Mister Monoma, could you please stay behind after class?"
Neito frowned in concern, he could feel his classmates judging him. His was the 'copycat' quirk, he was nothing more than an imposter. No matter that he was one of the best in their grade in scholastics and combat alike.
"Sure thing, Sensei." He smiled, acted like everything was just fine. Head high, surely the teacher was asking to talk to him over something positive, right? But, then, why would Vlad ask him to stay behind instead of announce it to the class?
His mind came up with increasingly negative scenarios for the few minutes until class let out, including the possibility that someone used their quirk for something unpleasant and he, the power copier, might get the blame. Again.
"What did you need, Sensei?" He asked the moment everyone was out.
Vlad shook his head. "Not here, come."
What? Why? He kept smiling, and followed along. "Am I getting an award or expelled?"
"Couldn't be further off the mark if you tried, now please keep any further speculation to yourself. Trust me, it's better that way."
Vlad led him to the elevator- normally reserved for those handful of students who for one reason or another couldn't take the stairs. A rarity, given the athletic nature of hero work, but not unheard of.
He was less prepared for when the elevator shifted sideways. He stumbled a little, before putting on his grin. "This is certainly new."
"Yes, and only the first stage," Vlad said. "What you witness past this point will never be spoken of again. Not even to me."
Neito knew Vlad was serious, and swallowed. "Understood, Sir. Am I about to be dragged into some shady conspiracy?"
"Conspiracy? Perhaps. Shady? Well, I like to think we're the good guys. But no matter how you look at it, there are worse factions out there by far. Now, let me read you in and get your oath to silence. Understand that this is your last chance to back out, if you wish to continue, what you are about to witness is considered a state secret-"
The official sounding language conveyed quite a simple message: keep your mouth shut or we'll toss you into a prison civilians don't even know exists.
Neito wondered if he should back out, but that was never his style. If he was the sort of person who could do that, he wouldn't have ignored all those jealous kids at school who said he was nothing but a copycat. Wouldn't have kept striving, developed a fighting style some might call 'villainous' to aid him with his quirk. He wouldn't be here.
Not that he was unique in that. U.A. was filled with students just as driven, just as stubborn, and yet he was one of the best even in this rarified institution. "I understand and give my oath. Would you like me to make a statement about being of sound mind and body, too?"
Vlad smiled at the joke. "No, that won't be necessary."
The elevator stopped moving sideways, then went down again. If Neito had to guess, they were well below the U.A. building by this point. Somewhere underground, but it would be impossible to guess where.
The elevator stopped and the door opened to what looked like an ordinary corporate meeting hall. It was the guest list that caught his attention: All Might, Nezu, two other men in suits, two police officers, and a man whose arms were amputated at the elbows.
"First, before anything else," All Might said. "We need to know if you can copy this man's quirk. It is powerful, dangerous, but he can no longer access it due to his injuries."
"I'm willing to try, of course." Neito didn't hesitate, save to eye the police officers and their weapons- he certainly trusted All Might, but one never could be too certain.
The armless man looked at one of the men in suits. "You promise? You'll let me see the boss? I need to apologize to the boss."
"Yes," he said. "No matter how this turns out, you'll be granted your meeting. Though, in his current state, I wouldn't expect an answer out of him."
"Fine, just, take me to the boss. That's all I ask."
Neito had no idea who or what that was about, but he did his part, approached, and touched the man's shoulder. The most incredible quirk he'd ever made contact with entered his mind, incomprehensible in its scope and capacity. "I... yes, I can copy it."
He stood tall, smiled. Yeah, the quirk was a mess, but he could use it, so he passed-
"But," the man in the suit said. "My quirk is lie detection, and you kept a great deal back just then."
He deflated a little, but managed to keep his smile, albeit a little more self-deprecating in the wake of that revelation. "But it's the most complicated ability I've ever held. I don't know how to use it."
"I'll teach you!" The armless prisoner declared. "If you promise to use it to heal the boss, I'll tell you everything I know!"
"That true?" The other guy in the suit asked.
"Yes. And there's enough sincerity that he believes that it will work. I'll want to ask him further questions, to catch any more subtle deception and then perhaps see how much more he'll reveal about the underworld. But for now, it appears we can move forward."
"We will, of course, need to contact next of kin and seek permission," the first guy said.
"Me!" The prisoner shouted. "That's me! His son by adoption! I give permission! After I teach him! When he can heal the boss!"
The pair again looked at each other, a silent conversation in a glance. "Assuming that is true, and considering the enormous potential value this would represent... I'll see to everything on my end."
"Yes, Sir, I'll do my part as well."
"And, of course, U.A. will spare no efforts in our part," Nezu added. "So long as Mister Monoma is willing, of course."
The apparent 'top suit' looked at Neito. "I certainly hope you do. You will be doing U.A., and your country, a great service."
"Well, when you put it that way, how could any hero possibly refuse?" Neito stood tall and brushed his hair back, his smile in full force. It was this, or start shouting in excitement over what he'd witnessed. This was important, and it was something only he could do.
"Very well, I'll go arrange everything on my end."
"The boss?" The armless man asked again.
"We will arrange for you to see the boss, within a couple days. And with time, perhaps he'll even be able to hear your apology. But you must cooperate the whole time. We're already doing you more favors than a yakuza deserves."
"Yes, of course, that's all I ever wanted."
He and the police left, taking their prisoner with them.
Neito held back the urge to sigh. "I assume the plan is to have me access his power to serve as a healer? It will take time, but I promise you it's nothing one of U.A.'s top students can't handle."
"Yes, indeed," Nezu said. "And it will also be your top priority for the time being. That villain, formerly known as Overhaul, has demonstrated the potential to be the greatest healer the world has ever known. Yet he used it for evil.
"And while we aren't going to force you to move into healing studies, nor take you away from hero studies. From now on, your teachers are going to be... lenient with your coursework, so that you can devote that extra time to mastering that quirk."
