"Three minutes to breach," Sir Nighteye's voice was calm and measured through the comm system as the team assembled in the shadows surrounding the nondescript research facility.
Lady Nagant checked her rifle one final time, the specialized ammunition designed for non-lethal takedowns. This wasn't her usual type of mission—the HSPC typically deployed her for precise elimination of high-value targets—but the intel on this facility had warranted a full-scale raid.
"All units, confirm positions," Sir Nighteye continued, his tall frame barely visible in the darkness, golden eyes scanning the building's layout on a small holographic projector.
"Eraserhead, east entrance."
"Midnight, service corridor."
"Edgeshot, perimeter."
"Lady Nagant, overwatch position secured," she responded, settling into her vantage point on an adjacent rooftop.
The mission briefing had been clear: an unauthorized research facility with suspected ties to villains, conducting illegal quirk experimentation. Their objective was to secure evidence, apprehend those responsible, and shut down the operation. No specific mention of test subjects had been made, but Recovery Girl waited at the rendezvous point just in case—a standard precaution.
"Remember," Sir Nighteye adjusted his glasses, the moonlight reflecting off the lenses, "we're facing an unknown number of security personnel and researchers. Prioritize evidence collection and containment."
Nagant observed the facility through her scope, marking the patrol patterns of guards—four visible on the perimeter, likely more inside. The building itself appeared ordinary, but the excessive security told a different story.
"Edgeshot, initiate," Sir Nighteye ordered.
The flexible hero's form compressed and slipped through a narrow ventilation shaft, disappearing into the building. Minutes later, the comm crackled back to life.
"Security systems disabled. You have an eight-minute window before automatic reset."
"Move in," Sir Nighteye commanded.
The operation commenced with practiced efficiency. Eraserhead slipped through the east entrance, his capture weapon dispatching two guards before they could raise an alarm. Midnight neutralized the lone guard at the service entrance, her somnambulist quirk rendering him unconscious instantly.
Lady Nagant maintained her position, scope tracking through windows, providing intel on movements inside. "Two researchers in the west wing, third floor. Four security personnel moving toward the central corridor."
Sir Nighteye entered from the north, moving with the precise confidence of someone who could see seconds into the future. A guard rounded the corner, and Nighteye was already in motion—dodging the punch before it was thrown, countering with a strike to the solar plexus that left the man gasping on the floor.
"Security office located," Eraserhead reported. "Six screens showing laboratory areas. Multiple containment cells on sublevel 3. Possible test subjects."
Nagant adjusted her scope, focusing on a window where a white-coated figure was hastily gathering documents. "Researcher attempting to destroy evidence, northwest corner office."
"Acknowledged," Sir Nighteye responded. "Proceeding to secure."
The operation grew more intense as an alarm suddenly blared—one of the researchers had triggered a manual override to the security systems.
"Cover blown," Eraserhead announced calmly. "Confronting resistance at central stairwell."
Nagant's scope caught the flash of Eraserhead's capture weapon through a window, whipping around multiple security guards as his quirk neutralized their abilities. His fighting style was efficient, economical—no wasted movements as he dispatched three opponents in quick succession.
"Lady Nagant," Sir Nighteye's voice came through, "reposition to the west entrance. We need additional support inside."
She moved swiftly, rappelling down from her position and entering the facility through a side door Edgeshot had unlocked. The interior was clinical—white walls, fluorescent lighting, the smell of antiseptic. Nothing outwardly sinister, but the heavy security doors and reinforced walls spoke of secrets within.
Nagant encountered her first resistance in a narrow corridor—two guards armed with shock batons. The first lunged forward, quirk activating to increase his speed. Nagant sidestepped with practiced precision, using his momentum against him as she swept his legs and drove him to the floor. The second guard's baton crackled with electricity as he swung it toward her head. She caught his wrist, twisted until he dropped the weapon, then delivered a precise strike to render him unconscious.
"Security personnel neutralized," she reported. "Moving deeper."
"Midnight has secured the main laboratory," came Sir Nighteye's update. "Evidence of illegal quirk-enhancement drugs. Edgeshot discovered research documents on quirk singularity theory."
