Face Me Like An Idiot

25

“It doesn’t matter how many punks with ambition you bring along. That only increases the risks. It’s far better to have a small number of experienced elites.”

“Oh? I have not heard that one before,” Said Izuku, holding his phone up to his ear and taking a sip from the bottle of Vodka that he had snuck into the camp. “Did you make it up to impress me?”

A low chuckle sounded from the other side of his phone. “No. That was what Shigaraki said to us as he created our team; the ‘Vanguard Action Squad’.”

Izuku scoffed, a smirk gracing his lips. “What a peculiar name.”

“Indeed,” the other agreed smugly.

“No matter; it would only benefit us,” Izuku mused, lowering the bottle from his lips. “Has he told you the objective of the mission? Surely, they could not be planning an attack on a bunch of students for fun.”

“It seems so. They have yet to inform me of a goal.”

Izuku hummed thoughtfully. “Perhaps they have already figured out that they have a spy amongst them?” He had hoped that would not be the case, but what other reason could there be?

“I’d have to be more careful, then…” 

Izuku hung up the phone, a manic grin splitting his face. His gleeful expression faltered when he heard the sound of a rock rolling on the barren mountain. 

“Who’s there? Show yourself,” he demanded, emerald eyes narrowed into slits. 

A petite, black-haired boy crept to the edge of the cave he was hiding inside. He was wearing an obnoxious crimson hat that had two golden horns that protruded the front. 

“W-what are you going to do?!” the kid yelled, voice laced with false confidence that his body did not portray-- if the frequent shake of his body and the tears prickling at the edges of his eyes had a say. Izuku nearly laughed at the pitiful sight.

“Tell anybody about this, and I won’t hesitate to decapitate you; even if you are merely a child.” Izuku hissed. It was almost an empty threat. After all, he would never severely harm an innocent child; much less kill him.

Izuku recognised the boy from somewhere; the news, perhaps. 

That was when it hit him. Ah.

“Kota Izumi; son of the deceased Water Hose heroes,” Izuku felt a pang of sympathy for the child in front of him. The boy looked painfully young; perhaps even younger than Izuku when he lost his mother. 

Replacing the former menace in his eyes, there was a glimpse of sadness and empathy reflecting in them. A comforting smile graced his lips, instead of the previous scowl.

Shocked by the sudden change in atmosphere, Kota said nothing-- did nothing. He could not bring himself to move, despite his body screaming at him to just run and hide from the threat before him.

It was that smile-- that sickeningly sweet smile. It looked like Izuku understood his situation. And, honestly, he did. Izuku could relate to the feelings Kota was feeling; he understood. 

“Let’s go, Mandalay must be searching for you,” Izuku said, his baleful tone disappearing, leaving a kind and harmless voice in its wake. He held out a hand for Kota to take, which the boy reluctantly complied to. 

-

The night sky illuminated with twinkling stars as laughter could be heard. Water splashed onto Kirishima’s face, courtesy of Kaminari, taking the redhead by surprise.