A/N: This has been sitting in my google docs for about a year, I want to break my writing hiatus. I will try to keep close to canon while taking some liberties.
The Red Door was a strip club down in Kamino. It wasn't exactly a high class joint with the dingy red LED lights that gave credence to the club's name, or the grungy atmosphere that apparently added to the allure.
It was discreet enough that a few off duty heroes could slink in, but it was also a favorite spot for back alley names to come in and do business or have a few drinks. The heroes that usually came in pretended to not notice if there were illegal drugs being dealt. It's not like they were big names anyways, and the drugs would just come back in so there was no point in doing anything about it.
Nora looked at herself in the mirror, trying to not cringe at how she looked. She had to wear a ridiculous amount of concealer to conceal her eyebags or else the smoky purple eye makeup would have made them stick out far more. She could appreciate how the makeup made her grey eyes pop, or how it coordinated with her dark plum hair. On the other hand she didn't have to appreciate how her real self was hidden behind the layers of makeup.
"Evening kitty cat~" Her coworker chimed, walking in and fanning herself. Nora glanced at her and smiled. She liked the girls she worked with at least. They supported each other, since they all knew at the end of the night they were pieces of meat for the customers to gawk at. The nickname came from the black cat tattoo Nora had behind her left ear, and the cat knuckle keychain she carried around. Ironically she associated herself with black cats and found comfort in them.
"Think we might get some off duty pros tonight? I really hope so," Lux, as she never told anyone her real name, fixed her eyeshadow before wiggling her eyebrows at Nora. "I love seeing them here off duty." Lux liked to change up her appearance every night. Sometimes her brows were thin and dainty, sometimes they were thick and stylized. She wore colored eye contacts and wigs, sometimes even changed her face with just makeup. Nora figured she didn't want to be recognized out of work and she really couldn't blame her.
"I think the hell not, I rather not have to hear Seiren ramble about some of them and have to bite my tongue." Nora snorted in response. "There's nothing like seeing them at the club. I mean, some are nice and are just here for the drinks, but then some are dogs. Then you see them on TV and it's just...ew." She shuddered. "Remember that one guy? Who tried getting me to come home with him? Tried to get self righteous when I said no?" Nora wasn't particularly proud to be a waitress here and occasionally a stripper, but she hated when it was thrown in her face.
This is the only option I have. One look at my quirk registration and employers throw my resume in the trash.
Lux hummed in sympathy. She got her fair share of bad customers too, which is why she preferred the stage instead of the floor. She fluffed up her hair. "Well, they're people too, you know? Oh I'd love to see Endeavor here, he looks stiff but those thighs, Nora, those thighs." She sighed dramatically. "He's got a nice tush too." Nora threw a cotton pad at her and laughed when Lux caught it expertly and just used it to fix the edge of her eyeshadow. "Come on kitty cat, you have to find at least one of them attractive." Nora rolled her eyes.
"I'm trying to get my master's, I'll leave the thirsting for heroes to you Lux." Seeing the disappointed look in her fellow worker's eyes she sighed and just leaned against the counter. She scanned her mental list of the heroes she didn't outright hold in contempt. Maybe she was too cynical but heroism lost its charm to her a long time ago. "Alright. Edgeshot."
"Edgeshot?!" Nora tried to not laugh at Lux's jaw dropping before her head went back into laughter. "I knew it, you have a thing for mysterious men. Here you were dissing my online romance stories…"
Nora shook her head smiling faintly. "Nah, I just like how he keeps his personal life away from the public and out of his work. It's how it should be." Seeing her disappointed again Nora just smiled. "And okay...his arms are pretty nice. I wouldn't mind being held in them." Lux giggled at her and Nora went to fix her stockings and the straps holding them up. She looked back up at her coworker who was dabbing some glitter on her collarbones. "By the way...your online romance stories continue to describe mouths as caverns and eyes as orbs, I can diss them all I want."
"Oh, listen here Miss Future Librarian-"
"What's wrong babygoooorl?" Nora dragged out, grinning as she shamelessly mocked a steamy mafia romance movie Lux used to have an obsession with. She got a makeup brush to her head for her trouble making her laugh. For a moment the other woman's glare didn't let up until it did and she laughed too.
"Whatever, oh by the way can I borrow your setting spray?" Nora took the small can from her bag and tossed it to Lux. "Thanks kitty cat, by the way how is your cousin? How's she liking her work study with Lionskin?"
Seiren Nakano, aka Ferroh, was a young hero student. Nora hated that the person she loved most and held most dear to her heart was on the path to becoming a hero but she couldn't deny her cousin's dream. She supposed it helped that she knew Seiren had good intentions and plans as a hero. She always went on about starting a program to help people, she sincerely believed the best way to defeat villainy was to prevent them from being created. Nora just wished Seiren had gone to any other agency, Lionskin was one of those heroes who enjoyed the cameras too much.
