Here's my second chapter. Enjoy! This should be the last one that borrows heavy amounts of dialogue from FNE, since after this it will go in its own direction.
Kaina woke up choking.
If someone said she'd be killed in prison, she wouldn't be surprised. After all she knew too much. However, she expected her untimely demise to happen after finishing a poisoned meal, where she'd realize what was happening just before her ugly end. Instead, it dragged her out of a wonderful dream of petting puppies with a blurry mother in the background, and two other figures playing nearby.
The sudden awakening kept her from realizing the HPSC was probably killing her, instead causing her to grab her throat in a blind panic. She sat up and beat her stomach. Out! Out! Out!
Kaina vomited. Instead of falling into her lap, the gunk wrapped around her body. Kaina's mind cleared just enough to realize this was a quirk. She tried to crawl away, but the foul substance clung to her, enveloping her until she was completely swallowed
Kaina opened her eyes to find herself on an unfamiliar floor. She looked around. I don't think I'm in Tartarus anymore.
It was a dingy bar, with mid-level lighting, hardwood floors, and a bartender with a face made of mist. Kaina turned her head, until it bumped into something. She scooted back and realized she'd hit someone's leg. Someone tall. Someone wearing a suit with no tie, and a dark mask that resembled a skull.
"All for One…"
"Ah, the treacherous and beautiful Lady Nagant! Welcome to Hell!"
Knowing there was no way she was lucky enough that he'd actually died, Kaina said the first thing that came to her head.
"Lo siento," she said with an awkward smile, "No hablo Japanese."
"Esta bien," All for One said. "Hablo Español."
Kaina grimaced. She tried again with French. Then English, even Mandarin. Each time he seemed to know (or had a quirk to translate), what she was saying. Finally, Kaina said, "Ugh, fine I speak Japanese. What do you want?"
"Ah, the treacherous and beautiful Lady Nagant!"
He said that.
"Welcome to Hell!"
She winced. He's not hitting on me is he?
"I have an important job for you!"
Oh good it's just a job. Wait, that's not good! I got so sick of those that I put a bullet through my lastboss' skull! Maybe I should-
"Before you try putting a bullet through my skull, know that this helmet is armored and I have several durability quirks active."
Dammit.
"Now, about that job…"
"Hold on!" Kaina said, getting to her feet to look the sitting villain in the eye. She hoped he hit his head on doorways a lot. "Why do you think I'd do a job for you?"
"Because, you betrayed the HPSC so you don't work for them anymore, because part of you might have enough of a conscience to protect an innocent, because I'll pay you handsomely, and because I'll throw you back in Tartarus if you don't."
Damn, those were good reasons.
"Fine, what kind of a job is this?"
"A rescue."
Kaina quirked an eyebrow. "Rescue?" Was it a hardened lieutenant, or some pawn, or-
"Yes, my son."
Kaina's eyes bugged out. Son. All for One had a son. All for One procreated. Kaina resisted the urge to throw up.
All for One held out a picture of a boy with curly green hair, round eyes, and freckles. "Here is a picture of him. He's fourteen and-"
"All for One, that's a twelve-year-old."
All for One looked at his phone. "Really? Even with my eyesight gone I could have sworn-No, that's definitely him at fourteen. It was taken a month ago."
Wow, that kid had severe baby-face syndrome. Between that and his childlike smile, he looked downright adorable. Kaina felt an immediate urge to protect him at all costs.
"He was kidnapped by Humarise. I want you to rescue him. In exchange, I will give you money, a quirk to assist you and…knowledge."
Her brow raised. "Knowledge?"
"Of your birth family."
Kaina's eyes widened. "My…what?"
All for One tilted his head. "You were put in foster care when you were around three with a note from your mother saying she loved you. The note was destroyed in a fire when you were nine. You passed through several families and orphanages over the years, until you were finally taken into the HPSC's custody at fifteen. And the rest, they say, is history."
Kaina's eyes narrowed. "And you know what happened to my mother?"
"Indeed," All for One said. She couldn't see his face, but she could tell he was smiling. "Fittingly enough, she is also being held captive by Humarise. Once my son is rescued, I will tell you everything." He held out his hand. "Deal?"
