WARNING: child neglect and abuse. Depiction of depression
This is the League of Villains guys...its not gonna be sunshine and lollipops unfortunately. So...yeah, bad people being mean and violent
The portal opened up and they stood in a hallway looking into a room filled with quite the eclectic group.
There was a man in a full body black and gray bodysuit that had what looked like a "T" and "W" over his chest. The upper half of his mask was gray with white eye sockets while the lower half-covering his mouth was black. The only thing he wore that wasn't monochromatic was the red and green wristbands. The man seemed both invested and not to be watching some show with a man with golden hair and an orange Gi on.
There was a reptile man that reminded Hizashi of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. It didn't help that he looked like a ninja or assassin wearing a sleeveless shirt and dark, baggy pants paired with black shoes and pale, metallic knee guards. He even had a mask made of a long, tattered strip of cloth, like the turtles. Although he did have a red scarf and bandages wrapped around both his arms which wasn't very TMNT-like. He sat with the bodysuit man, kinda paying attention.
There was a man that Shouta guessed was cold as he wore gloves and a large trench coat despite it being quite warm in the building. His style reminded Shouta of Sherlocks Holms, especially with the broach and cane leaning against the couch he was reading on. Hizashi had gotten a completely different idea and guessed the man was a magician. with his hat and unique mask, he had to be in show business. Hizashi told himself to remember to ask to see a trick when it isn't rude.
In the back was a person dusting...or the two guessed it was a person as all they saw for a head was a cloud of dark purple mist, and glowing yellow eyes. He was very overdressed, wearing a very elegant suit and tie which had a metal brace that spanned from around his collarbone to just below his eyes.
However his scariness was quickly overshadowed by the man currently throwing a tantrum as he lost in his game, raging about faulty mechanics or bad game design.
He had deathly pale skin, tinged yellow, and bags for days under his eyes. His lips are chapped and he had several scars, on his right eye and under his lip. He pulled at his messy grayish-blue hair hanging over his face in uneven waves. His eyes were obscured, but when he flung his head back they saw two, small, beady irises. He sat in nothing special, choosing some pants and a v-neck, both of which are black
Evil seemed to radiate from the man, causing Hizashi and Shouta to stop moving the instant they saw him. Their knees bumping together, too terrified to cross the doorway.
Toga hid her smile as she noticed the two 6 years olds apparent fear at the sight of her leader.
"What's wrong?"
"Is he...will...is he visiting or does he.. live withs you." Hizashi mumbled out.
"Shigaraki?
"Um...we...I forgots to tells my moms where we'd bes so…" Hizashi pulled out his phone while slowly backing up. He shookly typed in the numbers when his back suddenly hit something solid and the phone was snatched from his hand.
"We a daycare now?" A scraggly voice said from behind the two.
They looked back and instantly Aizawa buried his face into his cat's head while Hizashi gripped his backpack's straps tighter. The man was absolutely terrifying.
He had patches of gnarled, wrinkled, purple skin that covered much of his lower face and neck, all the way down past his collarbone, below his eyes and on his arms. The multiple staples crudely holding it all in place glittered as the light hit them. Hizashi wondered if he constantly hurt as He had cartilage piercings in both ears, and a triple nostril piercing on the right side of his nose. Like the tired gamer his hair hung low over his eyes except his was black and spiked upwards.
"Um...cans I haves my phone back."
"This?" Dabi held it up, "be good and you get it back. Rule of our place." he dropped the phone in one of the pockets on his long ripped, dark blue jacket.
Dabi chuckled meanly, although the two tykes didn't catch it, before pulling the two, now very reluctant, children into the room.
Hizashi was uncomfortable, maybe even scared of the group Toga hung with. He had the feeling something was off about them, that he's not seeing something really really important.
He did know one thing, the questions they were asking weren't the typical ones you'd asked. It all seemed to pertain or revolve around security, weaknesses and other stuff.
And if they weren't asking that well they left Shouta and him completely alone, spending time in their rooms, on their electronics or out.
Although Hizashi wasn't complaining as he was absolutely terrified of several of them, especially Dabi. Dabi, who had been glaring at him constantly ever since seeing his Endeavor action figure. Dabi, who had still not given him his phone back despite how nicely he asked and the concerns he raised.
