"You seem out of it." Hawks was noticing Aizawa and Mirko's lack of interest in what was going on.

Mirko shrugged.

Aizawa stared at the table.

"You know Eraser isn't much for chit chat," Miss Joke said, "At least not till he's had a few more..."

Aizawa shot her a look.

"You're not still mad about before, are you?" Hawks said to Mirko, "I wasn't really being that serious, you know." 

Mirko doubted that was really true. But she shrugged again. "I'm over it. You just pissed me off with all the griping."

"Oh, okay, I thought it was because of what I said," Hawks said.

"What did you say?" Miss Joke asked.

"We were there," Aizawa said flatly.

"Oh...oh, that." Miss Joke recalled Hawk's unfortunate remarks about Shigaraki's health.

"So...how is it going? Are they giving you a rough time?" Hawks asked.

He really didn't read the room well, did he? Miss Joke thought. That was the last thing Mirko wanted to be asked about by him.

Her look was icy. "No."

Hawks looked nervous. "Oh...okay, good..."

Wally and Fat Gum didn't seem to notice this little conversation going on, luckily, and if the others did, they pretended not to.

Cece and Tensei went off to dance, which was interesting with his wheelchair, but they managed.

"Likstar is taking a while to get back here..." Hawks noticed, "Hmm, you know all kinds of people come in here--not all of them are heroes."

"Likstar could handle anyone dumb enough to bother her at places like this." Mirko was fully confident.

"Probably with one glance," Miss Joke agreed, "She makes a few that could melt the flesh off your bones."

"Anyone can be caught off guard," Aizawa said dully.

Wally looked up. "I guess that's true. I'll go get her." He zipped away.

"Man, if I was that fast, I'd never be late again..." Fat Gum said.

"Punctuality is a discipline, not a matter of speed," Aizawa said.

"Stop being so serious," Miss Joke said.

* * *

Shine had called her guest to direct her to the right place. It took Fuyumi a while to find her even so.

She walked up, looking a little nervous. "I don't know about this, Miss Likstar--"

"Shine."

"Miss Shine." Fuyumi sounded just like Shoto. "I never really go out to places...and this looks like a real club. I'm not dressed right."

"Oh, you're fine," Shine said. 

Fuyumi wasn't that dressed up, but she wasn't wearing a turtle neck and corduroys at least. She'd put on a skirt and real jacket.

"You're way overthinking this. We're just hanging casually. This isn't a party." Shine took her arm. "Let's go. It's cold and dark out here."

Fuyumi gulped but followed her. "Are you sure they'll be okay with you inviting me? I'm not a Pro."

"Neither am I," Shine said, "and between you and me, I need a saner person there to balance out all the wild heroes. Anyway, you should get out of the house a bit more often."

"I suppose..." Fuyumi said.

As Hawks rightly guessed, they'd run into a bit of trouble when they went back in.

Mostly the patrons at the club were heroes or people who just wanted to mind their own business, but there are always a few on the fringe who just come to get tipsy and hit on whoever will let them, and seeing two women walk in unattended, just one such fellow walked up to them.

"Hey, ladies. Going anywhere?"

His quirk gave him antlers... Shine had a hard time not laughing at that. Fuyumi looked nervous.

"Uh, just to meet our friends."

"Ah, they can wait. You should come have a drink with me." The guy was blocking their path.

Shine sighed. "I hate it when this happens."

"What do we do?" Fuyumi hissed to her, "He seems inebriated. Do you think he'll go away if we ask nicely?"

"I'm sure he will if I pull my sword out," Shine said, "but I'd rather not. I doubt that would be appreciated by the owners here." 

The guy lurched forward and grabbed Fuyumi by the wrist. Probably he was too drunk to fully know he was being inappropriate, but that made it kind of worse.

Shine lost her composure there, and without thinking, she reached forward and yanked his arm away roughly.

Fuyumi pulled hers back, startled by what just happened.

"Hey!" The guy got mad at Shine. "What the h---? I was just being friendly."

"Not interested," Shine said coldly, "I have a fiancé, actually. So run along, Bambi."

