Author's Note: I'm using Second's canon family name for this fic since I don't see him as having the exact same personality as my past Seconds, because his backstory is different. (He's still Kaiji in my heart.)


Kudou had been loyal to All for One ever since being liberated from a government experimental laboratory as a scared, angry sixteen-year-old. All for One had saved Kudou and the other test subjects, then offered them a choice: to join his side or give him their metapowers so they could live ordinary lives. Kudou had not hesitated to pick All for One. He'd craved vengeance for his friends who had died during the experiments. He'd idolized the white-haired savior who had descended upon his tormentors like a fallen angel and ripped them to shreds without a speck of blood touching his black coat.

Now twenty-one years old, Kudou had killed countless people in All for One's name, but he'd never once doubted it was worth it for the brighter future he'd been promised. When All for One ruled, metahumans would be treated like people and no longer persecuted. Kudou would do anything for the cause and for his idolized master, while feeling honored for the privilege.

Except serve as bodyguard for All for One's spoiled brat of a little brother, Yoichi Shigaraki.

Kudou had been in shock ever since he'd received the assignment. He'd entered a competition against Gigantomachia for the position of All for One's bodyguard. His rival had been unimaginably strong, but Kudou had still won their sparring match. Admittedly, Kudou had provoked Gigantomachia into a rage with insults and then kicked him in the balls, but usually All for One admired dirty tactics. So why the hell had Gigantomachia gotten the coveted position of the master's bodyguard, while Kudou had ended up with the second-place prize he hadn't even known about in advance? Did All for One simply trust Gigantomachia more? That stung. True, Kudou was more prone to talking back to the master than the oversized kiss-ass, but only when he saw genuine flaws in All for One's plans, and he was almost always right.

Although Kudou had never been formerly introduced to Yoichi Shigaraki, he'd seen the younger brother around the master's office a few times. Usually Yoichi had been shouting at All for One for some petty reason or another. Yoichi Shigaraki was a powerless weakling only allowed to stay because of nepotism. Even though All for One showered Yoichi with gifts, Yoichi always had nothing but complaints in return. Kudou feared he might strangle the brat if forced to spend a long amount of time in his company.

Why did Yoichi need a bodyguard anyway? No one outside All for One's inner circle even knew he had a brother. Yoichi did nothing except laze around and leach off his brother's money. This was a total waste of Kudou's talents. Was this a punishment? But why?

Kudou had considered going to All for One and protesting. But at the last minute, he'd chickened out. With Gigantomachia strutting around acting smug, Kudou could not bear to get scolded. He told himself if the master was angry, it would be better to wait a few days for him to calm down, then request an assignment change. So Kudou followed orders and headed for Yoichi's bedroom.

Yoichi Shigaraki sat in a beanbag chair, reading a comic. His room was covered from floor to ceiling with bookshelves. Without even looking up from his comic book, he said, "So you're the new babysitter."

Apparently the brat didn't like this situation any more than Kudou did. Perhaps Kudou could convince Yoichi to request someone else and thus free himself of this burdensome assignment. It would be a delicate line to tread, to get reassigned without actually failing. He'd better behave for at least the first week. In a monotone, Kudou said, "I'm your new bodyguard, sir. I'll do everything in my power to protect you."

Turning a page, Yoichi snorted. "You're here to stop me from running away."

"You would? Are you a fucking moron?" Kudou blurted out. Yes, his assignment had included restricting Yoichi to the base unless he had permission for an excursion, but he'd never realized his charge might be stupid enough to risk getting caught by Japan's current military dictators. "You ever been tortured? Because I bet in five minutes, a weakling like you would spill everything about your brother. Don't be an idiot. As the guy who is required to take a bullet for your scrawny ass, I'd appreciate it if you'd show a bit more concern for my life if not your own."

Yoichi looked up. "You're blunt. I like that."

"You do?" Kudou was flummoxed. "You're not much like your brother." He immediately regretted saying what could be taken as criticism of the master. It was true, though. Kudou always had to offer his opinions couched in very delicate terms, because All for One did not brook contradiction.

"Yeah, big brother is a sensitive baby." Yoichi laughed. "I definitely like you! What's your name?"

"Kudou." This was worrying, he didn't want to be liked by his charge—he wanted to get fired from this job as fast as diplomatically possible.

"No first name?"

"I don't like mine. Just call me Kudou." His first name had the character for two, so the scientists had called him experimental subject two, in mocking tones. He'd been unable to bear being called by his given name ever since. Perhaps he should think up a new name, but most of his comrades just called him Gearshift as a code name after his ability.

"Then you may call me Yoichi. I don't want you to mistake me for my brother." Yoichi's smile lit up his whole face. He was undeniably handsome, from his soft white hair to his sparkling green eyes. He held out his hand for a shake. Maybe because he was sitting, he didn't want to bow in Japanese fashion? His older brother's manners had always been a tad odd, too.

Reluctantly, Kudou shook. Since it was worth a try, he said, "I doubt you'll like me for very long. Most people find me incredibly unlikable."

"Me, too!" Yoichi winked. "Sorry, it's too late, we shook on it, we're friends now. Kudou." He rolled the name around on his tongue like a delicious chocolate truffle.

Kudou wondered what he'd gotten himself into.


The first day of Kudou's new job entailed standing outside Yoichi's door. It was extremely boring. They were inside a compound belonging to the most powerful man in Japan. The cement walls outside bristled with stolen military hardware. What could Yoichi possibly be in danger from—a papercut from his comics?

This was a strange assignment, by bodyguarding standards. Kudou had been instructed to spend every waking hour guarding Yoichi's room, including eating meals there. He'd also been assigned a bedroom next to Yoichi's. No bodyguard could remain alert all night. Instead of a second guard taking a shift, Yoichi got locked into his room every night. All for One said his little brother sleepwalked. Kudou had his doubts, but it wasn't his place to question.

When lunch arrived, steaming hot katsudon, Yoichi insisted that Kudou come inside so they could eat together. The food was delicious, far better than Kudou was used to. At least this stupid job came with a few perks.

Next, Yoichi insisted on reading his favorite story out loud to his new bodyguard. Kudou wasn't sure if this was a blessing or a curse. Standing outside the door was boring, but so was Captain Hero. For some bizarre reason, Yoichi insisted reading a children's comic would build character. Yoichi paused the story a couple times to cough. Gigantomachia always said the master's little brother was a weakling, with a scornful look in his eyes. But Kudou felt more sympathy after seeing Yoichi leave red specks of blood behind on his tissues. If Yoichi had a serious illness, then it became more understandable for him to stay at home without a job instead of helping with his brother's business.

