Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“He love me… He loves me not…”

Kurogiri ignores Tomura as he turns another petal into dust. And then the rose. Then some minion’s head.

When he tries to destroy one of his cups, Kurogiri believes enough is enough and teleports his hands to empty space. “This behavior has been going on for weeks, Tomura. What is this tantrum even about? Sensei is not mad that the USJ plan-”

Kurogiri recoils back when the young man slammed himself onto the counter and flapped around aggressively, effectively spreading dust on every part of the freshly polished surface.

Of course, Tomura didn’t give a flying flip about that. “It’s that stupid NPC! No matter how hard I try, I can’t get him out of my head!” He wailed, adding blood stains to the dust as he scratched his neck. Kurogiri, being the good bartender he is, pushes his young master off and immediately began scrubbing the counter. Tomura continued throwing his bitchfit to the floor.

“Why were his eyes big and worried when he saved me? His hands too, they strong and scarred but so soft…fuck!” He began to cradle his favorite hand to his face. “Father, help me!” Father of course, didn’t speak, so Kurogiri decided to take pity on the served hand and step in instead.

“While it is natural to develop gratitude for someone that saves you from death, you shouldn’t let it go to the extreme. Especially if that person is on the opposing side.”

“But he’s cute!” the young man whines, like that gave any justification. Beverage coasters are cute, yet Tomura destroyed twenty-six of them yesterday. “He’s cute and he saved me and I want him but he likes All M-Mi-.” It was physically impossible for Tomura to say ‘like’ and ‘All Might’ in the same sentence, so the pale-haired man just lies there making dying seal noises. Kurogiri, being the master at ignoring things, pretends he doesn’t notice.

“Tomura, even if you do fancy him, are you going to abandon your goal and go pursue him? What would Sensei say?” The screen near the bar flickers, and lo and behold, Sensei appears. Shigaraki immediately runs to the screen. Finally, Kurogiri can go back to cleaning again. He doesn’t need to listen because he already knows how this conversation will end. His master will ask what’s wrong, Tomura will scream and wail over his frustrations. All For One will patiently listen and his protégée will ask what to do. Being the intelligent man he is, All for One will tell the young master that he should pursue his feelings with young Midoriya-

Kurogiri drops the glass he was cleaning, but manages to save it just in time.

“…Pardon?” He was sure he heard wrong. There is no possible way the man would agree to this.

“I seem no harm in this. Tomura is loyal to his ambitions, and to gain support from others is always beneficial. All is fair in love and war, after all.”  

Tomura is ecstatic. So ecstatic in fact, that he cuts even deeper into his neck. But who cares! Sensei thinks it’s a great side quest! How it would be good to have another heavy arsenal on their team! The despair it would cause All-Might if one of his students became a villain! He wouldn’t be roped with those other losers that played video games in their parent’s basement anymore!

As the young man continues to gouge out his own neck in victory, Kurogiri tries to reason with his master. “Sensei, surely you know how…disastrous this will turn out.”

“I appreciate the concern Kurogiri, but you know that everything I do is for Tomura’s sake. Tomura is a young man in love. Thus, we can only help him with his pursuits. I know you won’t fail me.” With that, the screen blacks out.

Kurogiri stares at the empty screen and sighs. Then he pulls out a bottle of the strongest liquor they have and starts chugging it down. If he can’t beat them, he might as well get on their level of craziness to enjoy the ride.

Unfortunately all he gets is a killer hangover that last for weeks. In his agony, he misses that Tomura has begun taking his quest for love to serious levels. He has read every article of love he can get his hands on, threatens everyone he comes across for advise, and has spent hours playing romance gaming. His excitement and dedication to winning the hero’s heart almost rivals that off his dream to kill All Might, and yet he has never seen the young man so nervous in trying to do so. It could have been considered almost cute if Tomura wasn’t well…Tomura. And if the little shit didn’t mess up his beautiful bar with his nervous frustrations.

