***Warnings: Langauge, mention of rape, some mild violence, dialogue heavy

Chapter 9: The Mines

"This is going to be dangerous, and I'm fucking pissed off that I'm even considering this," Bakugo buzzes his wings with aggravation. "But I am going to be the next Hero of the Valley, and a hero saves those in need." He turns to Iida. "You're going to help me get All Might and Izuku out of this place."

Iida's glasses slip down his nose as his eyes go wide. "You want to escape with them? But Bakugo, currently, All Might can't fly! And I refuse to leave the others here to suffer in the mines!"

Bakugo grits his teeth and glares at Iida. "I fucking know that! I would have left them and come back, but that damn Izuku will want them to escape as well. So, I plan to get EVERYONE out of this shithole, including you."

"I don't know how you plan to achieve this, Bakugo. King Tomura has guards everywhere on the outside."

"I've thought of that. Before we can do anything here, I need you to contact our firefly to send this information to Todoroki. We will need his assistance from the outside. Our biggest problem is that All Might and the others can't fly, so we're stuck on the ground. That means we're going need support. Your firefly must also go to Brambleberry where my two gammas are, Kirishima and Kaminari. They can attack from the top."

"There's a problem with aerial attacks," Iida points out. "The trees are so dense here that it's likely wings will get caught. I suggest we stick to the ground and have our forces assist in our escape instead."

Bakugo raises a brow. "What do you mean?"

"Before I elaborate further, there are two issues we are forgetting. My mission here is to find out as much as I can about the Wastelands. Izuku's job is to help me discover who is in the League of Villains and who the 'master' is. To do this is to abandon those two missions."

"That was before All Might was captured," Bakugo reminds him. "I think there is more to this than what we originally thought. We wanted All Might back, especially Izuku, so we agreed to anything. It all sounded legit. Now that I've been here, we've been played for fucking suckers, and I'm pissed! Forget the League of Villains and the 'master.' I want to get All Might and Izuku out of this place. Fuck peace with the Wastelands. Once we're out, we do a full on attack and wipe them from the land!"

"That's genocide!" Iida says in outrage. "There are many innocents here who will benefit from living in the Valley!"

"Whatever! That's for a later time! We're not even there yet!"

Iida sighs, running a hand through his hair. "What do you need from me?"

"First, before you contact Todoroki and our firefly, I need you to take me to the mines. But before that, I need to speak to All Might. Can you find time for me to this without being noticed?"

Iida thinks for a moment, then snaps his fingers. "Today Tomura and the others have a meeting! They will be in the meeting hall for a long time! We should do it then."

"Fine. That's what we'll do."

"But first, we need to visit All Might, and then we go to the mines," Iida suggests. "All Might is heavily guarded, so we can't spend much time there. The mines are easier to access. What about Izuku? Surely you're going to let him join us?"

"I have no choice. He needs to know about this escape plan as much as we do. Also, I want him to speak to All Might. Right now, Izuku is affected by the rape and the fucked up horrors of this place that I can't afford to have him sulking. I need him at top form if we're going to escape." Bakugo knows he is not a motivational speaker, but Izuku is. The Cherry Bee can speak sense to the nobles lost in the mines. "After we visit All Might and the mines, your job is to get this message to Todoroki, Kirishima, and Kaminari."

Iida nods. "Alright. I accept this change of plans. Once the meeting starts, we'll find Izuku, and proceed from there."

Izuku is back in the room after Dabi finished the tour of Graventhorn. The only place of interest Dabi pointed out was the tunnel entrance that leads to the mines. Izuku asked what the mines are for, and Dabi answered that they are expanding, and nothing more. Izuku didn't like that answer. There has to be more to the mines than Dabi is letting him know. Incidentally, Dabi never showed him the way to the dungeons. They are keeping him from seeing All Might.

'Something is not right here,' Izuku thinks to himself while lighting more candles. There is never enough light to help him feel at ease. 'And where is Bakugo? He's supposed to always be with me when Dabi isn't. Dabi and Tomura must assume that I will not run away knowing they still have All Might. And they're right.' He feels a quick, painful twitch in his belly but it goes away. 'Damn it! My heat will be soon. I can't imagine-' His door opens, and Izuku almost drops the candle as he's startled.

