I dropped from the sky with the cannonball trailing right behind me. I'd lost focus and it was unpaused, it's momentum somehow was voided in the warp.
"What the hell just happened!?" I was careening for the top of the massive water slide. The large area is covered in loose sandy soil before it becomes a winding river descending to the water zone below. From this height the fall would likely kill me. I needed to act fast! I reached into one of my many pockets while pulling the bundle of ropes over my head. Feeding one end through my repelling harness and the other end through a thick metal ring. I wrapped the rope ends around both of my hands and then I paused the metal ring. Watching it grow smaller as I fell away from it. The ring secured in time like an anchor in the sky. It was jarring when I reached the end of the rope, but I held fast. Hanging in the air like a broken yo-yo.
Maybe I should consider a more forgiving material, something with more stretch. If I was going any faster that would have seriously hurt.
The cannon fell to the ground below me. Exploding in a large orange blossom of fire, Bakugo would be proud. "Holy shit."
I felt the heat from it below me, the thermals rising making my hair float up. Hopefully no one else was down there. Although, if they were villains then it was their problem for invading my school. I pulled another metal ring from one of my pockets, pausing it and my harness leaving my rope malleable. I reached through the ring and pulled the rope through while unpausing my harness, slowly releasing the other end as I eased my way down. Using my unintended vantage point to observe the facility. I could make out some of my classmates here and there, all surrounded by villains.
I guess Todoroki is in the landslide zone. I don't think there was ice there before.
I got far enough from the first ring anchor that my quirk lost its effect. I watched it's time begin again as it fell and I was able to catch it out of the air. Stowing it back in my pocket for later. Now only a few meters from the surface I heard it. A low rumble of rock sliding against rock. The ground bubbled up and burst out like a dirt geyser. I shielded my eyes with my bracers, pebbles bouncing off the metal.
"Raahh!" He looked like a dry as hell gecko, his skin the color of sand with large fissures all over his body. He'd just swept his arm and the ground fell away like a wave. "The fuck was that?" He grumbled. Next to him were two others, a smaller looking guy with purple skin. The third one made my grip falter and I fell down the last few meters. Landing unsteadily on my boots. The metal ring dropped with a clang bouncing off the ground amongst a pooling of my rope.
"Oh, there she is." Yuuto smiled at me sweetly. Bringing his hand up and wiggling his fingers at me in a playful hello. "Long time no see, little Taka." His eyes went from gentle to wicked in a second. "Do it." The sand gecko pushed his hand at me, I suddenly became shorter. I had sunken up to my thighs into the ground and it was firmly holding me in place.
"Well that was easier than I thought it'd be." The short purple person next to Yuuto commented. They skipped over stopping just out of reach. Upon further inspection this person was more effeminate, a young woman in her twenties maybe. "You really made it out like this was going to be harder, Yuuto."
"Don't get too close Taiko, she can kill you with one touch." Yuuto strolled up beside the person named Taiko. "Ain't that right, little Taka?" He kicked some dirt at me. I spat at him but it didn't reach, to his amusement. The silver markings under his eyes shined like reflectors in the light. The dark blues of his hair resembled the deep ocean. The black of his eyes were cesspools of darkness set against his otherwise pallor complexion.
They were all wearing the Dragon's signature dark green in some fashion, not just a jacket like Yuuto. Taiko had a dark green sash wrapped around their waist. The blue dragon tattooed to their left upper arm. The shirtless sand gecko's dark green pants had their symbol painted onto his thigh.
"What the hell do you want?" I spat out. My voice was getting caught up in the lump in my throat, the butterflies causing a storm in my gut. "Why the fuck are you Dragons here?!" Yuuto tutted like a disappointed parent and brought his hand up, twisting it in a silent order. The ground holding my left leg shifted sharply to the left. I felt my ankle pop but couldn't do anything about it. "Ahh!" I fell forward and punched the ground repeatedly.
I felt helpless.
I was helpless.
"To be honest, I wouldn't mind just killing you here. I mean, that's what a lot of our associates are planning on doing anyways. Heh." He squatted down, still out of range. "Although as it so happens you're vital in us getting a leg up in the villain world."
"You-" I began to say something, but Yuuto brought his hand up again. The earth turned further around my already twisted ankle. "-Aaah!" I completely fell against the ground, bowing forward with my forehead pressing into the dirt. I was sweating from the pain and bit my lip so hard I drew blood. "Stop!"
