𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐘. ( izuku midoriya )

10 - # GAME OVER

U.S.J. ARC
— # part four

content warnings: brief descriptions of injuries.

— SHIGARAKI FURIOUSLY SCRATCHED at the patches of exposed skin on his neck.

"what's wrong?" all might yelled, raising his arms in a taunting motion to the villains standing afar, "not attacking me? i thought you said you were going to clear this level earlier, well? come and get me, if you dare."

kirishima grimaced, "this is... intense."

"as i expected, there's no reason for us to fight now. he'll handle this." todoroki muttered coldly, shooting a glance at those of us standing beside him.

my eyebrows furrowed, body pushing me to lean forward slightly as i studied the number one hero's form. a tremble, one too minuscule to be easily recognized by the others, shook all might's skin. just slightly.

"he's stalling, isn't he?" i whispered.

izuku's eyes flickered over to me, voice dropping to a whisper low enough to match mine. "what did you say?"

"all might. he's too injured to fight, right? he's stalling."

viridian eyes locked on my features, gaze burning into my skin in a dancing flame that quickly alerted me of his stare. i let my head turn, eyes flitting to him, before he quickly whipped around and broke the contact.

all might leaned forward, still taunting the villains, "what? you scared?"

shigaraki's steps fell to stumbles, eyes narrowing ahead as his voice shook in desperation. "if only nomu was here. he'd rush you right now, pound you to the ground without giving it a second thought."

"tomura shigaraki, please, do not fret." kurogiri said, successfully catching the attention of the league of villains' leader. "he has definitely weakened. nomu's attacks were successful. our underlines are recovering. we likely still have a few minutes before their reinforcements arrive. we haven't missed our chance to kill all might."

shigaraki's trembles quickly stilled, letting the misted words sink in and shift his perspective. "yeah... yeah, you're right. this is it, we have no choice. we have to do it now."

upon his words, the villains previously taken care of by aizawa stagger up, all with their various grunts and groans of pain that somehow leave a sense of pride for my teacher in my mind. they stand and lock eyes with our group, beginning to make their way over to us.

kirishima's breath hitches, falling into a defensive position. "i think all might can hold his own against those two main guys. let's make sure these dudes don't hurt anybody else!"

todoroki nodded curtly in response, glancing back at izuku and i questioningly. "will you be joining us?"

izuku, eyes flickering to each aspect of the battlefield as he quickly soaks up each piece of information available to him, nodded softly in response. his fists were tightly clenched, feet shifting just slightly as if he were preparing to leap up and do something incredibly idiotic.