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Bakugou Katsuki had always known the smell of blood and fire. They were constants in his life, much like the gnawing hunger for strength and the burning need to be the best. But the scent of decay—Shigaraki’s decay—was new, and it crawled under his skin, reminding him of his powerlessness in this moment. Bound, captured, and alone.He glared at the dimly lit room around him, his body heavy with exhaustion but his mind sharp. He wasn’t afraid. Not of these people. Not of anyone. But there was something... different about the silence that stretched in the air, the faint hum of menace that lingered in the shadows.“You look like a cornered beast.”Shigaraki’s voice was a rasp, as if he spoke through layers of dust and death. Bakugou whipped his head toward the sound, baring his teeth.“Shut up, you bastard! You think this is gonna stop me? The heroes are coming for me, and when they do—”Shigaraki raised a hand, cutting him off with an unsettling smirk. “The heroes,” he said slowly, as if tasting the word, “are nothing more than shackles. Don’t you see it? They’re what’s been holding you back, Katsuki.”Bakugou’s brow furrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”Shigaraki moved closer, his red eyes gleaming with something dark and dangerous. “You. You’ve always wanted to be the best, haven’t you? To stand above everyone else. But the society that calls itself ‘good’—they’ve put chains around you. Told you what to do, how to think, how to use your power. They’ll never let you reach your true potential.”Bakugou sneered, the bindings on his wrists straining as his hands curled into fists. “Like you have any idea what power is.”Shigaraki knelt in front of him, his face inches from Bakugou’s, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence between them. Then, slowly, deliberately, Shigaraki spoke.“I know what it means to be free.”Bakugou’s breath caught, though he masked it with a growl. “You call this freedom? Hurting people for fun? Destroying everything you touch?”Shigaraki’s smile widened, but it was devoid of humor. “Freedom isn’t about being good or bad. It’s about doing what you want, without anyone telling you otherwise. The heroes want you to be like them. I want you to be like you.”Bakugou didn’t answer immediately. The words echoed in his mind, circling his anger, twisting his thoughts. He wasn’t stupid—he knew Shigaraki was manipulating him. But there was something in the villain’s gaze, something in the way he spoke, that dug under his skin.“You want to be the best, don’t you, Katsuki?” Shigaraki’s voice was soft now, almost coaxing. “The Number One hero. Stronger than All Might. But you won’t get there by playing their game. You won’t get there by following their rules.”Bakugou clenched his teeth, staring into the cold, dead eyes before him. Shigaraki’s words clawed at something deep inside him, something he had buried under years of being told what was right, what was heroic. Something raw and primal.“What are you offering me?” Bakugou spat, though his voice had lost some of its bite.Shigaraki tilted his head, his smile growing ever more serpentine. “I’m offering you freedom. Power. No rules, no limits. You can take what you want, destroy what holds you back. Be more than what they say you can be.”Bakugou’s heart pounded in his chest. He wasn’t sure if it was anger or... something else. He wanted to be the best, to be the strongest. But the road to being a hero was paved with restrictions, with expectations he had never wanted to meet.“If I say yes,” Bakugou began, his voice low, dangerous, “what’s stopping me from blowing you all to hell once I’ve gotten what I want?”Shigaraki chuckled, his gaze unwavering. “Because, Katsuki, I’m the only one who can give you what you really want. And deep down, you know it.”Bakugou hated the way his stomach twisted, hated the way his mind was racing through every possible outcome. He hated that Shigaraki had a point.No rules. No limits. Just him and his strength.“You have potential,” Shigaraki said, standing up and turning away, his back exposed. “Join us, and I’ll make sure you reach it. Or, you can wait for the heroes to come, and go back to being their little puppet.”Bakugou’s hands trembled. The heroes. His friends. The ones who had fought for him, who had bled for him. But they had also put chains on him, in their own way. Told him to calm down, to hold back, to be something he wasn’t.He closed his eyes, taking a slow breath. The decision was his.When he opened them again, they were blazing with an intensity that made Shigaraki pause.“I’ll join you.”Shigaraki turned, his grin splitting his face. “Welcome to the League of Villains, Bakugou Katsuki.”Bakugou smirked, the familiar heat of his explosions crackling at his fingertips. “Don’t think for a second I’m doing this for you. I’ll become stronger than anyone, and when that happens, you’d better watch your back.”Shigaraki laughed, a cold, eerie sound that echoed through the dark room. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” As Bakugou walked through the halls of the League’s hideout, his mind still churned. He had made his choice, but it wasn’t an easy one. He knew there would be no turning back. He would have to betray everything he once stood for, face the friends who would now see him as the enemy.But none of that mattered now.He would become the strongest. And no one—not the heroes, not his old friends, not even Shigaraki—would stand in his way.For the first time in his life, Bakugou felt truly free.And it was terrifying.