She probably shouldn't have added the last part.

"What? Why, you--" He stumbled toward her.

"Hey, sir," some of the other people around noticed this and moved to help, "I think you should leave these ladies alone."

Shine took this chance to grab Fuyumi and lead her away while he was distracted.

"I can't believe you did that..." Fuyumi said.

Shine put a hand to her heart. "I can't either. Supervillains are one thing, but I must say that was scary even for me. I just reacted. Are you okay?"

"Oh, I'm fine now." Fuyumi tried to sound calm. "Just caught a little off guard."

"Yeah, well, it happens every now and then, but mostly people leave you alone if you just look like you're above it," Shine said, "and you can always sing the Meghan Trainer song..."

https://youtu.be/POszCiLezbg

"There you are." Wally found them. "I was getting a little worried someone was bothering you."

"Well, someone did, but other people stepped in. Benefits to this being a hero club, I guess," Shine said.

"Oh, good, but maybe next time we should just go together," Wally said.

"But she was awesome," Fuyumi said, "I was scared stiff."

"I panicked." Shine had a very different view of it.

"Hey, I think it's great that you can handle it though," Wally said, "Hero women who flirt scare me. I'm terrified to go anywhere alone in here."

"Midnight has really traumatized you." Shine patted his cheek comfortingly. "Don't worry, I won't let anyone take a swing at you."

Fuyumi smiled a little bit at their mutual affection. "I guess you two really do look after each other... I'm glad Shoto has such healthy role models..."

Shine looked at her, and it was like she could read her mind.

"No one's perfect," she said slowly, "but we all can do our best, you know? You have to work with what you were given. Some of us were given a great example for what to do and follow but have to do it our own way. Others are given a list of what not to do, and we have to search and learn from it and decide on a better way. Wally and I, neither of us had perfect parents."

"Or even both parents..." Wally added.

Shine nodded. "But we worked with what we had. The point is, you can't be passive. Good or bad parents, you have to make it your own either way. I'm confident Shoto is on the path to doing that, so we don't need to worry about him. If you're set to improve, even failing will only help you do that."

Fuyumi was starting to see why Shoto trusted her so much if she did this mind-reading thing to him too.

Why did she feel kind of emotional now? Maybe she needed to hear that...

"Hey, it's that b----." The antler guy suddenly reappeared. Apparently he'd been let go by the others instead of asked to leave. "Rude--"

Wally barely looked up before shoving him away so hard he fell down.

This drew a few looks, but most people must have heard what he said, and they didn't do anything to interfere.

"Wha--?" The guy looked at Wally, who shrugged. "Let's get back the others. We should dance or something."

"Yeah, I want to," Shine agreed, ignoring the guy.

The force of Wally's shove must have convinced the guy that fighting would be a bad idea, so he slunk away.

"Wow...so cool..." Fuyumi was a little star struck.

They finally rejoined the table where the awkward tension was still palpable.

Hawks seemed relieved they were back so he had someone to talk to...and surprised to see Fuyumi.

"This was your guest?" he said.

"You can thank me later." Shine was sly.

"Oh, I didn't mean to sound rude..." Hawks realized his mistake "I'm just surprised. I thought it was another teacher."

"Fuyumi is a teacher, Hawks," Shine said.

"I meant from UA..." Hawks was stammering now.

Miss Joke elbowed Aizawa and nodded smugly at him.

Aizawa didn't really get it.

Fuyumi laughed nervously. "It's okay. I was surprised too...and tonight has already been more exciting than I was looking for..."

"You should order some food. It's not bad," Wally said, "Shine and I are gonna go see what they're dancing to..."

"Okay, but how do you two dance?" Miss Joke asked, "Aren't you faster than everyone else? Even the music?"

"Well, I pretend I'm doing one of those slow-motion competitions," Wally said.

"And I pretend I'm doing a high speed challenge," Shine said.

"And we just sort of figure it out," Wally finished.

"Dancing is just like anything else in your relationship--you have to make it work for you," Shine said sagely, "See ya." They walked off.

"They're goals," Miss Joke said.