It's Bakugo.

"Bakugo!"

"Hush. Keep your annoying voice down," Bakugo flies over to him, taking the candle away. "There's been a change of plans. Forget everything we first came here for."

"What do you mean?"

"They're at the meeting right now, yes?"

Izuku nods.

"Then come with me. We're going to see All Might, then going to the mines."

"Wait! All Might? The mines? But, we'll be seen!"

"Screw that! Iida knows many of the guards here and can get us through. I doubt you'll be punished because you're near your heat, and Dabi will want you at full strength for that."

Izuku lowers his antennas. "You sense it too?"

"I'm a fucking alpha. Of course, I do. Now let's get going!"

"Hold up!" Izuku grabs the back of Bakugo's pants to keep the male from flying away. "What is going on?"

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Bakugo explains the plan to Izuku in as few sentences as possible. When he is finished, he glares at the smile on Izuku's face. "You're still my enemy, so wipe that smile off your face!"

"Thank you, Bakugo..." Izuku can feel the tears in his eyes. "This means the world to me!" Then he becomes determined, spreading his wings and clenching his fists. "And I'm with you every step of the way!"

"Keep up that confidence, because once you see All Might...well, you'll get what I mean."

Izuku's smile immediately fades when Bakugo reminds him of the weak state All Might is currently suffering. But those feelings will have to wait until he sees All Might for himself. He cannot wait to speak to All Might; it's been so long since they've last seen each other. And Bakugo's change in personality, as minimal as it is, proves to Izuku that the hornet general has real emotions after all. There's another little twitch in his belly, which gave Izuku a shiver of thrill.

As for Bakugo's plan, Izuku agrees with it. Izuku wouldn't want to escape without the nobles who are forced to work in the mine. Apparently, Bakugo recognizes the same. It's going to be a great challenge to release All Might from the dungeons and successfully get the nobles from the mines. And Shouto is going to help them! However, Izuku has just thought of something, though he keeps it to himself while flying behind Bakugo. His heat is going to happen very soon, and that's going to be an obstacle. Their only hope will be to escape, successfully, before his heat takes over.

Following Bakugo through the halls, which are oddly deserted, they meet up with Iida at a doorway posted with two ant guards. Izuku's confused but remains quiet. Won't the guards know something is amiss? But it is Iida who tells the guards to let them pass, and the two open the door for them. Iida waves them in. Bakugo follows behind Iida and Izuku is at the back. As Izuku passes the guards, one of them takes his wrist in a gentle hold. Izuku looks at the guard who says,

"You will help us, right? You and All Might will get us to the Valley, right?"

Izuku doesn't know what to say. He knows what Shouto said about the inhabitants of the Wastelands is true; not that he denied Shouto's words. Now he witnessed it for himself. However, there are too many Insectoids in the Wastelands to save all of them right now. But the guards do not need to know that. If they are friends, then Izuku wants to keep it that way. He doesn't want anything to foil their plan: the less who know, the better.

"Yes, we're going to help you," Izuku says with a smile. "I promise." And he does intend to keep his promise. The ant lets him go, and Izuku hurries to catch up with Bakugo and Iida. 'I'm sorry I won't be able to do it right away, but I promise I will find a way to save everyone who wants to be saved!'

As they continue through the dark hall, Izuku is overwhelmed with the bitter cold and dampness of the dungeon. All Might has been in this terrible, cold place for so long? No wonder he's sick! This type of dark place would make anyone go mad.

"These are the cells," Iida tells them, holding the torch to one of the barred doors. "We can be long."

Bakugo turns to Izuku. "Are you prepared for this?"

Izuku nods. "Yes. I want to see him," he pushes past Iida and Bakugo, looking through the bars into the dimly lit cell. Against the fall wall, there is a small dark form curled in a ball. Izuku's eyes widen. "A-All Might?" This can't be All Might! The Insectoid Hero of the Valley is not a small, shivering heap like this one is! It can't be! "All Might?"

The form slowly moves into a seated position. "Izuku?"

Izuku begins to cry when he hears All Might speak his name. There is no doubt that this is All Might. "All Might...what's happened to you?"

