Green Tea Rescue

by ss3dj

When Midoriya Izuku was 4 his quirk finally manifested. The doctor named it psychokinesis, but his friend Bakugou Katsuki called it worthless. For the next 10 years, Izuku would grow up bullied and isolated. Then, when a new student named Uraraka Ochako transfers into his class the last year of jr high, everything changes. Rated M for eventual themes.

68. Cracks in the Pillar

"This was a mistake," All Might grumbled as he stepped out of the little truck and tried not to glare at the building they were in front of: the agency HQ belonging to Sir Nighteye. Dressed in his simple white shirt and dark green khakis, All Might didn't exactly look dressed for a hero meetup. Which was the point. It was dark and long after the agency had closed for the day, which was perfect since none of the meeting's participants wanted to draw eyes, either civilian ones or those of the people who worked here.

Gran Torino, also dressed in his civvies, hopped out of the passenger seat. "Look. Like it or not, he's invested in the kid now. Yes, he's waiting for him to screw up and fail," All Might growled, "buut! But, he's also been open to hearing how the kid's doing. Actively wanting to hear updates. Which…" Gran Torino tapped his cane into the sidewalk. "We got a few for him."

If there was ever an understatement, that was it. The recent mall attack was bad enough; it brought too many bad memories for both the old heroes up to the surface. It had even spurred a short and curt, but sincere, call from Sir Nighteye, inquiring how everyone was doing. Izuku, Inko and All Might. That call was a factor in Gran Torino pushing for this meeting. The bridges weren't all burnt yet.

But it was the other bit of news, what had been brought to All Might's attention, that was now the driver for this meeting. Midnight had contacted him the other evening, relaying a brief but disturbing update about the apparent damaged trust Izuku felt towards his teachers, and a bubbling anger that presented a real and present danger to anyone that made the mistake of directing Izuku's ire their way. All in all, the update had been a gut punch for All Might.

Now he stood outside a building he really wasn't sure he had the patience to go into, drumming his fingers on the hood of his truck. Gran Torino sighed. "If it's any consolation, you were in the same boat as the kid after Nana. And look how you turned out."

That didn't fill All Might with much confidence about the whole situation. "Yes. But it took me getting sent away to have a chance to heal. I had that option because I was close to graduating. Young Midoriya is still in his first year… and he's more… tied down than I was back then. He's better… with people than I was… than I am. Where could I send him that's safer than here?"

Gran Torino shrugged. "States still seem like the answer. All for One didn't have the resources to take the kind of shots at you like he would've wanted. And if the kid needs someone, I'm sure your niece would have a spot to house him."

All Might blinked, since he was absolutely sure Gran Torino didn't know anything important about Melissa's secrets. "What does that mean?"

"Oh, come on. You know."

…Oh shit.

"Little Melissa is all grown up. Girl her age needs to start worrying about finding herself someone. Two birds, one stone."

All Might covered his face with his palm. "Old man, there is… so much wrong with what you just said. One, I am not going to try and hook up Young Melissa with anyone. Because two, she is fully capable of choosing who and when she wants a relationship. Three, Young Midoriya is dating Young Uraraka."

Gran Torino shrugged. "I just assumed the pair were a set. From what I've seen, those two wouldn't have any issue jumping at a chance with a hot blonde."

"…Dear god, you're trying to lighten the mood, aren't you?"

"I just had to drive with your grouchy ass to a meeting where you're going to be in a permanent pout. Damn right I'm trying to lighten the mood."

All Might groaned. "I think I like it better when you're being an insufferable abuser."

---

Sir Nighteye didn't say much as the meeting went on. Instead, he let All Might lay everything out, from back to the mall, all up to the news he'd received the other night. By the time he was done, All Might sat and waited for what he was sure was going to be a ruthless teardown of his young protégé.

"Expecting something?" Sir Nighteye said with a cold glance towards the shrunken man.

"Just waiting for us to start this song and dance all over again," All Might grumbled, earning a kick to the shin from Gran Torino.

"And what exactly do you expect me to say?" Sir Nighteye's fingers tapped on the table. "Do you expect me to lay blame for all these unfortunate events at Midoriya's feet?"

All Might, to his credit, didn't immediately say that Sir Nighteye would. However, "You haven't made it a secret that you don't approve of Young Midoriya."

Sir Nighteye was silent for a moment, aware of the level look Gran Torino was giving him. Taking his hands, Sir Nighteye folded them in front of himself on the table. "To be clear, my issue has never been with Midoriya himself. It's been with you," he pointed. "You and your alleged better judgment." All Might huffed. "I'm not about to fault Midoriya for anything that has transpired against him, most of all the attack on his mother."

Gran Torino wished there was something strong in his cup. "For 'the events that transpired against him.' So then the update from Midnight? You hold that against him?"

"Only so far as he's still a first year. A handicap you've put on him." All Might also wished he had something strong in his cup too. "That young man is starting to crack. And it's only been a few months. And we now have a realistic concern that he's ready to lash out."

"That's not his fault," All Might countered.

"No. I do not fault him. In fact, I will acknowledge that the boy is working himself hard to live up to the mantle you've put on him. But these are shortcomings that need to be addressed. And soon. We can not afford to have One for All used in a moment of anger against a student." Sir Nighteye held up a hand. "I do not think the boy is inclined to do so. But another side effect of you picking him over Toogata, is that not only is he a first-year, but so is everyone around him. A general shortcoming. First-years lack the necessary maturity and experience needed for these situations."

All Might leaned forward. "I don't think anyone, students regardless of year, or professional heroes, would be in any sort of good way after the things Young Midoriya has experienced."

"True. I don't doubt Toogata would be in a foul state of mind. But he wouldn't be surrounded by other students that would be intentionally attempting to get a reaction out of him."

Gran Torino huffed. "That's less to do with Midoriya and more the fact that the rivalry between the two classes has been cranked up to eleven due to the uneven recognition between them, caused by one of them getting constantly attacked."

Sir Nighteye picked up his cup. "We'll avoid discussing if the attacks are related to proximity to you or Midoriya." All Might glared. "You never thought about it did you?" Sir Nighteye sighed. "That there might be a time when the target on your back shifts to the first-year you chose?"

"We're still a long way from that happening. The villains know, I'm the threat. So I'm the target." All Might sighed. "Not that I'm ignoring Shigaraki. But he's a thrashing child. His attention towards Young Midoriya will shift back to me soon enough."

Ring

Ring

Ring

All Might blinked as he pulled out his phone. "Nezu?"

Gran Torino jumped off his chair. "Let's take that as a sign we need stiffer drinks. Where do you keep your scotch?"

Sir Nighteye adjusted his glasses. "I've had to remove all alcohol from the building after the strip and slip-n-slide incident with Bubble Girl during the last Christmas party."

"…"

Any further discussion was suddenly ended as All Might, phone to his ear, leapt out of his seat, horrified and pale as a ghost. "WHAT?!"

The mood shift was physically felt by everyone. All Might slammed his phone onto the table, putting it on speaker. "Nezu. What did you just say?!" Gran Torino could hear the number one whispering a prayer under his breath that he had misheard something.

"The summer camp was just attacked. Multiple students have been injured. Some are in critical condition due to gas inhalation. The attack just ended according to Eraser Head. Vlad King and Midnight are still trying to figure out the situation, but…" Nezu paused. Something had him shaken, which had the three heroes shocked. "Eraser Head confirmed that the League of Villains was responsible, and that their target was Midoriya. He's been taken."

All Might stumbled back into his chair. Gran Torino made sure he didn't fall out. Sir Nighteye turned the phone towards him. "Principal Nezu. What can you tell us?"

If Nezu was surprised to hear Sir Nighteye, he didn't show it. "Detective Tsukauchi and I are going to collect Mrs. Midoriya now. We are moving the children to the nearest hospital, Dathomir General. Aside from that, we don't have a solid grasp on the situation. Aside from… it seems that this attack was entirely different from the USJ. They had a small strike team… and Toga and Uraraka tried to lead a team to stop the kidnapping." There was a soft back and forth in the background, something close to 'should we say' before Nezu added, "Midoriya was in critical condition when he was taken."

"We'll meet you there," Sir Nighteye hurried out of his mouth as he quickly turned the phone off, at the same time as he reached into his coat and grabbed one of his weighted stamps. He ripped it out and threw it just as All Might had puffed up and was making a bolt for the door. Caught in mid-stride and completely unaware, the stamp caught All Might in the jaw and took him off his feet.

"Will you get yourself under control?" Sir Nighteye challenged coldly, not caring one bit about the look All Might was giving him as he pulled himself out of the small pile of rubble that the smartly dressed man's weighted stamp had knocked him into.

"You sorry sack of—"

Gran Torino seriously thought he was about to have to step in, but if Sir Nighteye was anything, it was calm under pressure. "Think! If there was ever a time for you to use your head, it's now."

All Might seethed, but halted his advance.

"Think. You know how these kinds of high profile kidnappings go. For better or worse, it's over in only a day or two. Shrink down, and get in my car. I'll call in a favor and get us a helicopter to take us to the hospital. I know one close by."

"I'm faster than any helicopter you'd be able to call."

"True. But you're focused on the wrong thing. Speed isn't the issue. Time is. How much would you waste, when I can guarantee we'll still be at the hospital before the students arrive?"

All Might's fist smashed into a wall, adding to the pile on the floor, but then after a moment, the hero let go and shrunk back down.

"Good. We'll use the time to go over the information I have about the man behind this. It's good Nezu and the detective are heading for Mrs. Midoriya. Overhaul can be vindictive if pushed."

Gran Torino frowned. "Wait… the school said this was the League. What's this Overhaul have to do with things?"

