A/N: This fic is based on a TikTok series by the creator vivian_blair_cos entitled VillainDeku and Kacchan. To Viv, I hope I did your vision justice!
Links for the TikToks that the fic is based on:
Part 1: vivian_blair_cos/video/7090975813277093166?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7092591342775731758
Part 2: vivian_blair_cos/video/7091359013908090158?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7092591342775731758
Part 3: vivian_blair_cos/video/7091694131461836078?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7092591342775731758
Part 4: vivian_blair_cos/video/7092111836279082282?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7092591342775731758
The first time Bakugou Katsuki ever saw Midoriya Izuku, he knew they would be great friends, and not just because their respective mothers had become quick friends and they were destined to spend a lot of time together. The green-haired energetic and kind kid with the matching green eyes could be friends with anyone, Katsuki noticed, with how kind he was. He passed his kindness around like free candy, and while everyone took as much as they could, Izuku never stopped giving. He never seemed to be out of kindness to give, and never seemed to be bothered (or maybe he just didn't notice, but Katsuki was doubtful of that) that he was taken advantage of, and his generosity often went unreciprocated.
The cinnamon roll of a human being was just the thing that Katsuki needed to give him the positive attention he was always craving. Looking back, Katsuki realized that he used Izuku just as much as everyone else had. Katsuki didn't know if it made him feel better or worse that Izuku never seemed to mind that he always gave more than he ever received; Katsuki just knew that he felt almost ashamed of himself because of it. He had always wanted to be number one in everything he ever did, so why did it never occur to him that he should work hard to be a number one friend? Maybe, deep down, he already knew that Izuku would have him beat in that regard, so he never put forth the full effort in fear of failure, in fear of coming in second after Izuku.
The first time Bakugou Katsuki saw Midoriya Izuku after that fateful doctor's appointment, he felt anxious.
He worried about what it would mean for their friendship, which was stupid, looking back. He knew, even back then, that if Izuku had felt any jealousy at all mixed in with the pride of his best friend getting an amazing quirk, that he would never let if affect their friendship. Izuku would bottle it up and deal with it on his own; they were similar that way, he and Izuku. The two were more similar than Katsuki had realized, more similar than Katsuki would allow himself to think about.
He worried about what it would mean for Izuku. Statistically speaking, the quirkless people had it rough. From the bullying in school, to later in life, when he would find it difficult to land a job, even if that job didn't have a quirk that was specifically suited for it. The one with the lame quirk would be chosen over Izuku every time, even if Izuku was more qualified in every way except that he did not have a quirk, even if the other candidate's quirk was that he could enlarge his ears and it had nothing to do with fulfilling the job. It wasn't fair, and everyone knew it, but the limited policies put into place to discourage quirk discrimination did little to change anything, and even less when those in charge only put the policies into place to look like they were trying and didn't actively try to enforce them or even lead by example. Would it have killed them to hire a quirkless person as their secretary? As their front desk associate to get people used to the idea? Hey, this huge company that sets the standards for other companies hired a quirkless person and they are doing fabulous work! Not in Katsuki's lifetime, at least.
He worried about what it would mean for himself, which was selfish of him, but he worried it all the same. What would his other friends think of him if he remained cordial with the quirkless, useless freak? What would Katsuki do to protect Izuku from their peers? Katsuki liked to pretend that he was fearless, but he cared about what others thought of him more than he let on. No matter what Katsuki said, Izuku just wouldn't keep his head down and stay out of the way and under the radar.
Hell, Katsuki had overheard some of his friends planning to torment Izuku, really hurt him, possibly enough to cause permanent damage. He knew that his friends were only encouraged by his own behaviors toward Izuku, so he couldn't exactly just tell them to stop and expect that they would listen. They would think that he didn't really mean it, or maybe even take it as a challenge that they could traumatize Izuku enough to finally leave Katsuki alone when he himself couldn't.
So, Katsuki did the unforgivable. He destroyed Izuku's prized possession: That notebook that he constantly had his nose in, pencil flying across the page as he muttered his thoughts aloud, trying to organize the thoughts that were coming too fast for his mouth or pencil to keep up with. Even worse than destroying Izuku's hard work, he had told him that he should jump off the building, and maybe he would get lucky and be born with a quirk in his next life.
The words burned his mouth as they left, but if the cruelty would save Izuku from getting broken bones, and maybe even a concussion if his friends had anything to say about it, he would have done it all over again.
Later, though, and even to this day, he felt ashamed when he looked back on how he treated his friend. He would have been furious with Izuku if he had tried the same thing to protect him. He would scream and yell and insist that he didn't need protection and that he could handle himself. His best friend being declared quirkless didn't make Katsuki exempt from having his own internal bias against the quirkless. He subconsciously thought that Izuku was too fragile to handle himself, but he would never know if he was right or if he would be proven to be dead wrong because he didn't allow Izuku the chance to prove himself.
