(Every character depicted in the story below is a consenting legal adult over the age of 18)

A/N: Malevola comes clean, more than she knows.

-x-X-x-

Somewhere around the middle of the shared shower, with Mei taking care of her hair and horns and Izuku washing her back, Malevola comes to a decision. It’s probably a bit of a reckless decision, but frankly she doesn’t know what else to do. And if she’s going to do this eventually… she might as well do it now, right?

“Hey… you two… I’ve got something I need to tell you…”

Of course, she doesn’t spill the beans while still in the shower. That would be a little silly. Still, by saying it then, she makes it a lot harder to back out afterwards. Fifteen minutes later, when they’re all dried off and dressed again, both Mei and Izuku are expecting something from her. And Malevola… Malevola hasn’t really had any second thoughts.

So, with them looking at her curiously, the half-demon crosses her arms over her chest and admits the truth.

-x-X-x-

“I was recruited by Shroud to spy on the Phoenix Program for him.”

Suffice to say, out of everyone in the Phoenix Program, Izuku was not necessarily anticipating Malevola being the first to ‘break’ or for it to happen here and now. Oh, he eventually wanted all of them, including her, to come forward and admit the truth to him and perhaps Blonde Blazer as well. That way they could work together to properly ‘redeem’ the whole group.

So yeah, it was always the plan for this sort of thing to happen. He just wasn’t anticipating it happening so fast or that it would be Malevola it would happen to. And for what? Because he and Mei fucked her good? Hah, what if she’d thought to ask Shroud for a turn instead, possibly with Nagant? Would that have made her more loyal to Izuku’s villainous identity?

Of course, there was also the question of who Izuku thought would be the first to admit the truth, if not Malevola. Courtney maybe? She did have a prior relationship with Blazer and now knew about him secretly being Vigil, so she was probably well on her way to breaking ranks with Shroud.

Or perhaps La Brava was another good candidate. He and Manami had been bonding over her love for hacking, sharing desk space with one another during the daily Dispatch Sessions.

But no, it wasn’t either of them. Instead it was… Malevola. Although now that she’d done this in front of a certain someone… well. Izuku would be lying if he said he was ready for it to happen this early, but he also wasn’t about to let that stop him. Sharing a look with Mei and pointedly ignoring the other presence in the room, he turns a serious gaze in Malevola’s direction.

“The new villain who broke Lady Nagant out of Tartarus and has started this ‘Red Ring’ organization? The same man who humiliated Mirko the other night?”

Malevola grimaces and nods, arms still crossed over her chest in an obvious defensive gesture.

“… Yeah. He recruited me for this gig. Before I even had the offer from you all, he brought me in and told me he could get me into the program. Frankly, I’m pretty sure he’s the only reason I’m here.”

Izuku frowns, tilting his head to the side as he plays up his confusion and concern.

“And you’re telling us this because…?”

Sighing, Malevola shakes her head.

“Because I don’t want to be here just because of him. I don’t want to be his spy on the inside. The Phoenix Program has been great so far… you two are great.”

Izuku is about to make a dry comment about how sex shouldn’t have been the dealbreaker, but to Malevola’s credit, she continues on a moment later before he can.

“Mei made me a kickass sword that helps me channel my powers better… and you’re not half bad at your job, Midoriya. In fact, you’re pretty fucking good at it. It’s kind of crazy to think that you were just some accountant when you lead the team better than even Blazer can and apparently have enough skill to teach Invisigal some new tricks.”

This time, the look Izuku shares with Mei is a lot less performative and a lot more real. Because yeah, Malevola is right… his accountant background doesn’t exactly hold up, all things considered.

But then, that’s kind of the point. Some of the ladies in the Phoenix Program are supposed to do what Courtney did and find out that he’s Vigil. It’s all part of their trials for becoming proper heroes. Although this whole interaction and reveal wasn’t entirely going according to plan, that was for sure.

Malevola doesn’t seem to think much of it though, simply tossing it out absently like it’s just some cool fact rather than evidence of some deeper secret. Still, her words do help reframe her decision to come out in Izuku’s mind.

This wasn’t just about the sex. The things she’d listed had nothing to do with sex, after all. She appreciated Mei for her Support Item work, something Mei would definitely be preening about for days. Meanwhile, she appreciated Izuku for his own assistance in helping her and the rest of the team in being better heroes. Her reasoning was a lot less lewd than he’d originally thought and-

“And of course, there’s the fucking sex. Hoo boy, you two are amazing in bed… even if we didn’t exactly have a bed when we did it. You fucked me until my mind melted.”

… Okay, so maybe it was still partially about the sex. Izuku resists the urge to let his eye twitch, deciding generously that the sex was just ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’ rather than anything else. And before Malevola can continue waxing on poetic about their sexual prowess, he clears his throat and cuts her off.

“Alright then. So you’re in league with Shroud. What now?”

Malevola blinks at that, looking confused.

“Uh… shouldn’t I be asking you that? I mean, I’m literally a spy for the enemy. Shroud is the latest big bad villain who wants to take over Japan or something. Shouldn’t you be arresting me or whatever? Or at the very least, kicking me out of the program…”

Izuku scoffs, his gaze knowing as he stares Malevola down.

“You don’t want either of those things to happen. And I suspect you don’t anticipate either of those things happening either. You told us this because you’re hoping we’ll forgive you and help you.”

Malevola squirms as Izuku gives his blunt assessment. Finally, her broad shoulders slump and she looks down at the floor a little glumly.

“… Yeah. Guess when you put it that way, it’s a little obvious isn’t it? Kind of had to hope you might see me as a damsel to be rescued or something, didn’t I?”

That draws a derisive snort from Izuku… but he nevertheless adopts a considering stance, like he’s thinking about it.

