Chapter Text
She was cornered, but not frightened.
Oh, they certainly thought she was. But even though maybe she should be, she wasn’t.
Honestly, she was pretty sure they should be scared.
The three men crowded closer and Himiko bit her lip, letting terror flood her eyes.
That’s it. Just a little closer…
One of the men took a step forward.
That’s all she needed.
Himiko’s fingers found the knife under the dress of her school uniform. She lunged, and the dance began, beautiful and deadly. The men may be older and stronger, but they’re no match for Himiko.
She tossed two throwing stars at lighting speed and focused on her target.
He was the cutest one - of this ugly bunch, anyway.
She spun, stabbing the dagger into the tallest man’s stomach. He howled and clutched at his midsection, before his eyes rolled back and he hit the floor with a dull thud. The blood started seeping and Himiko licked her lips. She looked over at where the other two men had already been taken down with her throwing stars.
She’d been right to target him - this one’s blood was brighter, redder. I’ll take him first, I guess. I really want to find someone who’s actually cute, though. All these old men are so stinky and ugly.
Himiko crouched and took out a straw, inserting it into the tallest man. She sighed in euphoria. She was so famished, even this boring guy’s blood tasted like heaven.
She was so preoccupied, feeling blood on her tongue after so many days, that she didn't notice the woman until it was too late.
Himiko scrabbled for the dagger in her shoe as soon as she felt icy fingers digging into her wrist, but the woman pinned her to the ground. She wasn’t cute at all, face twisted with rage and her whole body glowing with a weird blue light. The woman ripped out a strand of Himiko’s hair and she yelped, golden eyes narrowing in rage. “Hey!”
The woman ignored Himiko, touching the strand of dirty blond hair to her own head. Immediately, Himiko was immobilised.
“He was everything I had!” The woman yelled, spit flying. She gestured vaguely to one of the two men Himiko ignored, tossing the strand of hair onto the ground.
If she hadn’t been lying on the floor and unable to move, Himiko would have rolled her eyes.
I hate people like this. Who pretend they care for someone else. Nobody really cares. It’s all just a lie, and I’m so tired of lying.
Tears began rolling down the woman’s face. She was a little dramatic, Himiko decided.
“I loved him,” the woman snarled furiously. “I’m going to kill you.”
Himiko was furious, all of a sudden. Why does she get to feel angry? Who gave her the right to act like he meant anything to anyone? It's not like she ever cared about some random guy! I know nobody cares about anyone else, I learned that long ago!
The woman picked up one of Himiko’s daggers and raised it, about to stab down. Himiko was a little annoyed. She didn’t have to kill Himiko with her own property, that was just rubbing it in.
She still wasn’t afraid at all, at the prospect of death. There was nothing inside except for that cold barrier Himiko built the night she was betrayed by her own parents. The night she fled onto the streets. The night she realised that nobody really cared when it mattered most. That everyone was just lying and Himiko couldn’t fall for their lies, not if she wanted to live.
Suddenly, a wave of scorching blue flames exploded out of a side alley. Himiko rolled over, choking on the smoke, coughing her lungs out. She could move again, and the reason became obvious as the woman’s body, black and burned, fell to the floor. Those tearful eyes were dull and lifeless.
Himiko sat up, rubbing her eyes. There was a figure standing in front of her.
Himiko waved, her face the default mask of cheerfulness. Pretend to care. Make them think you’re a friend.
Trick them before they can trick you, because that’s how the world works.
“Hey, thanks for that! Who’re you, I’m Himiko, I bet your blood’s real tasty, cutie!”
“You can’t even see my face.” The voice was male and raspy, and whoever it was sounded amused.
“I can feel it.” Himiko jumped up and tried to wave away the smoke. “You give cutie vibes.”
The stranger sighed. “Whatever, weirdo.”
“The name’s Himiko!” She gave up on trying to fight the smoke and turned to collect her knives and throwing stars.
“Hmm. Well, I’m Dabi. Why’re you out alone so late?”
“Why are you out alone so late?” Himiko rebuked. “You sound ninety years old, you should be in a nursing home.”
“That,” as the smoke finally began to clear Himiko could see the stranger clutch at his heart, “is completely offensive, brat. I’m twenty-four.”
“That’s old. So I was right.”
Dabi groaned into his palm. The last of the smoke drifted away and Himiko could finally see his face. Dabi was handsome, in a warped sort of way. His skin was porcelain and pale, but rough patches of huge purple burn scars, lined with silver staples at the edges, covered his jaw, the area below his eyes, and disappeared under his shirt. There were obviously more burn marks he was covering. Dabi’s eyes were a haunting shade of turquoise blue. They were very pretty, if Himiko did say so herself.
To answer his earlier question, Himiko shrugged. “I’ve been out alone since eleven years old. I’m used to it.”
Dabi hummed again. “What’s your quirk, kid?”
Himiko scowled at him. “I’m not a kid! I’m fourteen, and nearly fifteen, really!”
