Streets were still clearing when Mirko arrived at UA's area...but not at the gate. Miss Joke told her to wait farther down the street, then all of them snuck out.

Neither Shine nor Aizawa made any verbal acknowledgment of the students who joined them, not even Kaminari and Jiro. Kaminari kind of felt better about that, though. He felt like if they'd said "why are you coming?" it would have been really demoralizing.

Jiro felt it was weird to just not acknowledge it though.

Miss Joke didn't seem to notice anything was odd at all. "Another all-nighter, huh, Eraser? Just like the old days."

"This is not like the old days." He put the chill on any attempt at lightening the mood. Emi sighed a little.

"Are you sure you want to do this? You both know what Overhaul could be capable of. There is no telling what resources he has," Aizawa said.

Mirko cocked one ear. "I'm not afraid of them...not crazy about teaming up with all of you, but I suppose this is going to require more reach than one person. Can't be everywhere at once."

"Surprising realism from you." Shine was still mad at her.

"Don't even start with me." Mirko's ears went back.

"Eraser, this is about Eri, not us," Miss Joke said, ignoring them, "Don't worry about it."

Aizawa actually needed to hear that more than he realized, but he only nodded.

"Why are we hiding from Nezu though?" Mirko asked, "Is it because you think he's the mole?"

"Shh," Shine said, "We're not that far from the school."

"You said that to me in an office," Aizawa said to her.

"I was angry. I'm hopefully thinking more clearly now," Shine said.

"Let's just go find the League." Shoto rubbed his head. "I'm already sleepy."

"Coffee run first? We might need it," Miss Joke said.

"The adrenaline ought to be plenty for me..." Shine muttered.

* * *

One portal later, they were...outside a karaoke bar.

"They sure do like bars..." Shoto said.

"They are dark, loud, and easy to hide lowlifes in," Shine explained, "But this is a unique choice. I wonder if the villains sing..."

"Ugh, I hate these places," Mirko said, rubbing her ears, "I can hear the off key from here."

"Was that a pun?" Kaminari asked.

"Nope, I just have a good ear," Mirko said.

"That was a pun, right?" Kaminari said.

"Oh, you're quick," Mirko said, annoyed. In her defense, she had had a long day, and the fireworks put her on edge.

Still, they glared at her.

"Why is she here anyway? I get that she's a top hero, but how do you know her?" Jiro asked Shine.

"Long story. Basically she's involved in our League stuff. I promised to let her know if anything went on with it...and we could trust her," Shine said.

Mirko gave her a surprised look at that, then flexed her fingers. "Well, let's bust in there."

"Wait just a minute," Aizawa said, "I recall it didn't go so well for you the last time you tried that, No#5. Maybe we need a strategy."

"I think I have one..." Momo said meekly.

"What?" everyone except Mirko asked.

"Well, maybe one of us they won't expect to show up should go in. You know, uncover and see if they're there. I mean, it depends-- are just the LOV in there?"

"Oh no, by the sound of it there's at least 20 people," Mirko said.

"I count more like 40." Jiro had her jack to the wall. "I think Momo is right...and obviously, it has to be me or Kaminari. They know the rest of you so well."

"Jiro is the least recognizable," Shine spoke, "For better or worse, Kaminari has that streak in his hair, but with the right clothes, Jiro can look like anyone else. Of course, a teenager walking into a villain bar might be weird, but I'm sure they have runners. But can you act the part?"

Jiro was not at all sure she could, but she swallowed. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I look normal."

"Oh, your face paint," Momo said. She handed her a cleansing wipe. Jiro cleared it off her face, then switched jackets with Momo's help. The rest of her outfit looked normal, so she just put on a  thicker winter coat.

"So I just need to check it out and see who's there?"

"Yeah," Shine said.

Momo handed Jiro a wire. "Just be careful."

Jiro swallowed. "Okay." She went up to the door and slipped inside.

"Something's bothering me about this," Shine said.

"You should've have said so before." Aizawa was tense. "We're letting a rookie go in alone."

