The rest of the night was pretty similar – Oboro for hours would keep falling into a short light doze which would quickly change into a nightmare and he would wake up. He wouldn't speak a word to Enji and Enji would not comment either. Honestly, sometimes it seemed like Oboro barely even acknowledged his presence, his eyes again unseeing, buried in his horrible past. Still, Enji hoped at least on a physical level the boy would feel better being by someone's side.
Finally, when the dawn came, Oboro drifted off into a little more peaceful slumber, this time undisturbed by Kurogiri, and Enji's tired eyes closed too.
A rustle woke him some hours later, four or five, judging by the Sun, and he saw Mon-chan's cute corgi backside poking out of the backpack. Enji sighed and decided to let the doggie be, not to wake Oboro, and just hoping Mon-chan would have some self-restraint and wouldn't stuff himself to death. Oboro sighed too, in his dreams, but stayed asleep. Enji let himself drift away again which his body happily welcomed.
When he woke up again Oboro was now facing away from him and from his posture, he could judge the boy was awake. Mon-chan's little, pained, sigh was audible too.
"Mm. Hey."
"Morning," murmured Oboro. "Looks like Mon-chan threw himself a feast during the night and now his stomach is pregnant."
Enji chuckled lightly. "So, dogs really don't have any self-restraint, do they?" Then he realized it wasn't all that funny, actually. "How is he? There is no chocolate in Skyrim but I don't know about moon sugar and dogs. And all those mushrooms."
"I have a healing Quirk active now. And the woman put some protective spells on him. Apparently, this place is swarming with wolves and bears, at least from what she said."
"It is," agreed Enji. Skyrim bears, ugh.
"So, he'll be fine. Maybe a little lesson taught."
"You think so?"
"No."
Enji smiled again.
"Want to eat-"
They heard decisive steps of - probably - two people, marching towards their shack. Most likely some players, again. They both saw groups of them a couple of times. They would head for the hut, see it was taken, and wouldn't bother them.
"-something?" continued Enji.
"Yeah. Kurogiri was here while you were asleep and-"
The footsteps got closer and the bushes revealed...
...Spinner and Mr Compress.
Oboro froze, and so did Enji realizing the position they were in, laying together.
Spinner froze too, his previously angry features now turned into pure shock.
Oboro sighed, sounding already tired with what was inevitably coming.
"What. The. Hell?!" said Spinner quietly. "What the fucking hell do you think you're doing, Shigaraki!" He repeated louder, his face again distorted in anger.
"I'm not fucking your leader," responded Enji irritably, though, honestly, he couldn't blame the other man for such a conclusion.
"Shut up! I'm not speaking to you, hero!" He spat the last word with clear disgust.
"Spinner," Mr Compress started in a gentle, conciliatory tone but Spinner did not even seem to hear him.
"Yeah, if anyone would be doing the fucking, it would be me," added Oboro, sitting up on the verge of the bed. Enji was reminded the boy was fully naked.
Spinner stared at him.
"Just a joke, Spinner," said Oboro in a weary voice.
"A joke?! A joke?!"
Ah, damn, this was going bad.
"Is this what you've become the moment you got this power of yours, Shigaraki?! We were supposed to overturn the world, destroy everything we hated, and the moment you're elevated to the top, your ideals are gone?! You're just like them!"
"Spinner," Oboro said in his usual low, half-tired, half-threatening voice. "I need some time."
"Spinner," Mr Compress started again, but Spinner wouldn't have it. "Time? Time for what? We already had a plan! Everything was decided! I joined you for a reason! Are you telling me you changed your mind?"
Oboro sighed which visibly incensed Spinner even further. "Before... we had no way to change the world other than crumbling it down. Nothing but that can be done when you're a villain. No paths are open, no ears lent. You need to destroy the wall if there are no doors in it. But now... things changed. I can do whatever I please. And exactly because of that, I need to think my actions through. And I have this leisure to have time to think things through. There is no rush, Spinner. We'll go back to our world to a moment of time of our choice."
"No," said Spinner. "You had a clear cause before. Don't tell me suddenly your conviction is gone!"
"Are you even listening?" growled Oboro though it did not sound truly hostile.
"I knew you! That's why I followed you! You never hesitated over the means! It's this hero that is slipping poisonous words into your ears! Can't you see it? You never used to be like this!"
Oboro said nothing to that. Enji wondered if the League was aware of what had happened between him and All for One, his beloved sensei, how everything had changed for Oboro.
"Or is this still All for One speaking through you?" Ah, so they were aware?
"He's dead," snapped Oboro. "This hero here killed him for me."
Spinner blinked. "Shigaraki, you are smart! Can't you see what they're trying to do?!"
"Who?"
"The Commission! They must have realized what your true Quirk was! And they sent this hero to brown his nose to you to get you on their side! It's just like with Hawks! It's not a coincidence the traitorous murderer is a Number One! That's how they play! They sent Hawks to kill Twice and now they sent Endeavor to suck up to you! Can't you see that?!"
"Endeavor here was actually sent to support me by my future self," answered Oboro, sounding rather displeased to disclose that.
"What?! You believe that kind of story?! Who told you that?!"
Silence responded.
