DOGMATIC DABI X OC

14

'I would apprehend those who were outwardly breaking the laws of property damage, stealing, yada yada, and set up barricade areas with law enforcement protecting the people protesting from others and making sure the protesters won't get out of hand. I would want to stop anyone from getting hurt, no matter who.'

'Well yes, that seems logical-'

'Even if the people protesting were white supremacists or some other terrorist group.' Izuku stopped speaking, wanting to say something but shutting his mouth.

'Now let's think about something different,'

'Xian I don't understand-'

'Let's say you go out on a patrol or a mission, and say you're working under a hero that you admired. What would you do if they told you to do something that you really shouldn't be doing, like letting a villain go, or putting others in danger unnecessarily?'

Izuku stumbled on his words, unsure of what to say. Xian could tell what internal battle the kid was having, what everyone he ever asks this question to has.

'So? Would you follow orders and hope that you didn't just commit a crime because "oh, they're a respected hero, they could do no wrong" or would you disobey orders, and potentially ruin an entire operation based around your cooperation that you couldn't have been made aware of?'

Xian smiled a little as Izuku stumbled over his words more, trying to make up scenarios that would put one or the other in favour then, but when it came down to it, he couldn't choose. 'Morally grey Izuku. If you want to survive, you're going to have to figure out who's manipulating you to hate someone, or do something you shouldn't have, and who's telling the truth.'

'But how could I even know if someone is lying to me if it isn't obvious?' Xian chuckled, putting his hand on Izuku's shoulder and leaning down, close to his ear.

'Why do you think I quit? Everyone's a liar.'

Xian stood back up and walked to the front door, making it apparent that Izuku should leave before he overstayed his welcome.

The green-haired boy walked over tepidly, putting on his shoes and walking past Xian slowly, his head low. Xian watched him as he leaned his back against the door frame, following the boy as he walked out, not even moving his eyes up to meet Xian's.

'Good luck Izuku, you're going to need it.' Xian closed the door as Izuku left, sighing out with annoyance, pinching the bridge of his nose to try and let his stress out.

He wanted to see Toya.

***

'Xian shush, you're going to attract the guards!' Fuyumi whispered harshly, pushing the leaves down.

'It was your idea to do this, if we get caught it's your fault.' Xian whispered back, looking behind them to see if they were leaving a track. 'Why you couldn't just bring him with you in the first place is beyond-'

'He was at training! What do you want me to do, go to dad and say "can I take Toya with me to go sneak out and see a strange boy that we swear isn't bad." huh?'

'Yeah actually!' Xian whisper-yelled, growling as the sticks kept breaking under their feet, making his heart pound at a thousand beats a second.

'Sh! He's coming out soon, I know it.'

'Oh you know it, well tell me then why-' Xian was cut off by the sight of the back door opening, and a boy with patchy white and red hair sneaking out and jumping his back fence, running straight towards them.

Toya!' Xian half-shouted, rustling the leaves where he and Fuyumi were hiding. The boy saw and heard Xian, a large grin growing on his face as he jumped into the forest, his legs colliding with Xian's chest that sent both the boys tumbling down.