According to Seiren, the man had photos of himself on his desk. If that's not self absorbed...
"She's doing great." Nora answered after a moment. "I was worried, his agency and patrols keep them in a rough area but she's been doing well." Lux hummed to show she was listening. "He's pushing her towards modeling but that's never been her thing." Nora couldn't help the fond smile forming as she thought about her cousin who preferred being in a workshop, either working on new inventions to work alongside her quirk or helping out her dad with a car. Seiren could control small metal objects. With some creativity she found ways to make her quirk more versatile and was able to do a lot of good with it despite being just a student.
Nora may not like most heroes these days but her cousin dreamed of being one and was well on her way. Seiren would be one of the good ones, she knew it.
"That's good to hear, she's sticking to it." Lux commented before rolling her eyes hearing her signal to get ready to go out. "Ah, another round. Maybe it'll be my lucky night and I'll get to see a cute hero all flustered~" She winked. Nora snorted and gave a salute as Lux winked, walking out in her after touching up her looks. She glanced at herself in the mirror again and overlooked her appearance again.
She tugged at the end of the impossibly short, tight fitting, dress before giving up and just grabbing her tray. She had thoughts about putting her hair up but she decided she'd feel better about herself if it was down. Her hair was long enough to cover her upper back and gave her some coverage. Nora bit her lip and ran her fingers through it. You won't be here forever, you're going to get your degree and get a job. Do your part, stay out of the important people's way. Then she put on a sultry smile and walked out with her tray hoping the night went by fast.
"Why don't we ever see you up there dancing?" One of her regulars chimed in, not being subtle at all as he eyed her up and down. She plastered on a pretty smile and leaned in. She felt his fingers tuck a tip in her stockings garter and did her best to not cringe. She was used to it, Nora knew what came with this kind of job, but that didn't mean she had to like it.
"But then I can't come up close and see you myself." She answered winking even if she just mentally gagged at her response and slid his drink in front of him. "Be careful, I don't want to have to cut you off." She warned playfully before getting back to the floor, making her rounds and glanced around. She rolled her eyes seeing the bouncer looking half asleep, she seriously wondered where the boss found this guy. Their regular bouncer was taking time off due to a broken leg. She missed him. He did his job and the girls felt safe with him. Sleepy on the other hand...
She walked over to the bouncer and dipped her fingers into some ice water before flicking it at him. He jolted awake and she raised a brow. "Hey, I didn't realize you were being paid to sleep. Guys at table five are getting drunk and when they get drunk they get handsy." She warned him. She didn't miss the glare he sent her way but she didn't care. She hated this job all the same but it paid the bills and her student loans. "Stay awake. I'll bring you coffee if I have to but don't let me catch you sleeping again." He was about to say something but Nora didn't have time to deal with him.
She headed off to tend to her other tables before glancing at Lux on a pole with a few other girls, dancing and earning a few cheers. She noticed Nora and blew her a kiss, making her chuckle. Lux then went back to dancing, briefly entertaining the tipsy men close to the stage.
As Nora waited for the bartender to give her the drinks, she overheard a few people sitting on the stools talking. They exchanged laughs and jokes, but then their conversation shifted. "You know there's some maniac running around, attacking heroes?"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously! What's the world come to now that we have some serial killer hunting people? He probably got rejected to be a hero and he's just bitter, what a joke."
Nora sighed listening to this and just shook her head. She placed all of the prepared drinks on her tray ready to bring it to the tables waiting for their second round. Then she heard a yelp and immediately whipped her head around to see Lux trip as one of the tipsy men near the stage had grabbed her ankle and yanked. A few gasps ran out but no one did anything as Lux tried getting the man to let go of her.
Nora tried to look for the bouncer but she didn't see him. Immediately she felt her blood boil but her first priority was the woman trying to get away from the drunk customer.
"Hey! Get the fuck off her!" Nora splashed a glass's contents over the man's head. Lux managed to wrench herself free of the man but fell on the floor, scrambling backwards. However the customer immediately turned to Nora, clocking her right across the cheek. She fell against the table but she barely noticed the bouncer finally running over. She felt hot anger run through her to the point her arms trembled, but she knew she couldn't act out, not if she wanted to keep her job. She felt purple sparks flicker weakly around her fingers so she quickly envisioned a treasure chest, and her hand forcing it shut. She clamped her eyes shut until the anger melted away and in came the somewhat pleasant numbness.
Keep it controlled, keep it controlled…
When she finally opened her eyes the customer was already being restrained and she was being helped up by her boss. She glanced over at Lux and saw her being helped. Her boss patted Nora's back and told her to just take the night off, go home and ice her face. She barely heard the slew of insults being flung her way. She just made her way to her locker in the back room, wincing as she pulled on her warmer flannel jacket. It got cold this late at night, especially in her little dress.
