Heroes in the Dark chapter 35
Tokoyami was still reeling from his exchange with Overhaul. Watching the back of the delusional man walking in front of him, he couldn't help but feel that familiar sense of unease. The only small comfort to have come from all this was that the yakuza boss didn't want him dead, at least not in the permanent sense. But all that meant so little in the face of all else. His actual life was but a fickle thing to be kept, disposed, or recycled. And truly it must've been his powerlessness in this situation that made it all the more frustrating. He had only to swallow these emotions in the face of this adversary, though. Continuing down this treacherous track, it almost seemed as though he was getting somewhere. Whether or not he liked where it was leading was yet to be determined, but… at least by talking with Overhaul, he was gaining a better idea of the position they all were in. Certainly, he held more favor with the yakuza than the other League members. If that was something to be used to his advantage, then it didn't matter how fretful it made him to be in this person's presence. He had to be able to come out of all this on top.
It's not just you, though. He's gotten wise to our weaknesses. He's just toying with us, and you allowed that to happen. Do you really think that continuing like this will end in our favor?
Tokoyami blatantly ignored the voice, much to Dark Shadow's chagrin. There were more pressing matters to think about, after all. The last thing Overhaul had said to him, the way he'd so casually brought up the idea that the little girl he had seen for the first time just yesterday might be in distress, weighed heavily in his mind. And something that he was unable to forget, especially with the new information Overhaul had gifted him, was how pained she had looked and the way her limbs were so heavily bandaged. If his quirk was so great, then how was he satisfied with having the child be in that condition? But also… why is she so hurt in the first place, and what does it take to mend a person? It sounds like Overhaul would rather avoid using his power on people because it can get "messy" but realistically how often does he end up having to use it when it becomes necessary? Would he even care about healing someone's injuries… or would he rather wait til they're on the brink of death to lift a finger.
He didn't look very eager to heal you, anyway. You're cloak got nice and stitched up, though, his quirk cawed, a hint of resentment in his tone.
Under the veil of his cloak, knowing that Overhaul wouldn't notice, Tokoyami gingerly touched his ribs. Feeling had properly returned to his arms after that blow from the clone, but the damage to his body still felt considerable. Even though the attack had only grazed his side, he could still feel the way his body protested with every movement. He would be lucky if no ribs had gotten broken, but there was little doubt in his mind that he'd be seeing visible damage later on from this. Perhaps this was his fault, for not doing better from the beginning…
Dark Shadow hissed loudly in his thoughts. That's dangerous thinking. Only those who don't have power think like that.
Tokoyami nodded numbly, even as the pain in his side leapt out at him with every light touch. Right now it certainly didn't feel like he had much control of anything, but Dark Shadow was intent on encouraging him in his own way.
He mulled to himself in relative silence, with only the discontent mutterings of his quirk ringing in his mind and the sight of the yakuza boss guiding the way keeping him company. Overhaul walked confidently, never doubting that he wouldn't be directly behind him. And certainly he had no intention of faltering, especially if it meant that he would be led back to the room that belonged to Eri.
Making their way through the labyrinthine halls, they encountered nobody else. Until a nondescript door opened on their left. Unfamiliar voices spilled out and an older man in a black suit and doctor's mask stepped out. He froze suddenly in his steps when he caught sight of Overhaul, who had stopped to glare at him suspiciously.
"A-ah, Boss, I thought you were in a meeting?" he asked, clearly trying his best to remain composed.
"I was," Overhaul drawled. "And now I'm done. But that's besides the point. Why aren't you working in the lab? You were alerted about the new samples, correct?" His eyes narrowed. "Instead you're wasting your time in the break room."
The man cleared his throat to stall for time as the voices from the room burned down to a whisper. "Right, well, I was just heading there now. Rest assured, the results I've been producing in our efforts will exceed your expectations!"
"…Then you'd best hurry and get on that, now shouldn't you?"
The man took that as his cue to leave and began making his way down the hall with his head bent low. The door to the room was about to close until Overhaul caught it and proceeded to investigate the space for any other possible slackers. There were a few murmured excuses from some of the men seated in the room, but nobody else made any move to leave. They must not have any place to be.
