Powerless - A My Hero Academia/ DC Crossover

Chapter 16 - The Aftermath

The attack on the USJ left everyone shaken. The phones rang off the hook from reporters, parents and concerned citizens, demanding to speak to Nezu or anyone who could tell them why the kids in their charge were in such danger. Reports about the incident and the League of Villains were on every news channel, magazine, and web forum available. Over 72 villains were arrested after the attack, but they were all low-level thugs or petty criminals, and they all said they were approached by Shigaraki and Kurogiri and told they would be paid handsomely to help them kill All Might and a few school kids. None of them had ever heard of their benefactors before nor knew anything about their whereabouts.

In the conference room back at UA High, Principal Nezu, All Might, Vlad King, Snipe, and Midnight were all listening to the report presented by Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi, who was assigned to the case. "We've been doing everything we can to find something on this so-called League of Villains," he said. "We've made some progress, but can't find anything on this 'Shigaraki' so far. We've searched our records for men in their 20s and 30s registered with some sort of disintegration quirk, but so far we've come up empty. Same for the warp villain, Kurogiri. Our conclusion is that they are not citizens or they are using aliases. Hard to find, either way."

"So what you're really saying is that we don't know anything," huffed Vlad King.

"We've got to track them down," said Snipe. "I shot their ringleader, but once he heals up he'll try pullin' somethin' like this again. What a pain."

"He did seem like the type," said All Might, more to himself.

"Is something on your mind, All Might?" Said Nezu.

"The attack on the USJ was too bold," said All Might. "No sane adult would ever attempt it. The ringleader kept monologuing about why he was there. He bragged about Nomu's many quirks, but never said a word about his own powers. When things didn't go his way, he was visibly upset, like he was going to throw a tantrum." All Might leaned back and sighed. "I guess bragging about Nomu's quirks was a quick way to draw me into a fight," he admitted.

"That might be true," said Nezu. "But strategically it was foolish to reveal his quirks up front instead of keeping them a secret."

"Shigaraki made wild, immature claims," All Might continued. "But he did so with a straight face, for the most part. And he talked about Nomu like it was some kind of a pet. It seemed like he had never been told 'no' before and like he thought things would go his way no matter what. He has the personality of a spoiled little brat, a man-child."

"A child with incredible power, though," said Vlad King.

"What worries me," continued Detective Tsukauchi. "Is that this 'man-child' got them all to follow his crazy plan. They viewed him as a real leader."

"There is nothing more dangerous than a villain with a cause," said a gruff voice. The teachers turned to see the dark form of Batman standing in the doorway.

"Hiya, Batsy!" Said Midnight, immediately batting her eyelashes. "Come to see little-ol'-me?"

"What are you doing here?" Said All Might.

"Batman has been brought in as a...consultant, of sorts," Said Tsukauchi. "He will be helping us in the investigation of the League of Villains."

"You can't be serious."

"I'm afraid so, All Might," replied Tsukauchi. "Batman's forensic and deductive reasoning are unmatched. He has closed more criminal cases than any other hero agency and has on more than one occasion been cited as the World's Greatest Detective. Not to mention his ward, Izuku Midoriya, was one of the students involved in the USJ attack, so this case involves him as well."