Author's Note: After I wrote yandere Yoichi, I'm overdue to write some yandere Second and Third. Thank you to funagonys-blog for the prompt. These two will be called Kudou and Bruce because Kaiji and Sanzou would never.
Kudou had entered the vault with every intention of killing All for One's brother. But as soon as he locked gazes with a pair of beautiful green eyes, he thought: Oh. Then: Mine.
Glancing sideways, Kudou saw that Bruce had also frozen, his lips half-parted. What a relief, Bruce had imprinted on the same person. The leader of the vigilantes and his second-in-command had long been in a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Kudou and Bruce had also grown up together, becoming as close as two halves of the same person. They had worried about what might happen to their relationship if they imprinted on different people, but both had hoped they would be bound together by destiny just like how they had been together their entire lives.
Ever since the first appearance of the glowing baby, people had popped up with strange powers—and strange urges. Metahumans always fell in love at first sight, so obsessively that they would become violent if separated from the object of their affections. The love was usually romantic, but platonic versions existed as well (particularly among asexuals.) A massive number of people lashing out at love rivals and kidnapping their loved ones had contributed to the current collapse of society.
The green-eyed man gazed up dully. His hair was greasy and his cheeks gaunt from starvation. Yet he was still the most beautiful person Kudou had ever seen. An indomitable fire burned in his eyes, partly hidden behind his long, lovely hair. He asked, "Are you here to kill me?"
Kudou's heart nearly broke at those words. "Of course not. We're here to rescue you." He lowered his weapon, ashamed at having ever threatened his beloved. It did not matter at all that this man was related to his enemy or that the vigilantes had hoped killing the target of his obsession would cripple All for One. From this point forward, Kudou's existence revolved around ensuring this beautiful man's happiness and safety. He felt furious to see his love trapped in a dark cell and starved. He'd already despised All for One, but he hated him even more for daring to mistreat his beloved. He would see the monster dead for this.
"Thank you," his darling whispered in a hoarse, cracked voice (although it was still a beautiful voice, because everything about him was beautiful.) "We have to leave quickly. My brother will return soon."
Kudou didn't need to be told twice. He swept up his beloved into his arms. It was a special feeling, holding the person who from now on would be his reason for living. Bruce glared, clearly jealous. Kudou would let him have a turn carrying later. That showed how deeply he loved his second-in-command, because usually, metahumans didn't share.
Yoichi had never believed the negative rumors about people with metapowers. He assumed it was just government propaganda, and very unrealistic lies too, claiming that powers turned people into yanderes like something from manga/anime. It provided an excuse for the police to monitor metahumans and bust into their homes looking for supposed kidnapping victims. Yoichi considered themself too enlightened to believe a word of it. Although he had no proof one way of the other. All his knowledge came from the internet, since his brother had kept him sheltered.
After his big brother had locked him up, All for One had claimed he needed Yoichi confined because of his worsening urges. Yoichi also called this an excuse. His brother had been controlling from the day they'd been born.
So Yoichi was deeply unnerved and confused when the vigilante doctor asked him, "Have you gotten any unusual urges since receiving your new metapower?"
"It was forced on me," Yoichi grumbled. "And no."
The vigilantes lived in a bunker underground, near the same sewers that they used to stealthily move around the city. The doctor's cramped office was full of lavender scent packets to ward off the unpleasant smell. The cream-walled room felt crowded with shelves, filing cabinets, and books. There were no windows. Yoichi shifted uneasily. Since his imprisonment, tight enclosed spaces made him uncomfortable. At least his two heroes stood next to him. Bruce had a hand on the back of Yoichi's chair. Kudou stood by the door as if guarding it.
The doctor wrote down Yoichi's answer. "Anecdotally, other people granted powers by All for One have not received the urges. Still…" He peered at Yoichi's white hair and unusual white-pupiled eyes. "Are you certain you weren't born with a power? Your brother could have stolen it."
Yoichi shrugged. "Big brother—All for One—also speculated he might have stolen my power in the womb, but we have no way of knowing." It was the one theft Yoichi couldn't blame his brother for, if true. It would have happened unconsciously.
"Hmm, if you lost your ability before your brain even finished developing, then you're probably a normal person." The doctor made another note. "We have no other case like you, so it's difficult to say."
"What do you mean about urges?" Yoichi asked worriedly. "Do you mean the urge to use a metapower?" Enough people had talked about that phenomenon online, when protesting the recent laws restricting ability use, that he believed it existed. Unlike real-world yanderes.
The doctor glanced at Kudou and Bruce, as if seeking permission to speak. It was subtle, but Yoichi had lived on the streets long enough to be hyper-aware of the cues of those around him. He felt a little hurt and confused that they might be keeping secrets from him, but not surprised. He was a stranger here, All for One's brother. He should count himself lucky they hadn't locked him up.
Kudou frowned slightly. Yoichi did not know what that meant, but the doctor seemed to pick up on the que. "Yes, those are the urges I meant."
"Oh." Yoichi hunched his shoulders. "I'm glad I don't have urges to use the stockpiling power. It's making me nauseous."