Nagant moved toward the stairwell leading to the sublevels. The facility grew more fortress-like with each descending floor—heavier doors, additional security measures, fewer windows. Sublevel 1 appeared to be standard research space. Sublevel 2 housed more specialized equipment.
Reaching Sublevel 3, Nagant found herself in a corridor lined with what could only be described as cells—reinforced doors with small observation windows. Most stood empty, their interiors visible through the glass.
A commotion from the end of the hallway drew her attention. A researcher in a lab coat was attempting to access a security terminal, fingers flying across the keyboard.
"Stop where you are," Nagant commanded, rifle raised.
The man spun, panic evident on his face. "You don't understand what you're interfering with," he said, fingers still working the keyboard behind his back. "This research is critical for understanding the future of quirks."
"Step away from the terminal," Nagant repeated, advancing steadily.
The researcher's hand moved to his pocket, extracting what appeared to be a syringe. "One step closer and I'll activate the purge protocol. All evidence, all subjects—gone."
Nagant fired a tranquilizer round with perfect accuracy, striking the man's shoulder before he could react. He slumped against the terminal, syringe clattering to the floor.
"Researcher subdued in Sublevel 3," she reported, securing his unconscious form with restraints. "Attempted to initiate some kind of purge protocol."
She examined the terminal, noting that the researcher had been accessing files on what was labeled "Project Singularity." Beside the terminal was a roster of cell assignments. Most were empty, but one listing caught her attention: "Subject M-7, Cell 12, Status: Active."
Nagant moved down the corridor, counting doors until she reached Cell 12. Unlike the others, this one had no observation window—just a solid metal door with an electronic lock. The terminal beside it displayed vitals: heart rate elevated, brainwave patterns irregular.
"Possible test subject located," she reported. "Requesting backup in Sublevel 3, Cell 12."
"Acknowledged," came Sir Nighteye's response. "Eraserhead converging on your position. Proceed with caution."
Nagant examined the lock system, determining that it required both a key card and a biometric scan. She retrieved the key card from the unconscious researcher and pressed his thumb against the scanner.
The door unlocked with a heavy thunk, sliding open to reveal a small, dimly lit room. What Nagant saw inside made her blood run cold.
A child—no more than five years old—sat huddled in the corner. His small frame was dressed in a plain white hospital gown, dark hair hanging over his eyes. But it was what surrounded him that was truly startling: darkness seemed to pool around him like liquid shadow, occasionally rising into tendrils that swayed and twisted as if alive.
The boy's head snapped up at the sound of the door, fear evident in his dark eyes. The shadows around him immediately spiked outward, forming jagged shapes that reached toward the doorway.
Nagant instinctively raised her rifle, then lowered it again. This wasn't a threat—this was a terrified child.
"Sir," she said into her comm, voice tight with controlled anger, "we have a child in Sublevel 3. Appears to be a test subject. Approximately five years old with some form of darkness manipulation quirk."
"Secure the subject," came the response. "Recovery Girl has been alerted."
Eraserhead appeared beside her, taking in the scene with his perpetually tired eyes. "Step back," he advised quietly. "I'll neutralize the quirk if necessary."
But something in the boy's expression—raw fear mixed with resignation, as if expecting more pain—made Nagant pause. She'd seen that look before, in her own reflection years ago.
"Wait," she said, setting her rifle aside. "Let me try first."
The darkness around the boy intensified as she took a step forward, forming what appeared to be protective spikes. Within the shadows, strange formations appeared—eyes that blinked, mouths with teeth. Yet despite the menacing appearance, Nagant sensed no killing intent—only fear.
"Hello," she said softly, crouching to appear less threatening. "My name is Lady Nagant. I'm a hero."
The boy didn't respond, but the darkness rippled slightly, as if uncertain.
Nagant noticed a clipboard hanging beside the cell door. She glanced at it quickly: "Subject M-7 (Hasegawa, Meiji), Age: 5, Quirk: Shadow Emission, Status: Phase 3 enhancement complete."
"Meiji," she said gently. "Your name is Meiji Hasegawa, isn't it?"
Something flickered in the boy's eyes—recognition, perhaps. The shadows wavered slightly.
