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Chapter Text

Denki Kaminari was known as the "dumbass who made it." He didn't really know how he got the name. (That's a lie. It happened the first time he used his quirk and short circuited for two hours) It wasn't that he was dumb or didn't care, just that it is kind of hard to focus at school when you know you're going home to villains. Not that anyone at school knew, but Denki was from a long family line of electrical Quirked villains. The only exception to the family line was his Aunt Irain, who went into electo-therapy due to how weak her Quirk was.

So, it wasn't surprising that the innocent children at school would turn on Kaminari when they saw him get "special attention" from teachers. It only got worse once his Quirk came in, and he was constantly behind due to shorting out while doing homework. Aside from the relentless slander he experienced at school, his home life held just as much suffering. As previously mentioned, Denki was from a line of villains, which meant that he was expected to follow that path. From the moment he could walk, he was learning how to kick, punch, choke someone out, and so on.

By age eleven, 5th grade, Kaminari knew three additional languages, the workings of the underground,  how to effectively maime and kill with most weapons, how to dress for different settings, and a plethora of other information. Learning as much as Denki did in such a short time would take a lot of focus and work for anyone, and it just so happened that villains are quite impatient when it comes to teaching children. Mistakes were unacceptable and were met with a beating under the title of "pain management training". His parents' goons weren't much better and loved to pick on the young boy when their boss's weren't paying attention, not that it would have made much of a difference if they were.

By this point, it is important to mention that Denki Kaminari was not the favorite child. If anything, he was the disgrace to his family being the only one who was directly harmed by his quirk. Sure, everyone can overuse their quirk, but to experience such severe quirk exhaustion at such low usage was an extreme reaction. So, his family viewed Denki as a disappointment in everything he did, which leads us to his current situation.

Kaminari had gotten home ten minutes ago and had been getting lectured for seven. He wasn't really sure what was being said since he had zoned out within the first minute of the lecture. He had heard it all before, so it wasn't like paying attention would do him any good. Honestly, he had been hoping to get some homework done that night, but that was completely out of the question now. He knew the routine after a lecture, after all. First, he would get questioned on their "family values", then get a beating, and finally, he would be verbally degraded before being left to tend to his wounds. Sure enough, the lecture finished up after another ten minutes, and the questions began.

"Do you even remember your purpose in this world?" Nigaikiya Kaminari, his father, asked.

"To serve you and Kanako and carry on the Kaminari legacy by reeking havoc on hero society." Denki responded without hesitation.

"At least you can remember that much," Nigaikiya scoffed, "An insolent brat like you won't do much for our family name, but maybe you can survive long enough to carry it on."

His father continued with the questions for a while, and Denki went on autopilot. He didn't tune back in until a blond haired, large man walked in carrying a bucket. Kanako, his mother, also noticed and motioned for the bucket to be placed in front of a chair a few feet to the right of Denki. Welp, that didn't take long. Guess it's electric shock endurance today.

"You know the drill dunce; I don't have all day" Nigaikiya glared as Denki shuffled over to the chair and sat down, removing his shoes and socks before placing his bare feet in the freezing water. Of course it's cold, can't have anything nice. Kanako approached the bucket and Denki watched as electricity began to dance around her fingers.

"I've been itching to let off some energy all day, so you're going to have a pleasant time today." His mother told him as a sharp smirk stretched across her face, and she pointed towards a bucket with her electrified hand.

Denki had always found that his mother's voice didn't match anything about her. It was soft and airy in complete contrast with her hardened face and sick smile. He used to imagine what his mother would have been like if she led a different life. She would probably be one of the sweetest people you could meet, filled with such deep compassion and understanding. Suddenly, Denki felt a sharp pain shoot across his body, starting as pins and needles but quickly transitioning into a sharp pain that radiated from every inch of his being. It felt like being hit with millions of rubber bands pulled as taught as possible. His muscles contracted, and he could feel nerves pinching all over him. His body began to convulse uncontrollably, and every breath was strained.

Denki quickly stifled his shout of pain, knowing that any audible reaction would just condemn him to more pain. He tried to focus in on how the electricity felt moving through his body. It didn't help much, but it was better than focusing on the pain he felt. He directed his attention to how the natural electricity his body produced ripped itself from him and shot into the water, only to zip right back up and through every muscle it could find. He tried to open and close his hands and smooth out his breathing. He didn't accomplish much but he kept it up until the electricity finally dissipated into the air, which took an excessively long time due to his quirk grabbing onto recycling the electricity it got from the circuit he made with the water.

By the time Denki had enough control to pull himself from the water, his parents were gone. Denki pulled himself to his feet, but the moment he got up, his legs buckled beneath him, and he hit the ground. Blinking a few times, he slid his hands underneath himself and tried to push himself back up only to find his whole body shaking and twitching. Sure won't be walking to my room in this state. I'm vibrating worse than a kid on a sugar high. With a sigh, Denki flipped himself onto his stomach and began a painfully slow army crawl, across the living room (if you could even count the barren space as one), towards his room, latching onto his bookbag on the way. It took double the time it usually would to get there, but eventually, he made it, luckily without running into anyone else.

He nudged his door shut and made his way over towards the pile of blankets (his makeshift bed) in the corner of the small room. Kaminari flipped back over, leaving his bookbag beside his blanket pallet, and began to stare at the ceiling. He mentally went over his day, starting with his morning routine and ending with his crawl back to his room. By the time he finished his mental assessment, the residual effects from the electrification had passed, and he was left with nothing but a deep exhaustion. The funny thing about exhaustion is that it curates bombastic ideas, such as a desire to leave one's family behind. Not that Kaminari hasn't thought about it before, but sleep deprived delirium sure did make the thought seem far less outlandish than usual.

The truth was, the prospect of having a normal life like the ignorant kids at school just seemed nice. Especially the "not getting beat up everyday" bit. Denki was young, but when comparing himself with his peers, it wasn't hard to see that he wasn't being treated properly, even if he wasn't as smart or disciplined as he should be (which was a concept drilled into him over years of punishment). He had never felt comfortable when following through with orders to hurt hostages or shoot the training dummy, not because he was revolted by violence but because deep down some part of him knew that the people he was supposed to hurt hadn't done anything wrong.

He didn't know where or when he got that sense of right verses wrong, but it had probably come about through his time with teachers in school. That was the only influence he had outside of the underground and his only exposure to the world's hero loving culture. Some part of him wanted that life, but the villain-molded majority screamed of lies and deceit behind the idolization of heroes. His parents had always said that heros were no better than villains, always seeking out fame, money, and power, with the only difference being the path they took. He knew he was supposed to believe this narrative, but deep down, he wanted heros to be the protective and supportive presence they were made out to be.

It was foolish of him to think this way, to want freedom for the hostages he tortured, to want civilians to be saved from his family's attacks, to want to be saved from his parents himself. And wasn't that a thought. A dangerous one at that; one that would get him killed. He didn't deserve to be "saved" anyway. He was a burden with a non-compatable Quirk and a low intelligence. Denki continued down this self-deprecating line of thought until he eventually nodded off and fell into a deep sleep.

-

Kaminari woke up to cold sweat and racing heart. Another nightmare. Gosh, even my own brain hates me. He sat up and began stretching, knowing there was no point in trying to go back to sleep. Transitioning to a quick exercise, Kaminari began to run through what his day would look like. School started in about two and a half hours, so he would eat breakfast and then leave early to work on homework in the library. Once school was over, he would have to make his way back home for an hour of training before him and his father went out on some "mission". He knew his parents had a meeting with a new group of villains today, so it would only make sense that they would start up joint movements as soon as possible.

Denki sighed as he grabbed his bookbag and made his way to the kitchen to throw together a quick breakfast of leftovers to eat on the way to school. He never stayed in the house longer than he needed to, knowing that his parents' mercy was short-lived, if existent at all. He took the bus to school, shorting out the ticket machine briefly so that it looked like he paid. His parents always taught his to never waste hard earned money on civilian transit, which seemed absurd to him, but he knew questioning orders was treason. Kaminari followed his plan from there, and the day went by pretty quickly, with the lunch taking the longest as he sneaked out of the cafeteria to hide in an empty hallway and avoid any interaction.

He was on his way home when suddenly a deep dread filled every inch of his being, warning him that something wasn't right. Now, just because his parents were villains hated by all of society didn't mean that they were good at their jobs. They had always taught their children to listen to their gut and assess a situation before taking action. With that in mind, Kaminari quickly switched up his path home and made his way through a side alley that led to the back of the building his parents owned and treated as a home. He picked the lock on the back door and silently slipped in. As he made his way through his house, he listened closely for any movement.

Just as he was beginning to think it was paranoia that had gotten to him, he heard the shuffling of feet and hushed voices. He made his way towards the sound and paused outside the door to the room, just out of sight.

"Come on, man, wrap it up! We were supposed to be out of here thirty minutes ago." Stranger one spoke in a nasally voice that grated Denki's ears.

"Relax, that man-child isn't going anywhere till he's sure those fools have cleared out entirely." Argued Stanger two in a much deeper and gutteral voice.

"That's our boss you're talking about! Don't be so disrespectful, or you'll get us both turned to dust." Stanger one reprimanded in an even quieter whisper full of malice.

By this point, Kaminari had connected the dots and figured that the villains his parents were meeting with had turned on them. Since the deeper voiced traitor had mentioned that his family had cleared out meaning that they had followed their contingency plan and were regrouping at another base. This meant that they would cut communication entirely with anyone outside of the members present during the attack until they had reestablished structure and secured their new base of operations, which just so happened to include Denki at the moment. Great, guess I'll be on my own for a while. He began to turn around when a shout sounded from the adjacent door to his left.

"HEY! Who the hell are you, kid?"

Kaminari head snapped towards the voice at the same time that the two traitors from the other room began sprinting towards him. Well crap, that sure makes things harder. He fell into a ready stance, dropping his bookbag and lowering himself. One of the men he had been eavesdropping on reached him first and went in for a right hook. Kaminari swiftly grabbed the arm and yanked backward as he rotated his body to allow his opponent to pass by and slam into the wall behind him. His eyes snapped to the villain who had shouted, and Kaminari charged him. This threw off the man, and Denki was able to leap into a kick to the head that seemed to knock the guy out, given the way he slumped to the ground

Landing back on his feet, he balanced himself and took in the scene before him. The guy he threw into the wall had gotten back up and was now hoisting what looked to be blade arms. His partner had a simple mutation Quirk that made his fingers extra long. Grippy and Stabby, got it. He tilted his head slightly, and a smirk formed on his lips. "Well, I haven't got all day, so which one of you wants to start the light show?"

Apparently, Grippy was feeling up to the task, for he suddenly charged at Kaminari with the obvious intent to choke him out. Since his attacker was going high, Denki countered by dropping into a crouch at the last second and kicking out Grippy's left leg. As soon as his opponent buckled, Kaminari launched into the air and threw an uppercut directly into Grippy's jaw, effectively knocking him out for good. Two down, one to go. Speaking of which... He eyed the last intruder, honing in on the Quirk produced blades protuding from where Stabby's arms should have been. Over the course of his fight with Grippy, the blades had grown to take up the entirety of his enemy's arms and seemed far sharper than before. Oh, and he's coming right at me.

Stabby made quick work of the distance between them, and Kaminari was forced into a defensive role of dodging three foot blades. This went on for about a minute, which was a long time in a fight, until Kaminari had an idea. If I can get him swinging those blades lower, I can direct one to slice a tendon and immobilize him. Denki switched to dodge much lower to the ground and worked his way closer to his opponent. It was difficult to maneuver away from the blades, but eventually, he got to Stabby's right leg. When the traitor rotated his upper body to regain sight, Denki kicked the blade arm towards Stabby's back, and the edge sliced right through the tendon on his ankle. With a scream, his opponent fell to the floor, unable to stand on his now nonfunctional right foot.

Kaminari was backing up and out of reach of the blades when Stabby's pulled himself together. "I'll kill you for that." The man gritted out before thrusting his left arm forward and leaning into the attack. Surprised by the distance covered by the movement, Kaminari failed to dodge, and a sharp pain radiated in his side. At this point, it is important to mention that he hadn't used his Quirk all day, and it had been building up into an annoying background buzz. Usually, this wouldn't be a problem as he would let out the pent up energy in a training session; however, since his plans got interrupted upon arriving home all of that energy was still present and just begging to be let free.

The moment he lost concentration, due to the newly introduced pain, his body's accumulated electricity took its opportunity and rushed into the perfect conductor he was now in contact with. Everything happened in a few seconds: Stabby screamed then went silent, Kaminari mentally freaked out because oh crap, I am going to short-circuit and get caught, electricity arced across metal arms, ans then everything stopped. Slowly, a corpse sunk to the ground, and along with it went the blade that had pierced the eleven year old boy. Kaminari stood still for about twenty seconds before his brain caught up with what had just happened. He realized three things. First, he hadn't short-circuited, which shocked him and pulled at his attention before the second realization came. He was bleeding out. That was what led to his final thought. I should probably get out of here before someone comes to find out what all that screaming was about.

Kaminari efficiently ripped off the bottom half of Stabby's shirt and wrapped it around his waist, making sure to place the knot directly over the wound to stop the bleeding. Then, he grabbed his book bag and shot back the way he had snuck in. On his way out he stopped only once to grab a black jacket from a coat hanger near the door, zipping it up to cover the wound, and then continued on his flight as far away from his home as possible. He kept to the alleyways and avoided the spots he knew had cameras. He didn't know exactly where he was headed, but he knew he needed a place to stay and to get proper medical care without being questioned by authorities. With that in mind, Kaminari began to make his way towards a more run-down part of the city. About 15 minutes later, Kaminari was pulling a full-face mask from one of the jacket pockets. It was a customery mask with the Kaminari family emblem sewn onto one side. He couldn't do anything about his hair, but he didn't think it would work against him in this situation.

Denki took a calming breath and let his villain persona wash over him before opening the door to the bar he now stood in front of. It didn't look like a bar from the outside, and there was no security at the front, but that didn't fool him. He knew that he had been watched for four blocks now and that every customer was prepared to kill if anyone unwanted decided to stop by. There was a slight quieting as everyone took their turn at glancing at the new arrival, but once he was recognized as a Kaminari, the customers went back to minding their own business. He walked up to the front bar, settled into a stool. The bartender, a mutant type that shared the traits of some kind of insect, given the wings tucked into her vest, noticed him, and walked over after finishing another's drink. "What can I get for you?"

"A sewin' kit and a room, preferably," Kaminari responded, the mask muffling his voice just enough that he sounded older, though it probably wouldn't have mattered.

"I'll do you one better. How long?"

"Just tonight. When's this place quiet down?" Kaminari wanted to leave as soon as possible, but he knew it would better if less people were around to follow him out. Besides, he needed rest and some time to make a plan.

"We're 24/7, but 'round eight folk tend to clear out. I'll book ya a room till nine, that work?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

"That'll do just fine. Thank you..?"

"Flutter," She responded with a wink.

Kaminari watched as the bartender motioned for another employee to lead him upstairs. He followed wearily, knowing that his adrenaline was nearly gone and his mind was winding down. Thankfully, nothing malicious occurred, and Denki soon found himself in a secure room with a first aid kit. After he had locked the door and rigged the door handle with some thread and a glass decorative figure he found on a desk in the room, he settled onto the bed a began to treat his stab wound. He cleansed it and sewed it up neatly before applying a bandage around his waist and packing up the kit. Then, he laid down on the single bed and let his muscles relax.

His thoughts swirled with everything that had happened that day: school, the attack, and his escape, and now here in the bar. Two things stuck out the most, the fact that he didn't short circuit and his current freedom. The quirk thing could definitely be addressed later, so he focused himself on figuring out what his next step was going to be once tomorrow came around. Clearly, I won't have contact with Nigaikiya or Kanako for at least a few months, meaning my directives would be to settle in and wait things out. But as he slipped off into the sweet embrace of sleep, another thought occurred.

Why follow orders? I'm on my own anyways, who would punish me if they don't know?

Chapter Text

Kaminari opened his eyes to an alarm he set on his phone and had a near panic attack when he processed that he wasn't in his pallet. A few moments pass before he remembers the previous day. Right, the attack. Well, I'd better figure out where I'm staying tonight. He lifted himself from the bed and swapped out the bandage around his waist. He had given himself thirty minutes to collect himself and come up with a plan, so it was eight-thirty when he meandered his way downstairs with  all his belongings, which now consisted of his backpack and the clothes on his back. Upon entering the front room from last night, Denki noted the three guests and the bartender. He walked over to the front bar and pulled some cash from one of the jacket pockets, knowing there were always three hundred kept for emergencies and any mission expenses. He placed two twenties on the counter and turned to walk out.

"Hey, wait just a minute."

Kaminari froze at the bartenders request. He had done everything according to custom, so what could he want? Denki watched as the man finished up cleaning a glass and pulled a sticky note from his pocket.

"Here, Flutter asked me to get this to a Kaminari who was staying the night."

Denki grunted a reply and took the note, still unsure of its purpose. He briskly walked out of the bar, not even glancing at the note until he was five blocks away. He pulled the mask from his face, having put it on before leaving his room. He had slipped into the entrance of an alley and was now sat against one of the walls. He took a minute to calm his nerves and then unfolded the note.

Hey,
I heard about the attack from a few of the guests. I am assuming you are regrouping, so if you need anything until you're set up again, I'd be happy to get you into contact with people. It's not much, but you seem kind enough.
-Flutter

There was a phone number at the bottom, so Kaminari pulled his phone from his bookbag and added it as a contact. It couldn't hurt to have, even if I never use it. He didn't really trust the offer, but a contact was a contact, no matter what. Slipping his phone back into his bag, Kaminari began making his way to a more deserted section of the area he was in. As he walked, he searched each building for stability and activity. After around fifteen minutes of walking, he finally found a decently sturdy but abandoned convenience store. Denki picked the lock with a kit from his jacket and made sure the door shut behind him. Most of the shelves were empty and he found that the electricity had been shut off. Not surprising, but one can wish. He searched the whole store before settling down against a back wall.

This should do just fine for now. The real question was what he would do for the next five to six months. He knew that his family wouldn't be in any rush to reach out again after a full-blown attack, so he would be on his own for quite a while. With that in mind, he focused on survival. He had taken care of shelter, so now he just needed a plan for clothing, food, and water. I should assess what I have now as a starting point. He methodically went through his possessions and took stock of everything he currently owned. His bookbag contained school supplies such as journals, a pencil case, scissors, extra paper, and around one hundred dollars. The jacket he had taken contained his remaining two hundred and sixty dollars along with a lock pick, mask, gang medallions, a map with safe houses, and some black gloves. He also had his phone and an emergency earset that he always kept on his person.

All in all, he didn't have much. Three hundred and sixty dollars would get him through a month max. But considering he had to buy clothing, on top of food expenses and something to make his new home liveable, he was soon going to be in a very dire situation. What I need is a job, but who's going to accept an eleven year old?  The answer was clearly nobody. However, if he could get himself to look just a bit older, someone might be willing to accept a fourteen year old. Kaminari searched through his bag and grabbed his scissors before heading towards the bathroom in the back of the store. Inside, he turned on his phone flashlight and got to work. Denki had been trimming his own hair since he could work a pair of scissors with a steady hand. It was one of those things that his parents hadn't wanted to pay for or do themselves.

After a tedious thirty minutes of slight trims and adjusting, while cursing the lack of good lighting, Kaminari looked in the mirror and found himself quite satisfied with his new look. He had mostly trimmed up the sides in order to give his face a cleaner look. Additionally, he trimmed all of the hair so that it was more tame and less childlike. Time for step two. Kaminari headed back to his bookbag and transferred the rest of his money into his jacket. He slipped the bag under one of the shelves and then headed to the front door. Once outside, he set a new combination to the lock and secured the entrance to his temporary home. Pulling the map from his left, inside jacket pocket, he located the nearest sandwich joint and headed towards it. He devoured a Cuban sandwich once he got there, having not eaten since lunch at school the other day.

Once he refilled his ice tea, he walked a few blocks down towards a thrift store he had spotted on his way. Kaminari planned to buy clothing that would work together to form two or three outfits for each piece he got in order to keep the cost down. In the end, he bought four pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, five shirts, six pairs of socks, six pairs of underwear, a woolen blanket, and a simple hoodie. All of the clothes he got were in varying shades of dark blue, dark green, or black so that he could wash everything together. He had one more trip to make before he called it a day. Pulling out his phone, Kaminari looked up the closest technology store. He bought a phone charger, a portable charger, a pair of puck lights, and a pack of batteries. With that, he concluded his shopping and began making his way back home. He was about seven minutes away from his makeshift home when he spotted a "Now hiring!" sign. He paused to take a closer look and determined that it was a new establishment. The sign contained information about the work hours and that it was a small cafe. That would work just fine, and I am sure they would be too desperate to be stingy about age. He decided he would apply tomorrow and continued on his way.

When he reached home, he walked to a back corner of the store near the bathrooms and placed his new items on a cleared shelf. He pulled the tabs out of the puck lights he bought and set them up on either side of his corner. Then, he layed out the blanket and sat down to reassess. He checked his phone for the time. Three twenty-three, I have some time till sundown then. He decided to look up the cafe he had seen on his walk and get a better idea of what he would be applying for. He found a hiring page for the shop pretty quickly and discovered that it was an entrepreneurial start-up and that it would be a casual environment. Thank goodness, 'cuz I don't really have a suit. He put his phone away, seeing as it only had a few hours left, and he would need it to last until the next day where he would charge it at school. He had decided to keep up with school for multiple reasons: free power, pre-payed lunch, stay off a missing persons report, access to a library, etc. It wouldn't be hard to pass either, considering he already knew material through the high school level due to the requirements of his missions.

Kaminaris were known for their strategic planning and quick adapting mid-mission. It was what kept them alive and high in the ranks for so long. He might not know the exact material or lessons that his school would be teaching, but he did have enough fundamental knowledge to figure it out quickly. It was then that his stomach growled. Oh, right, human biological requirements. With a sigh, Denki pulled himself to his feet and began making his way out of his convenience-store-home and towards a stir fry joint a few blocks down. He took his time eating and returning home, so when he finally arrived back, it was a quarter past five. I should probably start patrols to make sure I won't have any issues in this area. Probably just occasionally and short, but a routine will keep me in shape. With that, he started a stretch warm-up that transitioned into an exercise routine to activate his muscles and prepare for more intense physical activity than the day to day. After he had properly warmed up, he changed into a pair of grey cargo pants and the navy blue hoodie he had thrifted earlier. He also pulled on the gloves and mask from his jacket.

He left out the back exit, more out of habit than actual concern. He made his way to the rooftops via a fire escape on an adjacent building and began leaping across buildings. Denki's plan was a simple scout of the area for any gangs or places to avoid. Things went pretty smoothly, and he fell into the familier feel of checking and jumping. Patrols had always been his favorite activity. The feeling of freedom that came with running across rooftops and the adrenaline rush from large leaps between buildings. It was on his way back home that the calm night took a turn. A scream sounded a few streets down. His head snapped towards the direction it came from, and he slowed his pace. If it were a usual patrol assigned by his parents, he would simply check in with comms to make sure no one was in need of assistance and move on if it wasn't his own people. But things were different now. Well, it couldn't hurt to check it out, right? I can always just leave.

He shifted his direction and headed a few blocks down. Stopping at the edge of a roof, he peered into the alley below and kept himself mostly out of view. There was a brunette woman, and what looked to be her child backed up against one of the alley walls while two masked figures stood at adjacent forty-five degree angles. One of the assailants held a knife while the other wielded a baseball bat. The woman pulled her son closer to her and attempted to guard him as best she could.

"Just give us your purse, and we we can all just go about our night. Alright?" The larger of the two criminals sneered.

By this point, Kaminari understood exactly what was going on and honestly tried to leave. It's not my problem anyway. Right? His parents would agree; in fact, they would probably lecture him for even staying this long. But something just felt wrong. Just leave you dunce! He shifted back, starting to backtrack, when a memory flashed across his mind.

- - - -

"Please, stop! I didn't do anything, please!" Tears streaked down his cheeks as he lay on the ground with his arms lifted protectively above himself.

"Shut up, prick! You're too worthless to carry your name. I'm just making sure you know where you stand." A figure spoke above him before adding with a sickening laugh. "Or rather, lay."

His mother had left a few moments ago, not even sparing a glance at him. She had told him he would need to handle his own problems first if he wanted her aid later. So he gritted his teeth and did his best to swat away the next strike. Twenty minutes of beating and taunting passed before the figure seemed to bore out and left. All he could think was how many others passed and did nothing. Sure, he deserved the beating (the figure had made that clear), but he just wanted someone to do something! He had tried, after all.

He had really tried.

- - - -

Denki was decending into the alley before he even realized what he was doing. The two theives didn't notice him until he had already knocked the larger one out with a spare brick he picked up when he first touched the alley floor.

"What the-"

The second didn't time to finish before Denki round kicked their head and brought the brick down to finish them off. He made sure the blow wouldn't kill them. Can't have the wrong people after me this early.

He glanced around the alley before shifting his gaze to the woman and her child. He scanned them over for injuries and found none. That was when he really processed what he had done. Oh crap! This is the complete OPPOSITE of what you're supposed to do. What part of VILLAIN do you not understand!? He quickly turned and began making his way up the alley wall. He was near the top when the woman below called out in a shaky voice.

"T-thank you! For s-saving us, I mean."

Kaminari paused for less than a second and looked back at the pair he had just-. Saved. Huh. "Call the police." He called back in a gruff voice before making his way up the rest of the wall. He made a zigzaging path back to his home. You can never be too careful.

As he sat down and began changing out of his clothing and rebandaging his stab wound (He honestly forgot about that), he thought back on his actions that night. What he did was wrong. It was stupid. It-it was reckless. But... Something about how grateful that mother looked. Even with her *definitely* going into shock, she snapped out of it and thanked him. For what? Going against every protocol EVER??? He sighed and laid down. I mean, seriously, even a mouse knows not to walk towards the cat. He sat with himself for a few minutes, not really thinking but more refeeling the memory. It felt.. good. What, do you have the vocabulary of a two year old? But it did. He felt whole in that moment. Aside from the looming guilt of going against everything he had ever been taught, he didn't really regret his actions. In fact, he felt called to go back and make sure that woman really did call the police. What was wrong with him? In all honesty, (I mean thoughts won't get him beat), the "guilt" he felt was more just a fear of the consequences. Usually, if his parents found out he had failed to follow orders... well, let's just say it would be worse than electrical shock training.

He tuned out from his thoughts and focused on trying to fall asleep. He did have school the next day, after all.

- - - -

Over twenty blocks away, a detective sat hunched over stacks of paper that littered his desk. It took a minute before his processed a knock on his door. "Come on in." His responded, still reading the page in his hands. The door opened, and an officer walked up to his desk. "Detective, we got a call in about an attempted theft from a woman a few minutes ago. She said the criminals were knocked out before she called."

"I'm going to assume no hero called it in?" He inquired, knowing there was more to story.

"No hero showed up according to the victim. She said a male in a navy blue hoodie and grey cargos just appeared and knocked them out." the officer reported. "Brute force with a brick. The rest of the details are in the file. We may be dealing with a vigliante, sir."

"Thank you. Leave the file on your way out. You're dismissed."

The officer placed the file on his desk and left without another word, shutting the door behind him. Tsukauchi sighed and picked up the file. The officer may be jumping to conclusions, but he couldn't be completely sure. It seemed to start as a classic grab and go with a mother and her son being cornered and threatened by two theives. Things went off course when, as his officer stated, a figure in a navy blue hoodie and grey cargos attacked the robbers with a brick. The attached pictures showed a nasty indent in the head of the smaller criminal, but to Naomasa's surprise, both criminals survived, with more injured one walking away with a pretty severe, but not fatal, concussion. The woman had said her savior paused to look at her before fleeing up the alley wall. When she called out her thanks, the figure turned and told her to "call the police". She stated the voice was gruff and sounded male. There were no other details on facial features, and the woman was reported to be in too much shock to process height or any other defining features.

Tsukauchi placed the file in a filing cabinet for safe keeping but decided there wasn't enough evidence to suggest it was any more than a one-time occurrence. Despite his conclusion, something felt off about the report. Maybe it was the level of violence or the exit via rooftops, but he felt there was more going on. Guess we'll find out. With that, he went back to the case he was working on before the interruption. The League of Villains, huh? A bit egotistical if you ask me.

Chapter Text

Kaminari woke up to his alarm and a long day ahead of him. He had school, an interview, and then a patrol. The cafe he had looked into the other day was holding walk-in interviews from four to six, so he planned to head there right after school. Denki methodically folded a blue button-up shirt and some khaki pants for the interview and placed them between two of his folders so that he could (mostly) avoid wrinkles. He slipped his remaining one hundred and twenty-three dollars into the pockets of the khakis and zipped and strapped up his bookbag. He wore the bag cross body and made his way out of his home. On his way to school, he ran his hands through his hair a few times and worked out any tangles. Probably should have brought a brush... oh well, it can wait.

In class, he made his way over to a black-haired kid. Kaminari mumbled an apology as he passed over the portable charger and phone charger he had bought the other day. Just to clarify, Kaminari hadn't bought the chargers for himself; rather, he bought them to give to Itsumi Egiro, who had demanded he buy her a new one after he startled and fried hers last week. Yeahhh.. you can add that to the list of reasons I'm "the dumbass". After that embarrassing moment was over, he walked over to his own desk. Right as he sat down, the teacher called the class to attention, and Denki began slowly charging his own phone. It was a habit he had developed a few years ago that helped him keep focus throughout the day. He didn't know why, but he also didn't have a reason to find out. Not much happened for the rest of the school day, and Kaminari made sure he finished his homework in class.

After school, he switched out of his school uniform and into the outfit he packed for his interview before making his way to the cafe. The owner, a blond haired lady with strikingly dark blue eyes, was running the interviews. She asked some basic questions about strengths, weaknesses, qualifications, etc. He answered the way he had been taught and focused more on emphasis and making sure his responses didn't sound too practiced. It wasn't difficult, and he honestly had some fun with his responses. It was nice doing something so low risk. At the end, the owner, Tanako-sama he reminded himself, shook his hand, and welcomed him to the team. He thought the immediate acceptance was a little strange, but then again, Tanako-sama hadn't seemed too sure of herself throughout the entire interview. She handed him a few forms to fill out concerning address, Healthcare, etc, and told him to get it in before his first shift, which would be tomorrow. I'll definitely be lying on at least half of this...

On his way home, he passed a church and stopped to check the address. It was only five blocks down from his current home, so it would be quite convenient, especially on his way home from work. Kaminari hadn't grown up very spiritual, but he was raised in faith. His mother's side had roots in America, while his father's was mostly Japanese. He had been taught a mixture of Christianity and Buddhism, which had stuck with him. I'd be killing two birds with one stone, a viable address, and a place to practice. He saved the address on his phone and continued on his way home. He wanted to get a patrol in before it got too late since he had school and work the following day. Kaminari slipped into his outfit quickly and grabbed his mask. He would have to get rid of the Kaminari emblem stitched into the fabric part of the mask sooner rather than later. I'll make this quick and thorough, no funny business, and definitely no interfering. Even as he had the thought, his mind pulled him back to the night before and how it felt saving that woman. Snap out it.

He was leaping across roofs in no time, and his mind wandered. He didn't really think about anything in particular, just observed the city and listened for action. An hour and a half in, he sat down on the edge of a roof and took off his mask. He had found a shard of glass a while ago and, knowing the stitching was done after manufacturing, began to cut away at the fabric of the Kaminari emblem. He was cutting the last few strands when a crash sounded from an alley a building away, followed by some shouting the sounds of a fist fight. Now I know I said no getting involved, but... it could be a threat... gotta at least check it out. He didn't, in fact, need to check it out, but there was some merit to the old saying 'curiosity killed the cat'. Denki silently made his way over to the roof above the alley and slipped his mask back on.

He was only slightly surprised when he saw three gang members being tied up by a figure in a black suit with burnt orange seems. Almost looks like a hero, though I guess that's kinda the point. He watched as the vigilante picked up one of the criminals' phones and dialed the police. "I'd like to report an attempted arms deal on ##### and #### avenue." The figure spoke into the phone before abruptly hanging up and checking the restraints one last time. Now, Kaminari had run into a few vigliantes in the past and had always found them quite... interesting. They seemed to walk the line between hero and villain and follow their own moral code. Obviously, he had never gotten much of a chance to inquire about many of their motives but he knew they had to be strong if they were going to choose to put themselves at the expense of both sides. It was at this moment that Denki noticed the vigilante making his way towards the same roof that he was currently hidden. Should probably get out of here before I have to deal with this guy. Kaminari hopped up and sprinted a few roofs over before he skidded to a halt.

I.. wouldn't have to 'deal' with him, though, would I? It's not like I have anything identifying me as a Kaminari. He glanced back and saw the figure climbing up onto the roof he had just been on. Denki made his way over to the roof access of his own building and leaned against the door. He didn't have to wait long for the vigilante to notice him. In fact, he didn't have to wait at all. The moment the figure clambered onto the top of the building, his head snapped over to Kaminari. They stayed staring at each other for a while, neither sure of the other's intentions. Eventually, the tension was broken by black-clad fellow motioning in such a way that posed the question, "Can I come over?". Denki tilted his head up and to the side slightly, signaling a confirmation. The vigilante made his way over carefully and resigned to the opposite side of the roof.

"What do you want?"

Kaminari took a moment to evaluate his options before responding with his own question. "You're a vigilante, right?"

"Might be, to whom does it concern?" The figure's voice was distorted, and he stood perfectly still, waiting for a sudden attack.

Denki sighed, not sure why he was even going through with this. "I want to know why you do it. Save people against the law, I mean. Why not go the hero path?"

The vigilante's eyes narrowed, "I save people because someone needs to, and if I have the power to, it would criminal of me not to. As for the law, fuck it. The day limelight heroes start doing their jobs is the day I'll consider joining them. Now you mind answering some of my questions?"

Kaminari tilted his head to the side slightly but remained silent.

The other scoffed, "I'll take that as a yes. I'm Judder, by the way. I think it's only right to tell you my name if I ask for yours. So?"

Name, huh? Well, he would need something to go by until he got back with his family anyway. "Volt."

"Alright, Volt, what're you doin' out here? I get the impression you're not a vigilante."

"Just a midnight stroll."

Another scoff. "Sure, we'll go with that. You're not going to cause me any trouble?"

"Now why would I do that?" Kaminari smirked even though he knew Judder wouldn't see it, "You couldn't beat me if you tried."

With that, Kaminari pushed himself from the wall and backed up to the edge of the roof. He ignored the way Judder tracked his movements before his eyes widened slightly. Denki gave a two finger salute and leaned back, giggling when he saw the vigilante launch into a sprint. As if he could make it in time to catch me. Kaminari righted himself in the air and latched onto a protruding window sill. He worked around the corner of the building before Judder even reached the edge of the roof. Well, that seems a good wrap-up to the night. He made his way home, sticking to the alleys initially, and then making his way back to the rooftops. He triple checked that he hadn't been followed before heading inside and plopping onto his blanket. He went to sleep thinking of vigliantes that night and of the freedom he would have over the next few months.

- - - -

Judder stood staring over the edge of the roof for a few moments before shaking his head and returning to his patrol. What a strange fella'. I'll make sure to keep an eye out 'case he shows up again. His thoughts were interrupted by a beep from his earpiece. He tapped the side of his mask to turn back on his comms. "I'm back. What did I miss?"

"Hey, hey! He lives!" A feminine voice replied. "Can't just go dark on me like. I almost thought you tripped off a building and died an embarrassing death."

Judder could hear the sarcasm dripping from Mika's voice and rolled his eyes. "You wish."

"Awweeee, you know I would miss you!" She retorted before mumbling, "After I laughed at your funeral."

"I can still hear you."

"Alright, alright. Seriously though, what happened? We were supposed to regroup seven minutes ago." Her voice lost its humor and he could hear the slightest hint of concern lacing her words.

"Got caught up with the Flame. They had some jamming tech, so I shut off my comms. Forgot to signal, sorry. I was going to turn them back on, when I ran into a local gang patrol. Took 'em out easy, but when I reached the rooftops, someone was waiting for me." Judder filled his teammate in while he worked his way back towards their rendezvous point.

"You recognize 'em?" She asked.

"Nah, no suit, no weapons. Didn't look like a vigliante, that's for sure." He replied, finally spotting the roof he was heading to.

"Well, what did they want?"

"Just asked about my motives. It was a strange request, but I gave him the gist in exchange for a name: Volt. Grey cargos and a navy blue jacket, you seen anyone around recently?"

"Nope! But who knows, maybe I'll get a surprise visit too." The two teammates embraced briefly when Judder reached the rooftop she was on.

"Whatever you say, Streaky." He teased, knowing she loved meeting new people, no matter the occasion. "We should probably head in for the night. You mind letting Zenith know? My comms are still glitchy. I'm pretty sure that wasn't a normal jammer."

"Sure thing." He noticed Streak shift her weight slightly and internally face palmed. "Race ya back!"

She took off before she even finished the sentence, and Judder took a collecting breath before sprinting after her. Man, he loved his team, but sometimes he wished they weren't *always* at peak energy.

- - - -

Two months had passed, and Kaminari felt he was doing pretty well for himself. The cafe he worked at had really taken off, so he was able to ask for a raise after the first month. He had stayed in his convince store home during that month, and it had worked well enough, but he hadn't planned on staying in such a dangerous area or situation for long. After his first pay check, which was delivered to the church he had put down as an address (with permission, of course, he hadn't wanted to deal with any repercussions), he rented a small apartment under the same false identities his parents put down for his school. Sadly, he couldn't access their finances since they mostly worked in cash and any accounts they did have set up were shut down after the attack. So, he paid with the money he earned at his cafe job. He was originally making fifteen dollars an hour, but his raise got him up to twenty dollars an hour. He worked three hours after school each day and six on the weekends. So total, he made about $2,160 a month. With him paying around $1,400 for his apartment, he had nearly $760 to work with for food and other expenses. His main expenses were food, which he managed to work down to $350 dollars a month. The rest he put towards savings or the occasional purchase.

As for his activities, Kaminari still attended school and had gotten quite good at finishing homework during class. He didn't know exactly why, but it was so much easier to focus now that he was on his own. Aside from the change in location and the lack of his family, he was still keeping up with all of his basic training and patrol schedule, so not much change. Speaking of patrols, Denki had taken to breaking into his family's safe houses and taking whatever supplies he might need. Mostly, he got first aid supplies, weapons, and some armor. He ended up stripping everything he took of the Kaminari emblem and any built-in trackers. He didn't want anyone recognizing him and tipping off another group looking to take advantage of his family's weakened state. Denki had seen a few vigilantes and even some underground heroes during his patrols but had made sure to stay out of sight. He did, however, reach out to Flutter and request information on everyone he encountered. The first time he texted her number, he was checking his back constantly, so certain she would track him down and turn him in to the traitors that attacked his family. Everything worked out, though, and he found himself enjoying their chats. Their conversations started out pretty professional, but after the third information exchange, they both seemed to relax and loosen up.

Currently, Kaminari was heading back from a failed attempt to get into one of the more secure safe houses. Gosh, I know we don't want them easy to get into, but can I not get a free pass? I'm literally a KAMINARI. He sighed as he took a right, stopping when he spotted a sprawl in the alley below. He had mostly avoided these kinds of things, able to convince himself to ignore criminal activity, but this one caught his attention. The vigilante from his second patrol was involved. Jagger seemed to be doing alright on his own, but Denki noticed an opponent sneaking up from behind. He was pretty chill when I met him... ugh, I feel bad just leaving him. Kaminari pulled some nunchakus from his tactical belt and leapt into the alley, landing on the approaching enemy and knocking him out. There were three other criminals, and one spotted him. Denki lowered his stance and tucked the nunchakus under his armpit when his opponent charged. He squeezed to apply tension and then snapped the chuck out. He followed the attack with a left hook the moment the criminal buckled under the blow. Kaminari quickly tied him to the first guy he knocked out and then focused on where Judder was finishing off his own enemies.

The vigilante eyed him and knocked out the last criminal, falling back into a ready stance. "Who are you?" The modulated voice asked.

"You don't remember me? I'm hurt." Kaminari complained.

Judder stared for a moment before wavering. Must be a little more beat than I thought. "I'm Volt, from a few months ago. You alright?"

Realization shown in the vigilante's eyes for a moment. "Oh shit, thought I wouldn't see ya again. Your fit changed."

Suppose that's true. Kaminari was wearing a much sleaker, gray outfit with a dark yellow trim that resembled lightening, but wasn't recognizable to someone who didn't know to look for it. His mask shared the dark yellow of the trim, and he had black goggles. He wore a hood that covered his hair that he secured to ensure it wouldn't fall back during a fight. He also had pads, which was a change for him, considering his parents had never built them into his previous uniforms.

"You look a little shaky." Kaminari pointed out, taking an advertised step forward. Judder shuffled backward and proped a hand against the alley wall. "I'll be fine."

Denki scoffed. "Sure you will, after the police pick you up and get you to a hospital."

They stared each other down a few seconds before Kaminari got impatient. "Let me get you to the rooftops, and I'll take care of your wounds. No foul play, I swear."

Judder looked like he was about to refuse when his leg gave out on him. "Alright, fine. But you try anything, I won't hesitate to put us both in the hospital."

Denki smiled under his mask. He respected that. He made his way over to the vigilante and hooked his arm around the other's back. Then he pulled both of them up a fire escape and made his way carefully to the roof. It took longer than it usually would with the added weight, but Judder did what he could to lighten the load. Still, he could feel the vigilante's eyes tracking his every movement. Trust issues much? I literally just helped you. When they got to the top, Kaminari set down his passenger and pulled out his first aid kit.

"Alright, Judder. You gotta tell me where your boo boos are so I can kiss 'em."

Denki practically felt the glare the vigilante gave him in return. "Shot to calf and a laceration across the abdomen."

Kaminari pulled back the fabric around Judder's waist and cut through the pants. He was bleeding out profusely. I'm kinda surprised he hasn't passed out yet. Denki pulled out a wad of fabric and pressed it against the bullet wound before guiding the patients hand to hold the cover. "Hold here, apply pressure. You mind telling me when you got these?"

It took a few seconds, but he got a response. "Yeah, bullet wound came a fight earlier, but I got caught up with those guys below before I had a moment to care for it. Didn't realize how many there were."

Denki had touriqueted the leg and moved onto cleaning the laceration and giving him a shot of epidural steroids. He handed his nunchakus to Judder. "Bite down, this'll hurt." He washed his hands with saline and then poured some on the wound. He cleaned around the laceration as best he could and leveled Judder with the ground so that his muscles relaxed a bit. The guy was too out of it at this point to process much, so he didn't protest. Kaminari then pulled out a needle and began stitching up the wound. He was efficient and moved on to cleaning the bullet wound. Grabbing a probe, he located the bullet, thankfully in one piece, and removed it. Then he grabbed three rolls of gauze and began packing the hole all while speaking reassurences and ignoring the whimpers of pain that escaped Judder. Applying as much pressure as he could, Kaminari wrapped the wound tightly, but loose enough to allow circulation, before removing the tourniquet. "You still with me, bud?"

Judder groaned in response, and Denki retrieved his nunchakus. "There somewhere I can take you? Anyone I can call?"

Kaminari could hear police sirens in the distance, and they were closing in fast. He began packing up his supplies and then checked Judder again. The vigliante had lifted his hand to his ear, but was falling out of consciousness. "You have partners? Comms?"

Judder gave a short nod, and Denki took the earpiece from under his mask. Checking that it was on, he unmuted it and placed it in his own ear. "Hello? Can anyone hear me? Judder has been injured, and I need somewhere to bring him."

"Copy that. What's your location?" A distressed but collected voice replied.

"We're at #### and #### avenue. Hurry, we have police closing in. About five minutes."

"I'll have someone there in three." The feminine voice assured. "What's Judder's status?"

"Stable. I cleaned and treated his wounds, but he'll need further medical care. A bullet wound to the leg and a laceration across the waist." Kaminari relayed while he propped the vigilante back against the wall and wrapped the waist wound.

