Shine and Wally both came back to the dorms before 8 pm and called a meeting, like Momo had suspected they would. Camie was included, to her own surprise.

But no one was prepared to hear what they said...especially Todoroki.

"What do you mean you've had a deal with Dabi all this time?" he exploded, "How could you do that? He tried to kill my dad!"

Shine and Wally just let him be angry for a bit before trying to explain, and he had plenty to say:

"I mean, it's...how...? Why...? Of all the things you could have done, why would you...?"

"Shut up," Bakugo finally interrupted, "This is wasting time."

"This is mad, though," Camie said, "I mean, I know Bakugo already told me but hearing it in person was just wild."

"Wait...what?" Todoroki said.

"Yeah, what?" Wally said.

Bakugo looked awkward. "I didn't tell her all of it... She overhead Ponytail and I talk about it."

"What? Why didn't you tell me that?" Momo said.

"Why would I?" Bakugo retorted.

Even someone as dense as Shoto could put this together.  "Wait...all of you except me already knew? Even you?"

With a hurt look at Momo.

She looked guilty. "I didn't tell you only because I thought it would upset you too much."

"What? That's not a valid reason to hide something like that!" Shoto almost yelled.

"Shoto," Shine said severely, "we asked them not to tell you because I thought you would react like this. You're not the easiest going person... I'm sorry. We planned to tell you when things had settled a little. You were so upset after what happened, I didn't think you could handle the shock...but now we don't have the option to wait. I'm sorry. But can you put that aside and focus on our problem?"

"You expect me to do that?" Shoto said.

Wally sighed. "It's a lot to ask, huh?"

"But UA asks you to do it all the time," Shine pointed out, "and you do it... I don't really approve of that, but in this one case, considering we have literally one more day...I think it's appropriate to ask everyone to put personal feelings aside. Be mad at us if we survive past that point, Okay? I'll deal with it then."

It took a huge amount of effort, but Shoto knew that they were right... He forced down his anger and tried to speak as calmly as he could manage. "So what are you going to do now? Turn them in?"

"No, that would be foolish," Shine said, "But I hung out with some people today who offered to help. We all thought we might be able to use a bait and switch tactic."

"I like the sound of that," Camie approved.

"Who did you talk to?" Momo had hopes it was a Pro.

"Miss Joke...and someone who goes by Mirko. I didn't get her real name," Shine said. She didn't pronounce Mirko right either, which was noticeable to them all, as it meant she'd not heard the name in her original language.

[By the way, I've seen Mirko spelled as Miruko also, but there are different ways to romanize Japanese words, and Mirko was what I saw more of, so I used it. Japanese words with a middle syllable often kind of squish it, almost, like Katsuki is pronounced more like Kat-ski. So I think that's why some spellings eliminate the u, but if you're confused, just know, so am I, fahm.]

"You met the no#5 hero...casually?" Momo was stunned.

"Oh, yeah, Emi kept saying that... I didn't really think about it," Shine shrugged, "Interesting person though. Not very polite, but I kind of warmed up to it. They both said they'd help."

"I made some cool new friends too," Wally said, "Not sure if they'd help, but it wouldn't hurt to have more Pros who aren't staff here to ask for stuff... Anyway, we have options."

"I can't believe that Dabi would give you that kind of a warning..." Momo said, "I mean...it's so...frightening."

"That's so mad scary," Camie said, "But low key, it's sort of cool that he told you so you could plan, right?"

"Why are you so calm about this?" Shoto asked her oddly.

"I'm totes tripping, bro," she said with the same tone.

Bakugo was the most calm-- not too surprising since he knew who the enemy was, he became very focused. "So, you want us to help you."

"Oh no," Shine said, "I don't want that at all...but as it involves you, we had to let you know. It wouldn't be fair not to. If you want to help, I can't say we can stop you, because I'm not sure you'll get much of a choice anyway."

"But...why us three and Camie?" Momo said, "What did any of us ever do to the League?"

Shine bit her lip. "Uh...that's because of me... They know that we're closer... The spy must tell them stuff...or just because I've been around you when they attack so many times. Camie, I think it's just because she was there, and they don't want her to keep interfering... I'm sorry, the LOV is very...practical in the worst possible way."

Momo and Bakugo accepted that tacitly, and Camie just tilted her head and muttered, "Cray-cray...."

