Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia. All I own are my OCs and original ideas.

Posted: 5/13/2021

Chapter 2

"An Offer And A Lead"

April 2214

Present Day

Principal Nezu cleared his throat lightly, the low chatter of the Pro-Heroes coming to a halt at the sound. He folded his paws on the table and took in their strained and tired faces, his eyes resting on Eraserhead's injured, bandaged form before moving away, trying to ignore the way his chest tightened.

They were all exhausted, both physically and mentally. Since the attack at the U.S.J. on Wednesday, they had been working tirelessly to figure out how it had all happened and what holes were missing in their defenses, all while working with the police to try and find any new leads or information on the League of Villains. It was now Saturday, and this was their last meeting before school resumed on Monday. And they needed to have better security in place by then. Midnight and Snipe were already working on overhauling and upgrading their security system, but Nezu still had doubts on whether that would be enough, hence this meeting.

"As I mentioned the other day," he started, "With this severe breach of security, it's made me wonder what could have been done to prevent it or, at the very least, minimize the damage. And I believe that our answer lies not in technology, but in people. As of now, we've relied on our security systems to keep us safe, but, as we saw, those can be manipulated and can fail us." He raised a paw. "Now, that's not to say that they aren't useful. We will continue to implement even better ones; however, they should not be our sole source of protection. As it stands, we have no one person on staff that is devoted purely to the security of the school; we all divide our time between that and our other duties."

The Pros all nodded their agreement.

"So, you're saying that one of us should switch to security full time?" Vlad asked roughly.

Nezu shook his head. "No, I would not have any of you do that. I would suggest that we hire another Pro-Hero onto our staff, one that will be in charge of keeping an eye on school grounds and that will be the first to know that something is amiss." He looked at Eraserhead. "One that would also keep a close eye on Class 1-A in particular."

Aizawa shifted his head slightly to the side, his eyes barely peeking out from under the bandages, to glance at Nezu.

His voice was muffled. "You think the League will try this again?"

Nezu nodded, his face serious. "The fact that they attempted this at all shows that they are not like other Villains. To be so bold as to attack a school run by Pro-Heroes, all in an effort to kill the Number One Hero..." He shook his head, noting the way that All Might flinched at his words. "I have no doubt that they will attack again. Not right away, but soon. And they will have learned from their mistakes and will come back stronger and smarter. And if their goal remains the same, then it is likely that your class will be caught in the crossfire once more. In order to prevent that, we must act now and take steps to ensure that that won't happen."

"Who did you have in mind for the job?" Midnight asked, crossing her arms.

"I have a couple of people that I am considering, one of which I still need to get in touch with." Nezu smiled. "I'll inform you of my decision once it has been made."

"Understood."

"I believe that that was all there was to discuss," he said, standing up and hopping down from the chair. "I will see you all on Monday, hopefully with a new staff member for you to meet."

A few murmured agreements and goodbyes followed him on his way out. It was a rather short meeting, an unusual occurrence for him, but decisions needed to be made, and he didn't have the luxury of time. Three Pros had already been contacted and met with, and all were open to the idea of filling the position. However, there was still one more that he needed to reach out to, and until he had her answer, he wouldn't be able to make his decision. If she accepted, he would not need any of the other three, but if she declined, then one, perhaps even two, of those three would need to be chosen quickly.

He made his way from the teacher's lounge and padded into the main office.

"Pardon me," he said quietly, not wanting to startle the young lady.

The receptionist looked up from her desk and smiled when she saw him.

"What can I do for you, sir?" she asked brightly.

"I need you to contact Battle Wings Agency for me."

Shock flashed across her face, but she composed herself quickly and grabbed the telephone.

"O-Of course, sir. What message would you like me to relay?"

Determination settled in his eyes. "Please try to get Archangel patched through to me. I would like to request a meeting with her."

Her eyes widened further. "Yes, sir! I'll get right on it!"

As she started dialing, he moved past her and went down the hall to his office, sighing deeply.

For once, I'm not sure whether this is the right choice or not. It would be the best thing for us, to have her on our staff to watch over the students... but whether it's best for her... to return to the school where she has so many memories... I want to believe that it's the right decision, that it will be good in the end...

But I'm not sure.

Ichika Ohno, the head secretary of Battle Wings Agency, hummed softly as she copied and filed various accident reports, setting aside the originals to be mailed off to the police later that day. The mundane task soothed her, the routine so familiar she could do it in her sleep. To some, the thought of waking up and doing the same thing every day was a nightmare, something to be avoided. But for Ichika, it was a blessing. She had done this exact task for almost a decade now, yet it had never worn on her. After working nearly her whole life as a Pro-Hero, the older woman found comfort in the simple job.

