The Fallen (Aizawa x OC)

Ch 59 - Absolute Faith

"Agent White- I'm so sorry... I tried to get you out as fast as possible. I truly thought we'd get to you right away, before they had a chance to torture and interrogate you..."

Mitsu looks at Sumino with an exhausted, but soft expression, "I had full faith you'd get me out, it was only a matter of time. But, even aside from that, I'm relieved that everything went the way it did. If me being captured saves you from having to go through all of that, I would gladly take your place. You've experienced pain 100 fold of what I just went through; you've even experienced countless deaths, just from using your quirk. If I ever have the opportunity to protect you from the suffering and nightmares of using 100 Nezumi, I would never hesitate to do so. You've experienced excruciating pain far beyond anyone's comprehension. I would like to protect you from that as much as I can. "

Sumino's lip quivers as he looks down at the woman who is his subordinate, but someone he also considers to be his family, an older sister, "I could never do that ever again. Even though it was the only way the mission would succeed, it was eating me alive... finding out that we couldn't get you out right away; knowing that you were going through all of that in my stead. I-"

"Tsugiyoshi Sumino..." Mitsu cuts him off with a gentle call of his name, his real name. Not the one that the FBI gave him. Hearing it for the first time in such a long time, and in such a compassionate way, made his chest tighten with heartache.

Mitsu patiently waits for him to raise his head and look at her before continuing, "I know what it's like to have a quirk that can benefit others more than yourself. To be someone whose gifts and powers are exploited for the benefit of others. I don't even want to think about the number of times the organization has forced me into my Fallen form to complete a mission, even if it meant sacrificing the rest of my team..." her voice trails off.

She then quickly glances at him before averting her eyes to the floor as she sadly says, "I know that I've killed you multiple times... I'm not a fool; I know they rely on your quirk to subdue me every time I lose control."

The younger male's eyes soften in sympathy as he quietly says, "I want you to know that I've never blamed you, and I never will. I know that that's not actually you; that you would never do any of those things if you were in control."

A heavy silence falls over the two of them as Sumino continues to guide a tired and injured Mitsu to safety.

After a few more seconds of silence, Sumino voices a question. One that he's never been able to ask anyone else, because people would think he's crazy for merely having the thought.

"If you ever had the opportunity to somehow get rid of your quirk, would you take it?"

Mitsu considers his question seriously before answering, "I think it would depend on where my life is at when the opportunity arises, and the exact circumstances of how I'd lose it. I wouldn't want someone to be harmed in exchange for it. How about you?"

Sumino takes a deep breath before letting out a sigh and looking up towards the dark and quiet sky.

"I would take it in a heartbeat."

~~~

The needle on the bullet imbeds itself into Sumino's arm as he extends it to block the cylinder from piercing Kiyoomi's body.

Sumino collapses onto his knees, as if all of his energy left his body the moment the bullet punctured him.

"Shai!" Aizawa calls out as runs towards the younger hero.

This wasn't what I saw when I used Foresight on myself earlier while fighting Chisaki! I saw Asclepius get hit- did the future change?! Nighteye is shocked at the scene unfolding right in front of him. But when he sees the yakuza head charging in to attack again, he throws his seals, hoping to keep Chisaki occupied long enough for Aizawa and Kiyoomi to get Sumino to safety.