Enjoy.

The moon is just about nearing the middle of the sky as Izuku makes his way back to the hospital. He's exhausted from the day. His eyes sting from overuse, and his legs carry him haphazardly.

There was a lot to oversee with the cannibal cult case. They had to call in a specialist in blocking mind control. Only once they arrived could the interrogation process begin on the family. Their daughter, a thirteen year old, had to be woken and given to Child Protective Custody. A social worker was able to coax some information about what their life was like at home. The girl wasn't very friendly the few times she spoke.

Izuku tries to shake the lingering thoughts of the case as he enters the elevator to go up to Katsuki's floor. His role in the case is almost done. He enters the closed room and frowns as he hears muffled noises. There's a little light in the room from a night light. He stops in his tracks as he sees Katsuki's quaking form and registers the cries.

Rushing to his side, Izuku asks, "Hey, are you alright? Are you in pain?"

Katsuki rushes to wipe his tears and clear his voice, "The fuck? No, I'm fine. What're you doing here?" Thankfully his features are unrecognizable in the dark hospital room.

Izuku frowns, standing at Katsuki's bedside, the blond's back faces him. "Are you sure? You don't need me to call the nurse?"

"Forget it," Katsuki growls at him. He feels the blood pounding in face. He rests a hand on his wet and swollen face. Midoriya always shows up at the worst possible moments or in the worst possible way.

Izuku sighs, throwing up his hands as he takes the visitor's chair, "Fine, it's forgotten." He sinks into the chair with another sigh. He's worried about the guy but it's not his place to pry.

He hears Katsuki shift in the bed. The hero asks more clearly, "Why're you here so late?"

Izuku murmurs, "Just stopping by to check up."

"Well, you checked…" Katsuki waits for a response before continuing, "You can go home now, dude. Mission complete." His first instinct is to tell him to fuck off, but he's tempering his tongue.

Izuku's eyes are glued shut and he takes deeper breaths. He breathes, "Right."

"Hey, go home, go to bed. Midoriya?" Katsuki is sitting up in bed, glaring at Izuku's poorly lit form in the chair across from him. "I want to be left alone…"

To his surprise, Izuku replies clearly, "Nobody wants to be left alone."

"You are awake, fucking bastard-"

Izuku's tired eyes open and he rises to stand, "I was just resting my eyes. It's fine, if you want me gone then I'll go."

Katsuki feels the walls close in as Izuku starts to leave, "Wait, it's dangerous to be roaming about at this time of night." He clenches his teeth as Izuku halts with his hand on the door. "Might as well hang out and wait till morning…"

Izuku sighs again, "Right, I'm too exhausted to defend myself heading home. Thanks." He walks back to the chair and plops down again. He doesn't mind letting Katsuki use his concern for Izuku's well being as a smokescreen for what he's really feeling. Whatever that may be.

Katsuki lays back in bed; he asks softly, "How's the case coming along?"

Izuku sits up and drags the chair closer to the bedside before resting back again. "It's peachy, apparently they all have quirks. The girl is an actual mind reader. I've never met one before. The son can make you feel like you're on fire when you meet his eyes, apparently. That was fun."

Katsuki can't help but chuckle to himself.

Izuku lifts his head to glare at the recuperating hero. "I'm sorry? Are you laughing at my pain right now?"

"It's not funny, right?" Katsuki continues chuckling, "It just sounds so stupid."

"It was stupid," Izuku cracks a smile.

Katsuki lets out a deep exhale, "I've got stupider though. Stupid is losing to the same villain every time you meet them. It's being unable to save the person in front of you. Stupid is not being able to save yourself…" He rubs his face before running his hands through his hair. "How did All Might handle it, being number one?" Katsuki feels like he's just been losing all the time. The pressure is unbearable. The thought of quitting has even crossed his mind. It's just so goddamn never-ending.

Izuku frowns, "We've already established that All Might was one of a kind. Every number one hero following his death hasn't measured up in the slightest. You're the reigning champ… You're not gonna be All Might, you're just not."

"I wanted to surpass him, but lately I don't think I've even scratched the surface of what he could do." Katsuki stares at the ceiling, "I don't know what to do."

