Disclaimer: I don't own mha
Warning: Rated M for Mature themes
Shigaraki looked at the man who'd entered his run down hideout with nothing but frustration and disdain.
Compress and Spinner nervously traded glances between the two villains who'd failed to break eye contact for even a second since Overhaul arrived.
"Now just who do you think you are? Coming here and making such a demand."
Shigaraki hopped down from his throne of discarded warehouse crates, a mix of gleeful amusement and unhinged rage festering inside him as he seemed about ready to let loose.
"Many of my subordinates have been captured by the heroes, should they attack soon I find my odds of escaping to be rather displeasing."
The younger villain walked towards the man with an annoyed expression, stopping only a few feet away.
"And how is that my problem? I couldn't care less if you were busted by the heroes."
One could almost see the amused yet sly grin through Overhauls mask as he pulled out his phone and turned it on.
"I'm making it your problem, if you don't come back with me... Im going to kill her."
Shigaraki looked closer at the video. A small dusty room with a hospital gurney in the center and an unconscious Himiko Toga hooked up to the machine.
"Alright that tears it!!!"
Overhaul jumped back as an enraged Shigaraki lunged at him and put the phone away before promptly getting into a defensive position.
Shigaraki's hate filled eyes followed the black haired mans movement and soon he was already back on the hunt.
"Woah! Hold on boss, I think we should hear him out at the very least."
Shigaraki violently jerked his back over his shoulder while shaking in anger he tried to pull away from the crazy fool who would dare to try and touch somebody with a quirk like his.
"Let go of me Dabi! I don't care! Im gonna kill him right now!"
The patchwork flame user had an amused grin as he pulled Shigaraki away from the other villain.
Overhaul watched silently and thoughtlessly as Shigaraki tried to break out of Dabi's grip but he was careful not to let him touch him.
"Surprising... Apparently you do have a level headed and rational person in your little band of degenerates."
Dabi and Overhaul waited awhile for the bratty villain to tire himself out. A fruitful chioce as Shigaraki was eventually left heaving in anger as he exhaustedly looked at the source of his unhinged rage.
"You want to bring down hero society same as me. Help me and we'll create the world you've envisioned... One where the profession of hero doesn't exist anymore, where people like us have all the power."
Shigaraki continued to send the man a hateful glare until he finally felt something that distracted him for only a moment. Burning pain gradually growing around his wrist as he looked down at his arm to see smoke coming from the point of contact where Dabi held him.
The villain looked at his insubordinate comrade only to feel his anger die all at once. In its place a twisted mix of confusion, fear, and curiosity welled up inside of Shigaraki as he saw a look in Dabi's eyes that matched with everytime he'd looked in the mirror throughout his upbringing.
A shallow facade of calmness that masked a look of rage in his eyes. Dabi proceeded to yank Shigaraki away from the crimelord and come in closer towards his ear.
"I don't know if you've realized it but we're kinda in a bad situation right now, and I am not about to go down with you when I haven't even come close to achieving my goal. I'll kill you right now
if I have to."
Not able to clearly make out what Dabi was whispering Overhaul eyed the two suspiciously as he reached for his glove preparing to take it off.
'Perhaps I should just kill them all, this might have been a waste of time.'
The stunned Shigaraki stared at Dabi in astonishment for a few solid seconds before he turned away in annoyance managing to pull away from his grip the now seemingly calmer young villain took a minute to compose himself.
Shigaraki looked down at the ground in shame and disgust all aimed at himself before looking back at the other villain.
"Ok... Y-you... you... You Win."
The villain finally managed to choke out those words as he felt himself cringe inside at what he'd just done.
"Oh hey Midoriya!"
A certain green haired young man turned around to see one of his peers running over to him with an energetic and passionate energy to him.
"Oh Hello Kirishima, did you get called out today for your work study as well?"
The red haired boy stopped in front of his friend with a guilty grin across his face. Midoriya looked over his friends shoulder to see someone running after him.
Kirishima looked in the direction of the boys curious gaze and smiled as he turned to face the newcomer.
"Can't believe you went and tried to ditch me like that Kirishima! I mean what the hell man!"
