Heroes in the Dark: chapter 19
The masked villain entered the abandoned building, and Tokoyami shifted his position to look inside through the dirtied window. He tried to peek through in an inconspicuous way, but Dabi lightly shoved him down a bit. "Careful! You'll give us away with your feathers sticking up like that," he hissed, irritated that he'd have to explain something that was so obvious to him. As if you're doing any better, Tokoyami thought, watching his undesirable accomplice take the best of their limited viewing space. Tokoyami watched out of the corner of the window instead, trying to see what was happening from his position. Truly, though, the most important thing was that he could hear most of what was being said. Some smaller bits of conversation between the League villains was lost, but the person Overhaul was close enough to him that every word resonated clearly back to him.
"Looks unhygienic…this is the base?" He looked over the desolated space with a critical eye.
Twice, leading him into the building, was more than happy to interject. "Yup! You think we'd take you to the hideout so quickly? This is just a place for your interview!"
Overhaul seemed to consider that, but it was evident that he was already annoyed. "Give me a break. It's so damn dusty in here…I better not catch something."
"No need to worry about that. We've all been sick for quite some time!"
The two of them came to a stop in front of the other villains. The man seemed unimpressed, even as his cold gaze locked onto Shigaraki. "So you're the leader of this rag-tag team. Can't say I knew what to expect."
The League began talking amongst themselves, likewise judging this new person. It was a stream of information that he couldn't be sure was relevant. Tokoyami could tell that this was no mere expendable villain they were trying to recruit, like the minor crime-wagers from the USJ incident, but it was difficult to know what Shigaraki in particular would use him for. From the words and titles being tossed around – leader of the "Eight Precepts of Death," a leftover from the yakuza world and an artifact from a bygone era – he wasn't sure if it was all bluff or if this man still held current importance.
But the masked individual didn't seem too concerned by their assessment of him. "Well…I suppose you're not entirely wrong."
Magne, looking somewhat smitten by the clean young gangster, spoke to him directly. "So what brings a fine yakuza scraping through life like you to our side? Are you another one of those types riding off the chaos after All Might's end?"
"No…moreso even than All Might's, it's All for One's departure that's really big." That seemed to entice everyone's attention. Tokoyami, especially, was interested to hear this. For as sorrowful as remembering those events was, he was desperate at this point to learn more about the acclaimed Master. Nobody from the League would ever tell him, and it had always seemed strange that such an important figure in the realm of darkness had so little mention anywhere else. Weren't heroes supposed to be on the lookout for these kinds of people? How long had so many dark deeds perpetrated out of sight by groups like this gone unnoticed to the unsuspecting masses?
"He was an emperor, the leading figure over the Underworld…my generation treated him like an urban legend. But the old-timers feared him with conviction, and when rumors of his demise came about, they only feared him more. That's the man who revealed himself…and then got thrown into Tartarus." Although this information seemed like something to paint All for One's absence in a mournful light, the tone didn't reflect that. Despite Overhaul's calm exterior, it was easy to detect the excitement in his voice, and his eyes glinted with a new fervidness. "In other words, this Champion is now gone from both the light and the shadows. Who'll be the next Leader…I wonder?"
Tokoyami felt a chill run down his back. He could almost confirm that this man was smiling underneath his mask.
Shigaraki looked to be getting irate with the spiel, and leaned forward imposingly to meet whatever challenge came his way. "If you're saying you know who my Master is, then you'd still dare to provoke me? Obviously I'm next to follow him. I'm gathering up influence as we speak, and soon we're going to expand. And with that power, we're going to smash the head in of this hero world. Mark my words.
Expand? Does he have a greater lineup of villains serving him that I don't know of? This is actually the first I've heard of anything like this. And yet…
Overhaul asked directly what he had already contemplated. "So do you have a plan?"
"A plan? Didn't you come here just begging to be recruited?" Shigaraki and the others now considered the imposing gangster with mild caution, uncertain of where he was heading.
But Dabi's attention was elsewhere for a moment, despite how interesting this exchange was becoming. He was half-listening now, looking up towards the roof of the structure. Tokoyami knew that he'd been somewhat on edge since entering the area, and probably not without reason. Although it could just as well have been nerves given the situation.
"Dabi, what is it?" Tokoyami hissed quietly.
The villain's icy eyes glinted as he turned his line of sight back down towards him. "Sounds on the roof. But not much else. It's probably just…birds or something."
Tokoyami glared at him. "You and I both know that that doesn't sound right. Are you going to investigate?"
