She could feel that someone was watching her. It made her very wary of alleyways as she walked down the street. When Hiyori glanced over her shoulder, she was unable to pick anyone out of the crowd who may be staring at her. Frowning to herself, she looked away and continued her walk to the store.
Her sight was now fully restored and her wounds were healing quickly. If she had to fight someone off, she might be able to fend them off for a short while. As long as they were not Toxicity. She had considered how she would handle it if he attacked again and she knew that she would not stand a chance against him. She could not bring herself to give him a level three dose of venom.
What am I going to do? Kurogiri said that I should confront him and actually try to talk to him. What is there to talk about? Toxicity wasn't a father to me. I have some of his genes, but he wasn't a father. He still isn't. But he keeps saying those weird things. Hiyori entered the grocery store and grabbed a basket to start shopping. A sigh escaped her, loose white locks of hair falling over her eyes as she bowed her head.
As she walked, she felt that sensation of being watched increase. It made goose bumps raise on her skin and her tail began to twitch, stingers lightly tapping at her hip from around her waist. She scratched the back of her neck when it started to feel tingly and jumped when she heard it.
"Hiiiiiiiyooooooriiiiii!"
No! What?! No, no, no! What the hell? She turned quickly and saw a familiar man with blond hair waving at her from down the aisle. His eyes were hidden behind sunglasses, but she immediately recognized Yamada. No way! She stumbled back a few steps and turned quickly, walking in the opposite direction. I can't go back! I'm not a hero! I'm not meant to be a hero! I have a villain's quirk! Literally! I have villain's blood! I'm a villain!
"Hey, where are you going? Hiyori! Hey, Hiyori! Hiyori-chan! Come on! Don't be like that, Mori Hiyori!" He followed her, grinning when she glanced over her shoulder. "Hiiiiyoooooriiii! Where are you going?"
The pale-haired young woman dropped her basket and was jogging now, easing past other shoppers on her way to the exit. Her heart was racing in her chest as she tried to develop an escape plan. Simply slipping outside might not work. He was tenacious. He would probably follow her. He may even contact Aizawa regarding her whereabouts.
I can't go back! I can't go back! I'm a killer! I'm a villain! She gritted her teeth and was now outside on the sidewalk. The woman began to run without thinking, turning left to try to get to the train station. I have to get back to the bar! Damn it! I was so careless! Shigaraki would never forgive me if I got captured! Damn it! All for One will literally kill me if I get captured! A group of people up ahead showed good potential as a hiding place. If she could just blend in with them, she might be able to get to the station without Yamada following her.
Now beginning to sweat a little, she eased into a group of housewives and tried to look inconspicuous. Her head was bowed again, eyes on the ground as she listened for Yamada's voice behind her. Even without using his quirk, he was loud and was sure to draw attention to himself. She swore under her breath, remembering the humiliation of everyone else in the store staring as she fled.
"Hiyori, my girl! I finally found you!"
"What the f-?!" She found herself being lifted bridal style by a pair of strong arms and flushed red when she saw the intense blue eyes staring down at her. All Might?! Damn it! No, no, no! This isn't happening!
The housewives around her were now flocking around the hero, some squealing in amazement and others praising the man. He simply smiled and attempted to wade out of the group of women, giving apologies and saying that he had to go.
Why did he have to call me that?! Why did he say "my girl"? Damn it! She struggled in his grip, trying to free herself as her tails fell from around her waist.
"Calm down, Hiyori! You're going to give people the wrong idea!" This was said in just above a whisper as he leaned down, his face inches from hers. The reddish hue in her cheeks intensified. "Are you alright, my girl? Do you have a fever?" He leaned down further, managing to press his forehead to hers before she finally slipped out of his hold and bolted.
No way, no way, no way! That did not just happen! He did not just scoop me up like a damn princess in the middle of a busy sidewalk, in front of all of those moms! Hiyori's tails whipped side to side in agitation as she ran down the street, hearing him call after her. She narrowly dodged Yamada as he came out of the store and felt her pulse quicken. Why are they both here?! Wait! If they're here…Aizawa…but where…I don't…?
She felt dread settling in the pit of stomach as she realized what was happening. The two heroes were herding her. When she turned left coming out of the store, she had turned away from where they wanted her to go. That was why All Might appeared and interfered. He had even put his back to the direction she had been heading, basically insuring that her first instinct would be to turn the other way. The direction that undoubtedly would contain a trap.
The police. Aizawa. Or another hero that will try to subdue me. They probably know about those two murders! They'll take me to prison and that will be the end of me! I know that All for One probably knows someone in there and he'll have them kill me! Damn it; I didn't want to die this way! She made an abrupt turn into an alley and immediately regretted it. A pale, familiar material swiftly rushed toward her. The woman's arms were bound to her sides and she stumbled backwards, losing her balance.
Hiyori landed on her bottom on the hard ground, her tails furiously twitching at her side and her head bowed. "…missed me…?" she muttered, hearing footsteps. "Or is this about what I owe you for saving me? How much will it take to-?"
He crouched in front of the girl, holding his weapon tightly and staring at her through his long, dark hair. "Grayscale." Aizawa saw her wince. She started to tremble. Reaching down, he pushed her hair away from her eyes and saw them narrow before lifting to meet his gaze. "That's your villain name, right?"
