A/N: Ooooh boy, this chapter is... the reason I made this story Mature. Just... brace yourselves - or don't, your call. Review Time!
To Cobbb: Yes, I did, thought a little Iron Man touch wouldn't hurt. And yeah, this arc was building toward the next couple of chapters, I regret nothing.
To Murtaito: Yeah, plot armor is unavoidable... so I'll just make things hell for my characters, why not? Who knows what's to come... well, given what I've written next really settles the tone so... sorry.
Enjoy.
A/N: Warning, scenes within this chapter contain depictions of torture, viewer discretion advised.
Chapter 44 - /System Offline/
It wasn't long since Yuki last saw Izuku, Shoto, Tokoyami, and Shoji's faces before it all turned black, she hadn't the foggiest idea where she was, and SIVA was unresponsive, so that meant whatever Dren did was still in effect, meaning she was, by a mental standpoint, alone, and her mask was taken from her too, adding to the building anxiety.
Whenever she did wake it was some backroom of a bar, the faint scent of alcohol in the air was clear. Beside her, equality strapped to a chair was nonother than Bakugo, himself having already came too. Ahead were the very villains that had caused so much grief for Japan as of late, Shigaraki, Kurogiri, and several other villains, two she knew as Dabi and Compress. Neither seemed to care for the duo, not while a figure strode up to them both, more specifically, Yuki.
She couldn't tell but behind that repaired helmet he probably smiled. "Welcome back, Mongrel, now, to cut to the chase I believe my underling told me I cannot kill you," He pondered, crossing his arm over his augmented arm, tapping its casing. "And they want the blonde one alive too, however," He leaned down to eye her hateful eyes directly. "That doesn't mean I can't still take pleasure in dealing with a disgusting pest like you, to think Kovik had such trouble with you."
He stepped back, "I guess you're wondering why I disdain you so much...?" He worded whimsically, then his fist curled up tightly. "I hate that look, your posture, your actions, even without a single word I can hear that Red Wretch!" His fist slammed into the wall, splintering the wood with a shaky sigh.
"Long before this world, before SIVA ended up in your hands, there was a... Guardian, she stormed our bastions, killed our kin, tore down our plans to be free, to become truly perfected!" He proclaimed almost as frantically as Kovik, then his finger jabbed toward her. "And she stormed our Complex, and no matter how many I sent, the tricks and powers I held over my own life, that fire of hers burned them all to ash, and I died!"
"What the hell, 'this world'!?" Bakugo blinked, his eyes wide at the implications. Yuki didn't lose her gaze on Vosik but nodded her head
"Oh yes, her power isn't so feeble to be a 'Quirk', it's a tech that goes beyond your pathetic human race, and when those that remained attempted to steal it away our plans went astray, and here we are, a mongrel who mocks my Fallen, my Splicers with her acts, just like that traitor and the Guardians she brought to our door!" He sneered, the information sinking into Bakugo's head at everything that's transpired, and suddenly, alot of things just... clicked
Then, drawing that same knife from before, Yuki followed its orange tip as it swayed toward her face, the hot edge tapping to her cheek, tracing the scar on her right eye. Seeing this, Bakugo snapped. "Get the fuck off of her!" She didn't expect this either, but let a small smile touch her lips
"Thanks, Dumb-Dumb." But that didn't last. Vosik chuckled darkly, kneeling down to view them both, he barely fit into the room as is standing tall, so this just made him far more unnerving to observe
"So your friend here cares for you, hmm," He snapped his hand toward Bakugo, and a strange, red binding covered his mouth, cutting off his screams as muffled threats. "That should quiet you down, for the time being, now then, if you do not wish to stay for the show I suggest leaving us in peace, I won't harm your prise, but the girl?" He leered back at the villains. "Is Mine."
Spinner looked away, cursing under his breath, "...Is this what Stain would want? And she's... *sigh*," Those that did follow the Hero Killer's name wondered the same but none dared to speak above the being that towered over them all, he was quick to snap as Kovik and Dren revealed to be a side-effect of his 'glitched' creation
Dabi shrugged, tucking his hands into his pockets while not once passing a glance at the two teens. "Whatever you say, I'm getting a drink."
"I want a smoothie!/I could go for a cold beverage." Twice proclaimed in two distinct tones, followed after Dabi with a hop and skip, Toga following too while Kurogiri vanished. Once all the villains left the trio, Vosik turned to the girl
*Bam!*
Not a second later his cannon swung across, smacking her left cheek, causing it to bleed. Once that shook her steady he leaned closer, bringing the knife to her right shoulder before slowly dipping the knife against her skin, hearing skin peel, and the blade's edge hiss. It was more entertaining since she struggled to brace, muffling her whimpers by biting her lip.
"Hah, it's no Guardian but it is equally as satisfying," He pinched her cheeks, seeing her eyes widen while she coughed, his fist digging against her bare stomach before he tore his claws back, slicing her cheeks with two gashes, his black arm smacking her across the face, giving her a left black eye
The whole time Bakugo watched, thrashing and yelling curses through the binding, he looked ready to go on a frenzy against the Splicer as he helplessly watched the mute struggle for breath, constantly beaten and cut either with claws or the smoldering knife, the air stunk like burnt hair from her arms, blood dripping to the stained floor.
