i've always liked to play with fire

ALIVE WITH THE SMILES of the mass, Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall was packed to its limits. Ivette had to admit that the mall's large size and the bustling crowd were quite distracting, not exactly the safest place for her to be, considering the sensitivity of her mental quirk. Still, she needed to get supplies for their summer camp asap. She stood with her classmates around her, listening to their excited rambles and their plans for the trip.

"Oh, aren't those UA students?!" Her eyes drifted to the side. A group of three guys stared at them in wonder and excitement, with one of them pointing to their group.

"First years?!"

"I saw them on TV!"

They did a little dance. "Sports festival, yay!"

Ivette couldn't stop the way her face scrunched up in disgust. She could hear their thoughts. They lingered in the air, above many others, and it reminded Ivette of rotten cheese. Or a parasite on flesh. Yes, that would be a more accurate description. Things like, They're so cool, rang in her head. How can these kids be so freaking powerful? It's amazing. I'm sure they'd be great heroes.

"̵̟̊R̸̰̩͐͠ë̵̥́̈́p̶̘̉̔u̴̖͗ḽ̷͖̎͘s̸̥͎̒͠ï̴͇̙v̷̥̅ę̸̭̈́.̶̧̯̒̅"̵̝͇̓̃

I know, she thought. Ivette turned her head away, willing her face to fall blank. But there's nothing we can do about it. Her eyes roamed over the others walking idly through the mall. They're only ignorant because they have no other choice. They don't know anything.

"̴̡̎N̶̠̋ô̴̺.̸̧̈ ̷̥͝Ẽ̸̪v̵̧̊e̴̲̐r̵̩͆ỹ̶͍ȯ̶̱ņ̶͌e̴̠̾ ̸͎̀h̴͚͊a̴̲̍s̴͍̎ ̶͓͒a̸̜̓ ̶̥̈́c̶͔͒h̶̻͂o̷̜̓ĭ̴̲c̸͍͑ȇ̵̲.̵̡̆ ̵͖͌T̶̥̄ḧ̸͈e̸̙̐ỳ̶͓'̸̯̄v̴͉̈ẽ̵̮ ̸̳̀c̶̤̎h̴̡͋o̵̰̐s̴̻̀e̶̤͆n̸̦͝ ̸͚̏t̴̟̊o̶̗̕ ̴̮̓b̷̫͋e̶͈͌ ̴̬͛i̷̼̍g̸̫͌n̵͎͋o̷͙͊r̵̟̀á̴̡n̸̢̾t̶̳́.̷͑͜ ̶̱̾N̷̬̅o̷̩̾ ̶̱̕o̷̮͂n̷͇̅ȅ̸͈ ̷̟̈h̸̏͜e̸͚̽l̷̲̿p̷̳̋s̴̠͝ ̵̤̒t̶̺͒h̶̙͌o̶̙͝ś̷͔e̴͔͆ ̵͈̕i̴̖̊n̴̪̈́ ̷̙̆n̸͈̄ė̶̫ě̴̡d̶̨͠ ̸̻̉b̸̢́ë̵̠́c̶̤̔a̸̙̚ů̸̯s̸̯͌e̸̼̿ ̷̺̈́ṯ̸̎h̸̰̎e̷̟̐y̷͎̑ ̴̢̾t̷̩̀h̶̠̿ȉ̷̪n̷̪̈́k̷̜̾ ̶͇̊h̴̔͜e̴̟̚r̸̙̉ò̸̹e̶̳̓s̶̜̚ ̴̭͗ẅ̵̺i̶͍͠l̶̗̍l̵̼̊ ̵̯͒c̵͉̍o̸̾͜m̵̰̋e̸̚ͅ.̸͎̕ ̵̬͌A̶̬̔n̴͔̐d̸͚̋ ̶̻͋ŵ̷̞h̷̼͆e̶̙͠n̸̡͂ ̵̳̐ţ̴̉h̵̠̓ȇ̵͇y̸̲͒ ̶̜̈́d̸͔̃o̷̹̾n̷͈̓'̶͙̽ť̴ͅ,̸͔̊ ̵̞̒t̶̺̒ḧ̶̫́e̷̻̚y̴̠̋ ̷͓̾d̸̩̚o̶̰̽ ̷̰͋n̵̺̑o̸̚͜t̶̰̆h̷̳͒i̷̢̽n̷̏ͅg̵͈̈́ ̷̗͒b̵̞̿u̷͓̍t̶͖̂ ̴̈́ͅm̷̦͝o̵̜̔v̸̯̄è̴̪ ̵̼͒o̷͔̅n̸̝͌ ̴͚͒b̴̠̽ĕ̴̩c̷̡̅ạ̷͒ṷ̴̒s̵͆ͅé̶͇ ̶̦͒n̸͎̽ő̴͇b̷̟͗o̶̦̚d̵̼͘y̷̹͂ ̸̌͜c̷̐ͅa̵̧͑n̷͔̊ ̴͇̓s̶̫̄a̵̝̾v̸̑ͅȩ̶̓ ̸̬̈e̷̹̐v̶͎͗e̷͈͘r̸͕̿y̸͍̓b̴͉̌o̶̳͂d̶̻͋y̴͊ͅ.̸͙͑"̶̢́

People believe in heroes, Ivette thought.

"̵̩̾Ṯ̸́h̵̤̄e̴͈̒y̴̤͠ ̵̼͂l̸̙̍o̷̜̿v̷̨̍e̶̝͠ ̵̹̾h̸̙͋ë̴̯́r̷͍͋o̶͋ͅe̸̤̒s̸̙̕,̷̣̈ ̵͉͝ỳ̵̞ȅ̸̞s̸͈̈́.̶͙͆ ̷͚͗B̷̪̅u̶͈͠t̸̻͋ ̴̝͠t̷͇̑h̸̠̕ẹ̷̚y̵̺̋ ̷̺̌l̸̻̃o̷̺̒v̸̰͝ę̵͘ ̸̑ͅs̵͚̔e̷̱̕e̸͈̅i̸̢̊ň̴̖g̵͔̀ ̸̹͑a̸̹͂ ̵̼̀h̴̹͊e̸͕̕ŕ̸̦o̶̧̐ ̴̹̾f̷̧͗à̸͍l̴͘͜l̷̮̿ ̷͓̇ẹ̷͐v̶̙̈́e̸̢͘n̵̛̩ ̶̹͆m̵͍͂ǫ̴̀r̶̛͓ê̷̼.̴̢̾"̶͇̋

"Yo, isn't that the girl?"

