UA's Gremlins

War, What Is It Good For?

Izuku stared down at the half empty bottle in his hand. It was nearly two in the morning and Dabi was sitting across from him and Katsuki in the dimly lit living room of the older man's house. Before their big brother was a set of folders with one set open on top.

"You're sure?" Dabi whispered, glancing at them. He watched Katsuki down his whiskey while Izuku took a long drink from his beer. He knew Aizawa was going to kill him if he ever found out he let the teens drink...but they'd done it for so long at the bar when things got stressful he couldn't deny them.   Even Hawks had seen them take some sips in to take the edge off over the last couple of months.  

"When has this shit been wrong?" Katsuki grunted as he set the glass down. He was perched on the arm of the chair Izuku sat in.

"Damn," Dabi groaned as he sat back. He could see down his hallway to where Hawks slept, unaware of all this. "So we got no choice."

"You do," Izuku whispered as he set his now empty bottle on the table. "This one...didn't involve you and it's the only one where no one else is lost."

Dabi's head snapped to look at the younger teen. He felt like they were back in the bar after learning they'd gotten into UA and were plotting their gameplan. Katsuki grim and angry. Izuku cold and distant.

"Izuku Midoriya," Dabi snarled.

"Shut it, burnt chicken nugget fucker," Katsuki growled. "Enough people have lost things because of us."

Dabi glared at the blond. "That does not mean that you two-"

"Yes it does," Izuku said, voice low and icy cold. "I used Pathway at 100% and this was the only one where innocent blood is not spilt."

"You are inn-" Dabi tried.

"Like hell we are," Katsuki grunted. "The shit we've done? The shit we've helped with? Our hands are as bloodstained as yours."

"And he wants us dead," Izuku said as he leveled his dead eyes at Dabi. "Our last meeting sealed that deal. For all the shit he did to me...to Kacchan...that night he crossed a line."

"He used his fuckin' quirk on me," Katsuki reminded him. "Something he swore to that potato looking ass he'd never do."

"We were All For One's guards dog's for Shigaraki," Izuku continued. "We stepped out of that role.  We became the enemy.  And wherever he's been since giving us away to the hell we were in... he's on the move again."

Dabi considered the information. His brothers weren't wrong. He had watched the harsh methods used to try and bond the toddlers to Shigaraki. The first couple of years weren't as bad since the boys were so young...but the more they grew the more tense their relationship with the other members. Izuku, who had been prone to tears as a child, got the worst of it. They had gone through waves of being fiercely loyal 'guard dogs' for the prodigal son and waves where they both hated and feared the old teen. Katsuki's waves backed by anger...Izuku's by fear that had left the boy crying in his arms more than once.

Now an emotionless strategist sat in front of him with his own, literal guard dog. Icy gaze locked onto his own with the decision clear in them. Dabi sighed and rubbed his face.

"Fine," the dark haired man said. "But you keep me in the loop. I have to be able to explain to those two fools your own stupidity."

Izuku's eyes warmed just a hair and he offered a false smile. "Thank you, big brother. I know this sucks...but it is the only option to stop a madman with as little life loss as possible."

Dabi shook his head and smacked the folder shut. "So what's your plan?"

The ice was back as Izuku smirked. "I let him track me."