Yuki gasped sharply, her hair pulled forward as a fist cracked against her face, the chair falling back as a leg caught it, tossing it back up for Vosik to grab and hold steady, pummeling her body with punch after punch, each drawing strained whimpers or gasps from the bluette who could do nothing but endure the pain that wouldn't fade and couldn't heal, SIVA still silent.
Two hours later and she was given a breather, and Bakugo's face was burning with nightmarish rage, eyes wide with horror at the state of the stupidly happy mute now reduced to sagging her head, blood and spit dripping down her face from cuts and bruises, her biceps cut, some clotted over thanks to the knife's hot edge, a sickening way to keep her alive and smolder the pain.
"Normally a Guardian would just heal thanks to that little thing that follows them around, and for you, SIVA would do the same," He grabbed her chin, seeing that her fiery blue eyes hadn't wavered at all, even through the bruises and tears. "But without it, you are nothi - Gah!"
He suddenly stepped back, the pyramid on his back banging off the ceiling as he wiped the red splodge of blood from his visor with a grunt and curse in his native tongue. Bakugo just stared wide at the conscious girl and the condescending smirk on her bloodied face. She couldn't write anything, but somehow Bakugo could tell that meant a few choice words, 'Go Fuck Yourself'. He, for a moment, felt some relief, but that shattered much like Yuki's stationary body.
"YOU MONGREL!" The foot slammed into her stomach, causing her to empty out the contents of her stomach onto the floor with blood. From there she was grabbed by the back of her hair, wincing as she gasped, face shoved straight into the wall. "PEST!" Again. "RAT!" And again. "HUMAN FILTH!" One final slam and her face was buried into the boards and thrown back to land at Bakugo's feet, himself screaming bloody murder through his muzzled gums
Yuki twitched, coughing hoarsely while attempting to stand, only for a boot to push her head down, twisting the pressure as she let out a silent scream of pain, grounding her teeth to brace the force anyway she could. Without SIVA she could barely retaliate, and not knowing where she was there was no chance of escape for her or Bakugo, all her aces were ripped from her hand.
"...dammit..." Bakugo's eye kept twitching, he wanted to move, he had to but these cuffs were meant to contain Quirks, and the straps of the chair weren't budging at all. "...DAMMIT...!"
Picking the girl up to sit her against the wall, she found that a page and a pen were set before her by Vosik. "I will give you one chance, mongrel, maybe then I'll be far less vicious tomorrow." He snarled, eyes narrowed in impatience for her to respond. "Hurry up and write!" He pushed his foot to her torso, hearing her cough and hack while trembling, lifting the page to write with jittery letters
It hardly took her long, sighing once as she held out the sheet for both to read. Bakugo's eyes couldn't get any wider, a pit of dread widening in his stomach at her horrid words. And for Vosik, he was silent, unmoving at her note, seeing the glare and unwavered frown through blood and bruises.
What was written may have seen as foolish or downright idiotic. Yuki was many things but 'idiot' in the case of life and death situations was something she refused to joke about. However, even while her head throbbed with pain and copper stained her tongue, her mind had one last pin to pull, regardless of what happens next. "Sorry... Katsuki."
'If I'm going to die, then I'll be sure as hell you don't get to enjoy it. Bet Aksis was ashamed to call you his lieutenant; To find out you died to a girl, how pathetic is that?'
If there was a word for Vosik's temper it was a pin. He couldn't kill her, not until they extracted what data they required, and that would take days, something that in Vosik's mind at first seemed to be an irritating setback, but now, he hoped it'll take as long as necessary.
"Kurogiri." At the name, the warp villain materialized before Vosik, hearing his low, clicking tongue. "I need a new chair and bindings for her,"
"Are you done for today?" He asked, eyeing the bluette still slumped against the wall. "Should I request someone to treat her-"
"No," He snarled, pulling his foot off her body. "Let her wallow with infection for all I care, I heard humanity calls a darker realm of the afterlife, 'Hell'," His single eye glowed brighter at the name. "Yes, I want... to give her a taste of pure Hell."
Kurogiri stared at the girl, then to the petrified Bakugo, then back at the tall Splicer. With reluctance, his shadowy head bowed with an arm to his chest. "Of course," Then he was gone, almost afraid of what was to become of the female guest over the course of the week.
"Now then, mutt," He cocked his head down at the twitching girl, almost begging her to keep up her resolve. "I wonder how many blades it'll take to wipe that smirk off your face?" He brought the knife through the same wound he made back in the forest, hearing her gagging whimper as the blade hissed from the liquid within, blow drawn as he twisted, feeling her skin quiver and her muscles contract from the agony scrunching up her bloodied face. "What makes this fun is how precise I can be, inflict all the damage I want and yet I'll ensure not to cut anything vital."
"I SWD DWN'T FWKNG TUWCH HER...!" Bakugo's voice pierced the fabric, the first chance he got, he would kill this abomination if his almost demonic-like eyes didn't justify that vow. "Why! Why can't I just move!?"
To his horror, it had only just begun.
...
...
...
...
For Three Days This Continued...
