Chapter 21: Arson
Arson let the flames die down, finally registering how much he'd overused his quirk. The flames went out, leaving a smoking pile of ash where his son once stood.
He knew he should have felt something about the whole situation - rather, Hisashi should have felt something. But for the first time in his entire life, Arson felt free. A wide smile slithered over his face as the restraints and boundaries Hisashi had fell away. He knew Hisashi had considered how he felt when he was relinquishing control was insanity, but it had always just been Arson. He had never considered that Arson was a person all on his own, and now he didn't have Hisashi to stop him.
Arson would watch the world burn.
The clamour of police officers and heroes pouring into the subway entrance was more pressing, however. He prepared himself to continue overusing his quirk once more, but once more he felt the flames die in his throat. His eyes darted to the platform entrance to meet familiar red eyes. Izuku's teacher looked furious, flanked by a whole host of heroes and police officers.
His smile slipped. This Aizawa was seriously pissing him off. One day he would catch the man off-guard and burn him to a crisp.
But the smile hadn't disappeared, and it was back in full force when he cackled maniacally, relishing in the thought of the reactions to come. "You should keep a better eye on your students, Aizawa. I'm sure you would hate to lose one."
The man paled ever so slightly, and Arson felt the hold of Aizawa's quirk slip. He had to escape, and the only really viable option was the subway tunnel itself - the question was how to do so without being electrocuted or crushed by the coming train. The glass barriers were of no consequence anymore, the heat had been enough to melt a hole more than large enough for Arson to escape through.
Before he could puzzle over it more, Arson felt a sharp tug snap his head to the side. He was so thrown off by this that he didn't register that his mask was off his head before it was sailing out of arm's reach.
Arson spun around to meet green eyes across the subway tracks. Inko. Her tear-filled eyes widened, rage emanating from her.
For some reason that image muted the world for him in that moment. Of all the people in Hisashi's life, Arson feared Inko the most. The image of her stirred the slightest bit of something, but it only lasted the briefest moment. Arson was sure to stamp out the last shreds of Hisashi that lingered.
"I guess I'm found out, then," Arson announced. "I only wish Izuku had lasted long enough to see the stupid looks on your faces."
"What do you mean, 'lasted long enough'?" one of the police officers called.
"I think you know exactly what I mean. He was a bit disappointing, considering how powerful his quirk is, far too concerned about making sure no one got hurt for my tastes."
"Well you're trapped," one of the other officers said boldly. "You're going to a nice, fireproof cell."
Arson raised an eyebrow. "You're a confident one. It would be endearing if you weren't so horribly wrong."
Several people leapt forward at once, but Arson watched, waiting for that split second before Aizawa blinked, inhaling deeply before exhaling even more swirling blue flames. Officers and heroes alike leapt back, distracted long enough for Arson to fling himself from the platform onto the tracks, running faster than ever before. It wasn't long before he noticed the tell-tale rumble of an approaching subway.
Arson was free.