Chapter 6: Friends and Planning

The Last Drop Inn was in sight. Just as Shigaraki reached to open the door, it swung outwards unexpectedly, nearly striking him. A child of similar age hopped out, her vivid blue hair swayed gracefully with the small single braid at the back head.

Upon nearly colliding with someone, Powder instinctively wanted to apologize, a lesson instilled in her by Vander. But soon stopped herself when she spotted the kid she had met the day before. The pale blue hair evoked a sense of fondness in her.

"You're finally here! Awesome! Let's go, Vi and the others are waiting. They said they wouldn't start until you got here," she exclaimed. When she noticed the shocked Shigaraki, she continued her rapid chatter.

"I was stuck waiting for you, but I knew you would come! Mylo said you must have been scared off by Vander, but I didn't believe it. Looks like that stupid Mylo is wrong again today, haha!" Powder rambled on, her words clear, yet Shigaraki found it overwhelming. He had never experienced someone so enthusiastic chatting with him like this. Though he didn't truly dislike it, he was uncertain about his feelings; it felt different when she talked like this.

"Don't lag behind, let's go!" Powder exclaimed, rushing ahead of Shigaraki, leaving him momentarily bewildered by her energy. He observed her with quiet curiosity, wondering how someone his age could be so carefree and enthusiastic. This was a sharp contrast to the weight he bore.

Suddenly, he felt a tug on his wrist. His eyes widened as his instincts screamed at him to pull away, but he forced himself to stay still, knowing the consequences of a reflexive reaction. Powder had grasped his wrist carelessly, her small hand wrapping around tightly, completely unaware of the danger.

Shigaraki's chest tightened, his breath catching as he glanced at her. She didn't notice his tension, and her focus was entirely on pulling him forward. Oblivious to the near disaster, Powder recalled something Vi had told her. Her sister's advice echoed in her mind: 'You only hold hands with someone you really trust or like.'

At that moment, Vi was still the only one in her heart. Maybe that was why she instinctively stopped short of fully holding Shigaraki's hand. Though given casually, a few simple words from Vi had unwittingly safeguarded her from disaster.

Reluctantly, Shigaraki let her guide him through the Inn. The curious stares around him amplified his anxiety; he felt vulnerable without familiar faces nearby. The safety Silco once provided now haunted him for confronting this challenge alone.

The two weaved through the crowded Inn. Shigaraki moved stiffly as Powder led him with agile precision. The Inn was alive with the chatter of the Undercity. In some booths, cloaked figures whispered over secret deals. Others slammed mugs of ale onto the rough wooden surfaces, spilling foam as they played dice games and roared with laughter. A few glanced up as the two passed, their eyes brimming with curiosity.

"Powder, is this your new friend?" a grizzled older man called out. His face was a tapestry of tattoos, making him look every bit as intimidating as his voice suggested. Yet his tone implied that he knew Powder, clearly a recurring visitor.

"Yup!" Powder chirped. Her innocent giggle was like a ray of light in the gloom, and her bright smile was rare and precious in this downdraught undercity. For a moment, even the hardened faces softened as cheers erupted. The atmosphere swelled, and the ambiance of laughter reached a new peak.

Powder's grip on Shigarakis wrist didn't waver as she pulled him toward the basement stairs.

The moment the two stepped through the first door to the basement, Vander turned the corner like a shadow. His strong body filled the hallway as he watched the two disappear downstairs. Sevika walked beside him. Staring at the pale blue and blue hair out of her sight, she observed Vander's narrowed eyes and then shifted her gaze back to the basement.

"Are you sure you want Silco's son getting all cozy with your kids?" she asked, suspicion clear in her tone.

Vander's face became grim as he considered her words. "No," he admitted quietly, his deep voice carrying the weight of his conflicted thoughts. "I wouldn't have wanted them to meet if I had a choice. But Silco brought him here." His vision still lingered on the basement stairs, his expression a mix of worry and resignation. "But, kids should be kids, Sevika. We'll keep an eye on them. Nothing needs to change."

"It's not like you, Vander. You are getting soft." Sevika was about to nag, but then she realized her vision was clouded. Vander stepped in front of her, his bigger size staring down at her.

"You think this is me getting soft?" he said, his tone quiet, but something deeper was arising with intensity. "This isn't about softness, Sevika. It's about doing what's right, for them and for Zaun." His voice was low but carried intimidation.

