They left without further issue, and that night Izuku was able to catch up on the sleep he'd missed the night before. The foreboding feeling he'd had the last few days had finally dissipated and he could breathe easily again.
He kept to his routine the next morning, rising and training early, regardless of the taunting and jeering of the other Shie Hassaikai members. It was partway through his workout that Overhaul appeared, calling for him.
Izuku abruptly set his dumbbells down, careless of wherever Mimic happened to be standing. "Yes, sir?"
"Come with me," Overhaul said, gesturing him forward. "I've got a new assignment for you."
Wordlessly following Overhaul, Izuku's mind raced with possibilities. A part of him was convinced that they were on to him and leading him to his execution.
"It's a shame that the League of Villains is so closed-minded, but one day that may change. For now, I need to deal with you." Overhaul paused, just long enough for Izuku's blood pressure to spike exponentially. "Our failure to forge a partnership with the League does not change the fact that you have behaved admirably and proven yourself on multiple accounts, Deku. Because of that I wanted to tell you a little about the goals you're fighting for now."
In that moment it took all of his training not to break character. Eyes slightly wider than usual, Izuku followed behind. After being here for such a short time, Overhaul was just going to give him the answers he was looking for?
Overhaul led him into the previously forbidden part of the compound, the part he'd been warned not to visit on pain of death. As they got further from listening ears, Overhaul said, "When I first met you, I sensed a kindred spirit. I don't believe in fate, but I knew you would be instrumental in bringing my plans into action."
"Your plans, sir?"
"To rid the world of this disease we call quirks."
Izuku as rendered completely speechless as Overhaul began to explain his plan, a plan that was already in the opening stages. Chisaki had explained about the drugs they were working to manufacture, both to cancel and enhance quirks. Izuku didn't - couldn't respond to the fact that some of these drugs were already in cirulation.
His lab was exactly what you would expect of a mad scientist's laboratory, dark but spotlessly clean. Izuku listened in horror as Chisaki bragged about their creation that permanently took away quirks. It was a new creation and they only had five bullets thus far. Apparently these were significantly more difficult to produce.
Izuku knew his mind should have been racing with the existence and possible application of these drugs, but he was just stunned, completely and utterly stunned.
"You, though, you've been my inspiration as of late," Overhaul continued, setting down one of the bullets that took away quirks permanently. "You're proof that the quirkless are greater than this disease. You've given me a glimpse of what we're fighting for. Because of that, I'm assigning you to keep watch over the key to our success."
He numbly followed Overhaul to a different room, only subconsciously observing the route. Chisaki pushed the door open, revealing a small form huddled on a bed.
It was a child. She couldn't have been much older than Kota or Kirimi, but she cowered as the door opened, fear evident in her scarlet eyes. Now Izuku's brain really short-circuited. It would be later that he realized that her arms and legs were wrapped in bandages, and her entire presence emanated neglect.
The sight of her like this made Izuku more furious than anything ever had before.
"Her name is Eri," Overhaul said easily, "not that that's important. She's attempted to run away a few times, and a failure to stop her has left her previous caretaker… indisposed."
Dead, Izuku's mind translated.
"Starting tomorrow you'll be in charge of Eri," Overhaul said. "Just make sure she doesn't touch you, her quirk is particularly diseased."
It took a few deep breaths, but when Izuku brought himself to speak to Overhaul, his voice was even. "I'm honored to have such an important job. Do you mind if I take the rest of the day to run errands, perhaps prepare for my new assignment?"
"Do what you must, Deku," Overhaul said, waving his hand dismissively. "But know that while I do like you, Eri is the center of my plans. I need you to be vigilant. If she does manage to escape, there is no brighter future. Remember what you fight for."
Izuku knew it was a thinly-veiled death threat, but he couldn't find it in himself to care. Looking back at the little girl one last time, Izuku remembered exactly what he was fighting for.
