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Chapter Text

 Arlecchino, having grown up in Fontaine, has witnessed plenty of Pneuma and Ousia reactions. They balance each other out, stabilize one another. It was simply a core function of Fontaine. However, she can’t say she expected much when witnessing the Traveler’s odd ousia balanced sword slam into an ousia block.

 And as the harbinger woke up to find herself sat in the alleyway of a particularly ugly stone building (one of many by the looks of it), she could only sigh in exasperation. 

 “So, you say you’ve lost your memory.” The man in front of her asks, shifting papers. Arlecchino nodded quietly. It was a lie, her memory was fully intact, however that was the only thing she could come up with to integrate herself into this… Modern Inazuman society.

 The officer hums, looking up at her with a frown. “Well, from your outfit, you seemed to be a relatively important person.” He gestured to her suit, to which she only glanced down at it. A small oversight on her part, but it would be fine. “So I’m sure you won’t be too hard to find.”

 He clicked his pen open, hovering it over the paper expectantly. “So, do you remember your name?” The man asked. Arlecchino mulled the question over in her head.

 She wasn’t exactly sure if this… Futuristic society knew anything about the harbingers. However, if they did, Arlecchino would be quite a telling name. Decision made, the woman nodded her head. “Perry. I believe my name is Perry. I’m not sure about last names though.” 

 That part was technically the truth, seeing as she didn’t have one.

 The man nodded, writing the name down. “And what of your occupation?” He asked.

 It would be rather suspicious if she lost all of her memories except for her name. That only happens in those cheap Inazuman books. “I was a lawyer, I believe… A specific kind.” Arlecchino hummed, putting a hand to her chin thoughtfully.

 “I believe I was a children’s lawyer.” Arlecchino nodded. It was a good idea, as it excused her outfit and it also wasn’t entirely untrue either. Half truths are easier to keep up with than full on lies.

 Only a few hours later, Arlecchino was walking out of the building with an ID, some money, and a temporary home. This was just another mission, she told herself. Another hurdle to overcome.

Chapter Text

 “You want to become a hero?” The doctor assigned to Perry asked, during their monthly check up on her ‘memory’. Which, so far, has borne no fruit. Obviously.

 The harbinger nodded, her legs crossed and fingers tapping on her knee. The doctor had questioned her blackened hands and colored nails, yet Perry had no answer for him. Saying she was ‘cursed’ would probably make her seem crazy; she’s quite lucky that odd appearances seemed to be normal in this… World.

 Because that’s exactly what it is. A whole, entirely new world. There was not a single mention of Inazuma, Fontaine, Archons or harbingers. It was jarring, but Arlecchino can’t say nations and Gods disappearing was a new concept to her. So, she took it in stride, and then decided to adapt to the new society.

 “Yes.” Arlecchino nodded, courteous as ever. “I’ve been… Experimenting with my quirk, so to speak. It has quite a lot of fighting potential, as well as being defensive.”

 The doctor looked surprised at the revelation of a quirk that wasn’t simply a genetic mutation, leaning forward a bit. “You’ve figured out your quirk? Goodness, Ms. Perry, you should have given me a call immediately.”

 The woman watched as he quickly pulled a notepad and pen out of his coat pocket, smiling excitedly at her. “Please, do tell me the details.”

 Arlecchino hummed, looking down at the palms of her hands. She had already thought over how she would explain the use of her vision and delusion, thankfully. 

 “I can control and harden blood, from the looks of it.” She said, “However I don’t need to have an open wound to do so.” 

 The harbinger flexed her fingers, a spike of dark red blood shooting out of her palm. The doctor adjusted his glasses, leaning a bit closer. Arlecchino pulled her palm away. “Another thing, the blood I control becomes… Quite hot.”

 She picked a cotton swab out of a nearby jar of them, placing it against the spike. The doctor watched as the ball quickly burnt to nothing but ash between her fingers. 

 “Fascinating.” The man said with wonder, sitting up.in his seat with a smile. “You’re right, people could really benefit with such a quirk. However, to become a hero, there’s a lot of training and effort involved- You’d have to have three years worth of schooling, a license to use your quirk in public, a hero ID-”

 Arlecchino cut him off by holding a hand up, staring at him. “I’m willing. Just tell me where to start.”

 Apparently, three years worth of schooling is trivially easy. To the point that it barely took her one year. Honestly, even her youngests could pass it easily. She stood in the middle of the room along with a few other heros taking their ID exam. They looked winded, a little anxious, and Arlecchino stood in the middle of them all with her back straight and her hands behind her back.

 On the screen in the middle of the room, it showed who passed and who failed out of the eight people in the room. Arlecchino hummed pleasantly at seeing her name on top, with twenty rescue points and thirty offensive. 

 “Dammit, not again.” A man beside her sighed, and Arlecchino glanced at him. He was at the bottom of the list, having failed with a measly two rescue points. Feeling her eyes on him, the miserable looking man looked up at her. She grimaced, simply walking away as her name was called up for her ID.

 The woman who handed the card to Arlecchino smiled politely. “Congratulations on your hard work and efforts being paid off. If you have the time, could you stick around once everyone else is gone? We have an offer for you.” She asked, politely. And yet, it was the sort of politeness that Arlecchino was very familiar with- One with an underlying meaning.

 “No thank you.” Arlecchino said, simply plucking her card out of the commissioner's hand and walking away without another word. She didn’t have the time for job offerings.

 She glanced down at her card as she entered the locker room to change out of her costume, which was basically just her delusion outfit with some minor changes. On it was a picture of her, staring into the camera, with her new name and hero title written beside it.

 Perry Arlequine, The Knave.

 She hasn’t been called Perry in a long time. She’ll have to get used to it.

 “I must say, you were quite a miracle worker out there!” A small, bipedal animal in a suit said to her as she walked out of the building. She stared down at him for a moment before she recognized him. Right, this was Nedzu. Principle of that prestigious hero school she had heard about.

 Arlecchino smiled politely at the creature. She was aware of his incredible intellect, and really it was a sheer stroke of luck that she had the chance to meet him so soon- And of his own volition as well. “Why thank you, it pleases me to have my work recognized by someone of your stature.”

 Nedzu looked her over for a moment, attempting to decipher the woman, before he grinned. It was the type of grin Arlecchino saw on Tartaglia many times, the kind where someone senses a good challenge.

 “Well, what if I had an offer for you?” He asked, and Arlecchino’s brows raised ever so slightly. Forget what she said earlier, this was interesting.

 “I’m listening.” She said as she followed the man- animal, same thing- towards a small food district outside of the testing building. She spotted some of the other testers there, either having a celebratory lunch or a sad meal of defeat.

 Nedzu giggled as they both sat across from each other at a secluded café. Or, more like Arlecchino was sitting while Nedzu stood in his seat so he could see her.

 “I heard through the grapevine you used to help children in legal battles?” He asked, pleasantly. Arlecchino nodded, slightly impressed at how knowledgeable he was.

 A waitress came by to take their orders, the both of them only going for some tea. Neither of them were here to stay.

 “Indeed I was. I have quite a soft spot for children.” She said, tapping her nails on the table idly. “Especially children with potential.” Arlecchino sent a pointed look at Nedzu.

 He laughed again, looking excited. “Perfect, perfect! This is exactly what I was wanting to hear.” He smiled, nodding at the waitress as she brought them their tea- As well as a booster seat for Nedzu. The fact that she knew to do that tells Arlecchino Nedzu was at this café rather often.

 The animal sipped his tea before crossing his paws on the table, smiling at Arlecchino. “Ms. Perry, what if I gave you another chance to interact with today’s youth? You see, I was at today’s ID exam because I’m actually scouting for more heroes to teach at UA.” He explained, cheerfully.

 Arlecchino hummed in interest, swirling her finger around the lip of her cup. “You have my attention.” She brought the cup to her mouth and took a small sip. A little too bitter for her tastes, but she didn’t mind the flavor.

 “However I will say, I don’t necessarily excel in many subjects rather than fighting.” It wasn’t entirely untrue, Crucabena’s form of education was mostly reading her children fables with good morals or letting them peruse the library. As well as teaching them to wield a blade, of course.

 Nedzu laughed once more, and he has quite the cheery personality doesn’t he? “Oh, fret not! You do not have to be any good at core subjects- What’s an elective you think you could teach?”

 Arlecchino turned the question in her head silently. She was a diplomat, she could teach children how to handle business settings. However, that didn’t quite feel right with her. Her mind went back to days at the Hearth, where she would sit and watch the children mull about their home- Cleaning, cooking, repairing. 

 They always seemed happiest when doing something so domestic. Arlecchino hummed, closing her eyes.

 “How about Home Economics?” The woman asked, smiling politely at Nedzu. She was delighted to see a glimpse of surprise across the rodent’s face, before he burst out into more maniacal laughter once again, turning some heads that quickly looked away again.

 He wiped a tear from his eye, nodding at Arlecchino. “Yes, very good! So then, do we have a deal?” He asked with a pleased grin, holding out a paw. 

 The Knave chuckled, shaking it gently. “It seems so. I’m happy to work with you, Principle Nedzu.”

Chapter Text

 Arlecchino crossed her legs beneath the table, quietly sipping her coffee. Surrounding her in their own seats was the rest of the UA teachers, either subtly or blatantly staring at her. The two minding their own business were Eraserhead and Cementoss, and they very easily became the only two she respected. 

 “Is something the matter?” The woman asked as she set her cup down and gazed across at the others. Snipe cleared his throat, him and Ectoplasm turning to each other to pretend to have a conversation. Really, they were no more subtle than the children at the Hearth.

 She finds herself likening small things to the Hearth more and more every day. As Father of the house, she did try to maintain a cool demeanor, but she wasn’t entirely coldhearted. Arlecchino could admit that she missed her children, and missed sitting in at the house watching them chat around the hearth, or help each other with their chores.

 Arlecchino focused back into the matter at hand when Present Mic opened his mouth. “Sorry for staring, Ms. Knave! We’re all just a bit surprised; tote’s wasn’t expecting Nezu to pick such a fresh hero as a teacher.” He said in a friendly tone. A little too friendly, as if he felt one wrong move would end poorly.

 The Knave wouldn’t say she had too terrible a temper, certainly not enough to jump at someone over something as small as a slip of the tongue. 

 “I see, so you believe I’m not seasoned enough to be a teacher?” Arlecchino asked, interlinking her fingers over the table.

 Present Mic stuttered, quickly waving his hands dismissively at her words. However before he could fix his error, Eraserhead spoke up from his seat across from him. Arlecchino noted Nedzu in his scarf, watching the interaction with amusement. She wonders if Eraserhead even knows he’s there.

 “What Mic is trying to say,” The man drawled, sounding exasperated. “Is that we’re wondering what you will bring to table, not having any experience in the field of hero work so far aside from your own schooling. Which, if I’m right, you breezed past it rather fast.”

Not what she *can* bring to the table, but what she *will*. Arlecchino was a fan of the man’s choice of words, and she smiled politely at him. Ignoring how the man grimaced somewhat at the expression, she answered the question.

 “Well, you would be correct. Compared to the rest of you, there is not much I could offer in terms of experience.” She said, drumming her nails over the table top. “However, what I can do is teach them loyalty, and responsibility. These are still teenagers were talking about; you can’t just turn them into brutes with strength and a little sense of honor.”

 She paused to sip at her coffee, gazing over the rim of her cup to gauge the other teachers’ reactions. “Therefore, I will help them mature. Nourish them, you could say. Being strong is important, yes. As well as working with your fellow heroes, and knowing where your limits are. I am aware that’s what you homeroom teachers teach.”

 Vlad King and Eraserhead looked between each other, before nodding at her. Arlecchino would say, she’s impressed with who Nedzu picked to be homeroom teachers. Specifically Eraserhead- Rather than picking some flashy top heroes, he picked experienced, smart heroes that knew how to explain their processes.

 She pushed her empty cop to the side, sending everyone a tight-lipped smile. She received a couple of side eyes in return. Arlecchino was faintly amused by how quickly she made her place here.

 “I do hope you all come to accept me as one of your own.” Arlecchino said, before rising from her seat and dismissing herself. No one stopped her, and that’s just how she liked it.

 Arlecchino stood behind the podium at the head of class 1-A. Her class only took place three days of a week, so today was merely her introduction alongside 1-A’s other teachers. Arlecchino was only a teacher for 1-A and 2-A; the hero courses. Nedzu’s excuse was that other courses had a bit more focus on what she taught anyways, but that didn’t necessarily mean she was happy about it.

 The room was silent, tensely so, before a boy with a curly mess of dark green hair slowly raised his hand. Arlecchino could admire his bravery. She nodded his head towards him, prompting him to speak.

 “I’m sorry if this sounds rude, Ms. Knave, but- Are you a new hero?” He asked hesitantly, a few students nodding along with the question.

 The woman smiled at him, nodding her head. “Indeed, I have yet to debut. In fact, your question leads me to the activity I have in mind.” She said, before turning to the chalk board behind her. The students muttered between each other, however she saw no reason to stop them; curiosity was a common thing amongst children.

 On the board she wrote her legal name, hero name, and the name of her quirk. Several of the students stared at that last one, and she could admit it, probably sounded rather intimidating to them.

 A girl with black hair in a spiky ponytail raised her hand next, and Arlecchino nodded towards her. “Could I ask what your quirk is, Ms. Knave?” She asked, much less meek than the other boy. The girl stared behind Arlecchino at the words.

 Quirk: Bloodmoon Dynasty

 “My quirk is something like Vlad King from 2-A’s.” She hummed, holding her palm out and flexing her nails, a spike of blood shooting out of it. Just as she had demonstrated to her doctor all that time ago.

 “While I cannot shape and uniform my blood to my will, I can turn it into spikes- Small or large. The interesting thing, however, is the heat they emit.” Arlecchino explained. She looked around for a moment, before noting how the boy from before had a notebook out, with several notes already on her quirk. She hummed; analysis like that was a rather useful tool.

 She stepped past the row of seats and towards the boy, smiling politely down at him. “Could I borrow a sheet of paper?” Arlecchino asked, to which he quickly nodded and tore a blank sheet out for her. 

 The students watched in fascination as Arlecchino went back to the head of the class, pressing a corner of the paper to the spike still resting in her palm. Immediately, the paper burst into flames and disintegrated into nothing but ash.

 One thing Arlecchino noticed about this world was that, with a lack of visions, there was also a lack of elemental resistance in most things and people. Sure there was fireproof material, but elemental fire was far different from a natural flame. Far more destructive, at least.

 “Any more questions?” The woman smiled, to which the other’s shook their heads. The green student looked like he was barely keeping himself from asking more. Arlecchino would love to chat with him about quirks one day, he probably had a good bit of information she could use.

 Nodding back, the Knave reached under the podium and pulled out a small stack of papers. “Alright then, you all know who I am now. I would like to know you in return.” She said, dividing the papers and passing them to the front seats of each row.

 It was nice, handling children again. And really, UA isn’t too different from the Hearth; taking kids and showing them their true potential and worth. That was exactly what Arlecchino had done once she became head of the Hearth, releasing children of the

mindset beaten into them and instead showing them their own value.

 As the students filled out the papers she had handed out, each chattering amongst themselves as they did, Arlecchino noticed one student- with odd purple balls for hair- frequently turning to the girl behind him, talking to her. It was the girl that had asked about Arlecchino’s quirk, and she didn’t look very happy to be talking to him.

 What little she could catch of their conversation, she certainly wasn’t a fan of. Arlecchino made her way to the boy’s desk, most of the students pausing and watching her anxiously. The boy himself didn’t notice until the girl he was talking to frantically looked between himself and their teacher.

 Arlecchino slammed her hand down onto the desk, making the smaller student jump and turn back in his seat to stare up at her. She slowly picked up the paper, reading over what he had written. 

 “Mineta.” She said with disdain, staring down at him. Said student shook, sweating profusely. “Expendable enough. You are expelled. Get out.” Arlecchino hissed, ripping the paper in half and handing it back to him.

 The boy stuttered, raising his hands. “Wait, but- What did I do!?” He asked, and Arlecchino raised a brow. Pitiful. Far too pitiful to become a hero, certainly.

 “If you need to ask that, then it only proves my point.” She said with a curt tone, before picking him up by the back of his blazer and carrying him towards the door effortlessly. She caught the sight of two girls whispering to each other excitedly, and it only further dampened her mood.

 Arlecchino opened the classroom door and tossed the boy out, slamming it shut before she could even watch him land. Standing back at the podium, she gazed over the faces of her students, filled with a mixture of awe and nerves. How irritating.

 “Take that as a lesson.” She said, loud enough for her voice to echo across the room. “I do not threaten. I act accordingly. Rambunctious children do not learn from their own mistakes; they learn from the punishment of others. And I stand by this ideal.”

 “Have I made myself clear?” The woman asked. The students nodded, echoing a few yes ma’ams and hums. She huffed, leaning back. “Good. Now get back to finishing your sheets, we only have ten minutes left.”

 Watching the children get back to work hurriedly left an amused feeling in Arlecchino’s chest, and she hummed pleasantly. Yes, she missed handling children. It was such an empowering occupation. 

Chapter Text

 “...What do you mean you lost Father?!” Lyney gaped, his hands clenching at his sides. Paimon squealed, zooming to hide behind the Traveler, who looked just as confused as Lyney and the other two were- if not more. Because truly, they had no idea what was happening either.

 From behind their elder brother, Lynette and Freminet stood with various levels of concern on their faces. “I’m…not sure I understand.” Freminet mumbled, as his arms clenched around Pers held to his chest. “How do you lose an entire person? Especially someone like Father.”

 The Traveler sighed, scratching their head. “I’m… Not sure. Well- I know what caused it, maybe.” They said whilst staring down at the Sword of Narzissinkreus in their hand, the blade glowing violet with ousia energy.

 Paimon and them explained to the siblings the test they ran, dubbing it ‘adventurers curiosity’. At first, Lyney looked angry, then defeated, and then a series of emotions Traveler couldn’t quite comprehend in time before the magician schooled his expression.

 “Father always was curious about Fontaine’s elements.” Lyney mumbled, before straightening and looking up at the Traveler, gaze determined.

 Whether it was a mask he put on to give his siblings hope, or genuine resolve, the Traveler wasn’t sure. However it was obvious Lyney had made his choice on the matter at hand.

 Arlecchino sat with her legs crossed in her seat, her chin rested on her knuckles as she watched the students of class 1-A chatter amongst themselves. She is delighted to say that she has adapted to her new role quite well. Taking care of children whilst balancing missions was nothing new to her, and even then the scale of both of those things was reduced drastically here.

 Her missions were always short. Stop a petty act of thievery, interrupt a drug trade, she got bored of those rather swiftly. It was after one specific mission that Arlecchino decided what she would be known for in this world.

 An abuse case. With a mother using her son’s quirk for her own personal gain, beating and threatening him to compliance. When Arlecchino gathered that crying boy into her arms, she made sure her flames simmered that woman into a painful fate. Not death, no, that would get Arlecchino in trouble here. But certainly, a life changing event.

 That same boy calls her Ms. Perry now, and she visits him every once in a while. That was when Arlecchino decided; She would be the hero helpless children looked towards. There are more than enough heroes focusing on the grander scale of villainy, she can spare the time to help the children who feel no one else will spare them the light of day.

 Ah, if only the Hearth existed here. Arlecchino’s gaze sifted through the students, watching their interactions. The children back at home would be delighted at the idea of new siblings.

 Her eyes paused on one boy. A boy with red and white hair, and a scar on his face. He was silent, staring down at his desk with his fingers intertwined. He didn’t have a single expression on his face, yet Arlecchino wasn’t foolish enough to call him calm. A fire raged behind his icy eyes.

 The boy was Endeavors son, Arlecchino recalled. She only cared to take note of that when she read the student’s name on the roster. Todoroki. Arlecchino had only met Endeavor once during an interview, however the man didn’t even spare her a glance, simply standing there impatiently as cameras flashed. It pricked something in her.

 Seems his son wasn’t spared by the number two’s sour attitude. 

 As the bell rang, signaling the children’s lunch time, Arlecchino stopped the boy on his way out. “Todoroki. Would you mind sparing me a moment?” The harbinger asked. Curious, the boy obeyed, waving Midoriya and his little friend group farewell as they went to the food court.

 Arlecchino stood from her seat, standing before Todoroki. Carefully, her hand reached out and planted itself on his shoulder, firmly.

 Despite his calm demeanor, Alrecchino knew what type of person this student was. He reminded her of Lyney; Masking his emotions with a false sense of composure. What she knew is that Todoroki did not want sympathy or pity. He wanted stability.

 “Do not let your pride get to your head.” She said, her tone barely hinting at her feelings as she stared down at the boy. “Depending on others is a useful asset. A tool for your strength. Raw power can only get you so far without any back up. Even in something as simple as group projects.”

 Todoroki’s eyes widened somewhat, and he stared up at her with a new light of acknowledgement in his eye. Arlecchino was putting her words in a way someone raised as a weapon would understand- Focusing on improvement of the self rather than simply what would make him feel better. She did this with Freminet, when she took over the Hearth.

 It’s a bumpy path, trying to teach a child who was once coached by someone unreliable. However, for Arlecchino, stones and cracks are only small obstacles beneath her hooves.

 “Now, go eat with your friends. I hear you have a pop quiz in Present Mic’s class.” She hummed, squeezing Todoroki’s shoulder before pulling her hand away. 

 Todoroki stared at her for a moment longer, trying to read her, before he nodded his head. Silently, he stepped out of the classroom, sliding the door shut behind him. Arlecchino hummed. He would take some work.

 After that day, Arlecchino sat in the living room of her temporary home, sipping her tea quietly. Across from her sat her investigator. Even after a year, the police department still sent the man to ask about how her memories have held up. Every now and then she’d admit something small, or two years ago she ‘remembered’ her last name.

 However tonight, Arlecchino thought that maybe she should give herself one small respite. It has been an entire year since she’s seen her children, and any good parent would be affected by such a thing. Lyney had probably taken her place as harbinger by now, and what a thought that was. Arlecchino had hoped such a day wouldn’t ever even come.

 But that brought her here, to the current conversation.

 “I… Believe I had children in my life before. Three of them.” She said, making the investigator pause where he was picking up his own cup. The man seemed a mixture of surprised and excited at the prospect of Arlecchino finally remembering something.

 He sat up, tea forgotten as he smiled at the woman. “Children? I suppose it makes sense, considering your previous occupation. And even now, you still seem to have a love for taking care of them.” The man said with a soft laugh. Arlecchino only nodded with a hum, and he continued.

 “I know we couldn’t find much on your own identity, however, if you happen to recall their names, maybe we could try and find them? Ensure them that their mother is okay.” The investigator offered.

 Even now, Arlecchino didn’t feel quite right being called a mother. “They called me father, actually.” She said, causing the man to stare at her. “...I had a wife, is what I’m saying. She was the more motherly one between us.”

 The investigator coughed into his hand, nodding. “I see. If you remember her name as well, that would be helpful.” He said, awkwardly. Arlecchino shook her head, putting down her teacup with a soft clink.

 “No need, she passed on far before this all happened.” She lied, directly from her ass. “However, as for my children… I cannot yet recall their names, but I know my eldests were a set of twins- A boy and a girl. My youngest was a boy. One of the twins, my daughter, had a… Feline quirk.” 

 Something about calling Lynette Arlecchino’s daughter made a pang of… Normalcy, hit the woman’s heart. She quickly brushed it off, there was no such thing as ‘normalcy’ these days. 

 Her investigator nodded, writing the information on the pen pad he very rarely got to use. “Well then, this month’s session was rather useful.” He said happily as he stood from his seat, and he bowed his head at her politely. “I'll inform the head of your case about this. If we find anything on your children, you will be the first to know.”

 Arlecchino smiled politely and shook hands with the man, seeing him out the door. Maybe talking about the siblings only further complicated her situation, however Arlecchino thought it was only fair to herself to vent a little. 

 Dabi clicked his tongue, staring up at the screen on a building displaying one of Endeavor’s live fights. He watched the man swiftly defeat the villain, listened to the cheers and gossip the victory garnered. It itched beneath his skin, making his nerves feel alive with anger.

 He took a breath, stepping from the crowd and into the back streets. He flicked the hood from his head and dug a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it with a finger tip. 

 He should be the one fighting that old man, Dabi thought. It was in his right to get a sparring session from his pops. And if that sparring session ended in one of them dying, or both of them, then Dabi would just call that a happy little accident. 

 The sound of a child crying and pained grunts caught his attention. Dabi glanced down an alleyway entrance to the side, his brows raising with mild interest at the sight.

 A hero he hasn’t seen before, cradling a child in one arm. The kid was injured, and her clothes were ratty. She sobbed into the hero’s shoulder. The woman’s other hand was out stretched, dimly glowing red spikes encasing a man. 

 Dabi’s eyes only widened further at the sight of the spikes singeing the man’s clothes, and quickly burning holes through it. The criminal yelled in pain as the heat hit his skin, and the woman was quick to shut him up with a spike halfway in his mouth- Not touching anything, but close enough that one wrong move would burn his tongue off.

 “Enough. Don’t you understand how pathetic you look right now?” The hero said sternly. Her tone reminded Dabi of a prissy business woman, faintly. “You would do good to sit still and keep your mouth shut until I figure out what your punishment should be.”

