"Absolutely not!" All Might slammed his palms down onto the table he and the other teachers were meeting around. Midnight flinched back, startled at the fervor and heat that came from the complete rejection of the idea. Nezu, for his credit, seemed unperturbed.

Aizawa leaned forward onto the table. "Let's be reasonable. It seems like this idea has the best chance of being accepted by all parties involved in the issue. Sir Nighteye has no official affiliation with any organization here. In fact, your two's fractious history lends itself in our favor as neither the HPSC or Tartarus can accuse us of trying to send in anyone to question Mrs. Midoriya that would be pushing an U.A. agenda."

All Might looked ready to add another very pointed objection, but Nezu cut him off. "Just to be clear. I didn't call this meeting to ask you if we should do this. This is me telling you what I have already done." Even if All Might was currently shrunken down, there were very few in the whole world that could match his gaze and not flinch. "Sir Nighteye has agreed to take the role to question Mrs. Midoriya. And after some tense back and forth, all parties have said they will accept the conclusion of his report after he has questioned her." All Might rose from his seat and stormed for the door. "I would imagine your old teacher will be most unhappy if you suddenly storm into the room with him and Sir Nighteye. He put a lot of faith in this plan of his."

All Might froze at the door. "Wait? This was Torino's idea?"

"Yes. He came to me with the plan. And I must say, it was a brilliant idea. Very close to something I was already cooking up, though his plan included himself in the questioning room."

All Might turned. "He's in there with them?"

"He spun it in a very clever way. He was helping to train her son, but also, since he wasn't involved in this disaster, he should be free of any blame she might throw our way. So she might be more willing to open up to him."

All Might still didn't like it, not one bit. "It should be me talking to her. And she shouldn't be getting interrogated in the first place."

Nezu sighed. "This is an unfortunate position we find ourselves in. But Mrs. Midoriya has shown that she is… unusually aware of certain things that one would not expect a single mother to know. Her reaction to learning that Mrs. Hatsume is Lady Nagant's daughter… had the HPSC attention. I expect there is a simple reason for it, but the quicker we get that from her, the quicker we can divert their attention away from her. And since time is of the essence, it's best she's questioned by people she might be willing to talk to."

"So not you," Aizawa bluntly added.

All Might stood silently for a few moments before giving the teachers a tired look. "I said I should speak to her. I didn't mean as All Might."

"So, how are you feeling? No ill effects from the Somnambulist I trust?" Sir Nighteye asked calmly as he sat down in one of the chairs across from the medical bed where Inko was sitting.

She gave the man a leveled look. Her eyes were hardened and her posture guarded. Sir Nighteye could tell there was no trust between them. What's more, he could see some recognition in those hardened emeralds. Which he had not been expecting. It seemed this woman knew who he was.

Inko didn't bother answering his question. She glanced to the side, eying the small clock, and frowned. "Are there any updates on my son? Any demands from the villains that took him?"

The door to the room opened, and Gran Torino walked in, carrying a large paper bag in his arms. "Unfortunately, no. Right now the police and heroes are following leads to help the strike team narrow down where they need to go." Gran Torino put the bag down on the nearest table. "That Hatsume girl is also working on some sort of tracker. If she can get her device working, we'll have a straight shot at getting the kid back." Reaching into the bag, and ignoring the startled blink from Inko when he mentioned Mei, Gran Torino pulled out one of several taiyaki he had picked up. Making sure to keep the wax paper around it, he offered it up to Inko. "Here. You've been knocked out for most of the day. I'm sure you're hungry."

Inko stared blankly at the old man. Then for a brief moment, she saw another old hero. Gray and wrinkled. The old sea dog holding out a freshly rolled cigarette like an olive branch between the two. Then in a blink, Inko was back in the hospital, now holding the pastry she had been offered. Given the looks, she along with the other two were all equally surprised she actually took it.

"Maybe we should introduce ourselves before we get down to business," Gran Torino said while he dug out a taiyaki for himself.

"Gran Torino. Sir Nighteye," Inko listed off, before she took a bite. More looks followed as she chewed. "My son has been following All Might since he was a toddler. Always talking about and showing me different promotions or videos. For years." She gave Sir Nighteye a leveled look. "So I'm very aware of who you are. You're his former sidekick." Inko took another bite. "Went to multiple fast food places to get your Mighty Meal toy to complete my son's All Might set."

Gran Torino snorted. Then clamped up when Inko looked at him. "As for you, nothing from any of my son's collectibles, but he did tell me about a scary old man All Might took to help train him during that work study business. Short, grey, wore yellow and liked to kick him. A lot." Inko took another bite. "Would love to know who thought you two were good choices to interrogate me."

"Firstly, this is not an interrogation," Sir Nighteye clarified.

"So I'm free to leave?"

"Yes. If you'd like to be put through an actual interrogation by Hero Public Safety Commision agents." Sir Nighteye adjusted his glasses. "And I can guarantee none of them would offer you pastries." Inko narrowed her eyes. "As for why us, we both are as close to neutral to all sides of this situation as you're going to get. While also being sympathetic to you."

"Sympathetic?" Inko repeated back. Making it clear she had very pointed opinions on that.

"You know, such as not assuming you make it a habit of trashing rooms or threatening school kids when you lose your temper. You know, things that might make other people more… suspicious and confrontational with you." Gran Torino paused so he could take a bite, before adding with no small amount of grouchiness, "And I can promise you, we're some of the only people that know about All for One that won't be twisting your arm to make sure you promise to keep your damn mouth shut about him. Us, we'll just trust you know not to go running your mouth about the fucker and leave it at that."

"…I didn't threaten that Hatsume girl," Inko countered.

"Uh huh. Because waltzing up to her like that wasn't supposed to be intimidating at all." Gran Torino reached in to grab another snack. "Look, can we pretend that the kid didn't get his boneheadedness from you and just get this over with? You really want us to tell everyone that you're not a ticking time bomb. And we really want to tell everyone that too. Cause I do not want to have to tell your son after we save him, 'Hey sorry, but your mommy decided to act like a dumbass and got herself thrown into lockup.' Cause that'll surely end well."

"…" Sir Nighteye folded his hands in front of himself. "You're supposed to be the good cop here."

"I am being the good cop."

"Pfft." Gran Torino and Sir Nighteye turned to see Inko turning away and stifling whatever sound she had just made with the rest of the pastry. When she was done, she turned back, and while her whole demeanor was still hard and guarded, she seemed more open to the older hero than before. "Are all old time heroes like you grouches?"

"We have to be if we're going to make it this long." Gran Torino handed Inko another snack. "You knew another old timer, huh?"

"Long… long time ago. He was this salty old sea rescue hero. You remind me of him."

Sir Nighteye glanced over at Gran Torino, then back at Inko. If there was a time to strike while the iron was hot, it was now. Since this brief reminder Gran Torino had unwittingly caused, seemed to have at least made Inko less combative. "Mrs. Midoriya. There are two main subjects we would like to cover with you. If you're willing to cooperate, we can complete this, let all government agencies know you're aware of the sensitive nature of certain knowledge and will be discreet, and send you on your way, so you'll be unburdened when we bring your son home to you."

Inko closed her eyes. "Sitting around being worthless while my son is suffering at the hands of that monster…God…"

Gran Torino frowned deeply. "Or you can act like an adult and maybe give that Uraraka girl he's attached to the hip with some comfort. Now that she's up and about."

Both heroes saw a flicker, a change in Inko's demeanor at the very mention of Ochako. A part of Gran Torino, after hearing how badly Inko was taking all the news, had been worried that she might direct those feelings towards the kids since their last ditch effort to save Izuku had failed. But he saw the change in Inko's eyes. Soft, motherly affection, like he'd seen before in his old friend's eyes.

Really is like looking at Nana with this woman.

"Uraraka is awake?" Surprise and worry were laced in Inko's voice.

"She and the rest of the kids are all in some room together. I'm sure she and the kids will feel better knowing you're not getting a hard time from all of us. Which, you won't, if you wanna just get this over with."

Inko sighed, and the two watched as her features hardened back up. But the open hostility wasn't as directed as before. She was still mad, worried, and a host of other things, all twisted up and making her a very unpredictable woman, but at the very least, it was clear she was willing to play ball. "I'll answer what I can." She paused before adding, "But I have questions too."

Sir Nighteye nodded slowly. There was still a fight happening, even if it was going to be more polite for the foreseeable future. Inko was clawing for any kind of control. She didn't want to give up any more to anyone. Being the only one answering questions meant there was a power gap between them, which given Inko's clear mistrust of the people in power, was unacceptable. "Tit for tat then. Though you'll understand if we can't answer every one of your questions. Unless you're willing to get tied up with even more red tape than you're already about to be." Inko sat still, then nodded slowly. Accepting the terms. "Then let's begin."

"How's your time?" asked a concerned Tenya while he walked beside Melissa. The class had wanted to see what the techs were building and were walking down the final hallway.

Melissa pulled her glasses off and cleaned them. A little twitch that gave her the chance to make sure no one that didn't know about her wasn't going to overhear anything, even the ones really good at hearing. "I'm fine. Since I have to check in upstairs, I'm getting plenty of opportunities to breathe."

"I can't imagine being pulled away from this task, or having to step away from the rescue operation so often. Are you sure you're not raising suspicion?"

Melissa flashed him a thumbs up. "I have a lot of practice slipping away when I need to."