"Oh fuck. Why didn't he report?" The voice whispered more to herself than Kaminari. "Thank you for caring for him."

Denki paused at that. "...You're welcome."

It was then that he spotted another figure approaching a few roofs down. He readied his nunchakus and adjusted himself to defend Judder. "Who are you?" He called out.

"Friend of Judder's. Just picking him up. Streak sent me." The figure replied in a modulated voice and slowed their pace.

"That's Zenith. He's here to help." The voice in his comms supplied.

"Got it."

Zenith continued his approach and began to check Judder over. "You mind helping me get him to the street? He's completely knocked out."

Denki considered his options once again. He could just leave now and it would probably be the safest and smartest choice. But... shoot, I can't just leave him. He reached under the vigilante's shoulders and lifted him up with Zenith's help. Together, they got him back down to street level and to a back alley where a motorcyclist was waiting with a spare helmet. They loaded Judder onto the motorcycle, and he was gone in seconds. Zenith turned to thank the mystery savior, but Kaminari was gone. All that remained was a notecard with a number, stuck to the wall where he had been standing just moments before.

Chapter Text

"How are you feeling, Isseka? Pain any better?"

"A bit. He respond?" He asked Mika. It would take a while to get back to patrols, but he wanted to thank Volt.

"Nothing yet, just focus on recovering." came the gutteral voice of Nathaniel. "Tried to trace the number, but it's definitely a burner."

Isseka sighed. "Just let me know if he responds."

"He didn't look like you described him last time." Mika pointed out as she rewrapped his waist.

"Yeah, he changed his outfit for sure. Strange thing is that I haven't seen him around otherwise. Knew how to fight well, though."

"He did well on your injuries, too. The scarring won't be bad. Speaking of which, why didn't you call in?"

"I- I didn't expect to get caught up. There were way more than I thought. I wasn't thinking straight." He admitted sheepishly.

"It was risky." Nathaniel said under his breath. Isseka looked up and was met with piercing green eyes that seemed to stare right through him.

"I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean to worry you." Isseka knew his friend too well to mistake the harsh glare for anger. Nat was worried. Scared. "I'll be alright."

"I'll be on patrol." With that, Nathaniel grabbed his daggers from the table they had been resting on and left the room.

"You really gave him a scare last night." Mika gave him one of those looks that told him their friend had barely slept, if at all.

Isseka dropped his head back against the bed rest and closed his eyes. "I'll make it up to him."

"You can start by checking in more often." Mika whispered before leaving the room. He grimaced at her words because he knew she was right.

- - - -

Kaminari sat staring at the text. Should I write back? I mean, that is why I gave them the number. Ugh, why was this so hard? He had complete freedom, and he wasn't doing *anything* with it.

[Thank you for patching up Judder and keeping him out of custody. We own you one, so feel free to text this number.]

[[This is Volt. Is he recovering well?]]

Kaminari put his phone away, too worried to wait for a response. He had just reached his workplace anyways so he should be focused on the task in front of him. He entered through the employee back door and slipped on his apron. It's was busy this Saturday so the time passed quickly. Most people would probably be overwhelmed by the sheer number of customers, but Kaminari loved it. The constant action and conversation helped him zone out and let his thoughts flow freely instead of getting stuck on any single problem. He worked from four to ten in the afternoon, which would be strange for a coffee shop but made sense with the amount of pastries and decaf teas and coffees they sold. It was about nine thirty when a grouchy old man walked on. At least, that's how Denki mentally referred to the long black haired man, who, in actuality, was most likely in his early thirties.

"Heyyyyy! My favorite customer!" Kaminari called out as Aizawa walked up to the counter.

"Just a-"

"A plain black coffee with four shots of espresso and one teaspoon of half n' half milk?" Denki interrupted with a cheeky grin. Aizawa sighed and hid his face in his scarf, but Kaminari spotted the slight upward curvature of the older man's cheeks. I got you!

"That and a croissant." The unimpressed, dry voice responded.

"One killer coffee and a croissant coming right up! Please insert your card." Denki gave his truly perfect customer service smile before spinning around and getting to work on the coffee. "Suks, you mind warming up a croissant?"

"Sure thing, Daisuke." His coworker replied before heading to the back where they stored their food items.

"So! How has the year been?" Kaminari had figured out Aizawa was a teacher last week, and since the year was finishing up, he thought it a relevant question.

"Forgot you knew that." The black haired man grumbled. "I'm glad it's nearly over. Can't wait to send those gremlins on their way."

Denki giggled as he capped the coffee and passed it over with the croissant Misuka had warmed and bagged. "Well, make sure to keep coming by after the year finishes. I'll miss you."

He made a boo-boo face and blinked his eyes a few times. Aizawa rolled his eyes and turned to leave. "Children." Denki caught him mumble under his breath and burst out laughing. Man, messing with Aizawa was just so easy. He started to clean up, knowing that not as many people showed up after the sleep-deprieved teacher. He heard Aizawa pause at the door and glanced up.

"Be careful heading home tonight. Both of you. There has been an increase in gang activities recently." Aizawa warned before walking out and taking a right.

"He's so weird," Misuka stated as she walked over.

Denki would usually agree, but he always got this vibe from Aizawa, like he knew more than he let on. "I'll walk you home tonight. Just for shits and giggles, yeah?"

Misuka smiled and nodded, "Sounds good to me! It just means you have to stay longer."

Denki shook his head and continued his work. The two coworkers chatted for the last hour and then switched out with Hiro, who worked the night shift. Nothing ended up happening, and they both got home safe, but things did feel off, and Misuka told him to stay safe after he dropped her off. Increased gang activity, huh? Stange thing for a teacher to know. Kaminari slipped into his costume and set out for patrol. He wanted to make sure he wouldn't have any run-ins with enemy groups at inconvenient times. He definitely noticed more activity that night, but he also found many tied up with knife slashes and broken bones. Someone's having one heck of a night. He decided to follow the trail of violence until he found the perpetrator. He arrived just as Zenith was finishing up yet another group and making his way back to the rooftops.

"Well, hello!"

"Volt." The modulated voice responded with a hint of surprise.

"You're a bit harder on these guys than your friend." Kaminari teased in an equally as masked but less distorted voice. He had a muffler built into his mask, not a fan of the electronic sound that came with a modulator.

"Well, they wouldn't be out if they weren't looking for trouble." The vigilante responded with obvious disdain coating his words. "For your knowledge, Judder is doing much better and will make a full recovery. Streak let me know you asked."

"That's good to hear. So you're blowing off some steam?"

Zenith stared at him for a moment, contemplating his response. "Yeah. Figured I should do some good while I was at it."

"Hm. Mind if I join you?"

"If you don't get in the way, I don't care." And with that, he turned around and took off. Kaminari didn't know why he asked or why he was following, but Zenith seemed pissed and some part of his wanted to know why. He also could use a real fight with how long it had been. No one would recognize him, so he didn't have much care for who he was attacking as long as they fought back. The pair didn't say much while they worked, just synched up in a continuous pattern of spot, fight, tie, flee. Kaminari felt himself falling into the rhythm of combat again, his body lit up with pent-up energy from the day. At some point, the pair silently agreed to take a break and sat on a roof eating granola bars.

"You're a good fighter. Have you been at it for a while?" Zenith suddenly asked.

"I guess you could say that. I've been training since I could walk." He wasn't sure what was too much to give away, but plenty of people start material arts young, so he wasn't too worried.

"You're not a vigilante, though... So why are you out here?"

"That's my business. Do you know why the underground has been more active recently?" Kaminari inquired as a redirection. He really wanted to know if it was the same group that had turned on them, but he couldn't ask that without giving away what he knew.

"Fair enough. Not really, but there has been talk about a new leader rising up the ranks. He's taken down a few prominent figures, even hit Zunder territory."

Zunder was his family's current title in the underground. It represented all of their alliances and territory, which reached across countries. Denki wasn't sure how much Zenith knew about Kaminaris, but he would have to be careful with how he talked about them. "Rising leader, huh? He got a name?"

"Apparently, he's been around for a while, and there are a lot of rumors and legends about the guy. Not sure how much of it I believe, but he seems powerful. He's definitely influential." Zenith looked over to him. "I've got to get back to my team. You're welcome to stay in touch and join me again another time."

The vigilante stood up and began making his way back... well, somewhere. Denki didn't follow; just watched as he left. The night had been fun, but he was nowhere near tired enough to head in. Zenith had clearly been out a lot longer than he had. I could always just continue without him, I seriously need to punch something. He had been a bit tight recently because, as much as he hated to admit it, he felt left behind. He knew protocol inside and out, so he understood the lack of communication. But... He also knew that his siblings all had access codes, that his parents didn't send a single warning for him, that every. single. one. of his parents' goons had a prepared contingency plan for a regroup situation and that he had never even been considered-. His fist flew into the robber he had stopped from harming a young man. It was forceful enough to shatter the guy's nose and slam him into the wall. Kaminari tied him up and visually checked the civilian over for injuries before signaling for the victim to call the cops and retreating to the rooftops. Why am I so angry about this? Clearly, I did just fine, and they probably knew that I would. Still, even just a bit of spare cash would have saved me a lot of trouble.

He moved into the next attack and worked out his frustrations on whatever criminal was unlucky enough to be along his path. He was in the middle of a fight when he felt eyes on him. Falling into autopilot on the fight, he took a moment to look up at the roofs. A black-clad fella with yellow goggles and a gray scarf decended the building silently and engaged with two of the six punks Kaminari was fighting. They worked well together, passing enemies back and forth and watching each others backs. As they fought, Denki took in more of the appearance of his new companion. He had long black hair that floated at times. Everywhere the guy looked, quirks seemed to cut out. He wielded the scarf like it was second nature and used it to move and take down his opponents. His fighting was mesmerizing, and Kaminari found himself staring as the hero finished off with a water quirked villain. Denki quickly scaled halfway up the wall of the alley so that he was out of arms length. He wasn't an idiot after all. The guy may not look very.. hero like.. but he fought like one.

Now, something was bothering Kaminari, aside from the threat of arrest. This guy looked *seriously* familiar. Denki tilted his head when the hero tied up his now downed opponent and looked up. "You're still here."

"What? You thought I'd leave without greeting my new acquaintance?" Kaminari snarked back.

"What do you want?" The hero was have none of his antics. Perfect.

"Can't a guy have a friendly conversation nowadays? I just want to get to know such a sweet lady."

He got a sigh in return and, to Kaminari's suprise, the hero used his scarf to pull himself halfway up the opposite wall. Sheeze, a frickin three in one. That is so cool! Denki climbed just a little higher, wanting to be able to get a head start if the hero made any attempts.

"Usually, Zenith is out on Saturday. Though, judging by your outfit, you're not with their crew."

"So observant." Denki teased, "I might have to start being careful."

"You're acting as a vigilante. I'd say you're a fool if you haven't been *careful* up to this point." The black haired man replied as he worked further up his wall.

Kaminari made a point of laughing and he climbed onto the roof, having matched the speed of the hero's climb. "So what do I call you?"

"I told Judder I went by Volt, so we can stick with that."

The hero used his capture weapon to pull himself onto Denki's roof, but the yellow-head had already moved to the other side. "Now, this is a better distance for a little chat. You're Eraserhead, right?"

Flutter had given him a heads-up about this underground hero. She hadn't known much, but she gave a vague description that seemed to fit near perfectly to the man in front of him. Still, Denki felt like he knew the guy from somewhere else, and he was determined to find out where.

"So observant." The hero threw his own words back at him.

Dang, this guy just doesn't give up. I'll break him, though. Everyone has a trigger. "So, you know the musketeers? I've been wondering about them."

Confusion flashed for a mere second before Eraser carefully masked his expression. "The-" Realization shown in the heros eyes and he lowered his head to cover his mouth in his scarf and-

Holy smokes! I knew he was familiar, but that was not who I was expecting. The slight upwards curvature of the mouth, the way he hides behind his scarf. Denki made sure he showed no physical recognition.

"The Dezetas. I've had a few encounters. What's your interest with them?"

"Oh ya know, seen in passing. Now I'm curious about your relationship with vigilantes. Thought heroes hated those guys." Denki pushed. He wanted to know the hero's side of things. There was always more to a story, always another perspective that changed the narrative, so why should he only hear his family's side?

Eraserhead's eyes squinted at that. "You don't consider yourself a vigilante?"

Kaminari thought about the night, about working with Zenith and then continuing even after the guy turned in for the night. "I suppose my actions tonight would be considered vigilantism."

The hero nodded slightly, clearly trying to figure out where Volt stood when it came to sides. "To answer your question: no. I can't speak for other heroes, but I don't hate vigliantes. Their actions are illegal, but many of them are doing a lot of good, and I have worked with a few."

"Hmm. I'm guessing you're going to try and arrest me now, huh?" Kaminari had been watching Eraser slowly grab his capture weapon throughout the conversation. That might work on newbies, but I'm no such thing.

"I would prefer you turn yourself in. You've barely started down this path. It won't be a large sentence, if any." The hero coaxed.

Kaminari smiled under his mask. Oh, this is going to be fun. He lowered his stance, and that was all Eraser needed to know that no one was going in easy tonight. The man flicked his arm out, and Denki leaped over the scarf just in time. Faster than I anticipated, but I do love a challenge. "Ya know, it's not nice to attack your friends."

"Is that what we are?" The hero flung is weapon again, and Kaminari grabbed hold and yanked backward. The hero was thrown off balance but caught himself before he fell.

"Well, we could always be more, but it seemed a little fast considering we just met." Denki flirted just to piss the hero off a little. Eraser's movements studdered a little, and Kaminari tilted his head. Looks like I hit the trigger. I wonder if there's a special someone... Guess I'll ask the next time he orders that death drink. Denki dodged another attack and jumped to the next roof. Speaking of which, it's all starting to click if this is his nightly activity on top of being a teacher. Eraser had followed him, and they were now locked in hand to hand combat. Aizawa attempted to kick his leg out while distracting with a reach for his scarf. Denki shifted backward and held his hands in front of him.

"Woah, man. It's definitely too early for me to be falling for you!"

Eraser sighed heavily and reset his stance. "You talk a lot. What's your goal here?"

"My goal?" Denki was actually a little thrown off at the question.

"You've had multiple opportunities to run, and yet you stay here fighting me while the police are on their way."

Now, Denki hadn't forgotten about the police; rather, he just didn't care. They were about ten minutes out judging by the typical routes, which he had memorized after a week of methodical patrols. Simply put, he could keep this up for a while. As for the not running part, well... "I thought it was clear, I want to get to know you."

"Most people ask questions about the other person for that." The hero pointed out, completely monotone.

"Ooo, so we should play twenty-one questions? I'm up for that, but I'll get bored just standing here." Denki tapped his mouth with his pointer finger a few times for dramatics before raising his eyebrows, holding the finger up, and gasping. "I know! We'll mix it with a game of cat and mouse."

"We're not-"

But Kaminari had already taken off towards the next rooftop. He heard Aizawa grumbled something indecipherable before giving chase and reaching out with his capture weapon again. Denki dodged and leaped to a longer roof so he would have time to ask a question. "Alright! I'll go first. What is... your favorite color?"

When he didn't get a response, he glanced behind him. Nope, still there, just stubborn. "Oh, come on! You have to answer! Here I'll give you a freebee. Mine's yellow."

It took two more roofs, but eventually, the guy relented. "Blue."

"You're turn!" Kaminari called out as he side stepped another attack. He wasn't sure if Eraser would humor him, so he was surprised when he heard a scoff and then a question.

"Mountains or beach?"

Kaminari thought for a moment, not quite sure how to answer. He didn't have a lot of freedom with his tightly packed training schedule, but he remembered a particular mission his parents brought him on where they camped in the mountains for a night while they waited for a target. He had woken up in the middle of the night and wandered to a creek nearby where he could see the stars through the clearing. It had been so beautiful, and he had just sat there listening to life without a single worry on his tiny mind.

"I'd have to go with mountains; they're beautiful." Kaminari replied with a hint of nostalgia entering his voice.

They went back and forth until they had both asked their allotted amount of questions, and Denki skidded to a halt. It seemed to suprise Aizawa, who was looking a bit winded at this point. That's fair. He's been working a lot harder trying to catch me this whole time. That didn't stop the hero from launching yet another attack that Denki easily shifted out of the way of.

"Well, this has been fun! We should do it again sometime." He said cheerfully.

Eraser didn't try to attack again, clearly seeing the futility. "Fun. Of course."

"I'll see you around Eraser!"

Kaminari leaped off the roof and heard a scoff as he disappeared. He once again took an excessively complicated route back home, but this time, he left thinking about heroes and how different this one had been compared to his parents' descriptions and his previous encounters.

Chapter Text

When the detective entered his office at the ungodly hour of four in the morning, he was met with one of his closest friends, who was passed out in a chair waiting for him. Wow does he need sleep so much more than me. Tsukauchi made his way behind his desk and began organizing his stacks of paper from the night before. He made no attempt to wake Aizawa, knowing it would only end poorly, and simply waited for insomniac to rise from his slumber when the sun finally creeped in the window around six. Aizawa groaned as he woke up and stretched slightly. "Morning. I see my office has become free rent."

"And yet I still pay for my own." The hero quipped back.

They shared the silence for a while after that, neither awake enough to hold a coherent conversation. Tsukauchi's interest was spiked, though, since usually Aizawa would head to his own apartment and put off filling out paperwork. "So, what brings you here? While I do love a friendly visit, it's not your style so early."

"I had a run in last night. Vigilante. An annoying one at that." Aizawa ran a hand down his face in exasperation before reluctantly adding. "And he's good."

"Experienced?" The detective asked, beginning to flip through the file Shouta had just handed him.

"Definitely trained. I've never seen him before. Although with how quickly he escaped, I wouldn't be surprised if he has been active for longer."

"Hmm. You didn't list any quirk use." Tsukauchi noted as he finished his first pass through and went back to properly read the file from front to back.

"Yeah. He might have a mutant or an enhancement quirk, but I wasn't able to get a good look at his face. He had a mask and goggles. Grey and yellow. It's all in the file." Aizawa was brushing over the details, which wasn't unusual, but was a good tell that his focus was elsewhere.

"Did anything stand out in particular? Something notable or unique?"

"His fighting style. It felt familiar, but I can't place where... Ugh, I'd have to fight him a few times if I wanted a chance to figure it out." Aizawa seemed strangely expressive with his frustration, and Tsukauchi was determined to figure out why. It was rare for Aizawa to show concern so blatantly, especially for anyone outside of his inner circle of trusted people.

"Was there anything else..?" Naomasa led, looking up and directly at Aizawa. The hero sighed.

"He seemed... lost. Alone." And with that, he stood up. "I'll keep an eye out, but I wanted to let you know in person. He's highly trained. Barely seemed tired after nearly an hour of chasing him across the roofs, and he had clearly been out for a while before I found him. I'll see you around."

Tsukauchi watched his friend leave before looking back down at the file. It hadn't been long since the last potential vigilante came on the radar, but nothing had come of that sighting. This seemed different, though. If Aizawa was saying he was well-trained, then he was. This, on top of advancements with the League? Guess I can say goodbye to sleep for the next week.

- - - -

Aizawa ran into the vigilante a few more times but never got the chance to interact the way he did the first night. He would disappear before the end of a fight or between buildings when Eraserhead gave chase. It was two nights ago that Aizawa finally came across a way to have an actual interaction again, or at least he hoped so. He had spotted Volt and Zenith patrolling together, which was slightly surprising considering the new vigilante had confirmed he wasn't part of the Dezetas. But then again, vigilantes did occasionally work together for particular missions or if one was in the area from what the underground hero had learned over the years. The point being, if Aizawa could find them while on a patrol together, he might have a better shot at conversing with the newbie and learning his intentions. Just the fact that Zenith was willing to work with the guy gave Eraser some hope.

So here he was, spending his summer patrol time in search of vigilantes. He had just stopped a mugging and was continuing his route when he heard the pounding of footsteps and the clank of metal from an alley two buildings down. He changed course and stopped on a roof above the alley where the noise escaped from. There, he watched as two vigilantes fought a group of three criminals who appeared to be protecting a briefcase. Aizawa was able to observe their fighting styles and how they worked together. They both appeared to alter their typical techniques in order to merge and work as a team. At least, he knew that Zenith was, having worked with the vigilante on multiple occasions. The fight didn't drag on for long, but not from a lack of effort from the criminals. In fact, they seemed quite desperate to protect whatever was in that briefcase. Once the two finished up, Eraserhead dropped down and approached the package while the vigilantes tied up their downed opponents.

"What do you think was so important?" Zenith asked from behind him. They had always been pretty neutral with each other after they built some trust between them.

"Not sure, but they definitely didn't want anyone getting into it, given by the amount of locks they put on it." Aizawa knelt down and examined the security more closely. He heard Zenith walk up behind him but noted that Volt hadn't moved. Or so he thought until the vigilante knelt beside him to look at the locks. Aizawa prided himself on his ability to avoid people sneaking up on him, so it rattled him a little when he spotted the vigilante in his peripheral. Definitely trained.

"You pick locks often as a hero?"

"Sometimes, but none this complex. I don't typically have the need to." He eyed the vigilante for his reaction but got nothing. He may have reacted slightly, but with his mask and goggles, it was impossible to tell. Volt reached forward and examined one of the more complex locks.

"Yeah, definitely higher security. I could crack 'em five minutes tops." With that, the vigilante stood up and walked back over to Zenith. Aizawa turned to look at the pair and noted that Zenith was staring at Volt.

"You could crack it?" The hero inquired, curious to know if the vigilante actually could.

"Yeah."

"Then...?" Zenith gestured to the briefcase expectantly. Apparently, he was also confused as to why Volt had gotten up.

"Oh. You actually want me to?" The grey-clad vigilante seemed genuinely surprised. "I- I can't. Well... I can.. break into it, I mean, but I won't."

"You won't?" Both Aizawa and Zenith asked at the same time.

"Why not? We need to know what they were protecting." The vigilante took the lead.

Volt paused and seemed to really think over his options. How strange. Does he know more than he is saying? Or is it some other motive? Aizawa added on, "It would be helpful if we could find out now, and I could get a detective on it before it was confiscated for evidence. It's harder to work around regulations after a crime has begun the investigation process."

"I- um. I guess it couldn't hurt." Volt hesitated and glanced around the alley, especially at the knocked out criminals, before turning to Zenith. "Make sure our friends over there don't wake up."

Aizawa watched as Zenith tilted his head slightly but obliged by the request, pulling out some tranq darts and hitting all three of tied up criminals. Meanwhile, Volt sat down and placed the briefcase in his lap, sitting cris cross and pulling out a lock pick. He got to work on the easier locks, finishing in two minutes, and moved onto the most complex one from what Eraserhead could see. He watched the movement of the vigilante's hands and how comfortable he looked working through each mechanism like it was second nature. Maybe it is. Sure enough, four and half minutes later, Volt had removed every lock. For the last thirty seconds of his estimated time, he carefully checked the seam for what Aizawa assumed would be explosive triggers and opened it up, brushing off his hands dramatically.

"Light work."

Zenith came over, having been keeping watch, and the trio peered into the case. There appeared to be vials of some sort with a letter placed on top. Aizawa opened the letter and held it so they all could see while Zenith pulled a flash light from his pocket.

[For testing, I have sent you fifteen different samples:

Ten clean
Five with alterations

All alterations are marked according to the key I provided you with the last exchange.
I expect that you will have results by the end of the next two months.]

The letter wasn't signed, which wasn't surprising considering this clearly wasn't the first interaction. Aizawa would bring this straight to Tsukauchi. It was then that the hero picked up on the nervous movement of Volt. He was messing with the sleeve cuffs of his costume, and while it was hard to see his eyes through the goggles, it was clear that he was rereading the letter multiple times. "Are you alright, Volt?"

The vigilante's fidgeting immediately ceased, and he looked up at Aizawa. "Yeah, I- Well, it's just... Um.. The letter.. uh.."

Zenith glanced at the two of them before focusing on Volt. "Do you know something?"

The grey-clad vigilante kept his gaze on Aizawa for a moment before averting back at the letter. "No."

It was an obvious lie, but he was pretty sure the vigilante knew that. "Well, I'll take this in for further investigation. Thank you for your aid."

Volt nodded slightly, but his focus was on the vials in the briefcase. Slowly, the vigilante got to his feet and made his way over to the wall of the alley. "Patrol's been great, Zenith. I need to head in for the night, though. I'll catch ya around."

And he was gone a moment later, moving so fast Eraserhead barely saw where he went. He turned back to the vials and closed the case.

"So you've met Volt."

"Yeah, we had a run in a few weeks ago." Aizawa stood up, carrying the case, and turned towards the vigilante. "Is he a new member?"

"Nah, not even sure if he's a vigilante. Never seems to really be trying very hard in fights, kinda like he just tags along to have something to punch. He patched up Judder a while back, though, which is when I met him."

Eraserhead nodded, but something had caught his attention. "Doesn't try?"

"Yeah. Half the time I glance over, and he's just watching me fight while blocking every hit thrown at him. And I've watched him take down enemies in seconds, but he drags out his fights until just before I've finished with my opponents."

"Hm." Now that he thought about it, he had noticed the same thing that first fight he had fought with the guy. "Yeah.. I've seen that, too. Keep an eye on him?"

The vigilante nodded, "Yeah, and I'll try to find out what he knows, but no guarantees. Oh, and about the vials. I'll ask around for more information, but there have been rumors in the underground about a few rising powers. One is legend, and the other goes by Overhaul. The latter is known for experiments and might be involved in this particular case."

With that, Zenith made his way to the roofs to finish his patrol. Aizawa waited for the police to arrive and then went directly to the station with the case in hand. He was a little disappointed that he hadn't gotten a full conversation like he was hoping for, but he did gain some insight and had a lot to think about.

- - - -

Kaminari stripped his costume and slipped into the hoodie that had become comfort clothing for at home. He had a run-in with that Eraser hero again, despite being able to mostly avoid him. It felt wrong to associate with heroes, considering he was a villain. Technically, it was disloyalty to his family and everything they stood for. Still, he found himself continuing to go out each night, and it took less and less gaslighting himself each time. Not sure that's a good thing... Oh well. He had a bit of a scare tonight, though, with the vials they had found. He had already been hesitant to help Zenith and Aizawa open the case after noticing the barely detectable marking of one of their associates,  but he figured it would be a customery exchange with how few guards they had with the package. He nearly panicked when he saw the vials but held himself together enough to not out himself in front of a literal hero.

The Kaminaris had been funding some of Chisake's research and had put him in contact with many of his best scientists. This was as much his family's operation as it was the germaphobe's. The worst part of the night, though, was that Denki had just LET Eraserhead take in the vials as evidence. May I remind you that he was supposed to do the exact opposite and protect the package at all costs. Denki sighed and slipped into his pallet. He had considered renting an apartment prefernished but decided against it since he would only be staying for around five months. Yeah... just four more months. The thought seemed less probable even though it was the only logical choice. Denki thunked his head down on the floor and stared at the ceiling, mind blank. Eventually, he sat up and began meditating. It wasn't always his thing, but sometimes he just needed to collect he ever following thoughts, and it seemed to help. He didn't know how much time passed, and frankly, he didn't care because he went to sleep calm and collected.

When he woke up, he made a decision. He was going to continue to get to know the hero and vigilantes he had encountered. He convinced himself that he would collect information, and when his family returned, he would report everything and take down this area's protectors. So, during his next patrol, Denki made his way over to Aizawa's route and busied himself with crime until the hero showed up. He joined Eraserhead and helped him finish up a fight with two muggers and then waited for the guy on top of the roofs.

"Mind if I join you for a patrol? I enjoyed our last date."

"It wasn't a date." Aizawa responded and continued on his path. Well... he didn't say no. And so Denki followed, and they fought together for nearly three hours before stopping on a higher roof to catch their breaths.

"So, you seem to have taken a liking to vigilantism."

"I guess you could say that." Kaminari didn't really know what to say. He was talking to a hero, after all, the one person he was taught to never converse with.

Aizawa looked over at him. He's probably trying to read me, not that he'll have much luck. "Hmm. What do you like about it?"

"About vigilantism? Like, why do I break the law? Seriously, dude, who asks someone that?" Kaminari felt himself avoiding the question and stopped to ask himself why. "I don't know. It started.. well, I can't tell you that... but I can tell you that when I met Judder, saw him throw himself into a fight just to protect someone he didn't even know, who he had no loyalties to... It reminded me of-.. it uh, felt right."

Eraserhead listened as Volt tripped over his own words and picked out the information he was willing to give up. "I choose to be an underground hero because I knew this was where I could make the biggest difference. Where I could protect the most people and not just those who lived well, but those who barely scrapped by in life. I think there is a lot more to your motivation, but we can save that for another time."

Denki looked over at the hero and contemplated his intentions. He was fully aware the hero had been trying to follow him during patrols, trying to talk to him again. "What do you really want to know? You've clearly been trying to reach out."

Eraserhead looked out towards the city. "You seem familiar, and I want to know why. I doubt you will tell me, at least not yet, but maybe we could reach that point."

Denki continued to watch the hero for a minute. His training told him to drop it, but his curiosity seemed to win more than it lost. "What about me?"

"Your fighting style... I've seen it before... But only briefly, and I have so far been unable to place it." Eraser responded slowly.

Heh. Well, that would make sense. Aizawa was a very effective underground hero, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had run into Kaminaris before. Denki wasn't worried about that giving him away completely, though. As a descendant of the Kaminari line, he was trained far more extensively than the lackies Aizawa would have encountered. Even if he did connect the dots, Denki had been taught multiple fighting techniques and trained so that he not only switched between them fluidly but also integrated all of the styles he learned together. Basically, he couldn't be placed into any specific background solely because he fought like one. He fought like everyone.

"Well, I know a few techniques, so that's not surprising. Who knows, maybe you'll figure it out." Denki thought over his next words carefully, "About the other night... you asked if I knew anything about the vials..."

"You said you didn't." Eraserhead didn't look over, but Denki could see his shoulders tense in anticipation.

"Well, I don't know what the vials contain, but I may know who would want them." Taking his opportunity, Denki continued, "A rising group that goes by the title 'The League of Villains' has been reaching out to a bunch of the underground higher-ups, especially about experimentation."

Eraser finally looked over and watched him. "And you know this how?"

"If you're wondering how accurate the information is, I can guarantee that my sources are reliable. You'll just have to trust me." Yeah, reliable cuz I was there.

"It's hard to trust someone you barely know..." Aizawa led.

"Guess we'll just have to finish this patrol with a bit more chatting then." Denki pushed himself to his feet and hopped a few times to warm up his muscles again.

Eraser followed, and they spent the rest of the patrol taking about their interests and values. It was strange for Denki because he only knew the Kaminari code of law, but he was able to use the morals talked about at the church he had been attending and Aizawa seemed satisfied enough with his answers. He "learned" about the hero's love of coffee and affinity for cats, while Aizawa learned about Volt's love of the stars and travel. Neither could share too much about their personal lives, Denki because of his hidden identity and Aizawa because of the risks that came with being a hero, but they opened up where they could. Kaminari found himself discovering things about himself that he had never considered or questioned before. At some point, Eraser said something about family that stood out to Denki more than anything else that night.

"So, you prioritize family, huh? What about friends?" Kaminari had asked after Aizawa mentioned how he would choose protecting his family over his own life.

"Well, my friends are my family. I'd been on my own for a while when I met the people I call family today. It's not always blood that makes a family from what I've learned over the years. It was an important lesson for me that saved my life at the time." Eraser had stated as plainly as ever.

Not always about blood? Denki stayed stuck on that thought even as he slipped off to sleep. It was such a different concept in comparison to the model he grew up with. That family was blood relatives, and they were all that mattered. Although, maybe what Aizawa said had more truth than he initially realized. Denki's family had left him for last, putting their legacy and status above his life. That sure didn't fall into the motto he had been taught. Family stuck by each other, they sacrificed for each other. Denki had told Aizawa that he valued loyalty above most things.

Didn't that mean he should value a loyal family, too?

Chapter Text

So, Denki had a slight problem. Actually, it was a ginormous problem. It was an elephant that jumped on him and crushed him with the weight of how important it was. It had been three months since he had started getting to know the Dezetas and Eraserhead, and frankly, he didn't want it to end. He had begun to hear whispers of activity from the Kaminaris, which meant that they were established and taking back their place in the underground. Denki was supposed to join back with his family within the next week, but he dreaded the thought every time it came. It wasn't that he was scared. No, he hadn't done anything wrong, so everything would just go back to normal with training and missions. He would report what he had learned and break contact with those he had met. He would just drop the connections he had built, leave this new sense of freedom, and... he didn't want to lose them.

The Dezetas had taken him under their wing the past few months, invited him to celebrations, and shared inside jokes with him. He had learned about Aizawa's relationship with Yamada and his job at UA. He learned Flutter worked with an underground emergency care for vigilantes, villains, and even underground heroes in her free time because her Quirk allowed her to excrete healing remedies from her wings. He had gone to meet-ups and movies with coworkers from the cafe. He had grown confident in his Volt persona and had built a reputation for his effective takedowns. He was doing better in school, and while he didn't have friends, it was easier to work with groups when he could actually contribute to projects with his free time. He loved what he had created for himself, and the best part was that it was entirely his. He wasn't overshadowed by his siblings' great quirks and accomplishments. He wasn't looked down upon by his parents or their goons. In fact, he was praised by the vigilantes, and while Aizawa would never admit it, Denki knew he made the hero smile with his sly comments both as Volt and Daisuke. The worst part, the thing that yanked and nagged at him to stay... was that he felt exhilarated every time a civilian walked away unharmed.

It was traitorous. It was what his parents had spent years beating out of him. He wasn't supposed to feel pity or give mercy. He wasn't supposed to want a victim to escape, for a hero to step in and save someone. He had spent so many nights starved and covered in black and blue anytime he had even slightly showed regret that it was absurd for him to still feel good about protecting people.

- - - -

Denki stood holding the knife in his tiny hand while his father stood behind him in the dark and damp celler. There was a blookstreaked man on his knees in front of Denki with pure terror shining through his swollen eyes. The little yellow haired boy gripped the hilt tighter and took a breath.

"I don't have all day, you brat. Finish this. We have no use for this pest any longer." His father ordered.

"Yes, sir." Kaminari held his voice steady and stepped up to the dirtied and broken hero.

"Please... I- I'll do anything.. please." The man coughed and hunched over further in pain.

Denki lifted the knife as he heard his father laugh from behind, "You couldn't offer us anything, you fool."

He pressed the knife against the skin of the heroes throat and slid it across, leaving a deep red line that spilled over and dripped onto Denki's shoes. He stood staring as the body slumped onto the floor, and the head rested against his legs. When his father finally spoke in a cold voice, Denki turned to face him. "You hesitated. For that, you can sleep here tonight."

Nagaikiya Kaminari turned around and walked out without another word, locking the door behind him. The little boy left in the room made his way to the corner of the room and sat down, holding his knees to his chest. He stared at the lifeless body less five feet away, twitching and gurgling on its own blood. Eventually, his vision blurred with built-up tears, but not a single sound escaped the boy. Hours passed as Denki sat staring, just staring, unable to look away even after the movement and noise stopped. Even when his tears had dried and his eyes began to droop, he continued to stare, trying to convince himself that the man would get up, say something, do something. Eventually, his exhaustion won over, and he fell asleep sitting in the same curled up position, facing his actions.

- - - -

Denki had joined Judder on patrol that night, and they were tying up some criminals when he turned to the vigilante and collected his nerve. "How far is too far?"

"Hm? Too far for what?"

"To uh.. well.. what would be too far for a villain to turn themselves around? To switch sides, I guess?"

Judder finished the knot he was working on and looked at Volt. "I think it depends on why they did what they did. And why they decide to change. I've known a lot of good people who have turned to villainy because of circumstance and I think they should have a chance to make up for what they have done. Not everyone would agree with me, of course. Do you have a specific example?"

"What about murder?"

Judder had stood up but froze at that. "Um... Well, it would depend on the situation and the person, but... I guess if it was in defense or if they had no choice, then it could be understandable. Not that it is ever the right choice.. sometimes it's the only choice. What makes you ask?"

"Just curiosity, I guess." Denki responded nonchalantly. He averted his eyes and began making his way back to the roof. He didn't see how Judder sent a quick text before following.

"Are you going to join us for movie night?" The vigilante asked as they made their way down their typical route.

"Not tonight, I have some work to do." Denki regrettingly told his partner. He planned to hunt down his family's new base that night after patrol.

"Aw man, we'll miss you! I hope your work proves fruitful."

"Yeah.." If you knew what work it was, you wouldn't be saying that. "Hey, I should probably start that, actually. I'll see you tomorrow."

Denki turned off course and looped a few times to make sure Judder didn't follow. He felt a deep guilt settle in his stomach and couldn't stand to act normal around one of his few friends. Don't think that. Your friendship is just a lie you tell them and yourself. He got back to the roofs and began looking for markings he had memorized since age four. It didn't take long considering he knew exactly what to look for and quickly located the new base his parents had set up. It was a pretty average building in a calm part of town, a place most people wouldn't think to check. Denki didn't enter though, just took note of the location and security before heading home. His home. What is wrong with me? He told himself he would reconnect the next week instead of in a month so that he couldn't put it off. He had to go back.

Right?

- - - -

Judder watched as Volt left in what felt like a hurry. He couldn't tell for sure, but he had spent enough time with the guy to know he usually hung around until everyone else had turned in for the night, not the other way around. He pulled out his phone and read the response he had gotten.

[[Hey, 'Raser! Mind meeting me at our usual spot? I have a concern I'd like to address in person.]]

[Now?]

[[That would be preferable]]

[I'll be there in five]

Judder slipped his burner phone back into his zipper pocket and headed towards a tall roof he had become accustomed to. In exactly five minutes, Eraser pulled himself up and sat down next to the vigilante. "So?"

"It's about Volt. He was acting stange tonight."

"Does he not always?" Eraserhead deadpanned.

A huff escaped Judder and he took off the mouth part of his mask that contained the voice modulator. He trusted Eraser after seven years working with him. "Good point. Tonight was different, though..."

The vigilante squinted up at the clouds, his mouth pressed to a thin line. He continued, "He asked what it would take for someone to go to far. For a villain to be irredeemable."

Eraser glanced over at him, "And you said?"

"You know what I believe. I told him it depended on the situation and on the person. That defense was understandable and that people do what they have to at times. When I asked him why he wanted to know, he brushed it off as 'curiosity'." Judder turned to hero, "I knew he was keeping things from us, but it may be more than I anticipated."

Eraser nodded and turned out to the city, "There's more to this, isn't there?"

"He left in a hurry and said he wouldn't stay for movie night. He hasn't missed one in the four months we've invited him. Said he had work, which was probably true, but when I wished him luck, he sounded like he wanted to say more but held back. Something just... somethings wrong about this." Judder could hear his fear creeping into his voice and took a breath.

They sat in thought for a bit, and Eraserhead worked through what he knew in his head. Volt had always been secretive, but that wasn't unusual for vigilantes. What was unusual was how little the guy seemed to know about himself. Every time Eraser asked him about.. anything really... he always paused and studdered over his words as if it were the first time he had ever shared such information. Even simple things like his favorite season or if he was a morning person or not. And he always knew so much about the underground, about villain groups and emblems. Things that you learn over years of experience.

That wasn't even taking into account the guys fluency in any weapon he picked up. He threw knifes, fought with spare metal poles from alleys, nunchakus, bostaff, slings, he had even seen the guy disarm a criminal and then use the same gun to shoot three opponents in the exact same spot in the knee. He knew he had medical experience after Judder had told him about Volt patching up his bullet wound and laceration. The guy was a machine when it came to fighting crime to the point that Eraserhead struggled to keep up with him at times, which was saying something considering the hero was revered and feared in the underground for his efficiency. Yet, Volt always reminded Eraser of his students back at UA. He used the same slang and was cheeky like some of the more problematic ones. So he can't be that old...

And then there were the repeated mentions of the League of Villains. Eraser reported everything he learned about them to Tsukauchi, and most of the information he got was from Volt. The guys seemed to have some kind of vendetta against the group, considering he refused to share about nearly any other large villain group. Which was strange in itself for a vigilante. He mentally went over what Judder had told him again, and something clicked.

"You said he asked if murder was too far?"

"Yeah.. I thought we established this?"

Eraser ignored the prompt, "And then he said he had work to do?"

"He did..." Eraser looked over at the vigilante and could see it beginning to click for him. "You don't think he's planning to-"

"He has mentioned the League on multiple occasions. He seems to hate them at times, as if he had been personally wronged by them."

"But, he has never gone that far before. Nothing has happened that would push him over the edge."

"Not that we know of. You've seen how he fights sometimes. He leaves some of those criminals' bloody pulps. I've had to pull him off before because his opponent wasn't breathing, and he wasn't stopping. He doesn't even seem to realize most of the time and just stares blankly afterward."

Judder bit his lip and ran a hand down his face. "I don't want that to be true."

"I could be wrong, but we should keep an eye on him."

The vigilante closed his eyes and sighed. "I'll look into it."

They spent the next few hours catching up, just hanging out as friends and running a slow patrol. Both went home with heavy hearts, though, and plenty of work ahead of them.

- - - -

A week later, Denki found himself standing in front of the building his parents had set up for operations in a plain outfit with only his phone and wallet. He had left everything else at his apartment and planned to just check in today. He hesitated at the door but collected himself quickly and entered without another thought. He made his way through the building and up two floors until he found someone. "Excuse me, I require directions to Nagaikiya Kaminari or Kanako Kaminari."

"Fuck o- Oh shit!" The guy corrected himself when he turned and saw Denki's yellow hair. "They're uh.. they are on the next floor up, s-second right from the stairs. It's a meeting-"

"That's all I need. Thank you." Denki cut the man off and made his way to the stairs. He had learned to speak with authority around the base if he wanted something. He opened the door to find a room full of elites and his parents seated at the head of an oval table. No one acknowledged him beyond a slight pause in conversation. He made his way to a corner of the room and waited for the meeting to conclude. He didn't pay much attention to what was being discussed, only noting that the main premise was an attack on a local supply chain for hero equipment. He zoned back in as everyone was leaving the room and made his way over to his parents.

"I was beginning to think you died in the attack." Kanako raised an eyebrow as her soft voice contrasted her tone and words.

"I fought my way out after discovering we were compromised." Denki didn't elaborate, knowing his parents didn't care about what he had been doing over the past five and a half months.

"Well, we will find a room for you sometime this week. For now, do whatever, just don't get in the way." Nagaikiya stood up and walked off with Kanako right behind him.

That's.. that's it? He had gotten used to the Dezetas checking in with him and making sure he was doing alright. They didn't even ask if I learned anything, I was out here for five months, and they didn't even consider I might have information on the League. Kaminari shook his head and wandered out to memorize the layout of the new building. It's probably just busy right now... they'll have more to say later. It didn't take long to map out the space and find where his siblings' rooms were. He had two brothers and a sister and each had a room. Guess they were there during the attack and regrouped with our parents. He checked the rooms briefly and noted they were mostly empty. He called out to a man passing by, "Hey, where are the Kaminari children?"

"Oh, uh. Only Kenji and Isana have returned after the attack. They were checking safe houses last I heard."

Rai didn't regroup? But.. he has a room set up.. oh. It clicked for him. Kanako had even said it. They actually hadn't expected him to make it. He was so pathetic that they didn't even believe he could survive on his own. "You can go now. Thank you for informing me."

The man seemed surprised by the thanks, but Denki couldn't care. He left the building shortly after that without another word to anyone. For the next few days, he stopped by for about an hour and helped out where he could, but his parents mostly ignored his presence. Three days in, he was given a training schedule, and he got to work. Five days in, he wasn't doing well enough, and he got a corrective beating. Two weeks in, he still didn't have a room, so he just continued to live out of his apartment and work at the cafe. The punishments increased in regularity, and never once did his parents ask what he had done while he was on his own. His siblings ignored him, even Rai got more of a welcome than Denki did when he finally showed up. Denki struggled to focus at school, and his grades slipped, not that his parents checked. He surprised himself, though, every time he went to tell about the information he had collected, he stopped himself. He didn't seek out his parents or tell anyone about what he had learned.

