Mind Boggled

Chapter 17

Still gotta look through all the songs yo holla so until then, it's business as usual I do suppose

Third person pov

"You okay, kid?" Tsukauchi asked as Harper dragged herself out to where all the police cars had quietly convened at the back of the stadium. Sero was in the back of one of their windowless vans, quirk-suppressing cuffs restraining both his wrists and ankles. Though Sero's power was more of a mutation, they would still prevent him from shooting tape at anyone or anything in an attempt to escape. Three highly-trained officers sat back there with him, though he was still out. Midnight predicted he would be for the next few hours or so. "She looks done. We'll have to order take-out tonight. No kid needs this much stress. Still, she did a good job. Didn't engage him once she found, but was still subtle enough about it that we were able to make a valid excuse. We got lucky."

"Perfectly fine. Flawless. Couldn't be better." Harper grumbled, coming to a stop next to Hound Dog. He'd talked to Sero after the events of the USJ, and was familiar with all of 1-A's files. He gave Harper a wolfish grin that was both understanding and pitying at the same time. She sighed heavily in response. At least she was out of that damned stadium. The noise was still nearly unbearable, even outside the arena, but not nearly as deafening as being in the center of it was.

"I'm sure you'll be able to go home soon, pup." Hound Dog patted her head like one would a small animal. Harper really didn't have the energy to give a shit. "Kid looks ruff. How much has she been sleeping? I can practically see her tail drooping!"

"Yeah, let's hope so." Harper responded with a sigh, letting her shoulders drop when she finally realized how tense they were. Sero was caught, though the League definitely knew something was up with her now. Kurogiri was her biggest concern. The mobility he had and could give to others terrified her to no end. Harper was pretty sure she now had a phobia of abrupt drops. Not that she could really think of anyone who actually liked those. If she saw the portal-user again, she'd be sure to do that odd pushing thing again. Whatever it was. She wanted to test it out, but didn't want to risk hurting anyone either.

"How do you feel about orange chicken and lo mein tonight?" Tsukauchi asked. "Our show also comes on tonight. Score. We can bond and relax. I wonder if she'd be up for getting milkshakes on the way home. Dairy queen is having a special. Buy two milkshakes, get another completely free. Sounds worth looking into to me. Maybe I should invite Toshi as well... for dinner. He'd never leave while Izuku was competing."

"Only if you get extra fried rice. I swear to fuck you go through that shit faster than I go through our Rocky Road." Harper blew a strand of hair out of her face. She was considering cutting it soon. At least her bangs needed to get shortened if she wanted them to stop getting in her face. Perhaps she'd just invest in some bobby pins like a normal person instead of chopping it all off like she always did. Hound Dog snickered at their interaction.

Harper yawned, cracking her neck as she stretched. Hound Dog's tail swept against her legs as it lazily swished behind him, but it was oddly comforting. Harper wondered if she should get some sort of emotional support animal. It would have to be something boring. Dogs got too excited. They noticed anything and everything, and their thoughts ran at a fast pace. Cats were cynical, but generally too negative and hateful to be healthy as support. Harper wanted something relaxed that she could bury her quirk in. She'd have to ask Tsukauchi about it...

"What the hell is going on out here?" Harper jumped slightly, her and Hound Dog both whirling around. Tsukauchi had gone off to speak with Aizawa, seeing as Sero was-- had been-- his student. The brunette felt herself pale at the sight of the dumpster fire himself. That's right. Of course Endeavor of all people would notice something was up and take it upon himself to investigate. "I knew that little story Present Mic came up with was bullshit. Midnight didn't put that student to sleep due to an impending heart issue. Something else is going on here, and I demand to know what it is."