Author's Notes: I now have a BETA reader! Thanks so much to em0em4 for volunteering! Another pair of eyes is always helpful with catching errors - especially as re-reading my stories can be difficult for me! However, as much as I appreciate that, most appreciated of all is all the feedback and encouragement em0em4 has been giving me, not to mention the fact that I now have a super-cool online friend :)
Another shout-out to my Guest reviewer too. I'm so glad I'm still hearing from you! Reviews are absolutely appreciated and I can't emphasise how much your enthusiasm means to me! I love hearing your thoughts as each plot point unfolds! Knowing somebody is excited for my updates definitely seems to get my creative juices flowing lol, I don't think it is a coincidence that I've been writing and updating more frequently after reading your reviews and seeing that I now have some followers for this story! I very much appreciate my followers too, I hope you still are enjoying my story :)
So without further ado, let's see what happens next!
Chapter 5: With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?
Katsuki does not believe for a second that Midoriya has any interest in punk rock or that he had even heard of Carolina Reaper before yesterday.
He's not going to let Deku ruin this for him though.
He finishes applying his eyeliner with a flick of his wrist and stands back to admire his appearance. Layered necklaces adorn his throat. A black graphic tank with 'Fuck the establishment' emblazoned across it dips tantalisingly to show the defined hollow between Katsuki's pecs. Ripped tight jeans (he's wearing a packer in his underwear of course), studded metal sneakers and a leather jacket complete the look. He knows he looks hot and he feels great.
He's going to see Carolina Reaper and he's going to enjoy himself no matter what.
He enters the venue without waiting for Deku. Regardless, the annoying broccoli somehow still manages to find him among the crush of bodies, alerting Katsuki to his presence with a heavy hand on his shoulder.
Breathing hard, Katsuki tries to remain calm, shaking the offending hand off without a word. The atmosphere between them already feels heavy and despite his stubborn refusal to let Deku get under his skin, Katsuki worries he will be on tenterhooks the entire evening.
Ultimately, his worries ended up being unfounded. The performance is amazing. The fast-paced songs raise his adrenaline and soon he finds himself jumping and screaming along with the crowd.
It's nearing the end of the night and there is a pause between sets. The audience has calmed down though an undercurrent of anticipation continues to ripple through the crowd. Suddenly Katsuki remembers he came with Deku when he catches sight of him looking rather overwhelmed.
When Midoriya notices Katsuki looking at him he smiles. Katsuki tenses as Midoriya leans closer. He holds onto Katsuki's shoulder and shouts directly in his ear so he's heard over the noise.
"They're really good!"
A flurry of movement on stage saves Katsuki from answering. Oda Hanamichi, the lead singer, has come back out for a solo performance. He tells the crowd he'll be singing a stripped-down version of the band's most popular song, 'Clash of the Anarchists' before the night concludes with Carolina Reaper's encore performance.
Slowed, without instrumentals, 'Clash of the Anarchists' takes on a completely different quality. The raw sensuality of Oda's lone voice overpowers the nihilistic political lyrics.
The confidence the lead singer exudes on stage reminds Katsuki precisely why Oda Hanamichi served as what he thinks of as his gay-awakening. The entire audience seems caught under Oda's spell for the entire song. One could hear a pin drop in the quiet after Oda's low voice finishes crooning the last note. Awed stillness pervades the audience until an eruption of applause and screams for more break the silence.
The rest of the band rush out on stage and the addition of the electric instruments playing Carolina Reaper's signature fast-paced hard-edged melodies lifts the energy of the audience once more.
Katsuki feels on top of the world. As if he were up there playing with the band. As the night draws to a close, he is practically vibrating.
Katsuki is pleasantly surprised to discover that both the concert and his time with Deku conclude without incident. Hardly believing his luck, Katsuki rushes off as soon as the band has wrapped up.
He feels…energetic, like he has gotten away with a crime.
Too much adrenaline is pumping through his veins for him to want to go home just yet, so Katsuki forgoes a taxi and takes a meandering route home.
He runs. Yells out occasional exclamations of delight. Usually he would never act this way - he would be embarrassed to be seen by somebody he knows. But today? He feels so carefree and happy, he can't find it in himself to care.
