ON TIME THIS WEEK BABEEEE!

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"This means someone is talking."

'This means someone is thinking to themselves.'

This means it's a flashback.

*This means it's a sound effect!*

{This means I'm speaking in a different language!}

Angel in a Gilded Cage

"Are we finally there?" Iida asked and Yaoyorozu nodded grimly, lowering the tracking device.

"Yes. This is the place." She answered and Izuku along with the rest of the party looked up at their destination, an old warehouse. Judging by the chipped concrete walls and the copious amounts of weeds growing out the cracks in the pavement, it appeared abandoned, officially anyway. A place like this would make the perfect place to hide.

Izuku walked up to the heavy metal fence and looked inside, to the unlit windows. He couldn't make anything out. If this was the League's base, they were either further inside the building or were absent. Either way, he had no way of telling from here.

"We need to find a way to look inside." He muttered. Todoroki nodded.

"Agreed. We should also find a place that isn't in the open. There's still people walking around." He said, gesturing to the pedestrians moving along the street. None of them were paying them any attention yet, but that would surely change if they tried hopping the fence or something.

"Psst!" Koda let out a small noise and pointed a thumb towards the alleyway separating the warehouse from the other nearby buildings.

"Good find Koda-bro!" Kirishima smiled, getting a proud blush from the shy boy. "Come on guys, lets go!" He whispered, leading the group towards the alley in question. "Everybody go in first, I'll cover the back!"

Izuku took the invitation and entered the darkness first, followed quickly by Uraraka. It was immediately revealed that the passage could be designated less of an alley and more of a tight squeeze as there was only about two feet of space between the warehouse's concrete wall and the other building. He had to shimmy sideways, slowly shuffling in one foot at a time. From the sounds of things, everyone else was enjoying the experience as much as him. Looking down the line, he could see Koda having the most difficulty, having the widest frame out of the group.

"Ugh… it's tight in here." Uraraka clicked her teeth.

"I know what you mean, I feel like I'm going to get stuck any time." Yaoyorozu agreed, getting a confused look from Baha behind Iida.

"What do you mean? It's close, but not that-oh right, you're a double D, ain'tcha?"

Yaoyorozu blushed and sputtered, scandalized. "T-That is blatantly untrue and has nothing to do with it!"

"Suuure… don't worry girl, I think you're hella fine!"

"Can we PLEASE focus!" Iida pleaded, feeling uncomfortable from being in the middle of the conversation.

"Iida-kun's right." Izuku nodded. "We need to find some way to get more information before we can make our next move." He looked up and pointed up at a window above them, behind metal bars. "There! We might be able to look in! We just need a way to get up to that height!"

"On it!" Baha said, twisted around and before anyone could react, she was scampering up a pipe on the opposite wall, then sprung, twirling in midair and landing on the top of the barrier, easily pulling herself up. They all gaped in surprise.

"What the hell?! That was cool!" Kirishima gasped and the blonde girl flipped one of her pigtails with a smirk.

"Yeah, I'm pretty awesome! I used to run along rooftops for fun when I was Tinier Tiny, playing ninja! Huwaaah!" She struck a pose, effortlessly balancing on the fence top.

"Can you see anything up there?" Todoroki asked.

"Hmm…" Baha peered inside the window and gasped. "Oh my God!"

"What?! What do you see?!" Uraraka questioned.

Baha turned back and shrugged with an impish grin. "I can't see shit, lol."

A loud slap rang out as Iida hit his head with his palm.

Yaoyorozu sighed, reaching down to roll up her dress. "I can make some night vision goggles or something. Hold on."

"Actually Yaoyorozu-san, I've got us covered." Kirishima interjected, holding up a pair of night vision binoculars.

Uraraka's eyes went wide. "Seriously?! Aren't those super expensive or something?!"

"It was, but if it helps us save our friends, I figured that a little money was an easy price to pay. I do want to look for myself though."

"Me too." Izuku volunteered. "Uraraka-chan, can you lift us up?"

"You got it."

