Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed the beginning of the revenge HPSC. Time for more! Plus the first meeting with Keigo's potential little sister? This one is gonna be a bit long
Disclaimer: I don't own MHA or its characters. Original characters are mine but that's it. Story is rated for sensitive subject matter and content both mentioned and written. Includes but is not limited to child abuse, drugs, violence, assault, rape and more.
Chapter 44- Settlement and Mila
Keigo loved the chairs at the Nakamura Lawfirm. Not just because the backs came down to fit his wings, but the seats extended for bigger clients. The armrests multiplied and collapsed into themselves for those with extra or limited appendages, and they raised and lowered more than other meeting room chairs to accommodate any height. Keigo thought the chairs rocked and a comfortable chair made all the difference in an angry or relaxed client.
Currently, he sat in one of the chairs with his mom and dad on his right, and his Uncle Akina on his left. Across the table was Nato of the Commission's legal department and two more of their lawyers. In the center of the table was a tray with juice drinks and tea pots as requested by everyone as they arrived and a whole lot of paperwork. Nero was not present as his attendance made Nato and the rest of the legal department on edge. Something about his imposing nature.
At the moment, Nato had finished expressing an apology to Keigo for the breach of contract and actions taken by Agent Bends. He assured the teenager and hero in training, that the Commission would never authorize something like that nor would they tolerate it. As a sign of their good will, they were prepared to settle the lawsuit outside of court however Keigo wished to settle it. As soon as the idea to sue the Commission had started, Akina had gotten a list from Keigo, with the help of his grandfather on what he wanted to settle the matter.
Akina waited for Nato to finish before smiling in a friendly manner. "Your apology is appreciated, and my client appreciates the lengths that the Commission is willing to go through to resolve this issue. Keigo has already informed me of what he would like to resolve this, and it's no more than he was promised by the Commission to begin with." A document was slid across the table to Nato. The lawyer looked between Akina and Keigo before peering at the page. Akina read from the top so if anything needed to be reworded or discussed, they would all be on the same page.
"My client would like to take the hero license exam as soon as possible instead of waiting until he is 18 years old. If he passes, he wants to work freelance as a hero under the Commission's pay and review until he is 18 and then open his own agency as stated in the original contract. And, as any other hero would, pay dues to the government and the Public Safety Commission. He would like to retain Sasha Makenzie as his Public Relations agent through the Commission until he has his own agency. Also, Keigo would like to continue to retain the support of the Research and Development department for supplies, equipment and his hero costume per his contract." Akina set his copy down and looked at Nato.
"In short, he wants to take the exam now, do hero work immediately and stop training for an internship that the Commission doesn't seem to want to give him. Once he is 18, as per the original contract, he will go his own way and be a hero with his own agency and the Commission can still boast that they trained him so that they can benefit from the publicity of his actions." Nato read and re read the document before making a few notes and looked at Keigo, asking.
"I have to make sure, there is nothing else your client wants? This list of demands will settle the lawsuit and bring everything into compliance?" Akina was about to speak before Keigo stood up. "I do have one more thing. I just thought about it while sitting here listening to all of this." It seemed as if every lawyer in the room had their pens at the ready to write down whatever Keigo was about to say. The teenager stood with his wings poised behind him to display their size, a tactic Sasha and Soji told him made him more confident. He looked sure of himself, chin up and eyes forward as he spoke. This was the same way he carried himself when he went over what he wanted for his costume design, and Nato had seen that video in preparation for this meeting.
"When my contract ends, the Heroes Public Safety Commission will leave my family alone. I'm not just talking about my mother and father." He motioned to his left. "I'm talking about my entire family. You don't come offering training. You don't come and take them away for any sort of programs or research. You don't approach them with any offers. If they come to you, that's their choice and I'll respect that. But not my future siblings, my cousins, my nieces or nephews, my children in the future, grandchildren. None. Once I turn 18 and have my own agency you leave my family alone unless they approach you." He stood with his golden eyes baring into Nato and the head of the Commission legal department could only stare in awe at the sharp, predatory authority that Keigo was showing.
