Checkmate (ShinDeku)

18

*PLEASE READ* Warnings for this chapter are in the endnote as they container spoilers, but they are there if you need them. :)

"You're kidding." The words slipped out before Izuku could stop them. But it did seem the most appropriate thing to say. Any other emotion than disbelief would have been unjustified. 

"No. I'm not. If you're really going to try and sneak past the others I'm coming with you. I rather help you now than have you inevitably run away and try it on your own later," Hitoshi sighed, sounding less than pleased at this new plan. 

'Run away' was putting it lightly in Izuku's opinion. He was running from Hitoshi's stupid attempts at protecting him. He was literally kidnapped. He was escaping. 

"If you try and stop me-" Izuku warned.

"I know," Hitoshi held up his hands. "You'll knock me out."

Izuku was going to say something much more violent but that worked just as well. 

"Alright. Well in that case we need a plan. I didn't have time to think of a real one while I was running from you and little miss vampire. But I'll de be damned if those idiots catch me off guard again," Izuku frowned.

 He watched Hitoshi like one watched a bomb, waiting for the inevitable explosion- or in Hitoshi's case, backstabbing. Nothing changed in his expression other than a slight wrinkle appearing between his brows, as if he was really considering Izuku's words and not just brushing his thoughts aside as he'd done for the past few days. 

Was this all a show?

Izuku needed to go about this carefully. As far as he was concerned, Hitoshi was still just as much of a threat. At any moment the idiot might try and grab him again before they reached the top floor. 

So all Izuku needed to do was come up with a brilliant idea on how to sneak past hands for days and the gang, apprehend Hitoshi at the exact moment he was left vulnerable, ditch everyone, and run to the station. He also needed to make sure Hitoshi didn't somehow get hurt during all this; if Shigaraki found out his little distraction pawn was helping the enemy it wouldn't be good for him. 

All while keeping his emotions in check.

Piece of cake.

"Okay," Izuku said finally. "Here's the plan."

---

They stuck to the stairwell. 

It would be easy for them to run with Toga investigating the bottom floor. Plus trying to find a different exit would just take longer and leave them more vulnerable.

They made it up to the top floor. Obviously. Izuku's plan was flawless. 

His backup backup plan perhaps even more so. If things worked out in the way Izuku predicted they would, he could put a stop to Shigaraki's plans and escape all in one go. 

They picked their way past all the mess. It seemed to be an abandoned storage unit, although it was a little strange all the items inside the unit had been left there. Probably another one of their conquests that had gone right under the commission's nose. 

Most of the walls had been torn away, only a few metal barriers jutting out every now and then. Dusty carpets, old armchairs, even reading glasses were scattered across the ground. 

All the windows were covered in thin metal sheets to avoid someone getting in (or getting out) but at least that meant they were above ground now. 

Izuku signaled for Hitoshi to stop. He crouched down, examing a half-open bin with a coil of rope hanging off the side. The bin was covered in a thin layer of dust, but the rope itself seemed to be in pretty good shape. He soundlessly pushed the cover off to one side, examining the long rope folded inside.