Emiko felt the panic of the crowd before she heard the sound of the explosion. It ran through her like a current, dancing under her skin. She could also feel Shoto and Endeavor tense up beside her, both slipping into their hero modes. The three took off running, pressing through the crowd racing away from the now roaring flames.
"Shoto, Empath - stay close to me." Endeavor's voice was stern, but Emiko couldn't help the feeling that came over her at the sound of her hero name. Joy and excitement bubbled through her, masked only by a thin veil of panic. Neither of the students said anything, following behind the pro. Suddenly Shoto stopped, hand reaching into the pockets of his hero costume.
"What's up, Shoto? Why'd you stop?" Her voice was barely audible over the screams of the crowd. She tried to hide the panic growing in her, tried to make it seem as though she wasn't phased at all by the swirling emotions - something that Shoto clearly realized, judging by the quirk of his eyebrow.
He turned his phone towards her face, allowing her to scan a message from Midoriya. It was a location, and nothing else. A heavy feeling of dread settled into the pit of her stomach as she stared at it.
What did you get yourself into this time, Midoriya?
"Stay with him, Empath. You'll be safer that way." He went to turn away, to slip into the crowd. Before he could, her hand grabbed onto his wrist, tightly. Her blue eyes flashed wildly at him, tears threatening to spill over the edge.
"No. We're doing this together. I'm not letting you go alone - where you go, I go." He rolled his eyes slowly, before shouting the address to his father. He linked his fingers with hers, tugging her along behind him.
"Send as many pro's as you can there, I have a feeling we'll need back up!" Emiko shouted quickly, "I'm gonna stick with Shoto. But don't expect me to report back any time soon."
She smirked at him, relishing the surprised look on Endeavour's face before slipping into the crowd behind Shoto. The pair of students sprinted down side streets and through alleys, hearts thumping wildly in their chests. They turned the last corner, stumbling into an enclosed alleyway. He dropped her hand, and she felt a little sad.
Darkness clung to the edges of her vision, but she could still make him out. The anger and fear and panic in the crowded space was overwhelming, and the sounds of screaming civilians in the background didn't help her keep control of her quirk, which was quickly slipping out of her grasp.
Sentiment roared to life in her veins, screamed in the back of her mind as she stared out at the desolate alley.
Is that…?
"Iida!" Her voice was loud and sharp, breaking off at the end in a strangled cry.
Her friend was laying on the concrete, blood pooling around him. She could feel the hatred and anger and rage wafting off of him. It was overwhelming, red hot, and painful. The villain standing over him had a sword pointed to his back, already dripping blood onto the stark white of his suit.
"Get away!" Midoriya screamed, face contorting painfully from his position in the alley a few feet away. As the villain turned to him, a wall of fire flew down the narrow brick alley, almost singing the villain as it spiraled. Emiko smirked softly, before scurrying to the pro on the ground. She quickly wrapped some bandages from her first aid kit around his wound, making sure he was applying pressure.
"Here, drink this. It'll help with the pain." She slipped him a small glass vial, watching as he sipped the pain killer slowly. She nodded to him, before turning her gaze back towards her classmates. Her quirk roared in her ears, and she allowed it to reach out, soothing his panic.
"Midoriya, you need to give more details in times like this-," Shoto held up his phone, and Emiko stifled the smirk that came to her lips. "We were almost too late to stop this guy." Flames were swimming off of him, washing the alley in an eerie orange glow.
Tenya's voice was wobbly and unsteady as he responded, "You too, Todoroki? Emiko?"
She turned her face, glancing over at Iida's prone body and smiled softly, nodding her head at the injured boy.
"How'd you get here?!" Midoriya was shocked, especially once he realized Shoto was using his flames.
Emiko focused on Iida, tuning out the conversation. On top of his rage and hatred, she could tell that he was in immense pain. She gave Sentiment more freedom, and it burst forth, attempting to calm him down. A sweat broke out on her brow as she molded his emotions. With only a few seconds of work put in, she could feel the telltale signs of overuse setting in. Her eyes ached, and she could feel the beginnings of a nose bleed taunting her.
God damn it, Iida. Why?! Calm down, already. Damn you!
