Chapter 8: A Full Party
"We're back~" Toga announced in a singsong voice as she skipped through the Warp Gate. The girl grinned in triumph as she sported multiple bags, looking like quite the shopping diva.
Behind her emerged a grinning Deku, who sported two bags of his own, and a rather tired looking Tomura who instantly pulled "Father" out from his sweatshirt's front pocket and placed the preserved hand back over his face.
"Never again." Tomura swore, apparently peopled out indefinitely.
"It wasn't that bad, senpai."
"He's just sad he didn't find anything he wanted. You're lucky I let Dekkun's count for your empty hands or we'd still be there!"
"Oh I found what I wanted, just nothing I liked." Tomura's voice had an edge to it, a hint of yearning as he flexed his hand. "Wanted to do anyways. Three hours was torture enough, you materialistic sadist."
There was a sound of someone clearing their throat and the trio looked over to see Kurogiri behind the counter. "Glad you see you all back safe and sound. All in one piece I hope."
"Maybe." Tomura growled, his patience and energy gone while the energy vampire in a skirt bounced in place.
"I honestly wasn't expecting Himiko Toga's call so soon."
"What, three hours plus isn't enough quiet time for you? That was a mission of survival!"
"Actually," Kurogiri began tentatively, eying the clearly irritated but exhausted Tomura while his younger charges beamed at him, "We have guests."
Instantly Deku stiffened, his smile fading as the mirth in his heterochomatic eyes faded. His muscles tightened as he gripped his bags, heart beginning to pound while his Quirk buzzed beneath his skin, still untamed but begging to be released even if a smidgen, "Guest guests? Or... 'guests?'"
"Proper guests, Young Deku." Kurogiri quickly cleared up, reaching under the counter and drawing out a tray before placing two teacups on it. "They're awaiting in the meeting room. Haven't had a chance to use that since..."
Since Tomura Shigaraki had used Decay on an impertinent guest months ago.
"You let anyone just waltz in here while we're gone, Kurogiri? What is this, your secret society tea party?"
"Hardly. Besides this is through the proper channels. One of our guests has been a long time underground associate."
"And the other?" Deku asked, knowing he could trust Kurogiri's judgment but still anxious.
"You'll have to see for yourself. But said other is a promising candidate, I assure you."
"Oh, a new friend?" Toga beamed, blushing with excitement at the prospect.
"I'm going to get changed." Deku hastily informed and raced toward his room, clutching his bags, one that contained a birthday present for Tomura. He had to ditch the casual wear, along with his nerves.
"Me too! Me too!" Toga bounced up and down before skipping off to her room. "Time to freshen up! Put on a new face, so to speak~ Hehe!"
"I'll inform them you'll be there shortly." Kurogiri called to the disappearing youths, turning his attention on Tomura who simply stood there. "Should I assume you're retiring for the day?"
"Assume makes an ass out of 'you' and 'me.'" He responded in a low voice, frustration dripping, "And no. I'll see who these 'guests' are for myself. Probably not worth our time." He started stomping toward the room while Kurogiri watched, amused as he placed a teapot on the tray to bring with him. He warped behind Tomura, a few steps behind.
"Concerned? I do screen all prospective interviewees even after their background clearance."
"Just because someone provides a game guide doesn't mean it's 100% accurate. It's the 1 or 2% that gets you with missing or wrong information. Besides, look what you brought in last time."
"How strategic of you, Tomura Shigaraki."
"Don't patronize me, Kurogiri. I'm not in the mood."
No, but he was in a mood and that certainly would spell trouble.
Kurogiri simply shrugged and remained silent, carrying the tray dignified while the teen went before him emitting a sour aura. Well at least there was nothing to be offered to eat as appetites certainly would wilt in the company of Tomura Shigaraki.
Within a minute Kurogiri opened the respective door, beating Tomura to the punch as he partly feared either the door would be opened violently, rather unprofessionally to boot, and bang against the wall or Tomura would decay the doorknob like with past incidents over the years. The teen said nothing and stalked past into the room, as if a mad dog looking for something to bite while Kurogiri stepped in, instantly taking up the part of mediator and host.
"Thank you for waiting, gentlemen. I have brought you tea while we await the others who should be here in a just a few minutes. In the meantime, may I introduce Tomura Shigaraki, acting head of the League of Villains."
