Chapter Text
He hadn't gotten to ask what he'd actually come for. Shōta had come to ask if Oboro and Tenko would be in danger if they left the untethered quirks as they were. That was the entire reason he'd returned to UA.
Or maybe not.
If that was the only reason, Shōta wouldn't have come alone.
Did Gramps care about him like he cared for Oboro? Why had his need to know the answer to that question been so wildly uncontrollable?
Now he knew that Gramps did care, in his twisted way. What was he supposed to do with that knowledge? All it was doing so far was corroding his insides.
His fingers returned to tracing over the scars hidden by his hair. They were razor-thin and smooth. Raised almost imperceptibly after so many years. Faded enough that he could forget them on most days.
It had all ended 18 years ago, or so he'd thought. Shōta had managed to start over with Nezu when he was 12 and carefully rebuilt. He'd made his life mean something else, something he wanted and took pride in.
Then it all went to shit in a handful of hours, less than six months ago, on March 21. Every move he made to regather, reclaim, or rebuild was countered.
He should have known better.
Tools don't get names, they are simply called by their purpose.
Tools don't get to be anything.
Tools don't get to have anything.
Tools only get to do as they’re told.
His hands froze in place.
The Sakki-shaped pressure behind his eyes had halted abruptly. Nothing to mentally resist. He felt like he'd fallen forward from the absence.
Hisoka was there again. Fully there, beside him.
“We need to rest now,” Hisoka told Shōta.
There was no room for argument. That was fine. Shōta wouldn't have argued anyway. He clung to Hisoka and let go of consciousness.
Hisoka was profoundly uncomfortable when he woke. He pulled himself up using the bars, opened his eyes, and stretched. Nezu was right on the other side of the bars and scrutinizing his face. Hisoka took off the headphones and earplugs.
“‘M surprised you're so close.” Hisoka's voice creaked and strained.
“It has been two and a half days,” Nezu answered immediately. “Some of the shock has worn off.”
Hisoka chuckled. “You're insane.”
“Your word choice leaves something to be desired.” Flat cheeks again.
Hisoka sighed and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, because your fur is so easily ruffled.”
Nezu's whiskers flicked. “The sharper self, then?”
“Don't like that title much,” Hisoka answered. “I have a name. It's Hisoka.”
Nezu took a step back to give him some space and clasped his hands behind his back. “I'd think you'd have appeared earlier, Hisoka-kun. You must have been preoccupied?”
“Notice the current lack of attempted murder?” Hisoka snarled.
“Ah, that's your doing? I appreciate it,” Nezu said, seemingly unaffected by Hisoka's tone. “Tell me, is his absence temporary?”
“Sakki's persistent, but he's well-contained for now. I wouldn't have risked stepping away from him if he wasn't,” Hisoka replied. “So let me out of here.”
Nezu considered his answer. “I'm not well-acquainted with you or your judgment, Hisoka-kun. I hope you understand that I'm inclined to wait until we are more familiar with each other, or until Shōta-kun is able to ask me himself.”
Hisoka scowled. “Enjoy the chaos that will happen while I'm stuck here then. It'll all be on you.”
“What kind of chaos?”
“You're working with very limited information on what we’ve been doing. And no, I won't be enlightening you.” Hisoka crossed his arms and lifted an eyebrow. “But you do need to know that keeping us here will make 1-A's mutiny look like a flea circus.”
Nezu frowned. “If your containment of Sakki were flawed, I would be responsible for his actions.”
“He's driven by the orders he's given, and can only kill with an order. So if he broke through, you'd only be responsible for your own death.” Hisoka turned his head to the doctor. “That's how you made him, isn't it?”
The doctor leaned into the bars, simpering. “That's right, my sweet boy. But don't underestimate him.”
Nezu hissed at Garaki, baring his teeth. “He's not your sweet boy.”
Hisoka huffed and reached out to touch Nezu's arm. The agitated rat's head whipped towards him.
“You don't know me, but I've been here since before we met. Just quiet,” Hisoka explained. “I need to put out these fires, but I still wouldn't ask if it would put you at risk. You're my Otōsan too.”
Hisoka watched for a reaction. Nezu smoothed his hackles carefully. Then he pulled a key from his pocket.
Hisoka jogged a few steps until some of the speed wore down. He didn't usually land that quickly. Reckless.
Tenko leapt at him. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Talked to the doctor again,” Hisoka answered casually, pushing Tenko away.
“You went alone?” Tenko scoffed.
“That was ill-advised.” The vocabulary was Kurogiri's but the voice was all Oboro's, full of obvious displeasure.
Hisoka glanced at Tenko, who either didn’t notice or didn't react. Odd. Hisoka lifted the visor fully. “That's why it took me a few days to get back. Things went sideways.”
Oboro flinched at that. He knew, then.
“It took some creative convincing but I got your answer out of him,” Hisoka continued. “You should have the unfixed quirks removed if you decide against ‘maintenance.’ He thinks that they will degrade with the help of your immune system, but your body will be attacking itself in the meantime.”
“So we must retrieve the doctor regardless of our chosen path,” Oboro said.
“Looks that way,” Hisoka answered. “Tenko, have you decided?”
The younger man scratched at his neck. Oboro reached out and stopped he movement. Tenko grumbled to himself.
“I don't know yet. Don't rush me,” Tenko said, waving a hand and stomping back in the direction of their base.
“So he's just taking you out now?” Hisoka lowered his voice to ask Oboro.
“He freaked out when you disappeared without saying anything first. I couldn't really say, ‘Oh, that's just Sho-chan!’ without a lot of questions,” Oboro answered. “He wanted to look for you, so suddenly I was partner material.”
“Well that worked out nicely.” Hisoka set off after Tenko now that there was some space between them.
“Hisoka?”
“Hmm?”
“I thought you knew and saw everything. So how did you not know about Sakki before?”
Oboro kept trying to catch Hisoka's eyes. Earnest bastard. Hisoka pushed the visor back down so it was only open a crack.
“I don't know.” He focused on watching Tenko's back, making sure he didn't get too far ahead. “Did you know?”
“No,” Oboro shook his head. “The doctor always worked in his own lab in Jaku, and Sensei wasn't really the note-taking type until after the big fight with All Might 6 years ago.”
“At least it was contained in the end.”
“This time. What if there are more ‘surprises’ you don't know about?”
Hisoka's shoulders stiffened. “One crisis at a time.”