"Well, yes, of course, that's only fair." He didn't know what to do with being given this sort of special treatment. But it felt good. "I had given some consideration to being a sidekick to a healer, and I'm not necessarily opposed to it even now. But for now, I'll certainly commit to being an auxilliary."
"That is excellent news, and no less than I expected of you," Vlad said. "But let's not forget your presence will be sorely missed among your classmates, so don't let yourself get a fat head over this."
"Uh, of course not, Vlad-Sensei!" Still, Neito knew there was more to this story. "I'm guessing, as important as this was, there's more to it. I mean, obviously keeping a yakuza like this needs to be a secret, but this seems a bit much on its own."
"An astute observation," All Might said. "Vlad has spoken highly of your perception and alertness, and clearly it's well-earned praise. You see, the reason we're placing such a priority on this..."
Then steam began to run off of him, and he deflated into a fragile, skeletal man. "Is me."
He coughed, and blood spattered out into his hand.
Neito Monoma's smile faded, as the true gravity of what he faced settled. He wasn't just going to be a healer, he was going to be the man who saved All Might. But the world would never be allowed to know.
The days passed in a blur. It started simple at first- as far as the outside world was concerned, he was given a special apprenticeship under Recovery Girl, to learn medicine and healing quirk use.
And making the occasional request. "Uh... sure, I suppose I can," Setsuna agreed. "I mean, I'm surprised you've decided to become a healer, but isn't recovery girl kinda... better?"
"No. Well, yes, but..." he trailed off. "It's a little different for me, since my quirk lets me copy other quirks, I'll be able to work with any hero. I... need to experience your quirk, to give me a better idea of how the body works."
"Then by all means, test away," she said. "I mean, I'd have agreed anyway, but Vlad tried to bribe me with extra credit."
Neito noted that wasn't all that different than his. "What do you mean 'tried'?"
"Ah, well," she smiled and scratched her head. "Kinda hard to offer the girl with a perfect GPA an opportunity to bump her numbers, huh?"
"Heh, I suppose it would."
"But the look on his face when I told him that, worth more than any extra credit. Guess our hero course teachers don't pay too much attention to our total grades, huh?"
"No, guess not."
And so the experiments began in earnest. With Setsuna as emergency backup, a way for him to recover if he accidentally melted off his fingers or something, Neito advanced the processes.
Mixing and matching objects, simple at first. Then ever-more complicated forms. Dozens of UA's robots, sacrificed on the altar of progress, for the goal of saving the Symbol of Peace.
"Soon, you'll be able to save the boss," Overhaul said. And, in spite of him having a name, he insisted on going by his villain monicker, and the name of his quirk.
Neito kind of understood it, but also found it contemptable, pathetic even. To think he'd become so engrossed in his quirk that he forgot what it meant to be human. A tragedy in its way, though he'd been given to understand the yakuza was a monster who regularly used this same power to disassemble and reassemble people.
He was the one who put 'the boss' in a coma, to further his own ambitions. Mutilated a child to abuse her power. Overhaul was the worst sort of scum.
And, it frightened him how easy he might have fallen into the same trap, if he hadn't been exposed to someone who already had.
He graduated to rodents, ripping them apart, putting them back together. The quirk itself helped- but if he was honest, Alex helped more. Alex, who taught him the fine art of quirk talking, and the philosophy of a versatile style and thinking to work with a variety of potential abilities.
Alex who had told him that his was going to be the hardest journey of every one of those he trained.
Alex, who betrayed them.
But also Alex, who handed Overhaul over to him. And it was to him, specifically. The more he thought about it, the more he knew that Alex had to know about All Might's injuries- with that perception quirk of his, no doubt.
So why would Alex betray them, and then give them the instrument to unmake his actions as a villain?
It didn't make much sense, and there were few people he could ask.
So he picked the one man who might have an answer.
"I... can't say," All Might admitted. "I'm afraid I haven't revealed every aspect of the truth to you, nor can I. Some secrets need to remain secret, you understand."
That was disappointing, but. "I understand. I... can probably guess, then. He wouldn't have given us Overhaul if he wasn't on our, on your, side. Right."
All Might remained quiet. Neito assumed that was because it would be digging too deep into something he wasn't meant to know. In truth, it because All Might himself needed to reconsider a few of his own assumptions.
And so Neito continued to study.
He graduated to rats, and it turned his stomach every time the protective bulletproof glass barrier exploded into gore.
Next to him, Overhaul shuddered. "I hate that part. It's for the boss, everything's for the boss, I must hear his voice again. I must apologize for real. I must atone."
It was not lost on him that Overhaul was getting more unstable as they worked. More insistent, sometimes even angry at his lack of progress.
Neito tried, and tried. He slipped into meditation like Alex had taught him, and finally succeeded... in not exploding the rat. The thing still died, unmade and rebuilt, but without the spark of life.
"Too slow!" Overhaul shouted. "It must be faster!"
He didn't understand that limitation- what was it that required a near instantaneous rebuild of the body to save it?
According to All Might, the medical scientists couldn't figure it out, either. As far as they could tell, the rodents didn't 'die' so much as 'stop being alive'. Which one would think was the same thing, but death had a cause, and these rats... didn't.
So he continued, until finally a single rat survived.
For an hour. Then its heart decided it didn't want to work, anymore.
Days blended into weeks, blended into months. He heard about Todoroki and his brothers, revealing their father's crimes. He barely paid any attention. At this point, his life was mastering overhaul, or it was hero course training.
Alex was apparently a double-agent within the villains. All Might was dying, and there was something in the background, some threat, that was driving them forward.
Then, finally, the rat- one of hundreds he'd rendered into gore, reformed and remained, a living thing taken apart, rebuilt, and still breathing.
"You did it! You can save the boss, now!"
He... could, he could.
