Chapter Text
Thursday, 10:02am
He's running late.
Midoriya meant to get to your office at 10:00 on the dot, but traffic was horrible, and now he's running late.
The light in your office is on. He can see it as he walks through the parking lot, heading to the glass-panelled double-doors. You're here, which is good. He hoped you wouldn't be gone to see Sato yet, so it's his lucky day.
When he pulls open the door, the receptionist looks up and smiles at him.
"Hi, can I help you?"
"Yes, I'm here to see Y/N L/N. She's helping me with a case," he says. Then he points in the direction of your office. "Can I?"
"She's prepping for an interview right n—"
"Oh! For Sato?"
Before the receptionist can answer, Midoriya heads for the back room. The woman calls after him, but he figures it's better to ask for forgiveness. Oops.
"You're going to see Sato? When? Can I come?"
Your head snaps up, and you look at him with wide eyes. It takes you a second to register what he's asked. "Yes, at noon. No, you can't. I already told you—"
"What if I promise to stay in the car?"
"I'm not keeping the meter running—"
"I'll drive."
Your lips press into a line and you sit back in your chair, crossing your arms.
"What are you doing here?" you ask. "You're a hero. You're the number one hero at that... Again, are you trying to ruin my reputation?"
"Of course not. I'm trying to help," he says. "Isn't it good? Y'know, being seen together. Working together."
"No, not at all." Your voice is flat, and it makes him frown. "If I'm seen working with you, my clients are going to think I'm setting them up. If the HPSC sees you working with me, they're going to make a stink about me corrupting you or some shit."
"They won't—"
"Yes, Midoriya, they will," you say. "When's the last time you saw a pro-hero work with a villain defense attorney? Because the last case in the history of Japan was Blackstreak, and that was over two decades ago."
"Who's Blackstreak?" he asks.
"Exactly."
"Okay, but I want to help. It's my fault for not reviewing the case first."
The guilt has been eating him alive. It was never supposed to be complicated like this. When he'd defeated All For One, when he'd defeated Shigaraki, it was all supposed to get easier. He's the top hero in Japan.
So why is it that he feels more used now than ever before?
He'd nearly given his life for his country. He’d given everything for the people he loves.
In return, they manipulated and lied to him.
”Please,” he says. “Let me fix this.”
You sigh, leaning forward to prop your elbows up on your desk. He sits down in the chair across from you and watches as you consider his plea.
”Did you do what I asked? Did you look into other avenues of securing the evidence?” you finally say.
”Kinda… I saw a friend of mine. He knows a bit about law. I had him walk me through the whole process, so I don’t screw up again,” Midoriya says.
”That’s good at least.”
He nods. “I’ll get the information for the video companies to you, so you can get that bit, if nothing else.”
”I need to figure out how to get the DNA evidence submitted by the DA, or find a way to get it myself. While I go visit Sato, you look into it. Remember, though, you aren’t a paralegal, you aren’t a lawyer, and you aren’t a cop. Restrictions apply. Do not lose anymore evidence for me, or Sato’s chances go out the window,” you say.
”I won’t. And I will. I mean, I will look into the DNA, I won’t lose the evidence.”
”I knew what you meant,” you say with a small smile. Midoriya feels his cheeks heat up a bit, nervous by your presence.
You. He knew about you long before stepping into your office.
The top villain defense attorney in Japan. Hated by the Commission, pro-heroes, law enforcement, prosecutors, and citizens alike.
He never got the appeal. Kacchan said you were hot, but that was all. Kirishima tried to look for the silver lining. Kaminari, Ochaco, and most of the others chose to bite their tongues.
Because why the hell would you spend your life getting the bad guys off death row? Why the hell did you care if a murderer got a fair trial? They were bad, and the heroes were good. The world was black and white. You were in the wrong.
And then he arrested Sato.
An innocent man is being charged with murder, and Midoriya had been a factor in his sentence. Izuku aided in putting a man’s life in the balance.
Saving him in time is his only goal, now.
The best way to complete his goal? By finding you. By recruiting you, asking for your help. If anyone could get a man out of prison on one of the highest charges in Japan, it’s you.
”Would you really wait in the car?” you ask, breaking him from his thoughts.
”Yes,” he says shyly.
”You really feel responsible for him, don’t you?”
”I do.”
You sigh again, though this time without frustration. If he’s right, he thinks you may be relenting.
”Okay,” you say. “You can’t talk to Sato, and you can’t be an official part of the defense. But… How would you feel being called as a witness?”
”A witness?”
”Yes. You saw the inconsistencies firsthand. If I call you as a witness, you’ll be able to testify regarding the evidence you saw.”
”Okay, I can do that. No problem.”
“You’ll also be cross examined by the prosecution, so I’d have to prep you for it. They won’t be kind.”
”That’s okay. I can handle it,” he says.
“Everything will be called into question. There’s a high chance your approval rating will go down. Blackstreak was forced to retire early… You’ll be putting a lot at risk by testifying.”
”It’s worth it,” he says firmly.
Your brows raise in surprise, and an easy smile crosses your face.
”Midoriya, you may be the first hero I can actually respect,” you say.
And some feeling that's a lot like pride swells in his chest, though for what reason, he doesn’t know.