When the team got outside, the fresh air was revitalizing. It had felt like they'd never get out of the dark.

The police were on their way, according to the kids, who were waiting for them, along with Ren, who somehow had found a bus.

Everyone was kind of dazed from what just happened, and the adults hardly said a word to the kids.

Jiro and Kaminari whispered to their classmates and Camie, Monama, and Medea, what had happened.

They were stunned that someone had just died like that in front of them.

Endeavor arrived on the scene only to find Shoto no longer there. He wasn't too happy about that, but Shoto told him he was just heading back to UA.

Shine and Wally remained quiet, even after that news. They were sitting in one of the seats, leaning on each other. Maybe they could communicate without talking about what they'd just been through.

No one knew what to say to them.

Aizawa looked depressed too. Miss Joke patted his shoulder but didn't know what to say to him, or if he'd accept it from her even if she tried.

Ren was the only one who didn't really read the room. He alternated between driving automatically and scolding his sister for getting herself shot.

Mirko didn't even put up a fight, which finally clued him in that something was wrong.

Kayla bandaged up her arm. "You might need stitches," she said. "And you definitely will," glancing at Shigaraki. "You ought to go to the hospital, but I suppose you can't. Does someone do medical stuff for the League?"

"We have a Doctor...as it were," Compress said.

Kayla sighed.

Silk was real quiet too. Ren didn't even question her being there.

"I think you've got yourself a fan club now--and a girl," Compress couldn't resist teasing Spinner.

When they'd first come out into the open, a bunch of the animal or otherwise overtly quirked people who'd gotten outside spotted Spinner and came rushing over, asking him if the police were coming and what was going on.

The ninja who'd gotten outside weren't even attacking them--they looked kind of upset. A lot of them were civilians too and had no wish to fight anyway. There were kids among those.

They were scared of the League because of the rogue clones, and it took some time before they were made to understand it had been an accident on Twice's part that they were attacked---and they weren't very forgiving.

"People died!" they said. "If you couldn't control your accursed quirk, you shouldn't have used it."

Twice was too confused to make a proper apology, even if it would have helped.

"Hey," Kayla had addressed them, "his quirk may have gone out of control, but it's your fault also for living in the base with all those killers. We must start to acknowledge that we all contributed to this. Hantai was willing to blow you all up. In a way this lunatic attacking you by accident and getting you to run saved your lives, even if it didn't save everyone's. You ought to thank them for that."

She was persuasive even without activating her quirk on purpose, and they shut up for the most part about it.

"We're very sorry for your loss," Silk attempted to help. "Was accident. All of us took hits today. Maybe you get relocated."

The ninja who were active fighters didn't see it that way. They more of felt they'd had a narrow escape and weren't anxious to start any more drama. They tried to run for it.

The police and heroes ended up catching several of them later, but no doubt many got away.

Before Spinner had been able to get away from his new fans, Kitsune had shooed some of them off and pulled him aside.

"This may be a bit unorthodox," she said, rubbing her shoulder, which was sore from earlier still, "but I can tell something interesting is going on here with the League and the Pros, and I'm a huge fan of Mirko and Hawks, personally, so I'd love to hear more about it."

Spinner didn't know why she was telling him that. "Well, they're right there, but I don't know if they feel like talking."

Kitsune gave him a weird look, then grinned lopsidedly. "Not sure they'd fill me in. I don't know-- I kind of feel like we had some decent teamwork in there... I kind of owe you for that save too. Sorry I wasn't more help against that creep... I'd like to make it up to you. Can I buy you a meal or something sometime?"

Spinner gave her a puzzled look. "For...rescuing you? That was mostly an accident."

"Dude, half of Hero work is an accident in my book," Kitsune shrugged. "A lucky accident, for me anyway. I swear I'm not saying this to turn you in to the Pros. I'm way too interested in what's going on...and other things." She smirked. "So how about it?"

"I...uh..." Spinner felt himself getting red for some reason. "I don't know if the League would want me to consort with a Hero sidekick."

