'Some ask if heroes have an obligation to wage war at the behest of their government and the answer to that is simple: Yes, they must, and they should do so without a shred of hesitation. Should the government be lawful and built on a legal constitution, the war declared as per the UN Doctrine to Warfare, and approved by the populace, every hero has an obligation to pick up arms and wage that war. A hero must not question their role in the war, but they need always question the war itself and its causes. If a war is unjust, or the government unconstrained by fair laws, then a hero has the obligation to wage war on that unjust system.'

—Excerpt from 'The Law of Heroes' by Hinata Ononoki.

Izuku Midoriya has been a captive of the great villain who defined the Modern Hero Age for fifteen days now. Each day, he learns more and more about the man beneath the mask. Each day, he learns a better way to manipulate the Vanguard, Spinner most of all. Each day, he pieces together the story of All For One.

Today isn't a lesson. Today, they play chess. This is their fourth game. The last three were conducted in utter silence.

Izuku moves his pawn forward and decides now is the time to attack.

"I've come to the conclusion that you're a hypocrite."

All For One hesitates for a fraction of a second. "Oh?"

"You claim that you don't condone the deaths of children and yet, how many people died when your group attacked the camp?"

"Technically, the group belongs to Tomura but you aren't interested in technicalities." All For One takes Izuku's pawn with a rook. "I've said adults should never kill children. That is a law I follow and haven't broken since I made my system of ethics. No adult killed a child during the raid. The deaths were at the hands of a child younger than you and one who I believe is just older than you."

"You still recruited them."

All For One shakes his head. "The old adage that you can't teach an old dog new tricks is very true, my boy. When you reach a certain age, every thought you hold is based on your experiences of your youth. This world of yours is different than the one I grew up in. Heroes killed when I was your age and there weren't any hero agencies. The great Hero may have inspired the trend, but she wasn't bound by your morals. I remember the chaos that followed Hero's death. Order could only be restored by martial strength, by those with the will to live."

"Nice story," Izuku says derisively, but understanding slowly dawns on him. And he hates the idea of the man All For One was in his past.

Confront him with it. It is another strength you hold over him.

"At some point, you come to learn that those younger than you do know best. They are the ones who define an era and live with the consequences. Not old men like me. I won't stop a child from fighting for what they believe in so long as they know what they believe in. I will caution them against it but in the end, if someone dies as they lived, then I believe they lived the best life they could."

You've said the same thing many times, brother.

Izuku takes All For One's bishop with his knight, not letting his face show any emotion.

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"Through my life experiences," the villain says. "It's a simple conclusion that I believe people like us, determined and headstrong people, inevitably come to."

"Inaction is much the same as committing the act," Izuku says, uncomfortable and seeking to change the topic. "If you have the power to stop a crime and yet you let it happen, then you may as well have done it. The more powerful you are, the greater your responsibility to society is."

All For One hums in thought. "Then, you may as well have been the one to put down the girl in the sunflower dress."

Izuku freezes, dread coiling around his heart. "What?"

"She died in that prison after your interview," All For One says. "You didn't stop the officer, so, by your own words, you were the one who sent her to prison. Your words incited the prison riot she died in. Her life is on you then."

"Fuck you," Izuku snarls, not caring about his composure. "Fuck you and everything you say."

He stands, ready to walk out. He's done with the games and manipulations. Fuck All For One.

Then the malevolence crashes down on him. It is raw and oppressive, a reminder that this man has stood above al contenders for centuries.

"Would you like to add Mandalay's death to your conscience?" the villain asks politely. "If not, take a seat and let us finish this game."

Izuku swallows but takes the seat. He glares at the villain, hating him more. Mandalay is alive and there is a chance, no matter how slim, to save her. The girl in the sunflower dress is dead—and he knows the villain isn't lying—and gone, a terrible memory he'll have to carry forever. He has a responsibility to the living.

To Momo suffering because of him.

To his mother who is undoubtedly grieving terribly.

To Kouta whom he made a promise to protect.

"That was cruel and unnecessary." Izuku castles his king.

"That isn't in the Asian version of chess," the villains say, but shifts his queen forward one square. "And I am a villain. I must do something to maintain my image."

"All creatures seek immortality."

"Saruhiko Ando. Did you not insult Stain for cherry-picking his words?"

Izuku shrugs and moves his king forward. "Just an observation."

"What do you hope to achieve with Spinner?" He loses a knight to the villain's pawn.

Izuku doesn't let his features react. "What?"

"Come now, the others may be too foolish to see what you are doing but I notice these things. Will you attempt to lie?"

Izuku swallows nervously. The option is there. He's always been good at lying and hiding away truths. But he remembers their last conversation and knows that All For One has been humouring his deceptions.

"No."

"Good. It would have been very easy to kill him had you done so."

Another life he holds over you. Your plan is being used against you. No, it was his design from the beginning.

"You don't seem angry."

"You're using my methods. I've taught you and you have learnt. Why would I punish you for being a good student? I'm neither Aizawa nor Toshinori. Now, what is your plan for him?"

"He's an idiot," he says slowly. "Easily swayed by polarising figures. He doesn't think for himself."

"You wish to… save him, from himself."

He slides his queen diagonally across the board. "I suppose I do. Check."

All For One castles his king. "Why?"

Izuku moves his queen back, unwilling to lose it. "A truth for a truth. Why me? Why am I the only one you're trying to convert?"

"You make the mistake of thinking I want to convert you. I know you will never become a villain. But what makes a villain? What makes a hero? This world is not black and white. It is shades of grey. Believing otherwise is a fool's gambit."

"There are good people."

"Yes. And those same people support corrupt systems. Those people partake in the Great Game and the laws of power. I don't wish to convert you. I wish to open your eyes. Because a truth once seen cannot be forgotten."

Clearly, he doesn't know you. Doesn't know me. He is not omniscient, brother mine, no matter how it seems. I am the keeper, the lock and key. The truths you hide are known to me.

"I was told once that a disciple of mine would be granted wings," Izuku says, knocking his king over in checkmate. "Assume that this event is inviolable and will occur."

"A dangerous assumption but one I will entertain because you're being honest. And because I've seen first-hand the potential of the abyss."

Izuku knows that. The tales All for One shared of mad cultists and townsfolks mutated under the influence of the dark realm left him disquieted. It is his power and domain. In a way, isn't he responsible as well? If darkness infects the land, then as the king, shouldn't he be held accountable?

No, you aren't. Don't willingly step on that minefield.

"I don't know if it meant literal wings or not. But what is flight if not freedom? Shuichi tries so hard to be Stain that he only shackles himself to the ground. He's not strong or powerful, but he's also barely a villain."

"And so, you wish to convert him to your side. To become your ally and steal him from Tomura's grasp."

Izuku shrugs. "I want to save him from himself. I don't know about the rest, but he can still have a future. If I can save him from his own ideals, someone who kidnapped me and fought against me, then I can change anyone. If he can become my disciple, then I can make anyone believe in me."

"Shall I give you a truth free of cost."

Izuku frowns. "Everything has a cost. You might not be the one demanding the price, but there's still a cost."

