Chapter 38: Cracking Apart
"Everyone is asleep. They've all been asleep for years. You seemed...awake.' He closes his eyes, opens them again. "I'm tired of sleeping."
― Lauren Oliver, Delirium
Ochako
She and Izuku decide to split the confrontation, he will go after Aoyama and she will go for Tsuyu.
Her hands are jittery, stuffing them into her pockets to hide them. It does nothing to stop the rise of the goosebumps crawling up her skin, but at least she doesn't have to visually see her nervousness.
'How am I supposed to ask this question?' Ochako bites her lip, trying and failing to stop her thoughts from spiraling.
'Relax. Remember Izuku's words: We won't jump to conclusions until we hear them out properly.'
She slowly breathes in, then out.
There's an explanation behind those photographs she hopes, something to prove Tsuyu's innocence or something happening behind the scenes she just simply wasn't made aware of.
Her nails dig into her palms creating tiny crescents, trying not think of worse case scenarios as she takes the steps slowly back towards the girls side of the U.A. dorms.
Everybody has been tense since the explosions from yesterday caused by the League, people refusing to meet each other's eyes for too long in fear or suspicion, preparations made for each year to be on standby for orders from the faculty on what to do next.
They'll be the backups for the Pro-Heroes no matter what happens, it's just a matter of when they'll be needed.
She thinks of the practice drills they've done throughout this past year. All of those memories and actions can't be faked, Tsuyu couldn't have just pretended to have liked her and all of the rest of their classmates for so long without slipping up, right?
'Maybe she was being blackmailed, her family forced into it?' Ochako considers.
It would not be the first time the League used such a method.
And that scenario sounds far better than the alternative, that's it's what Tsuyu wanted to do all along.
She finds Tsuyu in her room, door cracked open a peek, nose buried in an algebra textbook.
Study is farthest thing from her mind and yet Tsuyu looks so relaxed with her forest green hair pinned up; carefree.
Her dark eyes brighten upon hearing her Ochako clear her throat, waving her in.
"I don't know how they expect us to study after that attack in the forest. Aren't you feeling on edge?" Ochako questions as she sinks in beside her into her duvet.
Tsuyu merely shrugs, bookmarking her place.
"I've put out bigger fires than this I feel dealing with my younger siblings." She remarks with a half-smile.
"But what about what Bakugo and our other classmates said regarding a traitor? I mean they're right, there's no way the League could've known where we would be at unless an insider person passed along that information. It makes sense too considering past instances of them breaking through U.A.'s security."
Tsuyu sits up then, cocks her head in confusion.
"I suppose you're right, but why worry about that? Shouldn't your biggest concern right now be that Midoriya is their next target?"
'He's been on their radar for months!' Ochako wants to say back, resting the words on her tongue instead.
She watches her carefully, searches for any sign she's lying or that her questions are becoming too pestering.
'Come on Ochako, just get it over with and ask her!'
"I um, wanted to ask you something." Ochako begins.
Tsuyu sits up fully, curiosity shining in her eyes turning her body towards her to show she has her full attention.
"I can tell just from your expression you've been eager to share something with me." She remarks, leaning forward.
And Ochako feels her pulse start to rise.
No, she can't do this, can't fathom the idea one of her dearest friends has been secretly working for The League.
'You'll never get the answers you want fidgeting like this.' She reprimands herself, but it does nothing to quell the nausea churning about in her stomach.
Ochako swallows, fishes out the copied photos she made with Bakugo before her confidence wavers any further.
She lays them out across the bed silently and quickly, watches with barely controlled patience as Tsuyu scours over each photo for a long minute.
"So tell me, what all do these mean?" Ochako questions when she has looked at the last picture from the pile.
Tsuyu says nothing and the nausea in her gut swirls faster as a jolt of fear rises up.
Bile burns at the back of her throat, this is the exact opposite of how she imagined this conversation to go. Where are her denials? Her questioning of who would slander her identity this way?
'Say something. Say it's a lie, say you don't recognize any of this!' Her thoughts shout, her stomach twists in on itself harder with each passing second awaiting her response, unsure if her silence is good or bad.
