After the initial shock at what you had done, then came the flood of rationalizing thoughts.

Stefano was an evil man. The world was safer without him. You saved Shinso and possibly Tomura, Compress, and Kurogiri. It was self defense. You had no other choice.

Your eyes slowly went back to the dead man on the floor. If you had the power to kill him, why didn't you simply knock him out instead? You were afraid of him. You hated him. It fueled the monster living dormant inside of you.

No manner of self-talk could take away the guilt. How could you become a hero now? Everyone will treat you differently - maybe even lock you up. You imagined Izuku's innocent face and his horror if you were to ever tell him.

Tomura continued to soothe you like you were a stray kitten in his lap. Kurogiri was freed from Stefano's quirk and Compress was covered in blood but looked as though he'd survive.

You knew they were going to head back to their hideout and take you with them. What was your plan now? You were kidnapped again before Hawks could find you, and now you've killed someone. Did you want to go home..? Or hide forever with the other darklings of society.

Either way, you had to get Shinso to a hospital first.

"Shigaraki," Kurogiri said.

"Yes," his tone was oddly cheery, but not in the manic way. He kept your head pressed against his shoulder.

His touch used to scare you and you wanted to punch him whenever he tried, but now his hands felt like the safety net you needed to not fall into complete darkness.

"We shouldn't linger. But we won't be returning to the hideout. The Master has informed me that we have been discovered..."

Tomura froze, "What!"

"How is that possible?" Compress asked.

"It seems that the authorities already knew, and the live broadcast was a sort of distraction to make it appear they were still looking," Kurogiri said, "As to how they already knew I am not sure."

You pressed your lips together and were glad your face wasn't exposed right now. Because you had a pretty good idea how...

"No..." you felt Tomura's shoulders tightening, "Stupid heroes. They're ruining everything!"

"That was my last update. I don't know if the others escaped in time," Kurogiri said.

"Then we go to the other hideout," Tomura growled, "What a pain..."

Other hideout?

Kurogiri nodded, "As you wish."

Tomura made to stand and helped you to your feet as well. You hadn't let go of him yet, because you knew as soon as your fingers left the thin fabric of his black shirt, you were going to have to do something pretty shitty.

They saved Shinso this time, but in the end they were villains. They couldn't waltz into a hospital with you, especially since you were still a kidnapped student. As for Bakugo, it sounded like Hawks tipped off the other heroes just in time. You had to rely on them now.

But running away from Shigaraki after he rescued you felt less like of a win and more of a betrayal.

Tomura was the one to pry you off him. You prepared a blank expression that wouldn't compromise you. If you could avoid eye contact all-together, even better, but Tomura had other plans.

He cupped your face in his hands. You shut off every thought you had before meeting his crimson eyes.

"You were amazing," he said, "I know what you're feeling right now, but you don't have to worry anymore. Stick with me. I'll help you."

You could hear it in his voice; the coaxing manipulation mixed with his genuine feelings. It was just his nature. He's been waiting for you to be vulnerable so he could sink his hook even deeper. When you said nothing, his smile dropped slightly along with his hands.

Kurogiri opened a warp gate to the unknown lair. Compress put one leg through and Tomura approached apprehensively. Your heart beat even faster - don't look back, please, don't look back.

There was at least some space between you and Tomura now. You starred at the back of his head, feeling torn down the middle. Before he had a chance to check on you, you turned on your heel and ran.

You kicked up the ashes of all the dead Stefano chopped up and Tomura disintegrated. The last place you wanted to be was in this house any longer. You just had to find the-

Kurogiri's warp tunnel made a tear in front of you, and Shigaraki stepped out, one hand ready to catch your throat. Your gasp turned into a cough when your airway was cut off.

Tomura's adoring gaze was now filled with rage and hurt, "You just can't let go of your pathetic heroes can you..."

"Tomura..." you squirmed until you realized something dreadful. All five fingers were touching your skin. You hadn't fallen apart yet, but knowing he had gained control only frightened you more.

