Double Down stumbled into the Triad safe house, a rundown apartment with basic necessities, which is what he sorely needed after his little spat with the rabbit.
He was covered in cuts and bruises from the explosive arrow, his left arm dislocated from when he landed awkwardly. With a hiss he popped it back into place as he began to get his bandages ready.
Idly he watched the cards he'd thrown begin to reappear on his skin, "kid had me using cards from my chest…he should be dead after that barrage, but I should definitely make sure." he finished treating his injuries and had just pulled a water bottle from the dingy fridge in the corner of the room when his phone rang, "what?" he answered.
"Is it done?" the gruff voice on the other voice asked.
"I winged him several times, he left bloody, no idea if he's dead though." he said lightly. Gulping down water as the line growled.
"You said he'd be dead, if I don't see his damn corpse in the news I'll-"
"-not pay me, I know." he said with an eye roll, "relax, I'm just patching myself up, as you know, this kid's no push over, he got me a couple of times too, and I plan on paying that back."
"Call as soon as it's done. Don't fail us, Double Down."
The line went dead and Double Down resisted the urge to hurl his phone against the wall, "fuckin' Triad pieces of shit." he grumbled, "I miss the Yakuza." he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pockets, lighting one as he headed for the door, "hope you've said your prayers kid, cause this time it's personal."
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Shouta Aizawa watched as the Forensic officers gather evidence from around the old warehouse, arrows stabbed into walls and the ground all around the facility, thin puncture marks throughout as well suggested a powerful long range quirk.
One that had hit it's mark more than once if the blood splattered through the nearby alleyway was any indication.
"What have you found?" he asked Naomasa as the detective walked up.
"Nothing much, any CCTV nearby was corrupted, Triad most likely. Got signs of explosives used, grenades is what one of the forensic guys said; we know Rabbit also has some explosive arrows as well."
"Looks like he finally bit off more than he could chew." Shouta muttered, looking back to the blood.
"There's no telling right now," Naomasa sighed regretfully, "we have officers combing the area, they found more traces of blood, but nothing that could be followed; samples are being sent to the lab, hopefully we'll hear something within a few hours."
"I doubt he's in the system." Aizawa muttered, "but at least we'll have it on file."
"My thoughts exactly, for now the boys are gonna wrap up here, leave a patrol unit in the area; if anything else happens, we'll know."
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Izuku woke with a gasp, which quickly turned into a groan as he rolled onto his side and threw up from the pain lancing through his body.
"Easy, you're not fully healed yet."an old, gentle voice said.
Izuku took a few deep breaths and carefully peered up, surprised to see an old man sitting on his other side, stroking his fu-man-chu moustache, eyes closed in serenity. He was dressed in simple white robes, his hands held up in a placating manner, "I'm actually surprised you woke up during the healing process, most don't."
"Where-' he started, hand going up to check his hood and mask, relaxing a bit when he found them in place.
"Somewhere safe, rest assured." he said as he guided him back down onto the mat he'd been laying on in the middle of what looked like a Dojo, "and don't worry, we didn't peak at your identity, your secret is still safe."
"Thank you." Izuku said weakly, "for keeping my secret and for helping me."
"It's no worry young man, now relax, I still have some to go, if that pain in your chest wasn't a give away."
Izuku chuckled weakly, wincing at the slight pain.
The old mans hands began glowing a soft blue as he put them to the injured vigilante's chest.
Izuku breathed a sigh of contentment as the pulsating glow seemed to sooth his aggravated wounds. "How long was I out?" he asked.
"A couple of hours, luckily Fumikage got you here before you lost any more blood, a good meal after this and you'll be good to go."
"Fumikage?" he asked.
"My grandson, he was out pondering the darkness when he came upon your fight, he's the one who carried you here. And assured your partner that you were safe."
"Oh man, Cyber!" he started raising his arm, but the sharp twinge of pain had him putting his arm back down.
"Don't you worry about that right now," the old man chastised, "my healing will get you back on your feet, but you must not aggravate your body. Otherwise you risk reopening wounds and setting my work back; Fumikage has already let her know where we are, I'm sure your transportation will be along as soon as you're all healed up."
"Will I be able to fight?"
