Hellooooo! Been a while, eh? Thanks so much for your patience guys, got my real life stuff sorted out and feel far better about continuing this at the usual bi-weekly rate. But don't worry, if there's any other delays coming up etc. I shall let ya know. Nothing on my radar right now though ^-^ And to make up for the loooong wait, I've got a nice BIG chapter for ya, big ol' 10k!

WARNING: We are deffo entering the realm of details from BEYOND SEASON 4, into the new season being released/manga. So yeah... read at your own risk, and as usual its all spliced in with my own stuff too so... yeah, that's yer warning!

Like watching a stranger. Except, I recognised her, but still had no idea who she was. Small, frail, bones jutting out, skin bruised and torn. Tufts of hair stuck up from her shaved scalp and when there wasn't an angry snarl warping her chapped lips, they were pressed into a thin white line. Presumably suppressing screams. Those being when she wasn't shouting at the lab doctors, swiping at them with her claw-like skeletal hands, or trying and failing to use her power–causing herself more damage than anything else in the process.

But I was getting ahead of myself.

The first clip was the weirdest because I had still looked like myself. Dragged into the lab, I was shoved to the floor, dressed in that weird plastic leotard thing and then my head was shaved. No audio was available, but the buzz of clippers was clear in my mind, from when Dad had given me haircuts. The cold of the tiles under my knees echoed in my mind as well. I clung to my blanket tighter. The girl on screen yelled, she wriggled, she tried to stop them, but it was no use. Outnumbered. Outpowered. And I could only imagine they were threatening Eri if I hadn't complied. But that was just it. I had to guess. Nothing solid came back to me. I ran my fingers over my head, the regrown stubble fairly thick now, almost a proper covering of hair, still dappled white and black all over. It was growing back. The bruises had healed. My sight had returned. I was healing.

"You doing okay?" Dad spoke softly, looking over from his book. I nodded and he lounged back in his seat across the room. "Pause it whenever you need to. This isn't something you need to do all at once."

"Thanks, Dad."

"No problem, Kid."

I continued to watch.

Tests, experiments, tubes, syringes, probes, electrodes, weirder and weirder. At one point I seemed to be bursting into flame, then at another point large shards of crystal, possibly ice, emerged from my skin. Judging from my expression, none of it was pleasant. In the tube. Out of the tube. On the table. Falling to my knees. Over and over. It had to be several things in one day, I had only been with the Yakuza for something like 10 days before the footage was found, and then another 3 before we were rescued. So even with a little wiggle room in those estimations, I hadn't been there for more than about two weeks.

Oh shit.

I hit the pause button.

Dad lowered his book. "Alex?"

"E-Eri." I breathed, leaning forward, fingers tracing the screen as I watched her being dragged past me as I tried to get to her. Our fingers touched. Just barely.

I pressed play.

She was taken away. In the footage, I screamed at the doctors, I clawed at them, becoming hysterical as I tried to get to her, to help presumably. Foolish. They knocked me out. I hung there, the mask was shoved back onto me and my limp body was contained inside the tube. Once I came to, my hands pressed uselessly to the glass, head smooshed against it as I tried to see where she had been taken. As if my witnessing whatever they were doing to her might make it better. Dammit.

I paused again and looked down at my hands. My fingertips tingled. She had been right there with me, she had seen those things, heard me yelling and bellowing. I swallowed hard. I tried to think about the things I had seen, the wounds I had witnessed bursting across my skin. Aches. They brewed at my joints and along my forearms. Mere echoes. But it was something.

Dad's hand landed on my shoulder. "Any memories?"

"Only vague echoes of the injuries. Nothing of…" I winced, "use."

He sighed and knelt before me. "You know that isn't why I let you see this. This is meant to be for you, no one else. Not me, not the police. Just you."

I nodded. "Right."

The warmth settled around me again. He was right. Dad was right. It wasn't a case of needing to see it for some kind of worth, no. I deserved to know, to see, to want that. Perfectly valid. Didn't need any justification or 'use' beyond that. Right.

I smiled. "I know that. Of course."

"You ok to continue?"

"Yeah."

He kissed my head and returned to his seat and book.

The images continued, and eventually we got to the point that Dad and that others had seen during the big meeting of Pros. My almost escape. I looked deranged. So battered, bruised and broken, but screaming at the doctors, using my power erratically and desperately. Had they done something especially weird to me before the lab that day? Had they hurt Eri in front of me? Why the sudden manic desperation? Then again, maybe my nerves were simply shot. I needed out. I swallowed hard and paused it as past me laughed at the doctors, sneering at them as they raised batons and means of getting me back under control. My sight had been gone at that point, so I couldn't see them, but I still grinned like a damn maniac. I dunno whether to be proud of myself or worried. How dark did my thoughts go?

It moved to the next day, and I paused it as soon as I was put onto the table. As I lay there, eyes closed, lips pursed, hands clenched, it was clear that resolve had returned to my mind. Something had changed since the previous day's attempted escape. Perhaps they had threatened Eri if I acted out again. Perhaps there was simply a new acceptance in me that my death was imminent. Nothing came back to me in the present, not in a concrete way. It was all just guess work. Though I admit, there was a twinge of fear of what I couldn't remember. Had I accepted death? Did they beat me that low and nearly defeat me? I don't know. I hate that I don't and they likely do.

I brewed a fresh cup of hot tea and went to the balcony.

The air was chilly, but still. A few students were out jogging, chatting as they went. Others simply walked each other home after late training. Sho and Bakugo were downstairs in the garden doing some light sparring with Kirishima tapping in every so often, their conversation brief but seemingly jovial. I smiled. Normality. Everyday. It continued beyond the bubble of the apartment, of course it did. In some ways that confused me. It made me shudder at the idea of how many people were suffering in that moment without our knowledge. But at the same time, whenever I was in a dark place, there would be solace in the idea that there was still light in the world. Still people training, learning, laughing and living. I snorted to myself, realising how close I came to thinking 'live, laugh and love'. My basic was showing.

