Carrot Cake (With A Bit of Cyanide!)

by Studio Greenshade

After nearly killing her brother's ex-girlfriend, the Misery twins and their parents move to Japan for a new life. But misery always loves company! {TCOAL x MHA crossover} {set in AU} {Co-creator: SexySinneress}

9. Kyoudai Rhapsody!

The rhythmic patter of rain against the windshield matched the unease in the air as Inko and Renee sped toward the police precinct. The city lights reflected off the slick streets, casting ghostly glows onto the car's interior. Inko gripped the wheel with white-knuckled intensity, her usual calm demeanor replaced by an anxious determination. The windshield wipers swished back and forth, a steady cadence that couldn't quite drown out the tension.

Renee sat back in her seat, arms crossed, her expression a mix of annoyance and exasperation. While she appreciated Inko picking her up, her focus was on her children—and not in a worried way. "What nonsense did they get themselves into this time?" she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. Andrew and Ashley were magnets for trouble, especially Ashley, whose antics often felt like a ticking time bomb. Yet, her frustration was tempered by curiosity. "What could have landed both of them at the precinct?"

Inko, however, was a stark contrast. The nervous energy radiating off her was palpable. She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel, her gaze darting between the road and the dashboard as she urged the car forward, the speedometer creeping higher. Renee glanced sideways, catching the slight tremble in Inko's hands.

"Slow down," Renee said, her voice cutting through the tense silence. "We'll get there. It's not like they're going anywhere."

Inko let out a shaky breath but didn't ease up on the throttle. "It's not like Izuku," she murmured, more to herself than Renee. "He's never... He wouldn't..."

Renee raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the seat. "I get it. Your boy doesn't seem like the type to wind up in the back of a squad car," she admitted. "But trust me, you're better off not jumping to conclusions. The cops probably have this all wrong."

Inko shot her a quick, grateful glance before returning her focus to the road. "I hope so. I just—he's such a good boy. He works so hard, and to think he might be in trouble...I can't help but worry."

Renee sighed, her tone softening. "I know the feeling, trust me. But sometimes kids do dumb things. Even the good ones." She paused, then added with a smirk, "Mine just happen to do dumb things on a more regular basis."

Inko smiled weakly at the attempt to lighten the mood, but her foot didn't let up on the gas. Renee noticed the subtle shift in her breathing, the shallow, nervous intakes, and wondered how much strength it must take for Inko to keep her composure. She could tell this wasn't just about some minor trouble—Inko's maternal instincts were in full swing, pushing her toward the precinct as though she could will everything to be alright by sheer force.

The car came to a sudden halt in front of the precinct, the red and blue lights of patrol cars reflecting off the rain-soaked pavement. Inko hurriedly shifted into park, her hands trembling as she reached for the door handle. Renee, meanwhile, moved more deliberately, pulling on her jacket as she stepped out into the damp air.

"Let's get this over with," Renee muttered, steeling herself as she followed Inko inside, ready to face whatever mess awaited them.

Inko practically bolted through the precinct doors, her heels clicking on the tiled floor as she made a beeline for the front desk. The stark, fluorescent lighting only accentuated the creases of worry on her face. Renee, on the other hand, strolled in with deliberate slowness, each step measured. She kept her hands in her jacket pockets, the tension in her jaw barely concealed as she worked to mask her rising frustration with her twins. She wasn't worried—she was irritated.

Inko reached the desk first, leaning forward slightly, her voice gentle but urgent. "Excuse me, I'm looking for my son. I was told he was here," she said, her words laced with concern. The clerk on duty, a man in his mid-forties with a receding hairline and a weary expression, barely looked up from his computer.

"Name?" he asked flatly, his tone indifferent as his fingers hovered over the keyboard.

Inko shifted uneasily. "Midoriya. Izuku Midoriya."

The clerk typed the name into the system, his expression blank as he scanned the results. Inko leaned closer, clasping her hands together nervously. "Is he here? Please, I need to know."

Before the clerk could answer, Renee finally reached the desk, her approach drawing his attention. Without waiting for Inko to finish, she interjected, her tone sharp and no-nonsense. "I'm looking for my kids. Two white teenagers—a boy and a girl. Foreigners. You'd know them if you saw them."

The clerk's head snapped up, his tired eyes suddenly wide with recognition. "Oh," he said, the realization dawning on his face. "Now I know who you're asking for."

Renee crossed her arms, her expression flat. "Of course you do." She shot a side glance at Inko, her voice tinged with dry sarcasm. "I'd bet good money my kids are why we're here in the first place."

The clerk hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with her bluntness. "Uh, ma'am, I assume you're here to...retrieve them?"

Renee arched a brow, her lips curling into a wry smile. "Not really," she said with a shrug, her voice dripping with deadpan humor. "But they are my kids, so I guess I don't have much of a choice."

Inko looked at Renee, startled by her candor, before turning back to the clerk, her hands gripping the counter. "Please, can you tell us what's going on? My son—Midoriya—was with her children. We were asked to come here, but no one explained why."

The clerk nodded slowly, clearly trying to piece together how to explain the situation. "Right. Uh, let me check something real quick," he said, disappearing behind a partition, leaving Inko and Renee in the awkward silence of the precinct lobby.

Inko turned to Renee, her brow furrowed. "You're not worried?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Renee sighed, shaking her head. "Worrying doesn't solve anything. Besides, this isn't my first rodeo. With those two, it's always something."

Inko frowned, but before she could reply, the clerk returned, holding a clipboard and motioning for them to follow. "This way, ladies. I'll take you to the officer handling the case."

As they trailed behind him, Inko whispered to Renee, "You're really not worried at all?"

Renee gave her a sideways glance, her lips twitching into a half-smile. "Let's just say I've got a healthy dose of expect the worst, hope for the best."

Meanwhile….

Izuku paced back and forth, his hands fidgeting as he tried to process the situation. The small holding cell felt suffocating, even though it was only temporary. "I can't believe this," Izuku muttered, mostly to himself. "How did we even get here? This isn't what heroes are supposed to—"

"Heroes, shm-heroes," Andrew interrupted, not even looking up from the book he was flipping through. His casual demeanor only added to Izuku's frustration. "You're overthinking it. We're not in Tartarus, kid. They're just holding us while they sort things out. It's not that deep."

Izuku stopped pacing and turned to face him. "But what if it is? What if this goes on my record? What if the school finds out? What if—"

Andrew sighed and finally closed the book, meeting Izuku's panicked gaze with an almost amused smirk. "Relax, man. You're spiraling. They'll find out it's just a misunderstanding, and we'll be out of here in no time."

"But you're not even worried?" Izuku asked, incredulous. "How can you just sit there and read like nothing happened?"

Andrew shrugged. "Because worrying doesn't change a damn thing. I've been in holding before, and trust me, they just want to scare you straight. As long as you didn't actually do anything illegal, you're fine. Besides," he added with a smirk, "the cops around here are way more lenient than the ones back in the States."

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, still uneasy. "I've never been in trouble with the law before," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "I mean, I've been in trouble—plenty—but not like this. Not officially."

Andrew chuckled, leaning back on the bench. "Well, congrats, Midoriya. First time for everything. You've officially popped your cherry."

Izuku's face turned bright red, a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "That's not funny!"

"Who said I was trying to be funny?" Andrew shot back with a grin. "Sometimes you just gotta roll with it. Freaking out won't help, but keeping your cool? That might."

Izuku sat down on the opposite side of the bench, crossing his arms. "I don't get how you can be so calm about this."