Kurogiri grabbed a broom and marched over to the young master’s room. Lovesick or not, Tomura was going to clean up his mess this time around.

Tomura hated that love was more complicated than he though. Why couldn’t he just kill the dragon and get the princess? It was so annoying. But when he catches sight of his freckled angel at the Sports Festival on TV, his heart flutters and he smiles so wide he taste blood.

“Remember to watch the other contestants as well, Tomura.” Sensei gently reminds him, and Tomura waves him off.

“I know, I know.” He grumbles, but it’s kind of hard to do so. They’re not as interesting as his Izukun. They don’t win races without using their quirk and break out of mind control with sheer willpower. They don’t take Tomura’s breathe away like Izukun does when he keeps on breaking and fingers and then keeps on breaking them, just to help his opponent out.

(Just like he did at USJ, eyes filled with pain and tears but focused on him with such intensity. “Don’t let go! I’ve got you!” he yells with a wobbly smile even as Tomura’s fingers continue to crumble away his skin and flesh, even though it would be easier to let go and let Tomura fall and fall…)

Tomura hates them. He doesn’t like how that girl clings to the teen and makes him flustered instead of him. He doesn’t like how purple baggy-eyes orders him around because when he should be the only one controlling Izukun. And Tomura really, REALLY doesn’t like that Izukun breaks his fingers for Endeavor’s son, because that bastard doesn’t deserve Izuku’s kindness. Izukun’s kindness is only meant for him!

The curly-haired teen is out of the tournament and Tomura wants to disintegrate the TV, but he can’t since he has to watch these noobs and learn their weaknesses so he can kill them later. So the young man sits there and disintegrating his bowl of popcorn, grinding his teeth because he really hates them.

The one that won the contest seems to hate them too, and Tomura laughs when the blonde won’t accept that stupid award from All Might, because he probably knows that it’s just a feeble distraction from the literal and figurative chains he’s wrapped in.

He would make a good addition to the team. And maybe help with making Izuku join the league as well. Izuku would probably be happy to have a friend here or something. But that would probably take a while and Tomura wants Izukun by his side now. What else could Tomura give to make his little hero like him? A lot of websites he read from love guru’s said to make it special and meaningful, but even with all the stalking he’s done, Tomura doesn’t really know Izukun that well. And they said if you want someone to like you back you have to listen to them and hang out with them to know them better. But in order to get a date to know them better you have to show them that you care about them by giving them gifts. Which just leads him into a glitch!

He tried to tell Kurogiri his problem, but the irritable man wouldn’t even listen to him unless the made the bar spotless! Any other day Tomura would have disorganized the alphabetized bottles and disintegrate his ties just to be petty, but he was desperate.

“This better be some damn good advice or I will kill you.” Tomura growls and sloshes water on the floor, purposely spilling some over Kurogiri’s polished shoes. Kurogiri gives him the stink eyes and the young man responds by sticking out his tongue but realizes too late that he just accidently licks his father instead. The wispy man watches in amusement as Tomura shrieks apologies to the hand.

“I would say get the boy something he would like, but he’s seems to be quite into hero merchandise and so that’s out of the question.” Which is a true statement. The last time they were dragged into a hero shop, Tomura woke up naked and stapled to a wall by All-Might posters, armadillos were trying to eat Kurogiri’s left shoe, and many buildings were on fire.

“I suggest giving something that lets him know you are thinking of him. Secret admirers and such often leave gifts with messages acknowledging their love.” Kurogiri rescrubbed a shot in thought. “Perhaps, make the gift hand-made? That usually shows the person that you care about the greatly, and makes the gift more special.”

Overall it was pretty shitty advice, but Kurogiri said the magic words: hand-made. And just like that, an idea popped into Tomura’s mind that was so perfect he began dancing with the mop. Of course! Why didn’t he think of this sooner? He could have kissed the bartender in happiness, but they both know Kurogiri would have literally punched him to the moon, consequences be damned. Kurogiri takes his relationships very seriously.

