Tempering the Flame [Akari Saga Thread]

This was hell. This was a waking nightmare. This was the worst possible timeline. The worst outcome to come to. For Akari, this was like running the gauntlet to get to the better side, with the gauntlet being a circular path. The metaphorical dead end without an end. SHe would be running now, running until she was dead. SHe didn't know why this was all done, other than her quirk specifications. And, she was already malnourished and without any of the medicine she had managed to get from the two heroes that were being dealt with in the back ground. No, This was like she had already lost. While running along with Red, she nearly fell, not physically, but, almost decided to give up, and get this over with by fighting back and letting the bullets rain.

She lowered her head and simpered a little as she broke in to a little bit of a sprint. But, Red had pulled her in to his arms again, and carried her off toward the alley, even as the police sirens blared for her. With the news presence, this would be bad for her, and bad for the police. She thought about how she was never going to get in to UA at this point.

She thought about how the police would never forgive her. She thought about how this was all her fault for having a quirk, like it was a choice. And as Red would go in to the alley way with her, she just looked to the side and sulked, there was no point to this. No reason to try at all.

"I don't want to, but, this is pointless. He's right, I'm just meant to be a villain and should go get started on that." She would say in a forlorn tone while in Red's arms, her body extra weak.

Out of the corner of his eye, Wagyu caught Aeris taking a photo of the Captain with her phone. He wasn’t sure quite what she was planning to do with just a photo, a video might’ve served them better, but he supposed just seeing that kind of expression on a police captain might give them some leverage. Then again, considering they’re both quirkers…

The captain didn’t quite seem willing to admit he knew what Wagyu was insinuating, but Aeris certainly did, considering the evil grin that spread across her face afterward. It was moments like this he was glad his own hero costume included a full mask, as otherwise Captain Himura would surely notice the minotaur’s expression grow to match his colleague’s. Hopefully, one of the cops in the crowd would have a conscience, but even if they didn’t, they had another way out now. Blackmail may be illegal, but it's not like the good Captain was following the law either.

He tried to stifle the smug sarcasm that threatened to tinge his voice, and replied to both of them. “Well, if Fantasy’s assumption is correct, and judging by your expression it certainly seems that way, it is in fact our business. In fact, it would be the business of any good, law-abiding citizen, to help a child in need like her. And to apprehend the parent neglecting them.”

Of course, without any real ground to stand on, Captain Himura could find no option but to resort to insults and threats. Threats that held a little more weight with more than a dozen guns pointed at Wagyu’s head, but not enough to still his tongue. “Now, what do you mean by her Quirk ‘deciding her fate’, sir?” Wagyu was getting angry, and despite his best efforts he wound up almost growling. “Surely, you aren’t implying someone’s Quirk informs their morality, are you? Because if that’s the way you see it, then you must think me a criminal in the making as well. And I doubt the hero program would want to hear a captain criticizing their decision on who to hand their licenses to.”

It was hard to keep his hands aloft, as every instinct in his body was crying out, to ball them into fists, put his head down and charge at the man before him until he learned his goddamn fucking place, but the only sign of this internal struggle would be a slight shake in his arms. “And, as I’m sure you’re aware, criminals and convicts still have rights, sir.” If only the captain could see through Wagyu’s mask, and see the cold hard stare he was giving him. “For example, refusing them access to life-saving medical treatment, that’s still a violation of their basic human rights.”

Of course, of COURSE the captain was only deigning himself to acknowledge Aeris’ presence or name. For someone in charge of a Quirk task force, he was sure willing to wear his prejudice on his sleeve when it suited him. Wagyu let the man scream, and curse Aeris out, only speaking up when he was done.

“Sir, with all due respect, it is in our right to interfere with this operation. Rescue, both of quirkless and quirkers, is a part of our duties, and I would say rescuing a child from one hellbent on violating every right to a safe life she has falls under that, don’t you think?”

He huffed in frustration as the cops closed in on Aeris, and before he could stop himself he’d started pawing the ground, as if ready to charge. At least he could still keep his arms up. The scared, human part of his mind was begging to just surrender and find a less risky way to protect the girl, but he was running on rage and instinct right now, and he couldn’t make his mind up.