Midori the Phoenix
Chapter 21: The Wrath of Finnick Todoroki
~Phoenix Hideout~
At first light, Midori gathered the escapees into the training room for a meeting. There she disclosed her entire story from the very beginning. She left out the bulk of the details in regards to her relationships and the more graphic events, but essentially gave them a synopsis of her life story and how she wound up a delinquent toddler at the JDC.
Once her story was over she gave them all an ultimatum.
"I can't live a normal life… I doubt any of us can now that we're on the run from the heroes. We can change our names, our appearances, and lie about who we are… but it won't change anything. They'll never stop looking for us, they'll never stop hunting us down because in their minds we are the bad guys. We are the delinquent trouble makers who are too powerful to be kept unchecked. The potential hazards to their perfect society. Even if we gave in, and let them capture us again and did as they asked it would never be enough. They will use us, belittle us, and keep us in our cages acting like it's for our own good."
She shrugged at that, pacing on the floor, her hands folded behind her back as she went down the line of kids.
"So you've all got three options from the way I see it." She turned to face them head on. "You lot are free to leave… fend for yourselves, live on the streets, struggle to find food and shelter, and pray you don't get caught and incarcerated in the process. You are free at any point to kiss your freedom goodbye and go back to the heroes and live in their cages where you'll surely be fed, clothed, have a roof over your head, and live in the comforts of hero's so called "protection."
She paused, seeing the look of confliction on the other's faces already.
"Or you're free to stay with me." She relaxed her hands, her eyes serious, but also genuinely sad and concerned. "I'm not as strong as the reports and stories make me out to be. I can't guarantee your safety, or your protection. I can't guarantee you'll always be comfortable, or happy… but what I can guarantee you is I'll more than likely put you through some dangerous situations. I'll put you in scenarios where you'll begin to question if what you're doing is right or not. I'll ask you to break the law, fight against it, and other villainous acts."
The room went dead quiet and she lay a hand over her heart.
"If you choose to stay… I can guarantee to be your friend. If you need something, want something, or just need to get something off your chest you can come to me. I will do anything within my power to give you guys the freedom to be yourselves… I won't ask you to put restrictions on yourselves, or to be who you're not. The only thing I may ask of you, is to borrow the power that made you guys so unique and special. I will not abuse it, or force you to lend it to me. If you're not comfortable with a task I've given you then tell me, and I will think of another way. I'm not gonna be a villain who forces others to kill, steal, cheat, and lie if they're not willing to do so."
She took a deep breath and turned her back to the group.
"I'm going to count to thirty. Those that wish to leave, please do so now. There's a total of ten of us in this room… let's see how many are left in the end. One… two… three..." Midori counted slowly, keeping eyes closed and her senses focused on her own heartbeat, ignoring the sounds of shuffling feet and murmuring voices. "Twenty eight… twenty nine… thirty."
She opened her eyes and turned around. She did a quick head count and her smile warmed and spread when all ten remained.
"Are you guys sure you're ready to step into my world?"
"You've gotten us this far, curly top." Max smirked and crossed his arms. "I'd like to see how much farther we can go together."
"Besides it's not like we have much of a choice. None of us really have homes or families we want to return to." Tori pointed out placing a hand on top of Mink's head as she gave a solemn nod.
"Well this is your home now…" Midori spread her hands out towards the hideout. "It's not much… and I don't know how long we can stay here undetected… but all of us are a family now." Midori hugged herself… the black button up shirt she borrowed from Touya's closet giving her comfort and support. "...and I always look after my family."
~League of Villains Hideout~
Finnick peeked his head through the entryway of the living room, listening in on the League who were having a meeting.
"The aging process was a success for the most part. I was going to finish it once they'd transferred Karma into Tartarus, but it would appear she had other plans." The doctor spoke through the television.
"Do we have any indication on where Karma ended up?" Dabi paced the floor looking agitated. "She's harboring a bunch of children so her hidey holes are limited."
