Chapter Three

-three years ago, after the recon mission-

"Congratulations. You must be so happy with yourself."

Todoroki took a moment to observe her. She was grinning widely, her hands tied in front of her. Her steely eyes bored into him. And although she was strapped to a chair, she looked as comfortable and regal as if she was sitting on a throne.

"I hate to say it, but you seem pretty happy with yourself, too," Todoroki replied. "I wonder why?"

"You Heroes are all alike. Narrow-minded. Bringing me down may throw a wrench in our operations, but we are resilient. Adaptable. You're not the only ones with contingency plans."

"You're not telling me anything new. I'll be the first to admit: you're different from other villains we've encountered. You're intelligent. You entrusted parts of your plan to other people so not one person has all the information. You devote yourself entirely to your mission."

"Mr. Hero, you're making me blush! By all means, don't stop. "

Todoroki ignored the comment, not wanting to satiate her need for attention. "We knew we weren't going to take down the guild with you," he continued. "But, we got a dangerous villain off the streets and that's worth something."

Trajectory laughed. "Like I said: Congratulations."

He stood up and opened the door of the interview room. "I'm done."

"That's it?"

"Yes. You've been pretty useless to me."

That set her off, as Todoroki figured. She thrashed in her seat. "Oh, come on. What kind of interrogation is this?" she demanded. "Aren't you going to ask about the political bribes? Hacking into the Hero Network? The rats in the police force?"

Todoroki waved his hand. "The detectives can take the rest from here. I've wasted enough of my time."

"What about the new leader? The man you left at our base? You seem to care an awful lot about him."

Todoroki's heart skipped, but he continued to walk out. "He's dead."

"He isn't!" was the last of her words before he shut the door behind him. He walked down the hallway and into the chief's office where a TV of the interview was on.

"She's lying," Todoroki reassured the expecting eyes on him. "She was just trying to get to me."

"But, what if he is alive?" Midoriya implored. "What if there's a chance? You're not going to even entertain -"

"Izuku, they were the ones who stabbed him."

"But, what if -"

"Stop," said Bakugou through gritted teeth. "I want to believe Kirishima is alive, Deku. But, Shoto is right. He's gone."

Todoroki shivers as he remembers the lengthy conversation they had just two weeks ago. Was he that overridden with grief that he wouldn't even consider the possibility? Did he not want to even hope?

He runs his finger along the strange markings on the wall of the hospital building. For the past few days Todoroki has spotted dozens of these markings on curbsides, mailboxes, signposts. He searched the M.O. in the police database and asked local graffiti artists about them, but nothing turned up. Yesterday, he started emptying Kirishima's locker at the agency and that's where he saw the markings again, neatly written in a little red notebook.

It took him all night to decipher the messages. He looks up at the hospital. Why did you lead me here?

"I know you've been following me," he says over his shoulder.

Midoriya steps forward and pulls his hoodie down. "What are you up to?"

"You need to go."

"Shoto, this has been extremely hard on all of us. And Kacchan… he needs us. He needs you -"

Todoroki moves away as Midoriya extends his arm to him. "Don't lecture me."

"Please...you can't keep shutting me out." Midoriya's eyes are desperate, begging for Todoroki to let him in. "We can't keep doing this to each other."

Todoroki throws him a stern look. While he appreciates Midoriya's compassionate meddling, this is neither the time or place to get into it. Can't you tell how frustrated I am right now? Todoroki wants to say. Can't you see I'm trying to deal with this in my own way? Can't you understand there are some things I can't share with you so I can keep you safe? Can't you trust me? But, he holds his tongue and instead offers, "Look, we can talk about our relationship later at home. What I'm doing now is work-related."

"It's him, isn't it?"

Todoroki sighs. He isn't going to fight it anymore. Midoriya is unrelenting. "I don't know. Maybe. Or it could all be one big trap. It's why I didn't tell anyone. I wanted to confirm for myself. Besides, I was asked to come alone."

"Let me come with you," says Midoriya. "I'll be discrete. As far as anyone is concerned, we're just visiting your mother."

Todoroki doesn't argue and walks through the hospital doors. He checks in at the security desk and signs their names on the visitors' log while the other keeps his distance. Todoroki rolls his eyes and slips his hand in Midoriya's, interlacing their fingers.

Confused, Midoriya looks at him and reddens, sputtering a few incoherent words.

"There are cameras and a lot of witnesses here," explains Todoroko under his breath. "We might as well make it look real." His partner's hand feels cold and clammy. Why are you suddenly so nervous?

Two teenagers join them in the elevator. They leave the Heroes be for the most part although they aren't very good at hiding their ogling. When the doors open on the fourth floor, Midoriya walks out first.

Todoroki squeezes his hand. "I'll meet you there. I just need a moment."