 Jeez, is that how heroes spoke to their enemies these days? The man attempted to thrash within the spikes holds once more, screaming at the burns. The little girl flinched harshly in the hero’s arms, stuffing her face further into the woman’s shirt.

 The hero huffed, before her fingers flexed, and the spike in the man's mouth penetrated the back of his throat. The man gagged, twitching uselessly over the scalding pain, before falling limp. The spiles retreated, and he fell to the ground in a slump.

 Dabi was starting to question whether or not the woman was a hero, but she certainly interested him. He let out a laugh, leaning on the mouth of the alleyway. The woman didn’t seem very surprised at his arrival, perhaps she was aware of her spectator. 

 “I didn’t know you heroes had the guts to kill.” He taunted. His words made the little girl look up, but the woman was quick to gently push her head back down, shushing her quietly.

 She snapped her fingers, the corpse of the man dissipating into dark red embers within seconds. Dabi hummed at the action. Even Endeavors normal flames couldn’t burn an entire body that quickly. He watched as she began walking in his direction.

 “Kill? You must be mistaken, I would never do that.” She said in a falsely pleasant tone. Once she was close enough, her ashen colored hand clamped down onto his shoulder. Dabi stared down at the contact, before his gaze slowly lifted back to the hero.

 “I’m merely bringing this little girl to shelter. It’s what any concerned adult would do. Is that not so very heroic of me?” She asked him.

 Dabi stared into the crosses of her eyes. Those eyes felt like they were staring right through him, decoding his entire being. It was thrilling, and it made him laugh.

 “Of course. Say, I haven’t seen you on the big screen before. Could I get the name of this mighty hero?” He asked, cheekily. 

 Arlecchino smiled politely, patting his shoulder once before her hand returned to rubbing the child’s back soothingly, as she made her way out of the alley. “The Knave is my official title. I hope we can meet again; You remind me of someone.”

 The Knave, Dabi thought. He loved comparisons, dramatics, and a hero name like that told him she liked them as well. Just like Endeavour named himself after his failures, this woman seemed to name herself off of her true, inner image.

 He hopes he meets her again as well. Sparring with her sounded like the perfect appetizer before the main course. 

Chapter Text

 The classroom was silent as Arlecchino stared down at her desk, where a dead seagull was laying on it. The poor creature’s blood made a mess of her table, feathers askew. However, one key detail was the fact that the bird was borderline charred.

 The woman picked up the bird by its feet, watching as various expressions of disgust or discomfort were met with her action. “Who did this?” She asked, calmly. Leaving a dead animal at someone’s feet was a challenge as far as she knew. A display of confidence. She found it ridiculous, all this person had proven to do was waste her time and make a mess of her desk.

 A hushed bundle of murmurs spread throughout the classroom. Bakugo scoffed from his seat, where his feet were kicked up onto his desk. Arlecchino made a show of staring at his shoes, and he rolled his eyes as he sat properly. “Half and half is the one with a fire quirk, ask him.” 

 Todoroki stared at Bakugo from his seat a few behind him, unimpressed. “Do your explosions not also burn things? It sounds as if you’re trying to pin the blame on me to save your own skin.” He said, coolly. 

 His words make the blond sit up to turn at hum, snarling. Midoriya shook nervously from between the two. “Now why the hell would I waste my time finding birds to kill?! If I wanted to fight her I’d just do it!” Bakugo yelled.

 The other boy furrowed his brow. “Then what makes you think I would want to?” Todoroki said with exasperation. 

 Arlecchino cleared her throat loudly from the head of the class, making the two boys look at her once again. As well as the other students who were watching the debacle. “I did not mean to stir bad blood or suspicion within you all.” She hummed, raising the seagull a little higher to stare at it. It was an odd choice of bird; as far as she was aware, seagulls meant companionship.

 Mayhaps this wasn’t a threat or a challenge, but an incredibly vague message. Her mind went back to that young man she met, with the burn scars. And the very same eyes as Endeavor. Arlecchino shook her head, snapping her fingers and quickly burning the corpse of the bird to mere embers. Kota looked like he was about to cry from the back of the class, so Arlecchino decided to move on.

 “I have my theories on who that was, and none of them are you all. Fret not.” She said calmly, as she wiped her palms on one another, before turning to the chalkboard behind her. “Now, did anyone finish the homework from last week?”

 There was shuffling as a few student’s took out their bags, however she also caught Kaminari’s panicked whispers to his friends, not knowing they even had homework. She huffed. Things are certainly going to be interesting for a while, with her newfound friend.

 Later that day, Arlecchino decided to sit in on one of All Might’s training regimens for the students. She watched the screens as several students split up in the city scape, basically playing a game of quirked tag. She would admit, it wasn’t a bad activity for the children; It was both fun and helpful in their agility and control over their quirks.

 All Might and herself had hardly exchanged more than a mere greeting. The number one hero and the sixteenth didn’t often have a reason to talk or meet up, so Arlecchino couldn’t say she had a good read on what the man was like aside from the bravado he usually put up in public.

 After a few more moments of silence, Arlecchino spoke uo, her eyes not leaving the screens. “What is your opinion on Endeavor's character, All Might?” She asked, watching Todoroki use his ice to skate away from Sero.

 The other hero seemed surprised at the sudden question. He hummed, crossing his arms. “Well, in the field of heroics, he’s respectable. I mean, of course he is, he’s number two for a reason.” All Might laughed, however it tapered off into a sigh as he shook hos head.

 “However, he often lets his pride get the best of him. He takes rankings too seriously, and I worry it’ll lead to his own dismay. I know the people in his inner circle are rather sick of it.” He huffed. They were both watching Todoroki now. Arlecchino noted how he didn’t use his fire. In fact, she doesn’t think she’s ever seen it.

 She hummed quietly, leaning back in her seat. “Yes… I believe they’re sick of it as well, among other things.” Arlecchino said, coldly. All Might gave her a curious glance, however he didn’t comment in it as Todoroki won the game, no one being able to tag him within the time limit. Arlecchino excused herself from the observation room as All Might spoke through the intercoms, congratulating the student- Who didn’t look all that impressed.

 The Todoroki family only itched at Arlecchino more every day. From how it affected her student, to Endeavor’s unbearable personality, to that man that looked so much like the flame hero under all of those scars. It was all so interesting.

 Endeavor's first son caught in forest fire, further data uncharted, the paper read. It was slightly off-coloured in Arlecchino’s hands, with a coffee stain licking the corner of it. She had found the newspaper in a pro-hero themed antique shop. It was mostly All Might collectors merchandise from years past, but she had certainly struck gold in the newspaper area.

 She read further on. Touya Todoroki. He would be around twenty two or three by now, looking at the date of the paper and how old he was when the incident happened. The age matched the man she had in mind. How curious.

The intercom beeped, and she looked up from where she was reading the paper in her empty classroom. Class 1-A would usually have her class right about now. However, they were currently on a little expedition with Eraserhead to the USJ, so she had some time to herself.

 “Attention. All pro heroes, there has been a villain attack at the USJ, please make haste. I repeat, there has been a villain attack at the USJ.” 

 Arlecchino blinked. She heard several footsteps run down the hall in a moment’s notice, and she also picked up All Might’s voice commanding the other heroes. The Knave shrugged her shoulders, focusing back on the paper. If the number one hero was going, as well as several others, she’s sure the students would be fine. It’s not like she can be everywhere at once, now could she?

 Dabi frowned as he looked amongst the heroes that had made it to the USJ, taking out some of the more low life criminals. He had only come along to see if he could catch The Knave, but it appears she didn’t even bother to show up.

 “What a drag.” He mumbled, watching All Might fight off the beast Shigaraki had brought. Feeling eyes on him, Dabi turned to see Shoto Todoroki staring at him with a furrowed brow, as if trying to figure him out. Oh how Dabi wished he could fight the boy right then and there, but he wasn’t going to rush things just yet.

 Hearing Shigaraki call for a retreat, Dabi gave Shoto a smile, waving at him as he stepped backwards into the portal. He didn’t get what he came here for, but it was always nice to see family, now wasn’t it? Dabi can only hope The Knave got his message the other day.

 Lyney, Lynette, Freminet, and the Traveler all stared in silence at where the boy they were just talking to once stood. Lyney had aligned his palm with pneuma as they traveled, with the Traveler’s ousia sword. The two were hoping the elements would react some way if Arlecchino happened to be nearby, however it seems to have backfired… Immensely.

 Freminet slapped the sword out of the Traveler’s hand, looking pale. “No! No, we aren’t doing this anymore!” He said, putting a hand over his head. “Oh gosh. Oh no.” He mumbled, sweating profusely. Lynette pats his shoulder with a similarly offput expression.

 Lyney waved his hands around, looking like he was trying not to panic himself. “Hey, hey! At least we know now that it didn’t hurt when Father got transported! That guy seemed more curious than anything before he disappeared.” He said, and the three just gave him a look.

 The traveler sighed, putting a hand on their hip. “Well… Hopefully he’s safe with Arlecchino, wherever he is.” They said, and a collective mumble agreed with them. Maybe they could ask Mona if she could see where they were? Or- No, Nahida, she could check Irminsul. 

  They groaned into their hands. They’d have to tell the boy’s dad about this, one way or another.

Chapter Text

When Gaming blinked open his eyes from the bright swirl of purple that had overcome his vision, he found himself standing in the middle of a wheatfield. A frazzled old woman stared at him, a hose in hand and still dribbling water.

 They held eye contact for a long few moments, before the boy cleared his throat, smiling awkwardly. “Uhm… I’m really sorry, but do you know where I am…?” 

 Perhaps Arlecchino should have gone to assist in the USJ crisis where a ton of villains were, staring down at the second dead bird of the week lying on her doorstep. She may have missed a good chance to confront the man who’s doing this. She could find it in herself to commend his dedication however.

 Sighing deeply, Arlecchino snapped her fingers, a spike of heated blood impaling the poor thing and burning its remains into nothing. She’s grown rather used to the sight of ashes these days, with how much more careful she has to be of any evidence.

 Arlecchino adjusted her blazer. The students over her two classes were under pressure lately, training hard for the upcoming Sports Festival. Having watched last year’s festival live while she tore through her own schooling, she would admit that it certainly was a good challenge for a group of inspiring heroes.

 However, that didn’t mean she had to pity them. If her students were so serious about winning this thing, sheer strength isn’t the only thing they should be focused on. This in mind, she made her way to UA with plans in her mind. Nothing too miserable; she quite likes being a favored teacher by most students. Simply her own form of assistance.

 It shouldn’t have been a surprise, seeing Eraserhead’s battered form, but Arlecchino couldn’t help but let her disappointment show on her face in small increments. Said hero sighed from his spot in the break room, parked next to the coffee machine as if he’d die if he strayed from the substance.

 “Don’t look at me like that. Where were you? All of the teachers as well as a few backup heroes came to help.” He pointed out, and though Arlecchino couldn’t see his face under all of those bandages, she could only imagine the unimpressed raise of a brow he was sending her. 

 She hummed in reply, sipping her tea before setting it down. “That’s exactly why I wasn’t there. If so many heroes went to help the USJ, who would be left to protect the students here at UA? What if the villains planned to lure you all away from the main school?” Arlecchino countered, acting as if she didn’t actually spend her time just reading newspapers.

 Eraserhead stared at her for a long moment, before he conceded with a sigh, nodding his head. Her lips quirked, and she stood from her seat, rinsing her cup. The two didn’t share any further conversation as she left the break room and head towards her classroom.

 Arlecchino was pleasantly surprised to see all of the students already in their seats, chattering calmly with each other. They must still not be in the most energetic mood after the incident a few days ago, even with their subsequent break from school. They quieted when she took her spot behind the podium, and she nodded approvingly.

 “I’m sure you all have received plenty of condolences from every class you’ve had so far.” She started with, unsurprised at the sighs and nods she received in turn. Bakugo in particular looked annoyed at the mere mention of it, which was a predictable reaction. “So I will skip over that part. What I will say though is that I am very proud of how brave you all were that day.” 

 “Even I have not truly faced a proper villain yet, some heroes never do. You may hear of terrible villainy often on the news, but usually it is nothing but low level thugs or petty criminals who happen to have an intimidating quirk.” Arlecchino pointed out. “So, the fact that all of you now get to say you have fought a hoard of authentic villains and won is a great achievement. Wear that with pride.”

 She let the students stew on her words for a few moments, whispering to one another or sitting in silence as they processed her praise. Eventually Arlecchino silenced them with a hand.

 “Aside from that, I am also proud of how hard you all are already training for the Sports Festival. That in mind, I do want to remind you all,” Arlecchino pulled out a folder as she spoke, beginning to pass papers down the aisles. “The Sports Festival will have more than one on one fighting. You also need to keep your problem solving abilities at their peak. So, I’m giving you all a few forensics based situations for you all to solve with the subsequent evidence and clues listed with it.”

 Midoriya looked rather excited in particular at her words. Arlecchino could tell he had a wonderful mind on him, and she almost wonders how different things would be were he in a support class instead.

 “I often hear things like this can be relaxing to some, so don’t rush through this. You can talk to others about the work itself as well. Cooperation is also going to be an important aspect in some parts of the Festiv-” Arlecchino was cut off by her phone buzzing from where she’d left the device on the podium. She blinked, holding up a finger as she answered immediately.

 She usually had the device muted unless it was her coworkers, Nedzu, or someone working on her ‘case’. Arlecchino was a little surprised to hear the voice of the officer she spoke to on her first day here.

 “Ms. Perry. I apologize for contacting you so suddenly on a weekday like this.” He greeted, and Arlecchino hummed in interest. She waved a hand, signalling for the students to go ahead and get started on their work. 

 “No need. I’m assuming it’s something important.” She said, rather curious. 

 She heard a few hushed whispers on the other end of the call, before the officer replied. “We found a boy who is in a situation similar to yours. Confusion, appearing out of nowhere, seemingly delirious with a few things he’s been saying. We have had him here for a few days now to try and rehabilitate him, however we’ve met a standstill.” 

 Arlecchino’s brows raised in surprise. Now, this situation could be one of two things; Another person of Teyvat happened to meet the same phenomenon as her, or a very unfortunate little boy is in a tricky situation right now. While one possibility is certainly one she is more interested in, both are something she wants involvement with.

 “Have you gotten his name?” She asked. A small part of her that she often stamped down longed to hear the name of one of her children, although she knows better than to wish to separate any of them from each other.

 “He calls himself Yip Gaming. Just from his name I doubt you are acquainted with him, however if his situation is the same as yours, well… I suppose I’m hoping you and him could talk in some way.” He said, tiredly. 

 Yip Gaming… Arlecchino blinked, eyes widening the faintest amount. While she had never personally met the boy, she’s heard about him in passing on two separate occasions. One being from Freminet, passionately retelling about a Wushou Dancing performance he saw at Lantern Rite one year, and the other being from Gaming’s own father when she visited Chenyu Vale once.

 “I do know him.” Arlecchino said quickly, ignoring the eyes on her from her students. “He is not one of my children, or anyone directly related to me, but I do know that name. I hope you don’t mind if I make my way there?” She said, turning on her heel to grab her purse. Really, Arlecchino didn’t care if the officer minded or not, this was important. Very important.

 The officer sounded surprised, but also a little rejuvenated at such a breakthrough of a case he’d been saddled with for over a year now. “Ah- Yes, come on over! I’ll have him ready to meet you by the time you get here, Ms. Perry.” He said, and Arlecchino only gave him a hum in reply before hanging up.

 “I will get Present Mic to come check to make sure you all are doing as told, something important just came up. Leave your papers on your desk when you’re finished and I’ll take them tomorrow. Behave.” Arlecchino said to the bewildered looking students, leveling them all with a look before swiftly exiting the classroom.

 It was quiet for a moment.

 “She has kids…?” Kaminari whispered to Sero, who shrugged in equal confusion.

 Gaming fidgeted from where he sat in the somewhat uncomfortable plastic chair, feeling a little awkward with the officer sitting beside him. The man had said that a woman named Perry Arlequine was coming to see him, supposedly having a similar situation on her hands. Gaming really didn’t know what his own ‘situation’ was here, but he was nervous.

 For good reason! Gaming was pretty sure he was only here because of the Traveler’s weird sword, and they had said they had lost the fourth harbinger doing that! And while the name Perry didn’t ring a bell, the name Arlequine sounded a heck of a lot like Arlecchino!

 If it were anyone else, Gaming would be over the moon to find the person his friends had lost! And he also wouldn’t be alone in this foreign and advanced world! Sounds like a win-win, right? Wrong! Gaming was in no way shape or form prepared to meet the fourth of the fatui-freakin’-harbingers!

 Sadly, all of Gaming’s fears were promptly met by the door opening to reveal a tall, intimidating, very-slightly-frazzled looking woman. They both stared at each other for a few moments, Gaming swallowing nervously as Arlecchino’s eyes scanned over his facial features. The officer cleared his throat, making a ‘so?’ gesture.

 “...Your father. His name is Yip Tak, correct?” Arlecchino asked, and Gaming’s eyes widened. The harbinger knew his dad by name! Terrifying!

 He nodded anyways, and Arlecchino hummed, looking back at the officer. “This boy was one of my clients when he was little, during a time when his father was mourning his wife’s death.” She said, baffling Gaming.

 The officer seemed to believe it however, nodding as he looked down to Gaming for confirmation. “Is this true, boy?”

 Practically feeling the intenseness of Arlecchino’s gaze, Gaming quickly nodded, smiling a little nervously. “Mhm…! I was a little too young to remember all of the details- But I remember uh… Being suuuper fascinated at how tall she was.” He laughed. Yes, solid lie, Gaming.

 Arlecchino raised a brow, but the officer nodded anyway, muttering something about kids beneath his breath. “Well, maybe we could work something out between you two then, as Mr. Yip here is a little too young for us to trust with his own residency.”

 Oh good Gods he was going to have to live with The Knave. Gaming swallowed, making eye contact with the terrifying woman sitting across from him.

 Rex Lapis be with him and hear his prayers, the things Gaming does for you, Traveler!

Chapter Text

There was only the sound of a grandfather clock ticking somewhere in the house as Gaming and Arlecchino sat across from each other. The harbinger had just finished briefing him on the complexities of this world, and now she only stares as the increasingly anxious boy tries to form a sentence. Or, tries to form the courage to form a sentence.

 “So… How do we go back…?” He asked tentatively, and Arlecchino hummed. Yes, that was the question.

 “Despite my efforts, I’ve found nothing about potential world hopping in any non-fictional media in my entire year long stay here, so-”

 “Year?!” Gaming squeaked, before jumping and covering his mouth as Arlecchino raised a brow at him for interrupting. He apologized quietly, and Arlecchino sighed.

 “Yes. I’ve been here for a year and half… By your reaction, I’m to assume it hasn’t been that long since my disappearance?” Arlecchino asked, relieved to finally have some semblance of news.

 Gaming nodded, fidgeting with the ropes of his jacket. “Uhm- Yeah. The traveler and his friends said it’s only been like… Half an hour.” He said, sounding a little helpless. She was relieved to know she hadn’t been gone long to her children at least.

 Arlecchino could allow herself to feel some sympathy for the boy. While she had her own methods of raising her children, this boy wasn’t her own. He was raised differently, not as strong and self defensive as her own.

 She saw no reason to force him to act like a child of the Hearth. So instead, she leaned forward, and pat him on the head. Gaming blinked, properly hoodwinked, as Arlecchino spoke.

 “I will find us a way back home, worry not.” She said gently, in a tone she usually preserved for the tiny new arrivals of the Hearth. “I’ll find something for you to bide your time with as we do. Just have faith in me.”

 Gaming was hornswaggled. He nodded quietly though, and Arlecchino nodded back.

 They then both heard a soft bark, and Gaming jumped as a fluffy gray… Thing, appeared next to him in a burst of flames. Arlecchino studied it as Gaming hugged the cub closely. “Man Chai!! You came with me!” He said, near tears, and the flaming cub barked again and licked at his face.

 Well, there’s something to call Gaming’s quirk, she supposes.

 It was the day of the Sports Festival.

 Arlecchino sat in one of the higher seats near the 1B class as she watched the cavalry battle, pleased with the variety of strategies and hidden cards the students were displaying. She knew Gaming would be watching from home on the television, having grown utterly fascinated with the world of heroics.

 However, the one that drew Arlecchino’s eyes the most was Todoroki’s team. She knew Endeavor was in the stands, watching his son like a hawk, and she also knew Todoroki was likely making a shoe of his ice specifically to piss Endeavor off.

 She could admire the pettiness, however if he continued like this then it could go poorly.

 Arlecchino hummed, standing from her seat as Midoriya and a boy named Shinsou began to have some sort of stand off. As interesting as that battle seemed, she had a more important matter to attend to.

 Walking down the stadium's hallway however, she found someone else had the same idea.

 “What do you want.” Todoroki asked, tonelessly, as he glowered at Endeavor. Arlecchino peered from around the corner, hitting record on her phone just in case. These devices were very nifty, but she was rather tired of having to pluck them from Kaminari’s hands.

 “You’re acting disgracefully Shoto.” Endeavor said, arms crossed as he looked over his very displeased looking son. Todoroki didn’t respond, simply making a move to walk past the Pro Hero as he continued to speak. “If you would simply use the power on your left side, you would have had an overwhelming victory in both of the first rounds.”

 “It’s time to stop this childish rebellion of yours.” Endeavor sighed, and Arlecchino squinted. She wouldn’t have this for much longer.

 Arlecchino stepped back silently a few paces, before ensuring her heels clicked loudly enough to echo in the halls as she entered the hallway the two were speaking in. Speaking was a kind exaggeration; it was a very one sided interaction.

 “Ah, Todoroki. And Endeavor.” She hummed in greeting, ignoring the scathing glare Endeavor was sending her and instead focusing on the way Todorki turned to her, looking confused. “Nice to see you, number two. I apologize if I’m interrupting, but I require an audience with your son please.”

 Endeavor scoffed, tilting his head down to meet her gaze. “You are interrupting, Ms. Knave. I’m having a very important conversation with my son, and-”

 Arlecchino raised a silencing hand, and Endeavor only complied out of surprise from her audacity. “Yes yes, very nice, however your scolding will have to wait. This is a matter of his grades in my class.” She lied blatantly, turning and walking with Todoroki, a hand on the boy’s lower back as she ignored the awe-struck look he was giving her.

 “Don’t you teach a Home Economics class?!” Endeavor yelled, and Arlecchino hummed, glancing over her shoulder at the hero, who’s flames grew brighter.

 “Indeed. However, to my surprise, it seems like he has zero prior knowledge to most things involving a healthy home.” She spat. “It’s a wonder, really.”

 Endeavor looked properly affronted, and Arlecchino huffed, guiding Todoroki to a break room and sitting him down at the table. They were both silent as she grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge, sliding it in front of him as she took her own seat.

 “...Are my grades actually bad?” Todoroki asked quietly, and Arlecchino shook her head.

 “No, they’re perfect actually. I merely wanted to get under his skin.”

 Todoroki snorted, fiddling with the bottle for a moment, Arlecchino sighed, leaning forwards with unterlinked hands. “Todoroki. Listen to me, and do not compare me to that man who calls himself your father as I speak.” She commands, watching Todoroki nod tentatively.

 “That fire in your blood, your left half. That is your quirk.” She said sternly, snapping her fingers in front of his face the second he began to look annoyed. “No, you will pay attention. Fire and ice is your quirk, it is in your body, controlled by your hands. He has no say in what you do with it, but you will only suffer more if you neglect half of yourself.”

 They maintained eye contact for a long moment, before Todoroki sighed, staring down at his hands. “I don’t want him to win. I don’t want him to think he owns me.” He mumbled, blinking when an ashen hand fell onto his shoulder.

 “He doesn’t. No parent rules over their children. They are allowed to have their ideas on what is best, but if a child truly wants to do something else, that child is within every right to do so.” She lectured, squeezing gently. 

 “My memories of who I used to be are faint, Todoroki.” She said, committing to the web of lies her new life is made of as her student looked up at her in wonder. “However, I remember the children I used to care for. And I remember how a few wanted to go out and see the world for themselves. And I remember allowing them to do so after ensuring they were safe and happy with their decision.”

 Her student stared at her, pursing his lips as he looked down at his hands. 

 “...He doesn’t rule over me or my quirk.” repeated quietly. Arlecchino nodded, a small smile quirking at the corners of her lips. “I can do whatever I want. I don’t owe him anything.”

 “There we go.” Arlecchino said, a swell of pride in her chest as she leaned back. “Your adversary is Sero. Think critically here. wouldn’t your flames do well against the material of his tape? Use your flames for your advantage, not Todoroki Enji’s.”

 Todoroki nodded, a new form of light in his eyes, and Arlecchino nodded back. 

 Arlecchino made sure to sit directly next to Endeavor as the round began, ignoring the look he gave her as Sero and Todoroki took the field. She smiled when Todoroki blocked all of Sero’s tape by burning it, causing his classmate to yelp in surprise.

 It was an unfathomably short round, Todoroki likely taking those first few seconds to simply show that he could use his fire, his own flames, before rushing forward and encasing Sero in ice.

 Endeavor’s brow twitched. Arlecchino was very impressed with Todoroki; showing off his flames yet winning with his ice. Precisely what would piss Endeavor off perfectly. When the stadium gave its rather embarrassing sympathy to Sero, Arlecchino made eye contact with Todoroki. She nods her head, and he gives her a blinding, heart clenching smile.