After a couple minutes of shifting the order around in the line, Uraraka had negated the two boy's mass and they were easily hoisted up the wall where Baha was waiting to help them on the top. Once they were comfortably settled, their gravity was restored.

"Alright, here we go." Kirishima mumbled tentatively, lifting the cap off the binoculars and bring them to his face.

"See anything?" Iida whispered.

"Not yet…" He hummed, slowly panning to the left. "There's a lot of junk in there, but nothing-HURK!" He shuddered, and teetered back. Baha's hand shot out and grabbed him by the collar, saving him from a fall.

"Woah! Careful Sharkboy!"

"Kirishima-kun! What is it?!" Izuku questioned, startled by the look of fear on the other boy's face.

"Midoriya-kun, look in the left side of the room!" He panted, holding out the binoculars.

Izuku took them and looked inside. At first he didn't see anything other than a warehouse in disrepair. Aging boxes and moving equipment lay about without care. But then he saw them. At the back of the room, a row of tanks filled with illuminated water. And floating in them…

"No way…" He gasped, his body immediately starting to shake. "Those are Nomu!"

It was a fairly common sentiment that one would consider themselves lucky, blessed even to be saved by the one and only All Might. Or at least that's what Angel had noted in her time spent on the internet, typically from the fans of the symbol of peace. She never agreed with those thoughts, that you should look forward to being in peril if it meant being rescued by All-Might, even if he was, well, him.

She could safely say that she could understand the concept just a little bit now, considering her current circumstances. The League and Wilhelm had been restrained, the building was likely surrounded and she was mere feet away from the heroes and the safety they provided. Angel was nearly beside herself, she was so relieved to see her teacher and Moxxi having come in her hour of need.

It was taking all she could to not start bawling as soon as he said his catchphrase, so she settled on letting her body shake as she smiled.

On the other hand, the villains had no such happiness.

"Damn it all!" Compress spat from where he was nailed to the floor. "The press conference, it was a distraction!"

"Lemme gooo!"

"Tree man! Loosen up a little will ya?"-"Tighter you coward!" Toga and the man in spandex whined.

"Huh, so the pizza delivery diversion worked. Looks like I owe you some yen Moxxi-san." A new voice muttered softly behind Angel. A paperthin form of a masked man with a long, red scarf and pointed gray hair slipped through the crack of the door. Once he had passed through, he unfolded (for the lack of a better term) into a more human shape and unlocked the door, a band of officers in riot gear storming inside. "Don't even try to escape. We have plenty more heroes and police surrounding the building. So unless you want to get on Endeavour's bad side, I suggest you stay still."

"Great work as always Edgeshot!" All-Might gave the new arrival a thumbs up before turning to Angel and Bakugo, his smile becoming softer at the sight of them. "It gives me great relief to see you two alive and whole. I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you that night. You two are very brave to have gone through all of this, but it's over now."

Angel breathed shakily, looking up to him. "T-Thank you. All of you."

"W-Whatever!" Bakugo scoffed, though his voice was missing its usual bite. "I wasn't scared at all!"

"Spitfire, aren't you? Being scared doesn't make you any less of a man." Moxxi tittered, moving around to position herself between the two students and the villains in the room, shielding Angel herself with her body while keeping her revolver trained on Wilhelm. She glanced back quickly, looking her charge up and down. "Are you okay Sugar? Did they hurt you?"

"A little, but I'm mostly fine." Angel answered.

"Damn it all..!" Shigaraki hissed. "What the hell is this shit..?! Why is the final boss coming after us so soon..? Hmpf… no matter… you're not the only one with backup! Kurogiri! She's not looking at you anymore! Bring the Nomu here!" He yelled!

Angel stiffened, dreading the sudden appearance of those horrible monsters, her arm lighting up in response.

But nothing happened. The young villain glanced about in confusion.

"I'm sorry Shigaraki-sama, but I can't reach the Nomus at the storehouse!" The mist villain lamented.

"You didn't think we wouldn't account for your toys, Shigaraki?" All-Might asked, putting a comforting hand around Bakugo's shoulder. "We've already subjugated the Nomu at the warehouse on the other side of the city. It seems you have underestimated us all. The strength of these two heroes to be, the efforts of the police and our righteous fury!"

