The Formula for Villainy

Human Stains

Tomura Shigaraki has a problem with falsehoods. He takes personal offence to people subscribing themselves to any ideology no matter their perceived devotion. Because deep down, they don't really care. Maybe that's why he despises the Hero Killer so much, and his broken dreams of restoring some sanity to this horrifically warped view of heroism the world has adopted. He sits at the bar, relaxing on a stool and barely keeping himself awake by propping his head loosely on his elbow. "Where is 'the messiah' tonight, huh?" he asks the room as if the stagnant air will give him an answer. Even now the hand covered his face, calming him yet ensuring revulsion still simmers in the subconscious of his mind. 

"Out, as far as I know," replies Toga, skipping down the narrow stairwell attached to this bar. This underground cell had previously been an abandoned cellar for inventory stock of industrial factories but the League has been secretly dwelling here for many months, installing lighting and keeping the surfaces spotless with the aid of their quirks. Shigaraki scratches his neck a little, feeling it's never quite clean enough for his standards. 

"I think he's trolling the city for new victims - the odd wandering hero toiling alone in the night," Toga giggles playfully. 

"We have work to do," Shigaraki replies in an irate tone. Indeed they do, and the Hero Killer has never been committed to the revolution from the beginning. He's never devoted himself to the League. "He should be here, I don't know why we put up with him," he grumbles indignantly. 

"He's a worthy ally," Dabi appears in a waft of blue flames hanging in the air. Shigaraki pretends not to have flashes him a glance, one Toga notices with a giggle. "We put up with him because he gets results. The League wasn't making any headway before he arrived," 

"My thoughts exactly!~" Toga agrees. The Hero Killer's biggest fan, the obsessive crusher. Such a dangerous combination when combined with a psychopathic apathy and knack of manipulating people's feelings. "Isn't that right?~" Toga elbows the blue-haired man, eyes flitting between him and Dabi with blushing amusement. 

Shigaraki rolls his eyes. He has a thing for mysterious and elusive. Maybe another reason he hates the blunt Hero Killer Stain. Too open. "What help is he anyway? He won't join us on attack raids. Against his principles my ass," 

"That's truuue~!" Toga hums. She has noticed a certain lack of... passion in the work of the Hero Killer. As if acting on nothing but a sense of duty. No bloodlust, that's disappointing. The only disappointing aspect of him maybe. But Toga herself could help with that, make him forget those pesky principles of his... 

"But he is useful," Dabi refutes, in a voice indicative of his impassion. He couldn't care less what Shigaraki thinks of Stain, he doesn't care for either. He supports Stain's ideology to the end. Most pro heroes don't deserve any admiration, let alone their celebrity status. They can be monsters just like those the media claims villainous. "He helps the League advance," 

"Mh, he isn't helping now though, is he? Better keep a low profile, I wouldn't want to have to save his ass," 

Meanwhile. 

Izuku steals against the grey walls of this metropolitan district, keeping to the shadows as he follows Iida quite some way behind. His boyfriend is with his mentor, the captain of the local hero forces. It's such a small agency, why would Iida choose them for his pro hero scouts? Izuku isn't dumb, he knows it's the district. These streets are where Ingenium was attacked. Iida must be searching for the Hero Killer, but why? It's impossible Iida would have the same goal as him, he refuses to believe he's capable of that. But he must be expecting something. 

Everything seems calm, the still night shining down upon them in the form of blanketed stars. That's what Akaguro Chizome thinks as he observes the interesting scene below from the rooftop of this skyscraper. No villains terrorizing the streets or phonies in costumes playing heroics doing more harm than good. Just peaceful, and it feels nice. It matches how he feels within but can never express freely. He doesn't have such a burning hatred as his countenance may suggest. His ideology is a fixed one of course but internally he assumes very much a position of dissonance towards the politics of it all. 

What the Hero Killer wants is to cleanse the world of the disease that is false heroes, which is most heroes - let's be honest. Actually all, all except All Might. The hero that saves indiscriminately, with a smile on his face. Who lifted the world from its oblivion and one little child from the brink of death.  Chizome remembers that bright white smile, the hand gripping his and dragging him from that wreckage like the very hand of God. His eye narrow suspiciously. Why is it whenever he starts to think of All Might, the world seems so much less peaceful? 

Now the quiet seems eerie. He looks down at the shadowy streets between the buildings. He sees that costume, the mechanisms of an engine quirk just like that false hero he took care of. A menace to society, one who needed eliminated just like the rest of those destructive false heroes poisoning the world. This must be Ingenium's little brother, the one with the engine calves that propels him forward. 

Chizome grins, how interesting. He'd like to gain some information form him, stalking will be easy from this position. But there's always the threat of being spotted, and what could he do then? He doesn't want to attack the student. He isn't lie that ruthless bastard n the League of Villains, one of the reasons he's more than reluctant to work with them. He doesn't want to kill anyone, attack anyone. But some people are stains on the surface of the planet. For it to be cleaned, they must be wiped away. 

But a child? No. They are innocent victims of this society and hopefully the generation that will change it. He just follows. Listening to snippets of mumbling conversation. Most of the information he gathers is about the boy himself, interesting enough. He's so devoted to his brother. A blind devotion that strips him of the critical abilities to see his brother's faults. That's the problem with this hero culture, they're worshipped like Gods, never held accountable for the suffering they cause. What many call 'collateral'. 

He walks across the building rooms, looking down on the prospective pro hero. Only Chizome cannot escape the feeling he's overlooked something. Or someone maybe. 

Izuku looks up. Why does he look up? He has no idea, maybe he was already searching for the Hero Killer. There, swooping across the skyline is that bright red scarf trailing behind pale skin. The Hero Killer Stain, the one he vows to kill. 

But not tonight. He doesn't have a plan, this is a complete surprise! He needs to use this opportunity to study the Hero Killer, as much as he hates him. As much as he wants to kill him on sight. He'll watch from afar and study, making notes. There's still the problem of his mysterious quirk. Also, no matter how much Izuku yearns for revenge his boyfriend is just ahead. He could never sacrifice Iida. 

This is the perfect opportunity to observe the Hero Killer, to learn about him. Until Izuku hears shouts, the whirring of an engine, a confrontation in the dark alley just ahead. He clenches his fist, gripping the bulky fabric of his costume. Forget observation - this is happening now. 

Ugh sorry for the short chapter I had no fucking ideas.