"Shigaraki Tomura," Kurogiri, his shadow-infested warp gate grumbles, calm as usual. "It seems the rogue Nomu the doctor lent us has joined the battle. It appears to be currently attacking one of our own."
Shigaraki Tomura leers, expression twisting into something crooked and cruel as he scans the chaos below. The rogue Nomu? What were they calling it now? Miss Nomu? He snorts, finding it several kilometers over. Her huge body is visible even from their distance, it's large, rippling muscles exposed beneath that stupid waste of a dress. Who the hell put it in a dress anyways?
Stupid heroes. Stupid UA, taking his Nomu and advertising it, parading it around—like it—like it was theirs. Rotten, no good, dirty cheats.
It's all Eraserhead's fault.
His erasing quirk must have messed something up!
He should have won that level, that Nomu was the best of them all.
All the others, including the three he'd brought today, they'd all just stand there and stare, needing even the most basic orders to do even the smallest tasks. Boring, useless, stupid. That one though—no, that one had intelligence. It understood, followed conversation, flexed its muscles, moved around—it was like the final big boss and stupid Eraser-
His thoughts pause as the female Nomu crashes through a building, dust and debris exploding around them before they both roll across the quickly emptying street, the green monster on top of her tearing into its shoulder. He leans forward, grin wicked.
He's rewarded a moment later when the female kicks its assailant up and over into a building.
Heh. It was slower than the new ones.
Good.
He wanted that one back!
He watches enraptured as the creature in the dress picks itself up slowly, the wound on its shoulder probably already pulling itself together. He watches as his green subordinate attacks again, flying through the air so fast it looks less like flying and more like a streaky blur.
The purple one pulls back and he cackles, thrilled as it punches a hole straight through the new one's chest.
"Damn!" Shigaraki crows. His fingers drum across the ledge of the tall building they'd settled themselves on, excitement rising. What will it do next? Maybe he should send all three after it? Ah… but then there was that damn Hero-Killer… Ugh. Decisions, decisions… "Kurogiri, where are the other Nomu?"
With sirens wailing all across the city and smoke rising everywhere, there were too many places to look and he was impatient.
"Engaged with heroes."
"Ah damn."
The green Nomu pulls itself off the rouge one's fist. The purple one doesn't allow it very far. Planting a foot on the thing's already healing chest, it grabs it by the head and pulls.
The gore splattering across that white dress makes him grin.
That was no hero.
He laughs when the thing drops the severed head and leaps up toward the direction of more chaos.
.
.
.
Hero and sleepy boy gone from building.
Not sure if good or bad yet. Hero very mad.
In much trouble.
Not worry now, need find babies.
Green-bean danger. Candy-cane, Blue-hair danger. Need find, protect.
Not get far, get lost easy. Try listen, too much noise. So much crying, screaming, ask for help. Get lady out pinned car—cry and run. Sigh. Save man, not like either. Think I bad, hit many times. No more save after that, focus on babies.
Need find.
.
.
.
Even blocks from the attack, it's impossible not to hear (or see) the fighting. Huge sculptures of ice break across the building tops, and bright flares of orange-red lights continuously flicker on and off. Shinsou Hitoshi would probably be amazed by it if he weren't certain he was only moments from passing out.
Bile rises in his throat and he chokes on it, chokes on his breath, chokes on the smoke and debris falling like black snow across their vision.
"Stay here!" Eraserhead growls, slowing from their death sprint for what was hopefully the final time. The man barely looked winded, dark hair spilling in the hot wind.
Shinsou doesn't need to be told twice, nearly falling over as he vomits in the alleyway.
Eraserhead hesitates, scarf already loose in hand, before reaching into a back pocket and drawing something out. A moment later the man's back in his space, something small and plastic—water?—being shoved in his fingers.
"Stay here and drink, you're more than likely dehydrated. Turn your location on your phone on and stay out of the way. Even if you see a villain, don't engage. You use your quirk and there will be fines kid, got it?"
He chokes and spits up the last of the acidic mess before managing a nod.
And that's all Eraser seems to need before he's racing away, twice as fast, the sound of his pounding feet echoing in between buildings.
Stay here.
Like hell.
He pours the cool, sweet water into his mouth, rinses, and spits before gulping down more air. His legs feel like bricks, his heart feels like it could tear itself right out of his chest, but the alternating hot and cold rushes of wind are telling.
And this may be his only chance.
.
.
.
Aizawa knows these breezes, is intimately familiar with them from training.
Damn it.
Todoroki knows better than to use his quirk, so for him to be blasting ice that high when he's supposed to be with his father—the number two hero… Something's wrong. Something's terribly wrong.