Dad appeared by my side, draping the blanket back over my shoulders, along with his arm. He had his own tea, perching it on the balcony railing. I leaned against him. Back at our apartment in the city, we used to do this if he came home crazy late/early, and we shared a coffee instead of trying to get some sleep. He'd let me perch on the railing when I was really little, hold me close and let me guess what the heck some of the buildings in the distance were. Sometimes I got them right, sometimes I recalled them from staying in their basement or something. I think we taught each other a little during those conversations. They seemed like a lifetime ago.

I breathed deep. "You still have the old place, don't you?"

"I ain't living here for the rest of my damn life." He snorted. "Yeah I have it, I have someone going in every couple of weeks to keep it tidy and stuff. Don't worry, we still have home."

"Home is where you are, old man."

"Whoa, mushy tonight, huh?"

"Fuck you." I smirked and sipped my tea. "Home is such a weird word, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well… For so long I didn't have one. It didn't mean a damn thing to me, or at least, if it meant anything, it was something other people had. Not me. Now…" I watched the steam rise from my tea. "Now it's you, it's those idiots down there, it's this place. But it's also that little apartment where we kinda learned to be human together." I sighed. "Sorry this is already sounding like a shitty greetings card."

He squeezed me lightly. "Don't let my nonsense stop you, Kid. I'm glad you think of this place and the old apartment as home. Sarcastic assery aside, that does mean a lot."

"Yeah… Just… It just makes me wonder about this white-haired bitch."

He was quiet. There were no answers he could give me, and he hated that. I knew it, he knew it, the whole damn faculty knew it. But they also knew there was zero expectation on my part. Dad wasn't there to have all the answers. That wasn't why I needed him. I needed him to help me keep my arse moving when the answers weren't there. To know how to move forward without a clear path. And at that, he was great. Even if he occasionally stumbled.

I sipped my tea. "If she is related to me, be it Aunt, Cousin, even sibling of some kind…"

"Alex it doesn't mean yo–"

"I am going to give her such a fucking earfull."

Dad jolted and nearly spat out his tea. "Uh…"

"What? Did you think I was considering myself tainted by association?" I raised a brow.

He stayed silent, but his face screamed 'well of course I bloody did you neurotic mess, it's what you usually do, isn't it?!'. He pursed his lips and shrugged.

I snorted. "Yeah, I get it. My usual go to, for sure. But not this time. Not with this… No. As a toddler, even if it had been my power that killed my parents, I didn't know the ramifications. How could I have? So if this woman lays blame at my door… she can have it slammed in her damn face for all I care. She might have some DNA similarities to me but that's about fucking it."

He nudged me. "Is she in the footage or something?"

"Nah not so far… It just got me thinking about memories. I don't recall what happened in there, it's on the screen for me to see, but other than the odd ache, or vague echo, there are no concrete memories. But does that negate what happened? Not really. So even if I can't recall this woman, that doesn't stop the fact that she's robbed me of a lot of my life. Possibly of the knowledge of where I came from. But then again… Do I even bloody care?"

Dad sighed. "Your brain worries the hell out of me sometimes, I can't always keep up."

"Sorry, I'm probably rambling."

"Nah, you're feeling, and that's still a great thing in my mind." He kissed the top of my head. "So, you're wondering whether or not to even care if she's related to you?"

"In so far as it changing how I live my life? Yeah… She obviously has no interest in me, beyond maybe making me suffer so why should I give her the ability to live in my head rent free?"

"Sounds good to me." He hummed. "But I am still keen to have her in custody."

"Gonna go all papa bear on her?"

"Damn right."

We stood and watched the world wander by for a few more minutes. The tea was drank, the quiet was enjoyed. Bakugo gave a humph when he was floored by Kirishima, and my red-head pal did his adorable victory dance. I don't think he got the better of Bakugo often in the ring, so I'd have to congratulate him tomorrow, loudly, in front of the grumpy blonde. Of course.

"I think I'll finish watching the footage tomorrow." I yawned. "But can I stay here tonight?"

"You can stay whenever, kid, you know that. Though please no random swearing sessions in the middle of the night if you can help it?"

"Oh, you saying I can't wake you up anym–"

"Not what I meant you sarcastic goblin."

I chuckled and headed back inside, closing the laptop and putting our cups into the sink. I set the coffee machine up for the morning, sticking my tongue out as the water tank was its usual tricky self. A slip of paper rustled behind me, being pushed over the counter. I peered back and saw the Principal's seal on the bottom. Work study papers.

I nearly dropped the coffee pot. "Wait, is that…"

"Finish what you're doing." He rolled his eyes, leaning on the counter, head in hand and tired smile in place.

I finished up and then pulled myself onto a stool, pouring over the document. Permission to go on patrol. And it was applicable whenever we were wanting to go ahead with it. By the time I looked back up to Dad we were both grinning.

I bit my lip. "So when can I…"

"After the festival?"

I laughed and ran round to hug him tight, squeezing his middle till he winced and started trying to wriggle free.

"Gonna be hard to go on patrol if you've crushed me to death!"

"Ach you'll be able to hide better when you're 2D." I snorted and let go, bouncing on the spot. "Holy crap I actually get to do a proper work study. Holy crap!"

Dad smirked and held onto my shoulders to stop my bouncing. "You're gonna have to follow orders, you get that right?"

"Of course." I bit my lip. "I will! No fucking about, all business. Oh my god this is finally happening, thank you!"

"I'll be glad to have you there, means I can keep an eye on you." He winked and pulled me into a fresh hug. "And I'll do my best to not be overly proud and sappy when we're out there."

"Pah! As if you're not gonna be the usual hard-ass you always are."

"That's my girl."

A couple weeks later, it was time for the performance. My hair had grown in a little more, so I no longer needed my wigs. I loved them, but under the stage lighting, I was glad to be without one, and sporting my super short–but very cute, according to Mina and Ura and every other one of the girls–pixie cut. I liked the style in all honesty, and whenever I was with Sho he seemed to always find an excuse to play with it. So it seemed like everyone liked the hair as much as I did, and whilst not a ruling factor, it was still nice.

