What's A Quirk?

Chapter 11

I'm so sorry. It shouldn't have taken me this long, but I had a good stopping point for this chapter, and while it's no where near the length you guys deserve, it is something. A lot. Has happened since I last updated, but, I can now use this fic as a coping mechanism and distraction from everything wrong with my life! Yay 🤗
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After talking through the process of the rehab and his idea for a store to give them a place to work during and after rehab if they can't find anything else, Hirata and Harry are both exhausted.

Hirata’s wary, but thinks the idea has merit, even if she thinks Harry is completely mad to have thought it up. She agrees to hear out the unusual case, but if at any point they committed a crime that was unnecessary for their survival, like food or to prevent their boss from killing them, they would have to do actual prison time.

She immediately called a lawyer to help them. Uyehara Masuyo was a taller woman, exuding confidence and a ‘don’t cross me’ attitude. Hirata explains what the case is about, and then says, “I knew I could call on you for this Masuyo-chan, with all the work you’ve done to help those wrongly targeted by heroes, you’re not afraid to go against their legal teams.”

Masuyo sat and stared at them both for a minute. Harry and Hirata looked at each other, Harry shifting nervously in his seat. Then the imposing woman sighs and opens up her briefcase, pulling out a notebook and a textbook that looks well used. “This isn’t going to be easy. It’s going to be next to impossible in fact. Even with a judge, a very rich man, and one of the best lawyers in this country, not to brag, just statistics, this is not going to work without the public on your side. The only reason I won most of my cases is because I humanized them. I appealed to the public's sense of ethics, turning the anger they felt for the victim that the hero blamed, onto the hero.”

Harry sat up straighter. “So, what you're saying is we need a hero to take the fall? Find some public person who truly deserves to be in prison, but isn’t because the people would riot.” Masuyo pauses in her movements, then continues. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Harry thinks for a second, then says, “I might have an idea on who we should use. One of the villains I'm working on behalf of, disclosed that the main reason he turned to the life of crime was because his father was abusive. His father, who just happens to be a hero. I don’t know which hero, but I’m sure I could find out quite easily.”

—

It's finally time to meet with the League. Harry poured the healing potion into unbreakable vials, then packed those and his laptop in his bag. Harry, Hirata, and Masuyo had come up with a basic case that depended on them getting the name of the hero who abused Dabi. Depending on where he was in the ranking system, the higher the better. For now, Masuyo was going to work on getting the low ranking heroes to agree to quietly hand over any evidence they might have on the abuse of power by higher ranking heroes.

Harry gave a final once over to everything, making sure he isn't leaving anything behind, then spun on his heel and apparating to the bar from before. Immediately, every head is turned towards him, a tense energy in the air. Dabi and Shigaraki stand up from the couch they were on, coming to stand in front of Harry.

“Hello Dabi, Shigaraki, before we begin, here is the potion I promised. Apply one to the burnt areas every morning around the same time and you should start feeling and looking healthier than ever.” Dabi takes the case from Harry’s hand, carefully setting it down next to Toga, who was still on the couch.

"Now, are there any questions you have before I begin with everything I've done so far?" Harry asks, prompting a man covered in dark mist to ask, "How sure are you this will work? Also, how will you put this to the public and heroes to protect us from them? We've made enemies while living as we have, how do we know we'll be safe giving villainy up?"

"I'm 98% sure this will work. I'm already consulting with both a judge and lawyer to figure out a game plan, as long as we cooperate with each other. As for protection, I have a quirk that will let me put barriers around the buildings we'll use that will prevent anyone wanting to do harm to the people inside from entering. Also, I'll provide pendants that if you press it and say an activation phrase or are knocked unconscious, you'll be transported to the medway immediately."

The others look at each other for a minute. Dabi and Shigaraki seem to communicate silently with each other. Finally they nod and turn to Harry. "We'll cooperate, but we need your word that you'll be on our side. You won't give up on us."

Harry takes a few seconds to make serious eye contact with everyone who meets his. "I give you my word."

—

After that things move quickly. Harry has many meetings with Dabi to uncover everything they can about Endeavor, the hero Dabi admitted was his father. And there was a lot. On top of the abuse of his children and wife, who was apparently placed in a mental health institution after a breakdown, they also put together countless papers of the destructive nature of the man. Almost 7 million Yen in damages paid by the hero association and Endeavor's agency just in the last 2 years!

Harry then turns this evidence into the capable hands of Uyehara. "I want to say I can't believe Endeavor would do something like this… but that would be a bold face lie." The two stare, tired but determined, at the 5 thick folders on the table in front of them. "Let's get this done." Uyehara snaps into action, Harry quickly following her lead as they work their way through all the evidence and put together the largest series of tell-all articles. The first of the publish the second it's done.

—

Harry is dying. He's sure of it. Even the war didn't seem this hard. Trying to get through the legal system even with a judge on your side, a topnotch lawyer, and all the evidence you could ever ask for, the case drags on. It's not hard to get the public on their side. No one really liked Endeavor anyway, except for the bullies and villains who thought he was a good example for why what they were doing wasn't bad. But, even with the public on their side, the Hero Commission is giving their all to keep the status quo.

Harry is sitting in his living room, Teddy in a playpen, when he hears a knock on his door. He places a quick protection ward around his godson before going to answer. On the other side are two familiar faces, Midoriya Izuku and Todoroki Shoto.