The other Heroes arrived just a few minutes after Ujiko got away.

Once they were there, they took Gigantomachia hostage, with some difficulty. But he stayed docile. Hawks warned them to leave the radio on.

Shigaraki wasn't as sure about this as he had wanted to seem...but he also judged that the Heroes would not be satisfied without something to show for this. The giant was useless to the League anyway. He only served AFO, who hadn't had any use for him since the Meta attack or even before then.

Mirko was asked several questions about how she found the giant, while Ren took Shigaraki out of sight of the Heroes.

Shigaraki felt pretty washed out after all that warping and running, and his throat hurt.

Ren was exhausted too, but he wasn't too tired to keep an eye on his sister as well as Shigaraki.

He noted that Shigaraki kept glancing her way...and then back down at the ground.

Rumi could see them from where she was, but she kept looking around and seemed distracted. Of course, she was tired.

"Well, since she's all right, as promised, no hard feelings," Ren remarked magnanimously. "In fact, I'm impressed. I guess all this practice rescuing people has paid off. It's kind of fun, really. If you ever want to quit the whole Villain-destroying-the-world thing, I could use people with your skills."

"To do more illegal stuff," Shigaraki said flatly.

"But I don't get caught," Ren said slyly, winking. "Anyway, it's more of a grey area usually... I might give it up anyway soon. I got to start being a respectable business man for support items. Of course, if you guys had your way, there might not be a market for Hero support items soon, so black market connections are a plus."

Shigaraki was silent.

"I could hook you guys up sometime," Ren said. "I mean, just for Rumi's sake, if she's going to keep hanging around you."

"I doubt she's going to change her mind," Shigaraki stated. "She seemed pretty determined before, and this couldn't have helped."

"Ah, real broken up about that, aren't you?" Ren said.

Shigaraki didn't understand that remark enough to respond to it.

"Well, I wouldn't be too sure. She's kind of hard to predict about things like that," Ren said. "I doubt getting abducted is going to sway her one way or the other--she'd just say that's weak. It was real cute how the whole League begged her to come back, from what Fuyumi was telling me while we were hiding."

Silence.

"Except you." Ren added. "You don't want to ask, huh? Too embarrassing, right? I mean, you have to set an example. Heroes and villains don't voluntarily work together because they want to, right? And that's where the lines are here. I mean, I doubt it's even that true behind the scenes. Good guys and bad guys already work together. That's what makes law so complicated. But you want to be purists about it, don't you?"

Silence still.

"I think Rumi, out of all people, kind of knows that Heroes and Villains have a lot in common," Ren said, "and your odd friends who go between both sides. Ah, I don't know if I even object anymore about that. I just want her to be all right. Today scared me, and I'm not scared of much. Reality check about how dangerous it can be to have enemies...but don't get me wrong--I'm not saying you should kick her out for real just to keep her safe. She'd resent that forever, not getting the choice for herself, and I kind of see why. We have to decide what risks to take. If someone tried to hold her back like that, she'd just lose respect for them totally...but I think she's already expressed that, huh? Had that incident with the one lady with the silk?"

Shigaraki nodded barely at that.

"Well, I ain't telling you what to do, compadre, but remember, it has to be her idea, whatever it is," Ren said. "Try to be smart about it, that's all I'm saying--for both our sakes, or I have to deal with the mess... Ah, looks like those Heroes are finally leaving."

So they were, giant in tow. Some of them must have had quirks for that.

Endeavor was talking to Fuyumi pretty strongly about putting herself in danger.

Fuyumi wasn't saying much to defend herself...as it's hard to do that with someone you've never stood up to in your life.

"Uh, Endeavor," Hawks finally said, "it's kind of our fault too for letting her come...but she insisted. She's a brave woman. Probably gets that from you, right? That and being stubborn."

Fuyumi glanced at him oddly.

"Hawks, don't get involved," Endeavor said. "I'll deal with you later."

Hawks winced.

"It's not...that I don't see your intentions," Endeavor said, "and your help was...useful, I suppose." He looked uncomfortable. "But it wouldn't be fair to expect untrained people to act like Heroes, and...your mother would never get over it if something happened to you."

"Mom would understand," Fuyumi said, a bit more bravely, "but I'm not planning to do this again... It was so nerve wracking. I just wanted to make sure we weren't too late."

"If it helps, she never was actually in direct line of the bad guys' sight," Hawks said.

Endeavor seemed to be trying to get his anger under control. "Well, just see that it doesn't happen again," he said.

