Capítulo 12: Fallout

I think I can forgive Imoku asking for a shake in exchange for what he gave us. I made it extra sugary. Tomura was torn between wanting to go to demand answers from Izuku and gloating over Overhaul. Still, it wasn't that long before Toga came back. Apparently they'd cut the usual dinner short. I made sure Toga had seen Imoku eat a lot.

She rolled her eyes, and reminded me that she had been feeding her baby Izuku for the last two years…

The name she used did not go unnoticed but at least she had the sense to refer to Izuku only when she was alone with us. Finding out how she knows that name is something Overhaul can tell us. Himiko relayed some details and she even looked ashamed that she had been, at least partially, to blame for Imoku being found by Overhaul. She said something about owing him a favour. She positively glowed at the thought. I knew she liked older men but I wonder what she'd think if she knew Izuku was her own age.

Tomura waved her explanation off. He was too pleased with having Overhaul.

I'm not sure if he realises that Izuku used one of the quirk-destroying bullets we had given him. Maybe Tomura has noticed it and believes the payoff is worth the price. That would be like him. He's used to using rare items in games for an appropriate reward. Quirkless Overhaul is a very good reward.

I had thought that Izuku was going to copy the bullets. I am not sure what I feel about him having one stashed at his supposed mother's apartment. It makes me wonder where the other bullet is. I cannot argue the fact that it was used for a good purpose.

Tomura is currently wondering what to do with Overhaul. Personally I believe that making him into a Noumu would be interesting, though that would be far easier with Sensei. Forcing extra quirks into a person with one, drives them insane, though to be fair, at least some of the men used as the base for each Noumu have had a loose grip on sanity to begin with. The number of quirks required to drive a person insane depends on their mental strength and how closely related their quirk is to the one being forced into them. Someone with a strength augmentation quirk is likely to be able to withstand a shock absorption quirk but will not be able to handle any emitter type quirks.

Izuku is proof that a quirkless person can accept at least two quirks. Sensei was very clear that Izuku has two quirks, though I am still not sure what the second one is. I will have to ask Himiko if she knows. I suspect she doesn't. Toga is not stupid, so she will be aware that Izuku has two quirks but she will not know the details of the second.

Tomura doesn't care. But what I wonder is how someone who has had their quirk removed would handle the process of becoming a Noumu. Would they count as quirkless? Or would their body, like their mind, still remember their previous quirk?

I probably won't find out. It is a passing interest.

Of more interest than the mess Tomura will make of Overhaul is what is happening in the hero world. The HPSB finally issued their psychological assessment to the Heroes of Japan.

The fall out has been glorious. So many failures.

Villains have always known the truth so many of the public ignore. Heroes are in the gig for money, fame and glory. There are very few who enter the industry with the desire to truly help people.

I am not so naive as to believe that the HPBS assessment focused on that. For the younger ones, those in training, there will be some assessment of their desire. For the elder heroes, those with a proven record, then the test will have been geared to their mental stability.

It is laughable. I almost feel pity for the HPBS but it is a fact that all heroes have their… quirks, their own oddities. It is passed off as what is needed to be successful. Villains have them as well. Even the League. Twice is full of them. Toga as well with her desire to cut up any boy her age. It is a ritual for many but villains do not have to prove their mental stability. Our only qualifications are results.

The first Heroes to fail and were sensible about it, retired. The public still thinks rather highly of them. For the others… the HPBS was forced to announce their results, and things went down hill for them. None of them suffered as badly as Endeavor but it was another blow to an industry already reeling.

The public has almost had enough of Heroes. They are tired of the scandal. They want something more, something better. They are not going to get it, of course, but the public always desires the unobtainable. And it suits us.

In an effort to strengthen belief in the current order, the HPBS had All Might take the assessment. It came as a surprise to none that he passed it. The results were well publicised but… The public has not forgotten All Might's forced retirement. It still saddens me to know that Sensei is incarcerated but, I must remind myself that it was our victory. A leader for a leader, and Sensei was far more prepared for his defeat than All Might was.

I will grant that revealing All Might's assessment results calmed some of the public but those were the people who would have calmed anyway. In any society there are those who do not care, so long as their creature comforts are not disturbed. As much as I hate heroes, those people are worse. I can respect someone with an opinion, and the conviction to fight for it, even if that conviction is the desire for fame. But those who will sell themselves out… I do not like them.

But they are not the problem.