Dabi hesitated, staying in his crouched position beneath the window. "N-no, it's nothing. This is more important, and I can't trust you enough to leave you alone anyway. Let's just see what happens here."
Overhaul was getting caught up in his own words, content with criticizing Shigaraki's leadership capabilities. Whatever outside concerns Dabi had would have to wait. "So what if you expand your forces? How are you going to control them to begin with? What sort of organization are you aiming for? It started with the Hero Killer: Stain, and then it happened with the Glee Killer: Muscular, and the escaped death row inmate Moonfish. All three were first-rate pawns at your disposal, but you lost them all immediately, didn't you? Didn't know how to use them? Plus, you can't even handle the ones you have remaining, let alone whatever kid you manage to grab, and yet you're talking about expanding? What's the point of amassing power that you can't control?"
As insolent as he was coming off as, standing before a group of dangerous villains while openly mocking them, Tokoyami acknowledged that the yakuza brought up valuable points. Seeing firsthand how dysfunctional this group could be left a lasting impression, after all. But still that begged the question of why he was here.
"In order to realize your goals, you need a plan. I didn't come here to become one of you."
Shigaraki turned towards Twice. "Twice," he growled angrily, "next time confirm their intentions before bringing anyone here."
But Overhaul didn't let up on his convictions, ignoring the increasing hostility from the very people he was confronting. "To execute the plan, I need resources – money – and lots of it, and the world isn't exactly filled with people wanting to invest in your neighborhood gangsters. But if I had you, whose reputation precedes you, by my side then it'd be a whole other matter." He extended his gloved hand in what could hardly be called a welcoming manner. Every word, every action felt like a threat from the otherwise unremarkable individual. "Come under my leadership, and I'll prove just how well I can use you all. And then I'll be the next Master."
His words hung in the air, growing stagnant, and his outstretched hand began to waiver.
The hand covering Shigaraki's face masked his expression, but rest assured it was twisted with disgust. His shoulders slumped, as though releasing a sigh, and two words escaped his mouth. "Go home."
It was a command. This meeting was finished, and nothing more would come of it.
Magne stepped forward. "Sorry, gangster kid." She really did sound a bit unhappy at the turn of events, but just like everyone else knew what this meant.
Tokoyami peeked his head up a little further, despite the risk of being seen, eager now to watch the action ensue. Her quirk really was quite interesting – magnetizing people towards different directions based on their gender. When the villains had first moved him to the current hideout, he'd inquired about it and she seemed happy to demonstrate. Despite the League's many criminal records, they didn't usually show him any ill will, and Magne had always struck him as an interesting person. But he couldn't claim to know much of anything about their ideals, and even less of their personal lives. So hearing her speak now was worth listening to.
"The other day, I got to meet up with an old friend. I tend to be shy and timid, but a girl who stayed friends with me even after discovering who I was once told me: folks who are bound by the chains of common sense always laugh at those who aren't." She rushed in, wielding her totem weapon that aided in taking control of the situation. The blue aura of her quirk emanated around Overhaul and began dragging him towards the south, right towards her. Abilities aside, she was quite remarkable in hand to hand combat. Although he'd never gotten the chance to spar with her before she'd left the hideout to do her own thing. "I'm here because I wanted to live without being bound by anything! We decide where we belong by ourselves!"
A slight, almost insignificant movement. Magne looked ready to knock aside the comparatively small man with her pillar, but right before the two of them could meet, Tokoyami saw a white glove get tossed aside.
It could be heard before being seen: a creaking sound, like wood being splintered, or maybe more akin to fabric being shredded at the seams. Tokoyami raised his head higher, looking past the broken glass directly into the interior of the room. He'd seen fights before. He'd fought plenty before. Of course he did, training to be a hero. But the brutality of what happens in the shadows of the world are often concealed. A person can prepare themselves their entire lives to be a hero – or a villain, really – and never be truly prepared.
So what was he supposed to think – what was any of them supposed to think – when suddenly Magne wasn't there anymore. No, that's wrong, half of her was there. But that was accompanied by an ungodly amount of blood. Where did it all even come from? It splattered everywhere, an…explosion of red mist and sickly rain. It sloshed to the ground and covered the wretched figure of the young gangster, who now looked more threatening and malicious than ever. Magne's weapon dropped to the ground, but her legs stood there a moment longer, as though confused to where the rest of the body had disappeared, before slumping to the ground with a dull thud. The dark liquid splashed with the impact and continued to pool on the cold concrete floor with no sign of stopping. The last time he'd seen any great amount of blood was when Dark Shadow had wounded All Might, and that was horrible in its own right, having been his fault. But never had he been witness to something on this level of gruesomeness. It was the kind of horrific violence that nobody should have to see in person.
