I do not own BNHA or its characters.
Enjoy Chapter Two of "Control"
Cowritten and proofread by aoimikans on Tumblr.
On Your Mark
Surrounded by warmth and slow, quiet breathing, Toshinori sighed. As pleasant as the warmth was, a steadily growing ache in his neck and back pushed him further from sleep. He shifted slightly and opened his eyes when someone snuggled close.
Ah, Toshinori smiled softly at the mop of pink hair pressed against his arm. He blinked in the darkness, easily making out the sleeping figures around him. Glancing at his watch, he grunted. It was nearing two in the morning.
Toshinori brushed his hand along his student's back, half embracing her, "Young Ashido…" He chuckled as she shook her head and muttered a soft protest, "Ashido, your bed would be much more comfortable than my shoulder. Come on."
Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and mumbled sleepily, "W'lcome back, 'll Might."
Affection warmed Toshinori's chest, and he patted her head, "Thank you."
He looked around again and spoke softly, "Do you think you could help me wake your classmates? There's no need for everyone to end up stiff from sleeping on the floor."
Ashido nodded and, yawning widely, moved to wake Hagakure who slept next to her on the couch.
Toshinori grinned, the tip of his tail flicking happily. Or at least, it made a valiant attempt. He looked down, gaze following the line of his tail off the couch and over Izuku's shoulder. The boy was deep in sleep, using Toshinori's tail as a pillow and clutching onto the tufted end.
Toshinori smiled and bent lower, giving Izuku's shoulder a soft shake.
"Come on, my boy," he goaded quietly, gently tugging at his tail, "Time to go to bed."
Izuku stirred, and his grip on the tuft tightened marginally, mumbling, "F… Five m' minutes?"
"Midoriya," Toshinori snorted, resting his hand against the boy's warm, curly locks. He shook with suppressed laughter as he tried and failed to free his tail. Finally, he sat back up and ruffled Izuku's hair.
"My boy, I need my tail back, and you need to go to bed. Up you get," he chuckled with a grin, pushing Izuku up to stand. The boy dropped the tuft and swayed briefly, still half asleep, before nodding and wandering toward the elevator with a few of his classmates Ashido had been able to rouse.
"G'night All Might," he yawned. "See you tomorrow."
Toshinori's tail swung contently as he pushed himself to stand, "Good night."
He turned, bending to wake Sero when his tail bumped against someone.
"Ah, apologies Young Iida," Toshinori said softly, chuckling when Iida nodded absently, rubbing at his eyes, and attempted to straighten his glasses.
Half-asleep, Iida's stiff movements were even more pronounced as he tried to wake Kouda. Once he'd managed to direct more of his classmates toward their bedrooms, each student mumbling a passing goodnight to Toshinori, Iida began to pick up cups and plates around the room.
Toshinori pat his back and nudged the boy toward the elevator with a soft, "That can be done in the morning. Get some rest."
"Yes, Sensei," Iida replied with a barely stifled yawn, "Have a good night."
Toshinori chuckled, "Rest well."
When the doors of the elevator shut, Toshinori sighed, leaning back against the couch and taking in the empty room. He smiled at the Welcome Home sign and paper chains still strung up on the walls. He pushed himself up and turned, hand tracing along the couch.
His claws snagged against something, and he looked to where he sat before.
Oh.
Huffing slightly, he pressed at a small puncture in the cushion.
"At least it's just one," he reasoned, brushing his claws back over his spikes. The tip of his tail flicked curiously as he bent and ran his hand up the space between the cushions.
He hummed thoughtfully, Maybe if I sit along here …
Toshinori shook his head and stepped around the couch. He picked up the abandoned blankets and pillows, gently folding the blankets and setting them with the pillows on the couch. His ears perked in satisfaction as he moved into the kitchen, collecting dishes as he went and placing them into the sink.
He stumbled.
Ah, he glanced down at his legs, frowning as they trembled. My limit…
He leaned against the counter briefly and ran his hand over his face, "It has been a long day."
Taking one last look at the room, he turned the kitchen light off with a snap and walked the familiar route to the elevator.
The elevator doors opened and he stepped inside, careful to curl his tail into the smaller space, snagging and holding the tufted end to his chest. He pressed the 2F button and leaned against the railing as the elevator rose. Toshinori's legs wobbled, and he heaved a sigh, pushing himself to stand taller as the doors slid open with a soft bing!
Toshinori and Aizawa shared the once empty second floor on the girls' side. He snorted at his peer's forethought - an unspoken barrier between the girls' and boys' rooms. His room was the first on the left, its door propped slightly open. He gently pushed through the doorway, smiling at the small plaque that read All Might and hung just above the peephole.
The inside of his room was almost exactly how he left it. His bed was neatly made and his desk cluttered with books, papers, and pill bottles. The moon and distant campus lights filtered through his partially drawn curtains. The only immediate differences were the paper bags left beside his closet, the duffel bag Aizawa carried for him left on his bed, and on his desk a large manila folder with what he could only assume were the lesson plans for the weeks he'd missed.