“Let’s go Kurogiri.” He barks at the man with a smile that would make children cry. “We have some shopping to do.”

Chapter Text

“So,” The moment Kurogiri steps out of the portal, Tomura was onto him. “Did he like it? What did he think of my present?”

“Uhh…” How should he word this? If he lied, Tomura might find out and throw a fit. If he told the truth, Tomura might be upset and throw a fit. Either way, a mess would be left behind that Kurogiri would undoubtedly have to clean up. “He had a very…intense reaction.” With screaming. A lot of screaming. Tomura claps his hands in glee.

“Just as I expected! Now he’ll be itching to know who sent it, wracking that smart little brain of his to find who would leave such a passionate token-“

“It’s Tomura Shigaraki,” Izuku declares with such confidence that the officer writing his statement does a double take.

“That League of Villain’s guy that attacked you all at USJ? You sure it’s him?” Izuku glances at the item in question and shudders.

“Yes, definitely him.”

“-while I add to the roster and ready for the next level.”

“Next level?” Kurogiri inquires while organizing his coasters. Tomura swipes a drink from the counter.

“To kill All-Might,” Tomura’s voice carries as he walks to his room. “And score a date with Izukun.” The coasters clatter to the floor.

Date?!

“-riya! Earth to MidoH SHIT!” Kirishima moves just before Midoriya slams a desk in the spot he once stood. The desk breaks from the impact while green eyes blink out of their daze to realize what happened.

“Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry Kirishima!” The redhead laughs.

“I’m fine, but what did that desk ever do to you?” Izuku squeaks out flushed explanations and half-formed apologies before Kirishima assures he was just teasing. “It’s alright Midoriya! I was going to ask if you’re okay.” The shark tooth smile inches into sympathy. “But after that, the answer is pretty clear.”

Izuku wishes the earth would swallow him right now. He’s been like this for weeks after Shigaraki left his “gift” at the front of his house. Which was a basket full of hands. All these cold, dead, hands with fingers that signed ‘I love you’ and were arranged to make cusped hearts made Izuku almost puke. Thank goodness his mom wasn’t the one who found it. “It’s that obvious, huh?” Izuku winced and jumps two feet in the air when Kirishima pats his shoulder.

“With the way you went off on Todoroki? Pretty much.”  That was an experience to watch. The whole class was so shaken by the absolute vulgarity that spewed from Izuku’s mouth. Iida had fainted, Uraraka’s jaw all but hit the ground, and poor Todoroki looked like he was going to cry. Bakugou meanwhile grinned like a proud parent and nudged a paling Kirishima, boasting, “I taught him everything he’s knows.”   

“I need to go apologize to him.” And let Todoroki-kun freeze him for all eternity for being a horrible friend. He didn’t even realize who he was chewing out until he snapped out of it. Izuku really needs to get himself back together. The gift, almost getting kidnapped by that Nomu, the feeling of being watched, sleepless nights... A lot has happened, but it doesn’t excuse the mess he is right now. Heroes must stay calm in times of crisis!

This had to be some type of psychological warfare to instill fear. Or maybe Shigaraki had an unorthodox way of expressing gratitude for saving him. But what if saving Shigaraki caused him to develop something even deeper? Perhaps he could have prevented this by not saving Shigaraki…but no. He would save him again in a heartbeat.

All-Might was legendary. Every punch to Nomu grew faster. The force almost blew them away, but the stadium couldn’t handle the strain. Even if he was the enemy, even if he tried to kill his teacher and friends, when their eyes connected during that brief moment…his eyes were screaming for help.

“Hey, what if you come with us to the mall? It will be fun!”  A trip to the mall isn’t the ideal location for his paranoia, but Kirishima and the others are trying really hard to help him out and it would be nice to hang out with his friends. Plus he needs to grab some gear for camp.

“Yeah, count me in.”

The last few days for Tomura have been pretty shitty.

