I'm half expecting a warp gate to open in my bedroom.

But as each minute passes, my hope fades little by little.

I was astonished when I saw Todoroki-kun waiting for me outside the locker room. I had expected him to leave without me, ashamed. After all, I did make a pointed barb not just at the students and faculty of U.A. but at him, too. I had seen the flashes of pity in his eyes when he saw me in pain and when he looked at my cane. Those same pitiful faces appeared in the faces of the students and teachers. Some of them didn't even bother hiding it. I hated it. I had experienced a lifetime of pity from strangers already; I didn't want more. They all thought that I was so unfortunate to have ended up like this. That I deserved better. I needed to be taken care of, pampered, kept safe from all the horrors of this world.

Yes, I deserved better. I deserved a better life. I deserved a family who loved me, the ability to walk normally, a quirk that hurt me more than help me, and a healthy body. But people rarely get what they deserve. I got a family which abused me; I got a cane to assist me with every step I took; I got a quirk that gave me scar after scar; I got a disease that has no cure to this date.

What will you do about it? You want to hide me from the horrors? How will you accomplish that when I'm living through a horror every second of my life! You want to keep me safe? How will you do that when my own foster family forces me into prostitution every night!

I was seething as I changed out of my costume and showered. Bakugou-san and Midoriya-san didn't think much differently of me. They pitied me too, despite my feats. After all, I was a cripple who couldn't walk without a cane and supposedly fainted before the battle truly began. So when I left the room in my school uniform, I had expected the hallway to be empty. Yet there Todoroki-kun stood, leaning against the door to a classroom, arms crossed, gaze focused on something in the distance.

He heard the click-clack of my cane but didn't face me immediately. He was trying to find the right words to apologize, I realized. Maybe I shouldn't have been so harsh. I should have tried a different approach.

We opened our mouths at the same time to say the same words: "I'm sorry." We blushed and averted his eyes from each other. A long moment of uncomfortable silence passed.

"You can go first," he says.

"Are you sure? It seems you have something important to say."

"It's fine. You first."

"I apologize. I was vexed by our encounter with Bakugou-san and Midoriya-san. They were pitying me in their own way, and it made me angry. I had noticed that you pitied me, too. Since the day we first met, every time you helped me during my arthritic flares, visited me in the infirmary, or even spared a glance at my cane, I saw pain in your eyes. Pain that was pity for me. I didn't like it all, but I kept quiet, thinking that with time you would come to respect me by yourself. You do respect me, but the pity is factoring into that respect. All of those emotions culminated and made me act rashly. I indirectly insulted you. I should have been more forward with what I wanted from you. And kinder as well. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. Will you please forgive me?"

He nodded his head wistfully. "It's alright," he whispered. "But I understand how you feel now. If I were in your shoes, I think I'd hate all that pity, too. I'm sorry for not looking past your arthritis and bandages. I'm sorry for thinking you were weak and needed protection at all times. I'm sorry for how I glossed over your brilliance and focused instead on your handicap. Really, I do respect you. But you deserve more than I'm giving you right now. I promise you, I won't underestimate you again. Your charms, your interests, your wittiness. There's a lot more to you than just unique hair and eyes, a cane, and a pair of gloves. And if you'll let me, I'd like to try this all over again. I won't look at you as a helpless girl anymore; I'll admire you for your strengths. You're a student at U.A. You're here to become a hero. And there's no reason you shouldn't be."

He stretched a hand toward me. I stared at it for a moment, appalled, but I took it, and we shook our hands. "I think that's the longest I've heard you talk without a break. But thank you. Thank you very much, Todoroki-kun. And I promise to be a better friend to you as well."

He blushed and smiled in obvious relief and glanced at his watch. "We have to leave now. If we miss this train, the next one isn't for another two hours."

And here I am at the manor. As I predicted, Hanada-sama did not punish me. He did not punish me for the very reason that was in my bed right now. This time, the Pro-Hero wanted to experiment with fruit flowers. After a few rounds, he collapsed and fell asleep instantly.

I'm about to use a quirk to increase my melatonin production to fall asleep when the portal opens.

I'm shocked. For a moment, I do nothing. Then, sparing one glance at the Pro-Hero's closed eyes and drooling mouth, I throw the covers off and sprint as fast as I can to my closet. I don't wear my villain costume tonight. Tonight there will be no murder or planning. Tonight will be a test of summoning shreds of patience and trying to keep our tempers under control. I wear a grey, full-sleeve, lace nightgown and gloves. I don't even bother wrapping the bandages. I grab my cane and, at the last moment, I bring my collection of knives and step through the portal.