Whimpers like a wounded animal. Tears, blood, sweat, dirt, the stench of burnt hair, and smoldered flesh hanging in the air if not for a few candles and a vent. Every day on the dot for two hours, sometimes longer Vosik displayed the very vile nature of his mind, a being not fit to be anything more than a twisted maniac.
It had continued for so long the days just meshed in his head. Bakugo, for her sake, never took his eyes off her, if he had to sit and endure doing nothing then the least he could do was grit his teeth and watch, it hurt, more than any pain he's endured in his life. She took every stab and slash, the beatings to the point she looked like a corpse brought back to life, her muffled, silent screams were left as gasps, even he couldn't stomach a drop of water sometimes seeing her this way, so broken while he never felt so unbearably useless to do anything more than stare and scream through the fabric around his mouth until he turned red or his throat felt raw.
Her body twitched, cuts and dirt dotted her legs and past her roughed-up shorts, her stomach was badly wounded in points that weren't vital, leaving large scars clotted with blood fresh and old. Her sports bra was all she had left, even that was ripped in places, cuts lining her arms and hands say for the right, torn to pieces, revealing the metal attached to her wrist, spurting from shredded wires.
It was silent, she sat there in her chair unable to move, Vosik's assailant was pacing, scoring through a pad in his hand. "Honestly, Vosik's memory and personality are intact and yet this level of outrage is even beyond Fallen standards of modesty," He generally felt sorry for the girl. "No use apologizing I suppose..." He sighed, scratching his neck. "You can't rush these things, all that data is heavily encrypted and purposely layer with malware, tch, what a pain."
Dren walked up to Yuki, her head was slumped, Bakugo looking down until Dren came over, he had his binding off, so he snapped. "You fucking dare touch her and I'll kill you!" He snarled at the Splicer who ignored him. "LEAVE HER ALONE!"
"Oh, relax," He finally grumbled, bored under his helmet. "I care more for pulling out my own fangs in frustration at SIVA more than Vosik's obsession with mutilation, believe me, I wish I had just left that Project buried," He chuffed. "Project Chimera was a mistake, I see that now but no use trying to fix things now, a shame really."
Bakugo's brow knitted at the scientist. "You built that bastard?" "Just what the hell are they? 'Splicers' but what do they have to do with SIVA? Yuki? Everything?"
"He was already dead, we just had his memory and personality digitally inserted into a dormant cluster, turns out so long in stasis did have some... glaring issues," He scratched his chin. "Well, I know you don't care, you'd probably set me on fire with that glare of yours so I'll just continue my observation and leave you in peace, sound fair?" No reply
Kneeling he almost jumped at what he saw. Despite the numerous bruises and cuts, everything that Vosik had been doing to her, those eyes continued to stare, unblinking, and burning like a blue inferno. "...it's not possible, how can one human still be mentally stable...?" He soon wandered off to the next room over, leaving Bakugo to bow his head, biting his lip
He jumped slightly, hearing the shuffle on the chair. Twisting his neck to face her he saw it, bloodied and shaken, but Yuki's thumb rose up, and a ghostly smile plagued her lips despite the chipped skin and wads of bruises.
"...Yu...ki..." He felt something slip down his face, shaking while staring at her through his bangs. She was beaten to an inch of her life, and yet she still wasn't gone, fighting through it all. He teared up because he failed and was failing to save her from this hell, and begged the world to save her before her life would end, "Please, somebody... save her!"
Somewhere...
Days passed and Izuku a day after the incident was rushed to a nearby hospital where it all became a blur of treatments from doctors and Recovery Girl, he was delirious half the time, suffered from seizures, and was told that police came around for questioning but he couldn't recall anything, rather, he just... stopped working.
While all this happened, it was Akame that never left his side, she would sit with him for hours, and whenever he did keep track of some semblance of consciousness she was always on her phone, a hardened look unlike any he's seen written into her neon blue eyes, he swore he felt the presence of a dragon behind them. And yet, she smiled, kept him company, and asked, no matter how painful it was, about that night, every detail.
Today was no different, she sat there, reading through a book while tensing at his only real response every time he woke up, eyes filled with color but devoid of substance and emotion, he felt utterly lost. "...Yuki... Kacchan..." He would murmur their names, Yuki's more-over, and it stung him so bad he wanted to scream until his voice gave out
From the door, the spiky hair belonging to Kaminari poked through, smiling with surprise. "Hey, Midoriya, you're finally awake!" He waved, pushing the door aside to surprise the two with most of Class 1-A. "Did ya see the news? The reporters are all - huh, HUH, V-Valstrax!?" He and a few others gawked at the casual appearance of the hero, herself waving her hand sweetly
"Hello everyone, I hope you're feeling better?" She was kind and several nods and replies came rushing to her ears. Patting her knees she stood up, ruffling Izuku's hair. "I'll leave ya to catch up, sadly my work isn't through just yet, sucks but that's life for ya, peace!" She bowed and then slipped out of the room
"It's even worse for the school this time around," Sato grimace, referring to the USJ
Tokoyami stiffened, looking shamefully at Izuku. "I caused you trouble, Midoriya." Hearing this he sat up, smiling at them all
"No, it's fine, I did this to myself," He left out Yuki's name, both having sustained so much against Muscular, it hurt to think of her but that fight, he had never felt so in sync before. "Did everyone from Class A come to visit? And are all of you okay?" This made them worry, seeing him search the group for someone, and a few could have guessed who
Iida replied, "No, Jiro and Hagakure are still out, Akio woke not long ago but has since vanished, more than likely to pursue the Nightmare that was with the villains and who attacked them," Iida wanted to yell at Akio's foolish behavior but he knew Viral would take the fall for him, it's why he left. "And Yaoyorozu took a bad hit to the head, she's hospitalized here too, though I found out she just woke up yesterday, so it's just us, and besides those four..." He trailed off
Ochaco finished it for him, though she herself looked so reluctant to say, "It's just the fifteen of us now."
