The rendezvous to pass off the drugs was at four in the morning. It was an unholy time to make an unholy exchange, and all around Izuku was pissed. He hated the thought of leaving Eri to the hands of those madmen, and he hated that he was helping dispense these drugs. If he could somehow alert someone, a hero, a police officer, anyone, it would make his life infinitely easier.
Sakaki, ever the drunk, was the one waiting to give Izuku the case and send him on his way. The drunkenness hit him especially hard that morning, but Izuku took the proffered case. He could feel Sakaki's judgemental looks, but this didn't stop Deku from propping the case onto the table and opening it to count the cases of bullets inside, despite the way his vision and head swam.
"It's fifteen short," he said abruptly.
"No way, I counted it myself," Sakaki slurred. "What, are you drunk?"
"No, you are," Izuku said flatly.
"Oh, that's right, I am!" Sakaki said, beginning to giggle uncontrollably. "Well, go get your fifteen bullets. Maybe on the way out you could take the stick out of-"
Izuku never heard just where this stick was, he was already bustling towards the lab. He had only needed permission to go in.
The further he walked, the fewer signs of life there were. He and Sakaki were awake, and he had startled a lacky who had been avidly reading a new manga release, but otherwise there was nothing to report.
As expected, the lab was completely deserted. Cases and cases of bullets lined the room, both of quirk-enhancing and quirk-erasing bullets. He got the cases he needed, and he secured them in the briefcase with the others when his eyes landed on a very distinct case.
The permanent quirk-erasing bullets. There were only five, so they must be remarkably hard to synthesize, but their existence was… distressing. What if it seriously endangered some pro in the middle of a fight? There were too many uncertain variables.
Against his better judgement, Izuku popped open the case. These bullets had different shells than any of the others, but that would be a relatively simple fix. Unlike most bullets, the part that actually contained the drug was essentially a tiny syringe that was sealed into the shells that were the correct size and shape to be fired from a handgun. It was fairly simple to pry that unit from the shells and switch them out. Then, Izuku slid the permanent quirk erasing bullets into his fanny pack, feeling like he could be caught at any given moment.
That feeling didn't dissipate as Izuku continued. In fact, it only got worse as he kept going. What if he was exposed, or arrested? How would he explain to his mother why she needed to bail him out of jail? (That was a ridiculous train of thought, but Izuku was all aboard.)
When he forced his mind to focus on other things, Izuku found himself contemplating how truly terrible a briefcase was for drug deals. He was sixteen years old, and he looked like a hoodlum. He had no business carrying a briefcase! If an officer didn't stop and question him on his way, it would be a miracle.
The meeting destination was the stereotypical dark alleyway, right behind a dumpster. The man waiting was twitchy, like it was his first drug deal. It was Izuku's first as well, but at least he was trying to act professional.
"Is that the stuff?"
Izuku made no attempt to move, staring down the man. "I'm going to need to see the money first."
"Of course!" The man scrambled, pulling out another briefcase, because apparently they were now living in the 1920s.
This he didn't care as much about. The man looked unprofessional, but not stupid enough to try and cheat the Shie Hassaikai.
"Just remember which ones enhance and which ones negate quirks," Izuku said airily, swapping briefcases with the man. He didn't wait any longer to leave, ignoring the questions the man called after him.
Izuku was torn about what to do. He didn't want to think about how much money he currently carried, but it had also been strongly suggested that he wasn't needed around the compound for the majority of the day. He didn't trust himself not to barge in and attempt to liberate Eri if he was there, fully aware of what was going on.
Taking a length of rope out of the fanny pack, Izuku tied the briefcase securely to his back, then proceeding to wander the city. It was still much too early for anyone to really be out and about, so Izuku let his guard down a bit, taking in the city lights.
He heard an approaching car, but it didn't concern him much - he mostly felt bad for the sucker that was also out and about this early. It wasn't until the car slowed down that he looked behind himself.
It was a police car.