"Not quite yet," he said. "We need to make sure I've got better control, that I won't just erase someone's brain and leave an amnesiac behind."
The next stage was to train a rat on a maze, then rebuild it, then ensure it still knew the maze.
That... went far faster than the last stage. Once he'd gotten over the hurdle, the quirk seemed to do all the work for him.
Then, he used it on himself, just one foot. And had to borrow Setsuna's power to grow back some missing toes. Or, more accurately, to remove the toes from where they were and put them back where they belonged.
Self-targetting was the worst pain Neito had ever experienced, and he had no idea how Overhaul did it. He refused to ever use that power on himself again.
But, eventually the day came. And they returned to that secret, hidden basement.
Where another man in a suit waited. "Sir Nighteye?" All Might asked. "What are you... why are you here?"
"The mission," Nighteye said. "After all, we wouldn't want to go through with this if my power thinks for a second you won't survive."
"You're willing to do that?" All Might asked. "What if... I thought you felt your quirk was inviolable, and if this fails, I'll be doomed to do it anyway."
"Well, yes, but... I suppose I've never used it in a situation quite like this one," he said. "I suppose I should have tried. After all, people undergo life threatening surgeries all the time, do they not? I'll simply try to see your future some hours from now. If I see nothing, you don't undergo the procedure. And this time, I expect you to listen to my warning."
"Yes, old friend, this time I shall."
Nighteye and All Might clasped hands and shook.
Nighteye nodded and smiled. "In a few hours, you eat a large bowl of curry. You greatly overestimate your tolerance of spice."
All Might smiled back. "I haven't been able to eat spicy foods since my injury. But the way you say that sounds like a challenge, old friend."
"Maybe it is, at that. But one you're fated to lose."
All Might reached out to Neito. "We shall see. We shall see."
=====
Izuku looked at Tsuyu laying next to him on the bed, and he couldn't help but feel guilt. It was great in the moment- amazing even- and after all the everything. But now that it was over, all that came back and more.
"I... understand." Tsuyu sat up. "Thanks for the memory, at least."
"Wait, what!?" Izuku shouted.
On the other side of him, Ochako stirred. "What's wrong?"
"I... kero..." Tsuyu looked away. "I saw the way Izuku just looked at me, and I guess it was stupid of me to think this was going to work. Don't worry, I'll be fine, kero."
Izuku's fears slammed into him, and he shot up in bed, his hands getting tangled int the sheets as he tried to wave off her concerns. "No! No, that's not it at all! I mean, I'm, it's not you! You don't have to leave!"
"Please, Tsu, it took us this long to get to this point, at least give him time to explain before you leave." Ochako sat up, bringing her blanket up with her. "It's probably nothing to do with you at all. That's just how Izuku is, you know that."
Tsuyu gave a soft, noncommittal croak. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask."
"Good." Ochako leaned down, using the newly created Izuku-bundle as a pillow. "Now, stop struggling and breathe. I'll let you go later."
Izuku, still tangled up in the blanket, looked down. "I was just thinking, about stuff. I don't feel like I deserve any of it."
"I know, I feel the same way sometimes," Ochako agreed. "The best boyfriend a girl could ask for, a best friend... I guess girlfriend, now? Who's really, unreasonably, good with her tongue."
And then she started to glow red. "I can't believe I just said that!"
"Kero." Tsuyu croaked, but her heteromorphic traits hid any blush "And I can't believe I did it, but... I'll be happy to do it again, especially if you'll show me how you do that thing with your fingers."
"Hehe..." Ochako kept blushing. "That's only fair, right?"
"No," Izuku said. "I mean, yes! But also, I was just thinking about how we're here, doing this, being happy, and it seems like life is falling apart for half our friends. Alex became a villain, Shoto's... well, I can't say I was ever that close to him, but I feel like it's almost an insult to them?"
Tsuyu tapped her finger to the side of her mouth. "Yeah, that sounds like a very Izuku thing to be worried about."
"I told you he doesn't know how to shut off that whole 'hero' thing," Ochako said. "I mean, it's why I fell for him in the first place. He was willing to destroy himself to save me, even though in retrospect I'm sure those robots had some sort of safety protocol so it wouldn't have hurt me."
"Oh!" Izuku shouted. "Yeah, that sounds reasonable... I wonder if there were thrusters, or maybe a magnetic..."
"I guess it's not me, then." Tsuyu relaxed, and joined Ochako in laying on the Izuku-roll and white noise generator. "This is the part that appealed to me. Smart, thoughtful, and it's kinda fun saving the two of you from jerks who should mind their own business. Also, he jumped in front of that Nomu for me, and... we know that thing had no 'safeties'."
"Hey, you were in there in the thick of it, too," Ochako said. "There wasn't much my power could do, so I had to watch, but you fought."
"Well, you could have run," she said. "Saved yourself, but you chose to stay. And then that thing with Toga, where you're the one who saved me. So I'd say all in all, there are worse foundations to start a... whatever this is."
Ochako giggled. "You know, we owe the knife wielding lunatic an apology. We called her a liar how many times? Yet she told the truth about everything. And would you have said anything if I hadn't confronted you?"
"Kero. Probably not. Guess I'm not as forthright as I thought I was." She reached out, brushed her hand across Ochako's arm. "I can't tell you how grateful I am."
"Hehe, well..." Ochako scratched her cheek. "You can always show me, you know, like last night."
"I'd love to, kero." Tsuyu sat up. "But classes are going to start soon, and I don't think your boyfriend's missed a day yet that wasn't caused by breaking his everything."
"Heh, I guess not." Reluctant though it was, Ochako got up, following Tsuyu, so that poor Izuku could untangle himself and get ready for school.
"I guess we know which of the three of us is really in charge."
Ochako laughed. "Well, I am the breadwinner after all."
"Yeah, I guess so. Speaking of, do you have that contract?" Tsuyu croaked again. "Not because I want to get involved in your money, that's not who I am. But Alex said something about him being a villain not being a violation of the contract, and you said there was a sort of buyout clause?"
