I stepped into the room.
Cold, dim, and deadly silent.
Kesagiri Man, Adhesion, and a few others stood around a table littered with documents, their faces hard as steel, and etched with focus and frustration.
They glanced up as I walked in, with varying reactions.
Most were filled with doubt, the people I hadn't met, who were most likely unsure of my skill and why I was called in.
Adhesion, as one could easily guess, scowled at me.
Kesagiri man didn't express anything as he nodded, "Insight."
"Mr. Hero." I nodded back, eyes narrowed as I continued looking around the room.
Near the back, was an interrogation room.
Complete with the white walls, tinted windows, and a criminal, chained down to the metal desk.
Fft— Shhhhhhh
Kesagiri Man placed a piece of paper on the desk and slid it towards me.
Handing me a pen, he explained, "An NDA. I'm not asking for much, not even your real identity. But I need your trust and silence."
Picking up the pen, and giving the contract a look over, I asked, "A paper contract? I know a Pro Hero wouldn't be that careless about confidentiality."
One of the men in the room stepped forward, his glasses shining in the light.
"Of course not. It's a product of my quirk: Contract. Once a person signs it, if they break it, I will get a signal, and you'll be branded as a criminal with tattoos all across your body until I choose to remove it."
"Fascinating…" I said, looking at the paper with newfound respect. "Did you make the paper yourself? Or does anything you choose to touch become activated by your quirk? Can you change the consequences of breaking—?"
"Insight." Kesagiri Man interrupted. "Time is of the essence. Leave the questions for 'Covenant' for later. Sign the paper if you want to help."
"...sorry." I apologized, shaking my head clear, "I got lost in thought."
I signed the waiver and handed it back.
"Alright," Kesagiri Man said as he leaned onto the desk, his eyes briefly shining with a murderous glare, "Let me give you the rundown. A group known as Chimera's Syndicate has been found to be responsible for kidnapping children for the past couple of years."
He handed me a file, "We raided a secondary lab yesterday—test subjects, half-dead, their quirks scrambled like eggs."
"Scrambled how?" I asked while taking the autopsy files. "Neural degradation? Cellular collapse?"
"Worse" He replied, tossing a couple of children's photos onto the desk, each of them disfigured in some way.
"Their quirks reversed. A fire-breather grew ice shards in her lungs. A telekinetic's brain hemorrhaged trying to lift a spoon. Whatever they're doing, it's fatal."
Ice flew through my veins as I studied the pictures.
I felt the pain the children went through as I saw what was done to them.
I felt the pain the children went through as I read the documents, and understood what exactly was done to them.
I stood in silence for probably five unsettling minutes as I read through all the documents.
"Quirk Factor destabilization." I said, closing the file.
"You can understand that nonsense?" Adhesion asked, giving me a skeptical look.
I nodded, "Of course. After my analytical skills, my interest in quirks is unparalleled."
Turning to the chained man in the interrogation room, "I'm assuming that's a bastard who's related to their attempts in forcing quirk compatibility and assimilation when there is none."
Kusagiri Man nodded, "He calls himself 'Grudge', with a bite that can literally kill thanks to his jaw quirk. He's the head of security for the lab, and the highest authority when we raided it. But he's not giving us anything that can help."
"You mentioned you raided a secondary lab. Not the main facility?" I asked.
He nodded his head, "Not a single clue of its whereabouts either. But we caught Grudge coming back from the Main facility. So we need you to investigate where it is, who he's working for, and why."
I continued looking over the files, seeing if I could catch anything helpful, but it was mostly filled with their experiment results rather than clues about other labs.
Kesagiri man spoke again, "You've got five minutes before we send you in. Are you sure you can handle him Insight? He's not exactly the chatty type."
"Oh, I'll handle him. I've handled worse. Besides, I've got my charm. Works every time."
Adhesion rolled his eyes, "Charm? You? That's a stretch. You're about as annoying as my niece. And she's eight."
I snorted, "Well if she's as annoying as I am, I dare say that she's the only one in your family with any sign of intelligence."
Kesagiri man's eyes hardened,, "Adhesion, stop it. We need answers, and we need them quick. Children's lives are on the line."
Then he looked at me, "I trust you know that as well."
"I know. I just can't help retorting the glue stick here."
I closed the files, ready to begin the interrogation, but then my eyes drifted to the holstered gun on one of the cop's hips.
I tilted my head, studying it for a moment before speaking.
"You know, as a quirkless detective in a room full of superpowered maniacs, I feel a bit... underdressed. Mind if I borrow that?" And I gestured to the cop's gun.
