"I couldn't believe it," Mirko regaled Medea and Spinner with the verdict story, "I thought he was going to get a life sentence or worse."

"This is the first good news in ages," Spinner said, "Now we can break him out."

Mirko frowned. "That's what would get him a life sentence, idiot. Leave him alone and he might just go free in a couple years."

Spinner didn't like that.

"Well, good for him," Medea said, "Now that that's out of the way, maybe we can all have a little vibing out time."

"Don't jinx it by saying that." Mirko rolled her eyes.

* * *

The next week passed with Dabi getting moved to his new "house."

It was on some remote property the government apparently used for this purpose, isolated from anyone else. While it was built like a house, there were special sensors over the windows and doors that would go off if he went out of them.

Shine was confused about why he wasn't given a leg clamp to wear so he'd be tracked all over.

But the answer that Hawks told her was that those things were too easy to fake or remove, especially if a person with a quirk infiltrated the spot. So instead, the guards and any visitors (mostly Endeavor or Shoto) would have special kind of key cards to get in with a passcode only they would know. That would make it harder for Dabi to leave. The card would sign them out once they left any point of the house.

The tech was scary to Shine, and, she thought, so overkill, but it had one major advantage: If you didn't use a door or window, you could enter the house undetected, as long as you didn't drill into it or anything.

The guard were all around it, and cameras too, to keep people from phasing in, but portals like hers were not detected by them. 

So basically, they could all visit Dabi as long as they stayed out of sight of the outside people.

Endeavor said he would try to get more of them on the guest list, but it would be unlikely to happen for probably 6 weeks minimum.

To keep him from using his quirk, Dabi had to wear special cuffs, but they didn't inhibit his movement any other way...and he really had no reason to use his quirk as long as he wasn't attacked.

His real annoyance, he told them, was he'd run out of hair dye and no one was going to provide more for him.

All that settled in, he had only to wait and try not to lose his mind with boredom.

He had books and a TV--with very limited channels, as he wasn't allowed to watch anything with violence in it--all part of the rehabilitation.

It all could have been so much worse.

The public opinion on his trial was split. Some people liked that it was merciful and easier on Endeavor, and they loved the story of his reform...and others thought the law was being way too lenient with him just because he was a Todoroki. They'd lost family to villains or crime before, some perhaps even to him, and it mattered little to them if he was sorry.

Shine said there was nothing to do about that, and you couldn't wait for everyone to believe you're changed to live your life. It would never happen.

"Remember," she counseled all of them, "people will believe whatever about you makes them the most comfortable, usually. If it's a lie, they won't care. They'll lie to themselves before they'll ever acknowledge you could be right, so we can't live to please them. That bar is always going to be raised out of our reach. Earn the respect of people who it's worthwhile to earn the respect of, and you'll be much more satisfied in life."

"Dabi might be the only one who got off a harsh sentence by insulting the very legal system he was under," Wally said ironically, "but at least he's going to be okay, as long as no one messes with him. Have to keep an eye out for that."

* * *

A full month after Silk disappearing, they still had heard nothing from her. Everyone but Compress had resigned themselves to it.

Mirko and Medea hung out the most while she was around... Mirko seemed to avoid being alone now, actually.

The reason, she wouldn't admit to anyone, was that when she was alone, all she did was think about Ren and what happened to him...and probably felt kind of guilty for fighting with him.

But she wouldn't swallow her pride enough to call him first and patch things up. He'd gone behind her back. He could call first.

But the Originals had gotten way too close to him...and the rest of her family.

At least Medea gave her something else to think about. She'd never be interested in someone else's life normally, but it was a distraction.

Medea was glad enough to have a girl who was not crazy to hang around. She got lonely a lot, away from anyone her own age.

Both of them avoided Shigaraki less than the other members, also. Compress was too depressing to hang around now, and Spinner tended to be salty. Twice was hard to follow, and Toga was...Toga.

Medea liked Shigaraki better because he didn't bother her, and Mirko just figured better a nuisance you were used to than one you weren't.

That was how they ended up playing video games together.

It started with Medea wanting to learn how because she never got a chance to before, and Mirko showing her. 

Shigaraki didn't like them invading his one spot where he was usually left alone, but they refused to give it up, and Medea said he should just share.

