Heroes in the Dark chapter 31

Tokoyami couldn't help but be relieved when they finally left behind the bustling cafeteria and all its inhabitants. And yet that as it may be, in reality his conversation with the trio of yakuza had been much more promising than he ever could've imagined. It had come as a pleasant surprise that he'd managed to get as much information as he had, something that had been unexpected. Perhaps there was some method to Toga's madness after all, since she was the one that had taken the liberty of initiating conversation in a situation where Tokoyami never would've never been able to.

As the sounds of gangsters enjoying their dinner faded into the distance, becoming swallowed by the expansive corridors of the underground, Tokoyami allowed himself to drift into thought. You don't think she did that for us, do you?

Approaching those guys like that? Looked pretty self-serving to me! I don't think she liked the way you took the conversation from her, Dark Shadow rumbled.

You think so? Tokoyami mulled quietly to himself. Her objective had been to befriend these people, regardless of whether or not they opposed them. Strictly speaking, it wasn't necessary an outrageous demand to follow through with. And after parting ways, it felt like that much had actually been accomplished. At the very least, Tokoyami had gotten exactly what we could've wanted from such an exchange, as unexpected as it had been. He just wasn't sure if the same could be said for Toga. He found the way she had acted towards them a bit unnerving, and not just because being around her generally instilled a feeling of discomfort in him. Perhaps he just hadn't seen enough of the way she treats others, but Tokoyami couldn't help but be disturbed by the subtle way that she had been trying to gain the attention specifically of the yakuza Setsuno. He'd never seen her interact with another League member in quite the same way, although he was well aware of her manipulative tactics. Furthermore, after some consideration, he did recognize that glimmer in her eyes as she'd parted ways with the Precepts: of a predator locking onto her next target.

Against his better judgment, he tried to catch the line of sight of those very eyes, looking over at Toga as she plodded happily through the cold stone hallways.

Do you think she's plotting something?

I… I don't know, Tokoyami admitted glumly. I have no doubt that if she were, she'd be in a better position to act upon it than we are. And frankly, that might be the most troubling part about this whole thing. Whatever she has going on in that mind of hers, it would be ideal if it didn't coincide with our own endeavors.

So you're suggesting we steer clear of her. That would be reasonable, I think. But I don't think you're going to be doing that, are you?

Tokoyami felt his feathers quiver fretfully as Toga turned to him suddenly, finally acknowledging his leering. Her pace lulled slightly so that she walking abreast of him. She tilted her head to the side, but not in the same way she had done to Sestuno. She looked genuinely curious, her amber cat eyes searching him for a response that might tell her something.

Tokoyami faltered, shrinking away from her despite himself. He had wanted… I actually don't know what I want from her. An explanation? A proposition?

A restraining order.

Tokoyami stumbled over his own feet. Dark Shadow!

Dark Shadow laughed at him mercilessly, and as Tokoyami corrected himself with a huff, he discovered that his quirk wasn't the only one laughing at his expense. Toga was standing directly in front of him now, a somewhat tame smile written across her features. But regardless of that, she was most certainly looking down on him, and he could hear her laugh as she took him in with what could only have been pity. "You look like you have something on your mind," she cooed softly. "Why don't you share? I'd love to hear exactly what you think of me~"

Before he could even think of a response to that, Twice stepped in, much more ready this time. "Toga. I think you should leave Tokoyami alone. It's been a long night." He sounded much more stern about this than anything else, and even when his demeanor switched it still remained. "You can spend the rest of the night by yourself, you crazy gangster! Unless you're looking to invite me into your room, that is!"

The corner of her mouth twitched, but her smile remained. She narrowed her eyes to slits. "You're joking, I'm sure of it. Please, Twice, I'm a very busy person, so I can't play games with you right now."

"And just what has you so busy?" Tokoyami asked, barely able to keep the growl out of his voice.

"Wouldn't you like to know," she hummed. Her smile stretched wider as she appraised him in a way that put his nerves on end. Her attitude had shifted, and it had placed Tokoyami at the center of her unrestrained attention, something he had never wanted to be. He had realized this long ago, but today more than ever it was becoming readily apparent: there was just no such thing as a pleasant encounter with this person. More so than the idea of confronting the Expendables, the thought of being left alone with her was even more terrifying. So when she looked at him, and only him, he couldn't help but freeze up, couldn't help but be on the defensive. It was foolish to ask anything of her, to think that there was a way to reason with her and use this villain to his own advantage. She was much too sharp to allow something like that to happen, and she knew it much more strongly than he did.