Near the end of the second week, Aizawa came in for coffee at the cafe. "I'll have a black coffee with four shots of espresso, please."

"Coming right up." Denki was a bit dazed, had been all day after the electroshock he had received the previous day. Aizawa picked up on his tone he looked up from where he had been searching his wallet for his card.

"A#e y## #l##gh#?" Denki squeezed his eyes shut and grimaced as his brain seemed to static.

"Pardon, what?" He asked.

Aizawa was fully looking at him now and concern laced his words. "I asked if you were alright."

"Oh! Yeah, of course. Why do you ask?" Denki tried his hardest to focus on the conversation, but his vision was wavering strangely.

"That bruise looks bad."

For a moment, Denki didn't process what the older man had said, but when he did, he froze. "Bruise?"

"On your eye." Aizawa was now watching him quite closely, having paid without Kaminari prompting him to.

"I uh- I forgot about about that." He said more to himself before shaking his head slightly. "I'll get that drink right out."

Denki went over, grabbed a cup, and walked over to the coffee brewer before blanking. What did he ask for ask for again..? He looked back at Aizawa and found the man staring at him with a strange look on his face. "Um.. what was it you asked for again..?"

Aizawa's eyebrows raised by a miniscule before the knit together tightly. "A black coffee with four shots."

"Ri-right." Denki turned back to the brewer and poured the coffee. Then he went to the espresso machine and started pumping the shots. One, two.. wait... he asked for... three? No, it started with an f. F-f.. five? Yeah, that seems right... He gave three more pumps and capped the cup. "Here you go."

"I asked for four shots. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Four? I thou- Nevermind." Denki shook his head again and poured out the drink. "I'll fix it."

He remade the drink and handed it to Aizawa, who took it hesitantly. "I can call someone if you need. Can your parents-"

"No!" Denki cut him off and then plastered a reassuring smile on his face, "I mean, there's no need. I'm fine, really."

Aizawa looked like he was going to say more when suddenly Denki's brain turned to static again, and his vision wavered. His legs buckled, and he barely caught himself on the counter. Within seconds, Aizawa had set down his drink and vaulted over the counter to help Denki. He walked him over to a chair and kneeled down next to him. "-n you hear me?"

"Yeah, yeah. I- I just need a minute." He tried to lift his hand to his head, but his arm fell short, and suddenly, he couldn't feel it. Aizawa's eyes tracked his movements and honed in of his arm.

"Can you move your arm?"

Denki shook his head, which just made the static worse. "I- I ca-"

A sharp pain shot through his side, and he sucked in a sharp breath to keep from screaming. He could barely hear Aizawa over the static in his brain.

"-y##r parents' number?"

"No, they uh.. they keep their ringer off." Denki lied.

"-hospital? ... Or I ... bring yo-"

"No, no hospital. I'm f-fine. I'll just walk home." Denki began to stand. He was sure that Hiro wouldn't mind too much if he left just a little early.

"You're in no condition to walk anywhere alone."

Denki's steps studdered, but he was determined to get back to his apartment. However, his body had other plans, and he felt the world spinning as he tilted forward too far.

Aizawa was suddenly by his side and supporting his weight with an arm wrapped under his shoulders. "Let me get you to a hospital."

Denki shoved him off and twisted his arm in an instinctual moment of clarity. "No hospital."

Aizawa worked his arm loose and got back in position to support him before he could fall again. "Tell me your address, and I'll get you there, then."

Denki was able to mumble his apartment number and the street it was on. He barely processed the trip home, but some part of his training kept him up and tracking their path for deviance. He lived on the third story of the apartment complex, so Aizawa led him to the elevators when he tried to go up the stairs like he usually would. When he got to the door, it occurred to him that the man would probably be expecting his parents to answer. Heh, jokes on you, they don't live here. Delirium was kicking in, and Denki blinked a couple of times before he remembered he had to unlock the door. He grabbed his key and tried to slip it into the slot, but his hands were shaking quite violently, and on his third try, his fingers stopped working, the key falling to the ground. Aizawa leaned him against the wall and grabbed the key, unlocking the door. Kaminari slipped in before Aizawa had a chance to and was closing the door when the older man asked, "When are your parents going to be back?"

"Soon. They'll be here soon..." His vision was no longer just wavering but starting to grow black around the edges. "You should... go."

He shut and locked the door before Aizawa could protest and stumbled over to his pallet. He listened until he heard Aizawa walk away, which took an annoyingly long time. The moment he was sure the man was gone, though, the last of his energy slipped from his malfunctioning body, and he passed out.

Chapter Text

It had been a few weeks since Kaminari passed out, and there didn't seem to be any side effects. Well, long term, at least. He had dealt with strange twitches and random loss of limb function for a couple of days, but after that, he was fine. He didn't know what had happened, and frankly, he didn't have a way to find out. So here he was, back in training in the last thirty minutes of his four hour session. He would take an hour at home and then go on patrol after this, supposing everything went well. Suddenly, he was yanked from his thoughts as a fist flew at his face, and he dodged. He countered with an uppercut and a round kick that knocked his opponent to the floor.

"Don't lose focus. You won't always be quick enough to make up for mistakes." His trainer lectured from the side. "Again."

Denki had always liked Poot as his instructor.  The guy was pretty lax in comparison to his other trainers. He was practical and observant and knew Denki inside and out, which was both beneficial and problematic at times. He was in the middle of a one v. five when Itzumu, one of his other trainers, entered the gym. He was a buff, muscular man with a scar that ran jagged across his cheek from his ear to the corner of his mouth. Denki didn't know the whole story behind the scar, but he knew it came from an explosive during a fight with a hero. Itzumu's sharp eyes narrowed on Denki while he was battling the last two opponents, and he reached slightly behind him. The yellow-head refocussed on his fight when his line of sight was blocked by a snake mutant woman. It wasn't tricky to take her down, but avoiding the poisonous bite from the snake head protruding from her waist prolonged the fight. He took the last guy down in seconds, having been dodging his attacks the entire fight and not deeming him enough of a threat to focus on while surrounded by more dangerous opponents.

Right as he flipped the guy over his shoulder, he felt a slight shift in the air and a quiet hiss from his right. His hand flung out to the side, and his fingers wrapped around the hilt of a knife right as he leaped into the air and dodged another aimed at his thigh. He flicked the knife right back the way it came and then rolled left to shrink himself as a target and have time to look at his new enemy. Except, it wasn't an enemy, although they most definitely did want him dead. Itzumu caught the knife and slipped it back into its holster, never breaking eye contact. "Seems you kept up with your training while you were gone."

Denki nodded, not allowed to speak during training sessions unless asked a direct question. "Still. You were unable to retrieve both weapons used against you. That is a failure."

He remained perfectly still and awaited the words he knew would come next. "For that, you will be reminded of the consequences if an adversary were to pick up the unaccounted for weapon while you enacted your counter attack. The wall. Now."

Denki stood up quickly and jogged off the mat over to the closest wall. Itzumu walked over to the knife that had embedded itself into the floor and pulled it out. He then met Denki at the wall where he had placed both hands and stood facing the paint.

"First, your opponent would come down with the knife." His trainer stabbed the knife into his shoulder blade and twisted slightly to make it easier to pull out while tripling the pain. Denki sucked in a sharp breath and pressed his hands harder against the wall. "Then, they would try to increase the blood loss so you have no chance of escape."

Denki squeezed his eyes shut as he felt the cold metal of the blade slice across his back in three quick but deep slices. This time, a grunt escaped him, and he mentally cursed himself. You fool.

"Oh? Does that hurt?" Itzumu added two more slices on either tricep. Another sharp breath, and he began to shake slightly. "How pathetic."

His trainer sheathed the knife and grabbed Denki's upper arm, digging his fingers into the wound as he threw the boy to the ground. "Noise could draw more unwanted attention. It encourages your enemies to hit harder, to think that they are winning against you."

Itzumu beat him for another ten minutes, finding lessons for any little mistake. Finally, five minutes before his training finished, he was told to stand, and he went through a questionnaire over protocols before he was finally released, and both instructors left. Denki could feel a wave of exhaustion and fog pass over his mind. I'll have to get these wounds taken care of quickly. He made his way to the clinic at base and got stitched and patched up. They did have a few healers, but they were only used for major injuries, which meant missions, so Denki didn't even ask.

He made a quick stop by home and changed into his Volt costume. He had to loosen most of the straps around his upper body to avoid agitating his knife wounds, but he had been cleared mission ready, so he wasn't too concerned. He still planned to take the night much lighter, only going out to see his fellow vigilantes or Eraser. He knew he should have cut contact with them and still felt a shallow guilt buried deep somewhere, but he pushed it aside and went out anyway. He found a roof along an intersection between Streak's and Eraserhead's patrol routes and settled down on the edge, watching the city and relaxing in the cool night air. About twenty minutes of waiting later, he heard someone approaching and listened to the footstep pattern to determine that it was Aizawa. Usually, the hero's steps were undetectable, even for Denki, but when meeting up he pronounced his presence slightly. It was still quiet enough that the average person wouldn't notice, but they had had a few too many encounters where Denki didn't know who was approaching him and attacked quite violently that they had agreed to announce their presence to each other. The man sat down near him, about two feet apart, having learned that Volt wouldn't settle for any closer.

"Been out for a while?" The hero asked him to start the conversation.

"Not really, I started about half an hour ago. You sure have judging by that smell." Denki mimed trying to wave the air back towards Eraser and got an eye roll in response.

"Are you going to join me tonight? I haven't seen you in a while."

"I.. I wouldn't be much help tonight. I didn't plan on fighting too much, but I'll run around for a bit and laugh at you get socked." Denki teased.

"Really? Usually, you are begging to start punching things. I honestly thought that was the only reason you did this." Aizawa had a hint of sarcasm to his voice, but he was mostly serious.

"Well, you may be right about some of that, but I'm injured tonight, so the doc said to take it easy." Denki admitted before adding, "Don't think that means you can beat me though, I'm perfectly capable of folding you even with stitches."

Eraserhead turned towards him. "You sure you should be out? Stitches can rip pretty easily out here."

"Oh please, I've fought with worse."

"Whatever you say.. but if you start lagging behind, you're going home." Eraserhead threatened, knowing it meant nothing to Volt.

Denki spent the next few hours tagging along on Eraser's patrol and occasionally helping with the easier fights. They had just finished up a group of three muggers when Eraserhead asked, "So, what happened anyway? You never said."

"Just a mistake in training." Denki wouldn't elaborate on what kind of training, but he also knew Eraser had learned not to ask.

"Was everyone alright? Beyond your injuries, I mean." He seemed genuinely concerned but also familiar with the situation.

"Uh.. Yeah, it was just my mistake. No one got hurt." Denki assured.

"Aside from you." Eraserhead pointed out.

"No, no. I didn't get hurt from the mistake. That would have been a rookie mess up." Denki quickly corrected, realizing Aizawa probably thought he was pathetic. Which isn't exactly wrong, but I'm not that weak.

They had been running across a roof, and Eraser paused, which threw Denki off, and he had to rebalance himself to avoid falling from the sudden shift of momentum. "The heck? Don't stop so suddenly!"

"How did you get hurt, then?" The hero asked, completely ignoring Denki's outburst.

"What? The correction, obviously." He was still a little dazed from the near topple that would have resulted in him rolling right off the edge of the roof.

"Correction? A correction led to an injury? One that was bad enough to limit your fighting ability?"

"Um.. I guess you could phrase it like that." Denki had collected himself and was now staring at Aizawa in total confusion. "My trainer had to remind me of the consequences of my mistake if it had been in a real battle."

Eraser was fully watching him now, "What was the mistake?"

Denki raised an eyebrow, "Does it matter? Here, I'll humor you. I only caught one of two knives thrown at me, which left the other open to be used against me by another opponent."

Aizawa narrowed his eyes, "And your training partner stabbed you?"

"Of course not. I had already downed all five. But if I had been in a real battle, another enemy could have been hidden and used the knife, so my trainer simulated the consequences. Are we done now? You nearly killed me stopping that fast, and I would personally like to get away from this edge." Denki was beginning to grow annoyed at how oblivious Eraser was acting. Did he not understand a simple mistake correction? And why was he so interested?

"No, I would like to understand how you got injured." Despite his words, Aizawa did move towards the center of the roof and away from the edge, which was a relief.

"Are you joking with me?" Denki looked Eraser up and down for a sign that the guy was kidding but found nothing. "Fine, I'll spell it out for you. He stabbed me in the shoulder and slashed my back. Exactly what an enemy would have done given the opportunity. Now come on."

Volt began to push past Eraser to continue the patrol, but the hero reached out, catching him by the arm. Right on one of the cuts along his tricep. Denki took a sharp breath and yanked his arm away. He spun around to face Eraser, only to find the hero's brows knit together and his eyes searching the vigilante for injuries the way he usually did with victims after a fight. "Seriously, man! You're making this seem like I just got shot in the gut. I'm fine."

"Normal training doesn't involve the student being stabbed as punishment for a 'mistake'" Eraser put air quotes around the last word.

"It wasn't a punishment. It was a correction so that I don't make the mistake again."

"If that was true, you wouldn't be bleeding right now." Aizawa stated matter-of-factly. Denki blinked a few times in confusion before he realized he could feel a warm liquid pooling on his back. He remembered the ripping sensation and sharp pain he automatically shoved to the back of his mind when he had stopped himself from falling. The sting that was still there suddenly made itself know and Denki unstood where his anger had come from. Pain.

"I- I should go." Volt told the hero subconsciously as he turned the direction of his apartment.

"I can patch-"

"No, thank you! 'Night Eraser!" Denki cut him off as he sprinted away. The hero gave chase for a few blocks but lost Volt after he dropped into an alley. Denki made his way back to the roofs but found the fog from earlier was coming back. Guess increasing your heart rate with open wounds tends to increase blood loss. He began to realize he was too far out to get back to the base before he passed out, not that it would be a good idea without any Kaminari emblems anyway. Denki ran through the list of people he knew. Who could he call? He left Aizawa because the hero would discover his identity or turn him in. The identity problem remained when it came to the Dezetas, but he would choose them over a hero. Who else? He was running out of time for every step he took. I could call Flutter. She already knows I'm a Kaminari, and she won't ask questions. He sent a quick text and headed in the direction of the bar, knowing she worked a late shift. It wasn't too far, and he slipped in a back door.

"Hey, pretty boy. In need of my expertise?" She smirked and gestured to an open door that led to what appeared to be a small storage room.

"Thanks for getting me in. I owe you." They entered and she shut the door, locking it while Denki sat backward on a spare chair and slipped off his bloodied shirt.

"Geeze, you know you're supposed to avoid ripping the stitches out, right?" Flutter pulled out a first aid kit and quickly cleaned the wounds. "This'll sting a bit."

After she finished restitching the two wounds that had opened, Flutter applied a smooth substance that felt like lotion and helped him get the shirt back on. Grabbing an empty bottle from one of the shelves, she explained, "I'm going to send you off with an elixir that you should apply to the wounds every morning and evening. If you use it properly, your injuries should be healed in three days. I already applied it to the wounds, so you can start tomorrow morning."

Denki narrowed his eyes, knowing that nothing comes for free in the underground. "What do I owe you?"

Flutter smirked, and a small giggle escaped. "You sure know your stuff, pretty boy. You can help me at the clinic for a week, and we'll call ourselves even."

Flutter held the bottle to a horn on her wing and lightly squeezed. A light green liquid poured into the jar and solidified slightly into a smooth lotion. "A thin coating should be enough to do the trick. This stuff lasts for years, so don't worry about it expiring anytime soon."

"Thank you again. I know this was short notice and you have been quite generous." Denki thanked her as he took the jar. "I'll be heading out now."

"Sure thing. And no more ripping stitches. Two times a day, got it?" She walked him to the backdoor and opened it for him.

"Yes, m'lady." He winked before turning around and climbing the alley wall to head home.

- - - -

Denki followed Flutter's instructions to a tee and held up his end of the deal, helping her at the clinic for the next seven days. It was a change for him, having never taken care of so many people one after another before. He was used to an occasional mid-mission patch up, not this level of continuous work, but he found he enjoyed it. It was stressful sure, but seeing the patients' heartrates settle and their suffering resolve was beautiful. Denki took his three healing days off from patrol and luckily didn't have to go in for training. He spent a few patrols with Judder and Streak but mostly focused on his job at the cafe. Aizawa had checked in with him after his episode a few weeks ago but hadn't asked again after that, so things were back to normal and normal was what Denki needed at the moment. He needed a constant in his life, and the cafe was just that. Everything else was changing, or more accurately, his perspective was changing.

With his family, he was able to see how unimportant and unwanted he was. Eraserhead had been concerned about his training, which implied that wasn't what typical training looked like. But if that's not what it should be like, what is? His siblings had avoided him ever since they heard he was back, and his parents only checked in for lectures and corrective lessons or punishments. He didn't even have a room at the base. He had gone on a few missions, but overall, he was completely discarded, which had always been the case, but he hadn't seen it before. He hadn't realized or wanted to admit the truth. With the Dezetas, he was growing closer, which was a completely different type of change that was just as overwhelming. They invited him to hangouts and took him in as one of their own. Obviously, they didn't fully trust him, just like he didn't trust them, but that was coming. Aizawa had become an important figure in his life, not in the same way or at the same level as the vigilantes but important nonetheless. He had a very different view on life and heroics than Denki had been taught and seemed to truly want to get to know him. It was dangerous and daunting, but exhilarating all the same. Kaminari found himself running back to the line and teetering between secrecy and a desire to share.

His whole circle of people and relationships was flipping upside down all at once, and he didn't know if he should let it happen or try to force everything back into the mold that was his entire life. So here he was, back out on a patrol, trying to punch his way to a clear state of mind. He'd been out for around three hours with a couple of breaks here and there and spotted Eraser nearly four times. He made his way closer to the hero's patrol route and tried not to think too far into his actions. All you have to do is start a conversation. You can figure the rest out as you go. He reassured himself a few more times while he followed the path he had just seen the hero take. He found him in the middle of a fight and quickly jumped in to help, enchanging a few blows with some emitter type quirks that related to nature.

The first appeared to be a simple manipulation of brick, which kept Denki on the defense for a bit before he got close enough to subdue the opponent. The second was water manipulation, and its user had some serious control. Unbeknownst to his opponent, Kaminari was slightly more worried about this one because the villain wasn't creating the water but pulling it from the ground. Typically, water quirks that pull from the air or the user aren't a concern due to water's relatively nonconductive properties. However, if the water is mixed with some other conductive element, which would not be surprising coming from the ground, Denki could have a really rough time. He had decent quirk control, but he sure didn't want to test it today. He avoided the water as best he could and detained the water user a little after Aizawa had finished with his opponents. He looked over to the hero and caught him watching curiously. He swore he heard a muttered 'huh', but he could be certain due to how quiet it had been.

"Thanks for the help, Volt. Would you mind detaining those two?" Eraser asked, already tossing over two pairs of quirk inhibiting cuffs.

"Anything for you." Denki replied with a wink. He got an unimpressed huff in response as the hero turned on the mic in his earset and began reporting the crime. Eraser walked over once he was done, and Denki stood to meet him. "Mind if I join you tonight? I have something I'd like to ask you about."

Eraser observed him for a moment before responding, "Only if you tell me what medical care you received for those 'training' injuries."

Denki smirked under his mask. "Awwee, were you worried about little o' me?"

The hero didn't respond, simply making his way to the roof instead. Denki was right on his heel and fell into step with him. "Alright, alright. I visited a friend and got stitched back up and sent on my merry way with some stuff to help the healing."

"Who-"

"Don't ask. I won't give away my contacts." Volt cut him off.

"Right. You don't tend to give away much about anyone." Eraser paused and seemed to think over his statement. "Well.. anyone except the League."

Denki glanced over, "You know you appreciate my help. Anyways, they deserve it."

"How come?" The hero sounded intrigued, but Volt knew he was searching for something more. Well, prepare to be disappointed.

"'Cuz they're assholes, duh." Kaminari turned towards a fight he spotted to his right, and Eraserhead followed without hesitation. "No more questions from you. I came here to ask, not answer."

They took care of the drug-deal-gone-wrong swiftly and got right back on their patrol route, picking up the conversation where they left off. "You're a teacher, right?"

Kaminari knew the answer, of course. He had looked into where Aizawa worked after learning he taught and that he was an underground pro. Denki had pieced together that the man most likely taught at a hero school just from that context, and it didn't take much effort to run through staff rosters at the nearby hero schools to find out the man taught at UA. There was nothing more than his name, Shouta Aizawa, listed with a very old photo and some vague class titles that related to combat, law, and a few other subjects. He could always ask Flutter to look into the guy more given the information he already had, but he didn't see a need to at the moment. Eraser tensed slightly, but his expression didn't change. He clearly hadn't expected Denki to know that information, which made sense considering how unconnected it was to his underground persona. He didn't say anything, so Volt continued.

"Well, I assume that's why you were so interested in my training, so I wanted to know how you train your students differently for heroics." Denki watched Aizawa for his reaction while he spoke, especially when he add the part about heroics students. The man stopped in his tracks after landing on the next roof and Denki reoriented himself to land slightly to the right, having learned to keep a safe distance from Aizawa after nearly toppling off the roof last time. They stood in silence for a moment before Eraser grabbed his capture weapon and lowered into a fighting stance.

"How do you know that?"

Chapter Text

"How do you know that?" The hero practically growled.

"What? Like it's a secret?" Aizawa could hear the smirk in the vigilante's voice. Of course, it's a secret, a well guarded one at that! His hero name wasn't on any public UA forums, so for anyone to know, they would either have to know him personally or know that Eraserhead was Aizawa Shouta. That information was kept completely separate, with only one piece of documentation even stating they were the same person due to his underground status.

"Anywho, back to my question. How's your training different?"

Eraser doesn't budge. "I'll only ask you one more time. How do you I'm a teacher?"

Volt tilted his head slightly and didn't immediately respond. Eraser tightened his grip on his capture weapon threateningly, but it didn't seem to scare the guy. Volt's eyes did track the movement, however, and finally relented. "Ughhh, Aizawa, come on! Anyone who knows you could piece it together with a little search through the UA website."

That wasn't exactly true, but things were making more sense now. Volt had already known that Eraserhead was Aizawa, which did mean that a simple search and a mental connect the dots would be enough to put it together. Still, not many people in Shouta's life knew he was a teacher unless they were in the education industry as well. Volt had been mostly open about how he figured it out, however, and Eraserhead relaxed his stance.

"I still want more information, but I'll drop it for now." The hero stated, "As for your question, I don't know what your training looks like in its entirety, but I definitely don't physically punish my students while they are learning."

Volt was content to switch back to the reason he brought all of this up in the first place. "But, how do you ensure they won't make a mistake habit, then?"

"First of all, while pain can be a good motivator, it by no means will prevent someone from repeating a mistake, at least not the type you described." Aizawa eyed the vigilante before settling down with one knee up and his arm resting on top and the other leg extended. The vigilante joined him in sitting down, opting for a butterfly stretch. "Secondly, I explain the potential consequences and have them practice their defense until it becomes second nature and habit. There is no need to harm them to get the point across."

The vigilante looked down in thought and seemed genuinely confused by the concept. "Well, what about other... what about when they act out of line? Or when they forget pertinent information?"

Aizawa watched the vigilante closely, trying to understand what he was getting at. Act out of line? What an odd way to phraze it. "No trainer you are voluntary going to should ever lay hands on you. You're an adult with rights. In the case of my students, the answer is still no. Physical violence would be considered child abuse, and even if it weren't illegal, it would be completely out of the question."

He could hear the slightest hint of anger enter his tone, and apparently, the vigilante could as well. "You really care about your students, huh?"

Volt sounded distant as he asked, and his eyes slowly tracked their way up to Aizawa's own. "I would protect them with my life."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Volt seeming to be running Eraser's words over in his mind. The hero took the time to consider the questions more deeply, looking for the motivation behind them. Eventually, Volt seemed to come to some resolution and promptly stood up. "Well, I've asked what I came here for, so I'll be heading off now. Thank you for your openness. And no worries, I won't go around spilling your secrets."

Aizawa arched an eyebrow at that. "I appreciate it. If you did, it would put my students and friends in grave danger. You know how far I would go for them."

"Heh, yeah, I probably wouldn't want an underground hero on my ass all the time. It might get annoying." The vigilante didn't seem in the slightest bit nervous, but then again, he never took Eraser's threats seriously.

The hero watched him leave before standing up and continuing his patrol. Unlike the vigilante, he actually had a job to do.

- - - -

Denki didn't head home after his little chat with Eraser. Rather, he made his way to a high roof top to pass some time while he waited to report in for a mission. It was in a few hours so he had no intentions of showing up early. He didn't have many details about the mission beyond that it was a simple information recovery from a hero agency. He knew he would be retrieving some files, but the what and why were unknown to him. He settled down on the rooftop criss-cross and closed his eyes. He could worry about the mission later, for now, he was more focused on what Eraserhead had told him. Denki ran through the conversation in his head and let his body relax. He listened to the sounds of the city and felt the light breeze atop the building. He took in the smells around him and felt the gravel rooftop. Taking in deep breaths, he welcomed whatever came to mind and every emotion he felt.

He thought about how Eraser had called the training Kaminari described child abuse and completely out of the question. Was it really that bad? It hurt, yeah, but that was to get the point across. Eraser had a point, though. The pain wasn't what improved his skill. It was the practice he put in outside of training in order to avoid corrections that made him better. And then there was the fact that Eraser would die for his student's safety, or at least said he would. Denki didn't think anyone he knew would do that for him, certainly not his teachers or family. He had been raised with the notion that his parents came first and their children second. Every subordinate would be willing to die for Kanako and Nigaikiya. That was part of their induction, after all. But for Denki? They would probably protect his siblings. He thought about previous missions, he hadn't been in a life threatening situation in a long time, but he could remember when he was younger and just starting out that he ended up in some dangerous positions. He remembered his team fleeing and sometimes helping each other, but never once did anyone come back for him. He made it out alright in all of those situations and simply wrote it off as them not thinking he needed help but- but he was still a child at the time.

Even with training, Denki knew from psychology textbooks he had been assigned that no child at that age is developed enough to make quick and logical decisions in life or death situations. Not when overwhelmed with fear and pain like he was so many times. Even most adults don't have the self-control to think practically in times like those. So why was he left behind so easily? So quickly? The only logical reason was that no one there cared enough. He had been on missions with his parents and siblings and ran into the same situation. He was left because he didn't matter enough. He wasn't worth the risk. Denki refocused on his breathing and made sure to relax himself again. If he wanted to think clearly and logically, he had to be focused and open to every thought and feeling rather than get stuck on one idea or rabbit trail. He ran his hands over the gravel at his sides and just listened to the city for a while longer. It was obvious to him now that he desired that kind of love and care. The no strings attached type. And it surely wasn't going to come from his family. He took one more deep breath and came to a decision.

Denki checked the time on his phone and stood to head home. He had time to take a quick shower and change onto his mission gear before he had to hit a rendezvous for the full mission details. He made his pit stop at his apartment, got the debrief, and was at the hero agency building in just under two hours. He was part of a team of four with two inside the building and one stationed as a lookout while Denki broke in and retrieved the files. The two on the inside served as distractions in case something went wrong and he needed a quick exit. Denki scaled the building and overloaded the window security briefly while he snuck in. It wasn't enough to cause an alert, just a light hiccup. Once inside, he squished himself against a wall and checked the map he received of the layout and security cameras. There were three cameras along his path, plus two inside the office containing his target. Shouldn't be hard, but that's not really what I'm worried about. He used a signal jammer as he made his way down the hallways and fried the cameras when he got close. It didn't take much, and he moved quickly, picking a lock on the office door. Most hero agencies didn't have a lot of security on the inside, focusing on outside fortification in anticipation of mutant and flashy quirks. However, this one had more due to the hero's focus on large villain organizations and thus plethora of confidential data. Kaminari quickly shorted out the cameras in the office in such a way that would give him roughly five minutes while it rebuted itself, not taking into account a security guard's watchful eyes. Luckily, Kaminari wouldn't need that long as he had a pretty good idea of where the files would be kept. He spotted the safe in a cubby to his right and walked over, pulling out the device he was given to hack in. Electronic security was much easier than physical locks thanks to the network of hackers the Kaminaris had assembled over time. Denki had some skill in hacking, but a predesigned program always made the job a whole lot quicker. He retrieved the files in the first minute and stood to leave. Or at least, that's what he usually would do.

Turning on his mic, he reported, "I've made it into the office. However, the safe is not here."

"What?? Look around more! We have solid confirmation from a trusted source." Hotshot replied. That wasn't his actual code name, but Denki never saw a point in learning any of his teammates' names.

"Okay, alright. I'll look around more, but I'm telling you, there's nothing here but some pretty medals." Kaminari looked around the room for nothing in particular, grabbing flash drives and flipping through abandoned files.

"Report Sparks. Have you located the safe?" It was Zoomy this time, and she sounded quite frustrated. Not uncommon and completely understandable under the circumstances.

"Still nothing. I've checked the whole room, there's no saf- Hey wait, I think I found it!" Denki could hear the groans of irritation on the other end but promptly ignored them. "It's not an electronic lock, though. I'll have to pick it myself. This'll take a minute."

"We don't have a minute. The security is starting to talk, and I just saw two leave their posts to head for the elevators." The calm voice of his last teammate, Too-cool-for-school, came through. The guys just seemed the type, ya know?

"I'm working as fast as I can, but I might need a bit of a distraction if we want these files." Denki rubbed a spare pen he found against the safe in case they were listening for his progress, though he doubted it. It had nearly been four minutes now, and he had to get out of this office before he was caught on camera. His identity was covered, but that didn't mean his presence was, and frankly, he didn't need to get caught tonight. Looking around the room, he identified an emergency alert button under the desk near the middle of the room and walked over. "I've almost got it. Just a little longer."

"We have the security down here distracted for now, but that'll only last another minute, and you still have two on their way. Hurry it up." Zoomy replied, and Denki could hear an argument in the background that had devolved into yelling. Perfect, have fun getting escorted out Too-cool-for-school.

"Oh shoot.. We have a problem." Kaminari told his teammates, allowing distress to enter his tone in full force.

"What kind of problem?" Hotshot growled into his mic.

"Well, uh, you see... the safe was, uh..." Denki let his voice trail off as he hit the emergency button before sprinting for the office door.

"The hell did you do?!? We have alarms going off everywhere!!" Zoomy whisper screamed into the mic, and Denki could hear her running.

"Abort mission. Everyone get out however you can." Hotshot ordered, pausing briefly to check radio channels before cursing, "Shit!! We have three heroes closing in from the surrounding area. I can't cover your exit, Sparks!"

Just stick to the plan Denki, just stick to the plan. He took calming breaths to keep himself focused as he ran through the heavily pieced together plan he had come up with on his way to the hero agency after receiving the layout. He made his way down hallway after hallway as he mentally reviewed the path he had memorized. He picked another lock at record speed and threw open the door to an equipment room. Locating what he was looking for, he took a moment to pull out his earpiece and mic. He channeled the tiniest hint of electricity into it and filled he chest and voice with as much anxiety as possible. "Security is in pursuit and closing. There's no way down, I need backup! Now!"

His request would come through broken and muffled and imply jamming technology or damage. He dropped the communication device and crushed it under his shoe. Okay, step two. Make it dramatic. He grabbed three explosives and hooked extra grenades to his vest. He placed hooked each explosive up to a power outlet and locked the doors to the rooms on his way out. He placed each one near points of stability for the building and hoped it would be enough. He could hear shouts down below and gun shots from nearby blocks. Looks like she pulled through. A faint smile graced his lips as Denki climbed three flights of stairs and sprinted to the opposite side of the building as he had entered from. He quickly shed the uniform he was wearing and pulled his gun, shooting the outfit in quick succession three times in the chest, making sure to hit where his heart would typically be. He then pulled his knife and sliced the skin on his outer palm, dripping the blood over the "wounds". He used the same knife to start some rips in the uniform and cut part of the pants out entirely, wrapping the fabric around his hand and tying it over the cut. He placed the uniform above where he had set one of the bombs a floor below. He had worn a simple black tank top and shorts underneath his uniform and placed a pair of gray cargos and his Volt mask nearby to slip into afterward. Checking around one last time for any cameras containing his face that he might need to short out, he made his way to a nearby window and opened it up, sizing the jump he would need to make to reach the next rooftop. It wasn't too far, but it was still a risky jump compared to his usual parkour across roofs. He could hear heavy footsteps just a couple of hallways down. Now or never.

He turned, found the nearest outlet, and shot as much electricity as he could safely release into it, causing every other outlet and light nearby spark. He spun on his heel and sprinted for the window leaping at the last second as he heard explosions go off behind him. He rolled tightly as he hit the roof and sprinted to the other side, slipping down into the alleyway without looking back. He sprinted through a few alleys before coming across the clothes he had left for himself. He took care to avoid the main streets, where he could still hear the sounds of fighting and chaos. Denki had called Flutter right after he knew which hero agency they would be attacking and requested word travel that the area would be in disarray due to an attack. The message clearly made it through judging by the fighting, and plenty of criminals had moved in to take advantage of a distraction. Little did they know, they were the distraction. Now, all he had to do was stay low for a while and change his appearance slightly for a few years. Luckily for him, his body would do most of the work for him as time went on, considering he was still young and hadn't even hit puberty yet. He made his way back to his apartment to properly care for his hand, shower again, and change into more casual clothing. After he looked mostly decent, he walked to the subway station and took it to the next city over where he stopped by a hair salon.

"Hi! My mom said I could do this myself today, so uh.. I would l-like a haircut, please." Kaminari put on an awkward grin and shifted his sight between the eyes of the lady at the counter. "O-oh, and she gave me this- this note."

The women took the paper that Denki handed her and scanned over it. It was a simple note written in immaculate handwriting stating that he was working on his independence and that he could get whatever he wanted as long as he was respectful. "Well, that's just wonderful. You seem like a respectful young man to me, so just wait right there, and we'll call you back when we're ready for you."

"Okay, thank you!" He let relief wash over his features as he sat down in a waiting chair. Denki walked out with some layers and a feathered hairstyle with volume centered around the top of his head. He also had a more coppery red color that bordered on strawberry blond that should hopefully do the trick to shy away any suspicion. Yellow hair isn't uncommon, but he planned to keep dying it for a few years just to be certain. In the meantime, he needed to make one more stop at his apartment and then find somewhere to sleep for the night. Packing up his home wasn't difficult, and he canceled payments through a phone call. His parents most likely wouldn't even notice their fake identities having been "living" at the apartment considering the money was coming from Denki, not their bank accounts, but just to be certain, he hacked into the front desk computer and wiped any trace that he lived there at all.

He walked out of the apartment building that had become his home with one duffle bag packed mostly with clothes and a few essentials. He thankfully didn't have to carry cash having set up an account with a bank that worked with the underground in exchange for protection. They didn't require legal identification, just a name, real or fake, and some security questions, plus a small fee every month. He could draw money at any time and even got a card that had yet to let him down. They didn't keep track of purchases beyond that money was extracted, and they were highly trusted among the underground. Denki didn't look too far into the logistics and just made sure that they weren't coerced by any villain organizations, which was coming in handy now. He only had a couple of tasks left to do before the day finished. He called Flutter again and asked her to find a way to influence the police report on a certain blown up hero agency to mention the suspected death of the culprit and explain a missing body.

"You know you're going to owe me a lot for this, right? And that's on top of what you owe me for that little rumor earlier." She chided him.

"I'll make it up to you. This is worth it. Oh, and I need two fake identities. One child, age twelve, born in June, and one adult. Family and / or guardianship, whichever is easier. Thank you again, beautiful." He responded before bidding his thanks and hanging up. Immediately after, he dialed another one of his contacts. The phone rang twice before the recipient picked up.

"Wassup, my guy? You're calling a bit late, don't ya think?" The feminine voice asked.

"Yeah. I need a favor. It's a lot to ask, but... I could really use some help." Denki kept his voice steady and sincere as he asked his next question.

Chapter Text

Denki stood in front of an apartment complex he had been to over thirty times now, but for an entirely different reason. He really was trying his best to enter the building, but the doubt piling in his stomach kept him firmly rooted to the ground. I could always go back now, just turn around and head back. He bit his bottom lip and tapped his foot a few times in an attempt to quell his nerves. No, nope. I'm committed. I said I would, and I will. Sucking in a quick breath, he entered before he could even let it out. It was a nice building, much nicer than the apartment Denki had rented for himself, but that made sense considering there were three paychecks helping to lighten the load. The lady at the reception desk didn't even glance up, so Denki kept light feet and slipped right past, not needing to ask for directions. He wore a hat and face mask and kept his head down to avoid any cameras as he made his way to the elevators. He wasn't sure what he would do once he actually arrived at the door he was heading towards. He had never come through the front before, and he certainly hadn't ever come near this apartment outside of his Volt costume. Never mind that, it won't matter if they see you now, you've got nothing to lose.

Denki approached the door and stood without action for at least a minute before he put on a pair of sunglasses and knocked on the door three times. He heard some shuffling inside and some voices before the peep hole slid open. He didn't look up, just waited for the person on the other side to react.

"Who's there?" Called a nonchalant male voice from the other side of the door.

"The Reaper. Here to steal your souls at two in the morning. Who else?" Denki deadpanned before a smirk took over.

Judder opened the door but still stood blocking it as he looked down the hallway. "You've never come in this way before."

"Yeah, well, I figured I should make a good impression for your hospitality. Couldn't go climbing up the walls like a spider." He joked as his friend let him in. And that's what they were now, huh? Friends.

"You're not wearing your mask." It was stated like an observation, but he knew it was really a question.

"Yeah.. There's no point in hiding myself much now. And I trust you guys enough to not spill how handsome I am to my fangirls." They had reached a living room where Streak and Zenith were relaxed on a couch. They had their masks, but the rest of their clothing was casual, same as Judder. They were all familiar with this level of secrecy after months of hanging out together and weekly movie nights.

"Hey! Glad you made it all right! You sounded pretty serious over the phone. I didn't have much time, but I pulled out some blankets and a pillow for the couch. Just let me know if you need anything else." Streak perked up when she saw him.

"Thanks again. This really means a lot, and I know how much trust this takes." Denki bowed formally, not something he would usually do around the Dezetas, but important in this moment. It still seemed to throw them off slightly, though they didn't say anything about it.

"Well, ya can set your bag at the end of the couch and join us if you'd like. We're binging that show we talked 'bout last week." Zenith offered, and it was when he spoke that Denki processed that they weren't wearing their voice modulators. He was used to the Dezetas using lower level alteration or sometimes switching to mufflers instead, but he had never heard their real voices. Especially not Zenith's, which was making a lot more sense now with the strong southern American accent that coated his words. You would think that speaking an entirely different language might wash out the accent, but that definitely wasn't the case here.

"{Alright, cowboy. Sure can do.}" Denki teased in English as he set down his bag and plopped onto the couch.

Zenith's eyes widened slightly, and Denki wasn't sure if it was because of the English or if the trio had forgotten their modulators, which he thought was a very high possibility. Thankfully, he got his answer when Zenith responded in the same language, "{You speak English?}"

Denki laughed, "{I speak a few languages, but I am pretty fluent in English, having been to America and across England a few times.}"

"{Didn't know ya traveled much. I've always thought Volt to be a young fella.}" The vigilante raised an eyebrow, and Denki smiled.

"{Well, I've mostly just traveled with my- ...my family.}" He finished slower as he remembered why he was here again. Looking down, Denki collected himself and shook the guilt away. "{And you can call me Denki when out of costume.}"

The other two in the room had mostly given up on trying to follow the conversation, clearly only knowing bits and pieces of the language, but they both turned to him at the name.

Judder spoke first, "I'm certainly not fluent, but.. I thought I caught a name?"

"Yeah, you all call me Denki when out of costume. I don't see any reason not to anymore."

The vigilantes shared some glances, and Denki didn't feel like being left out today. "Care to share with the class? Sadly, I didn't inherit a telepathic ability."

"I'm Mika." Streak offered up. "It's only fair we share if you are willing to."

"Isseka, pleasure to meet formally."

"Nathaniel, but call me Nat."

The acceptance and trust Denki was receiving surprised him for sure, but he wasn't going to stop them. It's always better to know more than less when surrounded by unknown variables. He smiled at them, and no one spoke another word about the identity reveal. They just continued the night and enjoyed binging some show Denki knew nothing about.

Originally, he planned to just stay one or two nights, but Nathaniel insisted he make himself at home and that they didn't mind if he stayed longer. In the second week, they all scrapped the precaution of wearing masks. If he wanted to figure out the Dezetas' identities, he had enough information, and that went both ways. Although they let it slide pretty quickly, the trio were awfully concerned about his age in the beginning. He had just removed his face covering, honestly praying they didn't recognize him. They were silent for a moment, and Denki looked between them all, trying his best to decipher their reactions. Isseka spoke first.

"You're... young. How old are you, Denki?" There was prominent concern in the question. It made sense. Most kids were just beginning to rely less heavily on their parents at twelve. Still, he couldn't just tell them or they might try something drastic like turning him over to the orphanage, which would lead to a painful trail of events and questions about why he didn't have parents or an identity.

"I was emancipated. My age is irrelevant." Denki stated with finality.

"What about school? You're clearly not through high school... maybe not even middle." Mika spoke the last bit more to herself than him.

"I've taken care of that. You all have nothing to worry about." Maybe they felt he was their responsibility now? It was foolishly naive, but he couldn't blame them. "I may look younger than you thought, but I have experience and know what I am doing."

They shared another glance, and this time, it was Nathaniel who spoke up. "Well, I'd say if the kid's made it this far, it's not our place to get involved. Thanks for openin' up." With that, he removed his mask as well, revealing a man near his late twenties with striking jade eyes and a spray of freckles that contrasted his jet black hair. The other two vigilantes followed his lead and removed their's as well. Mika had long violet hair, pulled into a braided bun, and dark brown eyes. Isseka had a hint of ginger to his hair and a very similar brown eye color to Mika. Isseka looked to be in his early thirties while Mika was clearly the youngest, appearing in her early to mid twenties. They were an interesting mix, each clearly from different backgrounds and of varying age.

"It was about time we quit pretending we could hide our identities." Isseka said with a smirk, "Glad we got this sorted out nice and quick, all together."

"Yeah, it would've been a bit more chaotic if we found out by accident." Denki agreed with a nod, "Well, with melodramatics out of the way... who wants to go beat some people up?"

"Protect people. We protect people." Isseka sighed.

"Sure thing, buddy, whatever you say." He snarked with an eye roll. He tried to ignore the glances the trio kept giving each other throughout the rest of the night. As long as they didn't do anything rash, he didn't care much for what they thought about his age or situation.

Two months in, things were pretty routine. He was a lot more involved in the Dezetas' work and helped with large villain organization take downs. He found himself giving up information that he had previously protected quite firmly. Information about where certain gangs were located and how aspects of the underground worked. He found that the Dezetas knew quite a lot already, but they couldn't go to a lot of the places Denki was used to operating. It made sense considering they were well-known vigilantes, but it was still a stark difference from the complete authority he used to be surrounded with. It became especially apparent one night while they were tracking down the origins of a new drug circling the streets. They knew it gave intense hallucinations and had been manufactured using a quirk, but so far, they hadn't identified any suspects. Until tonight, of course.

"Who's your employer? I'm losing my patience." Zenith had a guy pinned against a wall and had been interrogating for a while. The guy had given up quite a bit, but he seemed pretty intent on holding this information.

"I-I told you! I don't fucking knowing man! We don't see him. I don't even have a goddam name, okay?!?" Volt just watched from a distance. He knew what interrogations looked like with the Kaminaris, but the Dezetas went about things slightly differently. Less violent, in his opinion.

Zenith pulled back and slammed the guy into the wall again before drawing one of his knives. "Well, you better think of something before this starts to hurt."

"I don-" The man was cut off by his own scream as Zenith stabbed his leg. It wasn't a vital spot, but it definitely hurt. "Please man, fuck!"

