"Walls have ears. Doors have eyes. Trees have voices. Beasts tell lies. Beware the rain. Beware the snow. Beware the man, you think you know."

-Catherine Fisher

Rumi yawned quietly as she woke up and looked around her bedroom. The room looked like it was in rough shape, even more so than usual. Clothes were scattered around the room, furniture was knocked over, the bathroom counter was cracked, and a small trickle of water still flowed from the bathroom showerhead.

It had gotten that way after Rumi and Izuku had spent the entire night going at it like rabbits.

Immediately upon arriving back at the apartment after leaving the hospital, Izuku had lustfully attacked Rumi like a man possessed (a fact she had greatly enjoyed). Unlike previous sexual encounters, the night had been fueled by pure primal lust. There had been no pillow talk or caressing, just screams of pleasure and rough affection. For Rumi, it was like she had seen a side of Izuku that she never thought had existed. An aggressive and dominant man who knew what he wanted and did not stop until he was satisfied.

And Izuku had not been satisfied until the sun had started to peek over the horizon.

Laying in the large bed, Rumi grinned impishly as she stretched her sore muscles. If she was being honest, she could not remember the last time someone had been able to make her feel as thoroughly satisfied as Izuku had been able to.

Speaking of which, where was Izuku?

Looking around, Rumi frowned slightly when she saw no sign of Izuku. The man might have inhuman levels of athleticism, but he was still human. After everything they had done last night he should be passed out in bed next to her.

Getting up, Rumi put on some sweatpants and a nearby rumpled t-shirt and went to look for her boyfriend. Leaving the bedroom, Rumi's enhanced hearing picked up the telltale sound of metal clanging against metal emanating from the gym room. Shuffling over to the gym room, Rumi opened the door and was met with a sight that both aroused her and concerned her.

A shirtless Izuku lay on the weight bench sweating up a storm and grunting aggressively as he bench pressed a huge amount of weight. Looking closer, Rumi was shocked to see that the weight on the barbell in Izuku's hands was nearly double the amount the green-haired man normally could bench. Staring at her boyfriend in shock, a small part of Rumi's brain could not help but notice the large and fresh scar just under Izuku's navel where he had been stabbed by the harbinger. On top of all that, it was like Izuku's body had gone from perfect to downright godly. The man's muscle definition made it look like somebody had painted on his muscles, and his skin almost seemed to glow with a healthy aura.

Finishing his set, Izuku let the barbell fall onto the holding rack with a loud clang and stood up. Finally, he seemed to notice Rumi standing in the doorway staring at him.

"Morning beautiful." Izuku said with a warm smile as he grabbed a nearby towel. "Something on your mind?"

Shaking her head to clear it of the lustful ideas that had been forming, Rumi gave her boyfriend a concerned look. "Izuku, the doctors said you should be taking it easy. I don't think setting a new personal record on the bench press counts as taking it easy."

Chuckling in a way that sent an excited tingle down Rumi's spine, Izuku shrugged as he wiped himself off. "Sorry, I was just feeling restless. Do you want anything for breakfast?"

As much as Rumi wanted to enjoy some quality time with her lover, something was bugging her. Maybe she was just being paranoid, but ever since Izuku had woken up in the hospital it was like he was slowly becoming a different person. While she enjoyed seeing a different side of her soulmate, it was not the part of him she had fallen in love with.

Hesitantly stepping forward, Rumi reached out and gently took Izuku's hands in her own. "Izuku, do you feel...different at all? The way you have been acting recently just feels a little...off."

A happy smile on his face, Izuku knelt down and kissed Rumi's hands lovingly. "I feel fine, better than fine even. It's like my head is finally clear after all these shitty years. I am done being kind and considerate to people that dont deserve it. I want to be like you, confident and strong and not afraid to call out bullshit when you see it. Is that not a good thing?"

The uneasy feeling in her stomach slowly growing larger, Rumi put on a small smile and shrugged. "It's not a bad thing. It's just…" Not wanting to ruin the good mood her boyfriend was in, Rumi decided to save her doubts for another time. "...it's just nice to see you happy."

Standing up, Izuku nodded in agreement. "I knew you would understand. That's why I love you." Turning around, Izuku gently pulled Rumi towards the kitchen. "How does pancakes sound? I can whip up something super sweet and lovey dovey with strawberries and whipped cream if you want?"

Squashing her doubts, Rumi giggled happily. "That sounds fun! You want me to help?"

Shaking his head, Izuku guided Rumi back to the bedroom with a lusty smile on his face. "I was thinking you could help me with something else before we get started cooking."

Laughing at Izuku's confidence, Rumi batted her eyes at him flirtily. "I guess I can help if you absolutely need me to."

Just as the two lovers began to make out on the bed, Rumi's cellphone began to ring loudly.

Groaning in annoyance, Rumi picked up the smartphone to decline the call, but paused when she saw the caller-ID.