"Toga. You shouldn't be trying to intimidate him like this," Twice insisted, settling the tension between them in an instant. "Save it for those damn gangsters, they're the ones who should be pissing themselves when they see us! What's the point of scaring your teammates when there's a whole underground of assholes who have it coming?"

Tokoyami let out the breath he'd been holding in. At least there was comfort in knowing that Twice was on his side, wherever that led, and was willing to be the voice of… I hesitate to say "voice of reason."

It sounds pretty reasonable when you only listen to the part you want to hear!

No, that's called ignorance.

…

Toga didn't look nearly as amused as she had before. It'd be a shame if I were to ruin the lovely evening she had been making for herself.

Dark Shadow didn't have a response this time, but Tokoyami could tell that the quirk was just as guarded as he was. Which was good, because he didn't know where he would be left if he allowed Toga to get the better of him. He couldn't afford to let that happen. Of all the nefarious beings in this underground, one would think that Toga and Twice would be the easiest to keep an eye on. And yet he worried that they were just as unpredictable as any other, regardless of how familiar they'd become with him over the past several weeks.

As though she could read his thoughts, Toga gave one last knowing smirk before she turned on her heel. "Fine, fine, you don't have to stand up for yourself right now. After all, you must be pretty tired after such a long day, wouldn't you agree? I mean, so much has happened! How exciting~"

"I'm sure we're all tired, Toga," Twice reprimanded. As Toga took the lead, Tokoyami noticed the way that Twice stepped slightly in front of him, shielding him from the girl. He didn't know how much that would really help if Toga decided that she wanted to do something foolish, but the gesture was appreciated nonetheless. "So that's why you and me, we should stay up all night! Doesn't that sound nice? You better not be leaving your room to bother Tokoyami. If you do, I'll know about it, and I'll have some strong words prepared for you!"

"Oh, you and your words," Toga chortled. "You don't have to fret so much; I agree with you, alright? But you gotta at least agree that it was nice to have him with us this time around!" She let out a dramatic sigh. "I mean, I've barely been able to play with him at all since we recruited him! Dabi has been hogging Fumikage all to himself!"

Tokoyami winced at the way she addressed him, as though they were friends or something. But judging by her interactions with other people, that was just the kind of person she was, respect be damned. And yet, by the way she talked, it was almost as though he were a transparent entity.

"Don't blame Dabi for that! It was all Shigaraki's orders anyway…" Twice said, speaking defensively once more. It seemed that that was all he could do before Toga's striking comments.

I'm grateful, certainly, but at the same time I can't help but be a bit disappointed. I can't forget that everything up till this point has all just been the work of Shigaraki acting upon his plans… She's not wrong. Every last one of them. Even Dabi was only ever looking out for his own interests, never my own. They're all just here to try to manipulate me. I can't let that happen. I shouldn't seek their help. That's what Shigaraki would want…

"Oh my god, really Jin?" Toga laughed, stopping to look at him incredulously. That put their whole progression at a standstill, forcing them to stop in the middle of the narrow hallway they were walking through on the way back to the rooms. "You don't honestly believe that someone like Dabi would stick around that long just to follow through on Tomura's little pet project. He was there for weeks just to train the little birdie. I sure as hell wouldn't do something so tedious, even if Tomura wanted it!"

"But that's you," Twice objected. "Dabi's way more compliant when it comes to taking orders. That's why he gets put in charge of more important things!"

Toga wasn't laughing anymore. Her smile was gone, wiped from her face, to be replaced by a much more serious expression. She wasn't looking for pleasant banter with her partner in crime anymore. "If that's the case – if he's sooo good at following orders – then why was he there on that night? Come on, we've all been thinking it, and I bet even Tomura doesn't have a good answer. There was literally no reason why Dabi showed up during our first meeting with those yakuza, and even less of a reason why he brought Fumikage with him. It's thanks to him that we got a third member in all of this! Poooor little Fumikage, getting wrapped up with the evil gangsters when he could be back in his cozy prison with Tomura instead. And now he has to learn a whole new game with a new set of rules~" Her voice was dripping venomously with sarcasm and scorn, but her biting words were remarkably valid, and they ate away at Tokoyami's consciousness like nothing else. It gave him even more to think about tonight, but as opposed to the information that was granted to him by the Precepts, this came off as… much more personal. And it was troubling him how eager they were to discuss it right in front of him, as though it were such a simple discussion topic when really he was just as conflicted about it as they were, if not more so.