Tetsutetsu came to a screeching halt while looking a bit exhausted and more than a bit peeved.
The red haired boy couldn't help but chuckle as he playfully punched his friend in the arm nearly forcing him to stumble to the ground.
The grey haired boy chuckled as he felt obligated to return the favor.
"Oh... Is Tetsutetsu working alongside you at the Fatgum agency?" Midoriya asked speaking up before they could really offer a two way beating to each other.
The two boys looked over at Midoriya and grinned in unison forgetting about the playful feud they were about to get into.
"Oh hey Deku! Are you heading out for your work study too?"
The green haired boy turned to see Ochaco, Tsuyu, and Pony walking towards them as if seemingly ready to go somewhere.
"Oh hey Ochaco. Yeah I just got called in this morning. What about you guys?" The boy asked in response as the six UA students all banded together in a little group.
"Yeah we just got the message from Ryuku only minutes ago." The brunette said with her typical cheery smile.
Midoriya looked at his phone to reaffirm to himself where the location was and then turned back to his friends.
"Well since we're all going out to our work studies at the same time do you guys wanna walk to the station together?"
Nobody seemed opposed as Kirishima and Tetsutetsu just casually shrugged to one another and Tsuyu seemed to perk up at the idea of being with all her friends. Ochaco was shaking in excitement... but Pony on the other hand.
"Oh Izuku! You know I'd take any excuse to spend more time with you!"
A now flustered and blushing Midoriya was caught off guard as the loving and cotton candy hearted blonde leaped towards him and violently hugged the boys arm with an excited look on her face.
Ochaco glared at the blonde which seemed to go unnoticed by everyone except the recipient of said glare.
Pony looked back at the brunette with a smug grin and stuck her tongue out mockingly which only further annoyed the other girl.
"W-well...um... t-t-thankyou... Pony... lets get going then I guess."
Shakily and awkwardly Midoriya pulled away from the girl and slowly and stiffly proceeded to lead the way followed by his doting friend as well as his other fellow heroes in training.
Midoriya and his friends were all rather surprised. Not once did their paths diverge on the way to their respective work studies and this only left them in the presence of their seniors.
Mirio, Nejire, and Tamaki all turned their attention to the younger students and seemed to have a concerning and uncharacteristic look of seriousness across their faces.
'We all ended up in the same place, and Mirio looks so stoic... whatever is happening... must be bad... could it perhaps be related to Eri?' Midoriya thought to himself in wonder.
Tamaki opened the door and turned to his friends giving a nod of affirmation.
"I guess it's time then... come on in guys." Mirio said gesturing for everyone to follow him inside.
Midoriya and his friends all followed the older blonde and after reaching the end of the hallway entered a room that would only serve to leave them in shock and confusion.
Many pro heroes both familiar and unfamiliar all littered the room, it didn't take Midoriya long to spot Nighteye in the center of the frey.
The opposite proved to be just as true as Nighteyes gaze immediately fell upon the green haired boy. With his trademark poker face the former sidekick adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat to speak up.
"It would appear as though everyone has arrived. Let's all be seated and we'll begin right away."
As he said that all the heroes proceeded to sit down. Kirishima, Ochaco, and the others had all joined their respective mentors leaving Midoriya alone with Mirio who he proceeded to take a seat next to.
"I suppose it would be most prudent to start with the reason your all here right now."
All eyes fell upon Nighteye who sat at the head of the table accompanied by his all of his respective associates within the agency.
"The reason I've called this meeting is simple. We've found enough evidence to pin the chia Hassakai as likely suspects in a drug ring that is experimenting with a new and very dangerous concoction."
Nighteye turned his attention to Fat Gum with an expectantlook, seemingly passing the reigns for the explanation.
"The other day Our Suneater here was shot with some kind of drug in the form of a bullet. It rendered him incapable of using his quirk."
Nearly everyone gasped in response to this terrifying revelation as mermers and whispers started to float around the room.
"That's... just plain awful. Are you alright now Amijiki?" Midoriya asked in concern while turning his attention solely towards the shy older boy.