"Who's your employer?" Zenith's voice was a dangerous calm and when the criminal didn't respond, he lifted the knife again.

"O-okay okay! Fine! I-I don't know much, alright? But I- I can point you to people who do!" The guy was coughing a bit and looked like he was about to start whimpering.

Nathaniel simply raised an eyebrow and the man continued. "There's this informant. Goes by the name Glazer, but I don't know where to find him. Just that he frequents a few of the bars, and he can find people. That's it, though! Please, just- just let me go."

Zenith glanced over to Volt before hitting the guy to the ground and tying him up. "Let's go. We can find out the rest other places."

The left the scene after calling the police and continued across the rooftops. "Ever heard of this Glazer guy?"

"You haven't?" Denki knew all about Glazer. He was a spectacular informant, but the guy had the name he did for a reason. He talked around your questions if you didn't set things straight in the beginning. Zenith's lack of a response was all Denki needed. "He's popular in the underground, and I doubt our friend back there was being honest about not knowing where to find him, but it doesn't matter. Glazer has a routine with the underground bars and clubs that he follows without fail. He's a nuisance, though. You have to know how to talk to him."

"Part of me wants to ask. The other part knows you won't tell. You know him, though, so I guess it doesn't matter." Zenith was probably the least invasive about his past out of the three vigilantes.

Denki was quiet for a moment. "Probably best you don't know. He'll be at the Fun'iki club tonight if you want to pay him a visit."

Zenith slowed a bit and turned to face Volt. "Fun'iki? You know it's run by the Bushima-kai, right? They won't let us near that club, let alone inside."

Perplexed, Denki stopped and thought about what Nathaniel had just told him. "You- well I guess that would make sense.. but- really?"

Zenith had stopped as well and now stood in front of him. "Yeah, man, can't go. You've been, I'm guessing?"

"Many times. Well, we'll just have to go without these outfits, I guess." Denki shrugged, and they continued their patrol. They turned in a bit early and found some clothes to cover their outfits a bit. Zenith wore a large leather jacket with a hood and switched his mask out for one less identifiable. Denki threw a dark brown trench coat over his outfit but didn't worry about covering up much else. He had visited a few of these establishments already as Volt, and he didn't want loose status simply because he worked more closely with good doers.

"You sure you want to go in as Volt?" Nathaniel said as they got closer to the club.

"Unlike you, I have a reputation that I am trying to grow."

"I'm just not sure how well villains are going to take a vigilante walking into their home base." Nat paused before they turned the last corner to their destination.

Denki stopped and looked at him. He tried to see things from his friend's perspective. "Just follow my lead, okay? And preferably you let me do the talking."

Nathaniel hesitated for a moment but gave in, gesturing for Denki to take the lead. The pair walked up to the door where a burly man stood with his arms crossed. Denki flicked his chin up towards the door and tilted his head a bit.

"No entry. This is a private club." The man didn't even spare them a glance, so Denki waited. "I said-"

The man stopped when he finally looked at the two. His eyes briefly passed over Nathaniel, but they focused on Volt, looking him up and down. In the same deeper voice he used on patrols, he asked, "You were saying?"

"Apologies, Volt." The guard stepped out of the way and opened the door for them. Denki ignored the look his friend gave him after they entered without further resistance.

"Remember, don't start anything and let me do the talking." Volt reminded as they made their way closer to the blaring music and crowded space. Denki assessed the room as they made their way deeper into the club. There were aerial dancers hanging and arcing from the roof and a spectacular bar at the far wall. On either side, there were booths with deals being made and information shared. Looking up, there was a second floor with onlookers leaning on the railings and conversing while sipping on drinks in cocktail glasses. He didn't check for cameras and exits, already knowing the layout of this place like the back of his hand. It was a high-end club and mostly used for information exchange by those in power in the underground. That didn't mean it wasn't filled to the brim with partying, though, so the pair stuck to the sides where they wouldn't have to shove through crowds. Denki quickly located Glazer and slipped into the booth he was stationed at right as the previous customer finished up. The informant had a cheeky grin on which was explained perfectly by the practically steaming fellow who had just marched away. Great, he's in a playful mood tonight, Denki thought sarcasticly. Well, two can play at that game.

"You sure know how to help the bar get some business." Denki raised a brow and tilted his head toward where the red-faced man had stomped off to.

"Hey, hey, hey! My favorite new guy! And I see you brought a friend." Glazer stared at Nathaniel for a moment, careful not to show much interest, but making it clear he wouldn't be trusting him. "Don't worry about little Harue over there. Some people just don't know how to take a joke."

"Truely a shame. I hear sweets usually keep the toddlers quiet for a while. It might be worth a shot?." Denki added some faux sympathy to his voice.

Glazers grin widened, and he let out a short laugh. "Oh, don't worry, his parents will love the cavities he gets."

Nathaniel turned slightly to look at Volt with a question in his eyes but kept his expression blank. Denki didn't answer, knowing his friend would wait until they were somewhere safer to push for an explanation. Denki, however, knew exactly what Glazer meant and wanted to clarify the intent of his visit.

"Sounds like a pain. We're not looking for sugar tonight, though. You know how much I hate icing." Denki had dropped his playful tone and held eye contact until Glazer broke off.

The informant collected himself with a tight smile before responding, "Of course, I do try to meet the dietary restrictions of my loyal consumers. What can I get you today?"

Internally sighing, Denki smiled and lightly placed his hands on the table, left over right. "Donuts."

Glazer took in the hand motion and nodded slightly before looking back up at Volt. "Business and associates."

"A new drug dealer on the streets using a quirk for enhanced effects." Denki shared the essential information and then waited for Glazer to ask for what he needed.

"Do you have a sample?"

"No taste testing." Denki warned before pulling a needle out of his pocket and sliding it across the table.

"You know I only go for the good stuff." Glazer assured as he examined the drug. "I've seen a few of these circling."

Denki pulled some cash from another pocket and placed it on the table, but kept a hand over it. "What can you tell me now?"

Glazer eyed the cash and then looked at Nathaniel. Denki wasn't having it tonight and snapped his fingers twice. "Eyes over here."

Glazer dropped his smile and leaned in. "You're messing with some dangerous people, Volt. I'll tell ya what I know, but my name better not slip to these guys. Ya hear?"

"Confidentiality of the messenger. I know the rules." Denki confirmed.

"It's not you I'm worried about." The man sent a glare towards Nathaniel, who had turned to listen.

"You have no need to worry. No one on my end will speak a word on your name." Denki once again stared Glazer down until the man relaxed his shoulders and spilled what he knew.

"It's been great doing business with you." Denki said as he slid the money across the table and stood.

Glazer gave him a grin as a new customer sat down in the booth. Denki led Nathaniel over to the bar and quickly ordered a fruity liqueur to be sent to the informants table. He paid and they left as Glazer raised the glass to Volt in thanks.

"I don't think your friend liked me much." Nathaniel joked after they were a few blocks away.

Denki laughed, shaking his head. "Well, he doesn't trust you for sure. But I think the real problem was how on edge you were."

"Shut up, man, you know crowds aren't my thing." Nathaniel shouldered him slightly, and Denki pushed right back.

"I think you mean, my crowds aren't your thing." Denki smirked behind his mask. The older of the two rolled his eyes.

"Whatever gets the information, I guess. Though you have got to tell me one day how you know so much. No kid just stumbles into this life." It was phrazed in a friendly manner, but Denki felt the concern behind the words.

"Maybe one day." With that, they moved into talking about the information they had gathered and finished their walk home. One day, huh?

Chapter Text

It had been nearly four months since Denki had begun staying with them. Four months since they had learned that Volt was a child. Isseka had really wanted to push for more information, but Nat shut down that idea pretty firmly. Still, he was worried about the kid. Isseka had always had trouble sleeping, probably because of his chaotic schedule from vigilantism over the years, but the point was that he awoke at random times and barely ever slept for more than three continuous hours. When he couldn't sleep, he often got up and walked around the apartment or worked on something while he waited for exhaustion to take hold again. At first, he really hadn't noticed anything with the addition of a fourth member to the apartment. But a while after they all had shared their identities with Denki and everyone loosened up, he began picking up on more. He often heard the kid startle awake from the living room. It wasn't that Denki was loud. Actually, he was awfully quiet, but Isseka knew every sound of this apartment, including the slight creek of the floor boards at any movement. Most people wouldn't notice, but Isseka may or may not be a bit paranoid... all the time. It was strange to him how silent the kid was, though.

He remembered when he first took Mika in a few years ago. She was a teenager at the time and had run away from a nasty situation, living on the streets for a couple of months before he found her while on patrol. He started by just teaching her to fight and occasionally sparing some of the protein bars he had on hand. As he got to know her, they grew closer, and he lent her a place to stay. Once she got into the vigilante thing with him, he taught Mika a bit about code, and she took off from there. It had been a good distraction from the horrors she had seen and gave her something to make a life with moving forward. After nearly a year, he got her to open up about her past, and they worked through the memories together, but he never forgot that first year when she kept everything bottled up. He remembered when she would wake up screaming from nightmares, not recognizing him, and thrashing to get away while he held her and whispered comforts. There were days when she would shut down entirely and days when she couldn't hold herself together for more than half an hour. It took a lot for her to build the confidence and trust that she had today, but it was worth it in the end with how much she has grown and the courageous person she has become.

Denki was different, though. Isseka hadn't found him scared and alone on the streets. Instead, he had met him asking about vigilantes, and Denki had come to them. Still, he could tell something was off, and it wasn't just how young the guy was. Mika had been pretty skiddish when he first took her in, always scanning the room and locking on to sudden movements. Denki did a similar but more subtle tracking. And his didn't seem to be out of fear, or at least, not a fear of them. He was deliberate about everything he did, and even when he was relaxed, his guard never came down. Isseka never heard the kid's footsteps or breathing. Never heard a sniffle behind closed doors. In fact, he never heard the kid at all. It was as if Denki naturally hid his presence, slipping into the background unless he wanted to draw attention to himself. Isseka couldn't say it was too out of place for someone who had to learn to stay as far from the center of attention as possible. Abuse victims quite often developed similar habits, but not at the trained degree that Denki's clearly was.

And then there was something else, something that he had no explanation for. He wasn't even sure the kid notices himself, but often, he found Denki avoiding using certain appendages. Not particularly ones like you would see from someone with an injury, but different ones at random. He would switch what hand he used dominantly or drag a foot for a few hours, even for a whole day. It was small and well hidden, and he hadn't even noticed at first. It was only when he picked up on a slight shake in the kid's hands two months into his stay that he started paying closer attention. At first, the tremors were all he picked up on and attributed it to anxiety like he had seen in Mika, but the more he watched, the more he noticed. At times, it seemed like the kid wasn't able to even move certain joints or the opposite effect where they would fire more intensely than he expected. Sometimes, it was small things, like Denki's knuckles turning white as he squeezed a glass cup to death or switched what hand he wrote with during board games. But even everyday things started to stand out more, things that originally seemed like regular habits. The Dezetas were used to Denki leaning against walls and random objects whenever available, but Isseka could now see that more often than not, the kid was using these things as supports.

One early morning, Isseka had just walked into the kitchen to find Denki making some breakfast, as usual. The kid was always up before the rest of them. He had gotten to work making a warm green tea when he heard a soft thud behind him. Glancing back, he noticed the kid had caught a bowl he had been holding. Nothing broke, so he didn't say anything, turning back around to continue his morning ritual. However, he noticed that for the rest of the morning, the kid didn't use his right hand, which he had previously been favoring. It was small things like that all piled together that kept Isseka wondering, worrying. But he never asked, never pushed for more. Nat had made it clear that trying to force answers would only drive Denki away, and Isseka hated to admit it, but he knew that the guy seemed to read people better. That didn't mean that he would do nothing, though, especially when he wouldn't have the time he did with Mika to wait for the kid to trust him enough to open up. This kid needed help, no matter what he said. No kid his age, which was definitely below high school age, should be left on their own without a parent or guardian figure around.

Isseka headed out alone that night, telling Mika he probably wouldn't be on comms unless an emergency arose. He sent a text before he left, so he made quick progress across the rooftops, as to make sure not to keep his friend waiting long. Despite the quick pace, Eraser was already there when he arrived.

"Good evening. Thanks for meeting me on short notice." He pulled himself onto the roof and walked over.

"I brought drinks." Eraserhead reached into one of his many pockets and pulled out two jelly packs. It had been something they shared a love for, and both got criticized for.

Judder grinned and snatched one before patting his friend on the shoulder. "You know me too well!"

They sipped on their pouches for a moment before Eraser broke the quiet, "What is it you wanted to talk about?"

Judder thought for a moment and watched Eraser. He trusted the man with his life. Maybe not his freedom, but his life for sure. Still, he needed to collect his thoughts before he shared. "I'll get to that. First, I want to pass on some information about that hero agency attack some months ago."

Sitting down, he patted the roof twice to signal for Eraser to follow. "You have information? We've barely gotten anyone to talk."

"It took some digging. I wish I could have gotten the information quicker." Judder pulled a folder from an inside pocket of his suit and passed it over, "We may have found the perpetrators."

The hero flipped through the file before looking up. "This was worth the wait. Are you sure it was Zunder?"

"My sources are pretty certain, but the evidence is in the file if you want to check. Their emblem was on those bloodied clothes the police found, but the burning made it unrecognizable. It took some favors, but I got a friend of a friend to use a sight quirk, and they sketched it out. I can't say I trust the guy too much, but I also paid a lot, so I think it counts for something."

Eraser raised an eyebrow, "Is that what the 'false alert' was at the station a couple days ago?"

"It was touch based." Judder smirked, "The quirk allows 'em to see the previous state of any object they touch."

"Of course it does." Eraser looked back at the file. "It's strange for Zunder to mess up this badly, though. Sure, they got the files from the safe, but this was extremely overboard for them."

"Zunder doesn't do messy." Judder agreed. They were clean and strategic. They always had backup plans. "And then there's the whole emergency button mystery."

Eraser glared at him. "You know breaking into police records is illegal, right?"

It wasn't a question. They both knew he didn't give one flying fuck about the law. "What are going to do? Arrest me? After seven years of my antics, you get pushed over by a little hacking?"

"I should. Technically, it's my job." Eraser didn't look up, but Judder knew he was watching. Well, he wasn't going to get away with teasing at no cost. Isseka leaned back on his hands and let his quirk flow into the building. A tremor shook the structure, and Judder locked eyes with Eraser, baiting him to use his own quirk. "Here, you can quirk use against a pro hero to the list."

Eraser rolled his eyes before activating his quirk briefly and shutting down Judder's. "I will. You're lucky no one uses this building, or else I would arrest you tonight."

"Correction. You would *try* to arrest me." Judder sat back up straight and then leaned forward to see what page Eraser was on. The hero closed the folder and looked up.

"Is there anything else you can tell me?"

Isseka shook his head, "Wish there was."

"In that case, what was the second thing you called me here for?" Eraser had placed his full attention on the vigilante now.

Judder looked out towards the city and thought about how to start. "It's about Volt. I- I have something to add to his file."

He turned back to see Eraser's eyes widen a fraction. "You're giving up information on a vigilante you work closely with?"

"A vigilante part of my team." Judder corrected. Eraser raised an eyebrow at the change of status but didn't comment.

"Why?"

"Patience, friend. Let me explain my own way." Judder paused and lined up his next words. "Eraser, he's been staying with us for a few months now. I have a name and a face."

The hero began to open his mouth, but Isseka held up a hand. "I'm not telling you that. I don't want him caught."

He watched Eraser's eyes narrow and could practically see the gears turning, trying to decipher Judder's intentions. He was patient, though, and didn't ask, opting to wait for the explanation.

"He's young. Really young." He ran a hand down his face, pulled down his mouth covering at the end, and rested his fist against his lips.

"Like Streak?" Eraser pushed when Isseka didn't continue. The vigilante didn't respond and kept his face neutral. "Young, got it."

Taking in a breath ans dropping his hand, Judder continued. "He hasn't said anything about his past, but I've watched him. Wherever he came from... it was intense. He scans rooms for threats like its second nature, but not like he's scared, like he's waiting. For what, I don't know. It's not us, though. And- and something else is wrong."

Eraser watches and listens, taking in every word Judder said. Shaking his head, he pushed on. "I shouldn't tell you much, but I was going to let you know soon anyway. The crew and I are splitting soon. Nothing bad, just different paths in life."

"You're leaving?" Eraser sounded surprised, "It's hard to see the others quitting. And you? I was sure I would be leaving this business before you if you didn't die first."

Isseka smiled, it was sad and distant. "Yeah.. I thought that, too. Do you remember that really nasty fight two years back?"

"The one where I had to pull you out from a collapsed building and brace your leg? When you refused to get proper medical care for the wound in your side and it got infected? Yeah, I think I remember the six months I didn't see you and thought you died of your own stupidity." Eraser sounded frustrated, but Judder could see the concern and realization in his eyes.

"I haven't been as good since. It left lasting damage that I can't ever recover from. It was worth it, and I would do it a hundred times if it saved even one more person, but I'm not oblivious. I can do a lot more good from behind a computer than I can out here at this point. I've accepted and come to terms with that.

As for Streak and Zenith, they have lives they want to pursue. Zenith has family, a fiancé in his home country, and dreams of children. I can't ask him to stay, and I know he won't leave us. As for Streak, she's young and has a whole career of good ahead of her. She wants to travel and put her skills to better use. We'll stay in contact, of course. And I'm sure you and I will run into each other with the informant work I plan on doing, but our work here is coming to its close." He sighed and let the words sit for a while.

"So, Volt? How does he play into this?"

"Like I said, he's young. Younger than we thought, and he's alone. We'll be here till next June, but we plan to leave that summer. Volt will survive. That much is obvious. But I want him to live. I want to know that someone will be there to help him like I did with Streak."

Eraser was fully staring at him now, searching his eyes for some answer. "You don't have to take him on. You don't even have to get very close. Just look out for him, yeah?"

"Judder. How old is he?" Eraser could tell there was more, could see right through Isseka. But it wasn't his place to share.

"He didn't tell us his age."

"But yo-" Judder raised his hand again to cut off the hero.

"Please. Just tell me you'll look out for him. Tell me that when he gets caught in some crappy situation, you'll be there, and you'll help him out."

Eraser's brows furrowed. "What are you leaving out?"

Judder huffed a dry laugh. "He's not okay. I don't think he knows it but- but something's wrong. Physically. He's hurt or... I don't know. I can't *see* anything, but I see it in his movements, in his habits. I won't say more because it's not my place. Just- please."

They sat there for a minute or two, neither saying anything. Eventually, Eraser stood up, and Judder followed his lead. "I'll look out for him."

"Thank you." Judder let his shoulders relax, and he smiled at his friend. Turning around, he took a shaky breath and started to make his way to the next roof, but not before another sincere and almost broken, "Thank you."

- - - -

Aizawa watched the vigilante leave, watched his friend of nearly eight years leave after asking him to look after someone he met less than a year ago because he was the only person he trusted enough to do it. Aizawa knew Judder well enough to know the guy had no other friends. The vigilante didn't trust many people, and most of the people he did trust were dead. Aizawa closed his eyes and shoved his feelings aside. He had important information to relay to Tsukauchi. He headed straight for the station and knocked on the detective's door once he arrived, not waiting for an invitation to enter. Tsukauchi looked up from his desk but immediately turned back to his papers once he saw it was Eraser.

"Way to barge in. What do you need?" The detective sounded tired, but he looked worse.

Aizawa walked over and swatted Tsukauchi on the head with the folder before dropping it on top of the papers the detective had been reading. Tsukauchi groaned and glared at underground hero before giving in. "What is this? Before I spoil it for myself."

"The break-in at Tacti Tracker's agency." Aizawa supplied, and the detective suddenly looked like he chugged two cups of coffee.

"From who?" Tsukauchi grabbed the folder and began flipping through it.

"My contacts." Eraser deadpanned, before relenting at the detective's look. "Judder. They got some guy with a fancy quirk and figured out that suit had Zunder emblems before it got blown to bits. The rest is in the file."

The detective's face dropped at the villain organization's name. "I thought they were taken out. I was honestly hoping we wouldn't see them again."

"Yeah, we all were. Guess the League isn't as good as they think they are." Eraser paused and then switched to the other reason he was here. "I have something else. Information on Volt."

He waited for Tsukauchi to pull himself away from the file. "He joined the Dezetas. Apparently, he's been with them for some months now."

"He? Have you seen him?" The detective was pretty invested in the vigilante's case, and while the department didn't hunt down vigilantes before villains, they still had a duty to take them in given the opportunity.

"Don't get your hopes up. Judder's seen him without the mask and was referring to him that way, so you can put it in the file, but I can't confirm. What I came to tell you was that Judder said Volt was young, and- I've known the guy for eight years, so trust me when I say we are working with a kid. I'm not sure the exact age, but I know Streak was a teenager when Judder took her in. I asked if it was similar, but he didn't respond." Aizawa locked eyes with Tsukauchi. "I think Volt is younger than Streak, but I don't know by how much."

Tsukauchi's brows knit together, and he went to look for Volt's folder. Aizawa turned to leave, but the detective stopped him at the door. "Wait. Why would Judder give up that information?"

Eraser contemplated his next words. "He asked me to look out for Volt. He most likely wanted to appeal to my protectiveness for children since he knows I'm a teacher. He's never lied to me, though, if that's your concern."

"Why wouldn't Judder just do that himself? He took care of Streak, and you already said Volt joined their team." Tsukauchi's words were laced with suspicion. Always the detective.

"Beats me." Aizawa shrugged before walking out. Tsukauchi watched him leave and then dropped his gaze to his hand.

He had flinched.

Chapter Text

"You know, most people opt for backup when attempting to break into a villain complex." A gruff voice snarked from behind him. Denki turned to glare at the hero before shifting his attention back to the building he had been watching for nearly two hours.

"Well, my backup decided to ditch me for other causes." He replied in a grumble, listening as Eraserhead approached and eventually entered his peripheral.

"Did they? I could have sworn I saw Zenith patrolling just twenty minutes ago, and I personally spoke with Streak an hour ago. The evidence seems to point to you not asking." Eraser frustratingly pointed out. Seriously, dude! Mind your own business.

"Yeah? Well, what are you going to do?" He was genuinely curious at what the hero was getting at, but at the same time had other priorities.

"I'm interested in why you are going after this group alone. They have pretty high connections, and you'd be making some serious enemies." Eraser turned to look at him, sitting with his back to the hedge wall on the roof.

"Maybe I want enemies." He plopped down, settling to wait another five minutes before heading in. Leaning his head back, Denki closed his eyes and went over the layout of the building again.

"Hm."

"So, are you stealing something?" Eraser interrupted his thoughts a few minutes later, and Denki let his head sag left so that he could see the man.

"Nah, just breaking in for the fun of it." He snarked, but after a moment, he answered the question. "Yeah, I have some unfinished business with those connections you were talking about."

Eraser raised an eyebrow. "So information then? Which one?"

"Oh, come on, I'm not telling you all that. One of 'em. An important one." Denki winked and then looked up at the sky and breathed in the cool night air. He was happy to leave it at that, but Eraser just *had* to be pushy.

"What kind of unfinished business?"

Denki rolled his eyes. "The kind that gets snoops killed. You should go home 'Raser. There's a reason I didn't ask the Dezetas to tag along."

He pushed himself back up to a kneel and pulled a small pair of binoculars, methodically checking the windows, doors, and security paths the guards had been rotating. Almost time. Denki checked his weapons and made sure his mask was secure. He was about to leave when it struck him that Eraserhead was still there. Turning to look at the hero, he narrowed his eyes and quickly filtered through his plan, making sure the gruff man wouldn't get in his way if he followed. He knew Eraserhead had done stealth missions. The guy was practically known for how undetectable he could be across the underground. Internally sighing, he raised an eyebrow, mimicking the hero's signature expression. "You comin' or what?"

Eraser leveled him with a look before shifting to a crouch and inching a bit closer to Volt. Denki checked that he wasn't trying anything but ultimately ignored the movement. Once he saw the guards turned the corner, he shot across the gap between the buildings and latched onto the wall, using any crevice he could find. He quickly climbed to the closest window and used his electricity to mess with the circuits a bit before opening it and slipping inside. Eraserhead followed him, staying close behind and matching his path, shutting the window behind him at Denki's prompt. He gestured for the hero to stay right behind him and swiftly made his way down the hall. He stopped at the next corner, motioned for Eraser to wait and counted for ten seconds before bolting across the T-shaped intersection and shooting out electricity to his right. He watched the camera shut down without having caught him at all due to it being turned the other way. He waved the hero to follow, and he took the hallway he had just cleared. They continued like this for a few more turns with Denki taking out cameras and leading Eraser through the building until they reached the door he was looking for. Picking the lock, the pair slipped inside, and Denki shut the door before making his way to a filing cabinet.

"Well, here we are! The glorious office of some drug dealing prick." Denki announced dramatically waving his hands as if showing off the room. Eraser's head snapped over, and his eyes flashed in confusion. "Oh! Don't worry, this room is soundproofed."

The hero relaxed at that knowledge from what Denki could see, so he turned back to the cabinet and began sifting through files. "So what are you looking for exactly?"

Denki identified the folder he was searching for and quickly checked the rest just to make sure he had everything. Lifting the file up, he waved it in the air and shut the drawer. "This! It's all the deals and locations at which they have met with my target."

Eraser zoned in on the label of the folder, and his eyes widened slightly. "They're your target? The most strategic legacy crime organization Japan has?"

Denki grinned and teased, "You sound like a fan boy."

"Why them? You're going to get yourself killed going after a group that structured. Especially alone." The hero warned.

It was hilarious to hear someone so afraid of just the concept of his family. Well, afraid may be pushing it with the range of emotions this particular hero expressed, but Eraser was wary for sure. Little does he know he's speaking to an ex-member right now. It was at that moment that Denki's timer went off through his comms. "Time to go!"

He pushed past Eraser and out the door, snaching his tool out after relocking it. He made his way to the end of the hallway, tucking the folder into his suit. The hero followed out of the office and closed the door behind him. Denki could hear footsteps from the stairs, which were just two halls away, so he took off at a sprint, retracing the same path they had taken to enter. He had fried all the cameras on the way in, so he made no effort to be stealthy on the way out, and Eraser followed his lead. He heard shouts of confusion and anger from behind, but they were far enough away that the pair made it to the window before anyone had a chance to catch up. Denki took no time hesitating and launched through the window after shattering it with a thrown nunchaku. He caught the weapon on his descent and neatly rolled upon landing on the opposite roof. He didn't check to make sure Eraserhead followed him and instead shot off as far away from the building as possible. He dropped into alleys and switched directions to throw off any trail. Nearly three minutes of running later, he slowed to stop on a roof and checked his surroundings. He heard Eraserhead pull himself onto the roof shortly after his scan of the area and waved the hero over.

"Was that part of your plan? Nearly getting caught?" Eraser huffed as he joined Denki.

"Hah! You thought we would get caught? But yeah. I didn't want them thinking I was a professional. I don't want trails, and missing documents with no explanation leads to more trouble and interest than a mediocre thief, who just barely escaped." Denki explained as he flipped the file open.

"And how do you explain the fried cameras?" Eraser crossed his arms. Denki could see him eying the file, but the hero wasn't asking yet, so he wasn't going to point it out.

"Cool tech." Denki shrugged and refused to look up at what he knew was a very annoyed underground hero.

"Between you and me, it was your quirk, right?" Eraser's voice was kept level and friendly. Well, as friendly as the guy could sound, which was not very much.

Denki finally looked up and tilted his head, using his most innocent voice. "Isn't public quirk use illegal? Why would I do that?"

Eraser rolled his eyes before focusing on Denki's. "It's a useful one. I'm surprised you don't use it more often like the other vigilantes. Not that I condone using your quirk that way without a license because, yes, it is, in fact, illegal."

"Well, how about we keep this night between the two of us, yeah? I wouldn't want it on record that I'm an illegal vigilante." Denki blinked a few times, and his voice was so unserious he wouldn't have been able to keep up the facade if not for his undercover training.

"Under one condition." Eraser played along with far less enthusiasm.

"Hmm? My schedule's pretty full, so I might not have much time for you, Eraser. But... I'm sure I could figure something out." Denki toyed. He didn't really want to make any deals, so maybe he could just piss the hero off enough that he dropped it. Denki wasn't worried about Eraserhead reporting him to the police. He had read the file on Volt and wasn't concerned about a break-in and theft of a villain organization being added to the list. In all honestly, he wasn't really concerned with how Volt was viewed at all. Rather, he didn't want the Dezetas getting involved and trying to "help him". Just because he wasn't worried about his own safety didn't mean that his friends were as prepared or wouldn't be in danger.

"Really?" The hero deadpanned. That was... strange. Eraser had never been a fan of his antics. In fact, that was part of why Denki continued the firting and dirty jokes, but now he looked almost... uncomfortable? "I just want two things. A copy of that folder and your connection with Zunder."

Frowning, Denki thought about the requests. A copy of the folder was no problem. It wouldn't be much use to the station anyway. His family was another thing. No way could he tell a hero he was literally related to the lead family of, in Eraser's own words, "the most strategic legacy crime organization Japan has". Yeah... not gonna happen. But, he also didn't want to completely brush off the hero. He valued Eraser's trust in him. A deeper part of him desired it.

"I'll make you copy, no problem. As for my troubles with Zunder..." Denki trailed off and watched Eraser's expression for moment, not really sure what he was looking for. "I pissed 'em off a while back. Enough that they would probably kill me if they knew I was alive. So, I'm going to take care of them first."

The hero didn't react beyond looking Volt up and down. "You're going to 'take care of' them?"

"Don't sound so surprised. People will do a lot for their freedom." He responded coldly, making it clear to the hero that he wouldn't be talked out of this. He spun on his heal and walked to the edge of the roof. "I'll be heading out now. You did good tonight! We should do this again sometime."

With that, he gave a lazy, two-finger salute and fell backward off the roof, slipping away without a chance for the hero to follow.

- - - -

"Hey! You're Villain Kid, right?"

The purple-haired boy glared up at him from where he was sitting alone at a lunch table. Denki grinned lopsidedly. "My bad, man. That was a bit rude, huh? I just don't have a real name, so I wanted to make sure I was talking to the right person. Mind if I sit here?"

The boy looked around him as if he expected someone else to be waiting. Denki tilted his head when he didn't get a response. "...I guess I'll take that as a yes."

He plopped down on the bench across from Villain Kid. He had heard the other kids in class talking about him, but they always referred to him as the "purple haired freak" or "villain in the making". Sounded relatable. So Denki, despite having made a couple of friends in class already, made it his mission to get to know the kid. He began chowing down on his lunch and let Villain Kid make the decision to either stay or leave. After a few minutes of sitting in silence, just to be sure the guy wasn't going to bolt, he looked up and took in his potential friend. He had wild, disheveled purple hair and violet eyes. The next thing that stood out were the giant eye bags that pulled at poor kid's face. He looked exhausted, and his pale complexion didn't help. Geeze, even I never looked this bad, and that's saying something considering the seventy-two hour missions I've been on with no sleep. Praise to waky-waky drugs, I guess. Modafinil really was a necessity.

"Sooo," Denki pursed his lips and tried his best not to laugh at how embarrassing this situation was. "I did sit with right kid, yeah? Just though I might be bleeding out by now with how cruel the others say you are."

Okay, maybe Denki was being a bit of jerk, but it was hard for him to take any rumor seriously. Especially one about some kid being a villain. It takes one to know one, and frankly, his villain radar was as silent as the endless expanse of space. As for the awkwardness of a one-sided conversation, Denki was having the time of his life. He had never seemed to experience embarrassment like others. It just didn't bother him. If he had a goal or he wanted to do something, then he did, no second thoughts. He tuned back in when the purple-haired kid looked up, completely blank faced.

"Well? As much as I love the sound of my own voice, I do enjoy other's as well." He smiled again and waited, but all he got was a glare in response. He raised his hands placatingly. "Alright, alright. Fine. I'll tell you about myself instead, yeah? My friends call me Ki, spelled k- i- , so you can too. I'm new to this area, moved here this year. I have a bunch of niche skills that aren't really all that useful, but it does make me interesting. I definitely talk a lot, which you've probably picked up on. Anywho, I think we have literature together, so maybe we can pair up sometime?"

The boy was watching him while he ate. He didn't show any interest in what Denki was saying, but his eyes narrowed at the question. "Orrrr.. not. Either way, just a thought. Do you have a better name than Villain Kid?"

He got another glare, but it didn't last long. The purple-haired boy set down his chop sticks and raised his right hand slightly. Denki let his eyes follow the movement, and when he was looking at the hand, the boy began to form deliberate symbols. Japanese Sign language. Denki had been taught sign in every language he spoke since heroes were often taught sign in order to deal with civilians or communicate silently and it would be foolish to be at a disadvantage. So, he immediately recognized the motions. S-h-i-n-s-o

"Oh, I- can you not speak?" Denki let the confusion show on his face. Shinso just glared at him again and turned back to his food. "Ah, that was rude, wasn't it? I shouldn't have asked. Shinso, then? Am I saying that right?"

The boy nodded and looked back up in suprise. "{You know sign?}"

{Yeah! I learned a while back. One of those niche skills I mentioned. I guess this one is useful after all}

Shinso seemed to relax a little, but he was still guarded. {Well, you should leave. You don't want to be associated with a *villain*} The boy rolled his eyes on the last word.

"Hah! As if. You've yet to do a single thing to imply you're anything worse than ruff around the edges." Denki dismissed the idea immediately.

Shinso arched an eyebrow. "Oh really? You think those kids are joking?"

They boy had a deep monotone drawl to his voice. Denki's face practical lit up with excitement. "Um yea-"

Suddenly, his brain fogged up, and he couldn't control anything. It was... relaxing. His training was screaming danger at him and sharply cutting through the fog, but Denki didn't try to clear his head, figuring it would be futile anyway. He just messed with the limits he was now under seeing if he could move anything, if his thoughts were limited, and if his vision was affected. The quirk dropped soon after it was activated, and Denki stared at Shinso, reading his expression. To the average person, the boy's face was emotionless, maybe a bit malicious if you looked hard enough, but to Denki, there was guilt, fear, and withdrawnness. The dots weren't hard to put together. The whole villain notation had come from quirk discrimination. How patheticly stupid. Did these kids seriously not realize that by ostracizing someone as a villain due to a quirk, they very well could lead that same person down the exact path they feared? His bewildered anger must have shown because Shinso's blank faced mask slipped right back on.

{You can leave now.}

A fully belly laugh escaped from Denki, and some of the nearby tables turned to stare, quickly falling into hushed whispers of speculation.

"Oh gods, he's drove the new kid insane..."

"I told you he's destined for villainy..."

"Poor guy probably didn't even know..."

"Fucking monster. Brain Bitch."

"Villain-"

"Cruel-"

Denki finally collected himself and looked at a now hunched over Shinso. He looked around the room at the now peering eyes of hundreds of kids. He smirked and tilted his head. "You think you can scare me off with that?"

Shinso's head snapped up with pure but guarded confusion. {What?}

"Oh come, man! Don't tell me you actually think a quirk can be evil like these punks." Denki rolled his eyes. "That was awesome, dude! You know how relaxing your quirk can be?"

{You're- you're not mad? Scared?}

"Uhhh, no? I would be scared if you if told me stab myself or something. As for angry? I mean, I would've preferred you ask permission first, but it's not like you did anything bad." Denki insisted. "And anyways, like I said, it was super cool."

For the first time since lunch had started, really since school had started, Shinso smiled. It was small and unsure, and he kept glancing around the room, but it was definitely a smile.

"Alright, guys! I know I'm handsome, but the shows over, so quit your starin', okay?" Denki announced to the too quiet lunch room. Slowly but surely, the kids started to turn back around and continue their conversations from before.

Denki grinned at Shinso again and held out his hand. "So, friends?"

The boy smirked back with an eye roll. {Sure Ki. Friends.}

Shinso took the offered hand, and they shook. Denki was already enraptured.

Chapter Text

It had been a pretty slow night for Eraser and he was genuinely counting the seconds until his shift was over. Obviously, he was out here for good reason and he would never downplay the importance of the job, but it had been a very long week for him and he desperately needed sleep. So, when a certain grey and yellow clad vigilante dropped to hang over a roof above him all he could do was groan and ask "What do you want?"

Volt somehow did a backflip off the building and caught himself before he hit the ground, shuffling down the alley wall. "Pretty quiet tonight, huh?"

Eraser had already called the police for the two lowlifes he stopped and tied up, so he used his capture weapon to make his way back to the rooftops. "Hm."

"Seriously? You waited for me to come all the way down just to go right back up? Could'a told me!" Volt complained as he kept pace with Eraser perfectly.

"You looked like you wanted to show off." He refutted with a shrug. He had a sneaking suspicion the vigilante had already known he was done and jumped just for the challenge.

"Well, can't argue it wasn't cool, eh? eh?" Gosh this kid can be annoying. He could hear a shit eating grin on Volt's face and he really wasn't in the mood tonight.

"Fine. Don't answer. Just means I'm right." The vigilante continued.

"Are you going to tell me why you're here or continue inflating your ego?" Eraser leveled.

"Hmmm. Hard decision. But I'll spare you the latter. I wanted to know if you were up for a more eventful night?" Volt had switched to a more friendly but serious tone so Eraser spared him a glance.

"And what would that entail?" His interest was peeked, as much as he didn't want to admit it. Usually, he was the one who had to seek out Volt for anything beyond basic patrols.

"Slow down, I'll explain."

He did as asked and they stopped on the next roof. When he turned to the vigilante he noticed how the guy was fiddling with his right hand. It was odd to see Volt fidgit with how layedback but on edge his body language usually was. It sort of looked like he was cracking his knuckles but he would stretch his hand in-between.

"I want to break in somewhere and I think you might be interested in some of the stuff there."

What? Did Volt actually just ask a hero to commit theft? He arched an eyebrow. "Volt, you remember I'm a hero, right?"

And the vigilante laughed, truly laughed. Eraser had never heard him laugh before. Sure, he heard a scoff or a snort and the guy was always cracking jokes, but he had never gotten honest mirth out of him. "Yes Eraser, I know you would never break in somewhere. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless you were breaking into a villain safe house." Volt finishes with a tilt of his head.

A safe house, huh? One that he would be interested in? "What villain?"

He wished he could see Volt's expression but he could tell it all from michevious twinkle in the vigilante's eyes. "Zunder."

"You know where one of there safe houses is?" He asked a little too quickly. He swore he heard a light scoff but it happened in less than a second and he didn't see a physical reaction from Volt.

"Yeah. So ya' in?"

He squinted at the vigilante. "Why aren't you doing this with your friends?"

"Cuz, it's more fun with you! Like I said, I think you might enjoy some of the stuff they have." Volt shrugged. But Eraser wasn't buying it and stared him down, unblinking. "Alright fine! They're on a ring bust right now so I took the opportunity to work on my own personal vendetta. I don't want them involved."

"Because going after a legacy organization is dumb and going to get you killed?" He wanted answers that he didn't think he was going to get.

What surprised him was the grumbled response that he barely managed to make out. "You just don't know them like I do."

"Are you in or not?" Volt was clearly growing tired of the stalling.

Eraser was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to hear the first comment so he didn't bring it up. "Sure. We've yet to find a single one so it would be useful to see at least a portion of their arsenal."

"Perfect! Let's go." Volt took off immediately.

Eraser followed all the way to some dank alley in a relatively safe part of the city. "This is where their safe house is?"

"Are you doubting me? When have I ever let you down?" Volt defended.

"You haven't. It just seems unlikely considering the area." Eraser pointed out.

"Exactly." The vigilante deadpanned as he walked over to a door with a keypad lock and began examining it.

"Can you get into that?" He walked over so he could see the pad more easily.

"If I wanted to, we would already be in. I don't want them to know we were here though." The vigilante looked up above the door and around at the alley walls. Eraser wasn't sure what he was seeing, but Volt would pause seemingly randomly and whisper things under his breath. Then, a smug look crossed his face and Volt turned back to the keypad. "Got it."

"Got what? You just stared at-"

ding

The vigliante opened the door and gestured for Eraserhead to enter with a raised eyebrow. "You were saying?"

Okay, maybe the guy has some clue what he's doing. "How do you know all this?"

Volt shut the door behind them and flipped on some switches. The room lit up with quality LED rim lights, show casing five rows of everything from survival supplies to weapons and uniforms. To their right, a large desk supported three monitors with computers connected underneath. The vigilante made a beeline for the computers and somehow knew the password in two tries. How much did "know them like I do" really imply?

"You can look around, just don't take too much. They do routine checks of every one of these." Volt was plugging in a USB drive and accessing files on the computers.

Eraser took him up on the offer and began cataloging what they had, taking pictures of every shelf and some of the files in neat baskets. "You still haven't answered my question. Why do you know so much about how Zunder operates?"

"I have an inside contact." Volt responded nonchalantly.

Eraser froze.

"You're allied with a traitor on the inside? A traitor in Zunder?" That- couldn't be right.

"Um, it's complicated. But yeah, basically." Volt seemed hesitant to share too much so Eraser didn't push. He didn't want to drive the vigilante away, especially if he had someone on the inside.

"So what are getting from those computers anyway?" He had finished his cataloging and made his way back to Volt.

"As much as I can really, but my real goal is to leave a message." The vigilante ejected the USB drive and stuffed it in a zipper pocket.

"I thought you said you didn't want them to know we're here?" Eraser peered at the code Volt had tampered with. He hadn't learned to code, but he knew a certain rat who did. When the vigilante had turned around, he snapped a picture of the screen.

"I don't. I want them to know Sukikia-gumi were here." Volt made his way to the stores and grabbed a bag, filling it with weapons and medical supplies. The vigilante grabbed some of the uniforms as well, pausing and running a hand over the emblems. Volt's whole body had stilled and Eraser watched as he just stared at the insignias. Then the vigilante broke out of the trance and finished grabbing what he wanted. "Got everything ya' need?"

"Yeah. This will be quite helpful. Thank you for bringing me."

"Mhm. Let's go." There was something awkward about the way Volt excepted the gratitude, but Eraser couldn't place what. On their way out, Volt hit "Enter" on the keyboard and logged out of the computers.

They separated a few blocks away from the safe house and Eraser decided to call it a night. He would stop by the station in the morning and pass on what he knew. Something kept bugging him though. An inside contact in an organization so bent on loyalty? It's not impossible but...

- - - -

"Alright, woah dude. How come I learned this from someone else before you?!?" Ki dropped his tray on the lunch table in front of Shinso. Gosh, he's loud.

{Learned what?} Shinso signed back. He hoped it wasn't some fucked up rumor. Ki didn't sound angry, though, so it couldn't be that bad.

His friend scoffed. "You want to be a hero? They weren't kidding, right? I think you'd be great at it!"

He has to be joking. {You think I could be a hero?}

"Don't tell me this has to do with your quirk." Ki stated flatly. "Seriously?"

Shinso shrugged and then pointed to himself. {Villain.}

"Pshhhh, yeah sure. But you do want to?" Ki refused to drop it.

Shinso glared at him. {I'm going to try for UA.}

Ki looked him up and down, a shit eating grin forming on his face. "Not built like that you aren't."

Okay, Shinso knew he was a bit of a stick, but no need to point it out so blatantly. {Bet.}

Ki rolled his eyes and took a few more bites of food. His first friend was pretty strange and wayyyyy too talkative. But at the same time, he enjoyed his company. Ki didn't seem to resent him for his quirk and had been pretty genuine so far. Still, Shinso didn't trust it. He had been at the butt end of too many fake friendships to trust Ki wouldn't just turn on him.

"I know!" His friend announced suddenly. Shinso looked up and oh gods he's got that look again. The last time Ki grinned like that, Shinso was dragged out to a roller-skating rank and forced to stay until he could make laps at an "exceptable speed" without falling. He still remembered the bruises he had for the rest of the week.

{Do I want to know?} He asked with a sigh.

"Well, I think you'd rather know than not, cuz we're doing it anyway."

Grimacing, he arched an eyebrow in question. {Go on.}

"I'm going to train you." Ki gestured to himself.

{No.}

"Yes."