It took a moment for Nato to speak, the room was silent until he did. "Alright. I'll take all of these demands to Madame President today. I don't see an issue with any of them, and I certainly appreciate the delicacy and loyalty you have shown to not only your family, but your agreements and ideals." Nato stood and as he did so, the other lawyers with him also stood. All three bowed at the waist to the teenager, low and respectful. Keigo blinked and looked at his parents a bit nervous as his wings twitched and Akina made a note as the three sat back down.
"We will take this back and have an answer for you as soon as possible. If there's nothing else, we should get going." Nato spoke and Akina stood up to walk them all out. As they left, Keigo blinked and looked towards Soji who was smiling as Azumi preened one of his wings. "Hey dad? Do you think they'll accept?" Soji looked at the blonde teenager and nodded as he motioned towards the door. "You basically said you wanted everything they promised you now instead of waiting another year. And they're still going to get what they wanted without being able to really do anything overtly backhanded." Keigo pursed his lips and looked at Azumi as she straightened and pinched feathers here and there.
"This also means you'll have time to come with us to meet Mila." Keigo was unable to stop his wings from flaring out as he grinned. "Is she the one you guys are going to adopt? When are you going? Where is it? What's she like?" Soji laughed and stood up to walk towards his own office. "Easy there, we aren't going until tomorrow. I'll get the file for her." While he was gone, Azumi pushed in chairs and gathered up paperwork for Akina, handing it all to him when he came back in. "I'm going to add your last minute request to the settlement document unless you need me for anything else?" Keigo shook his head no and got his hair ruffled by his uncle before they were all headed to the lobby.
Soji came out of his office with a folder which was handed to Keigo as he spoke. "Provided that we all seem to get along, we are looking at one big family visit tomorrow and then adoption soon after." Keigo read the file with a glance at the picture, eyebrows furrowing. She was almost 5 years old with white hair and bright blue eyes. It looked like she had black eyeliner and white eyeshadow on her face which made her eyes look bigger. Another picture showed her wings stretched out. Dark and bright blues with black tips and a streak of white through each wing. No living family as her father had died when she was born and her mother when she was 3. Her mother had been a sidekick although that information waa limited.
"It doesn't give any information on her mom and dad. And does she have a bluebird quirk? Isn't she going to freak out when she sees me since I'm a bird of prey?" Keigo asked with surprise as he looked at his parents. Azumi nodded and stepped up next to him. "We've been looking for more information on her parents but there just doesn't seem to be any. Also, she may have the animal features of a bluebird, but she hasn't developed any powers related to that yet. Remember my handsome birdy, you didn't manifest any powers with your feathers until you were 6. I don't think she can even fly."
Looking at the file, he handed it back to Soji and draped his arms around both of his parents. "I can't wait to meet her!"
/
The orphanage was on the other side of the city in another low income area with convenience stores and pawn shops around. Soji pulled into the parking lot of the orphanage and cut the engine on his Tesla as he peered up through the windshield at the washed out brick building surrounded by an iron fence that was over six feet tall. There was a yard off to the left away from the parking lot with dirt patches from lots of outdoor time playing, and old paint chipped playground equipment along one side of the yard. Azumi was sitting up front dressed in a purple blouse and jeans, with her black shoulder bag containing copies of paperwork they would need to submit to finish the adoption process if the visit went well. Keigo was in the back in a white halter top with black long sleeve shirt and cargo pants, his wings tight against his back so he could fit in the car comfortably as he watched out the window. Soji had picked them up after seeing a client at the office, so he was in a suit, taking his tie off and slipping it into the glove box as Keigo frowned from the back of the car commenting.
"I feel bad for these kids. This place looks like a prison." Azumi glanced back before double checking the paperwork. "It's a privately run orphanage, so unfortunately they don't get state funding beyond what a foster parent would get paid for taking care of children. Some children will only be here for a few weeks before going to individual family foster care or foster care in the country, so upkeep that costs too much would be put off for when they can do it." Soji frowned and stepped out of the car, opening the back door for Keigo. "From my understanding, Mila will only be here for another two weeks if she isn't adopted. After that, she'll get moved to a foster home in the country like most children with animal based quirks."
