Chapter Text
Izuku awoke to the sound of his phone alarm. He rolled off the couch smacking at the table where his phone lay. The alarm stopped and he stood up, blindly stumbling his way across the room to turn on the light.
The light nearly blinded him and he blinked away black spots as he set about making his breakfast. Ever since Kirami had taught him to pick locks he’d been able to turn on the electricity. He could cook and charge his phone at home. He still had to crate up water up the stairs and use the showers at the beach, but that was as good as his situation would get.
Bending over Izuku grabbed his back pack and tried to lift it only for a sharp pain to shoot through his wrist. He ignored it, hoisting his backpack onto his shoulders as he made his way towards the library.
Like every morning Ashido called out in greeting as he passed the front desk and for half an hour he’d get dragged into a blow by blow explanation of whatever book she happened to be reading at the time.
He finished his lessons by lunch time and pulled out his newest hero analysis book. He’d been starting them all again, using his old notes and cross referencing them with eyewitness accounts online.
Endeavor was an enigma to Izuku. He’d dug through every corner of the internet researching the top ten heroes. He’d researched Best Jeanist, Mirko, All Might, and even they couldn't save everyone. There had been accidents before. Villains killed hostages, or a civilian accidentally got caught in an attack, but people were told. People knew about these accidents.
Maybe Endeavor hadnt seen his mother, but that didn't excuse the absolute lack of remorse that followed. He hadn't even cared when his attack hit her.
But her death had been covered up, blamed on the villian instead of her real killer, and that was unexcusable.
The deeper he dug through the more he learned. Others told the stories of the deceased. How they’d been caught in the crossfire of Endeavors attacks and no one knew. People called them liars and attention seekers. No one believed that the number two hero would cover up their deaths.
Something needed to be done. How many more would get caught between and die?
In all the business of his days he barely thought of the prior nights events. But perhaps he should have.
That night in the warehouse Izuku shrank in on himself under Kirami’s enraged glare. The stifling silence was only broken by the occasional meow of a cat, but it didn’t serve to break Kirami’s intense frustration.
She knew.
How he knew, Izuku didn't know, but one thing was blatently obvious. She knew.
“What did I say rule number one was?” Kirami finally broke the silence.
Izuku didn’t reply instead letter her begin ranting. “Rule number one, don’t try to take any villians out on your own. I took you with me so you wouldn’t get into a fight, not so you could go and fight villians on your own. What made you think that was a good idea. The police know Beryl is out there now, and they’re going to want to know more about you. They want to know your agenda, your route, anything that will give them the upper hand on you if they think you've gone too far. The reason I didn't want you getting involved yet was to teach you what you needed to know before they got wind of you.”
“Since this is only your first time, they’ll probably just write it off as an unknown civilian intervening. But you can’t do that again, not until I say you’re ready, ‘cause if they catch wind of you a few more times, they’ll send Eraser out here to look into it.”
“I thought you knew Eraser?” Izuku startled, a shiver running down his spine.
“Yes, Eraser knows me, not you, to him you’ll just look like a little kid trying to play hero.”
“But, that girl needed help.” Izuku innterupted. “I couldn't just walk away, and even if I’d gotten you it would have been too late.”
Kirami let out a long suffering sigh. “Yes, you are right, and yes, you did the right thing. You saved the civillian and got out as fast as possible from what I heard. But I really need you to understand this though. It it crucial that you keep as much information away from the police as possible. You don’t want them getting an accurate estimate on your age or quirk. That will make it easy to track you down. Things like height and size are pretty much unavoidable as there is always a witness to your actions. The civillians will get asked about you, so don’t let them know anything. Your greatest protection is your identity.”
“Yes Sensei.” Izuku nodded. Kirami walked up to him reaching out and grabbing hold of his wrist. She frowned at the scrapes on his hands as she began unrolling the elastic bandage. “You’ve completely irritated your wrist as well.” She sighes, hands heating up again as she healed his sorewrist. “What did I say about straining it?” Izuku didn't reply instead he looked down at the floor as she wrapped it up again.
