Chapter Text
A telecommunications company was under attack.
That was the most important piece of information Edgeshot was given, alongside a grainy photo of a villain with a gigantification quirk. They apparently had average-sized accomplices that needed to be defeated, which was why he was contacted personally by a hero close to the scene.
It was a wise decision on their part, as Edgeshot was skilled at both taking down groups in one swift motion and working under very little information.
Because he was lucky enough to be nearby, his journey to the scene was uneventful and quick. He used his quirk to slip around a variety of city objects, allowing him to remain unseen as civilians were evacuated by other heroes.
He soon spotted a group of villains in the courtyard of a large skyscraper, which he knew housed the company due to the giant villain standing on top of it. It was hard to tell what they were doing, but the group on the ground seemed ready to strike with a variety of energy and elemental quirks.
Edgeshot knew what he had to do, and he was on the move before even he could blink.
He transformed, coiling in the air like a snake ready to strike its prey. His hair was now as sharp as a needle, and he managed to strike the entire small group at the same time before they even knew he was lurking in the background.
Quirks set off in response to his attack, but he avoided getting struck by springing himself above them. The villains fell to the ground as he landed perfectly on his feet, his hand instinctively creating one of his trademark seals.
He glanced at the heap of villains, his eyes narrowing. One was trying to get up despite their injury, and he snapped at them harshly. “If you value your life, then I suggest you cease moving immediately.”
The villain’s face paled, and they suddenly collapsed to the ground after letting out a choked gasp.
It did not matter what had caused them to lose their strength, because Edgeshot did not have the time to reminisce. He was immediately pulling the unconscious bodies away as debris started to fall from the skyscraper.
He managed to save them all, including himself, from being struck as he heard a large crashing sound. He instinctively looked up, only to see a glimpse of blue and yellow approach the furious-looking villain.
After realizing it was All Might, Edgeshot immediately turned back to the villains. The loudness of the debris did not wake them, but he needed to ensure that they would not be able to escape.
Edgeshot got back to work, tuning out the scene behind him. He knelt down to each villain, and he took a moment to restrain them all with either their own belts or jackets. He could already see the police running in the distance toward them, which meant he would not have to watch over the group for long.
Before he stood fully, he ensured that the villains’ hands were close enough to their bodies. If they got violent again, they would only hurt themselves instead of an innocent person.
Secured in the knowledge that he had completed his task, he rushed away to the next chaotic scene without saying a word to the approaching police.
Like a true ninja, Edgeshot moved as if he were the wind itself.
Time was most certainly passing by, but he was unable to keep track of it. It seemed that the villains had been apart of a large gang, and more and more kept appearing and attacking him.
Or, more accurately, they tried attacking him.
But Edgeshot was quick, and he was well-accustomed to dodging a variety of quirks. He had no idea why they were targeting the company, and he had no time to figure it out.
If he slowed down even slightly in his efforts, people were going to die.
That harsh truth kept him moving, and his lungs were burning as he hardly stopped to catch his breath. He defeated many villains, and not all of them could be defeated so easily with his ultimate move.
Luckily, he was very capable of fighting with his fists.
He was constantly on the move, and Tokyo was a very large city. He had worked inside it his entire career, so he was not discouraged by his surroundings changing into something unfamiliar.
The area had been evacuated, which lessened the stress he was under ever so slightly. Some of the buildings were damaged as he was about to scan them with his eyes, searching for names of stores to see if he were close to a known landmark.
But then he froze, his landing landing on a nearby villain.
They were not nearly as big as the giant villain, but they were easily taller than Edgeshot. They seemed to be fighting another hero he could not see, if the hard-looking spikes coming out of their body were any indication.
Never one to leave a hero to fight alone, he rushed forward. He began to calculate a plan, knowing that it would be easy to land his ultimate move if he struck from behind. He would have to identify himself to the hero first, however, so he would not accidentally strike them as well.
But as he moved, he realized something that surprised him, even if he knew seeing him was likely due to being stationed near each other.
