truth only hurts when you want to believe a lie

decisions, decisions

"I think I speak for everyone when I say I never want to see another man-made monster again." Dabi groaned, collapsing onto the ground with the rest of his class, all of them having made it through the forest and to the camp grounds.

"You and me both, my dude."

"Holy shit! Jump scare warning!" Dabi screeched, sending a lick of flames towards Izuku. He snickered when Izuku yelped and barely managed to dodge the flames. "So sorry, I mistook your face for an eldritch horror."

"You just contradicted yourself, Dabi. Man-made monsters and eldritch horrors are not the same at all." Toga sighed, shaking her head in disappointment. "That's just common knowledge."

"Yeah, come on, Touya. Rookie mistake." Todoroki smirked at the glare his brother sent his way, discreetly high fiving Toga when Dabi huffed and looked away.

"All I'm saying is that this food better be worth all this trouble." Kaminari huffed, draping himself over Izuku's shoulders after the villain sat on the ground with the rest of the students. "Because boy am I starving."

Izuku tilted his head, planting a small kiss on Kaminari's cheek. He pulled away with a shit eating grin, projecting his voice in order for his friends and brother to hear him. "Is it food you're hungry for or can I offer you...something else?"

Shigaraki groaned immediately, glaring first at the other students for laughing at Izuku and then at his brother. "You are sincerely the most annoying creature I have ever had the displeasure of knowing."

"Sounds like something you should explore more in our family therapy session later." Izuku blew a kiss at Shigaraki, snickering when the elder rolled his eyes in return.

"I know I already promised to shank your boy toy if he shanks me but I can extend that promise to you too, musty crusty." Bakugou shrugged apathetically when both Shigaraki and Dabi spluttered and cursed at him indignantly for differing reasons. "I'm just saying."

Izuku watched his friends start to bicker amongst themselves, movement from the corner of his eye drawing his attention towards the building they were all gathered outside of. He squinted towards the pillar, gently shoving Kaminari off his body so he could investigate. When he reached the pillar he realized what had drawn his attention, blinking down at the glare he was receiving from a small boy. "Uh, hi th - "

"Don't talk to me, you hero wannabe!" The child spat, his glare hardening even more when Izuku stared back in confusion. "All you glory chasers don't actually care, you - "

"Okay, wow. First off, how dare you call me a hero wannabe, do you know who I am?" Izuku shuddered, returning the child's sneer. "Great, now you got me sounding like some rich nepo baby. I am not a hero wannabe, you brat. Not now, not ever, and especially not with my kill count being what it is. However, I did come over here to see what was going on because contrary to what you assumed about me, I do care about others. I'm psychotic, not sociopathic. But now since you so rudely presumed to know me, I am going to rescind the offer of entertainment I was about to extend to you. Have fun being a miserably bored brat, you brat."

A snort drew Izuku's attention away from the gaping child and back towards his friends, Dabi being the culprit of the snort. "Wow, you sure can be so creative with your insults when you wanna be, you brat."

Izuku glanced back at the child, smiling a toothy grin at him. "Would you look at that, I guess you'll be getting that entertainment after all and a demonstration on how to add to your kill count."

"Oh, I am shaking in my boots, Rabid." Dabi sneered, pulling himself off the ground to approach Izuku. "You want a fight, let's fight. First person to die loses."