Finishing the small stack of reports belonging to the Sidekick, Shade, she shifted her attention to the much, much larger stack to the right.

A mix of exasperation, worry, and amusement flitted across her face at the stark difference between the two.

That girl is going to work herself to death if she keeps going at this pace. She sighed wearily, grabbing the first sheet and getting started. This is only one week's worth of reports, but compared to the others, it might as well be a month's worth!

'That girl' that she spoke of being the head of the agency- the Pro-Hero, Archangel. Since the agency's re-opening three years prior, she had been working at a breakneck speed, hardly pausing to breathe along the way. And Ichika understood. She truly did. She knew that it was easier for the Hero this way, to throw herself into her work and not give herself the time or the energy to think on the past, but just because it was easier didn't mean it was right. This fixation, this obsession, with her Hero work was not healthy. It was only a matter of time before it all caught up to her, and Ichika was concerned, extremely concerned, about what would happen when it finally did. And maybe it wasn't her place to worry, to fret over her well being, but the retired Hero was the first to admit that she had a soft spot for the girl. Ichika had been with the agency since it first opened eleven years ago, having been the very first staff member hired. As such, she had grown close to Archangel, so much so, that she began to think of her as a daughter. So to see her put herself under so much strain made Ichika's heart ache.

Ring!

Ichika jumped, knocking over the stack of untouched papers and sending them fluttering to the ground, and lifted the phone to her ear.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry to disrupt you, Miss Ohno," came the soft voice of Sakura, the agency's day time receptionist. "But Archangel just arrived and is in her office. I know you wanted to be informed when she came back."

Ichika let out a deep breath and smiled. "Yes, I did. Thank you, Sakura."

"You're welcome," she replied before hanging up.

Ichika did the same, shaking her head slightly when she caught sight of the papers strewn across the floor.

That's what I get for being stuck in my head, she thought, stooping down to pick them up and place them back on the desk. She stood up, straightening her crooked blazer, and grabbed the few papers sitting in the fax machine before leaving her office and heading for the elevator. Once inside, she pressed the button for the sixth floor and waited patiently as it slowly rose, quiet classical music accompanying her the whole way.

With a low ding, the elevator came to a stop, and the doors opened. She stepped passed the hallway to her right and into the large space that served as both the Hero's office and rest area. The doors leading to the balcony were partially opened, allowing a cool breeze into the room, but the fact that Sakura had known of her arrival meant that she had forgone her preferred method of entry in favor of the front entrance on the first floor.

Her wing must be bothering her today then...

Said Hero was sitting on the low backed chair in front of her desk, left foot propped on her right knee as she fiddled with the buckle around her ankle. She was clad in her Hero uniform, having just finished her rounds for the day, and was slowly loosening the straps on her left leg. Her wings, sparkling like fresh snow under the light of the setting sun, were relaxed and slightly spread in order to cool off. Judging by her slumped shoulders and the way her fingers were fumbling a bit, Ichika knew that it had been a particularly grueling day for the young woman.

She bit her lip, brows creasing in worry, before she smoothed her features and walked further into the room.

"Long day?" she asked softly, coming to a stop on the other side of the desk.

Brown eyes lifted to meet her own, their normal radiance having faded long ago, with shadows already forming underneath them.

Oh, Seiren...

"No longer than the others," she murmured, returning her focus to her leg.

Ichika's hand tightened on the papers she was holding, fighting the urge to read the girl's aura. It wasn't as if she didn't already know what it would tell her...

"You took the front entrance today," she said, tilting her head. "Is your wing giving you trouble?"

Seiren glanced at the offending appendage, lips tilting into a frown.

"It's just one of those days," she replied, finally finishing with all of the buckles, and turned her attention to Ichika.

She nodded at the papers in her hand. "Are those today's reports?"

Ichika nodded, going along with the change of topic even though she was itching to question her further. The last thing she wanted to do was smother her.

"I'll mail out the others before I leave, but these can wait until next week. So take your time filling them out."

She placed them on the desk, and Seiren nodded her thanks, flipping through them idly. Ichika hesitated, wanting to leave the young Hero to change and get the rest that she clearly needed, but there was still one matter that needed to be settled, though her stomach clenched at the thought. It was the last thing she wanted to bring up, the last thing that she wanted Seiren to have to deal with.

U.A.

She had received a call from one of their receptionists earlier that day with a message to be relayed to the Hero. When she had heard who it was that was trying to reach her, every one of Ichika's motherly instincts had screamed at her to hang up the phone, to keep that school and the memories they carried as far away from Seiren as she possibly could... but she was not her mother. And Seiren was not a child. She was a Pro-Hero, a woman grown... and this was something she was going to have to face.

"There's one more thing," she started quietly.

Seiren looked up, hearing the tenseness that had worked its way into her voice.

