aspenforest732

[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 41: A Brief Reprise

Summary:

Echoes of past and present intertwine Sorry for the delay, was at a convention this weekend :)

Notes:

this was supposed to be fluff. A brief reprise as the title suggests from the angst and chaos. Sorry not sorry ‘text’ JSL Text thoughts

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Mortis wove twin bracelets of twine, mind drifting as they tried to keep the wall up. They had to at least do this much. Something deep guided them to the yellow, white, and blue star beads. After a moment’s hesitation, they replaced the blue star with a controller charm on one. The exact meaning slipped through their fingers, but the weight behind the bracelets clung to them.

They slipped out of their room wearing the bracelets, beckoning their clone to follow as they lingered in the hall. ‘ You deserve to be part of this, too. ’

“Good, you’re just in time,” Asami threw over her shoulder as they slipped in, a few crimson feathers darting ahead of them back to Takami. She gave them a skeptical look silently asking “really?”

Mortis nodded firmly. For them to be passable they must still have most of the memories of what they went through. And they were trying, apparently. Fumikage looked just as apprehensive, feathers ruffling as Dark Shadow peered over the back of the beige lounge couch they couldn’t quite get rid of for some reason. At least it made sabotaging in console tournaments easier. The thought caught them off guard.

Dabi insisted on upholding game night that week, and they’d try their hardest to honor that. The deaths of Isao and Atsuhiro still weighed heavily on their mind, but they could compartmentalize for now. That’s one of the few things they were good at, after all. Maybe this would help ease tensions between their remaining bio and found family?

“Starting with Mario Kart,” Dabi huffed as he tossed the clone a controller. “Remember how to play?”

Well there goes that idea . Rounding the seating area, the clone gave a thumbs up and mouthed to themself as they half-pressed the buttons on the controller. Eh, it was simple enough anyways. Mortis switched on their speaker so they at least wouldn’t have to put down the controller to talk. Why didn’t they do that more often on game nights? They shrugged. It had only been a couple days since several connections reestablished, and they were back to a snail’s pace.

Speaking of which… Mortis straightened as the countdown started. Dry Bones rattled on their screen, bones clanking against one another as it laughed. How did… right, don’t question the physiology of a franchise with living stars and a tail that turns you into a flying furry.

Their clone spun out, pressing their button a moment too early in the countdown as the others sped ahead, twisting through the carpeted halls of Luigi’s Mansion as ghosts tried to bring down a chandelier on their heads. 

“Oh come on!” Asami griped as a cluster of green shells hit her Daisy at just the right angle to get past the red she held. Takami smirked, only to gasp in mock offense as Dabi’s Waluigi threw fireballs behind him, lifting his cap as he hit a boost.

The first couple races carried on much in the same way, most of their group getting stuck in the thick of CPUs and each other while Shigaraki and Shuichi shot far ahead. Asami occasionally tilted her head, brow furrowing for a moment before her jaw set in increasing frustration. After the first few races, Mortis realized it was the audio cues and quickly showed her how to turn on subtitles and increase visual cues before the next race. Once they settled into their usual cockiness, Mortis slyly signed for Asami and Fumikage to choose Baby Park, the great leveler, for the next map.

Shuichi meeped and Shigaraki glared at the screen as the last three choices came in. He snapped to look at the only three wearing variations of poker face as it landed on Dabi’s Random selection, only for it to egg them on with Baby Park. Only three since Dark Shadow made no attempt to hide their part, puffing out their chest. They technically could play, it was just hard to coordinate their clawed hands with that level of delicateness and fine agility.

“Have you thought about another name?” Mortis transmitted, turning their head just enough for their clone to recognize while sowing chaos on the track. “Might get confusing with two of us active.”

While unexpected, the other racers slowing wasn’t unwelcome as the others snapped their attention to the two of them. Items and race briefly forgotten until Dabi cursed, slamming into whoever passed with a bullet bill. Oh, it was them.

“Echo,” the clone transmitted quietly. “Still they/them.”

Mortis nodded, turning their focus back fully to the game as they starred through Asami, earning a light elbow jab to their side. Fitting and an easy sign name. 

“That’s a fun choice,” Giri echoed their sentiment. “Same for your sign name?” He glanced to Mortis, who nodded. It was simple enough like Asami, and… they bit down silent giggles as a snippet of the memory of Asami’s original sign name came to mind. Before she knew the rules, at least.

“Oh you fucking trifur !” Asami twisted her controls about as she tried to recover from the last-second blue shell as racer after racer sped past her across the finish line.

“At least neither of them won for once,” Takami grinned and jabbed a thumb across Dabi towards Shigaraki and Shuichi, who just scowled back. Shuichi flexed his clawed hands, but refrained at a warning glance from Giri.

They still took the podium, but Fumikage grinned and Dark Shadow trilled at getting 3rd for once. “Wait, what does trifur mean?”

Mortis arched an eyebrow at Asami, curious now whether she’d explain. It didn’t exactly make much sense outside Latin, although it was oddly fitting with that finish. They had to wonder, though, just how much she remembered from their books. She might not even have kept up with the language at all. 

“Ah, it’s nothing,” Asami flushed, gesturing broadly with her controller as she accidentally scrolled through character options. “Sometimes things just slip out, right?”

Fumikage gave her a flat look. “Akira accidentally called me a ‘feverish little whore’ while reading poetry . I doubt whatever you said will be worse.”

Mortis shrunk down slightly, barely holding back their laughter at this point. He wasn’t wrong, but he didn’t need to bring that up. 

“Excuse me, they what?” Dabi’s eyes sparked with something that always meant trouble for them specifically. “Pipsqueak, you didn’t say you were reading Catullus aloud . Just how much sauce did their ‘pure young minds’ hear?”

‘ You know it’s not that bad! ’ Mortis tossed a piece of whatever hard candy was closest at him. 

He caught it with a smirk, only to wince and shake his hand out. Dabi still popped it in his mouth with an albeit slightly smaller smirk. 

Asami subtly - well, not as subtly as she probably thought she was being - got their attention. ‘ You remember? ’

‘Yes, do you ? ’ they shot back. 

‘ Their reaction? ’ she quickly scanned the room, but everyone at least had the sense not to watch.

‘ They’ve called each other far worse. Marbles would even take it as a compliment. Just wait til… ’ a small smile slipped onto their face before they remembered. No more tricks up his sleeve, no more elaborate cheating at the game they specifically made to get around his cheating. 

“Three-times a thief.” They snapped back as Asami spoke, the small glance their way all they needed as confirmation as they shot her an appreciative smile. “‘Fur’ is the more common form, but adding ‘tri’ packs a little extra punch to the word. Well, technically together it was an epithet, but still.”

Dark Shadow warbled a laugh as Dabi chuckled. Fumikage shrugged with a twinkle in his eye, “Then I shall endeavor to live up to it.”

Neither wound up on the podium with third place a tie between Giri and Hawks. Shigaraki only just kept first place by six points, but the points fell off drastically after Shuichi. Mortis was just glad they beat the CPUs this time.

Giri rolled his eyes as Shigaraki and Shuichi started tussling over the podium. It didn’t look like there was much heat in it, probably more burning off the frustration. His gaze snapped back as Shigaraki started to grab Shuichi full-force, but he wore artist gloves now. Bit harder to dust things on accident with a five-point touch activation.

A pair of blue gloves with apples came to mind unbidden. A little girl in an ambulance… Coloring bright clothing on empty figures… They straightened as a few pieces almost shifted into place. Dabi looked over to them, but they needed to remember this. They couldn’t quite piece together why , but this was important. She was important.

A few more flashes passed over them, but nothing that put her into context. Everyone mattered, but why did they need to know her specifically? Eri? That felt right as her name, but they needed more. She definitely wasn’t a Wren from the clothing she wore in presumably later flashes, so… ‘ Raven, do you remember a little girl named Eri? ’

Dark Shadow purred as he nodded, feathers ruffling slightly. “Yes? You and some of the other work study groups saved her from Overhaul. She lives with senseis Aizawa and Yamada now.”

A wave of emotions bulged what was left of the flimsy wall outward, and they rushed to reinforce it, snap it back into place. They were at war. They could deal with whatever tumult the connections would bring if they survived. Mortis nodded once the wall was a bit more secure, at least not under immediate threat of collapsing. They definitely felt like more than just teachers, though. At least to them.

“Hey, we’ve got enough for an mc. How about a round of gub?” Dabi grinned, mischief sparkling in his eyes even as his expression remained almost bored.

Giri shot him a look of fond exasperation as the others chimed in enthusiastically, even Shigaraki and Shuichi stopping to grab the decks.

“Gub? MC?” Asami asked, looking between everyone in confusion as they pulled the chairs closer to the table.

‘ Mashup of Go Fish, UNO, and Bridge, ’ Mortis explained since their couch didn’t have to move. ‘ They play it all the time, have you not seen? ’

“Maybe?” she offered. “Is it that weird card game where no one knows what to play?”

Dark Shadow chortled as Fumikage groaned, dropping his head into his hands. “That was one time . Dabi makes the worst rules.”

He snorted, draping his arms across the back of their sofa and abandoning Hawks to move theirs. “If you hate mine, you should’ve seen the guy we made this for. Sako was the best mc until someone ,” he half-glared at Shuichi, “banned him from the role.” After a moment, he added, “Master of Chaos. Wins by making sure no one else can or annoying everyone into quitting.”

‘ Should probably go over the basic rules while we set up. ’

A couple new rules had been added since they last played, but Mortis volunteered for mc, so they didn’t necessarily need to know them that well. Asami was still confused, but that was pretty much the perpetual state of everyone playing gub. Besides, she was on a team with Giri and on another team with Giri, Takami, and Shuichi, so she had at least two people who knew the rules pretty well.

Bidding started off bold with everyone claiming they could meet a win condition in 1-2 hours. Just because their memories were still disjointed and full of gaps didn’t mean Mortis was going to take it easy on the teams. Giri watched them with narrowed eyes as they chugged the rest of their tea and got up to refill it. There was definitely a spare deck - in sequential and suit order as they always left them - in the kitchen.

There! Mortis slipped it out of the utensils drawer as they pulled a fresh spoon - definitely not dropping the spoon they were going to use to stir their tea on purpose. Technically it hadn’t entered play yet, so they weren’t ignoring a rule. Yet. Still, better safe than sorry. And of course the discard pile moved. Mortis shot an annoyed look at Giri, who tried to play innocent but still had a shit-eating grin on his face. 

Oh, that bastard. Mortis stared directly into his eyes, ignoring the discomfort building behind their eyes as they placed a red +2 on top of the stack of hearts. Everyone groaned, and Asami hesitantly put a green +2 down as the UNO trick started. Of course since it was the first round, everyone had a +2 or +4, and it came back round to their turn with 16 to draw.

‘ Asami, can you move the discard pile a bit closer? ’ Mortis smiled pointedly at Giri as she did so and laid their hand plus a few cards from their fresh deck on the discard pile and the last +4. ‘ So now I draw 12. ’ They drew 11, carefully keeping their expression neutral as they walked through their turn - minus the rules ignored - of course only to help Asami learn.

Fumikage’s eyes narrowed slightly, but no one else moved to contest. After all, that would be the first time they ignored any rule if any was ignored. The hand continued, Fumikage calling go fish a few times when they tried to ignore a rule more than once, but Hawks caught them a couple times. No one met their bids, and as everyone got closer to finishing the decks except their personal one, Mortis started to consider pulling the very combination that got Sako banned from mc - the last straw, at least.

Fuck it . Mortis stopped ignoring rules entirely, letting a few win tricks while they collected as many cards as they could. Fumikage constantly watched them after a couple rounds, curiosity and suspicion shining in his eyes as Dark Shadow kept trying to look over their shoulder. Not that it would’ve helped anyone.

Phase one started as Mortis picked up twenty cards, pulling most from the discard pile meeting a rule ignored to set earlier. Of course, given the chain they ended, most of the cards were +2s and +4s. Shigaraki reluctantly marked the trick he took as everyone now looked to them with suspicion. 

A couple rounds later, the perfect opportunity lined up as Giri gave them a sly smile. At least he was the one to figure it out . He played a +2, interrupting a Bridge trick while Fumikage gave them a triumphant look as he place down a +4. Oh if only he knew. Everyone froze as they set their entire hand not into the empty discard pile next to the two cards in the draw pile, but into their private deck along with the trick.

They picked up the remaining two cards and simply signed, ‘ UNO. ’

“Wait… what?” Asami and Fumikage turned to them in confusion as the rest of the League who hadn’t realized what their play was erupted in a cacophony of protests and laughter.

‘ First rule ignored: put the cards used to negate in the discard pile. You could claim I ignored a second rule, but it’s not explicitly stated. UNO tricks go into the discard pile instead of being picked up. This deck is my personal stash that is not considered in play except for the cards I add from it, so I simply removed the remaining cards from play. Second or third rule depending: I as a one-person team have two cards left, meeting a standard win condition and declaring UNO. The game ended because there are no cards in the draw or discard pile, so you don’t have a chance to meet  another win condition or sabotage me before the start of my next turn. ’

“You also ignored the ‘can’t ignore more than one rule in a turn’ one,” Shuichi hissed.

They stared at him as the others came to the realization. ‘ I’ve adhered to that rule once, maybe twice. ’

“I knew I was missing something!” Fumikage shook his head as Dark Shadow cackled. “You did it so much I just thought I misheard.”

They only played a few more rounds, but when an mc was in the running, each round took hours. The role got passed around as usual, and Asami even tried it once despite her tenuous grasp of the rules. That went about as everyone expected, but her eyes sparked in a way Mortis hadn’t seen in a while. It didn’t help that probably half of the group had some degree of hypervigilance. They still had a long way to go before any semblance of normal, but maybe nights like this were worth the time.

Notes:

GUB basic rules if you’re interested lol General Rules You can’t cheat if no one knows the rules If someone plays a card you cannot add to, you can spend a pair or Joker to put that card in the discard pile and tell the player to Go Fish. They must draw a number of cards equal to the card’s value. If the card is a +2 or +4, you must spend twice the number of cards. If the card is a +2 or +4 stacked on others of a kind, you must spend your entire hand and draw back up to a number of cards equal to the number you would have drawn before the card you are negating. When the draw pile runs out, if there are cards in the discard pile, shuffle and move them to the draw pile. If there are no cards in the discard pile, the game ends and win conditions are checked regardless of if Uno has been declared. No additional cards may enter play after the start of the game.   MC Rules The Master of Chaos (MC) may ignore each rule once. If a player catches them ignoring a rule more than that, they can either narc and the MC draws based on General Rule #2 or they can declare the rule ignored on the subsequent player’s turn and discard down to one card. The MC can make up rules once they have ignored the rule, enforcing it on subsequent turns.   Gameplay End Game: as a team, hold the least number of cards at the end of the game. When one person wins 13 tricks, thinks they have the most matches, or a team has 2 cards between them, they declare Uno. The group has until the start of their next turn to sabotage or meet a number of win conditions equal to the last team to declare Uno + 1. If there is an MC, they win if the rest quit or the deck runs out with no win condition met. Setup: Uno and two standard card decks including Jokers are shuffled together. As needed, add one of each deck at the start of the game with all cards face up in sequential and suit order to account for additional players. Every other player is on a team. If more than 4 people are playing, there are either 2 players on one and the rest on another or teams of 2 but every other person is still on a team that can qualify for the win conditions as a collective. If there is an odd number of players, one person can act as moderator or a special role called Master of Chaos (MC). Their sole purpose is to prevent the teams from meeting win conditions. It’s recommended that the person playing MC changes each game, although Mr. Compress should never have that role. Bidding When there is no MC in play, each team bids a number of rounds in which they will meet a win condition. If they meet a win condition within this time, they score 2 points. For each subsequent win condition met, they gain an additional 1 point. If they do not meet a win condition in this time, they take a penalty equal to the number of players on the team. (these do stack when using Version 2’s setup). If the team prevents the other team(s) from stopping them, they instead gain a number of points equal to the number of players on the team (this does not stack when using Version 2’s setup). When there is an MC, each team bids an amount of time before a win condition is met, rounded to the half hour. If they meet a win condition within this time, they score 4 points. For each subsequent win condition met, they gain an additional 2 points. If they do not meet a win condition in this time, the MC gains 2 points.   Taking Tricks Standard bridge tricks A trick can be interrupted by placing an uno card, at which point refer to the below. A standard card cannot interrupt an uno trick once it’s in progress. Uno Tricks Cannot be interrupted by standard cards Continue until someone picks up cards or a card is negated. The person who started the +x chain wins the trick or the person who negated wins the trick, respectively.

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 40: Do You Hear the People Sing

Summary:

tw: brainwashing, grief, loss The context for Call Home :)

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The doctors said they were lucky. The neural pathways that the Doctor disconnected in his attempts to break their programming remained disrupted. If he had touched their sensorimotor pathways, they could very well have lost the ambulatory part of using a wheelchair. The doctors said they needed to be careful in reforming those pathways, but they still weren’t entirely convinced the programming was a bad thing.

In addition to the physical therapy Asami had apparently been taking them to, the doctors scheduled them with a psychotherapist to start reforming connections they needed. Something else lingered in the doctors’ eyes, but they didn’t push. If they needed to know, they’d be told. Are you sure about that?  

Dabi also started going, although a few of the League teased him lightly. When they asked, he just huffed and muttered, “We made a deal. If you go to therapy, I go.”

Something from behind the wall felt satisfied. Maybe that was one of the pathways they were supposed to reconnect? The therapist, Arita, said they shouldn’t worry about “supposed,” but that twisted their gut. It was easier to think in shoulds and shouldn’ts instead of what they wanted. They were supposed to want what their family wanted, to want a successful hero career and the continuation of the family legacy. How this accomplished that… well, for now, all they could do was trust Asami.

Dabi usually lurked somewhere nearby, but every time they shied away from his scorching heat, a pained look crossed his face before he withdrew again. What did he expect? The fragments of memories where he kept burning them boiled over whenever he was near. Something buried deep, deep behind the wall felt like screaming every time they pulled away, though out of what they couldn’t tell.

Other than Fumikage and Asami, Twice spent the most time with them. Like more and more things they came across, they just knew something was wrong. Their time with the League was fuzzy, even before everything disconnected. But sometimes, they’d look over while he worked on sewing a dragon, drawing abstract shapes, or even just reading, and a name would come to mind. 

A couple days after they woke up, they finally asked him, ‘ Why is your clone of me still up? It doesn’t look like they do much, and they’re never alone. ’

Twice paused, brow pinching slightly before his expression softened. “Ah, they’re not one of ours. They’re one of Galatea’s clones. As for why…” his head rolled to the side as he mulled it over. “They’re a bit like all of us. They’re learning why the Wrens are wrong, and for now, that’s enough.”

They stared at him long after he went back to sewing. Why would they lie about a clone she could supposedly make? Wouldn’t it have been better to just keep them a secret while the clone gathered intel? And why handn’t she dismissed it yet if it was hers?

He glanced up after a while, doing a double take as sympathy flashed in his eyes. “Ah, sorry, you weren’t ready to hear that last bit, were you?”

They froze. There was no right answer to that.

Twice sighed, putting the project to the side but keeping a hand on it. He huffed and stared at it for a moment before letting go. “You’re missing a lot of connections, right? Bits and pieces of memories that were connected before Garaki.” At their slow, hesitant nod, he continued, “People can fuck with your head without quirks, and we know how… hard it can be to sort that out. Since your brain didn’t automatically reconnect one way or the other, it’s probably trying to protect itself with a barrier.”

‘ How… ’ they stared in disbelief. Did he listen to their therapy appointments? Those were supposed to be private, but that didn’t mean shit before.

Twice chuckled humorlessly and gestured to himself. “It’s real easy for us Strangers to lose ourselves.”

A brief flash of a memory crossed their mind. Sitting at a table in their wheelchair with a pounding headache, they were watching a video where Twice explained how his quirk worked to… help them? They were at U.A. then, why would anyone in the League want to help them ? Conflicting ideas warred as a headache blossomed, and they pushed off the chair with the excuse of more tea. They nearly fell, forgetting for a brief moment their leg was missing before steadying themself on the arm and a crutch. 

