Last time, as expected by his friends, Bakugou gets into a heated argument with Izuku's former alleys, now his kidnappers, the League of Villains, promising consequences for the things they've done. Meanwhile, the Aizawa and the principal discuss Bakugou's rescue.
Shota Aizawa sits in front of Nedzu in his office; they don't have time for long-winded meetings, but some planning needs to occur, or Bakugou is screwed. The student has now been missing for over 48 hours. Experienced heroes know how critical the first three days of disappearance are. If it weren't for the security cameras, UA wouldn't have known what happened to Bakugou at all, and they'd have had no lead about the League of Villains. If they were hoping to use Bakugou for ransom, they had a funny way of going about it.
The office is filled with worry, and Shota takes a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. He and the principal aren't really seeing out to eye on this topic. Not since it was declared that the plan should involve Izuku Midoriya. Midoriya is not only a child -still underaged and underprepared for the world- but he has also been found complicit in premeditated murder and espionage, to offer some highlights. Every time Shota thinks of Izuku, it's not his arrest that comes to mind, which is the problem.
His mind holds on to everything that had made Midoriya in UA. A kind, talented, dedicated student with a hero complex big enough to rival All Might. How did such a child join the villains? Since when? Shota shakes off his head; Bakugou will not be helped by Shota's tardy sentimentalism. He had his chance to help Midoriya.
"What is the prison reporting about Midoriya after we left?" It's risky, but the teen certainly looked rattled at Bakugou's captivity, though how much of what happened within them is credible is another big question.
"Do you believe such a thing matters?" Nedzu replies, gauging Shota's expression. Instead of taking offense, which he wants to do, Shota breathes out and thinks about it.
Here are the things Shota believes to be true:
Izuku Midoriya attended the prestigious hero academy of UA for under two-years, entering exclusively through hero points with a rudimentary understanding of his quirk despite an almost prodigious ability for quirk analysis. An enigma from day one.
During those two years, Izuku Midoriya continued to develop himself as a student with a persistent inferiority complex and worrisome tendency to self-harm when under pressure. Notably, Midoriya has a quasi-crippling diagnosis after risking his life, saving a young boy early on in his high school career during a villain attack.
After maintaining a violent and unhealthy acquaintanceship with Bakugou Katsuki, they eventually establish a truce (friendship) that would bloom into a romantic relationship that becomes public when it uncovers that Midoriya has been collaborating with villains for an unknown amount of time.
Midoriya turns himself in.
The last one is definitely the most important, and the one that Shota ruminates on now. Even if everything about Midoriya is fake, if the one thing that is true about him is his connection to Bakugou, that's a glaring weakness that they would be hard-pressed not to exploit. It's not preposterous to believe that he holds some feeling for his childhood friend. The crux is how to use it against Midoriya without harming Bakugous as a byproduct of the situation? Shota isn't excited about using teenage romance as a bargaining chip to an overpowered, morally ambiguous child. Still, he's certainly not above it if it means saving one of his student's life.
"He might be our only shot at rescuing Bakugou before something happens," he answers instead. Even as he says so, it tastes foul in his mouth, "but..."
"But we can't put convoluted planning beyond him," the principal nods, clearly pondering along the same lines.
"Even if it involves Bakugou?"
"Ah. Love is dramatic but flaky at that age." True enough. "...And it's not like Midoriya doesn't have reason to hold a grudge for Young Bakugou."
"It would make little sense to be angry at Bakugou; why turn himself in in the first place?" Shouta dismisses, returning to his original point: "So, nothing unusual after letting him know?"
"He cried," Nedzu reveals. Shota wonders what his genius makes of everything that's happened in UA. Shota is certainly a pro-hero, but even his heart squeezes uncomfortably at the honest answer.
"I see," Shota mumbles, giving in and letting the decision on the principal, "how shall we proceed?"
"I'm afraid we'll have to negotiate with Midoriya," the principal sighs, "if the police had even an inkling of how the League of Villains operates or their whereabouts, they would've acted on it already. They warped in and out of school. There's no trail to follow."
"We cannot let him out." If Midoriya escapes, there's no assurance they'll get him back in. He's a treasure trove of hero secrets of the worst kind, a danger to every single person who ever crossed paths with him during UA.
"I agree, but we'll have to give him something of value in exchange," Nedzu continues, "Any ideas?" Shota takes a deep breath, standing up to coordinate the rescue.
"I'll come up with something."