He stalked away.

"Thanks for that..." Fuyumi said. She couldn't get what Ren said out of her head, and she wasn't making eye contact.

"Yeah, well, the worst he can do is roast me, right?" Hawks said. "Uh...is something wrong? You're kind of not looking up."

"Oh, no, nothing's wrong. I'm just...uh..." Fuyumi stumbled.

"Embarrassed because your dad chewed you out?" Hawks said. "Yeah, I got that... I guess if I had parents, that might bother me too..."

"Oh, sorry," Fuyumi said. "I did mean to..."

"No, it's fine," Hawks said. "Want me to fly you home? It's faster than walking."

"Uh..." Fuyumi said.

"Go on," Mirko urged her, smirking. "Don't worry about us. We've got other plans."

"Uh...but..." Fuyumi said.

"Actually, I still have some words for that guy," Hawks said. "Where's he hiding now? Under a rock?"

"Ren took him off," Mirko said. "And leave him alone. He's been through enough s--- today."

"Says the woman who actually got kidnapped. Does the fact that the League stalked you to Endeavor's house not bother you at all?" Hawks said. "This is still suspicious, if you ask me."

"No one is asking you," Mirko said, frowning. "Just leave it alone. Shigaraki is not that subtle, trust me. This was not planned, so forget it."

"You're talking about him less and less like he's a known murdering psychopath," Hawks said. "Can you just forget all that?"

Mirko just turned on her heel and flounced away.

"If she really does like him," Fuyumi said quietly, "then you're only going to make it worse... I think it's just how it is. And if she doesn't, this is just mean."

"I'm just trying to get her to see what a bad idea it is to get this involved," Hawks said. "I mean...it's...dangerous. That kind of relationship would never work out. It's just something movies do. Life isn't like that."

"I don't know about that. A lot of people with shady backgrounds go on to have relationships," Fuyumi said.

"Isn't there something wrong with anyone who is okay with that?" Hawks said.

Fuyumi was silent for a moment, then she said, "Is there something wrong with giving someone another chance, Hawks? Isn't that what you wanted too?"

Hawks looked torn. "I...know I didn't deserve one."

"Ah..." Fuyumi said. "I think I see why you don't want Shigaraki to have one either, then. It's not fair, is it?"

Hawks was stricken. "I...don't think it's that. I don't think he's looking for a second chance."

"But neither are you," Fuyumi said, "but your friends still believe you should have one, and maybe that's just how it is for Shigaraki... With Touya, well, it was hard, but I'm glad we gave him one even so. The past was bad, but it's kind of amazing when someone can leave it behind after falling that far. I think it's almost worth it to see that."

"Worth years of suffering, just to see someone say 'whoopsie' about it?" Hawks said.

"I...don't feel like that's right," Fuyumi said, "but I can't explain it. I'm so new at this and at using words to describe things, but I feel it--Somehow, it's going to be okay if we just let it go. I think holding on to it, it's never okay, then. We can't let it be. But that's me..." She shook her head. "I should get going, huh?"

"Yeah...fine," Hawks said. "I'll still take you home."

But he was going to come back after and see what happened.

* * *

Mirko found Ren and Shigaraki still hiding out by the rocks.

Ren was explaining how to cheat at this one game he liked to play, probably a topic he'd started in an effort to break the silence. Ren was a person who talks to cover awkward situations, and Shigaraki was definitely one who just stays silent.

Mirko poked Ren in the back. "So, Runt, you got to play cop, huh?"

"Eh, I prefer 'guy in the chair'," Ren said. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, fine," Mirko said, though her ears were still ringing from earlier, just not as bad. "All things considered, he didn't put much of a scratch on me."

"It was one h--- of  a day," Ren said. "And we've both agreed we're never mentioning this to nuestros padres, right?"

"Oh, nunca," Mirko said vehemently.

"Bueno... So that said...I gotta get back before too long." Ren checked his watch. "You want a ride? Or maybe Hawks can fly us. Oh, by the way, I found your phone." He held it up. "I sensed the signal."

"Oh...wow, I'm surprised," Mirko said. "And it's not broken."

"Nope," Ren said. 

He glanced at Shigaraki, then said, "So what are you gonna do?"

Mirko shrugged. "I don't know yet. But...uh...I guess I should thank you for coming. Anything to get out of homework, right?"

"Oh, don't mention it. It's what family does," Ren said. "I could embarrass you by getting all wishy washy about it, because I'm in touch with my emotions, unlike you, but I'll spare you. I said some sexist stuff while you were deaf, though."