Kaina stared at the hand. This was a deal with the devil. She knew it. He knew it. He knew she knew it. But she also didn't have many options. Besides, saving a kidnapped child actually seemed like a decent thing to do. She just had to make sure All for One wasn't abusing him before giving him back.
Ironic. The shadow rulers of Heroes have me murder people while the Dark Emperor of the Underworld asks me to save someone.
Kaina made her decision. She shook the villain's hand. Immediately, energy surged into her. It felt…light.
"That is the quirk Air Walk," All for One said, "It will improve your mobility. I've also reserved an entire store's worth of clothing and Support Gear for you to use as your Villain costume in the next room."
All for One let go of her hand. "Oh one more thing, Humarise has a particularly dangerous operative named Beros. Her quirk allows her to fire energy infused arrows that she has some degree of control over. She has incredible aim, range, and can fire multiple shots at once. She is very skilled, very determined, and very deadly. I strongly advise killing her on sight."
Kaina nodded. "Got it. Any more useful info?"
He handed her a file. "Here is everything about Humarise that you'll need. I've also arranged the authorities to take a day or two to start looking for you. Good luck."
Kaina took the file and went to see the gear he'd gotten her. She had to admit, he had good resources. She chose a black sleeveless top and skirt, white combat boots, and some grenades for her belt. She also grabbed some small communicators in case she needed shoot them in her bullets, and some other supplies that might be useful. When she was done, Kaina left the bar in a heavy raincoat, and got onto a waiting motorbike.
She was ready.
Botan examined Humarise's newest arrival.
Izuku Midoriya, aged fourteen. The newest Chosen One for Humarise to "save", whether he wanted it or not. Probably the latter. Botan was to introduce the boy to Humarise, teach him their ways and make sure he was properly inducted into their rituals. She'd done it before. The boy had been given the standard clothing, had his blood drawn, all the typical induction methods. It would take time to become acclimated, but sooner or later he would. They all did.
Botan sighed. Another boy stripped from his home and all that he knew. She hoped he hadn't left a pleasant life. Not that she could talk to him about it. Botan had to keep up the cult's front. There was no hope of escape for either of them. The best thing to do was keep their heads down and do as told. As long as Botan did that, she was still allowed to send letters to her daughter. Besides, she barely felt the urge to cuss out the higher ups anymore. Mostly.
The boy stirred. He cracked one eye open, then immediately closed it from the light. Then, both eyes shot open. The boy launched himself up before wincing in pain and falling back down. Still weak from the blood drawing. Botan reached over. "Don't try to move."
The boy's eyes fixed on her. She held out a cup of water to him. He drank it, then looked around.
"Where, where am I?" the boy said.
Botan tried to smile for him, like she was supposed to. "You're home."
She helped the boy out of bed and took him to a dining area. Then she got some soup, took a spoonful to show it wasn't drugged, and gave it to him. "Nourishment for body is good for the soul," she said, cheerfully parroting the mantra.
"Thank you," the boy said, despite (naturally) not sounding too grateful. "I'm Izuku Midoriya. What's your name?"
"I know who you are Izuku." Botan pointed to his name tag. He looked at it, then at hers.
"I see, your name is Botan. I should have noticed. What's your last name? I would feel rude addressing you so informally."
"We don't use surnames here, in order to disconnect ourselves from the outside world." She wondered if Beros even remembered her surname.
The boy seemed uncomfortable with the prospect, but nevertheless said, "Botan, do you know where we are?"
Botan wondered if he was asking because he was curious, or because he was calculating the distance to the nearest police station (5.6 kilometers). "We're safely under the protection of Humarise, the Saviors of Humanity," she said, quoting the brochure.
His smile became strained. "I meant, where is this building located relative to the city of Musutafu?"
She shook her head. "We Chosen Ones aren't permitted such information, for our own safety." Botan only knew because of that time she (briefly) escaped and went to the police. How naïve she'd been.
"We?" the boy said, tilting his head. "Are you quirkless, too?"