Right, focus on the next steps for that. Uh… Come on, think. Just not on that . They pounded just as loudly against the raging thoughts trying to run down the list. Meet with their… prosthetist tomorrow for a refitting. A splash hit their arm, and they jerked the kettle back to its stand, nearly knocking it over as they reached for the towel next to the… why wasn’t it next to the drying rack?

Why would it be there? They snatched it off the oven, patting the slight burn dry. They stared into their tea, watching the tiny particles swirl out into the water as it seeped until their thoughts finally quieted. Which left one question. How long had it been since they used their own name?

A swirling black and purple portal opened as another group of… refugees? Soldiers? They weren’t quite sure anymore poured through. They recognized most of the heroes as twilights and undergrounds, ghosts of memories supplying names and quirks. Nothing seemed direct, moreso hearsay and second or third hand accounts and cryptid boards.

One petite hero caught their eye, though, as she— no, fae slipped through the warp gate. A sense of familiarity washed over them, but they stayed back, watching and waiting as fae darted between conversations in the growing crowd in front of the stage. If they were on the same level as faer, they wouldn’t be able to see faer diminutive… 

Mouse, that was faer name. Hero name, at least. Fae/faer pronouns. Intelligence gathering twilight hero at Fat Gum’s agency. Could transform into a mouse for as long as fae held faer breath. Mentor to Ghost, he/him, a former vigilante. Maybe we met when I was undercover training at the agency? 

Aand the speeches were starting. Sit up tall, look attentive and not at all bored, smile, and wave on cue. At least they weren’t expected to give one. Asami was always better at those things anyways. Hawks at least knew how to put on a show, supporting Shigaraki as he rasped on about uniting people from all backgrounds against the corrupt societal structures that only fostered more pain and suffering.

Something stirred in them, embers long forgotten and snuffed out started sparking once more despite themself. Isn’t that exactly what they’d seen so far? What Twice and Arita kept trying to nudge them towards? They distractedly followed their cues and wheeled backstage,  waving the League on as they got ready to warp gate to a few off-site meetings. Something about safety for protests and marches under martial law. 

Isn’t martial law supposed to be for their safety? Hasn’t Japan not declared martial law for centuries for a reason ? They immediately shelved those thoughts, already dealing with one conflict for the day. Too often, everything accelerated around them, but they only moved at a snail’s pace, barely keeping their mouth above water as the connections that were always meant to be and the connections that actually had been warred in their head. At least they didn’t also have to contend with the clone being here. They were still in medical after some programming triggered again. 

‘ I’m gonna talk to a hero I recognized, ’ they casually told Asami once they were alone in the living room. 

She glanced up from one of their poetry books. “Okay? Do you want me to come with or are you good?”

‘ I’m fine. ’ She’d have no reason to know a twilight, so her presence would probably only make things more awkward.

They tapped their new coms to activate the noise canceling feature as they grew closer to the gathering hall. The din steadily grew to a dull roar even through the noise canceling, making them wince as they maneuvered around the edge of those still gathered. They nodded and smiled as people noticed them, but exited conversations as quickly as they could without seeming too rude. They hoped. They cursed inwardly as they realized they’d never find Mouse this way. Faer height was a little too perfect for blending into crowds like this.

At least I left the prosthetic behind , they mused as they warped into the rafters, leaning against a vertical beam as they adjusted. They’d only had it a day and a half, so were very much getting used to the lighter material and minute differences from their previous iterations. Most were good, some weren’t good or bad, just different.

Looking out over the crowd, there were a surprising number of heteromorphs and Suggestion Master quirks. Then again, they were the least desirable by society. Wasn’t there a reason for that? Not a good one . That much they knew at least. If the Wrens had a Suggestion - well, part suggestion at least -  Master as a head, they… well, maybe they weren’t the best example. Wait, would Mouse count? Faer quirk would be a Changer primary, but it did have the animal component… They didn’t remember faer having any animalistic qualities other than maybe faer height in human form, though.

There! They watched Mouse for a moment, making sure fae stayed around the same spot before warping back to their chair. Technically it would be faster to go back behind stage and emerge on the other side mere meters from faer, but they wouldn’t have line of sight. Fuck it . They sped back around, ducking just enough away from the outer fringes to avoid getting sucked into more conversations. They all have the same questions, anyways. What happened, are you okay, why are there two of you… Some were probably well-meaning but others were only fishing for gossip or weakness.

A few minutes later, they emerged on the other side of the crowd, spotting Mouse talking with the same two vaguely familiar heroes. They were also from Fat Gum’s agency, so maybe they met them in passing? Gust and Lizarro, he/him and she/her, respectively. Something about them not being morning people came to mind, although that was a common theme among twilights. Mouse was one of the few exceptions, if they remembered correctly.

Mouse noticed them first, lighting up like a Christmas tree as fae bounded over. “Mori! It’s been ages, come on.” Fae leaned over slightly as fae kept pace and stage whispered, “Thanks for winning me fifty yen.”

Already taken aback at actually hearing their name, they offered a confused half-smile as the pair made their way over. Gust rolled his eyes while Lizarro gathered the winnings for faer.

“Yeah, yeah, you won,” she admitted, half glared at Mouse. Glancing at them, Lizarro added, “We were taking bets on how long it’d take to actually see you.”

‘ I was on stage with the others… ’ they offered hesitantly. Wasn’t that a weird thing to bet on?

Gust shook his head and herded them towards med bay, making them straighten. “Come on, let’s get some grub.”

‘ The cafeteria’s actually that way. ’ They slowed, turning towards the crowd as their stomach churned at just the thought of weaving through so many.

“Told you you were reading it wrong,” Mouse sing-songed with a loose grin. “Maybe let our expert show us around?”

They started to protest but started to ease into the carefree attitude fae practically oozed. If they recognized fae and not in the way they did Dabi, it couldn’t hurt to let down their guard a little bit, right?

The others settled into light banter as they made their way to the cafeteria, only the occasional worried glance and strained smile their direction any indication they knew something was different. They avoided anything to do with their time away, though, fortunately. They still weren’t sure how to start… any of it, really. They barely knew where they currently stood.

Things were going well as the small group grabbed increasingly familiar plates, and they found themself with an array of foods that felt specific but looked random. They wound up sitting at a table with three more seats than the group needed, but when they started to divert to another table, the rest had already settled in. Things were going well. Until Lizarro looked directly at them during a lull in the conversation between the three.

“Okay, so if you’re comfortable,” Lizarro started, curiosity and a hint of worry sparkling in her eyes as they tensed, “I would love to know how you lost your leg. I’ve got a bit of experience in that department, being able to regrow my body parts.”

“Liz,” Mouse hissed, swatting at her arm. “I thought we said we weren’t going to—”

‘ No, it’s okay, ’ they offered an only slightly strained smile. ‘ Thinker/Tinker raid. In the push to get to the server room, I… ’ they tried to pull the information through, bits and pieces getting caught on the fragments of the paper-thin wall. They could answer this. Mortis had been through far worse, this was nothing. ‘ Mayhew pulled me into a painting, almost didn’t get out in time. Clean sever, at least, although that meant they needed a skin graft to cover what was left. ’

Several emotions rapid fire crossed their faces as they looked to each other. They started to question, retreat back into themself when Mouse spoke up. “Wow, that must’ve been tough to recover from, right?” fae elbowed the other two, who mumbled their agreement.

Mortis tried to pull more, still getting just fragments and disjointed ideas. Nothing concrete they could give in a report, certainly. ‘ Technically I’m still in recovery from my understanding. I’ve got physical therapy and meetings with my prosthetist. Especially after the setback from last raid. ’ Their chopsticks dropped from their hands, falling into the dish with a dull clatter. The last raid. The raid where they killed Isao. The raid where Twice risked everything with Sad Man’s Parade. For them . Where Asami risked everything. For them . Where Mr. Compress wasn’t there. Mr. Compress wasn’t anywhere except—

They sped away from the table, barely registering the startled cries as they swallowed down bile and nearly ran over a few toes in their mad dash. They had to see. Had to know. They couldn’t be wrong. They had to be wrong. They’d been here for what, days? And never bothered to look because they couldn’t .

Asami shot to her feet as they barreled through the door, barely slowing enough for it to register their chair and open in time. “What happened?”

They slowed just enough to not fall out of their chair as they stopped in front of the altar just beyond the kitchen. Where two memorials sat. 

Their mentor, the strongest person they knew physically and emotionally. The person who’d been at their side since almost the beginning. The person they could always count on as a steadying rock. The person they as good as killed . 

Their friend, the best damn magician the world had known. The one who always cheated in every card game and always made sure they had the space and support they needed to heal. The one they didn’t even notice was gone until they could be bothered to look at the fucking altar.

Asami tread softly up behind them, resting a hand on their shoulder once they acknowledged her presence with a glance. They weren’t sure how long they sat there staring, wishing, praying that it wasn’t real. That they didn’t fuck everything up so horrifically two of the most important people in their lives died becuase of them.

At some point, Asami pressed a sturdy mug of tea in their shaking hands, the warmth seeping in and only making reality clearer, sharper as its daggers tore into their heart. 

Who else is dead?

The thought shattered their world like a bullet train through glass. Memorials for anyone other than the League in their life wouldn’t be here. They’d be at their homes. They had to know. 

They had to talk to Joe.

“Woah, where are you going?” Asami stumbled slightly as they started towards the door.

‘ I need to talk with Joe. I need to know who else is dead, ’ Mortis signed, abandoning their now lukewarm tea on the counter.

Confusion twisted up her face as she thought. “Isao and Compress were the important ones, I—”

‘ You don’t know who was— is important to me, ’ Mortis snapped coldly. They couldn’t explain, not when they had to know. A small piece of them flinched at the pain in her eyes, but she didn’t try to stop them again. 

This time, people cleared the way as Mortis sped through the halls, wheelchair easily compensating for the turns at full speed. Something else snapped into place, but they didn’t have time for that. Not when so much was at stake. Their office door sat wide open, the morning shift already inside and confused while Joe sat at his desk, frustration boiling over as he tapped one of his throwing knives.

‘ Joe, ’ Mortis wheeled past them, causing a stir they ignored. ‘ Who else is dead? ’

“Full report or relevant to you?”

‘ Both .’

Joe took the first paper and set of stapled papers off a small pile and handed them over.

“Who are you talking to?” Lizarro approached them, hesitantly looking around. “There’s just some guy over there. We’ve been looking all over for you, and—”

“I’m sorry, the Joe is the head of Intelligence?” Mouse squeaked in indignation.

‘ Don’t. ’ Joe sighed heavily and set down the knife. Their shoulders slumped as Mortis reached the end of the lists and found no one new other than the dozens who died during raids. The rate definitely went up, probably due to… Shit . What the hell were they going to do with their clone?

Mouse rounded their chair, angling faerself to keep Joe in the corner of faer eye. “Hey, we just want to check on you, kiddo. Shiro made us promise to keep an eye on you, though it didn’t take much convincing,” fae tried for a light smile, but it fell as they stared at the papers with anger boiling just beneath the surface. “Did we do something or can you tell us what’s going on?”

‘ I remembered. Some things snapped into place. Marbles and Isao are dead because of me. ’ The papers crumpled roughly in their off hand as Mortis fought to keep their emotions in check. Now was not the time. They managed a plastic smile, but dropped it as Mouse startled back. ‘ I just… need some time. None of you did anything wrong. ’

“Okay… just let us know if we can help or even if you just want a break, okay?” Mouse offered, a small hesitant smile twitching the corner of faer lips. 

‘ Sure. ’ With a nod to Joe, Mortis returned at a much more normal pace, giving apologetic half smiles to any who jumped out of their way on sight. That was the most they could manage right now, so it would have to do. 

By the time they got back, the rest of the League was waiting anxiously in the common area, Giri stress baking with Magne while Dabi paced and Twice, Spinner, and Shigaraki played gub with… actually the usual amount of tension given how the game usually went. Dabi noticed them first, starting towards them but stopping after a couple steps.

Pain laced through them as Mortis realized what snapped into place. ‘ Wildfire, I —’ a wave of grief washed over them, tears pricking their eyes as everything they lost and pushed away in err crashed into them.

In moments, they were in his arms, sinking into the embrace as his shirt dampened. Eyes snapped to them for a moment before turning away, allowing the found siblings the moment to relish in finding each other again.

Notes:

I know this is not how it works, but this is the furthest I’ve pushed medical stuff. I feel like I get a liiittle bit of a narrative pass lol I thought about adding a few more names, but this fic has already dealt with so much death it felt like that'd be a bit too much? And I already decided against having another Blue Fang member die in the Mover/Blaster raid so more names would just feel like fridging I think?

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 39: Alone in a Crowded Room

Summary:

tw: n/a? Guide my way out of this place They're back but are they?

Notes:

The first part of this puts the mini scenes you’ve read throughout into the order in which Akira goes through the memories. Included the chapter and scene so if you want to go back and read them in context, you can easily do so ‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break Finding their way

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Ch 7 Scene 1

Bng… Bng… Faint notes distantly rung and echoed through the aether without a sound.

What… what was this? They didn’t remember this happening. Why would any hero, even a Twilight, entertain this? Something shifted as they watched the trio make small talk while they ate, and the world faded

Ch 1 Scene 1

Bng-nng… bng-nng . The notes trembled closer, hints of separation slowly becoming clearer.

This, at least, they remembered. Their stomach churned as they were forced to just sit back and watch the slaughter. Their family put up a good fight, but they were resigned to the Farm, after all. Skill or even true power were hardly needed for a handful of quirkless children with no reason to leave. Wasn’t this before the meeting, though? They needed to move forward , not backwards.

Ch 4 Scene 2

Dng, dng… dng, dng . The bells, for now the echoes of what was yet to come could be distinguished as such, continued their unsteady crescendo.

They screamed soundlessly to not involve Midoriya, to keep kids out of it. He didn’t need to know. He didn’t need to know. Why did he know? Why did they confirm anything? Maybe it would’ve been better to never attend U.A. at all. If they couldn’t even find the present, how were they supposed to pass whatever test they must still be in. They straightened at the reminder. Of course, this was all a test. Just get through it, find the path. Find the pulsing echo that now pounded almost silently against their skull, and they could find their way back home.

Ch 14 Scene 1

Dng dng, dng dng . The space between rings crept closer, more insistent, as they neared their audience of one.

They watched in confusion as Joe clearly stalked about the room, even as their body remained unaware. They distantly remembered something about his quirk only working in real time, not on memories. Were these just memories? If these were memories, where were they? When were they? Where were the bells coming from? And how did they know the bells weren’t part of the memories?

Ch 20

Ding dong, Dong ding . The chimes swelled frantically, skipping a beat with each repetition as they slammed against the walls of the void.

They curled up, rocking on the void with hands over their ears as they tried to ground themself. But nothing existed in this space to ground themself with. They were nowhere, just an empty void with jumbled memories and no direction, not even a vague suggestion. They’d been good. They did as their family asked. Why were they back here? They hadn’t done anything wrong . Unless it was the bells. This had to be a mistake. None of this made sense. The bells weren’t theirs, they swore. It didn’t make sense. Why were they here! Why. wouldn’t. They. STOP!

Ch 3 Scene 1

Ding dong ding Dong ding dng .

They slowly unfurled as the slight, gentle rocking motion ghosted across their consciousness. A sense of peace washed over them and letting their limbs untangle, not a pop or crackle to be heard. Did that mean they went the wrong way again? Even so, maybe they could stay a while. Then again, the bells could very well be covering the sounds, the near-constant clanging save for a static third beat echoing through the void. Something felt intensely familiar despite not remembering this train ride, the countryside speeding past in a car too fancy, too expensive for any trip they would’ve taken. Maybe if they stayed long enough, the gentle laughter and easy banter would drown out the bells.

Ch 30

DING dong ḏ̷̨̬̖̘͓̫͖̯͔̦̻͕̇̂̔̈̌̊͆̏̏̈́ḯ̶͇̟̣̝͎̗̮̮̭̲̱̪̗̖̔͂̅̈̽̈́͋̇̔͒̈́̋͗̔̐͝ͅn̷̮͎̦̤͚͉̦̗̭̬̠͇̹͙͗̍̈̒́͜͝g̴̨͕͙͔̖͓͇̯̱̺̀ DONG ding d̴͍͚̤́̏̾̀̐͑͆o̵̢̡̰̘͎͎̖̦͇̝͈̝̻͍͗̉̍̏̏̚ͅn̷̡̼̠̪̹̣̦̖͖̞̮̫̞̳̗͎̬̔ġ̴̹̤͚̬̲̀̑̌̉̈́͑̚ . 

No, no, this wasn’t right. The bells were still there, slamming into the void surrounding them, protecting them. Why did they only hear static instead of their name? What was the other name they couldn’t know? Why couldn’t they remember? And that Ida kid… he knew something. He knew them . They knew him . Why couldn’t they remember? What even were the bells? A pressure slowly built in their chest as they tried to break through whatever was blocking those names.

Ch 10 Scene 3

The force of the bells shook the void as cracks cleaved memories and the very foundation of what they knew.

They reached out as guilt swelled in the pit of their stomach, the alarm bells pulling, ever pulling now. They remembered him. Vaguely, but the connection was there. They hadn’t seen him since… they didn’t know when, but somehow they just knew he was gone. Because of them . But he was here now . Couldn’t they just stay here, bells? What was so fucking urgent in the present that they couldn’t linger, couldn’t sit with this small happiness? The pull grew stronger, more insistent, and they finally gave in, crashing out of the void and into a bright room with scared, angry faces of people they should know.

---

They let their instincts warp them behind their chair, stumbling a step back at the sheer wall of fear that coursed through their body at the sight of… the only name their mind supplied was the Doctor. Glancing to their left, they knew someone like him. Someone like them. Their clone snapped forward as they slipped between the Doctor and Kurogiri, knife brandishing as they snarled. That’s intimidating, right?

They transmitted, “Take one more step, I fucking dare you.” Their heart leapt into their throat as everyone froze, staring at them like they’d seen a ghost. Shit, was this not part of it? It felt so right , though. Whoever the Doctor was, they just knew he needed to stay far away from him.

“Now now,” the Doctor tsked as they matched his steps, knees protesting as though they’d been running. “I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding. You see, Kurogiri is mine, and I will do as I see fit.”

They fought the calm that tried to wash over them, glaring back at him though their eyes strained. Dabi - wait, what the hell is the League doing here? They carefully kept their posture the same as their gaze darted about the beige room. They tried to dismiss the copy of themself only to find it not connected. A Twice clone, maybe ? Right, of course, their family mentioned their presence.

Dabi and the other members argued back and forth with the Doctor as Asami moved to stand beside them, subtly offering a hand. They shook their head slightly. Better to keep one hand free just in case. Although what test would involve the League they had no clue. 

They already proved their loyalty, already got their license. Why would their family risk the bad press? Sure, the Commission had a chokehold on it, but the tighter the restrictions, the more creative people got. At least they were finally back with Asami. Maybe she could fill them in once they were alone again? 

Never look… they frowned, straightening at the void that surrounded the phrase. That was supposed to help, to clear their thoughts except the objective. Never look back . Nothing. They looked to Asami, but she just watched them with a sliver of hope in her eyes. What was she hoping for? That they’d pass? That they’d… what was happening?

They bit back a groan as their head pounded, no longer in time with bells but now with their pulse. Their fingers twitched around the knife and bit into their other palm, trying to distribute the focus of the pain as their brow pinched, eyes closing with the slightest hint of relief against the lights that only seemed to grow brighter the longer they remained. 

Asami looked over their shoulder and nodded, briefly crossing to grab their wheelchair before darkness enveloped them and a strangely familiar void deposited them in the common area. Asami followed with their chair, then Kurogiri as the gate closed. 

They padded towards where they distinctly remembered a beige couch, finding an older green one instead with down sticking out of a couple places between the cushions. New paintings hung on the walls, a few new chairs dotted the living room, but their breakfast nook table still stood strong. The altar was new but their gaze quickly swept past it, the glimpse pulsing a wave of sorrow and pain. Their gaze quickly went back to the large, rectangular table where a 3-person game of gub lay abandoned, hands hastily set face down with the discard in the middle and current round in front of the next player.

They turned back to Asami, avoiding looking really anywhere near the kitchen. “I’ll make some tea,” Kurogiri offered, heading into the danger zone as Asami smiled tightly and nodded. 