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Bakugou followed Shigaraki through the narrow hallway of the League's hideout, his heart pounding with the weight of his decision. His mind replayed the moment he had agreed to join, the words still feeling foreign on his tongue. He didn't trust Shigaraki, but he wasn’t here to trust. He was here for power. For freedom.As they approached a wide, heavy door at the end of the corridor, Shigaraki glanced over his shoulder with that unsettling smile of his. “You’ll want to meet the others,” he said, pushing the door open with a creak.Bakugou stepped inside, and what he saw almost made him pause.It wasn’t the dark, dungeon-like space he expected. Instead, he found himself in what looked like a large, casual living room. The walls were dingy, sure, and the furniture mismatched and worn, but it was… homey. A low hum of conversation filled the air, mixing with the sound of TV static. A few people were scattered around the room, lounging on couches or in chairs, some of them recognizable right away.Dabi, with his staple-ridden skin and cold, detached glare, sat on the armrest of a sofa. Toga was draped over the couch itself, twirling a knife in her hands while Twice animatedly chatted with Mr. Compress, who sat in his usual theatrical posture. Spinner, the lizard-like villain, leaned against the wall, his sword propped beside him as he muttered something under his breath.But what truly stopped Bakugou in his tracks were the three figures seated together in the center of the room—people he never expected to see here.Eijirou. Denki. Hanta.Kirishima, Kaminari, and Sero.His boyfriends.Bakugou’s body tensed, the air around him crackling with a suppressed explosion as his eyes narrowed. For a moment, all he could do was stare. The sight of them, dressed in casual clothes, their expressions relaxed, hit him like a punch to the gut. His mouth felt dry, and his mind raced, trying to make sense of it.They looked back at him, not with surprise or confusion, but with something darker. Something… knowing.“What the hell…?” Bakugou’s voice came out rougher than he intended, his fists tightening at his sides. He wasn’t sure whether to be angry or… hurt.Shigaraki stepped aside, giving him a clear view of the room as he gestured toward the trio. “I believe you know them already.”Bakugou’s gaze flickered to Shigaraki for only a second before snapping back to the boys. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now.Eijirou was the first to stand. He ran a hand through his spiky red hair, looking almost sheepish, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that Bakugou had never noticed before. “Hey, Katsuki.”“Hey?” Bakugou repeated, the word a growl. “Hey? What the hell are you three doing here? What the hell is going on?!”Denki rubbed the back of his neck, exchanging a glance with Hanta, who leaned back on the couch, his arms crossed over his chest, seemingly unbothered by the confrontation. “We were kinda hoping you’d figure it out sooner,” Denki said, his voice laced with nervous laughter. “But… surprise?”Bakugou’s hands twitched, his palms itching to explode. “You better start talking before I blow you all to pieces,” he threatened, though his voice wavered just enough for them to hear the confusion behind the anger.Kirishima stepped forward, holding his hands up in a gesture of peace. “Look, man, I know this is… a lot. But we’re all on the same side here.”“The same side?” Bakugou’s voice cracked. “Since when are you on the side of these bastards?!”Kirishima’s jaw tightened. “Since we realized what UA really stands for. Since we realized the heroes are never going to let us be who we are.” His words echoed eerily, reminding Bakugou of what Shigaraki had said only moments ago.Denki leaned forward on the couch, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by something more serious. “We’ve been playing the long game, Katsuki. We’ve been working from the inside this whole time. UA doesn’t care about us—they never did. All they care about is keeping their reputation spotless, even if it means controlling us, making us fit into their mold.”Hanta finally spoke, his voice calm and measured. “We’re done playing their game.”Bakugou’s head was spinning. He didn’t know whether to feel betrayed, furious, or... relieved? His mind recoiled at that thought. He couldn’t be relieved that they were here, that they had turned. But deep down, a part of him—a part he had buried under years of hero training—understood.They were free.