With knives out we're passionate
Our palms break through the skin
And pour through the earth like plate tectonics
It pours through the earth like plate tectonics
I've become so eloquent
Even my lies are self-consumed
Cause' back in the 90's I was hooked on phonics
Back in the 90's, I was hooked on phonics

If I have eyes then I cannot see
If I have thoughts then they cannot be
When I see you no I can't be me
When I see you no I can't be me
If I have eyes then I cannot see
If I have thoughts then they cannot be
When I see you no I can't be me
When I see you no I can't be me
No, I can't be me
Can't be me

Whisper your words back into yourself
If you'd rather die then tell anyone else
When simple words have nothing to solve
The best intentions can ruin it all

If the whole worlds dancing with empty promises
Why can't I dance with you
Cold broken hearts
If the whole worlds dancing with empty promises
Why can't I dance with you?"

* * *

After that visit, Shigaraki was even more determined to avoid Mirko.

He didn't tell anyone what Ujiko had said. It didn't occur to him to question it.

But nothing The Doctor had told him had actually changed his mind about Mirko's character.

He used to think she was literally one of the worst people ever, but the many times his double standard had been pointed out had changed that. He now mostly overlooked her violence because it was nothing worse than the Villains.

And her loyalty and surprising amount of honesty and bravery spoke for themselves. She was a valuable member of the team. He wouldn't have discarded that more than any other member.

And for his personal uses, her qualities were even superior to people like Toga's, really. She could think of more than one thing and change her goals--that was useful. Also, her insight as a Pro had been critical plenty of times by now.

He didn't regret anything about letting her work with them.

He supposed the hatred must just be his nature and nothing to do with her, and that was just something he would have to put up with.

What puzzled him though, and Ujiko had neglected to explain away, was that with the feeling he'd described, the usual itching, had not come, which was his signal that he wanted to destroy something. That hadn't happened at all.

In fact, that had never happened around her specifically. Likstar sometimes, but...

[Only exception might be if he was already upset over something else and she was just witnessing it, but not because of her.]

It was strange. But he just assumed it was a fluke.

But for better or worse, Ujiko's suggestion did put his family into his mind again...and how that had happened. The more he thought of it now, the more he remembered, and it wasn't a pleasant feeling. 

He wondered if Medea was really right--was it best to know what happened? If it was just...torturous? 

With no other plans to distract him, this introspection was finally catching up to him. He couldn't get away from it, especially around the League.

It bothered them.

About a week after that visit, Shigaraki finally got some kind of lead about Stain. It just came out of nowhere--one of their old informants who ran some kind of underground villain club. Giran had hooked them up.

Shigaraki was glad of an excuse to get out of the house and away from the others for a bit.

But they noticed he'd left.

"I wonder where he could be going," Compress said.

"Find lead on Stain," Silk said dully.

"How do you know that?" Spinner asked.

"I was listening to radio from next room," Silk said.

"I guess you still haven't lost the habit of spying," Spinner grumbled.

"Should he really go out alone to do that? It could be a trap," Compress said.

"No, he shouldn't," Silk said. "But who stop him? Only one person ever followed him successfully other than me."

"Well, they aren't speaking right now," Spinner said.

Medea clicked a pen. "I think someone should... Also I am going to die from these entrance exam questions... I didn't go to high school..."

"Maybe is time for some tutoring of the non violent kind," Silk said. She picked up the paper. "Oh my..."

"Well, shall we draw straws to see who follows The Boss?" Compress asked.

"I think more than one of us should go," Spinner said. "And if it is a lead on Stain, I'd like to know."

"Ooh, I'll go. I want to hear about dear Stainy," Toga offered.

"She can blend in," Compress pointed out. "Perhaps that would be best. But you should take Mirko too, only don't tell her why you're going. Just say it's about who killed Stain." He smothered a laugh😅. "I'm so evil."

Medea rolled her eyes. "Maybe they'll end up talking it out finally."

"Well, why did you think I suggested it? This silent treatment is getting old," Compress said.

"If Likstar wasn't out of world, she could sort it out with them," Spinner said.

"If you let her solve all your problems, you're not really learning from her," Silk pointed out, tapping the table. "Learn to solve them yourself."

"You know, she's right," Medea said. "You have to grow."