"Shut up," he yanked you towards his face, "I did my best, you know. I wanted us to be friends. I wanted... so much for you. I did all this heroic bullshit just for you! And you leave me the second you get a chance?"

"I'm sorry! Shinso needs a hospital..." you explained.

Tomura rolled his eyes, "Ugh! Again with that... I should've let the psycho blow his brains out. I spared him for your sake! But maybe Dabi was right... I have been spoiling you."

You watched his eyes travel down your robe, but you knew it wasn't perversion driving his actions.

"It seems as long as that brat's alive... you'll never truly be mine," he reached for one of your robe pockets.

"No! Tomura, dont!" You pleaded. Not after everything you went through!

"You belong to me now!" He snapped, "You can't return to your precious heroes anymore."

Tomura snatched the marble and held it up to your face. The terror present in your eyes seemed to satisfy him. You didn't know what to expect now that he could turn his quirk on and off.

You should have had plenty of energy now. You were hoping to avoid a fight but it was wishful thinking from the start escaping Kurogiri. As you activated your quirk, a searing pain pulsed through your body. Tomura blinked, confused by your sudden response and released your throat - probably worried he lost control of his abilities.

How could this be? You never experienced a painful activation before. It was more than just the knife wound in your shoulder. Was it because you killed Stefano? Was it too much energy? Or a side effect from the drug?

"What's wrong?" Tomura asked, losing his hard-ass persona.

"I don't... know," you said through your teeth. It felt like someone was dragging a white-hot blade down your spine. Unable to withstand the agony much longer, you shut it off.

The pain stopped. You were breathing heavy with your hands on your knees. As soon as you knew you weren't dying your head snapped up to the marble in Tomura's hand.

"Please, give him to me," you said.

Tomura shook his head, "You should have just asked! Kurogiri could have left him at the front doors of any hospital. But I didn't gain your trust at all! No... I need you to see that I'm all you have left."

Tomura grinned at the boy trapped in the palm of his hand.

"Shigaraki..." Kurogiri warned.

"You're right!" You panicked, "I wasn't thinking - okay?"

That he seemed to believe. He didn't relax his pose but his eyes softened a little.

"I wasn't thinking," you repeated, and slowly approached him. Instead of grabbing the hand with the marble, you gingerly touched either side of his face. At first, he flinched. You succeeded in alarming him, but a second later he melted into your hands.

The poor guy was probably touch-deprived. When you thought about it that way, you couldn't help but pity him. Your quirk at least allowed you to experience gentle interactions with others - along with deadly - but his was just deadly.

I wonder how he learned about his quirk in the first place...

"I should teach you a lesson," he muttered, rhetorically. But he seemed to be calming down now. You sighed in relief.

"But it looks like you have more injuries than I thought," he said, "We'll tend to that. And... let the brainwasher go. This time."

You nodded with a grateful smile.

"I wouldn't take advantage of my generosity, (Y/N)."

The two of you didn't break eye contact for an eternal few seconds. This was your life now? Shinso would live and you would be at the mercy of Tomura until what end - you didn't know.

You knew you were lucky that he spared Shinso at all. So you leaned in and pressed your lips against his cold cheek. You honestly weren't sure who was manipulating who anymore.

When you pulled back, Tomura's eyes were wavering, "(Y/N)..."

You opened your mouth to speak, and that's when you saw it. A red feather waving like a flag of victory just behind Shigaraki and Kurogiri.

Tomura noticed your surprise and whirled around just in time for a wave of feathers to swarm you all. You were immediately pulled away from the others by several feathers clinging to your robe.

While airborn, you saw a something blue zipping through the flurry of red. Edgeshot, another high ranking hero, morphed his body into a thin line and surrounded the remaining villains.

"Kurogiri!" Tomura shouted, but the warp villain didn't respond.

The feathers carrying you suddenly let go and you plopped down into someone's arms.

"Hey, kid," Hawk's voice was smoother than honey, "Am I allowed to save you now?"