"Because I've been here before," Andrew said simply. "You'll survive. And when we're out, I'll treat you to ramen. First time in holding deserves a celebration, don't you think?"

Izuku groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is not how I imagined my day going…"

The quiet hum of the precinct was broken by the occasional clatter of keys or murmured conversations between officers. Andrew leaned back on the bench in his holding cell, arms crossed as he tried not to laugh out loud. The idea of his mother storming into the station to "crack them on their foreheads" was both amusing and mildly terrifying. He shook his head, muttering, "Man, she's gonna lose it."

"I can't believe this is happening," Izuku whispered, more to himself than to Andrew. "How did we get caught up in this? I didn't even do anything—"

Andrew cut him off with a raised hand. "Welcome to the world of guilt by association. You're at the wrong place, wrong time, Midoriya." He smirked. "You, me, Ashley, and Hitoshi were just collateral damage because of Bakugo's inability to keep his temper in check. And, let's be real, Ash didn't exactly help."

Izuku's face twisted in worry. "But why would Katsuki—"

Andrew snorted. "Why does Katsuki do anything? The guy's a walking powder keg. You saw how he blew up the moment Ashley called him out. I swear, she's got a gift for poking bears with sticks."

Izuku didn't seem comforted by Andrew's levity. "And Hitoshi? She wasn't even part of the argument! She was just...there."

"Wrong place, wrong time," Andrew said with a shrug. "Same for me. But it doesn't matter now. They've got all of us cooling off in these cells while they figure out who did what. At least you're not sharing a cell with Bakugo. That guy's probably turning his into rubble right now."

Izuku let out a shaky laugh despite himself. "Yeah...thank goodness for that."

Andrew's tone softened slightly. "Look, it's not ideal, but the cops here aren't gonna throw us in juvie for being in the vicinity of Bakugo's latest meltdown. When our folks show up and they hear what happened, they'll smooth things over."

Izuku raised an eyebrow. "You really think so? I mean, my mom's gonna freak out—"

Andrew grinned. "Oh, no doubt. My mom's gonna freak too, but not at me. She's gonna give the cops a piece of her mind about why they brought her innocent, charming son in for questioning." He chuckled. "She'll probably go after Ashley too, knowing her."

Izuku frowned. "You think Ashley's okay? And Hitoshi?"

Andrew tilted his head, listening for any noise down the hall. "Ash is fine. She's tough as nails, and she's probably entertaining Hitoshi with some tall tale to pass the time."

"You make things look so simple."

"And you're making this way too complicated," Andrew said, his voice calm and measured, as though they were discussing something as trivial as what to have for lunch. "When you're stuck in a compromising position like this, rule number one: never lose your cool. The last thing you want is to look weak in a place like this. People notice that—and trust me, they'll exploit it."

He reached over to the table in the corner and closed the book he'd been flipping through, its spine creaking slightly. With a soft thud, he placed it down and glanced at Izuku, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Funny how every time we cross paths, trouble's right around the corner. Ever think about that?"

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks flushing faintly. "Yeah, I've been told I'm a magnet for trouble more times than I can count. Not exactly something to be proud of."

Andrew chuckled, his voice low and rumbling. "I wouldn't be so hard on yourself. Trouble follows you, sure, but I wouldn't call it a bad thing. It's just…part of who you are. Own it, man. You'll sleep better at night."

Izuku let out a quiet sigh, nodding slightly as he mulled over the words. He shifted uncomfortably, the hard bench beneath them offering little in the way of comfort. "Still…what do you think set Kacchan off this time?"

Andrew opened his mouth to reply, but his words were interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream from down the hall. The sound reverberated through the corridor, a raw and primal roar of pure rage. Izuku flinched, his head snapping up in alarm, while Andrew turned toward the noise, raising an eyebrow.

The rattling of metal accompanied the screams as Katsuki Bakugo's voice erupted like a volcano, spewing threats and expletives that echoed off the cold walls. The vibrations from his outburst carried all the way to their cell, the faint tremors making the table in the corner wobble slightly.

"Speak of the devil," Andrew muttered, tilting his head toward the chaos. His smirk returned, sharper this time, as if he were watching an unplanned but highly entertaining spectacle. "Guess we didn't have to wonder for long."

Heavy footsteps pounded down the hallway as several officers rushed toward Bakugo's cell. Their barked commands mixed with the cacophony of Katsuki's shouts, though the latter easily overpowered them. The sharp clang of keys unlocking a cell door was followed by the scuffle of boots and Katsuki's guttural growls.

Izuku's breathing quickened as his gaze darted toward the direction of the noise. "Kacchan…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Andrew leaned forward slightly, his smirk softening into a look of mild curiosity. "You know," he said, his tone dry but not unkind, "for someone who wants to be the number one hero, he's got the self-control of a feral animal. Makes you wonder what's rattling around in that head of his."

Izuku shot him a look but said nothing. The chaos down the hall continued, punctuated by the sound of something—or someone—slamming against the walls. The rattling intensified, and for a moment, Izuku looked ready to leap to his feet.

Andrew, noticing his tension, raised a hand to stop him. "Relax, Midoriya. The cops aren't gonna let him do any real damage. At least we're not in his cell, right? Always look for the silver linings."

Izuku sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging as he sat back down. Andrew's calm demeanor was almost contagious, though it didn't completely ease his worry. The shouts and banging from Bakugo's cell gradually subsided, replaced by the muffled voices of officers attempting to de-escalate the situation.

"This is my fault, he thought bitterly. If I hadn't let things spiral, if we hadn't crashed their party at the drink bar, we wouldn't be here."

Andrew's relaxed demeanor and casual remarks offered some solace, but they felt distant, like a faint light struggling to pierce through thick fog. Izuku appreciated the effort—Andrew was trying to keep things from feeling dire—but this was uncharted territory for him. The idea of being detained by the police had never even crossed his mind.

He glanced toward the direction of Katsuki's cell, the faint echoes of his earlier screams still ringing in his ears. "Kacchan…" Izuku thought, his stomach twisting. Katsuki Bakugo, a walking powder keg with a hair-trigger temper, always found a way to make trouble. But this? This was different. Something had set him off with Ashley, and it wasn't just the usual insults or provocations.

It wasn't like Katsuki and Ashley had ever gotten along. Their animosity was no secret—it was practically a given. But as Izuku sat there, guilt weighing heavily on him, a memory surfaced, one that he had buried deep. He had been there, lingering awkwardly nearby, when Katsuki poured sour milk into Ashley's shoe locker. He hadn't done anything to stop him then, and the shame of his inaction burned in his chest now.

"What could I have said?" Izuku asked himself, his thoughts growing heavier. "What can I say now?" Confronting Katsuki felt impossible. It always had. No matter how strong he'd grown, no matter how much he'd fought villains or faced down impossible odds, he still couldn't master the art of standing up to Katsuki. It was as if Katsuki had some kind of unshakable grip on him, a form of control that went beyond words. Izuku hated it, hated himself for succumbing to it time and time again.

He sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his thoughts. No matter how much he wanted to break free from Katsuki's shadow, it felt like an unmovable part of him, tethering him to these moments of helplessness. Even now, locked in a holding cell, Katsuki's presence loomed over him, a force he couldn't seem to escape.

Andrew, noticing Izuku's silence, nudged him lightly with his elbow. "Hey," he said, his voice softer than before. "You good?"

Izuku managed a faint nod, but the knot in his chest didn't loosen. "Yeah," he lied, his voice barely audible. "I'm fine."

