When Shine finally came back, she heard about Momo, but the girls assured her she was fine now.

Momo was resting in the common area, and some of the girls and even guys kept waiting on her. They liked a chance to repay her usual kindness. All the attention was embarrassing her.

Shine didn't chew her out for wandering off, Wally already had, lightly, but he didn't pick on her too much since she was upset already.

Shine was just getting her stuff together to go to bed when Shoto scared her by just coming up behind her silently until she turned around and jumped.

"Wow....don't sneak up on me...what's up?"

"I talked to West earlier," Shoto looked somber. "About a lot... he told me about the past a little...he said you wouldn't be mad, but I don't want to upset you either..."

Shine realized quickly what Wally must have told him, and her face went very serious.

Even Shoto couldn't miss that cue. "Oh...uh...sorry."

"It's okay," Shine said in a somber voice. "It's not a secret." About the only thing that wasn't these days, it felt like.

"I thought about it all afternoon." Shoto admitted, a bit depressed sounding. "And I decided, I can kind of understand a little better why you did what you did. Maybe, trying to make up for the past...I know I would want to. Maybe I was too harsh, so I'm sorry."

Not a lot of words, but a lot for him, Shine knew he was trying hard. She melted.

"Aw...it's okay. I didn't want you to feel bad about something like that. It's not anything for you to worry about."

"But that's just it, you shouldn't try to protect us like that," Shoto said. "You could get hurt. And we're able to protect ourselves."

"Say the most protective person in the class..." Shine said. "Except maybe for Deku...might be a tie there...Shoto, I can't help it. I'm not sure that's a part of me that's ever going to change. Not sure I want it to. It's not always a bad thing to protect others, there's more ways than just hardship to grow...in fact, in my life, I found I had to grow a lot during times when things weren't so bad, because I wasn't used to it. You have to grow into peace as much as pain, and isn't that the whole point of even having heroes?"

"Heroes take on pain so other people don't have to," Shoto said.

"When the time calls for it, yes," Shine came and put a hand on his shoulder. "But heroes don't seek out pain, you know. They try to live as good of lives as they can, and when danger does come, they embrace protecting others the same way they should embrace being at peace with them. You can't just do one. You need both. And you, my friend, cannot keep trying to take over our burden for yourself. If you want to learn to share it, you need to be able to be a good friend first."

Shoto looked down. "So, I'm not now?"

"No, you are. Very good," Shine surprised him by saying. "But you don't notice it yourself, and you're not at peace with it. That's what I think is the problem with all the trouble you want to know about. I don't want you to get caught up in it, and only that. To obsess over it...even we don't do that, and we deal with it up close. But I don't spend every waking moment thinking about it. I'm only trying to spare you that hellish reality. You brood a lot already, you know...why should I add to it? I feel horrible whenever we do give you kids something new to worry about."

"Even when it's not your fault?" Shoto said.

"You said it was my fault." Shine stepped back. Clearly hurt.

Shoto had forgotten about that. "I was angry...but I should know better than that. It's not like you wanted that to happen."

"No, I certainly didn't, but it's over now. The LOV has agreed to step off." Shine said quite casually.

"What?!" Shoto wasn't ready for that reveal.

"Yes, they told me in person." Shine said.

"When did this happen?"

"Yesterday...long story. And no, I didn't plan it, they just showed up. But I believe them. They take debt seriously. Basically, I saved Dabi so they will leave us alone. That all worked out very neatly."

Shoto stared at her. "That...but that was just an accident! That earthquake wasn't even part of the plan."

"Yes, I find God has a way of doing things like that," Shine put her hand together and smiled like she thought this was funny. "Takes the pride out of us, doesn't it?"

"You think God caused it?"

"And what other explanation is there? Sheesh, don't you guys believe in miracles around here?"

"Well...maybe as an abstract concept, but..." Shoto thought this sounded crazy.

"Abstract miracles are 100% useless to anyone," Shine said. "Except skeptics. You don't have to believe it, but I have my faith and you won't talk me out of it, so let's not argue. The point is, we won't have to worry about them for a while. Unless you guys go to them, which I don't suggest, but it could happen. So I really do want you to relax a little."

Shoto blinked. "Well...I don't know how to take that...that plan never was good, how could it have worked?"