"Where did you get these?" Tsuyu finally asks, gazing up to her, a blank look in her eyes that chills her and heats the room all at once.
"Bakugo. He...He went through all of our files from both our class and class 1-B. He knew the traitor or traitors would be somebody close to us, somebody close to Izuku. It seems like all our sensei had their suspicions as well, because these photos came up from your file and Aoyama's." Ochako states in a single breath.
"...I did what I had to." Tsuyu admits, tearing at the photos one by one.
Ochako hurriedly leans forward before she can destroy all of them, floats them out of her reach forcing her to meet green orbs now icing over.
"What does that mean? Tell me!" Ochako snaps out, squeezing at Tsuyu's free hand, blinking back a wave of tears. The ripped photos slip from her hands like confetti, fall against her blankets in a rain of blacks and grays.
For a flicker of a second she sees the old Tsuyu, the one she knows and has made so many memories with, shared so many secrets with...
"It means I had to, alright! Listen in on all those conversations using my camouflage, get close to all of you, especially you after you started truly dating Midoriya. Aoyama's job was from the boy's side, to be in the background watching and provide updates of who Midoriya was training with, where he went during breaks. I don't know his full reasons, but I know I did this for my family. I couldn't...I couldn't let him destroy my Dad's job, harm my little brother and sister the way he threatened to. Plus, there's a lot about the Pro-heroes we didn't even know, things that make them hypocrites." She remarks coolly.
And before Ochako can ask what she means an alarm blares out in the distance making Tsuyu move to stand.
"What's going on?" She murmurs, Tsuyu gazing to her with a sad grin.
"The League's plans. They're starting to spread, that's all."
Izuku
'This is where Aoyama normally is after any meals.' Izuku considers, gazing around the study hall. New protocols have caused the library and other conference areas to close earlier, now only open for 1 hour after the final bell rings. Though classes have been sporadic with all the new updates coming out across the news, he's sure they'll be put on standby before the week is over.
He truly doesn't have much time really to find Aoyama if he isn't here.
He opens back up his phone, scrolls back to the latest breaking news of the League's bombs having gone off along major sections of Jaku City, the streams of flames and smog heading for Deika City next and the neighboring towns.
And eventually, here too in Musutafu.
Sunlight pours in over oakwood tables and dust ridden shelves, books people haven't touched in months stacked in corners to be placed in the back workrooms at some point by the staff.
All the aisles and tables are relatively empty save for a group of 2nd years and 3rd years in the back, noses buried in their books.
A boy with what looks to be like shark-like quirk pokes his head up as he passes, sniffs the air before his jet black eyes glare directly at him, razor teeth edging into a sneer. A chunk of upperclassmen from both 2nd and 3rd years matched with summer internships or better yet, a Pro-hero's office he's heard are already on the frontlines helping with evacuations, rescues, and aiding the police within Jaku and Deika city limits.
1st years are the only ones who haven't been called on yet.
"This is all thanks to you; you're a magnet for trouble." He mutters before he's completely out of earshot.
A girl with a rock quirk nods her agreement, sends out mini bullets of mud through her fingers he avoids. "I don't know why Principal Nezo hasn't forced you to drop out or leave U.A. already."
'I'm already considering that.' He thinks, it would bring joy to most of his peers even if they would consider stopping him he knows.
Well, Ochako wouldn't be happy...
And maybe not Kacchan either.
Izuku ignores them, maybe he isn't the only reason the League of Villains have been here at the school so often.
'It's not all a coincidence.'
He pats at his pocket once more, feels the photos still there.
He turns the corner, about to decide to go ahead and check the dorms when he sees a flicker of golden hair in the corner. If Aoyama was expecting him (like Kacchan getting to him first to demand answers), his expression gives nothing away, violet eyes seeming to brighten when he sees him approach.
"Oh, bonjour Midoriya! What a pleasant surprise to see you here at the library as well! Don't you normally study at your apartment or the dorms? Ah, you should pull up a chair!" Aoyama offers, gesturing the chair opposite to him.