That whisper caught her attention.

"Huh?"

"You know, the girl that Stain was on about."

"No way, really?"

"Yeah. Didn't you see the video?"

Ivette's expression remained impressively neutral. The memories of that night were still fresh in her mind. Stain's ideologies roamed in the back of her head on an endless loop. He wanted to purify the world and return the true meaning of what it meant to be a hero. Stain wanted to change society—he wanted to change the world. How could Ivette despise a man who wanted to make things right? It was what she wanted, too, wasn't it?

But how?

That was the main question.

What could she do?

She was just a child.

Ivette bit her lip. I'm still too weak.

"̶͉͘A̶̜͊l̷̟̈́l̸̳̎ ̴̜͛ĩ̵͇n̷͊͜ ̶̫͂d̶͍̕ú̷̳e̶͈̚ ̸̩̍t̵͓̔ỉ̵̮m̵̛̙e̷͓͌,̸̠͝ ̷̺̄m̷͔̔y̸̻͠ ̶̨͆d̵̫̀ẹ̶̒a̷͎͗ȓ̸͍.̵̦́"̴̡͑

Bruno, how can I grow stronger?

"̴̰̀Ḯ̸̹ ̸̙͊w̸͕͠ȋ̶ͅl̵̠̏ḽ̴͒ ̵̼̓t̷̨͂ẽ̷̬a̵̤͝c̷̛͓h̵͈̒ ̷̹͘y̴̼͒o̴̲̍ṷ̸͌.̸͕̚ ̸̫͘B̷̺̄ǘ̶̥t̶̫͐ ̵͈͆n̷̤͑o̸̘͝t̷͔̆ ̵̟̈́r̵̺̿i̴̪̅g̵͖̊ḩ̶͝ẗ̴̡́ ̵̲̐n̶͖̆o̸͉̐ẘ̵̟.̶͉̏"̸̖̏

Why?

"̴̼̈Y̴͉̆ó̷̤ȗ̷̟ ̴͉̏m̵̬͑ú̷̪s̴̝̒t̸̰͂ ̴̹̌e̸̛̖n̵̫͒j̶̥͝o̵͍͆ỳ̸̪ ̶̦̓y̴͔̓o̸̠̍û̸͈r̷͍̄ ̶͖̔y̶̮̆o̴̻̊u̸͕͛t̶̡͛h̸̭̀,̷̙̓ ̵̰̃Ỉ̴͔v̵̒͜e̵̬̔t̶̢̊t̸̗͊e̷̤̐.̵̡̔ ̶̘̚Ẏ̸̖ǒ̵̘u̵̦͝ ̸͉͐õ̶͈ň̶̩ḷ̷̓y̶͇͐ ̶̮̐h̷̙̑a̷̮͛v̵̠̉ȇ̶̱ ̸͔̓o̸̡͝n̸̮̏ě̴̢ ̶̙͑c̴̖̐h̵̜͘i̷̫͊l̶͕̍d̴̦̈́h̴̻͝o̷͖͒ö̶̜́d̶̦͛.̵̅ͅ"̷̭̄

Ivette frowned. My childhood has passed.

"̷̻̓N̴͎̍ő̶̬t̵̥͘ ̵̥͑ĵ̷͍u̷̘̽s̶͔̑ṫ̴͔ ̵̛͈y̸̨̓ë̵̢ẗ̸̝.̷̯̀ ̸̙͐Ȩ̴̒ṋ̸̿j̸̛̯o̸̡͂ý̸͕ ̸͎̄ȋ̸̖t̶͇͝,̶͎́ ̸̭̚I̵̯̓v̵̹̈́e̸̿͜t̴̢̍t̵̲̑e̸͖̓.̷͙̔ ̸̯̃Ḭ̷̒ ̵͔̓ẃ̴̯ī̵̱ĺ̵͎l̴̨̾ ̴̺̇s̷̭͒t̶͈́ȋ̴̩l̶͉̓l̴͖̓ ̸͚͆b̷̖̋e̷̖̒ ̵̢̃h̴̭̿e̸̬̔r̴̮͑e̸͖̓ ̸͍̕w̶̬̚h̴̏͜e̸̪͠n̵̛̼ ̷̞͌ṭ̸͛h̷͉̃ë̷͚́ ̷̦̓s̵̕ͅű̸̗n̷̨͂ ̷̝͋s̵͎̒e̴͓̾t̶̪̋s̷̜̀.̴̫̈́"̷̦̏

A moment of silence was shared between the two. Bruno could hear the buzz in Ivette's mind. He waited patiently for her to speak to him once again. Are you not mad?

"̷͙̄À̴̹b̸̘͊o̶̮͌u̸̩̍t̶̩̑ ̷̻͑w̵̫̑ḧ̶̪́a̵͚͐t̴̫̉?̸̤̽"̵̬͘

About the pills?

"̴̈́͜Ď̸̘ô̵̮ ̵̙͝t̵͈͊h̷̟̕ȩ̴́y̷̯̓ ̸̲̚h̵̰̃ē̶̻l̵̦͛p̸̯͛ ̴̪̅y̶̱͊o̴̪͘ų̴̂?̴̰̀"̷͎͝

Ivette hesitated, Yes.