"You should stop thinking that plans really need to be good to work, some things are just fate, or His Will, as we call it. The point is to do something, believing somehow there's a way for things to work out, and then accepting that way when it presents itself, whether or not it's what you envisioned." Shine said. "And, it helps that Dabi himself was clearly holding back while you fought..."

"Didn't stop him from saying some pretty asinine things..." Shoto glared at the wall.

"I'm not surprised..." Shine muttered. "Don't worry about it. He's a very bitter man. Though, not all bad."

"Are you going to go see them still?"

"No...it doesn't look like it, but if I do, I won't tell you, not if you'd have to tell someone else." Shine said. "Just don't worry about it, for the 50th time."

"How am I supposed to not worry if you go off and do stuff like that!" Shoto said in a short voice.

Shine threw up her hands. "Because you don't control my life, or Wally's, and it's not your job to keep us out of trouble. If and when you're in a positon to help, go right ahead, but until then, let us be. Remember, not everything revolves around you. Camie's right, you're kind of a prince. Lovable, but...you're so used to everything being about you, you just can't accept when it isn't. I'm saying that not to tear you down, but...I'm trying to set you free. So you don't have to feel responsible, if that feels like it's an insult, it could be more because you've built your identity around being the center of focus and being the strongest and most capable...and that's not a position any of us can ever hold for long."

"No, my father is the one who did that, I didn't," Shoto argued.

"But he put you in that position, that's all you've experienced, and the school just reinforces it," Shine said. "Now we've treated you like you're the same as anyone else, and you've gotten upset. I don't blame you, mind you. Because I see that you're sincere about it even if I don't agree with you, but there it is. Look, I used to be a lot like that because I was always in trouble, but it can work other ways too, and I always thought it was about me and how I messed up...I still do that...but you always want to be the one to fix it. You're hurt that we've denied you that opportunity, that's really why you've been angry isn't it? If it was really that you could have turned us in, you'd have just done that."

Her analysis was on point...it shocked Shoto to realize that was exactly correct...like a dash of cold water.

The look on his face was so openly puzzled that Shine had to choke back a laugh so as not to hurt his feelings.

"How did you know?" He said. "I didn't even realize it."

"I know people that's why. Hey, a lot of people, especially men, are like that. At least openly. I think women hide it more under other names...but anyway, it's not uncommon. It's because you had a hard childhood, and you subconsciously want to fix it for yourself, and help people because you couldn't help them before."

Shoto blinked. "Yeah...that makes sense."

"Welcome to my world," Shine said. "But people don't like it if you take away all their free choice, you know. I know that now. We've been preventing you all from choosing somewhat by holding back but we're letting you know bit by bit. So we're moving forward, but you need to give us that same freedom, and stop telling us not to do everything that doesn't fit your model. Not everyone needs to think like you, you know."

"You want us to think like you, though..." Shoto said.

"To an extent, all people want that, but is my wanting that interfering with your life decisions?" Shine countered.

Pause. "No..." Shoto said.

"Right...so stop talking about us doing illegal stuff, like it's a threat. And stop telling us we're crazy. And we won't have an issue anymore. I don't mind if you don't understand, as long as you're respectful about it. Can I ask that much?" Shine tilted her head.

Shoto nodded. "I'll try...do you really think I'm like that all the time though?" He looked kind of fragile.

Shine stepped closer. "No, not all the time...and it's okay. It's just not something you'd know to watch for, so don't get down on yourself. I'm just telling you so you know why I don't like it, not to make you feel bad. But I don't mean to be critical...you're a great person, Shoto. I wish I knew more people like you. You're committed to being fair, and knowing what's true about yourself and other people, and that's such a rare, important quality to have. I should have said that before instead of just reprimanding you."

Shoto felt a little choked up. So he didn't say anything. Shine gave him a hug real quick.

"Thanks for talking to me though. I'm going to head upstairs."

So she did, and Shoto stood there for a while lost in thought before doing the same.

***

After that, there was a surprising lull in excitement.  A whole two weeks went by with normal hero stuff being the only life threatening situation the kids were in.

Shine and Wally desperately needed the break, and enjoyed it. Wally hung out with his new Pro friend Fat Gum more, and sometimes even Rock Lock. Shine got to meet them too. They liked her...though Rock Lock took a while to warm up to her, he seemed to think they were a little irresponsible...like all the UA staff.

