Shino Tokage

this feathered idiot has impressive boyfriend-sensors and as soon as he hears his man approach, he's spinning to catch him and hold him tight. and just like that, the world slots back into place. his chest expands, breathing in the familiar smell and soaking in the feeling of a heartbeat against his own.

despite all that, he's pretty casual when he speaks - as if he hadn't just spent the last few moments greedily re-familiarising himself.

❝hey there, handsome. come here often?❞

   It was like a dream to be in his arms again, warm in his embrace. Shino purred like a happy feline as he felt his mate tighten his grasp on him. He missed this. Missed the way Keigo’s lips would brush so tenderly against his own, the love in golden eyes, sharp and keen like a predator staking claim to what was his. Feral yet oh so gentle all at the same time.

‘‘Hmm, just flying by~” Tokage teased before yanking on the blondes jacket to tug him into a starving needy kiss.

snake-oiled-chief​

❝you made this?❞ it’s a delicate thing, silvery and gorgeous, the glint of the gemstone caught within inevitably drawing keigo’s attention. he turns the ring this way and that, letting it catch the light filtering in through the window - holding it gently in his hands, for some reason, as if he’s forgotten how durable it is and has elected to treat it preciously, like glass. if he’s being honest, he hadn’t known what to expect from shino for a gift - he’d have accepted anything at all, even just the thought of being able to spend the holiday season with him. but a gift that he painstakingly created over months? it wrenches at his heart in the sweetest possible way, this solid reminder that he has - somehow - found a partner who loves him enough to do these things.

keigo has been examining the ring intently for several moments when awareness that he has not given his opinion drags him from his thoughts. he startles, gaze flicking abruptly to shino, who is probably just waiting anxiously to hear if he likes it.

it’s so difficult to word how much he likes it. as hawks, keigo has grown accustomed to always having something to say - but as keigo, he shrinks back into quietness when confronted with things he doesn’t know how to verbalise. he compensates by moving to lean his forehead against shino’s, holding onto him so tightly it’s probably almost painful. he kisses his love’s cheek, nose, chin, lips. gentle, loving touches. and then he removes his glove to slip the ring gently onto his finger, watching it again as the light catches the gem.

finally, he finds his voice. clears his throat and murmurs, ❝i love you. i love it. i’ll wear it every day.❞

   The silence was killing him. Waiting with bated breath, swallowing hard like a man waiting a life altering verdict. This was the moment he was waiting for all this time. Would he like it? Would it mean something to him the way his feather did? And finally a reaction, a positive one given the way his bird tugged him close. Shino giggled softly as he was peppered fondly with happy kisses, his bird practically cooing with love. The blushing serpent hugged the blond in return as utter relief flowed through him. Hah! He liked it, thank goodness. 

“I love you too.” Tokage whispered back, brushing his nose to the heroes with a soft soothing purr of content, his fingers caressing over a plump cheek and brushing lower against itchy stubble. “Good. M’glad you like it. I-...It means a lot to me.” He confessed.

@snake-oiled-chief said: "I'm really bad at wrapping gifts, so don't make fun of me...'' Tokage huffed an held out a poorly wrapped green present with a gold bow out for his partner. He ducked his head to hide his blush. "Merry Christmas, Keigo."

❝pssssht, as if i’d make fun. what d'you take me for?❞ ( this, from the man who teases his poor beloved at any given opportunity. with love, naturally; the manner of playful jabbing intended to draw out those cute reactions he adores so much. ) ― he isn’t teasing now, though, despite the temptation to see how much more he can get shino blushing. his hands, wrapped in thick gloves, grip the parcel so gently and carefully that one might mistake it for a delicate thing, sugar-spun and fragile. keigo is simply looking at it: the wrappings ( admittedly, not skilfully presented ) in green and the glimmering gold of the bow catching one’s eyes with that gentle shine. it’s pleasing, to him. it crinkles when he adjusts his hold, moving it into one hand so that he can reach out for shino.

he pulls his beloved close, so that they lean against one another’s sides. there’s an odd feeling clanking around his brain, so noisy that he isn’t too certain how to process it. it isn’t unfamiliar, precisely, to be handed gifts - in his line of work, he’s regularly beset by elderly ladies offering him candy and warm food, and younger fans pressing presents into his hands whether he wants them or not. it’s just that recieving gifts from loved ones is not something he’s all too familiar with. he realises he’s just been staring at it and hastens to begin opening the wrappings, reverent as he does so.