Adhesion stepped in between us, "Not a chance. You're not authorized to carry a weapon in there."
I raised an eyebrow, "Authorized? Oh, right, because rules always stop the bad guys. Look, I'm not asking for a bazooka. Just a little insurance. You know, in case things get... messy."
Kesagiri Man crossed his arms, "You're not licensed for one, Insight. You don't get to carry a gun. End of story."
I leaned in, my tone confident, "Let's be honest Kesagiri man. You brought me in because your guy isn't talking. And he's not going to talk to you. But me? I've got a way with words. And if things go south, I'd rather not be the one leaving in a body bag. So, what's it going to be? Do you want answers, or do you want to play everything by the book?"
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
Adhesion looked to Kesagiri man, who was silent before finally nodding.
Adhesion grumbled, "Fine. But if you so much as do anything you're not supposed to, I'll have you arrested."
"Obviously."
The cop reluctantly unholstered her gun and handed it to me.
I checked the magazine with practiced ease before tucking it into the back of my coat.
I took a step before Kesagiri man warned me, "Don't make me regret this Insight. I know you're smart enough to understand what those kids are going through. Just….keep your head clear."
I mock saluted, "Wouldn't dream of it chief."
With that, I straightened up, adjusted my jacket and mask, then walked toward the interrogation room door.
I paused at the door, glancing back over my shoulder.
"Oh, and you guys? I'd advise looking away. You might need to pass a polygraph test after this." (Lie detection test)
Then stepped inside, leaving the group in a confused and tense silence.
Adhesion muttered, "What's this dude up to…?"
Covenant sighed, "I hope the boss is right about him."
The door clicked shut behind me, and the hallway fell silent, the weight of what's about to happen hanging heavy in the air.
Grudge sneered and smirked at me as I entered, "Anotha' Hero? Ya' idiots just don' get it, do ya'? I ain't no snitch."
Patooh
And he spit on the floor between us, his lower jaw creaking ever so slightly.
Grabbing my metallic chair without sitting down, I looked down on him, "Let's just do a quick recap. You're the head of security for a lab that uses children as lab rats. And you think loyalty will save you?"
Grudge smirked, "You're wastin' ya' time. My people's lawyers'll have me out by dawn. Ya' heroes can't touch me. And ya' ain't makin' me sing. Might as well give up now. Nothin' ya' do will make me talk."
"Nothing?" I asked as I dragged the chair to the door, and lodged it in, underneath the door, trapping us in.
Outside I could hear the rising voices, questioning what I was trying to do.
I turned back around to Grudge, and—
Click
—the revolver's chamber clicked shut with a sharp snap. "Lawyers can't fix punctured lungs. Or dead bodies for that matter."
I walked closer with the gun steadily aimed at Grudges unflinching face, "Let's play a game. Every lie and unanswered question—
I tapped the gun against his forehead.
—costs a bullet."
Grudge laughed mockingly, "You're bluffing, that ain't no real weapon. Heroes don't—"
BANG!
I fired at the floor right beside him, shattering a tile into shattered pieces.
"!"
Grudge flinched in his seat, his eyes wide with terror.
"I'm not a hero." I said coldly.
I opened the revolver, and removed all the bullets.
I showed him one as I placed it in, and spun the revolver before closing the chamber and aiming it at Grudge head once more.
Outside the room, I could hear Adhesion—
BAM BAM BAM
—pounding on the door, his voice muffled but furious.
"OPEN THIS DOOR, YOU PSYCHO! YOU COULDN'T GO ONE SECOND WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING ILLEGAL"
Then I heard Mika's voice, "Insight! Don't do something you'll regret!"
Even Covenant's regretful voice, "I should have added this in the contract…"
But I ignored them, leaning closer to the living rat in front of me, my voice dropping to a whisper.
"Where's the main facility?"
Grudge began panicking as he questioned if I would genuinely pull the trigger, "I—I don't know! I—I heard it's underground, somewhere in the mountains!"
But I sniffed the air, the faint scent of saltwater and kelp clinging to the man's clothes.
Then I yanked his leg up, revealing dried mud on his shoes.
"Liar."
Click Click
I pulled the trigger twice at his forehead.
"AGHH! YOU ACTUALLY TRIED TO SHOOT ME?! And you shot twice you bastard!! I DIDN'T LIE!!"
I stared at him dead in the eye, "You reek of saltwater. Tide pools. Kelp. Your shoes—" I tapped the mud with the barrel of the revolver. "—have sediment unique to the eastern docks. The lab's by the coast, not the mountains. Where is it?"