He glared down at the fuming villain. "Your game is over Shigaraki Tomura! This is the end of the line!"

Angel's mouth was agape. Even standing behind him, All-Might was just something else. The awe and relief she felt in his presence, that he, alongside so many people, had come to save her…

It was almost as uplifting as that day that felt so long ago, when it hadn't even been a year.

Now she and her friends wouldn't have anything to fear from the League anymore, they were done. As an added bonus, Wilhelm was going to be put away as well. His chief enforcer, behind bars. It was almost too good to be true. It didn't mean she was completely safe yet, but at least it was a start.

"End of the line..?! Don't give me that shit!" Shigaraki hissed, still trying to escape from his wooden prison.

'Stubborn to the end. Scary.' Angel thought, still feeling uncomfortable despite how trapped the young man seemed. That obsessive, vitriolic hate bubbling under the surface, she had had more than her fill of that.

She moved a little closer behind Moxxi just in case, while Shigaraki continued. "Acceptance… peace… justice… this shitty world with such twisted ideals… it needs to burn and I will be the one holding the match! This isn't the end, I'll never stop! Kurogi-!"

But before the villainous warp gate could do anything, a thin, red streak shot across the room and pierced his side! Kurogiri let out a surprised gurgle and slumped over.

"OH MY GOD! HE KILLED HIM!" The villain wearing the sunglasses cried.

"Quiet down." Edgeshot said, his compressed form exiting Kurogiri's other side. "I just knocked him out. He's a real problem if left unattended."

"What did I tell you kids?" The elderly man, (Gran Torino, Angel recalled) voiced his disappointment. "The best thing for you now is to just give it up. Hikiishi Kenji, Sako Atsuhrio, Iguchi Shuuichi, Toga Himiko, Bubai Gawarajin and Jäger Wilhelm." He listed, giving each villain a glance. "We were able to identify and counter each one of you with just a little preparation. When you don't catch us unaware, you villains stand no chance."

He turned his head. "So Shigaraki, I was hoping you would answer me this… where's your leader?"

Even though Angel was undergoing a desperate rescue at the moment, she couldn't help but look out from behind Moxxi, her curiosity getting the better of her. She could tell right away that Shigaraki wasn't feeling to keen on answering, judging by his hateful gaze and the clenching of his hands, his veins pressing against his skin.

"Bullshit… this is all bullshit!" He snarled, beginning to hyperventilate as his whole world seemed to be falling around him before his eyes. "I'm not going to lose! Not like this! I hate you! I hate you all!"

"ANSWER, SHIGARAKI!" All-Might bellowed.

"AND I HATE YOU ALL-MIIIGHT!" Shigaraki howled and in that moment a cascade of thick, black fluid exploded out in the air on either side of him like two spontaneous waterfalls! From the ooze, purple skinned Nomu burst forth!

The heroes and police yelped in shock and confused exclamations. Angel stifled a scream as she stumbled back. Where did they come from?! The League had another member with a warping quirk?! How many more Nomu's did they have?!

A lot evidently, as more and more portals opened around the room, each one depositing more of the bioweapons into the fray!

"Kamui! Don't let the League escape! I'll deal with the Nomus! Moxxi, get those two out of here!" All-Might shouted.

"On it!" Moxxi yelled, taking a couple shots at the closest Nomu, to little effect. She looked over her shoulder. "You two! Door! Now!"

Angel fearfully nodded, turning to the exit with every intent of running as fast as she could. She took one step only to stumble, a nauseating sensation suddenly filling her stomach. Said sensation started to climb upwards and she hugged her midsection, feeling like she was going to vomit.

"What's wrong?!" Moxxi questioned when she stopped, the foreign object continued to go up Angel's throat.

"I… I feel…" She managed to cough out before she slapped her hand to her face, her mouth filling with a vile, burning taste. In a second, she couldn't hold it back as a torrent of the black sludge gushed out of her mouth!