"We're not here to hurt you," Nagant continued, taking another careful step forward. "We're here to take you away from this place."
Behind her, Eraserhead remained vigilant, ready to activate his quirk if necessary. But Nagant kept moving forward, driven by an instinct she couldn't fully explain.
"The people who did this to you are being arrested," she said. "They won't hurt you anymore."
The comm in her ear crackled. "Multiple vehicles approaching," Edgeshot warned. "Estimated three minutes until reinforcements arrive."
"We need to move," Eraserhead urged quietly.
Nagant was now just a few feet from the boy. The shadows around him had formed a complete barrier, undulating like dark waves. Eyes had formed within the darkness, watching her warily.
What happened next surprised even her. Instead of retreating or calling Eraserhead to neutralize the quirk, Nagant did something entirely unexpected—she stepped forward, through the shadow barrier, and wrapped her arms around the small boy within.
The darkness surged violently for a moment, then seemed to freeze in shock. Meiji went completely rigid in her embrace, his small body tense with disbelief. Perhaps it had been months since he'd experienced a gentle touch.
"It's okay to be scared," Nagant said softly. "But we're going to keep you safe now."
Gradually, the shadows began to recede, pulling back like a tide returning to sea. Meiji remained frozen for several seconds more, then, hesitantly, his small hands clutched at the fabric of her costume.
"We need to go," she said gently. "Will you come with us, Meiji?"
For a moment, the boy said nothing. Then, a small nod against her shoulder.
Nagant carefully lifted him into her arms. He was frighteningly light—either naturally small or malnourished from his time in captivity. The shadows came with him, wrapping around his small frame like a protective cloak but no longer forming threatening shapes.
Eraserhead watched the interaction with mild surprise. "Unexpected approach," he commented dryly, "but effective."
"Extraction successful," Nagant reported. "Moving to exit with the child."
As they navigated back through the facility, they encountered Midnight in the main stairwell, subduing the last of the research staff.
"Is that a child?" she asked, eyes widening at the sight of Meiji in Nagant's arms.
"Victim of experimentation," Eraserhead explained briefly. "Lady Nagant is handling the extraction."
They ascended to the main level, where chaos had erupted. The facility's reinforcements had arrived—a private security force with quirk-enhanced abilities. Sir Nighteye was engaged with three of them simultaneously, his movements precise and calculated as he dodged attacks seconds before they occurred.
"Sir Nighteye!" Midnight called out. "We have a child! Extraction route?"
Sir Nighteye dispatched his current opponent with a precise strike, then glanced toward them. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of Meiji and the shadows surrounding him.
"East corridor," he directed after a moment's assessment. "Edgeshot has secured the path."
A security guard with an augmentation quirk lunged toward them, his arms transformed into blade-like appendages. Eraserhead's eyes glowed red, capture weapon lashing out to immobilize the man before he could reach them.
"Go," he ordered. "I'll cover your retreat."
Nagant moved swiftly, holding Meiji close as they navigated through the facility. The boy clung to her, face buried against her shoulder, the shadows pulsing with each ragged breath he took.
Another guard appeared at the end of the corridor, raising what appeared to be a specialized weapon. Before he could fire, a thin, ribbon-like form shot through a ventilation grate, resolving into Edgeshot as he delivered a precise strike to render the guard unconscious.
"This way," the ninja hero directed, leading them toward an emergency exit.
They emerged into the cool night air, where a nondescript vehicle waited with Recovery Girl inside.
"A child?" the elderly hero asked immediately, concern evident in her voice. "Bring him here quickly."
Nagant moved to set Meiji down, but the boy's grip tightened, shadows darkening around them both.
"It's okay," she assured him. "Recovery Girl is a hero too. She just wants to make sure you're not hurt."
Meiji reluctantly loosened his grip, allowing Nagant to seat him on the examination table in the vehicle. The shadows remained, however, swirling around him protectively.
Recovery Girl approached carefully. "Hello, young one. I'm just going to check you over, okay?" Her gaze shifted to the shadows. "My, what an unusual quirk."
As she conducted her examination, Sir Nighteye and Eraserhead joined them, both showing signs of the battle but otherwise unharmed.
