Heroes in the Dark chapter 29

Tokoyami stood for a moment to catch his bearings. Not a moment had passed and he was already beginning to feel regretful about agreeing to join the two of them. He really didn't need any more excitement today. But perhaps that was the wrong mindset. Shouldn't he be more eager to pick apart the inner workings of this underground facility? It would certainly prove beneficial. And this time he wouldn't even have to be alone. Although that could just as easily be a hindrance more than anything… it was difficult to ascertain the League members' stance on this whole situation. Certainly, they were averse to being a gangster underling much like himself, but to what extent were they willing to push the limits of their recruitment in this place?

Now wasn't the time to be mulling over these thoughts. He'd already had plenty of time to do that earlier in his stupor. Now he was faced with obligations to uphold.

Tokoyami zeroed in on the dresser he had searched through earlier, pulling out a pair of black slacks and a black and red striped dress shirt. He made his way to the bathroom, but not before stumbling over a vase of plastic flowers that had found itself on the floor.

Dark Shadow, is this your doing? It's rude to knock things over…

Ouch! It's also rude to accuse me of things! But since you asked, I might have something to do with it.

The quirk laughed as Tokoyami picked up the vase with a sigh and set it back on the shelf that it belonged on. He could more or less control his quirk however he wanted in the midst of battle, but things like this were an inevitability at this point. So long as little things like this didn't become detrimental, it was fine to ignore, right?

Tokoyami took a quick shower and got dressed. The clothes were a bit big on him, but it was still apparent that they were very much there for him to utilize. His head feathers were damp, glistening with water in some places and beginning to dry and puff out in others. They stuck out in a way he didn't quite appreciate, and so he began to fix them. He wondered if the villainous duo waiting on him would give up and leave him be if he kept them waiting for too long. But of course that wouldn't be the case.

Toga could be heard clearly on the other side, each word accompanied by a knock as she persisted to gain his attention. "Hurry. Up. And. Get. Out. Here!"

Tokoyami dismissed himself from the mirror and made his way to the door, swiftly fastening his cloak on the way there. Whispered words floated through the wall before he turned the knob, and he hesitated so that he could listen.

"Do you really think we should be bothering him like this?" Twice asked. "I don't want to force him to do anything he doesn't want to do. Heh, but it's a bit too late for that!"

"…You just answered your own question. It's not our fault he's here with us. Well, not directly anyway. So why not have a little fun?"

Tokoyami opened the door, and the two villains stepped back quickly in surprise. Twice looked him up and down. "Oh good, you decided to come out after all. Why'd you have to come out looking like crap?!"

Toga stifled a laugh. "Who you trying to impress? Do tell~"

"…Perhaps this was a bad idea after all."

They dropped their aloof speculation of him immediately.

"Aww, no need for that now. This is just supposed to be a friendly invitation," Toga pointed out. "Besides, we already got you to agree to this, so there's no backing out of it now. If you didn't want to come, you should've just said so. Not that I would accept that answer anyway, but like, you could've tried to get out of it."

"That's right, we're in this together for better or worse. Like the three amigos, all for one and one for all!" said Twice, visibly excited for this outing.

Toga rolled her eyes. "That was in bad taste, Twice."

"Eh? No, no, it was great! Sorry about that…"

Toga's eyes flicked over to Tokoyami, as though expecting a response. But the crow-headed kid was noticeably sullen and unresponsive. "Hmm we're wasting time here, huh. Twice, why don't you lead the way?"

"Why do you get to decide that?! Let's try not to get lost now!" Twice began marching purposefully down the hall, in the same direction Tokoyami had taken earlier when he had first sought out the cafeteria.

Toga walked beside him in a leisurely manner. He could tell that she was trying to catch his eye, but Tokoyami kept his gaze firmly elsewhere. Just because he was walking amongst them didn't mean he could still avoid this. You can't do that forever, though. Don't you know you need them here?

Even if you say that… Tokoyami let his mind wander, ignoring the two that were escorting him. And he started to notice the way the walls closed in on them, and the way that all the branching halls seemed to conceal the darkest of shadows. The innumerable doors they walked past, he was torn between wanting to know what was concealed behind them and fearing what more ugly secrets this place contained. His feathers, still damp from the shower, prickled with unease, and he wondered if this was truly acceptable. The last thing he wanted to do was annoy anymore of these yakuza. Though by now he was starting to get the impression that no matter what he did, it would be met with hostility. None of these people cared about his well-being, after all. Only what use he would be to them, if any. It was frightening, this sensation that any one of these people were disposable to a higher power. And despite his familiar company, Tokoyami couldn't help but feel smaller than he ever had before. More so than when he'd stood before Shigaraki's intimidation or Dabi's roughness, it was his now multiple encounters with Overhaul that had left him truly rattled.

"I can't be in this place," Tokoyami murmured quietly, his nerves getting the better of him yet again. This is ridiculous. I should be better than this, but I'm not.

"Sorry to say, but you never had the choice. We're yakuza now!" Toga sang in a very un-sorry tone.

"No – well, yes, I realized that was beyond my control long ago. B-but right now… I shouldn't be here where – Toga I need to get back to my room now."