In the room was a rectangular table with multiple chairs, one that was occupied by a rather lax figure. Nearby another figure stood, a tall man with short gray hair who sported a small mustache and goatee. He wore circular glasses while his apparel seemed business like enough despite the partly unbuttoned shirt and open blazer. He looked on in interest, a lit cigarette in his mouth.
"Tomura Shigaraki, this is a Giran, a well-known broker in the underworld whom we've used for an assortment of jobs over the years. He's highly respectable."
"You flatter me, Kurogiri-san, though you know that doesn't get you a discount." The man smiled, revealing a gap in his teeth as he grinned around his cigarette. "Pleasure to meet you, Shigaraki-san."
"Do you always smoke in other people's homes?" Tomura demanded, cutting off chance of the mist man replying as he placed down the tea tray for the two guests.
"Not if they object." Giran smoothly replied, spreading his hands out almost in appeasement. "Kurogiri had none, but if you do I'll comply. The customer is priority after all."
"I thought it's the customer is always right."
"Hm, purely objective. Besides, it's more of a mutual relationship. I choose my clients, and they choose me. The customer, for one, is not always right though they may air their concerns." Giran reached up and pulled out the cigarette, promptly putting it out in a silver cigarette case he drew from his pocket and stowed away to relight later, being not one to waste. "Better?"
"So what do you want? Not here for a social chat, are you? I'm sure Kurogiri would love the company so you can get on with your tea party."
Kurogiri rolled his eyes, not that anyone could tell, as he promptly began pouring the tea for the two guests, knowing it would be refused by his younger charges. His commentary was unneeded as Giran was a well-versed man who wasn't called one of the best for nothing.
"Business dealings are something y'do face-to-face. And I only make deals with people I respect, and the League has that from me. And this is a business dealing." Giran waved a hand toward the figure that Tomura had been pointedly ignoring as the vibe of disinterest seemed mutual, the figure having dared to even spin the chair so its back was to him as he entered the room.
On cue the chair slowly turned almost begrudgingly, revealing a young man with dark spiky hair. His most noticeable feature however was his mismatched skin, seemingly a patchwork of burned flesh that was stapled to still healthy skin. His long sleeves hid a proper view of the damage to his arms save his wrists but the low cut shirt showed off the charred flesh from his collarbone up to his lower jaw and ears; who knew the true excess of the scarring.
The newcomer appeared completely uninterested with hooded turquoise eyes as he looked at the two League members, regarding them in silence. They studied him in equal silence—well at least one did while the other hardly lasted three seconds.
"I thought the point of admitting new members was to add fresh meat to the ranks, not some overcooked walking corpse. Who are you, Frankenstein's monster?" Tomura barbed, pointing at the disrespectful person refusing to rise to greet him.
"Funny coming from a raggedy kid like you whose only freshness is clearly being a greenhorn." The scarred young man retorted in a monotone, looking completely unimpressed with hooded eyes that seemingly reflected lack of feeling. He tilted his head up slightly as if to look down his nose at Tomura. "Kinda disappointing you look way grosser in person. Rumors about you don't do justice."
"Kurogiri." Tomura spoke through grounded teeth as the sixteen, almost seventeen, year old felt more tired than enraged by a mere sliver, "Remove these nonessential NPCs immediately, purge the server. The second the thing I hate is in front of me: a rude guy. I'm already tolerating a brat and that's more than enough."
"Let's not be hasty as he did come all the way here to join the League. Besides Giran-san is very reputable, this young man surely is a valuable asset." Kurogiri urged, sliding the filled cups toward their guests, looking at the scarred young man out of the corner of his eye, wondering what he was up to. He turned toward the irritated Tomura. "Let's hear what he has to offer first."
Giran grinned, enjoying the youthful smackdown as clearly the two didn't like each other based off of appearances alone. "Honestly I don't care what you do with the recruits I bring, so long as I get my commission, Kurogiri-san. Finder's fee and all, you understand. But let me introduce him first, he was seeking the League out specifically you know."
"Oh really?" Kurogiri inquired in his mastered level tone though he hoped he managed to slip in a hint of curiosity, though false, as he looked at the not so unfamiliar prospective recruit.
At that the scarred enigma stood up from his seat with practiced lack of energy. He easily towered over Tomura who was still growing but his face remained neutral, apathetic even.
