Chapter Text
If one word had to be used to sum up the past week. That word would be hell. Bakugo was kidnapped. Fortunately they retrieved him, though he was turned into a demon in between the time he was gone. Yushiro gave him the cure and he was back to normal, but that situation could have been so much worse if Bakugo didn’t have Kudo’s demon flesh on hand. Kudo was taken by the HPSC and was definitely being pressured at least. Yushiro could sense Kudo’s annoyance through his paper due to his veins flowing with more fire than normal as well as his heart rate being slightly elevated. Then came the fact that Yushiro’s security demon serum turned Kurogiri back into a human, which was conveniently Aizawa’s friend. Yushiro was glad they did that though, because Shirakumo came back with information that there was a traitor in UA and that traitor may in fact be Aoyama. Yushiro wondered why he’d be a traitor since he’s a kid, but they would figure out his motives soon enough if this was true.
Now. Yushiro was going to call the HPSC again. They’d been keeping his calls short and still weren’t informing him about Kudo. He wanted his boyfriend (and husband) back. This time though, he was going to threaten them and if they didn’t listen, well…they had plans since they’d hacked their servers. The first one was to slowly reveal how much they’d really covered up information surrounding Endeavor and then progressing further and further until they revealed Hawks’ training methods and missions. Unless Kudo was extremely threatened or they tried to experiment on him, then it’d all be sent at once.
“This is the HPSC help desk speaking, how can we help you?” Yushiro finally got through to someone again.
“This is Yushiro Yamamoto.” Yushiro replied. He would still be cordial with people as long as they’d be nice. “My partner, Toya Himura, though he might still be Toya Todoroki in your system, has been in your so-called custody for multiple days now and hasn’t been given legal representation or visitation rights. I know this may not be on you , but I need you to let you know that if your bosses don’t respond properly and instead brush me off again then both I and Nezu will have no other choice than to respond to their actions. Please allow us to see him in person or else we’ll have to proceed with stronger action.” He said, seething internally from the situation. They didn’t even have time for this, because All For One was still out and about and was a demon! He was afraid of what that man’s Blood Demon Art could be too if they left him long enough, because what the hell does that form into with a man like that? It’s usually symbolic or synergistic to the person. Yushiro shuddered. There was no point in further spiralling about that.
“Uh…let me put you on hold and check what they say.” The receptionist replied before actually putting Yushiro on hold. That was progress, because everyone else seemed to be in the know and were trying to get off the call as soon as possible. Progress was slow though as it took fifteen minutes for them to get back to him. “Sorry for the wait. Um. I can’t seem to find a Toya Himura on the system or any sign that Toya Todoroki was taken in for that matter. The higher ups weren’t giving an answer either or just said that they know nothing about Mr Todoroki. I have to assume he’s not under our custody anymore if he even was at all.”
“Nah. They’re holding him in a base. I know that. The fact they didn’t mention Himura to you was to avoid culpability if you were questioned.” Yushiro said before sensing an increase in anger from Kudo and his heart race was increasing further, though this was more out of panic. So they were threatening him badly. “Nevermind. Time’s up. They just messed up and caused my Toya to start panicking in some semblance. They’re possibly harming him. Thank you for your time and sorry for the troubles that are about to be caused to your place of work.” He said before cutting off the call.
Yushiro took off immediately to rush to Kudo’s aid. He wouldn’t let him stay there any longer. On the way though, Yushiro sent one message to Nezu.
‘Scorched Earth Protocol.’
Goodbye HPSC. He hoped they believed sacrificing themselves was worth it.
~~~~~~~~
Bastards. The lot of them. It started with questioning. Started with threats and attempts at physical pressure and restraint, but they quickly realised Toya couldn’t feel the damage. The true problem came after a few days when they started threatening to take blood, so Toya made sure to rile himself up enough for Yushiro to come running. Especially because he was about to burn this damned place to the ground. Another damned labcoated bastard came to put him through the wringer. He was holding a needle though, so this time they were actually going to go for blood.