"Hmm, i'd prefer you didn't," He said, a knock at the door not distracting him past the 'enter' he called out before continuing on, "I'd recommend you not do anything strenuous for the next week, if not two, but I know you hero types."
"What can I say?" he chuckled weakly as someone began to clean up his throwup, "sorry about that." he said, turning to the boy, surprised to see a crow head instead of a regular human one.
"Fret not, Rabbit." the boy said, his voice dramatic and deep, "your wounds were grievous, i don't hold it against you."
"Are you Fumikage?" Izuku asked him, when the boy nodded Izuku gave him a genuine smile, or as close as one could muster in his exhausted state, "thank you for saving me, I don't know what I would have done."
"It was my honor," Fumikage said with a small head dip, "you have done much for those who languish in the dark, it was the least I can do."
Suddenly a shadowy bird popped its head out from underneath his shirt, "That's Fumi talk for he's a big fan." the bird snickered before the boy was pushing him back, with a furious "Dark shadow!"
"Why don't you go get some food for our friend here, grandson." the old man said with a smile, "i'll be done in about thirty minutes."
"Yes, Grandfather." Fumikage said, bowing to his elder before leaving.
"He's a good boy," the old man said, looking at Izuku, "he's hoping to be accepted at UA in two years' time."
"UA is a good aspiration."
"It is one you should consider, especially after tonight."
Izuku laid in silence for a few moments, before whispering, "I can't."
"You almost died tonight, young man." the old man said seriously, sternly, "a few inches to the right and that attack would've sliced through your heart."
"I can't stop after everything I've done-" Izuku tried.
"-of course you can, the world isn't hurting for heroes, you're young, the hero's life can wait for you when you graduate from an accredited school."
"-is that why these Triad guys have been able to move freely with barely anyone going after them?" Izuku asked, trying not to let his irritation bleed into his soft voice, and succeeding, barely.
"And a lone thirteen year old is the answer?" the old man gave him an unimpressed look, "give what information you've collected to the police and retire until you've graduated. If not for your own life, then for the lives of your loved ones; how do you think they would have felt if you'd died tonight? If Fumi hadn't gotten you here in time?"
Izuku didn't say anything for the rest of the healing session, standing quietly when the old man stepped back, nodding to Izuku to indicate he was good now.
He stretched this way and that, throwing a couple of experimental jabs and nodding, he was exhausted, but he could still move. "Thank you." he said mutely with a polite bow.
The old man put his hand on his shoulder, "i'm not trying to discourage you, son." he said gently, "I simply want you to know that there are other options, you've done a lot of good at great danger to yourself; wouldn't it be better to stop now that you have a way out? The rabbit can easily die tonight. Let the real you continue on."
Before Izuku could answer, the door opened again and Fumikage entered, carrying a plate full of Onigiri, "the best I Could come up with at this hour." he said.
"Thank you." Izuku said as he reached for the food.
"Regain your strength, and think on my words." the old man said, patting his shoulder and moving away, "I'm going to bed Fumi, make sure to lock up after our guest."
"Of course, Grandfather." Fumikage said as the old man left them alone.
Izuku sat down, munching on the Onigiri as Fumikage settled against the wall, "Grandfather is only speaking from a place of worry." the birdheaded teen said, not looking at Izuku.
"I know." izuku said, "he must have had a heart attack when you brought me in."
'He never turns anyone away…but he cannot stay silent when he feels he must speak up." Izuku looked up at him sharply and Fumikage quickly reassured him, "he won't divulge your secret, he will take it to his grave if required, but he wouldn't let you leave here without first speaking his mind."
Izuku sighed as he untensed, "It's not like he's wrong." Izuku muttered begrudgingly, "me and cyber have talked about how the Jade Rabbit ends. But the longer i'm out on the streets, the more I face villains and come out on top, the more I think; do I really need to stop? Do I need to go to a hero school when I'm doing what the majority of heroes are? Even now, I'm not thinking about how close I came to death; i'm thinking about how to counter that assassin I faced; where I could lure him to put the odds in my favor, whicharrows would incapacitate him the fastest so I can truss him up and leave him on the street with a note to the cops." he shook his head, "I didn't even think how my family would react had I not made it home…"
"May I ask what lead you to becoming a vigilante?" fumikage asked carefully.