"Do whatever the fuck you want to do." Izuku hears Katsuki shift in the bed again, probably confused. Frankly, Izuku is too tired to mince words. He clarifies, "Surpass him or don't, but you sure as hell won't with an attitude like that. Besides, it's not your style to get tripped up like this."

Katsuki shakes his head with a grimace, "You're right, I'm losing my fucking mind."

"Just focus on recovering and go from there," Izuku yawns.

Katsuki closes his eyes, done with the conversation. He's not sure how much time passes but there's light on the horizon when he stirs. Is that buzzing? He wakes more as he hears Izuku shift in the chair and sees the flash of a phone screen.

Izuku mutters harshly, "What?" He pauses for the answer before sitting up. "Right now? He can't wait ti-... Shit, okay, okay! I'm on my way." Izuku stands with a groan, then he chuckles, "Hell yeah you're paying me overtime, and buying me food. See you."

Izuku stretches with a yawn, rubbing and slapping his face, "Fuck."

Katsuki's voice cuts through the silence, "It's nearly criminal how much they work you."

Izuku laughs, "Yeah, but I don't have the time to complain. I won't be able to visit for possibly a couple days depending how this goes."

"What's it about?"

"I can't tell you yet, maybe I can get back to you. Anyways, I gotta run, see you around?" Izuku starts walking out of the room.

Katsuki murmurs, "Yeah, whatever." He resettles in bed as Izuku leaves the room. Once the detective has left does Katsuki turn to his back to press his palms to his eyes with a groan, "That dumbass."

Except he knows the real dumbass is the one lying in bed. How does Izuku have the energy for his job? Katsuki has the hero gig, a job that people would kill to have, and he's so fucking tired and angry all the time. The only time he feels alive is when he gets in hairy fights with strong villains, except when that villain is Shigaraki Tomura. It's not enough to keep him going, like he's lost his drive.

What's he gonna do after he gets out of the hospital? Truly? He really doesn't fucking know.

Midoriya drives the quiet streets to a military encampment a couple hours outside the city. The sun has barely left the horizon as he shows his badge to the guard at the gate. He's passed through and rolls down a path to a large parking lot outside a great building the size of a small stadium. The parking lot is mostly empty as he exits his car and rushes inside.

He smiles as a woman greets him from behind a desk. "We were told to prep for you, Midoriya-san." She's in military camo, with her black hair in a neat bun. She's also packing with a gun holstered at her hip as well as a knife strapped to her thigh.

He nods, "Yep, I came here as quick as I could." He tidied himself up in the car and put on a new white shirt with his black tie and black slacks..

She stands and opens a steel door. The building has a small reception area that is completely bulletproof and insulated. She polices the entrance so to speak. Izuku steps inside and she leads him through a hallway before they meet another female waiting in a room. Upon Izuku's arrival does the red haired woman stand to greet him, "Detective-san, been a while since you've had to come here for travel." This woman is also in military getup.

"Yeah, I haven't been to the Bunker in a long time. Are you ready?"

She nods, "You know the drill, right this way." She leads Izuku through the opposite door from the one he entered. They enter into a dark room the size of a decent gymnasium. There's a circular platform with lights bordering the floor around it in the middle of the gym. A marked pathway lies before them. She steps up and crouches at an opening in the floor, a control panel of some sort. There are metal handles jutting out that she rests her hands on, "Give me a second to get it open." Flipping some switches turns on some small lights on her little control panel, and seems to electrify the handles. She controls her breathing amidst resting her hands on the metal.

Izuku is enraptured as electricity crackles from inside her. Her nerves light up as energy pulses from the handles into her body. He hears the generator providing the power begin to kick up, and he sees the lights flickering around the platform before they start to glow brighter. Her body also starts to glow as she grits her teeth, clutching the handles as they feed her electricity.

A ringing begins to sound as the lights brighten to their maximum potential. When she's ready, she slams her hands on the path releasing the energy all at once. The metal directs it to the middle of the platform where it crackles before popping in a violent explosion of light.

She sighs and gladly takes Izuku's offered hand to help her up. In the middle of the platform is a shining portal. She smiles, "You better step through."