Even as she kept thinking of holding the chest closed, she barely noticed the pitiful looks she got nursing her cheek. Do your part, control and isolate yourself when needed, stay out of the way. Play your role. She often told this to herself. It was something she accepted ever since she realized at a young age quirk discrimination existed, and more so when she was thrown out of home at only age thirteen. People like her just need to fade into the background, and let the shadows be casted over them. As much as she wished to fight, or lash out, she couldn't. Be a good girl Nora.
The drugstore wasn't so far. She entered and thankfully there weren't a lot of people, just the cashier and a few people tiredly scanning the aisles for snacks. The first thing she noticed was the fridge with cold drinks and she made a beeline towards that. She didn't even bother holding back an eye roll at all of the bottles having All Might's face on them. She just grabbed a water and figured she should pick up some instant ramen before she leaves, heading to the next aisle. She heard the door to the pharmacy open and close but she didn't give them a glance.
Nora clutched the cold water bottle to her face, staring at the wall filled with ointments and first aid creams. She noticed cream specifically for bruising and grabbed that, huffing as she heard someone come up next to her. Then the smell of cinnamon hit her and she looked over to see her beaming cousin. The peppy sixteen year old with bright doe blue eyes and thick brown double fishtail braids seemed out of place next to her older cousin with messed up makeup and ripped stockings.
"Hey Nora! You just got off work huh?" Seiren must have just got off patrol herself. The hero student looked tired but she still was smiling. Her hero uniform must have been in her backpack since she was just wearing jeans and her favorite Gang Orca sweater. She loved that hero and had dreams of working at his agency even if in the end she ended up with Lionskin. Nora gave a nod and slight smile, turning to face her a bit.
"I just came in here for munchies, I didn't think I'd see you- wait are you okay?" Seiren frowned and moved her hand to see Nora's face better. "Oh my goodness, did someone hit you? Where- I'm off duty but I can still call-" Seiren squeaked when Nora yanked her into a hug. Whenever she started to ramble, Nora cut her off or else she'd be running around trying to solve everything at once. Seiren was fueled by the need to help and fix everything but sometimes needed someone to grab her and say, 'it's okay'.
"I'm fine Ren, besides you should see the other guy." Nora patted her head and fixed her braids before smiling. "You don't have class tomorrow right? Come stay with me for a few hours, I could use a hero to walk me home anyways." She hated heroes but Seiren naturally didn't count. The younger girl didn't seem totally convinced but she wasn't going to argue being with Nora.
"Okay, I can sleep over actually, I have spare clothes in my bag anyways. If that's not a problem?" Seiren asked.
Nora smiled and tapped her nose lightly. "Of course you can kiddo, you know I love having you over. How does burnt stir fry sound for dinner?" Seiren scrunched her nose making Nora laugh as she purchased her water and ointment. "I'm joking, my cooking's gotten better I swear. I'm trying, I'm watching videos and everything." Nora was pretty sure she deserved a restraining order from every kitchen on the planet, so her cousin's wince was completely understandable. "Come on, let's go."
After a shower and change of clothes, Nora felt at ease making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It was the one thing she knew she couldn't mess up. Seiren was all huddled with her on the couch as they munched on their sandwiches, and cartoons played in the background. Nora half expected her cousin to pass out after eating her sandwich but she surprisingly ate another one.
"Lionskin has me on a strict diet. Today is my cheat day, fight me!" Seiren declared loading up on extra jelly and peanut butter. Nora shrugged. As far as she's concerned, Seiren could eat what she wanted. The girl always had a healthy appetite so she wanted to know why she had to go on a strict diet all of a sudden. Seiren was halfway through that second sandwich before she paused and lowered it. Her chipper attitude faded into the face of a girl who was holding back. "...Nora? Can I talk to you about something?"
"You know you always can." She answered before she actually noticed her expressions. Seiren had a distant look in her eyes, something was bothering her. "Ren?"
Seiren clutched onto her sandwich tightly before sighing and curling up on the couch. "I don't want to seem ungrateful...I'm nothing but grateful Lionskin offered me a place at his agency. I've learned so much, I've gotten many opportunities." Nora frowned hearing this. "I kept telling myself you were wrong about him and heroes, sure they're famous and kind of like celebrities but a hero is a hero, right?" She started, voicing growing softer and softer as she went on. "But...this patrol I just got off of...it made it more clear that you were right all along. Lionskin just doesn't care. This guy we apprehended today, the way he talked about him, it was disgusting."