"It's Hawks." Rumi explained to Izuku. "I should probably take this."

Answering the call, Rumi could not suppress the cheerful tone in her voice. "What's up Hawks? I didn't know you were even awake this early?"

"Hey, give me a little credit." Hawks chuckled. "I can get up on time when I want to." Hawks' tone then changed to something a little more professional. "I actually had something I wanted to talk to you and Midoriya about. Do you think we could all meet at your place in a few hours?"

Rumi shrugged. "Sure I guess, but we can just have a group call right now if you want? Might make things easier."

Hawks paused before speaking in a slightly more serious tone. "It would be easier to talk about it in person. So I will head over to your place in a few hours. Just make sure Midoriya is there."

Not noticing the strange tone in Hawks' voice, Rumi nodded. "Sounds like a plan. See ya then."

Ending the call, Rumi turned back to face Izuku with a lusty grin on her face.

"So, where were we?"

Izuku hummed under his breath as he adjusted his tie. Dressed in his usual government-standard suit, Izuku sat on Rumi's couch as he waited for Hawks to arrive.

"So did Hawks say what he wanted to talk about?" Izuku asked Rumi who was in the kitchen drinking a glass of carrot juice.

"Nope." Rumi replied between gulps. "Just said he wanted to talk to us in person. He can be a little paranoid, especially after that undercover stint with the PLF."

Nodding understandingly, Izuku was about to reply when he was interrupted by the sound of beating wings and rushing air. Dressed in his hero outfit, Hawks touched down on the outdoor landing pad and courteously knocked on the glass door.

Bouncing over to the door, Rumi straightened out a wrinkle in her hero outfit as she let Hawks in.

"Sup Hawks." Rumi said with a smile. "So what is this thing you wanted to talk about?"

Stepping into the apartment, Hawks gestured to the couch and chairs nearby. "Let's join Midoriya and then I will tell you. It's important."

Scooting over so Rumi could sit next to him, Izuku gave Hawks a courteous smile. "Need help planning an operation?"

"Not exactly." Hawks said as he sat down in a chair facing Izuku and Rumi.

There was an awkward silence, and Izuku could not help but notice that Hawks was discreetly checking all the exits and entrances.

"This is actually about that mystery gang attack." Hawks said slowly. "You know, the one that happened when Miruko was in the hospital?"

Immediately, Izuku could tell that whatever Hawks wanted to talk about was bad news. His brain working overtime, Izuku could see that Hawks had purposefully sat down in a way that he could easily block the door to the hallway elevator.

"Oh? That thing?" Izuku said with a poker face smile that did not reach his eyes. "I thought you said everything you looked into was a dead end?"

Staring back at Izuku with cold eyes, Hawks shrugged. "At first that was how things looked, but I recently stumbled upon a lead."

Rumi leaned forward with an interested look on her face, completely unaware of the tension between the two men in front of her. "Really? Did it give you any answers?"

Hawks nodded. "You could say so."

There was an icy pause before Hawks let out a heavy sigh.

"I will get right to the point. No use in beating around the bush."

Hawks then stood up and crossed his arms as he glared at Izuku.

"Midoriya. Where were you the night of the attack?"

Mimicking Hawks, Izuku stood up and crossed his arms as well. "I was in the hospital watching Miruko. You can ask any of the people there."

Hawks narrowed his eyes. "Let me be more specific. Where were you between 1am and 3am?"

Noticing Rumi looking at him in confusion, Izuku gritted his teeth. "Like I said, I was in the hospital watching Miruko. I was there all night."

Hawks rubbed the bridge of his nose in obvious frustration. "I was hoping you weren't going to say that." He said with heavy disappointment. "Let me be clear then, my team found some evidence that led us to the hospital where Miruko was staying. After interrogating a certain young doctor, we learned that the only reason he was able to create the antidote that saved Miruko's life was because he had help."

Izuku watched in dread as Rumi stood up and looked at him in confusion. "Izuku, what is he talking about?"

"Let me paint a picture for you and lay it all out." Hawks said icily. "Miruko is at death's door, and her partner decides he will go to any lengths to save her. Using his training and skills, her partner tracks down the criminal responsible for poisoning her and decides to take matters into his own hands. To get to his target, the partner massacres a building full of criminals and innocent people. He then cuts off the head of the target and delivers it to the young doctor with the hopes that the poison found in the target's fangs will match the poison in Miruko's veins. It does. The doctor is able to create an antidote and save Miruko's life. Knowing full well that what he did was illegal and wrong, the partner lies to everyone around him and covers up his wrongdoings in the hope that nobody will ever find out."

Turning to face Rumi, the expression Izuku saw made his heart stop.

Pain, confusion, and disbelief were all over Rumi's face.

But most of all, one expression stood out.

Fear.

"No...No! You are wrong!" Rumi said as tears formed in her eyes. "Izuku would never do that! He wouldn't! He…"

Rumi then looked straight into Izuku's eyes, and in that moment, Izuku knew he had just lost everything.