Walking into the hospital's storage room where Mei, Melissa and Momo had been working, the class was hit with a sour stench even before they saw the numerous scorch marks covering the room's walls and ceiling. Obviously there had been a number of electrical fires.

Ochako didn't pay it much mind. Her attention was on the large device in the center of the room, and the large screen that was connected to it, displaying a map of Japan.

Mei was already getting back to work, with Momo creating new devices for her to slap together to continue building her tracker. Melissa frowned as she looked around the room. "You all don't have to just stay here, you know. This room isn't exactly comfortable."

"And do what? Stay there and know we can't do anything?" Eijirou said while he crossed his arms. "Better to be where there's something happening than just being stuck in some cushy waiting room."

Mei poked her head out from behind the machine. "No touching anything."

Melisa motioned to her. "See. You won't actually be doing anything…" Melissa paused as she looked at Denki. "Though you… stay close." Mei also took a moment to give Denki a judging look.

"…Should I be scared?"

"We've run into issues with power. The hospital's infrastructure has limits. You might be getting cables stuck to you."

"'Might?'" Denki didn't seem that enthusiastic at the prospect.

"Oi, lightning dork. You might be useful. Don't be a chickenshit and run off now," Katsuki growled. "I don't care if they gotta give you a colonoscopy with those power cables. You appreciate the opportunity."

While the class was distracted, Melissa slid up beside Ochako. "Hey. You don't need to be here, you know."

Ochako looked up at her, and Melissa didn't like the look in the other girl's eyes. "I need to be where there's effort being made. I need to be doing something. Even if it's… moving something around for you down here."

Melissa could understand that. The overwhelming feeling of helplessness Ochako must be feeling, on top of having a burning desire to do something, must be ripping her apart.

"I doubt the heroes will let me stay or do anything with them. I want to be here when you get it to work." Ochako turned back towards the map display. "I want to know where they've taken Deku."

…Oh fuck. Melissa did not like the way Ochako had said that. The implications were not good. A quick look found Tenya looking their way as well, his face mirroring hers.

They both could tell that Ochako learning where Izuku was, would not lead to anything good. They read her like an open book.

I need to nip this in the bud now… The problem for Melissa was that she was almost certain her trying anything that sounded even remotely like telling Ochako not to do something—like go after Izuku—would blow up in her face. Because she knew if she tried that with Izuku, it would be the same thing. But, as Melissa put her words to Tenya into practice and subtly slipped out of the room, she knew there was someone here that Ochako might actually listen to.

Someone she respected.

"Excuse me, Miruko?" Star and Stripe walked up to the small bunny hero while she stood off from the other heroes in the room, living up to her lone wolf reputation.

"Yeah?" Miruko's ears twitched. They only did that when she was about to have to deal with a pain in the ass. "Something you need?"

"Could you… step out into the hall with me?" Star and Stripe was trying to keep her voice low. But she knew even among other heroes, her trying to be discreet with someone would draw attention. Hell, Mt. Lady was already looking their way. And tapping on Kamui Woods' shoulder to point his attention.

"This you calling me out? Wanna see who the queen bitch is?"

"…Not looking to be the Elmer to your Bugs. Just want to talk."

Miruko smirked. "Heard you hesitate there, big girl." She rapped her knuckles onto one of Star and Stripe's steel girder arms as she walked by and towards the hallway outside. "But now you're thinking it."

"…"

Star and Stripe kept her mouth shut as the two of them left and found a secluded spot where they could talk privately. Crossing her arms, Miruko gave Star and Stripe a once over. "So if this isn't about fighting, that just leaves one of the other two F's this could be about."

"F's?"

"I find things generally deal with at least one of three F's. Fighting, Fucking and Fucking Stupidity." Miruko let her eyes travel, "We fuck'n?" Miruko eyes openly lingered on the jaw dropping bust that hung just over her head, "You got a pair there that I bet look great bouncing."

While not the first time Star and Stripe had found herself getting hit on, and not even the first women. It was the first time someone just straight up asked her if she wanted to have sex. Even if Melissa was used to working in an adult world, that sort of behavior threw her off her game, "Um…" Cough, "I… ahem." Miruko's predatory smirk widened as she watched the giant of a woman collect herself. A dusting of pink growing under her red dynamo mask. "You are… very direct aren't you."

Miruko shrugged, "Life's short and this mission has my instincts screaming that it has the potential to go sideways in a bad way. So if I got the chance to get it while I can, I'm jumping at it. Plus, I'm a fucking rabbit. I know what I'm about." She then licked her lips, "Plus I'm not hearing a no. and I gotta say, I wouldn't mind putting a hole through the ceiling while my legs are wrapped around your head."

"Third F," Star and Stripe breathed out. "Need to talk to you about that."

Miruko pulled back the hungry smirk and raised an eyebrow. "Fucking Stupid it is then. So, who's the dumbass?"

Maybe not the phrase Melissa would use to describe the person she wanted to talk about. But at the same time, Miruko wasn't wrong. "You trained Uraraka during her work study, right?"

"Wait, is the runt up and about?"

Star and Stripe nodded slowly with Miruko frowning at the cautious way she was relaying that news. Then, before Star and Stripe could even start to explain the delicate situation, Miruko blinked, then swore. "Oh, that stupid fucking runt! Where is she?!"

"Storage room where the—"

"Fuck!" Turning on her heel, Miruko bolted.

"You should know, after we learned that All for One had allegedly chosen to reveal himself to you, All Might confided in a very select few of us that you had had an interaction with the villain before."

It was a crapshoot which part of that Inko was going to latch onto. Sir Nighteye knew due to Inko confiding in All Might, this recent event had shattered the trust she had in the man. So learning that he had spoken about their talk was a very tricky risk.

Inko's eyes narrowed, the hard edges becoming sharper. Sir Nighteye braced himself for the tirade.

"Allegedly?"

But instead, Inko focused on the point he had wanted her to.

"Yes… I will be blunt. I find it hard to believe the villain you saw is the same man All Might… fought years ago." Not quite a lie. The facts given made it extremely clear that the man pulling the strings of these events was All for One. In fact, there was very little doubt. But, how he was doing this was a complete mystery. Up until the Nomus were revealed, there was no hint that the man had survived that fight. And up until now, no one had actually seen him. But now Inko had.

"Why?" Inko asked simply.

"Because I was there for All Might's fight. As was Gran Torino. We both watched All Might land the finishing blow to put All for One's reign of terror to an end."

Inko glanced towards Gran Torino, who nodded solemnly. Inko could feel the heaviness of Sir Nighteyes words. See the shadow that fell over Gran Torino's face. It was the same feelings she had felt when talking with All Might. Which brought some conflict in her. It didn't feel like they were lying, but the evidence that they were had literally smacked her across a room. "Could he have faked his death? Maybe you all didn't check properly."

"Miss," Gran Torino grunted. "You can't fake having half your head blown off."

"…What?"

"The final blow, took the whole top of All for One's head," Gran Torino made a line with his fingers just over his nose, "off. All that was left as his body got cold on the ground was gore and brain matter."

Well… okay then…

That context certainly put some things told to her in a different light. But… "There was evidence he survived, when? After the first attack?"

Sir Nighteye nodded. "Correct. After several years of nothing. But even after the initial school attack, nothing that could be tied to him directly."

"Right up until he just revealed himself to you," Gran Torino grumbled.

"However" Sir Nighteye continued, "the… MO lined up with the preferred tactics All for One was known to employ. Essentially pumping up some of his underlings with an extra Quirk, and releasing them to do his dirty work."

"The Nomu," Inko breathed out. She had heard her son talk about them once or twice. After Hosu City, she saw the growing dread in her son's eyes the very few times the subject was brought up. He had suffered at those monsters' hands and it had left an impact, even if he tried not to show it.

"The Nomu, as far as we are aware, are manufactured weapons. The exact way they are made is… still being investigated. Though we have our suspicions. But the Nomu did fit All for One's standard way of operating. Though learning they were made left room open that there could have been another villain pulling the strings."

Inko huffed, crossing her arms. For someone that's supposedly not on good terms with the man, he sure seems to be trying to give All Might an out for lying to me… If he was lying… Fuck…

"So, let me ask. Are you certain it was All for One that came to you? Did he say anything, do anything, that you can pinpoint makes you sure the man was him?"

The certainty in which Inko answered left no doubt, "It was him."

"And what makes you so sure? A body double could have been used. There could have been accomplices in the crowd to simulate multiple Quirks being used. What exactly makes you so sure?"

Besides the fact he had something to perfectly counter Fa Jin. The Quirk he gave me, Inko thought dryly to herself. "There's the fact he perfectly recalled things about how I met him as a kid. I didn't know who he was back then, and he found that amusing. But I doubt he would have told anyone about it."

"If you amused him that might explain how he even remembers you," Gran Torino said as he munched on his snack. "You made the devil laugh and lived to tell the tale."

"The way he carried himself, the way he spoke were also dead giveaways. I don't care how good a body double is trained. I didn't need to see his face to know it was him."

Gran Torino blinked. "What does that mean? You didn't see his face?"

Inko motioned around her head and neck, outlining the mask she had seen All for One wearing, describing it to the two heroes. When she saw the two were playing very close attention to every detail of her description, she paused. "Wait? Have neither of you seen him wear something like that?"

"No."

