Thank you for the comments! I know this update took a while! I had a hard time getting the two 'perspectives' of this chapter to meld the way I wanted them to, and I wanted to get a little more of the ending finished to make sure everything lined up. The next one will probably take some time as well, since November is NanoWriMo. This story was my Nano project last year, so I'm excited to participate again!
Warnings: This chapter is pretty violent, but it's not described in a lot of detail.
Chapter 16: The Battle for U.A.
As it turns out, they don't have to wait long. Perhaps a day later Spinner visits them alone. He barely acknowledges them as he sets their usual allotment of water bottles and granola bars on the table. His silence on its own isn't unusual. Whatever rapport Tokoyami built with him by bonding over comic books and mutations took a literal hit when Spinner started beating him on Shigaraki's orders. Hawks is basically the poster boy for fake heroes at this point, which doesn't help. Spinner doesn't stick around when it's his turn to feed them, which is why it catches Tokoyami's attention when he waits by the table, staring straight ahead and avoiding all eye contact.
Hawks shifts slightly in front of Tokoyami and clears his throat. "Lovely weather we're having, huh?"
Spinner startles, blinking at him. "What?"
Hawks shrugs. "Just trying some small talk while we wait to see if you were ordered to kill us."
If anything, Spinner looks more confused. "I'm not here to kill you."
"Oh, awesome! That would have been pretty awkward."
Tokoyami raises an eyebrow. "Awkward?"
"Oh just you wait, kid. You haven't seen awkward until you're at a dinner party with a bunch of business types secretly funding villains and someone blows your cover. They tried to poison me, which is just rude," Hawks replies.
Tokoyami rolls his eyes and shoves Hawks' wing out of his face. "How tragic. Spinner, why are you here?"
"Ah, well…" Spinner glances at the television, and an awful feeling settles in Tokoyami's gut. If they figured out his lie they wouldn't just kill him and get it over with. They'd want him to watch Kirishima and Amajiki die first. The screen flickers to life and he holds his breath, prepared to see a hospital room covered in blood and ashes.
Instead he sees a street surrounded by trees and lit by streetlights. He doesn't recognize the area until the path curves and reveals a huge complex at the end surrounded by a concrete fence and dominated by an H-shaped building. Tokoyami gasps. "That's U.A.!"
"Yeah," Spinner confirms. "Shigaraki wanted to be sure that you could see everything first-hand."
"Sounds like they took the bait!" Dark Shadow quips.
"Indeed." Tokoyami swallows. "I only hope that I made the right choice."
"If we're having a movie night then you should've brought some popcorn," says Hawks. He stretches his wings wide and takes off for an utterly unnecessary 3-foot flight from one end of the room to the other. There's barely enough room for the spread of his wings, but he's taken to testing them now that most of his feathers have grown back. He plops down in one of the chairs. "So if the rest of the League is off on this big, important mission, how come you got benched?"
Spinner ducks under a wing and glares at him. "I'm here for you. Shigaraki wanted to make sure you don't do anything stupid once you see your friends defeated. If you try anything, you won't like the consequences."
Hawks yawns. "Yeah, yeah, maiming and torturing, we get it. Tsukuyomi, pass the snacks."
In spite of his previous declarations of confidence in his friends' prowess, Tokoyami's hands shake a little as he brings a granola bar to Hawks and takes the seat next to him. Hawks offers him a bite, but he declines with a shake of his head. He doubts he could eat anything while watching his friends fight for their lives. The gates of U.A. loom before them now, practically glowing compared to the darkness of the road and theoretically housing as much security as an international airport.
"What time is it?" Tokoyami asks.
"Midnight. Just the right time for all good boys and girls to be sleeping," says Spinner.
"Never underestimate the power of coffee, teenagers, and procrastination. It's not going to be as rude an awakening as you think," says Hawks.
"Who has the camera? I assume Mr. Compress is hiding most of them," Tokoyami says. "It can't be Toga. If the security feeds picked up Hawks, there'd already be ten pro heroes on her."
"Who says she drank Hawks' blood today?" says Spinner. "She needed to match the ID, after all."
"Mine?" Tokoyami asks.