"I'll give you pills to help." The doctor went to his cabinet and offered a bottle. Their hands brushed as he handed over the medicine, and both leaders glared in a way that had the doctor retreating backward.
Bruce cleared his throat. "Can we leave now? It's time for Yoichi's next meal." The vigilantes had restricted Yoichi to smaller but more frequent meals, out of concern for his starved and shrunken stomach.
"Of course." The doctor ducked his head deferentially. He told Yoichi, "You'll be in good hands with these two."
Kudou offered a hand to help Yoichi up. Yoichi accepted, his heart fluttering. Both of his heroes were very handsome, with their muscles, brilliant eyes, and dazzling martial competency. He'd never been around handsome men before, not with his brother's overprotectiveness. He feared making a blushing, stammering fool of himself.
Bruce grabbed Yoichi's other hand. They were going to walk together all holding hands? It seemed childish, but Yoichi knew very little about the world except what he'd seen in comic books, so he decided to go along. Why would he complain about attention from two such dazzling heroes?
The first couple weeks living in the base were some of the best times of Yoichi's life. That probably meant he'd lived a terrible life, given that he was stuck in a cramped and smelly underground base eating military rations. But for the very first time, he got to step outside his brother's control and meet new people. Kudou and Bruce were nothing but kind to him. They brought him comic books and listened to him talk about them. He'd asked if he was taking up too much of their time, since they must be busy with leadership duties, but they'd assured him that he was more important. They would often seize on any excuse to stroke his hair or touch his hand. Yoichi wondered if this was flirting. It was hard to tell—he had no romantic experience.
Because Yoichi felt uneasy in darkness, Kudou arranged for him to have one of the few rooms with a window. Bruce made him meals every day, often venturing up to the surface for fresh ingredients. They both treated him very well.
But they wouldn't let him leave the base. They said it was too dangerous, with All for One looking for him. Yoichi understood. He didn't doubt his possessive brother was ripping apart the city. Even so, he'd started to feel trapped. What was the point in escaping the vault if he couldn't even taste fresh air? If he still allowed fear of All for One to control his actions, then wasn't he still his brother's prisoner?
These great arguments hadn't worked on Kudou and Bruce, who kept fobbing him off with excuses. Yoichi had dealt with enough bullshit from his brother to smell it.
After waiting until Kudou and Bruce had left on a mission, Yoichi approached the guard protecting the door to the outside. So far, the other vigilantes didn't talk to him much, always redirecting him to their leaders. He thought they might be wary of him as All for One's brother, so he put on a friendly face. "Hi, I don't think we've met. I'm Yoichi Shigaraki."
"Of course we all know you. The bosses' boyfriend!" The guard laughed.
Yoichi gaped. It felt good to have confirmation he wasn't the only person who'd noticed the flirting, but boyfriend? "Oh, no, we're not dating. Though they're very charming."
"It's only a matter of time," the guard said confidently. "The bosses are both incredibly strong and cool. They can protect you. You're lucky to have them."
Yoichi felt so unnerved, he completely lost his train of thought. He'd planned to chat for a bit and built a rapport. Instead, he blurted out, "Can I go outside? I want to greet them when they return."
The guard shook his head. "No, no, they'd be furious."
"It couldn't be dangerous for me to take just a few steps outside. I'd remain within sight of the door and behind our camouflage." Yoichi frowned. "Did Kudou and Bruce give you orders to keep me inside?"
The guard seemed to realize he'd blundered. He paled. "Ah, no, did I say that? I never said that. Look, I shouldn't be talking to you at all. You should ask these questions of the bosses, not me."
Yoichi had already heard everything he needed.
When Kudou and Bruce returned, they went straight to Yoichi's bedroom, as they always did. Smiling, Bruce held out a comic book. "I brought you a gift."
Yoichi did not take it. He was in no mood to be appeased. Sitting on his bed, he crossed his arms. "Am I a prisoner here?"
Kudou and Bruce looked at each other. A bad sign: people exchanged silent glance when coming up with a story. "Of course not," Kudou said. "We rescued you from All for One."
Bruce said, "I know it's hard on you to remain stuck in here, but we can't guarantee your safety outside. All for One put out a massive reward for any sightings of you. How about this? Leader and I can arrange our schedules to spend more time with you. Then you won't be as bored."
"Great idea!" Kudou flashed a smile that Yoichi normally found handsome, but currently gave him the chills. "We can all get to know each other better."
Kudou reached his hand out, but Yoichi didn't take it. "Have you been telling people that we're dating?"
At least this time, Kudou and Bruce looked sincerely surprised. "No, I think they're just making assumptions," Bruce said.
"Some idiots are asking for extra training," Kudou growled.
"I supposed we haven't been subtle about our feelings for you." Bruce smiled softly. The affection on his face was so obvious and sincere, Yoichi couldn't help smiling back. "Leader and I have a very long-standing relationship."
"Long enough he doesn't mean it when he calls me Leader," Kudou whispered. "It's more of a pet name."
Yoichi giggled.
Bruce continued, "But we've both always felt like a part was missing. We've fallen in love with you, and we want you to become part of our trio."
Kudou nodded. "You'd make us the happiest men in the world if you say yes."