 Arlecchino, dearly, misses her children.

 At the final round, when Todoroki and Bakugo are head to head, Arlecchino sharply kicks Endeavor in the shin as he opens his mouth. He grunts, whipping his head down to glare at her. She only hummed casually, watching the fight rather than cursing her eyes with the sight of him.

 “Must have been a stray shard of ice.” She said calmly, and as he geared up to yell at her, he entirely missed the sight of Todoroki using his fire to launch Bakugo; the boy’s explosive sweat not helping as he’s thrown outside of the ring.

 There’s a beat of silence, Endeavor’s gaze snapping back- Unsure what happened- before the crowd erupted into cheers.

 “The UA Sports Festival is officially over!” Present Mic yelled over the intercom. Arlecchino stood with the crowd, clapping with a pleased expression. “The winner of class 1A’s battle royal is Todoroki Shoto!”

 Arlecchino watched as Midnight raise her arm with Todoroki’s hand in hers. Bakugo was already screaming up a storm from where he was plunged in the debris of the wall he hit, and Arlecchino huffed.

 “How pathetic. Second place winners shouldn’t act like sore losers.” She said, loud enough for Endeavor to hear her over the crowd. He slowly turned to stare at her, and she shrugged, turning on her heel to go sit with the teachers again. She’s had her fair share of ruining Endeavor’s day.

 When the students of 1A were leaving their classroom, Arlecchino met the group head on as she stepped down the hallway. 

 “Congratulations, Todoroki, Bakugo, and Tokoyami. You all did spectacularly. And Midoriya, you’ve gotten a good grasp over your quirk. I’m proud of you all for the effort you put in.” She said, taking in their thanks or grumbles, before handing a piece of paper to Todoroki.

 She walked away, Todoroki blinking as he read over the page in his hands. His eyes widened as he realized it was a recruitment paper.

 He whipped around, questions on his tongue, but Arlecchino was already gone. His classmates looked at him oddly as he fumbled, dumbfounded, but Todoroki found himself… Excited. He stared at the paper again, before gently tucking it away in his book bag.

 His old man will be pissed. 

Chapter Text

Arlecchino’s thought process behind offering apprenticeship to Todoroki was 80% spite, 2% favoritism, and 18% sympathy. Had she thought a little harder about the decision, she may not have gone through with it. But now, here she was, standing outside of class 1A and waiting for the students to be dismissed to their respective coaches.

 She had told Gaming about her decision, and how exactly she was going to go about teaching Todoroki. Just because this apprenticeship was mostly spite-fueled doesn’t mean she wouldn’t take it seriously. However, Gaming was also rather excited to meet someone his age here, so that was a plus.

 He was a little bit like a dog, she thought idly, before the classroom’s door opened and excited students spilled out of it. Ashido made sure to wave at her as she passed, Yaoyorozu nodding her head as well. Arlecchino gave them a polite smile, however her eyes caught on Ingenium’s little brother.

 Arlecchino could recognize the look in that boy’s eyes easily, as she’d seen it thousands of times in her work. Even among children of the Hearth. She watched him pass, Uraraka and Midoriya walking beside him with looks of concern. She hummed. Of course she had heard of Ingenium’s run in with the Hero Killer; she understands where Iida’s anger comes from. 

 He should be grateful his brother is even alive rather than going after a villain leagues above him, however.

 Arlecchino’s thoughts were taken away from the boy when Todoroki stepped up in front of her. She looked over him, nodding. “Ready?” She asked, and the boy hesitated.

 “...Before we go, I need to stop by somewhere. Could we..?” He asked. Curious, Arlecchino nodded, gesturing for him to follow as they got ready to leave.

 Arlecchino sat in the lobby of the mental institution, patiently waiting for Todoroki to finish visiting his mother. Perhaps she shouldn’t have simply assumed the woman divorced Endeavor or something. In Ms. Todoroki’s defense, Arlecchino is sure anyone would end up in a place like this after marrying that man.

 She stood from her seat when Todoroki came through the elevator, but he held a hand up. “...My mother wants to meet you, if that’s alright.” He asked, and despite his blank expression she can see the mild embarrassment in his eyes. Every day he reminds Arlecchino a little more of Freminet.

 “Fine by me. It’s common for a mother to want to meet her child’s teacher.” She nods, patting his shoulder before allowing him to quietly lead the way to the woman’s room.

 When the door opened, Arlecchino’s gaze met kind, yet tired dark gray eyes. The woman smiled at her, the expression faint. 

 “You must be Ms. Knave? It is nice to meet you.” Todoroki Rei greeted. Todoroki offered for Arlecchino to sit in the chair beside the bed, but she shook her head and allowed him to sit back down.

 She bowed her head politely at the woman. “Nice to meet you as well, ma’am. And please, The Knave is only my hero name. You may call me Perry.” Arlecchino replied, hands folded behind her back. “I apologize for not bringing you any flowers, I did not expect to meet you today.” 

 Rei shook her head with a quiet laugh, waving a dismissive hand. She looked frail, for how young she was. “No need to apologize, Ms. Perry. In fact, I apologize for the suddenness. However I had to meet you, with how many good things Shoto has said about you.”

 Todoroki looked away in embarrassment, while Arlecchino’s lips quirked. “How very sweet of him. However, I only try to look out for him like I would any of my students.” She placed her hand on Todoroki’s shoulder, who simply put his own hand over his eyes tiredly.

 The mother smiled fondly, tilting her head. “Even if it meant bad mouthing their fathers right in front of them?” She asked, almost teasingly. Todoroki looked between them both for a moment, a little confused, but he supposes he’s glad his mother is so lively today.

 He then met Arlecchino’s gaze, who seemed a little irritated that he told his mother that part specifically.

 “I don’t try to make a habit of that.” Arlecchino said instead of anything else, unable to help the way her shoulders relaxed at the way the woman laughed. She finds Rei enjoyable to talk to, and from Todoroki’s expression, perhaps Rei likes talking to her as well.

 “I won’t keep you both much longer, but thank you for taking care of my son, Perry.” The woman said sweetly, holding a hand out. Arlecchino took it, skin the color of ash meeting snow. 

 “It is my pleasure, ma’am.” 

 The car ride to Arlecchino’s abode was quiet, and she was wholly aware of Todoroki’s staring, however she found herself in quite a good mood today. Gaming had texted her before they left the hospital and told her he’d made lunch for them as well for when they got there. The boy was a surprisingly good chef, however his appetite was utterly voracious. 

 Arlecchino didn’t fully mind the extra money spent on groceries now though, being a hero was a rather well paying job. Especially with her having dipped to rank twelve the past week. Two ranks off from top ten… She’d be proud if she wasn’t still a little slighted at the lack of command she had around here.

 “I’ve told you about the boy I’m housing, yes?” She spoke up, making Todoroki focus back on her. “His name is Gaming, a year or so older than you. And while he isn’t a hero or a hero student, he will be helping me in your teachings.”

 Shoto nodded quietly, curiosity in his gaze as they pulled into her driveway. The home she’d made in this world was a two story house in a rather well off neighborhood. Not the same house she was given her first several months here before she became a hero.

 Arlecchino wasn’t exactly sure why she chose to live in such a large house when it was just herself at first… But perhaps she expected to take in some strays from the jump. 

 “You still haven’t told me what exactly we’ll be focusing on…” Shoto asked, leaning down to pick his bag up from the car floor. 

 “Well, the type of hero I am doesn’t exactly align with the type you are going for. Therefore, you will gain nothing going out on patrols with me” She said, looking over at him. “So, Gaming will focus on teaching you hand to hand, as he’s adept in martial arts.” 

 Shoto nodded. “And you..?”

 Arlecchino smiled mildy, unlocking the car and stepping out. “Fear factor.”

 The next day, Todoroki found himself standing in the middle of the woods with Gaming. It was late in the evening- Not quite pitch black but dark enough that it was a bit of a struggle to see. 

 “We’re focusing on the element of surprise tonight.” His teacher had said on the drive here. “One jump or freeze in the face of fear could cost you your life on the field. Gaming will play the role of an innocent you are protecting. If I lay a hand on him, you fail.”

 Todoroki knew the training would be useful, and he’s luckily never been one to jump easily, but he knew The Knave was a very strong hero- One that primarily worked in the night. She never told him if she’d put her all in this, or how difficult she’d make this for his first time. He supposes this really was a surprise focused session.

 Gaming and him were following the trail quietly, Gaming staying quiet so as not to affect Todoroki’s focus. He was grateful for that at least.

 Todoroki immediately held his arm in front of the older to make him stop when he saw a flash of red further in the bushes. He stared, focusing on the sounds around them both. The bushes in front of them rustled, and reacting quickly, Todoroki thrust up his arm. 

 A small pillar of ice struck the bush, and out came a… Flaming little dog thing. Todoroki paused, befuddled at the creature as it yipped at him, before he jumped as nailed hands rested on his and Gaming’s shoulders, the other boy letting out a strangled shriek.

 “Fail.” Arlecchino said as she leaned down to their ears, and Todoroki sighed. This would be harder than he anticipated.

 “Man Chai, how could you betray us like that!” Gaming whined, crouching and holding his arms out. The supposed Man Chai jumped into the boy’s arms, nuzzling Gaming’s face violently and making the teenager laugh. Todoroki guesses that the flaming… Cub… Was part of Gaming’s quirk.

 Arlecchino stepped back. “Start over.” She commanded the two, before disappearing with a blink of the eye. Man Chai yipped, jumping from Gaming’s arms and floating off into the trees as well. Todoroki shook his head, pushing away any confusion as he and Gaming went back to the starting point.

 “Ms. Perry is so scary.” Gaming sighed as they walked. Todoroki hummed, looking over the older boy curiously.

 He didn’t take much note of Gaming yesterday, and he’d never even thought to question how Gaming had come into The Knave’s care. She was a mystery of a woman, especially to his classmates. He often heard them theorizing various things about her to each other- Specifically Kaminari’s friend group. 

 “How well do you know Ms. Knave?” Todoroki asked, and Gaming blinked. The boy laughed awkwardly, looking away.

 “Ah- Well, when I was way younger, she was my social worker while my parents were… Getting divorced.” He said with a nod. Todoroki raised a brow at how stiffly the other was speaking, already having grown attuned to Gaming’s chatty nature. He hummed though, taking the explanation as they got ready to start the training once more. It was going to be a long night.

 It was a few days later. Todoroki has gone through extensive training all his life, but this level of exhaustion was foreign to him as he sat on the couch. Gaming was making lunch in the kitchen, The Knave sitting in a recliner and sipping tea while the news played. It felt weird how domestic this house was.

 Every night Todoroki’s fear factor was tested until sunrise, to which he would sleep until noon. His sleep schedule has never been so wrecked in his life, but he would admit that he’s getting better with controlling his reactions.

 The news channel switched to a different news station, the two pausing at the frantic anchor. Gaming peered out of the kitchen, staring at the screen with worry as it spoke of Hosu being attacked.

 Todoroki’s eyes widened as the screen showed a live feed of the situation. “Those things look like that monster from the USJ.” He pointed out. Arlecchino sighed, rising from her seat.

 “Put your suit on.” She commanded, snapping her fingers. Todoroki blinked in surprise as her outfit switched to her hero costume in an array of sparks; A black and red suit-like outfit. He didn’t let his confusion stop him though, nodding a rushing to the spare room he’d been staying in.

 Inwardly, Todoroki noted that Iida was working in Hosu. 

 Gaming watched them both rush out of the house, standing with his hands on his hips and apron covered in flour.

 “...More for me.” He shrugged, going back to making dumplings.

 “You help control the fire. I’ll fight the Nomus.” Arlecchino ordered, and Todoroki nodded as he rushed off. The woman sighed, summoning her scythe as she joined a group of heroes. Endeavor spared her a glance, however for once he seemed to actually focus on more important matters.

 “So far their brains seem to be a weak spot. They aren’t as strong as the one that attacked UA, but they are still powerful. Watch your backs.” He ordered, before shooting off. The other heroes split as well, and Arlecchino clicked her tongue at the sight of the army of Nomu.

 They looked like something The Doctor would make. It sickened her.

 Spikes of flaming blood impaled Nomu left and right, Arlecchino throwing her scythe in a curve and grabbing the handle once more to slice a larger one's head off once the blade stuck into its throat. She huffed when she noticed some flying off.

 “Pathetic.” She mumbled. Raising her arm, Arlecchino swept into the air with force, the wing on her back growing to slice through all of the Nomu in the sky before disappearing in a flurry of ash as she landed on one, taking it down with her.

 She flicked her arm, shaking the blood off of her sleeve as she went airborne again. Arlecchino had finished off all of the nomu in this area, and she scanned Hosu from her spot on a thread of blood to see where she was needed. However, an alleyway away from the fray caught her attention.

 Flicks of bright green and the warm light of flames could be seen in it, as well as flurries of snow. Arlecchino hummed, falling backwards off of the thread before flying towards the area. If her students were in trouble, what kind of teacher would she be if she didn’t help?

 Midoriya gasped as he fell to the ground, glaring up at Stain, who licked his blade. Todoroki jumped backwards to guard Midoriya and Iida, his eyes never leaving the Hero Killer. 

 “You two! Please, stop risking yourself like this- This is my fight!” Iida cried to his classmates. Todoroki huffed, dodging a throwing knife.

 “It’s too late for sentimentals!” He called, trying to hit Stain with a pillar of ice. “Besides, Heroes don’t just leave someone to die. Don’t be stupid, Iida!”

 Stain barked out a laugh, leaping at Todoroki who spun to move away from his blades. “And you children know about true heroism? No one knows how to be a hero! Don’t act so tough!” The villain spat, jumping back as flames were thrown at his face.

 They’d only been fighting the man for a few minutes, yet it’d felt like hours. Todoroki felt exhausted from his training these past few days already, he wasn’t physically prepared for a battle like this- A battle against a villain even heroes feared.

 Midoriya jumped back up the second he was able to, kicking Stain away from Todoroki before jumping back a few paces. Stain barely coughed, straightening as he readied his blades.

 Todoroki paused as he heard something from above. He Glanced upwards, before shoving himself and Midoriya backwards onto the ground as a ball of deep red flamed dove directly onto the Hero Killer.

 Iida and Midoriya gasped, and Todoroki stared as The Knave stood over Stain. Stain laughed, his knife plunged into her leg from his place under her. The woman didn’t even flinch as he pulled it out.

 “Ms. Knave! Don’t let him taste your blood-!” Midoriya called out, but Arlecchino raised a hand, leaning down and picking the villain up by his scarf- His form battered from the impact of her landing and burns covering his form.

 “Do it.” Arlecchino said coldly. “Lick that blade of yours and tell me how it tastes.” 

 Stain laughed in her face. “Oh? You’re just like the others, too confident in yourself!” He said, dropping the knife he used on her leg. “It’ll be your downfall!”

 With that he used his legs for momentum and flipped onto her back, slicing her cheek as he moved and landing behind her. She didn’t even turn as his tongue ran across her cheek.

 It was silent for a moment, Stain’s brow furrowing at the lack of reaction, before Arlecchino slowly raised her fingers and snapped.

 The Hero Killer fell to his knees, screaming in agony as he clawed at his throat, feeling as if he was being burned alive from the inside. Arlecchino turned on her heel, staring down at him in disdain. 

 She stepped over the villain’s writhing form, looking over the three horrified students. “You two. Help your classmate up and bring him to an ambulance. Say that you saw Stain attacking Ingenium’s predecessor and tried to save him before I found you. Do not mention fighting him yourself.” Arlecchino ordered, to which the boys nodded.

 She sighed, looking between the unconscious Stain and Pro Hero slumped against the alley wall. What a handful, she thought to herself as she tied up Stain with nearby wire. She threw both him and Native over her shoulders, exiting the alley and spotting her students, Endeavor, and a few other pro heroes nearby.

 Manual quickly came to take Native from her, interrupting the scolding he was giving Ingenium for running off. An older man was doing the same to Midoriya, and the two Todorokis were simply staring at each other.

 “If it hadn’t been for Midoriya’s disobedience, Tenya Iida and Pro Hero Native would have died today.” Arlecchino cut in as she joined the group. “I believe scolding can wait.”

 Endeavor raised a brow at her, huffing. “And why were you and your own student separated?” He spat, obviously bitter about his son’s apparent betrayal and choosing Arlecchino for his apprenticeship.

 “His ice quirk was better suited for handling the fires, so I entrusted him to Manual here. However I never forbade him from saving citizens, which is precisely what he tried to do here. I am happy with his choice.” Arlecchino said easily, revelling in the glare Endeavor wore.

 A shriek caught her ears, and Arlecchino’s head snapped up the second a winged Nomu swept down and took hold of Midoriya. 

 “Midoriya!” Todoroki and Iida yelled out in unison, however Arlecchino swiftly shot up, summoning threads of blood to bounce off of as she jumped onto the Nomu’s back and dug her fiery red stained fingers into the beast’s brain. 

 It screeched, and The Knave leaned down to grab the teenager and hop back down to the sidewalk. She straightened, setting Midoriya down gently while the beast crashed into a lifeless heap behind them.

 “Since when could you fly?” Endeavor asked as Todoroki looked over his friend worriedly.

 “I have a broader skill set than what is public currently.” Was all Arlecchino said.

 She looked down, pausing when she saw Stain’s eyes wide open, glaring at her with a scathing fury. He writhed in his binds, trying to yell yet only capable of coughing up his own blood from how scorched his throat was. 

 “The hell?” Manual mumbled. “What exactly did you do to him, Knave?” He asked as Endeavor helped the police bring the villain into the car.

 Arlecchino hummed. wiping her still sluggishly bleeding cheek. “He did that to himself. His quirk works by licking someone’s blood… However my blood is quite hot, you see. I hardly had to do anything but tempt him.” She said mildly.

 Manual stared at her for a short while longer, before shaking his head as he followed Iida into the ambulance. Arlecchino looked over to Todoroki who met her gaze with a tired yet relieved look. She stepped over to him, a hand on his head.

 “You did good. I’m proud.” Was all Arlecchino said, yet it seemed to mean plenty to the boy. “Remember what I told you and your friends to say.” She reminded, and he nodded as she lead him to an ambulance as well.

 What a day, she thought to herself. 

Chapter Text

 Arlecchino would admit that she often forgets the sheer insanity of this world’s media crowd. 

 All she did was swiftly and efficiently defend Hosu with merely a fraction of her capabilities. Why is she now sitting in front of a live studio audience beside a show host that looked all too happy to be here?

 The tea wasn’t even that good, she thought as she side eyed the pathetically small cup in her hands.

 “So, Knave, how does it feel diving headfirst into the rank eight on Japan’s hero billboard chart within a matter of a few days?” The man asks as the crowd quiets. He gave her a toothy grin, and she couldn’t not notice how unnaturally white his teeth were.

 Arlecchino hummed, crossing her legs. “Well, as flattered as I am that my capabilities are recognized, I don’t often concern myself with what rank I am.” She said in a mild tone. “I care more about getting my job done easily, and protecting those in need. If having a higher ranking means civilians have more faith in me, then I suppose that’s a good thing.”

 The interviewer nodded with an interested hum. “A very noble take on the rankings! You’re a hero more interested in your duty than fame then, I’d say that makes you incredibly reliable.” He smiled, before shuffling his papers. Arlecchino peaked down at them. They were all blank.

 “Now, as far as the public knew, your power only had to do with hardening your blood, yes? How is it that you not only grew a wing during the battle in Hosu, but also stood still in mid air?” The man asked, and Arlecchino sighed. This question was likely the one people wanted to know the answer to the most.

 Arlecchino simply hummed, looking at the crowd and placing a finger over her lips. “I’m not one to reveal all of my playing cards to the public. Anyone could be watching, no?” She said vaguely.

 It was a true statement; revealing the details of her power on air was a stupid choice seeing as any villain could watch and examine her answers. However, the main reason she is being so secretive is due to the fact that she doesn’t exactly know how her more powerful assets would fall under the ‘burning blood’ umbrella.

 That was something for her to come up with for another time. Her answer seemed to please the interviewer at least, to Arlecchino’s mild surprise. Perhaps mystique is something people enjoyed in a hero.

 “You truly are a calculating woman.” He laughed good-naturedly. “Over the past few months your reputation has revolved around your love and protection for children in need. Parents all across Japan have stated their joy knowing a hero like you exists! And those same people wonder, do you have any children of your own?” 

 Swiftly onto the personal questions. Arlecchino hummed, nodding. “I do. Three. Though I also have taken care of several others in my time.” 

 She knew just how rare it was that she dropped any parts of her personal life for the media, and Arlecchino believes telling at least this much will benefit her for the time being. People can stew on the fact that she’s a parent and wonder about it for a while before digging for her information more.

 “How in character! Hah, well, I’m sure those kids are blessed to have a mother as protective as you.” The interviewer chuckled, and Arlecchino’s brow twitched. No, she couldn’t have that.

 “Actually, they call me Father.” She corrected, well aware of the consequences of her actions as she sipped the very basic cup of tea. The crowd muttered to each other, and she saw the Interviewer fumble a bit in his seat from the corner of her eye.

 One more little bit of information couldn’t hurt, surely.

 Shoto raised a brow from where he was watching the TV. It was the last day of apprenticeships, and The Knave looked incredibly irate at the fact that she had to go to an interview instead of seeing Shoto off herself. He can tell that that irritation hasn’t quite left, looking at the screen.

 There was a tap on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Gaming’s smiling face leaning over the back of the couch. The two are… Friends now, he supposed. Gaming was very good at being the textbook definition of a friend that Shoto knew, at least.

 “Hey! I know you gotta leave in a couple of hours, but would you want to hang out before you do?” The boy asked, Man Chai yipping on his shoulder. Shoto had learned that Man Chai was something called a Suanni; a summon from Gaming’s quirk. It was a unique quirk in itself, but it suited Gaming at least.

 He tilts his head at the question, taking it in for a moment. “...Hang out? Are we not technically hanging out together now?” Shoto asked.

 Gaming laughed, nodding. “I guess we are! But I mean like… Going out for a bite or something! To celebrate the end of your apprenticeship here.” He clarified. “I know a suuuper good noodle joint a couple of blocks down.” 

 Shoto looked Gaming over for a bit, before nodding. Noodles couldn’t hurt, and he knew Gaming had an excellent sense of taste.

 With a cheery smile, Gaming nodded back. “Cool cool cool! When do you want to go?”

 Shoto doesn’t think he’s ever met someone so extroverted, he thought to himself. Gaming had this aura to him that made everyone like him, and Shoto couldn’t exactly say he was immune to it himself. 

 He watched Gaming order enthusiastically, the waitress growing slightly more appalled with every addition to the meal. Shoto silently hoped Ms. Knave wouldn’t mind the impending bill taken from her card, but then he realized that Gaming is certainly not the type to spend someone’s money without their express approval.

 Once the befuddled waitress went to give the grocery list of an order to the chefs, Gaming’s attention returned to his new friend. He opened his mouth, before Shoto cut him off.

 “Is The Knave a lesbian?” He asked blatantly.

 Gaming stared at him, blinking slowly as if he wasn’t sure he had heard Shoto right.

 “...Hm?” Gaming eventually hummed, brows furrowed. 

 It had been a question swirling in Shoto’s head ever since he introduced his mother to his teacher. It was almost a fear, in fact. As if the possibility of his teacher and mother being romantically involved horrified him. He assumes Gaming would know, seeing as he’s known her since he was little apparently.

 “Does she like women…?” Shoto rephrased, helplessly. Gaming pursed his lips.

 “Todoroki you… You aren’t homophobic, are you…?” Gaming asked slowly. Shoto blinked, leaning back a bit and shaking his head.

 “What? No. I’m asking out of genuine curiosity.” He insisted, blinking when Gaming put his hand over his chest and let out a quiet breath.

 Gaming cleared his throat, snorting. “Well… I don’t really know? I mean as far as I’m aware she’s never been in any serious relationships? At least, none that I’ve heard of. So I guess it’s a possibility.” He shrugged. 

 Shoto hummed, placing his hand to his chin as the appetizers brought to the table quickly stole Gaming’s attention. This was a problem. A very serious problem that needed immediate rectification. His mother and his teacher could not date.

 “I’m deeply sorry, but I cannot say I’ve ever heard of a phenomenon like this.” Neuvillette said after a long moment of pondering. “The ousia and pneuma elements of Fontaine are much like magnets, you see. Ousia and Pneuma are drawn to one another, while two of the same elements simply reflect without much more reaction.” He explained with a simple gesture of his hand.

 “Well- Hm.” The traveler stuttered, practically hearing the defeat the three siblings behind them were feeling.

 “What exactly are pneuma and ousia anyways?” Paimon spoke up, tilting her head from her spot over the traveler’s shoulder. “We’ve been using them to solve puzzles, and they’re apparently core functions of Fontaine, but we don’t even really know what they are!”

 Neuvillette hummed, folding his arms behind his back. “Pneuma and Ousia are droplets of energy. Fontaine’s waters are much different from the rest of Teyvat’s; it is a land of pure hydro. It is theorized that Egeria’s death five hundred years ago is what caused this overload and subsequent fracture of energy, as Pneuma and Ousia’s history only records up to four hundred or so years back.” 