Gran Torino leaned back. "The bastard's vain. Could be he got some face scars after… losing his face."

Sir Nighteye paused his notes. "Possibly… Was there anything else, anything that stood out to you?"

Inko thought, looking back and trying to scrape together every detail of the encounter she could. Pulling from skills that had helped keep her alive all those years ago. "His voice was… off. Like he was talking through a filter."

"Filter? Not just muffled from the mask?"

"No. There was something… synthetic about it." She struggled trying to think of a better way to describe it. "There are these old, pre-Quirk movies. Star… something. The villain in those wears all black, cape, mask. His voice was like that. Still his, but like he was speaking through something." Neither Gran Torino or Sir Nighteye had any idea what that could mean. "There was also this… strange smell. Smelled like this place."

"Huh?" Gran Torino titled his head. "Smelled like here?"

"Not here exactly, but it made me think of a hospital. Sanitizers, disinfectants. Those kinds of things. Also, a lot of flowery perfumes. Or cologne. Just smells covering smells. It made my nose burn."

Gran Torino rubbed his whiskers. "That has to be connected to the Nomu. If they're using corpses like we think…" Gran Torino winced and quickly cut himself off. "Sorry, there are some… grisly details about those things you probably don't need to hear."

Inko didn't bat an eye at the comment. Which the two heroes noted. Once subjects like corpses were brought up, regular people tended to get very squeamish. Inko was unperturbed. "There was one last thing. If you're done worrying about me losing my lunch just because you're talking about what evil things evil people might do to dead bodies."

God damn this woman has some ice in her blood.

"All for One brought up something. Briefly. Our conversation touched on Shigaraki's attack on me a few days ago. Which he apologized for." Gran Torino huffed, muttering something about the bastard still being a lowlife emotional manipulator which stunts like that. "But when I pointed out that Shigaraki felt like an odd choice to use, he mentioned legacy."

"The fuck?" Gran Torino leaned forward while Sir Nighteye narrowed his eyes. "You sure?"

"He said, 'legacy makes strange partners out of those that leave it and those that inherit it.'"

For some reason, while no one knew what that could mean, it sent a chill up the heroes' spines all the same. Those words, coming from that man, felt wrong.

"Geez, are you still in a grumpy mood? Honey, you're gonna get wrinkles worse than our resident goth if you keep glowering like that," Magne said with a tsk tsk as she walked by Saito and snatched one of the sandwiches that were sitting on the bar table.

Dabi gave her a tired look but didn't engage, while Twice moved his mask to the side to take a bit out of his lunch.

Spinner held up a control from the sofa he and Tomura were sitting at. "Come on, man. We need another player over here. These squids are killing us and these two randos suck."

"Why is he being such a grouch anyway?" Chimera asked from his corner of the room.

"It's love!" Twice chimed in. "YIPE!" Before ducking as a glass exploded over his head.

Beros leaned back in her chair. "Nice toss." Before she smacked Saito upside the head. "Now go find a broom and dust pan." Saito grumbled, but a swift kick in the side from the green archer got him out of his seat and stomping off to find the tools to clean up the glass. "And wear some gloves."

Dabi rolled his eyes. "What, you suddenly adopted the kid?"

Beros ignored him.

"He is being rather unpleasant," Mr. Compress observed. "Acts like last night's victory didn't happen."

"You guys won, I didn't," Saito snapped as he pulled open a small closet and dug out what he needed.

"Um… being on a team means we all won!" Twice cheered happily. "Oh wait. Not for the guys that got arrested though. They lost big time!"

"I imagine, the young man is referring to the fact that Toga Himiko still lives."

It took a second for the room to register that the voice they all knew, had not come from the monitor against the wall. As a result, the speed at which every fucking person in the bar snapped to attention was amazing. It actually brought a chuckle to the speaker. As a black mist receded, standing in the center of the room, coated in head to toe in expensive black, stood All for One himself. The initial shock of seeing the man, instead of simply hearing his voice, had everyone so on edge, no one noticed the smell of cleaner and rose water wafting into the room.

"Sensei?" Tomura began slowly relaxing, his eyes looking around, like he expected someone else to be with him.

All For One laid a hand on his shoulder. "Soon. Let an old man enjoy his small hobbies a little longer." No one was brave enough to want to know what in the fuck All for One would consider a hobby. Or how it involved Izuku. No one wanted to think about why All for One sounded like he was in such a good mood either. It was fucking terrifying. "So," All for One turned back to Saito, "am I right?"

For the first time since any of the League had seen him, Saito stood up straight and spoke in a manner carrying the utmost respect. "Yes sir. Last night… was my best chance to pay Toga back for everything she did to me. And I let the opportunity slip through my fingers. I didn't kill her, or hurt her. None of her friends are dead."

Twice's head tilted. "Never thought I'd see him be respectful. Thought shit gremlin was just his default personality."

Saito's eye twitched. But when there were a few more nods from Tomura and then Dabi, which All for One did seem to notice, he took a steadying breath. "I don't see what I would gain, making our boss even more mad with me."

"'More mad?' Dear child, why would you assume that?" Saito blinked. "Do not mix failing at your own personal goals as meaning you failed in the task the League gave you. You neutralized half the enemy's numbers the very moment you took the field, the chaos of which prevented the heroes from marshalling their forces for an immediate counterattack as they had to divide themselves up to save the children you incapacitated. I would call your first taste of villainy a success."

Saito blinked, obviously not expecting to hear that. "But… When my mask broke, I had to stop using my Quirk. So the plan… I ended up leaving an opening where we were attacked."

Chimera grunted. "The kid isn't wrong. His focus on his own goals almost created a whole host of issues for us." Saito gulped.

"True. But he is young. As with Shigaraki, I expect experience will be the best teacher. Assuming he lives past his own mistakes." All for One regarded the young villain. "And his Quirk does come with inherent flaws. But, I think rewarding his accomplishments will help alleviate this issue."

Saito didn't have a chance to ask what that meant before All for One put a hand on his head, and ghostly whiffs of red began to flow from the villain's hand and into Saito's body.

After an appropriate amount of time to get over the initial shock shared by several in the room, All for One handed Saito a glass, and instructed him to move it.

"So what? It's just point and click—" Saito taped the glass, and then swung his hand out towards Beros, gingers mimicking a gun. The small shot glass suddenly shot off the bar counter and shattered on the wall after Beros ducked out of the way.

…

…

"Gearshift should offer you options as you develop tools to control your Quirk. And make it so you don't have to rely on such antiquated tools when attacked."

While Saito looked down at his hands, Spinner quickly ran over to the bar's other wall and yanked out the darts in the board. "Here, man. See if you can hit the board!"

Chimera watched the excited young member pluck a dart from Spinner's hand and try his luck, before avoiding an annoyed slap thrown by Beros. Then his gaze drifted towards All for One as he stepped back, letting the boy have his fun.

"Didn't think you were one to walk amongst the rabble."

"Normally, perhaps not. But I expect things are about to get very interesting."

That all but confirmed to Chimera that the only reason All for One was there, and had given Saito that Quirk, was for his own sick amusement. But that left the question, what else was the boogieman expecting to happen?

"I'll be direct. How are you aware of Lady Nagant?" A recounting of Inko's confrontation with All for One later and Sir Nighteye was now ready to deal with the unknown factor.

"Way we hear it, even before you tore up that room, you had a pretty telling reaction," Gran Torino added between bites. "Which, let's be honest, you shouldn't have."

Inko looked between the two men. When she had woken up, and had been told that some heroes were going to be questioning her, she had run through a few different lies. Ultimately though, like with All for One, the best explanation to give was the truth. Just with very specific information taken, out of course. So with a sigh, "Is it really that strange? I got to see her put on a display for a bunch of kids almost right after she made her debut. Met her too… after I saw what she could do. For someone like me, it was… quite an experience."

The two heroes hadn't known exactly what kind of response they were going to get when they finally delved into this aspect of their questioning. Maybe all their time dealing with villains and issues kept hush hush by the government had them expecting something more abnormal.

"You… were a fan?" Sir Nighteye asked.

"I followed that woman's career closely," Inko responded. Which was true. Once her new life started, she still had to deal with the Hero Public Safety Commission pushing Lady Nagant into any and every interview they could. So it felt like if Inko wanted to turn on the television, there was a risk of seeing that butcher. Sometimes she would watch the interviews. Some dark part of her using it to stoke the self she'd buried. Keeping the old hate alive.

Hate watching that evil bitch is going to be what saves my skin. The fucking irony.

"I imagine hearing what she had done came as quite a shock then."

Understatement of the fucking century, Nenshouki muttered in the back of Inko's head. "It was. It was so… sudden. The story breaks and the next thing I see on the news is she's been thrown away into Tartarus. After that," Inko shrugged, "it didn't feel right keeping any of the memorabilia around. Not a good look if the neighbors or someone came over and saw I had a Lady Nagant poster on my wall."

Gran Torino caught Sir Nighteye's gaze. They had been briefed by Nezu about his quick talk with Ochako, confirming she had never seen anything connecting Lady Nagant to Inko. It seemed like things were lining up. Mostly. "Okay. So that explains how you knew to pull that kid's hair like you did. But why the freakout?"