Sir Nighteye clamped up, realizing he'd just gone a step too far. He didn't even have a clue how the League and the Yakuza were in step with each other. To suddenly throw out a name had been a mistake. "You don't want me to answer that."

"…" Gran Torino rubbed his brow. "Oh, fuck."

All Might's fist clenched as he stepped up. Even shrunken, he towered over his former sidekick. "You bastard. What do you…"

"Your rules, remember? Now unless you want me to set things in stone by telling you what I saw…" Neither hero said anything. "We need to move."

---

The trio reached the helicopter landing pad, the bird already whirling to life. All Might clutched Gran Torino's shoulder. When they were seated, All Might felt his phone vibrate again. Gran Torino and Sit Nighteye paused putting on their seatbelts as the call was taken.

"It's Tsukauchi. They've found Inko, but..."

The phone was put on speaker. They could hear a hushed quiet. The officers in the background seemed confused. Cautious. The voices came in.

"Mrs. Midoriya?"

"Ma'am?"

Detective Tsukauchi and Principal Nezu could be heard. All Might could hear his friend sounding careful. Something had happened

"Mrs. Bakugou let us know you were here. We… we need you to come with us. There's been…"

"He has Izuku. Doesn't he?" It took All Might a full few moments to realize that the person that had spoken was Inko. Her voice was cold. It almost was impossible to tell the person on the other end was the woman he'd been able to spend the last year getting the chance to know.

"He?" Gran Torino echoed. There was something about that comment that sent a shiver down his spine. All Might felt it too, but something deeper ate at him.

"Ma'am… we don't…"

"All for One has my son. You let him take my son." All Might couldn't breathe. This couldn't be happening. "He was here. He was here! And he said he took my son!" The call caught Inko's rising rage before it was cut off.

Gran Torino hissed, hands folded in front of his face. "Shit… shit, he's playing mind games with us. Fucking hell. Going to see the kid's mother, sick fuck." He then glanced at Sir Nighteye. "Looks like your theory is shot."

Sir Nighteye didn't have anything to add. Suddenly, he didn't have anything. Now things were off the rails, and not lining up.

---

Aizawa and Vlad King frowned as the update was relayed to them. Now that police and medical personnel were on site, a much clearer image of the attack was now coming into focus.

"What about Ragdoll?" Nezu asked, the video call becoming more and more downtrodden.

Aizawa shook his head. "Search crews made it to where she was stationed for the game. They found a puddle of blood, but nothing else. It's safe to assume she was taken in the same manner as…" Aizawa trailed off. Since Inko was in the same car as Nezu, it was probably best not to mention her son.

"Knowing this was a…" Nezu stopped, and huffed. "Open lines. Best not to say any more that hasn't been approved by the HPSC. They're clamping down hard. With word of 1-B's condition leaking out, things are about to get very… red tape."

When the first leaks ended up coming out of the hospital—some nurses speaking when they shouldn't have as they prepped rooms for the students—it had led to the HPSC coming down hard on all open lines of communication. Pretty soon, even calls between the U.A. staff would need to be switched to controlled lines.

Midnight walked over to Aizawa, arms crossed. "Bakugou has been loaded up along with Uraraka and the rest of the badly injured students. The rest will be loaded up when the next wave of emergency vehicles arrive."

Aizawa nodded. "Is she..?"

"Still all but catatonic." Midnight shook her head. "Poor girl. She and the others tri…" Midnight trailed off. "Hatsume?" The teachers turned to find a roughed up Mei walking over to them. "Hatsume, you're supposed to be on one of the ambulances leaving. What are you doing?"

Bandaged and slinged up, Mei wore her butt-kicking openly. But it wasn't her injuries weighing the normally unphased girl down. "I think I might be responsible for this."

Midnight shook her head. "No. No, this is not your fault. You coming isn't what caused this."

Vlad King nodded. "Return to your ambulance and let us deal with—"

Mei shook her head, and then she focused on the display of Nezu. "I saw her, sir."

The teachers blinked, while Nezu looked at Mei directly. "Saw?"

"I saw Mom. She's the one that hurt that one boy. She's working with the—"

"Miss Hatsume," Nezu quickly cut in. "We can discuss… what you saw face to face. Until then… keep quiet and make sure you stay with the hero course at all times."

Mei frowned, then looked at the phone. "Oh… Oh, they know now…"

"Return to the ambulance. And stay quiet on this matter until I can advise you," Nezu told her firmly.

As Mei shuffled off, Vlad King had a huge frown. "What was that?"

"We will discuss it later. Not here. Not…" Nezu turned, looking at someone off-screen. A casual reminder that it wasn't just the Detective riding with him. "We have things we need to discuss. But first, let us focus on making sure these children get medical treatment." The word on the teacher's lips went left unsaid.

Traitor.

It was a word they were sure was about to get thrown around a lot very soon.

---

The looks Ethan and her boys had given her when she had ordered them to be ready for wheels up in under an hour, would have been comical if she hadn't been completely serious, and in no mood to broker any argument. Before she stormed off, she made sure she had the boys' full attention. "I'll get the orders. Just get the jets ready."

"We'll be ready to take off regardless."

Melissa almost wished they all hadn't nodded. She was potentially, most definitely, barreling down a line that could get a lot of people in a lot of trouble.

Which should really be bothering her, but at this moment, she didn't care one lick about any rules and regulations.

After the boys had run off, and were probably giving crew chiefs and mechanics heart attacks, Melissa found a quiet, private room, and sucked in a hard breath. Steam hissed as she shrunk down, and fished out her personal phone. She flipped through a few numbers she had for her Uncle, and hit the one labeled SOS. Her uncle's personal emergency number.

It rang once before a hurried and almost panicked All Might answered, "Melissa! Are you okay?! Are you under attack?!"

"No!" Melissa replied. "No, I'm fine. I saw the news." All Might let out a long breath, and Melissa was sure she heard him say something along the line of 'she's fine. Thank god.' "Uncle Might? Are you with someone?"

"Gran Torino." Melissa was glad to hear that. "And Sir Nighteye." Melissa wasn't sure how that had happened but didn't dig into it. There were more important things that she needed to take care of.

"How bad is this? The news said there was another attack… and…"

"Young Midoriya's been taken."

Melissa's fist smashed through a wall. "Worst case?" She doubted she could just say the name. Not with others with her uncle that might not know she knew things.

"Yes."

"…Can they hear me? Gran Torino or Sir Nighteye?"

"No. But best we keep this brief. I'm just glad you're okay. This was… personal."

Meaning, keep what I say clean in case. Okay, yeah. "…Are the heroes mobilizing? The HPSC?"

"Yes. It's just starting. Right now I'm heading to the hospital all my students are getting taken to. Others are going there too."

"Okay." Melissa began running some scenarios. If things were only just getting started, Japan's HPSC might be too busy trying to get control of the story, rather than working to get to Izuku. So if there was ever a time to do this, it was now. "Uncle Might. Call my work number in five minutes. I'm making sure I have my stuff ready to jump on a jet and head over. Just making sure I got clearance." She heard her uncle suck in a breath. "I can always ask for permission later."

Melissa could practically see the conflict on All Might's face. Just from the way he was breathing, the man must be juggling so many different emotions. Her getting involved must suck for him. Especially if All for One was on the board. But, "You know I can help."

"…"

"And Midoriya is my friend."

"…I'll send in a text to your teachers that you'll be getting some on-the-field-experience. Your tech skills will be a huge help. Also, I know Uraraka will want all the friends she can get. I won't be calling. I'm going to be contacting a contact in the DoH for help. In five minutes."

Melissa heard that loud and clear.

---

Commander Agpar wasn't sure what he expected when the base commander barged into his private office as he was getting an emergency briefing about some apparent major villain action in Japan. Looking absolutely panicked, the man saluted so hard he just about knocked himself out. The DoH agent giving the update almost broke his constant sourpuss frown to smirk.

"Sir! I have an emergency report!"

Agpar pointed at the agent. "I'm aware there's something going on in Japan. We're contacting the HPSC now." Agpar was about to say something about duplicate reports causing more issues than they were worth.

"Sir! That's not why I'm here, sir!" The man was so at attention it almost looked parodical. The poor soldier was falling back on boot camp rules to make sure he didn't freak out.

"Oh?"

"Under orders by Star and Stripe, our squadron of experimental X66 fighter jets are prepping for an emergency sortie!"

The DoH agent balked. "Can she do that?! Since when can a hero order military personnel?!"

Agpar had years of military training to rely on. "Have the flight crews and MP's…" So before he gave an order, he decided to make sure he knew what fight he was about to walk into. He pointed at the DoH agent. "You. In that stack of papers detailing the villain incident, is the name Midoriya Izuku or Uraraka Ochako mentioned?"

This is about to get messy if it's either of those two.

The DoH agent blinked but nodded. "Y-yes! Midoriya Izuku was the name of the victim kidnapped just under an hour ago and—"

Shit.

Agpar was up and out of the office with the base commander and agent running after him.

"Where is Star and Stripe?" Agpar demanded as he stomped down the hall, already expecting things to be spiraling out of control.

"Sir, in the control tower!"

---

"Attention!" Came the almost panicked call of the officer on deck as Agpar stormed into the control tower main bridge. Night crew personnel hit their stances with terrified snappiness. All but two individuals were giving him salutes. One Agpar wasn't going to make a fuss about. It's hard to stand at attention when you're in the middle of leaning back away from a towering superhero with enough power to level the whole base if she was pissed off enough.

Said hero wasn't doing much except leaning over the poor man. But considering who it was, that was more than enough to have someone quaking in fear.