With Overhaul in good hands - heh - I'm sure the focus will now turn to Hawks. The hero passed his assessment. I'm sure the HPBS breathed a collective sigh of relief about that but they know the situation is still very fragile.

But that's okay, the League has a sledge hammer.

-afop-

"Hawks," Dabi greeted the number one hero as he moved from the shadows.

It was surprisingly easy to keep the pleased smile on his face. Hawks moved further into the abandoned building. Dabi was pleased to see that the Number One Pro-Hero wasn't suspicious but then they had been meeting for quite some time. And since they couldn't exactly go to a cafe for a cup of coffee, their meeting points had been a series of abandoned buildings and warehouses.

Hawks would have liked some isolated area but Dabi had pointed out early in their relationship that isolated areas were visible to security cameras, and it didn't matter how poor the area was, there was always one around.

A building or a warehouse had a roof to help hide them from prying eyes.

The warehouse today was solid. Concrete pillars held everything up and Dabi knew, because he'd had to scout it out, that there was at least five floors above them. Hawks was strong but did not possess a strength enhancement quirk. He might be able to cut through them, but the League had thought of that.

Tomura was more than aware of how important this battle was. They could not afford to have Hawks escape.

"What is that?" The hero demanded, looking behind Dabi.

"That's my Noumu," Dabi replied nonchalantly.

"Your Noumu?"

Dabi huffed. "You know we retrieved them. You were quite upset about it," he added, reminding the hero how annoyed he had been. At the time, Dabi had thought it was because Hawks wanted to join in, but now he knew it was because Hawks wanted to stop it. "I can't exactly leave it with the others, because it only obeys me."

He watched as Hawks moved forward slightly to get a better look at it.

"The chainsaw one," Dabi explained, knowing that as the Number One Hero would be familiar with the various designs.

They had the original Noumu, two of the Noumu used in Hosu, the Chainsaw Noumu and High End. All the others under development were considered too unfinished to use. It was a disappointment, since Hawks would have some understanding of their abilities.

But understanding abilities wasn't countering them and given that the original Noumu had been designed to take out All Might, the League was confident. The flying Noumu would have problems moving around in this setting but it was still remarkably quick. It was stationed on the roof of the building and would act if Hawks made to escape.

"It's bigger than I thought," Hawks said, moving slightly closer. The Hero was naturally wary and kept a bit of distance. Dabi was used to that and he shrugged at the statement. The Noumu just was.

"I think you are going to be happy today," Dabi told the Number One Hero.

"Oh?"

The fire villain gestured to the side. "Tomura wants to meet you," he said before the familiar swirl of Kurogiri's warp gate appeared.

There was a flash of surprised on the man's face before Dabi saw him settle. "I've wanted to meet him as well," Hawks replied as Tomura emerged. Kurogiri reformed behind him.

Dabi knew the warp villain had transported the other members of the League as well as the Noumus.

Tomura was dressed formally. That meant the full set of disembodied hands were gripping him. He still wore a simple black pullover, black pants with his red shoes. Dabi could see his eyes peering out from between the fingers of the hand covering his face.

The two of them faced off against each other. "Dabi has been telling me some interesting news," Tomura announced.

Hawks nodded. Dabi could see that the hero was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected this confrontation today, despite his requests.

Tomura lifted one hand, scratching at his neck. "Of course, the question everyone wants to know is why?"

"I didn't go through UA, so I didn't get indoctrinated like the rest of the good little heroes," Hawks said. "I've seen the damage heroes are doing. All Might was too powerful. He was too much of a symbol and now that he's gone, everything collapses. Endeavor-" Hawks snorted, "I used to admire him but the less said the better."

Dabi watched the speech. Now that he knew the Hero was planning on betraying them, the man's words took on a different meaning. He could hear the slight note of uncertainty, the surprise.

"Ah, but this one is still a hero," Tomura replied, in that whiny tone of voice he thankfully didn't use so often now. It made him seem like a spoiled toddler. Dabi could appreciate that it was for affect and was once again surprised at how controlled the League's leader could be, when he wanted.

The tone affected Hawks. Dabi could see the way the Hero cringed. It was subtle but Tomura could get under anyone's skin.

"Yes, Tomura Shigaraki, he is," Kurogiri replied. The warp villain had almost infinite patience when dealing with Tomura but Dabi supposed the mist villain had been doing it for longer than any of them… Except Imoku.

"And he plans on remaining a Hero," Tomura continued.

"No, I don't!" Hawks objected. It even sounded truthful.

"The Hero Public Safety Bureau plans indicate that he will," Kurogiri replied.

