Viel Of Scales: The Dragons Ascension

Cigarettes and consequences.

Bakugo and Izuku continued down the street after their failed attempt at the convenience store. The atmosphere around them was tense, Bakugo's frustration bubbling under the surface, while Izuku was starting to feel the weight of their increasingly bizarre mission. They had to find cigarettes for Izuku's firebreath. There was no other option.

Bakugo's gaze darted around, looking for someone who could help them. That's when his eyes locked onto a man walking by. He looked a little older than them-just past twenty, maybe. His clothes were plain, his posture slouched like he didn't want to stand out.

"Perfect," Bakugo muttered under his breath.

Izuku, who had been trying to keep a low profile, blinked in confusion. "Uh, Kacchan... are we really going to-"

"Shut up," Bakugo interrupted, striding over to the man without a second thought.

The young man froze as Bakugo approached him, looking like a deer caught in headlights. He had no idea what was coming.

"Hey," Bakugo snapped, his tone commanding. "You're gonna buy cigarettes for us. Right now."

The man stammered, looking from Bakugo to Izuku. "What? No, no, I-uh-I can't do that. I'm not-"

"Oh, you can," Bakugo said, his voice growing more menacing as he stepped closer. "And you will. I'm not asking you. I'm telling you."

Izuku awkwardly shifted behind Bakugo, unsure if he should apologize or just stand there. The young man eyed them warily, but Bakugo's intense glare didn't give him much of a choice.

"I-I'm not supposed to be buying cigarettes for-" the man started to protest, but Bakugo cut him off.

"You've got a choice, buddy. You either help us, or I make sure you regret not helping us."

Izuku watched in silence as the man visibly shrank under Bakugo's fierce glare. The poor guy seemed to be weighing his options, looking nervous as his eyes flickered between Bakugo's fiery expression and the cash Bakugo had shoved into his hand.

The young man hesitated, his voice barely a whisper. "I... I can't really-"

Bakugo pushed the cash further into his hand, his fist clenched tightly around it. "Take it," he demanded, his voice like a low growl. "You know what we want. Don't make me repeat myself."

Izuku winced, watching the scene unfold with growing discomfort. This didn't feel right, but Bakugo was determined, and there was no way out of it now.

The man sighed, defeated, and looked around nervously before taking the money. He stuffed it into his pocket with a shaky hand. "Fine. Fine, I'll do it. But this is... this is wrong."

Bakugo smirked, crossing his arms confidently. "Good. Go buy the cigarettes. And hurry up."

The young man didn't look happy about it, but he turned and walked toward the nearest store, head low, clearly hoping no one would notice what he was doing. Bakugo watched him for a moment, arms folded across his chest, before turning to Izuku.

"See? Told you we'd get them," Bakugo said with a grin, looking pleased with himself.

Izuku looked between Bakugo and the man walking into the store. "Kacchan... I'm not sure this is the right way."

"You don't question me, Nerd. We're getting those cigarettes. Nothing is gonna stop me."

As Bakugo watched the man disappear into the store, he felt a surge of pride. They were so close. Izuku's firebreath was within reach, and no cashier or law was going to stand in his way.