At first he refused, but after enough times he got annoyed with them, and Mirko said if he won a game, they'd leave.

One game turned into several, and then it just kind of became routine.

Medea was the least competitive one there though and got bored the fastest, but the other two would get way too into it, she thought.

Mirko especially got kind of crazy when she got competitive.

Shigaraki went from initially disliking this to starting to take it as some kind of personal challenge to shut her up.

Medea honestly had more fun watching them fight than she did playing. Maybe it was what having a bigger friend group would be like.

One time though, there was a pretty funny conversation that happened, which she started.

"So you play games a lot. Why don't you have your own Glitch stream?" she asked Mirko, "I mean, people would so watch a Pro hero do that."

"I don't like the idea of playing because a lot of people are demanding me to," Mirko said, "and I don't have the time." She shrugged. "I watched a few though. It annoyed me too much to watch them make mistakes."

"That's so you," Medea said, "What about you, Shiggy?"

"If you call me that one more time, I'm going to disintegrate one of your possessions," Shigaraki snapped, "Why don't you shut up so I can focus?"

"Ooh, sore subject." Medea didn't care about his temper tantrums anymore. She had figured out ages ago he rarely ever actually followed through on a threat. "It was just a question... Hmm, what about online games? You ever do those?"

"Oh, yeah, a ton," Mirko answered readily enough, "People are such b----es on those games though. They throw a fit when you kill them."

"You know, one look at you, and I picture you as the type of gamer who yells at the other players that you'll come to their house and beat them up." Medea's whole knowledge of this was basically old Tic-Tac videos.

"Yeah, that's all part of the game." Mirko didn't act embarrassed at all. "Smack talk. You have to scare the newbs off."

"I hate people who do that." Shigaraki didn't even look up. "Why don't both of you go away?"

"Dude, we're just talking. It's not hurting you," Medea shot back, "Did you ever play online games? I mean, I think you're allergic to all human interaction that's not fighting, so I bet it was too hard for you but just asking."

"Of course I did." Shigaraki got offended. "But people were too rude and aggressive, so I quit."

"How weak." Mirko usually said this to any criticism of the online gaming community. "That's what makes it fun."

"Girl, you are crazy," Medea said, "People yelling abuse at you over text boxes or headsets? How is that fun?"

"You can try to outdo how they insulted you," Mirko said proudly, "I'm the master of that."

"I believe you," Medea said.

"Hey!" Mirko's ears went back. "Watch it. More push-ups might lie in your future."

"Oh, anything but that," Medea said, but she shrugged, "Whatever."

"You know you should get in on one of those games," Mirko said, "You need to toughen up on that whole banter thing." 

"What? No, what kind of hellish trial by exposure is that?" Medea whined, "I'm pretty sure any responsible adult would say that's a bad idea."

"Oh, don't be such a pansy." Mirko already had her laptop out. "We're doing this now. You can join this game with me... Er, what's my password again...?"

Medea sighed and looked over her shoulder. "Your user name is bionicbunny? Are you serious?"

"It's a joke based off an old cartoon or something like that," Mirko said.

Shigaraki had not really been listening until then, but now he looked up. "Did you say bionic--? No, must be a coincidence."

"What is?" Medea said, "Do you recognize that?"

"No...something from years ago," Shigaraki said.

"Ah, you mean that long challenge a bunch of gamers got into," Mirko said, "Yeah, a lot of people were keeping stats on it. I got almost to the top of the board, but I fell behind because of work... I remember there was this mystery gamer who never got actually on the chat with anyone. They just kept climbing the ranks. People were trying to guess who it was..." She rubbed her head. "I forget who won now."

"That's sounds like a complete waste of time," Medea said, "Why would anyone spend that much time online gaming with strangers?"

"That is the whole point," Shigaraki said, getting offended.

"Well, that mystery player seems like a real loser," Medea said, "not even participating in it. I bet it was a bot or something spamming the system."

"Could be," Mirko said, "but why anyone would bother doing that is beyond me."

"Or maybe they just had better things to do than talked to a bunch of annoying idiots online," Shigaraki said.

"Dude, why are you taking this so personally?" Medea said, "We're just speculating. You know what it was? I bet this gamer had his parents or something playing all the hard parts for him, and that's why he didn't talk to anyone."