“You actually stick me with that needle and you’ll find yourself roasted.” Toya growled.
The guy in front of him rolled his eyes before moving forward. “We’re gonna find out your secret. You decided to do it the long way.” He said. The idiot thought he was safe because Toya was in Quirk cancelling cuffs…too bad his Quirk was too broken to adhere to them, especially when he was riled up far enough. That’s not adding on the fact that he’s also now a demon. “Shut it, freak.” Toya knew he must have been growling like an animal towards the bastard, but that helped fuel Toya’s anger so much more.
“I warned you.” Toya said before letting the fire flow from his skin around his wrists. The cuffs melted almost instantly, because Toya had been storing his heat before letting it out. He didn’t pay attention to the scientist’s face as the flames licked around the area and burned the floor around them. He wasn’t going to kill the guy, but the action of letting out the flames would likely scar the man’s legs.
Now. This secret area and lab would cease existing.
~~~~~~~~
Yushiro followed the paper he attached to Kudo to the HPSC headquarters. Of course. They assumed that if Yushiro did figure out Kudo’s location that he wouldn’t go in and take Kudo back by force. Well. They’re wrong. Yushiro wasn’t going to allow them to hurt Kudo like that doctor mentally hurt him. Yushiro walked through the doors and approached the front desk. Kudo was below…a hidden base. How wonderful.
“Hello.” This receptionist wasn’t enthused that Yushiro was here if the voice and tired eyes were anything to go by.
“Hi. How do I get to the floors below?” He asked immediately.
“Floors below? This is the ground floor?” The receptionist said. She seemed genuine, even if she didn't like Yushiro’s presence at the building.
“Huh. So not all of you know about the underground floors?” Yushiro chuckled darkly. “Oh well. That isn’t stopping me from rescuing my boyfriend.”
“Oh. It’s you.” Another receptionist said. Her voice was familiar. “I thought I said he wasn’t here.” She was also genuine.
“He is here. He’s below and,” Yushiro looked at his watch. “I know your boss is about to come here, because their classified information about Endeavor and Lady Nagant’s HPSC designated actions was just released to the public. The media is probably going wild.”
The lift opened and what a surprise, there she was. The HPSC president. “Yamamoto.” As expected, she had a glare on her face.
“Soon-To-Be-Arrested-Witch.” Yushiro greeted her with a demonic grin. “You really don’t know where and when to stop sticking your nose into shit. Your first mistake was hiring the mercs to try and obtain my secret. Before you retort. They figured there was a secret area, which only you or one other group of people would assume, and the other group wouldn’t have gone to the effort of posting a merc listing when they could have easily broken in. And your second and final mistake was taking Toya. You should have assumed that I’ve had centuries to master different crafts. Did you think your system protections would be enough? Especially for someone like me who has been destroying crooked heroes for years.” Checkmate.
“You…that vigilante was you?” The president growled. “No matter. The public will understand why we had to secure Endeavor as a hero and Nagant…she still killed people.”
“Except they didn’t know about Hawks. They didn’t know that their beloved high-rising hero…is a mercenary you trained to do kill missions. That he is a kid you bought off their mother and trained harshly. Too harshly. Just to replace Nagant. It’s great that you kept the evidence though, because it bridges the gap between the current heroes and Nagant. Thanks for that.” Yushiro said.
“You wouldn’t. If you reveal that the entire HPSC goes to hell. Hero society goes to hell!” She screeched. “What do you want?”
“You know what, or more so who, I want back Kuruba. Toya Himura. I want him returned immediately and any research or whatever you’ve started needs to be destroyed.” Yushiro said. “At least…that would have been my bargain for you if you had cooperated with me and hadn’t tried to mess with Toya. It’s too late now. The moment you and your lackeys laid hands on Toya was the moment you sealed your fate.” He turned to the receptionist. “Turn the TV on please, with sound.”