All For One laughs, a deep throaty baritone. "You've learnt much from me. The cost of this truth is the nature of responsibility. When you change someone's ideals, you become responsible for them. If you do this to Spinner, if you truly make him your disciple, his every action from then on will be your responsibility. Should the law come for him, then you must stand on his side. Should he betray me and harm my interests, then you will have to stand against the League. Do you understand the responsibility you will bear?"

If he does this, it will be hero society and the government and villains all coming for him for harbouring one of the people who started a war. Doing this may very well be the same as starting another war, one he will fight alone.

"Yes," he says resolutely. "I'm going to change society brick by brick."

"So quick to accept that duty. You remind me of myself."

"I'm nothing like you."

"Oh, my dear boy, we're more alike than even I would like to admit."

They play another game in silence. Izuku wins this one after twelve moves. All For One huffs in annoyance and resets the pieces. He comes to learn All For One doesn't very much like losing but he is willing to accept his losses with dignity.

They play again.

"All Might once called you the incarnation of evil," he says part way into their sixth game. "A person who simply wants to become the embodiment of devilry."

"Do you believe that?"

"I've come to learn no one is that simple. I know a lot about quirks and I'm coming to understand a lot of people. Shall I give you a truth in exchange for a truth? A truth about All Might for a truth about the man behind your mask?"

"Betraying your master. How… unexpected. And disappointing. I respect honesty. I respect those who stay silent. I do not respect liars and betrayers."

Izuku rolls his eyes.

"Oh, he'd be fine with it. He told me never to fight you because I wouldn't win. If telling a truth about him grants me immunity from your wrath even a minute longer he'd tell me to take it. And when he does come and fight you, I'd rather know everything about you to help him. If it leads to your death, I certainly won't mourn you."

All For One stays silent for a moment. Then he chuckles deep in his chest, a rumbling sound that makes him all too human.

"Oh, you vicious child. Tell me your truth."

"All Might has a fear. A fear that should he exceed his mandate of stopping you and battling villains, and instead root out the negative elements of society, then he will become another Stormwind or Titan. He fears that at the end of that road, should he ever take that first step, he will be confronted with a mirror. And the reflection he sees will be your face."

"How unsurprising, in truth. Such a base fear. What truth do you wish?"

"You're many things," Izuku begins. "Ruthless. Intelligent. Cruel. But you're honest and have a set of rules you refuse to cross. You're as charismatic as All Might and brilliantly terrifying as Nezu. You respect Hero and Hawkmoon. And that makes me wonder how you became a villain."

"That is simple."

"No, let me finish," Izuku says strongly. "I won't have you twist this. You were born roughly two centuries ago at the tail end of Hero's Golden Age. The heroics industry started about thirty years later. Before that, there were no heroes, only vigilantes in the classical sense—people who acted outside the bounds of the law. And Hawkmoon was active if anyone crossed the line and became a villain. I think you can see where I'm going with this."

All For One nods, his features blank and emotionless. "Say it," he demands.

"Fact: the requirements for being a hero are always strictest after a tragedy. Fact: the heroics industry values the flashiest quirks from photogenic individuals—it's why Gang Orca will never rise higher than ten no matter what. Fact: vigilantes of great power are labelled villains. Fact: Japan's heroics model was adopted form the Vancouver Island model and the first villains there were vigilantes before. Tell me, All For One, the greatest villain of Japan, were you once a vigilante?"

"In two centuries," the villain says slowly, "there are few who guessed that. Some of my brighter subordinates. Yet, in just three weeks, you have guessed what All Might failed in decades."

All For One pauses and it is more for Izuku's benefit. It is an offer to retreat and avoid that part of the villain's life.

"Say it," Izuku demands in a mocking parody. "I want to hear you say it yourself."

"Yes, by your current definition, I was once a vigilante. We were the ones who brought peace and sanity through our strength, just as Hawkmoon did to South America. Just as Stormwind restored order to Europe. Just as Hero who ushered in a golden age. I organised those of us with a common goal under one banner. And then those from Vancouver Island followed my model. I helped create that organisation and they followed in my footsteps. They restored order to the island. And as thanks, the government labelled them all as villains because they refused to be the government's killers."

Izuku blinks. "What?"

The villain nods. "Quirks weren't as prevalent back then. They were still an incredible form of power. Imagine an organisation that held one-third of North America's quirk strength. If you had that power, you could rule the entire continent."

"Stop. I got my truth."

"No, you asked. You demanded. Now, you will know the true foundation heroics society was built on." All For One leans forward and for the first time, Izuku sees a glimpse of the fury he is struggling to manage. "You pushed and prodded. This is the cost of truth."

You cannot run brother. He holds too many lives over you.

Izuku draws a deep breath. Squares his shoulders. "Say it."

"They kept the peace and allowed elections to occur. They upheld everything you believe in. Freedom. Democracy. Truth. And then, as payment for their blood and pain, they were given an ultimatum. Join the new Hero Conglomerate, nothing more than another branch of the armed forces, or be labelled as traitors to the state. That is what the word villain truly means in this era. To be a villain is to be honourable and uncompromising in your morals against a corrupt government. To be a villain is to be a revolutionary. To be a villain is to fight for what you believe in. When they asked for my help, I would not say no. I showed them how to organise, I taught them what I knew, and I prepared them for a war that may never end. It was a war that lasted a century and change. Recently, they finally won.

"When I returned, my brother had become a hero whilst my allies in Japan were branded as villains. They were dead or in hiding or imprisoned. All because Japan saw Vancouver's model and adopted it without a second thought. My own brother betrayed me for a corrupt government. I gave my brother his quirk and he used it to destroy everything I built. And when I beat him down, he passed it on. Over a century later, a boy of fifteen holds that quirk, questioning my morals and demanding every truth I hold."

"No," Izuku whispers.

"That is your legacy, Izuku Midoriya. One For All is a legacy of betrayal and murder and corruption. When I see Toshinori, I see my dead allies. When I see you brandishing that power so casually, it is a personal insult to everything I have fought and bled for. I may not be a hero, but I did not attempt fratricide."

And though All For One holds back his rage, Izuku can see how the air behind him has shattered. He feels the overwhelming power this villain holds and knows his mortal form could never beat him.

"One For All is a beacon of an unjust society. It is a rallying call to everything wrong in this world. There are monsters, yes, but none have been praised as much as your quirk. That is the truth. I may not be good or kind or just, but this war I've waged for a century is to tear apart a society that would pit brother against brother for no reason but power."

Izuku shivers at the malevolence. "Then why didn't you reach out and try to find peace? He was your brother."

"Because he was so far gone that every word I spoke was poison to him. He spat on every overture of peace, on every offer for a ceasefire. My own brother who I protected cast me as the villain of this story. He wrote the history the world believed. How long would you have lasted after such a betrayal?"

Izuku doesn't respond.

Kirishima's look of disgust haunts him weeks later, a constant source of dread every time he looks back on that night. That look is what horrifies him the most from that night. Not killing Muscular or seeing Aoyama bleed out. Not killing the Nomu or seeing All For One's hostages. Knowing that Kirishima, his friend, considers him an abomination hurts more than all that combined.

