hi guys, it's me again! Trigger warnings for this chapter include mentions of torture and brief abuse, drinking and drugging. Those are the only ones I can really think of, just be prepared for the twists in this one. And if you guys had any questions that wont spoil any of the fic, please dont hesitate to ask. I could even make a special out of it! As usual, thank you to all the new favorites and followers, your support means a lot to me and to Leinei. You are all awesome and it makes me happy so many people enjoy reading this, even if it is a little cringey in some places. Enjoy reading!
"So you're actually telling me you have no fucking leads where my sister is?" Reina demands, rubbing her hands over her face as she stands in front of Naomasa. She hasn't slept since she got the news, standing there with her hair in a sloppy bun, and wearing sweats and a hoodie because she barely had the strength to get out of bed that morning. "You have no leads at all?"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Salinsa, but as of this moment, that's still classified information and we are still trying to deduce how the villains who captured Leinei Salinsa and Katsuki Bakugo discovered the training camp considering only a select few knew about it."
"So now you're accusing me of selling my sister and her classmates out?"
"I am not accusing you of anything, ma'am. I'm just saying it is currently an open investigation and as soon as I get information that I can relay to you, I will let you know. In the meantime, I suggest you go home and get some-"
"Don't talk to me like I'm a civilian, Detective Naomasa," she growls, watching the man flinch despite his stoic look. She digs her license out of her pocket, holding it up to him. He sighs as he takes it from her, nodding. "I'm Supporting Star Hero Elementia. I want all the information you have regarding this or I'm going to the Commission to take it and your fucking job."
"I know who you are, Elementia," he tells her, handing the license back to her. "You were in Hosu the day the Hero Killer attacked and assisted Endeavor and Gran Torino in capturing him and several Nomus. I thank you for your continued dedication in keeping our nation safe, however, as you are a suspect in this investigation, I must once again repeat that you are not to be privy to any of the information or leads we may or may not have until you are cleared of suspicion. As soon as I have information for you, and you are cleared of said suspicion, I will be giving you a call to tell you. In the meantime, please go home and get some rest, and resume your duties as usual."
"You…" she takes a breath, feeling the plastic edges of her license cutting into her palm. Her hands shake as she looks up at him, forcing her emotions down and placing a lid on that box. "Fine. Thank you for speaking with me. I wish you the best in your investigation, Detective Tsukauchi."
"Thank you. I can have an officer escort you home."
"No, that won't be necessary. I have to stop by my agency and pick up some files. Have a nice day."
She leaves the precinct, feeling numb as she walks down the sidewalk. Tears prick at her eyes, the feeling of her palms stinging from the plastic the only thing keeping her from swooping back into that building and torturing the information out of them. Her sister is kidnapped, and she's a suspect in that. Why? She knows they don't have the best relationship, but...but she wouldn't ever do anything to hurt Leinei.
Her phone goes off and she digs through her left side pocket to pull it out, seeing it's one of her sidekicks from the agency. She takes a breath and answers the call, slipping her license back into her pocket as she introduces herself using her hero persona.
"Hey, Elementia, it's Eia," the sidekick replies, hesitant almost. "I-I know you're going through something right now, but um, it's Toda. He hasn't shown up for work yet, and he's usually here by now. We went out for his patrol route and the regular civilians said he hasn't been by yet. We can't get a hold of him either, so we were hoping you could come in or you could try getting a hold of him? I'm so sorry to bother you-"
"No, Eia, it's fine," she assures, pushing some of the loose strands of hair from her face. "I'll try to get a hold of him, and give me like twenty minutes and I'll be at the office. I just saw him last night and he looked fine, but he might have gotten sick or overslept."
"Right. Thank you, Elementia. You're the best."
"I wouldn't be without you guys. I'll see you soon. Stay safe out there."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Reina hangs up and sighs, staring at her phone. Her heart hurts, her stomach is twisting, and yet the only thing she really wants to do is go to work. At least working, she can forget everything for a few hours, plaster that smile on her face and go about her business helping the community and others. At work, she doesn't have to be anyone but Elementia. She doesn't have to be Reina the orphan, or Reina the older sister. She can just be Elementia.
That's all I want...I want to be known for me, not for Leinei…
Toda looks down at his phone as Reina calls him for the eighth time. His hands are shaking, his stomach twisting. He declines the call, pushing his phone back into his pocket as he pulls his baseball cap further down over his face. The police were driving up and down the road, casing the street the bar was located just off of the main street. He feels so wound up, standing flush against a wall across the road from said bar before looking up and down the road and running across with his head down.
