James stepped out of the portal into a narrow alley behind a convenience store, the familiar scent of rain-soaked concrete and exhaust hitting him immediately.
Soul Space felt a lifetime away already—warm, safe, filled with the soft breathing of his wives and the quiet trust of Eri. Out here, the world was colder, sharper, still carrying the faint echo of everything he'd torn down.
He adjusted the hood of his jacket, blending into the afternoon crowd. No registration. No hero license. Just a twenty-one-year-old nobody with fire in his palms and a list of unfinished business in his head.
Himiko Toga.
He'd never met her in canon. Never had a reason to. She was a League recruit—blood-obsessed, unhinged, tragic in her own broken way. But the League was gone. Shigaraki was ash. All For One didn't exist anymore. That meant Toga was out there alone, still running, still drinking stolen blood from hospital bags, still hunted.
James had decided something simple: he wasn't going to let her stay broken. Not when he could offer her something else.
He started walking.
Three hours later, the sun was dipping low, painting the sky in bruised purples and oranges. James had moved methodically—checking rooftops, abandoned buildings, hospital back alleys, anywhere a fugitive might hide. He'd asked no questions, spoken to no one. Just watched. Listened. Felt the city breathe.
He found her by accident.
A scream—high, panicked—cut through the quiet of an industrial district. James vaulted over a chain-link fence and landed on cracked asphalt just in time to see a girl in a tattered school uniform sprinting full-tilt down the street, blonde buns bouncing wildly, a backpack clutched to her chest.
Behind her, closing fast, was a man in a dark hero costume—black cape, silver visor, gauntlets that glowed with sickly green light.
Nightmare.
James didn't recognize the name. Didn't exist in canon. Some corrupt side hero, probably. Power-hungry. Opportunistic. The kind that slipped through the cracks when All Might was still around to keep things clean.
The hero raised one gauntlet. Green mist poured out—thick, dreamlike, curling toward Toga like smoke.
"Sleep, little bat," the man called, voice oily. "I'll take good care of you after."
Toga tripped, stumbled, eyes wide with terror.
James moved.
"I'm gonna put some dirt in your eye."
The words left his mouth almost lazily.
A handful of ordinary street dirt materialized in his palm—summoned by the Dirt skill, and shot forward in a perfect arc. It struck Nightmare square in the visor slits.
The hero howled, clawing at his face. The green mist faltered, dissipated. His quirk cut off mid-cast.
Toga skidded to a stop, staring at the stranger who'd just blinded her pursuer.
James was already there.
He grabbed her wrist—gentle but firm—and pulled her behind a stack of shipping containers. Nightmare was still screaming, staggering blindly, firing random bursts of mist into empty air.
James didn't wait.
He opened a small portal—just enough for the two of them—and stepped through with Toga in tow.
They emerged in an abandoned rooftop garden on the other side of the city—quiet, overgrown, hidden from street view. The portal closed with a soft snap.
Toga yanked her arm free and spun on him, fangs bared, eyes wild.
"Who the hell are you?!"
James raised both hands—empty, calm.
"Someone who just saved you from a creep who was about to do something worse to you. Literally."
She blinked. Looked him up and down—tall, athletic, no hero costume, no visible weapon. Just a hoodie and jeans and eyes that had seen far too much.
"You… you're not a hero," she said slowly.
"Not even close."
Toga tilted her head, curious now. A drop of blood—hers, from a split lip—dripped down her chin. She licked it absently.
"Why'd you help me?"
"Because I know who you are, Himiko Toga." James kept his voice even. "And I know what you want. What you've always wanted."
Her pupils shrank to pinpricks.
"You know nothing about me."
"I know your parents hated your quirk. Called you a freak. Locked you away. I know you stabbed a boy because you loved him and wanted to be him. I know you've been drinking blood from stolen bags ever since, hiding from heroes and police. I know you idolized Stain because he said people should be free to be themselves. And I know right now you're terrified that guy, Nightmare, was going to do a lot worse than arrest you."
Toga's breathing hitched. Her fingers twitched toward the knife strapped to her thigh.
James didn't flinch.
"I'm not here to judge you," he said. "I'm here to offer you something different."
She laughed—sharp, brittle.
"Join you? Be your little pet villain?"
"No. Be my girlfriend."
Toga froze.
He continued, calm as ever.
"You can drink my blood. Once a week. As much as you want in that one session. I heal fast. I don't die easy. And I won't ever tell you to change who you are. No cages. No hiding. Just… a place where you're accepted. Where you're wanted."
Her eyes searched his face—looking for the lie, the trap, the cruelty she'd come to expect from everyone.
"Why?" she whispered.
"Because I've spent the last year erasing every big bad in this world. Because I have a family now, 3 wives with powers and a little girl we adopted who's been through hell. Because I'm tired of people like you being broken by people like your parents. Like Nightmare. Like society."
Toga stared at him for a long time.
Then she stepped closer—slow, hesitant.
"Can I… taste you now? Just a little?"
James tilted his head, exposing his neck.
"Once a week," he reminded her. "Starting now."
Her smile was small, shaky, real.
She leaned in.
Fangs pierced skin—sharp, careful.
James didn't flinch.
She drank—slow, reverent—then pulled back after a few swallows, licking her lips.
"Okay," she said, voice trembling with something like hope. "I'm your girlfriend now."
James smiled—just a little.
"Good."
He opened a portal.
"Welcome home."
They stepped through.
Soul Space welcomed them with soft golden light and the scent of chamomile tea.
Hayley, Hope, and Jozie were in the main living area—Hayley reading to Eri on the couch, Hope sorting stuffed animals, Jozie humming over a pot of soup.
They all looked up.
James stepped forward, Toga half-hiding behind him, suddenly shy.
"Everyone," he said, "this is Himiko Toga. My new girlfriend. I rescued her from a bad guy."
He didn't elaborate. Didn't need to.
Toga peeked around him, eyes wide.
Hayley raised an eyebrow.
Hope tilted her head.
Jozie smiled—warm, welcoming.
Eri looked up from the picture book, silver hair falling in her face.
Toga's gaze locked on the little girl.
Her expression softened instantly.
"Wow…" she breathed. "What a cute girl she is."
She stepped forward—slow, careful, like she was afraid she'd scare her.
"Can I… be her mom?"
The room went still.
Hayley blinked.
Hope's mouth opened slightly.
Jozie's spoon froze mid-stir.
James stared.
Toga looked back at them—nervous, earnest.
"I've never… had a family. But she's so small and sweet and… I want to protect her. Like you all do. I can be good. I promise."
Silence.
Then Eri smiled—small, trusting—and held out her arms.
Toga's eyes filled with tears.
She knelt.
Eri hugged her—tiny arms around Toga's neck.
Toga hugged back—careful, trembling.
Hayley exhaled slowly.
"If that's what you want," she said, voice soft.
Hope nodded once.
Jozie set the spoon down and walked over, resting a hand on Toga's shoulder.
"Okay," she whispered. "Welcome to the family."
Toga looked up at James—eyes shining.
He smiled.
She rose on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek—quick, shy.
James felt heat crawl up his neck.
He blushed—just a little.
Toga giggled.
Hayley smirked.
Hope rolled her eyes fondly.
Jozie laughed softly.
Eri clapped her hands.
And just like that—another piece fell into place.
James looked around at them—four women who had chosen him, one little girl who trusted him, and now a girl who had finally found somewhere she belonged.
He exhaled.
Home.