Chapter Text
Bakugou growled menacingly as he was transported through Kurogiri’s portal. He hated following the hoards of low level villains into what looked like a theme park. A small tendril of darkness coiled around his clenched fist and he relaxed. Kurogiri knew how much he hated following Overhaul. It was rather reassuring to have Kurogiri around. Shigaraki had been scrapped for the mission, thanks to Chisaki tattling on the blue haired teen’s sympathies. Ever since finding out about Nana Shimura’s untimely demise at the hands of All for One, the boy had been very reluctant to act on his Sensei’s command. Bakugou didn’t care for the politics of it, all he cared about was keeping Deku and Aki safe, and to do that, he had to follow orders.
A group of frightened school kids looking to be about Deku and Aki’s age were quivering on the high part of the USJ facility, Kurogiri being as dramatic as ever in an attempt to scare them into docility. He was never one for hurting kids. Not since what happened with his sister. Bakugou figured he could tune out, warily keeping the Nomu in his sights as the events progressed. He and Nomu were supposed to keep Chisaki safe in case any heroes broke through before All Might showed up. Bakugou huffed in irritation. He wanted to fry that bastard more than he wanted to protect him, but orders were orders.
A thin cloth dancing in the air grabbed his attention, smacking low level extras around like they were made of paper. A man, no, a hero , was making his way through the crowd of villains. Left and right he dodged and blocked with his scarf. Eraserhead , a voice that sounded like Deku, whispered at the back of his head the underground hero, isn’t he cool, Kacchan ! Bakugou tsked to himself, wincing a bit as the muzzle around his jaw made it twinge. The straps keeping it over his mouth cutting into his skin. According to Aki, the lines along his jaw were red and irritated, even though she and Deku couldn’t take the straps off to see just how bad the damage was. He hadn’t had the muzzle taken off, for more than a few minutes to eat, in years. Sensei or whatever the hell that no-face bastard went by had enjoyed making Bakugou nothing more than a feral animal. The thought made him angry. Well, angrier than usual.
The thin cloth once again grabbed his attention, this time, along with his wrist, as he was sent flying away. Eraserhead looked at him cooly, and Bakugou chafed under the disapproving look, his eyes blinking tiredly. What did this bastard know about him anyways!? This hero had no room to judge. No hero did! Not after no one had rescued Deku and Aki for years! The anger and frustration coursing through his veins blew out, along with an explosion in his right hand before his quirk was erased. Bakugou snarled, and he threw a right hook. He barely relied on his quirk nowadays, normally just letting his berserker rage take over and fight. Like Sensei always said, he made an excellent attack dog.
***
Eraserhead dodged the blonde’s fist, ducking into a roll as he latched his scarf onto a new target to block the raging villain. The kid- how did the villains get a kid? He was too young for this- was a monster. Even when he wasn’t able to use his quirk, the thin- almost too thin, his thoughts piped up in betrayal- boy was quick thinking and agile, changing directions mid air and using firm power stances to attack. Honestly, if Aizawa didn’t have his capture weapon, he would probably be overwhelmed in minutes. However, thanks to his scarf he was able to lead the boy’s attacks in certain directions, tripping him up in his anger. And man, was this kid angry. There was a dark fire in his eyes burning brightly along with the sharp light of the explosions erupting from his hands. Aizawa ducked again, and just in time. The angrier this kid got the faster he moved. The Pro Hero had just avoided his head being used as a matchstick, needing a moment to rest his eyes.
He didn’t get that chance. Before he could blink, the brain-monster from before, something the man, called Overhaul, had dubbed Nomu, had his arm in its grip, non-harmful, but also unrelenting. The blonde boy looked ready to attack still, lunging for him when the chain around his neck started to glow and he immediately stopped, hands clawing at his throat. He was whimpering in pain, gritting his teeth to try and bury the sounds. Overhaul made a chiding noise, waving a button in his hand, before pressing it, making whatever was causing the boy pain to stop. “Enough, you beast. I won’t have you making a mess of everything. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to your playthings, would you?” The blonde boy looked furious, but stood submissively. “I don’t have time to deal with one of your temper tantrums, go find some student to play with. I don’t need you interfering with my plans.” When the boy hesitated, he got another shock from his chain-like shock collar, snarling. “Now.” And like that, the boy was gone, propelling himself towards one of the disaster zones.