"I'm sorry for everything, Izuku," All Might says as he comes just close enough to the light so that Izuku can see him. "It's so good to see you, my boy!"

"What did they do to you?" Izuku whispers through his tears, gripping the bars and trembling while trying to keep calm. He wants to rip the bars off the hinges and rush to All Might's aid.

"I was already failing when they caught me," says All Might. "I'm sure you want to know what happened...and how you came to be here. Young Iida has filled me in on what has occurred after you came."

"All Might...did you really want me to come here and be Dabi's married mate?"

All Might shakes his head, dark sunken eyes still glowing but hanging with heavy bags beneath them. "I didn't offer you to them. They made the offer. I constantly declined it...enduring the pain of the torture they put me through, but I wouldn't say 'yes' to their demands."

"So, they forced your hand on that contract?" Bakugo asks.

"Regrettably, yes. Without me, the Valley's unprotected. After some time, I couldn't risk the lives of thousands of Insectoids, and if I die, I will leave this world without naming a successor," he comes to the bars and reaches his long skinny arms out to embrace Izuku, who keeps sobbing. "I was hoping to find a way out before that contract reached you. I hoped you would find a way to escape it, to find some...loophole in it. I swear it to you, young Izuku, I did not willingly give you over to these fiends."

"All Might...!" Izuku's antennas flop to the side of his head as he keeps crying against the bars.

"But what about the whole League of Villains thing?" Bakugo asks All Might.

All Might glances up at Bakugo before answering him. "I didn't know how long I would be here, and I wanted young Izuku to have a mission other than saving me...in case the worse happened to me. I knew he would be stuck here, so I thought he could remain sane if he can find out information about the villains here. Any information we can get on the inside will benefit the Valley."

"I must admit," Iida starts. "That it was myself and Shouto that talked All Might into deciding for you to come here, Izuku."

Izuku sniffles and turns in All Might's arms to look at Iida. "Y-You and Shouto?"

Iida nods, his face stern and hard. "As I've said earlier, I've been working on this mission for a long time, but I couldn't get close to Dabi or Tomura as you could. Trust me, neither Shouto nor I wanted to do this to you...but we had no choice. The fate of the Valley was and still is, at stake. With All Might wounded and behind bars, there was no hero leadership in the Valley. The Queens can only do so much, and we couldn't trust Shouto's father, so we had to work in the dark, and put the choice to the Queens. They all agreed, and so did you."

"Well, screw all this shit," Bakugo says, gritting his teeth. "We don't have time for any more stories! I plan to get us out of here! All of us! Who cares how it happened. We're all here now, and we're all going to get out. I'm sick of this shithole!"

"Young Bakugo...I appreciate all you have done for Izuku. And I want you to help get him and the others out of here. Now that I have named my successor, the Hero of the Valley can live on."

"NO!" Izuku cries out. "No, All Might! I won't leave you behind! We're all getting out! I swear it!"

"Hey! Wait! I'm doing all the saving!" Bakugo shouts. "Why do you name HIM your successor?"

"Keep your voices down!" Iida scolds.

"I don't even care about that right now!" Izuku says through his tears. "I'll get you out, I promise. We're all getting out!"

"We've been here for too long," Iida tells them. "We have to go, or there will be suspicion."

Izuku looks at All Might's weakened, skeletal face. "But-"

"Go, Izuku," Says All Might. "There is nothing more you can do here. Everything you need to do is out there."

Izuku lowers his eyes and pulls away from All Might. "When we get you out of here...you'll get stronger, and then we'll come back...with armies!"

"Just focus on getting out of this situation," All Might says. "Go. there's more you have to do. And continue being strong, young Izuku. You may be an omega, but I haven't known a single Insectoid who is as strong as you, who has to endure some terrible things and remain standing and sane. I couldn't name a better successor, and I'm so very, very proud of you."

Izuku's tears wet All Might's cold skin. "You think too great of me, All Might."

"Those that struggle the most are always the strongest. You will come out of this a better, stronger person, Izuku. You will have your revenge, and the Valley will find peace once again." All Might looks at the others. "You're all the future of the Valley. You must protect it."

