Third person pov

After watching the speeder get processed and get put away in a temporary holding cell where he'd be spending the next few hours, it was time to get down to one of the main reasons she was here. It wasn't that Harper was terribly interested in police work or had a real drive to become any sort of detective or officer, but rather that this specific branch of law enforcement needed her help. Not only could she be most effective here with her quirk  and the many ways she could use it, but Tsukauchi was in charge of most UA legal affairs. As in, he was in control of Sero. Yeah, that guy who'd been on the back burner since the festival. He was now front and center, and Harper wasn't feeling too optimistic. Then again, when was she ever?

It's not that the boy wasn't telling them the truth. It's that he wasn't telling them anything-- period. Tsukauchi had been groaning about it since the Sports Festival ended, and it was driving Harper absolutely batshit crazy. If coming here and voicing the thoughts Sero didn't want anyone to hear would get the Detective to ease up and stop rambling about it, Harper was all here for it. It was better than being worked to death by some random pro that didn't want jack or shit to do with her. 

Before she could do much of anything, she apparently had to change into her 'hero costume'. The one she'd had absolutely no say in designing whatsoever. Even worse, she'd opened up the brief case to a very... colorful letter from Aizawa. Basically, they'd given that demon of a man free reign over what she'd be wearing. She shuddered every time she dared to glance at the sticker-covered piece of notebook paper that explained the various parts of the costume in simple, bubbly detail. She had yet to take it out, and was dreading having to put it on. Not that she'd even seen it yet.

Still, she had to get started somewhere. Harper had shot a text at Iida telling him to watch his ass, one at Izuku telling him not to break any bones, because god knows he needed the reminder, a few at Kirishima explaining the start of her internship, half because she was sure he was still trying to figure out when it was okay for him to contact her. She may as well go first and ease his worries. She also checked on Ochako a bit, and even Kaminari. The Wii thing was concerning. Tsuyu would be going out to sea where there'd be no phone signal, so she'd sen some good luck texts. Todoroki too, telling him to be careful and that Endeavor was a fuck wad. He hadn't even asked how she got his number. Just said thanks.

"She's taking so long. Harper did say she didn't get to design it, so maybe she hasn't seen it yet and just doesn't like it... that'll be alright. I'm not sure we have any junior uniforms in her size, but-"

Harper cut off Tsukauchi's thoughts with a grimace. So it was either a uniform from the Weenie Hut or whatever hellish garment was in the box before her. Outright, there was nothing colorful. It was just a... flat, tan something folded on top of the rest of this shit. Aizawa liked to fuck with her though, so she was pretty convinced something neon pink would be popping out at her at some point. Not a nice thought if she was being honest with herself. Then again, how many shits did she really want to give out here? Because she only had so many, and she had a feeling she'd need them later if this internship kept going the way it was.

Cracking her knuckles and then her neck, Harper dove into what could be a total shit show. Her enthusiasm didn't rise in the least as she pulled out the tan piece of clothing that was on top. Nothing colorful stood out as she scrutinized the rest of the case, which just had... well, more folded clothing, all in muted tones. A pair of much nicer shoes were tucked off to the side, the tips definitely iron plated. Good for crotch kicking, she supposed. They were boots too, and therefore had more value. Not to mention the fact that they weren't every color of the damn rainbow.

She unfolded the tan piece of clothing she was holding, and the small spark of hope that had taken life in her chest was immediately stuffed out. Her eyes went wide. 

Harper dropped it at her feet and delved further into the case, hoping to whatever higher power that liked to fuck with her on a regular basis that it wasn't true. A tie dropped at her feet, and then a pair of pants that seemed oddly stretchy and flexible considering how professional they looked outwardly. The shoes dropped, as did the crisp white dress shirt. Harper pressed her lips together firmly, closing her eyes slowly to try and regain a sense of calm. This was happening. Aizawa had done this to her. He hadn't painted in bright pink or neon blue, nor had he coated her glitter. No. He'd whipped out the most sadistic side of himself...

And given herself and Tsukauchi matching outfits.

It was all there! The trench coat, the tie, the pants, the white gloves, the dress shirt: It matched what he wore on the daily to an absolute T, and Harper didn't know what to think about that. The shoes were the only think that looked even remotely different, aside from the sizes and such. The notebook paper littered in colorful stickers claimed that all the fabric was pretty much knife proof, or at least harder to cut through than it appeared. Heat resistant and cold resistant, durable, easy to move in. It was fine-- she just... looked exactly like Tsukauchi. 