"Well, yes, but all of it depends on me graduating U.A., so... it won't matter for a while."
"Yeah, guess you're right..."
The two of them left the room, and thus was the story of how Izuku Midoriya became U.A.'s greatest hero, to the men of the school. Not that anyone was dumb enough to talk about it too loud.
They learned early in the school year that you didn't want to get on Asui's bad side. And that the students of the USJ attack had a special sort of brotherhood.
Besides, most of the students were already jealous of Midoriya. The kid who regularly had private lunches with All Might. The rumors that he might secretly be All Might's son were the more relevant topic to most, as he kept growing in strength at an alarming rate that might one day match the Symbol of Peace himself.
Not that Midoriya knew any of this, other than some good-natured teasing from some of his classmates about the girls leaving his room that morning. Which he dealt with his usual grace (stammering and trying to change the topic).
This was why his friends were convinced he couldn't be All Might's kid- Izuku couldn't lie to save his own life. The moment they asked, he'd have blurted it out if it was true.
"Young Midoriya, join me for lunch!" All Might, however, didn't make it easy for the rumors to die.
"Of course!" Nor did Izuku.
But this time was different. Izuku sat down, still watching his mentor in his bulk form. "Uh, All Might... you're not changing back?"
"Haha!" All Might laughed. "I haven't transformed all day!" He activated his power, and his muscles bulged, but the difference was subtle, closer to how Izuku's manifestation of his power worked.
"Wow! That's amazing! What happened!?"
"That would be young Monoma's work," All Might stated. "I apologize for not telling you about it sooner, but there was no guarantee it would work. And even if it had, nobody expected it to work as well as it had."
"What worked? What happened? How did Monoma's power do this?"
"Well, you remember the yakuza raid, of course. And Overhaul."
"How could I not?" Izuku's tone darkened, the anger crept in at the edges. "Eri still cries, sometimes, when she thinks nobody's looking at her. I know it's awful to say, but he deserved what happened to him."
Getting his arms burned off, or whatever happened, was nothing compared to what he'd inflicted on that poor child.
"Right, and that's where Monoma comes in. Fat Gum kept it quiet, as he was asked, but Alex told him that Overhaul's power could be used for healing, and specifically said that U.A.'s power copier should get him."
Izuku perked up. "Then, that means!" Then he stopped. "Uh, I'm not sure what that means?"
"Been a topic of speculation among the staff, too," All Might said. "But it's clear he knew about my injuries, and wanted me healed. Which suggests he's not the villain we thought he was... vigilante or antihero, perhaps."
"He... would probably say what he always does," Izuku said. "He's a soldier, not a hero. And I guess not a villain, either."
"Yes, Aizawa came to the same assessment," All Might agreed. "And I'm glad he's still on our side, in his own way. Because thanks to Monoma's healing... I'm back and almost as good as ever!"
"Almost as good? But what about One for All?"
"That's the weird thing," All Might said. "Keep this to yourself, but it appears Monoma's use of Overhaul's power used my powered state as my default... based on testing, I'm at well over twenty percent of my strength even without using One for All's power."
Izuku's eyes went wide. "But twenty percent of your power would make you stronger than almost any other hero, without a quirk!"
"Yes, well, it's not all sunshine and roses," All Might said. "Alex's assessment of my power helping me telekinetically was also true. If I jump with my strength, the ground beneath my feet shifts like water. I've done some of the rescue simulations with dummies, and there's no way I'd be able to grab a normal person without killing him."
Izuku opened his mouth, then closed it and started muttering again.
"But that's quite alright!" All Might declared. "With this new lease on life, I'll have power to spare for years by taking a lesson from you and only using tiny fragments of my power, relying on it just for the telekinetic support rather than power!"
Izuku started crying. To think that he inspired All Might! It was too much for him to bear.
"Yes, it truly is remarkable news, but... it's far from everything."
"Th-there's more!?" Izuku choked back the sobs. "What else can there be?"
"Well, to start with, Monoma could easily help you with all your old injuries. Nezu thinks One for All will also help reinforce you. There's just a couple major problems, and that's where you need to be asked."
Izuku nodded, focusing on the subject at hand with all his concentration.
"The first, the lesser knowing you, is that it hurts like you would not believe," All Might stated, thinking back to his own experience having his insides reduced to ash and then rebuilt. "Even having my entrails ripped out doesn't compare to Overhaul's power."
As if Izuku needed any more reason to hate him. Murdering Eri over and over was horrific enough, but if it hurt like that, then that was somehow even worse.
He looked down at his arms- the scars, the ache with every movement of his fingers, the reminder that if he pushed too far, he'd lose the ability to use his limbs and nothing any ordinary healer could do would give them back to him.
"I'm willing to endure the pain." Because he would, so that in the future he would be there to save the next little Eri from her suffering.
"I didn't doubt you for a second," All Might agreed. "The second is more compicated, as it would almost certainly result in Monoma learning the nature of One for All. Having not only made contact with your power as well as the echoes of mine, but disassembled it via Overhaul's ability.
"As such, we would be bringing another in on the secret, another who might be tempted to take that power from you."
Izuku offered a sad smile. "He can't. Few people ever will."
"What do you mean by that, Midoriya?"
"I've been talking to the other users, as you know. A few nights ago, it was revealed to me that One for All kills its wielders... causes them to experience rapid aging by damaging the vessel by overfilling it. Death no more than a decade after its inheritance. And that was well over a century ago, when it hadn't accumulated a quarter of the power it now has.
"Only the quirkless can survive the power, now," he finished.
All Might sat, thinking, considering. "I... suppose that makes sense. Quite the coincidence that two quirkless individuals in a row inherited the power."
Izuku took a breath. "Your... echo, within my mindscape, doesn't think so. He thinks it's in part the Fourth's power. That danger sense, even if it wasn't active on a conscious level, had evolved enough to subtly guide Nana and then you toward quirkless recipients."
