Katsuki stood with his arms crossed, glaring impatiently at the closed curtains of the changing tent. He hated this plan, hated how Elywne's idea involved throwing Rosie right into the lion's den. Why did Rosie have to be the one to risk herself again? Why couldn't it be someone else? Someone less…fragile. Of course, Rosie would argue she wasn't fragile, but Katsuki wasn't buying it. She had little sense of self-preservation, constantly throwing herself into danger for the sake of these stupid missions.
He clenched his fists, hearing the rustling of fabric behind the curtain, his annoyance mounting. "Are you done in there?" Katsuki growled, his tone harsher than intended.
He was met with silence for a moment, then the soft sound of footsteps approaching. When Rosie finally stepped out from behind the silk curtains, Katsuki's breath hitched in his throat.
She stood before him, transformed. Her practical clothing was replaced by a costume that exposed far too much skin for his liking. The pink silk top she wore was strapless, adorned with delicate silver details, leaving her shoulders, navel, and smooth abdomen entirely exposed. Her legs were barely covered by the flowing skirt that seemed more like an accessory than an actual piece of clothing. Her hair, usually free or simply braided, was intricately pinned up with jeweled hair sticks that shimmered in the light. And her face—painted with subtle but seductive makeup—only enhanced the natural beauty he had always noticed but never commented on.
Katsuki's mouth went dry, and for a second, he couldn't find his voice.
"Well?" Rosie asked, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness as she shifted slightly, running her hands down the silk fabric. "Do I look okay?"
Katsuki's brain finally kicked into gear, and all he could focus on was how utterlywrong it felt for her to be dressed like this, exposed to the world. "You need to change," he demanded, his voice sharp and almost panicked.
Rosie's brow furrowed in confusion, her face falling slightly. "What? Why?"
"Because—" Katsuki struggled for the right words, his eyes narrowing. He couldn't tell her that the sight of her dressed like this was making it hard for him to think straight, and that the idea of other men looking at her the same way made his blood boil. "Because it's too revealing," he finally snapped. "You'll stand out too much."
Rosie frowned, crossing her arms over her chest, her exposed skin catching the dim light of the tent. "Elywne said I looked beautiful. She said this would help me blend in with the performers."
Katsuki swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. Elywne wasn't wrong—Rosie did look beautiful, more than beautiful, in fact—but that was the problem. She lookedtoobeautiful, and he hated the thought of her being out there, in the middle of a dangerous situation, dressed like that with the eyes of mercenaries all over her.
"It's not safe," he muttered, his voice lower now, more strained.
Rosie tilted her head, studying his face. "You're worried, aren't you?" she asked, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "I'll be fine, Katsuki. I'm just there to find the mercenaries with the insignias, that's all. You and Deku will handle the rest."
"Doesn't change the fact that you're sticking out like a damn beacon," he muttered, unable to meet her eyes. His gaze flicked up briefly, catching the soft flush on her cheeks and the way her ears twitched slightly—whether from embarrassment or something else, he didn't know.
"I'll be careful," Rosie said, her voice gentle as she took a step closer to him. "I promise."
Katsuki clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides. He wanted to argue, wanted to tell her that he didn't trust this plan or these people or even Deku enough to protect her, but the look on her face stopped him. She was determined. She believed in the mission, in her ability to help, and that stubborn determination was one of the things he admired about her—even if it drove him crazy.
"You're not changing, are you?" he finally asked, his voice resigned.
"No," she replied with a small smile. "I'm not."
Katsuki huffed, raking a hand through his hair in frustration. "Fine," he grumbled. "But if anything goes wrong, I'm pulling you out of there. Got it?"
Rosie's smile grew, and she nodded. "Got it."
"Good." Katsuki turned abruptly, trying to mask the strange warmth rising in his chest. "And cover up as much as you can until the damn show starts. You're going to catch a cold," he muttered under his breath, pulling off his cloak and tossing it to her.
Rosie caught it, blinking in surprise before wrapping it around her shoulders. She watched as Katsuki stormed off toward the entrance of the tent, his movements stiff, as if he was trying to physically distance himself from the conversation.
She couldn't help but smile softly to herself as she watched him go. Beneath all that gruffness, she could tell—he cared. Even if he'd never admit it.
Katsuki's eye twitched, a deep growl rumbling in his chest as he stood on the sidelines, watching the performance unfold before him. Deku had been a stuttering mess earlier, barely able to make eye contact with Rosie as they went over the plan again. Katsuki couldn't blame him—Rosie looked stunning, but that was precisely the problem. Now she was up there, front and center, captivating the entire crowd.