"Then stop talking over me, it's rude." Yuuto pulled out a box of cigarettes, calmly lighting one and taking a drag. He blew the smoke into my face with a pleased smile. "Now then, like I said before. We're going to need you to cooperate with us here." He fished out his phone and turned it so I could see. "First up, you should see what's on the table before we bargain. Honestly, I'm fine with whatever choice you make I'd just prefer one to the other." On the screen was candid photos of my Akuma's. They were all taken at their work locations unaware. Yuuto continued to swipe through. There were pictures of the guy's home apartment and Yuuto standing in front of their door with a smile.
My breathing was picking up. I was afraid of whatever he was going to swipe to next. Thankfully the images didn't continue into the apartment. My momentary relief was dashed when the next image was Reiko leaving her middle school. Then a photo of Kai walking with Ponta around the neighborhood.
"Well, you get the idea. You have a lot of baggage nowadays." He pocketed his phone, still leisurely smoking. "So, you help us out when we ask or, well, ya know. We'll just pick at random. There's a lot of us 'fucking Dragons' around. Plus we've gotten ties with some pretty powerful people." He made a motion to all of USJ behind me. I could hear explosions and faint screaming but I couldn't distinguish friend from foe. "Or you could say no right here, and I could just kill you where you're so conveniently trapped." His smile grew more deranged. A trail of smoke and hot steam escaping his mouth.
"Why not rough her up anyways?" Taiko suggested, propping a hand to their hip. "You said she killed your friend. Might as well leave a mark for your troubles." They traced from their left brow down and to their right chin with their index finger. "Right here, all the way across her pretty little face."
"Ah, right. She's the one that killed Rentarou." The sand gecko came to stand beside Taiko. His fist hanging at his side clenched slowly. The ground around me tightened painfully in time with his movements. I ground my teeth but didn't scream out again. I refused to give them any more satisfaction.
"I didn't kill him!" Pushing up on my hands to glare at the unnamed gecko. I cringed at the pain it brought to my severely twisted ankle, biting down on my lip again to stifle my scream. A dribble of blood rolling down my chin from here'd I'd bitten into the skin. "I didn't mean-," Yuuto blew out a rapid jet of hot steam next to my face. It scalded my right cheek and jaw before I ducked away from it. "Ahhh!" The action jarring my ankle. "Fuck! AHhh..ugh. Dammit.." My yells ended in a painful moan. I was almost bawling if not for my spiteful determination not to.
"On purpose or not he's dead by your hand." Yuuto stood with an irritated sigh, sucking down the rest of his cigarette in one go. "Make up your mind because I'm itching to just kill you now, Taka." He flicked his used up cigarette at me while I was still reeling from the beyond boiling water attack.
"Heehee, look at her squirm!" Taiko clapped their hands like a giddy child. Little glowing spores of light similar to Bakugo's tiny explosions emitting from their palms. "So, kid. What's it gonna be? Die now or be our little lap dog?" The images of my loved ones were playing on repeat in my head. If they were trapped where I was now, getting tortured like this. No. I couldn't believe I was even contemplating either decision!
"If..." I began, my face still in the dirt and head spinning from the pain. "If I agree, then you won't hurt my family?"
"For your continued loyalties, yes. If you keep doing what we say we won't touch a single hair on their heads. Or feather, or fur, or horn. You get the idea." Yuuto continued.
"If I say no? You'll kill me, but what then? You're still going after them aren't you?" I pushed myself up again slowly and looked into Yuuto's eyes. I needed to watch his answer. He shrugged noncommittally.
"Maybe yes, maybe no. It wouldn't be your problem anymore though, would it? You'd be dead." He laughed at a joke I didn't understand. "I'm getting tired, answer in the next three seconds or you're dead anyway." Steam was collecting in his mouth, rising and condensing back down Yuuto's face like rain. "One. Two-,"
"Fine! I'll do it!" My breath was shaking as was the rest of my body. I felt like hurling. My sweat dripped down my face to my neck. "Don't hurt my family. Please."
"That wasn't so hard." Yuuto blew his collection of hot steam to the side harmlessly. He unclipped a radio that was attached to his belt near his back. Bringing it next to his face he spoke. "Kurogiri, we got a Yes. Now get us out of here." A warp gate opened up at the edge of the elevated platform that we were on. Taiko bounced over to it and blew me a kiss before jumping backwards through the swirling shadow.
"See ya later, lap dog."
The sand gecko stopped just short, waiting for Yuuto. The Dragon leader turned to me like he just remembered something. Snapping his fingers he pointed at me.