I pulled the bright orange band t-shirt on and checked the bit of make-up I'd used, ensuring I wasn't washed out by the lights. Mina was going over last minute checks with the dancers and Kaminari was boldly trying to force Bakugo into the t-shirt. Whether or not I slightly held Bakugo in place and slightly helped force that t-shirt into place would remain a mystery to all. Though he did glare at me as soon as it happened.

"You feeling okay?" Jiro nudged me and I smiled, part of me suspected she might be in need of some help as well.

I looped my arm through hers and hugged. "Yeah I'm doing okay. We'll be up there together, holding each other up, yeah?"

"Yeah." She grinned, hugging back, trembling only a little.

"C'mon, don't go getting nervy on me now. You're the one that roped me into this, right?" I laughed and she snorted, squeezing me before letting go.

"Let's go rock those idiots back into seeing us as fellow students, sound good?"

"Sounds perfect."

All right.

Deep breath.

Here we go.

Wow, the stage suddenly seemed so much bigger with those people out there. I could barely see them past the blazing lights, but some faces peeked through, and with that, the watchful eyes. Were the assholes out there? Probably. They'd likely come to see us fail. I glanced back at Bakugo and we shared a nod. No failure, not today. Today we would win and we would show them all what Class 1A was about, and it wasn't just shitty trauma. The whole room fizzed with expectation, eyes trained on us, and I knew somewhere in the darkness Dad also watched. And of course, so did Eri. She would be perched on Mirio's shoulders, drinking in the light, the colour, the real world she had been deprived of for so long. Come on kid, let's learn how to smile again, together.

Dad always did his best to hide it, but I knew he worried that the darkness was still going to win over me eventually. That he wouldn't be able to reach me, that his influence would run its course. But he was wrong. I couldn't do any of it without him. He found this stray little cat in an alleyway, took it home and made it dependent. Sure, I could stand on my own. I could fight my own battles. But I still needed him, I would always need him. He was my Dad. And he always would be.

The music timed in and I clung to Jiro as much as I could, without being in her way. She smirked and we counted in. Then of course, Bakugo jumped the gun, but at least we were off. The song began. Music thrummed through us, filling the stage and overflowing into the crowd beyond. The lights began to flicker out and the effects took shape. Faces beamed back at us, smiling, dancing, hands swaving. They were having a great time.

My voice merged with Jiro's and the melody carried us into the song proper. Wow. We were really doing it. The lights soared and as the first dance number came to an end, Izuku waved to Eri and disappeared. I reached and gave her hair a quick braid at the side. She waved frantically and I returned it. Then came the ice and sparkles. I always knew Sho's quirk was beautiful, but I hoped moments like that would let him see it as well. I kept the confetti moving and the ice twirling with my power. I even kept Disco-ball Boy steady as Izuku ran along with the rope. My tactile control was really coming in handy.

In all honesty, it was over so quick I had to pinch myself that we had really done it. But with my heart hammering, my brow sweating and my grin plastered into place, there was no denying it. We had done good. And, from the looks of things with a few faces being totally gobsmacked, we had really shown them all what we could do.

All in all, it was a huge success.

Thank fuck, eh?

The crowd dispersed, the main lights came back on and the clean up began. Amazing how quickly reality sunk back in, but even so, the whole class was elated. We had done a good job. And we had done it together. Class 1A had shone for a legitimately good reason.

Ice was everywhere. Sho had certainly done a good job making a spectacle for us. He kept suggesting he just melt it right away but that would only leave us with gallons of water to mop up. I carried shards to the buckets and sink, piece after piece. My power scooped them up with no twinges, no aches, nothing. It might be silly, but in a way it felt like more progress. Such a simple task, and it was as easy as I'd have expected. Finally.

As we cleaned, Sho snuck over to give me a quick kiss on the cheek. "You were amazing."

"As were you."

He looked around us. "Mm, perhaps a bit too eager, though?"

"It was great." I grinned and kissed his lips. "You made a lot of people real happy today."

"As did you." He glanced behind me and backed up, giving a wink. "Perhaps a couple people in particular. See you later."

"Yeah." I smiled and turned where he had glanced.

Izuku was running over, wiping his brow. "Hey do you think Mirio will be waiting with Eri outside for a while? I don't wanna miss her."

"Huh, I dunno. I was so focused on the show I didn't really think about after–"

"Alex! Deku!" Eri squealed, running over full pelt, with a slightly anxious Mirio not far behind, trying to keep up with her frantic feet. She must have wriggled away from him when she spotted us.

I grinned and knelt to scoop her up into my arms, hers stretched outward, ready for the spin as if we'd rehearsed it. And she smiled. She was smiling. Had we done that? Did she smile because of the concert?

"You were all awesome!" She cheered, and as I set her down she danced from one tiny foot to the other, her big eyes switching between me and Izuku with glee. "That was crazy! At first when there was a loud noise, it was scary. But then everyone was jumping with the dance, and there was a flash and Deku you went away from a little bit… and a guy started flying in the air. That's when it started to get cold, and I saw birds, and there was a spinning light and a bunch of people said wow, and you know what I said?"

I laughed. "What? What did you say kid?"

"Wow, too! It was so fun!"

Deku wiped a tear. "I'm glad you had such a good time, Eri."

She laughed. "It was so good!"

I knelt and sprinkled some ice shavings over her, making her giggle and dance about. "So you here to help clean up or what? We'll be going to see more of the festival as soon as we're done."

"I can help, sure!" She beamed, because of course she did.

I ruffled her hair. "I was kidding, sweetheart. Maybe next time, okay? How about you go wait outside in the sunshine while we finish up?"

"Okay, but it's real busy out there." She pointed, and as the bigger doors opened to let us continue to shovel the ice elsewhere, I realised what she meant. The crowd had left the stadium, but had lingered outside. And then in came the compliments.

Oh god.

Floor, why do you insist on not swallowing me whole?

And then I spotted them, the assholes from before. The ones that victim blamed, sneered and called us fools for being targeted by the damn League. They were completely blown away. They fled with apologies as soon as I made eye contact. So they had known me and Bakugo heard them, and now felt guilty as hell. Well, good. Lose some sleep you dumbasses.

I high-fived Bakugo.