"T-The fuck-BLECH!" Bakugo retched and she caught sight of him in a similar predicament out of the corner of her eye. The fluid continued to flow unabated, expelling from Angel's mouth in such a volume that she briefly noted there was no way she could have contained it all inside her. More and more of it came out, swirling around her like it was alive and began to cover her body.

"M-Moxxi! He-elp…" She choked out, reaching for her guardian as the sludge enveloped the side of her face.

"ANGEL!" She screamed in abject horror, lunging to grab her arm. The look of terror on her face was the last thing Angel saw before everything went black.

If Angel had thought being warped by Kurogiri had been a distressing ordeal, it certainly wasn't in comparison to what she was going through right now. It was like she was being carried by a river of oil, the gunk washing over her skin and pressing down on all sides. It filled her lungs and vision, making it impossible for her to make anything out whilst simultaneously causing her to choke as she tried to get any reprieve.

It felt like it would never end and that she was just simply going to suffocate. It was by some miracle that when her feet hit solid ground that she remained standing and just like that, the black fluid fell away from her body and evaporated.

Instantly she coughed, desperate in getting as much of the goo left over in her throat out so she could suck sweet, life giving air. She wiped away at her eyes and blinked, finally taking in where she was, a long trench or crater of sorts. She gasped, shattered buildings in every direction she looked.

"Where… where is this?" She muttered, continuing to survey her surroundings, just to freeze.

Bodies, bodies littered the far end of the trench. Judging by the colorful uniforms and riot gear they wore, it was safe to assume they were all heroes and police officers. She even recognized one of the Wild Wild Pussycats, Tiger, head face down as he shielded a woman's body with his own. She couldn't tell if any of them were alive or dead.

'What… what happened here?'

Suddenly, there was a splash to her right. Another portal opened and left another person behind.

"Ughhh! Fucking! That tastes like shit!"

"Bakugo-kun!" Angel cried.

He looked up at her, wiping away at his mouth. "So you're here too, huh?"

"Wherever here is." She mumbled.

"Apologies for the awful trip." A deep, slightly muffled voice rumbled behind her.

*BADMP!* Angel's heart nearly stopped before it immediately began to race again. Her instincts were screaming at her, every hair standing on end, her body overwhelmed in violent trembles.

Only he had ever filled her with such fear, nay, such dread. It was such a staggering, visceral terror, like a knee jerk reaction from deep within her body, if said knee was slamming against the bottom side of the table hard enough to draw blood and crack bone.

Without a doubt, she had never heard this voice before.

So why was she struck with the most powerful and ominous sense of déjà vu?

Turning her head, then her body, shaking, around, her eyes widened impossibly wide.

Standing before her was a man, a fairly tall and broad shouldered one at that. He wore a black business suit. On his head was some kind of mixture between a helm and a breathing apparatus, made of black metal and adorned with pipes and nozzles. It had no face, but rather indents that alluded to the illusion of one, that of a skull, its gaze pledging no quarter.

Angel promptly lost all feeling in her legs and fell onto her rear. Her breath continued to come out in short puffs, worse than any panic attack she could ever dream of. It was like the very air around him radiated power and malice, unlike anything she had ever seen.

This was no man. This was a monster.

"Good day to you, young Bakugo…" The man cordially greeted the blonde with a nod, then turned to Angel, the mere act nearly making her faint. "...and a good day to you, young Hodunk."

Angel swallowed down the mix of warp fluid and bile that was rising in her throat.

She jolted at the sound of more splashing, followed up by grunts and cries of surprise and disgust. She dared to tear her gaze away for a brief moment to see the members of the League drop to the ground.

"My dear Tomura, it fills my heart with relief to see you safe." The man said, his shoes thudding heavily on the ground as he stepped around Angel to approach Shigaraki. Angel frantically backpedaled away from man, unknowingly to Bakugo's side as he stopped her, holding her shoulder tightly. "I see that you have been defeated again. But I urge you, do not falter. You merely need to keep trying. I saved your precious comrades and even brought your hostages as well, all because you considered them important.

Keep moving forward and never stop." He said, halting in front of the kneeling villain. "I am here to support you after all. All of this is for you." He stated softly, his tone taking a similar feeling as Moxxi to Angel, a supportive guardian.