Mirko shoved him. "Of course you did."

Shigaraki got up and walked away.

Mirko looked confused.

"Don't mind him. He's just made uncomfortable by our sibling bond," Ren said.

"Uh...huh..." Mirko said. "I never thought of that. Think it's because his sibling is dead?"

"Didn't he...kill his...?" Ren said.

"By accident, yeah," Mirko said. "Sister."

"Sister... Oh...okay, now it makes sense." Ren thumped his forehead. "I bet he's jealous."

"I...don't think he's capable of that emotion," Mirko said.

Ren stared at her incredulously. "You mean you really haven't noticed."

"Noticed what?"

"Wow, Sis, you're denser than I thought... Well, anyway, I think he could be. I mean, maybe he doesn't know it, but I bet we make him uncomfortable. It's psychology. It reminds him of what he lost or maybe never had--depends on how good the relationship was."

"Ren, can you turn off the psych for a while?" Rumi said wearily. "It's kind of annoying."

"Fine, I guess you don't want to hear about the interesting observations I made today while we were trying to find you," Ren said casually.

She shot him a look. "And just what kind of observations were you making?"

"But you don't want to hear about it."

She shoved him again. "You want to tell me."

"I do," Ren admitted. "Well, it's just that, I had the idea up till now that you were sort of doing this solo, you know? Putting it all into it, like you always do, but I got it today. You're hooked, aren't you?"

"What?" Rumi said.

"I mean, not just you," Ren said. "Those little buggers in the League actually like you too, don't they? All of them...well, most of them. But the real surprise was Mr. Facepalm over there. I thought he was going to have a panic attack earlier. He's not bad in a crisis though, gotta admit."

"Well, he does stay calm, weirdly enough, for such a whiny person--What do you mean a panic attack?" 

"Oh, you know, he was really concerned," Ren said. "And Fuyumi was telling me he was pretty upset earlier too. He actually showed up at that house to try to smooth things out. I'm impressed. I mean, I can't picture most of my friends having the guts to do that after a huge fight... I kind of know a lot of wimps. Intelli and I are the only ones with a spine. Nerds can be kind of...weak."

"Yeah," Rumi snorted, "but I think that whole thing was just about Ujiko lying...which, yeah, I'd be pissed too."

"I don't know. He didn't seem to care about that very much," Ren said. "You didn't notice that most of that was about you?"

"Uh...that's not what I heard." Rumi blushed and tried to hide it.

"I think you have selective hearing," Ren said. "You filter out any kind of concern towards you, don't you? I always thought that was true."

"Ren! Stop analyzing me!"

"Sorry...am I wrong though?"

"I---You--just stop."

"I just thought it might boost your confidence after getting outmatched like that," Ren said casually.

She glared at him.

"Not that it's on you. There's not a Pro in the world that could take that thing on alone, probably," Ren said. "A least none that I know of. But you take things so personally...really, it's not your fault. Ujiko had this all thought out. I think you should be flattered. It was clear to me from listening to him that he's threatened enough by whatever it is you're doing to just want you gone. I don't know what you're doing that he's so afraid of, but it can only be good for all of us if you keep doing it...so if that's what you want, I'm not standing in your way... Hawks might..."

"Hawks can go frick himself," Mirko said.

"You know, he is actually worried about you," Ren said. "I don't know why--you're such a jerk to him--but he somehow has become attached to you."

"Well, as for that, Ren," she said flatly, "I don't know what it is either. He's not crushing on me, I know that."

"No, it's not that. I think it's guilt, partly. Maybe a little envy. You're so bold, and he's hesitant. I can see it," Ren said. "Anyway...what will you do now?"

"I haven't decided yet," Rumi said.

"Well, whatever you do, I think you should thank that man with the plan." Ren nodded towards Shigaraki. "Never would have gotten here in time if not for him. I do find that emotionless demeanor kind of creepy, but I'll say it does help to have someone not losing their head. You know, honestly, I'm starting to like him."

"That's no surprise," Rumi said. "You're totally nuts too. You always like Villains."

"As do you."

"No, I like rebels. There's a difference," she retorted.

"In this society there's not much of one." Ren was suddenly quite serious. "And that's beginning to seem like a problem... You label everyone who has issues with how you do things as a Villain, and you have an excuse not to listen to them... You're waking up, right, Rumi? You're seeing it?"

"Yeah," she said, serious too. "I am."