Tokoyami peered into the room. Sure enough it was a pretty standard looking break room with a couple couches where a few members were eying them warily, as well as a fridge, water dispenser, and a table of to the side lined with snacks.
Despite his situation and an intention to remain reserved before these people, Tokoyami's innate desires betrayed him, and Overhaul caught him looking a bit too longingly at the food and water on the other side of the room.
"That's right, I'm supposed to be taking care of you… or something like that," Overhaul hummed in consideration. He held the door open further for him to enter through. "Go on and treat yourself. Your fighting was decent enough to deserve that much, in any case. I'll wait. Just don't try my patience."
Tokoyami decided not to waste any time, slipping into the room and walking past the curious stares until he arrived at the table. Frankly, he was grateful to have this slight reprieve before being thrust back into whatever plans the yakuza had in mind for him. It was his first time getting access to food and water that day, and considering how much time he had spent last night training with Dark Shadow in his room, this was a long time coming. He grabbed a paper cup and filled it with water, drinking from it greedily before filling it up several more times until his thirst was sated. With a tired breath, he set the cup down. All the excitement and tension from the day was already starting to wear him down. More realistically, every moment spent with these people was a tax upon his body, and he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to keep up with everything going on around him when it would be so much easier to seclude himself in his room with locked doors. That much would fix all of his problems, so long as he didn't think about the people he was shutting out. But because he couldn't do that, because he felt he had a responsibility to uphold, he had to keep going.
Tokoyami's arms were beginning to shake again, and he quietly willed them to step. When they wouldn't, he hid them back into the folds of his cloak so that nobody else could see. He could already feel the stares of multiple people upon him, and decided that he wouldn't want to spend too much more time in here. But not without food, and his eyes fixated on the snacks on the table.
A quick glance over his shoulder confirmed that Overhaul was still waiting, though it looked like he was more interested in inspecting his gloze for dirt. Tokoyami went back to appraising his options, intent on grabbing something and then leaving the room as quickly as he could. He grabbed a muffin that was sitting on a platter, and then he fixated on a bowl of fruit where a few unmistakable red apples were resting atop other varied fruits. Remembering a promise he'd made, he swiftly snatched them up and slipped them into his pockets, where they remained concealed out of sight of any who might question it. And then, muffin in hand, he turned away and walked diligently back to Overhaul.
"Is that all you wanted?" Overhaul asked. Tokoyami couldn't be sure if he truly expected an answer, but offered up a silent nod. "Good. I hope you won't expect too much more of me. That can be Chrono's responsibility once all this is over. I can't afford to be held up by trivialities like this, after all. Now come on, we'll be there soon." Tokoyami slipped back into the hallway and the door fell back into place behind him with a click, leaving behind the yakuza that were still trying to enjoy their break.
Tokoyami took a bite of his muffin and continued down the questionable path that Overhaul led him down. "…When you say there, do you mean Eri's room?"
"Obviously. Regardless of what you think of me, I'm true to my word. Why, was there a different place you wanted to go? There's certainly a lot of places you don't have access to, though I can't imagine why they'd interest you in the first place. You only really care about one thing, right? What with your noble pursuits of being a hero and all that."
Tokoyami shrugged deeper into the folds of his cloak. He wasn't expecting a comment like that to bite into him as much as it did. It made him sound that much more like a fool for attempting to do anything at all in a place where none of his choices could be made without someone else's verification. "I just…" Tokoyami tried to respond, but found that it may as well have been useless. As much as he hated it, he just had to trust that he was being guided to where he wanted to be. He was sure that Overhaul was smirking under his mask, reveling in the feeling of discomfort he instilled in others, but if that was the case then he didn't let it show. He was the kind of person that could mask just about any emotion. Except perhaps his disgust in others. It made being around him for so long that much more exhausting. He wasn't afraid to admit that he'd much rather be spending this time with literally any member of the League. At least then he might know what to expect, instead of walking forward with these questions and cautions plaguing his mind, knowing that this was a man who expressed unwithheld contempt for him despite insisting on having him by his side.
