So, how about that last cliffhanger? 😈 anyways! This chapter is pretty okay, we get more Dabi moments, sassy!Izuku, and Bakugou being Bakugou.
When it comes to fate, nothing can be changed without determination and willpower. Fate is always around to push everyone to their breaking points and test them to see how determined they are to change their path. Sometimes it takes more for someone to change their fate and even then, it's difficult to change. Death is the same way, but then everything always has a price. A soul for soul. Whoever is meant to die and doesn't, another life is traded. How solemn is it to watch another die for you! To see one's face turn into horror at the revelation. Everything does come with a price after all. People just need to learn that, but it never seems to be the case. Human minds don't seem to comprehend anything. They are too closed and even those that are open still try to deny things, closing themselves off to things that they do not want to have any part of. Monsters, magic, love. The ones with their minds open are worse than those with closed minds. They're the ones anyone shouldn't trust.
One minute left.
Tomura is cackling as he stands over the limp form of the child of Death. Bakugou is chained up in a chair as the villains stand aside, staring at the boy who, a mere minute ago, had shrieked like a wounded animal before falling unconscious in Dabi's arms. The only one who knows anything about it is Tomura who's putting the child onto his back and fixing his arms so that they're straight and at his sides.
Ten seconds left.
Twice gags upon noticing the bones under his arms starting moving, the skin moving alongside them. The healing process is finally finishing up and Midoriya's arms are slowly getting back together.
Nine.
Mr. Compress tilts his head, listening to the way the bones snap and move back into place. While it is gross, it's quite fascinating. The ghastly sight of watching the child thrash from one side to the other, tensing his muscles and clawing the floor, it's fascinating. Multiple questions of what could have caused this reaction pops into his mind, gathering and gathering all into a cluster until he loses himself in the endless possibilities.
Eight.
Toga is pouting at the lack of blood. She wishes to see more of it but nothing. All she can do is just sit by and wait for whatever Shigaraki is so happy for.
Seven.
Dabi stares on, bored out of his mind. This isn't all that fun to watch. It's just boring and disgusting. Not to mention the screaming is annoying as hell.
Six.
Spinner doesn't like this. This is the child that Stain said was worthy. This child had sacrificed his life to save another's. So why—why are they just watching him shriek and writhe in agony like he's a circus animal performing tricks to entertain the audience? The villain feels sick to his stomach and forces himself to look away.
Five.
Kurogiri frowns at the sight, listening to the abrupt screams from the child of Death. While Hikawa had warned them of this happening, he never really understood why exactly. She never even explained the reasoning for this, but apparently Tomura knows.
Four.
The other few villains that had gathered around are looking away from the horrid sight. While they're villains, they just can't handle seeing bones moving around on their own. They are more into breaking and snapping them, not hearing it fuse together.
Three.
Tomura is grinning like mad at the sight. Slowly, but surely he can see something start to happen. Around his heart, he can see a gray start to show, slowly darkening more and more.
Two.
Bakugou is helpless. He is tied to a chair and gagged like an animal. It was the Sports Festival all over again. This time, on the other hand, the shitty nerd is on his back, on the ground, screaming and arching his back in pain as the bones in his arms are slowly being fused back together again. The noise is revolting. The sight even more so. He feels sick as black starts to overtake his childhood friend's veins, spreading faster and faster. It travels throughout his body.
One.
The howl that rips from Izuku's throat is loud and haunting. The black veins have taken over his body, traveling up his neck and onto his face. They travel up into his eyes. He thrashes and arches his back, writhing. He can feel a fire rage through his bloodstream, burning everything inside him into ashes. It's so hot. Why is he burning? What is going on? Hot! It's too hot! He lets out another scream of anguish, his nails coming up to rip at his flesh. It sounds and looks as if something is killing him from the inside. After all, what else could have brought on such a ghastly reaction. His back arches as the black seems to eat at his insides, at his blood. It hurts! It hurts! Please, let it be over with! Please! It hurts! His eyes snapping open where they all see vibrant, light green eyes turn purple with gold flecks. His scleras are full of black veins all surrounding his irises, pulsating as blood starts filling up in them and spilling over the sides of his face.
It all takes a few more minutes before everything fades and he falls limp. Shigaraki hums with a grin on his face. What the fuck did you do to him? Bakugou wants to say, but he can't. The muzzle on his face won't, but it doesn't matter. Shigaraki can see it in his eyes. "Now, now. I never did a thing to him. This is all his own fault. He wanted to be a hero and this is what that got him. All I did was give it a push."
Izuku groans, feeling as if someone lit his body on fire—ripping his soul into millions upon millions of pieces and forcing them back together. He pushes himself up, trying to recall the last thing that happened. He feels sick—nauseous. He places a hand on the side of his head, groaning once again. Green eyes slowly open, but something is wrong. Those vibrant, light green irises are gone. Replaced with pale—too pale green orbs. They look to be almost fuzzy—blurry. For a moment they're not focused on anything until they clear up a little bit.
