#dcay

Geode

Okay, how could Izuku spin this so he didn't sound like a complete lunatic? Except, he wasn't sure if he could spin it in a "sane" way without revealing One For All. How the hell could you explain ghosts in your head telling you information about people?

Trying to keep his expression neutral, he gave an explanation. "Ah, it's rare but sometimes when I look at a person, I get what you might call super intuition?" That sounded less crazy, didn't it?

"I wouldn't call it psychic since I can't do it on command..."

He could only hope that Shigaraki didn't think it was complete nonsense.

Honestly, as much as Izuku wanted to defend the friends he had, he couldn't find it in him to do it. As much as he hated to agree with Tenko, he was sure his brother had a decent point. Though, just thinking about the fact that even his childhood friends were fickle made him sad.

"Yeah... maybe you're right..." he relented quietly.

His eyes widened in interest when Tenko gave the name of the game. He'd at least heard of it but obviously never played it. "...Oh, a beat -em up fighting game...!" he exclaimed as he watched his brother pick a character.

Yeah, he could see their mom taking issue with the violence in the game...

He gave a nod. "Okay, I won't mention anything!" he said more quietly before he focused on picking a character.

Eventually, all of the relevant choices were selected, and they waited for the stage to load. Izuku's hands tightened over the controller from anticipation.

How in the fuck--?!

It was like all Shigaraki had to do was wave his hand and they were immediately in another part of the city. He glanced around, looking for any sort of landmark that could indicate their location, but nothing looked familiar.

His eyes then locked onto the villain's back. They were alone--as far as he knew--It'd be so easy to just--

His palms were practically itching to attack the bastard. Hell, even just shouting for help didn't see all that crushing to his pride anymore. He was sure there were people nearby.

Katsuki's resistance died in his throat the moment Crusty said that he knew he wanted to attack him. Shit!

He knew he was fucked. Shigaraki wasn't bluffing. If Katsuki attacked, he'd likely be dead within seconds.

He sucked in a deep breath and let it out. He quickened his walking pace, so he could walk side by side with the villain rather than remain behind him. "...Okay, chat about what?" he asked quietly.

&. 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. (accepting)

Collapsed  buildings,  ruptured  ground,  and  crimson-soaked  soil.  The  air  held  a  faint  metallic  scent  from  all  the  blood  shed  by  heroes  during  this  battle.  The  people  that  he  had  admired,  cared  for,  and  perhaps  even  loved.  Every  time  he  drew  in  a  breath,  Izuku  tasted  their  agony  and  was  reminded  of  his  failure.  

Guilt  transformed  quickly  into  anguish,  and  from  there  gave  away  to  anger.  His  mind,  for  a  time,  begged  to  be  taken  over  by  pure  rage  because  in  that  state  he  wouldn't  have  to  acknowledge  or  experience  the  pain  of  his  losses.  

Except  he  could  not  let  himself  do  that...must  not  be  that  irresponsible  when  there  was  still  so  much  sitting  on  his  shoulders.  He  has  to  be  a  hero,  turn  the  situation  around  and  rescue  everyone.  

And  that  included  him.  

"Why?"  Izuku  demanded.  "Why  won't  you  just  stop?"  

Perhaps  they  were  past  the  point  of  communicating,  but  Izuku  could  not  stop  the  words  from  spilling  from  his  lips.  Emerald  eyes  trained  on  his  supposed  nemesis,  bright  light  spilling  from  the  corners  of  his  eyes  instead  of  tears.  "Isn't  there  any  part  of  you  that  wants  more  than  this  from  the  world?"  He  gestured  at  the  wreckage  that  surrounded  them,  the  mess  that  had  become  of  what  was  once  beautiful.

"I  won't  let  you  destroy  everything,"  he  told  the  villain.  "All  for  One's  greed  for  power  and  your  hatred  will  not  triumph  over  our  collective  will."  Izuku  was  not  in  this  fight  alone,  and  all  the  previous  users  of  One  for  All  remain  determined.  "I  will  defeat  you,  Shigaraki,  and  then  I  will  save  you."  

Twice places a hand against his own chest in mock offense.

"Whaaat? Excuse me, but I don't even know what a TikTok is-" he abjectly lies, whipping out his phone to open his feed.