*Aizawa's POV*

The week leading up to the raid on the villain's base was one of the most stress-inducing and nerve-wracking of my life. Every waking moment was spent buried under layers of anxiety and guilt. The limited-time I spent asleep was consumed by nightmares of the worst-case scenario. What if Izuku wasn't ok? What if he ended up being discovered by the villains and killed? Or handed over to the Leauge, right back into that scumbag's hands? Guilt plagued me like a bad smell and wouldn't disperse no matter what I tried to do. Truthfully, I don't think I wanted it to go away.

I felt as though I should have tried harder to get Izuku out of being in the mission. I should have argued against the Commission more, insisting that Izuku not be permitted to take part in the mission, no matter what they said. But what did they care? That wasn't their son out all on his own in a hostile environment. They didn't give a rat's ass if something triggered Izuku and he was exposed. All they cared about was getting drugs off of the street, and whilst that was a noble cause, the use of a teenager in their plan was unnecessary and appalling. Bile rose in my throat every time I thought of the horrors which could be befalling my son whilst I paced in my bedroom, Hizashi's worried eyes following my every movement.

...

I could feel myself practically vibrating in place as I listened to Nighteye and some high ranking police officer drone on and on about the objective of the mission and everyone's roles. As vital as the information was, I found it hard to listen when the knowledge that one of my kids was in the belly of the beast constantly knocked around my skull.

"Thanks to the information relayed to us by Deviant," I felt my body tense slightly at the mention of Izuku, " we know how to get to the place which Eri is being kept. This means we will be able to navigate the maze of corridors on the lower levels and apprehend the villains as efficiently as possible." Nigheye droned.

"Ryukyu and her agency will stay up top with the police to ensure everyone is kept safe and no one escapes. Fatgum and his agency members will work alongside a small group of police officers, The Nighteye agency and Eraserhead to apprehend the high ranking villains and rescue Eri. Deviant has already been told the plan and should follow it accordingly." The Police Chief spoke up.

"It is vital that you all keep an eye out for each other. Deviant has told us as much as he can but he couldn't tell us everything. He heard whispers that The League of Villains may have given Overhaul and his group a Nomu. How they created this Nomu without All for One, we are unsure of, but please bear this in mind when we enter the base. Understood?" Nighteye called. There were chants from all around me, affirming that they understood and were ready to go.

I sighed heavily as the weight of the situation weighed down on me further. I glanced around at all of my students. I had wanted to stop them, but just as with Izuku, it seemed I hadn't tried hard enough. They were still going to aid in the raid. They were still going to be placed in harm's way. They were only first years. 15 and 16 years old. No matter how experienced they may be with the grim reality of the battlefield, they shouldn't be on it. They shouldn't know every feature of war like it's an old friend they greet frequently. They were only teenagers, and yet I had failed as their teacher, they had long since lost the blind naivety which accompanied the dream of becoming a hero. The rose-tinted shield had been peeled away far too soon.

...

Standing in front of the hideout, my anxieties mounted even more. My son was in that building. It looked so innocent. A simple house modelled in the classic Japanese style. It didn't seem possible that such a nefarious person could be lurking within the depths of the innocent-looking house. It seemed preposterous that anything illegal should be happening in the house bordered by blossoming sakura trees.

"When we get in there, stick close to me, ok Hitoshi?" I asked, turning to look at the newest addition to my family. The bags under Hitoshi's eyes were even darker than they usually were, worry for Izuku had kept him from getting even a semblance of what was deemed a healthy amount of sleep.

"Yes," Hitoshi replied simply. I nodded my head and settled into the correct headspace for what we were about to face. You couldn't go into situations like this and not expect things to go wrong. I had been part of many raids. Sometimes we came out unscathed, other times people lost their lives. Raids were unpredictable, and as much as I could hope for the best, I wasn't the sort to not see the darker side to everything. Realism was the best way to not be surprised when unfortunate events happen.

We'd barely taken a step towards the base when a villain burst through the door and started attacking. The pride which blossomed to life in my chest when I watched my students deal with the villain so efficiently wasn't foreign, yet it wasn't all too familiar just yet. It was a feeling which had been blooming inside my heart since the USJ incident. The Class 1A of that year were all extremely strong kids. It was no wonder that I felt myself falling into a parental role for them.

"Mindjack, leave the rest to Ryukyu and her agency!" I shouted over the sounds of the fight which was being fought around us. Hitoshi's head shot up from where he was comforting an officer who had nearly been trampled, he nodded quickly, muttered a few words to the man sitting in front of him before he ran towards me and the rest of the team who were to infiltrate the base.

