Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia or Fate/Stay Night
...
Looking at himself in the mirror, it was difficult to recall the last time he had looked so disheveled. Still though, it wasn't like it mattered. Nobody ever came around to see him in such a terrible state of being so he didn't particularly care. A majority of the world didn't even know he was alive, so why should he even look like he wanted to be alive.
A knock on the door before the sound of a key being inserted into his front door would have once got him excited. Now however, he simply sat in silence as the person made their way into his home.
"Kan, I brought you groceries," said Midnight as she walked in with two bags in each hand. She paused momentarily as she sniffed through her nose. "You didn't shower again today, did you?"
"What's the point," responded Kan despondently.
"The point is that you're my friend and I care for you," said Kayama as she started filling Kan's fridge with the food that needed to be kept cold.
"You shouldn't bother."
"Nonsense," said Midnight, doing her best to keep her perky attitude intact. "You're my friend and that's enough reason to bother."
Kan remained silent, still yet to lift his head up as he continued to stare at the ground.
"Look, I know you went through something traumatic," said Kayama as she continued about her business. "I've suffered as well and for a long time, I didn't think that I would ever come to grips with what had happened. Sometimes I still find myself wishing that it was all a dream and that things were different. Pain like that, it never truly goes away. What matters however is how we..."
"Get out."
Midnight paused as she closed the fridge door, her task completed. Kan's two words had been said almost silently but she knew better than to push him into something that he was clearly unwilling to talk about. After all, this wasn't the first time she had tried to get him to open up and it wouldn't be the last. "Alright, just, take care of yourself, please," she said slowly before she exited.
She stood outside the door momentarily before hearing the sound of something breaking after being hurled violently into a wall. She didn't know how to help Vlad King on his path to recovery but it was very possible that he had already fallen too far. Midnight truly didn't know if she was capable of helping her long time friend. Such a thing terrified her.
It didn't help that he refused to see a professional and was seemingly set on wilting his life away in a steadily declining state. Midnight couldn't help but be terrified of the all too real possibility of coming to his house one day and discovering that he was no longer...
She clicked her tongue as she tried her best to drive the thoughts out of her mind. She had seen more than her fair share of friends pass, the hero life was an unforgiving one at times. Still though, there was a friend she had the capacity to save but he seemed content in the wish to not be saved at all. She wanted to help so badly but she had no idea what to do, who she could turn to. The rest of the staff wished to give their aid but Vlad King had turned them all away without a second's hesitation.
She was truly running out of options and she didn't know what she could do.
That was until she heard the door behind her open and Midnight found herself spinning on the spot in shock. "Yes?" she asked, having no idea why Kan had risen from his place of desolation to stop her.
His fingers clenched, nails in desperate need of grooming threatened to pierce the skin of his hand. "Bring me a student," he declared boldly.
"A student," repeated Midnight, hope brimming within her soul. "Yes, of course I will. Which one?"
Kan's eyes sharpened and a silent 'oh' crossed Midnight's mouth. Even without him saying the name, she knew exactly which student he was referring to. This could potentially have more disastrous consequences than beneficial results. Still though, it had the potential to help him which at this stage was enough of a chance for her to take.
...
La Brava stood on the sidelines as she watched Gentle speak harshly to one of the most feared villains in the country in a defiant manner. Normally this would be completely out of the question in regards to Gentle's character however she felt that his tirade was completely justified. After all, Gentle had recently discovered that Stain had given the youngest member of their estranged family a knife.
Not a toy knife for a doll house or anything of that nature.
A knife that had more than likely pierced through skin and flesh.
Stain meanwhile said nothing to defend his actions, stating very clearly that he had just allowed a young girl to indulge in her fantasies.
As much as she wished to speak up and add her voice to that of Gentle, at the same time she couldn't blame Eri. Stain's decision to give Eri the knife in the first place was still questionable at best, but she couldn't blame Eri for having asked for it. As much as it was a disturbing thought, the young girl looked up to the serial killer.
