No one knows what its like
To be mistreated, to be defeated
Behind blue eyes - Behind Blue Eyes by The Who

Dabi

I lounged in a chaise that I'd sneaked into the artillery bay for just such an opportunity. I had to be here, because it's my responsibility, but I had literally nothing to do. Instead, I watched Izuku power though the warped pipes that Ochaco had noticed the last time she'd organized my mess. The portholes showed the rolling greenery of Scotland and the ocean that had calmed since this morning.

"Dabi!" The intercom buzzed to life.

I jumped up just to lean against the wall panel closest the infernal device, "You're harshing my mello, Hizashi."

"Sorry, man." I heard shuffling papers, "Toshinari says Ochaco should have been back by now. Have you seen her? Did you have a list of errands as well?"

Izuku peeked around the shelves, "She was supposed to be back in..." He pulled a cheap, dented steel pocket watch from his denim cover-all, "Huh. She was supposed to be here an hour ago to help Mei put in the new condenser."

I nodded, and depressed the button, "Haven't seen her, did you call engineering?"

"I did. Hatsume denies seeing her, and she's itching to get started on the replacement, so she'd know."

I tapped my foot, one hand swinging in thought. That was totally unlike her, but there were a hundred things she could have been doing right now, or even on her way back slower than anticipated. "I'll go into town."

"Cap says she was ordered to be back by three." Hizashi countered, "This was her first time on her own in Scotland, right? She probably got sidetracked sightseeing."

Izuku and I locked eyes, and I stabbed the button this time, "No. I'm coming up." I hissed out a breath, and turned back to him, "You do not have permission to leave here, Midoriya, do you understand? If I'm not back in 30, call up." I stamped out the door, feeling a rising tidal wave of dread.

I found myself centimeters from opening the bridge doors, taking deep breaths, and wishing my scars didn't feel like they'd all been pulled tight. I bit down on the anger that I was feeling. It wasn't their fault. Anyone who wasn't on active duty were out, this being our first landfall in almost a month.

If anything, it was mine for not insisting that she stay in the smaller town. But, she was Ochaco and a grown woman. She was always trying to prove herself to the captain and the crew. That she wasn't just my bed warmer, like anyone ever thought that. She'd started out on the ship in the crew hold just like everyone. And now, she was missing.

Captain Aizawa noted me, "Dabi." He paused, looking me up and down, we hadn't always been on the best of terms, but I think he understood me. "You should have stayed, I'm calling up anyone else who'd gone to Irvine today. I'll let you know what I find out. Be ready to ship out."

"Without installing that new pump?" I shook my head, even though Ochaco was my first priority, it wasn't his. Boatswains on pirate vessels ran away all the time.

He gave me his famous dead face, "No. We need that if the Magdalene is going to stay in the air. But I know what she means to you; to all of us, okay? She's a breath of fresh air, and I don't think she ran. I'll let you know my decision after I interrogate the crew."

"Izuku has to be close to finishing my pipes. I'll grab him and get to Engineering. I'm off this boat at three, though." I shook my head when he opened his mouth, "No, Cap, I have to. She makes me human. I'll burn down the whole Euro-protectorate states if I have to."

Hizashi cleared his throat, "We had word that the Endeavor," he cut his eyes toward Todoroki who had the grace to look sick, "Is in Edinburgh. If Captain Todoroki is still looking for his boys, he'd be looking for people to turn coat. She left her family for 50 credits. What might she do..?"

"You'd better not finish that sentence," I curled my fingers, now dancing with hot flame.

"I'm sure he didn't mean it," Aizawa glared at the blonde who raised his hand and gave me an apologetic look. "There's worse news than that, I'm afraid. The Izanami is in port under her the pseudonym Jezebel. Tomura won't bother paying. If he thinks Ochaco is useful, or interesting, or has things he wants, he'll take her. He has no compunction about killing or selling to slavers."

We all knew that the Captain of the Izanami was as cold as his ship's namesake. I let out a breath that felt like it had come from the depths of my soul. "I'll be in Engineering." I started to stalk out, but turned again, "If anyone has news..."

"You'll be the very next person to hear it," Aizawa settled back into his seat, his fancy vest sparking in the late afternoon sun, "Get that pump installed, and I'll help you chase her to hell and back."

I stalked out of the bridge. The stairwells between the bridge and my bay went by in a swirl of metallics. I swept into the Artillery bay, catching Izuku with a nod of my head and he scooped up his tools. I left again, the younger man following me out.

"Are you going to go get her? Do you want me to help?"

I shook my head, but contemplated it anyway. He was pretty strong and only getting stronger each day. Plus, with his meticulous mind, he'd be a formidable opponent, but I knew something about him. He was a peacemaker. And that didn't work for me; especially not today, not for this. "No. I need someone who's willing to hurt people to get what we want."