"Because I wanted to help." Izuku said simply, "because I wanted to be a hero since I was three. It was never a question what I would do, what I would become…becoming the Jade Rabbit was a spur of the moment decision, but now that i'm here…I can't even imagine quitting just…just like that."
Fumikage nodded, "the choice is yours in the end, just know that-vigilante or hero student-I support you."
"Yeah, you kick ass." Dark shadow said, giving him a thumbs up from under the shirt, making Izuku laugh.
"Thanks Fumi…for what it's worth, I hope we run into each other again after tonight." Izuku stood up after finishing his food, his ears could already pick up the sound of his bike before it entered silent running mode.
Fumikage handed over his earpieces, "I hope I don't have to save you again tonight." he said, humor in his voice.
"Don't worry about me," Izuku laughed as he headed for the door, "this rabbit's figured out the best burrow to blitz for this time." he opened the back door just as the the bike quietly rolled to a stop in the alleyway, "thank you again." with that he was on the bike and taking off, "Cyber, you there?" he asked.
"About time!" the exclamation made him wince, swerving a bit as he fought to get the bike under control, "that old guy said it'd take a bit to heal you but I thought he'd give you the headset when you were done! Seriously!"
"Don't be too hard on the guy," Izuku chuckled sheepishly, "he had some things to say, we'll talk about it when I get back, for now, you know any way to find this card throwing guy?"
"Other than going back to the scene of the crime-where i'm sure there's a few patrol units nearby to report anything-i'd say your best bet is to go the old fashioned route."
"Old fashioned huh?" Izuku asked, looking at his phone with a contemplative look.
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Double Down didn't know how he was going to find that brat.
He'd been looking for the better part of two hours, his arm throbbing painfully as he jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Scanning for any sight of the wiley rabbit.
His phone vibrated and he pulled it out, eyes narrowing at the text his boss had sent him, a simple 'he's still alive' over a screenshot of twitter, the handle was 'therealjaderabbit" and it was a selfie of the verdant Archer from his bike, grinning and throwing a peace sign at the screen, the caption being 'some assassin jerk tried to get me, but you can't keep this rabbit down."
Double down grinned as his hadn tightened around the phone, it's case cracking a bit, "he's taunting me? Me?" he growled out, another message having him glancing back at the phone.
Another screenshot, this time of a pedestrian taking a picture of him jumping into a construction site.
"Keep it up you little shit," Double Down said as he took off across the rooftops, "all it's doing is helping me get to you!"
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"Twitter? Really?"
"Hey, it's the fastest way to get the word out." Izuku muttered as he stalked through the building, taser arrow nocked and ready. "What? Did you want me to drive through the center of town shouting "look at me! Here I am!", this way, I got time to set up an ambush."
"You don't even know if he'll come-no way."
"What?" izuku asked, tensing a bit.
"Some intrepid blogger has entered the building, they're on the first floor."
"What!?" Izuku exclaimed, quickly slapping his hand over his mouth.
"And that's why you don't telegraph your location on Twitter, thank you for playing." Cyber said mockingly.
"Yeah, yeah, i'll take care of it."
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Down on the first floor, two girls carefully walked through the empty halls of the barely finished hallway, the one in front holding up her phone while giving a running commentary of how she'd come to be stalking through the still in construction building.
"-and then I saw him dive into one of the open windows, so he has to be here!" she chattered excitedly, her snake-like hair-read, actual snakes- writhed around excitedly on her head, her yellow-tinted nighttime sunglasses glinting a bit as she looked back at her purple haired friend, "maybe we can get an interview with the Rabbit Kyo!"
"Interviewing is your thing, I'm here to make sure you're not in over your head." the shorter punk girl said pointedly, her jacks tapping against her portable speaker. "Why would he even come here?"
"Who knows! Maybe this is his secret lair! This place hasn't had actual construction in years after all!" she said brightly.
"Maybe, bit too obvious though isn't it?"
"I'd say,"
The new voice had both girls jumping, Kyo's jack plugging into her speaker as she held it up towards the top of the nearby staircase while her friend turned her phones light up to the top of them, where the Jade Rabbit was standing tall. "A little too 'open air' for my tastes don't you think?"
"Holy shit." Kyo muttered.