"Sure, I'll let her know," responds Midoriya, nodding. He turns to the others in the elevator and flashes them one of his infamous smiles. "Have a nice day!"

"OH MY GOSH, DEKU!" They squeal and follow him out. "We saw your battle with Trajectory on TV, it was EPIC! Can we have your autograph?!"

The elevator doors shut and Todoroki chuckles to himself. "Good work, Izuku." Thank the cosmos for Midoriya's diversion. Now he doesn't have to worry about people following him up.

Access to the roof is only through a staircase. The doors open and he's lucky that there aren't many health care staff nearby. He quickly exits the elevator and sneaks into the stairwell.

His hands start to shake as he pushes the door to the roof open. His stomach flips. A man with his back turned stands near the ledge. Upon hearing his footsteps, the man looks over his shoulder and Todoroki's knees nearly give in.

A wave of anxiety washes over him. His insides twist and turn; his breathing becomes more labored, his heart rate accelerates. The shaking is only worse now.

"Hey - hey, you alright?" Kirishima envelopes him in a hug and holds him tightly. "It's okay...it's okay."

Todoroki shuts his eyes and finds he's crying. Everything he's bottled up has burst open. He clings onto Kirishima as if he'll disappear at any moment. He silently cries into his shoulder as Kirishima soothingly rubs his back.

After a few minutes, Todoroki pulls away. Kirishima looks beaten up, but fine aside from some bandages wrapped all around him.

"Your memorial is in the morning," whispers Todoroki. "We fed to the media you were killed on a job overseas." He feels both guilty and a bit embarrassed they couldn't tell the public the truth about his death.

"I saw the paper," Kirishima says laughing uneasily. "Look, it's a nice cover. I know why you had to do it. You're still trying to take down the guild and you couldn't give away that you had a mole and all that intel."

"But, how?" Todoroki's eyes are wide open as he stares at Kirishima, still in shock. "How are you here? How are you alive?"

"We have someone with a wild regenerating quirk. That night I was teleported to another base just before Trajectory set the place on fire. I guess they didn't want me dead after all."

"Kirishima -"

"How's Bakugou?" he cuts him off. His voice is fraught with worry.

Todoroki's head spins. There are so many thoughts whirling in his brain. "He's in agony. Wait. I-I don't understand. Why...what are you doing? Why are you still with the guild? Come home."

Kirishima frowns and stuffs his hands in his pockets. "I'm not coming home, Todoroki. We have an opportunity -"

"No," Todoroki's words come out darker than he means it. He shakes his head. "I'm pulling you out of this case. We need to regroup."

"Todoroki -"

"We'll find another way." He musters every ounce of authority he has and fakes the rest. His eyes beg him to cease and desist.

"I'm not going to turn away this chance to make a difference," Kirishima says with absolution. "You know their organization has deep pockets with leaders in this city. The guild trusts me. I can expose them."

"It's too risky."

Kirishima glowers at him. "I literally risked my life for this job. You can't tell me it's too risky now. If I have to, I will go rogue. But, I'd rather have your support."

Todoroki takes in the unwavering determination in his gaze. It's the reason why he even considered hiring him in the first place. His faith in Kirishima is unmatched. If there's anyone who can take down the guild, it's him. Still... "What about everyone you're leaving behind?"

Kirishima's inhales, his eyes glimmering. When he finally releases his breath, he says very slowly, "The only way for this to succeed is if no one else knows about it. You gotta let me go dark."

"What about Bakugou?" Todoroki asks more forcefully.

There's a strange resolve in Kirishima's face when he answers. "He, above anyone else, would understand. We're Heroes, Todoroki. How can I call myself that if I don't take this chance? I won't be able to live with myself. Trust me. Please."

\\\

-present day-

"You look terrible."

"And you changed your hair...again?"

"Yeah." Kirishima laughs and pulls Todoroki in for an embrace. His hair is black now and past his shoulders, braided about halfway down. "Seriously, though, do you not sleep?"

"I sleep. Just not enough." Todoroki walks into the tiny studio filled with high-quality furniture and art that must cost three times his salary. "Is this a new hideout? I thought I've been to all of your bases."

"I just bought it. This is the King's stronghold. That's actually why I called. He's arriving at the end of the week."

Todoroki's mouth drops. "The top of the chain is coming here? I thought he was a recluse."

"He is, which is why this is a big deal. He has an important announcement to make so he's holding a private party in the guild's founding city and inviting everyone: mob bosses within the guild, politicians, business leaders, everyone he's bribed and partnered with."

"Holy shit."

"Yeah. We won't have to deploy multiple teams to different locations like we originally thought. All the bigwigs will be in one town."

"End of the week? That doesn't give us a lot of time."

"I have a plan. But...there, um, is a catch. And you're not going to like it."

Author's Note: thank you for reading! Comments are welcome : ) Next chapter will be posted on Tuesday.