Claws Out (Marvel x MHA fanfiction)

Chapter 21 - The Aftermath pt.2

X-23

X-22 was the absolute last person Y/n expected to walk through the door. He was dressed in some sort of hero suit, his eyes were tired, and his hair was messy– when's the last time he's slept?

"What are you doing here?" Y/n asked, her voice quiet. The police chief was still watching her, surveying her as if to gauge her reaction like some sort of criminal. But her classmates– Midoriya, Shoto, and Iida– were staring at 22, recognition flashing through their eyes. Shoto tensed when her midnight haired companion entered, his heterochromatic eyes hardened ever so slightly.

"I'm here because you're here, sunshine." 22 walked over and stood next to Tsuragamae, his sapphire eyes focused on her, scanning over every inch of her body like he was making sure her healing actually worked. His eyes lingered on Y/n's dog tags and the girl found herself wondering if he wore his own under the suit he had on.

For the very first time in her life, X-23 found herself uncomfortable in the presence of X-22. The way he looked at her was accusatory, the way he spoke was hard and near emotionless. For the very first time in her life, X-23 wasn't sure if she wanted him near her.

"You have quite the knack for getting yourself into trouble, you know that 23?" His voice was smooth yet intimidating and he spoke to her like nobody else was in the room.

The girl scoffed and crossed her arms over her body, not liking how exposed she suddenly felt under his gaze, "Yeah well, you know better than anyone that trouble runs through our blood." She didn't miss the way 22's jaw clenched, "It seems to follow wherever we go."

Her three classmates shared a cautious glance, Gran Torino and Manual shifted awkwardly, and Chief Tsuragamae decided to try and break the tension that had been brought forth by X-22 and X-23.

"As I was saying before you two interrupted me," The dog man glanced over Todoroki and Howlett, "Any sort of punishment would only be necessary if this went public. If it were to get out that Stain was apprehended by the likes of U.A. students, you four would probably be applauded by citizens everywhere. But there's no way you could escape from being reprimanded, on the other hand– we could say Endeavor saved the day."

Beside Y/n, Todoroki clenched his fists.

"The burns Stain has would coincide with that story completely and we could pretend that you weren't involved in capturing him, woof. Thankfully, there were very few witnesses. This could be the last that three of you heard of any punishments." The police chief's gaze swept over them, his eyes lingering once again on Y/n. "This would mean that no one would know about you, though. You'd receive no acclaim for taking down Stain at all. The choice is yours, but personally I know where I stand."

The police captain gave them a thumbs up as if he didn't just give them two bad options. The nerve of this bastard!

"Hold on... did you say only three of us would be exempt from punishment?" Iida asked, wincing slightly as did a chopping motion with his uninjured arm.

The dog man sighed, "While I'd hate to risk any of your promising careers before they've even begun over a small mistake like this—"

"23 you were on the news." X-22 cut him off. Y/n felt herself stop, everyone's eyes shifted to her. The girl had known news helicopters recorded footage of her, but she didn't realize it would have leaked so soon. Or... wait was it live? God I can't remember, last night feels like some kind of distant, fuzzy memory.

"Yes, and because Miss Howlett was on the news there will be no way of erasing her involvement in this situation entirely, even if she chooses to have her involvement in Stain's capture scrubbed away." Tsuragamae sighed and if Y/n wasn't still hazy from whatever the hell the doctors injected her with, she would've sworn he gave her an apologetic look. "However, we have some offers for you to consider that would result in a smaller kind of punishment."