"What is it?" she asked, leaning back into her chair.

Taking a long breath, she continued. "I received a call today... from U.A. High School."

Seiren's calm expression froze, her entire being seeming to stiffen, before something else took its place. She shifted forward, both feet hitting the ground, and gripped the edge of the desk.

"Eraserhead? Did something happen? Did his condition change?" She spoke quickly, the words tumbling from her mouth without restraint, and her eyes- those dim, heavy eyes- shone with worry and fear.

Ichika hadn't seen this level of emotion in the Hero for so long that it left her reeling, her mind struggling to figure out what she meant, before it clicked, and her eyes widened.

Eraserhead- her friend and Pro-Hero that teaches at the school... He was injured only a couple of days ago, and I was worried because she didn't show up for work that day, but it turned out she had been at the hospital all day, having gone the moment she heard the news... He was released the next day, and Seiren said he was recovering well... but now, she thinks... she thinks the school was calling because his condition worsened...

Ichika waved her hands and shook her head quickly. "No, no, no! He's still okay, as far I'm aware. They were calling about something else entirely. There's no need to worry!"

Seiren stared at her a moment longer, her muscles tense and face tight. She seemed to struggle with herself for a few minutes before, ever so slowly, she began to relax- though it looked as if she was forcing herself to do so.

Ichika's face softened, and she said quietly, "I'm sorry, Seiren. I didn't mean to worry you like that-"

"I know," she cut in, shaking her head. Her shoulders were still stiff, wings pulled in tightly against her back, but her tone was calm. "I jumped to conclusions, I'm sorry... what was their reason for calling?"

"The principal would like to meet with you as soon as possible," she said.

Seiren's brows pulled together. "Nezu? Did they say why?"

Ichika shook her head. "I'm afraid they weren't very specific. But it sounded a bit urgent. I'm to call them back with a day and time that you can go to the school and see him."

A slight frown made its way onto Seiren's face, and she tapped a finger against the desk.

"I can shift my hours around tomorrow and get there early... I'll just work later into the day," she mumbled before looking back up at Ichika. "Tell them I'll be there at nine in the morning."

She nodded. "I'll give them a call and mail out this weeks' reports, then head out... will you be leaving soon yourself? I can wait for you."

"No, you go ahead," Seiren said, giving her a small, tired smile. "I'll probably just stay here for the night."

Here, on the floor of the office, because you're too tired to go to your apartment, and because the living quarters on the next floor is far too big and empty for just one person...

She forced herself to smile. "Goodnight then, Seiren. Rest well."

"Goodnight, Ichika, and thank you."

She nodded, turning around and making her way back to the elevator. The doors slid open, and she stepped inside, hesitating for just a moment, before turning around and looking at the young Hero once more. Her eyes went out of focus, her multichrome irises beginning to swirl until they were a pool of shifting colors. The air around Seiren wavered for a moment before fracturing into color, and Ichika inhaled sharply.

It's always the same, and I've seen it so many times... and yet... that never makes it any less shocking...

Navy, so dark that she almost mistook it as black, clung to the air around her body like a second skin with streaks of burgundy entwined tightly into it. All the while, gray turned and twisted like an angry storm cloud, surrounding it all. Every color was thick and impenetrable, indicating the strength of what she was feeling.

An unspeakable sadness and pain tied to burning anger, all stemming from the same memory or event... and bone deep exhaustion, both physical and mental, weighing on top of it like a heavy blanket...

With a light ding, the doors began to close, and she blinked, her irises returning to their motionless state and the colors around Seiren disappearing.

The elevator slowly descended, and Ichika swiped a hand under her eyes, catching the tears before they could fall, as sorrow settled in her chest.

For the next several minutes after Ichika left, Seiren remained motionless in her seat, focusing on controlling her breathing. The pounding of her heart filled her head, and her hands held a slight tremor as she pressed them into the desk. She closed her eyes and tilted her head down, counting her breaths and concentrating on the feeling of the cool wood beneath her hands and the hard floor under her feet.

In... Out... In... Out... In... Out...

Once the shaking stopped and her heart no longer felt like it was going to jump out of her chest, she raised her head and blinked her eyes open, something that was much harder than it should have been. Her eyelids felt as if they were weighed down, and she knew that the next time she closed them, she would be out until morning.

With a heavy sigh, she shoved herself to her feet, ignoring the way her head spun at the sudden motion and began to make her way out into the hall toward the bathroom. The ache in her left leg made itself known with every step, causing her limp to be much more pronounced than usual, and it took every ounce of strength she had to keep her wings aloft and not let them drag on the ground, the searing pain in her back letting her know how much it resented that action.