They hadn't even given him and Shouta a room to use or a mattress, instead leaving them to basically sleep wherever they passed out. He said passing out because although scary, there were some perks to staying with Toga and her friends.
They didn't go outside anymore, like at all, but they did let him and Shouta have absolutely no bedtime. Letting them choose when to sleep, the two sometimes not being jerked into dreamland till 1:00 am.
They also had free reign of the TV. They could watch anything and everything they wanted without needing to ask.
They could talk however they wanted, too. Apparently here saying "asshole" and "bitch" weren't bad. That and a lot of the others Shigakari would hurl at his games, the news, and them.
They could have as many snacks as they want, Hizashi and Shouta's dinner having been nothing but cookies, rice and poptarts once. Also, it was soda's galore! With no limit either as that's all there seemed to be basically little healthy items wherever they were staying.
It took three days but Nezu and the gang finally got their allies together. Heroes and contacts that'd worked with them in previous missions and operations.
So many hero's they had to use the room UA had made for galas and fancy auntions.
The room was abuzz with activity but Nemuri couldn't care less, hell she didn't care about much if anything right now.
Nezu had gotten her time off from hero duties and said to take a break from teaching but she refused.
She needed a reason to get out of bed.
She knew everyone was looking at her, but she was out of fucks to give. Hell, she hadn't even put on her hero costume for the past week. Or she thinks it's been a week. Time kinda meant nothing as of late.
She made a face, one that could rival Shouta's typical expression, as Emi ( ) approached her.
She saw the question in her eyes and Nemuri couldn't blame her given her current appearance.
The best description would be if a prude had dressed her. Her outfit did not reveal any extra bit of skin. She had an oversized sweatshirt that erased her shapely figure, making her look frumpy. Her hair was in a sloppy bun and jeans. Not leather or even skinny jeans, just jeans. Hell, she wasn't even in high heels! She wore plain sneakers.
Nemuri simply glanced at her before hunching over as she hugged herself. Remembering all the jokes she'd made with Shouta.
Nezu, seeing everyone here, got up to the podium and began to speak.
"Thank you for coming today...I'll not mince words. Eraserhead and Present Mic, we believe, have fallen into the hands of the league."
A ruckus started as everyone reacted.
Fat Gum stopped eating, did a double take, even Endeavor seemed more disturbed than usual at said news.
Nezu held up a paw silencing everyone, "Unfortunately, we made the mistake of thinking we could sweep the situation both befell under the rug from everyone, including themselves. Rather than do the logical thing and tell them whom or what to avoid.
"What does...what does that mean?" Fat Gum said as he ate some chips
"Let me explain, it might help if you have a visual. It'd better explain as to why we needn't waste time. As this has never happened before, or as far as by what I've been informed of, it hasn't.
Two pictures of Hizashi and Shouta popped up before showing a shaky video taken from behind a dumpster.
"This was recovered from the quirk user's phone when he was taken into custody not even 2 week ago. Found outside the precinct beaten horribly. It shows the night of the incident."
"OhGodohGodohGodohGod!" frantic whispering is heard from the filmer, "I hit them with my quirk oh god! I attacked two pros!? Shit!"
Said filmer peeped out from behind the dumpster to catch a stupified Mic and Eraserhead, both drenched beyond belief. An expression of rage quickly replaced Hizashi's shocked one.
"Why I! HOW DARE YOU MESS UP MY LOOK, YOU SHAM OF A BAD GUY! GET BACK HERE! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT'S RUDE?! YOU *urk*"
"Hizashi! Stop yelling! Some of us like our eardrums intact!" Shouta's screams, his eyes glowing red as his hair attempts (but fails) to rise. groaning of the nine handcuffed criminals is heard following said sentence
"WELL SOR-*cough**cough* Shou-*cough*-ta do you feel weird cause I don't *cough* feel so *hack* good."
*THUD*
The camera pans over to show Shouta pass out, flopping to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
The look of fear on Hizashi's face is heartbreaking as his face becomes more and more red, the coughing more aggressive. He too falls to the ground, crawling and dragging himself to the phone Shouta had been using.
"Officer Tamakawa *cough* h-*cough**hack*-el-*wheeze* p. Help! We've b-b-b"
"h..e….l..*THUD*
Nezu hit the speed up button, zooming past the large span of the two just laying face down in the dirty alley, the nine captured stumbling away and stopped as the boy had knelt close to the two MIA heroes' unconscious bodies.