"A woman, a killer, that's more or less a living sniper rifle that even other sharpshooting heroes have said is in a league of her own, escaped Tartarus and is working with the monster that took my son." Inko narrowed her eyes at Gran Torino. "What do you expect me to do? I won't apologize for having a breakdown after learning a killer that I've had nightmares about is directly responsible for me not having my son!"

The sudden intensity from Inko had Gran Torino putting his hands up, while Sir Nighteye locked onto something, "Nightmares?"

Inko breathed deeply. "Yes. Nightmares. She… seeing what she was. Every time I saw her face, it shook me to the core."

"Ah… explains why you junked everything that had her face plastered on it."

"…Yes. That's why." Watching those early interviews was like watching a horror movie. Hate watching it didn't stop the fear that was driven into her the same night, haunting her dreams until the woman was locked away, and Inko had nothing to watch anymore.

Hawks hummed to himself as he read over the quickly put together summary while Nezu sat and watched him. "It's crazy to think about now, but my senior was a very popular hero once upon a time."

Nezu nodded. "I recall seeing a great many people demonstrating during her fast track to Tartarus. Burning posters and hanging effigies. Betrayal cuts deep. Even if some might view the relationship between pro heroes and the general public as superficial."

"You're not wrong."

"So I trust this will give acceptable cause to your fellow HPSC members to leave Mrs. Midoriya alone, then?"

Hawks nodded. "I think they don't want this to cause a huge stir. She should be fine…" Hawks turned to look at Sir Nighteye and Gran Torino. "…if I put my support behind this report. Which I will, if you answer a question for me?"

"You're a pain in the ass," grumbled Gran Torino.

"Guilty as charged," Hawks said with a grin. "Was she hiding anything at any point when you were questioning her?"

"She was."

"A fucking rookie could see that." Hawks blinked, but Gran Torino continued, "But given how shaken her faith in us is, how much her trust is in shambles, we could have asked her what color the sky was, and all she'd talk about would be how white the clouds are."

Sir Nighteye nodded. "I suspect the meeting she mentioned was more than some passing handshake. Lady Nagant was known in certain circles for… having multiple flings during her career. More so later in her career, and these were with other pros or fans. Nights of passion, with one even resulting in the birth of her daughter. Odds are the experience Mrs. Midoriya mentioned was one such event."

Gran Torino sighed. "You didn't need to say all that, you know. Could have left it at 'she was,' for crying out loud."

Hawks took the report and slipped it into his coat. "I think I can make sure the pressure gets taken off her then. Without exposing any potential decade old illicit flings. Gentlemen, I'll see you all when hopefully, we're putting the final touches on a rescue plan. And not causing a worried mother more stress."

Inko's heart sank as she finally got a chance to look outside and saw the sky already beginning to fade into the soft dusting of twilight.

A little while after her questioning with Sir Nighteye and Gran Torino had concluded, the pair had promised her that someone would be back to give her one last check up and then release her. The check up went by quickly enough, then as she left, two agents of the Hero Public Safety Commission were waiting for her in the hall with papers for her to sign.

She was still signing the paper while on the move.

Papers acknowledging her Quirk use resulting in property damage.

Inko rolled her eyes at that one. It wasn't like she had done that much. She pulled a bunch of small stuff off the walls. And a door off its hinges. That one was definitely not something Inko ever wanted to repeat. The headache it had caused her during the moment… She was almost grateful she'd been knocked out. There was also the table she'd splintered, but just some casual pacing around her room had refilled Fa Jin after that.

Papers acknowledging the U.A. would be covering all financial damages in exchange for the hospital not sticking her with the bill, and that the Hero Public Safety Commission approved such an agreement.

That one… Inko didn't exactly have any issue signing.

Papers that put a gag order on her. NDAs, that could be summed up with one very crystal clear order and with a litany of different punishments if Inko broke this agreement or didn't sign it. Do. Not. Talk. About. All for One.

Inko was in the middle of reading all the different ways the government was willing to bring the hammer of Thor down on her if she ever in a million years mentioned All for One to any unauthorized individual, when she saw how dark it was starting to get outside, really hitting home that it had almost been a full day since Izuku's kidnapping. And as her eyes looked out the huge windows near the hospital's main entrance, she saw something else. Cameras. Cameras, recorders, microphones and people holding all these different things. Crowded around right across the parking lot.

Press is here.

Inko grunted at the sight. A bunch of vultures probably more interested in getting a statement from All Might than actually wanting to know anything about her son. Feeding the world around the clock 'updates' when nothing had even happened yet. All these people cared about was making sure they got views. The more eyes on them, the more money they made.

More eyes…

Inko stared for a little longer, before her pace slowed, then stopped. The HPSC agents almost ran into her and scattered all the paperwork. "M-ma'am?"

"Excuse me…" The wheels in Inko's head were turning. "I need to say something."

"Eh?" One agent blinked, while the other one followed Inko's eyes.

"Oh… Oh, no! No, ma'am, you are not allowed to do that! Only official statements that are approved—Ma'am!" When Inko ignored him, he reached out to grab her. He was startled when Inko snatched his wrist.

Inko glared at him, then gave the other agent a withering look. Inko took a step up to him, clicked the pen she had been using to sign everything, and almost drove the pointy end through the paper and clipboard as she signed the NDA forbidding her from talking about All for One. With her signature inscribed over every line needed, she clicked the pen again and stuck it into the agent's pocket. "There. Not gonna talk about the boogieman."

Both men blinked when Inko marched away, right out the sliding glass doors, and right for the press podium hastily set up on the far end of the hospital's parking lot.

"Do we stop her?"

"Um… do you want to be seen on camera dragging a grieving mother away?"

"…Good point. Let's see if anyone else rushes to stop her first… And stay in the back."

"Hey, um," Mt. Lady pointed at the TV screen in the meeting room the other heroes were waiting in, "isn't that…?"

The heroes in the room turned and saw the news broadcast suddenly swivel, and focus on Inko as she marched her way up to the press box.

Endeavor crossed his arms. "That is the boy's mother. I wasn't aware the HPSC had approved letting her talk to the media."

Hawks blinked and scratched the back of his head. "I'm pretty sure they haven't."

Gang Orca hissed through his teeth. "Oh, this might not be good."

Around the hospital, multiple heroes watched their TV screens with a growing sense of dread. All Might was rushing out of Nezu's office, in a hastily put on suit while shrunken down, Inko's image now on his phone. And in the warehouse where Mei, Momo and Melissa worked, the rest of 1-A all stood quietly as Inko took a spot behind the podium, and addressed the media.

"My name is Midoriya Inko. My son… was taken from me last night. I don't… have any planned statement, and I doubt I'll be allowed to stay here for much longer. But… I want to address the people who took my Izuku from me. The League of Villains. I am here to beg you, to please. Please give me back my son."

Some members of the League of Villains laughed as Inko pleaded for her son's safe return into the ocean of cameras and reporters. The unscheduled moment had been made even better as some pointed out how uncomfortable some government agents looked as they slid up beside Inko as she spoke.

"God, please tell me we can record this," Saito laughed. "Almost makes the whole thing worth it."

A light thump from Mr. Compress' cane got him to quiet down. "Show some manners now."

Some members of the League of Villains had little interest in the display. Beros simply sipped at her glass while Lady Nagant was reaching behind the bar for a bottle for herself. Other members watched the TV with interest. Chimera puffed away at his cigar while in the back, All for One stood motionless and silent.

There was a pause as Inko lowered her head, her shoulders shaking. "There's one… member of the League of Villains I would like to address directly."

Chimera raised a furry eyebrow. "Look at how that made those government lackeys jump. No shot they want her to mention you by name." All for One kept silent, though Chimera could tell the man was unusually interested in the whole spiel. Kidnaps the kid and watches the mother jump through hoops. Guess we all have our sick kicks.

Dabi smirked. "Hey figurehead," Tomura growled, "looks like she's got something to say to you."

It made sense. After their run-in at the mall, Tomura was the one Inko could try to speak to, if she wasn't allowed to mention All for One as they all guessed. "She's wasting her breath. I already told her I was going to kill her—"

"Lady Nagant." Suddenly the tone in the bar shifted. Those laughing quieted and those not paying attention, now were. Together, the members all turned to look at the living sniper rifle as she paused, popping the cork out of a bottle of wine she'd nabbed.

Everyone except All for One was looking at her. He was still watching the TV. "Ah. There she is."

Inko raised her head, and the woman looking into the cameras was not the same as the one that had been begging for her son's life. Her eyes were dark, and her voice dripped with unmistakable hate, shook with a rage that even the most dense viewer would notice. "I'm speaking to you, from one mother to another."

"The fuck?" The bottle in Lady Nagant's hand slipped and thudded on the bar counter top.

Agents were hurrying for the stage now, all of them in a panic. When the agents reached Inko, the screen changed as the news broadcast suddenly cut to commercial, leaving the bar filled with stunned villains.

"What?! The?! Fuck?!" Lady Nagant exploded from her seat, hands slamming down on the bar top.

"I thought you being a mom was like, some secret?" Twice asked, scratching his head.

"Did… Was that supposed to be a threat?" Spinner stared blankly at the screen. "Cause like, isn't that the hospital all those students got taken to."

"Including her daughter. Yup." Mr. Compress winced. "Though threat might be pushing it. That felt more like a warning."

Tomura scratched at his neck. "Great. Family bullshit."

"Kurogiri, I think it's time I return." All for One was already walking away, as Kurogiri created a portal for him.