Nora wasn't surprised. "He doesn't care about people, he just wants fame and reputation. I always ask him, how do we prevent villains from becoming villains? How can we help people? We're heroes, that can't mean just beating up the bad guys if we can help them first, right?" Seiren continued. "He always just tells me with heroes around, that should be more than enough inspiration for people to not act up." She looked down. "I'm sorry- it's just- I'm questioning everything these days…it's just that if this is what it means to be a hero, is it worth it? How does someone so selfish become a hero? And what if...what if I end up like that?"
"He's a hero because he has a good quirk, and a pretty face, he's easy to sell." Nora snorted but noticed Seiren's shoulders droop further. "I'm sorry Ren, but that's just the truth of it. But...that doesn't mean you have to be like him. Remember, you're only sixteen. You'll have more opportunities open up to you soon. And look," Nora sighed and scooted closer. "You're a good kid. You have your heart in the right place. The fact that you're feeling all of this now? That's a good sign. It means you really do care."
Seiren slowly nodded, staring at her sandwich. Nora watched her for a moment longer and went to go put on the kettle. Hot cocoa seemed to be a good idea right now. "Hero society? It's a load of bullshit. I've always believed in that. You however? And others like you who care? They give hope. You're all valuable. So just promise me you'll be the hero you want to be, okay?" Nora looked back at her and felt relieved seeing Seiren nod and look up.
"You're right. I can only learn from this. Just don't be like Lionskin! Prove him wrong!" Seiren's mood picked up again making Nora smile. "Thanks Nora...you know you may hate heroes but you've...you've always been one to me. You always know what to say, and you always have my back."
Nora came back over and leaned against the couch as she turned to face Seiren more. She gave her a soft smile and tilted her head. "Ren, I had nothing before you. Nobody cared about me until your mom found me, and offered me a home." It was the truth. Nora was just turning fifteen when Seiren's mother finally found her and took her in. She had to survive the streets, being preyed upon, and avoid people to avoid being labeled as a villain if her quirk acted up. She lost count of how many fights she had gotten into just for survival.
Then Seina Nakano, a sister of her mother, finally found her after searching for six months. She started her search after trying to reconnect with Nora's mother only to discover what she had done to her own daughter. She was taken in and given a home. It was an abrupt change to be alone and cold, then to be with family and warm, but it was a change she was so grateful for.
One year later, Seina passed away in a car accident. All Nora could think of was that it was her fault, she had done something, so the next chance she got she distanced herself from her uncle and cousin. She saved money and moved into a rundown apartment, got a job she hated but paid the bills, and tried to focus on her schooling. Unfortunately for her, her cousin was stubborn and refused to let Nora be alone all over again.
Seiren scooted closer to her. "You've always been a big sister to me." She admitted quietly. "I know...I know your quirk is supposed to be bad luck but...I don't believe for a second it could ever hurt me." Nora frowned and overlooked her. "I know that's why you left. You think...well you're wrong. I see it in your eyes, you're afraid." Nora sighed.
"Ren-"
"I see the scars on your wrists, you hide them but I can see them. I wish...I wish things were better, so you didn't have to hole up in here. You don't want to hurt anyone so you lock yourself away- and- and that's bullshit. You deserve to be happy, not scared or lonely." Seiren pointed out. Nora just bit her lip and took the dishes to the kitchen.
"What did you do?!" Her mother shook five year old Nora by the shoulders, yelling at her as the little girl panicked. Another child was quickly being scurried away by the paramedics. "You made a boy fall on scissors?! Just last week the swingset collapsed and hurt four other children, were you behind that too?!"
"N-No Mama- I was just trying to get them to stop laughing-"
"Nora! Everyone thinks I'm raising a villain because of you!"
"Nora, sweetheart," Her teacher smiled nervously at the little girl. "You like to read? Here's a new book that just came in, why don't you read it for me?" Nora frowned as the other children ran outside for recess. She wanted to go outside, why couldn't she go outside and play? She liked the jungle gym. Then she looked at the teacher's eyes and saw it. The fear.
"...okay…"
Nora exited the kitchen and looked at Seiren right in the eyes. "I'm playing my role Ren. I have a villainous quirk, so I'm staying away from trouble and I'm certainly not trying to be something I'm not, which is a hero. I'm being a good girl, and keeping away. That's what is expected of me." Seiren opened her mouth, as if she wanted to argue, but Nora just set steaming mugs of cocoa with whipped cream on the table. "Now enough of the serious talk, let's just...any cute boys or girls?" Nora tried to not laugh at Seiren's flabbergasted look.
"But Nora-"
"Ah ah, come on tell me."
Seiren looked as if she wanted to press the other issue further but decided tonight wasn't the night. "Ugh...no. I don't have time for crushes!" She pouted and looked around spotting Nora's old guitar. A lightbulb went off and Seiren quickly made an innocent puppy face. "Can you sing for me? I love when you play and sing!"
