Helloo! Few hours late, I know, I usually update in the mornings here, but I had zilch time today so here we are! Enjoy!


"You wish to talk to Hawks?" Endeavour looked me over slowly, like he was waiting for a punchline. But I had nothing to joke about. I needed to speak with Hawks, to see if my reading into his cryptic words that first day had simply been paranoia, or me clocking something he was trying to tell me. He was my best shot at understanding what was happening with Dabi. I think. Maybe. I'm just flying blind, ain't I?

I nodded and stood straight. "Please, sir. I feel he'll be a good point of reference as I refine the flying aspect of my power. I don't have wings but–"

"I see your point." He picked up a phone and barked an order to some poor unsuspecting secretary in the next room. He then handed me a small black phone. "He'll call back on this if he calls at all. I doubt an in-person meeting is possible at this point."

"Of course, that's totally fine. Thank you." I dipped my head and left his office, gripping the phone tightly. What did I actually plan on saying to Hawks? Hey there, are we acquainted with the same quilted maniac? Fancy helping me figure out how to avoid me having to snap his neck sometime soon? I'm hopeless.

Eating breakfast with the others, we went over our plan for the day and then any extra training we had planned for free time in the afternoon. Thus far in our week of madness there had been no extra time for training anyway, but planning for it still made sense–even if it did make the side-kickers chuckle every time.

Bakguo stabbed his breakfast. "We haven't got long left to beat that challenge."

I snorted. "A challenge set by the Number One Hero, I'm okay with falling short on that, considering everything else we've accomplished."

"Huh?" He wrinkled his nose. "Ya ain't even tryin' anymore?"

"Fuck off." I flicked some food at him. "I'm trying plenty, I'm just saying I'm not going to pull my hair out if we don't accomplish it. Sheesh."

Izuku played with his food. "We have come a long way though, haven't we?"

"Of course we have." Sho nodded, and Izuku looked immediately reassured.

The phone buzzed in my pocket.

I picked it up and took a few steps away from the group. "Hello?"

"Heya Alex, it's Hawks! Or wouldya prefer me to use Stasis?"

"Don't mind." I drew a deep breath. "Thanks for taking the time for this call, really appreciate it. Shall I just get straight to the point?"

"Efficient. I like it!"

"You know of the Villain Dabi?"

The line was quiet for a moment, a clicking noise sounded, some static and then his voice came through a tiny bit clearer, all jovial tone gone. Like someone had scraped off the frosting from a cupcake. "I might. Why?"

"Seemed like you might be hinting towards him the other day, or am I reading into things?"

"Mm. Again, why?"

"I… Well I dunno how much you know about my recent run-in with the Yakuza and all that crap but–"

"Visions and stuff left behind, right?"

I swallowed. "R-Right. And I've been seeing–"

"Look, Stasis. I didn't mean to rile you up or anything, just wanted to reassure you someone else was on that page with you. Can't really talk, not got long with this privacy. But just know… You ain't alone in it, okay?"

His words were so odd, so held back, so cryptic. But it seemed like he had no other choice.

"Okay. Sorry if I shouldn't have ca–"

"It's fine, kid. I'm sure we'll speak soon. Stay safe. Bye."

And the line went dead. He really hadn't had a lot of time to spare, or rather, he didn't feel he could safely talk for any longer. It was bizarre. The hairs on the back of my neck twinged. Something else was going on, something under the surface. Maybe only the pros knew about it. Maybe something in that book had informed Endeavour about it after that day, and that was why he had been so much more willing to teach us. Or maybe I am full on paranoid now and need to get more fresh air.

My head hurt.


Okay time to properly start our last official day of Work Study.

We left the breakfast table and I tried to put the Dabi and Hawks questions to the back of my mind. They could wait. Or rather, I had to wait to worry myself over it any further.

Our dealings on the streets weren't all small-time thugs. During our final day at Endeavour's agency, a drug deal had gone bad and a whole sector of the city was being targeted by various gangs and rival syndicates. It was a mess. And civilians were getting caught in the cross-fire. But we were on the scene quickly, and able to get the remaining civilians behind us, evacuating as quickly as possible. But the longer it took, the more damage occurred to the surrounding area. Quirk enhancing drugs seemed to be involved. Again.

Sho was doing his best with his ice to keep the structures from toppling, and Deku was checking the interiors for anyone trapped.

Bakugo had been doing the same when he returned to our spot and reported another building as empty. And then we discovered the snipers. Or rather, they discovered us. Shots rained down, and I altered my shield to cover the new angle as quickly as we heard the first shot. I didn't even need to think about it thanks to parallel processing. Even so, I wasn't faster than a bullet. A shot got through, and it skimmed Bakugo's head.

"Sons of bitches!" He cursed, a small graze splitting along his forehead as he whirled round, ready to get involved.

"Go round! I'm covering this area for the evacuation." I barked, my shield now encompassing the entire frontal and western area of the evacuation. It was one of the biggest shields I had ever created, but I didn't want to stretch it any further in case of heavier artillery being used. Partly my own idea, and partly Endeavour's orders.

"Got it." Bakugo began to run round, readying some concentrated fire to remove any new incoming shots.

Beyond the shield, I dismantled guns as my pulses found them, fracturing the casings, snapping triggers, anything and everything I could do to stop the carnage. But there was a lot.

"Mind that debris!" Sho yelled as another building began to deteriorate and his ice rushed towards it.

Bakugo responded in kind, rushing forward, getting straggler civilians out of the way. A woman was trapped by her car, leg stuck between it and a street light. As much as I wanted to jump in and help, I concentrated on my own task, aware of the larger bangs occurring ahead of us. Bigger guns. They were not easing up any time soon.

Fire erupted in front of my shields, incinerating the latest missiles. Endeavour. He had been scoping the area and trying to corral some of the enemies. Presumably he had succeeded.

