Work Text:
Tokoyami was stunned by the scene in front of him.
He had first entered the alley because of the spilled groceries outside of it. It almost looked like someone was buying for 8 people, there were so many. All of them laid out hazardously across the outside of an unpopulated part of town.
As he followed the trail into the alley, he found a man. He was violently clutching his own head and rocking back and forth on the ground. He smelled of cigarette smoke. His hands were rough and calloused, proven by the fact he was almost ripping his blonde hair out with just simply grabbing it.
Something was familiar about the man, but Tokoyami was too confused trying to decide what was happening. He slowly inched closer to the blonde man. He was whispering to himself, switching between three voices and contradicting everything he said. His eyes were big, and unnerving. They made Tokoyami feel like running away.
But he couldn’t leave someone struggling by themselves, could he?
Even though he could be dangerous, Tokoyami walked closer. And closer. And closer still, until he was able to touch him. He hesitantly and gently grabbed the man’s shoulders, trying to pull him out of whatever state he was in.
“Excuse me.. Sir.”
The man flinched so violently that Tokoyami thought he would fall over. He was terrified, but not because of Tokoyami.
“...where- where am I?” He stammered, looking as if he had just woken up. Though, just as violently as he felt the previous emotion, he switched. “ What the hell you doin’ to me?!”
Tokoyami was shocked. “I’m not doing anything. You appeared as if you needed assistance. Are you having memory problems? I can bring you back to my school if needed.”
The man stared up at him with wide, gray eyes.”..Where do you go to school? It doesn’t matter. ” He shook his head. “No, no… I’m okay. I just lost control.”
“..In what sense? Did you faint?”
“..Nah. It’s just.. A condition I have. Shut up and mind your business, kid. ”
Tokoyami cleared his throat. “Well, I apologize. As a hero student, I find it to be my duty to assist those in need. Though, if you’re okay, then I believe it is best I take my leave.”
“Wait, waitwaitwaitwait- You’re a hero student? UA, right? I’ve heard of you. No idea who you are. Y-You’re the guy with the shadow quirk, right? Hawks’s intern. He’s told me about you.”
“..Yes. My name is Tokoyami Fumikage.”
“Jin. Jin Bubaigawara.” His personality had completely switched. He stuck his hand out for a handshake.
“..Well, it is nice to meet you, Mr. Bubaigawara. I do find it a little bit hard to believe you know Hawks.”
“Well, we’re.. Work colleagues. I hate his guts! He’s told me about you. Seems he misses working with you.”
“Oh. Well-” Tokoyami could feel his feathers heating up. “That flatters me. Do you want help picking up your groceries?”
“Groceries? They’re from the person we mugged. Oh.” He clutched his head. “That’s what happened.”
“Y-You mugged someone?” Tokoyami stared in astonishment at Bubaigawara. “I thought you were a hero!”
Bubaigawara flushed. “No- No! That’s just me, contradicting myself. Long story short, it’s a mental condition I have. Still working on getting it diagnosed. I promise, there was no mugging.” He made some wild hand movements to accompany his story.
It finally clicked in Tokoyami’s head. This was the villain, Twice. There was no way he’d survive a face-down with him alone. It was best to just disengage before he got seriously hurt.
Though.. There was a way he could gain something from this whole ordeal.
“Hawks would love to know I met you. Do you want to take a picture together?” He shakily held up his phone, trying not to panic as much as he should be.
“Oh, sure! I’d love to. Not the type for pictures, but okay. ”
He took Tokoyami’s phone gently, holding it up for a quick selfie. “Himoko taught me this trick. I’m glad I have a friend that’s more caught up with technology than me.” He smiled gently, handing the phone back.
Tokoyami quickly thanked him, before quickly walking away. He now had a picture of the villain’s face.
He hoped this would make Hawks notice him again. He really needed the credit for the internship assignment.