"Thanks Jeanie," he grins and makes his way to the light. He steps through and finds himself in a receiving room.

Ice Burn as well as two other government officials step up to greet him. Some other employees move to pass through the portal to get back to the other military base on the surface.

The Bunker lies thousands of feet below the earth, and can only be accessed through certain military checkpoints by authorized quirks. It's not a stronghold like Tartarus for keeping criminals exactly, though some criminals are kept here. It's main purpose is for getting high risk officials out of harm's way, off the grid. Criminals with dangerous information are kept here, mostly for their own good, because their information is a threat to S-level organizations.

Izuku is briefed on the situation as he follows the trio that greeted him. "Why does Dabi-" He pauses as Ice Burn shoots him a glare before correcting, "Sorry, why is Touya asking for me?" Izuku can't help his quickening pulse. He just might be panicking a bit, now that he's here.

Ice Burn, or Todoroki Shouto, informs him, "I told him about us having found you. He was under the assumption that you were still missing. He said that he would give information on the League if you came to meet him within twenty four hours. He's never talked like this before, I think he's being honest."

"Yeah, that doesn't answer my question of why me." Izuku smiles politely.

They enter a medical wing and stop at a window looking into Todoroki Touya's hospital room. He's strapped to the bed and wrapped in bandages where his skin is falling off. His black dye has washed away to reveal the white hair underneath. The lunatic smiles as his blue eyes fall on Izuku. He's not as menacing being strapped down, but he does exude confidence.

Izuku finds himself clearing his throat, nervous as those glacial eyes stare into his soul. Is he gonna guess Izuku's secret? He breaks eye contact, strategically staring at Dabi's file though he's already memorized it. He sighs, "I don't think this is going to pan out. You're showing your hand, now he's gonna think that you'll fetch him anyone he asks for if he offers information. It'll probably be Shigaraki's favorite color."

The hero smiles lightly, "We'll learn. Just go." The detective hasn't had any encounters with the villain, and he wasn't made aware of Dabi's informant status until recently. He only knows the villain from profiles he's read on him. Shouto hopes that Midoriya will see what he sees after talking with him.

Izuku frowns as he makes his way inside the room. He dons his authoritative government official persona and begins smiling, feigning confidence. "So, why the sudden curiosity about little ole me, Dabi-san." Izuku's voice is a practiced calm, betraying none of his inner emotions.

Dabi bares his teeth in a strange smile, "You lived. I wanted to see the man that Tomura let go." He directs his attention to the officials standing outside, "I want to speak to him alone, no eavesdropping. Run along now."

Izuku nods at them and they disperse. There's cameras recording video and sound, though Dabi knows this. He's just being difficult. The detective tilts his head, considering the bedridden villain, "I hear you've been very quiet since your apprehension. You were more talkative as an informant. Why the hoops now?"

Dabi chuckles, "Why not?" He sizes up Izuku, "What did he see in you? Why did he take you?"

Izuku leans against a wall, crossing his arms and considering the villain. He's just as perceptive in reading people, but Dabi is an enigma for now. "If I answer your questions, you're going to give me information that we don't already know. Every question, you give me a piece of information, deal?"

Dabi nods, "Seems fair to me."

Izuku takes out a notepad, "So that's two questions, and I'm going to be transparent with you. It's what he didn't see, he didn't see information for a quirk when he looked at me. He took me because I'm quirkless."

Dabi waits a moment, watching Izuku's impassive face. "You must feel so special…" Dabi considers Izuku, "Fine," he proceeds to list off the location of two League hideouts. He continues, his tone shifting to severe, "Did he give you something you didn't have before? Something that made you more?"

Izuku lets out a quick exhale before turning to glance out the window then at the camera recording Dabi. He returns to meet Dabi's gaze before smiling and blinking harshly, "I don't know what you're talking about."

The deliberate honesty is a breath of fresh air for the apprehended villain. It's the first time that Izuku let his detective mask slip in the pursuit to be sincere. Dabi chuckles again, "So he did... Oh, you're being watched dude. He loves messing with people, like a game. You're not gonna get off so easy. You may think you're free, but you're just another toy…" Dabi is speaking from experience. Tomura has no cause, no method to his madness. He only enjoys manipulating people, and he'll take up their cause if only to add them as a piece in his game.

