Happy New Year! Here's to hoping 2025 won't be as shit as the last four years sjfkldsjfsldk

Ace was nearing the point of wanting to tear his hair out. Having dealt with Luffy for years, such infuriating stubbornness could almost be called impressive. Nearly ten minutes after that guy had turn tail and run like the coward he was, Deku was still out on the beach, resisting their demands that he rest and recover. After a fight like that, even Ace would have needed to recover at his age.

Of course, the kid remained stubbornly sitting on the ground.

"You need sleep," he insisted.

Deku shook his head, though his eyes were beginning to droop, "He might come back. I need to be ready."

"You're not still thinking of leaving?" Sabo frowned.

Yeah no. There was no way Ace would let that happen.

"Hey! Put me down!" the kid whined, wriggling in Ace's grip.

Ace ignored his complaints and carried him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He had to keep a firm grip on him, but the kid didn't offer any resistance other than words. Whether that was because of his exhaustion or his kindness, who could say. Either way, Ace was biting back an amused grin as the string of complaints began to die off. He could hear the small snickers from his brothers (and the blonde guy) trailing after him back to their temporary lodging.

Despite the long arduous walk back to the kid's room, with Deku fighting him (verbally) every step of the way, he crashed the second Ace (gently) tossed him onto his bed. The kid hardly moved a muscle as he lifted him to tug the covers over him. No doubt, the kid would want a shower once he woke up, but sometimes sleep is more important.

He retreated from the room and eased the door shut, wincing at the way it creaked; the moment they were alone in the hallway, closed off from the kid, the dam burst.

"What the actual fuck was that?" Ace blurted out.

"I suppose he has been caught up in far more trouble than I initially presumed," the blonde mused, a sour expression clashing with his prim and proper vocabulary.

Jozu frowned, "Who was that man? A Marine?"

"I doubt it. He didn't seem to recognize me, when any Marine worth their salt would at least realize once I burst into flames."

"What an overconfidence," Izou let a mirthful smile tug at his lips, "Perhaps you're simply not as famous as you thought."

Ace shot him an offended glare, "Excuse me?"

"As amusing as this all is, when the kid wakes up, I have no doubt he's going to leave," the asshole chimed in.

Even though he was probably right, Ace wanted nothing more than to strangle him until his hat fell off.

"Then one of us can just keep watch," he retorted before pausing, "Or we can just take him with us."

It was the blonde's turn to be pissed, "Like hell you are!"

"What if that man comes back?" Izou interjected with a mirthful expression that irked Ace like nothing else.

"What do you mean, what if that man comes back? We'll kick his ass again, no problem!"

"That's a generous way of saying we made him temporarily retreat, Ace," Marco chastised.

Jozu snorted, though only raised an eyebrow when Ace turned to give him an unimpressed glare.

"He isn't wrong. Despite burning him to a crisp, he didn't die. There's something up with the kid, for this guy to be after him," the Diamond-man defended his reaction.

"That's hardly news, Ace, I'm afraid," Izou added, though far less teasing than before.

"He always seemed like he was on the run," Marco commented, "He had been eager to leave and evasive about being tracked via a Vivre Card. Plus he got upset when we showed up out of the blue."

Ace was taken aback, "Well, he got kidnapped! Of course we came to help!"

"But he clearly doesn't want help. And he was handling himself fine," Jozu added.

"You call that fine? He was exhausted after just a few minutes with that guy!"

Ace couldn't believe what his crewmates were spouting. He had thought that Jozu at least was on his side, but the three of them were talking like they wanted to just leave the kid be.

"I meant fine for a kid his age. After all, he was hardly injured. I didn't mean to suggest he was capable of defeating the man," Jozu frowned, "But are we sure he wanted to defeat him at all? Maybe he's leading him somewhere."

"Then we can go with him," Ace argued, "Prepare to leave before he wakes up and drag him with us."

Izou giggled, "We really rubbed off on you. Thatch would be proud, following our ways of kidnapping the youth."

The blonde looked scandalized as Ace scrambled to come up with the right words to shut down the joke and reassure the idiot that they weren't being (completely) serious. Just because kidnapping him kind of worked out doesn't mean they should admit to it out loud in front of a man that would probably fight them on it.

Not that Ace was afraid to fight, of course. It was just that being around an uppity man like that guy tended to bring out his manners (courtesy of Makino, the wonderful woman). And talking about such things in front of someone else was not great manners. Which seemed silly, since he was a pirate and that blonde was probably also a criminal of some sort, but no one could claim he didn't listen and learn when he put his mind to the task.