Kurogiri is the first to notice. "Is he—what happened to his eyes?" he asks with a soft voice. Has this kid gone blind?
Those pale eyes snap over to him. "You're that villain from the USJ!" He whips his head around, his eyes scanning everyone. "No," he whispers. His attention lands on the ringleader of it all. "Shigaraki."
"Hello, Midoriya! It's so nice to see you alive and well."
"No, it's not. Ugh," he groans again as he stands up on shaky legs. Izuku glances of his shoulder, finding Bakugou staring at him. He turns back to Shigaraki. "Let him go!"
"I don't think so." A venomous smile comes to his lips. "Come over here," he commands. The reaction is instantaneous, the twerp hisses in pain as he grabs his hand. Unwillingly, he walks over to him. "Amazing! She was right! You really can't resist."
"Hikawa Achara, the Crimson Artist?" he growls, glaring up at him with those creepy eyes. "She told you about the contract and she helped you plan everything."
"Hmm, so what if she did? You can't do anything about it or leave without my permission." His attention is diverted to the angry blond who is struggling against his bonds. "Oh! Bakugou, I had forgotten about you! Now, Dabi, take off the muzzle!"
"Toga, you heard him."
"Eh? Why me? What if he bites me?"
"Twice, go."
"Ugh, alright. You won't ever do anything that Shigaraki says anyway." Twice walks over and takes off the muzzle from Bakugou, jumping back when he tries to bite him. "Tch, brat."
"See! I told you he was going to bite me if I tried to do that!"
"Shut up. You're as annoying as the crusty-assed bastard over there," Dabi mutters, jabbing a thumb over to Shigaraki who fumes in annoyance.
Izuku rolls his eyes. "Charming team you have here, Tomura," he mutters. "Seriously, I can totally see you winning against the heroes."
The sound of skin meeting skin resonate throughout the bar. Midoriya is holding his cheek from where he was just slapped by the leader. "You sarcastic little shit. Shut up and go sit with Kurogiri and do as he says. Kurogiri watch him."
A low growl comes from his throat but does as he says, deciding not to fight the contract this time. He starts shivering slightly. Kurogiri, while the other villains deal with Bakugou, takes Midoriya to a backroom go get him a change of clothes so that he wouldn't be cold. From the backroom, Midoriya rolls his eyes up to the ceiling at the sudden yelling and threats coming from the hothead. "How long have you known him?"
"Since I was four. I was so naive and ignorant back then, so I'm glad that I earned common sense at the age of twelve. Rotten personality equals terrible person equals never should be a hero," he mutters under his breath but loud enough for the villain to hear.
He can hear the resentment in his voice and glances over his shoulder at him. "He treated you terribly?"
"Me and everyone else. But I was mostly the target for my supposed quirkless title."
Once they come back, Midoriya is wearing a suit like Kurogiri's. Toga notices and drools a bit at the sight of his hair being somewhat tamed and wearing a suit and tie. Twice takes note of this and pouts, crossing his arms while rolling his eyes. "Is someone jealous?" mutters Dabi near his ear. The sudden voice next to his ear causes him to jump almost a foot in the air.
"Shut up, no, I'm not," he snaps back. He glances away and watches as Shigaraki orders Midoriya to sit in front of Bakugou. He tells Kurogiri to have a spare shirt on hand for the twerp. That doesn't sound good. Whatever he is planning does not sound right.
"Shitty Deku."
"Asshole."
"You're one of them, aren't you?"
"Wow, you're dumb and blind. You apparently haven't been watching everything, or do you just want me to be a villain?"
"Are you two done? 'Cause I want to see just how much of a hero you two can be."
"Shigaraki, your voice is like grating a rock in my ear. How about letting someone else speak?"
Tomura moves to hit him but Kurogiri stops him. "Enough Tomura."
They talk—well, Shigaraki talks while Midoriya just answers with whatever simple answer goes along with the questions. Bakugou is yelling over them, thrashing against his bonds. It's annoying. Dabi finds it amusing and wishes he can record the whole exchange. He isn't a fan of heroes but the green bean is his favorite so far.
"Either join us or we'll force you."
"Why?"
"Wh—What? Why else would we ask you?"
"I don't know, maybe waste your time since your life is meaningless?"
Some indignant and incoherent yelling from Bakugou. While the crusty-ass idiot of a leader yells in anger. "It's been an hour, Shigaraki," he says, bored as Hell. "They're not going to cooperate with you. The blond one is an idiot while the green one is hilarious with how easily he makes you annoyed."
"Dabi, don't provoke him. He already looks like a caged animal with his pacing and muttering. You don't need him attacking you."
That earns him a snort. "I can see you just on the battlefield, trash talking him the entire time. You'll probably get killed." His mood turns sour when he sees the sudden change in atmosphere.
