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VIII.

Between two fires

Accelerator has never been the most patient of people. He knew this, his allies knew this, and his enemies definitely knew this. What most people didn't know was that Accelerator's true patience, which had few limits, could only be reserved almost exclusively for those he had to sort his shit out with. So when the name of the girl occupying in his head came up and the boy who single-handedly brought all three of them to this mess only looked back at him with a flat stare in reply, Accelerator simply raised his brows, and tutted in annoyance.

"Are you dense? Stop dicking around. We have stuff to deal with."

Contrary to the belief that he would get a fist in the face, Accelerator could only blink, when the addressed guy simply tilted his head in confusion.

"I…I mean, really, what are we talking about here?" Touma said, shaking his head.

"For fuck's sake – "

"Whoa hey there…"

"Accelerator?"

Accelerator stopped, swiveling around only to see another familiar figure at the door, cladded in white from head to toe, and holding a bag pack that was almost dragging on the floor, its weight obviously too much for her little body.

"Ah, it's been a while, huh?"

Index smiled easily, and Accelerator almost took a step back in instinct. There was always a reason he wanted Last Order as far away from the little nun as possible. Index Librorum Prohibitorum did not smile easily, least not to him of all people. The last time they met the little devil in disguise was on the verge of biting his head off and draining his wallet dry, and yeah, he still wished that was an exaggeration.

"Yeah, a while."

He nodded to the girl, inclining his head to the boy in bed in the process. In a matter of seconds the soft smile was wiped away, and Index' impossibly green eyes turned to him in grim acknowledgement, one that looked mismatched on the girl's babyface.

"Okay, what's going on here?"

Touma repeated, blanket pooling at his lap and obvious frustration drawing on his bandaged face. Index simply passed the boy a sympathetic smile, before turning to Accelerator again. She didn't say it, but he saw what she meant nonetheless. Not even giving the confused Level 0 anymore look, he turned back on his heels and walked away, Index following closely behind, shutting the door off.

x

x

x

"It's amnesia."

"What?"

"You know, memory loss."

"I know what amnesia means," Accelerator gritted his teeth, closing tight fingers around the crutch he was pushing on. "What I don't get is how that asshole got it." And at the worse fucking time for that matter.

"None of us is sure either," Index sighed. And really, nobody this young should ever have that much weight in just a damn exhale. "Something must have happened during his fight with Terra, but it's not like we can even ask anyway."

Right, because he was too late. Again. It was his damn mission and he was still running for it when sissy Kamijou already took the blow. It was like a never-ending cycle. He could be tearing himself up and everyone else would still get hurt. And the only two people who understood that kind of power weren't even here anymore.

But technically, "And what about the Railgun?"

"She's still here, isn't she?" Index said, tilting her head. "I saw Last Order dropping by the other day."

He nodded, mouth pulling taut. "Yeah." Here.

"I'm trying to find out what happened too. Guess we're all pretty busy, huh."

Index murmured, flashing him a soft grin. It didn't even reach her eyes, just dragging down like the rest of her. His mind felt as blank as an empty bottle, and the relief of having it back just for himself was nowhere to be found.

There was a soft call muffling out from behind the door, and both of them looked back. Index sighed, trying to sling the bag pack over her shoulder but failing miserably. In the end she only dropped it on the floor with a thump, gripping to one strap tightly.

"Just go."

He told her flatly. The girl only gave him a look, mouth lining out into a soft, rueful smile, before disappearing behind the door.

x

x

x

At some point, between passing by the usual convenience store and taking a turn at the round corner on the way to home back in Academy City, Accelerator thought enough is enough, and promptly pushed himself back inside his mind.

"Oi, come on out."

He said, for the fifteenth time of saying the same thing since entering the void. There was no need of name addressing, although the sole figure in here seemed to be dead set on doing the exact opposite of what he'd been repeating.

It wasn't fair. It was his mind, his rules. But if had life ever been fair, he wouldn't have a crutch for a leg and Misaka Mikoto wouldn't be a comatose.

"Dammit, this isn't the time to be sulking. We need to talk."

It took a long while, until even Accelerator decided that was enough waiting and about to turn away, because even he had limits and whichever MIKASA it was it still could not be tolerable, goddammit, when the darkness finally bent and the girls' Original slumped forward.

"I have nothing to say."

Mikoto murmured, not even looking up to meet his eyes. He distinctly realized this was the first time he'd seen her sitting after that one time when they first met in here, and the feeling left his insides twisting.

There they go again. Accelerator chose not to reply instead, the usual weight of the cane was absent in his hands, and he shoved them inside his jeans' pocket. Tackling the issue first hand would only leave them fuming and frustrated, and it took a while, but Accelerator thought he was getting the hang of this. He should have realized this sooner. When it came to Misaka's, you'd always take the longer way.