After Shine sassed him back a few times, he began to respect her though.

Honestly, they were the most of what the kids would call "wholesome" heroes the DJs had met so far.

Shine saw less of Miss Joke for a bit though, and she was sure it was because the lady had told Aizawa something as he was acting weird too, and not talking to them. But he wasn't mean, so she didn't know if he was angry. Wally said maybe the stress was just getting to him.

Perhaps he eased up in training for a bit because of that.

[Say what you will, but that sentence is the least canon thing I've written in this story!]

Shine also, for reasons that puzzled everyone else, kept hanging out with Mirko when she could get her to slow down long enough. Even Wally thought it was weird. Mirko hadn't made the best impression.

Bakugo was the only one who defended it by saying that Likstar wasn't intimidated by powerful heroes.

"Her power isn't that issue, it's that she's rude and aggressive," Shoto said in reply to that. "I thought she'd be more professional in person."

"Maybe she was just stressed," Momo said.

"So, is like Bakugo stressed all the time then?" Camie, who was there, commented.

"Frick you!" Bakugo said. They seemed to be bickering more, Todoroki thought. He didn't really understand what banter was. At least they didn't annoy him as much that way though.

"No u," Camie said, unfazed.

"Well...Shine was right, though, the LOV is leaving us alone." Momo changed the subject. "It's been a while, if they were going to attack again, I think they would have by now."

"Yeah, well, we totes showed them!" Camie said.

"Didn't you get captured?" Shoto asked. 

"Piss off, Icyhot!" Bakugo snapped.

"Yeah, piss off Icyhot!" Camie echoed humorously.

Great, they were both calling him that now.

"Everyone but you two got captured," Momo sighed.

Shine and Wally had finally told them what happened with Shigaraki, a few days after the whole thing, once they'd had a chance to recuperate. Shoto had waited several days before he finally told Momo and Bakugo about Shine and Wally's previous villain student.

Bakugo had told Camie the day after that, though he didn't let them know that. 

None of them had really discussed it since, it was so weighty, but they all were still thinking about it.

"I still can't get over how it all ended," Camie said. "I'm so buggin' that I was a marble the whole time...but, there's one thing that makes it a bit better."

"What is that?" Momo hoped for some good news.

"Since Bakugo saved me, I can totes say we made  Compress lose his marbles...get it?" Camie winked.

Shoto and Momo cringed.

Bakugo snorted. "He lost 'em a long time ago."

"Come on, it was a funny joke, you jerk," Camie shoved his arm.

Momo shook her head. "I think Mr. West may have rubbed off on you, Camie."

"Well, he's pretty funny." Camie said. "Your supervisors are so chill, too. They get me. Not a lot of people do."

"Not a lot of people get them either..." Shoto muttered.

"Yo, Brodoroki, I didn't know you made quips." Camie said.

"Uh... I don't..." Todoroki said.

Camie and Bakugo snickered, even Momo stifled a laugh. He didn't get why.

But then Bakugo changed the subject. "If those villains are really going to leave us alone, things are going to get a lot more quiet around here."

"That's good, right?" Momo said.

He shrugged.

"I don't know, there's still bad stuff on the news, and internships and work studies," Shoto said. "Even if the LOV leaves us alone, there's liberation groups, gangs...I'm not sure it'll ever be quiet."

"At least it's not personal tho," Camie said.

"Well, its nice not to be the center of the conflict finally," Momo said. "I have to admit, Shine and Wally pulled it off...I mean, I don't understand their methods, but maybe there is something to being a little nicer to the...villains..."

They all looked at her.

"Sure," Camie made a thumbs up.

"I still think we should have beaten them into submission," Bakugo cracked his knuckles.

"That's because you have major anger issues," Camie said.

"What? No, I freaking don't!"

"I don't know why that worked," Shoto ignored them. "The LOV are ruthless. They've killed many people. I don't understand why they'd turn back, or why we should all pretend that didn't happen, and ignore them. I know I promised not to interfere as much, but I still don't get it."

"Maybe we don't have to get it?" Momo suggested.

"Coming from you?" Bakugo scoffed.

"I think they're just going to do what they want, with or without us," Momo said. "I'e been reading their book too, and...it's true, there's a lot in there about change, and forgiveness, and things like that. I guess technically it's all by the book then, just not our book."