She stepped into the spacious restroom, shutting the door behind her, and immediately began the process of taking off her Hero costume. Her progress was slow- the buckles suddenly seemed like locks to pick, and the form fitting material of her costume, hard to get off on a normal day, now appeared to be glued to her skin and was resistant to all of her tugging. After what had to be at least thirty minutes, she finally managed to peel off her costume and slung it haphazardly over an open cabinet door. She slid open the shower door and turned the handle as far as it would go before slipping inside and allowing the scalding water to wash over her body and ease her sore muscles. She went through the motions of washing off, her head heavy with fatigue and all that Ichika had told her.

She tried to keep her mind from delving into it, but the thought slid in anyway.

Why does Nezu want to meet with me?

She hadn't seen or had any contact with U.A.'s principal in over a year. Even while at the hospital with Shota, she hadn't run into him. So why reach out to her now?

It has to be about the attack at the U.S.J... But that still doesn't explain why he would want to meet with me. I've never even heard of this 'League of Villains', so it's not as if I have any information to provide...

But perhaps Nezu thought that as a top Pro-Hero she would know something about them; though, if anyone were to have heard of them, it would have been All Might. And if the Number One Hero didn't know anything, then what made Nezu think she would?

Maybe if her mind was in the right place, she would have been able to figure out what Nezu wanted from her, but her brain was far too sluggish to accomplish that at the moment. And if she were being honest with herself, she wasn't even sure if she wanted to know. Just the thought of going to the school tomorrow had her feeling sick to her stomach and sent a tremor through her body, so she shoved everything concerning Nezu and U.A. out of her mind and finished her shower in peace.

She would have a better handle on her emotions tomorrow, after a full night's rest, and she would get through her meeting with Nezu without a hitch.

Letting that thought calm her down, she grabbed a towel to dry off before slipping on an oversized nightshirt and slowly making her way out of the bathroom and back down the hall to her office. She walked over to the balcony doors behind her desk and locked them shut, then turned around and grabbed a small remote from her desk, pressing the downward arrow and waiting for the dark shades to lower over the doors and floor to ceiling windows that made up the wall. The room darkened as the last of the light was cut off, and she set the remote back down, picking up her phone instead, and shuffled to the other side of the room where a couch laden with blankets and pillows sat.

It was still early, only a little past seven 'o clock, and she hadn't eaten anything since noon; however, her exhaustion easily over rode her hunger.

She threw a couple of the pillows and a blanket to the ground before easing herself onto the soft rug. She lay on her stomach and stretched her wings out to their full length, taking her time with her left one which was more stiff than the right, and groaned in relief at the feeling. Letting her wings relax and rest on the floor, she tossed the blanket over her legs and propped her chin on one hand while the other unlocked her phone. Her eyes squinted at the brightness, which she lowered quickly, then opened up her contacts and typed out a quick message before flopping her head onto her pillow and closing her eyes.

Sleep clawed at the edges of her mind, but she forced herself to wait. About five minutes later, her phone buzzed in her hand, and she pried her eyes open to look at the screen, her lips lifting into a small, amused smile.

To Shota: Did you take your meds today?

From Shota: The last time I checked, you weren't my caretaker. Stop pestering me about it.

From Shota: And yes, I did.

Her fingers moved over the keyboard once more before she locked her phone and set it to the side for the night.

To Shota: Good. And someone has to watch out for you, old man.

She was almost positive that she felt his eyes roll all the way from his apartment and huffed a tired laugh. This time when she closed her eyes, sleep claimed her instantly.

A cool morning breeze washed over Seiren like a gentle wave, rippling over her face and sending a welcome chill through her body. She breathed in deeply, letting the fresh air fill her lungs, as she flew at an even pace high above Musutafu. The sounds of the city were nothing more than faint background noise at this height, and she resisted the urge to fly lower in order to hear more clearly. This city wasn't her territory, and the goal of this trip wasn't to interfere in other Heroes' business; in fact, she would rather not even have it known that she was in the area, hence the reason for staying high and out of sight.

And I really don't want the public knowing that I'm coming here, she thought wearily, already imagining the chaos that would erupt should anyone find out that she was paying a visit to U.A. High. The school came into view, its tall buildings gleaming under the sunlight, and her chest tightened at the familiar sight. Memories threatened to rise to the surface, but she forcibly shoved them away, not giving them an inch. She was here as the Pro-Hero, Archangel, not the frayed young woman she had been last night.

So pull yourself together.

And that's what she did. All of those memories, all of those emotions were once again locked away deep inside, not to be touched, and her chest loosened as the familiar sense of calm and focus fell over her once more.

A few more strokes of her wings, and she was inside U.A.'s perimeter. A quick glance down showed a small group of reporters already huddling outside of the school's infamous gates which remained open only to those with a pass. Her brows pulled together at the sight, and she frowned.