‘ Where are we? And why is the League involved? ’ they signed quickly and tight to their chest, confusion seeping into their features try as they might.

‘ You don’t remember? ’ They tensed as Asami’s face fell. ‘ We’re here because they were supposed to help you. ’

‘ Is this part of the test? ’ they asked hesitantly. That was the only thing that could kind of make sense, unless whatever was behind the now fragile, disconnected wall held more. Now fragile? Was it there before they found their way back?

‘ Test? ’

Shit, are there cameras? Of course there are cameras . They pulled Asami deeper into the suite, something in their gut telling them the rooms didn’t have cameras. How did they know that? They weren’t allowed back here— how did they know any of this? They flinched at the headache building again as pressure pulsed outward from the wall. They dashed the last bit into their room, locking the door with little thought and collapsing amidst the plushies on their nest.

‘ Sorry, should have realized we couldn’t talk where there are cameras, ’ they apologized, deciding to ignore how they immediately went for a plush of a vaguely familiar tuxedo cat. There were far more pressing matters. ‘ You said warping was part of a test. Are we still in the test? Are we waiting for extraction? What is going on? ’

“I thought…” Asami shook her head and sat next to them at an angle, legs neatly folded to the side. She bit her lip, looking away slightly before admitting, “There is no test. I had to think of something to make you stop so they could warp us out.”

She lied? No, Asami didn’t do that. Not to them . They shook their head, squeezing the plush as they tried to process. ‘ No, no, I must have misheard you then. If I thought you said there was a test, I just misheard you. We don’t lie to each other. ’

“What was I supposed to do?” Asami dug her fingers into the blanket, staring at the soft floor as if it held the answers. “I watched you kill someone . I couldn’t let you do that to another. You had to stop, and it’s not like you would’ve just gone willingly if I asked you to. Even if I told you we needed to.”

‘ I would if you said so. ’ The words hung between them for a small eternity, Asami lost in thought while  they looked around the room. It felt like it should be familiar. They instinctively knew where their old duffle bag, emergency repair kits, and even pointless items like the little plushies in their nest and… that was a new one. They picked up an impossibly soft black and purple dragon that looked remarkably like them in its own way. The little prosthetic hind leg matched their old prosthetic’s design and managed to look completely rigid while maintaining the squishiness of the rest of the plush.

“I think Twice made that?” Asami smiled slightly, only a bit of strain remaining though it reached her eyes. “Pretty sure he made one for each member of the League, at least I’ve seen most of them with one that kind of looks like them.”

They nodded slowly, warmth filling their chest at the gesture while confusion rose with it. ‘ Yeah, that makes sense… I think? Did something happen between when we warped and the meeting with the Doctor? ’

Asami’s expression immediately darkened, and she launched into a breakdown of what happened since they last remembered. Maybe the Doctor messing with their head caused the weird state of things? ‘ It’s like… everything is there but it’s not connected. Like “Never look back” is— ’ they stopped as Asami flinched like she’d been slapped. ‘ Are you okay? ’

She peered at them, eyes searching as her face scrunched up in mounting confusion. “You’re… still you?”

‘ Yes? That phrase is just supposed to refocus on the goal, kind of reset. Now it does nothing. It’s like everything is there but nothing is connected, grounded. ’

Asami’s cheeks puffed as she let out a deep breath. “That’s good, I think. At least the first part?” She ran her fingers through her hair, twisting and untwisting tiny braids. “We’re not going back to Garaki, but maybe one of the other doctors here will know what’s going on?”

Notes:

I’m aware this is not how any of this works, but I thought it was a fun idea. Technically they also would’ve seen memories from the first two fics, but I didn’t think about that til after I’d compiled them, and at that point, it was too late to figure out what additional scenes would make sense between the others.

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[aspenforest732]

Libertas aut Mortis Chapter 38: No Rest for the Weary

Summary:

tw: ableism, creepy adult, human experimentation You can't have my life

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break Finding their way

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Asami leaned against the wall, watching the physical therapist guide Akira through exercises for their legs. Mae involved her in a couple, showing her how to guide them through stretches they had to do every day . At one point, she asked if it wouldn’t be easier to just regrow the limb, but apparently that was the wrong thing to say. Mae went on a whole lecture on autonomy and not everyone with a disability wanted it “fixed” or “cured” for that matter.

In the few days since she arrived, Asami found herself saying the wrong thing a lot. Whether that was from the culture here specifically or aspects of culture her etiquette lessons glossed over, she wasn’t sure. Some things even went directly against her tutors’ guidance. Some of it made sense, like the idea that abuse of power and people should be exposed, not kept as trade secrets. 

What exactly qualified as abuse was still unclear, but Tokoyami was actually becoming her biggest source on the topic. At one point, she asked how he knew the difference so well, and he grew quiet for a moment, even Dark Shadow stilling before he just said that Akira asked a lot of questions, too.

Asami slipped back into the moment as Mae brought Akira back over and shoved a slip of paper into her hand. “Here, this has the stretches and the schedule they should be on. Dabi and that raven kid probably know most of it, but if you’re taking them places now, you should have the full list.” Her expression softened slightly as Akira settled into their wheelchair. “You’re good kids, the both of you. Keep learning, keep your chin up, and you’ll do just fine here.”

Asami bowed respectfully, letting a small smile slip onto her face before wheeling Akira away. She still didn’t really trust the League, but they had yet to refuse her demands to sit in on meetings and briefings. And Hawks at least still carried himself with the integrity a hero should. 

Giri was almost as awkward as she was, trying to fit back into a group that came so far without him. Something was definitely between him and Shigaraki, familial for sure but lost and uncertain in the tension between them. Asami was torn between fear-driven respect for the leader’s power and the need to know who she worked under now. 

She still couldn’t get a read on Twice other than he was a deeply troubled man, although that fit most people there. He made crafts and some of the art on the walls, members occasionally emerging with matching dragon plushies that put a ghost of a smile on his face at times. He slowly started joining conversations, adding a few words here and there. Maybe he was recovering from something after all.

Dabi didn’t know how to interact with her, Akira, or the clone even. He’d make an offhand joke or comment and look towards them, only for his expression to harden when he actually saw any of them. From what she gathered from the others, they had some kind of weird sibling dynamic, so… maybe he felt threatened by her? She didn’t mind the heat as long as it kept him away from them. The heat physically radiating off him on the other hand…

Asami rarely saw Spinner outside of meetings, the heteromorph disappearing before breakfast and returning after dinner. Cooking seemed to be on a rotation, and whoever cooked that night left a plate warming for him. He always managed to look even more exhausted when he did catch a glimpse of her and, more probably, Akira, jaw setting as he stormed off to his room or the little table the League tried to contain work to from what she saw.

Asami threw up a shield, shifting in front of Akira as a dark mass of shadows flew towards them. As they drew closer, Tokoyami dropped out of the shadow and Asami withdrew her quirk, speed walking with Akira to meet the pair.

“Nine made it,” he trilled, bright red eyes shining with excitement she hadn’t seen since they met. At her blank look, Tokoyami added, “A high-end nomu, he got onto Sado Island. Come, they’re waiting for you.”

Asami broke off into a sprint, switching Akira’s wheelchair to give a bit more stabilization just in case. The last thing they needed was another injury, much less one she was responsible for. Again . They’re waiting for me ? Tokoyami’s words hit as they raced down the corridors, now teeming with anticipation. Villains and heroes alike rushed about in sharp contrast with the purposeful gait she’d grown accustomed to seeing around here.

They burst into the conference room, the other heads joining the League as well as a civilian and a short, portly man in a white double-breasted coat with goggles resting atop his head and a small, two-legged… thing in his lap. Giri stood behind Dabi and Shigaraki as far away as possible from the man. He regarded the trio with a hungry curl of his lips that couldn’t possibly qualify as a smile.

Asami shuddered but squared her shoulders, coldly staring back as the expression clicked as similar to the one Carpenter wore around Akira. Tokoyami dipped out, Dark Shadow growling lowly and quietly as he forced them down.

“Asami, Akira, take a seat,” Spinner motioned them to a chair and open space between Magne and Dabi. “That is Dr. Garaki. He frankensteins nomu together and reverses brainwashing under supervision.”

“Nine reached Sado Island before the government declared martial law. He was only able to get word out via Anima’s pigeons due to the high security that’s only tightened since. Something in their Tinker tech is fucking with Search but he’s gotten a few details.”

Spinner clicked to a couple satellite images, drawing Asami’s curiosity. Then again, Starbright and Astro were at the Thinker/Tinker compound during the raid… running through the couple dozen Wrens she knew were left, none of them would have Tinker access to satellites.  Firewalls, sure, but…

“Nezu gained control of the satellite over the island using a backdoor he placed during his last efforts.”

Of course Nezu’s involved . The usernames clicked, and Asami bit her lip to hold back a sigh. At least that confirmed the series of “coincidences” weren’t just that. She distantly realized the civilian moved to the presentation area, but the flash of confusion was quickly replaced with the knowledge that he was supposed to be there. Why wouldn’t he be there?

Confusion seeped back in as the others reacted to words that hung in the air a few seconds before they reached her ears. That’s… not how hearing loss works. Right? Asami puzzled over the phenomenon, shaking it off as Kikuko started signing the words in a timing that lined up better. Maybe it was.

The island itself had natural barriers to entry from almost every side. Even the tiny port carved into the cliff face was flanked by cliffs that dropped off into sea stacks as they reached the ocean. Security and heroes crawled over every inch of the island from the supply depot to the Shaker breaking bunker to the on-site housing for regular staff.

Security clearances of Secret or above were required to get into the supply depot or anywhere near the compound itself. The checkpoints weren’t immediately visible, Nine reporting a slight sensation of static electricity before someone approached questioning his business there. Probably a good thing the Thinker/Tinker compound was the first target. Who knows what else she’d be able to set up on the island and at other compounds if they hadn’t?

The thought still sickened Asami, but she’d gotten far more used to keeping it down in the past few days than she ever thought she’d need to. No kidding. Memories you aren’t supposed to remember at least with that context for your own sake will do that , she snarked to herself. 

“Warp Gate could take us anywhere on the island provided the coordinates,” Giri said stiffly, focus constantly sliding towards Garaki. 

Shigaraki shook his head, dislodging it from atop his pyramid fingers. “The npc’s will swarm us the moment they open. We need rogues there ready to hold the line, keep them from using our own tools.” 

‘ I— Reaper still has that favor Broker owes them, ’ the clone interjected as the room fell into a soft, mumbling quiet. ‘ They were saving it for the final push, right? How many soldiers would we need on the island? ’

Spinner nodded slowly, eyes squinted as he crossed the table to look between Magne and Oracle. Asami leaned over the table slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she craned to see what Oracle was doing. Thinker quirks always had such interesting interpretation or activation methods, and divination-esque Thinkers even more so on top of being rare. She pulled out an elaborate, larger than standard deck of cards, shuffling it a few times as beautiful holographic flashed under the night sky drawn on top of the cards.

A few fell out, but she only looked at them for a couple seconds before shuffling them back in and repeating the process a few more times. Spinner and Magne talked logistics, Dabi leaning the opposite way to Asami to add a few words now and then. The minutes dragged on, but the cards pulled Asami in, colorful people and animals flashing by as the Thinker concentrated.

“A thousand minimum at medium-high risk, ten thousand at low risk,” Dabi announced after several minutes as he sat back. “Relative to the overall risk,” he clarified as Oracle opened her mouth.

‘ It took until just before lockdown to get one person on the island. ’ The clone took a deep breath, eyes darting back and forth as all eyes returned to them. ‘ Animals, on the other hand, are magnitudes easier to excuse. ’

“Whaat am I missing here?” Asami peered at them skeptically as the others came to some sort of epiphany.

“Were you aware of the influx of birds in Kanazawa?” Magne asked.

Asami cast about trying to remember much about the raid other than the massive death toll. Maybe a footnote? “Not really?”

Shigaraki nodded sharply. “We can’t wait for them to approve, but this is what they wanted. Spinner, contact Giran first, get the next steps for the quest. If he needs to see them, work on it with Giri.”

Magne leaned over her slightly and clarified, “An independent not on our payroll can turn people into animals. Normally, it’d be too expensive for more than a handful of people, but Giran might cover enough of his fees if we cash in that favor.”

“There is another way,” Dr. Garaki rasped from the other side of the room. A breeze buffeted Asami from behind as a single soft footstep sounded. “With a few modifications, Warp Gate could easily withstand—”

“No.” Most of the League whipped to him, in various states of snarls and quirk activations. Asami curled away from the intense heat rolling off Dabi in waves that rippled the very air between them. Her own shield flashed purple.

“You won’t fucking touch him,” Dabi snarled.

“Come now, I’m sure we can—”

Shigaraki cut him off as he stood, chair screeching as it toppled over. “We said,” he grit out, “you won’t. Fucking. Touch him. Ever again. Now leave .”

Garaki tsked, standing even as alarm bells clanged about Asami’s head. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. “Oh, I’m afraid you no longer have any say, child . But fine, I’ll take my leave.” A wicked grin split his face as a distinct pop echoed before the room burst into action. 

Asami whipped around, toppling her chair and shifting between him and Akira. Dabi and Magne shot to their feet, cerulean flames erupting across Dabi’s skin as the acrid smell of burning flesh filled the room. Magne and the doctor glowed opposing pink and blue, but before another word could be said, Akira’s head hit the table with a thunk . Asami started to turn only to find Akira standing defiantly between Giri and Garaki, knife in one hand and crutch in the other as they snarled up at him.

“Take one more step, I fucking dare you,” their voice transmitted through their speaker. Everyone froze, glows snuffing out in surprise while Dabi’s flames dimmed slightly, the smell no longer as potent.

Notes:

me: ah yes we can use migration to excuse thousands of animals moving through an area the timeline: late July animals that migrate then: wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 37: Decompress

Summary:

tw: alcohol, binge drinking, underage drinking, mourning, loss, vomit Never thought that you would live forever

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break Finding their way

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Asami watched in morbid curiosity as Giri brought drinks and mixers to the table, setting the electric kettle between her and Tokoyami with some tea selections. Once the League caught him up on the basics and he took a nap, he emerged dressed in a dark reddish brown aviator jacket, a Sun Wukong t-shirt, and slacks. The League seemed just as confused as she was at the combination, but he did just come from a mental hospital. Is he even stable enough to be here?

Realizing she’d been staring again, Asami flashed a smile at him, ducking her head in thanks. The clone took the proffered shot glass, though. She glanced at Akira, still blankly staring at the wall. Was that something the clone picked up from them? Surely not. Tokoyami at least had the sense to stick to tea with them, Dark Shadow - apparently the quirk had a name and pronouns - snaked towards the sake but a tap and stern look from Tokoyami brought them slithering back.

Dabi chugged a shot of brandy and raised another to Giri. “Tonight, we celebrate the return of the best of us,” he turned to the altar where Mr. Compress and Isao’s pictures sat, “remember those who are no longer with us,” he twisted back around to face Akira, “and hold vigil for the one who will find their way back.”

Each member gave a short toast, the drinks flowing as Giri made some drinks and slid ingredients to a few who Asami assumed got used to making their own. Asami lifted her cup of tea to each, watching the group carefully through their little ritual. From what she remembered, Mr. Compress died during the raid on the Mover/Blaster compound. Maybe they were toasting for Giri’s sake? Or they haven’t had time .

“He was just a year older than me,” Giri spoke first, swirling a green and yellow drink in a tall glass as his mist rippled gently around his hair. “When I first met him, I thought ‘this one’ll make it for sure!’ Kinda ironic, yeah?” he scoffed at himself. Giri glanced up at the others, all eyes on him. “I don’t remember everything, and that’s probably a good thing, but the connections, what I felt for all of you, that is what really stuck with me. And Sako…” his brow pinched as he looked to the side. “He felt a lot like what I had with Sho and Zashi, I think. Or maybe closer to Nem.”

Who? Asami subtly looked around at the others, but only Dabi, Hawks, and Tokoyami looked like they knew who he was talking about. Dabi failed to hold back a sly grin while Hawks’ wings poofed slightly. There couldn’t be that much crossover between a notorious villain and the former number one hero’s circles if the rest of the League didn’t know. If Tokoyami knew, maybe they were from U.A.? But then when would Dabi have met them? At least she could deduce Sako was Mr. Compress’ given name.

“I didn’t get the chance to know Isao,” Giri continued after a moment. “Technically I think the Blue Fang was still at war with us when I got nabbed?”

“Nah, they stopped going after you not long after Akira officially joined,” Dabi interjected, a smirk still pulling at the corner of his scarred lip. Lips? She wasn’t entirely sure if the bottom was too damaged to count.

“You?” Asami blurted out. Hawks also leaned forward slightly with bright eyes, and Giri tilted his head.

Dabi waved them off, swirling a shot of… something else as he peered back at Giri. “I was an informant for the Blue Fang and, by extension, Eraser til we were sure. Were you already gone when—”

“Yeah, dipshit, you told us here ,” Spinner hissed. 

Asami locked up, breath catching as she latched onto Akira, ready to move. The tension almost instantly dissipated as Dabi sharply elbowed him and the two tussled. Giri rolled his eyes and warped Spinner over to Magne.

The pair looked at Giri then each other and burst out laughing, the rest of the League joining in chuckles as even Shigaraki ducked his head, a smile playing at his lips. “Just like old times, ey Giri?” Dabi recovered first, weight pulling the corners back down. 

“At least some things haven’t changed.”

“Was that sarcasm?” Magne gasped, mock surprise trying to keep things light even as her own expression grew tight. “Our Giri really is in there after all,” she mock swooned into Spinner, who lightly shoved her off, barely moving her.

Dabi downed another shot before continuing, “Isao was Akira’s mentor in the Blue Fang. The muscle to their shadow. Gave me a weird version of the shovel talk when we were trying to figure out how to coexist as roommates.” That pulled a couple awkward laughs as he stared into the dark, swirling liquid now in his glass. Steam curled up as he haltingly continued, “Tried to give them a sense of home or at least familiarity here, too.”

“He was a damn good fighter, too,” Magne added as everyone tipped back their drinks or took swigs.

“The bullets,” Asami added, shrinking into herself as she realized the intrusion. Magne motioned them on, though confused. “They were made for what they knew of his quirk. That’s a… testament, I guess.”

“Tano did say something about that,” Magne spoke in sad wonder, regarding her as if for the first time. “Amazing bastard made a bunch of knuckleheads think for once.”

Asami started to protest but found the words dying on her lips as those altered - or unaltered? - memories arose. Her division wasn’t exactly known as brilliant strategists. To be fair, they didn’t need to be most of the time. Left it to someone with more maneuverability while they wore down the villains or most problems, really.

Brutes endured, and Strikers kept villains on their back foot. Hold the line until they break or you do . That’s just how the world worked.

“Isao cared deeply, for everyone ,” Twice spoke up. Everyone turned with brows in their hairline. Maybe he didn’t speak that much? He’d barely said a word since she arrived. “Didn’t matter who you were or… he always cared.”

The room fell into a somber quiet for a time, everyone absorbed in their own thoughts and drinks. Bubbling and hissing combined with an acrid smell from Dabi’s boiling liquor, and a soft breeze wafted from Giri’s side of the table. Asami slowly realized it was coming from Giri’s mist itself, the ac vent on the opposite side of the room.

“After Compress, you know…” Spinner stumbled over his words, staring angrily at his trembling blood-red drink. “Isao kept swinging by Brown division, kept trying to get me to let him take on some of the work. He’s a bloody soldier, he doesn’t know the first thing about logistics!” Dabi bristled and started to interrupt but he kept going, “At least that’s the excuse I used. He didn’t push, didn’t try and get me to appoint a new head or take on an apprentice. Just… talked. Listened. Somehow knew what I needed.”

Shigaraki shifted uncomfortably, everyone looking towards him but not directly at him as they waited. “Never felt like skipping dialogue with him,” he eventually said, throwing Asami for a loop. “He knew what to say when and never treated me like a noob or an npc with all the answers.”

“Surprisingly good with words, too,” Hawks chirped. His wings fluttered and tucked in as he drew their attention. “I mean, most people are good at fighting or strategizing or talking, and well, you can tell what I’m good at,” he flashed a familiar, brilliant grin, but now that Asami was close, she shivered slightly at the cracks in his facade. His face fell as he tapped his glass with talons.