Aizawa’s eyes narrowed, not liking what this Overhaul was implying. He doubted the blonde kid was doing this of his own free will. He would like to say that he had a good read on people, and the blonde kid wasn’t villain material. He was acting like an animal trying to protect its pack at most. However, he didn’t have time to focus on this now, so he filed the information away for later, hair floating as he canceled the main threat’s abilities. Overhaul looked over at him in a bored fashion. “Now, what to do with you.” He leaned into Aizawa’s face, crow mask bearing down on the teacher. “When will All Might be coming?”
“Dunno. He’s not known for being overly reliable.” Aizawa snarked.
Overhaul sighed, “You really shouldn’t disrespect your betters. Nomu, crush his arm.”
SNAP! Aizawa almost blacked out from the pain.
“Let’s try this again.”
“Go suck an egg.”
SNAP! Aizawa gritted his teeth as his rib cage was crushed under the Nomu’s weight, his head being held by the monster’s hand.
“Again, when will All Might be here?”
“...” At his lack of response, Aizawa’s face was pummeled to the ground, gravel and debris digging into his skin. Blood ran down his face, making it hard to see out of his right eye. He forced himself to remain conscious, spotting two of his students, Mineta and Tsuyu, at the edge of the water, looking a little worse for wear. He had to make sure they were safe. Just as the Nomu raised his head for what would have been the blow to finish him, the door to USJ burst open, a disgruntled All Might appearing, ready to fight. Aizawa let himself sleep.
***
“We’re retreating.” Chisaki murmured to Kurogiri at his right. The Warp Gate man wanted to call All Might’s bluff, but frankly, he didn’t care enough about this cause anymore. The sooner they were out of here, the sooner he could get Bakugou home. The boy had run himself ragged once All Might was in the vicinity. The Symbol of Peace had landed a few good hits, but was obviously holding back in an attempt to not kill the boy. As it was, Bakugou wasn’t really thinking anymore, lashing out at both villains and hero students. Whoever was closest was fair game when he was like this, a raging beast.
Kurogiri called the Warp Gate to allow Chisaki to return to All for One’s presence, not following himself. He didn’t need to make a report, that was on Chisaki. He didn’t want to be blamed for the mission going sour. As soon as the Warp Gate closed, the doors to the USJ facility burst open yet again, teachers filing in along with that engine leg annoyance that had gotten past him thanks to Thirteen. Bakugou looked rearing for a fight before he was pulled into the ground by another Warp Gate, to be sent back to the bar. This just left Kurogiri, who surveyed All Might, who was obviously exhausted.
“You knew I was bluffing.” All Might stated.
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t say anything.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“You protect those you care for, do you not?” Kurogiri returned slowly. All Might seemed to understand. “I have those that I need to protect. I do not need to fight you.”
“I cannot let you hurt others.”
“I don’t plan on it. I do as I am ordered. Have a good day, All Might.” Kurogiri nodded to him, before disappearing himself. Allowing himself to reappear in the bar. He watched with a bit of a smile as Bakugou fell from the ceiling. Instantly, the boy was on his feet, launching himself at Kurogiri, not recognizing him while in his berserker mindset. Kurogiri cursed and teleported himself to the other side of the room, where a door lead to the back of the bar. Opening it, he called out a soft, “We’re back. Please calm him down.”
Within seconds, there was two sets of pattering feet running out into the bar. A bright green blur was the first to reach Bakugou. “Kacchan!” Bakugou’s fist was already firing an explosion before the green blur reached him. A second later, Bakugou was on his back, the green blur, with a bright smile, having tripped him, and a set of hands on his face, stroking gently where they could reach. The muzzle presented a bit of a challenge, but eventually, Bakugou’s eyes started to clear.
“D-Damn it, Deku. You idiot! I could’ve killed you. Again.” The blonde grumbled, but leaned into the contact. There was a pause before he called out, “Aki?”
