Chapter 23: Check Up

                                    

                                          
Saber pretended not to know you. And you him. 
He did a marvelous job in fixing you up. You bore no scar from Shria's forest man. No itch. You were in such relief and high spirits you had hugged Saber for taking care of you. He patted your back, and something about his demeanor softened even more if that were possible. He had a nurturing nature, it made him seem like a fluffy den mother. 
You won the tournament. The sleepover was at stake, so you had to pull out all stops and make Katsuki have an absolute rager that he was disqualified. So you were here till sun down. 
You asked about Shria's forest man. What Intel did he have, and why did he choose him? Shigiraki didn't know him, and chose him because he needed numbers. 
"You broke people out of prison. I dont believe your vetting would be that reckless."
"You know too much of a Villains perspective for a hero."
"That's why they keep me." 
But other than that, your interactions with the league were limited. Only Kurogiri, Mr Compress, Twice and Shigiraki were here. 
And Dabi. But he was hiding in rafters. Shigiraki thought he left, because he told him to leave. You knew this would never be a good enough reason for him to leave you. You told him not to leave you. 
You bent the air around the soda Kurogiri gave. Launched it into the air when Shigiraki wasn't looking. Because he was the only one who did not notice Dabi. You blame the hand on his face. It's a big disgrace. 
"You dont need anymore recruits." You told him. "You have all the hands you need."
"This hand. This hand on my face. Do you know who it's from?" 
There was a danger you should have taken seriously in his tone. 
"Not Frakenstiens house of repairs, I hope. Those weren't ethically sourced, I believe."
Kurogiri had to explain the joke. Shigiraki shrieked but not from humor. He told you both the truth of that hand. The palm he lay his face in. 
You were with villains. He reminded you not to forget that. 
"When things dont go our way. We make them go our way. No matter the cost."
Katsuki had a hard time letting go that the situation was a lot more calmer than it could ever be. Especially when your kidnapper admitted to murdering his family when his quirk activated. He was out of his shackles and set his own distraction. He decided to unlock everything that has not been unlocked in Shigiraki's foreign games selection. They were all asset flipped with the same story with staggered plot points to avoid copyright. Most of them still had the shiny plastic. 
They broadcasted the heroes raid each fakeout, to find nothing. They mentioned something about Nomu's which you thought was a funny name. A delayed attack. 
You decided to leave. The conversation, not the sleepover. 
You stacked your dishes, to the decent height of a giraffe, and followed Kurogiri to what you assumed to be the kitchen. 
You were right. But also left. Because he was not here. You could have sworn he was right in front of you. 
You decided to do the dishes. Anything to delay hearing more of the plots. Anything to distract that you were with people your career was against. You enjoyed their company. You didn't want to ruin it yet. Not before the universe and society's ethics do. 
When those were done, and still no Kurogiri, you cleaned up the kitchen. To at least a usable state. This is why they got takes of out, not just take out. 
"What are you doing?" 
"I can move freely again."
"So you decide to do the dishes?"
"I'm helping make this place habitable." 
"Don't bother." Shigiraki said. "What's wrong with you? Go play games." 
"We're here till you heal, not forever. Please go rest." 
You listened to Kurogiri's command, because it was a gentle one. Shigiraki's was an order, that's why you ignored it at first. 
Twice offered to play against you. Then decided not to. Then decided that he should. Big Sis came in with more details with their plans. Twice decided you should play Compress instead. Big Sis sat with Katsuki. She stayed quiet. You noticed her company helped Katsuki, like Dabi and Twice with you. And Kurogiri. 
Twice decided he wanted to play against you and pushed Compress out of the way. 
It was nearing the time to leave. Spinner had brought a car around. They had to admit they were in an abandoned city in China. It was the closest furthest point of the world Shigiraki had been willing to go. Kurogiri would warp the entire car, villain and hostages to two points at the same time, which you thought was amazing. He could have been lying and you believed him. It wouldn't have been the first time. 
They were to drop you both off at a well known hero headquarters, with a Villain willing to be taken in as a 'peace' of exchange. The man gets paid to do this, they said. He can't survive out of Jails, he makes deals to take others. But the current legislature made sure this was increasingly difficult for people like him to return to isolation. 
The three of you would be safe, with the heroes and in the public eye once more. Return to you hero course if that's allowed. 
Shigiraki's plans were based on hope, you found. To blame what was to come was society's ethics. You were right. But you were also left.