"It was him, wasn't it?! And you just believe him because you two are sleeping together?! Since when were you even doing that?!"
"Spinner, for fuck's sake, was I in the state where I could fuck anything, during the last months?"
Spinner just shook his head. "They messed with your mind! You, like all of us, went from hell, from being trash, a nobody, a murderer, a villain, living a pitiful existence, and now you can be a god or ruler or something, and now all those politicians and heroes who used to look down on you and hunt you come begging and crawling, and you like it! You don't mind that! Of course, you wouldn't! And they know that and they're using it! You landed on the top and you already got cozy there! This is not whom I followed!"
"I'm glad that at least to someone I look cozy," murmured Oboro.
A very tense pause fell.
"Spinner. I want to change the world. I want to destroy what I hate about it. But I won't lie, who I was before was who All for One wanted me to be. He wanted me to be weak and foolish and governed by emotions and thinking of nothing but destruction. Tell me, what plan did we have for after destroying the world?"
"Freedom? Freedom to use our Quirks? Freedom to be who we are? End of oppression?"
"And how exactly would that happen?"
Spinner looked taken aback. "It would just happen! When the shackles of the establishment fall we will live freely! People know best what's good for them!"
"Uh-huh. Good for them. Yes. All for One knew well what was good for him. Destroying me. Using his Quirk freely."
Spinner took a step back.
"You... you no longer want freedom for Quirk users?" he asked, sounding horrified.
"I want that! But it must be done so it would not end up with simply a new establishment squashing the people. Spinner, don't act as if you have never met your average human being. If we just destroy the Commission and the government without thinking many steps ahead, we'll just end up with a new ruler, tyrant, government, whatever. The predators will change, that's all, the problem will remain."
But Spinner shook his head again. "You're no longer who you used to be."
"No," Oboro agreed tiredly.
"You are not whom I followed!"
Oboro said nothing to this.
"Send me back! I shall not be playing medieval farce here when our world is burning and where people who followed you are fighting!"
"I can go back there whenever I want, and so do you."
"And yet, you remain here, enjoying the fact you can get blowjobs from very Number One hero! Such a social rise for you!"
"...if I send you back I can't promise I will follow immediately in time. Actually, I am pretty certain I won't."
"So, you lied to me, saying we can go back to the same moment?!"
"I did not lie. We can, I am considering it, but I don't think this is what I want. Let the world wait in terror. Let it sink in, what happened."
"No. Send me back."
"Fine," sighed Oboro. "I shall speak with the woman about making sure you would not end up in pri-"
"No! I don't want anything from any of you anymore!"
"...fine."
The woman appeared. "Hello, everyone. Oboro?"
"My friend, Spinner, wants to go back to the place and moment he was taken from."
"Of course. Shall I make any additional arrangements? With the way things are going, I am afraid-"
"He doesn't want any help."
"Understood. You can always work on things later, Oboro."
"Oboro? So you're not Tomura Shigaraki anymore? Truly a completely new start for you, it seems!"
"If Spinner changes his mind about me," Oboro replied to the woman and Enji'd swear could hear a shadow of bitterness and regret in his voice.
"Are you ready then, Iguchi-san?"
Spinner just scoffed. The woman nodded serenely and the man was gone. Enji couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with this easy display of immense power. 'Well, I better get used to it,' he thought, a little disgruntled and chastised himself for the feeling. This power could be used for good aim.
"Is there anything else, Oboro?"
"Mr Compress. What about you?"
The young man blinked.
"I... trust your judgment, Shigaraki. If you need time, I will wait. You need to make sure you are fully healthy before deciding to tackle the world again."
Oboro's grim face softened by a fraction, a tension dissipating a little from his features. He nodded. "Is there anything you need?"
"Ah, I am not sure. Maybe... what are the perks of being a so-called active player?"
The woman smiled. "You will be given quests, you can join parties, you will be actively attacked by enemies and animals. I shall provide you with a smartphone with an appropriate application too. You can decide on survival or game-like experience, however, the latter means knowledge being uploaded straight to your brain."
All of them stared at her now.
"You're messing with people's brains here?"
The woman smiled again. "Sort of, yes. Learning to effectively fight with a sword or a mace, smithing, cooking, alchemy, it all takes time."
Oboro did not look convinced it was a reason good enough.
"So, without it, I will be basically defenseless," realized Mr Compress.
"That is why it is recommended to start with magic perks, on survival."
Mr Compress, nomen omen, perked up. "So I could use it like... offensive Quirks? Like Endeavor's Hellfire?"
"While I doubt you could reach the level of Endeavor's Quirk any time soon, the answer is yes."
Mr Compress smiled at that.
"I can give you whatever Quirk you want, idiot," murmured Oboro, sounding a tiny bit offended for some reason.
"...And can I be a player at all? I'm a villain. I mean, I don't have clean papers, so to speak, to do as I wish, ...abroad."
The woman turned to Oboro now. "The overseer is the highest judge in his universe. If he cleans you out of your charges or pardons you, you have 'clean papers' in the whole multiverse, although many parts may still have complicated additional entry conditions."
Mr Compress blinked at that.