He slows as he goes through a deserted park, kicking at the pebbles covering the path when he stops to consider the forested area fenced off from the public.
After a moment's hesitation he uses his Quirk to blast himself in to the air and propel him over the fence. He lands gracefully, though his phone bounces out of his pocket onto the soft soil. At least the ground isn't wet. He picks his phone up and brushes off the remnants of soil sticking to it before he shoves it into a pocket with a zip. The sun had set hours ago but the moonlight and stars provide Katsuki enough light to see by. Still riding the high from the concert he hums slightly under his breath as he begins to walk.
Katsuki is unsure how long he's been walking when he hears the sound of dry leaves rustling behind him. This late at night, the park should be virtually empty, not to mention the fence protecting the wooded area Katsuki's in, so there really should not be any other humans around. Katsuki whirls around, half hoping to see a forest worker about to angrily scold him for trespassing, half expecting to see a member from the League of Villains knowing his luck.
He finds himself face to face with Midoriya.
Midoriya who is far too close for comfort.
"Don't worry Kacchan, I won't tell." Midoriya purrs, causing Katsuki to visibly flinch.
Katsuki tilts his head to the side but otherwise doesn't respond to Midoriya. He takes in Midoriya's wide green eyes and tries not to balk at the manic grin spreading across Midoriya's face.
"Keep me happy and I promise I won't tell." Midoriya continues.
"Dunno what you mean."
"I think you do. I suppose if you really don't know, perhaps I can get Kirishima or Kaminari or one of the many students in our class to help me explain to you what I'm talking about."
Katsuki wonders if he should continue to play dumb, but quickly dismisses the idea. They both know what Midoriya is referring to.
"Kacchan, before you say anything, I want you to just think about the precarious position you are already in. As a hero I mean. After the fight with All Might in Kamino Ward you really can't afford for another public scandal to get out."
Katsuki feels his palms sparking but struggles to suppress his knee-jerk aggressive response. His heart hammers as Midoriya takes another step forward, no doubt emboldened by Katsuki's lack of reaction. They are now almost nose to nose and Katsuki still can't move. He finds he can still use his voice though.
"You wouldn't." Ignoring Midoriya's smirk and raised eyebrow, Katsuki barrels on, sounding more confident than he feels. "What you are suggesting is blackmail, it's coercion. That's what villains do. You'd never do something like that. You are aiming to be a hero aren't you?"
"Aw Kacchan, do you think I could be a hero? I can't help but see the irony given you once told me I didn't stand a chance of becoming a hero without a Quirk. Funny how circumstances change. Now you're the one with a random gene that might prevent you from ever becoming a hero."
"Excuse me?" Katsuki angrily retorts "I – "
"C'mon Kacchan" Midoriya interrupts, "Think. What do you think this will do to your career if word gets out? You'll be a joke before you even start."
Katsuki feels trapped and yet he has never felt so oblivious to his surroundings. His mouth is dry and sweat drips down his back. Midoriya's grin looks demented. There is a shimmering quality to the liquid in Midoriya's green eyes that quite frankly scares him.
"How the fuck did you go from wanting to be "'Mighty Man' or 'Captain All Might' to doing this?" Katsuki asks incredulously, a little desperately even.
"History has shown us people are willing to do unspeakable things for the ones they love."
"You need help, Deku."
Midoriya chuckled and shook his head. "No, but you need mine."
"What do you want?"
"You. Shall we say Monday night when we're both back at the dorms? Don't worry, this can be our secret. Just like the other little secret we're going to share."
Midoriya holds Katsuki's gaze as Katsuki scowls back at him. Red spreads across his cheeks and travels down his neck. Katsuki rarely blushes but when he does the hue is evident on his porcelain skin. To say Katsuki is shocked by Midoriya's proposition is an understatement.
How on earth had they reached this point? When did things start getting so twisted? Was it when they went from bully and victim to rivals? Or when they went from rivals to almost-comrades-in-arms? At what point had Midoriya's need for his attention spiralled into something so intimate and sinister?
Author's End Notes:
Followers: Another chapter update will be posted this weekend!
Casual reader who has stumbled across this: Hate it or love it? Please review and let me know why! I honestly want to know you thoughts whatever they are - this is my first fictional work so I really want to know what you honestly think.