Chapter 29

Much like his brief period of employment, the squadron had fallen under a wearisome routine, one that was both gratifying and demanding. The days of wages and financial stability were bygones, for UA kept them fed and sheltered in return for their service to the community. Never once did UA give them a reason to doubt their good intentions, though some enigmas still persisted. Prime candidates are the mysteries that lie behind sector one, or how they planned on establishing some modicum of conquest regarding the collapse of the Aspeuean government.

Whether it stemmed from remorse or altruism, Tenya found himself in soup kitchens and nourishment centers every day of the week from the wee hours of the morning, to the later hours of the night. Some auxiliary training was also granted in the machinations of firearms, given the punitive nature of their neighbors. Though the work was demanding, and heart wrenching Izuku and Denki felt a prevailing sensation of envy regarding Tenya's occupation, for they now spent the majority of their existence down in bunker 51-800.

Denki allocated his time into two distinct categories. One involved the mining and harvesting of natural resources for later use. The remainder of his day had been expended lying flat down on an operating table, as UA's elite mechanics endeavored to wrap their heads around the biomechanical arm created via the spec's AC had established.

Those same mechanics had spent some time with AC as well, with the supervision and guidance of Izuku of course. And though the sentient automaton had not been found of strangers prodding at his external interface, Izuku sought to ensure that he was on UA's side. Besides, he thought to himself, the amount of time I've spent fiddling and prodding at the orb myself, there's nothing those lab coats aren't going to find that I haven't uncovered already.

In addition to the pursuit of AC's primal functions, Izuku had been pushed to the brink of his physical limitations by both Lilith and Shoto. The training was ruthless, as he accumulated a new collection of cuts and gashes with each sparing period, leaving Denki to tend to his wounds every other evening. However, results were established. His jabs had become more potent, and his parry's nimbler. Though he had yet to successfully achieve a submission on Yoko Naezono, whom he suspected of being mute at this point, their brawls began to increase in length as his agility augmented.

At some point during the fortnight, the group of young adults were assured that their accomplice Bakugou would be joining them once he was released from the hospital. The four of them, AC included, now patiently awaited the arrival of their comrade in the chamber with the exponentially high ceiling. This was the same location they had been taken to upon their first arrival. An hour had passed since their arrival, and their patience continuously dwindled.

"Does anyone know how much longer until he arrives?" Denki asked for the third consecutive time, as he twiddled his thumbs monotonously.

"Kaminari, I said it once and I'll say it again, we know just as much as you do alright? He should be here any moment know," Izuku responded. He laid on the hard iron floor. The rough grates and chinks that dispersed throughout the terrain paled in comparison to the blemishes that were now commonplace among his pelt. Wearisomely, he tossed AC to the air and caught it once gravity took its tool. While this was merely a way to kill time, AC appeared to be enjoying the activity as a high-pitched din resonated each time he achieved a new altitude.

"How's training going," Tenya asked, in an attempt to energize up their assemblage.

"I'm still getting my ass beat, though I am improving, gradually. I don't understand why they would want to push me this far though; I'm not training to be a specialized brawler. After a while I just assume, I'll be accompanying Shoto out on his morning patrols, which can't be too difficult given that the man is like a one-man army. You're the one who's actually doing some rewarding work," Izuku concluded, unceasingly tossing AC in a vertical fashion.

"Thanks man but I wouldn't shun the work your burdened with now, perhaps it will come of use to you one day," Tenya argued sensibly, a shrug was given as a response.

"I'll keep playing their game, up until the point I can get a favor returned," Izuku mumbled.

"A favor? Are you still going on about the Mellissa situation?" Denki said, mockingly.

"To do what's morally right, yeah I'm still going on about that. Though I was referring to Yoroi and Shanta, and whether or not Shoto can help me contact them by any means." Izuku tone sounded melancholy at best.

"Good plan, but Izuku I wouldn't worry too much," Tenya provided sympathetically. "Shoto is an upstanding guy, I'm sure he has people on it right now, as we speak." The words of security lofted his spirits to a certain degree, though doubt and worry continued to plague his mind. Stillness took over once more, as the droning wait resumed. After what felt like millennia the industrialized door opened with a startling creek, as David Shield sauntered in, accompanied by a bagged and snared guest.

The profanities and threats that torrented out his mouth would be viewed as distasteful and disturbing by any individual. However, the group acknowledged that the familiar vulgarities came from none other than their long-lost friend. David, who was undoubtedly fed up with the aggression and retaliation, violently tore the bag from his head and paraded off without saying another word.

"Bakugou!" cheered the three colleagues as they sprinted towards him, enveloping him in a constricted bear hug. AC contributed in the hurdle, by merely hovering above their heads bizarrely. He appeared to have healed relatively well, seeing as the damage he had sustained was troublesome.