Yoichi gnawed on his lip. Until recently, those words would have made him happy, but his doubts had not been erased. And love seemed like a big word for such a short period of time. "Before I can answer you, I need to know: am I your prisoner?"
"Of course not," Kudou insisted.
"Then can I leave?"
The two wouldn't meet his eyes. Bruce said, "Please try to understand, we can't lose you."
Those words sent a chill down Yoichi's spine. His brother had made similar excuses. He didn't find such possessive statements romantic at all. Yet even so, he couldn't entirely give up faith in the heroes who'd rescued him from the vault—or deny his attraction to him.
As the silence dragged out, Kudou and Bruce started to look worried. Yoichi finally spoke: "I like you both—" they smiled "—but I don't think we can have a healthy relationship like this, with me stuck here and completely dependent on you. If I give it a try, then I need to have my own space, outside the base."
"But that's impossible," Kudou said, face falling.
"I could stay in an isolated forest. I could disguise myself," Yoichi said. "It's not impossible. In some ways, it might even be safer than staying here. My brother knows I'm with you."
"But we can't protect you if you're too far away from us," Bruce insisted. Sparks started to dance down his body, a sign of his quirk activating. His eyes glowed. Yoichi had never seen that frantic, possessive look in his hero's gaze. A look too similar to his brother. He pulled away, back pressed to the wall.
Kudou took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "If you hate this base so much, maybe we can move to a different one."
This was a huge sacrifice, so big that Yoichi couldn't understand why they'd do that for him, but it wasn't what he'd asked for. "You misunderstand me. I can't live with you right now. I need some space, room to become my own person away from my brother. If we want to have a strong relationship, then I should live alone and you can visit me. That way I won't distract you from your important work." He tried to make it sound like a good deal for them. Not a desperate plea for freedom.
"Nothing is more important than you!" Kudou cried passionately.
"We saved you," Bruce said. "Can't you give us this one concession in return?"
A guilt trip, how predictable. As if All for One hadn't held his past protection during their childhood over Yoichi's head for their entire lives. Yoichi set his jaw. "You're still not listening to me. I'm not compromising on this. Whether you accept my terms for dating or not, I'm leaving here either way." The words filled him with fear, but they felt right. He hadn't defied his brother for so long just to become someone else's prisoner.
Kudou turned red, his chest heaving. Bruce grabbed his leader's arm. "Stop, it's hopeless. He won't change his mind."
Yoichi nodded, pleased someone finally understood. "Thank you—"
Bruce lunged forward, pressing Yoichi into the bed. He barely had time to scream. A pinch in the back of his neck forced him into unconsciousness.
When Yoichi woke up, he was still in his bedroom. For a moment, it all seemed like a bad dream. Then he noticed his window now had bars.
Yoichi tried the door, but he'd already known it would be locked. There was a note on the table. With Yoichi's limited education, it took him a few moments to puzzle out the words:
Beloved,
Let's talk when you wake up. We all got a little heated last night. Love you!
-Kudou and Bruce
Yoichi felt cold all over. He'd never known a healthy love, only his brother's smothering possessiveness. For a long time, he'd longed for someone else to love him. Now the confession only made him feel sick and confused.
They must have prepared the bars on his window in advance. They'd gone into the conversation knowing they might lock him up. That made the betrayal even worse.
Yoichi buried his face into his pillow and cried.
Ever since he'd read his first comic book, he'd believed in heroes. He'd lived a poor and dangerous life, yet he'd kept faith that the world could become better. Now his heroes had betrayed him. It left him like a ship without an anchor, floating through strange waters. What dreams could he believe in now?
The tears came harder and faster, choking him. How could he have ignored all the red flags? He should have silently plotted his escape after his encounter with the guard. Instead, he'd tipped his hand. He'd wanted to give his heroes a chance to do the right thing.
Why would they do this to him? What value did a sickly man with a useless quirk have, for them to hold him so close? Were all the stories about metahumans becoming obsessive true?
In retrospect, All for One had gotten worse the more powers he'd taken. Yoichi wondered if this at least partly explained big brother's actions. Ugh, he was reaching out for excuses for his brother even now. A waste of time. He needed to focus on his immediate situation.
What did Kudou and Bruce want from him? They'd never tried to take him hostage. They'd barely bothered to interrogate him after he made it clear he possessed little information about All for One's plans. Their obsessive intentions had clearly been romantic in nature. Would they force themselves on him? Yoichi knew rape very clearly, having seen the aftermath many times in his violent and brutal youth.
His stomach turned. He ran to the attached bathroom and vomited.
By the time Kudou and Bruce returned, Yoichi had a plan. He waited by the doorway. As soon as the door opened, he hit the closest person over the head with the end table.
Kudou fell. Yoichi swung at Bruce next.
But Bruce had been forewarned. He caught the table leg. Kudou had already gotten up, entirely too fast. He grabbed Yoichi's arms from behind.
This time, Bruce used a sweet-smelling cloth over his nose to knock Yoichi out.
When Yoichi woke up, he was tucked into bed again. This time, a chain jangled around his ankle. It had been padded to fit close to his skin. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes. He'd failed, and now his position was even worse.