 Pimon hummed with interest, before Freminet piped up quietly. “Is… Is that why vision holders native to Fontaine are naturally aligned with one of the elements? Since we used to be oceanids?” He asked, shrinking a little at Neuvillette’s gaze. The Iudex only smiled kindly though, nodding.

 “Yes. Though, I am unsure if that will uphold in future vision holders now that the sin has been washed away.” He hummed.

 Lyney sighed, brow furrowing. “So we barely know anything about the things that made Father disappear.” He said bitterly. Lynette put a hand on his shoulder in warning, and his shoulders drooped.

 “Forgive us, Monsieur Neuvillette. We’re… Really concerned about Father- And that boy that disappeared.” She said in her brother’s stead. Neuvillette nodded in understanding.

 “Do not apologize, I completely understand your concern. I will research everything I can get my hands on and let you four know immediately should I come across anything, but for now I recommend keeping that sword of yours in its sheath.” He said sincerely, his last words directed at the traveler. They nodded sheepishly.

 Later that night, Lyney stared at the traveler- Asleep on one of the couches in the main room of the Hearth with Paimon sprawled across their stomach. His eyes trailed to the sword, innocently resting against the traveler’s bag on the floor. 

 He swallowed. His eyes flicked back up to his two sleeping friends, before he seemed to come to a decision. Silently, Lyney grabbed the sword, and left the house in search of an Ousia block. He himself was Pneuma aligned, so he wasn’t entirely sure if it would affect him, but… He needed to find Father.

 As he stood beneath the waterway into the Court, the tide licking at his boots, he held the Ousia aligned blade in one hand and his aligned hand in the other. Lyney looked between them for a moment, before slowly moving his hand to the blade.

 “What do you think you’re doing?” Lynette’s voice cut in. He jumped, sword falling from his grasp as he whipped around to meet the very unimpressed gaze of his twin sister. She smacked his hand for good measure, the alignment fizzling out from his palm as he held it to his chest in offense.

 “Uh- Haha, Lynette! What are you doing up so late?” He asked, voice shrill. His sister only glared at him, and his shoulders slumped. “Look- One of us needs to find Father. You know Father is too important to go missing for a full day, and if she’s not back soon then that means-”

 “And what if you don’t come back either, Lyney?” Lynette cut in, crossing her arms with a raised brow. “You didn’t even leave a note. If Father hasn’t returned from whatever this situation is yet, what makes you think that you could do it in one night?” She asked harshly.

 Lyney bit his lip, avoiding her gaze. Lynette sighed, shaking her head. “I get why you want her back sooner than later. But if you disappear too… You know that duty will fall to either Freminet or I, don’t you?” She asked, making his eyes snap back to her. 

 They were both silent for a few moments, before Lynette sighed and grabbed his hand. “Let’s just go home. We’ll figure something out in the morning, okay?” She asked gently, leaning down to grab the sword. 

 Lyney blinked, seeing a slight ripple of purple over Lynette’s hand- The hand she slapped his own with. He tried to pull her back, eyes widening. “Wait- Lynette-!”

 There wasn’t even an echo of his voice remaining as they both disappeared, the only trace left being the Sword of Narzissenkreuz lying in the sand.

Chapter Text

 She really needed to get an office of some sort, Arlecchino thought to herself as she sifted through her emails tiredly. It’s either an unrestricted amount of emails from anyone who so pleases to contact her, or a heap of envelopes flooding her mailbox that she and Gaming had to sit and read together to get it done efficiently.

 She supposes being rank eight in all of Japan would imply she needs an office anyways. Arlecchino simply doesn’t want to leave any of her business in the hands of lesser employees- Her own division of fatui soldiers were already a handful when it came to even the most meagre of tasks.

 Arlecchino closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a deep breath from her nose. At the very least she knew Gaming would be of use, as productive as the boy was. And Todoroki could practice more on the logistical side of being a hero next apprenticeship.

 The hero wasn’t sure when she started including Todoroki in her plans for the future, however it was only natural. A parent sees a child in need, and the child temporarily becomes their own.

 Arlecchino leaned back in her seat, tapping her chin. Well, perhaps it doesn’t have to be a temporary thing. She already knew a way into this universe, surely she’ll be able to come back once she learns a way out. She gazed listlessly at her screen, nodding to herself. It wouldn’t be an option to leave one of her own alone., of course.

 Students and teachers alike stood in the examination room, watching Kouda and Jirou fight Present Mic together. Arlecchino would be up next, dueling Shouji and Hagakure after Snipe was called for a mission. She was intrigued at the idea of fighting an opponent she couldn’t see, however the idea of the girl running around nude during hero activity bothered her.

 The soft sound of someone clearing their throat beside her made Arlecchino glance down, meeting Nedzu’s beady gaze. “Have you heard about the new nighttime vigilante running about?” He asked, in that specific tone of his that implied he knew something that she didn’t. 

 She raised a brow, nodding. “Yes, but I haven’t looked into it. I don’t often concern myself with vigilantes.” She said, and they both knew it was due to the fact that she was teetering on the definition of one herself.

 Nedzu hummed, tilting his head with a smile. Arlecchino couldn’t quite see that smile the same way after witnessing his own fight against Ashidi and Kaminari. “Well, this one is quite interesting. They’ve so far gone by Magicat, and their quirk is truly something confusing.”

 Magicat… Arlecchino frowned, attention piqued. “Go on?” She said, brow tightened.

 “You see, some thought they had a duel quirk like young Todoroki; as this Magicat can use both explosive powers and a whirlwind quirk… However, it seems they can also change their gender. Some sightings say they were saved by a young lady in black and blue; others say a male in black and red.” Nedzu’s smile grew. “However, all descriptions of them share the exact same details. Ash blonde hair, purple eyes, pale skin…”

 Arlecchino stared. She stared for a good few minutes, before letting out a long sigh. “You decide to share this with me as I’m just about to fight?” She asked irritably, to which Nedzu just laughed easily.

 “Well, I couldn’t have another teacher calling out, could I?” He asked innocently. Arlecchino just pinched her brow, before turning on her heel and making her way towards the area she’d be fighting in. Originally she had planned to go a little easy on the students, but she was rather annoyed now.

 Arlecchino hadn’t truly lectured her kids in a good few years. Perhaps they needed a reminder on how to not be stupid.

 As Shoji and Ms. Knave fought, Hagakure creeped up behind her teacher’s still-form. It was honestly a little scary watching the woman fend off the big and strong Shouji with mere hand gestures, but Hagakure knew that Shouji was counting on her! And also, if she didn’t make this, then she wouldn’t be able to have any fun with her friends at the training camp!

 With a silent breath, Hagakure shot forward, handcuff open and heading straight for Ms. Knave’s wrist- Before suddenly she was being choke-slammed into the floor.

 “Hagakure-!” Shouji yelled, before Ms. Knave raised her hand. Hot, blood red spikes encased the two students, and their teacher stood up, calmly fixing the cuff of her sleeve.

 “Incapacitated.” Ms. Knave said, staring at the frozen stiff teenagers. “This round is over.”

 Hagakure finally breathed when the spikes went away, sitting up and frowning over at Shouji as Ms. Knave left the room without another word. 

 “Is it just me or was she a little angry today?” She whispered to her classmate, who sighed and shook his head tiredly.

 Gaming sighed with relief as he finally placed the last of the boxes in the new office space Ms. Arlecchino had bought. He wiped his brow, looking around with a short hum. He should probably wait for her to return before unboxing any of the furniture so he knows what goes where.

 Speak of the devil and she shall come, the door opens behind him. He turned, smiling politely at the woman. He may have been a hair away from pissing himself in fear the first time he met the harbinger face to face, but she was actually a really nice lady once he got to know her! Maybe the Fatui Harbingers just get a bad rep because of their soldiers acting more like delinquents than anything.

 “Ms. Perry, hi! I just got done here, if you wanted to lay out a plan for-” Gaming was cut off by the woman placing a hand on his shoulder, looking very tired and very annoyed.

 “I apologize, Gaming, but unpacking will have to wait until tomorrow. I need your help with something tonight.” She said, and Gaming tilted his head. He knew he’d be something like her secretary, but he thought that would wait until the office was more… Ready for business!

 Turns out, he was very wrong to assume it was simple secretary work. He tried to act natural as he silently made his way down the quiet streets, late enough into the night for basically no one to be out and about. He swallowed as he heard two pairs of footsteps tailing him, fighting the urge to look back.

“It is exactly who I suspected it was.” Arlecchino’s voice rang in the fun little device in his ear, sounding properly peeved off. He grimaced. Alright, maybe she was still pretty scary.

 “Fret not, they won’t hurt you. Stop by that alleyway and don’t run when they intercept you.” She said, before the line cut. So just let yourself be kidnapped, Gaming. Simple plan. Got it.

 Hesitantly, he stopped at the mouth of an alleyway, pulling his phone from his pocket to pretend to check it- Before a hand was over his mouth and two more tugged him into the darkness of the alley.

 Gaming tried his hardest not to scream, but he did let out a yelp of surprise as he was pressed against a wall. However, when he opened his eyes, he was met with two very similar and very familiar faces. His eyes widened.

 “It’s you two!” Gaming said in surprise, smiling at seeing someone he actually knows- Even if he’d only met the magicians a couple of times.

 Lyney sighed in relief, shoulders dropping, while Lynette nodded. “Indeed. We are glad to see that you’re okay. Freminet would have our tails if you got hurt.” She sighed, before her and her brother jumped as a fourth person made their existence known by placing her hands heavily on their shoulders.

 “It is not only Freminet you need to concern yourselves over.” Arlecchino said, glaring down at the twins with such an unimpressed stare that Gaming couldn’t help but wince with sympathy. His own dad had looked at him like that several times in life, and it never did get easier.

 “Now, care to tell me what you two are doing here?” She asked lowly. Lynette’s ears pressed to her skull, and Lyney averted his eyes with an awkward laugh. Father was right; they would have much prefered Freminet over this.

 “F-Father, so good to see that you’re okay!” Lyney said, eyes darting around anxiously. “Ah… How about we go somewhere private first?” He asked, wincing when Arlecchino squinted down at him.

 A beat passed between the four, Gaming having the odd feeling that he was interrupting something, before she sighed. “You’re stalling, but you’re also correct. Come.” She said, letting them both go and turning on her heel. The twins sighed, before awkwardly following behind their Father in silence. Gaming trailed behind them. He’s never had any siblings, but he suddenly relates to every middle child ever.

 They soon made it back to Arlecchino’s residence, and Gaming cleared his throat before anything else could be said. “I’ll just… Make myself scarce. Goodnight guys!” He said, willfully ignoring the pleading gazes the twins gave him as he all but dashed upstairs to his room, not wanting to get caught within a family feud that he was not a part of.

 The two twins sat awkwardly beside one another on the couch, their Father sipping tea across from them. Neither were offered their own cups. This was Father’s own twisted form of punishment; sitting down and waiting for one of them to talk rather than giving them anything to start with.

 After a few more moments of suffocating silence, Lynette raised her hand and pointed it at Lyney shamelessly. “He did it.” She said, ignoring her brother’s cry of indignation.

 “Oh I have no doubt.” Arlecchino replied, causing another noise to break from Lyney’s throat. “However, who did what is the problem here. The problem is that my two most capable children are trapped here with me, leaving my duties in the hands of both your younger brother and that idiot Tartaglia.”

 She watched as guilt painted the twins faces, letting it simmer for a moment, before she just sighed. “However, I suppose I could look on the brighter side. I have missed my children, and I’m sure you both have some updates for me.” Arlecchino hummed, sipping her tea.

 Lyney sighed, nodding his head. “We’ve missed you too, Father, despite you only being gone for a day. I suppose the idea of you potentially not coming back is what had me so… Impulsive.” He said awkwardly, ignoring the looks his sister and Father gave him.

 Arlecchino then hummed, tilting her head. “A day?” She repeated, taking in the twins’ curious nods. “How strange. Gaming appeared a few months ago, and when he did he said it had only been thirty minutes or so. Those timelines don’t really line up from how long I’ve been here myself.” 

 Lynette straightened, eyes wide. “A few months?! Father, how long have you been here? We know you have a reputation from the few days we’ve been here, but…” She trailed off, her and her brother sharing a bewildered look.

 Arlecchino hummed, crossing her legs. “My time here is nearing a year and a half.” She said, taking in the horror on her children's faces. Wordlessly, Arlecchino opened her arms, and in an instant she had her daughter hugging from one side and her son on the other.

 Being separated from the two for so long has shown her that she is perhaps more attached to them and Freminet than she had intended. Of course, every child of the Hearth was just that; her children. But, even if she only showed up later in the three’s lives, she feels as if they are her own flesh and blood sometimes.

 Arlecchino sighed, patting their heads. The two haven’t hugged her since they were much younger, but she felt this was an appropriate time for one. “This complicates things, and I am upset at your rash decision making, Lyney. However, I am happy to see you both again.” 

 The two held her tighter at that, and she sighed, resigned to being stuck in the hug for a little while. It’s the least she could do, she supposes.

Chapter Text

 Arlecchino sat with her eyes closed beside Aizawa, arms and legs crossed as she waited patiently for the bus to arrive at their location. It had been some weeks since she’d found Lyney and Lynette, and though the longing for her third child grows every day, things have been falling into place.

 Lyney and Lynette were of course too old to attend UA, but it wasn’t hard to convince Nedzu that they could act as her little assistance on this field trip. She would feel odd about leaving Gaming home alone, however she knows the boy used to live alone anyhow, and he had her full permission to use that Suanni of his in self defense if necessary.

 Behind the teachers' seats sat the twins, Lynette mimicking her Father’s expression with the closed eyes and patience while Lyney happily entertained a few students by doing idle tricks. She wasn’t looking, but Arlecchino could imagine Lyney’s grin whenever Denki and Mina ooh’d and ahh’d at his card flipping skills.

 They don’t have a license yet, but they’re both registered as personal students under Arlecchino’s wing (metaphorically), so they were allowed to use their abilities as long as she permitted it and was in the area. Lynette’s quirk had been classified as Cyclone, and Lyney’s as Matchstick. 

 Arlecchino thought it made good training for the twins in general, to limit their skill sets to only their most powerful ones; Lynette’s swirling ability and Lyney’s explosions. And like always, they worked together perfectly. She would have them enrolled into schooling for their licenses during a less busy time, however this year has already been rather hectic so far.

 She opened her eyes to glance out of the window, not commenting on the glimpse she got of Aizawa sleeping with his head slumped down. Arlecchino hasn’t had such an eventful year since when the prophecy came to a head. It makes her wonder if all of the oddities she’s experienced in this world are truly so common.

 Thinking back on it, she hasn’t received any… Gifts, from that anonymous figure. While Arlecchino is grateful that she doesn’t have to clean blood from dead animals off of her desk or door step, it is rather suspicious. People determined enough in their ways to do something that creepy don’t typically give up after dedicating themself to it for a few good weeks.

 However it’s a little late to think too hard about that, seeing as she was about a three hour drive away from home and currently had no service to warn Gaming with. The boy was smart, he’d probably call the authorities if someone left a dead bird in front of the door step.

 Once the bus parked, Aizawa stood back up as if he hadn’t been deep in sleep and had the students file off of the bus. Arlecchino and the twins stood to the side, watching as Mandalay and Pixie Bob introduced themselves eccentrically. Lynette quietly stepped behind Lyney after catching a sparkling glance from Pixie Bob.

 “Aizawa, don’t you think this schedule is a bit… Intense, for some first years?” Mamdalay asked as the students were chased down the mountain by Pixie Bob’s creations. Aizawa nodded with a tired sigh, rubbing the back of his neck in a manner the spoke of his stress levels.

 Arlecchino couldn’t understand it, the students were perfectly well behaved with her.

 “The intensity is the point. We’re trying to cram in a whole second semester’s worth of training during this trip. It may be harsh, but with the villain activity these days… I think it’ll come in handy.” Aizawa explained.

 Mandalay hummed in understanding, before smiling over at Arlecchino and the twins politely. “I’m happy to finally meet you in person, Ms. Knave. Who are they?” She asked with a nod to the two nineteen year olds bracketing the woman.

 “These are my children, Lyney and Lynette.” Arlecchino said with a hand on either of their shoulders. “They are here not only as my assistants, but to train as well.”

 That made the two magicians pause, Lyney looking up at her with a hesitant smile. “That is to say, training in handling a bunch of teenagers, right Father?” He asked, Lynette nodding quietly to his words.

 Arlecchino raised her brow at him, and after a rather awkward moment of silence she freed him from the burden of her gaze, looking out into the trees. “Get to running.” Was all she said.

 The twins, knowing better than to voice their complaints, only nodded with clear disappointment, before sliding down the cliff to join class 1A in their training. Lynette would likely do just fine, but Arlecchino hasn’t given Lyney any test in agility in some time. It would do him some good.

 Mandalay laughed in good nature, smiling. “You sure have them on a leash! I’m a little jealous.” She said. Arlecchino eyed the little boy who’d been standing to the side this whole time as he scoffed at Mandalay’s words, bringing his hat over his eyes. “Well then, let’s make our own way to the campsite before the kids get there.” Mandalay continued with a clap of her hands, smiling over at Pixie Bob.

 “You’ve got things covered here, yeah?” She asked, to which the blonde heroine laughed.

 “Sure do!! I can feel my fur standing on end!” Pixie Bob said energetically as she watched explosions and flashes of light follow class 1A’s wake. Mandalay smiled fondly, and with a nod to the two teachers and the mysterious boy, they all set off on their own, faster, and much less strenuous route.

 Well after they had all made it down the mountain and taken a little while to rest and bathe (to which Arlecchino got to spot the endearing sight of the boy- now known as Kota- sitting atop the separation wall and glaring down at the boy’s bath like some sort of guard dog for the lady’s), Arlecchino and Aizawa rounded up the students in a nearby clearing. Lyney and Lynette stood behind Arlecchino, not quite as exhausted as the students but certainly still miffed that they had to take part in the training.

 “Try throwing that for me.” Aizawa said after tossing a baseball to Bakugo, who glowered down at it with boredom.

 “Yeah, sure. Like in the fitness test.” Bakugo pointed out, gaining an approving nod from Aizawa. Arlecchino watched as the boy trudged forward, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else right now. That was something she’d long noticed about her student; He would rage and yell often, but under all of that anger was a sort of genuine spite against the world. It was curious to her, however she’s already prying into Todoroki’s business, so she’d leave this one be.

 “Oh I get it!” Mina said excitedly once Bakugo reeled his arm back. “We’re checking our progress!!”

 “A lot’s happened to us the past three months, maybe he can throw it a whole mile now!” Sero added, as the class leaned forward to watch. Aizawa only huffed, while Arlecchino hummed in faint amusement.

 Arlecchino can’t say she’s seen anyone damn a mere ball to hell before, but Bakugo had a habit of befuddling her. She watched idly as the ball disappeared far into the distance, brow twitching at the thought of it being left to rot in the forest somewhere now.

 Aizawa held up the tracker, and the students collectively gaped as those bright blue digital numbers bore very little difference from the ones all those months ago. Bakugo stared like someone had just killed his dog and spit on the corpse.

 “From these past experiences, you all have definitely improved, but those improvements have mostly been limited to mental prowess and technical skill.” Aizawa explained, pocketing the device as he glanced over his students with a critical eye. “With a slight increase in stamina thrown in along the way.”

 “As you can see, your quirks haven’t improved much on a fundamental level.” 

 Arlecchino’s eyes snapped to Midoriya at that. She wasn’t sure why, but whenever quirks were brought up the boy always had the most unique reactions. The other students looked disappointed, embarrassed, or simply resigned. Midoriya however gasped with wide and intrigued eyes, as if he was learning something most valuable.

 His analyzation of quirks and interest in all of their capabilities was a wonderful trait to have in this world. Many times Arlecchino has sat with him and humored some of his questions- Which came in an influx after her performance at Hosu. She believes that, out of every student, he might find the most progress at a camp like this.

 “Let’s hope you all survive.” Aizawa said with a threatening grin after explaining how grueling the training here would be. Arlecchino sent a glance down to her two children, who both sighed in unison. Yes, you are not exempt from this, she thought to herself. It may be cruel, but Arlecchino already gives the twins and Freminet enough special treatment. Why should they get to stand by when all of these younger ones have to train so hard?

 Lyney and Lynette stare in no small amount of horror as they watch the students of 1A train- 1B collectively sharing the twins' expressions once they themself arrive. Bakugo was shoving his hands in boiling water repeatedly, Kaminari was electrocuting himself, Urarake throwing herself down a mountain, and more.

 The two young adults slowly looked up at their Father, who smiled.

 “You two will be working on your cooldowns.” She explained. “Lyney, since your ‘quirk’ depends on how fast you move your body to create flames, you will be doing stamina and speed workouts.” 

 Lyney’s shoulders relaxed as he nodded. That didn’t sound too different from what they did at the hearth.

 “Now, give me three hundred jumping jacks and create flames with every movement of your arms.” Arlecchino demanded. Lyney paled, but one expecting glance caused him to sigh and walk a few paces away to do as he was told. Thank goodness they were given their own UA gym wear- Their usual outfits would kill him in an exercise like this.

 “And Lynette.” Arlecchino continued, the girl straightening from where she’d been sending Lyney a pitying look. “Your swirl reaction is based on your momentum, yes?” The woman asked, to which Lynette nodded. “Good. You will join Uraraka on the mountain, however instead of simply falling, you will run down it.”

 Arlecchino handed Lynette knee pads and various other body guards. The girl closed her eyes in acceptance, before quietly nodding with a small ‘Yes Father’ and making her way up the mountain.

 “Who are they?” Vlad King asked Aizawa as the Pussycats introduced themselves eccentrically to class 1B. 

 “The Knave’s assistants. She asked Nedzu for permission to bring them along so they could get their hero licenses sooner.” Aizawa explained, watching as Tiger kicked Midoriya into a tree. “They’re adults, and Knave is taking full responsibility for them, so don’t worry about it. They’re pretty well behaved from what I’ve seen.”

 Vlad King nodded with a hum, watching with a small furrow to his brow as one of the two ran down the side of a mountain, barely keeping herself standing, and the other trying not to light a passing Iida on fire as he did the fastest jumping jacks Vlad King has ever seen.

 Arlecchino could cook just fine, but she was no chef. However, watching Bakugo cook gave her strong nostalgia to when she first visited Liyue. Granted, Chef Mao and his daughter were a lot less angry about their food prep. 

 However, the nostalgia wasn’t only directed to Liyue, but also the Hearth. Watching all of these kids work together to make dinner was something she’d grown fond of doing back home. The sight of comradery and the easy going air was nice, and it always felt good seeing her children get along. Though that isn’t to say there wasn’t usually a petty squabble or two amongst the younger ones.

 She caught Todoroki’s smile as his classmates thanked him for lighting their ovens. Arlecchino couldn’t help the pull of her lips as well at the sight, before she heard two pairs of footsteps coming up to her.

 “Is that the boy you told us about?” Lynette asked softly from her place beside Arlecchino, a much more exhausted looking Lyney standing on her other side.

 Arlecchino nodded with a hum. “He reminds me of a mix of you and Freminet, Lynette.” She said, before shaking her head. “I of course have no way, physically or ethically, to invite him home. But what I can do is try to guide him towards a better future while we’re here.”

 The twins nodded, Lyney letting out a soft laugh as they watched Todoroki get pulled this way and that- His quirk particularly useful in a cooking setting. “He does remind me of Freminet. They have that same resting expression that says they don’t know what to do with themselves.”

 “Don’t tease our brother like that when he isn’t even here to defend himself.” Lynette said, shooting Lyney a frown. Lyney just gave a laugh. “Our little brother? Or our youngest brother?” He asked, tilting his head in Todoroki’s direction. Lynette only gave him an unimpressed look.

 Arlecchino felt pride flicker in her chest, before she shook her head. At least she knew the two would take care of the boy as well.

 “Don’t forget why you’re more tired than the others.” Aizawa scolded as he pushed the half dead students who’d failed the exam to train. “You’re not only here to strengthen your physical weaknesses, but also the weaknesses I saw in your tests.”

 “How were we supposed to compare to her…” Hagakure whined beneath her breath, with Shoji simply patting her back sympathetically. 

 “Uraraka and Aoyama, you two may have passed the test, but it was just barely by a hair. I expect to see you two working harder.” He threw over his shoulder, the two students slumping in defeat.

 “You two.” Aizawa said as he whipped around, startling Lyney and Lynette- They weren’t expecting to be called on by anyone but Father. “Your manager said I had every right to switch your training however I please.” He said, causing the twins to gape with an air of betrayal.

 “Cat number one, start doing the same arm motions as you would in Jumping Jacks, but stay in that ice bath over there.” He said pointedly. Lyney fumbled, before letting out a loud and defeated sigh. “Cat Two, see that tree over there?” He asked, gesturing to the tallest pine tree Lynette had ever seen. “Keep trying to run up to the top until you can do it successfully. No breaks.”

 With her ears pressed flat to her head, Lynette nodded and did as she was told.

 The reason Arlecchino herself couldn’t command such training is because she was training another student herself.

 “Too hot yet?” She asked sternly as Kirishima trembled. He was in his stone form, taking a consistent blast of Todoroki’s fire from one side and the simmering heat of Arlecchino’s spikes on the other, pressed dangerously against his form. “The second you lose your stone you could lose an arm to my heat. So keep it up.” 