Halfway through the first volume of Captain Hero, Kudou growled, "Isn't this story a superhero parody?"

The sudden pause from the other side of the door told him that he'd offended his charge. Haughtily, Yoichi said, "It's surprisingly deep for a children's story. You just haven't gotten to the good parts yet."

"Captain Hero hides his identity by wearing a tie when he's a civilian."

"What's your point?"

"Wearing a tie doesn't hide your face. It's a parody of how Superman uses glasses as Clark Kent. The goddamn joke is that it would never work."

The door flung open. Green eyes blazed with wrath. Yoichi insisted, "If you were looking at the art, then you would know that Captain Hero is using the tie to cover his face as part of his superhero costume."

"That sounds even more like a parody," Kudou grumbled. Still, he was unable to resist as Yoichi dragged him into the room. A bodyguard couldn't manhandle his charge.

Yoichi put Kudou in the beanbag chair, planted Captain Hero on his lap, and then read the rest of the story. He even did different voices for different characters. Although Kudou still thought the comic was dumb, he had to admit Yoichi's passion added spice to the story. Yoichi leaned so close that his hair fell on Kudou's shoulder. It had been a long time since Kudou had been so close to another person that their breath tickled his ear. He felt a little self-conscious.

When Yoichi did the Demon King voice, Kudou startled. "Whoa, you sound exactly like your older brother."

"That's the idea," Yoichi said with a smirk.

This surprised a chuckle out of Kudou. He had to admit Yoichi was a little cute.

But mostly annoying. That was Yoichi Shigaraki in a nutshell: 99% annoying and 1% cute.


On the second day, Yoichi got permission to go shopping. The "permission" had involved Yoichi screaming at his older brother and calling him an evil tyrant while Kudou stood awkwardly outside the door. The temper-tantrum had confirmed all of Kudou's criticisms of Yoichi. He wished even harder that he was inside, guarding All for One instead.

Finally, All for One shouted at Yoichi to get out and threw the keys at him.

Yoichi sailed out of the office, tossing car keys over his palm. "Big brother wants me to leave. Come on, we're going shopping."

Kudou gaped. "Did you do that on-purpose?"

Yoichi shrugged. "My brother is contrary. The only way to get permission to escape this prison is to make him think he's throwing me out."

Kudou trailed after Yoichi, privately thinking the spoiled brat would appreciate the security of his lovely home if he'd ever suffered in a government lab.

They took the armored limo, with Kudou driving. To his surprise, Yoichi directed them first to a pet store.

"Your brother will flip his lid if you bring back a pet without asking permission," Kudou pointed out. All for One had never been an animal person. Or a people person.

"I'm just buying food," Yoichi said, hauling an enormous sack of dried pellets to the checkout counter.

Kudou took the bag. "Allow me." Privately he wondered if Yoichi was trying to feed a hundred cats? Maybe this was a charitable donation. They'd probably go to an animal shelter next.

Instead, Yoichi directed the car toward an abandoned part of town. Yoichi stopped at a crumbled wall with a hole in it and put down the cat food.

Immediately, cats of all breeds and colors crawled through the hole. A hundred cats hadn't been far off. Kudou shrieked and hid behind the car, dropping his sunglasses.

Yoichi picked up the sunglasses and walked over. "Jeez, they're only cats."

"I know," Kudou mumbled, turning away his head so he didn't have to look. But he could hear the terrible meowing.

Yoichi placed the sunglasses back on their owner's face. "No-name Kudou, are you scared of cats?"

"Scared is an exaggeration," Kudou said with great dignity. "I respect their claws." A feral cat had once nearly taken out his eye as a child. Ever since then, cats made him…nervous. Not scared. Definitely not scared.

Yoichi laughed. "How are you going to protect me from the fearsome cats all the way over here, huh?"

Kudou hunched his shoulders. "You're not going to tell your brother, are you?"

"I don't tell him about people's weaknesses." Yoichi sounded oddly serious. "Sorry, I would have warned you if I'd known about your phobia."

"It's not a phobia, not that freaking bad," Kudou mumbled.

Yoichi returned to his cats, petting them and scratching them under the chin. They were clearly familiar with him. In no time, they crawled all over him. "Aw, they miss me! I hired someone at the homeless shelter where I donate to feed them when I can't make it. She told me they get sad when I don't come by, but I'm not sure if she's just telling me what I want to hear. I'd like to get my babies proper homes, but these days most animal shelters closed down for lack of resources. I've been looking after this cat colony since I was a young child. My brother would get so angry at me for giving them our scant food. Well, in retrospect, he was right. We didn't have enough for ourselves. Some nights we both went hungry because I just couldn't resist the begging kitty eyes."

Kudou didn't know what shocked him more—Yoichi having a hard childhood, or Yoichi admitting his brother was right. In retrospect, it shouldn't be so surprising that two metahuman children with no parents had once lived on the streets. This explained their mutually odd manners. Perhaps Kudou had been overly hasty in a few assumptions.

Yoichi continued, "But big brother still won't give anything away even now he's rich. I've begged him to donate just a little to charity."

Kudou cleared his throat. "All for One needs to save his funds for the cause."

Yoichi looked up from petting a cat, his eyes sharp. "Ah, the grand cause of taking over Japan."

"Do you like the world to stay shitty like this?" Kudou spread his arms wide, gesturing at the damaged and abandoned buildings. "Would you rather see people who want to massacre metahumans win? Maybe you don't think it's your problem, because you don't have a power. But plenty of people would kill you for your hair color alone."

Yoichi stalked over, until they were eye-level (with Yoichi needed to look up in order to lock their gazes.) "Yes, I want peace. Yes, I even think my brother's power could greatly aid in restoring order. But he won't, because he's not interested in protecting anyone except himself."

Bristling at his idol being insulted, Kudou growled, "He looks after your weak, pathetic ass, doesn't he? Personally I'd have dumped your whinny butt on the streets the first time you threw a temper-tantrum, princess."

Yoichi flinched. He started to say something, then a cough cut it off. Rubbing his mouth, he said, "I nearly forgot you were one of my brother's fanatical followers. I guess there's no point in talking to you." He stalked back to the car.

The ride back was in bitter silence. Yoichi stank like cats and dirt, and it filled the whole car. The aura of anger coming off him was even stronger. Kudou cracked a window open. He had a million things he wanted to say to defend All for One, but he didn't feel like speaking first.

