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You’ve been in the league for about two months now, and it was an experience to say the least. You expected this group of delinquents to be filled with violent, cruel, and even psychotic individuals. You weren’t exactly wrong. Fights were a constant for awhile, and they bickered more than they worked together outside of missions. You supposed that’s what being in a league with common goals and different people was about. You weren’t really friends. That’s how all groups you previously belonged to worked.
Still, there were always moments that made you stop and think. Like today when you prepared to go to the mission zone in advance with Dabi to scout out the area before Shigaraki and Toga arrived.
“I’ve never ridden in a train before,” you announced as the train pulled into the station. With Kurogiri out of commission due to your last mission, you were forced to walk where you needed to be for the time being, and you had to admit that you were excited about the prospect of public transportation.
“Just stay close then. There’s a lot of assholes in here,” Dabi explained, walking in with the crowd while you got pushed forward since your slow reaction time caused you to be in the way.
You were being pushed towards the opposite wall of the train, but still managed to stand pretty close to Dabi for the time being. Quickly, you realized why people said that public transport sucked. You didn’t like this entire being crammed in like sardines aspect, and it only got more uncomfortable once you were in motion. Though, you didn’t understand what Dabi meant by assholes.
At least until your felt a masculine hand going up the back of your bare thigh. The slow upward motion towards your ass and deliberate squeezes told you that it definitely wasn’t an accident. You tensed as he kept going, obviously unashamed of his perverted actions. Annoyed, you chose to quickly end this exchange before that guy could touch you further; but before you got a chance, his hand was gone. There was a hiss of pain from the man followed by the sickly gross sound that could only be described as bone popping out the socket, and the man let out a silent cry.
“Think about touching her again, and I’ll break them all off next time,” came the cold threat from Dabi.
The man grasped his hand, clearly taught his lesson as he distanced himself from you and your partner. “I thought I said to stay close,” Dabi sighed and pressed himself against your back, separating you from the rest of the crowd as you were sandwiched between him and the wall. “You make everything difficult.”
Despite the complaint and the fact that you could’ve taken care of it yourself, you felt oddly more calm knowing Dabi was protecting you even if the back of your mind said it was because he was assigned to show you the ropes these past few weeks. “Thank you. That was very heroic of you,” you teased at his overreaction.
Dabi sighed. “Shut up and ride.”
As you rode in the train, you couldn’t help but think back on similar incidents like just a short two weeks ago when it kept raining day in and out.
You sighed at the bar, placing your hand in your palm and leaning against the polished wood in a temporary funk as the rain continued to pour outside. You never minded the rainy season before, but today you just weren’t feeling it as it stormed for hours on end. Mr. Compress and yourself were the only two assigned at the hideout for the time being, and he noticed your quietness right off the back.
“What’s the matter, (Name)?”
“Nothing. I’m just not feeling so hot today,” you groaned and slammed your head against the table.
“That should be impossible when I’m around. No can do to have you depressed. It’s unbecoming of a member," Sako reprimanded in an overly friendly voice, with just the hint of playfulness to it.
“Better than crazy I think,” you replied with a huff, sucking down your liquor with a frown on your face.
Sako thought for a moment and pulled out a blue marble. “How about a bouquet for the lady, then?” he asked, activating his quirk.
You blinked at the lovely array of flowers pushed into your face, full of yellow sunflowers, greenery, and small white flowers, bringing a piece of sun into the dimly lit bar. You took the bouquet out of his hand, a small smile playing at your lips as you smelled them. “I never realized you could do actual magic too, and so well at that.”
“I'm offended," he said with an exaggerated gasp. "Everything I do is a spectacular show!”
You chuckled. “So, you kept compressed flowers just for this moment?
”They came in handy, didn’t they? Now, don’t take your eyes off me. Not that you would ever want to.”
"Okay then. Wow me," you grinned.
Then, there was this morning, which was probably the reason why you almost got molested.