"It's not about that," Shine said, "It's that I was able to come here... I can't go to Eri. But I could come here. So if they were blocking me, why can I find them? I'm not sure the LOV is behind this."

"And is your little radar thing always 100% accurate?" Mirko said.

"Always. I've never portaled to someone I wasn't aiming for," Shine said firmly.

"And how does it work, remind me?" Miss Joke said.

"I have to have met them, seen them, or at the very least, talked to someone who has and seen a picture of them. The better I can visualize them, the closer I can get. Someone I know well I can appear right next to if I want. If I haven't met them, I might end up a little farther away from them, up to few miles...or km for you. But I find them quickly. I don't know if it's my doing at all, actually. I let the Lord lead on those occasions. Someone I know as well as Eri...or the people here, I should be able to land very close. But I'm glad we are outside-- that was Providence. Who knows who else could be in there?" Shine bit her lip.

"That's OP," Mirko said, "You don't have a limit?"

"So far, about 6-8 times in a day is as much as my spiritual energy can sustain my physical body for," Shine said, "But it is growing with time."

"She's like a gun with so many rounds," Momo supplied, "We have to use her gift strategically, but it is immensely powerful if you know how to use it, and Shine has a very good grasp of her powers."

Shine patted Momo's shoulder.

Mirko snorted to herself. "Still OP..."

* * *

Inside, Jiro saw what she expected-- a bunch of thugs. Whether they were minor League members or just other criminals who didn't care who hid around them, she didn't know. The smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol permeated the air, possibly also joints.

She circled around the back, avoiding eye contact. Most people didn't give her a second glance.

One man with coke bottle glasses and a cigar eyed her with more interest.

"Hey, little girl, aren't you out past your bedtime?"

"What's it to you?" Jiro muttered, hoping she sounded less nervous than she was.

But the guy just got up. "Hmm. A nice girl like you in a place like this. You have my interest. What are you looking for? Whatever it is, your pal Giran can help you."

Jiro tried to back off. "Uh, it's nothing. I'm just here to chill."

"Eh...trying to blend into the crowd. Have a seat," Giran said.

"No thanks." Jiro moved away.

He grabbed her arm. "Come on, sweetheart, it's obvious you're not from around here. What do you really want? Oh, I bet I know. You're scoping something out for some hero."

At that, several people turned and looked at Jiro. Very hostile expressions.

Jiro's throat closed. She couldn't think of anything to say. She hoped the others got that on the wire.

Then someone came up and yanked her arm away from Giran. "Don't go scaring people, Giran. It's not what we pay you for."

Jiro blinked up at the tall, scarred, emo looking guy.... Wait, wasn't it...Dabi?

"Sorry, but she seemed a little out of place. Wouldn't you like to know?" Giran said.

"And we do things quietly around here-- that's the rule," Dabi said tightly, "Or do you not want your cut for today?"

"Fine, handle it yourself." Giran put his hands up and took another puff on his cigarette.

Dabi dragged Jiro away though she tried to resist, but he was a lot stronger than her. She frantically tried to think of a way to signal them... Maybe she should just attack.

Then she heard in her ear. "Shine says to just go with him."

What? Was Likstar insane?

She heard other voices in the background-- Aizawa's. "What do you mean go with him? He'll kill her."

"Just trust me." Shine's voice, barely audible.

"Let's give it a minute," said Miss Joke.

"Whatever." Mirko.

The other students said nothing. Well, Kaminari was whimpering.

Dabi dragged Jiro into a back room that didn't have smoke in it, then he coughed. "Ugh, I hate this place. Boss, look what I caught."

Jiro's heart sank into her boots. Sitting along the wall was the rest of the LOV. Shigaraki himself, oddly without his face hand, and in a long coat. He seemed lost in thought, but he looked up and squinted. "Do we know that one?"

"Oh, yeah, that's one of the hero students." Toga sat up, pulling a knife. "She's not really cute, but I'm bored so--"

"Claws off," Dabi said, not letting go of Jiro's arm, "I bet Likstar sent her."

