Chapter 20
It had taken them several taxing hours to find the new location of the gang that Katsuki had previously pummeled, but they had finally found it. The only thing that would have made the find more satisfying was having Kirishima there with him. He had to consider two things since it had only taken them several hours to find this gang. It was one gang that should absolutely fear his rage and should've been at his doorstep pleading to quell his rage; they knew their days were numbered. The two things that he was considering: Either this way a trap or they were incredibly, incredibly stupid. Either way, he couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces when he dropped straight into the center of their meeting place.
Uraraka lowered herself on the building nearest to the one they planned on invading, observing the situation, she pulled him down to her, "I know you were never the most patient, but you're smarter than you let on. Use that brain of yours." She hissed. He stifled a chuckle, it wasn't unusual for him to receive a scolding from Uraraka.
"Even if there are some guards, we can take them."
"I'm trying to prevent anyone from escaping. We're going to capture them and interrogate each one."
He nodded, that sounded fair. If one escaped, knowing his luck, it'd be the one with the information that they were looking for. Kirishima had clearly been against this attack, their luck hadn't been panning out so far. Also, he wanted to help. And being unable to leave the house didn't leave much room for helping. So, instead Kirishima got stuck with a laptop and a couple hours of Netflix instead. "I want the one that looks like Raiz." He hissed, complying to her as she pulled him down. He may have had a temper but this was one thing he couldn't afford to lose control of.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm going to smash their face in, ask them if they'd like to switch with the rightful owner, and then give them to Raiz as an offering."
Uraraka nodded, taking another preliminary glance at the border, "Sounds fair enough. Do you see anyone? It's like there's no one guarding the place." As much as he would've liked the idea of an easy entry, it made him uneasy. Katsuki glanced over his shoulder. No one was behind them. And they were each quite stealthy, it was unlikely that they had been discovered.
"Nothing's going to get done if we just sit here all night. For all we know we're looking at an empty building." He hissed.
"I know, calm down." She pulled him down again, just in time for a small group to dance their way up the sidewalk. There were approximately five people, three seemed as though they were having a good time, two took up the back of the group-wait- there was one more. She was only about a head shorter than the rest of them but being surrounded by taller people had made it easier for her to hide. Uraraka bristled next to him, her nails clawed into the cement of the building's rooftop.
"What is it?" The words didn't have time to leave his mouth before he realized what pissed her off so extravagantly: At the back of the pack trailing slowly behind as either the guard or a reluctant addition to the group was a male just above his twenties, hair swept neatly to the side, hands in his pocket, spitting on the street as though he hated this world. If he didn't seem as though he hated the world he could've passed for a model. But on a more important matter, he was the spitting image of Raiz.
Katsuki stood. He was going to beat his face in until the person couldn't steal anyone's identity ever again. He had, had enough of shapeshifters in high school to last a lifetime. He didn't need to deal with this matter on a personal level.
"Katsuki, slowly, we don't want them escaping."
He nodded. Oh, there would be no escaping for any of them tonight. They were going to be on the news for largest gang roundup in the last ten years tomorrow morning. Largest gang roundup with the most injuries, but largest gang roundup none-the-less. "Round them up, we'll pile them and interrogate them the way they would us."
Uraraka glared towards him, "Katsuki, I know you're mad, but we've still got to obey the laws."
"Obey the laws, huh?" He shot her a look. She was the one illegally digging through paperwork when everyone's backs were turned.
"Paperwork laws and laws against torture are totally different things!" She snapped.
"I'll compromise, everyone's left untouched until police arrive except the guy with Raiz's face. I need to remove it."
Uraraka nodded, grabbing his wrist, and lowering them quietly to follow the group. They turned heading into the building that they had been staking out. They had been right after all. This is where that gang was hiding. They were some version of stupid, alright. They had a bone to pick with him, and he had one to pick with them.