In the moment, he didn't see another way, but that was just a poor excuse and he knew it. Nothing about his decisions were heroic; you don't hurt someone a little to prevent more hurt when you have options to protect them and not have them hurt at all. If Katsuki would have been loud and proud about having Izuku as a friend, none of his loser friends would have fought against him, not with a quirk (and temper) like his. Katsuki vowed to himself to do better, to be better.
The first time Bakugou Katsuki got a glimpse of Midoriya Izuku heading into the written exam to be considered for UA entrance, he didn't quite know how he felt. No one without a quirk had ever been admitted to any hero courses, let alone to a school as prestigious as UA. He just hoped that Izuku had found a few friends better than Katsuki had ever been to him to help him through his rejection to the school. Katsuki left Izuku alone, and just focused on himself. If he wanted to be a better hero, a better person, getting into UA was the best place to start.
The first time Bakugou Katsuki saw Midoriya Izuku behind the entrance gates of UA, he was confused. Katsuki didn't feel confused often, being at the top of his class, so his rage began to grow almost immediately. The combination of his confusion and how Izuku had already started to make quick friends had sent his blood pressure skyrocketing, nitroglycerine pouring out of his pours and begging to be alit. Even as he yelled at Izuku, Katsuki was internally scolding himself for not holding himself to the higher standard he had set for himself, but old habits die hard.
Katsuki was relentless, and maybe was projecting just a little bit, as he went after Izuku. He fully believed that Izuku must have lied to him. Maybe Izuku saw how much being the best meant to Katsuki, so he kept his incredible quirk a secret so that Katsuki could be the one to shine. At first, Katsuki didn't recognize the hypocrisy, he was just enraged that Izuku would underestimate him and try to protect him when he didn't need the damn nerd's protection.
When Izuku finally broke down and explained how he had gotten his quirk, Katsuki didn't believe him at first. Who would? It sounded absolutely impossible in the most insane way. But after seeing Izuku sneaking around with All Might, it started to make sense. Katsuki's anger only grew from there.
But anger is only a secondary emotion. Primarily, Katsuki was hurt.
All Might had made the wrong choice, hadn't he? Why did he choose Izuku over someone like Katsuki? Izuku didn't deserve it! He couldn't even keep the secret that could have been All Might's downfall.
But, when Katsuki thought about it later, he wondered if he'd be able to handle something that big all on his own. He was a little humbled and amazed that even after all he had done to Izuku, he was still the only one he trusted enough to tell the secret to, even if the only reason he had done so was because he saw how much Katsuki was hurting. He was a true friend, and that pissed Katsuki off even more. Even when Katsuki was trying to better himself to atone for his past transgressions, Izuku was lightyears ahead of him. Trying to catch up to Izuku felt entirely impossible.
What really confirmed the fact that Izuku had told him the complete and whole truth was All Might telling Izuku through the television that it was his turn after the fight at Kamino Ward. After the fight that was the start of All Might's downfall. The fight that was all Katsuki's fault.
Being kidnapped by the League of Villains was terrifying, but also kind of gratifying. The League of Villains knew talent when they saw it and had good taste, which is why they so quickly targeted in on Katsuki. That made him feel good, powerful even. The fact that they thought his rage and anger could so easily switch from heroics to villainy was where they lost him. He wasn't some follower that would be so easily swayed. He wanted to be the number one hero. They didn't do enough research. They didn't get to know him as a person. They only saw him as a tool that they could use to further their agenda, and that was the reason that they couldn't get Katsuki to even consider joining their cause. Katsuki refused to be anyone's pawn.
Shigaraki's ideals had stuck at the back of Katsuki's mind since then, though, which scared Katsuki. Aizawa had put so much faith into him and really tore into anyone who thought that Katsuki might end up working for the villains. To even consider Shigaraki's words, to even think that it actually kind of makes sense was all a big betrayal to Aizawa and UA, even if they would never know the thoughts that ran through Katsuki's mind.
Katsuki had started seeing it everywhere after that, though. The fact that All Might entrusted his quirk to quirkless Izuku still made his blood boil, but not because of the fact that Izuku was chosen before Katsuki could have been considered. Instead, he became enraged because he didn't understand how the fuck a Pro Hero could thrust that kind of responsibility onto a literal child.
Katsuki was relieved that Izuku finally had a quirk, and that would open doors for him no matter what he decided to do. But that wouldn't help him if he tore himself apart from the inside because his body wasn't mature enough to handle One For All. A quirk wouldn't do anything for Izuku if it ended up killing him.
