Midori the Phoenix

Author's Note: I blame a friend of mine who read my fic and pointed something out to me. I had to include it because now I can't fucking unsee it. *bangs head against keyboard*

Enjoy!

Chapter 13: Detstar JDC

"...and now for our top story: the prestigious school known as UA has once again narrowly avoided a deadly scene. The dorms for the 1A hero course went up in flames, an accident witness reports say were caused by a quirk that spun out of control. Only one student suffered minor injuries, but the rest of the young heroes were able to escape unharmed."

The woman giving the report tapped her notes once before laying them out flat and continuing the story.

"Concerned parents and members of the community questioned UA about the cause of the fire. Police reports say that a young girl who had been staying in the dorms was the source of the quirk accident. Principal Nezu of UA high school assured everyone that the child in question will be moved to a more secure location where her quirk can be properly monitored."

Bakugo clicked the TV off with an impatient flick of his wrist. .

"Damn press is making a bigger deal of this than it needs to be." He turned towards the group that had gathered to discuss the matter at hand. "She just needs training and just kept someplace where she can live more peacefully."

"I'm afraid it's far more serious than you're making it out to be, Mr. Ground Zero." The current number one Hero, and the youngest hero to ever make it in the top five in their debut, Hawks spoke up.

"Who asked you, bird brain!" Bakugo sneered. "Why are you even here?"

"I came at the committee's request." Hawks explained with a smile. "They wanted my take on the situation and I'm happy to oblige."

"You've never even met Midori, so you don't know a thing about-"

"Ground Zero, have a seat." The head director of the committee tapped his papers together and lay them out. "I asked Hawks here to give us some suggestions as he is the current number one hero, and has connections you're not aware of that could help us."

"What kind of connections?" Shoto asked with a frown. "What exactly is all this about?"

"It's come to our attention that our initial decision to keep the Child of Karma at UA highschool was miscalculated judgement. Considering her powerful quirk, and the latest movements of the League of Villains, we feel it's time that Midori Todoroki was moved to a more...discreet and fortified location."

"I see…" Shoto folded his hands and looked to Mirio and All Might who remained quiet. Mirio, for once, didn't have his happy go lucky smile on his face. Something was definitely up. "I take it you've already made your decision on where."

"We have…" The Head folded his hands together and narrowed his eyes on Bakugo knowing he'd be the one to blow up at this news. "We're sending her to the Detstar Juvenile Detention Center."

"You can't be serious!" Bakugo slammed his fist on the table. "Midori is only four years old, and you're gonna put her in a prison?!"

"The JDC isn't a prison, Bakugo." Hawks corrected with a smile. "It's more like a training facility. Midori will be well taken care of and be given the help she needs. It's a completely legitimate program for troubled youth."

"Putting a fancy label on it doesn't change what it is. You're sending a toddler to a place meant for delinquents and Midori isn't one!" He continued to press.

"Well you can't deny that she burned down an entire school dorm." Hawks pointed out with a calm expression that just continued to irritate Bakugo further.

"It was an accident…" Shoto tried to defend.

"An accident that put the lives of an entire class of young heroes at risk." The Director shot back with a glare. "The littlest temper tantrum that child throws could wind up causing catastrophe just as we're finally starting to earn back the trust of the people again. I will not have this reincarnated toddler ruin everything!"

"You care more about your damn reputation than that little girl's well-being." Bakugo sneered.

"...and you care more about your feelings for her mother than you do about the safety of those students." Hawks countered with a bored expression.

"What did you just say?!" Bakugo raised a fist but Shoto placed a hand on his shoulder to keep him back.

"Can't we compromise? What if Bakugo and if take personal responsibility for Midori? She can live with us under our direct supervision." He tried to reason.

"Out of the question…" The Director crossed his arms. "That child has connection with the league of villains. Until those lunatics are caught and dealt with, I will not have that child anywhere within their easy reach. Putting her in a secure facility is the best place for her."

"Midori's just a child!" Shoto pleaded and stood up. "Please director, there's gotta be another way. She's already had to live under unusual circumstances and it's made her unable to make friends."

"Relax, Endurance…" Hawks waved. "You make it sound like we're putting Midori in a padded cell. The JDC is like going to summer camp. She'll have other kids there she can get to know and be friends with."

"Stuff it, bird brain!" Bakugo shot back. "I'm not buying it! You're not sending Midori there, I refuse to let you-"

"Ground Zero!" At his wits end the director stood up. "The Committee has already made its decision. If you go against it, then I'll have no choice but for you to hand over your license." He held his hand out. "A hero who can't follow the order and will of society has no place here."

