Disclaimer: I do not own Boku No Hero Academia.

CHAPTER XI – WHERE DO I BELONG

Apparently, no one had heard or seen Tomura speaking to his master. They didn't outright tell him, but it was easy to figure out that All for One had done something to the electronic devices inside his cell. Tomura couldn't tell what (they didn't seem broken and Tomura assumed that All for One had more likely interfered with the electricity than the devices themselves), his master had never spoken to him about his different quirks, but the guards acting as if nothing had happened was proof enough. They were losing their cool and this would surely speed up the process in giving All for One his (in their mind) well-deserved death penalty.

All Might didn't come that day, or the day after or even the day after that. At first, Tomura had been angry and disappointed, but reminding himself what he had to do to survive this, he wished All Might would never come back. He was sure he would break apart if he had to kill someone close to him again.

But Sensei is angry with me. He dug his nails into his arms at that realization. How could that have happened? How could the man he hated so much persuade him into caring? Tomura had never cared about anyone but All for One and himself. He had liked Kurogiri and some of the members of the League and he missed having them around him, but he hadn't particularly cared about them other than their use as allies in reaching his goals.

But now, he cared about someone – no, not someone, about All Might himself.

I have truly become weak. Tartarus had broken him. Had they managed to break the Hero Killer too or.. was he just so pathetic?

Later, one of the caretakers came to help him clean himself, a tedious affair but Tomura still had trouble completely moving his arms. The people beside All Might who came into his cell usually never spoke, either because they weren't allowed or because they feared him. This time however, the caretaker who was replacing his bandages with clean ones chose to comment on his behaviour.

"You're so quiet today, Shigaraki."

"Fuck off.", he spat in return. Oh yes, he may have become soft at heart, but he still liked to show himself as an asshole, especially to those who kept him locked up in here.

Tomura didn't eat his lunch, or dinner – or whatever they were giving him –for days, until they threatened to drug and force-feed him. Then he ate, but he never felt hungry and he never felt full, his mind was just too focused on other things to care about the taste of food.

One day, one of the guards entered his cell with a special offer: "Shigaraki, I am coming with a request."

"Don't give a shit.", he answered and turned to face the wall. The guard did not care about his answer, continuing to talk as if Tomura had never said anything: "Prisoner 8540, villain alias 'Kurogiri', has requested a meeting with you."

Tomura wasn't sure he had heard right. He turned back to look at the guard: "What?"

"Prisoner 8540 has agreed to accept our conditions if we would grant him a meeting with you. Agree to meet him and he will fulfil his part of the bargain, or as you would say, 'everybody wins'."

"I would never say that." The guard acting as if he knew him made his blood boil. How dare he?

"Will you accept this request, Shigaraki?" This guy just completely ignored everything he said on purpose!

"You must be very sure of your security measures if you'd offer me a meeting with another prisoner."
The guards mimic didn't react the slightest at Tomura's words, but the villain was sure that behind that perfectly trained façade of his, the guard was thinking about All for One and how he had used his quirk(s) without anyone or anything, be it the surveillance cameras or the computers that registered his brain scans, noticing.

"Just answer the question, Shigaraki."

There was nothing to lose by meeting with Kurogiri; of course he accepted and a few days later, Tomura was led out of his cell and into another room of the prison building, where his former faithful servant was awaiting him.
The air in the meeting room was different than the one in his cell which smelled 'artificial', as he would describe it. In here, it was more like in the city, like cement during summer after a long day of raining. This only strengthened Tomura's desire to get out of Tartarus.

The black mist man sat a table and Tomura never realized that it bugged him so much seeing Kurogiri not wearing a tie. Then again, he had never been very fond of any changes.

The young man was led to his chair at the opposite end of the table and sat down, placing his cuffed hands onto the wooden table as he had been told before. As he did that, Tomura noticed how Kurogiri squinted his eyes in disgust, as if he couldn't bear to see the golden boy of his master reduced to a quirkless prisoner.

What did Kurogiri want to talk to him about anyway? They were being recorded full-time, no chance for them to talk about how to break out.

And even if I do break out, what will my next steps be? Will I go back to my plan to kill All Might? How does that change from what I have to do now?

"You look different, Shigaraki Tomura.", Kurogiri started and what a stupid thing to say it was! How was Tomura supposed to answer to that? Already, he was feeling annoyed.

"How so?"