"Oh, and it's pretty obvious but don't tell anyone. We'll have to cut their tongues out if you do. Don't sweat the details just yet either, Taka. If I need anything I know where to find you." He stepped through the gate and the gecko followed shortly after. Only one of his sandy arms remained on this side as he splayed his finger out and raised his hand up. The earth below me softened and pushed me out. I landed on my side and clutched at my ankle. I couldn't see it but I knew it was already a nasty coloring of bruises. My face felt like it was still burning, the air stinging with every movement.
"Fuck fuck fuck FUUUCK!" Tears were streaming from my eyes from a mix of pain and humiliation. Even that hurt as they dripped down my scalded cheek.
What did I just agree to do?
Pushing up onto my hands and knees I crawled to the edge of the platform. Looking down at the havoc the League of Villains was reigning. It looked like All Might had just arrived.
"A little late, huh Hero?" I was so bitter that the sight of a Pro Hero like All Might just made me angry. "Dammit." I sniffed and scrubbed at the tears coming down my face. Careful to avoid touching my burn wound. "Get it together, idiot. You gotta help yourself before you can help others. You're gonna be a hero so you don't have to rely on heroes, aren't you? Who fucking needs them, right? You can do this yourself. You're fine." I crawled over to my rope and discarded rings. "I'm fine... I'm fine..."
Holding the rope up parallel to the ground I paused it then used it to pull myself up. Using the rings as anchors in the air I managed to bundle my rope and limp over to the edge of the platform.
Now to get down.
For a fleeting moment I considered taking the winding rapid river to return to ground level. Then just as quickly squashed it. Repelling it is then.
In a creative series of alternatively pausing the rope and the rings I managed to zip-line myself quickly. With time paused I took a moment to surveyed the playing field from above. The guys, Bakugo, Deku, Kirishima, and Todoroki were lined up ready to fight. The boss villain with the hand mask was charging at them. The Warp guy was further back with the monstrous brain villain who looked to be getting ready to square up against All Might.
If they went through the trouble of singling me out, I don't think they'd so easily kill me. Either way, I can't just do nothing. He's going after my friends!
Landing in an awkward hop I utilized my rings as anchors to catch my balance. I wasn't that far from the villain, so I hobbled my way over. My rope trailing behind me. All the while time was paused. Except for All Might, who was slowly running toward the exposed brain villain. I managed to loosely wrap the boss in rope before pulling it taught and pausing it. Releasing time, the boss lurched forward due to his momentum but remained trapped.
"What's going on?" He wiggled in the ropes but they held firm like iron rods. His struggles were not anywhere near All Might's strength so I had no doubt I could hold him. He eyed me and my freshly scalded face. His voice dropping to a raspy whisper as he leaned toward me. "You're that Time control brat. You said Yes didn't you, so let me go." I clenched my jaw, I was terrified. Terrified of myself because I was hesitating. Considering. I answered Yuuto's question but this was the confirmation the League of Villains really needed to know if I was truly their lap dog.
"Takaomi got him!" Kirishima cheered me on from behind. The shockwaves from All Might and the brain villain was kicking up a storm but the boss and I were locked in place by my rope.
My decision was made.
It took near an eternity to answer, but I did.
"I can't let you go while they're watching." My voice was wavering but strong. The commotion blocking anyone else but the boss in front of me from hearing. "I'm playing the hero right now, they'll get suspicious." The unnerving smile was wide enough to see behind his disembodied hand mask.
"Then let's make this believable." I could hear the excitement in his voice. Like he just purchased a new toy and was getting to play with it for the first time. His hands curled up and promptly disintegrated my rope. Freeing himself. He delivered a powerful front kick to my stomach that sent me flying back. Then he chased after me, his deadly hands reaching.
"Gahh!" I had hit my ankle in the fall and curled up around it. I saw white. The pain pulsing with my rapid heart rate. He was nearly on top of me, I panicked. My arms crossed and I held them up to block him.
"Hey!" A loud explosion nearly drowned out Bakugo's words. "GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HER!" Bakugo came careening over my head, the boss villain jumped back to avoid his attack. Landing in front of me Bakugo turned and grabbed my bare arm. "Do it!" Knowing what he meant I stopped time, holding my breath. "C'mon." He yanked me up to my feet and pulled my arm around his shoulders. Strategically making sure to keep skin contact the entire time. I bit on my lip to not complain as he rushed us back to the others. Kirishima, Todoroki, and Deku were standing in a line watching the battle between All Might and the brain villain. The boss was retreating back to the warp villain's side.
I gasped in a breath once we were close enough. To everyone else it looked like we teleported. The others all jumped at our sudden appearance.