Izuku's heart began pounding when the sirens blared, and a vaguely familiar voice commanded, "Put your hands in the air."
He did as told. They would believe he was actually a police officer, right? It might be better not to risk it. As the other officer started out of the car, Izuku bolted.
There was a shout behind him, and… did the other officer laugh? Regardless, Izuku ran like his life depended on it. He was definitely outpacing the other officer when a bullet sang through the air, sinking into the dumpster centimeters from Izuku's abdomen.
He yelped, scurrying to get the dumpster between him and the officer, but an extended arm came out of nowhere, grabbing Izuku by the back of his shirt collar. He knew that quirk!
"Officer Tokusei, what are you doing?" Nakamura demanded furiously, descending on the rookie police officer.
"I was apprehending the reprobate, Officer," Tokusei said, shaking Izuku with his extended arm.
"The boy ran away, he didn't try to kill you," Nakamura growled. "You were completely unjustified in using your gun and your quirk, something you will file an incident report on. Now get the boy into the squad car - without handcuffs."
Tokusei grumbled as he ushered Izuku into the car, slamming the door behind him excessively hard. It was clear that Tokusei didn't recognize him, even though he had been one of Izuku's main tormentors in the Police Academy. (It wasn't that surprising that Tokusei was only now being assigned to a station, he was almost surprised that Tokusei had graduated at all.)
Speaking of the new officer, Tokusei glared at him from the front seat. "Take off the mask, reprobate."
"No."
The simple denial only set Tokusei off worse, but he couldn't retaliate thanks to Nakamura keeping him in check. The ride to the station was highly entertaining, because as a "reprobate", Deku was allowed to bait the officer.
"What's in the briefcase, kid?"
"Breath mints. Have you heard of the- oh, who am I kidding, obviously you haven't."
Nakamura coughed - though it was definitely a laugh - before saying, "Quiet down, back there."
"Why? I'm a 'reprobate.'"
The next laugh wasn't quite so well disguised, but they were almost to the station anyway. Tokusei practically sprinted inside, crowing, "Prepare yourselves, I've captured a dangerous reprobate!"
Docilely following Nakamura, Izuku said, "Dangerous? You're the one with a gun."
"And you have a sword," Tokusei argued.
"But I didn't draw my sword. You actually tried to shoot me."
A series of gasps rang throughout the station, and he was snatched into a vice-like embrace. "You tried to shoot Little Midoriya? It's only right that we shoot him."
"Saito, we aren't shooting anyone," Tamakawa said sternly.
"It would have been nonlethal, like his foot or something," Saito grumbled.
"I'm fine," Izuku said, pulling off his medical mask.
"You're… You're-" Tokusei gasped, pointing.
"Officer Midoriya is part of this station and currently on an undercover mission," Officer Nakamura said, though Izuku feared for Tokusei's life; the man looked pissed. "And if you had listened to anything I'd been saying, maybe you wouldn't have to fill out the paperwork involved in firing at a fellow officer."
Glancing back and seeing a particular light on, Izuku sighed. "Has Tsukauchi slept at all this week?"
"Doubtful," Sohma said, glancing at the door. "He's been preoccupied with planning the raid."
"Have you slept at all, Little Midoriya?" Saito badgered, narrowing her eyes.
"Eh-hem, I think I should go tak with the detective now," Izuku said, fleeing from their questions. He almost made it too, before Nakamura caught his arm. Panicked, he blurted, "Tokusei used to beat me up at the Police Academy."
A series of sharp Whats rang throughout the room, and in the sudden chaos directed towards Tokusei, Izuku practically sprinted towards Tsukauchi's office.
The detective's head had been lolling a bit, exhaustion clear in every line of his body. At the sound of his door opening, however, he snapped to attention. "I'm awake, I don't need - Oh, it's you, Midoriya. Wait, what's going on?" Naomasa lurched to his feet. "Are you okay? Are you running from the Shie Hassaikai?"
