-present day-
Goddammit, where is she?! Bakugou looks around the crowded dining hall for his date, but all he sees are monkey suits, mermaid gowns, and every other formal wear he wishes they ban. This includes the western wear he has on. If someone calls him Clint Eastwood one more time, he's going to make the whole goddamn hotel combust.
He lightly shoves his way through the crowd and grumbles a quick, "Howdy, pardon me" when he accidentally spills their drink. He notices a few caterers being pulled aside by bodyguards, which either means their covers are blown or the food is atrocious. Whatever it is, he can't let it distract him.
The lights suddenly flicker on and off and a voice over the PA system announces, "Good evening, esteemed guests. We will be starting the program in 60 seconds. Please make your way into the dining hall."
From the back of the room he can see a large projection screen on the other side slowly dropping down. He grabs a champagne glass at a nearby table, raises it to his lips, and downs it in one go.
"No drinking on the job," a voice whispers in his ear.
He coughs, choking as he swallows. "Fucking hell," he hisses, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve. What the actual fuck?! he wanted to add, but Ren's bright, green eyes are glued to the monitor up front, which now projects a different room full of people.
The lights dim and the voice returns. "Thank you for your attendance tonight and your ongoing support of the guild over the years. It is with deep regret to inform you that we've discovered a traitor in our community."
So, they did catch the informant, Bakugou thinks. Todoroki mentioned that was a possibility.
"Whoever they are, I hope they're okay," Ren whispers. She runs her fingers through her emerald-colored box braids falling over her V-neck dress and smooth, brown skin. She slips her hand in Bakugou's and leans her head on his arm.
Bakugou curses silently. He hates to admit it, but she's performing well tonight. He might have to cut her probationary period short and hire her full-time.
The voice over the speakers continues. "...the No. 2 Hero, Shoto Todoroki has been captured. He is being tortured for information on who the mole is."
Bakugou's heart starts pounding like crazy. Anxiety pierces through him and he squeezes Ren's hand instinctively. Even though he knows this is all part of the plan, he's worried sick. The image of someone inflicting an immense amount of suffering on Todoroki makes his blood boil.
A countdown appears on the top right corner of the video. The voice over the speakers says: "If we don't receive intel on the mole in ten minutes, we will eliminate the people on screen. Let this be a warning to you. Enjoy the rest of your night."
The lights brighten, but the feed continues. The room erupts in hushed tones.
"What the hell? Eliminate?" Ren says, her nose scrunching in disbelief. "Did we know about this?"
Bakugou shakes his head. He scans the room. All the caterers are gone. Fuck me. Bakugou stomps towards the exit.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Ren asks, her heels clicking behind him.
Something's not right. He isn't sure exactly what it is, but his first priority is to find Deku and save those people, wherever they are.
Bakugou stops in front of a burly bodyguard blocking their way to the double doors. "No one leaves the dining hall," the bodyguard says, her arms crossed.
"No, sugar, you don't understand," Ren says in her best American accent. She tugs the guard's arm and looks over her shoulder. "You may want to investigate that couple over there. I'm pretty sure I heard the word 'treason' come up."
"Stay right here," the woman replies as she marches off. Ren grins proudly at the effect of her quirk and cracks the door open.
"Go," she says to Bakugou, laying a hand on his face. "I got you. I'll find the Advisers." Bakugou opens his mouth to speak, but Ren places two fingers on his lips, her eyes glimmering with mischief. "Do what you need to do, babe."
Before Bakugou can throw her a dirty look, she pushes him through the door. He stumbles out into the hallway, cursing. As furious as he is at being called babe, he is also thankful for how convincing she was to any potential onlookers.
The party is on the other side of the hotel, so he'll need to run down the hallway to get to the lobby where the grand staircase is. Bakugou readjusts his hat, wondering why the hallway is mysteriously quiet. He takes a few steps forward and gradually looks around. Several bodies are sprawled across the carpet. Along the walls are dozens of heroes and officers, ready to barge into the dining hall.
The chief of police comes out of the shadows and walks over to Bakugou. "Deku gave the signal," the chief says in a low voice. "But, I think he's in trouble."
"Nerd's always in trouble," he replies, then quickly adds, "I'm on it."
The chief gestures to his squad and nods to Bakugou, who sprints to the grand staircase.
The force from the combustions in his palms propel him up the stairs. The sound of glass shattering resonates across the room. Bakugou runs to its origin and almost loses his balance on an Adviser lying unconscious on the floor.
There's a series of crashes and Bakugou races to the center of the action. A large, round object whizzes past him. Out of pure instinct, he leaps behind a column, eyes widened. Another cannonball whooshes by. He covers his head from the debris as it plunges into the wall in front of him. Not far away, he hears Deku's "DELAWARE SMASH!" in the background.
Bakugou rounds the column and sees a large villain with black, cylindric cannons for arms: an Adviser. The villain is colossal, his globe-shaped head following Deku's constant movement around the room. He takes aim and shoots again, missing completely.
"DEKU!" Bakugou barks, running toward another column closer to the villain.
