The Sun started to very slowly travel down towards Western peaks of the mountains while they were sitting, deep in their thoughts about their world, about this world, about the fact there was a whole multiverse out there, about Shigaraki still sitting curled around his incredibly patiently accepting this fact dog, about their family out there, frozen in time from Shigaraki's perspective, frozen until the moment Shigaraki would piece himself back together and come back.

This, and no other, was time for Enji to push Shigaraki in a better direction than destroying the whole world, and what was he doing? He just sat there wondering what the hell he could say, do, to a man so broken, so hateful, so hurting, so mad. Was it even the right moment? It didn't seem so. Shigaraki did not look like in a state in which he would want to speak to anyone right now. Enji was pretty sure the villain would lash out if someone bothered him now when he obviously wanted to deal with the truth about his life alone. The problem was, when your mind was as twisted and shattered by All for One as Shigaraki's was, you really weren't in a state in which you could deal with yourself on your own and make sane choices. Enji understood it well. He had destroyed his own family because of the choices he had made while mad with pain and guilt. And Shigaraki's state was much worse. He was groomed to hate, to lust for destruction, to be insane.

White clouds started to slowly adorn the sky, the forest's murmur grew stronger as the wind blew more intensively, making birds' song less audible. Still, the piercing shrieks of hawks high in the sky, very distant roars of a bear, and howls of a pack of wolves tore through the relative peace. But even with all those sounds it was incomparably quieter than in any city with their eternal noise. Hawks would love it here. Especially with all those hawks too...

Damn, it was easy to let your thoughts wander here, among the bathing in sun rays rocks, watching wild rabbits and foxes running to do their errands, stopping for a second to look at them or at Shigaraki, just to continue on to their little homes or to search for food. If the situation was different Enji would enjoy this place so much.

He sighed and his eyes laid on the robe and shoes he brought with himself.

"How did it go?"

Izuku blinked, pulled out of his own thoughts. Enji nodded at the black clothes lying by their side.

Izuku sighed. "He... was very unpleasant. He did not attack me or threaten me in any way but he snapped he didn't want my pity and, generally didn't want anything from me, and to go be a perfect golden hero somewhere else. And he truly meant it, he wasn't simply... raw and dealing with the pain by pushing everyone away. He was truly incensed by my offer to help. Like seeing me of all particularly riled him. But at the same time, there wasn't any hate in his eyes."

Enji had no idea what to make of it.

"I think he just... he sees me and... my life, so completely opposite to his. It's like rubbing salt into wounds. I thought I should be the one trying to help him now but I don't think so anymore. But maybe you could try? It's different with you. You're not a rich kid with a loving dad who became a hero supported by family and so many friends. And future Tenko chose you for a reason, right?"

"Probably you're right... but I have no idea what to even say."

"...I don't know either, Dad," admitted Izuku sounding dispirited, so unlike himself. "This is the very moment we need to help him and I really don't know what can be done to get him to let us approach him."

"...should we speak with his friends?" Enji hated the idea but it might be the best.

"I think they have enough on their plates too. And... it's not like they aren't broken too. Shigaraki must have chosen them of all for a reason."

"I thought the same," Enji agreed.

"I usually know how to speak to people, how to let them uncoil a bit. This is the first time..." Izuku's voice trailed off and he sighed. "But this is our job. We cannot fail him, as heroes."

"We'll do whatever is possible to do," Enji tried to sound reassuring. He knew how much it pained his pure child to see someone hurting and not be able to help them. So he didn't add 'If anything is even possible to be done for him.' "Let's give him some more time. I don't believe this woman will let him die here. There are probably some Quirks active in him that will stop him from getting any serious damage from the cold."

"Yeah, I think so too."

So they stayed like this, watching the motionless figure, sometimes letting their eyes follow the hawks and the clouds.

"I wish we had time to explore this place later," murmured his Izuku. "I'd swear I saw the College of Winterhold far away in the distance."

Enji smiled. "This would be nice indeed. I'd love to try Alto Wine."

"Or to eat a mammoth steak."

"Yeah..."

Which gave Enji an idea. "This dog of his, Mon-chan. I don't think Shigaraki is in the best state to take care of him now. We could at least bring his pet some food and water. He surely won't object to that."

