𝔸 𝔾𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕒𝕤 𝕆𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕍.𝟚 💥𝔹𝕜𝔻𝕜💥

Chapter 49

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

It Takes Two

"Okay, this is it," Shoto said as he pocketed his phone. He scanned the alley, his gaze sharp and cautious, flicking toward the entrance of the nightclub as if expecting something—or someone—to leap out at them. The conversation with the Hero Association hadn't started well; their initial response had been outright refusal. They'd called the plan reckless, too dangerous, and something they couldn't condone.

But when Shoto calmly explained that Katsuki would be going in regardless of their approval—alone, if necessary—they'd reluctantly agreed. It wasn't because they believed in the plan or cared about getting Izuku back. Katsuki knew better. At the end of the day, the Hero Association was like any other business—polished smiles and empty promises, always watching their bottom line. They didn't care about the risk or the stakes; they cared about the headlines. A rogue pro-hero like Katsuki tearing through the city without approval? That would look worse for them than a failed rescue mission.

So, they'd caved. Not because they gave a damn, but because protecting their image was easier than dealing with the fallout of his fury. Typical.

"We have to be careful," Shoto said, his eyes narrowing as he assessed their surroundings. "We don't know what we're walking into."

Shoto's calm tone grated on Katsuki, but he kept his mouth shut, eyes sweeping over the area. He rolled his shoulders, tension coiling tighter with every second they wasted. His knuckles cracked as his fists curled, the sound loud in the cramped space.

As Shoto methodically laid out the final details of the plan with the others, his sharp gaze darted across their surroundings, taking in every detail of the alley. As usual, Katsuki barely heard the words. The words blurred into background noise, overtaken by the steady hum of his own thoughts. He was already a step ahead, his focus locked on the mission, the stakes, and the fire in his chest screaming at him to move. He noted the flicker of neon lights reflecting off puddles on the cracked pavement, the faint stench of alcohol and cigarettes wafting from nearby dumpsters. His eyes darted toward the club entrance, narrowing at the small clusters of people gathering around it. A few shady figures lingered near the door, their postures stiff, their movements too deliberate. Guards. They didn't look like much, but Katsuki knew better than to underestimate anyone connected to the League

"...we'll need to be ready to move as soon as the distraction is in place," Shoto's voice droned in the background. Katsuki caught a few scattered words—"timing," "extraction," "Odd Eye"—but they barely registered. The plan didn't matter to him. He wasn't here to play by the rules or follow anyone else's lead.

His gaze flicked to the bouncers standing at the club's entrance, their sharp suits barely masking the bulk of their builds. Quirks, maybe. Or just regular muscle. Either way, they'd slip past them easily enough.

"...focus on staying quiet during the infiltration," Fumikage was saying, his voice calm but firm. "We don't want to draw attention to the extraction team until it's too late for them to react."

Katsuki's lip curled, his focus snapping back to the group as he caught the tail end of the conversation. "I don't care," Katsuki glared at them, done with this whole charade. The group turned to look at him, startled by the sudden outburst. "I don't give a shit about your distractions or your careful little plans. The only thing that matters to me is finding Deku and getting him out of there. And if anyone tries to stop me—anyone—they're going down. I don't care who the hell it is."

They'd committed to going undercover, nothing elaborate or flashy. Just posing as average partygoers blending into the crowd. The Red Lotus operated as a legitimate nightclub on the surface, and the best way to avoid suspicion was to lean into its facade. Drawing attention to themselves before they were ready to act could mean losing their chance entirely. It was the simplest approach—keep their heads down, act the part, and move with the crowd until they found what they were looking for. The weight of the small tracker tucked into Katsuki's jacket was both a comfort and a burden. A safety net, sure, but it also served as a reminder of just how high the stakes were. If any of them got snatched, there'd be no second chances.