Nora had a love for music. Music and literature were her major comforts. "You sure?" Nora raised a brow and walked over to pick it up. The base of it was being held together by duct tape however it was still the best purchase she ever made from a thrift store. She sat back down and Seiren watched gleefully cradling her cocoa. "...alright, anything for you Ren. Any requests?" Seiren thought it over and just shrugged.
"Alright, my choice." Nora thought of a song she recently started listening to. She liked the slowed down version she found on the internet. She figured she could do that, so she started plucking at the strings carefully.
"I wanna take you somewhere so you know I care
But it's so cold and I don't know where
I brought you daffodils in a pretty string
But they won't flower like they did last spring
And I wanna kiss you, make you feel alright
I'm just so tired to share my nights
I wanna cry and I wanna love
But all my tears have been used up"
Nora's voice stayed soft, somewhat raspy, as she sang. Maybe a piece of her heart went into song, thinking of what she wanted and how she felt.
"On another love, another love
All my tears have been used up
On another love, another love
All my tears have been used up
On another love, another love
All my tears have been used up
Oh oh
And if somebody hurts you, I wanna fight
But my hands been broken, one too many times
So I'll use my voice, I'll be so fucking rude
Words they always win, but I know I'll lose"
Seiren overlooked Nora's knuckles, lined with small scars. It was proof showing how many fights her older cousin had gotten into on the streets. The somewhat newer scars on her wrists depicted a much different kind of fight.
"And I'd sing a song, that'd be just ours
But I sang 'em all to another heart
And I wanna cry I wanna learn to love
But all my tears have been used up
On another love, another love
All my tears have been used up
On another love, another love
All my tears have been used up
On another love, another love
All my tears have been used up"
"I love you Nora." Nora stopped playing and looked at Seiren who had slowly started tearing up. "I just want you to be happy. I'm sorry I-" Nora set down her guitar and pulled her into a hug, rubbing the younger girl's back as she started crying softly. "I love you!"
"I love you too Seiren, my baby sis…" She murmured in return. Nora wasn't happy with her life, but as long as she just had the person she loved the most, she believed she would be okay.
It was amazing and tragic how one phone call could flip your life. Nora was just at home, enjoying her one day off and cleaning her tiny apartment. Her phone started ringing. Her only thought was that her boss was trying to get her cover a shift again and just rolled her eyes until she looked and saw it was her uncle.
Figuring maybe he was just checking in on her, she picked it up only to hear his frantic voice.
"Seiren's in the hospital, please- please come quick!"
Nora spotted her uncle immediately as she ran into the hospital, her heart sinking seeing the normally happy man looking distraught. He was a beefy biker with a thick brown beard, but he had a smile that made him look like a nice warm teddy bear. It seemed out of place to see him wracked with...grief?
"What happened?!" She pleaded with him, hugging him and trying to make sense of the situation.
"You weren't watching the news?" She shook her head. She rarely turned on the TV on her days off. "There- There was this villain, an incident- Lionskin barely got there in time-" Nora's eyes widened as she watched him break down. "Seiren- she didn't stand a chance, she's just a kid against this monster! She wouldn't leave- she wouldn't leave though, she was trying to help people evacuate-"
Her attention was caught by the doctors and nurses rushing in and out. Her world seemed to slow down as she comprehended what had happened.
A villain attacked a shopping center. Seiren was outclassed, but refused to leave or wait for someone else to get there, not when there were civilians in danger. Lionskin for whatever reason was late in showing up to help his intern, and it cost her dearly.
By the time he did arrive, she was already brutalized and near the point of death. When she finally came out of surgery, Nora's heart stopped when she got a look at her. Her right arm, up to her elbow, was completely gone. The hearing in her left ear was gone and the ear itself was mutilated. A large scar marred the left side of Seiren's youthful face, and she looked so frighteningly pale from the blood loss.
As if that wasn't bad enough...she was in a coma. She had received horrible head trauma and even though her vitals were steady again, she hadn't shown one sign of waking up. Nora felt her blood run cold and didn't even feel the tears leaving her. Her uncle cried, hugging his daughter's hand pleading to whoever to not take his daughter too.
The coldness that ran through Nora started to cut into her. ...where the hell was Lionskin? Where the hell were other heroes? She thought. She knew the area wasn't exactly a good one, it had less hero patrols compared to other city districts, but how on earth could this happen? Why was a sixteen year old girl left alone to patrol? HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED TO HER?!
Nora felt horrible pain as she dropped to her knees. The pain in her chest became unbearable, and everything just started to hurt. She sobbed, rocking back and forth. Purple sparks flickered around her and she just felt an officer who had come in quickly grab her.
