Izuku groaned as he slowly returned to consciousness. Everything hurt; his muscles felt like he had become a single giant bruise, stiff and painful. His limbs felt like lead weights. And to top it all off, the golden eyes he'd been dreaming of were gone, replaced by a shark-toothed grin and a shock of red hair.

"Why is it," Ejiro asked, looking far too amused, "That every time I let you out of my sight, you end up unconscious in an alley?"

Izuku squinted, slowly sitting up despite the protests of his muscles. Slowly, the memory of what had happened returned to him. The desperate jump down the elevator shaft. A collapsing roof. MIna huddled next to him. She was gone now, but he honestly wasn't surprised-the heroes had probably scared her off. And that was good, not least because Izuku was starting to worry about how his self-control always seemed to break down around Mina

As he rubbed at his eyes, almost by instinct, he told Ejiro, "Hey, at least I'm not dying of blood loss this time."

Ejiro snorted, though he didn't look particularly amused by the memory. He reached out with a hand, and Izuku took it gratefully. With a grunt, Ejiro hauled him to his feet.

"So," Ejiro said, "getting the glory for Toga's capture wasn't enough for you? You had to go and hold up an entire cavern too?"

Izuku winced. "God, don't tell me that's plastered all over the news now, too," he groaned.

Ejiro shook his head. "Nah," he replied. "As far as I can tell, the way you showed up meant not a lot of people noticed it was you. Maybe they'll figure it out-but for now, the media are more interested in what caused the collapse than who stopped it."

Izuku sighed in relief-then paused, turning to squint at Ejiro. "Hang on, how did you know it was me, then?" he asked suspiciously.

Rolling his eyes, Ejiro replied, "Oh, please. I saw somebody do something insane, stupid, and unbelievably heroic, and I knew instantly you were involved. I'd tell you just how risky it was, but I get the feeling you know that already."

Izuku nodded, a little guilty. He was well aware of his tendency to neglect his own safety and take wild, stupid risks-the scars that criscrossed his twisted, damaged arms were proof enough of that. But it wasn't like Ejiro was any better; if anything, because he could avoid damage much more easily, his self-preservation instincts were far worse, and he knew it.

Ejiro met his eyes, and Izuku could tell his thoughts were more serious than he was letting on. The redhead hesitated for a second, but after Izuku's gesture to get on with it, he took a deep breath and said, "Look, man, you're really starting to worry me. Between hiding stuff, looking distracted constantly, pulling stunts like this, and the injuries you showed up with the other day…is everything okay?"

Ejiro's tone packed extra worry into every word; his concern was plain in every line of his face. Izuku cringed internally; he trusted Ejiro, he really did. For years and years, the two of them had moved in perfect sync, hiding nothing, trusting each other utterly. But now…

Whenever Izuku thought about Mina, some part of him feared just how protective he had become of her, just how much her presence could brighten his life. It was like she filled a space in his chest he hadn't even known was empty-and now that she was there, he didn't think she would ever leave.

Somewhere in his brain, Izuku knew what he was feeling, could put a name to the feelings that left him breathless just from Mina standing beside him. But he didn't dare admit it-not to Ejiro, not even to himself. To do so would be admitting things he wasn't ready to admit. Not yet. Not now.

So instead, Izuku met Ejiro's eye, smiled weakly, and said, "Everything's fine, Ejiro. I promise."

Ejiro raised an eyebrow, but didn't seem willing to challenge him on it-yet. He replied, "Alright then. You still owe me that explanation for where you went during the Toga mess, though."

Izuku nodded, tamping down his internal panic. He still wasn't sure how he was going to explain, well, any of that. But that was a problem for later.

In a half-joking voice, Ejiro added, "Listen, if all this is because you've got, like, a secret girlfriend or something, then I understand-"

Izuku barely fought back a splutter of disbelief. Somehow, when Ejiro said that, his mind, already filled with thoughts of Mina, had conjured up the image of, well…wait, was he actually considering that?

Shit.

Wrestling the part of himself now screaming in panic into a locked closet, Izuku managed to chuckle softly, shaking his head.

"Of course that's where your brain goes," he teased, earning a corresponding smirk from his best friend.

"Absolutely," Ejiro agreed. "But I'm just saying, I get it. But don't keep them a secret too long, alright? I still have to give them the shovel talk-"

Izuku's eyes went wide, and he scrambled to interrupt, to tell Ejiro that he didn't have some secret relationship…even though he was fully aware that things with Mina were maybe heading in that direction…fuck.