However, Shoto being as blunt added the final count, knowing it would hurt them all, Izuku most of all. "Bakugo and Yuki aren't here either."
Mina winced, jabbing his shoulder. "He knows, Todoroki!" She then blinked, as well as Izuku who's eyes widened just a little more at Shoto's hands
"However, I did manage to retrieve this just after they got away," Everyone was at a loss for words, held out for Izuku's hands was the battered mask belonging to Yuki, the right lens cracked and the metallic sheen a little dented. "I patched it up with what I had, but if anyone should hold onto it, it's you, Midoriya." He held it closer to the emerald-haired teen
'I'm sorry'
"Stay back... Deku!"
The damage that caused was set in motion, his eyes regained focus, and with a rigid hand, he hooked his fingers around the edge of the chin, taking the object away to rest it on his lap. Guilt, shame, anger, sorrow, it was a swirling maelstrom inside his heart and his head, they were right there and he missed. But then he remembered that night after confronting Shigaraki, what All Might had told him. Gulping the lump down his throat he croaked, eyes obscured by his bangs.
"All Might said to me one time; Sometimes we can't reach some people in need of saving, so we just got to do our best to save those we can reach," He whispered, teeth bear in frustration and bitter loss, his throat felt like it was going to collapse. "I... I was close I could reach them, I... needed to save them, had to... it's the entire reason I have my Quirk," He sniffed, tears dripping down onto the mask's interior. It was all his fault, he failed them when it mattered most. "It's exactly what Mr. Aizawa said to me... my body... couldn't move... I couldn't save somebody who was right in front of me..." "The girl I... loved was there and I couldn't lift a finger to save her!" "And now they're gone...!"
A deathly silence befell them all, Ochaco wiping her eyes dry, though in vain. Then, Kirishima spoke, looking directly at Izuku without a second of hesitance. "Alright, then let's go save them." This struck them all, leaving Izuku in a stupor. "I was here yesterday and so was Todoroki..."
Neither could just sit around and do nothing, opting to visit those still in recovery, that was when they spotted All Might and an officer speaking with Yaoyorozu. She had planted a tracker, with the aid of Class B's Awase, on one of the villains, handing them a device that can tail that signal, that was when they decided...
Nervous, Iida spoke up. "This means you're going to ask Yaoyorozu to make another receive for you, doesn't it?" Neither answered right away, Kirishima knew this would happen, but Shoto didn't back down
"What if it does?" That alone, that cold stare merely reminded Iida of his own inability to trust in his friends, and the injuries it led to
"You should listen to what All Might said!" He snapped, scaring the class. "We have to leave this to the professionals! It's not the right time for us to get involved, idiots!" This just set off a chain reaction
"MAYBE, BUT ALL I KNOW... is that at Camp I couldn't do anything!" Kirishima pulled at his shirt, furious at himself for just... standing there that night while the rest battled to the wire. "I heard my two friends were targeted and I just stood by! Helpless!" He threw his arm out, glaring at Iida. "So if I just stand by and do nothing now then how am I supposed to call myself a hero or a man - heck, a friend!?"
He wasn't done. "Yuki would do the same, you know she would despite the risks she always jumped in to save our lives and countless more!" Then he pointed to the window. "You didn't see it but that look on Akio's face, when he saw Jiro the way she was, he snapped, and even he's out there settling the score with the person he should have stopped but failed to!"
"Kirishima, calm down, we're in a hospital!" Kaminari hushed with a finger to his lips. "There's a better time and place for this dude."
Todoroki just felt this wave of Deja Vu, just like on the island. "So you're saying... it's alright to stand and do nothing, to watch as people we know suffer, is it right to just walk down the street, see an innocent come close to death, and do nothing?" His logic remained stern if one couldn't save a life because of rules and laws then what reason did they have to be a hero of anything?
"Yeah, but what Iida said is true," Even Tsu was against it. Kirishima trembled, he knew what he was doing, he knew that, but still, his soul told him otherwise, to hell with law and rules when it came to a person's life
"All of you, just listen to me for a minute... I know what you're saying is right..." He threw his hand toward Izuku, willing, and waiting despite the many emotions and stares handed around the room. "But still! Come on, Midoriya, they're still within your reach! We can save Yuki and Bakugo!"