"They're nauseating..." Aizawa said.

"Ah, don't be such a cynic," Fat Gum said, "Hina, want to go throw down?"

"Sure," she said.

"What about you, Eraser?" Miss Joke said.

"Me?" Aizawa looked horrified at the idea.

"I'm doing this for you," Miss Joke hissed, "The alternative is sitting here with that." She indicated Mirko and Hawks, who were still on edge.

Awkward tension or awkward dancing... Aizawa decided at least in dancing he didn't have to listen to anyone talk.

"Fine," he sighed, "but don't expect me to actually do it."

"Whatever." Miss Joke got up and they left.

"That was weird," Mirko said.

Fuyumi picked up a menu.

The silence was real.

"Uh...Rumi," Hawks tried again, "look, I apologize for whatever, okay? This is just getting awkward. Why are you mad at me...more than usual?"

"I'm not mad." Mirko was obviously mad.

"Uh, yeah, you kind of are," Hawks said.

"Maybe I'm just a little fed up," Mirko said, "It's insulting that you keep thinking I can't handle myself. I've saved your sorry butt enough times, haven't I?"

"That's not really what I meant," Hawks said, "I just... The LOV is...tricky. You can't trust them."

"Dabi was the tricky one, and he's out," Mirko said, "Maybe not everyone is as gullible as you?"

Fuyumi looked up at the mention of Dabi and cringed. This felt like a private conversation...but she was nervous about going off alone now, and she felt stuck.

"Gullible or not, I just think you're playing a dangerous game that no one ordered you to do," Hawks said.

"Maybe it would be better if I was ordered to," Mirko said coldly, "then I won't get a choice about it, and I'd have to stab anyone in the back if I was asked."

"Are you ever gonna let that go?" Hawks was frustrated now.

"Are you?" Mirko said. She frowned. "You know, Hawks, I don't really know you all that well. I never asked you to be involved in my personal problems, and I'm starting to think the only reason you're pushing this is because you feel responsible for the situation as it is."

That was unusually perceptive for her...but then again, all this time listening to Medea lose it under pressure maybe had taught her what people put on themselves.

"I--" Hawks faltered. "Well, yeah, of course, I do feel like this wouldn't have happened had I succeeded--"

"At what? Taking the LOV down?" Mirko said, "Sure, a lot wouldn't have happened. A lot more people would have died. Maybe it's just as well you sucked at being a double agent. The point is, it's over. Move on. I did this for me, and that's all there is to it." She sat back. "And buzz off. You're just annoying me with all this acting concerned about it. Would you even care if it was any other dangerous situation, or is it just because you blame yourself for whatever reason?"

She had hit the nail on the head there.

Hawks winced.

"I just don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me," he said.

Mirko wasn't moved at all. "Wake up, Keigo." She used his real name for emphasis. "If you could look past your own failures, you might see this is a whole other playing field than it was before. Those of us who are up close to it get it. If you want people to trust you, then stop making everything about you." She huffed.

"This is weird to hear from you," Hawks said, a bit thinly, "What would you know about earning people's trust?"

Silence.

Mirko glared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean...top hero or not, who just goes around flouting everyone else's contributions and then expects to be taken seriously?" Hawks expressed what no doubt had been his opinion for some time. "And now I'm just supposed to think you can judge a situation? Get real. At least I worked with people enough to know who's shady and who isn't."

"Oh, clearly." Mirko was sarcastic.

"What I just find killing about all this is that you look down on other Pros for teaming up and other people," Hawks said, "but you're willing to team up with actual villains who wanted us all dead not one year ago just because it's convenient for you."

Mirko was dumbstruck.

Fuyumi nervously held her menu over her face.

"Who's the real traitor?" Hawks should have quit while he was ahead, but he was mad now.

Mirko crushed a napkin in her hands. "I still kept my integrity, even so. I've done nothing to hurt any other Pros or any innocent people, even doing what I'm doing. And you didn't get as close, but you still did those things. Maybe I'm just stronger than you are."