Hawks reacted instantly. He ripped two long feathers from his wings and charged towards Tomura almost too fast to be seen. Except, it wasn't the League taken by surprise. The original Noumu dropped through a portal, and behind Hawks, at the door, High End moved to cover the entrance.

Tomura didn't even move when Hawks slashed at the Noumu. It reacted. Hawks was fast but the Noumu had been created to take out a hero who was far strong and faster than Hawks. During All Might's reign, the winged hero had been worthy of the title Number Three Hero, but All Might embodied the huge gap between the Number One Hero and the rest. Not all Heroes were equal.

Even so Hawks managed to avoid the Noumu's punch. He flared his wings, sending a spray of features into the ground. Others flew around. Dabi was waiting for that. He sent a gout of fire to the ground, burning them. Hawks glanced at him for a moment. The hero saw everything he needed in that single look. Dabi's expression was hard and unforgiving. The friendship they might have formed was dead.

The hero backed away as the Noumu advanced. He was sensible enough to realise he was in a very bad situation. His assessment didn't get any better when he glanced behind to see the other Noumu blocking the door. And Kurogiri opened another warp gate, bringing in the last one. This was one that had been arrested in Hosu. Its four eyes glared balefully at the Hero.

"High End," Tomura called the name. It was enough of an order. High End wanted to fight. For a Noumu he actually had feelings. The others didn't and the bird like Noumu, the original Noumu moved back to stand with Tomura, guarding him.

"Master," the Noumu acknowledged and charged.

Hawks tried to fly out of the way, but space was limited. The building was large but the ceiling was not high and the Noumu too fast. This one had been designed differently. It was still ridiculously strong, and fast. Dabi had wondered once which might win in a battle between them. Tomura had confidently asserted that High End would take out all the other Noumu except for the original. Even the League's leader wasn't sure which would win then.

Not that the Noumu's would ever get a chance to fight each other. There were enough heroes to go around.

Hawks slashed at High End with the two feathers he had originally pulled from his wings. They were long feathers, almost like swords. His wings were looking shabby but Dabi knew that they were still functional. The Noumu didn't even bother to dodge the cuts. Blood slashed on to the concrete floor but the wounds healed and High End took a swing at Hawks.

The hero jumped back quickly but hadn't anticipated the speed of the attack. High End jumped forward and Dabi saw something on its shoulders that pushed it faster. Jets, he realised… and equally realised that being this close was not a good position to be in. He was thankful his Noumu would cover him.

The lay out now made sense. While there were other members of the League present, they were on the other floors, positioned there to attempt to slow down Hawks if he tried to go that way. Those on this floor were all covered by a Noumu. It would not be a usual tactic for a Hero but Hawks could have tried to take any of them hostage. Not that it would have worked.

Tomura didn't care about them… Not even Kurogiri, though Dabi felt that Tomura would at least regret losing the warp villain. The rest of them… not so much.

But it didn't appear as if any of them would be lost today.

Hawks was backing away from High End. He still had both feather swords gripped tight but there was a dark mark forming on the side of his face, and Dabi could see that he was favouring his left side.

"Weak," High End droned before leaping for the hero. Hawks tried to slow the Noumu down with a barrage of feathers. They simply lodged in the Noumu's flesh, not hindering it in the slightest. The hit it delivered impacted the hero as High End didn't worry about getting cut from the blades. Hawks flew into one of the walls, leaving an impressive crater.

Most would be finished from that, but Hawks knew he had to get away. His wings were almost down to the bone, and Dabi could see the way that he was struggling. Blood dripped from Hawks' mouth, but he managed to pull the last few feathers out and fling them.

Dabi didn't understand the motion until his Noumu moved. As did Tomura's. From his angle, Dabi could see the way the original Noumu was crouched in front of Tomura, a feather stuck into its chest. It was not the move he expected from Hawks but it made brutal, logical sense.

It was too late though. High End slammed into the Hero and Dabi watched as the smaller body shook with the force of the hits. Hawks was going to die, which wasn't really an issue but seemed too merciful from Tomura.

"Stop."

Dabi snorted as the order echoed his thoughts.

"It's weak," High End complained.

"Yes," Tomura agreed, moving forward. The original Noumu moved with him.

"Is there something stronger?" High End demanded.

"There will be," Tomura told the Noumu.

Dabi wondered who but realised it didn't matter. There might be someone stronger out there. The Hero ranking was based on many things, not just strength so it was possible that one of the up and coming heroes was stronger than they seemed. He doubted it…

But maybe his little brother?