Izuku just shut his mouth and did his best to not fall to his knees in gratitude when they were interrupted a moment later by a familiar voice.

"So this is where you two morons ran off to," the voice drawled, undeniably female, but muffled by a heavy, complicated-looking mask.

Ejiro and Izuku turned to look at the entrance to the alleyway, where the nondescript figure of a certain underground hero was standing. Izuku nodded respectfully, while Ejiro looked mildly insulted.

"Hello, Bloodhound," Izuku said, wondering what she wanted. "What brings you here?"

Bloodhound stalked into the alley, radiating menace from her slim, nondescript frame, like usual. It was much like the feeling Izuku got around her protégé, Eraserhead-only stronger.

"I've been looking all over the damn city for you, Atlas," she said, clearly irritated. "We need to talk."

Izuku felt his blood go cold. Did she know about Mina, somehow? Had she learned about what he'd done with the scrap of cloth she'd used her quirk on?

Ejiro huffed loudly, complaining, "Oh, come on! What am I, chopped liver?"

"No," Bloodhound replied dryly, "Chopped liver is at least quiet."

Izuku couldn't help the amused chuckle that escaped his lips. He leaned back against the wall of the alley a little, still a bit nervous about why the reclusive underground hero had decided to seek him out.

"Well?" he said. "You've found me. What's going on?"

Bloodhound came to a stop next to them. She barely came up to Izuku's chest, but Izuku was pretty confident that she could have broken him in two if she felt like it. He could feel the strength of her glare, even through the opaque green goggles she wore.

"Something is happening in the Depths," she said. "Something bad."

Ejiro looked unimpressed. "You mentioned that to me not that long ago," he pointed out. "You said that it was probably nothing to worry about."

Bloodhound glared at him, and Ejiro rapidly fell silent. "I was wrong," Bloodhound said flatly. "The Claws were destroyed less than a day ago."

Izuku felt his heart skip a beat, recalling what Mina-and Mezou-had said about the Claws. They were one of the most powerful groups in the Depths; they should have been basically unassailable. While Ejiro blinked in confusion, he hissed, "Shit. How did that happen?"

Bloodhound tilted her head oddly as she met his gaze. Before she could respond, though, Ejiro beat her to the punch. "Hang on," he interrupted, "I don't have any clue what the Claws are. How do you know what she's talking about, Izuku?"

Bloodhound made a strange noise, perhaps because she agreed with Ejiro. She added, "I'm wondering the same thing myself. They aren't exactly well-known up here."

Once again kicking himself mentally, Izuku hastily answered, "I do my homework. And I don't know a ton about them, just that they're one of the stronger gangs in the Depths."

Bloodhound didn't look satisfied, but she didn't push the issue. Instead, she crossed her arms and snorted, "Well, you won't have the chance to learn much more than that, I'm afraid. Somebody attacked their headquarters and slaughtered every single leader in the whole organization."

Izuku's eyes widened. That sounded…devastating. Worse, it would leave a power vacuum, and those always caused chaos. More people would die, that was certain.

And Mina, Tsu, and Mezou were all in the line of fire.

Izuku forced himself to not get distracted, saying, "Jesus. Do you know who did it?"

Bloodhound was silent for a moment, as if hesitating; that more than anything made Izuku worried. How bad was it down there, that one of the most hardened veteran heroes he'd ever met seemed unable to describe what was going on?

Finally, she said, "I've gotten a few different reports from my contacts. A few are blaming the other gangs, but that doesn't seem likely-it's too different from the usual playbook for gang warfare. A decapitation strike like this means the attackers wanted the Claws out of the way, but wanted to leave their turf and the forces with fewer vested interests in the organization intact. Or maybe they just wanted to minimize casualties. Either way, that points to a force that isn't like the ones that exist down there at the moment-all of those would have acted differently. And my contacts agreed-most of them said that some group called the Outcast Army was claiming responsibility-and moving into the former territory of the Claws."

Izuku froze. Shit. It seemed that Mezou had been right-the Outcasts were on the move. And hadn't the villain who had caused the collapse had shouted something about the Outcasts too? Whatever was going on, this was getting more serious.

Wondering whether he should hide what he knew of the Outcasts or not, Izuku asked, "Do you know anything about this group?"

Bloodhound shook her head. "Nothing much, sadly," she admitted. "All my contacts were just as unfamiliar as we are with them. Apparently they've come out of nowhere-and utterly flattened the most powerful gang in the Depths in a single night."