It was just like Shigaraki had said. The heroes didn't actually care about who they hurt; they just did as they pleased, and then condemned the villains for doing the same thing. The current status quo was fucked up, and Katsuki was angry with himself about it because maybe he would have never seen it if it weren't for the League of Villains. He might have never thought for himself if it wasn't for Shigaraki's endless prompting. He might never have noticed and started to subtly try to correct the flaws in the whole hero system if it wasn't for the loyalty and total devotion to Shigaraki and his cause that the League of Villains had shown that made Katsuki think that if there is more than just one person who believes this, maybe it is worth at least considering.
Katsuki had started to realize that, even as an up-and-coming hero, he was going to be used as a pawn in someone's game. He had rejected the idea of becoming a pawn for the League of Villains only to turn into a pawn for the Hero Commission. No matter how hard Katsuki tried, he couldn't convince himself that being a pawn, even for the Hero Commission, was noble. He felt stupid, silly, and small every time it became glaringly obvious that he was just another number to the Hero Commission, and he would be replaced in a heartbeat if he ever failed.
The first time Bakugou Katsuki saw Midoriya Izuku after the League of Villains had gotten their claws into him, he was overwhelmed with vastly different emotions. He wondered if he was stronger than Izuku by staying on the good side, or if he was actually weaker for not taking more drastic measures to correct the flaws in the system. He wondered if Izuku's sense of justice had been altered at all by the villains, or if he was the same Izuku he had always known.
He found his answer pretty quickly.
They had both frozen for just a second when they saw each other, recognition flashing across both their faces before they leaped into action. Katsuki figured that the hesitation was because of the fact that they used to be on the same side, and they both had to remind themselves that they were now enemies. Both of them had hesitated, so Katsuki didn't let it weigh down on him. It felt good, actually, just like old times, sparring with each other as Katsuki helped Izuku get a better grip on the quirk that All Might had stupidly given him way too early. This time, both were going all out; neither were willing to pull their punches, it seemed, and that was just fine for Katsuki, preferable really.
Overwhelmed by his conflicting emotions of how it ever got to that point between them, Katsuki had hesitated and faltered, giving Izuku an opening that, if he had taken advantage of it, would have killed Katsuki. At the last second, Izuku aimed slightly away, and the wall right next to Katsuki's head had crumbled immediately with the force behind Izuku's kick.
Izuku backed off immediately, putting distance between the two, falling back into a crouched position that he could go in any direction from easily, ready to react to any move that Katsuki might make.
Well, any move except for the one least expected, that is.
Katsuki dropped his arms from where he had shielded his head and face, bracing himself for the impact that would at the very least, really hurt, and at the very most, kill him. He shook his head to get some of the rubble from the crumbling wall behind him out of his hair.
Izuku was hesitant to let his guard drop, even in the slightest, until Katsuki had shaken the rubble and dust from his hair, leaning his head forward and squeezing his eyes shut tight to avoid getting dust in them. Izuku recognized immediately that Katsuki still trusted him wholeheartedly by looking away from Izuku and closing his eyes, even if just for a second. Someone with questionable values might take advantage of that, but Izuku still held his strong values and Katsuki quickly recognized that when Izuku backed off of a sure win because Izuku didn't want an easy win if it would result in the pain or death of his long-ago friend.
Just like before Izuku switched sides, he would rather win by pinning his opponent, tying them up and rendering them helpless, but ultimately unharmed. He was still the same Izuku, and Katsuki felt the immense relief wash over him. Becoming a villain didn't completely change Izuku. Izuku wasn't broken and reformed. That would make this whole thing easier.
Izuku relaxed his stance, but still remained alert and aware of his surroundings.
"Kacchan," Izuku greeted with a small, smug smile, wiping the sweat from his chin with his arm.
Katsuki's eyes followed Izuku's movements, partly because as far as he was concerned, they were still enemies. But also, partly because, as always, Izuku was mesmerizing with every small movement he ever made. The endless training had made him lithe and lethal, not that he would ever let it get to lethality. He was powerful enough to control that, which made him all the more amazing. Even Katsuki had gotten close to going overboard with some of his battles, but Izuku always seemed to be in perfect control, even if that meant fighting for hours to wear his opponent down before making his move to end the fight with no casualties, and often with only minor injuries.
Izuku was lethal all right, but so exact and careful and strategic that it never came down to it. Anyone and everyone who ever faced him, though, knew the chill of having their life in the hands of another, even if that other one was a literal angel who would treat that life with the upmost respect that it deserved.
"Izuku," Bakugou responded coolly.
Izuku laughed. "Izuku, now, is it? Not 'Deku'?"
"Well, you're not exactly useless, are you?" Bakugou retorted, keeping his stance relaxed and his tone conversational.