"Of course I'm cleaning him of all his charges." The part of Enji concerned with justice felt a little irritated at that. But, well, it wasn't his job to decide who deserved punishment or not anyway. He was a hero, not a judge.
"Alright, I will prepare his ID, smartphone, and whatever else is needed."
"You can... go to any universe you want," murmured Oboro to Compress. "Can he?"
"If that is your wish, I can issue a so-called green card for him. But I expect him to abide by laws established in each universe. A green card signed by me is quite special and the... misbehavior of its user-"
"Yeah, yeah, makes you lose your face among good citizens."
The woman smiled. "No, it's more of a... having to deal with overseers telling irritating things to my face, like 'omg, you let Mr Compress from 2107th roam free everywhere and steal stuff but when I stole something from your universe you cut my hand off!'"
"...you did?" They all stared at her in unison.
"I am really sorry but I... dislike theft. I am sure Sako-san has a lot of redeeming features though."
"You cut people's hands off for theft?"
"It honestly depends on the situation but I must admit I run my native Universe rather strictly."
Oboro frowned. "Then you're one of the people I hate."
The woman did not seem bothered. "You have the freedom to run your own universe however you please. I won't judge you for that."
"Well, I am judging you for cutting people's hands off for a small thing like thievery."
"It practically never happens."
"The theft?"
"Yes." There was a rather unnerving gleam in her black eyes. Enji suddenly was sure her universe was running crime-free and privacy-free. He knew this kind of ruler.
"Well, then what would happen to villains like us in your universe?" asked Oboro in a challenging tone.
"Hey, she is being helpful to us, let us not argue," said Compress in a conciliatory tone. "And what is your name, if I may ask?"
"It is very long. Daenerys Targaryen would not be ashamed of it. Everyone calls me The Girl with The Cat, or The Girl in short."
"With The Cat?" asked Enji curiously.
"Ah, yes, I have a split personality disorder. My other personality can manifest as a cat if he wishes to. Mostly dormant nowadays though."
"The overseer of many fucking universes has a split personality disorder," grinned Oboro. "I knew that. I knew you chose me because you yourself are mad."
"That is not very nice. Most people have some sort of a disorder," smiled The Girl. "And, to answer your previous question – I don't think any of you would become villains in my universe at all."
Oboro fell pensieve to that.
"And how are you feeling, Oboro?"
Oboro just waved. "I'll be fine. I have good care."
She smiled lightly. "Yes, apparently you were right about Enji."
Oboro looked at her questioningly.
"In your future I mean. Well then, call me whenever you need anything. I will be back shortly."
Which left Enji with Oboro and Compress.
"I'll leave you two."
Oboro shot a questioning look at Compress who looked a little sheepish. "He is a friend, right?"
"Yes," agreed Oboro. This was truly nice to hear out loud from the boy, Enji realized.
"Well, then I have nothing to hide from him. I told you, I trust your judgment."
A small smile rose on Oboro's face.
"You look better," added Compress. Really? Enji thought Oboro still looked like shit.
"Hmph. Getting some sleep. Apparently, it is important."
"Apparently," smiled the other man.
"...You don't have to stay with me. You can go live in some other universe where you'd be unknown, a new beginning, shit like that."
"But I want to! You kept me while you were struggling, and want to kick me out when you have won? Absolutely not."
Oboro replied nothing but smiled genuinely.
"Spinner's gonna come round, too," added Compress. "You'll see. You know how devoted he has always been to you."
"...I will welcome him."
"I'll stay around-"
"Nah, go enjoy yourself."
"I'm curious about all these players from other universes."
The other man nodded. "Ask them about things. How their universes are ruled, do we exist there, who is their overseer? I want to know that."
"Sure thing, Shi- should I call you Shigaraki?"
Oboro shrugged. "I haven't decided on a surname yet. But I think I'd prefer Shimura, if anything."
"Of course."
"Touga?"
"She is keeping to herself, I haven't seen her since we parted soon after coming here."
Oboro hummed displeasedly.
"She'll be fine," reassured the other man. "She is tough."
"Yeah..."
They spoke some more, mostly Compress recounting whatever he saw and heard here, and, finally, The Girl reappeared bringing him his smartphone along with an ID card and further explanations of how to explore this version of Skyrim.
When they both were gone, Oboro again lay on the bed, his face clearly displeased.
"I am sorry Spinner left you because of me."
"Spinner made his own decision of no longer trusting me," snapped Oboro in reply but Enji saw well he resented that decision. 'You know how devoted he has always been to you.' It must have been a blow, to have the most ardent follower turn his back on you.
"All for One used to tell me," Oboro murmured. "there are no true friends, and the person you trust most is most likely to pretend you don't exist when you're in need. Funny, cause I trusted him most, and he certainly did not pretend I didn't exist."
"Am not sure you should heed his words."
"Even a broken clock shows the right hour twice a day."
"Your friend... seems emotional."
Oboro sighed. "That's for sure. Well, I'll be there if he needs me."
He turned to the wall, this time not leaving much space for Enji, so Enji let him have his time and space to think and went to play with Mon-chan which the doggie appreciated greatly.
They barely finished when Kurogiri reappeared with his Izuku, who now, instead of his suit, was wearing fur armor.
