WARNING
This chapter is going to involve dark subject matter, namely how domestic abuse can reach a dangerous peak and an off screen character death that isn't described in explicit detail but is considerably gruesome in context.
So far Miyake's internship has gone over quite well in Kugo's opinion, his first day on patrol had been peaceful with few interruptions, there was a mugging, but Miyake was able to subdue the man in a few seconds despite his inexperience in the area, but as the boy explained it was not that hard to figure out with his instincts.
Miyake's combat wasn't refined in any form but it was impressive for someone untrained and giving the boy some training in the basics was the goal on the second day, the third however was spent doing more of what Miyake had come to him for, and learning more about the rescue side of heroics including all the codewords that to quickly relay another person's condition.
And today Kugo was going to bring Miyake to meet some colleagues, namely Tsunagu since Kugo was sure that the blonde would give him some good advice about working in tandem with the other branches of heroics during a mission but as he was getting ready to lead Miyake out to Tsunagu's agency but someone was standing at the entrance had caused him to pause.
Standing in the walkway just beyond the doors was a thin teenage with long dark brown hair that held his head such a way that their hair covered their face, but it was the fact they half covered in blood that had shocked him "Ren-Kun?" Miyake called stepping closer to the teen.
The teen lifted their head showing two listless grey eyes as they stared at Miyake, despite this being quite an awful situation to be dropped on them so suddenly Miyake had not flinched and moved to crouch in front of the teenager "She went too far, didn't she?" Miyake asked apparently knowing this person very well as 'Ren' nodded their head.
Miyake thrilled in an understanding way "Is your father okay? We can send someone from the in-house medical unit to, mend his injuries." Miyake offered choosing words very carefully and tears beaded the teen's eyes as they nodded, raising their hands to sign 'She broke his arm,' they paused to pat their left arm 'And a knife, she stabbed him here.' they pointed to just below the bellybutton.
Miyake nodded clicking the button on his crest activating his radio "This is Koi, there has been Delta Alpha. The perpetrator is a pale brunette woman in her thirties with blue eyes, no mutations. The victim is her husband, a young man with grey hair and eyes, no mutations and his situation is critical according to the witness. Send a medical unit equipped with A- blood to,"
After Miyake listed off an address Kugo shook himself from his stupor and as much as he wanted to ask from where Miyake knew this person from that was hardly the most pressing issue as he turned his focus to the teen "Are you hurt?" he asked and the teen raised their head to look up at him, Ren hesitated for a second then shook their head "Is the blood on you your father's?" Kugo inquired though he personally doubted it was since it looked like blowback, not a splash typical from a knife wound.
Ren shook their head again confirming his thoughts "Where is it from then?" Kugo questioned and Ren brought their hands up only to pause and glance at Miyake "I know JSL little one." Kugo softly assured recognizing the uncertainty on Ren's face 'It's mother's.'Ren simply answered once Miyake nodded in confirmation.
Judging from the amount of blood on Ren Kugo was not sure the teen's mother would survive long and the address Miyake had said was at least ten- no twelve blocks away from the agency "Ren, was it?" Kugo asked and Ren nodded "Why did you come here? Your home is quite far from here." Kugo inquired, off the top of his head Kugo knew there were at least two other agencies and a police station within a much closer distance to what he believed was Ren's house, if he heard Miyake correctly.
'To turn myself in.' Ren answered and Kugo felt himself become uneasy "For what, Ren?" Kugo asked then his blood went cold as Ren, without blinking an eye signed 'For killing my mother with my quirk.'
An hour later Kugo found himself somberly staring at Ren from the other side of two way glass with a heavy heart that ached for the poor boy, after the boy's answered his question Kugo knew he wouldn't be able to meet with Tsunagu as planned and texted his friend as such before he called up the police looking for a specific detective's aid, said detective now sat across from the boy.
Kugo then instructed Miyake through the proper procedure for what they were supposed to when someone, specifically a minor turned themselves in to them, the phenomenon was rare in this day and age but sometimes people would turn themselves in for their crimes and hero agencies had a protocol to follow if criminals showed up at their door instead of a police station for the chain of custody.
Ren for his part hadn't put up any fight as Miyake gently led him along on what they were doing until detective Tsukauchi arrived for the interview, Kugo had of course briefed the man on what they had found so far starting from what Ren had told them when he showed up and what was discovered by the officers sent to the boy's house with his medical unit.
