Chapter 22: Midnight

Kurono gulped nervously, cold sweat forming underneath his hood with his heart rate beating like a drill machine.

Who? Who was it? As his thoughts ran a million questions and his gut churned like a factory he swore he could taste the bile on his tongue.

Shall I? Crona muttered to him as their right hand flexed itself once breaking Kurono out of his stupor as he shook his head.

No, no. Don't. Kurono took the reins as he shared a glance momentarily with Gentle and nodded once, the latter quickly taking the lead as he straightened himself, and drew a circle on his clothes before moving outside.

Similarly, Kurono drew himself up, feet apart and arms in his pockets to sell the image.

However, underneath his hoodie and hidden behind, two long black tendrils focused themselves into existence with a sharp arrowhead as they coiled around his body.

Poised and ready to strike out, he felt safer and assured now that Crona took direct control over it.

With a smile and nod, Gentle swung the door leisurely and stepped out with a hand wave. "Pardon me, I just happened to be passing by. Wasn't expecting a crowd." He inclined his hat, taking note of the intruders.

Gentle's heart raced when he saw the absolute macabre of hands, grasping and clenching all around the body as the whitish hair made it stand out more. His nose curled as he realized those hands weren't props.

So shocked, that he nearly missed the question until the latter stepped forward annoyed.

"Huh, you're that pompous villain. Gentle, wasn't it?" The figure that stood furthermost and closer to the stairs exit sarcastically remarked as Gentle swore he could smell ashes from this one.

"Where's the other one?" Rasping with a raised voice, the man covered in hands leveled a sharp gaze that bore into Gentle. "I know there are two of you, so hurry up and get out of there."

Gentle glanced sideways and nodded, prompting Bozu to step out, his diminutive size covered only by the hoodie as both hands were in the pocket. The tension in the air was palpable when he emerged from the shadows.

Bozu's demeanor was carefully neutral despite the nerves gnawing at their insides as the former met the gaze head-on, refusing to show any signs of weakness.

"The other one is right here," Bozu replied evenly, his voice steady despite the rapid thumping of his heart. "And who the hell are you?"

"Now, now, be nice. I'm sure these gentlemen will be more than happy to reply." Gentle followed up as he played up the theatrics, and always stayed one foot ahead of Bozu. He will not allow anything to happen to his benefactor, even at the cost of his own.

"None of your damn business shorty. Now scram, or I'll make sure Roast Chicken will barbeque you." Gesturing with a thumb, the other shadowy figure came to the forefront with an annoyed look as they ruffled the back of their head.

"Shut it, Shigaraki, that's not my name-"

With dawning horror, Gentle saw the patchwork of man as he caught sight of the staples holding the skin together. The lower face looked like it was burnt off completely.

Most of all, the air around these two was dangerous. These were no normal criminals. They had to leave immedia-

"You. What the fuck are you doing here."

Gentle breath hitched when Bozu replied, and was that the latter's mouth opened in shock?

"You shouldn't be here, not now, this is too early-" Bozu's arms waved as he took a step backward and fist squeezed tightly.

"Huh, well, you got anything you ain't sharing with me?" Shigaraki drawled as he side-eye towards his partner in crime, left hand tapping his neck idly. "Dabi."

"Don't go accusing shit, I work solo." Dabi scowled towards Shigaraki before he turned towards them in annoyance. "How the hell do you know who I am?"

"You met him before?" Gentle echoed Dabi's question, head tilted to the sides. This was unexpected since he had never heard of this Dabi before.

"...That fucking patchwork burned one of my men to ashes. Yer damn right I know who the hell you are." Bozu's voice cracked as he pointed towards Dabi shakingly.

A jolt of electricity ran through Gentle, one enough that his mind reached from a state of absolute shock to pure resolution as he realized what was about to happen. One finger idly ran past his hat and the other gripped the cloak.

"I did? You're gonna be more specific." Dabi tapped his chin after a moment of thought before smiling widely. "I burnt a lot of people, can't expect me to remember them all."

As the air thickened with tension, Dabi's fingers inched once as immense heat within him slowly boiled upwards for one swift attack at the moment he found an opening.