Luckily he can blame it all on one person: Stain. Who questioned your beliefs? Stain. Killed your pet? Took away the chance of talking to the love of your life? Had no nose but breathes really obnoxiously anyways? Stain, Stain, Stain. Unluckily, he can’t do anything about it because Stain is in prison, leaving a parting gift of taking away Tomura’s well-deserved popularity at boot. Seriously, the stupid things people choose to gossip about! Once Tomura destroys society he is for sure going to get rid of all stupid news. 

He goes to the mall to try to clear his head but watching all the smucks acting so carelessly only makes it worse. Everything was going to shit. His plans, his love life, himself- he hated it. He wished things were different. He wished he wasn’t drowning in his failures and self-doubt, his thoughts for establishing his conviction just as fruitlessly aimless as his wandering through the mall. That Voldemort rip-off had it all wrong, so why were his words affecting him so much? He played the levels just like Stain, so why didn’t he get the same recognition or sympathizers? What is it? What the hell is it that…  

The unmistakable mop of forest curls cuts through his sour mood like an awkward angel parting through the clouds. Izukun. Looks like his shitty day was finally turning around. And oh, was the love of his life abandoned by his classmates and left all alone, waiting for Tomura to sweep him off his feet? This was his chance!

Play it cool, Tomura. You are the leader of the most villainous group of Japan. You’ve got this. He tells himself as he flings onto the teen from behind. Curls softer than he ever fanaticized tickle his nose and he can’t help but take a whiff. His eyes roll back in ecstasy.

“You smell like free refills,” he sighs dreamily as he nuzzles deeper into that struggling fluffy nest.

“W-What?” Tomura (reluctantly) pulls back to let his Izukun get a good look at him, oh so discreetly wrapping his fingers around the other’s neck.

“Say Izukun,” he smiles, eyes crinkling upward once his little hero finally realizes who he is. “Let’s have some tea and chat.”

“I’ll take the hojicha, with a side of wagashi surprise. What do you want, Izukun?” Turns out Shigaraki was actually serious about the tea. Izuku glances around, nervous that the villain will suddenly go back on his word and hurt the people around. A small, almost nonexistent part also wonders why no one was saying anything about this questionable arm-slung-choke-hold on him, but a quick glance explains why. The girl at the cashier was merely a zombie at this point. Everyone else in line was okay with the villain turning Izuku into dust unless quirks forbid they were denied their tea. Izuku swallows thickly when the hand on his throat tightens warningly and he focuses back on the menu.

“Ah, the oolongcha twist please.” Instinctively he starts pulling out is wallet until the villain stops him.

“What are you doing?” Izuku gives a startled look.

“Paying for my drink?” Shigaraki shakes his head.

“My treat.”

“Oh no, that’s okay! I can-“

“My. Treat.”

So pushy. Izuku frowns but pockets his wallet. At least he knows that the villain’s money is going to a good cause instead of buying torture weapons or whatever.

After getting their drinks, Shigaraki leads him to a semi-circle booth, strategically sitting him where he can’t look out the window without being bluntly obvious. Shigaraki slides in beside him, slugging an arm around his shoulders. Trapping him. So this was it.

“What do you want to talk about?”

Tomura is internally screaming. He did it! He scored a date with Izukun! This had to be fate, or destiny…or something like it. Pleased that he had completed one stage of wooing the person you love, Tomura was ready to move to the next. Oh shit, what was the next advice? Something about casual touches. Wait, he already has his arm around him. Too fast, maybe he can go back to the first level real quick just for points’ sake.

“Poke.” He repeats the action on that freckled cheek before he can stop himself. It’s just so squishy! Izukun just looks bewildered.

Oh right, they were supposed to chat.   

Best way to start is by being honest about yourself, or so the love articles claim. “To tell you the truth I hate mostly everything. But the number one thing that’s pissing me off right now is the Hero Killer.” Izukun tilts his head. So cute.

“But isn’t he one of you guys?”