"We won." We laughed in unison.

The rest of the festival was amazing. We all piled into the crowd for the Beauty pageant, and in all honesty it took a lot of effort to keep my jaw from the floor. They were all stunning in one way or another. Damn. Next was the Haunted House by Shinsou's class. It was great. Very creepy, and the details were fantastic, with some brilliant nods to old horror films. I kept trying to spot Shinsou, but I didn't manage to until he'd dangled from the ceiling in his bloodied up state. He grabbed for me, doing his best zombie noises. So of course I ducked, stuck out my tongue and shoved him back up with my power. He groaned a 'pain in the ass' and I ran. Whoops! A vague call of 'you prick!' followed me out, and I laughed with the others.

As we sought out some food, Ura nudged me. "When did you and Hitoshi get so close?"

"Hm? Oh we've done some training together, he's a great guy when you get to know him." I grinned and we accepted our food from the stall. "Why?"

"I just still find him kind of unnerving, after seeing him at the festival and how he nearly beat Deku. But it's good to know you like him, good character reference." She chuckled. "Guess we were all pretty intense at the festival."

"Yeah, for sure. At least with this festival there's more fun to be had."

She beamed. "Exactly!"

After food, it was time for some balloons. I perched Eri onto my hip, letting her choose the colour she wanted, grabbing the balloon back down when it tried to float away. She giggled, and of course, my heart melted. I chose my own balloon and we went around some more activities. She clung so tight. Every time her smile beamed out, it seemed like the shadow of Chisaki was fading more and more. That's right kid, leave him in the dark. Forget him and his poison. You're out in the sunshine now.

And I'll never let them take you away from it.

But as with everything, eventually it came to an end. Golden light pooled across the sky as the afternoon wore on, and soon enough it was time for Eri to be taken back to the hospital. I hoped sooner rather than later she was given a more steady place to stay. But where would that be? Here? UA campus? I had no idea, but maybe Dad would know.

He waited by the taxi whilst me, Mirio and Izuku said our goodbyes.

Izuku knelt in front of Eri and grinned. "Thanks for coming today, I loved it."

Eri mumbled something, looking down as she fidgeted. No doubt she didn't want to go away yet, it had been a magical day.

Izuku brought something out of a bag. "One more thing." He held out a candy apple. "Got a surprise for ya."

Mirio threw his hands up. "A candy apple! From where? I couldn't find any!"

"Yeah, I didn't see that anyone was gonna be selling them, so I bought ingredients when I went out this morning. It was easier to make than I thought it'd be. The only thing I couldn't get at the store was good colouring, but Sato had plenty!"

I laughed. "Amazing as ever Deku."

He blushed. Eri took the apple and gazed at it wonder, her eyes shining as she considered where to bite. She took everything in with such enthusiasm. And every single thing seemed to dull that reserved nature. Less fear. Less trepidation. It was beautiful. She found her point of attack, and went for it. Crunch. Crackle. Red sugar stuck to her cheeks as she chewed.

Dad simpered. "It's getting late. But you guys should be able to see her again soon."

Eri then squealed "Mm! It's the best thing ever!"

Izuku looked over-joyed. "Hah! I'll make them again, so you have something to look forward to."

"I will!" Eri nodded and bit again and again.

Seemed like the perfect ending, to a pretty damn perfect day.

A couple of days later, I had my costume back from the design team, in preparation of my Work Study with Dad. Safe to say, I had my reservations…

I slowly lowered the mock-up sheets for my costume, changed without my permission, and raised a brow at the designer. "Uhuh. Well… That's not happening."

"But Miss Aizawa we–"

"Nope. Not a fucking chance."

"But–"

"I'm not wearing heels while running around back alleys and flinging myself from fire-escapes. Unless you're wanting me to break my neck?"

The guy's mouth opened and closed a few times. He had to be at least three years older than me, but I still felt like a nanny telling off a minor for taking a peek up a dolly's dress.

I gave him back the sheets. "I get it. Aesthetics are important. But folks are gonna pop me into their wank-bank if I'm wearing heels or flats. Whatever. Either way, they're gonna do it. So personally, I'd rather have some shoes I can better do my job in, that pander to their want for a bit more sway in my fucking hips."

He looked down at the paper. "We figured you'd want to be similar to Midnight as she's such a close influence on your–"

"She's a dear family friend, practically my Aunt, but apart from that… where do you get the connection? I have my entire body covered head to toe in black sparkly material, including a cowl and hood. So… No, that's a thin defence at best. Midnight is amazing. She's beautiful and strong, her costume isn't something I wouldn't ever question as it's for her. But this is me. And I ain't agreeing to heels. Gimme flats. Now."

He sighed. "Very well Miss, I'll get that sorted for your patrol later on today."

"Good, and no more trying to sneak this shit in, or I will really lose my temper."

He went wide eyed. "This wasn't you losing your temper?"

Dad snorted from the side, where he was sat having his coffee. "Not even close. Keep that in mind."

I would love to think that would be my last tangle with the design team taking liberties, but I am not that naive. Even so, I had made my point. And by the time it came to the following night, my first patrol, I had my costume without the porno-heels. I was ready to go.

Finally.

Finally, I got clearance to go on patrol with Dad.

The first night was a total blur. We caught a few petty thieves, and took them to the station, booked them and carried on with the patrol. One of our victories for the night was helping an old woman find her house again, after getting confused. Then we stopped a car theft. Overall, the night was a big success. And fairly uneventful in terms of any big villains, or anything beyond petty thugs. When we got back to campus I was wired. I didn't sleep a wink, and did all the write-ups for Dad simply for something to do. Sho and Bakugo listened to my rambling over breakfast, the others gradually gathering as I continued to blabber on. It had been so exciting to be in the field. Just me and Dad. No League, no world-ending drakes, just some normal, usual Hero work.

It wasn't a full week of patrols, like the others had enjoyed for their work studies. But getting a go every few days was still amazing. It felt like a real shift starting and ending.