You had no words, so you simply nodded. If you had had a normal evening you would've been embarrassed in your bloody robe, looking busted, in front of someone stupid-hot like Hawks. Especially with him carrying you like a bride, but you didn't even blush.

"Good girl. Let's goooo."

"Wait!"

He chuckled, "Dammit, (Y/N)."

You pointed to the now captured Tomura. The marble once in his hands had fallen to the floor. Edgshot wound his body around all three villains making them immobile. Kurogiri was somehow unconscious.

"We need that blue marble," you said.

"You sure..?" Hawks asked.

"Yes! I'll explain later."

Without another moments hesitation, you watched one of his red weathers leave his wing and retrieve the marble. Tomura watched helplessly, while Compress's face remained masked, you got the sense he was contemplating something.

Hawks dropped the marble in your hands and your body turned into a puddle. It was like you could finally let go of all this tension. Shinso would be fine, now. It didn't matter what happened to you.

"Did you want the other two?"

You looked up at him in confusion. Hawks nodded at the others and you turned your head slightly.

Compress flicked one marble out of his hand and kept the other. It took you a moment too long to piece together what was about to happen.

"That one is a bomb!" You tried to alert Edgeshot. You forgot Compress kept the small explosive and detonator from Shinso's imprisonment.

Hawks summoned all the feathers to return to him, dragging Edgeshot along, just as the explosive blew up the wall. Hawks shielded your eyes and flew you both backwards as debris fell from the ceiling.

The damage done by Shigaraki from earlier gave little integrity to the building. Everything caved inward.

"I got this," Edgeshot said, "Get the girl out of here."

"Sure thing," Hawks said, and suddenly you were going so fast through the collapsing residence that you couldn't see anything until you were welcomed by the crisp, dawn daylight.

"Wow! Who knew an entire dude was in there."

Hawks was humored by Compress's marble trick, as Shinso sprang from its contents. An ambulance arrived at the scene shortly after your escape, along with the police and fire department.

Despite Compress's best efforts, the villains were still apprehended by Edgeshot and some of Hawks's sidekicks. Shigaraki was a quaking, angry mess, but didn't look up or speak to anyone.

You let the ambulance workers get Shinso situated. No lashing out, you told yourself. The nurses probably already heard rumors about your episode from last time.

Luckily, the guy who was checking out your wounds was a scruffy, take-no-shit-looking old man and he wasn't scared of you in the slightest.

"This'll hurt," was all he said, before using his quirk on your shoulder. He had a fusion ability of sorts and it brought your skin back together without stitches, but it felt like your skin melted at the temperature of the sun before hardening back together.

"It'll leave a scar but I did my best to make it the least noticeable," your burly new friend said, "You've also got a high fever. Take it easy the next day or two."

"Sir?" You asked.

"The boy will be fine," he read your mind, "He's dehydrated, malnourished, torn muscles, sealed a couple open wounds, sick like a dog but he's tough. A lot of the time, pain is a mental game."

You smiled. You didn't feel like you deserved to be this happy, but you couldn't help it.

"After what you kids have been through," he continued, "You're probably going to need a lot of healing here," he tapped your forehead, "and here."

His large finger prodded your chest, "And that'll take a lot longer than any physical wound. I can stitch a body together but there isn't a quirk to mend the human spirit. Take care, now."

Thank you, wise, old, wizard nurse-man.

You were given a large blanket, thank the gods, but still didn't have any actual clothes. The ambulance with Shinso in the back was preparing to take off while you continued to watch from the sidewalk, eavesdropping occasionally on the cops and investigators:

"We found the missing woman reported last week."

"Let the family identify her but warn them ahead of time. It's a rough one... even for me."

"Shigaraki tampered with several of the bodies so this will take time to identify them all, but there are many, sir."

"Did you see the bathtub? Sick fuck."

"Where's our blood specialist?"

"Find out which of the villains killed him."

"Does it matter? That fuckers dead and good riddance."

"It's the law and our job."