Giran gestured to his companion who stood with his hands in his pockets, "While this guy hasn't done any flashy crimes, he holds true to the League's mission and ideology, how it unites those cast to the side and swallowed by the shadows of society. The League's broadcasted fight left quite the impression."
"I dunno I'm having second thoughts." The newcomer droned, "This is supposed to be the mighty League of Villains? It's being lead by some snot nosed kid who calls others brats. Not very promising; no wonder you're apparently hurting for members with someone like you screening."
"Oi, how about before throwing insults and calling names you give yours? You're an adult, act like one."
"That's rich. Using another's seniority to get what you want? Especially when you started it." The older one deadpanned, a hint of a sneer on his face. "I'm sure the League is in sorry shape compared to before. Too bad I didn't join then."
"What?"
"When it was being led by your big boss. You know, the one on TV? The one who got smashed by All Might? Now he was impressive even if he was at a disadvantage; anyone could see he wasn't at the top of his game, how fortunate for the Number One Hero. What a loss for the League, he's the one who sparked inspiration during his battle."
"Don't."
"He must be so disappointed. Being forced to leave such an important legacy in your clearly inexperienced, immature hands. An apparent legend in the underworld forced to make do with... less impressive resources." He continued, a glint in his still hooded eyes, "Guess one can hope the League will endure in his absence but I'm not much of an optimist. I'm a realist."
"Shut. Up." Tomura's voice was hollow, his breath becoming ragged as his heart raced, his itch flaring up with a vengeance. His hands twitched as his blood boiled, a buzzing filling his ears.
"Tomura-" Kurogiri began, caution in his voice as he looked between the two, Giran smirking with amusement at the hostility.
"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT THE HELL UP."
There was a ghost of a smile on the scarred man's face as he watched the simmering teen. He tilted his head slightly as if bored while Kurogiri stood between them near the wall, almost like a referee while Giran was the one man audience.
"So annoying. Don't talk…" Tomura seethed, snapping his gaze up from the floor where it had momentarily wandered, his lone visible red eye flaring with hatred around "Father's" fingers. "Don't talk like you know Sensei!"
"Tomura Shigaraki!" Kurogiri exclaimed as his charge leapt forward, both hands ready as if about to strangle the impertinent guest though his intent was more severe and instantaneous than that. The other's expression remained neutral but intensified slightly, suddenly drawing up a hand, small flecks of light escaping it as he thrust it toward the incoming teen.
There was a flurry of limbs and black mist as within moments each found they had failed to hit their mark. Kurogiri stood well enough away, his Warp Gate harmlessly teleporting the dangerous appendages away from their intended target. Giran only smiled in dark amusement as Kurogiri attempted mediation.
"Please calm down, Tomura-"
"I'm here~" A loud high pitched voice exclaimed, cutting through the air as the door banged open, Toga dramatically posing. The girl still had messy twin buns but was now sporting a long sleeved dark blue sweater and black shorts along with fishnet leggings. She looked on at the scene in the room, instantly reading the tense mood as she took in Kurogiri's Warp Gates.
"Ooo, what'd I miss?" She demanded with glittering eyes and a wide hungry smile like a crocodile stumbling upon easy prey. "I brought a knife to a fist fight! Too late?" She flicked her wrist, revealing she indeed was armed with a blade. As soon as her eyes settled on Dabi they widened, "Who's Charbroiled Man?"
"Himiko Toga." Kurogiri seemingly acknowledged and introduced at the same time, earning a quirked eyebrow from Giran.
"First you try to throw down with a thirteen year old and now a burn victim? My, my, Tomura-kun~" She seemed to scold, letting out a giggle as she skipped into the room without missing a beat. She stopped behind Tomura, clearly unafraid of possibly incurring his redirected wrath as she grinned, waving her hand holding the knife to greet the newcomers. "Hi~"
"Ah, so this is the little lady you asked me about a month ago." Giran smiled, taking in Toga who brightened at his words. "Looks like things worked out."
"Oh, you must be Giran-kun! Thank you so much for helping me find my new friends! Your recommendation really helped!" She skipped over to him before clasping his hand with both of hers, shaking it enthusiastically while still clutching her knife. Suddenly her expression turned serious, "If you'd talked smack however I might've had to find you and cut you."