Toshinori walked inside, letting the door close behind him as a sense of home engulfed him. He breathed deeply and sighed, walking over to his bed and laying his torso down.
Was it always so soft? He wondered, ears drooping sleepily. His tail swayed, and he grunted as it bumped roughly into his desk chair.
Not yet, he reminded himself.
Shifting to sit on the edge of his mattress, he unzipped and dug into his duffel bag. There were only a few items in it. A couple outfits that would fit his changed body lay on top. Beneath them, his bathroom bag and a large container filled with the specialized antacids Recovery Girl prepared. Toshinori paused, rubbing at the place where that new - his new organ was, and popped one of the antacids in his mouth. The hint of burning in his chest faded, and he set the container next to his other pill bottles.
He dug to the bottom of the duffel bag and pulled out his night clothes, a pair of sweatpants and his old U.A. hoodie. Recovery Girl was kind enough to help cut a line down the middle of the shirt's back, stopping where his spikes did. It was a shame to cut the fabric, but … it was necessary.
Toshinori changed and tossed his worn clothes into the hamper at the end of his bed. The familiar motion bringing a small smile to his face. Snagging his toiletry bag, he stood and made his way to the bathroom.
When it was decided they would stay in Heights Alliance, the rooms between his own and Aizawa's were renovated into private bathrooms. They included their own showers and tubs, much to both teachers' relief.
Toshinori pulled the door open and flicked on the lights out of habit.
Shit! He flinched back and squeezed his eyes shut, the sudden bright light sending a jolt of pain through his skull. Toshinori rubbed the heel of his palm against his eyes, resisting the urge to slap the light switch. Squinting carefully, he blinked away the spots in his eyes as they grew accustomed to the light.
His tail swung wide in irritation and knocked against the doorframe, sending another dull jolt of pain up his spine. Twisting around, he glared at the limb, hackles raising.
After a moment, Toshinori sighed. It's fine.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he forced his tail to still. He rolled his shoulders and dropped his bag onto the bathroom counter, reaching out and turning on the sink. He splashed his face with water, brushing the water back over his hair.
Toshinori let out a slow breath, leaning against the counter as his legs trembled. His tail drooped, tuft sweeping across the laminate floor. Adjusting his stance, the sound of his claws scraping the floor echoed off the walls.
Just a little tired. This is nothing, he thought, plucking his toothbrush and paste from his bag and quickly brushing his teeth. He spat and placed his toothbrush in its holder.
A slight tickle made him scrunch up his nose. He sneezed.
"F- !" Fuck! Toshinori clutched his side, tears pricking the corners of his eyes as his chest burned. He stumbled over to his toilet as his gut clenched again, coughing and retching bloodied acid. His legs collapsed beneath him, and he clutched the seat, capped claws scrabbling against the porcelain.
"Sh-," Toshinori panted and wheezed, whole body aching as he weakly spat, "Shit."
Leaning against the wall, he frowned as his hand brushed against the floor. He lifted it and stared at the dust coating his palm and fingers.
All Might knocked on his ass by dust, Toshinori huffed a laugh and shook his head, letting his hand fall back to his side.
Arms shaking, he pushed himself up, resting momentarily on all fours before standing.
Toshinori looked around, frowning and ears drooping. A thin layer of dust coated every surface. His shoulders slumped, and he quietly washed his hands.
Blinking wearily and brushing his hands on his hoodie, he trudged back into his bedroom and flicked on the small desk lamp. Dust swirled in the soft orange rays, and he wrinkled his nose, looking away. Bending, he pulled open the bottom desk drawer and grabbed a water bottle.
He quickly downed the water to clear the acrid taste from his mouth. Glancing back at his collection of bottles, he hummed. I'll need to get some more.
Toshinori tensed as he felt another sneeze, tail curling under him as he braced, and sighed with relief when it didn't come. Tossing the empty bottle in the recycle bin, he carefully lowered himself onto his bed and stretched. He eyed his pillow and flipped it over.
I'll change the sheets tomorrow.
Curling under his covers, he couldn't help groaning quietly. His eyelids drooped, and his tail curled tightly around himself.
His body ached, his chest burned, and there was still so much to do and adjust to… but a small smile pulled the corner of his lips.
Tomorrow...
Naomasa took another swig of coffee, grimacing at the burnt, bitter taste, and glanced at the clock on the wall.
They're late. He set his mug down and flipped the coffee maker's switch to reheat the coffee on the table.
Chief Tsuragamae had assigned a small conference room to the joint investigation. Copies of files from the Yagi Abduction case lay out on the table, including images of Toshinori's torn and bloodied clothes and the shackles and chains collected from Recovery Girl's infirmary.
Naomasa frowned down at the images, frustration twisting his gut.
The door clacked open. Sansa walked in and held the door wide.
"Just in here," he gestured inside and stepped back as Wright passed him. Following the foreigner were five others, a mixed group to say the least.
"Detective Tsukauchi," Wright strode forward and shook his hand, "Good morning."
"Good morning," Naomasa replied with a nod, glancing curiously at the others.