"Oh, so they own you," Kitsune said.

"They don't own me! But I have to think about their image," Spinner said.

"Oh, well, sh--, if that's how it is." Kitsune looked mildly offended. "Wouldn't want to tarnish the image of the all important LOV. Surprised you'd pass up a chance to learn more about Pros, but hey, that's how it is. I thought you were going to be a bit more interesting than that."

"I'm interesting!" Spinner cried hotly.

"Prove it," Kitsune challenged. "Or are you too scared? Huh? Think a fox is going to be too much for you to handle... I get that a lot."

"I don't think that! I just--" Spinner scrambled for a reason... He didn't have one.

"What, nothing?" Kitsune waited. "I thought so. All talk, huh?"

She pulled something out of her pocket. "Well, I'll tell you what, Not-Donatello, you think about it." She handed him a card. "Call me if you change your mind. I'm kind of new at this putting myself out there thing, so it will seriously hurt my feelings if you lose that, but hey, whatever." She winked. "Sly fox, right? It could be a trick."

"Is it a trick?" Spinner asked.

"I guess you'd have to call me to find out." Kitsune was smooth as butter. "Up to you."

She sidled away.

Thinking about it now on the bus, Spinner blushed.

"I think she was just messing with me," he said.

"You're a complete idiot," Compress said. "She was clearly asking you out. I guess she has a damsel in distress complex. Save a girl and she's into you. Kind of blasé, but if you're into that sort of cheesy stuff, I don't see any reason not to pursue it."

"I don't need advice from you," Spinner snapped. "And I couldn't, even if she was...which she wasn't. It was probably a trick. It's literally her quirk."

"You see, to me, that what would make it exciting to test it," Compress said, "but you are a bit less robust in affairs of the heart."

"And in what way are you an expert?" Spinner snapped. "You're kidnapping your ex right now."

Silk looked up from the seat behind Compress. "Watch it," she said. "I may be in disgrace right now, but I don't need to take crap from you, Spinner."

Spinner was still afraid of Silk. He leaned away.

"Well, what do you think?" Compress applied to Silk. "Is the little, fox woman playing our most gullible Spinner like the cheap kazoo he is? Or is she sincere?"

"My honest opinion? A woman like that can do both," Silk said. "It takes guts to ask out Villain if you're a Hero. Either she's stupid or she's bold. Maybe she is curious about what we do, but if she's clever like fox, she might figure out too much. On other hand, suppose she chose to report what she heard and saw if you don't contact her. Is big risk. Whether you just kill her or not, I'd call. And if she is actually interested, it would be good for you to finally learn about women."

"Are you his older sister now?" Compress said.

"I wouldn't be anything else," Silk said dryly. "You asked me what I thought. I think Spinner not get too many offers around League. Maybe expand horizons good idea. Anyway, if Boss can do it, then he can."

"What do you mean?" Spinner said.

Silk nodded towards Shigaraki, who was staring out the window sullenly. "Neither of you is suspicious yet? I thought it before I left, but it's even more apparent now."

"Oh, I know what you mean. It's hilarious, isn't it?" Compress said slyly. "Best show around."

"What are you two talking about?" Spinner was blank.

"You catch on soon enough if you're not dense as bricks," Silk said. "I not spread rumors."

"Well, I doubt Shigaraki is going to let you come back to the League," Spinner said.

Silk bit her lip and looked out the window herself, now her jovial mood was gone.

Compress shot Spinner a dirty look.

* * *

Ren dropped the UA people off in front of the school. Miss Joke stayed with them. "I'll call a cab. You can take these guys home," she said.

"It's be quite the drive," Ren said.

"Want help?" Kayla asked. "I can manage a bus on the open road."

"Sure," Ren said. "By the way, I was hearing how you saved the day. Good for you... So you can do the whole Siren thing?"