"She better have a d--- good reason for bothering us, then," Shigaraki said.

What? Likstar...sent.... Jiro's mouth fell open.

"So what do you want?" Compress said, sounding bored.

Jiro couldn't form words.

"Maybe we should rough her up a little to loosen her tongue," Spinner said.

"Now, that's no way to treat a guest, Spinner." Shigaraki still sounded creepy saying that. "Besides, who knows who's with her."

Jiro still couldn't talk.

"I think you scared her," Dabi said.

"We? You dragged her in here," Shigaraki grumbled, "Great, now our cover's blown."

"I don't like this dump anyway," Spinner said.

"Beats the rat infested ones," Twice said, "No, it doesn't..."

"Oh, there's rats here. I guarantee it," Compress shuddered.

"Giran already saw her, so if we don't kill her, then she needs to disappear," Dabi said. 

"I'm beginning to think we're taking this niceness too far," Toga said, "The woman can't keep making demands like this. We're not her pets. Why don't you stand up to her, Tomura?"

"I'll make the decisions here, Toga, and I'm not going to start a fight we can't win," Shigaraki snapped, "Well, speak up, you brat. Why are you here?"

"I...we.... I was..." Jiro sputtered.

Flash. Portal. All of the party appeared.

"Pizza Delivery," Bakugo said.

The villains hissed. "I hate you so much right now..." Spinner said.

"Says the mutant ninja turtle," Dabi taunted. 

"Dabi, I have plenty of hate to go around if you don't shut up," Spinner said.

"Y-you..." Jiro pointed at Shine.

"Hey, let go of her you---freak!" Kaminari held up his fingers.

Dabi let Jiro go hard enough for her to fall over. "Sheesh, I didn't even burn her."

"Likstar, what is the meaning of this?" Shigaraki said.

Mirko started to move. "Now, we do this my way--" Shine grabbed her arm.

"Mirko, I swear if you don't step the frick off, I'll send you back outside."

Aizawa beat Mirko to the punch though. He had his scarf around Dabi in no time. "Where is she?"

"Who?" Dabi said, "Also, let go. Or I'll set you on fire."

Shoto held up his right hand. "I wouldn't recommend that."

"This is getting to be a bit much," Shigaraki said, "Three pros? And 5 junior annoyances? Likstar, this is not keeping a low profile."

"I apologize for the intrusion," Shine said, "Though, may I say, much better than the last lair...but we have a very good reason, I promise. I wouldn't have come otherwise."

"Just get on with it." Mirko crossed her arms and tapped her foot like a cartoon.

"First of all, why do you keep bringing this Pro in particular? She's awful," Shigaraki said, annoyed.

Mirko flipped him off with a sassy smirk.

"I don't have a lot of friends," Shine said.

Spinner and Compress laughed.

"I will miss her witty retorts..." Compress said.

"Why is the running gag hero here?" Shigaraki couldn't get over the Pros being there apparently.

"It's Smile Hero actually." Miss Joke wan't sure how to act natural. She'd never been in this position before. "Uh...I'm here to help..."

"Where's Eri?" Aizawa's eyes glowed. "Stop beating around the bush. My patience is running thin tonight."

"Are we supposed to know who you're talking about?" Spinner said.

Twice and Toga hadn't moved yet. But Shine looked at them now, and Toga yelped. "Death Bringing Freak!" and dashed out into the main room.

Twice began arguing with himself about whether to go or not.

Shine held out her hand. "Peace," she said, "Just go wait outside."

Twice got up and went outside.

"What the frick...?" Spinner said weirdly.

"My thoughts exactly..." Jiro muttered.

"To cut to the chase, Eri is the little girl I mentioned to you before," Shine said to Shigaraki, "The one UA is taking care of, my charge."

"And I was supposed to care to remember because...?"

"You weren't."

"When did you mention it to him? How do you know this man?" Aizawa asked Shine.

"Long story, Eraser. The point is, she's been kidnapped," Shine said.