Sevika held his gaze, her expression guarded but unreadable. Vander leaned in slightly, his eyes unwavering. "You've seen what happens when kids lose their innocence too early. I have, too. If I can give them even a sliver of normalcy, a chance to just be children, I'll do it. Even if it means taking a risk."

Sevika seemed ready to argue for a moment, her mouth opening as if to retort. But she hesitated, seeing something in Vander's eyes. It was a hidden pain from years of experience as one of the nominal leaders for the uprising of Zaun…

"You really think you can protect them from all this?" she muttered, her voice softer than before.

"I don't know," Vander admitted, his tone heavy. "But so far, it has worked."

Sevika arched a brow but didn't push further, her skepticism clear in her crossed arms. Vander placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, its weight more reassuring than forceful. "Speaking of keeping an eye on things," he added, his voice shifting to something lighter, though no less firm, "I need your help back in my study."

Sevika groaned in protest, rolling her eyes. "You just like bossing me around."

"Those papers won't read themselves- oops, I made a slip," Vander replied, steering her toward the hallway, ignoring her grumbling. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as they walked, though the worry in his eyes lingered.

**************

"Look who decided to finally show up!" a boy's loud voice hollered as Shigaraki and Powder stepped into the room.

Shigaraki's gaze shifted to the speaker, taking in the scene in front of him. 

The small room was lively and filled with mismatched furnishings. In the center stood a wiry boy, his sharp, angular face framed by unruly, spiky brown hair and prominent, bushy eyebrows. He wore a confident grin and gestured broadly at Shigaraki.

"Who's this kid, anyway?" Mylo continued, his voice dripping with exaggerated annoyance. "Making us all wait here for him. Vi?"

Vi leaned back lazily in her chair, her arms crossed as she shot him a look. "His name's Shigaraki," she said, standing up. "And he's joining our group."

"Our group?" Mylo scoffed, throwing his arms up theatrically. "You mean my group. You should all feel honoured that I've graced you with my presence."

"Yada-yada-yada," Vi interrupted, mocking him with exaggerated hand gestures. "Mylo, just be glad we let you stay."

Shigaraki remained still, his eyes scanning the room and its people. Thoughts raced through his mind as he struggled to find the right words and actions. Unlike him, these kids were boisterous, self-assured, and unreserved. He felt like a stranger, a ghostly figure that lingered awkwardly in their brilliance.

Powder tugged at his wrist, encouraging him to move ahead. Her radiant smile and sparkling blue eyes showed she had complete trust in him. Shigaraki, unfamiliar with such trust, felt a complicated mix of longing and fear stir within him. 'Can I really live up to it…'

Vi strode over to them, her boots clunking against the floorboards. She gave Powder a quick, reassuring smile. "Go grab a seat, sis. I'll handle this."

Powder released Shigaraki's wrist as Vi faced him, her smile transforming from sisterly affection to a bold, almost challenging grin.

"Okay, newbie," she said, moving closer. "Let's get this straight. I'm Vi, the oldest one here and the leader of this group. That loudmouth over there," her thumb gesturing behind her, "is Mylo. He's our lockpicker, but usually, he just picks fights."

"Hey!" Mylo shot back, puffing out his chest. "I heard that!"

Vi ignored him and pointed toward a larger boy sitting in the corner of the room. His short brown hair, topped by goggles, and patched but clean clothes gave him a practical, gave him an honest look, and it was hard to find any reason to dislike him at first glance,

"That's Claggor," Vi said. "He's our fixer. If you've got something broken, he'll make it work."

"I can fix things, too!" Powder protested quickly, her voice rising with determination to be heard. She wanted to prove she could do more to Shigarakai as well.

A chuckle rippled through the group, but Shigaraki's expression remained unreadable. He wasn't sure why they were laughing. 'Is it funny to laugh at other people's passions?' 

Powder's cheeks turned red, and she crossed her arms, glaring at everyone.

"Powder's working on her gadgets," Vi said in a low whisper to Shigaraki, "but Claggor's still the safer bet." she winked.

"You laugh at me now," Powder said, her face scrunched with frustration, "but I'll be as good as Claggor one day! No better!" her competitiveness would not lose here,

"Sure you will, Powder," Mylo teased, flashing a grin. "Right after you figure out how to stop breaking it or blowing it up."