Star and Stripe turned slowly, and Agpar cursed his luck. Because if she was in a state of distress and anger, or any other state that gave off the feeling that she was out of control, he could come down hard and end whatever this insanity was. Except by all outward appearances, Star and Stripe was in complete control of herself. She turned, looked at him with that poster printing smile, saluted, and in the most casual way possible said, "Sir. Ready to depart for Japan."

Calm.

Collected.

Confident.

All the attributes he had helped train Melissa in, so that she could temper her more brash side. She was, despite outward appearances, still a teenager. And now it looked like she was taking those lessons and using them against him.

"Star and Stripe, last I heard there had been no outreach by the Japan's Hero Public Safety Commission towards the World Hero Association about requesting any global assistance."

Star and Stripe didn't blink. In fact, she was pure steel. Which had Agpar's whiskers itching. Star and Stripe was a power house. But Melissa was the brains. And whatever was about to happen, this had Melissa's fingerprints all over it.

I just walked into an ambush.

Star and Stripe's eyes drifted to the DoH agent that stumbled in. "Oh, I'm sure the proper paperwork is buried in that folder. But if you need anything to spur us on before the ink is dry…"

Ring

Ring

Ring

As her phone rang, Star and Stripe, like she had the whole thing planned, reached towards her belt and flipped it up so Agpar could see who was calling.

All Might.

Star and Stripe now had the base commander, an agent of the DoH and the Commander of the United States armed forces, all in one place. In the view of more military personnel that had great admiration for Star and Stripe, and those who had been around long enough to have memories of what All Might had done together with the United States as a hero. This wasn't a trap. This was a public execution.

Star and Stripe tapped the phone to put it on speaker. "Hello, All Might? This is Star and Stripe. I'm standing here with Commander Agpar. We both just heard about the attack." Star and Stripe was looking the commander in the eye when she asked, "What can we do to help?"

Agpar had to give Star and Stripe credit. She was playing this game way smarter than he thought she was capable of.

---

"I want you to know, that if I or All Might didn't have friends in the WHA to call to make sure this wasn't the start of an international incident, there would be more consequences than you could count."

After such a heartfelt plea, and a very offhanded and casual reminder of all the assistance All Might had given the United States during his years abroad, work was getting done to make sure all the paperwork needed to allow the DoH to assist the HPSC in the operation—that was totally already sent in—was on the way.

The HPSC would stay in command, with the DoH acting as assistance. The people in the WHA felt this was the best way to make sure Japan went along with the sudden help getting dropped in their laps.

Now Star and Stripe and Commander Agpar were walking across the flight deck towards the ready to launch fighters. "I can count pretty high."

Over the screaming jets and other base noises as things kicked off, the two could talk without worrying about being overheard. "Not when it comes to laws you were about to break."

"Zero."

Agpar reached up and grabbed her wrist. "Melissa. Listen to me. I can see the cracks. You really have no idea how bad this could have gone for you. Because right now, you're not thinking. At least not with your whole head. And you'll need your head on your shoulders for this."

"…"

"You'll have your clearance by the time you're over international waters. Good luck." Agpar sighed.

Part of him had always been happy that Melissa had been such a looner. So dedicated to her twin goals that there was little in the way of distractions. But when she had given her full, personal, report to him and had dropped the bomb in his lap that was Izuku and Ochako, he had almost blown his top. But he had kept quiet and let Melissa keep talking. And during the report, he saw the way her eyes lit up, and by the time everything was done, Agpar knew that these friends of hers were extremely important to her, and he was genuinely happy for her. Granted, when she updated that report, adding about the group she was involved with also knowing, had earned her a bit of a chewing out.

But in regards to Izuku and Ochako, they were her first true friends. And teenagers tend to be willing to do stupid stuff for their friends. Like breaking an ungodly amount of laws if they're Star and Stripe. But she tended to do everything big. "You'll save your friend. I know it." The sniffle from Star and Stripe really drove home how close she was to coming apart. "Go. Save the kid. I'll make sure you have a few days approved to stay over there afterwards too. I'm sure you'll want to make sure he's fine after… after everything."

"Thank you, sir."

"Oh, don't thank me yet. I am going to tell your mother about how you were dead set on taking a joyride with almost a billion dollars worth of military equipment. And once she's done with you, I get my turn."

Star and Stripe almost wilted at the mention of her mother. She broke at that last bit, groaning into her palm. "Oh god, you're going to make me do more of those PSA's, aren't you?"

"Your 'So you got Detention' series seems like the perfect set to update." Agpar turned. "Go do what you do best. Save the boy. Just remember you're going to be in another country, so try not to do what you also do best."

"And what's that, sir?"

"Step on the toes of any and everyone in charge because you think you're untouchable."

With a flourish, Star and Stripe leapt up and over, landing on the lead jet as it was getting led out to the runway. With a bow, Star and Stripe smirked. "But sir, I am!"

---

"So, Muscular, Moonfish and Hedoro Viran." Magne raised up her shot glass. "You will be missed."

Shigaraki and Spinner paused in throwing back their shot. "They will?"

Twice just downed his shot without a thought, slurping it through a straw.

"I figured I was going to have to kill those three at some point if they stayed," Shigaraki grumbled as he slammed back his shot.

Lady Nagant was quiet for a short few moments as she sat at the bar. "Considering two of those almost blew up the whole operation, I'd say your instincts weren't… far off." She trailed off as a black portal opened up and Chimera walked into the bar. Kurogiri wisped into his spot behind the bar counter, his yellow eyes squinting at the rather messy way drinks had been poured and bottles left open.

Shigaraki stared at the spot where the portal had been, and scratched at his neck. "Where is he?"

The 'he' was obvious. Izuku.

Chimera glanced at him. "Both targets have been given to the Doctor. As was our mission." Shigaraki clicked his tongue, but before he started to scratch heavily at his neck, Spinner quickly slipped another filled shot into his hands. Chimera grunted his approval towards the reptile man.

Chimera's eyes scanned the room, stopping at a sulking Saito. The boy looked roughed up, but he seemed content to sip away at his drink, with Magne and Beros flanking him. Beros caught his eye, and shrugged. Chimera could guess what was eating at the group's youngest member, but he was glad the boy was choosing to sulk in a cup of… sniff sniff… apple juice. Magne smirked and held up a hastily labeled switch bottle.

Adjusting his path, Chimera walked up towards the empty chair next to Lady Nagant. He sat, and Kurogiri poured him a glass and then handed him a freshly punch-cut cigar.

Chimera swirled his glass, before lifting it up next to Lady Nagant's. She gave him a tired look, but clinked hers against his. They mirrored each other as they drank. Then when their glasses touched the bar, "Want to tell me why you almost shot my head off?"

There was a pause in the bar, before the occupants all turned. Beros took a sip, before she put her glass down and began reaching for her back. Lady Nagant's elbow opened up while she kept her right arm leaning on the bar top, but she let the undeployed barrel stay pointed at the League's archer. "Don't." She then took another sip of her drink. "Gonna assume you know why."

"I have a guess. Need to hear it from you," Chimera grumbled.

Spinner looked back and forth. "Wait? What's happening? She shot you? When? Why?"

"Remember that bra… brave little kid that ran me over with her motorcycle thing?" Chimera ignored the snort. "Right after I ripped apart her toys. Stopped me from doing her in."

Magne blinked. "Wait, soooo the kid ain't dead?"

"No. Roughed up. But alive to think about her dumbass choice." Chimera gave the cigar a sniff before lighting it with a puff of fire. "So?"

Lady Nagant frowned, finger tapping on the rim of her glass. "If anyone else read the dossier, you would have noticed that the pink dreadlock girl wasn't on the list of hero students."

Spinner hummed to himself, "Pretty sure I saw her in the big festival broadcast though…"

"Kid's a support developer. Gadgets tech and shit," Tomura growled out. He frowned at the looks he got. "Sensei had me watch the damn thing. Only one kid had hair like that. Hat-something." Then he pointed at Lady Nagant. "And you're avoiding the question."

"Yup." Lady Nagant sighed. "I am." She threw back the remaining liquid in her glass. "Her name's Hatsume Mei." She tapped her glass for a refill. "She's my daughter."

…

…

…

"MILF Nagant?"

Lady Nagant swung her arm and deployed the full rifle right into Magne's face. "Call me that again and see what happens."

"Wait, time out." Twice moved to step between everyone. "She's too young to be a mommy! I mean look at those crows fee—Eep!" The rifle swung and just missed his head, only stopping when Tomura caught it.

Keeping two fingers raised, he addressed Lady Nagant evenly, but there was a low rumble in his voice that betrayed his agitation. "I think Chimera's right. You should explain yourself." Lady Nagant kept Tomura's gaze, not blinking, flinching, or showing any concern that her rifle barrel was at risk of getting decayed. "If you're so on board with bringing this world down around the hero's ears, why would you let your kid go to a hero school?"

With her left, Lady Nagant raised her glass and let the ice clink inside, signaling for a refill. "It's pretty fucking simple. I have always encouraged my daughter to follow her passions." Kurogiri poured a few fingers of liquor. "She wants to build awesome shit and make a fuck ton of money. Plain and simple." Lady Nagant took a sip. "You are aware that U.A. just happens to have one of the best support item courses. It also just so happens to be one of the best damn schools in the country." She paused, then added, "Also, I was in fucking prison. You think I was in any position to tell her not to do something?"

"What a horrible mother you are, can I call you mommy?!" Twice pointed.

Tomura ignored the outburst. "Your kid was at the camp?"

"Yup." The slight gravel to Lady Nagant's voice was the one betrayal of her displeasure.

"And she attacked us?"

"Ran Chimera the fuck over with a flying bike." She smirked. There was no hiding the pride she felt for her daughter's stunt. "Dumb kid. Takes after me too much." There was also no hiding she meant that. Pride yes, but serious in the fact she knew it was trouble.