The only noticeable difference, barring the shoes, was the lack of a hat. Instead of a fedora, there was the catch to this bland outfit. She knew it had been coming, of course. Didn't make it suck any less. At first glance, it was just a normal, bright orange headband with cat ears on the top. A nuisance she was fully intending to ignore before she realized they weren't what they seemed. Upon closer inspection, it was obvious the headband was a bit more high-tech than it looked. There was a switch on the side, right near her left ear. It would certainly be hidden by her hair, but not totally impossible to see.

Harper snatched the note up, feeling irritated and like she may just curl up on the bathroom floor and take a nap, because why the hell not? Sero could wait. She could hear his thoughts from here. He was already waiting for them in the interrogation room, counting the speckles on the ceiling tiles out of sheer boredom. The idea of stepping out looking exactly like her fake-dad... it wasn't the worst, but was it optimal? No. Of course not. She was going to get stared at, and she didn't need that sort of attention in her damn life. The more thoughts directed at her, the worse. Even if Tsukauchi was a pretty good guy.

Harper sighed, eyes raking over the paper. She flipped it over when she saw nothing about the accursed headband. She should have never picked a cat name. That was her first mistake. No, actually it probably wasn't. Harper was sure she'd fucked up plenty of times prior to that. Agreeing to Nezu's deal was her first false move.

Hey Harper! It's Aizawa! (ﾉ≧ڡ≦)

You know, like, your teacher and stuff? That's me! So cool! I've never gotten to write a student a note before! Hopefully I do it right and it's like, super cute. I bought stickers so I can decorate it for you! If I'm lucky, maybe you'll even save it to commemorate! (人◕ω◕)(✪‿✪)ノ

So, you and Tsukauchi are the absolute cutest things ever, so of course I made you twinsies and such (・ωｰ)～☆. That's besides the point. The headband! Press the button to turn it on! That button doubles as a dial! Turning it will widen your range! They couldn't figure out how to make your range smaller, but maybe after studying your quirk some they'll be able to figure out!  ^ↀᴥↀ^

Anywaysssssies, that's about it! It's like, super cute. Take photos. Send them to me. Get some from your classmates as well if you will! Toodles~ ฅ•ω•ฅ

Harper was going to fucking kill that man. Absolutely gut him. What in god's name did she do to deserve this? She was on the receiving end of... this. Whatever otherworldly being Aizawa happened to be. Probably some little demon from the ninth circle. Nezu was an asshole too. She'd toss him in the incinerator right alongside her homeroom teacher the first chance she-

"Harper?" Tsukauchi's concerned voice cut through her plots of revenge, and she grunted lightly to herself. "I think she died. Oh my god, did she? Or maybe she's napping. That sounds like her. When was the last time we cleaned that bathroom floor? I know we've swept, but what about mopping? Because if she gets sick, I'll cry. Oh god, what kind of father am I?! Should I break down the door?!"

"Almost done. Just... processing." Harper bit the words out like the poison they were. Fuck it. What did she care? It was just a trench coat. Tsukauchi was a badass, it was fine. The cat ears were questionable, but whatever. She only had so many flying fucks in her possession. She was not about to toss them at this when she could be dumping them over Sero's silence. Traitorous ass thought he could just sit there and not say shit. Funny. Cute. Unless he could pull a Kaminari and fill his brain with pure Wii theme, he was in for a rude awakening. She was willing to dig deep to get this over with.

Harper got dressed with speed and efficiency that surprised even herself. The only thing she couldn't get was the tie, which was a navy color just like her guardian's. It was a bit different than the UA ones. She truly did look like a mini Tsukauchi. It was a bit terrifying, but also amusing in an odd way. The more Harper looked at herself, the less she minded. Yeah, she looked like a trash bag, but this thing was comfortable as all hell. She could nap in this shit. When did she not look like ass that rolled through three mud puddles and a landfill? She was the girl who wore sweatpants under a skirt, for fuck's sake!

With a sigh, she popped the headband on her head with a cringe. It fit snuggly. When had Aizawa gotten her head measurements? Did she want the answer to that question? She doubted it, but she never wanted to know the shit she knew. Exhibit A being Aizawa's alter ego. Harper was now debating between shanking him over the costume and just thanking him outright. It was a thin line she walked upon. Which way she fell would determine how soon Mic became a windower.