"I know. It's horrifying." Kayla ran a hand through her blueish black hair shamefacedly. "I hope my father never finds out... I always thought my quirk was so weak it wouldn't matter, and realizing I had such a strange power was terrifying."

"Was it?" Ren said, glancing at her in the review mirror.

"Yes," Kayla nodded. "But you know the worst part?"

"No, tell me," Ren said.

"It didn't feel so wrong while I was doing it. Seemed natural, but the idea of it was dreadful."

"Well, Kayla," Ren said after a pause, "I think if the idea of controlling someone is dreadful to you, you're in the clear. But persuading them to do the right thing, you know, it's nothing to be ashamed of."

"People ought to have a choice, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I mean, I think usually they should. But if they've already made their choice, and that choice is to murder innocent people, if you override it, for once, I don't know if I'd say you're a bad person. Just don't make a habit of it."

Kayla pursed her lips. "I don't want to...but what if I can't help it? Quirks corrupt, don't they?"

"Kayla, that sounds kind of like Original propaganda," Ren said. "I get it, it's ingrained in your head, but you need to really comprende it's not like that. I mean, maybe we're tempted to use our quirks, sure, but if you really have it in your head not to abuse it, no one's gonna make you do it, and you're not gonna make yourself. It's not like it's an overwhelming urge for most of us... I mean, look at the League--they've got some jacked up quirks, and only that crazy girl seems unable to stop herself... Even she seems like she can, she just won't. Your morals don't have to change."

Kayla sighed. Then she said, "Gracias, Ren...I needed to hear that." She patted his shoulder. "I'm just glad you didn't say it was sexy."

"Oh, I was thinking it," Ren said shamelessly. "But I thought it was the wrong time, you know."

Kayla smacked the back of his head.

"Ouch! I'm driving here, woman!" Ren said, then followed it with some Spanish mutterings.

But the tension was killed at least.

Mirko eyed them and rolled her eyes. "Ren's always working on something," she muttered to herself.

* * *

Sometime later, Hawks thought he should get off and on his way...

But he kind of wondered where Mirko was going... Did she have a reason to go back with the LOV?

She'd have to get her stuff probably.

But what about Lethe?

"What are you all doing with him?" he asked.

Lethe was still cuffed and in the back of the bus.

The League looked at him.

"If we're not killing him, then I don't care," Shigaraki said.

"But he's not staying with us," Compress shuddered.

Lethe shook his head. "I'm not. That's for sure. I told you, no one would trust me," to Medea.

"But...then...what will you do?" Medea said.

They were passing through a city at the time.

"Driver, can you stop?" Lethe asked.

"It's Ren, not driver," Ren grumbled.

He made the bus stop without touching the wheel, visibly anyway.

"Show off," Mirko muttered.

Lethe got up. "Can I please get out of these restraints now?"

Medea undid the locks reluctantly. The others tensed, watching him.

Lethe just slowly walked off the bus. Medea followed him.

"Yuma...what are you doing?"

"I won't go back to foster care," Lethe said, "and I won't be looked for by the Originals, not now. They'll be too busy picking up the pieces. Hantai was one of the only people who knew much about me. I can disappear. Like I told you, I'll release the memories... There're still prisoners down in that base, the ones in Canada, and other places. They'll probably be rescued. When they are, they can tell them what happened. I'll only keep the memories of it being me who did it, so no one can tell the police about me."

He shivered. "What I saw in there is going to haunt me for the rest of my life, Aya."

"But maybe it doesn't have to," Medea said.

"We both know I don't deserve any better," Lethe said.

"But I don't care about what you deserve," Medea said. "If you go off alone, I'll never see you again, probably."

Lethe shook his head. "Are you planning to stay with the League?"

"No." Medea glanced back at them. "They've been the closest things to friends I've ever had, but I can't commit to their cause. I'd like to become a Hero, maybe, one more like Mirko probably, breaking the glass ceiling, not following the mold... We'll see. She says she'd help me out. Monama says UA would too."