Wright turned to the five, gesturing politely to Naomasa, "This is Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi, Head Investigator for the Yagi case." The foreign investigator turned back to Naomasa.
"These are my colleagues," Wright said and gestured to each person in turn.
"Jean-Baptiste Bellamy, Empath."
Bellamy was an older man, perhaps mid-fifties to early sixties. Dark skin and hair with a dusting of gray, and wearing a soft, burgundy sweater vest, the man smiled wide and gave Naomasa a firm handshake.
"A pleasure," he said, voice deep and warm. The pleasant smell of woodsmoke and old books seemed to surround the man.
"Alba Tyto, Perfect Recall," Wright continued.
A short woman stepped forward. Though Wright had implied her quirk was memory related, she obviously inherited a heteromorphic Owl Form quirk. She had the head, wings, and talons of a barn owl. Her golden-brown and white feathers fluffed happily, dark eyes closing as she bowed.
"Good to meet you," Tyto said, her whistling voice heavily accented.
North Eastern European? Naomasa wondered.
He bowed in return, "It's good to meet you, Ms. Tyto."
"Mary- ah," Wright turned to face the white-haired woman, "Would you prefer to be introduced with your given name, Meari?"
The woman smiled and shook her head, "Mary is fine. Mary Shin, at your service, Detective Tsukauchi."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small jar of dirt, and smiled softly "My quirk is Blooming Trust. It's better if I show you."
Lifting her index finger, she let it hover over the jar. Naomasa tilted his head and watched a small black pebble fall from her fingertip. Hitting the dirt the pebble - Ah, no - the seed sprouted and a small green succulent with purple stripes grew.
Shin frowned slightly, running her fingertip along the purple streaks, "Sorry if we've made a poor first impression, but this is for you."
Naomasa blinked at the proffered succulent, and its purple streaks widened, "Thank you?"
"Oops! Oh no... I suppose I did that in the wrong order," Shin's cheeks colored with embarrassment, and she bowed in apology - her long white hair draping over her shoulders, "You see, this plant grows with communication. It'll never get larger than a common houseplant, but that's beside the point. Blooming Trust. With communication and trust the plant thrives. Without trust… it will turn purple and wither," She chuckled weakly, "I should have read the mood and explained first."
Naomasa regarded the young woman in front of him, She's certainly earnest and isn't lying as far as I can tell.
Shin's expression brightened, "Ah! There we go!"
Naomasa jolted and looked down at the small plant. A few purple stripes faded and the plant visibly grew wider.
Oh, a small smile tugged at his mouth, and he set the plant down on the table.
"Thank you," Naomasa said, "It's lovely."
Wright nodded and nudged a young man forward.
"This is Genji Tsuda-"
Naomasa's face remained impassive as he chuckled internally, genjitsuda. Reality and truth, huh? I'm sensing a pattern.
"He's our newest member, but specializes in interrogations. He is sure to be of use," Wright stated, his hand not leaving the younger man's shoulder.
"Nice to meet you, Detective," Tsuda said quietly, averting his gray-eyed gaze.
Naomasa gave the shy, young man a careful once-over. He was small and fairly nondescript, short black hair and no mutation quirk features that would stand out. He couldn't be older than twenty. Bent posture, folded arms, and a closed off expression -
He does not want to be here.
"A specialty in interrogation?" Naomasa asked neutrally. He noticed Wright's grip tighten marginally on the young man's shoulder.
"My quirk," Tsuda muttered, "Speak no Evil."
"I handle the questioning, while he observes," Wright explained, a professional smile on his face, "He's still in training, of course, but he helps us greatly where finding the truth is concerned."
"Ever plan to introduce me?" the last person asked with a cheeky grin.
"I saved the best for last," Wright said, his grin growing genuine, "This young lady is Ms. Vera Lang."
"Young!" the round, middle-aged woman laughed, "You flatter me, Bill."
Lang walked forward, swinging a white and red cane just in front of her, and reached out her hand.
Blind? Naomasa thought curiously, stepping forward and shaking her hand.
"My quirk is Hear no Evil, if you were wondering what a blind woman was doing here," Laughter lines crinkled at the corner of her clouded eyes as she grinned. "So what's your quirk, sugar?"
"Ah," Naomasa's passive mask broke, and his face colored at the sudden use of a pet name. He cleared his throat, glancing at Sansa who seemed to be suppressing a laughing fit, "Enhanced Perception."
"Well! Wouldn't you know it!" the blind woman pulled Naomasa's arm and threw her arm around his waist, "Wright, he would fit right in to this dysfunctional family. You had me worried for no reason. Don't be so sceptical of everyone!" Lang swung her cane low and smacked Wright's ankle.
"He's killed more than a few of poor Mary's plants," she stage-whispered to Naomasa, "Take care of that one, please."
"O-oh?" Naomasa stiffened in the woman's half-embrace, shooting a helpless look at Sansa. The feline officer's ears were pressed flat, and he covered his mouth as he shook with silent laughter.
The bell around Sansa's neck tinkled, and Tyto swivelled her head to look. Sansa stiffened, fur fluffing bashfully, and hid his hands behind his back in an attempt to appear professional. Tyto clicked her beak and tittered with amusement as Sansa shrunk back at her gaze.