What more were his own brother to look at him like that?

"I am no philanthropist or saint. I don't claim that me and mine restored peace out of pure altruism. I wanted the power to rule and never be opposed, but I never wanted a world like this. Everything I did was All For One person, my brother who betrayed me. I will not let you ignorantly perpetuate a cycle with no knowledge. If you're to face me with my brother's quirk, then know the legacy you now hold."

All For One stands and he is a towering presence, a dark monument to strength and villainy and so, so much more than Izuku could ever have imagined. His very presence distorts every cardinal truth Izuku held about heroes and villains.

This is a man who saw hero society founded and he does not lie. His greatest strength is in manipulating a person with an honest and unbiased truth.

For him to say those words, then it means All For One believes them with complete certainty.

"Get out of my sight, boy. I have never been more disappointed in you."

-TDB-

Enji Todoroki is about ready to collapse where he stands. He hasn't slept in the last three days, too busy dealing with a few Taiwanese Remnant cells backed by the Chinese military. The last two weeks have been an exercise in tracking remote cells trying to sabotage power stations or attack hospitals or deal more damage to their already frayed organisational structures.

Those two weeks had been filled with death, dozens of burnt corpses in concrete jungles and the sweltering heat of a battlefield fought in a forest. This isn't the first time the military or navy has requisitioned his abilities in the last two decades nor will it be the last.

Unlike the other heroes, he understands the necessity of clandestine activities and doing what must be done. Just ask his family.

Today, he is finally back in Tokyo, listening to a briefing for the planned counterattack in the next few days. The plan is simple enough, two teams for the two bases. The base in Kitami has a confirmed sighting of Midoriya and Yaoyorozu, the other in Yokohama with confirmed movements of Kurogiri with some Nomu. Endeavour will lead one team whilst All Might the other. As the two strongest heroes, that responsibility falls on them.

They will be supported by the military in this operation, thousands of soldiers quietly being mobilised whilst tanks, helicopters and artillery platforms are ready to be rolled out.

There are equal odds of the leader being at either base. It makes sense that he would be closer to Midoriya in Kitami, the most likely place All Might would head to, especially given that Hokkaido is a major support base for the League. It also makes sense for that base to be a decoy base whilst most of the forces are gathered in Yokohama.

It will be a hard decision, one entirely up to All Might. Enji could care less. Either way, this was will end once the attack commences. All that matters is that their side wins.

"You're back," All Might says after the meeting is over.

The man looks tired if strong, grieving in his own way. There's an air of uncertainty to him that Enji doesn't like.

"Half my agency is dead," Enji says.

"I'm sorry."

"We underestimated the villains totally. We thought them nothing more than rats hiding in the dark. One man with a warp quirk and hundred soldiers is successfully waging a war against us and we're losing."

"That's why we have to strike now. We can't afford to absorb any more losses."

Enji looks at All Might, seeing the blazing fire of strength within him. It is nothing like the pitiful flame he has had for the past eight years. No, this is the wildfire Enji remembers from his youth, the unbeatable power of All Might in his prime.

"You've recovered your power," Enji states simply.

"Of course, you would notice." All Might huffs, amused. "Yes, they're back. Entirely by accident. I'll need every bit of power."

"You know the person we're facing. How powerful is he? The truth."

Toshinori hums. "They call him the Strongest Man Alive. And he fully deserves that title."

"Then he needs to die."

"Don't make light of this."

"I assure you I'm not. But we have no choice. I am not so arrogant to ignore the difference in strength between us, but if there is to a be a future for those who come after, he needs to die."

For Shouto. For Fuyumi. For Rei. For his family that he broke out of fear. This villain, this great monster that even All Might fears, must die. His threat needs to end.

"I should lead the Yokohama team. That's the larger base but…"

"Midoriya was seen at the other base." Enji scoffs. "And you're hesitating now? Pathetic."

"That boy is—"

Enji surges forward suddenly. He grabs a fistful of All Might's shirt, his flames springing forth and pure rage contorting his expression.

"Enji," All Might warns softly, his presence filling the air.

"That boy is your successor. He's your student. And you're hesitating." Enji bares his teeth in anger. "That boy is your son in every way that matters and you're dithering over what to do."

All Might startles, eyes wide. "It shouldn't matter. I need—"

"I would burn the world down for my son," Enji shouts. "There are things I've done that won't be forgiven and I don't care! But right now, you're willing to sacrifice your son on a bet. How can you face the Strongest Man Alive when you can't even make a simple choice like this?"

"He won't hesitate to kill you if he's in that base," Toshinori says softly.

"I've never feared death."

"There's no chance you can win."

"Then I'll land a single blow," Endeavour says strongly, "and slow him down. At this level, a single blow can make all the difference."

"Why are you so ready to do this for me? We've never been friends."

"Because I'm a father and that boy is your son," Endeavour says as if that is answer enough. And perhaps it is.

Shouto doesn't hate him, thankfully enough. Perhaps the boy will never forgive him, perhaps Enji will never speak to Touya and Natsuo again, but if they live then this will all be worth it. If they make it to old age and die surrounded by family, then Enji will gladly bear whatever sins the world heaps upon him.

And perhaps, a world without him is a better world.

"Thank you." All Might extends his hand.

He faces this man he has looked up to as the pinnacle of strength, the man who kept moving forward even though his powers were shattered. All Might is someone he one day wants to equal, the same man Enji looked up to as a teenager. If it takes facing the Strongest Man Alive to get to that level, then Enji will take that risk.

The only way he will become stronger is to face stronger opponents. Maybe, just maybe, he can close the gap enough in that fight.

Endeavour joins hands with him.

"Go save him. Whatever comes, I'll buy you enough time."

In a few days, he promises to surpass the limits imposed on him by parenthood. In a few days, Endeavour will become a star or he will go out like a supernova.

-TDB-

Today is the twentieth day of the war for Japan. Today is the day Fumikage Tokoyami takes part in his first real battle.

He stands at the bow of a naval ship, listening to the explosive reverberations as ships trade blows, one barrage of ballistic rounds after another. The sun is bright in the sky, blindingly so. It serves to illuminate broken hulls and the long scars left by high-explosive rounds carved across the surface of a dozen vessels.

This is the largest naval battle Japan has taken part in for the last few centuries, the last during an aggressive act from Indonesia. Today, dozens of naval vessels protect Japan from an unprecedented attack from China.

They are outnumbered two to one and must deal with the four members of the Great Ten leading this assault. Their ships are long, sleek vessels exuding menace, emblazoned a bright red. Behind them are what seems like an endless tide of vessels to support them. This is the most important battleground. This will determine the shape of Japan's future. This battle will determine Japan's sovereignty.

Fumikage observes this all calmly. He knows for a fact that Dark Shadow is doing something to his emotions, rendering them inert and leaving only cold steel behind.

You won't enjoy getting them back.

"Likely so," he murmurs.

"I still don't believe you're ready for this," Maya, Izanami of the Royal Guard, says.