He’d done the opposite of what she told him, and now a guilty monster writhed in his gut. “I’m sorry.”
“What done is done.” Kirami replied letting go of his wrist and sitting down on the mat. “I think you've been scolded enough. Sit.” She patted the ground in front of her and Izuku complied, sitting down in front of her. Kirami scooped Miki into her lap.“Tell me, what do you think about going shopping?”
“Shopping?”
Izuku got no explanation from Kirami that evening about her strange offer. All she said was to meet her at the diner he bought her coffee from, and he was to bring a hoodie and goggles. Then she made him run laps and up and down stairs.
So the next morning he pulled on a dark hoodie and grabbed his goggles shoving them down the front pocket as he began walking down the hospital stairs. The diner was a few blocks away but by the time he arrived Kirami was already waiting for him. She waved him over to the alley entrance where she stood.
“Alright, if we’re going to get you on the streets than you’re going to need gear.” Kirami announced putting her hands into the front of her cat hoodie. She had a mascarade type mask over her eyes
“No way! Really?!” Izuku gaped. “You mean like grappling hooks and knifes?“
Kirami snickered. “Sure, maybe. But first you need proper clothes, and tools. And lucky for you, I can foot the bill.”
Izuku’s mind flashed to the massive sum he had and he instinctively cut her off. “I can buy my own.”
“Nonsense.” Kirami replied waving him off. “Now, where I’m about to take you is what we call the Underground.”
“The Underground?” Izuku repeated. The name itself sounded ominous. What kind of place were they going to.
“Its a place where information brokers, illegal support gear makers, and all sorts of people gather. The Underground is the place you go to find information. It's full of lowlifes who’ll tell you anything for the right price. You just gotta find the right person.” Kirami replied. “While you are down here, I have rules, and so help me if you don’t follow them.” Izuku sheepishly grinned at her plainly exaggerated frustration. “Don’t touch anything, don’t talk to anyone I don’t talk to, don’t get lost, stay with me, and don’t stick your nose into other people's business. Number one rule for the underground. Talk less, smile more, and don't let anyone know what your against and what you’re for.”
“... Alright, Kirami-Sensei.” Izuku nodded listing off the rules in his head. They all seemed pretty reasonable.
“Oh, and call me Neko-Chan.” Kirami added quickly.
“Neko-Chan? That sounds like-”
“I know, I know, it was a stupid name to pick, but I needed a name and that was what I came up with on the spot.” Kirami replied sounding flustered behind her mask.
“Why do you need another name?” Izuku wondered. She already had one secret identity, why need another.
“Neko-Chan was the name I used when I was part of Mama Higgins's gang.” Kirami explained. “I left years ago, but the name still means something in the underground. And that's more than I can say for Anzu. The Underground fears Vigilantes. Their loyaltys don’t lie with the underground making them wild cards that they prefer to avoid. It's a lot more likely that a Vigilante will leak information to the police if they learn anything in the underground.”
“...I see what you mean.” Izuku realized.
“Right, so remember, call me Neko-Chan.” Kirami instructed turning on her heel and walking towards a metal side door. She knocked seven times in a rythmic pattern and the door swung open.
“C’mon.” She gestured for Izuku to hurry after her and he did joining her in the tunnel beyond the door. A set of poorly lit steps led further underground until Izuku could hear the faint humm of a large group of people. Anzu pulled open a last door revealing a wide hallway. The ceiling was curved and various alcoves came off the sides. Following closely behind Kirami he watched the room around him in amazement. People were selling all kinds of things, one stall was selling scrap, another was selling strange gadgets. Most of the stuff was probably stolen though…
“Hey, Neko-Chan! Get over here!” A voice called out. It belonged to a woman who stood at a stall with piles of assorted jewels, necklaces, and rings. The lady herself was tall and slim with dark eyes and dark hair. A pair of cat ears came out the top of her head and she had visibly sharp, styled nails. Just like Kirami she had a stylized mascarade mask on. In fact most of the ladies did.