"Of all the stupid--" Shigaraki got mad. "That's ridiculous!"

"Why? How do you know it is?" Medea said.

"What was the user name of this person?" Shigaraki said.

"I think it was Deathhands or something." Mirko wasn't even looking up. She was still logging in. "Probably a rip off of Death Arms, but I doubt that guy would be gaming. He's a total goody two shoes in real life."

"It was not!" Shigaraki said, "That was me, you morons."

But then Medea started cracking up. Mirko smirked without looking up.

"Dude, we both figured that out," Medea said, "It was so obvious. I was just trying to trick you into admitting it... Dang, that is so funny though."

"Why, you--little--" Shigaraki choked on rage.

Medea backed up just to be on the safe side. "Bro, it's just a little fun, that's all. Don't get so worked up."

"I'll murder you!" Shigaraki cried.

"Hey!" Mirko looked up. "No death threats to my pupil, or I'll kick your a--."

Shigaraki thought better of it anyway.

"You'd better watch your tone, then," he sniffed.

"What? Or you'll get all bent out of shape because you're the 'boss'?" Medea didn't let up. "Please, if you're so high and mighty, you should be above letting me get to you. Think about that...but hey, this whole gaming thing is so involved. Like, you could have a whole subculture in there."

"Basically is," Mirko said, "and now you need to pick a username, and it better not be a stupid one."

"I dunno I'd probably just play as the girl on fire," Medea said.

"Okay, Katniss, that's creative," Mirko scoffed.

"You literally have bunny in your username!" Medea said.

"It's a reference!"

"So is mine! Duh!" Medea crossed her arms. "Do I really have to do this? It seems lame."

"Sounds like quitter talk to me," Mirko said.

"If I say I want to quit, do I get out of it?" Medea said.

Mirko shook her head.

"I hate you," Medea said.

"And I cared about that, let's see--oh, right, never," Mirko said.

Shigaraki tried to ignore them.

[Fun fan art by Julianna Gardner--don't take it too literally, but it's still hilarious.]

* * *

Hours later, Medea was thoroughly tired...and Mirko had fallen asleep.

She was still not sleeping that well at night, especially since her fight with Ren...

Medea was glad enough to be able to sneak away from her without having to train, but she did kind of put a blanket on her first.

Shigaraki was lost to the world and didn't notice either of them until Medea waved at him and hissed, "If she asks, I was definitely going to train or something, got it?"

Shigaraki didn't agree or disagree, so she took that as cooperation.

Mirko was too deeply asleep to wake up even with that whispering nearby, but she wasn't sleeping well, really.

* * *

She was dreaming about the Originals...running, running, running...

There was Ren at the edge of a cliff over the ocean... Shots fired at him from behind her. She leapt forward to grab him, but he fell over the edge just a hair before she could reach him, and she grabbed at empty air...

The ninja closed in around her also.

"Ren!" she yelled, diving after him.

But he was too far away. He was going to hit that water too fast--

* * *

"Ren!" Mirko yelled aloud before she snapped awake in a cold sweat.

She'd also fallen off her chair, catching Shigaraki, who'd forgotten she was there, completely off guard.

"What the h---?" He gave a start.

Mirko was still half asleep and looked dizzily around. The room was so dark it seemed kind of like the ocean, and she didn't fully realize she'd woken up yet.

"Ren..." she started saying way too fast, "Ren... Where did he go?"

"Ren isn't here." Shigaraki didn't understand nightmares very well, despite having had plenty of them, and this was confusing him.

"Where did he go?" Mirko stumbled upward and yanked him forward. "Where's Ren?!"

"Let go! He's probably where he's hiding out." Shigaraki tried to tug away. She had a good grip though. "Snap out of it. What's wrong with you?!"

Mirko slowly realized she was still at the lair and let go of him with a jolt.

"Oh...it was just a dream," she said slowly, "I really should know that by now... Felt pretty real..." She sank back onto her chair. "Sorry," she said dully, after a pause, "I don't know why I did that..." 

Why did this keep happening?

Shigaraki wasn't really mad, more confused.

"Why would Ren be here at all?"

