Counting Down

-cynicism-

He was shaking, feeling as if his knees would give out at any moment, leaving him collapsed and in a heap on his enemy's floorboards. Breathing deeply, he gently tried to step forward without making any sounds whatsoever. After all, he knew that the Endeavor agency was constantly under surveillance. The three security cameras spanning Endeavor's office were proof of that fact. And by gosh, they were a pain in the ass to dismantle without setting off what felt like thirty billion alarms from all eight firewalls.

The last thing the vigilante wanted was to have his hacking trace found out by someone like Endeavor or Nezu. Because even though the man was brash and cruel, he was also a genius who rivaled Aizawa most days.

Swiftly the vigilante stepped towards the large oak desk at the room's farthest wall. The enclosure was organized and well arranged for someone who had severe anger management issues, the illegal crime fighter mused. He slipped behind the large oak desk and looked over what was there. Four picture frames, one large and three smaller. In the large was the whole family of Endeavor, smiling happily. Enji and Rei were side-hugging in the middle, Endeavor's free palm on a mischievous-looking Touya's shoulder. Rei had her delicate right hand on Natsuo's shoulder as he sent a side glance at Touya with a smirk. Clearly, after this photo was taken, something had happened at the hands of the teenage hooligans--most likely some type of prank, if the vigilante could guess. In between the two teenage boys, placed closest to the camera in front of the family, was a shorter Fuyumi looking down and gently holding a bashful toddler with the utmost care and adoration.

The family seemed almost normal, with no injuries and no hostile undertones between each other. It was almost...too good to be true. A malicious smile overtook the vigilante's masked face. He grabbed the picture with a firmly covered hand and slid it a couple centimeters to the right, just slightly closer to the computer. The second frame was a photo of Rei and Enji on their wedding day, standing beautifully tall, eyes wet with pure emotions racking over their bodies as both parties stood facing one another about to be united in holy matrimony. The vigilante analyzed the photo, not taking long to notice the Bride of Honor and the Best Man who were nearly cut from the photograph to fit the main couple. But the vigilante could still see their smiling faces to a degree. He almost snorted at seeing the Bride of Honor's beaming smile and long green hair blowing partially in front of her face. Across from her, the Best man was also smiling, though the mischievous face was glimpsing not at the couple, but at the woman behind them. The man's dark black hair and freckles did nothing to hide his resemblance to the groom.
To the vigilante, this office visit was getting better and better.

Quickly, his gaze moved to the other photograph, which just so happened to be a seemingly candid photograph of a heavily pregnant Rei sleeping in the crook of Enji's arm as they lounged on a large red couch cushion that was so large it looked like a bed. The funny part was how calm the duo appeared to be. Rei looked so peaceful while Enji grinned widely at the person behind the camera, eyes filled with excitement as he pointed to his wife. It was as if the man was showing her off proudly to a buddy behind the screen.

The vigilante wanted to scoff at the blatant show of affection captured within a photograph and frame. But he held his tongue and instead reached out, hands landing on both this frame and the previous. He moved one forward a centimeter while the other one was moved to the right about an inch.

After all, he didn't break and enter Enji's office to steal or vandalize anything. He just wanted to be a nuisance--a thorn in the abnormally tall hero's flesh.

Finally, the man turned to the final photo and almost shook with excitement. By now he was leaning heavily against the desk to stay upright. His hands were shaky and he could feel the corners of his vision fading ever so slightly. Nevertheless, this last photograph caused the vigilante to take in a sharp inhale and reach forward. Luckily enough, his voice changer didn't register the sound as a word and didn't broadcast it, but the man was caught off guard by the sudden whirring of three cameras starting back up, their power lights turning on, and signaling the start of a recording.