Andrew didn't press him, though the look in his eyes said he wasn't convinced. "Well," Andrew said after a pause, "just remember—whatever's eating at you, it's not the end of the world. Stuff like this happens. You just have to figure out how to keep moving."

Izuku nodded again, though Andrew's words barely registered. For Izuku, the real battle wasn't just getting out of this situation—it was figuring out how to finally stand his ground against the person who always seemed to pull him back into trouble.

As for Ashley and Hitoshi…

Ashley paced around the waiting cell. She fucked up. The damage she and Izuku caused with the rabid dog was extensive and expensive, no way in hell would her mother want to deal with the mess of her biggest fuck up. That was when Hitoshi broke the silence and tried to ease her mind,

"Hey, Ashley. Maybe your Mother would understand if you told her the situation when she gets here. I mean she can't be that hard-pressed, can she?" Ashley turned back before walking up to Hitoshi speaking her mind,

"Ha! Please. There could have been an earthquake, tsunami and a bombing but she would still find a way to blame me for it. Yet, if it were my brother, she'd defend him even if he committed a murder and was standing right over the body with the weapon in his hands," Ashley retorted. She knew her mother was a frigid sow and if it wasn't for a factor of, it affecting Andrew's future, her mother's reputation and a technicality of "Quirk Awaking", she'd be in a psych ward padded room. Yet that was when she realised something,

"No wait, granted, there was property destruction but that was all the Pomeranian reject's fault plus he got what he deserved for assaulting me." She thought quietly, "He started it all when he forced himself on me, and I only threw a drink if anything he'll be in deeper shit than I could be. Could I get him charged with sexual assault?"

"I know what you're thinking but it ain't gonna work. Even though he doesn't look like it, Mr. 'I am the second coming, bow to me' comes from money. He's also a Daddy's boy, so no jail for the explosive fascist." Spoke out Hitoshi as she lay down on the bench trying to distract her mind from needing a cigarette. She lost track of how many times she got caught for her illicit "hobbies". Most times she'd get away before they could catch her, yet when they did, her father would chew her out about being a whore of the streets and her mother would yell at her to get her shit together before she gets kicked out of Yuuei for the stunts she's been pulling. She snuffed the past as she continued,

"Your brother? He seems like a reasonable guy, think he can vouch for ya? He'd probably defend his twin, right?" Hitoshi sat back up while giving it more thought. Even though they were having fun, from how he was tonight, Andrew was still concerned for his sister. Hitoshi could not relate as she was an only child. Still, she understood Andrew was thinking of her.

"Andrew…" Ashley trailed off before giving her response, "was the one to raise me the most growing up. Though yeah, we are twins, he was always the more mature one. Timid and a bit anxious but nonetheless the one who cared about me more than our parents did. My other half," she softly spoke as she crossed her arms.

Hitoshi took notice of Ashley's posture; she really cared for her brother just as much as he cared about her. Though the two were twins, Hitoshi could tell that Andrew was probably more like a father to her than her actual one. She took a breath before asking,

"So, do you call Andrew 'Daddy'?"

Ashley blushed spinning around in an instant and coming face-to-face with the hustler before she shouted her response with a simple,

"What the fuck do you mean by that?!" Her cheeks were bright pink from Hitoshi's question. Did the girl they met not too long ago, who went off with her brother, asked if she called him Daddy? Did Andrew tell her?! Hell no, he wouldn't tell a soul he fucked his own twin sister, so where did this come from. She needed to know "Why would I call Andrew, my brother, Daddy?! What are you trying to imply?"

Hitoshi tried to understand why Ashley was getting so defensive. She just wanted to know if..that was when it hit her like a brick as it was her turn to become embarrassed,

"I didn't mean like in a sexual way…I..I meant in the familial sense since you said he was the one who raised you for the most part growing up. I should have just said Father, fuck me!" Hitoshi facepalmed herself on how she could forget that "Daddy" had been sexualised for years now; she just wanted to crawl in a hole and get buried with leaves covering it and a rock on top for an unmarked grave.

"No. Andrew was there for me when I needed him. When our parents spoiled him and forgot about me, he used his allowance to spoil me rotten. For instance, there were those lemon muffins he used to get for me when we were younger."

"Lemon muffins?" Hitoshi asked.

"Yeah." Ashley responded, slightly chuckling as the thoughts of yesteryear were surfacing in her mind. "Yeah, those tart pastries, which we'd covered in whipped cream, sucked so bad. But with him, they were the best."

She smiled softly whilst remembering how he tried to treat her by getting a box of cheap muffins. She knew it was his way of cushioning the blow whenever their parents mistreated her. It wasn't a secret to Andrew that in the eyes of his parents, he was the golden child. Birthdays were the worst, receiving gifts that he could tell they spare no expense to him. However, with Ashley, gifts for her were like Oliver asking for a little more gruel. It didn't make any sense to him, why treat one child one way like a king and treat the other like a pauper. While some siblings were advantageous and followed suit of treating the other like a servant, that wasn't Andrew's nature. Too young at the time to purchase his sister's gifts, going to the market and heading for the clearance rack to purchase lemon muffins was the best he could do.

On any occasion, Andrew would use the opportunity for him to share those lemon muffins. If they were watching horror movies, having a bad day, a siblings' day in, it didn't matter. Andrew's sharing those cheap, tart pastries was his way of showing his love to her. Whether or not he realized it, those pastries had an effect on her. It taught her one thing and one thing alone — the measure of love.

What had actually become something of a ritual, she feared it may come to an end.

"You fucking bitch. You're gonna pay for what you did."

"You're gonna die for what you did."

"She kept touching you and you kept touching her."

"I didn't think that cup had acid. I didn't think she would have gone blind. That fucking bitch!"

Julia had to be the one who had thrown the wrench in the wheel that was in sync of their relationship. Sharing and tasting those shitty lemon extract muffins were becoming an aberration once that bitch Julia entered Andrew's world. No longer it was about his Leyley, no longer was she the center of his existence. That vile, mewling quim decided to step in and had the nerve to take the position of a throne that was rightfully Ashley's.

"What in the fuck did you do, Leyley?"

"She kept touching you. I-i-i-i-it should be me touching you. No one can touch you, feel you, kiss you, fuck you…only me!"

"Leyley!"

"You're mine, Andy!"

Her quirk awakening, in her own words, felt similar to her first orgasm. A strange, tingling sensation that radiated throughout her entire body. It was a lively experience to say the least, if not feeling enraptured. Watching that weak-willed bitch's face melting like candle wax, screaming agonally as she tried holding onto anything that kept once pretty face together.

"Julia could be considered a literal two-faced slut now." That was when she laughed to herself, remembering how that tramp wouldn't be able to touch what was rightfully hers. "Julia put herself in this position. Her, not me! She should have never captured interest in my Andy. She tried to take away the one thing that I could happily call my sunshine."

"What's got you laughing? An old joke or something else?" asked Hitoshi curiously.

…!

Ashley broke away from her thoughts. She had to remind herself that she was still in holding with Shinsou. She was often amazed how the mind could divvy one's circumstances, imagining the moment in the classroom where she destroyed and dismantled Julia's plans of having a future with Andrew. Then, remembering the moment of sharing lemon muffins with Andrew. Smelling the vanilla extract, the concentrate of the lemon, licking the whipped cream off Andy's cheek, taking hold of him and pressing his body to the ground. What she craved more than the muffins was the homemade cannoli he was harboring in his denim breadbox.