Iida walks over to Izuku and forcefully leads him away from All Might. Izuku struggles to return to All Might, but Iida won't let him, pushing Izuku out of sight.

Bakugo glares at All Might and growls, uncurling his stinger and buzzing his wings. His antennas flatten against the back of his head.

"Calm yourself, young Bakugo. I know why you're angry,"

"I'm a thousand times better than him!" Bakugo growls out. "I'm a fucking general!"

"And you will be a great support to Izuku," All Might answers. "He will need someone like at you at his side."

"He'll be by MY side!" Bakugo says. "You may have crowned him the new Hero of the Valley, but know this, All Might! I will challenge him for the title, and I will WIN! I don't need your consent or your blessing! When we get out of this, it will be because of ME!" Bakugo turns and flies from the dungeon to catch up with the others. "Stop crying, you idiot!" Bakugo yells at Izuku.

"We still have to go to the mines," Iida reminds them. "The nobles are there. We're saving everyone, including All Might." Iida whispers. "But you need to pull yourself together, Izuku."

Izuku keeps wiping at his eyes. "I know...I just can't stop crying! The way All Might looks...what's happened to me...it's hard!"

Bakugo's antennas twitch as they pick up on Izuku's feelings. They can sense the heartache and anger coming from the omega. As pissed off as he is about All Might choosing Izuku, the alpha side of him cannot help but want to soothe the omega. He wouldn't snuggle or nuzzle him, but he can damn well yell at him!

"Now's not the time to cry, alright? We have so much shit to do, and you need to keep yourself together! All Might is still alive, so that's a good thing. He didn't willingly sell you into a political marriage, and he acknowledges that you are...the strongest he's ever met." Saying those few words stung Bakugo's pride. "Okay? Stop crying and get yourself together before that asshole Dabi sees you and becomes suspicious. Besides, Iida, you said the nobles in the mines are weak, right?"

Iida nods. "They have been worked into submission,"

Bakugo flicks Izuku's nose. "You don't want me talking to these guys, do you? You have to do it, and if they see you crying and moping, it won't help any of us. Got it?"

Izuku sniffles and nods, trying to pull himself together. "You're right..." he takes a few deep breaths.

"It was shocking to see All Might like that, I know," Iida says to Izuku. "And I hope that, in time, you can forgive Shouto and me for pushing this on you."

"I understand why you did it, and why All Might signed off on it," Izuku says softly. "I'll decide how to deal with this after we leave this place," he furrows his brows at Iida.

Iida lowers his head. "I acknowledge your anger with myself and Shouto. After this is over, we will make it up to you."

"Enough of this bullshit," Bakugo sneers at them. "Let's go to the mines. We're running low on time!"

Izuku plays All Might's words over in his head until they enter the mines. Instantly, his thoughts switch from All Might to the sight before him. The mine is darker and colder than Graventhorn, which Izuku thought impossible. Guards stand all around, holding spears or whipping at the workers. Izuku wants to fly over the railings and stop the guard from beating a worker who is desperately trying to escape. Iida holds him back, shaking his head 'no.'

"What are they mining, exactly?" Bakugo asks.

"I'm not sure," Iida says. "None of the guards know, nor do the workers. Slaves, really. There is only one long tunnel they are clearing out, though no one knows where it leads."

Izuku's eyes try to map out the main area in the dim light. It's so hard to see. "Where are the nobles?" He asks Iida.

"They're on break right now; it seems," Iida answers. "I don't see them."

"How are we going to speak to them?" Bakugo asks.

"Well, I've thought about that," Iida fixes his glasses. "Sadly, I am not friendly with any of the mine guards here." He turns to Izuku. "I would need you to play your role as Dabi's mate and ask to see the nobles. They will listen to you. Dabi has given the guards orders to obey you, within limits, of course. Demand that you get to see the nobles, but don't call them 'nobles,' call them 'slaves.' Do not let on that you know about Valley nobles locked away in there."

"With the mood I'm in right now, I'll spit in all their faces," Izuku tells the others. "Show me who to speak to, Iida."

Bakugo smirks. "Where did this new attitude come from?"

"I hate to see others suffering. This place is deplorable. And I've been used as a bargaining chip. To quote you, Bakugo, it pisses me off."