She was screaming in her head, willing her friend to just give in. As Deku and Shoto started the battle with who Emiko now realized was the Hero Killer, Stain, she moved quickly towards Iida.
"Hey. You're okay. Take a deep breath with me. 4 counts in, 4 counts out." Emiko's voice was stern, working quickly to stop the bleeding in his arm. Her fingers deftly tied a tight bow with some fabric, fashioning a makeshift tourniquet.
"Why are you here?" His voice was trembling, "You're all going to get hurt, and it's because of me…" he started to cry then, before Emiko pressed a hand firmly to his cheek. He gazed at her, surprise and fear evident in his eyes, and Emiko's heart splintered.
"We're friends, right?" The dark haired boy nodded tentatively, averting his gaze. "Friends don't let friends die alone in alleyways. We're here to help. Everything is going to be fine." She smiled softly at him, pulling him up into a sitting position. She rubbed her hand across the smooth plate of his hero costume, though she was sure he couldn't feel it. Her free hand brushed a stray lock of hair from his eyes and ran over a stray tear on it's path across his flushed skin. "You're gonna be alright, Iida. I promise. We're all gonna get out of here alive."
She brushed a thumb gently over his cheek, wiping away the angry tears pooling in his eyes.
"It's okay, Iida. Let us help you." She whispered, standing quickly.
"Emiko, Iida!" Shoto's voice reached her ears, right as she noticed the Hero Killer bearing down on her. In one fluid movement, she dislodged her escrima sticks from their holster on her thighs, blocking his blade from catching either of them.
"You'll have to be faster than that to catch me off guard, Stain." She winked at him, enjoying the flash of rage that bubbled forth from somewhere deep within him. His scarf flowed in the wind, the tattered end letting flickers of streetlight through. It was an eerie sight - one that made her feel as though she was in some old timey hero movie - something Sakura had tried a million and one times to get her to watch.
The sickening rage and hatred flowing from Stain made Emiko feel ill. It wrapped around her throat like a fist, tightening painfully the longer she stared at the deranged man. His teeth glinted wickedly in the dim lighting, awash with the glow of Shoto's flames.
At that moment, Midoriya struck again, fist connecting with a satisfying crunch as Stain stumbled away from Emiko, groaning in pain. Blood splattered across the alleyway, a few drops landing on her legs.
She grimaced, irritatedly glancing down at the blood staining the deep blue fabric of her costume.
Iida stood behind her, heartbeat racing wildly in his chest. She could tell he was still in intense pain, but also knew that he wasn't one to give up so easily. She smiled thankfully at the dark haired boy, reaching an arm out to help steady him.
"You good, Iida?" She asked, reaching her hands down to her first aid belt. He waved his hand at her, dismissing her subtle offer for pain medicine.
Of course he's going to try and be tough. Typical hero course student.
"I don't want any of you getting hurt, so please -," Iida's voice cut off as a wave of emotion hit Emiko. Stain was only a few feet away, perched up above the group of students.
"Shut up, Iida. I already told you-" Emiko grunted, the weight of the emotions around her slowly chipping away at her carefully created wall of protection.. "Friends don't let friends die alone in alleyways."
Apprehension and anxiety pooled heavily in the pits of her friends' stomachs. Her eyes focused on Midoriya first, noting that he was hyper focused on the villain in front of them. She molded his emotions to her will, increasing his drive and confidence as much as she could. His eyes glowed green, a slow smile spreading across his lips. She could barely hear the world around her, surrounded by the overpowering emotions of her friends and their opponent. She slipped back a step, putting some much needed space between her and the villain.
"How're you holding up?" She bent down to the Pro again, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest.
"The villain only wants me and the boy in white, why are you all here?!" His voice was panicked and shaky, eyes frantically scanning the area. Emiko couldn't help the irritation that washed over her.
Of course he's willing to sacrifice himself and Iida without so much as a thought.
"We're not going to let him hurt you or anyone else again, okay?" Emiko pressed a hand to his chest, right over his heart. She smiled softly, allowing Sentiment to do what it was created for. Within an instant, his breathing had levelled and she could no longer feel the sheer terror that had bubbled in his chest.
