~𝔏𝔬𝔳𝔢 ℌ𝔞𝔰 𝔑𝔬 𝔅𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰~ (Tokoyami Fumikage X Reader)

Chapter 34

The next morning, the agency buzzed with fresh energy. Hawks had been up all night, coordinating with other heroes and gathering intel. His sharp eyes darted between screens, each displaying potential leads on Raptor's whereabouts. Niko, Tokoyami, and Dabi—still lingering in the shadows—waited for any sign of progress.

The sun hung high in the sky as Niko, Tokoyami, and Hawks moved swiftly through the bustling streets. The lead on Raptor's location had come through moments ago, a single blip on a surveillance feed in a crowded district. The agency had mobilized quickly, with Hawks taking the lead and Niko and Tokoyami close behind.

"Stay alert," Hawks murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His golden eyes were sharp, feathers bristling with tension. "Raptor knows we're onto him. He won't go down without a fight."

Niko nodded, her hands tingling with telekinetic energy. She felt the comforting weight of Tokoyami's presence beside her, Dark Shadow coiling restlessly in his shadow.

They turned a corner, the crowded marketplace opening up before them. People moved in a tide of color and sound, but amidst it all, Niko spotted a flash of familiarity—a dark figure slipping through the crowd, a hood pulled low over his face.

"There!" Niko hissed.

Hawks reacted instantly, his wings unfurling as he shot into the air. Tokoyami and Niko followed on foot, weaving through the throng of civilians.

Raptor moved fast, his quirk allowing him to meld into the shadows, slipping between alleys and under awnings. But Niko's telekinesis gave her an edge. She reached out, pulling crates and debris into Raptor's path, slowing him down.

"You can't run forever!" Hawks called, his voice carrying over the chaos.

Raptor snarled, his hands igniting with dark energy as he blasted through the obstacles. "You don't understand! You're all blind to the truth!"

Niko didn't let his words distract her. She pushed harder, sending a gust of force that knocked Raptor off balance. Tokoyami moved in, Dark Shadow lashing out, but Raptor dodged, slipping into a narrow alley.

They followed, the air thick with tension. But as they burst out of the alley, they collided with another group. A blast of wind and a flash of green shot past them. Midoriya appeared, his One For All quirk sparking as he dashed forward. Bakugo and Shoto followed, the latter's ice carving a smooth path to cut off Raptor's escape.

"Ow—watch where you're going!" Bakugo's voice was sharp, his crimson eyes narrowing as he caught sight of them. Midoriya and Shoto stood beside him, all three in their hero gear.

Midoriya's face lit up with recognition. "Niko? Tokoyami? Hawks? What are you doing here?"

"There's a traitor from our agency," Tokoyami explained quickly, his eyes never leaving the alley. "He's dangerous. We have to catch him."

Raptor's eyes darted between the heroes, his back against the ice wall Shoto suddenly made. Desperation twisted his face. With a roar, he lunged forward, his quirk flaring to life. But he wasn't fast enough.

Niko's telekinesis snapped around him like invisible chains, holding him in place. Her focus was absolute, every muscle in her body taut as she kept him suspended mid-air.

Shoto's expression shifted, his dual-colored eyes sharpening. "Then let us help."

"No," Hawks interjected, his tone firm. "You're here for work studies with Endeavor, right? You need to stay on your mission."

"Endeavor?" Niko's heart skipped a beat. "He's here?"

As if summoned by her words, Endeavor appeared at the far end of the street, his towering form unmistakable. His blue eyes scanned the scene, his presence a wall of heat and authority.

Dabi, who had been watching from the shadows, stiffened. His sharp blue eyes darted to Endeavor, and his jaw clenched. Without a word, he faded into the shadows, slipping away before his father could spot him.

Niko felt the absence of Dabi's presence like a weight on her chest, but there was no time to dwell on it.

Endeavor approached, his gaze settling on Niko. His expression shifted, a flash of recognition sparking behind his steely demeanor. "You..."

Niko met his gaze, her own eyes a mirror of her mother's. "Endeavor."

His brow furrowed, a rare uncertainty flickering across his face. "You look just like..." He trailed off, his lips pressing into a thin line. "How old are you, girl?"

"Sixteen," she replied, her voice steady despite the unease pooling in her stomach.

Endeavor's expression darkened. "Rei... She had a daughter before... When she ran away..." His voice was barely more than a rumble, but Niko heard every word.

"Yes," she confirmed, her tone sharp. "I'm the girl Rei had before you took her back. I'm Niko."

Shoto's eyes widened, his expression a mixture of shock and something softer—hope, maybe. Bakugo and Midoriya exchanged looks, the weight of the revelation settling over them.

Endeavor's posture remained rigid, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor. "We'll discuss this later. Right now, focus on the mission."

Raptor Escaped...again

Niko's lips pressed together, but she nodded. The time for answers would come, but first, they needed to find Raptor.

Hawks took control of the situation, guiding them back to the task at hand. "Raptor's in the area. We need to split up. Keep communication open."

Midoriya, ever the strategist, nodded. "We'll take the left side of the block. You take the right."

As they moved into formation, Niko felt a strange sense of unity. Despite the chaos, despite the lingering questions and the shadow of her family's past, they were heroes. And heroes never backed down.

Somewhere in the shadows, Dabi watched, his blue eyes burning with a mix of longing and regret. He'd escaped Endeavor's notice this time, but the truth was closing in. And when it finally came to light, none of them would be the same.

The hunt continued, and the truth lingered just beyond their reach—waiting to be uncovered.