"I haven't been useless for a long time. All thanks to you and your endless pushing and training. Eh, Kacchan?" Izuku taunted, a lazy smirk growing across his face, his all-observing eyes never leaving Katsuki's form.
"You've never been useless," Katsuki argued lightly with a shrug.
Izuku laughed again, but this time cruelly with no actual humor.
Izuku started, "you're the one—"
"I was wrong," Katsuki stated matter-of-factly.
Izuku looked startled for just a second before laughing once again, a menacing kind of laugh that Katsuki had never heard from him before.
"Oh, I get it!" Izuku drawled. "The Hero Commission sent you after me, did they? And you're just going along with the script they gave you like a good little hero? I expected more from you, Kacchan. Where'd your fight and independence go? Hm?"
"They didn't give me a script," Katsuki muttered, unable to help the scowl growing across his face at the condensation dripping from Izuku's words.
Katsuki didn't deny that the Hero Commission had sent him, however. Izuku was always able to see right through his lies, so he didn't insult his intelligence by even trying to convince him that the Hero Commission didn't want him back on their side. With something as rare and powerful as One For All, the Hero Commission was desperate to get Izuku either back on their side, or maybe even more preferably, the quirk passed on to someone more loyal and reliable. Then they could dispose of Izuku promptly, Katsuki figured, even though that part wasn't spoken aloud. They knew that they would lose Katsuki if they disclosed that, but Katsuki wasn't dumb: He was perfectly able to read between the lines. Katsuki didn't know what he would end up doing, but he was glad to find Izuku again, at the very least. He figured everything would work itself out, or he would die in the middle of it and it would no longer be his problem.
"This cruel trickery is on par with the Hero Commission's usual schemes, but I thought you'd be above all that, Kacchan," Izuku spat, a teasing tone in his voice, but Katsuki could hear the underlying pain.
A little laugh escaped Katsuki. To be honest, he was amused and enjoying the conversational back and forth a lot more than the physical blows previously being shared.
Katsuki shrugged before admitting, "I never thought I'd make it this far."
Katsuki's posture relaxed further as he was certain that he was safe with Izuku. Even if Izuku was beyond pissed, Katsuki knew he would always hold a place in Izuku's heart, even if he didn't deserve it.
"You don't deny the Hero Commission's involvement," Izuku asked, eyes trained on Katsuki to pick up any sign of deception.
"Like I was ever able to get a lie past you," Katsuki scoffed. "I thought you'd be laying low and that my efforts would turn out to be for nothing."
"I was laying low and staying under the radar!" Izuku argued, fisting his hands in his green hair, dusty from the rubble and destruction from their earlier fight. "But I still somehow have the displeasure of running into you!"
"Oh, come on! It was just like old times!" Katsuki argued, a lazy smile gracing his face at the pleasure of teasing his old friend once again.
"Yeah, I guess," Izuku muttered noncommittally, not meeting Katsuki's eyes.
"Are they at least treating you well?" Katsuki asked, already accepting that if Izuku wanted to rejoin the hero ranks, he would do so on his own, without the need for Katsuki to drag him back kicking and screaming, not that Katsuki could. "The League of Villains?"
"Better than the Hero Commission is treating you, I presume," Izuku quipped, making Katsuki scowl at the non-answer. "Yes," Izuku answered, sighing, knowing that Katsuki wouldn't let it rest until he got an actual answer. "You can come see for yourself, if you'd like," he offered, waving his hand vaguely in the direction of the exit of the abandoned office building they had found themselves fighting in after Izuku ducked in there, trying to avoid the detection of Katsuki to no avail.
Ever since Izuku joined up with the League of Villains, Katsuki's eyes were naturally drawn to everything green, just in case it was Izuku, even before being assigned to bring Izuku back to the Hero Commission. Katsuki spotted him easily and followed him right into the building to make sure that his eyes weren't deceiving him.
"See for myself?" Katsuki repeated incredulously. "Have you lost your goddamn mind?!"
"Shigaraki's been meaning to apologize," Izuku stated simply with a shrug. "And he doesn't exactly have your phone number to just call you up and say he's sorry about everything that happened before…"
After a measured look from Katsuki, Izuku caved. "Okay, it was my idea that Shigaraki should apologize to you, but he's totally on board. You'd be safe, and you'd be free to leave whenever you want."
Katsuki couldn't trust Shigaraki, but could he trust Izuku? He knew he could, but what if Izuku was being fed pretty lies by Shigaraki? No, Katsuki realized. Izuku would see through Shigaraki's lies straight to his true intentions, just like he did for everyone else. No one was immune to that.
"Can I be honest?" Izuku asked suddenly, all amusement and teasing fading out of his voice.