Kudou didn't understand why he felt so upset. He'd wanted to anger Yoichi, and he'd gotten his wish. Maybe he'd get fired. Maybe Yoichi would tattle about his fear of cats despite his promise.


Kudou did not get fired. It didn't seem like Yoichi had told All for One anything, because if he had then Gigantomachia would be teasing and making cat ears. The third day passed in silence. Kudou missed Captain Hero. He even sort of wanted to learn how the story ended. Sure, it had been cliché but it had been fun. Especially when Yoichi did the funny voices.

On the fourth day, Kudou knocked on the door. "Uh. You don't have to talk to me. But can I have the next volume of Captain Hero? I kinda want to find out if Captain Hero manages to sneak into the Demon King's lair."

Yoichi opened the door. "Well, you have to read the ending of the story or you might turn into as big an asshole as my brother."

Kudou couldn't figure out if this was a joke. But he didn't question his good luck. Yoichi even did the voices again.


On the fifth day, Kudou wanted to apologize. But he'd never been good at words, and he hadn't actually changed his mind about his key points. So instead, he asked All for One if he could take Yoichi shopping.

All for One easily gave permission, saying it would be safe as long as Kudou was present. The off-handed but sincere praise gave Kudou a warm feeling. It nearly outweighed Gigantomachia smirking from his position behind All for One's chair.

Yoichi was delighted. "Big brother almost never lets me out twice in the same week! He must really trust you." Yoichi flung his arms around Kudou and squeezed.

Kudou went stiff. Yoichi withdrew. "Sorry, I should have asked before hugging you."

"No, you're fine," Kudou said. Actually, the hug had been very nice. He hadn't hugged anyone since…he couldn't remember.

As they drove downtown, Kudou couldn't help replaying Yoichi's words. He had to admit, he'd hate it if someone locked him up in a house and wouldn't let him leave more often than once a week. He didn't like questioning his master. It gave him a nauseous feeling.

First, they visited the cats again. Second, Yoichi darted around the stores, buying a ridiculous amount of clothing and hair care products. Soon Kudou found himself decorated with bags like a tree. Ugh, what a brat, wasting so much money. Kudou decided he'd been wrong. Clearly this spoiled princess couldn't live without his brother's care. Because Yoichi acted so silly, he forced All for One to be strict with him.

Cheerfully, Yoichi said, "Let's hit up a jewelry store next. I want to spend as much of my brother's money as possible."

"Ah, so you're an evil princess," Kudou grumbled. He paused, afraid he'd start the fight again. But Yoichi only laughed.

They dropped off the bags at the car first. At the jewelry store, Kudou held up a hand to stop Yoichi from entering. He went in first and scouted, despite the odd looks from the staff. "It's safe," he said, turning to Yoichi.

"You're always so serious." Yoichi pushed down Kudou's sunglasses. "I could have helped you check for traps or cameras."

The skeptical look on Kudou's face revealed more than he wanted.

Yoichi snorted. "You'd be surprised at the number of cameras my brother leaves in my room." Then he sauntered into the shop. Kudou followed, hoping that had been a joke. It must have been. All for One already had Kudou watching 24/7, why would he need more surveillance on his little brother? Yikes, that thought had failed to make it less creepy.

The staff ignored Yoichi except for a few strange looks. It took Kudou a moment to realize why. Although Yoichi had impeccable hair, he wore grey sweatpants and a Captain Hero sweatshirt. He didn't look like someone who could afford anything in this store.

Yoichi finally selected a beautiful men's bracelet, platinum with fifty round rubies set between the chain links. The price tag made Kudou choke.

When Yoichi got the counter, the employee raised an eyebrow and said, "We don't take checks. Too likely to bounce."

Yoichi flushed. Before he could speak, Kudou stepped forward and tipped down his glasses. Coldly, he said, "What kind of people do you think can afford my services?"

The employee gasped. "Oh, I thought you were dating. I didn't realize he'd…hired you." His eyes got even wider when Yoichi pulled out a gold credit card, and it went through. He stammered apologies.

Kudou was too confused to respond. Dating? It gave him an odd feeling under his chest. Wait, had that employee just mistaken him for an escort? He didn't think of himself as handsome enough to sell his body. Shouldn't Yoichi be the arm candy instead?

Yoichi laughed as they left the store. "You did great. That was hilarious. You earned this." He removed the bracelet from the box and fastened it around Kudou's wrist.

Kudou gaped. "I can't…this is too much."

"Consider it my gratitude for getting me out of that cell, and an apology for scaring you with my cats. The rubies match your beautiful eyes."

"I wasn't scared!" Kudou protested, his ears red. "What do you mean, beautiful? You're the beautiful one!" He flushed even deeper scarlet as he realized what he'd said.

Yoichi tucked back a lock of his hair and batted his eyes. "Why, thank you. Now you have to take the bracelet, or I'll tell my brother that you called me beautiful. That's a serious threat, by the way."

Kudou sputtered. "You…you can't…it's too much." He had to admit, though, the bracelet was beautiful. He'd never owned something so fine before, except for his favorite guns.

"I insist," Yoichi said in a tone that brooked no argument. (It was awfully similar to his older brother's tone, though neither would appreciate the comparison.) "You've indulged me all of today. We should do at least one thing fun for you. Where would you like to go?"

Kudou blurted out, "I'd like to see the gun store."

Yoichi snorted. "I should have guessed."

"We don't have to—"

"Nonsense. I promised." Yoichi dragged Kudou off.

The gun store proved a sad disappointment. Until recently, Japan's strict gun control laws hadn't allowed any civilians to own firearms. The chaos during the dawn of the age of quirks had led to loosening the restrictions. However, the store still only sold a few weak revolvers and pistols. Kudou concluded the black market was the only place to get the good stuff.

Back at the car, Kudou complained, "They were selling Remington Rider Single Shot Pistols as self-defense weapons! Those weak little bitches aren't good for anything except indoor target practice. You'd be better off with an air gun." He paused with his hand on the car door handle. "Sorry, I'm sure this is boring. I should just drive you home."

Yoichi said, "No, you listened to me rant about Captain Hero, you're entitled to my ear in return. Besides, this is interesting. What guns do you prefer?"

Kudou yanked up his sleeve to reveal his custom gauntlets. "These are the best weapons for me. Since they're touching me, I can use my Gearshift to control the speed of the bullets. I have another, more bulky pair of gauntlets. But I wear these when I need to hide that I'm armed." He patted his left arm, then his right. "This one is James, and this one is Bond."

Yoichi laughed. "You named your weapons? Of course you did, you look like the type."