{No. And that's final.}

Ki squinted at him. "What do I have to do to get you to agree? And you can't say no!"

Shinso thought about it. There weren't many things he wanted. Or if he did, he wasn't allowed to have them. But- there was one thing he wanted. Ki had said before that he didn't really have any plans for his future yet. He had mumbled some long and gumbled explanation that Shinso didn't even attempt to listen to, though he suspected it wouldn't have been very coherent if he had. So...

{Only if you try out with me.}

"What?!? No way dude! I-I couldn't. Something else, please!" Ki was definitely taken aback, but Shinso didn't no why he was do against the idea.

{Come on! You already said you did have any plans. And anyways, I need someone to vouch for my nonvillainness.} In actuality, he just didn't want to have to deal with a bunch of hero student snobs calling him a villain without a friend. He really appreciated how unafraid Ki was.

"Well, I-" Ki shut his mouth and looked down at his food. Shinso could see there was a deeper reason, but his friend definitely didn't want to share. Shinso's brows furrowed and he waited for Ki to collect his thoughts. He had never seen his friend struggle with a decision. Sure, he hadn't known him for very long. Just a few months really, but he had seen enough craziness to know that the guy didn't give a shit about social conforming and would literally jump on a lunch table and start singing some cringe song just because someone said it would be embarrassing. Trust him, he was there.

Ki took a deep breath and a resolution set in his eyes. It was honestly more terrifying than his grin. "Fine. If that's what it takes. Can't hurt too much, right?"

{No backing out. You have to promise.} Shinso held out his hand for a shake.

Ki hesitated to grab it, but when he finally did his voice was dead serious. "I promise."

- - - -

As unsure as Shinso was at first, he actually didn't hate training with Ki. He had worried that the guy was going to overwork him at first based on the seemingly endless energy supply he maintained throughout the day. But, that wasn't the case, like at all. Sure, Shinso walked home each day exhausted and aching, but he also walked home fulfilled and more confident. Ki did everything with him too. Shinso thought he was just going to act as a coach and maybe occasionally spar with him or something, but his friend took the complete opposite approach. Whenever Shinso was working, Ki was as well. If he was doing sit ups, his friend was doing push-ups and vice verca. If he was reping forms, Ki was right there with him. Of course, the yellow-eyed boy did much harder versions of everything Shinso did, but it was nice to know that he wasn't in this alone. He also wasn't going to question why or how Ki knew everything he did. Like what kid knows seemingly every fighting form to exist??? He was thankful and felt far more prepared for any exam UA would throw at him. The best part about training was that it was never boring. He would die on the hill that his friend literally couldn't run out of things to talk about. It was like an endless rant for an hour every day. He was slightly concerned about the guy's oxygen levels considering the ratio of his talking to his breathing.

Overall, he loved training with Ki and just hanging around. It was especially nice that he didn't have to go home until late in the afternoon as well, usually walking to Denki's apartment and hanging out with his relatives(?) while Denki cleaned up for work(?). Yeah... he was never actually introduced to the people Ki lived with beyond their names and he was too nervous to ask. He also didn't understand how a twelve year old had a job... but maybe he worked for his parents or something. It wasn't Shinso's business anyway. He was just glad for a place to waste time. His family wasn't physically abusive, but mentally, they definitely qualified. He wasn't allow to speak at home the same way he wasn't allowed to at school. His parents mostly ignored him and he wasn't allowed to interact with his siblings because "he might control them". The only place he wasn't a villain was around Ki and so he spent as much time as he could with him. He was even becoming quite fond of the endless chatter.

- - - -

Denki was pissed.

He wasn't the type to anger easily or quickly, but when he did it was usually pent up and ready to explode. He had been training Shinso for months now and he absolutely loved it. Getting to share his skills and put them to a good cause was wonderful. The thing was, in order to teach someone, you have to know how to teach. And while Denki knew how to teach himself really well, he didn't have the experience or training to teach another person. So, he studied it. He spent hours researching the best ways to teach someone. The dos and don'ts. That was great as well. What wasn't great was when he started to make connections between how he was taught and how people are supposed to be taught. Don't get him wrong! He had had amazing trainers who knew all about their subjects and exactly what Denki needed to work on and how. What they didn't seem to know, according to the many textbooks and websites and courses Denki had been taking, was their own role and jobs. Or maybe they had known and they just didn't care. Apparently, he wasn't supposed to get punished the way he had been. Sure, he had sorta figured that out from what Aizawa had said, but this just made it clear exactly why. He figured out that he hadn't been given the proper amount of breaks in between exercises, that he had actually been improving surprisingly rapidly compared to being "behind" and "lacking", that he shouldn't have ever walked away with a serious injury like he was so used to receiving. The list went on.

There wasn't a right way to teach, but there definitely was a wrong way. Denki felt that he was doing a pretty good job training Shinso, but he always checked in with his friend for any feedback. He never wanted to hurt his friend the way his trainers had with him. He absolutely resented them for what they had done, but what he hated more was that his parents had let it- no, encouraged it. They asked for him to be trained that way and Denki had thought that was normal. Of course he knew that his life wasn't normal, but he definitely had thought he was being trained like everyone else in their business, if not more thoroughly. All being said, he was pissed. Thus, he was now sitting on yet another roof with the goal to evaluate all of his running emotions and thoughts. He took in another deep breath and finally felt enough peace to think logically. Alright, strongest first. Anger.

Anger is derived from one of two emotions and on occasion, both. The first being fear and the second being sadness. He had always found sadness to be easier to address, more obvious, so he focused on that. He hadn't been very sad the past year, which was how long it had been since the attack. But the emotion had slipped in and out a few times like when he realized his parents only trusted his siblings to be able to survive on their own and when he had to lie to his friends. He had felt longingly towards the apartment he had to leave behind, not very much, but just enough to remember. Even after the first attack, he had felt remorseful knowing that some of his family may not have made it out. He had felt abandoned more than once over the five months he had been alone, wishing that he was with the rest of them in hiding. It was like a stab to the heart now that he knew his parents had purposely hurt him. They had never been "loving" per say, but he had always looked up to them and believed they cared about him to some extent. And then there was the most recent time. Isseka had told him about a week ago that the Dezetas were splitting up come next summer. At first, he simply took security action and planned out what he would need to continue on his own. With further research and better resources, he found it would be smarter for him to buy a condo than rent an apartment. He had enough money saved up after nearly a year of working, plus the extra profit from the three months of summer when he increased his shift hours at the cafe. He had been living with the Dezetas for that time so he didn't have to pay rent or for food. He had $15,000 dollars in savings so by the second semester of school, about three months away, he would have enough to make a lofty down-payment on a decent condo.

Practicality aside though, he didn't want the Dezetas to leave. They had been his first real friends and he was going to miss them. He was going to miss movie nights and patrols and takedowns with the most obscene comms dialog. He was going to miss annoying Isseka and Mika by only speaking in English with Nathaniel all day. He was going to miss the feeling of a real family, or at least as close as he was going to get. He was happy for them, of course, and he would definitely stay in contact with them. They had even all agreed to have meet ups every once and a while, but Denki knew how travel worked and that it would be difficult to allign their schedules. So with this train of thought, he switched to the second emotion anger was derived from. Fear.

Denki was afraid he would loose those connections. He was afraid that without the Dezetas around he would forget just how horrible things were with his family and how much better they were out here. He was afraid his family would find him and hunt down the people he now cared about. That the League might grow stonger and do the same. He was afraid Aizawa and the Dezetas would find out who he really was and turn on him. He was- he was afraid his past would catch up to him. That maybe his parents had done more than just leave him with scars. He was afraid that his childhood, if he could even call it that, had left him broken in a way that couldn't be fixed. He was afraid he would be alone.

So all that being said, what could he do about it? The Dezetas would be safe once they left and he could stay in contact digitally, so that was the best course of events even if he didn't know the exact outcome. Eraserhead was a Pro Hero and wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. His family wasn't leaving either. Denki had been considering what to do about them for some time and this just made it that much clearer. He couldn't change the past or take back what the Kaminaris had done, but he could kill two birds with one stone. He could secure his future. He would just do exactly what his family had taught him to do.

Mission objective: infiltrate and eliminate.

Chapter Text

"You're telling me that Volt was able to not only locate, but infiltrate a Zunder safe house? And he did all of that just to send a message?" Tsukauchi raised an eye brow.

"Yes."

True. Everything he had said had been true. "How did he gain access to that information?"

"He said he had an inside contact- And before you ask, yes. It's hard for me to believe as well. Zunder never lets a loose end last for long. How could someone slip through the cracks that high up?" Eraser sounded just as lost as the detective felt.

"Do you think he may have been lying?" It was wholly possible. They were dealing with a vigilante after all.

Eraser shook his head, running a hand down his face. "He didn't lie. At least I don't think he did. But he wasn't telling the whole truth either and some part of me thinks he knew I was on to him."

"You said he mumbled something when you pointed out Zunder's capabilities. That you don't think he meant for you to hear?"

"Yeah. 'You just don't know them like I do'. No idea what he meant by it, though. Except for maybe that contact." Eraser was frustrated and Tsukauchi could understand. They barely knew anything about Volt's motivations and now with him switching up his behavior... they knew even less. The vigilante went from rarely sharing information and occasionally joining in on patrols to relaying the entire structures of villain organizations and being out nearly every night. And then there was he sudden "vendetta" against Zunder that seemed to pop out of no where.

"Do you think he may have worked for them?" The detective inquired. Maybe if he had been betrayed... It would explain the inside knowledge and the hatred.

Eraser's brows furrowed in thought before his eyes suddenly wided and his face dropped. "Do you have a recording of any fights with them?"

"I might.. Let me check. We don't tend to catch them on film due to their secrecy and efficiency." He responded, confusion evident in his tone. He searched the police files on Zunder and eventually found a very grainy video of a fight a few years back. "Here you go. It's not quality but.."

He turned the screen to face Eraser and the hero leaned in. The detective saw no reaction as the video played, but at the end, it was clear Aizawa had come to some conclusion. "Thoughts?"

Eraser leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh. "He was trained by them. Back when I first met Volt, I told him that something about his fighting style felt familiar. He said he dabbled in quiet a few so it wasn't a suprise, but it kept nagging at the back of my mind. Now seeing this... It's exactly the same except that Volt is much cleaner and doesn't rely on his quirk."

"You've know his quirk?" The detective asked almost harshly. He was tired of Eraser keeping so many details. He knew the guy was more lenient with vigilantes, but keeping information this important could lead to serious consequences.

"Not exactly, I've only seen it a few times. I have to go." Eraser promptly stood and walked out of the room. Tsukauchi turned back to the video and then to the pictures he had been given from the safe house. He would be here for a while.

- - - -

Eraserhead stared at the photos he had taken. How had he not seen it before? He had already gone through the pictures three times before he stopped by Tsukauchi's office, but now it all made so much more sense. Volt's costume. It was the exact same material as the suits in the safe house. It had a very similar design with a few adjustments and minus the symbols, but still blatantly Zunder attire. Volt didn't have an inside contact. He *was* the inside contact. Or at least, he used to be. The vigilante was most likely operating off of prior knowledge and anything he gathered from break-ins like the other night. But why? Why would he turn on them? How could Eraser trust that he was actually on their side? And then there was the fact that he *knew* Volt was a kid. Judder had never lied to him. Not in the eight years he had known the vigilante and he doubted that would change now. So why had Zunder trained a child? What was the purpose? He wasn't going to get answers by sitting around thinking about it. He needed more information, so he went straight to the source.

When he found Volt, he was busy with a group of what appeared to robbers. Eraser waited out the fight, not wanting to get in the way with how fast the combat was. When Volt was down to the last guy, Eraserhead moved closer, making his way halfway down the wall before stopping so that he didn't spook the vigilante. He looked back over when he heard a shril scream. Volt had a knife to the robber's throat, pinning both arms with his knees.

"Whoah- whoah! I-I-I I surrender man! Slow d-down!" The criminal studdered out, caving his neck away from the knife.

Eraser watched Volt tilt his head slightly before pushing the blade harder against the neck, drawing a trickle of blood.

"Ahh, ah hahaha! Fuck you!" The guy seethed out. "You won't fucking do it! You vigilantes and your *morals*."

"I won't?" Volt suddenly yanked the knife away, switching it to a backhand hold and slamming in down into the guy's shoulder, easily slicing through the cartilage and muscle. The vigilante yanked the knife right back out, twisting it a full 90 degrees.

"FUUUCKKK! THE HELL'S WRONG WITH YOU?!??"

Volt already had the knife at the robbers throat again. "What's his name?"

Eraser blinked. Then blinked harder. Then he moved. "Stand down, Volt!"

He was on the vigilante in seconds, pulling him off the criminal. But before he could even process what was happening, Volt had whipped around, sliced his right Achilles tendon, and had him pinned to a wall as his leg gave out beneath him, just barely stopping the blade from stabbing straight through his neck. He heard a sharp gasp from Volt at the same time the knife stopped moving. It was then that Eraser realized he had activated his quirk.

"What are you doing?" Volt growled, his voice coated in rage.

"No! What are *you* doing?" Eraser yelled back, meeting the vigilante's eyes. He noted a slight shake in the hand gripped around the knife.

"My job." Volt pulled the knife away and stood up eying the robber wreathing on the ground. Eraser followed his gaze, deactivating his quirk in the meantime. He could now see that the guy had a seriously mangled leg, probably shattered in more than one place. He looked around at the other criminals and saw the same condition. Their injuries were brutal. How had he not seen that while he watched the fight?

"Is your *job* to nearly kill the people you're stopping?" Eraser's voice was still elevated, but it was hard to control with his leg screaming at him.

Volt had moved back over to the robber from before and yanked him up, dragging him to the closest wall and tieing him up. The vigilante then cut the guy's shirt with his knife and tightly wrapped and tied off the shoulder wound. "When I'm finished with my friend over there, you better have some answers. Get your story straight."

The vigilante pushed on the newly wrapped wound and the robber just barely stifled another shout of angony. Volt made his way back over to Eraserhead and knelt by his non-responsive leg. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize who it was until-"

The vigliante cut himself off with a glance to Aizawa's throat. "I get it. Thanks for stopping."

Volt nodded and pulled some medical supplies and a shot he couldn't see inside of. When the vigilante moved to inject him, he caught his wrist. Volt's eyes zeroed in on the grip before he twisted his way out. "Pain-killers. But if you would prefer, I can do this cold."

Eraser lowered his arm and Volt proceeded, injecting him before re-adjusting his leg so that it was in a prone position where he began to re-align the tendon as best he could before wrapping the injury. He talked while he worked. "I can bring you to a hospital or I can bring you to a contact. First option will take thirty minutes the second will take less than half that much. I'll help you get wherever afterwards."

Eraser studied the vigilante as he finished up. Could he trust him? He had no idea who this "contact" was and now with knowledge that he might be on the villains side? He caught Volt staring at him.

"I'll let you think it through while I finish up my chat." The vigilante stood and walked back towards the robber, calling out behind him. "Times a tickin' though!"

Eraser watched as Volt knelt down next to a now whimpering criminal and began questioning in a hushed voice. He saw the vigilante poke at the shoulder wound a few more times and spin his knife, but he didn't attack the man again. Aizawa wasn't able to make out much from the conversation with robber choking on his own tears and Volt keeping his voice carefully below hearing range. Eraser forced his eyes away and examined his injury. He couldn't tell much with it wrapped, but based on where he still felt a slight sting and how Volt had wrapped the wound, he knew it was bad. The hospital would take too long and he knew Hizashi could meet him by the time he finished up with whoever this "contact" was. It wasn't really a choice and he knew that Volt knew that too. But he had stilled offered to take him and respect his boundaries. Despite everything he now knew, the vigilante had never let him down before and he could have easily turned him over on multiple occasions.

Volt appeared to have finished up with his interrogation and walked back over while calling what Aizawa assumed to be the police. He hung up when he crouched back down next to Eraser. "So, you decide?"

"I think we both know it's not much of a decision." He confirmed.

Volt snorted and reached out a hand to help him up. "Not unless you want permanent damage."

The vigilante helped support him as he stood, slipping an arm under his armpit and shouldering his weight. It was a long and tiring journey with a few pauses to re-adjust or give his good leg a break from hopping. Surprisingly, or maybe not, Volt didn't seem in the least bit out of breath by the time they arrived, pulling open the door to a pretty average building and waving over two people to help get him to an operating bed. The "doctors" got to work immediately and Volt moved to the back of the room they had been led to. Aizawa watched everything they did and mentally compared it to what little he knew about how to tend to the injury. He noticed Volt doing the same, watching every movement carefully as they examined and lightly probed at it. Does he not trust them? It would be a valid caution but it definitely didn't reasure Eraser that he was good hands.

"I'm going to need you to turn over and lay down so that we can pull this together. Whoever gave you this sure knew what they were doing. It's completely severed." One of the doctors stated calmly and Eraser heard the vigilante stifle a laug.

Eraserhead turned to Volt and raised an eyebrow. "You let anything happen and i'll find a way to hunt you down."

"I'll keep watch. I'll even call your boy-thing for you." The vigilante snarked.

His boythi- Hizashi? How did he-?

"Sir? We would appreciate if we could get started sooner than later." The doctor prompted.

Eraser sighed and turned over, letting his calf hang over the the edge slightly.

"He's already got an average dose of paracetamol." He heard Volt tell the doctors.

There was some shuffling and then his whole leg went numb. He heard Volt begin talking on the phone after a minute.

"Hey Hizashi! My name's Volt-" A pause. "No- Yes- Yeah, no he's fine, but he might need a pick up at #### and #### avenue." Another pause. "Mhm, yeah. Severed Achilles tendon, but it was a clean cut so he should be fine with some proper care." A third pause. "Alright! I'll see you soon."

He heard the phone hang up and Volt made his way over to the bed side. "Well, I suppose we'll be here for a while."

Eraser glared at the vigilante. "And whose fault is that?"

"Yours. Don't sneak up on me." Volt snapped out. But in a moment his expression softened. "I am sorry. Really."

"How about you tell me what that interrogation was about and I'll consider accepting that." Aizawa sighed.

Volt rolled his eyes but took a deep breath and pulled over a chair. "I needed some information and that guy had it. Pretty self explanatory."

"I would agree if you hadn't been about to kill him." Eraser leveled.

"I wasn't going to kill him! He just needed a bit of encouragement to start talking!" Volt took another breath and closed his eyes for moment.

"You had a knife to his throat and had already drawn blood." Aizawa insisted, growing frustrated at how lax the guy was about the whole situation. "You weren't even asking questions when you stabbed him. That's just torture."

"Torture?!? And what would you know about that?" Volt snarled as he lurched forward, stopping himself before he got too close.

Eraser's brows furrowed. "What's going on, Volt?"

He watched the vigilante deflate in front of him, slumping back in the chair and staring at the ceiling. "I'm just trying to fix this."

"Fix what, Volt?"

"Everything 'zawa. I'm trying to fix the mess I made. I'm trying to keep you all *out* of my problems." The vigilante brought a hand up to rest his head on, pulling his legs into a criss cross position and bracing himself with his elbow.

Eraserhead didn't know what to say, but he did know that Volt had been nothing but loyal to him. Sure, the guy didn't always give up information, but he did make sure his teammates were safe and taken care of. Tonight was just another example, even if he had been Volt who stabbed him. He made sure he got proper medical care and, as far as he knew, a ride home. Volt had given up vital information on a multitude of villain organizations, including Zunder, and, so far, everything he provided had come back legitimate. And Aizawa knew that he cared at least to some degree. I mean, the guy was literally waiting with him despite having complete freedom to just leave. Sure, he didn't know if he could completely trust him given his past, but Eraser also didn't have his side of the story.

"Volt, if you're in trouble we can help you. You just have to open up and ask." His tone was genuine and he didn't take his eyes off the vigilante.

"I know you think that. But 'zawa if you couldn't react to me in time... you have no chance against them." Volt sounded distant, resolute. "Just don't get in my way."

Eraser looked away and took a calming breath before switching the subject. "How did you make an enemy of Zunder?"

There was silence for a while, but eventually Volt answered. "I died."

Aizawa turned back to the vigilante who was clearly alive. "Faked?"

"Yeah. I wanted out."

"You were part of them?" He already knew the answer but he was surprised Volt just admitted it. The vigilante raised an eyebrow.

"You already knew that. You know as well as I do that they don't let traitors slip through the cracks." He said it so matter-of-factly that Aizawa couldn't help the slight upward twitch of his mouth. Of course he knew.

"Why'd you quit?"

Volt sighed and closed his eyes, shaking his head slightly. "They're wrong. Their methods are disgusting and I was irrelevant. I was a nobody who spent my time ruining other's lives. That's not who I want to be."

"In that case, why'd you join? Money? A trick deal?" Eraser didn't get it. Why would someone with a good heart join them in the first place. He expected some hardship story or bribery, but all he got was a dry laugh in response. "What's funny?"

"Can't tell ya that 'zawa. Your poor heart can't handle it. You might actually start thinking I'm human." Volt teased and it was obvious that Aizawa wouldn't be getting a reason. For now at least.

Volt stood up and a second later and there was a knock at the door. It opened and a female voice spoke up in irritated warning. "If these are some stitches you ripped again, pretty boy-"

"Oh don't worry {my love}, just a friend this time." Volt cut in, slipping some English into the sentence. Eraserhead tuned in at the particular words he switched out, knowing English himself.

"I have the bottle, but it'll cost you." This time the voice was much sweeter, having dropped the annoyance.

"Oh you know I'll pay, {my darling}." Volt had fully switched up his tone, a toying lilt to each word. Eraserhead heard a giggle and then the soft clank of a glass being set on metal

"I'll see you later then, pretty boy." The silky voice of the female responded just as seductively before switching right back to the warning tone from before. "And there better not be a drop of blood for me to clean up."

"I'll take care {for you my angel}." Volt finished before the door closed again and he made his way back over to Eraserhead, plopping down in the chair and returning to his position from before. Aizawa gave him a questioning look.

"No, we are not a couple. Yes, I know you know English. No, she doesn't speak English. No, it's not going anywhere. Now, I have some quirk-enhanced lotion that you should rub on that booboo three times a day for four days or until a day after you have full range of motion and no irritation." Volt shut Eraser down in one fell swoop.

"Well, alright then. I'll pay you back-" Aizawa started.

"No. It was my fault you got injured. This makes us even." Volt cut him off, glancing over to where the doctors were working. "They look nearly finished. I'll go check if Hizashi is here. Don't do anything stupid."

Eraser watched Volt leave the room and thus their conversation with no room for argument. When he returned, he had Hizashi with him and the doctors and finished, giving him a full report and some further instructions for care. He now had a foot lathered in some unknown, supposedly healing, substance, and a boot. His husband and Volt helped him to the car. The vigilante was gone the moment he glanced away. Well, this definitely wasn't how he expected the evening to go.

Chapter Text

"Well, I'll tell you Aizawa, this message is quite intriguing." Chittered Nezu. "I'm glad you have come by when you did."

Shouta didn't reply, simply waiting for the principal to continue. "Your vigilante did, in fact, want Zunder to think that this was another villain group. More specifically, he wanted them to believe that this group had betrayed them under the pretext of a drop in status, even listing other groups who supposedly cut off relations. I cannot say if these claims hold validity, though there is little reason to believe this message is an honest warning. Given the assumption that Volt intended to spread misinformation, he most likely wants to turn Zunder against their own allies."

Nezu let the fact sink in for moment before lighting his expression. "What interests me however was the information in the rest of the message."

Aizawa's face scrunched in confusion, leading Nezu to continue. "There were mentions of bases and partnerships, but there was also a notable reference to the explosion at Tacti Tracker's agency from a few months ago with the text 'Sloppiness is unexceptable.', which begs the question: why would Volt specifically point out this attack and what do we not know about the actual play out of events?"

His eyes widened and he looked directly at Nezu. "How much did he emphasize that last bit?"

"It appeared to be set to flash and in bolded text compared to the rest of the message along with some other basic animation." Nezu responded, an unasked question in his voice.

Aizawa promptly stood up and shuffled to the door, still dealing with some residual effects from his injury. He would stop by Recovery Girl on his way out. "I have to go. Thank you, Nezu."

- - - -

"You seem more grouchy than usual. Somethin' up?" The teen asked as he prepared Aizawa's cup of coffee.

He debated responding at all. Shouta had come to the cafe for a place to work on grading papers and then research for a case. He needed to get work done despite the Volt case pulling at his focus. However, he had know this kid for nearly a year now and it would be rude to just ignore him, especially when the kid was checking on him. "Just something on my mind."

The boy switched to making another order while he waited for the coffee to brew. The cafe was far more natural and from scratch than most places around, but the extra minutes were worth it most of the time. "How 'bout you share? I sure won't be telling anyone."

Shouta thought it through. Usually, he kept things like this under wraps, but... Maybe speaking his thoughts could help and the kid wasn't involved so he wouldn't cause problems. Aizawa would just have to be careful about how he phrazed and referred to things. "A friend of mine. He's having a rough time and I don't know how to help him. He refuses to open up and it seems the more I learn, the worse his situation is."

Daisuke glanced over and seemed to ponder the problem. "Well, do you know why he's pushing you away?"

Aizawa smiled at the irony. "I get the impression he wants to keep the people around him from getting hurt. He doesn't realize we feel the same."

The teen moved back to his drink and started on the espresso. "Have you tried getting him to open up from a different angle? Say, showing him how much you would do for him. Or, if it applies, that you've dealt with something similar. I obviously don't know how close you are, but sometimes even the people closest to us seem so... far. We feel like if they knew the full extent of things they might turn on us or see us differently. It's good to reminded where our trust stands and how much it has endured. Just a thought, I could totally be off by a mile."

Daisuke capped and passed over the cup with a shrug. "I hope he gets the help he needs. Enjoy your death shot!"

The teen spun on his heel and walked away to take the next order. Aizawa blinked and stared at the cup. No, I think you might have hit the bullseye kid. Shouta shook his head, walked to a corner table, set down his laptop bag, and pulled out some essays to grade. He let the teen's words roll over in his head while he worked.

- - - -

Denki was in the zone tonight. The day had felt like it took weeks to get through and he had knocked out for a nap after work. Now, he was feeling rejuvenated and had put that energy to good use infiltrating four of Zunder's closest contacts and planting evidence for them to discover. He was working his plan from two sides to turn the Kaminaris' underground network against each other and burn his family from the inside. He knew he would have to weaken them before he could get close enough to finish them off and that could take years with how thorough they are. Luckily, he had knowledge of all of their innerworkings having run many of the dealings as a pass time and busy work that the rest of his family didn't want to do. It just got easier the more bases he broke into. That being said, he was surprised to see Eraserhead tailing him so far from the hero's usual patrol. Sure, the man never kept to a very strict path as to ensure a nearly undetectable pattern, but he still monitored particular areas in rotation. Denki circled his path twice to check that the hero was actually following him and that no one else was around before stopping on a roof. "Why are you following me, Eraser?"

The hero landed on the same roof and walked over. Volt listened to his movements but didn't turn around, not planning to stay longer than he had to. "I wanted to know why you drop your right arm when you strike."

Denki mind blanked. "What?"

"Your right arm, you-"

"No, I heard you. I just didn't expect that." He interrupted before pausing to think about the question. "I suppose it's bad habit. I hadn't realized."

Eraser walked around him so that he was standing in front. "I don't blame you. It took me quite a while to notice. Most coaches probably wouldn't have either, considering how well you hide it."

Denki squinted in suspicion. "Why are pointing this out?"

The hero raised an eyebrow. "Well, I figured if you're going to butt heads with Zunder, I might as well lower your chances of getting killed in the process. Even if I can only help a bit."

Volt rolled his eyes. "So what? You want me to punch you something?"

"Humor me."

Denki smirked and dropped into a loose stance before throwing a basic punch with his right. Eraser caught his wrist and with his left and placed his other hand against Volt's upper arm. Denki didn't move to get free. "May I?"

He gave a nod and Eraser slowly adjusted his arm, leading him back through the motion of the punch. "Most people don't notice because you correct yourself by the end. But that drop causes a slight lost of momentum and weakens your punch." Aizawa let go and reset himself. "Try it again."

Denki threw another punch, tracing the path that Eraser had guided. It was faster and he could feel a slight increase in force. The hero caught the punch again. "That was better. Make sure your wrist stays in line now that you don't have to compensate."

He messed up. But- Eraser just reset again. Confused, he asked. "That's it?"

"What's it?" The hero responded, just as lost.

"I failed. You're not going to... do anything?" He clarified.

Eraserhead just stated at him. "What should I do? I already corrected the mistake."

Denki glanced to the side. Right. Eraser didn't punish for training mistakes. "Nevermind. May I try again?"

"I'm just waiting." The hero shrugged.

Denki smiled and threw another punch that Eraser caught the same way. "Perfect."

Shaking out his hand he glanced at Eraser's left leg. "You uh, your left kick tends deviate. Probably from an old injury."

"I got shot in a fight a few years ago. Never got the same power back."

"I could help you. It's only fair." He offered.

"It's not habit. I was on a extended mission and by the time we were able to access healing quirks, it had healed most of the way."

Denki scoffed. "You think it's permanent damage?"

"You don't?" Eraser obviously didn't believe him. Not surprising.

"Let me take a wild guess. You've checked with Recovery Girl and she said there was no damage she could repair. You then went to physical therapy and got most of the range of motion back but even then, you couldn't quite put as much force. So you figured it had healed a little crooked. Must've torn the muscle or tendon or something, right?" Denki continued. "Wrong. Based on the limitation, I figure it hit somewhere in your upper thigh, a little forward from the exact side. I've been shot there too. Had the same problem, but for me it wasn't acceptable to have one side weaker than the other. Point is, I can fix that and show you how to retrain the area."

Eraser stood unmoving for a moment and then hesitatantly asked. "What would start with...?"

Denki huffed. "Humor me."

The next few hours were spent sparing with each other, pointing out weaknesses they hadn't noticed themselves and giving tips on how to correct bad habits. As they wrapped up the night, Denki stopped the hero. "Thank you."

A small smile graced Aizawa's lips. "Same to you. This has been quite beneficial."

He searched Aizawa's eyes for any deceit, but all he found was genuine appreciation. "Yeah. We should do this again some time. This has been the best date so far, in my opinion!"

Aizawa let out a snort and shook his head. "I'll see you tomorrow, Volt."

- - - -

Denki was pretty comfortable in his new home. He had been living in the condo for about five months now and the Dezetas would be departed by next week. Mika had already left, heading to the Netherlands after getting some secret service job that had to do with tracking down itinerant villains. She apparently had a team waiting for her there and some vigilante contacts she had connected with virtually. Nathaniel had a flight scheduled in three days. He planned to stay on the down low for a while but eventually start up his vigilante work in a more contract based fashion. Isseka was staying in Japan, but he was digging up an old pseudonym and getting back into a government security job where he could have further access to files. He would work as a full time informant. Which left Denki on his own in Musutafu. Sorta.

He found himself spending more time with Eraserhead, taking longer shifts at the cafe, inviting Shinso to more activities, tracking his family's movements in the underground and messing up as much as he could without drawing too much attention. He was growing restless, though, with the thought that the Kaminaris might find him or discover the truth about his "death". He had covered what actually happened fairly well by shifting the blame to a separatist group, but there was always the chance that they would piece together the loose end: the emergency button he had pressed. The only information available to anyone was the report of the signal being received, which was kept in police files. Denki had faked messages "from" certain villain groups that they were "creating a new order" and had played a role in the disaster. It would cover his tracks for now, but if his family discovered he was alive, they would figure it out pretty quickly.

His was on edge more often and every second felt like his last. It made him jiddery. Anxious. He found himself checking his back more often, unable to relax. Anything out of the ordinary screamed for his attention. He was sitting on a roof taking a breather when he heard footsteps behind him. Reacting immediately, he pulled his throwing knife and snapped around, just barely keeping himself from letting go of the blade.

"Woah there, Volt! Slow down. It's just me, Eraserhead." The hero held his hands up placatingly.

Taking a shuttered breath, Denki slowly sheathed the knife. "Sounded like someone else..." He trailed off.

"You've been off lately. Everything alright?" Eraserhead sat down beside him, a foot apart.

He rubbed at his temples and took a calming breath. "Yeah, just... a little on edge is all."

"Those two statements almost contradict each other." Eraser pried, looking over at him.

Denki tilted his head up and stared at the stars. Somewhere in the back of his conscious he registered that Eraser had said something else, but the thought slipped right by, clouded by the rest of his racing mind.

"Volt?! Did you hear me?"

"Huh? Oh uh... no, could you repeat that?" He turned to see Eraser staring at him in blatant concern. "What?"

"...I asked you four times. Is your hand alright?" The hero glanced down and Denki followed his gaze. His hand was shaking. A lot.

"I- I didn't notice." He grabbed his hand but he couldn't make it stop. "It's probably just nerves."

The hero's brows furrowed. "Is it?"

This time, Denki didn't have to look. He felt his joints locking up, traveling up his arm. He took a sharp breath as pain shot through his arm. "I don't- I've never-" He didn't know what to say. What to do. He was in danger and he didn't know why. "Get- get away from me!"

He pulled himself up and shuffled to the other side of the roof. Wait, no- he wasn't on a roof. It was dark and there was... there was a body. There was so much blood. Everywhere. And the walls seemed to shrink in around him. He shut his eyes and focused on his breathing. It's not real. It's not real. It's not real. It's not-

Is it?

He opened his eyes and there was his father, standing next to the body. He approached slowly, which meant that Denki had done something wrong. It always meant that.

"#*$^$$^ #*$&%&* #&^?"

"What? I-I don't understand. I-" He looked at the body and then back at Nigaikiya. "He's dead. I don't understand!"

"What about them?" His father gestured beside him where there were two children. Twin girls with jet black hair and tear streaked cheeks.

"But they're... They're kids... I- I can't." His breathing picked up and he took two steps back, running into a wall. He glanced around the room, searching for a way out. There had to be a way out. He narrowed in on Nigaikiya, who was now right in front of him. "Get out of my way."

"Now, now Denki. That's no way to speak to your superior. Let alone your father." The man reached out and Denki swatted the hand away.

"I said Get. Out. Of. My. Way!" He launched forwards and attempted to strangle Nigaikiya, but his father grabbed his wrists. If he could just get past him... Denki could see a door on the other end of the room. He twisted his way out of the grip and threw a right hook. His father deflected so he dropped down and kicked out his legs. He tried to sprint past, but a hand wrapped around his ankle and pulled him to the ground. He kicked the hand away and rolled back to his feet, but when he look around the door was gone. Spinning on his heel he faced his father. "What did you do!?"

"I didn't do anything." He voice suddenly sounded much more gravely. Never mind that you dunce! Deal with him!

He threw another punch that was deflected as well, but this time, a counter attack was launched, which he had to avoid. He went back and forth with his father exchanging blow after blow until they both grew tired. Denki kept having to blink away black splotches at the edge of his vision and he felt his whole body shaking. What going on..? He felt his arms tingle and almost *burn*. His eyes widened as he blocked an attack and returned one in a fluid motion. His quirk. If he made sure not to use too much...

He worked his way closer to his father, exchanging blows quicker than before, fast enough that Nigaikiya struggled to keep up. When he was close enough, he grabbed hold of his father and poured his quirk towards the man. A sharp, ear piercing scream resonated from- wait. That's not right. His family trained not to react to pain. His father would never-

His quirk cut out and he was thrown to the ground, slamming his head against the wall- no- a hedge. He reached a hand up to his head as he made his way to a kneeling position, blinking profusely. Where... was he? He looked around frantically, pulled his hands in front to protect himself. That's when he saw him. Eraserhead was hunched over, grimacing in pain. Denki jumped to his feet and rushed over only to stop short when Eraser readied his capture weapon upon noticing his advance. "Stay right there, Volt!"

"Wait.. no Eraser your- I can- What... what's going on?" His head was spinning and his vision wobbled. He had been... fighting. His father. Right? No. He- couldn't remember.

"I could ask you the same." Eraser had stood up straighter and was now eying Volt like he was going to explode at any moment.

It suddenly all came flooding back to him. The body, the kids, his father, the door, the-. His face dropped and his eyes filled with terror. It wasn't real. He hadn't been back in that dark, tiny room. He hadn't killed that man. He hadn't fought his father. He had... he had fought Eraserhead. He put away his nunchakus- when had he grabbed those? - And studdered back a couple of steps. "I didn't- I-"

Denki lifted a hand to aching head. "I didn't mean to. I- it wasn't you.. it was.." He raised his hands slowly above his head. "I won't attack Eraserhead. I didn't... I didn't know."

The hero kept a steady gaze on him but relaxed his stance. "You mind telling me what that was about?"

"I didn't know it you. I couldn't see- I couldn't hear you. It was someone else. I'm sorry. I would never just attack you like that." He insisted as he lowered his hands... No, hand. His other one hadn't moved. He only noticed because Eraser kept glancing at it.

"Is your arm okay?" The hero inquired. "It dropped cold when I activated my quirk."

"I can't feel it." Denki whispered more to himself.

"Let me take a look." Eraser advanced. He was just about to refuse and make a run for it when his legs promptly buckled underneath him. Really?? Now of all times?? Eraser might turn him in right now because of that- whatever that was!

The hero picked up his pace when Denki dropped and was kneeling next to him in a matter of seconds. Eraser reached out to lift his arm, but the moment he touched Denki, he yanked his hand back with a hiss. "Mind turning off that that electricity shit?"

"I would but... I didn't turn in on." His vision was fading in and out. "Don't... Don't bring me in. Please 'raser I'm begging you. Please. I- I didn't mean to I promise. Please please please...."

"Volt, # %*$&%#$ ^"

Everything went black.

Chapter Text

Denki awoke to soft breathing somewhere. He didn't dare open his eyes, just listening and making sure not to move. He could hear some talking from behind a wall or door, but he couldn't make out what was being said. Instead, he focused on the person in the room with him. Their breaths were light and rhythmic. They're asleep. Well, I have two options. I can either continue to fake sleep and hope that I can escape wherever I am later, or I can open my eyes and risk getting caught awake on some camera. Neither seems all too great. He thought for a moment, well aware that he was attached to some kind of monitor. If I'm careful, I can short out that monitor without setting it off. He reached out through the wires attached to him and overloaded the machine, hearing it click off. Then, he reversed the effect and pulled energy back towards himself through the circuits so that he diverted all power from the walls to himself briefly, looping them right back the way they came. Shutting off his quirk, he listened to the buzz of electronics around him. He was familiar with both the feel and the sound of electricity running through data loops like cameras and he let out a slow breath of relief when he neither sensed nor hear such things. Carefully opening his eyes, he looked to where he knew someone was sleeping.

His body relaxed when he recognized the other person in the room with him was Isseka. Oh, thank goodness, cuz I really didn't want to deal with fighting my way out of somewhere. Looking around, he found he was in the Dezetas' apartment. Reassured that he was relatively safe, he took the time to remember what had happened before this. He had been on a roof when- oh yeah. He had attacked Eraser thinking that he was fighting his father. He would have to figure out what caused the episode. Maybe Isseka knew something? He had clearly taken care of him afterwards, but that just led to question of how Denki got here. He remembered his legs buckling and Eraser- he had begged the hero not to take him in. Okay, so I know that he didn't, but was that voluntary or did the Dezetas step in... no, they couldn't have because they were keeping things on the down low. Realizing that he wasn't going to be figuring things out without all the information, Denki turned back Isseka.

"Hey, man! Wake up, please. I'd really like some answers." He called out, not loud enough to draw attention from the other room what with the TV background noise, but enough that Isseka could hear him. No reaction. Denki pushed himself up into a seated position and swung his feet out over the bed. When he tried to stand however, he found his legs wobbly and he barely caught himself on the bed, effectively bumping into the bedside table and knocking over a glass. He turned around and picked up the glass that had thankfully not fallen off and shattered. As he set it upright, he heard movement behind him.

"Good. You're awake. Are you feeling alright?" Isseka asked warily.

Denki turned back towards him with an easy smile. "Yeah, though I'd like to-"

He stopped when he noticed Isseka standing with one hand partially extended towards him and the other positioned with his palm facing the ground. The man's brows were furrowed and he seemed unsure about something as he carefully scanned Denki's movements.

"Are you sure you're feeling yourself? I just want to be certain." Isseka insisted, not changed his stance. Denki had seen the guy use his quirk a few times during fights and was fully aware that he was prepared to use it now.

"I'm not going to attack you unwarranted, I promise." Slowly raising his hands in front of him placatingly. "How did I get here?"

"Eraserhead called me. Said you had gotten injured and that if I picked you up for care, he wouldn't bring you to a hospital. I don't know exactly why he did, but I'm grateful he didn't turn you in." Isseka motioned for Denki to sit down. "Now it's my turn to ask questions."

He followed directions and seated himself on the edge of the bed, keeping his hands in sight, but resting them on his legs. "What do want to know?"

Isseka relaxed a bit and sat back down, but he kept one hand strategicly facing the floor near Denki. "Well, we can start with why you attacked Eraser. That is what happened, correct?"

So he knows. "I'm going to assume Eraserhead gave his end of the story. I was resting on a roof when he joined me. I was on edge. Have been for a while, but that's not what caused it. He noticed a tremor in my hand that moved up my arm. I couldn't feel it. I got spooked, I guess, and tried to put some distance between myself and him. I felt like I was in danger, so I was assessing the situation. But then-"

He cut off, remembering how the world shifted around him and how his brain felt like static. Isseka interrupted his thoughts. "Then what?"

"I- I wasn't on the roof anymore. I mean, I *was*, but I couldn't see it. It was so real. I was in a dark room. I recognized it and there was my- someone from my past. And they wanted me to- they uh." He couldn't tell him. He would hate him. "...I had to get out."

"So you tried to get past?" Isseka seemed to be connecting something in his mind.

"Yeah. But the person there... they wouldn't have let me. I knew it so I took action. There was a door. Behind him. But when I fought past he grabbed me, I fell, and when I looked up the exit was gone. It didn't make sense. None of it did, but it was like fog was covering my thoughts. I knew if I stopped him they wouldn't get hurt and I could find a way out."

"Who wouldn't get hurt? There was someone else?" Isseka was obviously worried, but he had lowered his hand.

"The- It doesn't matter. Just some people he wanted to hurt." Don't tell him. He can't know. He'll leave you.

"What happened next?"

"I got in close. My arms felt like they were on fire. Like I was being stabbed by millions of needles. I figured if I got in close, I could use-" Denki's eyes snapped up as he realized what he was saying. If he told them about his quirk they might piece it togeth-

"Your quirk. Eraser mentioned it." Isseka didn't seem angry. He must not know.

"...yeah. But when I started he screamed." At this, his friend looked lost so Denki moved on. "My quirk shut off at that and I was thrown into the hedging on the roof."

"Wait, go back. How does that...? What you mean? Most people scream when hit with electricity."

"Because the person I was fighting wouldn't have. I realized something was wrong. When I looked up, everything was back to normal and Eraser was injured. I was holding weapons I didn't remember grabbing and- I just wanted to make sure he was okay. Is he...?"

"He's alright as far as I know. He left a while ago saying that he would need to stop by a healer but that he wasn't hurt too badly." Isseka reassured. "As for your condition, I think you'll be fine, but I can't guarantee. We found that your nervus system appeared to have been overloaded and it reached your brain. In simple terms, you short circuited yourself. Looked a little funky if I'm being honest and your hands were tensed pretty violently. Kinda looked like a thumbs up."

He- but how? He hadn't gone over his limit. "Do you have any idea why?"

Isseka shrugged. "We were hoping you could tell us. Only thing we could gather is that your system seems to be really fried like you got struck by lightning about a hundred times. The effects aren't as bad as they would be for most people, though, so I'm guessing your quirk has something to do with it. Do you know why?"

Denki stared at the line separating the floorboards from the actual floor. Images of thousands of shock training exercises flashed through his mind. Punishments for mistakes and full days of pushing himself to shortouts to increase capacity. Why? Yeah, he had pretty good guess why. "...yeah."

"I won't ask too much because it's not my place and Nat would kill me if I did... but was it external or do you think it was from quirk use?" Isseka's voice was so much softer than usual and held a seriousness Denki rarely saw. He was truly worried.