Izuku remembers his arrival to Tartarus, or rather, he remembers being detained and then waking up at his new home. The first conscious feeling he processes is the lack of quirk in his veins. He hadn't noticed the way One for All has settled like a second nervous-system under his skin, thrumming and beating in tandem with Izuku's heartbeat until it is no longer there. Izuku feels violated, dirty. That thought gives him pause, how far he has fallen. He chuckles at himself, but no sound comes out, and the weight on his face becomes apparent. He sticks out his tongue, tasting cold metal, and as his hands come up, they trace the outline of a muzzle. It's not an unfamiliar feeling, but it chafes on him.
Is this the hero's justice?
Leaving Tartarus is a similar experience. The last thing Izuku remembers is going to bed after dinner -if prison food can be considered dinner. The next thing he processes, he can't see, and he's more restricted than usual. He doesn't stir yet, trying to get a feel for his surroundings. They've moved him while unconscious, but his body doesn't feel groggy or heavy, so no drugs then. How did they evacuate him from prison without Izuku waking up?
It smells stuffy and humid, not unlike Izuku's jail cell, but the material under him is different, metal? And the wall at his back is thin. Hmm. A holding cell?
He knows he must be out of Tartarus's lower levels at least because his handcuffs are linked uncomfortably at his back, hand to opposite elbow. It's a little like a straight jacket, but Izuku reminds himself that he's not crazy. There is agony in his shoulders, but it's not the worst pain Izuku has felt. He's giddy with this new puzzle. Trapped in prison, the only thing Izuku gets to do is drop bite-size hints to the authorities that dare consult him, which doesn't happen often. This situation, painful and ominous, is something new at least.
Also, Izuku knows that the police claim that Kacchan is involved, and he's very aware of what that means for him.
"Stop pretending to be asleep," if there's one person that would have silent breathing, Izuku straightens, startled; it would be underground pro-hero Eraser Head, of course.
"Glad you're taking me up on my offer, sensei."
"I'm going to give you 3 minutes with Bakugou if he agrees to it, and if he is found safely where you say he is," the older man informs him, voice flat, "that's all."
They took him out to rattle him, then. No room for negotiating this agreement? Izuku thinks that's hardly legal but keeps his mouth shut. 3 minutes with Kacchan is definitely more than he would get yesterday; they must really be desperate.
"Blindfold stays on," he cautions. Izuku is starting to suspect that sensory deprivation is part of his security protocol, which might be overthinking on his part or overkill on the heroes'.
"But-!"
"That or the muzzle comes back on, take your pick." Huh, maybe overkill, then.
"...Fine."
"Now, where is he, Midoriya?" Aizawa -sensei's voice is cold, and Izuku hopes he knows what he's doing, for both Kacchan's sake and his own. When he rattles off an address and feels movement, he understands where he is, a car.
When the pro-hero Best Jeanist bursts into the warehouse, it's dusty and desolate except for a single metal chair in the middle and an old couch. Apparently, there is only a tied-up Katsuki Bakugou present, which immediately sets off alarm bells in the experienced hero's mind. The 17-year-old is shackled down to a chair, gagged with cloth, and he looks neither sad nor scared, only murderously focused. As someone who's known Bakugou for years, the pro-hero takes it that - kidnapping aside - Bakugou is most likely unharmed. The warehouse is surrounded by heroes and police, the blonde catching Hawk's 'clear' signal through one of the roof's glass cutouts. Skylights in the villain's lair, how quaint.
There's someone in the League of Villains capable of camouflaging their appearance, so Best Jeanist approaches the kidnapped teen with his guard up. Even though the way the hostage impatiently taps his foot and noisily strains against the maidens gives credibility to his identity.
"Hello, Bakugou." It's only his training that has him adding, "you're safe now." All it causes is the hero-in-training to tense up, annoyed. Carefully, Tsunagu removes the cloth, letting it hang around Bakugou's neck. The teen is still in his school uniform and seems to open and close his jaw in discomfort, probably tingling after being tied up for a significant amount of time. He spits out on the floor because clearly, Tsunagu has failed in instilling any manners in him.
"Someone called them," Bakugou reports unprompted, looking decidedly disgusted. "They knew you people were coming and ran away like the cockroaches they are." There's furious reasoning working behind his red eyes, and he meets the same concern in his part-time mentor's. Why kidnap Bakugou to let him get rescued? If they had enough time to flee, why not take their hostage with them?
"Any traps? Any slip-ups as to where they went?"
"They warped out without telling me; who would've fucking thought, right?" he grunts sarcastically. Best Jeanist still doesn't move to untie him, letting the rudeness pass by him. Instead, he opens the line of his earpiece.