Izuku's eyes shone. "You're brilliant!" he hugged Enji and was off before Enji could stop him, a little worried about his boy alone with the League. Admittedly, apart from Spinner, they did not seem very hostile right now. And Touya, the one whose hatred was unrelenting, was away...

...his heart tightened in pain.

It took some while for Izuku to get back and Enji started to slowly get worried but, finally, he saw the green figure crossing the air in combination of Float and energy from his kicks and punches.

"M back!" he grinned as he landed by Enji. "Look!" he exclaimed as he dropped a backpack from his shoulders. A Skyrim backpack. The Mage Backpack, to be specific.

Enji sighed.

"It can contain dozens of things, like in the game!"

"Of course, it can," murmured Enji.

"Oh, Dad, I saw Yaoyorozu-san creating a whole cannon out of her body, don't act surprised by this."

Enji sighed again.

"I took that Alto Wine-"

"Zuku, I'm not going down there drunk."

Izuku grinned. "No, maybe better not. But I have garlic bread, and seared slaughterfish, and those famous sweet rolls, and a slice of cheese too, and there was a, snowberry I think?, crostata too!"

Enji's stomach rumbled at that, to Izuku's chuckle.

"Hey, we haven't eaten anything since the morning. And this was an eventful day," Enji defended his stomach and reached for the garlic bread. ...which appeared to be the best garlic bread he had ever eaten, and he knew what he was talking about since they specifically used to go to a Polish bakery in Tokyo to get the most delicious one. The slaughterfish, tasting similar to codfish, was amazing too, especially considering it was a very simple dish, mere meat with spices.

"So, how were the rest of the villains?" he asked Izuku who was halfway through a tomato. A tomato that had an actual enticing scent of an actual freshly picked up, ripened in-the-sun tomato. Enji hadn't ever eaten those in Japan, only overseas. Izuku noticed his face and handed him another tomato with a grin.

"Spinner is still angry at the world. I thought he was going to jump at me but he just glared at got back to complaining to Mr Compress about this whole situation and discussing whether they should go after Tenko or not. I haven't seen Touga. That is worrying. She died back there in our world, which means she was killed by one of the heroes. That is not something you can easily forgive, I guess? I don't know," his boy sighed. "...she was behaving unlike her, I noticed. But, well, she died. Probably it makes you rethink things. Shirakumo-san actually was in the kitchen, cooking. That seemed a little weird for me but then again we all have things we like to do when our mind is spinning. You go to your garden, Kacchan likes to train, Shouto listens to his music. Maybe cooking is the thing for him to calm his thoughts."

This seemed an interesting choice of an activity for a Noumu, thought Enji. But then again this wasn't your typical Noumu. This, apparently, was to be some sort of guardian of Shigaraki's? That was Shouta's theory. Oboro Shirakumo, his childhood friend, had been always extremely caring and protective, always full of empathy toward the weakest, the most hurt, the most in need, Shouta had told him. There must have been a reason All for One had chosen him and it couldn't be a coincidence that Kurogiri seemed to care so much about Shigaraki, the villain's well-being in the front of his mind even when he himself had been in very Tartarus. So, it definitely wasn't your typical Noumu, and you could see it in his behavior, even in the impeccable clothes he used to wear.

"Aizawa-sensei never mentioned the cooking," continued Izuku, his eyes getting distant.

Shouta. What would Shouta think if he was here? His foremost concern would have been Kurogiri, probably, despite this whole god and multiversal deal. Enji knew how often he had been visiting the Noumu in Tartarus, hoping to reach whatever was left of his childhood friend inside the creature.

"Shouta would want us to help him," murmured Enji.

"I know," agreed Izuku. "I tried to chat him up a little bit. He wasn't willing until I mentioned Tenko - then he changed completely, all his focus on the subject."

'Wasn't he programmed that way?' thought Enji.

"He... appreciates that we're watching over Tenko. I had the feeling he would want to do it too but something was stopping him. But he really wouldn't want to talk about himself with me. Though I'd swear I made him very happy when I compared him to Aizawa-sensei."

"You did?"

"Yeah, cause you know, Aizawa-sensei also stuffs what ails him inside and concentrates on others."