Katsuki broke down the building's door surveying the area, half the gang looked up startled, the other half dropped what they were holding. Uraraka moved flinging herself into combat, her hands rapidly brushing each member of the gang as she darted from member to member. It seemed to be a dance she was familiar with. With anyone else, it would've seemed as though they were a form of a ruffian, but with her, with her, her attacks were so reformed and with ease against each gang member it was a dance. She graced each of their presences, taking two at a time. The gang let out sounds of being startled and other's attempted to recollect their baring's to what was going on. Katsuki threw himself into the mess, he and Uraraka were going hit-for-hit with each of the gang members.
After several minutes Katsuki glanced towards the group towards the back of the warehouse. The woman stood up, glancing around at her entourage. The five members that hadn't lifted a finger to save the rest of the gang.
Uraraka raised her hand turning to the group, "Unless you want me to drop all of them on their heads surrender."
"I thought we were only going to torture one of them." He glanced towards her.
"Being beaten into unconsciousness and torture are two different things. Sometimes people just don't know how to land on their feet." Uraraka shrugged her shoulders, glancing at the gang members struggle to get a form of a foothold. If someone hadn't stolen Raiz face just to irritate him he likely would've laughed at what Uraraka just said. But right now-
"I know what you're here for." The center of the group laughed, reaching up and pulling Raiz's face down to hers, "I would give up on him though."
"Don't," Uraraka whispered, a moment too late, and a moment too quiet.
Katsuki darted towards the group, they were all going down like dominos. The first two went down without a problem and stayed down. He darted towards the third one. The third one not even bothering to throw their arms up in defense. A wild smile crossed his face, this one was going to be a bit more of a challenge. He made contact, the third one crumbled underneath his fist as though he hit a wall of KitKats. Made to be broken. Katsuki glanced towards the three on the floor, still conscious, but not bothering to get up. The three just stared at the roof as if they didn't have anything better to do. Or a college student fried on studying for finals. He didn't have time for them, he glared towards the woman that was at the center of the group. She seemed older, maybe she was just short from what he could perceive at a distance. Her hand hadn't left the person impersonating Raiz's cheek.
"What are you three doing? Stop playing and defend me!" She snapped. Katsuki glanced towards the three on the floor. They began rising with more intent then they had before he knocked them down.
Uraraka swung a leg at the two behind him, knocking them into the nearest wall. She swiped the handcuffs from her pocket, immobilizing the two of them. "What are you doing? Quit playing." She snapped, her eyes darting towards the gang members she kept on the roof. They were beginning to stabilize on their feet and adjust to being floated around.
"I'll take it from here. Take care of them."
Uraraka nodded, darting away to finish capturing her targets. He turned back to his group. The stupid woman was dragging her tongue down the imposter's face. He knew she was trying to piss him off, she was looking right at him. He knew it was an imposter. It still pissed him off. What he also he knew is that his anger would only be quenched by punching both of their faces in. Heck, she was lucky that she brought an entourage for him to take his rage out on first. "Lady, you're lucky you've got a group that likes you this much." He hissed.
"It has nothing to do with it." She laughed, glancing towards the two in front of her. "Get him." The front two darted towards him. He swung, they went down, they rose again, he swung again.
"Just stay down. You're exhausted." He sighed looking at the two of them. The two on-slaughters looked as though they were about to puke. They were weak, untrained, and hadn't been taking care of their bodies. "You can't handle me."
"I know." The front-left whispered, sitting up and coughing.
"Simon, dear, shut up."
The man's jaw clamped shut, he almost seemed as though he were lurched forwards with the command. Shock and panic echoing in his eyes, followed by frustration and anger. Katsuki whacked him sending him flying against the wall. Enough to make him unconscious.
"Dammit, you rattled his brain." The woman stood up, moving to go after Simon. A quirk similar to Shinso's then? Katsuki glanced towards Raiz's imposter. He would have to knock some sense into that one then.
One of the guards on her other side moved, "I'll get him."
"Atta boy, you've always been my favorite."
"I like my life."
