Chapter 11

They did it.

Relief sent a shiver down his spine. Izuku was out and closer to safety than he'd been in months. Explosions faded into the distance, rhythmic and strong, a sign that they were not being pursued. And yet, jealousy pooled in Katsuki's gut.

What a hollow victory. A twisted, desperate laugh bubbled from his throat as he crawled from beneath the rubble. This couldn't be it. Even as he was, he wouldn't lie down and submit now that the rescue was complete. He promised Aizawa he'd come back.

His escape was right in front of him, a gaping hole in his prison wall. Sunbeams filtered through the dust, poppy orange and vibrant against the gloom. His eyes adjusted slowly until the silhouettes of the cityscape came into view. Freedom was within reach, and for all he knew, the authorities were on their way. The explosions might have drawn the attention of civilians and heroes alike.

If he could just get out. Just a few steps.

Naked, starving, and injured he stood, trying to emulate the strength he'd seen in his copy but he flinched as Shigaraki screamed. Katsuki couldn't see him, his form writhing erratically somewhere within the shadows of the cell.

"Master!" Shigaraki hissed, voice strained with rage and what Katsuki hoped was pain. "He cheated! They both cheated! The fuckers, I'll kill'em!"

Katsuki heard the shifting of rubble, the gritty scratching of gravel against concrete and shoes and he knew he needed to move. The other villains were probably on their way.

In an instant, he was running, but he was so goddamn tired. Every muscle he used protested, every bone creaked but the warmth of the sun on his skin was indescribable. The fresh air in his lungs was cool and crisp. He didn't stop when he hit the ledge, his quirk popping to life to help cushion the landing as he fell a measly 3 stories. Such a drop was nothing thanks to his training at UA.

Pain disguised as pressure ripped through his abdomen and he watched transfixed as a black fragmenting spear erupted from his skin. The thing impaled him then coiled around his waist, stopping his fall with a sickening jolt that traveled his spine like lightning.

Katsuki couldn't catch his breath. His ruined fingers clawed at the wound, his quirk crackling against its surface but it had no effect. He hardly noticed as the ground receded, the spike drawing him back up and into his cell. He could feel the thing moving inside him, wriggling and stretching the hole further. He whimpered and tried to hold the spike still.

"Bakugou, Katsuki. Quirk: Explosion," A voice spoke through a small chuckle.

Katsuki winced, feeling another flexible spike wind its way around his wrists and secure them at his sides, palms against the skin of his thighs. More coiled around him, undulating like a mass of snakes. Each tendril was rough and dark, like stone, but as it moved toxic purple light shone between the cracks. The light pulsed excitedly as they drew Katsuki closer to his captor. The moment Katsuki's eyes settled on the figure before him everything else faded. Every sensation beyond pain disappeared.

Dust particles froze in the air and dropped like lead to the floor as if they existed in a vacuum. All for One stepped closer, his potato of a face cracking into a smile that didn't fit the situation. It seemed somehow fond and yet it made every nerve in Katsuki's body send warnings to his brain to run.

"Tomura seemed to believe you'd make a valuable contribution to his cause, but I must say," he paused, grabbing Katsuki by the chin, "I'm not convinced." His fingers were thick and calloused, scratching Katsuki's skin as he turned Katsuki's head from side to side, seemingly evaluating him. It took every ounce of his strength to hock a massive loogie and spit it in the villain's face. A disgusting mix of phlegm, spit, and blood landed thick on the man's cheek.

Agony shot through the blond again, this time at his shoulder. He stopped struggling and watched the tendril thread through his skin below his clavicle.

"Fuck…" he wheezed, blinking back tears. Katsuki was shaking, his entire body sweating profusely as he panted in the villain's hold.

A tendril flicked the loogie from All for One's cheek and, though he looked disappointed, his composure didn't crack. "Your passion is admirable, but your lack of respect is concerni-"

"Just kill him, Master. Rip out his guts and hang him from his intestines. I don't need pawns that don't know their place." Shigaraki was limping, grabbing at his leg with a 4 fingered grip as he neared. His wrist was discolored and swollen, the charred skin littered with yellowing blisters. He stopped at All for One's side and glared death at Katsuki. His other hand scratched feverishly at his neck.