"But this is, like, boss level stuff," Spinner said, "and we're scrubs at most."

"How humble of you," Compress said. "That makes it sound like we want to learn their stupid lessons. It's not my style."

"But it works, and we're out of ideas," Spinner said.

"Well, keep that in mind when you follow them." Silk was rather merciless. "Udachi [Good luck]."

* * *

The secret club was a lot like any other one: low, dark, partially underground.

Villains hung out and set up connections without Heroes being able to find them.

Giran often met them in places like this. He remembered when they'd gone to that camp to rescue Eri--the last time they'd really seen Giran, come to think of it.

The person he was supposed to meet wasn't there yet, so he sat down to wait for them against one wall.

Some people were milling around, dancing, or on the prowl. Shigaraki always thought they looked like they were hunting something but never understood what it was.

No one had ever bothered him, but as he'd given up wearing his hands, he was less recognizable than he used to be, and...some people took him sitting alone as an invitation.

A couple of women who must have been small time villains came over to chat.

Shigaraki didn't pay them much mind and certainly didn't realize what they were after. He was busy thinking about the lead...as well as Ujiko's warning...

It couldn't be true, he was sure. But if Ujiko thought so, would he tell AFO about it... Perhaps some kind of explanation was in order...if only he was allowed to contact AFO directly, but Ujiko always said it was too risky to attempt.

One of the Villainesses leaned on the table suddenly. "So what do you say, big guy?" she said in a low voice.

Shigaraki hadn't actually been listening to her. "Huh?"

"Ah s---, he's dumb as bricks," the other woman said to her.

"I always like the dumb ones," the first woman said with a weird smile.

"You're such a---" The second called her something Shigaraki didn't really recognize, but he knew it was bad.

Wow, other Villains were so crass. The LOV was more civilized than this.

"We could use our quirks," the second went on. "It's a bit cliché, but it's more fun that way."

"Not sure it's worth it," the first one said. "Only I don't like him being all stuck up. What, does he think he's too good for us?"

"Male villains are always so arrogant," the second said, "but, you know, they're the hottest."

"Yeah," the first said.

Shigaraki had the dim idea they were probably suggesting doing something he wasn't going to like.

"Go away," he said curtly. "I'm waiting for someone else."

"Oh, really, your girlfriend?" said the first snidely.

"Right, like he'd have one," the second sniffed. 

"Probably is just here for a lead," the first said.

"Well, aren't we all?" The second rolled her eyes.

"Maybe we can help you find one," the first said. 

Shigaraki had a feeling she was lying about that.

"I'll just wait." He leaned away. Maybe he should destroy something to get rid of them.

Then he realized his quirk wasn't working... One of them must have the ability to block it...

Shigaraki didn't panic on the outside, but he was pretty close to it right about then. Maybe he should have brought Compress after all...but after the last time they'd been at a bar, he hadn't thought it was a good idea.

"Ah, took you long enough." The second sipped her drink with zero concern.

"Oh, shut up," said the first. "You know what your problem is? You think things will be easier than they are."

"At least I'm not a cheat like you. I work for it," the second said.

They must be hustlers, Shigaraki thought to himself. Compress had warned him once about people like that at these places--stole from customers for the owners. Kind of a risk of going into a den of literal thieves, really.

"Oh, yeah, I can see how you work it," the first shot back.

They might have come to blows or else just finished their job, if they'd been allowed to.

But someone interrupted them.

"All right, job's over."

It was Mirko?!!

Wait, was that Spinner a few feet away?!... Someone had snitched.

Shigaraki glared at Spinner, who looked scared to be around so many other Villains... Last time he'd been around this many, the Metas were trying to kill them.

"Uh, sorry, but who the h--- are you?" The two villains didn't recognize her. She wasn't in costume.

Mirko had her arms crossed. "Not important. I said get lost."

"You didn't say that," the first girl said. "And I think you might be in over your head, short stack."

"What's a little bunny like you gonna do to us?" the second jeered. "Please, we snack on trash like you."

Mirko grabbed one of them and used her knee to slam her in the stomach, making her fall over.

The other one did a double take.

Mirko smacked her into a table.

The two of them got up real fast.

"We can find a better hustle. She's crazy," they hissed to each other.

