There were reasons Aizawa preferred drinking alone, at home. He just didn't enjoy sitting with others who were being rowdy in a bad part of town. He didn't understand how they could get drunk here. They knew what they did to people in that state! Did they not think they could be prey?

Even so, Shouta knew how to dress to look the part. He knew how to act to look the part, but he didn't like it. He knew how to hide that too, to look the part.

Even in Osaka. Which is where he currently was. He wasn't entirely sure why Bakugou had said to come here but they could hold this conversation anywhere.

"His finances are clean," the former underground hero told Katsuki.

"What do you fucking mean clean?" Bakugou spat.

"They are clean," Aizawa repeated. Unlike the glasses here. He ran his thumb over the rim of the schooner he was drinking, removing the lipstick smudge. He really hated that his mind provided an image of the League's former bars. The glasses there, even with the dust caused by the destruction, had been clean. What did it say when he thought that the League's stronghold was better than this bar?

It meant that the warp villain was a good bartender. He sighed.

Bakugou didn't appear to be having any such problem. The blond was happily drinking his beer. He looked at home here. "There has to be something."

Shouta looked at Bakugou, raising one eyebrow, questioning his assertion. He should know better.

"Shitty Deku is fucking funnelling money. There has to be gaps," the vigilante corrected.

"There are two ways for his finances to be that clean," Aizawa mused. Bakugou might not have his experience but Shouta had to admit that the young man had a sense for these things. And a will to take down Representative Kakurete that no one else seemed to possess. Plenty former heroes, or students didn't like the man but they lacked the will to do anything about it. Bakugou had never lacked that.

"One, they really are that clean, but since you assure me that they can't be, we will consider the second option."

"Which is?"

"That he's the best forger I've ever seen," Shouta told him. "Which-" he sighed, "-might actually be the truth."

Katsuki gave him a look, before taking pull from his pint.

"He never claims government expenses on travel," Aizawa told him.

"The bastard uses a chopper!" Bakugou objected. Shouta didn't deny it. Representative Kakurete was known to use a helicopter for short hops. It was his business helicopter, Aizawa knew a couple of journalists who had salivated when they'd found out. They'd never actually published, because there was no scandal.

"Business," Shouta told him. Tripping up politicians on expense claims was the easy way to create scandal. Representative Kakurete had apparently paid attention to the past. He was scrupulous in his dealings there. He was on record as saying that the use of his helicopter for government business was something he did for the public good. He didn't even make it a donation so there was no tax deduction there either.

"Food, entertainment?"

"Nothing. When he's at the Parliament building, he eats at the cafeteria. And the few expense claims he's put in for food have been verified very carefully. And he doesn't put in entertainment claims." All of that was public record. Junior reporters looked at those records every day hoping for a miss-step from any politician they could scandalise.

Bakugou shook his head. "Not claims. Has Deku received anything he shouldn't have?"

Shouta shook his head. It was possible Kakurete had been given gifts but if he had been, he wasn't flaunting them. "There's a few minor things that he declared." A moderately priced sake from the Indonesian Ambassador. A high precision magnetic trinket from a business associate. Things like that. None of the amounts were outrageous, and they were all correct. Aizawa had verified the prices himself.

On paper, Representative Imoku Kakurete was clean. It just confirmed the thought he was knee deep in the League. Except they couldn't prove it. And Aizawa was sure that even if he got unfettered access to Kakurete's finances, there wouldn't be much to find. The man seemed to be one of those villains who was meticulous, careful and didn't like to brag.

Except he did. Just with the right circumstances.

"Shitty Deku is not a saint," Bakugou growled.

"He's not, but he's very careful," Aizawa agreed, looking sharply at the vigilante. "Do you think you could get another meeting with him?"

The question might appear sudden but Katsuki understood what he was asking.

"Not likely," he snorted, before swallowing the last of his beer. "His bodyguards would probably restrain me on sight."

Shouta couldn't help the amused look he gave Bakugou. "What about privately?"

"His apartment building has security."

That was an interesting statement. Aizawa implied that Katsuki had already been caught by the security for him to reply that way.