Like two old lava lamps, the two's bodies started to slowly glow till they were so bright it hurt to even look at the phone.
There was an explosion and dust and smoke obscured everything. Nezu fast forwarded again till the smoke had cleared to show the two heroes turned children.
Mic unconscious, his speaker looking horribly uncomfortable and a very out of it wet, mini Shouta staring, eyes unfocused and hazy, into the camera.
His shirt was so big it slid down his shoulders, sadly showing the boy had missed a meal or twenty, with how the outline of his ribs was easily visible.
With that the video ended, leaving everyone shocked.
Then pictures showing Shouta and Hizashi in their current state popped up on screen. Despite the situation one picture shown was the picture Nemuri had taken when they'd been caught body painting each other.
Gasps were heard throughout as well as comments like, "So that's where they disappeared to."
"I initially believed that for all purposes except literally, Eraserhead and Present Mic had...disappeared," Nezu refrained from saying died like he originally was going to do. "That observation may've been false."
What does that mean?
"They may not remember memories but I do believe they retained information. An example being Hizashi's phone. What six year old knows how to spell "Loquacious". Or given the fact the two even made it to UA in the first place. If going off where the incident occurred they in ten days, successfully navigated their way back from 3.7 miles away. Despite never hearing of U.A at that age."
"What does that mean?," asked
"It means we have 2 six year olds with knowledge spanning from 15+ years of heroing but none of the resilience. They'll be easy to crack. And we all know the type of missions Eraserhead took." Gran Torino said bluntly.
The room became deathly silent
"I'll tell my agency to start looking for clues, while under the guise of patrols or security measures." Endeavor said, already planning how he'd divide up his workers.
"I can have several clones searching while I do other things." Ectoplasm added
"Got anything we can use as like...a scent. Something tells me the league wouldn't care to take care of even their basic needs." Fat Gum said glumly.
"Don't worry Nemuri, we'll get them back." Emi said in a comforting tone, softly so only she'd hear.
Unfortunately, Nemuri knew better, even if recovered, those bois weren't her friends. Her Hizashi and Shouta were gone and would remain gone.
Nemuri simply bit her lip, opting to stay silent, as to not possibly hinder Emi's performance with that sad fact.
Nemuri nodded and spent the rest of the meeting fighting the urge to cry as memories of her and her boys, all 3, ran through her head.
It wasn't until Hizashi had gotten up, needing to pee, the 6th night they'd spent with the League that he heard something bad. Really bad.
Wandering around, his sleepy mind struggling to remember where the restroom was, he stumbled upon a very private conversation.
"Toga! Your plan for intel is absolutely worthless!" Shigaraki raged.
"wha?"
"it's all useless! Nothing like secret plans, weaknesses or anything! I don't need to know who has a crush on who!"
Hizashi heard the sounds of something being thrown.
"Well sorry! Then let's use 'em as hostages since they don't know anything. Either way, I WANT TO SEE DEKU! His blood will taste so great!"
Much to his dismay a new voice soon joined in, "Oh they know, they just ain't talking. The blonde one's a shitty liar...can't say much for the other one, pretty sure he's retarded."
"Well, let's …"
Hizashi backed away, terrified and in pain. His head throbbed so badly, is head throbbed so badly, Worse than it had around the time he was still playing baseball.
"Wait. I hear something."
Hearing that and seeing one of the shadows get closer Hizashi ran back, his bladder empty despite never finding the toilet.
By the start of the second week, Shigakari was fed up. His day, already sucky, it didn't take but one thing to tip him over the edge.
So what happened at dinner was in no way his fault.
The League decided to have one of the rare sit down at the table and eat dinners. Pulling him away from his video games much to his annoyance. So when he saw one of his "guests" (a.k.a hostages) was not eating he was not amused.
Hizashi hadn't told Shouta his discovery, as he'd been convincing himself he'd heard wrong. That he and Shouta weren't in such a terrible situation. However, that was becoming extremely difficult seeing as Dabi had become his shadow as of late, never leaving him alone.
Hizashi didn't like the smile said man would always direct at him.
He was so stressed, both of them were and he thinks it was taking a toll on their bodies. The headaches now seemed constant.