"Now that introductions are settled," Lang mercifully released Naomasa, patting his chest as she wandered to the table, "Do I smell coffee?"
"Ah, yes ma'am," Naomasa bent to fix her a cup but she waved him away.
"I've got it," she said, fingers ghosting along the table and finding the disposable cups.
"Please, allow me," Naomasa reached over, grabbing the coffee pot.
Lang smiled wryly, "If you insist, Detective."
Naomasa pulled a chair out for Lang and gestured to the table, "Now that we've become acquainted, let's get right to the matter at hand."
He paused as Wright and his colleagues sat before taking his own seat and gesturing for Sansa to close the door and join them.
"In front of you are all the documents regarding the Yagi Abduction case," Naomasa began, a flicker of familiar guilt flaring in his chest, "Toshinori Yagi called and entered the vehicle of his usual driver, Hibiki Genji. However, earlier that night, his driver had been murdered. The man driving the vehicle then abducted Yagi and brought him to the storage facility at Rishi General Hospital. The location you were observing, correct?"
"That is correct," Wright answered, flipping through the files and pictures of the scene. "This man, Yagi, was imprisoned and tortured?"
Anger and guilt twisted Naomasa's gut, but he kept his face professionally impassive, "He was."
"Toshinori Yagi was a friend of yours?"
Naomasa jolted, meeting Bellamy's sympathetic gaze.
Empath… right.
Naomasa sighed, folding his hands together, "Yes, Toshinori Yagi is a very close friend."
"I'm sorry," Bellamy said, "You have been through a lot. It is admirable that you would go so far for a friend."
Admirable? Naomasa thought he would choke, his emotions tumbling past, too fast to process. Anger, guilt, disgust - sadness, longing, regret - relief, hope, determination… Me? No… Not me. He-
Bellamy's eyes widened with alarm, and his voice softened, "You shouldn't bottle up all of those feelings."
"I'm aware," Naomasa replied honestly, but he smiled, "It's nothing I can't handle, but thank you for your concern."
Wright gathered the papers in front of him, tapping them against the table, "I see you have the beginning and end down, so I assume you'll need the gaps filled? You expect some of our observations may help?"
Naomasa nodded, "Correct."
Humming thoughtfully, Wright pressed his fingers together, "If I may, these pictures don't make it clear what happened to Yagi. Where is he now?"
Tyto's head snapped up, "While we're on this track, what does this note found in the vehicle mean? I don't see the connection."
Shin flipped through her copy of the files, "'Keep them. I'm making another.' Who wrote this?"
Lang tapped her fingers against the table, "You're asking the wrong questions first, dears. This abduction… It's too calculated. Detective, just who is this friend of yours?"
Naomasa sighed, brushing his hand through his short hair.
These people… They're good, I'll give them that.
"Toshinori Yagi," he began, "We are using his given name to avoid an unnecessary uproar. This detail has not been made public. I will appreciate it if you keep it that way."
After a few small nods of agreement, Naomasa continued.
"Toshinori Yagi is retired Pro-Hero All Might." Naomasa gestured to the note in Shin's hands, "His abductor was one of his oldest enemies."
Wright's eyes widened marginally, and he glared at Alba, "That was All Might? Alba, you didn't recognize him from the photos? The press conference?"
Alba's feathers ruffled, and she spoke in rapid English, "Do you know how many faces I have memorized? A bit of background is necessary for Perfect Recall to work, and you know it!" She clicked her beak and nervously preened one of her primary feathers, "Though after that news coverage, you'd think any of us would've recognized that man…"
Naomasa's expression was blank, his voice quiet, "Excuse me?"
Six heads turned to face Naomasa, and Bellamy gave the detective a wary look. Naomasa stared at each one, gauging their reactions, quirk gathering every detail. His eyes settled on Genji who shivered and sunk deeply into his seat, glancing furtively at Wright.
Naomasa followed the young man's glance, and his gaze bore into Wright, "Could you let me in on what you mean?"
Wright straightened and returned his stare, "What we mean?"
Tension crackled in the air.
"You said you had photos," Naomasa clarified slowly, "and that you should have recognized All Might… From this I can only assume you stood back and watched as a man was taken and imprisoned in that building. Am I wrong?"
Wright sighed and sat back in his chair, hands folded in front of him, "No. That was an error on our part. Our own investigation took priority. Yes, we had cameras stationed around Rishi to monitor the area for suspicious activity," He turned to his left, holding out his hand, "Mary, if you would."
"Ah- yessir!" Searching through her bag, Shin pulled out a folder and handed it to Wright.
Wright pulled out three photos, and Naomasa's anger surged as the first showed Toshinori being dragged into the storage facility.
"At the time, we thought this to be a common mugging. An ordinary, if frail-looking, man robbed of his coat and shoes, and left in the stairwell of an abandoned building. He would get up and walk away, penniless, but otherwise unharmed. We dismissed it. We weren't looking for muggings. Which leads me to this next picture."