"No, Shigaraki destroyed that one," Spinner replies. "And anyway, we're not stupid enough to enter that school as a dead man. She's using the kid from the hospital. What's his name? Red Ron?"
"Red Riot," Tokoyami says quietly. At least it's confirmation that his friend is still alive, even if the thought of Toga drinking Kirishima's blood sends chills down his spine. He silently prays that he hasn't exchanged Kirishima and Amajiki's lives for his other classmates'.
"Or for ours," Dark Shadow adds softly.
Toga presses her fingerprints against the scanner, then swipes Kirishima's ID exactly as Tokoyami instructed. Tokoyami shares a brief, meaningful look with Hawks. The thick metal gates slowly slide apart, giving no indication of the silent alarm Toga set off. There's a long path between the gate and the front entrance of the main school building with plenty of shadows for pro heroes to hide in. It's dark, but Tokoyami can still make out the arches and the big fountain out front. His heart aches with homesickness.
"Looks like you weren't bluffing," Spinner says as they watch Toga make her way past the gate. "That's good. I was supposed to stab you if you lied and I really don't want to."
"…thanks for your consideration," Tokoyami mumbles. He wonders how long it will be before Spinner figures out that he betrayed them after all, and if he and Dark Shadow will have any time to defend themselves.
A tall figure approaches Toga before she reaches the second arch, backlit by the lights around the fountain. No doubt there are others watching from the shadows and making their way to the various emergency response stations around the campus. Nezu prefers to resolve threats quickly and quietly, but he takes every one of them seriously.
Toga pauses beneath the third arch as the hero comes close enough for Tokoyami to recognize him. It's Present Mic. Another wave of homesickness fills Tokoyami, and he glances at the table covered in the pages of his ever-lengthening essay. The feeling is accompanied by a burst of nervous energy, and he finds himself subconsciously reaching into his pocket to run his fingers over the smooth surface of his flashlight. He knows Present Mic is a good hero, and he knows many more good heroes are watching. He still doesn't want to see the League ambush one of his favorite teachers. The good news is U.A. couldn't have asked for a better alarm.
"Hey there listener!" Present Mic calls out. "What's going on? Shouldn't you be at the hospital?"
"I was discharged," Toga replies. She has no right to sound so much like Kirishima when she's already tried to kill him twice. "I know it's late, but I just couldn't stand to be there for a minute longer."
"I see Eraserhead is passing his bad habits on to you." Present Mic's tone is light, but there's a frown on his face. "Why aren't you home with your parents? I know they've been worried sick about you."
"Oh, they know I'm here! I've got a note…" Toga rustles through her pocket and produces a slightly crumpled sheet of paper on the hospital's letterhead. "They couldn't get me today, so my uncle picked me up. I was with him all evening, but one of my little cousins just got her quirk. It's kind of unstable. I'm supposed to follow concussion protocols, so they thought I'd be safer here."
"We need to call your parents, then. Your uncle shouldn't have dropped you off in the middle of the night," Mic replies.
"It's not his fault! I kind of told him that my parents called you already and said it was okay. I know it's stupid. My parents are coming tomorrow, I promise, I just didn't want to wait. I…" Kirishima's voice cracks, and Present Mic reaches out to put a hand on Toga's shoulder. In another life, she would have made an incredible actress. "After everything that happened, I feel like I need to be here, with people who understand. Someplace safe."
Present Mic sighs. "You would have been safer staying at the hospital or calling one of us to come get you. Come on, I'll take you to the dorms."
"Thanks, sir," Toga replies, allowing the hero to guide her along the path around the main building.
"That was easy!" Spinner exclaims.
Hawks shares another look with Tokoyami. Too easy. Tokoyami nods in agreement. Present Mic's persona may make him seem like an airhead, but he's one of the smartest teachers at U.A. He babbles on as they walk, talking about the mundane things that have happened in Kirishima's short absence and how much 1A has been missing him. Tokoyami clings to every word until, somewhat abruptly, Mic stops walking.
"Is something wrong?" Toga asks.
"You tell me," Present Mic says. The lamplight leaves a glare on his glasses, blocking any view of his eyes. "Did something happen at the hospital?"