“You’re all traitors,” Bakugou said, his voice barely above a whisper, though it was laced with venom. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time.”Kirishima flinched, but held his ground. “We didn’t lie, Katsuki. Not about us. Not about what we feel.” He took a step closer, his crimson eyes locking onto Bakugou’s. “We’re still your boyfriends. We still love you. We just… we see things differently now.”Bakugou’s heart thudded painfully in his chest. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”“It wasn’t the right time,” Denki said, standing up now, too. “We were waiting… hoping you’d see things the way we do.”“You knew,” Bakugou spat, turning his glare on Shigaraki, who had been watching the exchange in amused silence. “You knew they were here this whole time!”Shigaraki shrugged. “Of course. They’re valuable members of the League.”Bakugou felt sick. His mind raced with a thousand thoughts, each one louder and more chaotic than the last. The people he trusted the most had been working with the enemy, had turned their backs on everything UA stood for. Everything he stood for.But had he really still believed in UA?Kirishima took another step closer, his expression softening. “Katsuki, we didn’t choose this to hurt you. We chose it because it’s what we believe in. We’re stronger here, together, than we ever were at UA. You know that.”Bakugou clenched his fists, his heart warring with his mind. He wanted to scream at them, to blast them through the wall, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. His feelings for them—his love for them—ran too deep, and despite everything, that connection hadn’t been severed.He stared at them, his body trembling with a mixture of anger, confusion, and a strange sense of relief. “You should’ve told me.”Eijirou nodded, stepping even closer, now inches away from him. “You’re right. We should’ve. But we’re telling you now.” His voice softened. “Come with us, Katsuki. We can be free together.”For a long moment, Bakugou said nothing. His mind was a whirlwind of emotion, the weight of their words pressing down on him. They had betrayed him, but they were also offering him something he had always craved—true freedom.And despite everything, he still loved them.Finally, with a heavy sigh, Bakugou unclenched his fists and let his gaze flicker between them. “Damn it… you guys are such idiots.”Denki grinned, and Hanta let out a low chuckle. Kirishima’s eyes lit up with hope. “Is that a yes?”Bakugou’s lip curled into a smirk, though there was no humor behind it. “It’s a ‘don’t make me regret this.’”Shigaraki clapped his hands together, his grin widening. “Well, isn’t this just heartwarming.”Bakugou shot him a glare, but for the first time in a long while, he didn’t feel trapped. Maybe, just maybe, this was where he was meant to be.The League of Villains. The place where he could finally be free.
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Katsuki sat on the edge of the couch, staring at the cracked TV screen as Kirishima, Kaminari, and Sero gathered their things in the dim light of the League's hideout. The tension in the air was suffocating, the weight of their choices pressing down on them like an unspoken truth.“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Kirishima asked quietly, zipping up his jacket. His red eyes held a flicker of uncertainty, a vulnerability that Bakugou had rarely seen in him.“Tch. I’ve got this under control. Get out of here before you idiots screw everything up,” Bakugou grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.Kirishima hesitated, giving a slow nod. “Just… be careful.”Kaminari tried to ease the tension, flashing a grin. “He’s Katsuki, Eijirou. He’ll be fine. If anyone can pull this off, it’s him.”Sero leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. “We’ve gotta move. The heroes could be here any minute.”Bakugou shot them a sharp glare. “Go. Now.”With one last shared glance, Kirishima, Denki, and Sero disappeared into the shadows, leaving Bakugou alone with the weight of their shared betrayal. The door clicked shut behind them, the sound echoing in the empty room like a final goodbye. The hideout was silent, save for Bakugou’s steady breathing as he paced. Every minute felt like an eternity as he waited for the heroes to make their move. Shigaraki had been ecstatic when Bakugou agreed to play the part of the helpless captive—another layer to his game of deception.Then it happened. The door to the hideout burst open with a thunderous crash, sending a shockwave through the room. Smoke billowed in, and Bakugou threw himself to the ground, playing his part with practiced precision. He coughed, covering his head as he squinted through the haze.He heard them before he saw them—footsteps pounding against the floor, orders being barked in sharp tones.