"̵̥͘T̷͖̓h̴̳̎e̴͝ͅn̸͍̆,̷̗͑ ̴̺̃h̴͈͝o̴̥̚ẃ̷̥ ̸̝̏c̸̱̕o̷̺͆ù̵̢l̶̜̍d̶̞̑ ̵̹̏Ḯ̵ͅ ̸͙͗e̴̮̓v̷̻͑è̵̯r̶̤̂ ̵͓͑b̴̬̈́ȇ̷ͅ ̵̳̅m̴̠͋a̸͉̕ḓ̵́ ̵̡̈a̵̡̒b̶͎̂o̶̡̚ư̵̰t̶͙̀ ̷̜́t̸̲̅ḧ̴͙ā̵͜t̵̝̾?̶̨̍ ̷̭̂A̶͉̾l̷̰̂l̴̖̈́ ̴̱̔I̸̜͗ ̵̜̈c̵̻̽a̵͓͝r̷̛̮e̷̦͋ ̵̟̏a̵̡͝b̵̞̀ỏ̷̝u̴͙̓t̵̳͋ ̸̨̌i̷̘̚s̵̬̈́ ̷̭̕ẏ̵̰o̴͇͂u̴͎̿,̴͙͒ ̵̺̏Ị̶̃v̵̘̋e̷͉̾t̶̢͝t̴͍̒e̶̻̐.̴̭͝ ̴̩͘Y̶̭̐o̵̝͑ṵ̶͒r̷̛̤ ̶͓̏w̸̲̃ĕ̶̪l̵̢͘l̴̟͌-̷̺͝b̵̥̀e̵͎̕i̸̟͠n̴͇̈́g̶͖͐ ̶̺͝m̷͙̔a̶̼͒ṱ̸̾ẗ̴̫́é̶̻r̷̘̃s̶̮̑ ̶̬͂m̶̜̕o̷̤͑r̸̥̂ě̶̳.̸͇̃"̸̷̜͎̀̈́

Something warm rose in Ivette's chest. A familiar sensation that she couldn't quite identify, and yet something very pleasant at the same time. It was hard to explain— this thing in her chest felt like a small flame or fire, but she could hardly find words for it. She let it wash over her, soaking her soul and warming her heart and lungs until she was a giddy bundle of heat inside a cocoon of warmth. She breathed out a long sigh, closing her eyes to savour the feeling that washed over her in waves. The mall's air conditioning caressed her cheeks with its cool lips, a break from the anxieties swarming her mind.

A hand took hold of her own.

Ivette looked to the side.

"Are you okay?" Kirishima asked, a gentle smile on his lips. His eyes were warm. It made Ivette feel safe and protected. "You've been staring off into space since we got here."

"Just thinking," she murmured, encouraging a small smile back. Ivette glanced down at their connected hands. Kirishima's skin was warm against her own. Her chest tightened. She was filled with an overwhelming wave of affection, and the urge to be close to him, feel his breath on her cheek— she fought it down with an effort as she leaned against him.

"Don't keep it all inside," Kirishima said.

"I know."

He brought her hand to his mouth, pressed his lips in between each of her knuckles, and smiled once again. Ivette returned it.

Bruno fell silent.

Kirishima turned his attention back to their friends. He suggested, "Everyone has different things they want to do, so why don't we decide on a time to meet back up?"

Mina took a step forward, raising her hand with a gleeful grin. "I agree!" she yelled.

"Then, let's meet here at three o'clock!"

Kirishima turned to his soulmate. "Do you wanna come with me?" he wondered. "I need to get some plasters and bug sprays."

"I think I'll look around first." She motioned to the stores surrounding them. "I'll come find you when I'm done. That okay?"

"Yeah, totally! Just send me a text!" He beamed, leaned down to peck her cheek and jogged off to catch up with Shoji.

Ivette watched him go. Her facade dropped the moment he disappeared from her sight, and she moved out of the way as a group of kids rushed past her, laughing their heads off.

"̶͍͐Ě̴̻w̶͔̋.̷̱̋"̴͓͐

"Tell me about it," she whispered.

Her eyes took in the people around her. She couldn't understand it. Couldn't understand them. They all seemed so happy, so calm, so...normal. How pathetic, Ivette thought. As they crossed her path, moving and ebbing like the sea, Ivette could hear it. Their minds. They were abuzz with all sorts of frivolous thoughts, and it unnerved her. More so when she felt a strange pull towards them, as if these strangers were subconsciously calling out to her. Ivette felt strangely uneasy. She wanted to flee. She wanted to run away— somewhere far away- far from here. She wanted to go where no one could reach her. Where no one could see her. Where no one thought. Where she was just by herself. No voices around her. No voices in her head.

Yet she stayed where she stood, standing tall with her back poised.

"̵̢̊W̷̤̏e̶̟̍ ̶̦̔c̶̡͂a̴̪͋n̸͇̈́ ̴̩͘ỉ̸̬f̴̫̆ ̷͚͆ỷ̸͕o̸̲̅ṵ̵̔ ̵͔̕w̴̥̽a̴͔̚n̶̲͋t̶̪̔ ̸̱̀ț̸̅ö̴̗.̶̦͌"̶̖̉

Bruno's voice startled her. What?

"̶̱̔W̵͎̿e̶͔͋ ̵̨̃c̸̠̈́à̶̰n̷͚̅ ̵̈́ͅr̷̲̅ŭ̸̠n̴͈̐ ̴͚́a̷̡̐ẃ̴ͅá̸͓y̵̡͊.̷͋͜"̷͓͊

We?

"̷̐͜Ỵ̷̔ẹ̴̍s̵̖̈,̷͈͆ ̴̡̂Ï̸̲v̷͓̈ḛ̶̉t̸̬͘t̴̙͑e̶̛̩.̴̧͊ ̶̬̂W̵̰̕ě̸͎.̵̬̽ ̵̭̋I̵̬̅'̵͚̍m̸̪̅ ̶̙̋ÿ̶̩o̸̺̐ú̵͔r̸̹̐ ̷̙̾f̵̤͐r̸͈̒ȉ̷̯e̸͉̓n̶̜͂d̸͕̃,̷͎̂ ̵̙̇a̸̟̎ȓ̷͖e̸̼͠n̵̟̈́'̴͚̔t̶̙̂ ̷̜̎I̷͂͜?̴̩̀"̷̱͋

...yes.