"I have Bakugou secured; please send in Eraser Head to confirm his identity." The heroes are not 100% sure that the nullifying quirk undoes Himiko Toga's powers, but even if his quirk doesn't work, Bakugou's teacher is undoubtedly qualified to verify his identity. Because of this, it's surprising when it's Toshinori who comes through the warehouse doors. He is -as always- in a suit that swamps his frame, but his eyes are sharp as ever.
"Young Bakugou," he smiles kindly, unaffected by the fierce scowl on the younger man's face. "Do you remember your code?" Most people would say that Katsuki Bakugou only has two constant facial expressions, mildly annoyed and murderous, but Tsunagu knows him better than that. Bakugou looks uncomfortable, maybe even unhappy at the question, and it puts him a little on edge. He shares a look with Toshinori, but the older hero looks unconcerned by the hesitancy.
"Ground Beta," he finally mumbles out. Toshinori loses some of the tensenesses of his shoulders, smiling down on his student.
"It's good to have you back, Young Bakugou," and finally, Best Jeanist manages to take another breath, moving to free the teen.
"Whatever."
Shinso watches the freckled face of Izuku Midoriya for the first time in over a year through the van's window. They know each other. Once, he thought they knew each other pretty well. Until Midoriya was exposed as a villain spy and arrested overnight. The last time he and Shinso spoke, they'd watched movies well into the night with some other classmates. There's absolutely nothing eyecatching about the memory additionally to it been the last one with his 'friend' Izuku Midoriya. Until an hour ago, he thought it'd be his last memory of Izuku Midoriya at all.
Midoriya thinks that he will meet with Bakugou Katsuki once he is rescued. In truth, he'll meet with you.
Why, though? Hitoshi had asked.
Because you're even-tempered and can quickly neutralize him.
He's familiar with my quirk, Hitoshi protested.
Only for a moment. If he tries anything fishy, you get him with this. No hesitation, Shinso.
The tranquilizer gun is heavy in his pocket.
Midoriya is blindfolded. Even as the hero-in-training enters the back of the van, stomping all the way in imitation of Bakugou's rude demeanor, Shinso cannot believe he is doing this. Midoriya's head swivels to meet his entry, smiling tentatively. The van is a couple of blocks out of the raid site, where the real Bakugou Katsuki is being debriefed while refusing any medical examination. Life feels particularly cruel. Midoriya is scarily close to what he wants, whether that is freedom or Bakugou; he'll get neither today. Hitoshi activates his quirk, three minutes to see if he can get something useful out of Midoriya.
"Well, nerd, you wanted to see me?" He goes as further into the van as he can, the door locking behind him and giving Aizawa-sensei, on the other side of the divisive screen, a thumbs up.
"Kacchan...?" the hope in Izuku's voice is heart-wrenching, but Hitoshi reminds himself that this is a mission like any other and that Izuku has never been as sweet and innocent as he'd like others to think.
"Who else, nerd?" he grunts out, giving the metal seat opposite Izuku an annoyed kick for good measure.
"You're okay?"
"Just fine and dandy, I didn't need nobody coming to rescue me!" It's a ridiculous statement, but Hitoshi has never met an ego like Bakugou's, so what the hell.
"Ah," he smiles, "I'm glad to know that, at least. I was worried."
"You're always worrying too much."
"I am?"
"Yes, cause you're a fuckin nerd."
"I see…" is he being too harsh? Midoriya's smile has turned sour, "Hitoshi... isn't it?"
He stares through the glass at Aizawa, who makes scissors with his fingers, and Hitoshi deactivates his quirk.
"Yes, Midoriya." He thinks of apologizing but bites his tongue.
"That's okay," the other mumbles, posture tensing up, "it was a fair try."
"What gave me away?"
"That would be telling now," Midoriya evades, "wouldn't want you to be better at this, in case you guys try again."
"...Fair enough, I guess."
"The 'fuckin nerd' was good though," Midoriya says ruefully, "Is Kacchan really alright?" Shinso nods before realizing how stupid that is when Midoriya is blind.
"Yes, he's been evacuated unharmed."
"I see," he murmurs softly, in the same friendly tone he'd apologized to Hitoshi many times before. Midoriya seemed to always be apologizing, now Hitoshi wonders about that a lot more. Shyness? A guilty conscience? An act? "That's a relief, ha ha."
Hitoshi fools himself into thinking this is how far their encounter would go, an awkward chasm of old memories, and unspoken resentment only until the doors of the van blow up. The sound is deafening, and the blast is scorching against his skin. It says a lot about Bakugou, that it is he who Hitoshi pictures breaking in.