As the others laughed, Shigaraki remained silent. The sounds around him felt both overwhelming and strangely comforting. For the first time in years, a new feeling started to come to him. He wasn't entirely alone anymore… But then the thought of losing this, of being rejected, scared him.

"So, Shigaraki, anything you'd like to say for yourself?" Vi nudged his chest with her elbow as her eyebrow raised.

Shigaraki winced a bit. The slight nudge caused more harm than he expected; he felt weak and might need to fix that. But what was he supposed to say? How could he possibly introduce himself? 'I'm good at destroying everything I touch. I'm good at making people disappear…No, what if they are scared of me...'

Shigaraki couldn't think of anything besides those thoughts, so he decided to just speak the truth in another way.

"I… I like making costumes," he started, his voice quiet but growing steadier. "And one day, I want to become the strongest villain and create a league of my own."

That got their attention. Powder's eyes lit up, her mouth curling into an excited grin. "That's so cool! I want to join!" she blurted out, bouncing slightly in her seat.

"Villains?" Claggor asked, tilting his head. "Like… the bad guys?"

Shigaraki shook his head, his tone growing more forceful. "Villains aren't bad. That's just what heroes call them. They make the rules, and anyone who doesn't follow them gets labelled a villain. But that doesn't make them wrong. Villains fight back."

"Heroes aren't always right," Powder added happily, clearly on Shigaraki's side. "Rules are stupid anyways."

"Or they're Evil," Mylo interjected with a smirk, crossing his arms. "Let's call it what it is."

"They're survivors," Shigaraki snapped, his eyes narrowing. He didn't feel anxious when talking about his ideals. "Heroes try to crush people who don't fit their mould. Villains refuse to be crushed."

Powder nodded quickly. "Exactly! They're like rebels or something. Fighting back sounds awesome."

"Okay, fine," Mylo said, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. "If Powder wants to join your villain league, she needs a name. How about-"

"Alright, enough," Vi cut in, her voice sharp but not unkind. She glanced at Shigaraki, her expression softer than before. "Your league thing's… interesting. But don't go recruiting Powder just yet. She's got enough trouble to handle as it is."

"Hey!" Powder protested, though she quickly giggled,

Mylo clearly wanted to finish his sentence but got another glare from Vi and slowly wilted.

Vi didn't press the point further, but something in her gaze lingered on Shigaraki. She didn't dislike him, but the way he talked about villains and heroes unsettled her. Still, she said nothing, choosing to let the conversation drift back into lighter territory.

As the group's energy began to settle, Shigaraki shifted uneasily, his thumb brushing the sack slung over his shoulder, remembering his father's words of gifts. He hesitated momentarily, then decided this might be the right time.

His fidgeting began to awkwardly draw the group's attention. Realizing that he was in the spotlight, he just said what was on his mind. "I brought something. For Vi and Powder." He glanced at the two, then quickly added, "But I didn't know anyone else would be here, so there is nothing for Mylo or Claggor. I'm sorry…"

Mylo snorted, waving him off. "Don't sweat it, new guy. You're already doing better than Powder. She's never brought me a gift in her life."

"Because you don't deserve one," Powder shot back, making a silly face, which earned a chuckle from Claggor and eased the tension in the room.

Vi was intrigued. "What'd you bring?" she asked, her voice was genuinely curious.

Shigaraki followed his father's advice, pulled the sack off with his thumb, and placed it on the centre table. He gestured for the two to see for themselves. 

First, Powder, unable to control herself, opened the sack and pulled out a soft, handmade stuffed animal, a scrappy but charming rabbit stitched together from various fabrics. Her eyes lit up as she held it, her hands running over the seams.

"It's adorable!" she exclaimed, hugging it tightly. "Thank you, Shigaraki! It's perfect."

He nodded slightly, feeling a warmth he didn't quite know how to process.

Next, Vi moved in and pulled out a roll of pristine, white bandages. "My dad said they're from the topside. Better than the ones you use now." Shigaraki repeated what his dad had told him.

Vi unrolled a bit, inspecting the high-quality material. Her lips curved into a wide grin. "These are legit. It's way better than the stuff we have down here. Thanks, Shigaraki. Tell your dad he knows his stuff."