"Hold it!" Lady Nagant yelled. "Who the fuck was that?! How the fuck did she know I have a daughter? I heard you say 'there she is.' So you know something."

All for One didn't bother to look back at her when he answered, with unmistakable mirth in his deep voice. He was clearly enjoying the little show. "How she knows, I can not say. But as to who she is, she is a woman who you've harmed twice now." And then, he was gone. Leaving a few to wonder if he had stayed, because he had known or expected that surprise had been coming. And had just wanted front row seats to a good show.

"One mother… to another?" Hisashi's head tilted, while he and the leaders of the Meta Liberation Army all absorbed the suddenly cut off press conference Inko had just given. "Lady Nagant… has a child?"

Hisashi had been in the middle of getting drilled over the fact that it appeared that his wife had a much deeper connection to All for One than the organization had been led to believe from him. Chitose had, much to her chagrin, informed the group of All for One's passing statement, implying Inko hadn't been forthcoming over everything that had transpired the evening when the small group had intercepted a yakuza package and had been subsequently sent away by Inko. Who had remained. Still, Hisashi was interrogated over any and every small facet that could give the leaders a better understanding of what the hell had happened that night.

Up until Inko had appeared on the news.

Rikiya turned to Tomoyasu, and the copypasta looking man pulled at his collar. "As far as our intelligence is aware… our mole only just gave us confirmation that she had escaped Tartarus. As for anything else… up until her arrest, the Meta Liberation Army worked under the rule of 'avoid at all cost.' One of your earliest orders when you took command."

Rikiya rubbed his brow. "Which meant anyone that could have been gathering intelligence on her before her incarceration was too busy making sure they didn't do anything that could attract her attention. Including snooping around her personal life." When he pulled his hand back, there were several black splotches growing on his skin. "Given what we just saw, I would say it may be time to update that order."

Koku scratched his chin. "Assuming what our junior's dear wife just said is actually accurate."

Chitose huffed. "The woman doesn't seem the type to just randomly make up stuff like that. She learned something and tried to use it."

Hisashi frowned when Chitose brought up Inko and raised his hand from his seat. Rikiya motioned to the man. "Sir, with all due respect. I have a question for Curious." Hisashi turned to look at her, which Chitose raised an eyebrow at. "What were you doing with my wife last night?"

"…Are you expecting me to answer you?" She wore her distaste on her sleeve. "Don't assume since you're sitting at the table, that it means you can speak to me like an equal. Toddlers in booster seats sit at the same table as their parents. Doesn't mean the child can mouth off to its mother and father without getting the food slapped out of its mouth."

Koku coughed to hide his laugh.

Hisashi scowled, and had smoke wafting from his nose. "Considering the last time you did anything remotely connected to my family, it almost blew up our chances to bring my son here? Yes, I think you are going to answer me."

Rikiya sighed, and motioned for Hisashi to calm down. "Putting aside how he's asking it, there is a point there. Curious. You cannot simply pretend that you contacting Mrs. Midoriya and taking her out for dinner had no ulterior motives."

Chitose was suddenly aware she was going to need to choose her words carefully. Indicating her personal thoughts here, might not end well for her. Fortunately she didn't have to lie. "Midoriya. How many friends does your wife have?"

"…" Hisashi blinked. And when it was clear everyone was waiting for him to answer, he hurried out an, "One? I suppose she and Bakugou have been getting chummy again."

"And you don't think that her having a friend," Chitose motioned to herself, "that is also working to bring her back into the fold is a good thing?"

Tomoyasu looked at her. "You're trying to be her friend?"

"I could go into the whole thing about the woman being lonely and impressionable. But the long and short, she needs friends. And I'm the best option to be one of her friends. I have the resources to spare to dazzle her." Chitose addressed Rikiya. "I saw an opportunity to move your goal closer. Hisashi isn't able to be around her all the time. Especially since he's still rebuilding their relationship. I on the other hand won't have any of the pitfalls he has to deal with."

Tomoyasu muttered, "One of the goals to get the son was to bring in the mother… Though why were you dressed like that?"

Chitose flicked her hair back. "I'm rich, beautiful and like people to know it. Why wouldn't I wear a dress like that when I go out?"

"A relatively tame operation this time," Rikiya tapped the table, "I see no harm in it." Chitose smirked while Hisashi glowered. "Now, onto our most pressing issue. Do we know where they have taken the boy?"

Tomoyasu shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. Our agents have been hunting down leads, but nothing has come from it. The unfortunate fact is, given the meta ability of the member Kurogiri, it makes trying to nail down a location all but impossible at the moment. Our network is vast, but Japan is as well."

"Nothing from our men inside?" Koku asked. Referencing the individuals they had inside the heart of the HPSC temporary base, Dathomir Hospital. "I mean, our agent in the HPSC is involved in planning the operation. Surely he's sent us good intel."

"We've gotten good intel from him. The intelligent Nomu, and the facility site, and the fact that America sent over Star and Stripe herself with a small wing of fighter jets."

Koku shrugged. "Dreary man made it sound like she kicked down the door and no one was willing to be the poor stooge that got their head caved in telling her no."

"Anyway," Tomoyasu continued, "the fact is he can't give us anything because they don't have anything yet. And even if we did know…"

Rikiya sighed, his stress making the sound put the room on edge. "I would not give an order to act. The heroes are on the warpath. And with it intercontinental now as well, I don't want us sticking our noses into something and getting them burned."

"Sir," Hisashi asked, "is that related to why you told me not to go to the hospital?"

"Correct. We have two agents there. I don't want to push our luck."

Chitose noted, to herself, that when Hisashi had been told not to go, the man hadn't been all that upset. Like at all.

"For now, we will monitor and shadow. Anything else, we will just have to see how this plays out."

"Don't think I don't know what you're planning."

Chitose had to stop and collect herself because she was honestly so flabbergasted that someone had had the balls to follow her into her own private office. Much less talk to her in such a disrespectful way. Much less that the person asking to get his head blown the fuck off, was Hisashi Midoriya of all people.

…Did I wake up in some alternate reality where sniveling little pissants suddenly think they're worth the mess on the bottom of my shoe when I squish them?

Chitose's normally beautiful features soured as she took a step towards Hisashi, her Curious Flattener forming around her hand. "Did I wake up in some alternate reality where sniveling little pissants suddenly—"

Pfft!

Chitose slapped at her shoulder after feeling like an abu had bit her. Pulling her hand back, Chitose blinked as it took her a few seconds to register what was in her blue palm. A small red casing with a needle sticking out one side. When she looked back up, she saw the small pistol in Hisashi's hand, the barrel still pointed at her.

"You know, it took a lot of time to find people with these Quirk Erasing Bullets. I'd follow a chain of contacts and the person would only have a single one. The supplier apparently has been real stingy as of late. But if I'm anything, it's patient. Some money here, a few burned corpses there. And soon enough, I have enough of these monstrosities to be a real pain in the ass."

Hisashi slipped the gun into a holster under his suit coat. "But it's all worth it to finally shut you the fuck up." He smirked. "Even if it's only for a short while." Chitose snarled and looked ready to dive for Hisashi's throat. "Please tell me what the now Meta Ability-less woman is going to do against a man that can breathe fucking fire?" Hisashi's hands rose to his jawline, while at the same time, bands around his wrist sparked. Chitose's eyes narrowed when she saw them, instantly recognizing the design as something damn near exact to the pair Koku wore.

Fuck, Detnerat got him his support item.

The twin bands glowed as they unwound and snapped together, forming a mask that was a twisted man's joke of the lower section of something worn by firefighters. The mask covered Hisashi's mouth, jaw and nose. Over the cheeks, were fist-sized cylinders no thicker than a can of tuna, with the edges lined with intake fan blades. The center was a huge nozzle with flaps along the edges like a jet engine. Chitose didn't have to guess what the item Hisashi slipped on did.

"If you're eager, I'd be honored to let you be the first to see what my Jet Burner can do."

Chitose's teeth ground inside her mouth, while she kept a neutral expression. Then she sighed and waved him off. "I'd rather not." She turned her back towards him, and walked to her desk. Showing her back to the man, got a sharp hiss in response, amplified as it made the two intakes whirl and give offa low screech like a turbocharger.

"You'd show your back to me?"

Chitose could hear in his voice how that was really getting under the man's skin. So she made sure to take her time, walking behind her desk and pulling out her chair to sit. Acting like she was absolutely not at all concerned about him. Because now that she wasn't about to go off half-cocked, she was thinking. And she knew she wasn't in any danger. So she sat down, crossed one leg over another, and leaned back in her chair. Although, throughout the whole show of undisturbed indifference, she let a hand slip and pull open a small little cubby in her desk.

"Of course I'll turn my back on you." Chitose made a show of showing Hisashi the small drug dart he had shot her with, and then dumping it into her little trash can. "That was your one play that stopped me from shoving a stapler down your throat and blowing your head the fuck off. So I have to listen to your incessant little rant."

The twin turbines whined and the inside of the center nozzle began to glow with an angry orange light. "I can still immolate you."

"You can't and you won't. Because you know what'll happen. Re-Destro will pull you apart, limb by limb. I am a general of the Meta Liberation Army. You think there wouldn't be consequences for harming me?" Chitose had to assume that despite everything, Hisashi was still planning on being alive and not torn to pieces after tonight. And when the orange light faded from the mask, she breathed out a sigh of relief. Internally. Externally, she was her cool and composed self. "Now. What do you 'think I'm doing?'"

