Overwatch system in Mha

The morning light filtered through the window, painting the room in a muted golden hue. Lucio sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes darting between the intricate pattern of the tatami mat and Asa, who was pacing with her phone in hand. She seemed unusually fidgety, her normally calm demeanor replaced with an air of hesitation.

"Lucio," she began, her voice firm but soft, "I know a few heroes I can call. They could help ensure your safety."

Lucio stiffened, his gaze snapping to her. "I don't know, Yamagami-san," he replied, his voice uncertain. The idea of meeting more people, let alone heroes, felt overwhelming. He had barely begun to trust Asa, and now she wanted to bring others into the fold?

Asa paused her pacing and sat across from him, her expression calm but her eyes searching his face. "I understand your hesitation. After everything you've been through... the betrayal, the loss, the uncertainty... trusting anyone must feel like an impossible task. But you can't stay in hiding forever."

Lucio looked down, his fingers fidgeting with a loose thread on his sleeve. "And what if they find out who I am? What if they think I'm a liability, or worse, a threat?"

"They won't," Asa said firmly. "I wouldn't call them if I thought for a second they'd turn on you. These are people I trust with my life. They've faced worse odds and shown compassion when it mattered most."

Lucio raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Heroes like that are rare, if they exist at all."

Asa gave a small chuckle, the sound carrying a hint of nostalgia. "Rare, yes. But they do exist. I've fought alongside them. They've seen the worst the world has to offer and still choose to fight for something better."

For a moment, the room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging between them.

"Why now?" Lucio finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Because you can't do this alone," Asa replied, her tone gentle but resolute. "You've been through hell, Lucio. And while you've survived, survival isn't living. These heroes can give you a fighting chance—not just to defend yourself but to reclaim your life."

Lucio looked at her, the walls he had built around himself beginning to crack. He wanted to argue, to find some reason to refuse, but Asa's words resonated with a truth he couldn't deny.

"Who are they?" he asked, his voice cautious.

Asa's lips curved into a small, reassuring smile. "People who've seen darkness and didn't let it consume them. People like you, Lucio."

Lucio hesitated, his mind racing. He thought back to his parents, to the bounty that had torn his life apart, to the fear that had chased him since that day. Could he really trust strangers with his safety? Could he risk opening himself up to more pain?

But Asa's unwavering gaze and quiet confidence stirred something within him.

"Okay," he said finally, the word feeling heavy on his tongue. "Call them."

Asa nodded, her expression a mix of relief and determination. She stood and began dialing, her fingers swift and deliberate.

As she made the call, Lucio watched her, a part of him still doubting his decision. But another part—a small, fragile part—hoped that maybe, just maybe, Asa was right.

And if she wasn't?

Lucio clenched his fists, steeling himself. Then he'd make sure he was ready for whatever came next.

Asa's fingers hovered over her phone for a moment, hesitating before she finally pressed the contact. The line rang twice before a gruff voice answered.

"Yamagami," Aizawa said, his tone sharp and distracted. "Make this quick. I'm in the middle of something."

"Aizawa," Asa began, her voice calm but insistent. "I wouldn't call if it wasn't important."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, followed by the faint sounds of movement—footsteps echoing, a shuffle of papers. Asa imagined him narrowing his eyes at his surroundings, always on edge even in moments of stillness.

"I'm in Kyoto," Aizawa replied tersely. "There's been a surge in villain activity here. This is a bad time."

Asa's grip on the phone tightened, her voice dropping into a more urgent tone. "I have Lucio."

Silence.

For a moment, Asa thought the call had dropped. Then she heard Aizawa inhale sharply, the sound barely audible over the background noise on his end.

"Lucio?" he repeated, his tone now laced with a mixture of disbelief and sudden focus. "The Lucio? The one with—"

"Yes," Asa cut him off before he could finish, glancing at Lucio, who was watching her with a mixture of curiosity and unease. "He's with me. And he's safe... for now."

Aizawa's voice dropped, quieter but no less intense. "Do you have any idea what you've just stepped into, Yamagami? If the wrong people find out—"

"I know," Asa interrupted again, her voice firm. "That's why I called you. He needs help, Aizawa. And he needs it now."

Another pause. Asa could almost hear the wheels turning in Aizawa's mind, the strategist in him weighing the risks and benefits.

"Where are you?" he asked finally, his tone resigned but resolute.

"Outside Osaka. I can send you my coordinates," Asa replied quickly.

"I'll finish up here and head your way," Aizawa said, his voice all business now. "Keep him hidden. No unnecessary risks. And Yamagami..."

"Yes?"

"You better be right about this," he said before the line disconnected.

Asa lowered the phone, exhaling a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She turned to Lucio, who was watching her with a guarded expression.

"That didn't sound promising," he said, crossing his arms.

"It's Aizawa-sensei," Asa replied with a faint smile. "He always sounds like that."

"And you trust him?" Lucio asked, his tone skeptical.

"With my life," Asa said simply.