They were quiet for some time.

"I thought, Dad, that maybe... since Tenko really isn't willing to get help from me, I could maybe try to help Shirakumo-san? And you could focus on Tenko."

Enji smiled. "This is a very good plan, Zuku. Even if it is quite bold of you to assume I will be able to help Tenko."

"He chose you for a reason."

Enji sighed. "Fine. I'm going down there then."

Izuku gave him his backpack. "There is water and meat here, and bowls too, Dad."

Enji nodded steeling himself to face the still completely motionless villain.

"It will be fine, Dad. You're a good Dad. Maybe this is what he needs now."

Ah, Izuku and his kindness and purity. Enji wished things were as easy as that. Wished simply showing love to a man so broken would heal him, just like in the movies and fanfiction his boy was reading.

He took the backpack and clothes and flew down onto the small path on which Shigaraki was sitting. The little dog immediately noticed him and started growling. Not a single twitch could be seen on Shigaraki, not an eyelid cracked.

Luckily Enji had not forgotten he used to be a dog person before Shouta had drowned him with cats.

So he immediately kneeled down, making sure his face was as low as possible.

"Hey, there, Mon-chan." The dog, who stopped growling the moment Enji no longer towered over him and his master, now showed genuine curiosity at the stranger who knew his name. "Who's the good boy, protecting his master well? Who is the best boy in this multiverse?" he said gently.

Mon-chan wiggled out of Shigaraki's arms and trotted to Enji, his tail wagging happily, to inspect the outstretched hand. Such a pure little sweetheart. Reminded Enji why he loved dogs.

Shigaraki finally moved, eyes opening and sending a truly ireful glare at Enji.

"You think you can ingratiate yourself with me through my dog?" he spat with disgust. "And who the fuck told you his name?"

Ah, now that was something Enji might perhaps prefer not to speak about at the very beginning of this already badly going conversation. But of all the options, honesty was probably the safest choice, considering that back in their universe Shigaraki would be able to read his mind again.

"Your future self showed me one of his, that is yours, memories," Enji hesitated but decided to go through with it. "Of your family dying."

Shigaraki froze. "And why the fuck would I show it to you, hero?" he hissed furiously.

Enji scratched Mon-chan behind his ears and started taking out the water flask and a bowl. "Apparently to prove me, us, - me and Hawks -, our hypocrisy."

Shigaraki blinked. "Hypocrisy," he repeated.

Enji poured the water into the bowl, and Mon-chan immediately rushed to drink it, splashing half of it everywhere, while Enji gently stroked the little doggie.

"Yeah, he laughed at us that after seeing this... nightmare we started feeling sorry for him. And before, we just saw him as another villain. I mean, you."

The anger in Shigaraki's eyes subsided and was replaced with emptiness that Enji never expected to see in this man. He was always raging with emotions. Being devoid of them was as unnatural as if a scorpion would suddenly crave human affection or an ant become lazy.

"That sounds like something I would do," he agreed in a tired, suddenly completely disinterested voice and he just lay down, planting his face against the cold ground.

Mon-chan immediately went back to him and started licking Shigaraki's ear.

A slow, tired hand reached out for the dog's back and stroked it slowly. "'M fine, Mon-chan." Then he went motionless again, Mon-chan lying down by his side, looking clearly worried. 'Such a smart boy', thought Enji.

"I'll leave you two some food," he said. No response came from Shigaraki but Mon-chan raced back towards the rabbit haunch, with a cacophony of happy barks, making a couple of joyous circles around Enji.

Shigaraki lifted his dirtied now face. "Now you've done it," he murmured in his drawling as usual voice. "You're his 'bestie' now," he said the word with visible disgust. "He'd sell his soul for food."

Enji smiled. "Which dog wouldn't?"

"...I wouldn't starve him, you know?" said Shigaraki suddenly, irritation back in his voice.

"I know you care for him, but you're hardly in a good state right now."

"I can take good care of my dog," growled Shigaraki threateningly.

"I have robes for you, too," Enji risked.

Shigaraki planted his face on the ground again.

"You're practically blue. This is hypothermia if I've ever seen one."