The silent girl at Kurogiri’s side was at Bakugou’s in a moment’s notice. She was a little bit more fragile than Izuku, also known as Deku, was. The small boy had inherited a very interesting quirk thanks to All for One, that made him effectively immortal. Akira had gained something else. “Kacchan,” She whispered into his stomach, she then frowned as she saw the cuts and burns that littered Bakugou’s skin, “You’re hurt. Baka!” She poked him in the side.
“Agh! What the hell was that for?!” Bakugou grumbled.
“I do believe that Aki’s just upset that you got yourself injured. What, did the big bad All Might pick on you?” A raspy voice said from the door that the two teens had come from. Standing there was Shigaraki Tomura, once known as Shimura Tenko, but better known by the three kids as Hands, referencing his villain costume. He was a snarky bastard, if you asked Bakugou. Kurogiri smirked as he watched all of his ‘children’ interact.
“Oh, shut it, Hands. You weren’t the one getting pummeled.”
“Yeah, right. You’re such a whiner, Kacchan.” Shigaraki muttered. He fiddled with the gloves on his hand. They only covered the last two fingers on each hand, to keep him from accidently using his quirk. He had taken to wearing them after he had dissolved Izuku’s entire arm on accident once. The younger boy had been wary of Shigaraki for a while after that, until the blue haired boy had broken down and had Kurogiri get gloves. It had also been around the time when he had figured everything out with Shimura Nana. He didn’t talk about it much, not even with Kurogiri, but the Warper knew it had affected him a lot.
Izuku and Akira were bullying Bakugou into a seat so they could treat his injuries as best as they could with his collar and muzzle. There were a few bad cuts around the mouth of his muzzle that they couldn’t get, and they would have to wait until feeding time to do anything about it. Chisaki was the only one besides All for One who had the code to open it. Kurogiri and Shigaraki had been told to leave it alone, and fearing for their lives, they had followed orders, though begrudgingly.
That was the way of life here, ever since Izuku, Bakugou, and Akira had been kidnapped and taken into All for One’s hold, to be used for their quirks. Or at least, for Bakugou’s quirk. Akira and Izuku were mainly kept as leverage for the explosive teen, as he was highly unpredictable but extremely co-dependent upon the two other teens. They had lived three years in one of All for One’s cells to build a connection as such. All for One knew what he was doing, and the three had become Deku, Kacchan, and Aki, inseparable. When they had first been handed over to Kurogiri to handle along with Shigaraki, he had felt nothing for them, looking at them just as assets. However… Izuku and Akira had been quirkless like his younger sister had been. Their quiet bravery in this strange world of villains had broken through his hard shell. Bakugou had taken more time, but since the three were inseparable, he had come to accept the boys prickly attitude.
“Stop being such a baby,” Akira frowned when she attempted to wrap Bakugou’s ribs. Izuku was busy trying to get Bakugou to drink something through the muzzle, unsuccessfully attempting to feed a straw through the holes.
“It doesn’t feel good.”
“Of course it doesn’t, you probably bruised all your ribs.” She bit back. Turning to mid air she asked, “Onee-chan, could you check Kacchan’s wrist for me, I’m pretty sure it’s strained, but you’re better at it.” The air she spoke too started to shimmer into the shape of an kind, older looking man with soft, deep eyes. The original holder of One for All moved to look at Kacchan’s wrist, the boy grumbling the entire time, but holding his wrist out. Onee-chan had been around for as long as Akira had gained her Quirk. He and Shimura Nana herself, had appeared one day, after Akira had heard Shigaraki talking about his grandmother and All for One’s origin and decided to Reanimate them as ghosts. Shigaraki ignored both of them, still a bit bitter, but didn’t lash out like he had when he was younger.
Kurogiri walked over with three glasses of water. “So, what seems to be the verdict, sir?” He addressed Onee-chan respectfully.
“Strained.” The man hummed in agreement before leaning back and stretching, a grin on his face. “I think our Kacchan here needs to learn a lesson in restraint.”
Bakugou predictably exploded in a fit of anger and curses. Kurogiri rolled his eyes and went back to tend to his bar, knowing that Shigaraki would need a drink by the end of Kurogiri’s report on the events at the USJ. They needed to make sure they were ready for either side’s move. Not knowing would lead to disaster.