Tokoyami turned on his heels, ready and willing to dash back into the safety of his room. But before he could even think to take another step, a hand striked past his cloak and found its way firmly around his wrist. It caught him off guard, and he froze at the touch that had taken hold of him. He felt nails dig into his skin, and Toga yanked him towards her in an act of aggression that he'd never before encountered with her in all the time that she'd been lurking around him. Dark Shadow screeched a warning in his thoughts, but Tokoyami quickly shouted the voice down, and in that brief lapse of focus he came to realize that he was suddenly much closer to Toga than he ever wanted to be. Toga had a vice grip on his wrist and his arm in the air. She had tugged him in close, to where they were mere inches from each other while usually he would've much rather kept his distance from the deranged girl. She loomed over him, the few inches in their height difference seemingly all the more significant.

Twice took notice a moment too late, stumbling back to separate them not for the first time that day.

Tokoyami anticipated the biting edge of her knife to come out. But instead she attacked him with words, cold and calculating, but also tinged with… disappointment?

"Heeeey, that's no way to act. It's not very cute to slink away like that, little scaredy-bird. I thought we were finally going to have some fun here? Do you really want to rob us of that?" Toga released his grip on him, and Tokoyami made to back away from her. But before he could she tactfully wrapped an arm across his shoulders, pulling him back into her so that he was within whispering distance. And although his every instinct was screaming at him to break away, he didn't resist. "I know this isn't a very nice place, but I can tell that something has you… more discouraged than usual. Something happened, didn't it?"

Twice looked between the two of them uncertainly. "You two are being awfully chummy, is there something I'm missing? You better not be trying to kill each other; I'm getting sick of having to moderate you two!"

Toga clicked her tongue in annoyance and begrudgingly stepped back. "Yeah, yeah. That's fine, we can talk about it later. We don't want to be saying anything regretful out in the open like this, now do we?"

Tokoyami glared daggers at her as he stepped away, rubbing his wrist begrudgingly. "…Right."

"Hey Toga, why don't you take the lead. You know where to go, right?" Twice asked.

"Hm? Oh yeah, sure I do! I was creeping around here earlier~" Toga skipped ahead of them, flashing Tokoyami a hungry smile as she passed.

"Ah, geez, I wonder how much trouble we're gonna get into while we're here. Who the hell thought this would be a good idea?" Twice scoffed.

"It's not even a matter of if we encounter unfavorable circumstances, but when," Tokoyami grumbled in agreement. "I fear we may have already crossed that threshold the moment we stepped into this place, though." Sure, Tokoyami hadn't been trying to avoid such an outcome as much as he could've, but it still stung to be feeling the consequences of his actions so soon after sticking his beak where it didn't belong. Could not a day go by where something didn't go wrong, or was it an inevitability that he would be controlled by those around him no matter what action he tried to take?

They'd both fallen into an uncomfortable quiet after that. Twice looked at him curiously, the corners of his mask twisted into a concerned grimace. He looked bothered, the same way he had when he had last left him, back when he was unable to answer his questions. Twice was the kind of person that looked like he had a lot on his mind, but didn't know quite how to speak his thoughts. Which, considering what he vaguely knew of his past, made sense. "Hey, Kid—"

"Oooh, something smells good!" Toga exclaimed, peeking her head around the corner. Tokoyami recalled that this was the same narrow corridor he had gone through earlier, which had opened into a central pathway. And sure enough, they stepped out into a larger area that led directly into the cafeteria. True to her word, the smell of cooking wafted through the air, heralding the ongoing dinner that was being served at the time.

Tokoyami couldn't ignore the way his stomach grumbled at the thought of a good meal. That is to say, the League certainly made sure he didn't starve during his time with them, but it was nothing exemplary either. Here, at this time, the promise of a good meal seemed much more tangible.

They walked into the large dining hall, being passed on both sides by yakuza outfitted with simple masks and sporting elaborate irezumi tattoos. Shifty eyes appraised them from multiple sources, their arrival not going unnoticed. It occurred to him that, even if he managed to fit into the scene somewhat, there was no helping the fact that he was standing between the two people who stood out the most: Twice with his full-body costume and Toga…

Toga tilted her head to the side as she surveyed the room. Even if she had explored the area earlier as Tokoyami had, this was the first time they'd seen so many of the members gathered in one place. Looking around, it certainly put things in perspective. "Hm? Am I really the only girl here?"

Twice scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "A-ah, well, it really is more of a male-exclusive group. That's just how yakuza groups are. You never knew that?"

"Maybe in the past that was to be expected, but nowadays that just sounds boring. Honestly, that's such a let-down," Toga complained loudly, gaining more unnecessary attention. But Tokoyami saw the way the edges of her mouth twitched, like she was trying so hard not to smile. "But I think I can work worth this."

"It might serve you better to still whatever impulses are going through that maddened head of yours," Tokoyami warned. I don't need someone like you making the same mistakes I did. If we cause too many disturbances, I'm worried that Overhaul might change his mind and decide to cut his losses, starting with all three of us.