It's no wonder Villains were able to infiltrate the campus; the gates only keep out those on the ground that try to walk through them. Their security isn't set up for those with Quirks like teleportation or even flight like myself. Her frown deepened at the thought as she slowly descended behind the main building. I was able to fly right over the walls and get inside without any obstacles... they better be coming up with a better system than their current one.

Her feet touched the ground with a light thud, and she folded her wings loosely against her back, allowing them to cool off a bit as she made her around to the middle of the four tall structures. The people outside the gates had a clear view of the students' entrance to the school, but fortunately, the entrance to the main office was situated in the portion of the building behind it, obscuring her from view as she pulled open the glass door and stepped inside. The metal heels of her boots clinked softly on the marble floor, announcing her presence to the young receptionist who sat at the front desk.

The girl's short orange hair bobbed as she quickly looked up from her computer, and her dark eyes widened considerably when she saw Seiren standing on the other side of the desk.

"Oh!" she gasped, a hand flying to her chest. "I'm so sorry- I didn't hear the door!"

"I'm sorry if I startled you," Seiren said quietly, coming to a stop.

She waved her hands in the air a bit frantically. "No, no! That's okay! I just wasn't paying attention." She cleared her throat and adopted a more serious look. "Now, if you'll just follow me, Principal Nezu is ready to see you."

Seiren nodded and followed the young girl around the desk and to the rooms down the hallway, even though she already knew exactly where Nezu's office was, and waited quietly while the receptionist knocked lightly on a wooden door and called, "Miss Archangel is here to see you, sir."

"Come on in," came the muffled reply.

The girl opened the door with a smile and nodded for Seiren to go in.

With a quiet 'thank you', Seiren stepped inside the office and heard the soft click of the door closing behind her.

"Seiren! It's so wonderful to see you again!" Principal Nezu chirped from his seat behind the desk. "Please, sit down and make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you," she murmured, taking the seat on the other side of the desk. She folded her wings tighter against her back and fidgeted a bit before finding a position that didn't squish them too much. "It's nice to see you as well, sir."

Nezu smiled a bit sheepishly. "I do apologize for the short notice. I know that you had to change your schedule to be here, and I appreciate it."

She shook her head. "It wasn't a problem at all, and it sounded a bit urgent. I didn't want to make you wait."

"And I thank you for that," he said, his smile softening before a more sober look crossed his face. He placed his paws on the desk and cleared his throat. "And I'm afraid that it is a rather time sensitive matter that I wanted to discuss with you..."

Her curiosity peaked, Seiren crossed her legs and nodded for him to continue.

"As you well know, the school suffered a severe breach in security a few days ago, and it resulted in a fight between some of the students, staff, and Villains." He paused and cocked his head to the side. "Before I continue, I know that you visited Eraserhead in the hospital... did he share any of the details with you?"

Her fingers twitched, and she clenched them into fists as the memory of Shota lying in the hospital bed, unconscious and covered in bandages, flitted across her mind.

"He didn't tell me much," she answered, not letting any stiffness enter her voice. "I know that a group calling themselves the 'League of Villains' managed to break into the U.S.J. and that their intent was to try and kill All Might, but both staff and students stopped it from happening. Some of the Villains were taken into custody, but some also got away."

Nezu nodded and sighed softly. "Yes, that is all correct. I don't suppose you've heard of this group before?"

"No, I wasn't aware of them," she said, shaking her head with a frown. "That's what concerns me. The fact that a group of Villains attacked the Number One Hero at this school, and no one even knew about them until it happened. How did they manage to stay under the radar this whole time?"

"I've wondered the same thing, and it worries me also," he admitted. "All Might didn't know anything about them either." He looked up at her steadily. "I bring all of this up, because I don't believe that a group of such aspirations will stop after this defeat. I have no doubt that they will learn from their mistakes and attempt this again when they are stronger."

She raised a brow. "If their goal is still to kill All Might, it would be easier to do while he's out doing Hero work. Now that the school is aware of them, they'll have lost the element of surprise, and they know that even the students will fight back... Yet you think that they'll attack here again?"

Nezu took a moment to consider his words. "I believe that a group such as this is capable of anything... and that this will not be the only time the students are forced to face them."

Seiren frowned but nodded. She wasn't one to doubt Nezu's words, and if he thought the League would attack again, then it was likely they would.

There's still more that he's not telling me... and he hasn't said what he wants from me either...

As if reading her mind, Nezu straightened. "But I didn't ask you to come here just to talk about what happened; I have an offer for you. Well... more of a request if I'm being honest... This attack has brought to light how lax our security is, and we're improving it as we speak; however, we still need something more if we're to keep our students safe, and I believe that what we need is someone dedicated solely to the security of the school. Someone who can patrol the property, keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary, and someone who can shadow the class that was involved in the attack. Should the League try this again, I find it likely that Class 1-A will be targeted now that the Villains know what to expect from them. But if we have another Pro-Hero who can help protect them, it might deter the League, or, at the least, it would help keep the damage to a minimum... I'd like to offer you this position, Seiren."