Did he have those before? Asami shook her head slightly as the photos no one wanted her to see flashed. Little hard not to when they were splashed across every screen and monitor at Hero Con.

“He, ah, he was good at fighting and talking. Saw right through my bullshit, you know?” Hawks perhaps surprised them the most, such a stark contrast to the suave hero Asami saw at galas and Commission events. He continued on for a bit before ceding the floor in relief at a gesture from Dabi. 

Huh . Maybe their social circles weren’t that separate after all. Oh, the scandal that would have caused if Hawks was still a hero. How would the Commission have covered it? Dashing young hero takes on basket case to reform him? Wasn’t Dabi too notorious for that? Then again, people do love redemption stories .

‘ I know a lot is still vague or twisted. ’

Asami startled as the clone started signing, her expression snapping into annoyance. Oh, so the imposter got to speak, too?

They cringed away from the heat of her glare, but kept going, ‘ But most of what I remember of Isao is pretty clear. He called… us? Little Shadow not just because of our height or name, but because we stood protected in his shadow. ’ The ghost of a sad smile crept onto their face as they recounted some of the times they went on protection with him, shot the breeze on rooftops, and… took down a trafficking ring?

Asami looked to Dabi in disbelief, but he simply nodded, gesturing to watch them. They… No, that was too much. It was one thing for Akira to join a gang, fine , maybe they were forced to in order to survive. The “protection” for drug and arms deals? They couldn’t be serious. Akira, her 140 cm twin, went around stabbing people for what, a few hundred extra yen? They’d never be that desperate. There must have been some other way for them to get the money.

Some of her doubt must’ve shown on her face as Dabi launched into stories involving Isao, usually alongside Akira. Harmless pranks that went sideways, missions no child should be on, even a couple hits. All looking her straight in the eyes. She looked away after a while, skin crawling from the prolonged eye contact. The others nodded along, casting her curious glances as he continued and occasionally branching off with tangentially related stories of their own.

At some point, Giri and Magne grabbed more snacks from the kitchen, sliding a significant portion to Akira as they did yesterday. Did…did they really need to eat that much? Guilt twinged in her gut as Asami recalled the double portions that were hardly half what the League prompted them to eat now. 

Starvation is the fastest, easiest way of breaking Brutes . She shuddered at the thought that sounded entirely too much like mother. Wait, wasn’t that… Asami choked on her tea, narrowly catching the cup as it spilled slightly. The memory flooded back of Akira desperately trying to tell them what happened to Minori while she could only look on in confusion as she tried to follow their signs. Back then, she had only just started JSL tutoring, and they were going entirely too fast and trying to convey too much at once, but it made sense now.

Asami swayed to her feet as bile rocketed up her throat, barely swallowing in time to keep it further down. She nearly tripped over her chair on the way to the bathroom, pointedly looking to Hawks then Akira as he snapped around to look after them.

Notes:

What everyone’s drinking: Dabi: shots of the nearest strong liquor Giri: liquid marijuana (sours, pineapple juice, blue curacao, spiced rum, and coconut rum) Asami: sencha tea (loose leaf green tea with energy boost) Spinner: cranberry mimosa Hawks: negroni sbagliato Twice: sake Shigaraki: vodka redbull Magne: watermelon mojito Tokoyami: chamomile tea   Yeeah when I edited this chapter the first time I realized I kinda made Dabi an alcoholic over the course of the story. And it’s only been more obvious when I’ve gone back for more rounds. To be fair, he has many reasons. I've also got another memoirs mori chapter that'll go up today/tomorrow. ended up splitting off one section cause it was 3k on its own so will figure out whether I want to double release or wait a few days and upload the other. Both are in the Rise of the Guardians AU :)

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 36: Kurogiri Heist

Summary:

tw: hospital, psyche ward, blood I had to revisit this so many times to remove contractions XD

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break Finding their way

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Akira crept along the rooftops with Hawks and Kikuko. Each carried their usual weapons in addition to a handful of vials of Somnambulist passed along through a small flock of Anima’s pigeon friends. Between fuzzy memories and blackouts, they could not entirely be sure when she officially threw her lot in with the PLF, but she refused to leave her students in the middle of this dystopian nightmare. And finals.

Hawks slipped coverts in through cracks in the windows, just big enough to warn them of threats without being immediately obvious to onlookers or cameras. Kikuko started whispering in a Musutafu accent as they dropped to the street in “borrowed” uniforms from the hospital. Shift change in three, two, one, enter. 

“There you are!” The head nurse waved them over impatiently, rushing them through security. “This generation and punctuality. Can you ever be in the building ready to clock in when your shift starts?” she grumbled, pressing the access badges into their hands as she stormed off towards the nurses clocking out.

The poor residents shuffled out, ducking under her waving a clipboard about as they did not even bother to give the team a second glance. Sympathy flitted across Akira’s mind, but everything was in order. The most she should get is a slap on the wrist. Martial law technically would not affect Kurogiri yet… but the Commission was hardly known for honoring technicalities not in their favor. Spinner would damage control. She would be fine .

Hawks motioned to the right as Kikuko talked about fleeting nothings to keep her appearance up. The weather, her new scrubs, interesting names they passed… if there was one thing she was good at, it was talking your ear off. And interpreting, of course. They finally emerged from the Emergency Department, the hospital opening into a large atrium with a three-story ikebana arrangement incorporated into a softly babbling water feature at the center. A small cafe tucked in between the gift shop - what hospital has a gift shop? - and a wide hallway leading away from their goal.

Hawks coaxed the group around the arrangement, avoiding the couple tiny damp spots from splashes. The moon faintly reflected in the water, casting silvery rays about the still bright room. Classical music faintly drifted through the atrium and hallways, breaking just enough of the silence without interrupting the serenity of the space.

Hawks signaled them down a hallway just before the skybridge. Akira hesitated briefly at the near-open space stretching across nothing before following. Crossing the skybridge was a completely unnecessary step and one that could expose them for not coming from the right section. They passed the first pair of Commission guards, who barely spared a glance at their pastel blue scrubs before tiredly waving them through. 

Akira and Hawks shuddered as they passed the intake area and a subtle sense of calm washed over them. Kikuko did not seem to notice, or at least did not show anything for it. Sure, Eraser warned them, but the invasiveness of the staff member’s quirk still brought their senses to sharp clarity. 

They dipped into patient rooms separately as they went, a feather ever present tucked out of sight into Akira’s scrubs just in case something triggered a program or Galatea made an appearance. They knew. They knew it was needed, that there was no way for them to gain trust back with Galatea looming over their head. But… would they even be on this mission if it were not for the original?

I would not be alive if it were not for the original . Akira shook their head, quickly moving on from the room as they realized they lingered precious moments longer than they meant to. Of course, none of them would actually do anything to the patients. The actual shift would be discovered safe and sound after they escaped.

The trio converged as they reached the checkpoint for high-security patients. Three guards with black uniforms and threatening auras stepped up to meet them. “Name, ID, and patients,” he gruffly demanded. 

Akira warped just behind them, carefully unstoppering their vials and tipping them into the guards’ coffee cups. They slipped the closure back down before matching their clone’s movements and warping into it almost perfectly. One of the guards squinted at them but rubbed his heavily bagged eyes and shook it off. Ah, good ole sleep deprivation.

“Do you ever shut up?” one of the guards muttered as he pat down Kikuko. 

She just smiled brightly up at him. “Nope!” and continued.

The guards waved them through, taking a sip of their coffees without comment. A guard stood outside each patient’s door, peering at them as they made their way down the list. Finally, they neared Kurogiri’s door. Three outside, two in from Eraser’s intel. The door stood out more from the walls than the others but was at least painted the same shade. 

“Alright, you know the drill,” one of the guards drawled as they approached. “You can either submit to a full-body scan and pat down or have a strip search by a guard of your preferred gender. Declare anything you think may be confiscated, and we’ll hold it for you. If we find something on your person, you will be detained until the Hero Public Safety Commission is certain of your intentions.”

“That sure seems like a lot for a patient who isn’t a threat to himself or others,” Kikuko tilted her head, putting a finger to her chin. Akira warped as she stalled, distributing the vials to each clone since the cloned gas would merely dissipate. Each held an invisible vial just far enough under the guards’ noses to mostly avoid the risk of bumping into them.

The guard sighed, lids growing heavy as the concentrated mist drifted up his nose. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we have to follow orders. You know how tough they are on this sort of thing.”

The middle guard looked around, sniffing as his brow drew in confusion. Shit .

“Muraoka, Seto, do you smell that? It’s like someone baked cookies in here.”

“I don’t smell anything,” one of them started slurring, and Akira backed up as middle started to move more sporadically. 

Not ideal, but… Akira knocked middle in the back of the head and stuffed the vial practically halfway up his nose as they forced his head back. A feather muffled his shout, and the other outer guards were too far gone now to draw more attention. 

Muffled shouts rose from inside Kurogiri’s room as Hawks tapped a pass, Akira bouncing on their toes as they waited. Could not trust the likely energy drain was contained to the door. What else would they put around a warper’s cage?

Hawks already disposed of the two inside, blood slowly but steadily oozing from a couple slashes and large bumps on the back of their heads. Unconscious but stable from the looks of it. Akira reluctantly turned to their target, not sure if they would ever be ready to face him.

Kurogiri sat frozen cross-legged on a slightly nicer than they had seen here bed, mid-page turn in a surprisingly thick book. Just as Eraser described, the black and purple mist now curled about the top of his head in an approximation of Oboro’s hair. One eye a slightly glowing bright yellow, the other back to the pale blue ghost of who he once was. Taupe scars gouged deeply across what deeply tan skin they could see peeking out from a loose Present Mic shirt and cat fleece bottoms.

“Are you… a rescue party?” Kurogiri hesitantly smiled at the admittedly odd trio. “When Sho said be ready to move tonight, I thought he was just talking about a lower security level,” he awkwardly chuckled, pulling himself off the bed with some effort.

“Do you need some help?” Hawks fluttered closer, more feathers accumulating around him now that the easy part was over.

“Nah, now I know I put those somewhere…” he cast about the edge of the bed, ducking and nearly toppling off before a portal deposited him next to Hawks. “Oh. Welp, that works,” Kurogiri popped the p, doing a double-take at Akira. “You… oh, of course. Never mind that.” 

Kurogiri limped back to the bed, lighting up as he spotted a stylized wooden cane on the other side. “They say I need something more, but come on, this is so me .”

The pieces clicked into place as Akira ducked their head. Of course he was different. Not quite Kurogiri or Shirakumo. At least from what little they knew of the latter. ‘ You don’t have to pretend for us, ’ they signed once he faced the trio again. ‘ You’re also pretending you’re more Loud Cloud right now. ’

His smile fell slightly, features pinching a moment as his gaze darted over them. “Okay, that’s… fair. Oh, I think ‘ Soft Cloud ’’ is a bit more fitting now, if that’s okay.” Kuro- he facepalmed, wincing slightly at the motion before adding a few things to a go-bag and scooping it onto his shoulder from under a small desk. “Right, should probably ask the base Akira that. No offense,” he offered.

What? Did he get the broadcast? Why would that be his first thought? Unless… Akira shrugged, more than willing to put off that conversation until they were back at the compound. He was not technically wrong, just had the wrong creator. 

“Okay, I think that’s everything. Oh!” He plucked a cat Oboro plush off the bed, because of course they got one for him. “Can’t forget my son.”

Kikuko burst out in a short laugh as Hawks snorted. Akira ducked their head, merely adding, ‘ Wait till you see Twice’s dragons. ’

“The coordinates, if you will?” he asked, adjusting the strap with fingers at not quite the right angles. Like someone tried to set them too late.

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Hawks shifted, stiffening as his eyes snapped to the hallway. “The Doctor can Warp us back if we need it.”

He stiffened, pain and anger fighting on his face as he closed his eyes for a moment. “We can do a few stops if we need to. 80 km if we want to be well within limits.”

Akira sharply nodded, part of them relieved free-fall through the void would be brief. Well, not quite void. He closed his eyes as he focused on the coordinates Hawks rattled off, feathers now shooting back towards the little group. The lights shifted from a slightly yellow-tented white to silver as an alarm kicked on.

A speck of black in front of him spiraled outwards into a rippling doorway edged with the same purple of his mist. Akira passed through first, curiosity pulling their gaze through what was maybe never a void. Darkness enveloped them in its cold embrace, guiding their fall as amorphous shapes shifted in the realm beyond.

In a flash, they stumbled into the Showa temporary safehouse next to a couple of their soldiers. Low-level not much more than goons, they at least could take the risk of waypoints. Already on their feet, hands on weapons, they eased back at seeing Akira and the others step through, him last. They had to get his new preferred name at some point. Maybe once they met back up with the League.

“How’re you feeling, kid?” Hawks asked, a half step closer as his now free wings fluttered anxiously. 

“Kid?” He looked up, free hand still at his side with a pained, amused grin on his face. “Pretty sure I’m older than you, pretty boy.” 

‘ Careful, he’s taken, ’ Akira watched his body language, willing to give him a chance to recover on his own before stepping in. They and the original knew that feeling all too well at this point.

“Oh? Did dark and brooding finally get his stuff together?” Pain flashed in his eyes as he tapered off slightly, but he stood straighter. “Just gotta get used to it again, that’s all.”

‘ You don’t have to, ’ Akira offered. At his strange look, they continued, ‘ We’re taking you back for your safety. You’re not obligated to run support with Spinner. You’re not even obligated to stay if you want to abscond somewhere else at least until we finish this. ’ He started to brush them off again, but they interrupted, ‘ That’s coming from the whole League. Think about it, everyone will support what you decide. ’

Hawks peered at them, keeping up his smiley facade for him but sizing them up. Was that the wrong thing to say? They pushed down the uncertainty. Everyone left in the League expressed that opinion at one point or another. Sure, they had not “officially” come to that decision, but surely if everyone was behind it, what would block it?

They spent a few hours there, reporting their progress back to the League and making sure he was ready and physically well enough to make the last doorway. Akira retrieved their crutches, comparing their construction to his cane and looking over the carvings he did. Little cloud motifs lined the wood, simple cats and music notes intertwining in a dance, joining and leaving the clouds across the design. Towards the bottom, the carvings trailed off, unfinished.

“Didn’t feel right completing it before this chapter is over,” he murmured, fond nostalgia mixing with a slight shake as the mist pulled tight around soft coils.

Akira looked to Hawks. It felt like something should be said, but they had no words. No encouragement, no appeasement, no reassurance everything would be okay. Even if they could, did they want to? The end of their story would come far before the others even if all went well.

“Anyhow, I’m ready,” he abruptly stood, swaying slightly before balancing on his cane. “Thank you, for waiting for us,” he turned slightly to the soldiers, smiling brightly at them and making it reach his eyes even if they were not quite right.

The final doorway brought the same exhilarating drop as Akira caught a slightly more distinct shadow turn towards them before they landed on the countertop. Oh no . They rolled off, carefully avoiding the sink handles and drawer knobs on their way down.

A flail of limbs dropped through, Hawks managing to catch him before he hit the ground too hard, Akira grabbing his cane just in case. “Oops,” he turned in Hawks’ arms to grin at the League. “Not my finest entrance, but I do believe introductions are in order.” He tilted his head back and batted his eyelashes at Hawks, much to Dabi’s consternation. “Be a dear and put me down, will you?”

Hawks squeaked and set him down as Akira handed him his cane. “My name’s a work in progress, but I do quite like ‘ Soft Cloud ’ as a sign name if Akira approves. For now, Giri or Oboro is fine. Now, there are some new faces and some missing,” Giri trailed off as he took in og’s state, mist shrinking then rippling and twisting about his head. He looked to Shigaraki, who was already half out of his chair but now stood frozen. “Tomura, what happened?”

Notes:

Is this modeled after Yale Children’s Hospital? Yeah. That’s the only big hospital I’ve been in, and I’ve got some structural memories of the place. We volunteered there in high school for a bit. Always got a white mocha latte with 3 extra shots of espresso cause our shift started at like… 8 am? I forget what we considered early back then. I like the headcannon I’ve seen in a couple places but my favorite being Yueei Survival Guide where Kurogiri/Oboro’s body wasn’t really healed properly since he was just going to be a nomu. Things aren’t as severe in this, but they were still pretty bad before they could get to the mental health aspect. Is the Kurogiri shadow thingie a relic of a failed fanfiction idea? Maaaybe. But I’ve loved the idea of shadow realms existing as sort of an interconnected dimension to base reality ever since I saw Rise of the Guardians. Does it have that? No, but a cool fanfiction that took a really weird time travel turn did. Sadly it’s been discontinued, there was a soft reset that probably made things too complicated to write around.

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 35: No Way Home

Summary:

tw: martial law, minor character death, catatonic Frozen in the darkest moment

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break Finding their way

Long after they’d disappeared into the dark tunnel, Asami stared after the rest of the kids following a vigilante who introduced themself as Sleipnir. She was in the last batch before Akira, and while she couldn’t remember much from her hours of “deprogramming,” they left her raw, like someone took a cheese grater to the side of her head.

New memories and different versions of old pushed against the barrier she threw up when they initially washed over her, threatening to drag her under. Once Akira was back to normal, once they were both safe, she could sort through them.

“Come on, kid, you must be exhausted,” Magne drew up beside her, giving just enough space. 

“Not till Akira’s back,” she snipped, jaw set in determination as she shifted slightly away from the tall woman.

The corner of her mouth twitched up as Magne shrugged. “Suit yourself. Most of us will be in the common area, but Dabi’s with them just in case.” She held up a hand as Asami started to protest. “The Doctor’s very particular about who’s allowed in the room during procedures. The moment you can see them, Dabi will let Hawks know.”

Asami reluctantly followed Magne back through winding halls, hesitating by the one that led to medical but continued before Magne could say anything. Just because her family wasn’t safe didn’t mean those who saved her twin were. They skirted around the edge of the massive staging area, footsteps echoing as they made their way past a memorial area and around the back of the stage. Warm spices and barely-audible words drifted down the smaller hallway. Only a handful of doors scattered the walls before the hallway opened into a gathering space. 

Horribly mismatched, plush furniture dotted the small living room beyond, and a soft, red and black rug stretched across most of the floor beyond the kitchen. Paintings hung on the walls varied from oil masterpieces to traditional scrolls to drawings families on tv would put on the fridge with colorful magnets. Knick knacks filled the space in chaotic patterns with no discernable purpose, nothing like the cookie-cutter presentation mother maintained. A shrine matching the one on stage sat in the nook with a masked dragon plushie atop it. The kitchen itself held a small collection of appliances that were at least somewhat more coordinated, and a full set of bartending tools sat tucked out of the way in a corner behind large selections of tea and coffee.

Twice was the only free original League member missing, but she did say most. A few sat hunched on a ratty green sofa with a faded floral pattern. Tokoyami sat mulling over his cards, his quirk barely the size of his forearm resting on the arm of the black chair he claimed. Hawks perched on an orange corduroy loveseat, but his eyes stared vacantly at the wall, barely paying attention to the card game, much less anyone in the room. Crimson feathers darted about and fell to the ground just as quickly as they rose, Asami and Magne picking their way between them.

Shifting the electrical kettle slightly so it better obscured her gaze, Asami stared at Akira’s clone. A memory she even now only hazily remembered pushed to the front. Mother paced back and forth in her office while Asami waited completely still behind her cramped work study station stacked with reports and paperwork. Mother ranted about… reputation? That’s usually what her rants were about, anyways. 

“If she would just give us this one thing, I swear we can force them back in line. Finally pull a star out of this nightmare of a batch.” What seemed like an off-hand comment before now made sense. Galatea’s quirk wasn’t commonly known across the family, but she’d found enough scraps, morsels of information to have a low-confidence guess. And now…

Asami winced as the boiling water splashed onto her hand and quickly set the kettle back. No one seemed to notice, so she just patted it off with a white towel with the words “caffeine before chaos” printed in black hanging on the oven door. Were those flamingos? She started to pull more cups down before remembering where she was. If they had an electric kettle, they wouldn’t expect her to go through the whole process, right?