"Thank you… Sensei."

Angel stiffened.

This was Shigaraki's teacher? This was the true master of the League?

"Well, almost everything." The villain admitted. "I apologize for making you work so hard to sate my own curiosity, but I hope you will understand how important this girl is, in time."

Angel stiffened and he turned to face her, the empty holes of his skull visor boring into her soul and her panic was refueled.

It was as if her head was filled with quiet, frantic voices, all of them begging, pleading to her to-

'...RUNAWAYRUNAWAYRUNAWAYRUNAWAYRUNAWAYRUNAWAYRUNAWAY…'

And Angel would have been more than happy to oblige if only her feet would move. She felt Bakugo's grip tighten on her shoulders, whether to try and reassure or hide behind her, she didn't know.

The man stopped a few feet away and held a hand to his chest. "I ask for your forgiveness for this whole debacle. It was not my intention to frighten you, rather, I have desired to meet with you face to face ever since I learned of your altercation with my pupil over there." He gestured behind him. "I believe it's been roughly twenty years since I last met one of you. Time really has a way of slipping from you." He said somewhat wistfully before focusing back on her.

"I used to go out on my own, searching for them and I've met so many. It's a shame really, that not once have any of you ever accepted my offers, it's a tragedy for such power and talent to go to waste." He sighed and she detected an iota of regret. "I suppose I have no one to blame but myself for that. Still… it's such an exhilarating thrill to finally meet with one of you again."

He stepped closer, the panicked screaming in Angel's head reaching a higher pitch, all the while she tried to make sense of what he was saying.

Her? Them? Them who?

"And… yes, it still holds true!" He said, becoming noticeably more excited the more he looked at her. "The face may be different, but I can see her within your eyes. Within the glow of those markings that adorn your body. How I wish I could see you spread your wings.

And Ambire-ergokinesis this time? Truly a fascinating evolution. A power I would give so much to have in my collection."

He breathed out, the wheezing of the filter on his mask not smothering the reverence he exuded.

"Such a thing of wonder and beauty, Sirens are."

The world suddenly felt very quiet, even the feverish sound of Angel's blood in her ears faded.

"So you know of that term?" He cocked his head. "I suppose Blue Banshee must have told you. But something tells me neither of you grasp how special you two really are. Again, the blame lies with me.

I could tell you… but I think it will be far more enjoyable seeing you attempt to solve this age old mystery on your own. I wonder who will be left, in the end?" He seemed to ask just himself, rather than Angel or the rest of the confused and bewildered people gathered. "You, any of the three I know, or the ones who have yet to show themselves? It will be a spectacle to be sure, one I don't plan to miss. Which is why I will not bring any harm upon you, granted, if you can answer this one question." He said, holding up one finger and leaning a little closer, forcing Angel to press her back against Bakugo who was also paralyzed in fear.

"Who am I?"

Angel stared into the empty pits of his mask. It should have been a question impossible for her to answer.

But it suddenly came to her in a memory, one she never recalled before. One of the same voice, but a different face. A ghost of white hair and red eyes.

It came to her, the name. Spoken once by her best friend.

She opened her mouth and forced the words out. "All… For One."

She knew he was smiling when he leaned back. "Ah… there she is… my old friend. If you can remember that, you might just survive what is to come, young Hodunk… if that truly is your name."

If it was possible for Angel's eyes to open further, they would have.

"That's the other part that intrigued me. Even though I don't seek Sirens out myself anymore, I still make sure to keep myself knowledgeable of you all. Which is why I, when it came to learning about you, I was surprised to find near nothing about you. Because, according to all records, until seven months ago, you didn't exist. Which begs the question…" He paused, drinking in Angel's terrified expression. "Who would go to such lengths to hide you, even from me?"

All For One's question stabbed Angel with guilt amidst the tide of fear washing over her. It brought forth another memory.

Of the day she erased herself from history. She had been led to believe it was for her own safety, but really it had been all for him.

The lies were beginning to unravel.

All For One paused and turned his head to the sky. "Ah, what a shame. Looks like our little talk is over."