What was that supposed to mean? A tad insulted, Kudou said, "I thought it was a cool reference."

"I like Bond films too," Yoichi assured him. "James Bond isn't up to my standard of morality, but I must admit he has some great one-liners. Do you have any other weapons on you?"

Kudou said, "This lady is a secret backup in case my gauntlets fail." He pulled up his pants leg to reveal his ankle holster. "She's a Sig P365. I named her Brynhild because she takes warriors to the afterlife."

Yoichi knelt down to peer at Brynhild. "A real lady," he said in a tone that made it difficult to tell if he was being serious.

Kudou admitted, "I named the canon your brother installed on the car as 'Long-Distance Relationship.' I thought it was funny. Uh, you're not going to tell him, are you?"

Solemnly, Yoichi said, "As long as you don't tell him about me stopping by the homeless shelter on the way home to donate most of the clothing." They shook on it.


A month passed. Kudou got dragged around the mall many more times. Since most of the purchases went to charity, he felt guilty for his earlier assumption that Yoichi was spoiled. They went to the arcade. Kudou used his ability to win at air hockey every time, until Yoichi caught on. They fed the cats regularly. Kudou had even started to be a little less scared until one of the monsters scratched him, then nope, he hated cats again. Yoichi kissed his boo-boo. Honestly, Yoichi could be so defenseless sometimes, as if he had no idea how some men would have read that gesture. No wonder people thought they were dating.

During this time, Kudou learned that Yoichi owned a popular blog that reviewed comics, manga, and video games. He also wrote fanfiction, drew fan art, and took art commissions.

"So you're not a total NEET," Kudou said, looking at Yoichi's computer screen over his shoulder. Yoichi was drawing a surprisingly beautiful picture of Captain Hero, even turning that rather bland character into a total stunner.

Yoichi rolled his eyes. "For your information, I make enough off my articles and commissions to support myself. I'm pretty well-known. Even corporations hire me as a freelancer. But my brother insists that I live at home because he claims I wouldn't be safe on my own."

"In all fairness, he's right. All for One has dangerous enemies. That's why I carry James, Bond, and Brynhild whenever we go out."

"Big brother won't let me have my own bank account. I've tried twice to open an account, but the bank always turns me down. He bribes people there. I have to deposit my commissions money into his account. He claims I'm coming out ahead because he always gives me more income then I could ever make on my own, but it also gives him the power to cut me off from my own money if we argue."

Kudou flinched. "Damn." That sounded abusive, but Kudou struggled to assign such a heavy word to the master who loved his little brother so much.

Yoichi winked. "That's why I spend as much of my brother's money as possible on charity and frivolous ruby bracelets. I keep telling him, if he wants to stop me then he has to let me have my own bank account."

This cast Yoichi's shopping sprees in an entirely different light. Kudou's stomach twisted. He wondered why Yoichi sounded so casual about this bad treatment. Because he was used to it? But if Yoichi didn't have a problem, was it Kudou's place to say anything? Uncomfortable thoughts swirled in his mind for days.

Then Yoichi got into another fight with his brother and was confined to his room.

Two weeks passed without All for One relenting. Yoichi and Kudou had time to finish and discuss all the Captain Hero spinoffs. But even talking about his favorite comic books couldn't distract Yoichi from glancing longingly outside. Yoichi had a calendar on his wall counting the release date to the new movie about Captain Hero's successor. When the day arrived, Yoichi crossed it off with tears in his eyes. Even a sincere plea to his brother had not released him from his house arrest.

In a moment of madness, Kudou blurted out, "Come on, I'll take you outside so you can see your dumb children's movie."

Yoichi whirled around, his eyes lighting up. "Do you mean it? You could get into trouble…"

"If I'm escorting you, everyone will assume you had permission to go out. They might not even know to tell All for One. Besides, I'm tired of being cooped up in here too." In reality, Kudou would have been fine staying in place far longer if ordered. He'd never disobeyed All for One before. What was he doing? His face felt sweaty, and he would swear his hair spikes stood on end. But one look at Yoichi's brilliant smile, and Kudou couldn't take it back.

They left the building at a casual pace, and as expected, no one challenged them. Kudou felt even more nervous as they drove to the movie theatre, half-expecting All for One would call to scold him at any moment.

The movie theatre had almost no line. Yoichi said, "It's funny how we had no trouble getting tickets."

"Have you not figured out Captain Hero isn't very popular with anyone older than twelve?" Kudou winced as Yoichi punched his arm in retaliation for this comment.

For the entire film, Yoichi bounced in his seat. He cried at the end when the sidekick sacrificed himself and fell into a portal. Kudou nobly refrained from saying he'd read online there were three sequels planned so clearly the main character would be just fine.

Afterward, Yoichi skipped out of the theatre. "That was amazing! I've never been in a movie theatre before."

"Me, neither," Kudou admitted. "It was certainly different seeing it on the big screen." That was the closest he could come to complimenting the movie.

Yoichi turned to him. "Where do you want to go? You're going to be cooped up with me after we return, you deserve fun too."

Kudou hesitated, then finally said, "I've always wanted to see an aquarium."

"You're not scared of animals?"

"It's only cats! And I'm not scared, I have a healthy level of respect for them as predators."

"Kidding." Yoichi tweaked Kudou's sunglasses. "Wipe off that serious face. We're going to see some fish!"

The aquarium was every bit as cool as Kudou had hoped back when he'd been a small child, looking at the building and unable to afford to go inside. So many types of beautiful and colorful fish! They had sharks and dolphins! They even let him pet the stingrays!

As they left the aquarium, Kudou babbled, "Damn. That was amazing. It doesn't hurt the sting rays when we pet them, does it?"

Yoichi smiled and patted his shoulder. "No, they only let you touch the hard backs. I doubt the rays even notice."

"Good. Damn, they were awesome." Kudou raised his face to let the sun fall on it. Back when he'd been locked up in that dark lab, he never could have imagined seeing the sun like this. Today had been a good day.

Yoichi gasped, then took off like a shot.

Kudou chased after, crying, "Stop! I need to protect you! Your brother will kill me if anything happens to you." He meant that literally, especially since this was an unauthorized excursion.

"I saw a cat," Yoichi shouted between his pants.

Kudou growled, "You see your furry monsters all the time!"

Yoichi doubled over, gasping and wheezing. He put a hand over his mouth. Blood dripped between his fingers.

Very concerned, Kudou grabbed Yoichi by the shoulders and supported him. "Can you breathe? Do you need an ambulance?" Oh, Kudou was definitely dead if they went to a hospital, but he'd call an ambulance anyway.