As expected, I am in the bar. But this time only Kurogiri and All for One are here. All for One watching from the monitor and Kurogiri drying wine glasses with a cloth. I walk to Kurogiri. "How is he?" I don't need to define who "he" is. And neither does Kurogiri need to ask for elaboration.

"He's alive at the moment. Pro-Hero Gunshot riddled his arms and legs with bullets. We bribed a surgeon to remove them in private. He's resting now on the floor above us." His voice sounds the same as ever. Smooth, sophisticated. But I know he must be worried about Shigaraki.

"Can I see him?"

"Of course you may. Go upstairs and into the second room on your left."

I fill one of the bar glasses with water, and I do as he says. But I take my sweet time doing it. My emotions are churning like a hurricane right now. When I reach the room, I open the door. Inside, Shigaraki is lying on a bed - not a hospital bed - with an IV attached. No heart monitor, no respirator. His arms and face are not hidden behind plaster hands. The wrinkles and dry skin are clear as day. I check for his breathing by placing a finger just below his nose. Thankfully, I can feel the movement of air. I check for his pulse and count. 58, 59, 60, 61. It's normal.

Finally, I realize exactly where I am. This is Shigaraki's bedroom. He's lying on a king-size mattress with fog-grey covers and pillows. His plaster hands are resting on top of his nightstand, and his shoes lie by the foot of the bed. Thank goodness they're not on the bed. His room is very simplistic. Oakwood floor, sun-kissed brown walls, and a large window covered by beige drapes. I don't see any photo frames, drawings, or posters. There's a desk in the corner with blank stationery and a collection of black and blue pens. I look into his open wardrobe. I'm not surprised to see that most of his clothes are black. One of his shirts is unfolded, so I take it out to fold it properly.

Just as I do, I hear Shigaraki cough. I'm at his bedside instantly and slowly tip the glass of water down his mouth. He blearily opens his eyes and tries to make out my figure. Once I figure he is lucid enough, I ask, "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit. What are you doing here?" he replies in a very raspy voice.

"The agreement, remember. Besides, we have much to talk about regarding today's debacle. I'll call Kurogiri and All for One to come up." I leave before he can speak again.

I head downstairs, and Kurogiri and the monitor are in the same positions as before. "He's awake. He wants to talk to all of us." Kurogiri puts down the glass he was cleaning and helps me unplug and carry the monitor from downstairs to Shigaraki's bedroom. We set the monitor on the desk. Kurogiri stands beside Shigaraki with a plate of food, while I sit on the edge of the bed, facing them.

"How are you feeling now, Shigaraki?" All for One asks.

"I'll tell you the same thing I told her. I feel like shit. It feels like I've gone to hell and back twice." he says midst eating.

"Selene says that you had something to say to all of us."

Shigaraki stops eating midway and gives me a look. "What? I don't have anything to say. I said what I needed to when Kurogiri and I came back."

"But I do," I say. "I thought that if I had said that I needed to talk, then you wouldn't listen to me. So I used Shigaraki's name."

"Selene. You don't have to do that. Everyone is heard here," All for One placates.

"Hmm. Anyway, I wanted to talk about the attack today. We failed miserably. The three of you came up with the plan with my given information. The two of you nearly got caught. And you, Shigaraki, were almost killed. So who's going to start listing our shortcomings. Because the four of us very well know that we made mistakes. Big mistakes. That's why All Might is still alive."

Shigaraki speaks first. "Our noumu was done in."

"And what does that imply?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you depended too much on your secret weapon. That's what it was, right? The secret weapon you were so eager to reveal to the world. The worthy opponent of All Might. A cornucopia of powerful quirks. Well, you saw how All Might punched it through the dome. Now it's in police custody and under constant watch. So much for your big reveal. Next mistake?" My voice resembles poisoned honey. So saccharine sweet, it hides the acid rotting it.

Shigaraki grumbles in annoyance. But he knows I'm right. "The kids fought back. The criminals we hired couldn't kill a single one."

My eyes harden and my smirk turns cruel. "Yes. And do you know how that could have been avoided? Had you accepted my offer, things would have turned out a lot better than they did. You would have received an entire list of the students' quirks and perhaps planned accordingly, no? Those hired criminals would have known what to expect. Thanks to your rejection, all of those criminals were arrested and are being interrogated as we speak. Keep going."

