gays
Neito Monoma, Phantom Thief. Out of all the bastards to run into it had to be a hero from UA. one of the ones who fought in the war from what Himiko could tell. There was a grit about this sarcastic monster that his sidekicks just didn't have. Despite his cheerful appearance he was in a constant state of unending rage. He whisked away the police force with a wave of his hand, called a private limo to bring him to the ‘QCEP’ headquarters.
The police were pissed, the sidekicks looked like they were tired of being disregarded, but it was their resentment that let Himiko know they had never really worked as hard as the Phantom thief did. They weren't hurt enough to appreciate his strength. It seemed Monoma knew this, when someone looked like they were going to talk back he would get in their space and shove his face in front of theirs, smiling. Begging for an excuse to talk down to them.
He is psychotic, maybe that's why Himiko got in the limo beside him. Why when he raised the block between the driver and them she didn't feel concerned. “Himiko. Can I call you that, I'm going to. Now, you've been gone for quite a while. Wanna tell me where you've been hiding?”
“Here I thought you were just offering assistance to a kind civilian” so he knew. Himiko knew she was in danger. A person she directly fought against now had her alone in a car driving to who knows where and all she has on her is a knife that upon closer inspection, really wasn't all that good. “You’ve got ulterior motives
“I'm hurt you think I wouldn't notice how quickly you dispatched that petty thief. Really not even a hero would do that! A slice to the achilles? Just an unnecessary spilling of blood- was that just for fun? Im curious”
“I didn't think the guy I tossed on him would be enough”
“Liar”
“Maybe party”
“How fun! When did you turn to heroics? 2 years after you died, 3?” He leaned forward and pulled a champagne bottle from a cooler embedded into the car. “Care for a glass?”
“We’re going to beg for my life and you're suggesting champagne?”
“Do you want some, was my question” he deadpanned, before quickly adding “and were not begging”
“Of course I want some” the man roared with laughter, so much so Himiko saw the drive shift uncomfortably through the tinted glass. Monoma held two glasses in one hand and poured a generous amount in both.
The two didn't bother with cheers, or any other social parameters, the Pro took long sips enjoying the burn that went down his throat, while Himiko finished the whole thing immediately.
It didn't take long, after Himiko ignored every single one of Monoma’s questions, before the limo came to a halt in front of a huge building with more traditional means of construction. It did away with the brutalist efficiency and focused on beauty.
“Nice isn't it? I've always thought my friend had an eye for design” If Himiko didn't know better, instead of some company headquarters she’d guess she would be going to some tourist attraction or temple. The roof is half the size of the whole building, slightly curved extending far beyond the walls. The walls were supported by veranda posts and the walk there was outlined by stepping stones embedded into the ground. “She truly spared no expense to make her clients feel relaxed by the time they got inside.”
The window and door had eaves that completed the traditional look. The headquarters itself seemed far removed, the city was around it sure but the building wasn't crowded by concrete towers. It was in the center of a large park with huge bonuses and juniper trees placed about. “I see why you’d have her pay for the lawyer”
“Believe it or not, but she's quite frugal”
“Sure, for a trillionaire” Himiko slipped off her shoes, Monoma wasn't joking. The inside was crafted with a welcoming homey atmosphere. The first room she walks into is akin to a living room instead of a waiting room, with shogi and gomoku boards being played on the table. The room was lit with warm oranges instead of LED lights, the windows allowed for refreshing amounts of natural light, and the room smelt just as clean as the air just below one of the juniper trees. “This has got to be some kind of manipulation tactic, what she wants to calm her investors before she drops shitty news? What's the company doing anyways?”
“It's a counseling project, mostly a non profit”
“You're kidding” this manufactured anti-anxiety drug was manufactured to pull money from people's pockets? What kind of counselor doesn't rip their clients of every last penny they had?
“Nope, just happens to get generous donations from its clients and as well as the Todoroki and Yaoyorozu enterprises” great, more UA students.
“I think im good with a state defender” this whole thing wreaked of a trap. No place was this cozy, no non profit made this much money, no one who didn't mean business would get two UA students to fund their passion project. This was a trap.
She still had the knife, and upon Monoma’s instructions none of his sidekicks followed him in. he insisted it would ‘sully the mood’
“Tora!” Monoma sang, kicking open the next door to the next room, which held the same homey appearance only with the addition of a receptionist desk.
“Phantom thief! Do you have an appointment or is this another unexplained intrusion?” the receptionist smiled, typing away on the computer.
“Please i don't need to make an appointment, the big boss will let me right in!”
“Unfortunately Miss-”
“Ah ah ah! We have guests” the receptionist raised a brow.
“I'm sorry but we are currently up to our necks in cases and our resources are spread rather thin. I don't think she will be able to meet with you today Mr Monoma”
“Please call me Neito, and just give me a minute! I'm sure she’ll clear her schedule when she hears what I have to say!” Neito smiled before turning, waving his hand and opening the locked door that led behind the desk.
