As always, a special thank you to those who leave reviews!
Chapter Summary: Shigaraki is done playing nice, and Tokoyami witnesses his own obituary.
Chapter 6: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Spinner reappears the next day with his space heater and a new comic anthology. He grins as he waves it in front of Tokoyami. "Here! I swiped this Junji Ito comic for ya', since you're into horror and all."
Tokoyami bristles. "I don't want you stealing things for me! The author, the publisher, and the book shop employees all deserve to be paid for their work."
"So you don't want it?" Spinner says. "Shame. It's not really my thing, so I guess I'll throw it out."
Tokoyami grimaces and snatches the book. "It shouldn't go to waste – and I suppose I have nothing better to do."
Spinner cackles. "I thought so. But you know, there is plenty to do around here. If you'd just talk to us a little more, maybe we could trust you with a job."
"My answer to that has not changed," Tokoyami replies, holding the book against his chest. He's read this collection before, but that connection with his old life makes it all the more important.
Spinner fidgets uncomfortably. "Maybe you should reconsider. Shigaraki's getting impatient. I like you well enough, but I'm not sticking my neck out for you. You're gonna get hurt."
Tokoyami shakes his head, though there is a rush of cold up his spine that has nothing to do with the weather. "You seem to think that you aren't hurting me already. These lights are torture enough. Why should I trust you when you won't even let me sleep?"
"That's the easy kind of torture," says Spinner. "The hard kind is when they hold you down and rip your scales off one by one – or feathers, in your case."
"I am sorry if that is something you suffered. But imagine you were locked in a freezer for weeks at a time. Is that better than pain?" says Tokoyami.
Spinner glances at him, then away again. "That's different."
"The cold makes you uncomfortable and weak, does it not?" Tokoyami asks. "The same is true of the light for me, and especially for Dark Shadow. You villains have been exploiting my weakness for weeks now. Should you decide to torture me further, it is not that great of a step."
"Shall we test that theory?"
Both Tokoyami and Spinner whip around to see Shigaraki and Dabi standing in the doorway. Shigaraki's eyes narrow on Tokoyami from behind the hand covering his face. "I don't have the resources to house useless things, and so far you have been nothing but a headache. You're still too attached to that 'hero' image you've been fed. It's easy to be noble when you think you have nothing to lose. I think it's time we raised the stakes."
Tokoyami backs up until his knees hit the cot, automatically calling for Dark Shadow. His quirk makes a valiant effort to protect him, emerging as a hazy specter from his abdomen, no bigger than a kitten.
Shigaraki laughs. "Is that the monster I've heard so much about? How adorable."
Tokoyami grits his teeth and Dark Shadow shows his claws. "I am not going to give in to torture, nor do I intend to go with you quietly."
Shigaraki clicks his tongue, then nods to Dabi. "Do it."
Dabi sends a burst of flame hurtling into Tokoyami. It strikes Dark Shadow, who shrieks and disappears so fast that some of the flames lick at Tokoyami's stomach before they disperse, burning his t-shirt and skin. He groans and doubles over.
"Sorry Fumi!" Dark Shadow calls from within, his voice small and scared.
"It's not your fault," Tokoyami replies. "Are you alright?"
"No," says Dark Shadow, "we are not."
Tokoyami can only agree, but for the moment he must focus on the external threats.
"Spinner, get his arms," Shigaraki orders.
"Was that really necessary?" Spinner complains.
"Get his arms!"
Muttering to himself, Spinner pulls Tokoyami's arms behind his back. Tokoyami tries to struggle, but he's gotten weaker and he is still reeling from the blow to his stomach. Shigaraki tosses Spinner a pair of zip-tie cuffs, and Dabi keeps flames at the edges of his fingers in warning. Tokoyami feels like a fool; for all his bravado, he submits in under a minute.
Shigaraki jerks his head toward the hallway, and Spinner nudges Tokoyami forward to get him walking. He's been out in the hall before when they took him to the bathroom. This time, however, Shigaraki leads them in the opposite direction.
"I did warn you," Spinner whispers, hot breath ghosting over his feathers.
Tokoyami feels his legs tremble and threaten to fail him. He swallows and forces his spine to straighten. He tells himself this is not the first time he's been tortured – even if his previous experiences were all at the hands of inept, intolerant middle schoolers. He'd been plucked and punched and scratched, unable to defend himself because if he dared to release Dark Shadow he might actually have killed his classmates. He never wanted to give them the satisfaction of proving their insults about his villainous quirk correct. Since then he's joined UA and grown stronger. He's gained his own skills to fight and think his way through problems, with or without Dark Shadow's aid. He's fought villains, he's faced his demon's rampage, he's been hurt and recovered. He can do it all again.