His heart was throbbing, there was a chance, he could fix this, he could do better! While he processed the faint hope offered by his friend his thumb continued to rub the edge of the mask, feeling the cool metal under his digit, and the paper it ran against. He stopped crying, wiping away tears to feel around the edge. "What the...?" He murmured, picking at the mask as he found something was stuck to the inside. Flicking the corner he managed to grip the abnormality and pull it free, to their curious eyes, it was a slither of folded paper crammed into the mask
"I didn't see that there when I was fixing it...?" Shoto blinked, then Izuku's eyes widened with his. "Is that one of..."
With more haste than he had in days, Izuku peeled the paper wider, a small note with black ink scored into the face. He read the words, and something sparked in his chest. Just two words. 'Inside. Button'. Fishing his finger on the inside he felt something wiggle subtlety, with a small push of a button the lens on the outside of the mask came to life, scaring him and a few others as he accidentally threw the mask onto his legs, thereby freeing the visual feed trapped below.
It was a holographic display, one of Yuki and one of those creatures, just like Kovik. Sero spoke first, completely flabbergasted. "W-what is that thing?"
"It's talking to Yuki?" Shoji commented
"A message perhaps?" Tokoyami suggested
"It looks like Kovik." Iida hardened his stare, but Izuku blurted out the answer, unable to take his eyes off the visual, a recording it seemed to be
"Siva..." Many eye-balled him like he had two heads, but then the voice came through
~What, where am I? Yuki, what's going on, my, ack, the signal is... I feel... so weak!~ SIVA grunted, clutching his head with both hands. Yuki's form motioned for him to calm down, but he threw his arms low. ~How can I be calm!? Vosik is here, and he's ruthless, I should know, he was under my command, half of his orders came from me-!~
Yuki stepped forward, eyes curved as she patted his forearm, which seemed to ease his motions as the feed buffered. ~...Vosik... he may not kill you... but you'll wish he did~ Those words opened up a pit in everyone's stomachs, none more than Shoto and Izuku who forced themselves to watch. ~I can't... I can't stop him... he's going to take you!~ SIVA was hurt, his voice was distraught, filled with anger Izuku knew too well. ~I can't let you... I...~
Slowly, Yuki backed off, lowering her head with a solemn nod, and so did SIVA, shakily sighing through his helmet, clenching his fists. ~...I know you're listening, Izuku Midoriya~ He jumped at his name. Watching as SIVA craned his head to view a room he couldn't possibly see. ~I can predict the others are here, confused too but this is not the time... Dren is copying the data within me, to create a counterfeit of me without my lingering consciousness, once he has completed the data copy I and Yuki will... be terminated~
"No...!" Ochaco gasped, covering her mouth while Tsu rubbed her back with a sad croak
SIVA chuffed. ~This is all my fault, if I never found SIVA, if I had only stopped then Yuki may not have endured my sins for me~ He bowed his head in shame. ~Whatever you plan to do, Midoriya, please... promise me, not from SIVA... please, as Aksis, Archon Prime of the Devil Splicers~ By some stroke of luck or logical calculation, Izuku's eyes were locked to SIVA's. ~Don't let Yuki suffer anymore, please, save her, no matter who gets in your way - this world's laws be damned~ His head tilted to the class. ~I know you, Tenya Iida, you are a noble friend, but if it were one of you instead, none of you could stop Yuki from trying to save you - I should know, she saved me from myself~
As the visual began to turn to static and crumble, SIVA held his claws out, fingers taut with rage. ~Vosik, heed my words... from your Archon... I wIlL kIlL yOu! Soon there was nothing but static, and the lights died out, ushering a silence that didn't seem to end
Not much was said for a moment, then Mina decided to bring the topic back. "So let me get this straight," She started waving her fingers around slowly. "You're going to get Momo to make you another transceiver, track a bad guy, then try to save Bakugo and Yuki all by yourselves?" From her perspective, it sounded impossible
"Yeah." Kirishima summarized
"The villains that attacked the camp planned to kill some of us but they took Bakugo and Yuki alive, only now we know they plan to copy Yuki's Quirk for Kovik, but then that leads me to my final question, how long do they intend to keep them alive?" Shoto couldn't allow it, Yuki gave her all to save them before at Hosu, she nearly died so it was only right for a friend to do the same, and Bakugo didn't deserve such a fate, even if he is hot-headed
Iida still shook with anger at their plan to go against everything. "HAVE THE TWO OF YOU LOST YOUR MINDS!?" He screamed, Shoji putting his arm out to keep him back
"Hey, calm down, I get how frustrated Kirishima is," Shoji nodded solemnly. "And how Todoroki feels since he couldn't grab Bakugo, and most of all the pain Midoriya felt, pushing himself so hard to save Yuki that he was only an inch away." Izuku held onto the mask tightly, running his hand along the frame. "I am too..." One arm stretched out. "But we can't let our emotions get the best of us, right?"
Not everyone was on the same page, but Aoyama added his own opinion. "Um, we should just leave this to All Might. Mr. Aizawa only gave us permission to fight at the training camp,"
"Aoyama is right, though I'm part of the reason we failed." Tokoyami was ashamed to admit it. "So I can't talk."