❝you really didn’t hafta get me anything, y'know? hell, you coulda wrapped yourself up in a bow and called yourself my present and i’d have been delighted. actually, if you wanna do that anyway, feel free. still, i really appreciate this - whatever’s in here, i know ’m gonna love it.❞ he’s rambling. weirdly nervous. he’s going to be even more nervous later when he hands over his own gift in return. christmas with a partner - it’s as exciting as it is bizarrely terrifying, uncharted territory.

finally, curiosity getting the better of him, he pulls aside the wrappings to take a look at what’s inside.

    Nervous. He was so nervous and it showed.. He never bought gifts, hell, never really paid attention to the holidays at all before-...but now it felt like one of the most important parts of the year when it came to getting Keigo something. But what did a man get a Hero who had it all? What did you get a rich man? What did you get the love of your life to make him know he was everything to you? What did you get him...to make him smile. To be honest, even though he could tell Keigo was joking about the whole just wrapping himself up and calling that a gift, it had actually (briefly) been considered as a good idea...but of course that wouldn’t do, even if it WAS really fucking funny. Bow and everything. But no. He had come to the conclusion that buying him something wasn’t good enough...so he made it instead. 

Carefully when opened, Keigo inside would see one beautifully sculpted ring of silver, etched with the tribal artistic curves of am outlined silhouette of a snake winding around the band from one end to the other. Small and symbol but delicate, made with patience and many many long hours of pure dedication for perfection. The gift itself was messy but the silver ring itself was not. In the middle was an amber gem, the same topaz color as the very eyes that now watched the honey gold of his lover for any indication he might not like it. Shino held to Hawks closer, timidly biting down on his bottom lip as he watched the man he loved. 

“I-....I made it.” Shino murmured sheepishly. “Took almost six months, I went to jewelry classes and everything for that.” He admitted. “And heh...I was the only guy there in a sea of ladies. It was very strange but worth it. I wanted to make something you could hold tight...to feel like I get to everyday with your feather. To brush against your fingers and know-....know I’m there. And that I-...I love you.” Tokage confessed softly, leaning in to brush his nose against Keigo’s cheek shyly. 

Shino·:

That answer didn’t help him at all. “None taken,” Endeavor growled as his glare hardened a little. Honestly if he didn’t need Shino to answer some more of his questions he would have left after hearing that. Possibly add a scorch mark to police chief’s office door. Though hearing how he was trusted did make him rethink leaving in a huff. For now at least. 

That list went with what he had already formed in his own head. Though he didn’t in the least hide his dislike for one particular name. Given the fact that a corner of the file he had been given was now crinkled. To be frank, however, he wasn’t at all surprised to hear that All Might wasn’t exactly retired. Especially after hearing how the former Number 1 had information regarding All For One. Endeavor just wasn’t exactly looking forward to paying his rival a visit. “I’ll make sure to keep that in mind. Thank you, for that list as well.” 

It took him a second to register what exactly Shino had said. But the moment his brain processed the information, he abruptly stood as his flames flared. “You’ve what?!” How could a villain get close to his agency without his knowing? He was going have to have a talk with his sidekicks about this. Getting his temper under control, Endeavor gritted his teeth as he asked, “When was the last time you spotted him near my agency?” 