But Shoto, poor kid, was still far too upset under the surface.

"So," he said in a very cold tone, "you're saying this is your fault."

"What?" Wally said, "Where did you get that?"

"You going to them made them think we're important...so they're threatening us because of your carelessness," he said, still cold, "If you hadn't done that, then they might have ignored all of us. It might never have happened."

Shine gasped and looked like someone had stabbed her with a cold knife.

"Stop," Wally said warningly, "It's not Shine's fault. They attacked you before we were ever here. They stopped more because of her..."

"That's not how it sounds to me," Shoto said.

"Todoroki..." Momo said, "don't.... It's not right to blame them."

"And why not? Seems they should take responsibility for their reckless actions. We all told them not to do things like that, and now this happened!" Shoto didn't realize how much like his dad he sounded right then, tone and delivery...

But the others thought he reminded them exactly of Endeavor. It was kind of creepy.

Somehow Shine kept her cool. "Even so, we are now all in this together, unless you wish to withdraw... I think they may leave you alone. But, you should know, you're the only one they will. They don't want to get Endeavor too involved yet...but they don't care about the other three. You want out? You think it's unfair we dragged you in? Go right ahead. No one asked you, after all. Perhaps we should have kept it to ourselves."

"You think I'm just going to do that?" Shoto snapped, "Why would I do that?"

"Because you can't flipping think straight anyway, you half n' haf b------!" Bakugo cut in, "You want to throw a goshdanged temper tantrum, go do it on your own frigging time and let us try to save our a----!"

Though no one else would have put it that way, they didn't exactly disagree. Even Momo didn't say anything.

Shoto saw all of their faces and lapsed into sullen silence.

"If any of you want to sit this out, you can," Shine continued, "but I won't force you to. It's your call."

"Like I'm going to do that," Bakugo scoffed.

"I don't see how I can..." Momo said.

"I'm not just letting them off me!" Camie cried, "What can I do to help? Lay it on me."

Wally nodded. "That's what we'd thought you'd say... Well, it's not much of a plan, but it might work..."

He and Shine proceeded to explain the idea they'd come up with.

"It's a long shot," Wally concluded, "It might not work...but short of you all leaving school and moving countries...or worse, getting the Pros involved without any thought to what could happen..."

"I still don't know why you don't take the cops to the jackasses," Bakugo said.

Shine sighed. "I promised not to."

"But they went back on their word. Doesn't that invalidate it?" Momo said.

"But Dabi didn't," Shine said, "Not at the last. And he's part of the League... I can't do that to him."

Shoto gave her a look of very angry disbelief.

"Why do you care about that guy? He's a villain," Camie said, pulling out a patch of gum and unwrapping it nervously.

"I don't play favorites, that's why," Shine said, "And he came to me for help, in his own sick, irritating way. I don't fancy how he did it, but to even try, that's a huge step."

"And on the off chance he might not be so bad, you want to risk all our lives?" Momo said, kind of somber.

There was a long pause while they waited for Shine to answer.

Finally, she looked at the ceiling. "There was once a shepherd who had 100 sheep in his flock, and one wandered away. He left the other 99 to go find it and carried it home on his shoulders, and then he called his friends and told them, 'Come celebrate with me! I have found my lost sheep.' And they did... That's what shepherds do. One sheep all on its own can get hurt or trapped very easily. They aren't too bright, but it's the shepherd's job to take care of the sheep, and he loves it and lays down his life for it if necessary, because it's his. Not because it's smart, or obedient, or strong. Do you understand?"

No one spoke.

Then Camie sat up. "I think I get it, kind of... Like, no matter how bad someone is, if they're your friend, you're gonna help 'em right? I don't get the sheep part though."

"But a sheep isn't evil..." Momo said.

"Have you met one before?" Wally joked.

"That's beside the point anyway," Shine said, "We don't choose our flock, as it were, but we are supposed to take care of it. I can't abandon Dabi anymore than I could abandon you. If he leaves on his own, I can't stop him...but if he asks for help, I have to comply as long as it's not wrong to do so... Strictly speaking, it's not wrong to thwart their plans, is it?"

"But...it's our duty to take them in. That's the law," Momo said.

Wally and Shine sighed.