Here she was in a new environment — different people, same threats!

That was when Ashley remembered her new "problem" in the form of Japanese harlots named Hitoshi Shinsou and that pink-haired slut, Mei Hatsume. They were now the new blight to try and take her Andy away from her. Ashley knew full well to never trust any woman alone with her brother, yeah she was actually trying to live a "semi-normal" life but she'd be damned in letting anyone get ahold of Andrew. That's when she responded,

"Yeah, just a hilarious memory. Let's just say…you had to be there to understand." Ashley smiled.

Hitoshi was left puzzled by the Graves girl, but that intrigued her to unravel the enigmatic nature of not just Andrew but the twins as a whole. From what she could gather, Andrew was the favourite of their mother, while Ashley was the black sheep that shouldn't have been. Their father was either still in the picture, currently left them but pays alimony checks so he doesn't get his dues or he's six feet under. Hitoshi wanted to know more about Andrew, his life before Japan and his prior lovers if he had any…oh who was she kidding — a knowledgeable and handsome guy like him must have had at least one or three girlfriends at some point.

"I can see how doting Andrew is with you, judging by what you have been telling me," responded Hitoshi, carefully trying to find the right words to convey what she really wanted to ask. It was seldom that she would have any hesitation or reserve when asking someone about a guy. "Even the times we have spoken, he has mentioned you a lot."

"Is that so?" Ashley retorted, arching an eyebrow.

"Yeah," she responded, crossing her legs as she was itching for a cigarette. "When we were out partying earlier, Andrew wanted to check up on you. I have told him not to worry because I felt that he was being a bit…overbearing." She then dropped her head, trying not to display any grievances. "Then, after what you have told me about your upbringing, it totally makes sense why he protects you." She then displayed a smile. "Makes me envy you."

"How so?"

"I wish I would have someone like that in my life, a protector of sorts," she answered. "I know I can handle myself very well. I am used to it, being the lone ranger. But…every now and then, I would like to have the feeling of having someone protecting me, making me feel like I am the most important thing in the world…in a big sibling type of way."

Ashley stared blankly at the hustler teen. "Didn't envision you feeling that way."

"Yeah," she chuckled. "Even the Lone Ranger had Tanto, didn't he?" She looked away momentarily, taking a breath before biting her lip. "If Andrew is that protective over you, I definitely envy the girl he had swept under his feet."

"Girl?" Ashley blurted out. "Please!" She blew a raspberry. "Andrew is duller than a pencil, always missing the point. He wouldn't know if a girl liked him if there was an engraved invitation on their forehead." She then made a chuckle as she leaned back against the wall. "Oftentimes I think Andy might be a eunuch or trapped in the closet."

That banter incited a laugh from Hitoshi. "That bad with girls, huh?"

"Andrew is an acquired taste, to say the least. You can even say that one's chocolate is another's neapolitan," said Ashley with a wry smile. "He isn't for everyone. Better yet, everyone is not for him. Guess you can say that anyone who enters his life has a purpose to uphold, quite similar to the entrance of UA, sort of speak."

"I see." Hitoshi retreated from adding further to the conversation. It didn't take a genius to recognize Ashley's indirect warning concerning her brother. As far as Ashley was concerned, Andrew was off-limits. Hitoshi felt confident with herself by being tactful when asking about him. She could see in Ashley's eyes the alarms that were blaring in her mind. A declaration was made to her — "if you're thinking of going after my brother, then prepare for what may come."

Hitoshi wasn't going to delve further, having to take this one on the chin. "I respect your point of view about Andrew. There's no doubt that you really care about him and his well-being."

"He's pretty much all I have. There's no greater protector out there. He makes me feel special, makes things worthwhile. He…he…he really gives my life meaning."

"His character will be a great addition to the Support Department and those who will be around him. I can tell that he has a great heart, but…he shouldn't be afraid of opening up to those who are willing to return said affection."

Ashley didn't have time registering the latter of the words before hearing the sound of the cell door's opening.

"Graves. Let's go. Your mother is here to retrieve you."

"Great! Just as I am feeling right at home." Ashley stared at the officer who wasn't amused at her sarcasm. She stood up as she stretched arms before cracking her back. How could one sleep on bare concrete was beneath her.

She looked at the purple-haired hustler. "Well…it was…it was…"

Hitoshi smirked. "See you at school, Graves!" She turned her body to lie on the solid bed. She looked at the guard. "How soon would my mother come and get me?"

"She hasn't returned any of our calls. Plus, after looking in the system, there is a warrant out on you," responded the guard.

"On what grounds?"

"Indecent exposure at a public facility and failure to appear in court," answered the guard. "If your mother does call, she would need to contact a bail bondsman."

"I'm a damn juvenile."

"Explain that to the judge."

Hitoshi clicked her tongue while rolling her eyes. "Whatever. I can afford my time better than my mother paying for bail." She looked at Ashley with a smile. "Correction, see you in a few weeks, I guess."

Ashley nodded as she was led by the guard to the exit. The thought of what Hitoshi said was gnawing at her, considering what she was already conveying that Andy was off limits. Nevertheless, just as she made her point clear, so did Hitoshi. She knew from this point on, it confirmed in her heart that Hitoshi was definitely going to be a threat.

Sometime earlier with Renee and Inko….

Renee leaned back in the small, sterile interrogation room, her arms crossed tightly as her mind reeled from the information Officer Sansa had just shared. She cast a sideways glance at Inko, who sat beside her, gripping her coffee cup as though it were a lifeline. The very existence of a humanoid, cat-headed officer like Sansa had initially left Renee in stunned silence, but that shock had been quickly overshadowed by the reason they were summoned to the precinct.

Sansa, calm and composed despite the tension in the room, handed each of them a fresh cup of coffee before resuming his seat across the table. "As I was saying," he began, his tail flicking lightly behind him, "the incident at the drink bar started due to Katsuki Bakugo. He was the one who escalated the situation."

At the mention of Katsuki's name, Renee let out an exaggerated raspberry, rolling her eyes. "Of course it was him," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head.

Inko, though visibly relieved, remained attentive, leaning forward slightly as Sansa continued. "From the security footage, it's clear that Izuku Midoriya and Ashley Graves only acted in self-defense. They didn't initiate the altercation," he clarified, his tone steady and professional.

Inko exhaled audibly, the tension in her shoulders easing as a wave of relief washed over her. "Thank goodness," she whispered, her hands trembling slightly as she cradled the warm cup of coffee.

Renee, on the other hand, furrowed her brow, the cigarette she'd just retrieved from her pocket frozen in mid-air. She narrowed her eyes on Sansa. "Are you absolutely sure?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. "Because let me tell you, my daughter isn't exactly the poster child for...restraint."

Sansa's feline eyes blinked slowly, his expression unwavering. "Yes, ma'am. I've reviewed the footage myself. Your daughter was not the instigator. She and Midoriya defended themselves appropriately."

Renee let out a low whistle, shaking her head as she lit her cigarette. She exhaled a thin stream of smoke, muttering, "Well, there's a first time for everything."

Inko frowned slightly, glancing at Renee. "I think you should give her some grace," she said gently.

Renee leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing as she exhaled another plume of smoke. Inko's soft but insistent words about giving grace lingered in the air between them like the faint haze of cigarette smoke. "Give her grace?" Renee repeated, skepticism lacing her tone. "I'll try, but you've got to admit, sitting in a holding cell doesn't exactly scream innocence."