Who knew? That was a problem for another day

Tomura looked down at the now unconscious and broken hero. Somehow, Hawks had managed to keep his two sword feathers. Tomura touched one, disintegrating it almost instantly but then he carefully picked up the other. His little finger ostentatiously raised. A trophy.

"Kurogiri," Tomura ordered, though Dabi could tell he was pleased.

The warp villain nodded and opened warp gates. Dabi looked upwards, knowing that Kurogiri would be opening gates for the others who hadn't had to fight. Tomura calmly walked through the gate, followed by the original Noumu, and then High End who was dragging Hawks by one crushed leg. It was a good thing the hero was unconscious or the pain would be indescribable.

Dabi looked around. There wasn't that much damage, just a few feathers here and there, a bit of blood… and the impact point Hawks had made. Oh well… It's not like he would have told his sidekicks where he was. If the other Heroes found this place there wasn't much they could do.

It was time to go home.

Dabi paused at the thought before he smiled. It was correct. It was time to go home. He stepped through the gate.

-afop-

It has always surprised me, in an industry that is meant to be for public safety, how little safety there is for the Heroes. Hawks' disappearance was noticed and while I am aware that his sidekicks looked for me, there was very little effort made to search for him.

I know this, because Imoku confirmed it. Of course, even if there had been a large public search, then it would have found nothing. Oh, they might have found the building but they wouldn't have found Hawks. Not without finding us.

And given the Hero's condition, finding him was not the same as saving him. High End had not held back. The scientists involved in creating the other Noumu's double as doctors but even they were hard pressed to keep the Hero alive. They did, but he would never recover properly. That suits the League. We do not need an attempted traitor.

The heroes would argue that Hawks didn't actually betray us. He never got the chance. Technically that is true. But the League doesn't operate via technicalities. We operate via results, and there is no questioning Tomura's results.

He has changed. When Sensei was captured, Tomura was a child. He was selfish and often he could not see reality. He is still selfish but we all are to some extent, but now he sees reality, and when he doesn't like it, he knows how to change it so that it is more pleasing to him.

Villains operate on results and Tomura's have been good. There is no escaping that. The underworld recognises it. And Imoku has capitalised on it.

I don't think Tomura completely understands that yet. He has focused on what affects him, which has been enough but the rest of the League have been seeing what Imoku is doing. Toga has been good. Only the core members of the League know Imoku is a part of the League. Tomura, myself, Dabi, Toga, Mustard, Twice and Compress. Those who came in early. The newer members simply know Togo goes once a week to visit a contact. They do not know who he is.

They sometimes ask Dabi how he arranged that interview… those who think seriously about the incident do, anyway. Most people don't think about the logistics involved.

But the message is out there. It began slowly but it is accelerating. The world as we know it has almost fallen. Faith in heroes is at an all time low, and Imoku has already planted the seeds of the future.

So many Villains just rage against the system. So many claim they want to change it but they do not truly think about the transition, or what happens next. I am proud that the League has. The Heroes will not appreciate it, but the League has managed so much. We are managing that transition, so that when they fall there will not be chaos. We are managing the change, never taking it too fast. They will never thank us.

Tomura doesn't see it either. I doubt many will.

The future will. The future will look back on these years, and those then will know how carefully everything was controlled, how much work it took to ensure everything came together. Sensei always said it took more practice, more work to make something seem effortless. It is Imoku who is doing that work.

He is doing it well. No one suspects him. I'm sure there are those who suspect he is guilty of something. That's inevitable, given his positions in business and politics. But there is no one who suspects he is working for the League. That's what counts.

The Hero Public Safety Bureau assessments continue. There have been more heroes failing but most of the public have become tired of that. It makes sense. If the high ranking heroes fail, then it stands to reason that those lower down the ranks will also fail. It is not news, though Imoku mentions it every now and then, gently hammering home the point, keeping the public aware. It is a subtle way of manipulating the environment.

It keeps the public's mind open and ready for change. It makes the government aware of the need for change. And no one is any the wiser about Imoku's involvement.

Overhaul knows but Overhaul is in no position to talk. I think he is still alive but I admit I haven't checked lately. If he is, then he's probably enjoying whatever Tomura is doing to Hawks. The two of them are being imprisoned near the other. I hope they enjoy each other's company though how much either can talk is in question.

For the moment, the League is simply enjoying our success. We have not won yet, but it is just a matter of time.