Going out on patrol with Dad felt so surreal at first. I'd only ever heard about his work in the small snippets he would discuss over meals, or the small sections the news caught about him. And those were of course very sporadic. Not to mention they rarely did me any good due to my worrying. But being there firsthand was different. I could help. Assist. And gradually, as we continued to work together for a month or so, he grew to trust my on-field instincts more and more. I suppose there was a slight advantage in my past, in that I knew how the streets felt already. There was little intimidation factor in it for me.

The city sparkled in the dark and every street hummed with possibility. We had a good system by that point, a month in; he cancelled quirks, and I'd either hold the culprits or knock them out. Then we'd capture them and take them to the station. It helped me learn how to deal with other quirks, and it aided his issue of having less time to use his quirk since the USJ.

But even then things could go wrong.

Three thugs dashed along an alleyway, an alarm sounding one street away and someone yelling about them having a gun. We were waiting above, perfectly perched. Dad readied a jump, his fingers descended from 3… 2… 1. And we leapt into action. He cancelled their quirks, I sent the first one tumbling into the bins, the second one smacked off the wall and the last was snared in Dad's capture weapon. Clean. I ran to the one in the bins and slapped restraints on him, kicking his gun aside. Then there was the one with the newly bloody nose thanks to the wall faceplant, he was on his feet again, brandishing a knife. My combat training kicked in, and he was on the floor in seconds.

But it seemed these thugs were prepared. They knew they might bump into Eraserhead.

The thug in Dad's capture weapon had a flare grenade, clearly knowing this was Dad's hunting ground. I staggered. Dad held tight with the capture weapon. But then he blinked. He yelled as much, warning me. I used my sightless pulse, getting hold of the grenade guy's body, disabling him on the ground. But of course, I couldn't do a damn thing about his quirk.

He latched onto Dad and drained his energy, sinking Dad to his knees before slumping in a heap. The capture weapon went limp. I kept hold of the thug, seeking his jugular vein to knock him out, keeping his head turned away from me in the hope that his quirk was sight or touch based. I sent a signal to the nearby police station and tried to get restraints on the one I had just floored, the nosebleed guy. But then there was a fourth. He'd lagged behind the others.

So then, I had to make a decision. I could take them, but that left Dad vulnerable. The police would probably be there soon, but I had no guarantee. No. I was part of a Hero team, and that was the important thing. I kept hold of the troublesome quirk user, subdued the nosebleed one with restraints and readied myself for the fourth. If he ran on, I'd pass on the information. If he attacked, then my priority was protecting Dad.

He ran on, mumbling about dumb ideas and 'i told you so' as he went. Such honour amongst thieves. I sent the direction, pace and description onto the police and they responded with a patrol car being en route. I double checked everything and then went to Dad's side. The quirk user was unconscious after I finally found the right spot and sent him to dream land.

Dad groaned as I lay him on his back, his tired eyes barely managing to open. "Stasis…"

We had agreed to use each other's Hero names on the job.

He swallowed hard. "You… Okay?"

"I'm good. You got hit with a Quirk. Lay still, back ups on route and paramedics as well. Don't think you're wounded, but I dunno what the whole situation is with the quirk. Hopefully you just need a damn good sleep."

He smirked, squeezing my hand when I took his. "That's… my… girl."

"I was taught well. Rest up."

Once we got back to campus, after he was given a check over and assured it would be fine after a good long sleep, Dad slumped onto the sofa. He grinned. Pride radiated from him, and he fell asleep on the sofa like a dumbass that had forgotten he wasn't 21 anymore. I lifted him to his room, took off his boots and his capture weapon, and tucked him in. He mumbled something, but I just left him to sleep.

What a night.

In the taxi home, Dad had kept saying how pleased he was with my choice, commending my ability to look beyond the win for the sake of my partner. Such a great moment. And I had to admit, I was glad he had been the first between us to be hit by another quirk. Made me a little less daunted about whatever my first mess-up would be. Because I was under no illusion that it wouldn't happen. Of course it would. Someone would get around my defences, it happened all the time. The main thing I had to do, was do my best to avoid it being a fatal mistake.

Fuck. Did I just jinx it?

The next morning, when I came back in from my run, I knew something was wrong.

The whole class was gathered around the TV and the air was thick with tension. Every single one of them was sat, shoulders straight, leaning forward, rapt with whatever unfolded on the screen. I tugged my earphones out and wiped my face with my towel. Sho stood on the edge of things, near the windows, but his jaw was set so tight it looked ready to crack. His eyes bored into the TV.

I peered at the screen and tried to catch up.

ENDEAVOUR, NEW NUMBER ONE FACES GREATEST THREAT YET!

Oh. Oh shit something was going down. Hawk's name flashed up a moment later and then talk of a Nomu. I stalled and my hands curled into fists around my towel. Nomu. So they hadn't all been found and destroyed during Kamino. Well, that was one way to find out. Not that I could really believe we'd have been so lucky, as to wipe them out in one go. Things just didn't work like that. Still. Now it was confirmed. I swallowed my fears, ignoring the echoes of Dad's arms being snapped at the USJ and the screams from Hosu, so I could go to Sho's side. His eyes stayed fixed on the screen, but he did take my hand when I slotted my fingers against his. He held so tight.

The battle continued. It was surreal to see it on the television for some reason; I'd seen dozens of reports like it, or at least, of heroes fighting villains. But somehow this felt different. More potent. Perhaps it was the inclusion of Nomu, perhaps it was because it was Sho's Dad. Whatever it was, it tightened around my heart. Civilians panicked. People ran. The Heroes were doing well, but clearly Endeavour was struggling with the big Nomu, even with Hawks there to help. Mumblings began to brew about Endeavour not being strong enough. About how the fight wasn't going to end well. Doubt. It slithered through the reports like oil on water. Would it catch? Would this be yet another blow to people's belief in Heroes as a whole? I couldn't stand Endeavour, but he was only one man, he couldn't save an entire system. He wasn't All Might.

And then a little kid spoke up.

His eyes blazed with passion, and despite how shitty a person Endeavour was, as a Hero he clearly inspired people. I guess there's a whole host of reasons why that's pretty fucked up, but as Heroes in training, we could respect what the institution meant to people. The Symbol of Peace was gone, people needed something to believe in.