"You look great. No weapon, though?" he asked as they hugged, Kurogiri watching them patiently.
"I have a pair of daggers, just in case, but you know my Quirk, I doubt I'll need them."
"Is Oboro asleep?"
"I don't think so."
"I'm not."
Kurogiri went to the shack. "I brought you a light venison soup and an apple juice."
"So, how is it going? I'm sorry I'm not by your side," Enji turned back to his son.
"It is fine," Izuku answered quietly, his smile kind as usual. "I think Kurogiri-san has warmed up to me a bit. He still is not eager to talk about himself but he'll gladly touch all the other topics. And you know me, I can sometimes go on endlessly and he never seems to be bothered. Also, the food is delicious. I get recipe after recipe for Kacchan."
"He does cook amazing," agreed Enji.
Izuku beamed at that. They turned to the shack and Oboro nodded at them to come, glowering slightly at Izuku.
"I don't understand why he keeps being like that."
"I told you, Dad. I had a little too perfect life."
"Your Mom died when you were so little," said Enji pretty loudly. "You were Quirkless for so long and bullied by other kids and your best friend. Toshi- All Might was a dick to you, initially."
Oboro visibly perked up at that. "Hey, how is that so, hero?"
"Dad," said Izuku in a scolding voice.
"All Might thought Izuku shouldn't become a hero since he was Quirkless and wouldn't survive."
"Hmph. Typical self-righteous, looking down at people All Might," growled Oboro.
"Hey, that's not true, Oboro-san. All Might has changed his mind, which is a thing many people find way too hard!"
"Oboro-san," repeated Oboro. "Have you heard it, Kurogiri? I'm Oboro-san now."
"Is it better than kun Himiko Touga was using?"
"Hmph. At least someone shows me an ounce of respect here."
Izuku smiled at him warmly and Oboro very deliberately turned his face away. Enji tried to be empathetic but this was his beloved Izuku doing his best, and he really was tempted to scold the blue-haired boy. Then he remembered something he wanted to ask.
"So what are those vestiges exactly?"
Oboro looked at him, clearly not understanding. "Vestiges?"
"In One for All?"
"Ah, those. All for One claimed these are just remnants of people who once held those Quirks. Makes no sense."
"Right?" agreed Enji.
"Maybe it's actual souls."
"What?" asked both Izuku and Enji, equal horror in their voices.
"Souls exist, at least in our part of the multiverse. They are... sort of your very center, on which everything builds up. Your 'I', 'ego'. At least this is how I see it, from what the catgirl showed me. Generally, when you die it is quickly stripped of the superficial stuff, though how much, depends on the strength of the soul."
"Superficial stuff?"
"Memories, character, mental abilities."
Made sense. It was your brain and your DNA that affected you most, after all. Biology was biology.
"But this was a special Quirk, made by All for One to forever get his brother for himself. He probably managed to somehow reattach those souls upon the transfer of the Quirk."
"But All Might is still alive and he has given me this Quirk. But, admittedly, I kind of could feel his presence inside."
"It's probably a very complicated and unique Quirk. My Sensei's masterpiece, no doubt," he chuckled dryly. "And he used the same technique on me, transferring his soul to my body."
"That was horrible," admitted Izuku.
Oboro gave him a look and Enji for a moment thought he'd scoff but he just agreed. "Yeah. I loathed every single second of it."
Kurogiri looked pretty down, in his chair by the table, now that the conversation had taken this turn. His Izuku noticed this immediately.
"At least you always had one good friend by your side to be a light in your life."
"Hardly," murmured Kurogiri.
"Yes, you were," snapped Oboro. "We're not talking about it again."
Kurogiri just sighed.
"What did I say?"
"Sighing is not talking by any definition."
"It should be. So, I'm hearing you two get along very nicely." Was that a hint of jealousy? Really?
"Is that jealousy in your voice?" Kurogiri asked straightforwardly. Holy shit, the man truly feared no gods, making Oboro face the truth about his feelings like that. Kind of made it more understandable why Oboro preferred a little more tactful Enji. Holy shit, tactful and Enji in one sentence, Enji had never expected that.
Oboro got red and furious in a second, of course he did.
"You did bring it on yourself," murmured Enji to Kurogiri.
"I'm-!" Suddenly he deflated and shrugged. "You'd be better with a kid like him and you know it."
"Ah, so I am not allowed to say idiotisms, but you can, Oboro?"
"You can't compare people, like that, Oboro-san," said Izuku gently. "And this really is hurtful, to diminish Kurogiri-san's feelings like that."
Enji grinned into his tankard that Kurogiri had filled up with (delicious) apple juice.
"I'm not hurting nothing!"
"Yes, you do," agreed Kurogiri. "You very much do."
Oboro just laid down again, face to the wall, grumbling. Kurogiri looked half-exasperated, half-fond, a true parent he was.
"You are a great parent."
"Hardly," murmured Kurogiri again, now visibly self-conscious.
"Of course, you are, Kurogiri-san, I can tell since I also have a great dad!" This sweetest child.
"...can't even begin to compare."
Before Enji could reply to this nonsense Oboro was back on his naked ass and glaring at Kurogiri.