I'll just ask, like really really beg to go home. Toga knew too much about Deku to be anything but a friend. She has to be! Cause I heard wrong. Was my imagination! Yeah...it had to be...
Hizashi looked around to see unlike at UA, no one seemed happy to be sitting together. All of them eating and not talking one bit. It was really sad.
"Hey, EraserHead. Eat." Shigaraki demanded as he seemed to watch their every movement.
Why's he keep calling us that? Who's Present Mic and Eraserhead?
Hizashi looked over and saw to his horror Shouta wasn't moving to pick up his fork. In fact he was clutching his head. Staring at his food almost mortified.
Oh no.
"No." Shouta struggled to say.
"What? Did you just tell me no? I said eat."
Shigaraki, the man child he is, didn't take kindly to being told no.
"Errrrrrrrr...No. It's ruineds." Shouta tugged on a lock of hair.
"Ruined? Is our food not good enough for you, hero?" Shigaraki glared at the two tots, his previous hatred towards heros fueling his current reaction, making it escalate faster
Hizashi, seeing the tension rising quickly jumped in,"Nono! He just...the foods touched. Theys can'ts touch or its ruined."
Hizashi expecting them to understand waited for them to remake the plate, it was a common mistake.
They couldn't be that un-understanding, right?
"It's ruined?" Shigaraki got up and got closer to Shouta, "Well, too bad. Eat it or I show you what my quirk can do." The white-haired man leaned in close making sure both of them were looking at him.
"Tsk...tsk...tsk…"
"You have till I reach ten.
"9."
"8."
"7."
Hizashi looked around expecting to see one of the people in the room move to stop this. Except, none of them cared.
Toga was eating like this, threatening guests, was normal. The man with the top hat was looking at his watch, bored out of his mind. The man with the two skin colors was leaning forward in interest, not concern.
"4."
Spinner looks apprehensive like he wants to step in but remains seated and Twice was too busy arguing with himself.
Hizashi looked over to see Shouta was now pulling his hair harder as Shigaraki was invading his personal space. His hands are now extremely close to his best bud's head.
"3."
"Isn't anyones gonna stops him!?" Hizashi slammed his hands on the table, thinking maybe they didn't see how scared they were. That perhaps they hadn't moved because neither him or Shouta told them they didn't like the game being played. That they needed someone to stop this.
"2."
"1."
Hizashi's hand shot out, grabbing Shouta's shirt. Using his whole body he wrenched Shouta out of the way of Shigaraki's hand. The force actually sent the two of them to the ground as Hizashi's rapid shift of weight sent him off balance.
The breath was knocked out of him as he landed on his back with Shouta, pulling the smaller boy to his chest.
"We...we...wants to go homes! Can wes go homes now?! Homes to Yagi and nice doggy!" Hizashi watched in terror as the top and cross rail of the chair disintegrated.
That could have been Shouta's head…I didn't hear wrong! These guys are evil!
"WE WON'TS TALKS! SWEARS!"
"WE'LL EVEN CLOSE OUR EYES! PLEASE TAKE US HOMES!"
Hizashi pulled Shouta closer as he got up, his knees shaking.
"Really, Shigs?" Toga said looking over at the wide eyed children with disinterest,"now we'll have to steal a whole new set of chairs."
"Don't care. Twice. Put them away." Shigaraki said as he glared at the two, still very much angry.
"DO IT YOURSELF! Okay, boss!" The man made his way towards them.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Hizashi pushed Shouta's headphones closer to his ears before he screeched. Fear spiking as the man got closer and closer.
Catching everyone off guard he made a mad dash for the closest open door, pulling Shouta along by his hand.
Hizashi knew they were in big trouble, like serious trouble. Hizashi felt like his mind was literally overheating as his heart was trying to shove its way out his chest.
"Don't worries Sho! We'll gets out of this bad place and backs to Yagi and my mommies." He didn't know if he was saying that for Shouta or himself.
He quickly picked up the speed as he heard the sound of footsteps, despite their headstart they were still children. Their tiny legs are only able to do so much.
With a bit of difficulty he pushed the door to the stairway open, his lungs starting to hurt from eating so poorly nutrition-wise and the lack of physical activity he'd had.
Hizashi didn't look back knowing it would just make his panic time even worse. The two had made it halfway down the flight of stairs leading to the exit when he felt himself and Shouta yanked backwards. A hand out of nowhere yanking them back.