"No, sir. I do feel kinda bad for leaving Amajiki alone, but I felt so trapped."
"Are you sure that's it? I know you've been through a lot recently. If you need help, it's okay to ask," says Mic.
The voice hero uses his hands a lot when he speaks. Sometimes it's for emphasis, but mostly it's because he's used to interpreting everything he says in sign language. The students of 1A have picked up on more than a few signs that way, especially since Kouda is also fluent in JSL. What Present Mic's signing now, however, does not match his words. Tokoyami recognizes signs for hidden, danger, listening. He's asking if someone is manipulating Kirishima to say that everything is fine when he's already hit the panic button at the front gate.
As far as Tokoyami knows, no one in the League knows JSL. He also notices that Present Mic has paused around the side of the main building, near the path that veers off towards ground Beta. At this time of night it's isolated. Mic can scream without damaging people or property. Tokoyami's hope rises; his plan may actually work.
"Thanks, teach. I really appreciate it. I guess there is a lot to process," says Toga.
"You can always count on us, and your friends, too. I know they'll be excited to see you," says Mic. "Man, I'm sorry your family is having such a hard time right now. Your cousin's quirk is great news, of course, but new quirks are stressful. Then there's you and your grandma in the hospital – how's her hip, by the way?"
"Doing much better, thanks," Toga replies.
"Huh. Someone at that hospital must have a very impressive quirk, seeing as you wrote a whole essay about how she died three years ago," Present Mic says. He glances down at Toga over the rim of his glasses.
"Oopsie," Toga laughs. She lunges. Tokoyami catches a glint of metal, but he can't tell if she managed to stab Present Mic before his scream sends her flying backwards, the camera picking up a whirl of sky-ground-sky-ground until she comes to a stop.
"That was fast," Hawks snorts.
"It's just getting started," Spinner replies.
"Well thank goodness for that. I was afraid this was going to be boring," says Hawks.
Tokoyami barely has time to process the dizzying scene before Toga is on her feet again, brushing off the dirt and laughing. "What a fun quirk."
"Thanks," Mic replies. He remains where he is by the building, stance widened and ready for a fight.
"I wasn't talking about you. You're just loud," Toga replies. She flips him off with a hardened middle finger.
"And you're just a thief, Toga Himiko," says Present Mic. "Anything you want to confess before I end this sad excuse for a spy mission? Like how the hell you got our student's blood?"
"I stuck a needle in him, of course," Toga says. "Oh, and this isn't a spy mission. It's an invasion."
Present Mic's eyes widen and he lets out another shriek, "IT'S AN ATTACK!"
This time Toga tosses a three marbles in the air even as she's pushed back and disoriented by the attack. There are several pops of light as the marbles hit the ground. Present Mic is forced to shield his eyes, momentarily blinded by the release of Mr. Compress's quirk. Safe on the other side of the screen, Tokoyami can see perfectly as Shigaraki, Mr. Compress, and a nomu appear.
"Too soon!" Shigaraki snarls.
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you want me to wait until we were surrounded? Better shut him up quick." Toga points towards Present Mic, who is speaking rapidly into the communicator in his collar and squinting in their direction.
"It's not Kirishima, it's-"
The nomu delivers a powerful punch before Mic can see it coming. The force of it crushes him up against the side of the building and leaves him winded, unable to use his quirk. The nomu reaches for the speaker around his throat, then shrieks as its massive hand is impaled by a spear of hardened blood. Vlad King rushes at them from the shadows, pinning Shigaraki and Compress up against the building as he goes. "You good, Mic?"
"YEAAAAAH!" Mic shouts in response, sending the nomu backwards.
The hardened blood quickly disintegrates around Shigaraki and Mr. Compress, decaying to red dust at their feet. Shigaraki levels a glare towards his companions. "What are you idiots waiting for? That probably woke the entire school."
"That's right!" Toga exclaims. "You boys have fun. I've got a surprise date with my sweetheart and my friends!" She takes off running, dodging a blow from Vlad King before she makes it around the corner, Mr. Compress in hot pursuit. Neither hero follows them, too preoccupied with Shigaraki and the nomu.