-afop-

Mirio sat quietly at the table while he waited. The room was plain but sound proofed. He could see cameras in each of the corners. It felt like he was a prisoner, but he knew the door was open. He could walk out at any time,

He wouldn't. And those who had sent him here, knew he wouldn't.

The door opened. A middle-aged woman walked in. She was dressed in a simple suit and carried a clipboard. Mirio watched as she took the seat across the table. She laid the clipboard on the table, paper side down before looking up at him.

Mirio closed his eyes at her expression, and for once he didn't see… Mirio mentally shook the image away. He knew what her expression meant. He'd been expecting this.

"My name is Tsukiko Abusaki," she told him. "I work as a Psychologist for the Hero Public Safety Bureau."

"Mirio Togata," he introduced himself.

She nodded. She already knew that. "In the wake of the League of Villain's attack on the Nighteye Agency, I administered your Assessment, in accordance with the Heroes Must Be Heroes Bill, Section 27.35.1."

Mirio nodded. He knew what that section said. The basic part of the bill said that all Heroes or those working as sidekicks had to have yearly psychological assessments. It made sense. It kept them from becoming too stressed. It kept them from bottling their problems inside. It kept them from going insane.

The section Tsukiko was referring to was further down. It required, that in the wake of a traumatic incident, all involved be assessed to ensure that they had recovered, or were recovering from the incident.

It was generous. It was mature and compassionate and Mirio was sure it was a good thing… The assessments were designed to keep heroes, and those who worked with them sane. The community, and the public needed that.

But he knew what his assessment would say.

"Your results indicate that you were unduly affected by the incident. Follow up assessments reveal, that even with treatment you have remained stressed."

Mirio was hard pressed not to slam his hands on the table. Of course he remained stressed! How could he not? It was his fault that Sir Nighteye had lost his quirk, had lost the ability to view the future. Sir told him it was a blessing, insisted even. Sir said it was better this way, that he accepted it but Mirio could see the way he was tired and stressed, and in pain.

And it was all his fault.

"As you are an active Side-Kick, due to Sub-Section 27.35.3, you are required to take a leave of absence from hero work while you attend to your mental health."

Mirio nodded. He knew this was coming.

"You can attend sessions with a HPBS appointed psychologist, or you can nominate your own," Tsukiko continued.

"I will take your recommendation," Mirio said. He wasn't sure who else he could see… and one good thing had come about from some of the heroes being forced into retirements. Some of them were training, or already had training to be psychologists. Not everyone did the hero course. They understood the needs of a hero. They would understand when he spoke to them, and most of the former heroes, turned psychologists worked for the HPSB because it was all so new.

Mirio thought that in time they'd move on, branching out to start their own clinics. One of them, Amplifier, Mirio thought it was, had made the humourous connection, saying that working at the HPSB was the equivalent at working at a Hero agency as a sidekick. You gained experience there before you went to start your own.

So he'd feel better speaking with the HPSB psychologists. A civilian psychologist would do their best but just wouldn't understand.

Tsukiko nodded, and flipped over the clipboard. She pulled a pen from her pocket and after flipping over several pages, she made a note. "I will send you a list of those who are available," she told him.

"Thank you."

"Do you need to make arrangements with your agency?" Tsukiko asked.

Mirio shook his head. Sir Nighteye and Centipeder already knew. They had both tried to reassure him, and told him to get better so that he could return to work. They would hold a place for him.

Tsukiko looked at him. Mirio said nothing. He looked back. She sighed. "How do you feel about this?" She asked at length.

How did he feel about it? He didn't hate the assessments. They were for his protection, after all. They were for the protection of everyone.

He hated the League. And he hated that he hated himself for that. As a hero he wasn't meant to hate.

But he did. He could feel the emotion burning in him. He wasn't sure how he could deal with it, unless he could face the League. But he couldn't face the League until he was better and that required him to let go of his hate. How did he do that?

UA had taught him a lot but they had never covered that.

"Frustrated," Mirio admitted honestly.

Tsukiko gave him a pleased smile. "I understand. It is not an unusual reaction," she told him. "I know it seems like you won't get better, and that you will be banned from Hero work forever, but that's not the case. With the help of the HPSB you will get better and you can return. And in the long run, it will be better for you, and for everyone. So, I would ask you to accept the frustration for the moment, and look to the future."

Mirio nodded. This wasn't a therapy session, but an informative one. He took a deep breath and sighed. "I'll try," he told her.

He had no other choice.

-afop-