Harper opened the door and braced for the worst, alert and at the ready despite how exhausted she felt. A good move on her part. She just barely had time to side step as Sansa's coffee sprayed from his mouth and almost nailed her. It missed her and her pristine new outfit by a mere inch.

Tsukauchi's jaw dropped the second his big boy brain was able to process what he was seeing. Comical. Harper wished she could take a picture, but she'd lost her phone in one of the many pockets this coat held. Sansa was actually dying over there off to the side, his coffee spilled on the floor like blood at a crime scene and his lungs struggling to take in air as he took a knee. Harper could only stare with dry pity at the two men, no doubt looking nothing short of completely miserable. At least the clothes were her size. How did Aizawa know her sizes, though?

"Aizawa designed it." Harper said, though they already knew this. She held up her tie. "Help."

"O-Oh." Tsukauchi managed to sputter. "Holy shit... holy shit, she's a tiny me. This is the best day of my life. Is this what parents feel like when they're proud of their kids? I think I could actually cry. This is amazing. I'm so glad she got kidnapped. I mean, I'm not, but I am. Being a father is great. This is great. She's a tiny detective. I need pictures now. This is adorable and I need to thank Eraser right away just- holy shit! She's a tiny me!"

Sansa's thoughts were along the same lines to some extent. Yeah... maybe not. "Another Tsukauchi. My life is complete. Death could take me the hell away and I'd be perfectly happy. Look at her. She has little cat ears too. It's like she's both of us and the human embodiment of both Insomnia and Depression mashed into one. I need to take photos. This is the best day of my life. Naomasa is in tears, and my lungs are collapsing. I'm having an asthma attack, and I don't even have asthma."

Harper brought up a hand to massage her temples. Today... was going to be a long day.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Being caught? Not the best, Sero would admit. The new bitch was the one behind it too. He just couldn't figure out what had given him away. Either way, he was fucked. All he could do was withhold ever bit of information he could and hope he wouldn't be killed by Shigaraki. He was a ruthless boss, and Sero was essentially useless to him caught. It was so infuriating that Sero wanted to scream. Throw things through windows, smash chairs, and shriek at the top of his lungs. Somehow, he'd fucked up. This was the end for him now. His purpose was no more. Still, he'd stay loyal. Always loyal, if he wanted to avoid the box. He would never betray them. Their cause was too important. Not that he had much information on their plans. He was kept on a strict need-to-know basis. 

Considering where he was now, perhaps that wasn't the worst thing. The less information he had, the better. The chances of the heroes breaking him were slim, but it never hurt to be cautious. Even if his cover was blown, he could avoid the box if he didn't say a word. They didn't know. They had no idea, and that made him safe. He hadn't thought about the box in a long time, but now he'd been caught. He'd been caught, and it was a risk. He hadn't had to worry about the box before. He'd been good before. Now, he was panicking. Stuck. He didn't like it. He had to remain calm.

The days were monotonous and often times repetitive, which is why the last person he expected to see was Harper Rye herself. The mere sight of her made his teeth want to clench and grind and snap together. Nothing ever happened. They'd sit him in this drab room and try to question him. He'd just count the speckles on the ceiling tiles or sing himself a song within his mind. It was always the same detective-- Harper's dad. He would have thought the man would never let her anywhere near him, and yet she came slunking in like she owned the place with her father by her side. It made his skin itch, but he kept himself as lax as possible. He couldn't show discomfort. He couldn't let them get information.

"Matching uniforms." Sero thought to himself. Observing others was a good distraction for himself. It kept him busy, and his thoughts, occupied. "An internship, maybe? There's no other way she'd be allowed back here."

Harper plopped down in one of the chairs across from him, "Hey." 

Tsukauchi took a seat next to her silently, a notepad in his hand. He didn't say a single word. Normally he'd start out with a greeting, but this time all he did was stare intently. Sero brushed it off. The questions they brought always got him thinking, but none had made him crack so far. "Bringing some naive kid in to try and crack me won't do shit. Just because the bitch was my classmate for a while doesn't mean anything. Shigaraki said so himself. Classmate don't matter. They don't really care. They never care!"