"Yeah, it's not worth it with the possessive types. Boss will understand."

"Too bad, he was kind of cute in a weird way, but I'm not getting killed over it."

They hurried away.

Shigaraki felt he was back to normal now.

And livid.

"What are you two doing here!?" he demanded.

"I thought we were looking for a lead," Mirko said, "but I guess not." She turned to give Spinner a furious look.

"I...uh...for the record, this was not my idea," Spinner said nervously. "Where'd Toga go?"

Mirko sighed. "I'd better get her before she kills someone. You can handle this moron here." She shot Shigaraki a dirty look. "Idiot."

She stomped off.

"But how did you know I was here?" Shigaraki demanded.

"Silk heard," Spinner said, "and the League was concerned it might be a trap... I think it was. They looked like hookers."

"But my lead wasn't them," Shigaraki said. "I don't know what they wanted--money, probably. But my lead is not here yet."

"Oh, well, okay," Spinner said. "That'll give you time to explain before Mirko kills you."

"For what?" Shigaraki said.

"Well, that looked pretty bad..." Spinner said. "I mean, you weren't really telling them to beat it."

"I did tell them that," Shigaraki said, not noticing Mirko was coming back, dragging Toga after her. "But they didn't leave, and then something weird happened..."

"Oh...you know, I've heard of Villainesses like that," Spinner said, shivering. "It's totally creepy, isn't it?"

"Venuses?" Mirko said, frowning. "Ew. They are hard to track down, though. That was close."

"Ooh," Toga said. "Did you kill them?"

"No," Spinner said. "We're lucky though. They were too scared to alert the owner. I bet they work for the establishment."

[You can't all tell me this wouldn't exist in this world, but I prefer not to go further into it. Gross.]

"You dumba--." Mirko smacked Shigaraki in the head.

"Ow! Stop that!" Shigaraki leaned away. "How was I supposed to know...? What are you talking about anyway?"

"Nevermind," Spinner said hastily. "The point is, we should all stick together, just in case more of them are around. Good thing they were fighting each other. You could have been had, Boss. It's not safe to come to places like this alone."

"Didn't Papa AFO ever tell you that?" Mirko was glaring still.

"No..." Shigaraki didn't get it still.

"Never talk to strangers," Toga said. "That's what my parents said... I hate them." She looked crazy.

"Remind me to beat Compress up later for this," Mirko said to Spinner.

"Well...you know, maybe this is good," Spinner said. "You guys should finally settle your differences."

Awkward silence.

"Nothing to settle," Mirko finally said, "and it's none of your business... I wouldn't even stay if it wasn't stupid to try to leave alone. I could probably handle it, but I'd blow your cover."

She pulled up a hoodie to hide her ears. "But this better be quick."

"I need to go the bathroom," Toga whined, suddenly. "Come on, Mirko, let's go."

"You really just want to find someone to cut," Mirko said.

"I'm scared," Toga whined further. "Come on, I don't wanna die."

Mirko rolled her eyes. "Whatever...I don't trust you." They went off again.

Spinner sat down across from Shigaraki.

"Seriously, Boss, why are you mad at her?" he said.

"I'm not mad. But you shouldn't have brought her here. It's not wise."

"Actually I think she can probably handle these guys better than I can..." Spinner looked nervous.

"Not what I meant. I'm not happy with you." Shigaraki glared at him. "I didn't ask you to meddle in my business."

"But I think you're hurting her feelings," Spinner said. "All of us think so, and it's like walking on eggshells for the rest of us. I don't know what Miss Likstar would say, but I'm sure she'd say just letting it fester is a bad idea. What about morale?"

"Why do you think I'm avoiding her?" Shigaraki said. "The League would not be pleased if she died."

"What do you mean? Like you'd kill her?" Spinner said.

"Perhaps," Shigaraki said.

"But...I thought you were kind of...you know, getting along," Spinner said.

"What does that have to do with it?" Shigaraki said. "It doesn't change that I have the urge to destroy things all the time. But we can't afford the loss, so I'm just avoiding the situation."

"Oh..." Spinner said. "Well...that's...considerate, I guess." He shook his head. "But I didn't think you were acting like you wanted to kill her. Does it really just come on you like that?"

"Sometimes."