La Brava couldn't blame it because she herself looked up to Gentle. Adoration and imitation sometimes went hand in hand and as much as it pained her to say, she went through something incredibly similar to what Eri was likely going through now. Given the atrocious environment that the young child had grown up in, it was no wonder that she clung on to the first person whom had given her something resembling positivity.
She herself had grown up with a quirk that forced her to find love. A task, especially going through school, had not been an easy task by any stretch of the imagination. Then when she had discovered Gentle and had found someone who would accept her love, she had found herself doing anything to gain his affection in return.
Even if the crimes they committed were minimal, the sheer fact that she had become a criminal for someone else spoke of her desire and need to be accepted for who she was. She may have been biased in her view on the topic, however were anybody else to look at her situation the word they possibly would have found herself thinking would have been tragic. La Brava was aware of it as well.
For so many years she had contemplated where her life would have been if the first person she had confessed to had accepted her love. She likely would have never met Gentle and in turn never would have found herself in such a bizarre set of circumstances. Regardless, she had done so because she had chosen to do so, despite the dangers that it put her in.
Hence she needed to speak.
"Let her keep it," she said, interrupting Gentle's tirade.
"La Brava!" exclaimed Gentle in shock while Stain raised an intrigued eyebrow. "You accept what has happened in such a casual manner?"
"Gentle, please know that I am aware of how serious this situation is," stated La Brava calmly. "I believe that it is better for Eri to have been given this knife as a gift and to be taught how to use it properly. Had Stain refused the request and Eri not taken no for an answer it's very likely she would have taken a knife for herself and possibly injured herself."
"Preposterous! Young Miss Eri would never do such a thing," proclaimed Gentle.
La Brava sent him a scathing look telling him to keep his mouth shut. "At the end of the day, if Stain is dedicating his time to helping Eri learn how to use the weapon properly," she started, shifting her gaze to Stain, "Then I see no harm in it. Meanwhile Stain wouldn't want somebody who looks up to him in such a way to injure themselves while under his watch. It's better this way then trying to prevent her from doing something that she clearly wants to do."
"I'll make sure she doesn't injure herself," said Stain in such a way that La Brava had no choice but to believe him. She still got the feeling that it wasn't because Stain was worried about Eri injuring herself but rather on the off chance that she did hurt herself it would look bad on him as a teacher. Still though, it was better than nothing.
"I still believe we should consult Miss Rin before we allow Eri to develop this bad habit even further," stated Gentle, clearly shaken by the fact that La Brava had spoken to him in such a manner.
"Well the witch ain't here is she," said Stain, his lips curving into a smile ever so slightly. "By the time she gets back you should have been able to perfect your speech rather well."
"Well, speaking of Miss Rin, would you happen to know where she has ventured off for the day?" asked Gentle.
"Don't know, don't care. Now if you don't mind, I might take my protege downstairs and teach her the pointy end of a weapon to the handle, or do you believe that is too complicated of a first step?"
La Brava felt like rubbing at her temples before simply opting to leave the room. There was clearly too much ego going on in there for her liking. Spending some quality time on the internet would calm her mind.
...
"Your peers seem willing to give us a wide berth," said Rin as she sipped at the tea she had been given.
"Despite them being nosy at times they know better than to get in between us," stated Shirou.
"You've trained them well then."
"Either that or I've installed enough fear in them."
"True, very true."
Rin and Shirou shared a gentle smile with one another before Rin's eyes dropped as Shirou reached for his own cup of tea with his metal arm. "I take it you are still taking time to adjust?" she asked.
"It's been slow going," said Shirou. "I don't regret what I did though."
"I wouldn't doubt it in the slightest. You've always focused on the final results without care for what was lost to accomplish it," said Rin, taking a long sip of her drink before placing it down on her saucer. "It's always been one of your redeeming qualities though, if you could call it that. Others would merely call it foolishness."
"Doesn't change my opinion on the matter."
