Encroachment

Chapter 8: Waiting

Inko pinched the bridge of her nose. She was seated on the couch in front of the television. The room was dim, a couple of lamps lit by her side. On the coffee table by her feet, a few dirty plates were stacked and covered in food. A putrid stench that she had long since stopped smelling had claimed the air of her apartment. Inko herself was dangerously thin. Dull eyes peered out of heavy, pale lids. Her greasy green hair was strung up into a loose bun atop her head but her hair fell out in stringy clumps in front of her eyes and down her neck. Her pyjamas hung from her body and her skin had developed a grey tint which highlighted the nearly black bags beneath her eyes. Inko's phone rang, catching the woman's attention. With a vigour that seemed impossible from a woman as deathly looking as she, she snatched up her mobile and pressed it firmly against her ear. "Hello?" She squeaked, gripping a handful of loose t-shirt tightly in one fist.

"Mrs Midoryia, we called to inform you that there has been another sighting of your son." A young man's voice spoke gently down the line. The voice was bland and hinted no emotion. Inko drew her knees up to her chin, her toes curled beneath her feet and hummed for him to continue. "Your son was reported to have been seen in the Corrilean sector, on Banha street, disappearing into a back alley and meeting with an unknown person." A tight feeling spread across her chest and her eyes widened a little. "We investigated the lead and managed to secure security footage of a green haired boy escaping off to a side alley with the other person. Would you come to the station to identify if it is your son?" The officer's voice was stern.

Inko felt a little heat tickle her heart. A rush of excitement swelled within her heart. "You need me to identify Izuku?" She murmured, a wide grin etched onto her face, she laced her toes together and hugged her knees closer to her chest.

"Yes, his appearance seems to have been altered a little bit." The officer informed her, his voice trailing off.

Inko's mood was hampered a little by that statement, but it was not enough to wipe the cheesy grin from her face. In her mind Izuku would always be that curly haired, red cheeked little boy that paraded around the house in All Might onesies. No matter how her son changed his appearance on the outside, she knew who he really was on the inside. "When should I arrive to identify him?" She asked, unable to hide the delighted squeak that added itself into her voice.

"As soon as possible." He informed her gently.

"Thank you Officer Sansa," she bowed her head and lowered her voice.

"Of course, Ma'am." He responded with his voice the same tone as her own. With that Inko sprung to her feet and starched her arms far above her head. Pulling at her wide neckline, she strode off to her bedroom.

*

Izuku watched with mild curiosity as the horror scene before him unfolded. The skinny, scraggly haired Stain had the two strongest members of the league of villains on the ropes. The grey haired, scrawny teen Shigaraki was pinned beneath the Hero Killer, a knife plunged deep into his shoulder and another one lingering inches from his face. The barman made of purple mist was clinging to the bar, his shoulder leaking inky red blood. Sludge had seen them on the news, they were the ones who attacked U.A. and the ones that wanted All Might dead. The Sludge let out a muffled chuckle. The bar itself was warmly lit and very clean, totally unlike what Izuku would have expected of a villain hideout. Then again, Izuku had learned a lot of unexpected things he never wanted to know about villains in the past ten months. The sludge was leaning against the doorway to the bar, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

"So you want us to add to your numbers?" Stain spoke, his voice crackling with darkened intensity. "No matter what you want to accomplish, it is necessary to have conviction and desire. Those without it and those who are weak will be weeded out. It's only natural." The hero killer shifted his stance, the clink of numerous weapons on his body sounded through the air.