"Maybe Shigaraki wanted that to happen… for some reason," Twice suggested, though his suggestion was hardly convincing.

"Ha! Don't try to fool yourself. I can tell that neither part of you believes for a moment that that might be true."

"Toga, please, just stop," Twice said, practically pleading with her at this point. "That whole night was one big mistake, okay? A lot of things happened then that wasn't meant to. And we can't do anything about that now. So that's why we're gonna make the most of it!"

Toga hummed quietly to herself. She bit her bottom lip, thinking about something, and Tokoyami thought for a moment that her sharp teeth might cause her to bleed. But then that familiar smile came back to her, as sinister and unfriendly as ever. "Yeah. Yeah, no, you're right about that. How we got here doesn't matter anymore. Just so long as we take advantage of this prime opportunity we find ourselves in. That's something we can all agree on, right?" Her eyes narrowed when her question was met with uncertainty.

"Toga," Tokoyami began carefully. "Is there something I should know about? If it's about Dabi, or whatever Shigaraki has planned, or whatever you think you'll be doing here, don't you think I deserve to know?"

She looked at him with pity, something he hadn't expected of her. It made his feathers prickle indignantly, and left a foul taste in his mouth. Even if this wasn't the worst confrontation to come from today, it went without saying that he didn't like this. "No… no, I don't think I can do that right now."

Twice gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry, kid. Be grateful for what you have!"

Tokoyami heaved a weary sigh. The events of this day truly were trying to catch up to him, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could stand to be around villains like this, regardless of whether or not they had anything meaningful to say. And if Toga were to tell him those little secrets that she kept stored in that demented head of hers, what would even come of it? Perhaps Dark Shadow was right when he said to just listen to the parts you want to hear, and Twice as well, with his new bit of knowledge. Be grateful for what I have, huh? I can't say that amounts to much after everything is said and done.

"Do as you will," Tokoyami said decisively, addressing both of them. "Plot whatever you have in mind, use your quirks, flirt with the enemy, I don't care. But just because we're stuck here together doesn't mean you can so easily involve me in your ploys like how it was back with the rest of the League. I refuse to align my objective with yours, regardless of what it is, because I have no doubt that nothing good will come of it, knowing you." The last comment was directed especially towards Toga, but the message rang true for both of them all the same.

"Hey, no fair! I thought we already agreed that we weren't the ones getting you involved in stupid plans last time," Toga complained.

"Doesn't our affiliation just give him even more of a right to draw this line, though?" Twice reasoned. "I don't understand why he'd miss a chance to hang out with us! These damn yakuza are already starting to win you over, huh?"

Tokoyami groaned inwardly. Honestly, I should've expected that my words would fail to reach these people. How much more of this am I supposed to endure? "Yes, well, I think I've had enough for one night. I can't say I entirely enjoyed your company, but I suppose that's just the nature of this matter, now isn't it? So forgive me while I take my leave." Tokoyami swept past them briskly, doing his damnedest to distance himself from them before they even realized that he was trying to get away from him.

"Hey! He's not denying it!" Toga laughed, mocking him in his wake. "Jin, that means you have to prove to him that we're better than those gangsters! We can't have ourselves losing a treasured member of the League of Villains to Overhaul, now can we~?"

Tokoyami shuddered upon hearing her words, but he wasn't about to stop and straighten out the absurdity of that accusation. But would it even make a difference? I don't align myself with any one of you! He wished he could say that to them, but knew from experience that such words would be wasted on them. For some reason, these two at least were set on making him out to be their associate in this grand mess of ordeals. And maybe he was, but he had never once been compliant in it.

Except when Dabi convinced you to sneak out to that meeting.

I don't want to hear about that, though.

Toga's laughter faded when he turned the next corner, and the scathing sensation of her eyes burning into him also left. But he was keenly aware that he was still being followed, even as he saw the door to his room come into view, promising him a barrier from everything else. He didn't have to stop and think who it was that had chosen to pursue him.

"Tokoyami, wait! I can understand that you might be overwhelmed from the day's events, and I don't blame you for wanting to get away from Toga, but hear me out! Don't think you can walk away like that just yet, we're not done here!"

Tokoyami paused next to the door to his room, key at the ready. "Is that so?"

"I didn't mean it like that!" Twice hastily assured, though Tokoyami couldn't be sure what part of him was truly saying that. "I just, well, I wanted to be sure… shit, you know I'm not good with this sort of stuff!"

Tokoyami didn't have to ask what that "stuff" entailed. He already had a good idea, judging by the way Twice was struggling. "Then try harder."

Twice sighed dejectedly, as though he had expected that answer but nonetheless had not wanted to hear it. "Well, first and foremost…" He paused, as though looking for the right words. "Did you have a good day? I mean, you're still alive, so that's good, but I can understand if you'd be a bit rattled after everything that happened. But I guess I don't really know everything that happened to you today since this is the first time I'd seen you since the morning, and I heard you close your door awfully loud earlier and I was worried that… so was your day alright?"

Tokoyami bowed his head, tactfully avoided his concerned look. "…Yes, I suppose it was fine enough. I certainly have a good idea of what this place is all about after today's events."

"Good. That's… that's good." Twice said, sounding as though he were telling that more to himself than anyone. But then he lowered his voice after glancing behind him, and Tokoyami could see that Toga was watching them curiously from a safe distance away, peaking at them from around the corner. "If Toga's ever bothering you, or if anyone's at the door or in your room that you don't want there, I want you to let me know by knocking on the wall that we share. These walls are kinda thick, but I'll hear it for sure and maybe I could even do something to help you… Shit, that doesn't sound very comforting at all, now does it?" Twice took a steady breath. And then he lifted his mask up, to where the edge of it sat halfway up his forehead concealing part of the scar that adorned his skin. His dark, sullen eyes were heavy from stressful days and sleepless nights, but the expression on his scruffy face spoke of his determination to set something straight.

"Tokoyami, I know we don't see eye to eye. I know you don't want to be here, or there, or anywhere because you'd much rather be where you belong. And I sure as hell know that I'm the wrong person to be telling you all this! Ack…! So… That's why… Whatever you do, make sure to look after yourself. Don't let your own ideals split you the wrong way…" He was starting to sound physically strained, his words rough, like he was trying so hard to keep them focused. "You need to be the most careful around everyone but yourself! And – and then, once this is all over, maybe things will be better for you in the League of Villains. This'll get easier for you if you give it time. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to distance yourselves from the ones you hate! No! I mean!" Twice pulled his mask quickly over his face once again, where it would most certainly remain. His attempt to say something more meaningful than in their discussion from the morning had already come to an end. And just like with back then, there was little Tokoyami could do in regards to a meaningful response.

"That's fine, Twice. I understand what you're trying to say, and appreciate your attempts, even despite the difficulties that come with bearing yourself to a void of misgivings."

"R-right…" was all that he could muster, bound once more by uncertainty. But there was also relief where there had been none before, as though he was grateful to have gotten the chance to finally speak his mind. Tokoyami couldn't help but wonder if he'd been thinking of saying this all day, these thoughts circulating his mind ever since he had last left him. No, that might be giving him too much credit.

Then why do you want to believe that he's actually trying to look out for you so badly?

Tokoyami held onto that thought a moment longer, standing awkwardly next to his door. And then he dipped his head, recognizing what hardships Twice was trying to overcome. "I find your words to be of some comfort, a small light flickering amongst the abysmal catacombs of this wretched place, but one that pierces the darkness all the same. Thank you, Twice."

Twice looked baffled from his response, but delighted all the same. "Oh! Yes! Of course! You give me too much credit. I knew I was destined for greatness!"

"I hope that's sufficient grounds for us to part ways. I still don't know what your intentions are, or where they'll lead you in this wretched place, but I don't want any foreboding negativity between us. So if it's fine by you, I wish to retire to my room now. Just know that my gratitude still stands."

"Yeah, sure thing! Er, very well then. Good night!"

