...

Izuku was just around the corner from where Hitoshi and Kavar were. His breaths were coming out in heavy pants as he rushed to save his friends. Only for a scream of pain to tear through the air. There was no mistaking who that scream had come from. Kavar...

He pushed his body even further as he swung into the alley and recoiled. The scent of blood lay heavy on the air. Three bodies were scattered over the alley. Two he could tell at least we're breathing but one was what caught his entire attention.

Kavar lay out on the ground and Izuku couldn't see if he was breathing. A pool of blood was steadily growing on the ground beneath him. Izuku's breath stuttered in his chest.

"Shield," he asked breathlessly, "Shield get up. This isn't funny."

There wasn't so much as a twitch. Again Izuku couldn't tell if he was breathing. Unsteadily he stepped towards his friend completely ignoring the fight between Eraser and Stain. The two men had broken apart to stare at him. If the young vigilante looked at Eraser he would have seen understanding in the red eyes. He didn't see it however. His entire focus was on Kavar as he dropped to his knees before him. He had to roll Kavar over and found his friend bleeding from a large gut wound. The wound was jagged no doubt from the serrated blade.

With shaking fingers he pressed them into the side of Kavar's neck searching for a pulse. Sirens screamed around them as steel clashed against steel. For a long terrifying moment he couldn't find a pulse. For a moment he thought Kavar had already died. If he died Izuku was personally going to kill Stain.

Then to his relief he felt it. It was weak and barely there but he had a heartbeat. Kavar was alive. For now at least.

His head shot around to stare at the villain who hurt his friends. Blazing green eyes stared hatefully at him even as he heard movement from the side. Warm gloved hands laid over Kavar's gut wound.

Izuku glanced at the other to find Shinsou kneeling there. He wasn't much better off than Kavar but at least Stain's quirk wore off. His mask had been pulled down so that it pulled around his neck.

When he caught Izuku looking he mouthed, "Go."

He didn't hesitate to do so. Izuku jumped to his fee and turned towards Eraser was barely keeping Stain back. Izuku pulled out one of his own knives and threw it at the villain. Stain hissed as it buried itself into his shoulder. The sirens were close now.

Stain said in a low eerily calm voice, "You false heroes. You hide behind a facade of wanting to help people yet you only care about the money."

"What money?" Shouted back Izuku, "We are vigilantes. We don't make money. Nor do we care about fame. If we did our work would be done during the day. What about Eraser?! He's an Underground Hero! They make significantly less than any other kind of hero!"

Stain continued in the same tone, "That's where you are wrong. As long as you stand in my way you are no better than the false heroes. In fact you are worse for you fake wishing to help those who need it. Instead of helping you are hurting. That is why only All Might can kill me. He is the only true hero!"

"Police! Don't move!"

Perfect timing Detective. Izuku thought darkly his eyes never leaving. Stain glared at them his eyes promising pain before he began escaping into out the back of the alley. Eraser was right behind him knowing he couldn't leave Stain to escape. This allowed Izuku to return his attention to Kavar.

In the light of Tsukauchi's flashlight he knew things were worse than he thought. Hitoshi was supporting Kavar the best he could but the gash on his stomach went from one set of ribs to the other. He was nearly gutted. Then there was the damage to his knee. Izuku was afraid that Kavar might never be able to walk again.

Without hesitation he rushed to help support the blond. Then he looked at Tsukauchi who holstered his sidearm. He was taking in their appearances trying to decide what to do. More officers began to file into the alley. They didn't so much as look at the three vigilantes. They went straight for the injured hero or to follow Eraser and Stain.

Tsukauchi glanced at Kavar uncertainly. Why wasn't he doing anything? They were vigilantes and the law was quite clear on what it meant. Not that they'd go quietly Kavar and Hitoshi needed medical attention. Izuku would do anything to ensure they got away. Even if it sacrificed his own freedom.

Finally the detective asked, "Sword, Shield, and Clover. Never thought I'd see all three of you out and about."

"I couldn't standby and do nothing," growled Izuku, "Not when my friends' lives are on the line. Kage needed to be saved from Stain and then Sword and Shield from their own injuries."

Tsukauchi stared hard at Izuku realizing he was the leader. It was as if the man was peering into his very soul. What was he looking for? What was he expecting to find?

Then Tsukauchi ordered as he turned around to head out of the alley, "Follow me, you three. I am going to make a phone call."

Izuku questioned guardedly, "What makes you think we will follow you? You want nothing more than to put us in jail."

"Clover..." Hitoshi chided.

Izuku didn't even look at him. His entire focus was on the detective. The man was confusing and he had to know. What was the man's game?

An answer he would not get tonight. Without warning he felt a presence within his mind. It was familiar as he had made the connection before.

A low tenored voice rang through his and Shinsou's minds, :I am the Circle.:

:The Circle is me.: Answered both of the teenagers finishing the connection with Noise.

:You kids need help?: Questioned the older vigilante.

Izuku replied, :Help would be good, Noise. Shield was nearly gutted by Stain and his knee is pretty badly injured.:

:And you Sword?:

Shinsou grumbled, :My injuries can wait until Kavar is looked after.:

There was a hum in their minds before the older man went silent. Izuku felt more than heard Noise drop from the rooftop behind them. Hitoshi startled not having sensed where he was exactly.

Tsukauchi turned to stare at the now four vigilantes. Dark eyes tried to discern what had happened.

Then he breathed, "Noise? I thought you had retired?"

Noise simply cocked his head to the side not answering outloud. He would not dare open his connection to the detective. Things were unpredictable enough as it was.

Tsukauchi rubbed his eyes tired as he asked, "If I swear that I won't arrest them will you believe me."

Excuse him what? Why wouldn't he take advantage of their situation?

:Tsukauchi is an honorable man,: answered Noise reading his emotions, :He will do many things but lying isn't one of them. Besides you can tell when he lies or someone around him lies. He will give an ever so slight flinch. The quirk doesn't stop just because he is the one lying. If you were to trust anyone to help your friend it would be him.:

Izuku asked, "Why would you help us?"

"I am many things, Clover," answered Tsukauchi emotions swirling in his eyes, "But I am not someone who would betray those who risk everything to save a hero. You could have let Kage die tonight. You could have simply walked away but you didn't. Now two of your own are severely injured. I can't in good conscience let you walk away without treatment. I plan on calling Recovery Girl and asking her to treat Sword and Shield. Then letting you go wherever you hide out during the day. No strings attached."

He had watched carefully for the tell that Noise spoke of. There was no sign of it indicating for intents and purposes he was telling the truth. Still he looked towards the older vigilante for confirmation. Ever so slightly Noise nodded. He was telling the truth.