"And who is jealous now?!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"So," Izuku decided to change the topic. "There are actual souls trapped in my Quirk?"
When you looked at it like that this was horrible.
"It would seem so," agreed Oboro. "I'll ask the woman to let them go. The Quirks will stay, of course."
"Thank you," said both Izuku and Enji. His child would not have dead people in his head! He owed more and more to Oboro.
They spent some more pleasant time, Izuku telling them how Kurogiri had been kind enough to take them two to Winterhold, Kurogiri immediately adding the boy wore leather armor there, despite Kurogiri' good advice, to Enji's grateful smile. The moment Oboro excused himself to go use the bucket which was the only type of toilet available in Skyrim, Kurogiri stood up. "Come, Endeavor-san."
"You can call me Enji."
There was a pause. "Come," Kurogiri repeated, his voice warm. "I want to ask you about those huge rats I have seen."
Sure he did. Enji followed with no protest. They reached a small stream nearby.
"Thank you for doing this. He... and me both, we are truly lucky to have met a man with your approach."
"My approach?"
"Oboro is twenty-one. No one would ever give him the comfort that is usually reserved for children. Even if some hero decided to help him, instead of treating him like a villain, they would simply send him to a therapist. No one would ever think of, nor agree to simply... hug him and stroke him, and give him what he really needs, despite his age."
"All for One probably wanted him to be like that."
"Yes. He cultivated many of the childish traits in Oboro, though he was doing it very skillfully."
"You could tell. But he seems to be progressing truly well."
"Well, realizing his whole life was All for One's manipulation made him stop and reconsider everything."
"...thank you for looking after my Izuku."
"One'd thought he doesn't really need it, but I can tell your boy requires some external self-preservation instinct."
"He definitely does," agreed Enji. "He is too good for this world."
There was a pause and Kurogiri's eyes fell to his hands, something clearly bothering him. "I should be the one doing... what you're doing for Oboro," he finally said. "But I'm really bad... at touching. He noticed this immediately, as a kid. He thought I was just lying to him through my forced hugs. But I mean them, just..."
"He knows," said Enji. "He... actually speaks to me about things and he mentioned that. He truly loves you. You are a good parent."
"No, I'm not," murmured Kurogiri. "But thank you."
"Well, both me and Oboro think that."
Kurogiri was quiet.
888
"All for One told me you deliberately killed some villains."
They both sat on the threshold, throwing sticks for Mon-chan in the dawning Sun's light.
"He used that very often as the argument that we're really the same, heroes and villains," continued Oboro.
"I'm not sure how 'deliberate' that was. I... killed them. I wanted to kill them. But it was in a rage of emotions. Still..."
"Why?"
"You don't want to know what they did to their children."
"Tell me."
God, Enji really did not want to revisit those memories. But he would if this was going to help Oboro in any way. And if the very information wouldn't, Enji's honesty would certainly be appreciated. So he did.
Not a twitch marred Oboro's face, not a brow furrowed. He sipped his tea when Enji finished.
"You know," he finally said. "Now I think you were much too kind, after all."
"Yeah, there is a part of me that wanted to make them go..."
"...in a much lengthy and nasty manner," agreed Oboro. "I can capture their souls and make them pay some more."
"Just leave it be," murmured Enji. He was no torturer.
"I don't think I will."
Enji said nothing to that instead of arguing his point. Maybe he wasn't such a good person after all. But he just wouldn't protect those scums from pain. Not them.
"So, how is the Commission? In your eyes?"
Enji hesitated. The Commission and their morality were always connected with Hawks in Enji's eyes. And Hawks' life was Hawks' life, and only he should have the right to share his story with someone. But it wasn't like Oboro couldn't check everything later. Actually, he certainly knew, because future Shimura, well, Oboro, knew that.
"I really... well, hate them. Maybe not Yokumiru."
"Mera?"
"Yes. He was groomed just like my Hawks. He really did not see the other way and I know he loves Hawks as if Hawks were his own child. But the rest... They believe the ends justify the means."
"They certainly do."
"On one hand... well they do want this world to be a better place."
"Do they?"
"Hawks says so. And maybe he is right. People are not black and white, as you know." Oboro smiled dryly at that. "Still... that doesn't wash their sins."
"No."
A silence fell and Enji decided that maybe he also earned the right to ask some questions.
"You said Noumus were 'programmed' once."
Oboro huffed irritably. "I... just automatically repeat the word the doctor and All for One kept using. To dehumanize Noumus. You can't just 'program' a brain. But they both kept saying that because it made them sound smart and Noumus more like things."
"But they did something?"
"You're thinking of Kurogiri?"
"Sorry, I was... well, I have killed some of those Noumus."
"Well, to be fair, they would kill you if you didn't."
"Still, they were 'programmed' to do it."
"Well, the lesser the Noumu the more freedom you have with damaging and affecting their brain to your liking. Stimulating some areas, removing others. But with advanced Noumu-like humans like Kurogiri, you can't just go and happily physically remodel their brain."
"That would affect their thinking and cognitive processes."
"Yep. So there is another method, actually used on the lesser ones too. Simply stick and carrot. Mostly stick. Or a bat. With nails. Covered with salt. On the early level, you teach them the hard way whom to fear, what to hate, what to covet."