"When aren't you?" Katsuki teased gruffly.
Izuku ignored his commentary, not allowing himself to be distracted from his new self-assigned mission. "I think you'd be great by my side. It could be me and you again, just like old times. What do you say, Kacchan?"
"Deku, we aren't the kids in our memories. We could have been fighting together, but you chose to fight for the wrong side," Katsuki barked, more anger leaking through his voice as he continued.
It didn't pass under Izuku's radar that Katsuki had called him 'Deku' once again. It didn't sting like it used to when they were kids. UA had put a positive spin on it, and Katsuki's voice as he said it was soft and tinged with familiarity. It was no longer meant as an insult, but as a new name for the new person that Izuku had grown into. A person with a backbone who stood up for what he believed in no matter what, but still had that endless reservoir of kindness.
"No, you did," Izuku retorted matter-of-factly, taking the opportunity of relaxed banter to brush the dust from his shoulders.
"Are you for real?! You're telling me that Pro Heroes are the wrong side?!" Katsuki growled, disgruntled at the change of conversation, and waving his hands around in frustration, but not in a threatening I'm-going-to-blow-you-to-bits type of way. "Listen nerd—"
"Will you ever learn?" Izuku asked, feigning exasperation, but his amusement at the familiar banter was evident in his eyes. "Join us tonight. You'll see."
"Well, you've lied to me before…"
Izuku opened his mouth to retort, about to complain that if he was referring to the fact that he tried to tell him that his quirk just came in late, that he wasn't supposed to tell him at all, ever, if All Might had anything to say about it. But, ever observant, Izuku realized something. Katsuki had grown up. He was no longer the explosive, impulsive boy that he was as a student at UA; however, he was still very loud and determined and gruff. Izuku had been feeling like something about the interaction was off, but he finally figured it out.
"You're being followed, aren't you?" Izuku asked, brows furrowed in contained anger.
Anger at him or anger at the Hero Commission, Katsuki couldn't be sure. Either way, he wasn't about to lie to him now. It was a relief to find that they still got on just as well as they did before Izuku switched sides, and Katsuki wasn't about to insult his intelligence by lying through his teeth, especially when it would be obvious and the tail angered Katsuki as well.
Katsuki nodded to answer Izuku, and Izuku sucked his teeth in annoyance.
"Well, I'm not," Izuku snapped. "You've been loyal to the Hero Commission for how many years? I joined up with the League only a few short months ago, and yet they don't have anyone following me around, making sure that I'm following through," Izuku continued, voice low and full of anger that Katsuki had never heard from him before. "It's fine, expected even, that the Hero Commission doesn't trust me, but they're displacing that mistrust onto you just because of our association," he spat.
That confirmed it; Izuku was angry with the Hero Commission, not Katsuki himself.
Izuku stalked forward suddenly and with intent. Katsuki didn't move away, even as Izuku hurriedly approached. Izuku reached out and quickly removed Katsuki's gauntlet, and Katsuki let him, making no move to object, giving his trust to Izuku, just like Izuku knew he would.
"Come to this address later tonight," Izuku hurriedly whispered, scrawling the address across Katsuki's forearm before quickly replacing his gauntlet, expertly strapping it back into place just as easily as Katsuki himself could.
It was clever, Katsuki admitted. Even if the Hero Commission guessed that Katsuki and Izuku would be civil with each other, and even if the Hero Commission guessed that Izuku would give up a location of a League base, they would never suspect that Katsuki would be trusting enough to remove his gauntlet and write his message there. If whoever was following Katsuki was close enough to be listening in, the address would not have been said aloud to give them the hint.
Izuku knew well enough that Katsuki figured out his motives even as he moved to carry out the actions. Izuku wasn't the only master strategist, and they both knew it.
It was Izuku's turn to trust Katsuki.
"On my mark," Katsuki commanded quietly, and both men lined up, Izuku in front of Katsuki, facing the window toward the back of the building that backed right up to the tree line that led to a forest.
On Katsuki's mark, Izuku braced himself, arms shielding his face and head as he burst through the window, and Katsuki was out right behind him. Anyone that had been tailing Katsuki would have been surprised by the sudden action and left behind, but they would have seen what they would have believed a pursuit.
Katsuki and Izuku could read each other just as easily as when they were third years at UA. After running at full speed for about ten minutes, once they were sure that they lost any tail that might have followed, they separated. Izuku would go back to the League, and Katsuki would go back to the Hero Commission to report that he had found Izuku, but that he had gotten away once the chase reached the denser area of the forest. The hero that was following Katsuki under the guise of offering back up if he so needed would report supporting information that would insinuate that Katsuki was giving full disclosure, and none would be the wiser that Katsuki fully intended to meet with the League of Villains that night, if only because Izuku was the one who asked him to.