"A mix of both, I guess." He let out a small chuckle. "Less my own quirk use, though."

When he looked back towards his friend, Isseka nodded slowly. "There may be some healing quirks that could help, but I don't have access to them. I'm sorry. The chance might pop up in the future, or if you know someone, but all I can say for now is that you should let your body heal what it can on its own and try not to overload it. I'm no doctor though, and I definitely don't know enough about your quirk to help."

"It's fine, man. Thank you. I'll look into it." He didn't really know if he was going to, but it was good information.

"Alright, well we should probably let Nat know you're awake and kicking before he comes barging in here and assumes we were hiding from him." Isseka chuckled while he stood and made his way to the door. The rest of the evening, because that's what time it was, consisted of watching hero fights from the day and commenting fighting styles and ways that they would have handled the situation with endless slander and jokes mixed into the critics. Denki felt light and joyous by the end of night and couldn't be more thankful that these were the people he now turned to when things went wrong. He was really going to miss them being so close. He ended up staying the night and they shared breakfast before Isseka had to run off to some appointment.

"Well, I should probably get going too. It has been great seeing you before you fly off tomorrow. Make sure you tell your girl I said hi." Denki teased as he lifted himself from the couch they had settled into after breakfast.

Nathaniel rolled his eyes, but jumped up after him. "I will. And you make sure to call!"

They walked to the door together and Nathaniel stopped him with a genuine look on his face. "Hey, try not to get killed before we meet up again, okay?"

Denki felt an appreciative smile sneak through his carefree persona. "I'll do my best. Thank you for- well for everything really. I better get an invite to that wedding when you get settled in." He finished with a cheeky grin and a pointed figure.

"Alright alright. Get going Sparks." Denki felt his breath hitch for a moment. Nathaniel shoved him out the door and they gave each other a tight but short embrace before Denki turned away. Some part of him felt... healed by a friend using his call sign, even if unknowingly.

- - - -

Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi stared at the papers strewn out across his desk. He flicked the orange ink pen in his hand, spinning it over his thumb. He had to be missing something. He looked back at the first paper from the file and read over his markings again. He had recently been reassigned full jurisdiction over the Zunder file after massive movements had been reported. He had previously been working on some cases revolving around the disappearance of certain villain groups, so switching to this type of case felt like he had a mild case of whiplash. Mostly, it appeared that the legacy organization was reorganizing their forces, which could mean they were gearing up for an attack of some sort. However, Tsukauchi was familiar with Zunder's methods after being on a few of their cases and knew that they rarely acted in a predictable and single minded fashion. It was far more common for them to set up diversions or cause enough chaos that their real motive would be missed and they could slip right under law enforcement's noise. He scanned some documentation of the movements informants had noticed. They were most definitely pulling back assets, but they were also sending people out to manage deals and partnerships. What nagged at his attention, though, were the allies they were associating with.

Zunder was connected throughout the entire underground and especially in areas of high status. Tsukauchi knew they were near, if not at, the top of the underground hierarchy. So it was strange to see them avoiding groups previously thought to be closely partnered with the villain organization. And it wasn't just one or two, it appeared to be most of the other groups high up in the underground. Zunder had also completely cut off contact with any groups mid tier and below. Why shut yourself off from allies if you're planning an attack? It just didn't make sense. Tsukauchi got out a fresh piece of paper and began writting down his thought process so that he could circle back on ideas and connect dots he might not be able to see otherwise. What other motive might Zunder have for pulling in their members? They could be restructuring or they could be- well they could be playing defense. He let his eyes scan over his papers as he worked when something caught his eye and his brows furrowed. These names... the groups they have cut contact with... they're familiar. He set down his pen and dug through his filling cabinet, pulling out the cases he had been previously working on. Sifting through the files in the case, he read the names of the groups they were covering. His eyes widened and he snatched the papers from his desk, gaze flitting between the list of contacts and the ghost groups. They're the exact same. He pulled a few of the files and compared the dates of disappearance to the dates that Zunder was reported to have stopped communication.

Zunder is cutting contact just before each group falls off the face of the earth. He grabbed the stack of files out and methodically went through each one. After two or three cases, he was conviced enough to clear his cork board and start pinning sticky notes with names and dates and grouping time periods of increased activity. Slowly but surely, a picture started to form, all but lacking some finer details and a motivation. Zunder had started with contacts they had moderate contact with. Shortly after, they cut all contact with groups ranking below the upper half of the underground hierarchy. Then, they moved on to groups near the very top and whom which they had previously had very tight nit relations with. So the million dollar question was why? Tsukauchi glanced at the clock on his wall, he had been here for hours now, sorting through reports, files, and pictures and pinning anything relevant to the board. He could probably use a break and coffee sounded wonderful at the moment. Aizawa had mentioned some coffee shop the other day that he had apparently been going to for over a year now. Tsukauchi couldn't believe his friend had been holding out on him for so long! With a last glance at the board, he decided it would be best to take his mind off the case for a bit so that he could come back with fresh eyes.

He grabbed his trench coat and headed out, locking his door so that no one bothered his office while he was gone. The coffee shop wasn't too far but he still had to take a bus to get there. When he arrived, he noted it was a nice building in a well populated area, but still on the edge of a more abandoned part of town. No wonder Shouta likes this place so much. It the perfect balance of busy and empty depending on the time of day. He walked up to the counter and a teen came up to greet him.

"Hello, Sir! I'm Daisuke. What can I get for you today?" The boy gave him a cheerful smile.

"I'm looking for coffee. I've never been here before so what would you recommend?" He asked with a smaller but kind smile. Yeah, the change of scenery was nice.

"Well, we are known for our cappuccinos and many of our customers like our carmel and almond brew. We do have a special right now." Daisuke supplied. "It's pretty strong on the caffeine though so be prepared for its electric effect!"

"That's sounds-" Tsukauchi paused, his mind stuck on that *word*. Of course! He would have to verify it, but that- that was it. Volt.

"Are you alright, Sir?"

Tsukauchi shook himself out of his revelation. "Yeah, sorry. I'll have that special. Thank you."

"Coming right up! That'll be $3.45 and you can pay right there." The teen gestured to the card register. Tsukauchi paid quickly and after he got his coffee, hurried right back to the station. He barely remembered the commute back, too caught up in theorizing. He rushed into his office, only slowing to unlock the door, and immediately pulled out Volt's file, placing it on his desk before searching through the disappearance case files. There wasn't much over lap, but he did find a report in the vigilante's case from Aizawa on a break in at one of Zunder's "safe houses". He remembered talking to the underground hero about it and being told that Volt wanted to frame the Sukikia-gumi for the break in. From that, he searched through the time periods that he had grouped on his board and pulled out any reported activity on Volt. It was painfully obvious that the vigilante was planting fake evidence and turning Zunder against themselves and their allies. He was tearing them apart from the inside, which was exactly why powerful groups were becoming ghosts out of seemingly nowhere. Zunder was efficient and stealthy so it made perfect sense that there would be practically zero evidence of their actions to be discover by the police. Tsukauchi stumbled into his office chair as he was hit by complexity of the plan playing out. He had a lot of questions still, but two in particular stood out the strongest. What was Volt's motivation and what was his end game? He knew the vigilante was trained by Zunder and that he somehow escaped their wrath when he left, but why had he betrayed them in the first place? Was he trying to finish them off completely or just cripple them for some other goal?

Tsukauchi downed the rest of his coffee and checked that his coat had everything he would need. He would just have to have a meeting with a certain vigilante.

Chapter Text

When Tsukauchi asked Eraserhead where the best place to find the vigilante might be, he had to argue back and forth with the hero a bit to get any sort of an answer, but eventually he gave in and directed the detective to a particular building he said was typically along the vigilante's route. Though, he did warn Tsukauchi that Volt hadn't been following much of a pattern recently and might not even show at all. Still, the detective headed up to the roof of the building and settled in to wait for a while. Eraser had thankfully given him a time after ensuring a deal that the detective would buy him coffee for a week. It was a small price to pay. After nearly two hours of waiting, Tsukauchi was about to call it quits and try another night, when he was startled by someone standing not three feet to his right.

"Oh, apologizes. I didn't mean to scare you, detective. I'm used to concealing my presence." A deep, muffled voice spoke. Tsukauchi turned towards him and visually confirmed the identity of the grey-clad figure beside him.

"Volt, if I'm not mistaken?" Tsukauchi inquired, still wanting a verbal confirmation that he could check with his quirk.

"That's me! Just as glorious in person, I hope." The vigilante took a step backwards and leaned against the roof access. "Didn't know you were a fan of hights, Tsukauchi."

"I'm not usually. You are familiar with me?" He honestly didn't make a habit of hanging out on rooftops, leaving that to his few hero friends.

Volt's eyes seemed to light up with mischief. "Of course not Detective Tsukauchi. This is the first time we've met!"

Naomasa felt the *pang* of his quirk detecting a lie, but only on the first half of the sentence. He watched as Volt tilted his head, eyes flicking over him. "So what is it you're here for? I wasn't informed I'd have a visitor tonight."

True. "I was curious as to your involvement in Zunder's recent actions." He jumped right to the point.

"Ah, well, I am not working with Zunder." The vigilante giggled and it sounded genuine, not a hint of worry.

True. "But you used to, if I'm not mistaken?"

Volt hesitated at this, or at least, Naomasa thought that was what he saw. "Zunder's actions are illegal and morally wrong. I left them and have no intention of going back."

Tsukauchi felt a light buzz of his quirk. A half-truth. They had always felt different than straight lies, more soft and probing. "You don't plan to rejoin them, you mean?"

The vigilante's eyes narrowed when the detective attempted to clarify. "No, I don't plan to rejoin Zunder. I wish for their absolute dismantlement."

True. "Is that why you have been framing their allies for betraying them?"

A grin formed on Volt face, detectable by the crinkling around his eyes. "Yes detective. It's been quite fun to watch them tear themselves apart, has it not?"

True. "It's clever." Naomasa admitted. "However, I don't understand your reasoning behind this in general. You are messing with powerful people, who, as far as I am aware, don't even know you are alive. Why go after them? Why risk giving away your cover?"

To Tsukauchi's suprise, Volt sighed and rolled his neck. "Exactly what you said. Zunder is powerful. They'll figure out I'm alive anyway, so I might as well have the high ground when they do. I'm sure you are well aware of what happens to deserters with the number of cases you've admistered. Think about Mikolo Sanonini, Izemi Ackelme, Franz Isoke. Think about Leema Emiko who was hung from Firepowders Hero Agency after turning over heist plans. Or Rikoko Gumope who was found dismembered and pinned to the walls of the trafficking ring he ratted out. You think I'm just going to wait around for them to discover and hunt me down like they did those guys and countless others?"

How did he- "Those files are classified and those last two don't even have a digital record. How do you know the names? Those cases?" Tsukauchi was completely lost. Izemi Ackelme didn't even have a legal record, he was a ghost. He didn't have to wait for answers.

"Who do you think took care of those traitors?" Volt asked in such a dead voice no one could mistake the answer behind the question. Naomasa's face dropped as the realization crashed into him like a train at top speed. He didn't know what to say. Apparently, Volt did. "I know exactly who I am dealing with."

The detective shook himself from his stupor. "How do plan to take down the leaders? They are an army in and of themselves."

Volt tilted his head and his brows furrowed. "So am I."

Usually, Tsukauchi would have laughed at such a statement, but the confidence it was said with, the complete assurance along with his previous admission... He honestly didn't doubt the vigilante. So, what else could he get out of Volt during this conversation? "Why did you leave?"

"Zunder? They are villains and their goals don't align with mine." Volt stated nonchalantly and shrugged.

A slight buzz. "That's not all though?"

The vigilante raised an eyebrow. "That really is an interesting quirk you have there Tsukauchi. I've had my struggles with Zunder and..." He appeared to weigh his options, tipping his head side to side slightly. "...sometimes you don't realize you're... in a nasty situation... until you get some outside perspective."

With all the beating around the bush Volt was doing, the detective expected his quirk to go off. It didn't however. Everything said was true so he leaned on his detective skills to help him through this tangled jungle of a statement. "They mistreated you? And so you left?"

"In a nutshell." Another shrug.

"How didn't you notice when you first joined? Or later? You didn't compare your experience to before?" He was bewildered now. Why would Volt have joined in the first place?

"I- Oh how do I put this? I didn't really have a choice. That's all you're getting on that though, okay?" He sounded frustrated, but Tsukauchi couldn't tell if it was the question or whatever he wasn't saying. Either way, he wouldn't be able to ask unless he wanted to risk driving the vigilante away. Well, that train of questioning died out quickly.

"So you plan to take them down after they have essentially destroyed themselves? What then?" Maybe if he could figure out that...

"Live." It was so... broken, in the way that a marvelous project had never been finished, had never worked and was left to be scrapped for parts, only to turn out entirely useless even for something so simple. A desperate need for independent purpose, as though Volt had never experienced it before. Tsukauchi was reminded of what Aizawa had told him after meeting with Judder all those months back. He was so convinced that Volt was just a child and while the detective had doubted him then, he wasn't so sure now. He didn't know exactly what his plan was, but something in his gut whispered for him to suggest...

"I'd like to stay in contact about this case. I am now fully in charge of Zunder's case and we could use all the help we could get. Since you are a vigilante, I have some leeway when it comes to partnerships. That is, if it would be of interest to you." If nothing else, he could gain more information on Volt himself.

"I think that could work." He pulled out and wrote on a sticky note which he proceeded to hand Tsukauchi. Nothing else was said and Volt disappeared off the roof as swiftly as he had come, gone before the detective looked up from what he realized was a number.

- - - -

"Alright! Since it's been basically a year since we started training, I figure it's time you start using your quirk. Obviously, no pressure, but seriously, man! I already said it's fine." Denki insisted. He felt like he might be rushing things a bit considering he had just gotten Shinso to start talking to him verbally, but sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith! It had worked out pretty well for him, in his humble opinion.

"Yeahhhh.. no" His friend drawled back.

"Why not? You're going to have to use it in the hero course! Why not get the head start that everyone else trying out will have?" He pushed, knowing that putting it off would only make it harder to control later given a shorter learning period.

Shinso dropped his head, and his right hand fidgeted with the hem of his shirt before he shoved it into one his pants pockets. "It's not- I don't want you to... just no, okay?"

Denki regarded him for a moment before trying a different tactic. Walking up, he put a hand on Shinso's shoulder and softened his usually cheery voice. "I won't think any differently of you. I don't believe in 'villainous' quirks, yeah? I already showed you there are hundreds of ways to maine and kill someone without any power. A quirk is just a tool and evil only lies in who wields that tool."

He noticed the purple-haired boy's eyes sparkle a little as water filled his eyes and felt the shuddered breath. "You really think that?"

"Of course I do." The moment he finished the statement, a calm fog washed over his mind.

"Relax." The voice resonated throughout his head rather than just through his ears and he felt his body follow the order immediately, dropping his arm to his side. "Um. Walk in a circle around me."

Again, his body reacted without his own command, rather following his friend's voice. In a second after, the hold was broken and Denki shook his head, blinking a few times as he felt control flood back to him.

"I um, I don't really know what else to do. I don't really know what else I *can* do." Shinso admitted.

"Well that's what we'll start with! What your limits are. How long can you hold control, how much can you make someone do, etc. We can make a list! And I'll tell you what I feel on my end so that you know everything that's going on." Denki grinned. He had been taught quite a lot about quirk analysis so that he could break down an enemy mid battle,despite his preference for analyzing personalities and motivations. This would be perfect practice for him to use those skills.

"Let me know if there is anything you don't want me to do. I don't want to invade your privacy or make you do something you're uncomfortable with." Shinso was quite resolute about that, which Denki appreciated considering how much he was risking by letting someone literally control his mind. He also wasn't sure if Brainwashing would let Shinso see his memories or give up information. Ehhh, it probably wouldn't become a problem...

"Of course man! Just don't do anything weird, you know? I'll think we'll be good with that, but I'll let you know if I think of anything." He patted his friend on the back. "For now, let's see how much you can make me do, physically. Try complex movements like a backflip and if you can make me fight. Just be careful, yeah?"

"Always. You ready?" Shinso smirked.

"Just waiting on you-" Annndddd he was fogged out. Let's get to work, I guess.

- - - -

Volt slipped into a booth near the corner of the bar. It was a quieter space than he usually entertained, but it was off the pay roll of the higher ups in the underground, which frankly, was exactly what he needed. There was an informant by the name Sēji Anarisuto (The Sage Analyst) that frequented this particular bar and was well-spoken of by his clients. He was mostly known for his analysis, but had meddled in a wider range of information in recent years with unfailing accuracy. It was worth a short meeting if nothing else. Volt looked up when the bar dropped into silence for a moment, as they did whenever someone entered. It only lasted long enough to draw attention to the newcomer and allow clientele to either interact or make themselves scarce. The figure who entered wore a pale green cloak and an electronic mask with a digital facial expression display vaguely resembling emoji eyes. The figure lifted a hand to the side of the mask and flicked the lights off, leaving a black face covering that hid any emotion. Volt watched as the cloaked individual surveyed the room and meandered towards the bartender. Some words were exchanged and the newcomer glanced over towards him.

Volt waved briefly to gain the figure's attention and watched him gesture Denki's way. Then, the cloaked fellow made his way over and sat down in Volt's same booth. "You're the informant? Or am I mistaken."

"I am Sēji Anarisuto. And you are?" Asking such questions was a simple precaution they both knew well. It couldn't guarantee you were meeting the right person if someone was truly posing, but it was a small reassurance in most cases.

"Volt. Glad we could both make it this fine evening." He answered dutifully.

"That sentiment is mutual. Now, what is it you are looking for." Right to business, I like that.

"I am looking for leads on Kirihero-kai movement and members." Volt requested plainly.

The informant stood with haste. "I do not work with villains-"

"I'm not!" Volt interrupted. He could see heads beginning to turn and eavesdropers were the last thing he needed right now. "Wait and hear me out. Please."

He knew how desperate he sounded, but it was raw and honest emotion. Most informants could be, if not were already, corruptable due to being in the business for the profit. He knew Sēji took a high payment, but he was also firm about his morals and code and couldn't just be bought. It was why he saught him out in the first place. The informant slowly sat back down, crossing his arms and leaning back in the booth. "Go on."

"I seek only to dethrone those at the top. I want no part in villainous activities. I'm acting independently and on a personal vendetta. I just need information on their movements and members, nothing more." He was putting a lot on the table and a lot of trust in someone he had just met, but he was also out of options. Apparently, Sēji knew this as well.

"You want to tell me your just a... vigilante who wants to tear down the underground's hierarchy? You think I'll believe that?" The informant sounded almost offended. "If you're telling the truth, you're a fool for revealing that."

"And you would be a greater fool for dismissing my words entirely." Volt jabbed back. "Intellect aside, how might I prove the validity of my words?"

Sēji seemed to relax at the change of subject. "I'll make you a deal. You will tell me how you have used your skills and influence previously and if- and that's a big if -you're story checks out, I'll provide you with the knowledge you seek."

"Sounds like a plan to me. Where and when will we meet for the exchange if you deem me honest?" Volt wasn't sure exactly how the informant operated, but he didn't trust transferring such information digitally.

"Back here, same time and day, next week." He watched Sēji pull a notebook from his cloak and place it on the table in front of him. "Write your actions down here while I speak with my other clients."

"Aye Aye, Captain." Volt joked as the informant stood, which caused Sēji to pause and regard him for a moment before walking off to another table. Not even a scoff, seriously?

The vigilante didn't put everything down, but he put the evidence plants that would be most obvious to discover, provided where to look. When Sēji Anarisuto returned, he had his digital mask turned back on and the eyes represented what Volt could only guess what a cheerful expression.

"That everything?" The informant asked as he took back the notebook.

"It's enough. Don't go spilling my actions to the whole underground, though. I won't hesitate to paint that golden child record of yours red." Volt warned with narrowed eyes.

"Never. Costumer confidentiality is a main priority of mine." Sēji added with a wink before spinning on his heel and slipping away out the front of the bar. The things we do for freedom.

And man, that guy was short.

- - - -

"Hey, Eraser."

Aizawa glanced to his right to find Volt standing a few feet away. He hadn't seen the vigilante in a week, not after what happened. "Hello, Volt." He replied with a short nod.

"I wanted to apologize for... attacking you." He sounded unsure which was strange coming from the usually snarky flirt. "I understand that I broke your trust and I don't expect you to simply forgive me. But- I want you to know that I had no intention of hurting you. I just... I didn't-"

Eraser watched as the vigilante struggled to find the words, something he had seen hundreds of times with his own students. It reminded him that Volt, as far as he knew, was a child. Or at least, he was when Eraserhead met him. It took courage to not just admit, but apologize for a wrongdoing, and Volt had tracked him down to do just that. "You didn't intend to."

"What?" The startled response came.

"Judder let me know a bit about what happened. Obviously, I don't everything, but he said enough to let me know you weren't in your right mind. I'd like to know more before I trust you again, but I do forgive you." It is important to reasure children they are heard and understood. He didn't know exactly how old Volt was, but that probably still applied. He also wasn't going to lie to the boy. Judder hadn't told him much, just that it appeared to have been caused by a health condition and that Volt had been seeing someone else when they were fighting. "How about we sit down and talk about what happened."

This appeared to relax the vigilante and he nodded slowly. They sat facing each other with some distance between them. "Do you want to tell me your side, or do you want me to start?"

"I'll start." Volt stated firmly before taking a deep breath. "I don't know exactly what caused everything but- Well, I'll just begin where I think things started.

Eraserhead listened as the vigilante explained how he had been anxious for the past few months and how every little thing sprung his fight or flight. "I've had those tremors for way longer, but I rarely even notice them anymore. It must have been the combination, but I suddenly wasn't on that roof and my brain felt like static. I was in a room with some really messed up people and all I could think was that I needed to get out. When I got past my- you and you tripped me, the door was gone."

"You're exit?" Eraser clarified and Volt nodded. "I stopped you because... That door you were trying to reach was the edge of the roof. If you had gotten any farther..."

"...Thank you. For stopping me, I mean." The vigilante glanced down. "And for not turning me in. I honestly wouldn't have blamed you if you had."

"You should figure out exactly was caused the episode." Aizawa brushed over the appreciation, not wanting to make it a big deal. In all honesty, he almost had taken the vigilante in until he remembered his deal with Judder. He decided to lighten the serious note with some teasing. "Can't have you going ballistic on me at random."

A mischievous gleam entered Volt's eyes. "Oh, I could show you ballistic."

"Very funny." He deadpanned.

Volt then exploded into action, sprinting directly towards a muffled scream they had both taken note of just seconds after Aizawa spoke. This'll be a long night.

Chapter Text

Tsukauchi felt... well, he wasn't sure how he felt. He was nervous, to say the least. It had been two days since his meeting with Volt and he had a pretty clear picture of the case he was now in charge of. Volt was fueled by revenge and running down his own personal kill list. Even if he wasn't the one holding the gun, he sure as hell was aiming it. It was clear the vigilante had no intention of stopping and frankly, Tsukauchi wasn't too keen on getting in his way. The fact was, society and the hero commission needed Zunder out of the picture and if Volt could get the job done... well, sometimes even the best detective's can miss the bigger picture, right? What Tsukauchi couldn't turn a blind eye to was the truth about the position Volt held under Zunder's command. It had taken some time, but eventually it became quite clear the Volt could not have been the clean up crew if he wasn't entirely trusted and near, if not at, the top of the organization's hierarchy. The vigilante must have practically been born and raised in the group for them to put so much faith in him. Actually, scratch the "practically", he *was* born into them. Volt had said that he didn't know what they were in the beginning and that he hadn't had a choice in joining. He said that there was no outside perspective to compare his experience with. If he had been born into Zunder and raised among killers... it made perfect sense.

The real question was what made him switch. Why did he have a change of heart and why would he have been mistreated if he was one of their best? Zunder's case had always been a tricky one because of the lack of information and the quick take outs of any loose ends. He now knew that Volt was the reason behind that, or some of it at least. Pissing off the same guy you send to take care of your dirty business? And a child at that? They were either asking for trouble or they were completely oblivious to his abilities, which was hard to believe. Tsukauchi seriously needed to make a timeline, so that's exactly what he did. Volt had appeared about a year ago, shortly after Zunder went off the grid due to what questionable sources reported as an attack from the League of Villains. During that time, he rarely fought criminals outside of joint-patrol with either the Dezetas or Eraserhead. However, a few months in, mutalated criminals claimed to have been taken down by Volt on his own. He increased his vigilantism and coordinated with underground heroes and other vigilantes. Still, he refused to give up any information on villain organizations or operations, aside from the League. Interestingly, six months into his "career", he took a total switcheroo and began leaking information like it was nothing. Tsukauchi paused in his writing. So what else happened around that time regarding Zunder? He flipped through file after file and pulled anything reported within that month. That's when he found it. The attack on Tacki Tracker's Hero Agency, the same one Judder claimed had been attacked by Zunder and that reopened their case. According to the quirk the older vigilante had recruited, a Zunder emblem had been discovered on a demolished uniform.

Checking the date of the attack, Tsukauchi compared it to his timeline. Just after the attack, Volt had dropped off the grid for almost two weeks before coming back- leaking information. Papers were dropped on the desk and a hand was run down the detective's face. That was when things changed. With a swig of coffee, he began reading through the full report of the attack. There had been reports from the security that been out of the building before it blew that some strange camera malfunctions had been noticed and that a few had been sent to check the hallways just in case. After that team had left, some civilain had gone berserk in the lobby and started a screaming fight with the front desk. When the remaining security got involved, the guy set off his quirk and began attacking at random. Just as they finally got the situation under control and had escorted the guy out, an emergency alert came through. Frustratingly, the system hadn't been set up to determine where the report came from, just that one of ten buttons had been pressed. Horrible design. When questioned about where the signal may have come from, security reported that no one had been in the rooms the buttons were located. It had been brushed off at the time as a miscommunication due to all the chaos that had occurred that day... but maybe there was more to it. It was hard, maybe even impossible, to know at this point, what with the building having been blown up and now rebuilt...

Wait.

A blown building. A ruined uniform. An emergency button basically pressed by a ghost. The missing files but no connected attack later. Volt drops off the grid for weeks and comes back spilling secrets- of course. Aizawa had told Tsukauchi that Volt had faked his death to get away from Zunder. This was his death. There had been no bones, no flesh. Just the torn ruins of a shot up, bloodied uniform. Volt had been the agent sent in by Zunder and had hit the button to cause enough chaos that whoever he was working with would have to retreat. He blew the building on his way out to cover his escape and- spread the rumors from the underground about Zunder's recent failure at the time. He had spread false information so ensure his death was believable, taking a swing at Zunder's reputation. It felt like a stretch... but the timing, the events- it all lined up. Tsukauchi reached for his coffee mug only to find it empty. With a sigh, he stood and tidied his desk before leaving for his new favorite coffee shop. He sent a text to Eraserhead on his way out saying to meet him there.

They had a lot to talk about.

- - - -

Denki was pretty sure he eavesdropped on a seriously confidential conversation, but it really wasn't his fault. He didn't *tell* Aizawa and Tsukauchi to hold a literal meeting during his usually quiet shift at the cafe. Now that he heard everything though... well they had figured out a lot more than he anticipated. Specially, the detective had, which really is his own fault if we're being completely honest. He wasn't worried, though. They didn't know he was a Kaminari yet and he had basically told them the rest in passing anyways, so it wasn't too surprising someone finally put it together. As long as they never found out his heritage, everything should be fine. Which definitely wouldn't happen because... just being born into an organization doesn't mean you're the child of its leaders. Yeah... they would never piece it together. He did have to work quicker though if he didn't want anyone getting in his way.

He still had to wait for Sēji to deem him "worthy" or some crap and their meeting wasn't until next week, but he had other leads to work on in the meantime. He also needed to survey Zunder's bases again, which meant more undercover work. He had limited time too with training with Shinso and work at the cafe, so most of his nights were spent working on set ups and info collection. Overall, he was exhausted. The lack of sleep and neverending days had him stretched thin. Add the constant stress and uneasiness and he was a ticking time bomb. The worst part was he knew it. He knew how unstable he was and all the psychological effects that came along with limited sleep. After all, he used to use such knowledge in interrogations. His first noticed the effects in his grades at school, in his work as a vigilante, and eventually in everyday tasks. He was forgetting things more often and struggling to retain any information. Most people would write it off as classic forgetfulness, but Denki knew better. When you're asleep, the brain runs through a cleaning cycle where it removes toxic protein buildup that otherwise leads to Alzheimer's and dementia. On a short term basis, the beta amyloid and tau inhibit neuron communication. He was killing himself slowly and he knew it. After that episode on the roof, he had started paying closer attention to his tremors and random motor disfunction. It was worse now and he was sure that the pair of severed nerves and neuron connections from electrocution, along with inhibited communication from the limited sleep and stress, were the main cause.

He needed help, but he had no one to turn to. No one to trust. He needed someone who wasn't involved in figuring him out. Someone like- Nathaniel. The guy didn't care who he was and even kept the others from pushing his background. Obviously, his friend wasn't coming back but... maybe Denki could find someone similar. Another vigilante. He had met a few in the area, but most of them seemed to be doing there own thing or had been in the business for a while. And none were stupid enough to go after Zunder. However... he had heard about a newer vigilante running around recently with some decent abilities but no idea how the underground worked and who not to mess with. I mean, it's worth a shot! He finished his shift and raced home to grab his Volt gear before heading out towards the area the newbie had been working out of. He found himself at the edge of Tokyo searching the roofs for his new potential friend. It didn't take as long as he expected and there was no way he could've missed the vigilante. The guy was literally fleeing from three heroes and SWINGING through the city!

"Woohoo! You all really are taking this too seriously!" The vigilante shouted over the wind as he shot another... something... out from his elbow, launching himself across the skyline. "I'm just helping people! You should be glad."

I like this guy already. A little reckless, but that was expected. Volt shot off in pursuit of the four, just barely keeping pace, curse their versatile quirks. A few blocks down, it became clear this chase would go on until someone tired or exhausted their quirk. Denki was not a naturally patient person. He had learned the skill for stealth missions and grand schemes, but when given the opportunity he typically choose the quicker path. Just got to take 'em out for my pal here, then. Volt slipped a nunchaku from its sheath and picked up his pace so that he was neck and neck with the rear most hero. His quirk appeared to allow him to harden or create some invisible surface which he propelled himself off of. He could only go as fast as his legs would launch him off of the surfaces he created so it wasn't difficult for Volt to catch up. Leaping from a building, Denki tackled the hero onto the opposite roof and broke a leg with his nunchaku, taking off immediately after. Sorry Eraser, these guys must be your friends, but it's for a good purpose alright? Well, good purpose for me, at least. He pushed himself to run faster and faster to catch up to the other three still in a prolonged chase. Eventually, he managed to surpass the next farthest back, who wielded a whip that extended from his waist and allowed him to yank himself through the air similarly to the newbie vigilante. Denki flipped off the roof, pulled a knife and sliced right threw the whip material, sending the hero catapulting toward the street below. The moment he cut the rope-like material, he wrapped his left arm around twice and managed to brace himself as his slammed into the wall it was attached to. He watched briefly as the last hero switched their trajectory and threw themselves to save their coworker. He spared no time figuring out the quirk or if the duo survived, though they probably did. Instead, he unwrapped his arm, scaled the wall- luckily he didn't fall far- and shot off after the vigilante, who had witnessed his actions, once again.

"Hey, man! I appreciate the save back there, but I really don't have time to chat." His potential friend called back.

"It's polite to thank your saviors properly. Just a few words. That's all I'm asking for!" And it was. He saved the guy so that he could meet him. It would be such a waiste if he didn't at least make his offer.

"Heh, well, I'm not really the taking type if you couldn't tell already." The vigilante sounded quite out of breath by this point and Volt capitalized on his opportunity, throwing his knife straight through whatever material it was the newbie was creating. He figured it was slice cleanly due to how bouncy and thin it looked. He was right. The short lapse as his target collected his barings and reaimed allowed him tackle the newbie mid-air and crash onto the next roof over. The two rolled together a few times before momentum ran out. Volt jumped to his feet, but the other vigilante struggled more and stumbled backwards awkwardly.

"Look, I'm not here to fight, alright? I'd appreciate it if you'd hear me out, yeah? I won't hurt ya anymore, just wait a minute." All that chasing and tackling had worn him a bit tired and he really didn't want to fight some newbie. To his suprise, the vigilante actually did stop and he finally got a good look at him. The newbie wore a modified motorcycle helmet with a tint that hid his face and some adaptations that probably make it easier to hear. He had a tight black shirt under a vest and some yellow shoulder guards. His arms were his most notable feature with blocky, circular shaped elbows connected to some contraption. The vigilante also had long white gloves that reached to just blow his elbows and ended in a yellow rim. Below a white belt, wrapped around his thigh, was a strap that held darts and a knife. His boots were about two inches higher than his ankles, covering the bottom of his black, slightly baggy pants. The vigilante was a mix of professional gear and homemade equipment. Guess the newbie has some allies.

"Well? I don't have all night, so spit it out. Who are you?" The vigilante sounded nervous but covered it pretty well under a facade of uninterest.

"You're a vigilante and so am I. Currently, I'm looking for someone who can help me out with a few gigs and you seem to have enough skill to get the job done." He wanted more information on his potential friend before he gave away too much.

"I don't have any reason to trust you, man. What's your name? I've never seen you before." The vigilante did relax a bit, but he was clearly on guard.

"I go by Volt. You're name's Trapper if I'm not mistaken?" He inclined his head a miniscule. The shock of the vigilante radiated off of his body.

"Wait like... THE Volt? The one that worked with the Dezetas?" Trappers guard faltered and awe flooded his voice. "And you know me? You want me to work with you?"

"Yeah, to all of that." He made sure his amusement was obvious. Denki was probably younger than this guy by a few years and was the opposite of someone to look up to, but here this vigilante was, practically fan-boying over him. "You're new enough that you can get away with messing in the wrong places and I'll make sure you don't find yourself biting off more than you can chew. I suspect you already have some others doing that for you now, considering your skill and resources."

"One second. I still haven't agreed to anything! What is it exactly I would be helping you with? I get that you're a vigilante and all, but I've also heard stuff from villains." Yeah, names are like that. People try to rub dirt over reputations and break trust.

"I'm currently working to take down a group at the top of the underground. Zunder. I don't expect you to do anything stupid or even join me in fighting them, but I do need someone to cause some distractions while I break into some places. Since your new on the scene, people won't think much about it and right you off as not knowing your place. It's the perfect excuse to cause chaos without getting into too much trouble." He explained without hesitation. "As for trust, you can do your own research but I'll also fill you in on the groups I'm going after. And you can ask whoever your buddies are about me."

Trapper looked down for a moment and considered the offer. When he returned his gaze, or supposedly did- it was hard to tell with the helmet -determination coated his voice. "I'll look into and if you're telling the truth... I'll help under the condition that my partner is in on all of this."

Volt's brows furrowed. He didn't know anything about the people who Trapper worked with, just that he had to have someone helping him with how mismatched his knowledge pool was. "Give me a name."

"The Circle hero: Spherora."

Denki blinked. Then blinked again. No, yeah, still real. "You... want me to work with a Pro? That's one of Midnight's side-kicks, right?" Was this guy being serious? No way a limelight hero was just partnered with a vigilante. Maybe she didn't know? Nah, she had to know, so what was going on?

"She's been working with me for months, almost since I started. I trust her with my life. I'll make sure she understands the same goes for you. I won't do it without her." So she's who has been training him? No... she wouldn't have the experience. But Midnight... Denki remember his parents talking about some vigilantes messing with the trigger ring a few years back. Midnight had been a hero more involved in all that and had been pretty lenient compared to other heroes.

"Life is one thing, but freedom is another." The newbie stood up straighter at the point and reassured, "I trust her with that as well. She's had many opportunities to turn me in, especially in the beginning. She didn't."

"Fine. But she sticks with you until I can trust her. And if she tries anything... just make sure she doesn't." He wasn't worried about Spherora beating him, but he didn't want her messing up missions or reporting back to heroes. That was kinda the whole point in finding another vigilante.

"That works for me, man. We should probably stay in contact somehow. You operate kinda far from here." The newbie noted.

Volt pulled out a paper he had written his number on. "If you don't have one already, I recommend getting a trap phone. I will track you if not, just a heads up."

"Thanks, I'll get on that. Are you going to stick around for a while?" Trapper pocketed the paper. "If so, you should join me on patrol so that we can get a feel for each other's fighting styles."

Denki smirked. "Sounds good to me. I'll go slow for ya."

"Who says I won't have to slow for you?" Trapper shot back.

Humbling this guy was going to be SO much fun.

Chapter Text

Denki had to admit that Trapper was better than he assumed. The guy was still far behind him in terms of training and the patrol felt like a stroll in the park, but the newbie was a quick thinker and open to teamwork. When Denki met Spherora, his worries were quenched and each mission they went on, his trust grew. It was reassuring to have backup again, to know that if things went to shit, someone had your back. Typically, he ran infiltrations on his own and let his two partners fight crime in the area or run a bust that he had scouted out nearby. The idea was that the chaos would keep larger groups from noticing his tampering by distracting them with a local threat. Denki made sure that they fought in other areas as well, so that there wasn't a pattern of Trapper and Spherora's appearance paired with an attack from Zunder. He needed them to keep the reputation of being new on the scene and not knowing the underground hierarchy. Sometimes he would run patrols with them in Tokyo, but he avoided showing up anywhere near his targets.

It was on these patrols that he learned about his partners quirks. Trapper refused to tell him what material he shot from his elbows, but he did tell him about the gadgets connected to them.

"Yeah, so basically, when I shoot, these trinkets coat the material in a slow acting desolvant so that no one can test it. It allows me to use my quirk without getting caught or identified." The vigilante rotated his arm to show off the contraptions. "It took a while to figure out, but I had a good engineer."

"He can thank me for that! I found the guy for him after he expressed his complaints." Spherora teased, stretching out the last three words and bumping the vigilante in the side.

"What about you? I've seen you use your quirk a few times but... well, it's tricky to figure out since you can use it in so many different ways." Volt inquired, turning to face young hero.

"Oh, uh. Well, you've seen me make shields and projectiles, yeah? Specially, I can make circles and spheres, hense the name. They're mostly clear, but they have a slight milkish tint which gives it away a bit. Anywho, they are pretty sturdy and I can control their velocity. I have to draw the circle shape with my body somehow though, so the size is usually limited." It was obvious that the hero had worked quite hard to figure out the best way to use her quirk and compensate for its limitations. Denki watched as she traced out the shape of a circle in the air and it materialized the moment she looped back to her starting spot. "Spheres are trickier and I usually make them as forcefields."

She handed the thin disk to Denki and he admired it, running a hand across the surface and feeling the edges. "Wow, these are sharp, no wonder you're always throwing these at people."

His partners giggled and then went on discussing strategies and quirks. Eventually, they moved onto talking about their favorite heroes- a tricky conversation for Denki, but he managed- and then onto favorite restaurants or hobbies. Most patrols were like this, filled with nonsense conversation and sharing random facts. Denki felt calmer with people around and progress being made. He felt safer knowing that people would question if he disappeared. Eraser was great, but it was obvious he felt obligated to pop in for whatever reason. Denki still patrolled with the underground hero sometimes, but he was worried about how much the guy knew. Especially with Eraser and Tsukauchi sharing everything they found out with each other. Maybe one day it wouldn't be such a danger, but he would have to decimate Zunder before that could ever happen.

Thus, he continued his work at night and turned allies against each other. It was on one such night that things got a little hectic. He had finished the evidence plant, but things got out of control on the way out. An extra guard had come on duty early so he had been spotted upon escape. Luckily, he wasn't seen exiting the building, but it must not have looked good anyway, because he saw the security guard call it in before he could do anything. It started with three guards, which then became five, nine, thirteen... aaannddd he was running for his life.

"Trapper! Spherora! I need an evac, now!" He called into his comms while dodging two knifes and a stream of sand(?).

"We have a bit of trouble over here, too! Can you hold out a bit longer? I've almost got Trapper's exit cleared." He could hear fists meeting flesh of the other side of the comms and a loud crash.

"ETA? I've got four- no fifteen on me." He relayed. The multitasking bit him in the back as a brick flew into his side after he narrowly avoided a bullet. He sucked in a quick breath, plucking a wooden plank from the ground where he stumbled and slamming it into the head of the guy pacing him. The body crumbled and he didn't pause to check, launching three knifes at the six villains behind him. Two landed, but the last was dodged. He spun around anyway and continued his sprint.

"Two minutes. I'm on my way! I've got three tailing me, though." Trapper panted into the mic. They had been fighting for ten minutes on and off and it was taking a toll.

"Okay, I can do that. Just hurry." Volt landed a round kick on a mutant with scaly skin and three tungs. How do that many even fit in there? He shot back to full speed and rounded a corner. The walls closed in on him and he started scaling the building all while dodging random spikes that flew out at him. Changing tactics, he latched onto the nearest spike and used it to fling himself up to the next one, making his way to the rooftops right as the alley completely sealed off, almost crushing his left foot. Another deep breath. He scanned his new terrain and counted seven opponents. Four mutants and three others he couldn't figure out. He took no time tackling the nearest snake-like mutant and flinging it into one of its friends head first. The snake mutant bit out of instinct and the other villain collapsed immediately, crushing the former. Volt pulled his nunchakus and fell into a fighting stance. Five would be easy.

"Come on fellas, let's dance." Four out of five ran straight for him and adrenaline shot through his veins. It was going wonderfully until the buildings started moving again and every step he took brought him closer to the edge. He spared a moment to glance around and identified that it was the last villain's quirk. You're a clever one, huh? One down, then two. Just as he hit the third, two more appeared. Dammit! The ones from the ground.

He heard sprinting to his right and two shouts. He saw fists flying and the air covered with sand. He smelled blood and sweat. He felt the cool metal of his nunchakus and every block and hit. Suddenly, he didn't see anymore and all the background noise blended together as his eyes filled with tears. They stung and burned. A swipe to his left and he dodged. A shift of air near his feet and he jumped. A grunt and a shriek and- his feet never touched the ground. His breath caught and as he tuned into all his senses once again and forced his burry eyes open. All he could see were lights and blotches of color. He reached out, but his hands couldn't find a hold. His leg slammed into something cool and loud *crack* resonated. Pain shot through his body and a sharp intake of air racked his lungs. He didn't know what he had hit, but he did know what he was about to. He relaxed his muscles and shifted so that his shoulder would hit first. He might survive if he rolled the moment of impact and disappated the force. It was unlikely. Part of him knew he was too high but maybe-

The wind stopped bellowing and his body lurched as it impacted with... not concrete. He found a sticky, bendy material wrapped around every inch of his body, cradling his neck and spine. He was lowered to the ground and two figures stood above him. The first kneeled next to him and used a knife to slice through his wrapping, while the other swung their arms in a circle and Rond de Jambed. A field of creamy material sheltered the trio and Volt blinked the rest of the water from his eyes, rubbing away the last of the sand. Where did his goggles go?

"Volt! Are you alright? Stay with me. Please tell me alive. I caught- I-" Frantic eyes searched his own.

"I'm- I'm okay." Denki gasped out. Yeah... he definitely got the wind knocked out of him.

"Oh thank Kami! I thought you- Oh crap, you're leg, man!" Guess it is broken then. "You need a doctor... I- I don't know this city as well."

Spherora glanced back and grimaced when her eyes fell on his leg. "Yeah, that doesn't look good. Is there someone we can call? Somewhere we could get you?" Another projectile bounced off of the field the hero was holding up and she shook slightly. "But we seriously need to hurry!"

Denki knew she was right. "Help me sit up so I don't jostle it. Let me look." Trapper did as instructed and supported his back, bracing Volt against the his own chest so that as much contact as possible was made, supporting him completely. "Well, crud. That thing's mutalated. Definitely needs to be reset and braced. I'd do it myself but all that leaning might make it worse."

The pain was excruciating and he didn't even want to image trying to walk, but he also knew that Spherora was draining the last of her energy and they were dead meat if they didn't move. "Where do we take you? Is there a clinic nearby? A hospital?"