Shigaraki turns to Toga and grins at her with bloodlust in his crimson eyes. "Kill one of them. I don't care who."
The boy, Kota, is explaining everything to the detective after Naomasa alerted the families and few heroes. The detective's hands are trembling as he listens to the child of Fate explain something he doesn't want to hear. He needed to hear it but it is too much. Izuku is in danger and under a contract that won't end good. He sighs and leans back. "It's okay, Kota. Everything will be okay. Izuku is strong and he has Bakugou there, so if anything happens, they will find a way out." Hopefully, he adds mentally, knowing their relationship.
"Hello again, Detective. Hello Kota."
Naomasa and Kota both look up to see a man with pale skin and long red hair in a messy bun. Black webbing-like cracks covers the left side of his neck, moving upward over his jaw and onto his cheek just beside the corner of his lips. It's like a cracked porcelain mask. Glowing purple eyes as he grins at them. "You're the Ghoul that visited me a couple of months ago."
"Ah, that's right I never introduced myself. I am Beetle. One of Izuku's Guides."
Kota's eyes widen as he lets out a small gasp of surprise. "You're—you're a Human Ghoul. Izuku told me about you in his notes."
"I'd hoped so." He kneels down beside him and pats his head. "If you can, please go. Izuku is alright. He'll be back and you know it. I need to speak with the detective. I'll go and find you later, okay?"
Kota looks ready to argue, to tell him that he has to hear what he needs to say, but he holds his tongue at the look that is given. He nods and leaves the room, running to Tiger who hugs him. "Hey, it's okay. Come on. Let's go see Shino, okay?"
He nods and lets him pick him up. Izuku, be careful. I don't want you to lose yourself like the one who came before you.
"So, now that we're alone. I will be helping you and your team. Death has allowed me to interfere with you humans for the time being. It is necessary for everyone to see me. You'll understand why."
"What about Izuku? Anything on him?"
"You're sentimental. You shouldn't work on this case, especially when it comes to this type of thing. No matter, I trust you more than the other monkeys. But first, I have to relay the message. Gather your people. I don't want to explain everything twice."
"Others can see you?"
He nods and walks out of the room, heading to where they do the debriefing. Once everyone is in there, the few heroes that had been called for help are there too. The smell of sulfur and death fills the air. They cover their noses and has someone airout the room. "Who are you?" questions one of the heroes, Endeavour.
"My name is Beetle. I have news regarding the captives." The raspy voice that rings through the air sends a chill down their backs. The temperature seems to drop further and no matter how much Endeavour tries, the temperature doesn't not rise. The Ghoul's presence is keeping him from doing so. That and Beetle just likes to piss people off. "Izuku has given me a plan that takes four days to complete."
That sends an outcry throughout the people. They have to wait four days? Does the kid know just how dumb and risky that is? Just how much their reputation will be ruined? Not to mention just how much risk he is putting himself and the other boy in danger. "What is it? Surely, you have to know that."
A smile comes to his face, revealing sharp teeth. "That will have to wait. Izuku wants me to tell you something before the plan and I'm the type to beat around the bush to annoy people." He grins even more. "Crimson Artist's identity has been found out. Her name is Hikawa Achara. I hope you remember that case from a year ago that my friend helped with. As for Izuku's plan well . . ." He trails off into an explanation of it. No one likes how vague it really is. "He is putting himself in danger for Bakugou and to get information for you all. He will be making things up as he goes. I don't think I have to mention how great of a villain act he can put up."
"He's right," pipes up one of the officers who had the pleasure of working with the kid before. "Midoriya has been studying serial killers since the age of twelve—maybe earlier. He knows how they act and he knows how to replicate it."
"But how do we know if we can trust this guy? For all we know, he can be a villain who is trying to misguide us!"
Tsukauchi makes eye contact with the Ghoul, shaking his head since he knows just what he's going to do. He decides not to bother with the Ghoul, especially from what he can see. Just like Izuku, Beetle seems to like being stubborn. "The dead don't lie. We search for justice that has never been given to us, Enji. Why would I put my friend in danger?"
"What the hell are you talking about? 'Dead'?"
"Beetle, Midoriya won't be happy when he hears about this."
"What are you two talking about?"
Naomasa shakes his head again with a small laugh as he leaves the room and walks away. He just hopes the plan will work. Beetle wears the smile of the devil as he steps through things like a ghost. He heads to the corner and disappears into the shadows, leaving them all confused and taking away the smell and aura.
Okay, we can all agree that Beetle (no matter how serious the situation is) is a little shit alongside Izuku. Also, I know you all like cliffhangers so you all get another one 'cause I am such nice person! 😈 Also Izuku has terrified a lot of officers who had witnessed his little act of "I'm insane and you don't want to mess with me".
Anyway, questions? I'll answer them the best I can! \(^~^)/