"Whoa! Right.. Time Manipulation." Deku muttered something but then continued to watch All Might. Bakugo stopped to watch as well with me still hanging off of him. The fight was ridiculous. Punch for punch each one sending a shockwave that threatened to tumble us. With a final cry of Plus Ultra All Might sent the villain rocketing skyward. Breaking through the roof of USJ and beyond. The silence after made me question if I had stopped time or if the whole world just paused to admire the raw strength that was the number one hero.
"Takaomi, are you okay?" Kirishima hurried over and fretted over my injuries. "Your face, dude. Holy crap! That looks seriously painful. What happened to your ankle?" I glanced down. My pants and shin guards should be covering most of my leg. My ankle was turned at an unnatural angle, it was hard to overlook.
"Villains. I don't really have to explain more do I?" I tried to smirk to reassure him, but it hurt to express much with half my face feeling like it was melting off.
"Here, this will help." Todoroki squeezed his way between Kirishima and myself. Raising his right hand he hovered it over my scalded cheek. A numbing cold took the pain away and I sighed gratefully. "This doesn't look like a burn from a fire. What caused this?"
"A jet of hot steam." I answered simply.
"It looks to be just a second degree burn, Recovery Girl will be able to help you." Todoroki stepped back and looked to the side. "Midoriya?!" We heard the alarm in his voice and turned just in time to see Deku had launched himself. Heading right for the remaining villains in front of All Might!
"Is he crazy?!" Kirishima turned, ready to rush after our self destructive classmate. There was a series of gunshots, a shit ton of gunshots. The rest of the teachers had arrived meaning the Pros were finally here. Too bad the villains still escaped through the warp gate. "Are you guys okay?" Kirishima ran off to check on Deku.
"That fucking nerd." Bakugo muttered frustrated before turning toward the stairs to the exit. Our walk was silent, me more so than normal. When we got to the stairs Kirishima came up from behind and hung my other arm over his shoulders.
"I gotcha." Together Bakugo and Kirishima basically carried me up the stairs. My right foot had only come down out of habit. "You okay, Takaomi?" I didn't stop the dry laugh. How bitter it sounded. "Where'd that guy warp you?"
"The top of the shipwreck zone. At the beginning of the river rapids." My answer was just as dry as my laugh. Kirishima threw a glance at Bakugo who returned it.
"What'd he mean, 'old friends'?" Bakugo asked next. Of course he would.
Everyone in UA is so damned perceptive. How am I going to skirt this issue? I hate this. I hate this so much!
I ground my teeth and shut my eyes tightly. My eyes were watering from the frustration but I refused to let more tears fall because of Yuuto and the League of Villains. I was going to find a way to keep everyone safe. I was going to use this situation to bring them down!
"They were people I knew." My voice was obvious that I was on the verge of crying, but I powered on regardless. Swallowing down any sob that threatened to come up. I gave them a little more detail than what they asked for. "Some Dragon members rode the coattails of the League of Villains to get into the school. They already knew about my quirk and were expecting me, so I was at a disadvantage from the drop. This fucking gecko could manipulate the ground somehow. I was buried up to my waist and then he made just my ankle spin around underground." Kirishima winced at the image. "The other guy can breath hot steam like a damned sea dragon. He shot for my face but just grazed me."
"How'd you get away?" Kirishima asked, his concern was apparent.
"I-," I hesitated. I didn't think about that. Can I just say they left? The best way to lie is to use truths I suppose. "They... I didn't get away. They got scared when All Might showed up and ran. I dug myself out and repelled down to the ground where I landed by you guys."
"Damned villains. They're fucking cowards." Bakugo snarled, his grip on my arm tightened ever so slightly.
"Yeah." I quietly agreed.
Upon seeing me Midnight rushed me off to see Recovery Girl. I wasn't nearly in as bad a state as Deku but she was concerned about my face scarring from the burn. I almost didn't want it to heal properly. I deserved this.
It was an officer squad car that transported me, the school's medical transport robots were at the edge of the property ready and waiting. More police were surrounding the entrance as well.
I just laid back in the stretcher, finally able to rest. I closed my eyes hoping for a dreamless sleep. Wanting it to take away all my guilt and regret for what I was likely going to do in the future. I was out in seconds. This time, thankfully, all I knew was darkness.
"Why is she still asleep?" A whisper brought me back, but I didn't recognize their voice. It was a low almost growl, but not like Bakugo. It was deeper and more animalistic.
"Well her injuries weren't nearly as severe as they could have been. Her ankle was almost twisted off and the side of her face looked to be scalded. If I had to guess it was because she's exhausted. You can't see them now but when she came in there were some fairly large bags under her eyes." The old lady's voice had to belong to Recovery Girl. "Still, she does need to go home at some point. The sun's already set."