Botan nodded. "Yes. I've been assigned as your temporary caretaker. Only another Chosen One would be permitted to look after a Chosen Child. Though fewer children are born with each generation. I looked after a girl from Kansai for a few weeks before she was transferred to Europe." Botan remembered little Kyoko. Such a sweet girl. And sharp too. Botan wondered if her own children had been like that at her age…
"They like to keep all the Chosen Children together, for your safety," Botan continued. "I'm sure they'll send you to the European Headquarters soon, but I'll make your stay here as comfortable as I can in the meantime."
The boy looked down, his face features in a failed attempt to hide his dawning horror. Being sent to Europe meant escaping would be even more pointless than it was here, and he knew it. Because it was obvious this boy wanted to escape.
Sadly, even if he did get away, Humarise's influence was too great, they'd bring him back. Even the police stations near their bases were filled with Humarise members. Botan wondered if the departments ever grew suspicious about the large number of recruits in such remote areas, or if they just shrugged, counted their blessings, and moved on.
The boy gave her a sidelong glance. He was considering something. She hoped it wasn't permission to say goodbye to someone back home.
"Could I send a message to my mother? Even just to tell her that I'm all right? She must be so worried about me."
It was.
Botan's jaw twitched. However, she powered through and said, "Humarise will have already informed your mother of your relocation. A parent cursed with an unholy power cannot suitably care for a Chosen Child." Or vice versa, as she learned when they ripped Botan's young daughter from her arms. Even in the same compound, she was as helpless to keep her child as Izuku's mother was to keep hers. Ironic, seeing as she came to Humarise to keep the infant Beros…
"My mother only has me in the entire world," the boy said, looking desperate. "I'm an only child. Her parents are deceased. My father abandoned us."
Botan felt her composure breaking. Her own husband had died. She knew what it felt like to lose the ones you loved. But it was pointless. She couldn't help Izuku. She couldn't even help Beros.
Tears brimmed in his eyes. "If Mom lost me, then she might die of grief!" he said sobbing.
Botan's hand shook as handed him a handkerchief. "I'm sorry. So very sorry. I'm not allowed any contact with the outside world. They'd never let you send a message. I wish I could help you. I promise I'll do everything in my power to look after you while you're here." It was the least she could do, for him and his mother.
Izuku patted his face with the handkerchief and said, with a fake wobble to his voice.
"Will you answer some more questions? It would help reassure me."
"I'll answer any questions I am permitted to," Botan said. The questions were mostly about Humarise and its workings, many of them blatantly to figure out ways to escape. However, Botan "didn't notice," knowing Humarise was too patronizing to suspect her of subterfuge. She was a Chosen One after all.
Finally, Izuku licked his lips and asked, "What are they going to do to me."
Botan took his hand and said, "No one is going to hurt you. They only keep you here in order to protect you from the cruelty of a world that hates people like us." It was only half a lie. The world did hate them. But Humarise's love…
It was manageable.
"All your needs will be cared for until the day you die," she continued. "You'll…get used to it. It's not so bad here, truly. Humarise cherishes Chosen Children. Everyone here loves you very much."
This wasn't a lie. As long as he didn't have a hidden quirk, he would be safe, if nothing else.
"Thanks," Izuku said. He did not look comforted.
Botan placed his spoon back into his hand. "Finish your soup, then I'll bring you to some people who very much want to meet you."
Izuku finished his soup, then Botan took him to his first ritual, explaining everything he needed to know. The ritual went as planned, with everyone hugging him. It was special to have a Chosen One so young after all. Izuku did well, accepting their affections even if he clearly didn't like it.
Once the ritual was over, she led him back to his room and even offered to get him some comics that Kyoko loved to read.
It was painful to see a boy who so clearly didn't want to be there. As Botan collected the comic books, she thought back to the better days. Days she only appreciated when they were gone, when she was outside and free.
She remembered carrying an infant Beros in the warm sunlight, cradling her as she cried, feeding her, kissing her cheek when she went to bed.
She remembered helping her daughter to walk, teaching her to speak, playing pretend with being the noble Pro Hero against Botan's wicked villain. As hard as they'd been, those were truly better days.
Lady Nagant waited in a dark alleyway, floating three meters off the ground. Her enhanced vision let her see every face walking down the street, regardless of shadow or distance. She was waiting for a Humarise agent from her files who worked in a nearby building. He'd know where she had to go. He'd been working in this building tonight, and based on her reconnaissance of the surrounding area, he would likely take this route out from work.
