Controlee

26. Baby's First Villain Fight

Rule 8: Never use your quirk on a person.
Rule 8, rewrite: Only use your quirk on a person to defend others.

Otsuka jolted, almost tripping over her own feet. On the rooftops with Edgeshot again while the police cleared up their crime scene, it could've been pretty dangerous if he hadn't managed to catch her shoulder to balance her. Caught between surprise and embarrassment, Otsuka could only apologise, fumbling to get her phone out of her pocket.

Edgeshot was kind enough to turn away, letting her sort herself out without any eyes on her. She really thought she'd turned her phone off— not just on silent, but off. She was lucky the thing hadn't gone off while she was sneaking around the rafters earlier.

With a few flicks that were becoming second nature to her as she got used to the phone, Otsuka pulled up the message. A location marker sat innocently in the class 1-A group chat, no words or explanation, just a location.

"Edgeshot here, what's going on?"

Otsuka glanced up from her phone, finding Edgeshot speaking into the communicator all heroes were required to carry.

"There's been an attack in Hosu city-" Otsuka's heart hit her throat. Hosu, it had to be Hosu- "they're calling all available heroes there now," a voice crackled through, their tone nervous as they went into greater detail about the situation.

Otsuka tapped the location, pulling it up on the maps app, praying she was wrong. Zooming out, she found what she'd dreaded and expected all the same.

There was an attack on Hosu. Midoriya had sent his location onto the group chat. Midoriya was in Hosu.

His face— well, single eye— was grave as he turned around. "I think my friend might be in trouble," she blurted out quickly, surprising him enough to make him step back or maybe she was standing too close.

"Why?"

She handed over the small device, displaying the location message. "He sent where he was but didn't say anything else and he's not the kind of person to do this as-as a joke or something," she rushed to explain, trying her hardest not to stumble over words. Edgeshot had to understand. Midoriya wasn't stupid, he wouldn't do this without reason, it wasn't some prank.

"Hosu," Edgeshot muttered, reading the address and making the same connection she had. Edgeshot's hand rested heavily on her shoulder. "Alright, I have to go to Hosu now anyway and I'll check this address as soon as I get there. I'm trusting you to go straight back to the hero agency immediately. Do you understand?" he checked, handing back her phone which she immediately slipped into her pocket again, ensuring it was on silent.

Otsuka nodded.

"Even if you come across a villain, do not engage, head straight back."

"Got it."

He hesitated only a moment longer. "I will do what I can for your friend." It went unsaid he probably wouldn't be able to get there in time, but maybe he'd be able to contact someone who could, she didn't know. "Be careful."

"And you."

His nod was gentle, serene, before he leapt away.

Otsuka watched him disappear off, barely able to keep track for more than a few seconds as he faded into the night. With him gone, she took a deep breath as the darkness of the night seemed to creep closer, silently wishing for Midoriya, and all the other students she knew were around Hosu, to be safe. Then she started making her way back.

She'd barely been on the path back for more than thirty seconds when her foot slipped on a roof tile. This had been so much easier with Edgeshot there, he'd been so sure of his footing— likely because he'd done it so many times before— so she'd watched where he stepped and copied. Now though, she was guessing where was safe on the go and it wasn't working so well for her.