Chapter Text

— chapter SIX

『  血のつながり  –  blood ties  』
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chapter VI - the bond of blood

WARNINGS: Partially described murder, Toga, more obsession with blood.

Tonight was especially beautiful, not because of the city lights that twinkled like stars that had fallen to Earth nor because of the peaceful silence that sat heavy over Musutafu; rather, tonight was beautiful because it was your night to kill.

While you’d much rather the outskirts of the city, the inner city was no joke when it came to people. Midnight and people still waddled about their business on the streets, you have to stick to the shadows tonight as you have yet to regain your armour. Shigaraki had gone on a business trip of sorts to Hosu, to meet up with the hero-killer Stain, while Kurogiri did extend the possibility of you joining- you denied it simply for this moment.

Waiting in a shady alleyway, poised and ready to strike with only your gauntlets and boots. You’d lost a lot more blood than you initially thought, stripping you down to your bare necessities- to say you were uncomfortable would’ve been an understatement.

Leaning against the wall, you heard your first victim of the night approach. As much as you’d like to immediately jump out and tear his throat out, you were too weak and vulnerable for such a move. Their footsteps drew closer, unaware and unassuming. Letting out a silent breath you waited to see their figure pass into your vision. As soon as the slightest blur of colour hits your eyes you grab onto them, gripping their shoulders and forcing them onto the ground with only a partial struggle.

You flip him onto his back, and as he opens his mouth to scream he finds himself only able to gurgle as you tear his windpipe out with a hefty tug. Dropping to the ground beside him, you claw him open further- exposing all of that lovely blood to the surface. You grin, satisfied as the blood swirls around your limbs, it adds some torso armour and dots some leg armour in your weak spots. The man stops gargling, finally succumbing to the sweet suffocation of death.

One down.

꒷˚꒷︶꒷꒥꒷˚꒷︶꒷꒥︶꒥꒷༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻꒷︶꒷꒥꒷˚꒷︶꒷꒥꒷˚꒷︶

Four down.

The amount of people who investigate an alleyway that suspiciously smells of death is surprisingly a lot, you suppose it ties into their saviour complex. With your hand on your hips, you give a proud smirk at the shrivelled pile of corpses on the floor, not an ounce of blood wasted in your presence.

Stretching your newly armoured arms above your head, you let out a gleeful sigh. That would be enough for tonight, no matter how tempting it is to tally up just how many people fall into your trap. You exit the alley without a care in the world, the further you walk the more that sinking feeling in your spine starts to make itself known.

Hunching over, you cross your arms, trying to get rid of the nagging feeling you are unsafe. You know this is a part of your quirk, you know that it does this to you every time but each time it happens you can’t help but feel it’s real. That someone is watching your every move, waiting impatiently for you to let your guard down.

The walk back to the bar is a sour one, filled with nervous energy and darting eyes. You turn to look behind you once more before entering the ever-so-homey atmosphere of the bar, you sweep your eyes over the room- taking peculiar notice of the lack of Shigaraki’s presence at the bar. He must still be with Stain.

Setting your hands on the wood of the bar you exhale in a bored manner, glancing around the lonely area. You hop over the counter, standing behind the bar. Ooo~! You crouch down to inspect the various items that sit just underneath the wooden surface; cleaning supplies, rags, glasses, a gun, a med kit and a small basket full of cutlery. Nothing you wouldn’t expect Kurogiri to own, leaning on the bar you rock back and forth gently.

What to do, what to do…

As you turn to inspect the various bottles that line the walls you hear the door open, and your sword forms in your hand instinctively. You stare at the shady geezer standing in the doorway with a cigarette in his hand, “Is Shigaraki here?” His voice is as sleazy as he looks.

You shake your head, keeping a close eye on him, “He’s with the Hero-killer.”

“Very well them, I’ll be back to discuss with him.”

He closes the door gently, leaving you puzzled.

Does Shigaraki know this guy?

Shigaraki sits at the bar with a photo in his hand, you learned from Kurogiri that the meeting did not go so well; it ended with Shigaraki unleashing Nomu’s to try and seemingly kill Stain, or perhaps to try and outclass him in murdering heroes?

