Hey friends! I'm so ready for this coronavirus BS to be over, but from what I hear, it's going to be a while... And of course, as an essential worker, I get to experience all the fun! *rolls eyes*

Check out some of my other MHA stories if you're interested! I've got like 15 of them ongoing at this point because *SQUIRLL*

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Shatter Me

Chapter 2

It's been nearly a month since that pitiful yet endearing young man tugged at my pants to get a cigarette from me. I would have already killed him and the man keeping him locked up but murdering their bastard neighbor and waiting for everything to 'cool down' took time.

No one made too big of a fuss over the other piece of scum 'going missing' and I doubt anyone will miss the son of a bitch I'm going to kill next either. Shigaraki's one hell of a piece of work, but I am as well and I'm going to use all of my depravity to make him pay for everything he's done.

That being said, there are several steps required to being a successful serial murderer—at least if you don't want to get caught. I've already done my snooping to determine Shigaraki's habits regarding entering and leaving the apartment, so now I need to get a sense of the layout.

One would think in a neighborhood as rough as this one it would be more difficult breaking in, but honestly, it's Childs play getting inside the dingy, rotten smelling apartment. He'll be getting back from his usual drinking/drug selling venture in about two hours, so I set to work… sort of.

I have the most annoying urge to go and see the young man he's holding hostage… check on him again just to make sure he's actually still alive. I only make it about halfway through my 'inspection' before succumbing to the desire.

The steps creak ominously under my weight as I make my way down into the basement but my focus is more on the sound of that damned chain rustling around than anything else—until I hear that sweet voice calling out.

"Master?"

I'm not sure what expression to have as I finally step into his view, so I keep my face blank. Unfortunately, the apprehensive happiness on the boy's face stutters, first warping into confusion before a resigned sadness takes over.

"Do you recognize me?" I ask, disturbed by how upset he seems to be with my presence.

He nods mechanically and sits back on the filthy mattress he'd climbed off of, pulling his knees to his chest. "Heterochromia…"

I watch him intently for a moment, trying to determine what caused the downward shift in his behavior. It bothers me that although there's recognition, he doesn't look calm… there are fear and distrust peaking in his irises as he analyzes me from beneath a mess of tangled curls. I know what to do though—he unknowingly told me when we met. I pull out my pack of cigarettes and retrieve one, holding it out for him to see. "Do you want one?"

My skin crawls from the veiled bribe and I feel slimy since I know this is likely one of the tactics Shigaraki uses to coerce obedience out of him. Judging from his reaction, he is at least semi-aware that he's being unfairly persuaded as well.

His eyes bounce between the ground and me as he eventually decides to accept my offer. I stay perfectly still while he reaches towards me and takes the cigarette and lighter, fighting the urge to scowl at the fake smile he attempts to keep on his trembling lips.

I need something to distract myself with as I don't want to frighten him any more than I apparently already have and I'm aware that I have a tendency to creepily stare. It's probably wise if I know the layout of the basement as well, so I let my gaze wander, internalizing every dried splatter of mystery fluid and insect carcasses lining the dingy carpet. When I turn back to him, I find that he's still watching me, green eyes lowered but following every move I make with that hesitant curiosity.

"I'm almost done, I promise…" he quickly states when he notices my attention is back on him. He inhales deeply, finishing off the cigarette before putting it out on the wall.

I shake my head and held out the entire pack for him to take this time. "You don't have to hurry for me; I just came by to give you these. It's our secret though, so don't tell anyone that I was here."

The confusion and then sparkle in his eyes makes me both content and nauseous for some reason, but I try to keep both sensations to myself as I hand him the box and turn to leave. His voice calls out, however, and I pause part-way up the stairs.

"T-thank you…"

I know my voice will tremble if I respond, so I keep quiet and continue upstairs to finish my snooping.

~Time-Skip: 1 Week~

With Shigaraki's wonky schedule and the fact that I need to do my 'work' at night, I don't have the time I usually would to drag things out too long, so the moment Shigaraki leaves, I sneak in and start setting up. Really, the only true difference between tonight and every other evening I've killed someone is that this time it will be two.

I do intend on taking special care with my second victim, however, as he's dying out of necessity rather than punishment and therefore deserves to be as comfortable as one can be while being murdered. There's no way I'm going to kill him in the dungeon he's been held captive in for so long though, which means I'll need to get him upstairs.

Just like when I came down here a week prior, I hear a chain shuffling around followed by his voice calling out 'Master?'. Another round of surprise, distrust, and thankfully a bare hint of happiness swirls on his face when I step into view and give him a wave, putting me slightly at ease; at least he's not totally upset by my presence this time.

"Heterochromia!" he chimes, twisting some to dig around under his pillow.

He withdraws the pack of cigarettes I'd left him with the week prior and at first I think he's going to give it back to me now that it's empty… but I'm wrong. His thin, crooked fingers plunge in and withdraw the last one in the box, holding it out for me proudly.

"I saved it for you!" he declares, gracing me with a genuinely kind-hearted smile. "I know you said they were for me, but, Master tells me these are expensive and since you gave me a whole pack I thought I should make sure you had one if you came back!"

I can't help but wonder how this poor creature is still so good-natured after what has clearly been years of terrible abuse. If I'm having a relatively stressful day, I can finish off at least one pack without trying and his every day makes the worst of mine seem like a breeze… Yet he'd neglected his own cravings just on the chance that I might want a cigarette and not have one the next time I stopped by—if I did at all.