"My contacts in the police department indicate her crew tunneled into the sewers but that's where her trail ends. Karma has always been careful not to leave any sign or trail for the heroes to follow." Ace informed.
"If they used the sewer system they could have used it to go anywhere in the city." Dabi let out an aggravated sigh. "Damn it, Izumi."
"Hey come on, let's look on the bright side." Kota stood up from the couch cracking his knuckles a little. "Karma is alive, she's out of police custody, and is probably looking for us right now. Why don't we just give her a little sign?"
"Kota has a point. We've never used this location before so Karma doesn't know where to look for us. We need to figure out a way to give her our location." Compress agreed.
"One problem with that…" Ace tapped his phone. "The police and heroes have been waiting for us to reveal ourselves. If we make a mistake they could easily find us instead of us finding her."
"Good point...what about your P.O. box?" Dabi asked Ace.
"On lockdown…" Ace sighed heavily. "Once Karma's involvement with Overhaul became widespread news, the heroes tracked his previous movements. One of which was to the P.O. box Karma and I were using for communication."
"DAMN IT!" Dabi strung fingers through his hair. "There's gotta be a way to-"
"Dad?" Finnick called out, and gained his attention. Riled up still, Touya struggled to put a leash on his temper and walked over to him.
"Sorry, Finnick, I'm in a meeting right now. I'll train you once I'm done." He promised and earned a scowl from his son.
"I know that, I'm not stupid… I overheard what you guys were saying and I wanna help. I wanna help find mommy." He looked up with big eager eyes.
"Awww…." Toga held her cheeks giggling. "Our little prince is growing up so brave and strong, isn't he Tomura-kun?"
"That he is… but I'm afraid you're not ready yet, little prince." Tomura informed walking up behind Dabi to help take the lead on the request. "Bad guys are after your mommy… and we can't risk your safety just yet."
"You don't have to worry about me, King Tomura, I'm strong!" He clenched his fists. "I can make things explode and go boom just by staring at them. I'm getting really good at it! I can help keep everyone safe! I can help bring mommy home!"
"We appreciate the help Finnick," Dabi ruffled his hair again. "...but you're still too young. You don't have any experience, and you've barely got a handle on your quirk."
"...but dad… I want to see mommy." Tears filled his eyes and he looked down at the ground shaking a bit. "You said she was trying hard to come back… that she wants to see me… but those heroes won't let her. They're keeping her from me!"
His sadness turned to anger and his focus intensified. Dabi saw this and he slowly got to his feet and eyed Kota who nodded and stood up ready to put out the inferno that was getting set to release.
"Tomura Shigaraki…" The doctor spoke through the T.V. "Why not let the boy join in on our search? A quick disguise, and some responsible supervision and he could be just the ticket we need to find Karma."
"No!" Dabi whirled around. "I know what you're thinking, Doc, and you can forget it! You're not using my son as bait!"
"Huh? Bait?" His temper dying down Finnick looked up, his concentration broken by this new information. "What does that mean?"
"It means he wants to lure your mom out of hiding, by putting you in danger." Kota cracked his knuckles and sent a menacing glare in the Doc's direction. "I agree with Touya… you're fucking crazy if you think I'd let you do that to my little brother."
"Now… now… why don't you hear me out, before you all jump down my throat." The doctor raised his hands motioning them all to simmer down. "I was merely suggesting we… tip off the heroes about Karma's child. Ace will use his connections with the media… the rumors will spread, and we can set a trap using clones of young Finnick, and a couple of other league members."
"So we wouldn't actually be putting Finnick or ourselves at risk as they'll all be clones?" Compress confirmed this plan. "It could work… providing we set the stage properly to avoid capture. The only problem is, is that we may very well be putting Karma back into hero custody."
"Which is fine," Tomura decided. "At least then we'll know where she is and can stage a rescue from there."
"I still don't like it. If we let the heroes know about Finnick's existence it puts him at risk from now on. He won't be able to wander about freely even after he gains full control."