Lucio didn't respond immediately, but something in Asa's unwavering conviction made him nod, albeit reluctantly.

Asa glanced out the window, her mind racing. Aizawa was on his way, but this was just the beginning. If Lucio was going to survive—and if she was going to protect him—they'd need more than just one hero.

They'd need a plan.

(Aizawa pov)

Aizawa tucked his phone into his jacket pocket, his mind already racing as he surveyed the quiet alleyway in Kyoto. The local authorities were dealing with the aftermath of a villain incident, but the heroes on site had the situation under control. He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair.

"Yamagami always knows how to pick her moments," he muttered under his breath.

Pulling out a secure comm device from his utility pouch, he tapped into a private channel reserved for top-priority communications. Static filled the earpiece for a second before clearing.

"This is Eraserhead," he said tersely, his voice low. "Priority call. I need All Might and Mirko on this channel now."

A brief pause followed before a familiar, cheerful voice answered. "Eraserhead! Long time, no hear!" All Might's tone was lighter than the situation warranted, but that was just his way of staying optimistic. "What's going on?"

"I'm en route to Osaka," Aizawa began, his tone clipped and serious. "A situation has come up. I've received credible intel regarding Lucio."

The comms went quiet for a beat. Then All Might's voice returned, his usual buoyancy replaced by a steely undertone. "Lucio? You're sure?"

"Confirmed," Aizawa replied, walking briskly through the alley, his coat trailing behind him. "He's with Yamagami. She's keeping him safe, but this situation is volatile. We need to act quickly before anyone else gets wind of this."

A new voice joined the channel, brash and full of energy. "Lucio, huh? Sounds like trouble," Mirko said. "What's the play, Eraser?"

"I need you both to rendezvous in Osaka," Aizawa said. "Yamagami has his location. This isn't just a retrieval mission—this could escalate fast if anyone connected to the bounty picks up his trail."

"And if they do?" Mirko asked, her tone almost eager, the promise of a fight sparking in her words.

"We neutralize the threat," Aizawa said firmly. "But discretion comes first. We don't need the public catching wind of this—not yet. The fewer people who know Lucio's alive, the better."

"All Might, can you make it?" Aizawa asked.

"I'm on my way," All Might replied immediately. "This could be dangerous, but I trust your judgment, Eraserhead."

"What about you, Mirko?" Aizawa pressed.

"Already moving," she said, the sound of wind rushing past her picked up by the comms. "Osaka's not far from where I'm patrolling. You know I love a good high-stakes mission."

"Good," Aizawa said, nodding to himself as he stepped onto a side street and hailed a car. "We'll regroup in Osaka. No mistakes, no unnecessary risks. Let's keep this clean."

The comms went silent again as Aizawa ended the call, leaning back in his seat as the car pulled away. He closed his eyes briefly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

Lucio. The name carried more significance than most people understood. If Yamagami was right—and he had no reason to doubt her—this was bigger than just protecting one kid. This could shift the balance in ways no one could predict.

But first, they had to keep him safe.

And Aizawa wasn't about to let anyone hero or villain get in his way.

(switching pov to widowmaker)

The soft hum of the jet's engines was a soothing background as Widowmaker sat in the leather-upholstered seat, her piercing gaze fixed on the glowing cityscape below. She swirled a glass of red wine in her hand, taking a slow sip before setting it down on the polished table beside her.

A secured satellite phone rested in her other hand, its screen displaying a cryptic set of numbers instead of a name. She pressed it to her ear, her voice as smooth as silk but laced with icy indifference.

"The target is no longer an issue," she said in French, her tone clipped and professional.

The voice on the other end was deep, distorted, and devoid of any identifying emotion. "You're certain?"

Widowmaker's lips curved into a faint smirk. "I always am. The boy's parents are... no longer a concern."

There was a pause, followed by a low hum of approval. "Good. And the boy himself?"

Her expression darkened for a moment. "I have no confirmation. He was not present during the execution. Either he escaped, or he wasn't there to begin with."

"That wasn't part of the agreement," the voice replied sharply. "The bounty required the elimination of all targets, including the child."

Widowmaker leaned back in her seat, unbothered by the reprimand. "Consider this a minor complication. He'll surface eventually—orphans rarely stay hidden for long. If you want him taken care of, you know where to find me."

There was a pause, the silence crackling like static. Finally, the voice responded. "We'll consider our next move carefully. Your payment will be transferred as agreed. But should the boy resurface, you will be contacted again. For now, return to standby."

Widowmaker's smirk widened. "Understood. As always, it's a pleasure doing business."

The call ended with a faint click, and she placed the phone back on the table, her fingers tapping idly on the armrest. She gazed out the window, her mind already considering the implications of her incomplete mission.

If the boy was still out there, someone would find him eventually. And if she was lucky, she might be the one to take the next shot.

Widowmaker picked up her glass again, raising it slightly as if to toast her invisible employer. "To loose ends," she murmured, taking a long sip as the jet soared higher into the night sky.

(end pov)