Tomura made a small humph. "Why was she at that hero training camp?"

This time Lady Nagant didn't or couldn't hide her aggravation. "…Fuck if I know. She shouldn't have been anywhere close to that shitshow." Lady Nagant kept eye contact with Tomura for that answer. "You all pulled me out of jail before her next visit. If she had other news for me, I wasn't there to hear it."

Tomura caught the small pause. "But?"

Lady Nagant sighed. "She had mentioned… some time ago… that she had been pulled to be a support item developer for a hero student. Last talk, she was complaining that her customer-friend was a real pain in the ass. Breaking all her shit and having a Quirk that was in flux or something." Tomura raised an eyebrow while Chimera sucked in a deep drag of his cigar. "If I had to guess, she was talking about that Midoriya kid we kidnapped."

Chimera puffed out some smoke. "Fucking small world."

Tomura seemed to be in agreement. "Never mentioned a name?"

"My kid isn't big on names." She saw the looks. "I'm serious. She doesn't give a fuck about anything that's not something she can take apart and solder together again."

The villains looked between Lady Nagant and Tomura, waiting to see what the leader decided to do. Finally Tomura sighed and let go, and reached for his drink. "How the hell do I end up running into two insane nutjob mothers?" After he had let go, it was like the room breathed, and the mood rose as more drinks were downed in victory.

Beros glanced away while pouring Saito a new glass of 'alcohol.' "Wait. Is your kid the spy we have inside the school?"

That was the first time Lady Nagant looked genuinely startled. Her head snapped up to look at Beros, eyes wide and shifting as she began going over any and every instance that could make that idea make sense. Her startled look grabbed some attention. Chimera let his eyes shift from her, to Kurogiri, then the currently powered down computer screen.

"No. No, that's… that's impossible," Lady Nagant answered finally. She then turned to look at Kurogiri. "It's impossible. Right?" There was no mistaking the threat in her voice.

Kurogiri raised his hands. "While I can not say who the spy is, I can say for certain it is not your daughter."

Lady Nagant nodded, and went back to her drink. Chimera tapped some ashes into a small tray. "Is this going to be an issue going forward?"

"My goals have not changed," she answered crispy and bluntly. "The government needs to fucking burn." A chorus of cheers and 'here here''s were called out. "But," Lady Nagant added with the cold certainty of an execution warrant, "I will not allow anyone to harm my little girl. If she's involved in shit again. I will deal with it myself."

The villains more or less accepted that. Family made things complicated. Spinner, as he got his hand slapped away from the bar by Kurogiri when he tried to reach behind, nodded like he was being sagely. "Heavy is the burden of those that want to change this world, but have family in it."

Tomura rolled his eyes. "Stop talking like the old men in movies."

"Too much?"

"Yes!"

Magne hummed. "Hey… maybe we need to get the kid? If mother and daughter are reunited, then that means any potential issues are dealt with."

"No," was Chimera's immediate response. "After the move we just made taking a professional hero and All Might's pet project Midoriya, we need to lie low. Sticking your head out now, is a good way to have it smashed in."

While Twice flipped back and forth between wondering what he was going to be doing the whole time, and answering with 'drinking!', Lady Nagant looked down at her reflection in her glass, unable to keep the slight worry from making her stomach feel twisted. Her daughter had seen her. That, plus the bullet she had put in that mad bomber's shoulder meant that it wouldn't take long for the HPSC to figure out that not only was she alive, she was actively working for a villain organization now.

They have everything they need to go after you kid… Damn it, I'm sorry. Your mother is going to make your life a lot harder than it should be…

Lady Nagant threw her drink back and almost choked as a stray thought passed through her. One that slipped not from her head, but heart. U.A. You better keep my kid safe from those monsters.

The irony wasn't lost on her. But it didn't make her wish any less real.

---

"Get oxymasks ready for gas vics' arrival. Clean air till full recovery," a doctor barked while orderlies were fast at work around him, rolling out the tanks and masks.

"Prep slashers for through and through shoulder wound. Male blond patient, aggressive history. Ready sedatives."

"Burn vics to ICU until on-unit staff exam. Consider fire Quirk secondary effects."

"Doctors! Ambulances pulling in!" A nurse stuck her head into the main entryway where the staff had prepped.

"Okay. Fresh full tag and diagnosis. Pass the kids through triage stat."

The ambulances had barely come to a stop before doctors and nurses pounced, exiting the entryway and hitting the ambulance offload area running. To All Might, it was absolute chaos, but he knew professionalism when he saw it. Everyone was moving, documenting, and assisting in getting kids where they needed to go. These people knew what they were doing.

And he knew enough to not step in at all. Something he was sure Gran Torino and Sir Nighteye were grateful they didn't have to remind him not to do.

"GSW vic. Male and aggressive as stated. Clean through-and-through."

"Let me out of this fucking stretcher! I don't need—"

"Sedative!"

You're… going to need a whole lot more than that little shot young lady. All Might winced as Katsuki was wheeled by. A sharp shooter… All Might shook his head. There would be time for putting pieces together later. He had a job to do right now. Even if he was somewhat confused as to why.

"'Keep your eyes open.' Principal Nezu asked us to do that before he or the other teachers arrived. Last I heard, they were with the second wave of ambulances along with the Wild Wild Pussycats. Detective Tsukauchi, Principal Nezu and…" All Might trailed off. Very noticeably.

Gran Torino frowned deeper while Sir Nighteye adjusted his glasses.

"Burn vic! Shoulder, neck and scalp! Non-responsive! ICU stat! Shears!"

All Might clenched his fists as Ochako was wheeled past him on the stretcher. Something dark rumbled in his chest as he breathed. "Easy," Gran Torino offered. "It didn't look all that bad. Burns always seem worse than they actually are." All Might nodded stiffly.

"All Might, you've made it a point to avoid speaking about Midoriya Inko. Why?" Sir Nighteye asked bluntly.

Gran Torino sighed. "Time and place to ask that."

"Time is a luxury we don't have. He did something. He should tell us, we'll tell him it was stupid and we can move on."

"… I told…" All Might rubbed his brow. "I told Ink… Mrs. Midoriya that All for One was dead." Sir Nighteye and Gran Torino swiveled their heads to look at him as he very briefly summarized his talk with Inko. How she had explained to him how, as a little girl, she had seen All for One, and how he and the villain had some run-ins, resulting in the villain's eventual death. At his hands.

"…"

"…"

Sir Nighteye pulled his glasses off to rub his eyes. Gran Torino groaned, "You're a fucking idiot."

"I am… Well, they should be arriving any second now…"

"Hey! Hey, what are you doing with that patient! Hey!" The sudden change in yelling grabbed the three heroes' attention right away.

"Government business. Move aside!"

All Might zeroed in on the commotion, and damn near roared in anger. Agents, clearly HPSC and Tartarus by how they carried themselves, along with police, were busy ripping one of the injured students out of the care of the doctors and nurses. A pained yelp came from Mei as she was all but thrown into the waiting arms of officers. Shishikura looked particularly angry while he yanked her arms behind her back like she was a combative runner and not an injured minor. That did get All Might to roar, "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Several of the injured 1-A caught onto what was going on, and some felt a very specific kind of way about seeing anyone getting taken away.

Tenya was pulling himself off his stretcher while a nurse was looking over his wounds. Ice was starting to form around the railing of a stretcher as Shouto pulled himself up to a sitting position. And one very unlucky agent of the HPSC in charge happened to look down, and saw a very feral-looking Himiko, looking ready to tear his throat out.

All Might stormed forward, and made sure to get a hand on Himiko's shoulder before he stood over the agent. "You are going to let her go." All Might cracked his knuckles. "Now."

"Whoa whoa whoa!" a new voice came in from above. All Might glanced up as Hawks hovered overhead. "Let's not turn triage into a war zone." Hawks landed and then reached into his jacket pocket. "I'm assuming that you're acting as these kids' teacher right now. So I'll give you this." Hawks handed All Might an envelope. "I'll save you some time. It's a warrant to let us question this young lady." The agent behind Hawks puffed up. Hawks then pointed at him angrily. "You were however told to treat this delicately. I don't care what Tartarus convinced you to do. You. Had. Orders."

"I am not letting this happen. You are not taking an injured student off the premises."

More and more eyes were drifting towards the confrontation. Students, and now the hospital staff, were looking more and more agitated, or just plain pissed off.

Hawks tried to keep a smile. "I have orders. These aren't the kind you just blow off."

"Perhaps not, but if I had to guess, that warrant is allowing you to question Miss Hatsume. Not remove her from the premises or to question her without proper counsel or guardianship." The new voice cut over all the noise without having to be raised. Nezu and Tsukauchi walked up to the group. "I think the staff here should have a room that will serve your purpose."

Some hasty back and forth was had, but All Might wasn't paying attention. His gaze had shifted, meeting the eyes of a woman he was dreading having to speak with. Inko was looking right at him, though he saw the way her eyes drifted. Going from him, and then Mei, before they were back looking at him. Lost, confused and very angry. All Might felt conflicted, not sure which way he should move. His responsibilities were pulling him in several directions.

"All Might. I think it best if you join us," Nezu cut in. "Just to make sure we keep this all nice and cordial. Detective Tsukauchi, you too. Having True Man with us will make this much easier on everyone."

While the other agents seemed less than pleased, Hawks smiled. "I think that would be just fine."

All Might nodded numbly. "I…" he looked towards Inko again, and let out a small breath. Himiko had slipped away from this mess, and moved up beside Inko, cradling the woman's head as the mother started crying, leading her away. "Yes… that will be just fine. I'm sure we can deal with this quickly." Nezu nodded. "I would like to know what is going on."