Tokoyami followed him like he was marching to his doom. He'd finished his muffin and, looking around, it came as no surprise that none of what he was seeing was recognizable. After all, he'd spent a good portion of yesterday getting thoroughly lost just so that he could find himself unexpectedly in front of a particularly important door. And now that he was being led straight to it, he was trying his best to remember whatever indicators might help him locate this place in the future. But of course Overhaul wouldn't have made that easy, since hardly anything really stood out in this monotonous maze of blank doors and walls indistinguishable from one another.
It'd be easier if you just avoided all of this.
They rounded a corner, and Tokoyami perked his head up. He may not have been able to recognize anything from the architecture, but he definitely remembered the white-suited figure standing in front of the unmarked door with a scowl on his face. Catching sight of Overhaul, he straightened up and put on a serious face, bowing stiffly as the boss approached. The mediator stepped quickly to the side, and Overhaul all but ignored him. Tokoyami noticed the way the man cast a glare at him while Overhaul produced his key-card. He must still hold some contempt after Tokoyami had led to him getting in trouble.
Overhaul went to open the door, gripping the handle, but after a moment of consideration he turned to the mediator. "You're relieved of your duty for the next few hours. You're not needed here. But I'm going to need you to send Chrono my way."
The person responsible for guarding the room breathed a small sigh of relief and dipped his head in agreement. "Sure thing, Boss, I'll get right on it." And just like that he left his post.
When he'd rounded the corner, Overhaul turned to the other person standing beside him. "Do be patient with her, and don't be discouraged if she doesn't feel like having visitors. This past day has been very exciting, after all. So don't expect to be here for any great amount of time," he warned.
He's messing with us. Making it sound as though this whole thing is utterly pointless.
That's because we allowed this to happen! And now it's too late to retaliate.
Tokoyami held his breath as Overhaul opened the door and stepped into the room. The bedside lamp was on, but its light did nothing to penetrate the dark corners of the room. Everything was cast in a hazy glow, and dust drifted through the air as though hardly anything ever moved. The air felt stagnant, unstirred. And the lump huddled under the covers of the bed made no attempt at moving. Last time she had bolted upright the moment the door opened, but now…
"Eri…?" Tokoyami called out hesitantly, not knowing what else to do.
Overhaul clicked his tongue in annoyance. "She must be resting. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea for someone like you to disturb her. But I kept my promise. You got to see her. Fight for me better next time if you want something more significant than this," he said curtly.
But Tokoyami persisted. I'm not the problem here, it's you she doesn't want to see!
Tokoyami stepped into the room, walking right past Overhaul. He could feel his scathing glare burning into the back of his head, but paid it no mind as he approached the bed in the center of the room. "Eri…?" he called out again, keenly aware of how he was being watched. He would have to be careful of doing or saying anything that might be out of line. Eri belonged to him, after all. It shouldn't have to be that way. "I came back like I said I would. Did you still wish to see me again?"
When he reached the side of the bed, the lump hidden under the covers began to stir, and part of her face finally peeked out. Tokoyami saw the hollow look in her eyes and clenched his fists under his cloak. Something had happened in the time since he'd last seen her, that much was clear, but he had no idea of what occurred. Only that it likely hadn't been pleasant, and it frustrated him that he couldn't have stayed with her longer to protect her.
Eri lifted her head up upon seeing him, the slightest bit of light returning to her eyes. Her hair looked more tangled than yesterday, and he couldn't decide if that was just negligence on the yakuza's part or if she had just been adamant about them touching her. She struggled to sit up, and that's when Tokoyami noticed that her arms had been freshly bandaged not too long ago. So maybe that was why he couldn't help but detect a hint of blood in the air. Whatever was happening to this girl, it was an ongoing process. And it made his blood boil.
He cast a glance at Overhaul. The yakuza boss was standing in the doorframe, watching his every movement like a hawk. It was unnerving to say the least, but he wouldn't allow it to keep him from interacting with the person he'd come here to see.
Tokoyami repeated his question again, patiently trying to encourage any kind of response. "Did you still wish to see me?"