So he walked closer and plopped down in front of her.

The movement startled the other Esper, and Mikoto snapped up to find herself several feet from crimson eyes and ashen hair. In a surprised fit, she tried to scramble back, only to knock her head to the wall behind her, throwing her legs out from their fetal position.

"What the hell…," she murmured to no one in particular, stroking at the abused spot on her head, not even bothering to look up again. Staying here must have been playing tricks on her mind, because under no possible circumstances, that the Accelerator would just sit down in front of her and try to ignite a conversation –

"I'm still here, you know."

Mikoto flinched, finally peeking up only to almost wince back again. The Accelerator was, in fact, sitting in front of her – a few feet away, but still close enough that she'd have to look up to meet his eyes, which were, conveniently, staring flatly back at her.

"What are you doing…?!"

She bleated, but immediately clamped up at the sound, just a few octaves higher and she would be shrieking. Mikoto was sure she'd had enough embarrassing moments with the guy as it was.

Her shoulders were hunched when they met eye to eye. "I don't want to t…"

"Shut up. Look, shit happens, okay?"

He gritted, and secretly reveled in the way she scrunched back to herself. She'd been twisting his tongue and channeling his thinning patience for the past week, it was a nice feeling to know he could still hold the effect to the same degree. It wasn't everyday Accelerator could win in a verbal fight with a Misaka.

"Huh?"

The urge to roll his eyes was overwhelming, but he gritted through. "You heard me. Shit happens, all the time, and it's not like there's much you can do to stop it, least not people like him." Like you. And damn fuck not people like me.

He could see the way her lips tremble from all the way he was sitting. He wondered if this was just a genetic thing. Every time he pulled a lecture Last Order always either looked like she was on the verge of tearing up or shouting back at him. Accelerator knew this Misaka wouldn't cry, but just to be safe he'd refrain from yelling at her face for now. The brunette didn't seem to cry much, she just had this watery film over her eyes, and it was sort of worse than actual crying. She bottled up all her feelings inside and never let out any drop, like trying to cover up the holes in a sprinkling can.

"It's not like that," she finally whispered, staring down at his shoes. "You don't get it…"

"Yeah, and I don't care," he said, and frowned. "Hell, I don't even want to get 'it'. But your life doesn't revolve around some asshole with a suicidal streak. Everything's a bitch if you can't stand up by yourself just because one of your own kind falls."

Her eyes widened but she didn't reply. For a moment she just stared at him, like asserting an unusually difficult task.

"So what is this? Some assurance and life advice from your own past experiences?"

He snorted. "Who d'ya think you're talking to?"

One dark brow raised, as well as the corner of her lips. Accelerator would have considered it quite a win had she not opened her mouth to continue. "Oh, I don't know. The same guy who told me to shut my trap because I was breathing too loud in his head for him to concentrate."

"You were fretting. There's a difference when it gives me a migraine every fucking time."

All he got in response was a shrug. "Details."

Her shoulders loosened, and the corners of her mouth seemed to have lift for a fraction. Accelerator still felt a little like getting personally attacked with all the snark and eyebrow raises he was getting, but they had been talking for a solid three minutes without feeling the urge to shove a sock in each other's mouth yet, which was an improvement. And by this time, any progress was welcomed as far as he was concerned.

They talked for a little while later, less about the lost boy with the right hook that brought them together and more about stuff he didn't bother to remember after he left, which were mostly just the usual jabs at each other. Accelerator didn't ask her if she was okay, and neither did she say thanks. Although he thought he did hear a hum in his head when he turned the key of their apartment's door, and for once since coming back Accelerator felt his insides mellow out.

They were fine, and that was enough for now.

x

x

x

The first thing he received at the dining table in the morning, was a loud smack across the arm and a flat glare from Yoshikawa, which was to be expected.

"The least thing you could do was giving a heads' up. I thought we were getting robbed."

The scientist said simply, passing him a bowl of rice with one hand. She was still in her plain T-shirt and PJ's pants, with her short hair tied up loosely at the back. The older woman had just newly woken up, and on her usual trip to the bathroom earlier this morning she had caught a glimpse of a shadow in the kitchen, which was only Accelerator fixing himself a cup of coffee after another restless night. He supposed coming back late unannounced and standing in the kitchen wearing black was an easily misunderstood bad combo. The pale Esper was just happy his powers also reflected any incoming attacks, that frying pan the drowsy researcher swung at him would have stung like a bitch had it made contact.

"I said that I'd be back by today, and I did. What more could you ask for?"

He muttered, not even noticing the flat stare he received in reply.

"'Ne ne, what matters is Accelerator is finally here,' says MISAKA happily."