Kudou dozed in the chair next to the bed. At the sound of the chain rattling, his eyes snapped open. "I'm glad you're awake. It's not healthy to knock you out too many times. We brought something light to eat, since you might be sick from the drug." He gestured at the soup on the new end table.
The tone was strangely friendly. Yoichi wet his lips. "Are you angry?" He hated how pitiful and scared he sounded. Although he'd been defiant to the end with his brother, he feared rape more than any other possible punishment. Maybe there were drugs in the food to paralyze him while they did as they wished to his body.
Kudou laughed and touched the bandage on his head. "Nah, it serves me right for underestimating you. You're a fierce one! Someday, after you've accepted your circumstances, I'll train you to fight better."
The casual faith in his surrender made Yoichi shudder. He blurted out, "Are you going to rape me?"
Kudou recoiled. "We'd never. Please, never think that. I give you my word."
Except his heroes had already broken too many promises to be trusted. Yoichi's shoulders shook. "How can I know if you're telling the truth?" His voice wobbled, begging. He wanted to be convinced, even though he knew better than to trust again. In his overwrought state, tears finally overflowed from his eyes.
Kudou reached out to hug him.
"Don't touch me," Yoichi snapped, batting the hand away. Then he flinched, braced for a blow.
His brother would have forced the hug on him. Kudou only looked sad and withdrew. After a moment, he found a handkerchief and offered it. When Yoichi grabbed the cloth, Kudou took care not to even let their fingers brush.
At least Yoichi could finally believe he wasn't going to be raped. Someone so cautious about even touching him without permission probably wouldn't do that. He blew his nose. It had been so long since he'd eaten, his stomach ached. He'd need strength to escape. He reached for the soup.
When Kudou finally left, Bruce came instead. Yoichi wondered if they'd watch him constantly. It was not a fun idea. More importantly, it would jeopardize his chances at escape. He doubted he could take even one of them alone in a fight.
Gently, Bruce said, "When you're ready to talk, I can explain."
"I don't want to hear excuses," Yoichi said coldly. He'd gone through enough of that with All for One's annoying monologues.
Bruce sighed and muttered something about giving Yoichi time.
It was infuriating, to be treated as if he was the irrational one. Suddenly, he needed space. Yoichi rose. Bruce shot him a questioning look. Yoichi grumbled, "I have to go to the bathroom."
Fortunately, the chain reached far enough. Yoichi had been afraid Bruce would come along to "help" him. He'd gotten plenty of infantilizing treatment from his brother. Fortunately, Bruce left him alone. He didn't even object to the mostly closed door with a chain running through the crack.
With his limited privacy, Yoichi looked around for something to use as a weapon. The medicine cabinet had been stripped of anything useful. The mirror had been removed, probably because they feared he would break the glass and use a shard as a knife. Maybe Yoichi could break off the shower head, but that would be loud and obvious. He decided he should wait longer to make his next attempt, to lull them into a false sense of security. Right now, they would be the most on their guard.
Waiting might be the smart move, but it wasn't easy. It felt agonizing for Yoichi to sit in his room all day with Bruce watching him. He tried to read comic books, but he could barely concentrate. Bruce worked on his computer.
Yoichi snuck glances at Bruce over his book. Bruce gazed at him with such deep love and affection, it made Yoichi blush. He pulled up his book to hide his face. Why was someone so strong and handsome obsessed with a starved weakling like himself? It didn't make any sense.
Abruptly, Yoichi demanded, "Why me? I'm sure you two could find a third who you don't have to lock up."
"It's difficult to explain to someone who wasn't born with a metapower." Bruce adjusted his headband. "As soon as I laid eyes on you, I knew that you were my beloved."
"Then it's just about what I look like?" Yoichi asked coldly. "Would you have killed me if I'd been ugly? Would you release me if I scarred my face?"
Bruce recoiled. "You're so much more than a pretty face, Yoichi. You're brave and kind. Even when you had no power, you still defied All for One to the bitter end. I love how excited you get over comics. I love that cute face you make when you learn something new. I love the way you always offer to help. I love you."
This made Yoichi blush harder.
Unfortunately, Bruce continued: "Loving someone means doing anything to keep them safe. Someday, you'll understand and forgive us."
The words were like ice water dumped over Yoichi's head. He snarled, "That's not love. That's possessiveness. I was trapped by my brother long enough to tell the difference."
"We're nothing like All for One," Bruce insisted. "We'd never lock you up in total darkness. We wouldn't leave you isolated. We won't let you starve. We'll do everything in our power to ensure your comfort."
"Everything except letting me go?"
"It's not safe out there."
"It's not safe in here if All for One finds your base. Admit it: this is about keeping me close, not protecting me."
Firmly, Bruce said, "I truly believe that your chances are better with us than out on your own."
"You believe that because you want to believe it." Yoichi sneered. "All for One was good at deluding himself, too. I really have gone from bad to equally bad."
Cold anger flashed in Bruce's eyes, making Yoichi flinch. But Bruce still spoke calmly: "You're just not used to being treated with love. When you understand how much we love you, you won't be able to help but return it."