They take him into a small room at the end of the hall, this one containing nothing but a few chairs and a small table covered in tools he doesn't really want to look at. It's also full of lights, at least as many as there are in his cell.
Dabi whistles. "You really went all out for this kid, eh boss? I'm almost jealous."
"You won't be in a moment. Get him in the chair and tie him tight."
Spinner doesn't argue this time. He pushes Tokoyami gently into a chair in the middle of the room. Tokoyami goes willingly; there is no escape that he can spot, and it would be a waste of energy to run now. Dabi would burn him before he could reach the door, and even if he made it out he doesn't know where he'd go next. He does flex his muscles as Spinner ties his wrists and ankles to the chair. He can practically hear Mr. Aizawa's voice in the room with him:
"Take a deep breath and puff out your chest, pull your shoulders back. Push against the bonds and make yourself as big as possible while they tie you. Keep your limbs apart if you can. When your captors are gone, it will be easier to wriggle out. Now, get into pairs and we'll practice. I don't care with who, just do it quickly. …wait, yes I do. Mineta, get away from Ashido. You're with Bakugo."
The memory gives Tokoyami a moment to settle himself. He can pretend it's only Midoriya tying him, repeatedly asking if the knots are too tight and apologizing when Iida scolds him for being a terrible villain.
"Now," Shigaraki announces, breaking the illusion as Spinner gives one last tug on the ropes. "Let's keep this simple and be honest with each other. I'll even start: You are going to answer my questions. If you don't, we're going to hurt you."
Tokoyami takes a breath and wraps his fingers around the ropes, just for something to hold onto. "Then, in the interest of honesty, I'll give you my answer now: No."
Shigaraki's laugh comes out in a hiss. "You've watched too many movies. Let's see how well that bravery holds up in reality."
He reaches for Tokoyami's head and plucks a feather. Tokoyami flinches on reflex, but it doesn't really hurt. Shigaraki twirls the feather between his thumb and forefinger. "Do you know what my quirk is?"
Tokoyami only glares at him.
"Silence is not an answer, but I'll give you this one for free," Shigaraki continues. He adds his middle finger to the feather, then the ring finger. "It's called Decay. I can destroy anything that I touch. It will simply…disintegrate."
He brings his pinky down on Tokoyami's feather, and it immediately crumbles to ash. Memories of Mr. Aizawa covered in bandages fill Tokoyami's head, accompanied with Midoriya, Tsuyu, and Mineta's vivid stories of their teacher's fight against Shigaraki and the nomu.
Tokoyami swallows. "Dark Shadow?"
"Sorry, Fumi. Can't…light. No good." The response in his head is disjointed, but he can feel the comforting coolness curling in his chest and steadying his thundering heart.
"So tell me…"
"It's alright. I just don't want to be alone," Tokoyami thinks.
"How does a student enter U.A., now that the security has changed?"
"I'm here. Always," Dark Shadow replies.
"We found your ID card. There's no point in being silent on that. But is that all it takes to enter?" Shigaraki asks.
Tokoyami says nothing.
Shigaraki sighs. "Too bad. I thought we agreed to be honest." He grabs the front of Tokoyami's sweatshirt. The material falls apart around him, leaving Tokoyami's chest bare. Shigaraki raises his hand again.
"Boss…!" Spinner exclaims, jumping from his place against the wall.
Shigaraki's first finger touches Tokoyami's ribs, the others hovering beside it. Then he pulls away. "Thank you for volunteering, Spinner."
"What? Me?"
"Yes, you. If I hit him, he'll be dead. I'm not ready to be rid of him quite yet, though it's certainly heading that way," Shigaraki replies.
"I don't know, boss," says Spinner, rubbing the back of his neck. "Something about hitting a kid who can't fight back doesn't feel right."
Shigaraki rolls his eyes. "He is fighting. He's been making a fool of you, getting into your head and making you think he's anything but another pawn of those heroes you hate so much. But fine. If you don't want to do it, I'll have Dabi set him on fire."
Dabi, looking all too eager, raises a fistful of flames. Spinner beats him to it. Tokoyami supposes he should be grateful, but that's not what comes to mind when he's punched in the gut so hard he can feel his breakfast trying to make its way back up his throat. It feels something like a betrayal after all the hours he and Spinner spent talking and reading comic books.
"How do you enter U.A. High School?" Shigaraki repeats.
Tokoyami only grunts in answer. He's not sure he could open his beak without vomiting, anyway.
