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“I will protect” is the phrase that clings onto Spinner’s mind. He doesn’t understand that instinct - it’s something he didn’t expect - but he’s compelled to follow. None of them can understand what’s really happening to Shigaraki, with the exception of Skeptic. Spinner’s almost certain that Dabi knows too, but is choosing to avoid it in favor of how great his life has turned out.
Nobody else really gets it. “Why the hell has he shut up?” were Muscular’s words, as Moonfish had remained silent in background with an agreeing vibe. Overhaul of all people isn’t one to speak, but he definitely finds it weird as far as Spinner can discern. Compress was captured - Toga and Kurogiri are missing. Twice is… well, Spinner doesn’t like to think about that. Despite the prison breaks, Re-Destro, Geten, and Trumpet (that damn asshole, Spinner thinks) haven’t shown up. Among the sea of villains loyal to All For One, Spinner can’t recognize anyone else.
He spends his time around the near-lifeless form of Shigaraki Tomura. Sometimes he’ll just be in the room - other times he’ll actively approach Shigaraki. Every once in a while, he gets a real response - one that he knows isn’t some fucked up prank that All For One has decided to pull on him. Those are now the best moments of Spinner’s day - the ones where he can sense his leader with him.
“I can’t believe we’re following that thing,” Skeptic says. Skeptic isn’t a very respectful person by default, unless he’s following Re-Destro, but he clearly despises All For One. Spinner isn’t going to bring up the fact that the M.L.A. definitely classified as a villain group, because right now he needs all the allies he can get.
“It’s just until Shigaraki himself returns,” Spinner says. “He’s just resting from the fight against the kid and all those pros,” he lies.
“He can’t,” Skeptic states. “Stop having damn hope. We can only pray that the rest of my people show up and we can start some resistance faction of ‘villains’ or whatever.”
“I think that Re-Destro isn’t going to come after us. He wouldn’t risk his ass for us,” says Spinner. “Last of his line - he’s gotta stay alive.”
“Yotsubashi has Geten,” Skeptic tells him. “And I don’t think you realize how important I am.”
“Yeah? Well, All Might, Endeavor, and Hawks were all important - and look where they’re at now.”
“We’re not heroes.”
“But we’re not exactly villains anymore, are we?” Spinner asks. Skeptic remains silent, not wanting to add his two cents onto the conversation. The Liberation Army folks really hated that word.
We’re screwed, Spinner thinks. He’s had that thought countless times, but it’s ringing louder than ever right now.
“I’m going to go find Shigaraki,” Spinner blurts out. Skeptic looks up at him, shrugs, and exits the room. When Spinner said he was going to go find Shigaraki, he really didn’t expect Skeptic to leave the room too. But that didn’t matter. He was going after Shigaraki, now.
“Hey, Tomura,” Spinner addresses. The man’s first name still feels foreign to him, but Spinner’s been calling him that to his person ever since the possession first began.
There is no response from Shigaraki Tomura. He sits still on the chair he’s in, staring into the nothingness of the hand covering his face. Spinner sighs. He wasn’t even sure why he kept bothering - it wasn’t like he could ever pull Tomura back for good.
I’m calling him Tomura now, Spinner thinks. The name he thought of when initially thinking of the person had shifted - even though he kept calling him “Shigaraki” around the other members of All For One’s League of Villains. They should have kept the name of the Paranormal Liberation Front, is Spinner’s immediate thought. It was better - and also he and Re-Destro had come up it. Re-Destro wasn’t anything to write home about with great praise, but at least he wasn’t anywhere as fucked up as the king of the villains was.
“Tomura,” Spinner says, not realizing it. There’s movement from Tomura - he looks up, one of his eyes making contact with Spinner’s own. Spinner smiles, before turning away.
“Always afraid, aren’t you?” Tomura calls. “If you let anyone know that I have the ability to break out of All For One’s control, then you’ll lose me forever.”
“I’ve changed my thinking to forget about our secret,” Spinner states.
“I can’t maintain it for long anyways,” Tomura mutters, mostly to himself.
“You know, I’m going to keep protecting you from him, right?” Spinner asks.
“Oh, I know.”
“Tomura.”
“Yes, Shuuichi?”
His name being said from the other’s mouth hits strangely. The last time he’d been called that was during the crappy interview session that Kurogiri had hosted for a spot on the Vanguard Action Team (how people like Moonfish or Mr. Compress got a spot was still completely beyond him, with their tendencies or lack of speciality in combat) - that somehow accepted him. Yeah, he thinks. Last time someone called me Shuuichi was during Kurogiri’s interviews. Toga had said it once or twice, but she’d respected his boundary and since-forth had only called him by his codename.
“Are you alright?” Tomura asks.
“Fine, fine, I’m just fine,” Spinner blurts out.
“If you don’t want me to call you th-“
“I like it, actually,” Spinner admits. “Usually it’s a sore reminder of how I gave up everything to join a terrorist group on a whim, but it’s different coming from you.”
“Maybe one day you won’t have to bother to call me Shigaraki Tomura anymore,” Tomura mutters.
“What?” Spinner asks, confused.
“Doesn’t matter,” Tomura says, in a far louder voice.
“I hope that day comes,” Spinner tells him.
“Me too,” Tomura says solemnly. “I’ll fight for it.”
“I’ll bring the Liberation Front back together and find a way to save you,” Spinner says. “That’s all I care about right now.”
“Thank you, Shuuichi.”
Spinner approaches him, and takes his hand.
“I will protect you,” he says. Tomura smiles, and his grip around Spinner’s hand tightens. “I promise.”