Bakugou mopped the floor and fought the urge to just blow up everything. He was too good for this. The old fart was reading his magazine and making sure that he didn't leave a single speck of dust behind.
"This is bullshit." Bakugou complained.
"Every man has to put up with bullshit. It is the most important lesson anyone can learn. Even for you. You can't just blow up everything and hope for the best." The old fart said.
Bakugou thought about Mirio and the ass-kicking he had given him. He should have never come here. Why hadn't he stuck with Best Jeanist? This was all Deku's fault. That loser was always trying to drag him down. If he hadn't heard that Deku was coming here, he would have never bothered. He had to show Deku who was the best. They were not equals even if he got into U.A. If they were, they would have fought in the tournament for the championship. Deku breaking his wrist was just a fluke. He'd set the record straight for all to see.
The door opened and Deku walked in with scar-face.
"What took you assholes so long?" Bakugou said.
"… I got lost." Deku mumbled.
The old fart put his magazine down.
"Since you're all finally here, let's head out. You too, Bakugou."
"Will Mirio be joining us?" Scar-face said.
"He's helping Nighteye. You'll have to make do with me." The old fart said.
Bakugou threw the mop away gleefully. Finally. This was what he was made for. Fighting villains. Hopefully Stain would show up. Deku would probably cry and scar-face freeze himself. Fucking up was all they were good for. If they had even half a brain they'd see how great, he was. Scar-face would regret looking down on him.
When they stepped outside the agency, his phone started humming. He opened a new message and saw a selfie of Eijirou in front of the agency he was doing his training in. The picture came with a message.
Miss you. Stay safe.
Stay safe? He wasn't some kid who needed hand holding. Bakugou looked at Deku, scar-face and the old fart. All had their backs turned to him. He typed a quick response.
Miss you too.
"Who was it?"
Scar-face was looking at him over his shoulder. Suspiciously.
"None of your business, scar-face."
"Save it for the villains." The old fart said.
"Are you sure this is wise, sir? Going out in the open like this?" Scar-face said.
"Everything is under control." The old fart said.
"Unless there's a spy." Scar-face said.
"You want to say something, scar-face?" Bakugou growled.
"… come on, guys. We shouldn't fight." Deku said.
"No one asked you a goddamn thing, Deku."
"Keep this up and I'll turn this car around." The old fart said.
They walked around for three hours and found no villains. When they returned to the agency they were showed to the room they'd be sleeping in for the next week. Bakugou started texting with Eijirou while scar-face was glaring at him.
"Stop staring at me, you fucker. Or do you like what you see?"
Scar-face got up.
"I'm really starting to get tired of your shit, Bakugou."
Bakugou smiled and put his phone down before getting up too. Were they finally going to have a real match? Was scar-face going to go all out this time? No half-assing it and no excuses. About fucking time!
"What are you going to do about it? Remember the last time? When I kicked the shit out you?"
Suddenly Deku was standing between them.
"… guys. Don't."
Scar-face looked at Deku and sighed. Why did he have to be in the same room with these two? They'd be sucking faces by the end of the week.
"I'll go ask Gran Torino if there is another room I can use."
"Yeah. Run, you coward." Bakugou said.
Scar-face stopped, but Deku had to ruin everything again.
"… Todoroki."
One word was all it took, and scar-face bowed his head like a bitch.
"Fine. Try to put up with him for a bit longer."
Scar-face closed the door and walked away like a coward. Deku smiled at him like an asshole.
"… sorry about that. He's a bit… tense."
"I don't need fucking apologies from you."
"… but… it's kind of my fault."
"Whatever." Bakugou said and tried to pick his phone.
Where was his phone? It was there just a moment ago. What the fuck?!
"… I mean… I did say you might be a spy."
"What?!"
When he turned to glare at Deku he was scrolling through his phone.
"Hey. Yer boyfriend send ya a picture. He's such a cutie."
Everything was wrong. The way Deku was standing, speaking and even smiling. Like a crocodile. This… wasn't Deku.
"Who the fuck are you?"
Suddenly the pretender was holding a knife.
"Ya forgot about me? That's so mean. Yer mean Bakugou. Even after the keepsake I left ya with. Should I carve the other eye out too? Can't have one side mocking the other, can we?"