Tokoyami unlocked his door without a second thought. This time, he would be the one shutting them out. But it still felt different, and even though his feelings were thoroughly mixed from his conversations with both Toga and Twice, seeing the masked man waving at him happily as he closed the door on him left him with a feeling of reassurance. Like maybe he wasn't the only one down here trying to do what he thought was right, never mind necessary. If Twice really was sincere in his thoughts, then it was one less threat to his safety that he had to worry about.

Unfortunately for him, that did little to reduce just how much had proved to be a danger to him in the short time since he'd been in this place. Hell, just through his prior discussion with the Expendables, he'd been made ever more aware of the people he'd do right to avoid, if that was even possible in this situation. And above it all, he couldn't shake the way his nerves prickled. He was exhausted from the day's events, but by this point he was now only feeling it mentally. Physically, he was more wired than he had been at any other time today.

Tokoyami sat down upon his bed with an agitated groan, running through all the things he'd faced in the course of a single day. Everything he'd seen, everything he'd learned. All the unpleasantries he couldn't afford to forget, and all the ones he desperately wished he could.

And then, as though that weren't enough, as though it were asking too much to finally be left alone, Dark Shadow pricked at his consciousness, sure as all else. Let me out. You're making me restless.

And just what makes you think that now is a good time for this? Tokoyami shot back impatiently.

I'm not used to hiding like this for so long.

Tokoyami snorted. But of course this was to be expected. They'd gotten into a bit of a bad habit for a while, having Dark Shadow be out for such long periods during the day and night while he was under the supervision of the League of Villains. It was something that he'd never had the luxury of doing out in public before. Dark Shadow had been getting spoiled. And then Dabi had been the one to encourage it, stating how unfair it was to have to restrain a quirk like that. Of course, now that they were in this place, things most certainly couldn't be the same. They wouldn't be able to train the way they had been previously. And he had no way of knowing how long this was meant to last.

But I want to fight. I thought we were doing so well. I don't want anyone to think we're weak.

We can't do that right now. You know that. But rest assured, whenever the opportunity presents itself, I won't allow anyone to take advantage of us, Tokoyami said, thinking back to when Overhaul had reached out to them and…

Look how far that's brought us! Dark Shadow scoffed, stubbornly denying his claims. He should've known that his quirk would choose this moment to be difficult, as though this day hadn't already been hard enough to get through as it was.

Tokoyami called upon his quirk to materialize, and Dark Shadow did, hovering in the air expectantly. He got up from his bed with a weary sigh, turning on every light in the room.

"Dark Shadow, why do we train?"

"Because that's what we were doing at U.A. And then when that didn't work, it became routine with the villains to train and learn with them instead," he cawed. And sure, that wasn't necessarily wrong, but that also did little in terms of putting a name to his purpose, to his desire from these outcomes. Was this truly to benefit a greater objective, one he could be proud of, or was it a self-serving means to an end while he waited to be used as a tool for villainous deeds? If he stopped trying to hone himself to be better, then there would be less for the villains to take advantage of. Right? Shouldn't this be how this works? But during his time training with Dabi… it never felt like there was any ulterior motive, and he had even forgotten at some point that it was supposed to be on Shigaraki's terms that they were training in the first place. Thinking back on it now, it felt weird, being taught such useful things that even U.A. had neglected, at least in the short time that he was actually there. Like how to fight without relying on his quirk. Focusing on control rather than the maximum limits of your power. Hand to hand combat. How to defend myself from others.

That didn't seem like something a villain would benefit from teaching its captive at all.

Tokoyami swallowed his thoughts, trying hard not to dwell on what Toga had been arguing about regarding Dabi's motives, whatever they were. It would only hinder him if he spent too long contemplating the ways that these villains might actually be trying to help them in their own quirky ways. The idea that Dabi had when training him, that Twice had when encouraging him or Hojo when he'd given him fair warning in his sharing of information. It seemed preposterous that any one of these villains might actually be trying to look out for his well-being, considering that they're the reason why he was here in the first place.

But they're not the reason.

Swallow your thoughts. Don't think about it.

Tokoyami let out a shuddered breath. "Fine. We'll train tonight, for as much as the constraints of this room allows." He lowered himself into a fighting stance and readied his hands. Maybe, if it's like this, he can push his worries aside for just a little longer. "Black Ankh!"