Ch. 13- Kaminari Age 8

Denki looks up to the sky, watching the vivid colors as the sun rises. Oranges, reds, and purples arch the sky. His breath wisps out from the cold February air. Yesterday's theft is still on his mind as he waits.

The crunch of footsteps on cracked pavement makes him look up at the man with a soft smile, "Come on it's this way." Mr. Bakugou turns and trudges back the way he came. He's supposed to be bringing him back to his house but what if he isn't? Maybe he's being kidnapped? Walking straight into a trap. Sold on the black market. Or to child traffickers. Murderers and predators.

He starts to slow down, falling behind the man. Block after block he starts to examine his surroundings, looking at every tree, bush, house, and street to see his best option for escape if necessary.

"Uncle!" He hears a voice call before a familiar green-haired boy rushes to him. Mr. Bakugou swoops the boy into his arms and swings the kid around. From the corner street come two more familiar boys. He silently sighed with relief that his fears were nothing more than that.

Izuku sees him first, jumping out of the man's hold and bringing him into a hug. "It's you! You're back!"

"Deku you're going to kill him. And you don't have your gloves on." Katsuki barks as his father messes up his hair with a laugh.

"It's fine-he was too excited to do anything, just remember to always wear them when outside the house Little Angel. Now come kids, I got to show your friend here the office. He agreed to help us."

"Office? The one in the basement or…" Izuku asks.

"Let's start off with the basement and go from there."

"Oh! You're going to love it! They are fashion designers and they make so many gorgeous and pretty outfits. For everyone! Kids, Adults, and even Pro Heroes! They have different offices all over but they start their designs from in the basement. They're really good and popular! They even-"

"Deku!"

"Sorry Kacchan." He looks sheepishly at his soulmate before turning back to an uncomfortable Denki and then to his Uncle. "Could he see the other office?"

"Hm. We'll see how he does here."

The greenette's face lights up and he grabs Denki's hand with one of his own and with the other grabs Shouto's who has been holding Katsuki's hand and drags everyone back to the house.

It's late when Denki wakes to a phone going off. Refusing to open his eyes he feels his nightstand for his phone. He cracks an eye open, wanting to destroy the phone for waking him after he just got to sleep. He sits up when he sees the caller ID, "Hello?"

There's silence on the other end, "Toshi? You there?"

There's far away screaming and bashing sounds but nothing else, He whispers this time, "Tosh? You okay? Do you need help? I could call the emergency services?"

"No." The answer is hissed, and ruff sounding.

"Alright. What can I do?"

There's more silence, "Nothing. Just wanted to hear you."

"But-" a beep makes him look at the phone realizing Toshi hung up on him. He frantically tries to think of what to do. He sounds bad. He said no to cops and he knows to not tell anyone here. Before he knows what he's doing he's calling someone.

"Shh. It's okay. It's good that you called. We'll help in any way we can." Mr. Bakugou is crouched in front of him in the doorway to his home. The other adults and children stand around and try to help console him. After Denki called he couldn't just lay there so he ran to their house, afraid he made a mistake. This man and his family don't really care. They have their own troubles and family to take care of. What does it matter that the little orphan boy that's popped up needs help? No one cared before, they all just want them gone, so why did he call?

"I don't know what happened. We usually get sent back \or we just run. Nothing really bad has happened. At least nothing he's told me. But why wouldn't he tell me? We're best friends!" He knows he's losing it. He doesn't really say what he's thinking or feeling that often. Actually never. Not to anyone but Toshi.

While the boy is having a mental breakdown, the adults share a look before reassuring him.

"Is this boy located near?" Mrs. Bakugou growls and crosses her arms.

He looks up and sees something in each face that sends a shiver down his spine. "Ye-yes just two districts over."

"Tell us the address and we'll have it all sorted out by the morning." Mrs. Midoriya smiles down at him but something in it doesn't feel right.

Denki just barely choked out the address before the adults gathered their belongings and parted with a promise from their kids to stay safe inside and not leave.

Denki just stares at the door for a second before turning to demand answers from the other kids. They're already heading for the stairs for bed. Shou shoulder bumps him forward without saying a word. He just lets the three boys lead him to their room.

When he's suddenly in a futon and the lights are out he finally gets his senses back. Except when he turns to the others for answers they're already asleep.

