24"Where is All Might?" Rei asked herself.
"I ask myself the same question, where is All Might?" Shigaraki said, "We went through the trouble of gathering this whole crowd, too. All Might...The Symbol of Peace...is not here." Shigaraki said to himself with frustration, but it soon turned into a relaxed voice, "I wonder if he'll come if we kill some kids?"
"What?!" Rei snapped her head to Shigaraki, "I...no! I did not sign up to kill children!"
Shigaraki looked with annoyance in his voice, "What did you say?"
"I joined because Master said you will help defeat Enji, and in return, I will help you kill All Might. That was the deal!" Rei yelled, "There was never a part where it mentioned killing children!"
"You don't understand, do you?" Shigaraki said with annoyance, "We are villains. We don't care who we kill. Law, morality, code of ethics, it is all meaningless. Even children fall under our kill list." Shigaraki sounded angry at this.
"They are just kids, Shigaraki!" Rei pleaded, "What the hell did they do to you?! All Might is who you want dead, not them! What will killing them accomplish?! You want to fight the Symbol of Peace, and you are going to do it when he is at his most pissed off state?!" Rei argued, "We have seen him on a sluggish day, but never on a bad day." Rei gave Shigaraki a look that called him an 'idiot' as she continued to speak, "Do you really want to fight him when he is at his angriest?" Rei's voice turned into one that held wisdom, "The people you never want to piss off are the ones who smile the most, and All Might is nothing but smiles."
Shigaraki growled loudly under his breath as Kurogiri watched on. He had to admit that Rei standing up to Shigaraki was unexpected, but her voice held reason behind it. If it were up to him, he would send her away, but that is not the case, Shigaraki is the one in charge.
Shigaraki scratched at his neck furiously and began to quietly rant his thoughts aloud. Everyone under his command watched Shigaraki angrily rip his skin off his neck, causing some spurts of blood to shoot out. Just as fast it started, Shigaraki stopped ripping his skin. "Fine, we won't kill them. But we're going to hurt them, very, very badly."
Rei wanted to protest this as well, but she also didn't want to push her luck. "Okay then."
"Now quit your crying," Shigaraki grunted, "Go forth, my army of villains." Shigaraki sent out the command. His small militia walked towards the steep staircase that had the students and two pro-heroes at the top. Rei, Kurogiri, and the monster stood back to allow the pawns to go first. Shigaraki wanted to also put Rei with the disposables, but there were a few reasons holding him back. Her fierce Quirk, her knowledge of Endeavor, and, if they can draw it out, her unrelenting killer instinct. Overall, Rei was useful and finding quality allies are in short supply these days.
Rei, Shigaraki, and Kurogiri watched as one of the pro-heroes suddenly jumped from the staircase and charged at the mass unit alone. He had a ragged black outfit that consisted of a long-sleeved shirt and matching pants that tuck into his boots. He wore a utility belt and scarf with the outfit too. His eyes were concealed by a pair of yellow goggles. The man ran with both of his hands clutching the scarf as the piece of clothing looked as though it was levitating. Rei could barely hear several of the firing squad villains in the front taunt the hero, but couldn't make out they said.
The villains never stood a chance as the pro hero suddenly began to wail on them, knocking out multiple villains in mere seconds. Rei looked closer at the Pro-Hero before the pieces in her head began to fit together. She knew this Pro-Hero, she has seen him before through her window a few times. "That's Eraserhead!" Rei shouted to the crowd, "His Quirk is able to erase Quirks for brief moments by looking at you. Watch yourselves!"
"You know who he is too?" Shigaraki asked without breaking focus from the battle.
Rei nodded her head, "I've seen him a few times at my prison; even had the pleasure to watch him fight from my window. That scarf is his key weapon. It's a lot more versatile and dangerous than it looks, but even without it, he is a master at hand-to-hand combat." Rei spoke from memories of the numerous battles that rocked the hospital at night, "If I were a guessing woman, and I usually am, I'd say those goggles are to protect his eyes and the source of his Quirk."
"That is a logical assumption." Shigaraki shrugged his shoulders in agreement, "Most Pro-Heroes who's Quirk stems from their eyes wear goggles to protect them." Shigaraki then gasped lightly in realization, "He hides his eyes to confuse everyone. He needs to look at you in order to use his Quirk, but concealing them adds a neat bonus to his trick. No one will be able to tell who's Quirk he just erased, so he attacks you mentally too."