"You'd be a good fit for that," Lethe said, surprisingly. "You've always been bolder than me. You almost took a bullet for me, after all. I can't repay that, but I won't hold you back anymore. But if I stay around you, I would. You know that. I can't change what kind of person I am, and it's best if I just leave you alone."

"I think you could change," Medea said.

"You're the optimist also, then," Lethe said flatly. "Sorry, Aya, but if you want freedom from me, you'll have to let me take it for myself too. It's how it has to be."

Medea shook her head. "But..."

She pulled out the photos he'd given her before. "We're still...you know, we're still family. Twins, even. I can't just forget about you--uh, sorry, no pun intended."

Lethe almost laughed...almost. "Well, who knows? If you become a Hero, I can keep track of you, what you're up to. I might check in once in a while, do lunch, something. Maybe if I feel differently about my path in a few years, we can reconnect. I won't forget about you...but I won't live being watched either. Enough of that."

Medea saw that it was no use.

She smirked sadly. "I guess we're a little more alike in that way than I thought, huh? Not cut out to be controlled easily by other people."

"I wish I was a better brother or human being." Lethe shook his head. "But I am not, and I must own up to it. It's easier right now. I've been low today, almost killed, but you know, I think I'll stop being so humble soon enough. It'll pass, and I'll let it. I always do, you see. It's not that I never felt guilty, it's that I never stay with it enough to change my mind. I have to go now, while I feel like it, and you have to get far away from me. I'm sorry, for what it's worth."

Medea shook her head. "I'm sorry too, then, Yu-chan."

She reached out and hugged him anyway, to his surprise.

He tentatively hugged her back.

Monama was watching it from the window.

Lethe looked up at him.

"Take care of my sister," he warned. "I still think she could do better, but if she's stuck with you, you'd better treat her right, or I'll hunt you down."

"I think I could take you," Monama said huffily. "But I intend to do right by her." He could have added "better than you, anyway", but he chose not to be that mean.

Medea pulled a pen out of her pack that she still had. "Here." She wrote down her phone number on Lethe's arm. "If you get a chance, you know, you could call. Let me know if you're all right from time to time, so I don't worry too much. I know you can handle yourself, but still."

"Maybe I will," Lethe said shakily. "Don't keep Bus Driver Ren waiting too long, though. He might just leave you here. I should go now." He started moving down the street and looked back. "Goodbye, Aya."

Medea waved slowly. "Bye, Yu-chan."

Lethe melted into the crowd of street pedestrians.

Medea slowly got back on the bus and sat down next to Monama.

"Did you wait here just to see me off?" she said slowly. "You could have got off at UA with the others."

"I kind of thought something like that might happen..." Monama said. "I'm sure I can get a portal home or a taxi..."

"That's actually really sweet." Medea teared up and leaned on his shoulder. "Sorry to impose... I...just...you know, I knew he was going to do that. We're twins, we can read each other, but I still hoped he would change his mind or at least agree to be in touch more... He's just really ready to cut ties."

"I don't understand him," Monama sniffed, "but I have a feeling it's more about him than you. Still, he's seriously messed up. Maybe some space would be good for him."

"Alone?"

"He seems to do okay alone," Monama said.

"No, I don't think he does," Medea mused. "Maybe he'll change his mind after a few weeks, get bored, you know?"

Monama secretly hoped Lethe didn't change his mind until he'd had a long time to think about his actions and possibly go to therapy, but he didn't say that out loud.

Mirko glanced over at Medea. She'd heard the whole thing of course.

"You know, for whatever it's worth," she commented, "Lethe surprised me there. I thought he'd never let you out of his orbit on purpose. Maybe there is hope, microscopically, for him."

Medea shot her a fake peeved frown, then sighed. "You know, I'll take it."

[Sadness noises...but for real, it would have been too convenient for Lethe to be ready all at once. I'm not a wrap-it-up-with-a-nice-little-bow type of person. If it's not earned, I don't want it to happen. But I'd hold out hope for Lethe in the future...if he keeps his hands clean.]