Another strike against Endeavour.

Sho's hand flashed cold.

Blood arced away from his father's head, a long cut streaking almost the full length of his face, cutting right along his left eye. It would leave a nasty scar and one hell of a mirror image. Would he be blinded? I didn't stop holding Sho's hand, not for one second. Frost crept along my skin, but I didn't care.

Sho trembled, his eyes widening. "Come on you bastard…"

Dad came into the room, his eyes immediately landing on Sho and me. He nodded and I returned it. I had Sho, he was taken care of.

"Get up…" Sho muttered, almost hissing. A few of our classmates glanced at him, confusion and concern in equal measure. His brows pinched in the middle. "I'm watching you, asshole. Get up!"

And he did.

Endeavour struggled to his feet and kept fighting. He kept trying. And as much as he was a vile father and a horrid husband, I could at least tip my hat to the man for continuing to fight for that city. For the people's safety. Then again, it could also be for his own image–let's not go getting ahead of ourselves.

Endeavour and the Nomu soared up into the sky, blazing higher and higher. Confusion babbled across the newsroom, but I think we all understood in the dorms, it was a tactical move. Right? Endeavour was keeping collateral to a minimum. In the sky he could burn as bright as needed. But how much more did he have to give? The lens of the camera wavered. Apparently, plenty. Or, the last that he could. He blazed brighter than anything I'd seen before, and my hand ached in Sho's tight hold. The light dimmed. Two shapes returned to earth. Boom. They erupted against the ground and silence took to the airwaves.

Had Endeavour lived? Was the Nomu dead?

Smoke cleared, and there Endeavour stood, arm raised in defiance. Asshole, yes. Showman, definitely. Sho's knees buckled and he crouched on the floor. My hand slipped from his, but I was right there, running my hand up and down his back, hopefully helping him time his breathing.

"He–" My words cut short as I saw another figure waltz onto the field. A figure I knew well enough to know that things were potentially about to get even messier. I swallowed hard and gripped Sho's shoulder as the news reporter caught up with my own realisation and made the announcement.

"One of the League has appeared!"

I swallowed. "Dabi."

Blue fire erupted across the scene. It surrounded the wavering Endeavour and the nearly entirely featherless Hawks. Shit. They were not in a good spot. The other heroes nearby had helped keep things in hand on the outskirts, but they would be no help against Dabi's flames, especially when he was riled, and standing in front of his supposed father, he would be beyond that point. Was it true? Was Endeavour the reason Dabi had become so bitter and broken? I couldn't say for certain, but my heart hammered anyway. The point was, he believed it, and he hated Endeavour with every singed fibre of his being.

He stalked forward. His arms waved in a swinging motion, readying another blast. They'd be roasted in seconds, there was no way Hawks could move himself and Endeavour out of the way in time. Possibly not even himself. But then the Rabbit Hero appeared. Or rather, she slammed right into the midst of things. Damn, she was quick. Dabi stalled. I swallowed hard. Sho leaned against me. Would Dabi stay and fight?

Seemed not.

Black ooze flowed from his grinning lips as he yelled at Endeavour, and in the next moment he was gone. My lips pursed, the memory of that ooze always making me want to puke. But it was done, and as Endeavour crumpled against the concrete, the report came to an end.

As the footage blinked out Dad came over. "All right, everyone else out. Go study, your rooms, whatever." He stopped in front of Sho. "I'll be notified as soon as there's any information, there's a couple of hospitals he could be taken to from there."

"Yes, sir." Sho's eyes were fixed on the floor. "Thank you, sir."

Dad looked to me.

I nodded and put my arm around Sho. "How about we go wait in my room, Sho?"

"Right. Sure." He swallowed and took his phone out, messaging his sister before unfolding and standing upright, wavering before he put his phone away and blinked hard. I led him towards the stairs. He clung to my arm.

I kept my voice soft, not wanting to alarm him as he continued to digest what had just happened. "I'll go for my shower real quick, but you can just sit on my bed, okay? Maybe make some tea?"

"Yeah, sure." He frowned and checked his phone again. "Fuyumi says she's going to keep me posted as well. Everyone's keeping me posted."

I held his arm tighter. "C'mon, nearly there."

"I… I feel weird, Alex."

I stopped moving and held him steady. "Like sick?"

He frowned harder and then blinked at me. "No. Like… Why am I worried?"

Oh. Okay.

Well that, in all honesty, is way more my area.

I got us moving again and ran my hand along his arm. "You're worried because you don't know what's happening, and despite his shittery, he's still your Dad. Along with a whole bunch of other stuff, c'mon, we can talk it through in my room. We can just talk about anything and everything."

"So…" He kept moving thankfully, though I admit my quirk is ready for if he suddenly dropped. These things could sneak up on anyone, let alone someone as usually held together as Sho. I had to be ready for anything. He cleared his throat. "So, it doesn't sound foolish?"

"Not at all, Sho." I get him inside and set him onto the bed, his hands slack in his lap and his eyes so distant.

Dammit I had to help him, but I also had to keep in mind that sometimes there were no solutions. Sometimes someone just needed to feel what they were feeling. Though of course right in that moment, Sho wasn't sure what he was meant to be feeling. I couldn't exactly directly relate, my Dad, even with his stumbles, was amazing. But… Well I understood having a complicated feeling towards someone. Dabi. Shigaraki.

I kissed his head. "I'll be right back, okay? I'll leave the door unlocked. Make some tea if you want, or I'll do it when I'm back."

"Right." He stared down at his phone, his thumb pale as he held the small screen tightly, likely waiting for whatever news came first.

I got on with my shower. I flung my workout clothes into the laundry basket and scrubbed myself quickly, shampooing my short hair and roughly towel drying it once satisfactorily refreshed. As I combed my hair, I caught sight of my flushed face in the mirror. It would be because of my run, of course, just my blood still being heightened after the exercise, but I really did resemble a startled rabbit. Eyes wide. Cheeks pinked. But I just drew a long breath and set my towel on the rack to dry off. I had to do this, to step up and be there for Sho like he had been for me. Give and take. And finally I could give something back.