"It wasn't here...it was..." Mirko covered her face, thinking. "I was too late. That's what it was... They got him first. It's not what happened. I know it's not...so why do I keep dreaming it that way? It doesn't make any sense. I hate this!" She gritted her teeth. "I never have problems with PTSD, so what the h--- is going on?"

"Sounds like a memory." Shigaraki's only guess because his nightmare were usually jumbled memories.

"I guess." Mirko didn't really care much if he answered or not. She was just thinking out loud. "This can't go on..." she muttered to herself, "I have to end this, or I'm going to go mad. How much closer do they have to get? Why couldn't I actually be there to help him...?"

She looked up suddenly. "What? You see something here that's funny?"

"Was I laughing...?" Shigaraki didn't get it.

"Whatever, I'm sure this is great for you. Top hero can't even rescue her own family. Yeah, it's hilarious." Mirko was dangerously bitter in her tone. "Well, enjoy it somewhere else. I'm not in the mood for this."

"Who came in here?" Shigaraki shot back with his typical maturity level.

"Oh, shut up." Mirko wasn't ready to fight back. She went back to looking down. She felt cold...

"I don't know what you're so worked up over," Shigaraki said, "Ren is probably fine, terrorizing someone else at this very moment."

"Go away..."

"You're being pretty insulting," Shigaraki said huffily, "No one's even laughing and you're still being a b--- about it."

Mirko's ears twitched like she might blow a fuse. "Still here?"

"This isn't your room!"

"It isn't yours either!"

"Shut up!"

"You know what? Fine!" Mirko got up. "I'll just go. I didn't want to be in here anyway. That brat must have snuck off without me on purpose."

She kicked aside an un-offending side table on her way out.

"We're going to destroy them," Shigaraki said before she was entirely out the door.

"What?" Mirko paused, confused.

"Those d--- Originals. We'll destroy them." Shigaraki sounded intense. "Make it so they'll never recover."

Mirko tilted one ear, then smirked ever so slightly. "Yeah, sure. Crush them completely."

She left the room.

Shigaraki resumed his activity but felt oddly like he'd actually been trying to be helpful there...what a weird idea... Still, the Originals were the common enemy here. They had to be stopped.

He frowned at the screen. That would solve the problem, wouldn't it? The only really big threat the League had left. Once it was taken care of everyone would be able to do as they liked.

He wasn't sure why he found Mirko's plight a bit more sympathetic than before, since that wasn't really his thing. The real answer might have been, though he wouldn't admit it, that she reminded him of his own sister at one point before everything had fallen apart. 

He was going to have to find some way to destroy the Orignials, then, completely.

[Never thought saying you'd destroy someone completely would come off as heartwarming...but also I'm scared of what Shigaraki might do in order to accomplish that.]

* * *

"So, if you're recovered now, we can get back to increasing your power," The Doctor said to Shigaraki.

"These Originals are a nuisance anyway, but it will take a lot more to defeat them than we thought. If they still have Kurogiri, and now that Silk woman too, they'll be able to find your little League soon enough. Even that Pro pet of yours is not going to be able to outrun them. We'll have to work quickly."

"I am aware," Shigaraki said curtly, "I'm recovered."

"Better avoid getting sick anymore. You know it upsets the schedule too much, and if you keep going off on those missions helping those oddballs, really--you should bring them to meet me sometime," The Doctor said, "I'm sure it'd be educational."

Shigaraki didn't see how...

But since Shine stopped in later that day to update them about Dabi and check in, he had ample opportunity to invite her...which he did pointblank.

Shine and Mirko were talking while he did it, but Mirko turned around to give him a very strange look.

"Wait, are you really going back to that crackpot?" she said, "Getting sick once wasn't enough?"

"I didn't get sick because of that," Shigaraki said, "I got sick because you kicked snow on me."

Mirko's mouth dropped open.

"I forgot that," Shine said, "but it was probably a combination... Wait, why would he want to see me?"

"He didn't say. He just said it would be educational," Shigaraki said.

Shine bit her lip. "Well...okay."

"What?" Mirko looked at her. "Oh, no, you don't. That guy's crazy." She grabbed Shine's arm. "I mean really crazy."