“Hey Jewel-Chan.” Kirami greeted walking up to the stall. The two seemed familiar with each other. “Still Cat Burglaring I see.” Kirami stated picking up an expensive looking necklace and dangling it from a finger.
Jewel-Chan let out a laugh. “Of course. I never understood why you would leave to go teach a bunch of little brats. The gangs all I need. Now, what’re you doing back here? And have you visited Mama yet? She’s dying for a visit. You always were her favorite, remember?
Kirami laughed sheepishly. “Yeah, I’ll stop by for a visit before I leave.” She promised.
“Oh?” Jewel caught sight of Izuku catching up to Kirami. “Neko-Chan, who’s this little guy?” She turned her full attention on Izuku. “New recruit?”
“No, he's mine.” Kirami replied. “In fact, you might be able to help me out. Have you seen Goggle-Chan lately.”
“Goggle-Chan… Goggle-Chan… Ah right, down the hall and to the left.” Jewel instructed.
“Ah, thanks, C’mon Greenie.” Kirami grabbed his sleeve pulling him away from Jewels stall. “Oh, be careful though, Goggle Jr is helping out.” Jewel called after them as they waved through the groups.
All around people were browsing the aisles. Some carried around bottles of beer or cups of coffee as they chatted. Kirami led the way leading Izuku skillfully through the crowd and towards a nearly empty alley. The only person in the alley was a small figure weilding a blowtorch over a strange decive. She had pink dreadlocks and large mechanical looking goggles over her eyes.. She didn't even notice as they approached being too focused on welding the metal join in her device.
“Hello?” Kirami tried to get her attention but the girl didn’t even look up. “Hey, Junior.”
“Hold on, you can’t rush a perfect baby.” The girls replied not even looking up.
“Oh, no, that's all right, I was just looking for your mother.” Kirami explained.
Quick as a flash Goggle Jr. set down her blowtorch and looked up at them expectantly. “Ooh, do you need babies? What can I get you, something discreet, or something that everyone can see coming? I know I've got some nice stuff over here.” She turned to a crate behind her and began pulling things out. “These babies attach to your arm and shoot fire, and these ones-”
“Junior, where’s Goggle-Chan?” Kirami innterupted.
“Huh? Oh, Mom’s busy so she let me run her stand today.” Goggle Jr. replied.
Kirami let out a withering sigh. “She let you come here alone?”
“I’m not alone, I’ve got all my Babies, and mom’s weirdly loyal friends.” Goggle Jr. gestured to a group of mascarade mask wearing women clustered around a table. “Oh, and the big boss lady threatened to send her wrath at anyone who messed with me. Not that there’d be much left of them after I use this thing.” Goggle Jr. smacked the metal tank that stood next to her feet. A tube led out the top of it to what looked like a home made flame thrower.
“C’mon time to pack up.” Kirami instructed grabbing a fist full of tools and throwing them into a tool box.
“Huh?” Goggle Jr. exclaimed indignantly. “Why?”
“‘Cause, I need to have a chat with your mom.” Kirami replied. “Now hurry up, I’ve got places to be.”
Goggles grumbled but obliged packing all her devices into the crate and loading it onto a wagon. She slapped her hands together before wiping them off on her jumpsuit. Then she turned around nearly coliding with Izuku. “Who are you?” She pursed her lips in thought.
“Oh- uh, you see-” Izuku fumbled for something to say.
“He’s with me.” Kirami interrupted pulling a curtain across the front of the stall and bending over to pick up the wagons handle. “C’mon, you can chat on the way out.” Kirami spun the wagon around leading them towards a different door than the one they used to come in.
The door led to a ramp leading up to the surface and coming out in a different alley.
Once they came out into the street the trio removed their face coverings. The pink haired girl rounded on Izuku.
“I’m Mei, Mei Hatsume.” She leaned in so close to his face he could see that what he thought were golden eyes actually had a pupil shaped like a cross hair.