"Horrible."
"Yes. Do you know All for One isn't actually dead?"
"What?!" Now that was news Enji did not know Oboro was keeping from him.
"The catgirl caught his soul in some crystal."
"A soul gem?" Wait, was this, like, an actual thing? Not merely a part of gameplay in this game-like world but an actual thing used in normal universes? Was it legal?
Oboro shrugged. "Probably this is how they call it. Anyway, he is trapped there, and The Girl made sure his soul would not shred all those external layers."
"He is aware."
"Yes, and trapped in nothingness. But maybe one day I'll release him. Put him into a lesser Noumu's body. Watch him use the damaged brain, drooling all over himself." Oboro's smile was tainted now with familiar madness.
"So... how was it really?"
"What?"
"Your life with him and his manipulations. That is if you want to talk about it."
Oboro's eyes darkened, fists tightening a bit on the stick he had in his hand. "He planned all my life unbelievably meticulously. Even made sure my father would have problems in his work, was constantly fired, frustrated, and taking it out on us. Even made sure I would keep dreaming of being a hero, to incense father even more."
"How so?"
"I would sometimes help a stranger in need and that stranger would praise me and tell me what a wonderful hero I would become. And those people were All for One's people."
"No... to such lengths?"
"Yes. He told me that when he took control. Actually, he telling me this, helped him win the control. It..." Oboro was quiet for a moment. "It was a devastating revelation. I... He called me a weak loser. And the worst thing is... he is not wrong. Everything I achieved as a villain was thanks to him or to the doctor. The moment I was completely on my own all I managed was to almost starve us all to death. Pathetic. As if being manipulated as easily as I was wasn't pathetic enough."
It was weird to hear such words from usually so proud Shimura.
"He made sure you would be exactly the way you were."
"Thanks. Good to know you agree."
"I- I mean, this wasn't who you truly are, was it? The Girl wouldn't have chosen you. Besides it was you who came back in time to defeat him."
Oboro just hummed.
A figure came from between the bushes. It was Touga. Oboro actually stood up.
"Hey, Tomura-kun. How are you?"
"Have been worse. It is Oboro now."
"It is a nice name," she agreed easily. "Is Izuku-kun's dad friends with us now?"
"Yes," agreed Oboro.
"Even with me?"
"I don't think he knows you, Touga."
Touga hummed. "Tell me, Enji-kun," Enji-kun? There was almost a forty years of difference between them and she seemed even younger. "Do you really want to be friends with me? Do you know my Quirk? Do you know I love your Izuku-kun?"
Ah, she and her 'loving'.
"I don't really know you," he decided to say, fairly. "Why don't you introduce yourself to me?"
"Aw, that's nice. You want to hear about me from me."
Oboro actually smiled lightly, a hint of approval towards Enji in his eyes.
"My Quirk makes me love people and when I love people I want to drink their blood and become like them."
Did she need to kill them though?
"Okay."
"And there it is, that face. You wanted to say something very not nice but decided not to. That is also a lie of fsorts, Enji-kun." She actually looked more sad than angry.
"Fine. I was just wondering... how hard is it to stop?"
"No. That wasn't what your face showed. You thought me a murderer, simple as that, I saw it in your eyes."
"I killed some villains because I couldn't stop myself."
Oboro watched their conversation with curiosity. Touga's eyes widened a bit.
"Hmmm, so you know how it feels? When you can't stop until you're satisfied?"
"Those... probably are different kinds of satisfaction but... yes, I suppose. Though I did feel guilty."
"And you think I didn't?"
"I don't know," replied Enji simply.
"I don't know either," agreed Touga to his surprise. " I felt guilty but I knew I would do it again? Is it really guilty?"
"Yes. It means that nobody helped you work on your Quirk."
Touga tilted her head. "Why would they help me work on my monster Quirk? I should just never use it."
"Why?" Enji couldn't understand that. "It's a powerful Quirk. You could have become a hero with it. There are many much more frightening and monstrous Quirks out there. There is mind control and Dark Shadow and prediction..."
"It's not that," murmured Oboro. "It was never about the blood-drinking, right, Touga?"
"If you don't find it monstrous, will you let me drink your blood?"
"Yes," replied Enji. He saw no problem in dying for what, fifth time? And Oboro was just beside him, with his healing Quirks.
Now the small smile disappeared from Touga's face as she looked at him with very wide eyes.
"You mean it."
"Touga, I told you that's not it. You'll be disappointed when he lets you drink him."
"Still, I can't decline if he asked so nicely. He is Izuku-kun dad's too, and Oboro-kun's friend, so it's not like I don't like him."
"You'll be disappointed," repeated Oboro.
"Disappointed?" asked Enji.
"You'll see."
Touga approached him with a smile that seemed a tiny bit too creepy for Enji but he wouldn't let it affect him.
"Mmm, I wonder if your Izuku-kun's blood would taste similarly."
Now this really bothered Enji, this Izuku obsession. Well, at least it was better if she used her teeth on him than on his son.
