He was in a hell of a bad mood. The cold was annoying enough on its own, but the downpouring of that winter evening was what really got him riled up. He was soaked and his wardrobe shortage didn't allow him to wear a hood so the drops made an uncomfortable noise when they fell on his staples. That's why he was running to find shelter, the last thing he needed was to get an infection from rusty staples. The thought of stealing an umbrella from the people he rushed by crossed his mind but it was too much hassle. He needed to lay low for now.

What did get his attention was a brat's cry. A horned little girl had fallen to the ground, probably after slipping on a puddle, and who he guessed was her father pulled her up by the arm. She was frozen the moment she was back on her feet, and Touya found himself frozen as well, looking at the scene. He saw her being dragged away in a too familiar way while the man quietly scolded her. She didn't even put up a fight, as if she knew it would only make it worse for herself.

He felt his blood boil at the resemblance but it wasn't his business. He wasn't even mad on her behalf; it was just that his revenge was taking too long and the chance to get a taste of it by burning this man to ashes was tempting.

Too tempting.

His body didn't move on its own.

"Trash like you makes me sick," he grumbled as he grabbed the man's shoulder when they walked by him. "Burn."

He couldn't get a word in nor pry his hand away before he was engulfed in way too hot flames. His ridiculous beak mask was now another pool on the ground. His screams made a crazed smirk tug at Touya's lips.

The downside was that the commotion was bound to attract the authorities so he needed to run.

Luckily for them, everyone was too scared to try and stop him.

Even more luckily, finding an empty building was easy with the adrenaline flowing through his veins. However, the building was either falling apart or under construction so, even though his quirk had dried him quickly, he could still feel the drops falling down his face. The cold settled in again as he came down from the high, making him curl into himself on the floor.

He had never done anything like that before and for all he knew he could have blown it out of proportion. Maybe the child was just being a brat and the father was just parenting.

It didn't matter anyway; he was not playing hero. He was just letting off some steam.

He couldn't remember if he pushed her away, but maybe it was for the better. If she was alive, she was the bystanders' problem. If she wasn't, she didn't have to live with the trauma.

He hated how his mind was never his friend.

And he was so used to it that he didn't believe his eyes when the child walked into the building. Everything from her pale hair to the way she carefully stepped around puddles was a reminder of someone else. Yet, unlike those people, she was really there, which meant…

"Hey, brat," he called, "why did you follow me?"

She startled and her blood-red eyes stared at him in fear.

"I'm sorry! I-I- didn't know where to go"

"And you came to me?"

The child nodded in response.

Suddenly, the soaking bandages covering her limbs didn't seem to be a quirk thing. Besides, she was barefoot in the streets and her dress didn't seem too fit for the weather, if her trembling was any indication.

"C'mere. You are freezing."

The child hesitated; but, when he sighed, she obeyed, albeit more out of fear than willingness. He pulled her onto his lap as soon as she was within reach. She froze again, but then she melted when he started drying her hair with his quirk.

"Warm…" she mumbled before falling asleep.

Let's recap. He just killed this kid's father and it was obvious she was terrified of him, yet she went to him for help. She thought his father's murderer was the lesser evil. She thought he was safe enough to fall asleep in his arms.

Something inside his chest burned. No, he did not care for the child; but, call it solidarity or call it she caught him in one of his weak moments, he will let her spend the night there, out of the cold.

The next morning, they parted ways.

He knew hero presence would be increased in the zone after the altercation, so he left the city. He was now in Naruhata, a place where vigilantes were a thing. Or so the rumors said, the media always avoided vigilante talk. He just figured he may be a vigilante now, since he accidentally saved a child with his quirk but without having a license.

This was what he knew: the team of vigilantes had dissolved but the neighbors said the original vigilante of Naruhata was still at it. He wondered if he wanted a new teammate. This could be his chance to set his revenge in motion.

Today was the day he met with a broker that may or may not be able to put them in contact: Giran.

"Want a smoke?"

"I don't smoke"

"What a pity"

The man put a cigar to his mouth and Touya pretended the smoke wasn't bothering him at all. He couldn't smell it, but he knew he would feel it burning his lungs if he inhaled too much.

"His name is Knuckleduster, he's actually an old acquaintance of mine."

"So, you CAN tell me how to find him."

"Yes." He let out a puff of smoke. "In exchange for something."

"What do you want?"

He was expecting it. He was pretty much broke and, even though he could steal the money, he would rather leave it as a last resource.

"Just some intel."

"Fair exchange then"

He could deal with it. Intimidation was really easy when you had a powerful quirk.

"I've been told someone almost burned a man to death and kidnapped his child recently," the man stated without judgment.

"So?"

"Was it you?"

"That's what you want? A confession?"

Giran shook his head, "It's none of my business. However, one of my clients wants to know what's been of the child."