Asami dared a glance up, eyes briefly meeting the clone’s before snapping over to the other League members. Most had a cup or mug in front of them, and those who didn’t were too absorbed in the game. Pushing off the counter, Asami daintily sat on an empty, mustard-cushioned chair, crossing her ankles underneath as she watched what looked like Uno.

As her tea drained, Asami grew more confused at what they were playing. The rules were all over the place, a combination of Uno, Go Fish, and… Bridge? How the hell did they even know what to do? None of those should work together, and from the scowls around the table, it certainly didn’t look like anyone enjoyed the game. Tokoyami kept trying to play a card, but his quirk - was it really sentient? Would take one look and boop another with its beak. 

Hawks jerked upright, and everyone snapped to him. His gaze softened, eyes quivering slightly as all aloft feathers fell. Hawks looked to the clone and shook his head. A whirlwind of emotions rocked their face as their gaze dropped to their lap. Magne swore, startling Asami with the intensity as she whipped her phone out and speed typed something. Shigaraki rubbed his neck with his knuckles but remained glaring at his hand. 

“Is someone going to fill me in?” Asami asked as the quiet stretched thin between them. Spinner glanced at her and got up, her breath catching as he passed. He simply left the common area towards the main compound.

“Isao’s dead,” Shigaraki said bluntly, tension bleeding through and breaking on those two words.

It took a moment for the name to register, only leaving Asami more confused. For the clone to be affected, maybe he had something to do with them? Or Akira, at least.

“He’s— was Akira’s mentor before they joined us,” Magne explained.

Is that why they freaked out? Asami nodded slowly, expressing condolences as an afterthought as she realized they were grieving. It didn’t sound like he was even part of their smaller group. Why did they care so much?

Hawks jumped, listening as his feathers rose in anticipation. They fell a moment later as his short, black talons fidgeted with the sofa arm. “It didn’t work.”

Tokoyami’s quirk keened and shrunk into his hand, displacing some cards as his feathers quivered. Asami glared at the relief that flitted across the clone’s face before they caught her staring and tucked back into themself. What were they doing here anyways? They had their Akira back, wasn’t the clone just a liability at this point?

“So are you going to try something else or…” Asami stared right back intently as the room turned to her. “If programming exists, there has to be reverse programming. I don’t know what cocktail you came up with to remove the fuckery with our heads, but that can’t be the only combination you can—”

“ That was the safest, least invasive ‘cocktail,’” Magne interrupted, tension rippling through her body as Asami fought not to lean back. “For them to be in there that long, Dabi must have approved a couple other things to try.”

“He approved ?” Asami stiffened, glaring at her. “A villain is deciding what procedures my sibling goes through, and from the sound of it, they’re experimental at that. Aren’t they a ward? Where the hell are their guardians in all this? Where is anyone who’s supposedly bankrolling this war?”

“I’m the closest thing they’ve got here.” 

Asami whipped around, stumbling slightly as she found her footing. Akira stared blankly ahead, eyes dull and greyer than ever before, only moving at Dabi’s nudges. “The hell did you do to them?” Asami stormed up, consequences be damned as warmth rolled off his body in waves.

He sighed, gently nudging them towards her as he ran a hand down his scarred face, staples snagging slightly on each other. “Listen, princess, I did nothing. I only allowed the Doctor to try things we all approved when we were figuring out what would work. None of them did. We’ll see how they’re doing in the morning, but for now, everyone fuck off to bed. Hawks, Isao?” His head tilted back as he sighed deeply. “Well shit . If they ask, don’t tell them until they’re in the clear. Minori made them snap, Isao might shatter them.”

Asami took Akira from Dabi’s side, guiding them with slight nudges and a hand on their elbow at first towards the living room but she redirected to the rooms. She looked to Hawks, who finally registered her, and after a moment, he nodded. Still, she didn’t let herself relax until they were inside Akira’s room with the door locked. 

She helped them undress and get into pajamas, finding an impossibly soft pair in a nonsensical drawer. Come on, this probably makes sense to them if this is how they’ve organized it . Asami turned away from the dresser, helping Akira into bed as the weight of their catatonic state hit. Unable to do anything on their own, slow response times, no recognition or show of emotion, abandoning movements halfway through.

Wherever Akira was, they certainly weren’t in control of their body. At best, their subconscious was. At worst… hopefully things would look even the slightest bit better in the morning.

Declaration of Martial Law (July 18th)

“Fine, and you’re sure you’ll all be okay staying in Musutafu?” Dabi paced back and forth across the beige conference room, pausing only as he got the final answer. “Fine. See you then.” He hung and up and swore, slamming back into his seat. “Yamazawa house will shelter in place until the final raid. Eraser’s convinced the kids to stay, but Anima will still help with intelligence through the Nighteye Agency.”

“So that just leaves warps for three Blue Fang in Musutafu. Spinner, anyone from Esuha?” Magne asked as he re-entered.

“Just Sleipnir and Jinx.”

Asami sat back in the surprisingly soft chair, the only parts of the room touched by the League’s chaotic style. Her gaze darted between the heads of the organization as she slowly came to realize was far larger than anyone expected. They at least used similar color categorization for divisions, but the need for two heads each - or at least one head and a civilian for Carmine…

The clone interjected, ‘ We’re pulling all associated vigilantes, martial law will generate far too much risk for them. Nine made it to Sado Island before everything shut down, so he’s at least legally stuck there. ’

“Why are they here?” Asami finally burst out. “They’re a clone made by the Wrens. How do we know they’re not working for them?”

The clone didn’t flinch, just looking down at the table as their neutral face fell slightly.

“They were. Now they know better,” Dabi put it simply. “We could say the same about you.”

Asami sat back, anger boiling up but avoiding the fire raging in his own eyes despite his deceptively calm tone.  Hawks gave them a curious glance but started his update on which limelight heroes would take refuge or otherwise move to the compound through their warp network. It didn’t sound like they had that many warpers, maybe it had to do with the goop warp that got her and Akira out?

She glanced over at her sibling, who still vacantly stared ahead dead to the world. This morning showed no change, and she wondered if they even managed to sleep. It didn’t take much to talk her way into the meeting, but after the last time she left Akira alone, Asami refused to risk leaving their side for more than a moment again.

The heads continued working on logistics of moving from the sounds of it tens of thousands of people back into direct range of the warp quirk. Every time she thought she had a grasp on the general size of the organization, an off-hand comment or cost of supplies sent her calculations spiraling upwards again. A couple hours into the meeting, Dabi took out his phone and frowned at the screen.

“Eraser? What changed?” His brows shot up then fell into determination as he scribbled something down. Asami leaned closer over the table, but the angle and distance was just the right combination to keep it illegible. 

He slid it to Twice the moment he finished, who took it after a moment too long. Something just seemed weird about him. He wasn’t contributing, and the way he disappeared last night before news about anyone…

“We’ll work on it,” Twice pushed off the table, wobbling slightly before adjusting. Maybe he was injured? She didn’t see him in medical, though. Oracle, who Asami still wasn’t entirely sure why the young heroine was involved in this, grinned brightly at the note and nodded more seriously, leaving for a side room with Twice.

“We’ll get him out. No, you don’t need to come. Focus on your kids.” Dabi finally ended the call and closed his eyes for a moment.  They snapped open as he turned to Shigaraki directly. “Kurogiri needs to be warped here within 24 hours before the Commission takes him. Hospital staff are on our side, guards aren’t.”

Shigaraki inhaled sharply and looked around at everyone gathered. “Then Oracle’s divining. Hawks, fetch what they need from us. Spinner, Magne, find the best way in from what blueprints you can get. What status effects is he under?”

“He’s on a couple SSRIs, but side effects are negligible. He’s no longer considered a threat to others or a flight risk but is on a low-level quirk suppressant. If we have them turn off that dosage, he should be able to warp us back.”

“Should?” Of course Asami knew the infamous warper, but even low-level suppressants were nothing to fuck with. 

The clone started signing before she continued. ‘ Those need to be completely out of his system before he tries to warp anywhere. Telefrag, taking a swim in the Pacific, free falling thousands of feet in the air— ’

“Then the Doctor will warp everyone out.”

The room fell dead silent at Shigaraki’s words as the hair on the back of Asami’s neck stood on end. She blinked in shock as the clone signed.

‘ The Doctor twisted him into a nomu. We can’t take that risk. ’

Notes:

I'm not sure if Isao and Compress count as minor or secondary characters in this? The usual metric, being named, doesn't really work here because Akira makes a point to know everyone's name they can. Where do y'all draw the line on that? And we now have the solid metric for the stages! We've been working up to martial law, which usually just gets enacted, but I wanted to build up the effects before going into full lockdown. Especially since Japan hasn't ever declared martial law. This felt like an appropriate time, though.

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 34: Lockdown

Summary:

tw: memory loss, panic attack, extreme dissociation? Reminder a new chapter of Memoirs Mori is going up to compensate for how short this chapter is :)

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break Finding their way

They stared after the massive man bleeding out on the gurney, every stab and slash from their weapons pierced through them like a white-hot knife. Most of his wounds bore the paper-thin edges of Iris’ quirk, but a few felt familiar in a way that twisted the knife in their mind.

They desperately tried to remember why. Why he was so important.  Why seeing him in pain hurt. Why they couldn’t recognize who exactly he was. Every probe shot back at them, pain flooding their senses until their vision grew hazy at the edges, swimming as they tried to understand.

Asami’s voice cut through, dim and fading fast. “...part of the test. Just hang in there, okay?”

What test? The test she said earlier. That doesn’t make sense. Why would he be part of a test? They don’t know him. They don’t — Akira tried to bring up their hands to sign, but narrowly stopped themself from warping as thick leather held them down. 

Their shoulders shot up at shrill beeping grew faster, louder. The pressure gone in a skk , they barely registered Asami signing something desperately but tightly. ‘ I know him. Why do I know him?’ 

Dull pain pinpricked their right arm as they tried to stay in the moment, tried to understand. None of this made sense. Why were they here? Don’t look back. The words made no dent in the overwhelming panic, the pulsing headache behind them pounding against their temples. Dark, green hallways with too-sharp shadows flashed over their vision as they tried to pull back against the restraints. 

A sharp prick in their leg, and the hallways swarmed their vision, heart pounding and a silent scream tearing out of their throat as the stained room melted into the hallway then darkness and consciousness slipped through their iron-clad grasp.

Their first modicum of awareness flashed into sharp agony as it felt like wires were twisted and torn away from their head, leaving frayed, sparking ends that sent thousands of tiny shocks through their body.

They couldn’t move, could barely breathe in between the connections that didn’t lead anywhere severing. Just when they thought it was over with every neuron on fire, icy tendrils clamped around their head. They nearly sighed in relief as numbness spread out, but it kept going. Thoughts grew thick as molasses, and they retreated further into themself as the ice only invaded further.

They flinched, curling further and further into themself as sharp pain burst repeatedly around their head until all they were aware of was a blank, white room with no beginning or end. A door was supposed to be on one part, but all they could make out from their fetal position was the slightest seam.

They were vaguely aware of something happening to their body outside the room, but they couldn’t bring themself to know what. All that mattered was their quiet little big room. Nothing, no one could reach them here.

Ḩ̴̣̺̪̰̣̬̫͍̥̖̱͉̻̳̄̎̄́͜ę̸̡͍̯̤͉͈͇͇͖̻̋̃͒̆̑͛̓̀̍͐̕͘͝ͅ ̸̝̫̰̞͈̳̣̗̹͖͕̪̤̉̀̓̃̿́͑̓̽̍̄̓̃͜ç̴̤̜̖̩̘̻̳̘͕̣͚̰̥̟͕̯̄̄͛̾͌́̓͋̚͝a̴̧̟̗̺͍͐͋̀̿̓n̸͈̙̯͈͓̠̬͎̻̬͎͔̦̩͉̏͑͗͊̽̽͆̓͊ ( He can )

Well, that was technically true. But they wouldn’t risk the nomu Doctor for a test… would they? They shook their head. That would be far too illogical for their family. Something ghosted against the outside of their little big room, but they snapped it tighter. No one needed to know. No one needed to be here. They’d be just fine in their little big room, and no one could reach them except him, and he had no reason to be here.

Time passed outside uncaring but they had no idea how long their personal eternity stretched in those comforting, isolating walls. At some point, they unfurled and leaned against the space, taking note of the little changes that usually made it less straining. Where the room was entirely white before, now the walls reflected their appearance slightly, each iteration deviating in small ways that built up until they didn’t recognize some of their reflections. Naturally honey-colored eyes, black hair, tall and feminine, broken bones that visibly didn’t heal correctly, extra missing limbs, restored leg…

They weren’t sure how long after their reflections appeared the doorway formed. Where usually a door rested ajar, a void stood. No hints of what lie beyond, no sound passing through. Or any sensations at all. Only the knowledge that it was time to leave their haven.

Notes:

me @ my therapist: yeah pretty sure the triggering content for me is over now that we’re past the torture scenes this chapter: …oh we’re supposed to be done? Lemme just… just sprinkle a bit more me: …

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 33: Brute/Striker Raid

Summary:

tw: GRAPHIC depiction of violence, war, body horror, deadnaming, vomit, medical trauma, creepy adult to walk away

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break ???

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Asami picked at her food, nerves fraying as she waited. Whatever the rat user was trying to warn people about was happening today. Was happening here . Too many coincidences built up over the past week, and they posted within moments of her finding the previous post. No matter the time of day or night.

‘ Something on your mind? ’ Akira paused, looking at her curiously. At least they weren’t blank today.

Asami pinned a smile on her face and shook her head, forcing herself to take a bite of chicken. “Just tired, I guess. We’re going on that trip tonight, spent a little too much time studying.”

Akira held her gaze for a moment before shrugging. ‘ We were the first to pass the new licensing exam. We’ll be fine as long as we’re together. ’

Sometimes Asami wished she had that confidence back, but at what cost? Father announced the trip to Sado Island for all the new Wrens just yesterday afternoon. Was it connected to the rat user’s messages? Why else would they give so little prep time to see the heads of the whole family?

Maybe she was just being paranoid. Mother would say Asami was entertaining far too many what-ifs for her pretty little head… she wasn’t entirely sure if mother knew that was an insult in current slang. Hell, Asami only learned that when Hana practically bit her head off at their work study. 

Akira nudged her hand waggling their eyebrows a bit as she realized she was blushing. Asami nudged them back, starting a playful war as they skirted around their bowls and tumblers.

The villain alarm blared over the speakers as the lights flashed. Everyone froze. So much for being paranoid . Asami took a moment to work out the three long beeps with red lights following the initial siren and paled. The adults rushed out of the cafeteria, and Akira barely chewed as they downed what little was left in their bowl. 

Asami sharply whistled in a brief pause and stood on her chair for a bit more height. “Everyone, listen up! There are villains attacking the compound. If you have the training and license, go to your designated position. If you don’t, stay here and an adult will take you to a designated safe area.”

Heart pounding, she accepted Akira’s hand to get down and sprinted with them towards their blue position. Adults rushed past in various states of panic, even Carpenter emerging from his studio in light armor. Things must really be serious if he was joining the fray.

Akira warped away for a heartbeat, nearly giving her a heart attack before they returned with Akihiro and Masuyo. “A little warning next time,” she snipped under her breath. The others already looked as spooked as she felt, and they were the faces. They could do this. She could do this.

“Masuyo, you know where you turn for Black, right?” 

She snapped focus back to Asami and nodded hesitantly as her steps faltered slightly. 

Asami held back a sigh, “Alright, stick with us, and someone in your group should be there to take you the rest of the way. Overwatch isn’t that far from Snipers.” 

At least I think … That would make sense, right? Asami glanced to Akira, but they were already zeroed in on their task. Nothing would slip past their mask now. An explosion shook the foundation, and the kids looked to each other, eyes wide as saucers. Asami recovered first, giving them a shaky smile and helping Akihiro to his feet.

“It’s fine, these are built to have some sway, remember?” Asami smiled brightly, or at least tried to. Definitely not that much. What the hell was that? She pushed the group on, catching up to Akira and falling into step beside them. At least they weren’t panicking. Maybe they should be, though. Maybe they all should be. Wasn’t this the last holding other than Sado Island?

Asami stumbled with the realization, Akira immediately catching her by the elbow with a confused look. She hesitantly smiled, not bothering to hide the mounting panic as everything hit. Those weren’t just any villains. The League was here to take Akira back. The rat user was with them. And she told no one . But… was that such a bad thing?

They pulled up at the junction where Masuyo needed to peel off. Asami couldn’t make out anyone down the hallway so rattled off what she remembered, hoping she’d be okay. They always waited to enter the building until they killed the violet group, so she should have time. Should she though?

Asami pushed aside the confusing swirl of emotions as their small group heaved open the door to the sniper nest. With so few ranged quirks - by design - firearms were a critical skill. A couple adults towered over the fresh heroes, and relief flooded Asami seeing that everyone made it. The box of special ammo sat next to Miki, their instructor at the center of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Elementis, you’re finally here,” the cold voice of their instructor pulled him to her. “Imbue these sniper rifles and tell me when it’s about to release.” She stiffly turned to Akira and Asami, sizing them up. “You two are on Carmine. What are you doing here?”

They shared a glance, confusion covering some of the chaos. “We were told Blue after the exam and didn’t hear otherwise on our way here.”

In an instant, Miki was right in front of them, and Asami took a half step back. “ You’re the targets. Now go, ” she hissed, spinning on her heel to return her steely gaze to the courtyard. “Idiots, the lot of them,” Miki muttered under her breath.

Asami started after Akira, only to freeze in horror as a tsunami of black and white villains - villain? - swarmed over the walls. He can do that?? A rough shove from Miki sent her hurtling forward, catching herself in time to stay upright and dart after Akira. A fresh wave of fear threatened to pull Asami under as she tried to keep pace. 

Sure, there were a couple accounts of there being multiple copies of Twice, but after a year they were largely dismissed as gimmicks or copycats. But that many ? A dazzling light show cast an array of colors on the wall as they rounded a corner.

“Father!” Asami called out, relaxing ever so slightly at his presence. “Are-”

“Good, get to the courtyard. You are on Violet.” The stained glass covering his body parted for a moment at his elbow as a needle injected familiar green liquid into his arm. “You can follow if you must.”

Asami caught Akira’s hand before they could dart off. She looked up to him in confusion, shrinking back at the thinly veiled cold rage burning in his eyes. When was the last time his eyes held anything kinder than contempt for her? “We were just told by Miki to go to Carmine. Is this more recent or that?”

His eyes slid down to look over both of them. “You will do as I say. You know you are not enough for Carmine.”

Akira’s hand crushed hers as their shoulders shook. They didn’t say anything, but that wouldn’t last long. “Of course, father. Wherever we can be of use.”

“Oh, and one more thing. Daitan, you will warp your way to Carmine once Asami is no longer of use.”

She darted forward, practically dragging Akira for a couple meters before they snapped out of it. Akira wrenched their hand out of her grasp, snarling at the empty hallway. ‘ He can’t just talk to you like that. ’

“It’s okay,” Asami tried to soothe. “Like I told you back under the building, I know I’m broken, and I know my usefulness is running out.”

Akira stopped dead in their tracks and spun around to face her, face twisted in pain and desperation. ‘ You are worth everything. Don’t listen to them. ’

“Akira?” Asami whispered, heart twisting for them.

They clutched their head, rapidly shaking it as strands of hair fell out of their bun. Their fingers dug into their skull as Asami tried to pull them loose, only managing to pull out a few hairs. Adults passed with suspicious glances, only continuing as Asami gave reassurances they were just overwhelmed. They’d be fine, just needed a moment.

We’ll be fine .

Akira’s face fell into blank neutrality as they let go of their head and stepped away. Asami tried to take comfort in them being stable enough to move, but… this Akira might just do what father said. 

The tides will rise and let the caged birds sing …

They had to get to the courtyard. With an unsteady breath, Asami pushed forward with Akira, readying herself to at least see what the tides would bring as they shook her world to the core.

Asami and Akira slipped ear plugs in as they drew closer to the main fight, gunfire shattering across the field and down the hallways. They couldn’t be inside already, right? Asami’s breath came in shallow gasps as everything came crashing down.

The pair dodged to either side of a stray ice wall, Akira warping to her side the moment the crystals stopped clinking. They darted forward, Akira warping to keep out of her way as Asami focused her shield on vitals. 