She reached his neck easily, with him still seated on the doorstep. The pain wasn't too big, especially with what Enji had been through so far. What was Oboro- Then he noticed. Her cheeks got pink, eyes glazed, heart beating fast, breath hurried and shaky, the scent of-
Enji closed his eyes. This was a high-schooler and he let her-
"You see?" said Oboro in a heavy voice. "He thinks that too. I am sorry, for him."
"No, I don't think she is a monster!" Enji protested immediately, Touga pulling away. "Nor that this is a monstrous Quirk! I just think-"
"You think what, Enji-kun?" she asked sweetly.
"You should be doing it with someone you love, not with an old, married, not even handsome bloke."
Her eyes widened again but she actually beamed.
"You understood! Yes, I want to do it with people I love!"
Ah, now the whole Touga's behavior made sense. "When was the first time you used this Quirk?"
Touga seemed to guess where he was going with it as she smiled sadly. "I wasn't even ten?"
Of course, people were disgusted with her. These kind of things were always supposed to be hidden in bedrooms. And she was just a kid, which made things even worse. And she probably had not even understood why they had found it so wrong.
"And you can get… happy only through drinking blood?"
She nodded.
"...and your parents forbade it." Fuck, so it was like a normal kid, but with their hands bound behind, not to masturbate for years. Enji never had much of a libido but it wasn't like he did not understand the implications.
"Ah, yes, they called me a demon, a villain." 'He will be a villain! This is a Devil's Quirk!' A memory came, from his own childhood.
"That was a horrible thing they did to you."
She kept watching him with wide eyes. "You really are like Izuku-kun," she finally said.
"No, I'm really not," he mumbled, though his heart would always leap at words like this, no matter the circumstances."
"Yes, you are," she beamed.
"With your Quirk suppressed for so long... it was really hard to control."
"That's one thing," she agreed. "Other is... no one would let me suck them willingly. And if I assaulted them... killing them was safest. Or else I would be in Tartarus."
Damn.
Still, it was killing people... But with a Quirk like that, and being a mere kid...
"They should have taken you to a Quirk counselor specializing in sex-related Quirks," he said angrily. "Damn, are there no decent parents anymore?" he mumbled.
"Why do you think we're villains?" chuckled Oboro. "Though you did mention your abusive parents too. Those scars on your back..."
Enji sighed.
"Fine, maybe some of us become heroes," admitted Oboro, a little disdainfully.
"You are a kind person, Enji-kun," said Touga. "I see now why we're friends. And why Izuku-kun is such a wonderful boy."
"You love him," he finally breached it.
"Oh, I love a lot of people!" Ah, so this is how she called attraction. "But... I don't want to suck them dead anymore. I don't want to make them suffer just because bloodied is nice, and yummy, and beautiful. I... I don't know," she finished, suddenly completely dejected. "I don't know."
"Hey," said Oboro. "I'll give you some useful Quirks. To make them forget. To make them like it. To make them feel like you do."
"I don't want that, Oboro-kun, but thank you." She kissed the boy on his hollowed cheeks, truly a brave girl. "I... want a person who will love me back."
'But you still will need this before you find them,' thought Enji. 'How long can you abstain from releasing that tension?'
Oboro hummed unconvinced. "People are shit, Touga. But, if this is your dream, do it."
"I'll try," agreed Touga. "What I came here for is, I'm not angry anymore about Jin-kun, Oboro-kun. I think you were right, after all."
"Of course I was."
Touga grinned.
"Touga." She looked at Enji surprised. "I... know this might not be what you want and need... but you can come to me any time." That probably would be the safest. Better him than have someone dying. Even if part of Enji was just like those people, disgusted that a girl so young- Shut up. This was what had made her life hell. "Though I know this is not exactly your dream."
"No," agreed Touga. "And you love someone else. So I really don't want that. But... thank you."
888
The days were passing slowly. Oboro would sleep most of the day, usually restless, but Enji'd swear the proportion between the deep sleep and nightmares was getting better and better. He was eating more and more. Izuku was visiting them with Kurogiri, spending a huge part of the day with them, Oboro less and less displeased with Enji's son's presence, Kurogiri more and more relaxed. The Girl gave them all their smartphones, retrieved from their universe so that they could be in contact. The smartphones had a Skyrim app uploaded to them (simplified version because apparently she was actually from The Future TM, and their smartphones would not handle the full version), and it was awesome, especially the map with GPS. Mr Compress and Touga would call Oboro regularly which made Enji happy. The boy needed his friends, even if he usually pretended to be completely above all emotions other than irritation. Mon-chan was very happy too, with Kurogiri's food, and with Izuku and Enji always willing to play with him. Oboro would ask him random questions. About other heroes. About the stains he saw in heroes' world. About his relation with other children. About his parents. About being a hero. About Izuku. About...
"So, why Hawks?"
Enji laughed lightly. "It was his choice really. I don't simply fall in love with someone I like. I apparently have to be befriended and wooed for years."
Oboro snorted at that. He really was in a good mood, and even Enji started to see he little by little was losing his horrifying almost-a-fresh-zombie look, the lips not chapped anymore, the bags slightly less visible. "So, why you?"
"Well, first it was a fanboyish admiration along with the fact I saved him when he was a little kid. Then he met me personally and, apparently, I tick all his boxes."