"I'm fine," Yoichi rasped unconvincingly. "Cat…hurt…" He pointed at the bushes next to the sidewalk.

Following the finger, Kudou saw a pair of yellow eyes in the darkness. In spite of himself, he flinched.

The stray cat growled, then leapt past them. A flash of red on its paw betrayed the injury Yoichi had seen.

Everything in Kudou wanted to leap away. But Yoichi was watching. Too fast for him to think about what he was doing, Kudou stuck out a hand. As he brushed the cat's fur, he used his power to slow it to a halt.

"Oh! Thank you so much." Yoichi whipped out a handkerchief and tied it around the bleeding paw. The little black cat remained frozen, eyes darting around. Yoichi coughed one more time, but seemed much better. "I'm impressed that you overcame your phobia to help this beauty."

"I wasn't scared," Kudou said indignantly, as soon as his heart stopped racing enough to let him speak.

"Yes, I get it, that handsome stone face of yours never wavers." Yoichi poked Kudou's cheek.

Kudou tried to scowl but it came out as a smile instead. "I guess I might have started to get used to cats after hanging around your monsters. Even so, I'd rather not be around when this one starts moving—and clawing—again."

"I'll handle it, I've got a knack with cats." Yoichi crouched down at eye level with the cat. Then he growled.

The cat growled back. Yoichi growled again. Then, strangely, the cat's eyes stopped twitching. As the power wore off, the cat settled into Yoichi's arms.

Kudou gaped. "…Are you a goddamn Disney princess?"

"Mmm, more of a darker folk story," Yoichi said over his shoulder as he walked away. "Come on, I know a vet who can help us." He smiled and winked.

That wink did things to Kudou's stomach. Oh, dear, he might be in trouble.


Yoichi's veterinarian friend took responsibility for the cat. They snuck back home, Yoichi wearing Kudou's jacket to cover the bloodstains on his shirt. Yoichi never did give that jacket back. Kudou found it hard to mind, when Yoichi looked so much cuter than him wearing it.

Although Kudou was twitchy for a couple days, they didn't get in any trouble for going out. All for One often acted like he knew everything, but Kudou had worked closely enough with the master to know it wasn't true.

Up until All for One called Kudou to his office, then Kudou worked himself into a frantic terror convinced the boss had found out.

All for One didn't look up from his papers, his hands flying as he signed documents. "Anything new to report on the bodyguard assignment?"

This was Kudou's big chance to make a pitch for a new job because he was criminally underutilized staying at home watching a stationary target. And it was true, All for One's organization needed him in a million other places. But Kudou found himself oddly reluctant to leave Yoichi. "It's fine. Easy job."

"What do you think about Yoichi?"

It felt like a trap. Kudou only replied: "Easy to guard. He doesn't live an exciting or dangerous life."

All for One snorted. "Would you believe my brother drove off three bodyguards before you? Two of them had bullet wounds. One of them, he shot personally."

"Oh." Kudou blinked in surprise. "That loser must have deserved it."

"True, he was careless to let such a weakling get the drop on him," All for One said. "You seem to be a good influence on Yoichi. He's been less trouble lately."

"I haven't done anything special," Kudou said truthfully.

"You're too steady and emotionless for him to drive you off." All for One smiled. "That's why I picked you. Keep up the good work."

Kudou grunted, which was how he usually reacted to praise. Even though he knew he was wasted in this position, he felt shamefully relieved to keep his job.

All for One said, "Yoichi has agreed to attend a fundraising gala on my behalf. Normally he refuses to be useful to me, so this is as close as he can get to an apology for our argument. The gala is raising money for metahuman rights, so I need to appear to be supportive. One of the rare causes my brother and I can agree on. Everyone is allowed only a single plus one, so you'll be attending as Yoichi's fake date."

Only years of practice kept Kudou's face blank. "I'm…surprised you would allow me such an honor…master." Rumors of All for One's protectiveness were legendary, and Yoichi had complained a few times about his brother's refusal to let him have a love life. Suddenly Kudou felt exposed, wondering if this was a test, wondering if All for One had a mind-reading power and had secretly noticed Kudou's thoughts about Yoichi wearing his jacket. They were only thoughts. He knew his place as a bodyguard.

All for One snorted. "It's not as though you could ever be interested in him."

"Nope, too weak," Kudou quickly replied. He wasn't thinking about what he was saying, mostly in survival mode. He had an intuition it would be safe to insult Yoichi in this way, since All for One had often done the same.

Sure enough, All for One laughed along. "You're not his type either."

"I'm not?" The words left Kudou's mouth before he could stop them. He was surprised at how offended he felt. He'd known he had no chance from the very first time Yoichi's smile had given him butterflies.

"Yoichi likes heroes," All for One said.

And Kudou was anything but a hero. They both knew that.

As Kudou left the office, his mind kept ruminating on the past jobs he'd caried out for All for One. He'd done things he wasn't proud of, because he'd believed every life taken was for the greater good of Japan. Yoichi, with his soft heart and stern morals, wouldn't see it that way.

If Yoichi knew the extend of Kudou's past crimes, then he'd probably never speak to him again.


Before Kudou could even knock on the door, Yoichi's voice drifted through: "Did you hear about our new assignment?"

Kudou grunted. His mind was still aswirl.

Yoichi ran over and opened the door. "You could at least look a bit happier. I'm doing this for your sake. If it was only me, I'd resist my brother forever. But it's not fair for you to be cooped up in this house with me." In a quieter voice, he added, "And I didn't want to get you in trouble if we snuck out again."

"Oh." Kudou grunted again. "Thank you."

"There's the stone face I know and love." Yoichi tugged on Kudou's cheeks to force him to smile. "We just have to get through one dinner, then big brother will let me leave the house as often as normal."

"Why does All for One care about this gala?" Kudou asked.

"He doesn't." Yoichi shrugged. "But big brother has always wanted to involve me in his business. Usually, I refuse. This gala is for a good cause, so I bent my principles. Only for you."

Kudou didn't know how he felt about Yoichi bending for his sake. "Uh. Good."

Yoichi leaned close and whispered in his ear, "Best of all, I have an excuse to gift you a new suit."

Kudou stiffened, feeling Yoichi's body heat so close and smelling a whiff of strawberry shampoo. Damn, Yoichi was defenseless. No wonder his older brother worried about him.


Kudou didn't normally wear suits. In the lab, he'd been lucky if he'd gotten a blanket. Most of the time, he wore his cameos and gauntlets. He'd dressed up in a black suit a few times when following All for One to fancy parties. This was the first time he'd ever worn a tuxedo.