"What's the situation?"

I gritted my teeth as another set of snipers scattered across the western side of my shield. "We have at least half of the civilians out of the way, sir. Deku is still checking buildings for anyone trapped or unconscious. Shouto is barricading the buildings nearby as they weaken, and Bakugo is on rescue right now."

"How're you holding up?"

"Fine sir, just trying to pace myself as the enemy seems to be finding bigger guns the longer this goes on for. I can handle proper missiles, but I don't want to throw everything I have until those are being used."

"Good strategy. I've removed several of the outside groups that were adding to the confusion. We seem to be dealing with one remaining unit for the time being. Hold in there."

"Yes, sir!" I bent my head and drew a long breath.

There was a lot more I could give with my quirk, I hadn't been lying, but it was still one hell of an endurance test to be holding my shields so constantly and for so long. Along with a few tactile uses to dismantle guns, and keep debris from falling onto people or my teammates. Small things like that kept adding up. But it was a good test, and a good indication of where my next focus in training should be. Long term combat. I had to build my quirk stamina even further, and aim to have it maintained at max for as long as possible.

"Shit!"

Bakugo?

I glanced over to where had been helping free that woman, but as she bolted for the rest of the evacuation, Bakugo was still by the street light. Except he wasn't moving. I jolted, fear gripping my spine. But I stayed put and maintained my focus. What the hell had happened?

"Snipers!" Sho yelled out, his ice creating a make-shift dome over Bakugo's prone body.

Endeavour flew beyond that point and created a wall of fire. I reached with my power and lifted Bakugo's body closer to us, more protected by my main shields. His pulse was fine, but his frame was shivering. Shock? Maybe.

Deku landed nearby, his latest building apparently empty.

I sucked in a breath. "Check Bakugo! We think he got hit, dunno if it was snipers or debris though."

Shit. Shit. Please be okay. Just be knocked out. Please, Bakugo.

Deku knelt beside his childhood friend and began basic medical checks, I turned away and concentrated on my shields as the villains fired another volley of shots. Dammit how were there so many? Maybe a weapons quirk? Maybe that damned drug really was being used here, hyping up powers all around us.

"He's breathing all right, I th-think he's just unconscious. Yeah he has a bad gash on the back of his head, I think debris must have got him."

Dammit. I hadn't spotted it in time.

The next volley of bullets reached us and slammed against my shields, sending me to my knees. There was the heavy stuff. Sharper tips, likely armour piercing. Or intended as such.

"Stasis? You doing okay?" Deku called over, putting Bakugo in the recovery position.

"Y-Yeah, just a lot at once. We got back-up on the way yet? What about ambulances?"

"All incoming. A few minutes out."

"G-Good." I groaned and a shot ricocheted within our area, sneaking past the gaps in my barrier. Dammit. No. Hold it a little longer.

Endeavour landed beside me, his flames creating some safety on the side I didn't have covered. "You should withdraw and use a smaller shield for the concentrated area of wounded and evacuating."

And leave the whole team exposed? Deku, Shouto and everyone else here with Endeavour?

"Can't do that, sir. Too much fire power being thrown at us, you would all be torn apart."

"You ignoring an order, Stasis?"

"With all due respect sir, yes." I gasped as another shot entered the area, but only ricocheted once, before I slammed it into the dirt. It could have hit anyone. More flames erupted in that direction.

"Stasis, withdraw."

Another deluge slammed against my shields. Buggering hell these villains had an unimaginable amount of weapons at their disposal. How many were back there? Regardless, if I stopped, this would be over very quickly for us Heroes.

"Sir… There's too many of them."

"Don't give me that, you're at your limit. I don't hold with Heroes throwing themselves on their swords, Stasis."

Oh fuck this.

"Fucking. Fascinating." I snarled, getting to my feet, bowing my head against the pressure, between holding back bullets and then the impact of missiles. "But you'd be dead sir, so n–"

Another deluge. Shit. This was never-ending. I had to do more, and so I reached beyond the shield to find the villain. At least, I hoped it was one creating these endless onslaughts. If I could knock them out, we could move. We could get Bakugo to a damn doctor. We could get out.

"Please, sir. As soon as we get the civilians out…" I gritted out, gasping as the lights danced in front of my eyes. No. Hold it. Do not give in. Do not let them down. I skidded back slightly, the most recent deluge inching me back. I was losing ground. Fuck. How do I– A pressure appeared behind my back. It was Sho, standing with his back to mine, helping me stand, helping me hold it back. "How's Bakugo?"

"Doing okay. But we have to get him out of here."

Ice slithered beyond us, seeking out the villain. Sho was getting better at manipulating its shape, between that and the buildings, he was doing amazing.

Endeavour growled. "Stubborn children."

"Where do you suppose I got that?" Sho muttered.

Endeavour bounded off, hopefully seeking out a way to get behind the villain and take them out that way. I glanced back, seeing Bakugo begin to rouse, his head bleeding badly. He had to stay still. But I couldn't do anything with my power right now, one lapse in concentration and we'd be obliterated.

De Ja Vu tickled the back of my mind.

Shit.

I… I had seen this before.

My head throbbed.

The villain looks right at Sho. They aim. I hold back a projectile as Sho holds the ice in place for the civilians, keeping the building from flattening the lot of them. My head aches. Dammit. Another shot, and I throw it against the wall. Sho is on his knees, trembling as he keeps the building in place. One hit and he'd lose focus. One hit and those civilians might all die. No, we'd worked so hard. So far our internship had gone really well. I held firm. The strain's making me so dizzy.

Shit. Oh crap I knew where this went.

"Sh-Sho…"

A villain appeared. So close. Not the one shooting though, or at least, not the only one. Something was familiar about him. My phone buzzed. Back up would be here any second. Any moment it would end.

"Sh-Sho… Are they out?" I panted.

