Herrick sighed, and closed his eyes for a moment. Toshi was stumbling towards the apartment as he gripped his side and tried to stay hidden. He gripped at the wall and panted a little as he coughed and shook. Toshi continued on his way and glanced around before going into the building. He was so exhausted by the time he got to his door. He opened it and grunted as he fell to his knees, hand still on the door knob.

Sachi looked up, concerned she ran over to him. "Toshi... What happened?"

"Herrick..." he rasped and tried to get up then closed the door before he collapsed again. He coughed up some blood on the floor and gripped his side.

Sachi went cold. "... Herrick?" She whispered quietly. She shook her head clearing her thoughts she helped him to the bathroom, so she could check his injuries. He grunted and glanced around to make sure November wasn't going to see.

"She's playing in her room riht no." she said softly. He sighed in relief and nodded slowly as he calmed. He sat on the floor and coughed again. She sighed, and looked at him. "... What does he know?"

"My... weakness...." he rasped and lifted his shirt a little to show the reopened wound. "There's no... telling... what he'll do...." he muttered.

Her eyes grew wide. "There's got to be something we can do."

"I... have... to stop him..." he rasped and coughed as he winced.

"Do you even know where he is?"

"No...." he admitted

Sachi bit her lip. "Is it.... Even safe here anymore? How do you know he didn't follow you here?" she asked.  He blinked and glanced to the doorway. He didn't know. He paled a little as he worried about their safety. "It'll be okay, we'll figure it out, but right know... I think we should tell someone. I mean, this could be a serious issue."

"Tell someone what?" he asked as he coughed again and shook his head. "To which are you referring?"

"I-I don't know, that they've figured it out, or something. There has to be something we can do, so you and November will be safe."

"I need to keep you safe as well." He whispered and looked at her.

"But how are we going to do that? who knows what else they've found out."

"I know... I'll get you out of here... don't worry..." he muttered and grunted.

Sachi shook her head. "Toshi, It's not me I'm worried about. You are in more danger right now than I am. November needs her dad."

He looked at her for a moment and furrowed his brow. He nodded and sighed shakily. "Alright..."

She kissed him. "I just.... I don't want to see you getting hurt." She said quietly.

He looked at her and smiled weakly. "I know...."

She kissed him again, "I love you, you know. And whatever happens, or whatever you decide, I will still love you." she whispered. He looked at her and smiled weakly before he gently kissed her.

~

There was a light knock on Renders door. She looked up then walked over and answered the door with a smile. Herrick was surprised to see Render again. It had been so long since he had seen her last, but he quickly recovered. "Hello, I'm looking for Sachi.

Her eyes widened and she grinned then hugged him. "Oh Herrick!" she smiled brightly. "I knew they were wrong."

Herrick blinked as she hugged him, staring at her awkwardly. "... Yeah, why, what have they been saying about me?"

"That you hurt people... even our friends." she said as she gripped his shoulders. "I told them they were wrong." she whispered.

He frowned, and looked at the ground. "Oh" He said quietly.

She smiled and hugged him again. "I'm so happy that you're not what they say. I knew you were still trying to be a hero." she grinned and led him inside.

Herrick looked around her house, and smiled a bit. "Y'know, for some reason, your house is exactly how I imagined it would be."

She grinned and looked at him then at her home. "Isn't it beautiful? Would you like some hot chocolate or tea?" she asked.

Herrick smiled a bit. "Some hot chocolate would be great." He had forgotten how nice Render had been.

"Okay. Do you want marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate or powdered sugar?" she asked as she got to work and pulled things out.

"Maybe some whipped cream... how... how have you been?"

"I'm alright. I was a bit lonely but now everyone is finally coming back together." she smiled. "I can add chocolate syrup of caramel if you want." she said as she cooked.

He shook his head. "Whip cream is fine... sorry about leaving you alone... I've been... busy."

She paused and stirred quietly as she nodded. "That's what they all say..." she whispered.