Yoichi had selected a navy-blue silk jacket with matching pants for his bodyguard. The outfit came with a slightly darker blue vest underneath, a white shirt, and tan tie. Kudou had laughed when he'd seen a tiny Captain Hero sticker at the bottom of the tie. Then he'd tucked the bottom of the tie under his vest, out of sight. The sticker sat close to his heart like a good luck charm.

Kudou felt naked without James and Bond. But the gala had strictly forbidden weapons, enforced with a metal detector. At least Kudou had a plastic knife strapped to his ankle. He yanked on the tie, trying to loosen it a little so it didn't restrict his airflow.

Then Yoichi stepped out of his room, and Kudou lost all ability to breathe.

Yoichi wore an ivory tuxedo with raised swirls running down the jacket. It had a green velvet lapel with a matching bow tie. His black pants fit perfectly to his long legs. A turquoise earring dangled from one ear. His hair looked even more lovely than usual, with a single braid running down the right and the rest hanging loose. Jasmine and amber cologne wafted off him. The heels of his black shoes were a little high. He struck a pose. "How do I look? Handsome enough to pass as your date?"

"Gah," Kudou said.

Yoichi smiled. "I like that suit on you, too." He raked Kudou with his eyes. Kudou desperately hoped he hadn't failed to tuck in his shirt or match his socks. Yoichi was still smiling, so hopefully he hadn't done too badly?

Stepping forward, Yoichi straightened his tie. "You look fabulous."

"Not as fabulous as you," Kudou said weakly, then hoped he hadn't overstepped. "Your hair is perfect, princess," he tacked on, the nickname a defense mechanism to make the compliment joking instead of real.

Yoichi tapped his chin. "We should discuss boundaries for our fake dating."

"Uh, right, I'd never want to make you feel uncomfortable."

"We need to make it a convincing act. That means handholding."

"Gah," Kudou said as his brain short-circuited again.

Yoichi held out his hand. "We should practice."

As if in a trance, Kudou took the smaller hand.

"We need to have good chemistry." Yoichi leaned closer. He caressed Kudou's hand with his thumb. "We might need to kiss in order to make it convincing."

Kudou gulped. His Adam's apple bobbed. He didn't know if Yoichi was serious, didn't even want to think about it, because of all the dangers that line of thought would open up. It was easier (safer) to treat it as a joke. "Not a chance, your brother would rip my head off."

Yoichi pouted and released his hand. "I thought you weren't scared of my brother."

Kudou snorted. "Anyone with half a brain is scared of your brother."

"You still risked his wrath to let me watch my movie, though." Yoichi twirled his hair.

"Because you wanted it so badly."

"If I said I wanted to kiss you?" Yoichi leaned so close their noses nearly touched.

"Nice joke." Kudou stepped backward. Did Yoichi even realize how close they'd come to actually kissing? "Jeez, sometimes you can be naïve. A guy could take advantage of you."

"Oh no, I might run into a guy with the ability to take hints. Whatever would I do?" Yoichi muttered, stalking off. Kudou ran after him to catch up.


The gala was being hosted inside a hotel. The tables had been decked out with purple cloths. A massive flower arrangement rested on top of each one. Brilliant lights played across the walls. The venue was packed with people. It made Kudou a tad light-headed, because he'd never been comfortable in crowds. For one thing, he'd spent most of his childhood in an isolated cell. For another, it would be harder to protect Yoichi.

As soon as they entered, Yoichi clung to Kudou's arm. He smelled nice. Kudou's soul nearly left his body. This was no good, he needed to stay alert.

Yoichi dragged Kudou around the room, introducing his "boyfriend" to several people. None of them looked combat-worthy, so Kudou didn't bother to remember their faces.

When Yoichi spotted a pile of books on a table, his eyes lit up. "One of my favorite nonfiction authors is here! She writes political pieces. I must get her autograph." He ran for the line, darting through the crowd.

Due to his greater bulk, Kudou narrowly avoided bumping into people. He asked, "You read nonfiction?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yoichi glared. "You don't think I'm smart enough?"

Kudou had meant that Yoichi's taste mostly ran to terrible, but he suspected admitting that would only make it worse. "No, no, I'm sure you went to a fancy private school after your brother got money."

Yoichi snorted. "You're completely wrong. I didn't even go to school. I taught myself to read."

Kudou flinched. This explained Yoichi's long-term acquaintance with feral cats and how he'd never been in a movie theatre before. All for One was wealthy now, but he hadn't always been. Kudou regretted his prejudiced assumptions.

Yoichi didn't say anything more, and Kudou didn't ask, either. They were surrounded by other people. And Kudou had never possessed the right to pry into his employer's personal life, anyway.

At the front of the line, Yoichi received his autograph from a greying woman. They spoke briefly, before moving on in consideration of the rest of the line.

"I can carry your book," Kudou offered.

Yoichi clutched it to his chest. "Not until I finish reading it!"

Kudou chuckled. Yoichi looked adorable with his nose scrunched up.

For the rest of the evening, Yoichi sat at their table and read his book. He probably wasn't getting much social networking done, but Kudou couldn't bring himself to interrupt. Not when Yoichi was so clearly engrossed. Kudou needed to lift Yoichi to his feet to encourage him to leave, after everyone else had filed out and the staff clearly wanted to clean.

Yoichi's nose remained buried in his book as they walked toward their car.

Just as they entered the garage, Kudou heard the sound of a gunshot with a silencer.

"Down!" Kudou barked, throwing himself on top of Yoichi and knocking them both the ground.

Pure instinct took over. Kudou shoved Yoichi behind a stranger's car and growled, "Stay. Call your brother." Then he took off toward their own car. It was a reckless move, but his guns were in his car. He had no intention of bringing a plastic knife to a sniper fight.

Kudou darted between the cars. Two more bullets missed him. He made it to the gleaming metal barrel of Long-Distance Relationship. The sniper had already given away his position, and it took just one shot of the customized anti-tank canon to blow up him and a good chunk of parking garage. Car alarms screamed.

As he turned around, Kudou saw a second man pointing a gun at Yoichi's head. "Step away from your weapon!"

Shit. Two of them. He'd made a mistake. Shit. The first shot had been aimed to kill, these people didn't want Yoichi alive. Kudou knew full well they'd both die if he disarmed. He'd willing sacrifice his life for Yoichi, but he would not fail Yoichi. No matter how futile, he would have to make an attempt. He stepped away from the car and raised his hands, calculating the distance for a leap.