"What?" Dabi said, "Why?"

"Theories abound, but since Overhaul is clearly the one behind it, I think we all know why," Shine said.

But the LOV just stared at her blankly.

"No, I don't get it-- Wait, that guy's out of prison?!" Spinner said.

"Don't play dumb," Aizawa snapped.

"I don't think he's playing." Mirko tilted her ears. "These idiots really don't know. Well, this is just great. What a waste of time!"

"Rumi, shut up," Shine said.

The villains snickered or smirked at her telling a Pro to shut up. 

Mirko glared at her. "Keep pushing it Likstar."

[It's funny because Mirko is hispanic.]

"Push me," Shine said warningly.

"Ooh, drama," Dabi mocked.

"Dabi, you shut up too," Shine said.

"Hey, don't rope me into this, and untie me."

"Aizawa, untie him. This is not an interrogation."

Aizawa let him go reluctantly. "I don't trust them. They're clearly lying."

"How rude. And you barged in on us," Shigaraki said.

"We don't know what city we're in, if you're worried about that," Shine said, "But...yes, Overhaul is out of prison..." She looked downcast. "He...did something to Wally. It had to be him, from what I heard... Unless someone else had a quirk that can make things misshapen."

"Whoa, did he break his legs?" Spinner sounded way too interested.

Shine glared at him in a deadly way. 

"I mean...uh...yeah, that sounds like him," Spinner amended hastily.

Jiro and Kaminari stared at Shine. What the heck was going on here?

"And he took the brat... So?" Shigaraki was bored.

Shine leveled him with a look. "I didn't tell you before, but I have to risk it now... How do you think he was making those bullets?"

"Shine!" Aizawa said angrily, "Do not tell them that! Have you gone insane?" He moved to tie her up.

Miss Joke grabbed his arm. "Give her a chance."

"This is the first I've heard of this too, for the record." Mirko was miffed.

"Eri's quirk is something that allows Overhaul to make those things," Shine said.

The LOV was interested now, for sure.

"That would have been good to know..." Compress muttered.

"So, he used a kid to make bullets?" Shigaraki was having a hard time picturing this. "Is that her quirk? 'Cause that seems kind of stupid."

"No," Shine said, "He took her blood."

Silence.

"I thought she was like...10," Dabi said.

"She's 6 and 3/4, actually," Shine said.

Dabi looked horrified. "That's fricked up."

"I'm sure it's not as bad as it sounds. The guy had some standards," Compress said.

Shine looked him dead in the mask. "Picture Tomura's quirk, but taking blood and skin instead."

Pause.

"Gross," Spinner said.

"Well, thanks, I'm going to have nightmares about that," Dabi said, making a face, "So the guy really is a psycho, huh? Wow, all that talk about superiority boils down to mad scientist time? Glad we destroyed his quirk."

"I think you missed a spot. He's using it again," Shine said.

"No, how the h--- is that possible?" For the first time, Shigaraki showed some sign of alarm.

"How do you think Wally got hurt?" Shine said, "Or else, someone else has his quirk... I really don't care. Do you see the problem yet?"

"I believe it's transparent," Compress said, "and not good for us... Hmm...do you think he'll still be mad about those arms?"

"I'd count on it," Shigaraki said, "He'll probably come and cut off all ours... Hmm, we should lie low for a while."

"Do I hear vacation?" Spinner said.

"Shut up." Shigaraki was thinking. "So, why are you here? To warn us? That's big of you, but...doesn't seem to be very in character for you Pros."

"Yeah, it's not it," Shine said, "I didn't think about you being at risk here, but I guess the whole  arm thing... So yeah, you've been warned, but we came for help."

Silence.

Then Compress laughed. "You can't be serious. Brava, Likstar, you really should consider the stage."

"I have acted before, but this is real," Shine said, "To be frank...the Pros won't find Eri before it's too late...but...villains might be able to. I know you all have connections... I won't ask who they are. But in the event this was not your fault, I was going to ask you to find out who did it...and where they are."