"That's some sound reasoning there," Twice said. "We're only here to get something to eat and then leave, so let's try not to cause any trouble this time around. These assholes won't even know what hit them when we're done here!"

Tokoyami groaned quietly to himself as he inexplicitly let the two League members guide him to the back of the line. If he ignored all the intimidating faces and the aggressive atmosphere, he could almost imagine that he was back in the school cafeteria surrounded by his fellow students. He would find himself amongst friends that he knew were worth trusting, like Midoriya and Shouji. How long has it been? I wish I could say that I want to see them again, because I do, but not in a place like this, and not with me the way I am now. I'd hate it if ill will befell them once more because of me.

Tokoyami got his food, a sizable portion of fresh yakisoba served by a gruff, heavily scarred man that was as different from the U.A. chef Lunch Rush as humanly possible. So far they hadn't been confronted by anyone, and he wondered if that meant that they were in the clear. "We can head back to our rooms now, correct? Only a fool would wait around in a place like this in the hopes of becoming a target."

"What?! Nuh-uh, we came here to eat," Toga decided, searching the room for an open table. "I thought that was obvious? Besides, I miss being in this kind of setting, surrounded by peers you just want to sink your knife into." She sighed wistfully. "School was kinda fun for a while."

Tokoyami cleared his throat. "Toga, I shouldn't have to tell you that that way of thinking is concerning. But more importantly, it surprises me to know that you would miss a school environment. Might I ask how long it's been since you were last enrolled?"

Toga hummed to herself, taking a moment to think. "Oh, about a week?"

Tokoyami stumbled on the hem of his cloak, almost spilling his plate of food. He recovered in time, but not without a rush of questions going through his head. "P-pardon? You can't be serious!"

"It might've been longer than that, I don't know. What day is today again? Anyway, that was a lot of fun. Can you believe I was so close to getting my provisional license? Ha! Me neither! I had to release that girl when it was all over, unfortunately, but the whole thing was really fun. I might even have to do it again someday."

"Toga, you mean to tell me that you infiltrated a hero school during the exams and almost came out of it with a passing grade? Hang on, is that how you were able to – ah, wait!"

"Oh hey, there's a spot! C'mon, Twice, Tokoyami, let's go make some new friends!"

Tokoyami looked around the crowded room in concern, tempted to leave right then and there but also desperate to know what Toga had been up to in her free time. He already know how Twice had been proactive in the League while he was training in their secret facility with Dabi, having been the first to find himself in the midst of the yakuza and their cruel boss. But Toga's actions had been a mystery to him, and the more he found out about them the more his disbelief grew.

Twice gave him a well-mannered pat on the back, though if it was supposed to be a reassuring gesture then it failed horribly. "Come on, you should try making the most of this like Toga is! She's just out here for a good time, don't you think?"

Tokoyami didn't even try to conceal the misery that crept into his voice. "I dread the day we even remotely share similar ideas of what "fun" entails. Hers is a mindset that even in my darkest nightmares I would not wish to pursue. It's… nice that she can enjoy herself this way, but shouldn't you be a bit more worried about the repercussions we face in this hellish world?"

Twice laughed, waving his words of concern away as he guided Tokoyami to where Toga had run off to. "You think too much, that's your problem! You're trying too hard to resist these outcomes when you'd be a lot better off rolling with the punches. If you just throw yourself into the heat of all this, it won't feel so bad. Take a note from the villain handbook! Didn't Dabi teach you anything while we were off doing our own thing?" He paused. And then. "You really should be more perceptive of these types of hazards so that you can avoid them at all costs! If it really concerns you that much, I suggest you maybe take a step back from it all. Just let me and Toga get involved in all this. If you'd prefer, you can keep to yourself after this and we can handle this nasty yakuza business."

Tokoyami struggled for a response. But it never felt like there was a right way to respond to this man. What was his truthful words and what was the contradiction? Or were they both equally valid ideas and was he the one misinterpreting them? No matter how friendly this person wanted to be him, regardless of if he wanted to help him, it was evident that he was painfully detrimental to his motives. He would probably never be able to truly understand the reasoning behind this "villain." And that didn't sit right with him, because it seemed like he made the greatest effort of all of them to be a genuinely good, albeit flawed, human being.

"Twice, that's…" Whatever he was about to say was lost when Toga called out to them.

"Heeeey! Over here! If you think you can leave me like this, you're dead wrong~"

Tokoyami saw where she was sitting and felt an onset of dismay. Certainly, there were better, less populated places where they could've sat. But of course Toga had taken it upon herself to seat herself right in the midst of a trio of yakuza that he recognized from the meeting with the Eight Precepts of Death. Much like her other perspectives, the girl's idea of "making new friends" was lost on him. If there was anything to gain from it, then it might be useful. But if yet another unwanted confrontation ended with him getting stabbed in the side, then he had no doubt that it would be Toga's fault.

"All right, we got ourselves a table!" Twice said, making his way to where Toga sat with Tokoyami in tow. "I can't imagine any good will come of this, so be sure to stay vigilant around these types!"

"Them and everyone else," Tokoyami muttered darkly, allowing himself to be led forward.