Fucking bastard. Doesn't even so much as look at Inko for ten years and now that I got my eyes on making that succulent succubus pillow princess scream my name, he's going to throw a fucking tantrum instead of being a good little deadbeat and accepting his wife is fucking mine!

"You're using my ticket to sit besides Re-Destro to make up for your fuck up with Toga and U.A." Hisashi seethed through the mask, rings of smoke puffing out like a coal furnace.

"…" Chitose waited for the punchline. "Wait? Are you serious?" For something that was so funny, she didn't feel like laughing. "You're standing there… seriously saying you think my position is that precarious?" She suddenly found herself now wanting to open a different drawer in her desk, because that's where she kept a bottle of fine cognac. Normally just if she wanted something to sip on. But after hearing Hisashi's laughable delusion that she was somehow still in the doghouse for her, admittedly, poorly executed attack on U.A., she felt at that moment throwing back some shots with it would help her forget she had been forced to hear something so braindead fucking stupid.

"Don't try and deny it." Hisashi pointed at her. "You're not trying to buddy up to that fat bitch because you think she has any value to Re-Destro. No one wants anything to do with her. Hell, her friend," Hisashi used air quotes while he stomped closer to the desk, "only stays around so she can feel superior by comparison." Chitose didn't care about her drawer with the bottle anymore. "She has nothing of value to offer anyone. A dumb cow that my pathetic son hasn't been able to cut the apron strings and free himself from."

Hisashi slammed his hands onto Chitose's desk. The sudden violent move triggered Chitose to snatch the small derringer out of the opened drawer and press it right into his temple.

He didn't flinch. In fact he leaned into it. Chitose hated that she didn't see any fear in his eyes. Just a crazed, starving, hate.

"That boy has an opportunity to repay me for all the years of being a worthless shit by becoming a useful tool for Re-Destro. I have been dragged down by those two for too long. I am owed. I've been forced to play the role of a whimpering yes man because of them for so long that I almost believed that's who I was. Now I have a way out, a way to take back the authority I was robbed of, and I will not let you steal that away from me."

Chitose wouldn't have been surprised if Hisashi was foaming at the mouth under that mask of his. She couldn't compare him to a rabid animal, because it wasn't madness that was driving Hisashi. It was starvation. He'd had a taste of power once, before it was ripped away. Now, there was a banquet of it right in front of him, and he was willing to do anything to get at it. He was blinded to anything else. That was crystal clear to Chitose. He didn't care that Inko was most definitely not some whimpering housewife like he thought. He didn't care that his son dwarfed him in raw power. Their only value that he saw was how they could help him get a seat at the table. Inko had none, so she had no value. And Izuku, he was payment. Currency to be paid to the MLA so Hisashi could sit and eat.

Chitose's finger tightened on the trigger. She really hated this man. The woman she had read about in those reports, the woman Chitose could see after only one cut short dinner, that was reemerging, should not be tied to such a shortsighted greedy sack of shit like this.

"We both know you won't pull that trigger. I am the one Re-Destro has tasked to bring my son into the fold. Killing me would be the same as working to deny him my son."

"You're willing to bet your life on that?"

"Izuku is important enough to Re-Destro that I'm being prepared to become a General of his army. Same as the rest of you. So yes. I am."

Chitose hated that he was right. "You need to be very careful with this game you're playing, Hisashi," Chitose warned while she slipped the small derringer back into her desk. "Trumpet, Skeptic and myself were handpicked by Re-Destro when he began forming his inner circle. You're being brought to the table long after the fact. And only because your son has the possibility of being a great asset to us. We are the original disciples here. You will never be one of us."

Hisashi pulled his Jet Burner mask down, showing a dangerous smirk underneath. "The original disciples, huh. That's funny. Hilarious even." Chitose narrowed her eyes. "Disciples… you know, there's this old book, where this man, the son of God, gathered a group of followers. They were this prophet's closest allies, friends and students. They would go on to become Apostles and spread the man's teachings to all corners of the known world. But do you know the funny thing? They aren't considered as important as who came after. An outsider, not one of the twelve. He would become the greatest Apostle. Second only to the son of God in this holy book. Doing more for his prophet while those other twelve all died horrible, painful deaths." Hisashi pulled out a cigarette and with a small puff, lit it. "Something to think about."

And then, he was gone.

"Sign here." The HPSC lawyer all but shoved the clipboard into Inko's hands.

Inko gave the exasperated man an even look. "Don't get upset at me because you all didn't think I might try to appeal to the woman as a mother to convince her to bring my son back."

Hawks looked like he wanted to swallow a whole bottle of aspirin. "Is that what you're saying that was?"

A very agitated voice from behind Inko answered, "If that's what she said she was doing, then that's what she was doing." All Might might be in his small form and out of costume, but he still had a voice that carried a hell of a lot of authority. Plus before making his appearance, the HPSC had been informed that under All Might's request, he was going to be looking after Inko. And no one really wanted to question that. "Unless you have proof to the contrary?"

The agent opened his mouth, but Hawks gave him the dirtiest look, and he shut it. He then looked at Inko and much more softly and respectfully asked, "Please ma'am."

Inko signed her name on the newly typed out NDA, which covered All for One and Lady Nagant. With the ink still wet, Hawks quickly got the paper into the agent's hands and all but kicked him out the door. All Might approved. The other hero might work directly for the HPSC but he was doing everything he could to keep the organization away from Inko.

Hawks paused at the door. "Ma'am, I won't patronize you, pretending to understand the pain you're going through. Or try to understand how all that pain and fear is twisting you up inside. But please, if not for your own sake, for your son's, so we can bring him home and not have him find his mother under the HPSC's thumb. Let the heroes take care of this."

The room was quiet after he left. All Might didn't trust himself to speak, and Inko… Well, All Might had no idea what was going through the woman's head right now. She just kept looking at the door.

"'Let the heroes take care of this,'" Inko repeated and All Might braced himself. Hawks' words were said with compassion and an earnest desire to try and urge Inko to stop. But telling someone to trust when their faith was in pieces just never ended well.

Inko turned.

All Might readied himself for a verbal lashing, and maybe even a physical one.

And Inko almost bowled the hero over as she crashed into him, hands clutching at his oversized suit as she buried her face into him and cried. Here, with someone she knew she could trust, Inko let herself slip out from Nenshouki's perfect defense of rage and wrath, and let herself grieve, while All Might wrapped his arms around her and gave her all the time and comfort he could.

"Thank you, Toshinori. I…" Inko shifted, "I'm glad you're here. I think… I really needed someone here I could trust." Inko was too busy drying her eyes with the last of the room's tissue paper to see All Might flinch. "It means the world to me that you're here." Eyes dried she glanced his way, and winced. "I'm sorry about your shirt."

All Might, his front looking like it had been doused with a fire hose, waved it off. "Please. Don't worry about that. And of course I'm here for you. When I heard what had happened, I made sure I got here as soon as I could." Inko reached out for his hand, which All Might gave her. "Y-you should know I'm going to be helping with the operation. I have… knowledge of the criminal responsible for this. So I'm assisting All Might's side of things. Following up leads and… other clues. So… I may be…"

Inko nodded slowly. "I understand. You won't be able to just stay here with me." She squeezed his hands. "I'm just glad you're here now."

"Of course."

After a short time, Inko pulled her hands back, and her focus wasn't on All Might, but at nothing. All Might could tell she was thinking, mulling on something that made her look uncomfortable in her own skin.

"I think… Toshinori, I think… after Izuku's saved…I have to get him out of the country." Inko pulled at her hands. "It won't be safe for him here. We… should move away… Far away…"

"That…" All Might realized that the topic was taking a turn. And he needed to tread carefully. "… I can't tell you one way or another, but perhaps… let's worry about that after he's been rescued. The League of Villains probably won't even be a thing after that."

Inko wasn't convinced. "They aren't the only villains here. What happens if someone else decides to try and make a name for themselves hurting All Might by using my son? No. No, too many people know who my Izuku is because U.A. painted a target on his back with the stupid sports festival."

All Might winced. He had told Izuku before that event that the festival wasn't just a way for heroes to pick students they wanted for internships. It was also to show villains the next generation of heroes that was coming. "I'm sure…" All Might almost tried to deny the idea. "…The sports festival has served multiple purposes over the decades since it was started. What's… supposed to strike caution and fear into the nation's villains… seems to have instead been taken as a challenge. But I'm sure the school will adapt. The students in the hero classes will be afforded every effort, I swear."

Inko shook her head. "Toshinori. Don't you see? Even if everything you're saying is true, Izuku won't benefit from it at all."

"Inko, I don't understand what you're saying."

"He isn't going to be able to stay in the hero classes. Even if I could be convinced to let him go back," Inko combed her fingers through her hair as she shook, "which I can't…. I don't…" Inko closed her eyes. "I could never put him through the pain of being moved to the general studies course while everyone else he knows stays in the hero course."

All Might reached out and took Inko's hands. "The League of Villains will be gone. It's only them that have taken things this far. There are no more threats that would dare attack the school. You'd have no reason to pull Young Midoriya out of the hero course, much less the school." He should have been more prepared for this. Of course Inko wouldn't want her son back in harms way. Not after everything that had been done.