"He wouldn't meet with you?" Bakugou turned the question around.

"Not after last time," Shouta was forced to admit.

Katsuki snorted, slamming his empty glass down. "If I could get five min... no two minutes alone with him, I'd have that Deku begging to tell me everything."

"And he would have anything he said suppressed in thirty seconds, and you in Tartarus in another thirty." It was a flippant statement but the Representative's legal team probably was that good.

Bakugou growled at the rejoiner, but didn't dispute it. He pushed back his chair suddenly, and after a glare stalked over the bar.

Aizawa heaved a mental sigh. The boy was still touchy but had a good grasp on reality because that was the reality of Katsuki's desire. If he so much as touched Imoku without proof, then the Representative would bring the law down on the vigilante, and it wouldn't be a slap on the wrist. Shouta could guarantee, Kakurete would not show mercy.

And once Bakugou was in Tartarus, or even in remand, he as good, but the League simply had more people. The League would think nothing of sacrificing pawns to get rid of the vigilante. The explosive vigilante seemed to forget they were the underdog here. They had to be careful.

Even if he didn't like it. Especially if he didn't like it.

Shouta drank another mouthful of beer.

Bakugou would be sensible.

-afp-

Ujiko enjoyed the privileges her quirk gave her. Sure, it wasn't the same as Kurogiri's but it was still a warp quirk and in her society, that made her practically untouchable. In a fight, everyone knew she'd just warp you away, probably straight into the fighting den Dabi ran. No one wanted to face the Noumu's. And you didn't want to upset her for other reasons, simply because warp quirks were so valuable.

Add in the fact she was a member of the League of Villains and in the underworld, she was practically a Queen. She never felt bad about accepting drinks from people wanting favours. She did her part. Even if that part wasn't strictly speaking combat. She also kept the League's secrets. She helped keep the League safe.

Imoku thought he was completely hidden. Their unknown boss. There were plenty of people out there who suspected him. She'd had to keep him safe more than once, especially early on, when people saw him profiting from the League's actions. She'd insinuated that he was paying them - which he was - and that had settled them. But those who she'd settled, knew about him.

Maybe that's how Overhaul had found him? Ujiko shrugged. Eh, that had turned out okay, and she still followed Imoku, even when he killed Tomura. So she was a good member.

But she did like to ensure she had contingencies.

That's why, even though she helped Kurogiri with the delivery business, and helped Dabi with other things, she kept a few private interests. It wasn't that hard. All she had to do was make sure she wasn't caught and with a warp quirk, she had people willing to be her lackeys. And she made sure to keep things separate from the League. Dabi was in Tokyo, so she took Osaka. It wasn't like the commute was bad.

"Your usual?" Tsukisoi, the bartender asked.

Ujiko nodded and strutted to the back corner. That was her place. Everyone here knew it and the table was empty. A few times it hadn't been and that had been unfortunate.

She sat down, leaning against the wall. No one would approach until her drink arrived. Ujiko looked around. There was a few new people in tonight. Ujiko liked this bar because it had a reasonably large itinerant turn over. That meant her activities were hidden and if someone came too often, it was noticed unless they were one of the regulars.

She let her eyes examine the newbies. One was blond. His hair was slicked back. Young. Early twenties with red eyes. He was sitting at the bar, nursing a beer. The other was older. Black hair, and squinty eyes with large bags underneath. He was dressed in black, which in the relative gloom of the bar made it hard to discern him. She didn't like him but... he hadn't done anything yet.

Tsukisoi brought her drink. He sat down briefly. "Long night?" He always asked. It was a ritual and Ujiko had gotten used to it. If there was any expected trouble, he told her then but usually there was nothing.

"Maybe," she told him, reaching out for the glass. It would depend on business. "Depends on if I get someone new." Despite how her quirk worked, she had a steady stream of customers who needed discreet transportation. She had kept a low profile over the years. Sure the cops knew that she was a member of the League of Villains but she hadn't actually done that much stuff. As a result, she was relatively free to travel and provided transport to others.

"They are having a bit of a tiff," Tsukisoi told her about the bar and the newcomers she had noted earlier.