"Mind your quirk." He tried to sound sympathetic, but it just sounded forced in her ears. Nora's lip quivered. She desperately wanted to lash out, tell him to fuck off, let her mourn, let her grieve instead of bottling like she always did, but she didn't. She pictured the treasure chest again and pictured forcing it closed as much as it made her heart hurt. A pleasant numbness welcomed her as she pushed down her tears, barely listening to the officer speaking to her uncle over the incident.
She let herself feel nothing but a hollow emptiness as she continued forcing that mental treasure chest close, walking out of the hospital before she did something she couldn't undo.
Lionskin gave a tearful apology to the public. "I wasn't fast enough, Ferroh was my best intern- to her family and friends, I am so sorry. I swear I will never let anything like this happen again!" It was so fake. So forced. Yet the public gobbled it up anyways. Nora had to keep picturing her treasure chest, forcing it closed and resorted to drinking just to feel something other than the numbness that started consuming her. The pain just didn't do anything anymore.
Her coworkers stared at her as if waiting for her to go off. Lux tried covering her shifts but Nora showed up anyways, faking a smile and just taking the hits as they came. In return, they all decided to pretend they didn't hear Nora forcing tears down in the bathroom, or her needing to step aside for her breathing exercises.
She wanted to scream, she just wanted to howl until everything crumbled around her. She couldn't though. She knew she couldn't, because letting it all out? That was dangerous. All she knew was that her emotions added onto her quirk, so she had to keep control. Instead of grieving, she drank. Instead of talking, she just curled up in her bathtub or in a closet. She felt away from everyone when she did that.
"Take care Nora!" She heard as she exited the club. Her heels were hurting her feet tonight but the pain was nothing to her. She stared up at the night sky and listened to the distant sirens. Her lip trembled and she forced her eyes straight ahead. Everyone at work had been talking over the Hero Killer and his capture. Lux had even found the video of him that kept being taken down. Nora had listened to it half heartedly. Weeks ago she would have been more interested but right now she couldn't barely bring herself to feel anything.
What does it mean to be a hero, huh? Shame you didn't kill Lionskin Stain…
Lionskin's quirk was Nemean Lion. He could transform into a monstrous lion with impenetrable fur and he had powerful razor sharp claws. He could release a thunderous roar that usually stunned his opponents in close rage. Nora figured since Stain worked with blades, he wouldn't be a good match for him. What a shame…
Nora walked tiredly without a care. She glanced upwards again but instead of a glimpse of the stars, she saw someone sitting on the edge of a building. She frowned and stopped walking, eyes narrowing once she saw who exactly it was. She didn't stop to question if she should actually go talk to him, or confront him, her feet just moved on her own until she found herself on that rooftop.
Lionskin had taken notice of her and gotten up. He had a thick golden mane of blonde hair that was long. He had deep honey brown eyes that looked smoldering under the right lighting. He had a physique you would expect of a hero. The way he dressed had nothing but confidence coming from him, with his cropped shirt and pants. She snorted at the sight of him.
"Usually I like my private time, but I'll make an exception for you." He winked overlooking her, his eyes clouding in interest. Nora wasn't bothered. She was used to comments and looks. Not to be vain, but she knew she was conventionally attractive. She had an hourglass, she dressed like Jessica Rabbit once at her job for a Halloween event and everyone loved it. Her looks were what helped her get the job in the first place, so even if it bothered her at first no amount of leering could phase her now. "So clearly you're a fan, why don't you tell me your name?" She could tell he clearly wanted more than her name.
Nora stared him down and felt a wave of disgust. "Seiren Nakano." She answered sharply. She felt satisfaction in seeing him blink in confusion before wincing.
"Ha...uh...that's the name of my intern…"
"I know. I'm her cousin." She said. She watched him stiffen more before his demeanor changed.
"Wait, wait- Oh! I think she's mentioned you before. Huh, I never knew she had a cousin this pretty-" He noticed how unimpressed she was. "...listen, I am sorry for what happened to her. She was my intern, she's a good kid. Did you come up here to talk about her or something?" He asked and she just felt her temper flare.
She wasn't sure why but the words just spilled out. "How? Why? Why was she alone? Why did you not come to her aid faster? Where the fuck were you?" She asked, voice trembling. Lionskin looked away with a sigh. She clenched her fists and walked forward. "Where were you?! She had to have her arm amputated, she might not wake up, her hearing in one ear is fucking gone because of the head injury, where the fuck were you?! Hero student or not, she's a sixteen year old girl!"
"Listen!" He snapped at her, eyes flaring. "Hero work calls for sacrifices sometimes. So what, I encouraged Ferroh to try patrolling an area on her own. And if I knew a villain was going to be attacking that area…" Her eyes widened as he went on. "I needed a distraction and Ferroh would never back down-"
"You used her as bait?" Her voice was frail at first. She tried to not imagine Seiren patrolling along. She tried not to imagine how quickly her priority would be the civilians, or how quickly she would sacrifice herself just so they could all escape. "Oh my god...you used her as- as-"
"I needed to catch the guy." Lionskin shrugged and something about his coldness made her blood freeze. "I got a tip he was going to be there, and I wanted to ensure he actually showed up-"
"You used Seiren as fucking bait!"