So, she sat, haunting her corner like a ghost. She was more than willing to wait for hours if need be. Fortunately, it didn't seem necessary.
Her quarry walked down the road, sticking close to the buildings on instinct. He had no idea how vulnerable that truly made him.
Lowering herself, Lady Nagant waited until he'd walked right past the alley. "Pst! In here!" she said before hiding behind a trash bin. The only part of her head still peering out was cloaked in shadow, invisible to the man.
The agent looked surprised. He stepped into the alley, curious at the noise. Lady Nagant's muscles tensed, like a cat ready to spring. The man shrugged his shoulders and turned around. His biggest mistake.
Lady Nagant pounced.
The man let out a muffled cry as she put one arm around his mouth, and the other around his throat and dragged him back. She threw him to the ground and began to drag him. He was about to scream when her gun leveled itself at his throat. Instead he stared in wide-eyed terror.
Good. He realized that this was not a situation he could fight his way out of. Now she just had to take him to a warehouse she'd prepared where he would tell her everything.
Toshinori called in every favor, used every friendship, asked any ally who could help him track down Humarise's Japanese compound, and with it, Young Midoriya. He was close to just running out and smashing every building affiliated with Humarise when he got a call from the lobby. There was a homeless man wearing a hospital gown there who had Hero license. The man wanted to speak to Toshinori about Humarise. Toshinori checked the footage of the building's lobby cameras.
Shota Aizawa, the Erasure Hero, Eraserhead.
Toshinori told them to send him up, then activated his buff form. A few minutes later, Eraserhead burst through the door, fixing his bloodshot eyes on Toshinori. Between the hospital gown and a pressure cuff hanging from his arm, he almost looked like he ran out of the hospital midway through his examination. But that would be ridiculous.
"All Might, I heard you're the Hero with the most expertise about Humarise. I need your help to find a kidnapping victim."
"Eraserhead? What happened to you? Should you be walking around?"
"I'm fine. Those idiots at the hospital are overly cautious," Aizawa said, yanking off the pressure cuff. That really did not reassure Toshinori.
Is this what dealing with me is like? Maybe I owe Mirai an apology.
Aizawa threw the cuff to the ground. "Humarise tried to kidnap me and a teenage boy intervened. They took him instead. I want-I need to find him." His voice shook.
Toshinori instantly understood his pain. If a child had been taken in his place, he wouldn't rest until the boy was found. "I'll help you. I promise. I have my own business with Humarise."
"When I woke up in the hospital, the police refused to believe there had been an attempted kidnapping at all! They wouldn't even put out an alert! They tried to tell me the kid must have run away from home when I watched him get dragged off into a van in front of me!"
"Humarise has many agents in the police. They use it to prevent their kidnappings being reported as crimes. I've tried to speak out against it, but the media won't talk about it and government officials always shut me down. However, now they've kidnapped a quirkless boy I'm training. I'm done playing by the rules. Let's help each other."
Aizawa's eyes hardened. "Good."
Toshinori's phone rang. It was Tsukauchi. "Excuse me, this is about the case." Toshinori answered the call. "Yes?"
After the call ended, he said. "I have three leads on where Humarise's compound could be. I was imprisoned there once, so I'll try and use my memories to narrow it down."
"Sounds rational. Our only other option would've been getting someone to talk."
"Humarise's followers are fanatics. They'll never talk."
"I'll talk! I'll talk!"
Kaina raised an eyebrow. Given how All for One's files described these guys, she thought it'd be hard to get information out of them. Instead, she hadn't even done anything yet, and he was already singing.
Well, nothing besides hanging him upside down and threatening to blow his limbs off one by one of course. But that was nothing. It didn't count as torture.
Never get a gift horse in the mouth I suppose.
Lady Nagant gave him a cold glare. "Alright. Spill."
Man, fun thing of making a spin off is that for the moments that are the same I can reuse the same dialogue!
(Don't worry, that won't last past next chapter. Even then I hope the different POV makes up for it)
Hope you liked! Reviews bring me joy!