"̴̯͋T̵̘́e̸͊ͅl̵̝͠l̵̝͊ ̴̹͂m̶̖̌e̶̗͋ ̵̺͆ẁ̶͖h̸̖͛ä̵̪́t̸̜͆ ̴͎͌ỳ̷͕o̴̫͌u̵̩̕ ̸̧̔w̶̲͊a̷̝̍n̶̛̹t̴̋ͅ.̷͇́ ̶̹̎T̵͓̉e̴̥̕l̷̝̂l̷͙͠ ̸̼̇m̶̻̆ĕ̷̦ ̶̻̈w̶̱̍h̸̜̍a̴͑ͅt̴̞̉ ̵̦͘y̶͉̚ô̴͈u̴̫̚ ̶͉͌n̸̛͎e̸̮͂e̴̠͗d̷̪̋.̵̪̿ ̵̢̌Ị̴́'̷̢͗l̸̩̂l̸̫͠ ̵̹͝m̵̟̀a̵̪̎k̶̙̾e̶̤͂ ̸̭́ī̴̯t̷̛͔ ̴͛ͅh̷͉͗a̸͍̾p̵̨͋p̴̺̅ẽ̴̼n̶͔͗.̸̨̏ ̵̖̈́J̶̺̒ǔ̵̯s̵̳̓t̶̮̾ ̵̞̽a̵͙̿s̷̞̋k̷̯̀ ̸̭̓m̴̲̍e̸͔͝.̴̘̔"̸̪̐

Could we really leave?

"̶̱̄Y̷̪͝e̶̯͝s̶͇̍.̷͚̆ ̵͍̀J̸̧̇ȗ̶͙s̶͓̎ţ̶͛ ̴̺̍ẙ̸̠o̴̻̕ủ̵̼ ̸̟̾a̵̭̍ṅ̷͙d̵̗̊ ̴̤̾m̸̥͌è̴̘.̸̡͛"̷̳̇

Her lips parted, ready to speak the words she desperately wanted to say. Yet, the faces of her soulmates appeared in her head. Of her brother and her mother. And her shoulders dropped woefully, and her emerald eyes looked a little less bright and a little duller.

I can't.

Ivette thought she heard Bruno sigh sadly.

I'm sorry.

"̶̝͊I̴͕̍ẗ̵̩'̴̝̾ś̵͕ ̷͖͠ō̴̤k̵͔͒å̵͔y̶͎͂.̸̢̔ ̵͚̈I̶̛̥ ̸̰̿ů̶̱n̴͔͠d̴̡̛e̸̥̿r̶̠͌s̵͇͂t̴͈͋a̵̟͝n̶̼̕d̷̰͆.̸̡̔"̷̠͂

...thank you.

"̴̠͝Y̵͈̅o̷̜̊u̸̠͝ ̵͈̿d̵͙͊o̶̓ͅṋ̵͋'̷̰̀t̸͓̿ ̷͚̽n̴͚̽ě̷ͅe̵̮͂d̷̜̅ ̸͕̾t̸̤͗o̴̢̚ ̸̳̍t̸̙̏h̸̘͋a̸̡̔ñ̵͓k̷͍̀ ̵̠͝ṃ̵̔e̶̮̐.̶̗̈ ̸͍̄I̵̗̓'̴͍̊d̷̘̕ ̸͚̏d̸̥͆ȏ̴͜ ̴̢̆å̸̤ņ̴̊y̷̭̏t̸̘͆ḩ̶̓i̸̘͗n̶̮͝ḡ̴̝ ̶̢͝f̸͎̌o̷̘̔r̸̩̆ ̶͖͋ỷ̶̥o̷̙͗ù̵̮.̶̺͘"̶̳͘

Thank you.

A peculiar train of thought approached from behind her. Ivette perked up. She recognized the blurred memories flashing in her mind.

Suddenly, she felt at ease.

"Oh, it's someone from UA. Cool! Let me have your autograph." An arm fell around her shoulders, pulling her close to the stranger-not-so-stranger's body. "You were the one who ditched the sports festival at the end, right? Cause you didn't want to fight your soulmates and all that stuff. Remember?" Ivette's lips quirked upwards. "And weren't you also one of the UA students that ran into the hero killer in the Hosu incident?"

Ivette stifled a chuckle.

"Man, I seriously can't believe it. I can't believe I'd see you again in a place like this. It makes me feel like there's something to it...something like fate...or destiny." His hand moved to wrap around her neck. "But well, from your perspective, I guess we haven't met since the attack on UA, huh? Why don't we have tea or something, Midoriya Ivette?" He leaned his head down- closer to her ear. "Act natural," the familiar stranger said, "like I'm an old friend. Don't make a fuss, okay?"

Amusement rushed through Ivette's veins. "Do you think I'm scared?" How laughable. "I'm filled to the brim with unprecedented glee. Who'd have thought I'd have the pleasure of being choked in the mall?"

His hand tightened as a warning.

"Keep doing that, and I'll have to add an asphyxiation kink to your list." Ivette's eyes twinkled with mischief. "You remember, don't you? When I said you had a hand fetish? Where are your other hands, by the way? Did you ditch them? Can't say I blame you, though. They weren't very pretty—"

He gripped her tightly, and she gasped at the restriction.

It only served to make her giggle.

"I'm only teasing, Shigaraki. Calm down. Why don't we go have a seat and chat, huh? You can let go of me. I won't run away." She raised her hand and placed it on top of the one around her neck. Tilting her head back, Ivette locked eyes with Shigaraki's. "Promise."

"I don't trust you."

"And I don't trust you, yet here we are," she said. "Come on. I won't bite." She patted his hand, and he hesitantly let go. Shigaraki couldn't help it. He was on edge, walking along a tightrope with nothing but darkness beneath him, and yet, here they were. Him and this girl. The one who destroyed his plans time and time again. He wanted to know how. But where did this desperate curiosity come from? Shigaraki wasn't sure. He just needed to know. Ivette Midoriya. Her name rang in his mind for days upon days. She was all he could think about. Her face. Her glowing eyes. Her hands. Her voice. Her powers.