"There are certain… elements of this attack that call into question certain individuals' loyalty to the state," the HPSC agent in charge stated in the typical simple and succinct style of their organization's representatives.

All Might blinked, while the Tartarus agents and Shishikura glared at Mei, who rolled her eyes. "Lady Nagant is my mother and she was part of the attack that just happened."

"…Huh?"

---

"I think we can put the ridiculous notion to bed that Young Hatsume knew that Lady Nagant had somehow escaped Tartarus." All Might leaned down on the table, his hands pushing the metal concave, his agitation leaking out. Watching HPSC and Tartarus agents just waltz up and snatch Mei as she was being led into the hospital had crossed a huge line, regardless of this new and shocking news he was just learning about the inventor.

Hawks had his hands up, moving to put himself between everyone. "Now let's keep our cool. We have an operation to get planned out later. This is just making sure nothing is gonna come up and bite us in the back while we work to rescue Midoriya."

Mei shrugged. "Oh, I knew mom wasn't in Tartarus anymore."

The heads of everyone in the room turned. First to look at Mei, who just said something with a straight nonchalant face. Then to Detective Tsukauchi, who was just sorta gawking. Shishikura slammed his hands down. "You! Knew!?"

"Uh huh. I got a postcard the day before I came for my visit. You know, my legal right, the one where you all threatened me to go away," Mei said as she gave Shishikura the finger. It was nice putting something Himiko taught her to good use.

Shishikura reached for Mei, but Hawks quickly caught the man's arm. Still the man vented, "You knew your villainous mother was working with the League! You traitor! You knew she had escaped and didn't report it?!"

Mei leaned forward. "I didn't, because escaping from Tartarus is impossible, and the last time I questioned anything about my mother, the HPSC came to my home and said that if I didn't want to deal with real world consequences I shouldn't be nosy. Suddenly calling and asking about my mom's whereabouts seemed like a good way to get killed." The teachers gave the HPSC agent a hard look while Mei continued, "Besides, I figured she and the HPSC had worked out a deal."

Silence.

Everyone glanced at the detective and he nodded.

The HPSC agent frowned deeply. "What kind of agreement would we offer to remove someone like her from her imprisonment?"

Mei jutted a thumb at Hawks. "She agreed to kill someone that your new errand boy hadn't been able to reach. Duh."

In a rare moment, suddenly it was the HPSC agent, and Hawks, getting looks. The agent cleared his throat. "It goes without saying that such a ridiculous notion isn't what happened at all."

All Might glanced at his friend, who nodded. The detective coughed. "Because the idea that the government would sanction assassinations is preposterous."

"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Hawks laughed loudly. "Boy, that would be something. But let's summarize then. Hatsume, you didn't know your mother was working for the League of Villains?"

"Nope."

Truth.

"Did you know she had escaped?" Hawks emphasized that last part heavily.

"Nope."

Truth.

Hawks shrugged. "It seems like there's nothing else we can ask." Shishikura, the Tartarus officers, and HPSC agents all looked like they wanted to strangle him.

Nezu hummed in agreement. "Yes. Speaking bluntly, while Miss Hatsume was… ill advised in her reasoning for not taking steps after she was contacted, her actions are not responsible for anything that happened tonight. As such, I do believe this meeting is over and has adequately covered everything that warrant allows. Something I'm happy to see Mr Tombs, the school lawyer, backs me up on. You should all be getting calls or messages soon regarding how you'll handle any future questions you might have regarding Miss Hatsume."

Nezu flashed his phone screen, showing a very lengthy exchange between him and the lawyer. Something he'd been doing ever since he'd caught a sniff of trouble coming the young inventor's way. The last line on the text was a promise.

"If they try anything, I'll have them so caught up in red tape, they'd be more productive hanging themselves with it."

U.A. staff stared down government agents. Government agents stared down U.A. staff. Tartarus just looked like their typical dour selves. Hawks was just busy smiling while Detective Tsukauchi looked like he needed a drink.

"Come now, Miss Hatsume. We've kept you from getting medical attention for too long." Principal Nezu took Mei's hand, giving it a few comforting pats.

Shishikura glowered, then blinked when Mei turned to leave. "Purple?"

Mei glanced over at him, then reached up and casually ran her fingers through her hair. Around the spot she had only a little while ago during the attack, pulled a clump out. "I guess some of the dye came off when I was getting my butt whooped tonight. Still, I'll order some more and have it delivered here. Best to try and not draw attention, right?"

An HPSC agent coughed, but was also nodding."Good advice," he muttered.

Shishikura's hand twitched, almost like he wanted to reach out. Mei looked at him, making no move to shift herself away from him. She just looked at him, her distinct yellow eyes holding his. She tilted her head towards him, just a small movement, letting her dreadlocks dangle like a lure.

Ultimately Shishikura didn't take the bait, and Mei walked out. But he still made sure he got the last word in. "U.A. is starting to get itself a collection of troublemakers with questionable loyalty."

Nezu turned. "Oh, I don't think so. We pride ourselves on enrolling truly exemplary individuals to help grow and nurture."

"You're stepping outside your role. Keep that in mind, else you'll find Tartarus ready to remind you."

Nezu was completely unfazed. "I suppose if there was anyone that was an expert at stepping outside their role, it would be Tartarus. Wouldn't it?"

---

Inko gripped the armrest on her chair tightly as Ochako's bed was wheeled into the room. The nurses apparently had been informed by someone that she should be allowed to visit. Or they knew she was the mother of the missing student and no one wanted to be the one to set her off. Inko didn't care which it was, just as long as no one was telling her to move out.

Once everything was hooked up, the nurse quietly left and Inko was alone with the unconscious young woman. Getting up, Inko took a spot next to the bed, and steadied herself as she looked down. In her life, Inko had seen some truly horrendous burns inflicted on people. Though, those had been people she hadn't liked, so she never had or would lose sleep over it. But Ochako, she cared about this girl like she was family, so she was ready to start quaking when she finally got her eyes on her.

"Oh… oh, thank god… oh, you poor girl." It was a strange feeling. The relief and sorrow mixed all up inside her.

Ochako's medical gown was hung around her like a toga, leaving her left arm and shoulder exposed. Inko could smell the soft vegetation whiff of aloe vera covered by the bandages around her upper body and neck. Where the bandages didn't cover, there was a soft pink tint to the skin. Burned, but it seemed like Ochako had escaped from anything major.

Inko let her eyes go higher. For the most part…

Inko almost reached into the bed to stroke Ochako's cheek, but held back. Her auburn hair was a mess, but on the right, it was still recognizable. It still had the long bang on the side, framing her gentle round face. But towards the center, strands of hair became wild and suddenly shorter. Evidence of being burned away. Then on the left, she still had the bangs, but the left side of her scalp had been shaved so that the doctors could apply the treatment and bandages.

"She'll bounce back." Inko turned to see Himiko and Tsuyu standing in the doorway, both now in hospital gowns and fresh bandages for their wounds. Inko saw how they both didn't seem to know if they should look at her or not. "I overheard the doctors… They said the burns aren't bad. No, um… permanent scarring or anything. Easy to treat."

Inko nodded. "She's been out this entire time?"

Tsuyu nodded. "After… Yes."

"Doctors said it was shock. That she'll come around once she… Her brain's just rebooting itself as it deals with… everything. Something like that. Just… shock…" Himiko looked away, and Inko was startled to see tears soaking the girl's cheeks. Even more so that she wasn't trying to hide them.

Inko could see her shaking. 'Like a leaf', it didn't do it justice. She's clutching Asui's arm so tightly just to keep standing up.

Himiko turned back, and her voice cracked. "We tried. We tried, w-we tried, I swear we—"

Inko rushed to the door and wrapped both girls into her arms, holding them as their legs gave out and helping the three of them kneel to the ground and cry. "It's not your fault." She clutched them tighter. "It's not your fault."

It took some time, and a lot of tears, before Inko was able to shepherd the three of them to some seats. Inko, even with her own waterworks still flowing, had found some tissues and was busy helping Himiko dry her eyes.

"Toga…" Inko trailed off as she moved aside her eyepatch, her tissue gently tracing the small scar before she finished drying the tears. "Tell me what happened." She heard Tsuyu croak nervously. "I'm not blaming you all. But I need… I need to know what happened."

Himiko turned, looking at Ochako's bed. "Won't change anything. Why…?"

"Because you haven't been told to lie to me yet," Inko said truthfully, getting twin surprised looks from the girls. "Because I'm seeing almost as many people from the government here as doctors. And since… the man who claimed to be responsible visited me to tell me he had taken my son. I know why they're here."

Himiko blinked, then her eyes went wide. Oh holy fucking shit.

"So. Before anyone tells you not to say anything. This is the best chance I have to learn what happened tonight."

---

Throughout Himiko's summary of events, Inko's face went through a few very vivid expressions. Shock, horror, and anger. Her look darkened considerably when she heard about Saito and everything Himiko had learned about his twisted fall. But it was at the end that something black crossed Inko's features, hearing about how all of her son's friends fought so hard to save him.

That girl fought too… Inko thought to herself when Himiko had mentioned Mei.

"Where were the teachers? The other heroes?"

Himiko slumped. "Spread thin."

Inko made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat, but didn't push. If she wanted answers on that front, she would get them directly.

When Himiko was done, Inko was leaning forward, her hands folded together. "I don't blame you. Any of you. I want you to know that. And if you see your friends, let them know that." She thought about adding something about Mei, but stopped. Blame and responsibility were two different things. But she would hold off on that until she heard from the girl herself.

I need answers… And I'm not going to get them here crying. Inko stood but held up a hand when the others started to stand with her. "I'm… going to… go for a walk. Maybe check on Bakugou. I could let… Mitsuki know he's going to be okay. Will you stay in this room? With Uraraka?"

