There is a peculiar weight to the glare someone intangible has. Hisashi could feel it from Kurogiri's gold eyes.
"What is it?" All For One drawled. There was weight in Kurogiri's stare but it was the weight of annoyance, not the weight of something that has truly gone wrong. It was nice sometimes, to deal with annoyance and not the usual disasters his underlings brought to him.
"You might have told me," the misty man hissed.
"I did tell you," Hisashi countered.
"Only after I had to deal with Tomura's hands," Kurogiri retorted.
The first time Kurogiri had been protective towards Tomura, All For One had been surprised, until he realised this was exactly what he wanted. Tomura was a nascent plan, one that could go several ways. And at least one of those ways would require Kurogiri. If that plan failed, Kurogiri would return to him.
"He shouldn't have tried to disintegrate Izuku," Hisashi countered.
The other man didn't have much to say about that.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to bandage someone who disintegrates the wrappings?" Kurogiri grumbled.
Hisashi sighed. "Tomura should be thankful that his lesson in caution has come so early." He had heard all about the incident.
Izuku had said something about wanting to be a hero - he still hadn't grown out of that phase - but the comment irritated Tomura who reached out to touch him. Instead of taking his quirk, as Izuku had done previously, and had been told not to several times, Izuku had instead released a small gout of flame, burning Tomura's hand. It was a reasonably superficial burn and Kurogiri was more than skilled enough to treat it but it stung and would be itchy and irritating. Plus, Tomura could not hold his game controller.
That was probably what was annoying the other boy the most.
Kurogiri couldn't really refute All For One's statement. "It is a reasonable defence mechanism." It sounded like every word was dragged out from between clenched teeth.
"There, you see. Tomura get's a lesson and Izuku has a defence, all with one quirk." Hisashi already knew Kurogiri would not be pleased with the answer. He could tell that while the Warp Gate was annoyed with him for Izuku's quirk there was something else annoying the man.
"Tomura gets a lesson and Izuku has a defence," Kurogiri agreed. "But what about the mess?"
From his servant's tone, All For One knew this was the core of the matter. "Mess?" He queried. He hadn't heard about any mess.
"Izuku's birthday," Kurogiri began.
That had been yesterday, which explained why Hisashi hadn't heard about any mess yet. He had visited Izuku in the morning and later in the evening, when Izuku was sleepy. His son had been happy to see him. He wouldn't disappoint Izuku at this impressionable age, but he wasn't going to attend anything as infantile as a party. "Yes, it was his birthday yesterday," Hisashi commented. He'd been sorely tempted to give Izuku another quirk but Dr Garaki indicated that he would like Izuku to fully absorb Fire Breath to give him a baseline before another quirk was entered into the mix. As a result, All For One had simply spent the morning with his son analysing Quirks. They had even managed to get to a Hero fight. He hadn't enjoyed that, but Izuku had been thrilled, as if he'd arranged the fight just for him.
"And he was excited when he came for lunch," Kurogiri almost growled.
Hisashi had returned from spending time with Izuku in time to return him to Kurogiri for a late lunch. "He had just seen Saberwind fight," he provided the explanation.
"Yes," Kurogiri hissed. "And what do you think happened when he came to blow out the candles on his cake?"
All For One was silent for a few moments, his mind trying to think what could have happened before he connected the dots. He burst out laughing. Izuku would have blown out the candles with a burst of fire, which would have melted them, probably burned the cake and potentially splattered it everywhere. Yes, that sounded about right, especially since Kurogiri was complaining about the mess.
"I trust you have evidence?" He asked.
Kurogiri didn't move but Hisash felt his phone buzz in a way that meant he had incoming messages. He reached down and tapped the screen before opening the message with the video. Then he threw it towards the projector that was in his office. It flickered to life and an image of a grinning Izuku appeared.
Hisashi took in the details of the image. It was in Kurogiri's bar. Tomura didn't go to school but it was important to impress upon him the need to work. Kurogiri opening the bar every night let Tomura see that without actually forcing it upon him. Izuku sat at one of the tables. There was a small cake bearing five candles in front of him. He looked ecstatic. Tomura was in the side of the photo looking rather dour. His hands were wrapped in his gloves again, without a bandage in sight. He had finally healed from the burns Izuku had given him and last All For One had heard, Tomura hadn't attempted to disintegrate Izuku again.
There was no one else present, besides Kurogiri, who was obviously behind the camera. He pressed play before he could think of the implications of that. Izuku quickly took a deep breath, while still grinning. Tomura's expression didn't change. All For One watched as Izuku's lips formed an O, his entire body lifting itself along with his head. Then he swung forward towards the cake. In the background a balloon bobbed into the shot and Hisashi saw a gift on one of the tables.