Izuku offers a more mild smile, unfazed at the information. He has enough experience contending with villains and the like to know manipulation when he sees it. He returns, "Now answer one of my questions, who's the girl with the white hair? She kept taking away my damage, do you have a name?"

Dabi relaxes at the mention of her, "Eri-chan, the best addition to the League, probably the most valued member." After she was brought in and trained, she could make Dabi feel heavenly after the worst fights.

"Eri?" A faint bell goes off at the name, like he's heard the name and description before. An old case?

"Do you remember Overhaul? The guy that lost his arms to Tomura? She has something to do with that case… Do you know what he gave you?" Dabi offers a pointed stare so Izuku knows they're talking about his new quirk again.

"No… Nothing's changed."

"It'll come out eventually, hope it doesn't kill you. Sometimes they do, you know?" Dabi then gives information on what happened to a missing hero, the details surrounding his disappearance and death. "Well, it's been a nice chat, Detective, but I think that's enough."

Izuku nods, a little amused at finding himself dismissed by the guy strapped to a hospital bed. On a whim, he responds, "I appreciate this, Dabi-san. I think I have enough pull to get you better situated, and I may have a friend in America with a quirk that can help with your skin issue. I take care of my friends." Izuku tends to a more positive reinforcement attitude when it comes to dealing with criminals. Dabi has been thoroughly cooperative and Izuku knows the villain has more to offer in terms of information. As both a law enforcement agent and a human being, Izuku sees value in Touya.

Dabi grins, "Am I talking with a celebrity or something?" The villain is covered with bandages and tape holding his skin in place. There's honestly not enough funding to fix him, and nobody wants to foot the bill on easing the pain of a villain who may go on death row anyway. If he doesn't start talking more often, then he'll get no mercy from the government. The only reason he's in witness protection is due to Ice Burn's status as the number two hero and his influence.

Izuku smiles, "Maybe, but since you've given me some insight into my predicament, I'll give you some. If you don't start talking more often then you're likely going to get the death penalty. Your brother won't be able to help you for much longer. I'm not saying to give the whole League away, but at least solve some other cases, negotiate some protections."

Dabi laughs, wondering about the first detective to treat him with dignity. "If this is how you talked to Tomura then I can see why he kept you alive. Did they train you this way?"

Raising a brow, Izuku answers, "I'm not sure what you're referring to."

Dabi frowns, is he for real? People don't talk to mass murdering villains like they're human beings. Heroes want to eradicate them like the scum of the earth. Officers and interrogators threaten hell and fury, and promise swift punishment for crimes. Heroes have even gone above and beyond to exact their personal revenge on Dabi. What would they think of this detective offering to ease his suffering and extend his hand to him? Dabi can't help but wonder what would Stain think if he met this guy?

Midoriya has such a different approach. There's no hate in his eyes nor anger. He took all the information down with nary a flinch at the description of the hero's demise. He's looking at Dabi like a person instead of the monster under society's bed.

Without realizing, Dabi voice his thought, "I hope you don't die, Detective-san."

Izuku snorts, not reading the gravity of Dabi's wish, "Well I haven't planned on it. I'll call my friend when I get a chance and we'll see about her coming out here to help you." Strangely enough, Dabi believes him.

Izuku steps outside the room and begins to search for Ice Burn. Once he finds them in a conference room, he hands his notes on Dabi's information to them. "He didn't give me much but then he didn't ask me for much." He elected not to include the information about Eri just yet. He wants to do his own digging first.

"It's fine, this is something." Ice Burn offers a strained smile, "Thanks for coming so quickly."

Izuku sees the stress in the hero's face. Izuku can sympathize, after all, this is his family they're talking about. He offers, "I think I have a friend who can help Da- I mean Touya heal his skin. Also, I gave it to him straight about his situation. He needs to give us some more to work with to get any sort of consideration from the government. I'll talk to some people and I'm willing to back you up on getting him off the death row path."

"I would appreciate it, Detective-san."

Midoriya nods, "You guys said I had something else to deal with while here?"