"You wouldn't...right Izuku?"

At first, all Izuku felt was a cold numbness.

But suddenly, it was replaced by something else.

Blood boiling rage.

Like a volcano erupting, Izuku lost it.

"SO WHAT IF I DID?!" Izuku roared. "YOU SAID IT YOURSELF, YOU WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO SAVE MY LIFE! I WAS IN THE EXACT SAME POSITION, AND I DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE!"

His voice cold and apathetic, Hawks stepped in front of Rumi protectively. "That is where you are wrong, Midoriya. Miruko would not kill innocent people, even if it was to save your life."

Locking on to the person that brought his happiness crashing down, Izuku screamed at Hawks like a feral animal.

"FUCK YOU HAWKS! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HER OR ME!"

Not flinching in the slightest at the verbal assault, Hawks shook his head in disappointment. "I know enough to realize that you love her. But even with that in mind, it still does not mean you get a free pass. Killing is not the answer."

Laughing in manic disbelief, Izuku talked to Hawks with nothing but pure hate in his voice. "Says the guy who killed that terrorist named Twice in cold-blood. You are a fucking hypocrite! How dare you lecture me about right and wrong after everything you did with the PLF!"

Hawks' wings flared slightly as he replied. "That is different. I gave Twice every opportunity to surrender peacefully and let me arrest him. But he did not comply. I have done everything by the rules. You made yourself judge, jury, and executioner. You denied any of those criminals a right to a fair trial or redemption. You just snuffed them out as easy as taking a breath."

Izuku felt himself begin to hyperventilate as his vision began to go red. In that moment, the only thing stopping him from killing Hawks with his bare hands was the fact that Rumi was watching.

Then, Rumi spoke.

"Izuku…" Rumi said with pure heartbreak coating her words. "Why? Why didn't you tell me? I thought you trusted me?! I thought we said that we would face our problems together! WHY?!"

Izuku had no answer.

At that point, Izuku had nothing left to live for.

Just as he was about to tackle Hawks, the doorbell rang.

Everyone froze.

"Housekeeping!" A familiar voice said in a sickening sing-song manner.

With the sound of splintering wood, Oscar slowly forced the thick apartment door open and stepped in.

"Am I interrupting anything?" The unhinged American said with a fiendish smile on his face.

Keeping himself between Rumi and Oscar, Hawks faced the intruder with nothing but disgust in his eyes.

"Get out." Hawks said in a voice that could freeze lava.

Oscar laughed. "I wasn't talking to you KFC." Peeking over Rumi's shoulder, Oscar waved to the frozen Izuku. "Heya Mido! I came to pick you up. Seems like I arrived just in time. I got a car waiting for us."

Hawks shook his head. "Midoriya isn't going anywhere. He is under arrest. You have no jurisdiction here."

Oscar licked his teeth hungrily as he stared back at Hawks. "Oh I wasn't asking."

The sound of helicopter rotors heralded the arrival of an unmarked Ministry of Defense transport helicopter rising up into view. However, this one was armed to the teeth. The gunship was armed with rotary cannons, missile launchers, and even anti-tank guns.

And they were all pointed at Hawks.

"Thats the thing with you fucking heroes." Oscar said with disdain dripping from his words. "You love to talk down to people like you are above everyone else. You say Mido is a monster, but all I see is a man who is willing to do anything for the woman he loves. You act like nobody else would do what Mido did, but I can guarantee everyone would go that far for someone they truly love."

Oscar then grinned mockingly. "What about you KFC? You fucking worthless orphan shitstain. If you were given the opportunity to go back in time and fix your childhood are you saying you wouldn't? Even if the cost was just killing Twice again?"

Walking over to Izuku, Oscar put a comforting arm around the shell-shocked man's shoulders and slowly guided him out of the apartment. "Like I said to Lola awhile ago, you heroes are nothing but fucking whores for attention with a superiority complex to boot. The real heroes are people like Mido. The ones who work in the dark, up to their necks in blood and shit while they take out the monsters that prey on the weak. Do you see Mido begging for recognition or money doing what he does? No, because he knows that to keep the world safe, you gotta get your hands dirty."

Standing in the doorway like a vulture carrying off a prize piece of meat, Oscar looked back briefly. "My original plan was to turn you into a red mist the second Mido was out of harm's way, but I just thought of something better. See you around you you fucking hypocritical cunts."

And with those parting words, Oscar guided Izuku into the elevator and pressed the ground floor button. As the elevator began to descend, Oscar patted Izuku's shoulder consolingly.

"I feel ya Mido. Life sucks sometimes." The cannibal said with a sad sigh. "But I think I know of something that will make you feel a little better. Why don't you lead my squad and put your skills to good use? We get the best gear, the best intel, and most of all...the best targets."

Oscar's sharp yellow teeth gleamed in the dim elevator lights as he smiled sinisterly.

"Trust me, you are gonna love it."