In the end, his words failed him (as they usually did), and he floundered.

"But sure, why don't you, Marco, and Jozu start packing while I watch the kid," Izou proposed, doing the exact opposite of dispelling the kidnapping allegations.

He was resigned to taking the kid by force, for lack of a better phrase, but the blonde's sudden movement caught his attention. Ace frowned as the blonde bastard began to walk away.

"Where the hell are you going?"

"To get my things, of course," he turned and smiled without stopping, "If you're going to take him with you, then I'm coming too."

"WHAT?!" the four Whitebeard Pirates shouted.

"You're joking."

This all had to be some kind of big joke. Except the principal and All Might stared at him gravely, as though this wasn't as prank. Bakugou knew it wasn't a practical joke, but it didn't stop him from wishing desperately that it was.

First of all, what kind of shitty (as much of a boon as it turned out to be) luck did they have to run into the Hero Killer of all people while looking for him? And then the villain had a useful message and gave it to them because he admired All Might? It felt like a shitty shounen plot line. But no, the fact that the date of the attack was no doubt supposed to have already happened…

It was unsettling.

"But this message… how many days has it been since the prison break?" Bakugou couldn't help but ask, though he had already begun mentally counting the days.

"That's why we were surprised," Uraraka chimed in, looking about as dreadful as he felt.

"It was a boon, in fact, that we tried to search for you," Engines commented, although he sounded put off, "Else, we wouldn't have learned of such important information."

The principal chimed in, as expected, with another reprehension, "Of course, just because luck was on your side doesn't mean breaking the rules put in place to keep you safe was justified."

It was almost as if the fucker was trying to get punched in the face. But he held his tongue and clenched his fists on his lap. He let the principal continue his monologue.

"If the plan was to attack on that day, why hasn't it happened yet? That is the question. Such mysteries. We were vulnerable on that day, no less. Perhaps they, too, were searching for young Midoriya. Maybe they wish to have One for All in the clutches before initiating their assault."

But Izuku had vanished right before Bakugou's very eyes. He had thought that to be All for One's doing, through one of his many minions, for lack of a better word. However if the fucker's plans were delayed because of Izuku's absence… then perhaps it was something else entirely. A part of him dreaded that scenario. If so, then there very well may be no way to figure out how to get him back. Meanwhile if All for One had been the culprit, there had been a chance that beating him into the ground would help towards the solution. He was known for his taunts, so he could let something important slip during battle, right? Shigaraki too.

Yet both villains were missing in action. Shigaraki wasn't going around trashing shit nor were All for One's schemes being enacted on his behalf.

The silence in the office was dreadful. It made Bakugou want to yell and curse, if only to break up the tension.

But then the man spoke up.

"Th-that might be because of m-me…"

Every head in the room turned to stare at the man, who looked like he was about to piss himself at the attention. All Might's glare was particularly intimidating, but Bakugou could care less. At least the surprise on Nezu's face was worth all the bullshit he'd dealt with in the last twenty four hours.

And if he was internally relieved that the man had decided to be true to his word after all, no one else had to know.

When the man didn't continue—too busy trembling under the weight of the glares of no doubt some of the most powerful people currently in Japan—Bakugou decided to step in.

"When I was out, I ran across him. He's the old man I saw running away after Deku disappeared."

Someone took a sharp inhale, though it didn't take much to figure out who it was. Engines, who'd chased after than man alongside Bakugou, caught on immediately. At least someone was keeping up.

"You mean you're the reason Midoriya disappeared?" his usually rigid classmate looked about ready to burst with rage (and take it out on the man).

It would be amusing if this man wasn't their only lead.

The man cowered, though spoke up all the same, "Y-yes that was me. I… I didn't mean to, really. I wasn't in control of myself in that crowd and we started ganging up on that kid and I just-"

He dragged his hands across his face, lingering a bit over his eyes. At least the present company had the decency to not comment on his reddened eyes when he finally lowered his hands.

"I used my quirk on him to try to get him out of there. But then you," he nodded towards Bakugou, "showed up and took down the villain and I knew right then that I'd fucked up big time."

Bakugou bit back a no shit.

Despite the consequences, he had good intentions. The only other big questions…

"So what is your quirk, sir?" Nezu inquired, looking far less upset than before.

What a two-faced bastard.