"Tch…" Bakugo grit his teeth, his hands clenched at his side. He stormed out of the room with a slam of the door. In his youth he would have blown apart the room and screamed to get his way… but as an adult he knew that wouldn't help his case. "This is so fucking stupid."

"Katsuki…" Shoto jogged up behind him and lay his hand on his shoulder. Bakugo stopped his stride shook with anger. "I don't want Midori to go there either… but it's out of our hands. If we go against the committee and lose our licenses then we won't be able to help Midori at all."

"Todoroki…" He turned miserable eyes on his friend. "I can't do it… I can't just abandon Midori." He shut his eyes tightly. "Not again…"

"We're not abandoning her, Katsuki…" He changed his grip to the back of Bakugo's neck to keep his gaze on him. "Midori needs someone to help her control her quirk… they've got all kinds of experts at that place who can do just that." He rubbed the tension out of Bakugo's neck, refusing to let him pull away. "In the meantime you and I need to focus on apprehending the League of Villains. Once they're behind bars I'm sure we can convince the committee to put Midori in our custody."

"Damn it…" Bakugo slumped and put his head on Todoorki's shoulder. "I hate it when you're right. How the fuck can you stay so calm in these stupid tense situations?"

"Practice…" He let the smallest of smiles and pet Bakugo's head gently. He heard someone coming down the hall and he pulled Bakugo into a nearby waiting room. He motioned Bakugo to a couch and then walked to the vending machine in the corner of the room. He paid for two drinks and walked back to take the seat next to him. "Out of context, have you given any thought to my proposition?"

"I'm not gonna be your damn sidekick." Bakugo sneered and popped the soda open and took a deep gulp.

"I wasn't asking you to be my sidekick, Bakugo. I was asking you to be my partner."

"Same damn difference. Why should I join agencies with you? We may be friends, but we're not that close." He slumped on the arm of the couch and leaned into his knuckles.

"I beg to differ." Shoto rubbed the can between his hands. "You, Kirishima, and I already work a lot together. My father's old agency is insisting that I take over, but I don't feel confident enough to handle that many sidekicks without some help with people I trust."

"Humph… then why don't you ask Kirishima to join you?"

"He says he wants to see how far he can do on his own, but he's always willing to help out when he can." Shoto glanced over at Bakugo. "...and frankly I'm relieved. I only asked him because I thought it might help you to agree."

"What?" Bakugo jerked his head over. "Are you seriously that desperate for help that you gotta-"

"That's not what I mean!" Shoto snapped it and his can froze in his hands as she struggled to get his feelings across. "I just… want to be closer to you, Katsuki."

"Hah?" Bakugo's brow raised and he took a good long look at Shoto's face. What he saw made his stomach tie in knots. "Oi… Icy Hot… are you… in love with me or something?"

"I… mmmph…." Shoto placed his iced can over his face as he felt the blush crept on his cheeks. Bakugo jerked up from the couch and panic built up in his chest. "Katsuki wait-"

"What the actual fuck, Icy Hot? You were in love with Izumi weren't you? Why the hell are you going all homosexual on me now?"

"Why do you gotta put it that way?" Shoto stood up with him. "It's not like I planned to fall in love with you, it just happened."

"Bull Shit! How?"

"I don't know how to explain it…" he rubbed the back of his neck not sure what to say. "Ever since I got rejected by Izumi, and I started hanging out with you more and more… things just… fell into perspective." It was at this point he recalled something Izumi had once told him. "You can't help who you fall in love with."

"Ugh this is so stupid." Bakugo rubbed his face. "I can't take much more. First this whole thing with Midori, and now this? I can't keep up!"

"Katsuki…" he took bakugo's hands pulling them from his face and Bakugo jerked away. Shoto's hurt expression immediately made him felt guilty.

"Stop it… I can't process this right now! Let's just focus on Midori, and forget this conversation happened for now, All right?"

"For now..?" Shoto lowered his head a bit. Did that mean he'd want to pick up the conversation again once things calmed down. "Mmmm, alright Katsuki. We'll drop it for now."

"Good, now come on. I wanna talk to Midori before those ass holes lock her up." He turned around and walked out. As they waited for the elevator, Bakugo couldn't help but notice his heart was racing, and his cheeks were flushed after Todoroki's love confession.

Irritated he slammed his head on the elevator doors just before they opened.

