It was just after nine in the evening when Felix rolled up to a shady looking bar. Night had fallen hard on this part of the town, and the shadows did not make the deserted alleyway look any better. Still, this was going to be his headquarters, at least for his remaining days in this world.

The doors opened slightly, and Felix was immediately greeted by a loud table slam.

“Damn it, that Hero Killer is all everyone’s talking about,” Shigaraki complained, shaking a newspaper. “What about my Nomus? We didn’t even make it to the front page!”

Felix strolled up to the fuming man. “Think on the bright side. The public thinks that Stain is connected to us. With his ideals infecting Japan like a raging pandemic, we’ve already attracted a lot of people to our cause. There’s no need to fixate on the Nomus.”

Shigaraki swung around violently as the cup in his hands crumbled to dust. His shoes creaked against the wooden floorboard, and he marched up to the boy.

“Whose side are you really on, Pagonis?” he growled. “I told you to kill Stain, and you just let him get arrested. You even killed one of my Nomus. Why should I keep you here if you’re just going to disobey and go against me?”

“Throwing a tantrum just because something didn’t go your way. Really?” Felix rolled his eyes. “I’m on my own side. I told you before; my main goal is to return to my home and destroy it for banishing me.”

“Stop lying to me, Felix Pagonis! You’re not from Greece at all.” The man jabbed a finger at him. “I’ve verified your documents. They’re all fake. I don’t know where you’re from. I don’t even know if you’re using your real name!”

“Why does it matter?”

“Because I said so!” Shigaraki seized his wrist roughly as Kurogiri called out in alarm. “You better tell me everything right now.”

Felix scoffed arrogantly. “My mind is already on your cerebral artery. Do you really think you can be faster than me?”

“I just need one touch to kill you.”

“And I don’t need to touch you to kill you.”

A static buzz interrupted them before either side could carry out their threats. The television came to life, and All For One finally showed himself on the screen this time.

“Let him go, Tomura. It was my idea to conceal his true identity.”

“Master?” Shigaraki released his grip reluctantly, turning to the screen in both disbelief and confusion.

Felix folded his arms impatiently. “All For One, I have done what you’ve asked of me, even the waiting part. I need some sincerity on your end if you want my continued cooperation.”

“Ah, it’s as if you read my mind.” The fully masked man flashed a bottle containing a wispy purple substance. Felix widened his eyes in recognition. It was ‘Arcani’, the very same magic substance that fuelled his home world and gave him his PSI powers.

“Doctor Ujiko’s researchers have done a fantastic job at reverse engineering the gate that brought you here,” All For One said. “Your world’s energy is most fascinating, but tricky to harness. Your path home is already halfway complete, Felix. After all, I’m not one to go back on my word.”

“His… world?” Shigaraki muttered.

“It may be best to share some personal details with your closest allies, Felix.”

Felix took a deep breath. He did not like the idea of recounting his painful exile. But if it meant strengthening the trust of his temporary allies, he did not exactly have a choice in this matter.

“Fine. It’s true; I am not of this world,” he said behind gritted teeth. “In my world, magic reigns superior, while metahumans like me are trampled upon. Despite our circumstances, some metahumans still choose to hurt their own kind. My sister was killed by one of them.”

The boy swallowed hard.

“Her murderer was a mafia boss, so it wasn’t difficult to track him down as a law enforcer myself. Killing him was a little tougher, but I got the job done anyway. But the government had deemed me too dangerous to keep alive, so they tried to banish me into oblivion.”

He scoffed again, although pain gurgled in his voice.

“As if I would go quietly after being betrayed like that. So I fought back, and broke the gate in the process. The next thing I knew, I was already in your world. Like I’ve told you, my desire is simple. Revenge is all I seek, but I have no way back by myself.”

A swollen pause hung in the air, before Shigaraki broke it with an exaggerated exhale of exasperation.

“Are you serious, Master?” He shook his head. “Magic? Other worlds? I’m surprised you believed such a ridiculous tale. What do you think this is, some kind of video game?”

“Felix’s story may sound fake to you, but the hatred in his heart is very real,” All For One replied calmly. “Besides, there is no need to know his past when the present is right in front of you. Felix’s incredible power is what makes him a formidable weapon. You just need to know how to wield it.”

Static buzzed from the television once more as the screen returned to its default pitch black. Felix’s mind swirled. There was no doubt that All For One was only interested in making use of him to further his own goals, since he wasn’t even bothering to hide it.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

But that man was the only one resourceful enough to rely on at the moment. Compromising as his position was, Felix was already knee-deep in this situation. There was nothing else he could do but to keep moving forward towards his goal.

The doors opened again with a slight creak, and another familiar voice greeted them.

“You’ve been busy, Shigaraki.” Giran sauntered in, accompanied by two unfamiliar faces. “The League Of Villains have been the talk of the town for these past few days. Rumours have it that you’re planning something big.”

“It’s been a while, Giran.” Felix grinned at the bespectacled broker.

“Good to see you adapting so well to your foreign circumstances, boy. How’s Bubaigawara doing?”

“Who are they?” Shigaraki cut in before Felix could strike up a conversation.