First things first, don't go and fuck it up horrendously.

My lips pressed into a thin line.

Everytime I stumbled and Sho tried to help, he worried over saying or doing the wrong thing. He said that nearly every time. But every time, as the world roared around me, my head threatened to split open, the air thinned or my body simply rebelled against me; all I could think was how glad I was to have him there with me. The words didn't matter. The fact he was there, holding me up, giving me space to breathe and figure out how to get back to myself, that was what mattered.

I pulled on my jeans and jumper and went back to my room. He hadn't moved. That was fine, and kind of expected. Water bubbled in the kettle and I set two mugs on the counter, a teabag in each. I opened my balcony door to let in some fresh air, as well as help the shower steam escape from whatever the vent hadn't caught. It was a beautiful day. Weird.

The teas were made, and I sat by his knees, setting the tea nearby to avoid spooking him by suddenly presenting it, but having it close enough that I could grab it. My first instinct was to sit beside him, to hold him close and cling to any part of him I could reach. But that didn't match the look in his eyes as he stared at his phone. Panic. Confusion. He needed air, he needed space, he needed patience and time.

I gently laid my hand on his knee. "Any messages while I was showering?"

"Uh…" He jolted and tapped his phone, shaking his head before closing his eyes. "Sorry, I must have spaced out."

"It's fine. I have the teas here, and we have all the time we need. Dad will let us know if he learns anything sooner than you do. But right now… We just have to get you back to you."

He licked his lips. "What… What do you mean?"

"You feel weird, right? Can you describe it any more clearly than you did on the stairs? I wanna know Sho, and I'm not going to judge, I'm not even going to comment if you don't want me to. I just… I want you to know there's an open door here, and I'm happy to wait as long as you need for you to step through and let me know how you're doing. And if you don't know… That's fine too." I press a kiss to his hand when it lands atop mine.

Am I doing anything right? I guess I'll find out. Anything he needs, it's part of being here for him, I'll help him however I can.

"Can I have my tea?" He swallowed hard and accepted the mug, blowing on it softly before sipping. I did the same, laying my head against his lap. In the quiet, we must have sat there for maybe five solid minutes. But it was a warm silence, a calm one.

Eventually he sighed, though I suppose it was more like he was releasing a long breath. The tension left him a little. I sipped my tea. There didn't need to be a reaction from me everytime. I just adjusted my head against his leg, reminding him I was there, and there wasn't anywhere else we needed to be. Just us. Just him. Just now.

His fingers threaded through my short hair. "Thank you."

"Mm?"

"I've never known you to be so quiet." A smile was in his voice.

I adjusted and peered up at him, glad to see that soft smile curling the edges of his lips. I gave a small smile in return and turned myself around, head still against his lap, but now facing him and looking up. His eyes studied my face, fingers skimming down from my hairline, along my cheekbone, and then hovering near my jaw.

I squeezed his leg. "I figured you just needed some space to think over things, then maybe you'd be up for talking. But if not, all good." I added, to avoid any pressure. Damn, or had that already applied it without my realising?

"You're pretty good at this." He snorted and I blushed. "Handling me."

I frowned and shook my head. "Whoa, hey now it's not about that. If you wanna rage out, go for it, though maybe not on my bed clothes. But still, I mean it. I'm just trying to give you space to process. If that's not what you wanna do we can–"

"It's great." He chuckled, leaning down to kiss me, encouraging me up. He set the teas aside and coaxed me into his lap, straddling his hips, and he just wrapped his arms around my waist. "Is this okay?" He mumbled against my shoulder, hiding a bit.

"Yeah, it's fine." I hummed, running my fingers through his hair. For another few minutes we stayed like that, his breath drifting against my jumper, his hands tracing small patterns into my sides as his arms encircled me.

He kissed my neck. "You're a decent teddy-bear."

"I do my best." I kissed his cheek, still stroking his hair,

"I have no idea what I'm meant to be feeling about this… But I don't want him to die. I know that much… Which is weird."

I hum, just keeping my fingers moving. Again, he doesn't need my input and if he wants it, I'm sure he'll ask. For now, my lips are sealed.

He kept going. "When I was growing up, I frequently wished he was dead. I'm not sure what that says about me as a person, but I did. Everytime he over-trained me, or hurt Mom because I hadn't measured up and she tried to defend me… I hated him. I wanted him dead. I wished I knew how to do it myself." His grip on my waist tightened slightly before he sighed. "But when Mom snapped and… And was put in the hospital it sort of changed. I… I knew killing him wasn't going to fix anything. Not really. Lashing out just made things worse, and not always for the person you're aiming at." He sucked in a breath. "Does that make any sense?"

"A lot, yeah."

Fuck. I wished I could reach back in time and protect that tiny version of Sho. Keep those big mis-matched eyes wide and full of innocence. Save his mother from that moment of madness, when the world slipped away and all she knew was unbridled rage and confusion. But I'm sure every Hero has those moments. Wishing they could save another victim. Wishing someone else might be saved some pain. It just wasn't how the world worked.

He swallowed. "I wanted to show him how I rejected him, that his hard work wouldn't be paying off for him at all. It seemed like the best revenge but… but then it got all twisted. Before you and Midoryia showed me how I could do it otherwise that is."

Seemed like a lot more of the credit was due to Izuku, but this wasn't the time for bashful nit-picking.

Sho kissed my shoulder. "After that I saw how badly I'd been handling it. And… And then I started to compartmentalise. Between the bastard Father and the accomplished Hero. It didn't make it any easier to swallow the horribleness of the past, but it made it easier to accept what I could learn from the present." He snorted and shook his head. "I sound ridiculous."

"You sound like you've gone through this a thousand times in your head, and now you're just voicing it. You're doing great."

He looked up at me, so unsure, so lost. I wasn't sure I had ever seen that expression on his face, not without me having been previously caught in some wayward villain's attack. No. This was confusion for his own situation. I hated that look more than anything in this world, because I didn't know how to prevent it.

I cupped his cheeks. "You're allowed to feel something for the man defending a city. It doesn't have to mean a betrayal of the little kid who hates his father, or like you're turning your back on your mother either. There is nothing wrong with feeling something, Sho. I promise."

