Work Text:
Musutafu Prefracture- 6 hours s/p Tartarus break out
“Kid, I don’t remember the Commission allowing operatives having a second job, let alone own a business.” Lady Nagant followed the last Operative she mentored, before being tossed into Tartarus, into a cafe just a few streets from the main entrance of UA. The cafe was on the ground floor of a 2 story building. It had a simple layout inside with earthy tones and a variety of paintings and photographs on the walls. Some were landscapes like Mt Fuji, the sea side and other locations she doesn’t recognize. The area as whole is surprisingly clean considering the mess AFO just started. They walked to the back of the cafe where a sliding door separated a room with two couches facing a TV and a coffee table.
“You would be right but after an incident with the League of Villains and UA, the Commission decided it wouldn’t hurt to have an Operative nearby. And they wanted to see if I could befriend any of the Hero students.” Said operative threw himself on a couch and stretched as he got comfortable and she sat on the other one. Still tense from the breakout, talking with AFO and the long motorcycle drive.
“I don’t see why they didn’t just send you in, you’re still young where they could’ve ‘transferred’ you into the Heroics Course, and what’s with the outfit? Thought you would go for the whole ‘see my face’ route.” Before being tossed into Tartarus she remembered the Operative being hell bent on showing others that anyone could be a hero and smiling while doing so. Now here he is fully decked out in a combat suit with a Viper inspired theme.
“Fair, but how are you going to explain a Quirkless kid who has more training and experience than any student in the year, let alone the entire school, and I was going to but I changed my mind after you got taken down. The snake theme was Kei’s idea...” The Operative sat up and took off his helmet, revealing his undercut styled curly green hair and vibrant green eyes.
Nagant whistles “And a haircut too. Damn Iz, I figured you would miss me but I didn’t expect you to get a similar haircut.” They laughed and Izuku blushed. She finally relaxed a little, being around someone who is the closest thing to a little brother since she mentored Keigo. The laughing died down after a minute or two and silence entered the room. It wasn’t completely unpleasant, but things needed to be said before misunderstandings started.
“Hey Iz…” She was staring at the floor as she started before meeting up to look him in the eyes. Vibrant green with light still twinkling; but they’re different from what she remembered. There's an edge in his eyes she hoped she would only see in the mirror. “Do you know the reason why I killed the Commission President?”
He looked away and towards the TV, looking as if he was debating to turn it on just to avoid this conversation. “If I were to believe what they told me, it was because you were greedy and wanted to get paid more for what, ahem,’ little you actually did’.” He chuckled as he shook his head. “As soon as I heard that, I knew it was a lie. Kei knew it too, but…”
“He was caught up in being the favorite. Well he seems to still be around so that's good, and you seem to be doing well all things considered.” It was her turn to chuckle. “Regardless, I didn’t tell you because I knew you would try to help me. And as much as I wanted to try to grab you after killing that bastard…”
Izuku laughed, “It would’ve been even more risky. You barely had a small enough chance to escape without me tagging along as is.”
“I was planning on getting you out too once the heat died down… After I heard you were the one to get assigned an ‘Author’ assignment instead of Hawks, it didn’t sit right with me. You were barely 15 and still had more training to get through.” She sighed as she looked at her hands, still covered in blood no matter how hard she washed. “That's when I started questioning everything. Considering you came to get me, I imagine you got to the same point as I did? Did the Bogeyman give you my gift?”
Izuku nodded his head and sighed before getting up and heading to the kitchen. She stayed where she sat and took a deep breath as she leaned back into the couch. This was a nice break but she knows it won’t last long. She still has a deal with a devil to resolve. Speaking of which, there's something that the ‘devil’ said that hadn’t stopped bothering her. He walked back with water bottles in hand and tossed one to her. She thanks him and he goes back to laying on the couch.
“Nagant…”
“Kaina.”
“Wha-”
“Call me Kaina, formalities and secrets are out the window now. Plus it's only fair.”
He looked at her stunned but gave a small smile back. “Kaina then. I imagine you’re wondering how I was able to get to Tartarus without getting in a mess with AFO and his cult.”
“I think I already know, we had a little chat before you showed up.”
He looked at her with wide eyes, clearly not expecting her to encounter AFO during the break out. “What did he tell you?”
“He offered me a job, hunt and capture a kid from UA that’ll be going solo soon.”
Izuku shook his head, “That makes sense, always to the point-”
“He also thanked me for taking care of his son as best as I could.” He paled, which told her everything she needed. This fact doesn’t change anything for her, Izuku is still Izuku. A wannabe hero nerd who happened to get a shit hand. “So tell me, is he lying?”
He inhaled sharply as he stood up at the question, ready to defend himself. “No I-”
She stopped him before he could start, grabbing his arm and bringing him in for a hug. “Doesn’t matter. You're not your father and he was not in the picture when the Commission took you. We’re ‘Authors’ Iz, the only blood that matters is the one we write with.” He finally broke and started crying, hugging her back. Izuku has been through hell, and the only other one who would know what that hell is would be her and a few others. Who knows when the last time he had a good cry, but she was sure he needed this. Keigo isn’t here after all. She’ll kick his ass later.
“Thank you, nee-san,” Izuku whimpered. It seemed like the roof started leaking, at least that's what they would say if you asked them what happened after that.