"Yeah, maybe." Hawks was not convinced at all. "Or maybe you're more naive...or maybe you just don't care. I admit, I thought you were cool at first. It takes guts to dish out what you do and do it solo, but this side of you is kind of dark. I don't get the vibe it even bothers you that you're hanging around with killers and thieves and kidnappers. I hated it."

"And that makes you better? You hate it, but you still did it," Mirko shot back, "And you don't know that much about them. They aren't all killers."

"Wait, are you defending them?" Hawks was shocked.

Mirko hesitated. "I'm not defending them. I'm saying you don't really know that much about it, and you're making these accusations at me."

"I don't know that much, huh?" Hawks said, "I'll tell you what I know. Let's compare notes. I know that they kidnapped a kid and killed a few Pros. I know that they waged war against all the rest of the country with the Metas, and they only stopped because they were afraid of being caught too soon. I know that Dabi murdered dozens of people, even if he's changed, apparently--he's just one person."

Fuyumi looked up now. She forgot to be nervous in her irritation that Hawks had just talked about Touya that way.

"I don't know too much about those smaller guys," Hawks admitted, "They've all probably killed by now. They would if they had to. But Shigaraki has killed a lot of people and attempted a lot more."

"The Metas were in self defense," Mirko pointed out.

"I don't see what difference that makes," Hawks said, "Could just as easily not have been. And that Toga person is...crazy."

"Well, even they think that..." Mirko hedged, "Things aren't always that simple though."

"You see, this is what I don't get," Hawks said, "You say you don't know me that well, but I'd have sworn my read on you was, you're not much for nuance. Things are straightforward with you, no nonsense, no crap, no room for error. And while that might be narrow at times, it was part of your charm as a hero. We have to be focused, at the very least. And now you're saying things aren't that simple. That's not you at all. Who's gotten into your head?"

"It's called knowing the facts," Mirko said, "Yeah, things were straightforward when all villains were the same, but not all villains are the same. It would be stupid to keep acting like they were if you know better. I'm not less focused than before, I'm just more knowledgeable."

"And would you care to share that knowledge with the rest of us? Might be useful."

"Why, so you can twist it?" Mirko leaned on the table and glared all the more. "I know how most heroes would use any info on villains. And it wouldn't work. You know, someone's past should not be used as a weapon against them."

"Past? What are you talking about?"

Mirko bit her lip. "It doesn't matter. I'm not telling you anything."

"What else is new?" Hawks crossed his arms. "Some things never change, I guess."

"I don't owe you anything." Mirko frowned. "And I hate people who act like they can demand things. At least the LOV gives you the courtesy of letting you decide what you want to disclose or what side you're going to be on. Heroes are so entitled."

"Heroes are? Aren't you a hero?" Hawks said.

"I've never subscribed to the same model as other heroes," Mirko said.

"Yeah, well, maybe the model works, Rumi." Hawks shook his head. "Because doing things your own way means no one can ever talk you out of a bad decision, and no one can ever be right except you, and maybe the rest of us just know that's not realistic or a good approach to work--or life in general, really. If you won't listen to any of us, I guess you can crash and burn on your own."

He leaned forward. "But hey, when Shigaraki and his League decide to kill you, just like they did with Likstar, and you don't have anyone to call in for help, remember you asked for this."

Mirko recoiled...blood boiling, but she couldn't formulate a response.

"Hawks!" Fuyumi suddenly spoke, and just a little of Endeavor's temper could be heard in her tone.

Hawks jumped, because she sounded like him.

"That is not a thing to say to your friend." Fuyumi scolded like he was a child. "As I understand it, Shigaraki and the League--I don't know all of their names either--but I remember Miss Likstar and Touya telling me about that, and they all decided to turn back from that course of action. And they've kept their word ever since. What you just said was not fair. Even villains are not purely evil, are they? Aren't they just human like the rest of us? Able to learn from their mistakes and move on? You are being cruel."

Hawks looked crushed. "I..."