Sounds from far away wake him. It takes a few seconds to remember what happened. Seeing no one in the room and that it's half past noon he scrambles out the door. He looks over the railing to the ground floor. All the kids are down there along with the adults. Playing games and goofing around, making and eating breakfast. If it weren't for the fact that he's there he'd think it was all a dream. That is until he sees his favorite color.

Without thinking he's already down the stairs, jumping on his best friend, bringing them both down to the ground. Frail arms hug him back as he buries his tear-stained face in Toshi's neck. They stay like this for a moment while they get themselves together.

They sit up but Denki won't allow him farther away than he can touch him.

Examining the boy in front of him makes him feel sick. He looks even more tired than normal with his eyes bloodshot, black-rimmed, and sunken. His body looks like he hasn't been fed in months. His face is cut up and a bruised handprint is around his neck.

Denki slowly places his fingertips on the wound but the other's hand grabs them, interlacing their hands. He notices that Toshi hasn't talked yet and probably can't.

"What happened?" He barely gets the words out, too soft to be heard yet Mr. Midoriya answers anyway.

"His foster parents didn't like his quirk."

"So they did this?" He never stopped looking at his friend. Big purple eyes pleading with him to drop the subject. He couldn't.

"Don't worry kid he'll heal in no time. He already got examined at the scene but we'll bring him to the hospital after breakfast. See what else's wrong with him." Mrs. Bakugou taps the two to stand, walking them to the table.

"That's not the point." He doesn't know what's gotten into him. He just feels mad. Really mad. "They did this to him. What happened to them?"

"We got him out and are pressing charges. They won't be allowed to foster and the biological kids they do have will be taken away." Mrs. Midoriya sets his plates on the table with Fuyumi, Natsuo, and Tenko setting others around him.

"That's not enough, they need to pay."

There's silence as everyone turns to him.

"And what, pray tell, do you suggest?" Mr. Midoriya folds his hands on the table, eyes keenly on the electric boy.

"Death. They need to die for what they have done." He doesn't know what has gone over him. He'd occasionally have these possessive thoughts about Toshi but nothing this severe. All he knows is red hot fury. Someone tried to take what was his and he could do nothing. He can live without seeing him for a month or two but to take him for months on end then try to kill what is his? Unexceptable. He needs revenge, he needs to know that what tried to harm his friend will no longer exist.

He doesn't notice the still silence or the worried look and pressure on his hand from Toshi. Doesn't see the look the family is giving each other. Happy grins on some while scoffs and eyes roll from others. How the adults laugh to themselves sending each other lovelorn looks, remembering their youthful days.

"I think once we get Shinsou here checked out we can show them the other offices," Hisashi says gaining everyone's attention.

"Really Dad? Finally?!"

He nods and chatter breaks out. Denki looks up at this and sees smiles and laughter, he doesn't understand what he missed. Usually saying something like he did would cause alarms. He only now realizes his mistake. For some reason, he said everything he felt out loud to his embarrassment.

"You really need to open up more dumbass," Katsuki says.

"Exactly! Rely on us like you did last night." Izuku grins at him.

"I really don't want something bothering you and getting you distracted when you're gaming with us," Tenko adds while Natsuo nods, stuffing his mouth to capacity.

"Great more kids. You going to adopt them too?" Hana snarks making Fuyumi jab her with her elbow.

Two hours later finds them in front of an old rundown bar. Thinking back on it, it's the same bar as months before. A young man maybe in his early twenties stands outside. His appearance switches back and forth from a bright blue-eyed and puffy blue-haired man to a dark purple smokey black figure with no clear indication of the man underneath.

"Good evening Master. May I offer you a drink?"

"Not right now Kurogiri, I'm showing our new little recruits here at our base."

"Ah. Good luck sir." The man makes his way back inside and behind the counter. He watches and feels a push from Natsuo to go inside. He does, looking at the bar area. It's still early so it isn't open just yet according to the sign yet there are a few seats taken by unscrupulous people.

"Well well." One says with glasses, messy silver hair, and a missing tooth as he blows out smoke from his cigarette. "More kiddos. You creating an army boss?"

"Not if they don't want to, Giran."

"Hm. They know what they're signing up for?"

"I've informed them."

"Well, doesn't matter to me. I got what you asked for in the back."

"Very good." Mr. Midoriya turns and heads to the back. The few others at the table watch him before turning their attention to Toshi and Denki.