"Mr. Rabbit! Do you have a moment to talk?" her friend asked, surging forward, her foot catching on the staircase, Kyo barely managing to stop her from faceplanting, her eyes widening when she caught an arrow fly past her head, "what the hell!?" she yelped, tackling her friend to the ground, crying out as something sharp sliced past her calf, "is the rabbit attacking us!?"
"No! It's-" her friend tried to shout as they both sat up, but she was cut off as the rabbit tackled them into a nearby room, a volley of sharp playing cards filling the air where they'd just been.
The rabbit wasted no time rolling off of them and jumping to his feet, firing a flashbang arrow into the hallway as he ushered the girls to their feet, "hi, Jade Rabbit, big fan, i know you are, i'll sign something later now run!" Rabbit ordered.
"Yeah right! This would be great for my ratings!" the snake haired girl dismissed him, her phone back up and recording as Double Down came charging into the room, the Rabbit lunged at him, bow on his back, he bobbed and weaved between punches and card throwing to land a powerful right cross on the villains jaw.
"Hey!" the girl complained as Kyoka tackled her again, barely able to keep the phone steady as her friend began dragging her away, "kyoka! You're getting in the way of the shot!"
"Fuck your shot!" Kyoka snapped, pushing her friend out of the way as the Rabbit got his arm around the villains neck and flipped him, throwing him into the wall between the two girls, Kyoka snarled as she finally leveled her speaker at Double Down, "eat soundwave asswipe." she snapped, turning the speaker on and sending a powerful wave of reverb into the distracted villains side, launching him back into the hallway.
The rabbit pulled his bow again, "both of you, out the other hall!" he shouted, jumping into the hallway and loosing an arrow at aDouble Down, who'd barely gotten to his feet in time to eat an concussive arrow that sent him sprawling again, Izuku didn't slow down as he continued firing arrows, another two concussives, a taser that got sliced in half as Double Down got his bearings, a few regulars to take out his retaliatory volley of sharp cards.
The second flashbang arrow tripped Double Down up, blinding him and forcing him to pause to furiously rub at his eyes, "you're fuckin' dead kid!" he roared as his eyesight cleared and he charged into the room they'd been in before, the rabbit was gone, and so were those two girls he'd almost taken out by mistake, "you've pissed off the triads, now you've pissed me off! Come out and die like a man!"
"How about I run like a rabbit?"
Double Down whirled around, cards flying towards the door as the rabbit jumped away, Double Down running after him as he summoned more cards.
"Come on Full House, you gotta be quicker than that!" the rabbit taunted as he trounced up the stairs, not even attempting to fire off anymore arrows, solely focused on dodging and ducking Double Down's furious attacks as he chased after the kid, higher and higher up the half-finished skyscraper.
"We'll never catch up now!"
Kyoka groaned as she finally collapsed beside the building in the street, her snake haired friend pouting as she uploaded 'what little' of the fight she'd been able to record.
"Meddy, i'm going to throttle you when we get back to my house." Kyoka seethed, standing back up, "you almost got us killed!"
"No way! The rabbit had it all under control! She argued as a patrol car came roaring around the corner, lights blazing as it came to a sliding stop beside them, two cops jumping out and immediately leveling guns on them, "Freeze!"
"We're civilians!" Meddy shouted, holding her hands up to show her phone and empty hand while Kyoka just held her empty hands up, leaving her speaker on the ground, "so uncool." she grumbled.
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Rabbit somersaulted over another volley as he finally reached the top of the skyscraper, half-finished walls and concrete pillars offering a veritable maze that he quickly lost himself in, pulling an arrow as he heard Double down finally reach the landing, his breathing coming in ragged gasps.
"You think this shits funny you little punk!?" Double Down snarled, slowly creeping into the pseudo maze, looking about, "all you've been doing is wasting my time, and pissing me off!"
"Is that all?" Rabbit Simpered, vaulting over a wall as Double Down came running around the corner, jumping a few more pillars before calling out again, "I feel hurt, I thought we'd become rivals, arch enemies! was it really not as good for you as it was for me?"
Double Down gritted his teeth, "you're a job," he spat, "a meal ticket so I can get those Triad fuckers off my back for another few weeks until the next meal ticket!" he grunted as a kick to the middle of his shoulder blades sent him tumbling to the ground, he turned around fast, throwing twelve cards that shot through the farside of the wall.