She wears her full regalia, a blinding and perfect white reflecting onto the deck of the ship. It marks them out as targets. It also marks them as threats. Fumikage wears much the same, though his armour is heavier and his sword is strapped to his back. They are bright and luminous, a rallying cry for Japan's oldest institution.

"He has to be," the final member with them, Ryujin of the Guard, says. "There's no time left to learn. We hold this position and win. There's no other choice."

A loud bang interrupts them, their ship firing for the first time. It sends vibrations through the deck and up Fumikage's bones.

"Once we get close enough, I'm taking us right to that lead ship before they get near us," Maya says. "I'll do my best to protect Ryujin as he unleashes havoc. You have the most important job."

"Destroy their artillery platforms and engines. Destroy their radios, communications, and weapons. Stop their planes from mobilising. Sink their ships." He inhales. "Even the numbers gap by any means necessary."

"You can't hesitate for even a single moment."

"I know."

"You can't worry about Izuku."

Fumikage nods. "I've entrusted Shouto with that responsibility. I'm going to make sure that when Izuku returns, Japan is still standing."

"You love them."

Fumikage nods, knowing it to be true. Three kings bound by a promise more important than light and dark and life.

"Yes."

"Good," Ryujin says. "A reason to fight is important. I believe it's time."

He withdraws his sword and lets Dark Shadow's strength fill his body. Dark membranous wings sprout from his back and his sword glows with purple light so bright it shatters the air and distorts reality.

Fumikage Tokoyami, once a student, but truly a god, joins the battle for Japan's sovereignty.

With one gargantuan step that breaks spacetime, he lands on an enemy vessel. He takes a moment to survey the runway and the jets preparing to take off, not caring that alarms are blaring or shots are being fired. Dark Shadow is more than capable of protecting him from mortal armaments.

He unsheathes his sword and infuses it with power. It thrums, a deep vibration that reaches his bones, and emits an oily smoke even as the edge glows purple.

With a single slash, it emits a beam of raw power that tears through the runway. The beam of energy uproots carefully engineered reinforced steel, flinging chunks of steel every which way. He hears the screams and shouts as humans are caught up in the blast but he ignores it. They chose their side.

When the light fades away, Fumikage has already summoned his hounds. Dozens of quicksilver hounds rush across the deck, tearing through artillery platforms and chewing through anyone that resists.

His flock of crows are in the air, heading towards another ship. Their feathers of glass unshattering make a horrifying sound, one of pure rage and total malice. Their scream is Funikage's anger made manifest, a promise that there is no bright future, that there is no chance of victory. They go after the crewman, mercilessly tearing through flesh and bone.

A comet crashes down onto the deck and the ship lists. When the smoke clears, it reveals a tall robot bristling with armaments and exuding cold menace.

It is one of the Great Ten, the Shaolin Robot, one of the premier quirk users in the world. This is a being capable of standing beside Endeavour as an equal.

"I'll give you one chance to surrender," Fumikage offers.

The android raises its arm lightning quick and fire off a blast of energy. It strikes Fumikage right in the face.

He sneezes, nose irritated by the cloying scent of the energy. It has the added benefit of dispersing the dust cloud.

Fumikage grins, relishing the challenge to come. He raises his sword a and falls into a stance, ready for the coming battle.

"Show me your strength."

He'll show the world his power. He'll make sure they remember his name.

-TDB-

Shouto Todoroki is ready to leave and rescue his friend on the twentieth day of the war. He's dressed in casual clothes. A hero costume won't really help him at this stage, not when he has infernal fire and entropic ice at his command.

At the gate is his sister, arms crossed. She looks disappointed. That makes him falter in his steps.

"Fuyumi?"

"You're leaving."

Shouto nods. "Yeah. I have to."

"You don't have to do anything."

"You're right, I don't. I need to do this."

He walks towards her and offers her a gentle smile.

"Don't do that," she says. "You know I can't argue with that stupid smile."

"Do me a favour and go get mother. Bring her back and keep her safe."

"What's going to happen?"

Shouto shrugs. "I don't know. Everything is in flux. I'd just rather be prepared for the worst. I've made sure the basement can handle a nuclear attack."

She stares at him in surprise. Then it fades to fondness. "I don't know what to do with you most days."

He makes a gold snowflake. "Mother has one just like this. If you need help, if everything goes so horribly wrong that you feel the need to call me, I'll answer."

She bumps her forehead against his. They stay like that for a moment and Shouto almost turns back, willing to bask in his sister's unconditional love.

"Stay safe."

"I will."

"You know I love you right?"

"Well, I am me."

"And you're an ass." She shoves him back fondly. "Go do what you need to do. I'll get mother."

Knowing his mother will be safe is a weight off his back, one he didn't know he was carrying. He vanishes in a flash of black fire, catching a glimpse of Fuyumi's sadness. It sends a tiny thread of guilt up his spine, but he forces it down and lands at the entrance to UA.

There aren't many better places than this to meet up. The school isn't in use right now following the attack on Aizawa—and Shouto isn't certain why Izuku's father felt the need to go that far, but he supposes there must have been valid reasons, and if there aren't, Shouto will still go to sleep at night. Maybe Izuku and Fumikage will care, but he's made of stronger stuff than either of them.

He finds the raid team waiting for him. Ashido, eyes bloodshot and out for blood. Iida who is tense and paces erratically. Ojiro and Shinsou who are bastions of calm. Jirou doing her best to keep Bakugou from exploding.

It's a volatile mix ready to set off. A part of him wonders who will be caught in the explosion.

"About fucking time," Bakugou snaps.

Shouto glances at him for a moment before turning his attention back to the group.

"The police managed to find the tracker Momo dropped on Bakugou. We'll be following the signal."

"How?" Iida asks.

"The same way I tracked Stain. Now, get ready."

He extends his hand. Ojiro doesn't hesitate and places his hand above Shouto's. The rest follow suit though Bakugou curses them all out.

"Stay calm and don't jostle me," he warns.

"Wha—"

Infernal flames consume the group.

Shouto burns a highway following the signal to Momo's tracker, a bright lighthouse for him to follow. Space and time mean nothing to the flames that created both. Shouto may not have total control over them, and he is still learning the full extent of his powers, but this is well within his abilities.

They appear in an alleyway a few hundred metres away from the Yokohama base. Almost instantly, Shinsou steps back and vomits everything in his stomach.

"I told you to stay calm."

"What the fuck was that shit?"

"Quiet unless you want the military patrol to hear us." He waits until they all fall silent. "The hero team is going to knock on their front door. We're going to go through one of the side entrances."

"How do you know about these?"

"I stole the plans from my father. Now come on and stay quiet. We need to get in before they start shooting."

He leads the quietly, using his eye to check for heat signatures and avoid guard patrols. They nearly get caught by a camera before Iida grabs his shoulder, pointing at the small device. Shouto nods his thanks and sets it on fire before they continue.

With his right eye, he can see possible futures and pasts that never happened. Some of those show villains taking secret paths and he follows them, leading the group through the patrols.

