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The couch in the agency sideroom wasn’t the most comfortable sleeping spot, but it’s where Miyoko ended up sleeping half the time nowadays. Half in, half out of their uniform, only focusing long enough to hook their transceiver into a charger so that when the next major incident occurred they were there in time. If anything else got done, it was just pure luck and autopilot. They rarely even took their hearing aids out. They should go home and eat. But they rarely did either anymore.
It wasn’t like they’d stay asleep for long - constantly bombarded by hundreds of faces they couldn’t save. It wasn’t something that used to bother them this badly, but the recent War had been jarring for the young hero. They were still jumping at the smallest things, always waiting for the next alarm.
So all in all it wasn’t too abnormal for them to wake with a loud gasp, hurriedly sitting up to get their bearings. Usually they’d grab for their phone, confirm if there was a report and go about business as usual. But tonight, they don’t move - eyes fixed on the corner opposite them.
The form standing there, shrouded in darkness with a finger to his lips, was not part of business as usual. It was hard to see him with just the faintest light from under the door, but there were inklings of moonlight from the now open window that glittered across dangerously familiar green eyes.
Miyoko felt their breath seize in their throat and they weren’t sure if it was fear or something else. Hizashi… His gaze was locked on theirs for several moments, waiting, watching for their reaction. Miyoko finally stood, stretching slowly and moving to the other wall - not towards the blonde watching them, but towards the radio on the table.
It was playing low, barely audible, but enough to release the waves needed for Miyoko’s quirk to pick them up. They turned it up several notches and they saw Hizashi twitch with nervousness, a muscle in his jaw tightening.
They’ll think I’m just trying to sleep better, they signed. They weren’t sure why they were worried about calming the other. Were they really afraid Hizashi of all people would attack them? He did cast a terrifying sight from the corner, but now that they were standing, he didn’t look the same anymore. Smaller even in his towering height, fragile in fact. No, they think, they were simply afraid he’d startle and disappear.
Hizashi hadn’t even said ‘goodbye’ when he’d left. They wanted that at least .
I bet I can make you smile
In the pools of moonlight
Watch this little trick of mine
Say with me this tiny rhyme
Hizashi didn’t relax, but he slowly approached them, coming further into the light. They’re good - they have to be in their specific line of work - they don’t flinch at the sight of him. Even though every bit of his appearance was something new, something wicked perhaps.
You look…Your hair looks nice. And he knew that they meant it. They don’t mention the scar. Loudspeaker decided that was to be expected, he had never mentioned theirs. Never brought up something so obviously distressing.
Relay. I need something from you.
The downward turn of the hero’s lips grew deeper and something dark flashed behind their eyes. Relay? When did we drop first names, Hizashi?
They sign his name with such a strong, obvious flourish of their hands, anger in every move, even if they themselves would not call it that. But having someone else refer to him by that name, even in sign language, it riled him a bit. He closed his eyes tightly for a minute and took a deep breath.
Miyoko waited patiently for him to open his eyes again but they looked just as angry as before. He exhaled, moving his frozen hands.
I’m here on business .
You better be here to kill me or to apologize. I’m not accepting–
Their hands froze for a millisecond, before interrupting themselves as they watched the way Loudspeaker’s eyes flickered behind his glasses.
You’re here to kill me?
For what it was worth, it didn’t look like Miyoko actually believed that was possible. They didn’t back up when he stepped closer. They actually trusted him, a thought that set Loudspeaker uncomfortably on edge.
Not if you do what we say.
Miyoko looked a lot like their father when they were really angry. Something no one would dare say to their face, but an undeniable truth. If they had put as much power into their quirk as the villain had done, they would be on par with Loudspeaker himself. But they hadn’t and therefore, Loudspeaker knew that if there was a fight, he’d win.
But he didn’t want a fight. He didn’t want to be here in the first place. He hated the League for even making this a thing.
Are you actually insane?
The words reminded him of Aizawa and he flinched back. He wanted to shout at them to shut up, but he didn’t need the other heroes at the agency to come bursting in either. Instead, he physically silenced them, one hand grabbing a wrist to stop their signing and the other covering their mouth in the off chance that life threats broke through their mutism.