"I don't think Ochaco would want that." Izuku's voice was small, but it made me snarl anyway.

"You think she wants to be where ever she is right now? Is she safe?" I turned to face him and those impossible green eyes, "Has some one hurt her? Drugged her?" He looked away but I nailed him again, "Maybe used her body? Does she want that? Would she care overmuch how it stopped as long as it did?"

"Look," he shot back, "I know you don't like me, even though I've never treated you with anything but respect. But, I like Ochaco, and of course I don't want her to be hurt. I'd move heaven itself if it meant I could get her back safe."

"I like you fine." I continued toward the Engine Room, allowing myself to take a breath. "Kid, if I need you, I know where to find you."

Aboard the Izanami
Ochaco

I watched the blond with the messy buns sharpen her knives. Whisk,whisk "What ship are you from?"

I stared at her, but my other captor answered, "I'm Katsuki Bakugo from The Endeavor. My captain will hunt you for this affront you dumb-assed pirates!" He spit, and the globule nearly hit the young woman who promptly flicked a knife at his head, it's point sinking with no difficulty into the chair he was tied in. "You think that your intimidation will work on me?" He laughed, his body shaking, straining against the ropes.

Whisk,whisk. A new knife drawn from a holster buckled at her thigh, "And you, pretty one? You're in love?"

"What?"

"What the fuck?!" Katsuki roared, "No one cares about that shit! Get your captain here! I demand to be questioned by someone with a fucking brain!"

"I can sort-of tell." She blushed, pink flooding her otherwise pale face, and her amber eyes lit with interest, "Is he blood-soaked?"

"Come on, don't ask questions like that." The man who'd been with her in the alley strode back into the room, "Ask her if she thinks I'm cute!"

"Do you think he's cute?" She smiled, whisk,whisk, "Well?"

I raised my brows, what is their damage? "He's not bad. I don't dig blond myself, but.."

"What the hell is this, a fucking tea party?!" Bakugo snarled, "Get to the point, you fucking psycho!"

"I don't like your language." The man said, pulling out a new syringe, "I'm going to fuck you up!"

He came around, and Katuski tipped his chair, biting and snarling, but the man just reached down, plunging the needle into his butt. Katsuki struggled for a few seconds more, then slumped. The man simply righted him with a frown.

"This stuff doesn't last very long, Himiko. We should get Giran," He grinned, "And kill him!" He grabbed his head, closing his left eye with a wince, "No! We just need a new damned batch."

Himiko stuffed the knife into it's sheath, "We'll have to think of something more permanent for shutting him up. I don't like a man who doesn't know when to talk." She smiled at me again, "As for you..."

"He has something he was planning on using on me in his pocket." I hoped that getting on their good side and a dig in on the obnoxious boy would help them swallow what I had to say next. I tried to lift my chin, like Todoroki does when he gives orders, "I don't know anything. People will come for me, too, but if you let me go..."

"I'm afraid not." She leaned forward, her stocking-clad legs un-crossing, "We're in the sky, and if I dump you out, you'll never survive." She stood, reaching into Katsuki's pockets, tossing the drug to her partner. "Do you know him?"

"I.." I did, actually, sort-of know him. Or at the very least, I knew about him. "Nothing more than he already said."

"Lie." The man didn't answer himself this time, but stared at me, "I got more needles, sweetheart."

"I swear. I know his name only because I'm on the run, too. Okay?" I didn't have to fake the desperation in my voice, "The Endeavor is famous for tracking for Jap-Asia. And he's got a dangerous quirk, so, yes, I know of him."

"Jin." Himiko indicated the man, "Take him to holding. Get Kapo to figure out how to keep him sedated and quiet." She turned to me, "Do you need to be sedated?"

"N-no."

"I'm going to take your things. You won't need them." She came close, "If you try to bite me, or not let me have these pretty things, I will hurt you. Do you understand?"

I nodded, not even willing to risk her further displeasure with words. She tucked my hair back behind my ears, and pulled free my earrings, one side then the other. "Do you have any more piercings?" She blushed again, pulling free a knife, running it down to my breasts, "Any here, or..." the knife went further, my belly, "maybe here?" I shivered, and shook my head, "Any where else? You don't look the type, but you never know."

It was my turn to blush, "No. Those are it, I swear. I'm forgotten, the earrings were all I could afford."

She pocketed them, "The earrings I keep, but any else I would have melted down. Creative types have tried to use their piercings to escape, so..." She gave me a bright smile, "Your bustle and pins are lovely." She hummed as she knelt to pluck the copper pins that held the bustle in place, "So, you are in love, right?"


AN/ Thanks to Mosevic for pointing out a glaring error! To all you reading, thank you! It would be so nice if you say hi! It doesn't hurt, and even one tiny note has so much power to make one person very happy!