"I… I'm not entirely sure, I haven't used it much."

Bakugou wasn't the only one that scoffed at that, though he covered his blunder with a cough with the glare Uraraka was giving him.

The man took a deep, shaky breath, "All I know is that if I touch a living thing, I can make it disappear."

"And you used that on a child without knowing the consequences or where things end up?" All Might glowered.

Bakugou was inclined to agree, but at least he knew when to keep his emotions in check… or at least he did now. All Might was just like Izuku in that way. Way too emotional, far too quick in their righteous anger, even when it was counterproductive.

Especially when it was counterproductive.

"N-not exactly! I just… don't make me say it!"

Bakugou frowned. There was the other question that had yet to be asked.

Principal Nezu wouldn't know to ask it. Iida wouldn't either, even though he was there. But his throat closed up every time he tried to gather the courage to get it out. The feeling of sludge, mud, gunk filling his throat and shoving the air out from his lungs brought him back to the summer camp, to the sludge villain attack.

It brought him back to that feeling of helplessness.

He wondered if that was how Izuku felt all the time when they were younger.

The student steeled his nerves, meeting Uraraka's confused, but reassuring gaze, and blurted it out.

"Are you able to use your quirk on yourself?"

Suddenly all eyes were on him. That was not the question he had wanted to ask, but if he couldn't muster the right words, he would have to get at it indirectly.

He could practically feel the confusion in the air, but he knew he could circle around to his point eventually.

"Um," the man flustered, "No. I can't."

"Then how'd you end up where I found you?"

Bakugou let out the breath he'd been holding at the look of realization dawning on the man's face.

"I don't know. It was… someone else's quirk, " the nervous fidgeting was a dead giveaway, in Bakugou's opinion.

Though to be fair, he already knew what he was trying to imply. At the very least, the principal seemed to catch on before anyone else.

"I see. A… teleportation quirk?" the rat directed at Bakugou, rather than the man.

"Black sludge."

"I see."

The frown on the principal's face looked awfully out of place for such a composed person. But the teen supposed that now of all times was the time to be frazzled and stressed.

Reluctantly, Bakugou promised himself to take it easier on the teachers and principal. They were doing their best, even if he thought they were being stupid. What good were moral principles when they could use all the help they could get? But in the eyes of the civilians, the breakdown of such principles from the heroes they depended upon to keep them safe was probably seen as a sign to panic.

Bakugou would love to give them something to really panic about, but he knew that would end terribly.

"You're worried about what other quirks All for One may have to track you or know what you say, however you already ran away from his clutches," Nezu hopped down from his seat and padded over to look up at the man, "I doubt there's anything you could do to get back in his good graces, so you might as well tell us everything."

The sincerity in Nezu's eyes wasn't new, but the way he was so obviously manipulating the man was. But at least Bakugou could admit that using words was probably better than threatening to beat him up like he had when they first ran into each other. Even though things were better off as straight-forward and blunt as possible, in his opinion.

"You're right," the man whispered, wrapping his arms around himself in a miserable form of self-comfort.

"We can protect you here, young man," All Might stepped forward, waiting until the man looked up at him before continuing, "You may aid our strategy to defeat him, if only you tell us all the details."

Uraraka and Engines nodded, but that wasn't enough.

For some reason, the man glanced over at Bakugou of all people, as though he was more trustworthy than the principal of UA and the retired Symbol of Peace himself. Ridiculous.

Bakugou offered a small, assuring nod of his own and that seemed to do the trick.

"I believe… I don't have any proof, but I think my quirk sends living things to another world. Or universe? I don't really know the difference-"

Nezu cut him off, though not unkindly, "The distinction is meaningless, please continue."

"I don't usually use my quirk very often, since it's exhausting but I sent the kid-"

"Midoriya," All Might cut in.

Bakugou gave him an unimpressed look.

"R-right, sorry All Might. Um I only sent Midoriya by himself and panicked and ran. I reached a dead end, then suddenly I felt like I was suffocating. A black mucky liquid overtook me and then I was w-with.. uh… him."

Nezu hummed, mulling over the man's words before probing him further, "I see, and what did he have you do?"

The man grimaced, "He made me send that other villain… Shigaraki, right? He made me send him to that other world."

Bakugou's spine reflexively straightened.

"They're after Izuku then?" Uraraka blurted out.