He was told a few hours before his shift to report to the bar, for a celebratory drink. To see the fruit of all his labors, to finally be free of all of this guilt and anxiety, to finally have his beloved Akiha back in his arms. Before he did all of that, he had to relay any and all information to their new mole, their double agent infiltrating UA in his place. He was just happy to wash his hands of all of this, doing the knock he was told to do before entering the bar. His eyes widen as he sees Leinei and Bakugo sitting in the chairs in the middle of the bar, Leinei slumped over with her right eye swollen shut and bruising around it in the shape of a fist.
"Holy shit," Toda breathes, walking over to the bar and sitting down. Leinei slowly opens her eyes, her vision focusing on the newcomer. It takes her a moment, but she recognizes him. Anger swells in her chest, her good eye twitching as she sits up. "Please just understand-"
"Understand what?" she replies, her voice hoarse as she glared daggers into him. "Understand that you betrayed my sister's trust, you fucking rat?!"
"Salinsa, do you know him?" Bakugo asks her, starting to glare daggers at him too. His stare was much scarier to him than Leinei's, but he was still relieved for the quirk dampening cuffs on her wrists. He wouldn't be standing if she could use it.
"He's my sister's number one sidekick," she tells him, her glare never leaving Toda's ashamed face. "She trusted you. She loves each and every one of you, and you betrayed her? You piece of shit!"
"Oh now you really pissed her off," Bakugo adds, cackling at Leinei's outburst and the terror growing in Toda's eyes. "I've never heard her cuss unless absolutely pissed, so you're fucking dead when we get out of here."
"I'm going to rip you limb from fucking limb!" she laughs, something seemingly snapping inside of her. She brings her hands up to her mouth, trying to cover her lips to muffle the giggles spilling through. Bakugo's smile bleeds away, confusion and concern replacing the mirth and anger. "You-you thought my brother was scary? He's gonna look so much funnier next to me when I'm through with you! Not even dental records will help you if they find your body!"
"While I do enjoy watching her mental state degrade, perhaps we should separate her from our associate?" Compress suggests, tilting his head as Toda stares at the lavender haired girl in horror. His face is pale, his jaw slightly agape as he watches the calm, anxiety riddled girl he had helped train absolutely lose her shit.
"Dabi, you wanted her," Shigaraki adds, gesturing at the girl still laughing through her hands. "Take your pet and shut her up."
"You don't have to tell me twice," he replies, walking over to the chair and wrapping his hand around her bicep. She stops laughing to start punching at him as best she can, struggling and squirming as he pulls her to her feet. "Stop struggling, damnit, you basically asked for this!"
"And I said I wouldn't go down quietly," she replies, flinching when she feels his hand come to her throat again with the barest amount of heat coming from his palm. His other arm wraps around her waist, his chest to her back as she grabs the hand at her throat. "You're all fucking cowards and losers, and I'm going to enjoy watching you all burn!"
"Let go of her!" Bakugo snarls, standing up in his chair and being met with one of Toga's knives easing him back down. The tip brushes the front of his throat, just enough to show she wasn't messing around as she gives him a twisted smile.
"Don't hurt him!" Leinei yells, squirming as she manages to stomp her heel into Dabi's toes. He growls and grips her throat tighter, her angry yelling turning to a scream of pain as the smell of smoke and burnt flesh fills the front room of the bar.
"Leinei!" the ashen blond boy gasps, his eyes widening in horror seeing the blue flames at her throat and the red handprint engraved on pale flesh of her neck. Tears blossom in her eyes, her jaw slightly open as a strangled sob escapes her mouth. Dabi whispers something in her ear, her body going slack against him as the pain radiates through her nerves. "You bastards-"
"Katsuki," she whimpers, the sound breaking his heart as he sees the fight leave her eyes. For a second, all of the progress she had made by coming out of her shell, showing him and the others that precious smile, all of it melts away and all he could see is the same scared girl from her first day. And it breaks him. He just slumps in his chair, tears growing in his eyes as he watches Dabi take her through a door leading to a back hallway. He yells her name again, his voice breaking as the door shuts. His gaze flickers to Toda, watching the man drop his eyes to the floor.
"You did wonderfully for us, Toda," Shigaraki says, gesturing to Kurogiri. The sentient mist starts to make a drink, mixing various alcohols together. "You truly are a valuable asset to us, and it's sad to see you go. I'm sure you'll fill in your replacement before you take your leave?"
"Of course," he replies, his voice soft as he watches Kurogiri. "Whatever you want me to tell them, or fill them in on. Can..I ask a question?"
"I guess."
"What exactly is going to happen to Leinei?"