“I’m,” Izuku glanced at Kirami wondering if he should use his real name now and she nodded approvingly. “Izuku. Izuku Midoriya.”
“Nice to meet you. Do you want to make a baby with me?” She exclaimed very loudly and very eagerly.
Izuku could feel the heat rising in his face. “Huh? Wha- What-” he spluttered in shock.
Kirami glancing between the two burst into laughter, so hard she could barely breathe. Tears of laughter were nearly pouring down her cheeks as she paused to catch her breath.
Mei glanced innocently between Kirami and Izuku.
“MeiMei, I think you need to rethink that introduction.”
“Why?” The thirteen year old tilted her head in confusion. “Making babies is fun.”
Kirami spluttered for an excuse as Mei dropped back to talk to Izuku. “I know precisely what it means, it's just absolutely hilarious to freak everyone out like that.” She whispered.
“...it worked.” Izuku admitted still with brilliantly red cheeks. “But what you really mean is inventions, right?”
“Yep! I like making support gear. I make all kinds of stuff. I’m going own support gear company when I’m grown up.” Mei told him. A sudden gleam filled her eye and Izuku recoiled away from her. “You’re looking for babies, aren’t you?” She realized.
“Um… yeah.” Izuku replied hesitantly.
Mei looked him up and down running her hands together excitedly. “Okay, I’ll see what I can come up with, Midori-San.”
Kirami led the group further out of lower Musutafu towards upper Musutafu. It'd been way quicker if they'd taken the train, but Kirami had made the executive decision that they needed more exercise, so, the walked down street after street chatting all the way.
Eventually the sights began to appear familiar to Izuku. He passed a park where he used to play when he was little, and crossed a river he used to skip rocks on. He even passed his old elementary school. Eventually though, Kirami turned onto a quiet street where urban houses were lined up in neat rows. Each house had a front yard and a small backyard. Three houses down Kirami turned down the footpath and walked up to the front door, not even bothering to ring as she tried the doorknob. Sure enough it was unlocked. She slipped off her shoes stepping inside before waving Mei and Izuku in.
“Hello! Fikumo!” She called out.
“MOM! I’M HOME!” Mei hollered.
Loud footsteps ran over head and a moment later a blonde haired woman came hurrying down the stairs. “Hikari!” She greeted Kirami with a hug. “Good to see you. What brings you around? Let me get you some tea, oh you brought Mei with you.” She realized as she pulled away and busied herself around the kitchen.
Kirami let out a sigh fueling herself for the conversation she was about to begin. “Fikumo, you can't leave a thirteen year old in the underground by herself.”
Fikumo didn't even pause as she bent over to pull a kettle out of a cupboard. “Why not? There’s no safer place for her.”
Izuku felt a tug on his sleeve and he turned to see Mei gesturing for him to follow her. Izuku glanced unsurely between Mei and Kirami, but Mei left no room for argument, grabbing onto his arm and pulling him with her towards a glass sliding door that led to the backyard.
She slid the door shut behind them with a giggle. “They'll be talking for a while, so in the meantime… I believe your looking for babies.”
“Um… Kirami said I needed gear.” Izuku explained with one final glance inside as Mei pulled him towards the shed.
“Ah, perfect!” Mei exclaimed. She tried to open the shed door only to find that it was locked. She bent down peeling up a corner of an ancient door mat to reveal a key. Quick as a flash she unlocked the door and swung it open. “Welcome to Hatsume industries!” She spread her arms out wide as Izuku glanced around the shed. Various tools and inventions lay scattered everywhere. “Now, tell me, Midori-San. What can I interest you in? Rocket shoes, shock absorbing boots, wrist attached grapple shot?” She held out various intentions but pulled the back before he could get a close look. “Ooh, how about a flame thrower?”
She looked eagerly at him waiting for a response. “Well, um, first shouldn't I think about protection?”
“Oh, you mean something like what Kirami has for her night job?” Mei asked bending over to pull a role of fabric out from under a bench. “Protective fabric. Hard to cut, flame resistant. I could make you a bodysuit out of it. It's really show off your muscles.” When Izuku shuddered at the thought of wearing something so skin tight she added, “Or just an undershirt would work, as a layer of protection under your regular outfit.”