"Katsuki?" Shoto questioned Bakugo's actions.

"Don't comment, Icy Hot." He slammed his finger on the ground floor button. "Don't say a fucking word!"

~Two Days Later~

Midori clung to Aizawa as he carried her from the car and to the front door of what looked like a cross between a school and a prison yard. The entire area was walled off like UA with its tall metal fences that hummed with an obvious electrical current. The main building was a massive concrete structure with barred windows, and hefty locks on the doors.

Looking over Aizawa's shoulder she eyed the kids that were out in the yard, being watched over by a couple heroes and several armed security men. While most ran around, getting what exercise and fun they could, she couldn't help but notice the few kids that were hunkered down against the building looking miserable and afraid.

"Papa Might was right. There really are kids my age here…" she murmured to him and Aizawa pet the top of her head.

"You know your Papa Might doesn't lie, Midori." Aizawa set her down and knelt in front of her so he could check on her hands. "Feeling any better?"

"Yeah, I'm not as hot anymore…" She wiped her eyes as they burned with tears that wanted to brim. "Is Junie okay? Is Takeru-nii still mad at me?"

"Junie is fine, she hopes you're feeling better. As for Takeru, well he's hopeless." He rubbed the top of her head. "He's serving detention for yelling at you and upsetting you further. It was stupid and insensitive of him no matter how angry he was."

"I deserved it though… Junie got hurt because of me, and I burned down the-" She started to whimper but Aizawa took her hands again.

"Listen to me, Midori. It wasn't your fault. Myself and the other teachers should have realized that you were no longer happy at UA. You deserve to be with kids your own age, making friends, and someplace you can really be yourself." He looked around at the facility. "This place will help you grow into your quirk… and you can spend time with kids far closer to your own age and make friends. Bakugo, Todoroki, Mirio, All Might, and I will be back to check in on you and make sure you're doing okay."

"I know… Baku-nii, and Uncle Shoto already said they were going to come and visit as soon as possible." She wiped her eyes again.

"Speaking of Bakugo, he asked me to give something to you." He reached into the bag he was carrying and held it out to her. "He said your mom, before she became Karma, like to write journals. She'd take notes about heroes, quirks, basically anything that piqued her interest."

"I… mmmph…" Midori took the notebook and clutched it to her chest. She was about to respond with "I know" but thought best to keep those things to herself from now on. All that information about Karma, about what was going on inside her head, would only get her into more trouble. "Thank you, Uncle Aizawa. Can you tell Baku-nii thank you for me too?"

"You can tell him yourself when he comes to visit." Aizawa ruffled her hair and stood up when a buzzer sounded. A tall burly man and a much scrawnier looking doctor stepped out… and much to Aizawa's surprise, so did Hawks. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh I take a shift here now and again." Hawks said with a smile. "Plus I spent some time in this facility for a little while when I was still learning how to control my quirk."

"Which explains why you knew about it and brought it up to the Committee." Aizawa scowled, the pieces of the puzzle finally put together. He looked down at Midori. "Midori, this is Hawks, the current number one hero."

"Not for long I bet." Hawks laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "At the rate Lemillion is going, I'll be behind him in no time." He crouched down and smiled at Midori. "Hey there, Midori-chan. Aren't you cute?"

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Hawks." Midori offered him a sweet smile.

"Whaaa.. Now I know why Bakugo and shoto threw such a hissy fit when we told them you were coming here." He pulled the girl into a hug cuddling her close. "Who'd want to let such cute little girl go?"

"Ahem!" The skinny doctor cleared his throat. "Excuse me, Hawks, but I believe we should move the child inside as per protocol."

"Ah… right, right…" Hawks stood up and pulled out one of his feathers holding it out for Midori. "Here… why don't you keep this as a souvenir huh? Be sure to think of me whenever you see it, Midori-chan."

Midori clenched the feather in her hand and ran her fingers over it with another soft smile.

"Okay… thanks Mr. Hawks."

"Come child." The doctor reached out for her hand. "Let us get you settled in." He waited until Midori took his hand before nodding his head to the others. "We'll take it from here, my dear heroes. Don't you worry about this little one. We'll take good care of her."

"Be sure that you do." Aizawa warned crossing his arms. "There's a lot of people who care about her, despite who her mother is."

"Of course… come along now, Midori. Say goodbye."

"Oh…" Midori looked back at Aizawa with wide green eyes. Despite the frightened expression in them she did her best to smile. "Bye-bye, Uncle Aizawa."