He needed her.

Bruno smirked. He, too, could hear his thoughts.

"̶̨̛̫̖̳͙̠͈̜̺̲͎͍̇͆͐̿̃̎̌Ȳ̸͓̊́̈́ọ̵̠̥͓̻͔̮̌̐̀̀̚ṷ̷̩̟̘̻͍̠͖͆̊̑̂̋̈́ ̸̻̞̹́̆̎͋̋̆͊̈́̃͂͘̚ŵ̷̤̮̽̐̂̎̀ī̴̧̮͈̦̤̋͊̇ľ̵̨̻̺̲̯̑͑̾l̴͉̞͎͎̣̈̌̅̏̓̇͆͐͐͊̚͜ͅ ̶̛͕̠́̋̈́̄͆̈́͌̅̿͛̎̀͝ņ̶͈̮̭̟̱̿̆͗̾̀̿͊͝ͅò̴̢͕̺̻̟̜̖̮̒̐̍̉̓̃̇͛̽̏͠ẗ̷̢̛̰̟̮̺̳͇̹̟͕͖́̎̾̽̈́̿̐͌̾̔͜͝͠ ̷̨͚͚̙̘͓̓͂͆͒̑͒̊̿̂̽̾͊h̷̘̋̔̉͋͝͠ą̵͈̱̠̼͉̥͇̜̺̗͔͇̞̈́̐̈̓ͅv̷̙̪͓̳̟̻̽͋̓̓͒̄̑ȩ̶̣͎͕̙̦̍̀̄̀̋́̏̚ ̷̯̬̫͎͚̹̃ḩ̸͖̥̲͇̤̫̼̜̲̼͈̳͎̈́̑̿͗̃e̸̼͖̩͔̻̤͈̦͋͐̄̑̈́̒́̊̂͗̑̚͝r̴̡̙͍̿̾͒́̅͂̐̊̔̽̑̕͠.̶̡̯̲̜̖̠̻̳̺̪̪͈̟̈́̑͊̚̚ ̷̨̨̫̜͓͉͓̹̩̣͔̟̀I̶̛̬͕͙̔͋͑̊t̷̡͙̣̻̀̒ ̸͖̞̯̜̉̈́͆̉̏̈́͐͘̕ì̸͚͂͜s̶̥̯̾͐͛̐̎̋̅͐͐̑̕ ̷̡͎̙͍͉̯̫̲͙̇͌̈́̋͗͒̃̆͗͝s̴̱͚͖̀̏h̷̯̩͊̏̉́̀̾͗̽̎ę̵͍̰͚͚̖̬̭̜̹̑̏̈́̽̍̈́̏̅̃͋͘̚͜͠ ̸̭͇̘̙̟̬͚̪̺̤̣̖͖̇̅̑̎̆̑̀̈̾ͅẇ̶̛̬͎̘͖͌̕͝ḩ̷̬͎̳̭͎̦̘̬̣̘͕͑͗͋́̄̌̈́̄̋̐͠o̸̡̠̦̾́̄̆̆̽͐͂̚͝ ̶̝̏͜͠w̵̗͚̟̮͇̞̳̗̎̌̊̏̀̀̓̈́̆̓͑̎̆̏̈ͅį̴̘͍̪͇̫̰̹̤͇͙̓̽̀̑͗͗̀̌̇̈͠ͅͅl̴̦̘̠̣̞̲͈̮̞͓̹̀̒͋̋̉̃̓͐̽͆͆̕ͅl̶̯͔͛̒̀͝ ̸̛̳̽̋͒̎͘h̵̥͙͍̟̓̍a̷̺̖͓̩͊̀͐̀̈́̅̓͆́͂͘͜v̸̡̨̢̼̫̗͓̟͎͂̓͒̈́͜ë̶̮̻͎̘͈̤́̈́͌͋̀̀ ̸͚̠̳̬͓͖̰̳̖͎̲̠͐̌̾͛͘͜y̶̛͕͂̄̋̒͒͂̚̕͝o̷̩̘̘̥̠͙̩̩̩̩̼̭̰̼͍̿̐u̵͕̗̻̓͊͆͋̋.̴̡̡̛̰̱̠̭̼̙̫̺̤̰̦͛͋͑̇̔̆̈́̆̚͜͝"̸̖̤̈́̈́̍̒̈́̒͒̀͝͝

Ivette plopped on the bench and shuffled to make space for Shigaraki. She looked up at him expectantly, noticing how he stayed frozen before her. "What's wrong?"

"You're weird." She arched a brow.

"Care to elaborate?"

Shigaraki looked puzzled. "Most people would be trembling or yelling for help, or I don't know—acting normal in a situation like this."

"This isn't exactly your day-to-day situation, though, is it?" Ivette pointed out. She dragged her finger against the skin of her throat, tracing over the swelling. "You came up to me, threatened me, grabbed my neck—do you think that would happen to most people?"

He gave her an annoyed look, and it reminded Ivette of a child scowling. She bit back a smile. "They wouldn't act like that."

"What can I say? I'm just unique." She patted the spot beside her. "Now, come, sit." Ivette watched Shigaraki attentively as he did as she told and took the seat next to her, leaving an obvious gap between the two of them.

She smirked. "Good doggy."

A misty green barrier ignited, preventing the chapped hand from reaching her face. Her lips pulled back in a feral smile. Shigaraki's eyes were enlarged, wild in their nature. A crazed malignancy shone from them. His hair was ragged under his hood, and she could see the stark purple vein pulsing from his neck.

Ivette simply laughed, pushing his hand back to his lap with her green-coloured energy. "Kidding, kidding. Man, you gotta learn how to take a few jokes, Shiggy. Otherwise, people aren't gonna like you very much."

Shigaraki scoffed, clenching his hands into fists. "I don't care if people like me or not. I hate them. And don't call me that."