Bakugo's wings buzz. "You knew that, though."

"Not in great detail," Izuku takes his sadness and frustration to mold it into a figure of authority. Hopefully, he can pull it off.

They follow Iida down a long stairway with Izuku in the middle. When reaching the bottom, three guards approach them, but when they see Izuku, they bow their heads. Bakugo rolls his eyes and mutters under his breath that he should be the one everyone bows to.

"Mate of Dabi, you shouldn't be down here," says one guard. "It's no place for you!"

"I'm exploring my new home," Izuku tells the guard. "I want to see the mines and the slaves. You will show me around the mines."

The guards exchange glances with each other.

"Do not make me repeat myself!" Izuku raises his voice. "This is my mine as well as my husbands'! I will report your insubordinate to him if I must!"

"Sorry, sir! Right this way, sir!" The guards nearly crash into one another as they attempt to stand at attention.

"Is this the main room?" Izuku asks them. "And answer me in full!"

The second guard nods and says, "This is where the first team of slaves gathers the rocks from inside the tunnel to carry outside."

"Show us where this happens," Izuku demands of them and follows the guards. "There is no chance of escape when the slaves go outside, is there?"

"No sir," Says the third. "There are workers up above who cart the debris away. The slaves pile everything in this pully, and it's raised up and out of the mine."

Izuku and Bakugo look up as the bucket of dirt and rocks lift with the pully. They share a glance, and both know what the other is thinking — an escape route.

"Very nice," Izuku says. "What about these slaves? Are they hardy?"

"They often die from the workload," says the first guard. "But finding replacements is easy."

Izuku's eye twitches. "Where do you get the slaves from?" Izuku asks. "Show me more."

"This way," the guards bring them into a tunnel. "All these openings you see, sir, are where the slaves sleep. We get them from all over the Wastelands as well as the Valley." The third guard flashes the talking guard a harsh look.

"Oh, I am well aware of the issues between the Wastelands and the Valley," Izuku tells them. "That is why I am here in the castle of your King. We will soon be as one, so I wish to know all about those from the Valley that you house here. You may take me to see them."

The second guard wiggles his antennas nervously. "I'm not sure if-"

"Bakugo, he questions my orders," Izuku looks to the hornet. "Punish him."

Bakugo, a little shocked by Izuku's command but more impressed flashes a dark smirk, pulling a dagger from his belt, uncurling his stinger, and letting his mandibles open from his mouth. "With pleasure!"

The guard falls to knees and covers his head. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, sir! Please forgive me!"

"We fear Dabi's wrath if we disobey him," Says the first guard.

"You let me handle my husband," Izuku says, telling Bakugo to stand down. "Show me the slaves from the Valley. This is the last time I will ask you."

"Yes, sir. Follow us."

Bakugo leans in to whisper to Izuku, "Glad to see your balls have finally dropped,"

Izuku ignores him and pokes Bakugo's eye with his antenna.

"I'm in no mood." Izuku whispers back.

Bakugo hisses and rubs at his eye. "Bastard...!" He swears under his breath.

Izuku was always good at thinking on his feet, and he has just come up with the idea that will help with Bakugo's plan. Now that they know there is a way out from the mine, he will order Bakugo to take up a post as a guard here. Dabi will be pleased to have Bakugo out of the picture. Bakugo can rally the nobles and help them escape while he keeps Dabi busy. It will be a sick and disgusting job on his end, but it's time he takes back the control he once had. Bakugo will be responsible for the nobles, he will focus on keeping Dabi occupied, and Iida will get All Might out. Then, they will all escape. Once they are out, Izuku will be free of all restrictions. No doubt Dabi and Tomura will chase after them. Let the two chase them, then. Izuku's stinger aches with the thought of when it can pierce through Dabi's body, multiple times until the Arachnoid is severely wounded.

Izuku smirks at the image. He will have his revenge. It's going to take meticulous planning, but he has everyone on his side.

Bakugo is a general- he can lead and fight and shows no mercy.

Iida can strategize and plan.

Shouto will be their contact on the outside.

'One step at a time, Izuku,' He tells himself. 'You can do this!'

TBC

Next Chapter: The Plan