"I don't care about that, Dad!" Finnick tugged on his hand. "You're not letting me wander out now. What difference does it make?"
"Kid's got a point." Kota sighed heavily. "Still, Izumi won't appreciate it. She may even yell at us all for it."
"A welcomed attitude providing we're all reunited…" Tomura pat Dabi's shoulder. "However I say let's save it for a last resort. For right now let's stick to small scouting missions, and keep our ears and eyes open for any information regarding her whereabouts."
"Alright…" Touya reluctantly agreed and picked Finnick up holding him. "I'll stay here and watch the base. I stand out too much and there are others more suited for scouting. I can dig into the digital underground and see if I pick up any online rumors and reports."
"Alright… as for the rest of you I'll give you each your own sector to scout. You're not to get caught under any circumstances." Tomura looked to Kota and Eri. "You two… I want you to continue looking for new recruitments." He handed them a card. "Have Kurogiri send you to this address and speak to a man named Giran. He can show you the ropes and give you the best places to search for potential newbies."
"Got it…" Kota nodded to Eri who returned the gesture. The two of them had only gone on a few missions, and usually they were always accompanied by one of the older members. This was the first time they were being interested on a mission all their own, and they wouldn't let their superiors down.
"You two be careful, and don't do anything stupid or reckless." Dabi set Finnick down on his feet and took his hand. "You need something, you call. I can have Kurogiri send me to your location right away."
"Heh, no need to worry about us, Touya." He hooked an arm around Eri's shoulder giving a confident grin. "The two of us together make an invincible team."
"Hate to break it to you kid…" he reached down and shoved Kota's hat further on his head making him grunt and squirm. "There's no such thing."
"We'd better get going, Kota." Eri lifted his hat for him with a smile. "The sooner we start, the more recruits we can gather.
"Yeah…" he straightened himself out and sent a grin to finnick. "No worries, lil bro, we've got this." Kurogiri's warp opened and he lead the way inside. Eri turned to the two and gave a little wave before slipping in behind him."
"Dad…" Finnick looked at Dabi with big eyes. "Isn't there something I can do? I don't want to just stay here. I want to help!"
"I know Finn… but your mom wants you to stay safe." Dabi knelt down and held Finn's wobbly chin. His smile grew wide and proud. "Trust me, son… one day the world will know the wrath of Finnick Todoroki. You'll be strong, smart, and lead your followers with an iron fist… but first you need to get stronger. You need to train, study, and master your quirk. Once you do, there'll be no stopping you."
"Really?" His eyes went bright with wonder and joy.
"Trust me, it's in your blood, Finn." He tapped his head. "You've got your mom's brains, and her righteous sense of justice. That alone is a powerful weapon at your disposal son."
"Your father's right, young prince." Tomura stepped up. "All you need now, is patience."
"Mmmm okay!" Finnick grinned wickedly and pumped his fists. "I'll work hard and get stronger… and one day those so called heroes will fall at my feet and grovel!"
"Atta boy." Tomura ruffled his hair. "Now back to your studies. Later you and I shall have a game as well." He waited until the boy was out of the room before turning to Dabi. "Kota's quirk wouldn't have been enough to stop him."
"I know…" Dabi wiped the beat of sweat that had formed at his temple. "His quirk is getting so powerful. The slightest temper tantrum could set this house ablaze."
"Patience, control, and focus…" Tomura looked at his own hand. "Master's words are finally making sense to me now. All those casual lessons that I shrugged off in my youth… I'm remembering them more and more."
"Sadly enough I feel the same." Dabi shut his eyes and gave a heavy sigh. "I can still hear my old man in my head… giving me orders and instructions that I wanted to ignore… but I internalized all the same."
"The joys of parenting…" Tomura laughed. "Boy did we have it easy back then."