"Wait, you thought it wasn't them?" Aizawa said, "And you said nothing?"

"I suspected it, but I wasn't sure until we came," Shine said. She noticed his look. "What?"

"Shine...you do remember he doesn't know, right?" Miss Joke said.

"Oh...yeah, huh..." Shine looked perturbed. "I'm losing track at this point."

Miss Joke slapped her forehead.

"This is hilarious and all." Dabi shoved his hands into his pockets. "But, there's not a snowball's chance in hell we're going to help you. One favor was enough."

"Favor?" Jiro and Kaminari repeated.

"I agree with Dabi. You're being ridiculous," Shigaraki said. "We're all even now."

"I don't count favors, Tomura," Shine said, folding her arms, "And I'm not asking it as a favor... Can we talk privately...for a few minutes? I'm sure the Pros watching is just weird for you anyway."

"What? We didn't agree to this," Aizawa said.

"Did I ask you?" Shine was not in the mood for an argument.

But that just made him more annoyed, especially since Dabi thought it was funny.

However, if her goal was to get Shigaraki to agree, Aizawa's obvious irritation was more than enough incentive.

"Fine."

"Let's just go," Miss Joke hissed.

"This is madness!" Aizawa replied, "We can't trust them."

"Maybe we can't, but she can... We'll explain later," Miss Joke said.

Aizawa was pretty desperate. He sighed. "We can't step back out there."

"Go down the hall, then," Dabi pointed.

They all sighed.

Mirko planted her feet. "I'm not leaving you in here alone."

"Rumi--"

"It's not because I like you. It's just irresponsible. I've heard all this anyway, so just shut up about it." She crossed her arms.

"Well...she has accidentally kind of heard it all already," Shine said apologetically.

"Just make her go," Spinner whined, "I don't like her."

"It will put the others more at ease though, and you don't want them to rush back in," Shine pointed out.

"It doesn't matter. What is it that was so important?" Shigaraki was tired of this game already.

Shine folded her hands thoughtfully. "I didn't want to say so in front of anyone else...but I'm well aware that we're past favors here. I'd help you all even if it didn't get me anything in return. You know that by now. That's what friends do."

"We're not friends," Shigaraki said.

"Yes, but we aren't enemies either," Shine said, "And I'm out of options... I'm also down my partner..." Her face clouded over, but she struggled to maintain her composure. "To put it very bluntly, I need you."

The LOV glanced at each other.

"It's still a favor, and we don't get anything out of it," Shigaraki said coldly, "We don't operate that way. This is not a goshdanged charity."

"What did you expect?" Dabi muttered, shrugging.

"What would you do if it was one of you?" Shine was not discouraged.

Mirko was ready to pummel them.... Well, she was that anyway. But she held her tongue for once.

"We would already have taken action. This conversation wouldn't have happened," Shigaraki said, "but that's not the case here."

"I think you're being a bit narrow," Shine said, "I think Eri is one of you."

Mirko almost choked. "Didn't you say she's like...6?"

"And 3/4," Dabi said, just to be annoying.

"A little young, isn't it?" Compress said.

"Well, even Stain didn't target kids." Shine glanced at Spinner meaningfully. "But more importantly, you've given me the speech about Heroes and citizens ignoring people because of their problematic quirks and just letting bad things happen multiple times. Eri has the same kind of quirk as some of you... Even the students don't know this, and I hope you will not mention it...but I was told Eri killed her own father."

The villains looked shocked. Shigaraki in particular froze.

"What? A kid?" Spinner said.

"It wouldn't be unheard of for hard cases," Compress pointed out.

"It was an accident," Shine said, "It seems she turned him into dust...or something like it. Or maybe he just vanished. It's how her quirk can work. It just exploded out of control... That wasn't her fault, but give her 15 years instead of 6, she'd have been just like all of you. Especially if Overhaul still had her. Eri believed all she did was hurt people, thanks to that monster poisoning her mind. I've had to deal with it for months-- the nightmares, the panic attacks, the expectation of being punished over nothing... You've all seen it before."