The dim lighting focused solely on the stage, making the large tent feel claustrophobic as the music swelled softly in the background. Rosie stood at the forefront, flanked by Elywne and three other dancers, all dressed in similar revealing costumes. The fabric shimmered under the stage lights, but Katsuki's attention was solely on her—her every movement, every sway of her hips, every flicker of her sultry gaze.
His fists clenched as Rosie began her routine, moving with the rhythm of the music like she was born for it. Her usual grace had transformed into something more dangerous, something almost hypnotic. The crowd was eating it up, especially the men in the front row, who sat transfixed as the dancers descended from the stage to mingle with them.
Katsuki could feel his teeth grinding together as Rosie glided towards the front, singling out one man seated directly in the center. Her hips swayed as she approached him, her smile teasing, eyes dark with that same seductive look she'd had earlier. She leaned in, close enough to sit in his lap, and then turned her gaze—directly to Katsuki.
She winked.
Katsuki felt a jolt of fury twist in his gut. That was her signal—one mercenary down.
Rosie repeated the same routine with the other men in the front row, each of them practically drooling as they reached for her, their hands grazing her hips, her waist. And each time, she made sure to give Katsuki the signal: a small wink that only he could see.
Five mercenaries in total.
Katsuki signaled back to Deku, holding up five fingers. Deku nodded in return, discreetly pointing out the targets to the guards positioned nearby. The plan was in motion, but Katsuki couldn't shake the feeling of dread gnawing at the back of his mind.
Something wasn't right.
He edged closer to the front of the room, his eyes locked on Rosie, who was dancing just out of reach of the mercenaries' greedy hands. But then the first man she had singled out—the one she'd sat on—suddenly stood, his face twisted with frustration. Katsuki tensed as the man stalked toward Rosie, his steps heavy with anger.
Before anyone could react, the man grabbed Rosie by the wrist, yanking her roughly toward him. Katsuki's heart lurched as the bastard pulled out a knife, pressing it against her throat. The music stopped abruptly, and the crowd erupted into chaos—people screamed, chairs clattered as they overturned, and a frantic rush to the exits ensued.
Katsuki shoved his way through the panicking crowd, his eyes locked on Rosie, who was struggling against the man's grip. Deku and the guards could handle the other mercenaries.
Katsuki only had one priority.
"Get your filthy hands off of her," Katsuki growled, his voice low and dangerous as he finally reached them.
The man was handsome in a rugged way, but his scarred face twisted with malice as he forced Rosie in front of him, using her as a shield. The blade gleamed against her throat, and Katsuki's chest tightened with rage.
"This elf?" the man sneered, his grip tightening on Rosie as he pulled her closer to his chest. "She's mine. Do you even know how rare it is to find one like her? I could sell her for a fortune—or maybe I'll just keep her for myself."
Katsuki's fists clenched, his nails biting into his palms. His eyes flicked to Rosie, and for a moment, their gazes locked. Her eyes were calm, but beneath that calmness, he could see the fear—the fear she was trying so hard to hide.
"Bastard," Katsuki snarled. "Let. Her. Go."
The man chuckled darkly, his other hand sliding over Rosie's body, groping her in a way that made Katsuki's vision blur with rage. "What are you gonna do, huh? You can't touch me without hurting her."
Katsuki was stuck. Any sudden move, and that knife would cut deep. His mind raced, trying to find an opening, but nothing presented itself. He cursed under his breath, feeling utterly useless.
"Katsuki," Rosie's voice broke through the tension, soft but steady.
"Rosie—"
"Oh, so you two know each other?" the man sneered again, his voice dripping with mockery. "How does it feel, huh? Knowing you can't do a damn thing to save her? You're just going to stand there and watch as I take her away?"
Katsuki growled, his patience snapping like a taut wire. "You're not taking her anywhere."
The man just laughed, clearly enjoying the control he had over the situation. "She's mine now, and there's nothing you can—"
Before he could finish, Rosie acted. With lightning speed, she twisted in his grip and sunk her teeth into the man's arm, hard. The mercenary howled in pain, instinctively releasing his hold on her. He shoved her away, calling her a "bitch" as she stumbled back, but Katsuki was already there.
He caught her, pulling her out of the man's reach, his arms wrapping around her protectively. "You okay?" he whispered, though his eyes were already locked back on the mercenary.
