Considering my work alone syndrome, I find it very difficult to accept help from a man who can bare my ass to the world at any time.
But, there is no way, no matter how I love to deceive myself, that I would be able to defeat these monsters on my own.
"What's in it for you?"
Shigaraki shrugs absent-mindedly. The kind of behaviour I hate.
"If you are wondering if I'm going to ask you to turn yourself in, in exchange, don't sweat it. I just want to have some wild, out of this world fun".
I watch him, employing all my reading skills as I try to guage the truth in his words.
He offers me his hand. I take it hesitantly and clasp it. He better be for real, or I would end him before he could say my name.
He smiles faintly at me, a smile that does not reach his eyes, I notice.
"Do you know where they are headed?"
"No. Believe me when I say I know nothing about them".
"Then, why are you out here? Instead of being in bed with your wife".
I stiffen, but say nothing. The hope that I might see her again is very faint, but it is enough for me to cling to.
That is why I want to get rid of these monsters, so that there would still be something left of my world for her to return to.
Shigaraki-kun gives me an understanding look when I don't respond.
"I'm sorry for your loss. That explains why you are desperately hunting these monsters down".
I stare at him as understanding dawns on me. He thinks my wife is dead. Well, she might as well be.
"We should get moving". I say and start walking.
"I've got a car, Cassanova".
I turn back to look at him.
"They seem to be very sensitive to noise. The last thing we need is the purring engine of a sports car waking up the night".
His shoulders slump dramatically.
"I don't like the prospect of walking. They could be miles away from here".
"Or just a few blocks away". I mumble.
He tosses his hands in the air and starts following me.
We pass by a small joint of people. I stop and watch as I see the daily news broadcast. Everyone's breath is foggy due to the cold night air.
The media describes them as aliens or mutated creatures. Several scientists have been invited to speak on the case, each trying to arrive at a logical conclusion.
Some drunk guy staggers off his chair with a loud scraping sound, collapsing the table in the process.
The ground starts vibrating. The windows of the nearby buildings are rattling profusely. Then, the television screen cracks along several diagonals, before the screen scatters on the ground.
The tables in the sit- out bar start vibrating. The wood splinters.
I look at Shigaraki, who stares right back at me.
Are the monsters marching here?
We have to get everyone to safety. Where exactly is safety? The monsters can easily break into buildings, where could the people hide?
"Everybody run!" I yell at the top of my lungs.
My voice is croaky and toad- like from all the dust I've inhaled.
"You sound like a goose in labour".
I turn to look at him.
"Thanks."
Barely anyone starts fleeing for their lives. Most of them are too drunk to tell if they have ten fingers.
These people are goners. There is no way we can save them all.
I see them coming.
You can barely tell the difference between them and the black night. Their velvety skin is smooth and hairless. Their tongues are hanging out like there is not enough space to contain it inside the mouth. They keep drooling a dark coloured substance I'd like to term saliva.
The women start scampering away, pulling off heels and dragging their tight dresses to indecent lengths so they can run fast.
I brace my feet on the ground and pull out my sword.
These are not human beings that I can calculate how long it would take for them to reach for their gun, or dodge my attack. These are night creatures which have a speed and agility unmatched by anything I know.
"Kawaii!" Shigaraki yells as he starts running forward.
Insane man, I think. But, I find myself running forward too. Probably to my death.
I pull out my two swords and charge forward.
Shigaraki lunches himself into the air and stabs one in the centre of it's head. Black blood oozes out.
He tries to pull out his sword, but finds it stuck.
There are not as many beasts here as their earthquake led me to believe. That meant that the majority of them are still scattered in the city.
A beast hauls itself at Shigaraki with its mouth wide open.
There's no way I would make it in time to intercept the attack. But, I can create a diversion.
I throw a dagger. The monster turns red blazing eyes on me and I start rethinking my decision.
It doesn't rush on me. It stalks slowly, baring it's teeth so widely, that you might think it's smiling.
I run forward and slide under its belly, slicing it's chest and abdomen with my sword. This particular one moves on all fours. Its guts spills out on me. I am covered in the black substance. The creature slowly falls on its left side. I was almost afraid it would fall on me.
---
I just lie there, feeling totally disgusted.
Shigaraki has managed to pull his sword out.
He is engaged in battle with another beast with six arms and a dragon-looking head. He moves with the grace of a fencer and the agility of a ball room dancer.
The other demons start running away, leaving their slime and the shadows of their red eyes in their wake.
I don't miss the part where Shigaraki is tossed brutally against a building by one swift movement of the monster's arm. It's tail is made of retractible spikes designed for murder.
Shigaraki is struggling to dodge every swipe of the tail while trying to get close enough for a kill.
I slowly rise up. Gobbles of the disgusting mass drips down my body. I wipe it off my face and thunk it on the ground with a soft thud.
No matter what, I must not lick my lips. Who would have thought that it's not so easy to not lick one's lips?
Shigaraki gets tossed through the window of a building. The loud sound of shattering glass echoes through the night. My ears start ringing.
I jump on one of the tables and boost myself onto the back of the monster. As I am about to stab it, I feel it absorbing me. It is sucking me into itself. One of my arms is being absorbed. I am only left with one arm. I quickly sink my sword into it's head.
It collapses on the ground. I land on the ground with a loud thud.
"I had the monster. I didn't need your help". Shigaraki says.
"Did you?" I murmur.
I struggle to pull my arm and legs out.
"What the hell!" He exclaims and quickly grabs my free arm to pull me out.
I feel myself suddenly pulling free. The air feels chilly on my grime covered skin.
He finally pulls me out and we both crash on the tarmac.
"Nice going".
Then, the monsters we had killed start rising and healing themselves.
They turn and run away.
I and Shigaraki exchange glances.