"Listen, the guy is captured and it took longer than I thought to get there." Lionskin glanced at her and scratched the back of his neck as if this was just a minor upset. "Are we done here?" He just glared at her as if she was an annoyance then he realized something. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ah, I just realized something. If you go around telling people what I just told you...well I doubt they would believe you, but with everything going with that lame Hero Killer...I can't risk it."
Nora knew what that meant. Two years on the street let her know what that meant, she had witnessed it countless times, especially in the areas ripe with crime and remnants of the Yakuza. "You're- Seriously? You're going to kill me? Little me? A fucking nobody?" Nora walked backwards, taking out her pocket knife as discreetly as she could.
"Lionskin would never. This is a bad area, it's late at night, you're a little lady all by yourself...you get the picture. A thug or low class villain got their hands on you. Tragic." Lionskin shrugged approaching her. Nora quickly struck once he got close but her eyes widened when her knife just glanced off him. He's...he's untouchable even in this form? She thought it was only when he transformed.
He laughed. "Cute. But not enough. I promise I'll make it quick-" She dodged him and tried to rethink her plan, panic and anger hitting her as she tried figuring it out. Maybe if she screamed loud enough? She yelped dodging him again, fear hitting her as she realized he was way faster than her. Normally she could defend herself against most people, she had experience from the streets and she took classes over the years. But...this was a man who was immune to any type of damage.
A hand gripped her throat and Nora yelped, being lifted up from the ground. "If it makes you feel any better, I am sorry. I mean, I don't like hurting the ladies." He said, squeezing her throat. Nora's heart started racing.
If she had paid any attention, she would have noticed the purple sparks flickering around her hand and up to where she held the knife. That same hand wildly swung out and suddenly she was dropped to her back. She gasped and sucked in air greedily, crawling backwards.
Lionskin pulled the knife out of his arm, yelling out in pain. He's never so much as suffered a cut before, this was new to him. He stared at her little pocket knife, and then at her. "How- How the fuck- you little witch!" He snapped at her, tossing it aside. "I don't know who you are, or what your quirk is, but you don't make me fucking bleed! I've fought all kinds of villains, I won't let myself bleed because of a fucking nobody slut!" He snapped her, ranting as he went into a rage that she managed to hurt him.
Nora was scrambling backwards. "I didn't- no- I can't have-" She didn't understand either, her quirk was just bad luck, she was confused but terrified as she realized she was dealing with a furious hero. She stood up but found herself at the ledge of the building. Her heart was racing and when she turned around she screamed when he was right in her face.
He didn't say anything. He just stared at her hatefully before the next thing she knew, she was falling, the wind ripping through her hair and she barely managed to scream while purple sparks flickered out. Her back collided into something, and her vision went completely black.
"Is she dead?"
"What a shame, she's a pretty one."
Nora's eyes shot open, and she sat up quick enough to startle the two men hovering over her. She landed on a pile of cushioned trash bags, her harsh fall having been broken in probably the most humiliating manner possible. Her hands shook as she touched her head, feeling torn between feeling numb or throbbing with dull pain. She couldn't decipher it. "Lady, you okay? We should get her to a hospital." One of the men reached for her but she shot to her feet, stumbling and hands finding the wall to steady her. They called out to her but her hand clumsily smacked the air in front of them.
Her heels clacked clumsily against the ground as she stumbled her way past them, pain all over her body. She started limping not long after, her ankles screaming in protest at her weakened body in painful heels. She received plenty of stares as she exited the alley but it was early morning so most just continued on with traffic. Her warm, flannel jacket hung low on her arms. Normally the exposure considering she was still in her cutout work dress would have embarrassed her but she couldn't even process the warm sun touching the skin of her back.
Nora made it to her building, climbing up the stairs only falling twice, clutching her keys. She didn't know why, she just felt the need to go home. It was safe at home. Once she closed the door softly after her she dropped her keys and jacket to the ground. "I'm home…" she murmured. In her daze, she made it to her little kitchen and filled a cup with water. Immediately upon taking a gulp she spat it out. The coldness stung her teeth, and she had to slowly sip it before dropping the cup.
She felt a pain in her chest as she fumbled with her fridge. She took out leftover chicken she had from the other night and slowly ate it, uncaring if it was cold and the breading somewhat soggy. As she closed the fridge she saw Seiren's smiling face pinned on the door. A photograph of her in her hero costume. 'I couldn't have made it without your support!'