They begin handing him files on some other villain occupants of the Bunker. It's tiresome work with no end in sight, but he takes it one case at a time.

Izuku heads back via an actual airport. A different quirk user on base beamed him up through the earth to the surface. From there, he was issued a flight back to his city for some much needed rest. He absolutely knocked out on the flight back and woke as the plane docked at the terminal.

Some gracious coworkers dropped off his car in the airport parking lot so that he could drive himself home. It's late in the evening as he pulls into his driveway, shutting off his car and leaning back into his seat. He closes his eyes for just a minute and dozes off.

Katsuki isn't amused as he realizes that Izuku is still in his car and not in his house. He walked past the car to knock on the door and figured the guy was dead asleep. He saw the human form in the driver's seat as he was leaving. He frowns as he stalks up to the window, staring at Izuku sleeping peacefully.

This is one of those times when Katsuki should probably make sure he gets inside instead of leaving him. He lightly raps his knuckles on the window, before knocking harder.

Izuku stirs, rubbing his eyes and noticing his sleeping location. His eyes widen slightly as he meets Katsuki's solemn gaze. What is he doing here?

Katsuki backs off so Izuku can open his door and climb out. The blond greets, "Mornin."

The detective smiles politely, "Hi, I wasn't expecting anybody?"

"No, I came because I heard you got back in town last night. I wanted to talk to you about something, but I guess I should've waited another day…"

Midoriya sheds his sleepiness and motions for Katsuki to follow him inside. Katsuki sits at the kitchen counter as Izuku tells him, "Give me a second to change and we can talk." After all is done, he comes back out in a t-shirt and shorts to begin moving around the kitchen, "What'd you want to talk about?"

Katsuki clears his throat nervously, "I wanted to get your opinion and… uh, well, your permission too, kinda…"

Izuku's perceptive green eyes notice the slight worry in Katsuki's face and voice. "Go on."

Katsuki scratches his neck, his eyes falling to the counter in front of him, "Well, do you remember our talk the other night and what I said about my hero job?" Izuku nods, beckoning him to continue, "I wanted to check with you before I requested shadowing you for a couple weeks? I think I need something new and I might get a better perspective from seeing you work."

Katsuki is speaking truthfully, this is the solution he came up with. There's a plethora of other reasons to shadow Izuku for a bit as well, some of them slightly ulterior. He worries about the guy, and he wants to rekindle some semblance of a friendship with him too. Mostly he wants to understand Izuku's passion and try to get some of his own drive back in the process.

Izuku's brows furrow as he processes what Katsuki is asking him. Shadow him? It wouldn't be the first time he's had a hero shadow him, but Katsuki is a unique situation. It'll also be the first time that Izuku has had someone with him consistently since the incident with the League of Villains, and maybe it's not a good idea to agree to it? He doesn't know what quirk Tomura gave him, and being scrutinized might be a bad idea until he knows what it is.

Izuku is tending toward a polite refusal but then he looks at Katsuki, his worry and distress. His green eyes shift to the counter in front of him as he remembers the stifled cries when he arrived at the hospital. He told Katsuki that he was there to help him, and if it makes him a better hero, then he should agree to it. Shouldn't he? After deciding that it's the right thing to do, a short consideration, Izuku finally nods, "That should be fine. Go ahead and request it."

Katsuki isn't sure what he was expecting from Izuku, but the small smile wasn't it. Why does he seem troubled by this? Katsuki isn't going to drag him down by shadowing him, the blond hero knows that Izuku is aware of this. Have they not come as far as Katsuki hoped in their relationship? Does Izuku still want to keep him at arm's length?

Whatever the issue, Katsuki shoots an awkward smile, "Thanks."

The next day Izuku is happy to head into the office. He has cases to wrap up and a lot of office work to complete. It's mostly tedious work as he meanders through the morning. Luckily Kouta stops in around lunchtime with a knock at his door.

"Enter."

Kouta smiles, "Wanna go get lunch?"

Izuku straightens with a stretch, "Sure, thanks for the invite." He stands, "I could use a break. Where'd you wanna eat?"

Kouta backs out to make space for Izuku to walk with him, "Just the usual diner okay with you?"