Izuku considers him for a moment. They both know studying is the farthest things from everyone's minds right now despite what every staff member or teacher at U.A. says, rather as well get straight to the point.
"I err, didn't actually come to study. I had a quick question to ask you." He mentions.
A flicker passes in his eyes too fast for him to read. Maybe guilt, maybe annoyance before Aoyama straightens and nods for him to go on.
"Well, if it's not related to schoolwork then perhaps I can be of help if it's related to the arts or rich delicacy foods." Aoyama considers.
Izuku reaches for the photos then, shakes away the sweat building in his palms. This was far easier when he gave himself a pep talk in the mirror then did a quick run through with Ochako...
'This must be difficult for her too, though we need to get it over with.'
He spreads the photos out that Bakugo grabbed from his file, the notes of the suspicion reported by their own teachers for every subject on his unusual behavior around each time the League of Villains escaped through the security measures put in place.
Izuku points to a photo he found through his own research: a blond haired boy in the center of his parents, the pure smile and glow to his face the exact opposite his parent's weary grins. A tall shadowy figure looming in the background watching, pleased with the apparent results.
Aoyama gives him a broken grin, pushes away pictures of memories of him showing off his navel laser's blast for his kindergarten class to being fitted with his first belt by his Mom exclaiming how trendy it was back in France.
He doesn't deserve such happy recollections, each photo tainted by All for One's presence always there somehow nearby since that fateful day, always waiting for the moment when he and his family will have outlived their usefulness to him...
He bows his head, shame burning his cheeks pink and Izuku for the first time considers Aoyama could run, could lie about this with a complex story.
But Aoyama sends him a tired smile, remains still except for a slight fidget in his seat.
Izuku clenches his teeth. "Are these real then?"
Aoyama nods, unable to meet his eyes.
"Yes...and I'm sorry."
And before he can inquire further the fire alarm blares on, flashes of white signaling to head to the nearest exits to escape.
He gazes back to Aoyama before he can leave, eyes shining bright green.
'Paralyze his legs.'
Aoyama freezes in place and now it's a countdown, Izuku gazing towards his stomach where he can see he had been about to fire off a blast.
He calms his breathing, unwinds his fists before things become too tense, too angry that he can get the answers he needs.
"Aoyama, what did you do? What have you been doing?"
Toshinori
"You've been following these paper trails since the early morning hours, don't you think you should take a break?" Tsukauchi warns.
Toshinori doesn't answer, doesn't look away from the monitors that detail minute by minute the chaos happening across Japan. Billows of smoke stain the skies over Jaku City and it's neighboring regions in sickly yellows to dark reds and grays. A man tries to give updates on the dead and missing within the areas of the hospital and central train stations, voice going in and out from the spottiness of his connection.
"This is Kichiro from Jaku City News 1 live here at Jaku City's main downtown district or at least what remains of the area, can you here me back at the station Hekima?! There's nothing but ash and debris for miles! There's been reports from eyewitnesses though that a group of Pro-Heroes were observed heading for the underground chambers of Jaku City's Central Hospital-"
'Evacuate. They all need to evacuate.' Toshinori clenches his teeth as the screen takes on a fog of static once more, Kichiro's voice disappearing.
The broadcast gets too distorted to see anything and Toshinori feels his heart lurch when Kichiro cries out a second later.
The screen abruptly clears to reveal a sea of cobalt flames, a man stepping forth out of the fire.
Dabi gleams widely for the camera, a mix of blood, teeth, and ash.
"You're going to help me with a broadcast, starting here and now!" He grins to Kichiro who quivers with a slow nod, blood trickling down from his head to his chin.
Tsukauchi leans in closer to the screens, dark eyes widening.
"Can you turn it up a bit?" He asks so softly that Toshinori barely hears him.
He does as he asks, Dabi clearing his throat in dramatic flair, turquoise eyes bright and wild with glee and Toshinori realizes in horror where he's seen such eyes before.
'Endeavor.'
"Hello all you remaining people of Jaku City, Deika City, Musutafu, hell all of Japan and the World! I have some very important breaking news to share about these lovely Pro-heroes trying to put a damper to our plans; particularly the current number 1 Pro-Hero: Endeavor!" He begins ecstatically.