Wright flipped it over, "Suddenly, nurses were carting food and medical supplies in and out of the building, and we had our focus. You see, we've been following paper trails and transactions for years - supplies, money, names - always lacking a solid human connection, but fully tied with organized crime. We haven't just been at Rishi. Jean-Baptiste and Alba over here were in charge of canvassing Jedha only two months ago."
Naomasa listened carefully, so far Wright had only given him the bare minimum.
Wright reached for the final picture, "And then we had it, a link to our endgame. These nurses were making something. And we thought we finally grasped something tangible, until your forces cracked open the storage building on the same day.
"We're honestly not sure what it was, but that something -"
"Wright-" Bellamy cautioned, but the foreign investigator continued.
"Or one of them at least - escaped," Wright flipped the final picture.
Naomasa saw Toshinori. He pulled the photo closer.
Son of a bitch.
When Naomasa saw Toshinori for the first time, he was changed and tired but… Not like this. He appeared like he had in that damn video. Shirtless, hair matted with blood, pants torn to shreds, and chains hanging from each of his limbs, Toshinori was photographed mid-stride on all fours and carrying Nurse Isamu on his back.
Wright's voice lowered, "It may be wise to keep an eye out for any reports about this thing wandering around-"
Crunch.
"Hey! What-?!"
Naomasa looked down at his hands, the enlarged picture lay crumpled and torn at his fingertips. His hands shook, and he clenched them together, dropping the damaged photo.
"Not a thing. Don't -" Naomasa's throat tightened and he clasped his hands together, "Don't call him a thing. Toshinori isn't-!"
Chained - bloodied - pacing like an animal… Suffocating in that white room...
"Sir?" Naomasa looked up at the sound of Sansa's voice.
"You said he's safe," Sansa reminded softly, "He's alright."
Naomasa nodded, pinching the bridge of his nose as he collected himself.
"There's been," he took a measured breath, "a misunderstanding. The man in both the first and last photo is Toshinori Yagi."
All for One reached out, hand closing around Toshinori's face -
Toshinori jerked awake, claws slashing out and tail crashing against the floor. His legs were pinned, wrapped and pressed together. He kicked the binding away and scrambling to sit up. His breaths came in shallow gasps as he looked around the unfamiliar room. It looked like his but too tall, too-
Oh, he was on the floor.
His shoulders sagged as he forced his breaths to even. Pushing himself back, Toshinori leaned against the edge of his bed and grimaced. His cover lay near the bathroom door where he kicked it. Jagged tears marred the fabric.
Snagging another water bottle from his desk, Toshinori cleared his throat and drank as sweat cooled on his skin. He eyed his room, frown deepening when he spotted claw marks etched into the floor.
Even here… Toshinori sighed tiredly and glanced at his watch.
7:32
His eyelids drooped, head bobbing. Absentmindedly, he noted he'd left the light on…
Toshinori jerked with a curse, shooting up and immediately regretting the quick motion. The room spun as vertigo hit, and he fought the urge to gag.
"Okay. Okay…" He pat his chest, calming his pounding heart.
He clenched his eyes shut, lifting his wrist, and opened them slowly.
9:08
Alright. Toshinori sighed. An hour and a half. I just fell asleep that time. I just…
"Sh-," He sneezed. "Shit! Fine! I'm up!"
Toshinori walked to the sliding glass door, pushing the curtain aside, and shoved it open. Fresh air swirled into the room, and he took a step onto the veranda, taking several deep breaths. His eyes adjusted quickly to the morning light, and he nodded. Leaving the door open, he got to work.
Toshinori ripped an old shirt and tied it around his face as he set off to clean. Determination powered his limbs. Starting in the bathroom, he wiped down every surface, eliminating the troublesome dust. Sweat began to bead down his back, collecting in his ridged mane, but he shook his head, stubbornly refusing to stop.
Finishing the bathroom with a mild cleaning spray and a final wipe-down, he moved onto the bedroom. When his legs wobbled, he took another drink but otherwise ignored them. He needed this done.
Two hours later, Toshinori pressed at his back and stretched, feeling his bones pop. He untied the cloth around his face and smiled.
Clean.
He let out a small laugh and patted his abdomen as it gurgled, muttering softly, "One last thing, first."
Toshinori took a quick shower, rinsing off the remnants of his troubled night and productive morning. Toweling his hair dry, careful not to bump his loose third spike, he stepped out of the bathroom with fresh clothes and fresh thoughts.
Cool air brushed his skin, and he slid the glass door shut with a shiver.
"Alright," Toshinori rubbed his hands together, "I could go for a late breakfast."
He straightened his shirt and snagged the lesson plans from his desk before leaving his room behind.
When the elevator opened, Toshinori was surprised to see the dorm's shared space fairly empty. Slowly making his way toward the kitchen, he smiled, smelling the lingering sweet and savory scents of his students' breakfasts.
"All Might-sensei! Good morning!" Kirishima waved from the dining area, Kaminari and Sero sat nearby and waved in greeting.
"Good morning," Toshinori grinned, tail swaying happily. "What are you three up to?"
