Maybe We'll fix Each Other

Chapter 17

Aizawa clenched his jaw and forced himself to take a deep breath.

This meeting was going about as well as he'd suspected it would.

After yesterday's events, the Shie Hassaikai investigation team had demanded an in-person debrief. And now he was sitting beside Hizashi defending their actions.

"I'll ask this in a different way, then," Nighteye continued. "Yamada. If you knew Dabi does not have clearance to leave UA campus, then why did you blatantly disregard that fact and take him off campus to the shopping district?"

Aizawa barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. They'd already gone over this, why did he need to drive this point home?

"As I've said," Present Mic replied. "We knew that Eri was in the district in question when the attack occurred. Out of concern for Eri, I wanted to arrive at the scene to provide what assistance I could and ensure her safety. Dabi was amenable to remaining under my close watch, and he still had both the tracking anklet and quirk suppressors on."

Apparently Mic's reply was what Centipeder had been waiting for. "The quirk suppressors that you're saying don't even work?" he prodded.

Eraser took the chance to jump in. "They do work," he stated. "Dabi has not shown any signs of being able to produce his blue flame in any capacity. His body temperature did rise, but–"

"But?" Nighteye interrupted. "The point still stands that the quirk suppressors were inadequate to suppress his ability to create heat. Who's to say that he won't overcome his inability to create flame within the week?"

Gritting his teeth, Aizawa made sure to not let the irritation at being interrupted show on his face. "During all my interactions with Dabi, he has not once attempted to retaliate against the members of this team or to escape his custody. He–"

"Oh nooo," Centipeder interrupted with a deadpan voice. "He's been so docile. He only just assaulted the number two hero."

Nighteye held up a hand to signal Aizawa and Present Mic to keep quiet so he could speak again.

"Regardless of how he has acted during his custody with you, Eraser, we cannot ignore this behavior against Endeavor. Not only has Todoroki been causing an uproar with his agency trying to force its way into this investigation, he has contacted the Hero Commission to weigh in on this case. Neither Endeavor nor the Commission will legally allow Dabi to continue as is without additional quirk suppression."

Aizawa's jaw twitched and he let out a controlled, frustrated breath. Because despite how much he hated the idea of forcing Dabi into more restrictions, he knew that the team's hands were tied. Dabi had technically assaulted Endeavor. Yes, no real damage had been done, and Hawks had prevented any real injury by deflecting part of that board. But there was no way to talk their way out of that.

Aizawa kept his gaze firmly on Nighteye. "So what do you suggest?"

"Suppressant injections," the man replied bluntly.

Eraser and Mic sat up to attention, brows furrowed. "Excuse me?" Aizawa answered.

"I'm sorry, what?" Mic asked at the same time.

"Injections," Nighteye said, folding his hands together and resting them on the table before him. "If the cuffs aren't sufficient, then directly administering suppressants into his system is the next option."

"The next option?" Aizawa repeated incredulously. "There are multiple types of quirk suppressant cuffs. Why would we go straight to injections?"

Another voice spoke up.