"I'll see that she's properly taken care of," Izuku said coldly, every fiber of his being protesting. He wanted nothing more than to snatch this child and sprint as far away as possible. But he needed to be smart, he needed to control his emotions or this little girl's life would only get worse.
"I look forward to seeing your results."
Izuku stared at the man's retreating back before slowly withdrawing his hands from his pockets, trying to stop them from shaking.
He kept his composure for as long as it took him to leave the compound. Once he was sure he wasn't being followed, he broke out into a sprint, weaving around pedestrians haphazardly. He needed… he needed to report. He needed to see Tsukauchi.
His legs carried him to the police station, mind completely disconnected from his body. He needed to know they would rescue Eri, he needed comfort.
Bursting through the doors, he scared a few civilians, but he scared the officers even more. He likely would have made a slightly different entrance if he'd had his full mental capacity available.
Saito vaulted over the reception desk, hand on her gun. "Did they find you out? Are they coming? I'll call back up."
"Come here, Midoriya," Tamakawa beckoned, fur bristling. "We'll make sure to keep you safe."
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Izuku explained, "I'm fine, I didn't blow my cover. I need… I need to talk to Tsukauchi."
"Can you wait a while? The detective is in a meeting right now, and-"
"It's just his friend Yagi, and I would interrupt if he were in a meeting with All Might himself." Saito marched to the detective's office, wrenching the door open. "Naomasa, your son is here and panicking."
Immediately there was a scuffle, and Izuku could hear, "Midoriya? Sorry Toshi, this is important."
The tears he hadn't realized were coming spilled over, and whether it was initiated by him or Naomasa, no one knew, but they were hugging each other tightly. "Midoriya, what happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. They didn't hurt me, but there's a little girl, and, and…"
"Calm down, Midoriya, take a breath," Tsukauchi said, pulling away and settling his hands on Izuku's shoulders. "What's going on?"
Izuku did as Tsukauchi instructed, calming his breathing. As he was calming down, a tall, gaunt figure emerged from the detective's office.
His breath stuttered in his chest and he could have sworn his heart stopped for a moment. He knew this man, this scarecrow that haunted his nightmares, and heightened panic seized him.
"Oh, Naomasa, is this the young man you've mentioned?" All Might, or Yagi, apparently, stuck out a hand. "It's nice to meet you, young Midoriya."
A part of him wanted to succumb to the panic that was pressing on him. The frazzled, emotional part of him was screaming that he was inadequate, that All Might would only come and dismantle this dream as well. He couldn't breathe very well, but if he took off his mask All Might would see him and remind Detective Tsukauchi and the entire station that he was worthless, quirkless Deku and he really had no place in being here.
"Sohma, take Midoriya into the break room," Tsukauchi said authoritatively. "Toshi, I'm sorry, but I need to take care of this. We can catch up some other time."
"If there's anything I can do, Naomasa, just-"
"Thanks, Toshi, but I need to handle this one alone," Tsukauchi said, letting his friend out before darting to the breakroom.
He found Izuku surrounded by concerned police officers. He looked calmer already, though his eyes darted around erratically and his hands clenched and unclenched periodically.
"Are you okay, Midoriya?" Tsukauchi asked, precariously perching on the table, close, but not too close to the kid. "You're not hurt, are you?"
Izuku shook his head. "I'm fine, just… It's just a lot. I… We need to act sooner than we thought. Chisaki wants to cleanse the world and eradicate quirks altogether." He paused, waiting for the gasps around the room to die down. "The worst part is that Chisaki has the means. He's developed a series of drugs, one that temporarily enhances quirks, one that temporarily takes them away, and he just figured out how to produce a drug that will permanently take away quirks."
"How?" Sasaki breathed.
"I don't know the details, but he's using a little girl," Izuku said, squeezing his eyes shut. "Something about her quirk makes it possible for these drugs to be manufactured. We need to be careful with how we proceed, I refuse to let Eri be more traumatized than she already is. I heard Sir Nighteye's plan so far, and the only thing it's going to do is get people killed. Make sure everyone gets the information and training they need. Please let Saito punch someone in the throat."