The woman laughed, returning to her chair, a glance towards Raiz.
"So, which one of your lackeys do you want me to take next?" Katsuki laughed baiting her.
The woman laughed, "You can't take any of them. They can't leave." She laughed, following that with a sigh, then reaching up to the imposter's neck lowering him to her height and whispering in his ear. Katsuki glanced towards Raiz, he almost seemed as if he were crying. A face pleading for help.
"My lady, are you sure you want to send him to the field? After what happened last time?" The assistant moving the body asked from a crossed the room. Katsuki glanced towards the man. His eyes widened, he hid it quickly. The man across the room wasn't breathing. He knew he hadn't flung him that hard. The man hadn't even made a sound when he made contact with the wall.
"Uravity." He glanced back towards the situation. She had tied all of them up and was smart enough to keep the majority in the air.
She glanced towards him, clapping her hands against each other, "If any of you try to move I'll throw you all outside! I've thrown things more things into orbit than there are days in a year and I don't have a quarrel with doing that to people with the mood I'm in. Do you understand?"
The group nodded, rapidly.
"Raiz, now, dammit." The woman snapped, pushing the twenty-year-old onto the battlefield. He glanced around rapidly as if looking for an exit, but his feet moved him forwards towards Katsuki.
Katsuki cracked his knuckles, "Sorry, bud, but you've got the face of someone important to me on. And it's bringing back some bad memories. I've got a buddy at home that just spent the last several months in jail instead of being properly cared for and I'm going to take it out on you." He hissed, Uraraka drew to his side.
"The others?"
"The body, his vitals, emergency medical treatment."
"You didn't."
"Wasn't my fault."
She sighed moving towards the two moving the body.
Katsuki surveyed his situation subtracting the gang members that were floating in the air there were seven left. The two unconscious on the floor, the body that was being moved, the two moving the body, the woman, and Raiz's imposter.
He turned back to Raiz's imposter, "Also, I promised the owner of that body you as a sacrifice tonight."
The imposter let out a hollow laugh, "I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate the offering, but he would appreciate the thought and think that was such your style."
"You've got to add your own personal touch to gifts." Katsuki raised his hands, he was never much of one for hand-to-hand combat, but he'd let it go in Raiz's honor tonight.
The imposter raised their eyebrow, "Are you sure?"
"Raiz." The woman behind him hissed.
The imposter lurched flinging himself towards him. The imposter went hit-for-hit throwing himself at Katsuki in the most dangerous ways possible. It was as if they knew all the spots to avoid when fighting him and were aiming for them anyway. The hits were heavy, they were coming from someone who likely had either trained to be a hero previously or trained in a field of martial arts. They were missing vital spots on purpose, "I've got one question for you."
"Fire, it's not like I'm able to stop you." Katsuki blocked another hit. It would've been a heavy blow to the head, but it was lighter than he would've thought.
The imposter lowered their voice, "Have you checked Raiz grave lately?"
"You didn't." He hissed, sending the imposter several tiles back.
The woman stood glancing towards the windows, "Leave Simon. Back to me, now. Raiz, stop playing with the man. Hurt him."
The imposter swung a hit, Katsuki felt his feet remove themselves from the floor. He hit the wall side first. Katsuki glanced around the group was gone, all except the body that Uraraka was working on in a steady panic. Katsuki glanced up towards the group still in the air, it was likely strenuous on her. The wail of sirens approaching echoed outside. He moved towards Uraraka, with how she was working, she needed help.
"Come on, come on, dammit." Uraraka moved her hands, pushing on the man's chest multiple times. "Come on." She hissed. "Come on." She whispered, another beat.
Katsuki pushed his way in, she willingly moved aside letting him take his turn. "He's likely bleeding somewhere we can't stop, we don't have the supplies we need to save him here." He lowered his head listening to the man's heart rate: silence. He moved his hands pressing on it again.
Fifteen minutes passed. He was still pressing against the man's chest. Uraraka wrapped a hand around his wrist, "Katsuki." She whispered.