The one reliable receptionist that Yushiro knew did as asked. “More shocking revelations about the HPSC have come to light. Though nothing has been verified yet, the videos of training methods and punishments of their trained students, including one who looks like Hawks, are horrifying and appear real enough to say for certain that there is a much darker side to an establishment we thought was protecting us. This is before we go into the files-”
“I know you wanted to control me, but you instead messed with fire.” Yushiro said. As if perfectly timed, fire alarms started going off within the building, causing him to laugh. “Oh well done, Kudo.” He said before activating Blackwhip and digging it into the ground. He’ll have them carve a tunnel and seek out Kudo.
‘Huh. They really were trying to get me to blab about the demon serum and stuff.’ Kudo’s vestige said. They must have been close enough to properly resonate memories again. ‘Then, because they couldn’t actually harm me physically, they started threatening to take my blood while escalating a little. I put up with it for a couple days since it seemed like a bluff, but then they were actually gonna have someone take my blood and try to get the serum the hard way.’ Ah… ‘The other me is grabbing onto Blackwhip now. You can pull him up.’
Yushiro pulled Kudo up slowly. The tunnel he’d made was glowing blue…Kudo was using his flames. Lovely. What had he done down there? “I warned you.” Kudo chuckled as he was pulled up. He really did look like a proper demon from hell with hellfire around him.
“Ku-Toya.” Yushiro had to correct himself. He’d been referring to Toya as Kudo too liberally. ‘Not that we mind.’ “What did you do?”
“I was thinkin’ of torching the whole building to the ground, but I’m not stooping to these asshole’s level. Plus, not everyone’s involved in the shit here.” Kudo said before turning his Quirk off. “I just bust myself out, burnt down their lab and records and froze everything over afterwards to clear out the fires. Set the alarms off though and showed off when I got up here.”
“How the hell did you even get out of there? You were in Quirk cancelling cuffs!” Kuruba said. Huh? Yushiro turned to Kudo with a frown.
“I do keep things secret, you know.” Kudo huffed. “My Quirk is so fucked, it’s too strong to be suppressed by normal standards. Too bad that wasn’t on my record, huh?”
“Dammit.” Kuruba cursed. “You had this all prepared before you even got here…how long have you been planning to take me down?”
“Since this establishment decided that image and popularity was worth more than intention. Since people like you decided that people don’t get to know the greys in society where people could be saved. Since people like you let so many other people down because you couldn’t spare a damn emotion for them and instead kill them.” Yushiro said. “Now. I think the police will want you, since your actions oppose what the government itself stands for. See you never, Kuruba. Won't miss you or your damned predecessors for the crap you’ve all done.”
“We upheld society. You’ll find that out very soon.”
“You upheld a facade. If society collapses at that, so be it. It wasn’t a proper society to begin with if that is the case.” Yushiro said bitterly.
Kuruba was arrested promptly and police and detectives filtered in to end the system that was in place. Yushiro felt bad about the people who were unaware of everything that these corrupt people did or were victims of their actions, but he didn’t feel bad about the result. People needed to know sooner or later…at least Kudo was safe.
~~~~~~~~
Hawks was bored. He usually was, even if he did enjoy helping people. It was the same old thing on patrol, but at least that gave him a break from The Commission's assignment. His most recent capture was a little more interesting. The villain had stolen someone’s purse and was able to make illusionary clones on themself. Chasing those down with his feathers was a proper challenge and following the real one in different alleyways actually got his blood pumping.
He did like the attention he got after it. The genuine thanks, that is. If it was his choice, he’d not want the attention. It’s too much hassle when he could be out there helping people and seeing everyone happy. What happened to Endeavor was…it was souring to say the least, but the man was his inspiration, was his saviour. Yet he turned out to be closer to Hawks’ own father than an actual good person.
Hawks had the villain secured and passed them off to a sidekick before taking the purse back to its owner. “Here you go ma’am.”