“Right, but we can't have that- Mr Neito-”
“I can't hear you! Already too far away! What was that Tora! Oh we're breaking up!” The ‘professional’ hero danced into the staff quarters slipping past and through corridors like he’d forced his way in before.
Himiko expected the traditionalism to end past the front desk. The manufactured and forced pleasantries continued, leading Himiko to assume either this ‘boss’ either enjoyed the architecture, or truly didn't want anyone to be prepared for an ambush.
It was all saccharine sweet, far too manufactured to be natural or for any good intentions. This was a trap. A counseling project? More like a money laundering front the boss must have some dirt on the Todoroki’s and Yaoyorozu’s. “Wait out here” Monoma instructed, giving Himiko no time to respond before opening an important looking door and leaving the former serial killer all alone.
What an idiot.
Did he think she’d stay still?
Really? Even after knowing who she was?
Of course Himiko began to wander immediately, the building was beginning to disgust her anyways- no one would enjoy this without some kind of second objective. It was fake, it had to be. So Himiko made her way down hallways until she found a door with windows that showed a small pond beyond it.
Bingo, freedom.
No guards will, it would mess up the mood. What morons. Please any counseling Himiko had ever received was in bright white hospitals chained to an uncomfortable mattress with doctors poking and prodding before deciding she just wasn't worth it. No amount of natural light or clean air would change the twisted care places like this offered. Getting you to drop your guard and the minute you trust them with any actual problems off you go to a fucking cage.
The koi pond was nice. The fish were cute, they shuffled away when Himiko stuck a tree branch in the water, jostled around the algae, and poked the pond floor. A few of them were curious enough to swim up to the stick.
What idiots, had no one told them humans were dangerous? Himiko guessed that you didn't know what you didn't know, and in a place like this it would be easy for the ignorant to assume that it was what it claimed to be: safety.
A counseling project.
Ignorance really is bliss.
Himiko dragged the stick closer to the edge of the pond, and the fish followed. She could grab it, rip it out of the water and watch as it suffocates. Her fingers itch to move, to take the stick out slowly and skewer the koi. Not because she'd enjoy it, but because she could.
Was this the result of 7 years of inaction, or was she always like this? Was this human nature or was Himiko different somehow?
It didn't matter, the bigger picture. It was never important. If Himiko wanted to live her life to the fullest, that was never something she could focus on.
Himiko lifted the stick, preparing to bring it down on the unsuspecting fish. It wouldn't be quick, Himiko wanted to see the animal writhe in pain. She wanted to feel it struggle in her hands. She wanted to drink the blood as it fell, suck on the fish and watch its life drain from its strange circular eyes. After she stabbed it, she’d bring it and watch it down in the air. She would watch it look and her and ask why? Why that fish? And Himiko wouldn't have an answer. She would look at the fish and wonder to herself, why did she act like this? Why didn't anyone help her? Why didn't anything she tried work? Why did she want to see the fish in pain? Why did she want to see people in pain? You think she wanted this?
You know how hard it is to make friends when you derive pleasure from their despair. How she needed to learn to hide her smile when a child cried, and hide her fascination when a friend got a scrape or a bone.
Or how she had to run. Run like she’d never run before. Away from the people who swore they loved her. She wasn't taking it out on the fish, she was just doing what the fish would expect her to do. If she stabbed the fish it would be no different than if she didn't.
The fish believe Himiko will hurt it, whether Himiko intended to or not. If Himiko does stab the fish, the fish will still think Himiko will hurt it again, if Himiko does not stab the fish, the fish will still think Himiko will hurt it.
It won't change. It's the same, all of it- “WHAT” a loud shout could be heard from the inside of the building, followed by several stomps, all before the door Himiko so carefully escaped through slammed open.
The stick falls out of Himiko's hand when she sees the woman who burst through the door: so much had changed. The photo on the billboard did not do Ochako justice, not one bit- she was tired.
Himiko had been gone for 7 years and she looked more put together than Ochako.
The brunette looked like she’d seen a ghost, which gave Himiko the time to look her former enemy up and down. It was clear her hair had been dunned up before, maybe a cute ponytail with strands in the front, maybe down with some waves, but now it was scrunched up in a bun held only by a pen that looked seconds from leaking. The bags under her eyes rivaled Himiko’s, and as tears began streaming down the girl's face her already red eyes grew redder. She wore a business suit, one that clearly hadn't been pressed, folded or cleaned in some time. There were no stains, Ochako wasn't messy, but it was wrinkled in places that really shouldn't be wrinkles.
Not despite, but because of these signs of struggle, just as she was 7 years ago, Ochako Uraraka was still the most beautiful girl Himiko had ever seen. Throughout it all, she continued to work hard, now look at her. The girl who had nothing now being the top of some kind of multi million dollar counseling thing.