"No, I- not there. Um..." He felt his mind lagging and he grit through the pain racking his body. "There's a- my phone. Left pocket. Eraserhead can help. Clinic's to far."

Trapper jumped right on it and dug for Volt's phone. "No password? Seriously man?"

Denki rolled his eyes. "There's nothing on their worth anyone's time. Put the call on speaker."

He heard the phone ring three times before it was picked up. "Volt? You never call-"

"Eraser! My guy! Whatacha up to? Patrol?" He interrupted, dragging out his words obnoxiously.

"You know I am." The hero deadpanned back. "What's going on? Sounds like a fight."

"Yeah, uh... where are you right now? I'm on #### street... I think... heh." His words started to slur together and his vision wavered. That wasn't right... broken bones don't do that. He glanced back down at his leg and- that's worse than I remember. A lot more blood. He blinked sluggishly.

"We are at #### street. In the alley. We can get Volt to you, but we need a location prompto. He's bleeding out and we need someone to reset a bone." Trapper cut in.

"Who is that- Nevermind. I'm on my way. Head North and stay on the phone. Tell me more about the injury." Trapper slipped a hand behind Volt's back and hefted him up. "Okay man, use me like a crutch. Spherora, keep us covered. There's enough-"

"-Enough fog they won't notice. I got it." She glanced back again. "Use your quirk to wrap his leg for now. It should help with the bleeding."

Reality seemed to waver after that. He remembered moving down the street and the fighting quieting down. Trapper leading them down alley after alley and talking the whole time in a hushed voice to Eraser. At some point, Trapper tapped the phone a few times and the talking stopped but he kept nodding and pausing and glancing back at Denki. He came to when Trapper slung an arm around his waist and used his quirk to swing up to a rooftop where Eraser was. He layed Volt down and the three knelt beside him.

"You still with us, Volt?" Spherora's gentle voice graced his ears.

"'Course beautiful. I'd nev'r leave 'ou~." He was so out of it and honestly didn't even realize who he was with. He heard amused laughter and a heavy sigh.

He felt skin touch on his leg and his hand shot out and gripped someone's wrist. "Whoah, Volt. It's just me, Eraserhead. You're going to have to let me set this, okay? Can you do that for me?"

Just Eraser. Yeah, he- he could do that. He nodded. "Okay, will you let- you're friend -hold you down while I do this?"

"Yeah..." He relaxed his hand and layed back down. When had he sat up? Trapper placed his hands on Denki's arms and his elbow across his chest. Volt fought not to let instinct take over and break out of the hold. There were some other words spoken, but he struggled to follow the conversation. Out of no where, blinding pain shot through his leg and up his side. His leg moved in ways it shouldn't and all he could do was breath and breath and breath... and nothing.

The pain was gone and his vision cleared a little. "There ya go. You're doing great. Shouldn't he have passed out by now?" The last bit wasn't directed at him.

"He's Volt. I don't think it's possible for him to do what he 'should'" A gravely voice replied. "Looks like the pain killer kicked in. Let me check out these other wounds and then I'll look at your's."

"You still with us? Can you sit up, man?" Denki blinked a few times and then began to push himself up. Trapper helped him and once again leaned him against his chest, only this time he was facing the other vigilante and on his lap with his injured leg resting on top of his good one. "I made sure the knife stayed in while we moved, but I didn't know what else to do."

Knife? What knife? "I'll cut through the back of his shirt and stitch it up. Leaving it in was smart."

Denki let Eraser do whatever and didn't put up a fuss. He zoned out on the feel of low grade pain throughout his body and the pressure of the needle. Despite his injuries, he felt safe.

- - - -

When Eraser saw that Volt was calling him, he knew something was either wrong or the vigilante was being a prick. As soon as he was informed on Volt's status, he rushed over, so very thankful for whoever was with the vigilante. A small part of him worried that it was some type of trap or set up, but the longer he stayed on the phone with the young man relaying the situation, the less concerned he was for his own safety and the more he grew for Volt's. The leg was much worse in person compared to how the boy described it, bent unnaturally with bone protruding out the side. Blood was practically pouring from the protrusion and Volt was certainly delirious. Aizawa was shocked the guy was still awake in his state. It took some coaxing to get the vigilante to let him work on the leg, but eventually he relented and Eraser worked with the one called Spherora to reset the leg as best he could, lathering that lotion he had gotten from Volt's contact all those months ago. He had found that a little goes a long way, so he still had most of the bottle he was given and kept a small amount on him now during patrol. The leg would need further attention, but he figured the vigilante had enough connections to take care of it later. He moved onto the next most noticeable wound. The knife in his shoulder. It surprised Eraser how comfortable Volt seemed to be with whoever his partners were, letting the bikerhealmet guy rest him on his lap and against his chest. Volt still rarely let Eraser get as close as he was now.

"How about you tell me who you both are. I assume you're vigilantes if you're working with Volt?" He still didn't trust the two, even if Volt seemed to.

"I'm Trapper. We're not uh, from this city. But we're helping Volt out with some stuff." The bikerhelmet responded with a glance to his partner.

"I'm Spherora. Pro hero." Eraserhead glanced up at that. He hadn't really looked at the two, more focused on the mangled leg at first. The girl had two messy space buns but no face covering like the other two and her costume was far more... hero-like. It was rare to see a limelight hero working with vigilantes.

"Underground hero Eraserhead." He nodded back, noting the recognition in her eyes. Must be one of his friends' colleagues, then. "So, how did this all happen?"

Eraser looked back to where he was working on stitches. He did his best not to peek at the plethora of scars and marks littering Volt's back. It wasn't his place to guess at the stories behind them, though he doubted they were for the lighthearted.

"Volt got overwhelmed with fifteen villains on his tail. We were caught up fighting a ring and when we got there things were chaos. He was doing well on his own until the villains freaked out. One of them could shift their surrounds and moved the buildings so that he fell." Eraser's breath caught as the young hero continued. "Trapper jumped after him and caught him before he hit the ground while I defended. Volt said to call you when we asked where the nearest help was. Like Trapper said, we aren't from here so we assumed he knew best."

"His leg hit the metal bracing of a street sign before I could catch him. I don't know how he got the rest of his injuries." Trapper picked up.

"What happened to his goggles? He isn't wearing them." Eraser finished the stitching and checked the vigilante over for any other open wounds before motioning for Trapper to lay him down. "I'll patch you two up as well."

"Thanks. I don't know for sure, but when we showed up all the villains pounced on him. I think he lost 'em somewhere in there with all the knifes and quirks flying around. He wiped sand from his eyes once we were on the ground so I assume that's what threw him off. I've seen the guy fight before and he's like a machine." The admiration was clear in the other vigilante's voice.

"Well, it's good you were there to catch him. How long have you three been working together?" Eraser wanted to keep up the talking, knowing that Volt was most definitely still awake and not wanting him to loose consciousness.

"Volt found Trapper about four months ago and we started working with him not long after. He said he needed some distractions and that newbies would be able to get away with 'messing with the wrong people'" Spherora took over, noticing Trapper's grimace of pain as Eraser patched up a slice in his leg. "He keeps us filled in on who he's attacking and he has yet to lie about any of them. Says he wants to take down Zunder."

Eraserhead nodded along. Tsukauchi had noticed the pattern but wrote it off as new, foolish vigilantes because the same action showed up in areas without large gangs. Volt was covering his tracks well. "But you haven't been helping with the actual infiltration?"

Trapper and Spherora shared a glance and the former spoke up. "No. He said he didn't want us getting involved if things went wrong. I'm starting to see why."

Volt was protecting them. "Good. You should stay out of it. He's going to get himself killed."

Chapter Text

"You should've seem him." The underground hero ran a hand down his face and slumped deeper into the chair.

"I'm not sure I would have wanted to. Those descriptions of his leg were quiet vile." Tsukauchi's smile was smug and knowing.

"You know what I mean! Naomasa, he didn't make a sound. I shoved his *bone* back into place before the painkillers kicked in and the boy didn't even grimace." Aizawa shook his head and stared at the ceiling. "And I tried not to look but the scars- He looks worse than a seasoned hero."

The detective sighed. "The most you can do and check in with him the next time you see him."

"I know." Defeated, he stood to leave. "I need some coffee after that night."

"What you need is some sleep!" His friend called behind him as the door closed. Yeah, right. As if Tsukauchi got any more than him.

He made is way to the nearest station and was at the cafe in no time. It was Friday, but it was also a holiday so there were more people than he usually put up with. All hope of a peaceful coffee break came screeching to a halt when he heard a familiar call the moment he walked in.

"Heyyyy! My favorite grouchy customer! Same as usual?" The cheery, painfully energetic boy called out from behind the counter.

"Same as usual." Aizawa confirmed tiredly with a hint of soft fondness. Despite the boy's overwhelming personality and ear strangling loud voice, Aizawa liked the boy and he also liked that he didn't have to bare the haunted looks of baristas and other customers when he ordered his "black death" as the boy had taken to calling it. He pull out his card and paid before making his way to the pickup counter. "How's school been? You haven't graduated yet, right?"

Daisuke laughed at that. "Kami, no! I've yet to hit high school." The boy looked around as if someone wasn't supposed to hear that. "But don't tell my manager that. She was desperate at the time."

Aizawa rolled his eyes. He wasn't sure if the kid was just joking or if he had pulled some strings to get the job, but he didn't really care since the boy made good coffee. "I'll keep your secret."

Daisuke grinned at him and moved to take the next order. That was when something caught his eye. The boy was walking strangely and when Shouta glanced down, he noticed a brace all the way up the kid's right leg. When the boy returned from the register his curiosity won out. "What happened to your leg?"

"Hm? Oh this thing? Crowded hallways, am I right? Some jerk set off a quirk and I got thrown over the stairs ledge. Leg slammed into the metal railing and snapped the bone. It was disgusting and I think someone threw up which just made it worse." The kid emphasized the worst points for dramatic effect. "But I'll be fine. I have a good doctor and some sick quirk medicine that'll fix it up before the end of the week."

Aizawa snorted at the absurdity of the story. He didn't doubt that it happened but he had a feeling the kid was leaving out some bits. "Managed to piss off the kids at your school enough to make them attack you? I feel bad for your teachers."

"Oh come on, man! You had to have had a kid break a bone or two throughout your career as the best teacher in the nation." Daisuke teased.

"Plenty of them. I had to take care of one just yesterday." Aizawa shared, knowing damn well that broken bone was not from one of his students.

"Oh really? Did it beat my glorious take down? You know, the bone broke through skin for me!" It sounded like the kid was bragging. He never fails to bewilder me.

"It did, in fact. Quite similar. Hit a metal support and everyth- ing." Actually, they were really similar. "...had to reset the bone myself."

"Wow! I didn't know you knew how to do that. I'm sure he's glad you were there! I definitely was when my friends brought a teacher." Daisuke continued with just as much enthusiasm as before, but Aizawa was stuck in his own thoughts. Suddenly, the boy's yellow eyes and small mannerisms felt so familiar. He noticed how the boy scanned the room and how still he actually was. The small shake of right hand every few seconds. He remembered that night when the boy had lost motor control and he had to take him home just for no to be waiting for him.

"You're-" He cut himself off and forced his face back to a neutral expression.

"I'm what?" Daisuke chirped with a tilt of his head as he handed Aizawa his coffee.

"...very thoughtful. Be careful, kid. Clumsiness is a bad habit." He held the coffee with two hands as everything seemed to click together for him.

"Let this leg serve as my reminder." Daisuke agreed with a bashful grin. "Have a good day Mr. Aizawa!"

"You as well." He walked out of the cafe feeling like the blindest person on the planet.

- - - -

Sēji Anarisuto turned out to be a wonderful resource and Denki didn't regret seeking him out in the slightest. With his help and connections, Denki had managed to work down Zunder's list of allies until there were only three groups left to deal with. Thanks to his latest stunt, he now only had two to turn Zunder against and he planned to take are of them in one fell swoop. Unfortunately, that would have to wait a few days until his leg fully recovered. As previously stated, Denki was not a naturally patient person. Thus, he decided it would be worth meeting with his informant and making sure everything had a fail safe. It turned out that Sēji was actually quite good at planning break ins. Almost as good as his analysis. So Denki had decided to get a second opinion on his plan so far.

"Well, it's pretty good as far as I can tell. However, I keep thinking back to Poedo-Gumi's extra defense mechanism." Anarisuto half-mumbled as he traced over the blueprints and notes. "If you could get someone posted on this building it might make the escape easier."

"Noted. Poedo was a tricky one and I wouldn't be surprised if they had similar defenses what with all the work they used to do together." Volt nodded along.

The analysis squinted and looked up. "What work together?"

Denki realized his mistake immediately. "They had some contracts together before they started working with Zunder. It's how Poedo-gumi allied up. I learned it while I was figuring out what evidence to plant." In reality, he knew how every group came to join his family and Zunder knew every connection.

"Ah, makes sense." Sēji turned back to map. "What's your plan to take down the core? Zunder itself?"

"I've been working in the background quite a lot and have infiltrated them. That trust will get me where I need to be and I'll finish them off at the top." He could tell the analyst wasn't buying it, but Sēji didn't say anything.

"What about after? Will you move onto other groups?" Why? Do you want to settle down and start a life together?

"I have a promise to keep. Beyond that... there is one group I might set my sights on. If I do, you would be a great resource." He had grown to like and mostly trust the analyst, but he wasn't gunning to share beyond a business level. They both had identies to keep hidden after all.

"We'll see where the future takes us. If I'm still in the business, I'd be happy to keep this partnership going." Sēji's mask displayed cheerful eyes. "Now, what about this entrance here? If you..."

- - - -

Volt meanders through alley after alley, slowly making his way towards the meeting spot they had agreed in. He still couldn't use his leg as usual and thus couldn't use the rooftops as he usually would. Luckily, the detective wasn't a huge fan of meeting up high with no escape, so it was easy to write off. He did struggle a bit to get his leg to move more normally, so he would still have to deal with that when he met with Tsukauchi. Sucks to suck, I guess.

"Hello, Detective! How are you doing this fine afternoon?" Volt cheered from right behind Naomasa, causing him to jolt violently.

"Kami! How'd you- you scared the shit out of me..." He detective collected himself, having whipped around to face the "threat", before answering, "The night was going well until you popped out of no where."

"Awww, I didn't mean to ruin your evening." He piled on the false-pity. "So, what do have for me?"

"First, you need to tell me what you're planning on doing. The last time we met you agreed to contact me shortly before your next move." Tsukauchi redirected firmly. He wasn't the type to beat around the bush or let someone drop their end of the bargain.

"I'm going to finish off Zunder's last two contacts and then take out the leaders. I'll start at the end of this week." He rushed out with an annoyed huff. What he really wanted from this meeting was to make sure that Tsukauchi was going to play his part in Volt's plan.

"I need a fully time frame if you want me to get a task force together. That means a date and time." The detective pushed.

Volt's bit his tongue lightly and pursed his lips in agitation. He knew the detective was right, but that didn't mean he wanted to give up information like that. Anyone who knew was a loose end and while he felt assured that the Tsukauchi wanted to take down Zunder for good, he wasn't used to trusting subordinates- oh wait -teammates with more information than absolutely nessessary. In Zunder, teams outside of the main agents were informed of a mission the day of with nothing more than a location, list of equipment, and objective. But. He wasn't in Zunder anymore and communication was as important as confidentiality was vital.

"I'll place the plant at the end of the week. Zunder will have a meeting the following day and take out their last two allies before the next day. We'll hit them right after they have finished fighting when their communication is at it's weakest. I can find and take care of the leaders while your men take out the rest of Zunder's forces."

"Take down." Tsukauchi corrected and Volt rolled his eyes.

"Yeah yeah, logistics. Just make sure they don't get in my way." Denki knew the police and heroes were looking to arrest more than kill. Obviously, they had a job to do and wouldn't hesitate when the moment called for it, but they wanted to bring Zunder to justice for the many crimes they had committed.

"It's set then. Is there anything else before we head our separate ways?" The question was more of a formality, but Denki stopped himself from answering as usual.

"Actually, yeah." It was difficult to get the words out, but he knew this may be his last chance. "There's a case I would like you to look into after all of this is over."

The detective's brows furrowed and he nodded for Volt to continue. "I- There's this kid named Shinso Hitoshi and... his quirk..." Denki sighed. "I have reason to suspect he's being abused because of quirk discrimination. So, after this, if you could look into it..."

"Why wouldn't you just-" Realization crossed the detective's face. "You don't plan on surviving this?" It sounded less like a question and more like a statement.

"I'll do my best, but my mission comes first." With those last words, he spun on his heal and made his way back through the alleyways, checking that the detective didn't follow him.

- - - -

"And yeah, that's the plan." Denki wrapped up with an air of finality.

"It's really thoughtout.. I just had a couple questions about the escape? You didn't say if you need us to cover for you or where we would meet? Usually you mention a location, is all." Trapper inquired as he looked up from the draw layout of Zunder's base.

"I'll take care of myself. Just make sure you all get out. Feel free to meet up after but... um... I'm not worried about that part." Volt felt himself slipping. He didn't want to lie to these people. To his friends. He couldn't tell them the truth though and he knew they wouldn't push the issue. That didn't mean, however, that they didn't want to know and Trapper definitely didn't look like he was backing down.

"Alright, we'll make sure we are ready and if you do end up needing back up just signal us over comms." Spherora chipped in, well aware of the building awkwardness of the silence.

"Yeah, we are here for you." The vigilante added.

"You said a few other's would be involved? How will we know who they are?" The young hero blurted out, the thought just then occurring to her.

"A few police officers will be there under Detectice Tsukauchi. There will also be an underground hero, Eraserhead. I can't disclose my other contacts per their request, but you won't run into them." He warned the few interested parties know that heroes would be involved and they decided to remain unnamed which honestly made his job easier. It would awkward to explain to Trapper and Spherora why he was working with villains.

They departed shortly after that and Denki headed home to rest before the next day when the plan would initiate. He also needed to take some time to ready himself for what he was about to do. How would he feel after? Would it matter if he didn't make it out? Did he even deserve to make it out? He hadn't planned his own escape, knowing that the probability of surviving were close to zero. But if he had the opportunity... would he take it? After all the pain and death he had caused... how could he choose to live when he was eliminating his own family for the same reason? What made him the judge of who deserves to live and die? He had to finish off his family- no -Zunder. He knelt down and sat crisscross on the roof of a building, closing his eyes and listening to the city around him. He noted the breeze up this high and the smell of dumplings wafting up from a shop down at street level. Turing his attention inward, Denki felt air fill and drift out of his lungs in slow and steady breaths and visualized the life and spirit flowing through his veins. He prayed. He prayed for this mission to work out. For his friends both near and far. For his family to find peace in their final moments. For the future generation of heroes. For anyone in a similar situation as him.

Chapter Text

Volt was itching to move in, but he knew he would have to wait if he wanted to see the end of his family. The longer he waited, the more he doubted his goal. How could someone kill their own family? How could someone *want* to wipe out their relatives? Inside that building was his sister and brothers, his mom and dad- no. No, they weren't. His siblings were the Dezetas. His brother had a girlfriend and his other a whole career ahead of him. His sister was working to take down villain organizations. His family was safe and happy.

"Volt, all clear."

Jolted out of his thoughts, Volt zeroed in on the door he needed to enter. Straightening up and adjusting the package he carried with him, Volt strolled up to the door, opening it and entering the building. Tracing the path he had walked countless times, he ran through the plan in his head over and over, all while keeping and eye on everything happening around him. It was a busy night, intentional on his part. Criminals bustled past him as he slipped through undetected. He slipped a hand into his pocket grasping a cylindrical device and pressing a button before retreating his hand back to his side. Reaching the door he was looking for, Volt pulled a replica key from his pants pockets and inserted it into the lock turning it quietly and pushing the door ajar. Inside the room was an oval table surrounded by a council of around fifteen people. Volt slipped into the room, shutting and locking the door behind him.

"Finally! Are those the files? This meeting has taken too long already!" Exclaimed a balding man, so burley he barely fit in his chair.

"Yes Sir, one moment please." Volt shuffled his way to about midway into the room, keeping to the right of the table. He found a smaller, rolling table and set the box down on top. "Parden me while I sort through these, I have a few papers addressed to different people."

He fiddled with the contents of the box, while the meeting commenced around him. Picking up a cylindrical object, Volt pressed on the button positioned at the end, sending the signal to begin the next part of the plan. It wouldn't take long now. Volt picked up the files he had collected a few days earlier and began passing them out to each of the members, taking as much time as he could without seeming suspicious. His family were the last ones he passed before heading back to the table. Guilt shot through his soul and racked every inch of his body. His veins felt like they were filled with gasoline just itching for a spark. Was he doing the right thing? His mind: no. His heart: yes.

"If that is all, you are dismissed." a sweet, sugary voice singsonged from behind him. His mother.

"Apologies ma'am, I'll be on my wa-" BEEP BEEP BEEP- 'Intruder Detected' - BEEP BEEP BEEP - 'Intruder Detected'.

One would expected chaos to take hold in a situation like this but not a single person so much as flinched at the sound of the alarm suddenly blaring. Time to start the act. Quickening his breathing, Volt focused on increasing his heart rate so that sweat was visibly building across his skin. Once he kicked off the anxiety, his body took control and he let natural instincts influence his reactions. At once, all eyes in the room were on him and he let his eyes wided a slightly.

"Is there something you would like to say, boy?" His father questioned sinisterly. He was prey to the man, a squirrel caught stealing food from a larger predator with no route of escape, frozen in terror.

"What..?" His voice shook and he choked down the quiver of his lip, the tightening of his throat.

Nigaikiya tilted his head towards the door to the meeting room and the attendees quickly exited, leaving Denki alone with only his family. His sister, Isana had already stood up and pulled out a throwing knife which she twirled loosely around her fingers. Kenji was a few chairs closer, Denki had watched him stand up with the rest of the group and slip a hand into his pocket. Kai remained sitting next to Nigaikiya and Kanako, finger on the trigger of a pistol pointed right at his head. His brother had a deadly shot so he didn't doubt the bullet would hit it's mark. His parents hadn't moved but he knew his mother's tell for when she prepared her quirk. He knew all their tells.

"You're shuddering like a leaf. Now. If you wish to make it out of here alive, I urge you start speaking." Kanako smirked coldly.

"I- well- " Denki sucked in a sharp breath and steadied his voice a bit. "All I know it that I was supposed to pass out those papers! I don't even know what they say, I swear!"

Kenji scoffed and glanced at the papers, before directing a question to their mother. "Would you like me to check?"

"Why not humor the boy?" His mother gestured dramatically, finally standing up. Nigaikiya followed her lead.

So far, so good.

As his brother picked up the paper, Denki noted his sister inch her way toward the doorway. Oh Isana, we are all trapped in here now. His sister wasn't a coward, it was her job to clear exits whenever the family was operating together. Denki had obviously accounted for that-

"It's blank."

Time for part two.

Swiftly correcting his breathing and stilling his body, Denki let a sly smirk slip across his face. "Oh. How strange. I may have lied earlier." Condescendance entered his tone and giggle escaped his lips. "As you know, those papers were to contain a list of your contacts, partners, and allies. Or- They would have if..."

Frustration itched at edges of Kai's expression and he shot out of his chair. "You think you're so clever don't you? You do realize who you are surrounded by, do you not?" His brothers gravelly voice assaulted his ears.

"I know exactly who I am with, Kai Kaminari." Denki responded lowly, cold concentration having fully taken him over.

By this point, Isana had tried the door and now kicked it, mostly likely expecting it to fly off it's hinges as any regular door would with her level of training, precision, and strength. However, it did not. "Trying to escape already? You don't even know who I am yet."

Volt could practically feel the shift in his family's personas, each one dropping their personal act. Just a little longer. Isana and Kenji dropped into the respective combat forms. A little longer. His father's skin arced with electricity. Any minute now-

BOOM!!

In the moment of his opponent's distraction, Volt dropped into a roll, launched back up, and beelined for Kai who had slipped in front of their mother. His brother didn't have a chance to fire before Volt had covered the distance and disarmed him, turning the gun on his brother and pulling the trigger without a second of hesitation. He didn't stop in his motion as Kai collapsed to the ground. He dodged a knife from his sister while efficiently disassembling the gun. Each part he took off was used as a projectile against Kenji and Isana. Tendrils of electricity danced across the room via his mother's quirk while his father charged him. His father wasn't a large man per say, but he was tall and muscular, filling out his form. While his hight made him intimidating, it also rendered smaller opponents more difficult to track. About three feet from Nigaikiya, Volt caught a knife thrown by Isana with his left hand, starting a steady rhythm spinning the blade. He launched himself into the air and his father stopped his charge readying his hands to catch Volt, who had raised his own to stab down.

Moments before contact, Volt instead shot his legs out in front of him and a smidge to the right, slipping below grasp and falling along the side of Nigaikiya's body. His father reacted, but not quick enough to avoid Volt rotating his hand and pulling back towards himself along His father's Achilles tendon. As his father's leg buckled, Volt swung down with the blade between Nigaikiya's shoulder blades, jumped on his back and pushed off, twisting and ripping the blade out as the two separated. The only noise however, was the electricity arcing through the air, not a single grunt of pain, though Volt knew the man felt it.

In the air, Volt analyzed his surroundings. Kai was frantically pulling himself toward a wall with his arms - his legs completely paralyzed. Nigaikiya was bleeding out and unable to stand. Kenji - having gotten a breather from the projectile bombardment - was making his way OVER the table toward Volt. Isana pulled and threw two more electricity charged knives. Kanako was two chairs away, shooting electricity his way. Why again did I decide to fight them all at once? Twisting around, Volt landing in a roll not far from the wall and once again, to his opponent's left side who this time was his mother. He ran up the wall by two steps and pushed off. Once his chest was parallel with the ground and his legs pointed toward his mother with his right dragging behind a bit, he rotated over his corresponding shoulder and kicked with his right leg, knocking Kanako down. He scrambled over, pulled up her arms and slammed his heel into her elbows feeling the bone crack beneath and her limbs twist in unnatural directions. One. Two. She shrieked in pain, and the sound matched the surge of fiery pain arcing through his own body from the explosive release of his mother's quirk.

Forcing his own quirk against her's Volt managed to let go of Kanako and narrowly dodge a kuckle guard punch from Kenji who had launched himself from the table. Stumbling backward, he tracked the sound of a blade through the air and caught Isana's wrist which held a Karambit. She spun the blade on her finger and nearly sliced his wrist before he kicked her away. Kenji suddenly slammed into him, arms wrapped around Volt's waist sending him flying backward into the ground. He barely managed to roll to the right enough to avoid a blade to the eye from his gracious sister. Kenji was on top of him, crushing his abdomen, with his shoulders now pinned. Get out. Thrusting his knees toward his chest, Volt threw Kenji off balance. He proceeded to snake his left arm up and around Kenji's own and then fling his own body up and to the right, effectively switching their positions and then ramming his right elbow down on his brother's trachea. Glancing up Volt clocked Isana's approach, and pulled a knife from Kenji's belt sheath. He stood, stomped his foot on his brother's eyes - accompanied by a resounding *snap* from his nose - and engaged in a heated knife fight with his sister.

Isana had always been the best at hand to hand combat - and an expert with blades - due to her speed. Volt was tiring after electrocution, along with head knocked to the ground thanks to Kenji, and the exertion of nonstop acrobatics to avoid electricity and flying knives. The odds were not in his favor. Which was exactly why he didn't plan on following any rules. He had learned very early on that "if you're not cheating, you're not trying". An exchange of blows and body flips later, Volt zeroed in on Isana's blade and caught it mid-air. The cold metal sliced into his hand and hot pain traveled up his arm. He focused on the pain - on its origin - and poured his electricity into the source. Isana's eyes widened a miniscule as she realized what was about to happen and she ripped her hand away from the fully metal handle - but it was too late for her. Her body spasmed and lit up like a Christmas tree, crashing to the ground. Isana's quirk made it all worse. It worked by pulling and exuding electricity to and from specific objects meaning that the moment Volt pushed out his electricity, she rapidly sucked it all in centralized it in a way no regular human would experience. Her body was sent into shock. Once the electricity disappated, Volt was staring at skin littered in streaky scars and marks, much like portions of his own. He scanned the room making sure each member was incompasitated. Kai, his mother, and his father and congregated against a wall, trying to tend to each other's wounds, Kenji was still gasping on the floor and clutching his eyes, so Volt gave him a hard kick to the head before dragging him over to the other three. He went back and retrieved his sister's occasionally twitching body and laid her down on his mother's lap, backing away quickly despite knowing they likely couldn't hurt him now.

"Well. Isn't this ironic?" He taunted. "The 'weakest member' took all of you or in-" He checked the watch on his wrist "Ten minutes. Props to Isana, she took up most of those."

Kai's eyes were digging daggers into him. "Denki." He seathed. "Couldn't just stay dead, huh? Just had to disgrace this family even more."

Denki tilted his head, twirling his brother's knife with his good hand. "Ya know, you're not really in the position to act so condescendingly."

His father scoffed, "I thought I taught you better than to monolog, you dunce."

A sweet smile found Denki's lips as he pulled a remote detonator from his pocket. "Oh, you did. I pushed this before I entered the room. It's rigged for the whole building, but specifically this room. Set it up the moment I knew about this little meeting. We are going to die here. All the Kaminaris together."

"You're fucking insane!" Kanako screamed, the sickening sweetness in her voice gone, replaced by pain and hatred. Something in her eyes spoke differently though, a glimmer of hope. Her expression softened and tears entered her eyes. "But, we can fix this. Together. We can still get out, you can rejoin us and we can build back up. Our enemies are alrea-"

Denki burst into laughter, interrupting her manipulation. "Oh dear Kanako, your enemies? They never were. I twisted your allies against you from day one. To think you actually believed the Sukikia-gumi turned against you? That any gang would or could locate and take down your safe houses? And now here you are. With no allies, no backup. *We* won't be rebuilding anything. *We* are all waiting for a glorious explosion to take us out for the crimes *we* have commited."

His mother fumed with blood curdling rage, and he felt amazing. Isana blinked blearily and looked as though she had something to say when the door burst open and a man in black, with yellow accessories and a grey capture weapon, rushed inside, scanning the situation.

"Volt. We need to go. Why aren't they detained?" The gravelly voice sounded distressed and urgent.

Confusion briefly washed over Volt before he realized what had happened. Seriously Tsukauchi? Just had to say something. "Eraser. You need to leave."

"Yeah, with the Kaminaris in custody and you outside of the building that's about to blow. It's ridged from top to bottom. Now, come on." The hero started forward but Volt raised his blade.

"No. Eraser, you need to leave. Now."

"Is that your 'new name'" His mother hissed. "Working with the heroes. Do they know who even are?"

Aizawa had stopped the moment Volt raised his blade, but now his hand floated up to his scarf.

"It doesn't matter what they know." He shot back at her.

Aizawa would turn on him in a heartbeat if he knew everything. If he knew Volt's family were the same criminals piled on the floor beside him, everything they had built would be ruined. But, he was about to die anyway, so it didn't matter. What mattered now was getting Aizawa away from the bombs, while killing his family.

"How about you tell him? Be honest, dunce." His father played into Kanako's game. They were trying to get him to turn to Aizawa and arrest them. They could escape from a prison cell. They would escape from anywhere. They had to die. He had to die.

But Aizawa didn't. Denki wanted him to live. Needed to know he made it out. You want me to tell him? Fine. If he knows, he'll leave. I can push him away. Denki pulled the comm out of his ear, crushing it on the ground. He wouldn't risk letting the others hear this. He already felt horrible about what he was about to say.

"Idiot. That's what you are Eraser. You played right into my game, just like my dear old family here." Eraser stilled at that. "That's right. Youngest Kaminari. I'm the same monster your trying to arrest. But! You're in luck because I've got more hate for this lot that the rest of the world so I'm going to take the whole family line out in one fell swoop while you get out of here. I used you to get to them and to cover myself while I did it. Since you were such a good little puppet, I'm letting you live. There's no reason to stick around through the Kaminari massacre. I'm no one to you."

Aizawa shook his head. "No."

"No?" Was this guy seriously doubting him? Or maybe he was set on arresting them? That was pretty suicidal, and Denki would know a thing or two about that.

"You're not a monster, Daisuke. You're a kid who has tried to be good. Who turned away from his old life, who is righting his wrongs. You don't need to do this-"

"I do! You don't actually think we can lock them up do you?!? My family can and will escape any facility and when they do they will slaughter all of you! Anyone I've been near, anyone who I've helped or who has helped me. They dies today." Denki gestured to the cripped group. Why wouldn't Eraser just leave? Why wasn't he turning away? There was no way a Hero was risking his life over a villain. But what was the point of a trick?

"Daisuke please, you're a good kid. Come with me. Don't throw your life away when you just started living." Aizawa's voice wobbled as he begged.

"Listen to him, brat! You don't want us to die here. You're a 'hero', you're supposed to save people." Kai shouted from where he was slumped against the wall.

"Daisuke-"

"STOP IT! STOP CALLING ME THAT!! It's just a lie, it's all a lie! None of it was *real*, Aizawa! I was never some little coffee shop kid, or good doer vigilante! I'm Denki Kaminari! Youngest heir of the Zunder family legacy. I've hunted and murdered hundreds. I've slaughtered mother's, father's, and children! I've infiltrated and taken down great heroes and protected trafficking rings! I've sliced up people in horrid ways and left them on display for the world to see just to prove a POINT! I was raised to be a weapon and that it exactly what. I. am." Tears streamed down his face and the room had went silent and it stayed like that for what felt like hours, but was really only a few seconds.

"Denki." A gravely voice echoed back at him. "Electricity. Is that really all you see him as?" The question was directed toward his family.

"Well, he sure doesn't have any other worthful traits." Kenji seethed from the ground.

Click.

Eraserhead's eyes shot wide open and before Denki could blink he was wrapped in a tight fabric and yanked against the Hero's large chest. He looked into terrified but compassionate eyes.

BOOM!

That was the last thing he heard before the world went black.

Chapter Text

Ringing.

That was all he could hear. He was heaving, coughing so hard his lungs felt like they would burst straight from his chest. Pain nagged at him from every inch of his body. As he opened his eyes he was hit by just how bright the sun was. Gosh, its like it's poking my eyes out. He turned away, blinking rapidly. His eyes were watering because of the coughing but the dust around him still managed to sneak it and irritate them further. Wait. Dust? His vision finally adapted to the light and he took in his surroundings with his sight since his ears refused to quit that irritating high pitched squeal. He was in a mound of rubble sitting in a perfectly cylindrical crater. Eraserhead lay passed out beside him, capture weapon tightly wrapped around Denki. He slithered his way out of the material and slowly checked his strength and balance. While he did so, he continued to gaze about himself. He was in the city. The rubble was from a collapsed building. He was in a Zunder uniform-

Right.

It all came rushing back to him: the plan, the fight, the bombs. Eraser had saved him. After everything he told him, the hero still protected him. Sure that he wouldn't collapse immediately upon standing up, Denki rose to his feet and searched the wreakage. He had to know they died. He made a thorough search around the odd crater he was in until he found a boot sticking out of one of the bricks. He kneeled beside it and began shifted the surrounding concrete and wreakage. Kai. Kanako. Digging, shifting. Isana and Kenji. Three more bricks. Five. Ten. Nigaikiya. He stopped, dropping backward. A single tear broke free and trickled down his cheek. Then more fell. He sobbed and sobbed and slammed his fists into the ground and sobbed some more. He wanted to scream and curse, but there was no point. He let every painful emotion wrack his body.

Rage, sorrow, jealousy, bitterness. Agony tore at him and guilt kept him staring at their bloodied carcasses. What have I done? How could any son murder his family? Strip the life away from the same people who granted his own? They needed to die. Deep down he knew that. But to see the consequence of his actions. He would have to live now with everything he had done. And he would. The tears had stopped, his breathing calmed, the ringing gone. He would go on living because that's what a loving, caring family would have wanted for him. That's what the Dezetas wanted. What Aizawa wanted. What his friends wanted. It was what he wanted. He didn't want to die. He didn't care about paying for his crimes. He wanted to make things right. As much as they could be, at least. That started with getting out of this dangerous wreakage.

Denki lifted himself up, took one last breath and turned away from his family for the last time. He made his way over to Aizawa and slipped his arms underneath the older man's arms, pulling him up and over the rubble. He took cautious steps, checking each brick before stepping forward. He didn't think about anything except getting out. He just kept walking, pulling, checking.

Walking, pulling, checking.

Eventually, they made it out and Denki dragged the hero to the closest alley. Aizawa need medical attention, but Denki didn't have anything with him. He checked Eraser's pockets and eventually came across a cell phone.

"119, what's your emergency?"

"I found an injured hero in an ally next to that building that blew up not to long ago, #### street. He seems stable but I'm no doctor, please send help."

"Stay on the phone with me. What's your name-"

Beep.

Denki set the phone back on Eraserhead's lap. I'm sorry. I can't stay and you're breathing so I'm just going to have to hope this was enough. Turing from Aizawa, he worked his way down the alley and took a right, then a left, then walked for a while, then a left. He walked and walked, at some point he stole a hoodie from someone's drying line. He stripped his top and disposed of it in a bakery's trash bin. He kept walking and eventually came across an employee backdoor. Pulling on his hood and keeping his head down to avoid cameras, he opened the door. It was a restaurant of some sort and he snatched a bowl of soup before slipping into the bathroom. He looked like a mess. He was covered in dust, so he pulled the hoodie back off to keep it from getting wet, turned on the sink water and washed his hair, face, neck, arms, and any other dirt he could see. Slipping the hoodie back on, he downed the soup he had brought with him. He made his way back out the way he came in and continued down the alleyway. He found a pair of slacks in a similar fashion as the hoodie and changed quickly, once again finding a large trash bin to discard the old clothing into. Looking halfway decent, Denki made his way to the crowded streets, and searched for any sign of where he was. He figured it out pretty quickly, and made his way toward a local park. He sat for a while. He needed rest and time to think. He could make his way back to his condo and grab the things that mattered, but he couldn't stay. Eraser knew his identity, all of it. He would be able to find him in a couple days at the most. So he would sell the condo and go. But where? He didn't have anyone left. The Dezetas weren't close enough. Aizawa and Tsukauchi could contact everyone else. His family was dead. He killed them all-

His brows furrowed. Actually, he didn't. Denki's face softened as he remembered the few gentle moments of his childhood and only time he saw kindness. He pushed himself from the bench and quickly started towards the nearest bus stop. He zipped in and out of his condo, leaving with a duffle full of everything he was taking with him, reminiscent of the one he left his apartment with so long ago. He hopped on the next bus and made his way halfway across the city. He walked seven blocks and stopped in front of a small, but nice, apartment complex. He made his way to the fourth and topmost floor, knocking on the last room in the hallway. Only a few seconds passed and the the door was opened by a gorgeous, youthful woman somewhere in her late twenties.

"Well, hello young man. It's been a some time, hasn't it?" She recognized him immediately, carrying a loving but guarded look in her eyes.

"It's just the two of us now." Denki whispered.

Understanding washed over her face and she opened the door wider, genturing for him to enter. He stepped just inside the door, but went no further.

"Are you certain?"

"I did it. I saw each one. They're gone." His heart ached at the loss, but he wasn't sorry anymore.

"Do you need a place to stay?"

"That's why I'm here. I need to lay low for a while and heal. Then I'll get out of your hair, I don't want to be a bother-"

"You're not." She interrupted. "You are always welcome here. Especially now, Denks."

A small smile graced his lips. "Thank you... Aunt Irain."

"I have someone for you to meet. A few actually." Irain led Denki further into the apartment. "You can come out, dearies!"

Giggles erupted arround him and suddenly two little children were sprinting toward his aunt. One, a girl with bright yellow hair identical to Irain's launched into her arms while the second, a boy with black hair tipped with yellow highlights wrapped his arms around her leg.

"Who is he, mama? Who is he?" The little girl chanted excitedly.

"This is your cousin Denki, Emika. He'll be staying with us for a while." Irain smiled sweetly.

"How long, mama?" The boy asked, a little calmer than Emika, but not by much.

"Now, now. Don't overwhelm your mother with questions right now little ones." A man with light brown hair and dark brown eyes came around the corner, a bright smile on his face. "Denki, is it? I'm Elliot Polimiko, Irain's husband. It's nice to meet you."

The man, Elliot, held out his hand. Denki took it firmly and they shook. "It's nice to meet you as well, Uncle. And you too, Emika and...?"

"Riccolo!" The boy cheered.

"Riccolo." Denki affirmed. "I'm sure we'll be close friends in no time."

-|-|-

Irain laid out a pallet for Denki with plenty of blankets and pillows. "I could get you a blow up by tomorrow if you would like."

"It's alright, I probably wouldn't be able to use it anyway." Denki reassured.

A distant sadness crossed her eyes, but his aunt nodded. "I get it, I couldn't sleep on a regular bed for years after leaving. I'll buy a blow up anyway and if you ever want to try, you'll have the option."

"Thank you. I really appreciate your hospitality."

Dinner was delicious and matched right with his regular diet. It was comforting to know not everything had to change. Denki stayed and played board games with the family, apparently a nightly tradition. That would take some getting used to. The noise and joy would as well, it was similar to living with the Dezetas, but so different at the same time.

After the children were tucked into bed, Irain came and sat with Denki on his pallet.

"Guess I'm the last of our name now *Mrs. Polimiko*" Denki teased, lightly bumping his aunt's arm.

She chuckled and bumped him back. "He's an angel, really." Her smile faulted slightly and she looked away, somewhere in a distance no one else could see. "It took a lot to move on and even now it haunts me. The things I did. The people." Her gaze fell on him. "Which is why I want to make it as easy as it can be for you. Let me know what I can help you with. School, work, therapy, healing, anything. I'll do my very best."

"Well, we could start with an ID." Denki smirked, earning an eyeroll from Aina. "You mentioned healing? You're in electo-therapy, right?"

"Mhm! And Elliot has a healing quirk so we can cover pretty much all the bases. What seems to be the problem?" She seemed so intent on helping and Denki felt compelled to tell her everything. And he did. He talked about the temporary paralysis, the shaking, the blacking out, the hallucination episodes... all of it.

"It'll definitely take some time, but I think I can have you close to tip top shape before high school."

"Two years? I can deal with that. Thank you so much Iry, for everything. I know I'm kinda just dropping in on your life and all that..." He felt horrible about it.

"It's the least I can do for you. You've freed us Denki. I was stuck always as a backup call for them. Always watching my back and fearing for my kids and husband. I can live without that now. Sure, there are still bad people, but Zunder is gone thanks to you. Let me help you be a kid for the few years you have left."

A few tears threated his eyes but he held them back, resorting to a tight hug with Irain. "I don't think I could ever wish for a better aunt."

-|-|-
One year later
-|-|-

Denki swung his legs loosely over the edge of the seven story building, watching as people sulked down the sidewalk. The late night hustle to and from clubs had slowed and it was as quiet as it would get: just the sound of electricity, a few stray cars, and the constant low buzz of city life. It had been so long since he had come up here in anything that resembled a suit. He had kept up his routinely workouts and fighting forms so it wasn't like he lost anything. He wasn't here to bring Volt back. As far as the world knew, the vigilante had died taking down the mysterious leaders of Zunder thanks to Tsukauchi's police report and Eraserhead's confirmation. No one knew who had run Zunder and despite the media's best efforts, the group would eventually fade into myth, already replaced in the underground by the whispers of a League of Villains working in the shadows along with rising trigger testing cases and a decline in sightings on the number one hero. However, just because Volt was dead, didn't mean the boy behind him was as well. Denki had been able to start anew thanks to his aunt. Irain had helped him gain emancipation and set his legal records straight, putting his real name into the system for the first time. She had offered to just adopt him as a Polimiko, but he wanted to keep his Kaminari name. There wasn't any legal backlash he would run into since Eraser and the others let the name die with the case. Denki wanted to fix his family name's reputation even if only a few knew the truth. Besides, he had made a promise and he intended to keep it. If he was going to do good, he might as well write over his past along with it.