Izuku held up his hand, clenched it into the fist. "No matter how you look at it, One for All was destined to bring power to the powerless. But with quirkless individuals growing ever rarer, its time may be nearing its end."
All Might frowned, considering that information. "That would fit with something Nighteye told me, about his power's predictions."
"Oh?" Izuku looked up- he'd practiced against Nighteye, and lost in spite of being at a great physical advantage over him. "Is something wrong?"
"More like something is more right than ever," All Might answered. "We talked about many things last night, and it seems his power has been compromised."
"That... doesn't sound good?" Izuku wasn't sure how that was anything but bad.
"Well, no, but also... Nighteye believes that his power to see the future was deterministic, that if he predicted it, it would be forced to happen. He's tried to change his predictions, and it always fails."
"Ah, yes, he mentioned something like that."
"And he predicted that, were you to be the recipient of One for All, then I would die, and it would be horrific. We... discussed the possibility of it being the use of Overhaul's power to heal me, but he says that was never in the future he foresaw."
Izuku blinked. "So, his power has blind spots?"
All Might shook his head. "No, or at least he believes it doesn't. Instead, his theory is there is some other quirk, another powerful time manipulation, at play. One which competes with his own for control of the future. We thought it might be Eri, but... it seems like it's influencing the future, not changing the past like her."
Izuku took a breath. "A more powerful precognitive, then?"
All Might shook his head again. "No, Nighteye thinks his power could overwhelm and push away the other precog. But, the future he foresees ends with my death. So he is choosing to... cede the battlefield, as it were."
"Oh, then that sounds like the best plan, right? How was that a topic of concern?"
"That we couldn't identify the source of that interference- it may well have been some power All for One acquired and was using against us. But now, knowing that One for All carries a strong precognitive ability of its own, one which steered me, and now you, away from tragedy. Enough to have also saved Mirio's life..."
"Mirio!" Izuku's head went up. "He's a great hero, all with a quirk in many ways more hindrance than help. Was he supposed to be the next inheritor? Because I could see how that would make him unstoppable- even his phasing and Nana's flight combined would make him almost unbeatable."
"That was Nighteye's wish, and for a time I was coming to agree with the assessment, but I was unwilling to commit. If the fourth really did act to create that doubt, acted to save Mirio's life..." All Might smiled, more genuine that he had in a long time. "I think I'll have much to talk to Nighteye about next time we meet."
Izuku relaxed, his own stresses melting off. He'd felt guilty about One for All, about taking someone else- someone more worthy's- future. Knowing One for All chose him, specifically him, rather than kill a good man like Mirio... lifted a burden he had believed he would carry the rest of his life.
Vlad opened the door to their room. "Apologies, but you need to turn on the television, right now."
"What channel?" All Might asked.
"Doesn't matter, it's on all of them." Vlad hit the button on the television, revealing a man standing in front of a podium.
"It saddens, sickens me, to learn that the HPSC has been spying on me, my party, and worst of all the good people whose votes have supported the Hearts and Mind party throughout the years."
The man who spoke frowned, closed his eyes. "It does not, however, surprise me. Their first reflex has always been to label those who speak out against their abuses as radicals, terrorists, villains..."
And so the politician, whom Izuku learned was named Hanabata, continued, laying out his grievances before a gaggle of reporters.
"Excuse me, Sir, how does this impact your own political position. With the upcoming elections, and your party being spied upon by a government organization..."
"Well, I can hardly accuse my political rivals of anything," Hanabata stated. "After all, many of them were also victims of similar overreach and abuse. Certainly, I will and have already begun reaching out to my fellow voices of reason.
"Exactly how, and with whom, will be dependent upon the exact details of the leak, of which we only learned about less than an hour ago. But I assure the people of Japan that the Hearts and Mind party will not allow this crime against freedom and law to go unanswered."
"That..." All Might looked at Vlad. "I'll need to talk to Principal Nezu, but... I doubt I'll be able to stay silent, this time."
"Alex, did you do this?" Izuku asked nobody in particular. Left silent, was the question of why he did it. Instead, he looked down at his scarred arms and came to the only right conclusion. "We should get Monoma to heal me."
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A/N- Izuku's having fun. Alex just keeps proving his value. To everyone except the establishment. He's gotta be higher on their kill list than AfO by this point.
Had to admit, it was pretty bizarre walking into this prison knowing full well it was a revolutionary compound, and its main prisoner a hero, but such was the life I now lived.
The guards knew the score, let me through the first gate, where I had to strip and walk through to a second, which was sealed, scanned, and then opened to the third. To switch into a prison-issued jumpsuit. A three-stage airlock because the prisoner's quirk was just that dangerous.
Less thrilling was that I was alone. There'd be precious little chance to hide anything, and I wouldn't even have access to Toga's powers of perception. I'd grown far too dependent on them these last few months.
"Ah, the mysterious 'X'," the captive said the moment I stepped into his room. There was still inches of bullet proof 'glass' between us. "You were famous in my circles last week, gotta be enemy number one now."
"And here I'm just getting started." I sat down in front of him. Hawks, one of the top heroes, bit of a goofball, and a deadly assassin on the side. "But thanks for the info."
"Oh?" Hawks smiled at me. "Are you pretending you didn't already know?"
"Well, more 'assumed' than 'knew'," I admitted. "I'm aware my flimsy ass cover didn't survive the yakuza compound. But thanks for confirming that Dad's still out there looking out for me. Did they ever discuss with you disposing of me in spite of what it might mean to kill a top intel guy's son?"
Hawks smirked back. "If I answer, what do I get in return? That's your famous American way, isn't it? Quid pro quo, all the way up and down the chain? I hear you're quite the talented psychopath... gotta admit, in person, you don't come across the type."