Shigaraki suddenly laughed dryly. "Do you know what implanting the Quirks onto me looked like? It was months of unrelenting, howl-inducing pain. If I wasn't shitting or pissing myself constantly it was only because I had nothing to shit or piss left. You think this bothers me?"

"I died four times," murmured Enji. "Still not the reason to hurt yourself unnecessarily."

"If I wear this will you fucking leave me alone?" snapped Shigaraki. Enji felt the villain's patience started to reach its limits.

"Alright."

Shigaraki got up, his eyes, full of disdain, on Enji, and he put the robes and the shoes on. "Now fuck off," he hissed and just dropped back down on the ground.

"Kurogiri will be worried if you won't be eating."

Shigaraki gathered himself up again and one look at his face told Enji that maybe he should have left when the villain told him to.

"Don't you dare speak about Kurogiri," he hissed lividly, fury in his eyes. "You put him in Tartarus! He is nothing but a Noumu and a villain in your eyes!"

"He is Shouta's childhood friend," Enji replied firmly. "He is nothing but a victim. We'd do everything in our power to have him treated like one after All for One's fall. But we couldn't risk it before."

Shigaraki's angry eyes were drilling into Enji's, as if searching for a lie.

"Shouta," he finally said.

"Shouta Aizawa, my friend."

"...he is cool," murmured Shigaraki, his eyes suddenly distant. "He... would." Would... what? But Shigaraki never ended the sentence. He laid back on the ground. "Tell Kurogiri to concentrate on himself. All for One programmed him to protect me. Now he is free."

Enji sighed. "All for One chose him because he is caring by nature. He would want to be there for you anyway."

There was no reply. Enji waited some time, wondering what else could be said but Shigaraki again went quiet and motionless. So Enji went back to his Izuku, leaving some food and water behind.

"Wow," said his boy. "You did it. He put it on."

"I think he mostly wanted to get rid of me."

"He certainly seemed more hostile towards me," said Izuku.

Enji shrugged lightly. Hell if Enji knew what was on Shigaraki's mind. Well, most likely it was a mess, after all that had happened. Was it really a good idea on this woman's side to leave the very overseer of the whole universe on his own, in a state like this? What was she thinking? Or did she know the future and knew this was the best course of action? Enji sighed.

"Don't worry too much, Dad. We'll do our best," Izuku squeezed his hand and Enji repaid the favor smiling.

They kept looking at Shigaraki's motionless body lying on the path, with his little dog, apparently asleep after a meal, by his side. Not too long later a couple of foxes attempted to steal the food Enji left, but Mon-chan proved to be a good guardian dog and would not have it. Enji smiled.

"And they say dogs resemble their owners," said Izuku, smiling too.

"Well, he was little Tenko's dog," said Enji. "Maybe Tenko was more like that when he was little?" The memory hit his mind again, of a hurt, shivering, itchy, hungry child. '...I wouldn't starve him, you know?' Enji sighed yet again.

Time was passing and their eyes wandered to the sky where the sunset painted the most gorgeous colorful display Enji had ever seen, with the snow on the mountain peaks complementing the amazing spectacle.

"Shame he doesn't see it," murmured Izuku. "I can't believe it wouldn't ease his mind a bit."

"...I don't know if he is a person to appreciate nature," murmured Enji.

"Maybe he never had a chance, what with drugs, and his skin constantly itching, and All for One's training and grooming."

"Maybe," said Enji though he doubted it. Contemplating the beauty of nature was one of his beloved methods of escaping from ailments and traumas but Shigaraki simply did not seem to belong to this kind of people.

"So... Katsuki?" he asked after a longer moment of amicable silence and watching the first stars appearing on the firmament.

Izuku got pink a little. "I love him, Dad," he said, sounding quite defiant.

Of course, he felt that way, being a teenager.

"...Is he treating you right?" Sighed Enji.

"Well... we just barely... we weren't dating before but I was so sure he liked me, I could tell. He just... he just can't get over how he used to treat me and that's why he kept pushing me away. He told me once I have 'a fucking Stockholm syndrome'." Izuku blushed even more, swearing in front of Enji. "But before the battle... I just told myself if he really doesn't like me, fine. But if he does... I didn't want to... go into this battle without us... having each other just because he is an idiot believing he can't make me happy."