Rei was a bit surprised at Shigaraki's precision to trace down the idea behind the goggles. "Exactly." Looks at though Shigaraki is more than just an angry brat.
Kurogiri looked between Rei and Shigaraki. About a moment ago, those two could have come to blows, but now they were communicating like they've known each other for years. Kurogiri could sense that if they could get along more, something special would bloom between them. A chaotic evil with no bounds. "I hope I am here to see the day when these two become real allies." Putting aside those thoughts, Kurogiri went back to examine the fighting in front of him, which as more of the same beat down the minions were already receiving.
"This is going nowhere." Rei sighed, "He's taking down everyone like nothing."
Shigaraki lightly scratched at his neck again, "I hate pro-heroes. You're right, Rei, the masses don't stand a chance against them." Shigaraki turned his head to Kurogiri, "Go scramble the brats."
"Understood, Shigaraki." Kurogiri's body melted into the floor and disappeared. "Wait for Kurogiri to spread the brats out, then he will come for you."
Rei nodded with acknowledgment. The children were running away, and though Rei didn't wish to see them hurt, she knew that seeing them hurt rather killed was better in the long run. It's not like she could single-handedly stop this raid. Internally, Rei was praying for All Might to appear and stop this before anyone gets killed or hurt too badly.
It took a couple of minutes, but a portal opened next to Rei. Before stepping through, Rei looked back at Shigaraki, "When All Might shows up, and he will, are you sure that thing will take him down?"
Shigaraki turned his head to Rei, "Of course. Master designed it to be better than All Might in every way. Now stop wasting time and get out of my face!"
Rei rolled her eyes behind the mask and jumped through the portal.
When Rei landed on the other side, the first thing she saw a town on fire. Rei was about to panic from the scene, but remember all of this is just fake. "Right, it's just fake," Rei told herself and walked around, "So, why the fire? What is this place?" Rei examined the area around her to get a better hold of her settings. The flames were strong and the heat radiating from them was irritating to her. "Too much Enji here." Rei felt her hands freeze from rage and continued to walk down the path. Rei walked for what seemed like an eternity passed scorching buildings that would not break to the fires fury. Rei began to ponder just what the buildings were made off that they could last this long against fire and not wield to it. "Maybe something like this could prove to be useful armor for me, and considering U.A has it, it must be the latest version." Rei's ears lightly flicked on their own from the sound she picked up. To her right, there were sounds of struggles. A brawl. "Guess I found my target." Rei proceeded to jog towards the fight.
The sounds of combat grew louder and louder. With every step Rei took, there was a grunt of pain. Someone or someones were getting their butts handed to them. When turned the corner, she was surprised by the sight she saw. A young man of muscular build, has short blond hair swept to the front of his head and wore a plain karate gi, tied with a black belt, its collar partially lined with fur. The most notable part of the student was his massive tail that he was using to keep him moving around the area, and at times, whack his opponents. "He is quite able." Rei walked with caution towards the fighting student as he knocked out the last of the thugs before turning his attention to the mask Todoroki.
"What are you villains doing here?!" The student asked, "What do you want from us?!"
"I have no idea what they want." Rei lied through her teeth. She knew the plan just as well as Shigaraki, "But I am not on their side, I just need them for something."
"That being what?" The student kept his guard up. His voice was calm now. It held a soft tone that ringed friendliness, but also expressed wisdom. The suit was not there for show, maybe he was an experienced fighter.
"I'm afraid that is not of your concern." Rei replied, "Please, don't make this harder for me. I won't kill you, heavens no, but I have to make this look real for them." Rei put her hand and pointed it towards the tailed-student.
"I don't trust you." The student firmly stated before jumping onto a nearby streetlight. Using his tail to keep his momentum, the student quickly aimed to pounce Rei to end this fight quickly. The student never stood a chance as he found himself suddenly entrapped in a big iceberg aside from his head that stuck out like a sore thumb.
"I warned you." Rei sadly told him and she walked by his frozen body and ignored his shocked expression.
"I only know one person who can create powerful ice like this." The student said with chattering teeth, "Who are you?"
Rei stopped and looked back, "A human looking to make up for past sins. I just so happened to be caught up with the wrong crowd with no way out." Rei continued her way, but not before freezing every other villain in place to protect the student. "I'll just say they got in my way and threatened me." Rei thought of her excuse and made her way out the area to find her son.