We faced little to no resistance as we stormed the villain's base. Lemillion, Fatgum, Rock Lock, Suneater, Red Riot, MindJack, some police officers and I were all on Nighteye's tail as he led the way through the base, only he had access to the information which Izuku had relayed. As frustrating as it was to have had no form of contact with my son, I gritted my teeth and kept quiet. No matter what I said, he wouldn't be withdrawn from the mission.

One by one, people disappeared from sight, swallowed by the rolling concrete corridors. Suneater stayed back to fight three villains, Lemillion disappeared through a wall in search of Eri and Izuku, Red Riot and Fatgum were snatched from us by the very walls. It was infuriatingly annoying, and yet I didn't let my emotions impede me. I continued to follow Nighteye and the officers, bringing up the rear alongside Mindjack. I kept my sense alert for the man who was causing so much trouble. As long as I could catch even a glimpse of him, I could put an end to the mad funhouse we were being forced to travel through.

We had just apprehended the man responsible for the twisting walls, unfortunately losing sight of Toga and Twice from the league of villains when it happened. The floor shook and dust rained down from the ceiling as a terrifying roar ripped through the air and assaulted all of our eardrums with reckless abandon. I hunched forwards and covered my ears, desperate for the monstrous noise to cease so that I could continue to look for my son and the poor girl we were supposed to be rescuing. I glanced around at my companions and saw that they all looked as though they were also in indescribable amounts of pain as well. Mindjack caught my eye with his. His wide violet eyes stared into mine, hundreds of unanswered questions swarming his gaze, just begging to be asked. I merely shrugged, it was impossible to speak over the tidal wave of noise which continued to crash down upon us, much less form any coherent thoughts.

All of the sudden, the noise cut off. It was abrupt and unnatural. One second noise was battering me from all sides and the next, an eery silence had filled the air. Anticipation buzzed around me. Questioning gazes and furrowed eyebrows were exchanged amongst us. What was happening? What had caused that fear-inducing screech of challenge to echo around the room and permeate our skulls? None of us had the answer to that question.

A slight movement from the corner of my eye caused both Mindjack and I to whip around, capture weapons held securely in our hands. It seems, however, that our defensive move was unnecessary since the cause of the movement appeared to be none other than Lemillion running into the room, a silver-haired girl swaddled in some red fabric in his arms. I peaked behind the blond student, hoping to catch a glimpse of my son, but he wasn't there. Panic started to claw at my throat, the taste of bile licked at my tongue and caused me to swallow heavily.

"Where's Izuku?" Mindjack asked as soon as he too concluded that there was no sight of our family member. He should have been with the two people stood before us.

"I- I don't know. He wasn't there when I arrived. I got to Eri's room and found her hidden under her desk. She said that Overhaul came to get her and Izuku shoved her under the desk. When she turned back around, he was gone." Lemillion muttered, panic prevalent in his voice.

Every scenario possible swarmed my mind. What if he had been found out and killed? What if he was currently fighting. What if-. My mind stuttered to a stop. Disbelief and horror working themselves up my spine and leaving a foul taste in my mouth. Everyone around me slowly seemed to come to the same conclusion as me, sharing my look of disbelief and shock.

"Surely he wouldn't..." Rock Lock muttered, his tone spoke of deep denial.

Shinso shook his head and sighed heavily, "He most certainly would."

*Izuku's POV roughly 30 minutes before*

When my keen ears picked up the distant click of somebody's heels as they walked down the hall, I was immediately alert. I could tell from the slow approach and the general aura which swarmed me, who was approaching. My mind was filled with panicked shouts of 'not yet' and 'why couldn't he wait just a few more minutes'. I knew that Nighteye and the others had stormed the base, the sound of the shifting halls had sent Eri into a panic, causing me to draw her into my arms and comfort her like Auntie Joke and Dad had when I was around her age.

"Shh, it's ok. I'm going to get you out of here, ok Eri?" I whispered gently into the shivering girl's silver hair. I felt Eri nod against my chest as I held her tighter. My heart pounded in my ears as the sounds of battle crescendoed and the click of heels in the hall got ever closer.

Over the week I had been scoping out the base, I had developed a trusting relationship with Eri. I had anticipated it being much harder than it had been, but as soon as I had shown Eri a semblance of human decency and kindness, she had latched onto me and trusted me wholeheartedly. I could only assume it was because she wasn't used to any form of kindness. Sure it seemed as though Mimoto had been accused of being nice to her, but I had started to question just what was considered 'nice' within the villainous organisation.

With Eri's trust, fully instilled in me, she had started looking to me when she was scared. At that moment, with the floor shaking and the ominous threat of Overhaul stalking down the hall, I knew that I had to do everything I could to ensure that Eri remained safe, even if I was putting myself in danger.