He nodded slowly. "Sorry" he whispered. She didn't say anything and gathered some goodies for him. She brought him the mug and set the tray on the coffee table by them. "Thanks." He took the mug, and sipped the hot chocolate. He smiled. "This is really good."

"You like it?" she smiled as she curled her legs under her while sitting there. "It has a dash of cinnamon and hazelnut." she said and looked at her mug. It had whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles with chocolate and caramel lines.

He grinned. "It's the best hot chocolate I've had in a while."

She smiled brightly and took a sip. "I'm glad you like it." she grinned more as her eyes sparkled.

He took another sip. "So is it just you here?"

"Right now ya." she sighed and leaned against her chair. She fell silent for a few minutes and looked to her cup. "It's true... isn't it...." she whispered.

He blinked. "Is what true?"

"Are you really... a villain?" she asked quietly and looked at him.

He stared back at her. "I suppose so."

She furrowed her brow and looked at him. "What do you mean by that?" she asked.

He took a sip of his drink. "It all depends on how you look at it."

"Okay....." she muttered and furrowed her brow. He quietly finished his drink. "Are you going to give me your point of view?" she asked as she took a sip

He raised an eyebrow. "You want to hear it?" He seemed a little surprised.

"Yes..." she whispered quietly.

"I'm just trying to fix things. You know how bad this society is, nothing really works right. So many people get away with bad things every day, and there supposed to be the heroes. I'm just... I'm trying to make things right. So that what happened to Sachi never has to happen to anyone else ever again."

She nodded slowly in understanding and sipped her chocolate. "How are you going about it?" She asked.

He sighed. "The only way to get them to listen, Is to show them the flaws. They won't listen if I simply try to tell them."

"So.... you hurt them?" She asked quietly.

"How else am I supposed to get through to them?"

"Herrick.... what if you hurt people who are your friends? Like Aizawa, me, Sachi or Toshinori." She said and looked at him.

"I shouldn't have to hurt you guys. You were there, you should understand. I shouldn't have to convince you of all people!" He yelled. She looked back at her mug and stared at it in silence. She didn't say anything else after that for a while. He stared at her for a moment. "You think I'm wrong?"

"Does it matter what I think?" She whispered quietly

He looked at the table. "Maybe it does... At least it used too."

"Exactly. It used to. Meaning no matter what I say now, you won't give a crap." She muttered.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why not tell me what you were going to say, and I'll be the judge of whether or not I care?"

She looked at him and set her mug down for a moment. "I think there's a better way to go about it." she whispered.

"Like what?"

"Not killing people." she said seriously and looked at him. "Helping people goes a lot further."

"But will that make them change? If you help everyone, than they'll always expect you to be there every time they get in trouble. And what happens when you're not?"

"You're over thinking things, Herrick." she said and looked at him.

"Am I?"

"I think so." she muttered with a slightly bitter tone. "You never used to think this way."

He frowned slightly. "But do you see the point?"

"That you have to kill people?" she asked. "No. I don't get that."

He ran a hand through his hair out of frustration. "That's not what I'm saying. we rely too much on the heroes, and they won't always be there."

"True. But killing people to make a point won't get you anywhere." she said.

He sighed his head in his hands. "I know that.... but what else am I supposed to do?"

"Maybe you should think about it as a hero." she said.

He laughed bitterly. "And how am I supposed to do that? Think like a hero, when the only thing I see in them, are lies, and a cocky arrogance?"

"What do you think a hero should be?" she asked. Herrick thought for a long time, but he couldn't find an answer to her question. What did he think a hero should be like? He knew they shouldn't ever be like him. There was only one person a hero should be like.

"Heroes should be like Toshi." He said quietly. "Rushing in to help, even if they can't really do anything. They should do their best, whether it's a big problem, or a small problem. Even if it doesn't make them famous." He added with a scowl.

She nodded slowly as she listened and looked at him. "I wish Toshi had become a hero..." she whispered

He looked up at her. "...Do you know what happened to him?"