"Her guardian is here, he's speaking with Principal Nezu." The gruff voice spoke again.
Who is that?
My curiosity won out and I held my breath to peek. It was Hound Dog. I released my breath in a way that got their attention. Purposely shifting to make it known that I was awake now.
"Oh, perfect timing." Mrs. Chiyo said pleasantly. My body felt sluggish as I laid there. It took me more effort than necessary to sit up. "Your father is here to pick you up, Miss Aoki." I didn't acknowledge her. I just stared down at my once broken ankle moving it side to side painlessly. My fingers ran down the side of my smooth face, a tingle but otherwise healed.
"Are you alright, Miss Aoki?" Hound Dog asked from his position at the foot of my bed.
No. I'm most certainly not alright.
"I'm fine. Just, lethargic, I guess." I answered rubbing the sleep from my eyes, tired but otherwise perfectly healthy.
"That's to be expected. My quirk utilized your own stamina to heal yourself. You seemed to have been exhausted before the injuries occurred. It's no wonder you slept so long." Mrs. Chiyo hopped off her rolling chair and stood close to my bedside. "Once you get home I recommend plenty of rest. No staying up late or working yourself into exhaustion. I know you kids tend to push yourselves too far in your pursuits to become heroes, but you need to mind your health as well."
"Yes ma'am." My subdued response was overlooked as being tired. Pulling the covers off myself I realized I was still in my hero costume. They hadn't even taken my shin guards or arm bracers off.
"Ah, right. You'll need to change first before you go." Mrs. Chiyo hopped back onto her chair, spinning over to her oddly small desk before stopping. Speaking of small, this room looked to be half the size it should have been. "Inui, could you escort her?"
"I don't need an escort." Pushing off the bed I felt my legs wobble slightly under my weight. I wanted to go back to bed already. Hound Dog growled at me.
"We heard you got singled out by the villains." He came to stand beside me and placed a hand on my back, ushering me forward. "It's a necessary precaution." I didn't seem to have a say in the matter. As it was, the furry behemoth stalked behind me all the way to the entrance of the girl's locker room. I changed in silence, gathering my things. Hound was waiting by the door patiently when I emerged. We continued down the hall toward the exit.
"Just so you know, classes for tomorrow have been canceled. All students have been instructed to stay home for their safety." He seemed to take his job very seriously. His eyes darting down halls and his nose twitching at unseen scents. "I still can't believe such a thing-hark bark raAH RUFF!" He quickly delved into unintelligible barking and howling. Gesturing wildly while doing so, it was alarming to say the least. I'd heard rumors of how feared of a teacher he was but I didn't think he was a lunatic.
After a moment to compose himself he calmed, just quietly growling in little harrumphs. It honestly made me think of Ponta when she threw a fit. With that image in mind it made me view his outburst in a different perspective. I'd deny that I smiled if someone asked, but Hound's little tirade certainly made me feel better.
"If you're not already aware. I am the school's Guidance Counselor-,"
"What? Really?!" Completely failing at hiding my surprise. Hound stared down at me, his muzzle covering whatever expression he'd made. "Uh. Oh. I mean. I'm sorry."
He's part dog, and a therapist? Does that make him a therapy dog??
"Yes, really. Added to the fact I'm also a seasoned Pro Hero, I can relate to the trials the students of UA encounter." He huffed out a quiet bark. "This incident today is a stain on our school and my position as head of security."
"Wait wait. I thought you were our counselor?" I stared into his dog eyes. He growled and barked at me.
"I have many hats! Arf BARK BARK!" I only leaned back slightly because of the drool he was managing to fling around. "That being said. My failure has brought this burden upon you. If you need to vent or just talk to someone," We stopped just in front of the exit doors. Hound brought his large hand down into my head in little pats. "My office hours are seven to eight."
I must have misunderstood. I was expecting some corny 'my door is always open' line. Not a one hour window of opportunity!
"Only one hour?!" I blurted out. He responded with the same energy.
"No, you dumb pup! That's Thirteen hours of my generous time!" He barked in my face. Drool slobbering around and landed on my face.
"Dude," I wiped the saliva off with my sleeve. "Clarify!"
"I did clarify! Rarf Arf BARK BARK AWOO!" Imagining him as Enji's little Ponta just brought me to laughter. The mental traumas of the day catching up as I stood there. Laughing while tears began to fall, my emotions finally spilling over. Hound gently pulled me into a hug. The fur of his hero's costume was surprisingly soft against my face. His supportive arms held me close while I cried.