Amethyst. (Katsuki Bakugo x Reader)

PART 38 - Fracture

Shigaraki POV:

The bar smelled of old wood and smoke, the light dim and amber, bleeding across the counter. Bottles lined the shelves behind Kurogiri, their glass catching bits of orange glow. He didn't belong in it, a shape of shifting purple mist, shoulders faintly outlined by the warm light. The rag in his hand moved in circles, squeaking against glass, it scratched faintly at the edge of my hearing.

"Will they... really be fine on their own?" he asked at last, voice low but steady. The glass gave another small, nervous squeal.

I sat hunched over the counter, my face resting on my right hand, elbow pressed against the wood. My left hand was spread over a stack of playing cards. Four fingers. Always four. Never five.

"They don't need me there," I said, eyes fixed on the cards. "They'll handle it just fine on their own." My thumb twitched against my chin as I leaned further onto my arm. "I've changed the game, you know?" My voice came out slow, dry. "Up until now, we tried to challenge the Heroes with maximum equipment but no real strength. Now I want to play smarter. I'm using the chess pieces, knocking the opponent down, bit by bit. To do that, the society of so-called superhumans needs to start cracking." My eyes widened slightly, a small tremor of excitement running through my fingers. "The Vanguard Action Squad will make those cracks. Whether they succeed or fail doesn't matter. Their appearance alone will shake the heroes."

Kurogiri paused. The mist around his neck pulsed once. "So they're pawns?" he asked, his tone unusually careful, almost worried.

"Don't be ridiculous." I shifted, sitting up a little straighter, letting my shoulders drop loose again. "Do I look that heartless to you?" My tone tilted upward, half amusement, half irritation. "They're actually talented. Each one of them has their own goal." I reached for the cards, sliding the top one free with a flick of my thumb. The paper bent softly between my fingers. "But as comrades," I said, turning the card, "they can be trusted." A small grin pulled at my lips. "This society is chained down by its own rules." I flipped the card over, the bound face of the explosive champion from the Sports Festival stared back at me. "We're not the only ones being oppressed," I murmured. The grin widened a fraction. "I hope they succeed."

The edge of the card bent under my thumb until it creaked.

__________

Izuku POV:

Muscular lay on the ground, unmoving. I didn't know how long he'd stay that way. I didn't even know how long my body would still listen to me. Every nerve screamed, every breath came like fire in my lungs.

"We need to go," I said, voice raw. "There's something I still have to do."

"What?! Your body's wrecked! We have to get back to the lodge, you've got no strength left! What could possibly be more important?" Kota's voice cracked with panic.

I clenched my teeth, forcing my legs to hold. My arms trembled where I rested them on my knees. "I knew he'd block me," I said, the words coming between breaths, "but I had to strike anyway. Even with less power, I thought I could hurt him enough to stop him but he was stronger. Way stronger than I expected." The firelight flickered across the trees ahead of us, I looked toward it, my whole body shaking from pain and exhaustion. "If every villain attacking tonight is on his level, the others are in danger. And they're targeting students, that's clear now. I have to tell Aizawa-sensei and the Pussycats."

I straightened, even though it made the pain spike again. "If I can still move, if I can save someone by doing that, then I have to move."

My gaze drifted to Muscular—still unconscious, thankfully. "We'll leave him here. Protecting you comes first."