"What? Shiggy? I think it's cute."

"It's not."

Ivette bit back her reply. She knew she would only anger him more. "If you say so. Now, do you want to tell me what you, a wanted criminal, are doing in a mall like this?"

"What? Am I not allowed to be here?"

"No, you're not, actually. If the police catch you, they'll throw your crusty ass into jail."

"I'd kill them before they even tried."

"I have no doubt about that. Aren't you afraid that a hero will come, though?"

Shigaraki threw his head back and laughed in disbelief. "As if they could stop me! I could crumble twenty—no, thirty people before they even managed to step a foot inside."

Ivette chuckled. "You're not wrong there." She exhaled deeply, feeling her mind slow down bit by bit. There was something about being next to Shigaraki that made Ivette feel comfortable. His thoughts were almost like hers, and they meshed over to create something harmonious. Clasping her hands together, Ivette placed her elbows on her knees and leaned forward. "You'd think they'd hurry over when people's lives are in danger. Instead, they take their sweet fucking time."

"And people don't blame them either way."

"Hah, that's funny, you know. I was just thinking about that earlier. You sure you don't have a mind quirk or anything?"

Shigaraki glanced at her. "Should I put my hand on your head and find out?"

"That would kill me."

He grinned. "Exactly."

Ivette knew what haunted Shigaraki. What hurt him. She knew where his anger stemmed from- knew where his pain came from. Tenko Shimura wasn't a monster. He was just a child that no one helped. Knowing that she could make him smile like this, Ivette smiled.

Shigaraki was thrown off guard by her appearance. "What's wrong with your face?"

"My face?" She furrowed her brows. Her fingers felt her cheeks, looking for anything unusual. When she couldn't find anything, she responded, "Nothing's wrong with it."

"Your lips. They're weird."

"Do you mean...my smile?"

"Yeah."

Ivette blinked. Stared at him in shock. "Have you never seen anyone smile before, Shiggy?"

He scowled. "I've seen people smile before. They're all smiling now." He crossed his arms and looked ahead of them, disgusted. "Look at these guys. Even though anyone could wield their quirk at any time, how can they smile and gather like that? When it comes down to it, laws and rules assume that individuals have morals. They're convinced that there's no way anyone would do it."

"Do you know why?"

He looked back, startled. "What?"

"Do you know why they can just go along their day smiling thoughtlessly?"

He flatted his lips. "Is this a trick question?"

"It's not. I'll tell you the answer if you don't know. It's because of All Might." The moment of truth, ladies and gentlemen. The answer Shigaraki had desperately been searching for. His eyes widened in realization. "Haven't you noticed it before? People smile thoughtlessly because All Might has been seen time and time again smiling just the same."

"As if he could save anyone," Shigaraki muttered, the dots connecting in his head.

"Exactly. But we know the truth, don't we?" Ivette's eyes were hard, like steel, glancing out amongst the crowd. "Not everyone is saved."

Shigaraki inhaled sharply.

His past surfaced in his mind. Ivette could see it. She saw how his father hit him and how his family just watched. Saw how they died by his hands and how no one helped him when he was orphaned. She saw how All For One reached out to help him, only to groom him into the being he was today. Her jaw tightened. Shigaraki shouldn't have been treated like that. He shouldn't have been abandoned. Even if nobody could've done anything about his father, they shouldn't have left a child wandering the streets all alone.

"̸̧̃S̷͇̿o̸̬͌c̸̜̉i̷͔͝ȅ̴̦ţ̶̚ỹ̷̮ ̴͖̊ḯ̷̖ṡ̴͉ ̴̜͒c̵͎̋r̶̠͝u̸͙̿e̸̲͗l̸̜̿.̸̮͐ ̴̢͌H̶͓͌ȯ̴̧w̷̦͑ ̴̣̄c̷̟͝a̴̬͂n̵̫͌ ̴̫͝p̶̗͌e̶̞͐ō̸ͅp̷̲͋ļ̴̔e̶͖̍ ̴̟̿c̸̬̈a̵̪͂ľ̸̳l̷͔̀ ̷̪̽ť̶̳ḥ̸͗ȩ̴̐ḿ̶͇s̷͚̅e̸͍̓l̸͈̔v̷̱͌e̸̙͗ś̷̜ ̴̹͠g̶̟̈́o̴̬̚o̸̩̚d̴͕͊ ̷̭̈́ȧ̵͕n̷̬̎d̵̖̈́ ̶͑͜m̴̰͛o̶̼͒ṛ̶̚a̸̡̅l̸̙̍ ̵̣̊w̴̪̏ȟ̴̜e̵̺̚n̵͇̅ ̴̣̅t̴̞͝h̵̟̏e̵̜͊y̷̯̑ ̴̘͆w̶̜̓ḯ̶̳l̵̠̾l̷̜̓f̸̤͗u̴̲͆ļ̶͝l̵͐ͅỳ̷̯ ̴̲̒i̵̪̐g̶̙͌ṉ̵͘o̷͇̐r̴̮̒ȅ̵͈d̵̥̐ ̸̞̀a̵̯̎ ̷̹͂c̵̥̓h̴̙̄ï̴̼l̷̰̈́d̸̖͠ ̴̱̆ḯ̸͓n̵̛̮ ̷̦̉n̸͕͐e̷̫͗ẽ̵͔d̶̤̾?̷͈̀"̶͙̄

Ivette was angry.

No, she was more than angry.

Bruno smirked deviously.

Her eyes watered as her nails dug into her fists. "Heroes these days are nothing but useless flies. Vermin that do nothing but take up empty space and use extra resources that shouldn't be theirs to begin with."

Shigaraki eyed her carefully. The girl next to him was an enigma. He couldn't understand her. "If you hate heroes, why are you in UA?"

"Haven't I told you before?" He shook his head. "I'm going to correct a broken system."

And she looked confident saying that.

