While Overhaul was still being brutally tortured, Puppetress had decided to take Tomura out to dinner, just the two of them. People would be hard-pressed to see a young man with pale wrinkled skin and a beautiful girl with long hair covering one of her eyes together but they were settling in like any other ordinary couple.

"Sorry..." Tomura said while cutting into an extra rare steak.

"For what?" His date simply smiled, gently placing her hand onto of his still-gloved ones.

"Don't beat around the bush." He sighed, swallowing some of the meat. "I know I ain't the prettiest fella…."

"You're honest and comfortable with yourself," Puppetress noted, looking into her drink before downing it. "A trait very rare in this society."

From her delivery, the head of the League could see that she held honesty and the truth in high regard stemming from a personal experience. And while he had no problems lying to get done what had to get done, as his first attempt at killing All Might had proven, Tomura could also safely say that he wanted this possible alliance to work out.

"You know, you kind of remind me of someone...someone I knew a long time ago." Tomura said with a fond look, remembering a beautiful woman with reddish-brown hair and kind eyes caring for him as a child...and then crumbling away into dust as he tearfully reached out for her. "She's gone now..."

"Well, that's still quite sweet that you think of her when you see me." Puppetress smiled as she moved her hair to reveal that she was missing an eye; in its place was scar tissue. "Just call me Anwir. Ena Anwir."

"You don't have to tell me," Tomura assured her, but she shook her head and did so anyway.

She reached into her purse and took out a photo in terrible condition; while half of it could still show a very young Puppetress and a woman who was clearly her mother, the rest had been wrinkled, burnt, or torn. From what remained he could see a male figure.

"My father was the #1 American Hero before Captain Celebrity; Gallant. To the public he was just like All-Might is now; always there to help, preaching about truth, justice, honor, and the American way….There was no problem he couldn't solve, not one household didn't have at least one toy or poster of him. Kids used to say I was lucky to have such a cool father, and mom's days at the clubs were mostly listening to others lamenting how she had snagged my dad."

"Wasn't he the hero who suffered that huge controversy?" Tomura asked. "He had a lot of dirty laundry that got aired out for the whole world to see."

Puppetress' eyes darkened.

"You're right on all those counts. He was a sexist, wife-beating, child-hating, foul-mouthed, hypocritical, racist fiend. Never once did anyone do anything about it, thinking the 'great' Gallant could do wrong. Any injuries mom and I had got chalked up to me 'training' too hard. Any time it looked like he could get in trouble, people ignored what happened, once again thinking that the #1 Hero was a saint in every way. And that prick never made me forget it when he wasn't pleased with me not getting his Quirk….until mine actually manifested a year later than normal, just as Grandpa paid us a surprise visit."

That rose a few questions for the League of Villains' leader, who could see his potential partner was obviously remembering something important in what seemed to be a mix of pride and hate.

"Grandpa had no problem with that bastard being a Hero. Heck, he even encouraged it and was even proud to brag his son was his arch-enemy. But in our family, if you're going to be something, you go all the way and keep up a good appearance and behavior all the time. Needless to say, when he saw what was going on with me and Mom…he was ticked."

"I can only imagine," Tomura said, noticing his new partner's sexy evil smile returning.

"So when Grandpa gave me the means and permission to take revenge for every insult, beating, and forgotten promise…I did so."

Tomura smirked. "But you didn't kill him, did you?"

"Oh I wanted to, believe me." Puppetress assured her date, smiling evilly. "Oh, ho, ho, hooooo, did I want to. But Grandpa suggested waiting for a bit. I DID make him rip off his own balls at least."

Tomura felt something in him rise.

"But, with a bit of training and practice, I learnt my Quirk's powers. Turns out, if one of my strings makes contact with a certain area in the back of the head? I have full control over what dear old dad said. So, when he had a press conference? I made him spill all the beans: Bribes he was taking, civilians he was slower to save because he didn't like how they looked…but when mom showed up and without any makeup? THEN I made him tell the world what he did to us."

Oh, how she had enjoyed the public turn against Gallant; who soon couldn't go anywhere with being pelted by garbage and insults. But the happiest moment had been when her mother had won a divorce and 90% of all her husband's earnings.

"Soon enough, dear old dadd was homeless and even the homeless wanted nothing to do with him. Mom met another guy not long after; an actual sweetheart with a kid of his own. Gotta say, I love them both far, FAR more than I ever did the old man."

Tomura smiled at this story, happy to hear that this corrupt society DID at least have the potential to do right,

"Dad's still around...but Grandpa keeps him under lock and key so I can beat him around some more. The sniveling little piece of shit is being hauled over here as we speak. You'll love to meet him." Puppetress grinned viciously.

"Okay...but what about your eye? Did he do that too?

"No, he did many things to hurt me, but he didn't take my eye," Puppetress growled.

This brought back more questions, especially at the sight of pure, unadulterated hatred in Puppetress' lone eye, but the decayer felt his date had done enough past revealing for one day, especially when a waiter came and informed them someone was waiting to escort them out.

"Don't worry, it's on the house." The waiter said, secretly being one of Colonel Cash's informants.

"Mighty kind of you," Tomura smirked.

Puppetress generously threw a wad of Japanese Yen to the waiter, who took it gratefully and pocketed it in his vest as she and Tomura walked out to see Mr. Crunch Chomp waiting for them.

"Milady." He bowed respectfully before turning to Tomura. "And Shigaraki-Sama as well."

Tomura gave the man a curt nod as he and his date moved into the backseat, where they found two rooftop drop TVs and a bucket of ice-cold pop with champagne glasses, which he quickly filled up and offered to his guest.

"Where are the others?" Puppetress asked her right hand as she and Tomura clinked glasses.

"On their way, if they know what's good for them." Crunch answered as he began to drive away. "They're investigating some rumors of American Heroes being in the area."

"Good on them." Puppetress smiled before frowning. "For once."

"…Problems?" Tomura asked, concerned.

"Not really. One of them is actually the best under my command. But the other two can't motivate themselves to work without me…" The supervillainess started.

"Enough business." Crunch mused. "You two seemed to have been having a lovely day so far, so your grandfather and I went ahead and arranged an afternoon at that fancy arcade and a free night at the best hotel in Japan for you. Do enjoy."

And suffice to say? Both young adults were sure they would.

Next time: Lunch chats and GASP! Dates?!

Mrotrax A/N: A small but lore filled chapter. It originallt was part of the same chapter as the 1A vs Kirby students, but Knightmare Lord convinced me it was probably a better idea to give the two supervillains in training their own chapter. Plus, we get to explore more of Puppetress' past!

As stated above, next time we return to UA for some more bonding before rules and regulation rear their somewhat ugly heads…

Stay safe and warm!