"Nothing specifically triggers it."

"I don't know, probably not. Just my nature."

"Oh, that's kind of sad." Spinner was thoughtless. "I'd hate that."

Cold silence.

"It's a shame though, but if that's all it is, maybe she should know so she's not taking it personally." Spinner didn't really think that out before he said it. "And maybe you'll get over it, you know, in time."

"I doubt that," Shigaraki said.

"So how do you know when it's coming on?" Spinner asked.

Shigaraki explained it to him.

Spinner was looking at him weird after a bit.

"Uh...Boss...I don't think that's the urge to destroy," he said.

"What do you mean?" Shigaraki said. 

"I mean...why would you get that idea, just from what you're saying?" Spinner was puzzled.

"Ujiko said it," Shigaraki said.

"He did?" Spinner frowned. "Wow..."

This only confirmed the League's suspicion that Ujiko was trying to screw with them...and apparently Mirko was on his list too. Spinner wasn't the brightest member of it, but he could read the writing on the wall.

But...he didn't have any clue how to explain that to Shigaraki without getting in trouble...

But if he didn't try, Mirko could end up in big trouble.

Dang it, he knew Medea wouldn't hesitate. She was much braver than him.

"Well...uh...Boss, I kind of feel like what you're describing happens to most people. I mean, I've felt all the things you said, but it wasn't about killing someone."

"Maybe you were mistaken," Shigaraki said.

"I'm pretty sure I'm not. It's kind of a big thing for a lot of people...and killing isn't usually what happens...I mean, unless you're a yandere like Toga..." Spinner made a face. "But, like, most of us, we don't kill anybody. It's kind of the opposite, actually."

He wasn't going to explain further.

"I'm confused," Shigaraki said. "Why would you have felt like destroying something, then?"

"No, but that's not what it is," Spinner said. "Maybe Ujiko is confused. You probably explained it wrong." There, that was a safe way to go about it...he hoped. "Because the way you're telling me, it's not that, you know. I think it just means you think she's different than other people."

Shigaraki hadn't really be believing him till he said that, but he got an odd look here. "Well, I do think that."

"Yeah, well, there, you see?" Spinner felt nervous. "I mean, I feel kind of like what you're saying around Kitsune, but I don't want to kill her."

"Around that sidekick...so does it have to do with Heroes, then?"

"Uhh...no, I think Compress feels that way about Silk too." Spinner sweated nervously. "Look, I can't really explain it more. Ask one of them. But I'm just saying I don't think you need to worry about losing control of your quirk or whatever. I mean, you must feel angry or something when you actually kill things."

Shigaraki was lost in thought. "Well, I get this itching feeling when I want to destroy. It's true, though, that's not happened... I thought that was odd. So you're saying Ujiko misdiagnosed."

Spinner tugged his collar. "I have a feeling this isn't his...field, if you know what I mean. To do with...uh, nomu and stuff."

Ujiko would kill him for this.

"Could you, uh, not tell him I said that though? It might offend him," Spinner said hastily. "I don't want him to think I was trying to usurp him or something for having a different opinion of it."

"But how do I know which of you is right?" Shigaraki mused. 

"I dunno, maybe you should just decide, but Ujiko's kind of been misleading about a bunch of things--Kurogiri and stuff--so it's not like he was never wrong before," he risked saying.

This wasn't just for Mirko though. He legitimately wanted to see if Shigaraki would consider not listening to Ujiko, for his own sake and the other members too.

Shigaraki was thinking about that.

"Hmm...it's true he didn't seem to see that... Master, I'm sure, didn't know about it. Maybe it's Ujiko's fault. I'll have to ask him next time."

That wouldn't end well.

"Uh...please don't say I was the one who suggested it." Spinner felt like a coward, but he didn't want to die either.

"I won't." Shigaraki didn't notice how uneasy Spinner looked. "But this is a lot to consider. I had suspected Ujiko was not fully trustworthy for a while, but to be wrong even about me, someone he's know for years, is concerning."

"We all make mistakes, right?" Spinner laughed nervously, wishing this conversation was over.

He was saved by Mirko and Toga coming back again. Mirko looked peeved.

"Hang onto her." She threw Toga at Spinner. "I'm sick of watching her knife hand."