"If All Might falls, what do you think will happen to these people?" She gestured to those before them. "They'll crumble and scurry in terror. Riots and protests will rise, and humanity will finally realize that their dependency on one sole person is toxic and volatile." She scowled, "Heroes have begun to hide in the great shadow All Might has cast. Yet, even if that possible scenario were to happen, even if All Might were to fall, I guarantee you that society will do the same all over again. They'll find someone else, perhaps Endeavour, perhaps someone new entirely, and pin their hopes and aspirations onto them. We're narcissistic creatures, you see. We blame everyone but our-fucking-selves."

Silence sat thick in the air. It was as heavy as a stone. Thick as a tree. Thick as a mountain. The thickest of all was the muted breaths escaping Ivette's throat. A fire roared to life inside her body. Her blood pulsed with it. She felt like she could burst any moment now, and an itch started to form under her skin, her powers bubbling in her veins. It wanted to explode. It wanted to cover the world whole and alter it to her vision. To her dreams.

"One day—" her eyes turned cold, and shadows crowded her irises, beckoning the call of havoc and destruction—"should my twin and my soulmates continue down this screwed path, I'm sure society will turn to them. They have big futures. And I know they'll save many, many people. But I refuse to let them be corrupted by the mass. I'm going to save them. That, I promise."

She turned to Shigaraki. She met his eyes.

Shigaraki couldn't breathe. The fire, the glow, the pure power that poured from every inch of her being—it wasn't an act. It was real. The power of life itself. He had to look away, but he couldn't. Shigaraki was frozen in his spot.

Ivette would change the world, for worse or for better.

There was no doubt about that.

"And I promise that I will save you, too. Not the you now. But the you from before."

He reeled back in fear. There was something in her expression that ripped through his soul. Shigaraki felt as if this girl could see everything he kept hidden, and that scared him more than anything. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what you think." Ivette took a deep breath in and quelled her anger. She looked away from him, quieting the fire within her. "Enough of this," she finished. "It's too deep, and I'm really not in the mood anymore."

She rose from her seated position and placed her hands in the pocket of her hoodie. Her fingers brushed against her phone, and she could feel it buzz persistently.

"You better go," she told him, hearing her classmates' thoughts before their voices reached her ears. It was past three o'clock.

"Come with me," Shigaraki found himself saying. "You don't want to be a hero, anyway. We can do so much more together than alone."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm gonna try things my way first." She heard someone call her name and then heard multiple gasps soon after. "Now go. Before they call the police on your ass."

Shigaraki stood up. He looked at her with determination in his eyes. "I won't stop."

"I hope you don't," Ivette smirked wickedly. "People need a good shaking up. Here, take this." She fished out a small yellow container out of her pocket and threw it at the villain. "It's lip balm. It'll help with all that." She motioned to his dry and chapped face.

"Fuck you." But he put it in his pocket.

Ivette rolled her eyes. "Hurry up and get lost."

"Ivette!"

"Oh my god!"

Footsteps reached her ears, and a hand grabbed her arm and yanked her behind a taller structure. "Get away from her!" Kirishima yelled. He activated his quirk, hardening his body and keeping her protected. Ivette appreciated the sentiment, but her attention never left Shigaraki.

He huffed, shoved his hands in his pockets, and turned on his heel. Ivette watched him walk away, ignoring the panicked state of her classmates.

"Was that Shigaraki Tomura?"

"No way! We have to report it!"

"What did he say to you? Did he hurt you? Are you okay?" Kirishima growled furiously, "I swear, if I ever see him again, I'll—"

"I'm okay, Eijiro," Ivette placated, drawing her eyes to her soulmate. She placed her hand on his cheek, offering a soothing expression. "I promise. He didn't hurt me."

Kirishima wrapped his arms around her, holding her to his chest as their classmates alerted the police of the incident. Izuku watched his twin sister. She was lost in a daze, her focus far away. His eyes scanned her face for any sign of bruising, blood or pain. No marks. No scratches. No wounds. Nothing. Except that her eyes were full of things he couldn't understand. She looked slightly different— whatever had happened between the two seemed to have had an impact on Ivette. Izuku wanted to know what had happened. He clenched his fists tightly.

Ivette could hear his thoughts. He was angry at himself. I should've been there for her. If only I had stayed with her, nothing would have happened. Ivette couldn't help but sigh as she leaned into Kirishima's warm embrace.

"̴̗́H̷͙̋e̸͇̒'̷̡̕s̴̞͘ ̸͇̔t̶̋͜o̷̼͊o̷͈̓ ̸̛͚ń̸͕ǒ̷̭ş̸͝e̵̲͝y̵̳͆ ̶̟͛f̵̦̔ȍ̵͖r̷͎̄ ̴̰̓h̶̫̕i̶͚̽s̷̙̈́ ̵̃ͅo̷͇̕w̸̜͗n̴̤̑ ̵̟̔g̶͚̈́o̸̘͋o̵͎̔d̵̛͔.̷̡̆"̴̭̋

I know.

༺═──────────────═༻

Before Ivette knew it, she was taken to the police station. Seated on a metal chair, Ivette kept her posture relaxed and neutral. She leaned back, looking at the bare ceiling with boredom circling her emerald-green gaze.

"Midoriya-san," Naomasa Tsukauchi started, "I'd appreciate it if you could focus."

"I am focusing," she said.

"Looking up isn't focusing."

Her eyes moved to the detective. "How would you know? Can you read my mind?"

Tsukauchi bit the inside of his cheek. He knew what her powers were, knew how she was easily accessing his thoughts without even activating her quirk. It made him feel uncomfortable, and he shifted in his seat.

Ivette's eyes looked like a viper's, green and slit-like, and it put Tsukauchi on edge.

"No," he relented.

"That's right," she drawled. She pushed herself upwards, coming to face Tsukauchi with a look of smug satisfaction. Her curly hair flicked across her shoulder like snakes. "But I can read yours, you know that, right? I can read everyone's right now. Take that guy over there." She nodded her head to the man standing in the far corner, holding a few pieces of paper in his hands. "He's thinking of what to eat when he goes home. And him." She looked over at the guy in the opposite corner. "He's thinking about some guy he talked to earlier. A colleague, I'm guessing. And you." She stared at him. "You're thinking about whether I'm telling the truth or not."