* * *

After that, Hawks still wasn't sure about Mirko.

He hoped what he'd been picking up on throughout the missions was just in his head and not real. It was almost unthinkable if it was.

But when Medea had recovered a bit, she began to beg Mirko to let her off training for a week, and Mirko began arguing her down to a few days, and it dawned on Hawks that she seemed to have no intention of leaving.

"Uh, Rumi," he said, turning around. He was just standing. The seats were uncomfortable for his wings. "Aren't you going to move out of the hideout now?"

The whole bus went quiet. Even Ren and Kayla felt that awkward.

Monama looked like he wished he'd gotten off already.

Mirko gave Hawks what was almost a straight up hostile look...and weirder, so did Shigaraki.

Spinner was frowning too.

Silk and Compress exchanged a look.

"She's not moving out yet," Medea answered finally. "We gotta train."

"I thought you were just hiding out from the Originals also," Hawks said. "You can go now too."

"Do you have a problem with us?" Spinner said testily.

"Uh, yeah, kind of," Hawks frowned. "Am I the only one who still remembers they're bad guys?"

"Bad is such a black and white term," Compress gestured poetically. "Isn't there a margin for error? We helped you, didn't we?"

"And I'm grateful," Hawks wasn't really grateful, "but we're going back to being enemies now, aren't we? No more common goal."

"We could go back to being enemies right now." Shigaraki sat up, looking angry. "On this bus. You want to do that?"

"Hey!" Ren called. "You start a fight, and I'm driving this bus off a cliff into the ocean, and Kayla and I will swim for it while you all drown."

Silence, then Medea snickered. "Ren's the man."

Kayla smothered a laugh also.

"Now wait a minute." Mirko sat up now too. "Let's not be over dramatic here."

Fine coming from her of all people.

"Medea doesn't exactly have a place to go right now," Mirko said, "and neither do I, for that matter. I'm not going back to that house. The Originals have more chapters, and I wouldn't be sure they won't retaliate. I'd like to wait it out and see if they're really done."

"And even if I start at a hero school," Medea said, "I'd have to wait till after Summer, so I need a few more months at least, and I'm not going back to foster care for sure. I agree with Lethe about one thing--that was hell."

"It couldn't be that bad," Hawks said. He'd been a ward of the state for most of his childhood.

"Oh, yeah? Maybe you never got called a demon child because people thought your quirk was unlucky!" Medea's eyes turned purple, and she stood up, grabbing the back of the seat in front of her. "Or had kids put roaches in your lunch or roast marshmallows in your quirk when you got angry at them! It's come back to me! I hate orphanages. I'm not going back to one just because I'm two years too young to be on my own!"

"Calm down, no one's making you do that," Mirko said. She looked at Hawks. "I knew some kids in the system in my neighborhood. I'd never want to force that on anyone, from the crap I heard about it. And rundown schools aren't any better. Waiting for her to join UA or some other prestigious Hero school makes the most sense."

Hawks wondered why the League wasn't saying anything.

"Are you...all okay with this?" Monama voiced the same thought.

Compress shrugged. "Well, Heroes as we know them may not exist for too long, but Medea learning to fight better and getting an education couldn't hurt her, could it?"

"As long as she doesn't get all stuck up and pretentious, she can just infiltrate them," Spinner said.

Medea snorted. "Well, I did it once, right?"

"I remember," Monama said. "Made one h--- of a first impression."

"You know you loved it," Medea teased him.

He reddened.

Even Shigaraki wasn't saying anything against the idea.

"Well...great for her, I guess..." Hawks felt he was losing his case. "But, Rumi, how long can you push your luck?"

"It'll be fine." Mirko didn't seem to care. "I can last a few more months, and then Medea will go, and I can too."

"You don't have to stay just for me," Medea said.

"If you want to be ready for UA or a different school, you should be begging me to stay," Mirko shot back. "Your hand-to-hand needs a lot of work, not to mention your flexibility with your quirk."