I can't help but let the corners of my lips turn up in what I'm sure is a pitiful attempt at a smile, but it seems to make him even more proud of himself. "That's very kind of you… but you may keep it. I brought you more, see?"

The boy's eyes bulge out of his head when I reveal another box for him to take, though this one I laced with sleeping drugs so that I could get him set up for his demise comfortably. It will take a few minutes for the effects to take hold even if he chain-smokes them, however, so I go ahead and move on to phase two.

"I brought you something else too… Are you hungry?" I question, repressing a sigh as he practically trips with excitement and nods. He's looking at my hands and around me; I can only guess he thinks I'm hiding a treat. "Good, we'll go upstairs for you to eat…"

That has him reeling backward and shaking his head however, cowering from me. The sight has my chest in knots, tongue twisted as I try to find words to calm him back down; I didn't expect that level of fear.

"N-No! Master says pets don't go upstairs, never upstairs!"

"Okay, okay…" I soothe, holding my hands up as he paces back and forth and wraps his arms around his ears. "If I ask your Master for you and he says yes, would it be okay then?"

Those crystalline green eyes peer up at me once more, little glittering droplets of tears already dripping from the curls of his lashes. He approaches me again slowly, hands wrung together and fisting his shirt with hesitation. "Mas-Master's h-here? Y-You are f-friends?" he questions.

I nod even though I think I feel a muscle in my neck spasm from the action. The young man still looks nervous, however, and rather confused. He flickers his eyes between me and the 'bed' mattress behind him as though he's trying to figure something out. His eventual response, however, has every fiber—every atom—of my body vibrating with rage.

"B-but Master's friends and I play games here… Is there a b-bed upstairs t-too?"

I have to consciously keep my face from contorting into some mix of horror and murderous intent. How many people could Shigaraki have let come down here to defile this innocent soul for him to ask something like that? It's going to be hard I'm sure, but I'm going to track down every damn person that's touched this sweet beauty and kill them too.

"You have nothing to worry about," I state, forcing my voice to remain even. "I want to go upstairs though; if your Master gives me permission to bring you, you'll come up there with me, right?"

He bites his lower lip but ultimately nods. I don't think I've ever felt as loathsome as I do right now. But I climb the stairs to pretend I'm going to speak with Shigaraki and return a few minutes later with the key I found hanging near the basement door.

"Your Master said you're to come with me and do as I say. He gave me the key to your chain, see?"

I can't figure out what emotion comes over his face next, but he holds his slender wrist up for me, watching intently as the metal clicks open. The skin beneath is raw and thickly scarred like one scar would heal only for another to be layered on top of it.

I grip the wounded limb without thinking and run my thumb around the angry red lines, being careful to avoid touching one of the tender areas that are likely only days away from severe infection. "What do I call you?" He questions quietly as I begin leading him up, his expression devolving into one of resignation and maybe even denial. "W-when we p-play the game I m-mean…"

I tighten my grip slightly around his crooked fingers and have to take a moment before responding. "I told you that you don't need to worry about games. You can keep calling me Heterochromia if you want, but my given name is Shoto… what's yours?"

Not smart at all, I know. I truly know better than to give any personal details about myself to anyone, especially someone I'm going to murder in a few hours… but I don't seem to have common sense or restraint when it comes to him.

"Master didn't give me a new name…"

I frown and stop climbing just before the heavy door at the top, looking down at his lowered head; That explains why he never offered it up the few times I visited his window. "Then what was your old one? It's okay, you can tell me and it will be our little secret like the cigarettes"

He swallows thickly, but I can see he's interested in my offer. After a moment he gestures for me to lean down since he's two steps below me. I oblige and bring my head to his level, letting him whisper into my ear like a child. "Izuku…"

"It's nice to meet you officially, Izuku," I state, pushing the door open to lead him the rest of the way. He becomes more agitated the further away from the basement we go, his hand shaking in mine by the time we enter the living room and get to the couch.

"Shh…" I coo quietly, giving him what I hope is a comforting expression. He does indeed relax some and takes a deep breath, but then reaches for the front of my jeans, catching the belt and almost undoing it before I realize what's happening.

"Izuku, wait…" I urge, grabbing his wrists to halt his movement. He flinches like he's about to be struck, recoiling submissively. "You're not in trouble," I assure quickly, using my thumbs to rub gentle circles on the abused flesh.

"Am—am I supposed to j-just lay s-still?" he questions, and I swear there's almost relief tugging on his features. How awful that 'just laying still' is preferable to him; it makes me wonder what horrible things he's had to do.

"We aren't going to play any games; you're going to eat, remember? Master told me to tell you that it's okay. I'm going to get you some food and you're going to sit on the couch and eat, that's all." I explain again, earning another look of quiet disbelief.

"Don't you want—I mean, aren't I supposed to—" he attempts, each question stopping abruptly as his cheeks flame red with a mixture of shame and embarrassment. "S-sometimes this is part of the game too… pretending not to play…"

I can only bring myself to shake my head that no, I have no intention of raping him tonight or ever. He still looks confused but there's a little twinkle in his eye again, very reminiscent of the first time we saw each other. He's grateful…

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Eek... That's some fucked up writing if I do say so myself... Welp... Can't say my other works are rainbows and sunshine either though!