The conviction in Bruce's eyes was hard to look at. Without another word, Yoichi rolled away on the bed. He knew nothing he said would get through. Bruce had always been determined. Once, Yoichi had admired that trait of his. Now the implacable will left him frightened.
Silently, Yoichi disagreed with Bruce's words. Personally, he thought he had entirely too much love in his life. He really could have used some low-key platonic affection from someone not obsessive. Sucks to be him.
Kudou relieved Bruce on guard duty and brought dinner. A big smile on his face, he asked, "Did you like the new comic?"
Yoichi grunted. He refused to play nice with his kidnapper.
Kudou said, "I thought the villain's speech was the best part."
Yoichi choked. "Are you kidding me? That cliché monologue sounding like something my brother would say."
"Got you!" Kudou laughed.
Annoyed, Yoichi stopped talking. He ate his sandwich quickly.
Sitting with his legs hanging around the back of his chair, Kudou grinned. "You're cute when you eat quickly, your cheeks puffed out like a squirrel."
Yoichi glared and slowed down.
This did not discourage Kudou. "I adore that stubbornness of yours. Most people would be panicking. You? You're already thinking up escape attempts."
Unnerved he'd been seen through, Yoichi ate quickly again.
Somehow, Yoichi lasted in a state of nervous tension throughout the evening. An hour earlier than he usually went to bed, he declared, "I'm tired."
Kudou unrolled a sleeping bag.
Yoichi gasped. "You're sleeping in here?"
"I have to either stay here, or we'd need to tie you up more thoroughly. Given the choice, I'd rather stay by your side."
Yoichi subsided into disgruntled silence, because he'd totally been planning to use the nighttime to scout escape routes. He wasn't happy about sharing a bedroom with his kidnapper, either.
"I wouldn't force you to share a bed…unless you invite me." Kudou winked. "Seriously, you have nothing to fear from us. We only want you to return our love. I'll sleep on the floor until you're ready."
"I'm not going to thank you for the bare minimum," Yoichi snapped. He did feel glad Kudou hadn't forced his way into his bed, but that didn't mean he'd forgotten everything else his former heroes had done to him. His brother had also tried to control and manipulate him during his imprisonment. Yoichi knew these tactics, even under a gentler guise.
"I can do more than the minimum. Would you like me to read you a bedtime story?" Kudou asked, either joking or completely missing the point.
"Just go to sleep," Yoichi growled. He put a pillow over his head.
The next night, Bruce slept in his room as guard instead. On the third night, both Kudou and Bruce slept on the floor. Yoichi despaired. It would be even harder to pull anything with two of them in the room. They took up so much space, he couldn't even move around. He'd tested going to the bathroom at night, and the sound of his chain always woke them up. He felt fairly sure they'd picked a loud chain on-purpose.
Before sleeping, Kudou and Bruce engaged in a passionate kiss. From the moaning, they were certainly having fun. Bruce had one hand creeping down the back of Kudou's pants. Yoichi stared. He'd never been so close to such a fiery display.
Kudou smirked. "Do you like what you see?"
Yoichi flushed and looked away. "Go to sleep," he said harshly. Just because he'd been curious didn't mean he'd forgotten their betrayal. Also, he feared if he showed any interest, they might use it as an excuse to take liberties. Although thus far, they had both behaved. Since he'd first rejected their touch, they'd made no move to touch him again. They'd even avoided making contact while handing him gifts and food.
Both of them had been showering Yoichi with trinkets they scavenged around town. As if that could ever make up for what they'd done. The books were at least slightly appreciated. He had too much free time on his hands, and he couldn't spend all of it thinking about escape plans or he'd go insane.
A few days later, Yoichi got so bored, he gave in and asked Bruce to play a board game with him. Bruce patiently taught him the rules. For a few moments, Yoichi could pretend everything was normal. Bruce said he was an amazingly fast learner and a brilliant player. Though Yoichi wondered if it might be flattery, it was still a welcome change compared to his brother tearing down his ego.
After a couple weeks, Yoichi gave in and talked to Kudou and Bruce during meals. He needed mental stimulation too much.
At this rate, Yoichi might end up falling into their trap. He knew they were trying to induce Stockholm Syndrome. He'd been through this game before, (and he considered them better at it than his older brother. All for One had been too easily angered and determined to win right away to play the long game.) Unfortunately, even knowing what they were doing didn't entirely prevent it from working.
Yoichi decided he couldn't wait any longer. At least one of the duo still slept in his room every night, and they didn't seem likely to let down their guards any time soon. He would have to make his escape anyway.
Yoichi waited until it was only Kudou to maximize his chances. Kudou slept more heavily.
By pinching himself, Yoichi kept from falling asleep. He waited until he heard Kudou's snores. Then he sat up. He gripped the chain to keep it from rattling and tiptoed over to the window. If he could remove the glass, then next he would need to unscrew the bars.
Kudou wrapped his arms around Yoichi from behind. "Nice try," he whispered.
Reflex took over. Yoichi elbowed Kudou in the stomach, then stamped on his foot.
Kudou grunted. "You aimed for my weak spots, very good." He wrestled Yoichi over to the bed and threw him down. "Your strategy is sound, you're just too weak. Once we have more food in you, we can teach you how to fight off All for One."
