Voodoo Doll [BNHA]

Chapter Seven

At the UA graduation ceremony, Fumeiyo looked around the grand hall filled with all her peers. Several of her teachers over her time at UA had congratulated her on being top of her class but after they'd all moved on to talk with other staff and students, she found herself utterly alone. Her classmates and peers shied away from her and huddled off in their own groups talking about their plans for the future and what agencies they were joining.

None of her classmates said a word to her. When she accidentally met someone's gaze, they'd abruptly look away and pretend they hadn't seen her. She tried to approach the other top two students to congratulate them. When she spoke, they talked over her continuing their conversations as if she weren't there.

Fumeiyo headed for the door feeling discouraged, she didn't want to stay for the banquet dinner or after party if everyone was going to pretend, she didn't exist. Fighting back tears, she reached for the door to exit the grand hall only to jump as the door suddenly burst open with a flourish. There was a burst of flames causing a hush to fall on the hall as everyone turned as a chorus of loud voices shouted through the fire.

"FLAME ON!" It was a motto of sorts at the Endeavor Hero Agency.

The flames dispersed and Fumeiyo stared in awe as a bulky muscular figure stepped into the hall flanked by several of his sidekicks. Endeavor noticed Fumeiyo about to make her exit and extended a hand to her.

"I expect great things from you." His voice carried through the hall startling everyone.

Fumeiyo stared at him in awe, she hadn't expected any of them to come to the ceremony or make a big show of it. She placed her hand in his and smiled, "I won't let you down."

Doll jolted awake; her body was wracked with pain. She was lying on the sidewalk with something soft bundled up under her head. Someone had removed her mask so she could breathe a little easier. She slowly sat up as she heard the sounds of fighting nearby. She looked behind her and noticed a familiar tan jacket with a plush white lining, it was Hawks'. Scooping it up, she staggered to her feet and looked in the direction of the fighting to see Hawks using the last of his crimson feathers to help Endeavor deliver a finishing blow to the horrifying winged Nomu.

She watched her mentor fall from the sky and forced herself to move, racing toward him in a meager attempt to catch him. He landed on his feet striking a familiar pose with one arm raised high above his head though he looked dead on his feet. Hawks ran to his side and caught him around the middle in an attempt to help keep him on his feet.

Doll hurried to join them.

"Hold up just a minute." A voice sounded from behind her, she turned to see a boy a few years her senior with dark hair, patches of mottled flesh and teal eyes wearing dark clothing. She recognized him as one of the members of The League of Villains, Dabi. "A lot of things went beyond my expectations...but let's do things in order." His teal gaze flicked past Doll to her mentor. "It's nice to meet you, I guess...Endeavor."

Doll thought she saw a moment of recognition on Hawks' face, as if this wasn't his first time seeing Dabi. She didn't like the look in Dabi's eyes as his gaze lingered on her mentor. He was too injured from his fight and looked to be struggling to keep himself upright. Dabi cast his arms outward and a massive wall of blue flames separated the four of them from the other heroes. Endeavor and Hawks tensed, they had both expended too much energy saving people and defeating the Nomu.

Dabi noticed the heroes grow tense, "Hey gimme a break would you, I just came to take back that Nomu...I mean there's no way I could win against the top two heroes when they're both on death's doorstep." He charged forward.

Doll took a deep breath and released Hawks' jacket from her grip before lunging at Dabi. She cleared the space between them in a few swift steps. Dabi's eyes widened a fraction as a small bandaged fist came flying at his face, he'd forgotten about the pesky sidekick, he barely had time to dodge. He leaned out of the way of the first fist and nearly walked right into the second one she swung at him with a focused precision. He ducked to dodge her second swing and Doll brought her knee up quickly nearly breaking his nose. She'd trained endlessly with all of Endeavor's sidekicks learning as many skills as she possibly could to be useful to him.

Doll staggered on her feet after landing a hit, her body hurt all over but she had a job to do, she couldn't allow any casualties. She had to protect Hawks and Endeavor, no matter what. Blood streaked down her cheeks dripping from the corners of her eyes, she was way past her limit.

"You're right." She said through gritted teeth, "even on death's doorstep, you're not worth their time." She steadied herself and took on a defensive stance, "you have to get through me first."

Dabi smirked, the girl was bleeding profusely and looked like a gentle breeze could topple her, she was practically dead already. He moved toward her and paused as he felt a strange sensation wash over his body.

Doll activated her quirk and retrieved a concealed blade hidden amongst the dangling straps and buckles of her dress. She spun the blade in her hand before drawing her arm back. Dabi tensed thinking she was going to attack him with it and stared in awe as she drove it into her back and gave it a twist. He winced at the sudden pain in his own back. He felt blood begin to soak his shirt and jacket.

"Doll!" Endeavor tried to will himself to move as he saw her start to slip to her knees. She shouldn't be using her quirk anymore; she was losing too much blood which meant her regenerative powers were limited.

Hawks caught her by the arms managing to keep her upright. Doll retrieved another concealed blade and spun it in her hand. She raised it to her neck and Dabi's eyes widened. "A little help, Ujiko?" The look in the girl's cloudy white eyes told him everything he needed to know, she'd take herself out to stop him, and that wasn't a risk he was willing to take. He expelled some black sludge from his mouth that began to surround his body to warp him away, "catch ya later, Mr. Number One hero. I'm sure we'll have another chance to talk... but until then, break a leg out there, but don't go kicking the bucket, Enji Todoroki." He vanished into thin air.

Doll dropped the knife in her hands and reached back with a grimace to pull out the knife in her back. The wound didn't close. She'd used her quirk too much and would have to wait it out until her regenerative powers were restored.

Hawks looked between Endeavor and his sidekick for a moment, perhaps he'd been wrong, the creepy girl was pretty intense, after all. He noticed the wound in her back wasn't closing like all her other wounds had and swept her off her feet as one of his sidekicks got an ambulance on the way for Endeavor. Doll let out a soft gasp of surprise as he lifted her into his arms and her body burned at their sudden closeness.

"Doll..." Endeavor growled softly, "I told you not to allow any casualties...that includes yourself."

Doll bowed her head but said nothing. If she lost her life protecting them, she wouldn't consider it a casualty.

Hawks let out a sigh, he could feel her trembling she was putting too much strain on herself, "you two are exhausting."

"What?!" Endeavor snapped, "YOU'RE exhausting!"

Doll giggled quietly at their banter; she had a feeling her mentor was starting to warm up to Hawks.