She turned her eyes back towards the battle, and saw Shoto and Midoriya trading blows with Stain. She slipped closer, reaching out for Stain's emotions. He was so confident and sure of his victory, so sure that he was doing the right thing, it made Emiko's stomach turn.
How can he be so sure that killing people is right?!
She forced his confidence to doubt, pressing down his notions of grandeur. He stumbled for a moment, recoiling at the feeling bounding in his chest. His eyes narrowed, landing on Emiko. She grinned slightly, dropping lower to the ground. Rage brewed in her gut as he monologued, the sight of his cruel grin sending a desire to punch him barreling into her head.
Her own anger and rage burned in her stomach and in her throat as she watched him prattle on about the fake hero society they were a part of. The pain of holding her own emotions back splintered behind her eyes, causing a few errant tears to pool in their depths.
If he's going to attack from up high, I need to get as much space between us as possible.
Her hands clenched around her weapons, waiting for him to strike. Sentiment was solely focused on him, on wreaking havoc on his composure. The need to stop him, to shut him down, had clouded every bit of rational decision making she normally prided herself on.
Her hands and feet prickled, numbness dancing through her veins like ice. A drop of blood had slipped from her nose, danced over her pursed lips as she stared him down. Her eyes almost glowed in the light of Shoto's fire, and her soul felt like it was on fire.
"Do you have any idea how stupid you sound, Stain?!" Emiko shouted, startling the villain sitting before her. He snarled, snapping his gaze over to the wild haired girl in front of him. Her curls were lifted, as though she had some sort of bizarre control over gravity. Her hands were clenched painfully tight against her weapons, so hard they were shaking from the force.
"You're an idiot if you really believe what you're saying!" She screamed, shaking her hand in the air. "You're no better than the false heroes you claim to hate so much!" The rage brewing in her stomach overflowed and she spewed her hatred at him, her voice crackling with every harsh word flowing from her.
"You act so high and mighty - so holier than thou, but you're a murderer. A killer. A villain." Venom dripped from her words and she tightened her grip on her weapons, her knuckles as white as the moon overhead.
"You're just a monster with a god complex - a sad and miserable excuse of a human." She screamed, not caring if she appeared unhinged to the 3 boys staring at her in rapt fascination. "You are pathetic. Nothing. I'm going to beat you here in this alley, and I'll laugh as the police slap those cold metal cuffs on your wrists. I'll laugh as they lock you away for the rest of your miserable life, and I will enjoy every second of it."
Stain growled at her from his place on the wall, his deep red scarf blowing in the slight breeze. His sword glinted menacingly in the moonlight, an unfriendly reminder that he had the ability to kill everyone in this alley if any of them made the wrong move.
"I'll laugh when the news announces your death - I can see the headlines now!" She was screaming, her voice hoarse with rage "Hero Killer Stain dies in prison! Read it here!"
"You talk too much, girl." He smirked, shifting his weight ever so slightly. "That's why you'll die in this alleyway, along with every other false hero."
"Emiko!" She could hear everyone scream, and her eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
It happened in slow motion. One minute he was in front of her, the next he was flying through the air, blade glinting in the light. She could barely track his movements as he floated towards her. He moved across the night sky like a dart, his teeth and blade glittering as he flew towards her.
She barely managed to bring her weapon up to deflect his blade, the force of his blow sending her flying back a few feet. She skidded to a halt, her palms digging painfully into the gravel. The tiny pieces of rock embedded themselves in her skin, tore her hands to pieces.
Fuck.
"If you kill me in this alleyway, at least I'll have died fighting for the right cause, Stain." She growled, narrowing her ocean coloured gaze at him.
The dark eyed man laughed loudly, the sound sending a chill down her spine. "You're delusional, girl. You'll have died for nothing. Nobody will remember you." He smirked, watching as Emiko's face contorted in rage.
"That's where you're wrong - every single person in this alley will remember me. They'll remember that I died fighting for them."
She charged forwards then, her batons swinging menacingly through the air. Stain smiled, his sword meeting her weapons with a loud crash.
Okay, shit. He's stronger than I realized. Got it.