"I want to fight off you!" Yoichi screamed. He nearly wept from rage. "Stop acting like you're better than him. You're the same!"
"I'm not the same as All for One." A tranquil fury burned in Kudou's eyes. His jaw clenched. "Take that back."
"I won't," Yoichi snarled.
"I'll make you take it back."
"Do your worse." Yoichi wanted to know exactly what Kudou's worst would be. He needed to know, rather than cower in fear every night.
Kudou pounced on Yoichi and tickled his sides.
"Hey! Stop!" Yoichi yelped. He squirmed, but Kudou had pinned him down using his legs. He was exposed and at nonexistent mercy.
Laughter turned into nearly sobbing. Yoichi struggled to breath. "Stop, I said! Fine, you're far more creative in your tortures than All for One."
"Close enough." Kudou let go with a chuckle. He ruffled Yoichi's hair. "You're cute when rumpled."
Yoichi glared. He was sincerely pissed. Kudou acted like it had all been a game, but he hadn't stopped when Yoichi said so. Tickling could be painful, dammit!
Even so…if Yoichi had done that to his brother, he would have been in for a punch and solitary confinement. Kudou didn't even tie Yoichi up more. He just went back to his matt and returned to sleep.
Yoichi had wanted to see Kudou's worst. Even when absolutely furious, Kudou still hadn't hurt him. It was enough of a reassurance to let Yoichi drift off into peaceful sleep.
Yoichi had realized he wouldn't be able to escape using brute force. Even if he got out of this room, he'd have to get past all the other vigilantes. So Yoichi resorted to an old tactic: a hunger strike.
It hadn't worked last time because his brother had force-fed him. Yoichi hoped Kudou and Bruce would be unwilling to do the same. Perhaps he partly intended it as another test. On some level, he thought it would be easier if they got rougher with him, because then he could hate them as he ought to.
The first time Yoichi sent his dinner back, Bruce cooked him a new meal instead. It was katsudon, lovingly made from vegan meat substitute because they did not have any real pork. It looked and smelled delicious. Kudou had added a flag on top with a rough sketch of Captain Hero.
Yoichi actually felt guilty about refusing to eat it. Bruce looked extremely hangdog. Yoichi reminded himself that kidnappers did not deserve his sympathy.
Over the next two days, Kudou and Bruce tried to tempt him with delicious hot meals and treats. They brought back rare flavors of KitKat bars and pocky from outside. It was hard to resist. All for One might have succeeded in breaking the last hunger strike if he'd worked so hard. Yoichi had gotten more stubborn since then.
On the third day, Kudou and Bruce sat down together in Yoichi's room (cell.) With a serious face, Kudou said, "This has to stop. It's not healthy for you, Yoichi. Your body is already weak from your last period of starvation. You need to eat."
Their faces were closed-off and dangerous. Yoichi stiffened, fear pooling in his stomach. "Fair warning, I nearly choked to death the last time my brother tried to force-feed me." He had nightmares about the pain.
Bruce recoiled. "We'd never do that. Haven't you realized by now?"
Kudou shook his head sadly. "Still too traumatized by what his evil brother did."
Yoichi glared, hating that they'd reduced his justified anger to "trauma." His voice croaked a little from the pain of his sore throat and gnawing stomach. Hunger made him short-tempered. "What's your grand plan then, to break my will when All for One couldn't? Will you prove that you truly do care by letting me go?"
Kudou pulled out a paper with a young boy's photograph on front. "This is Hikage Shinomori. He was driven out of his home after his metapower developed. We fund an orphanage for metahuman orphans, but they're about full of kids. We can only afford to increase our donations and take him in if you stop wasting food."
Yoichi flinched. "That's low."
"It's the truth," Bruce said, though from his tone he knew exactly what he was doing. He held out a bowl of vegetable soup.
These two understood him far better than his own brother ever had. Groaning, Yoichi reached for the soup. His hand trembled a little on the spoon. But he couldn't let someone else suffer because of his actions. He took a sip. It was warm, just enough to soothe his throat.
"You're doing well," Bruce encouraged him as he ate. "I know it must be hard to eat slowly when you're hungry."
Yoichi twitched. A part of him liked the praise. It was a welcome change from his brother calling him stupid and foolish. The more sensible part of him wanted to throw the soup in Bruce's face.
It tasted too good, though. Damn Bruce's amazing cooking skills.
"You did the right thing," Kudou said. "I've always admired that kindness of yours, even though you're too quick to sacrifice yourself for other people." He held out a hand to pat Yoichi's back, moving slowly to give him time to pull away.
Even though he should pull away, Yoichi felt too tired. He let Kudou pat his back. His body ached all over from his hunger strike. Exhaustion had settled into his bones. He'd been fighting so long. First he'd been fighting his brother, then he'd been fighting the people who he'd believed to be his heroes. Maybe he wanted an excuse to stop fighting.
"You're doing wonderful," Kudou crooned. Bruce patted his hair. Yoichi didn't stop them. It felt good.
When Yoichi finished eating, he shoved the bowl away without a word. He wasn't going to thank them.