"Yeah, how's your day going?"

The two begin making their way out of the office. Kouta replies, "It's going. I said I would deliver some mail to city hall, some files that need to get out today. Then I'm back on transferring reports to the computer, and I'm on duty for dispatch tonight too."

"Have you spoken to your aunt lately?"

"Not for a couple weeks, they've been busy and are out of town."

Izuku nods, "Let me know if you want some company out of the office."

"I'm fine on my own," Kouta laughs, "You don't need to check up on me."

Izuku frowns for a moment, since he meant it in a friendly way and not an overprotective manner. He shakes it off with a smile and they arrive at the diner. It's just a cozy little eatery a block or two over from the precinct. The two sit at their usual table and a server arrives to take their order.

Izuku mentions as he finishes his burger, "I wanted to talk to you about something…"

"Shoot," Kouta takes a bite of his burger.

"Are there any other jobs that interest you? I know you started taking shifts at dispatch, but is there anything else around the office that you want to try your hand at?" Izuku rests his chin on his entwined hands as he gazes at Kouta.

The scarred individual frowns in thought, "I'm not sure there's much else I can do right now? I've worked the front desk, records, and dispatch, but what else is there?"

"There's always something more," Izuku sighs. He's torn between wanting to push Kouta to strive for something better or keeping his mouth shut and letting Kouta become complacent. Kouta is almost nineteen but hasn't expressed any aspirations for his future. Izuku was steadily making his way up the ranks at his age.

The detective is aware that he shouldn't compare situations. They're different people and have vastly different situations, but Izuku can't help wishing Kouta would see that the doors he thinks are shut are actually wide open.

"Not for me there isn't." Kouta grins, noting the small frown from his words. He sighs, "Just let me go at my own pace. I know you mean well and I appreciate it, but I need to figure it out on my own."

Izuku nods stoically, before resting his chin on his hand and tiredly staring at Kouta, "I just don't want you to cut yourself off from the possibilities. There's bigger and better opportunities waiting for you out there. You just have to find them."

Kouta smiles as he gives a nod, "Okay, okay, I get it. Let's talk about something else now." Izuku agrees as he finishes his food. Kouta is compelled as he watches Izuku's strained features, "Do you think I could ever do what you do?"

"Absolutely." It didn't take a second for Izuku to respond. He smiles, "Accommodations were made for me too. If you make yourself the best person for the job then they have to accommodate you."

Kouta offers a small smile. He's unsure, and he's definitely not ready to go for something like that yet. He's been thinking about college, but he wasn't exactly the best student throughout his younger years. His recovery and the surgeries and therapy didn't make it easy to keep up in school. He's afraid that going for higher education will really just show him how inadequate he really is.

The two finish their lunch before making their way back to the office. As Izuku parts with Kouta, he offers, "Maybe you can help me with cases every once in a while too. I can show you the ropes."

Kouta knows Izuku means well and really wants him to strive for greater things, but he isn't sure what he wants yet. He doesn't know if he even wants to stay in law enforcement. He shakes his head, "I don't think I'm ready…" The disappointment in Izuku's eyes has him backing away, he continues, "Anyways, I gotta deliver those files to city hall. I'll see you around."

Kouta speeds through the halls, heading out of the office after picking up the files. Officer Whittaker calls, "If you don't slow down I'm gonna have to give you a ticket one of these days, son!"

Kouta laughs, calling over his shoulder while wheeling away, "You gotta catch me first, old man!" He brusquely zips outside. His legs are skinny and atrophied but his upper body is full of muscle. Years of rolling himself to and fro, and of course, working out what he can has led to his build. Still, the wheelchair is one thing, but the scars and his false eye are what really get people staring. For the longest time, he'd avert his gaze if someone was staring. He was too meek to really challenge their rude gaze.

Of course, his aunt and her team would always stick up for him out in public, but that really just made him feel worse. Then he started hanging out with Izuku. Izuku had a more quiet approach to dealing with it. Kouta actually didn't notice Izuku was doing it for the longest time but he was touched when he figured it out.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Kouta rolled himself next to Izuku, wondering where the guy's attention had gone off to. Izuku had just positioned himself differently all of a sudden, giving a weird wave.