"I can knife with both hands," Toga shot back, "and you're no fun."

"Try me, b----, I dare you." Mirko's ears were back, under the hood.

"Uh, good news," Spinner said. "I think we worked out our little problem...right, Boss?"

Shigaraki looked up. "Maybe. I still wish I could test it somehow."

Mirko looked confused. "Which problem?"

"Nevermind," Spinner said. "That lead really should be here by now."

As if on cue, someone came up to them.

"Shigaraki?" It was a kid.

Mirko did a double take. "You."

The kid looked up at her and seemed to recognize her. "You're...the scary lady. Wait, aren't you a her-?"

Mirko covered his mouth and shoved him into the seat. "Shut up! Do you want to get us all killed?"

The kid gasped.

"Your lead is a little kid?" Toga said, bored. "Can I stab him?"

"Quiet," Shigaraki told her. "Now, are you the one with the lead?"

The kid glanced at Mirko warily. "Why do I feel like I know you from more than just that weird lady...? Why were you asking me?"

Mirko frowned.

Then her eyes widened.

"This is..." she looked around, "...the work of Lethe... This is a trap."

"You know Lethe?" the kid said. "Oh...s---...this might be bigger than I thought... Listen, I took a huge risk coming here at all. The only reason I did is because things are spooky right now, and I'm not sure I'm safe. I need someone to get to the bottom of it for me, and I don't know what else to try. But I never thought it'd be you who was after it."

"Let's not talk in here." Shigaraki was smart enough to know that was a big mistake. "Outside."

* * *

A good distance from the club, in an alley, the boy introduced himself as Yin.

"Lethe and I just know each other from running info. He has mad connects," he explained. "But a couple weeks ago, he vanished, not a word to me or anyone in the chain. And no one but me knew what it had to do with. My memory's real hazy about it, see? I can't remember why I was meeting up with him, or how I even found out about Stain...nothing. Only one thing I can remember."

He rubbed his neck. "Something hitting me right here, like a file or knife...and this girl with the scariest vibe ever--I mean like horror movie killer scary--and she said she was the one who killed Stain...and then it's all a blur."

Mirko grabbed his shoulders. "And Lethe was there?"

"Yeah, he was. I remember he looked terrified," Yin said. "But...maybe that girl drugged me, 'cause I got nothing else. I can't even tell you what she looked like. Only I think there was a lot of black."

"Are you saying a girl killed Stain?" Shigaraki said. "A young one?"

"Three kids took him in in the first place--why is that so hard to believe?" Mirko said testily.

Good point.

"She could have been lying," Spinner said. "But if it was her, I swear, she'll pay for it."

"If she took down Stain, she's more than a match for you." Mirko was crushing.

"I'll stab her!" Toga said.

[That's a match made in hell if I ever heard one.]

"Aren't we kind of missing the point here?" Mirko said. "Lethe is missing. You say this is the last you heard of him? So he went back to his street life."

"How did you know him?" Yin asked.

"Nevermind that. He went off with this girl, then?"

"I think so," Yin said. "Like I said, it's a blur, but I know that was the last time I saw him. I got another job offer after that. I thought he'd turn up. Lethe has a way of escaping anyone, but...this one was a whole 'nother level, I guess, because he's not back... I got desperate enough to try this idea... I never thought the head of the LOV would be looking for him though."

"We're not, but this is concerning," Shigaraki said.

"Poor Medea," Spinner said. "Should we tell her?"

"I don't know. She might go looking for him if we do." Mirko rubbed her chin. "And she's no match for anyone on that level... I'd hold off on telling her till we know more about this person. Likstar will want to hear this too. She's going to be gone longer though--I got a letter from her about it... They had to extend their stay... Apparently they'll be wintering or whatever at this place called Cloud Village."

"Like from Naruto?" Spinner said.

"Anyway," Mirko gave him a warning look, "the point is, it'll be a couple more weeks till they're back. Some of those kids might be back though. Could try to contact them."

"None of that would help us find Lethe," Shigaraki said. "Someone else has found him. It must have been the Originals."

"Yeah, must be," Mirko agreed.

"Those fiends." Spinner was upset. "Stain...what did he ever do to them?"