In the next instant, there was a burst of win as he caught two large fists aimed for his head.

Angel didn't even have time to process what happened or even yelp as a thunderclap threw her and Bakugo backwards end over end! They separated mid flight and bounced along the ground before coming to a stop.

Her body aching all over, Angel lifted her head to see All For One not only standing against All-Might, but even pushing him back!

"You are going to return everything you have stolen, ALL FOR ONE!" The hero bellowed.

"Are you here to kill me a second time, ALL-MIGHT?!" His foe challenged before there was another blast of air and sound that sent both men flying back several meters. The clash was much more violent for everyone else, as Angel and Bakugo had to hold onto some rubble for dear life while the League was scattered all around them.

Shielding her face, Angel's mind was utterly in shambles from the multiple earth shaking revelations that had been forced upon her.

All For One, what the hell was he?! He knew about Sirens, considerably more than herself or Maya for that fact. He knew about her past to an extent, all on his own and in spite of all the measures he had taken. To top it all off, he was holding his own against All-Might of all people!

Frankly, she was having trouble figuring out what part of him she should feel most terrified of.

As she watched him stand up from the attack from the number one hero with nary a scratch, she decided on the third one.

"My, you took your sweet time getting over here huh? The bar is only about five kilometers away and yet you arrived here in about a minute. You have gotten weaker." All For One stated as All-Might got back to his feet across the clearing.

"Pot calling the kettle black. I'm sure that breathing mask isn't just a recent fashion choice." The hero retorted, hopping on his feet a little like a boxer. "Just the same, I'm finishing what I started five years ago!" He charged forward, readying his fist. "I'm taking back my students and you and your League of puppets are getting put away for good!"

"I'm afraid I'll have to stop you right there." The villain said as held out his arm. It crackled and ballooned in size. "Nothing is ending, rather, I'm just getting started."

With a wave of his palm, a blast of force slammed into the symbol of peace and he shot back like a rocket, plowing through several buildings in a row! The earth shook from the sheer, awesome power and Angel held onto rubble so tight her fingernails felt like they were going to be torn off!

The wave abated and she looked on in horror.

"ALL-MIGHT!" She and Bakugo screamed.

"Have no fear." All For One chided. "It will take a lot more than that to kill him. But that reminds me, Tomura." He addressed his student a few meters away. "Get out of here while you can and take your prizes with you. I'll be relying on you, Kurogiri."

Held out an arm. Black and red tendrils extending from his fingertips and stabbed into the unconscious mist villain lying on the ground.

"What are you doing mask guy?! I don't know what's going on but, you warped us before right?! Just get us out of here!" The sunglasses villain questioned.

"I'm afraid I can't do that Magne. My warping only allows me to transport things to and from myself and to others I am connected to. Forced Quirk Activation!" The tendrils pulsed and Kurogiri's head expanded into a swirling portal, leaving Angel even more perplexed.

'He can do that too?! How many quirks does this guy have?!' She thought, cradling her head, being scared beyond belief with nothing making sense anymore.

She cried out when a hand grabbed her by the front of her shirt and she was suddenly face to face with Bakugo.

Right, she hadn't even considered him. He was there for the whole thing. Surely he wanted to know what All For One was talking about, right? That she had something to hide. Something terrible.

"Wake the fuck up Angel-girl!" He yelled, shaking her back and forth. "On your feet!"

"You… you heard all of that." She said in a daze. He just snarled and lifted her higher.

"Does it look like I give a shit?! I'm getting out of here and what kinda hero would I be if I left you behind?! So sack up and get ready to fight already!"

She blinked. He was right. What the heck was she doing, worrying about stuff like that? In this moment, it was life or death.

Angel shook her head and straightened her feet, pulling his hands off. "You're right. Sorry about that." She clenched her fist, light and sparks coursing over her as they turned to face the villains getting to their feet before them. "You ready to do this?

He flashed her a feral grin, crouching into his usual fighting stance. "Just make sure not to fuck up! I'm counting on you here!"

"Wouldn't dream of it!" She smiled back, taking aim. "Let's do this!"