"Toshinori. I won't add to my son's pain by lying to him. Telling him he can still be a hero without a Quirk." And All Might suddenly forgot how to breathe. "That monster… he probably took it the moment my son was taken from the camp."

All Might knew his next words needed to be carefully chosen. He knew of course, despite the immense danger his young charge was in, having his Quirk stolen was not one of the issues facing him. He had two options here, to help lead Inko away from this line of thought. To help alleviate one of her many worries was part of it. But he also needed to take away a reason for her to take Izuku away.

So of course there was the option to tell the truth.

Or the option to tell another truth that would still keep Inko in the dark.

All Might decades of experience overruled anything he might think was right or wrong, and made him pick the option that he was sure would keep Inko safe.

"He… may not," All Might began slowly. "All for One, from the information I have through All Might, well… he has a habit of keeping Quirks that are easy to use in his eyes. He… has so many, if one is overly complicated, it's hard for him to combo it. Young Midoriya's quirk requires concentration. It may be strong, but the learning curve may keep it from being taken. All for One doesn't take proficiency when he steals a Quirk."

When All Might saw the smallest glimmer of hope come back to Inko's sad eyes, he knew he had made the right choice.

"Okay, okay, here we go. 'Tsutsumi Kaina, alias Lady Nagant. Former hero. Was…' holy crap, 'arrested for the murder of another hero. Death penalty sentence commuted to life imprisonment at Tartarus.'"

After the sudden name drop the kids had seen on the TV, some had asked who Inko could be talking about. And while none of the squad were in any hurry to find answers, the same couldn't be said for the class. Kyouka now had her phone out, and had found what they had wanted. "'Known for her exemplary skills as a marksman, often glowingly praised by other heroes such as Snipe." That got some raised eyebrows. "Lady Nagant was known to be one of the most skilled snipers in recent memory.'"

Eijirou slapped a fist into his hand and looked over at Katsuki. "Oh! She must be the one that shot you!" Said sore shoulder boy made a very dangerous growl.

"'Lady Nagant's Quirk, Rifle, lent itself to her skill. While the exact mechanism of how she fired her bullets is unknown due to the organic nature of her weapon…' Gross. 'How she made bullets is. Her hair acted like an epoxy resin mix, which she could pull clumps out of and twist into shape. A side effect of her Quirk was her colorful hair. Purple with bright pink stripes.'"

The classmates that didn't know, all turned to look over at Mei, who was busy tinkering with her giant device alongside Melissa who had just returned. The undyed dreads hanging in front of her face. Bright purple in contrast to her pink hair.

No one said anything about the incident when they got to the hospital. Seeing her getting taken away. No one said anything about how obvious it was that the remaining squad members were not looking at her.

Slowly, the pieces fell into place, but to the group of friends great relief, no one said anything. No accusations. No questions. It seemed like they knew that whatever was going on, was complicated.

"I'm going to blow your mom up," Katsuki grumbled as he slumped into his chair.

Mei pulled her head out of the machine. "Good luck with that."

"Um…" Hanta scratched his head. "You all ever think that because of Toga, we just accept insane crap way too easily?"

Himiko scoffed. "Don't go blaming me for you all being desensitized to how fucked up the world is."

"…'Kay." Hanta decided to just roll with that. "So why did Midoriya's mo—"

WAM!

The door hadn't hit the wall yet when someone screamed, "Runt! Where the fuck are you?!" Miruko scanned the room that was now full of startled faces. Her eyes zeroed in on the one head that was the slowest to turn around. Almost like she didn't want to look away from the map she had been staring at. Miruko got a good look at the burning in Ochako's eyes before she blinked it away. Fuck. "Runt! You. Outside. Now!"

"M-Miruko? You're here?" Ochako stuttered out. Shocked to see the hero that she had trained under not too long ago.

Miruko pointed her thumb behind her. "Runt. I'm not going to ask you again. Step outside, or else I'll put your stupid on blast for the whole class."

The relief in Ochako's eyes hardened. Even bandaged up and looking like a mess, Ochako squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, taking a very defiant stance against the hero. "I don't know what you're talking about." Her eyes shifted, and drilled into Melissa. The taller girl didn't flinch and kept her gaze. But she suspected she was going to get screamed at later. Or punched in the mouth for ratting.

Miruko for her part would have been proud of the stubbornness if it wasn't being directed at her and over such a concerning topic. There was a huge difference between recklessness and being stupid. "Alright. You want to do this in front of your class? Fine. We'll do this in front of your class."

"Miruko, ma'am." Tenya stepped forward. "I can assure you that Uraraka is not doing anything that requires this sort of brash tone of voice. I'm sure she, like the rest of us, doesn't wish to sit around in a room feeling hopeless. In here, at least we can feel a part of the effort. Even if it's menial or minimal, there might be a task we can do to help."

Miruko frowned. "Is that so?" She hated that she could believe that. These kids were training to be heroes. Sitting around feeling sorry for themselves didn't exactly mix with someone that has the mindset to be an actiontaker. "Okay, Runt. I was given a warning that you might be planning something stupid. And I know you, so you're fully capable of being dumb. So," Miruko walked forward until she was eye to eye with Ochako, "you tell me to my face. Right now. Why you are here. And if I hear even the smallest hint of a lie," Miruko pointed at her ears, "I'll drag your ass, kicking and screaming, to the nearest detention center and tell them to hold you for your own protection until we save your boyfriend."

While Miruko and Ochako stared each other down, some of the students began whispering to themselves. Mina leaned over towards Tooru. "Wait, what dumb thing does she think Uraraka's planning?"

"I dunno. Maybe she thinks Uraraka's going to go try and rescue Midoriya herself?"

"…That can't be it. Go vigilante? Isn't that… you know. Dumb? They got All Might and a whole bunch of other big names here already."

Minoru peaked his head out. "Also, isn't that illegal?"

A very unhappy croak escaped Tsuyu's throat as she kept her eyes on Ochako. "Very illegal, kero."

Himiko scoffed. "Right. Like we're the type to let a thing like rules get in the way of doing the right thing." Around her, that statement had a flurry of different reactions from her classmates. Some more open to it, while other looked genuinely disturbed at the idea.

"Toga… there is a huge difference between… bending some rules like we did last night, versus outright breaking the law," Momo warned carefully.

Shouto crossed his arms. "Are you saying that if there was an opportunity for you to save Midoriya, you wouldn't take it?" Momo looked away.

Kyouka frowned and jabbed a jack at the quiet boy. "Hey, we are all worried about Midoriya, but don't put that kind of responsibility on Yao-Momo's shoulders."

"It's a fair question," Eijirou countered.

"How is it fair?" Mina asked.

"Ahem!" Melissa cleared her throat. "Hey. Maybe not the thing to be discussing right now." She jabbed her thumb towards Miruko. The hero wasn't looking at them, but her ears were turned and pointing at them.

Jesus Christ, if you're going to talk about doing dumb shit, don't do it here… I mean don't do it at all, but… Melissa suddenly wondered if seeing Miruko drag Ochako off might be the best thing for her friends and their classmates. At the same time, she did not want to see the fight she knew Ochako was going to throw after—

"I don't know," Ochako finally answered. And it wasn't what anyone expected. "I don't know why I'm here. I just know I need to be here." Ochako sounded angry. But it wasn't directed at Miruko. It was towards everything, everyone and herself. Her hands raised up, and clutched at her long bangs, aggrevation and stress making her pull on them as grief gave way to anger. "Every fiber of my being wants to do something. Anything. I want to be the first see where Deku was taken and just… just go. But what will that accomplish? I failed already. But I can't just… do nothing. I don't know. I don't know what I'm supposed to do!" Ochako was starting to crack, her voice almost reaching a manic tone.

And then, Miruko moved. Gently but firmly, she grabbed hold of Ochako's wrists. And for a moment, everyone in the room thought she was going to drag Ochako out of the room then and there. Himiko had even taken a step forward, ready to make sure that didn't happen. But then Miruko surprised everyone, herself and Ochako too, by wrapping her arms around Ochako and pulling her into a tight hug.

Miruko, like the rest, was surprised she wasn't throwing down with Ochako to drag her somewhere she wouldn't be able to get herself into trouble. But it seemed like while Ochako wanted to go running after Izuku, she hadn't decided to do it. Which was a bucketload of relief for the grouchy lone wolf. Though seeing the self-loathing Ochako had for herself, hating she hadn't been able to prevent the kidnapping in the first place, and that was what was preventing her from committing to her braindead rescue idea, poured some cold water on the whole thing.

If the runt was going to be dumb, be dumb with your full chest. Being dumb, but hating yourself for it, just left a sour taste in Miruko's mouth.

Miruko was searching for the best words to try and talk Ochako down. She was really bad at this. "Fuck it, runt. If you're going to be dumb, don't pussyfoot around making a choice. That's going to get you fucking killed faster than anything. And that would make your boyfriend sadder than anything." She moved her hands to cup Ochako's face. "I taught you not to fucking hesitate, didn't I? Knock this self-doubt bullshit out already."

Melissa sucked in a deep breath while Miruko blinked a few times after her little rousing speech.

Oh. Fuck.

Miruko was really bad at this.

What Miruko needed to do right then and there was put a stop to any ideas that might now be forming in Ochako's head after she had basically given Ochako the go-ahead to do her dumbass shit. What she really didn't need was for anything to interrupt her.