Monoma rushed up behind Ochako, glancing around before gathering the gist of the situation “Now now, boss” he said the last word with a knowing tone, batting his eyes at Himiko before turning to Ochako “you can't just run out like that-”
“Neito go to the waiting room” Ochako didn't move, tears still streaming down her face but her voice was firm, commanding, and left no room for interpretation.
Still, Monoma pressed on, placing a hand on the brunette's shoulders. “Hey- I've got a right to be here! I brought her here safe and sound, you know!” he smiled, trying to shove himself past Ochako, who was still blocking the doorway. “She hurt someone! You should be thanking me that I even got her here, you know the strings I had to pull- god you're strong- to get her here? The police weren't happy i'll tell you that”
“They never are, go to the waiting room or i'll put you there myself” She had at this point began rubbing the tears from her eyes and was about to face Monoma, but the minute she moved he flinched and ran, closing the door on his way out and pushing Ochako into the peaceful little- what even was this? Waiting area? Calming down area? It seemed private, probably where Ochako hung out on what little off time she had. That couldn't be right, Ochako looks like she didn't know what those words meant.
The space was silent save for the wind ruffling the trees and the fish swimming in the pond. Himiko decided she had been squatting long enough. “I saw the pomegranate bush, cute park” She muttered while brushing dirt and grass off the bottom of her coat. “That's where the final battle was, hm? The bush is where I died? Surprised you went to such lengths for a villain”
Ochako's eyes began to water again, she struggled to compose herself, so Himiko continued. “You're quite successful, number three on the popularity board is no easy task.” Himiko took a step forward, Ochako took one back, already pressed against the door Monoma closed. “Nothing? You've got nothing to say?” Himiko watched Ochako swallow hard, the pro hero’s eyes couldn't seem to still, looking all over the miniature park, and all over Himiko. “Well, I don't regret anything, if you're wondering. I'm really glad. This place is wonderful, now that I know you're the one running it all makes sense.” Himiko smiled, chuckling to herself.
“I could have used something like this, you know? A place that actually wanted to help. What's the counseling project focused on anyways?” Himiko took another step forward, Ochako pushed against the door.
Finally, Ochako said “It's” she swallowed “Quirk counseling expansion project, for children and adults alike who struggle with their quirks-” Himiko started laughing, she really could have used something like this.
“And the villainous connotations that come with them?” Ochako nodded. “And it's a non-profit?” Ochako nodded again. “How’s any of this possible? Not even the three rich kids from UA combined could sustain something like this indefinitely”
“Well, we get donations from those who we’ve helped sometimes, when they can” Ochako’s hand was feeling the door she was pressed against. She’s looking for the doorknob. “Shoto and Tenya help pretty often, Momo’s giving pretty substantial donations often but… it's also funded by the state”
Himiko dashed forward, taking Ochako’s hand and guiding it to the doorknob, before closing her fist and making the brunette rip it off the door. “Oh state funding, how charitable” Her brows furrowed in pain, and she let out a light gasp- but all in all the Pro hero did not fight it. “How'd you manage that? Have things really changed that much?”
Not a single person gave a damn about Himiko after her quirk manifested. Whatever capable, intelligent young girl they saw before was turned into a hedonistic predator the minute she chased after what her quirk made her obsessed with. Had things changed so much, that stigmas like that were done away with? That the government would actually try to he;p the people they demonised? Himiko wasn't stupid, Ochako must have done some serious leg work to get that accomplished. The only question was why?
“Well- it was easier to get funding since I was in the war” she paused “they felt guilty”
“They should”
“and-” Ochako pointedly looked anywhere but Himiko’s eyes. “Well, it helped that you saved me, you know. Made a really good case for others like you” go figure, it took the ‘death’ of a villain for a hero for people to consider it didn't need to be that way. Ochako took another shaky
“Others like me?” Himiko pressed, fairly certain it wasn't a dig at her but wanted to see how Ochako would react. Like a fish gasping for air, perhaps.
Himiko expected Ochako to stutter again, to choke on her words, to finally realize that she was faced to face with a murderer that as far she knew had managed to disappear for 7 years. “People who deserved a chance” Ochako finally looked at Himiko, brows knit in a way many would describe as pitiful, but not to Himiko. Her hesitant smile was genuine, Ochako Uraraka knew better than to pity Himiko. She grabbed Himiko’s wrist and wrapped her ankle around Himiko’s leg- tripping her. “But never got one”
Himiko tumbled to the ground face first and was in an arm bar before she could even react. “It's really you. It's really really you” Himiko realized Ochako was still shaking, but not out of fear as she originally thought, out of shock. “You're alive” Himiko heard the soft patter of tears on the back of her coat, lifting her face out of the dirt to see Ochako’s eyes watering again. “I can't believe you're really alive” she was crying again, but with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
Himiko had never been looked at like that, and it was then she realized:
Himiko would never be able to know what the koi was thinking.