{ You know better than that. }
His own voice played quietly from the radio. He did know better. They didn’t need their hands or their voice to communicate if their quirk was working. He hadn’t forgotten. He had simply left the option open on purpose. He wanted them to know how serious he was.
{ Let me go or I’ll blast the sound so loud your bones will burn. }
“You wouldn't,” he whispered.
It felt strange talking back to his own voice. But it wasn’t him, it was Mic . That wasn’t him anymore. Miyoko simply lifted their eyebrows over the hand covering their mouth. Daring him to test that theory. With life in peril, would Miyoko use their quirk to their full potential?
He didn’t want to be the one to find out.
Finally, he pulled his hand free of their mouth and released their wrist. He pulled back, lifting a finger to his lips again. They rolled their eyes.
You brought the League here?
No.
More specifically, they’d brought him here. But he wasn’t a teacher anymore and it wasn’t necessary to get into semantics here.
The heroes are hunting you, Hizashi. You shouldn’t be here!
Loudspeaker tilted his head at them. Did they not care about his threat? Were they not scared? They sounded worried about him.
I needed something .
I…not we…Miyoko noticed the change and their shoulders began to sag. He wanted to look away from the obvious pained emotions on their features.
I managed to find out why….you left. I get it, Hizashi, I do. But, you didn’t say goodbye. And now you waltz in demanding something like you didn’t just leave to play villain. Do you really expect me to help you?
Play villain? He wasn’t a villain, he wanted to protest. But then again, what kind of good guy scared their foster sibling with a death threat after everything they’d been through? He tried to keep his hands steady, keep them from giving away his own emotions. Did they really understand, did they really “get it” as they said.
No. I don’t.
Miyoko didn’t relax, but the anger seemed to seep entirely away from them, replaced by the smallest of smiles on their lips.
Idiot big brother. What do you need?
He was frozen in place for several moments trying to process their signs because there was no way they had simply agreed. They should know better. They were a hero, they should alert Eraserhead that he was here. They should…But he knew they wouldn’t. It just wasn’t how Miyoko operated. Not all villains were bad, they liked to remind him.
Was this what they had meant?
Loudspeaker shook it off, metaphorically and literally, tossing his head and throwing strands of hair over his shoulder.
I need to talk to Shinigami.
Miyoko snorted. The League doesn’t know how to contact him themselves?
Loudspeaker managed an actual smile at that. It felt strange, uncomfortable.
He’s a bit of a cryptid to them.
Amateurs. And they chuckle to themselves before pulling away to pull their phone from their pocket.
Miyoko….
He signed their name sign over his heart, and they hesitated. It was the first time he’d use their name for the entire conversation and it felt important.
He hesitated, then sighed. …Thanks.
They press their hand to their chest, I know.
Honey honey, don't you cry
It's a ruse, all these creatures are a lie
Funny bunny, it's alright
I clap my hands and they're gone into the night
Miyoko handed over the number they had for the villain Shinigami, knowing full well they’d be warning him that the League was coming to his doorstep as soon as they had the chance. He’d either be gone before they got there, or make his decision to work with them. Highly doubtful.
With number in hand and a relieved exhale, Loudspeaker turned to leave the way he’d entered, but he hesitated when he heard Miyoko huff behind him. He turned back, and startled as something slammed into him. He had to stifle the responding vibration in his throat, the attack he had prepared in retaliation to theirs.
Their arms were wrapped around his chest he realized, not in some attempt to hold him still but a hug. Tight and desperate, the younger’s face burrowing into his chest.
“Can’t you at least say goodbye,” a raspy voice whispered.
He leaned his chin against their head and sighed, wrapping his arms around them and hugging them tight.
“I’ll be back soon,” he told them instead.
And then he pulled himself free and disappeared back through the window.
Miyoko watched him go before pulling out their phone and dialing Shinigami’s number.
{ League’s on their way. }
Take my hand, take my hand, take my hand, take my hand