The group watched as Vi and Powder admired their gifts, their excitement subtly shifting the atmosphere. Even Mylo leaned over, mock-pouting. "Man, you guys get bandages and bunnies, and I get nothing. Guess I'll just keep the group alive with my "speaking" skills."

"Exactly," Vi shot back, tossing a playful glare his way. "You can live off your ego."

The cheerfulness and sincerity of the laughter lightened Shigaraki's burden even further. It became evident how well the gifts had worked, exactly as Silco intended. Although not absolutely necessary, they added an extra layer of inclusion for him. Powder's bright smile and Vi's approving nod communicated much without needing words.

Vi clapped her hands, snapping everyone's attention back to her. "Alright, now that introductions and small talk are over, let's talk about the plan."

"Plan?" Shigaraki asked, his curiosity breaking through his lingering doubt. He felt comfortable speaking now, and no one felt unnatural about it either,

Vi grinned. "Little Man got word about a noble family leaving their house vacant tonight. Perfect chance to raid the place and see what they left behind. But it's close to an enforcer branch, so we'll need to move fast and stay sharp."

"It's risky but doable," Claggor said, his voice steady as always.

"Exactly. Little Man wouldn't give us this information if he didn't think we could pull it off," Vi replied confidently.

"I disagree," Mylo interjected, raising his hands defensively. His words earned him a sharp glare from Vi.

"What? Last time we did a job, we almost got caught-"

"That's because you said the alarm was off, but it wasn't," Vi snapped, her tone angered with frustration. Mylo opened his mouth, then closed it again, unable to refute her. He slumped back into his chair, muttering under his breath.

Shigaraki broke the brief silence, his voice hesitant but growing steadier. "Who's Little Man? I-I just want to know who's giving us this information."

Vi tilted her head, her expression softening. "It's good you care about where we get our intel. Little Man is the nickname of a kid who works at Benzo's shop. He's smart, quick on his feet, and knows this city like the back of his hand."

"He's our age," Powder added in a whisper, leaning close to Shigaraki. "I play with him a lot."

Shigaraki offered a polite smile, yet conflicting emotions started to emerge deep down. Her mention of having someone else to play with sparked his jealousy. He felt an even stronger urge to meet this peer, but Vi's voice captured his focus once more.

"These are the blueprints," Vi said, pulling a scroll from the box on the table and unrolling it carefully. The parchment was worn but detailed, showing the layout of a large townhouse and the surrounding streets.

"The place will be deserted, and we'll approach from the pipes here," she said, tracing a line on the map. "We'll come up from the Undercity through this access point. We should avoid any enforcer patrols as long as we stick to this route."

She pointed to Mylo. "When we arrive, the doors and the alarm system are on you."

Mylo's cocky grin returned as if the earlier argument had never happened. "Easy work. I always knew the most important role would be mine."

The room erupted in boos, with even Shigaraki joining in. He felt like he belonged for the first time, the laughter lifting the heavy weight from his chest.

Vi smirked, waiting for the noise to die down before continuing. "Claggor, you're in charge of the tools and setting up our exit point. Once we're inside, you make sure everything's in place to get us out if things go south."

Claggor nodded. "Got it. I'll pack light."

Vi's eyes moved to Powder and Shigaraki. "Powder, you're on lookout duty. Keep an eye on the street and the enforcer patrols. If anything looks off, you signal us. No hesitation."

Powder nodded, her blue eyes serious for once. "What about him?" she asked, glancing at Shigaraki.

"You're sticking with Powder," Vi said, locking eyes with Shigaraki. "Your job is to watch her back. If anyone gets too close or something happens, you step in. Partners, right?"

The word "partners" rang in Shigaraki's ears. He nodded firmly, ignoring the swirling mix of pride and nervousness in his chest. "Got it."

"And finally," Vi said, tapping the map near the exit point, "we'll meet back here after the job. No one goes off on their own. If something goes wrong, you stick together."

She folded the map with practiced precision and looked up at the group, her eyes scanning each of them. "This is a simple in-and-out job. If we all stick to our roles, it'll go smoothly. No distractions, no screw-ups."

"Especially from Mylo," Powder teased, earning another round of laughter.

Vi's grin widened as she slung her pack over her shoulder and gestured toward the door.

"Alright, team. Let's head out."