"Wasn't Valentini a journalist? The media is going to get a hit for this one."

"The real crazy ones tend to look pretty normal, don't they..."

Hawks reappeared in front of your eyes. He expanded his wings so you were in a shaded cocoon of sorts, shielded from the world.

"Yo," he tilted your chin up, "We should probably get out of here, huh? Too depressing."

"Yeah," you said.

He frowned, "I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner. Not exactly living up to my trademark as the speed hero."

"But you came," you nodded, sincerely, "You made me feel like I wasn't alone, and you listened to me when you probably shouldn't have and... well, thank you."

Hawks grinned and ruffled your hair, "Let's just say you owe me. Big time. And maybe not tell anyone else that I let you call the shots on the whole rescue mission thing."

"You're not mad?"

"Nah. I like a rebel."

You snorted, "I think I'm beyond that..."

"Hey. We got you and your friends out alive. Your plan worked - even if we had to improvise a little."

"Hawks... I did something that'll probably ruin our victory."

His golden eyes studied you and before you could say anything he brought a finger to his lips.

"Was it self-defense?" He asked.

He's sharp.

"I mean, yeah, but-"

"You used your quirk?"

"Yes..."

"You don't have a license yet, huh. Not great, but we can still work with it."

"I don't want you to cover for me," you glared, "I've already been through that and I don't want to be a... a hypocrite."

"It's not like that," Hawks said, "Even if you killed Valentini the responsibility falls on me. You and I were working together, I let you leave with Shigaraki when I could've saved you beforehand. Hell, at the club even. But then who knows what Shinso's outcome would have been."

"You were doing what I asked. It's still my fault."

He shrugged, his huge wings stretched, "But I'm the pro, remember. I'll get the flack."

You dropped your head, "I didn't even think about that."

"Hey!" He grabbed your attention, "Let's worry about this after you get pants on at least."

You tightened the blanket around your shoulders and nodded. Hawks smiled and started shrugging off his thick jacket. You watched in fascination how his process of changing clothes worked. Instead of threading the wings through the slits in his jacket, he just popped every feather off all at once, removed the clothing, and summoned them back into place.

"Put it on," he beamed.

Your jaw dropped, "... But it's yours. Like, part of your costume."

"Aaaaand?" He nudged it into your hands, "Do you know how many of these I have at home?"

"Are you sure?"

"Please, just take the jacket, kid."

You hid the tiny grin spreading from your lips. The jacket was big enough that it went passed your butt, so you could zip it up and hide your goodies. It was easier to have your hands free and not gripping onto a blanket all day.

"Thank you," you said. The inside was lined with a white fuzzy material that kept you cozy. You were embarrassed that you slightly swooned after finding traces of his cologne.

"Mhm," he just smirked.

"... what?" You demanded.

"Nothing. I just can't wait to wear it again after your naked body's been in it."

Stunned by his bluntness, you stumbled on words to say back at him, which only make his smile wider. You threw the blanket in his face, "Well, now I don't want it!"

"Oh, but you gave me the blanket. So, will you also be arrested for streaking?"

"Stop making light of this!"

You punched him playfully, while he snickered. One of the officers approached awkwardly, not wanting to interrupt whatever he thought was happening, "Sorry, Hawks, but we won't be able to transport anyone just yet."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"They've shut down many of the main streets. A bad villain attack," the officer explained, "Even the trains are down."

"I see," Hawks's smile lessened, "Is it far from here?"

"Not too far. Kamino Ward. You can see the helicopter getting the footage now."

You both looked to the sky and in the distance a small helicopter circled an area in the city. For some reason, a sinking feeling entered your chest.

"Who's over there now?" Hawks asked.

"Right now it's All Might. Best Jeanist, Gang Orca, and Mt. Lady are down."

Your heart stopped. Who had the power to take out all three of them?

"Endeavor is on his way to help," the officer said, "It seems the villains escaped the raid."

Hawks furrowed his brow, "Maybe I should head over there with Edgeshot."