Ujiko took a sip but her expression relayed her question.

"They came in together," he explained, his eyes flickering, as if to indicate the people behind him.

"Ah," she said, putting down the glass. Ujiko shrugged. "No trouble?"

He considered it. "I don't think so," he said, rising. The bartender couldn't leave the bar unattended for too long and she nodded as he left. Ujiko already knew by the time she finished her drink the next one would be waiting.

She took another sip and watched as the blond picked up his beer and stomped back to the table the other newbie was sitting at. He appeared angry but resigned. The black haired man appeared... Wasn't that interesting? He was controlled but she thought she detected the slightest hint of a smug smile.

Having the blond return to the table was probably his victory. Ujiko sat back. The two of them might just be here for the night, but at least they'd make the night interesting.

-afp-

It took Aizawa a moment to realise Katsuki wasn't actually glaring at him when the blond returned. The vigilante slammed his pint down, sloshing beer over the rim on to the table. He kept glaring. To anyone watching it would seem as if Bakugou was glaring at him, but Shouta could see the focus of his former student's eyes. He was watching something, someone behind him.

"Are you going to be reasonable?" the former underground hero asked, knowing that if anyone was watching, some sort of conversation was expected.

"Not about Deku," Katsuki spat.

Aizawa nodded but he flicked his eyes to indicate he'd caught on to Bakugou's interest, even if he didn't know exactly what it was.

"But we should focus on the others," Bakugou continued.

Shouta felt excitement stir at the statement. His back suddenly itched. There was no one really looking, he knew that, but there was someone behind him. He hadn't got to pick the table. Bakugou had. It was near the centre of the bar. He would have taken one against a wall. He had though managed to ensure he was sitting facing the door. Maybe that wasn't such a good choice.

"You have a plan for them?" he asked, fishing for an answer as to who Bakugou had spotted.

"Working on it," the vigilante replied, lifting his pint. He took a few gulps. It was all very normal. Shouta felt somewhat proud. He couldn't, and didn't want to claim all of Bakugou's skills as taught by him, but he had given the boy a foundation. And Katsuki learned his lessons well.

Aizawa forced himself to gulp another slug of his drink as he waited for Bakugou to tell him something relevant.

"You know the one I said was new?" Bakugou asked suddenly.

He thought back over the conversations they'd had over the last little bit. When had Katsuki mentioned a new member of the League. Right at the beginning. In his storage shed. He cocked his head at the memory.

Bakugou grinned.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"You planned this," Aizawa accused. Bakugou was fighting in Dabi's Osaka ring but it wasn't just to avoid notice in Tokyo!

Katsuki didn't even look guilty but Shouta knew his statement was the truth. He could leave. That would throw Bakugou's plan out the window but this was a chance. And they needed a chance. He sighed. If it was the one he thought it was, then he needed to be sitting where Bakugou was.

"Gonna piss," he announced, rising.

Bakugou was good but it was still amusing to see the faint look of shock on his face. It was as if he thought he'd have to nurse Shouta through this entire affair. He was almost insulted. He'd been taking down villains since before Katsuki was in diapers!

Shouta made his way to the lav, and in case anyone was watching he did urinate. He half expected Katsuki to follow him but he hadn't and after washing his hands, Aizawa returned, stopping at the bar to order another drink. He wasn't planning on actually drinking it but it would keep up the act. He glanced to his table. Katsuki had moved to where he had been sitting, and was now drinking what was left of the drink Shouta had left.

He huffed theatrically, looking to the bartender, who simply nodded at him and poured another pint. Shouta took them back to the table, taking the opportunity to examine the tables he hadn't been looking at.

It was obvious who Bakugou was paying attention to. The woman was ensconced in the corner. She didn't look to be anything special but that wasn't the point. If this was Ujiko then it was an opportunity to capture one of the key League members. He assessed the rest of the bar. She was sitting alone but he wasn't green enough to trust that was the truth. On the other hand, no one looked like they were her lackies. Even so, he had to give Katsuki props for turning his back on her.

"Thanks," Bakugou said, taking the pint as he slouched back into the chair.