Kouta saw the mean glare Izuku was shooting and traced it back to a retreating person in a store next to them. "What did that lady ever do to you?"

Izuku turned with a smile at Kouta, "Nothing, that was nothing. Let's go."

Kouta was suspicious and he started paying closer attention. After careful observation, Kouta realized Izuku was responding to people staring at him. He'd position himself in their sight of Kouta, wave to get their attention and then proceed to shoot them the meanest stare he could manage until they continued with their own lives.

It was kind of funny, but at least it didn't draw attention to the issue like when his aunt would cause a scene. Kouta knew people were gaping at his appearance, the mangled skin on his arms and the scars adorning his features. He always avoided their stare but Izuku was simply mirroring their behavior back at them, serving his own justice. It was more endearing almost?

After working at the precinct, Kouta gained some confidence from the guys adopting him as one of their own. Seeing how they responded to people wronging them, both in the office and in the field, Kouta learned to stick up for himself more.

Now, he's happy to meander down the walkways, uncaring of the stares. Who cares about people who don't have anything better to do with their lives than stare at a disabled person simply living theirs? Fuck them. Kouta can hold his head high. He has a job, he's thinking about going to school. He pays fucking taxes now just like the rest of them. He's not a damn monster plotting the end of hero society like a dumb villain.

He comes to a stop at a crosswalk. City hall is across the street. He has his eyes on the light, waiting for it to tell him that it's safe to cross. He hears a scream behind him and looks over his shoulder at a thug running out of the bank behind.

The guy is lean with tattoos adorning nearly every inch of his body. He's in ripped jeans and a ripped denim vest. He shoots Kouta a smile, "Catch me if you can." The thief makes for a big jump, but the ground actually depresses as he touches down. It ripples about him as he sinks deeper, and Kouta also happens to get caught in these sudden waves. Then the ground becomes normal in another instant, shooting the guy into the air and out of sight.

Unfortunately, Kouta also happens to be thrown, disconnecting from his wheelchair, and landing with a heavy thud in the middle of the intersection. A car squeals as it comes toward, tires skidding on the asphalt. Adrenaline shoots through him as he tries to quickly crawl away.

Somebody's hand suddenly grips his arm and he feels his legs twitch into shaky movement while the person helps him out of the way. The car comes to a screeching halt just past them. Kouta's moving legs don't last as he collapses on the street with a sigh.

The person who helped him asks, "Are you alright?"

The scarred raven stares up at a young woman with white hair and a kind face. She has a cute little horn sticking out of her head. He breathes, "Thanks for helping me." He smiles, "I think I owe you my life."

She smiles kindly at him, "Don't mention it, I was just in the right place at the right time."

Kouta grins, teasing slightly, "My hero." He doesn't notice the twitch in her smile.

She continues, "Here, let me get your wheelchair. It landed across from you. I hope it's not broken." She jogs to grab it.

Kouta calls after her, "A little ding is okay." He also assures the driver that almost hit him that he's fine. The platinum-haired woman rolls the sturdy wheelchair up to him. He tells her as she moves to help him, "It's alright, I can get myself up there, thanks." He positions himself and scoots onto the seat, setting himself up with practiced ease.

Once he's in the chair, does he turn back to the woman, "Thanks again, I'm Izumi Kouta by the way." He holds out his hand for a handshake.

She takes it, "Sato Emiko, but you can just call me Emi."

Kouta nods and they walk back to the sidewalk. Kouta inhales sharply for a moment, "Well Emi, I was actually running an errand for work, maybe I'll see you around?"

Emi smiles politely, "Yeah, I'm glad you're alright." They wave at each other awkwardly while parting ways.

While wheeling away, Kouta spares a glance at his legs. He didn't imagine it, did he? His legs moved for the first time in nearly fifteen years. It can't be real.

A/N: Ugh, finals suck. With that said, I'm behind on writing due to studying and fuckery, so next chapter won't be next week, maybe on Christmas? I dunno, I'll see where I end up in my writing. Thanks for the reviews/follows/favorites. I see you fencer29 and I enjoy reading your feedback and the things you notice :) Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed.