Chapter 1 Saint Status

It was supposed to be a normal, everyday hostage negotiation. No big deal; the average Tuesday, really. When it went wrong, though, it went wrong fast.

Some members of the Dynamight Agency, including myself, were at a café across the street from the bank when the alarm went off. It was so convenient. Maybe if we had had time to think before rushing in, we would have realized that it was too convenient. But we were there, and there was a hostage situation rapidly developing in the bank across the street. The fearless members of the agency, handpicked by Bakugou himself, didn't have the luxury of time to think things through before jumping into action. No, not when the action was right there and we would have arrived so soon after the alarm that the villains wouldn't've known what hit them! Or so we thought.

They didn't seem very surprised when we burst in, which in turn burst our bubbles a little bit. We were expecting big, dramatic, surprised faces and scurrying for cover. What we were met with was a completely different story.

There stood Shigaraki, the notorious leader of the League of Villains, in the middle of the mayhem. He wasn't alone. At his side were his trusty companions in crime, Dabi and Twice. There was a menacing, swirling black vortex a few feet back from where they stood, no doubt their exit strategy. It was pretty bad. What can you do when they have hostages and an unfollowable escape route just feet away from them?

Bakugou did what any hero would do. Or maybe not. Would a hero risk one to save many? Probably not, seeing that heroes aren't big on the philosophy of utilitarianism.

What if that one being risked was almost guaranteed safety, though? Would that change the narrative? I think it would. I think there would be quite a few more takers, in fact. Bakugou happened to be one of them. I was a secret weapon. I was guaranteed safe return to the agency. We were so confident that we were prepared that we froze in shock when we realized what kind of trap we had just walked into.

"You can't be serious," Bakugou fumed at Shigaraki, who was patiently awaiting an answer to the big question: Are you going to sacrifice one to save many?

"I am," Shigaraki promised, adding an enticing, "just one little sidekick in exchange of six civilians. It's not that hard of a decision. I'm being very generous with my offer."

Bakugou and I glanced at each other, stricken, before turning back to look at the offensive garment in Shigaraki's hand. He was very calm, not even scratching at the dry, irritated skin on his neck like he was known to do. He was very confident in this plan of his, even going against Dynamight. What was going on?

"Fine," Bakugou barked out, reaching his hand out to catch the material that Shigaraki threw his way. I heard a gasp from the newbie, the one who we were treating to coffee and pastries as a congratulations for being accepted into the agency. No one else was surprised, though. Bakugou made these quick, split-second decisions often, and they almost always paid off. There were not many people like Bakugou, and that's why I admired him so much. I trusted him completely. If he thought I would be fine, then I would be. If he wasn't sure and was just trying to save six lives by sacrificing me, that was okay, too. I trusted his judgment. I wasn't really much of a leader. I followed directions well, and Bakugou used that to the agency's advantage. He knew just how to direct me, and always praised me when I followed directions so well, so quickly that it was almost like I was reading his mind. That's what working with someone you admire and watch closely does to a person I guess. Holy shit, I sound like Midoriya. Anyway, we were able to read each other pretty well, and it definitely helped in more than one situation we had found ourselves in, including this one, believe it or not. I trusted him and if this turned out badly, I didn't hold any blame for him at all. I knew he knew this, but of course, I also knew that if something would happen to me, he would never forgive himself. But it was something he had to do anyway.

I could never be a hero. That is way too much pressure and I don't know how they make these tough decisions day in and day out. It's one thing to put yourself and your team at risk, but I'm sure it's an entirely different feeling when you're putting someone at risk to save others, but with no risk to yourself. It just doesn't seem right. It doesn't fit the teamwork we-all-go-down-together narrative. But he made the choice anyway. That's why he's one of the best heroes, hands down.

It really was a pleasure working with him. I was so pleased with myself when he appointed me as his go-to sidekick for anything and everything. He made me feel so important. And I guess I am pretty important, at least to these six hostages that are about to be released unharmed, to the agency, and to the villains who waited to have me within their reach. How did they even find out about me?

Bakugou was gentle, slow, and silently steaming with rage as he helped guide my arms though the sleeves. I met his eyes and tried my best to convey that I was completely on board with whatever he needed me to do, and I'm 99% sure he understood, but it was not enough to quiet the bubbling anger under his calm gaze on me. This was going to be harder on him that on me.

On second thought, it might be harder on me, just by a little bit. It was absolutely humiliating to be standing in between heroes, villains, and civilians in a fucking straight jacket. The idea of sacrificing myself and being super heroic for these civilians and the rest of my teammates did nothing to ease the sting of embarrassment. But, I did what would make Bakugou simultaneously proud and fuming; I swallowed my pride, lowered my eyes to the ground, and followed directions without hesitation.

Twice had grabbed my arm, firmly but not roughly, and guided me through the portal into the terrifying unknown. Once through the swirling vortex of doom, Twice released me, and the villains released the tension they were holding. It was subtle, but Shigaraki had rubbed at his neck, not scratched, just rubbed and sighed in relief before dropping his arm back down to his side again. He was not as relaxed as he let on. We should have realized that when his arms didn't stray from the assertive position of being relaxed at his sides. Dabi rolled out his shoulders and lolled his head from side to side, no longer having to keep up an insane level of awareness of his surroundings now that he was back in a safe place. Twice immediately jumped into conversation, with himself, and maybe me too if he had given me a chance to respond to anything.

"Sorry! Did I hurt you? Did I grab you too tight? Are you bruising? You deserved worse. Did I do a good job? I didn't talk, just like the plan said. How the hell did you hold me back, anyway? I want an evil monologue, too, every once in a while. If the bird gets one, why can't I? This time was important, maybe next time..."

I'm sure the conversation continued as he wandered out of earshot. I missed him immediately. Without him to be the comedic relief and audibly make known of the success and relief, the atmosphere became quite tense as Toga joined in the half-circle that Dabi and Shigaraki had started to form around me.

They stared for a few seconds, but in my helpless predicament, it seemed like a lifetime. The rough canvas scratched lightly against my skin as I breathed. I noticed that I was breathing quite fast and started my square breathing routine: in for four, hold for four, out for four, hold for four. I took mental notes of my surroundings and other details that I didn't want to forget, like Shigaraki rubbing at his neck when he was back in a safe space. That's when I perked up in realization. Honestly, I swear I'm not another Midoriya. That would be a compliment at this point because that mad genius would have figured this shit out way before I did.

"Is Hawks here?" I asked, speaking to the villains for the first time, looking carefully around the semi-circle for any nonverbal language slip-ups that might give me an answer. But I didn't have to look too closely for too long.

I whipped my head in the direction of his voice.

"Hey, Harpy."