"Sounds complicated," murmured Enji.

"I want us to give each other a chance at this. I really like him, Dad. Many things about him. He... likes to push people away. He has some... issues. I think he might be, maybe, on the autism spectrum somewhere? I don't know, I don't want to play a specialist whom I'm not, Dad, but I know many things irritate him more than they irritate most people. Also, I know he has this stubborn idea that people should judge him for his deeds, not his words and behavior, so ultimately he seems worse than he is. But I know he is a good person, Dad, he is. He'd never harm me, not anymore."

'But you just barely started dating,' thought Enji. 'You don't know that.'

"Okay," he said out loud. "I will always be there for you and him, so please tell me whenever you feel something is wrong. You deserve the best, Izuku."

Izuku smiled. "I want no one else, Dad."

'Teenagers,' thought Enji. At least, from what his books were saying, since he never had 'crushes' in his life. He was in love twice, and the pattern was the same – it was his partner that befriended him first and it took years before it occurred to Enji that, yeah, this might be it.

"As long as you're happy, love.'

His 'love' yawned. It was getting dark and Masser climbed up the night sky.

"Dad," whispered Izuku in awe. "It's... so big! You can see all the craters! It's like looking at Mars!"

Yes, it did look amazing though it bathed the forest and mountains in a rather creepy reddish light. In the VR version Enji played, the developers did not go as far as to take into account a red moon would make the landscape rather sinister.

"Go back to the residence, Zuku. Watch out for those villains though I doubt they'll attack you. I'll stay here."

"Dad-"

"You'll change me when you have a decent amount of sleep, okay? I will be fine, love. Tell Kurogiri... that Shigaraki wants him to be free. But that he cares about him, too."

They exchanged kisses on the cheeks and a hug and Izuku went back to the manor.

Enji yawned too and watched the sky some more, amazed at the amount of stars visible between the gathering clouds. You could never see that many on Earth, not with the light pollution. It was unspeakably beautiful. He regretted he hadn't paid enough attention to the constellations visible in the skills' tree. He probably would be able to recognize them now. He smiled as luna moths and fireflies appeared. The moths, in particular, were most graciously designed with their delicately patterned, shaped in elegant curves, glowing wings. One of them landed on the rock right by Enji, and he gazed at it almost entranced. He realized he could never ever tear those wings off. No fucking way. For no potion, no matter how powerful. He rummaged through the backpack curiously, and, indeed, he found a familiar red flask of a healing potion. He uncapped it curiously. The scent, actually, wasn't too pleasant. It vaguely reminded him of beer and mushrooms.

He looked back at the sky and thought about his Izuku.

He thought about his other children, left in his home universe.

His heart ached for Touya.

Shigaraki kept lying, motionless.

Finally, the clouds covered the whole firmament and it became darker than Enji had ever experienced. There was always light in the civilized world. Even if you were far from a city, there was a glow coming from it. And there were always roadside lamps everywhere, and lights from bus stops, gas stations, houses. Here, with the moons and stars gone, only the bugs were giving a very faint glow. And if this place was like the original Skyrim they wouldn't be here all night. So he quietly flew down, to at least be able to hear Shigaraki moving.

It wasn't long after he settled in the shrubs near the path that the first heavy droplets of rain started falling. He heard Mon-chan's quiet, surprised sound, and Shigaraki's murmur.

He activated his Quirk, which blinded his eyes for a moment, the usual downside during nighttime.

"Why the fuck are you still here?" growled Shigaraki while Mon-chan leaped out of the villain's arms and made the most adorable happy dance around Enji's feet. This dog was precious.

"There is a shack North from here. I saw it from the air. It will shelter you two from the rain, " Enji said scratching Mon-chan on his back to the dog's happy barking. A pair of eyes flashed among the rocks but whatever it was, it left them alone after a short consideration.

The rain was getting stronger with every minute.

Shigaraki huffed irritably but motioned Enji to lead. Enji was sure the man agreed only because of his dog.

They walked like this, completely silent, apart from Mon-chan's happy barking whenever he noticed something interesting to his doggy's senses, Enji protected from the rain by his Quirk, Shigaraki's hooded robe also looking rather waterproof, until an arrow shot Enji right into his chest, his suit, luckily, sturdy enough not to let him get wounded.