He was already gone.
"I'm hurt, i'm devastated!" Rabbit taunted sarcastically, "oh how will I go on knowing Ace here doesn't reciprocate!"
"You're fucking done when I get my hands on you!" Double Down snarled, throwing cards indiscriminately, shredding the plywood and few singular boards that'd been set up while taking dusty chips out of the concrete pillars.
Rabbit stayed safe behind one of the pillars, humming as he used a small mirror to check around the corner to look at Double Down, "I was right," izuku whispered into his comms, "the cards come from the tattoos on his body, every time he throws some, they disappear. Meaning he has a limit."
"He's had to have exhausted quite a bit by now." Cyber said back, "you got SWAT heading up the stairs, ten minutes at the most before they reach you two.'
"I only need five." Izuku muttered, stepping around the corner and firing an arrow that Double Down was able to cut cleanly in half, Izuku rolled under the follow up barrage of arrows as he nocked two arrows and leapt out of cover, loosing both.
The first one turned into a net that Double DOwn easily sliced through, the second went wide, exploding on one of the pillars and unleashing dozens of hard rubber bullets that richocheted between the pillars and pummeled the villain, who was forced to cover his face from the punishing barrage; no sooner had it stopped then the rabbit was on him. A powerful kick to his chest driving him through a half-destroyed wall, a backflip saving him from five sharp cards, one of which nicked his left eyebrow.
"No where to run now!"Double DOwn snarled, raising his hand to throw another handful of cards.
Only none materialized.
"What-" Double Down whispered, looking down as his badly bruised body, no cards remaining on the purpling skin.
"Ooof, sorry buddy," Rabbit said as he vaulted over his cover and ran at Double Down, ducking under his slow punch and coming up with a biting uppercut that sent the villain crashing down the stairs, where SWAT had just reached, he was in cuffs and being dragged away before Rabbit had cleared the building.
"We've got Class A villain Double Down in custody." the SWAT Captain said into his radio, "the Rabbit's in the wind, I repeat, the Rabbits in the wind."
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Melissa was rushing towards him before he'd even come to a full stop, he'd barely had time to park the bike before he was being tackled in a flying hug.
"You jerk!" she cried after a moment, pulling back to pummel him with her fists.
"Ow! Melissa! Stop!" Izuku cried out as he jumped away from her, "I already have enough bruises, and the old man said i'd be sore for the next few days!"
"Oh boohoo the hero got hurt!" she faux simpered, before slugging him in the shoulder "I thought you were dead you asshole!"
"If it makes you feel better, I thought so too." Izuku pointed out, wincing when she punched his arm again, "ow!"
"The pain means you're alive!" she spat, before seemign to slump a bit as she hugged him again, "don't scare me like that again you big dummy." she muttered.
Izuku blushed but returned the hug, he didn't make the promise, he knew he couldn't, and so did she to a degree; until tonight the stakes had never been so apparent, so blatant; the idea he could be hurt or even killed had been an afterthought after all these months of what most agencies would consider 'smooth sailing'. The night had been a jarring pull-back into reality that she was sure both of them needed.
"I'm going to take off the next week." he told her softly, pulling away from her as he began to take his uniform off, heading to where he knew there would be a change of clothes, "hopefully by the end of my time off i'll be back to full."
"Maybe we should take a bigger break."
Izuku paused, looking back at Melissa, who for the first time since he'd met her, looked unsure of herself, "you want to quit?" he asked gently.
"N-no! Of course not! I just-you almost died tonight Izuku." she said, her voice shaky, "and I froze, I froze when you didn't answer and I thought-" she shook her head, running a hand through her messy hair, it was only now that Izuku was able to notice the bags and tear tracks under her eyes.
"Maybe we tried to expand too fast." he said softly, taking a seat in a nearby chair, "put too much pressure on the Triad, maybe we pull back, take some time off like we were talking about ... .that old man…he asked me when this ends, I know we've talked about when the rabbit dies. And tonight would have been the perfect time to make him so…but I just…I couldn't."
"And it's not like I tried telling you to come back." Melissa mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"Looks like both of us got bit by the hero bug." Izuku joked weakly, making her roll her eyes.
"We should stop." Melissa said.
"Definitely." Izuku agreed.