A spray of bullets deflected off her armor as Akira warped to the wall and slammed into their assailant. Akira snapped their dominant arm as Asami brought an escrima stick down on their temple. A Wren gave them a strange look but upon recognizing them withdrew his warding hand. It wasn’t just father. They charged through the halls, warping and ducking around and under skirmishes that definitely weren’t supposed to be inside at this point.

Asami dashed toward a black and white mask, not bothering to check Akira pivoted to follow. Gouges tore through the seams and ripped through his flesh just as she reached him, skin flaying as she skidded to a stop and the clone dissolved into a puddle of brown goop. Carpenter nodded sharply, a sly smile sending shivers down their spine as she shifted to block his view of Akira.

“Don’t worry about little old me,” he crooned. “Thought I would love to see my masterpiece again.”

Not trusting herself to speak, Asami pulled Akira along towards the courtyard while keeping herself between them. She knew what that meant. Didn’t make him any less creepy. Who prefers human skin anyways. They slipped into the edges of Funhouse’s bubble, stumbling as they stretched and pulled into over twice their height. Akira fell to their knees, prosthetic falling uselessly to the ground at their normal size.

Shit! Asami scooped them up and ran, not bothering with the prosthetic as she pushed through the opposite edge a mere two steps at her height. Everything unwound, unraveling for a split second before pulling back together.

‘ Down. ’ Akira leaned on her while they tightly wrapped their stump, dismissing her feeble offer to help as they whipped out their crutches. ‘ I’ve dealt with worse. Don’t look back. ’ They straightened as they signed that, something clicking into place as the phrase shuddered down Asami’s back.

She nodded, swallowing back bile at the coppery taste of blood thick in the air and cries only getting louder as they pushed forward. Always forward. Don’t… no. She refused to even think that. Something about those words felt too familiar, too alien, too… not real.

They erupted into the too-bright early afternoon light of the courtyard, sun beating down and reflecting off the steaming pools of blood. Akira shoved Asami out of the way as they warped, before she even registered the thousands of slivers of metal hanging in the air. Iris, of course.

Asami barely had time to give Akira a grateful nod before diving under a massive green bolt. She glared in the direction it came from, searching for its origin, but finding no one. Only a quickly-closing hole through Iris’ field. Head on a swivel, Asami darted toward Akira, slamming them out of the way of a pale blue beam, only for the clone to dissipate.

The beam still clipped her armor, tearing a hole in the side and eating through the back as she rolled to her feet. Akira warped back and forth around a villain, rose petals falling as they littered her with cuts while she tried to just keep up with blocking.

We have to at least make this look convincing. Just until we can get to Twice. Asami darted in low, knocking her over and disturbing a cloud of pollen gathered on the ground. She grit her teeth against the thousands of tiny shocks, pin pricks of sharp burning pain settling through her armor as she tried to shuffle her sluggish limbs away. 

Narrowly outside the cloud, Akira threw a knife into one of the roses, releasing another mini cloud of pollen that just avoided Asami. She sent them a half-hearted glare as blood pulsed from the wound. Asami flinched, pulling her limbs away from the settling pollen as she backed away. 

She couldn’t be that much older than them. Asami forced herself to watch as Akira gave her a quick death, at least. She settled into a defensive stance, holding them back with an arm as they finally got a chance to see about… still only about a quarter of the courtyard. Iris must be close to downed if her aura was that thick, but that would leave them open to whoever shot that bolt at her earlier. The glare reflected the sun almost directly into their eyes, their helmets barely making a dent in the visibility.

And where was Twice? Had Siphon gotten to the original? Kami, she hoped not. Akira watched them carefully, eyes occasionally flicking to what little they could make out from their pocket of near-safety. New Wrens weren’t even supposed to be in Violet. Was there even an organizer?

‘ Ready? ’ Akira asked, boredom oozing from their casual signs. Asami recoiled, but they only took that as not yet. ‘ We’re here, so we’re within orders at least. ’

‘ You just killed someone, ’ Asami signed harshly, bile rising again as she couldn’t quite tear her eyes from the girl bleeding out not a meter away. ‘ She’s barely older than we are. How are you okay with that? ’

Akira cocked her head, glancing between them with pursed lips. ‘ This is war. You kill people in war. ’

An explosion threw Asami forward, superheating the metal outer armor on her back as Akira warped away. Ears ringing, Asami brought a shaking hand up to wipe red haze from her eyes, coming away wet and sticky. Pushing to her feet, Asami whipped around, eyes wide as she locked eyes with Dabi. She faltered a step back, eyes glancing about for Akira. Does he know? Do any of them?

He mouthed something, but with their vision still blurred and dripping red, Asami couldn’t quite make it out. Shit . Where are you? She fell into a defensive stance, taking a chance on the line that stuck with them. ‘ Larks need freedom to sing. ’

His eyes narrowed, flames bursting to life across his palms as she frantically backpedaled. Was he expecting a different response? Was he not the one posting? Who the fuck sent those? Where the fuck was Akira?

Asami threw all of their shield into their arms as she threw herself to the side of the spiraling cerulean flame. He gave them an odd look as Iris’ aura dropped, half melted half shattering against the ground as she fell. 

Dabi tried to speak again, but stopped as she tapped her ear. The finger came away red, but was it already red? He was signing. Shit. ‘... reaper? ’ He scowled when she hesitated, stalking closer as Asami spread her shield across her front. Dabi repeated a little slower, ‘Where is Reaper? ’

Oh . Still shit. ‘ I don’t know, lost them in explosion. ’ Asami pulled him forward, wincing at the heat radiating off his scars as stained glass spewed from the hole he left. ‘ I’ll find them. ’ She darted past Dabi, hoping the distraction of such a big score would be enough. Asami shoved down how her gut twisted at leaving her father to the villain. Now that she could actually see, mostly, Asami peered into the chaos scattered between dozens of small fights and very little black and white.

Is he searching inside? Asami surged towards a glimpse they caught of Akira, a mere flash of a clone they instantly dropped in the sky. Please be okay. Please don’t pose too much of a threat . She could only hope they had a high risk threshold for them given what little history she knew of.

Wrens ignored or twisted in disgust at her while villains subtly parted the way. Sniper shots from the nest they were supposed to be safe in littered the ground with bodies, one taking a bullet to the head as he tried to shield Asami. 

Her eyes grew wide with horror as the blood splattered across her front, his eyes rolling back as the momentum exploded out the back of his head. The ground below shattered, caving in and pulling a couple villains with it while Asami skirted along the edge. Pain flashed in the eyes of the few who saw before they had to keep fighting. Keep going.

How the hell was no one freaking out? Asami narrowly held back the bile as she ran headlong towards where she last saw Akira. Get to them and get out. Just get to them and get out. Another glimpse of them sent Asami skidding in another direction, tripping one of her cousins as she passed. Every little bit, right? 

A hand the size of her head snatched Akira out of midair, slamming them below crowd level. Is that… Asami barreled between fights, leaping over a ripple of earth and hissing as a bullet grazed her armor, exploding outward and catching a rib or two even through her shield. 

She couldn’t risk looking for the target, but things couldn’t be going well if they brought out the expensive quirk suppressants. Weren’t those supposed to go to Sado Island? Maybe they weren’t the only assets to ship out that night. Hawks and a hulking figure in deep blue fought Akira, but still no Twice to be seen.

Shit, what now? Nothing Akira did seemed to affect the big guy, but Hawks fluttered barely off the ground, uncertain tension hardening every line as his feathers acted more like distractions than attacks. A single feather flicked in her direction before resuming. The moment Akira noticed her, they warped close, pressing forward from her position only for her to hold them back. 

Betrayal and pain flashed in their eyes as she hissed, “This is a test. We need to go with them.” They hesitated, eyes darting between the others. “Do you really think they’d stop for a chit chat?”

Relief flooded Asami as they stood down, leaning slightly on her as she noticed their stump was dripping blood through the hasty bandages. Dropping to a knee, Asami rewrapped their stump, wincing at the gashes. “That should hold better.”

Asami shied towards Hawks as the hulk took a step towards them, heart trying to leap out of her chest as she looked between them. At least she knew his persona from before.

‘ I’m Isao, or Muscle Man, ’ he quickly introduced himself with his sign name. ‘ We need to get you two out while the others take the compound. I can- ’

‘ We’re not leaving them! ’ Asami balked, focusing on anything but Isao’s looming figure. ‘ I can tell you where the other kids are. Where the tunnels are. ’ Akira was barely hurt. She had to commit.

‘ Kid, we don’t have time for this. You’re going to vomit black goo, and- ’

Asami rapidly shook her head, strands of hair falling around her face. Akira looked to her, lips downturned as the wheels started turning. Shit . ‘ You have to listen to me. They’re just kids, they don’t know what they’re doing. ’

Hawks and Isao shared a glance, and the latter nodded, mouth set in a firm line. ‘ We always get every kid. Tell Tano on the other side; he’ll relay any new information to us. You’ll see another Akira there; don’t worry about them. ’

Asami started to protest when thick tar bubbled up her throat, choking as she desperately tried to breathe. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Akira calmly letting the globules from their own mouth. The black vomit poured out in streams through her nose and mouth as her insides violently ejected, flipping and twisting as the tar obscured her vision.

Just as she thought they were killing them after all, Asami stumbled into a pristine medical wing with white table beds and a team of doctors swarming. She stepped in front of Akira, eyes darting between the strangers in scrubs and surgical aprons and… well that must be who Hawks mentioned. A shadowy bird pushed its way to the front, herding some of them back with a hiss as a tendril wound back through them. What the…

A spindly man in pale blue scrubs stepped forward with a woman in a simple but colorful suit. She interpreted as his mouth moved, “I’m Tano, Akira’s primary doctor here and our head trauma surgeon. Can we take a look at you two? You can stay together unless either requires surgery.”

‘ The tunnels! You need to tell them about the tunnels. There are three main escape tunnels running under Sendai, and four more primarily used for maintenance and in case the others are compromised. Six adults and two kids should be making their way through the Eastern… ’ Asami frantically ran through Carmine’s routes and access points. If this much was true so far, she couldn’t take the chance on them making it.

Tano nodded along and tapped his ear, turning slightly as the woman signed he was informing the team. Asami reluctantly let the others approach, watching them like a hawk as they treated Akira. Another person joined, though Asami couldn’t quite tell how they presented. The first woman, Kikuko now that she introduced herself, stepped to Akira’s side and waited expectantly, making sure the doctors or nurses talked through what they were doing. Numerous lacerations hidden under their clothing along with some minor electrical burns in patches and the gashes across their stump she’d noted.

That’s an option ? Asami took some small measure of comfort in keeping track of them, but refocused on her translator, Kei. Damnit, they didn’t include pronouns. Was it weird to ask? Asami settled for introducing herself, ‘ Asami, she/her. I’d like to also know what they’re doing while they’re doing it. ’ She stumbled over the signs, adrenaline crashing into a steady thrum of anxiety as she watched their every move. 

Kei smiled gently and said something to the staff. ‘Mine are they/them, by the way. Right now, they’re getting vitals. Heart rate, lungs, blood pressure,’ they moved on as she nodded emphatically. ‘There are some concerning entrance wounds on your side and back, and some fluid around your right lung. From the bleeding, it’s possible your eardrums are ruptured. Surgery should be able to repair them to at least 80%. Before they start you on anything, are you taking any medications or drugs? Any allergies?’

Asami looked away but fished the discreet case out of her utility pouch. ‘ The consumable variant of ideo trigger. 50 mg as needed. And no. ’ She waited for the judgment, the pity, the sharp move away from her. When none came, Asami looked back in confusion and only found casual acceptance, almost like they already knew. But that wouldn’t make sense, no one outside the family and her dealer knew… right?

The shadow bird hovered near Akira, warbling softly as it stayed out of the way of nurses and doctors. A boy a little shorter than her with a raven’s head and beady, red eyes popped out of the crowd, stumbling forward as the shadow bird swooped back to him. Asami finally registered him as one of Akira’s former classmates, although maybe not as separated as she thought. He glanced over, hesitating a moment before pulling up beside Akira. He kept his signs too small to see over the bed, but Kikuko filled him in on their condition. And confirmed her identity.

She pointedly ignored the not Akira leaning against the wall nearby, watching them like they were some kind of attraction. Asami pointedly did not think about what happened to make the League that desperate. She most certainly did not wonder if it wasn’t from the League at all.

Asami assured them the local anesthesia was enough. She couldn’t be more of a drain than she had to be. Anything and nothing could set them off. They worked with villains . It didn’t matter that her heart clenched at the idea of lying awake on an operating table. It didn’t matter that the last time she got local anesthesia, she could still feel everything .

Asami focused every fiber of her being on breathing steadily, not daring to flinch as they fished around her back for the shattered bullet. Not daring to pull away as something brushed against her ear canal. A sharp stretching spread across her ear, like stitches but somehow worse. First right then left. She could do this. She first heard the faint beeping of the heart monitor, painfully aware it was faster than her resting should be. 

By the time they wheeled her out of the theater, most of the beds held at least one person in each. Some held half their face in their hands, others held limbs limply as they dangled from sockets, sliced to ribbons with their arteries visible and untouched. Her stomach churned, bile threatening to spill over as she held a hand up to her mouth.

Someone grabbed a bucket just in time as the foul liquid spilled threw her fingers at an eye dangling by the nerve. Heroes were capable of this ? 

I need Akira. Where’s Akira . Asami sat up, wincing as it pulled at her back as she frantically looked around. No no no, where were they? That was not Akira, where was her sibling?

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Kei appeared at her side, steadying her as they took the bucket. “What do you need right now?”

“Where’s Akira?” she croaked, still a little too loud from their flinch. Asami tried again making an effort to be quieter.

“Their stump was in worse shape than we initially thought. They’ll be fine,” they rushed to explain as her panic spiked, “just needed a minor surgery. Akira should be back any minute now, they didn’t take them that long after you.”

Asami nodded, desperately trying to swallow the growing lump in her throat at the idea. They had to be together. What if they panicked? What if something went wrong? What if they decided a “test” didn’t align with their programming? What if…

“Hey, can you breathe with me?” Kei interrupted her thoughts as shrill beeping blasted Asami’s fresh ears. 

She tried to match their breaths, gulping in air as their throat constricted. It was just too much. She couldn’t— they had to stick together. That was the only way.

“Can I touch you?” Kei asked. “You’re going to pass out if you don’t get enough air.”

After a moment, Asami nodded and let them guide her hand to their chest. She gulped and gasped, trying to match as she felt their heart’s steady rhythm in sharp contrast to her own pounding in her ears. Breath by unsteady breath, she took slightly longer, deeper breaths. The spots on the edge of her vision faded and the shrill beeping slowed, an underlying tone dropping as her heart settled somewhat.

“There you go,” Kei relaxed their grip, but Asami couldn’t let go, hand locked in place. They looked down with slightly raised eyebrows but stayed. 

“Sorry, I—”

“No, it’s okay,” they shifted their hands to rest on the bed in a somewhat less strained position. “I get it.”

“RED!”

Asami startled, freezing and crushing Kei’s hand as Dabi appeared in the middle of the chaos with Isao facing away from her. She didn’t see him that long ago, did she? His back was more holes than skin, blood pouring as Dabi desperately held gauze to where he could reach.

Lower risk patients abandoned, doctors and nurses swarmed to the pair, moving Isao to a gurney and pulling a biohazard sign from seemingly thin air over the pool of blood. Asami locked eyes with Kei as it finally hit who Isao was. They started a platitude but froze as she said, “Those are far worse on the inside. The bullets were made for him.”

Kei flagged a nurse, who went sheet white at the news and rushed after the surgery team. They had to be, right? A max strength suppressant-coated shot that exploded once it pierced something. The high priority target of a large, muscular man could’ve matched several villains, but for bullets that specific… “Is he going to be okay?” she whispered, a pit hollowing her stomach as she already knew the answer.

Kei put on their best reassuring smile, but it fell far short of their eyes. “It’s Isao . I’m sure this will just be another impossible tale he’ll spin once he’s out.”

True to Kei’s word, Akira wheeled down the path, restraints covering their wrists and ankles. Asami winced. Those would have to be quirk suppressant if they fought. Something was different about their eyes, though. The usually blank, dull purple brighter and… scared?

Asami carefully sat up, grip loosening as their bed pushed as close to hers as they could squeeze, the nurses giving them a knowing look. “Akira?”

They tried to bring up their hands to sign, only to meet the bindings. Their eyes wide, Akira desperately pulled at them, a slight jerk and more panic filled their eyes as they tried to lean over. “Akira, hey, you need to try and breathe, okay? This is all still part of the test. Just hang in there.” 

Akira shook their head, mouthing something as their hair curtained their face. They leaned over, mouth open as a nurse pulled them back. “Hey, can you give them a minute?” Asami snapped, clumsily swinging her legs over with what little feeling she had on her left side. “Just let me try.”

Pushing aside the nurse when they didn’t budge, Asami quickly sliced the restraint on their right arm. ‘ You need to calm down or they’re going to sedate you. That would be bad, right? Just tell me what’s going on. Talk to me ,’ she pleaded. 

‘ I know him. Why do I know him?’ Akira dug their fingernails into their opposite arm, scrabbling at it more than the restraint as they rocked as much as the restraints would allow. ‘ Don’t look back. Don’t look back. Why isn’t it working. Don’t look back . Make it stop. Make it— ’

Akira fell limp in her arms, eyes rolling back in their head. Asami glared daggers at the nurse at their thigh pushing a sedative in.

“They were hurting themself. That’s why we had to restrain them earlier,” they explained matter of factly. They tsked at the broken restraint and held the two ends together daringly close to her. “Next time-”

“You won’t have a next time,” Asami growled, hackles raised as she advanced on the nurse. “Get the fuck off their care team or whatever you call it here. They’re terrified not violent. Anyone who’s spent any time with real people could see that.”

“I’ll have you know—”

“Out,” Kei snapped.

“Oh, now you decide to weigh in—”

“Not her, you .”

“You can’t just—”

“I’m her interpreter right now, and while Kikuko’s not here, I’m interpreter for both of them. And that means I’m also on their advocate teams. I absolutely can remove someone who is actively harming them.” They advanced on the nurse, icy stare sending a shiver down even Asami’s spine.

The nurse cowered away and scowled before turning on their heel, muttering something under their breath if Kei’s twitch was anything to go by. Asami sat on the edge of her bed, loosely holding Akira’s free hand as the other nurse removed their other restraints under Kei’s prompting.

They have an advocate team ? Asami not so subtly watched Kei, uncertainty swirling at… really everything that day. She had one advocate, and that was a headache and a half. How the hell did Akira manage a whole team of them? What did they even do ?

Asami bit back a weak chuckle at the image of a handful of people each managing a different type of schedule. But if an interpreter qualified as an advocate, what were they responsible for? Surely not just communicating; they only needed their words translated, not others.

Notes:

This was an exercise in how a less traumatized kid who didn't have to survive on the streets would try to navigate these raids. iirc the reason Akira's prosthetic didn't grow with them is because they stumbled slightly into it and their prosthetic was just outside. Last chapter of Stage 4 :) haven't made much progress on the memoirs mori chapters to go with 34 but will try to wrap those up so y'all aren't left with just a short chapter lol Would y'all rather have a second Yamawa AU chapter or a collection of scenes with/from the teachers' perspectives? Just Aizawa's atm but might switch over if I'm up to figuring out another's voice. I also technically have one based on Water prompt and a Legacy Gala started but both are kinda hard to write. Others that are just concepts atm are Hitoshi cut scene, I'm sorry / No you're not, and some more snippets of RotG AU

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 32: #birdsArentReal

Summary:

tw: human experimentation, abuse, brainwashing, discrimination A beat, a step is all you need

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break ???

Asami blinked hard and rubbed her stinging eyes as she realized she’d been staring far too long at the same chart. For the survival rate to be that low, a dismal 25% in the best conditions … only monsters would use forced quirk manifestation. And mother and father were not monsters. They were heroes! Well-respected, high-ranking heroes . So why did every scrap of research, every article with actual sources - not just the fluff opinion pieces she’d first seen - tell her otherwise?