"Are you?" Tsukauchi asked.

She smiled sweetly. "I'd never lie to the police." Tsukauchi didn't believe her, and Ivette could hear it. "I know how desperately you're investigating the League of Villains."

"Then you know that our questions are important."

"Asking me questions won't help you get anywhere." Ivette laid her head on the palm of her hand. "If you want to find the League of Villains, you should consider their affiliations. What have they done, and how have they done it? Where do they get their supplies? Who helps them? These are the questions you should be asking, Tsukauchi-san."

She was mocking him. Mocking his whole investigation. Ivette was basically calling them idiots, and Tsukauchi had to control his expressions. He sighed and dropped his clipboard on the table. "You can go now, Midoriya-san. Thank you for your time."

"You're welcome."

They both stood up.

"I'll walk you out."

Ivette grimaced. "Lovely."

The moment Ivette stepped outside the police station, she was pulled forward into a familiar embrace. "Ivette, you fucking idiot! Why the fuck are you always getting in trouble?! It's like I need a fucking watchdog on you twenty-four-seven!" Ivette couldn't help but laugh.

"It's nice to see you too, Kat."

"Don't fucking laugh, shitty greenie!" Bakugo yelled, tightening his hold around her. "I'm being serious! Stop doing this shit!"

"We were really worried about you," Todoroki said, coming into her vision. His eyes were soft and concerned as he regarded her. He reached up and placed a hand on her cheek, the warmth seeping into her skin. Ivette leaned into his endearing touch.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"Please be more careful."

"I'll try."

"Again with the— Ivette." Bakugo grabbed her chin between two fingers, directing her to look up at him. He stared into her eyes for an excruciatingly long time, and she was forced to meet his gaze. The intensity of it almost made her flinch, but she didn't let her countenance change. "Don't do that again, alright? If you're in trouble, you call me, got it? Don't just sit there. Hell, you don't have to call me! You can take care of yourself, so next time, take care of it, okay?" Bakugo's eyes were a dark red that made his irises stand out. Ivette could feel his emotions stringing through the bond, and it made her feel guilty.

"Okay," she said quietly.

Bakugo sighed.

He leaned down, placed his forehead against hers and just let himself take in the moment. 

"I love you, you know that?"

"I know."

"And it's because I love you that I want you to look out for yourself." His voice was soft, too soft. Ivette's heart tightened. "You could've been hurt badly, princess."

"I know," she repeated.

Bakugo didn't say anything else. He simply pressed a kiss to her head and clutched her closer to his body. Ivette laid her head on his shoulder. She felt better in his hold. Todoroki and Kirishima stood on either side of her, their hands holding her own. She squeezed them, sending her own reassurances.

Izuku watched the four from the side, a smile on his lips. He was so happy for Ivette. More than that, even. He was happy that she found people to love, and people that loved her, too.

"Young Midoriya! Tsukauchi!"

All Might's frantic voice echoed in the dark alleyway. The four soulmates pulled away from each other to see him racing to them.

Izuku's lips parted. "All Might? Why..."

"I had some personal business to talk with him about," Tsukauchi answered.

"Oh good," All Might said as he stepped up to Ivette, placing a hand on her head and brushing back the baby strands. "I'm glad you're okay. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

Ivette's eyes widened. "What?"

"I should've been there." All Might's shoulders deflated. "There are lots of people I can't reach, and you just happened to be one of them. When you needed me, I was..." He sighed deeply, and Ivette could see the dark, tired bags under his wrinkled eyes. "It's frustrating. I'm so sorry, Midoriya."

"It's okay," Ivette breathed.

How interesting this was to the young girl.

"̸̰͊S̴͈͗ơ̸̺ ̷̛ͅt̸̙̃h̵̹̓è̵͖ ̷̻̽g̴̹̋r̷̢̋e̶̗͗a̵͚̍t̷̝̽ ̸̬͐h̸̭̓e̷̤͂r̴̝̄ö̷̫ ̸̲͝k̵̗̏n̷̻̐o̶͕͝w̴͔͗ṣ̷̓ ̸̯̅ĥ̸̯ǐ̴̤s̵̢̓ ̸̛̼f̷̳̈́a̴͎̕u̸͚͠l̸̺̑t̵̫̕s̸̰̈́.̸̮̾ ̸͇̓Í̴͕ẗ̷̰́ ̸̝̄ŵ̷̧ô̶͖û̵ͅḽ̵́d̷͍͆ ̸̥̑k̵̠̍ȋ̵̼l̶̢͝l̸̗̍ ̶͔̋ẖ̵͑ĩ̵̖m̵̯̚ ̵̯͑i̶̳͗f̴̹́ ̸̙͑ḥ̵͂e̷̡͐ ̶͔͊k̸̞͑n̴̫̆ë̸̖́w̵̼̒ ̶̼͝w̶̝̒h̶̟̃ǫ̷̕ ̴͚̅e̸̻͒ẍ̴̩a̵͕͗c̴̤̋ṱ̸́l̴̦̋y̷͜͝ ̸̮͂t̶͉̕h̴͔̉ä̸͜ẗ̸̡́ ̶̦̀b̶̝̿o̶̗̊y̶̝̿ ̸̗͂w̴͚͆a̷̬̔s̴̻͆ ̷̰͛r̸̟̓e̵̫̍l̶̼̽a̴͕̋ṱ̴̛è̴̩d̶̲̓ ̸̥͠t̵̥̑o̵͎͝.̶̖͝"̷̖͂

Bruno.

"̶̜́Ý̶̻ȩ̵͠s̷͕͘?̴̦͝"̶̤͐

Is there a way I could reach everyone?

Bruno grinned. And there it was.

The queen on his chessboard took its first move.

"̸̪͌Y̷̭̽e̸͚͆ś̴̟.̷̩̉"̸̰́