~Midori: One Week Later~
While Max and his two man crew worked on cleaning up the training area, and Slim's group went above ground to gather some supplies, Midori and her team of four burrowed through the closed off part of the hideout in search of support items, and other useful gear. The hard concrete gave way like butter to Mink's powerful claws. It was true the girl could dig through nearly any surface with ease. As they broke through the wall and into the otherside of the underground base, Midori stepped out and took a walk around the wide open area that had once been a battlefield.
"It stinks of blood down here." Yuuichi complained, holding his nose. His ears lowered as the scent made him want to vomit. "It reminds me of the professor's lab."
"All kinds of blood was spilled behind these walls. Through battle... through experimentation… through torture. Overhaul was the kind of villain that took what he wanted regardless of morales or decency. He chose his followers from the bottom rung, people who believed they had no better choice than to follow his lead, and do his bidding." She knelt down, stroking fingers over the scorch marks on the rock. "The heroes and police have been through here so I doubt we'll find much… but if we're gonna survive we'll need more supplies. There might be a few hiding places the heroes weren't able to locate due to Mimic and Overhaul misshaping the place."
"Are you sure the current Hassaikai won't find us down here?" Yuuichi pointed upward. "We are directly under their base."
"Before I went into hiding I had a friend of mine check up on the Hassaikai. The new leader ordered this entire base to be sealed off. So I'm confident we can move around without their knowledge… but just in case, Kaoru, I want you to use your quirk. All the areas we go to set up cameras at all the entrances and exits."
"Okay, I think I can handle that." Kaoru adjusted his glasses. "Yuuichi, mind giving me a boost? I wanna get a high vantage point."
"Yeah, sure." Yuuichi picked up the skinny boy hoisting him up on his shoulders with ease. With the extra boost of height Kaoru placed his palm against the wall just above the hole Mink had made into the concrete. The concrete molded and reformed into a circular shape with a lens-like surface.
Name: Kaoru Utsushimi
Quirk: Surveillance- Creates special lenses out of any surface he touches. These lenses act as cameras and sensors, allowing him to monitor the surrounding space. He can create up to ten at a time, and display their images on any monitor.
"I've been meaning to ask, Kaoru. Do you know a man named Jethro?" Midori questioned. Kaoru glanced up in surprise.
"That's my father's name… why?"
"Huh… interesting…" She tapped a finger to her lips. "What does your father do… do you know?"
"He and my mother divorced when I was young so I don't know him very well. I know he was working with some kind of reporter, and that he got rewards for his documentary work." Kaoru smiled sadly. "I've always wanted to meet him though."
"Can I ask how you ended up at the JDC?" She pressed a little, but ready to back off if he was uncomfortable with it.
"I… well… let's just say I got mixed up with some kids who didn't exactly follow the rules. They talked me into using my quirk for… certain purposes... and when we got caught we all ended up serving some time. I only arrived at the JDC a few months before you."
"If that's the case, why did you choose to escape? Doesn't sound like your sentence would have lasted very long."
"I… escaped for the same reason everyone else did. I was afraid." Kaoru rubbed his arms. "I knew what that place really was, and it wasn't a prison or a correctional facility. It was a large science project… and we were the subjects being experimented on. I was afraid of what would happen to me, and the other kids if we didn't get out."
"You're right about that…" Yuuichi pat his back in support. "Doesn't matter how light your sentence is. A quirk like yours is valuable and they wouldn't have just let you go. It's the same for a lot of us."
"I don't know if this is a good time…" Mink spoke in her lispy voice and pointed down at her feet. "I think there's a room down here… the ground is really hollow."
"Let's crack it open then. Go on, Mink." Midori patted her head gently then stepped back to let the girl do her thing.
"Okay Karma!" Mink raised her claws, the sharp extensions glinting like polished knives before stabbing into the ground and digging away.
"Please don't call me that." Midori crossed her arms, watching as Mink opened up a nice hole that led to the next floor down. She crouched and opened up her palm to light fire there and took a peek around the dark room. "Hmmm lights are off… stay here, let me scout it out first." She jumped down, her brow furrowing a bit. She recognized the area as one of the training rooms… but from the looks of it it had taken some damage from a battle. There were indents in the walls, and ground, and old blood stains all around.