"You do what you must...but don't expect us to help you if you take that route. We can't be subject to the laws of your country the same as you are if we intend to do our job. Our job is to shepherd, as it were," Shine gestured, "I don't expect you to understand. Someday, when you're in charge of a group of people, you may come to see it that way. Or maybe not. All I know is, if I turn him in, I will not feel right about it."

Camie hugged her knees. "Hearing all that kind of makes me feel bad about it too, though, fahm. Like, at least he tried to help, y'know?"

Momo debated whether or not to say what she was thinking, since it would anger Shoto further, but finally she did. "Well...he did help me... I suppose I owe him, but we wouldn't have been in danger without his betrayal in the first place, Shine."

"Yeah, but the person who can turn back at the last minute from doing something wrong is actually a rare one," Shine said, "and you want to keep them around. At least, I think so. Going that far, most people are too scared to change their mind."

"I get why you kids are mad. I was too," Wally said, "Still am, a little...but I did think about it, and it's not easy for the guy either. They're making him do this to someone he doesn't want to do it too. I know you think he's a killer, but not everyone in the LOV is willing to just sacrifice their friends like that. They have their own rules. I bet he may not even be the only one uncomfortable with this plan...but the others are too scared to do anything about it."

"I did think they let you go a little too easily," Shine mused, "I doubt Spinner really wanted to kill kids either...Compress, even...I mean, he just walked away? Didn't even make sure you were dead? That's odd right there. It isn't much to go off of, but it's still a little out of character. And even Shigaraki just moved Bakugo with his quirk, he didn't kill him. He could easily have done that. The whole thing was just a bit odd. I don't know why they held back. Either they truly underestimated us...or in some way, they know this is wrong... The point is, all that can only be to our advantage. You may not like it, but if I'm right, then we have a bit of an edge."

"It's a lot to believe that they'd hold back," Momo said dubiously.

Shine got an odd smile. "They aren't all bad though... Amongst themselves, they are kind of an odd but solid team..."

"Are you...actually acting like you like them?" Shoto wanted to throw up. "They killed people! They tried to kill us!"

"Like we don't have friends who tried to do that once," Wally said, shocking them.

"You kids are sheltered," Shine said, "Plenty of heroes out there have friends who were once enemies. Wally does. I do. Our friends do. The only reason it's not true here is the stigma around it and the propaganda... If I may be so bold with you--it's not actually the worst thing ever to have a friend who's tried to kill you. At least if they only did that when they were your enemy. People change. Sides change. All's fair in love and war, as the saying goes."

Only Camie didn't look weirded out by this. "That's so lit."

"Lit? Sounds more insane to me," Shoto said.

"You watch your words." Shine suddenly was angry at him. "You may not be happy about it, but don't you dare act so high and mighty about it. You think you've never made mistakes? You think you're so much better than a murderer? That's a lot of hogwash. If you hate someone, you're no better than a murderer-- you'd be happy enough if they died. Does it matter whether you do it yourself or not? Would you prevent it? Do you think ignoring people around you because of your own problems is somehow less selfish than hurting them directly? Or are both selfish, and one is just excused more easily? I'll take the anger, Shoto, but the pride is another story. You have no reason to be proud."

Shoto was speechless.

"I'd be more pissed that you don't care that they attacked us, when you're supposed to be on our side," Bakugo said.

Shine tugged her hair. "I...care more about it because of that... I guess you don't understand this either, but my love for all of you only drove me more to reach out to the League."

"Yeah, you're right. I don't understand that," Bakugo grumbled.

"Not at all," Shoto agreed darkly.

Even the girls didn't get it.

"I think we're getting a bit off course again," Wally said, "Whatever the reasons are, Shine and I wanted to take turning Dabi in off the table. Do you still want to help us even after that?"

"I'd rather help than do nothing," Momo reiterated, "even if I don't understand that...but what about UA? Aren't you going to tell them?"

"If we tell them, they'll freak out and put you under 24/7 watch, and us too-- or arrest us," Shine said, "And then the LOV will know I told them, and they will conclude it is much safer to eliminate us all rather than risk a counter attack coming--or, maybe they withdraw briefly...until Wally and I are removed and vulnerable. And you won't have us here. And Dabi won't warn us a second time if that happens, not if I prove myself untrustworthy. Do you see how that is the worst thing we could do?"