Amijiki rubbed the side of his arm with a look of unease as he recalled what happened.
"Yes I'm fine now. Whatever they used was only a temporary version, here's a horse hoof to prove it." The manifestation hero said putting Midoriya's concern to rest.
Rock Lock shook his head in annoyance as he leaned back in his chair with a critical and judgemental scowl.
"We shouldn't be wasting time getting hung up on the little things. If these worthless goons really are manufacturing such a drug then does anyone here have any ideas on how and why?"
Everyone looked around but few seemed informed on the matter. Naturally over time their eyes returned to the man investigating this matter in the first place.
All too ready to progress with the debriefing Nighteye pressed a button on his remote changing the picture on the projector behind him.
Midoriya looked away in shame and distress as his guilt hit him in the gut full force.
"Their young head Kai Chisaki has been suspiciously active as of lately. Making moves and adding members into his ranks, most concerning of all though... is that he recently made contact with Jin Bubaigawara from the league of villains."
All of the UA students in the room visibly and noticibly cringed at the mention of this, while some of the heroes who'd spent more time following the league's activated grimaced.
"Wait! So your telling us that the league is involved in this too?!" Kirishima shouted aloud in shock while blasting out of his seat and slamming his fists on the table.
Nighteye didn't immediately respond but instead gestured to his right and turned everyone's attention to his own subordinate. Juzo Moashi, the centipede hero.
Pony looked at the man with a proud smile across her face.
'It really is nice to see more fellow mutant type quirk users in the field of heroics.'
The projector once again turned towards another image showing the destruction of a warehouse.
"I was the one who initially came across Chisaki and Bubaigawara, although I tried my best to tail them they were cautious to avoid bringing back unnecessary attention and thus I couldn't pursue further."
"Wait! So how exactly is the league involved in all of this?" Midoriya abruptly spoke up.
Rock Lock glared at one of the young heroes he'd found to be quite unnecessary to have tag along.
"Should these inexperienced kids really be here? I don't care if they are from UA. How are we going to get anywhere if we have to keep stopping and explaining everything them?"
Midoriya averted his eyes in shame at the harsh words. While Pony's attention turned towards the blunt and skeptical pro.
"Why don't you start by shutting your mouth?! Your pointless critiques of the younger generation are also a needless consumption of time. He's asking vital questions that could offer valuable insight regarding what we're up against."
The pro heroes glare turned towards the blonde and he seemed to grow more frustrated with her remarks.
Pony however wasn't the least bit intimidated as she returned his hostile glare full force.
After a few long tense seconds both servant's of justice crossed their arms turning their heads in defiance and annoyance caused by one another.
An awkward silence filled the air as the tension had grown so thick you could cut it with a knife, everyone just stared at the two in anticipation.
"If we're done here then I wish to continue. Now in response to young Midoriya's question, no we don't think they are working together. We've found sufficient evidence to suspect that their first meeting ended in violence and bloodshed."
Once again Moashi spoke up continuing where he left off. With everyone's attention regained he pointed to the picture of the damaged building.
"With the fall of All for One many believe that there is a power struggle brewing in the underworld, and this seems to be likely evidence that validates the theory."
Midoriya thought back to the time when it all changed and some disturbing memories resurged in the process. The boy looked intently at the picture.
'Shigaraki... could he really be involved in this?'
With a serious look in his eyes the boy turned his attention towards Nighteye once again, now feeling even more pressured by the facts than he'd ever been.
"Now let's move onto the more pressing concerns here." Nighteye announced while turning the picture onto the next topic.
As if things could get any more disheartening, the boy immediately felt sickened and disturbed upon seeing the image of a very familiar girl who he'd remembered all too well.
Fat Gum was the next to take a stand with a determined look in his eye he gestured towards Kirishima who had a clueless look on his face.
"Thanks to Kirishima here we were able to aquire an undamaged sample of the bullet they we're using. With his quirk the bullet just bounced right off his skin."
Everyone seemed impressed as they all looked at and praised the red haired boy.
"Good job Kirishima! I'd expect nothing less from you!" Ochaco shouted with pride.