There were frayed ropes lying on the ground, scattered as if the villain had ripped them off of themself. Some were sliced in half, while others looked as if they were twitching.
Only one hero Edgeshot knew could manipulate ropes, to make them move even when they were damaged.
Suddenly, he was moving even quicker than he expected, right as the villains struck out at the hero. Edgeshot had the coldest feeling about the situation, as if something bad would happen if he failed to win the battle quickly enough.
He acted at once, transforming and piercing the villain so quickly that he felt he had imagined his own attack until he found himself on his feet again.
The villain cried out as they fell to the ground. It was a very loud sound due to what appeared to be metal spikes clattering alongside them, but he knew immediately that he had defeated them when he did not have to dodge another attack.
He then turned toward the hero, who he knew for certain to be Best Jeanist. All he had intended was to tell him to be more careful, a courtesy remark before he went back to battle. He trusted him more than any other hero to be able to take care of himself, and it would be an insult to imply otherwise.
Before he could open his mouth, however, something made him freeze in place.
It was not Best Jeanist’s wide eyes, or the fact that his costume was slashed in several places. It was not because his jacket was missing, leaving his arms bare in the cold weather.
No, it was the metal spike, sticking out right under his left shoulder, that made Edgeshot feel as if his own chest was being crushed.
That same arm was limp, and Best Jeanist reached and brushed his right hand against the metal. He seemed to be in shock as blood ran down his arm, a few spots dripping onto the road.
Edgeshot suddenly imagined a flow of blood, the metal removed and Best Jeanist—
The thought was cut off, suddenly, and he moved.
He was grabbing at Best Jeanist’s right hand, yanking it away from the metal. He then pushed on his uninjured shoulder, forcing him to sit down right in the middle of the road.
“E—Edgeshot,” Best Jeanist gasped out, right as he was forced to lie on his back.
Edgeshot said nothing, inspecting the injury thoroughly, quickly seeing that the metal was impaling his arm. The bones must be broken with how his skin was bruising, but the metal was also clotting the injury. It may be the only thing saving Best Jeanist from bleeding—
He shook himself, swallowing down his fear.
He glanced around, only to see that the street was deserted. There were no heroes or medics to help them, nor were there any civilians watching that could maybe assist with their quirks or skills.
Nobody was around to save them, which meant Edgeshot was the one thing that could keep Best Jeanist alive.
He looked back down at Best Jeanist, ripping off his scarf as he spoke sharply. “Do not move.”
The metal was a great asset, but he could not rely on it fully as he carefully lifted the injured arm. He was as quick and gentle as he could be, but Best Jeanist still let out a grunt of pain as he prepared to wrap the scarf around the area for extra pressure.
But then, unceremoniously, the metal disappeared.
Edgeshot’s hands were suddenly empty, and Best Jeanist moaned as bright red blood spurted out of the hole in his arm. It quickly dyed the street and skin, and the sudden difference in sensation made him gasp in shock.
He was then moving again, his knowledge of wound care overtaking him.
He took Best Jeanist’s arm again, wrapping the scarf directly over the wound. He then knotted it as hard as possible, pulling as Best Jeanist cried out. Edgeshot hardly registered it over the sound of his heart racing in his ears, nausea threatening to ruin his focus.
As soon as he pulled his hands away, he heard something crash behind him. He looked back, only to see that some of the buildings had collapsed into the street. He also saw a blur pass by, as if someone was chasing the one responsible for the destruction.
If there were any chance of anyone finding them, they were now significantly lowered.
Edgeshot turned back around, pressing his hand against the scarf as he pushed away the realization. It was wet, as the blood was seeping through, staining the scarf a darker red.
Best Jeanist’s face was paling as he gasped in pain, sweating profusely. He tried to speak, but he merely cried out as Edgeshot picked up his arm and rested it against his own knees. Elevating it should help control the bleeding somewhat, and he could had slapped himself for not doing it beforehand.
But after a few long moments passed, it was clear that the help was minimal. Edgeshot pushed down as hard as he could, tuning out the pained cries, as he realized that the bleeding was not going to stop the way things were going.