"That definitely sounds like an important part of Little Midoriya's plan," Saito interjected.
"But also be careful. I'll do everything I can to protect Eri, I'll keep her safe until we can safely rescue her," Izuku said, emanating determination.
He stayed a while longer, debriefing them on any and all information he could think of. Once that was done he lingered, catching up with the officers, listening to their latest stories. But his time to leave was quickly approaching.
Before he left he had to say one last thing. He stopped in the doorway of Detective Kimura's office, knocking gently on the door.
She glanced up. "Can I help you, Midoriya?"
"I…" With shaking fingers, he withdrew a letter from the fanny pack. "I know anyone would be happy to do this for me, but could you give this to my mom and let her know I'm okay? I just think it might mean more since you're also a mom."
"Absolutely, Midoriya. I would be happy to do that for you." She regarded him, her eyes peering at his very soul. "Is that all you want from me?"
"Um, no." Izuku took a deep breath. "How do I… I mean, you heard in there that I'm responsible for taking care of Eri. She's so small, and she's already been hurt so much. How do I take care of her? How will she ever trust me?"
"The fact that you're worrying and willing to try means you'll be just fine," Kimura said with a smile. "There will never be perfect parents, but kids just need someone who cares about them enough to act on it. Kids can tell when you're genuine. It may take some time, but Eri will see the difference between you and the bastards who hurt her."
"That… That makes sense," Izuku said, nodding. "Thank you."
Kimura watched the boy leave, slowly shaking her head. "I don't know where Naomasa found him, but that kid is meant for great things."
Kit's Korner
Izuku was getting ready to leave when Saito stopped him, arms full of bags. "Wait, Little Midoriya, you can't go yet!"
"Is everything okay?" Izuku paused, confused and a little concerned.
"I thought I had more time before I needed to spoil your children silly. I didn't get the warning I would have preferred, but I'll forgive you this time."
"What?"
"I'm sure Eri has clothes and things, but it sounds like she needs to play, to enjoy being a child. Here." She thrust the bag at Izuku.
"These were for my future child? Saito, I'm sixteen!" Izuku protested.
"Little Midoriya, I will support you through thick and thin," Saito said seriously, "and I will do whatever it takes to be the godmother of your children."
He hesitantly accepted the bag, peeking inside. It was filled to the brim with games, board games, card games, and the like.
Saito proudly brandished a deck of cards. "I modified these myself. They were just face cards with heroes on them, but now it's specifically to play Old Maid. I call it Old Flame."
She fanned out the cards, pointing out the one that had clearly been set apart as the Old Maid, framing the scowling face of Endeavor.
Izuku burst into laughter. "I need to show that to Shoto, those are amazing."
Under her breath, Saito muttered, "Oh, I should make a set for him. If Todoroki likes me, he'll help me convince Midoriya that I should be the godmother."
A loud squawk was heard across the station. Sasaki, toting a bag that seemed to be filled with stuffed animals hollered, "I thought of this first, stop stealing my thunder!"
"We're in the same competition as Naomasa! I will do whatever it takes!"
The two officers began squabbling in earnest, and Izuku could only watch on in dismay. "Why did you have all of these things at work?"
A/N: Yes, I am aware that this chapter is a shorter one. You don't need to comment on it, I will remind all of you that I'm a college student with two jobs in my last semester. I love comments, but when the first thing it says is that the chapter is short, it kind of kills my will to write. Anywho, here we are! As you probably expect, things are going to get moving soon, and as promised, once the Overhaul arc is over we're going to move on to where the prologue starts us.
In more exciting news, I GOT FANART! I'll post it to my tumblr later today, so come check it out rogueptoridactyl, the same username I have on here. Kit is beyond excited as well, and she says she expects more. Speaking of Kit, she and I have tickets for the Heroes Rising movie tonight, so it's a good day all around! I hope it's a great one for all of you as well!
-Rogue