"Turn all of our evidence over to the cops." She continued, sitting down in her own chair.
"Rabbit was too injured to continue, handing it over to capable heroes." Izuku offered.
"Exactly! You'll go to UA in a few years, do everything right, and I'll become a great support technician, totally legal."
"Legal is good." Izuku mused, sparing her a quick glance, she did the same, looking away just as quickly, "but you know…" he started, a small smirk quaking at the corner of his lips, "it doesn't feel right…just…leaving the Triad for someone else."
"They're dangerous." She reminded him, her own smile beginning to return.
"I know, but-"
"-but it would feel wrong to just…leave this project half finished." Melissa said, she looked nervous, but there was a glint in her eyes, the one Izuku loved to see, that sparkle that was going through his arsenal, filing new upgrades and better tactics in her mind as she mentally began tracking the information they had on the Triad, "they'll go to ground now that their assassin failed."
"Especially after being called out so blatantly." Izuku agreed, leaning back, "I'd give it a few weeks before they start operations again."
"It gives you time to rest and gives me time to figure out a retrieval system for if this happens again." She was about to head to her computer but paused, "no, that won't work." She muttered, fidgeting in place before shaking her head, "I'll let you
Know what I decide, for now I suggest we head home."
"Agreed," izuku said, slowly standing and wincing, only now did he realize just how exhausted and achy he was. "Migjt need some help."
Melissa rolled her eyes and stood up, going to his side and helping him limp towards the bathroom, "come on rabbit." She said, patting his shoulder, "i got you."
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The warehouse was eerily quiet.
Dead bodies were strewn about, some slumped over the product they'd been hired to move, others sprawled out on the concrete floor; their firearms held limply in their hands or sitting uselessly a few feet away.
The sound of gunfire broke the silence. Two grunts were still alive; running through hallways and bursting through doors, every now and then firing behind them as they made a break for the outside world.
"Go! Go!" One shouted as he whirled around, Ak-47 firing a deadly staccato of bullets through the door they'd just burst through, "eat lead mother fucker!" He roared, gasping as a single round tore through his chest, sending sprawling.
His last sight was a revolver leveling at his head.
"Jesus Christ!" The final grunt gasped as he finally made it outside, he took off down the alleyway, chucking his gun into a trashcan as he griped out "fuck this, no moneys worth stupid vigilante teens and fucking psycho murder-ARGH!" He cried out as a bullet tore through his knee, he crashed through some empty trashcans and gripped his injured leg, any further exclamation of pain died in the back of his throat as he watched a leather coat clad man slowly walk towards him, revolver in hand, broad brimmed hat and red bandana covering his identity.
"Come on man, I'm just a grunt." He whispered pitifully, holding his hands up in surrender.
The man said nothing, just continued to walk towards him, reloading the cylinder with slow, audible, clicks. Each one driving a spike of fear through the injured grunts heart.
"I-I'll do anything, come on!" He pleaded.
The man finally reached him, kneeling down beside him, "anything?" He asked. Flicking the cylinder closed, four clicks sounding as the hammer was pulled back.
"Anything!" He agreed, nodding his head furiously, freezing when the the gun was places against his forehead.
"You're in luck." He said,slowly reaching up with his free hand to pull the bandana down, then pulling a cigarette out, "I need a messenger boy." He placed the cigarette between his lips, "but first." He said, striking a match against his boot and bringing it up, illuminating the deep scars running from the corner of hid lip down to his neck, mismatched Blue-gray eyes reflecting the firelight as he lit the cigarette, "I want you to tell me what you know about the Rabbit, and don't leave any details out, I'm not picky about long winded speeches."
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Bakugo glares at the videos in front of him.
Anything pertaining to the Jade Rabbit was worth a watch, even he could admit the loser had talent.
But what he was looking at right now?
"-hi, Jade Rabbit, Big fan? I know you are, I'll sign something later, now run!" The surprising quality of the video was nothing to sneeze at, he could almost count the few freckles he could see under the cowl.
But that voice.
He rewound the clip, playing it again.
"Hi, Jade rabbit-" pause, rewind, play, "Hi, Jade-" pause again.
He narrowed his eyes at the rabbit, his fists unconsciously clenching as he slowly put the pieces together.
"You son of a bitch."