How did she know?
He doesn't have time for those kinds of questions.
He doesn't have time for worries.
He left an untrained kid in an alley. He can't take him further, and he hasn't found anything safer. Damn it, why had she brought him? But he'd have no idea where-
He turns a corner and feels the pit in his stomach drop.
Iida shoved behind Todoroki with Midoriya pale and kneeling on the ground. Unknown hero (Native?) bleeding against the wall. And their opponent? The rush of flame disappears and he sees the Hero Killer.
Shit.
Iida jerks forward, taking a knife that should have split the boy's throat-
His quirk activates in an instant, binding cloth in hand. The boys don't notice, Todoroki already freezing Iida's leg and Midoriya jerking forward. They explode into action, the light of Midoriya's quirk flaring dramatically—damn it!—and he can hear the crunch of broken bones and he doesn't have time.
He has the villain in his binding cloth just as their attacks hit.
And the surprise knocks loose an extra knife, one that Iida was already preparing to dodge, and he pulls.
Unlike the Nomu, this villain snaps in his direction, and he has him wrapped and shoved against the alley floor in seconds. Pressing a heavy boot on Stain's back, he ignores the shouts of 'Sensei!' to search for hidden weapons. One doesn't get names like Hero Killer without being dangerous.
Two. He finds two dangerous knives, one in the wrappings of his arm, and another stashed in a hidden leg pocket.
"S-Sensei!"
Foot still secured on the quiet, unconscious villain, he turns his bloodshot gaze to his students.
Bloody, haggard, and barely able to stand. His lips thin as he takes in their shredded costumes and utter lack of supervision. Behind him, he catches a glimpse of purple.
Problem children. All of them.
"One of you is going to explain to me exactly what the hell is going on."
.
.
.
Heroes find me.
Think I bad.
Candy-cane Dad very fast, flame blast nearly hit. I faster though. Jump away and wait. Try hit again and dodge again. Candy-cane Dad angry fast. Glare, step forward. Little-old-hero stop him. Call him Todoroki. Heh. Old-hero teach All Might, Old-hero teach Fire-Dad too?
"Isn't that the Nomu from UA?"
I wait, hand in pocket, already finding cards.
When Fire-Dad reluctant admit, I get close.
Old-hero nice, but Fire-Dad care. Need find babies. Pass cards.
Fire-Dad narrow eyes, lips thin.
"These are students."
Nod, reach in pocket. Need word.
Find.
Fire-Dad glares. Shoves cards back and turns.
"I don't need UA's pet to help me find my son."
Son fight Stain. Not have card, growl.
Fire-Dad turn back, ready fight.
I not scared. I made fight All Might.
Fire-Dad number two.
"Todoroki," Old-Hero scowls. "Save your pissing contest for later. The Nomu's got a point, it's too dangerous for your boy to be running around alone, and I'd certainly like to know why my intern who I know I left at that train is in that pile."
Push find card at Fire-Dad again.
Fire-Dad glares.
Still not care.
.
.
.
Maybe bad luck.
Not find babies.
Babies find us.
Babies and Hero.
Hero pissed.
Shoves Hero Killer at Fire-Dad, turns to me, make not good face. I wilt.
"You're under arrest."
I blink, surprised. Hero pulls out handcuffs and babies all look surprised too—hurt. Part want to say no, go pat babies and nuzzle them better. Smell blood, see hurts. Hero step in front though, and even Fire-Dad and Old-Hero look lost. Old-Hero move speak.
"Eraser? Really? What the hell?"
"Sensei! Sensei, you- Why are you arresting her?"
"S-Sensei, w-wait! It's all- It's all my fault!"
I snort. Reach over, give hands. Baby cuffs so little, need be careful. Wish at least get big cuffs. Maybe not have them? Oh well. I not sorry. Babies danger, now safe.
"You're under arrest for illegal use of quirks, vigilantism, and destruction of property. You have the right to remain silent…"
.
.
.
Tsukauchi cradles his coffee and sighs.
"You arrested her for vigilante charges? Seriously? I thought you liked her? And isn't that the whole point of your principal's plan? Create some sort of school guard dog? What the hell…"
Aizawa, arms folded, scowls beside him.
"It doesn't negate the need for consequences," the hero says sharply, eyes narrowed as they watch the video footage his people had managed to dig up. The scene of it decapitating another Nomu still makes his stomach churn. "She had enough rationality to plan this all ahead of time."
Tsukauchi frowns at that.
"She planned Hosu?" he repeats, brows furrowing.