Kichiro wobbles at the camera earning him a rush of flames to his legs and Dabi's expression switching to annoyance.
"Hey. Keep that camera steady and focused on me or next is your arms. I can't have you screwing up my big announcement for the world." He snaps.
His eyes return back to the camera, beaming again.
"Now, as I was saying, I have some important news to share that I'm sure few of you even know. Endeavor, the current number 1 Pro-Hero of Japan has a dark past he's tried very well to keep hidden from the public eye. Well, no more of that! To the League of Villains, I go by Dabi, but Endeavor knows me by my true name, he came up with it after all: Toya Todoroki."
Tsukauchi stiffens, side-eyes Toshinori. "Did...Did you know about this?"
Toshinori shakes his head slowly. He'd heard stories of course about the apparent death of his oldest son, but it was a topic they all danced around, avoided bringing up to avoid Enji's wrath.
Dabi (or he supposes Toya) flashes his DNA results across the screen confirming his blood connection to the man, discusses with glee an abusive childhood of early morning training sessions where the moon was still high up in the sky. Training that did not stop sometimes until into the sun disappeared again from the sky and the moon returned to greet him once more.
And for all his efforts to impress him he was awarded with grunts to keep trying, cold side-eyes, and just a forest of flames and the smell of his melting skin...
"Oh, and dear old Dad, do you remember how you abandoned me for Shoto once he exhibited that 'perfect' quirk you were looking for? That equal balance of having you and Mom's genes? I do." He hums.
He waves away the memories, grin widening.
"Ah and just so you know, I made sure you had those encounters with all those low-tier villains. I think Starservant and Ending were the villain names they went by. They knew your history too, or at least pieces of it. Starservant was always rambling about how he could see the 'darkness' in you, guess he wasn't so far off the truth like you led people to believe." Dabi goes on.
He steps forward to the camera then, voice deepening.
"And finally, I saved the best for last so that everyone is in on the secret. I thought Heroes made it a big deal not to kill villains?! You know, make sure they're arrested and rehabilitated yada yada and all that shit? Yeah, it's a lie! No surprise really. Now if you have the stomach for it; I'll be showing you all those kill counts and bodies of those Enji aka Endeavor has trampled on to become the Number 1 hero along with some other uncomfortable scenes I captures of Heroes behaving not so 'heroically'. Don't worry Dad; I got your good side!"
He pauses to catch his breath and Toshinori leans closer, sees the depth of memories and emotions swirling in his cobalt eyes.
But then it's gone just as fast, eyes dulling as an emptiness returns back to his voice.
"And hey, maybe one day I can be your next victim; a fight of flame vs flame that kills us both! Anyways... after this, please stay tuned for the Nomus and crooks coming out of the woodworks!"
The camera wobbles once more to Kichiro's soft pleading to let him go before Dabi hushes him with a finger to his lips, flames shooting out encasing his face.
And then nothing.
Toshinori rushes to stand, knocks over his coffee and chair heading for the exit.
"Wait, where are you going?!" Tsukauchi calls after him.
"Eri!" He yells back.
The fire alarm blares out as he runs into hallway sending panicked cries of confusion around him. He finds Eri curled in ball in the adjacent playroom, hands clenched to her ears, building blocks forgotten in a crumpled heap beside her.
"What's going on, where's this noise coming from?" She murmurs out when he finally gets her to peek at him, crimson eyes fresh with tears.
"It's alright, I'm here." He whispers once he gets her attention, wiping teardrops from her cheeks, hating the way his old words can no longer bring calm and ease as she burrows into his chest.
His stomach falls, taste blood in the back of mouth pushing himself to run and figure out if young Midoriya or young Bakugo know what's going on, to use whatever remnants of his old energy he has left.
The traitor or traitors have already made their moves, nobody within U.A. is safe now.
Izuku & Ochako
"We can't sit on this information, it's time for me to act." Izuku decides once they manage to find a moment to meet in the dorms.
He considers how tight-lipped Aoyama relatively speaking was, normally bright eyes dull and vacant.