"I gotta read that," Camie said.

"Oh, you actually read," Shoto didn't mean that to be as insulting as it sounded.

"Uh, yeah...like loads of fan fiction," Camie said. [Shameless plug]

"Well, I understand how they feel about their faith, but I don't think it's very practical," Shoto said.

"Faith isn't supposed to be practical, a dumba---" Bakugo said. "That's not the way it freaking works. It's something you just gotta depend on working out for you. Like hero stuff."

They stared at him.

"That was deep," Camie said helpfully.

"How do you know about it?" Momo said.

"I can read too, moron." Bakugo said.

"Stop calling her that," Shoto said.

"Make me." Bakugo said.

"I could," Shoto frowned.

"Ugh, if you two fight it'll be so like, mega extra." Camie rolled her eyes.

"Yes, please don't," Momo said.

"Or Momo'll tase you," Camie added.

"Ye--what? No I won't."

"Girl, what is the point of having all that power if you don't use it to boss everyone else around?" Camie said.

"That's a very unheroic attitude!" Momo said.

"Nuh uh, that's like the definition of what heroes do," Camie argued.

"That's a very over simplified way to look at it! I'm not a bully!" Momo was mad now.

"Forget it," Bakugo muttered to Shoto. "This fight's gonna be nastier than anything we could do to each other."

"Agree..." Shoto winced

***

Despite these little bumps along the way, things were still quiet. Shine did her lessons still, and they all were asking her more about her beliefs now that they had reason to think it would be affecting things with the LOV. 

Shine didn't tell them this, but she was privately worried about Dabi still. She was sure he was going to be bothered by what happened.

Wally said between Dabi and Shigaraki, he preferred Dabi, but both of them were creepy. 

"I don't feel right leaving them alone," Shine sighed. "Just when things were looking up."

Wally almost choked at the idea of that being her idea of things looking up.

"Well, Sunshine, maybe a little space is what they need, huh? I mean, other bad guys kind of took to things faster."

"Not all of them, and it's not the same. What would they do if they did want to change?" Shine sighed.

                                                                                                    * * *

That was an excellent question.

Dabi was more reclusive than before with the LOV. They lacked the people skills to really understand why or ask him about it, but they commented on it amongst themselves.

They had other problems to worry about though. A lot more people were clamoring for their support so their own fringe groups would get more respect. Shigaraki considered most of it a waste of time, but there were a few more promising options.

Before any major decision was reached though, they had to investigate for themselves, and that wasn't the work of a few days.

At the 2 1/2 week mark from the earthquake incident, some word spread through the underground about a prison break at one the highest level security prisons in the country.

It didn't make the news, for whatever reason, and Compress said he thought it was just a rumor.

"Did anyone hear which prison though?" Twice wondered.

"No," Spinner answered. "It probably is just a rumor, the media would never let that slide if it wasn't."

"And here I got my hopes up Stainy was finally out," Toga whined. "So I could kill him."

"Don't you mean meet him?" Spinner said.

"That's what I said," Toga said with a straight face.

Spinner shuddered.

"So who cares?" Dabi muttered slinking by. "Crooks will believe anything."

"It only matters for influence," Shigaraki theorized. "But it wouldn't hurt to confirm...our contact at UA would be sure to know if the rumors were true or not."

"The better question is why they would start at all without a reason," Compress held up a finger. "Even if the breakout is a tall tale, surely there was some security issue for it to get out at all."

"I don't know, stuff like that happens all the time without a reason, doesn't it?" Twice said. "No it doesn't." His other voice said. "Shut up." Said a third.

"I swear, you're crazier all the time Twice." Spinner said.

"Who isn't?" Twice replied. "I'm not!" "You shut up!"

"True..." Toga said, not very nicely. "Shut up, Spinny."

"You're worse than he is..." Spinner mumbled.

[btw, that ship is the weirdest one that's canon if you ask me. Poor Twice.]

"What if it was true?" Compress ignored them, he sometimes felt like the new Kurogiri now that he was the only sane one in the group.

"If it was true, we'd have heard of who it was by now," Shigaraki said. "But just in case..."

[All right, and that is the intro to the next arc, fahm. Keep reading.

Who do you think escaped? Do you think it's a rumor? Feel free to leave theories below if you're the type to be into that, but I will confirm nor deny nothing.]