   “Hey! Hey! Don’t you dare burn down my office!” Tokage yelled, flailing at the sudden wild flames in a panic. This was exactly why he hated working with Heroes. They could destroy his office with one simple move over something so mundane. Huffing and glaring at the too tall idiot, he went to squirting the ceiling with a spray bottle, spraying out the tiles that caught on fire with the fiery display.

snake-oiled-chief​:

Well, personally, Nezu through that was hardly fair. It wasn’t as if anywhere in the city was equipped to ward off a ‘mob’ of high-end nomu. Although given some of the security features he hadn’t included in the files, UA was probably one of the places with the highest chance of allowing people to escape a situation like that.

Of course, the whole mess with the traitor meant he wasn’t able to bring up some of his better defenses, just in case. Not that he believed the man in front of him to be affiliated with villains (though it wasn’t an impossibility), but there were a number of ways someone could be listening in, depending on their quirk or skill with technology.

“…” He carefully put his tea down, nodding. He did understand the urgency that the man had, that time. His cub was there in their school, after all. It was as much a personal matter as a professional one. “We have eliminated the possibility of a traitor among the staff, and the students are being closely monitored. So far, we’ve seen no definitive evidence from any of them, either.” The rest of the staff were happy to trust their students. Nezu… was not so sure. There was a traitor somewhere. Perhaps a sleeper agent, or someone under duress, but it was still a security risk.

“However, we have the advantage of knowing that there is a traitor, which is more valuable than it seems. I am working on the assumption that the villains already know everything in that file.” It seemed the safest way. “Of course, that does not mean I will just spread it around. It would be best to act as if we don’t suspect they know.”

    “So you have no idea who it is. You mean to tell me there’s a child fooling the best know Heroes this side of the Pacific.” The serpent deadpanned. “The fact you still haven’t caught or at least weeded out what class or grade really isn’t given me anymore reason to put my good faith in your security ethics.” The Chief huffed lightly, leaning back in his chair. “The board, council and commission are all looking to me. I need conclusion, answers, not assumptions and blind hope.”

“I’m balancing on a tight rope here Nezu...” He rubbed his forehead, frustration vividly turning down into exhausted stress. “The Commission wants you out of your office by the end of the year.” He confessed quietly. “My sources say they’re trying to pull string in the school department board to do so privately. I’m doing everything I can to keep this from happening behind the scenes.”

"what's that guy lookin' at? he got a problem?"  tokage's second in command seems not to like keigo. hasn't from the second keigo started hanging around. so keigo's started looking back, gauging reactions, figuring things out. first thing he realised was that the man looked even more pissed whenever keigo draped himself over the boss. so he starts doing that a whole lot more, perching on his lap like a pretty pet and whispering sweet nothings in his ear at any given opportunity. currently he's digging his fangs playfully into shino's shoulder.  "jealous, i think. who could blame him?"  /   villain boyssss

snake-oiled-chief​:

          oh, keigo enjoys catching this man off-guard. he wants to do it again. wants to watch how his blush deepens the colour of those pretty, bloodied-up scales. he sticks his tongue out, blood red and stark upon it, just to see how his would-be killer might react. this is so much more fun than killing him or stealing from him. he’s so much more fun alive and calling keigo pretty and laying atop him. his attention is an intense thing, a weight keigo can physically feel upon himself, and one that provokes a hungry insistence for more. 

“you’re special,” keigo purrs. it is entirely possible that the velvety fervor of his tone may prompt false impressions of lies. this isn’t a lie. this is true. keigo’s smile is an unhinged thing as he professes his snap-decision interest in the man who could have ended him. “so special. so pretty. so strong.” a good partner, a deadly one, yes. 

he seems entirely more interested in squirming playfully beneath the man, than in paying particular attention to his offer. keigo’s listening, though. his eyes are sharp, his head tilted aside as if considering. he does not deny any accusations upon his sanity; only grins, as if pleased.

“how would you like a discount? special offer just for you,” he drawls, and rattles off the price his former employers had offered. “i’ll cut that price by a quarter if you promise me you’ll take the whole fuckin’ lot of them out. with my help, obviously. i wanna be there to watch you do it.”