Ren's father, Soki, had been found unconscious in the living room with injuries matching what Ren had told them, his mother, Nomori Akira, a well-known doctor for the area, however had her head blown to pieces with a gun in close range though no such weapons were found anywhere in the house.
Naturally, most of them did not know what to think as it was still the preliminary stages of the investigation, and they did not have all the facts yet but if what Ren had said was true... then the boy would be facing years in prison after spending three years in juvie.
Given the seriousness of the case it was only natural Kugo asked Tsukauchi to come do the interview, it was not every day that a thirteen-year-old turned themselves in for murdering their parent with their quirk and they had to be thorough with this.
"Hello, Ren. My name is Tsukauchi and I'll be the one interviewing alright?" Tsukauchi asked and Ren frowned 'Can I have M-I-Y-A-K-E with me?' Ren requested and Miyake glanced at him silently asking for permission and Kugo was conflicted, on one hand an intern really should not be getting any more involved in a messy case like this, but Ren might stop being cooperative which could be a problem and Miyake had an established connection with the boy.
"I, suppose we could arrange that, I'd need to discuss that with his mentor." Tsukauchi told Ren and the boy glumly nodded, Tsukauchi stood up and peeked his head out at Kugo and Miyake "May I?" Miyake asked Kugo, Kugo sighed before reluctantly nodding his head and Miyake walked into the room with Tsukauchi and sat next to Ren.
There had been a woman from CPS and had come to represent him, but Ren had made it noticeably clear that he did not want the woman anywhere near him, so she was doing paperwork around somewhere here after Ren refused any legal counsel.
"Alright before we begin, I am legally obligated to inform you my quirk is a lie detector, and I can't turn it off so please be aware and reframe from lying about anything as I will be able to tell." Tsukauchi informed the two 'Ok.' Ren signed and Tsukauchi winced "Unfortunately, my quirk needs a vocal answer from you Ren." Tsukauchi explained and Ren seemed to wilt at that, something that made Kugo's heart twist even more painfully.
Miyake without hesitation draped his tail over Ren's shoulders and turned to Tsukauchi "Do you have a pair of quirk cuffs?" Miyake asked surprising him "Yes?" Tsukauchi answered confused until Ren's eyes widened with realization, and he held out his arms waiting to be cuffed "Ren-Kun's quirk is vocal, he can't speak without triggering his quirk." Miyake explained and understanding donned on Tsukauchi's face, one that he felt himself since it was not uncommon for people with vocal quirks to have communication problems.
"I see, is it passive like my own?" Tsukauchi guessed as he gently cuffed Ren "Y-yes." Ren mumbled hardly loud enough to be heard, clearly unused to speaking, making Tsukauchi wince before he nodded "Alright, can you please tell me what happened today? Before you left for Gang Orca's agency." Tsukauchi requested and Ren nodded.
"Ma and Pa fight, Ma loud and Pa tie to, ma- make Ma no mad." Ren said struggling with speaking in full sentences and the word 'make' "I, see. Did they fight a lot?" Tsukauchi questioned "Yes, Ma mad lots." Ren confirmed nonchalantly and Kugo wondered just how often Akira was angry for Ren to be so numb to this "Ma mean to Pa." Ren added looking a touch sad as he said it.
"Does she get physical with your father?" Tsukauchi asked and Ren nodded again "Yes, grab hair like this." Ren said his hands going behind his head and grabbing a fistful of his hair making "Did she do that often? Pull his hair?" Tsukauchi inquired shifting slightly in his seat "Yes, Ma hit and kick and yell at Pa most days." Ren explained avoiding Tsukauchi's eyes as he ducked his head.
"Has your mom ever hurt you too?" Tsukauchi pressed "No, Pa no let Ma hit. M-made ma more mad." Ren told him "Do you know why she was mad at you Ren?" Tsukauchi asked and the boy nodded "I talk too much, Ma no like me speak, because quirk." Ren explained making Kugo close his eyes and take a deep breath as his clawed fingertips dug into his arm.
Kugo's soft spot for children was never something he hid, and he has had experience with domestic/child abuse cases before but that hardly made his instinctual urge to maul child abusers wane, he is simply better at hiding it, but quirk-related abuse was too much of a sore spot for him to believably hide it.