Silence fell between them as Seiren processed everything he said. She had suspected that Nezu might want her help to search for and look into the League of Villains, but she hadn't expected a job offer- and certainly not as a bodyguard for the students.

I can't accept this job... I have a job. I would only be able to patrol for a couple of hours in the evening... the only full days I would have would be on the weekend. The agency only has three Sidekicks right now, and they're still relatively new... it'd be too much to expect them to cover that many hours for me... but...

Images of Shota's broken body arose unbidden in her mind, and she fought against the panic that raced through her veins.

If I had been there... I could have protected him... And now what if Nezu is right? What if Shota's class is attacked again? What if Shota is attacked again?

Her fists tightened in her lap, and she finally raised her eyes to look at Nezu, who was waiting patiently for her answer.

"I would have to figure some things out with the agency, so I don't think I can give you an official answer yet... but if I can work it out, then I'll accept the job."

Some invisible tension seemed to leave Nezu's shoulders. "I can't tell you how grateful I am to you, Seiren. It would be an incredible relief to know that you're helping to keep the school safe."

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Is there anything else you can tell me about the League? If I'm going to end up fighting them one day, I'd like to know everything I can about them."

The corners of his mouth tugged into a smile. "Of course, I don't blame you. I spoke with Detective Tsukauchi, and, unfortunately at the moment, we don't know much. He's leading an investigation into them to try and find out more, but what we do know is that the leader's name is Tomura Shigaraki. His Quirk allows him to disintegrate that which he touches, and, as All Might put it, 'he has the personality of a man child'. We suspect that someone is working behind the scenes to guide and mold him. The other Villain that posed quite the problem is the one with a Warping Quirk- Kurogiri. Based on how they interacted, it appears that he is second-in-command in the League. Both he and Shigaraki were able to escape thanks to his Quirk, and we've had no leads on them since."

"So long as they have someone with a Warping Quirk the chances of them attacking again is far greater." Her brows creased. "No matter how tight the security is, it won't be able to keep them out. Not with that Quirk."

Nezu nodded solemnly. "Exactly. It's for that reason that I wanted to hire you onto our staff. We won't be able to prevent them from getting in, but with you here, I hope to avoid much of the damage that was done this time and to keep our students from being in the position where they have to fight." He reached down to open a drawer and pulled out a piece of paper. "There's one more Villain to take note of, and that's the one they called 'Nomu'. Fortunately, the police do have him in custody; however, he appears to be incapable of speech or intelligent thought and only acted on the orders that Shigaraki gave him. Detective Tsukauchi plans on doing a DNA test to see if we can find out who this Villain is, because while his mental state is clearly unwell and quite unusual, his Quirk was incredibly destructive. He possesses both Super Regeneration and Shock Absorption and even without his Quirk, is immensely strong and fast. He was able to subdue Eraserhead in a matter of seconds and nearly succeeded in defeating All Might."

Shaking his head, Nezu set the paper on the desk and turned it toward Seiren. "I don't know where the League found him, but he was the best Villain to go up against All Might. His Quirk was the perfect match for our Number One Hero."

Seiren glanced down at the paper and felt the world grind to a halt. Her breath caught in her throat, and the blood in her veins froze at the sight before her.

It was not a man that looked back at her from the paper, but a creature. Its massive body was tar black with red scars running down its arms, and its face... its face loosely resembled that of a bird, a pointed beak in place of a mouth. But the most horrifying feature was its exposed brain, its empty, mindless eyes bulging out of the organ in a way that sent chills skittering down her spine.

As she stared at the picture, the ground beneath her shifted, and suddenly, she was not in Nezu's office, but in a dusty, old warehouse, blood littering the dirt covered ground as inhuman shrieks echoed in her ears.

Her vision wavered, torn between two different places, two different times- two different monsters- even as her mind struggled to piece it all together.

Only when Nezu spoke did the past loosen its hold and allow her to return to the present.

"It's a grotesque sight, I know, and unlike anything I've ever seen. But, if everything goes smoothly, Detective Tsukauchi should have some answers for us sometime soon," Nezu said, removing the picture from his desk, much to her relief.

It took every ounce of her self-control and iron will to lean back in her seat and not let it show that that simple picture had shaken something loose in her, something that she had not touched- had not wanted to touch- in years.

She flexed her fingers and let out a slow breath. And only when she was sure that her voice would not fail her did she speak.

