12 Chapter 12 // The Phase

"Thanks for your...compliance." Lullaby said, shaking the vial of wine-red blood, grinning. "Kage will be returned shortly."

Deku scowled, holding his bruised arm. She would admit, she stuck the needle much more roughly then nescesary. At the same time, she couldn't squint all that well without making her connection with Kage more obvious, so she just poked and hoped she had hit a vein. "Keep your word."

"Of course!" Lullaby said, mock-offended. "I am a woman of my word."

"You...you're a villain." Deku spat, his fear almost invisible. Lullaby cocked her head, begrudging surprise threatening to spill over. She hadn't seen this side of Deku. It made her love and hate him even more.

"You've changed." she scoffed. Deku's eyes glinted.

"You say that like we know each other." Deku said, almost questioningly. Shit, Lullaby thought. She leaned on one leg, faking confidence. She had to save this, or there was no point.

"I've been watching you and Kage for a long time." she said, her words slow and syrupy. "Why do you think I've barely become public now? Because I'm careful. Because I plan ahead."

She stepped back on the balcony, watching a million different emotions flood through his facial expression. She had bothered him. He was afraid.

"...what plans?" Deku asked, his breathing quickening. She had dropped the bait.

"Plans. You know, same old, same old." she said, teetering over the edge playfully. "Dominance."

"Over?" he asked, taking a hesitant step to the left. He's taking te bait.

"Why don't you ask Kage?" she said, one foot in the air. "If she's still alive, of course."

Deku's breath cut off. "You promised you'd return her."

Lullaby laughed, ready to jump. Oh, she was enjoying this way too much. "I never said alive."

The second she slipped, she relished and held back the urge to vomit as Deku yelled in shock. She leaped, not afraid as she felt Kurogiri's portals invite her back to the bar. He had the bait. Now to reel it in. It was time to invite Kage Asahi back.

For the time being...Lullaby Doe was benched.

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"How are you going to explain the hair?" Toga said, swinging her legs. Kage rolled her eyes, snipping off more hair. She decided to use the kitchen sink, knowing Kurogiri wouldn't mind if she cleaned afterward.

"You see me cutting it, don't you?" Kage snapped, already fed up with Toga's whining. "I'm going to use semi-permanent black dye on the ivory side. I can keep putting it in if it bleeds out at U.A. I've already gotten in through reccomendation, courtesy of Shigaraki."

"It's all part of the plan." Shigaraki purred, sitting lazily on the couch. Kage held back a grin as she heard video game noises behind her. Shigaraki, she had to admit, was a lot more fun when he wasn't in action. The villains were a lot like a family, when they weren't in action.

"Gonna miss video game tournaments with ya, Shiggs." she called over her shoulder, shaking her freshly-cut hair. Now, it was cut to her shoulders, just like Kage had before she let it grow out. It felt nice, and freeing. "I'll miss beating you too."

"You know full well who won that speedrun." he said, accusingly. Kage chuckled, turning to see the freshly-ironed uniform hanging on the door.

"A skirt? Really?" she said, grimacing at the length. "I'm practically naked in that thing."

"Consider it your....schoolgirl phase." Dabi suggested, twirling the umbrella in his drink around his fingers.

"Are you drunk?" she asked, laughing. He shrugged, downing the rest of his suspiciously-clear drink down.

"Wait, wait..." he exhaled, and a stream of violet-blue flame erupted from his lips. Toga cheered, and Shigaraki wheezed with laughter. Kage blinked away the smell of vodka.

"Pure vodka?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "I've seen you refill that glass twice."

"I don't get drunk." he said, blowing smoke from his lips. "I get lit."

"Put it on, Kage-kun." Toga whined. "I'm getting bored."

"Fine." she said, going to the privacy of the bathroom. She glanced at the skirt, and sighed. It was stupid, but she had to.

"I'm coming back," she sang under her breath.