"We're about to go to the training fields," Sero said, "Present Mic's supervising sparing until 3pm."
Toshinori's grin brightened, and he gave them a thumbs up, "Great!" He glanced around, spotting only Bakugou sitting on the living room couch, and asked, "Young Bakugou, are you going sparring as well?"
The boy glanced up from his textbook and shrugged.
"Ah, I asked, but he wanted to study," Kirishima said, shooting his friend a cheeky grin, "Offer's still open!"
"Hair-for-brains," Bakugou grumbled, turning the page.
"Are the rest of your classmates sparring?" Toshinori asked.
"Nah," Kaminari shook his head, "Midnight-sensei took the girls to a bathhouse with the girls from 1-B. Pretty sure Midoriya was dragged out by Iida. Something about a volunteer thing they promised to do. Not sure where everyone else is."
"How're you feeling?" Kirishima asked suddenly, not quit returning his gaze.
Toshinori smiled at Kirishima, "Much better," He rubbed at the back of his neck, tracing around the small spikes, "If… If you have questions, please don't be afraid to ask."
The three boys nodded soberly, and Toshinori huffed a laugh.
"Don't fret," he said, clapping a hand on Sero's shoulder, "And don't let me delay you any longer. Have a good time and work hard."
"Will do, All Might!" Kaminari crowed with a grin.
Toshinori grinned wide as the boys left before turning his attention to young Bakugou. The boy sat, bent over his textbook, at the far end of the couch.
"Good Morning, Bakugou, my boy," Toshinori greeted as he stepping into the kitchen.
"Morning," came the oddly subdued reply.
Toshinori glanced back at the boy, catching Bakugou quickly return his attention to his textbook, a small frown on his face. Quirking an eyebrow and flicking his tail curiously, Toshinori gestured to the front door.
"I'm surprised you aren't out sparring," he said, carefully watching the boy's face.
Bakugou's expression remained impassive as he shrugged, "I wanted to read ahead."
"Ah," Toshinori hummed with a sage nod, "Very studious."
Bakugou grunted in reply.
Toshinori opened the fridge, briefly taking inventory, and pulled out a couple eggs, cheese, chives, and a red bell pepper.
Omelet with toast sounds nice, he thought, coughing lightly at a tickle in his throat.
Toshinori made quick work of rinsing the pepper, finding a pan and cutting board, and started his tea. Adjusting his stance, claws clicking against the wood floor, he sliced half the pepper into strips and then diced them. The familiar motion and smell was relaxing, and he couldn't help but smile contently. His claws barely getting in the way, he continued his cooking, spraying and tossing his bits of pepper into the heated pan. He let them cook a while as he cracked and whisked his eggs before pouring them into the pan.
Toshinori kept an eye on Bakugou all the while, catching the boy watching more than a few times. He hummed as he plucked his toast from the toaster but said nothing. It wasn't curiosity that made the gruff boy watch him. It looked more like barely contained concern.
Curiosity Toshinori could handle. He was still practicing accepting others' - especially his students' - concern...
His tail flicked thoughtfully as he slid his finished omelet onto his plate beside the toast and jam. Gathering up his lesson plans and a cup of tea, Toshinori walked to the living room and plopped himself down next to Bakugou. He didn't miss the way the boy tensed. Instead, Toshinori moved his tail onto his own lap, took a small bite of his toast, and began reading through his papers.
I've missed so much, Toshinori realized with a small frown, flipping through page after page of completed topics and tests and sipping at his herbal tea. He set aside the students' other subjects and focused on what was covered in Foundational Hero Studies. They were studying hero ethics and had already gone over the importance of hero licensing, the historical debate of whether professional heroes should be paid or volunteer, and the rise of organized heroism out of vigilantism.
Toshinori hummed, tail tapping the couch as he read through Aizawa's notes on the practical exercises. His breath caught in his throat, and he coughed roughly. Grimacing at the copper and acid tastes, he reached for his tea.
Shit. His mug was empty.
Toshinori sighed and stood.
Pain shot through his chest, and his legs wobbled as a coughing fit seized him. He stumbled.
Holy shit. Damn it. Not-
Firm hands gripped Toshinori's upper arms and steered him back to sit on the couch.
"You're supposed to be resting," young Bakugou grumbled, taking Toshinori's mug and stalking to the kitchen.
"Th-" Toshinori cleared his throat, wheezing and catching his breath.
Bakugou returned with a refilled mug of steaming tea, setting it on the coffee table before sitting back in his spot.
"Thank you," Toshinori said quietly, blowing on the steaming tea and taking a cautionary sip. Without thinking, his tail slipped around the boy's waist and gave him a small squeeze.
Bakugou froze.
Toshinori glanced over, and his ears drooped.
Bakugou sat rigid, arms slightly raised and hands hovering by his chest. He stared down at the limb wrapped around his waist, an uncomfortable, conflicted look on his face.
"Sorry, my boy," Toshinori said, pulling his tail back into his lap, "Still growing accustomed to having this." He gestured to his tail with a grin, but his student was no longer looking at his tail.