"Can you tell me what was different about today's fight? Between your parents?" Tsukauchi questioned and Ren wilted slightly "Just know, Ma mad and mean like most days but I just know Ma go hurt Pa bad, in my gut." the boy somberly explained.
"Ma was mad I speak more, Ma say that be for break Pa arm. Ma had use knife be for on Pa, but this time different... I know Ma no stop at hurt Pa." Ren said with certainty a child should not have when talking about their parents killing one another "I go between and use me quirk to made Ma stop." Ren added.
"Gang Orca mentioned that but can you please give me more details about that? From the scene it appears your mother was shot." Tsukauchi questioned and Ren frowned and turned to Miyake 'Can I just show them instead? My throat is starting to hurt.' Ren asked in sign, Miyake thrilled pondering it before standing up "Yeah, let me grab something from the break room really quick." Miyake replied swiftly exiting the room and breezing pass Kugo before could ask where the boy was going.
But he did not have to since the boy returned within the minute carrying a watermelon of all things into the room and placing it on the table "Can you please remove the cuffs? Ren-Kun won't harm either of us." Miyake requested, Tsukauchi frowned but ultimately took the cuffs off "You might want to stand over here with me." Miyake advised Tsukauchi from a far corner of the room, Tsukauchi taking said warning stood up and moved to stand next to Miyake in the far corner.
Ren rubbed his wrists then pointed at the watermelon with his thumb out and the sound of something like a gunshot following the boy's only word almost drowned out it: "Bang."
The watermelon exploded the same way Kugo has seen fruit does at a shooting range surprising him just as much it shocked Tsukauchi "Ren-Kun's quirk is called: Word Inflection, if he says a word like 'break' while pointing at say, a vase then it will shatter, it is a passive quirk that on everything including people and cannot be turned off without outside intervention of a quirk blocker." Miyake explained for Ren.
"I, see." Tsukauchi replied recovering a fair bit better than Kugo had "I'll clean this up while you continue the interview." Miyake told the man before he got to work mopping up the guts of the watermelon with a towel from one of his side pockets, Ren for his part stared at the main part of the watermelon that was whole aside from the hole he put into the middle.
"Ren?" Tsukauchi called and the boy met his eyes "Would you like to put the cuffs back on Ren?" Tsukauchi asked and Ren nodded offering up his wrists again for him "We can take a break if you need one Ren." Tsukauchi offered but the boy shook his head "Want to be done." Ren wheezed out, Tsukauchi glanced back sharing an uneasy look with Kugo before turning back to Ren.
"Alright, can you tell me what you did after you, used your quirk Ren?" Tsukauchi asked pushing on "I check Pa, then ask Deku who should I go to." Ren answered and Tsukauchi paused at that name "Deku? Could you please elaborate who that is Ren? We didn't find any evidence of a fourth person being at the scene." Tsukauchi requested and Ren nodded.
"Deku-Sensei, he nice and give me stuff for Pa that made Pa happy. Deku no there, I just call him. Deku help me speak and he know lots, so I ask who he would go to, to turn me in." Ren told him his mood lifting slightly as he spoke of the man.
"Is he why you turned yourself over to Gang Orca at his agency?" Tsukauchi asked "Yes, Deku give me directions to building." Ren confirmed "Okay, did anything happen while you were on the way over to the agency?" Tsukauchi questioned "I lost phone, trip and phone fall in gutter. No member where." Ren replied and Tsukauchi nodded "I think that should be it for now Ren, if there are more questions later, I'll make sure to have someone bring cuffs so you can speak." Tsukauchi promised.
"Me like hands better." Ren said with a shrug "That should be fine unless we need to use my quirk for the record." Tsukauchi assured as he again uncuffed the boy and put the cuffs away "Do you have any questions Ren?" Tsukauchi inquired 'Is my dad, okay?' Ren asked back "He's recovering in the medical office in Gang Orca's agency until we can arrange for him to be transferred to a hospital." Tsukauchi answered and Ren sighed relieved.
Kugo wasn't sure what to expect when he and Tsukauchi filed Ren's statement but receiving separate calls from Nezu and Sir Nighteye wasn't even in the realm of possibility but here they both were waiting for the two heroes to show up for a debriefing about the case, since both of them were very interested in this 'Deku-Sensei' Ren mentioned.