When Rei found the exit and left the fire room, she found herself in another area that had to with a landslide. There were rocks scattered everywhere along with pieces of buildings and other various rubble crushed by the rocks, dirt, and fake nature such as trees. Rei climbed up the landslide, being careful not to be spotted or tripping over something. It was quite a climb, but not too difficult. Rei made it to the top and took a quick glance around the area before she caught a sight that made her heart jump into her throat. In the distance, Rei could see a frozen landscape that covered a square of the area. There were many bumps and figures under the ice. No doubt the crooks were beaten but seeing how they were beaten made Rei uneasy. It looked too precise, too clean. There was clearly no signs of a struggle, and that put terror into Rei's mind.
"If he is able to take down a group like that with little effort, then…" Rei balled up her fists and looked down, "Oh Shouto. Did Enji not give up on you after I was gone? Did he continue to abuse you to make you the 'perfect' weapon?" Rei forced her thoughts away and hesitantly made her way towards the frozen scenery. Rei desperately wanted to turn the other way and run. She couldn't bear the thought of seeing Shouto with a group of villains. It must have affected Shouto somewhat to hear the news of his mother's escape, but to see her working with villains that want to kill All Might? That would make her even worse than Enji in his eyes, and that was a feeling Rei did not want to Shouto to feel.
Rei suddenly felt her body being pushed forward by an unknown force from behind her as she nearly tumbled down to the ground below and would have slid off the landslide part. When Rei caught herself, she turned around and saw nothing. "What the?" Rei could have sworn she felt someone push her, but there was nobody present! Rei then felt a sucker punch land on her left cheek. Rei swung to her left but hit the air. Two more blows came to Rei at her midsection that made her wheeze out in pain and curl up slightly. Before any other hit could be landed on her, Rei quickly froze the landscape with her feet and watched the ground be covered in a layer of ice. When Rei looked up, she saw a pair of frozen legs in front of her.
"What the heck?!" A new, bubbly, female voice screeched in front of her, "How did you…"
Rei know understood everything that was happening. It was another student who was attacking her, an invisible one. "Well...that's fascinating."
"You have an ice Quirk like his too." The new voice trembled in fear, "B-B-But I though Quirks were supposed to be unique! How could you mimic his exactly?!"
Rei simply ignored the question as she already said too much to the young man from before. "I'm not going to kill you that is what you're worried about. I have no intent on doing that. I am for my own reasons." Rei turned her body away and put distance between her and the invisible girl.
"Hey! Wait!" The girl called out, but Rei kept walking until there was a loud crash that shook the whole building. Rei snapped her head to where the noise came from and saw a huge cloud of dust at the front entrance where Kurogiri was supposed to be at. Rei examined the sight for the clouds disappeared and stood a hulking figure that Rei could barely make out. Rei already knew who it was. As much as it made her feel excited to see him, she also felt extreme levels of dread wash over her. "All Might," Rei mumbled aloud.
"All Might's here?!" The girl asked in excitement, able to barely hear Rei's voice, "We're saved!"
Rei shook her head and left the girl alone. Rei walked alongside the are, but kept her eyes on All Might before he suddenly disappeared from view. Rei paused and looked down to the ground and was left in awe. In the middle stood All Might, and he looked as though he was kneeling down and holding someone. "What speed…" Rei heard All Might was fast, but that type of quickness was ludicrous. "No way anyone is going to beat him down. I'm not even sure about that monster either." Rei adverted her eyes away. "I need not worry about him for now, all I need to do is-"
"Rei, do you copy?"
Rei jumped from her position at the sudden voice in her ear, "Who's there?!"
"Rei, there was a radio pre-installed into your mask before I gave it to you. If you are present, press your hand next to your left ear to active the microphone." The voice was clearly Kurogiri's voice. Oddly, that made Rei feel calm.
Rei did as instructed and placed her hand next to her left ear, "Gave me quite a fright, a heads-up about this radio would have been nice."
"My apologies, but we had no time." Kurogiri cleared his throat "I need you to randevu back with us. With All Might present, it is best for all our forces to band together and take him out at once." Kurogiri explained as Rei heard Shigaraki blabbering away about something in the background, "Hurry up." With that, Kurogiri's line went dead.
Rei took her hand away from the radio and felt slightly enraged about being recalled, yet relieved that she didn't have to meet Shouto now. "Maybe another time, my little Shouto," Rei told herself and went back to the rendezvous point.
It took Rei quite a while to finally make it back to the rally stage, but once she arrived, the sight in front of her made her astounded. Kurogiri was using his Quirk on All Might and the monster to form a portal that left All Might in a pickle. The lower half of the monster's body was going through one end of the portal that led into the ground with the upper half coming out of the other side just about a foot away. The monster's hands were gripping onto All Might's sides with a deadlock grip and keeping the number one hero, who was dressed in a white button-up shirt and striped light brown pants, above ground while All Might's hands were secured around the monster's waist. The scene slightly worsens when the monster squished All Might's sides, and one of them began to bleed.
"Were you trying to keep him from moving by sticking him deep in the concrete?" Shigaraki asked with flaunting, "You won't be able to stop him like that. Because Nomu is as strong as you are."
"So that's what it's called, a Nomu," Rei whispered to herself and stood by ideally near Kurogiri at an angle where she was hidden from the classes view.
Shigaraki let out a small laugh and turned to his associate, "This is good, Kurogiri. I have to admit, this is rather an unexpected development." Kurogiri squinted his yellow eyes and the portals began to slowly close.
All Might let out a seeth of pain as the Nomu's grip kept digging deeper into his sides and more blood began to ooze out into his white shirt. All Might relinquished his hold on the Nomu and went to pry off the Nomu's hands from his sides. "This is your first offense?" All Might asked through the pain, "You better prepare yourselves!" Hearing All Might say that made Rei shake in her shoes. She had a fair chance of being on the receiving end of All Might's power, and that was not an option on her bucket list.
Shigaraki boredly, and arrogantly, scratched his neck in response to All Might's threat. "Kurogiri. Finish it."
"I do not want blood and guts overflowing within me, but I would be happy to take in someone as great as you." Kurogiri proudly stated with his portals inching closer and closer together. Rei couldn't even stomach the idea of having another's blood and organs inside her, but these were villains so they take satisfaction in darker things. "You are too fast for the human eye. The Nomu's job was to restrain you. And then, when your body is halfway in, to close the gate I will tear you apart!" Kurogiri revealed how they were going to kill All Might. Rei was surprised by how structured it was. Rei assumed they were going to let the Nomu kill All Might, but it looked as though Master didn't want to chance at Nomu losing so he set up a different plan that would be more logical. Though the surprise wouldn't last long as the dark realization hit Rei about the situation in front of her. All Might was really going to die, and she played a part in it! She may not have had direct influence, but she still helped the villains in aiding this invasion! Was this really going to happen?! Was All Might seriously about to die in front of her?!
"All Might!"
Rei turned to see a kid dressed in a blue tracksuit with wild green hair, a freckled face, and red armored shoes. He was running towards them!
"Rei. Freeze him." Kurogiri ordered to her.
Rei nodded her head. Though she understood the child's ambitions as to why he would come back to fight, it was suicide to fight against real villains. The green child jumped towards All Might with his hand extended out. Rei stepped out of Kurogiri's framed and planted her foot on the ground. Rei could see the child's shocked green eyes when Rei appeared from nowhere.
At the moment when Rei was about to freeze the boy, she was blasted from some type of TNT explosion that sent her away about several feet from where she was standing.
"GAH!" Rei felt spit spew through the mask at the sudden attack on her. "What the hell was that?!" Rei asked and got up almost immediately. Rei looked back to where All Might and the others were and saw what was happening. All Might was free and a few more students had made their debut. A barechested redhead with dark red shoulder pads shaped like gears, a jagged sash joining the one in his left to the right side of his belt, which has a red "R" set into its center, baggy black pants and half cape with a ripped hem, and black boots. A tight black sleeveless tank top, an orange "X" across the middle, the two upper prongs the v-neck collar of his shirt, a metallic neck brace, large grenade-like gauntlets, and a mask that is jagged and black, and goes around his eyes with a large, orange-rimmed flare shape protrudes from each side of his head.
The last student had a plain off-white shirt with matching pants and boots, with two gold-colored straps going over his shoulders with ice covering his whole left side. Rei kept her eyes locked on this particular student as her heart fluttered with fear, excitement, and pride. "Shouto…" Rei was happy and afraid of Shouto being right in front of her, but she was also prideful in her son for following his dreams of trying to become a hero. She adored the costume, but it needed an upgrade in her opinion. Mama's instincts. "Why does he have that ice over his left side? Does he reject his bastard of a father's side?" Rei would get answers at a later time for Shigaraki was all alone. It pained her to back him up, but Rei wasn't in the right position to switch sides given who she is with, the two students she froze, and her recent escape. Rei ran next to Shigaraki and stood by his side. "So, what do we do?"
"Kurogiri is pinned by the brat that blew you," Shigaraki informed her.
"What?!" Rei asked out of surprise and anger.
"Yes, but do not worry, we can free him." Shigaraki turned his head towards the still beast, "Nomu." The Nomu screeched and pulled his body from Kurogiri's portal. Rei didn't notice till now that half of its body was frozen. It's right arm and leg shattered into pieces when it exited the portal. Everyone stared at the beast intently as it began to regenerate its missing limbs with All Might telling everyone to get back before asking a question regarding the Nomu's quirks.
"I didn't say that was all he had." Shigaraki bragged like a spoiled child with a brand new toy, "This is his super-regeneration. Nomu has been modified to take you at 100%. He is a super-efficient human sandbag." The Nomu had finished regeneration awhile ago and stood in front of Shigaraki and Rei in a protective manner. All the students got into fighting poses. Rei got into one as well, but Shigaraki didn't bother too as he said, "But first, we need our exit back." The students took a step back and in a blink of an eye, the Nomu suddenly had Kurogiri in his hands, the explosive student with the others on his butt, a collision happened at a nearby wall, and All Might was nowhere to be seen. The sheer force that the Nomu used was extremely dominant that it sent shockwaves powerful enough to send the students back a few feet as well as Shigaraki and Rei.
"K-Kacchan!" The green haired, who Rei assumed was oddly named 'Deku', shouted before he became aware that his classmate was okay and next to him. "You dodged? That's amazing!" Deku praised rather foolishly.
"Shut up ya damn nerd!" Kacchan barked, but kept the same stunned look on his face. The students were about to question how Kacchan moved out of the way when it hit them that All Might had saved him and took the blow. They all turned towards the wall and sure enough, All Might was there in front of the collapsed structure. All Might had his hands up in a defensive position while coughing heavily into his arms to exhale as much dust as possible.
"He protected the child, huh?" Shigaraki stated the obvious.
"You don't say? That's what he does!" Rei sarcastically said in her mind while rolling her eyes behind the mask.
"You won't hold back, won't you?" All Might asked with an irritated tone.
"It was to rescue my companion, I had no choice." Shigaraki was futilely trying to make his actions justifiable.
Rei walked next to Kurogiri and looked up to the purple mist, "Are you okay, Kurogiri?"
"I will be." Kurogiri replied with hidden frustration, "I underestimated those brats. I will make sure to not let that happen again."
Rei nodded with a smile and listened to Shigaraki blabbering yet again, this time pointing to Deku, "I mean, earlier, that plain looking one was about to punch me with everything he had, you know." Shigaraki continued a fruitless attempt to his efforts seem proper. "Violence for the sake of others makes it admirable. Isn't that right, hero?" Shigaraki held out his arms lazily, "You know what, All Might? I'm angry. I'm angry at how this world classifies the same violent acts as either heroic or villainous, deciding what's right and what's wrong. 'Symbol of Peace?' That's hilarious. You use violence to repress violence, and the only thing that comes out of it is more violence. As they say, violence breeds violence. The world will know this once we kill you!" Rei gave some credit to Shigaraki as his words did make little sense, but it was extremely flawed in many aspects, not to mention how it is easy to see through his bull for Shigaraki did not sound at all aspired to his preach about his 'goal.'
"That's absurd." All Might simply state, "The eyes of white-collar criminals like you burn silently. You just want to enjoy yourself, don't you, you liar?" Shigaraki's silence gave the truth away.
"It's four against five." Shouto abruptly spoke. Rei gasped at her son's voice. It was…..empty. Empty and cold like Shouto had no heart whatsoever.
"Shouto..." Rei so desperately wanted to tear off the mask and run to her baby boy and be a mother once more, but Rei knew better than that. Right now wasn't the best time. "What did Enji do to you while I was gone?" Rei's breath hastened and her mask chilled on the inside due to her breathing frost. Rei was so focused on her child's voice she nearly forgot about the conflict in front of her. It was only through Shigaraki's voice that Rei snapped back to reality.
"Nomu, Kurogiri. Get him. Rei and I will handle the students." Shigaraki said only audible enough for his group to hear.
"Understood." Rei was reluctant to fight against rather gifted children, let alone her son, but she will do it anyways. "But the one with the ice Quirk is mine."
"Whatever. Let's clear this and go home." Shigaraki rushed the students head-on while leaving Rei behind for a quick moment. Rei looked ahead at her soon to be opponents. Her main focus was on Shouto. None of the other children mattered to her. If Shigaraki dared touch her little boy, they could forget about their deal.
Neither side even had a chance to fight as a forceful windstorm picked up. Everyone's head turned towards All Might to see that the hero was unloading massive amounts of energy from his body like he was charging his Quirk. The hero blasted from the ground below him and made a crater from where he was once standing. The Nomu and All Might charged with fists reeled back before each went for a massive strike. Both forces collided and created an immense shockwave powerful enough to send everyone and everything around them flying.
"Damn." Shigaraki was unusually calm in this predicament while Rei was panicking from being airborne. "Hey, you remember he has shock absorption, don't you?" Shigaraki questioned All Might and landed near the landslide area on his feet along with Rei, who didn't have the same luxury and instead landed on her back.
"Oh son of a-!" Rei nearly cursed at the pain shooting up her back but was able to recover fairly quickly. Rei rolled onto her stomach and looked at the fight between the two behemoths. All Might and Nomu looked evenly matched in pure raw power and strength. Rei never had the pleasure of seeing All Might in live action, like most, she saw him battle on TV. So to see the Symbol of Peace fighting in front of made her start questioning her choice of agreeing to kill this legend.
Kuorgiri had regrouped with the two with his eyes squinting from the wind force, "I can't get near those two!"
"If your Quirk isn't shock nullification but shock absorption, then there is a limit to it!" All Might with each individual strikes getting faster and faster. "If you can fight me at 100%, then I'll just use more than 100% to defeat you!" The villains all too note at how the Nomu was being pushed back by All Might and the occasional stagger the beast did. In a few seconds, the Nomu was now fully reeling back as his attacks were more defensive rather than offensive. All Might smashed Nomu through the nearby forest area and ran after it with his attacks continuing. Rei and Kurogiri could sense Shigaraki's rage building up as All Might continues to preach. "A hero will always find a way out of a tough spot, never backing down from the challenge in front of them!" For a moment, All Might and Nomu were in the air as Nomu was trying to get ahold of himself, but All Might wouldn't allow it as he grabbed the monster's arm and violently swung him to the ground and caused a massive crater to be created. The Nomu's body bounced from the impact as All Might landed next to him with authority. "Hey villains, have you ever heard these words before?" Rei couldn't tell if he was being rhetorical or not, but that didn't matter for Rei already knew that the Nomu was beaten. "Go Beyond! PLUS ULTRA!" All Might pulled his fist back before slamming it straight into the Nomu's chest. The collision between Nomu's chest and All Might's caused a literal explosion to made be made as Nomu went flying straight into the air and through the building, and most likely to never be seen again.
For what seemed like an eternity, everyone was left in a state of awe or fear. Rei was now having seconds thoughts about joining the League. She knew All Might was the number one hero for a reason and to see the reason why had her quivering in fear.
"Now, villains," All Might asked as Rei jumped from his calm yet terrifying voice, "I'm sure we'd all like to end this as soon as possible." All Might turn to the trio with the left side of his shirt was ripped to absolute shreds. It was a wonder to Rei how all of it wasn't torn off from that ungodly fight.
"Weaker!?" Shigaraki shrieked with mixed emotion that matched his shaking body, "No way! We were completely outclassed!" Shigaraki looked up to the hole in the ceiling where the Nomu was blown through, "I can't believe he did that to my Nomu! Did he use a cheat?!"
Rei so desperately wanted to slap Shigaraki silly after hearing him say All Might used a 'cheat.' Did he really think all of this is some type of game?!
"This can not be happening. He isn't any weaker whatsoever. Did he really lie to me?!" Shigaraki mumbled to himself while scratching at his already ripped neck.
"What's wrong?" All Might grabbed their attention again, "You're not going to 'clear' this as you proclaimed?" All Might sent a death glare at the trio, "Come and get me then." All Might's voice was chilling enough to send Shigaraki back in fright and have Rei feel an uninvited shiver sent up her spine. The villains and All Might continued to have a stare down as neither side budged an inch towards the other. "Well?" All Might shouted to them and taunted the villains by moving his body forward without taking a step, "Are you going to finish what you started?"
Rei's fear swiftly changed into confusion. All Might just taunted them, why? That is something All Might hasn't done since he first started before the Silver Age. Rei studied All Might for a moment before she realized something. "He's shaking." Rei thought aloud, loud enough to capture Kurogiri's and Shigaraki's attention.