“...How protective is it?” Izuku asked curiously leaning down to poke the rubbery fabric.
“Well, from my tests it’s the best thing I have unless you want to wear an entire suit of armor. It has excellent manuveranility.” Mei set down the roll grabbing a tape measure and beginning to measure Izuku’s torso. She scribbled it down on a piece of paper before flitting to another workstation.
“Now, what do you think about this?” She held out a small round orb. Before Izuku could figure out what it was Mei threw it at the wall being him. Upon contact the orb exploded in a glob of neon green slime. “I have thin ones for making people slip, and thick ones to trap them in. Oh, and I also have these.” She picked up a silver tube, and with a flick of her wrist it extended into a staff. Quick as a staff she unscrewed the ends and turned the staff into two batons. “I can add tasers to the end if you want. Oh, and check out this multi tool. Slim, easy to use, with a knife, can opener, file, screwdriver, lockpick, pliers, and a cork screw.” Mei whipped out the tool, brandishing it through the air as she showed it off.
“Did you make all of these?” Izuku asked looking around at the inventions scattered all around.
“Most of them, some my mom made and others… are just references.” Mei replied. “All my inventions are prototypes for the hero support gear I’m going to make someday. Kirami test runs a lot of it for me. I’ll have so many inventions lined up before I even get to UA.”
Izuku nearly tripped over a table as his head whipped around quickly. “You want to go to UA?” He asked quietly.
“Of course! UA may be best known for its hero program but it's support course is the best of the best! If I want to make a big splash in the support biz I've got to go there.” Mei declared launching herself onto a spinny chair and shooting across the room to yet another table. “What about you, Midori-Chan, are you aiming for UA? I mean, you’re already getting quite the head start on everyone else Mr. Vigilante.”
Izuku frowned looking away at another one of Mei’s inventions. “I’m not sure.”
Hatsume rocketed over to him in a flash. “Oh really? You want to be a hero don't you? Why else would you be doing this?”
“I just want to help people.” Izuku replied firmly.
“Isn’t that what a hero does?” Mei tilted her head in confusion.
Izuku glanced around picking up a squishy gel like substance from a table. “What’s this?” He asked quickly changing the subject.
“Oh, that, it's my toned down science experiment for middle school classrooms.” Mei replied plucking the gel out of his hands. “It's basically slime made from Elmer's glue and shaving cream, but I added some good smelling stuff. Smell it.” She held out the slime and Izuku looked at the gloop hesitantly. “It's really good, give it a whiff.” Finally giving in Izuku leaned into smell the slime just as the sheds large garage door rolled up to reveal Kirami and Fikumo.
“...What are you doing.” Kirami asked in bafflement.
Izuku quickly recoiled spluttering out a noncoherent explanation while Mei burst into laughter. Fikumo took their weirdness in stride and walked right over tipping Mei out of the wheeling chair and sitting in it herself.
“So, I hear you need outfitting.” Fikumo stared grabbing a pair of strange goggles off the table and pulling them on.
“Oh, um-” Izuku glanced towards Kirami.
“Yes, yes he does.” Kirami nodded.
“Alright, let's see what I can do.” Fikumo spun around in her chair and reached towards a stack of random papers on her desk.
“Huh? C’mon Mom, Midori-San is supposed to be my client!” Mei scrambled to her feet in protest as her mother shot around the shed on the wheely chair.
“Mei, dear, you can help, but let me work on it please.” Fikumo asked as she shot past. Mei pouted but resigned herself to the helper role. “What can I get you, Kirami?”
“Okay, so, a protective undershirt, another extendo baton, and a pouch belt.” Fukimo listed off as Mei followed quickly behind her carrying things and passing things to her mother when needed.
“How about the Multitool?” Mei asked. “Or the grappling hook?”
Kirami seemed to think for a minute before replying, “Both. And what do you have that could help with jumping?”