The pretender flew at him. He didn't just have Deku's face, but his Quirk as well. Bakugou blasted him with explosions and then they went through a wall. The pretender tried to drive him back first into the asphalt from the fourth floor, but Bakugou managed to kick him off and slow down his fall with a serious of explosions. The pretender stopped his own fall by punching his fist through a wall. Bakugou fell into an empty alleyway.
"Think fast, Dabi!" The pretender yelled.
The alleyway wasn't as empty as he thought. A figure coated in black fire was waiting for him. Bakugou smiled through the rage. Now this was more fucking like it!
Half way to Gran Torino's quarters Todoroki heard the explosions and started running back to the room. The he saw Midoriya stumbling towards him holding a bloody wound in his head.
"Midoriya!"
He caught Midoriya just before he fell. His breathing came out in slow painful wheezes.
"… Todoroki…. it was… Bakugou…"
"Don't talk." Todoroki said.
How could he have been so stupid as to leave Midoriya alone with Bakugou? He'd thought that even if Bakugou was a spy for the villains, he'd never dare to try anything here. He had just wanted to share his suspicions with Gran Torino. How could he have been so stupid?! How?! Why did people he cared about always get hurt?!
"Is it… bad?" Todoroki asked.
Midoriya smiled.
"… I'll live. You have to… stop… Bakugou. He… attacked a hero."
Would Midoriya… be alright if he went? If he stayed would Midoriya ever forgive him?
"… go. You're a hero." Midoriya said.
Todoroki smiled and tried not to cry. He got up and helped Midoriya place his back against a wall.
"You'll be alright. I promise. Help will get here soon." Todoroki said.
He started running.
Never again. No one hurt people he cared about and just walked away. Never again! Not father! And definitely not Bakugou! He heard fighting outside… and saw a world on fire. Monsters like the one that had attacked All Might at the school were crawling on rooftops. The stench of burning buildings filled his nose.
Then he noticed Bakugou and none of it mattered.
He'd crawl through hell if that was what it took to get to Bakugou. That arrogant bastard could not hide from him. He used ice to slide down to the street through the hole in the wall Bakugou had left behind. Ice shards formed in his hands and he sent them flying towards Bakugou. He managed to nail the bastard in the leg.
"Fuck!" Bakugou screamed and fell on his knees.
Todoroki jumped on the alleyway and punched him in the face. Grim satisfaction filled him when he felt Bakugou's teeth cracking.
"Shouto?"
It had been two years since he'd heard that voice, but he remembered it clearly. He forgot about Midoriya and Bakugou and turned to face the speaker in the dark. The face was grotesquely scarred and resembled a skull, but the voice…
"… Daisuke?"
When Todoroki was gone Toga got up and wiped the blood off her face. Sacrificing a couple of vials was unfortunate, but necessary. The right props always elevated acting into new heights. Toga turned on the transmitter that summoned Tsubasa to her. She looked outside and smiled. The world had turned into a scene from hell. She should know. She had seen hell. Hell lurked in the Thinking room.
Tsubasa broke in through a wall and brought friends along. The Noumu looked at her expectantly and Toga rubbed Tsubasa's neck.
"Good boy, Tsubasa. The rest of ya are good boys too. And good girls. It's all good."
She had to act fast before the heroes got their shit together and came down on them like a hurricane of hammers. She couldn't waste this chance. Using the Noumu as wall-breakers Toga headed to Sir Nighteye's office. When she got there, Sir Nighteye and Bubble Girl were busy fending off the Noumu that had paid a surprise visit.
"Midoriya? Get back! Run!" Bubble Girl screamed.
"Naw. I don't think so." Toga said.
Tsubasa threw himself at Bubble Girl and pinned her down. He opened his maw and prepared to take a chunk out of Bubble Girl's face. Sir Nighteye was surprisingly buff for a skinny guy and threw a bunch of steel balls at Tsubasa. A man would have been knocked down cursing Sir Nighteye and his broken bones. Luckily Tsubasa was not a man.
"Tsubasa. Stop." Toga said.
Tsubasa stopped reluctantly but kept eyeing Bubble Girl hungrily. Sir Nighteye picked another steel ball and this time aimed it at Toga.
"Now, now. Let's not do anything that Bubbles over here would regret." Toga said.
"You… you're not Midoriya." Sir Nighteye said.
Toga clapped.