Then Izuku breathed out. At first, it was just air, but it ignited and his eyes widened as the ball of flame grew. The candles never stood a chance. They disappeared under the conflagration of flame. Dimly Hisashi could see the icing melt, before he realised the cake was an ice-cream cake. The entire thing melted. He saw Izuku's eyes widen comically as he realised what was happening.
By then it was too late. The force of the flame splattered the liquid cake forward, towards the camera. Kurogiri gave a shout and Tomura was scrambling backwards.
Then the feed cut out.
"My, my, I think that's the largest flame he's produced yet," Hisashi commented, keeping his voice mild.
Kurogiri gave him a flat stare.
All For One rewound the video and watched it again. "His control is good," he added.
"There was cake on the ceiling." There was no mistaking the gritted teeth the misty man had. He flicked an image on to the projector displaying the aforementioned ice-cream cake. It was difficult to see in the gloom that perpetually hid the ceiling of the bar, but the ice-cream looked almost like little stalagmites as it hung down.
Hisashi caught the hidden frustration. Kurogiri had had to clean it off before the bar opened. "They wouldn't have noticed," he said, waving one hand. The regulars were usually too high, or already inebriated when they got there. They wouldn't have noticed the ice cream on the ceiling. Or they might have liked it.
"I noticed."
That was the core of the matter.
"I'll see that we work on control in the future," Hisashi conceded.
Kurogiri nodded before he took a deep breath.
All For One was surprised. He had thought the mist villain only wanted to speak to him about the cake on the ceiling but his reaction indicated there was something else.
"What is it?"
"Izuku was asking about school," the bartender told him.
Hisashi blinked. That wasn't even in the realm of what he had been expecting, though to be fair he hadn't really thought about what Kurogiri might have wanted.
"That's a…" He paused, considering. "That's a very good idea," All For One said. School would give Izuku much needed social contact with children his own age.
"There may be a problem."
Hisashi waved one hand at that. "Tomura can go to school too if he wishes," he dismissed it.
"Not that," Kurogiri shook his head.
All For One lifted one hand and rested his chin on it. "What is it then?"
For a being without facial expressions, Kurogiri was remarkably expressive. "Maybe it would be better for Tomura to explain," he suggested.
He snorted, before nodding, turning the projector off. "Bring him through," Hisashi instructed.
It only took a moment for Kurogiri to expand and Tomura quickly stepped through him into the room. "You can't!" The white haired boy said. He had every hand that Garaki had given him attached, including the one over his face.
"Tomura?" Hisashi asked. He didn't have to feign the slight confusion he felt. He had no idea what had set Tomura off this time.
"I don't want it!"
All For One waited for a further explanation but nothing was forthcoming. "You don't want what, Tomura?" He asked, still being gentle.
The boy's gold eyes were angry and he was clenching his fists. Hisashi noted that he was not wearing gloves. That was new. "He's not my brother."
One eyebrow arched at that, but Hisashi still didn't know exactly what Tomura was objecting to. "That is true."
"So he can't have it!"
"Can't have what?"
"I believe Tomura is concerned about the name Izuku will use to enroll in school," Kurogiri finally provided some clarity.
Hisashi glanced at him and could tell that the mist villain had enjoyed his discomfort. The statement did give him some further comprehension about Tomura's objection but not everything. "What name?"
"I'm Shigaraki!" Tomura yelled.
That earned him a glare. Tomura should know better than to yell at him. The boy looked mildly chastised but he was sticking to his point. "Yes, your name is Tomura Shigaraki," All For One agreed mildly.
"He can't have it!"
"There is no need to worry, Tomura," Hisashi said softly. "Izuku will not be enrolled as Izuku Shigaraki," he assured the boy. Izuku probably wouldn't want it either but at the same time he couldn't be enrolled as Izuku Midoriya. While the investigation into Izuku's disappearance wasn't going anywhere, and hadn't been for months, there was no need to tempt fate. He could control many things but not overzealous Police Officers looking for promotion. And… He had heard that All Might was aware of the case.
"You promise?" Tomura demanded.
"I promise," Hisashi replied solemnly. "Izuku is my son, but you will bear my name."
Tomura glared at him through the fingers of the hand. He reached up to scratch at his neck. "Good," he half growled.
"Tomura, you remember what I told you about Izuku?" He asked.
All he got in reply was Tomura scratching again. Hisashi gestured towards Kurogiri who gently tried to move the boy's hand down. He got slapped for his attempt, though Tomura had his thumb tucked inwards. The mist villain stepped back.
"You will both serve me," Hisashi reminded him. "You will both have a place and a job," he added. "But you shall bear my name."