There's an entrance attached to an unobtrusive building just outside the military encirclement. Shouto burns through it with godflame, grateful that no one decides now is a good time to ask questions. Ojiro helps him carry the giant metal slab before it falls and they set it aside.

Shouto jumps down first, landing silently. The tunnel is dark, lit only by a few emergency lights. Thankfully, he can see in the dark with his abyssal eye.

There is no one nearby though he can see a mass of bodies above ground. Below, however, is a pitiless void that his eye can't pierce. That, without doubt, is where the main base is.

He gestures and the others jump down.

"We use this as a rallying point," Iida says. "If you get lost or separated, head straight back here. Use the radios if things get dicey."

Shouto rolls his eyes. "Radios are going to be useless soon. Standard protocol is to blanket an area in ECM. Everything but a few bands will be taken."

There are two options. They can go to the left or to the right. Most likely, both options are traps. Instead, he plans on going straight through the wall ahead of them.

He feels the wall, testing its integrity. He can't see past it but that doesn't leave him without options. He freezes the wall over, concentrating. If it conducts well enough, then the moisture on the other side will condense and freeze as well. And he can control that just as well.

After a while, he concludes that no one is on the other side of the wall.

With his flames, cutting a square through the metre of concrete and steel is easy. There is a lot of resistance from whatever they're using to mute his powers, but eventually, it gives way. He generates a ramp of ice to catch the slab. It slides down to the other side.

They enter quietly. It's a cell of some sort by the cot in the centre and the bars on the door. What surprises him is the painting on the wall, childlike and simplistic.

"Kouta," Iida says. "He was released a few days ago."

"The Pussycats might be alive," Jirou says.

"We didn't come for them," Shouto says.

"So what? Do you think he'd be happy if you ditched them?"

That, unfortunately, makes too much sense. There are a lot of things Izuku will do if he finds out Shouto didn't at least try to save them. Most likely, he'll start crying, and that's not something anyone should suffer through. Worse still, he might just break Shouto's legs and beat the shit out of him.

The lights go out and the base rumbles violently.

The group startles, Bakugou cursing loudly. He waits for the shaking to end, his annoyance growing with every moment. They aren't professional, sure, but they could at least not act as they've never been in a warzone. They survived USJ and camp. This is basically the same thing.

"It's begun. We need to move quickly." He turns in a full circle, looking for gaps in the field interfering with his sight. "There. Momo's one level above us, a few hundred metres that direction."

He sets fire to the door, consuming it in black flames. The door melts to a pile of metal sludge. Shouto covers the metal in entropic ice, stealing the energy from the molten metal. It's a quick and dirty way to deal with the heat.

The door leads to another corridor, identical to all the rest. Bland walls and harsh lights interrupted by the occasional door or hallway. At least they have an objective to head towards.

Those behind him don't make much noise, thankfully. They turn the corner and Shouto freezes on the spot.

There, just as surprised as Shouto, is a villain dressed in plain clothes. Before anyone can react, Iida crosses the distance. In a quick motion, he brings the villain down.

Shouto blinks. He expected more flailing and noise from Iida. Maybe he has learnt from the Stain fight.

"Give us the location of the hostages," Iida says angrily, pinning the villain down.

The villain spits in his face. "Fuck you."

Shouto rolls his eyes and grabs the man's arm. He can see his neural network and what is a neural network but a network of energy. He finds the pain receptors and sets them alight.

The man's eyes widen and he opens his mouth to scream. So Shouto generates a dome of ice to cover his face and trap the sound.

All they can see is the way the villain's body spasms in agony.

"Fucking hell, "Bakugou says softly.

"Did you think this was going to be pleasant?" Shouto asks, meeting Ojiro's gaze. He's the one with the strongest moral compass amongst the group. "We need to know."

"This is torture," Ojiro says.

"What do you think they've been doing to Momo," Ashido says angrily. "To Izuku."

Is killing their families an appropriate response for hurting him? He wonders as the group continues their debates on the morality of torture.

Ojiro looks ready to continue arguing until Shinsou lays a hand on his shoulder. Ojiro closes his eyes, defeated.

"Fine."

I hate all of you, Shouto thinks, annoyed.

This is exactly why he didn't want to come with them. Far easier to teleport right into the enemies' midst and fling fire everywhere. Now, he can't do so without worrying about collateral damage and their reactions because at least one person is going to tell Izuku everything he's done so far.

He lets the villain suffer for a few more minutes before letting up. He disintegrates the ice dome.

"Now, where are the hostages?"

The villain is smart enough not to resist. A few minutes later, they have a rough idea of where everyone's being kept. Unfortunately, Izuku's cell was hidden from everyone outside the Vanguard and the Pussycats were moved on a strict twelve-hour rotation. They have a list of likely locations but not much more to go on.

Before they leave, Shouto boils a tiny volume of the man's blood to make an air bubble. He won't notice it, and neither will the group, but the man won't be alive in a few hours no matter what happens.

Their first goal is to head up and get Yaoyorozu. After that, they can search for Izuku and the Pussycats. Iida secures the villain, tying him and gagging the whimpering man. He looks sick to the core, but he does it without a word, iron-hard determination tempering his emotions. It's part of the reason Shouto likes him.

That, and being willing to murder Stain. If only Izuku hadn't stopped them, then he'd have some very fond memories with Iida. Maybe he could have led Iida down a path with a lot more violence and bloodshed.

They'd have so much fun.

"Mina," a voice whispers.

They all turn, ice down their spines. Even Shouto is shocked to the core. There, flitting across the hallway, is a ghost. Tsuyu Asui is dead, yet that is her green hair splayed out behind her.

Shouto is rooted to the spot long after Ashido moves forward, her arm outstretched.

"Asui," Ashido says, turning.

"Don't," Shouto warns, coming to his senses. "It's a trap."

It must be. The world still makes some amount of sense. If Asui is alive then that means the concepts of life and death don't apply to humans anymore. And if someone, or something, has the power to rewrite laws baked into the very fabric of this universe, laws that are integral to Shouto's power, then they're all kinds of fucked.

If that's the case, if there's another being on his level, then Shouto's burning everything down, grabbing Izuku, and running. Fuck this operation.

Before anyone can stop her, Ashido's running down the hallways.

If it isn't Asui, then fine, he can live with what comes next. That, at the very least, means there isn't some greater threat beyond them.

"Fuck," Shinsou says, then he's sprinting after her.

What right does he have to stop her?

Hasn't he already known what would come of this day? Not all the details, but the nature of events. Today will be filled with blood in the mouth and death in the air, ruin and destruction around them. The extent of the chaos to come is constantly shifting and it terrifies Shouto because he knows for a fact that having the power to burn the world doesn't matter if you're knocked unconscious in half a second.

He forces his emotions down and masters that fear.

"Bakugou, Jirou. Follow them. Keep them safe." He glances up once more, seeing through the sections of the wall shielding his sight. "Momo's still there. Go save her."

"Fuck you," Bakugou snaps, but he follows behind the group, Jirou beside him.

That just leaves Shouto with Ojiro and Iida. Not a bad team, all things considered. Both are fast and competent, controlled where the others are volatile messes.

"I don't like splitting up," Ojiro says, tense.