Suddenly, Ejiro interrupted. Suspiciously, he asked, "Hang on, who are these "contacts" of yours, anyway? How do you know they're trustworthy?"

Bloodhound met Ejiro's gaze flatly. "Members of the Claws, mostly-well, former members, now," she replied.

Ejiro looked stunned. "Gang members?" he repeated incredulously. "How can you trust people like them-"

Just as Izuku was about to speak up, Bloodhound, looking thoroughly unimpressed, shot back, "Oh, shut up, Red Riot. Yes, I use gang members as informants, because it works. If I didn't, we'd have no clue about the dangerous force potentially rising in the one part of the city we can't go into."

Ejiro promptly backed down, for all he still seemed put out by the idea of something as unmanly as relying on criminals to tell you about other criminals. Izuku, for his part, didn't exactly have the moral high ground there, to say the least. Instead, he asked, "Do you think they are? Dangerous, I mean."

Bloodhound turned to face him, and even though he couldn't see her face, Izuku could tell she was unnerved. He didn't even know how he could tell-the woman was as enigmatic as ever. And yet…

"We can't be sure yet, obviously," she replied. "But I've been a hero for nearly thirty years, and I can't remember another time a gang was just… destroyed like this. They fade away sometimes, or break apart, or collapse, but a decapitation strike…that's new. And I get the feeling that this Outcast Army isn't done yet. They'll almost certainly be going after the other gangs soon, I feel. And once they're done with that…they might turn their eyes to the surface."

"If they do, we'll stop them," Izuku promised. As for him personally, though…he might have to do it sooner. For the sake of the woman he was maybe falling in love with, who could certainly be in danger if the Outcasts took over.

Ejiro made a sound of agreement from behind Izuku, but Bloodhound seemed unmoved. She studied Izuku for a moment, as if evaluating him on some metric he didn't know. If she was, she didn't make her judgement any clearer. But eventually, she let her head droop, turning to walk away from the alley.

As she reached the entrance, she turned back to face Izuku one last time.

"I hope you're ready, Atlas," she said, quieter and more earnest than he'd ever heard from her before. "Because if the Outcasts come for us…it'll be the fight of our lives."

Mina knocked on the door of the small, sturdy house in the Depths, then stepped back, trying to keep her hands from shaking.

It had been hours since she'd fled from Izuku, and she was still reeling from her own realizations. She wasn't sure whether to laugh at her own stupidity, cry out of frustration, or just find a nice quiet place to scream at the top of her lungs.

She had a crush on the Number One Hero. Only…was it a crush, or something worse? Mina had no way of knowing, no context, nothing to compare it to. That was why she had come here, to the only people she knew who did.

The door opened, but instead of the hulking man Mina had been half-expecting, it was Tsu herself. Mina felt something in her chest twinge at the sight of the shorter woman, at the way her eyes still widened in surprise, as if she hadn't expected to see Mina again.

"Hello, Mina," Tsu said softly, as warm as her voice always was. It took Mina back to a simpler, happier time, when Tsu's presence had meant warmth and safety almost as much as Fumikage's had.

Forcing herself together, Mina swallowed heavily and shakily replied, "H-hi, Tsu. Can I come in?"

Tsu raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing the state Mina was in. "Is everything okay?" she asked.

Mina let out a noise that might have been half a laugh, if it wasn't colored by all the jumbled-up feelings raging in her chest.

"Peachy," she answered sarcastically. "I…need advice, Tsu. Really bad."

Now looking even more concerned-Mina had never asked for advice before, not like this-Tsu nodded, standing aside to let Mina come in the door.

"Follow me," the frog-woman said simply, closing the door behind them as soon as Mina had slipped inside. She led Mina into the living room, which was still quiet and empty.

Even as Mina sat down in a surprisingly comfy armchair, she couldn't help but scan the house quizzically. "Where's Mezou?" she asked.

"Out," Tsu replied as she took a seat across from Mina. "Things have been…tense, lately. Have you heard of what happened to the Claws?"

Mina nodded slightly. "Only bits and pieces I overheard on my way here," she admitted. "I haven't…gone out much in the past few days."

Tsu seemed to hear more words than Mina had said, her voice shaky and hurting, and nodded softly. She said, "I understand. But yeah, Mezou is out trying to keep things calm-and figure out who did it. If things get bad, though…you know you're welcome here."