"I put my parents through such distress, put all of you in such danger." Aoyama whispers.
"Because of All for One's blackmail?" Izuku pries.
Aoyama nods, tears sliding down his cheeks he doesn't bother to wipe away.
"More than just that, it's all the things he said he would do my parents if I didn't comply! What they would do to our teachers and classmates if I tried to disobey him at any point."
Ochako rubs her chin thoughtfully, eyes focused the dots of reds and yellows in the distance, smoky residue covering the midnight air and across the half moon. It pains her to admit Tsuyu's words had some truth to them recalling the revelations Dabi made regarding Endeavor, how pained horror washed across Todoroki's face enough to excuse himself from dinner back to his room.
There's still so much both she and Izuku don't know about their teachers, about how Pro-Heroes' lives were before they made it big...
She turns her gaze back to Izuku, clenching her fists seeing his serious look.
'I don't want him to go.' The thought strikes her before she even says it, burying it back down.
It doesn't matter what she wants right now, the League of Villains will come to them; to Izuku. Shigaraki wants One for All and more so, Infliction's power.
The screeching of the alarms has thankfully stopped, but it has only made their curfew earlier and patrols ramp up, lockdowns implemented for every year to be back in their own rooms now by 9:00 pm sharp.
It's a risk for them to be even be out here alone, but they needed to wait until the residential advisors had made their rounds, that most everybody is asleep by now to not notice them missing.
"Alright, let's quickly run through your idea. You have to take into account you'll be acting alone and Infliction has a time limit." Ochako regards.
Izuku nods, holds up 9 fingers. "From my past sessions with Recovery Girl, the body has 9 major organs that are essential to life: Heart, Liver, Lungs, Brain, Kidneys, Skin, Bones, Adrenal Glands, and Blood."
'Brain damage starts at 4 minutes with no oxygen; remember that Midoriya." Chiyo repeats, striking her cane to tile making him straighten.
"And after that?" Izuku questions, writing as she points to the arrows she's drawn along the chalkboard.
"There is no after. The after is death, loss of conscious function. Now you must decide which organ you need to go for when faced with a highly volatile and dangerous enemy, when and where you must use Infliction to the point of killing."
Ochako watches as he draws out a rudimentary human body using the paper from her notepad.
"I have to attack Shigaraki in an organ that will cause instant death: Heart, Lungs, or Brain. I don't know what safe measures he'll have in place, though it has to be something he can't come back from. And...And staying here at U.A. is too much of a risk now to you; to everyone." Izuku explains.
He balls his fists, anger swirling up, needles at him reminding him of Shigaraki's grin, Toga's constant thirst for blood, this endless cycle of hate and desire for destruction all of the League craves.
Ochako swallows, grabs his face forcing him to stare at him head on. He tenses for a fleeting second before leaning into her touch, rage cooled, but not completely abated.
"You don't have to do this alone." She murmurs.
Izuku squeezes at her hand, leans close enough to her for his breath to warm her face, lips to brush making both their faces warm.
"I've been running for too long. All my past fights with Stain, Muscular, and with Overhaul I never used Infliction at its maximum because I didn't want to be a killer, too afraid of myself and my quirk's true power. I always combined Infliction with One for All in some form or fashion and now Japan is burning region by region." He voices.
"That's only because of the way so many people, the news, and media portrayed you as part of the villains too."
Izuku pauses and Ochako sees it, a darkness settling back over his eyes, resolved to his decision.
"I won't stop you; whatever you plan to do. And I'll still be by your side for whatever comes after." She promises.
BANG!
A door slams behind them startling them away from each other, Ochako turning to see a spiky blonde hair swaying in the breeze approaching them fast.
Bakugo.
"-About time I fucking found you two, shouldn't take me having to ask a 2nd year with x-ray vision where you two ran off! Save all those damn pep talks, kissing, and longing looks for later; the time for action is now! Deku, you're planning to leave tonight, aren't you?!" Katsuki gripes, straight to the point as usual.
Izuku blinks, looking to Ochako who nods.