“Secure the area! Bakugou’s priority!”The pros. Just as planned.Through the thinning smoke, Bakugou saw the silhouettes of his rescuers—Endeavor, Hawks, Best Jeanist, and a few other top-tier heroes storming into the room, eyes darting for any signs of the League.Best Jeanist, with his usual calm demeanor, was the first to approach Bakugou. “Bakugou, are you hurt?”Bakugou pushed himself off the ground, forcing a scowl onto his face. “I’m fine, dammit! What took you so long?! I’ve been stuck here waiting for you morons!”Endeavor’s towering figure stepped forward, his flames flickering as he scanned the room. “Where are Shigaraki and the others? They wouldn’t leave you unguarded.”Bakugou gritted his teeth, playing the part of the frustrated captive. “They think I’m some weakling they can leave tied up. They’re underestimating me, just like you guys always do.”Hawks, his wings twitching with restless energy, shot him a half-smile. “That sounds like the Bakugou I know. Come on, kid, let’s get you out of here before they decide to come back.”Bakugou shoved his hands into his pockets, giving a curt nod. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”As they moved quickly through the hideout, Bakugou couldn’t help but admire how seamlessly the pros worked together. Endeavor and Hawks led the charge, while Best Jeanist and a few other heroes stayed close, ready to defend at a moment’s notice.Despite the lingering smoke and debris, they encountered little resistance. The League had planned for this—Shigaraki and the others were long gone by the time the heroes arrived.As they burst through the exit and into the open air, Bakugou inhaled deeply, letting the cold night air fill his lungs. The decaying building behind him faded into the background as they made their escape.“We’re clear,” Hawks said, his wings spreading wide as he glanced back at the hideout. “Looks like the League didn’t want a fight tonight.”Best Jeanist gave a slow nod, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. “They’ll be back. But for now, let’s get Bakugou home.”Home. The word felt hollow in Bakugou’s chest as they loaded into the transport vehicle. Home wasn’t UA anymore. Home was the League now, whether he was ready to admit it or not.As the transport rumbled to life, Bakugou leaned back in his seat, staring out the window at the city lights. He had played his part perfectly—just as planned. The heroes believed they had rescued him, that he was still on their side.They didn’t know the truth.This was just the beginning. When the transport finally pulled up to UA, Bakugou stepped out without a word. The pros didn’t linger, save for Best Jeanist, who gave him a long, searching look before turning away.“Get some rest, Bakugou. We’ll talk more tomorrow,” Best Jeanist said.Bakugou gave him a half-hearted nod, barely acknowledging the comment as he turned toward the dormitory building. His body was tired, but his mind was still racing. The plan was in motion, and there was no turning back now.He stepped inside, his thoughts already shifting to the next phase. They had no idea what he was really doing, what he had agreed to. For now, they believed he was still their Bakugou.But soon, they would learn just how wrong they were.
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Bakugou stepped out of the transport, his muscles stiff from the ride back to UA. The familiar sight of the campus spread out before him, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun. The air was cold, a sharp contrast to the heat burning in his chest. He kept his expression neutral, though his heart was racing, his mind already churning with plans.The heroes believed he was safe, that he had been rescued. But as soon as he was inside, the real work would begin.As he walked across the campus, a few students turned to look at him, murmuring under their breaths. He shot them a withering glare, and they quickly averted their eyes, not daring to say anything directly. Even after everything, Bakugou’s reputation as the explosive, short-tempered powerhouse remained intact.Good. Let them think he hadn’t changed.Once he reached the dormitory building, he was met by a few pro heroes who were stationed to keep watch. He gave them a quick, dismissive nod and pushed open the door, stepping into the common area where his classmates had already gathered.“Kacchan!” Midoriya called, rushing up to him. His face was full of relief, eyes bright as though he had been holding his breath since they brought Bakugou back.Bakugou grunted in response, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I’m fine, Deku. Stop hovering.”Midoriya blinked but backed off, his expression faltering just a bit. “I’m just glad you’re back…”“Yeah, yeah. Go bother someone else.” Bakugou brushed past him, his mind elsewhere. He didn’t have time for Midoriya’s concern. He had to get upstairs. There were people waiting for him.As he made his way up the stairs toward his room, he could feel the weight of eyes on him, but he didn’t care. He had other things to deal with - more important things.The moment he reached his door, he turned the handle and stepped inside, closing it behind him with a soft click. The instant the door shut, strong arms wrapped around his waist, and he was pulled into a firm embrace.