"Deal with it." He smirks. "It's more fun anyway."

Iida moves suddenly, shoving Shouto against the wall. Well, that changes his assessment of how competent his classmate is.

"Do you even give a shit?" Iida swearing surprises him, surprises Ojiro as well.

"I didn't force anyone here. You all came when you could have walked away like Kirishima."

Iida applies more pressure. "You could have kept quiet and told no one about this. You think everyone's going to make it back? Divide and conquer."

"We're friends," Shouto says because he genuinely does consider Iida a friend.

"Are we? Right now, I don't think you care."

Shouto does care. About Izuku and a bit about Iida. The others are… tangential to his goals. It's not like there aren't a few thousand iterations of them that are practically identical to the ones he knows. He can go visit them if he ever needs to replace these versions of his classmates.

Ojiro grabs Iida by the shoulder and pulls him aside. "You're the one doing the dividing right now," he says lowly.

Iida glares at them both. "Fine. Lead the way."

Shouto does so gladly because if he doesn't, he might just punch Iida and he isn't certain Iida is anywhere near as sturdy as Izuku. They're used to beating on each other, but not everyone is that strong.

The tension is thick but neither of them says a word, more interested in keeping their footing as the ground shakes occasionally. A spark of hellfire above ground makes him shiver. His father is here and if they meet, that conversation will be very awkward.

The door opens into a rather open room with staircases on either side. He scans the room and finds an electronic device in the next room. Yaoyorozu's tracker, but not the girl herself.

"Not this one."

A warp gate opens, spewing out a group of enemies. It isn't the only one and he can feel many of them opening up throughout the entire facility.

Five Nomu and a few villains with bladed weapons and guns. Nothing he can't face. But he can't do that whilst keeping the other two alive and safe.

He's good but not good enough to protect them against villains with so much blood on their hands that he can smell it, their souls stained by countless murders on battlefields across the world. These villains aren't playing around given that he can sense four more approaching from the shadows, ready to decapitate his allies.

He flings ice that direction and raises a wall of flame to protect against the hail of bullets.

"Get going! Find the Pussycats. Get the hell out."

He can only hope the two of them are good enough to deal with what comes next.

He summons infernal fire to one arm and lets ice encrust him as a shield. This is going to be harder than facing Moonfish.

Which means this will be the first fun thing he's done in a long while. Best to savour his entertainment. No telling how long until something fun comes along next.

-TDB-

The hero's counterstrike begins on the evening of the twentieth night. It coincides with the attack off the coast of Okinawa. If—when—he wins, that's another battle that Toshinori Yagi will need to fight. Another battle in a war that might last forever.

All Might watches as the military sets a perimeter around the Kitami base, a warehouse complex in the middle of the city. Beside him are Gang orca, Mirko and Wash, alongside a whole host of military personnel. They wait in anticipation for the perimeter to form.

"Don't hesitate," All Might says. "Don't make mistakes. And don't get caught off-guard."

All Might leaps forward. If there is to be battle, he will be the first to enter it. He lands on the ground roughly, the earth-shattering beneath him.

The villains don't hesitate to attack him. Good, because if they're focused on him, it means they're not focused on his allies. Unlike the others, he can tank blows that would leave them a red paste on the ground.

He weaves between enemies, eliminating them with strong blows, and blocking many more. They try to trap him with a variety of quirk, they try to impede his motion or leave him disorientated, but that means little to him. He is All Might and unless they are all equal to Mirko at the very least, they are nothing to him.

Fighting them is an exercise in futility. Every time one villain is defeated, a warp gate materialises and sends them off. It happens so quick that he can't do much about it, and given the number of recent assassinations involving warp gates, he doesn't want to add his name to the list.

The ground trembles violently, making him and the remaining villains stumble. All Might claps his hands, generating a pressure wave that sends the villains flying back.

All Might leaps over a building to find Gang Orca in a defensive stance, facing off against another individual more than double his size. The hero is firing a wave of hypersonic waves to hold back the villain's attack.

Toshinori is still in the process of landing when the villain's strike connects.

The impact is so powerful that All Might feels it in his bones. Gang Orca doesn't even make a sound before he's unconscious, eyes rolling back.

All Might leaps forward, catching the hero. Gang Orca breathes shallowly. His breathing is wet, as though a rib or three are broken. He sincerely hopes it isn't a punctured lung.

He stares at the massive person before him. He exudes malice and cruelty, a savage beast designed only for battle.

He doesn't doubt that it is powerful. It shattered Gang Orca with one blow, breaking through the defences of the number 10 hero as though they didn't exist. And of all things, Gang Orca has some of the most powerful defensive abilities of them all.

The creature opens its maw, thick wafts of steam materialising. "All Might," it rumbles in a voice like stones cracking. "You will die."

"Perhaps," he agrees. "Perhaps even tonight."

All Might slams his fists together. The shockwave of force slams into the monster, pushing it back. It stares at him in shock, surprised that simple air had pushed it back.

"But not to you."

He draws on the power of One For All, channels the memory and strength of Nana Shimura. It is a raging wildfire, the strength to fight through any obstacle. A legacy centuries old courses through his body. He may not have much time left with One For All before it fades, but he has faith in his successor who will continue that lineage of power.

Against this villain, he won't need more than a fraction of that power.

All Might surges forward. He punches the villain faster than it can react, watching as his fist sinks deep into its thick hide.

The villain roars in pain and raises its arms, bringing them down faster than a creature that large should move.

All Might crosses his arms and guards against the blow. The force of it surprises him and he doesn't doubt that the blow will hurt in a few hours.

The ground below him cracks and he sinks. For a moment, the pressure subsides as the giant lifts one arm.

That arm comes down like a piston, attacking All Might's guard once more. He grits his teeth through the attack, refusing to show any weakness to this villain.

Then the force doubles suddenly. The blow rattles his bones. As does the second and third.

He is knee deep in concrete when he decides this has gone on long enough. When the giant raises its arm for another blow, All Might removes one hand for a moment. The pressure is immense but he refuses to fall.

His free hand punches forward, releasing an airwave of force. It stuns the giant just long enough for All Might to flex his leg muscles and shatter the concrete trapping him.

He dashes forward and crouches low beneath the giant's guard. Then, like a piston, he rises and slams his fist in the giant's gut.

It rises through the air, choking in pain. Ten metres at first. Then twenty and thirty, a colossus thrown around as a child would a ball.

It makes a sound, still conscious. All Might rolls his eyes. No one is ever smart enough to stay down.

He leaps into the air and pulls his arm back. There is fear in the giant's eyes. It knows what is coming. Heat and power infuse his arm. He draws a deep breath, feeling the endless reservoir of power rise to his command.

"Delaware SMASH!"

The blow is colossal.

A shockwave forms on impact travelling so fast that the air seems to explode. Glass shatters and small animals die from the power in it.

The giant falls fast as a jet diving. It crashes into the ground with enough force that the buildings tremble, groaning in protest.

When he lands and the smoke clears, he sees a hole shaped like the giant.

"Fifty metres?" All Might wonders errantly. "Could be better. I'm still not used to having my power back."