“You always wear such baggy clothes!” Toga had always complained about your wardrobe. It was too big or too bland. “You’re way too cute to be hiding under all that fabric. If we dress you right, we can have you seduce fools.”
”You really think I’m cute?” You asked, briefly questioning her motives. There’s no way you were that attractive.
“She isn’t wrong.” Magne agreed with and gave you a pat on the back. “We’re the only women in the league, so we should take care of each other.”
You had no idea what she meant by that. The Magne and Toga you knew were both murderous obsessors in their own way, but—
“Here, try this on!” Toga requested, pulling out another uniform. “We’re going to be twins!”
“Okay, I guess today we’re twins Toga,” you said with a giggle.
“Yes! I can’t believe I didn’t even have to use your blood to make us look alike,” Toga cheered.
The train came to its last stop near the edge of the city, waking you from your thoughts as the crowd dispersed, and Dabi pushed away from you.
”Let’s go,” he said, walking off the train ahead of you. “I know I’m supposed to watch you, but you’re an adult and I want to get this over with fast today, so you’ll handle the east half, and I’ll take west."
You nodded. "No problem!"
And, the two of you separated to begin the mission.
You were thrown to the ground roughly, your head cracking against the cold concrete of the warehouse you were brought to. You were too careless and allowed a pro-hero and his corny boy wonder sidekick to sneak up on you and capture you. Now, you were being held hostage by the two of them in exchange for your leader. The sidekick left to go patrol the outside of the building while the pro kept you in his custody.
”Tell your friends to come get you," the hero ordered, glaring at your crumpled form on the ground.
”Friends? You heroes are funny. Villains don’t choose to be with each other because they’re friends," you explained to him. It was true, you had only join the league to make life better for yourself. All other villain groups you had joined only stayed together out of necessity rather than care. Even if you did call, you weren't sure if they'd waste the resources to come save you.
"You have buddies with you, right? We saw more than just you enter," the hero asked. "I bet if you called one of them, they'd come running. This is the perfect chance to cut the head off a snake."
You glared at him, refusing to answer his question, and his boot met the side of your face. The sharp, red dirt covered spikes of his sole dug into your skin and forced blood to gush down your face. You grunted in pain, grasping at his ankle. “Scream already,” he ordered, stomping on your face again and twisting into the wounds.
You howled as he stomped on your face, tears pouring out your eyes before becoming mixed with blood and dirt. “Fucking fake Hero,” you thought.
You heard the door to the warehouse open, the dust inside kicking up with the breeze of fresh air. From the corner of your eye, you could make out Shigaraki, clutching the captured sidekick’s throat from behind.
"Wow, would you look at this. It seems we both have something the other wants. I think we should make a trade, don't you?"
"Boss," you groaned, failing to force your head up from underneath the large man.
"I don't negotiate with villains. You accept my terms or nothing."
"That's too bad. You wouldn't want anything to happen to this apprentice of yours would you?" Shigaraki asked, sliding a fourth finger around the panicking young hero's neck, and you could feel the pressure on your head release slightly as the hero flinched. "Now, unless you want to clean his ashes from the ground, take your foot off her face.”
Instantly, you felt the relief from the pressure on your face, but you couldn’t actually stop tearing up when boss himself actually walked into a trap just to save you.
“Now, I’ll release him when you release her or else.” The hero grimaced. “I don’t mind ending his life, but I wonder if a supposed hero would really take hers.”
The sidekick tensed as Shigaraki’s fifth finger trembled over his flesh. Grunting, the hero snatched you to your feet and pushed you forward while Shigaraki did the same to his hostage, who stumbled up to the hero; but as you walked past him, you caught an eerie, excited grin.
"Are you alright?" The hero asked and clutched on to his apprentice, not noticing the uncharacteristically evil smile on his sidekick's face.