Eri settled herself into a sitting position with the blankets wrapped around her and nodded her head. It was only a small nod, but it was filled with confidence. It was at that moment that Tokoyami noticed something else – a long black feather with a scorched tip being clutched desperately in her tiny hands. The barbs of the feathers were disheveled, as though she had played with it a bit too much, and it appeared as though she had been gripping onto it for quite some time.
Overhaul sighed from his position in the room. "She didn't want to let go of it, even during her last procedure. I even warned her that it might get even dirtier than it already is, but that didn't stop her. And now look at it. It's disgusting." Overhaul directed his voice at him. "How could you give that girl such a filthy thing? Your presence here is beginning to reek in places where it shouldn't be, little bird. I suggest you take more responsibility for your actions."
He's mad at you for giving her something to hold onto.
If that's what I did, providing her with something of significance, then I don't mind it.
Dark Shadow let out a low croak of worry within his thoughts. Now you're just trying to get us in trouble. Fumikage, I'm glad you want to protect others. I want to help this girl too. But you're not paying enough attention to the position you're putting both of us in.
I know exactly what position we're in, Tokoyami responded before shutting the voice out again. And that was the truth. Because it was already very much evident that nothing he did would end well for him if he continued down this road, and he had already accepted that.
Tokoyami sat on the edge of the bed, trying his best to not think of Overhaul's reaction. He was here for Eri. "The dredges of weariness are upon you," Tokoyami noted somberly. Eri knit her brows together in confusion, and he clarified with an awkward cough. "Ah, that is to say, you look tired."
The corner of Eri's mouth twitched. "You talk funny," she mumbled quietly. Tokoyami watched the way she hid the feather he'd given her under the covers and out of sight from Overhaul, as though worried that he actually would take it from her. "Yeah, I guess I am pretty tired," she agreed, casting her gaze down towards the bed.
Tokoyami sighed in disappointment. "I apologize for catching you at a bad time. Perhaps I should let you rest and come back later." It pained him to leave, but the last thing he wanted was to be a bother to this girl, especially if she needed her rest. Perhaps if he played his cards right, he could negotiate to see her again tomorrow, or maybe even later on in the day if she was feeling up to it. But he wasn't sure if that was something he'd be able to do, which would make cutting this meeting short all the more frustrating. More than anything, though, the last thing he wanted was to overwhelm the poor girl.
But Eri reached out a hand and clutched onto the part of his cloak that had spilled over to her side. "Please don't go," she begged in a tiny voice. And Tokoyami didn't have the heart to refuse, regardless of what might've been best for her or what Overhaul thought. But he wasn't sure how much longer the yakuza boss would continue to allow this. Already it was almost certain that his patience was being tried, and he doubted that the man would want to wait around too much longer just to oversee their exchange.
"It's alright, Eri, I'm right here." Tokoyami wasn't sure if what he was doing was offering any sort of comfort. But it was the least that he could hope to do. And perhaps it was because he really didn't know what to do that he decided to ask a question, the same one that he had asked of Overhaul not too long ago. "So then, what is it that you would have me do?"
She gave him that confused look again, and once more he clarified. "Is there anything you want to do? Do you wish to sit here, or play with your toys, or eat apples together? Say the word, and I'll make it a possibility worth looking forward to.
Her dim red eyes began to gleam with an uncertain but desperate hope. "I want to go outside," she said, clearly enough that both him and Overhaul could hear.
Tokoyami tensed at that notion. Oh. I hadn't expected that. He tried to gauge Overhaul's reaction to this declaration, but his expression reveled nothing. He couldn't even be sure if Eri had the strength to make it any considerable distance. Sitting on the large bed, surrounded by layers of blankets, she looked much too small and feeble, as though anything to remove her from this place might be consequential. But she was determined, and the last thing he wanted was to crush this desire of hers. Even if he hadn't expected this sort of answer, it was still his responsibility to uphold it for her. He didn't want to be the one that resulted in her disappointment, especially if he were to have any expectation of being someone reliable.
"You want to go outside…" Tokoyami repeated slowly, verifying her words.
She nodded with a renewed vigor, gritting her teeth. "I don't want to be alone in my room like this. I miss the outside," she pleaded, pulling on the hem of his cloak.