"Kacchan!" Midoriya dashes to him. He hunches over with his hands on his knees, panting. "I can't get near him. His skin is like metal. My longer range attacks aren't landing." Midoriya tears off a piece of his sleeve. The bandages on his arms are stained red and he uses the torn cloth to wrap his left tricep. "I knocked one Adviser out and the other is in the ballroom over there. I think there are hostages inside."
"Listen to me," growls Bakugou, pulling Midoriya close. "Keep flying around. Distract him. I'll get close enough to disable him. But, once I'm near him, get the fuck out of here and FIND TODOROKI."
Midoriya stares at him, eyes flickering with sudden terror. He nods without another word and darts away. Bakugou's veins pump with adrenaline. He waits for another loose cannonball before rushing forward.
The villain's head is tilted toward the ceiling, trailing Deku. Bakugou charges, almost levitating with the help of his quirk. He yells out a battle cry and uses his entire body weight to throw himself onto the villain's back.
His torso is nearly crushed by the villain's metal exterior. He wraps his arm around the villain's neck in a feeble chokehold and screams, "DEKU, GO!"
In an instant, Bakugou finds himself soaring through the air. The wind is knocked out of his lungs as a cannonball slams into him and forces his body against the wall.
The villain steamrolls to the injured hero. Bakugou is slumped against the wall, trying to get his bearings. He can see the villain coming closer, his cannon arms raised. Without a second to spare, Bakugou reacts. He pitches a couple of grenades into the barrels of the cannons, but not before the villain fires one more cannonball.
Bakugou tries to summon enough strength to move. When he realizes it's too late, another man dives in front of him, taking the impact of the cannonball.
Bakugou flinches and braces himself for the aftermath of the collison, expecting the man to crumble to the ground. Instead the man stands tall, strong, firm. His arms are crossed in an X formation. The cannonball easily rebounds off him and rams into the villain's skull, leaving the villain immobilized. The mysterious man's face is out of view, but when he drops his arms, Bakugou can see his hands are sharp, hard like stone, and jagged. His stance - feet apart, knees slightly bent - is familiar.
Bakugou freezes. "No." The word escapes his lips without him knowing. That's impossible.
The man turns his head and his profile sends chills up Bakugou's spine.
No. It can't be. That's not real. I'm seeing things. Endless thoughts jumble through the hero's brain, leaving him hopelessly confused. There's a sharp twist in Bakugou's stomach. He leans his head against the wall, refusing to stand. A ghost. I'm hallucinating. I'm seeing things. Before Bakugou can thoroughly convince himself, the man comes over and kneels in front of him.
Bakugou's face turns pale as the distinct features of his former lover becomes visible. The man's wide set, crimson eyes, his defining cheekbones, his soft jawline. His full lips that carried his signature broad smile and that Bakugou has kissed so many times.
"Who are…" Bakugou starts, but stops himself. There's no question about it. Kirishima is alive and kneeling right in front of him.
"I'm sorry." Kirishima clenches his teeth and lowers his head.
"You're with them?" Bakugou's insides are being mangled by his emotions, torn by the feelings of relief and pure anger. His voice is barely audible and he's still and stiff as a statue.
Before Kirishima can respond, another voice appears.
"Isami!" A woman with long, platinum blonde hair approaches them. "Holy shit, is that the No. 1 Hero? Did you knock him out?"
Bakugou is about to retort when Kirishima thrusts his hand towards him and covers his mouth. "Seo, I need you to do something." Kirishima doesn't look at her, doesn't even turn his head. He's glaring at Bakugou, eyes pleading for him to stay silent.
"It's CHAOS down there -"
"LISTEN." Kirishima's voice booms. "The first priority is the King. Find him. Take him to his stronghold. You know the evacuation protocol. Follow it."
"What about you?!" Bakugou can see she's clutching the collar of her shirt, near her heart, crying.
"Now, Seo," Kirishima orders, closing his eyes. His hand on Bakugou's mouth tightens. "I promise, I'll meet you there."
Her footsteps scurry away. Kirishima lets go of Bakugou and exhales. He shakes his head. "It's not what you think, Bakugou. I'm undercover."
Bakugou tries to speak, but goes rigid instead. A woman with egg crate-like skin materializes out of thin air with a gun pointing at the back of Kirishima's head. The third Adviser. "So you're the mole, Hayama," she says with a husky voice. "Or should I call you Red Riot?"
Sweat drips from Bakugou's forehead. He wants nothing more than to release his Howitzer Impact, but he can hardly lift a finger. All he can do is watch the villain through blurry vision pull the hammer on the gun down with a click.
"That is a terrible idea." A brown hand slides along the villain's neck and Bakugou lets out a small sigh. Thankfully, Ren appears over the villain's shoulder. She purrs, "It's best if you just give me your weapon and surrender quietly."
The villain follows her suggestions and hands Ren the gun. Almost on cue, the chief of police and two officers scamper in. They're all speaking at once, but it's all inaudible to Bakugou.
He notices Kirishima slowly reaching for him. "Don't touch me," Bakugou manages to say before everything goes black.