For once, no one had a snippy comment.

Shine tugged her hair nervously.

"And I told her so many times, 'it's over now.' Because I thought it was...and if I was wrong about that, God forgive me for lying to her, but I will do everything I can to cut it short." Shine shook her head. "I was once like her, after all...and she's the sweetest, most pure soul. She deserves so much better in life than this. I'm asking you to help because you claim that it's so wrong that people don't. If you refuse to, yourselves, what makes you any different? I'm sure you have your reasons...but they are excuses. As much as we all have ours. I could make excuses too, but I'm not going to... This is what I do. And if all you ever do is destroy things to get your way...then there is nothing left. Why not do something positive?"

Her words were compelling. No one shot them down right away. Even Mirko was surprised at how convincing it sounded.

"Poor kid," Spinner mumbled, then looked embarrassed, like he hadn't meant to.

"I believe we can all empathize," Compress said uncomfortably, "Even amongst villains, there are standards, after all. But it's also a well known rule that you don't get involved in someone else's fight. That's how we stay alive. If we fight each other, it's easier for the cops to come and pick us off-- and the Pros."

"No one's asking you to fight." Shine was brilliant with the timing. "I only want a location. Remember? The rest we'll do and no one ever needs to know it was us. Luckily, the only one they saw out there was Jiro, and no one will guess that she's involved on such a high level mission. I have provided you with something very near anonymity. This is something to do for yourselves, not because you want the Pros to leave you alone. That's not on the table, as you know. I'm asking as an isolated incident...will you help?"

Silence, then all the members looked at Shigaraki like "your call."

Shigaraki was lost in thought. He looked at his hands.

Shine knew when to wait. She didn't say another word. About a full minute ticked by that drove Mirko up the wall, but she didn't speak either.

Finally Shigaraki said, "Let's say we agreed, for whatever reason. There's no guarantee it would work. Chisaki is not affiliated with us, and he has every reason to dislike the League. We can't exactly call him."

"I know there are ways. I won't ask how," Shine said simply, "I believe in the lot of you, in my own way. You've never let odds stop you before, for better or worse. Why now?... Come on, if it was one of your own, you can't tell me you wouldn't find a way... Plus...it looks at though Kirogiri may be working with them...if that's useful."

"What?" they cried.

"If he broke out, he'd have come back to us!" Shigaraki was mad now.

"Wally saw smoke... That's all I can say, and he was warped," Shine said, "Who does it sound like to you? But we can't assume. Does that make a difference?"

"Well...that's easy to ask around, I suppose," Shigaraki allowed. After a brief pause, "Fine. But this is not for you, Likstar. This is just because the kid is like us. Got it? And for Kurogiri, in case he's being blackmailed. The last thing I'm gonna let that Overhaul prick do is use him against us. The nerve of that man!" He sounded petulant.

But the others nodded. "Right on," Compress approved, "That's unacceptable. Who do they think they are?"

"Yeah, they can't steal our guys," Spinner said.

Mirko gaped at Shine.

Shine very wisely didn't react at all. "How should we contact you?"

"We'll contact you," Dabi said flatly, "And you should know, we have ways."

"Don't go through the school. You never know who might be in on this," Shine said pointedly, "If you can, tip off Miss Joke or Mirko here. No one's going to be watching them. Don't worry, they know not to call the cops."

"Ugh, working with Pros, disgusting," Shigaraki muttered.

"Better than getting busted though," Dabi pointed out, "if it comes to it."

"I'll be the decider of that, Dabi. Shut up," Shigaraki said, "Now, leave."

Shine nodded. "We'll go...Is there a back exit?"

"This way," Dabi sighed, "And don't let Giran see you. He's got his fingers in every pie, if you know what I mean. Chances are he's in this one too."

"Snake," Mirko muttered, "We should at least take him down."

"Can't. He's one of us, and per our agreement, you can't arrest us." Dabi was real smug.

"Shut up," Mirko muttered.