"I sincerely doubt that it would have had any chance to do so," acknowledged Rin before opting to change subjects. "Have you found yourself a new role in the academy?"
"I'm no longer bound by the lessons," stated Shirou. "I teach a few of the more physically demanding classes and a touch of theory but it all has to be looked at previously by a member of the faculty."
"Could you imagine the outrage in the Clock Tower if you were to be teaching anything there?" asked Rin.
"The sheer audacity," said Shirou, raising his voice to poorly mimic another individual.
"Do you ever wonder if we'd return? Or, I guess in your sake, if you were given the opportunity, would you choose to return?"
Silence reigned momentarily as Shirou's eyes dropped ever so slightly. "I take it then that you already know your answer to such a question."
"Of course I have," said Rin without hesitation. "This world isn't ours, it never will be and quite frankly I don't belong here. You however..."
"What about the contacts you've made since being here?" interrupted Shirou. "Surely there'd be someone who would force you to pause and consider your options."
Rin found herself nibbling at the inside of her bottom lip as Shirou threw those words at her. As loathe as she was to admit it, she had truly come to enjoy the company of the odd group of individuals that surrounded her. "They would return with me."
"The Clock Tower would dissect them the moment they arrived."
"They would have to go through me first," declared Rin boldly, feeling overly protective about one individual in particular.
A small smile crept over Shirou's lips but he didn't push further into the conversation. There was no need to pry further, he'd already gotten more than enough entertainment.
"Should you invite your peers in?" asked Rin, swiftly changing the topic of conversation.
Tilting his head slightly, Shirou focused on what Rin was referring to. Just outside of the building and peering through the window were several of Shirou's fellow dormmates doing a not so subtle job of keeping themselves hidden. Although Shirou had to admit that if Hagakure was a part of the group he couldn't tell for, well, obvious reasons.
"Let them have their fun, they're only kids after all."
"This seems a much gentler tone from you in regards to them," commented Rin. "Do you actually see them as something more than child soldiers now?"
There was another tense moment before the silence was broken. Not by either Shirou or Rin however, but rather by the door opening and Midnight stepping into view. "Sorry if I'm interrupting," she commented before closing the door behind her and stepping towards where Shirou and Rin were seated.
"I'm sorry Kayama, if I'd been expecting more company I would have prepared more tea," apologized Shirou.
"My my Shirou," said Rin as she lifted a hand up to her mouth. "Look at you talking to your seniors in such a polite manner."
It had been a long time coming, but Midnight could still feel the irritating tick that seemed to be present whenever she was in the same room as Rin. Being a professional however, she simply let the comment slide. "Shirou, I need your help with something..."
"Shirou," said Rin, cutting Midnight off. "Please remember that you are permitted to say no when a lady makes advances towards you, especially when said lady is twice your..."
"Do not finish that sentence!" proclaimed Midnight boldly, unable to prevent Rin from getting under her skin.
"I apologize for Rin's behavior," said Shirou sincerely. "Now, how may I be of service and do I need to arm myself beforehand?"
"Given the state of the man who wishes to see you, a couple of weapons to defend yourself wouldn't be the worst option."
...
Shigaraki looked at the destruction and mayhem that had been caused by his underlings, the news reporters barely able to properly convey their feelings over the catastrophe that had occurred. Despite the fact that chaos was running rampant however, he couldn't help but feel hollow inside. It was as if something was incomplete.
And he knew what it was.
No matter how much death and decay he spread, how much desolation he reigned down upon the populace there was still a blemish on his record. Until that blemish was rectified, he would never feel complete.
It was time to flush them out of hiding, to force them into the open so that he could rid the world of this blight once and for all. It had to be specific however. Too big of a spectacle and he would have every hero in the country pouncing on their location. Too small and it would be seen as a joke.
Shigaraki just needed to figure out what bait would be best, and then it would be time to enact his revenge. Given his latest recruit, crushing an insect should be an easy task. After all, he hadn't spent day after day subduing the behemoth to simply not use his new toy.
...
Hope you enjoyed.