"Maybe if you explained it, they wouldn't do that," Momo said.

They gave her a look.

"You really think so?" Wally said.

Momo went quiet.

"I don't even go here, and I don't think they'd keep it on the downlow," Camie shrugged, "I guess your plan is the best, probs. But what do you want us to do?"

"Well...we'll get to that now..." Shine began.

* * *

Though Miss Joke believed it was right to try to help Shine, she wasn't without misgivings about doing it this way. She couldn't think of a better plan herself, but she didn't get much sleep thinking about it.

But Mirko was far worse. She spent all the rest of the night wondering if she was out of her mind to agree to this... She half thought she'd call in some other Pros before the next day was over...

But in the end she didn't.

Maybe it was curiosity, maybe it was the thrill of doing something rather unusual. Maybe something about Shine's earnest though crazy ideas that intrigued her, but whatever it was, she knew deep down she was going to go through with it.

She got the call from Shine the middle of the following day to meet up, and then Shine let her know the kids had all agreed to help out with the plan.

Not surprising.

But Shine's request was kind of odd.

"You want me to do what? What about a smaller circle?"

"Trust me," Shine said.

"I met you yesterday, and you admitted to having a contact in the LOV, and you're asking me to just trust you? How hare-brained do you think I am?" Mirko said bluntly.

"Look, none of the rest of us can do it without arousing suspicion. I don't want to risk a phone call after the other day," Shine said, "Please? Look, it's the smarter option. He will listen to it from me."

"You sure have a lot of gall," Mirko grumbled, "I'll do it only because I want to see the look on his face at the time. I'm not an errand girl, got that?"

"Please and thank you," Shine just said, handing her a piece of paper, "I appreciate this."

"Whatever." Mirko left abruptly.

* * *

Of course Endeavor was surprised to get a visit from the no #5 hero, since he'd never liked her, and she never seemed to like him either...and she didn't do teamwork.

But of course, he let her in.

Mirko hadn't rehearsed a speech or anything, so she just threw the paper on his desk. "I'm not supposed to explain. This is from someone named Likstar. She said it was concerning your son, and you should follow these directions."

Endeavor snatched the paper, read it, then looked up at her. "And you delivered this because?"

"Because 'no one would expect it from me'," Mirko shrugged and made air quotes, "That's what she said."

"What kind of danger is Shoto in?" Endeavor demanded, "If you're here, it's not anything small. I know that."

"Read the note." Mirko crossed her arms. "I'm not a messenger bunny, got it? Though this was about as entertaining as I expected."

"You insolent--" Endeavor choked back more insulting words, "But why are you involved at all?"

"Can't say." Mirko waved coolly over her shoulder as she walked out. "Just follow the instructions, No#1. If you can."

Endeavor really didn't like her.

But he re-read the note. (Momo had helped Shine write it.)

"Hmm..." he frowned. Then he pressed a button. "Get my secretary in here."

* * *

Dabi had spent the last three days in about as much agony as he had been in before the attack... Actually, it was worse now.

He couldn't get Shine's words out of his head. Her anger...the pain...

He'd never expected it to cut him so deep. He'd expected her to be angry but not in that way. 

He had nightmares about what happened too, only in them he succeeded. Each time he woke up with blood on his face and a strange burning feeling in his chest. He thought it was probably shame.

[No shipping here, btw. Please don't start that in the comments if you were thinking it.]

The rest of the League had agreed to wait a few days to plan the next move, when he said it would be better to lull the heroes into a false sense of security. Compress even commended him for thinking ahead.

That just made him feel sick.

How did I get to be such a  piece of s--- ? he thought to himself.

But observant as he was, he couldn't help but notice he wasn't the only one acting a little weird. Spinner had been real short tempered since the incident, more than usual.  

Toga kept sharpening her knives and muttering about not getting enough blood.... So that wasn't that different, but it creeped everyone out.

Compress seemed miffed too. He never said why, though.

Shigaraki himself was more cross than usual. When asked why, he denied it.

Dabi thought Shigaraki might really be the most like himself-- both of them were bitter at the world for very similar reasons, he had a gut feeling. But the guy never had explained why he hated heroes so much. All of them did. They didn't pry into why. Spinner and Toga volunteered the information, but the others preferred not to say.