"Move, I'm working."
"Katsuki."
"Don't distract me."
She wrapped her arms around his head, "Katsuki, he's dead." Tears ran down her face dripping into his hair.
"No, I still have another twenty-two minutes."
"Katsuki, he's cold. He's not goi-" Her voice cut off, she couldn't finish the sentence. She knew what this meant. He lifted his hand wrapping it around her arm. He could feel her shaking, she was panicking just as much as he was.
The police descended the stairs, flashlights beaming as they darted in. The police hurried quickly gathering and sending away the gang members to the proper location before moving towards where the two of them were. Uraraka stood, "I'll-"
He grabbed her wrist, "I'll take care of the report and the situation. You go home and tell Kirishima." He lowered his head. Kirishima would be livid. He likely would leave the house, Uraraka was going to need to stop him. It wasn't like he was framed this time. He had made this decision. The officer glanced down towards the body in front of him.
"This is going to be a long night." He sighed.
"You and me both, buddy. Get me an ambulance, we've got another twenty minutes to attempt a resurrection."
The officer lowered himself next to the man on the floor, shining a flashlight over him, "It's better if you don't resurrect this one."
"Huh?" He grabbed the officer's collar, "what did you just say?"
The officer raised his hands, "This is the third time this month I've seen this man buried. He's been dead since three years ago."
Katsuki let the collar slip from his hand, "I didn't kill him?"
The officer shook his head, "Bodies that have been dead that long shouldn't even be as preserved as this. Most are frail. I don't know what's going on, but it's super weird. I'll tell them not to bury him again and we'll watch him for a bit. We'll take him to the hospital again, but the mortician is going to bury me next for bringing him in again."
Katsuki let his face fall into his hands. He had always known he was aggressive, but he had never been faced with the idea of accidentally killing someone while he was out on the field. He knew his quirk was powerful and was always super careful in regulating everything he did. That one time, that one slip of the hand could've been his and someone else's end.
Uraraka helped him up, they stood up slowly. He glanced towards her. "It's been a long day let's go home." She whispered, moving him towards the door before he could consent to be moved. She slid into the driver's seat.
"I'll drive." He shuffled out of the passenger seat. She had already gotten him into the passenger's seat again, he didn't want to live the eighteen-wheeler incident all over again.
"Katsuki, let me drive," Uraraka said, starting up the car before he could open the door. Her hands tightened on the wheel, he could almost see her claw marks within it. "I'll get you a new one." She whispered, loosening her grip. They drove in silence.
"There's somewhere I want to go. Take this route up ahead."
She nodded, complying, probably also noticing the similarities to the night that the eighteen-wheeler hit them. She pulled the car to a stop, glancing towards him, "Aizawa-sensei's again?" She whispered.
"He'll raise up from the dead if he knew what I was doing tonight. So, no. Not tonight."
Uraraka shot him a strange look, but it was too late, he was already out of his car popping open his trunk. He pulled the shovel he used to bury Raiz with out.
"Katsuki?" She whispered, genuine concern crossing her face. She was right to be concerned, this was a daunting task. He had put Raiz in the grave on pure rage and adrenaline. Right now, he needed to find down there what he had been wishing he had never put down there for months. Katsuki climbed the hill searching for where he had put him. He glanced towards Aizawa's grave, rushing past it before the yellow sleeping bag could explode through with an explosion of fury. Aizawa would throw him in the grave as a punishment for what he was about to do. "Katsuki, don't," Uraraka whispered, she had already figured out what he came to do.
Katsuki stuck the shovel in the grave, spending the next several hours pouring away at the grave. He moved the dirt, he didn't bother looking at Uraraka. He didn't want to be doing this, but he needed to know. He didn't want her to witness him destroying Raiz's grave. She hadn't said a word to him, simply stood there, watching. Hours passed and the sun was starting to rise when he finally hit the bottom:
The grave was empty.