Izuku's POV

Two weeks passed from the night. To his surprise it was not the last he saw of Eraerhead. The hero both tried to capture and talk to him. It almost seemed as if he actually cared about Izuku.

Izuku really wished he wouldn't care. It would only make the hero feel guilty when the inevitable happened. Time was running out and eventually the League would catch up to him.

Along with trying to speak to Izuku the hero constantly brought him food. Hot food meant to warm him up with the weather cooling down. He wondered if Eraser mistook his words. If he thought Izuku was trying to starve himself to death. Not that it would work. He would be hunted down long before that point.

Still Izuku met the peace offering with a healthy dose of skepticism. It could easily be laced with sedatives meant to incapacitate him. If it wasn't coming from a hero he would even consider that it might be poisoned. However this lot were far too noble for poisoning.

So when Eraser started taking the first bites he allowed himself the luxury of the warm meals. It was a significant improvement to his current diet of dumpster diving and ration bars.

With the food came a welcome warmth in his belly. The weather was turning cold and first snowfall would soon be upon him. Izuku had not seen proper snow since his adoption. Nanda Parbat never saw snow and his missions didn't take him to places where it was common. Maybe they thought he would freeze. Or take the chance and run off.

A pang of homesickness went through him at every thought of the castle in the desert. His heart longed to return to the stronghold. Even knowing he would face punishment for leaving without permission. A punishment that would be far less severe than if he was dragged back by one of the hunters.

No matter how he returned he would be published. It was just a matter of how much and long. And who decided it. Normally it would be Ra's, his adoptive father would be the one to decide. However Izuku was also the chosen successor of Al Sayf also known as the The Sword. As his successor Izuku was also subject to the man's whims.

Out of everyone that could hunt him, Izuku feared Al Sayf the most. Al Sayf could easily bring him down without breaking a sweat. If they fought it would be short and explosive. Anyone who dared interfere would be cut down.

Sighing Izuku paused in his regular patrol. Things were too complicated for him to contemplate. Allowing his mind to wander while he tried to work was dangerous. If he was caught off guard he might kill on instinct. That could not be allowed to happen he had too much blood on his hands.

Looking out over the city he waited listening to the night. Waiting to see what would happen this evening. It had been quiet for the most part. Since his return to the city Musutafu had been quieter. People feared Namir and didn't want to risk an arrow to the knee. It was a wonder that in itself hadn't drawn the League to him. How many could honestly say they avoided heroes and used a bow?

The air stilled, hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Someone was watching him. A person who could hide their presence as well as any assassin. Suddenly the silence around him was oppressive. It seemed his thoughts had brought them out.

Standing to his full height Izuku turned to face a figure in a similar garb. Unlike Izuku's more flexible approach to the tunic the assassin in front of him was wearing kevlar lined tunic. On his hip was a knife and a long sword. No bow which narrowed down the selection of who he was facing down. Only a handful of the League didn't at least carry a bow, whether they used it or not being irrelevant.

Neither made a move for their weapons as they assessed each other. The longer he assessed the other the surer he was of who he was looking at. Fortunately for him it was not Al Sayf who was a good head taller than this individual. Most likely it was Al Owal and still very much a danger to Izuku's newfound freedom.

No words were exchanged instead Al Owal came straight at him. The first attack was a simple jab straight for his jaw. One that he easily sidestepped then threw one of his own aiming for a body attack.

Like so many days at Nanda Parbat they circled each other. Light attacks were exchanged but hands were kept well away from weapons. One was intent on capture the other escape. Neither gave any ground as the flurry of blows grew faster and faster.

A single kicked to his diaphragm knocked the wind from his lungs. Only by the extensive training he endured did he remain standing. Izuku lunged trying to bring Al Owal down to the rooftop.

While he stepped back half a step he remained standing. A sharp blow landed to the top of Izuku's head making him see stars and release the man. Shaking away the stars he bounced up onto the balls of his feet eyeing Al Owal.

He wasnt given any chance to assess the man any further as he came back with the same intensity. It was all he could do to block the attacks. Whenever he tried to get in a counterattack it was met with even more ferocity.

Izuku hissed in pain as a strike landed to his ribs. No doubt it would bruise in the morning. If he was still a free man by then that was.

Flurry after flurry of attack landed on Izuku. One to his shoulder. One to his knee nearly causing it to give way. Retreating only gave him half a second of respite before it began again. Still neither went for a weapon.

This would only last so long. When Al Owal decided to reach for his sword things would truly become serious. At the moment he was simply toying with the younger assassin. And Izuku knew it but could do nothing about it. This was a dance and if he was the one to reach for a weapon first then he ran the risk of being labeled as a traitor to the League. He was a lot of things but he would not willingly betray or kill one of his brothers.

Shifting of the once still air caught both assassins' attention. Their heads snapped up to the sky eyes narrowing against the darkness. Trying to see who would dare interrupt their fight.

Red feathers floated down towards them and Izuku jumped back. He knew who those feathers belonged to and refused to be caught by the happy go lucky hero. Following Izuku's lead despite their differences in opinion Al Owal did the same.

Two sets of eyes watched as the Number 3 hero came towards them. Hawks's eyes were watching them with the same wariness that they watched him with. It was as if he expected them to put aside their differences and attack him.

That was one of the most unlikely scenarios. Ra's Al Ghul respected a handful of heroes for what they did. One of them was Hawks. He was the highest ranking hero that was respected by Ra's and in turn the League itself. If anyone were to attack him they had better have a damn good reason.

Hawks said his golden eyes watching for any move that they would start again, "Alright enough of that. I thought there was only one of you."

The last part wasn't really a question but the two shrugged anyways. Izuku's hand slowly moved towards where the capsules of smoke bombs were. There wasn't a change in the hero's body language. So he didn't catch it. Pity the man needed better situational awareness. Including the very basic principle of always watch the hands.

Hawks tried again, "What is going on here? Why are there..."

He got no further as Izuku crushed the capsule and smoke encased them.

:Sorry Hawks,: he thought as he escaped down the side of the building, :But I cannot allow myself to be captured. Not by you and not by the League.:

He barely made it into the window of the building before the hero's powerful wings dispersed the smoke. Izuku held his breath waiting to see if he would leave. Or if a chase would begin this time with one of the most mobile heroes. Al Owal he knew would be long gone but it wouldn't be the last he saw of the man.

To his relief he heard the hero fly away after a long moment. A nearly silent sigh escaped him. That was one thing down but now he had to get home without being followed.

When Izuku turned from the window however he came face to face with a tall boy with purple hair and eyes. Maybe he should have checked to make sure the room was unoccupied before he entered. Oops.