Harper hummed to herself. Sero gazed at the cat ear headband on her head, expression bored and bland. A blank slate, he could proudly say. Harper cleared her throat experimentally, drawing his attention. He definitely wasn't wrong. She was a total bitch, that's for sure. But this was already off to a kicking start! His view on his classmates could be used against him in a way. He didn't trust them. If she could find a way to get some of his faith in her, someone he was formerly a peer with, it could crack the very foundation of his thought process.

"Now, I know what your sorry ass is thinking. 'Why the fuck are they sending some naive kid in to try and crack me?'" Harper cocked her head. Not enough for him to know she was a mind reader, but enough to get him just a more on edge for when she started rooting around in that nasty little mind of his.

Sero blinked at her. Hadn't he just thought that? Sort of trippy, but it didn't throw him off. He couldn't let it. All she had was a reflex quirk. It was down in the official registry, and from what his sources said, it had been since she was four years old. Simple and straight-forward as that. So what if she could see a hit coming before it landed? In interrogation, it was nothing. Harper looked relaxed now, but that rather bored expression would soon melt off her face and be replaced with irritation. He couldn't wait to see her crack. They wouldn't-- couldn't-- get information from him.

Harper really just wanted to take a nap. Sero was full of himself. A cocky bastard who thought himself untouchable just because he had a good poker face. Well, tape fuck mcgee over here was about to get a real harsh wake up call. Harper had never purposely dug deep to try and break someone apart, but that didn't mean she didn't have the ability to. The questions and topics Tsukauchi had suggested leading with swam around in her head. What route to take, what route to take... 

She observed Sero. Outright hostility and a shit ton of pent up anger that had surfaced suddenly. It hadn't been there in class, which meant getting captured had probably triggered this and a lot of the other shit going on in him. He was definitely dealing with some sort of insanity. He'd just... snapped, it felt like. Something in him had broken. His purpose had been ripped away. He hadn't done his job, and that hurt. He wasn't stable, and stable people operated a lot differently than the usual.

"So, we found your parents." Harper drawled out idly, inspecting the cuff of her new trench coat. It was honestly growing on her. The ping of Tsukauchi's quirk deeming her statement a lie didn't phase her. Sero, however, flinched. Excellent. She hadn't been sure, but family was usually a pretty good soft spot to jab at when it came to people. 

"How did they find them? It has to be a bluff. They're dead! In unmarked graves!" Sero mentally seethed, immediately becoming enraged. So much so that Harper almost felt overwhelmed, but she had experience in schooling herself. She remained firm. This took too much energy, and she expected some damn ice cream later."They've been gone a long time. How could they have found them? I-I made sure nobody could ever find them!"

"Of course, they aren't alive." Harper said in a near casual tone, pulling details from his thoughts to progress things further. Tsukauchi glanced back at the one way window behind him. Sansa was on the other side taking notes as well, and observing the recording to make sure it was up and running just fine. Tsukauchi started on some of his own when his quirk didn't deem Harper's claim a fib. "You hid them pretty well. I'm pretty surprised the force managed to find them, actually."

Sero's blood ran cold. It wasn't a bluff. They knew. They knew what he'd done. He was a villain- but his parents... His sister was only six. He'd just gotten so, so mad. They were infuriating! He just wanted to watch them choke. He hadn't meant for it to go so far. They just didn't understand. They'd never done anything right! They made him angry. They wanted him to get help, but why would he have needed help?! He was fine! His little sister had been scared at the time, but why would she be? He'd gone to UA. He'd made friends, even if they weren't real. They all never suspected him! They hadn't been afraid! He was fine.

"A little girl, too. Only around seven or eight, maybe even younger. Pretty cold, Sero. Did you know her? She was with your parents." Harper met his eyes, and cold terror gripped his insides. His eyes darted to Tsukauchi, but the man was closed off completely. Harper's eyes gave away nothing. They were stone walls. Sero could keep his expression level all he wanted, but that was the one thing he could not do. His eyes always said what his face did not.

"The river. They found the river. If they found my family, then... My... My house. The found my house?!" Sero's panicked thoughts increased in volume, but Harper didn't wince even as it stabbed at her mind. She had to keep a level head and keep rocking Sero's boat until it flipped. Maybe she'd raise her voice a little at some point, then tone it down with a smile. She'd never really done this before. Not this in depth, anyway. But it was sort of like with Iida. Edging around it until she got the results she wanted. Like... like molding clay.