"Shouta. How cute. You think I'm redeemable, is that it? I mean, look at me. I look terrible, right? Because I am. Venomous, villainous, demon spawn. Dog. I'm low. I'm…evil. I can't be saved. I'm better left to just rot. So if you think that you can fool yourself into believing that you can-!" Her eyes went wide when she suddenly found his arms around her, pulling her against his chest. "Sh-Shouta?"
"You're better than this. Stop putting yourself down. I know what you're capable of and I've seen you inspire the students. You're not a villain so stop saying that you are." He tightened his hold as she started to shake more, tears wetting his shirt. "I'm not letting you go again."
Shift P.O.V
When Giran arrived with yet another person wanting to join the League of Villains, Shigaraki expected another Stain fan or delinquent. Instead, he found someone different. A man that was older than him and may have been intimidating to anyone other than Shigaraki.
The blue-haired villain was sitting at the bar when he entered and he did not even bother to look up from his game. He could see him from the corner of his eye as the older man sat a few seats away and began to talk to Kurogiri. This man was taller than him, with broad shoulders and a slightly muscled frame. The man's long, pale blond hair was pulled back away from his face, revealing surprisingly long black fangs and eyes a familiar shade of amber.
What does he want? If he thinks that he can come in here and take my girl away, I'll disintegrate his face. No one's taking her away from me again. Not even this jerk. Shigaraki heard the clink of a glass being set down and smelled something familiar. A bitter, burning alcoholic beverage favored so much by his beloved Yori.
The man sipped the drink and immediately spat it back into the glass. "Ugh! Too strong!" he grumbled. "Give me an empty glass."
Kurogiri's eyes seemed to narrow, but he obeyed. He set it in front of the man and turned away as a dripping sound began. "Must you do that at my counter?"
There was a pause in the noise and then a loud squirting. When it stopped, Toxicity wiped his mouth with a napkin and tossed it aside. "I apologize for being so crude, but if I allow my venom to build up, it begins to diminish my sanity. When I speak with my daughter, I must do so with a clear mind. Where is Yoriko?"
"Her name is Yori." Shigaraki's tone was heavy with spite as he turned to glare at the man. That was when his eyes went to the glass in front of him. It was filled to the brim with a dark, viscous fluid that he knew must be his venom. "Yori isn't here. My girl is running errands. We have a big night planned."
Toxicity's eyes narrowed back at him. "My daughter is involved with you, young man?"
"What do you care anyway? It's not like you even raised Yori. You weren't even there for her when she needed help. We were there."
The man pushed the glass of venom toward Kurogiri. "Dispose of this, sir. I wish to speak with this young man alone."
"That will not be permitted. You call yourself Toxicity, correct? My name is Kurogiri. Please feel free to speak about Yori in my presence."
"Kurogiri?!" The other man bristled, shifting his glare to the man behind the bar. "You! My daughter claims that you and All for One raised her!"
"That is correct." There was a note of smugness to his voice.
Shigaraki paused his game and set it down, turning to give the man his full attention. His lips were twisted in irritation, crimson gaze one of malice. "What do you want? This isn't a place for people to hang out. Either say something or leave."
"Tch. Do you think it was a coincidence that my daughter was sent to you? When I learned that my only child was living on the street like a low-level delinquent, I took it upon myself to do what I believed to be in her best interest. I offered her to your master in a trade. Now I see the folly of my ways. My daughter is involved with common thugs and incompetent amateurs. I refuse to let this go on. I demand that you allow me to join the League of Villains."
Kurogiri glanced over to see Shigaraki's reaction and was not surprised to see him dragging his nails over his neck. "We are no longer accepting new members. If you wish to speak with Yori-"
"Don't make me laugh. Even if we did want more members, why would I pick someone like you? You're too old to be of any use to us. Your quirk is venom, right? What do you think we have Yori for?" Shigaraki turned away. "Get out."
Toxicity stared down at him and smirked, the tips of his fangs beginning to gleam. "She may have my quirk, but she is unable to adequately use it. Allow me to join and I will help to unlock her full potential. After all, you do want what is best for her, don't you? You seem fond of my daughter."
Shigaraki was already walking away, but paused with his back to the man. "Yori is my girl. If I want her to be better, I'll help her myself. Did you forget that I had to save her from you? Some parent you are. Trying to kill your only child and then you turn around and act like you care. I'm the only one that really cares about her. I won't forget what you did to her."
Shift P.O.V
Hiyori's wounds from Toxicity were checked by Recovery Girl before she was given the confirmation that she could return to working for UA. She was honestly astounded that they would want her to work there again. Aizawa must have said something. Or Yagi did.
She glanced at the two from her seat at her desk, absently scratching at her wrist. "You must've really missed me to go to such lengths to bring me back," she teased. "I mean…setting a trap like that? Embarrassing me in public to try to herd me into that alley? Pretty sneaky. I'd almost say villainous."
"We had to do something. And you probably could've saved yourself the embarrassment if you'd just come back on your own," Yagi argued. "I know you wanted to get more information on the League of Villains, but you were putting yourself in danger. I heard about your fight with Toxicity."
The pale-haired woman winced. "You heard about that, huh? Have you ever fought him? Or even heard of him?"
"I've heard of him, but the last I heard, he was just a small time criminal. That was years ago. It looks like he's gotten bolder."