But Dabi did ask him, on the third day, "Boss...you ever...just for a second, wonder if we acted too fast? I mean, now they'll be watching for us."

Shigaraki made a frustrated noise. "Yes, it has occurred to me," he admitted very sullenly, "but it can't be helped. We'll just have to adjust our strategy... Did you set up something with the mole yet?"

"Nah, he says they're staying quiet and just recovering. They won't suspect a thing." Dabi lied about that last part.

"Good," Shigaraki said deviously, "Perfect...heh.... How did that b---- look when she saw you? She must have felt so stupid! Right?"

Dabi thought he enjoyed saying that a little too much.

"Actually...no," he said, trying to keep his tone level, "She didn't look surprised at all. It was kind of disappointing."

More like crushing.

"How is that even possible?" Shigaraki grumbled, "Way to spoil all the fun."

"Well...in all honesty, maybe we aren't as subtle as we think," Dabi ventured, "We never claimed to be their friends. A backstabbing was probably something they expected. She said as much."

"Huh...interesting."

"But, I mean, she was probably still scared. The kids were for sure, so you'd have enjoyed that." Dabi shrugged. "They're a bunch of little wimps, really."

He didn't even believe that, but what was he supposed to say?

"Yes, I bet they were scared out of their minds!" Shigaraki said gleefully, "Stupid heroes! They know what it feels like now to be helpless!"

"Yeah, you know...you wonder if they figured out that she knew us though?" Dabi said.

"It's a possibility....I mean, even they can't be that stupid they wouldn't start to wonder," Shigaraki admitted.

"Yeah...but then again, they'd have done something, so who knows...?" Dabi mused, "But, you know...things will be a lot easier for us when we don't have to worry about that woman popping in here and interrupting our plans."

"They will," Shigaraki agreed, "I was getting really sick of it, too. That Christmas thing was the last straw. The pretentious pricks!"

"Yeah, what were they thinking?" Dabi echoed, "Must have had some sick, twisted reason for doing it too...I can't think what, but must have been."

Shigaraki nodded. "Probably...yes. I've been trying to figure it out too...but there weren't tracking chips in the gifts. We looked them over thoroughly."

"Yeah...and the food wasn't drugged," Dabi said, "It's almost like they were stupid enough to actually just do as they said. That's so insane."

"That's the most unsettling option of all," Shigaraki said.

Dabi hadn't really thought he'd admit it. "Uh...it is? Why?"

"You moron. Don't you see? Two actually sincere do-gooders could wreck our plans! They're uncontrollable! Anyone else would want something in return-- they could be manipulated. But them? The only way is through those brats. Or we'd never keep them in check."

Dabi felt a little dry. He swallowed. "You mean...you really thought it all out.... Wow, I'm impressed. I thought we were offing them out of spite."

"That's a stupid reason to kill someone, Dabi." Shigaraki saw no irony in that at all. "You should kill people when it benefits you. Didn't we have this little conversation after you tried to get cocky killing Endeavor?"

Dabi bristled. "I would have had it if that stupid Bunny hadn't shown up."

"Yes...that reminds me, we should eliminate more Pros once we rid ourselves of these pests," Shigaraki mused.

"Did you mention that No#5 hero?" Compress came in, a little listless. "That's odd. One of our contacts near Endeavor's agency said the no#5 hero visited there. A little strange, isn't it? I think it can only mean they're planning a group to find us again."

"And they have no way of doing that, correct?" Shigaraki said.

"Not that we know of, but it might be time to move again," Compress said.

"Ah, and I was just starting to get used to the rats here too," Dabi said. He looked around in disgust. "Most people wouldn't voluntarily step foot in this dump. Wonder what those two were thinking."

"Are you still on about them?" Shigaraki snapped.

"Sorry, I'm just annoyed I failed," Dabi said.

"Well, you'll have another chance, Dabi. Stop living in the past," Shigaraki said, still with no sense of irony, "In fact...if the Pros are looking for us, this could be the perfect time to double down. Get them distracted."

"Won't they look for us more if we harm more kids?" Compress said.

"Eh, you might be right..." Shigaraki scratched his neck. "But they haven't been able to find us yet... We'll have to risk it... If they think we're targeting UA still, they'll ignore our actual plans. Dabi, I leave this to you."

"Great..." Dabi muttered when they'd left the room.