She shifted her weight slightly, dropping down onto one knee. The loss of resistance caused Stain to stumble slightly, and Emiko locked her knee behind his own. She flung her weight backwards, rolling her hands up and behind her shoulders. Stain flew over her head, rolling into a heap just a foot behind where he had been standing previously.
Emiko pressed herself up quickly, preparing for another quick attack from the villain staring menacingly at her from only a few feet away. Almost as soon as he was up, he was sprinting towards her.
"Should've stayed out of my way, girl." His cold voice sent a chill down her spine as he glided over head, and she tried desperately to block his attack. His sword glinted in the light - almost comically so.
Time seemed to slow down as he dug his blade into her side. She couldn't breathe, not really. Her eyes stayed focused on that blade as it slashed through her, sending red splattering wildly around the alley.
She couldn't feel anything but the thrill of the battle. Her heart pulsed wildly, a thunderous applause roaring in her ears
Her knees hit the ground, gravel and pebbles digging into them. Her vision was foggy and blurry, and the sudden pain in her side was growing more intense by the second. As she knelt on the ground, her hands attempted to keep the blood from seeping out of her. Her fingers could barely gain purchase on her torn flesh, couldn't find a place to grip through all of the blood soaking the concrete. She stared, shocked as Shoto and the others realized what had happened.
No, no. No no no no nonononono.
"I-," she tried to speak, but a dribble of blood leaked from between her lips. It bubbled from deep within her, coating her tongue in that terrifying red hue. The metallic taste made her want to throw up, bile rising up her throat quickly.
Panic filled her stomach, her heart racing wildly in her chest. She knew that if she didn't get help soon, she was in serious trouble. She reached one of her hands down towards her first aid kit, but her bloody fingers struggled to gain purchase on the small items on her waist. Blood dripped from her fingers, splattering menacingly onto the ground.
I don't know if that's from my ribs or from my hands. It doesn't matter. I'm fucking bleeding everywhere.
She winced, trying to wipe her own blood onto the thigh of her hero costume.
Oh god. Oh god. I can't die here. I'm not ready to die. Fuck. No, please.
Her eyes widened as she stared down the alley at the shocked and terrified faces of her friends. Her vision was blurring, narrowing at the edges. Tears mixed with the blood dripping from her nose and mouth, though she hadn't realized she'd started crying. She could hear a sinister laugh from behind her, as she felt every muscle in her body tighten painfully.
Please, please. Don't let me die.
"Ah-," she tried to speak again, to call for help, but she couldn't find her voice.
She was sobbing, now. Silent screams for help slipping from her blood coated lips. The pain in her side was blinding, her torn flesh burning from the cool evening air.
Losing strength, her chest slipped to the floor, causing the wound on her side to slam painfully into the concrete.
As her eyes drifted shut, she could see a wall of flame barrel down towards her, and a strong pair of arms wrapped tightly around her. She could hear speaking, after the warm arms released her.
"Hey, hey…" someone whispered into her ear, brushing hair from her face. "You're okay. It's okay. Everything is going to be fine. I'm gonna get you fixed up, okay?" She tried to answer, but her mouth couldn't form the words.
"This might hurt a bit, but it's going to be okay. I'm sorry…" the voice trailed off again, and Emiko tried to reach a hand out. She pressed her bloody palm against a warm cheek, warm flesh allowing her to maintain some form of consciousness. She tried to hold her head up, to press her forehead against the warmth but couldn't quite find the strength.
So… tired. Sleepy, sleepy.
She could feel something warm pressing against her side, and then suddenly white hot searing pain. A low, guttural scream erupted from her throat as the pain continued. It scorched her flesh, and she clenched her teeth so hard she thought they may break. Darkness clouded her vision as the pain moved quickly across her ribs and side, blazing the whole way down. Her throat now felt raw from the strain of her screams.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. It's okay, you're gonna be okay." The voice was whispering softly still, breaking as she screamed. Emiko thrashed from the pain in her side. Her jaw ached from the pressure of holding her mouth closed, the ice in her veins being replaced with fire. The last thing she felt was a warm hand brushing through her hair, before she succumbed to the blackness tinting her vision.
