All Tangled Up

Chapter 6

Aiko was walking along a deserted street, staying within the 10 block radius that Best Jeanist wanted her to patrol. If she was lucky, this would be one of the last assignments he would give her before her contract was up. Aiko was trying to stay alert, but no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept going back to Aizawa. What the hell is wrong with him? Aiko thought that they would be able to put this stupid feud aside for at least a few hours to teach, but he seemed intent on ruining everything. This was supposed to be her great new start, a way to get away from toxic men like Vlad King. But she had found herself in the middle of a war, being tugged on either side by men who were probably just as bad. In all honesty, Aiko didn't know All Might or Aizawa. All Might was nothing more than a celebrity crush before he made it clear that he wanted to get in her pants. Part of her was thrilled by it, but another part of her screamed that she was flying too close to the sun. Something was bound to happen and if Aiko's previous luck was anything to go by, it wasn't going to be good. Aiko was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of a door opening across the street and she turned to see an older man leaving his house to walk his dog. The man regarded her with disinterest but his eyes settled on something further down the street behind Aiko for a little bit too long. This captured her attention and she also turned, taking in the image of three bulky figures lurking in the shadows near a closed convenience store. That's weird, she thought. She must have just turned at a bad time; they will walk into the light any second. But they didn't. Aiko kept looking back and the trio stayed in the shadows. Again, she gave them the benefit of the doubt and kept walking. She made a right turn and looked over her shoulder. A few seconds later, the three men turned the same corner. Aiko picked up the pace, her heart rate speeding up. She looked behind her once again and sure enough, the group had picked up the pace as well. Aiko was sure that she was being followed now. She didn't know what these men wanted and she wasn't going to wait around to find out. Aiko touched the wall next to her as she walked, causing the atoms to jut out into a half wall that completely blocked the sidewalk. Using this newfound cover, she turned another corner, hoping to find a street with a bit more light, but she came face to face with a brick wall. It was a dead end. That's fine. She would just wait for the trio to pass and then go the opposite way. She was sure that they hadn't seen where she had slipped away. Aiko hurried to hide behind a large garbage can so that her body would be shielded from view when the men passed the alleyway. She heard their footsteps quicken as they moved around her half wall and then fade away as they continued down the street. Aiko sighed in relief and slumped against the wall, the adrenaline slowly starting to leave her body. Were they really following her or was she just paranoid? After taking another deep breath to calm her nerves, Aiko pushed off from the wall and walked out from behind the garbage can. She was stopped in her tracks immediately though, as she made eye contact with Vlad King who grinned evilly down at her.

Beginning of trigger warning: physical and verbal violence

"Poor little Atoma, thinking that you could outsmart me." He shook his head mockingly and looked down at Aiko's small and frightened figure. He thought she looked better with a little fear in her eyes. "Making my men continue to walk forward really gave you a false sense of security didn't it?" His eyes gleamed wickedly as Aiko tried to control the fear in her own. She cleared her throat in an attempt to seem more put together. He really did trick her and she hated that. 

"Why are you and your goons following me?" As if on cue, two of Vlad's right-hand men rounded the corner, eyeing Aiko hungrily. Aiko's escape route was blocked even further. 

"I saw your patrol route on Best Jeanist's desk and Vlad thought it would be a good idea to pay you a little visit, seeing how you're leaving us and all." The goon on the right sneered at her. Aiko didn't want to find out what he meant by that. She started to slowly reach her hand behind her to pull out a marble but Vlad noticed and grabbed Aiko by the shoulders, throwing her against the wall. Aiko screamed, hearing her skull hit the bricks, and she saw stars. One touch to her head revealed blood at her fingertips.