He works in strange ways.

“Are you curious, Tomura Shigaraki, about that boy, Izuku Midoriya?” Kurogiri pipes up from behind the bar, you can’t help but feel you missed out on something.

“Shigaraki.” A familiar voice enters your ears as the door opens with a ‘ding!’, your sword forms once more as you lay eyes on his sketchy form. He holds a lit cigarette in his hand and has a malicious smirk on his face, definitely bad news.

“You all have been the talk of the town for the past few days. I hear you’re starting something big-”

“And? Who are they?” Shigaraki interrupts the stranger, the photo in his hand crumbling into dust as he scrunches it. The stranger gives an amused grin and walks outside, ushering in a black-haired man with very noticeable burn scars on his face and body as well as a cheery blonde girl- villains, no doubt.

“So it’s you huh? I saw a picture of you, but you look gross in person…” His tone is mocking, yet his face shows no expression except for pure disinterest.

“Wow, the hand guy!” The blonde girl moves her fists ecstatically, “You’re friends with the Mr Stainy, right? Right?” Her tone is cheerful, she reminds you of well… a normal teenage girl.

She moves her hands to her face, fingers outstretched, “Let me join too! The League of Villains!”

“Kurogiri, get rid of these guys. Everything I hate came together in one set; a brat, and a rude guy.” Venom seeps through Shigaraki’s tone as he gestures to the two. ”Now, now. They came all this way to visit, so let’s at least hear them out, Tomura Shigaraki. Besides, that big-shot broker brought them, they're bound to be valuable assets.”

The ‘big-shot broker’ takes a puff of his cigarette, turning to Kurogiri with that permanently etched smirk on his face. No actually, who is this guy?

“I don’t care what you do with them, but make sure I get my commission, Kurogiri.” He steps forward, standing directly behind the two ‘recruits’, “At least let me introduce them.”

Gesturing toward the blonde, “First, this cute high school girl. Her name and face were kept tightly under wraps by the media, but she’s on the run as a suspect in a series of deaths by blood loss.”

Was that her, or you?

“I’m Toga! Himiko Toga! It’s hard to live! I want the world to become an easier place to live! I want to become Mr. Stainy! I want to kill Mr Stainy! So let me join the League of Villains, Tomura!”

“I don’t get her, is she crazy?” Rich coming from the dusty tantrum-throwing adult in charge of this place.

“She can hold a conversation for the most part. I’m sure she’ll be of use.” The broker seems to be almost desperate to make this work, you wonder how much he’s getting paid for this.

“Next, this guy over here. He hasn’t committed any flashy crimes, but he holds fast to the Hero Killer’s ideology.” He seems more like a common delinquent than a villain, looking at the stitches that hold his burnt flesh to his pale skin, you’re almost tempted to ask what happened.

“I’m uneasy about this. Does this organisation really have a just cause? Don’t tell me you’re going to let this crazy lady in?” He surveys the teenager beside him with disinterest.

“Hey, you. You didn’t even do what that crazy high school girl was able to do. Give your name first. You’re an adult, right?” Shigaraki points haphazardly at the man, clearly upset with his lack of manners.

“I currently go by Dabi.”

“That’s not what I wanted to know. What’s your real name?”

“I’ll tell you when it’s time. Anyway, I will carry out the will of the Hero Killer.”

“You don’t have to say what you haven’t been asked. Jeez, everyone’s so hung up about Stain, Stain- I don’t like it.”

He stands up limply, Kurogiri attempts to stop him verbally understanding what Shigaraki is likely to do next.

“I don’t feel good.” Shigaraki leaps toward the two, “You’re all no good!” Dabi and Toga act defensively, with Toga pulling out a blade and attempting to stab Shigaraki while Dabi outstretches his hand- smoke pouring out of his skin.

Luckily, Kurogiri forms multiple portals to force their attacks away from each other. You stand there, bewildered and unsure of what to do.

“Please calm down, Tomura Shigaraki. If what you wish is to come to pass then we must increase the organisation’s numbers. Strangely enough, we’re in the spotlight right now, so now is our chance.” Kurogiri stretches his foggy neck to whisper into Shigaraki’s ear, “We should not be rejecting them, we should be receiving them. You must use it, all of it… And all the ideology he left behind.”