"Well... we got kicked out of America and he's looking for a job now. He went to America to help his brother and got injured by a villain..." she whispered. "Don't know why they hurt him.... he was just trying to help people.... he's lost some weight because of the injury...." she sighed.

He nodded slowly. "So... where is he know?"

"I don't know." she said and looked at him. "Or maybe I do. But why would I tell you if you're currently pretending to be a villain?" she asked quietly.

He nodded slowly. "I guess that makes sense." He sighed. "He probably wouldn't want to see me anyways."

"I didn't say that." she said and smiled. "Toshi is an extremely understanding person and forgives easily. As long as you try to change." she said and sipped her cocoa.

He sighed. "Yeah. Toshi was great at that."

"See? Things aren't as hard as you think." she said.

He smiled slightly. "I guess I do make things a little harder for myself than they need to be."

"Yes you do." she smiled as she looked at him. "So what are you going to do to change that?" she asked.

Herrick stared at Render for a long time. Thinking about what she had said. How would he fix it, if he even could? He finally sighed and shrugged. "I don't know."

"Do you think you can change yourself?" she asked and glanced at him. Her wing twitched a little in agitation of being in one spot.

Herrick thought then sighed. "Probably."

"Alright... should we get started?" she smiled a little.

Herrick frowned and shook his head. He stood up. "What are you trying to do to me?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Nothing. You're the one that just said they wanted to change." She whispered calmly.

He glared at her. "Stop trying to get in my head! I know what I'm doing, I know what I'm here for!" He was quickly getting agitated.

"I'm not getting in your head, Herrick. I'm trying to help my friend." She said seriously.

"I'm not your friend!" he snapped. He walked up to her, and used his quirk to pin her to the wall. "Where is Sachi?" He seethed. She gasped in surprise and looked at him as she tried to move. She didn't tell him though. He glared darkly. "TELL ME!"

"No." she said defiantly as she narrowed her eyes.

Herricks face darkened. "Then I guess they'll have to wonder how you drowned." He cracked a smile, and picked up a pitcher of water, forcing the water down her throat. She tried to move and struggle but couldn't as she spit out the water the best she could. She choked and tried to fight it as she gagged.

"Just tell me where they are." He snapped, not letting her spit out anymore water. She squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to breath again. She gasped and choked unable to speak.

After a few more seconds, he took the water out, giving her a chance to breathe. "Tell me."

She gasped and coughed as she shook then looked at him. "N... no... I won't." she coughed.

He scowled. "I won't fail again." He snapped, and began choking her again.

She gasped and tried to fight but couldn't move again. She felt his anger as her blood started to solidify. She gasped and tears fell down her face. He was suddenly slammed into the wall then the ceiling and floor. Being slammed repeatedly by plants. "Let her go!" Hugo boomed.

Herrick grunted, and He let go of Render. He looked up at Hugo, and his eyes widened. "H-Hugo?"

"Ya. What about it?" he growled as the vines squeezed Herrick tightly. Render gasped and coughed as Hugo went to her and picked her up. She clung to him as she shook.

"... Where have you been? I looked everywhere for you!" Herrick cried.

Hugo looked at him and frowned deeply. "Why? So you can kill me too?" he muttered.

Herrick frowned."I was worried about you." He spat.

He paused and looked back at him for a moment. "Endeavour put me in the hospital." He said seriously. "Then to jail for a while. Sachi freed me and I've kept a low profile since."

He scowled darkly. "I hate Endeavor, but he shouldn't be hurting anyone else for a while." He smiled slightly.

"What did you do Herrick?" he asked.

He grinned. "I'll only tell, if you tell me what I want to know."

"Which is what?" he asked.

"Where are Sachi and Toshi?"

"Why do you need to know that?" he asked as Render started to pass out.

He raised an eyebrow. "Because I was told to find out. You know how it is. You don't ask questions, just do what you're told."

Hugo stared at him as he held Render close and he narrowed his eyes. "Not about that life anymore. Now get out." he growled.