He's barely restraining his anger. Well, guess what, Shigaraki. After the day I've had, I'm just as angry as you, if not more. But this needs to be done. "Our intel was wrong. All Might hasn't weakened at all."

I raise an eyebrow at that. "Really? Because after All Might defeated the noumu, I heard him say that a job like that should have taken him five punches, but instead it took him 300. In fact, he was so worn out after that match, he couldn't move. Everything he said to you was a bluff. And you fell right for it!"

All for One laughs. "What did I tell you, Shigaraki? The Symbol of Peace doesn't have much time left to remain as the Symbol of Peace."

"There are a few more mistakes. List them," I command.

"Hey! I wake up and this is the kind of welcome I get. Would it hurt you to be a little considerate?" Shigaraki complains.

"Yes. Yes, it would hurt. Ignoring the wrinkles, you look nearly twenty-two years old. I'm fourteen and somehow I'm the mature one. I woke up, too, you know. In the school's infirmary after another arthritic episode. And just after, I was interrogated. So believe me when I say I am not feeling very merciful right now. Now, continue. Name the mistakes."

He glares and curls his lip. "There was a kid whose speed was comparable to All Might's. He didn't know how to stay out and came to All Might's rescue."

"The one with messy green hair wearing the U.A. training uniform?"

"Yeah. That one. So obnoxious. Just wouldn't sit down. You know him?"

"His name is Midoriya Izuku. Was admitted through the regular entrance exam. He has a tendency to break his bones when he uses his quirk. Just like me, he can't handle the full force of his quirk. Shy. Quiet. Nervous. Is terrified of being the center of attention. Under-confident most times but just as passionate."

"Huh? He wasn't any of those things today. Those punches were calculated and precise."

"His quirk is much like All Might's, you say ... On the bus ride to the U.S.J., a student did mention that similarity. Do you want me to keep an eye on him?"

"... Yeah. Do that." He looks relaxed. A little too relaxed.

"There's one last mistake."

He throws his hands up and groans in pain immediately. There goes the relaxed posture. "Oh, come on. I thought bringing the kid up would have distracted you."

I raise both brows this time. "What a shame. It didn't work. Now. Last mistake. Say it."

He rolls his eyes. "I don't know."

"Fine. I'll tell you. Me. I was your strongest weapon at the battle today. Not that noumu, me. You told me to stay on the sidelines, away from the brunt of the fight. Had I not disobeyed your order, then there would have been no chance of killing All Might. All Might attacked what he could see. That was the noumu. But he would have been helpless against someone like me, who could manipulate the elements to disguise oneself. You see, there are four ways to kill a brute: disease, 'accidental death,' an opponent just as strong who attacks from the front, or a stab to the back." I show him my knives. "These daggers aren't just sharp and pretty. They're coated with venom. Golden viper venom. Just one drop and your flesh will burn away faster than fire burns on wood. Within seconds, you'll start to bleed profusely, and within minutes, you'll be nothing but a corpse. I nearly nicked All Might's neck with these daggers twice. One small slice would have done the job. But I failed both times, once because you were giving up and the other because of Midoriya's last attempt to attack you.

"I'll take partial responsibility for this mistake. It's obvious now, that I shouldn't be part of the sidelines. I'm your true secret weapon. I'm your ace card, so use me when you need to win. You were willing to make me your spy, even though I was crippled. I ask that you take this risk as well. You won't regret it."

The four of us remain silent for a long time as my words ring through the air. Shigaraki and Kurogiri look at me intently, taking my words in. All for One breaks the silence. "You bring up very good points, Selene. But why? Why should it matter to you whether the League of Villains is disbanded, whether the attacks are a success or a failure, whether Shigaraki lives or dies?"

"I think you know the answer to that already, All for One."

I may not be able to see him, but I can imagine his smirk. "I do. But I want to hear it from you."

"Because Shigaraki and I had an agreement. If he dies, I won't get my revenge. It's as simple as that."

"How selfish of you," he chuckles.

"I allied myself with you sorry bunch. I never said I was a saint. It's just business. I'm not stupid to make an investment without any profit. In the case of this agreement, my time and intelligence are my investments; my weekly murder is my profit. The League of Villains is the business by which this give and take system is going through."

All for One's laugh is completely unleashed this time. "You're a liar, a thief, and utterly without conscience, Selene. But you'll keep to any deal you strike."

"I did say, 'The deal is the deal,' that night."

Citations:

"A liar, a thief, and utterly without conscience. But he'll keep to any deal you strike with him." - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

"The deal is the deal." - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo