≡Shota POV≡
◃At Home▸

"You're all still here? I told you that I'll tell you everything as soon as I find out whether you're here or at your own homes and with your own families," I sighed as I stood in the doorway of Hitoshi's room, covering up my smile as I watched them flinch.

"Shota! Don't scare us like that! How are you able to be so quiet?" Kaminari cried as he stood off the floor and back onto the bed he was on.

It's been almost 4 days since Izuku was taken. The Hero Commision are being asses and refusing to do a raid on the bar I know they're in, in favor of waiting for more information.

The four boys have been glued together the whole time. They have taken it upon themselves to claim my house as their cave.

I can't blame them since I'm the one who will have the information when we get it.

"I'm an underground hero, of course I know how to be quiet," I roll my eyes and glance at the empty office chair that no one has dared to touch.

"Any news?" Todoroki asks with his usual nonchalant voice. Although, as someone who uses the same tone, I can tell you that there is both hope, dread, and worry mixed in.

"Nothing."

"Those asses," Bakugo voices my own thought as he glances at me and then back to staring out the opened window he was sitting in.

He's been doing that constantly. He is always looking out the windows and I'm not sure why. I do know that he is taking this the hardest. He's good at hiding it, but he has added eyebags under his bloodshot, slightly puffy, eyes.

"Why don't we just go on our own? We know the location! So why don't we just go?!" I'd have to say that Kaminari is taking this almost as hard as Bakugo. His emotions have been all over the place. One minute he seems normal, the next he's clinging to Hitoshi, the next he's screaming, and then crying, and then staring off, and then overly happy.

"At this rate, I think we need to. It's been over half a week. Who knows if he's even eaten..." I feel my heart sink as I watch my son's eyes brim with tears.

I take it back. All of these boys are taking this absolutely horribly.

"I had spoken to my father earlier when you were out. He said he didn't even know Izuku was missing," I look at Shoto with widened eyes.

I knew they were keeping it secret from the press, but shouldn't they have started forming a party? The number two hero is basically guaranteed to be in that party. So why doesn't he even know about the situation?

"We should just go. We were originally planning on going ourselves. Tokoyami and Shoji had both said they would come with or without pros. So what's holding us back? We can tell them you had no idea we were going so you won't get in trouble," still not looking away from the window, Bakugo doesn't even use his nicknames.

"I can't let you go. For all you know the whole League could be there. Izuku isn't even guaranteed to be there. It's too dangerou-"

"So you're saying you're agreeing with the Commision?" Shoto glares at me with a scowl smeared across his face.

"We don't need your permission to go," Bakugo mumbles, almost like he didn't want me to hear.

"If you think it's so dangerous for us to go, why don't you think about the fact that Izuku has been there this whole time while we just sit around waiting for a fucking go ahead?!" Kaminari's voice gradually grows volume and he begins to walk towards me, only to be pulled back by Hitoshi.

"You all know I want him back too. I'm doing all I can."

"It's not enough," Katsuki finally looks away from the window fully as he stares at me with a face void of emotions.

"3 days."

Everyone turns their heads to look at the smooth voice who continued to stare straight ahead at the empty chair.

"In 3 days, it'll be a full week since he has been gone. If it gets to that point, we will go ourselves."

The other 3 nod their heads at Hitoshi's statement as they all go back to staring at their designated points.

I guess that's the best I'm going to get. I need to hurry.

I've made you wait long enough, if it takes another 3 days, I'll go with them to get you, problem child.

≡Izuku POV≡
◃LoV Base▸

It's been 8 hours 23 minutes 58 seconds and counting since I've gotten a slight hold on myself.

I had been counting ever since to try and get my mind off the throbbing pain coursing through my body.

It seems all I've been doing is counting.

True to his word, I did survive until morning.

Although, I wish I didn't.

I had to go through the whole process with a frozen body and barely functioning senses.

At least when I was dropped to the ground, I was left with throbbing pain instead of frozen pain.

He explained to me that he had taken the quirk back and that this would continue until I finally submitted and joined them.

Needless to say, even in my weak, half dead form, I spat on his faceless head and was pushed into another portal.

The same thing happened that night. He gave me another quirk.

That time, however, it was a mutant quirk. I will never forget the feeling of having my whole skeletal structure forcefully moved inside of me to create a new shape and added bones. My muscles and organs were pushed and pulled along with them. My skin had been torn from the inside and sensitive new skin grew out. It was worse than the ice.

That was yesterday though. Right now, I'm laying on my mattress, back to quirkless, with almost fully functioning senses.

Dabi has been here as much as he can. Compress has come, but only when I'm quirkless and for short periods of time.

"-and that was what I had to do to sneak into the hospital to see Shoto for the first time. It was worth it though, I was able to hold him and see my mother," Dabi finished his story with a small smile as he sat beside me, with his leg gently pressed against my side to prove he was still there.

"You really had to spill all of those pills? Couldn't you have climbed through a window or something?" I cracked a smile. I can only hope it didn't show how strained it was.

"Are you kidding? You know how many times I tried? It was the 4th floor and I was only like 7 at the time."

"So? I had to climb up 3 floors every time I left my apartment when I was like 5."

"Not everyone is as smart as you. You probably had some kind of footing. This was all solid concrete," he huffed, only making me giggle.

"My apartment is solid concrete too. All the pipes were on the side of the building while I climbed the back."

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah, so you didn't have to set up this big plan with like 5 different distractions and climbing through vents. Although, it does make for a good story."

He blew out an amused breath as he looked at the barely visible ceiling.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but why won't you just join?" I painfully turn my head over to his with a confused look. "Uh- I'm not just saying that as some sort of ploy or anything. If I had it my way, you wouldn't even be here. I just mean, neither of us know the extent they will go to. Chances are, you're going to get another quirk tonight, and be taken away tomorrow. Is that going to just keep going until you die?"

"I don't know," I give a response almost as weak as my body. I hadn't really thought too much about what would happen next.

Escaping is not in my near future, that's for sure.

I'd imagine that I would've been rescued sooner. According to Dabi and Compress, it's my 4th day here. Did they forget about me?

No.

I can't start thinking like that. I'm sure there's a reason...

"I don't want you to die. You're a good kid. You're strong, smart, and have a good heart. That's what a hero should be. You don't belong here, being tortured to work for a group of villains. You should be having fun with your friends, training to be a hero that you will surely become."

"So under all those burns, you're really a big softy?" I smile sadly, trying to steer the conversation somewhere less... morbid.

"Ha ha, very funny."

"What about you? You aren't a bad person. I know you ran away because of Endeavwhore, but what's keeping you from going back?"

"How can I face my mother and siblings now? Look at me. I'm a murderer, not a good person. As much as I'd love to be back with them, I just can't face them."

"Tell you what, we can both get out of here together," he instantly turns to me with wide eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not really sure yet. All I know is that I am not going to be here the rest of my life. When I finally leave, I'll take you with me. And don't think I won't use force if you make me."

"..."

"Stop overthinking it. You said it yourself, you want to go back. I can't speak for Rei, Natsuo and Fuyumi, since I haven't met them, but from what I've heard, I know they'll be more than happy to see you again."

He looks at me for a few more seconds before he has to wipe the blood that drips from under his scar under his eye, his own way of crying.

"You got yourself a deal there, kid."