"Hmm...I think that's really up to Dabi at this point. He did want her specifically, but won't tell us any reasons why. Are you really that concerned for her?"
"Only because she's my boss' sister."
"Heh, whatever you wanna tell yourself," the blue haired man laughs as Kurogiri places the glass in front of Toda. The brown haired man takes a deep breath before picking the glass up and tilting it towards Shigaraki, taking a long drink after and finishing the glass without stopping for air. It burns in his stomach, his head feeling a little cloudy. "Now for our new associate, they need to have all of the information you can provide. But, unfortunately for you, they already have proven themselves more useful than you. Getting us full lists of who was going to the camp, what pros were there, where the students were dispersed. You gave us the bare minimum."
"Huh?" Toda's head feels disconnected from his body, his brow furrowing as his vision starts to spin. "Wh-what are you talking about? I-I got you everything I could…"
"And I commend you for that. But, did you really think we'd let you leave us, alive?" Shigaraki starts to giggle, scratching at his neck harder. "You thought we'd just let a traitor like you walk away from us? So you can tell the Pros our plans and who was working with us?"
"No, you all promised," he protests, getting up from the stool and having to grab the bar as his legs start to feel like jelly. "Your master promised me I would have Akiha alive. You all promised me she would be okay."
"Akiha? Akiha...who was Akiha again, Kurogiri?"
"She was his fiancee, Tomura Shigaraki."
"Right, her. She died two months ago."
Toda's eyes widen as he slumps to his knees, his hands still digging into the bar. There's ringing in his ears, nearly deafening as he starts to hyperventilate. Tears start to stream down his cheeks, his hands slipping off the bar to grab the sides of his head and his nails digging into his scalp through his baseball cap.
No, no, Akiha can't be dead. They promised me she would stay alive, I did all of this so she would stay alive. I betrayed Elementia because they promised me she would stay alive!
"You're lying," he says, denying the truth as he looks up at Shigaraki. The man's red eyes glare down at him, disgust turning the corner of his lips. "You're all lying to me, she's okay. Your master promised me she would live!"
"You see...my master is many things," Shigaraki replies, shrugging as he stands up and strolls over to Toda. He crouches down, leaning by the man's ear. "Above all, he is a god, and gods only serve those loyal to him and him alone."
"I was loyal!" Toda screeches, grabbing Shigaraki's sleeve as his bottom lip trembles. "I was loyal, I gave him all the information he wanted-!"
"You weren't," he whispers, using a finger to push Toda away from him. "You weren't loyal to anyone but yourself. You're a liability, Toda Pechman. You betrayed Elementia and the agency who showed you nothing but kindness and acceptance. You betrayed your beloved because you were too selfish to let her go and to move on. You're pathetic."
"You bastard-"
He starts choking, grabbing his throat as a sludge-like substance comes out of his mouth. Shigaraki stands up as it continues to spill out of his mouth, smelling of death as it envelops the choking man. Bakugo's eyes widen as the former sidekick almost disappears into it, a distant cough being the last sound before all that's left is a puddle of the sludge on the floor.
"Don't disappoint me like he did," he says, seemingly talking to no one. Bakugo grits his teeth, trying hard not to panic. I have to stay strong. I have to be strong. I can't give in, not now, not ever. I'm not like him.
"You're all pathetic," he growls, getting a chuckle from Shigaraki as he settles back onto his stool. "Torturing an already dead man. How sick can you get?"
"Oh you'll see. Just give us time."
"Hi, this is Toda! Sorry I can't come to the phone right now, please leave your name and a brief message and I'll get back to you when I can!"
"Okay, Toda," Reina says, rubbing one hand over her cheek. "This is getting ridiculous. You said you would show up today, and you're starting to worry me. You need to call me back soon. Okay? Just let me know you're okay."
She ends the call, taking a breath as she stares at the phone screen with a wallpaper of her, Leinei and Keigo. It was taken right before Leinei started at Shiketsu, wearing the uniform with a smile as she posed with her and Keigo and each of them holding up their hands in a peace sign. It was the biggest smile she had seen, until she met Bakugo and the others.
Her heart hurts as she looks at it, locking her phone so the screen goes black and setting it on her desk. She gets up and walks out of her office, closing the door behind her. Eia and the other sidekicks are standing around, obviously concerned for their coworker and their boss.
"Were you able to get ahold of him?" Eia asks, her grey eyes wide as she fiddles with the ends of her periwinkle hair. She runs her fingers through the pixie cut, lifting the ends up. "Is he coming in?"