 Kirishima whimpered in fear, Todoroki trying to keep exhaustion off of his face as he kept his own fire going. Arlecchino had pointed out to him that his ice was much more well trained than his fire, for obvious reasons, which led to this test of endurance.

 As the two stood painfully still and used their quirks, Arlecchino kept her spikes up and sat back on a small throne of them, unbothered by the warmth as she sipped her tea.

 “I didn’t know you could- ugh- make more than just spikes, Ma’am!” Kirishima said through his trembling, to which Arlecchino hummed.

 “Making conversation when you should be focusing. How bold.” She said idly, causing the boy to squeak and go back to squeezing his eyes shut and gritting his teeth. Arlecchino forgot how amusing training kids could be.

 “So, here’s how the game works!!” Pixie Bob told class 1A excitedly outside of the forestline. “Class B will be the scarers first, and every three minutes Class A will enter the forest in pairs!! There are tags with your names on them at the far end of the route, your goal is to collect those!”

 “The scarers cannot make physical contact with the ones they scare, so use your quirks in the most terrifying way you can!!” She added, before giggling. “Both teams also will have the assistance from one of their teachers, Ms. Knave!!”

 Denki and Kirishima gripped each other at those words, plenty of class 1A sweat dropping as well. Before Midoriya raised his hand. “Ah- What about her two assistants?” He asked.

 “I’ll be joining you guys, Lynette will be with class B.” Lyney said kindly from beside Rag Doll, who nodded enthusiastically. 

 “Now that that’s all settled, everyone draw their numbers!!” Pixie Bob called, waving a fist-full of paper slips around.

 Midoriya frowned. “If we’re in teams of two…” He mumbled as he stared down at his slip, innocently displaying the number eight. “Wait, there are twenty of us, but five in extra lessons…” He said thoughtfully, counting the pairs in his head. So that left him with…

 A gloved hand rested on his shoulder, and he jumped as he turned to meet Lyney’s smiling face. “Looks like it’s us two! Haha, really you’re at an advantage now, I’m well used to all of Father’s scary tricks.” He said, to which Midoriya just nodded awkwardly.

 Once again, Freminet found himself in the Chief of Justice’s office. His head was cradled within his hands as the traveler awkwardly rubbed his back, looking guilty themselves. Neuvillete and Duke Wriothesley stared down at the sword, having been carefully laid on the table after the traveler, Paimon and Freminet had found it on the shore, abandoned.

 “That is four victims.” Neuvillette sighed, and winced after seeing Freminet look up at him with the most dismayed expression. “Victims as in people affected by this phenomenon, not people injured or dead.” He clarified, though it didn’t seem to help much.

 Wriothesley sighed, running a hand through his hair. “The Research Institution has a lot of studies focusing on the Arkhes, right? Why don’t we discreetly ask for some info on them?” He offered.

 “Why discrete? Wouldn’t they be able to help better if they knew the situation?” Paimon asked curiously from where she floated beside the Traveler’s head, looking worried. 

 Wriothesley made a face, crossing his arms. “While the folks at the Institute are knowledgeable in this type of thing, they also don’t have the best reputation when it comes to seeking said knowledge. It’d be way too easy for a researcher eager for something new to try and test this new reaction out themselves.”

 The traveler and Paimon shared a look, recalling their own time working with the Research Institution. And that time when they were helping Sigewinne with the researcher making facial morphing skin care products. They then both nodded in understanding.

 “So, to be inconspicuous, let’s send some guardes over to ask some questions. Say it’s for the purpose of speeding up meck production in the Fortress.” Wriothesley said with a calm gesture of his hand. Neuvillette hummed with a nod.

 “That sounds like it would work just fine, Duke Wriothesley. Thank you.” He said.

 Freminet’s voice cut through the tense air, sheepish and frightened as it was. “I’m… Sorry, to ask you all of this, but… What do I do?” He asked hesitantly, to which Wriothesley gave him a sympathetic smile.

 “Nothing much you can do, bud.” The man said, before Freminet shook his head.

 “Not… Not like that. You all obviously know my family is with the fatui.” Freminet said, gaining several nods in response. “Well. With Father gone, and the oldest siblings, that… Means a lot of the important things will probably go to me. And that includes telling the Fatui that Father is gone.” 

 Neuvillette purses his lips, bringing a hand to his chin. “That is quite the predicament. Not only do I not feel so comfortable leaving such a duty in the hands of someone so young, but The Knave disappearing on Fontanian lands may seem like a threat to the Tsaritsa.” 

 He and Wriothesley both glanced at each other wearily, before the Traveler cleared their throat. “From what I’ve seen, Arlecchino and Childe are pretty close compared to the rest of their coworkers. And he’s also a surprisingly familial-based guy. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind a good reason to come and take care of the Hearth.”

 “Ah, I forget you are well acquainted with Tartaglia.” Neuvillette hummed, as Freminet stared at the Traveler with a mildly agape jaw. “Please, contact him when you can then. Hopefully we can resolve this issue before the rest of the Fatui gets involved.”

 Freminet swallowed, staring back down at his lap. He’d have to talk to the eleventh harbinger by himself?! He’s met a few harbingers before, but he was always in the background with his siblings and Father- he’s never had a one-on-one conversation with one!

 Traveler just pats Freminet’s back again, feeling a strong sense of sympathy. The poor boy basically just lost all of his closest family members in one day, they could relate.

 Somewhere much colder, Tartaglia read over a letter beside a campfire. He then did the hardest, most enthusiastic fist pump of his life. He’s been looking for a reason to dump gifts on the kids of the Hearth!

Chapter Text

 “I’m getting scared, Tsu.” Uraraka said hesitantly, shoulders hunched as her and Asui walked side by side down the forest trail. She flinched when shrill cries rang through the woods again, sighing. “And those screams aren’t helping…”

 Asui hummed with a tilt of her head. “That’s Kyouka and Toru I think- Here, take my hand.” She offered, raising her palm and nodding when Uraraka took it shakily. “Don’t be afraid, we’ll look out for each other.”

 The girls both gave each other determined- yet frightened- nods, before immediately jumping as a bush rustled behind them. Uraraka whipped around, squeezing Asui’s hand. “Who- Who’s there?!” The girl called, gripping her froggy friend’s hand. “Show yourself!”

 The two girls were turned once again at another noise behind them, then another, before finally Asui slowly tugged Uraraka back down the path. “Maybe these little jumpscares are all they can do, let’s just get-”

 She was interrupted as her shoe stepped backwards onto a bang snap, squeaking as the sound rang through the trees- Almost like a gunshot. Uraraka shared a similar reaction, stepping away from Asui only to step on more.

 They both immediately held each other once more, standing perfectly still, before a soft huff was heard.

 “That wasn’t really a scream, but I’ll take it.” Lynette said from behind the two girls, who jumped in surprise- More so Uraraka than Asui. Uraraka let out a low breath of relief, before frowning. 

 “Hey, I didn’t know you guys could use props! Not cool…” She whined, Asui nodding beside her. 

 Lynette shrugged. “I used my quirk to scatter them on the ground. I believe that’s within the rules.” She said casually, expression almost creully deadpan as the highschoolers sighed tiredly. Lynette’s ear then flicked, her brow furrowing as she looked up.

 “Do you two smell that?” She asked, tail stiff behind her. Uraraka frowned, brow twitching. She was already exhausted from just that one jumpscare!

 “Oh come on, you already got us! Don’t try to scare us more!” Uraraka bemoaned, but Lynette held her hand up, shaking her head. 

 “No, I’m serious. Something is off.” The young woman mumbled, before her hesitance was cut off by the familiar voice of Mandalay ringing through the three girls’ heads in unison.

 “Everyone! Two villains attacked us, and it’s possible there are more coming. Everyone return to camp immediately, we are regrouping!” 

 “Do not engage any enemies!” Mandalay warned, before the telepath's voice quieted from their minds.

 Lyney ran after Midoriya the second the boy shot off on his own. It didn’t feel right to let the teenager go off on his own in potentially villain infested woods to save a child- Even if it hurt a part of Lyney’s soul not to run into the forest himself and find Lynette.

 “Kid sure likes to go out far!” Lyney said as they ran, ascending the cliff side by side. “The villains shouldn’t expect anyone to be up here, surely he’s okay.” He tried to soothe, and though Midoriya gave him an awkward nod, it was clear he didn’t feel so hopeful.

 Lyney didn’t either, truth be told. Working in the Hearth for most of his life, especially so closely with Father, he’s grown achingly accustomed to assuming the worst at all times. But Midoriya was only fifteen, and he didn’t grow up living as a borderline assassin like Lyney, Lynette, or even little Freminet did. In fact, Freminet had more experience in the field than Lyney himself.

 It ached at Lyney, knowing that even in this world unsuspecting teenagers and children are exposed to such sights, but the least Lyney can do here is share his expertise and help where he can- Just like he did with the younger Hearth kids’ first missions. And just like he always will, even when he eventually becomes the new King.

 Broken from his thoughts, all Lyney could hear was the faint cry of Kota calling for his parents, before Midoriya sped forward like a stroke of lightning and grabbed hold of Kota, diving out of the way with him.

 Lyney quickly joined the two, crouching beside them and making sure Kota was okay. He scowled up at the towering villain as the man spoke in a low rasp.

 “Huh, now you I recognize.” The man said, pointing to Midoriya. “You were on the list.” He laughed, slowly stepping forward with a predatory smirk that lit Lyney’s veins on fire. The young man glanced behind him, cursing when he realized Midoriya’s phone had broken during the landing. And he didn’t have his own on him, still unused to keeping the device with him at all times.

 Standing, Lyney held an arm out before Midoriya. “Grab the boy and run as fast as you can, I’ll hold him off!” He said sternly, a tone he very rarely used. 

 Midoriya’s glare stuttered, frowning up at Lyney. “I can’t just leave you-”

 “You can and you will.” Lyney interrupted, using his ‘Oldest Sibling Voice’ that usually had the little ones scuffing their shoes into the dirt sheepishly. However for once the situation was much more dire. “It’s either you try to play hero with only a few months of experience and risk both Kota’s life and yours, or you leave it to an adult like you’re supposed to!”

 Midoriya stuttered, holding Kota closer, before Lyney’s reasoning seemed to get through to him as he hopped up, cradling the petrified child.

 The villain in front of Lyney laughed mockingly. “Oh no I don’t think so! I’m here on a job, not just to play.” He said, and Lyney scoffed.

 “I’ll show you a job.” He murmured beneath his breath, before dashing forward.

 Midoriya watched with muted awe as Lyney lit Muscular’s cloak on fire with a swift movement of his arm, skillfully dodging a super-powered swing. He then jumped as Muscular harshly slammed Lyney to the side in an attempt to grab Midoriya.

 Instinctively, Midoriya threw himself down the cliff, facing his own back to the ground to shield Kota from the impact as he watched the light of flames flash on top of the cliff. He would get Kota to safety like Lyney said, but then he would come back and help! He trusted Lyney’s capabilities, but Muscular wasn’t someone even two pro hero’s could take down, how long could an assistant hero go for on his own?

 Arlecchino was silent as she lead Todoroki, Bakugo, and the knocked out 1B student down the trail. The gas didn’t bother her too much, long since being forcefully immune to such things, but she had wrapped her overcoat around Todoroki’s lower face since he didn’t have the hands to cover his nose with. She had seen the two boy’s curious stares at the inky black coloring rising up her arms, but neither said a thing.

 “I’m worried about the others. Hopefully Rag Doll was able to get everyone out safely.” Todoroki mumbled. Bakugi began to grumble something with his usual attitude, however more wary than usual, before Arlecchino held her arm out to stop the two.

 The three stare at the sight of a man in all black on his knees, a severed hand laying on the ground before him.

 “Hey… Who was the group in front of us?” Bakugo whispered from behind Arlecchino, and Todoroki swallowed before responding.

 “Tokoyami I think… And Shoji.” He mumbled with muted horror.

 The two boys stiffened as the man began to mumble to himself in a raspy, strained voice, slowly pushing himself up to stand. It seemed as if his arms were wrapped tightly against his body, preventing him from using them.

 “So beautiful… Delicious flesh,” The villain rumbled, slowly turning to stare at the trio. His mouth was pride open by wire, the rest of his features covered by the black binding suit he wore. He looked fresh from an asylum. “But don’t tempt me… I have a job to do.”

 Bakugo’s eye twitched as he brought his hand away from his mouth. “No fighting. Is that the rule?” He asked breathlessly. 

 Arlecchino hummed. “For you two, at least. Stay behind me.” She commanded, stepping towards the villain as she observed him thoughtfully, attempting to make out what his quirk could be before he made the first move. Possibly something with his mouth, seeing as it was the only part of him that was revealed. She squinted. How irritating.

 “You really think you can save those little brats?” Muscular laughed as he dodged more of Lyney’s fire. The man had the disadvantage of his size when it came to dodging, however no matter how much Lyney burned the villain he would just wrap more muscle matter over the wound and keep fighting. “That does sound like something a hero would say! Your kind sure likes to mouth off about justice.”

 “Say, I haven’t heard of you before. In fact, you weren’t even on the list of teachers or students attending this cute little camp.” Muscular pointed out as he swung his arm, Lyney flipping backwards out of range and dropping to a kneel. “But hey, that just means you’re probably new to the field! Which means I can kill you without consequence.” Muscular laughed.

 Lyney clicked his teeth. “Yeah right.” He hissed, flicking a deck of cards from his glove. Muscular’s eye glints with interest, before having to throw his body to the side as a flaming card narrowly misses his skull.

 The villain raises his brow, laughing. “I thought heroes didn’t kill!” He called over to the magician, shooting out his arm in an attempt to catch the more nimble man with his muscles. 

 Lyney smiled ruefully at the man, sliding backwards and narrowly avoiding the grab. “Call it self defense!” He shot back at the man. It was an incredibly back and forth battle- Lyney dodges, makes a hit, Muscular heals, swings, and the cycle repeats. Lyney was fast and well trained, he knew that, but an endurance battle like this wasn’t something he had good faith in.

 He could only hope Midoriya would inform another hero of his whereabouts soon. Someone like Vlad King would be incredibly helpful here, with the amount of blood vessels left exposed by Muscular’s quirk.

 Lyney let out a sharp gasp as he dodged from a swing and landed directly into one of Muscular's rope-like tendons, gritting his teeth as it wrapped around him and threw him into the stone ground. He shot back up, ignoring the twinge in his right arm as he used his left to flick more cards at Muscular, switching to swinging his arm for more flames while the villain dodged.

 “You’re a good little warm up for the night!” Muscular continued to taunt, taking Lyney’s injuries for the advantage they are and swinging in his weak spots, causing Lyney to be forced to dodge onto his injured leg or foot.

 “I’ll kill you first, and it’ll really get me going for the hunt for that green brat!” The villain laughed. Lyney grit his teeth at those words.

 “You won’t be killing anyone!” He said sharply as he ran forward. Muscular was briefly taken by surprise by the sudden change in tactics, before Lyney jumped and wrapped his arms and legs around Muscular’s torso.

 Both men yelled as they burst into flames, Lyney having used the force of his sprint to create them. Muscular stumbled back, attempting to dislodge Lyney with his arms and only proving to burn himself more.

 “You’re not immune either you brat!” Muscular growled, glaring down at where Lyney was gritting his teeth in pain from the seer of his flames. “You’d go as far as to burn yourself alive to stop me?!”

 Lyney smirked up at Muscular, before he snapped his fingers behind the villain’s neck, quickly kicking himself off as three cards imbedded themselves into Muscular’s throat, keeping the flames alive as Lyney rolled on the ground and patted himself down, biting down on his lip hard enough to bleed.

 No one was immune to the elements of the vision they bore- If anything they were more exposed to it. The only reason Lyney wasn’t suffering as terribly as Muscular is because the humans of this world lacked any natural elemental resistance, making the pyro element burn even hotter.

 As Muscular’s screams died down, Lyney took a moment to catch his breath, hazy eyed as he watched his blood drip onto the stone beneath him. He wouldn’t die, he knew that, but his chances of survival would definitely lessen if he kept sitting here. He squeezed his eyes shut, convincing himself to stand- And missing the movement of the charred muscle mass a few feet away from him.

 He only looked up to find a burned, bloody red fist inches away from his face, his eyes widening. He was too injured to react or defend himself- How the hell was Muscular even alive still-?!

 Lyney’s eyes widened as a stroke of bright green lightning kicked Muscular away, sending the villain through the cliff face and rumbling the small mountain they stood on.

 Midoriya pants from in front of Lyney, quickly kneeling before the magician with only a wince at his now-busted leg. And other injuries that he certainly didn’t have beforehand. “You’re bleeding-” The student said breathlessly, and Lyney blanched as he stared at Midoriya’s battered form.

 “And so are you! You look like you just got hit by a train!” Lyney said in disbelief, before wincing as he remembered Midoriya literally throwing himself down the mountain to dodge Muscular’s attempt to grab him. “Just- Tell me about it later. Is Kota okay?”

 Midoriya nodded. “I ran into Mr. Aizawa on the way back to the camp and left Kota with him.” He explained. He then swallowed, looking over as Muscular shakily, yet angrily, pulled himself from the wall.

 “I can’t do much else.” Lyney admitted shamefully. “But I’ve weakened him significantly. You got this?” He asked, staring up at Midoriya with an almost challenging gaze. Midoriya swallowed, before stealing his nerves and nodding. Lyney had taken a huge risk to protect Kota and Midoriya, and has been an overwhelmingly amazing help. Now it was time for Midoriya to return the favor.

 “Nice moves. Guess you really are a pro.” Dabi hummed boredly as Aizawa dodged a large burst of his flames by clinging to the building they stood before. He raised his hand once more, furrowing his brow when nothing left his palms.

 “Not so fast!” Aizawa grunted, using his quirk to eliminate Dabi’s own as he lassoed his scarf around the man’s body and drop kicked him to the ground with a knee to the skull.

 Aizawa let out a breath as he trapped Dabi against the dirt, hand holding the villain’s head down by the hair and holding one of his arms back in a painfully unnatural position. “Why are you here, and where are the rest of your friends hiding?” Aizawa asked threateningly.

 Dabi scoffed into the dirt. “My what?” He drawled, before grunting as his arm was twisted.

 “Your right arm is next. Be reasonable about this, at least save your legs. It would be a pain to drag you off to jail without them.” Aizawa said with a scathing glare that Dabi could feel more than see.

 The villain only laughed. “You can take your time, Eraserhead.” He said as an explosion sounded in the distance. 

 Aizawa looked up at the smoke rising in the sky with gritted teeth, before his head turned to the mouth of the forest at the call of his name, seeing a batch of his students returning from the danger. “Stay back-!” Aizawa warned, before the demon flipped out from under him.

 Dabi huffed beneath his breath. “I’m here more so on personal business, Pro Hero. I wouldn’t call those idiots my friends.” He laughed, before turning to smile at Aizawa, looking manic as he did so. “But let me ask you, are you worried about your students?”

 Aizawa scoffed and pulled his scarf back, eyes widening when it merely cut through the villain's form like mud. Had the flames from before not been his quirk?!

 “I wonder if you can save them in the end.” Dabi’s clone said cryptically, before melting away into the dirt beneath his feet. 

 “Are you sure you want to keep going, Lyney?” Midoriya asked the older male on his back, who nodded. 

 “Yes- I’m sorry for being a dead weight, but I need to make sure Father and my sister are okay. I’ll be able to walk again soon- My quirk has a passive healing addition.” Lyney explained wearily, and Midoriya nodded, stowing that little tidbit of information away to ask about later.

 He let out a pant of relief upon seeing the original battlefield, charging forward.

 “Mandalay!!” Midoriya’s voice called, interrupting the heroine from where she’d just kicked Spinner in the jaw. She gaped up at the student, holding an injured Lyney on his back and sporting several injuries of his own. “Kota is safe!”

 “You found him?” She asked in breathless relief as the boy landed, nodding.

 “Yes- But I have a message from Aizawa! I need you to use telepath!”

 Arlecchino adjusted her vest once the villain fell into a smoldering pile, twitching with croaking grunts. Mandalay had just given the students the right to use their quirks, too.

 “A little too late for that!” Bakugo said irritably, hands twitching at his sides. It was so lame! So, so lame having to watch his teacher do all of the fighting while he just stood there and watched like an idiot.

 Todoroki hushed him, frowning. “Didn’t you hear her? You’re the villain’s target. Don’t make yourself stand out any more than you already do.” He scolded, but before Bakugo could fire back at him, Arlecchino cleared her throat.

 “Your classmate is correct. I understand your desire to prove yourself, Bakugo, but acting rash in a situation like this will only make people look down upon you even more.” She said calmly, cracking one of the villain’s stray teeth within her palm before brushing it off onto her pants.

 Bakugo grit his teeth, but stayed silent in the face of his teacher. Even he could admit she wasn’t one to argue with. He blinked when she held her hand out in front of him, furrowing his brow up at the woman.

 “Hold.” Arlecchino demanded like he was a child, flicking her fingers.

 Bakugo’s expression contorted with rage. She just said she understood him and now she’s infantilizing him even more?!

 Whilst he stewed in his barely-contained anger, Arlecchino simply grabbed his hand on her own and continued walking, Todoroki following behind her quietly. 

 Bakugo’s embarrassed silence and the companionable one between the other two and the sleeping 1B student was interrupted as the faint sound of crashing grew closer to them. Arlecchino’s brow twitched as she forced them all to stop again. “What now?” She mumbled, before squinting as Shoji and Midoriya ran towards them, Lyney held close to Shoji’s back. Most notable was the massive iteration of Tokoyami’s Dark Shadow barreling behind them.

 “Bakugo- Todoroki! One of you, give us some light!” Shoji yelled quickly.

 “Shoji, Midoriya- Ms. Knave’s assistant, and is that-” Todoroki asked in disbelief, before the rampant Dark Shadow crashed into some trees, narrowly missing the three students heading their way. “Tokoyami?!”

 “Bakugo.” Arlecchino said, and the student looked up at her, brow furrowing at the shadow overcasting her face. “Do as told. Todoroki, use your fire to strengthen Bakugo’s explosion.” She commanded, holding out her arms for Todoroki to drop the class B student into.

 Bakugo growled, stepping forward with Todoroki mirroring his movements. “Why is everyone TELLING ME WHAT TO DO?!” The boy yelled as he thrust his arm forward. The explosion and burst of flames in unison overcast Tokoyami’s quirk immediately, leaving the student to drop to his knees weakly.

 Arlecchino watched as Midoriya, Todoroki, and Shoji all dropped down around their classmate, Bakugo huffing as he glared down at the floor. Not only is he being babied because of the damn target on his back, but he’s also being ordered around like some sort of dog!

 The woman cleared her throat from behind Shoji, him and Lyney looking up at her in unison. Shoji nodded in understanding, trading Lyney’s form for the 1B student in his cradle.

 Arlecchino helped Lyney stand, the young adult looking at the ground in shame. “Father, I-”

 “Who did you save?” She asked before he could wallow in his guilt. He looked up at her, and she raised a brow. “So? Not once have you ever done something rash enough to leave you in such a state. So I’ll ask again, who did you save?”

 Lyney blinked, before his expression eased up. “A villain by the name of Muscular was targeting Midoriya and Kota. I had Midoriya bring Kota to safety as I fought the villain off, Father.” He explained in the same way he would in a mission report, making her nod approvingly.

 “Then it was a worthwhile effort.” She said, before sighing. “We have yet to see your sister. However you and I both know she is the most evasive of your siblings. If she hasn’t found one of us yet, that means she is doing exactly what you did; fighting.”

 Lyney swallowed, nodding. Arlecchino nodded back, before turning to the group of boys once more. “You five. Midoriya, Shoji, Tokoyami and Todoroki, you lead up front. Lyney, Bakugo and I will walk from behind.” She ordered.

 Bakugo looked particularly scathed that he was still being ordered around, but once again did not argue with her as they made their way once again down the road.

 “Ochako, is your arm okay?” Asui asked wearily from where she and Uraraka stood beside one another, shielded behind Lynette as the blonde haired girl before them all observed Uraraka’s blood on her blade.

 “Hmph, shallow. Not much blood…” The girl mumbled to herself.

 Asui huffed, holding Uraraka's uninjured arm protectively. “What kind of person just stabs someone out of nowhere? Who do you think you are?!” She asked, to which the blonde villain hummed and refocused her attention to the three girls.

 “I’m Toga!” She introduced, sounding particularly chipper. “Hey, you three are cute.” She giggled, pointing the knife at them. “Uraraka… Asui… And I’m not quite sure about this one!”

 Lynette frowned, while the two girls behind her murmured in concern as to how the girl knew their names. “How does she know who we are?” Uraraka whispered, to which Asui mumbled.

 “Maybe from the Sports Festival… She knows who we are and we know nothing about her- We’re at a disadvantage.” Asui said hesitantly.

 Toga shook her head. “Mm, not enough blood. I usually drink right from the wound to make it flow but there’s no time.” She said with a sigh as she unhooked some sort of pump from her backpack. “Don’t worry girls, I’ll simply get my fill and move on.” She said soothingly, pressing a button on the pump to reveal a needle sticking out of it.

 “Who’s first?” Toga asked, before charging forward. Lynette sucked in a breath, picking Uraraka and Asui up by their waists over her shoulders and running in the opposite direction.