"Do it again," Shigaraki orders.
Spinner hesitates, and Tokoyami swallows back the bile.
"Again!"
Tokoyami's prepared this time. He breathes out like All Might taught them just before the blow strikes his side. It hurts, but it's no worse than sparring with some of his classmates.
"That's all this is. It's just another a test, and I'm going to pass," he thinks.
"We are," Dark Shadow whispers.
"How do you enter U.A.?"
"Do you remember when Satou sent me flying with one hit, straight into Kouda? It was like hitting a wall."
"I do," says Dark Shadow.
"Again." Spinner doesn't hesitate this time, and a fist hits his ribs.
"They wouldn't let it go for three days, even though I was fine. They made me an apple pie."
"I yelled at them."
"You scared them."
"I wish I could scare them now."
"How do you enter U.A.?"
"It's alright."
Another blow, and then a second right after.
"It's not."
"Let's try another question," Shigaraki says. "Something easy. How many people live in each dorm?"
Tokoyami blinks at him. "I don't know."
"He speaks!" Dabi laughs.
"It's hardly an answer," Shigaraki grumbles. "How many people live in your dorm?"
"I don't know," Tokoyami repeats.
"I thought you U.A. students were supposed to be smart," says Dabi. "Did you fail math or something?"
"I'm afraid you haven't kidnapped the top of the class," Tokoyami replies dryly. His stomach and ribs are sore, but it's still no worse than heroics training.
"Than who is?" asks Shigaraki, leaning closer.
Tokoyami keeps his beak shut; he's not about to give the League a new target. Spinner raises his fist and Tokoyami prepares himself for another hit, but Shigaraki holds up a hand.
"I don't understand why you're protecting them. They've abandoned you. So why not protect yourself instead?" he says.
Tokoyami shakes his head. "They'll come. My friends, my teachers, the heroes – they're looking for me, and they're not going to stop until they find me. When they do-"
"Oh, that's so sad," Dabi interrupts. "You don't even know that you're dead."
Tokoyami stares at him, sure that he's misheard. "I...what?"
"You're dead. It's all over the news – or it was, a couple days ago. It's old news already. No one cares except mommy and daddy now, and they're busy planning your funeral. After that you'll be nothing to anyone but a painful memory. A ghost, just like me." Dabi grins, stretching the staples along the sides of his face.
Horror pools in Tokoyami's stomach, and the pain is far worse than any beating they could give him. "No," he whispers. "That's impossible. You're lying."
"Sounds like we finally struck a nerve," says Dabi. He pulls a phone from his pocket. "Shall we prove it?"
Shigaraki waves his hand. "Fine, whatever. I still think that was a stupid move. Now we can't even try for a ransom."
Dabi taps at his phone screen. "I wouldn't worry. I don't think this bird's worth much, and now the heroes are off our tails. I told you he'd come through."
"You also said we can't trust him," Shigaraki replies.
"We can't. Ah, here we go. I've got one of the articles saved. I still get all misty-eyed when I read it," Dabi says. He shoves the phone in Tokoyami's face. The screen is lit up with an article from just a day ago, his U.A. picture displayed under the title Missing U.A. Student Latest Victim of Mutant Killer.
Late last night police confirmed the discovery of further evidence concerning missing U.A. student Tokoyami Fumikage. Tragically, there will be no happy ending for this case. Police believe that the hero in training is now the latest victim of the Mutant Killer, who has committed several grisly murders of those with mutant quirks in the area surrounding—
"They can't believe it. Whatever evidence you planted, they'll realize it's a fake," Tokoyami says. His hands are shaking behind his back.
"Oh, but it's not fake. We returned a couple of the things we borrowed from you; figured your parents would want something to hold onto," says Dabi.
"My parents – you leave my family alone!" Tokoyami yells, lunging forward and nearly upsetting the chair.
"Hey, we haven't touched them!" Spinner promises.
"Yet," Dabi adds. He taps on his phone and to bring up a video of his parents in front of a sea of microphones and lights. Neither of them ever enjoyed the spotlight, and the lights must hurt his mother, whose quirk is similar to Dark Shadow. As he watches his father speak, Tokoyami wishes he could jump through the screen to protect them, tell them he's still here.
"Fumikage is our only child, though with Dark Shadow we always felt like we had twins. Now we've lost them both. There are no words for this. To tell you that we are hurting and grieving is simply inadequate. Watching them grow was the highlight of my life. What's left behind is emptiness."