From the seat next to him, Last Order chirped – the only one who actually showed some life at the table today. Not even her older clone was sober enough to bother to show up in his mind right now. Accelerator was quite certain she was also awake the whole night like he was, for the unnamed reason they both knew yet didn't say. He didn't blame the girl. Kamijou always had a way with people, especially those he'd unceremoniously crossed path with.

"So what are you up to today?" Yoshikawa drawled on, sipping on her own cup of coffee. "No more stealthy, overseas missions that require leaving early and returning late unannounced?"

The eyeroll was too hard to resist now, and he relented. "No. I'm here. For now."

"Oh, good. Cause I need you to babysit. I'm working late today."

That was horse shit. She was a researcher, those that never even had specific clocking hours because they managed their own work. Accelerator figured she must be really done with his nonsense this time around that she didn't even try to make it sound convincing.

He shrugged. "Fine."

The only reply he got back was an eyebrow raise, but she didn't question anything further. They were way past the point of looking into his words or actions. Last Order was the only one around who truly ever showed that she cared in her childlike innocence. It seemed like wherever they went she wanted to open people up like tuna can and prod inside with a fork. Too bad Accelerator kept his lid tighter than Aleister's life chamber.

That morbid curiosity, of course, showed up as soon as Yoshikawa put on her lab coat and left for work, shutting the apartment door closed.

"'Ne ne, how is Onee-sama?' MISAKA asks in concern."

"Still there. Not like she could actually go anywhere," he grumbled, and took a big gulp of his coffee. "How's your search panning out?"

"'Not much' MISAKA admits honestly, 'MISAKA's been asking around with other Sisters but they didn't know much either. MISAKA thinks MISAKA will do better if MISAKA knows what exactly happened when Oneesama'd undergone the transformation.'"

"Kamijou's useless then," Fucking convenient. Accelerator could feel another migraine showing up already. "Who else could you ask for?"

"I think I know."

Inside his mind, Mikoto said, finally deciding to speak up. Accelerator arched a pale brow at her, but the only look he got in reply was much more somber than it was needed. Something told him he should definitely get his refill of caffeine soon if he wanted to get by today.

"But trust me, you are not going to like it."

x

x

x

"You have got to be shitting me."

"I wish."

Mikoto mumbled, looking out in wary at the view opening up in front of them. Tokiwadai Middle School looked as extravagant as ever, students were pouring in and out in their rush to classes and clubs. She didn't even realize how much she'd missed stepping through the familiar gate until she was finally here again, albeit preferably in a better condition than this.

"It's a girls' school. How the hell am I supposed to go in?" Unless he did cross-dressing. Accelerator would rather choke on a nail.

"You don't. Just wait out here until she comes."

"Who are we looking for again?"

"Misaki Shokuhou. The fifth ranked Level 5. Mental Out. C'mon, surely you must have heard of her?"

The name rang a bell, but he didn't even bother to try to remember anything more. All of his meetings with other Level Five's so far had been less than thrilling. He'd do himself well not reminiscing any of such.

"Doesn't matter," he shook his head instead. "How was she involved in your stuff anyways?"

There was a heavy sigh on the other line. "Long story. I'm not sure how much she'd know either, but she was in contact with the man that started that experiment and parts of her powers were used to help amplify it so hopefully we can get some lead."

It'd better, he snapped, to no one in particular. Last Order had been quickly handed off to a Sister working in a facility nearby. It would do them no good if someone recognized a younger version of their school's infamous Ace. The few curious glances and girly giggles he received so far were more than enough to last him a lifetime. Having ten thousand mindless, robotic girls in his head was one thing, getting actual teenage girls giving him passes was just downright wrong.

"If this chick doesn't show up in five minutes I'm gonna lose it."

"Just relax will you?! She'll be here. Be pa – "

She fumed breathlessly, turning irritated herself. Although the rest of the words quickly died inside her throat, when she finally noticed a familiar figure approaching them from the opposite direction. One with a stripped green armband and curled pig tails, with dark chestnut eyes, that bore into her whole when the latter finally recognized Accelerator.

"Oh God…"

"What – "

"YOU – "

A/N: Yeah, after a month of not updating I expected this to be longer too.

Anyways, I've been running around back and forward a lot lately. Texas was fun but all has to come to an end, and next thing you know things come pouring in again. It sucks.

I'm not sure how long the next chapter is going to be, but rest assured many juicy stuff is gonna go down. I've always wanted to write a meet-up between Misaki and Accel, I think it should be fun, and crazy, but mostly fun. Especially when with a certain teleporter thrown into the bunch too. Yippy.

Also shoutout to /u/LoserxLoser for suggesting Raising cane's. Those were indeed some tasty chicken :))

Thanks for all the support guys! I'll try to be back soon.