A disapproving voice resonated through the abysmal room, making her flinch and causing her to let go of the fabric. "Tokoyami. A word with you."
Tokoyami moved away from Eri slowly, sliding off the bed and dipping his head apologetically as he parted from her. He took the few steps needed to cross the room and faced Overhaul, who had been watching them without intervention until now. When he was standing before him once more, he spoke again in hushed tones, though he had no doubt that Eri would be able to hear anyway, and he could swear that that was intentional.
"Perhaps I didn't make it clear enough before," he said, an edge in his voice. "Eri is very tired today and I don't think it would be a good idea to move her around very much. We might have to reschedule this for another day when she isn't quite so delusional. She's saying things that just doesn't make sense in her current condition. You know how ambitious little kids can be, even when it does them no good."
Then why would you even go so far as to bring me here! Unless all you wanted was for me to see her in this condition.
Jokes on him. It's the young ones that persevere more than any pessimistic adult. They always underestimate the likes of us.
"Overhaul, sir," Tokoyami began hesitantly, not sure how much he'd be able to get away with. "It sounds like she really wants to go outside. If she's so willing and capable, then even if she's a bit tired, don't you think it might be good for her to get some fresh air? I remember walking through the courtyard in front of this building. It might be good for her mentally if she were to sit out on the grass. I can't imagine it's good to be in a place like this all day…"
Overhaul stared daggers at him, his amber eyes threatening. "Are you saying you know what's best for her? A single utterance from an exhausted child and you're already pushing for something like this," he seethed in a way that didn't sound angry but sent chills down his spine all the same. "Are you sure you're not just asking this for your own desires? Maybe you're thinking that you'll take whatever chance you can to get into the outside world and feel like you're part of something more than a group of villains? I wasn't intending on letting you leave this place until the end of the agreement was met. There's no reason why you can't just stay within these halls."
Tokoyami stepped back, surprised by this venomous response. "I meant no ill will, I just thought it might be good for her. During my time with the League, I was regularly allowed time outside the facility, even though there wasn't so much in terms of monitoring and enclosement. They were confident enough in their hold over me that they didn't mind giving me the chance to step out into the forest for a break." Sure, that was only ever under Dabi's surveillance, and I'm pretty sure that if Shigaraki had found out he would've been pissed, but that's besides the point. I was still given my little bit of freedom. "Eri seems so enthused for something as simple as a little outing, after all. I figured there must be a good reason for that."
Overhaul appraised the child from a distance, who was watching the exchange with a concerned expression. "No. No, that makes sense. See, she got to be outside just a few days ago. Got pretty far, too, before I caught up to her. It doesn't surprise me to know that she still wants that feeling of being outside. Personally, I don't think she's been giving us the proper behavior to be rewarded another chance." A rattled breath escaped his mask. "But now that you're the one asking for it, then perhaps it isn't so bad to bend back the regulations I had in place." It was obvious that he hadn't planned on them getting this far, let alone asking so much of him. But Tokoyami decided that, just like he was following orders to gain the boss's favor, Overhaul was also willing to put aside some things so that Tokoyami would align himself more closely as a reliable pawn.
Overhaul crossed the room, sweeping past Tokoyami to approach the girl. Eri shrunk back defensively into her blankets, and seeing this Tokoyami hastened his pace to make it to her bedside before Overhaul could, even though it meant being uncomfortably close to him. Overhaul looked between the two of them in disdain. "So you two really want to go outside, is that it?" When they both nodded, he held up a hand to his beak in consideration, eyes narrowed. "Okay. That's fine. I can work worth this, too. Perhaps there's something to be gained here."
A knock on the doorframe outside the room signaled the appearance of another person. "Overhaul?" came the unmistakable voice of Chronostasis. "I didn't think you'd be back here so soon. What did you need me for?" He poked his white plague doctor mask into the room, tilting his head in confusion when he spotted Tokoyami.
Overhaul turned to him, shoulders relaxing in relief at the impeccable timing. "I still need to have a discussion with you later on. But at the moment it seems as though we're going on a little outing to the courtyard with our two young residents."