"Oh! Yes, your quirk was hardening wasn't it? I bet that's super handy." Nejire added with a playful grin.
Kirishima scratched his head in confusion while faking a smile.
'I don't really know what I did though.'
"There was one thing we found though that sickened me to my core." Fat Gum announced with a disturbed frown.
The hero looked back at the picture of Eri as his expression turned to one of anger and frustration.
"We found human blood and cells within the bullets."
Midoriya gasped as he looked between Fat Gum and the picture and he desperately hoped that the idea he had was wrong.
'Human... Blood?'
The boy covered his mouth and looked away convulsing as he felt disgusted at the thought.
"For those unaware Chisaki has a daughter named Eri. The girl has a very powerful quirk that enables her to rewind things... even to the point of non existence. It would line up with the effects of this new bullet."
As the heroes all tried to absorb the information the room went silent yet again as everyone seemed rather disturbed by the thought.
"Sometime prior to joining my agency Midoriya here had encountered Chisaki and the girl along with another agent of the shie Hassakai. A fight ensued and as a result Midoriya nearly lost his life."
Midoriya looked down in shame as Nighteye recounted the events that occurred not too long ago offering a depressing perspective.
"Midoriya was willing to bear the risk of taking her right then and there. Moreover it seemed as though Eri was covered in bandages."
As Nighteye continued to speak Midoriya's shame only increased further leaving him shaking in frustration.
"Heh... Would've been a lot easier if this amateur here managed to get the girl away from them in the first place."
Pony once again glared at Rock Lock in rage at his belligerent remarks towards one of her dearest companions.
"As a hero in training Midoriya did everything that he could. The simple truth is that he was outmatched and outnumbered. Even a pro would've had remarkable trouble in that kind of situation... the boy should shoulder no blame for that." Nighteye declared in disagreement though as always he retained his unwelcoming presence.
Rock Lock crossed his arms in defiant pride while turning away from Midoriya. Seemingly dropping it for the moment.
"Another Issue if I may. How are the Hassaikai producing and distributing this product? Even if they are using the girl, that alone wouldn't be enough to get it out onto the streets and into the hands of other questionable individuals."
Everyone looked back expantly as Nighteye grew silent. The man pushed a button on the remote to project the next image showing a map to everyone.
His cold gaze shifted towards Fat Gum and he gave an affirmative nod which was all the pro needed to understand.
The large hero stood up once again garnering everyone's attention and took the floor.
"When I was just starting out I helped the Police bring down drug ops and Kirishima proved yesterday that he could too. The man who shot Tamaki also used a drug called trigger to enhance the effects of his quirk temporarily."
Fat Gum pulled out two bags, one containing the syringe that once held the enhancement drug and the other containing the intact bullet.
"The distribution channels for stuff like that are complex. Drugs pass through various people and organizations before they finally reach the end user. There's no concrete evidence that Hassakai handled the drug but we know for a fact they interacted with one of the middle men responsible for moving it."
Rock Lock leaned up from his chair and rested his hands on the desk with an exasperated sigh.
"There's still another issue though. That girl managed to get away from their hideout, if only for a little while. And then she went and got herself seen by a hero... Do you really think he's just gonna leave her in the same place? Hell I know I sure wouldn't. We need to be sure of where they're keeping her or else we lose any chance of taking them by surprise." The critical hero said bringing to light a new possible obstacle.
"He has a point, have you thought of what our next move should be Nighteye?" Ryuku asked while looking back at the former sidekick.
Nighteye let out a low barely audible groan of annoyance. Though he hid it well one could probably tell he was vexed by the prospect.
"That's our conundrum. Since we don't currently know how far along there plan is, the sucess of our initial strike is crucial. To that end we've made a thorough list of groups with a connection to Hassaikai, as well as properties owned by the organization. This is our starting point, I would like you all to investigate each coordinate on this map."
Everyone looked at the map, studying it intently no one knew quite what to make of it for a short while.
"I see... So thats why asked minor heroes like us to join."
A masked hero looked at his fellow nameless generic teammate with a confused look.
"What do you mean?"