"Facility secured," Sir Nighteye reported. "All personnel in custody, evidence collected. Midnight and Edgeshot are overseeing the final containment."
His gaze fell on Meiji, who watched the newcomers warily, shadows rippling around him. "The child was unexpected. There was no mention of live test subjects in our intelligence."
"No visible injuries," Recovery Girl reported, "but signs of malnourishment and sleep deprivation. Blood tests show traces of experimental quirk-enhancing compounds."
"What will happen to him?" Nagant asked, still standing protectively close to Meiji.
Sir Nighteye adjusted his glasses. "Standard protocol would be to place him with a specialized foster family while the Hero Commission conducts an investigation."
"No," Nagant said firmly, surprising herself with the conviction in her voice. "He stays with me."
Sir Nighteye raised an eyebrow. "That's highly irregular, Lady Nagant. You have no experience with childcare, and your duties with the HSPC—"
"He trusts me," she interrupted, gesturing to where Meiji was watching her intently, the shadows around him reaching subtly in her direction. "And his quirk is dangerous in its current state. Would you rather place him with civilians who have no way to defend themselves if he loses control?"
Sir Nighteye considered this for a moment, his analytical mind clearly weighing the options. "It would be temporary," he said finally. "Until we determine the full extent of what was done to him and locate suitable permanent placement."
"Of course," Nagant agreed, though something in her chest tightened at the thought of handing Meiji over to strangers.
Recovery Girl finished her examination and handed Meiji a small candy. The boy stared at it in confusion before cautiously accepting it.
"I'll need to conduct a more thorough examination once we're back at the facility," she said. "But he's stable for transport."
As they prepared to depart, Nagant knelt beside Meiji, who continued to watch her with those serious dark eyes.
"We're going to take you somewhere safe," she told him. "Away from this place. Okay?"
For the first time, Meiji spoke, his voice small and hesitant: "Promise?"
Nagant felt something in her chest constrict. "I promise. No one is going to hurt you again."
The shadows around him seemed to settle slightly at her words, becoming less agitated. As she lifted him into her arms again, Meiji leaned his head against her shoulder, exhaustion finally overtaking his vigilance.
The convoy departed from the facility, leaving behind a team to process the scene and transport the prisoners. In the vehicle, Sir Nighteye reviewed the preliminary findings on his tablet.
"The research appears to have focused on breaking through natural quirk limitations," he reported. "They were testing compounds designed to accelerate quirk evolution."
"Using a child as a test subject," Eraserhead said, disgust evident in his tone.
Sir Nighteye's expression remained professional, but his voice hardened slightly. "The documentation suggests this was just one branch of a larger operation. These researchers were reporting to someone higher up—codenames only in the files."
As the adults discussed the implications, Meiji finally succumbed to sleep in Nagant's arms, his small body going limp with exhaustion. The shadows around him dimmed but didn't disappear entirely, forming what looked almost like a protective blanket.
Nagant looked down at the sleeping child and made a silent vow. Whatever had been done to him—whatever they had tried to turn him into—she would ensure he found his way back. Not just to safety, but to the childhood that had been stolen from him.
And as they drove away from the facility, Lady Nagant, the HSPC's coldest and most efficient operative, found herself experiencing an unfamiliar emotion: hope—not for herself, but for the small boy cradled in her arms.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
AU: Hehe, so I messed up and some of you saw my secret 👀. In any case its just convenient, what can I say.
Well moving on to the story, I really like Lady Nagant and actually hope she doesn't end in tartarus as in canon (which is why I moved the strings, and made a long range fighter fight close range)
Plus it felt interesting to add her as the guardian, so yeah.
Also honestly didn't expect to get so many views and even powerstones!
I appreciate it if ya'll love the story, hope its to your liking (although I'm writing it more for myself so don't really expect me to change things outside of writing style).
Oh and forgot to add, I did not watch the whole anime / manga but I read until the vigilante part (where they did a UA concert and fighted with the mustache guy) so please do feel free to tell me if something is wrong canonically, I'll try to fix it anytime👍.
AU - End.
Anyway, have a nice day everyone!