Asami tapped back to the forum where fqm survivors found community and sought to educate the few who wandered into their space. Everything was completely anonymous with an option for immediate, non-suspicious looking exit, as much as she hated to admit this was not something her family could find her looking at. The last time she tried to ask questions, the site that prompted them vanished without a trace, and they told her to just “let the adults worry about that.”

I’m sixteen and a hero , I’m basically an adult . Asami exited in a flash as barely-there footsteps padded up behind her. She twisted in her chair, back cracking in just the right spot as a lock of hair fell in her face. “Anything interesting out there?”

Akira shook their head, threading a hand through their own shoulder-length hair before adding, ‘ Just a couple pigeons. Pretty sure one of them had a quirk, too. ’

Asami perked up, something tickling the back of her mind. “Really? That’s amazing! Did you get a picture?”

‘ No, pretty sure it had a Stranger quirk. Kept disappearing when it wasn’t moving. ’

Why did that sound familiar… Asami brushed it off. It was a pigeon . No one would be that bold to send a… Asami carefully kept a carefree smile on her face as she gave a run-down of the little nothings that happened on the security cameras while they were out investigating. A leaf landing perfectly on a lens, a couple arguing about one of them cheating on the other, a child losing a balloon in their rush to grab hold of an ice cream cone.

Once she was sure Akira was content to body double, Asami slipped her phone under the desk and scrolled back to the post from a few days ago by InYourWalls1984.

Pay no mind to the birds when they disappear in the coming days. #birdsArentReal

A shitpost? Probably. But… they followed the user. Just in case. They were following a lot of rat-themed usernames recently. Varying from weird to useful to downright cryptic like this one.

Asami flagged a figure who passed that wall for the third time for facial recognition. They were probably lost or drunk, or even high, but protocol was protocol. If they did well in the camera rooms , maybe they’d even get promoted to walking the perimeter of the compound. From the inside . Oh joys.

This was far from what Asami expected the life of a hero to be, especially after her brief  work study with Nova. They went on patrols and properly trained and did paperwork . Kami, how did she find herself missing paperwork of all things? At least if Hana was here, she’d keep Asami entertained with her quips and musings. Maybe even work on a new hybrid flower.

As if reading her mind - maybe there was something to those twin theories after all, Akira lazily spun their chair towards her. ‘ Not much going on today. ’ She hummed, peering at her twin as an impish smirk tugged at the corners of their lips. ‘ You could even call it quiet . ’

Asami laughed, a couple very ladylike snorts squeezing through as she playfully pushed them away. “Well now it won’t be.” She quickly whispered as their expression started to fade, “I won’t tell if you won’t.” Asami held up her pinky conspiratorially, smile faltering as she watched them fade back into that cookie cutter frame they’d become.

That they turned them into. Asami found that little voice that sounded suspiciously like Akira in their head harder and harder to ignore as the days wore on. Maybe she shouldn’t ignore it. Sure enough, the person they flagged came back as a suspect in some suspiciously frequent tremors. 

Asami raised a brow at Akira, but they didn’t even seem to register it. Biting her lip at whatever brought on the still treatment, she pinged the information to the Wren dispatcher on shift. Merobiba, if she remembered correctly. Could do something with wine and… horses? Asami shook her head. If she was running support, Merobiba didn’t have a strong enough quirk for hero work, so not worth remembering. 

Glancing back at the comparison, Asami did a double-take. Was their AI broken? They shared a similar medium sepia skin tone and maybe she could see the nose, but no. She rapidly tapped out a message, but the confirmation of their capture flashed on her screen before she could hit send. Fear and confusion swirled in an ugly spiral inside as Asami tried to work out what to do. She couldn’t just take it back, the damage was already done. And it didn’t matter if they were the right person, at this point the family and the commission would never take the publicity hit.

Asami took a deep breath and slowly let it out as she tried to steady her nerves. She deleted her original message, filled with small mistakes, and instead drafted an email to IT about the AI having some potential colorism. Surely it just needed more training data.

“Hey,” Asami flapped a hand and waited till Akira looked over, eyes blank. “Review any facial recognition matches before you send an alert. I think the AI needs more training data.”

‘ It’s been running for decades. It should have enough by now. ’ Akira’s brow furrowed slightly, the most emotion she’d probably get out of them for now.

Asami shrugged and gestured to the two images still on her screen. “I don’t know. I mean, it’s been running for decades in one spot on the high income part of town. It’s probably learned to expect certain demographics from that, right?”

‘ Then those are the demographics it should check against, ’ Akira started to turn back. 

What the hell ? Asami recoiled, lip curling as she stared at their back. Their Akira fought for the underdog, for anyone anytime anywhere. They also wouldn’t narc on you for being worried about them .

Asami slipped back on the forums, scrolling through InYourWall1984’s history for answers to really anything. She had to bite down her shock as the bottom of his history dated back to when the site was founded. They even had a badge for posting on the first day… five years ago. 

Asami scrolled past dozens of posts about animal rights and experimentation, gradually expanding into passionate discussions about the right to exist for many groups. They moved on to post more educational content and resources, but that also seemed to coincide with far less guest users. 

The past year, their tone shifted again towards more radical ideas, pushing for dissolution of the commission and defunding the police. And in the past two months, everything Asami looked for, every answer she hunted down in the most obscure corners of the internet, everything was laid bare. How the hell…

A new post popped up, startling her as she rushed to follow it.

A cage can have many rooms, even open to the sky save for the bars. But not all birds sing when trapped. Larks never will, you know. They may adapt to survive, but they need freedom to sing. #birdsArentReal

Another quickly followed

When one crow becomes a murder, and a lone cry becomes a sea of voices, the tides will rise and let the caged birds sing #birdsArentReal

Asami tapped out as the timer went off, their shift finally over. Let the adults handle the shift now that the q word was out. She joined Akira for a late lunch, pushing a little extra on their plate when they weren’t looking. Something was coming, and she didn’t know which side they were supposed to be on. But whatever it was, they would finally face it together.

Asami added another dose to her water bottle under the table as the tremors started up again. They were getting closer together, and if she didn’t take the extra dose now , they would only get worse. And when they got worse, the sweats started. And when the sweats started… a shiver crawled up her spine at the memories of the last time she let it get that bad. To be fair, Asami hadn’t thought she could get withdrawals from microdosing, and certainly hadn’t thought hallucinations could be that vivid.

Something deep inside balked at the last thought, though she wasn’t sure why. She never made a big enough mistake to warrant Funhouse… right?

Notes:

So. This was when I finally remembered that it helps to have Apollo’s candle lit when I’m writing. Literally go about twice as fast and for longer stints. Next chapter is the raid!! I've got a couple memoirs mori oneshots in progress, so should be able to push one of them out with 34. Thought about doing a double post, but I feel like we need the separation. Time's a little wonky for that chapter so having that separation would be good, I think. Also like technically Funhouse's shit isn't hallucinations, it's altered reality but... if you've never experienced the physical transformation capabilities, it might seem like that? idk, I wanted to keep the line in for reasons :)

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[aspenforest732]

reblog if you’re okay with people writing fanfics of your fanfics and/or fanfics inspired by your fanfics

[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 31: A Ghost in Your Own Body

Summary:

tw: police brutality Until I see you again

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break ???

“She can still push Akira towards us,” Spinner offered. “From what little the engine kid mentioned, it sounds like the programming isn’t as solid as they thought. And I’m sure it wouldn’t take too much to get info on who’s patrolling when. They’re officially heroes now, right?”

“The random checks on public transit are too much for operatives to get into Sendai.” Joe leaned away from Dabi as flames burst from his skin, the sharp pain a welcome relief from what raged inside. “Even if we warped someone in, the curfews would severely limit operations.”

“And any pig is now twice as dangerous as heroes since they don’t have half the quirk training,” Isao rumbled. 

“Forums are already filled with reports of heteromorphs and disabled people, in particular, facing even more discrimination,” Spinner spat, claws digging into the already gouged table. “The legality only made them bolder with quirk use.”

“Then we’ll get the fucking shitheads to pay for Animorph like we did in Kanazawa.”

“I can get us in.”

Dabi whirled, doing a double take as his fire winked out in surprise, retreating underneath his skin at the voice. That… was someone they hadn’t heard from since he met him in the aftermath of Deika City. ‘ Kouta? ’ Dabi signed quietly, needing that confirmation. There was no way he got a consensus.

He sighed and cracked his neck. “Yes. It’s not ideal, but this is Akira. You need Sad Man’s Parade, and I will deal with the aftermath.” After a moment, Kouta huffed and added, “ We will deal with the aftermath. Most of our protectors are on board.”

Oracle, Joe, and Isao looked between them, clearly lost. Well, it was none of their business. Dabi sneered at them, “One word of this outside this room and there won’t be a body.”

“Okaay, but I may need to know for divination. What - or who - is sad man’s parade?”

Dabi started to snap at her, only for Kouta to shoot a hand towards him. He eased back, still glaring at her as Kouta explained. She worked with them; she should know not to pry in meetings.

“I am able to clone our body, and each clone can make clones of its body. I… collect those who split as a result and speak for them for the most part.”

“So what, you’ll roll in with a wave of clones who will be little more than cannon fodder at that point, and we’ll just sweep up the mess behind?” Isao rumbled, expression dark as he stared down the subsystem host.

“More of a tsunami from how new splits get carried away, but we’re capable of far more than mere cannon fodder,” Kouta continued, blinking every couple minutes as though he forgot.

Then again, Dabi wouldn’t be that surprised if he did. That guy made it clear last time he hated fronting.

“One is capable of replicating two people whose measurements we know. Two are capable of replicating three such people. Five are capable of nine. The number only grows exponentially from there.” 

Dabi smirked in grim satisfaction as the realization dawned on the three who were not there for his breakdown after Deika City. If they were willing to sacrifice their collective mental health for this, he wouldn’t stop them. But they had to be sure .

Shigaraki rasped, “It’s an MMORPG, not just PvP. Get all your admins on your team. Until then, we need a Plan A.”

Clone w/ Tokoyami Scene

“I don’t get it,” Tsukuyomi peered over a copy of Parallel Hells. “You have their memories, so why don’t you see the harm they’ve done?”

‘Most of their memories, ’ Akira corrected, looking up from the foam cup of tea in their lap. ‘ I… think I understand more now, but it feels like I have different context from what everyone else remembers. ’

“Is that not just memories?” Dark Shadow butted their beak under Tsukuyomi’s arm, wedging themself in between him and the book. He sighed with a fondly exasperated look and set it aside as they started purring.

‘ I don’t think so? ’ Akira mulled over their words, not entirely sure themself. Context felt different, though. Memories were visual, first-person experiences that ranged from crystal clear to fuzzy with gaps. Context, on the other hand… ‘ It’s like when you learn a fact about math or history. You don’t have the memory of that fact, you have that fact in your head. And that… colors, I guess? Your perception of things. ’

Tsukuyomi peered off into the distance, red beady eyes flickering for a moment before he shook his head. The quiet stretched between them as Akira waited for… well, they were not sure what, but something pulled taught, ready to snap at any moment.

“Do you even want them back?”

Akira froze, closing their eyes at the question they had been dreading since that cursed conference. Did they? They still did not have an answer for themself, much less one they could make palatable for the original’s best friend. 

The original, whose face and life they took by merely existing. 

The original, who was more than likely only alive because they were created to replace them.

The original, who their gut said would kill them the moment they broke free from the programming. If they did.

The original, whose spark was probably the only reason they started questioning their orders and purpose in the first place. They were still a clone, after all.

‘ I don’t know. ’

Notes:

This is probably the scene I went the most back and forth on even though I haven't changed much. I knew from the moment I sat down and figured out some of Twice's system structure that Sad Man's Parade would be a subsystem. The way he describes how easily alters split also potentially points to polyfragmented (your brain's default for dealing with stress/trauma is splitting). DID is inherently a covert disorder. Most people aren't gonna notice switching, especially when alters are masking. Specifically the League and Akira notice because of how close they've gotten, but they'd really be the only ones. I'm excited for the next two chapters!! After the raid we'll be going into the last stage, Stage 5. I went to check whether I immediately introduced why it's stage 5 and realized the chapter's only 429 words atm oop. idk if I can expand it, it's just one of those chapters, and another pov wouldn't really help there. Will probably try to get a Memoirs Mori out that week as well to compensate. I've got a few ideas floating in my google drive, but they're all a bit hard to work on atm.

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 30: To the Status Quo

Summary:

tw: brainwashing, body horror, graphic depiction of violence Second half of the hero license exam :)

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break ???

DING dong ḏ̷̨̬̖̘͓̫͖̯͔̦̻͕̇̂̔̈̌̊͆̏̏̈́ḯ̶͇̟̣̝͎̗̮̮̭̲̱̪̗̖̔͂̅̈̽̈́͋̇̔͒̈́̋͗̔̐͝ͅn̷̮͎̦̤͚͉̦̗̭̬̠͇̹͙͗̍̈̒́͜͝g̴̨͕͙͔̖͓͇̯̱̺̀ DONG ding d̴͍͚̤́̏̾̀̐͑͆o̵̢̡̰̘͎͎̖̦͇̝͈̝̻͍͗̉̍̏̏̚ͅn̷̡̼̠̪̹̣̦̖͖̞̮̫̞̳̗͎̬̔ġ̴̹̤͚̬̲̀̑̌̉̈́͑̚ .

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They stuck close to Asami’s side, anxiety spiking at the sheer number of legacy kids in the break room waiting for the last phase to start. You’re a legacy kid . They pushed aside the thought, the double meaning would be too much for now. A little spark of excitement rose at the seafood snacks, but they abandoned the childish idea for the more proper onigiri and sushi rolls. 

They nodded along to Asami’s conversations, soaking in what body language and social rules they could pick up. Etiquette lessons were one thing, but teen politics could make or break a career. At least that’s what Asami said. She had a few strange ideas, but she had more field experience. Kind of. Maybe once they worked with a real hero, they’d understand better.

They turned toward the monitor in time for an earthquake to shatter the city and paid actors to rise from the rubble. They peered at the rubble, wheels spinning as they took in the map overlaid on the left half of the screen. Terrorists attacked the city. Identify civilians and combatants, rescue or fight at discretion. It’s a distraction . They glanced around, but only Ida gave the slightest inclination they recognized the trap. Their eyes met briefly, confusion stirring at the pain and confusion swirling in his. 

They shrugged it off. Maybe they reminded him of someone. The monitor counted down from one minute, and they turned to Asami. ‘ It’s a distraction for the compound on the opposite side. We should make our way there. ’

Asami nodded hesitantly and glanced at Ida. “Ida could be a good resource, scout things out if we want to work with him.”

They cocked their head and would’ve considered it… but a deep feeling of wrongness churned in their gut at the idea, and their head pounded with flashes of green. They winced slightly. ‘ Something's off about him. Scouting's covered, just won’t be able to communicate as well. ’

Asami looked at them strangely but caved. It’s not like she’d know him outside galas, anyways. Something itched at the back of their mind, but then again everything felt weird about this place. Probably just their first interaction with the real world after their proper debut.

As the walls once again fell, they darted out with Asami, map of the city fresh and clear in their mind. They huffed at their legs protesting warping to the roofs already, relenting to popping out their crutches. Akira paused. Pop out. Pop in… Pop out. Pop in.

“Are you okay?” Asami appeared next to them.

They startled, falling back slightly on their crutch as it extended. They stared at it for a long moment, trying to sort out what they felt just then before finally shaking their head. ‘F ine. Let’s keep moving. ’

Asami blinked owlishly at them, a small smile slipping onto her face. They rolled their eyes and took off, and her metallic footfalls soon followed. Only a handful of civilians cowered on the rooftops, but each rescue, however brief, gave the villains more time to prepare. Why wouldn’t they use the distraction now? Surely they’d attack while the heroes are occupied.  

Unless … they skidded to a stop on a roof, barely glancing at Asami as she pulled up beside them. Something was wrong. If the heroes were supposed to protect civilians, they’d focus on the rescue efforts. If the villains were supposed to kill civilians, they’d focus on the most populated area. So why was their target so clearly the base?

“Akira?”

‘ Why are they attacking a hero base? ’

Asami flinched at their sharpness, confusion only growing. “I… thought that’s where you said they were attacking.”

Akira shook their head, fingers drumming short to long, long to short as they looked for another angle. ‘ Heroes are supposed to protect people. Villains are people. Why would they attack when… ’ Akira looked down at their entwined hands as Asami took theirs.

Asami’s smile strained as she looked deep into their soul. She whispered, “It’s a simulation. Don’t think too hard about it.”

Feel . She tapped feel. What? Akira nodded, head swimming as they pushed forward. Never look back . Their mind cleared somewhat at the familiar phrase. Right. Heroes were always right. If they’re wrong, they’re not heroes. And their family was always right. 

As the pair drew closer to the compound, the birds were the first to go quiet. No whispers of wing flaps, no soft or startled cooing as they passed empty pigeon stands. Then the electric hum faded, replaced by a rhythmic pulsing, almost like how someone who’d never felt a heartbeat would describe one.

At least they didn’t need to point out the fog to Asami. They hesitated on the edge, the moisture hanging thick in the air quivering with the not heartbeat. They reached a gloved hand out only to yank it back and fling off the glove as a sickly green ooze ate away at it until a brown puddle of what was once leather stuck to the roof.

“So… not this way,” Asami offered oh so helpfully.

They warped to the ground just to double-check and found the fog even thicker there. Because of course the acidic fog followed physics. Warping back they nodded. ‘ Even thicker at ground level. Try to reach the others, but coms are probably offline. ’

Asami nodded after a couple tries. “We could head back, get some backup—”

‘ If they’re this far, we need to get anyone at the center out asap. ’ Their gut twisted slightly at interrupting her, but they couldn’t waste more time. They needed to save the kids. Akira needed to get them out of there. They couldn’t just let them die. ñ̴̨̜̮̰̹̫͙̦͜ō̶͍̰̖̯̤̰̄̓͗͋̃͆͑͗̈́̈́̊͋̀̚͜͝͠t̷̛̥̮́͑̄͑̓̃͆̃̒̆̄͌̆́̏ ̷̡̞̱̠̹̣̦̫̳̈͊̀͒͒a̴̡̢̧̛̪̫͎̞͖̥̭̹̼͛͑̏̑̈́͘̚͝g̴̢̢̙̹̳͙͇̹̈́̍̀̑́̓̏͗̅̐̉͊̈á̶̢̢̺̤̠̦̯̌̍ͅį̴̧͖͖͓͕̼͔̫̖̭̎͒̋̀́̈̌̊̚̕͘͜͝ń̶̡͓̝̝̭̘̰̪̌͊̈́̑̇̈́̄̓̌̑͗͌̐͒ (not again)

Asami put her hands up briefly, gesturing for them to go ahead. Right. Asami. They could do this. Remember who you were always meant to be . They just needed to focus. Villains attacked their family almost every month. Of course this would affect them. That was the only reason. Nothing else.

They warped along the perimeter, staying just a few rooftops ahead of Asami in case they needed to fall back or help her. The fog slowly crept outwards, forcing them to adjust their trajectory every couple minutes, but nothing like... like... that quirk. Whose? They shook their head. Stay. Focused . 

“Are you sure we shouldn’t talk to someone?” Asami called out, worry creeping into her voice. “One of them may be able to disperse it or even assess it faster.”

Ingenium? They glanced back over their shoulder, confusion rising to the surface. Why did she keep bringing him up? It’s not like they knew each other outside of galas to their knowledge. They already established she was dating someone else and had a crush on a girl, so… ‘ No, that’ll take too much time. Just— there! ’ They warped through a small gap in the fog, only to find themself at the feet of the very villains they were looking for. Well shit .

They warped out and put a hand on Asami’s shoulder to block her lineup. ‘ They’re right there. Maybe we do need that backup. ’

“Did they see you?” Asami caught their arm before they could warp off. “Good, I’ll keep an eye on the gap, make sure you know where it is in case it moves with them.”

They warped across the rooftops back towards the main group of prospects, their own personal wind billowing their cloak behind them. They pulled up short as a blur passed on the street. They warped down, narrowly out of Ida’s path. ‘ Ingenium, we have five A rank villains where the hero base was on the map. Fog is acidic, EMP is in effect, and a dampener on the sound. Two quirks unaccounted for. ’

He stared at them, and they kicked themself for not considering that he was just a second year. ‘ You know JSL? ’ they slowly asked. 