"You guys!" Kirishima felt his back was to a wall now, between right and wrong it felt so mildly grey to him
"Listen, we're all shocked that Bakugo and Yuki were taken from us, just knowing what they might be doing to Yuki is painful but we have to be rational," Tsu asserted her point. "It doesn't matter how noble your intentions, if you go out there trying to find the bad guys, knowing you're breaking the rules, then you're acting like villains."
But was that a fair assumption? Izuku had always thought of the line between what was right and what was the law. Then he remembered something Yuki told him once long before they became best friends.
'Midoriya, question, if you saw someone who was in trouble, and you could save them, but doing so meant breaking the law, what would you do?' Azuru asked him, tipping her drink under her mask to drink while he looked over the question atop an old tire
"Well... I dunno, I'd want to save them, if I could I would despite the consequences," He replied bashfully. "I-If that person was okay then it's worth the punishment."
She listened, nodding her head to an invisible beat before her eyes flashed into curves. 'Good to hear. The way I see it, the law is there to keep order and peace, but the definition of a hero is to not break the law but to uphold the peace built atop their foundations. That's the moral reasoning alot of heroes today have forgotten'
"Yuki... WAH, sorry-sorry!" He frantically waved his hands, blushing furiously at saying her name. She just shivered, indicating she was laughing
Offering a wink she held out a note. 'I'm half British ya know, so I'm used to being referred to by my first name there when I used to travel there, so it's fine' Then she waved her hand. 'But I say people's first name here and it's like a spat on a grave, yeesh, customs East and West can be so vinegary'
"'A hero's job..." Izuku whispered, drawing in the silence with his head low. "...is to not break the law but to uphold the peace built atop their foundations'." His words hit many of them, not expecting such a philosophical answer from him at all. "Yuki taught me that."
Suddenly, the Doctor arrived to overlook Izuku's condition, so they all decided to go and check-up on the others and see how they're doing with a collective agreement. Izuku thanked them for coming, feeling better, more invigorated, especially with Yuki's prized mask in his hands, something he would give back to her, he had to. But, Kirishima stayed, looking down to Izuku seriously.
"We talked to Yaoyorozu yesterday, if we're doing this it's tonight," He announced, not realizing Iida was listening in. "Look I know you got some pretty hardcore injuries, so I don't know if you can go, but I wanted to invite since you're the worst, and... I know how you feel, about Yuki I mean,"
"We'll meet in front of the hospital after dark." And with that, the friends decisively made their choices, some decided the moment certain words were said
With everyone gone, and the doctor yet to return, Izuku stared down at the mask in his hands, he had remembered the night vividly, where she pulled back the mask to reveal her smile for the first time alongside those eyes, it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, nothing could compare. Even though she wore it to the side, it was... special, it was Yuki, a part of her that could never be taken away, so seeing that villain, that monster tear it away and discard it so easily was painful like he tore a piece of her away.
Pursing his lips, he grabbed the mask, seeing how Yuki kept it clipped to her hair the whole time. He managed to slip the mask onto his left side with a little difficulty, letting the metallic face shield his left temple until it could be returned. "Yuki... Kacchan, I haven't given up just yet!"
Somewhere...
In the villain's lair, Vosik grasped the back of the seat, holding it steady as Yuki's head limped down, she was barely conscious at the moment, the whole day she had just shut down, not a word or peep from her at all say a few whimpers whenever Vosik struck a nerve. Bakugo had grown sick of it all, he didn't even look her in the eye anymore, it wasn't bearable to watch, even for her sake alone. He was surprised himself, he didn't expect to last so long before it finally got to him, it must have happened when she just stopped smiling at all.
"It's a shame, really, our time is nearing its end," Vosik sneered but received no response at all. "Oh? Have I finally broken you? Has that defiant flame been snuffed out?" No reply, just shallow breaths through waxy hair and sweaty, bloody lips
~Let's return to a short clip from the UA High press conference that just wrapped up~ The announcement on the TV drew many eyes away from the two, all eagerly watching in their own levels of interest as the screen flicked to Mr. Aizawa, Principle Nezu and King Vlad
~We are here... to apologize, a recent incident occurred that brought harm to eighteen Hero Course students, and UA staff were ill-prepared, we take responsibility for any trauma caused by our negligence, it's our duty to train hereoes~ The trio bowed deeply. ~But also to protect heroes-in-training~
~I'll take the first question!~ Someone spoke up from the crowd. ~Since the beginning of the year UA students have had Four encounters with villains, this time there were students who were gravely injured, how did you explain this to their families, and what specific steps you are taking to ensure their safety in the future?~ It didn't take a genius to realize the meaning of the man's words, this wasn't a concern, this was a mockery, they wanted to treat them as villains, and they could given the circumstances and public opinion that had swayed in recent months
~We will increase patrols around the school grounds, and review security measures within the school~ Nezu replied vaguely but he had no other possible choices. ~The safety of UA students is our top priority make no mistake about it~
"They're just being treated like a joke, these bastards have screwed with everyone's heads, now they don't know who to trust." Bakugo may have had his head down, but he wasn't ignorant, every word spoken before this conference he committed to memory, nothing they said to him would make him bite. "You think I'll join you? Once I'm out I'm breaking Yuki free, and then we'll crush you all! I'll make them pay!"
