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Naomasa sat at his desk working hard at the case files on his desk. It had been q... no he will not use that word. Anytime that word was used his life became busy. Especially given that he had regular contact with a local vigilante. Having Delta cause trouble was the last thing he needed tonight.
Delta and his band of vigilantes had been on the streets for over a year. They worked like a well oiled machine that put heroes to shame. Out of the five main vigilantes only three were still in Musutafu. Delta, Dabi, and Vampire regularly patrolled the city and aided the less fortunate. Charlie and Echo had moved to Hosu and Kamino for unknown reason. A sixth vigilante was not seen on a regular basis. KEM seemed to only show up if the others were in a bad spot.
Out of all the vigilantes he had met and gotten to know in the last year Delta was the one who worried him the most. The original three all had issues anyone with eyes could see that. Echo and Charlie though seemed to be making an effort to work past it. Whether this was getting professional help or something else he wasn't sure. Delta eccentricities only seemed to be getting worse. It was as if he didn't care what happened to him.
Naomasa had come across him more than once on one of Delta's bad nights. Where he stood on the edge of the roof staring out over the city. No words could describe the horror he felt when he saw this. Every time he had the fortune of talking down Delta. Every time haunted green eyes stared at him like they didn't know what to believe in.
Setting aside the case files Naomasa rubbed a hand down his face. The moment his thoughts trailed to the vigilante he wouldn't be able to focus on anything else. Delta, what is going through your mind? There were so many things he wanted to ask him. Despite the other being a vigilante Naomasa wanted to help him.
Naomasa jumped when his phone buzzed scaring him. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at the caller ID. Eraserhead. Well that was either going to be a good thing or more likely it was going to give him a migraine.
He answered, "Eraser, what can I..."
"Tsukauchi I need you to get to my location immediately," interrupted Eraser sounding out of breath, "It's Delta."
Damn it.
"I'm on my way."
And so he was. The location was on the South Side of Musutafu in the Red Light District. It was one of Delta's favorite places to patrol as it didn't get enough hero attention. Eraserhead was streetside watching a rooftop of a building. One that if jumped from could easily kill a person. Two young criminals no more than 17 or 18 were handcuffed and sitting on the curb beside him.
Naomasa barely put his car in park and before he was out. Following Eraser's gaze he could see two figures on the rooftop. One was easily recognizable as Sansa in his uniform calmly trying to talk to an agitated figure. It took Naomasa a moment to recognize the second figure. Delta, he had never seen the other so agitated even when things went wrong on patrol.
Not taking his eyes off of Delta he questioned, "What happened? I've never seen him like that."
Eraser shook his head replying, "I'm not sure. When he saw the face of the one with the wolf quirk he flipped. Sansa is trying to talk him down but it's not working."
Naomasa considered his options for a moment. Then he pulled off his trenchcoat and suit jacket. Next to come off was his handcuffs and sidearm. This left Naomasa in his white dress shirt and black dress pants. Nothing about him said he was hiding any weapons.
Eraser questioned seemingly dumbfounded, "What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm going up there," replied resolutely the detective, "Delta needs someone he can recognize as not a threat. At this point I am the only one he will recognize as such."
Eraser grabbed his arm snapping, "He could kill you!"
"He could," agreed Naomasa easily, "But I don't think he will. Even if he does I did what I could to save him."
Eraser tried to argue or insist on going himself but Naomasa didn't listen. Instead he entered the building and made his way up. When he reached the roof he tapped Sansa on the shoulder. His partner gave him a long look before nodding and stepping back.
The vigilante was watching them with clouded grey green eyes. Naomasa opened his arms wide showing that he didn't have any weapons on him. Then he turned in a slow full circle like he would ask for. Once he was facing Delta he waited for acknowledgement.
Delta snarled his voice young far more so than he thought only revealed now without the voice changer dripping with venom, "Who," he winced at the volume of his voice looking around in fear before continuing, "The fuck are you? Where are my team?"
Naomasa said calm and steady, "I am Tsukauchi Naomasa detective of Musutafu City Police Department. Echo and Charlie are in their own cities protecting the civilians. Delta we have worked together for over a year."
"What? The True Man? But the fall..." Delta swayed as if pushed by an invisible wind. He raised a hand to press against his temple as if it hurt.
Naomasa wasn't sure what was wrong with him. Was it a memory? Was it the effect of a quirk?
Then Delta asked, "When are we?"
A little confused Naomasa said, "It's February 10, 2xxx. Delta talk to me. Help me understand what's going on."
A shudder went through Delta. It was then that he noticed the vigilante's jacket was torn in a few places. He couldn't see blood but he wouldn't put it past Delta to hide his injuries. Naomasa edged his way forward moving ever so closer to the vigilante. Much to his relief the other didn't seem to notice.
Naomasa watched Delta with ever increasing worry as the other started to pace again. This time he was at the end of the roof. One wrong move and he could fall and that in turn could be deadly. He needed to lure Delta back from the edge.
There was soft mumbling coming from the vigilante. It wasn't clear what the other was saying.
Delta said looking at the edge of the building in a way that made Naomasa's blood run cold, "Nothing makes sense. My memories are jumbled. My mind says I should be fighting against the League and hunting Nomus. At the same time I know you're telling the truth. What is going on?"
What in the fuck was a nomu? Putting that aside for the moment he said, "Hey Delta look at me. I'm real. I'm here with you right here and now."
Delta shook his head. The heel of his hand dug into his eye trying desperately ground himself to reality. Again he moved closer to the vigilante. He's now close enough that if he needed to he could grab Delta. He didn't want it to come to that but neither did he want Delta to jump.
Delta cried suddenly startling Naomasa, "Damn it! I don't know what's going on anymore. If I can't beleive in my own mind what can I believe in?!"
Tsukauchi returned, "Believe in me!"
Grey green eyes stared at him in surprise. For a moment they just stared at each other. Then Delta bowed his head and his shoulders began to shake. Unsurely Naomasa stepped forward again. This brought him unbelievably close to Delta.
So quiet Naomasa almost missed it came a whisper, "I don't know how."
Gods how young that voice sounded. It had to belong to a teenager. There was no possible way it could belong to that of an adult.
Naomasa held out a hand to Delta as he said equally as soft, "Let me show you how."
For a moment there was silence. And for a moment he actually thought Delta might actually take him up on the offer. He even stepped forward making the first move to bring himself closer to Naomasa. There was the barest of twitches in his shoulders like he wanted to take the offered hand. Naomasa didn't move he barely dared to breathe afraid he might scare off Delta.
"I can't," came the broken whisper, "Not yet."
And like that he was gone.