“Oh thank you!” The woman said with a wobbly smile. “I don’t know what I’d have done if I lost it.” There was a fondness in there. It was something more important than just cash and cards.
“No problem. Just doing my job.” He replied with a smile. His communicator started. Only the commission would be contacting him now. “Sorry. I’ve got an important call coming in.” He said as the call accepted itself.
“Hi.” Mera. They usually used him when Hawks needed to be eased into something due to their connection.
“Yo.” Hawks replied. He was at least comfortable enough to be less formal with Mera since the guy was chill. If anything, he was more of a parent to him than his own were. Though at least, in a way, his mom gave him his dream. Even if the commission has twisted his life beyond recognition.
“Have you checked the news Keigo?” Huh? Why was Mera referring to him by that name? No one was allowed to use that name, not even Hawks himself. He was Hawks, no one else. Except when he was using an alias when undercover.
“Mera…you’re not supposed to say that name.” Hawks said tensely.
“Aren’t I? The President has been arrested and the HPSC has currently been shut down while it’s being fully investigated by the government. Nezu released every single mission dossier as well as the videos and documents surrounding your training to the public. They know how the HPSC treated you and threatened you as well as your missions.”
“What?” Hawks needed Mera to repeat that. That was a lot of information in one sentence and none of it made sense.
“I can’t believe it either, but I think we’re free. Kid. Keigo. You should take care of yourself for the next few days. People are going to be asking a lot of questions, but I think you deserve to rest and you deserve to be yourself. Don’t forget to visit me though. See you soon.” Mera ended the call.
Hawks could rest. Haw- Keigo could be himself. He let out a deep breath like it was something he was holding his entire life. “Hey.” The woman from before was still here and was looking at her phone. “Are you okay?” Her concern was genuine, but not forced.
Keigo chuckled a little. It was rare to hear a civilian ask that to a hero…but he didn’t feel like a hero right now. He felt like he was a kid again and finally could make a choice for himself again. That he could be himself again. So he could answer truthfully. “I wanna say that I am, but that’d be a lie.” He sighed. “Don’t really like my business being broadcast to everyone, because I still want to be a hero.”
“Well…I still think you’re an amazing hero, Hawks!” The woman cheered. She didn’t pity him. “No matter what they made you do, you’ve done your best!”
“Thank you.” Keigo replied more quietly. He cleared his throat and decided to be a little louder for any more onlookers. “I haven’t seen what has been exposed surrounding me and The Commission, but since I lived it, I know most of it wasn’t pretty. What I experienced and what I did…none of it was good. I plan to remain as a hero, but if what you now know shakes your confidence in me, I can understand that. I’m gonna go on a break and sort everything out and then hopefully come back. This time as myself as well as being ‘Hawks’.” He said.
He didn’t know whether he should really thank Nezu or grill him, since alongside Keigo’s treatment, his missions have been released. The public knew of the kill missions…That was something he could sort out later. He could finally take a moment to relax as Keigo Takami and not ‘Hawks’.
~~~~~~~~
Shota had been talked out of expelling most of his class. If only because there was logic in the sense that Japan needs stability and UA’s gonna be the example to follow now that the HPSC is being dismantled and rebuilt via Nezu’s guidance. Also…Shota assumed Midoriya wouldn’t allow them to stop him. He’s logical, but also stubborn. He’d be a vigilante if it meant he could save people. That would stand for quite a few of the kids at this point. Shota couldn’t, in his right mind, actually punish the kids. He could, however, give them the most stern lecture of their lives once they were on campus.
They now had to visit the students one by one and get their permission for the kids to move into the dorms. Some would be easier to convince than others. Shota was already dreading when they got to the Jiro and Hagakure households, because those two came out the worst in terms of recovery time. However, he also figured that the Midoriya’s would be cautious too considering how much the kid has been through.
This was going to be a long day.