Chapter Five: Unmasked
So...All Might was here. He'd known, of course, that the hero would be at Yuuei, but he hadn't thought that he'd actually see him. It was weird meeting the person he'd been wishing to beat since childhood. It was even weirder seeing that Deku seemed less excited about this outcome than he thought.
Katsuki wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad, so he settled for angry. Wherever he wasn't sure of anything, he'd always choose anger. It was a fun default.
What pissed him off about All Might however, was that the man acted too fake. Fake costume, fake personality, fake perfection, fake smile. Everything about him seemed cheap, like a doll made up exactly how its owner pleased. Nobody could ever be disappointed with perfection.
All Might, Katsuki was sure of, made him angry.
He especially hated the little exchanged glances between Deku and All Might, as if they were in on some secret, and the diluted encouragement. That seemed fake too.
He hated most of all that Deku bought it.
So, when Deku and him were made to face off in a battle, he took out his anger on everything. He raged at Glasses, for being the one to insinuate Deku could be fake too, and barreled in rage for Deku.
"Deku!" He screamed.
"I'll kill you!" And Katsuki did. He burned him, wanting to evaporate all the lies and gullibility from within, wanting to show Deku that the world had never been sunshine and daisies. He needed Deku to see that All Might was not a hero to worshipped, but one to be used as a stepping stool. He needed Deku to see that Katsuki was a better hero.
He'd always been upfront about everything. He never lied. He always said what he thought was true, even if some of his shouting might've been lost in translation.
"Move or die." He said, aiming his gaunlet just a fraction away from Deku. He knew the nerd was observant. He knew Deku would use that infuriating natural battle instinct of his to move. He knew he'd never actually kill Deku.
Because he preferred the nerd to live, as much as it irritated him. Katsuki needed him alive, so he could gain what Deku had.