All Might cracks his neck and walks towards Gang Orca. The hero breathes weakly but is still conscious. Good. He signals the support to tend to him as he enters the base.

There are villains, dozens of them waiting of him. It takes him a few minutes to deal with the fodder, mostly because he doesn't want to collapse the structure. He heads deeper into the base, exuding confidence in a way he doesn't feel.

A giant door bars his way. All Might punches a hole through it and then rips it apart at the hinges. It takes a minute for the dust cloud to disperse, aided by a sweep of his arm.

The room is empty and grey, a concrete prison holding one person. He finds Izuku strapped to a chair. He crosses the distance in an instant, filled with hope for the first time in a long while.

"Izuku," he says gently.

The boy raises his head and that is when All Might knows something is horribly wrong.

Those eyes aren't green but rather, they're red crystal spreading across the thing's face. Where there would be a burn scar, there is instead a winding Lichtenberg figure in a sickly green, iridescent and venomous. Its chin is distorted and those ears too long to be human.

All Might recoils away from the creature, leaping back.

"/Hello, sensei/" it says in a voice that reverberates in the room, an unnatural sound like crystals scratching against each other.

The creature rises and only now does he see how its flesh has fused with the steel chair. Before his very eyes, he watches the steel melt and morph, becoming a sick parody of Izuku's hero costume. It has rusted steel for ears and a mad grin of endless teeth.

This thing, whatever it is, isn't human. The air around it seems to die as its metal flesh twists and churns, transforming before his very eyes.

A gunshot interrupts them.

All Might tenses, whirling to look at the gunman. It is a blond man wearing a spandex suit and carrying the gun.

All Might readies for a fight.

"That wasn't aimed at you," the villain says.

All Might looks towards the false Izuku floating in the air. The creature twitches and shudders, sickly-yellow sparks arcing towards the ground. The sparks intensify and the creature moans, a sound like shattered time breaking.

"/Save me/" the creature grumbles, deeper than any human should be.

Then it dissolves into a puddle of grey goop.

All Might stares at the grey goop as it evaporates, wondering when the world went so horribly wrong.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," the villain says, drawing All Might's attention. "Clones aren't supposed to do that. Her clone drank his blood and became some... distorted echo of him."

"What did you do?"

The villain finally looks up, revealing his eyeless face. They've been gouged out recently and All Might steps back in horror.

The villain smiles. "Mankind was never meant to look at the face of God. I saw a reflection of a tiny fragment. It drove me to sanity. Don't make the same mistake."

The villain raises his gun and fires. All Might braces, expecting pain. Then he hears a thud.

The villain is on the ground, a hole blown through his head. The gun clatters to the side, forgotten.

He closes his eyes and heads back up. There is nothing more here. He came here to find Izuku or battle All For One. His duties are not yet done.

He is halfway up the stairs when a crack makes him freeze up.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

He shivers, wondering when the world stopped making sense. The only people down there had been the villain and whatever that creature was. Which means a dead man shot himself again.

When this is all said and done, he is going to sit Izuku down and have a very long discussion with him.

The night air is crisp. He gives orders to cleanse the base with napalm immediately, warning them not to enter the base again. It needs to be done.

"What are you going to do?" Mirko asks.

The other base is in Kamino Ward, half a country away. A thousand kilometres and change separate him from Izuku.

All Might is not the fastest man alive. There are many others who exceed his speed and he has acknowledged this fact. He is not as fast as those who move at relativistic speeds.

But one fact remains: he is still bloody fast.

On the ground, outside of relativistic speeds, he may very well be the faster person alive. He is at his physical prime once more thanks to Eri. In his twenties, he would regularly run the border of continental USA in a single day simply to test himself.

This is nothing new.

"I'm going to run there."

He sets his feet in the ground. Tenses his muscles. Takes a deep breath.

In one moment, he is gone and the ground behind him shatters. In the next, he crosses the sound barrier. In the third moment, he is at his top speed.

The people don't see him, but they see the marks of his passage on the world. They hear windows shatter and see massive craters in the roads. They feel the wind of a violent breeze and reel back from the sudden snap of the soundwave.

They do not see All Might, the greatest hero.

He is simply too fast to be seen.

-TDB-

Mashirao Ojiro limps through the dank underground base, spilling blood on the ground with each step. There's a deep gash running the length of his tail and there's not much to do about it. It hurts like nothing he's felt before. The villain that inflicted it is on the ground, writhing in pain from a broken collarbone.

Iida is somewhere behind him, securing the last villain. One of them had revealed the location of the Pussycats after some rather brutal questioning—torture, though he doesn't want to use that word—and Ojiro plans on retrieving them.

The Pussycats are there, all unconscious, just as the villain said. Ojiro runs towards them and only instinct saves him.

He swerves to the side at the last moment, a stream of blue flames searing his thigh instead of his torso.

He grits his teeth, doing his best to balance on one leg and ignore the pain.

The villain is what he imagines Shouto would look like if his classmate had no control over his fire and the edgiest fashion sense possible. But those blue flames are no joke. He can feel their heat from here.

"We knew you were here from the very beginning," the scarred villain says. "Your friends are dying and you'll have achieved nothing."

He puts weight on his bad leg just to test it and nearly collapses. He can't even use his tail as a crutch.

"Fuck you."

"Here's what I'm going to do," the villain says. "I'm going to fling a lot of fire at the Pussycats. You can ignore it and let them die. Or you can jump in the way in the vain hope that your friend gets here quickly enough."

There is a blue spark and then the villain's arm is covered in fire. "Make your choice," he taunts.

I am so done with heroics, Ojiro thinks, before leaping in front of the Pussycats. He spreads his arms wide, knowing that it is futile but unable to do anything else.

He closes his eyes, accepting what is to come. He's had a good run all things considered. Made some friends, pursued his childhood dreams and kept on going no matter the obstacles. It's as good a life to live as any. Maybe better than most. At least with this, he's going out to protect someone else.

His parents will be proud of him once they get over their grief.

And then he's shoved out of the way.

Startled, his eyes snap open and he sees Iida in his place, eyes closed and resigned. Ojiro reaches out as he tumbles, unable to reach him or stop it from happening.

Ojiro can only watch as the flame engulfs him. He listens to Iida's screams in horror, unable to move forward because this is wrong. This isn't how the world is supposed to work.

The villain cocks his head in surprise. "Didn't expect that."

Iida moans in pain, alive somehow. Then Ojiro notices the earth golem shielding them. Pixie Bob, fighting through the pain and sedatives.

A dozen golems rise from the ground and for the first time, Ojiro feels a modicum of hope. Together with those golems, he has a good chance of winning.

The tide has finally turned and this is his chance.

Except, the villain doesn't look bothered by this. The villain shrugs, revealing a remote in his hand and presses a button.

"No!" Pixie Bob screams, sheer terror and desperation in that sound.

A part of him freezes up, completely entranced on the horrifying sight of the collars around their necks beeping, going from green to red in an instant. He is mesmerised at the sight of Pixie Bob trying to rip off the collar, then of her trying to shove Iida away.

