That Saturday night, Izuku wasn't doing vigilante work. Tonight was designated more for keeping up on his hacker and informant personas. Deku and Canary respectively. Izuku loved annoying the shit out of his favorite detective and hero as Black Wolf but sometimes, the men needed a break from his antics. All his personas were familiar with each other in a way. Or at least that's what underground pro heroes and the police thought.
According to them, the hacker, informant, and vigilante were a team. How they came to that conclusion, Izuku has no idea. Ok well maybe he has a slight idea, but that's besides the point. The point is that he has to go meet a client at a bar in 30 minutes and he somehow has to get past MeiMei.
"Where are you going?"
Turning around, Izuku came face to face with MeiMei. How does she always sneak up on him? Even Eraser can't do that and that man is a seasoned pro hero.
The pinkette was wearing the same outfit she wore when they were in the workshop, making it evident that she has been in there the whole time.
"Nowhere MeiMei."
"That's a lie. You're dressed in another sketchy ass outfit. What are you an assassin now too?"
MeiMei knew he was a vigilante, due to him being caught sneaking out one night and her not letting him leave until he explained what was going on. All she wanted was for him to let her make him gear every now and then. But she knew this wasn't his vigilante outfit. So Izuku guesses she had the right to feel at least a bit suspicious.
She looked his outfit up and down. He was wearing his signature (were they signature?) tight fit ripped black jeans, with a white undershirt that accentuated his muscles, tucked into the belt. Covering that so he doesn't get cold, and to hide his plethora of knives, he had a hooded jacket that was black with white accents in a similar design to his vigilante hoodie. The all black mask he wore to protect his identity when meeting new clients, hung limply around his neck.
"MeiMei…"
Izuku sighed in faux exasperation. He was going to be late and Canary was never late. He slipped on his black combat boots and stood to face MeiMei.
"I'll tell you when I get back, but I need to go or I'll be late."
MeiMei seemed to accept that and waved him off from the genkan, leaving Izuku to assume that she'd lock the door after he left.
Izuku, or now Canary, pulled up his mask to his nose, successfully cutting off all view of anything below his vibrant green eyes and pulled out his phone to check the time. 11:55 pm. Five minutes until the allotted time they were to meet. He walked into the bar that he normally did his client meets at and made way for his regular booth in the far corner away from prying eyes. The normal patrons there all knew him and even if they didn't, they knew of him. Two very different things in the eyes of Canary. Not something he wants to go into at the moment.
Canary sat down in his seat and patiently (as patiently as he was known for) waited for whoever the [Unknown] user was who had contacted him. Keeping his eyes on the door, he signaled for the bartender for his usual. No not alcohol. He doesn't condone underaged drinking and even if he did drink, he wouldn't drink while on the job. So yes, by usual he meant an ice cold bottle of water.
Casually sipping on his drink in large intervals, Canary watched as a man that looked like they had been sewn up by an amateur seamstress, walked through the double doors of the bar.
Dabi. Otherwise known as Touya Todoroki. Not really all that surprised he would contact me. Most likely in regards to his fatherー Canary gagged at the thought of the number 2 hero. ーEndeavor. Interesting, but not at all surprising.
The informant watched as Dabi made his way to the bartender and presumably asked where Canary was. The criminal turned in his direction and, once he waved off the barkeep, made his way over to the table.
Sliding into the seat opposite the informant, Canary watched as Dabi scrutinized him.
"Dabi." Canary gave a shallow nod in the older's direction.
"I assume you're Canary then?" Canary gave only a slight nod and a hum in confirmation.
Canary watched as Dabi's eye twitched at the non verbal answers. Obviously not how the man expected the meeting to go. Keeping his eyes blank so as to show no signs of his amusement, Canary waited for Dabi to spit out what the man wanted from the informant.
The man rubbed the back of his neck before starting.
"I want any and all dirt you can dig up on Endeavor."
"Hm." Canary rested his chin on his hand, maintaining eye-contact with the scarred man. "And why specifically Endeavor? I mean it's not like you have any personal relations or vendettas with the man. Unless…" The informant trailed off purposely.
Dabi tensed. His hands coming to rest face down on the table burning the table under him in a clear threat. Canary knew how pissed off the barkeep was going to be after seeing that and he also knew he'd have to fucking pay for the damages too.
"Woah calm down there Patchworkー" Dabi clenched his fists at the nickname. "ーI was just asking harmless questions. As long as you get me the proper payment for my services, you'll get the information you want."
Patchwork seemed to relax at that. Yes he knows the man goes by Dabi, but does the little shit care? No.
"Good. I also need any and all weaknesses that can be exploited."
Canary's face screwed up at the implications of the statement, but as soon as the expression appeared it vanished just as quick. Leaving Patchwork to wonder if he had imagined it or not.
"Now maybe you've heard or maybe you haven't; but I don't give out information that could be used to get someone killed." Patchwork frowned. "Now I can get you any and all dirt on Endeavor from the time he was a tyke all the way until now, but I refuse to be a part of anything that, even if they deserve it, would wind up with a murder." Sue him, he has morals. Even if it is Endeavor, but still, Izuku does not want any murder on his hands. Indirectly or not.
"Fine."
"Alright!" The informant chirped. "Let's get down to the logistics then!"
Izuku crawled in through the bedroom window and quickly changed out of his tight clothes into more loose and comfortable ones. Right as he was pulling his sleep shirt over his head, MeiMei walked into the room.
"Alright spill."
"Fine." he said in resignation.
And so he did. He told her about his hacker and informant personas and she listened intently. And Izuku enjoyed having someone listen to him like MeiMei did.
After that night Izuku stayed at MeiMei's house for the months leading to the entrance exam. He only ever went back to the apartment he shared with Inko once (at the beginning of his stay with MeiMei), to get clean clothes and to pick up his laptop and notebooks that had all his ideas and analysis in them. MeiMei never questioned him and neither did her mom. He was very grateful to the both of them.