Despite his violent flinching, Best Jeanist did not pull away. It confirmed to Edgeshot that his arm was broken, and the bruising was darkening as blood stained his fingers and the top of his compression sleeves.
Only one other option was readily available for him to attempt, and Edgeshot got to work immediately.
Best Jeanist’s eyes met his for a brief moment, and he looked exhausted. His body was trembling as he spoke, seemingly using most of his strength just to gasp out the obvious. “It—it hurts.”
Edgeshot had no time to respond as he, detaching one of his grappling hook ropes and unwrapping the bloody scarf. It stained his hands more as he threw it aside, right before tying the thick rope above the wound loosely.
He then reached for the only object he carried that could be used for his tourniquet: a tantō covered by a sheath. He then slid the knife inside of the knot, only to twist it several times as hard as he could.
The flowing blood was staining his mind, and it took him several moments to realize that the bleeding had finally stopped from the pressure of the tourniquet. He knew better than to assume all was well, however, as he finally glanced back down at Best Jeanist with his full attention.
There was so much blood surrounding his left side, and his breathing was even more erratic than before. If his eyes were not open wide, Edgeshot might had assumed he had passed out or—
The thought of Best Jeanist losing consciousness made Edgeshot’s world grow smaller as the nausea almost overcame him. He reached for the hero’s shoulder, feeling as if only they existed on the ruined street.
“Best Jeanist!” he called out, shaking him firmly. “Update me on your condition now!”
At first, the only response he got was a low wheeze. Best Jeanist then tried to speak again, only for a gutted sob to escape his lips.
A wetness clung to his long eyelashes, and his eyes were redder than they were a few minutes ago.
Best Jeanist, always calm and collected while working, was crying.
Suddenly, neither of them felt like heroes anymore, and Shinya stared with a growing realization. He was now just a husband, and if something was not done, he was going to become a widower.
“It’s—” Tsunagu forced out, each word sounding weaker and weaker as he trembled under Shinya’s hand. “It’s so cold—”
The words left Shinya with a deep dread, and he glanced around. Still, they were all alone, and Tsunagu was dying. His wife was dying before his eyes, and he was the only person who could potentially save him.
“Yes,” Shinya replied, swallowing deeply as he tried to not show how affected he was. “I know, but you must keep talking.”
“It’s—it’s freezing, Shinya. I—I’m so sorry,” Tsunagu gasped out, his eyes looking over them both. “I—I—”
Shinya looked back, but nobody was there. All he saw was the debris hiding them from potential help, dust simmering from the wreckage.
He looked back at Tsunagu, who suddenly spoke in a clearer tone. “I see her, Shinya. She’s—she’s calling for me.”
Shinya’s heart nearly stopped, as he knew exactly who “she” was as he pictured the girl who still haunted Tsunagu’s every waking moment. Her photograph sat on their personal shrine, forever locked in a smile. Tsunagu looked so much like her, yet that girl had been unable to grow up alongside him.
That girl was Sayako, his twin sister who died on their ninth birthday. She had died of blood loss, Shinya remembered, as his poor wife was helpless to do anything to save her as he was just a child.
Tsunagu was following in her footsteps, dying with Shinya being helpless to save him. He was no helpless child, yet there was nothing he could do to save his wife.
White hot anger overwhelmed Shinya, and he punched the ground hard. He hardly felt pain as he raised it higher, unable to stop himself from expressing his emotions as he were.
But Tsunagu grabbed his hand, right before he could crash it into the ground again. Shinya did not know which one of them was trembling the most, and the feeling only increased as he squeezed it tightly.
“I—I don’t want to die,” Tsunagu gasped out, gripping Shinya as hard as he could with his injured right hand. “I—I can’t face her, not yet!”
Shinya’s vision blurred, and his eyes landed on Tsunagu’s hand. His veins had somehow not collapsed as the world got smaller, and Tsunagu’s breathing became more erratic.
Then, something awakened in Shinya. His mind was suddenly clear, and he spoke in a flat, firm tone. “You will not be dying today.”