"Your hair has grown longer and you seem to have lost some weight.", as expected, he started with something superficial, "But what strikes me the most are your eyes. They are softer than I remember them."
Tomura averted his eyes towards his folded hands on the table, pointing fingers lifted. How many finger and hand exercises had he done as a child to learn how to control his quirk? Was this the reason his fingers were so long and slender, because he always moved and stretched them? Or was he just more like his mother? Father's hand was shaped so much different than his.

"What a load of crap, Kurogiri.", he didn't know what else to say.

"Shigaraki Tomura, what have they done to you?", his concern was sincere, Tomura could tell.

The fair-haired kid gritted his teeth. He wanted to scream about how they had drugged and isolated him, how All Might's stubbornness had broken his spirit, how they had touched him without permission and forced him to eat that disgusting prison food.
Instead, he kept thinking about all the things they had not done; they had not tortured him, they had not let him die by his wounds and.. All Might had not given him up on him, not to this day.

"Nothing to get hung on about. Tell me what you agreed to do so you could have this meeting."

"I agreed to reveal the names of some people of the Union."

"WHAT?!", Tomura shot up from his seat and knocked the chair over in the process. Kurogiri planned on giving those people the names of all their resources, finances and supporters? What in the hell was he thinking?

"Shigaraki.", the warning was immediate.

"Calm down, Shigaraki Tomura.", Kurogiri's voice was calm and Tomura did as told. He cleared his thoughts: The mist was planning something or he wouldn't have agreed to do that.

Nobody bothered to put up the chair, therefore Tomura remained standing.

"It doesn't matter now. What does matter however is if Sensei was right.", Kurogiri asked him and Tomura got the urge to escape, to hide from the guy that had been his caretaker (or babysitter, as Himiko would say) for so long. He knew what Kurogiri was going to ask next: "Say, Shigaraki Tomura, is it true? Have you betrayed all of us?"

Tomura's eyes shot up and he was sure that there was 'guilt' written all across his face.

No! No! No! It's not true! I have never betrayed them!
Had Sensei visited Kurogiri in his cell too? Of course he had, why else would Kurogiri ask him this specific question? Why else would he suddenly request to see him?

Am I not one of them anymore, just because I don't want to kill him? He still hated the hero society, he still hated U.A. and what it stood for, he just didn't hate–
You're a fucking coward, Tomura. Just say it!
You like his visits, you like that he cares, you like that he sees more in you than just trash! You like that finally, you matter to someone.

Tomura cringed at his next thought, You like that he's like a father to you.

"What have the heroes ever done for you? What has this society ever done for you, Shigaraki Tomura?", Kurogiri continued when receiving no answer from his protégé, "Out of all the children in this world, he chose you as his successor. All for One was like a father to y––"

"SHUT UP!", Tomura shouted at him, his blood-coloured eyes glowing with anger. Surprised about his own reaction, he looked away again and spoke low but demanding this time: "I care about Sensei the most.. but he was never a father to me. Don't ever say that again."

He knew Kurogiri was not afraid of him: "Then what about the League? They do not follow me or Sensei, they have always been your comrades. Don't you want to lead them again?

"You really think I ever cared about them?", Tomura smiled, baring his unhealthy teeth like the crazy person he was, but what Kurogiri said next wiped the grin off his face.

"You don't care about them but you care about All Might?"
The former leader of the League bit his lip, all the feelings inside him going wild at that statement and he just wished he could hide his face behind Father.

"How could your loyalty be so easily broken?"

This one was easy to answer, I guess I am such trash that I start to trust people who show affection towards me, is that so hard to figure out? Not even my parents wanted me.
That last part hurt him the most and he wanted nothing more than to throw it at Kurogiri, so at least someone could understand the pain that was slowly killing Tomura inside, but the youth remained silent. Nothing he would say would get Kurogiri to shut up.

"Trust me when I say that All Might will never want you for who you truly are."

"Why did Sensei not tell me about my grandmother?", it wasn't as if he really cared about her, he didn't know her, but for once it was Kurogiri who was speechless.

So he knew as well.

"Who told you about her? Was it All Might?", Kurogiri dodged the question but Tomura wasn't going to let him turn this – he was asking the questions now.

"Why, Kurogiri? Why not just tell me?"

"Why does that matter to you? She left you behind, that is all you need to know."

"Kurogiri, give me an answer!", Tomura ordered but his voice was small and pleading and it didn't make Kurogiri do anything. Why was he not listening to him?!

"Kurogiri..please.", this begging was on purpose and he hoped that Kurogiri would feel sorry for him.