"I've met mad scientists before, Rumi," Shine said, "Don't worry, I have a high resistance to that kind of stuff. And--" She whispered something to her.

"What are you muttering about?" Shigaraki asked.

"Something private, or I would have said it aloud," Shine said crisply, "but if I come, Tomura, you must let me do things my own way. I doubt that doctor will like me. I'd be more afraid if he did."

"It's none of my business," Shigaraki said.

"You can't go alone," Mirko insisted.

"I don't want him to know about Wally also," Shine said, "This is how Wally and I do things to be safer. Since I read people the best, usually I'm the bait."

"Bait?" Shigaraki said.

"You're nuts," Mirko said, "but if you go, I'll go with you."

"You really don't have to," Shine said.

"Did I say it was a question?" Mirko said.

Shine smiled. "Okay..."

* * *

The real purpose, Shine had whispered to Rumi, of her agreeing to come was because she intended to get a good look at the lab, so she could portal to it again if she needed to.

That struck Mirko as a good idea in case the creepy Doctor decided to kidnap someone.

Shine had to follow Shigaraki there anyway, as she refused to be warped by the goo stuff.

This new lab was a run down building that might have used to be either a science center or a medical center, based on its design, but was destroyed in a fallout fight.

The Doctor had it set up in inside.

He'd never recovered all of his stolen equipment, but he had reserves, and apparently he'd been able to move them here.

Shigaraki walked in the way kids walk to the principal's office at school.

Mirko could hear Shine muttering prayers as they followed.

The Doctor was waiting in his dark, musty outer room with his pet nomu.

Shine took one look at that thing and winced.

The nomu hissed at her warily and jumped off The Doctor's lap and hid under a piece of equipment.

The Doctor straightened his glasses to eye Shine.

"So this is the elusive woman who's been shielding the League...and you brought the Pro also."

"What's up, doc?" Mirko said coldly, to hide how unnerved being back in one of these places made her.

Shine patted her arm. She normally would resent that, but she was almost glad someone at least understood how horrid it was. 

Shigaraki acted like it was normal, as usual, though he was withdrawn as always around The Doctor.

"Well, Tomura, introduce your friends," The Doctor said.

"This is Likstar," Shigaraki said mechanically.

Shine nodded curtly. "Hi."

"Hello, Miss Likstar. I'm...well, you can call me Darama Ujiko [not his real name]. Fitting, isn't it?"

"Ujiko, huh?" Shine said coldly, "I was told you wanted to meet me especially."

"Yes." Ujiko stood to come closer to her.

Mirko moved away, but Shine stood her ground. She was much taller than him, and she made full use of her ability to look down her nose at him right then.

[Image design by Onerose, original art to original creator.]

"And your quirk is some kind of warping, isn't it?" Ujiko said.

"Is yours?" Shine said coldly still.

"Is my--Oh, my quirk... That's not important," Ujiko said.

Shine smiled thinly. "Then neither is mine."

Silence.

Mirko cracked a slight smile. Nicely done, Shine.

"Indeed...you're an interesting person." Ujiko didn't seem bothered so much as intrigued. "Well, we'll talk more, but I should attend to my patient. Tomura, how are the family? What's left of them, anyway."

"Fine..." Shigaraki said.

"Well, let's get you ready," The Doctor said.

"Excuse me," Shine spoke, "but I'd like to know more about your work. I find it quite fascinating."

The way she said fascinating, Mirko figured she meant repulsive, but The Doctor didn't seem to read tone too well.

"Well, most people don't take an interest... It can be rather hard to have any vision," Ujiko said.

"I have a lot of vision," Shine said dryly, "and I know about the nomu, as I'm sure you know. Where did you come up with such an idea?"

"Well, that would be giving away a lot at once," Ujiko said, "but I will tell you why." He appeared to be getting some tools ready. "It would be a waste to stop research, would it? Quirks are the key to the future, and they aren't as permanent as people think. They can be molded, selected. Who would not be intrigued by such an idea?"

"Who indeed." Shine's tone was flat. "And you don't mind telling me, a total stranger about it."

"But you're hardly a total stranger, are you? You've become deeply involved in our little group," Ujiko said, "and taken care of our Meta problem. So we owe you."

