Rising Smoke || A Radioactive Biohazard

Chapter 3: Back-Alley Deal

Hōshasei was walking down one of the many backstreets on his way home when his mask was taken from him. Walking down an alley wasn't the best of things to do. Crime often happens back there, drug dealers, bullies, basically if you go down an alley- you better be tough enough to show you're not one to mess with. He half haphazardly tried to cover his mouth and nose as he chased down the perpetrator that snatched it off his face. Sadly, if you're going to run after someone you need to breathe; small wisps of a mint green smoke comes from the holes and gaps of his hands. Hōsha was about to give up the chase when a sudden scream made him stop.

There, right in front of him, the assailant turned to dust in front of his own eyes. Leaving behind his mask on the ground. He could only stare as a blue-haired individual picked up Hōsha's mask and held onto it with a pinkie out. The male himself had a mask on as well, taking his time he slowly approached the uneasy teen, his red eyes seemed to glow in the long dark alley. It was then that he realized that he was in an area he wasn't familiar with. Hōsha must've chased too far... 

The young man stopped a few feet away, eyeing the teen up and down.

"Why are you so adamant about getting this mask back? Is it because it's a gift? Or maybe..society has forced you to wear it so you can be 'normal'." The gray-blue haired male stated.

Hōsha couldn't exactly respond. His instinct to cover his mouth and nose was there and will forever be there, even if the other male had a mask of his own. He just continued to stare at him and occasionally glance at the pile of dust that was once a person. Hōshasei could only conclude that in front of him was a villain due to his unbothered nature of killing someone. That's when he decided to remove his hands from his face. If this man is a villain then Hōshasei had no issue of 'accidentally' killing them. Villains hurt others without any remorse, they didn't care if someone had a family- they only care about themselves.

"Oh? What's with that look on your face? You look annoyed more than afraid now. Going back to my original plan though, I have a proposition for you. Why don't you join us- the League of Villains. After all, society has shunned you since you received your quirk. Forcing you to live a life alone because of your 'villainous quirk'. Where were the heroes when you needed them? Probably taking a photo, signing a meaningless paper for an already happy kid. Those so-called 'heroes' have failed you every time you ask for help. NPC's look your way and turn around, crossing the street." The teen spoke...more like preached. 

Hōshasei felt the air leave him when this other teen mentioned his life. How did he find out about the way he was being treated? Was this a threat? However..what the man said was true. Life gave him a quirk that could kill others and prevented him from living a normal life. Everywhere he went, people stared and cleared the way for him. Keeping 4 feet away as if touching him would make you drop to the floor without a heartbeat. Not to mention his father. Hōsha had heard the whispers of people as he passed them. Ugly things they said, cruel and horrible.

Hōshasei opened his mouth, mint green smoke came from it. The very same smoke that could kill someone if they breathed it in for too long or cause lasting damage just by a single breath of it. His words in his mind were steady, the words that came out were shaky and unsure. Just like the expression on his face as he stared at the concrete and gravel beneath him.

"I'll...I'll think about it.."

The blue-haired man stared, eyes cold. Calculating. Clearly he didn't like Hōshasei's answer to him.

"What's there to think about?"

His eyes narrowed at Hōshasei, eyebrows raised slightly. His questions don't seem like a question. It's a statement. It's the truth. This guy could tell that the mint haired teen was wavering.

"Don't you see how society wronged you?"

Instantly, all the times he was cast aside came to mind. How after receiving his quirk, he was expelled for putting so many kids in the hospital and for murder. How often he was locked in the basement. His father yelling at him. His mother dying a few months after trying to convince him to take off his mask around her. How his whole neighborhood tended to stay away from him and his house. Word traveled fast thanks to the paper and television. New Reporters ate it up- the headlines were everywhere for weeks. "Child Kills Classmates!" "New Quirk Kills Potential Heros!" Then, those who survived had headlines like: "Brave Children Survive Villainous Quirk!" or something like that. 

Hōshasei's face becomes stoic, a frown comes to his lips as he begins to admit to what this guy is telling him. His stance wavers more. Perhaps heroes aren't all that good after all. His eyebrows narrow, anger began to find a home within his heart where acceptance should've been. 

"All the times they refused to help you. Pushed you away as your quirk got out of control and hurt others without you meaning to."

The blue haired man pressed onward. He saw the string of hope, breaking.

"They only see you as a villain. So why not be a villain."

Hōshasei glared at the floor, eyes narrowed. The seed had been planted the day he got his quirk, now it has bloomed and started to grow. Why should he be the one who has to change? Why couldn't they accept that the quirk he was born with- was out of his control. He clenched his hands into fists; why should he hide who he was? The years had caught up to him, and now he accepts it. Open arms and all. Villain this, villain that. It's always playing Heroes and Villains. Always. They never asked to be villains, well, some of them if not most of them. He felt like killing someone. Killing those news reporters, killing those teachers...killing...those heroes.

The man approaches Hōshasei, puts out his hand with his pinky extended, and smiles. He knows he is right. He knows he just caught a new player to add to his party. All he had done was unlock some of their backstory to get them to see clearly.

"The name's Shigaraki. Tomura Shigaraki. What do you say and join us, the League of Villains. We will kill All Might and rule a new world."

Hōshasei looked at Shigaraki before slowly shaking his head; he never thought it would come to this. He took his hand and clasps Shigaraki's. The hope, the light in his heart, dimmed more. His hope of being saved, being seen by a hero- extending their hand. Faded slightly. For it was a villain who had extended their hand, and he took it. 

"I say we have a deal."