Mina smiled thankfully, accepting the offer without words-she and Tsu may not have had as close a bond as with the others, but they were still well beyond the point where they could read each other like open books.

After a long sigh escaped her mouth-revealing more about just how worried Tsu was for her husband than she was letting on-the green-haired woman leaned back in her chair and said, "But enough of that. What advice do you need, Mina?"

Mina took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to put her chaotic feelings and fears into words. That moment stretched on for what felt like an eternity, as every explanation she gave fell short of describing just what a gigantic fucking mess she'd gotten herself into.

At last, she blushed softly, looked down at the floor, and muttered, "Uh…love advice."

There was dead silence in the room, and Mina wanted to curl in on herself. She was so fucking embarrassed. She'd never had any interest in love, not for years, and now that she was struggling with her first real infatuation, she was acting like this?

Mina's thoughts were interrupted by a loud, heartfelt laugh from Tsu. Mina looked up in surprise to find the other woman visibly struggling to hold in a chuckle.

"Well," Tsu said eventually. "I have to admit, I wasn't expecting you to say that. I can't say I'm too surprised, though."

Mina's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you mean?" she demanded.

Tsu folded her hands in her lap, the very picture of calm composure-an image broken only by the mischievous gleam in her eye. Slowly, she said, "Don't worry about it. So, what kind of love advice is this?"

Deciding not to press Tsu on whatever she found so funny about this, Mina sighed, again hesitating as she tried to find the words. She was more scared than she was willing to admit-it felt as though right now, she could still walk away from this, could still lie to herself and to others about what was happening to her. The moment she let it out, she could never take it back-it would be real.

Gathering her strength, Mina took the only path she saw. "I…don't know what the hell is going on with me," she confessed. "Well, fuck, actually, that's a lie. I do know what's going on…but I'm scared of it. I…I think I've fallen for someone, and I don't know what to do."

Tsu nodded as if to herself. "You love him, don't you?" she said, earning a shocked look from Mina. "The hero you brought here, Izuku. I can see it in your face."

Mina's eyes went wide. How did she know? Fighting off panic, she realized it didn't matter-Tsu knew, and that was that. So instead of running away, Mina gave a hesitant nod. "I'm not actually in love with him yet, I think," she admitted. "It's more like…like I can feel myself falling for him. And that…that's worse. Because I can't stop it. I don't want to stop it. All I can do is feel myself fall deeper every time I see his stupid fucking adorable face. I'm…pretty sure I'm going to do something stupid if I don't get control of myself."

Mina was cursing through gritted teeth by the time she was done. Tsu just watched and listened, a sympathetic look on her face.

Mina waited, expecting Tsu to say or do… something. But no; she just kept sitting there, with that gentle kindness in her eyes, giving Mina space.

Noticing that Mina was waiting expectantly, Tsu gave a gentle wave with one hand. "Go on, I'm listening," she told Mina.

Mina's breath hitched as frustration boiled up in her chest. What else did Tsu want? She snarled, "Go on?" Go on with what? That's all I know, Tsu! I'm…I'm not good at this like you are. The only thing I'm sure of right now is that I can't stop thinking about him, and when I saw him today, I suddenly thought, "I want to kiss him!"

Tsu blinked, seemingly a little jarred by the depths of Mina's frustration. She shouldn't have been-this had been building for a long time, only erupting as the very core of her being was being shaken.

"I'm not good at this, Mina," Tsu replied. "It's just that nobody's bad at it. We all love in our own ways, and everyone is different-"

Mina barked out a sharp, hollow laugh. Crossing her arms, she dryly said, "Did I mention that I realized this after watching him nearly tear every muscle in his body doing something insane, and that after he passed out, I immediately ran away and left him in an alleyway because I literally have no experience with what I'm feeling?"

Tsu paused, meeting Mina's eyes and visibly reconsidered. "Okay," she allowed. "Maybe you are bad at this. But still-"

Still heated, Mina interrupted, "Look, Tsu. I just…I don't want this. I don't want to be in love with-"

Before Mina could finish, Tsu immediately shot back, "Mina, what are you talking about? Are you really trying to run away from this, too?"

Mina…hesitated. She was, wasn't she? But still…how was she supposed to do anything but run? This wasn't a crush that would end well. She had fallen for the Number One Hero!

Reluctantly, Mina answered, "I…don't know what else to do, Tsu."

Tsu leaned forwards. She asked, "But why, Mina? Why are you so determined to shut this down before it ever starts?"