"I still hate him so much." He whispered it, like he couldn't dare to say it any louder. Like he was ashamed.

I kissed the end of his nose. "You likely always will. And for good reason."

"It's not exactly heroic though, is it? What if I get distracted by that hatred again? Like in the exam, when I failed because I got so wrapped up in what it meant to be his son. And to use his power. What if I fuck all this up because I'm still–"

"Heroes feel hate like anyone else. All Might himself said so." I smiled at his raised brows, the unasked question clear in his bright eyes. "After the Yakuza thing I… I spoke to All Might about all the anger and hatred I felt. I was burning up with it. And point blank he said hate isn't the issue. It's our actions that matter. So finding an outlet, a healthy one, for those darker thoughts, is what matters. It's what defines us against the Villains."

"Outlet… R-Right."

"You've already been using one, Sho."

"I have?"

I kissed him properly and put my forehead to his afterwards. "Yes. You're using that hate to fuel your progress, to become a great Hero without his cruelty. To learn from his professional side whilst rejecting the personal one. You are taking the lessons of a Professional Hero and nothing more, removing all manner of legacy from it. Sounds like using that revenge for something worthwhile. Because as much as he is a vile bag of dick-cheese, he does know how to be a Pro Hero."

"You really think that counts?" He moved us, shifting his weight and laying me down on the bed beneath him. He settled between my legs and ran his fingers along my cheekbones, staring like he wondered if I might disappear.

I pulled him into another long kiss, ensuring it was clear that no part of me rejected him. Nothing about his past or his current confusions pushed me away. Not for a second.

Breaking the kiss, I traced the line of his scar. "I do. From where I'm standing, or lying, it looks like you're taking that pain and turning it into something pretty amazing. One of the next top Heroes. Someone who can lead by example and erase my consideration for his bitter and angry father."

"How can you take so much noise and turn it into such sense?" He laid against me, propping himself up on one arm, so close in every single way.

"I've had some practise." I smiled, though not fully. It was for all the wrong reasons that I knew what I was talking about, or at least, had some notion. And as glad as I was to be able to help him, there was a small part of me that wished to be completely ignorant.

"So… Do you still have some connection with Dabi? Or… Or Shigaraki?"

A classic distraction tactic if ever there was one, but I also knew Sho needed to take these things in small doses. Too much at once would overwhelm him.

I closed my eyes. "Shigaraki, less so. He was more a controlling element than ever a paternal one. Even as much as he controlled me, he never felt in charge. I don't recall All for One being there, because he hid or because they scrambled my brain at the time, dunno. But I think a part of me always knew Shig was more of a bratty brother than a paternal figure. Little shit that he is. So… So for him, it's less complicated. I was a doll to play with, someone to lash out at when things went wrong, someone to toy with for his own ends…" I sucked in a breath. "As for Dabi, I… I–"

"You don't need to keep going if it's too painful." Sho kissed my cheek.

"If it helps you, then I'm glad to do it." I smiled, but kept my eyes closed because I couldn't see the pity there. I knew Sho wouldn't want it to show, but it would be there, blazing out at me. "With Dabi it's more complicated because we worked together. It felt like he protected me, sure. But I also protected him. And I was free at the time, or thought I was. So as much as I hate what Dabi has done, and loathe what he's turned into, there's still a small part of me clinging to those better moments. Those times I could depend on him. So I guess you could equate that to the complication that comes from a paternal connection."

"You don't recall your parents at all still, do you?" He ran his nose along my cheek.

"No, and in all honesty, I'd rather keep it that way."

"Understandable." He pressed his lips to my temple, and I turned to catch him in a fresh kiss.

"How's the head?"

"Less… Noisy." He hummed, smirking ever-so-slightly. "Thank you for sharing with me. I… I don't feel quite so confused now, and less… manic."

"Good." I tapped the end of his nose. "Glad to know I've not failed you yet."

He rolled his eyes and nuzzled close, chuckling against my neck. "Like you ever could."

Please never let me prove him wrong.

Aaaand there we have it! Progress all round! Hope you guys enjoyed, see you on the 21st in a couple of weeks! Thanks to everyone for reading, faving, following and reviewing! Love chatting to you guys! SHOUTOUTS below!
JUST A NOTE: I forgot I have a Kofi, and have never bothered to mention it on this story, whoops! I don't believe links work on these notes etc. but on Kofi I am under the same username, with the same profile pic! If you fancy giving me a little lurve via a few pennies, it's most appreciated. If not, all good as well, I'll be uploading either way lol! Thanks!

SHOUTOUTS:

TheTardisIsTheFourthHallow: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I haven't started watching yet, I have read the manga several volumes ahead of there now, but am resisting watching the anime until there's a good chunk of episodes to watch. I may also wait for the dub, as I do really love it. But thanks for the heads up, looking forward to seeing Dadzawa get all adorable with a kitty haha!Thanks for reviewing ^-^ hope you're still enjoying!

Zikashigaku: Oh yes, all the spice haha! Haha I am so so glad you enjoyed the scene, I was a little nervous about it in all honesty, as it had been soooo long since there had been much of a hint about that kinda tone, but from folks reactions I think it went ok! Haha oh yes, I think they are both going to have their minds blown when things go further, but I also wanted them to have a slower pace, because as grown up as they are, they're both dealing with a lot elsewhere too. Gonna learn and grow together ^-^ Indeeeed, the video is heeeere! I hope you enjoy the scene, I was pretty pleased with it in the end. I looove your theories haha, and I am enjoying the introduction of Hawks' stuff. Muhahahha plaaaans. Hope you enjoyed the festival and all the other stuff in this chapter ^-^ and once again biiig thank you for reviewing still, means the world!

Izumi Midoryia: A day and a half?! Ooft! Haha wow you really went for it! I'll take that as a big compliment, so thank you very very much! And I hope you've enjoyed this update as well, don't worry, only a two week wait this time, not a whole month. Not my usual schedule! Thanks so much for chiming in, glad you've enjoyed so far and hope you continue to! ^-^