Katsuki's seemingly full-disclosure report gave the Hero Commission enough confidence to use their available heroes for actual patrol instead of following Katsuki around. Their first mistake was having anyone follow him at all in the first place. Their second mistake was not being consistent with their mistrust and caution. Katsuki didn't even have to arouse suspicion by losing a tail, which he was sure the Hero Commission would question heavily.
With no eyes on him, Katsuki dressed in his normal street clothes, giving one last longing look toward his gauntlets, and made his way into what very well could have been a trap. He had decided to place his full trust in Izuku. Besides, even without support technology, he was still a Pro Hero who could hold his own. He had to believe that he would be fine, no matter what, but the intrusive idea nipped at the back of his mind that if Izuku and the League of Villains all teamed up against him, he would most certainly be at their mercy. He pushed the thought away, putting his full faith into Izuku, and locked the door behind him, hoping that he would have the opportunity to return.
The location the address directed to was in a sketchy part of the city, but it was well-populated with many people milling about. What would have reassured others made Katsuki nervous because the civilians could be used as hostages or get hurt in the fallout if this meeting went south. He made a mental note to keep damage to a minimum to keep nearby structures safe for people to evacuate through.
Katsuki found the hideout disguised as a bar easily, the neon signs in the windows drawing his attention, and he snorted in amusement. Some things never change, he thought. It was a little comforting that the villains didn't seem to change much; at least Katsuki knew what he was walking into from experience.
Taking a deep breath and rubbing his gauntlet-less forearms, he pushed the door open, and braced himself for impact.
There was no impact. It wasn't an ambush, or at least not immediately. The barroom was full of villains who all turned to look at Katsuki as he stepped in and closed the door behind him without hesitating, not willing to take whatever this was about to be on the street with all of the civilians in the area.
It didn't seem like Katsuki had much to worry about, though, as Izuku bounded forward toward him, an uninhibited smile on his face, no tension from earlier leaving a trace on his face or in his posture. He seemed relaxed in the room full of villains, and while Katsuki was relieved that he seemed to trust the situation he had just pulled him into, it was still strange to see.
Izuku dragged Katsuki further into the barroom, exclaiming, "I told you he would come!"
"Welcome back," Dabi drawled with a smirk, ice clicking in the glass of amber liquid that he was swirling around on the bar top.
"Bakugou," Shigaraki greeted, eyes narrowed in suspicion of Katsuki's motives for showing up.
"Shigaraki," Katsuki returned, unable to keep the growl from his voice, but at least able to control himself enough to not use any of the creative nicknames he had called him behind his back. "No chains this time?"
"Kinky," Dabi interjected before Shigaraki could respond, drawing Katsuki's eyes back to him. "There's some attached to my bed if you're feeling nostalgic," he teased.
Katsuki narrowed his eyes at Dabi before thrusting his chin up in challenge. "Maybe later," Katsuki stated loudly, not looking away from Dabi's stare.
Dabi's smirk grew into a more genuine smile as his eyes lit up with amusement, and he nodded at Katsuki as if to say that he would hold him to it before turning his attention back to his drink.
With that simple exchange, a lot of the tension was whisked from the room, and the villains all seemed to let out a breath at the same time. It seemed to Katsuki that they were just as worried as he was about inviting an enemy in and giving opportunity for ambush.
"Shigaraki," Izuku prompted brightly.
"Izuku wants me to apologize," Shigaraki muttered, easily understanding Izuku's cue.
"More flies with honey," chirped Izuku as a reminder to Shigaraki, an amused smile on his face.
Shigaraki sighed in response and rolled his eyes before starting over, "I want to apologize for how everything went down last time you were… invited to join us for some conversation."
"Invited isn't the word I'd use," Katsuki bit back, enjoying every bit of Shigaraki's discomfort.
Izuku's eyes switched back and forth between the two, thoroughly enjoying the banter from two people who he trusted completely. He really wanted this to work, and he was pleased to see other villains scattered around the barroom seemed just as amused as he was. Maybe it wasn't just wishful thinking on Izuku's end; maybe everything would work out just fine after all.
Shigaraki sighed, stepping forward and extending his hand. "I'm trying to call a truce. Let's shake on it, yeah?"
Katsuki eyes Shigaraki's outstretched hand before flicking back up to Shigaraki's crimson stare. "Nice try, but I think I'll pass. Truce," Katsuki offered, "but let's not shake on it."
"Great," Shigaraki barked, happy that he got that over with. "I'd call that a success," he offered, turning toward Izuku. "High five?" he asked, feigning innocence, and lifting his hand.
Izuku shook his head, still smiling, when Twice jumped up to answer the call.