As the small family walked through the iron gates to the large brick house, Keigo couldn't help but pull his wings closer around him, feeling like he was walking into a cage. Soji rang the bell and Azumi took Keigo's arm. "If you feel uncomfortable just say something, you don't have to stay inside if it bothers you." The sixteen year old shrugged and stuffed his hands in his pants pockets. "I really want to meet her, so I'll deal with it, but thanks, mom." Azumi smiled at Keigo as the door opened to reveal a short overweight woman with grey hair in a plain green dress. She had large brown eyes that looked bigger than normal due to the thick lenses in her glasses. There was nothing about her that said friendly or motherly, leaving Keigo to wonder if she was the one who took care of the kids or not.
"You must be the Nakamuras, come to see Mila. Come in, come in." Soji smiled and stepped in, waiting for Azumi and Keigo. Once inside, she offered a hand to each of them. "I'm Shei Juto, the Auntie here. Me and my nephew, Po, we take care of all the little ones." Soji shook hands and introductions were handled before they were led down the hallway and up a short flight of steps to an office. It was painted in a plain white color with a green worn out carpet. A large desk with two armchairs facing it, a row of short filing cabinets, a pair of sofas facing each other with a box of toys and stuffed animals next to it and two small plastic chairs in a corner were the only pieces of furniture in the room.
Shei moved to sit at the desk, and ask about the paperwork that she needed to make copies of. Azumi and Soji started giving her paperwork and information so she could approve the visit and file the forms for the adoption. Keigo walked around the room curiously, ignoring the subtle comments made to Azumi and Soji about his wings and how much Mila and Keigo should get along since they were both birds, as if he wasn't there. Since this orphanage had mostly children with animal quirks, Keigo didn't think he would stand out so much and didn't like the assumptions just because they both had wings they should get along. Even his own parents weren't sure of that.
He peered out the window and saw a bunch of kids running out into the yard from, his wings twitching and then raising a bit as he saw a number of tails, ears, scales and fur. What he didn't see was a white haired girl with wings that they were supposed to meet. He had read the file with Azumi. Four years old, Mila Yusimoko had been born with an animal quirk that gave her the features of a bluebird. Keigo was excited to meet someone with a bird style quirk like his, and he was not very patient when he didn't have to be. As if sensing his confusion about the kids outside, Shei addressed him without looking up while filling out some parts of a document that was handed to Soji. "It's outside play time for them before lunch. Mila is in the girls dorm so she'll be able to come see you all once we get this done." Azumi nodded, although she glanced towards Keigo as he stayed near the window looking up at the sky instead of the kids running around outside.
"We're looking forward to it. Has Mila visited with other families since she got here?" Shei seemed to think and shook her head no. "I don't believe anyone has expressed interest in seeing her except for your family." There was a pause before Shei spoke in a much quieter tone. "You did already do the home evaluation correct?" Soji nodded. "Yes, we have it in the file, why?" Shei smiled and shook her head as if shaking off an idea. "Nevermind. We have everything we need to start filing. I'll go get Mila for you and then submit this. Just wait here." The old woman stood and then moved past them out into the hallway. Keigo watched her go before his wings fluttered and stretched a bit as he looked outside again. "After this, I want to fly home. This place feels like a cage." Azumi walked over and hugged him from behind. "I'm fine with that if your father is." Soji nodded as he moved to sit on the sofa and started sifting through the toy box next to it. "Sure, you have your quirk license and you know how to get home. You'll probably beat us there."
The office door opened and Shei walked back in, holding the door open as a small, thin child walked into the room. Soji stood from the sofa as Azumi and Keigo both turned, Keigo's eyes widened and his wings puffed up as they raised and poised around him. Some instinct in him seemed to be taking over as his pupils blew out wide. The little girl looked around the room and stared at the intense black and gold eyes of the blonde teenager with large red wings that seemed to double his size. As if reacting on their own, a set of small blue wings, each feather tipped and trimmed in black with a thick stripe of white along the middle came around like a small cape around her. She made a scared chirp as her shoulders came up near her ears in a similar gesture Keigo used to make.