Within seconds they were back where they'd started, just one black vortex had erased all their progress, and likely their one chance at escaping.
"No! Nononono!" Hizashi kicked and flailed, throwing his arm backwards to strike whoever was manhandling him.
"Stupid kids! Take the little bastards to the closest empty room and throw them in! LEAVE EM TO ROT!" Shigaraki said before walking off, his appetite ruined and ears hurt. He was off to play video games till he passed out (like any grown up would)
"Maybe some alone time will help you understand your position and how one should behave. Be happy we're letting y'all room together. Watch out for the monster."
Dabi tossed Hizashi and Shouta in carelessly and shut the heavy door before either kid could even get off their backs.
"Ow….nononononono!" Hizashi said as he watched the upside down Dabi slammed the door shut locking the two tykes in the utility room.
This area seemed like an afterthought as unlike the rest of the place it had cement flooring. With the only "furniture" being a broom, washer and dryer (both of which looked and smelled ancient) and some boxes.
Shouta was glad they'd at least been thrown in a room with lighting, made it easier for him and Hizashi to spend the remaining time they were awake looking for the monster.
Hawks let out a sigh as he got prepared to spend time once again with the League, his most hated activity. At least, like he expected, all the members except the walking mist man were lazing about and goofing off.
Why am I trying to infiltrate these dudes again? Guess it's another d...what the hell?
Hawks was just about to bounce, lie and say he was just checking in when he saw some black lump behind the couch, blending in with the shadows
"What's this?" Hawks bent down to find it was a cat plushie with a white scarf.
Hawks knew for a fact none of the members have this, and if they do, they'd have destroyed it completely. Not even Toga remembering she liked to slice up her plushies.
Dabi glanced over, "Probably one of the two retards' toys."
"Wha?"
That caught him off guard.
"Oh yeah, you weren't here. Toga thought her idea of kidnapping two UA brats was a brilliant idea. But either they know and aren't telling or are just useless intel-wise."
Toga stuck her tongue out at Dabi, "At least I caused some trouble for them. It's been months and we've been doing nothing."
"You mean trouble for us, every hero seems to suddenly care about this Amber Alert. But you totally factored that in." said, one could hear the eye roll in his tone of voice
"Meaning they're essential or something! Besides at the very least we have leverage or something."
"Or playthings" Dabi's muttered
Hawks didn't like anything he'd heard but couldn't show it.
"Ok...where are they?
Shigakari dies in video game, "Stupid, I HIT THE "A" BUTTON! We put 'em in a room and locked the door."
"Okay…" Hawks said before grabbing a soda from the kitchen, stuffed animal still in hand.
"Hey….when was the last time those two ate?" Spinner said, looking up from his manga of One Piece.
"What?" Shigaraki said, back to playing video games and paying half attention.
"Like after dinner last night...when have they ate cause I've been here all day and ain't seen 'em."
"Kurogiri has been giving them food in their room." Shigaraki said through grit teeth, trying to beat the level he'd found himself stuck on.
"No sir, I haven't. You told me to leave them. So, I have done as you asked and left them." Kurogiri interjected.
"You haven't fed them…" Hawks trailed off before asking Spinner where they were, having figured at least 12 hours had passed since the two captives had eaten, going off what the lizard man said.
"Where do you think you're going?" Dabi said looking up from his laptop.
"To feed the 2 hungry teens you're currently holding captive. What do you think, to see who we kidnapped." Hawks said boredly.
Dabi smiled, "Oh, yes..." Dabi got up, following Hawks, "you're a hit with the youngsters. I can already imagine the smiles on their 6 year old faces...if they're still conscious. " The evil smile Dabi had widened as he saw Hawks tense and speed walk to where the two were placed.
Hizashi lay curled up in a ball, Shouta pet his head.
"I'm so hungrys" he whispered as he balled up tighter.
After last night the two had just been left to sit in the room, attempting to break out, the door featuring many scuff marks and dinges from feet and fist hitting it. However, all attempts just ended up exerting more energy. Hizashi's shoulder hurt from ramming into the door, while Shouta just broke the skin on his hands.
So expecting this to be simply timeout and they'd be stuck for the long haul went to sleep.