No reaction.

This wasn't going anywhere. The young villain started to shake but Kurogiri didn't seem to care, he only pushed Tomura further: "Shigaraki Tomura, listen to me: You will never be a part of them, they will never forgive you for what you've done. They will always push you aside!"

Tomura could feel the tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. He swallowed a few times, successfully holding them back. He knew he was weak, Sensei knew it and now even Kurogiri knew it. But crying in front of him? No way was he going to let that last wall fall.

He's right. What was I doing, thinking I could ever be a part of them?

"Come back to us and All for One will forgive you."

Where do I belong?

"Time is up. Do not speak any further or we will shoot.", a voice echoed through the speakers and the prisoners were led back into their cells, with Tomura feeling Kurogiri's eyes on his back and being more confused than ever.

Half a year had passed since Tomura had been imprisoned. One of the guards, a younger one, had mentioned it by mistake. Six months, six months!

The world has probably forgotten all about the League of Villains.

Something deep in the corner of his mind whispered: Wouldn't that be great? To start from the beginning?
Tomura didn't like where this was going. He scratched at his neck and his mind became empty, just like he wanted it to be.

All Might came back to Tartarus what Tomura estimated to be around a week after his meeting with Kurogiri, a chess board underneath his arm.

"I can't play chess. I could barely play Shogi until a while ago."

"What kind of greeting is that?", All Might placed the board and the gaming pieces onto the floor and stepped towards Tomura, who was sitting in a corner, his chin placed on his knees. Like a guarded animal, the youth watched the hero's every moment, but eventually didn't stop All Might from coming nearer. The blonde knelt down in front of him and ruffled his hair.

"Forgive me, Tomura. I couldn't.. come sooner.", All Might then apologized, his hand now slowly brushing the knots out of Tomura's hair. But the prisoner wasn't a fool; he could read how All Might wasn't (really) telling the truth, or at least not all of it. There must have been something he wasn't allowed to say. Had it something to do with All for One?

Don't care..right now..
Tomura closed his eyes, enjoying the fingers of his enemy caressing his head like All for One used to do.
The man's movements became slower and when the hero's hand went down to his face and tried to push the bangs out of it, Tomura's own hand instinctively shot up, grabbing All Might by the wrist.

"There is no reason to be ashamed."

"I am not ashamed.", Tomura unwillingly let go of All Might and the man took it as a permission to continue. He tucked the hair behind Tomura's ear and when the upper part of the young man's face saw the light, All Might gently brushed against the scarred skin with the back of his fingers.

"Who did this to you?"

Tomura bit his tongue before answering: "I did."

"Why?"

"Because I hate myself more than I hate you.", He clenched his fists, digging his nails into the inside of his hand. A small part of his damaged skin was a side effect of his quirk, but nothing he couldn't have fixed with a bit of care. Most part was because he had teared at his skin with his own hands, causing himself pain and relishing on it. It freed him, it cleared his mind, it made him cunning and it helped him focus.

"Then channel all of your hate towards me because.. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

Tomura opened his eyes and scarlet met blue. From the vast emptiness and darkness that was the villain's black heart, a feeling of warmth spread out into every limb, every finger, every fiber of his being at All Might's words. That is, until he thought of his master again.

He's watching me! Tomura jerkily moved his head away and brushed the hair back in front of his eyes. All Might looked confused, his hand still in the air, as if he didn't know if he'd just done something wrong and so Tomura decided on changing the subject: "Didn't you want to bring a student?"

A student I have to murder to get back at you.
Again, the villain tried to convince himself that he wanted this, that it was because of All Might and this rotten society that people like him had no place in this world. A world which worshipped heroes that couldn't save anyone, him included.

And it didn't work. With All Might constantly visiting him, he had seen that there was a different side of people. Tomura had become more vulnerable, the thought of killing someone now made him feel like all these years ago, when he first had to use his quirk on a human being.

"You will never be a part of them, they will never forgive you for what you've done. They will always push you aside.", right now, Kurogiri's words were the only thing keeping him from completely losing it.

"Ah, now that you mention it! He will come with me the next time I visit you.", All Might's confused look changed into a sincere and innocent smile and once again, Tomura had to look away.

All Might. Sometimes you shine so bright, that I forget the darkness surrounding me.

"I can't wait for the both of you to meet.", All Might added and walked back to the game board.

"All Might?"

"Yes, Tomura?", All Might sat down and placed all the gaming pieces onto the board.