I shrugged. "Never really cared for labels. Hero, villain. Revolutionary, terrorist. All just words for allies and enemies in the great game. At least we of the League are honest with each other about who we are, that we're all using each other for our own ends."
Hawks laughed. "I suppose you've got my whole life story in those files, so I don't need to tell you much about me. Nor am I likely to convince the MLA that I was anything but a plant from the beginning. I'm not going to pretend I'm some high-minded sort, you'll probably have me saying whatever you want under torture soon, anyway."
"Nah, we're letting you go, no torture needed." That was my first of two curveballs, and I used it early to get the conversation going where I wanted it. "Day or two at the most, you'll be free as your namesake. Maybe slightly worse for the wear."
He blinked. "Is this some sort of mind game? I admit, I don't see the point."
"After a fashion," I admitted. "Look, I won't pretend half the people in this city don't want you dead or worse. You'll never be trusted, never have a place in the MLA... and you don't have the right nature for the League. But I blew through a lot of my political capital to save your life, so don't go wasting it."
"And there you are, making me wonder if you have a conscience." He leaned back, as if he hadn't a care in the world. "Or is part of whatever game you're playing?"
Conscience, but I'll never admit it here. "Pure pragmatism, and the next weapon in the arsenal to bring about the downfall of your HPSC and the corruption in your government."
His eyes narrowed, and I knew he was applying the spy training he'd had against me... without Toga's power backing me, he was probably breaking down my every action in his mind and there wasn't shit I could do about it. "Hmm, are you a sincere believer, then?"
I shrugged. "I'm American, and I guess I'm following my ancestral roots. You know, see people doing shit a dumb way, come in and smack them around until they get their shit in order. Call it 'humanitarian' if you want. Or, call it colonialism. I don't really care."
"Well, seeing as apparently I get my freedom either way, I'd be stupid not to let you explain your plan. I'm sure my new boss will be thrilled to get anything he can on you when he's appointed next week."
No doubt. "Yeah, sure, I'll play the supervillain ranting at the caged prisoner about how his plan's unbeatable." I also leaned back, feigning confidence as well. "Killing you, of course, makes you a martyr. Nobody understands the power of a good martyr like Americans... except Catholics."
"Glad to hear it, never was eager to die for the cause," Hawks said. "I'd rather have a pleasant world where heroes have a nice life with plenty of spare time. Including myself."
"Fair," I agreed. Though I'd be an idiot to buy his 'lazy' act as anything but an act. "The second possibility is that we walk out right now. You take what information you have back to your new boss, and maybe they turn around to strike back at the MLA, in spite of the lack of any real evidence.
"Those raids will be documented by countless hidden cameras, a veritable panopticon of recording police abuse, and every victim will be a martyr of the revolution. Things will get so very much worse, and may very well lead to a true civil war."
He considered what I'd said- I wasn't going to be able to appeal to emotion on this argument, nor manipulation, not with a man who was trained in this sort of game. I might not have been good enough to fool him even with Toga's power, I sure as fuck wasn't good enough without. Which meant I had to rely on pure, cold, logic. And hope that was enough.
"And if I inform them that you're prepared for the raid? That it would do more harm than good?"
"Will they listen?" I asked, then moved on without waiting for an answer. "But let's say for sake of argument they do? That just means you'll be hunkering down, waiting for the next strike while knowing nothing about where it comes from.
"And it will come. We pulled enough data to know about you. Enough data to know about the spy program on... pretty much every political and advocacy group in the country, near as we can tell."
He considered it a moment. "So when you released only a select few..."
"We were doing so to give the most... accommodating of them a political boost, yes. If you're wondering, no, they're mostly unconnected to each other or to me and mine. But, they're pushing for things I want, and so I gave them the first mover advantage. Soon, it'll be revealed that all the political groups were victims... but by then, leadership of the victimized will be more or less determined."
Hawks' cocksure smile faded for a moment. Leaving me to wonder if it might have been an intentional tell or true emotion. "I... suppose there really isn't much we can do to stop that, huh?"
"Well, if you wanna be a martyr," I answered the rhetorical question. "You'd dominate the news cycle long enough to soften the blow. But it'd be a pretty sad martyrdom, I'd say.
"Dying for your country, or your faith can be respected. But to die so a bunch of corrupt bureaucrats can keep perpetuating their corruption rather than maybe letting someone else have power? I'm afraid I don't see the appeal."
Hawks' smile was back in full force. "I see your point, not worth it even if I didn't value my own life so highly."
"And that brings up my next point very nicely," I said. "If I tell you the next next stage in my plan, it will be a matter of lives. If I don't tell you anything, and let you go, then things will go more or less as planned. Another victory, another wound in the corrupt beast that is the HPSC."
"Is this the part where I'm supposed to beg for more information? Act shocked? Call you a liar to tease out the story?" Hawks crossed his arms. "You're enjoying the monologueing villain role too much for me to think you need the bait. What do you want?"
"A measure of your character, to be honest," I said. "Behind all the acts, lies, lies to yourself, who you really are. And, no, I don't expect to find out anything of value here, no matter what either of us say."
"So... this is just for fun, then?"
"Well, I admit, it is fun, maybe even addictive. No wonder villains are so eager to do this all the time. But... no, the second possibility is that I tell you my actual next stage, and ask for your help."
"Sure, if that's all it takes, tell me and ask." He might have been pretending to be flippant as always, but I was watching the way his muscles tensed. He... may have been good enough to fake that level of interest, but I didn't think he did. The problem was how many reasons he had to be interested.
"That's just the thing," I continued. "Should I tell you, should I bring you in on this mission, you will either have to help us, or you will essentially be condemning innocent people to death. Some people have been been hiding this secret a while, and are more than willing to kill to save their asses and silence the witnesses."
Hawks feigned a bored sigh. "In other words, either I don't know and am safe. Know and do nothing, which makes me a traitor. Know and help you, which makes me a visible traitor. Or know and tell my bosses, which will in effect make me a murderer? More so than I already am."