Mina hesitated again. She felt dirty next to Tsu, who bore the weight of their past with such grace and natural kindness. What was Mina compared to that? A bitter, angry, lonely thief who had lost the ability to trust people. She knew it, and was fine with it; she was a survivor, first and foremost. But that meant she wasn't the kind of woman who ended up in a relationship with the likes of Atlas-no matter how much she wished differently.

Tsu, naturally, saw everything. It was like she could read Mina's mind, and see every last insecurity, every drop of fear. She said, "You think you're broken, don't you? You think that because you're so angry, because of the scars from the things you've been through, it means there's something wrong with you."

Mina tensed. Brushing her hair back from her face, refusing to look at Tsu, she muttered, "I don't know what I think. Not that it matters, anyway. He's not interested in me, and he never will be."

Tsu raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?" she asked.

Mina sighed, still refusing to meet the other woman's eye. "I'm just being honest," she muttered. "A man like him…it wouldn't work. There's too many problems, too much of a divide. I don't want to live in his world, and he'd never survive mine. Izuku isn't stupid-he's never once looked at me that way. Why would he-he could have any abovegrounder woman he wants? At least they look human."

Even though she was looking away, Mina could feel the scorch of Tsu's exasperated stare on the back of her neck. "Mina," Tsu said matter-of-factly, "I have never heard anything stupider in my life."

Mina's head whipped around, eyes narrowed. She found Tsu sitting calmly, arms crossed, her expression impatient and more than a little frustrated.

"Excuse me?" Mina asked.

Tsu rolled her eyes. "You're good at a lot of things, Mina, but you're terrible at reading people," she told the taller woman. "But let's start from the top. First off, I think you're being unfair to Izuku."

"What are you talking about?" Mina demanded. "You've only met him once."

"And even I don't talk about him like he's just the position he holds," Tsu shot back.

Mina flinched, just a little. "What are you-" she began, only for Tsu to shut her down with a finger to her lips.

"A man like him." "His world." "Abovegrounder," Tsu repeated. "You act like he has no agency, like he's nothing more than the costume he wears. And I know for a fact that you wouldn't love him if that's what he was. Not only that, you only do it when you're trying to convince yourself you shouldn't tell him you love him. Mina, you're acting like he hasn't been around you for well over a month now. Trust me, that amount of time would be enough to make anyone start questioning themselves."

Mina pushed Tsu's finger from her lips, and tried to protest, "But still-"

Once again, Tsu cut her off, saying, "That's enough out of you, Mina. If I wanted to hear you trying to drown yourself in self-pity and insecurity, I'd ask."

Mina was too stunned to speak as Tsu's voice hardened. She could only listen as the other woman continued, "Why you think that you have to be like them to be worthy of love, I'll never understand. You are you, Mina. Yes, you are bitter and angry and paranoid. Yes, your skin is pink and your eyes are gold and you look nothing like anybody else in the world. Maybe you're even broken. But that does not make you less worthy. You're one of the greatest people I've ever met. You're unique. I know it, Mezou knows it, and Fumi knew it. And I think Izuku knows it, too."

Mina blinked, confused. Seeing the expression on her face, Tsu smiled. She told Mina, "When you brought him down here that first time, I did suspect something was going on between you, you know. I didn't say anything because I knew you'd run for the hills, but the simple fact that you trusted him enough to bring him here was telling, as was the way you kept looking at him. But you know what?"

Mina shook off the part of her that was reeling from Tsu's admission. How had she known before Mina had? Was she really that obvious? How long had she been lying to herself?

"What?" she asked, her voice soft, almost timid.

Tsu grinned. "Izuku looked at you the same way. Like you were the only thing that mattered. So don't you tell me that he'll never love you, Mina. I think he already does."

Mina felt something flutter in her chest, basking in the warmth of Tsu's words. She quashed it, refusing to let it spread. No weakness. No looking back.

"It's impossible," she insisted, voice aching as much as her heart. "If he doesn't already know some pretty hero girl or starlet would be better for him, he'd realize it soon enough. He doesn't want a scarred, ugly thief who flinches when someone touches her. He doesn't want me."

When Tsu met her eyes, the strength in her gaze left Mina gasping for air. It was equal in every way to the ironclad stare of her husband, every bit as unflinching, just as overpowering-but where Mezou could have routed an army with his eyes, Tsu could have convinced one to lay down their arms. Mina wasn't sure which one was scarier.