"Good," Ren said. "Keep our eyes open, that's all I'm saying... Maybe we can see a way out of this mess, then. I'd support you if you wanted to try something a little off the wall. In fact, I count on it."

"Well, yeah, that's our thing." She rumpled his hair. "I don't know what's coming, but I doubt it's going to be anything like the past."

[I agree with her there.]

* * *

Hawks came back and took them all back to the city.

Shigaraki wouldn't let him take him back to the house. He didn't want Hawks know where it was.

Mirko objected to being taken back to the Todoroki household also. She didn't want to face Endeavor asking her what happened.

"She's either coming with me or making other plans," Ren told Hawks.

"Right..." Hawks eyed Shigaraki warily. "Well, I guess it's up to you... You know what I think."

"Dude," Ren said, aside, "you were watching them all day, right? This is mutual."

"I find it hard to believe that's possible," Hawks said. "He's totally callous. You saw. And he just let that guy go. How mad could he have been?"

"Based on my evaluation of him so far, I think it's actually shocking that he stood up to him as much as he did," Ren said. "I don't know the gory details, but their vibe is one of a manipulative gaslighter and a victim. You gotta understand, man, any kind of confrontation between people like that is a huge moment."

"But it's not enough," Hawks said. "This isn't therapy, it's life and death."

"Therapy can be life and death, dude," Ren said. "You should try it sometime. Maybe it'd take away some of your massive savior complex that's gonna be the death of you one of these days."

"Ah--you---" Hawks frowned. "You know what? Have fun dealing with them." He flew off in a huff.

"Ah, thank goodness, you finally got rid of him," Mirko said.

"Yeah, he's gone off to go lick his wounds," Ren said. "So...you decide what to do yet? Kayla's asking where I am."

Shigaraki and Mirko were not looking at each other very carefully.

Ren cleared his throat. "Do you need me to help you?"

"No!" Shigaraki snapped. "It's up to her. I never said she was out anyway, so just stay out of it, Ren."

"We're on a first name basis now?" Ren said.

"Do you seriously expect me to use your last name?" Shigaraki said.

"Uh...you're right. That would be weird," Ren said. "Hey, you could use my code name Tinkerer."

Shigaraki actually seemed to take the suggestion to heart.

"Right, Tinker Bell," Mirko said dryly, "were you two talking about this behind my back?"

"Just as a matter of conversation," Ren said. "But I have no say in this, right? Other than it'll piss Hawks off if you do it. But that's just a bonus, right?"

"Yeah, it's not enough reason," Mirko said.

Silence.

"You sure you don't want help?" Ren said.

"Zip it, Tinkerer," Shigaraki said. "Look...the League wants her to come back. What else is there to say about it?"

"The League including you?" Ren said slyly.

"Ren!" Mirko said.

"Sorry," Ren said. 

"I am in the League..." Shigaraki muttered so low that they almost didn't hear him.

"Sorry, my hearing is not back to normal. What was that?" Mirko said.

"I think he was saying he's in the League," Ren said, with a nonchalant shrug.

Mirko's eyebrows went up.

She looked at the sidewalk. "Well, I do need to get my stuff... I guess I could make up my mind more then, vibe check... But...uh...not today." She suddenly looked tired. "I don't want to have to rehash today yet. I'm just gonna go with you." She meant Ren. "I'll deal with them tomorrow."

"You know, that's probably smart," Ren said. "I have a feeling Compress will have some questions about all this you'll want to answer on full energy...and that little Medea girl sure is a handful too."

Mirko snorted. "Yeah."

"Well, fine, I'll just tell them that," Shigaraki said with an  air of dismissal. "This whole mess can finally be put to rest. I swear, it's been so annoying going back and forth on this and running all over trying to track people down. It's just all a lot of trouble."

"Oh, shut up." Mirko finally sounded somewhat back to normal. "No one made you do any of that."

"I had to get to the bottom of it! Ujiko has been most disappointing."

Ren snickered and started walking towards the street, texting Kayla if she'd come pick them up.

Mirko waited till he wasn't looking, then she said in a lower voice, "For the record...uh...thanks."

Shigaraki was silent.

Mirko took a deep breath and then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "For all of it," she added almost under her breath.

Then she hurried to catch up with Ren.

Ren saw the whole thing, though he pretended he wasn't looking. 

"Kayla's on her way," he said casually. "Want to go meet her at the corner? It's easier that way."

"Yeah, whatever." Mirko didn't made eye contact.

Shigaraki was left just standing in a trance for at least 5 minutes straight, in shock...

What was that?