"No, I haven't been able to reach him," Reina replies, watching as a groan ripples through the others. "But, we are still heroes, we can still do our job. Eia, you're gonna come with me to check out his place, the others, divide and conquer Toda's duties. It's business as usual, no matter what happens. Remember, we are all stars, and we all support each other, so it's our job to shine as brightly as we can and bring that light to the community. All of us are Starlite."
A collective yes ma'am echoes out of their mouths, Reina dismissing them as she and Eia leave the building. Nerves twist and turn in her stomach, gripping her intestines as they walk towards Toda's apartment. She wants to make sure he's okay, him having been a rock for her this past year with dealing with Leinei, with training her. I never got to thank him.
"Are you okay, Elementia?" Eia asks softly, leaning forward as they walk so she can look at her. "You seem really pale. Does this have to do with your sister? Did the police get any leads yet?"
"Not yet," she mumbles. "Or, it's more they won't tell me. They think I sold Leinei and her classmates out to the villains that kidnapped them, and refuse to tell me anything to do with the case."
"They really think you could do that?"
"Apparently. I guess my strained relationship with my sister is the catalyst for their thinking, but I wouldn't do something like that. I couldn't do something like that. I just want her home."
"If it's not overstepping, why is your relationship with her so strained to begin with?"
"I...I said some cruel things to her after she just went through something really terrifying for her, and I tried to apologize but she won't accept it. She won't let us move on and go forward with it, and it just causes that strain."
"So...you're mad at her for not forgiving you for something you said to her in a time of need?"
"Well when you put it like that…"
"Have you tried to talk to her about it?"
"No, I just..thought it would fix itself."
"And how's that line of thinking working for you?"
"Y'know, I think I like you better when you don't have a smartass remark for everything," Reina tells the sidekick, raising an eyebrow as she looks at the woman next to her. Eia laughs, rubbing the back of her head as she smiles at the hero. Reina feels her cheeks warm up, quickly looking away.
"Sorry, I only start being a smartass when I'm comfortable. But seriously, I think you should talk to her about it. It might help with that strain, and she'll eventually come around once she realizes you genuinely care for her."
"Yeah, maybe...I just want my sister home."
"We all do. Leinei was a joy to have around the office. I can't wait until she graduates and comes to work with us."
"Yeah, me too…"
They get to Toda's apartment, Reina knocking gently twice. They wait a minute or two before she slams the side of her fist against the wood. She strains her ears for any sounds of him coming to the door, her eyes narrowing once she realizes the apartment's empty. She drops her hands and takes a step back, looking around either side of the hallway before lifting her foot and kicking the door in. Eia squeaks, her hands over mouth as she looks around to make sure no one heard that.
"Why did you do that?" she demands as Reina walks in, the redhead glancing down at the splintered door frame. "We-we could have gotten a key from the manager!"
"I'll pay for the repairs," Reina dismisses, waving a hand at her as she starts to look around the nearly spotless apartment. It's a studio, his bed a simple futon in front of a coffee table and a tv tucked into the corner. On the coffee table were case files, several arrests, and some files on various criminals with interesting quirks. Reina sits on the futon, swiping through the files as Eia looks around the nook he called a kitchen. She opens the fridge and cringes at the sight of rotten food on the top shelf.
"Toda really did focus solely on the job and his lover, huh?" she asks, closing the door to the fridge and rubbing her nose as she walks over to the door leading into a messy bathroom. "What're the files on?"
"Just..criminals he arrested," she replies, glancing up as Eia walks back to her and sits down. "With little notes in the margins for their quirks...like he was assessing them. I...this isn't Toda, this can't be Toda."
"It's his handwriting," Eia tells her, leaning forward and shuffling through the papers until she comes to a file on Leinei. Her eyes widen as she picks it up, flipping through it. "He..had a file on Leinei too…"
"No, he..he couldn't…" Reina takes the paper from her, seeing the notes he had scribbled in the margins. Her blood runs cold, her heart stopping in her throat as she covers her mouth with her free hand. Tears prick at her eyes.
'Her quirk can easily dispose of many people at once, and even enhance someone to negate the feeling of pain. The master will be pleased with this.'
'If she can get past her anxiety and her fear, she would be a formidable ally, and an even scarier adversary.'
'Her quirk can leave no trace of ever being activated on a person, especially if used until their death. Even if the law is on her side, she would still literally get away with murder unless she left biological evidence on the scene. She could be instrumental to Shigaraki's plans.'
"He...he's the one who..who sold her out," Reina whispers, trying hard to keep herself together. "He..he had to have snuck into my office and gotten all of these, he...there's no way he would have had access to any of this without it."
"Toda was a double agent?"