"Not leaving," Himiko answered bluntly.

Tsuyu glanced at her worriedly, but nodded all the same. "We won't get in any doctors or nurses way, kero," she added.

Inko could see Tsu was working to temper anything Himiko did. Good girl.

Tsuyu frowned as Inko started to leave. "Shouldn't you stay in one place? I'm sure one of the heroes will want to talk to you. All Might will probab—" A swift and not very subtle kick and hurried head shake from Himiko got Tsuyu to suddenly stop talking. She looked at Himiko, confused, but when she turned back, she croaked in soft alarm at the dark look that now fell on Inko's face.

"If All Might wants to talk to me. He can come find me." And Inko left.

Tsuyu looked at Himiko immediately. "What was that?"

Himiko rubbed her bad eye. "Inko… knows who All for One is. It's complicated," Himiko cut off the question, "it's not connected to… Izuku…not like everything else seems to be. And well… All Might told her, he was dead."

Tsuyu blinked, then made a choking sound that sounded like, "Oh."

"Yeah… Shit's bad…" Himiko sighed sadly. While the brunt of Inko's anger seemed to be pointed at the hero, Himiko had a feeling it wouldn't take much for it to shift to her next.

There had been something in Inko's eyes that had her on edge.

---

Walking the halls of the hospital did very little to settle Inko down. The wing was filled with students getting tended to. Though Inko noted that the urgency had lessened with some that she saw.

These must be the children that were able to escape getting hurt. And if they're here…

Inko paused as she walked by a room. Unlike the others, this wasn't filled with any students. There was a blonde woman on the medical bed, along with a mature looking woman holding a young boy as he was looked over by a doctor. A large man was standing by the bed. There was a gloom that hung over the group, even as Inko heard the doctor tell them that the boy was fine and that 'Pixie-Bob' had been lucky.

Heroes… So there were more than just teachers?

"Ah… Mrs. Midoriya." Inko frowned as she turned her attention away from the room. Walking down the hall, were three individuals that Inko wasn't sure just how angry she was with.

"Eraser Head. Midnight." Inko paused as she recalled the last person from the parent-teacher meeting. "Vlad King." Eyeing the three, Inko could see that they looked beat up, just like her son's friends who she had seen.

It was surprising how little sympathy welled up in her heart from that.

Midnight took a step forward. "Mrs. Midoriya, we are so—"

"Don't," Inko snapped with a cold hiss, enough to make Midnight flinch back. "I don't want to hear that you're sorry. Or how you don't know how this happened after taking every precaution." Inko clenched her hands into tight fists. "I've heard your apologies and excuses twice now. I do not want to hear it again."

Inko was very aware she was making a scene. Nurses and doctors were slowing down as they walked the hallways, and more than a few heads were poking out of rooms to see what was going on. The room beside her was suddenly very quiet.

She didn't care.

Eyes narrowed to slits, she glared at the three with open contempt. "If you want to explain yourselves, then you tell me why Toga broke down in my arms, saying that they tried to save my son." Inko caught the quick glance towards Aizawa from the other two, so she shifted her gaze to the scruffy unkempt man. "I noticed that most of the children hurt in your class were all my Izuku's friends. It looks like they got hurt worse than any of the pro heroes."

Aizawa didn't flinch under Inko's harsh eyes. Keeping himself calm, even in the face of Inko's rising anger, he answered, "During the attack, I gave the students my expressed permission to engage the villains if their lives were in danger. However, the injuries sustained by my students is a direct result of that, and because I gave Toga a direct order to find your son after learning he was the target of the assault. These two factors lead to Toga leading a handful of students into a direct confrontation with the main forces of the League of Villains as they attempted a rescue."

Vlad King winced while Midnight looked at Aizawa in alarm. She wanted to immediately step in, because the way he had worded that, left a lot of room for interpretation. Particularly in terms of blame.

Inko almost hit him. Inko almost lost control right then and there and punched the man right in the gut with all of Fa Jin pumping through her arm. "And what were you doing when you sent a child to do your job?!"

"Trying to ensure the safety of as many of the students as I could. During the course of the attack, there were seven heroes stationed at the camp. From what we've been able to put together, we were outnumbered two to one. Decisions had to be made, and I made them. I could not leave students without adequate protection. That meant myself and Vlad King had to stay with them. The Wild Wild Pussycats were under direct assault at the same time by several villains. One of their own was heavily wounded and another… was taken." Inko saw the way the teachers glanced into the room to their side. It didn't take much to fill in the pieces. "Midnight's Quirk specializes in neutralizing groups. Sending Toga was the best chance we had. And giving the students permission to engage, means that none but myself will face any repercussions for their injuries."

Inko's face scrunched up. She didn't want to argue logic. She wanted to lash out and hurt these heroes for failing her son. For putting unfair pressure on Himiko and getting Ochako hurt. But the logic made sense. Back in her younger days, it was the exact same kind she probably would have used. So Inko stewed, until…

"Excuse me," a police officer cleared his throat, "perhaps this isn't the best place to have this conversation."

Midnight looked around. They had most definitely become the center of attention. Turning back, Midnight was about to say that the heroes would do everything they could to save her son. But Inko wasn't looking at her. Her eyes were on the officer.

"Sir, I think I'd like to go find a place to sit down," Inko asked, with the officer taking her hand and saying he would help her find a spot away from the noise for a little bit. As she was led away, Inko shot the three one last look. And then was gone.

Midnight let out a long breath, hand on her forehead. "That woman hates us."

"Hmm." Aizawa looked back where Inko had walked out of sight. "There will definitely need to be some… uncomfortable conversations later with the rest of the staff. After Midoriya's rescue."

Midnight really wished that notion didn't fill her with such dread. It was only a few days ago that the staff had had an emergency meeting in another hospital. And Midnight truly dreaded that some of those topics were about to get dragged back up.

---

Inko glared at the police officer as he led her down the hallway away from the heroes. When they had turned the corner and she saw that this little stretch of hallway was not a busy nightmare, she grabbed his wrist and jerked it off her. The officer only got out a startled "Wha—" before Inko had that same hand pressing hard underneath his rib cage as she pushed him against the nearest wall.

"So either Curious is a poor leader, or you're just the village dumbass." The man's eyes went wide. "You were one table over from us at dinner." She paused, and added, "You also have goat horns. Not hard to miss." The officer glanced at the curved horn tips in the corner of his eyes, and then went noticeably pale. Inko frowned. "Are you just going to stand there like a slack-jawed idiot or are you going to answer me?"

"I… this is where I work."

"Village idiot it is."

The officer's initial surprise started to recede at the constant insults. but Inko balled up her fist and now had her knuckles pressed into him. "Don't. Unless you want me to start screaming about the MLA where some of the country's top heroes could hear?"

The officer knew Inko knew things. He also knew that his commander Curious had her eyes on this woman and he and a lot of her other subordinates now had a pretty good idea why. It took a pair of brass one's the size of bowling balls to take a swing at All for One after all. "You wouldn't! You… Curious said you were important to the cause. You wouldn't betray her affection and—"

Inko pushed hard. "My son was just taken from me. I'll do whatever I feel like. My son, my rules. You'll take that to Curious, understand me?" Inko didn't have to repeat or expand on her threat. She was in full fuck-around-and-find-out mode with all parties now.

"U-understood."

"Good." Inko released her fist, but after a brief look at the officer's belt, instead of pulling it back fully, she turned it into an upward palm. "Your gun. Give it to me now."

This time the police officer's eyes just about popped out. But when Inko narrowed her eyes, he quickly complied. Unclipping the lanyard from the small revolver's grip, he quickly gave her his sidearm. Inko slipped it into her handbag. "Now get out of here before you bring everything down on our heads."

The officer quickly got as far as he could from the obvious crazy woman, wondering how his luck was so bad he'd somehow ended up running into another woman as nasty and ruthless as Curious herself.

He glanced back. Actually, I think she's more nuts.

---

"You're staring All Might," Mei casually commented while walking beside the huge man. After the questioning, Mei was getting escorted to her room. While Hawks had promised, quite emphatically, that there shouldn't be any more questions coming Mei's way, All Might had been equally as emphatic that he was seen escorting the young student back to her room, making it clear he was there and wasn't going anywhere.

And that Mei was off limits.

He had time for that.

"Ah… Am I?" All Might scratched at his neck, aware that both Hawks and Nezu were nodding. "Ah… I apologize."

Mei waved it off. "Doesn't bother me. I just figure if everyone wants to keep this on the down low before I get a chance to redye my hair, best not to have All Might draw attention to it."

All Might coughed. "Yes, I suppose you're right." It had come as a bit of a shock to the teachers on site to learn that not only was Mei the daughter of Lady Nagant, but she had also inherited her Quirk.

Vlad King had wondered aloud how that had slipped by. Nezu asked him when was the last time he looked up the Quirks of any of the students attending the school that weren't in the hero course.

"You knew?"

"I was contacted by some HPSC personnel who wanted to ensure no attention was brought up on some irregularities I might have noticed while admitting her."

"So he knew."

"You don't have to make a show of this, you know. Midnight-sensei by herself would have been fine." Mei motioned over at the other teacher. "I'm sure you'd rather be in that meeting with that grumpy old man and the teachers."

Nezu shook his head. "The HPSC decided to set up a base of operations here, at my suggestion, so more heroes will be arriving shortly. Nothing is going to be discussed in the meantime until all are present. It'll give the police time to get their information together with the government, so that when we do start making plans, we'll have all our pieces."

Unsaid was that this would make it a lot easier for All Might to attend and not risk burning through his limited time, while also staying close to the students. Right now, keeping him in one place preserved all the time they could get.

