Tokoyami

The flickering neon sign of "Tokoyami Hero Agency" cast long, dancing shadows across my desk. Paperwork piled high, the remnants of a villain takedown from earlier that day. My head throbbed. Being a pro hero wasn't just about flashy fights and saving the day; it was about the endless grind, the reports, the meetings, and the constant weight of responsibility. And then there were my daughters.

Flair, with her unruly black hair and piercing red eyes, was a spitting image of me in appearance, but thankfully, possessed her mother's quiet intensity. Then there was Faye, blue-haired and with eyes a shade of purple that defied explanation, possessing her mother's mischievous streak, a constant reminder of Y/N, the woman who used to fill this office with her laughter and chaotic energy.

It had been seven years since Y/N left. Seven years since that argument, fueled by stress and unspoken resentments, had ripped us apart. She stormed out, a whirlwind of anger and dark magic, promising to find herself. I haven't seen her since.

Now, I was a single father navigating the treacherous waters of teenage girls, all while trying to uphold my duties as a hero. Luckily, I wasn't completely alone. Tsuyu Asui, or Froppy as she's known to the public, had been my rock. She helped with the girls, offering a listening ear, and even assisting with agency work when she had time.

"Papa," Flair's voice cut through my thoughts. She stood in the doorway, a slender figure framed by the dim light. "Faye's missing."

My heart lurched. "Missing? What do you mean, missing?"

"She said she was going out to meet a friend, but that was hours ago. Her phone is off, and I can't find any trace of her using her quirk." Flair's red eyes glowed with a faint crimson light, the telltale sign of her shadow control quirk activating as she searched the apartment.

My hero instincts kicked in. This wasn't just a teenage girl missing curfew; it was my daughter, and her quirk was offline. That was never a good sign.

"Did she say who she was meeting?" I asked, already reaching for my hero costume.

Flair shook her head, her expression tight with worry. "Just said a friend. She's been acting weird lately, secretive. She even started practicing her dark magic again."

Dark magic. A chill ran down my spine. Y/N's influence was strong in Faye, and while Faye was a skilled magic user, I had always feared she would follow the same path as her mother. "Call Tsuyu," I instructed Flair. "Tell her what's happening. I'm going to search the city."

The night air was thick with a strange, unsettling energy as I launched myself into the sky. Dark Shadow, my quirk, pulsed around me, extending its reach as I scoured the streets. The city was a maze of alleys and hidden corners, and the thought of Faye lost somewhere in its depths was terrifying.

Tsuyu met me at the agency. Her normally bright eyes were clouded with concern. "What can I do, Tokoyami?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

"Faye's been practicing her dark magic," I said, my voice grim. "I fear she's gotten herself into something dangerous."

Tsuyu's brow furrowed. "Dark magic is unpredictable, especially in untrained hands. We need to find her before something bad happens."

We split up, Tsuyu using her enhanced senses to search for any trace of Faye's presence, while I relied on Dark Shadow and my network of informant contacts. Hours passed with no sign. Just as despair began to creep in, Dark Shadow alerted me to a faint signature of dark magic emanating from an abandoned warehouse district on the outskirts of the city.

I arrived to find the warehouse doors hanging open, the interior shrouded in darkness. A tense silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant wail of sirens. I entered cautiously, Dark Shadow extending its tendrils to probe the shadows.

The air grew heavy, the scent of ozone and burnt metal filling my nostrils. In the center of the warehouse, a circle of flickering candles illuminated a group of figures huddled around a makeshift altar. And there, in the middle of it all, was Faye.

Her blue hair was disheveled, her purple eyes wide with a mixture of fear and excitement. She was chanting in a language I didn't recognize, her hands glowing with an eerie purple energy. An older man, his face scarred and twisted, stood beside her, guiding her through the ritual.

"Faye!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the warehouse. "What are you doing?"

Faye's head snapped up, her eyes widening in alarm. "Papa! You weren't supposed to find me!"

The scarred man turned to me, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Fumikage Tokoyami. I've been expecting you. Faye has been a great help in reclaiming something that was stolen from me."

"Reclaiming what?" I demanded, my guard raised. Dark Shadow pulsed around me, ready to strike.

"My quirk," he said, his voice dripping with venom. "Dark magic is not all evil and chaos! It can be used for healing and restoration and can restore Quirks that were stolen."

Faye shot him a nervous glance. I needed to get her out of there. "Faye, come with me," I said, my voice soft but firm. "This man is dangerous."

"But Papa," Faye protested, "he says he can help me understand my powers better. He says I have untapped potential!"

"Potential that he wants to exploit," I countered. "Faye, please, trust me."

The scarred man laughed. "She's already chosen her side, Tokoyami. She sees the truth, the potential that you've kept hidden from her"

Before I could react, Faye unleashed a blast of dark magic, directly at me.

I managed to deflect the energy blast with Dark Shadow, but the force of the impact sent me staggering backward. Faye gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Papa, I didn't mean to!"

"It's alright, Faye," I said, trying to reassure her. "Just come with me, and we can talk about this."

Tsuyu suddenly burst through the warehouse doors, her eyes narrowed with determination. "Tokoyami! I brought backup!"

Several pro heroes followed behind her, their faces grim. The scarred man realized he was outnumbered. "Fine," he spat. "But this isn't over."

He grabbed Faye's arm and attempted to teleport away using his quirk, but before he could fully activate his power, Flair appeared, her shadow tendrils snaking around his legs, anchoring him to the ground. He was soon apprehended.

Once the police had taken the man away, I turned to Faye, my heart heavy. "Why, Faye? Why did you do this?"

Faye burst into tears. "I just wanted to understand my powers!" she sobbed. "I wanted to be like Mama!"

My heart clenched. "You don't need to be like your mother to be powerful, Faye. You are powerful in your own right. And you don't need to align with the dark side of magic to learn anything."

I pulled her into a hug, holding her tight. "I promise," I whispered, "I'll help you. We'll find someone who can help you understand your abilities, but not in this way."

As we walked out of the warehouse, Tsuyu placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You did good, Tokoyami," she said softly. "You saved your daughter."

I looked at her, a flicker of gratitude warming my chest. "I couldn't have done it without you, Tsuyu."

Later, as I tucked Faye into bed, I thought about Y/N, and the choices we had made. I missed her, that was undeniable, but Y/N also made her choice, and as much as I wanted her to come back, I also knew that it was best to move on

Flair had been quietly watching us from the doorway. As I left Faye's room, she looked at me and then at Tsuyu, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "You know," she said slyly, "Tsuyu is pretty cool, Papa. And she's always been there for us."

I sighed. Leave it to my daughters to try and play matchmaker. "Tsuyu is a good friend, Flair," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Flair grinned. "Maybe more than a friend?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "That's enough matchmaking for tonight, Flair. Now, go to sleep."

As I headed back to my office, I couldn't help but smile. Maybe, just maybe, my daughters were onto something. Tsuyu had been a constant source of support, and I couldn't deny the warmth I felt whenever she was around. But now wasn't the time. My priority was my daughters, and making sure they didn't follow the same path as their mother. But if, someday, things were different... well, perhaps there was hope for a new chapter in my life after all.