Before Fikumo even got a chance to reply Mei lit up. “I've got rocket boots and leg exoskeletons. They can triple a jump height.” She gestured to a rather bulky looking suit of armor for a persons legs.
“... Not quite what I'm looking for.” Kirami replied.
“How about this.” Fikumo reached under a desk pulling out a pair of shoes. “Theres a special sole on this shoe. It absorbs impact shock and springs you higher. Nothing excessive, just a little extra boost. It's pretty much what I usually give you. “
“Yeah that will work.” Kirami nodded.
“Alright then. Filling the belt pouches are on you. Any ziplocks, tools, and medical supplies will need to be bought elsewhere. Other than that I’ll have your things done by the end of the week.” Fikumo replied rising to her feet and clapping her hands against the fronts of her thighs.
“Thank you Fikumo, we won't keep you any longer. C’mon Izuku.” Kirami smiled and took her leave as the mother and daughter began to get to work.
Fikumo looked up from her work calling after them. “You’re welcome to swing by anytime, even if it's not business.”
“Thanks!” Kirami called.
“See you later Midori-San!” Mei called after them. “Come again! I enjoyed hanging out!*
Izuku hurried behind Kirami as she led the way out of the yard through a side gate. “Where are we going now?” He asked shutting the gate behind him and hurrying to catch up with her.
It almost felt like he had imagined it but she had an oddly serious look about her face that quickly turned a complete one eighty. “Well, how would you like to meet Mama Higgins?”
“Isn't that the name of a diner?” Izuku vividly remembered the diner Kirami had sent him to every morning for a week to get her coffee she didn't even drink.
“Well, yes, but it's also the name of the owner.” Kirami replied. “She’s the big boss of the Chan gang.”
“Wait, the boss?” Izuku recoiled in shock. “I don't know.”
“Oh, don't worry she’ll love you.” Kirami assured. “Just don't do anything to get on her bad side. The Chans are less of a crime syndicate gang and more of an oath of protection. They don't deal in drugs or anything like that. Though there are plenty of stolen goods… They swear an oath of protection to their sisters who are the other members of the gang.”
“What happens if the police catches a member though, what happens then?” Izuku wondered. “Do they storm the police station to free them?” It was an interesting though, but Kirami quickly shut it down.
“That is the one thing that they don't help with. They don't mess with the police. Attracting their attention would just endanger their own. That's why we don't have any distinguishing marks or tattoos showing our allegence. The only thing is those cheep mascarade masks anyone can get at the craft store.”
“Thats… actually pretty smart.” Izuku nodded his approval.
“Yeah, it is. Now C’mon kid, hurry up.” Kirami ushered him forwards.
The diner was practically empty for once, though the fact the lunch rush was over might have helped.
Kirami walked up to the counter right behind where a large dark skinned lady was flipping a piece of meat. “Hey, I’m here to pay my tab.” She announced pulling out her wallet and placing a bill on the counter.
The woman spun around a wide grin on her face. “Kirami!” She greeted throwing her arms wide and looking like she wanted to give her a hug over the counter. Instead she untied her apron passing it to one of the ladies working with her. “I’m so glad you came to visit.” She walked out from behind the counter. “It's been so long. Six months is much too long not to visit.
“Actually I really can't stay long. I need to talk to Giran.”
“Oh? Well, your in luck, he's upstairs… who’s this though?” Her eyes stopped on Izuku.
“Huh, oh, this is Midoriya, he’s my… unofficial pupil.” Kirami explained. “Midoriya, this is Mama Higgins.”
“Nice to meet you, Higgins-San.” Izuku greeted nervously.
“Oh, nice manners. Please just call me Mama Higgins though.” Izuku's eyes flicked between Higgins and Kirami. Except… Kirami was already gone, disappearing through a doorway that led upstairs.