"Yes, but-" He begins only for Katsuki crack his fists, malicious grin spreading across his face.
"Good, because I'm coming with you!"
Katsuki & Izuku
Whatever plan Deku put in place he's sure didn't involve him.
If anything, this idiot was going to try and take on the League of Villains alone knowing how many people and Nomus they've amassed.
"You don't even know what my plan is! Did you just want to run in there?" Izuku questions him.
Katsuki shrugs, what difference does it make in trying to intricately slip in? They have cameras they both know, have quirks that make it easy to track down people like hunters.
But he slows himself, recalls Best Jeanist's words. Of everything that happened with Aizawa-sensei and Present Mic when they were their ages...
The night air is stifling, messes with his sweat glands as he glances up to a black sky layered with more and more grays and reds with each passing hour.
"Damn it, we need to get a move on!" He mutters under his breath.
'I'm not letting you go on a suicide mission Deku.'
Round-Face would seriously hurt him if he did, on top of all of their classmates giving him the stink-eye more than usual.
He decides to switch to a somewhat safer subject, well as safe as subjects can be considering all that's happened as of late.
"Hey, you saw that news with Endeavor; did All Might know?"
Izuku's expression turns thoughtful before he shakes his head.
"No I don't think so. You know Endeavor was never All Might's biggest fan, plus what...what Dabi said aren't things he would've wanted him or anyone to know."
He can't imagine how Todoroki feels about this, the older brother he thought was dead for years is alive. Katsuki pictures how he looked before he went searching for Deku, teeth set together avoiding everyone's gaze.
Dabi wants their Father dead, even if it costs him his life in the process.
Izuku briefly he thinks of his own Dad, empty promises he wouldn't do anything risky from a conversation they had weeks ago.
"Your Mom used to send me letters all the time concerned about your progress at U.A! It was usually good news that you were doing well in your exams, followed by upset that you broke one of your classmate's hands." Hisashi remarks with a chuckle.
Izuku winces, stares down into his katsudon silently.
Hisashi waves off his concern. "Don't worry! I know this is your dream and we both support you! It's just that sometimes we wonder how different things would be if Infliction never activated. That genetic testing we did, though it was mostly inconclusive, I believe one of my grandparents or relatives could've had a similar type of quirk years back, though technology back then wasn't as sophisticated as it is now."
Izuku opens his mouth to speak only for Hisashi to let out a harsh cough causing him to scramble out of his seat to fetch him some water.
Hisashi thanks him once the fit ends, verdant eyes bright despite his body's near constant fighting him.
He pats at Izuku's hands as he settles across from him, grins at how cold they feel.
In the living room they hear the panicked shrieks of civilians, the latest spread of violence by the League.
"I asked All Might more about how this One for All quirk works exactly. I had never heard of quirks being passed down in that manner until now." Hisashi describes.
"Even with all my training and studying I haven't manifested the quirks of the past users of One for All. I just have the strength I gained on top of Infliction. I don't know if that will be enough to face Shigaraki and the rest of the League knowing how many quirks they've stockpiled or stored away." Izuku mutters.
And it's then Hisashi fixes him with a serious look, straightens his back allowing fire to dance across his lips heating them both, squeezing at his hands until he looks back up at him.
"End this Izuku. Whatever way you have to."
"Alright spit it out already! What do you have in mind?" Katsuki ventures, taking him out of his thoughts.
They have the time after all, they won't breach Jaku City for the next hour or two with how the trains and buses are currently running, rooftop hopping instead. The other Pro-Heroes will hopefully gain a handle on things by the time they get there, will find a way to stop this new army of villains before they spill out into the rest of Japan.
"Well, it will need to be a sneak attack if that's even possible. Something that will trip him up for me to activate Infliction." Izuku describes.
Izuku side-eyes him at a sudden thought. "Did you ever manage to dig up any information on Shigaraki or his associates? I mean beyond what we already know from what the news and our teachers have told us?"
Katsuki shakes his head, pausing when he notes the billboards around them starting to glitch, about to roughly twist Izuku's arm to force him to look only to see he doesn't need to.