(You really want to shut the fuck up about the shitty nerd, got it? Pretend he's dead!
Maybe, like you do? wasn't the most diplomatic response, but Hitoshi didn't actually think that the rabid student would explode at him.)
Soon, he realizes that Bakugou would've been the better option.
Blue fire invites itself into the van, the temperature rising with each breath, burning the inside of Hitoshi's lungs.
Hitoshi recognizes the quirk immediately, one of the minions of the League of Villains, but how? This van is parked away from the warehouse. There is an incredibly reduced amount of people aware of Midoriya's involvement, much less his location. Before Hitoshi can ponder any more on it, from the smoke emerges another worrisome character. Hitoshi has never seen Himiko Toga face to face, but he's certainly never wanted to after Class A's stories.
"Izuku-chi! It's so good to see you!" The girl yells shrilly. Midoriya's blind head turns towards the voice. He's trying to scurry back from the flames he cannot see, but his maidens are tied down to the wall he sits against, and they do not budge an inch.
"Himiko?" he coughs out, and there's fear in the shadow of his mouth.
This is the worst-case scenario, Hitoshi thinks, Midoriya will use the opportunity to escape. This is why the villains didn't keep Bakugou; they didn't want him in the first place. They just wanted to force the authorities' hand in getting Midoriya out of Tartarus. It all clicks quickly into place.
"What do you think you're doing?" Hitoshi rages, hoping that either of the enemies will take notice. He can order them to take each other out, but he is ignored. Bitterly, he wonders if they know about his quirk or if they just don't consider him a threat at all.
"Sweet dreams, Izuku-chi! No going back to prison for you!" Sweet dreams?
Hitoshi was wrong; what happens next might be worse than Midoriya escaping. The school girl's knife cuts through the smoke and the fire, honing into Midoriya's chest with a squelch that Hitoshi will never forget in his life. Midoriya bellows in pain, one violent spasm wrecking his body.
Just then, a tall patched man grabs the schoolgirl, pulling her back from the reach of Aizawa-sensei's binding cloth. He runs off but not before throwing a cheap line.
"We didn't know if they'd actually bring you, pipsqueak, but looks like your luck's run out."
This isn't a rescue mission, Hitoshi realizes, looking at the knife sticking out of Midoriya's chest; it's an assassination.
"Dabi," Midoriya chokes out, blood dripping from his lips. The grey sweater he's wearing is soaking up the blood at an alarming speed, and he seems trapped between not moving to avoid worsening the damage and writhing in pain. Hitoshi is frozen.
"Put pressure on the wound and press the panic button!" His teacher yells out, throwing a baleful glare at his former student in concern. He seems hesitant to leave them, but Hitoshi nods firmly in encouragement, training kicking into gear as he watches as Aizawa-sensei persecutes the villains. Hitoshi thought he was done caring about Izuku Midoriya, but his fingers move to take hold of the knife, careful to not aggravate the wound any further. Midoriya gasps but bites his lip to avoid making any noise.
Don't you dare die, he prays.
Midoriya collapses against the van's wall as Hitoshi hovers over him.
"Stay awake, Midoriya," the panic bottom is really for escape attempts, but it'll bring help either way. He wishes to take off the blindfold, but every instruction he'd been given indicated the contrary. Don't trust anything about Izuku Midoriya. Nothing he says, nothing he does had been the prison's orders. It worries him, not being able to see the consciousness state of the other boy.
"Hi… toshi," he mumbles out, weak enough that Hitoshi needs to bend down to listen, "t-tell Kacchan…" but Midoriya doesn't continue, choking out blood and going limp in Hitoshi's arms. It's so movie-like that for a moment, the hero student genuinely thinks he's faking it. People don't bleed out that quickly. Friends-turned-enemies don't die in your arms. Hitoshi turns around in a panic, thankfully meeting Aizawa-sensei's eyes as he returns from chasing down the assassins.
"They're gone…" he informs, before looking at Midoriya's limp form in Hitoshi's arms and his apprentice's wild, incredulous gaze. He's embarrassed about it, but Hitoshi's eyes are filled with tears.
"Sensei…" he calls out pitifully, watching the pro-hero cross the distance in the blink of an eye.
"Shit."
Remember when I said this would have slow updates? Yeah, forget about it, I'm missing only a couple of scenes for this entire story which is insane (the other two are in progress). I wrote the ending okay, how? This literally took over my life lol.
Anyway, hope you enjoy this!