Yoichi dropped to his knees. The man fired, but the bullet went over his hostage's head.

Kudou leapt, tackling the attacker. They grappled, then the man went limp. Looking up, Kudou saw Yoichi standing over the man holding the bloody book he'd used to bludgeon him unconscious.

Yoichi dropped to a crouch. His eyes almost seemed to glow in the dimness. He growled, an inhuman sound just like when he'd talked to the cat. Then he hit the man with the book again, and again.

"Hey." Kudou approached with his hands raised, genuinely fearing Yoichi had lost his mind. Yoichi snarled at him, raising the book threateningly. Kudou took a step backward. "It's okay. He's definitely unconscious, if not dead. You did good. You saved both of us."

Yoichi gasped. He curled up with his knees to his chest. Kudou asked, "Uh, do you want a hug? Damn, I'm crap at comforting people. You don't need to feel bad about killing him. It was self-defense."

Yoichi flung himself into Kudou's arms. He muttered, "Not the first time I've killed someone. He got blood on my book. He deserved to die for that."

"Weren't you the one who attacked him with the book!?" Kudou laughed, partly from the shock. "You're a tough one. Sorry for ever calling you princess."

"Mm. I like the nickname now." Yoichi trembled slightly. "I suppose you're wondering what was up with that. I grew up on the streets with my brother. We never had parents. It was like the stories of feral children being raised by animals, except we didn't even have animals. Sometimes I…revert. Sorry, that was embarrassing."

"You've got nothing to be embarrassed about after saving my ass." Kudou felt like he ought to open up in return. "I was raised in a government lab, before All for One saved me. I'm not going to judge someone else's social graces."

"Oh. So that's why you're loyal to big brother." Yoichi seemed like he might be about to say something else, but then All for One's people poured into the garage.


Kudou and Yoichi were bundled into an armored car, taken back to the base, then separated for a medical exam. Although Kudou hated to leave Yoichi, he couldn't offer any kind of rational reason. The base was safe.

The attack had put All for One on a warpath, although he did briefly stop by the medical bay to tell Kudou he'd done well. Normally any praise from All for One made Kudou feel lightheaded from joy. But he didn't feel like he'd earned it. Yoichi had nearly died. Yoichi had been the real hero.

For the next few days, Kudou didn't see Yoichi at all. Rumor had it that All for One was keeping his younger brother at his side 24/7, including sleeping in the same bed. Although he'd previously admitted to not understanding social graces, Kudou still thought it seemed odd.

It came as a great relief when Gigantomachia came by to tell Kudou he'd been restored to his normal duties.

As Kudou approached All for One's office, he heard the sound of arguing.

Yoichi shouted, "You can't do this for me, you can't make me the reason for your crimes!"

Coldly, All for One replied, "Then I'm doing it for my own position, as a show of strength."

"That's even worse! There's no justification to involve children."

All for One opened the door, ending his brother's tirade. "Good, Gearshift, you're here. Escort my foolish little brother back to his room."

Yoichi was red-faced and shaking. For a moment, Kudou feared his master actually expected him to lay hands on Yoichi, which he could not imagine doing. Fortunately, Yoichi stalked past of his own free will.

As they walked down the hallway, Yoichi said, "A yakuza group tried to assassinate me to hurt my brother. He kidnapped the boss' daughter in revenge. She's only one year old."

"Oh," Kudou said. He knew Yoichi expected him to be shocked, but honestly he'd seen worse.

"I'm not allowing it," Yoichi said.

Kudou had just enough sense not to point out Yoichi couldn't stop his brother.


Kudou found out what Yoichi planned to do the late that night. He'd always been sensitive to sound, and he woke up to Yoichi picking the lock on his door. Kudou stepped into the hallway.

In the darkness, Yoichi's face could barely be seen. He whispered, "I have to rescue her. She's just a baby."

Kudou was going to die, because he couldn't resist those pleading green eyes. He said, "Only if you let me go with you."

Yoichi's eyes lit up, and he looked at Kudou as if gazing at Captain Hero.

Fortunately, Yoichi already knew where the hostage was being held. No one had bothered to place a guard on a one-year-old. They were able to steal a supply car and slip out of the compound. The baby never even woke up. Yoichi left her on her father's doorstep.

"I've gotta take you back," Kudou said apologetically as they started the car. How could Yoichi survive on his own? The assassination attempt had already proven his vulnerability. All for One's enemies wouldn't stop targeting Yoichi even if the brothers parted. But Kudou felt certain All for One wouldn't punish his beloved brother too harshly. He'd always doted on Yoichi. Another apology would smooth matters over once again.

"I know," Yoichi said, gazing out the window. "I won't get you into trouble."

Kudou found out how Yoichi planned to prevent trouble when they got back to the compound. Yoichi immediately threw a fit, claiming that Kudou had recaptured him and dragged him back home.

All for One stormed downstairs in a temper, wearing Demon King pajamas. It would have been comical under any other circumstances. Apparently the brothers shared the same bad taste in comics.

Kudou didn't protest Yoichi's story. It would have been pointlessly suicidal. He didn't protest as All for One dragged Yoichi off either, though that was a more near thing.


All for One was not as happy with Kudou this time, since he didn't think Yoichi should have ever gotten out of the compound much less rescued the hostage. Kudou was confined to his room for a week, during which he had plenty of time to fret.

What if Kudou got removed from his bodyguard position? What if he never saw Yoichi again? Why had Yoichi looked at Kudou with such adoring eyes during the rescue mission, even though Kudou had let Yoichi take all the blame afterward? No hero would have done that. He'd never been a hero. He'd never be worthy. Then what was he supposed to do with this yearning filling his entire body?

Over and over again, Kudou told himself that All for One would never harm his beloved little brother. The Shigaraki brothers got into fights on a weekly basis. Apparently Yoichi had shot his last bodyguard, and All for One had laughed it off. All for One was soft on Yoichi. Once upon a distant time, it had bothered Kudou, but now he clung to that thought for reassurance. Yoichi had looked particularly upset this time, because a kid had gotten involved, but they'd saved the hostage. The reason for the fight was gone. Yoichi was probably locked up in his room, reading comic books. Hopefully he'd give Kudou's replacement hell.

When Gigantomachia came to get Kudou, he looked very grumpy. "You're back on babysitting duty, finally. Now I can return to my important work at the master's side."

Kudou let the jibe slide off his back. "Yoichi was too much for you to handle, huh?"

"He's so fragile, it's difficult to hold him down without leaving bruises." Gigantomachia scowled. "You did a better job at containing him than any of the others. Perhaps you can get him to eat."