BAM BAM BOOM BOOM
The room's door was still being pounded as I heard their bodies colliding with it to ram it open.
Grudge stammered over his words "O-Oda Bay! The Abandoned fishery!"
Click. Click
I pulled the trigger twice again.
"YOU CRAZY BASTARD!!" He screamed, his composure completely shattering as sweat began forming on his head. "STOP SHOOTING TWICE!!"
"Don't worry, there are only six slots in the gun. I'll only shoot once next time, and if you still luckily survive that, I'll just shoot your genitals and we can play again from the top."
"NOOO!" He screamed, his composure completely shattering. "GET THIS FREAKIN' PSYCHOPATH AWAY FROM ME!! WHERE ARE THE HEROES??"
"Where is the main facility?" I pressed the gun on his forehead harder.
"WAIT! It's—it's under the old aquarium! Sublevel 3! Access code 7791! Just don't shoot again! PLEASE!"
"Who are you working for?"
"I don't know! I've never seen him!"
Click
"AGHHH STOOPPP!!!" He screamed with foam around his mouth.
"I will. Just stop lying."
"I'M NOT LYING!! I'VE NEVER MET HIM! ALL I KNOW IS THAT HE'S A FOREIGNER! HE SPOKE RUSSIAN! OR TURKISH! SOMETHING WIERD! I SERIOUSLY DON'T FREAKIN' KNOW MAN!!"
BAM!
The door finally burst open as Adhesion, Mika, and the other officers and sidekicks stormed in, their faces a mix of anger and disbelief, and sheer shock.
Kesagiri Man stood as emotionless as ever in the hallway as he looked at me.
Adhesion ran up and grabbed me by the collar, "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
I replied unfazed, "Solving the case. Obviously."
Mika checked Grudge's vitals with a slightly worried face, "His blood pressure's through the roof. We might need the med team because I think he's about to get a heart attack."
Then she looked at me, "You crossed a line, Insight. We don't torture criminals."
"The line's moved." I looked at her. "You all don't understand the torture the kids are going through. That's why your boss hasn't slammed me into a jail cell yet."
That was when Kesagiri Man stepped into the room as well, his voice dropped low and dangerous, "But I also said to keep a clear head."
I tossed the revolver into the cop's arms, then brushed off Adhesion's grasp on me, and adjusted my coat as I addressed the room.
"I assure you, my head is crystal clear. I read the experiment files. I completely understand what's at stake. That's why I'm being far more impulsive with my methods. Because we truly don't have time. The kids don't have time. They are being tortured every second we waste here."
Adhesion snarled at me, "You're a loose cannon!"
I walked past him, "And you have a glue fetish. Priorities, gentlemen." I paused at the door, glancing back. "Tick-tock. Every minute you waste moralizing… is another kid's body getting melted into genetic sludge."
Grudge began shouting, "MY LAWYER WILL HEAR OF THIS! I WILL HAVE ALL OF YOU—!"
Thud
Kesagiri Man blitzed through the air, and karate chopped the back of Grudge's neck, knocking him out cold.
He turned and looked at me, staring at me through the mask while the other members looked disapprovingly at me.
"Fine fine." I admitted, "Let me just relieve the tension you people obviously can't withstand. Someone just open the gun's bullet chamber already."
And the cop I gave the gun to did.
"!"
"It's—It's completely empty. There was no risk of him dying…"
They turned back to me as I fiddled with the bullets in my hand, "Sleight of Hand. It's a handy skill for deception."
"...We'll speak about this later." Kesagiri man told me.
He stood like a statue, arms crossed, flanked by Adhesion—his ever-loyal shadow.
Mika hovered nearby, clutching a tablet, her smile strained.
Contractor fidgeted with his earpiece, avoiding my gaze.
Then, Kesagiri man looked at everyone in the room.
Everyone other than me.
"We sweep the aquarium. Now. Starting getting prepped."
"I'm coming too of course." I added. "The kids are alive, but their Quirks are destabilizing. They'll need medical evaluation. Someone who understands how to handle their delicate situation."
Adhesion snorted, his sweat-gloved hands flexing. "Power is what they'll need to free them against the syndicate, quirkless."
I ignored him, locking eyes with Kesagiri Man. "You need someone on-site who can see through trickery. Someone who understands what was done to those kids."
Kesagiri Man turned around, beginning to prep his utility tools. "And if the Syndicate's there? You'd be a liability. This isn't another puzzle Insight—it'll become a battlezone."
'Liability.'
The word pricked me like a needle.
I clenched my jaw, my father's voice slithering into my head: "You are Quirkless and weak Hakuro. You'll never keep up."