"Nearly." He spoke between his teeth.

I tried holding the new villain back, being pushed along the ground slightly, even with Sho's help.

I blinked. Someone was approaching across the field, sneaking between debris. But they weren't running in a panic, they weren't calling out for help. A villain? Shit. Was it the villain from my vision? The one who got too close?

Gah!

Sho's shaking. "Alex, you need to run. You already used so much of your–"

"I'm not fucking leaving you." I growled, shoving the villain back harder and groaning as something pinched and the blood ran from my nose. Dammit. "Back up's on the way. Th-The second they get here… I c-can… I can stop."

I shook my head and watched the figure approaching. A face became clear as a gust of wind momentarily cleared the smoke. I didn't know the face but something about him was familiar. What did that mean?

"Who are you?" I yelled, and he paused, looking irritated at being spotted. "Who are y-you?" I yelled again and he grinned as I stuttered.

"Who?" Sho asked, starting to shake as he had been in the vision. Like we were catching up to those moments. "You see someone out there? A civilian?"

"Don't th-think so." I gasped, head swimming again.

"Silly little heroes." The villain laughed. "No chance."

Another projectile, I flung it wide and cried out as my head throbbed. Where the hell was our back up? I braced against the ground. I wouldn't be able to leave anyway; my vision was all over the place. I'd just fall over. The Villain was only a few steps away.

"You remember me, little girl? Hm? Then again, guess you've never seen me, you've only felt my talents." He chuckled and reached for my head. "Finally gonna make this all okay. Make up for my fuck ups."

I held his hand back, whimpering as my quirk strained. I'm too spent.

"They're over there!" Someone yelled. Back up, is all I can hope for. I gritted my teeth and withhold the hand, dry and cracked with blood at the edges of bitten fingernails.

The villain grinned broadly under his hood. "C'mon, you gotta see what he had me cook up this time…" his hand clasped my head as my quirk finally succumbed. On contact I screamed, my mind warped. Shit.

"Keep going Sho!" I yelled as the light faded. "The back up's right th-there… right… there…"

I jolted and the guy finally let go of my head. Or he was pulled off by someone. I have no idea. It's not really important as I fall to the side. Ow.

"The back up…" I repeated, mouth moving on it's own as the world pales to grey.

Boom.

Reality.

"Stasis! Talk to us!"

Shit that series of events, I knew where that lead, I felt it writhe in my gut. From when I saw the memories at training, when I sat there and went through a bunch of them door by door. Today. It led to the cage. To the dark place where Shinsou strangled me, to where Bakugo tried to blast me with his power. No. No that wasn't happening. I couldn't let that future unfold.

Surely this was an opportunity to use those visions for good?

Not bothering to just shove the Vision villain back, I snapped his ankle and threw him. He screeched as he flew across the battle-field. Blood ran down from my nose, but it was far more effective than the vision attempt, and at least he wasn't going to be grabbing my head anytime soon. Fuck that. Not this time. These visions, as annoying as they were, could at least help me as well as be bloody irritating. Not today Vision villain. Not fucking today.

"Stasis?" Sho tried again, his back still pressed to mine, the trembling worse in his frame as his ice struggled against the buildings.

"I'm g-good." I gasped, focusing on the shields again.

Endeavour landed beside us. "Who threw the man across the field?"

"Me, I–"

"You can confirm it was an enemy?" He barked, unimpressed and impatient as ever.

"Send out an alert." I snarled, standing up, determined to find that damn villain before he got any closer again.

"Excuse me, Stasis?"

"Please, sir."

His anger cleared slightly. "What alert?"

"Get protection to whatever agency is hosting Ochako Uraka and wherever Hitoshi Shinsou is right now, both UA students, they may be in danger. Do it, please." I threw out a pulse to find the Vision guy wherever he had landed.

My head was swathed in pain, but there was no sign. Dammit. He got away. He must have literally crawled away like the rat he was. But as a consolation prize, I found the weapon guy, his quirk seemingly out of control if his wriggling body was any indication. Still, I got him. There. I latched onto the villain's throat and pulled him to the floor. He wriggled. He wailed. But he didn't break my hold.

I pointed. "There. On the g-ground. Weapon guy, shouldn't be too many more shots other than snipers."

The field had gone very quiet, beyond the occasional 'pew' of a bullet.

"Move in!" Endeavour barked, then talking into his radio to the effect of what I had previously asked him about Ura and Shin. Please get there in time. Keep Ura and Shin safe. My shields fell away except for right on top of the last few civilians as they escaped, and easing some of the strain on Sho's ice. Backup arrived. Others took over and I sat on some rubble, gasping, only releasing my power once we had confirmation of everything being under control.

The Vision Villain. He had been right there, he would have got to me directly, he… I had no idea what the hell he had planned, but that grin can't have meant anything good. Shit. I was so close to apprehending him as well. Dammit.

My head throbbed.

Dammit.

I hunched forward, gripping my hood. The full memory demanded to be seen. But I didn't want it. I had already seen too much. I didn't want to know where this might have led, it didn't matter anymore, did it? We won. I won. He tried to get me and I used the visions against him, I used the future to beat it.

"Alex?" Sho knelt beside me. "Is it a memory?"

"Y-Yeah… What was meant to happen h-here." I groaned and closed my eyes, red pain filling my skull. Slam. Slam. Slam. The door buckled and splintered. "Shit, this hurts."

"You have to let it play out, don't you?"

I swallowed, not wanting to see it, not wanting to know how this might have gone.

He nudged me. "Come on. Let's get you back to the agency, you can lie down on a bed and let it play out. Better now that we have this in hand, better than when you don't have time for it."

"F-Fine." I grabbed his arm when he offered it, and he helped me towards the agency van, applying ice to my head. "Fucking… Memories…"

"Get us back to the agency, now please." He asked the driver, the door slamming shut and the vehicle moving. "I'll find out what's happening with Bakugo, don't worry."