"Aren't you something. Precious and formidable." Giran remarked, daring to give her a pat on the head, earning himself a toothy grin followed by a giggle.
"I really do wonder about the state of the League if you have someone like her in your ranks." The still unnamed young man remarked, having withdrawn his hand from Kurogiri's portal as Toga entered the room. He rested his knuckles against the table, keeping his other hand still inside his pants pocket, clearly not feeling the urgency to fight with both hands, nor pocketing both to show complete withdrawal. He gave a slow blink, tilting his head almost in mockery, "But I guess birds of a feather flock together."
A low growl escaped Tomura as he pulled his hands from the Warp Gates, Kurogiri almost in his ear, urging him to calm down, that this was a test of patience for him as a leader. He swatted at the mist man, waving him off as his blood was pumping, glaring at the unpunished degenerate.
"Sorry for the wait."
Everyone looked toward the doorway to see Deku standing there, dressed in proper formal attire. Tomura's thirst for doling out punishment halted for a moment as he took in the black suit, vest and white dress shirt coupled with a black tie and gloves, a memory flickering at the sight of the green haired boy. The younger boy looked slightly nervous at the sudden attention but his expression switched to calm profession, a polite smile on his face as he took a step into the room, having missed the storm. Toga let out a giggle, clearly thrilled at his appearance or perhaps amused at his impeccable timing. The atmosphere seemed to shift immediately as if bad air had been cleared away completely as interest suddenly switched to the latest arrival.
"Ah, there he is." Giran smiled, setting eyes on the League's second stand-in head for the first time. "The more elusive of the duo graces us with his presence. Nice to see who my other client is."
"You must be Deku." The scarred young man stated, looking at the boy from across the room without any hint of contempt he had clearly thrown at Tomura. A faint smile pulled at his lips as he stepped around the table, ignoring the fact that he caught Tomura tensing out of the corner of his eye. He felt Toga's eyes on him as well, a tight lipped smile upon her face that promised retribution should anything happen to the younger boy. He let his shoulders slump with relaxation as he sauntered closer, pulling a hand out and extending it to the smartly dressed boy. "Kurogiri spoke of you. Nice to meet you."
It was like he could feel Tomura Shigaraki burning holes into the back of his head, as if daring him to try something. It only made him amused, though he kept his attention on the green haired boy. His indifference certainly riled certain parties, which was a source of entertainment in itself. He made it a point to drop any interest in the ragged teen like a cat suddenly deciding its attention was better spent elsewhere, on more important things.
"Likewise, my apologies for the delay… uh," Deku hesitated as he grasped the other's hand rather firmly though the handshake was not at all intense. The grip was careful, firm yet not bone crushing as if trying to intimidate nor holding him as if he were made of glass. He tried not to stare at the patchwork of skin, curious about the newcomer's history as well as what possible Quirk he had to offer, if one at all. With his peripheral vision he could tell Tomura was edgy though perhaps a bit distracted as he watched Deku closely.
The scarred young man allowed a crooked smile, hooded turquoise eyes sparkling with secret delight as he gave another shake, his grip tightening slightly to reaffirm the greeting. "You can call me Dabi."
"Dabi here is a prospective recruit." Kurogiri informed, earning a grin from Giran as he still pushed that agenda along despite the near deathmatch.
"Oh?" Deku looked surprised but calm, his gaze shifting to Kurogiri for a moment to get a reassuring nod while Giran merely shrugged. Dabi focused on the youth's face, noticing the freckles and mismatched eyes, distinct heterochromia—something that caused the back of his neck to prickle. The boy blinked and his dual colored eyes focused on the scarred man once more, "Well, I look forward to working with you, Dabi-san."
"The feeling's mutual." Dabi responded, his grin widening as he sensed Tomura bristle, Toga letting out a happy gasp and Kurogiri giving a slight nod of approval while Giran grinned wolfishly at yet another successful business dealing. Deku smiled at him earnestly though with some guard. "Guess, as gamers say, it's a full party? Unless of course there are more to add eventually."
Tomura let out a clear growl before storming out of the room. The others ignored him, clearly used to such behavior while Giran looked unimpressed by the immature display. Meanwhile Dabi's amusement grew, smiling down at the boy whose hand he still clasped.
Things would be interesting indeed.