The Catalyst (Can We Change the World?)

Chapter 17

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Red burned in Shoto's vision, it was all he could see and hear and feel on his skin. Red warmth trickling from his knife and dripped on the floor and thundered in his ears as he heard those heartbeats stop.

For the first time in his life he felt like the monster he had been described as. Three people.

Three innocent people killed by his hands. His knife. Sure it was to save Denki from having to do it but but their deaths still belonged to him. He'd have to shoulder it and carry their lives for the rest of his own.

Shoto would have thought it would feel different. That killing the innocent would feel physically different from killing heroes but it was terrifying how normal it felt. He could do it again.

He could do it again and again and it would feel the same. Their lives would be gone as quick as any hero. A knife to the throat or chest.

All of them died the same. A stab to the chest- that would kill anyone. Being burned alive- same thing. There was nothing special about those innocent people that made their lives more important but

But Shoto could feel it. He could feel the life draining for their bodies so quickly no one could stop it if they tried. Not even All For One.

Though maybe he wasn't planning on stopping him regardless.

Maybe that was his motive all along, get him to kill and prove that he was under his control just as much as Shigaraki. But he wasn't.

No.

Because he wasn't going to let All For One get away with it.

Shoto had made a promise and he was going to live up to it- when the time was right he was going to strike again. Once the conditions were perfect, he'd hit where he knew it would hurt.

He threw a knife in between All For One and Shigaraki forcing them in opposite directions. AFO to the left, away from him and Shigaraki to the right towards him.

A smiled bloomed on his face and he knew he looked insane. He felt insane. With a swift and easy movement, so easy he could have laughed, he sped to Shigaraki, pulling his arms behind him and freezing his entire hand except the thumb and middle finger.

Without his ability to decay him, Shoto held a knife to his throat and pulled him against his chest, pressing the blade in gently. It wasn't enough to break the skin but it was enough to scare them all.

"Come on, say it." Shoto taunted. "Call me powerless now!"

"The fuck are you doing!" Shigaraki cried, trying to get free but Shoto was stronger than him and his quirk was immobilized. There was no way he could break out.

"Shoto, relax!" Touya called out, there was something different in his brothers eyes. Guilt, as he expected, but also a wildness that terrified him.

There was nothing scarier than a killer who wasn't afraid of anything and Shoto looked fearless. It was almost as if killing innocent people stripped away any fear he had inside of him.

And Shoto ignored both of them, staring at All For One, still holding the knife to his successor's throat.

"What?" he taunted more, "cat's got your tongue?" Shoto narrowed his eyes, "don't think I won't do it." He growled, pressing the knife in further.

Shigaraki winced as the blade cut skin. All For One's eyes opened every so slightly.

"Do not be rash, child." He said conversationally, as if Shoto wasn't dead serious.