"Full marks to the man with the specs. I see why they call ya the sharpest fork of the century." Toga said and turned off her Quirk: "It's yer girl Toga making her debut as a real super-villain."
Sir Nighteye kept glancing at Bubbles trapped under Tsubasa.
"What do you want?"
"True believer wants me to kill ya and mail yer head to All Might. Fucked up I know. But what I want? I want ya to read my future. Once ya do that, it' set right? No backsies?"
"… yes." Sir Nighteye said.
"Awesome possum. Let's start. Will me and Izuku-Izuku have our badass last battle? Will one of us die and spent the rest of their life mourning their number one?"
Both Nighteye and Bubbles stared at her.
"… what?"
"Ya heard me four-eyes. Get to it. And don't bother lying. I hate liars almost as much as major Tom and Tsubasa eats everything I hate."
Sir Nighteye took off his glasses and there was a flash in his eyes when he activated his Quirk.
"Well? Do I get what I want?" Toga said.
"You're insane." Nighteye said.
"That's a yes then. And why does everybody think I'm crazy? I'm having fun." Toga said and looked at the Noumu that had gathered in the office: "Sorry to bother ya. Carry on. Tsubasa. Let's fly."
Tsubasa didn't like it, but he left Bubbles in one piece and let Toga climb on his back. Toga laughed when she felt the night air on her face. She had been afraid that everything was going to hell, but she had nothing to fear. Izuku-Izuku had proven himself a bit too awesome and Toga had wondered if he could screw over her plan, but no. An honest to god oracle had promised that everything would go along without a hitch.
A throwing knife hit Tsubasa in the head.
The Noumu were borderline braindead, but even they couldn't take a knife in the noggin and keep on pimping. Tsubasa went down and crashed on a rooftop before Toga even had time to curse. Tsubasa twitched a few times before expiring.
Stain landed on the roof.
"Ready for round three, Toga?" Stain said.
In response Toga pulled out a gun and shot Stain with one of the bullets Twice had given her. They had been designed to splatter upon impact but getting hit in the chest with one probably wasn't anyone's idea of fun. Stain left out a pained gasp when the wind got punched out of him. Toga fought through the pain, got up and picked Stain's fallen sword. Stain was a fighter and leaped towards the blood Toga had dripped on the roof.
Stain licked the blood.
Toga split Stain's knee with his own sword.
Stain screamed like a wounded animal. He forced the pain at bay and looked at Toga.
"… how?"
Toga raised the smoking gun.
"Shi Hassaikai sends their regards. Quirk erasers. The question ya should be asking is whether it's temporary or permanent."
Stain spit at her.
"… I'll still kill you."
"Stain, Stain, Stain. Ya just don't fucking get it."
Toga kicked Stain in the face and wished he had a nose to break.
"Look at ya. Big bad hero killer Stain. Have ya ever found one? A hero?"
Stain spit out a tooth.
"… All Might…"
"Fuck off. Anyone can beat up assholes. I do it all the time. But they never try to fix what is really wrong. Me, I'm different. Ya wanna know what a hero looks like? Well, here's one. Who was it that saved Izuku-Izuku? Me. Or Dabi? Me. Without me they'd be dead in a ditch and only Inko would care."
Toga swung Stain's sword a few times to test its weight.
"As for resolve… I survived sixteen nights in the Thinking room. What about ya?"
Anyone who knew about the Thinking room always shat their pants when they heard her record. Stain was no different.
"… four."
"Pussy. Ya are crazier than major Tom. At least he doesn't try to protect this shithole, but ya… everything they did to us and ya still think they're heroes. That this place is worth the effort. Ya are crazy. It's moments like these that I wish I had a dick, so I could tell ya to suck it."
It was all so stupid that Toga couldn't help but laugh.
"If ya escape from prison come and kill me, but ya might find a line. Only Izuku-Izuku can cut it. But ya'll never kill me. Know why? Cuz I own ya. Just like I own Todoroki and Bakugou. The only one who can kill me is Izuku-Izuku."
Toga jammed the sword into Stain's other knee just to be a dick.
"… Daisuke?"
Everything stopped. If he concentrated on the eyes he could see his brother past the scars. But even then, there were wounds. The kind you couldn't see but hurt the most and ate away at you.
"What… what have you done to yourself?" Todoroki whispered.
Daisuke looked away and covered his face with a hood.