 “Woah!!” Uraraka gasped, holding onto the back of Lynette’s shirt as she watched the blonde girl- Toga- chase them. “Hey- Didn’t Mandalay say we could fight?” She asked anxiously.

 Lynette sighed as she kept up her pace, not bothering to glance back as she kept a firm grip on the students. “Your friend is right. That girl knows you both, and it’s possible she knows how your quirks work from the Sports Festival.” She pointed out, hardly even sounding out of breath.

 “On the other hand, we know nothing about hers. She knew your names, and actively sought the two of you out. She may have a method of overcoming your quirks and we wouldn’t know. It’s safer to run to heroes we trust.” Lynette explained, and Asui swallowed.

 “How do we know where any are though? The Pussy Cats are probably still fighting at camp, and Mr. Aizawa and Mr. Vlad were with the extra testing students!” She asked nervously.

 “Father wouldn’t leave the forest if she knew there were still student’s around here. This trail goes in a circle, and she was planted further in, so if we keep running we’ll meet her eventually.” Lynette said, jumping to the side to dodge the needle thrown in her way.

 “Heeere kitty kitty kitty~! Come on, I wasn’t really planning on hurting you three, we can be friends!” Toga called from behind them. “What’s that third girl’s name? She’s so fast, I’m jealous!”

 Uraraka frowned. “Friends don’t stab each other upon their first meeting and try to suck their blood!!” She called from over Lynette’s shoulder. Asui’s tongue snapped out and caught the pump that had almost grazed Uraraka’s cheek. She then quickly let go as Toga tried to pull Asui from Lynette’s grasp with the cord.

 Lynette huffed, unused to carrying two people while running. “Uraraka- you have a gravity based quirk, right?” She asked.

 “Oh- Yes!” The girl replied, immediately understanding where Lynette was getting at. She tapped herself and Asui before tapping the pads of her fingers together, making them lighter. Lynette nodded with a hum.

 “I realized something. Father should still be in the forest, but it’s most likely that she’s helping students. Bringing a villain to her would only risk your classmates and class B even further.” Lynette said.

 “Then what do we do?” Asui asked nervously, side eyeing Uraraka as the girl seemed to grow nauseous from not only her quirk, but also the motion of being carried while Lynette ran.

 “Toga may know your quirks, but she wasn’t expecting me.” Lynette said. “Asui, tie yourself and Uraraka together with your tongue.” She ordered calmly. 

 Confused, Asui did as told, before both her and Uraraka yelped as Lynette threw them up into the trees with the assistance of Uraraka’s quirk. With the momentum of her throw, Lynette spun around and sent a cyclone towards Toga, who yelped as the cord to her pump got tangled around her.

 Toga huffed, having to use her knife to cut the cord off of her and dodge a slash of wind from Lynette- Rendering her blood pump useless.

 “A wind quirk huh? You’re so lucky, kitty! Cute cat ears and tail and an unrelated quirk to go with them?” Toga laughed as she and Lynette faced off. 

 Lynette didn’t grace her with a response, face carefully impassive as she squared up her fists. She may not know Toga’s quirk, but it couldn’t be anything speed or strength related, nor anything long distance.

 “How about this.” Lynette said, making Toga’s eyes sparkle with excitement. “Tell me your quirk, and I’ll tell you my name.”

 It was an incredibly unfair trade that no one in their right mind would accept, however it was clear that this girl didn’t exactly think straight. 

 Sadly, Toga didn’t fall for the bait, shaking her head with a laugh. “Aww, sorry! I can’t do that, I’m here on work! I’ll just call you Kitty.” Toga hummed, before dashing forward. Lynette huffed, ducking beneath a slash of the knife.

 Father had trained all of her children in various forms of battle, but it was the girls that she personally taught hand-to-hand. Lynette has sparred with Father with just their fists more times than Lyney or Freminet ever had with a weapon, and she knew precisely why. 

 This may not be one of the situations Father had in mind when teaching Lynette her self defense, but Lynette was grateful nonetheless as she put her training to use.

 “Hey hey, who was that ‘Father’ of yours you kept mentioning? He sounds cool!” Toga asked giddily as they fought; Toga trying to swipe a taste of Lynette’s blood and Lynette simply trying to disarm the girl.

 Lynette didn’t respond, using the momentum of her leg to create a wind current behind Toga and tripping the girl. Toga grunts, before she’s being pushed to the ground with her cheek in the dirt, Lynette knelt onto her back.

 “The knife, please.” Lynette asked, reaching for Toga’s wrist. The blonde grinned, before suddenly Lynette was flipped onto her back, the wind knocked out of her chest as Toga stomped onto it and threw a second blood pump into the trees, a squeak signifying that she’d met her mark.

 “Hey-!” Lynette hissed, wincing as Toga’s heel dug into her ribs. She couldn’t get air in properly, gripping Toga’s ankle.

 “Get it out get it out-!” Uraraka scrambled on the branch she and Asui had been hiding in, trying to pull the pump out of her side. Asui flailed her hands around, before simply gritting her teeth and ripping the device out of her friend, who held her side and hunched over. “The hell kind of needle is that?!” Uraraka whined.

 Lynette grunts, placing both of her hands above her head and swinging her legs upwards, knees locking around Toga’s waist and flipping- Slamming Toga’s head directly into the dirt with Lynette on top of her once again.

 Lynette panted, staring down at Toga for a few quiet minutes before awkwardly feeling for her pulse. She was alive, just… With a very distorted neck.

 “...You both can come down.” Lynette called, rubbing her chest as she stood up. Asui hopped down with Uraraka in her arms, helping the girl stand as she held her side, which bled profusely.

 Lynette held her hand out, and wordlessly Asui placed the pump into it. She observed the needle with a frown. “This is hooked.” Lynette said, holding the needle up- Still coated in Uraraka’s blood. “Usually these are meant to sample blood from large animals that are hard to control, like horses. However, I suppose unwilling humans can be hard to control as well, in her case.” Lynette hummed, glancing down at the girl lying unconscious in the dirt.

 Uraraka swallowed. “Is… Is she…?”

 “She’s alive. A broken neck and concussion, probably, but alive.” Lynette said, fully taking Toga’s backpack off of her and putting it on herself for safe keeping as she carefully picked the girl up.

 “Uraraka, Asui!!” A familiar voice called, and the three girls turned to see Shoji, Midoriya, Todoroki and Tokoyami walking towards them.

 “Who is that?” Todoroki asked once the two groups met each other halfway. Lynette hummed, glancing down at the girl in her arms. “A villain named Toga. I still don’t know what her quirk is, but I can only assume it has something to do with blood, seeing as she was so desperate to get some.”

 Shoji and Midoriya winced, while the other two hummed curiously. Midoriya then shook his head, focusing back on the point. “Well- We’re leading Kacchan back to base camp, and we could use your help. We can bring her to the other heroes on the way.” He asked.

 The three girls looked at him strangely, before Asui put a hand to her chin. “Well… If you’re protecting Bakugo, shouldn’t he be standing with you?” She asked.

 The four boys froze, immediately whipping around to find a telling lack of three members. Midoriya’s mouth fell open.

 “Nice trick, ay?” A voice called from above, and the group all looked up to find a man in a yellow coat and mask standing within the trees. “I took the lad you’re talking about with my magic. Along with a few other friends!” He said, holding up his hand to reveal three blue marbles between each finger. 

 “...Who else was with you two.” Lynette asked slowly, and Midoriya swallowed.

 “M… Ms. Knave and Lyney.” He whispered in horror. The villain laughed, tilting his head.

 “Our target, an unknown party, and a hero that a colleague of mine would love to talk to! I’d say I’ve done my job quite well.” He said, before pausing as he glanced down at the marbles.

 He hissed, picking one up from between his fingers and tossing it around. “Yikes! Hah, what a fierce one she is! Very interesting indeed!” He said as the marble turned a startling red. “I’m very excited to see what comes out of this one. I heard word she isn’t as heroic as she may seem.” He chuckled.

 Lynette’s jaw tensed, before the weight in her arms suddenly disappeared. “Oh, and I’ll be taking my friend here.” The villain laughed once more, now holding a fourth marble. “Toodles!”

 “Stop right there! GIVE THEM BACK!” Midoriya yelled, jumping into the air with One for All in an attempt to grasp the villain, but the man was already speedily getting away as he contact his comrades.

 “Let’s go!” Lynette said to the others, who nodded as they all began to run. Not only is their classmate on the line, but so are two heroes- One of which being their teacher.

 Midoriya grit his teeth as he jumped from branch to branch, doing everything to keep the villain in sight. He would not let them take his friends- Not after everything Lyney and Ms. Knave did for them that night!  

Chapter Text

“Ugh, I’m so bored! I can’t wait for our friends to come back!” Twice cheered, Dabi sighing tiredly from beside him.

 “Is it really just us two and Compress left? How disappointing. I had high hopes for that Muscular guy.” He mumbled, hands shoved in his pockets as he tapped his foot impatiently.

 Twice made a curious noise in reply, rubbing his chin. A snap caught the two villain’s attention, and they turned just in time to see Compress get slammed to the forest floor, three of the UA students crouched atop him. Twice squealed, pointing two fingers at the youngest Todoroki and Izuku Midoriya.

 “Those two are on Shigaraki’s kill list! Get them!!! Poor babies!” He bemoaned, and Dabi growled.

 “Move!” He ordered to Compress, who quickly shrunk himself into a marble to dodge the wall of blue flames shooting towards the group. The three boys dodge in a panic, with Twice leaping into action with his tape.

 Dabi watched them fight as Compress rematerialized beside him. He glanced towards the magician, quirking a brow. “Did you get Bakugo?” He asked boredly. 

 Compress hummed victoriously. “Indeed I did! As well as a little gift for you.” He said, making a show of rummaging through his pockets. He then paused, pulling his empty hand out curiously.

 “I got two of them! But not Ms. Knave’s!” Shoji called out as Todoroki blocked the villains off with a massive ice wall. “She’s a Pro Hero for a reason, she’ll be fine! Let’s go!”

 Midoriya and Todoroki exchanged a hesitant glance, before running after Shoji into the woods towards the main camp. Dabi frowned, glaring at Compress.

 “We can’t leave without them.” He recalled coldly, and Compress laughed. 

 “Just trying to make our escape all the grandiose.” 

 Shoji swore beneath his breath as a nomu blocked their path, the two marbles gripped tightly in his palm as he dashed the other way- His classmates close behind him. 

 “Vanguard, it’s time to go.” A voice in front of them called, making Shoji skid to a stop as that same shadow villain from the USJ appeared. Dabi frowned, looking between Kurogiri and Mr. Compress, before the latter laughs.

 “Check your hand once more, boy.” He called to Shoji, who froze and glanced down- Rather than marbles, he was met with two, half melted spheres of Todoroki’s ice. Compress lifted his mask, letting three blue marbles fall from his lips. Two being their class mates, and one being his comrade. He likely couldn’t pull that trick with The Knave’s marble, seeing as it would have burned his tongue.

 “Damn you!” Midoriya yelled. Hurriedly, the three boys dashed forwards as Kurogiri opened a portal behind the three villains. Twice skipped into it immediately, and just as Compress took a step back, a laser shot from the bushes, knocking the hand holding the three marbles over painfully.

 Midoriya recognized it to be Aoyama’s naval laser, and thanked him endlessly in his head as he tried to dash forward. However, due to his injuries, he only managed to grab one marble from the air before he collapsed to the ground. Shoji grabbed another, but before he could reach for the last one, Dabi swept it up from in front of him and sent a blast of fire towards the boy- Who had to take several steps back so Todoroki could form ice to protect him.

 “Well, no skin off our backs.” Dabi hummed. Compress scoffed, shaking his burnt hand out as he snapped his fingers. The dice in Midoriya’s hand poofed into Lyney’s unconscious form, while the one in Shoji’s… Was the villain girl from before. 

 Midoriya looked up in horror as Bakugo stared wide eyed at the group, Dabi’s hand wrapped threateningly around his throat.

 “Kacchan!” Midoriya yelled, forcing himself to stand and sprinting forward. Bakugo tried to yell for him to stay away, before he was pulled into Kurogiri’s portal- His finger tips having barely brushed Midoriyas.

 Midoriya fell to the ground, slamming his fist into the dirt with a defeated and enraged cry. The girls finally caught up to the three of them from behind, Tokoyami having run to inform the teachers of what was happening.

 Uraraka looked between her three classmates, as well as the two unconscious forms, and put her hand over her mouth. Lynette ran to Lyney, dropping to her knees beside him and checking him over for injuries. She sighed quietly, hugging his unconscious form against her own for a moment before she stood, her brother held awkwardly in her arms.

 “...Uraraka, make Midoriya and Shoji lighter. Tsu, tie them to you with your tongue. We need to go update Aizawa and Vlad.” She commanded calmly. Uraraka sniffled, but did as she was told.

 They were quiet as they made their way back to camp.

 Bakugo opened his eyes to a bar. Silently, and ignoring the fear pounding in his chest, he took in his surroundings. He was chained to a chair, cuffs around his wrists, and he was surrounded by villains. The black haired one that controlled fire leaned against the wall, looking a little content with himself. The Stain-Wannabe was grinning right at him, hands on his hips.

 Handsy sat at the bar, cheek against his fist, with the smoke guy drying a glass in front of him. A few other morons Bakugo didn’t recognize sat here and there, but what struck him most was The Knave, calmly sitting at one of the tables and nursing a cup of tea.

 “What the ever loving fuck.” He deadpanned. His teacher raised a brow at him.

 “Now now, don’t jump to conclusions kid!” Stain-Wannabe said, laughing as he crossed his arms. “She didn’t cause none of this, she just earned the right to talk peacefully, that’s all!”

 Handsy sighed, nodding. “We’re trying to be civil here. If I didn’t know you had a reputation for being so volatile, you’d be unchained too.”

 Bakugo furrowed his brow, still looking at Perry in disbelief. She placed a finger to her lips, before averting her gaze and sipping her tea silently.

 “You’re not here to get hurt, boy.” Stain-Wannabe said, stalking back and forth like some nare-do-well from an old cartoon. “You’re here because we have an opportunity for you!”

 “Your talent is wasted on those heroes.” Shigaraki piped up, sighing as if he was the one who got kidnapped and chained up. “Hero Society is no worse than what we do. We fight for ourselves, care for our brothers in arms. Heroes fight so they can have a good reputation and feel better about themselves." 

 “Unlike the missus over here.” Dabi hummed, glancing at Perry. “I ran into her once while she was on the job. Watched her turn a man to nothing but ashes in mere seconds.” He said, making a popping gesture with his hand dramatically. 

 Bakugo flinched, before laughing to cover it up. “Yeah right. She’s number eight on the rankings, we would know by now if she was some cold hearted murderer you dumbass!”

 “But are all murderers cold hearted?” Shigaraki asked, standing up and coming to stand before Bakugo. “Think about it. Your teacher is known for saving innocent children when no one else will listen to their cries. What kind of man do you think she killed?” He asked.

 The question made Bakugo pause. He knew that, of course he did. He knew his teacher didn’t do her job halfheartedly, he knew how much she detested adults like that. But to think of a hero killing anyone just didn’t make sense in his head.

 He very well couldn’t defend a potential pedophile or trafficker, but God was it infuriating that the villain before him had a point. Bakugo was never one to back down so easily however. “Alright, yeah! Kill pedophiles, I agree!” He huffed, before sneering at the crusty bastard. “But that doesn’t excuse you or your friend’s actions, dickbag! You almost started the damn apocalypse in Hosu with those small-brained freaks of yours!”

 “So some bystanders got hurt during the greater scheme of things, does that not happen in hero fights too?” Stain-Wannabe scoffed.

 “Not with All Might it doesn’t.” Bakugo spit.

 Shigaraki growled, stepping forward with a twitch of his hand. “Listen you brat, I’m trying to keep things civil, but you really know how to piss people off don’t you-”

 “That’s enough.” Perry spoke up from the back of the room. The villains turned to her- Including the two-faced freak who had been gazing at a picture mournfully the entire time. Shigaraki looked perplexed at the authoritative tone she’d used, as if surprised she had the gall to do so.

 “I am content to sit and talk like adults myself, but my student here is a teenager. He won’t be able to comprehend your world views the way you want him to.” She said, standing from her seat.

 Bakugo blanched, incredibly offended that his teacher basically just called him an idiot. Shigaraki seemed to be soothed by her words though, sighing tiredly.

 “I suppose you're right, Knave.” He hummed, before turning towards her fully. “Talk like adults, huh? I like the way you think. So, have you thought over our offer sufficiently?”

 Perry hummed, arms folding before her back. “I do not immediately reject the idea of relaying information, but I’m curious about what you’ll do if I say no.” She asked, waving a hand.

 Relaying information? Did Bakugo’s teacher want to be a double agent? What the hell was happening?!

 “Yes, about that…” Shigaraki hummed, before Dabi spoke up from his place beside the door.

 “Please don’t feel threatened by this,” He began, smiling up at her- As if testing her. “But we did note that you don’t seem to live alone. Of course, we can’t do anything to you personally without major backlash, but a seemingly random citizen shouldn’t be a problem.”

 The Knave stared, not allowing a single expression to cross her face. “So, if I decline your offer, you’re insinuating that you would hurt the child in my care?” She asked calmly.

 “No one said anything about hurting anyone, but that isn’t necessarily off the table.” Shigaraki said, itching at his neck. “We know you’re smart, so I didn’t even bother planning what we’d do to him. I know you’ll make the right choice.”

 There was a tense silence in the bar. Perry slowly made eye contact with Bakugo, the boy’s own eyes flicking down to her hand as she slowly raised it, fingers set in a snapping motion. Before anything could happen however, a polite knock on the bar’s door cut through the silence.

 “Pizza delivery!”

 Everyone stared at the door for a solid second, before the wall behind them was blasted through.

 “Kurogiri-!” Shigaraki called instinctively, before all of the villains were restrained by Kamui Woods’ branches. Dabi growled, flexing his hand against the bark- However he was knocked out by a powerful kick from Gran Torino before he could burn it.

 “We are here!” All Might said with his trademark grin. The Knave huffed, striding forward to unchain Katsuki.

 “You-!”

 “You’re a fool if you really thought I’d put my job and my kids on the line to join your little circus.” Arlecchino interrupted Shigaraki, Bakugo giving a loud sigh of relief once his initial fears were quelled. He cleared his throat, averting his gaze.

 “Yeah. Obviously.”

 The Knave watched as the villains and heroes conversed heatedly, holding Bakugo against her side. As they were distracted, she leaned down to whisper to the boy.

 “Please refrain from telling anyone what you heard. I promise, I’ll explain things to you- Hero, to hero.” She said calmly. Bakugo stared up at her, before his brows furrowed and he turned his gaze to the floor contemplatively.

 Another loud smash interrupted his thoughts, and several nomus appeared from portals of a black, viscous substance.

 “What the hell-?! I thought we secured all of the nomus!” One of the policemen yelled, raising his fire arm and taking a step back. 

 “Keep the villains restrained!” All Might ordered Kamui Woods, before snapping his head in Bakugo’s direction as the boy coughed up some of the substance. Arlecchino was quick to grip him against her chest, causing the both of them to be transported to who knows where.

 “Jeanist?! Jeanist, what’s going on with the nomus?” Naomasa yelled into his ear piece as the other heroes fought off the nomu. “Jeanist!!”

  Kamui Woods gaped as the villains in his hold all escaped from the sludge as well, retracting his branches with a furrowed brow.

 “Whoever’s quirk this is must be able to target people specifically. Nothing could have been done.” Edgeshot said after knocking out a nomu, adjusting his cloak. Kamui Woods sighed, joining the frey against the monsters as All Might and Gran Torino quickly made their way to the nomu factory.

 Arlecchino held Bakugo’s shoulder, glancing at the villains surrounding them.

 “You’re making a mistake, Knave!” Shigaraki yelled. Magne rushed forth, pillar raised for the hero’s head, however the woman dodged it in a blur of smoldering red. 

 “Bakugo.” She ordered, making the boy look up at her. “I’m going to drop you from a very high altitude. Keep all of your limbs splayed out.”

 “What?!” Bakugo barked, before his breath was stolen from his lungs as Arlecchino threw him over his shoulder and soared upwards, flying multiple meters above the battle field and letting him go. Bakugo would like to say he did not scream, doing what she said and keeping his arms out.

 A sudden coolness from his side grabbed his attention, and he watched as Kirishima and Iida flew towards him, Kirishima’s hand stretched out. “Grab on!”

 “You all scram before you get in trouble.” Arlecchino yelled once Bakugo was secured. “Lyney, Lynette, you have my permission to fight with me.”

 Midoriya, Uraraka, Shoto, and Yaomomo watched in bewilderment as Lynette and Lyney leapt from their hiding spots. Did The Knave know they would be here? They all shared a look, before following their teacher’s orders and quickly fleeing the scene.

 “Getting rid of your only ally huh? How brave!” Magne called whilst using magnetism to drag The Knave towards Spinner, who brandished a blade with a grin.

 “It’d be embarrassing if my only ally was merely a highschooler.” Perry replied, summoning her scythe and spinning with the momentum of Magne’s pull, her fiery red wing searing the two villain’s limbs enough that they stumbled backwards.

 Twice gasped from beside Shigaraki, hands against his cheeks. “She has a cool fire quirk AND can fly?! What a cheater!!” He yelled, running forth as well. 

 “Cheater indeed.” Shigaraki growled, scratching irritably at his neck. “Only cheaters get rid of their gear before a big fight. So cocky.” He hissed.

 Arlecchino suddenly jumps backwards, confusing the three villains that were attacking her, before Grand Torino dashed down from the sky and knocked the three out with precise and powerful kicks to their heads. 

 “Where’s the brat?” The older hero asked hurriedly.

 “He’s safe. Where is-” Perry tried to question in kind, before a loud explosion sounded from beside them. The two heroes turned to see All Might and a mysterious villain clad in black having a one on one.

 Gran Torino hissed. “Damn it! It is him!” He growled, taking a step back. 

 “Who is ‘him’ exactly?” The Knave asked, scowling slightly once she realized the three unconscious villains, alongside Dabi, disappeared. She watched as Compress dragged Shigaraki into another sludge portal, likely holding the criminals as marbles. 

“Children.” She called, and Lynette descended upon Compress, leaving only Shigaraki to stumble through the portal in his wake. Lynette knocked the villain out, Lyney then helping her drag him away from the fight.

 “His name is All For One- All Might’s true nemesis.” He growled, sparing a second to watch the two side kicks as they apprehended the villain. “His quirk allows him to rip others from their own bodies. Who knows how many that damned thief has stored away- It makes him unpredictable in battle. He’s already defeated All Might once…”

 The Knave hummed, watching the battle. Well, she’d already established that neither her vision, delusion, nor curse count as a quirk. She would like to see All For One try to steal that.

 She let out a breath, before launching up in the air alongside the hero and villain, holding her hand out.

 All For One just barely managed to dodge a pyro infused beam, laughing in pleasant surprise. “My, is it you or me with more than one quirk, Madame Knave?” He asked. All Might took his distraction to try and land another blow, however All For One’s speed allowed him to dodge once more.

 “Just because I primarily use my quirk one way doesn’t mean that’s it’s only capability.” The Knave hummed, glancing at All Might. The man looked weakened, hand flexing to hold his side before dropping once more.

 “Don’t let him touch you! If he steals your quirk, you won’t have it ever again!” All Might warned, readying himself next to her. Arlecchino only nodded, adjusting her sleeve.

 The two fought side by side for several more moments- With All For One dodging and blocking almost every blow aimed at him. Arlecchino watched as All Might grew significantly weaker as the fight went on, until he was more of a liability to her than a helping hand.

 After a close call for All Might from All For One’s air cannons- Having only been narrowly saved by Endeavour. Arlecchino glowered down at the number one and two heroes.

 “All Might. If you can’t win a battle, don’t bring down others for the sake of your pride.” She scolded loudly, All For One watching amusedly. “You are at your weakest. I have spent half of this battle worrying about you rather than the villain in front of me. Go home.”

 Silence rang through the field, before Arlecchino turned to glare at All For One instead. “Not only did this ridiculous recruitment plan of yours interrupt my children’s training, but you’ve made me make a fool of myself in public.” She said, standing primly on a thin red web.

 “How frail of a man must you be to steal from others and call their skill your own?”

 All For One laughed, raising his arms. “Oh come now, is it bad to use the blessing I was given to the best of its abilities?”

 “Hah. I know nothing about blessings.” Arlecchino responded, before her one ring turned to six, almost resembling the legs of a spider , and she raised her arm.

 All For One paused, the ground beneath him glowing a dark, burning red. He only just summoned a shield around his form as a geyser of white-hot fire exploded from the ground, lighting the night sky.

 “Everlasting as the moon!” Arlecchino yelled, snapping her fingers and watching unblinkingly as the geyser exploded. A scream could faintly be heard over the torrent, smoke flooding the battlefield.

 Midoriya and the others stared up at the battle playing on the screen, tense as the whole area was filled with black smoke. The news helicopter circled the area for several minutes in an attempt to capture anything, before a powerful gust cleared the area. The camera zoomed in on The Knave, wings gone, not a hair out of place, standing over All For One’s charred, barely breathing body.