”Trust me, I'm just fine," the sidekick femininely giggled, his face melting into Toga as she lashed out at the hero. The hero jumped back, only to accidently back into Dabi, who hid in the shadows. The cremation villain clasped a large hand over the hero's face.
Then, it was nothing but flames and the smell of burning flesh.
"We're done here. Let's go back to the hideout,” Shigaraki ordered as Toga untied you.
You nodded and headed back to the base in silence. Your head was pounding the entire time Twice was cleaning up the blood and dirt before he wrapped the unsightly scars with bandages. This was so embarrassing to be the newest member and the only one wounded on what was supposed to be a simple mission.
”You really need to take care of yourself next time,” Twice commented, genuine concern meeting your ears and making your face feel comfortingly warm.
“I will.”
With your head hung low, you went back into the main part of the bar and sat down at one of the chairs next to Shigaraki. Toga leaned across from you, taking in your injured form.
You glanced at Shigaraki, who scrolled the screen on his computer. You couldn’t see his face behind that hand of his, and you wondered if he was angry about having to take a detour on the mission. Swallowing your pride, you spoke up, ”Shigaraki-san...I’m sorry I botched the mission. I was careless, and it won’t happen again.”
The leader clicked the screen to pause, and you could barely make out red eyes looking in your direction. Surprisingly, he ignored your apology to ask, ”Is your face okay?”
You grew quiet, contemplating your answer admist the fog of confusion in your brain. You had screwed up, but he didn’t yell at you like you were expecting. ”Yes, the bleeding stopped awhile ago, and my eye should heal,” you replied lowly.
”Good,” he commented and returned to his computer.
”Ah, Shigaraki-san, the mission?”
Shigaraki sighed. ”Help me think of a new plan tomorrow, and we’ll call it even,” he said and slid over your favorite drink to you.
You blinked at the fruity concoction. There was no way boss could’ve made it himself; and as if reading your mind, he explained, “Kurogiri made this for you.”
”Shouldn’t he be resting?” You questioned.
”He said it was no issue to do this much.”
”Shigaraki...Kurogiri,” you thought to yourself as you stirred your drink, but then a hand on your head caught your attention.
”Hey, sorry that I left you on your own newbie,” Dabi said and slowly removed his hand before sitting down on your free side. He didn’t look at you but stared straight ahead. If you weren’t mistaken, you’d say he almost felt bad. You wanted to ask, but any reply you had was cut short by the rest of the league members arriving.
Mustard was the first to comment at your appearance, the superiority evident in his voice. ”Sheesh, way to wind up looking pathetic. You’re covered in bandages like some sort of mummy.”
You scoffed. ”Shut up, punk.”
Twice laughed, patting the teen on the back. ”Weren’t you the most worried about “big sis”, Mustard?”
”No! If that girl winds up dead, it’d be her own fault,” he replied with a scowl before standing off in the corner with embarrassment.
”Ultimately, she did a good job weeding out one more false hero even if she’ll be straight ugly to look at for the time being,” Spinner teased, pulling at one of the looser bandages.
You pouted.
”Don’t worry, (Name). We can get you a really cute eyepatch until you heal up,” Toga offered.
”Ain’t nothing will make that cute again,” Mustard commented.
”Sure, sure, crybaby! ‘Will she be okay, Twice?’” Twice mocked.
”Stop talking already!”
The banter continued to go back and forth, and you could only watch with swollen, half-open eyes. Throughout all of it, you finally managed to piece it all together. This feeling you felt being around them was different, and you could only laugh at your own doubts that kept you from seeing it before.
”What’s so funny?” Dabi asked, finally looking at you as if you had indeed lost your marbles.
You clutched your drink, chuckling more softly. ”It’s just...I really love you crazy assholes is all,” you announced, and the group only blinked at you before Spinner responded.
”Ugh. Maybe you did get brain damage.”
”Keep that to yourself!” Mustard agreed.
Obsessively laughing, Toga patted your head. ”Don’t worry. We love you too, (Name).”