"So, do we want to continue as we have been?" Aizawa asked. "I'll look into things and you do the legwork?"

Katsuki grinned. He understood the code. "Then let's do this!"

-afp-

Ujiko watched the two newbies as she sipped at her drink but they were kind of boring. The only amusement was when the black haired man went to the lav and came back, only to find that his companion had stolen the last of his drink. He appeared resigned as he bought another. It was a petty form of argument but it was fun to watch.

He sat back down, now facing her but she couldn't see much as the blond was shielding him. She took a sip of her drink and looked around the bar. It would be a quiet night.

At least, that's what she thought, until there was a shout. It accompanied a crash and Ujiko looked up to see the blond barrelling towards her. There were explosions coming from his palms.

She knew him. ExplodoKill. Ujiko's face twisted into a smile and she activated her quirk...

At least, she tried to. She saw a second set of red eyes before ExplodoKill barrelled into her. No one had ever accused the vigilante of being stupid. His went for the throat, and she was slammed into the wall, his hand tightly gripping her. The implication was obvious. If she tried to activate her quirk, he would squeeze.

Ujiko looked around him. The black haired man was rising. His eyes looked raw but they were black again. She hissed. She knew who he had to be now. Eraser Head. Imoku was not going to be pleased.

"You're slow, Bitch," ExplodoKill mocked. "And far too reliant on your shitty quirk."

She glared at him. It hurt to realise it was true.

"You are coming with us, Bitch," ExplodoKill growled at her.

No one in the bar moved.

"You think you can hold me?" she challenged.

ExplodoKill squeezed. It was hard to breathe but Ujiko made sure her face was blank. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Oh, I think so. I'm not the police," he chuckled. He set off explosions in his free hand.

Eraser Head stood. "Let's go," he told the vigilante.

"Moonlighting is very much frowned upon," Ujiko told him.

Imoku had assured that. Vigilantism had harsh penalties, and they were applied and they were more heavily applied to former heroes. The law had to be maintained.

One of the bar regulars jumped towards them. ExplodoKill didn't even glance away. An explosion caught the man, sending him flying back into the wall.

"Who wants some?" ExplodoKill laughed.

"Let's go," Eraser Head repeated, holding out something.

ExplodoKill took whatever it was and grinned at her. His teeth caught on his lips giving him a sinister look. He carefully took his hand from her throat to grab at her hands.

"Tsukisoi!" She cried.

The barman looked at her. He cocked his head. Ujiko hissed! After all the things she'd done for him! This was the gratitude she got!

ExplodoKill laughed, and Ujiko felt something locked around her hands. She tried to activate her quirk again but nothing happened. She knew what that felt like. Her eyes widened.

"Idiot," ExplodoKill told her, and began dragging her.

Ujiko looked down at her hands. She recognised the cuffs. Quirk suppressant.

She pulled back. ExplodoKill was stronger. He didn't even look back at her.

Fuck! She'd really fucked this up. But Ujiko remained stoic. All she needed was a chance. A few seconds. That's all she needed to get away.

She could turn this around. She would turn this around.

She just needed the chance.

-afp-

Ujiko stared at the officers. They were looking at her with flat eyes. ExplodoKill had given her over to Eraser Head, who had called someone from the Police. They had come up with some story about how the off duty officer had arrested her. The man, Kirishima, had grinned at her, and dragged her back to the station. It wasn't his regular station. He was on leave but the Police were the Police.

She'd been here for hours. Surely the League knew she was here. Couldn't Kurogiri do something? And now she was in interrogation.

"We know when you are lying," an older officer told her. His eyes were unnaturally opened wide and grey was touching his temples.

She huffed. "All right," Ujiko spat. If the League wasn't going to do anything, then she'd have to get herself out of here. And if that cost Imoku a bit to cover up, well so be it. She'd just lost her businesses!

Given that Dabi had told her to stop them, indicating it was Imoku's order, he owed her already! And maybe... Imoku had ordered them to get rid of ExplodoKill but what if he just wanted ExplodoKill to get rid of them? Imoku wasn't a proper villain anyway. Not like Sensei. It would serve him right for her to cause him trouble. "What do you want to know?"