"They were kind and smart, a little mischievous. They wanted to be a hero to show the world that darkness is not evil, that there is strength and safety to be found there. That's what everyone should know. That's our son, not all these speculations of how he might have…" his mother trails off. The shadows around her lengthen and darken so that even the camera lights cannot fully illuminate her face.
His father's arm wraps more tightly around her shoulders. "We want the ones responsible for our son's…we want them brought to justice. That's the best we can ask for now."
"Do you hold U.A. High School responsible?" a reporter asks.
"The staff at U.A. have been with us through this investigation. They've kept us informed every step of the way, and they-"
"They should never have let this happen!" his mother interrupts. The shadows flare, physically pushing some of the reporters back. "Parents should not be lured in by that school's reputation for producing heroes, like our family was. They should be warned by its reputation for student injuries, victimization, and death!"
"Still want to protect your oh-so-precious high school?" Shigaraki asks.
"It wasn't their fault," Tokoyami whispers.
The newsreel shifts to a shot outside of U.A. as reporters clamor for comments from the teachers and try to gain access to the campus. Tokoyami spots Mr. Aizawa at the front of the group, glaring down the press.
"Does U.A. have an official statement?" one reporter asks, shoving a microphone into his face with an extendable arm.
"Our deepest sympathies are with the Tokoyami family during this time, and we continue to provide the top security for all students on this campus. Which is why you won't be getting any closer," Aizawa replies.
"Eraserhead, the victim was part of the infamous 1-A class! Haven't your students been attacked before?"
"My students have been targeted by multiple villains. We continue to provide training and-"
"Then how was Tokoyami Fumikage murdered? Is your program not vigorous enough?"
Tokoyami can see the vein in Mr. Aizawa's forehead twitch, even through the video feed.
"The police have evidence that may or may not be linked to a known killer. The nature of this evidence remains unclear," Aizawa says.
"The case has been officially transferred from a missing person to a murder investigation. Don't you think-"
"I think you've wasted enough of my time. Get out of here, you vultures. Stop harassing my students – and leave that family alone!"
The video cuts to a far more organized news conference with Gang Orca at the head.
"In the wake of this latest tragedy, my agency is renewing its pledge to support mutant quirk rights and anti-discrimination campaigns. I personally wish to extend my promise to the Tokoyamis, and to the families of all the victims of this despicable villain: I will not rest until the Mutant Killer has been arrested and faces justice for their crimes."
One last time the scene changes. Hawks stands in front of his agency, looking like he's about ready to take off and leave his sidekicks to deal with the reporters.
"Tsukuyomi is…was…a hero with great potential. It was an honor to have him as an intern, and I deeply regret that I will not have the chance to see him grow into a pro. I'll be joining Gang Orca and other heroes in the search for the Mutant Killer. To the family and friends of Tsukuyomi, I can only say that I am so, so sorry."
The newsfeed returns to the reporters in the studio, both grim-faced as they share their final thoughts on Tokoyami's apparent demise. Tokoyami doesn't hear them. He feels sick and cold with terror, and he can feel Dark Shadow make a valiant, if futile, effort to rise in response to his distress. His feathers are damp, and he realizes that he's crying.
"No one is coming," he tells Dark Shadow. "They weren't lying. We are on our own."
"We always are. Always were. But we are alone together," Dark Shadow replies.
"I think we finally broke him," Dabi chuckles.
"Is that so?" says Shigaraki, leaning in close to Tokoyami. He reaches out and Tokoyami flinches, but Shigaraki only brushes two fingers over his cheek, collecting Tokoyami's tears on the tips of his fingers. "We should have told him about this to begin with."
"Spinner?" Tokoyami says desperately, looking around for the closest thing he had to a friendly face.
Spinner looks away. "Sorry to disappoint ya, kid. I told you it would turn out like this. Nobody looks too hard for the likes of us; not for long."
"So you see, you've got nothing left to bother protecting and nothing to go back to. Nothing but us. You might as well answer my questions," says Shigaraki.
Tokoyami shakes his head. "No. No, I'm nothing like you."
Spinner crosses his arms. "Yeah? What happened to homo potentia?"
"That's not the same thing at all! You – you kidnapped me, you hurt me, you made my family think I'm dead. You already killed me, so what more could you do?" Tokoyami shouts.
Spinner pulls back his fist, but Shigaraki holds up a hand. "Stop. I think our ghost here may just need some time to think about how he wants to spend his afterlife. If you really believe this is all the hell you can experience, you greatly underestimate what it means to suffer. Dabi, Spinner – take him back to his room. And this time we won't be wasting anymore of our resources. No more food, no new clothes, no more books. Dead men don't need them."