"I… no one told me you were going to be here." Daisuke said.
Bakugou didn't let a chance slip past his fingers and blasted Daisuke when he wasn't looking. Like Todoroki, Daisuke was immune to heat, but the force of the explosion made him falter. Todoroki moved without thinking and pinned Bakugou on the ground.
"Stop!" Todoroki yelled and turned to face Daisuke: "What… are you doing here?"
An ugly glint appeared in Daisuke's eyes that made him look like dad.
"Move, Shouto. I'm here for that asshole."
Gran Torino jumped off a roof and ricocheted off the walls into the alleyway.
"Sorry I'm late. Goddamn Noumu." Gran Torino said and looked at Daisuke: "Are you the one to thank for this?"
Daisuke smiled.
"Who knows. Send the kids away and maybe I'll tell you."
"Glad we see eye to eye. Todoroki. Take Bakugou and go."
"I can still fight!" Bakugou shouted.
"That wasn't a request."
"Don't worry Bakugou. You'll see me very soon." Daisuke said and then looked at Todoroki: "Ditch him. He'd do the same to you. He's just like pops."
Todoroki didn't answer. The truth hit too close. He used his ice to make a pillar and used to lift himself and Bakugou away. Bakugou never stopped struggling and trying to return to the fray.
"Put me down, you fucker!"
"Shut up!" Todoroki shouted.
Then he noticed two figures standing on a rooftop. A fallen Noumu was lying next to them. There was a flash of steel when a sword was swung. There was a scream of pain. Bakugou struggled free and threw himself at the two figures. A series of explosions made it look like he was flying. Todoroki followed.
He recognized Midoriya's girlfriend standing over the felled Stain. She was dressed in a black outfit and a belt filled with vials was tied around her waist. She smiled at them.
"Todoroki. Bakugou. How's it hanging? Cold and shriveled? Did ya run into yer bro?"
"That's the bitch who took my eye!" Bakugou yelled.
Bakugou tried to attack, but Todoroki grabbed his arm.
"What… what happened to him?" Todoroki said.
Stain tried to get up.
"That crazy…"
Toga kicked him back down and then downed one of the vials on her belt. She raised one of her fingers asking them to wait. When the vial was empty she wiped her mouth.
"What happened to yer bro? Ask yer daddy. I picked up the pieces and put them back together. Not a perfect job, but hey. I tried. I like him better that way. All scarred and goth. How about ya? Whatcha think about my handiwork?"
Something snapped, and Todoroki threw fire at her. Bakugou joined in and blasted her with explosions. Nothing mattered as long as he wiped that monster from the face of the Earth. When the dust finally settled a figure stepped out of the smoke and Todoroki saw… himself. But with Toga's mad grin.
"Ain't being fireproof nice?" Toga said with Todoroki's own voice and raised Stain's sword: "Ya know Todoroki. Ya were my first choice, but ya just couldn't hold a candle to Izuku-Izuku."
Midoriya?! One name made him regain his senses enough to freeze Stain down. At least he wouldn't be walking away.
"Where is he? What did you do to him?"
"The better question is what I didn't do to him. Ya jealous?" Toga said.
Bakugou tore himself free and threw the first punch. They fought.
The rooftop was a bad terrain for fighting. He and Bakugou had to watch their Quirks or accidentally collapse the building. Toga had no such hold-backs and shook off most of their attacks while swinging her sword. Bakugou's wounds slowed him down, but he was still an opponent to be feared. Todoroki wondered if he could have won even if he had used his fire in the tournament.
They fought as hard as they could, but it wasn't enough. Toga towered over them.
"And that's why I chose Izuku-Izuku."
Something shot through the roof and nailed Toga square in the jaw. Mirio stood between them and Toga.
"You guys alright?" Mirio asked.
"Butterfly baby? And here I was hoping ya had ran away." Toga said.
"A hero never runs. Put down the sword. You're under arrest." Mirio said.
"How about naw?" Toga said and threw herself off the roof.
"No!" Mirio yelled and tried to grab her, but too late.
On the way down Toga drank another vial. What hit the ground wasn't Todoroki's form, but…
"Fear not for now I am here." Toga said with All Might's mouth.