"Where the hell am I? What in the hell is going on? I've been in that bag for fucking hours now! Does someone care to explain!?" he erupted, intentionally masking the delight of attending the company of his friends once more. After a hardy chuckle busted from the troop, they all began recounting the tail of their escapade.

They commenced with the incineration of the Ceederwood Inn, then elucidated the entirety of UA from facility to facility. They then concluded with their sentiments regarding their occupations and determinations, all of which were positive. He sat in patient silence, invoking no emotion other than a slight flabbergast as he heeded every detail scrupulously. As they terminated the accounts of their tale a moment was gifted to Bakugou in order for him to gather his thoughts. His hands, which had now been untied, were clasped tightly as he leaned forward on the pewter chest functioning as a seat.

"This is madness, I'm sure all of you agree," Bakugou asked keenly.

"It's pretty insane yeah. Though I'm glad your finally back to be a part of all of it," Izuku said truly, socking him playfully on the shoulder.

"Why are you all still here? This is not what we came here to do," Bakugou said candidly, unbelieving of the sudden adjustment in goals.

"Because the work we're doing here is important," Tenya responded from the heart. "It's true, we first immigrated here for gain and status, to help the ones we loved in terms of financial security and stability. But Bakugou, the work UA is doing is so vital to the community. What happened to you, in that alleyway, is happening to millions of other who venture here in pursuit of falsehood, the mirage of having a better life. It's not only foreigners who get the boot mind you, it's anyone who's factionless, or of too low a status. We can help to combat this, little by little."

"That's not our job Tenya," Bakugou replied wrathfully. "Were you not heeding the warning Tensei and Tento gave us? We should not be associating with factions. Their dangerous, they have conflicts not only with the administration and the green caps, but with other factions as well."

"It's not like that here," Denki warranted.

"And how on earth could you know for sure? You've been here for how long- what two weeks was it? From what I recall this union had been around for decades now. With organized blocs comes anterior motives, and selfish agendas," Bakugou snapped, logistically arguing in a manner that concerned the entire throng.

"Bakugou, I understand your concerns," Izuku confessed, attempting to be the voice of reason. "I share the same ones. We had a pervious discussion regarding this. There is information they refuse to disclose. I believe they know more about the Aspeuean administration then than they admit, and I also have reason to believe they may know a great deal more about AC. Shoto in particular," he paused for an instant, revising the negatives of residing with UA.

"And although that may be, I have a gut feeling that there is good behind their cause. We've seen it first-hand. Not to mention the fact that we're completely homeless, broke, with have nowhere else to turn to. I'm sure you'll like it here Bakugou, and we have to stick together."

"Says who," Bakugou yelped bashfully. "The only reason I'm in this whole mess to begin with is because I had to save your ass on that blimp. If it weren't for you, and the green caps tailing you, I'd actually have a chance at making it here." Izuku grew bewildered at the impulsive rancor in his voice.

"Izuku he doesn't mean that, he's just in on edge, shocked about the circumstances," Tenya uttered in a calming manner.

"What's your problem man? No one forced you to come, we just wanted to repay the favor. And every inconvenience and trial we've been through hasn't been of our own volition, we don't go around asking for trouble."

"That's where you wrong Izuku," Bakugou snapped, pointing an accusatory finger directly at his temple. "You do look for trouble. You looked for it when you refused to hand AC over to the green caps, against my better judgment, and you're looking for it once again by joining this faction. You can't lay low Izuku, and you can't keep to yourself because you're reckless. Which is precisely why you've found yourself in this mess, and it's the reason why Yoroi and Shanta are most probably at ends with the green caps."

Izuku cheeks seared as he toughened his gaze. He knew in his heart that all that Bakugou preached was true, through all the perspectives he dared to look upon the circumstances. A fury rose within him, spawned not from retribution or riotousness, but from shame.

"You better can it Bakugou, before you end up right back in that hospital," he retorted, inching his face closer to his arguer.

"Is that a threat Midoriya?" Bakugou snarled, their faces contorted with anger as they loomed over the other ominously. The aggression in the air appeared so thick their aroma appeared almost red. All they anticipated now was the first volley to be thrown.

"Quit it, both of you," Tenya barked, treading intrepidly between the two aggressors. "We all understand the circumstances at hand. Bakugou I can see where you're coming from, truly I can. I've been Izuku friend for many years now, I understand his audacious tendencies." Before Izuku was given the opportunity to rejoinder, Tenya provided him with a halting squint.

"That being said, he is correct in his assertion. Bakugou, you have no credits, no connections, and no shelter to reside in. You can stay here for the mean time if you wish, Shoto guaranteed it. You'll be safe and within good hands, which is more than you could ever hope to achieve out there." The rigidities lessened ever so slightly, as the cogs in Bakugou's head began to churn. He stood still, as the variables and consequences fermented as he sought to form a verdict.