"Thanks…"

I pulled my cowl off and clasped my hair, rocking in the seat, trying to keep the latest door closed for the time being. Just give me a moment. Just some time. It ached, it splintered, it demanded attention. I clung to Sho and he stroked my hair. The agency didn't ask questions as he rushed me up to my room, carrying me as we headed up in the elevator. Unfortunately not for as fun a reason as last time.

I laid back on the bed and drew a long breath. "See you in a bit…"

Sho smiled softly, bruised and grazed, but there by my side. "I'll be here."


I drifted...


I stared at the ceiling. Am I awake? No. Can't be. Can I? If I am, I've no idea where the hell this is. I looked down and found myself lying on some kind of camp bed, bars next to me. A cell? Movement to my right curled me back in the blanket, clutching it to my chest as I pressed myself against the cold bars of what seemed to be a cage. Shit, what's happening? I blinked, shaking my head to clear my vision.

"Alex, it's ok." Sho's voice reached me and my vision cleared to see him sat beside me. He was in the cage too. Where the hell were we? Was I actually awake?

I nodded and tried to speak, but my throat pinched and I just started coughing.

He held out a plastic cup of water. "Here. You've been out for a couple days. We were worried you weren't going to wake up."

I sipped. "We?"

He perched on the bed. "Come out guys, she can handle it."

I looked ahead and the others stepped from behind the small screen, still within the cage. Izuku, Shin, Bakugo and Ura gave a wave, all as worn down looking as Sho. What the hell had happened?

Sho put a hand on my knee. "Villains swarmed us once you got taken down. Endeavour got overwhelmed, and before the pros got there we… well we got taken."

"Fuck." I swallowed. "How long have we been here?"

Ura sat on the other camp bed. "A couple days. They're feeding us and giving us water at least."

"How gracious." I peered beyond the bars but saw nothing but shadow.

"Don't use your pulse." Sho warned, squeezing my hand gently. "They're not keen on us using our quirks."

I nodded. Whoever it was, they wanted to keep themselves hidden for the time being. Likely meant it wasn't the League at least. Or not directly. But why had the Vision guy been there if it wasn't the League? Had he branched out? Or were the League working with these guys?

Ura smiled. "How're you feeling? You had a fever early on and kept mumbling in your sleep. Did the… Did the villain give you nightmares or something?"

"I think it was the vision guy." I leaned into Sho as he held me close. "It's all a blur though, I can't remember what the hell they were."

Izuku crouched down. Bruising ran along his right cheekbone and a scab formed along his jaw. They were all beat up. Shin had a burst lip and Bakugo had several scrapes along his arms, to go with the head injuries. They had been fighting this entire time, perhaps.

Izuku cleared his throat. "Can you try to recall the visions? They might have some kind of clue about what this place is, or at least what they want from us."

"I can try…" I bit my lip, feeling very small as I looked back on the dreams. But it was just madness; noise and colour. But a cold sensation filled my body as I strained to clear the images. I wasn't meant to see them again. Not yet, at least.

Bakugo kicked one of the bars. "Don't force it."

I nodded. They were all watching me. "Sorry, guess I'm kinda useless for now."

Izuku shook his head. "Not at all, just worth a shot."

"I'll keep trying later." I took a deep breath. "Have they said anything to you guys? Any demands or threats?"

Ura shook her head, eyes darting to a dark corner beyond the cage. "They've only said they'd wait till you woke up. So I guess we might be getting information any second."

"Indeed." A voice rumbled from the corner, before a door clicked shut. Steps approached.

Sho held me closer and Ura shrunk against Izuku, Bakugo and Shin. We all stared. The figure remained in shadow, only their shoes shown in a pool of light from the small exposed bulb in our cage. Shiny leather shoes. More Yakuza?

"We saw no advantage to repeating ourselves. Welcome back to the land of the living Miss Aizawa."

I shivered. The voice wasn't familiar.

I pursed my lips. "Name's Stasis."

"Mhm, indeed." They chuckled. "We are a group interested in supplying the League of Villains with… I suppose you could call them support items."

Fuck. I recalled Dad mentioning something like that before. Villains had just as much of a need for support items as heroes. But obviously they couldn't go to conventional means to get them, so these underground groups cropped up now and then. Seemed we were going to be their test subjects. Usually such places were discovered once the lab rats had–I stopped myself. Usually it wasn't newbie Heroes found in such situations, we could beat these assholes, we could get out. This wasn't where I died.

I gritted my teeth. "So we were just handy and available?"

"Yes and no. You have a broad range of abilities, a few of which offset each other. Plus… You're more durable than civilians, and not as tricky to hold onto as pros." He was enjoying this too much. I started to shiver harder. "In this room we have multiple means of killing you. Use your abilities without permission, and we will strike without mercy. We may not kill you right away of course. But you may wish we had."

Sho muttered. "Bastards."

"Think of us that way if you wish, Mr Todoroki, but we have been pushed to such lengths by the likes of your father. Damn heroes get all sorts of toys. Why not villains?" The shoes stepped on a cigar end. "If you do not comply with our requests, we will hurt your friends. Keep that in mind when feeling brazen enough to argue."

Bakugo slumped and clenched his hands. We were powerless.

The shoes tapped. "Now then, Mr Hitoshi, step towards the bars."

Shin swallowed hard, staggering over as instructed.

The shoes tapped louder. "Arm through the bars."

Shin did as told, clenching his jaw. A gloved hand appeared, stabbing a long needle into Shin's wrist and pushing in a pale liquid. I gripped Sho's arm. The gloved hand disappeared and the shoes tapped again. Shin retrieved his hand and stared at his arm, his veins became easier to see and his breathing quickened.