The TV shut off, Shigaraki twisting round in his seat to face the two teens. "Isn't that strange? The heroes are becoming the bad guys, seems they're not dealing with this very well at all?" He drawled sarcastically, Bakugo finally raising his head, he stole a glance to Yuki, but she still hadn't budged, even while the large Splicer moved to the back of the bar.
"So much criticism, but everyone makes a mistake or two, right?" Shigaraki questioned, shrugging with a crude stare under his hand. "It's not like they're supposed to be perfect, modern-day heroes sure have it rough, doncha think, Bakugo?"
"Once a hero receives payment to protect people they aren't a real hero anymore," Spinner abridged, crossing his arms with a glare. "That's what Stain's actions taught us."
"A hero in this current system only thinks of money and glory, and since society buys into those idiotic rules anyone who's deemed a loser is shoved aside," Shigaraki proclaimed, tilting his head to look at Yuki. "The girl, for instance, can easily destroy a city with her bare hands yet is seen as a hero by a number in society already, but the moment someone else tries to follow her actions with less flair they are deemed a criminal."
Shigaraki leaned forward, "So, we want to pose some questions, what is a hero, what is justice?" Bakugo glared, taking all this in, digesting his words like any other day in this hell, suffering from the sidelines as Yuki was beaten within an inch of her life. "Is society truly fair? Soon everyone will be asking, that's when we know we've won," His eye slit creepily at the thought. "And you like winning, don't you, Bakugo?"
"Strange, never in my lifetime did I ever believe I'd agree with a human being," Vosik murmured. "Usually we'd take what we desired, houses fought for power, territory and to destroy humanity, and yet, now I see we don't need to lift a finger," He motioned to the bar. "You will do it yourselves, what fun that will be to enjoy from afar."
"And what about you, won't you stay to enjoy it up close in person?" Shigaraki inquired, earning a silence from Vosik for a moment
"No, once the final strips of data are acquired I'll kill that wretched mongrel, however, if you require something and we are in need of something in return we will... listen." He spoke slow and carefully, ensuring they did not take his words as a means of kinship. They were allies now but no one said they would be after
Shigaraki turned back, then motioned to Bakugo. "Dabi, let him go."
He raised a brow, turning to his boss. "You know he'll just fight." But Shigaraki threw his hands back
"It's fine, we're recruiting him so we should treat him as an equal," He replied happily. "Oh, but feel free to leave the girl as is, she's powerless anyhow without that Quirk of hers to bother us, and to think she nearly took down Nomu back at the USJ, hah." He lowered his arms. "Besides, he's smart enough to know he can't take us all, right?"
"After all, UA students are so clever," He summed up, Bakugo just sat there, staring back at the tense room. He again glanced to the girl, and she just breathed heavily, body cut and beaten, her peachy skin smothered by black and purple
Dabi looked to his left, stepping back. "Hey, Twice, you do it."
The man with two personalities pipped up. "Sure thing!/No way..." He dismissed but Dabi wasn't having it
"Just do it." With a pout from Twice, he watched him go to work while Compress tipped his hat
"I do apologize for such forceful methods a few nights ago, but please understand we are not some unruly mob committing crimes without a third act in mind." He elaborated their reasons, Bakugo just watched Twice undo the cuffs and belts silently. "We didn't kidnap you by accident."
Shigaraki stood up to address Bakugo directly, "Even though our backgrounds are different, everyone - huh?" He was cut off by the static of the TV, someone had turned it on. His hand twitched. "Seriously, who did that?"
"It wasn't me!/It totally was!" Twice wasn't helping. But from the sudden turn of Vosik, he felt something was off
"No one has touched it, it turned on of its own accord." That was when the broadcast came through, it was the conference
~-about keeping the students safe Eraserhead, but according to our information you encouraged them to fight during the attack on the training camp, putting them in danger~ It was some combed twat this time, even through the TV everyone could feel the 'asshole' radiating from his voice. ~What was your reasoning for this?~
~I concluded that because we didn't know the scope of the situation allowing them to use their Quirks would help to avoid the worse possible outcome~ He replied coolly, the man didn't budge, clearly
~And what might that outcome be? Do you think eighteen victims and two kidnapped children is a win for UA High?~ From the slight twitch it was clear Mr. Aizawa didn't like that at all
~I can assure you that things could have gone much more poorly, I feared that every student would have been tortured and killed in the end~
"Ain't that ironic!/Bit too late for that." Twice was struck on the head by Dabi to keep him quiet
Nezu added his own comment, ~Most of the students were harmed by a villain that could open a place called the 'Abyss', a creature known as a Nightmare, Phantasm, if not for the quick actions of Mr. Akio, Miss Kendo, and Mr. Tetsutetsu the injuries could have been far worse, additionally, we are providing mental health to every student though we do not see any signs of severe psychological trauma~
Again, Bakugo's eye shifted to Yuki, after this he knew it was going to haunt him, failing to do a damn thing to save her from this hell, but worst of all, he couldn't bear just what her head was like right now, after all this pain and torment, he'd just be thankful if she would just smile and annoy him, that would be enough.