Gentle and Bozu lowered their bodies, ready to take action as well. Dabi saw just how Gentle operated in between bouts of boredom when he browsed the news but he had no idea of the latter.

Slivers of blue sparks formed from the other hand that he had hidden behind his back, ready to fire at full blast now that he had distracted them.

"Oi," Shigaraki interrupted them all. "We're not in the mood for PvP right now, so you two better take a hike."

"...Agreed, with your leave then." Gentle calmly placed a hand on Bozu, noting just how tense the latter was. Almost rock solid as well. "After all, we just happened to find ourselves in the same place at the same time."

Shigaraki's eyes flickered between Gentle and Bozu, trying to decipher their intentions. Dabi, on the other hand, seemed more amused by the situation, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed the exchange.

"Coincidence, huh?" Shigaraki mused, his tone dripping with skepticism before glancing to the sides briefly chuckling. "Well, it's your lucky day then."

On cue, a pitch-black tear opened up from the sides and black clouds poured like noxious fumes.

Gentle pulled Bozu alongside him as he slid backward in a crouching position as the two were glued toward this new threat.

From the inky depths, a towering figure looms ominously as they step out, casting a shadow that seems to swallow the feeble light around him despite the absence of light.

Dressed in a tattered prisoner outfit, the fabric hangs loosely from his broad frame, a stark contrast to the imposing aura he exudes as his sharp, angular features are twisted into a sneer of contempt, revealing a mouth filled with jagged teeth.

If Shigaraki and Dabi were dangerous, this one was a cut above them.

Every cell within him screamed to run as hackles rose and cold sweat formed.

"Huh, what's this? The welcoming committee?" He crudely spoke and yawned before cracking his neck to the sides. "Well, aren't you all just a bunch of freaks."

"It-it can't be…why, how-?!"

"You know him as well?" Gentle cannot help but ask, just how many dangerous men did Bozu know?

Another presence made itself known from the dark clouds as it coalesced into a person. Gentle blinked multiple times and realized that the dark cloud doesn't just resemble a head.

It was the head of a person as he caught sight of the collar around the neck and it started to talk. "Young Master, I have brought him here. Meet-"

—

"Giriko." Kurono felt Crona mutter in genuine disbelief as their right arm clutched their sides, phantom pain flashing from a time before this life.

If this was a nightmare, Kurono dearly wished to wake up from it as cold sweat poured down his forehead.

"Toxic Chainsaw Giriko." Shigaraki raised both arms in a welcoming gesture. "Nice to meet you face to face, I'm Shigaraki Tomura."

"Hmph, so you're the one who busted me out? Thanks, I guess." Giriko's eyebrow twitched as he leaned his head to the sides and rubbed the back of his neck dismissively. "Don't get me wrong though, I'm not exactly sold on your group just yet."

"Giriko, we had a prior agreement," Kurogiri said in a low tone.

"I owe you. Not him." Giriko clicked his tongue towards Shigaraki, hands on his hip, and one leg stood on the ball of his foot. "Give a good reason to join your sorry ass."

Dabi chuckled at Giriko's behavior even as Shigaraki leaned his head backward and hand ran through his hair before shrugging.

"Well, you can do whatever you want."

A multitude of eye blinks came as Giriko was dumbfounded at that, Gentle felt the same as they listened in. Even Kurono double-take at that pitch.

The heck he's saying? Kurono shared a glance with Gentle as they inched backward slowly but were pinned down when Shigaraki's eyes quickly locked onto them.

"You serious?"

Shigaraki's expression remained stoic as he met Giriko's incredulous gaze head-on. "Dead serious. If you don't want to join us, that's your choice. We're not here to beg or plead. We're here to offer an opportunity, nothing more."

Giriko's brow furrowed in confusion, clearly taken aback by Shigaraki's unexpected response. He glanced sideways at Kurogiri, seeking confirmation or perhaps some semblance of understanding, but the mist villain merely nodded in silent agreement.

Dabi, still wearing his trademark smirk, leaned against the nearest wall, seemingly amused by the unfolding exchange. "No disintegration?"

"Hmph," Shigaraki waved his hand away at Dabi nonplussed.