That was very worrying. Kudou picked up his pace, following after Gigantomachia.

Gigantomachia led him to a metal bank vault door. Kudou swallowed. "This isn't Yoichi's bedroom."

"It is now," Gigantomachia said, then left.

Kudou barely waited long enough for the footsteps to fade away. Then he ran to open the door. It was locked. His head felt light. He had no room for thoughts, only a desperate need to get to Yoichi. Bitterly, he regretted not breaking out of his house arrest. He fired his bullets to break the lock, then kicked down the door.

The inside of the bank vault was pitch black. Yoichi crouched in a corner. Dirt smeared his face, his beloved hair looked greasy, and he stank. He'd always been a little thing, but now he'd turned horribly gaunt and pale.

There was a roaring behind Kudou's ears. All for One had left Yoichi in the darkness for a week. Kudou had never been the most ethical person, but he believed in loyalty and not torturing family.

Kudou said, "I'm here to rescue you."

"My hero," Yoichi whispered through his tears, then flung himself into Kudou's arms.


Kudou carried Yoichi out of the compound on his back. He bluffed his way past the first guards, saying that Yoichi had an attack and needed medical treatment. Then he hid Yoichi inside a box of supplies and drove the truck out. No one at the gate questioned him, because he had higher security clearance.

This would be the last time he'd ever be so trusted by All for One's people.

As soon as they were out of sight, Yoichi crawled out of the box. "Thank you."

"Put your seat belt on," Kudou said without looking. "I need to move as fast as this truck will go." They had a limited window of time before they would be pursued. Possibly by All for One himself. That nightmarish thought led Kudou to coax a little more speed out of his vehicle. "The box has granola bars and water bottles. I'll stop for better food as soon as we safely can."

Yoichi tore into the granola bar in seconds, then chugged the water. As soon as his mouth was free, he said, "I've been helping some vigilantes, feeding them information. We can go to them for shelter."

"Good," Kudou said. He'd had no idea where to go. This probably explained why Yoichi and All for One's fight had spun so badly out of control this time. "When did you have an opportunity to pass along information?"

"It was my friend who feeds my cats for me. I left coded messages at the colony."

"Huh. I guess I underestimated you."

"Sorry for keeping it secret." Yoichi didn't sound sorry, more triumphant. "I was trying to figure out a way to convince you to join us. I'm glad you saw the truth on your own. I knew you would see All for One's evil after he kidnapped that poor baby."

Kudou did not know what to say. He hadn't abandoned All for One because of moral principles. He'd thrown everything else away because he'd fallen in love with Yoichi.

"I'm not a hero," Kudou finally said. "But I'll try for your sake."

"I never needed you to be anyone except you," Yoichi said.


All for One could not believe it at first, when the cameras showed that Kudou had betrayed him. Kudou, of all people. The silent, emotionless, perfectly loyal bodyguard. The one person he'd trusted the most of all his employees.

When All for One had held a competition to obtain a bodyguard, he'd given the winner to his brother and kept the second place for himself. Ever since All for One had been a child, he'd always given the best food and clothing to his brother. Of course he would do the same when it came to his brother's safety.

Now the person All for One trusted the most had stolen his little brother away.

How long had Kudou been planning this? Had he ever been loyal, or had it all been a lie? It didn't matter. All for One would kill the traitor, then get his most valued possession back. Never again would All for One trust anyone.


As the truck zipped down the highway, Kudou finally started to relax. It looked like they'd gotten away clean. All for One would chase after them. But he wouldn't catch them today.

Kudou asked, "What do you want to do, now that you're free? I'll do anything for you." This was his way of apologizing for his role keeping Yoichi as a prisoner.

Yoichi leaned on his chin, his hair falling over one eye, and smirked in that way he knew full well made him devilishly handsome. "You know, I don't only read superhero comics. I have a soft spot for shoujo manga. I've always a proper shoujo romance with a handsome bodyguard. We'd go out on date-like shopping trips. We'd see an aquarium. We'd feed a stray cat, then he'd show me his softer side. We'd have to pretend to be dating at a fancy party. Then he'd rescue me. That's almost everything on my list."

"Almost?" Kudou asked.

Yoichi said, "I still need a dramatic kiss before we ride away into the sunset." Pursing his lips, he blew a kiss.

Kudou pulled the truck over as fast as he could.


OMAKE TIME!

All for One: I refuse to wear ties because they impede my vision.

Kudou: Uh, master, how do you put on a tie?

All for One: The same way that fool Captain Hero does it!

Kudou: That's what I thought. They go around your neck, not over your eyes.

All for One: …Forget it, I refuse to dress like the foolish Captain Hero.

#

Yoichi: My newest babysitter insulted my brother. I've decided to like him.

Kudou: You've got the wrong guy. I'm a loyal fanatic.

Yoichi: Give me some time to change that! I'm very cute. While my brother was absorbing all the nutrients in the womb, I stole the pretty genes.

#

Kudou: All for One saved me from a government laboratory and allowed me to either give up my power to live a normal life or join his side.

Yoichi: There was no option to keep your power and leave.

Kudou: Because it's too dangerous to survive in your own as a metahuman?

Yoichi: Let me put it this way: if you'd tried to leave without letting my brother take your metapower, you would not have survived.

#

All for One: I want you to work for me, little brother.

Yoichi: Only on charitable causes.

All for One: Fine, then I'll make you fake-date the bodyguard you hate. Muhahaha!

Yoichi: Oh, no, whatever will I do?

All for One: Why are you using that smug tone of voice?

Yoichi: No reason.

#

Yoichi: How'd All for One's former employee end up as the leader of the resistance?

Kudou: I'm the only competent one.

Third: Hey!

Kudou: Yes, including you, Batman.

#

All for One: My brother's bodyguard must be a true man! Swift as the coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon.

Kudou: We're dating now.

All for One: I forgot the most important qualification, he must be straight as an arrow.


Author's Note: This entire fic was me seeing how many shoujo tropes I could slip in, and I have no shame. I'm sure Yoichi, who loves comics, would enjoy having a proper clichéd bodyguard romance. Furthermore, since this is clearly a not canon compliant AU, Yoichi and Second may get a happy ending.

Thank you to Hyperfocus / thebnha-auhoard for the lovely Three Weeks of Trioholders prize prompt. In this fic Yoichi has pride and Second has prejudice, so I guess Second plays the role of Elizabeth Bennet. Hyperfocus' own version of this AU also comes with villain Second art, delete the spaces to get the link:
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