"And if he disagrees?" Tsu asked her. "If he says that he wants you, with all your flaws, all your broken parts, all of it? If he decides that you're what he needs, as much as you need him? What would you say to that?"

Mina opened her mouth to respond, but couldn't let the words out. Because she knew the answer; she'd say " yes," and let every wall she'd built around her heart fall. Maybe not all at once, maybe not cleanly or perfectly or safely-but they would crumble. And she would be happy, and loved, and vulnerable again.

And that terrified her.

Mina was almost grateful when something else bubbled up inside her- hate. She hated this, hated how scared she was, hated the world that had made her into something Izuku couldn't possibly love…right? She rose to her feet, slamming a fist against the wall behind her as a cry tore itself from her lips.

Tsu watched, still unflappable, still calm and kind and all the things she'd always been, all the things Mina wasn't. Mina whirled around again, snapping, "Why? Why did this happen to me?"

Tsu didn't say a word.

Breathing hard, Mina continued, "I never asked for any of this. Why has my life suddenly been turned upside down? A month ago, heroes were the enemy, I was alone in the world, and Fumi was…was…"

Dead. Still dead, dead for years; she just hadn't known it yet. Only…she had. Mina could only lie to herself so much, after all. On some level, she had known. But it was losing the comfort of the lie that hurt most of all.

Gently, Tsu asked, "Do you wish you could go back?"

Mina laughed, hollow and weak. She answered, "You think I know the answer to that? I know damn well my life sucked. I was barely staying alive most of the time. But…but it was simpler. I didn't have to worry about love, or my past…or anything. And that's gone now. And if I tell Izuku I love him…if he loves me back…then that will only get worse."

Tsu tilted her head quizzically. "What do you mean, kero?" she asked.

Mina shook her head. Still standing, she said, "As much as I can forget it sometimes, Izuku is still Atlas. He's still a symbol-a symbol to people who think I'm not even human. If…if things go well between us, then I'll end up in his spotlight-I know that, as much as I wish it wasn't true. I don't want the whole damn country watching me. I don't. So I either stay in the shadows, become his dirty secret-and I don't want that-or I let the abovegrounders see me, and destroy my life forever."

Mina was trembling by the end of it, imagining all those people looking at her, seeing her for what she really was.

And still, Tsu seemed completely calm. Tapping her chin thoughtfully, she pointed out, "You could be a powerful symbol, though. A mutant woman and the Number One Hero, together? Maybe you could change things for the better."

Mina shook her head, snorting. "I'm no symbol," she growled. "I don't want to be. I'm a thief, a criminal, a monster. I can't change anything."

Tsu frowned, but didn't argue. After a moment, she asked, "Is that what's holding you back? Being scared of what will happen if you become known as Atlas's girlfriend?"

Once again, a hollow laugh escaped Mina's throat. She retorted, "Being scared isn't holding me back. And that's what scares me. Everything I said? I don't even care about it. I know all of it is true, and I still want Izuku. If he was there, I know I wouldn't be bothered by any of it-no matter how much damage I'm doing, to him and to us all."

At last, Tsu's expression changed. She smiled, wide and bright, and told Mina, "You know, for someone who claims she isn't in love yet, you sure act like you are."

Mina felt something kick in her chest, and she snapped, "How are you so calm about this?"

"Because you need someone to be," Tsu replied quietly. "Because this isn't the end of the world. Because I won't let you run away from someone you love again."

Something snapped inside Mina. She wanted to scream, wanted to rage, wanted to explode. But most of all, she wanted to run. She wanted nothing more than to escape this painful conversation, bury her head in the sand and let it pass her by. But Tsu had told her she wouldn't let her do that, and somehow, that made Mina stay. The fire passed through her like a whisper in the back of her mind, and then it was gone, leaving her feeling…hollow. The fear, the frustration, all of it, reduced to a low simmer in the background. For the first time in a long while, she felt…centered.

Mina leaned against the windowsill, staring out at the dim glow of the Depths. Tsu sat quietly in her armchair, deep green eyes shimmering. At last, Mina sighed, turning to face the woman her friend had become. She needed to know something.

"I don't understand you," she admitted. "I guess I never did, really. How you just…accept things the way they are, without ever trying to change them. Don't you…don't you feel that rage? That feeling in your gut that we don't deserve this, that we've been mistreated and abused all our lives? The need to fight back?"

Tsu smiled softly in response. Without rising from her armchair, she replied, "The rage you feel, you mean? The rage that Mezou feels just as strongly, that rotted Fumikage from the inside?"