Gentle and Kurono exchanged wary glances, uncertain of how to proceed. Shigaraki's attitude was a far cry from what they had expected, leaving them feeling off-balance and unsure of their next move.

After a moment of tense silence, Giriko let out a low chuckle with a hint of admiration. "Well, I'll be damned. You've got guts, kid. I like that."

Shigaraki's lips curled into a small smirk, a glimmer of satisfaction dancing in his eyes. "So, what's it going to be, Giriko? Are you in or out?"

Giriko paused for a moment, weighing his options before finally nodding in agreement. "Count me in. But don't think for a second that I'm doing this for you. I've got my own reasons."

Shigaraki nodded in acceptance, his gaze unwavering. "Fair enough. Welcome aboard, Giriko. Just remember, we play by our own rules here."

As the tension in the room eased slightly, Gentle prepared to make their exit but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was something far beyond anything he had handled. More so when his associate seemed to be in utter panic with how often their left hand was constantly shaking.

"And as for you two," Shigaraki finally turned his undivided attention with three villains in tow now. "How about it? Wanna join my guild?"

"What?" Two flabbergasted gasps resounded.

"I saw your work, Gentle Thief right? Did a good job making those heroes look like idiots." Shigaraki waved his hands. "But why stay in the low levels, when you can go higher?"

He got to be kidding me. Kurono's face paled when he realized where this was going.

"We're still a small guild, but we have connections, resources and if you need manpower, well-" He then gestured to rest. "You got super rares."

"Hey, hey, I warrant to be a Super Special Rare, if we're going to be like that." Giriko immediately cut in as he thumbed himself with an annoyed look.

"How do you even know what those mean?" Dabi deadpanned at the second oldest person in the building.

"I'll let you do whatever you want and you do a few jobs for us. Win-win."

Gentle stroke his mustache at the unexpected deal, on paper, it was a beneficial scenario for all. Not to mention that top-rank heroes are now expected to come after him, combined with the desire to strike at those who hid behind the veil of justice while lording it over others.

It was a tempting one. Yet-

"Hmm, quite an offer. What say you, my dear backstage?" Gentle inquired with a fake smile, as his foot swept in a semi-circular way.

With the ball thrown into his hands now, Kurono quickly wracked his mind before a confirming nod from Crona came as a brief sensation washed over their body.

I'll protect you.

That soothed the former immensely as he prepared to face the music.

"...You think we're actually going to join you with that guy in tow? Hell no." Kurono pointed a finger accusingly toward Dabi with as much poison as he could muster in his voice. Earning a bemused look from the latter.

"Well, that settles it." Gentle smiled, this time a much more honest one as he placed his hat back. "I'm grateful for the offer but I must decline it."

"I'm curious though, what's your end goal? Why all the trouble to gather such…" Gentle waved a hand towards Giriko. "Men of character?"

"Goal, hah." Shigaraki chuckled, lowering his head before glaring at them with disdain. "My goal-"

"is to burn this rotten hero society down to the ground."

Dabi rubbed his chin at that, carefully nursing his burnt skin with a bemused smile.

"All those damn heroes and systems that feed into this disgusting filth of idol and glory chasing."

Kurogiri remained stoic and unmoving even as the mist around him flared slightly before returning to its more sedate pace.

"People who looked on, cheering and praising but continue to push others out of the fringes as if it's none of their concern."

Giriko looked impassively and shifted his weight to one side but a small snarl that echoed from his throat sounded mechanical.

"And All Might."

Unbeknownst to Shigaraki, one of his fingers that idly brushed against a table left marks that shriveled its surface before it rapidly decayed and left a deep hole behind.

"The Symbol of Peace, his legacy, agency, associates, everything."

"I'll turn it all into dust." Shigaraki clenched his fist, drawing blood, his eyes looking more animal than human. "That's my reason, my existence, and my goal."

With that proclamation, Gentle eyes trembled down to his core at Shigaraki's words as he saw a glimpse of the full picture. It was no half-hearted or grandstanding speech, each word carried such reviled hatred and anger, that it made his blood cold.

This villain, this man, was utterly insane and hellbent on vengeance.

