A Spy Among Them (ShinsoxBakugoxDabixAizawaxReader and more..)

Ch. 27 When the Lights Go Out

"Look who it is," Hawks said to me, putting his arm on the back of my chair. I saw more than a few empty glasses near him on the table. How much had he had to drink already? The gala had hardly even started.

"Hi," I said back curtly. 

Katsuki shifted in his chair next to me.

"Not that you needed these with how you look tonight, but I've been meaning to give this back to you," Hawks said, reaching into his jacket and then holding out his hand. "I think you left it at my apartment the other night."

This son of a...

If looks could kill, Hawks would have been one dead bird.

I couldn't even bring myself to look around the table at everyone's faces.

In his hand was one of my earrings. I had wondered where that had gone, but I'd just assumed it had fallen out as we had flown one way or the other. Nevertheless, I was not about to give him that satisfaction.

"Nope, not mine."

"Pretty sure it is. I found it under your pillow on my bed and –"

Midoriya made a sound like he was choking.

I stomped on Hawks' foot under the table.

"Ow! Okay, okay, maybe it's not yours."

Hawks proceeded to launch into a story about himself to the whole table, so I took the opportunity while everyone was distracted to nudge the boy next to me.

I could feel how tense Katsuki was next to me. It was a feeling different from his usual anger and aloofness. When I looked over at him, his hands were clutched into fists at his side. I guessed that it was probably taking everything he had to maintain some kind of composure here. I lightly tapped his leg, and he turned to look at me.

The last time we had talked, he had kissed me and then I'd stomped out of the room. Maybe it was the alcohol, but seeing him like this, in a tux, made me forget some of that anger. It didn't hurt that I could literally smell his intoxicating scent of spice and boynext to me. It made me remember that night we had studied together and I'd fallen asleep on his bed, the way the blankets had smelled and the warmth of him next to me.

"Didn't go with the red dress?" he whispered to me in a low growl, low enough that only I could hear.

"Um... aren't we fighting?" I whispered back.

He snorted. "You would know if I was fighting with you."

"Good point."

"Besides, you're the one who walked out."

"You're the one who kissed me out of jealousy."

"That's not why I kissed you," he said, taking his hand and resting it on top of my thigh. He nodded towards Shinso's table. "Does your boyfriend know about that?"

"He's not my boyfriend but no."

"Could have fooled me."

I shrugged. "We're taking it slow."

He chuckled lowly. "That doesn't sound like you." His hand moved a little further in on my thigh, pulling back the fabric at the slit in the dress so that his hand rested directly on my skin. His fingers on my bare skin tingled, sending little shocks up my spine. I was going to have a hard time talking if he kept this up.

"And bird brain over there?" he whispered.

I shook my head. "He's an idiot."

Katsuki looked doubtful. "Maybe."

Glancing over to Shinso's table, I saw him talking with some of the people there. I took a sip of my wine to try to look normal, while inwardly I was doing my best to not melt at the touch of his hand. "Let's talk later, okay? When this is over? I bet there's an afterparty."

He took a sip of his water but kept his other hand on my leg. "Keep drinking like that and I don't think you'll be awake for it."

That made me remember. I reached over to get Shoto and Midoriya's attention. "Guys, I got Iida to take two shots of fireball with me!" Both of their eyes got wide.

"Huh. How did you do that?" Katsuki asked.

"Oh you know, he couldn't resist my charm."

Katsuki rolled his eyes.

"Is he okay?" Shoto asked.

I looked at him confused. "Of course he's okay."

"Are we doing shots?" Hawks interrupted. I hadn't realized that he'd been listening. "This is why I like sitting with the young people!"

"Aren't you only a couple years older than us?" Shoto said.

"In age, yes, but in drinking ability, I bet I am far older. I'll go get them and be right back," Hawks said, leaving our table.

"I'll help," I said standing up, thankful for an excuse to leave the table myself.

"Did you see the looks on their faces when I said you had been at my apartment?" Hawks asked as we walked to the bar. He had a huge smile on his face.

"You're proud of yourself, aren't you?"

"No, those earnest young heroes are just so easy to mess with. But it seems like you already know that."

I bit back my reply as we ordered the drinks.

"Those poor boys," Hawks continued. "They have no idea how you're playing with them. Judging by that little game you and explosion boy were playing under the table, I'm thinking you enjoy torturing them." 

"You are literally the worst." 

Hawks laughed. "Anyway, I got an earful from Endeavor earlier tonight about how I needed to keep my own hands off you, "Hawks said. "So I'll play nice the rest of the night, especially in front of your little hero friends. Deal?"

"Thank you."

"But," he said, leaning closer to me, "my offer from before still stands. You're talking to the wrong people."

"And you know the right ones?"

"Possibly. You won't know unless you come with me to find out."

I considered this idea as the bartender made the shots for our table.

As I watched Hawks casually leaning on the bar, I realized that he wasn't drunk at all. The glasses around him on the table, the not listening but actually being very observant, the whole thing, it was just an act.

Then it hit me.

What if...

What if Hawks was the leak?

He keeps bragging about his connection to the League.

He has inside information about heroes from working with Endeavor.

He definitely isn't trustworthy.

Maybe I needed to change how I dealt with him.

"So you'll introduce me to your friends who have some knowledge about the League of Villains. And how do you benefit from that?"

"I'm appalled that you think I'm only in this for personal gain. If you're going to find out who is allowing them to target current and future heroes, then I might as well help if I can."

And that's when all of the lights went out in the ballroom.