Mirio jumped to face her without hesitation. Todoroki and Bakugou looked at each other and then followed Mirio. How could they have left him fight alone? After Mirio had restored their resolve. When they were off the roof Todoroki or Bakugou didn't have to be stingy with their attacks. Unfortunately, that was true for Toga as well. Small part of Todoroki felt sorry for the villains who had faced off with All Might.
The fight that followed reminded Todoroki of his battle with Midoriya in the tournament. The pressure was the same. Only more intense. Even dad hadn't made him feel this scared. Midoriya had only tried to win. Toga was not so kind.
Still he knew they could beat her.
Mirio's attacks were taking their toll on Toga while his and Bakugou's covering fire wasn't doing her any favors. Soon the pro-heroes would be here and take care of the rest. Everything would be alright if they held out just a bit longer.
Black mist formed around them.
"Ms. Toga. We're done here. Retreat." A voice said from the black mist.
"Ya got it." Toga said and grinned at them: "See ya around boys."
Toga turned off her Quirk, stepped into the black mist and was gone.
Toga fell through the darkness and landed in All for One's office. Dabi followed her soon enough. All for One was playing his guitar but his calmness was deceptive. He looked like a tiger lying in the tall grass waiting for prey.
"Kurogiri. Dabi. Leave us." All for One said.
Toga wondered if she should be afraid. Or at least nervous. Then again, she couldn't be bothered. Sir Nighteye had promised her only Izuku-Izuku could kill her.
"Wassup, true believer?"
Behind All for One's smile were his teeth
"A fuck-ton of Noumu are lost and we have nothing to show for it. Our debut is ruined, and you didn't even manage to kill Nighteye. That's what's up. And to top off this clusterfuck, we lost Stain."
"Stain was traitor, but… I think ya already knew that. Let me guess. This was a test for me and Dabi. As for Nighteye… What can I say? Four-eyes was tougher than I thought, and his side-kick was a huge badass."
All for One put down his guitar.
"Do you think this is a game? We are trying to kill All Might."
"Why do ya wanna kill All Might?"
For a moment All for One forgot to be angry.
"… excuse me?"
"I mean, what are ya gonna do with out him? How old are ya?"
"Turning hundred and thirty soon. Why?"
"What would ya be usually doing at that age? Playing bingo and bitching that the kids never call. Is that what ya want? Huh? Is it? Fighting All Might keeps ya going. Having an archenemy keeps ya young."
"… are you being serious right now?"
"True believer! I'm always serious. We are so lucky having such awesome archenemies. Ya have All Might and I have Izuku-Izuku. We can go anywhere thanks to them."
All for One hit his desk.
"Toga. Never. Compare. All Might. To some brat!"
Toga laughed.
"Ya don't know Izuku-Izuku like I do. Even All Might thinks he's awesome. He even trained Izuku-Izuku when it looked like he didn't have a Quirk. Can ya even imagine what a great hero he'll be when he has me to fight?"
All for One had fallen silent. When he spoke, his voice was dry.
"All Might… trained him? He… didn't have a Quirk?"
"Yeah. It was suppressed, but All Might helped him believe in himself. Like I couldn't do that."
All for One was again quiet for a long time. Then he laughed.
"You're right, lass. You're absolutely right. I am a lucky man. Go along now."
Even in the hallway Toga could hear All for One laughing over the guitar.
Izuku floated in darkness. Then he heard a voice.
"… Izuku…"
Someone was calling him. No. Not someone. All Might. All Might was calling him. He had to go to All Might. Izuku started swimming towards All Might's voice.
"Izuku." All Might said.
Izuku opened his eyes.
"… All Might…?"
All Might hugged him.
"Thank God."
"… what… happened?... where…"
"In the hospital. Don't worry. You'll be alright. Your mother is on her way. The drugs will wash out soon."
"… drugs…"
"Izuku. You need to listen to me. I… I'd like to give you more time, but time is the one thing we don't have."
All Might told him everything and every word tore out a piece of Izuku's world. What had happened at Sir Nighteye's agency. Of the Noumu. Of Himiko. How they'd found him in her apartment. When he was done, there was nothing left.
"… no… No! There… must be something. She… they must have forced her. You… you must find her. Help…. her."
Pain flashed across All Might's face.
"There was something else. You…. must stay away from Toga. She forced Nighteye to see her future and…"
"… and? What?!"
"The two of you will fight. And… you will kill her."
Izuku was silent until the screaming started.