She got more of a pain in her chest and she shoved the chicken into the counter. She ripped open a cabinet and found the bottle of whiskey she kept for special occasions only. It took her a moment but she got it opened and took a long swig despite the burning on the back of her throat. She coughed but moved from the kitchen in a daze, moving as if she was zombie or mummy. The silence was starting to irritate her so she went to her radio.
Once it flicked on she turned to get her heels off, nearly tipping over a few times but she managed to kick them off and tossed them to a corner of the room. She could barely hear anything but the static cleared and suddenly it played crystal clear.
"Support your local heroes and the hard work they put in for our community!" She slammed a hand on her radio, trying to find another channel. She continued drinking from the bottle of liquor, fingers fumbling to change it but she hit the volume button. The radio got louder and she winced.
"The Hero Killer Stain-"
"Try our new perfume, as approved by Uwabami-"
"With Stain leaving a scar on the community of-"
"After the incident with the unfortunate injuries of Ferroh, longtime intern for Lionskin-"
Nora gave a painful hiccup, a weak whimper escaping her as the alcohol burned even more. She clenched the bottle and her head, before sniffing trying to change the station. Warm tears cascaded down her face and her vision kept blurring.
"Support your heroes-"
"The Hero Killer-"
"Society-"
"All Might continues to be the number one approved-"
The noises and words were coming too much, she gave up trying to change the station when it just kept flicking from one broadcast to the next. She backed up, sobbing weakly to herself and cradling her head. She pictured the treasure chest again, trying to suppress it, keep it closed.
"Villains are just selfish people looking to cause a ruckus-"
"Ferroh's accident-"
"Stain-"
"Let us all agree that thanks to our heroes-"
"NO!"
Without thinking once that scream tore out of her she slammed the bottle into the radio, glass shattering everywhere. Purple sparks flickered and she heard more shattering but it wasn't enough. She grabbed the radio and threw it against the wall, knocking down a picture frame. She grabbed her guitar sitting off to the side and just bludgeoned it against the radio on the ground, before howling and smashing it against the wall. Somehow she lost balance and fell over. Glass dug into her hands and knees as she came to face to face with the smiling picture of her and Seiren. Her only response was to grab it and smash it against the floor repeatedly.
"She's gone! She's gone gone gone GONE!" She wailed. When the picture slid out of the shattered frame she tore it pieces, sobbing and slamming her hands into the already ruined piece. Her mental treasure chest, which she had pictured for many years, had finally burst open. "She's never waking up! She's GONE!"
The few other frames on the wall suddenly shattered and fell to the ground, the little glass figurines she collected over the years exploding letting little specks of glass fly everywhere.
The walls cracked around her and she could hear several things popping and crackling, but she couldn't think or even care. Every bit of grief, despair, and anger that had been building up in her for so long was finally let out. Everything she had suppressed was being let loose.
It hurts it hurts WHY?!
Nora looked at herself, and in a frustrated manner tore at the flimsy ruined dress she had on. She stumbled to her room, bloody handprints on the wall where she caught herself as she flung open the door to her room. Something was burning, but she didn't stop to think or realize purple sparks danced around her apartment, breaking and causing havoc.
I tried, and I tried, I stayed out of the way like a good girl, I stayed away from people, why do I still lose, why do I still get screwed?!
She had been pushed down, forced to reduce herself to a job she hated, a life she hated, and had the only person that ever truly loved her ripped from her. The very hero Seiren worked for then had tried to kill her.
A hero.
A harsh laugh left her, and she looked at the cuts on her now from the glass, and the way her body throbbed in pain. "What was it all for?" She asked no one in particular, but it felt as if she was screaming at everything around her. "What was it all fucking for? I did my part!" She cried out. "I did my part, and I still lose? What do you want from me?! What do you want?!" She wasn't sure what she felt. Was it grief, rage, sorrow, or just desperation?
Nora pulled at her hair and fell to her knees, then just collapsed on the floor. All she could hear was the sound of her sobbing, grieving the one person she truly loved in this world. The rage was still there because as she broke down, she did not forget who caused this. Who tried to kill her to cover up the truth.
Her chest heaved and she felt nothing except pain but she promised herself one thing. It was one thing that for clear and for certain in her disorganized thoughts.
I'm going to kill Lionskin.
She heard alarms going off, she heard sirens, and she heard someone knocking down her door calling out. She smelt smoke in the air, and someone picked her up.
"Ma'am, you're going to be okay! We're evacuating everyone right now!" She didn't even hear the firemen as she was carried out. The entire building was being destroyed as pipes burst, fires started, and the structure was crumbling. If anyone had paid attention, they would have seen the purple sparks flickering around.
Nora had zoned out, her tears stopping and she stared at the destruction as she repeated to herself,
I'm going to kill Lionskin.