Ah, Toshinori rubbed at his wrist. The shackle scars were far fainter than they had been, but the raised discoloration remained.
"Recovery Girl already cared for these," he said, giving Bakugou a thumbs up, "The marks should eventually fade."
"Now!" Toshinori clapped his hands, visibly startling the boy, "These notes are all well and good, but I just can't seem to grasp the feeling of how far you and your classmates are. You wouldn't mind going over what you've learned, would you?"
Toshinori's grin widened, and he took a sip of his tea as Bakugou gave him a knowing frown. The boy sighed, shutting his textbook and roughly sliding Toshinori's lesson plans over to himself.
Atsuhiro Sako rolled two marbles of his own making in his palm, eyes scanning across the rooftops. The wind was cold high above the city, high above the neighboring campus of U.A. It rustled his long coat and seeped into his bones.
Shivering, Sako frowned at the chill nipping at his bare face and leaned against the rooftop access door.
The early morning sky still glowed lavender over the sleepy city. The high rooftop made for the perfect place to view such a spectacular show. At last, a stage fitting for an entertainer such as himself. Far better than that dank hideout Shigaraki insisted on using until he could make his next move.
Sako sighed, pocketing the two marbles and glanced downward. Three floors down, Shigaraki and Kurogiri sat in Sako's own hideaway, awaiting his Dove's report. Important information for Shigaraki's side quest to retrieve a rare item - or so he had said.
The entertainer huffed impatiently. All Might had already caused them enough trouble, in his opinion.
A flutter of white in the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he turned.
Ah, Sako smiled, There's my Dove.
"Atsu-nii!" A young boy landed clumsily on the rooftop, flapping his little white wings until he righted himself. He ran up to the magician, small feet pap-papping across the roof. His wings fluttered as he launched himself into Sako's arms, hugging him tight.
"Hatoko," Sako smiled wide, adjusting his hold on the boy so he sat against his hip, "How are you?"
"I made new friends at the park, and I saw a cat, and a nice lady bought me a sweet bun," Hatoko rambled off, brown eyes shining. The white feathers atop the boy's head stood, fluffed with excitement like a cockatiel's. "And even though I got caught sleeping in a church, the nice man let me stay and even said to have dinner with him whenever I want!"
"Splendid!" Sako exclaimed, setting the boy down with a flourish, "Did you bring what I asked?"
"Uh huh!" Hatoko nodded, tucking his wings tight against his back and rummaging into his oversized hoodie pocket. He pulled out a small smart phone and handed it to Sako, "I've been careful about not dropping it like you asked."
"Good boy," Sako said, pulling out his own phone and one of his marbles, "For that, you deserve a gift I think! Hold out your arms."
The boy's eyes widened with delight, rosy cheeks practically glowing, and he held out his arm. Sako waved his hand over the boy's arms and decompressed the marble. A sky blue, feather down, puffy coat fell onto the boy's outstretched arms.
Hatoko gaped at the winter coat, immediately checking the back.
"It's got wing warmers!" the boy shrieked, little wings flaring out and fluttering as he examined the padded, covered slits on the coat's back.
While the boy bounced and shrugged on his new coat, sliding his wings through the slits and giving them an experimental flap, Sako turned his attention to the phone he had given the boy. He plugged a wire connecting his own phone to the boy's and tapped the phone's photo and video app. Transfer All glowed at the bottom, and Sako pressed it.
"You've been such a great help, Hatoko," Sako said, ruffling the top of the boy's feathered head, "No one saw you?"
"Nope! I'm sure!" The boy brushed his feathers back into place and pointed across the rooftops, "I go from roof to roof and avoid flying over big streets, like you said."
"Excellent," Sako smiled, "You wouldn't want to get caught by anyone."
Hatoko pouted, big brown eyes looking almost sternly up at Sako, "I know! I'm the best at hide and seek you know!"
Sako nodded, shrugging melodramatically, "Oh yes, that's right. I'd nearly forgotten."
"So?" the boy tugged on the magician's long coat, "What do you want me to do today? More super spy stuff?"
"Yes! Exactly so!" Sako grinned, finally disconnecting the two phones and handing the smaller back to the boy. "Very important, super spy stuff. Think you can handle something so grown-up?"
"YES!" Hatoko jumped up, flapping his wings and nearly taking to the air, "I can do it! I promise! I'm super grown-up!"
"Okay," Sako said, bending to the winged boy's eye level, "I need you to keep an eye on the east - ah, that side - gates of U.A. and take pictures of anybody who goes in and out."
The excitement in Hatoko's eyes dimmed and he looked skeptically at the magician, "Are you sure that's super spy grown-up stuff?"
"Oh, yes," Sako nodded gravely, "Absolutely."
Hatoko pouted, "That's boring."
"Stay young, kid." Sako deadpanned, earning a grin from the boy, "Should I make it worth your while then, Mister Super Spy Who Can't Do Anything Boring?"
"Yes." The boy deadpanned, mimicking the magician's own expression.
Sako barked a laugh, and covertly pulled the second marble from his pocket, "How about some treasure?"