Bruce said, "I'll bring more in a few hours."
Kudou asked, "Do you finally realize we're not going to hurt you like how All for One did?"
Yoichi glared. "You're keeping me locked up just like him! I want to see the sun, why is that so hard to understand?" His voice came out as a whine. Tears of embarrassment stung his eyes. He took deep breaths, determined not to break down.
Bruce mouthed something at Kudou, who nodded in return. Turning to Yoichi, Kudou said, "It's obvious that the security precautions have been hard on you. We could take you on a short walk outside—with conditions."
"Really?" Yoichi whispered, ashamed of how eager he sounded. He already knew he'd agree to anything.
As it turned out, the condition was that Kudou or Bruce had to carry Yoichi for the entire trip. Maybe it was an excuse to touch him. He no longer cared. He wanted outside too badly.
Kudou was shorter than Yoichi, yet still easily carried him on his back. How annoying, to be weak and skinny. The vigilantes' bunker emerged into a forest. There was no path, so they walked around the trees. Yoichi had grown up in a city. He'd never realized forests could be so loud with animals. The duo told him the names of the tree species and the birds above.
If only the two of them had stayed his heroes. Then it could always be like this.
Bruce carried Yoichi on the trip back. Yoichi drifted off into sleep like that.
When Yoichi woke up in his own bed, Kudou and Bruce fussed over him and celebrated his ability to eat solid foods now. From the praise, it was as if they thought he'd won a Nobel Prize in eating.
Looking down at his now-empty plate, Yoichi grumbled, "Why do you care about me so much? Enough to lock me up?" An old pain lurked behind his words. He'd always wished his brother would love him in a different way. Why did he always end up with a twisted love?
"Maybe we should have told you about our past sooner." Kudou took Bruce's hand. He breathed deeply, as if it was hard for him to speak. "Both Bruce and I have lost everyone we loved."
"I'm sorry," Yoichi said, because that was the thing people said, even to kidnappers.
Kudou said, "My parents threw me and my big brother out after our powers developed. I lost him a few years later during a riot."
Bruce swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "My parents died protecting me from a roving hate group. I…I had no idea how to survive on the streets. I thought about giving up, but for the sake of their sacrifice, I kept going." Tears fell from his eyes.
Yoichi had never imagined someone as tough and strong as Bruce crying. On instinct, he leapt forward, wrapping his arms around Bruce in a hug. Kudou joined, hugging from the other side.
Bruce said, "Kudou took me in and taught me. He was all I had, until we found you." He gazed up at Yoichi with such deep love and need that it was unnerving. Yoichi nearly let go, yet he couldn't bring himself to, not when Bruce was still crying.
In a voice on the verge of tears, Kudou said, "You saved me too, Bruce. I didn't have a reason to go on until I met you."
The three of them held each other like that. Bruce said thickly, "I just need you to stay safe, Yoichi."
So strong was Yoichi's need to comfort the other man that he nearly agreed. Then he remembered himself. "Because you think I'm frail and helpless?"
"Not at all," Bruce assured him. "You've always been strong."
"Literally and metaphorically!" Kudou chuckled. "I have the bruises to prove it."
Bruce said, "We couldn't go on if anything happened to you. It's difficult to explain to a non-metahuman. For us, when we love someone, protecting them becomes a need. It's not about you, you're already strong and capable. This is our own problem. We really, really need you to stay safe for us."
It was a kind way of phrasing it, better than All for One telling Yoichi that he was too weak and pathetic to survive. Yet it still had the same outcome—Yoichi being confined and controlled for the sake of other people's needs. He pulled away. They didn't stop him. He looked at his hands, twisting them together. After digesting his thoughts, he asked, "Then did my brother also have the urge to keep me safe? Should I blame all of his actions on his urges? Does that mean he truly did love me?"
"Of course he didn't," Kudou said, appalled. "Look at how he locked you up in a small dark space."
"We'd never do that," Bruce insisted. "We truly think you're strong and capable."
Kudou nodded. "If you'd only agree to a few conditions for your own safety, then we'd love for you to help our organization. You'd be a great asset against All for One. You're smart, and you know how he thinks. We can also start training you to fight, as I promised. You should be able to protect yourself if he catches you again."
"That would be the worst-case scenario," Bruce added. "We'll do our best to ensure he never comes near you. We've been thinking of moving to a more isolated part of Japan, or maybe even abroad, now that we have you to protect. We'll continue the fight from a distance."
"I don't want to be a burden in your fight," Yoichi whispered. Tears stung his eyes. Even now, he wanted someone to stop his brother. Partly for his brother's own sake, to prevent his sins from accumulating. Yet his very existence might prevent that from happening.
"You're not a burden, you're our reason for fighting," Kudou said passionately. "Please join us. Please say yes."
"We love you," Bruce said.
They both held out their arms. In a moment of weakness, Yoichi whispered, "Yes."
Moving like one person, they pounced on him, smothering him with soft face kisses and words of praise. Kudou and Bruce maneuvered him to the bed. They cuddled together, Kudou being the little spoon and Bruce sandwiching Yoichi on the other side. It felt so nice. Yoichi had always wanted to be loved and gently held. He could not imagine going back to fighting. He'd lost confidence in his ability to endure, much less win.
