Authors note:
Speaking: "…"
Thinking: '…'
___
??? POV
The same night
Hidden bar, Camino alleys
Standing behind a counter polishing a whiskey glass was a man, or rather, a cloud of purple smoke in the shape of a human wearing an elegant suit.
On one of the barstools before the counter sat a young man with shaggy light-blue hair and a dried hand mounted on his face. He wore a black long-sleeved t-shirt and black pants.
"That NPC is running late again. Once he finally gets here, I'm gonna disintegrate another one of his pathetic teeth he's so fond of." The blue-haired man paused to make strange movements with his hands. "Yes, that sounds right, don't you think so too, Kurogiri?" he continued, directing his question at the living smoke behind the counter.
"Now, now, Tomura, remember Grian promised us two very promising new members. We should at least hear him out," Kurogiri suggested while setting down the glass and picking up another.
Tomura groaned, slumping forward and scratching his neck violently. "Uhhh, fine. I guess you do have a point. But if those guys are boring, I'm gonna murder them alongside his pathetic teeth."
Just then, footsteps echoed outside. Both of their heads turned toward the door.
"Speak of the devil," Tomura commented unenthusiastically.
The door swung open, and three individuals walked in, one noticeably ahead of the other two. The one in front was a middle-aged man with short silver hair, golden-framed round sunglasses, and a peach fuzz mustache. He was missing one of his front teeth. A gold chain necklace hung around his neck, and his attire consisted of a purple suit and a white shirt.
Behind him, on the left, stood a teenage boy with red-and-white hair wearing a casual hoodie and pants. On the right was a young woman with red hair and two black cat-like ears poking out from her head, dressed in a black leather jacket with a red shirt underneath.
Tomura's eyes narrowed. "Oh wow, Grian, what a surprise. You finally decided to show up. What was it this time? You tripped over your own teeth?" he sneered.
Grian exhaled sharply through his nose but didn't react otherwise.
Tomura leaned forward, resting his cheek against his hand as he examined the newcomers. His expression quickly twisted into a scowl. "And for all the waiting, what do I get? A kid who hasn't even finished school yet and a furry. Maybe I should turn you to dust immediately."
He absentmindedly used his right hand to continue scratching his neck while picking up a whiskey glass with his left. The second his fingers curled around it, the glass crumbled to dust.
"You little shit! You better take that back, I'm not a goddamn furry!" the red-haired woman yelled in fury, lunging forward as her hands transformed into tiger paws, claws extended.
An arm blocked her path.
"Easy there, Tigress. Right now, he might not look it, but he's the League's leader," Grian told her. His voice was calm, but his grip was firm.
She bared her teeth but took a step back.
The bi-colored boy scoffed. "So he's Tomura Shigaraki? I thought he'd be a little more imposing."
Tomura twitched, glaring at the boy.
"Well, it doesn't matter," the teen continued indifferently. "I'm Shoto Todoroki, and Grian told me you could help me achieve my goal. That's why I'm here." There was a slight anger in his voice.
Tomura rolled his eyes and pointed at the tiger woman. "At least this guy knows how to introduce himself. You should learn from him, Furry."
She let out a low growl. "Hmph. I guess I can do that. But I swear to god, if you call me 'Furry' one more time, I'll slice you in half."
Tomura clicked his tongue. "Tch. Geez, fine. Just get it over with. So impatient."
"Like you're one to talk!" she shot back. Crossing her arms, she then said, "Anyway, I'm Kuroka Kujou, and this guy told me I'd get to beat up lots of people if I stuck with you. So I'm gonna join your little boy band." She proudly pointed her thumb at herself.
Tomura let out a dry laugh before muttering, "You don't decide that." He exhaled, already feeling a headache coming on, then turned back to Shoto.
"You. What was your name again? Todoroki? Isn't that Endeavor's last name? What's the Number One Hero's kid doing walking right into my hands?" A devilish smile crept beneath his mask, his crimson eyes gleaming with excitement.
The second those words left his mouth, an unbearable coldness filled the room.
Shoto had disappeared from his spot.
Before Tomura could even register it, a sharp icicle blade was pressed against his throat.
His eyes shifted to the person behind him.
Shoto's voice was like frost. "Don't ever think you can threaten me. I may be that bastard's offspring, but I want nothing to do with him. I came to you because my goal is to strike him down from that false pedestal he's standing on and show the world what kind of person he really is."
The blade pressed closer, drawing a thin line of blood. "And if you can't help me achieve that, why should I bother keeping you alive?"
For a brief second, Tomura stiffened. His fingers twitched, a growl forming in his throat, before, suddenly, his lips curled into a wide, twisted grin.
‚Tch, what the hell's with this kid...?' He let out a breath, then started chuckling. "Oh, I like your style. I thought you were just some rich kid with daddy issues, but with a bloodlusted look like that? No, you've killed before as well, haven't you?"
Shoto didn't ease his grip. "At the moment, only thugs who annoyed me and info brokers that let me down. But yeah, I have. What's it to you?"
Tomura's grin widened. "Nothing. You're just exactly the kind of person I was looking for." He leaned forward slightly. "Tell you what, you're in. And since Number One was my biggest concern anyway, I'll gladly help you." He extended his hand.
Shoto retracted the ice blade and stepped back, taking a seat at the bar beside him. "Good. But I'm not shaking your hand."
Tomura groaned and pulled his hand back. "Sure, why not, Candy Cane." He then turned to Grian. "Oh, and I'm keeping the tiger girl as well."
Before the broker could respond, Kuroka grinned wildly and lunged at Tomura, hugging his stomach.
"Yay! Thanks, boss!"
A deep, rumbling sound filled the air.
"Rrrrrrrrrrrr."
Tomura froze. His hands twitched in shock. "Is she seriously purring?" His deadpan expression was priceless.
Shoto, watching in amusement, said, "Sure looks like it. But if I were you, I'd resist the urge to pet her, unless you want her to turn to dust."
Tomura scowled, pulling his hand away from her head. "Oh, shut it."
Grian chuckled smugly. "Well, this has been fun, but if I may be so bold as to ask, what about my payment?"
Tomura waved his hand lazily. "Yeah, yeah, alright. Kurogiri, give him the damn money already. I don't have all night."
After receiving the envelope, Grian left with a smirk and a casual "Bye."
Tomura exhaled and glanced at his two new recruits. A slow, sinister smile formed on his lips.
"Well... this game just got a whole lot more interesting."