"That is more or less the situation at hand, yes. But knowing and helping will almost certainly save lives, while without your help there's always the possibility the victims are silenced even after the crime is revealed.
"My course is set, yours... cooperate, and you help save lives. Refuse, and stay, what happens won't be your responsibility. Lie, and blood is on your hands."
Hawks closed his eyes. Now more than ever, I hoped his emotions were genuine. Now, more than ever, I feared they weren't. "I take back everything I said. You might be the cruelest, most sadistic, villain I've ever known."
"Can I have that quote in writing?" I asked. "My boss likes to do performance reviews."
He smiled again, laughed a little. "Sounds like both of us need a new line of work. So, what horribly convoluted plot are we revealing to the world that requires this song and dance?"
Really hoped he wasn't leading me on. But, I'd read his records, and he struck me as... well, a lot like me in a way. If I was right, he would never betray his country. But he might betray his boss, for his country's sake.
Time for my leap of faith. "Tell me, what do you know about Kaina Tsutsumi, better known as Lady Nagant?"
Hawks tensed, and sat forward, all bravado and calm wiped away for a cold, calculating anger.
"When this is finished, you'll have my opinion of you in writing. But first I'm going to need a thesaurus to look up every synonym of 'loathsome' in the Japanese language. And when I'm done, I'll move on to English to properly convey how much I hate you right now."
"Happy to hear it." I allowed myself to hope- if he was faking his current reaction, I never stood a chance.
=====
A/N- Did anyone imagine I was going to ignore Lady Nagant?
Prisoner, wake up, assume secure position."
Tsutsumi, formerly Lady Nagant, climbed out of bed and walked to the wall. She put her arms through the hole, allowing them to be shackled, before the guards came in and did the same to lock down the rest of her body.
She didn't like the way this one looked at her, but the nature of surveillance in this place made any unauthorized contact with prisoners a great way to become a prisoner. As such, she was locked down.
At first, she expected this would just be another security check- maybe there was some hiccup in the system, or she moved a little too much in her sleep, or the warden wanted to put the men through a prisoner search drill.
The list of reasons they locked prisoners down was long, and she'd long stopped trying to resist. There was no point in it, it would only make them feel more justified in their actions.
What she had not expected was for them to come in and strap her to a transport cart and haul her out. Legs, torso, head, then her arms were released from the wall and pinned to her front. The full luggage experience was rare, even when moving prisoners for whatever reason.
She was taken to the main courtyard, where she discovered she wasn't alone. Two other prisoners were all in full containment cages.
"Great, so this is how we die, huh?" One of the other prisoners- a man by the voice, and as covered as they were there was no other identification she could pick up on. "Gonna guess none of us have a way out, g-aaah!!!"
The electro-shocks kicked in, punishing the man for speaking. "Prisoners, please refrain from discussing such topics as escape, or you will be punished."
Tsutsumi could almost answer 'yes' to his question. She could fashion her gun, maybe even fast enough to get a low power shot off before the containment system retaliated. Too bad there was no way she could punch a hole through the cage without also blowing off her own arm, not at this range.
Nor could she ready and fire a strong enough shot before the cage disabled her.
In other words: it was as hopeless as the rest of her life, and if their plan was to stage an accident or prison escape attempt to eliminate her and the others, then it was all over. Not a thing could be changed.
They were led to the back of a transport truck. More akin to an IFV than a normal bus or van, but all the stronger for it. The door opened, and two people were inside. Once, a police officer of no particular notability.
The other... "Do not fret, for I am here!" The symbol of peace, himself.
For whatever good that title meant. Once upon a time, Tutsumi would have been gushing with excitement. Had gushed with excitement those few times he had spoken at some event she attended.
That was both better and worse. Worse, because if any opportunity for escape had a chance of arising, it was gone now. Even if they were free, All Might would be able to disable all of them faster than the cage ever could.
"Please, come in," the officer said.
He waited for them be hauled in, the guards to leave, the hatch to close behind them. The vehicle started to move, and then their cages began their automated opening sequence.
"I'll ask all of you to remain calm," the officer said. "I am Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi, here to inform you that your sentences have, effectively, been commuted."
"Effectively?" The vocal male prisoner from before asked.
Tsutsumi was impressed; most people took several minutes to get the ability to vocalize back after a hit from a cage.
"It's a long story," the detective said. "Suffice it to say, a recent whistleblower has... given us strong reason to believe all of you are here under falsified, unjust, circumstances. And not only you, but dozens of others scattered across other, less secure, facilities. Currently, we are seeking to undo that injustice, and see to it those responsible take your place behind bars."
"Lemme guess," the talkative guy said. "Somehow the League busted into your most top secret files, and either you get ahead of the news, or get buried by it."
"League?" For the first time, Tsutsumi spoke.
"Right, you're one of the ones they keep on constant lockdown," he said. "Group calling itself the League of Villains have been causing chaos lately. I went in about a week after they stole some guy's laptop that ended up getting a bunch of people put away. I heard rumors that they ruined Endeavor's career, but you know how trustworthy news is inside Tartarus."
Tsutsumi didn't know, she was never given liberty to socialize with her fellow prisoners- a good thing, considering she was a woman and former hero. Neither of those did well in this sort of prison.
She almost asked how the League hadn't been hunted down, already. Killed by someone like her. Whomever replaced her was either shit at the job, or there was something deeper at play. In spite of herself, the old fire, that old desire to know, sparked to life inside her again.
"No, not exactly," the detective stated. "If the media hasn't already received word, they will soon, too soon for us to 'get ahead'. We were given a very narrow opportunity to act, to save your lives from people who'd silence witnesses. But I would have you know that if I knew about this ten years ago, I'd have acted on it ten years ago."
"And we will protect you," All Might added. "What you've suffered is unforgivable. I never would have allowed it to stand, had I known."