“I never said he could join, but he’s one of us according to society.” Tomura’s thoughts sink back down to those new recruits as he sips his drink. “That’s the problem. Nearly everybody is going gaga about the Hero Killer. The Yuuei invasions and Hosu attack…all of its been swallowed by that bastard’s fame. Why is no one looking at me?” His mood brightens when he looks back at Izukun. “Except you. You’re welcome for the gift. I put a lot of work into making it perfect!”

“Oh yeah. I-I, umm…”  Tomura flippantly waves him off, already knowing what his hero was going to say.” I-I really love it Tomukun! You always think of the sweetest gifts! Have my babies!

“So yeah, anyways.” He fights the blush rising to his cheeks. “No matter how he puffed himself up, the Hero Killer was just destroying the stuff he didn’t like. Same as me. Between the two of us, what do you think is different, Izukun?”

His little hero looks deeply into his untouched drink, as if it held all the answers. Tomura peers at it too, but he doesn’t see anything.

“…I…I neither understand you, nor accept you.” And ouch, doesn’t that hurt Tomura a lot. He instinctively reaches up to scratch at his neck, but he finds that he can’t. Izukun’s hand is pressing in his palm, trying to prevent them from going further. Startled, he looks at the hand, then back at the teen. Emerald jewels cut back with concern and fear before flickering down again, snatching back his hand with a nervous apology. Tomura’s palm tingles with a pleasant warmth. He can’t stop staring at those strong, scarred hands. It takes all his willpower to listen to the rest of what his lover has to say.

“Whereas the Hero Killer, I don’t accept him either, but…I do understand him.” Izukun explains how they both started their paths by watching All-Might, how Stain saved him, and how the Hero Killer didn’t destroy just to destroy, but didn’t give up so fickly. The more he speaks, the more the fog drifts away.

“His methods were wrong, but he tried to live according to an ideal….” His date trails off, and those emerald eyes catch his and lights his soul aflame. “That’s what I think.”

 It all makes sense now. The dots have connected to a beautiful picture they painted together and now Tomura can finally breathe. Where had Izukun been all his life? Tomura just wants to kiss him and take him home so he can caress those beautiful fingers and be together forever but unfortunately he can’t. Not yet.

“I feel like I get it now…Why the Hero Killer pisses me off, and why you think you’re not mine.” His grip tightens around Izukun. He’s just so happy, so giddy. Izukun should know how much he has helped him once again, so he flashes his hero the biggest, happiest smile he can muster. However Tomura sucks at smiling so he just looks like he came out of a slasher film. Poor Izuku is going to need therapy for weeks. “It’s all about All-Might.”

Tomura goes on about his discovery, too excited to notice that the other is so traumatized he can only make unintelligent sounds. It’s only when the struggling starts again does Tomura remember the next part of his date.

“This was great Izukun. Let’s have our second date soon. We can-“

“No!”

“No?” Tomura blinks in honest confusion. But, but they were so perfect for each other, and the date went so well. They even held hands! So why did his soulmate say no? Where did it go wrong?

Ah, right. All-Might. Damn All-Might for messing up his first date.    

“Let’s make a deal then. If you continue to go on dates with me, I’ll be good. I’ll hold off on the League’s plans. Maybe give you some information about a villain or two.  But,” He holds up a finger before Izuku can say a word. “In return, you have to be a little bad. You can’t tell a soul of our little dates, not even this one. It will be our little secret. If I find out that you tipped someone off or anything of the sort, I’ll show the world what a real villain I can actually be.” A pretty good deal if you ask Tomura. Izukun is not convinced

“Deal or no deal, I’m not going to go on a date with you. It’s wrong.”

Tomura pouts irritably, but he was already expecting that answer. Why can’t his hero realize they’re made for each other? Fucking All-Might and his cult-like influence. Izukun will come around eventually.

“I’ll give you some time to think.” Cracked lips gently press onto his forehead, and Izuku is so shocked that barely hears the next sentence. “Take care of yourself. Next time we meet, I will want a different answer.”

By the time Izuku comes to, Shigaraki is gone, leaving him alone with his confusion and long cooled tea.