"It's a monstrous being, that's for certain," she agreed, grimacing a bit. "And hard to believe that there's a human beneath it... I'll be interested to know what the police find out."

And if it will confirm what I think it does.

"I'll be sure to keep you informed," he told her. "And when you have your answer concerning the job position, I'd ask that you let me know as soon as poss-"

She shook her head, determination settling in her eyes as she looked at him. "I accept the position. I'll watch over the school and find whatever I can on the League of Villains."

Because this was an opportunity she could not let slip through her grasp, even as the thought of it sent terror crashing through her. She would shove that feeling aside and pursue this lead with everything she had.

If Nezu was surprised by her sudden answer, he hid it well. Instead a broad grin stretched across his face.

"That's wonderful to hear!" he exclaimed, clapping his paws together. "If it's possible, I'd like for you to start immediately, tomorrow in fact. The majority of the day will be spent filling out paperwork, but once that's done, we can get you officially started."

She nodded once. "I'll sort everything out with the agency today, so that should be fine."

"Then I'll let you go," Nezu said, hopping off of his chair and padding around the desk. She stood as well and leaned down to shake his outstretched paw.

"I can't thank you enough for this, Seiren. I know that it's asking a lot of you, on top of your usual duties as a Pro-Hero."

"It's no problem, truly," she said, straightening up.

He smiled and nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Have a good day, sir," she said before opening the door and stepping into the hall.

She moved past the other staff offices soundlessly and made her way back to the receptionist's area. The young girl was nowhere to be seen, and Seiren was nearly at the front doors when a loud voice boomed from behind her.

"Archangel?"

She tensed at her name, wings tightening against her back, and looked over her shoulder to find an abnormally tall, large man standing in the hallway that she had just come from.

All Might.

Despite knowing that he now taught here, it was still a surprise to see the Number One Hero at U.A. of all places. He was dressed down in a pair of brown slacks and a simple white t-shirt that did nothing to hide the many bandages wrapped around his body. With a start, she realized that this was the first time she had ever seen the man in anything other than his bright, flashy Hero costume.

"That is you!" he exclaimed, making his way toward her.

"All Might," she said with a nod.

His teeth flashed as he grinned. "How are you? I've seen you on the news quite often, but I'm afraid I haven't actually seen you in person in some time now!"

That was putting it lightly. Despite both of them being top Pro-Heroes, it had been roughly six years since she'd last met the Symbol of Peace. Not that it was that surprising. With their jobs keeping them busy and the fact that they worked out of different cities, there weren't many occasions when they were in the same place at the same time.

Though that won't be the case anymore.

"I've been fine," she answered. Her eyes flickered over his bandages. "And how are you?"

He noticed her look and chuckled lightly, waving a large hand in the air. "Much better now. I look worse than I feel." His head cocked to the side, that famous smile still in place. "May I ask why you're at the school? It's a bit out of your way, isn't it?"

She nodded her head toward the hallway. "I had a meeting with Principal Nezu; I was just about to leave."

Surprise shown on his face for just a moment before understanding took its place. "So you were the one he still had to meet with, huh?"

The words were just a murmur, spoken more to himself than her, so she didn't respond; nor did she have to as he walked over to her side and pushed the door open with a flourish.

"Do you mind if I walk with you on your way out?"

She blinked at the offer, but said, "No, that's fine."

As they made their way out of the building, discomfort wormed its way into her. The last thing she wanted to do was spend any more time with him than absolutely necessary, but she didn't have a choice. Starting tomorrow, he, along with a couple of other Heroes that she wanted to avoid, would be her colleagues, people that she would see nearly every day whether she liked it or not.

Don't think about it then, she told herself. Just focus on the job and the reason you're here- to find out everything you can about the League of Villains and how exactly they got their hands on that Nomu creature. Her fingers curled into fists at the thought of that beast.

This was the lead that she had been looking for for years. And she'd be damned if she let it slip through her fingers.

Izuku Midoriya huffed as he finally shoved his way through the group of reporters and crossed into the safety of U.A.'s walls. He hadn't even been thinking about them as he made his way to the school and was fortunate that there was just a small number of them today.

Sweat dripped down his brow. I really am lucky. That could've ended up badly if there was more of them.

Ever since the attack at the U.S.J. five days ago, reporters of every kind had been practically camped outside the school, hoping to corner any student or staff member they could to try and pry information out of them. Fortunately, Principal Nezu had canceled classes for the rest of the week, so he and the other students didn't have to deal with the initial mayhem that occurred.

Of course, that would all change when school resumed tomorrow.

He clutched his jacket at the thought as he made his way toward the main office at the back building. The repairs to his Hero costume were finally complete, and now all he needed to do was try it out and make sure everything was to his liking in order for him to wear it for Hero Training this week.