Beep

Beep

Beep

Like a glowing little dot blinking on the device's map screen. Highlighting Yokohama City's Kamino Ward.

"EVERYONE THAT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT A RESISTOR IS, GET OUT! NOW!" Mei hollered as she, Melissa and Momo got to work locking that single dot down and transferring it into tracking devices Momo could massproduce for the heroes. They did not want anyone nearby that might screw up the connection by touching something they weren't supposed to.

Kicked out into the hallway, Ochako was having trouble breathing. "Kamino… Deku's in Kamino. That's only… that's only…"

Miruko picked Ochako up by the shoulders and slammed her into a wall. "Runt. No."

"Bu-but you said—"

"DowhatIsay,notwhatIdo!" Miruko snapped back quickly.

"…"

"…Okay, you know what I mean. Look. You need to trust the heroes to deal with that, okay? We have to coordinate with the police, the HPSC. We need to do a lot of shit quickly. There are evacuations we need to get started. Hell, just getting there now without getting noticed is going to be a bitch and a half. I fucking hate working in teams, and even I know that to get this moving, is going to take everyone concentrating on the task they need to worry about. And not worrying that some dumb kid is about to stick her nose into things and potentially fuck it all up."

Ochako sucked in a deep breath.

"All Might, Endeavor, hell, you even got that huge bitch from the states here. Do you want those heroes distracted?" Ochako shook her head. "No you don't. We got two teams having to make sure we can coordinate our jobs, we can't be worrying about you all. We need to be able to focus. So be a brave girl. And be fucking patient."

When Miruko didn't hear any backtalk, she let her head drop and let out a long sigh, hoping that would be the last of this. That she had finally put this potential issue to bed. After overcoming her near colossal fuckup by all but encouraging Ochako to—

"Two teams?" Ochako echoed softly. She watched Miruko's ears go rigid as she raised her head back up, and had a very uncharacteristically stunned look on her face. "Jobs?"

Jobs? What jobs? Aren't they just supposed to be rescuing Deku?

"U-um…"

She just stuttered. Miroku never stutters.

Around them, the other students were now paying close attention to the conversation. Miruko closed her eyes and hissed out a few curses. "Fucking… goddamn… classified bullshit… Okay, fuck it. I can't lie worth shit." Miruko swung her hand out and pointed at the class. "None of you little shits talk about this, you hear me? None." She paused, then pointed right at Katsuki. "And you know fucking why." Heads whipped around to look at an initially startled, now sneering mad bomber. "Okay. Here's the deal, runt. Last night, the League of Villains did more than just kidnap Midoriya. They put the heroes and HPSC on notice. They showed their hand, and let us know that the Nomu threat could get much worse than its been. Understand?"

Ochako tried to think. There was nothing more important than Izuku getting taken. What could Miruko mean by— "...Hood."

"Yeah."

Hitoshi raised his hand. "Sorry, Hood?"

"It's the Nomu Shigaraki brought with him when the League attacked you. Bakugou told us the details of it. And it has the government spooked. This Nomu, codenamed Hood, was a whole different animal than the one you all saw at the USJ. So, the HPSC is using the opportunity to hit the League in a pincer attack, more or less. Our main team, with All Might leading, is going after Midoriya. At the same time, another strike that I'm a part of will be hitting what the HPSC thinks is the League of Villains' Nomu production plant while also keeping an eye out for Ragdoll."

Shouto rubbed his chin. "I see. The League is now comprised of stronger, but fewer members. Getting attacked on two fronts by the heroes could overwhelm them."

"Yeah, that's the plan. Also, when we can hit their Nomu, that'll cut off any backup they could call on to defend themselves. Working theory is that they're operating out of two locations. HPSC knows the Nomu one, and now that we know where Midoriya is, we have their other base." Miruko turned to look back at Ochako. "Runt, I came here to help get you Midoriya back. I swear, this isn't us dividing our attention. It's all one goal. Attacking them this way is the best option." Miruko hoped to see some acknowledgement from Ochako. A nod, or something in the girl's eyes. But what she saw instead, made her feel like she was back to square one. And unfortunately, now that the signal for Izuku's tracker was found, things were about to start happening fast, and Miruko didn't have time to worry about convincing Ochako.

Ochako looked hurt. She looked angry. But there was nothing there that Miruko could point to, to say she knew if Ochako was going to do what she would have done as a teenager.

Fucking wanted to turn her into another me, can't be angry when she acts like I used to… Fuck.

It was late, and word was quickly spreading throughout the hospital that the device was ready. Tenya, not wanting the class to be in anyone's way, ordered them all back to their breakroom. Miruko was glad that at least Ochako went with the group. Though it took Tsuyu taking her hand and leading her away to make it happen. But Miruko had to focus now. She had a mission to get ready for. She was just going to have to hope that things didn't get out of hand before this whole operation was done.

…Nah, I need some backup for this… Kicking up her feet, Miruko hurried down the halls. She had enough time to hedge her bets to make sure Ochako didn't do something insanely stupid.

Skidding to a stop, Miruko banged her fist against the meeting room where the remaining U.A. faculty were. One single teacher was left, with the others having left not too long ago to prep for their end of things. The media storm that was brewing and demanding answers. When the door opened, Midnight seemed surprised to see the other hero in front of her. "Miruko?"

"You're not busy, right?"

"Um…"

"Good," Miruko didn't let her finish, "I think you need to get on the phone and get a couple more heroes up here."

Midnight took a moment to digest that. "Security has already been increased with local heroes. Unless you think the hospital is in danger?" She hadn't heard of anyone expecting an attack.

"No… not for that. I just think… that one rescue hero you have working for you. Round chick. Dresses like an astronaut."

"Thirteen?"

"Yeah, the beach ball. Get her up here." Miruko made a gesture like she was thinking. "And maybe that one guy I met back at those term finals you all did. Gunhead. Yeah, I think he should be here. You should have his number since you had him take part and all that."

Midnight blinked, then narrowed her eyes. "Thirteen… and Gunhead?"

"Yes."

The door was opened all the way and Midnight stepped up. "What is going on with Uraraka?"

Okay she's fast on the take. "Nothing." Midnight squinted at Miruko's answer. "But always best to be prepared, right?"

Midnight suspected that, given the track record of the group of students Ochako was a part of, and just how connected she was to Izuku, and this whole horrible mess, maybe that wasn't such a bad idea.

"Here's another one, Hatsume," Momo said as she pulled another device out from her body. After getting a lock onto Izuku's signal, Mei and Melissa had gone right to work getting a new tracker designed to track it. Simply download the signal into the new device, and now they could massproduce the tracker for the heroes and policeforce. After finalizing the design, it was given to Momo, and she got creating.

"Great! Signal is still locked down. We just need a few more and then the heroes will be all set!" Mei was making sure each device was working perfectly, examining the signal and making sure there was no risk of loosing it.

So when she saw the light flicker, she nearly swallowed her tongue. Melissa also jumped when the marker on the map suddenly vanished. She hadn't mentioned it at the time, but the signal had been coming from where the HPSC had shown where they suspected the League of Villains' Nomu site was. Which had left her gut all knotted up. But that might mean that the working theory that the League had two bases was off.

Beep

Beep

Beep

"Signal's back!" Mei yelled.

"Is the device failing? Is it the signal?" Momo asked in alarm. "I didn't create a flaw in your designs, did I?"

Mei shook her head. "No, it's all fine. But why did…" She trailed off when Melissa tapped her shoulder and pointed.

"Look. The signal's in a different spot."

Mei tapped the screen. First confirming the original location was saved, and then narrowing the map screen. Showing that the signal now was deeper into the main city of Kamino. "Then… wait, was Midoriya moved?"

"To where?" Momo asked.

"The fuck?!" came a startled yell as Saito lept off his bar stool.

Spinner almost dropped his controller while Dabi snickered. Lady Nagant blinked and leaned forward to stare, while Beros wondered how long it was going to take before the floors got stained with blood. More and more members of the League of Villains stopped what they had been doing to look as Kurogiri returned from wherever he had taken All for One, and deposited, in the middle of the bar, a young man, strapped to a metal chair with an IV stand attached to the side. An IV bag, filled with a nasty looking liquid, dripping into a tube that ran down and was stuck into the young man's unbandaged left arm. His right arm was heavily splinted and wrapped up, as was a good portion of his face, covering up his right eye; his other wounds sustained from the summer camp assault, treated and bandaged up, though he still only had his shorts and shoes. Whoever had treated his wounds, had not taken the time to give him new clothes.

Tomura stood up, eyes narrowed into dark slits as he stepped forward towards the restrained Izuku, whose head hung limply down. Unconscious and unaware of anything around him.

Authors Notes:

Hey, look who's finally decided to show up! It's Izuku! And I'm sure he's now worse for wear. He's even all bandaged up. Isn't that nice of Doctor Garaki and All for One. I'm sure nothing bad happened to him since he was kidnapped yesterday.
Just like I'm sure Ochako isn't about to do something really really stupid!

...
Midnight better hurry up with those phone calls.

Chapter 68 was All for One's opening move: The King's Gambit.
Chapters 69 and 70 were the pause before the reply: The Tempo.
Chapter 70 will have the heroes making the next move: The Dutch Defense.

See you all then!

A huge shout out to my beta reader WereTech

As always, comments reviews and critiques are always welcome!