~So you found a bright spot in this tragedy?~ The reporter basically spat in the efforts of the students
~We are just thankful an entire class of burgeoning heroes still have a future~ Nezu was cut off by the man again
~Can you say the same for the abducted Katsuki Bakugo and Yuki Azuru?~ This stirred many that watched, Mr. Aizawa the most, he knew for a fact that if Akame was here she'd soon tackle the man to the ground for what he was insinuating. ~They both enrolled in your school with excellent marks, and Bakugo went on to win the Sports Festival, before that he survived an attack from a powerful Sludge Villain and was saved by All Might, the boy is obviously strong and heroic~
~On the other hand, the violence he displayed in the finals and at the award ceremony both show that he cannot control his temper~ The man continued on without question. ~Azuru, the adopted daughter of the Sky Comet Hero Valstrax, while not as ill-tempered displayed an impressive array of skill, turning every battle in her favor, and at the Hosu Incident she was recounted as a hero through battling dozens of villain shells and even taking down the leader himself, destroying his proxy without knowledge of him being one, showing that she would use this insane power to win by any means necessary, regardless of the condition of the person she contends with~
Mr. Aizawa was wrong, Akame would kill this man in cold blood if she could get away with it. ~What if these were the reasons the villains kidnapped them both? What if they're brainwashing the pair of them right now, pulling them toward the path of evil?~ This man was relentless with his baseless accusations. ~How can you sit there and tell us that they still have a future?~
"Well isn't that nice? Even society is beginning to doubt your strength and fear us, now what does that say of this cruel world?" Shigaraki spoke too soon
Mr. Aizawa's blood was boiling. He stood up as stiff as a board, he hated the media, but he despised this man and his every word of his students, and of his best friend's daughter.
Akame was fuming with the other heroes, All Might holding her back from going after the man herself.
Izuku felt worried and anger at the man's horrid words but scary reality.
Bakugo just watched and listened to it all, waiting for what the teachers had to say.
Vlad and Nezu could only sit and wait for Aizawa's move. He bowed, ~As Katsuki Bakugo's and Yuki Azuru's teacher I take full responsibility for one, not taming Bakugo's violent behavior, and two, for not ensuring Azuru's actions did not exceed what is right and what is too far~
He wasn't going to be cut in. ~However, Bakugo's actions at the Sports Festival were born from his deep-rooted convictions, he is trying harder than anybody else to become the top hero. Azuru, while her Quirk can be destructive, that girl's actions and passion toward everyone she encounters has mended so many wounds and weaknesses, she strives to hold out her hand for anyone who wants to reach their dreams, regardless of her own~ He lifted his head, glaring daggers at the petty many who dared to insult his students. ~If the villains think they can sway them at all they are surely mistaken I can guarantee you that much~
Despite this claim, the man never backed down, much to everyone's chagrin, ~That doesn't amount to real evidence though, I didn't ask you how you feel I asked if you had concrete infomation~
Mr. Aizawa allowed himself a tiny smirk, taking a small note from Akame. ~A bold claim, given your own lack of facts to support your baseless accusations about 'MY' students~ He be damned if he let someone insult his class. That remark earned a subtle irked brow from the man.
Nezu took over, ~We are doing our best with the information we currently have available, I have no doubt the police will break this case very soon, we won't rest until our missing students are returned to UA~ One last message was to be given, however, just as Twice finished releasing Bakugo, himself rubbing his raw wrists after so many days
For the first time since he got here, Bakugo's toothy grin stretched for all to see, his right moved, throwing Twice aside to deliver a faceful of thermal energy to Shigaraki's face, the cloud covering him to quickly cause a small explosion, feeling the dead weight slump into his arms, only then did he feel how cold she was, it frightened him how dead she felt, even though she was breathing. Keeping his voice low, he pressed his forehead to her own. "Come on, you Mute Bastard, we're gettin' outta here." Tugging her onto his back, tucking her legs around his waist, he faced the villains with a devilish smile
"Hah! didcha hear the teachers? They get me more than I thought," He smiled, smaller eruptions going off in his hands, a swell of adrenaline and unrivaled lust for revenge festering inside his soul. "You can spew all the crap you want, I've listened to enough of your obnoxious voice! I'll never join your league of bastards!" He ensured Yuki, whose breathing was ragged against his neck, was kept safely around his back.
His lips curled back with rage building in his scarlet orbs, his fingers taut. "I've always admired All Might's triumphs, that won't ever change!" He sneered with animosity as it spoke what he had saved up for days on end, a promise here and now. "I'll destroy that large freak in the back, make him suffer a bit, and get us the hell out of this shitshow you call a League!"
To Be Continued...
I really hated it, putting my character through that, but now with Bakugo's help, they can finally be free from Vosik's grasp, but is it too late? I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next chapter heroes!
Next Chapter: Legend of Perfection
Bakugo: I'll make you pay, not one of you is touching her!
Yuki: ...
Izuku: I'm going to save them, I won't let myself fail again!
Yuki: ...
Vosik: If you think that dead soul can be saved, then you're a fool
Bakugo: Hah, we'll see ya one-eyed freak! Next, Legend of Perfection!
Izuku: Go Beyond-!
Bakugo: *Sinister grin* Plus Ultra!