"I 'an't believe he's gettin all these 'itle kids to do his dirty work, I should've done it. Free labor an' all." A scraggly guy with a scar on his face, unlike Shouto's whispers to the guy next to him who mutely nods.

"Hey, don't nark on the kids fore they get to show off. There must be a reason why the boss brought em." A man with shoulder-length black hair and bright gold eyes says.

"I agree with Nomura." Giran leans against the table, "So, what's your kid's names and quirks?"

One look at his friends and remaining adults has him answering really quick, "Denki Kaminari and this is Hitoshi Shinsou. Electricity and mind control are our quirks. Sorry he can't speak right now, his foster parents tried to kill him last night and so we're here to make them and anyone else like em pay. They'll know what they did to what's mine." He snarls out causing the men to lift an eyebrow and grin at them.

"Well, well. You found yourself in the right place. Though it's sad to see any kids see this side of society so early in life. Guess it's better than being disillusioned." Giran hums, blowing out more smoke. "I'm Giran the trader around this area. I don't specifically work for anyone, more like a freelancer but this place has good intel and coffee so you'll see me around. Come to me if you want something hard to get."

The kids nod, already getting shuffled to the back. "I like him," Denki says and starts bouncing his way down the corridor. Toshi rolls his eyes but nods his assent.

"There are so many cool people here! Some are helping me study so I can be a doctor!" Natsuo runs up beside Toshi and swings his arm around him, Tenko leaning against his other side looking bored without his games.

"That's so cool!" He wants to say more but they turn a corner and stop in their tracks. It's huge. A warehouse full of things and people milling about.

"We're no longer in the bar. We went through a portal door which recognized whose there to stop intruders. They just see a storage cooler if they don't belong. Since you were with us you could enter. This place is called the market. Anything sold here is pricey and illegal. Don't touch." Mrs. Midoriya explains. "It's still early so not many people are here. It runs twenty-four-seven and has quirks protecting the people and the objects. An auction is put on three times a week at midnight, so they call it the Midnight Market."

"This is so awesome!" Denki rocks back on his feet to stay on the ground to not accidentally electrocute anyone or anything sparks already firing off.

"Isn't it?" Mrs. Bakugou snorts, leading them through the crowd. "We'll show you everything. In the end, if you want to back out we'll let you. But if you stay you're in forever. No turning back."

"Mits! Don't scare the kids. That's a big decision for children to make. We'll ask again when you turn eighteen. You won't be doing anything big until then just learning the basics. If you continue to stay is when you can't back out." Mrs. Midoriya reprimands her childhood friend. Mr. Bakugou just chuckles and they make their way through another portal.

"That was amazing! The Midnight Market, the Lab, the Center, the Clinic. My mind is like-" Denki makes an exploding gesture before grabbing hold of Toshi's arm in the backseat of the limo they're going back to the adoption center in. He never let go of him yet, always an arm's length away. "What do you think?"

Toshi starts to type while he reads over his shoulder. "Hm. I agree it is too good to be true. Still, I think you're wrong about them. We can trust them. They helped me out and few months back and got you out of that mess."

He's quiet for a moment wondering if this is the time to bring it up. He decides to pull the bandage off, "Hey Tosh, Why didn't you tell me what was going on sooner? Why didn't you leave? If I'd known I could've done something sooner and maybe you wouldn't be hurt… this is the first time right?"

The purple boy only turns his head to look out the window. His heart sinks. "Toshi? What happened? How many times did you get hurt?"

The boy just sinks into himself. Tears start to fall and he clutches his purple boy tighter. "You're mine Tosh, no one will hurt you again."

The other looks down at his phone and hesitantly writes, 'But what about your tattoo? It's not my name."

The blond moves the hair out of his face as he looks down at his left wrist, always covered by a waterproof strand. "Doesn't matter. I'm with you always. You're mine." He buries his face into his best friend's chest, letting the boy hold him until they arrive and have to separate again.

A/N

11/30/23

Omg I loved writing this chapter but it's hella short because I didn't like the first draft and at 8 at night decided hours before it was due to start over. Whoops. Trust me it's better than the og but not everything I wanted to happen. Especially since the next chapter is another time jump. Can you guess the two boys' backstories? Who are their soulmates? What villain do you want them to run into or team up with? What do you wish will happen? I love comments and kudos so please share, it helps a lot. Thanks for reading! -Fwgaltx