He could hear Tomura breathing as he waited for a reply. The boy eventually nodded and while usually All For One would push for a better answer, it would not suit for Tomura to have full manners. He wouldn't need them in the future, so it was better to establish that now.
"Do you wish to go to school?" He asked instead after Tomura gave him no further answer.
"No," that reply was instant.
"Very well. Was that all?" Hisashi asked.
Kurogiri stepped forward again, which was answer enough. Before the warp gate expanded All For One looked at Tomura again. The hands gripping him almost seem to be dragging at him. He didn't have the height or bulk yet to fully carry the effect off, but once he was older, Tomura would be the very image of a villain. He would be a great distraction but perhaps he was being too clingy at the moment.
If this was not a phase, then he would have to do something about it. That should be easy enough. In the meantime, he would have to make arrangements for Izuku to go to school. There were many to make and it appeared Kyudai would have to finish the formula to give Izuku the ability to give away the quirks he took before school started.
As Tomura disappeared within Kurogiri and the warp villain disappeared as well, All For One felt a smile crease his lips. Izuku wanted to go to school. He wanted to better himself.
That would be encouraged. In the right direction of course.
-ted-
"There will be a murder investigation," the Detective said.
Quantum Steel didn't hear it. Oh, she heard it, but she couldn't focus on the words. It was all she could do to stand there and not tremble. When she was first told that Saberwind was missing, she hadn't thought much of it. The girl had probably just missed a check in and it would all be a miss-communication.
Except it wasn't a missed check in. And the next check in time passed and Saberwind never made contact. By that time, they'd checked her apartment and it was fine. There was nothing wrong there. The security was intact.
Then they'd checked her patrol route, though Quantum Steel knew that they would find nothing there. Saberwind had encountered a minor villain on her last route but he had been taken care of and was in Police Custody already. She'd come back to the office at the end of that Patrol and filled out the paperwork.
She hadn't gone missing while on Patrol, which meant that Sakuko must have gone missing as a civilian.
Except… No, Quantum Steel couldn't actually put an except on that. The police were asking questions now.
"Will the villain be questioned?" She asked.
The Detective looked at her. "We are reasonably sure that he has nothing to do with it." It was a kind way of saying that he was in custody when this had happened.
This was Saberwind's body. She'd been found in an alley, far from her apartment. An underground Hero had found her but Quantum Shield didn't know which one it was. She would ask later when she could thank them without actually demanding answers.
"She wasn't working on anything, off the books?" The Detective asked her.
Quantum Steel shook her head. She had no doubt that in time Saberwind would have had cases like that but she was new. She'd just taken her on as a full hero, not a side kick.
The Detective sighed and made a note of that. "You have no idea what might have caused this?" he asked.
It was almost a tactless question but Quantum Steel knew it had to be asked. When a hero was found murdered, there were lots of tactless questions. Saberwind had been found murdered but it wasn't just that. Both her arms were broken and her head crushed. It was brutal, vicious and she didn't deserve that.
"Sir!" A uniformed officer ran up. He had one of those small notepads in hand.
"What is it, Tatsuya?" the Detective asked.
Tatsuya looked down at his notepad. "We have reports of a large man creating a disturbance in the area about 5 hours before the time of death," he reported.
"Details?" Quantum Steel demanded.
The officer looked at the Detective for guidance. He knew that Quantum Steel was a hero but wasn't exactly sure where she was in the hierarchy at the moment.
The Detective nodded at the officer, telling him to continue.
"He was seen in the street asking about the Hero Saberwind."
"Why wasn't this investigated earlier?" Quantum Steel demanded.
"It was," Officer Tatsuya informed her.
"And?"
The uniformed officer didn't understand what she wanted and cast a glance to the Detective for assistance.
"Quantum Steel, please," the Detective stepped in. "You are too close to the case. You need to calm down."
"Argh!" Quantum Steel yelled, as she raised her hand. Her hand glowed, as she hit the wall. Officer Tatsuya yelped but the Detective just watched on. She knew it was right. She knew he was right but she just wanted answers.
Saberwind hadn't deserved what had happened. No one did.
Quantum Steel took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she pulled back her hand. The bricks crumbled around her fist. "You are right," she managed to say, through gritted teeth. "But I want to be informed of everything," she added.
She had to back away. She had to take a step back. But it wasn't easy. Everything she had been trained in clashed with what she felt. But one of the things she knew is that you had to back away. If you were too close, you had to back away or you made mistakes.
All Heroes knew that and god, she hoped that it wasn't something like that which had happened to Saberwind.
"Keep me informed," Quantum Steel repeated.
The Detective nodded. For Saberwind, for all Heroes, she deserved that.