 She looked over her shoulder, making eye contact with the camera, before scoffing and turning on her heel, exiting the battlefield without even a glance back at her opponent.

 “...Holy crap.” Kirishima whispered beside Midoriya, Bakugo staring wide eyed beside him.

 The crowd around them whispered hesitantly about the horrifying display by the eighth hero, before someone in the crowd laughed quietly.

 “She just scolded All Might for being weak…” He pointed out.

 Midoriya watched in, honestly, more horror than he had been watching the fight with as people in the crowd started booing All Might. The camera tried to find the number one hero, but all they caught was Endeavor closing a car door behind someone before it drove off.

 Midoriya made eye contact with Bakugo, who grit his teeth as the jeering and complaining grew louder. With one more hesitant look to the screen, the students hurried out of the crowd. This was the last place any of them wanted to be.

 “I have a mission for you.” Wriothesley said from where he leaned against Neuvillette’s desk, the man in question not looking too enthused by the lack of manners. “It could be life or death for you, and peace or war for Fontaine… You’re allowed to refuse, but I’m sure you know we’re rather hard pressed for options here.” He said, handing the figure across from him a file.

 After a few tense moments, they finally got a response. "...I accept."

Chapter Text

 In this world, Arlecchino would dare say her greatest nemesis was the press. She’s sure a lot of heroes have said the same in their careers, but The Knave was being very genuine in her grievance. Obviously, the news of her defeating All For One gained some fame, but somehow that feat was overshadowed by a different event from that night.

 “Petitions have begun for The Knave to take the number one spot on Japan’s hero ranking!” The news anchor on the TV said. “After all, who else is better suited for the position than the woman who told the original number one to go home?”

 Arlecchino growled beneath her breath, and Gaming coughed behind her. 

 “Ms. Perry…” He said hesitantly, making her glance at him over her shoulder from the couch. “Lyney and Lynette called- They said someone interesting applied to be a side-kick at the office.”

 Arlecchino raised a brow. With a soft hum, she clicked the TV off and stood. She needed a distraction from all of this stupidity anyhow. “Did we ever get a call back from that seller?”

 Gaming nodded, watching as she pulled her overcoat on. “They said the house is yours within the next week after some repairs are done… Why are we moving so suddenly, can I ask?”

 Arlecchino gazed at Gaming for a moment. She hadn’t told him about the way Shigaraki had threatened him for her compliance, not wanting to scare the boy. She simply shook her head.

 “With me growing in popularity after that incident, either fans or villains could try to pry for my address. We’re going somewhere with better security.” She said. It wasn’t a lie, those were genuine reasons for them to move. She simply left out the fact that the League of Villains actively knew where she lived.

 With a final wave, she exited the house. Arlecchino was curious about this potential side-kick her children met.

 “Infuriating!” Shigaraki growled, slamming his fist against the counter. “How many power ups does that cheater have?! So ridiculously unfair…” He said lowly, head hung between his shoulders.

 Dabi and Twice stood a few paces away in the warehouse. They had narrowly escaped going to prison when quirk-nulling cuffs were placed on Compress, however the magician himself, Magne, and Spinner were all deep in Tartarus by now. Toga was still missing as well.

 “And she almost killed master…” Shigaraki continued, pacing back and forth. Twice watched whilst fiddling his fingers, with Dabi not paying a single bit of attention. He’d been replaying the recording of the Knave’s fight on his phone for the past hour, eyes looking over every detail. 

 Her fire was likely hotter than his, and she controlled it in so many ways he’d never even thought to try before. It fascinated him.

 “And you!” Shigaraki hissed, whipping around to glower at Dabi. “I thought you said she was cool!”

 Dabi hummed, pausing the video for the hundredth time as he smirked up at Shigaraki. “She’s still pretty cool to me. Didn’t you hear what she said to All Might?” He recalled. “ ‘Go home’. Hah, how humiliating.”

 Shigaraki clenched his fists, before turning his back towards Dabi and itching irritably at his neck. “It is pretty nice to see All Might get a taste of his own medicine.” He grumbled. “But… Now master is gone.”

 The three men were quiet for a few moments. Just as Dabi was about to unpause his video, Shigaraki spoke up once again. “Maybe I’m looking at this all wrong. This is an opportunity to prove my worth to master!” Shigaraki said, clasping his hands together. “I need to plan my steps carefully, all without his guidance. He’s waiting for me to break him out, I just know it!”

 Dabi sighed, condemning himself to having to listen to the crazed man’s ramblings. He glanced at Twice, who was still silently gazing down at a picture of himself and Toga. With a sigh, he pocketed his phone.

 “I have places to be.” Dabi said, turning to leave without sparing a glance at the other two. “Kurogiri can fetch me whenever you get your plans in order.”

 Shigaraki watched him leave, hissing lowly when the door shut. “Powercreep is real…” He mumbled.

 Arlecchino didn’t necessarily struggle when it came to being social in a formal setting. Being a Fatui diplomat meant she had to train her skills accordingly. But she would admit, this was awkward.

 The woman sitting across from her stared into her cup of tea, ignoring Arlecchino’s gaze. They’ve both been silent for about five minutes now.

 “...Ahem.” Clorinde coughed, finally looking back up at Arlecchino. “We’ve not found a way back just yet, however the Duke and the Iudex are able to communicate with me in short intervals.” 

 Arlecchino’s brows raised. “How so?” She asked, sliding her own cup to the side and crossing her hands over the surface of the desk.

 “We borrowed a newer version of the Akasha System from the Dendro Archon. She says that the Tree of Knowledge has no records of incidents like this, and she wants to assist us in figuring it out.” Clorinde explained, tapping her fingers along the edge of her cup. “Traveler helped create this version of the Akasha with what little of their outlandish abilities they had access to.”

 There was something so relieving about finally getting explanations after over a year of fruitless endeavours. Arlecchino nodded along to the information, humming curiously. “Any leads so far?” She asked.

 Clorinde made a so-so motion with her hand. “All we know is that the energy that made the portal between here and Teyvat is the same as the Primordial Sea’s. The Dendro Archon theorizes that if the prophecy was still at play, pure blooded Fontainians like Lyney and Lynette would have dissolved immediately.”

 That wasn’t a very comforting thought, but Arlecchino doubts her and Clorinde are on friendly enough terms that they care about one another’s comfort.

 It isn’t like they were enemies or anything… Or at least, Clorinde wasn’t Arlecchino’s enemy. However, having been Lady Furina’s body guard… She of course had her grievances with The Knave. In fact, Arlecchino vaguely remembers whisperings of Clorinde and Furina being closer still.

 So yes, the air is a bit tense between them. However, Arlecchino is lucky that Clorinde is a sensible person who doesn’t let her personal misgivings get in the way of a mission.

 Clorinde pulled something from her coat, sliding it across the desk. “I brought a second Akasha system for you. It doesn’t link to Kusanali directly, so you can’t speak with her unless you borrow mine, but you will at least hear anything she says.”

 Arlecchino nodded gratefully, hooking the small device behind her ear. “Thank you for your assistance, Lady Clorinde. It goes without saying that you’re hired as my side-kick, but I’m curious as to how you managed to get an identity and hero license so fast.”

 “I follow the laws of Fontaine, not Japan.” Clorinde said blankly.

 Arlecchini blinked slowly. That wasn’t how life worked, but she decided to place a bit of faith in Clorinde’s abilities for now. “If you say so… I must be going now, I have an interview in an hour. However, feel free to set up your office in the room next door however you see fit. Lyney and Lynette can lend you money.”

 The two women shared a mutual nod, before Clorinde stood up and very briskly left the room. She hadn’t even touched her tea.

 “Ms. Knave, I am over the moon about the fact that you managed to make some time for us here!” The man across from her said, hands crossed over one another on his desk. “I’m sure you've been busier than ever in light of recent events!”

 Arlecchino sighed. She truly didn’t want to be here, but this man had a large audience, which is exactly who she needed to reach. “Not necessarily. While I did participate in the fight against AFO, I don’t plan on changing the type of hero I am any time soon.”

 The man looked surprised to hear that, leaning forward. “Really now? You’d prefer to stick to smaller crimes despite how strong you are?”

 The Knave glared at the interviewer. “Kidnapping, abuse, and trafficking are not small crimes, sir.” 

 He paled, straightening with an awkward smile. “Ah, of course, yes! I simply mean, would your quirk not be more useful on the frontlines?” He asked instead, holding his hands up sheepishly.

 She hummed, shaking her head. “No. While I am strong, my powers are destructive. I can not guarantee the safety of surrounding citizens or homes should I fight against villains directly more often.” Arlecchino said, before scoffing. “Besides, more than enough heroes do that job for me. Like All Might, for example.”

 The interviewer paused, as if he hadn’t expected her to bring All Might up willingly. “Ah, about that subject! Word says you and All Might are in a tussle for the number one spot, huh? Anything you can share about that?”

 “This ‘word’ you heard is a lie.” Arlecchino said coldly. “I do not want the spot of number one hero. All Might fulfills his role just fine; he’s courageous, strong, and has never let a life be lost if he could help it.”

 The man hummed, nodding his head. “I agree! However, people seem to take your words from the fight in Kamino very differently!”

 Arlecchini closed her eyes for a moment, taking a breath. She then leaned forward, uncrossing her legs and staring directly at the cameras.

 “I meant my words that night.” She said coldly. “If you can’t fight any longer, run away, rather than make yourself another citizen for your allies to save. However, just because I gave All Might criticism, that doesn’t mean he isn’t an amazing hero.”

 “People are using my words as an excuse to laugh at and belittle this man. Funny though, I can guarantee that at least a hundred of these people are only alive to this day because they were saved by All Might.” She pointed out, brow furrowing. “All Might tries. That is more than I can say for a lot of heroes out there. But he’s still allowed to make mistakes- Everyone does.”

 “You all seem to be under the impression that All Might is some untouchable higher being, but that isn’t true.” Arlecchino continued, ignoring the panicked glances the interviewer was giving her. “One day, he will die. Whether it be glorious, lonely, painful or painless- He will die, and he won’t be able to save anyone anymore. I think modern society needs to prepare themselves for that day, because right now, both citizens and heroes rely on All Might far more than they should.”

 A pin drop could be heard within the studio. The interviewer cleared his throat, giving The Knave an awkward laugh. “Well said, ma’am… Now, onto other news- I heard you’ve opened an agency, yes? I suppose it was a long time coming with your hasty rise to fame.”

 Arlecchino leaned back into her seat, crossing her legs with a curt nod. She felt satisfied now that that was off of her chest. “Indeed. I already have three side kicks, even. Two of them are still training for the licenses however.”

 “Ah yes! A glimpse of them was caught in the Kamino incident’s news recording. People are very intrigued by these mysterious figures! Care to tell me more?”

 “Fuscus and Alba.” Arlecchino said, crossing her legs. “The two of them are siblings; a duo. Once they get their licenses, they will attend missions with me personally.”

 “Fascinating! And this third side kick you mentioned, can you tell us more about them?” He asked, looking a little more relaxed at the change of topic.

 “Not just yet. While she was a hero in our home town, she has yet to debut in Japan. It won’t be long though.”

 “Ah, someone you know personally! The synergy between you two must be amazing on the battlefield!”

 “...Right.”

 “And that’s Father’s daily schedule for the Hearth.” Freminet finished explaining, he and the Harbinger coming to a stop in the main room of the House. “Uhm… If you have any questions, I can try to answer them.”

 Tartaglia smiled, waving his hand dismissively. “No, no, I understand everything perfectly! Basically… Breakfast, training, lunch, mission reports, free time, dinner. Right?”

  Freminet nodded, hands clenched behind his back. He had been trying to stay professional this entire time, but Father had told him so much about how much of a wildcard Tartaglia was. Every time he thinks he’s messed up the eleventh will just laugh and shake his head. On the other hand, sometimes Freminet will say something completely normal and it will make the Harbinger hum contemplatively.

 “I can deal with documenting mission reports and overseeing training, but the paper work is out of my skillset… I don’t know all of the going-ons amongst the Harbingers…” He said guiltily, as if it wasn’t supposed to be that way.

 Tartaglia shook his head, patting Freminet’s shoulder. “Ahh don’t worry! Honestly, this gives me a good reason not to train my own recruits. Such a whiny bunch they are.” He sighed with a roll of his eyes. “But I know The Knave raised some good kids here, I’m excited to get to know you guys!”

 He was talking like how some brotherly young men would talk to Freminet when he was little- Fondly, with an open tone. Freminet blinked up at Tartaglia, before nodding his head with a soft hum. “Alright. I’ll show you to Father’s office.”

Chapter Text

 “Moving the kids into dorms isn’t going to change the fact that my daughter was injured!” The man sitting across from them said with obvious distrust in his gaze.

 A week or so into the school break issued after the fight against AFO, it was decided that issuing forms for the students of UA would be the best decision. There, the hero faculty could keep a better eye on them, especially since 1A has been targeted twice now. Arlecchino wouldn’t lie, it was a good idea to keep the students closer beneath their wings since they didn’t have eyes on Shigaraki and the other escapees.

 Of course, parents likely didn’t agree. With recent events, they would understandably want to keep their children close. Arlecchino didn’t blame them; the distrust towards heroes who have failed to protect their sons and daughters twice now is only natural. And so, teachers of respective classes were sent out to negotiate and soothe their worries.

 “I understand where you’re coming from, Mr. Jirou.” Aizawa said behind her, looking less like he’d just clambered out of a dumpster than usual.  “However, I would like to assure you that this is not a matter of UA’s pride. We thought long and hard on the issue, and believe this to be the best course of action.”

 Arlecchino nodded from beside him, sporting a more business-casual outfit rather than her usual white and gray blazer. “Also, I’m sure you both know how seriously I take the protection of children. If I did not agree that this was a good idea, you two would not be seeing me in your home right now.”

 Kyoka’s parents glanced at each other unsurely, before Kyoka herself stepped out of the kitchen with a tray of iced water in her hands. “No need to be all formal, Mr. Aizawa and Ms. Perry. We already decided what our decision would be when we got the letter in the mail.” She said as she placed the glasses in front of her teachers.

 “You should have heard my old man when he was watching you and All Might fight.” She added with a cheeky smile in Arlecchino’s way.

 “Kyoka come on!! I was trying to act all strict and stuff in front of these dudes!” Her father yelled in offense. The two watched on silently as the family began to bicker.

 “You know, I thought the parents would come down on us a lot harder.” Aizawa said idly during the car ride to their next house, gazing out of the window. It wasn’t like he and Arlecchino didn’t get along, but they very rarely made conversation outside of class or hero related subjects.

 Arlecchino hummed, tapping her knee. “The Bakugos are next, don’t get your hopes up too soon.” She said. Aizawa huffed, and that was the end of that conversation. 

 However inwardly, Arlecchino pondered over how she would talk to Katsuki. She wasn’t blind to how he had looked at her in fear that night at that League of Villain’s base. He may have thought everything was an act once the heroes showed up, but Arlecchino had to tell him not to say a word about her misgivings anyhow.

 If he had innocently talked about how the villains had ‘made up’ a story about her killing people, it would likely cause some concern. She was a beloved hero, sure, but Arlecchino knew that the obscurity of her background could cause suspicion eventually. She truly didn’t need anyone looking further into her missions.

 As the car pulled into the Bakugo household, Arlecchino steeled her resolve. Katsuki could be brash, and quick to defense and offense, but she knew he wasn’t stupid. They could talk about this.

 “You kidding? Hell yeah get this kid in a dorm room!” Mrs. Bakugo said with a jovial smile, smacking the back of Bakugo’s head for no apparent reason.

 “YOU HAG! Hit me again and I’ll KILL YOU-”

 “OH HUSH!” She interrupted, with another slap that had the two teachers staring in bewilderment. “If you hadn’t been so damn weak you would have never gotten caught and caused all that trouble!”

 Arlecchino slowly raised her hand to speak, before the father leaned over and tried to calm the two blondes down.

 Her and Aizawa shared a look as the yelling and subsequent tussling continued. It was clear where Katsuki got his personality from, at least. Aizawa cleared his throat, grabbing the family’s attention once more. “So… You’re saying that you give us your consent?”

 Mrs. Bakugo blinked, smacking the boy’s head once more for good measure. “Oh, the dorm? Actually, we’re grateful.” She explained, sitting straight again as Bakugo trembled in forcefully-silenced rage.

 “Katsuki is fearless, and good at everything he tries with that stupid quirk of his. People are always fawning over him- whether he deserved it or not.” She said with a stern glance towards her son. “It’s probably why he ended up like this.”

 Arlecchino and Aizawa exchanged a glance.

 “I understood that the school was watching him closely after what you said at that press conference, Mr. Aizawa.” The woman continued, smiling. “About him trying his best to be a hero? I was worried about him of course, but he’s back now, so things worked out.” She said, ruffling a scowling Bakugo’s hair. 

 “I’m sure UA will face harsh criticism from some people, but we still trust you, so we’ll leave him to you. Right?” She asked with a smile towards her husband, who nodded calmly.

 The couple bowed, Mrs. Bakugo’s hand forcing her son’s head to follow. “He’s a hot tempered brat, and we know he’s a pain to deal with. I just hope you’ll train him to be a good hero.”

 The two teachers stared, before Arlecchino cleared her throat and stood. “And we will. However, could I ask to exchange a word with Katsuki in private? Call it soothing him on the experience of the kidnapping, seeing as I was there with him.”

 Katsuki stared up at her, his mother elbowing his side until he stood up with a grumble.

  The two stood on the back porch, the door sliding shut behind Arlecchino. After a quiet moment of staring at one another, Arlecchino sighed. “I owe you an explanation. And before you jump to any conclusions, let me say my full piece without interrupting me. Understood?” Arlecchino asked.

 With a furrow of his brow, Katsuki waited a few moments before nodding quietly.

 “Good.” Arelcchino hummed. She mulled over her words for a minute, before sighing. “What that man with the black hair said, about me killing someone. That was true.”

 Bakugo’s eyes widened, Arlecchino continuing before he could try to speak. “I don’t have a habit of killing every criminal I come across. I do believe in second chances and rehabilitation for certain people… But, I also believe that others don’t deserve to live for their deeds.” 

 “A criminal going to prison does not mean they will change.” She continued, crossing her arms. “Some are sincerely different in their head, and won’t ever understand what was wrong with what they’ve done. And some are simply so disgusting that they refuse to stop what they were doing beforehand.”

 Bakugo looked a little uncomfortable at what she was implying, before Arlecchino placed a hand on his shoulder. “The only men I kill are the ones who have either also killed, or worse things, to children.” She said quietly, gazing into Bakugo’s eyes. “Despite my wishes, I make those deaths quick and painless. I do not enjoy hurting or torturing others. I am nothing like those villains, and I will never see any reason to join their ranks.”

 The two stared at each other for another moment, before Bakugo nodded quietly, averting his gaze. “I’d want to kill those bastards too, in reality.” He grumbled.

 “You shouldn’t. Killing a person changes you fundamentally. But, I’m glad you understand.” She hummed, standing straight once more. “I am still your teacher. All I want is to help you grow in a safe and natural environment. Never forget that.”

 Bakugo nodded once more, unsure of what else to say. Arlecchino nodded back, and the two quietly stepped back inside.

 “The last person we need to talk to is Todoroki’s parents, however I’m seeing that they live separately.” Aizawa hummed as they got back into the car.

 Arlecchino nodded, crossing her legs. “I’ll have to ask you to be the one to talk to Endeavour. He and I don’t get along, I’m afraid he’d say no just to spite me.” She scoffed, before glancing out of the window.

 “Besides. I’ve already been acquainted with Todoroki Rei.” 

 “Come in.” A quiet voice called after Arlecchino had knocked. She opened the door, stepping inside carefully to avoid brushing the lilies she had brought against the door frame.

 “Nice to see you again, Ms. Rei.” Arlecchino said with a polite smile, shutting the door behind her.

 Rei beamed, sitting up a bit more in her bed. “Ah, Perry! Haha, I was expecting to meet Mr. Aizawa instead- What a nice surprise.” She said, gesturing for Arlecchino to take a seat. The woman did so after placing the bundle of lilies in Rei’s bedside vase, who smiled gratefully.

 “Eraser isn’t a very social man; I offered to talk to you in his stead seeing as we already know one another.” She explained, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her knees.

 Rei laughed, nodding. “Thoughtful as always, I see.” She said, before her expression softened and she tilted her head. “Are you doing alright? They don’t put villain and hero fights like that on the TVs here, but it’s hard not to hear about what happened.”

 Arlecchino wasn’t the type of woman that often needed condolences or fretting. In fact, she wasn’t even that way as a child. She didn’t cry or whine, and she never worried over herself. However, even after fighting AFO, the only people to wonder over her wellbeing were the twins and Gaming. It undeniably felt nice to know someone out there cared.

 And so, she smiled and shook her head dismissively. “Not even a scratch, worry not. However, I could do without all of the eyes on me.” She hummed, leaning back into the chair. Rei laughed, nodding her head.

 “I’m happy you’re alright. Really, it makes me even more relieved to know a hero as capable as yourself will be watching over my son and his friends.” She said kindly.

 Arlecchino hummed, drumming her fingers over her knee. “I'm going to take that as consent to the dormitory idea?” 

 “Yes, you have my consent.” Rei said. “Not only because Shoto is safer there, but… I think it’d be a good opportunity for him to socialize. Really learn how to live with others as himself.”

 Arlecchino didn’t know why Rei was here. She had an inkling it had to do with Endeavour, and she has no doubt there is more to the story of the Todoroki family that she has yet to find out. But if she knows anything, it’s that Rei was a kind, sincere woman. Arlecchino liked people like that.

 “Thank you, Ms. Rei.” She said with a soft nod. “Even I can see how much more outgoing your son has become. I’m happy to support such growth.”

 Her phone pinged, Aizawa letting her know that the car would be pulling up for her shortly. Arlecchino stood, giving Rei a small smile. “I’ll visit again soon… Why don’t we go shopping together one day? I feel like conversation would be lighter over lunch.”

 Rei’s eyes widened, before they immediately softened as she smiled back at Perry. “I’d love to. I’ll talk about that with my attendant.”

 Despite Arlecchino refusing the title of number one hero at every instance, she was being merchandised as if she was that hero. She was sitting at her desk in her office, irritably declining offer after offer as passive aggressively as she could get away with.

 No, she didn’t have time to do a collaboration with your restaurant. No, she wasn’t going to be a guest star on your podcast. No, she wasn’t going to design shoes themed after her.

 Her cursor paused over an email of a small opera troupe, wanting to orchestrate a piece after her. She quietly began considering that one in her head before Gaming peaked his head into her office. “Ms. Perry? Could I talk to you about something?” He asked a little hesitantly.

 Sensing that this was a personal topic rather than a business related one, Arlecchino pinned the email and shut her laptop quietly, sliding it to the side. “We can. Come in.”

 Gaming nodded, slipping into the room and sitting in one of the chairs across the desk from the Harbinger. “I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of weeks now, and thought this wouldn’t be… Too problematic of a time to ask.” He said unsurely.

 Arlecchino mentally braced herself for what Gaming could ask for. She’d have to tell him no if he asked to live alone like he did on Teyvat, as she couldn’t protect him properly if he did. She knew he was an active person, so she supposed she wouldn’t mind considering letting him get a job or not…-

 “Can I attend UA?” Gaming suddenly blurted out, Man Chai appearing beside him so that he and the Suanni could both give her puppy eyes. She was far too used to The Eyes from children, but she would admit that Gaming was very good at the craft. Likely due to the fact that he was rather puppy-like in nature.

 The question settled in her brain. Arlecchino was quiet as she turned it over, examining every possibility from all angles. There were pros and cons to it, as there would be with any question he could have asked her.

 On one hand, he would be infinitely safer if he attended UA and stayed in the dormitories, and it would also allow him to return to the training regimen he was so used to back at home.

 On the other hand, however, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities for Gaming to let it slip that he’s not from this world. 

 Arlecchino chewed her lip thoughtfully, before sighing and leaning forward, taking in the hesitant stare Gaming was giving her. “If you truly want to attend UA, you and I will have to go through every. Single. Detail, of the fake life you have here.”

 Gaming and Man Chai smiled at one another excitedly, and Gaming nodded his head at Arlecchino. “Alright! I can do that- When do we start?”

 “Why are you even getting involved in this?” Wanderer asked from where he stood next to Nahida, who was diligently checking every bit of information they had on the Arkhe Disappearances situation in Fontaine. “Shouldn’t a different nation keep their problems to themselves?”

 Nahida smiled at him patiently, shaking her head. “There are several reasons why I’m getting involved. This is a new and inexplicable situation, of course I’m curious about it.” She said, glancing back down at her hologram. “And it’s good to help other nations when they reach out to me- Not that it happens very often. Making ties with others means new experiences, and new possibilities.”

 Wanderer huffed, shaking his head as he looked back out of the window of the gazebo the two sat under, right outside of the Sanctuary. Nahida eyed him quietly, before her smile turned a little more sympathetic as she dismissed the hologram. “Still no updates?”

 “No.” Wanderer practically scoffed, hiding his concern beneath a mask of annoyance. “We still don’t know where he ran off to. Traveler practically sweeped Liyue and Fontaine, and I don’t see how he’d end up in Inazuma.” He mumbled, crossing his arms. “Gods forbid.”