Silence fell over the League of Villains as they looked at the bloody scene in shock and dismay. Tokoyami couldn't tear his gaze away, but he could feel himself trembling. In his mind, Dark Shadow was screaming all that he had swallowed, bashing against his mental restraints and demanding vengeance upon the plague doctor. Please, nooo. I don't want this right now. I don't want any of this. He wished desperately that he hadn't agreed to come here now. It had all happened so quickly, just a two second difference between life and death. A mere flick of the hand.
They seemed to recover just enough to fully take in what had happened. "Magne?!" Toga wailed
"Shit," Dabi breathed shakily. He shifted beside him, the first one to move. Despite what had just happened, he jerked his attention away from the gory scene, again going back to the roof. "Shit. Tokoyami, don't you dare move from here. Stay hidden or you'll be sorry." And then he was gone, running up a nearby set of outside stairs leading up to the second story windows. But Tokoyami hardly heard him, focus trained instead on seeing through the red haze of anger to keep track of the happenings on the inside and that single, intimidating man.
A blood-covered beak rose above the mutilated remains of what had once been Magne, gleaming in the low light as the villain Overhaul stood to his full height. He looked absolutely disgusted. "Just remember, you guys fired the first shots." Overhaul wiped his bare hand against his coat, careful to avoid the blood that was already seeping into the fabric. His own blood from Magne's initial attack dripped down the left side of his face, which was twisted into an angry scowl. "Ugh, disgusting. So damn dirty…that's why I hate these business meetings."
A sudden blur. Tokoyami identified Mr. Compress jumping into the fray, hand outstretched towards the sinister individual. Having been exposed directly to the effect of Mr. Compress's quirk on several occasions, Tokoyami knew what he was trying to accomplish. A single touch, much like that which had decimated Magne, and this threat would be rendered harmless.
"Mr. Compress, stop!" Shigaraki demanded, voice tinged with panic as he lurched forward.
Something whistled through the air from the rafters above, piercing Mr. Compress's shoulder. But that hardly seemed to be the biggest concern. Actually, he may not have even noticed it himself. But he expressed shock in something else, and upon laying his hand on Overhaul's arm, a cry escaped him: "My quirk–?!"
Overhaul reeled on him, face beaded with sweat, eyes furrowed in uncontained anger. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" And without hesitation, a wave of his arm turned Mr. Compress's left arm to nothing. Fresh blood splattered the ground once more, and Mr. Compress crumbled to the unforgiving floor with an agonizing scream.
That was more than enough.
Shigaraki would have no more of this impudent bastard, and threw himself towards the lone assailant with his own hand raised. Whatever horrific power this Overhaul had, Shigaraki would make sure that his death would be much slower and more painful with his decaying quirk.
"Shield me!" Overhaul barked, his beaked mask pointing towards the rafters. A figure dropped down from above, taking the attack from Shigaraki and crumbling into a messy pile of dust and flesh, gurgling as his life came to a grotesque end.
This whole situation was a maelstrom of chaos, but the chain of events that happened next were difficult for Tokoyami to keep track of. And yet, even as Dark Shadow fought for release, he kept track of all the noise and wreckage.
A voice sounded from the rafters. "That was a close call, Over–"
From above, a great conflagration of blue flames enveloped the top of the building and shot through the second story windows into the open space of the room. It scorched the rafters, where two more hidden figures dropped down to evade it, landing beside Overhaul. Tokoyami could feel the heat of Dabi's attack from the ground, but just as quickly was dismayed to find it distinguished. At the same time as a monster of a human crashed through the wall of the building to join the mayhem inside, another muscled man in a hooked mask came plummeting towards Tokoyami from the roof. Tokoyami dived to the side to avoid being crushed. His heart was racing now, every nerve frayed just to keep himself under control. The ground shook with the impact, and he just barely kept his footing.
Even with the sound of the building walls crumbling, he couldn't ignore the pained cry that had followed the new adversary. Tokoyami whipped around to face him, brimming with shadows that fell off him like feathers.
His view of the inside building and all that was happening in there was obscured by the hulking mass that stood in his way now. His vision was starting to get fuzzy with the strain of keeping Dark Shadow under control, though by now they were far beyond the point of remaining calm. But still he identified quite clearly what he was faced with. This man was a monster rippling with muscles barely concealed in a thin shirt. A black bird-shaped hood concealed his face, with a mess of uncontained hair exploding out the back. Still metal and leather gauntlets enveloped his deadly hands, and grasped in one of them was an apprehended Dabi. Small in comparison, the fiery villain was being held up by the head like a prize.