Enji stared at it, uncomprehending. But right, this was Skyrim. Another arrow lodged itself right by the first one.

"You're fucking dead," hissed Shigaraki into the darkness, the madness of someone who waited for a reason good enough to start killing again, audible in his voice.

"Wait," said Enji as a thought occurred to him. "I'm not a Fire Atronach, idiots!" he shouted into the darkness. "Do I look female to you?!"'

"Sorry, dude, we try not to use smartphones, for immersion, right?" came a voice from afar. Some goddamn stealth archer, probably. "Cool flaming armor though!"

Shigaraki stared at him.

"You haven't played Skyrim?" asked Enji. "This place is apparently a sort of a real-life Skyrim." Ah, right, Shigaraki left before this was explained.

"I hate Skyrim," said Shigaraki. "The most boring shit I ever played."

Enji felt personally offended at that. Finally, after a quarter or little more, they reached the forest at the base of the mountain, and another quarter later they reached the shack. Small as it was, it contained a huge bed, a fireplace (with burning fire and, judging by the scent, a tomato soup simmering lazily in the cauldron), an actual Alchemy lab, a shelf with some ingredients, a chair and a table with some additional food on it along with flasks of water and Alto Wine, and a couple of books. Enji was very curious about those and wondered if they were waterproof by any chance. Still, he decided against entering the small hut to give Shigaraki some space ,and he just sat down by the tree nearby, listening to the rain, glancing towards the open door of the shack, where Shigaraki threw his robes and shoes onto the floor. Their eyes met.

"If you're gonna stay around you can as well fucking come inside. All that whining about me not taking care of myself and you indeed are a hypocrite," came a growl. "Just shut the fuck up, I don't wanna hear a word from you." With those words he drank some water from one of the flasks and fell down gracelessly onto the bed, not bothering to cover himself, of course, Mon-chan settling his little body by his side.

So Enji did enter the shack too, his steps straight to the table, curious about the books. The first one was...

...'The Lusty Argonian Maid'. Of course. Enji almost groaned. Still, the book was thick, it wasn't just a short couple of pages, like in the game. He skimmed through it curiously and it appeared to be a proper, lengthy book, full of dirty and rather amusing short stories, along with obscene though technically well-drawn illustrations. Must have been written by fans. Made Enji wonder what the creation of this place actually looked like. He could feel the touch of true enthusiasts of the game everywhere here.

The second book was 'Herbalist's Guide to Skyrim' and the pictures here were breathtakingly beautiful. It was also full of dried herbs giving the book the scent Enji fell in love with. He realized how much he wanted to drink a herbal tea made out of local flora.

He sat down in the cozy corner between the wall and the fireplace, opposite the opened door so that he could see anyone approaching and listen to sounds of the forests and soothing tapping of the rain and buried himself in recipes for potions, advice on spices and – yes!- the tea mixing details.

888

He woke up from his very light dozing when something wiggled into his lap, and opened his eyes to Mon-chan's tongue.

"Hey," he murmured. Mon-chan licked his face some more. The rain stopped somewhere in the middle of the night but the sky was still burdened by heavy clouds Enji could discern thanks to the slowly approaching dawn. At which hour was dawn in Skyrim? Was it five? Enji did not remember. He felt exhaustion in his bones, his sleep not a proper rest, just an alert rest of mind, ready to be on his feet at any movement.

He couldn't see Shigaraki from here so he stood up and stretched. The soup in the cauldron was a potato one, now, funnily. It still smelled very nice, just like the tomato one had. Shigaraki was still lying on the bed, in exactly the same position as before, with the only difference being that his face was no longer turned towards the wall but towards Enji, his eyes opened, brows furrowed, and general countenance displeased.

"I'll leave you now that it's not raining anymore," murmured Enji.

"You still gonna be observing me," replied Shigaraki coldly. Enji thought for a moment about what could be the best answer and then decided to risk. After all, maybe if Shigaraki heard involving Enji was part of his future self's plan, he would be more willing to let Enji help him.

"I swore."

"To whom?"

"To you. I swore my life is yours now. I am to be your friend and servant."

Shigaraki slowly blinked. "You. Are hilarious. Forgive me for not rolling on the floor laughing."