The next morning, after sleeping on the floor, they waited patiently for someone to come with breakfast.
Only they hadn't come, so they missed breakfast.
With nothing to do, they just went back to sleep, thinking it'd be better than sitting and sulking.
And that worked...for a while. After lunch rolled around and they'd again not been fed, in set the hunger pains. Hizashi, never having been in such a situation, was left laying there crying as his stomach continued to hurt. Crying partially because of hunger, partially because of the fact Shouta seemed completely unaffected. Like this wasn't out of the norm or it wasn't his first rodeo. However, for the most part Hizashi was crying because once again he'd dragged Shouta into a terrible situation. No, terrible didn't describe the given situation they found themselves.
Hizashi had spent a good 10 minutes apologizing and saying self-deprecating remarks about his intelligence, personality and more to Shouta. Unable to truly express how bad he felt about all of this. Especially since he'd almost died at the hands of the white haired man.
Hizashi remembered how the chair had crumbled and how Shigakari, knowing what'd happen, didn't hesitate. Remembering how no one had moved despite him pleading for them to.
I'ms such an idiot! I nearlys killed mys bestest friend! I'ms such a failure!
Hizashi grit his teeth as his stomach growled again, everytime sending more and more aggressive pain signals to his brain. Which was now made worse because the headache he had from all the crying he'd done.
Just then the door opened and the instant Hizashi spotted the set of large bright red wings, messy ash blonde hair swept backward his heart soared. Hope exploded in his heart after being smothered greatly.
"Hawks! You're in Deku's big book! Pleases! Yous a hero. Please take us backs homes!" Hizashi looked at the man with tears pouring down his face, only to get a blank stare.
"Wow, and here I thought I was evil," Dabi looked at Hawks,"Well? Ain't you gonna answer the child's request? Flap them home?"
"Typical. Listen, unlike you I don't find the sobbing of kids to be fun or therapeutic. Let's go, I have news for y'all."
Shouta made a move for the door but Hawks shut it before he could do anything.
The click of the door locking again was deafening.
Hawks waited till the league members either left or went to nap, not wanting to risk alerting them. Even then It was another hour before Hawks was cautiously making his way back to where the two children were being held.
Hawks had never been so angry nor had to fight so hard to keep up a facade. You can do just about anything and he'll be able to hide it...that doesn't include children. Anything involving children made his blood boil, Hawks struggled not to slit Dabi's throat the second he walked in and saw the two and the state they were in.
He'd seen too much of himself as a child in the two of them.
Hawks found the closet and slowly made his way inside, worried he might get attacked by the two.
He didn't have to worry, worry about an attack at least, as the blond hadn't seemed to move an inch since last time. While the black haired one was curled up next to him.
God….fuckin dammit.
Hawks closed the door and got down on his knees, knowing they're already scared enough they don't need another stranger looming over them.
"Hey...hey little dudes…." Hawks hand hesitantly hovered above Hizashi who seemed to curl up more now that Hawks was close.
"Okay, scared. Makes sense, you're probably hungry." Hawks quickly pulled the PB&J sandwiches and juice boxes he brought with him out.
He knew it wasn't much but he could only think so much, he's never cared for kids and didn't really grow up with a reference to work off.
"Here I'll put them here and back up kay. It may not seem like it but...but I'm not a meanie." He put the items within arms reach before backing up, he'd even gone as far as to bring the cat plushie with him.
He had to wait a bit but the two soon hesitantly took the food (the black-haired child grabbed the cat so fast he didn't see him move), eyeing him before taking a bite.
"Can I get your names? Here I'll go first. My name's Keigo Takami but you can call me Hawks."
After a bit Hizashi mumbled out their answer while adding that the dry sleepy guy kept calling them Present Mic and Eraserhead.
Hawks barely kept his face neutral upon hearing that.
Of course. Couldn't just be some random unlucky kids. This makes it even trickier.
Hawks got up to go when he felt a tug on his wing, it was Shouta
"Will you please take us with yous." The look in both their eyes hit him right in the chest.
"No, but I really do want to help. But can't right now. The reason you're here is because you know things right? Important things?"
He got a nod from both of them
"Right, so you're going to have to give them some info on your friends," he put a finger to his lips when he saw both of them about to gasp,"I know you don't want to. just nothing really really important or sounds like the truth but isn't."