"I guess you were a stan," Yin noted. "Look...I'm not sure. I could be at risk for talking to you at all, so I gotta get going. Can I find you again if I do learn something?"

"Yeah...if you do, call Hawks' agency," Mirko said. "Tell them it's about a mission with Mirko. He'll come. He can take it from there."

"Right," Yin said. "That's a new one for me, a Hero agency... Well, it's fun to try new things..." He slipped away.

"This is not what I wanted to here," Spinner said. "I wanted a target...a reason...something... We just have a vague description, which might not even be true...and Lethe is in the hands of whoever it was. We're not safe at all."

"Just when I was starting to think we might have a peaceful summer..." Mirko put her head in her hands and leaned on the wall. "And Medea...she'll be crushed... What a time for the DJs not to be here...and for sure, this means whoever did this, wants them too. I knew it!" She kicked the innocent pavement, cracking it. "Why can't they just give up already?!"

"This is no time to panic," Shigaraki said. "At least the DJs are far away from here, so they can't be a target right now. It's up to us to get to the root of this before they get back."

Suddenly, they heard a yell.

"That was the kid." Mirko's ears went straight up.

She bounded down the street. They raced after her--even Toga was curious.

Yin was...fighting...or running...but not from anything they could see.

Mirko looked around.

"I don't see anything," she said.

Yin was swinging at whatever it was and hurtling back like he was being pummeled.

"Get away!" he yelled. "I don't want to go with you! Witch!"

"Who's he talking to?" Spinner looked spooked.

"Someone we can't see," Shigaraki said, frowning. "Maybe it's like when Likstar can see things we can't...or they're using a mental type quirk."

"Then it's probably in his head." Mirko dashed forward to snatch him.

Then some kind of invisible wall seemed to be in her path. She slammed into it full force and shot back, dazed.

"Mirko!" someone hissed.

"Ouch..." Toga wasn't very concerned. "That's crazy."

Suddenly she looked crazed. "But it does kind of make me want to cut her!"

"What?" Shigaraki said.

Toga pulled a knife and darted forward.

Mirko was picking herself up, still kind of dazed.

Yin squirmed. "Stop... Mom! I want my mom!"

He suddenly seemed to melt into the shadows on the sidewalk.

Spinner was the only one who really got a good look at that though. Toga was almost on Mirko, who didn't expect her to attack and didn't look at her in time to move.

Shigaraki managed to yank Toga back at the last second, roughly.

Toga yelped and slashed at him instead.

He didn't react.

Then suddenly...it was like the air cleared.

Toga suddenly stopped. "Wait...huh?"

She blinked. "Wow...that was intense... Sorry there, Shiggy, I didn't mean to cut you. You're the boss, though you look so cute right now."

Mirko kicked her off her feet. "What were you thinking, you psycho?!" She looked shaken up. 

"I...don't know," Toga said. "I just had the urge all of the sudden."

"Stop." Shigaraki stopped Mirko from attacking her with one arm. "That wasn't Toga. She might like stabbing people a lot, but she wouldn't stab one of the League without permission. Plus, she's terrified of you."

That was true. Toga looked nervous now.

"Yeah, Mirko, I don't think Toga was doing that on her own," Spinner said. "If someone with a mental type quirk was attacking that kid, they must have gotten into her head too."

Mirko put her arm down. "Fine...whatever," she said. "But... Yin is gone." She looked around. "Whatever it was, it got him...and, guys, that wasn't the work of ninja. Not unless they were Elites."

They shivered.

Shigaraki realized he was still holding Mirko back and put his arm down.

But...no urge to kill had come with that...

Maybe Spinner was right after all.

He brightened. For some reason that was kind of a relief.

"Why are you smiling?" Toga asked peevishly.

"I'm not." Shigaraki frowned at her. "I'm thinking...that whatever that was, we should get away from here."

"Yeah, no s---." Mirko rubbed her arm. "But, I swear...I felt like I hit a wall there. It was...kind of like that barrier thing Shine does."

"Maybe it was inside your head," Spinner said.

Mirko held up her arms. "These bruises look real to me."

She did have some.

"Invisible walls might be a quirk type," Spinner mused. "We should run a check for any Villain known to have them."

"Away from here," Shigaraki said.

So they beat it.

[Poor Yin... That was horrid.]