Even if someone else rescued him, maybe it would turn out the same again. Maybe this was love. Everyone around him had always expressed their affection toward him in the same controlling way. Maybe the gentler kind of love didn't exist outside stories. Just like the time he'd realized the demons from Captain Hero and Santa Claus didn't exist. At least Kudou and Bruce were several times better than All for One.
If this wasn't love, then it was as close as Yoichi would ever get.
OMAKE TIME!
Omake: Bad Even by Local Standards
Garaki: If one quirk makes people yandere, I wonder what a few hundred quirks do?
All for One: Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of the bank vault I'm building.
#
Omake: Yandere Logic
Yoichi: The other vigilantes won't talk to me. I think they resent me for being All for One's brother.
Guard: It's rude to talk to someone else's possession. Also, the bosses would beat up anyone who looked at you for too long.
#
Omake: The Yandere Group Chat
Kudou: Help, we had to lock Yoichi up and he hates us now.
Bruce: Stay strong. That's what happens when a metahuman falls in love with a non-metahuman.
Doctor: I had to imprison my partner for a full year. But they always come around in the end.
Bruce: No one can resist pure love.
Kudou: The vigilantes who found love with others of the same kind are lucky. Oh, but I wouldn't trade Yoichi for anything. We just need to be patient.
#
Omake: Incorrect Saying
Yoichi: I went from bad to equally bad.
All for One: Don't you mean from bad to worse?
Yoichi: Nothing is worse than you.
Bruce: See, you're admitting that we're better than All for One.
Yoichi: The bar was located somewhere in hell.
#
Omake: Ahead of His Time
All Might: You became a villain to overthrow society and control your brother? Weird, the law already says it's okay to imprison someone who you imprint on.
All for One: This is very unfair, it would have been socially acceptable to vault my brother even maybe ten years later!
#
Omake: The Seconds Club
Kaiji: I fell in love with Yoichi at first sight.
Kaji: Me too.
Yandere Kudou: Yup, as soon as I laid eyes on him, I knew I had to lock him up forever.
Kaiji: Bouncer, get over here! An All for One is trying to infiltrate our club again.
#The club bouncer is Park Manager Second #Compared to handling Swan for One, every other version is nothing
#
Omake: The Bad Future
Yoichi: I guess my heroes must love me. They locked me up, but they didn't otherwise abuse me.
Izuku: In the modern world, where nearly everyone is a yandere, that's considered very kind. You wouldn't believe how hard I had to work just to convince my mom to let me leave the house.
Yoichi: I hate this universe. Seriously, even the demon AUs are better.
#
Omake: Himiko's Future Paradise
Himiko Toga: I attacked a boy and drank his blood today.
Toga Mother: We're so proud of you, our darling girl.
Toga Father: You're an ideal youth in a yandere-dominated society. All your teachers praise your precociousness.
Saito: I fell in love with your ferocity. As soon as I get out of the hospital, please date me.
Author's Note: Poor Yoichi, straight from one toxic relationship to another. Unfortunately, Yoichi's past abuse at All for One's hands left him vulnerable to Second and Third's manipulations. At least in "Craved in Stone (Eroded by Water)," my other fic where Second and Third betrayed him, Yoichi had a good relationship with his brother. This time he has no one. His situation is deeply hopeless.
Since quirks make you yandere in this AU, that means by the canon time period, nearly everyone is a yandere. Either society will have to go the canon route of desperately suppressing it or the opposite route of embracing it. Maybe Himiko Toga becomes a hero because she is considered a model citizen under the new standards.
Poor Izuku might be stuck as the only normal person. Him and All Might, since in this universe, a gifted quirk doesn't make you yandere. Everyone wants to abduct and confine All Might, but he's too powerful. He just obliviously goes about his heroism. This explains why so many canon villains are obsessed with All Might. There was also the time David Shield had a breakdown after years being stuck as just friends. As for Izuku's love life…all I can say is "Good luck."
Although, I'm speculating as if this AU follows canon, and it's tricky to say if it would. Yoichi might be less likely to give up his quirk, even subconsciously. Kudou and Bruce might be more likely to flee the country if they prioritize protecting their loved one over fighting All for One. To keep this on a roughly canon path, maybe Yoichi gives One for All to Hikage right before they move away. The absolute worst-case scenario would be if they work out a sharing arrangement with All for One out of a desperate need to keep Yoichi given All for One's greater power or because All for One convinced them Yoichi deserved to live in more wealth than they could provide. Although this is relatively unlikely because of the hatred between them. The yandere nature of this AU could also warp the BNHA world until it becomes unrecognizable by modern time. Perhaps no one even considers All for One to be a villain in a world where kidnapping is normal. Maybe All Might becomes a vigilante saving people from yanderes instead of a hero. I'll let the reader decide.
FYI, I now have a completed collaboration fic only on Archive of Our Own called "The Ringmaster and his Rabbit." Summary: After Izuku volunteered to assist with a magic show at the circus, he never expected the menacing ringmaster All for One to decide to keep him. Check out my Ao3 profile as katydid if you're interested.