He wasn't used to people enough to know the gesture of gratitude, though he could guess sort of...but...still...and getting that close to him on purpose was...weird... In fact, it never happened except with Miss Likstar, and that wasn't much of a success.

He kind of put a hand to his face, still not sure what was going on... He should have been livid...but he didn't feel angry...scared, possibly, but not angry...just...unnerved.

After a while, he remembered he was supposed to be heading back to the house...wherever that was...

If the ground didn't seem as hard as usual, he didn't know what to put that down to.

[Mmm...making moves there Mirko...how long is she going to keep kidding herself?

I wouldn't expect smooth sailing from here, though, fair warning. This ship is not going to be sailing that easily, no way.]

* * *

Mirko was true to her word about showing up the next day.

Shigaraki avoided her, not because he was angry or even for the same reason as before...but because he had absolutely no idea how to act at this point, and he was not used to even thinking about it. That he was at all was freaking him out. Better to just keep to himself and think about how to deal with Ujiko...yet another thing that had not ended how he expected it to.

But the rest of he League was super happy to see Mirko.

When Shigaraki had told them she was going to pay a visit finally, Medea had even tried to hug him, though he'd just jumped back.

"Yay!" she'd said. "I knew if you guys just talked, it'd work out."

"Or did you do more than just talk?" Compress said meaningfully.

"We fought the giant," Shigaraki said.

They stared at him.

"Well...wow...that sounds like a story," Spinner said.

Shigaraki had told them a brief version of it before leaving.

But even so they attacked Mirko as soon as she was in the door.

"I'm so mad at you!" Medea said, while grabbing her in a forced hug.

Mirko almost fell over... She was sore all over from yesterday.

"Compress went through your stuff," Spinner said.

"What?" She said angrily.

"I was tidying it up!" Compress said. "Silk did too."

"You just left it out," Silk said. "You not want Toga to steal some of it, did you? But is fine. I didn't let him go through anything personal." She winked.

"You're both so dead," Mirko said.

"Actually from what we heard, you're the one who was almost dead," Compress said, "but it's taken care of now. And we have one less problem, so win-win."

"It...was kind of quiet around here," Spinner said shyly. "Uh...so...yeah..."

"What they're trying to say is we missed you," Medea said, "but they're damaged. So am I, but I can say it. Never run off like that again." She swatted at her. "And take me with you next time."

"Those statements are contradictory," Compress said. "But you must tell us, how did Shigaraki convince you to come back? He wouldn't say a word."

"Oh...uh..." Mirko hoped she wasn't turning red--she was though. "It was more of the situation... I mean, I'm not letting Ujiko just scare me off like that. Whatever he doesn't want me to be involved in here, obviously it's important, right? I'd be an idiot to pass that up."

"I think it might be more of whoever than a whatever," Compress said dryly.

"Ah, stop, she'll walk right out that door." Silk said. "I need her here to make me look good by comparisons."

"Is that your nasty way of saying you missed me?" Mirko said.

Silk shrugged.

"Yeah, well, you know, I did miss having someone to insult," Mirko said, "so glad to see you're still as snooty as ever, Silkworm."

"And you're as crass, White Rabbit," Silk said.

"So nothing changed." Compress put an arm around Silk conspiratorially. "Good, right?"

"Or has it?" Medea tilted her head slightly. "You seem...different? I can't put my finger on what it is."

"Eh, Hawks just got on my nerves, that's all," Mirko said.

"Well, that's what you get for going to him instead of us!" Medea said. "We've put up with you for months. I think we warranted a little more than ghosting."

"Yeah...you know what? Sorry about that," Mirko said. "I normally don't wimp out like that. But I had a lot on my mind."

"Whatever," Medea said. "Just don't do it again...and you're making it up to me with super light training, right?

"Actually we have several days to make up for," Mirko said.

"I knew that was coming," Medea sighed. Then she grinned.

"At least she came back," Spinner said to Twice, aside. "I was starting to think that if she didn't, Miss Likstar would hang us all by our toes when she got back and checked in."

"Dodged that bullet," Twice agreed. "Too bad," he said next.

"By the way," Mirko said awkwardly, "thanks for...uh...telling the truth to Shigaraki about it. I really didn't expect it, but it was...gutsy."

"Oh, stop, I might cry," Compress said dryly.

"Is just fair," Silk said.

"We should have just told him from the start," Medea said. "I guess we let you do it... We're cowards...but you know, we followed your example and just told him what it was for."

Mirko felt oddly like she might get choked up.