Inko, ever the optimist, clasped her hands together and leaned slightly toward Renee. "What matters is that they're safe and not in trouble. That's what we should focus on." Her gentle voice carried a sincerity that Renee wasn't used to hearing, and for a moment, she felt her defenses waver.

Before Renee could respond, Officer Sansa cleared his throat, his composed demeanor unchanged. "If I may clarify," he began, his tail twitching once again behind him, "they weren't detained in the legal sense. It simply felt safer to confine them temporarily rather than leave them in the waiting area with our...more problematic individuals." He chose his words carefully, his feline features betraying no hint of bias.

Renee raised an eyebrow, tapping her cigarette on the ashtray provided earlier. "Safer for who? Them or you?" she asked, her tone tinged with challenge.

Sansa didn't flinch. "For everyone involved," he replied smoothly. "This was a precautionary measure. They were not arrested or treated as suspects. They were just held until you could arrive."

Renee wasn't entirely convinced, but she let the matter slide for the moment. "Fine. But then tell me this—why was Andrew in holding if he wasn't part of the fight?"

Sansa nodded, as though he anticipated the question. "At the time, the scene was chaotic. Everyone in the immediate vicinity was brought in for questioning, regardless of their level of involvement. It was a judgment call to ensure we sorted out the facts properly."

Internally, Renee's hackles rose. She couldn't help but see shades of profiling in the officer's explanation, but she bit her tongue, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt—for now. "A chaotic scene, huh?" she muttered under her breath, blowing a stream of smoke toward the ceiling.

Inko, sitting beside her, seemed more preoccupied with another piece of the puzzle. "I just can't believe it," she murmured, shaking her head. "Katsuki...instigating something like this? He's normally a good boy. I mean, yes, he struggles with his temper, but he tries so hard to do the right thing."

Renee gave her an incredulous look, as though Inko had just told her the moon was made of cheese. "You're seriously defending him after all this?"

Inko placed a hand on her heart, her expression earnest. "I'm not defending his actions, not at all. But I know Katsuki, and he's...complicated. He's not a bad person, Renee. He just—"

"—needs anger management," Renee interjected dryly, flicking ash from her cigarette.

Inko opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, her lips forming a small, resigned smile instead. "Maybe," she admitted quietly.

Renee smirked, leaning back and crossing her arms. "Well, complicated or not, let's just hope he learns to keep his fists to himself. Because if my kids are caught in another one of his 'complications,' we're going to have a much bigger problem."

Sansa cleared his throat, a gentle but firm reminder of his presence. "If you're ready, I can arrange for you to see your children now."

Renee stubbed out her cigarette, rising from her chair with a sigh. "Let's get this over with," she said, her voice carrying equal parts exhaustion and exasperation.

Inko stood beside her, giving Renee a small, reassuring pat on the arm. "It'll be okay," she said softly.

Renee wasn't so sure, but she followed Sansa out of the room, bracing herself for whatever awaited her in the holding area.

A few minutes later….

Andrew sat cross-legged on the concrete bench, his focus on the worn book in his hands. The faint scratching sound of pages being turned filled the otherwise silent cell. Beside him, Izuku sat quietly, staring at the floor, his thoughts too tangled to form words. The tension in the air was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps echoing from the hallway, followed by the metallic clang of the cell block doors opening.

"Midoriya, Graves!" came the firm voice of the cat-headed officer, Sansa, as he approached. The keys jingled in his hand before the familiar click of the lock disengaging filled the room. "Your parents are here to retrieve you."

Andrew looked up with a wry smirk, setting the book down on his lap. "Great," he said with a tone dripping in sarcasm. "And to think I was just getting comfortable with the idea of being a convict." He let out a dry laugh as he stood, stretching and cracking his back audibly.

Izuku said nothing, merely rising from his seat and stepping out of the cell with a somber expression. His thoughts still weighed heavily on him, and Andrew's humor did little to lighten his mood.

Sansa gestured toward the hallway, his tone professional but patient. "You'll meet your parents in the lobby after you retrieve your items from reception."

Andrew nodded but lingered a moment, holding up the book he had been reading. "Mind if I keep this? Found it lying around in here. Could make for an interesting read."

The officer shrugged. "Go ahead."

Andrew glanced at the cover and then, with deliberate flair, read the title aloud. "The Story of O," he said, his voice carrying through the corridor as he stepped out of the cell. The title hung in the air, drawing a side-eye from Izuku, who blinked in confusion but said nothing.

As they followed Sansa down the hallway, Andrew's smirk widened. "Guess there really is something for everyone in here," he quipped, tucking the book under his arm. Izuku, still lost in thought, merely shook his head, unsure whether to be amused or concerned by Andrew's antics.

After collecting their belongings from reception, Andrew and Izuku followed Sansa into the brightly lit lobby. The stark contrast from the holding cells made Izuku blink as his eyes adjusted, but it didn't take long for him to spot his mother waiting anxiously.

"Izuku!" Inko cried, rushing toward her son with outstretched arms. She pulled him into a tight embrace, peppering his face with kisses and fussing over him as if he'd been gone for days. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Let me see your face—your hands!" She inspected every inch of him, her worry palpable.

Izuku flushed, embarrassed by the attention but also deeply comforted by her affection. "I'm fine, Mom," he mumbled, trying to wriggle free but secretly grateful for the reassurance.

Andrew stood a few paces behind, observing the scene with a faint smirk. For a brief moment, a flicker of envy crossed his face, though he quickly masked it. "Must be nice," he thought, seeing how deeply Inko cared for her son. Turning his attention to his own mother, he spotted Renee standing a few steps away, arms crossed and expression unreadable.

Renee gave a slight nod as Andrew approached, and while her hug was far more restrained than Inko's, it was still something. Andrew leaned into the embrace, the warmth brief but enough to let him know she cared in her own way. "Thanks for coming," he muttered.

"You're lucky I didn't let you rot in there," Renee quipped, her tone sharp but not without a hint of teasing.

Andrew pulled back, raising an eyebrow. "Where's Ashley?"

"She's in the car," Renee replied, glancing toward the exit. "She's…not in the mood to talk about tonight."

Izuku, now standing beside his mother, asked hesitantly, "What about Hitoshi?"

Inko turned to him, her worry softening into a calmer expression. "Her mother is on her way to pick her up. She'll be fine, Izuku."

Izuku nodded, but another question lingered on his mind. "And Kacchan? What's going to happen to him?"

At that, Inko's expression tightened slightly. "Katsuki is staying here for the time being. The officers said he'll be held until his bond is posted. Auntie Mitsuki and Uncle Masaru will handle it when they arrive."

Izuku's stomach churned uneasily. "Is… is he being charged?"

Before Inko could respond, Renee interjected firmly, her voice cutting through the room. "Let's talk more in the car," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I think we've all dealt with enough inconveniences for one day."

Andrew nodded, recognizing the edge in his mother's voice as a cue to drop the subject. Izuku hesitated but followed suit, walking beside his mother as they headed for the exit.

Later that evening….

The ride home was thick with silence, broken only by the hum of the car engine and the occasional rustle of Andrew shifting in his seat. Ashley kept her gaze fixed out the window, the faint glow of streetlights reflecting in her glassy eyes. The shadows of passing buildings blurred together, but she didn't seem to see any of it, her mind far from the present.

Izuku sat in the middle seat, stiff and awkward, keeping his eyes trained on the dashboard. He clenched his fists on his lap, trying desperately to push the night's events out of his mind. He could still feel the weight of guilt pressing down on his chest, a silent reminder of the chaos that had unfolded.