Tomura shoves off Kurogiri with a low ‘shut up’, he walks off toward the door, “Where are you going?” The broker pipes in, watching Shigaraki leave.

“Shut up!”

A man of few parting words, he slams the door shut behind him, and you wince in sympathy for the poor thing.

“I don’t want to complain about a client, but… He’s young. Too young.”

“I thought he was going to kill us.” Her words really don’t match the cheery tone of her voice.

“He makes me sick…” You decide you prefer the psychotic girl’s cheeriness over the dead monotone voice of Dabi.

Kurogiri stares at the door where Shigaraki exited, “Would it be alright to give you an answer at a later date? I believe he knows what he should do. It's because he knows that he left without saying anything. All Might… Hero Killer... he’s been humbled twice already. I’m sure he will reach an answer… that both you and himself will be satisfied with.”

All five of you are left in silence, even though you’ve been silent since the beginning of the conversation.

“So! You’re Incarnadine, huh?” You flinch back as the wide smile of Toga appears in front of your face, you nod softly, “Hey, did you meet Mr Stainy?”

“…No, I stayed here to gather armour-”

“We should totally be best friends! Blood-drinking buddies!”

“Oh, n-no I don’t drink it-!”

“Since we’re best friends, can I drink your blood? Wait! If I lick your armour would it be like a blood-popsicle? What would happen if I did lick it?”

“It would… Probably stay as armour, it’s less like frozen blood and more like a… blood-resin?”

You could feel the sweat beading on your brow, she looks like she’s ready to bite your neck and drink all of your blood like a vampire.

“I’ve seen your work, all that and you ended up here? How disappointing.” Your mouth hangs open, offended by the audacity of this burnt weirdo.

“Hey, don’t insult my new best friend!” Toga pipes up, her arms around your shoulders and a childish pout on her face.

“Why would I listen to a little psycho?”

The smile on Toga’s face grows wider, this entire scenario makes you want to leave. You almost hope Shigaraki rejects them, but knowing the situation? You’re definitely stuck with these two.

The broker beckons the two out of the bar, and Toga enthusiastically waves goodbye to you, declaring that she’ll ‘be back with blood for the both of you two drink!’. You look toward Kurogiri and point in their direction, giving him a ‘really? those two?’ look. He simply shakes his head in amusement before setting a glass of water on the bar for you.

“You seriously can’t tell me those two are the best candidates for this, I know we need the help but really?” Kurogiri stares straight at you, you clear your throat, wishing mentally you didn’t speak at all.

“While they aren’t the greatest choice for an occasion such as this, due to our current conditions we have no other choice but to say yes. Tomura Shigaraki knows it too, he just refuses to accept the help he needs.” Kurogiri hums, contemplating his next words.

“As his caretaker, it’s become obvious to me when Tomura has found something he likes.” He nods in your direction, “And it seems he has an interest in you… Even though he does not show it in a typical manner.”

Your eyes widen slightly, you’d have thought he despised you- he’s always glaring at you after all.

“I ask that you approach him,” You snap your head up to peer at him again, “He could use the companionship.”

Is… Is Kurogiri trying to set you up with your boss?

He chuckles and shakes his head at your concerned expression, “I’m asking you to be his friend.” That’s what he says, but the look he gives you makes you think he’s hoping to see you become something more with Shigaraki.

You chuckle awkwardly before skittering off into your room, the nights just continue to get weirder, don’t they?

▔︶꒷꒥▔꒷˚꒷▔︶꒷꒥꒷꒥▔꒷༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻꒷˚꒷▔︶꒷꒥▔꒷︶꒷꒥▔꒷˚꒷
  ︲          ̟         ︲                     ︲              °          ︲                    
    ૮               °                     °                   ა                               °        
                      ｡                    ｡                             ˚                    ｡     
         ̟                     ૮                                    ̟                  ა                       
    ̟                                                ̟                                            ̟        
               ა                .                                            ̟                                                  

    𓂋             𓂋                          𓂋                 𓂋                 𓂋