"No, I'm fine. I just finished an… assignment from them. In retrospect, I should have gotten you samples of all of their drugs while I had the chance, but I did bring you something." He fished the case of bullets out of his fanny pack. "So far these are the only ones they've made that can permanently take away quirks. They're precious enough that Overhaul wouldn't waste them on something or someone that wouldn't make a statement. I replaced them with some of the temporary bullets, so hopefully he'll never know differently."
Tsukauchi nodded, looking a bit overwhelmed. "I can't tell you a specific day, but the Raid will take place soon. Be prepared, your job is only keeping yourself and Eri safe. Got it?"
"Yes, sir."
"We weren't able to get all of the heroes you requested, and All Might was interested in joining the force, but Sir Nighteye vetoes that, as well as Endeavor joining." The detective almost rolled his eyes at the news, but Izuku couldn't help but feel the most unexpected gratitude for Sir Nighteye's (usually detrimental) pettiness.
"As long as everyone knows what to expect we should be able to pull it off. I shouldn't know much about the plan beforehand, just in case Nemoto decides to question me. If I'm compromised, at least the plan won't be."
Tsukauchi's face darkened at that thought. "Midoriya, you are brilliant and capable. But that doesn't change the fact that you are sixteen years old. The way that hero students are trained has changed public perceptions; but you are legally a child. We have no right to ask you to do any of this, but here we are. You have to keep yourself safe, Midoriya Izuku. If anything happens to you, I will never forgive you or myself."
Izuku swallowed, the gravity of the situation weighing down on him. "I'll be careful, but you need to be careful as well. All of you."
He stuck around for a bit, delaying the inevitable. He missed this, feeling comfortable, accepted, and unafraid that someone was going to murder him at any given moment.
When Saito tried to enlist him to help plastic-wrapping everything in Detective Kimura's office, Izuku took his cue to leave. It was midday, and he wanted to be ready whenever Overhaul was finished with Eri.
The way to the compound felt shorter than usual. Maybe it was because a part of him actually wanted to go back this time. The world looked a little brighter knowing that Eri would be free soon. He couldn't wait to see her find herself, maybe actually smile, at least once.
That is, if he was allowed to see Eri again. Izuku wilted a bit at the thought, but willed it away. He was doing this to protect Eri, even if it made him sad.
All thoughts stopped when he got to the side entrance compound. He recognized the gaudy suit that belonged to Lemillion, and he was kneeling down to talk to Eri.
It seemed no one in the compound had noticed yet. That was good, he could pull off some damage control.
"Eri, just how did you get out?" Izuku asked in the calmest voice he could muster. Red eyes snapped to him, and Izuku could see the conflict warring in the child. He wanted nothing more than to send her with the hero and deal with the repercussions, but he would likely die. That didn't sound like the greatest plan, he'd kind of just promised Tsukauchi he would at least try not to die.
"Deku?" she asked, eyes wide.
"Hey Eri, sorry I was gone too long. Thank you, Lemillion, for making sure my sister is safe."
The hero stared at him just a bit too long. "You're that guy who-"
"-is very grateful you looked after my sister," Izuku said emphatically.
Lemillion, thankfully, caught on, though Izuku could see the suspicion embedded behind his smile. "Okie-dokie then, maybe I'll see you again sometime, Eri."
Once the hero had left, Izuku held a hand out to the little girl. "Are you ready?"
She nodded slowly.
"Good. I need you to keep meeting Mr. Lemillion a secret. Can you do that for me?"
Again, she nodded.
"You're such a good girl." Every cell rebelled, but Izuku strolled back to the compound. "Let's go, Eri. They're waiting for us."
As they walked back to the compound together, he couldn't help but be on high alert. Something had the potential to go very, very wrong, he could feel it in his bones.
No sooner had they made it to the courtyard than Overhaul came storming forward, face twisted in fury previously unseen to Izuku. On instinct, he swept Eri up into his arms, shielding her face from Chisaki.
