Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The last bell of the day rang loudly as Junior High students rushed out the doors.

The last day of the year was always chaotic.

Amongst the crowd, three ninth graders hung back behind the crowd. Shinsou Hitoshi, Sero Hanta, and Iida Tenya were all walking together at the back of the stampede. Shinsou was walking between the other two, Sero to his left and Iida on the right.

Iida’s brother, Tensei, was very close friends with Shinsou and Sero’s parents. So, it was practically an obligation to be friends. They liked it though. They did this every day, walking behind the crowds to the front of the school. There, they waited for Tensei to pick them up, away from everyone else.

But, since today was their last day at the junior high, Shinsou was more focused on their choices of High School than keeping up their routine. They all wanted to go to the same school, mostly for the same reasons. UA was the best hero school around, of course they wanted to go there if they wanted to be heroes.

They all wanted to go, but Shinsou was worried about one of them not getting in.

As they hopped in Tensei’s car and drove to their houses, Shinsou thought about his training over the summer. He wanted to be a hero more than anything. But, he also wanted to be with his sibling and friend more than anything too. He didn’t know if he’d have survived Junior high without them, let alone UA. He needed them all to get in, and they would… right?

Chapter Text

Sero was walking through their favorite night market. They shopped here every weekend when they weren’t busy. They also knew that Ingenium II loved stalking them at the market, figuring out their routine.

They were turning into an alley to try and get him off their trail when they were roughly pinned against the brick wall. The moonlight shown on their assailant’s armored helmet. An armored thigh pushed itself between their legs. They immediately recognized him.

They’d recognize him anywhere. No matter what.

“Sero Hanta, you are under arrest for multiple charges of villainous caliber and misuse of your quirk!” Pro Hero Ingenium II announced.

"About time! I've been waiting for you to catch me for a while now, baby~. You aren't very subtle, Iida." Sero responded with a seductive pull to their voice.

Iida stuttered in shock for a second. "I haven... w-what? How did-?!"

He never got the chance to finish his sentence. Sero swiftly pushed off his helmet and slammed their foreheads together. Iida crumpled on top of them, only to be pushed away and fully fall to the floor. As the Pro Hero gained even more head trauma, they searched the alley for something to tie him up with. Mid search, they remembered that they were literally built for restraining things. After an apt slap over their face, Sero taped up his arms and legs. Mostly his legs.

They debated for a second whether or not to take him back to the night club. While leaving him in the alley was tempting just to see it reach headlines, they ultimately decided against it. It might make people think he was incapable of doing his job. They didn't want that. After all, if he lost his job, how would he pursue them if he wasn't being paid?

Iida was also simply a bit harmless like this.

They picked up the unconcious hero, helmet too, and carried him further into the alley, squeezing between the trashcans. They came out on a quiet street and stealthily walked to another alley beside a building with bright neon signs, Tenya in tow. As they pushed open the back door, they grinned fondly at the sign. Strung Up! Night Club. They were home.

With their favorite toy on their shoulder.