Faint memories of his youth played in the back of his mind as he ripped off his left compression sleeve. He stared down at his own veins, remembering how horrified his classmates were about what he was about to do for the first time in his career.
He took a deep breath, focusing on using his quirk in the tiniest way. He could manipulate each and every part of his body, and that little detail just might save Tsunagu’s life as long as his theory was correct.
Shinya carefully grasped his vein with his power, splitting and sharpening the edge before piercing it through his hand. Blood was come out until he narrowed the tip, closing it as he aimed at Tsunagu’s uninjured hand. He did the same to what remained on the inside, knowing he had to move quickly if he wanted a chance at saving him.
Immediately after, he pierced Tsunagu’s vein, just as if he were connecting him to an IV port. He reopened the edge of his vein, which would allow his blood to flow through his wife’s body.
It did not hurt, manipulating his own blood flow. The rest of the world seemed dark and empty, as all that mattered was saving Tsunagu’s life.
His wife’s eyes were wide, and then they closed. His head fell backwards, and Shinya thought he might had screamed as he rushed to catch it with his other hand.
There was a strange noise in the background, but he could not respond to it. He was no hero, nor was he a civilian anymore.
No, he was nothing but a lifeline, and he was fine with it.
He would become anything to keep Tsunagu alive, and he would die with no regrets if it came to that.
Time passed, and he refused to do anything but keep himself still. He had no idea if his idea was working, but he knew he was starting to feel cold as his world grew as small as it could get.
"Edgeshot…?!"
Someone was shaking his shoulder hard, their hand unbelievingly large as Shinya remained disconnected to the world.
"Edgeshot!"
He was practically being treated as a rag doll, yet he still could not pull himself back to reality.
"Say something, young man!"
Shinya gasped, the world coming into focus suddenly.
His left hand and arm hurt, the air seemed colder than before, and the person shouting at him sounded very familiar.
It was not the voice of someone he knew well, but still a familiar voice his mind must had latched onto without warning.
He turned to the side, seeing that All Might was right next to him, holding him in one of his giant arms. Tsunagu was on the other side, his head resting on the Symbol of Peace’s shoulder.
Shinya stared, unable to remembered what had happened. His last memory was defeating a villain with metal spikes for a quirk, and he had no idea how long All Might had been shaking him for.
The hero realized Shinya’s sudden awareness, and he spoke in that familiar, booming voice. “Oh, you’re more aware! Thank goodness!”
He let out a small gasp, as the world seemed to become a little more real. The pain in his arm increased, though he still had no memory as to how he could had injured himself.
“…what…?” was all Shinya could ask, speaking lowly as he tried to keep himself grounded.
"There’s no time for an explanation!" All Might declared, suddenly standing from where he was crouching. "We must get you and young Best Jeanist to the closest hospital!"
They were suddenly in the air, as All Might had jumped without wasting any time.
Shinya let out another gasp, not being used to moving as if he were truly flying. Tsunagu did not react outside of making a little sound himself, one that could had been a groan of pain.
Thinking of what could had happened to Tsunagu was suddenly too much for Shinya, who decided to focus on All Might instead to distract himself.
The smaller parts of his fragmented mind were in awe, staring at the hero they admired like all children had when he was young. The more bitter parts felt anger, wondering where All Might had been when Tsunagu had been injured.
It was not exactly fair of him, but he could not help his feelings as the world blurred around them. He could not tell if this sensation was because of the flying or because his mind was trying to protect him from the truth.
His eyes met Tsunagu again, and he saw his own grappling hook rope and tantō around his arm. There was a hole right under his shoulder, blood staining his bruised skin.
The world suddenly seemed to snap itself shut before his very eyes, and he was suddenly slumped against the very-alarmed All Might. He did not lose consciousness, but his body and brain could no longer cope with what was happening.
Shinya stared at nothing, not realizing that they had landed. He did not realized that All Might nearly broke the hospital doors as he entered, yelling for help from the staff.
Somewhere along the way, he must had grabbed Tsunagu’s hand, as someone carefully forced him to let go. His entire body lost the rest of his strength, and the world turned dark around him.