Undead Revolution (⛔☁️)

S4 - 11. [Revelations]

Katsuki slept the night at the League's base, his exhaustion finally catching up with him. The base offered a sense of security that he hadn't felt in a long time, allowing him to drift into a deep, dreamless sleep.

When he woke, the first rays of dawn were just beginning to filter through the cracks in the boarded-up windows.

As he rubbed his face, the harsh material of his mask soothing his thoughts, Katsuki noticed Dabi sitting at the bar, nursing a cup of coffee. The room was still quiet, the other members either still asleep or out on their own missions.

"Mornin'" Dabi said, glancing up from his mug. "Sleep well?"

Katsuki shrugged, moving to stretch, feeling the soreness in his muscles from the previous night's activities.  "Sure"

There was a comfortable silence for a moment, the only sound the distant hum of the city waking up outside.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Dabi then asked.

"I've got a few leads to follow up on. I gotta check with my informant, he gets pissed if I go no contact for too long"

Dabi nodded. "Careful, we need you in one piece"

Katsuki smirked. "I always am"

As he got up to leave, Dabi called after him. "We're all in this shitshow together"

Katsuki paused at the doorway, looking back at Dabi. "I know"

He stepped out into the common area, where a few other members of the League were beginning to stir. Toga was lounging on a couch, flipping through a magazine with a bored expression. Twice was muttering to himself, his multiple personalities arguing over breakfast options. Spinner was sharpening his blades, preparing for whatever mission awaited them.

"Hey" Katsuki greeted.

Toga looked up and gave him a bright smile. "Deadpool! When'd you get here?"

"While your hyper ass was asleep" Katsuki simply said, earning a chuckle from Twice.

"Well, you're up just in time. We were thinking of meetin' up some Yakuza group today" Spinner said, cleaning his blades. "You in?"

Katsuki considered it for a moment before shaking his head. "I've got a few leads to follow up on"

"Just don't get yourself killed" Toga teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Impossible" Katsuki shot back.

As he made his way through the city's streets, Katsuki felt the familiar contentment began to return. This was his life now; fake heroism, blood, and justice. He had what he needed and as long as there were people to back him up, he knew he could handle whatever came his way.

Well... After he got his suit fixed and checked in with everyone, that was.

Teskai especially; the teen always covered for him when his parents got worried.

The early morning light casting long shadows as he navigated the familiar path. There weren't many places he could trust in this part of town, it was a cutthroat area. Anyone would rather anyone out for a couple of bucks.

He reached a small, unassuming building tucked away in a forgotten corner of the town. The shop's exterior was run down and dilapidated.

The paint was peeling away in curling strips, revealing the weathered wood beneath. The windows, smeared with grime, obscure any view of the interior, their glass cracked in places and held together by stubbornly persistent cobwebs. The sign above the door hangs askew, its faded letters barely legible.

The sign read 'Ironclad Repairs', though it was so faded that only patrons knew what it said. The owner didn't bother fixing it.

He pushed open the door, a barely audible bell clinking as he entered. The workshop was cluttered with tools, spare parts, and half-finished projects, but it was an organized chaos. In the corner, a woman with grease-streaked face was hunched over a workbench.

"Yo" Katsuki called out, his voice breaking the silence of the workshop. He leaned back to lock the shop's door; something he always did.

She's was a little nuts, she never played music. It was silent most of the time. The only background noise was the police radio she'd placed under her counter, though it barely worked.

Keiko looked up, a smile spreading across her face as she wiped her hands on a rag. "Deadpool!"

Katsuki couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. "Got another job for you"

She walked over, taking a look at his damaged mask with a critical eye. "What the hell did you do this time?"

"Just the usual," he replied nonchalantly. "Some scumbag needed to be taught a lesson"

「His suicidal method of fixing his thoughts were never talked about, but she knew. She wouldn't be in business if she didn't know how to gather information.」

Keiko shook her head, but there was no judgment in her eyes. Just sadness. "You know, you're going to wear this thing out faster than I can fix it if you keep this up"

"That's why I come to you" He said, leaning against the counter. "You're the best"

"Flattery will get you nowhere" She retorted, taking his mask as he pulled it off and handed it over. His identity wasn't hidden from her, it was more or an open secret. Keiko wasn't a snitch, he'd learnt that long ago. She set to work, her skilled hands moving with practiced ease as she began to repair the suit.

Katsuki watched her work, his mind drifting as he thought about the night's events. The morning's energy was starting to fade, leaving behind a bone-deep weariness. But it was moments like this, with people like Keiko who knew him and accepted him, that made it all worthwhile.

"How's Teskai?" Keiko asked after a while, her voice breaking the ever-present silence.

"He's good" Katsuki replied. "Still clueless about basic human necessities. I'm not a damn maid"

Keiko nodded in a faux pity. "Tough job you got there"

"Tell me about it" He muttered.

They fell silent again, the only sound the hum of machinery and the clink of tools. As Keiko worked, Katsuki felt a sense of calm settle over him. It was rare for him to find peace in his chaotic life, but in this small workshop, he felt like he could breathe.

After a while, Keiko stepped back, admiring her handiwork. "All done. Good as new"

Katsuki took the mask, inspecting it. "You're a lifesaver"

"Anytime" she said with a smile. "Just try not to get it too banged up before your next visit, okay?"

"No promises" he replied with a smirk. "But I'll try"

He pulled the mask back on clipping it into the inside of his suit's collar, the familiar anonymity of it grounding him. With a final nod to Keiko, he left the workshop.

He distantly heard her calling after him. "Visit without needing a damn repair sometime!"

As he walked away, the sun fully risen now, Katsuki grinned. His life wasn't bad now.

「Excluding the times he needed to reset.」

Word Count: 1168