Midnight slipped in as she gave Hawks a leveled look. "And reassurances aside, this makes it clear where U.A. stands with you."

"Speaking of heroes arriving." Hawks moved to change the subject, giving All Might an impressed look. "Apparently the United States is sending in Star and Stripe." Mei turned to look at Hawks. He assumed her blank stare was because she didn't know who this was. "She's their number one hero. Would love to know how that happened so fast."

"Sometimes it pays to have favors to call on."

Hawks smirked. "Well that's alarmingly cryptic."

Midnight put a hand on Mei's shoulder. "We were able to get you a room next to all your friends, so you won't be alone. The police might come by again, but that should only be for standard questions someone would be asked after a villain attack. Still, we're making sure that the teachers will be there."

Mei frowned. "A room? Why would I want that?" There were some looks shared. "I assume this place has a maintenance room or something right? Put me there."

Hawks titled his head. "Um, kid. You're hurt. Hurt kids get put into rooms where doctors and nurses can look after them. Not into janitor closets."

"I can't work in one of those rooms," Mei declared as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a cracked screen. One of her inventions that had been damaged in her 'fight' with Chimera.

"What is that?" All Might swore he'd seen it before. Didn't she have that whenever she came to watch Young Midoriya train?

"I have Midoriya bugged. Stuff to let me get Quirk and basic life readings." The heroes stopped walking. "It wasn't made to work as a GPS. The signal strength and range isn't supposed to function far from each other. But—"

All Might surprised everyone when he latched onto Mei's shoulders. "Are you saying you can track where they've taken Young Midoriya?!"

"I think so. I just need a spot to work. To fix this and make modifications. His crest had the GPS tracker, not the other devices I slipped on him." Mei didn't like that she was having to temper expectations. "I can't do anything to improve what's sending the signal. Just what's receiving it." Her grip on the screen tightened. "But I can try."

Nezu nodded. "I will speak with the Chief of Medicine here and see what facilities they have available immediately."

"If the busty 3D printer gets cleared, I'd like to take her with me," Mei cut in.

"Yaoyorozu?" Midnight asked slowly.

"Yeah, her. She has a Quirk that can make anything. I'm sure I'll have a use for her at some point. If she's with me, she can be useful and not a couch potato laying on some bed while people are doing things to save Midoriya."

Midnight coughed. "Not how I'd phrase that, but when she's cleared medically, I'm sure she'll be more than ready to assist you in any way she can. Her injuries from…" Midnight almost said 'rescue attempt', "From the attack weren't severe enough that she should be held for long."

Mei nodded. Then her face soured, like she'd just licked a battery. She flipped between conflicted to accepting but not happy about it. "All Might… sir. Your niece. The I-Island tech 'genius.'" Everyone heard the quotes. "She wouldn't… happen to be able to… come here on such short notice?" All Might's brows shot up. "I mean, she's a good friend of Midoriya and Uraraka. Maybe you could put in a good word at her school and get her… up here… to… help… me?" Mei sounded like she was in pain asking that.

All Might felt hope. A new life line had just been dropped right into his lap. Still, he worked to keep his composure. "Sh… Yes. Yes, she is already on her way in fact. She saw the news and couldn't stand being on the other side of the world. So she called me and, well… she's on her way now. I'm sure…" All Might paused, realizing things might get tricky, if there were hero meetings going over operations and intel happening while this device was getting worked on. But he had faith Melissa would figure things out. Knowing her, I bet she fully intended to lend all her talents in this rescue.

"I'm sure she will be able to assist you in your endeavors."

Hawks clapped his hands. "Look at that. We got good news, and it's still the same night." Hawks wasn't just saying that. There was a genuine feeling of hope that spread through the heroes. Any break they could get so close to the attack was a miracle. Time was not their ally right now.

Mei turned, and while the heroes were still distracted, blinked as she suddenly became rooted to the ground. "Um… question. Has, um… anyone talked to Midoriya's mom yet?"

The mood slipped back down, and while All Might purposefully looked away, Midnight shook her head. "Not really. We… tried, but… She's in a very fragile state right now. She's very scared and… very angry with us. I think it would be best that she be given all the space she wants right now."

Mei nodded. "Principal, sir. She was in the car with you… back when everyone was on the phone. You all brought her, so… When I said I was responsible. She heard that?"

That got some winces all around, while Nezu nodded solemnly. "She was. At the time, I think she was… still in shock over everything, so she never acted when she heard it. But she did, there is no doubt."

Midnight hissed. "She's mad. I got a look at her earlier and she's mad."

"And right now there are no villains to take out her frustration on," Nezu said sadly. "There's just us." All Might wilted. "However, while our failings are one thing, Hatsume, I will ensure that Mrs. Midoriya does not direct her ire towards you. But until I have that opportunity… perhaps it would be best if you avoided her for the time being."

"Perhaps it would be best if… I spoke with her before anything else is done. If anyone here should bear her wrath, it should be me."

The other heroes frowned, not agreeing with that sentiment at all, though All Might knew they weren't aware of the lie he had told her. Once they did, he was almost certain that feeling of theirs would change.

"So, just to be clear. She's mad, and I need to avoid her."

"Correct."

"Hmm." Mei pointed down the hall. "So her standing right in front of us is just… really bad then?"

The heroes' heads all snapped to where Mei was pointing. The group had been so engrossed in their conversation, they hadn't noticed that Inko had been walking down the opposite end of the hall. Towards them.

Oh fuck.

---

What scared All Might, what sent a deep stab of ice into what was left of his gut, was that Inko wasn't looking at him. He should be the focus of her hate and anger. There should be no one else that she should want to rip apart. But she wasn't looking at him.

She was looking at Mei.

Not good.

There was something else that had All Might worried. Something in Inko's eyes that he had seen once before, just now dialed up to eleven. He had seen it when he and Detective Tsukauchi had questioned her after she had been attacked by Tomura.

Earlier she was looking at Young Hatsume too. Seeing her getting taken away…

There was no mistaking that the suspicion and anger he had seen Inko direct at Mei earlier was cranked up to another level.

"Did she see me get led away by all them cops and government secret agent people?" Mei asked quietly as Inko started walking towards them. Towards her. Because there was no mistaking who in their group had Inko's attention.

"She did."

Midnight sucked in a hissing breath. "This might get nasty."

Hawks, either believing his hype or not really getting the full extent of just how pissed off Inko was, said, "Well, let me handle this. Besides, I was going to need to question her at some point anyway."

Before anyone could tell him that was a bad idea, or wonder why he was going to have to question her, Hawks stepped forward and right into her war path. "Ah, Mrs. Midoriya. My deepest condolences for the horrors you're having to deal with." He bowed deeply. "I can assure you that the Hero Public Safety Commission is mobilizing as we speak to bring in heroes to rescue your son." He straightened up. "I was hoping that you would be able to come with me to answer some questions regarding…"

He trailed off when Inko's hand reached up and grabbed the opened hem of his bomber jacket. He saw the move coming, of course, and did nothing to stop her from grabbing him. It wasn't like she was going to be able to do anything. And better if she got her hands on him versus the alternative. Plus, it wasn't like she was going to be able to actually move him.

Is what he was thinking, up until she did.

More than a few eyebrows shot up, Hawks included, as the sound of his boot squeaked when they dragged against the vinyl tiles of the floor. Inko hadn't thrown him, or done anything close to some display of super strength, but she had unequivocally moved the pro hero out of her path, when he hadn't planned on letting her by.

Ooookay, now I can see this lady taking a swing at a villain. Hawks recalled the report. Recalled seeing Inko's picture and thinking, 'her? Really?' Yeah, now it makes sense.

"You," Inko glared at Mei as she walked up to her. "You have some things you need to explain to me."

All Might stepped forward. "Mrs. Midoriya. Please, you don't want—"

Inko, who had been solely focused on reaching Mei, snapped her head to look up at All Might with such open contempt, it made the large man flinch. "Do. Not. Speak to me. Without my son back in my arms. Nothing you have to say is worth a damn to me right now without him."

The venom and vitriolic hate dripping from Inko's every word shocked everyone. Midnight had thought she and Aizawa would be the ones to get the worst of it; they were the ones that had been tasked with her son's safety and he was taken while under their care.

This, this kind of reaction makes no sense, even if Inko is just lashing out. This is directed. This has cause behind it.

"You either want to explain how this could happen, or you want to apologize to me." There was nothing left of the kind woman All Might had spent the better part of a year and a half growing close to. This woman was a stranger to him. "You'll try to explain how you didn't know All for One was alive. Or apologize for lying to my face, and telling me he was dead. When you knew that he wasn't."

Nezu put a paw over his face. "You didn't," he muttered to himself.

Midnight frowned. That was the name she and Aizawa had out of nowhere been given strict orders from the HPSC to not discuss at all. The agent they had run into had been very upfront with the 'keep your mouths shut or there will be consequences' undertone of his orders. Whoever this villain was, he had the government spooked. Plus, she saw the way Nezu was looking at All Might. Saw the way All Might looked completely defeated. And she saw how Hawks was looking too, a frown and a twitch like he was trying to decide if he was going to restrain Inko or not.

"Until you bring me my son back. Nothing you have to say matters to me." Inko then turned her attention back to Mei. "As for you—"

"'As for her', nothing," Nezu cut in sharply before he softened his voice. "If you wish to lay the blame of tonight's horrific events on anyone, then my staff and myself will shoulder that burden. As is our responsibility. Just as it's our responsibility to do everything we can, directly or indirectly, to help bring Young Midoriya home. However," the sharp warning edge came back, "I will not allow you to shift the blame towards my students. What you overheard was a child in shock trying to make sense of a horrible situation."