"Who knows? The authorities should have her if they did their job."

He still didn't know if it was the right call, though. He just wanted someone to take her off his hands and off the streets.

"That's all?"

"That's all, honest."

There was a lull in the conversation as the broker pondered his answer.

"I believe you, but I don't think my client will. If you convince him yourself, I will arrange a meeting with Knuckleduster."

"Deal," he huffed.

"I was meeting him right after you, actually. Just let me make the call."

When the man left, he felt like leaving as well. This was becoming a real pain, but he had set his mind on getting the vigilante as his ally and if there was something that was innate to him it was his stubbornness.

He looked around the shady bar they met in. There were two or three other small groups of people but that was it. Almost unconsciously, he analyzed their visible abilities in case he needed to fight them in the future. No one there was a real threat to him individually but together they may get him stuck with the buff guys at close quarters. Not his best match, since he was mostly long range.

"Here he is," Giran announced as he got back to their table.

"Pleasure to meet you"

The other man was absolutely not pleased to meet him, but he was doing decently at concealing it. Not like he could see his expression with the black plague mask hiding his face completely. Was it a new fashion trend or…

"Are you related to the beak bastard somehow?"

"We aren't here to talk about me," he replied with contained rage in his voice as he sat down at the table. "Where is Eri?"

"Who is Eri?"

"The child. Where is she?"

"She followed me, I told her to go to the police or heroes."

Touya frowned at his own answer. He didn't mean to say the first part.

"Listen, man, it wasn't a kidnapping and I don't have her. You didn't have to use your quirk on me," he complained.

"Sorry, I'm used to liars."

"Well, if that's done, I'm going," he said as he got up from his very uncomfortable chair. "Send me the info later, Giran."

"Wait," the man said. "You are the one that attacked the young boss, aren't you?"

"If it was the beak guy then yes."

He definitely didn't mean to say that.

"Didn't I tell you to not use your quirk on me?!"

He shot flames at him and ran away. He wasn't mad about the confession; he was mad about the risk of his identity being discovered.

To his surprise, Giran tagged along. He turned to the broker with a rage.

"Was that a trap?"

"No, I even muddled him so he'll forget what you just said," the man answered, holding up his hands in a pacifying gesture. "However, take this as advice: You'll want to stay away from the Shie Haissaikai."

"I'm guessing that's that guy's group?"

Giran hummed, "Yakuza. Be careful."

With that the man went away. He didn't expect the help, but he wasn't stupid enough to think it was out of kindness; he just didn't want to lose a client.

"So, yakuza, uh?" he muttered to himself. "How do I manage to mess up so bad?"

It couldn't be some random guy! No, it had to be the leader of a yakuza group! He dodged a bullet by sending her away.

It was just a matter of time they got her back, though; the yakuza's influence had decreased over the years, but the fact they kept existing was proof they still had ways to get what they wanted.

And that was why he needed to run away again.

He ended up in the same city as before, so he mentally set the half-built half-ruined building as his temporary house. Now, after some dumpster diving for a hoodie, he was in his way to check if it was still empty.

It was not.

There was a corpse there. Just left behind like trash.

Yet, it didn't smell like death.

Sure, his sense of smell was impaled, but he should be able to perceive that characteristic odor.

He got closer.

Pale silverish hair. Bandaged arms and legs. A dress not fit for the cold weather.

So, this was why the yakuza couldn't find her. The heroes and police didn't do their job, so she returned there looking for his help.

He pitied her, really. Thinking someone would help her.

It was his fault, though.

He observed her face. It was all red and she seemed to be in pain. A good sign.

"Eri," he called, just for trying.

The girl didn't respond and to make things worse he couldn't check her breathing nor pulse if they were weak enough he couldn't see her chest moving. He was running out of options.

Why was he even bothering?

Because she trusted him, and he failed like the failure he was.

He shook his head and sat with the child on his lap. She was warm, so warm he could actually feel it, so he wanted to think he got there in time. Still, there was nothing he could do but stay with her. He knew how much dying alone hurt, so he hoped this could make up for failing her.

His eyes drifted to her bandages. She was missing the ones on her right arm. He was sure she still had them all when they said their goodbyes days ago. There were cut marks everywhere and a burn mark on her wrist.

She didn't have a good life, did she?

Poor little thing.

The bold words are keywords.
Italic words are thoughts.
Underlined words are text or recorded messages.

I feel like there is a lot of narrative in this chapter, but there'll be more dialogue in the future. I just needed to do some world building.

Also, English is not my first language so I would like a beta reader but I don't know many people in the fandom. Please, leave a comment if you want to be it.
I'll try to post a Spanish translation as well so unless I get a translator I'll be a while between chapters.

Disclaimer: My Hero Academia and its characters are property of Kōhei Horikoshi and Studio Bones.