"Good luck." The shoes disappeared and the door clicked shut in the shadows.

Shin sunk to his knees and gripped the bars, breathing through his nose deeply as his brow dewed with sweat. The others were frozen. We couldn't use our quirks to help him either, they made that clear. We could only use them when given permission. Presumably the drug, whatever it was, would affect Shin's quirk though. Why else give it to him?

I got up from the bed, squeezing Sho's arm when he tried to hold me in place. We needed to stay together. I was probably the closest to Shin here. Thus far he hadn't had a chance to get to know our class all that well beyond training. I knelt beside him. He groaned under his breath and put his head against the bars. Was he in pain? I reached and touched his shoulder, he was practically vibrating with shivering.

"Shin?" I asked gently, and he responded in a strained whimper. "Tell us what's happening. Please. We're here to help if we can."

"Get back. Please."

I shuffled back a bit. "Are you in pain?"

"Fucking shut up!" He snarled, biting his lip before clamping a hand over it. He shook his head and looked at me pleadingly. I nodded and smiled. I wasn't about to be annoyed at him. Either he's in pain, or this drug is affecting his mood.

"It's affecting his mood or something." Izuku was on the same pages as me, tapping his chin, about to start muttering when I held up a hand for him to be quiet. Shin was doing his best to suppress whatever the drug was trying to make him do.

"The guys holding us won't actually let us kill each other. We're too useful to them. We need to just give him space and let him work through it. Don't fight him, as much as that's possible."

Sho nodded. "Good thinking."

I smiled back over my shoulder. "Just trying to think like my Dad wou–" Hands wrapped round my neck and my head smacked off the floor. I choked and tried to dislodge the hands, but damn Shin was strong. He glared, eyes pinked with tears as they fell onto my face. "Sh… Shin…"

He held tighter. "I could have gone into the hero course if you hadn't shown up."

Another smack against the ground. The others stayed back, though I hear struggling as Sho was held back by Izuku, Bakugo and Ura. Good work guys. A fight was what the sickos wanted.

Shin's tears fell against my gasping lips. He screamed. "You fucked it all up!"

"Shin I–"

My body stopped responding. His power. It gripped me, holding me under his control. I went limp, unable to fight back against his strangling hands. His thumbs pushed up, totally cutting off my air. Fuck. Small black dots appeared in my vision. His skin ran hot and he trembled. He looked totally panicked. He was going to kill me.

Panic ruled his expression as he looked to the others. "G-Get me off her… f-fuck… help…" His tears flowed thick and fast.

Sho and Izuku pried him back, Bakugo planted his hands on Shin's chest to hold him to the bars. I layed there gasping thinly, coughing occasionally, body still locked in Shin's control. It seemed like our captors were willing to let a fight go on further than I thought. Not to kill each other, no. But it seemed they were ok with us making each other pass out.

Ura appeared above me, and she shuffled me back before helping me breathe by angling my head better. Shin was fighting against the others, swearing at them, raging. Trying to gain control of them instead. But they just stayed quiet. Good work, guys. Shin sounded deranged, he gnashed his teeth and swore he'd kill us. He hates us. He wanted me dead. Madness flowed out of him, his eyes still wide and confused, like they're detached from the venom on his tongue. And they were. This drug… it was like it had turned Shin into the angriest drunk I'd ever seen.

It went on for nearly half an hour, before finally Shin started to weaken. He had managed to scratch along Sho's cheek and got a good punch against Izuku's shoulder. But now he breathed slow and his eyes grew dull. His quirk released me. I dragged in a deeper breath and jolted as my body became my own again. They let him sink to the floor, still gripping his arms.

Shin shook his head. "Alex… S-Sorry… I'm so… sorry…"

I wanted to respond, but his power might take hold again, and my throat burned. A coughing fit gripped me and I curled in on myself.

Ura pats my shoulder. "Didn't talk to me, so I reckon this is fine. But what Alex would want to say, I think, is that it's not your fault, Hitoshi. Please just rest. We're all gonna be tested I think. We need to stick together."

I gave a thumbs up, still trying to catch a full breath.

Eventually Shin calmed fully and passed out, laid on the bed by the boys and given a cold cloth on his brow by Ura. I managed to stop coughing and get myself back onto my feet. I hesitantly checked the back of my head, but it didn't seem to be more than bruising. No blood, no cracked skull. Sho came over and checked me himself. His eyes tightened at the sight of my throat. I guessed the bruising was already pretty bad.

"The pros will be looking for us. They'll find us. My Father's a shitty parent, but he's a great hero. They'll find us."

I nodded and laid my head against his chest. One part of me wondered if we should be so openly affectionate with each other. But the Villains would have already known, rumours had been all over the media for weeks anyway. Especially once I started at Endeavour's agency. It didn't matter.

The door clicked.

"Well done children. Well done. How admirably dealt with, and no fist fights. My, my."

I held Sho tighter.

The shoes stopped. "Now it's time for Midoryia's turn. Though due to his strength, we wouldn't want to actually let the rest of you die. So step out here young man, no funny business, like I said, we have many guns trained on you and your friends."

Izuku stepped outside the cage and into another that was suddenly lit up. The bars were thicker and the space smaller. Ura started to cry and Bakugo bared his teeth. The door closed behind Izuku and he was injected with some other kind of poison.

Or maybe the same one?

It was hard to watch. His hands pulled on his hair and his eyes blazed with confusion as hateful things poured from his mouth. Anger at the world, about being quirkless and how much he hated that his mother didn't help him. Then Bakugo came into his mind and Izuku roared with anger. Just sheer unbridled rage. Then came his self-loathing and it hurt to even hear. Useless. Weak. Stupid. Naive. Back and forth, his mind flitted between the subjects of rage, getting worse each time. I held Ura close, her sobs soaking into my torn hero costume as she held her hands over her ears. Sho kept talking to Bakugo, but the our usually fiery friend looked broken. In the past few months, him and Izuku had been doing a lot better, but now venom stained all that progress. I tried to pretend it was just unfounded madness again but damn Izuku's voice cracked with such honesty. Eventually I dunno who's clinging to who more, me or Ura.

As he weakened and passed out, the cage all bent out of shape, we openly sobbed. We didn't want him to hear us. Sho took a deep breath, and when I looked at him I wasn't sure that I'd ever seen him in more pain. He had so much respect and gratitude towards Izuku.

Sho was ordered to drag Izuku back to the main cage and then we were sealed in. Bakugo didn't take his eyes off Izuku as he slept, something burning in Bakugo's ruby eyes, but not something I felt able to ask about.

Food would be delivered soon, then we would be taken for showers. Boys with boys. Girls with girls. At least I knew I could protect Ura from any lecherous bastards.

I chewed my food thoroughly, wincing with every swallow. Shin couldn't look at me without turning pink, his own food slowly disappearing. We didn't have appetites, but we couldn't let them wear us down. I finished the plate, tears pricking my eyes from the pain.

Sho nudged me. "I wish I could ice that bruise."

"I know." I smiled despite the croak. "I'll be fine."

Bakugo flung his empty plate through the bars, kicking them again. "I dunno that any of us can claim to be 'fine'."


Ura washed quickly, keeping herself turned and hunched towards me, away from the door. I kept an eye on the door and glared at any sign of it creeping open. I couldn't do anything but shame the perverts, but for now it was enough. We got clean and dried ourselves, having fresh-ish clothes left out for us to change into. Before we headed back outside, having probably two minutes to spare on our allotted wash time, Ura tugged on my sleeve.

"You okay?" I put my arm around her shoulder, she was trembling. "Bad question, what's up?"

"I uh… Sorry i-if I shouldn't ask but I… I don't know what to do…"

"Ask Ura, I'll help if I can." I held her tighter and she nodded, sniffing.

"Do you h-have any tips on how to deal with all this? I… I know you were captured by the League before a-and stuff, and you kinda indicated that Shigaraki h-had you kidnapped before then… so… s-so how do you…"

"Keep your head down and pick your battles." I swallowed hard as she looked up with those big eyes, already pinked from her continuing tears. A shiver ran through me and I gritted my teeth against it–I hated the fact my friend now knew what this felt like . "If they order you to do something, do it. Within reason. If they start… If they man-handle you, just take it. It'll only get worse if you struggle."

"But how do you st-stand it?" She sobbed against my shoulder.

I bit my lip. "They want you to struggle, they like it more often than not. I'm sorry I don't have better advice. Just… Just think of where you're wanting to get back to."

"N-no it helps to know what you're thinking. Thanks Alex." She hugged me tightly as footsteps came along the corridor. I kissed her head and stepped away, not about to give the guards any further reason to perve.

He glared at us for already being clothed and took us back to the cage where the boys had already been put back. Izuku was sat in the corner, away from the others, staring off into nothingness, pale and glassy-eyed. No doubt he was utterly over-thinking everything and feeling some daft form of shame for what he had said. But there would be no getting through to him yet. All of this would take time.

Sho immediately held me close, quietly asking if we were alright. I confirmed and we sat on the bed next to Shin, who still hunched in on himself, not meeting my eye. Presumably the next torment would start soon, or they'll plunge us into darkness for sleep, so I leaned over and touched Shin's shoulder. He flinched.

I sighed and gave a gentle squeeze. "Shin please, I don't blame you. You shouldn't blame yourself either. That drug messed with you and Izuku alike."

"I could have k-killed you." He gritted his teeth, eyes shining again.

I nudged him. "Wouldn't have been you anyway. C'mon Shin, we have to stay together."

After another pause, he leaned closer and put his shoulder to mine. "R-Right. I… Sorry."

"It's fine. Let's just–"

"Lights out rats! Shut up and sleep!" And we were plunged into the darkness. As there were only two beds, we would take it in turns each night. Due to the boys being persistent gentlemen, me and Ura got the beds on the first night.

We would get out.

We had to.


Please make it stop.


Bakugo stood opposite me; sweating, on his knees, trying to avoid using his quirk, to ignore the given orders. They'd drugged him, and I had been ordered to try and withhold his attacks. To catch the explosions and contain them. They were using him as their guinea pig, but were testing my limits. I stood and readied myself, knowing the attack could be sudden. He kept withholding though. He hated this. The scar on my arm from his slip up a while back kept drawing his eye. I wished I could cover it up.

A bored voice came over the speakers. "Do it Bakugo, or we shoot her in the leg."

He groaned and stood, wavering and looking at me with such helplessness. It didn't suit him.

I gave a shaky smile. "Go for it, Bakugo."

Sparks appeared in his palms, juddering and hesitant. A bullet landed just shy of my foot. I flinched and stared at the small hole. A warning shot. I looked to Bakugo pleadingly and he nodded, taking a deep breath as the sparks grew brighter. The drug inducing his fever, making the sweet smelling sweat pour off him. I hoped it didn't last too long.

The explosions bloomed from his hands in great plumes.

Initially I tried to contain them at the source, creating a bubble around their bright colours. But it was foolish. The sheer force behind them shattered my hold and sent me toppling back. No use. I tried again, shielding myself, but letting more of the backlash of the explosion strike Bakugo. Useless.

Another hour of this passed before finally I managed to contain an explosion.

It broiled within the enclosure I created. I gritted my teeth. The others cheered inside the cage, and I dared to smile. I did it. I actually managed to–

Something pinched my leg.

"Fuck!" I stumbled, clutching my calf, blood seeping into my clothes from the freshly stinging bullet wound.

"Well done. Stop now." The voice purred.

I sunk to the floor, flopping to the side to cling to my leg, trying to avoid yelling out again. Shit. Bakugo appeared at my side, applying pressure. A warning shot landed beside his foot.

Bakugo snarled. "Fuck off! She needs help!"

"Move Bakugo. She can help herself. One… Two…" he moved, partly by his own will, partly because I shoved him away with my power. "Good, now get the bullet, little girl."

I swallowed hard and concentrated on the small hole. It was like a ball of fire nestled in my skin. It continued to weep blood despite my efforts to keep the pressure going. The bullet was still so hot. It needed to be removed, or else it would fester. I wondered if they'd let me clean the wound–probably not. Still, it couldn't stay there. I started to pull. A whimper escaped my tightly pursed lips. Tears brewed, and my nails dragged against the concrete floor. Shit this hurts. It started to move. It edged out of my flesh. It scraped past nerves.

I laid back for a moment, panting and whining as my tears came thick and fast. Sweat poured off me. Bakugo was still nearby, not daring to come nearer. Good thing too, they might shoot him or me. I had to do this alone. I kept pulling, the bullet kept edging. A nerve caught along the bullet and I cried out. Shit. Keep going. Make them proud, make Dad proud, keep going like a pro would. These villains cannot know my weakness. It would only make them stronger.

The bullet came free. It sang a little metallic melody as it skittered along the ground.

I slumped, trying to keep the bleeding to a minimum. There. I got it.

Another bullet sunk into my leg.

I screamed.

This time, they had shot at my thigh. Deep in the thicker muscle. My body started to shake as shock took a firmer hold. The bastards would never stop; till we were all spent, withered and used, they'd never stop. Just like Shigaraki. Just like All for One. I screamed and clutched the patch, curling in on myself. I tried to focus, but the bubble of my panic was appearing. Shit no. The pressure built. My bones ached. A surge threatened at the edges of my power. Don't do it, don't give into that again, you're better than that, you've come so far.

"Keep it together, Alex!" Bakugo yelled, and I peered through my hair as it fell in front of my face. He stayed where he was, likely in fear of another shot being fired due to his movement. I nodded and looked to the cage, seeing them moving, waving their arms, yelling. Probably encouraging me. I kept going. The pressure lessened, only leaving bruising behind. I focused on the next bullet, biting hard on my lower lip, breathing through my nose.

"If she manages to remove the second bullet, you may collect her, Bakugo."

"When." He barked. "When she removes it, you bastards."

The bullet was deep. It burned in my muscle, my thundering heart pushing blood from the wound every moment. I grew dizzy. My head laid against the cold ground and I counted my breaths. I could do this. Like Bakugo said. When. Not If. They all had faith in me. They'd managed to endure their trials, so I could endure mine. The bullet wriggled; a choked cry escaped me before I could bite it back. It hit them all. My friends all flinched at the sound like I had shot them myself. Keep it together Alex. Come on. It edged out, blood running thicker now. I kept going, losing all manner of finesse or skill. It ripped from my skin, skidding over the ground. I grinned. My heart thundered. My vision swam. Oh… Oh no.

The blood ran freely, pooling across the ground thickly.

Wait no. I… I… I couldn't… I couldn't hold the wound closed. My power fluctuated, not gaining grip. Shit. Blood dripped from the bullet. My eyes darkened.

Can't… feel my… leg… or a-anything else…

"No!" Sho yelled somewhere far off, echoing. "Alex, wake up! Stay with us! ALEX!"

Can't… I just… want to sleep…


That was so nearly what happened...


"Gah!" I sat bolt upright on the bed, and nearly fell off the side before Sho caught me.

My whole body shuddered, my breathing rushed in and out of me, and my hands gripped his t-shirt so tight the fabric creaked. It all felt so fucking real. But I was back; this was Endeavour's agency, this was the real world. Right? I swallowed hard. Of course it was. I had come back. I was awake.

The sky was dim outside, Sho had bandages on his arms and any other scrapes he had. Empty food trays lay on the side-tables.

I was back.

I had woken up.

"Sh-Shit." I gulped.

"What happened?" Sho held me close, rocking slightly, running his hands up and down my back. "What did you see?"

"I… S-So much." I swallowed hard, feeling cold at the last image. Everything had been so heavy. So final. Shit, had I really died in that version of events? If I hadn't stopped the Vision Villain, would I be dead by now? Maybe. Or maybe the vision had been a couple of days. It was all such a mess.

I swallowed hard. "I think I died."

Sho stilled.

"Fuck. So much." I put a hand to my aching head. "Sorry that was too blunt of me."

"It's fine. You're… You're still processing." Despite his words, he was holding me a lot tighter than before. "Once you have, you… You should tell us more."

"Us?" I looked beyond him, seeing Bakguo perched on the window sill, staring at the ground in a perplexed manner; brows knitted together and raised, eyes blazing at the ground like he could set it alight with a look. But besides the bandaging I could see peeking from under his t-shirt he looked okay. "Bakugo?"

He jolted, expression almost clearing. "Uh… Yeah. Hey."

"How're you doi–"

"How did you die?" He demanded, both of them staring at me hard.

They were scared, of course they were. Had things gone the way they were 'predicted' to, I might've been in a body bag by the end of the situation. But I wasn't. We avoided it. But right now, I doubted they could see, or appreciate that angle.

I took a calming breath. "Look, it was a possible future, one we avoided today. It's not what happened. I'm okay. But you actually got hurt today. What did the doctors sa–"

"Don't brush this off." Bakugo glared, standing up with a small wince and storming over. "We might've just delayed it or somethin', we dunno how that future shit works. What did you see?"

I leaned back from his demanding tone. "I'm gonna tell you everything, but it's not–"

"Important?" He snapped. "I got injured, so what? You just said you died."

"In the vision." I snapped right back. "It didn't happen. Beyond that, I only think I died, I can't confirm it. Why're you being so angry about this?"