Andrew, meanwhile, leaned back in his chest, attempting to feign indifference. His usual unkempt hair was touching the car door where he rested. In his arms cradled the book that served as a parting gift from his time in holding, holding it like a makeshift shield. His eyes were closed, but the subtle twitch of his fingers against the book's spine betrayed his restlessness. Sleep wasn't coming anytime soon.

Renee cracked her window as she allowed the cool air to enter inside. With practiced ease, she lit her cancerstick. The faint glow of the cherry ember reflected in her steely eyes as she exhaled a plume of smoke into the nightfall breeze. She envied the smoke, out it went into the abyss. No destination, just directionless. Moments of envy as she too wished she could disappear into the night, to be alleviated of responsibilities, inequalities, and the woes that have settled onto her lap for these twenty-something years. A quiet storm was brewing as she remained silent. Chet sent a text earlier when they were inside the precinct. He sent some money, but it wasn't the family's usual allowance. He called it a thank-you-gift — $4500!

"Is that what I am worth to you? Do you actually think I am one of your ready made whores? Do you believe that your stupid ass could flaunt your cash and I should be satisfied. Is that what in the hell you think you worthless, dickless piece of shit?!"

Inko gripped the steering wheel lightly, her usual serene demeanor replaced by a quiet determination. Her eyes scanned the road with laser focus, but she was acutely aware of the tension radiating from every passenger. Even with natural optimism, she knew better than to try dispelling the mood in the car.

Be it as it may, she was glad to have Izuku back in her sights. It nearly worried her to the brink that she wanted to call her husband and consult an attorney. Why would they treat her son like he was a criminal? She knew the worries that followed the moment she let her son go attend that school. She had hoped with the promise fulfilled by Toshinori, her precious son would be in good hands. She kept telling herself that Izuku was at the age in which a personal sense of responsibility should take precedence. Nevertheless, that was her son and her son could be forty-five and she would seek after her precious baby.

What bothered her the most was the catalyst that started the flame — Katsuki! It wasn't a secret that she knew that the boy was "rough-around-the-edges." A mercurial type, she would admit, but she wouldn't think the boy was that culpable of stirring trouble. She could also admit that she gave many people the benefit of the doubt, but hearing Mitsuki and hearing how she viewed her son, she tried not to think anything of it. Let the boys be boys would penetrate her mind and in good faith, she trusted her friend's word.

"Try not to think about it too much, Inko. It's bad for your health."

Her emerald eyes darted to where Renee resided. Still smoking her cigarette, she exhaled into the darkness before discarding the lit stick with it.

"My perspective of life isn't too keen compared to yours," responded the elder Graves. "I envy your outlook. Hell, I envy the naivete of those who view the word through a rose-colored glass."

Inko didn't know how to respond. Never would she call herself naive or saw the world through a "rose-colored glass." She guessed she was the type who always saw the best in people, even those who wouldn't give them a second glance. Maybe she didn't want to feel how they felt and she did what was necessary to show them a bit of warmth, a bit of love. As she remembered from the days of her grandmother, "even nobody needs somebody."

The emerald-haired mother approached Renee's street. She carefully turned her car into their driveway, her headlights briefly illuminating their home. As the vehicle came to a stop, Ashley wasted no time, throwing the car door open and bolting toward the house. Inko and the others watched as the front door opened and slammed shut behind her.

Andrew, ever polite despite the tension of the evening, leaned forward from his seat. "Thank you for taking us home, Mrs. Midoriya. I wish you a safe drive home and a good night." He offered a small bow, glancing at Izuku with a nod before stepping outside and following his sister inside.

Renee hesitated for a moment, then reached over and placed a firm yet grateful hand on Inko's shoulder. "Thanks…for everything," she said, her tone subdued but sincere.

Inko offered her a gentle smile, her warmth unwavering despite the long night. "It's no problem, Renee. Really!"

The elder Graves looked at her home, already bracing herself for the confrontation that awaited. She could feel the weight of the strained relationship with her daughter lingering in the air, a familiar burden she couldn't shake.

Just as she opened the car door, Inko's voice stopped her. "Listen, Renee. If it's no trouble, I'd like to…well…well…" She trailed off, fumbling slightly as she struggled to find the right words.

Renee turned back, her expression softening despite her exhaustion. "Let's see what my schedule looks like, and we can get together," she said, sparing Inko the awkwardness of finishing her sentence. Her gaze shifted to Izuku, who sat quietly, clearly trying to process the evening's events. "Look after your mother," Renee added with a faint smile and a playful wink, her attempt at lightening the mood.

She stepped out of the car and closed the door gently behind her. With a final glance back at Inko and her son, Renee straightened her shoulders and walked toward the house, disappearing behind the same door her children had entered moments earlier.

A few minutes later….

"So do you mind telling, what fucking happened with tonight's incident?!" Renee shouted as she demanded answers from her daughter, whilst confronting her. Renee wanted answers and she wanted them now.

"Didn't the police already tell you what happened? So what do you want me to say, huh?!" Ashley retorted back to her, her make-up slightly a mess due to what took place earlier. She further stated, "I'm also in no mood to have a back and forth right now!"

But Renee wasn't having it.

"You're right! I was informed by the police but I want to hear it directly from you on what happened. Before you left this house, I didn't see the disappointment and disgrace of my loins. Instead, for once, what I saw was my daughter that I could somewhat be proud of and I honestly, honestly thought that you were gonna make an effort to fit in. Hell, you haven't even tried to fuck Andrew for the past couple of nights. Nor did I get a call from the school saying you picked a fight with either that Hatsume girl or any other girl for even breathing the same air as your brother. But then…you had to go and fuck it up like you always do!" She knew Ashley started it, she always starts it and then tried to play the innocent victim of circumstance.

Ashley, who was frustrated from the night's events and tired of dealing with her bitch of a mother, started to make her way to the stairs before she argued back.

"What's the point in me telling you anything! You won't believe me!" All Ashley wanted right now was to remove her make-up, take the dress off, get warmed up in her pyjamas, and forget about tonight. Renee wasn't letting her daughter off so easily as she got in front of Ashley stopping her from advancing upstairs.

"How can I believe you after all the stunts you've pulled? After all the problems you've caused and even after causing your brother's ex-girlfriend to be permanently disfigured for life!" Renee shouted before continuing, "Part of me thinks you knew about that Quirk of yours from the beginning."

Ashley had become more agitated slamming her fist against the wall before she roared. "Are you fucking serious?! That was the first time — the first time— my Quirk activated ever and you immediately accused me of knowing it beforehand?! It was an accident! Will you ever let that shit die?! If it was Andrew you'd listen to his every word while sucking his dick!"

"Shut your fucking mouth, Ashley Graves! At least Andrew knows how to behave! He barely gets into trouble unless it involves you. What is it you call it? That's it "Andy and Leyley: the Misery Twins! Heaven beware when you see these two together!"

"Shut up!" Ashley retorted, balling her hands into a fist.

"In this latest episode titled, 'Leyley's Selfish Fucking Antics,' our heroine decides on what is she going to do fuck up her family's life. It wasn't good enough that she had us displaced. No! It wasn't good enough. Not good enough that we are somewhere that we don't know the language, the culture, not a damn thing. No! No! But Ashley here isn't any tormentor of the devil himself. She's his princess, meaning her escapades are barely just scratching the surface!"

"Mom, I swear to fucking Christ if you keep this up!" Ashley said, showing the disdain in her eyes.