"She'd been obsessively asking about Iida following the Sports Festival, and then obsessively asking about Midoriya after the internships began. She also began religiously listening to the news about Hosu around the same time. Principal Nezu reached out to the other staff, and apparently, she got her hands on a map from Power Loader. She knew about the attack ahead of time. She knew at least Midoriya and Iida were going to be involved."
The detective can feel the headache already blossoming behind his eyes.
"Are you suggesting foresight?"
"Maybe," the hero hedges. The detective watches as the dark-haired man stares at the video, lips thin as the confrontation between Endeavour and the Nomu plays on the screen. "But she didn't know I'd arrest her."
Tsukauchi's head snaps towards the other hero in an instant.
"Is that why you arrested her?"
"Partially," the man agrees, not even looking phased. "I also needed to know if her rule-breaking was based on worry for the children or a rebellious streak. The device designed to restrain her was useless, and based on her fight with that Nomu, I have questions about her current ability to feel anything."
"Feel?"
"Pain. Not emotions."
.
.
.
Hero ass.
Visits after three days. Unlocks door, says 'Your charges have been dropped.'
I hear great.
Hear talk with hat-man. Stupid hero give test, all need is ask.
Mad at Hero, pretend not there.
Mean trick.
He need learn manners.
.
.
.
Mouse-king speak when I return.
Mouse-king get manners, Mouse-king apologize not understand. Ask want new talk machine? Also, need new collar.
New collar same as old. Mouse-king say I need wear it, promise tell Aizawa not shock.
Hmph.
Mouse-king laugh.
New talk machine strange. Big keyboard lots keys. Problem not read Japanese. Not know how tell English. Mouse-king disappointed, say teach Hiragana. I shrug, why not?
.
.
.
Babies crowd when return.
Green-bean cry, Frog-girl cry. Blue-hair-glasses give big hug, wish feel. Nuzzle kindly, careful bandaged arm. Nuzzle Candy-cane too. Fire-Dad a lot, need more hugs. Hugs make all better!
Babies ask many questions.
Not enough time, make go class. Try talk lunch, make go eat too.
Food good, make strong!
Still not talk Hero though, still no sorry.
.
.
.
Aizawa frowns at his house guest currently waiting silently in the corner pointedly not looking. He supposes, without any way to communicate, completely cutting off communication was one way to address a problem. Not a particularly mature way to deal with things, but he worked with teenagers.
He could handle some silence.
However, after three days of it, even he has his limits.
"Should I expect this to continue forever, or is there some other reason you're no longer attempting to communicate?"
She turns to him with sharp, beady eyes.
Then, snorting, turns back away.
Narrowed eyes, he breathes sharply through his nose.
"Should I assume this is about arresting you then?"
He watches as the shoulders tighten and loosen. So yes.
"You broke the law."
The creature growls as it turns, and the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Dragging out its communication cards, he watches dispassionately as it viciously shuffles through them before finally settling on one of the newer ones Nezu had given her.
Not Listen.
He locks away his emotions, the urge to become defensive, the annoyance at her clear hypocritical claims, and especially the hurt. Not listen. Not listen to what?
"You tried to tell me?" he asks instead, reaching for the only logical explanation he could draw. He reads the surprise on her face, and frowns at her slow nod. Going back through the memories, the only thing he can definitively pinpoint, before all of the weird television and obsessive phone calls, is the day she'd annoyingly passed him Iida's name over and over and over.
Massaging his temples, he wonders how anyone is supposed to understand anything with just that.
"When you gave me Iida's card?" he sighs.
He doesn't know what's more annoying, her nod, or the fact that she seems surprised he's trying.
Passing her back the card, he approaches and squats. Even sitting completely on the floor, he could probably stand and only be a head or two higher, but he needs her trust. So he waits, lets her familiarize herself with his presence and waits for a sign, any sign that she wants him gone.
For such a massive, dangerous creature, he finds himself amazed again at her amiability.
"I see. It seems I owe you an apology."
Large, far-seeing eyes watch him intensely. Then, reaching into cards, pulls two more.
Next time. Talk.
He could laugh at the irony. Instead, he allows himself a small smile and passes the cards back.
"Why don't we talk now."
.
.
.
Hero asks many questions.
Want know how I know. Shrug, spread cards, and shrug again.
Eyes light, blink many times.
"You can't say?"
I point at word cards again.
He scratches head.
"You need more words?"
Need brain cover too, but nod.
Hero come back next day with giant word book. Dictionary. Wish help, but no good. Not read.
Next day, bring giant brush, ink, and big paper. Better, but fine motor no good. Muscles good for punch, not buttons or draw or paint. Hero sigh, stare at giant paper mess and hold head. Pat back.
No words hard.