Dabi rolled his eyes. “Sure. Whatever you say, kid.”
Himiko threw a knife at him halfheartedly. “I can look and sound like other people if I drink their blood.” She waited for disgust, for the cringing away and the horror.
For the moment he’ll stop pretending to be nice. For the moment he’ll betray her, leave her to rot if she’s lucky, cremate her if she’s not.
Instead, Dabi looked intrigued. “And you’re good with knives?”
Himiko nodded warily.
He thinks I’ll be useful, and that’s the only reason he’s still pretending.
Something soft and not-quite-dead inside of Himiko began to unfurl. It latched onto Dabi like a dying girl’s last sliver of hope.
If I try my best to stay useful, maybe he’ll never stop acting. If I’m good and I do whatever he wants, I can tell myself he cares.
I can tell myself that somebody cares.
Dabi’s turquoise-blue eyes were thoughtful and calculating. “Hmm. Look, kid, would you like to go to a villain interview with me?
Himiko was in a dusty bar, and it was very uncomfortable, but she wasn't nearly as bothered as she usually would be. Instead, she was sure her eyes were filled with stars. Everything was so exciting!
“I’m Toga, but call me Himiko!” She put on a beaming smile.
Make them think you’re useful.
“I’m going by Dabi at the moment,” Dabi drawled lazily.
Shigaraki, or Shiggy as Himiko had already dubbed him, twitched. “No, no,” he whined raspily. “I want your real name.”
Dabi shrugged. “You’ll know it when you need to.”
Shiggy growled angrily. “So rude! No manners… at least the crazy one knows how to introduce herself…” He twitched violently, then surged out of his seat with five fingers outstretched.
Dabi immediately ducked and fire poured from his hands, smoke leaking out of every seam. But Himiko was frozen.
That word. Crazy.
Good-for-nothing little-
That’s the devil’s child!
I heard she’s insane…
Did you hear? That girl Toga is crazy!
Himiko didn’t realize it when she moved, lunging at Shigaraki with knives glinting in both hands and her leg braced to kick at his face.
Purple portals appeared from thin air, and Himiko dropped out of one at the end of the room, disoriented. Dabi’s hand was poking out of a portal on her left, but he was still standing in front of where Shigaraki was, with said man’s dangerous hands through another portal down the corridor.
Shigaraki snarled and pulled his hands out of the portal. He fell back on his chair, still twitching erratically, red eyes staring holes into Himiko.
Dabi flopped onto the couch, smirking at Shigaraki like he’d never known danger, smoke still pouring.
And Himiko climbed to her feet sullenly, knives tucking back into their sheaths, eyes trained on the floor to hide the fleeting weakness inside.
“They’re interesting. Surprise power buffs I didn’t see. Could be useful against the final boss… Kurogiri. Sort them out.”
And then Shiggy staggered down the hallway, muttering to himself, leaving Himiko and Dabi with only Kurogiri.
The mist-man inclined his head politely. “I apologise for Master Shigaraki’s rude behaviour. I am Kurogiri. I will lead you to your rooms now.”
“Wait.”
The voice sent shivers down Himiko’s spine. She turned to see a man’s face, hidden by shadows, displayed on a large TV.
Kurogiri immediately bowed low. “Sensei.”
‘Sensei’ moved his head, just a little, and Himiko felt his eyes on her. “Child - Toga. How old are you?”
“Just call me Himiko!” Himiko chirped. “I’m fourteen, and fifteen soon.”
“When exactly?”
“March 5th, that’s…” Himiko tried to recall the date. When was it? Oh, right. “...exactly a month from now!”
“Wonderful. You qualify. Kurogiri, lead Dabi and Himiko to their rooms and take your own leave. I must speak to Himiko privately, in her own room.”
The room was surprisingly nice. Sure, the blank white walls were frankly depressing, but Kurogiri had said that she could decorate however she liked, so…
Those walls weren’t going to stay white.
Himiko smiled and walked over to the closet, peering inside. She coughed as dust billowed out. How old was this place?
Himiko dug around until she found a set of light pink covers. She set Kurogiri’s tablet next to her and listened to the TV man talk as she fixed up her bed.
“You see, our main target is All Might. A few weeks ago, he officially announced his new… teaching career, in UA High. You will be fifteen before April 1st. You can join UA High - as a student.”
Himiko felt immense joy filling her up. She fluffed her pillows aggressively. A chance to go to school, with other people her own age! To be normal!
“Of course, you cannot use knives in the entrance exam. Do you-”
It might have been rude, but Himiko didn’t care. “Yes! Yes, I know some martial arts. I can also use a sword, or I used to be able to, but it’s not like swords will be allowed, so that doesn’t matter. But yeah, I know martial arts!” Himiko beamed and flopped onto her finished bed.
“Wonderful. Kurogiri will educate you on school subjects. The entrance exam is a few weeks from now, on February 26th.”
The man on the screen smiled creepily.
“Oh, yes… You will be a great asset, Toga Himiko.”