Too late.

Boom.

That same part of him that is frozen observes the way the explosion leaves an almost clean cut. There they are, whole and healthy. Three adults with all their limbs and faculties. One moment they have heads. The next, there is a wave of force and heat that stuns Ojiro.

The force of the explosion flings them aside without regard for theatrics. It's a large enough explosion that he holds out absolutely no hope of Iida surviving. The force of it leaves Ojiro's ears ringing and his body sore.

When he can see again, he doesn't see their heads. They're simply gone, vaporised by the explosive. There's a horrific smear of blood and viscera instead.

In that moment he makes the decision to kill the part of him that is kindness and decency and abiding by rules because all that has left his friends dead. They don't have a place in war.

Ojiro thought he knew what anger was, something hot and bubbling and choking. Now he understands that anger runs cold. Pain, he supposes, brings clarity, even if that pain is your heart shattering.

The villain is too distracted by the explosion. Maybe not for more than a second or two. That, however, is more than enough.

Ojiro isn't the fastest—that was once Iida—or capable of turning on a dime the same way Izuku can, nor is he anywhere near as mobile in the air as Bakugou. This time, however, he doesn't have to be.

He flings himself forward, twisting in the air. The villain reacts too late, trying his best to backpedal. Before he can get more than half a step away, Ojiro wraps his bloody tail around the villain.

His tail has always been the strongest part of his body.

He wraps it around the villain's neck. Blue flames come to life, burning his flesh, but Ojiro ignores it. His body spins one direction whilst his tail twists in another.

He doesn't hear a crunch or a snap as he expects. The fire around the villain simply dies away.

It's hard to manage his weight on one leg, but it is worth it watching the villain fall, limp and lifeless, eyes staring blankly ahead. A part of him that he already hates finds joy in seeing his enemy fall. The villain deserves it. He and all his allies deserve to die for everything they've done.

Ojiro shakes his head and hops towards the Pussycats. They're gone, all three of them. Four, now that he remembers Tiger. An entire hero team wiped out for absolutely no reason.

He picks up Iida. His friend's body is burnt black and he doesn't breathe. Ojiro knows he's gone, but he refuses to leave him behind tonight. It's the fucking least he can do.

Everything hurts and his vision is blurry, but he somehow manages to walk forward, leaning against one wall. He stumbles a few times in his quest to find somewhere safe, not caring that he's in no state to fight if a villain finds him.

Not that he needs to worry about that. The scent of blood hits him long before he turns a corner. He is greeted by a hallway filled with corpses. It sends a flutter of disgust through his chest but he masters it. Dead villains mean nothing to him.

There's one person who could have done this.

He wades through a sea of blood and bodies carrying the corpse of his classmate. He follows the trail of carnage up two floors and down a dozen corridors, more and more bodies on the way. A part of him is proud, another part disgusted.

He pauses at the sight of a puddle of blood floating in the air and dripping down. The blood marks it as a Nomu, visible only by the pattern of the blood splatters. That oversized body and those long claws, an animal head and thick muscles. He can only see the outline of those features where blood has been spilt on it.

There's one person he knows with an invisibility quirk.

"Fuck, Toru, why you?"

No one answers. Why would someone answer? He's alone and accompanied by the dead. The dead have never spoken and they won't today.

Finally, the trail of the dead ends. There is a smear of blood leading towards one person. Shinsou Hitoshi, breathing heavily and leaning against the wall. There's a large gash down his torso bleeding profusely.

Shinsou looks up. "Hey," he says, coughing up blood.

Ojiro rushes towards him, not caring that his leg and tail are both screaming in agony. He sets Iida's body down and applies pressure to the wound. The blood is hot and sticky and he hates that it's out of Shinsou's body.

Shinsou hisses in pain. "Fuck, that hurts."

"Come on, don't do this," Ojiro pleads.

"Invisible Nomu. Got it in the end." Shinsou smiles, blood staining his teeth. "I'm fucking terrified."

"You can tell me all about it later," he says, hating the feel of hot, sticky blood. "We'll joke about this when we're old."

Shinsou almost laughs but it sounds more like a pained sob than anything else.

"Not your fault," Shinsou says, closing his eyes. "Remember that."

"Don't you dare."

Shinsou doesn't respond.

Ojiro tries his best for a full five minutes before accepting what is. He flops to the side and just sits, leaning against the wall. He stares at the fluorescent lights, not really seeing anything and not really caring.

A villain could come up and he'd be too injured to do anything anyway. What does it really matter anymore?

Shinsou is his friend, one he knew long before school. They were brought together by Izuku being Izuku, blindingly kind and ridiculous in equal measure. Shinsou, who learnt under Ojiro's master, and through that, their friendship only deepened.

Hitoshi Shinsou, caustic and sarcastic Shinsou, who had the biggest crush on Ochaco, is dead and there is nothing to do about it. The dead are dead and they can never come back.

At least you'll be together, he thinks, closing his eyes, and letting exhaustion take him.

Maybe it isn't very long but it might as well be an eternity before Ojiro's is roused from his slumber by furious whispers.

"Oh, fucking hell."

Ojiro opens his eyes. There is Bakugou, trailed by Ashido. She's carrying an unconscious Jirou. All three of them are bruised but they don't have any serious injuries.

He looks to Ashido. "Guess what?" he asks bitterly. "It was a trap."

She's pale, all the blood drained from her face. "I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter." Ojiro closes his eyes. "We should never have come here."

"Momo wasn't even fucking here," Bakugou says, his voice weak. "She's already gone. We came here for nothing."

"The Pussycats are all dead, Ashido. Iida tried his best and now he's gone because you couldn't stick to the plan. I killed the bastard who did it, at least." He smiles cruelly. "Oh, I also saw Toru. You remember her, don't you? I guess invisibility is a great quirk for a Nomu."

Maybe he's being spiteful and cruel, but none of this would have happened if they just moved as a group. And it's her fault because she thought the dead didn't stay dead.

He meets her eyes, feeling nothing. Maybe you can become numb to pain. All it takes is enough pain before it all starts blurring together.

"Iida and Shinsou are gone," he says furiously. "That's. On. You."

"God fucking damn it," Bakugou snaps, stepping forward angrily.

There is a spark of black fire and then Shouto appears. He is drenched in blood, hair without a trace of white, and littered with injuries here and there. Ojiro can't tell if he's gritting his teeth in pain or grinning from some sick sort of joy.

Shouto assesses the group, his dark eye falling on each of them. That half-grimace half-grin dies down. Finally, he looks at Shinsou and Iida, staring at them for a long moment.

"I'm sorry," Shouto says. "They're gone. I can't do anything."

"No one can."

He's not sure who says that but Ojiro agrees with the sentiment. None of this matters anymore. They've failed, utterly and completely. All they can really do is try to survive.

"I promise I'll bring you all back safely," Shouto says, his menacing aura finally vanishing. He just looks tired and resigned.

Then Shouto spins on the spot.

In a split second, where before there was air, there is a barrier of ice. Ojiro opens his mouth to ask what he is doing.

The blast hits them like a freight train.