 “There’s only so many more places he can be.” Nahida soothed, placing a small hand on Wanderer’s elbow. “We’ll find him soon, don’t worry.”

 Wanderer hummed, brow furrowed as he stared off into the direction of the desert. He saw no reason to rely on Buer’s words for comfort; he already knows she can see no more of the future than anyone else could.

Chapter Text

 “Lastly,” Aizawa said after he had properly scolded the few students who were at the AFO fight. 1A was standing before their new dorm building, boxes and bags having been moved inside and waiting for them. “Starting from today, you’ll all have a new ally during your training. A new classmate.”

 Intrigued mumbles sounded amongst the students, Mina, Kirishima, and Denki looking particularly excited as the three theorized over who it could be. Their gender, their quirk, what they were like as a person… Somehow they managed to ramble about all of these things in under a minute, before Aizawa silenced the class with a glare.

 He sighed, stepping to the side. “He’s already been putting away his things since early this morning.” Mina made a disappointed noise at the fact that it was a boy, a contrast to Hagakure’s excitement. “I expect you all to treat him as though he’s been here all year.”

 “Yes sir!” Uraraka said, bouncing in place. She turned to Midoriya, Todoroki, Tsu, and Iida, a bright smile on her face. “Isn’t this exciting? It kind of reminds me of when someone new would move onto my island in Animal Crossing…”

 The four shared a  glance at their friend comparing their new classmate to an animal. “Someone new and unexpected would be good for our training as well. We already know each other’s quirks and faults.” Iida said with a look of anticipation as the students filed into their new dormitory.

 Todoroki paused mid step as he registered who exactly was standing in the middle of the living area. Midoriya and Tsu glanced at him confusedly, before the new student smiled cheerfully.

 “Hi guys!” Gaming said, shifting the box he was holding to rest under one arm and using his now-free hand to wave excitedly. “Haha, I’ve been waiting to meet you all this whole time!”

 “Gaming???” Shoto asked, bewildered.

 “Hey, you know him Todoroki?” Kaminari asked, curiously leaning into his classmate’s personal bubble. “Since when do you have friends outside of school…?”

 Sero whacked his friend on the back of the head with an unimpressed frown. “Dude, that’s so rude.”

 Gaming shook his head, putting the box down on the coffee table and coming closer to the group. “I met him when he came to learn under Ms. Perry! Haha, we spent a lot of nights getting our hearts scared out of our throats.” 

 “It was mostly you getting anything out of your throat.” Shoto recalled. “Specifically screams.”

 Gaming looked away with a tight smile, before Uraraka clapped her hands together. “So you’re that boy Todoroki told us about! You have a summon quirk, don’t you? Those are super rare!”

 “Why don’t we all sit down and get comfortable before talking about all that? I made a big lunch for us all!” Gaming said with a bright smile. He had been anxious all day, and ever since he came to this world, cooking had been his number one way to relax. So… Yes, he certainly did make enough food for the entire class.

 However, as he sat between Todoroki and Uraraka, eating and chatting excitedly with his new classmates, he could tell he had nothing to worry about. When he told Ms. Perry that he wanted to attend UA, he had expected to be put in 1B, or a support class… But she had told him that 1A had an empty seat since the beginning of the year, and suggested that instead.

 Gaming is fully aware of how closely Ms. Perry has been watching him lately. She lets him leave the house, but is constantly texting him for updates and what not. One time his hands were full with groceries so he couldn’t text back, and only a few minutes later Lyney had dropped down from nowhere and casually walked him back home!

 So, Gaming doesn’t think he’s in 1A just because there was an empty seat. He thinks the Harbinger just knows he’ll be safer and more protected in a class like this, under her own watch and Aizawa’s. He doesn’t know what started this protective route, and he’s a little intimidated just by thinking about it.

 However, he’s grateful that he gets to see Shoto again, who he’s almost seen as a brother these days. And now he gets to meet Shoto’s friends, and be a little more useful than he was before.

 Gaming was more than excited to start his hero Academia.

 “I miss him.” Lyney said from where he was sitting upside down on the couch, legs thrown over the back and face staring at the carpet miserably.

 “Me too. His cooking was impeccable.” Lynette agreed bluntly from beside him, mixing her sugar into her tea. Lyney sighed, shifting to sit normally and fixing his hair.

 “Gaming is great, but I’m not talking about him. I mean Freminet…” Lyney said miserably, holding his cheek in his hand. “I’m glad we’re here with Father, and I know it would be terrible if all three of us came here to her. One of us has to stay with the Hearth…” He trailed off, shoulders drooping.

 “Ms. Clorinde said he was doing just fine with Tartaglia.” Lynette soothed, though her ears were pressed flat to her head despite her calm tone. “I miss him too. But with the Akasha piece that Clorinde has, we’re one step closer to going home.”

 The twins sat in silence for a few moments, before Lyney let out a halfhearted laugh. “I hope Tartaglia goes easy on him at least.”

 “You rule with an iron fist, kid!” Tartaglia said in mild surprise, watching the ashamed looking boy go back to his room after Freminet had scolded him for causing a scene in public. The boy missed Lyney, and got into an argument with Freminet about why the older wouldn’t tell anyone where the eldest twins were at.

 All Freminet had to do was glare for the boy to quietly come back to the Hearth, where he got a quiet yet cold earful for his display.

 Freminet sighed at the eleventh harbinger’s words, folding his arms around himself. “...I’ve been getting more irritable lately.” He mumbled, brow pinched. “I’ve never been the type to get angry at others. But… I’ve just been thinking about how disappointed in me Father would be if I messed anything up while she was gone. It’s making me be more strict than I’d like.”

 Tartaglia hummed, crouching in front of Freminet with a small smile. “Well hey, I’ve told you once and I’ll tell you again; You can always rely on me to take care of some things around here if you think the pressure is too much for you. That’s the whole reason I’m here!”

 Freminet stared, before awkwardly averting his gaze. “You… Are a bit too lenient with kids. They’ll think they can get away with more if they get caught by the fun loving uncle.”

 Tartaglia blinked. Freminet wasn’t exactly back talking, but it was the first time he  didn’t just nod with a vague and polite hum to Tartaglia’s words. The ginger’s smile widened. “Well, I’ll be more strict from now on. Take a page out of The Knave’s book, like you are.”

 Freminet sighed, before nodding as he turned away. “I have to file a report on Clairen’s mission from yesterday. Please… Make sure no one bothers me.” He mumbled, walking out of the main room and into his Father’s office.

 Tartaglia stood straight again, humming with intrigue. He truly was watching the birth of the third Knave, right now.

 A few days later had 1A standing in Gym Gamma. They were all wearing their costumes, aside from Gaming who had yet to commission one. He was instead wearing the gym uniform, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

 They were there to learn about and create their own ultimate moves. Gaming listened with intrigue as the three Heroes- Midnight, Cementoss, and Ectoplasm- explained why ultimate moves were important, and how they were unique to each Hero. He then glanced over, spotting Ms. Perry sitting in the bleachers across the gym, watching silently.

 He blinked, nudging Shoto, who looked over as well. They glanced at each other, Gaming shrugging at the curiosity in Shoto’s eyes, before the three pro heroes continued.

 “The training camp was interrupted…” Aizawa started, looking between them all. “But the practice you did get in was part of the process needed to create these defining abilities.” 

 “Now that you’re caught up,” Aizawa started as Cementoss began to shape the Gym’s floor into a proper training field. “You’ll be working hard to develop powerful moves of your own for the next ten days or so.” 

 The students watched as Ectoplasm split himself into several clones, scattered around the field and staring down at the group. “In addition, you should think about how you could improve your costumes.” Aizawa added. “I expect you all to go plus ultra. Do you have what it takes?” Their teacher asked, a challenge in his gaze.

 “Yes sir!”

 Gaming and Midoriya both stood in awed silence as they watched their classmates spar with Ectoplasm’s clones, using powerful bursts or unique techniques with their quirks.

 Midoriya swallowed anxiously, before turning to Gaming. “So… You’re unsure of where to start too, huh?” He asked with an awkward smile.

 Gaming smiled back, shaking his head. “I have a few ideas! But Mr. Aizawa said that I’ll be doing something a little different, and that I needed to wait here.” He hummed, scratching the back of his head. His suanni companion was perched on his shoulder, watching the students fight with an excited yip.

 Midoriya blinked, nodding slowly. “Well… That makes sense, seeing as you haven’t done as much training as the rest of us. But you said you did some basic training on your own when you still lived with Ms. Knave, so it shouldn’t be too different!” 

 “On the contrary.” A voice said behind them, making the two boys jump. “I’ll be training Gaming personally today.” Arlecchino said, arms folded behind her back.

 Gaming turned, brows raised in surprise. “Really, why’s that?” He asked, sincerely curious. However Arlecchino simply glanced at Man Chai, who wore Gaming’s vision as a collar. Unlike Arlecchino, Gaming couldn’t use his powers without his vision, so he had to find a way to keep it on him while being discreet.

 “Your fire is a lot like mine, in which it’s far more dangerous and out of control.” Arlecchino explained. She had already told Gaming before how volatile pyro was in this world, where nothing had a natural layer of elemental resistance. “Therefore, you need specific training on how to control it before you come up with a special move. Especially since the way you and Man Chai use it is rather… Explosive.”

 The way Gaming’s ‘quirk’ was explained in this world, was that Man Chai was a ‘summon’ caused by his quirk. Man Chai could make Gaming’s actions infused with fire, even down to his footsteps if he wanted. And Gaming’s preferred way of fighting, much like it was in Teyvat, was by plunging onto people in a very rapid series of mid-air flips. With pure pyro energy, that was indeed very destructive here.

 “That makes sense!” Gaming smiled, before patting Midoriya on the shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll figure out your own move soon, buddy! And hey, you can always ask your friends for ideas on how your quirk could be used!” He reminded.

 Midoriya hummed, before nodding with a smile. “Thanks Gaming. Good luck with your training!”

 Gaming waved, before walking towards the opposite side of the gym with Arlecchino. Midoriya watched curiously, before shaking his head as he went back to his own pondering.

 Gaming could tell from Shoto’s previous training with her that Arlecchino was incredibly thoughtful and efficient on how to train specific aspects of someone. So, truthfully, he didn’t know what to expect! However the very last thing he thought he’d be using to train with was two racks of what looked like very cheap coats and jackets.

 “You will be regulating the temperature of your fire.” Arlecchino said, taking one of the coats off of the rack and tossing it to him. “Hot enough to injure, but cool enough to survive. Fire like ours is extremely sensitive to any given material. So, you will have Man Chai imbue your normal marshal training with flames, while trying not to burn your jacket off of you.”

 Gaming nodded slowly in understanding, shrugging the jacket over his shoulders. “Okay… Wait- What about my gym clothes?” He asked, to which Arlecchino glanced at Cementoss a couple feet away. The hero cleared his throat, and made Gaming a rather secluded wall of cement, keeping him out of view from everyone else. 

 Gaming gaped in embarrassment, Arlecchino patting his shoulder. “There’s a basket of spares behind the coat racks. Your training is over when you’ve either run out of coats or have no more spare uniforms.” She said, ignoring his pleading gaze as she turned to leave him to it. “Now, I have a private concert to catch. Good luck.”

 The boy watched her leave, he and Man Chai making eye contact with one another. He let out a slow, calming breath. “They can’t see me and I can’t see them.” He whispered, zipping up the jacket.

 Arlecchino was having a good day.

 Now, there is a difference between “pleasant days” and “good, enjoyable, 9/10 days”. Pleasant days were for when she woke up feeling well rested, her tea tasted to her standards, and all of her meetings and other plans were met as expected.

 Good days were for when small pleasures, or great pleasures, that she hadn’t accounted for happen. Such as just how impressive the orchestral group she just watched was, or how they had let her name the performance herself (After a moment of thought, she had gone with ‘Absolutio Absoluta Absolutissime’. She thought it quite fitting.), And lastly, the little girl asking for a picture on her way back to her office.

 Much to her mother’s embarrassment, the girl had given Arlecchino a hug around the neck and a sweet little kiss on the cheek. Surely that alone would brighten any reasonable soul’s day.

 So, yes. Arlecchino was having a good day. She even dared to treat herself to a small cake on the way back to the building, of which she saved the rest for the twins. Not for Clorinde though. The two women are still on rather awkward footing.

 Of course, not every good day can stay good the entire time. In fact, this rare good day quickly turned into a day Arlecchino would often look back on with a sincere scowl on her face.

 She of course knew there was someone tailing her. She was planning on waiting until they were in a less crowded area to deal with them. However, as soon as she heard the would-be-thief’s footsteps quicken to meet her, an unexpected variable that was not in any way pleasurable dropped down behind her.

 “I am here!” That stupid, stupid, idiot, worthless man’s voice yelled so proudly, gripping the bewildered shark-man’s prying hands and forcefully throwing him to the ground.

 Arlecchino stared down at All Might. For once, her face clearly showed her reaction to this; mouth gaping, eyes wide, and brow furrowed. She was speechless. Gobsmacked. The audacity of this wretched-!

 “Ah, Ms. Knave! Haha, had I’d known it was you I surely would have-!” All Might tried to say casually as a very awkward looking officer (and just when did he get there? Was this planned?!) tied up the criminal behind him. However, All Might’s attempt at a humble greeting was met by a smack to his face.

 The passersby that were watching in previous awe quickly turned to surprise and curiosity. Arlecchino fumed, gripping All Might by the ear and dragging all 560 pounds of him towards her office building by force. 

 “Ack-! Ms. Knave, I-!”

 “Not a word out of your putrid, despicable, dusty lips you swine.” She said lowly, easily shutting up the number one hero. She stormed into the building, Clorinde straightening from behind the secretary desk. She watched silently as Arlecchino dragged All Might to a secluded room, slowly texting the twins to come downstairs.

 Once the door was shut, Arlecchino whirled around to face the sheepish looking man, her face dark.

 “Tell me your thought process in embarrassing me in public.” She seethed. “Tell me, in full honesty, what was going through that numb skull of yours when you set up a fake attempt at theft just to swoop in and ‘save’ me-!”

 All Might held his hands up, sweating profusedly. “I had zero intention of embarrassing you, Knave! I… Well, I didn’t know… That was you.” He confessed awkwardly.

 “So you admit you were faking a crime to boost your image as a savior?” Arlecchino hissed, taking a menacing step forward. All Might quickly shook his head.

 “No, I would never do that! That man was a thief the police had been trying to catch, I was simply waiting until he made a move to apprehend him!” All Might said in full sincerity, swallowing nervously at the rage burning in Arlecchino’s eyes. “He has a quirk that lets him evade capture by-”

 “BE STILL your SERPENT tongue!” Arlecchino snapped, pointing a clawed finger up a little too close to his eye. “Oh the things I wish I could say or do for this- This insolence!-”

 A throat clearing behind them made Arlecchino turn, a rather pale Lyney and Lynette standing in the doorway. They have of course seen Father angry, even angrier than this before, but it was still rather horrifying.

 “Father…” Lyney said slowly. “What do we need to do?”

 It was often what Lyney asked when he thought an assassination was at hand- Something he disliked asking, but was better done sooner than later. However with someone like All Might, killing wouldn’t be the case. Instead…

 “Bring him to the second floor meeting room.” Arlecchino said coldly. All Might sweatdropped, brow furrowed as he looked between the three wearily.

 “Shall I get the girls…?” Lynette asked.

 “Get the girls.” Arlecchino agreed.

 “Who… Who are the girls?” All Might asked, but was only met by a cold glare from Arlecchino. He was then grabbed from either side by the twins, ushered out of the room and through the elevator. Not for the first time, All Might feared for his life.

 Arlecchino sipped her tea quietly from behind the camera, Lynette and Lyneye standing beside her while Clorinde recorded on her phone on the other side of the room. Three orphan girls that often visited Arlecchino’s office when they had free time where dressed in cute dinosaur pajamas that concealed their faces, having a wonderful tea party with Princess All Might.

 The man miserably held his cup out, nodding in thanks when one of the girls refilled it with imaginary tea of her own. It was actually just apple juice with edible glitter in it.

 “How much longer-”

 “Silence.” Arlecchino ordered, watching as the man sighed and adjusted the low quality, itchy dress he had been put into. She thought this to be the most fair punishment; If he embarrasses her, she gets to embarrass him ten fold.

 Once her third cup of calming tea was drained, she nodded to the twins and Clorinde. “Alright, edit the footage and make sure the girls are completely concealed. Post them on every form of media possible. I want his reputation to be nothing but ash.”

 “Yes Father.” The twins said, Lyney picking the tripod and camera back up as the twins left the room. Clorinde smirked, nodding as she silently left the room.

  “All Might, you are free to go. You can repay me for the film needed to video you, the tea I drank, and the outfit you’re wearing by tomorrow.” She offered graciously.

 “And how much is that?” All Might asked, looking as though he had visibly aged two hundred years.

 “Twenty eight thousand yen.” Arlecchino said, gesturing for the three girls to follow her as she left the room.

 “Bye bye Princess Mighty!” The youngest girl said as she followed her sisters.

 For the number one hero, the price wasn’t necessarily any skin off of his back, but it was still enough to make him flinch. “What kind of tea were you drinking?!” He asked, though his plight was as ignored as all of his other feelings were today.

 The hour long footage of All Might having a fanciful tea party with three little dinosaurs would haunt him for the next few years of his life, even if he didn’t know it yet.

Chapter Text

“Ugh… I’m getting kind of nervous.” Jirou admitted as the class all stood before the License Exam Building. Mina nodded with an anxious frown as she hopped from foot to foot.

 “I know! I just can’t help wondering like- What if I don’t get my license?” She whined, however the girl jumped as Aizawa practically materialized in front of her.

 Despite his characteristic deadpan expression, his voice was as comforting as a man like he could get. “Don’t ask yourself what happens when you don’t. Ask yourself what happens when you will.” He chides. 

 “I expect your best.” Aizawa said to the rest of the class as well. Praise from their teacher (even if it was hardly praise at all) always got the group of teens pumped, and Denki punched the air with energy, opening his mouth to spout out whatever morale boosting phrase he could think of, before he paused and turned to look at Gaming.

 “Actually hold on, what are you doing here? You’re not eligible to get your license yet!” Denki asked.

 Gaming laughed with a bright smile as he shook his hands dismissively. “Oh come on! I’m here for moral support! I’ll be up in the stands with Mr. Aizawa cheering you guys on!” He explained. Gaming ignored the touched looks he got (specifically from Uraraka and Mina), clapping Todoroki on the shoulder. “Shoto and I have been training extra hard together for it. I’m excited to see how far you all go! Bet it’ll hype me up for my own exam whenever I get to it.” He grinned.

 “Alright! With our most energetic classmate playing cheerleader, how could we doubt ourselves?” Kirishima asked, fists clenched. “Come on guys, on my mark! Plus-”

 “ULTRA!!” A voice behind them yelled excitedly, and the class turned to see a large student from a different hero school standing there with his fist pumped into the air. Gaming watched as a spark of recognition lit in Todoroki’s eyes.

 “You know it’s pretty rude to barge into other people’s huddles like that, Inasa.” A purple haired boy standing behind the taller one pointed out.

 The so-called Inasa straightened, his smile never once dimming. “What? Pardon me!!” He bowed deeper than Gaming’s uncles ever did to their grannies, which was quite the feat. “I AM SO-!” His head slammed into the ground. “VERY! EXTREMELY SORRY!”

 Gaming blinked slowly. It would have been silly to think this exam would be peaceful in any sense of the word, but he has a rough feeling going on in his stomach at this guy’s presence alone.

 “You’re awake.” Arlecchino hummed from where she sat beside the young girl’s bed. Himiko Toga blinked up at her. She had been in and out of consciousness for about a week, healing from a broken neck and concussion. “How do you feel?”

 Toga did not reply, continuing to gaze up at Arlecchino with an expressionless face. Arlecchino nods as if Toga had answered, before picking up a file from the bedside table. “Himiko Toga. Sixteen years old, having gone missing two years ago. This report was submitted by a concerned neighbor rather than the parents, who have since left Japan.” Arlecchino reads. Her eyes slid back up to the girl in the bed.

 “I take it your parents weren’t very kind to you.” She said softly, though maintaining the authority in her tone. “Your quirk relies on drinking blood, yes? I suppose that also means you must drink it regularly.”

 Arlecchino nodded towards an IV bag of blood hooked to Toga’s feeding tube. The girl’s eyes slowly looked towards it, expression unchanging. “I’m also seeing you had a few incidents at school due to your craving for blood. If my assumptions are correct, that was unavoidable. You were malnourished.” The woman continued. “You left after murdering a boy in highschool. I doubt that was intentional.”

 Toga looked back over at Arlecchino, her lips pulling into a frown as she squinted up at the woman. “You’re talking like you understand.” She rasped

 Arlecchino didn’t respond for a moment. She shook her head slowly. “Do I understand the thirst for blood? No. Do I understand the way you view people and your personal philosophies? No.” She said truthfully, before reaching a hand out to brush some of Toga’s hair from her face.

 “Do I understand becoming someone with questionable morals and an anger towards the world because of how I was raised? Yes. Do I understand being viewed as monstrous due to something I can’t control? Yes.” Arlecchino then said, tilting her head down at the teenager.

 “You’ve been handed a very, very bad deck of cards in life.” Arlecchino said calmly. “I did not become a hero for fame or to ward off villains. I did it to give kids like you a better chance. Whether or not you want to take that chance is up to you.” 

 The woman adjusted Toga’s blanket, before standing up. “I’ll come back in two days. Think about what you want, or what you’d like to ask me.” Arlecchino said, waiting only for Toga to nod quietly, before turning on her heel and leaving the guarded hospital room.

 Lyney and Lynette watched from the office doorway as Lady Clorinde stared down at her desk with a rather deep frown. Clorinde herself was rather annoyed.

 All of this had started when she was on a dinner date with Lady Furina. They had been at Hotel Deboard, sitting across from each other at the dinner table as they talked about their next game day with Navia and the Traveler. Clorinde had taken one of Furina’s hands over the table top, and everything had been going so smoothly, until a Guarde slid to a stop at the booth.

 “Lady Cl-” The man started, stiffening when he noticed Furina. And their hands. And the nice dresses they were wearing. Looking resigned, the Guarde sighed and bowed his head. “Sincerest apologies for the interruption Madames… But the Iudex requests your audience as soon as is convenient to you, Lady Clorinde.” 

 The soft expression on Clorinde’s face practically dropped into the negatives in an instant. Furina glanced at the Champion Duelist awkwardly, before clearing her throat. “W-Well! Lady Clorinde and I are just waiting for dessert. Surely Monsieur Neuvillette can wait another hour?” 

 The Guarde nods. “Yes, Lady Furina. I will… Let him know.” He said, before stepping back and practically throwing himself back downstairs.

 If Clorinde had known she’d be sent to another world the next morning, she likely would have opened the ring box right then and there. Sadly, that will have to wait some time now. She sighed deeply into her hands. 

 Lyney clearing his throat had her looking up, and he gave her a nervous smile. “Madamoiselle, Lynette and I are about to go grab desserts, if you have any requests?” He asked politely.

 Clorinde frowned, turning in her chair to look out the window solemnly. “...Something fancy.” She said vaguely.

Lyney’s smile went a little taut, but he nodded anyway as he mentally tried to think of the fanciest dessert he could possibly find in a downtown bakery. “Alright..! We’ll be back in under an hour.” He said, voice strained, before backing out of the room.

 Clorinde didn’t acknowledge him, only sighing once again as she mournfully ran a hand down the window.

This would be known as the most awkward moment of Gaming’s life for some time. 

 He was sat between his own teacher and a teacher from Shiketsu High known as Ms. Joke. Who was desperately trying to make Mr. Aizawa laugh.

“Hehe- Hey, hey Aizawa, your fly is down.” She giggled and pointed at him. Gaming refused the overwhelming urge to look and see if it actually was. Aizawa just shook in poorly concealed rage at the world.

 Gaming didn’t understand why he had to sit between them, he was hardly being a good buffer, but when he even considered moving seats Aizawa had glared at him so hard Gaming practically glued himself down to his chair with his own sweat.

 “I can’t believe you still have twenty students!” Ms. Joke said brightly. “It’s unusual for you not to have expelled someone. You must actually like your class this time!”

 “Not really.” Aizawa mumbled, ignoring Gaming’s heartbroken stare.

 Ms. Joke burst into laughter, holding her stomach. “Don’t be embarrassed! That’s so like you!!” She giggled out, before giving him a serious look. “Please date me.”

“Shut up.” Aizawa sighed, only making Ms. Joke laugh even harder. It was as if she didn’t even notice Gaming was here.

 Gaming slowly tuned the two (mostly Joke) out as he watched all of the classes be released onto the field, his smile returning as his eyes caught onto Shoto and his friends. His smile then dimmed into a wince as he watched Shoto leave the group. He could tell that wasn’t part of anyone’s plan but his own.

 He expected Shoto to do his own thing; even now, after he’s gotten closer to his classmates, he thought himself weak if he couldn’t overcome something on his own. Gaming let out a breath. He hoped his friend knew what he was doing.

Somewhere in the middle of the woods, a man appeared out of thin air and landed on his back. He blinked up at the trees, sitting up and rubbing his head as he looked around in bewilderment.

“...Fontanian movies are seriously immersive.” He mumbled to himself.