"Where will I go when I get out of here?", Tomura asked and quickly added, "You know, theoretically."

All Might stopped with what he was doing and looked at him like he just asked if the sky was blue or green: "You can live with me of course."

"Eh?"

"I own a house downtown. I thought about giving it away since it's way too big for me alone. But if you'd come to live with me, well.. we could use the space and you'd have your own room.", the man continued to place the pieces onto the board. He spoke about Tomura moving in with him as if they were talking about something as casual as the weather. Tomura on the other side, couldn't believe what he was hearing. All Might planned on taking him in? He wouldn't ever get out in the first place, but just the thought of it..

"I will save you from the darkness."

"And..maybe, you could go back to the previous name.", All Might quietly mentioned and placed the last piece onto the board, a piece Tomura remembered being called a 'knight'.

All the happiness (was it happiness that had spread inside Tomura after All Might had told him not to further hurt himself as well as offering him a place to live?) vanished instantly after that name was spoken.

"Are you fucking kidding me?", Tomura asked in a lowly, warning voice. All Might was in dangerous territory again.

"Wouldn't it be easier to live with a proper name? I don't even mean your first name, but Shimura–"

"How many times do I have to tell you not to fucking call me that?!"
I am not who I was anymore! I am not Shimura Tenko!

"I..I am sorry. I shouldn't have said that, forgive me, Tomura."

"Whatever."

Tomura wasn't stupid, but it took him a while to memorize all the different figures and their possible movements, although one had to mention that All Might wasn't a very good teacher. Not like Tomura was in the mood to play anyway, all he could think of was how he had to hurt All Might to get All for One's approval. Soon, he guards called time without them having played one game.

The hero ruffled Tomura's hair again before standing up to leave – but Tomura could not let it end like this, not with All Might thinking that he was pissed at him.

"All Might, wait!", he called and got on his feet.

The hero stopped right before the exit, looked at the guard who just shrugged and turned around to a Tomura chewing on his lip, with a pink flush colouring his pale cheeks. All for One's successor didn't know how much younger he looked when he ditched the evil gaze.

"I..", he stuttered and All Might waited patiently for him to find his tongue.

"Thank you..for everything.", what a weird thing it was to say for him.

Tomura had expected All Might to smugly say something like 'You're welcome' or 'My pleasure', to simply nod, to ruffle his hair again, anything but what he did. Half a second later, Tomura found himself in the former number one hero's arms again.

"Always, Tomura."

With his ear against All Might's chest, Tomura could hear his heartbeat, but missed how it jumped with joy when the kid brought up his own arms (arms he could finally move), returning the embrace.

Sensei. I know you're watching. I do everything for you.

But this moment, I take for myself.

Fuchou prison, a few weeks ago

The world had never been kind to Iguchi Suichi, or 'Spinner', as he was known now. Even the members of the League of Villains occasionally called him a Lizard-guy, reminding him that he wasn't normal.

For the heroes, bullying someone because he was different wasn't enough to step in.

Then Stain made his appearance in the public; he sought out the heroes who's only goal was glory, money and fame and with this motivation, people like Spinner who had been pushed aside by society and heroes alike, finally found a purpose to live and a way to get their justice.

Spinner wasn't a criminal for the sake of being one, he wanted to achieve a goal and open up a world where people like him, or Dabi, or Toga, would be welcome as well.

Unfortunately, Shigaraki Tomura did not seem to have the same goal as him. Spinner despised their leader, but...

Without him, they stood no chance of reforming justice. It was Shigaraki who had the connections and the resources and.. let's be real for a second; neither Spinner nor Dabi or anyone else in the League had the qualities to lead.

They needed him back.

But for that to happen, they needed to get out themselves. Dabi, Mr. Compress and he were in prison, their quirks bound. Toga was either in a prison for women or a locked psychiatry. Twice was who knew where. The whole situation had not been looking too good for them for months––

––until now.

Answer to HankFlamion18 (user): Why are you reading my mind :0 ! There are (were) indeed two ways this story could go and I have been ringing with myself if I should publish both (one as like an "alternate ending") but I'll stick to my original plan. Thank you for commenting!

Answer to Galaxy diamond (user): you flatter me ~~ : )))) Thank you, dear! :3

Answer to TheStarsBurnedMySoul (user): Another beautiful comment, thank you again! I LOVE every review and the longer, the better! Ikr, Shigaraki's story is just a tragedy and I am really interested on where Horikoshi will go with him.