Atori stared out the car window to the ATM across the street. Shinso looked over her shoulder from the passenger seat, watching the civilians pass by.
"How sure are you that she will come to this ATM tonight?" Shinso looked back to his phone, scrolling through a social media feed.
"Mmm, probably 87% sure. It's kind of within the area she has been hitting, and this is the closest to the last one she hit up. Wait… are you looking at cat pictures while you're working?" She had turned towards him, now peering at his phone screen.
His pale face flushed, "I was just checking on my cat's profile."
Atori snorted looking back out the window as a hooded figure was walking down the street towards the ATM. She looked back to Shinso, leaning in towards him.
"If she looks this way, just pretend we are making out so we don't spook her away."
She cupped his face, tilting his head so he could have a view of the possible thief. He placed his opposite hand on the back of her neck as he watched out the window, seeing the hooded figure peak around before deciding that it was safe for her to begin her work.
"Okay, she just put her hand in the machine." He reported, looking down at Atori and locking eyes with her.
Atori quickly broke the eye contact, she cleared her throat and sat back up, trying to block out the intoxicating scent of Shinso's cologne that wafted off of him.
"Perfect, let's go." Atori twisted her torso and popped open the car door.
She leapt out and headed towards the woman, slamming the door shut. The noise startled the perpetrator and her head whipped behind her to see Atori and Shinso heading her way. She quickly retracted her arm out of the ATM and began sprinting down the sidewalk. Atori groaned, wishing the situation hadn't turned into a chase.
"Stop!" Atori yelled, knowing fully well the crook wasn't going to listen.
A strap flew by Atori; at first, her thought was that Aizawa was on the scene, but then it came back to her that Shinso too had a capturing weapon he learned to wield. The band wrapped around the woman's leg, knocking her to the ground.
"Okay, call it in." Shinso spoke one he made sure the woman wouldn't be able to escape his bands.
"Let me go, I didn't do anything!" She screamed, denying the attempted robbery.
"Have you been the one breaking into the ATMs?" Shinso activated his quirk, staring into her eyes.
She seemed to struggle with speaking, but eventually let out, "Yet, I've been doing it."
Her eyes went wide as she called herself out. She stared at Shinso, slowly putting together in the head that she was caught by the Brainwashing Hero.
Atori smirked waving her phone before putting it back to her ear, "And now dispatch has your confession recorded. Good work, Shinso!"
Ten minutes later Atori and Shinso watched the woman get put in the back of a squad car and driven off to the prefecture's jail. Atori stretched her arms over her head as she watched the car disappear into traffic. She watched Shinso as he turned his weapon back into a fashionable scarf like Aizawa used to wear.
"Time for a celebratory drink," She tugged on his sleeve, "my treat."
…
Kyoko's eyes fluttered open as she laid in a hospital bed. Her eyes immediately darting to the figure sitting next to her bed.
"Finally! You scared me woman!" Atori sat up in her chair, grabbing Kyoko's hand.
"What…what happened?" Kyoko felt groggy, trying to put together how she got to the hospital in the first place.
"They flew you in from the mountain. You went up against a toxic quirk user?"
"I have never seen a more terrifying man in my life, Atori. His face was so ghastly and he looked like something that came out of a volcano."
"How did you let him get so close to you? You know your body is way more affected by pollution and toxins than other people."
"I didn't have time to react… I needed to save the hikers, I panicked."
"You need to thank Bakugo. He save your ass."
Kyoko angrily pouted as she used the remote to move the bed to sit upright. She stared at Atori.
"Kyo, I mean it. He stayed here until I was able to get here this morning and he filled me in on everything that happened."
Kyoko's face twisted, her eyebrows furrowed, looking at Atori confused, "Why would he do that?"
"Obviously he was worried! He did say, and I quote 'a dramatic pain in the ass'. I forgot how loud that man is though, I'm surprised that he didn't wake you up."
Kyoko looked down at the hospital blanket she was under. She knew she owed Bakugo a big 'thank you' for helping stop the villain they encountered. She sighed, bringing a hand up to rub her temple, hoping it would help her throbbing head. Atori handed her a water bottle she had on the counter next to her. Kyoko opened it and took a few sips, letting the coldness soothe her dry throat. Her body was aching, it had been quite some time since she had gotten this beat up on the job and was already over the dreaded recovery period that she was now going to have to endure.
"So," Atori pipped up to grab Kyoko's attention, "my mission was completed with out injury…Also, I actually had a competent partner."
Kyoko huffed, "I can't tell whether you are trying to lead into a story or make fun of me."
Atori winked at her, "Both of course! I was trying not fan girl, but Shinso uses Aizawa's wraps exactly like him. Then the most obnoxious thing happened last night."
Kyoko looked at her questioningly, rolling her hand around a few times to prompt Atori to finish.
"I went out for drinks with him last night. We were clicking really well and then I get a phone call saying 'your distracted best friend is in the hospital'."
Kyoko groaned, knowing she was going to get lectured about getting injured, "Well, sar-reeh! I didn't plan on a pollution villain being in the woods."
"But usually, you are aware of all the possibilities. So, what made you so distracted."
Kyoko chewed her lower lip before begrudgingly saying, "Being in Bakugo's way…"
"Stop being intimidated by these bigger Pro Heroes Kyo! You're just as strong, if not stronger than them. It wouldn't kill you to be a little more assertive. Your bark is worse than your bite, you know that right?"
"I was assertive… here and there… I'm in pain, don't scold me. Why are you being so heartless, your best friend is hurt!"
Atori gave Kyoko an aggravated grin, "Heh? I don't care! You get so self-conscious when you get paired up with other heroes. You're fine alone or with me, but it's not always going to be like that."
Kyoko nodded her head, thinking back to her last group mission where she had a clear shot at catching the villain but froze, causing Mirio to charge forward before the villain could escape.
"And don't forget to thank Bakugo!" Atori repeated, making sure Kyoko knew she was serious.
Kyoko waved her hand, leaning her head back onto the pillow and letting her eyes close.