It'd be impossible not to notice your own face staring back you. It's all a mix of grainy and clear images depicting Midoriya activating Infliction, the surrounding mayhem, every screen asking the same question.
'Have you seen Izuku Midoriya?'
Jaku City Hospital-Basement
"Skeptic, have you been able to hack into the cameras and feeds of the bigger municipalities and cities?" Spinner questions for perhaps the 5th time in his last hour.
This basement is cold, reeks of ash, blood, and death.
He works best alone, shouldn't they all know that by now? Surrounding by the glow of his white screens. Toga came by an hour ago with Twice asking the same damn questions. He'd only been able to get her to leave by directing her to the morgue, lips already coated in blood.
"Oh don't worry, I already had my feast of those bodies!" Himiko purrs.
"You shouldn't have! I mean I thought you were saving room to taste the blood of-" Twice starts only for Toga to shush him, cheeks reddening.
"Don't say his name, or even her name for that matter! I'll enjoy their blood when the right opportunity comes." She interrupts.
The next time Spinner asks he'll have one of his puppets shaped from the discarded desks and machines rip those scales off of him one by one.
"No, I'm getting there." Chikazoku grunts out, gray eyes storming over when Spinner paces beside him restlessly.
Garaki nudges him. "Come on, I'm always happy to see anyone take an interest in science or technology that will spread Shigaraki's plans across Japan and to the world!"
Chikazoku ignores him, his upgraded Nomus up above clearly aren't slowing the heroes down enough to await Izuku Midoriya's arrival and any potential backup he brings.
At this rate Endeavor, will burn this whole place down and Mirko will tear apart their best Nomu.
"But seriously, can't you hurry this up?! Shigaraki expected this to be done once the first bombs had gone off." Spinner brings up.
'Oh, fuck off already! If get two puppets to rip off those limbs or mouth of his, will he take that as a clue to leave me alone?' He wonders, clicking of his typing filling the silence.
Garaki hums, wisely deciding not to add to the conversation this time.
Spinner senses his mood, scoffing and finally stepping back.
"I'm only asking cuz Shigaraki wants to know if it's reached that Midoriya kid or whatever."
"He lives in a big city, he'll see it." Chikazoku replies flatly.
Iguchi looks at him, brows knitting together.
"You know...sometimes I can't tell if you're on our side or the side of that kiss-ass former boss of yours." He sneers.
Chikazoku doesn't rise to his bait, footsteps thundering towards stopping him from retorting.
Shigaraki.
He approaches the pair beaming, pays no mind to the tension swirling between them as scarlet orbs shine brightly, the opposite of these dull fluorescent lights above.
"Good job, Skeptic. All the past images we collected were able to be spliced together to capture his good side." He compliments.
Neither bother to ask what he means, following his gaze as he holds up a remote, pointing it to the main monitor in front of them.
Izuku Midoriya pops up on screen, jade green eyes gleaming as bright as his own amid the streetlights and shattered glass, as cold as his own.
Chikazoku pulls up the coordinates, he and his friend are still miles away.
And above they hear the screech of metal burning amongst the howls of Nomu's burning to a crisp. Endeavor yells for Shigaraki and Dabi to show themselves.
Garaki sinks in his chair, sighing. "My poor babies, those mid to High tier Nomus took months to reach perfection."
Shigaraki chuckles. "Their sacrifice was worth it."
He points again to the main screen, cracked grin widening knowing he's getting closer, that soon he can claim Infliction for himself.
"See that? That's the look of someone willing to finally kill."
-x-
I'm late in posting, but my endgame goal is to try and wrap up this story in the next few 1-3 chapters without it feeling super rushed; I feel bad that I've been dragging this story but I plan to see it through to the end since I know what I have in mind.
The IzuOcha future moments I have planned out in my head are what I look forward to the most writing out lol!
I know I or at least I feel I haven't had Izuku use his Infliction quirk with true deadly intentions, but that changes now moving forward. Also, I don't plan for him to use the past wielders of One for All's quirks. It would make him too OP and I made him OP enough with Infliction incase anyone wonders about that part of canon. Let me know any other thoughts/suggestions!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!