They hardly had time to speculate why both the heroes were so interested before Sir Nighteye had arrived in person as promised "Gang Orca, detective Tsukauchi." Sir greeted a slight bit more tense towards the detective "Sir." Tsukauchi replied similarly tense until Nezu managed to surprise them all by popping out of nowhere "Hello again Sakamata!" the rodent exclaimed as he quickly crawled up his cape and sat himself on Kugo's shoulder "Nezu-San." Kugo responded with a polite nod.
Kugo found that Nezu wasn't so bad if you could get pass the way he dissect your every movement and your whole life story with very glance, there was also this oddly predatory presence that constantly surrounded the mammal that he could only pick up on because his quirk was animal-based and that came with certain senses that only other animal-based quirked people seemed to have.
"Apologies for not explaining the urgency for the visit Sakamata, however I can assure you that it was not without a valid reason." Nezu told him before turning his sharp gaze onto Sir "I can safely assume you're here for the same reason Sir." Nezu commented and Sir nodded his head, pushing up his glasses "Indeed, Nezu-San." Sir confirmed.
Nezu's ear twitched but did not say anything just yet and turned back to Kugo "So tell me Sakamata, Detective Tsukauchi have either of you ever heard of the alias of Deku-Sensei before now?" Nezu asked "I'm afraid not." Kugo answered and Tsukauchi frowned "I've heard bits and pieces about you trying to start an official investigation, but it hasn't been approved yet." Tsukauchi told the mammal.
"Correct you are Tsukauchi! Deku-Sensei from I have managed to gather is an underground informant that has multiple ties to some very powerful groups and that he seems to have been around since September 72, one powerful enough to directly manipulate the criminals around him into not committing crime." Nezu explained and Sir nodded "And it is possible that Deku-Sensei has been able to, 'aid' others turn their quirks into far more dangerous weapons." Sir commented and Kugo's eyes widened at the same time Tsukauchi's mouth fell open.
"What? How could someone like, that get around without us hearing about him before now?" Tsukauchi questioned his eyes on Sir and Kugo could tell he was asking Sir something between the lines, but he had no idea what.
"Unfortunately, due to Deku-Sensei methods, he has been able to completely remain under the radar and the only confirmation we have that Deku even exists is because multiple criminals in different areas of Japan have mentioned him before being arrested." Sir sternly replied "However, that wasn't enough to get anyone to approve the investigation before now." Sir added scowling.
"That was up now. The criminals who were arrested would never confirm who he was or even speak more than a few words about him, Nomori Ren is the only person to have gone on record about Deku-Sensei and confirm his existence." Nezu cheerfully said.
"I see." Tsukauchi tersely replied shooting a glance at Sir which the man avoided "May we meet with Nomori-Kun? To ask him more about his relationship with Deku-Sensei?" Sir questioned and Kugo felt slightly uneasy with how readily Sir was to jump into basically interrogating a traumatized boy that killed his own mother not even three hours ago, after she almost killed his father in front of him.
"The boy answers to his given name Ren, and you may ask Ren your questions after we determine he is in a mentally stable place for such a conversation given he has been through quite a lot of trauma in a short period of time." Kugo answered and Sir must have picked on his thinly veiled irritation.
Because the man suddenly turned slightly bashful "Yes, of course Gang Orca. I do not mean to impose; I just wish to ensure we are able to take care of Deku-Sensei before he has the chance to become even more powerful than he already is." Sir apologized.
"And we shall, without steamrolling an abused minor fragile state of mind simply because we are getting impatient." Kugo firmly stated, taking full advantage of the single inch to glare down into Sir's eyes, Sir gulped "Naturally." Sir agreed, far more subdued under his gaze.
"Perhaps to gain a better understanding of the situation would you kindly inform us of all the details of the crime so that we may approach Ren-Kun without destressing the boy." Nezu suggested "I wasn't able to read the full report before I arrive Sakamata and I doubt Sir was able to read more than myself." Nezu admitted.
Kugo took a deep breath than nodded "Of course Nezu-San, and I should expect that detective Tsukauchi and I shall be properly read in on the situation with Deku-Sensei?" Kugo asked glancing at the mammal on his shoulder "Absolutely Sakamata, I would be happy too." Nezu accepted with a soft smile.
Edit: I have a character key up on Ao3 now and its connected to story on Ao3 so it won't be that hard to find, I'd crosspost it but as its a list it wouldn't follow posting rules here, https archive of our works 49419613 this should work to help you if you search it the search bar.