I replied a bit too coldly, "I don't need a Quirk to outthink a bullet."
Adhesion dawned on his uniform jacket while he mocked me, "Brains don't stop shrapnel, genius. They die to it."
Mika stepped forward, her voice soft. "We'll call you if we need remote analysis. I promise."
I scoffed.
'Remote analysis.'
As if I'd sit at a desk while kids screamed in pain.
Especially when I knew I could help.
But asking them directly wasn't going to get me anywhere.
I turned on my heel, my coat snapping behind me.
"Don't die heroically."
***
Outside at the parking lot, the van I recognized as Kasagiri Man's and the one his group uses, was parked innocently in the open.
Its hood gleaming under the streetlamp in the night.
I palmed my lockpicks, the metal cold and familiar.
After a few seconds of fiddling with the trunk-
Click
The trunk clicked open, and a huge grin grew across my face.
I invited myself in, and folded myself inside, wedged between toolkits and med kits.
Then I closed the trunk as the moonlight glared at me before disappearing into darkness.
Five minutes later, I began to hear a commotion.
'Footsteps. Muffled chattering. And familiar voices.'
'The teams are piling in.'
I heard Adhesions' obnoxious voice, Mika's softness, but then I heard the unmistakable hissing of a forked tongue flicking around.
"Trunk'ssssss… warm."
'...shoot.'
Adhesion yanked the trunk open.
"..."
Kesagiri Man and his crew looked at me with unamused faces.
"..."
I looked back at them, in my rather….awkward position.
"Look who's playing stowaway." Adhesion mocked.
I blinked, knees to my chest, while I tried to think of an excuse. "...Help? I'm being… kidnapped?"
Kesagiri Man stood near the front, exhaling sharply, "Out. Now."
I climbed out with a slight tinge of shame from being caught so easily.
'Where did that snake dude come from?'
As I began dusting off my coat, I looked at Kesagiri man while nodding at the snake-man, "Last minute hire?"
Kesagiri man stood expressionless, "No, he was recently in the infirmary from a previous run in with a villain. That's why you didn't see him at the Jewelry store."
Mika piqued up next to him as she explained, "He's usually our sensor. He can see through a meter of steel to recognize heat signatures."
Then the snake-man reached his hand out to me, "Cobra. Nicccccce to meet you."
"Insight. Nice to meet you as well." I replied while playing nice. "I don't suppose my effort to tag along has changed any of your minds to let me come?"
"Adhesion." Kesagiri man monotoned.
Adhesion's palm glistened, his Quirk's sticky sweat pooling.
"Stay. Put." Kesagiri man ordered me as Adhesion slammed his hand on the pavement.
The glue erupted, cementing both of my legs to the sidewalk.
I struggled to get free, but I couldn't even move my legs.
"...Charming." I deadpanned.
Kesagiri Man stepped into the driver's seat, "It'll wear off in seven hours. Don't follow us. I know you want to help those kids, but not now. I'll contact you again for another case when we need your help. Until then... try not to do anything illegal. And think about what you want to ask for as your commission. I don't like owing debts."
Mika mouthed "Sorry" as she walked past me and sat in the back.
Adhesion grinned as he walked past and sat in the passenger's seat.
I stared helplessly as the van peeled away.
The taillights vanishing as I bent over, trying to free myself again before ultimately giving up.
'Liability. Useless on the field. Quirkless.'
I was tired of hearing it.
Tired of people making assumptions from the get go.
I muttered to myself, "Watch me prove you wrong. All of you. Until then…"
I pulled out a test tube from my coat, and filled it with the sweat glue that Adhesion released.
'I'll get my revenge eventually. I'll analyze this stuff later when I have free time.'
"!"
Then I froze, my brain processing what Kusagiri Man said earlier.
'...Wait a minute. Did he say seven hours until I'm free???'
I pulled out my phone from my trench coat which read: [8:34 P.M.]
I'll get back home by 4 A.M.….
'First day of school at U.A. starts tomorrow…'
I sighed in defeat as I crouched down.
'I guess this is just the—'
Chapter 10 - Cost of Curiosity
-------------------------
Hello Everyone!
Like always, any critiques about the Chapter are appreciated. I want to become a better writer obviously.
But some compliments about the story wouldn't hurt... (It motivates me to keep writing this for free.)
Leave any thoughts and suggestions here and I'll take a look! From OC's, to side stories you want to see. I have an open mind!
(A/N: Starting from now, I might start writing KM or K-Man for Kesagiri Man. It's tiring to always type it out. I'm feeling lazy lol)