Hawks quickly put his serious face on, internally beating himself up, "I can't and won't protect you from them. I have my own mission I have to do. If you can't overpower them, then outsmart them."
Hawks left them before he broke and decided to say, "fuck the mission" and take the little buggers with him.
I can't save them but I can get them a bit of leeway.
Hawks walked towards the bar, wanting a drink when, almost on cue, Dabi came snooping.
"Talking to the brats?"
"Yeah, ever heard of the saying, you catch more flies with honey? I fed 'em, gave 'em a bitta hope and the kids told me something interesting they'd heard."
This got Shigakari's attention, his ears basically perked up,"What'd they say?"
"Seems the committee or board is passing students by the buttloads. Even if they didn't do stellar or even great on the license exams. They're supposedly bulking up the numbers of heros."
"Perfect."
"See, I told you they'd be useful!"
"And they told you this?" Dabi said, skeptical
"Yeah. The ranking and title really makes kids eager to trust. So, the popularity contest is good for something I guess."
"And you didn't know this before?" Dabi said, staring into Hawk's eyes.
"My number in the Popularity contest doesn't equate to security clearance. Hell, my only contact there is Endeavor and the fiery braggart won't let anything spill."
Dabi stared at Hawks for a long while before conceding. "Fine, whatever."
"Anywho, don't trust the lil bastards but at least let them walk and eat. A dead or ill child doesn't tell you anything."
Shigakari looked at Kurogiri, the smog butler just nodded, knowing already what he was being ordered.
"How kind of you, sound like you care."
"Sure, Dabi, whatever you say. Go ahead, waste your leak. I said, ``Take care of their basic needs, not pamper them." Hawks headed out, "got a mission, see yah in at least a...week? maybe two, considering the typical showboating and marketing every rescue and act involves." Hawks quickly added some anti-hero society sentiments in hopes to hinder their suspicions.
He walked out, feeling Dabi's stare burning him.
Hizashi did a lap around the League's base, trying desperately to get rid of the energy as they weren't allowed outside.
And they didn't appreciate his random tapping or drumming.
He was also trying to think up another lie or fake information to give the group, his head hurting more and more as his brain felt like it was exploding for hours at a time.
But Shouta and him were running out of lies and the questions getting more intrusive. Having to constantly be ready for the spontaneous interrogations they'd get.
We need to get out of here. Or get something out…some sort of signal.
Hizashi knew what he had to do: get a phone
This made him frown as he remembered how aggravating Dabi had been as of late, holding his phone in plain sight, knowing he can't get it.
He can't remember how many times he's just stared at the man's breast pocket, his phone peeping out.
I just need to get close enough but how….
Turns out he didn't have to wait long.
"So you'll talk to Hawks but not lil' ol' me?"
It was the stitched man.
"I-" before he could even get a word out Hizashi felt his feet leave the ground.
Dabi got right in his face making Hizashi's nose scrunch up and eyes water.
He smells like ashes, burnt skin, and sulfur.
Dabi held Hizashi up from the ground by his shirt collar.
"Like I said when you first walked in on our night conversation, you're a shitty liar. Makes me sad you don't wanna share with me the truth. I know! How about I share with you, huh?"
Hizashi winced as Dabi grabbed his left wrist, leaving him dangling like a monkey. In horror he watched as Dabi activated his quirk, a bright blue flame roared to life in his hand.
"Cool right?" Dabi smiled before shaking his prey, the force causing Hizashi's glass to slip and fall to the ground, "Oh, your glasses fell! It must be hard to see. here I'll bring it a little closer."
Hizashi frantically kicked and squirmed as Dabi brought the flame closer and closer. His small hand pushing against his chest, scratching him and more. However despite Hizashi's efforts he couldn't escape, Dabi only adjusted so he was now pinning him to the wall by his neck.
Hizashi twisted his body as far away as possible as tears rolled down his face. The smell and fear making him cry
"Why are you so sad? I hear one of your favorite colors is blue. Hell! I'm just like your hero, Endeavor" the contempt in Dabi's eyes when saying that is immense.
Hizashi watched helplessly flailing in the air as the fire got closer and closer to his face. Watching as the blurry manic grin on the bi-colored villain's face grew the closer it got.
He just wanted to go home, he promised he'd be the best boy ever for Deku or his friends from then on. He'd help, sit still, be quiet. Anything if they'd just come and get him and Shouta.