"Did you release Twice and Dabi?" Toga asks as they run. "I think I left them near the entrance when I took out that letter, but it might have been another nomu. I can't tell the difference between your marbles."
"Yes, they're out – and from the smell of the smoke I'd say they've engaged our targets. I kept a few nomu compressed, just in case we need the backup later," says Mr. Compress. "I know you're excited, but do try to stick to the plan, my dear."
"Yeah, yeah," Toga replies. "I don't see why that should keep us from having a little fun."
"Overindulgence will only give you a stomachache, and you've had more than your share of heroes to play with lately," says Compress. "Nor can we truly trust Tsukuyomi's word."
"It's fine. If he lied, I'll cut his tongue out when we get back," Toga replies gleefully.
"He can hear you, you know."
"I know." A had comes down to point the camera upward, giving them a view of Kirishima's face. Toga's expression is just as off-putting on him as it is on Hawks, especially when she blows a kiss. "Don't get too jealous while I play with our friends. I'll be back for you birdies soon!"
"Stay away from them!" Tokoyami hisses, even though he knows she can't hear him. The camera falls back into place, just as the lights of the Heights Alliance come into view.
"I'll see you at the rendezvous, then," says Mr. Compress. He darts away into the shadows while Toga keeps heading straight for the dorms.
"What is this plan of Shigaraki's, anyway?" Hawks asks.
"Chaos: set shit on fire, take out as many pros as possible, steal anything not nailed down. Let the students know even their beds aren't safe from us," Spinner replies.
"Fair enough," says Hawks. "But why's Toga the one with the camera? What is it you want us to see?"
Spinner's smile falters as he glances at Tokoyami, then quickly turns back to the screen. He refuses to answer when Hawks repeats the question, and the heavy feeling in Tokoyami's chest grows. He must continue to have faith in his friends. They couldn't rescue him, but surely they can rescue themselves.
As Toga closes in on the Heights Alliance, Tokoyami notices the way the lights in the dorms flicker. It's subtle from the outside, and without an advanced hearing quirk he doubts the villains can hear the alarm that goes with it, warning students to wake up and stay safe. The security systems are top notch, and now that Present Mic has confirmed the threat the dorms should be on lockdown. The students are supposed to get to a designated safe room and stay put, fighting only if they absolutely must regardless of what course they are in. Even those with a provisional hero license are not allowed to initiate anything without the express permission of a pro hero.
1A, of course, has never been particularly good at following that guideline.
"Kirishima! Hey, wait up! What are you doing here?"
Tokoyami closes his eyes in grim acceptance as Toga turns to greet her 'classmates.' He doesn't understand why Asui and Uraraka, of all people, are out at this time of night. Fate is truly a cruel mistress.
"My friends!" Toga exclaims. Her genuine enthusiasm is not particularly encouraging. "I really want to talk to you, but I'm busy now. We need to get back to the dorms, then we'll have plenty of time."
"That's where we're going," says Asui, already on the move again. "We just got back from our internship with Ryuko when we got the alert. Nejire Chan went to help."
"Were you the one who triggered it? Do you know what's going on?" Uraraka asks.
"Maybe?" Toga replies, making a show of glancing over her shoulder, giving the camera a brief view of smoke rising from the main entrance. "I think they might have followed me. I'm sorry!"
"Who? Is it Hawks?" Asui asks, casting a worried look skyward.
"I don't know for sure, I just-"
As Toga turns back towards the 1A dorm, Eraserhead drops down from the porch roof and lands directly in front of her. His capture scarf darts out, quickly dragging Uraraka and Asui behind him.
"Mr. Aizawa, wait, it's Kirishima!" Uraraka shouts.
"Stand back and be quiet. This is an imposter," Eraserhead snaps. His capture scarf flies out again and his hair rises from his shoulders. Toga is quick to dart away, but not quick enough to evade Eraserhead's eyes. Tokoyami gets a brief glimpse of Kirishima's shoes melting off her as she leaps over the capture scarf and lands with a squelch in the remains of her own quirk. With no clothes to hold it in place, the camera slips onto the brick path alongside a couple marbles. The screen shows an odd upward angle of the fight (and far more of Toga than Tokoyami ever wanted to see).
"What have you done with my student?" Eraserhead asks. There's an edge to his usual monotone that only appears when someone has truly fucked up.
Toga grins. "Which one?"
"Shit, the girl's got guts. Eraser looks like he's about two seconds from a spontaneous quirk evolution to if looks could kill," says Hawks, nudging Tokoyami's knee. Tokoyami starts to shove him back, angry that Hawks could make light of the situation, when he catches the look in his mentor's eye. Hawks isn't smiling. He's offering Tokoyami a small, sharp feather.
"He's not as scary as he looks," says Spinner. "Toga doesn't need a quirk to be deadly with that knife. Besides, all she needs to do is signal Mr. Compress to release a few of those marbles. Twice cloned the nomu."
"What about the League, are they clones?"
Spinner shakes his head. "No. This mission is too important."
"So the whole League is really there? Bummer for you," Hawks says.
"I told you, they didn't just leave me behind. They trusted me to watch you," Spinner replies.
"Yup. Just like I said." Hawks stands and stretches, his wings grown back enough to nearly reach the ceiling when he unfurls them. It's distracting Tokoyami from what's on the screen – and when Hawks gives him a wink, Tokoyami realizes he has exactly three seconds to get out of the way. Hawks turns to Spinner with a grin as sharp as his feathers. "Bummer for you."
Tokoyami dives out of the way just as Hawks tackles Spinner to the floor. They struggle and strain against one another, and Tokoyami can't find an opening to help with Hawks' wings taking up so much of the space. He can't help being distracted, either, with his attention split between the fight in front of him and the one on the screen. Toga's managed to get behind Eraserhead, her knife inches from his neck when Asui's long tongue wraps around her wrist and drags it back, giving Eraserhead the chance to elbow her in the face as he turns.
A grunt draws his attention back to Hawks and Spinner. Spinner's got a knife, too, much longer than Toga's and with a toothy edge. Hawks is struggling to hold Spinner's arm and keep the knife from his face. Tokoyami finally spots his opportunity and stomps on Spinner's wrist just above Hawk's fingers. Even without shoes the force of his heel is enough to smash Spinner's wrist against the floor, and Tokoyami repeats the move until Spinner releases the knife. He kicks it away and Hawks rolls Spinner until he's face down. He uses his feathers to pin Spinner's clothes to the floor and presses all of his weight against the man's back and shoulders. If he wants to reach Hawks, he'll have to dislocate his own shoulder to do it.
"Sorry, my friend, but I've never been one to waste an opportunity. Why don't you tell me which pocket the keys are in so I don't have to break your arm?" says Hawks.
Spinner bucks and struggles against his grip. "What kind of hero are you, threatening me like that? This is exactly what Stain-"
Hawks jams a sharpened feather through Spinner's shoulder. He screams and jerks hard, but Hawks holds him fast. "You ought to start thinking for yourself. Stain's rotting in Tartarus, and from the looks of things your friends are headed there, too."
Tokoyami chances a glance back at the screen. Toga is wrapped up in Eraserhead's scarf and floating a good two feet off the ground. There's blood pouring from her nose. "Let's try this again. What have you done with Kirishima, and who told you about the gate?"
"A little birdy," Toga replies. Her smile is even more disturbing with all the blood.
Eraserhead frowns. "Hawks? How would Hawks – never mind. Whoever it was that told you, they clearly didn't want you to succeed. You set off the alarm the minute you swiped that ID. More pros and police than you can count will be swarming the campus right about now."
Toga's eyes widen. She jerks her head sideways, smacking her ear against her shoulder to activate the communicator. "The little bastard lied! Get-"
Eraserhead slings another loop of his scarf around her mouth and Asui's tongue snatches the communicator out of Toga's ear before she can finish.
"Tsukuyomi, you betrayed us?" Spinner rasps. The pain in his expression almost makes Tokoyami feel guilty.
"You mean you lied to the people who kidnapped and tortured you? The audacity," Hawks clicks his tongue. "Kids these days. Now, where were we?"
"Fuck you," Spinner hisses.
"You're not my type, lizard man," says Hawks. He grips the top of his feather and pulls it free from Spinner's shoulder, then holds it against his neck. "Better hand over the keys before I decide it's easier to loot your corpse."
There's a feral look in Hawks' eye; he isn't bluffing. He looks like a bird of prey with Spinner in his talons. For all the terrible things Spinner's done, Tokoyami still pities the man who lent him comics and heat, who saw a society that trampled on the broken and the strange and wanted to change it by any means necessary.
"He hurt us, though," Dark Shadow argues.
"That doesn't mean he deserves to die," Tokoyami replies. He crouches down and taps his mentor's arm. "Hawks…"
Spinner cranes his neck to look up at him and smiles in relief. "Now there's a real hero, protecting me from Japan's most wanted. We can still be civil about this, can't we?"
"The knife!" Dark Shadow warns, and Tokoyami glances away from Spinner's face to see him twisting one hand towards the feather pinning his sleeve to the ground. His altruistic visions quickly dissipate, replaced by the memory of scales smashing into his skin.
Tokoyami scowls and slams his fist into Spinner's creeping hand. The few shadows cast by their bodies shudder. "Civil? You have no right to speak of civility. You beat me and tortured me and expected me to be grateful, and you have repeatedly helped orchestrate attacks on innocent civilians and children. You say you're a follower of some great movement and use that as an excuse, washing your hands of all wrongdoing. I've had enough. Hawks, get the lights."
Hawks smirks and launches a few small feathers at the bare light bulbs along the sides of the room, shattering the glass. The room is still lit by the ceiling lights, but the shadows grow with each burnt out bulb. Tokoyami remains crouched in front of Spinner as Dark Shadow slowly grows behind him. He pulls the Stain mask from Spinner's face and tosses it to his quirk, who immediately tears it to shreds. "I don't think you've ever seen what my quirk can really do. Would you like to experience it first-hand? Dark Shadow's been cooped up for too long. He wants to play."
Dark Shadow roars in Spinner's face, and even Hawks flinches back from the sound. Spinner gives in quickly. "Left front pocket."
"Good answer," says Hawks. He hauls Spinner to his feet and twists his arms behind his back, allowing Tokoyami and Dark Shadow to safely go through his pockets. They toss aside two knives, some crumbled cash, and what looks like a copy of Stain's manifesto before Dark Shadow lets out a triumphant crow and holds up a ring of keys.
Tokoyami rushes for the door, trying several different keys before he hears the lock click and feels it slide free. Cautiously he tests the handle, opening the door just enough for Dark Shadow to slip out and check the hallway.
"The coast is clear!"
"Right then," says Hawks, dragging Spinner to his feet, "time to blow this coop. Toss me a set of handcuffs, will you? We're taking this fool with us so he doesn't call for back-up – although I think the back-up is a bit busy at the moment."
Tokoyami untangles a set of handcuffs from one of the chairs and tosses them to Hawks, who quickly secures Spinner's wrists.
"I don't think-" Spinner begins.
"Good. Leave the thinking to us, you just handle the directions," says Hawks.
Tokoyami grabs the blanket from the cot and uses it to create a sling for their water bottles, granola bars, and the bandages left by the doctor. Give Hawks' notoriety, they don't know how far they'll need to go or what trouble they could run into along the way. The first step is getting out of the villain's hands, however. They'll think of the future once they're airborne and miles out of the League's reach.
Hawks prods Spinner forward into the hall. "Lead the way."
"And no tricks," Tokoyami says.
"Or I'll eat your soul!" Dark Shadow adds.
Before the door closes behind them, Tokoyami hesitates and takes one more look around the room that has been his prison for almost two months. His writing still sits out on the table, pages upon pages of his experiences, and the television's feed carries on, currently showing only the dark sky and the edge of the dorms. On a whim, Tokoyami hurries back and stuffs as many pages as he can into the sling. If any of the League members make it back to their hideout, they will surely destroy whatever is left behind.
The last thing he sees before hurrying after Hawks is a bunch of shoes as the heroes collect Toga's things.
"She dropped more marbles over here, we better be careful! And…what's this?" A hand covers the screen, then shifts to reveal Uraraka's worried face. "Hey, I found something! I think it might be a camera…"