"Hey, hey! There's another one here! Or wait, are you with us?" The large man laughed, looking down at him. Tokoyami gritted his teeth and crouched into a battle stance. He forced Dark Shadow to answer to him, although its presence was made heavy by the dark of night and channeling the immeasurable power through his shock and rage was painful. Something seemed to click in the opponent's head. "Ah, that's a beak, not a mask, definitely not one of us. But that just means I can fight you! Get ready for a bruising, kid!"
Dabi groaned. His hands were prying desperately at the fingers wrapped around his skull, weak flames spluttering to little avail. Blood seeped from an open gash on his head. "Tokoyami…you better not…"
Whatever he was about to say didn't matter now. The surrounding shadows deepened and the world grew colder, causing the assailant to become more aware of his position. But that would do him no good either. A large, sketchy form of darkness rushed out from Tokoyami, forming a vaguely clawed hand. Without need for a command, it rushed towards the masked man, seeking a rage-induced vengeance.
His opponent took the force, blocking it with his arm while still never letting go of Dabi. With a grunt of surprise, the shadow pushed him all the way into the building, destroying yet another wall with a resonating crash. Rubble went flying every which way, and the two of them vanished into the interior of the building.
"Rappa, stop messing around!" came an annoyed voice.
Tokoyami tried to reel the shadowy limb back in, but something had it gripped tight. "Haha, you'll pay for that you little shit–" The massive power was pulling him in, bringing him closer to the building and all the horrible things that laid there. His anger turned quickly to fear as he found himself unable to grapple in his favor. It felt like he was being pulled apart in more ways than one.
If you let me free I'll eviscerate them all. Then you'll never have to worry about them again!
"But I can't do that," Tokoyami growled, holding desperately onto his sensibility as he was being pulled in closer.
And here I thought you'd finally accepted me.
With a gasp, Tokoyami's strength left him all at once. The powerhouse on the other end of the shadowy limb pulled him in with a suddenness that sent him flying into the building to join all the other unwelcome faces. He ended up crashing directly into the chest of the man, Rappa, who despite the surprise instinctively grabbed him by the midriff. He was left gasping for breath, legs suspended in the air, and now he was face to face with the musclehead.
"Tch, you gave up?"
Shigaraki's familiar raspy voice rang out angrily through the room. "Dabi, what the hell do you think you're doing?!"
A muffled groan was the only response, but the large man holding him had no problem releasing him like a sack of potatoes.
Overhaul surveyed the surprise event, perhaps with a hint of amusement. Although even that felt strained as he rubbed begrudgingly at the spot on his arm where he was touched. "You really can't control your people at all, can you? You sure have some interesting ones, too." Tokoyami felt a whole new wave of uneasiness wash over him, and looked up from the hand holding him to see the lanky man burning his gaze into him. "But we already knew that. More importantly, I had wished to finish this without incident, League of Villains. With the situation as is, any calm decision making has broken down. Funny how neither one of us stuck to the agreed number of people we'd be bringing. That's not very fair, now. Yes…whittling away at each other's forces is also unproductive. We each have one dead…so this is a good place to stop. Given my new little advantage, you really don't want to push me much further. Let's let cooler heads prevail and discuss our arrangements at a later date." A thought seemed to occur as his attention went back to the defeated faces of the villains. "Ah, but don't hold that extra arm against me."
"Let them go so I can kill you, you bastard!" Twice snarled from where he was hunched over 's wounded body.
"Tomura, when can I stab him? Now, right? I'll do it!"
"No. Don't. We're not in the best situation, if you hadn't noticed."
Twice looked like he wanted desperately to argue, to do something other than helplessly watch the situation unfold. But he stayed quiet.
A small black puppet creature spoke up from where it sat on the back of the enormous monster of a human that had obliterated the front wall. "That was a wise choice, Hand Man!" it cawed.
"Tell you what," Overhaul continued, content with the turn of events. "I'll provide you a show of good faith. I'll let you have your fire user and this child back, free of charge. Although I strongly urge you contact me for further discussion of plans. I won't say do it immediately, but sooner is better. Think about it…your organization and all of that…" Overhaul tossed a white business card at the feet of Shigaraki and turned to leave. "Rappa. Drop it."
The large man released Tokoyami with a disappointed sigh, and he fell onto his hands and knees with a heaving chest right next to Dabi.
"Call me when you've regained your composure."