“You made it,” Kirishima’s voice rumbled against his ear, the tension Bakugou hadn’t even realized he was carrying melting away just a little. He felt Kirishima’s warm breath against his neck, the familiar comfort grounding him in the chaos.“Of course I did, dumbass,” Bakugou muttered, though his voice softened as he turned in Kirishima’s arms to face him.Kirishima grinned down at him, his red eyes filled with warmth and something deeper, more dangerous. He pulled Bakugou closer, their lips crashing together in a kiss that spoke volumes more than words ever could. Bakugou felt his pulse quicken, his hands instinctively reaching up to grab Kirishima’s shoulders as they deepened the kiss.The sound of the door clicking shut behind him made Bakugou pull back just in time to see Denki and Hanta step out from the shadows of the room. Denki’s grin was mischievous, his golden eyes flashing as he sauntered over.“Took you long enough,” Denki teased, his fingers brushing against Bakugou’s cheek before he leaned in for a kiss of his own. Bakugou kissed him back, rougher this time, letting the tension between them spill over. Denki let out a low laugh when they parted, and Bakugou could see the excitement dancing in his eyes.“We’ve missed you,” Sero said, stepping closer and pulling Bakugou into a kiss of his own. It was slower, more deliberate, and Bakugou melted into it despite himself. There was a strange comfort in the way they moved, the way they touched him, as though the world outside didn’t matter in this room, in this moment.For just a second, Bakugou let himself get lost in them—in the warmth, the safety, the feeling of belonging. But he couldn’t afford to lose focus. Not now.When they finally broke apart, Bakugou stepped back, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. His gaze flickered between the three of them, the weight of what they were about to do settling in.“We don’t have time for this,” Bakugou muttered, though his voice lacked its usual edge. He turned toward his desk and pulled out a small, combination-locked notebook. “We need to move before these idiots figure out something’s wrong.”Kirishima sat down on the bed, his expression growing serious as he nodded. “You’re right. We’ve got to be careful with this. If anyone finds out what we’re doing—”“They won’t,” Bakugou cut in, his eyes narrowing as he flipped through the notebook. “I’m not stupid. We’re going to do this right.”Sero leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. “So, what’s the plan?”Bakugou’s mind whirred as he laid out the next steps. “The heroes trust me now. They think I’ve been ‘rescued’—that I’m on their side. We’re going to use that to our advantage.”Denki plopped down next to Kirishima, his grin fading as he listened intently. “You want us to steal intel, right? From the heroes?”“Exactly.” Bakugou’s voice was sharp, his gaze flicking between them. “I have access to everything now—plans, schedules, patrols. They won’t suspect a thing. I’ll take what I can, bit by bit, and we’ll feed it back to the League.”Kirishima frowned slightly. “How are we going to get it to them without being caught?”Bakugou smirked, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve already thought about that. We’ll use a burner phone to send encrypted messages. I’ll keep it hidden here, and we’ll send updates when no one’s around.”Denki’s grin returned, excitement bubbling in his eyes. “Damn, Kats, you’re really going all in on this.”“Of course I am,” Bakugou snapped, though there was a flicker of pride in his voice. “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right.”Sero pushed off the wall, moving closer to the desk. “You’re sure they won’t notice anything missing?”“I’ll be careful. I’m not going to take anything big at once. Just small bits of information, stuff they won’t notice is gone until it’s too late.”Kirishima’s brow furrowed with concern, but he nodded. “We’ve got your back, Katsuki. Just… be careful. If they find out—”“They won’t,” Bakugou said firmly. “I’ve got this under control.”The room fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of their plan settling over them. This was dangerous, more dangerous than anything they had done before. But the stakes were too high to back down now.Bakugou looked at his boyfriends—his partners in crime—and for a brief moment, he felt a strange sense of calm. They were in this together, and they weren’t turning back.“Let’s get to work,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips. “We’ve got a lot to do.”