Ch: 8 Exit stage right

(Shinso's pov - abandoned theater)

I felt the cold lump of dread drop into my stomach at Compress' words, the world slowing as the various drones began to buzz closer to us in preparation of killing Midoriya. I turned to look at him, his face a mask of quiet determination as he glared at Compress. No fear. I guess if you had to go out it would be better to not show the world you're scared to go I guess. Kirishima would probably call it the peak of manliness, but as I watch the drones lock on to Midoriya to open fire and end his life I could only think of it as a terrible tragedy. I heard an explosion from behind us, and various shouts which caused my heart to sink. If they were just a few moments earlier, the police and heroes could have prevented his death. Not sure what to think about that. Time was so agonizingly slow at least until the drones suddenly fell down, deactivated, and relief flooded my body as the police swarmed into the theater. The gunmen, losing their nerve, either ran or surrendered, with Compress stuck in some shocked, stupefied state. Midoriya threw his head back and gave a relived sigh escaping his lips. A feeling we all related to.

Compress made a break for it in a spectacle of lights and smoke, as police began to swarm the stage. It was too late and he disappeared, leaving Gentle tied up, beaten, and surrounded by police. I feel a tug at my restraints as Midoriya looks back. "Ah Lieutenant, your timing is impeccable as always."

"Yeah well your message wasn't very specific, just glad I showed up with the Calvary before you did anything stupid."

"Too late for that." I chimed.

"Reckless I think you mean, it brought us much needed time." And with that Nagakura took out a utility blade and cut Midoriya's restraint off the two of them, moving to release the rest of us.

"Is that what we call provoking a villain now?" Momo joked as she handed Midoriya his coat back and stretched her arms.

He nodded, slinging his coat on as he turned towards the stage, as officers began to release and then arrest Gentle. Nagakura sighed. "I never thought he'd join the league. Fuck." He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "The press is gonna have a damn field day."

"I can assure you Lieutenant that La Brava and Gentle are not League members and their involvement in this plot was entirely not of their own volition." Midoriya stated. Before he could continue, an officer called for the Lieutenant, informing him of having found the two hostages. Midoriya nodded and began to walk towards the area. "I'll fill you in on the details."

As they walked away the rest of us turned towards each other as Tsuyu spoke. "We should probably call this in *kero*."

Momo nodded, pulling out her phone before pausing and staring at the screen. "Something wrong?" I asked.

"Should we tell them about Midoriya? I know he's not part of the Commission or a hero but he did figure this all out. Might help him be registered if he wanted."

Tsuyu nodded. "I mean with an intelligence quirk like his they'd be dumb not to make him a hero. *kero.*"

My heart sank. I forgot they didn't know, didn't see how he cried when he told me about being quirkless, how insulted he looked when I thought everything he accomplished due to his own hard work was due to a single intelligence quirk. More importantly they didn't see how infuriated Endeavor was once he found out it was a quirkless detective that found Mineta's killer and not a hero, how the talking heads of the Commission conspired to do all in their power to keep Midoriya's name out of the papers so that all the credit of Togeike's arrest would fall to me and by extension the Commission. I couldn't even imagine what would happen if they knew Midoriya figured out and prevented the plot to hold the personal information of every hero hostage, to know that for a split second he had the fate of the Commission in his hands. I ignored the voiceless whisper in my mind that says I would have just let it all burn if I was him. "I…I don't think we should."

Tsuyu looked at me perhaps in surprise, whereas Momo definitely looked at me shocked, almost dropping her phone. "Why is that Shinso? He should at least get credit for his help."

I swallowed, should I tell them? Could I? Would it even be my place to do so? Worse yet what happens if I do? Would they dismiss him like the Commission did? "I just.." I'm cut off by the sounds of Hatsume's voice as she excitedly speaks to Midoriya, the Lieutenant looking confused as they speak. I hadn't noticed but I can see him stand straighter yet more relaxed, no, relieved. This whole time he was on edge ,wanting to rescue Hatsume and to bring her home to her family. "He didn't do it for the credit." I smiled at them, to which they nod unsurely and Momo steps away to call the Commission to report in.

Midoriya walks towards us leaving Hatsume with a distraught and overwhelmed Lieutenant and smiles at us. "Well then I think this was the best possible outcome don't you all think so?"

I nodded. "Just surprised we made it."

Tsuyu nodded. "Just why did you provoke him? There was no way you could know the police were coming to save us."

Midoriya then shook his head. "On the contrary. From the very beginning he told me that help was coming for us, it was just a matter of time."

Momo blinked. "How?"

"Well it's quite simple really. The drones!"

I thought for a moment before asking. "What about them?"

"The whole time Compress held us hostage he would have known of my call to the esteemed Lieutenant and our time table, as well as the fact that Gentle was working with us, as we deliberately came here a few minutes after." I nodded along.

"But what do the drones have to do with you knowing our rescue would still come?" Momo asked.

"Well because if he had known we'd have been killed. After all the drones Hatsume modified are quite powerful and useful but lack one vital use."

"Which is? *kero*"

"They are unable to pick up audio transmissions. After all, if they were able to listen into our conversation he would have known that I had contacted the police and that the flash drive was empty, but he did not. So I took a risk that as long as I distracted him the greater your chances of survival." He then smiled. "I'm glad it paid off even if he did escape."

I laughed a bit. "Me too. So wh-" I was cut off as Commission agents entered the building yelling and ordering the police to stand down, aided by various heroes.

"I believe that that's my cue to leave. I'll take Miss Hatsume to her family." He then waved to us as he turned. "It was a pleasure to work with you all!" He walked towards the inventor and spoke with her as she began speaking excitedly once more before escorting her out. I turned towards Momo and Tsuyu and then groaned.

Bakugo Katsuki was here, and if one of the top ten was here to get us well it just means the coming meeting is gonna be torture.