"Now, now Tomura. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Compliance can either be learned, or programmed. Think of Kurogiri. Oboro was a challenge, but Garaki sorted him out."

Shigaraki stilled at this, eyes flicking back and forth in thought. "That's not a bad idea. Prized UA brat turning against his classmates."

"I ri-right here, dipshits. And tha-haaah-that's never gonna happen." Katsuki gritted out, every breath a battle.

All for One chuckled lightly and set Katsuki on his feet, the tendrils not impaling him dropped to the floor and slithered back to their master. "Your bargaining chips are rather low, Katsuki. Your autonomy. Your quirk. Your free will. Your body. Your memories. Your very identity is on the table. I could strip you of each, one by one. With ease."

There was no escaping this. Willingly or not, they were going to use him against UA, against his class. His friends. No, Katsuki would rather die if living meant becoming a villain.

Katsuki closed his eyes, so tight it hurt and reached for his power. He felt it thrum beneath his skin, warm and familiar. It settled in his palms as he lifted his hands, resting one at his neck and the other directly over his heart. As drenched in sweat as he was, he hoped his entire body would catch fire.

"Fuck you," he growled and ignited his palms.

Pain flashed white hot and virulent across his skin. His body twitched and seized, dangling from the spikes as his legs gave out. Spit foamed from the corners of his mouth and he gagged. Air refused to enter his lungs. Every inch of his flesh was melting from muscle and bone. He screamed, the force of it tore at his throat. Then, the fire was within him, ripping him cell from cell until there was nothing. All that existed was complete emptiness, hollow and aching in his core.

"A quirk like this is troublesome in untrustworthy hands, I'll hold onto it for you until we reach an understanding."

Katsuki's eyes flew open, ignoring the figures in front of him completely. His body was intact, save for the wounds he'd sustained at the villains' hands. Tears cut scars into his dirty face as they fell, his vision blurred as he stared at his useless, shaking hands. "NO! Nononono! But- but I-" Katsuki gagged, choking on his words as the spikes left his skin. The moment they were free he collapsed to his knees, fingers grasping desperately at his hair. He didn't bother to stem the flow of blood from the gaping wounds the spikes had left behind. With any luck, he'd bleed out.

Katsuki's pulse roared in his ears, but the sound of renewed voices drew him out of himself and back into his cell.

"Gin," All for One said through a concerned smile. The man in question was pinned against the wall by Toga. When the other villains had arrived Katsuki had no clue. As if it really mattered.

"What the actual fuck Twice," Toga whined, and though the tone of her voice seemed childish, Katsuki could tell she was extremely upset. "You helped them!?"

Twice didn't respond, gaze glued to the ground. All for One tutted sadly and gently moved Toga away from Twice. "I'm disappointed in you, Gin. Have you forgotten what hero society did to you?"

Again Gin remained silent though he stiffened when All for One rested a hand on his head. "I'll admit that Tomura's tactics are rather…unorthodox, however, it's still your duty to serve him. Perhaps the voices have grown too quiet."

Katsuki watched Izuku's savior crumble, All for One's fingers pulling the mask slowly from the villain's head, ignoring the other's desperate pleading. "NO! Please! Give it back! I'll- We're- I'm splitting! I can't-! We're sorry! FUCK! Please don't-!"

"Shshsh, Gin." All for One soothed, speaking over the continued begging, "I know this is hard, but there are consequences when you disobey orders." The villain straightened, leaving Twice to Toga, who petted his head affectionately.

"NOW!" All for One announced, spreading his arms wide. "This place has been compromised. But, no matter. I have procured another base for the time being."

Without warning, Katsuki's stomach turned and sludge tasting no better than bile flew up his throat. It poured violently from his lips. He tried to dispel it but it just kept coming. Gray and gelatinous it brought his mind back to the sludge villain. He glanced around in panic and noticed that everyone in the cell, sans All for One, was subjected to the same thing. Each of them was engulfed in the disgusting fluid then with an unceremonious lurch, they were yanked from their current location and deposited into the murky depths of god-knows-where.