Mina flinched, just a little, at the mention of Fumikage. "Fumi wasn't… rotten," she protested, her voice growing heated. "What…what are you talking about, anyway? He was kind, and happy, and…and he cared."

Tsu's smile didn't change, and Mina fought back anger at the pity she imagined behind her eyes. "Oh, Mina," she murmured. "He always tried to hide it from you. Or maybe he just felt it less when you were around. But that rage ate at him for years. It almost ate Mezou, too. It would have, if I hadn't helped him."

Mina tried not to think about losing Mezou the way they'd lost Fumi. That would have truly broken her, and worse, it would have broken Tsu, the rock Mina had always relied on. The one person she'd ever trusted enough to go to for advice. Like she was doing now.

Tsu's eyes seemed to know Mina's thoughts. She continued, "I suppose I never did feel that way. Maybe it's because I'm not a fighter like you or Mezou…or maybe it's the other way around. Whatever the case, I guess…I guess I never really had time to be angry. I was so focused on my family, and on you guys-on keeping you safe."

Tsu had been like that from the first day Mina knew her. Kind and caring, almost to a fault. Never much of a fighter, yes, but the strongest of all of them in her own way. She had been the core of their little family-had helped all of them, convincing her own parents to help raise three additional half-feral children as best they could. Mina owed more to Tsu than to almost anyone else alive.

And yet…she couldn't find the words to tell her that. Mina just stood there, leaned against the wall, paralyzed.

At last, she said, "I…I don't understand that. I don't think I'll ever understand that. I've been raging against that world for so long, I don't think I know how to stop. I know you're not a coward, Tsu, and you aren't weak. But the thought of just…just giving up like that? I don't get it."

Tsu tilted her head at the waver in Mina's voice. Pointedly, she asked, "Who said anything about giving up?"

Mina didn't respond, even as Tsu pulled herself from her chair and crossed the room to take her hands.

"Sometimes, I wonder if I should feel cheated of the chance to be angry," Tsu confessed. "I wonder if I should really be so… complacent with the hand I was dealt. But then I realize-I'm not complacent. I don't give up. In my own way, I fight back. I am kind, Mina. Not because I am weak, but because it's the greatest kind of strength."

Mina shook her head gently. "Kindness doesn't mean anything to them," she growled. "Kindness won't change the world."

Tsu still smiled, but her eyes were sad. "You're wrong," she told Mina. "Kindness is the only thing that will ever change the world."

Mina went to argue…then stopped. Something about the conviction in Tsu's eyes as she spoke…it reminded her of Izuku.

Shaking her head and scowling, she said, "Whatever. All I know is that I'll never be as good as you are. I'll never be good enough to be what Izuku needs me to be."

Tsu shook her head gently. "There's different types of goodness, Mina," she reminded her old friend. "And you're the best of us. You always were, scars and all. And stop thinking of this as being what Izuku needs. Be yourself first; that's who he fell in love with, after all. I think that that's who he needs-someone like you."

Mina let out a deep breath, feeling her anger drain out with it-and her fear. Softly, she asked, "What do I do?"

Tsu replied, "Tell him. Don't hide it. You can't hide this-and you owe it to yourself and him to let it live or die in the open. Maybe this is all moot; maybe he really doesn't feel the same. But you still need to know, first. And if he does feel the same…work it out. Find a way to be with him. Because he and you…I think you'll be happy together, I really do."

Mina swallowed heavily. "I…okay," she sighed, feeling drained and exhausted. "I'll do it."

Tsu beamed, nodding with approval as she let Mina's hands slip from her own.

Mina met her friend's gaze, and knew there would be no lying to her. If she didn't tell Izuku, Tsu would know. In order to control the brief spike of terror that ran through her at that thought, Mina admitted, "I'm…surprised you're taking the news that I'm in love with a hero so well."

Tsu chuckled. "You've been spending too much time around Mezou," she replied. "I don't doubt that he'd be very upset at first-mostly at the thought of you having a boyfriend at all, probably."

Mina grinned at that, despite being a little insulted. She knew Mezou tended to treat her like a younger sister, despite them being the same age.

"But, well," Tsu continued, "I just don't care very much, I suppose. I want you to be happy, Mina. And if Izuku is the one who does that, then I wish you both the best."

Mina smiled. "Thank you, Tsu," she said. "For helping me get my shit together."

"Anytime," Tsu answered. "I've got some experience in dealing with romantic disasters-just ask Mezou."