"I've tried my best to raise the pair of you as your father worked!" She continued. "I've been patient with you for the past couple of years because I was still fairly young when I had you and Andrew. A young mother with a husband who constantly works and I tried to be a friend to you so we avoided confrontation but now I realise, what's the point…"

Want to know what we have in common, Mother Dearest" Ashley curtly interjected. "We both wanna fuck Andrew! I'm a flawed fucked-up bitch with plenty of demons but at least I'm honest with who I am! Yeah, I was problematic and you had to put up with that. But at least you were never meant to feel like a goddamn burden on your own family! At least you never hated your own existence! At least you can get a job and have a slightly normal life!

"Yeah I was disrespectful growing up and part of that could be because I didn't need a friend. What I needed was a mother. But instead, I got a useless cunt whose husband prefers to dick other women then his own wife. A mother who lusts after her own son but admonishes her daughter for doing The. Exact. Same. Fucking. Thing! But you know what? Here it is the bit that I hope will get through that thick fucking head of yours once and for all! I forgive you, I forgive you for my own existence."

….!

At that moment, Renee was prepared to strike Ashley across the face. As she raised her hand to aim, it was met with a firm grip to the wrist.

By Andrew's hand.

Renee's eyes widened when seeing her son standing in the middle. Ashley cowered in terror as she braced for Renee's heavy-handed slap.

"A-A-Andrew?!" Renee's face turned red when she saw the disapproving look of her son as he kept a firm grip on her wrist.

"I can't let you do this, Mom." His words were calm, subtle, and at the same time, absolute. "You're not going to take your rage out on Ashley just because she said some mean-spirited words."

Renee's mouth dropped open in shock. "A-Andrew! You don't understand."

"Understand what?" He retorted. "Understand that you were moments away from slapping Ashley after she called you out? Offended that it was accusatory or offended that it was factual?"

She stood frozen, and couldn't believe the words that her very son was saying to her.

"Ashley can get herself in all types of shit. I know, you know…." He then pointed at Ashley. "She absolutely knows for damn sure. But, part of me wants to believe her this time. I wouldn't think she would do it just to inconvenience us once more. And yes, even for me that sounds a bit out of character." Realizing the amount of pressure he was placing on her wrist, he eventually let it go. As soon as he did, her hand retreated to her side. It was out of instinct — out of fear.

"Ashley has put us in this position at our expense. I really think she understands the magnitude of her actions and how it impacted us. Tonight was supposed to be a great night, a non-violent, happy, get-along type of night. However, it didn't end like that. Things go wrong, Mom. We can't explain it. We can't predict it."

"Then predict why this fight involved her and that boy?"

"It was already proven. The police said that it was in self-defense. Katsuki started it and Ashley finished it. Case closed! I think it is shocking that for once, she is in the right and it just pisses you off," he continued. "I know, Mom. I understand. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her antics. But just this once, she was in the right. And I think we need to give her at least the benefit of the doubt…just this once."

'Be it by accident or on purpose what you did to Julia, I forgive you for it. Partly because your quirk suddenly awakened and that is something you never knew was gonna happen. You may test my patience sometimes and drive me up the wall with your bullshit but you are my daughter and I still love you even if it doesn't seem like I do.'

Her head dropped, furrowing her eyes as she looked at the floor. She felt the words she was hurling at Ashley versus what she said to her that day when they had their last scuffle was a walking contradiction. She was feeling the weight of the argument settle heavily on her shoulders. She bit her lip as she tried her hardest not to display any emotions.

She was a woman without a home. A "married" woman with a cheating, absentee husband. A daughter, in her words, wished her grandfather should have worn a condom. And now, her son, her doting son — catching himself in the middle of the turmoil — appeared that he was against her. Was this turmoil more of an honest, justifiable reason to have with her daughter or was this turmoil more of a battle she was having within herself — in the form of taking it out on her daughter.

"Y-you're right!" She slowly lifted her head to Ashley, whose face showed no change since their scuffle. "You're right!" Feeling that she didn't have anything else to say, she quickly turned and made her way to her bedroom. Ashley and Andrew stood silently before hearing their mother's bedroom door closed.

"I am going for a smoke." Andrew wasn't sure if he was saying it to Ashley or just anyone who was listening. Reaching for his cancer sticks in his back pocket, he pulled out from his lips out of the pack and headed for the backyard, opening and closing the patio door.

Ashley just stood there alone. It felt like she was a forgotten item that was left behind purposely. She clutched her chest, trying her best not to display any emotions. She dropped her head and slowly walked up the stairs to her bedroom.

Every step felt like walking on eggshells. And she didn't mind being that rotten, useless yolk.

Sometime later….

The male half of the Misery Twins exhaled a puff of smoke into the crisp night air, watching it dissolve into the darkness. The bench's cold surface pressed through his jeans, a quiet reminder of how late it had gotten. He flicked the cancer stick between his fingers absentmindedly, his mind replaying the events of earlier like a broken record.

As the ember glowed faintly, he couldn't help but question himself. Was he in the wrong to step in? His mother's sharp words still echoed in his head, slicking through the cigarette's dulling comfort. What she had said about Ashley had been harsh, but not entirely untrue. Ashley had always been a whirlwind, leaving chaos in her wake. Yet tonight had been different. Tonight, she hadn't started the fight.

The brunet tilted his head back, staring at the stars hidden behind city lights. If he had believed in any sort of higher power, he might have thought this was all some cruel joke, a divine punishment for their family's dysfunction. But faith wasn't something he seriously leaned on. All he had was the reality of his family's messes—Ashley's messes.

Yet again, what Ashley said to their mother was the black kettle calling out the pot. What she had said about their mother was a completely utter lie? No, it wasn't. The hypocrisy of their mother, closeting the immorality of sin, wanting to covet her very own flesh and blood. The day at the bakery, seeing her dress and smiling like a schoolgirl on her first date. Subtle glances, touches, compliments of his being an example of being a good man.

'She may have started it but you have enough brains to know it's wrong and to end it. You had a chance at a happy life with Julia, she was a positive in your life and you were making strides forward to make something of yourself….then Ashley had to go and fuck it all up because of her "codependency problem" revolving around you being with someone else.'

"But was that what really mattered?" This time was different. Ashley wasn't the instigator and Katsuki had been the one to ignite the flame. Be that as it may, would it matter? Their mother's frustration wasn't about tonight's fight. It was really about everything that had come before it: his sister's reckless behavior, her constant troublemaking, and the way she dragged stress into their lives like a storm cloud that wouldn't dissipate. Their mother was tired. And no matter how justified Ashley might have been tonight, it still didn't erase the strain she had put on them over the years.

He took another drag, letting the smoke sit in his lungs before exhaling slowly. The glow of the cigarette dimmed as his grip loosened. He couldn't shake the conflicting emotions gnawing at him — the loyalty he felt toward his sister and the understanding of their mother's breaking point.

He flicked the ash away, watching it scatter in the nightfall breeze. "For once, you didn't start it, Ash," he muttered to himself, the words carried away by the wind. "But damn it, you still brought the storm."

With his elbows on his knees, he flicked the butted cigarette away. As he reached into his pocket for another cigarette, the chill in the air was biting his fingers. He flicked the lighter, the tiny click echoed in the quiet, mocking him. He grumbled under his breath, "Well, fuck me, too," and tossed it into the darkness, not caring where it landed.