A multitude of emotions flashed across his face before it settled on determined and a bit sheepish. His arm chopped vigorously as he spoke, “I am truly sorry, but can you repeat all that? A bit slower, please.”

Akira nodded sharply, something clicking in the back of their mind as they broke down a few words. Already on the edge of silent wildlife, they didn’t want to try their luck with the transmitter. Oh! Maybe Mei would know why their crutches elicited that reaction… earlier. No one in their family was named Mei.

Obviously someone from before. They shook it off and warped back to the rooftops. Their family had far better tinkers anyway. Well, used to have. They still had the connections, though. They distractedly snatched up a few more prospects before reaching the main group split between civilian injuries and holding minor villains. 

They warped down to the girl who seemingly put herself in charge from the others’ disdain. ‘ Found the main villain group where the hero compound is marked on the map. Send who you can spare that way. ’ They gave a quick rundown of the quirks they’d seen so far, and she at least nodded seriously. Whatever the others had against her, hopefully they’d put aside for now.

The eerie silence crept closer as they approached, the fog eating away at the buildings it enveloped, but still none of their impromptu teammates to be seen. Their nerves frayed as they darted along the edge, eyes darting towards the smallest gap and bulge, though most were optical illusions.

Worry gnawed at their throat as they made a full loop with no one in sight. Not a peep heard. The not heartbeat shook the very buildings, but still no sound came through.

Fuck it . They slipped on a spare glove and tried to calculate how many warps it would take to reach the center. They couldn’t even be sure what they saw before was the center, though. It was entirely possible they were just moving within the cloud. Just as they went to warp, a shrill screech pierced through the silence.

They sprinted towards the sound, ears straining to pick up something, anything . They couldn’t lose her, too. They slowed as blows and quirks firing off started to reach them. A few rooftops closer, and they could make out two of the villains fighting Ida, Asami, and Mockingjay, if they remembered correctly. She must’ve been the one they heard. Recognition slammed into them in a brief moment of seeing enough of the villains' costumes.

They warped to the ground, tapping Asami’s arm as they darted past. ‘ Acidic sweat, can turn any liquid into a mist. Sniper and cover engaged by others. Last unknown.

Ida faltered as Asami gave them the rundown. The villains hesitated, confusion twisting their expressions as they slammed into Mistic. Touch based or very short range for a quirk like that. Neither wore hazmat, so… the last villain was here. They pressed Mistic, warping and slashing to keep him off balance and away from Acitic. 

They still had to circle round to stay within audible range of the others, and just as they tried to multitask in warping a clone to Asami, they stumbled at unexpected wind resistance. They warped to the side, catching themself on a crutch. They hissed as Mistic nicked them with a kusarigama, gritting their teeth against a portion of their blood misting before they could get back. 

Oh fuck off . They darted away, eyes trained on his torso to pick up which end he might throw where. Their clone signed to Asami as simply as they could, ‘ Airflow quirk nearby. Protects from acid and some attacks. ’

They warped back, clone dissipating with a narrow “miss” from the weapon. Their steely gaze pierced into Mistic, well aware of the limitations the exam was supposed to have. Then again, they were using actual villains for this. Part of them distantly wondered if they were getting reduced sentences or… Focus!  

Of course, the tic group, unfortunately named. The airflow villain had to be pulled from somewhere else, though. Boomtic and Heartic would account for the other pair Asami mentioned. They kicked themself for not recognizing the bizarre not heartbeat before. 

A resounding thud echoed as sound burst back into awareness. They warped back, stuffing as much of the system overload into a box as they could while they tried to readjust. They warped to the clink of a chain, immediately warping again as they collided with Acitic. 

Ida roundhouse kicked Mistic, slamming the weapon off course as he toppled. “The emp and airflow guys are down!”

They nodded sharply, flicking a knife into Mistic’s shoulders to keep him down. Ida startled at the blades, but they refocused on Acitic before they could gauge his full reaction. It was efficient. Besides, he was a villain . It’s what he was here for. The fog dropped, covering this portion of the city in a thin layer of acid as Mistic lost concentration or consciousness.

“Give up now or we’ll—”

Asami slammed her escrima into the side of Acitic’s head before Ida could finish the thought. They both looked back at him in confusion. Just what was U.A. teaching its students? ‘ I’ll check on the compound. Trophaeum, keep me updated on coms once they reboot. ’

A few stray villains lingered inside, covertly holding hostages under the guise of sheltering in place, but other than that, they cleared the compound. As coms beeped back online, they ran through the list with the villains down. After a moment, they transmitted, “Take the villains back to the holding area. That should end it.”

They ushered their groups on their way, double-checking the quirk-suppressing cuffs before they exited the compound. They found themself drifting off course several times before meeting up with Asami’s little group, that itch in the back of their mind growing more persistent. They just couldn’t quite shake the feeling they were supposed to be somewhere else, doing something else. 

At least Ida and Asami were getting along, exchanging pleasantries and little extras she wouldn’t engage in with others. If she really needed a lavender partner, maybe father would approve of a boy she actually seemed to like. And with such a strong generational quirk, whatever gene caused her quirk to fail would probably skip the result.

They caught her attention as the group split off, Ida going with a few others to corral the villains while they handled the civilians. ‘ Would he be better? ’ at her confusion, they added, ‘ than Nakamura? ’

Asami turned beet red, shushing them as she made sure no one else was watching in. ‘ No! I mean, yes. But he’s also gay. ’

They cocked their head, running through the definition again. ‘ Isn’t that the point of lavender relationships? ’

‘Openly gay. ’

Huh. Interesting . The wisp of a memory flitted across their mind, vaguely recalling 1-A talking about how all of them were gay in one way or another. A couple weren’t officially out, but someone joked those would come out as straight. They hoped the world would be kind to them.

Shaking off the memory, they tiredly grinned at Asami as the second half ended. Everyone gathered round the leaderboard, a few joking around and jostling each other. Ida again gravitated towards them, and the thought struck them. Were we close at U.A.? They struggled to remember much of their time there outside lessons, but it didn’t quite feel right. Then again, why wouldn’t they mingle with the legacy kids? There were at least three of them, four if they counted Shinso. 

It was probably too late to say anything, anyway. The scores finally updated, putting Asami and them at the top and everyone passing. She looked more confused than happy, though. They nudged her and gave a pointed look and smile, at which she shaped up. This was the first group to pass their licensing exam before graduation. Of course their families would only send the best of the best. Part of them wondered why Yaoyorozu or Todoroki were missing, but then again, he ruined his family name. 

“ Ṁ̴̧̨̡̖̭̺̮̖͓̳̟̫̬͓͍̃͊̈́̃͂͆̓̒̌͊̈́͌͒̚͠͝ͅo̴̼̰̮̭̜̤̦͈̦̳̘͉̊̀͊̂̿̎̈́̀̇͗̍͂̉͝͠͝ͅr̷͖̥̤̫̫͎̲͊̉̽̋͋͒͋i̷̢̨̖̻̣͓͔͋ , if we could talk before we leave.”

They turned to Asami at the static, only to realize Ida was the one who spoke. Weird, that usually only happened with her. ‘ Me? ’

Ida frowned, “Yes. …ah, my apologies. I meant Inoue.”

They shrugged and followed him, brushing off Asami’s curious glance. ‘ What did you want to talk about? ’

“It’s good to see you aligned with hero values again,” Ida started, arm already chopping. “When I heard of your exit from U.A., I was very disappointed.”

They shifted uncomfortably, the itch desperately digging clawed fingers into their spine at the reminder. Remembering the script, they parroted, ‘ Yes, an unfortunate setup by the League to besmirch our family name. Fortunately, Asami helped get me back home. ’

Ida nodded slowly, looking to the side as he drummed his fingers. “You’re not who you used to be. But if you’re happy, we can be happy for you. Until next time.”

They froze, smile locked in place as he left. Of course they were happy. They were home. They were safe. They were who they were always meant to be . They eased back into a true smile as they met back up with Asami and got ready to leave.

After all, what reason could they possibly have to fear their family?

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No, no, this wasn’t right. The bells were still there, slamming into the void surrounding them, protecting them. Why did they only hear static instead of their name? What was the other name they couldn’t know? Why couldn’t they remember? And that Ida kid… he knew something. He knew them . They knew him . Why couldn’t they remember? What even were the bells? A pressure slowly built in their chest as they tried to break through whatever was blocking those names.

Notes:

Sorry for the delay, it's been a long couple days and just realized it being Saturday meant it was time to post. Aand it just hit me the tic group might be an insensitive name? Might go back and edit if I figure out a better one. Originally went with it cause all their names ended in tic (except Acidic then decided to change to Acitic) but like medical tics are a thing? So idk Also! For a bit, this was gonna be the last line of one of the bad endings of the series.

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[aspenforest732]

Libertias aut Mortis Chapter 29: Paving the Way

Summary:

tw: referenced homophobia, corruption/nepotism And the hero license test starts :) also the second set of chapters with companion titles

Notes:

‘text’ JSL Text thoughts Page break text page break ???

Asami stared at the last question of the written portion. There was no way it was that easy. The Wrens broke some of the most powerful and successful heroes. Surely their licensing exam would be harder, not easier. She went over her answers a third time before clicking submit. Glancing around, only a couple kids she recognized from galas were still working while the other dozen or so Wrens sat at rapt attention. She thought she recognized a couple, Akihiro and Sowa from the same Brute/Striker branch. She bit back a groan as she spotted Nakamura among those still working. Asami did a double-take realizing the dark blue haired kid must be an Ida… which would make him the same Akira went to U.A. with.

Then again, many of the questions were pulled directly from their lessons. Maybe it just felt easier because they were overprepared? The practical portion could still be on par with Takoba. A few minutes later, the board above the proctor’s head displayed everyone’s scores. Of course they all passed. She shook her head, waving Akira over as she spotted them. It was probably nothing. They were just forums.

She couldn’t quite ignore the way Ida kept glancing at them, though. Maybe she could get something out through him? Asami scoffed internally. That was far too risky, for everyone involved. And what would they even get through? Sure, things weren’t adding up, but they wouldn’t betray… The increasingly louder part of them that sounded like Akira reminded them who betrayed whom first.

‘ Congrats! ’ Akira beamed at her, churning her stomach even as she forced the smile to stay. ‘ Ready for round two? ’

“Definitely,” Asami swallowed a grimace at the glaring contrast between Akira not even a year ago and now. As much as what they said hurt back then, she found herself wishing for them back. This wasn’t her Akira.

‘ Come on, the face is supposed to be looking forward, right? ’ Akira slung an arm around her waist, and she let them pull her along.

Right. Faces of the Fasttrack Initiative. Just put on a good show and the public won’t remember the horrors some people claimed the PLF exposed. I mean, come on. If our family was that bad , the Commission would put a stop to it. It’s not like the sources people claimed were easy to find anyways. Easily fabricated. Asami couldn’t quite ignore the same voice in her head reminding that she had seen some of it. Or at least the effects.

The pair jogged at the head of the prospects to the small staging area. With everyone already in their hero costumes and support equipment, Asami cocked her head at the array of weapons and tools laid out on racks.

“For Phase A, your goal is to score the most points. Phase B will start once the timer runs out,” a feminine voice announced over the speaker. A graphic displayed on the screen with points corresponding to parts of the body. “If your costume does not include a helmet, we strongly recommend you take one from the racks. We have also provided covers to reduce staining. You may form teams, but you will not share points.”

Asami waited a beat as the others started towards the weapons, confusion arising as she realized there was no elimination this round. Maybe because they so desperately needed more heroes? But wasn’t that the case for the provisional exam, too?

Asami dove in after Akira, pressing a button to activate her helmet at their questioning look. Range would be good… she grabbed a sniper rifle paint gun, doing a cursory check for ammo before running through her weapons training again. This should work .

‘ So us, and do you want to add another? ’ Akira asked, fiddling with one of their many knives.

Didn’t they have a capture weapon like Eraserhead’s at some point? Asami brushed it off and shook her head. “And don’t agree to anything Nakamura proposes,” she whispered. Just because she had to parade around with him did not mean she would do it with stakes like this.

“Did someone say my name?”

Asami rolled their eyes skyward, mustering their best customer service smile as they turned to face the bane of their existence. “Just filling my twin in on who they should know since they’ve been out of the scene for a while. You remember Akira, right?” She threw an arm around their shoulders, casting a pleading glance to play along down at them.

“Ah, of course, my apologies,” Nakamura bowed and attempted to take their hand. 

They took it back like they were burned, lip curling slightly before they seemed to remember themself. ‘ A pleasure. We’re our own team, so find someone else to bother. ’

His smile faltered slightly, taken aback as Asami bit back a smile at his seemingly first meeting of the rare person who would never swoon at him. Even if it meant being a touch impolite. “I’m terribly sorry if I’ve offended you, that was not my intention,” he soothed.

‘ The road to hell, after all, ’ Akira offered a sickeningly sweet smile. ‘ You should find someone before you’re left to flounder on your own. ’

Asami snorted in a very lady-like fashion, covering it in a cough at his hurt glance. “Perhaps another time,” Asami reassured. She dreaded the damage control she’d have to do to avoid their family finding out, but seeing that glimpse of their old self was worth it. Hopefully. 

‘ Who was that and why do you hate him? ’

“That was my…” Asami grimaced, biting back a groan as she saw him ranting to an adult on the other side of the room. “Boyfriend, technically.”

Akira peered between her and Nakamura. ‘ Him? Wait, aren’t you lesbian? You always hated guys. ’

‘ Not so loud ,’ Asami hushed them and glanced around. Fortunately, most were caught up in forming their own teams and strategies, but a couple were still watching the exchange. ‘ It’s better optics to be more open. ’

Akira peered at her as they grabbed some blade blocks that would spread paint on contact. A sly grin broke across their face. ‘ You like someone, don’t you? ’ they teased, fortunately keeping their signs small and out of sight of onlookers. They reached for a chain but stopped, brow pinching slightly in confusion as they stared at it. Akira shook their head after a moment, grabbing a couple more throwing knives instead. 

Asami blushed, shooing them away from the weapons rack as they scooped up a lightweight helmet. The timer ticked down with just over a minute left and let out a short, shrill beep as they hit one minute. The remaining prospects scrambled over the weapons, Wren children already standing at the ready while the other rich kids grabbed more weapons than they really needed. It would only last half an hour, after all, with so few of them.

The walls of the waiting area folded down with five seconds left. They stood at the center of the arena surrounded by forest, city, mountains, and a lake. Asami meet Akira’s eyes and nodded towards the city. She startled at their blank expression, cold calculating eyes sweeping over the landscape. They nodded sharply, and the buzzer went off at zero. 

The prospects scattered, most heading to the woods or city with a couple strays picking their way to the mountains. That Ida kid tore off in his own direction in a cloud of dust. Lifting her scope and trusting Akira to guide her away from hazards, Asami spotted a couple targets dotting the landscape. Well that felt like cheating. At least in the city, they could show off their search and parkour skills, although the proctors would probably be more focused on the pair’s teamwork. 

It would hardly make sense for the faces of the initiative to fail, after all. As they reached the outskirts of the city, they split off from the main group that would just become a paint bath judging from the lack of range. To be fair, most of them are Brutes and Strikers. Not exactly bred or broken for range .

Akira paused by a building with a bit too-obvious handholds and cocked their head, challenge sparking in their eyes. Asami huffed a laugh and surged forward, darting up where they could in their light but still somewhat restrictive armor while Akira warped up the side. She took their proffered hand to hoist the last bit, putting some of her weight onto the fire escape just in case. 

Chaos erupted on the streets as the buzzer signaled they could open fire. Bladed appendages, projectile shields, and a boy whose quirk looked remarkably similar to Scatter’s peppered those on the streets with an array of bright colors flecked with blood. Asami glanced over to Akira at a slight visual disturbance in her periphery. 

‘ Sniper nest two roofs south three east. Second from top floor. ’

Asami nodded, folding her support and darting across the rooftops after them. If they were moving that far from the conflict, Akira either knew something she didn’t or spotted better targets. With a tap to her palm, Asami turned on thermal overlay, confirming she was following a clone. Damn, they’ve gotten good at fine control .

A trio of prospects gathered around the base of the building Akira selected, laughing and taking turns firing at what sounded like targets. Asami slowed and dropped to a crouch across from them, glancing to the clone as it paused and a figure just below ambient temperature popped up on their display near the group. 

They waited a few seconds, and just as the first patch of neon purple splattered on a costume, Asami opened fire, bright pink peppering their costumes like a white person seasons chicken. They rushed to take cover, not even looking for the source of sniper fire, walking right into an explosion of neon purple. Nice!

The clone that brought them pointed to the access point as the trio ducked behind furniture in the lobby. Not bad, just needed to cross a little further up where a market area provided more cover. Asami slipped down as the clone poofed, cautiously picking their way through the alleys while watching for any splashes of color or unstable areas. Akira wouldn’t be the only one setting traps.

Asami frowned at the state of the market as they got closer. Where they had only seen the tops of stalls, scattered merchandise and produce littered the street, and a handful of targets almost looked like they were throwing things. Asami gave each a whack to the head, putting just enough force behind the swings to leave a mark. Nonlethal force was probably favored in this anyways.

Asami sprinted up the stairs, of the building next to the nest, taking out a couple more targets and trying not to linger on why they were in an abandoned building. It’s not like they were real anyways, they probably just wanted to fill out the area more.

True to Akira’s instructions, a cable stretched between the two buildings. The opposite walls lie shattered on the ground below, with some small debris in the room. Thin enough to be nigh impossible to see from ground level, the cable still held her weight when Asami tested its give. 

Asami rolled her shoulders, hopping from foot to foot. Find the path . Straight line, no sway. Choose your steps . Barefoot would work best, but in combat boots, she’d need to put all her weight on the balls of her feet. Check for obstacles . Asami leaned slightly out of the building, a cool summer breeze buffeting her silver hair back. No one around, at least not visible. Align with the path . She zeroed in on the cable, lining up her path and steadying her breath as she stepped up to the challenge.

Now . Asami dashed forward, boots slipping slightly on the cable before finding grip between the chords. Shouts sounded from below, but no one dared shoot her this high up. The exams were supposed to be dangerous, not deadly.

The cable wobbled dangerously and fell a bit as they reached the other side, but Akira jumped to their aid, helping them the last bit before slicing through the cable. Asami startled, turning on her heel to see someone else trying to cross. Their eyes grew impossibly wide as they scrambled back, landing on the floor with an undignified squeak.

“So much for an escape route,” Asami cheeked as she switched her thermal back on and lifted her sniper. Not an ideal model to shoulder fire, but doable. She gestured toward the stairs for Akira as she saw three warm shapes rising. Asami fired into the back of the figure’s head as they scrambled to their feet, raising some centimeters to fire at their presumably teammates as they reached the door.

Asami ducked behind some of the boxes Akira used for cover as shards of glass burst from the first figure. Great, more noise makers . Asami cursed inwardly and checked on the trio Akira was handling to find two retreating and one unmoving. Unconscious, right? She hated that she had to wonder, but… what exactly did their family break them for?

Arm already starting to ache, Asami quickly set up a surface a little further back for the sniper, padding their shoulder with a concentrated shield just in case. She could shoot through the boxes with the thermal view, but the contents weren’t marked, and Asami did not want to find out they contained explosives the hard way.

Gaze flicking to the side again, the unmoving one was further down as Akira approached with new gear. ‘ Do you think it’ll still count if we use other colors? ’

Asami shot glass guy again, this time center mast to knock them back a step as they neared the edge. “Maybe? I wouldn’t risk it, though. We have plenty.”

Akira shrugged, warping to the other building with a signal as she laid down cover fire. Asami spread out her shield a bit more just in case her armor failed, smirk growing as the chaos unfolded across the way. While not quite what she pictured growing up, Asami could hardly deny it was thrilling to finally be in action with her sibling.

Notes:

The other set was Who I Am - Am I? I was gonna have the points play a role in the second half but didn't realize til I was editing yesterday that I forgot to actually put that in. And it no longer fit with how I structured the second half.

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she just wants to be a regular girl

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The woman of wonder

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this website is too fucking easy you make a post about transgender gay sex or the skull and people black out and hit reblog