"It's the truth. I paid for saving my life with this oath."

"I'd. Never. Force. Anyone. To serve me."

Enji shrugged. "Maybe you'll change. Or maybe you did not know how to become friends with me in a normal way."

"I have friends, I don't need you."

Enji just nodded as he took a sip of the water from one of the flasks and turned to leave.

"Is this really truth?" Shigaraki's voice was slow and ominous as usual but Enji'd swear there was a note of agitation there.

"Yeah. I can't really complain though. So far I kept being on the receiving end of your favors."

"Were you?"

"You saved my life four times, you saved Hawks and his brother-figure's life too, you made Hawks' wings regrow, you gave us some information so that he wouldn't have to fuck for those."

Shigaraki was quiet.

"So, oath or not, I still owe you."

"I free you from such a bullshitty oath. I can send you home if you want."

"Izuku would not be happy."

"No," murmured Shigaraki with disdain. "He wants to save me."

"Is it that bad? He is just a good kid."

"I'm surprised he is still alive, with his attitude," murmured Shigaraki and turned back to the wall. So, the conversation was probably over.

Enji went outside, leaving Shigaraki to his thoughts, Mon-chan following him eagerly, looking around curiously.

The forest wasn't actually as wild as a proper natural forest would be, it didn't have high vegetation and thorny bushes everywhere. You could easily see and move around here, a hint of the fact that this was all artificially made for people's entertainment. Mon-chan happily chased after a fox, and then after a rabbit startled by the dog's barking and fleeing from the shrub in which it had been hiding. Finally, he brought Enji a fine stick and looked expectantly. Enji smiled.

They spent quite a long time like this, Enji playing and petting the dog, and checking out together the small half-wild flower garden by the shack, until the Sun climbed decently high and clouds started to slowly disperse, little pieces of blue appearing here and there. Mon-chan decided it was high time for breakfast then, and Enji couldn't agree more. He poured himself the soup and gave the dog a chicken breast that he found on the table (the day before it was a salmon steak), then looked towards Shigaraki who was watching them motionless, quiet, unnerving emptiness in his eyes. This really wasn't like him and Enji couldn't help but dread what could be born out of it when Shigaraki would finally decide he wanted to get active again.

"Eat a little soup," he tried, feeling like an idiot. As if Shigaraki needed or wanted to be treated like a child.

No response came.

"I'll tell Kurogiri," he tried the same argument as yesterday.

Shigaraki glared at him. At least there was a reaction and the red eyes weren't empty anymore.

"Don't you think that maybe you shouldn't be adding to his burdens right now?" He hissed angrily.

"Soon Izuku will change me and I'll go back there. I'm sure Kurogiri will be asking and I won't be lying."

"What the hell," Shigaraki growled. "You're gonna be taking turns in babysitting me?"

Enji sighed. "Fine," he murmured truly having no idea what, and how, could be said to this man. He had no idea what future Shimura had been thinking.

Shigaraki's eyes went back to being completely unseeing, the only change when Mon-chan lay by his side again when he briefly stroked the dog and then went absent again. Fuck if this wasn't worrying. Fuck if Enji wasn't angry with himself that he had no idea how to tackle this.

The movement outside the shack caught his eye. He saw the familiar green bush of hair and couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, you found us," he said after they hugged in the safe distance from the hut, not wanting to irritate Shigaraki with Izuku's presence.

"Yeah, I saw it must have been raining and recalled there was a shack nearby. How are you? How is he?"

"Me, I'm fine. There was a Herbalist's in there and it's amazing." Enji was tempted to try to steal it and bring it back to his universe. "Shigaraki just lays, most of the time looking completely disconnected with everything, and it honestly worries me. I'd feel better if he threw a temper tantrum or whined or gave a villain's monologue or destroyed things. This state is... actually much scarier."

"Well, his whole life was a lie, Dad. That's... rather shocking. Not only he was betrayed by the person whom he trusted most, but he also has to ask himself who is he, really? How much of what's in his mind is truly him and how much is AfO's influence?"

"Yeah, that has to be a lot, to say the least."

Izuku nodded.

"Go back to the manor, Dad. Have some rest. I'll stay here."