I was never one to think twice about my actions when I was in a crisis situation. I just did what came to mind first, which was of course how I ended up getting kidnapped, but I still stood by what I did. Even if I had to go through indescribable pain, I would do it all again just to keep Kacchan, or any of my friends, safe. I hugged Eri just a tiny bit tighter for a split second before I jumped up from the bed and pushed her under the desk, back facing me so that she couldn't watch.

The door of Eri's room creaked open slowly as if Overhaul was cautious of what he would find inside. Thankfully, this gave me time to scurry over to the opposite side of the room, drawing the attention away from Eri's hiding space. I had hardly transformed into the malnourished body which belonged to Eri when Overhaul stepped into the room, his eyes ablaze with anger and contempt.

"There you are, girl. Hurry up and get over here." Overhaul spat, amber eyes never straying from my weak form, huddled in the corner of the room. I nodded quickly and stood up on shaky legs, chancing a glance over at Eri, who was still cowering under the desk, face to the wall. Reassured that she couldn't see us, I shuffled over to Overhaul and followed him out of the room.

As soon as I stepped out of the room, I was unexpectedly scooped up into somebody's arms. I flinched slightly at the sudden arms which held me with just enough pressure for it to be uncomfortable. A chuckle echoed around the barren corridors, the force of the grating sound shaking me as I was held to the man's chest.

"Still as scared as ever." the white-cloaked man snickered ever so slightly, deriving joy from what he believed to be Eri's fear. What I wouldn't have given to have stabbed the man gripping me with a bruising grip. What kind of psychotic asshole found a little girl's fear funny?

"Hush, Chronostasis." Chisaki admonished snidely. Without me even noticing, Chisaki had made his way to the other end of the corridor, he was beckoning his companion towards him with a disgusted shine in his eyes. The newly dubbed Chronostasis nodded slightly and hurried after Chisaki with me squeezed to his chest.

As I was whisked away in the man's arms, I looked over his shoulder and caught a faint glimpse of blond hair dashing into Eri's room. I had to repress a sigh of relief at the fact that Mirio had made it to Eri's room and that he wasn't spotted by anyone on his journey to her room. With Eri safe, I could concentrate on stalling Chisaki and his accomplices until the pro heroes arrived.

Overhaul and Chronostasis wasted no time in trying to make their escape. They dashed through hallways, swung around corners and stormed down stairwells, all whilst maintaining an air of dignity around them which they didn't deserve.

"Why were the league here today?" Chronostasis questioned Overhaul as we careened down a side passage which was indistinguishable to the eye, I wouldn't have noticed its existence had we not turned down it.

"It's no concern of yours. But seeing as we must unleash it to deal with these pesky heroes regardless, I shall tell you." Overhaul spat with contempt. It seemed as though he was incapable of speaking to even his colleagues with even an ounce of respect.

"Shigaraki was gracious enough to send us one of the last remaining nomus they are in possession of. Apparently, this one was made after the downfall of All for One, yet The Doctor managed to make it work. This Nomu appears to be quite powerful, should give the heroes a run for their money." Chisaki sneered, something akin to pride slithering in his voice.

"That's good." Chronostasis nodded.

"Hmm, yes it is. Except for the fact that Hisashi Midoriya is supposedly the only one who can control this Nomu. I'll give him the order to release it now." Chisaki said off handily.

A cold snake of dread coiled in my chest at the mention of Hisashi. My mind raced with a thousand different scenarios as to why he had to be the only one who could control this nomu. My mind raced and my heart pounded as we drew closer and closer to the door which I knew contained my 'father' and an abomination which defied the laws of nature.

The metal door creaked on its hinges as it was pushed open. My hands began to shake as I was faced with a monster from my past. I prayed to every god that he wouldn't recognise me. Thankfully my prayers were answered, Hisashi didn't bash an eyelash at me, but it seemed like the gods wanted retribution. For nothing but the divine could mess up my life so much and subject me to the horror which awaited me in that room.

"Ah! There you are!" Hisashi smirked, "I was wondering when you would be needing our assistance.".

"Yes, it appears we need you to release that... creature of yours. Is it ready?" Chisaki asked.

"Been ready for years. Started beating her down before she even died. 'Course, I was in prison for a bit so her base body isn't as strong as it could be, but that's fine." Hisashi chuckled sickly.

I already knew he was talking about, I wanted to scream and attack him. I wanted to break down at the monster's feet and beg her to come back to me. The next words which left Hisashi's lips only nailed the point home even further.

"She's my ex-wife you see. I took quite a bit of satisfaction tearing up her grave. Fucking bitch."

My heart squeezed and I couldn't help the choked sob which slipped out. I fell from Chronostasis' arms and landed on the floor harshly, but none of that mattered as I slowly crawled across the floor and towards the towering body of what used to be the most important person to me.

"Mum?"

So, yeah... Sorry, but I had to do it to him. Thank you for reading chapter 34 and I hope you have a wonderful day wherever you are.