"Even if you don't trust me," the detective stated. "Surely you must trust him. It was his influence that has you here, in our custody, rather than in Tartarus where nobody could guarantee your safety.
Tsutsumi chewed it over, and... yes, she still trusted All Might. With his power, it would be stupid not to. If he wanted them dead, who or what could stop him? It didn't require a moment of faith. "Logically, it makes sense he wouldn't have known."
More, however, she was digging through what little she knew about the nature of their sudden removal. "The League warned you first. Which implies they're... also trying to save our lives, huh."
"Yeah!" The vocal man agreed. "Has to be. Can't say I learned much about them before I was caged, but from what I can tell they're more heroic than most heroes. I bet that stuff about them attacking U.A. was made up to smear their reputations."
Attack... U.A.? Lady Nagant went silent again, because she struggled to imagine the stupidity of attacking U.A. of all places. You'd be better off attacking Endeavor or Nighteye's agencies... at least then you only have one or two top-tier heroes to fight, instead of a dozen. And there'd have a certain... professionalism about such a battle.
She knew from experience the way heroes fought when protecting themselves, and the way they fought when protecting children. It did not compare.
"Nah," an older prisoner said. "The attacks were real. It's what came later that changed everything. The League has new leadership, a former U.A. student is in charge, except... I should probably leave it there, huh?"
"That would be appreciated, Mentat," All Might stated.
"We chose not to leave you behind, and clemency will be offered to you as much as the rest," the detective said. "But of the three of you, you're the one closest to being guilty of the crimes that got you imprisoned. "
"Oh, I'm guilty of far more than that," Mentat answered back. "But now you know why I'm guilty, and what my power can do. You'll be crawling to me in days, to use me just like they did... I wonder, will you dispose of me after as well?"
Tsutsumi considered that question, and... well, she could hardly claim anything certain one way or the other. They'd use her again as well, if she let them. Well, All Might wouldn't, All Might didn't need to.
All Might wasn't the man in charge. Which was a pity, she could almost believe he'd deliver the promises her younger, idealistic self so readily believed in.
For now, however, there wasn't much she could do but sit and consider her options. She might, once upon a time, have been loyal enough to keep her mouth shut. But those days were long past, and no small part of her wanted revenge for what they'd done to her.
Which... suggested teaming up with this League of Villains. But first, there'd be witness protection, testimony and trials and the parade 'seeking justice' that in truth only cared about being perceived as just.
Then the transport shuddered and began to veer off the road.
"Report!" The detective shouted.
"We don't know, Sir!" The driver up said over the com. "Suddenly the road started to melt, and radio chatter says Tartarus just lost towers twenty two and three!"
"Sounds like Shigaraki," the detective stated. "But his power is limited to touch range, isn't it?"
"Could be a quirk awakening?" Mentat suggested. "But, no, that feels wrong. Not knowing the exact details, I'd suggest an ally with some form of range extending power."
Everyone looked at him, and he shrugged. "That's my power, to know things. Or at least that's the most I'll share with you."
An explosion rang out in the distance, followed by a rumbling sound.
"The bridge behind us just collapsed!" The trooper in the front shouted.
All Might's famous smile faded for a moment.
"You can go help if you want," Mentat suggested. "Our choices are cooperation for full acquittal and a juicy lawsuit that probably ends with us being millionaires, or run and be fugitives for life. I can wait to get my revenge. Which I assure you, will be entirely legal, if less than moral."
"Right. I'll be back the moment I solve this crisis." All Might flashed his winning smile, and vanished from the transport vehicle in the blink of an eye.
"Uh..." the talkative man started. "Mister 'knows things'? How did he manage to open, leave, and then close that steel door so fast we couldn't see it, without doing all sorts of damage to the truck?"
"There are some things that defy understanding," Mentat stated. "All Might is one of those things. Especially right now."
Any further elaboration was cut off by another not so distant explosion.
"Status report," the detective demanded.
"Uh, in front of the prisoners?"
"Yes, especially in front of these prisoners," he insisted. "An attack on Tartarus means the release of some true monsters, and we need to know what to do."
"In other words, he wants my power," Mentat stated. "Which is fine, I'm more than willing to volunteer. Just based on the distance of the explosions, I estimate the eastern court was just breached, which means Kunieda's block. Unless we're lucky and his cell landed on top of him, that prison's going to be a graveyard soon."
Tsutsumi drew in a breath; of all the people she wished she'd been sent to kill, he was perhaps at the top. That sick bastard didn't deserve a trial or a pulse.
A thud sounded nearby, and then the detective began to shout.
Without warning, Mentat had jumped him and grabbed his gun.
The pair were still struggling when the hatch to their transport opened. A knife flew in would have sank into the officer's head if he wasn't busy struggling over his own gun. "Hi! I'm Himiko Toga, here to re- ah!"
The first gunshot rang out. Displaying an impossible grace, Toga evaded the shot. Lady Nagant had only ever seen moves like that from people with combat instincts, and even among those she was one of the fastest.
If this was the quality of skill possessed by the League, it was no wonder they hadn't been dealt with yet. However...
"Wo-guuuhk!"
The second struck her directly in the neck. She stumbled back into the night.
"And now you can have your gun back," Mentat said to officer Naomasa. "Go ahead and press charges if you like, but I just saved your life." He flipped the safety and handed the gun over, barrel facing the ground.
"Uh... thanks, I guess? Did you really have to do it that way?"
"If I wanted all of us to survive, and the villain to die? No, that was pretty much the only way to go about it. As I told All Might, and your own lie-sensing quirk confirmed, I very much prefer to remain in custody right-"
Another explosion, closer this time, rocked the compound. Followed by several more in rapid succession.
"- we should run." Mentat changed his tune mid sentence. "All Might's currently fighting multiple foes, each of them as strong as he is."
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A/N- If you're wondering, no you didn't miss a chapter. Probably.