Mina laughed at that, fond memories of Tsu and Mezou's extremely awkward teenage relationship filling her mind. She absolutely intended to remind her adopted brother of those disastrous times for the rest of their lives.

Still chuckling, she bid farewell to Tsu, then went to leave. She didn't know where she was going-she didn't want to rush this, and it was getting late, anyway. She could find Izuku and…confess…later…

Mina's thoughts came to a screeching halt as she opened the front door. She let out an audible gasp, and stumbled back, eyes wide. Tsu heard it, and was at her side in an instant.

"Mina? What's wrong-" she began, only to freeze herself, only managing to whisper, "oh, no."

On the horizon, just close enough to be visible as a smear of orange across the black stone backdrop, was an enormous fire, burning through the ramshackle wooden structures that filled the Depths. The roar of the flames was audible even this far away, now that Mina looked for it-a low, hungry growl, like a starving beast. It was chewing through the settlements and structures at an incredible rate, and though it didn't seem to be heading their way, Mina felt her heart skip a few beats.

Turning to Tsu, she asked, "What's going on?"

Tsu looked rattled, fear plain on her face. Swallowing hard, she said, "I…think that whoever destroyed the Claws is on the move again. That fire-it's coming from the direction of the Tunnel Rats."

Mina felt her stomach drop. The Tunnel Rats were one of the other main gangs in the Depths. They were the smuggling kings of the whole Underground, with extensive knowledge and an iron grip on the networks of illicit tunnels that honeycombed the whole city. And if their base was being attacked…

"Mezou's there, isn't he?" Mina whispered fearfully.

Tsu nodded. "Knowing him?" she replied dryly, "He's charging headfirst into that fire because there's people who need help, and damn the fact that there's a war going on at the same time."

Mina snorted despite herself. That sounded like Mezou…and Izuku, now that she thought about it.

She heard a rustle behind her, and turned to find Tsu grabbing something from a cabinet in the hallway-a pair of goggles, it looked like, and a mask, probably for the smoke. She turned back to face Mina, expression stony.

"Mina," Tsu said sternly, "You need to leave."

Mina opened her mouth to protest, incredulous, but Tsu held up a hand. "Save it," she said. "I know you want to help, but it's too dangerous."

"Too dangerous?" Mina snapped. "Fuck that, Tsu, I'm helping-"

"Mina," Tsu interrupted, "You do realize that Toga probably told whoever she was working for about you, right? They'll know you as the woman who let a hero into the Depths."

Mina's eyes widened, and her blood went cold. She hadn't thought about that…but Tsu was right. She had crossed a line that had never been crossed before by bringing Izuku here. She didn't regret it, not for a second…but that didn't matter.

She asked, "Do you think the group attacking the Tunnel Rats is the same one Toga was working for?"

Tsu winced. "According to Mezou, it almost certainly is," she replied.

Mina frowned. "How long has he suspected that?" she demanded. "And why didn't anybody tell me?"

Tsu met her eyes. "Since the day you came back from the compound raid," she replied. "And we would have told you, but you ran away during that conversation."

Mina winced, conceding the point. "Okay, yeah, fair enough," she muttered. "But still-"

"Mina," Tsu snapped, already on the cliff edge, every muscle in her body clearly straining with the desire to leap and head towards the fire. "You'd be enemy number one for any of them. Mezou wouldn't want you to put yourself in that much danger for his sake, and I refuse to risk losing two people today. Don't fight me on this. Please."

Flinching at Tsu's honesty, and at the look in her friend's eye that suggested she was much, much more scared than she was letting on, Mina finally slumped, letting out a long sigh.

"Fine," she agreed. "I'll head for safety. But…bring him back alive, alright? I'm done losing brothers."

Tsu nodded. "Believe me, I will be dragging my idiot husband back by the scruff of his neck," she growled. With that, she crouched, and sprung from the cliff, powerful legs straightening with enough power to send her shooting into the air. Mina watched her go, springing from point to point, sticking to walls and sometimes even using her long tongue to grab onto ledges or stalactites for extra distance. It was easy to forget, sometimes, that Tsu was just as much a mutant as the rest of them-until she reminded you.

Mina wished for nothing in that moment as much as she wished to be following Tsu-but she didn't. She had made a promise, and she was going to keep it. But dammit if the thought of Mezou dying didn't scare her to her very core.

"Please be okay," she thought desperately. "I really wanna see the look on your face when you learn who I've fallen in love with."