That also wasn't why he was here, though. In fact, the real reason was sprinting a couple roofs away and he intended to interrupt a beautiful night. "Hey hobo! Watcha doing out on the roofs so late at night?"

The black clad man slowed, locking onto the hooded boy relaxing on the edge of a roof. Eraserhead made his way over, stopping a few steps to Denki's left. "How about you tell me what a young boy is doing on a rooftop at 1am?"

"Enjoying the view, obviously." He snarked back, patting the ledge beside himself. "Come join me, 'zawa."

"Excuse me?" The gravelly voice was guarded and on edge.

"Come on, just like old times. 'less your scared now..." He hope Eraser would catch on and accept him back. But if nothing else, he wanted the man to know he lived. To know what he said the last time the saw each other was an emotional act. To know how thankful he was that Eraser saved him.

"...Volt?" Aizawa breathed the word out and lowered his defense slightly.

"Volt's dead, 'raser. Just Denki." a sad smile crossed his lips as he stared at the city, avoiding looking at the hero. Eraser just stood for a moment, but then he slowly moved to sit next to him, careful to leave a few inches of space.

"Have you been alright?" Eraser asked after a long while of just sitting in silence.

"I've been healing. Turns out my family left more scars than I thought. I'm staying with relatives- not villains, promise! - And I'm back in school." He tried to fill the man in on the big things, the things that mattered. He didn't know if Eraser actually cared, but he wanted to pretend he was an old friend he had known since he was young. "Oh and- I don't know if you care but - I've missed it. Being Volt. Especially, pissing you off, but saving people was nice too, I guess." He joked, hoping Aizawa understood he really meant it. That he really did love helping all that time. Aizawa snorted and Denki felt an inkling of pride trickle into his heart at the sound.

"Glad my suffering has left such fond memories for you." Eraser deadpanned. He took a deep breath and then "I've missed it too." He was quick to add "Although, I still don't condone vigilantism."

Denki giggled and bumped Aizawa with his fist. "Sure you don't. That's why you kept us around."

"Will you try out?"

"Hm? For what?" Denki turned to face Eraser, confusion written on his face.

"To be a hero. You would easily pass any exam at any school." Aizawa sounded pretty adamant about that.

"Maybe. But I'm broken 'razer. My quirk was never good enough. I was never-"

"Who says?" The hero cut him off.

"Eraser, I short out if I push my limit. I can't aim my electricity. I can't direct it the way Isana- the way my sister could. I'm useless. Sure, I can fight, but I would never get support. The people wouldn't accept someone who ended up a dunce every time he activated his quirk."

"I could train you. Somehow I doubt you've tried everything." Eraser offered. "But either way, you are worth more than that electricity. You never used it as Volt, and you wouldn't have to as a hero -other than maybe as a last ditch effort."

"I don't know. But, if it makes you feel better, I sorta have to try out for UA." Denki relented.

It was Aizawa's turn to look confused. Suck it up buttercup, you're getting no answers from me.

"Well, I do have a few more stops to make tonight, but I'll vist every now and then. Can't resist torturing you for too long." Denki had hoped up and started walking away, but he stopped only five steps away and looked back at bit. "Thank you. For keeping our names out of it. It means more to me than you could ever know that my family name will never be written next to Zunder in a history book or newspaper."

He was about to start off again when Aizawa spoke up. "Your welcome. But Denki, I have one question before you go. Do you know what your name means?"

Denki huffed out a perplexed scoff. "Electricity." He answered humorously. "Pretty fitting if you ask me."

"Yes. It does mean that and it matches well. I'm sure that's why your parents choose it. But it means something else as well."

Denki's brows furrowed and he turned to fully face Eraser. "Yeah? What's it mean hobo?"

"Strange and fantastical story. I think you have the perfect base to make that your future. Your story." Aizawa stood up and smiled. "Have a good night Denki."

They departed their separate ways, Eraser to fight and protect and Denki to stop by an old contact.

Chapter Text

Denki had switched up his outfit from a casual hoodie into something more suited for the underground. He had slipped into the club without much hassle and made his way to a booth without drawing attention. Having met with a few old contacts and established connections again, he sat waiting for a particular person to show. Sure enough, Sëji Anarisuto entered and made his way over without a word to anyone.

"So, what are you looking for tonight?" The electronically modulated voice inquired.

"Your analysis." Denki responded simply. The eyes on the electroic mask became question marks.

"You know, most people are here for information. I am an information broker." Sēji pointed out.

"You are. But I'm here on Volt's recommendation." Denki stared directly where he suspected the camera for Sēji's visor was.

"Volt." Even through the heavy modification, Denki could the broker didn't believe him in the slightest. "Sure has been a while since that recommendation, then."

"So, are you going to hear me out?" He brushed straight past the mention of his death.

"I suppose, go on." Sëji leaned back crossly against the booth, folding his arms across his chest.

"You've been in this business for a while it seems, helped a variety of vigilantes and underground heros. Yet, you won't work with a villain. Or at least, rarely. You work for a purpose if what you did for Volt says anything about your character. I suspect it does." Denki paused.

"What's your point?" Sēji hadn't moved muscle.

"You want to take down the underground from the inside. Maybe you're in it for the money or the fun of it, but you're doing good work here. You have a reason, whatever it may be. My work has just started. It started with Volt and Zunder, and it won't end there. I've have allies. I have contacts. What I don't have is a second mind to look at the underground's structure. There will always be someone to fill the power void each time a large force is taken down. There will always be heroes and villains. Right now though, I don't like the odds if the powers looking to take over succeed. If the League is real, if trigger is perfected and mass produced, if Humarize gains momentum and technology, if people aren't wrong about All For One's return-" Sēji turned his head slightly at that. "If any of them succeed, the casualties will be insurmountable. What I want is to compile everything we can for the heroes and vigilantes so that when the times comes that it's not just whispers and conspiracies - but before it is too late to fight - they might have a chance against what is coming. And frankly, I need someone with not just your skill, but your determination. Someone who knows how to get inside their enemy's head and work every angle."

Sēji sat up a little straighter. "I can't get everywhere. While I infiltrate when nessessary, it isn't my specialty."

"That's what I'm for." Denki smirked behind his mask and it crept into his voice. "And- as payment I will work under you for any of your other contacts, interests, missions. No questions asked."

An eyebrow raised on the electronic eye cover. "Are you certain you don't require knowing why you are running particular missions?"

"I trust you. Volt trusted you and you fulfilled his every wish. I trust that your judgment on those calls will be sound and that you will tell me anything I need or should know." Denki assured, and it was true. He did trust him. "If I didn't, I wouldn't be here asking you for a partnership."

Sēji watched him for nearly a full minute, then stood abruptly and held out his hand. Denki stood as well and they shook, sealing the deal. He was passed a number, which he pocketed quickly. Sēji left without another word and after five more minutes Denki slipped out the doors and blended into the night.

Back at the apartment, Denki changed into some comfy sweats and a tank. He sat on a stool at the kitchen counter with a glass on water, just staring and occasionally taking a sip. After about half an hour, Irain silently sat down next to him. She tended to get up early, and it was four thiry in the morning. "How'd it go?"

Denki glanced at the ceiling and huffed. "What am I doing, Iry? Why can't I just leave it alone?"

Irain watched him carefully and he felt as though his soul was being studied. It probably was. "Because you care, Denks. And because you can do something about it. You see it coming and you know you can change it." Then she smirked "You might also just a little insane."

"You can say that again." He grinned and took another swig of water. "It went well, to answer your question. We came to an agreement and all I need now is a code name. Can't go with Volt and I'm obviously not using my real name."

"You could use your old call sign." Irain offered.

"Nah, it's still too well known. I would only use that as a hero to stick it to the underground. I need something new." Denki stood and walked to the fridge, refilling his glass with water.

"Denatsu Saikidō. Voltage Restart. A nod to Volt and what's more new than a reset? You could go by Kidō in the field so you have something short and sweet." his aunt explained.

"I like that. Thanks Irain." He smiled as he sat back down.

"Anytime Denks. Now, are you going to keep to the classic uniform? Seems a little on the edge now that Zunder's gone."

He nodded. "I had the same thought. No... I want to be a little more artistic with this one. I'll probably keep the material though, especially since I have so much from the safe houses over the years."

Irain went and grabbed a pad a paper and a pencil, "Describe it and I'll sketch something out. We can go through a few designs."

"Great idea, before that though... I've been wondering about something. My quirk. I- I don't think I've been using it correctly." Denki's mind wandering back to the night he escaped after the League's betrayal. He thought about his fighting with Isana. About other situations where he had certainly used more of his quirk than he usually would have been able to. He voiced his thoughts to Irain and how in each situation he had been in contact with a strong conductor. "Maybe it's not a weaker version of Kanako's, but more similar to Isana's quirk. I have to have metal or something similar in-between me and where the electricity is heading. I can't have nothing because it doesn't travel out from my fingers alone. Kanako had that mixture of silver in her finger bones didn't she? It's why she only shot from them. And Nigaikiya could never release electricity. But I remember he did one time. I think it was a moment of panic. He didn't act like himself for hours afterward, talking in gibberish and stumbling along. I had thought he gone hit in the head or something but... maybe it was like my shortciruiting. I've been able to hold an excessively high charge. In fact, usually I have to dissipate it somehow, charging phones, portable chargers, etc. And I've been able to tamper with technology like Kenji and Kai, if with a little less control. Honestly, I don't know what all I'm able to do with my quirk because I've been convinced it's weak. But, I've seen you do incredible things and they said your's was worthless too, so maybe I've been approaching it wrong."

Irain listened diligently, nodding along and scribbling some notes of some sort on the paper in front of her. "Well, there is really only one way to find out. Put on a coat, we are heading out."

Denki didn't have to be told twice.

-|-|-

They spent the next month tampering with different techniques of directing his electricity, seeing how much he could exude given different circumstances and if he could tell when he was going to shortout. Irain was quite stubborn that Denki not over exert himself, claiming it would only do damage and after all the work she had put in corraling the electricity in his body to travel the way it was supposed to, he wasn't going to argue on that front. In fact, he certainly agreed with her once she brought him to her clinic one particular day.

"I want you to understand what I'm doing and I think you'll be able to feel it." Irain guided him over to one of her regular patients who delt with some type of nervous system disfunction that blocked the man's ability to feel through touch. "Rest your hands on his arm and try to feel any electricity. The same way you would feel out a building for cameras or a wall for wiring."

Denki did as instructed and closed his eyes to help himself concentrate. "Okay, I can feel it."

"Alright, now keep your focus on its flow. I'm going to block some of it." Sure enough, near the man's wrist, the electricity stopped it's journey to the hand, while everything before that point continued as normal. He told her as much. "Good, now keep focusing on his hand."

Denki tilted his head in fascination as electricity slowly reentered the hand and traveled along specific paths to each finger and then spread out where it needed to go from there. "That's amazing, Irain."

"Sure is." The patients huffed in a deep grateful voice. "She's fixed me up in a matter of weeks when before I only got occasional twangs of pain. I can feel my wife's hug again thanks to Mrs. Polimiko."

Denki opened his eyes and Irain gestured for him to move his hands to the man's other arm. "Feel this one and tell me what you notice."

He reached out again, not needing to close his eyes this time to tune into the flow. The electricity itself felt the same, but now "It's like it's flickering and dieing out. Hitting a wall or something."

"Well, you're on the right track, but what's really happening is that the path is too open." Irain corrected as she motioned another worker over. "Show Mikaki where it stops."

Denki pinpointed the spot in his mind and pointed with his left pointer finger. "Here."

Mikaki started a sweet whistle and brushed her hand over the spot while Irain guided the electricity along the path it was supposed to follow. Denki felt as the flickering stopped and the flow became steady. Pulling his hands away he watched the man relax and a tear form at the edge of his eye as his fingers felt the textured wood on the table. He blinked it away before it could fall and kindly thanked Mikaki and Irain before heading up to the front and eventually leaving. "Do you think you could do it?"

"Huh? Oh, well..." Denki thought for a moment and eventually decided "Yeah, I think I could. Maybe not as well as you, but I can certainly try."

And they did. Not on patients obviously, but on a mouse and with Irain's careful supervision and guidance. Thankfully, Denki didn't kill any of the little fellows and Irain was able to make sure they walked away functioning just fine after any mess ups. It took a while to get the hang of such delicate power output and not overwhelm the system or hit the wrong spots. Soon enough though, Denki found that he could stop certain waves from reaching their destination, allowing him to stop an animal in its tracks. He became entranced by what different signals did in the body and which ones he could replicate to activate muscles or eventually how to induce the feeling of pain. He also found that he could stop pain signals from reaching the brain after he identified which spots were safe and effective to block. He figured out how to shut down different muscles for short periods of time by scrambling the signals. It didn't last very long, but it could cause someone to stumble or faulter in their movement. Eventually, he started working on it from a distance; not shooting it, but seeing if he could still feel the currents through something else. He, in fact, could - if not a little less "loudly".

So, with his extended knowledge on how electricity moves through and controls so much of the body, Denki fully believed that constantly shorting out his brain probably wasn't the smartest decision. He also figured, though, that he could protect himself better now that he knew what preluded the shortouts and where overloads would have to occur for it to happen. When he meditated now, he made sure to check his own electrical flow and guide anything that was acting up, a reset of sorts. Irain noticed a difference too, telling him if he kept it up he would heal quicker and probably limit future damage.

Denki had also began incorporating his electricity into his fighting style both with his newfound skill in eletro-nervic manipulation and with brute force electric shock using different weapons. He found that a chain whip with stainless steal handles was surprisingly handy. It was strange getting used to the fighting style again. He was fluent - same as he was with nearly every technique and weapon thanks to his training - but it had been a very long time so reintroducing the flow of the movement may have resulted in a few self inflicted injuries. No pain, no gain! He also decided to incorporate knives back into his style in honor of Isana since he was basically copying half her technique by using metal as a catalyst for his electricity. Throughout their testing, Irain and Denki had come up with a design for his vigilante persona and quickly pieced it together using Zunder uniform material and restitching certain areas to better suit his technique, equipment, and typical encounters. At the end he had a much lighter uniform than he was used to with a skin-tight long sleeve black shirt, tacticle cargo pants and protective arm sleeves made from stab proof material, a hooded biker vest with a few pockets on the front, ski goggles and a thin gaiter, some black leather gloves, and the flexible, near-silent lace-up shoes he had used his whole career. Some things are just too good to change.

Over the first few assignments Sēji asked of him, Denki worked to test everything about his uniform and make adjustments where needed. As time went on, he became comfortable with both his set up and new weaponry. Then, he got down to business. He made it a goal to get as much done and and information collected in the underground as possible before he had to put it up for UA. Considering it would probably take up plenty of his time and energy, running around at night on top of hero school wasn't worth the hassle. He would work solely digitally for anything he found relavant from that point forward, leaving the months before then for any and all field work he needed to get done. With all the nonstop work he quickly made a name for himself and it didn't go unnoticed by a certain underground hero either.

Denki lay staring at the stars exhausted on the roof of his usual meeting place with Eraserhead. He had lifted his ski goggles to rest on his forehead and leaned back, legs hanging over the edge of the building. He heard the soft thud of the hero's boots hit the roof and tilted his head in the direction to let Eraser know he heard him. The man sighed and settled down near him. "Back at it, I see? Based on rumors you have been at this for nearly two months now. Thought you put up the vigilante life, kid."

"I put Volt up because it was easiest to let him die. To let all of that die. But I can't just sit back and watch the world tear itself apart. Not when I have the ability to change that outcome. Right now, this is the only way I can do that. I'm too young to be a hero and I don't have the credentials, so I might as well take this path." He explained, hoping Eraser would just drop it.

"What are you after this time? There hasn't been any word about the League and trigger seems to have declined, too. Who are you trying to find?" Eraser pried. At least he isn't trying to convince me to sit out.

"That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out. They are preparing for something. Something big. They were years ago when they attempted to take out Zunder and now that the Zunder's position has opened up, they have no one standing in their way. The League as a straight path to power if they play their cards right. From what I've found, they are building themselves quietly, keeping their mission on the downlow but promising the end of All Might and hero society. Pretty hefty promise if you ask me, but they certainly have a following. They keep their contacts at a distance and have a core group with some puerile poser as their leader. Whoever is behind the operation has been planning this for a while and everything we are about to see is just a distraction for the real plan. I know a mastermind's work when I see it. As for trigger, that's whole other problem just sprouting it's wings. They didn't slow down because of a setback, rather they refocused their resources because of a breakthrough. No one is stepping back, they are just readying their forces and we are about to see the tip of the iceberg."

Eraserhead watched him like a hawk and Denki didn't mind. It meant the hero was listening and taking him seriously. They were going to need heroes like that if they were going to make it through this. To think he used to hate heroes like Eraserhead who put the pieces together and meddled with vigilantes. Now he wished there were a hundred more of them. "I guess to answer your question. I'm after all of it. Anything I can get my hands on. Any insight into just how horribly screwed we are. Because that's the truth. The enemy we are going to face is clever and has been at this for longer than anyone knows, otherwise, they wouldn't be this careful."

Chapter Text

"One week, man. Can you believe it?"

Denki glanced at Shinso from where they lay sprawled out after a three hour training session. It was an overcast day and would probably rain the following day. The cloud cover and a light breeze swept away the heat from exercise and made for a near perfect day. "We're going to do great, you know? You've grown so much since we started and I know I have improved in my quirk control. If they won't take us, I fear they would have a class of maybe three people total."

Shinso scoffed. "Three people? Come on, Ki! That's a little egotistical."

"Is it? Seriously, think about it. They have to take in a pretty significant number of hero wanna-be's to train up. They aren't expecting hero level skill, just something they can work with and that the candidates can already generally hold their own. They'll want to see how we react in real danger. Both of us can clearly hold our own and we have a leg up on kids with no real skill yet. We stand out." Denki shrugged. It really was that simple. It's the teacher's job to prepare the students and specialize their skills. They just needed to prove they had potential. "Just don't freeze up and you'll be fine."

"That easy, huh?" Shinso tilted his head to face Denki with a smirk.

"That easy." Denki winked and pushed himself to a seated position, grabbing his water and downing the rest of the bottle. "You know what?"

Shinso followed Denki's lead, grabbing his own water and wiping the sweat from his forehead. "What?"

"I say we clean up and then take the rest of this gorgeous day to just have fun." Denki declared turning to properly face his best friend.

"Will coffee be the second stop?" Shinso asked with a life-or-death level of seriousness.

Denki giggled lightly and stood up, reaching out a hand for Shinso and helping him up. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The two friends grinned and began discussing the plan for the rest of the day. Coffee. A new action movie. Board games at Denki's house.

Denki let himself soak in every moment and just be normal. Two years of pure freedom and he could finally breathe without worrying. Sure, he was still always alert - always watching for danger. His guard was never truly down, but it didn't stress him out. He knew evil. He knew which side he was on and no longer had to wrestle with who he would side with if or when life went down hill. His family and friends shared his passion for saving people - each in their own unique way - but all working toward the same goal. He knew his enemies because he had been them once. Now, he was certain in his abilities and his morals. Now, he was comfortable in chaos - something he had never felt before. Not really. Not while he was fighting himself. He was free from his old self. From anything that bound him to past regrets.

One week. In seven days he would walk into a test that would set him on the path to use his past for something he wanted. In seven days he would truly start his new life. Could he believe it? It felt so far, yet so close. It would take being there for him to believe it. But he could see how possible it was now, and really, that was what mattered. Aina and her family had a chance. Denki had made sure that Shinso had a chance. That Aizawa and the Dezetas might have a chance against the rising League. Now, in a week, he would get to take his chance. He had to believe it. If not for himself, for those he cared about and who cared about him. For his family.

- | - | -

Shinso and Denki ended up in different arenas. Not a big deal; although, it would have been fun to work together. Denki recognized quite a few prominent faces among the student body during the introduction ceremony. People like Tenya Iida - brother of Ingenium - and Shoto Todoroki - son of Endeavor - stood out like sore thumbs to Denki, but he also recognized a few candidates from richer families just based on economic lessons on the big players over the years. Pro-hero President Mic had given the motivational and explanatory speech and Denki had paid minimal attention. His family had kept an eye UA's and other prominent hero school's testing strategies over the years for multiple reasons - including sneaking in moles and keeping tabs on the heroes' focuses. Though, the latter was the main reason.

Denki knew the scoring criteria and such, but didn't know the exact test. So, he paid attention enough to know when to tune in but didn't focus on the excess information or encouraging words. The actual test ended up being robot battles which was probably the easiest thing they could have given Denki. He simply shorted out the main circuitry where he needed to and aided other candidates when things got out of hand. He made sure not to steal the spotlight of anyone else and mostly kept a low profile. Still, he knew the importance of showing off and made sure to rotate through a variety of techniques. There was no doubt about whether he would qualify considering the school had to examine each student individually via hidden or bird's eye view cameras. Point being, he wouldn't be missed so he didn't need to put on a huge show. All he had to do was show off a little and do what he would do out in the field.

After the test, Shinso had profusely thanked him for the years of training and support, always circling back to how unprepared he would have been if he only had his quirk to rely on. "It's so rigged! They do realize how much potential they loose catering to certain quirk types, right? What about specialist heroes? The whole point is to show off, not fit the top ten criteria!"

"Your arguing to the wrong person, Shinso." Denki laughed "I'm on your side."

"Ughhhh, whatever. Again, though, thank you so much." Shinso looked totally done with world but his appreciation was still clear as day.

- | - | -

Gathering and stacking up the case files and folders, Sēji passed over a copy of everything they had collected over the year. Kidō took the files gingerly and placed them in his bag. It was odd - how quickly time had flown by, filled with compiling and analyzing underground movements. They had names, locations, contact networks. They knew where corruption had taken hold and where bases were being operated. They had found every myth and historical record on the leader of the League. They had studied the hero structure and society. They knew the weak points, the faults, and the creaky floor boards, so to speak. And now they were done. There was nothing left to get. For the last three weeks the pair had searched everything and everywhere. This was it. Five folders: locations, organizations, individuals, social/heroic structure, and history. Two-hundred and seventy three pages, plus a flash drive. They considered giving it to the police. To the heroes. Maybe the Commission. Ultimately, they decided to wait. Giving what they had now wouldn't do much. It would be written off as conspiracy. It would be leaked and the League would have a chance to reorganize. It was too risky. So instead, they both got a copy with which they could each do what they felt was right, when the time came.

Sēji still wondered about Kidō and why he had sought him out in the first place. How had he known Volt? How did he know so much about the institutions he did? Sēji had watched the vigilante in the field and it was clear he had been trained similarly to Volt. Maybe he had been a part of Zunder? Maybe he had been Volt's protege? At first Sēji had been weary about the guy. Popping up and talking about his old contact - about the same mission that got the guy killed. But once he heard him out and they had ran a few missions... there was no denying Kidō's intentions. Once Sēji felt like he could somewhat trust the vigilante, he had let his guard lower. They had shared long nights analyzing and laughing. Sharing stories from the field - although Sēji rarely did much field work. He wasn't ready for it. Not yet. And anyway, his brain got him places fighting could never match. Still, he had done his fair share and broke into plenty of places to collect information. Kidō was well-versed when it came to missions and had been at it for a very long time under a different allias which he never shared. Probably for the best. At the end of the day, Sēji didn't have many friends in his personal life. Some would say he had none and he probably couldn't refute them on that account. He knew people in the underground and they were like a second family to him. Kidō had become one of those people. Even closer than most. They both had paths to go down now and they couldn't share where. He was loosing a close friend. More than that really. But what could he do? They couldn't share their identities. He couldn't. But- he also couldn't let someone so important to him slip away because of circumstance.

"One last thing," Sēji spoke up as Kidō zipped up his bag.

"Hm? What's up?" The vigilante turned to give him his full attention. Sēji always liked that about him. The way he watched and listened. The way he took in everything about his environment but was confortable despite this alertness. He also appreciated being heard. To be truly heard there had to be a level of respect and Kidō made sure he showed that respect in its fullest, expecting the same in return.

"If you need anything else in the future, you'd best contact me more directly. I use that other phone number I gave you for business. This one though," He handed over a small, pristine note card containing his second burner phone for close allies and friends. He would never give out his personal number to someone from his underground contacts, but this phone he kept on him at all times. "You can use this to contact me anytime. I trust you to not abuse it and to be discreet. Unapproved calls should be kept to emergencies. That's about it. You're valuable, and frankly, I like you and I don't want our relationship to wither simply because our partnership has, for the time being, ended."

Kidō watched him carefully for a few moments and then graciously took the card with a nod. "The feeling is mutual."

"I'll see ya around." The vigilante gave a two-finger salute and left without another word.

Well. Guess we'll find out.

- | - | -

"Were you there?" A gravely voiced asked from behind him.

"Shouldn't you know? Aren't you part of the grading process?" Denki deadpanned, leaning his head at a backward angle to almost look up at the hero.

"Only to voice my opinion on students qualifying for the general department who failed for the hero course. Whether they have potential and were tested on a nonapplicable scale. A mental quirk in a physical test, for example. I don't get the full examination until after the students are announced. Though, I rarely watch those until I've made my own assessment." Eraser sat down next to him. "So, no. You weren't one of the students assigned for me to evaluate."

"I suppose that's fair. And yes, I was there. I made a promise and I always keep those." Denki's gaze drifted to the sky as he spoke. "Ya know, I feel aimless. Like I'm just drifting through life now. Without a destination. I want to make up for what I did. I know that. More than anything else. But... I suppose for so long-"

He stopped. No no. no. It hurt to talk about. It wasn't about remembering. It was about forgiving.

"For so long.. what?" Aizawa prompted after a minute for two.

"It was always a mission, always-" His voice caught in his throat and tears threatened his eyes. But he had to say it. He needed to get it out or he feared he never would. Even if Eraser had to listen to his cracking voice and whimpering. He *had* to get it out.

"Always a directive. An order. Kill her. - - Torture him. Hunt them. Make a dis- display." He had to pause and breathe and calm enough to restart his words. "I didn't get an opinion or a - - or a - -" Pause. Breathe. Whimper. Breathe again. Come on just *say* it. "I wasn't allowed to CHOOSE!"

He felt his chest rupture. He was a sneiveling water faucet, choking on his own breath. He wasn't loud or animated. It just felt like everything over the years came pouring out at once and he couldn't dam the river now that it had broken through. At first, he tried to control it, but eventually he gave up and just let it pour out. And then there was a hand on his back and another wrapping around him, pulling him into a warm, strong chest. He leaned into the touch and focused on the small circles being drawn on his back. It felt foreign but natural. He let himself be taken by emotion and comfort. At some point, he started talking again, shifting to be heard but still within the embrace. He talked about everything from the first moments he could to remember, though training and missions, to the LOV and his years away from his family. He kept identities and names out of it. Sometimes substituting them, sometimes just refering to them by their relationship to him. But he talked about all of it and how he felt. Truly and honestly. He was admitting to himself more than to Aizawa. When he finished, tears streaked his face and his breathing relaxed to just a few hiccups. He took deep breaths and sorted his body out, acknowledging what he felt and letting it fade into the world around him.

"I forgive them." He finished with resolution in his voice. "What happened should never have happened, but I'm not angry. Not anymore."

Aizawa just watched him and let him process. When he was sure Volt had finished he spoke for the first time in four hours. "Now you can move on."

Relief shot through Denki's entire being because it was true. He knew it, now.

He could move on.

A smile forced it's way out and he let out a sigh of finality. "Yes, I can. Thank you."

- | - | -

Denki had gone back to work at the cafe a year after Volt's death and continued through the summer following junior high. He didn't need to as Aina was more than insistent he not pay for any nessessities and offered to take care of any other expenses, including recreation. He liked working at the cafe, chatting with the regulars, decorating for holidays, and the rest of the normalcy that came with it. He also refused to let Aina pay for more than food, clothing, and shelter. Finances - check. He balanced work with training, hanging out with Shinso, school, and vigilantism. It was easier now that he wasn't supporting himself entirely and thus didn't need to work as long. He reconnected with his coworkers pretty quickly and eventually introduced his two closest to Shinso. Social life - check.

Academically, he loosened up on scores and let himself make steady A's with an occasional B, not standing out too much but actually showing his intelligence. He joined the debate club for the sake of it and became pretty tight with his team. Within a couple months he had all fifteen phone numbers and a group chat that never seemed to shut up. It was awesome. Extracurriculars - check. Denki got to celebrate his counsin's birthdays and got to know Elliot and Aina better. They had family game nights and took trips to museums, nature reservation parks, and other attractions. Denki often walked Riccolo and Emika to school and took them to the park. Family - check. Denki also focused inward and worked to meditate and pray daily, even if only briefly. Just a quick talk with God or a reflection on how he was feeling, what he wanted to improve, and what he was proud of. Sometimes he went to church, or read a chapter of the Holy Bible. Other times, he read up on Dharma and focused on different sections of the Eight Fold Path. Sometimes he just sat in silence and listened to the world without a thought in his mind. It didn't matter what he did as long as he was connected and focused. Spiritually - check.

Things weren't perfect and they never would be, but he was happy and relatively safe. He was moving forward and he had his mind set on the next step. And right now, that step came in the form of a letter.

"Just open it." Denki shrugged. "We already know what it says."

"Are you crazy?? We have no idea if we made it or not." Shinso paced back and forth. "Ki, what if I didn't? What if the points I earned weren't enough? What if they looked at my quir-"

"Stop that."

"Stop what?" Shinso's head snapped over to him but the pacing continued.

"Stop worrying about the 'ifs'. Either you made it or you didn't. It's already done. Open it." Denki declared.

"You first." Shinso sat down on the chair across from Denki and crossed his arms stubbornly.

"How about at the same time?" Denki began opening his letter and after a few moments without action from Shinso, looked up and glared. "I'm not doing this without you."

A deep sigh was his friend's only response before following Denki's lead.

"Oh, drop the smirk. You didn't win anything." Shinso grumbled.

Two disks, a projection of All Might, and...

They made it. Both of them. Class 1A.

He was going to UA. To be a hero.

Chapter Text

Denki stood outside the large gates of UA taking in the defense mechanisms. He had been standing here for about 5 minutes, just taking it in. He immediately identified the automati machine guns systematically placed along the length of the wall. Three rows. After he had noticed that, he couldn't help but take in the rest of the wall. Cameras were placed strategicly to survey every angle and leave no blind spots in security. Additionally, a thin grid - nearly invisible to the bare eye - covered the full expanse of the wall. Denki suspected it was electrically charged, making climbing the wall a suicide attempt for the majority of people. Some of the paneling along the wall led Denki to believe more counter attacks hid just behind the surface. The actual wall itself was thick, around 12 ft of metal. He couldn't see the top of the wall, but barbed wire peaked over, clearly covering the full expanse of the top. The actual gate itself was just as mesmerizing with locks and back up mechanisms filling the frame. He certainly spent a few more minutes just identifying the different types.

Safe to say, he was standing there for too long to be considered normal unless you were waiting for someone. He was, in fact, not waiting on anyone. Rather, he was nearly two hours early compared to when even the most prestigious of students would show up. But the gate was open, so clearly he wasn't too early. Pulling himself away from gazing at the masterpiece that was UA's gate security, Denki stepped through onto the campus. Just inside the door, he made a quick left and began walking the expanse of the wall from the inside. About ten minutes of walking led him to a collection of practice gyms. Fifteen minutes past then, he had circled around a fourth of the school, scoping out cameras, exits, and vantage points. Not that he expected to avoid sniper fire, of course... but there was no harm in being prepared. Eventually, he made it back to the front of the school and headed inside. He walked each hallway, once again searching for cameras and making a mental map of escape routes. He figured out the structure of the school without too much hassle, taking note of how maze-like it was on the inside. After figuring out where his class was and mapping out the rest of the building, Denki checked his watch. Thirty minutes until the first few kids should be arriving, though he had spotted a few teachers getting ready for the day and even two or three third years meandering in the past twenty or so minutes.

With a bit of time left, Denki headed back outside the gate. He had left his bookbag behind some brush, not wanting to carry it around for nearly two hours straight. Once again he admired the intricacies of UA's fortification.

"Nerve-wracking, huh?"

Denki turned to face the newcomer. He responded to a red, spiky haired boy with sharp teeth. "I suppose. More exciting, though."

"That's the spirit! I'm Eijiro Kirishima, by the way." Denki took the boy's extended hand.

"Denki Kaminari. It's nice to meet you. What class are you in?"

"Hero course. 1A." Kirishima grinned brightly and filled with pride.

"Oh cool! We're classmates. Want to walk there togther?" Denki offered.

"Heck yeah, dude! I have to admit, though, I have no idea where I am going." Kirishima brought a hand up to the back of his head. A nervous tick.

"No worries, we'll figure it out. Can't be that bad right?" He kept to himself the fact that he knew the whole layout already. They walked the halls and argued about which way to go. Denki knew that they looped the same hallway three times, but he humored his peer anyway. Still, he slowly guided them toward 1A and they made it with only a couple other students in the classroom - a pink-skinned girl who Kirishima recognized and another girl who she was talking to with a clearly music-centered aesthetic. The four chatted for a while and welcomed others as they entered the classroom. Denki called Shinso over when he arrived and introduced him to the slowly forming group. As it neared the bell, the class settled down a bit and found their seats. All except two, at least. Some blondy, Katsuki Bakugo, got into an argument with a passionate, rule-enforcer. Tenya Iida. Brother in Ingenium. Denki noticed him at first because of his natural blue hair and glasses, quickly connecting the dots at he watched the lecture ensue. The moment was interrupted by a green haired, freckled boy bursting into the room, clearly in a rush. Iida's attention shifted and he went to introduce himself. A brown haired and pink cheeked girl joined as well and the trio seemed to recognize each other, probably from the exam based on their conversation. Denki picked up on a shuffling from the hallway that was soon explained as none other than Shouta Aizawa appeared at the door, cocooned in a bright yellow sleeping bag.

"If you're just here to make friends, then you can pack up your stuff now." Aizawa worked his way out of his sleeping bag and introduced himself as their teacher. Denki watched the hero scan the room and take stock of each student. From there, the day passed in a blurr. Aizawa had them do a quirk assessment test outside, completely skipping any form of orientation. Denki couldn't really stand out in the activies quirk-wise considering they were mostly physical based. A ball toss and 50 meter dash. Real considerate, 'zawa. Thanks a lot. It did make sense from a teaching perspective as Aizawa needed to assess what type of training he would need to give each student personally and their current level of fluency with their quirks. When they started, Aizawa stated that last place would be expelled. At the end, when a boy named Izuku Midorya scored last, however, the hero revealed it to be a psychological ruse to get them to all work their hardest. Denki suspected he actually would have expelled the last place if not for the green haired boy's strategic use of such a self-destructive quirk. The student clearly had potential and Aizawa knew it. While the test itself wasn't very exciting, Denki did enjoy the chance to get a first glance at his classmates quirks and attitudes when confronted with challenge. They were all quite determined and some had extraordinary quirks that would be quite useful when they became heroes. What stood out the most to Denki, though, were two classmates in particular.

They were familiar.

Denki didn't recognize them like he did Iida Tenya. Rather, he recognized characteristics in their behavior and movements. The first was a boy named Hanta Sero with a quirk that allowed him to shoot a tape-like substance from his elbows. An interesting quirk on its own, but even more intriguing for Denki, who had seen the quirk before. After a few assessments, Denki took the chance to strike up a conversation.

"Dude! That quirk is sick! And sticky! How strong is the adhesive?" He asked, while other students took their turn at the 50 meter dash.

"Oh, thanks man. It's pretty strong and can hold multiple people hanging from it at a time. What's your quirk? I don't think I have seen you use it yet." Sero inquired.

"Electricity. I've been using it a bit on a low level to help me put more force behind my throw and the dash, but these tests aren't really where it shines, ya know?" Denki smiled brightly. "So what do think about our teacher so far? He seems pretty intense to me."

"Heh, that's one way of putting it. Threatening expulsion on the first day? This is going to be a crazy year, for sure." Sero paused and his gaze appeared to focus on something in the distance. Or maybe he was really looking inside because his next words were spoken with a hint of remembrance. "But I think he's just looking out for us. Hero work is dangerous and not everyone makes it. I think he wants to weed out the kids who aren't going to make it so he can focus better on the ones who will."

There it is. This was definitly Trapper. "I get what you're saying. It's hard to loose someone you care about. I'm sure he's lost kids out in the field before."

A ping on hurt flashed across Sero's eyes, short enough Denki almost missed it. Almost. The conversation shifted from there and fell into a comfortable rhythm of observing and commenting on their classmates quirks and application.

The other classmate that stood out was the same Izuku Midorya that managed to break his finger on the ball toss with his quirk and place last. Denki had picked up on something when he had seen the boy enter the classroom and converse with Iida and the brown haired girl, Ochaco Uraraka. After seeing Midorya switch techniques after Aizawa refused to let him incompasitate himself only deepened his suspicions. The way the boy had paused and assessed his options. The way his hand twitched as his mind worked on a solution. Of course, Denki couldn't be certain without speaking to the boy. If he was right though... it would be worth the risk.

Once the bell rang at the end of the day and the students began filtering out of the classroom, Denki made his way over to where Midorya was getting ready to leave. "You sure blew the class away today, man."

"Wah..? Oh uh, yeah, I um. Still working out the best ways to use my quirk. I'm a bit of a late bloomer. You have some sort of electricity quirk, right?" Midorya's eyes glinted with excitement.

"Woah dude! I barely used it today! How'd ya figure?" He really hadn't used it to its fullest extent, not wanting to short circuit without any equipment. That would be a crappy first impression on the class.

"Well, at first I thought it was some type of strength enhancement with the ball toss and 50 meter dash because how discreetly you used it. But then, I noticed you discharge the excess while waiting around. After that, I picked up on other little details. It got me wondering how high of a voltage you could manage. Probably around 2 million, maybe higher. Do you have any side effects? I would assume there would be some sort of interference within your body, but maybe you have some type of inborn defense or tolerance? And then there is the matter of aiming the electricity. You would probably need some sort of conductor to direct the energy. Although, I didn't notice any mutations. I was thinking you could probably get some support gear for that. If it is a problem at all. And then- Ah. I'm rambling. Sorry about that." Midorya looked a bit guilty and gaze shifted down, fidgeting with his hands.

"It's quite alright. I've certainly had issues with control and would love input. Maybe we can talk about it more at a later date?" Denki offered and watched Midorya's shoulders relax.

"That sounds great! Well, I do need to get home, but it's nice to meet you. I'm Izuku Midorya." The boy held his hand out.

Denki met his and gave a short shake. "Denki Kaminari. It's nice to meet you as well."

Midorya made his way out and down the hall, leaving Denki the last student in the classroom. He walked back over to his desk where he had left his bag and then started toward the door.

"So what do you think?"

Denki stopped in his tracks, a smirk forming on his lips. "About the class? Or the school in general?"

"What stands out to you the most?" Aizawa dodged the question.

Denki turned to properly face his new teacher. "I think you have a very interesting class this year. I also think they are going to need to be ready sooner than any of us anticipate."

The hero raised an eyebrow. "Interesting how?"

"Well, that's for you to find out." Denki winked and turned to leave once again.

Aizawa's next question stopped him halfway. "How many exits?"

"Six doors. Eighty windows. Three roof access. Forty five cameras. You have a real intricate wall out there." Denki listed off without a second of pause. "Why? Do you want me to take you for dinner?"

Aizawa scoffed. "You can't speak to me that way."

"Habit. Sorry, Sir." Denki rolled his eyes.

"Hanta Sero, huh? I knew the quirk looked familiar. He was clever to find a dissolvant for his tape. It'll save him legally." Aizawa watched Denki closely for a reaction before sighing. "There's another isn't there?"

"Maybe. Maybe not." Denki tilted his head.

"No one else had the quirk control that comes with real experience. Training sure, but not the awareness." Aizawa thought for a moment before his eyes widened a bit. "An information broker. Izuku Midorya?"

Denki remained blank faced and silent. He wanted Aizawa to say it.

"I haven't met your other contacts, but he has the analysis for the job. The kid doesn't seem the type, though. Too startled. Especially around Katsuki Bakugo." Aizawa searched his eyes, clearly trying to gage how much he was holding back.

"He knows more than he lets on. Always has. There are things even I don't know. But he's good, through and through. And sharp. Quick to connect the dots." Now it was Denki's turn to watch. Aizawa had experience that he didn't in this area. With students.

"He's young. Inexperienced with his quirk."

"Said he was a late bloomer" Denki shrugged.

"You believe that?" It wasn't accusatory, but there was doubt.

"He never used his quirk on missions. Not even in situations that would have called for it." Denki sighed. "I trust him. A lot."

Aizawa's eyes narrowed. "He helped you plan it?"

"That and more. I worked closely with him over the past year. We found a lot. Had to trust and know each other." Denki tried to get the point across without going into depth.

"One of these days you are going to need to share what you found. If it's as important as you say, we need to start now." Aizawa jumped on the topic.

"With time. They have to see it before they can understand." Denki knew it wasn't time yet. Soon, but not yet. Once they made an appearance, he could start, but not before. Not until they couldn't go back and hide. The League knew how to hide so he needed to lead them out into the light first.

"The Shinso boy. Hitoshi. You seem close with him. He moves like you. Not as clean, but still." Aizawa let Denki get away with his secrecy for now, trying for a different angle.

"He doesn't know anything. I trained him through middle school, but he never got involved. Never knew." Denki stared hard at Aizawa, a look that communicated his honesty and closed the subject.

"That's it, then." Aizawa nodded to himself.

"As far as I am aware, that's it." Denki affirmed.

"Get some rest tonight. I don't plan on waiting around before starting training." Aizawa warned.

"I'd expect nothing less." Denki hesitated for a moment. "One question before I go. What saved us that day?"

He already knew the answer. He had pieced it together once he settled in and gotten a clear mindset. But he had never asked any of them.

"Tsukauchi Naomasa. He contacted me after your talk with him. He was vague. But he said you didn't have your head on straight and I knew what he meant. I convened with Spherora, explained my suspicions and she told me more about her quirk. She contacted a friend of her's from high school and came back to me with a device. It contained one of her shields in a compact form. From what I understand it wasn't completely active yet, not until I turned on the device. When I got to that room... when you... said those things. I understood what Tsukauchi meant. I tried to get you to relent, to see what I saw. I wasn't sure the device would work. Even Spherora said it was a last resort because of how delicate and specific the process was. I just barely got you close enough before the bombs went off. Her device worked perfectly, though. I knew you had lived through the blast, but not seeing you there afterward haunted me for a while. Trying to convince Trapper you made it was nearly impossible. The boy was in shambles according the Spherora. I'm honestly surprised he's here. Thought he would stick to vigilantism after the show he put on following the year Volt died." Aizawa had a calculating look in his eyes. Probably assessing how to handle training the boy.

"I shouldn't have left the way I did. I just... didn't expect to still be here. Did you ever tell Tsukauchi?" The man deserved to know he changed the outcome.

"I said there was no body. He knew. Played it off and wrote that you died in a suicide mission in the report. Bodies obliterated by the explosions. But he understood, always has." Aizawa reassured, knowing exactly what Denki was thinking.

"Well, my suspicions weren't too far off. Glad I know the whole truth. Thank you." Denki gave a small, somewhat sad smile. "And I'm sorry. For that day. I nearly got you killed and the last things I would have said were- cruel. Technically not lies, but twisted. I just wanted to get you to safety. I was willing to say anything to get you to leave. To live."

"You certainly surprised me with the familial connection. I knew you had to have been raised in the circuit, but I didn't know just how close you were. It all clicked into place at that moment." Aizawa huffed in rememberance.

"You still chose to save me." He still didn't really understand why.

"You're a good kid with a crappy hand of cards. I hated your parents for it, but above everything I had to save you. After everything you went through, you chose to change. Or in my opinion, be true to your nature. I had to make sure you got that chance. I'm glad I did."

"I'm grateful, too." Then Denki smirked. He twisted his backpack around and pulled five folders and a flashdrive out, handing them to Aizawa. "Good luck with the lesson plan this year."

With that, he fixed his bag, gave a two-finger salute, spun on his heal, and left without another word.

What a mysterious year to come.