“What have you done for Shroud so far, exactly?”

Malevola perks up, even as she waves her hands in front of her.

“N-Nothing, actually! I mean, technically I’m here to just take everything in and then tell him about it, but he hasn’t even called me in to give my first report yet or anything. I guess he thinks not enough time has passed?”

Yeah, it hasn’t even been a month yet which is why Izuku as Shroud hasn’t spoken to anyone except for Invisigal and only because she’d been the one to initiate the meeting between them. Well, also he’d wanted to give everyone a chance to settle in and make friends and enjoy being heroes. That way, when ‘Shroud’ did finally come around demanding information on their comrades from them, they would be far more hesitant to go along with it.

“I see. Tell me, Malevola… what is your ideal ending to all of this? What are you really hoping for, exactly?”

Malevola bites her lower lip at that, giving Izuku’s question the consideration it deserves.

“I guess… I want to be free of any obligations to Shroud. I don’t want to help him hurt the Phoenix Program or anything like that. And… I suppose we should probably take him down too, right? That sort of seems like something that proper Pro Heroes should be doing.”

Izuku chuckles and even smiles at that.

“Yes, I should think so. Defeating Shroud and Red Ring are certainly a priority.”

He doesn’t entirely mean those words, of course. Not just because he actually is Shroud or because the Red Ring is his criminal organization… he still does intend for both his villainous identity and his villainous organization to ‘lose’ at some point.

However, he’s not sure that he considers them a priority. Not when the corruption in the Hero Commission and the more traditional Hero Agencies is as widespread as it is. Shroud and Red Ring will serve a purpose in exposing the rot underlying their society first and foremost.

Of course, there’s another problem with all of this. A problem that’s closer to home and more personal. A problem that’s currently hiding behind the corner listening in on this entire conversation while she takes a quick breath of fresh air before going invisible again so she can peek out and watch too.

Courtney has been doing a lot of watching tonight. She’s been spying on them since partway through his and Mei’s domination of Malevola. It’s not like Izuku intended for her to catch an eyeful, but he wasn’t supposed to know she was there so he couldn’t exactly send her away. Instead, he’d allowed her to be a silly little voyeur, not really that bothered by it.

But now… well, now Courtney had learned more than she was supposed to know this early. That would have to be accounted for going forward. Plans might have to be adjusted. But for the time being…

“You don’t have to worry, Malevola. Your secret is safe with me and Mei. More than that, we’re not going to let Shroud keep his hooks in you. We’ll help you break free of him.”

Malevola straightens up, her eyes widening and relief writ large across her face.

“R-Really?”

The voice crack gives away just how nervous the brash and brazen heteromorph truly was in this situation. Her normal personality had been completely suppressed by how anxious she was, leaving her subdued. Izuku just smiles and nods.

“Yes. Though eventually… we’re going to have to bring Blonde Blazer in on this. She deserves to know.”

Malevola twitches at that, but her reaction is nothing compared to Courtney’s over on the other side of the room. Needless to say, the invisible woman is less than thrilled by the idea of having to admit her lies to her best friend. Malevola on the other hand just lets out a sheepish laugh after a moment.

“Heh… yeah, I figured as much. Fuck, she’s not even going to be mad is she? Just… disappointed.”

She whispers the word in horror, causing Izuku to snort derisively again. She’s not wrong though… Mandy was likely to be upset, but more than anything she was going to be saddened by the fact that Malevola’s initial turn to heroism was… ‘manufactured’.

Still, she’d almost certainly bounce back and be more determined than ever once she got the chance to really think about it. After all, even if Malevola had been ‘snuck in’ to the Phoenix Program by Shroud, she was showing a greater willingness than ever before to be the hero that Blazer knew she could be. So yeah, Izuku didn’t expect there to be any problems there.

No, if there was going to be a problem… it would be with their hidden voyeur.

-x-X-x-

As Izuku, Mei, and Malevola all finish up and part ways for the evening, Courtney doesn’t even know what to feel. To say tonight had been a night for revelations would be… an understatement. Instead of going out as Vigil, Izuku had been accosted by Malevola. By the time Courtney had finally gone looking for answers to what he was doing, the threesome between him, Malevola, and Mei had already been well under way.

… She’d be lying if she said it hadn’t been hot as fuck. Malevola was an Amazonian Demoness and Courtney found her incredibly attractive. But you know what was even more attractive? Watching Izuku put her in her place with Mei’s help.

Yeah, to say that was deeply arousing would be an understatement. Only her own insecurities and fear of rejection kept her from trying to join in. But fuck… good that she hadn’t! Because then after their shower together, Malevola had dropped a fucking bombshell on the two of them! One that she almost certainly wouldn’t have been willing to admit if Courtney had been there.

… Of course, as crazy as it probably was for them to hear, Courtney doubted Izuku or Mei were as shocked as she was. After all, Malevola had admitted to being a mole for the very same man that Courtney herself worked for!

Wasn’t she supposed to be the only spy in the Phoenix Program? But no, looking back… Shroud had never actually said that. It was merely implied. After all, what sort of mad man would go to the trouble of inserting two moles into a brand new untested Hero Team like this when one would have been just fine?

But that got Courtney thinking… was it just the two of them? Were she and Malevola the moles and everyone else was legitimately recruited and actively trying to be better? Or… were there more?

The very idea is enough to make Courtney clench her jaw. She needed to find out. She needed to know for sure just who could be trusted. And sure, maybe the right thing to do would be to reveal herself to Izuku at their next training session now that she knew Malevola had done so and it had all worked out.

… But she needed something to give him. She needed information that he could use, that way he would take her seriously. Courtney wasn’t some damsel in distress in need of being saved… she was a damn hero, and she was going to prove it!

-x-X-x-

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