"Finally!"
"What?" Midori's head whirled around at the voice and she coughed up air and spit as a solid punch sent her flying across the room and into the wall creating a new impact print.
"MIDORI!" Yuuichi cried out, and got ready to jump.
"Don't come!" Midori screamed and wheezed as she struggled to regain her breath. She wasn't hurt, but the impact of the attack had knocked the wind right out of her. "Stay where you are! Don't you dare come down here!"
She struggled to her feet and held her stomach as she took in slow deep breaths and narrowed her eyes on her opponent.
"Rappa…"
"Queen Karma… I knew it was you. You've gotten smaller." He laughed and beat his fists together.
"That's right…" Midori ran fingers through her hair laughing. "I forgot all of the Hassaikai were granted pardons due to my testament. Guess that included you and the rest of the Eight Precepts. Who else has been lingering down here I wonder."
"Just me… The other guys either got themselves arrested doing stupid shit, or left when Chisaki disappeared."
"Disappeared?" This piece of news caught her off guard. "When was this?"
"Don't remember…" He shrugged it off showing he had no interest in it. "... enough idle chit chat. I've been waiting a long time for you to come back. I want my rematch… fight me!"
"You stay away from her!" Yuuichi warned and glanced back at Kaoru and Mink. "Guys go get Max and the others."
"No! Yuuichi, stand down!" Midori warned holding her hand out, but keeping her eyes on Rappa. "Look, Rappa, I'd love to give you your rematch to the death… but I doubt you'd be satisfied with it. You like a challenge don't you?"
"You damn right I do…" He continued to beat his fists together, his eyes wild and hungry for battle. "Fighting you is a big thrill… all those quirks at your disposal, you're sure to give me one hell of a high."
"One little problem with that, Rappa." She holds her hands up. "I'm not the same person who fought you before. I'm not as strong or capable, and you'd be wasting your chance at a rematch."
"Then get stronger…" He points a finger at her. "I won't let you out of my sight until I have my rematch."
"If you want me to get stronger… then train me." She relaxed some and took several steps towards him. "I'm not at the top of my game, Rappa. I have all my quirks, and my memories, but my body and mind aren't in sync with each other. I've lost my fighting instinct and I need to get it back if I'm gonna do what I plan. You're one of the strongest foes I ever faced. If anyone can get me back into top form, you can."
"Hah? You're joking…" he laughed out loud. "You want me to train you?"
"Why not?" She crossed her arms standing strong and confident. "You'd have a free sparring partner… and once I get strong enough we can have that rematch to the death."
"Nice try, kid, but that's not how it works… not with the way I was trained." He stepped toe to toe with her and jabbed a finger in her face. "The only way to truly get strong… is to fight… over, and over, and over… experience battle after battle until you're unbeatable, or dead."
Midori recalled Rappa's backstory… knew what he was referring to, and something clicked in her mind. Their group would need money in order to gain more support items, costumes, and fake documents from the underground. She'd planned on stealing if need be… but Rappa's talk gave her another idea.
"Rappa… are you suggesting I join Fight Club?"
He started to laugh at her, and he held his stomach.
"You? Join Fight Club? Oh now that I'd pay to see!" He lay a hand on her shoulder. "Alright, Karma, you've got a deal. I'll get you in… and once you're strong enough you and I are gonna have a one on one death match. Deal?"
There was no guarantee she'd live long enough to give him what he wanted. Her main goal was to live through enough matches and collect the prize money for her team of rebels. Still there was no harm in promising something that probably wouldn't come to fruition.
"Alright… deal." She held out her hand and his large fist swallowed it up and he shook it vigorously.
"Ooooh you're gonna love this kid." He said with a wide and wicked grin. "It's just your style."
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Sleeeeeeep… I need sleeeeeep!
Next Chapter: Fight Club