"I think what you're doing is brave." Fuyumi looked at Mirko. "It might be risky, but if Touya can change, maybe they can, and it's not like we can know if no one tries. Maybe if more heroes gave villains a chance to be understood, there'd be less villains. I have one brother who's a hero and one who was a villain and turned back and one who isn't really either, and I don't know what I am. I'm sure if we all can turn out that way, with the same background, then it's not so simple to judge someone."

Mirko tilted her ears. "I didn't do this to change anyone."

"I think that's what makes it better," Fuyumi said, "You've learned something, haven't you? I mean, I'm just picking up bits and pieces, but still, if you could learn without even setting out to do that, then, I'm sure, it's not so simple to judge." She straightened her glasses. "I don't know what secrets the LOV is harboring about their past, but I of all people know the past can hurt and be hard on people, and change can take years to come... I mean, I'm 23 years old, and I never saw any change at all till a few months ago...so, I want to think, it's never too late. My father is reinventing himself at his age. If he can do that, then villains can too. I think it's just a shame they're hardly ever given a chance."

She hadn't planned to get so worked up. She paused to calm herself.

"Sorry...it's hard to forgive. I understand that." She looked back at Hawks. "But we must try... We can't build anything new if we don't let the past go."

Hawks swallowed. "I...uh...I'm gonna go see what the others are up to." He shuffled away as fast as he could.

Mirko snorted. "Roasted..."

"I'm sorry if I got too excited there..." Fuyumi said.

"No, you've got more of a spine than I thought. That's good," Mirko said, "Hawks deserved that...even if he might be right." She scowled at the table. "I know it's risky, what I'm doing. I'm not stupid, but to take that from him of all people..."

"Perhaps he just feels he knows firsthand why it's a bad idea," Fuyumi said, "He's hard on you because he's hard on himself."

"Mmm." Mirko sort of saw her point.

"But he should apologize..." Fuyumi said, "Even if it is risky, it's your decision, isn't it?"

"Well, if I do crash and burn, at least I'm the only one who gets hurt," Mirko said.

"I think that's not true. You have friends," Fuyumi said, "but I think you can't let them decide for you either. Too much of that." She shook her head. "We all need to take responsibility for ourselves. If this is how you think you need to do that, I think maybe the risk is not important... At least, that's how I felt about Touya."

"Your family is so weird," Mirko said, "but at least you're not wimps..."

"I was though, for a long time," Fuyumi said, "but seeing Shoto move forward, and Touya, and even my dad, I thought, 'I need to do this too. Be stronger.'"

Mirko shrugged.

"I just had to speak up there," Fuyumi said, "but maybe it wasn't my place."

"Eh," Mirko said, "it doesn't matter."

* * *

The evening ended soon enough, as people had work or school the next day.

Hawks avoided Mirko the rest of it.

Fuyumi apologized for snapping at him later, but he said it was fine--she was just speaking her mind.

But he did have a word or two for Shine and Wally before they left. "You know, I feel like this might be your doing."

"What is?" Wally said.

"Rumi. I could swear she's started to become sympathetic to the villains," Hawks said.

"Who wouldn't be who knew their stories?" Shine said.

"See, you say that, but you won't explain it," Hawks said.

Shine shook her head. "It's not really my place to just share that, is it? Maybe if you acted more ready to hear it. If you're just looking for a reason to defame them, though..."

"I think that no matter what happened to you in the past, you don't have the right to hurt people," Hawks said, "People who make excuses for it are just making it worse."

"There's a rare individual who can see the light without it being directed at them personally," Shine said, "but most of us need to feel it's something that can speak to our own experiences. I know I did. Whether it's to convict you or to console you, if it's not personal, it's not real."

"I don't understand," Hawks said.

"You can punish people for doing evil," Shine said, "and you might stop them...maybe...rarely. If we reduce a person to just being the worth of their deeds, that would be enough. I guess maybe you all do. But that is not how we are taught. And if God treated us that way, who would ever be saved? We'd all be worthless. If a good person can change, a bad one can to. A little secret Hawks--none of us are actually good. Pointing fingers is ridiculous."

"But by the law," Hawks said, "some people are corrupt."

"Well, the law's helpful, but it's not perfect," Wally said.