Nezu's frown deepened, "I suppose that is the reason behind the delay. All for One wanted to retrieve One for All before attacking. And Shigaraki is the only one who can take it by force…"

"They must not have enough manpower to take us all on without Shigaraki," All Might muttered, looking more than a bit sick at the thought.

It was relieving that All for One didn't have the confidence that his attack would work without his trump card, but it only raised more questions.

Or rather, that was what the others were thinking.

Bakugou was still stuck over that phrasing. Only sent Izuku? By himself?

"And how, exactly does your quirk work, mister…?" Nezu apparently caught onto the odd detail himself.

"I-I've only used it a handful of times-"

"Bullshit," Bakugou scoffed.

Nobody avoided their quirk like that. Or well, unless it was particularly dangerous or exhausting. Which the man mentioned, but too many things were suspicious for him to just drop it.

The man reeled back, shocked by his abrasive attitude. Personally, Bakugou thought it shouldn't have been such a surprise, considering the time they spend in proximity to each other as they made their way to UA. But whatever. That just meant they were onto something.

"I-I just. I really don't use it often. I just… I told that man a white lie. A-All for One," he let his hands fall from around his waist and tangled his fingers together.

"I pretended I couldn't bring someone I sent in a panic b-back. Er well, that I unintentionally sent. Wh-which is true! B-but I sent the k-M-Midoriya on purpose."

"Then you can bring him back right now?" Uraraka asked, the hope painfully apparent in every syllable.

It made Bakugou wince. He had a feeling it wouldn't be that simple, which was quickly confirmed.

"Well, y-yes and no. It's complicated?"

Iida didn't hesitate, getting up in the man's face, "Please clarify. We would all like for our friend to return to us."

"I-it's not that simple! I can't just bring him back. It takes a lot of energy to send someone one way, like forcing them through, but tugging them back? No way."

"Then what did you mean by, yes?" Nezu wondered, gently patting Iida's leg to get him to back away from the man.

Once Engines did, the rest followed suit. They had begun crowding him, after all. And if Izuku's reactions were any indication, being crowded like that was overwhelming at best and panic-inducing at worst.

"Anyone that I send through one way, is tough to bring back. Normally, I do a… trade, of sorts," he rolled his bottom lip between his teeth as his eyes darted to the side.

Was he trying to find the right words to say? Or was that another sign of nerves?

"If I were to send a cat, for example, I would usually end up with a similarly sized animal coming here in return. That's the easiest way to use my quirk. When forcing it one way, I end up with random piles or pieces of plants and stuff, though not usually a lot. Sometimes it's just a puddle of water. I don't know, it doesn't make much sense to me."

It didn't make much sense to Bakugou either, but Nezu seemed to catch onto something.

"I see, so it's equivalence. An exchange of living matter, one to one," Nezu shuffled back behind his desk and hopped back onto his chair, "I see. So are you able to undo the trade?"

The man grimaced, "Only if it was a two-way trade initially can I reverse it exactly. But I'd have to be able to target the specific animal—o-or person—I want to bring back."

"And your quirk allows you to pinpoint their location, I presume?"

The man looked at the principal in surprise, but affirmed the deduction, "Yes, if I am deliberate with my quirk. It's like having a tracker of sorts, except instead of telling me a location, it gives me a signature of that person that my quirk can latch onto. I-if that makes any sense? I don't know..."

Before he even though about what he was doing, Bakugou surged forward and grabbed the man by his collar, hoisting him up so only his toes were touching the floor.

"Then why the hell haven't you brought him back yet?" Bakugou growled.

When arms came to pull him away from the man, he reluctantly let them. He tossed Engines a glare, but he was hardly put out by the fact that Uraraka hadn't used her quirk instead.

"I- he would get returned to my location and I'd just drag him to that villain! I had to be safe first!" the man defended, though the look on his face conveyed similar thoughts.

Scared people were irrational, but this just pissed Bakugou off.

Though the man kept thinking, as though there was something in particular that he was mulling over. Whatever it was, the teen had no doubt that it would only piss him off more.

"I… since I sent Shigaraki over too… especially so soon, I don't think I can do it so soon. I need time to recuperate," the man explained meekly, as though he expected to be berated or attacked for it.

Which wasn't entirely wrong, if Bakugou had his way and there were no consequences, but still. They were heroes.

"I see," Nezu state pleasantly, though with the weight of finality.

It seemed this discussion was over. Bakugou bit back a sneer as he stood and trudged out of the room without waiting to be dismissed.

At least they knew something now.