Leave Your Mark | Various!BNHA x Reader

77: Infiltrate and Destroy

It happened again. This is the second time Shigaraki has left an encounter with you feeling not only bewildered, but incredibly frustrated too.

Honestly, even now, he still can't wrap his head around the conversion the two of you had. He's the type who's pretty much always killed people indiscriminately, no exceptions. Destroying others is what brings him the most satisfaction—it's what makes sense.

But for some reason, instead of wanting to hurt you, he found himself hoping to prolong his time with you. He wanted to bring you back with him, for who in the world knows how long. But he couldn't. Because of course, of course, a damn hero had to get in his way.

Shigaraki scratches his neck, irritation seeping in. The feeling is gradual at first, but as the seconds pass, it becomes more and more overwhelming. He was so close. So close to bringing you back. You didn't even look scared, strangely enough. At the beginning it seemed like you kind of were, but your apprehensions completely dissipated. Which is something he's almost certain he would never be able to say about anyone else.

He can't imagine a single other hero or civilian who would've spoken to him the way you did, with such little judgment, such little hatred, and just...

Actually, he's not even quite sure how to describe it. Acceptance? No, you said that although you were willing to be his friend, you were still opposed to his way of doing things. You said you still wanted to stop him, and you obviously care about saving others.

So, not acceptance for his lifestyle or choices, but you had this incomprehensible amount of empathy towards him. Empathy, not pity. He didn't feel like he was being looked down on. He felt like you actually cared about him.

Logically, a lot of things still don't add up. He really doesn't get how you're able to set aside the previous incident at USJ. You could've easily died back then, and although it would've been at the Nomu's hands, he was the one instructing the Nomu on what to do. He was mocking you and causing all of your pain. But you've forgiven him, it seems. In fact, even back then, even in what you believed would be your final moments, you chose to worry about him, of all people.

It's no secret that Shigaraki Tomura despises heroes. His impression of them is awful as it can possibly be, but you? He wouldn't mind seeing you again. Hell—that's an understatement. He wants to see you again. He needs to see you again.

And next time, he's not going to let you break free.

Shigaraki stumbles through the hideout, passing the dingy bar so that he can retreat into his bedroom. He's been so caught up in thinking about you that he hasn't even stopped to wonder about what's happening in Hosu right now. He turns on the TV, tuning in to one of the news channels—and predictably, the attack on Hosu seems to be all anyone's ever talking about.

Except not just in terms of the Nomu and the League of Villains' involvement. Rather, they're hardly even being brought up at all. On account of how the Hero Killer, Stain, just got arrested.

Shigaraki narrows his eyes. It's live coverage, which means something must have happened right around when he was talking to you. Apparently Endeavor showed up to deal with him. At least, that's the story the media is going with, unbeknownst to Shigaraki, to cover up the involvement of several U.A students. Not it really would've mattered who was responsible for taking Stain down.

It drives him insane that even after that all, even after everything the League did to try and make a statement to all of Japan—the whole world, even—they're still being sidelined.

"Goddammit," Shigaraki mutters, scratching his neck even more aggressively. He's so pissed off. He's really, really pissed off. Nothing ever goes the way he wants it to. Tonight was a failure, in more ways than one. If he had to quantify the two, though, if he had to pick between whether Stain pisses him off more or if it's how Hawks swooped in at the last second to save you...