He walked around the corner of the front building, finally getting out of sight of the reporters, and jumped when he heard voices nearby. He scanned the area until his eyes came to rest on the two figures currently standing at the corner of the back building, their bodies slightly turned away from him. Not that he needed to see their faces to know who they were.

Every muscle in his body locked in place, and his eyes, now the size of dinner plates, were unblinking as he stared at the figures with such laser focus it was a wonder that neither of them noticed him.

I'm hallucinating, he thought faintly, feeling strangely lightheaded. That has to be it. Because there's no way... absolutely no way... that she's actually here...

But as several minutes passed, and the figure didn't disappear, he was hit with the startling truth.

Archangel was at U.A.

The Heavenly Hero was at his school, talking to All Might, and he, Izuku Midoriya, was seeing it with his own eyes.

He inhaled sharply, the breath catching in his throat, as he frantically dug through his bag and yanked out his notebook and pen, never once taking his eyes off of the winged Hero.

She's even more amazing in person! he thought, face bright and sparkling as he opened to a blank page and began sketching as fast as he could.

He had only ever seen the Heavenly Hero through the tv screen, and he had thought just that was incredible. But to see her in real life...

She was taller than he thought she was, standing only a few inches below six feet, and even though her Hero costume covered the majority of her, it was still obvious how lean and toned she was; every inch of her body was a weapon waiting to be used. Her form-fitting costume was light gray with flashes of white on her inner arms and thighs and on her sides, while all of the straps and buckles were dark gray. It wasn't the flashiest of costumes, and he knew that that was on purpose, just as he also knew that there were microscopic dots covering the entirety of the suit that, when activated, allowed it to act as a chameleon does and take on the color of the sky whenever she flew. That bit of camouflage had proven to be incredibly useful, preventing Villains from seeing her until it was too late.

He itched to get closer and discover even more details that he knew he was unaware of, but he dared not move from his position in fear of alerting the Heroes to his presence. They had shifted a bit, letting him see their faces, but so far, they remained unaware of him, their conversation holding their attention. And based on their expressions, it must've been something serious.

All Might's usual smile was gone, a deep frown in its place as he spoke, and Archangel listened to him with dark eyes, her face looking as if it had been carved from marble, all strong and hard edges.

Izuku blinked, starting to come back to reality a bit.

Now that I think about it... why is Archangel at the school? And why is she talking to All Might? I don't think I've ever seen them interact before... His heart lurched in his chest. Is this about what happened at the U.S.J.? It has to be, right? The League of Villains... Is it really that serious? Are they truly so much of a threat that All Might has to turn to another Pro-Hero for help...?

Against his will, his mind replayed the fight between All Might and the Nomu, and a shudder ran through him.

All Might was already weakened before that, and now... between that and passing One For All down to me, he's not nearly as strong as he used to be, and his time in this form is even more limited...

The somber mood was shattered as All Might let out some kind of startled yelp, and Izuku jerked his gaze back up to see All Might openly gawking at Archangel who looked like she was biting back a grimace.

What the heck did I miss?!

Archangel said a few more words, then started to walk away from a still gawking All Might, waving a hand in the air behind her. She stopped several feet away from him and bent slightly at the knees, and Izuku watched with shining eyes as she unfurled her wings.

He had always thought that her wings were stunning, but seeing them in person, he realized that the camera didn't do them justice at all- the pure white feathers that gleamed like pearls and the golden edges that made it look as if each feather had been dipped in the molten metal... they looked like a piece of art, and he could only watch in awe as the air swirled around her feet, and, with a powerful beat of her wings, she took flight and disappeared into the clouds high above.

"Wow," he breathed, notebook and pen forgotten as he stared up into the sky, already replaying the moment in his head.

Did that really just happen?

A light scuff of shoes on dirt brought him back down to earth, and he looked back in time to see All Might sigh softly and turn to go back inside.

Izuku frowned lightly as he watched the Hero's back disappear from view and felt a chill creep down his spine.

The Number One and Number Four Hero... is that what it's going to take to defeat the League?

Author's Note

Fun Fact: This is the longest chapter that I've ever written for any story! I swear I worked on this thing for sooooooo long that I thought I was never going to finish it... but I did! And I'm SUPER happy with how it turned out! (And I just had to throw in Izuku's pov in the end- I can't help it! Seeing that boy's reaction to Heroes is one of my favorite things lol)

As I mentioned in the previous Author's Note, the chapters will be going back and forth between past and present, so we'll be heading back to Seiren's high school days in the next chapter.

Also, I'm sorry if there are any grammar mistakes... I'm editing it at 2:00 A.M. so...

Anyway, if you like this story, go ahead and give it a follow or favorite, and please let me know what you thought of this chapter! Reviews, no matter how short or simple, always make my day!

Until next time!

~Dreamer