"Why waste time boss? There's only one way to get them to listen properly." Giriko interjected as he chuckled and hunched forward.

Taking a deep breath and regaining his composure, Shigaraki lazily waved his hands at that. "Sure, go ahead."

"YEAH!" Giriko ferociously roared and jumped, a speed that belied his tall frame as he was already a foot away from Gentle and his associate the moment Shigaraki's words left his mouth.

"Also!" Giriko raised his legs as a thin line appeared, almost like it was splitting in half before a sharp row of chainsaw steel popped outwards and gleamed in the dark.

"My name ain't Toxic Chainsaw!"

Gentle immediately interposed himself between Bozu and Giriko, hands circling once and solidifying the air in front of them. A stoic and focused man met with a maniacal person as chainsaw teeth bit forward.

His quirk, Elasticity, made the air behave like it was a trampoline. Having enough strength for him to bounce off it, act as a shield, and even flatten opponents, despite its inelegance. One that had been documented by heroes each time he made his appearances.

All of that mattered little as Giriko's legs forced it backward from sheer strength as muscles went taut and veins nearly popped outwards.

"It's Texas Chainsaw!" Giriko roared as chainsaw blades hew forward like an unstoppable juggernaut and slammed themselves right into Gentle guts!

At least, that was what Gentle expected had he not been suddenly yanked backward with far more force than imagined as Bozu, less than twice the size he was, outright lifted him and bashed his arm against Giriko.

The resulting impact outright shook the room from air displacement, before Bozu won out as his arms swung Giriko backwards.

Giriko, for his part, didn't seem fazed as he spun around once, landed on his foot, and moved forward in the blink of an eye.

Positioning himself, Bozu's left arms swelled like a gorilla arm, and held it up like a shield.

Grinning, Giriko raised his legs for a high kick.

Only to switch it at the last moment as he crouched downwards with a low back sweep kick, neatly avoiding the circular air shield placed by Gentle earlier and catching Bozu's legs with his chain blades.

A quick slash tore apart the clothes as the latter fell back immediately and the scent of blood was keen in the air.

"Hmm?" Giriko's smile quickly turned to confusion when he realized Bozu's leg was still intact. Frowning, he belatedly realized what was different as well, the impact didn't feel like flesh, more like granite or steel.

"Bozu!" Gentle immediately slammed his palm into the concrete floor and it rippled like waves across the entire floor. "GENTLE-!"

"WORLD!" This continued onwards as the entire floor and even ceiling turned wobbly like the whole building itself was one giant trampoline.

"The hell is this?!" Giriko looked around, feet buried as his saws caught onto the floor like an ice skater.

"Cool party trick." Dabi lazily mused as he just enjoyed the ride, as both Shigaraki and Kurogiri looked on quietly. Observing the battle from the sides.

Giriko only smirked as he tested the ground once before retracting his saw, and jumped off it instead.

"Thanks for the boost old man!" He said, using the newfound environment to his advantage as he descended upon Bozu.

Then much to Giriko's surprise, Gentle ricocheted far faster than he did and slammed his foot into his sides.

"-!" Gentle winced as he felt something pierced his shoes despite the steel toe cap. What was this man made of?!

Bozu took this moment as the diminutive figure leaped upwards like a tiger, both arms raised for a hammer blow.

Giriko twisted his body, using the momentum for a vicious axe kick as it struck Bozu's arm and sparks flashed in between.

An equally heavy haymaker swung from the sides, cutting the air. Giriko raised his thighs and blocked it, as a sharp sound echoed.

Giriko, however, lost in terms of mass as he was sent flying, forced to roll once to his feet, and spat to the side, he then moved back in with no hesitation.

Bozu used the environment, the ground rippled heavily when he landed before it sent him flying.

Then in an impressive display of acrobatics, Giriko cart-wheel once before meeting Bozu blow with a spinning kick. This time, the chainsaw blade won as it forced the smaller opponent off.

Dropping down, Giriko used his hands to stand on the ground as his legs kicked out endlessly. Creating unpredictable patterns, from attacks that went high at first before turning low at the last moment.

Bozu hoodie in turn took the full brunt as more of it got ripped apart, revealing the black obsidian skin underneath.