"He likes daddy bear types?"
"How do you even know the meaning of those words?" asked Enji suspiciously.
"I had Internet, moron."
"Not very nice."
Oboro rolled his eyes.
"You have mentioned the grooming. Hawks' cover, when he approached us, was that the Commission made him fuck villains for information and that he had enough of it."
"Yes," said Enji grimly.
"And you still married him."
"Of course," Enji stared at him as if he lost his mind. "I love him. He is a good-" Then he recalled Hawks betrayed the League. "He just does what he thinks he needs to do. But believe me, he would prefer not to."
"Dabi told me he was a son of a villain."
Enji nodded. "The Commission was choosing poor abused kids with no perspectives."
Oboro hummed. "Go figure. So one poor abused kid was groomed to be a hero, while another to be a... not even villain but a vessel for a villain."
"Don't say it like that."
"It's true. And look at you, caring all so much for me now. You're so easy to wrap around fingers."
"Once I've been told I'd invite anyone who'd smile at me to live in my house."
Oboro grinned the most unhinged toothy grin Enji had ever seen. "There. My best smile. I saw your residence in the pictures. Amazing. I could live there."
"You can."
Oboro stared at him and started laughing.
Sometimes Oboro would be plain odd, reminding Enji he was brought up in weird conditions and that he did not abide by societal etiquette. Like when he grabbed Enji's dick when they were laying on the bed.
Enji froze, trying to process.
"Oboro."
"Huh. Not even a little." Oboro actually squeezed him. "Come on, am I that ugly?" He grinned.
Enji gently but firmly removed the hand. "You know it doesn't work like that for me."
"Aw. You sure?" He turned his back to Enji and wiggled his ass against Enji's cock (thankfully at least Enji was in his underwear).
"Oboro. I really-" Then it occurred to him. "Hey, are you testing me? Really?"
"You know, I'm a god, or something powerful enough. You have your vision of the world. If you're doing all this to make me fall with you, you could gain huge influence on my actions."
Enji just huffed irritably and turned to the wall.
"Hey, don't steal my techniques."
But it wasn't only then.
One day Oboro sat down by Enji, visibly dejected. That was worrying.
"What happened?"
"You know what, I can't do it. I've been thinking and thinking about it all the time and I just can't. I'll never get over all the shit in my head. And I don't want to live with the burden of my past. I want it to be gone."
"You want to change the past?"
"No. I just don't want to be an overseer. Sorry. I want to die and reincarnate in a normal family. I really do," he looked deeply into Enji's eyes which widened at the admission. What? "Please. I thought really well about all the pros and cons, and I just want a normal life. But of all people I know, you truly are the best suited. I want you-"
"No."
Oboro blinked.
"No, you'll become better. You will heal. Your wounds are fresh. You'll feel much better one day and will go back in time to bother me. I'll be by your side-"
Oboro huffed. "It's okay, I'll do this time travel, to avoid a paradox but then I want a normal life. Endeavor, don't make my decisions for me. I know I am your little project now and you hate to lose but be a true hero and heed my wish. I want to transfer my power upon you. It is possible, The Girl told me that. You will be a good overseer, I know that."
"Okay."
Oboro's eyes widened.
"But after a decade."
"Decade?"
"Yes, if you still will be decided on that, then alright. But now, I won't let you rush. You still are healing and not feeling well."
Oboro's face changed. A satisfied smirk appeared.
"Wait, was that a test?"
"Aw, don't say it with irritation. You passed with flying colors."
Enji huffed but Oboro smiled. "So, my future self wasn't wrong about you."
"I'll tell you one thing, Oboro, you are an asshole and in the future also will be an asshole, who likes playing games."
Oboro grinned. "I always liked playing games, you know that."
888
"Don't you miss your kids?"
More than a week passed and it was perhaps the most peaceful week Enji had in his life, with no villains to be apprehended, no accidents happening. But yeah.
"I do but it's okay. The time isn't passing for th-"
"Don't be stupid. Go back."
"No."
"Go back, Endeavor. Spend as much time as you need there and then the catgirl will send you to this point of time."
Enji couldn't help but be suspicious.
"Ah, right, still a villain in your eyes. I might do som-"
"Something stupid, not necessarily villainous," cut in Enji irritably. "I don't trust you to suddenly send me back. You have some stupid idea in your mind, I can tell."
"Maybe I just want you to not be separated from your kids for so long? Only an idiot would not see you are a family person."
"Or maybe...?"
Oboro rolled his eyes. "I mean it. And if you bring back coffee, it will only be an additional benefit."
Enji exhaled amusedly. "Ah, so this is how it is?"
Oboro shrugged.
"But what about... I will come back to the point of time when we have killed AfO and later come back here, but if you, in the future, do the same too, won't it somehow... mess up, I don't know, timelines or something?"
"I'm not going back then. Let the world simmer a bit with fear. I want to see what they will do."
"Alright."
There was a hesitation on Oboro's face.
"Oboro?"
"And McDonald's cheeseburger. The simplest one. And don't tell Kurogiri. His burgers are amazing but... sometimes you want something cheap and not necessarily healthy."
Enji grinned at that.