"Shaking?" Shigaraki asked with his head tilted slightly and hands about to go on another scratching rampage to his poor neck.
"You noticed it too?" Kurogiri seemed to have picked up on it already.
Rei nodded her head, "Yes, he is shaking if you look close enough. What is also odd is that he taunted us. I've watched All Might since his debut, and he has never done taunts since the Bronze Age." Rei was lucky that her voice was naturally quiet for if it were any louder, Shouto would hear her.
"She is right, Shigaraki," Kurogiri turned his eyes to All Might, "The Nomu may have lost, but he still damaged All Might to a weakened state, the children appear to be frozen in fear, and our underlings are recovering. I assume we have a few minutes before reinforcements come."
"Wait, reinforcements?" This was news to Rei.
"Yeah, Kurogiri let someone escape," Shiagraki was quick to throw Kuorgiri under the bus, "That's how All Might was able to arrive in time."
"I see." Rei wanted to ask how Kurogiri let someone escape, but didn't want to anger the purple mist either.
"Anyways," Kurogiri's voice was clearly agitated, "If the three of us work together, we still have a chance at killing him."
"Yeah…" Shigaraki aimed his eyes to All Might, "You're right, Kurogiri. We still have a chance."
Rei gawked at them both, "Seriously?! He just home-runned Nomu to the sun, and you think we can take him?!"
"Yes." Shigaraki answer bluntly, "I mean, we have the last boss in front of us all weakened up for us. Like a pack of under-leveled users ganging up on the final boss after the strongest user softens him up, but still fails to defeat him." Rei couldn't defeat that logic of thinking but was still scared shitless about All Might's power.
"Okay then." Rei readied herself for what could be the end of her life or All Might's.
When Shigaraki ran to lead the final assault, Kurogiri and Rei followed suit. "This is revenge for Nomu!" Shigaraki shouted with his hands in front of him. All Might stood still like a statue as the trio approached him. Rei couldn't believe her eyes, All Might wasn't going to fight back at all. He really was weakened!
Like last time, before they could attempt at killing All Might, Deku once again interfered. The kid was already in the air ready to attack the trio to defend All Might. Rei found this attempt to be suspicious. The first time Deku intervened, she assumed it was because he couldn't bear to see All Might in trouble, but this time had her thinking. Did Deku really understand what was going on too?
"He's pretty fast." Shigaraki took notice of his speed as well as the others, "But we won't fall for this a second time!" Shigaraki shoved his hand into Kurogiri's body and from where Deku was going to hit Kurogiri out came Shigaraki's hand ready to grasp and disintegrate Deku's face.
Then came gunfire.
Shigaraki pulled his hand back from Kurogiri's body and two more shots were heard, but the headed into different directions.
"Shit!" Shigaraki cursed and looked at his hand. It had a single hole that was see-through as the bullet shot through his hand. The three watched as the heroes reinforcements arrived and wasted no time in dispatching the disposable minions. "Aw man, they're here," Shigaraki said as the three of them backed away from All Might knowing they are truly defeated, "It's games over now." Shigaraki sighed with disappointment, "Let's go home, guys. We'll try again lat-" Shigaraki's body was hit by several gunshots in precise locations as he fell over whithering in pain. Kurogiri quickly shielded Shigaraki by creating a big circle of gas around him and Rei.
"Shigaraki!" Rei cried and ran over to him, "He's bleeding everywhere! Kurogiri, get us out of here!" Rei yelled out to their exit.
"Already on-Ngh!" Kurogiri's body began to deform as if something was pulling him apart. "This is Thirteen!" Kurogiri said as he struggled to wrap his body around Shigaraki and Rei to teleport them away. "I can't wrap myself around both of you! I'm being pulled apart!"
All three of their bodies were being dragged towards Thirteen's Blackhole Quirk. If Kurogiri couldn't warp them away in time, they'll surely be captured. Seeing no other option, and considering the panic she was in, Rei knew what to do. "Kurogiri," She shouted to him, "Make an opening for me!" Rei knew that whoever was shooting at them would notice this and quickly fire at her, so Rei had to act quicker than a bullet if they wanted to leave.
"Opening!" Kurogiri quickly opened up a pathway for Rei. Rei saw the faces of All Might, Deku, and Shouto from the opening that was made.
Rei took one final glance at Shouto as time slowed down for her. "One day we'll see each other again, and not with me having a mask on." Rei planted her foot on the ground and just as she heard gunshots, Rei created an ice wall in front of them to block the bullets and Thirteen's Quirk.