"As long as we have one of you, we'll be just fine."
"PUT HIM DOWN." Kurogiri growled as he put a portal between Dabi's hand and Hizashi, making the other villain's hand pop out beside him. He wasn't going to fail his master's orders.
The longer the stitched man took the smaller the portal got, till a trickle of blood rolled down Dabi's wrist from his hand slowly being severed.
"Fine," He dropped Hizashi, "I already got the ultimate reaction from the loud mouth, anyway. I thought kids stopped pissing their pants by six." Dabi walked out laughing, having enjoyed every second of said encounter immensely, even if he didn't finish the boy off.
Hizashi sat in a heap, red faced and crying. His body shaking as he stared down the halls, like any second the sulfur smelling man would be back.
He didn't know how to describe what he was feeling. Angry, scared, ashamed, and a ton of others rocking his body, fighting to be the one expressed at the moment.
"Oh...poor Zashi," Kurogiri carefully helped Hizashi up, "let's go get cleaned up. And then I'll see if I can't get a dessert for you."
Hizashi looked up and slowly nodded, holding his breath as he was picked up
Not releasing it till he was placed in their "room" to change and put his dirty clothes in the washer.
He could barely contain himself as he looked at the fruits of Dabi's torturing.
His phone.
The man, so focused on his terrified expression, hadn't seen or felt his fingers knock the phone free.
Hizashi couldn't believe he'd gotten it all the way back, let alone been left alone to make a call.
With a quick look at the door he dialed the first number he thought of.
Yagi looked over the student's tests,, trying to keep his mind active and out the dumps.
when he heard a strange song.
"All the single ladies, all the single ladies
All the single ladies, all the single ladies
All the single ladies, all the single ladies
All the single ladies
"Now put your hands up"
It wasn't weird because he knew where it was coming from; his phone...it was weird because of why it was playing
Strange because that only played when Mic specifically called him.
I'm hallucinating now.
He picked up, expecting it to be a scam or just his imagination
"Hello..Hizashi!?"
He heard sniffling and whimpers on Hizashi's side of the line.
Yagi felt the lead in his stomach lighten
They're not dead, thank God! Wait, focus! I need to focus!
"Hizashi, if that's you can you please tell me where you two are? Hizashi you have to say something or I can't help." He tried sounding relaxed but expected he was failing.
"With these mean people! Please wes wanna comes homes we're sorries wes won't bes a burdens. Please!"
"Nonono it's okay, we're not mad! Never were mad! We're looking really really hard and miss you a lot! Can you tell me where you are?" All Might tried both calming and pulling information from Hizashi.
"I don'ts know! All I knows is wes don't likes its! They're means and scarys and do bad things! I-I-I want my mommies. *hic* Co-"
The phone cut out, the battery having died completely.
Hizashi stared at the phone, repeatedly trying to turn it on only to get a flash of a battery with 0% in the center.
Hizashi couldn't help but cry.
I just wanna goes homes!
Yagi stared at the phone, the first time in weeks a genuine smile on his face. His exhaustion replaced with determination
"Hang on a little longer, boys! We're on our way!"
Yep, not dead. Not dead at all. Exhausted and getting burnt out but not dead. Next chapter will be the last, I loved this series dearly.
Yes, I do think Hizashi listens to Beyoncé and many other American artists. Betcha he loves himself some Lady GaGa.
Been swamped with projects as soon I'll be graduating…[que anxiety]
Dabi's "watch out for the monster" is a call back to what my cousins did once (stayed up all night looking for the damn thing. Armed with a stuffed animal)
I'm a mean person, doing that to Hizashi, but really...I can see Dabi doing that for shits and giggles. Dude's an ass, and I'll debate anyone on that…[sorry, remembering some debates had]
But that's also a call back to a Halloween prank taken too far or too well executed.
A week and 2 days have passed, meaning 9 days. Incase anyone is confused
Yeah, still have several other stories I've found buried/plots I wanna do. May post first chapters soon. Both evolved wings!
Might take a break from What if…(NOT abandoning it) It just puts me in a mindset that isn't beneficial at the moment.
Time travel probably has...3ish chapters left? That too gets a bit heavy...God I write a lot of angst. (Dealing with grief is hard.)