"Mine—" Twice yelled as he leaped forward, ready to claim the high five from his boss before stopping a few inches short. "—Woah! Almost got me that time, boss!"
"I almost get you every time, Twice," Shigaraki retorted. "Though usually someone has to intervene. You're improving."
Twice preened under the praise. "Now that we're all friends, can I offer you a drink?" he asked, turning quickly toward Katsuki.
"Just get me whatever you're having," Katsuki demanded, still just as confident as ever, even surrounded by villains.
"—Please!" Izuku tacked on with a saccharine smile thrown in Twice's direction.
Katsuki scoffed and rolled his eyes but didn't try to make Izuku take the kindness back, accepting that it was in his nature, and old habits die hard. Izuku was used to being Katsuki's politeness add-on as Katsuki lacked the manners himself. Izuku had consistently tacked on 'please' and 'thank you' onto Katsuki's sentences, so much that in Katsuki's mind, Izuku's voice almost became like an extension of his own. It happened so often that Katsuki missed it when Izuku switched sides and was no longer next to him, interjecting polite add-ons to Katsuki's demands and lessening the blow of his thrown insults. Now that they were back together, united once again, they both fell into the familiar rhythm.
Twice took it in stride, just like how he takes most things. "Sure thing. You can't handle what I'm having."
Katsuki knew from experience that it was just easier to ignore the second, opposing thing that Twice said. It was almost endearing, now that he wasn't chained up and defenseless with a bunch of villains gathered around him, staring at him, and threatening that if he did not join the League, he wouldn't get any action anywhere because they would steal his quirk.
How the fuck did Deku get wrapped up in this mess? Katsuki thought to himself. If he didn't already see how relaxed Izuku was, he might have guessed that Izuku dragged him into this mess to help him out of it. That was part of the reason Katsuki so easily agreed to meet with them that night. If Izuku was in trouble and needed his help, he would have moved mountains to do whatever Izuku needed to be safe and happy.
It seemed, though, that Izuku was already safe and happy, more so than when he was entangled in the disaster that is the Hero Commission.
Katsuki observed closely throughout the evening, looking for any signs that Izuku might give off to indicate that he needed help, but there was nothing. Izuku was just wandering around, conversing with every villain at least once throughout the evening, thoroughly enjoying himself.
After watching and not seeing any signals from Izuku, and after being there for almost an hour without being bombarded with demands to join them or give up information on heroes, Bakugou loosened his inhibitions and started drinking more. Once the alcohol hit his system, he loosened up, and actually started to enjoy his interactions with the villains.
He was starting to see what Izuku had been going on about. It was relaxing. It wasn't like debriefing with the administrators of the Hero Commission where they dissect every word spoken, trying to find any sign of deception. They had slowly become more and more paranoid about traitors, and they did the exact opposite of what they should. Instead of giving heroes the benefit of the doubt, they began to question everyone's motives. It pushed people away more than anything else. Their stupidity would be their own downfall.
Katsuki would never be able to talk about his last rescue mission like he did with Spinner. Spinner howled as Katsuki added frivolous details that increased the humor of the situation. The Hero Commission would only accept the most basic, straight-forward reports. If Katsuki had attempted to brag about his part in the rescue any more than just blandly describing the objective standpoint as to what had happened, they would have questioned him for hours, trying to find any discrepancies as they made him tell them over and over again. Then the Hero Commission wondered why the reports were not as detailed as they used to be. I wonder why, Katsuki thought sarcastically.
The semantics and politics were exhausting. The policies and procedures were suffocating. Katsuki was exhausted with it all, and they only kept pushing him further and further, demanding more and more, giving less and less.
They shouldn't have worried about the League of Villains, or other villainous groups, getting their hands on heroes. It wouldn't have been as effective as it was if the Hero Commission wasn't so damn terrible to work for. This was not what heroes signed up for when they went through endless, grueling training. Heroes didn't devote their lives to helping others only to be overwhelmed with details and restrictions and suspicion from those who were supposed to be the ultimate support.
"So, then, Uravity kicked me out of my own damn rescue mission because they 'didn't need explosions.' Can you believe that?" Katsuki continued to Spinner's delight. "It's not like I'm stupid, right? I'm not going to just go and destroy the structural integrity and bury us all!"
"That would make the rescue more exciting, though," Spinner interjected.
"Yeah, but I try to save the excitement for villains, you know? When I can go all out. If I don't play nice with the civilians, I won't rank high. Now that Deku is out of the running, I have a chance of finally hitting number one," Katsuki explained, even as he questioned himself if he even wanted to be number one without the gratification of bypassing Izuku.
Katsuki wanted to be the best, and the only way to be the best is to beat the best. It doesn't count if the best take themselves out of the running.