"Go on look. Everyone of the heroes in this room works in one of those locations. We know those areas better than most."
It all suddenly became clearer as Midoriya looked on in amazement at the true depth of Nighteye's brilliance.
"Didn't expect someone who worked with All Might for so long to be such a careful planner. Lets just go take em down! While we're sitting here yapping some poor girl is out there suffering right now!"
While Fat Gum seethed in fury at the idea of an innocent young girl suffering Nighteye maintained his calm demeanor.
"We can't do this like All Might would. That is why we have to play it smart, gather as much intel on the situation as we can and strike only when we have the highest chance of success."
"Hes right. Just like how Stains capture drew people closer to the league we could face disastrous ramifications if we act wrecklessly." Ryuku added.
Fat Gum looked around in frustration while Nighteye retained his cold composure and all the heroes went silent. At this point Aizawa raised his hand and spoke up.
"Excuse me. I've got a question."
Nighteye looked over at the hero and nodded giving him his full attention.
"I don't know the specifics of your quirk Nighteye. Feel free to correct. But from what I've heard of it, your quirk foresight allows you to see into the future. So why not use it on us. That's logical right?"
Nighteye looked down with a troubled expression as his already cold demeanor became a little more distant.
"Im sorry, but I cannot... My foresight has some limitations. I need a full twenty four hours between activations. That means I get one person and then I'm spent for the rest of the day. Additionally the futured is played in my mind like a flashback. Think of it like viewing a filmstrip. For one hour, I have the power to watch a persons life as a movie. The issue is, everything I see is from a tight perspective on the person in question. This severely limits my capacity to interpret context."
Aizawa looked at the man in indifference seemingly unconvinced by what he'd heard so far.
"That should still provide more than enough information to be useful dont you think? And it doesn't explain why you can't do it."
The former sidekick adjusted his glasses with a stern grimace across his face.
"What if I saw imminent death in your future... Worse... What if it were a cruel merciless demise."
Pony narrowed her glare in wonder and anticipation. As she stared on in an inquisitive manner Izuku gasped in slight shock as he recalled something of the past.
"My quirk should be employed only after we've confirmed the highest likelihood of success. Then it can help ensure our victory. It shouldn't be relied upon when there are still too many uncertainties."
Rock Lock was the next to give Nighteye an unapproving glare.
"Woah! Woah! Woah! Hold up, death is still information. If we know whats coming, we can figure out how to survive." The man said putting his thoughts on the table once more.
"You don't understand. It's possible what I see I see is unavailable."
"Bro that's the only excuse you have for real? Oh hell no! Just use it on me now! I'll show you I can beat death."
Nighteye looked down now seemingly more troubled then he'd been this entire time as his composure finally cracked.
"I cant!"
With those final words the entire room went silent as an oppressively dark atmosphere enveloped the heroes. Mirio looked at his beloved and respected mentor in concern.
Eventually it was Ryuku who was next to speak letting out a low sigh as she did.
"We should get started, there's a child in danger. That's what's important here."
As if desperately seeking a distraction Nighteye immediately straightened his posture and looked up at all the heroes he'd gathered.
"We must confirm the girls location and take her into our protection as soon as possible using the most accurate data. I'm counting on your help. All of you."
Midoriya looked down in frustration yet again. It was relieving to know they'd soon be taking action yet his mind once again turned towards his previous failure.
'Eri... I'm so sorry... I promise... I won't fail you ever again. I'm going to save you.'
It took some time but the heroes dispersed from the room in order to return to their respective jurisdictions and carry out their portions of the investigation. No time would be wasted and no stone unturned.
Elsewhere at the Shia Hassakai's underground headquarters, Shigaraki laid in his bed in the temporary room that had been set up for him.
A resentful scowl grazed his wicked face as he looked up at the ceiling. Many thoughts came to mind, but one was more prevalent than anything else that had occured as of lately.
'Dabi... what do you hate in this world so much that you'd burn anything you deemed necessary to destroy it.'
And that's the chapter, hope everyone thought it was alright. I think I'm getting close to finishing up this story. Still have some more ideas to implement I guess.