"Alright, I'll lay here for the time being. Just so long as Izuku gets out of my face." He shot a malicious stare at Izuku, which was more than reciprocated.

An awkward silence befell them as they sauntered over to their quarters. Izuku and Bakugou distanced themselves to either edge of the steel bridge, foolishly placing themselves at risk of falling five odd stories. The rage within both colleagues persisted. While Izuku felt the sting of the truth embedded in his conscious, Bakugou suffered from a sense of shame, as he sought to wound his friend with words of cruelty.

After what felt like a timeless state of unease, they finally reached their quarters. An extra cot had been put in place, one that was immediately occupied by Bakugou as his eyes first came upon it. He lay with his back against his associates closing his eyes, venturing to fall into slumber. The trio that remained parted from the room, leaving Bakugou to his own devices.

"I hope you realize he didn't mean any of that right Izuku," Denki announced immediately after parting the room.

"Kaminari's right, we all know that Bakugou can be a little pigheaded sometimes. He'll come around, once he sees what this place has to offer," Tenya added.

"Well whether he meant it or not, it's all true, everything he said about me."

"Hey man come on," Denki said, dejected from Izuku melancholy reflection of himself.

"That doesn't matter right now, I know he'll come around. All we can do now is resume the duties we've been given. We have shifts coming up, we don't want to be late." He spoke the truth, though the room new it was an attempt to drop the previous subject of Bakugou's rightful outburst. With no further words the three parted ways, with each person pressing on at the tasks at hand.

A half an hour later Izuku found himself once again at the sparing mats, tussling with Naezono while Shoto observed tentatively, imposing tips and tactics here or there. The two were engaged in a ferocious choreograph, as their bodies pivoted and contorted, lunging and whipping. While Izuku was the larger of the two with the power to deliver denser blows, Naezono's agility greatly outmatched his, as each torrent of punches wisped harmlessly by followed by severe punishment. Match after match Izuku found himself once again on the lather mat rubbing his wounds breathless.

"So how is Bakugou doing? Did he take the news of UA well?" Shoto enquired inquisitively.

"No, not really. In reality he took it even worse than Kaminari, Tenya and I," Izuku responded, looking disgruntled. The recollection of their previous quarrel made his blood pressure rise.

"I can believe that. No ones that big of a fan of us at initiation, what with the bagging and abduction and all."

"I would have had a much easier time convincing him about the organization if you stopped hiding things from us and treated us like acquaintances rather than soldiers."

"This is not a summer camp Izuku; this is war against the tyrannical régime. The sooner you get that through your head the better. Now keep practicing." Izuku found his ferocity once more, unsatisfied with how UA operates. He channeled that anger throughout the contest, doing his best to overcome Naezono's abilities. Just then Naezono lunged at him, her arm overextending as it looked for a joint to apply pressure towards. Transfixed and prepared, Izuku sidestepped the grapple, swinging his elbow at his opponent's temple. The brunt of the crack struck Yoko on the rear of her helm, causing her knees to cave and her vision to flicker.

He hesitated for one moment, an incredulous gasp wafted as he managed to deliver the effective volley. Naezono rumbled in animosity, taking advantage of his hesitancy. She sprung up expeditiously constricting his arm socket with powerful calves, using the weight of her own form to topple him to the ground. Izuku head trembled thunderously as his sight and hearing faltered for a brief moment, having almost been concussed. The hold was mighty, driving him to tap out within seconds. Amidst the stars he now saw as his head throbbed, he saw Naezono display an amazing spectacle of rage. Frightening at first but comforting to know that she was not absolutely emotionally stunted.

"You alright their Izuku?" Shoto said indifferently.

"Never better," he responded, though his words were vaguely slurred.

"That was very good, I'm seeing a lot of improvement," Shoto acknowledge, the complement sounded so foreign coming from someone as strenuous as he.

"I'm glad to hear it, though after two weeks of this brutality I'm still having trouble finding out why it is we spar so much. And why you drive me so hard," he said genuinely.

"Kid, you may not believe me when I tell you this, but a storm is brewing. Our sources say the other factions are getting riled up. There's a steady increase in civilian riots, cases of assault, and burglaries. And as if this wasn't a big enough mess, international ties are being strained with Brasstrone, Ranurmorne and Baderval stretching the Aspeuean shore brigade very thin. In times like these we have to be able to defend ourselves, as well as those around us." Izuku decided it was best not to argue, though he wished to protest that he of all people would never possess the influence to alter such dire circumstances.

"And what about Yoroi and Shanta, any luck getting into contact with them?" he asked, almost pleading. All that was given was a sullen shake of the head. Feeling as though he were trapped in a purgatory of sorts, with no information regarding his family and no means of helping Mellissa or Bakugou, he diverted his focus to training.