"Take care, kid." He sighed heavily as Midori, the doc, and the beefy security guy disappeared behind the locked doors. Hawks pat his shoulder companionably.

"Don't worry, from what I hear that kid is tough… and she's a sweetheart. The staff here will treat her well."

"Let's hope you're right… for her sake."

~Midori~

Midori's sweet smile fell the moment she was left alone in her room. She'd remained sweet and obedient while the handsy doctor took blood samples, asked her questions, and gave her several shots. Once that horrific nightmare was over they put her in an all white jumpsuit that reminded her of hospital scrubs, and put cuffs on her arms and neck

"These are quirk restraints, Midori. I know they're uncomfortable, but you don't have to worry about losing control of your quirk when you wear them. So please bear with them for us, okay?"

"Tch…" She scratched at the metal and climbed atop the desk so she could see out the barred windows. The kids who had been playing outside were now back indoors leaving the yard empty and quiet but for the annoying hum coming from the fences. "Not a prison, my ass." She muttered and sat down on the desk with her back to the wall. She admired the room… plain, white, and boring with its starch sheets, lack of decor, and single wood desk.

There was a small closet that had a toilet and sink to serve as a bathroom, but no mirrors or showers. Shower and baths were scheduled and separated into gender and age groups. Everything here was scheduled right down to the meal times, training times, and recreational activity times.

Because it was her first day, she was allowed to get settled and relax in her room until it was time to eat dinner. After which there would be a brief recreational period, and then right before bed they would begin their first testings on her quirk before deciding her full schedule routine.

"In other words I have no control over what i do, or when I do it. I have to live by their rules and follow their timeline." She sighed heavily and pulled her legs up to her knees. "Damn you, Karma… I had way more freedom at UA. Why did you have to go all berserk like that?"

"Stop complaining, and start thinking of a way to get out of here."

"You're joking…" she lifted her head glaring ahead of her. "There's no way I can escape from here unnoticed when they've got this place running like a bootcamp."

"Never say never, Midori. There's always a way. It may take a little time… and require patience… but now that I've got more of a say, I'm not as impatient as I was before."

"Oh, so NOW you're calm and understanding." She scoffed and unfolded herself. She eyed the notebook and feather on her bed. "Hmmmm hey Karma?"

"Yes?"

Midori climbed off the desk and onto the bed. She picked up the notebook and pulled out the pen from the spiral binder. She clicked the top and pressed the tip at the top of the page.

"Those guys I saw in my dream…" She began sketching Tomura, his scarred yet handsome face, and disheveled white hair. "Tell me about them."

~Meanwhile~

Hawks stepped into the control room of the JDC and met with the head of security there. He leaned over a monitor and spotted Midori in her room already writing in the notebook Aizawa had given her.

"Any odd behavior from our new girl?"

"She's got your feather, doesn't she? You tell me." The security guard said with a smile, and then tapped the screen. "She seemed to be talking to herself a moment ago. The audio unfortunately is down so I don't know what she was saying… but her lips were moving as if she was holding a conversation with someone."

"My feather can only tell me a person's rough location, not their movements." Hawks pointed out then rubbed his chin. "Hmmm talking huh? Imaginary friend, maybe?" Hawks folded his arms. "Lonely kid like that could find all kids of ways to hold a conversation."

"Perhaps… we'll work on getting the audio back up so we can monitor any of those conversations. In the meantime, I got confirmation from the doctor that this kid is definitely going to be a special case. He spoke on the phone with another colleague… a Doctor Tsubasa if I recall and the two of them collaborated on the bloodwork."

"...and?" Hawks crossed his arms. "What was the verdict?"

The man smirked, his face turning wicked.

"That ain't no four year old kid, Hawks. That's mother fucking Karma… reduced to a toddler."

"Well now…" Hawks turned his attention back to the monitor. "Seems like we finally got The Queen of Villains behind bars where she belongs."

"Damn straight…" He laughed and rubbed his hands together. "After seeing what she did to Endeavor and all those other people… I can't wait to see these brats make that kid's life a living hell."

~Ask Briry~

Briry: A bit short, but to the point. Hope you guys enjoyed it and the little bit of TodoBaku I included. As I mentioned in my Author's Note, a friend of mine was reading my fic and kept pointing out how Todoroki and Bakugo were acting like love interests, and so I made a few tweaks to include it because now I CAN'T UNSEE IT!

Next Chapter: Troubled Youth