The tall, slim man stepped forward first. Spiky black hair hung over his heavily lidded, turquoise eyes, while patches of gnarled, burnt skin littered the lower half of his face. His lips curved up into a terrifying looking grin as his flesh waded around the crude looking surgical staples holding his face together.

“So it’s you, huh?” The man’s voice was as dry sounding as his skin looked. “I saw a picture of you once, but you look way grosser in person.”

“Wow, it’s the hand guy! You’re friends with Mister Stainey, right? Let me join the League of Villains too!” the girl beside him chirped, her ash blonde hair waving slightly in her excitement.

A crazed look danced in her slit-like yellow irises, while a slight blush decorated her fair skinned cheeks. Her smile was also a little too wide for comfort, especially with her exceptionally long canines that gave her a vampiric appearance.

“Kurogiri, get rid of these guys.” Shigaraki waved his hand impatiently. “Everything I hate came together in one set. A psychotic brat, and a man with no manners.”

“Giran’s a notorious broker. They’re bound to be valuable assets,” Kurogiri said. “They came all this way. We should at least hear them out.”

“I don’t really care what you do to them, as long as I get my commission. But you can’t deny the quality of my catches,” Giran added. “After all, I brought you Pagonis here, didn’t I? At least let me introduce these ones too.”

He motioned to the girl. “First, this cute looking high school girl. Her name and face were kept tightly under wraps by the media, but she’s the primary suspect in a series of blood related murders.”

“I’m Toga! Himiko Toga! Life’s too hard! I just want the world to become an easier place to live in!” The glint in her eyes was getting more deranged with every word. “I want to become Mister Stainey! I want to kill Mister Stainey!”

“Great, a psycho in my group…” Felix groaned internally.

“Next, this guy over here. Nothing too flashy yet, but he’s a huge believer of Stain’s ideology.”

The burnt man folded his scarred arms. “Does your organisation really have a just cause? Don’t tell me you’re letting this crazy girl in as well? I’m beginning to doubt my decision already…”

“At least she was able to hold a conversation,” Shigaraki snapped. “You can’t even introduce yourself.”

“I go by Dabi.”

“What’s your real name?”

“You’ll know when the time is ripe.” Dabi shook his head. “I will carry out the will of the hero killer.”

“That’s not what I asked-”

“Close to the vest. I can respect that.” Felix gave him a firm nod. “I’ve got a few secrets of my own too.”

The sound of wood crashing made him turn around. Shigaraki was storming up towards the two new recruits, anger possessing his gaze.

“Stain, Stain, Stain. All I hear is that scumbag’s name. Trash! You’re all trash!” The man darted forward without warning, reaching for the two new recruits-

Metal glinted. Blue flames exploded. Purple gas swirled. Pink flared.

“Seriously, where do you think you are? A playground?”

Felix’s eyes regained their regular colour as he let go of everyone in the room. There was a soft sizzling as Dabi extinguished the flames on his hand. Toga also kept her knife cautiously, although cruel sadism had already replaced the madness in her eyes.

Gas swirled around the fuming Shigaraki.

“We must increase the organisation’s numbers, if you want what you wish to come true,” Kurogiri muttered in his ear. “We should be receiving them, not rejecting them. We’re in the spotlight now; it would be wise to expand our network. What we need is more manpower.”

“And what I need is a goddamned break.” The leader calmed down and headed for the door instead. Felix folded his arms, shaking his head in exasperation.

The door slammed shut.

“So scary. I thought he was actually going to kill us.” Toga’s voice somehow retained its cheerful tone despite the harrowing experience.

“He makes me sick,” Dabi mumbled.

“It’s not good practice to complain about a client, but he is far too immature for this,” Giran commented as well. “It’s a good thing you stopped him before anything bad happened, Felix.”

“So your name’s Felix!” Toga turned her attention to the boy. “You joined before us, didn’t you? Hello, Senpai!”

Felix stared at her blankly. “What’s a senpai?”

“Would it be alright to give you an answer at a later date? I believe Shigaraki knows what he should do,” Kurogiri said. “He’s been humbled twice already, by both All Might and The Hero Killer. I’m sure he will reach an answer that both you and himself will be satisfied with.

Felix followed the two recruits out of the bar.

“Giran, a word?”

The broker turned back at the swirling gas.

“About this… Felix Pagonis. Although he has pledged allegiance to our cause, he still seems a little untrustworthy as an ally. To put it simply, he’s a loose cannon. I’m not too sure if the League Of Villains should continue working with him.”

“Pardon me. But if I recall correctly, I only recommended Pagonis to work with All For One and Doctor Ujiko directly. It wasn’t my decision that he be involved in your operations,” Giran said. “But frankly speaking, I believe you should keep him on your side.”

“It is true that he is very powerful…” Kurogiri said, deep in thought.

“He stopped a whole train from crashing. And with considerable ease, might I add. If that isn’t enough for you, I’m sure you’ve watched his performance in the sports festival. If you asked me, I’m willing to bet my life savings that his power is on par with All Might, if not even stronger.”

Kurogiri fell silent in response.

“But what’s a good broker without a warranty for his products?” Giran laughed, preparing to step out of the door. “I’m always open to feedback. Worry not, my loyal customer. I have just the thing to keep Felix in line.”

The door closed behind him.