru-ssssssssssss

Hydraulics whined and hissed. Toshinori's hand wrapped around the metal arm, knuckles white and hackles bristling. The thin metal of the arm groaned and bent in his grip. Piercing blue eyes locked onto the IV needle.

"All Might," Recovery Girl chided firmly, though her voice was soft, "You need the fluids."

Toshinori didn't move.

Naomasa bent down to Toshinori's eye level, "T- All Might, listen to Recovery Girl. She's trying to help."

Toshinori's tail thumped against the bed in irritation, and his grip on the droid tightened.

"All… All Might?"

Toshinori shivered.

Midoriya stepped around Naomasa, hands hovering over Toshinori's, "It's safe here," the boy smiled, "Try to relax, okay?"

Toshinori shuddered and looked to Midoriya, then to Naomasa and Recovery Girl, blinking wearily. He tensed briefly and reluctantly released the metal arm.

"Arm damaged," TB-2 moped.

"Oh hush. I'll take care of him," Recovery Girl said, preparing a second needle. She gave Toshinori a stern look, "You better not break my arm, you hear?"

Toshinori looked warily at the needle she had in hand, his lips pressed in a hard line. Slowly, he laid back against the pillow and nodded with a sigh. He offered his arm, claws held loose.

"Ha..ave I told you how much I hate needles?" Toshinori griped.

"Every time, dear." Recovery Girl huffed with a small smile, patting Toshinori's arm.

Naomasa suppressed a sigh of relief as Recovery Girl easily slipped the IV in place.

A flicker of guilt coiled in his chest when Toshinori closed his eyes and lay his head on the pillow. As much as he wanted his friend to rest and recover, he was here for more than one reason. He cleared his throat and caught Recovery Girl's eye. Giving her an apologetic smile, he rested his hand on the badge clipped to his belt.

Recovery Girl pursed her lips and looked to Midoriya. The poor boy fidgeted, green eyes fixed on his mentor, and looked at a loss for what to do. Recovery Girl padded over to him and extended her hand, "Here, have some gummies."

Midoriya jolted and caught the candies she dropped, stuttering, "T-thank you?"

Recovery Girl shook her head, "Boy, if you would like to stay with All Might in the infirmary, you should get overnight things," she smiled wryly, "I'm sure the Detective and I can handle ourselves until you get back."

"Huh?" Midoriya looked up from the candies on his palm. His eyes widened, and he grinned, "O-oh, right! Yes! Thank you! I'll be right back."

Toshinori chuckled, startling Naomasa. He shifted just enough to give his successor a small wave, "Take your time, my boy. I'm not going anywhere."

Midoriya nodded earnestly, thanking Naomasa before hastily exiting the infirmary.

Recovery Girl shook her head at the retreating boy before quietly drawing a plain curtain around Toshinori's bed. She nudged the TB-2 droid closer to the bed, ordering, "Keep an eye on him." With that, she nodded to Naomasa and closed the curtain.

Naomasa sighed and sat in the chair beside the bed, "No need to pretend with me, Toshinori."

Toshinori slumped back and wiped sweat from his upper lip as his pain appeared to lessen. His eyes hid in the shadow of his brow, but he chuckled. Carefully shifting on the bed and wincing, Toshinori let his guard drop.

"Old habits," he croaked. His legs kicked weakly at the thin sheet on the mattress, "I fe..el like shit. Goddamn..."

Naomasa huffed, "Anyone with eyes could see that."

Toshinori shook his head and shivered, reaching up and gingerly pressing the flats of his claws against the back of his neck, "That bastard."

Naomasa tensed, "What?"

"All for One," he finally said and gestured toward the bed on the other side of the curtain, "The young man was trying to help. All for One took his quirk and -" Toshinori's breath hitched and he stiffened. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his claws dug into the thin mattress.

Naomasa's stomach clenched. He hadn't seen Toshinori like this since… His gaze drifted to the mass of scar tissue on his friend's side.

"Update:" the TB-2 droid suddenly chirped, "Growth rate decreasing. Newly formed spinal pedicles hardening. Recommendation: Stabilization of calcium levels. Risk of complications: Low. Resuming observation."

Naomasa frowned at the droid, "Spinal…? Oh," he glanced back at the drawn curtain.

"That bastard."

Toshinori snorted, and his tail lightly tapped the bed, "Glad we're in agreement."

Naomasa shook his head, folding his hands together and resting his elbows on his knees.

"Naomasa…" Toshinori swallowed, brows furrowing slightly. He drew a slow breath, "I need to know. I wasn't always... conscious of the time. How long was I gone?"

Naomasa's head bowed, and guilt stirred like nausea in his gut.

"Today," he met Toshinori's gaze, "Today would have been the twenty-second day."

"Twenty…" Toshinori blinked, stunned. A little of the light faded. His frail body shook, and his eyes squeezed shut.

Naomasa tensed, "To-?"

"Okay. No, I'm alright," Toshinori took a shuddering breath and, when opened his eyes, determination burned, "What do you need to know?"

Naomasa marginally relaxed, "I don't need the details. Do you know where you were? Do you remember what happened after you left my apartment?"

Toshinori nodded, "I remember. All for One had my driver's voice mimicry quirk. Took me by surprise. Woke up in a hospital."

The guilt in the detective's gut coiled into his chest.

Hospital? No… We've been looking… Naomasa sighed, resigned. He's here now.

"Rishi General," Toshinori said.

Naomasa looked back up, eyes widening.

Toshinori shifted on the bed, "When I escaped, I left through a basement door. Out of an old wing." He pointed to the bed on the other side of the curtain, "The young man over there is a nurse. He was a prisoner as much as I was. I… owe him more than I can give."

Toshinori rubbed at the back of his neck, lost in thought. He blinked and looked up, "You'll probably want to send someone over there soon. I locked a nurse loyal to All for One in the room where I was kept. She has some form of metal manipulation quirk. I only know her name is Tetsumi." Toshinori scoffed. His eyelids fluttered wearily, "Small woman, but a sharp tongue."

Toshinori's tail curled around, and he pushed the tufted end away as it brushed against his stomach. He sighed, "Recovery Girl should still have the shackles… for evidence."

Shackles? Naomasa glanced at Toshinori's wrists, and a flash of anger burned through him. Raw red lines marked Toshinori's skin. He maintained a neutral expression. Scarred again.

Toshinori quirked an eyebrow, "Who's pretending now? Giving me the Detective face?"

Naomasa let out a pained laugh and rubbed at his forehead, "You caught me. But this is serious. We'll find him, Toshinori. I promise."

I won't let all that you've done, all that you've gone through, go to waste.

Naomasa stood up, "Is there anything else?"

Toshinori stifled a yawn and looked back towards the curtain, "His name is Isamu. See to it that his family is safe."

Naomasa smiled at his friend, unchanged where it mattered most, "Right. I'll keep you updated. It's really good to have you back."


Thank you for reading "Catalyst" the sequel to "Canvas!" Send me a review or PM if you have any questions or comments.