Medea stuck out her tongue at her, but then she smiled. "Well, I guess I have summer plans, then."

Hawks knew he'd lost this argument, but he really thought the League would object.

None of them seemed to care in the least though.

"If you need a new location, I'll hook you up with a one that has a pool," Ren wasn't helping anything by offering. "And a jacuzzi."

"Ohh." Spinner liked the sound of a jacuzzi, being cold blooded and all (kind of).

"You're kidding, right?" Hawks looked at Ren. "You're okay with this."

"I think it won't matter much, a few more months," Ren said, "and it's been a learning experience for me, for sure."

Mirko rolled her eyes at him and mimed him being crazy.

But then she grew somber again and seemed lost in thought. Not like her either.

Hawks didn't like this at all.

"And we're just not going to talk about her being here?" Kayla said, gesturing at Silk.

"We don't talk about you being here," Compress shot back testily.

"She's cool!" Twice said. "I hate her. I'm suspicious of her. I trust her completely."

"That about sums it up, yeah," Medea said. She frowned at Silk. "I know I'm not one to talk, with Lethe and all, but you sold us out. I guess you helped us in the end, but how do we know it's not some other trick to earn our trust?"

Silk laced her fingers together, thoughtfully. "I'm not asking you to trust me. But I will tell you, I never explained my motives before. I can now: I liked what the Originals promise to do, but I did not like their methods. I tried to forget on purpose...and I was shown today...I can't. The past doesn't really go away, like I thought... You just run from it, but sooner or later, you get tired of running and have to stop, and it catches up to you. I can't say for sure that I'm one of you, but I not think the Originals is place for me anymore. I can't carry out their missions callously now. I would be too afraid to remember it later... I gave up on the idea of being a happy, fulfilled person a long time ago. For the Cause, that's what they told us all...but Elites don't have any real value in a cult of quirkless people. So..." She paused. "I no longer know what I want, if I want anything. I wouldn't ask to come back to the League. I have nowhere else to go. I cut off all connections outside the cult. I suppose I have placed my fate in your hands, and only comfort is, as bad as you all can be, you're far from the sadistic monsters that Hantai and his cronies were. So I traded up."

If that was a joke, no one was laughing at it.

"Dark," Medea said. "You and Lethe sound just the same. Don't you have any wish to be happy?"

"I believe that wish is luxury that people like us know we can't afford," Silk said flatly. "Is different for you. You do your best to do the right thing despite having problems. In end, that makes all the difference, and we envy you for seeing it sooner than us. What are we but trash? Lethe is still young though. He could recover from it. He's just a boy. He didn't know what he was doing. I, on the other hand, I was fully aware of it, and I did it anyway. I don't have excuse."

"That the most honest thing I've ever heard you say," Mirko said, her tone making it clear Silk wasn't getting off that easy. "But I'll believe it when I see it."

"With her, you might see it and still not believe it." Spinner made a witty observation for once.

Silk didn't argue that.

"But all of us are reprobates and trash or criminals in some way," Compress spoke, "and at least she knows what she is. In a way, that's what we all have in common. No delusion of righteousness, like those idiotic Originals or Metas. So she still fits."

"But are we safe with one of them around?" Spinner said. "She still has the tracking chip too."

"I can get that out," Ren offered.

Silk shook her head. "I'm not gonna beg you...I would like the chip removed, though."

Ren gave her a thumbs up.

Kayla shrugged. "I know how you feel, Agent Silk, but what's the use of living in it? Might as well just switch gears. People who give up on themselves disgust me."

Silk scowled at her and said nothing.

"For now she can stay a few days," Shigaraki decided, sounding too tired to really care. "And we'll put it to vote after that. Rushing any decision could backfire on us right now."

"Fair enough." Compress didn't sound happy, but he knew it was a generous offer.

Mirko scowled to herself like she thought it was a bad idea, but she didn't argue either.

[Hmm...]