What Happens in the Pit

Chapter 4: Surprises

Cadaver's fighters were always scheduled for the first fight of the night.

A more recent development that only started after Izuku ascended to the position of stakeholder was that Cadaver's fights only happened on nights that the healer was there.

Cadaver still brings it up when he's particularly mad at Izuku; narrowing his fight slots like that was not very cash money of him, per Cadaver. It was very cash money of him if you'd ask Izuku, and he refused to apologize for adding to the greater good. When he made the suggestion during a meeting, the stakeholders had looked at Izuku with frozen, incredulous expressions on their faces before one slapped himself on the forehead and muttered to himself about how one of them should have definitely thought of that years ago, so no matter how much Cadaver whined and promised to not go ham on his opponent after they were knocked unconscious (read: lied through his damn teeth), there was no changing their minds.

It got his opponents back into the ring sooner with less down time for healing when it was more readily available right after matches, had newer people feeling more confident going against Cadaver in the first place when there was less of a chance of them dying when they could be carted off of the stage and right to the healer after a match (which had the added bonus of putting on a good show for the spectators), and just overall put more money in the house's pocket, even after the raise they had to give to the healer for the trouble.

Nights that Cadaver was scheduled to fight were also always packed. That night was no different, especially because the stakeholder who doubled as a fighter was also on the schedule to fight one of the newer fighters.

Crowds were guaranteed to see a brutal fight with Cadaver and Viper on the roster, even if they weren't against each other, and even if that fight only lasted 30 seconds. The audience was always in a great mood for the rest of the night, too, flying high off the feeling of adrenaline from that first fight where Cadaver just always gives his best and then just doesn't stop.

The crowd had the same expectant energy when the night came for Cadaver to fight Pitbull.

The crowd was more bloodthirsty than usual, still seething with rage as Jupiter's most loyal fans pressed against the fence surrounding the fighting area, already shouting for Pitbull's downfall before the fighters were even visible, still backstage, preparing themselves for their fight.

Izuku was right against the fence, too, not having to worry about scaring either of the fighters due to his stakeholder status and wanting to witness this fight up close. Ochako was right next to him, seemingly just as bloodthirsty as the crowd.

"Give 'em hell, Cadaver!" she screamed, joining in the general chaos of the masses.

"You know he can't hear you from backstage way out here, right?" Izuku asked, just to be a dick.

Ochako shot him a glare. "It's the general spirit of support, Izuku," she huffed, indignant. "You could stand a little spirit instead of standing there all gloomy."

"I appreciate your feedback," Izuku said, nodding in thought. He then turned toward the fence, cupped his hands around his mouth in hopes that his voice might carry further than anyone else's, even if it might not carry the whole way backstage, and yelled, "Let's go, Kacchan! Kick Cadaver's ass! Be that 10%!"

Ochako elbowed him in the ribs. "What the fuck?" she hissed. "Whose side are you on?"

Izuku shrugged. "I love a good underdog."

Touya came up behind them, elbowing through the crowd, snickering as he picked up the tail-end of their conversation.

"I bet you love to be under a good underdog, too," he interjected as he found his place on the opposite side of Izuku from Ochako.