"There is no mercy in going by the law alone," Shine said, "and anyway, God's law is one we all violate, usually every day. We lie, we envy, we murder in our hearts, and we lust after any thing, really. We exalt the worthless and we profane the holy, and that's just the 10 commandments, let alone the rest of the law. And, Hawks, you know perfectly well that you've messed up. Why do you need the LOV to be worse than you so badly? To say you had a reason to do those things?"

Hawks flinched. "I...I mean, I still wanted to save people."

"Ever think that, in their minds, they're saving people too?" Wally said, "And if that justified everything you did, then they're justified too, and you're the same."

"Oh, wow, nicely done, babe," Shine said.

"I know. I was good, wasn't I?" Wally was way proud of himself.

Hawks had to think about it. "I find it hard to believe they'd actually think that way."

"If I looked at how you act, suppose I had a hard time believing that too?" Shine shot back, "If you're not trying to justify someone, usually on their own, they won't be justified. You ought to do what we do and accept that someone else took all the punishment for our sins, and so we don't have to be ashamed anymore. You know why we don't need an excuse? Because we no longer carry the guilt, and an innocent person needs no excuse. Until you get your innocence back, Hawks, you're going to carry the burden of trying to justify yourself your whole life, and it'll crush you. It always does. Not a man alive can really bear that."

"Whatever you mean, I don't know," Hawks said, "You know, we're all trapped in this. It's like a never ending loop. Heroes, villains, we just play out this game...forever... I don't think there's any escape--"

Shine slapped him.

He flinched. "What the heck was that for?"

"I was snapping you out of it," Shine said, "Wake up, Hawks. The answer is already here. You're not trapped, you're just hesitant, and you're ashamed to even ask for help. Get over that and you'll be fine. There's always an escape. The way to be in the world but not of the world. Don't belong to them anymore. That's the way. Don't whine to us that you're stuck when we told you the way out. Don't use that excuse anymore." 

"I think that about sums it up," Wally agreed, "But we should go. It's late."

"Yeah, and that lag is hitting me," Shine yawned, "You're right. Bye, Hawks. Later..."

They walked away.

Hawks flew off, thinking.

* * *

Mirko got back to the lair, still mulling over what had happened.

"How was it?" Medea said.

"Horrible," Mirko said, "You didn't miss much."

"Too bad," Medea shrugged, "I guess they just aren't as chill as us, huh? Kidding." She chuckled nervously.

"You seem upbeat... Did that talk go well?" Mirko said.

"I really couldn't say," Medea said, "Turns out Shigaraki doesn't really understand what dating is, and all I could get him to grasp was that I wanted to hang out with Monama one on one. How does someone grow up so out of touch? AFO and The Doctor are fricked."

"Duh," Mirko said.

"But he said it was a bad idea to expose myself on my own," Medea sighed, "so I have to have one of the DJs around if I do, and it took a while to convince him of that. But better than nothing. I swear, he's like a dad around here. The most immature person here is in charge."

"Oh, I don't know. Toga might be worse," Mirko said.

"Okay, true..." Medea said, "So what made it suck so much?"

"Nothing," Mirko lied, "I just don't jibe well with other heroes."

"You do seem to fit in better with villains," Medea said, "and I mean that in a good way. I mean, I always thought heroes were fakers."

"I think I don't really fit in with any one group," Mirko mused, "That's why I do my own thing."

"But villains are more okay with that than heroes are." Medea was perceptive as always. "That's how I feel about it, anyway... I wonder why Silk left, though. She had it better here than with those other creeps. Why would she give that up?"

"You know, I don't get the feeling that Silk is one to care about how well she had it," Mirko said darkly, "She just does her thing."

"If that's true, then what was she doing here?" Medea said.

"I think it's pretty clear she was spying."

"And then she knows everything." Medea shivered. "I'm stressing about that."

"Seems like a good time to train, then," Mirko said.

"You can't deal with stress the same way every time!" Medea cried.

"If it ain't broke..." Mirko smiled very smugly.

[Poor Medea...

I think we'll find out about Silk very soon. I'm on the edge of my keyboard waiting for it.]