Hikari had always known Fikumo to be a paranoid person. Her quirk was literally paranoia. She could look at something and see all the possibilities of what could go wrong. She was the kind of person who wouldn't eat fish because it might have traces of lead in it. But still, this was an entirely new level of paranoia even for her. She'd completely pulled her daughter out of school because she ‘might’ be kidnapped. She wouldn't even leave her in her own house if she wasn't home. So instead she left her daughter in the care of the Chans when she wasn't home.
Mei didn't seem to mind the new change, it gave her more time to work on her inventions. (Though even that worried her mother as well) Still, usually there had to be a probability of the event for it to show in her list of possibilities. The higher the probability the higher the likelyness of it happening.
She had lived with the probabilities all her life but for Fikumo to be that freaked out about it, warranted a look into.
There hadn’t been any kidnappings recently, so what had caused the spike in probability?
Maybe there hadn't been a spike, and Fikumo was just going through a weird moment. They happened sometimes when all the possibility of danger got to her head.
At least, that was what Hikari hoped. Pulling her mascarade mask over her eyes she opened the door at the top of the stairs.
“Ah, if it isn't Neko-Chan.” The sleazy voice was accompanied by the overpowering stank of cigarette smoke. The whole room seemed to swirl with the smog and Hikari resisted the urge to hack.
“Giran.” She nodded a greeting.
While Giran was hated by most of the gang, he always had useful information, and if not, he could get it. He had connections everywhere.
“What can I do for you today?” He asked leaning back into his arm chair as he puffed on his cigarette.
Hikari sat across from him on the sofa, the low table sitting between them. “I need info on potential kidnappings.”
Giran looked at her, before he set his cigarette in an ash tray. “Kidnappings you say…”
“What do you know?” Hikari pressed leaning forwards in her chair.
“I know lots of things. I could tell you what goods are coming into port, or what the security’s like in the Shie Hassakai this week.”
“I just want to know-” Hikari fumed but Giran cut her off with a wave of his hand.
“I know, I know, but I hate to tell you this, Neko-Chan, I dont have anything for you.” He leaned forwards lacing his hands together. “I’ll poke around and see what I can find, but it’ll cost you-”
Hikari slammed a bill on the table and drew back her hand.
Grian raised an eyebrow snatching up the bill before holding it up to the light. “I can work with that.” He replied pulling his wallet out of his breast pocket and tucking the bill in it.
“That will pay for your entire services.” Hikari dictated. “Until you find what I'm looking for.”
Giran narrowed his eyes at her. “...Fair enough.” He decided tucking his wallet back into his suit.
Hikari rose to her feet heading back towards the stairs. “You know how to contact me.” She reminded him before shutting the door behind her.
Kidnappings were nothing new in Musutafu. Every now and then someone would go missing.
Eight years ago a string of abductions had changed her entire life, and she wasn't about to let anything like that happen again.
“So what did you think of Mama Higgins?” Kirami asked Izuku as they walked back towards the warehouse.
Izuku was just grateful to be leaving. Mama Higgins was very friendly, but she also felt intimidating. Instead of saying that though he replied. “She kept giving me food. I wasn't hungry but I felt like she’d get upset if I didn't eat it.”
Kirami let out a chuckle. “Yeah, she's pretty much a big Mama Bear but the hashbrowns get a bit much after a while. Now c'mon I believe you have some laps to do.”
“Laps?” Izuku asked in confusion.
“You really thought you were going to get away with your stunt from the other night?” Kirami grinned. “You owe me fourty laps of the warehouse.”
“...I really can't argue with that.” Izuku replied. “But even then, I had to help her.”
“It's not about that.” Kirami replied. “You did the right thing, stepping in to help that girl. This is about your stupid idea of staying out to train even after I sent you home.”
“Oh.” Izuku realized.
“Oh.” Kirami mimicked. “Yeah, it was pretty obvious with how scratched up your hands were. And, while your determination is one of your greatest assets, you’ve gotta listen to what I tell you. No more doing your own thing, alright?”
“... Alright.” Izuku nodded his agreement.
“Good, now hurry up, time’s waisting.” Kirami hurried him onwards to whatever she had planned.