Eventually, Dabi wandered over to join the conversation, followed shortly by Toga, Twice, and even Shigaraki who gathered around to hear about Katsuki's various endeavors as a hero. Even if Katsuki was giving nothing important or confidential away, the villains were having a great time just hearing about Katsuki's accomplishments from the man himself, adding funny comments that Katsuki would roll with and asking questions that Katsuki was happy to answer.
It had been quite a while since Katsuki had this much positive attention on him, with the Hero Commission quickly losing touch with the heroes they work with. So, he was an attention-whore. Sue him.
Izuku sat across the barroom, watching his newer comrades become enamored with his oldest friend. He enjoyed the view immensely. It had been a long time since he saw Katsuki so relaxed, throwing his head back in uninhibited laughter as the villains chimed in with their own commentary.
Izuku felt a little bad about cornering Katsuki while he was inebriated, but not bad enough to not do it. The villains did a great job keeping Katsuki's cup full and keeping Katsuki's mood high, not that they were doing it as part of a plan; it just worked out that way. To be clear, Izuku didn't have any malicious intentions, either. He just wanted Katsuki to loosen up and enjoy himself. Izuku knew just as well as he did how smothering the Hero Commission had become.
"So, Kacchan…" Izuku started, approaching Katsuki head-on as the various villains started to wander away, giving the two old friends some space. "Will this be our last cordial meeting? Are you determined to stay on the wrong side of history? Are you sure that I'm your enemy?" Izuku drawled, lowering his voice more and more as he spoke, causing Katsuki to lean in closer and closer to hear him better.
"Maybe I like it," Katsuki admitted, his words only slightly slurring. He was always good at holding his liquor and not acting as drunk as he felt. "These villains aren't so bad. Or maybe I like it when I can be with you some more."
Katsuki was watching Izuku just as much as Izuku was watching him, and they were both aware of that fact. They had both missed having each other around, and both were relieved that they could still rely on each other, even if they were on different sides. Before it happened to him, Katsuki would have called someone stupid for remaining friends with someone who had become a villain. Now that he was there, living that very reality, he saw the struggle and the intrigue those people must have been through. He was sure that a villain being friends with a hero was just as stressed, too. Both sides had a lot to lose from maintaining the relationship, and yet…
"Oh, yeah?" Izuku asked, leaning in, observing with his jade eyes that never seem to miss a thing, scanning Katsuki's face.
Was this a trick or did Kacchan mean what he said? From a hero's point of view, this would be a great opportunity to infiltrate the League of Villains and take them all down from the inside. Izuku's mind raced with the different possibilities. There's only one way to find out.
"Kacchan? Look me in the eye—" Izuku started, grabbing the blonde hero's face by the jaw, and turning his head in his direction to look at him straight on.
"I'm your biggest fan. Team Deku all the way," Katsuki slurred, all inhibition lost with the free-flowing alcohol. "Your merch prices have skyrocketed because they discontinued everything," Katsuki continued, his thought process becoming disoriented and disorganized. "I'd follow you anywhere until you love me," he continued, jumping from topic to topic in the same breath, not quite understanding in the moment what exactly he was admitting to. Oh, but he would feel it in the morning, Izuku was sure.
"That's what I thought," Izuku murmured, his tone harsh, and maybe even a little condescending, but Katsuki's focus was more on the soft smile and kind eyes that never seemed to harden, even after everything Katsuki had put him through.
For the first time since Katsuki had known him, Izuku was asking for a little reciprocity, and who was he to deny him?
"Well, you're rarely wrong," Katsuki praised, leaning onto Izuku for support as the alcohol took full effect.
Izuku brushed his hand through familiar blonde, spiky hair, counteracting Katsuki's weight with his own so he did not slide off of the bar stool.
"I've always loved you," Izuku admitted against Katsuki's head, taking the risk that he might remember in the morning. "But please keep following me anyway."
Sometimes, it was worth the risk. Joining the League of Villains to make an actual change was a risk that was worth it. Inviting Katsuki to meet with the League of Villains on friendly terms turned out better than expected. Admitting his love for Katsuki was nothing when Katsuki drunkenly admitted his own love for Izuku.
Izuku hoped that Katsuki would still be agreeable when he is sober, and maybe he would actually agree to join the League of Villains if Izuku and Shigaraki could make an interesting offer.
That was the priority, but Izuku could work on two objectives at once, couldn't he? He mentally added getting Katsuki to admit he had feelings for Izuku while sober to his to-do list. Izuku was in for a challenge, but like Katsuki, he would never back down.
A/N: As this was based on a TikTok series by vivian_blair_cos, there may or may not be additional parts, depending on how her series goes!