    The born predator took the other feral mans challenge, dipping his head down to playfully capture his tongue between his lips in a playful nip, tugging on it playfully before pulling back with a fanged mischivious grin. He wanted to play, well then he’d get a whole stage production and then some. Special. Tokage wasn’t sure why but-....he liked the way he called him that. 

“You’re not bad yourself.” Shino rose his stabbed hand, wincing some but ultimately giving the blonde a faint smile all the same. “Been awhile since someone could match me in a fight and fuck me up this badly. I’m impressed. Pissed you ruined my outfit. But impressed~”

Tokage listened to his offer in turn, even raising his brows at how easy that all sounded. And there was no catch either? Well shit. He’d be fucking stupid to pass this up. ‘’You want me to kill your own employers? The same men who have been trying to take down my faction for months and enslave my people for their own corporate funds and greed? Heh. You don’t have to ask me twice, pretty bird, I’m in~” Smirking, those same claws that were on the verge of ripping the birds throat open casually caressed a bruised cheek now.

“And the best part of this little game is I get to keep you~” The snake purred, leaning down to whisper in the other mans ear, nipping his earlobe teasingly. “Although if you betray us like you’re doing to your employers I’ll gut you where you stand, hmm, but I bet you’d love to die by the hands of a cute snake now wouldn’t you, pretty bird~” With that he purposely wiggled his hips down on his thief, just to be a little shit. 

snake-oiled-chief​:

          it’s less a battle and more a clash of the baser instincts - tactical consideration wrenched away by the vicious urging of fangs and claws and the bitterness of blood upon the tongue. keigo, grin sharp upon his lips in spite of his torn clothing and skin, might actually enjoy himself if not for the threat upon his life. he really, really didn’t come here to go risking his ass. not for the fuckers he’s elected to work for. not for the bastards who couldn’t even be bothered to verify their intel before sending him into the maw of the serpent. 

he’s panting as he sprawls upon the ground, chest rising and falling rapidly and claws digging into the man’s hips as if attempting to shift his weight enough to throw him aside. a tinge of panic has filtered into his expression now, blurred through the adrenaline-rush and the thrill of the fight, but present nevertheless and encouraging him to struggle harder. 

“y’know what, handsome?” he murmurs, “they ain’t worth dyin’ for.”

that said, he leans slowly-slowly-slowly up onto his elbows - nonthreatening now, wary of those talons, easing his way nearer with golden eyes half-lidded to lick blood from the corner of his opponent’s mouth. 

“fuckers sent me on a mission i had no chance in. why shouldn’t i give ‘em up, huh? just for you.”

    Shino stiffened as the battered bird casually sat himself up on his elbows. Wh-...What was he doing? Why was he smirking right now...in that kinda cute way where it slanted to the side some, even as blood seeped from the corner of his chin. Tokage should have punched him or threatened to kill him again if he meant but all words died as the crazy fucker lent in and licked right over his bottom lip, lapping up and sampling his own ruby ribbon down his chin. A blush ran hot over pale gray skin, scales shimmering in the deep dim lamplight overhead. 

Wh-What was he doing they were suppose to be enemies...right?

“Do you flirt with all your potential murderers or am I just that special, huh pretty bird?” Shino whispered back with a huffed grumble, trying in vain to look like he didn’t just blush like a schooboy right then and there, still obviously straddling his would-be killer. Cautiously he playfully pushed the blonde back down, keeping his hand on his chest but put down his other hand and lent forwards, smirking down at the man he was now properly laying on top of. This was getting dangerous but...he kinda liked the thrill of it all. 

“I can give you a reason or two. You might like it. Might not. Depending on how crazy you really are. You already seem kinda fuckin’ nuts, hot stuff, not gonna lie~’’ Shino teased, licking his long forked tongue over his fangs in full display. “And you’ve already proven you have no loyalty to them. Looks like they don’t you either since they’ve sent you here to die.’