𝐴𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑡 { 𝐻𝑎𝑙𝑓 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑑, 𝐸𝑥ℎ𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 } 𝐵𝐻𝑁𝐴

Pretty Lies are better then Ugly Truths

Nao was a child the first time. Maybe she was four years, maybe five - I doesn't matter she suppose. First she counted it. She put a line on the wall, the piece there was behind her bed. Then she stopped, when the bed couldn't cover the marks anymore - Because there was no reason to get caught and double the marks.

At first she didn't understand why. After some time she suppose she only had herself to blame - and after a long time she knew it were her own fault. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid child. If she weren't stupid, it wouldn't happen.

That is a lie, but pretty lies are better then ugly truths. That she learned.

But it's okay, she is stupid, because then it's not Michan who is stupid. Then it's not Michan who get to put marks on the wall beside the bed, not Michans blood on her parents hands. So Nao try not to flinch, react or show the slightest, instead she become stone. A statue.

She once told Michan that it were okay, Nao were a statue. Michan then told her she were a beautiful marble statue, build to decorate the greatest buildings. Like the Vatican in Rome, or the museum Louvre in Paris. Michan liked history afterall.

So Nao let's the statue be painted in green, blue, purple, red or any color they desire really - because she has to.

Because Michan is not a statue, not yet. But if the gods keeps cursing on Nao, then Michan will become one someday. So Nao is a marble statue, strong, cold, painted and made of stone.

Nao suppose she looks like a marble statue to; With her paper white skin, dark empty eyes, and unwavering expression. Even now, when the cold is seeping in. Her hands are freezing, and her limps are so tired, cold and heavy - Nao doesn't know if it's the lack of food or the cold. But she still moves them, almost mechanic, at least very stiffened. It's late to. Nao doesn't care, she doesn't sleep much anyways. She doesn't care much for sleep, finds it unnecessary, even if Michan tell her it's bad for her.

She stops at the door, maybe more so for the people behind it. It's old and to the point of rotten, just like the furniture in her and Michans room. Which is weird - Their house is big and rich, just like their parents. -  If she were more like Michan, she wouldn't have opened the door. She would've cried and begged her parents, to let her stay home. But Nao isn't Michan, and Nao doesn't beg, certainly doesn't cry either. Her father had once told her; its only weak people who show their true emotions. Hide them away, along with your intentions. Nao suppose that have been and still are a good advise. Even more since she has to be strong. (A marble statue)

So she opens the door, and again she is happy she isn't Michan, for the movement alone make her certainly-not-at-all-healed broken wrist throb with pain. Nao doesn't flinch, but Michan would have, and the people inside would've have seen. Statues doesn't feel

The place behind the door is a bar, an old rundown bar. The smell is old, and it feels like Nao is inhaling dust and something else much worse. There is an ominous feeling, an aura perhaps, looming over the place. She feels like a corpse is blowing in her face - But there isn't, it's all in her head.

Michan sometimes says Nao thinks to much, at least for her own good. Michan is smart, and right. She doesn't go to school anymore, but she reads all the books Nao can get her, mostly history books. Nao finds the books outside an old library in a dumpster, were they discard of old books. It's mostly books about the world before quirks.

There is three people inside the bar - all not very pleasant people, that much Nao knows. She knows their names as well, she is well informed by her parents. That was required, since she were to go to this meeting alone. Not that her parents couldn't go, she were sure they could if they wanted. Instead she got sent alone.

" Hino Naoko good to see you again" A man with a smug smile and voice, says.

Giran, Nao had learned he were named. The broker of the underground, someone who she had seen up to more occasions. Most of them in a meeting with her parents, two times in the casino her parents ran.

"I could say the same, Giran" Her voice is well measured and mannered. Submissive. And she bows politely. Her parent had made sure Nao knew how to act, since she were both the heir and asset.

" This here is Kurogiri" He continues, gesturing slightly to the well clad man behind the bar, consisting of dark, swiveling mist (Nao wonders if she looked like that on the inside, formless and dark) . "And this here is Shigaraki" The leader.

Nao already knew, but nod no the less, while giving a respectful bow towards both of them. She want to sink, gulp down the ball of nervousness, but her throat is to dry. She would also show the fact she is nervous, and showing emotions is for the weak. Nao has to be a marble statue once again.

"You know why you're here right?" Shigaraki rasp "I mean it would be disrespectful, to send a child without the right knowledge, to us"

If Nao thought her throat were dry, Shigaraki must have felt worse. His voice were rasp, muffled by the hand on his face, and Nao wonders if he could really see. Again she just nods, and suppress a shiver.

She is afraid her joints would pop, just like the splintered wooden walls in the bar or rattle like the cold chains in the special room at home. So she stands still, tall, and like she were unbothered by the cold of his voice - or the cold of her assignment.

"Good then, let us discuss you're infiltration of UA"

__________

I'm just clearing some things up

Naoko is 14 years old in this chapter, and 15 from the next chapter and forward. Ayumi is 7 years old now and 8 from next chapter and forward.

Michan real name is Ayumi, which is Nao sister.Nao lets herself be abused more, so she can protect Michan. In the starts were Nao was referring to the lines on the wall, she was counting when Ma and Pa did any kind of abuse on her.

Their parents (Ma and Pa) are the kind of criminals/Villians who do the illegal activity kind of out in the open. What I mean is, they run casino, clubs, resturants and so on, where they then use these things to do illegal stuff like selling and buying shit, make deals, gamble and so on. That's also why they are well respected in the underground, and knows a lot of people.