This deadly dance was slowly turning in Giriko's favor, the latter kept outmaneuvering the former and even used the ceiling to kick off from it for a sudden strike.

It was only the strong defensive capabilities of Bozu that kept them in the fight.

"Bozu!" Gentle pulled a chair like it was a rubber band before snapping it towards Giriko. The rubbery item slapped Giriko's head like gum, off-balancing him for a moment.

Both of them shared a glance as Gentle pulled Bozu by the arm and jumped off, nearly clearing the entire floor as the pair shot towards the exit.

For Giriko's part, his wide smile threatened to split his lips as he leaned downwards like a racer, and from the corner of his thigh, a pull string formed.

"It's time-!" With a powerful yank, he pulled it to the limits and a deep roaring engine echoed from within. Fueling Giriko with enough adrenaline that would've killed a normal person, followed by his chainsaw blades moving forward and buzzing angrily.

"To let er' rip!"

Both Gentle and Bozu were stunned as Giriko outpaced them like a rocket despite their head start and cut off their escape route immediately.

Laughing without any restraint, he raised his legs for an axe kick motion towards Gentle.

Multiple air barriers formed in an instant and thick as a wall.

None managed to halt Giriko's strike this time as it saw through them in an instant, the air being rent in half much to Gentle shock.

It was only pure luck that Gentle swaying prevented him from being cut open in half.

Roaring, Bozu raised his arms as Giriko turned to meet him, legs turning for a horizontal strike.

The large bulky arm that looked more suited for ramming doors down, crashed into Giriko's legs and straight into the whirling chainsaw blades.

An awful cacophony, smell, and sparks flew in the dark. Illuminating everyone's face for a brief moment.

Then the tide turned, and cracks appeared in Bozu's arms before it splintered into pieces in front of Giriko's ever-rotating blade.

Changing strategy immediately, Bozu dropped to his knees and delivered a punishing uppercut into the joints of the knee.

Only to come up short and flaring pain ripped across his darkened hands, as a long chain of blades formed around Giriko's knees. Acting as an impromptu armor.

"Good choice!" The human machine mocked in between grabbing the chains and circling them around himself, before turning himself into a human dervish. "But not enough!"

Like a deadly spinning top, he cut his way forward relentlessly and hellbent on taking them out.

Bozu's eyes snapped to the sides when he realized Gentle was still behind him and too slow to get out of the way.

Let me! The voice in his head shouted. Multiple black tendrils exploded from their back, wrapped around Gentle then yanked him away just in time as they dove to the sides haphazardly. Nicking Bozu in the back.

Giriko sailed past them and slammed the brakes, coming to a halt next to Shigaraki as smoke hissed from the blades.

"Nice moves."

"Bah, I'm rusty," Giriko grumbled despite Shigaraki's praise as he examined his body and rapped his legs in exasperation. "Need to change the oil to a new one."

"Move aside, rust bucket, my turn." Dabi's eyes flared as the air in the room rapidly heated before blue flames erupted from his arms. Then thrusting both arms forward, air sucked in rapidly.

Down the dark streets, gouts of blue flame erupted from the windows and illuminated the area as the windows shattered.

"Hey, they're mine!" Giriko complained as he stood back up against Dabi who just interfered with his hunt.

With a scoff, Dabi let out a breath that had flames following its trail like a dragon. "Too bad."

"Yeah," Shigaraki said and scratched his neck. "They're some fast rouges."

From the embers of the flames as cement melted into slags, two distinctive and rapidly shrinking figures could barely be seen from the opening left behind.

"Shall I pursue them?" Kurogiri offered.

"No need, we got what we came for."

Sorry for it being so short, life's really kicked my ass and been swamped by work as well as having my motivation sapped.

I also tried extending this scene but couldn't find a better way.

However, in turn, I also wanted to get to this scene for so long and hastened it.

Originally, Giriko was scheduled to appeared in the USJ camp but thinking on it, as well as seeing how things have already progressed. It would be too long and I wanted an impact as big as the Bulk Nomu.

So I swapped around, and had Shigaraki recruit Giriko directly instead.

Please leave a like and comments down below, each one helps so far.