He turned around to look at the house. For now, he wasn't ready to go back inside — not until he was sure that the house had calmed, and the dragons, as he thought of them, had retreated to their respective caves. He could already picture his mother and Ashley, both stewing in their frustrations, fire ready to ignite at the slightest speak. No, he wasn't in the mood to be the mediator once again or collateral damage tonight.

Pulling out his phone, he scrolled aimlessly for a bit before navigating to his hidden photo gallery. It was a folder he kept secret, especially from Ashley, who without doubt would poke her nose where it didn't belong. Inside were photos of Julia. The images were from better days, times when things between them had been simple and uncomplicated.

There was one photo of her at a park, the sun catching her hair just right, making her look like she belonged in a painting. Another was a candid shot of her laughing, her nose crinkling in that way that always made him smile. And then there was the selfie they had taken together at the mall, her leaning into him with that goofy grin that could brighten even the darkest days.

He stared at the photos, his thumb swiping slowly from one to the next. He couldn't remember the last time they had laughed like that.

'I love you, Andrew. Nothing can ever take that away from you. But, I often feel that I don't love you enough.'

'What do you mean, Jules?'

'I reach for you, but often the further I reach, the more I feel you are getting away from me.'

'Why would you think like that? I am here. I am here for you. I am for you, Jules. You know I love you to the ends of the earth.'

'I believe you, Andes. I really do! But words can only do so much. We can say a lot of things but it doesn't make it true.'

'You have to believe me. Why invest all of this time if it doesn't mean anything?'

'I am very insecure, you know. I am often not sure why you are with me. I cry sometimes to think that you deserve someone better.'

'Don't you ever think like that! You are mine and mine alone. Do you understand?'

The ache in his chest felt heavier than the cold, heavier than the cigarette he couldn't light. With a deep breath, he leaned forward again, resting his elbows on his knees and letting his head hang low.

The pictures stayed with him, though, like ghosts of a simpler time, and he couldn't shake the thought that maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to get that happiness back.

'Annnnndddyyyyyy~! Come out and playyyyyyy~!'

'Tee-hee~! I've found you, Annnndddddyyyy~!'

If it wasn't already too late.

Meanwhile….

Renee stood by the window, the soft glow of her cigarette casting faint shadows across her face. The living room was quiet now, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen and the occasional creak of the house settling. Outside, through the frost pane in her bedroom, she could see her son sitting on the bench, hunched forward, lost in his own world. Smoke curled lazily from her cigarette as she took a slow drag, her mind wandering back to the moment that had shaken her earlier in the evening.

She closed her eyes, replaying the scene in vivid detail — the tension in the air, the sharp words exchanged, and the way her hand had risen, trembling with frustration and anger. She hadn't even fully processed her own actions before Andrew had stepped in. The memory of his grip on her wrist was still fresh, firm but not forceful, a silent but resolute barrier between her and Ashley.

What lingered with her most, though, wasn't the physical act itself. It was the look in his eyes. That piercing, unyielding glare had caught her off guard, stopping her in her tracks as effectively as his grip had. There was something unnervingly familiar about it, something that sent a chill through her even now.

"I saw my father's eyes," she murmured to herself, the words barely audible as she exhaled a stream of smoke. The realization had struck her like a thunderclap in that moment. Andrew's expression mirrored one she hadn't seen in years but couldn't never forget. It was the same cold, stern look her father had worn, the one that silenced rooms and crushed defiance without a single word. She had grown up under that gaze, learning early on that it signaled the line between anger and outright violence.

She obviously knew that Andrew was not like her father. He wasn't controlling or domineering; if anything, he was fiercely protective, sometimes to a fault. And yet, in that instant, she had seen something deeper — perhaps a reflection of the anger she carried within herself, the scars left by a turbulent upbringing that she had sworn she wouldn't pass on to her own children.

As she continued smoking, she felt a pang of guilt. Could anyone blame her? Ashley didn't know the extent of the inconvenience she had placed among this family. It was taking every fiber of her being not to really do what she wanted to do. It was like every step she made forward, she made five steps backwards. Whatever Ashley touched turned into a complete liability. And she was getting awfully tired of doing damage control.

Maybe Andrew was right. She didn't do anything this time. But who was to say if it didn't happen again. What excuse would Ashley produce? It had to be a fluke, it had to be. And she better thank God that there was at least one person who had any ounce of support for her. Oftentimes, she wanted to call her son an idiot — a fool for wanting to salvage something that was unsalvageable. There was no saving Ashley. Ashley Graves was a woman who was destined to give the world a great sorrow; and those words came from the very person who tossed her out before there were even signs of her pregnancy.

She closed her eyes, pressing her lips against the window. Cool and firm to the touch, her thoughts of the window itself to be Andrew was as prevalent as the words that came from the curd of her loins. Outside, she continued to look as he shifted on the bench, his figure silhouetted against the dim light of the back porch. A knot formed in her chest as she saw the soft features that represented the rough interior of him.

"He is looking like more of his father each and every way." She wanted Andrew to be the antithesis of Chet. She often felt that she was grooming him to be what she wanted him to be: the ideal gentleman, or better yet her ideal mate. Someone thoughtful, respectful, and considerate, a stark contrast to the chaotic and self-serving nature of that bastard she called her husband.

With Chet, she had seen what unchecked impulses could do to a family. The lies, the infidelities, the carelessness — those were the traits she had sworn Andrew would never emulate. So she had worked tirelessly, instilling in him a sense of discipline and responsibility, teaching him to be everything Chet was not.

And Andrew, as he always did, listened. He complied. He followed her guidance, rarely questioning her authority. Even when he was small, he had been a quiet, thoughtful child, more prone to observing than acting out. It has been easy, in some ways, to mold him. He rarely pushed back, rarely insisted. But that every compliance sometimes gnawed at her.

Because it made her think, was he doing it out of inherence or survival?

She exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl and dissipate. There was a part of her that feared what independence might bring. What if he made the same mistakes she had? Or worse, what if he repeated Chet's missteps— the impulsiveness, the recklessness? Her own parents' failings loomed large in her mind as well, a constant reminder of what could go wrong. She had been so determined to break the cycle, to give her children a better foundation than the one she had grown up with. But in her effort to protect Andrew from the pitfalls of life, had she been holding him too tightly?

This was too much and standing there wasn't going to extinguish the problem. Butting the cigarette in the ashtray, she turned off the lights and sat on the bed. She slowly removed her clothes, kicking them to the floor, only to be thrown in the wash some other time. She removed her bra and tossed it with her clothes. She removed the covers and climbed into the bed.

Looking at the ceiling, she felt that she was going backwards. This was what she wasn't supposed to be feeling. This was supposed to be her new start, a new leaf.

A cheating husband, a troubled daughter, and a doting son who was protective over his sister. She bit into her lip, still looking at the ceiling, wondering if that sky god was there and she asked, "who is there for me? Who is going to vouch for me? To love me? To protect me? Where is my hero?"

"Are you alright ma'am?"

"Listen, Renee. If it's no trouble, I'd like to…well…well…"

"Let's see what my schedule looks like, and we can get together."

"Look after your mother."

"Inko is a lucky bastard." A chuckle emitted from her lips. She couldn't forget what she had promised Inko, and all honesty, an empty promise. She reached for her phone and scrolled for Inko's contact. She texted a couple sentences and set a time for it to reach Inko without interrupting her slumber. She turned her phone off, placing it on the nightstand, and turned on her side. Her mind was a mess at the moment and honestly she needed to sleep it off.

Hopefully the crushed Ambien and the shot of vodka she consumed earlier would finally take effect.

To be continued….