"I…" He sucked in a breath and moved away a few steps. "I just don't want you glazing over shit, okay?"

Lies. That wasn't it at all. Sure, that might be a concern, but that angry panic, those flushed cheeks and evasive eyes. I swallowed hard, another vision in the back of my mind; a warmly lit apartment, laughter, warming pastries and casual kisses. Did Bakugo already have feelings for me? Was that why he was so outright anxious? Maybe. Maybe he didn't even know it himself yet. Hence the anger. The confusion brewing into panicked aggression. Made sense. And not something I could really bring up without confusing everyone and everything.

But I could calm myself down at least. I could take that potential future and have it teach me something, help me grow. The future has already helped me today, helped me avoid us being taken. All right. I'll keep learning.

I nodded. "All right."

He blinked and looked me over. "All right?"

"Yeah I… I get it. Sorry."

He frowned and looked to the side. "What the fuck're you apologising for?"

"Biting your head off for being concerned about me. I appreciate it."

He sighed and closed his eyes. "Way to make me look like an asshole."

"You do that plenty yourself." I smirked and held a hand out to him, patting the bed with it when he hesitated. "C'mon, sit down. I dunno what the bandaging's for but you shouldn't be straining yourself. Sit. Let me explain…"

And I did. I laid it all out to them in as much detail as I could, in case we ever did enter such a scenario, and they could be prepared. But as I continued to mention the others that had been with us, I felt cold. Had everyone avoided it? Was everyone safe?

"Did… Did Endeavour send out that alert? Are Ura and–"

"They're all accounted for." Sho squeezed my hand. "There wasn't any sign of abduction attempts, but they're being kept close to their mentors and under close watch in general. The only one that seemed to have anyone dubious nearby was Shinsou, but the culprit was caught at the time. They're being questioned now."

I started to shiver as my mind caught up. "So… So these visions… some of them are very real."

"Yeah, seems so." Sho put his arm around me. "You saved us today, Alex. In a lot of ways."

"I guess I did…" I smiled and closed my eyes, wishing that the joy of that victory wasn't tainted by my fears being confirmed. That made it far more possible that the other visions would come to pass as well. Me hurting my Dad. Dabi roasting my leg off and me killing him in turn. Maybe. It was still hard to tell what was a memory of a vision and what was planted earlier by the Vision Villain himself.

I needed to talk to Dad.

"Wh-Where's my phone?"

Bakugo passed it over. "Your Dad's already on his way, probably in the lobby right now."

"Oh, you guys called–"

"Of course we fuckin' did, you've been out cold for hours ya dumbass." Bakugo rolled his eyes, but I didn't miss the blush when I smiled at him, knowing full well it was him being caring in his own way yet again. "Stop grinnin' at me like that."

"Nope."

"Fuckin' weirdo."

"Yup." I smoothed my hair back and traced the bandaging on Sho's arm. "We all tended to otherwise?"

"Doing fine, yes."

"Bakugo?"

"I just got some bad hits to the head, all sorted now though. And just a muscle strain on my side. Half-n-Half was just over-using his ice. Idiot."

Sho snorted and shook his head. "Ever the concerned comrade."

"Shut it."

A knock sounded at the door. "Hey, sleeping beauty woken up yet?"

I beamed. "Dad!"

"Let me guess, you woke up a second ago?" He smirked, coming in and pulling up one of the spare chairs. Bakugo and Sho excused themselves for the time being, they'd bring some tea and dinner. When the door clicked shut, Dad came closer and gave me a quick hug and kiss on the head. "You've had quite the day huh?"

"Yeah, but I beat them Dad, I fucking beat them." I grinned grabbing his hands and holding tight. "Those shitheads were gonna take us, use us, but I stopped it!"

"One thing at a time, kid." Dad brought out his notes. "What did you see when the memory played–"

"There's a recording on my phone, I'll send it to you, okay?" I looked down at our hands and sighed. "For now I just… I want to enjoy the win."

We had enjoyed victories before, of course. But I had to admit, this felt like my first real sold win against the League and their bullshit. It wasn't clear how the Vision Villain and the support item guys had been connected, but clearly they had been. But that didn't matter. Not now. I won. For once, I had actually won.

Dad tapped the end of my nose with his pen. "You did great. You really did."

"I know." I grinned, eyes feeling warm. "I really know."


Like I could resist showing what MIGHT have happened, ha! Hope you enjoyed that little slice of 'what if'. See you in a month! Thanks for reading, faving, following and reviewing when you can guys. Love it! ^_^ Shout outs below!

SHOUTOUTS:

Harleyking31: Haha, well I hope you liked the twist on the ol' kidnapping thing I did! NO! They weren't kidnapped again, and yes they HAVE learned! Huzzah! Haha, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thanks for chiming in ^_^

Zikashigaku: Ooh yes indeed, the horizontal tango indeeeedy. Haha, I felt it was time in their relationship, and also fancied showing a loving and tender first time in fanfiction. So often it seems to be perfectly practised and like perfect the first time round and... no that isn't how it always goes lol. I felt their time would smooth-ish due to their communication and such, but they were still nervous, they still had to adjust to each other needing to go slower or whatever. SO yeah... I was glad to write it and I think it went well? Yeah I totally agree on the Endeavour vs All Might front. Endeavour is an asshole and very much a Villain in my head, but I am enjoying the growth and development they are giving him regardless of that, or perhaps not regardless, but with it in mind. Yeah the vision was a lot of fun to write tbh, as well as daunting. Their connection has been waaay more than I originally intended so it's been fun to play with! I have so many plans haha, and I admit they are changing a little as I learn more about what is to come, buuut I think eventually I will have to simply take it in my own direction as I'll have caught up and need to make my own calls. But hey ho that is the joy of the fanfic! Thanks so much for still reading and reviewing!