My Hero Academia: EMTs

Plea Deal

Back at the police department,

Henry Miles:

I know; I don't look like a hardened thug when forced to sit down. I don't seem threatening even before my hands are cuffed to the table before me.

I give the officer before me the best innocent smile I can muster. I can tell he's already uneasy with the idea of hurting or imprisoning me.

I'm sure my Purple Bandit costume, minus the mask, looks ridiculous. The purple sweatpants, sweatshirt, ripped-up cape, and purple baseball cap reek of a child's Halloween costume. Of course, in this case, I suspect that helps me. It makes me look more like a lost kid and less like a hardened criminal.

In front of me is the interrogating officer, and behind him is one-way glass, so I can't see out. The table is metal, and the cuffs have very little give. The room is actually enormous, and the officer himself is huge. This is clearly set to make me feel out of my depth... and it's working.

I look at the man. He's apparently a heteromorph with the head of a dog and the fur of the same. Honestly, a big, well-built man with the head of a beagle is kind of funny, but I do my best to keep my chuckles to myself. The last thing I want to do is upset my... counterparty.

He sits down opposite me and puts a manilla folder on the desk. "So... you've been operating for quite a while, young man. Your guise was the Purple Bandit, is that correct? Woof."

"I... did you just bark at me?" I ask, still trying to stifle my laughter- it's best to never offend your counterparty. An unhappy counter is unlikely to give you what you want.

"It's a tick, don't get sidetracked. Some of the men want to lock you up and throw away the key, but your sister's display out there bought you time and sympathy. I am feeling a little sympathetic; don't waste that."

I nod. Then I close my eyes. I need to get in the zone for this- I've finally escaped the Miles syndicate with my sister in tow, but this is only the journey's beginning. I visualize myself in a dark room with the dog man, a simple wooden desk between us.

I fold my hands in front of me, undeterred by the cuffs. "I understand that. Let me say right now, sir, I fully intend to work with you, if only for a few paltry conditions." I cock my head to the side. "First, sir, can I know your name?" I remember the lessons my father... sort of father... Charles taught me about negotiating.

"I suppose. I'm chief Kenji Tsuragamae."

I nod. "Well, I would like to be called Henry if that's okay. Charles Miles kidnapped my sister and me and then forged our adoption to the authorities. He's been forcing us to do his dirty work ever since. I don't think of him as my father."

"I suppose that's fair. Very well, Henry. What are your other conditions? And exactly what is my motivation for giving you anything?"

I smirk, trying not to look too confident, but this is going well. I can see it in the man's eyes. Talking about Charles like an enemy puts me and the dog man on the same side. Friendly negotiations are much more manageable than adversarial ones.

This time, I let myself chuckle a little. "What do you think I can give you? I'm the son of Charles Miles, the heir to the throne. I can get you all kinds of crap. Names," I tap the desk with my finger. "Dates," I tap again. "Times," I tap again. "Addresses, associates, methods..." I tap my finger after each point, emphasizing in his mind that these are things he wants, his goals, and I want to give him them. "I can help you take down the entire Miles organization, piece by piece. Not only am I able to do that, I deeply want to. I want that man's empire destroyed- burned to the ground. I want to salt the ashes myself." I grit my teeth at that last line, showing my genuine disdain for my former "father." I sigh. "Look- I never wanted to be a villain. It was always, "Do what I say, or I hurt your sister"- what was I supposed to do? I hate that man with everything in me!"