Mila was almost 5 years old, with short white hair that stopped around her ears. Her eyes were bright blue with thin black lines that ended in rounded marks where Keigo's were pointed and she also had faded white shading coming off of the lines on the top and sides of her eyelids, similar to eyeshadow, giving her a soft wide bird eyed look. Her little white dress had blue stitching and bluebirds on the bottom edges and along the straps that came up over thin shoulders. Her dress stopped at her knees with her feet in stockings and white shoes, everything super clean and new compared to the rest of the office and building.
Azumi looked between them both and gently put a hand on Keigo's forearm. Activating her quirk, she spoke gently as she smiled and addressed Mila. "Hello Mila. It's very nice to meet you." Keigo blinked hearing Azumi's voice and his wings relaxed as her quirk cut through to relax him. He took a deep breath and remembered his training and smiled brightly, his wings moving to his back to appear non threatening as he got his instincts under control. The little girl looked at Shei and was pushed forward gently into the room. Azumi crouched down and held out a hand for the little girl to take. Mila looked at Soji, then Keigo and then Azumi, the effects of Azumi's quirk worked almost instantly for everyone in the room who heard her voice as Mila's wings relaxed behind her. She reached out to take Azumi's hand as she smiled shyly. "Hello. Nice to meet you."
Shei smiled as she watched Soji, Azumi and Keigo introduce themselves to Mila, who was still shy but her little wings were flapping excitedly with each question and conversation she was having now. She latched onto Azumi's hand quickly, sitting next to her most of the time and glancing at her often as if memorizing Azumi's posture and look. Soji read a few books for her, asking about things she liked and didn't like while Keigo watched. Azumi took some time to try and ask Shei some questions about medical history and clarifying questions regarding the history of Mila's family. The only person that hadn't done much of any interaction with Mila was Keigo, who kept watching her from different parts of the room as if trying to figure something out.
Keigo finally seemed to shake himself out of his own thoughts as he walked over and crouched down in front of Mila as she sat on the sofa. The teenager blinked at her as he tilted his head to the right in a bird like gesture. Mila tried to hide a smile as she looked at him and mimicked his gesture, her head tilting to the left. He smirked a bit and turned his head to the left, which caused her to turn her head to the right so she could keep watching him. Keigo shuffled a bit closer to where she was sitting on the sofa and his wings curved around him like sails still crouched down, her eyes going to them as she talked quietly. "Can you fly?" He nodded and glanced at her wings. "Yes I can, can you?" Mila shook her head no, eyes back on him. As if to show him, she moved one wing around to curve in front of her and he reached a hand out to gently touch the tips of her wings speaking gently.
"Are these trimmed? Your primary and tertiary feathers look shorter than they should. Like they're all cut the same lengths. " Mila nodded and ran her fingers along them. "They had to be cut to fit the holes in my dress. It's a new dress, but even when they are long I can't fly. I tried to jump off the slide once and fell down." Keigo nodded as if he understood. "I wasn't able to fly until I was almost 6 so you have a bit. But now I fly so fast I'm going to a hero. " Her eyes widened and she scooted closer to the edge of the sofa and closer to Keigo. "Reality?" He nodded and with a thought, some of his feathers detached tk begin circling them both. A few fluttered like flower petals and butterflies Mila suddenly giggled for the first time since coming into the room.
She hopped off the sofa and started trying to catch the feathers as Keigo laughed and watched her. He had such perfect control of his feathers, Keigo was able to manipulate them to zip around Mila, dodge her attempts to grab them and still follow her around the room, scooping her up into his arms. Mila squealed and then began to chirp as her wings flapped quickly from how happy she was, arma out still trying to catch the feathers that were returning to Keigo's wings. Feeling much more comfortable, Mila looked into Keigo's eyes as she rested her hands on his shoulders as she chirped at him. Blinking, Keigo leaned down to rest his forehead against hers and chittered in return. Her little wings flapped quickly as she chirped and whistled in between giggles and Keigo found himself laughing and chirping back at her.
Soji looked at Azumi, who was smiling brightly at the two chirping back and forth.
"Zumi, I'm pretty sure that's a successful family meeting."