"Wish we could be in contact. I have encountered some... players? Last night, and they mentioned smartphones. So, I think it would be possible to use them here."

"Oh. Then it's a pity we didn't take them with us into battle."

"Yeah."

"Okay, Dad, go rest."

Enji opened his mouth and then froze when he saw a familiar figure approaching the shack.

"Touga," he said.

"I know," replied Izuku. What? "She asked me where was Shigaraki. She told me they needed to speak. She did not seem hostile or angry, just sad... She really seems so different from before. I saw no point in lying or refusing to tell her."

Enji was more than curious to know what the girl could want from Shigaraki and suddenly the exhaustion and craving for a proper bed diminished significantly.

"Dad, let them be," Izuku, as usual, guessed that.

"Zuku, love, better to know what they might be up to."

"Dad, they both look mentally exhausted, and the last thing they want is us hovering around. And, it's not like we can stop Shigaraki, right?"

Enji sighed, still worried.

"Go back and get some sleep, Dad. I will be fine."

Enji shot a last look at the girl visible inside the hut through the open door and hugged his Zuku.

"I will be back soon."

The sky was slowly clearing up promising a beautiful day. When Enji reached the cave high above the forest level he could clearly see Secunda low above the horizon and he sighed wishing once more he could just stay here for months and enjoy this amazing place.

The manor was quiet, barring the slightest sounds coming from the kitchen. He could see nor Spinner nor Compress anywhere. The only person still was Kurogiri who seemed to be kneading a dough.

"Good morning," said Enji, a little hesitantly.

"Good morning," responded Kurogiri politely without turning his head towards Enji. "How is Tomura Shigaraki?"

"Says not to burden you."

Kurogiri froze for a second, his posture getting visibly tense, and then he seemed to crumble a bit into himself, head and shoulders a little lower than before, the dark mist surrounding him visibly shrinking. He nodded slightly as he quietly said, "As I expected."

"He cares about you," said Enji, wondering why Kurogiri would react like that hearing Shigaraki did not want to bother him.

Kurogiri said nothing to that, his hands still kneading the dough, though much slower.

"...Any hint on how can I help him?" Enji tried again. If anyone would know how to reach out to Shigaraki it would be Kurogiri, no other, after all.

Kurogiri shook his head almost imperceptibly. "I have never been good at that," came the barely audible words.

That made no sense. Enji remembered Shouta saying Oboro Shirakumo was the kindest, happiest, most open, and willing-to-help person he had ever known. Then again, Oboro Shirakumo had died and was pieced back to make a sentient Noumu. And All for One...

"...All for One did not want you two to be too close, right? He did not want little Tenko to hold dear anyone other than him?"

Now Kurogiri went visibly stiff, his hands stopping.

"It's... only my fault." He went back to kneading, this time rapidly, with great strength, as if he wanted to turn the dough to dust.

"How so?" asked Enji frowning. "All this was All for One's plan and he was a genius villain, master manipulator. He would never let any of you take a step astray of the path he has laid out for you."

The response was so quiet Enji barely heard it. But he did. "...I was just a coward."

"You were just a victim," he said, sounding stern.

"No. Tomura was a victim and I was just standing there, letting it happen."

"You know you couldn't do a thing, All for One mad-"

"Right, I am just a programmed Noumu," murmured Kurogiri bitterly. "I do not wish to discuss this further with you. How is Tomura?"

Enji sighed. "Just laying there, deep in his thoughts, completely emotionless and inactive. He drinks water but won't eat. He brought back his dog so I am trying to use it to make him take better care of them both."

Kurogiri nodded. "I will try to prepare food he likes from the ingredients available."

"You do that," said quietly Enji, feeling sorry for the other... man. Yes, man. Enji had been horrible thinking of him as a Noumu. Maybe broken, maybe 'programmed' one way or another, but still a human being. "I will rest and go back to... Tomura."

"...Do you think your son can help him heal?"

"We will do what we can."

Kurogiri nodded again lightly and fell quiet. Enji stood there for some more time, waiting if the other man had any other questions but none came so he left for one of the bedrooms upstairs, after a short consideration removed his suit, cleaned himself, and fell heavily on the bed, asleep the moment he touched it.