Rosie nodded, though her breath was shaky. "I'm fine."
The mercenary glared at them both, cradling his bleeding arm. But his attention quickly shifted when he realized the rest of his men—the five Rosie had identified—were now in custody, being dragged away by Deku and the guards.
His eyes widened with panic. "Shit."
Realizing he had no chance of winning, the mercenary turned on his heel and made a run for it, bolting toward the back of the tent.
"Oh no, you don't," Katsuki growled, his protective rage flaring.
He gently pushed Rosie aside before launching himself after the fleeing mercenary.
There was no way in hell that bastard was getting away.
Katsuki's legs carried him with frightening speed, the fleeing mercenary barely making it out of the tent before Katsuki caught up with him. His hand shot out, gripping the back of the man's collar and yanking him back with a force that sent him sprawling to the ground.
"You think you can run after pulling that shit?" Katsuki growled, looming over the man with a murderous glare.
The mercenary scrambled to his feet, but Katsuki was already on him, slamming a fist into the man's face with such force that it knocked him back down. Blood sprayed from the man's nose, and Katsuki wasted no time, landing blow after blow with a fury that left the man barely able to defend himself.
Each punch was fueled by the memory of that bastard putting a knife to Rosie's throat. Touching her. Trying to take her away. The anger surged through him, burning hotter with each hit.
"Get up you fucking weakling!" Katsuki snarled, grabbing the man by the front of his shirt and dragging him to his knees. "You're not running anywhere, you piece of shit."
The mercenary groaned, blood dripping from his mouth as he weakly raised his hands in surrender. But Katsuki wasn't finished. He yanked the man up, landing a knee to his stomach that knocked the wind out of him. The man collapsed again, wheezing and clutching his gut.
Before Katsuki could land another blow, Deku appeared at his side, panting from his own chase. He quickly pulled out a set of handcuffs, stepping between Katsuki and the barely-conscious mercenary.
"That's enough, Kacchan," Deku said softly, his eyes serious as he knelt to cuff the mercenary's wrists. "We've got him."
Katsuki huffed, his chest heaving with adrenaline. He wiped the blood from his knuckles on the mercenary's clothes, glaring down at him one last time. "You're lucky Deku's here," he spat. "Or I'd keep going."
Deku, ever patient, hauled the man to his feet, securing the cuffs tightly around his wrists. "You're going back to face justice," he told the mercenary before turning back to Katsuki. "Can you check on Rosie?"
Katsuki blinked, the haze of rage slowly dissipating as he remembered why he was so angry in the first place. "Tch. Yeah."
Deku nodded and, with the help of the guards, dragged the handcuffed mercenary back toward the bazaar owner. Katsuki's attention, however, was already on Rosie. He spotted her standing near the stage, her hand pressed to her throat.
His heart leaped into his throat as he quickly crossed the distance to her, his eyes narrowing as he saw the thin line of blood trickling down her neck.
"What the hell, Rosie?" he barked, grabbing her shoulders and inspecting her. "You're bleeding!"
Rosie, to his surprise, smiled at him. "It's just a small cut, Katsuki. Really, I'm fine."
"Fine?" he snapped, his face darkening. "You call this fine? You're bleeding because you put yourself in danger again, and for what? Just to get some intel?"
Rosie's smile didn't falter.
She looked up at him with those calm, bright eyes, as if nothing could shake her confidence. "I knew you would save me."
Katsuki stared at her, his words catching in his throat. Her absolute trust in him left him speechless for a moment, the weight of it hitting him harder than any punch. He felt his frustration melt away, leaving only a deep sense of responsibility.
He let out a long breath, his voice softening just a bit. "You've gotta stop doing stupid stuff like that. I can't always save your ass, you know."
Rosie's smile widened, and she reached up to touch his arm, her fingers gentle. "But you always do."
Katsuki clicked his tongue, trying to ignore the warmth that spread through him at her words. "Just… be more careful, alright? Next time, don't put yourself on the front lines unless you have to."
"I promise," she said, still smiling up at him.
He grumbled under his breath, still annoyed but feeling more relieved now that she was okay. "You're too reckless, I swear. One of these days…"
But Rosie just laughed softly, her hand still resting on his arm. "Thank you, Katsuki."
"Tch," he muttered, trying to play it off as he turned away slightly.
Still, the corner of his mouth twitched into a reluctant smile as he gave her one last look. She was reckless, sure, but he'd always be there to make sure she came out of it okay.