"You owe me nothing," Shine said, "but I think I do owe you. After all, you've done so much for Shigaraki." She tilted her head. "Things a parent wouldn't even do for their child."

Mirko knew she meant that two ways...but would Ujiko realize she was insulting him?

"True, I've always been interested in new projects," Ujiko said.

Shigaraki had gone out of the room now.

"I'd be very interested in studying you." Ujiko held up a syringe. "Would you mind if I took some samples?"

Shine's gaze hardened. "I have a little tip for you--if you touch me with anything at all in this room, I'm going to smash this lab to bits."

Ujiko did a double take. "Come again?"

Shine drew her sword out of nowhere and pointed it right at his chin. "I hope you can understand this is just a little visit. You see, I seem to be charged with eliminating threats to Shigaraki's well being, one at a time, and I just had this 6th sense about this place, that I'd find a substantial threat to him here. Can he hear us?"

"No, he's in a soundproof room by now." Uijko leaned away from her sword. "I'm not really a man of violence, Miss Likstar."

"Good," Shine said, "then this won't take long, will it? I didn't come here to have tea and chat about nomu, you sick, demented, warped, old coot."

She was scary now. Even Ujiko was a little frightened. Like most men of his type, he wasn't brave when faced with danger he couldn't invent his way out of--and no nomu appeared to be out in the open except the little one that had already run away from her.

Mirko hung on every word here.

"If I was a different kind of person, you'd be dead already," Shine said, in a deadly serious voice, "but I'm a merciful woman, so I'm no killer. I also know that provoking people like you only means you will take it out on your hapless victims, so this is not a challenge to a duel. I have no kindness toward men like you, if you are a man anymore. That is what this is about."

Ujiko backed up more, probably trying to reach a weapon or signal of some sort.

Shine advanced also. Keeping him at sword point. "I know you want to use me. I'm not new at this. But I'm just going to spell this out for you, and as you're clearly intelligent in some way, I'm going to trust you to understand it: The Metas have failed, the Originals have failed, the LOV has failed, and every other enemy has failed to cut us down. I don't know when our final moments will be, but I strongly believe it won't be because of you and your pets. Nomu are afraid of us. And I want you to keep one thing in mind--the less human you are, the more afraid of us you become. I can see you're not much more than a little parasite yourself, but don't think you'll get Shigaraki away from us by dehumanizing him. If anything, you will make it so much simpler for us to stop you."

Ujiko stared at her.

Shine drew back. "I just thought we should be clear on that. As for you own soul, you'd better hope there's still mercy for someone like you, but you steal the lives of people for your own use, and you think it's fun. For that, you're going to be cursed for the rest of you life and beyond that, I can promise you that. You will never be satisfied, and in the end, your own hunger for power and knowledge will be the death of you. Let's hope it's not at the cost of more innocent lives. This will be the only warning you get, Ujiko, if that is your real name, which I doubt."

She looked around. Her eyes were gleaming with gold light. "The next time we meet, I will be trying to stop you. And most likely, you will die by the end of the encounter, though not because of me. That is what usually happens to men like you. This is your only chance to escape. I'd think carefully about it."

She nodded at Mirko. "We're going to leave now."

"What about Shigaraki?" Mirko said.

"If Ujiko is smart, he'll turn him free after this," Shine said, "I'll know if he doesn't." She eyed The Doctor. "I'll know everything just by looking at him, I have a feeling.

"Don't try to follow us, Doctor. I'm going to make extra sure that you can't touch us with that disgusting warping quirk. If I see that creature again, I'm going to kill it, just so you know. I'd better not see it. It was lovely getting to have this little talk with you, but I wouldn't approach us again unless it's to surrender. Bye bye." She led Mirko out of the room.

"Are you crazy?" Mirko asked her outside, "He'll kill you!"

"Him?" Shine scoffed, "Never. He'll try to get someone else to, more likely. It can't make much difference with all the other people who have us on their list right now. I learned what I needed to learn."

"What about Shigaraki?" Mirko said.

"It will depend on if Ujiko is concerned enough," Shine mused, "This was the best way I could think to try to help Tomura without him resenting it, but if it doesn't work, something else has to be done, because one look at that place, and I knew no one will come out of that doctor's clutches the same person."

Mirko shuddered. That was so ominous.