Hatoko's eyes lit up as Sako clapped his hands together, waved one above the boy's head, and pulled a decompressed bag from behind the boy's back. Hatoko grabbed the bag, opened it, and immediately dug into it with a yelp of delight.
"A DS?!" the boy exclaimed, looking down at the secondhand device and games. He dug deeper and found the four books at the bottom, "And the Agent Kid series?"
"Think you'll be bored now?" Sako asked, fists on his hips.
Hatoko stuffed his gifts back in the bag and hugged it close, "I won't ever be bored again!"
"Good," Sako said, standing and pulling his coat straight, "Just find a safe place to hide them, alright?"
Hatoko nodded enthusiastically, the feathers atop his head flaring up and bobbing.
"Now, get to it," Sako said, playfully patting the boy's back. "Call me if you get into any trouble."
"I don't get into trouble," Hatoko pouted. The sour expression didn't last as he hugged his treasure and spread his wings. "Thank you, Atsu-nii! See you soon!"
Sako waved the boy off as he leapt from the roof and flew low over the buildings toward the east.
Sighing deeply, he glanced back over the U.A. campus, then pulled out his phone. Sako scrolled through the most recent images from his Dove's observations. There was a considerable amount of weekend traffic: faculty coming and going for their heroic duties, students leaving to shop and visit family, but a few caught the magician's interest. The girls of classes 1-A and 1-B, he recognized a few, leaving with Midnight. Then that mop of green hair… The boy who had been on the kill list. He and the bespectacled child who had been with him at the Kamino Ward both left the safety of the U.A. walls.
"Little licensed heroes," Sako hummed thoughtfully. He quickly sent the picture to a couple of his eyes and ears. They would keep tabs on those children.
He pocketed his phone and turned back into the roof stairwell and, slipping on his newest mask, Mr. Compress descended the stairs. He had a report to give.
Toshinori groaned and opened his eyes slowly. He felt sluggish… Heavy. Lifting his hand and pressing against his forehead, he sighed. Familiar white walls surrounded him. Chains clanked with every movement.
He looked around, frowning when he didn't spot a food tray, Too early for Isamu's next visit, I suppose. Or too late.
Running a hand along the chain binding his tail, he turned to face the wall and got back to work. His claws bit into the tile and drywall, tearing it away piece by piece. With every scratch and tear, every chunk that fell, the edge of the hole grew smaller, closing in on the concrete beneath. Debris littered the floor around his feet, and piles of dust rose to his hocks as he etched and etched and etched and etched.
Toshinori growled low in his throat, tail flicking impatiently. Pain - was it pain? - suddenly pinched at the back of his neck, and he slapped at it. A warm, wet sensation spread from his palm. Jerking his hand forward, he gaped at the bleeding hole in its center.
What...? He reached back slowly, claws brushing through hair and bumping against…
Spikes?
"All M..Might…"
Toshinori's eyes widened, and he whirled around, "Isamu!"
The chains grew heavier - the shackles tighter.
The light dimmed, fading as Toshinori frantically looked around the small room. He pushed forward, arms and legs shaking as he dragged his chains.
Red.
Toshinori recoiled, hands slipping against the floor. His hackles bristled.
No.
There, in the center of the room, Isamu lay in a dark, shallow pool. His eyes fixed on Toshinori, their light burning out.
"Isamu! Hold on, young man!" Toshinori strained forw-
The shackles clamped down on his limbs, dragging him back to the wall, and Toshinori let out a low wail, shaking his head. No, no, no, no…
Toshinori spun and yanked at the heavy chains, ignoring the red oozing down the walls. "I'm right here- I'm coming! Hold on!"
Not again! Not…
Again?
Toshinori froze, dread curling in his gut. He turned.
Isamu's body was gone but the pool of blood remained, spreading across the floor and staining the tile.
"All… All Might?"
Toshinori shuddered, a low whine escaping him as he clutched at his head.
Not here. Please... not here.
He looked up, blue-eyed gaze meeting green.
"All Might? Are you-"
The boy stepped forward, sending ripples across the dark pool and reaching out, palm up. Izuku flinched as a pale hand clapped onto his shoulder.
"Now, now. Look what you've done, Noumu," All for One formed from the shadows. His face… his face was like before. Whole.
"You've frightened the boy."
Rage boiled in Toshinori's gut. He lowered himself, tail slashing through the air, growling at the hand on Izuku's shoulder.
All for One sighed, "Resorting to violence, yet again..."
Izuku struggled in the man's grip, eyes pleading, "All Might, -"
"All Might! Wake up!"
Toshinori blinked, shaking his head and panting, Wake… up? But you're…
I'm… not -
"All Might!" Izuku yanked at the hand on his shoulder, One for All flashing uselessly across his skin.
Eyes colder than they were that day so long ago, All for One met Toshinori's glare and smiled, raising his left hand, "One teacher to another," A pearly white spear extended from the center of the villain's palm.
"Here's your final lesson, Noumu."
NO!
Toshinori lunged, chains snapping, and sunk his teeth into the hand trapping his boy.
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