Chapter 8 // "What a Banger!"

Lullaby craned her neck, stretching. Finally, they were getting closer. The villains were separated into three vans; the first holding all of the lesser villains who were merely there for brute strength. The second, holding the more valuable villains; Toga, Dabi, Shigaraki, Twice, Nomu, Kurogiri, and Lullaby Doe, to her delight. The third was the getaway, which for now served as a decoy.

Lullaby was delighted to find herself deemed valuable enough to be alongside the best of the League. She cracked her knuckles, anxious to get into action. Dabi watched her with faint amusement.

"Lullaby." Shigaraki said, scratching absentmindedly on his ankle. "How would you suggest going about this?"

She exhaled. "You mean the approach."

"Correct. I'd like to see how you think."

"If we did it my way, I'd suggest splitting the cargo of villains in the first van into three groups." she said confidently.

"Are you insane?" Twice fretted, then murmuring an agreement under his breath.

"It makes sense when you look at it strategically." she pointed out, crossing her arms. "Get the first group to cause a distraction as far away from possible from the entry point. That allows us to infiltrate smoothly."

"That's the most cliche way to infiltrate. They'll be expecting us to pull something like that." Dabi muttered, adjusting his jacket.

"That's why there's two other groups. The second backs us up from afar, and we send in the third group with the first to double up. It won't look like a distraction when more villains join the rest. Everything will fall into line." Lullaby finished, allowing herself a satisfactory grin. "We grab our target, and get the hell out of there. Mission accomplished."

Toga applauded, giggling. Shigaraki leaned back, intrigued. "Promising, Lullaby. Let me remind you that we won't take deceit lightly. One foot out of line-"

"Don't worry, I plan on staying." Lullaby scoffed. "Trust me, Shiggs."

"Bet I'll kill more than you." Dabi said, eyes glinting. "You don't have the guts to even kill one, I bet."

"You're on." Lullaby said, smirking. "Twice, keep a count, will ya?"

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"What a banger!" Lullaby whistled, looking up on the building. She couldn't make out details, but judging by the way the reflection shined in her vision, she assumed the tall building was lined with windows. "So, when are we going?"

"Half an hour." Shigaraki purred. "Kurogiri, if you don't mind warping Lullaby in."

"With pleasure."

Lullaby winced. "No thanks. I'll join you another way."

Toga pouted. "Aww. We can't go in together?"

Lullaby rolled her eyes. "A shame, I know. I'll check around the perimeter, get a scope on the security. I know where to meet up."

"And how are you getting in?" Twice asked.

Lullaby shrugged, already walking away. "Air vents."

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Izuku bowed, wincing as the authorities continued scolding him. Regardless of the humiliation, he saved Kacchan. That's what mattered.

"Go home, and eat something." the police man finished, sighing. "And use your head next time, son."

"Yes, sir." he bowed quickly, and grabbed his slimy-smelling backpack. He began walking back home, still shell-shocked from the day. From meeting All Might, his favorite hero of all time, finding out the same hero had a grave weakness, to saving Kacchan from a villain. Who knew?

He sighed, stretching as he turned a corner. His head was moving at a million miles an hour, but all he wanted to do was eat some of his mother's sashimi and take a long nap. Mm, sashimi. Suddenly, he heard a set of heavy footsteps behind him.

"Midorya!" he turned, stiffening. No way...

All Might stood across from him, grinning. "Izuku Midorya. I have a proposition for you."

Midorya bowed quickly. "All Might, I-"

All Might held up a hand. "Midorya, you had the courage and quick-thinking to save that boy when no one else did. Not the other pro-heroes. Not the authorities. Not even me. You asked me if you had what it took to be a hero, even without a quirk."

Midorya bit his lip, trying not to cry.

"You can be, Izuku. With my help, if you're willing."

Midorya kneeled, shaking with sobs. He could be a hero? That was his dream for so long, wasn't it? And the offer was right there, in his reach.

"Do you have what it takes, to be a hero?"

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Fool.

Lullaby watched from an alley, shaking with suppressed laughter. Did Deku really believe him? All that cock-and-bull monologue? She bet every kid was told that at some point. She almost had the nerve to go kill All Might there and then. How was she supposed to know the streets to the entrance of the Hero Department and the town crossed? It was chance. And she wanted badly to take it.

Then she heard something that almost sounded like heaven.

"My weakness, Izuku. It's gotten worse."

All Might, the number one pro-hero, the strongest of them all...was dying? She closed her eyes, listening. What if...

"My power, can be passed on. I need a successor." Her heart nearly jumped out of her throat. A successor? If he passed it on, that meant...

All Might could die.

But who would he pass it on to-

She stared, stunned, as he patted Deku's back. Her best friend...

She covered her mouth, and slunk back in deeper into the alley. Villains don't have friends. She should have never trusted anyone. She would kill All Might, and Deku if she had to.

Traitor. You said we were going to do this together, she thought with a sob.

She tightened her grip on her mouth, running back. This information. She could use it to her advantage. So what if she killed All Might and Deku? It didn't have to stop there. She could kill. Recruit. Continue the cycle.

She dialed Toga, grinning. I guess I'm going to U.A. after all, she thought with a laugh.

"Pass me to Shiggs." she said, cutting off Toga's greeting.

"Lullaby. Where've you been?"

"Shiggs, do me a favor and when you get your intel, be sure to grab a U.A. acceptance form." she said, walking back. "i got some information. Useful...information."

"About?"

She laughed, placing her muzzle back on. "How I'm going to kill the Symbol of Peace, and his successor."