Keeping his face schooled in an expression of neutrality, Izuku said, "I found something of yours on my way back."
Overhaul managed to stifle the anger burning in his eyes. "Well done, Deku. With that uncontrollable quirk of hers, it would be dangerous to have her running free."
"Of course, Sir. If you're finished with her for the day, I'll just take her to her room." Izuku met the man's eyes, clutching Eri even tighter.
"Very well, Chronostasis and I have what we need for now." Overhaul stalked away, agitated more than usual.
Obediently, Izuku took Eri to her room, tempted to snatch her and sprint away. The little girl was shivering worse than usual, and more than anything, Izuku felt helpless.
"Hey Eri, if you want to we can skip lessons for today," Izuku said gently. When the little girl barely lifted her eyes to him in acknowledgement, he simply didn't know what to do. He wrestled with himself. It would be so easy for him to tell her that she would be safe soon, that he was actually one of the good guys working to protect her.
But he couldn't. There were too many variables, and he couldn't risk the long-term operation. Brushing her hair back from her face, he said, "I want you to know, Eri, I want what's best for you. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you today, but I'm going to do everything I can."
She didn't look up at him immediately, and after a few moments Izuku moved away to find something to occupy them for the day. Because of this, he missed the way that the little girl looked at him, hope and fear warring in her eyes.
Kit's Korner
"Eri, do your arms hurt?" Izuku asked, setting a handful of markers on the table.
"Only a little," she said, not meeting his eyes. She tugged the sleeve of her hospital gown down a little farther, like she was trying to hide the bandages that covered the entire limb.
"Well I had a fun idea. Should we make your bandages pretty?"
That finally shocked her enough for her to meet his eyes. "Make my bandages pretty?"
"Yeah." Izuku popped a lid off of a pink marker, gesturing towards her arm. "We need to change your bandages tomorrow anyway, so I thought it would be fun to draw on them. Do you want to do that?"
It was still jarring to Izuku that Eri had none of the exuberance of Kimiko, or the abrasiveness of Kota. She was harder to read, but by now he knew that her hesitant nod was her version of unbridled excitement.
"What should I draw then? Any ideas?"
Eri just shrugged, so Izuku drew whatever came to mind for little girls. He covered her arms in rainbows and hearts and kittens. It wasn't amazing artwork by any means, but Izuku never really drew anything other than people for his quirk analysis. Her tiny arms filled with color quickly, but it seemed to fascinate Eri. It calmed her so much that Izuku wasn't ready for it to be over just yet.
"Do you want to decorate mine?" he asked, offering his bare arms.
Her eyebrows furrowed. "But you don't have bandages."
"No, I don't, but sometimes it's fun to draw on something other than paper," Izuku said, holding out an arm.
"I… I don't know what to draw. And you already have spots on your arm."
"You can draw whatever you want. And those spots are called freckles. If you can't think of anything to draw, you could draw a line that connects some of my freckles."
Eri was hesitant at first, but by the time she was finished, Izuku's arms were dripping with color. There were flowers, kittens, rainbows, and several games of connect the dot lining Izuku's arms, and he couldn't be happier. It was proof that his time with the yakuza was well-spent.
A/N: A new chapter courtesy of COVID-19. My university let us out on spring break a week early, but I still had to work, so I got to sit at a desk and answer phone calls for eight hours a day. I'm hoping to finish the Overhaul arc by the end of spring break, and then you guys know what comes after that.
As for COVID-19, take it seriously, guys. I say this because I work for my university in the office that is currently deciding how to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. I've heard a lot, probably too much. I know a lot of my audience probably isn't part of the high-risk population, but it's best to take precautions. If you're not part of the high-risk population, it's still not going to be a fun experience, but we also want to protect others. Take whatever precautions your local authorities are advising, and make sure you're getting your information from reliable sources. In the meantime, stay home whenever you can, maybe read some fanfiction!