"There was a lot of water damage. It sped up the decaying process, you know? Hardly could tell they were human beings, but it didn't take long to figure it all out. There was also a house nearby. There was some pretty interesting stuff left inside." Harper continued, propping her chin up on her hand. This sucked, but it was working. He was becoming more and more agitated. It wouldn't be long before he broke. She heard the Chief of Police join Sansa in the viewing room, observing. She inwardly grimaced. Fun."

My box. She can't know what's in my box. They can't. They aren't allowed. I keep my bones in there. They can't find my bones. They're mine. I earned them! I got them myself!" Sero was mentally howling. Pretty disturbing shit, but as bad as Endeavor's furry thing? No, not really. Sero wasn't mentally stable and wasn't a hero, thus his wasn't quite as terrible. Still pretty shitty. Bones? Little shit was a murderer. She was suddenly glad she hadn't fought him at the Sports Festival. Had she said one wrong thing, or anything that could have implied she knew he was the traitor... he'd have probably snapped and killed her right there.

"I actually went with them, you know. To the house." She grinned. It wasn't as hard to force a smile when you didn't mean it. Tsukauchi's quirk pinged. "I found a pretty interesting box, Sero. Lots of bones. I wonder... who do they belong to?" 

Sero's hands slammed down on the table. He was shaking, and the bang made Harper's ears ring. Tsukauchi tensed in preparation for something as Sero seethed at her. Harper didn't even flinch, just gazing at him without an evident care in the world.

"Stop." He breathed, his voice low and scratchy from disuse. His thoughts took the spiral Harper was waiting for. It was all about timing now, really. Or so she hoped. She had no idea what the fuck she was doing. "I don't want to go back... I don't want to go back. Don't make me one of those things. If they know, I'll be made into one of those things. I don't want to. I got my bones. I got my bones, and the rest got put into... into them. I don't want my bones to be added to the box. Please, I don't want my bones to be added to the box."

"Curious things, all those bones. I wonder... how long will it be until yours join them, Sero?" Harper's tone turned icy in an instant, and Tsukauchi's pen stalled with surprise at the sudden change. Harper was just copying the mood swings she saw in him. One's own behavior being mimicked was startling and extremely off putting most of the time. Sero froze, eyes wide. Harper rose to her full height. She wasn't tall, but they were sitting. Her shadow cast across him, the dim light doing nothing to help the atmosphere. "Do you think.. they'll make you one too?" 

"Please." Sero lunged forward at that, hands clasped together and voice rasping. His defiant eyes had gone to pleading as Harper peeled away more and more layers of whatever this was. "Don't let them make me one. I don't want to be one."

"Of course, Sero. You're my classmate. I'd never let that happen to you." Harper assured, intimidating demeanor gone just as fast as it came and a comforting smile spreading across her face instead. Pretty manipulative to switch to drastically, but she was working with what she had. She gazed at the terrified teenager, feeling only a little guilty. He needed help, and had murdered a shit ton of people. Sero felt his shoulders relax slightly. Classmates. They were classmates? Did that... He thought that hadn't meant anything. Shigaraki had said it was fake. "But you've got to help us, so we can stop other bones from getting put in the box. Do you understand? I need your help, so that I can help you. We've got to work together like we do in class. Me and you."

He'd die if he told, but... but he didn't want to go in the box, with the other bones. He hated thinking of it. It made his teeth ache and his throat burn. His eyes stung, and he pushed the memory of the box back to the recesses of his mind where it had sat since the beginning of UA. It was okay. He hadn't seen the box in months. Harper said that if he helped them, they'd help him back. It was an equal exchange. A deal a hero would make. These were heroes, no matter how simple minded. He didn't want to betray them, but... yes, classmates. Maybe there was more to it. There was a chance... yeah, why would it all be fake? People could make friends and protect each other. Harper was making a deal. They wouldn't let anyone put his bones in the box if, in return, he did this.

"Okay..." Sero's tone was jittery. He looked at Harper, and the girl knew she'd won. He was hesitant but willing. Harper hated having to stab at his deepest traumas and probably the source of a lot of his problems today, but it had worked. He was talking. "Alright, I'll help you. As long as I don't have to become one of them, I guess... I guess we can work together."

It had been less than ten minutes. She could feel the Chief of Police's grin through the one-sided glass.

(Sis' weave)