"…" Inko regarded Nezu coldly. "If I was blaming her. You. Would. Know." Something dark bubbled just beneath the surface of Inko's voice. "I want to know what happened that let my son be taken. Before you all cover it up."

Hawks coughed. "We—"

"Don't. Not after how you all handled Toga." Inko turned glare at Hawks. "Don't stand there and tell me our talk wasn't going to include what I was going to be allowed to say going forward."

"…"

"You're… not blaming me?" Mei seemed surprised by that. "But… it was my mother. I'm technically the child of a villain. Aren't you here to… I dunno, beat me up to get back at mom?"

Inko turned her attention back to Mei. Though as she did, something buzzed at the back of her head; something soft, muffled, but still demanding her attention. She seemed startled by the idea. "You are not responsible for what your own mother chooses to do."

"But you came after me?"

"Yes. Because I refuse to be lied to about my son. So if I want to hear what actually happened, I'm going to talk to the people that were there." A not too subtle jab at Midnight. "And you are going to tell me."

Look! Look! Damnit!

Inko frowned. That nagging voice was getting louder.

"It was my mother," Mei repeated. "She's been in prison most of my life, but she escaped. Or was broken out. She was part of the group that attacked us. She was the one that hurt the loud guy."

Inko blinked. "Bakugou?"

"Yes."

"I… saw him in his room. Still sedated… Wasn't he… shot?"

Look!

"Mom's a sniper, she—"

Sniper?

Hawks stepped in. "Okay, I'm sorry, but this can't happen. Regardless of having this conversation out in an open hallway, for this girl's safety, the identity of her mother is not going to be disclosed. While you may just want the truth of what happened—and I sympathize with that, truly, I do—your desire to use the truth as a balm for your pain does not mean sacrificing this girl's safety. The less this connection is mentioned, the better." He had a hand on Inko's shoulder, moving her back. "You wouldn't know about her anyway. No reason to think about things that won't bring you any peace of mind."

Inko wasn't listening though. Her attention was squarely on Mei. That noise. That muffled voice was right in her ear, screaming at her to just look. And when Inko did, for a moment, she wasn't in a hospital hallway. She was back at Bespin. Nearly drowning under the storm's deluge. Watching as her death ripped through the rain to take her head. A bullet, a swirl of pink and…

"Purple…" Inko whispered out.

The heroes all looked at Inko, noticing that her eyes were zeroed in on Mei's hair. But even with that, they didn't expect what happened next. Weren't ready when Inko's hand shot out, right for Mei's face.

"No!"

"Hold on!"

Hawks and Midnight reacted fast, horrified that suddenly Inko was attacking Mei. Both were able to grab her arm, but they had been taken so off guard, and Inko had been so unexpectedly fast, they knew for sure she had made contact.

Midnight turned, expecting to see the horrible results of a punch, only to stare, dumbfounded. Inko hadn't punched Mei. Her hand had gone higher, not for the girl's face, but to the spot where there was no dye. Inko's fist now held onto that spot. When Mei was pulled back by All Might, long strands of the dreadlock broke away and hung between Inko's fingers. They all watched as Inko's fingers twitched and rolled the hair up into her closed hand, where it was squished and molded. When Inko opened her hand, a hard clump of hardened epoxy dropped to the floor, making a dull thunk as it bounced off the vinyl.

Inko watched the clump fall. Her whole attention was on it as it bounced and came to a stop. She didn't look at anyone. She just looked at that hardened clump.

"Nagant." Inko's voice was nearly a whisper. "Your mother… is Lady Nagant."

Mei, and every hero, was stunned to hear Inko say that name. Stunned that Inko had known to do that to her hair. But what stunned them the most was to watch all of Inko's anger and righteous fury evaporate instantly. Replaced with unspeakable dread. Horror. And anguish.

"She… is."

Inko looked up at Mei, and jerked back, out of the hero's hands, her face a mask of raw, unfiltered, fear and terror. All the color was drained from her, leaving her sickly pale. The situation had suddenly changed so fast, no one was ready as Inko turned and ran. Leaving them in a stunned silence.

At least until Nezu got them back on track. "All Might, please take Hatsume to her room. Midnight, Hawks. We need to follow her now. That woman just hit her breaking point and she can't be alone."

The questions on their minds, how Inko knew, and why she acted like that, was secondary now. Suddenly, none of them knew what she was going to do next.

---

Inko stumbled blindly until she felt like she would vomit. Her hand blindly traced along the hospital wall until it found a door latch. Not caring where it led, Inko opened and stumbled into the room. She made it a few more steps inside before her stomach twisted, and she doubled over, arms hitting the faux wood table in the middle of something that resembled a middle to lower management meeting room. Complete with decades old screens attached to the wall hooked up to a webcam that used to brag about its 144p camera.

Hunched over the table, Inko dry heaved and coughed, choking on tears and her own hacking breaths. She couldn't cry, scream or make any noise without it coming out like there was a rope tightening around her throat.

Her world was cracking, crumbling away into a dark void that was swallowing everything up. Oppressive blackness that ripped away anything and everything Inko could use to hold herself up, to keep herself from succumbing to life ending despair. She had nothing to latch onto to keep her head above the rising black waves.

Waves that had threatened to consume her once before. A black void she had been lost in after she had lost everything.

After everything had been taken.

All Inko saw was darkness as she shut her eyes, tears falling like currents as she croaked.

After she had taken everything.

Inko's eyes opened a crack. And almost blinded by tears, Inko looked at her hand. Her palm and fingers, still stained with a dusting of pink dye.

…

…

Long long ago, Inko had found a handhold to pull herself out of this black oppressive ocean of despair. The love born to her through her son.

Now Lady Nagant's taken that too.

This time, it wasn't love that Inko latched onto, and she pulled herself out of the muck. It wasn't the joy and hope she had felt that first time she had held her newborn baby.

Inko balled up her fist, pressing her knuckles into the table top. Her other hand followed, and she pushed herself up so she wasn't sprawled out over the edge. Her breathing came out less and less strangled and gaspy, instead becoming longer, drawn out, seething, her breathing now escaping in angry, violent, hisses through her clenched teeth.

This time, it wasn't love that Inko latched onto. It was hate. Raw, explosive hate. Hate that Inko eagerly let loose to push her depression back.

---

"Any word about your kid?" Miruko asked as she fell into step beside Endeavor while the two of them walked through the hospital halls.

Some time ago they, along with other heroes, had arrived at the hospital. As it was going to act as their base of operations, more heroes were sure to arrive soon. But given their unique connections to this incident, they had arrived ahead of the pack.

The number two hero grunted, his flames seeming just held back from going nuts. "'Minor' injuries."

Miruko pursed her lips. "Fuckers are being careful what they say. Over any line that's not secured. Or to your face."

Endeavor grunted. He then glanced down at her. "And you? You've taken an interest in that girl."

Miruko's ears twitched, throwing off her poker face of being professional in the middle of an emergency. "Moderate burns." Endeavor huffed. "She's had 'minor' work done. Whatever the fuck that means." Some stress leaked out as she kept her eyes focused forward.

"So the villains have a fire user…" Endeavor frowned deeply. "If the staff are using words like moderate and minor… the girl should count herself lucky."

"That Toga girl said the guy had blue fire. Ring any bells?" When Endeavor shook his head, Miruko clicked her tongue in aggravation. "Kid's a tough one. It's not going to be easy, but she'll be fine." Her knuckles popped as she clenched her fist. "It'll be even easier if we get Midoriya back to her… I also made sure to let her parents know I was going to be here. And gave them some updates on the kid."

"Hmph."

"Ah! Endeavor, Miruko. You're here."

Both heroes turned to see Hawks walking up to them, his normal smile barely there, replaced with something they could tell was some worry. In step with him was Midnight and Principal Nezu, both wearing similar masks. Trying to keep calm, but clearly worried.

Endeavor frowned at the trio. "What's happened?"

"You wouldn't have seen Mrs. Midoriya come this way?" Hawks asked.

Neither hero could hide their surprise at the question. "Hold on? You lost…"

Midnight made a quick motion across her neck, urging quiet. "She just learned… some distressing news. We want to make sure she has someone with her."

Hawks nodded. "Yeah. Her being alone right now…" He pretended that Nezu wasn't giving him a look. "Let's just say a woman going through what she is, it's best she has someone—"

CRACK!

The five heroes jolted when the door besides them was suddenly ripped off its hinges. At the same time, more and more cracks and crashes were followed by a bloodcurdling, rage-filled, scream, ending with a violent smash as something in the room was reduced to splinters.

The five looked in, and found that anything and everything not nailed down had been yanked and pulled towards the center of the room, where, standing over the remains of a conference table, was a seething Inko.

Authors Notes:

Happy New Year! It's 2025! New year, same bull shit!

Great googly moogly things aren't going great for our heroes huh? But I'm sure it'll all work out. It's not like anyone's been caught in a lie or something.

Well, it's not like the last time Inko was in a hospital when her life was crashing around her she didn't then snap and go on a rampage and rack up a body count while also making herself a huge target for the government.

Yeah just to be clear, Inko Nenshouki being back is not a good thing. For anyone.

Paranoid, violent, loves punching above her weight class, charismatic, feels fully justified for everything she does and she's a mother now.

Also, as there was some confusion, the little inner convos between Midoriya and Nenshouki wasn't meant to be a split personality. More of a storytelling gimmick to show Inko's thought process as she slips more and more into her old role. I didn't do it this chapter since I didn't want to add to the confusion, but if yall would prefer that, so it's easier to tell when she's acting like which side of herself, I can switch back.
Let me know.
And yeah. She knows about Lady Nagant and Mei now. Expect that to be a big deal ;)

A huge shout out to my beta reader WereTech

As always, comments reviews and critiques are always welcome!