"What the-?!" Rei heard some of them shout from the other side.
"Excellent work, Rei," Kurogiri praised and quickly reformed his body. Kurogiri warped the three of them back to the base and left everyone else behind.
When the portal opened back up, Shigaraki was gently placed on the ground while Rei landed next to him and Kurogiri appeared behind them in his normal state with his butler attire.
"Master!" Rei cried out to the TV while pulling her mask off and letting her hair fall, "Shigaraki is badly injured, he's been shot in both arms and legs! Do you have a medic you can send?!"
"Yes, that is Kurogiri, Rei. Calm yourself." Master immediately responded. "Besides, Tomura is a lot tougher then he looks. By now, a regular man would be screaming in pain. Tomura isn't."
Rei was about to respond but did take notice as Shigaraki's unusual high pain tolerance. "I see that Master, but that still doesn't stop the bleeding."
"There should be medical supplies upstairs next to the bathroom." Master calmly informed her, "And before you ask, yes, they are well equipped to deal with gunshot wounds." Rei made haste upstairs instantly. As much as Rei did not like Shigaraki, she didn't want him dead either. Rei spent a couple of minutes upstairs looking around for the medic case before she stumbled upon a heavy case filled with the traditional 'red cross' logo on it.
Rei made way back downstairs to hear the end of the conversation between Shigaraki, Kurogiri, and Master. "Next time, show the world that you are to be feared." The TV then went from 'Mic on' to 'Mute.' Kurogiri looked towards Rei and took the bag from her and knelt next to Shigaraki. "We can't operate on the floor. I'll teleport him to the training room, it has the only table big enough to lay him on. I'll need your help to make the healing process quicker."
Rei nodded her head firmly, "Okay." Rei looked to Shigaraki and was able, for the first time, see his cold, dead, red eyes. The two shared a brief eye-to-eye connection till Rei broke it with a sentence, "This is only the beginning, Shigaraki. Learn from this and don't underestimate anyone else."
"Just shut up and heal me," Shigaraki replied and looked away, but Rei knew he took in her advice.
After being questioned by the police, checked up by Recovery Girl, and getting his school supplies from his classroom, Shouto Todoroki was now walking home. Today was interesting, to say the least. Although villains did attack unexpectedly, Todoroki was able to make out that they were not a big threat. Sure they had the numbers game by a wide margin, but Aizawa was able to nearly single-handedly take them all down. Not to mention the villains Todoroki fought for a few seconds by freezing all of them in place, hell, one of them was even crying like a baby. The only problem was when that Nomu thing got moving and decimated Aizawa, but the day was saved when a rather pissed off All Might came to rescue everyone from danger.
But none of that matter. None of those thoughts were filling his mind. The one thing on Shouto's mind was the 'Ice User'. Todoroki has only seen that type of ice Quirk once before and that was from himself. The only other person who is capable of creating ice that powerful and out of thin air without the need for water like Shouto would be…..
"No." Shouto firmly stated. "It's not her. It can't be her. She wouldn't side with villains. Not even after she escaped her mental hospital."
When Shouto first received the news about his mother's break out of the mental hospital from his sister, at first he was in denial. Shouto could hardly remember anything about his mother other than that one painful memory, but Shouto knew his mother was anything but aggressive. Yes, she did do 'that' to him, but she wasn't like his father. Shouto's mother wasn't a fighter either so that only further pushed him to not believe his sister's words. Then the reports on the news came in about a break-out at the mental hospital where his mother was staying in, and when they confirmed that one person was missing and it was indeed 'Rei Todoroki.' That was when Shouto's world went darker than ever before. His mother was gone and on the run from the authorities. What could possibly have made his mother suddenly break-out, and why hasn't she called or come to them?
Shouto felt a sting of pain in his chest. He was feeling guilty about not seeing his mother since that day. The thought of visiting his mother has constantly invaded his mind for a few years now, and they only increased when his sister and brother asked if he wanted to come with them to see his mother a while back. Maybe she hasn't returned because she believed he doesn't love her anymore and didn't want to see her again.
"Mom," Shouto grimaced slightly as more pained thoughts filled his mind, "I will find you, and when I do, I hope we can make up on lost time."
So. I have another Villain AU in the works, and I'll let you in on a secret. It's not Deku. No, he's overdone. I have a different idea in mind that involves a few from Class 1-A. Hope to surprise you all when it comes out.