(This chapter contains mentions of blood, violence, some PTSD, and some flashbacks so tread with a little caution! I hope you enjoy this chapter regardless! My wifi went out for a little and I still have some writers block so sorry about the (super) late chapter! I had to keep coming back to this chapter because it always seemed a little off but I decided to publish it anyway because if I just kept revising it then this story wasn't going to get anywhere.)

'Thoughts'

{Special Actions}

~Memories~

"Singing"

'Talking in JSL, ASL, or just Signing in general'

"Speaking in Russian"*

*(Some words will still be in Russian simply because I like the way it looks. Those words will also be in italics, confusing I know.

Anastasia hits an even number, builds some things, sees the peak of the summit, gets into yet another fight, destroys a bathroom, leans even more about her quirk, and we get to find out how she got her school-wide moniker.

I'm starting to think God is out to get me.

From the trauma, to the kidnapping, and now I'm in a fight with upperclassman?

God is trying to either nerf me or vibe check me and I'm not too keen on finding out which of those is the truth.

Personally, I'd like to assume God is testing me.

I don't know what for or why, but I'd like to think that I'm passing.

Aside from my attempted ass kicking turned into a smackdown courtesy of moi, I made Katsuki cry.

... I should probably back up a little bit.

xXx

My eighth birthday passed with little fanfare.

Katsuki and I put powder on his hands to make colored explosions.

He tried to mash my face into the grass after I told him he now earned the nickname 'Firecracker.'

We had peach cheesecake and mom got me rollerblades.

Katsuki shoved some hiking gear into my arms and told me we were going to go hiking eventually.

So that happened.

xXx

In other news, I've now decided to investigate the Bakugou household.

Like, how do you not notice your child is missing for days at a time?

I mean, my mom certainly noticed, but I've got a million and one different ways to redirect the conversation.

It's not like I'm lying!

I'm telling the truth... Just with less details.

For instance, when Katsuki and I were in the forest after another escape and I had to clean off in the river.

Then, when back-up showed up I fell into the river, taking Katsuki with me and getting washed downstream.

When mom asked, I told her we fell into the river and that was that.

We did fall into the river, I just didn't deign to tell her that we fell in because one man had a gun quirk and, when I went down, my raptor brain panicked and went grab.

Katsuki has yet to learn this skill but he has started to pick up on it since it technically isn't lying and he loathes lying.

Alright, so maybe I'm doing this in preparation for lie detector quirks.

But the cops can't prove anything, so there.

xXx

Now, I put the Bakugou household investigation, BHI for short, on hold while I help Katsuki find an outlet for his anger.

I've decided on the drums, and I will drag Katsuki into those music lessons if I have to.

But, surprisingly, I didn't have to.

After talking with Aunt Miki and Uncle Suru, they both agreed and Katsuki was on board from the beginning.

Of course, in true Katsuki fashion, when he learned I was going for guitar he loudly exclaimed drums were better.

So now we have semi-aggressive jam out sessions and music lessons after school.

It's fun up until Katsuki almost blows up his drumsticks.

During drum lessons I also realized that Katsuki seems to have some trouble hearing things.

It sure as hell gave all the yelling and loud noises some context.

How did I find out?

Well... Turns out that aside from Katsuki's nitroglycerin sweat being a mutation.

Yeah, his quirk isn't sweating, it's simply igniting the sweat.

Anyway, his mutation also extends to his ears, muffling his hearing as a defense mechanism against his quirk.

He's hard of hearing, and he'll need hearing aids real soon because as his quirk gets stronger so does his mutation.

So, basically, the bigger he can make his explosions, the more his hearing deteriorates or grows muffled due to his mutation growing stronger.

It's confusing and the gist of it all is: Katsuki now needs specialized quirk-proof hearing aids.

Unfortunately, the hearing aids he got were simple and he constantly had to adjust them when he used his quirk and if he forgot he was not happy.

I convinced him to let me tinker with and paint them since they were so glaringly obvious with their shiny white exterior.

After some trial and error, I managed to upgrade and paint them.

'If that punk doesn't appreciate these, I'm throwing them at him will every ounce of force I can muster'

xXx

I finally finished the hearing aids, packing them in a small orange box with a forest green bow.

I sigh and crack my back, checking the clock.

'Wow, six in the afternoon already? I've been touching these up since ten in the morning'

I shrug and slip out of my room, leaving the little box on my bed.

I pass by Karma in the hallway and pick him up on my venture, petting him languidly.

I soon reach the kitchen where mom is humming and cutting up some vegetables.

"Hey mom, can Katsuki come over?" I ask as I walk into the kitchen.

Mom jumps a little and turns to me with a smile, setting down her knife and sending a little wink to Karma.

I give Karma a little kiss on the head in thanks for not letting mom slice her finger like she would've had he not intervened, before setting him down.

"Sure honey, why don't you invite him over for dinner as well? I know Mitsuki is working late and Masaru is out right now." Mom chirps.

"Okay, I'll be right back." I say over my shoulder as I go over to the door and put on my black sneakers.

Karma darts off into the apartment, probably off to go find something else to mess with.

'I hope that little fuck doesn't use his quirk to steal my clothes again, that was a disaster'

I walk out of the apartment and over to the door next to ours.

I knock loudly, in a rhythm, so Katsuki knows it's me.

Tap-pause-tap-tap-pause-tap-tap-tap-pause-tap.

I wait calmly, shadows curling around my ankles before I hear shuffling.

The door opens and Katsuki's disgruntled face greets me.

"What the fuck're you doing here?" Katsuki huffs like the little edgy ball of anger he is.

"I'm snatching you away for dinner at my house." I deadpan.

"Oh, alright, let me go put on my shoes and grab the house keys." Katsuki mumbles, used to my oddness, before he closes the door.

I wait once more, after a minute or so Katsuki slips back out of his apartment and slides next to me.

We walk side by side, shoulders brushing and lightly shoving each other for a few minutes.

I hum and walk him over to our door, turning the knob and letting us both in.

We slip off our shoes and mom greets Katsuki from the kitchen as I finish putting on my panda slippers.

I snicker at his stumbled reply before leading him down the hallway, Karma padding over and winding between his legs with every step.

"Hey brat." Katsuki greets Karma, who chirps in reply and rubs his face against Katsuki's leg.

Katsuki huffs and kneels down to pet Karma, which makes him purr loud enough for Katsuki to hear it with his shitty hearing aids.

I open the door and walk into my room, Katsuki closing the door behind him, reluctantly leaving Karma in the hallway.

Karma yowls and protests at being pulled away from his favorite person, but the shadows reassure him it's for good reason and he eventually quiets down.

Katsuki waltzes into my room like he owns it, which isn't anything new.

But what is new, is how he pauses upon seeing the little box on my bed.

"The fuck is this?" Katsuki asks, glancing at me before walking over and picking up the box.

"A present, you little goblin." I roll my eyes, walking over and hopping onto my bed.

"For me?" Katsuki gives me a suspicious look. "What'd you do to it?"

"Oh my god." I groan, flopping back on my bed. "You give someone a glitter bomb in a box ONE TIME and suddenly every present is a bomb."

"Fuck off nerd! I was coughing up glitter for 2 days! Two fucking days Izuku." Katsuki spits back at me.

"Oh can it Sparky, it was fucking funny. Now get over here and sit." I sit up, and cross my legs Indian style, patting the bed next to me.

Katsuki grumbles something under his breath before climbing onto my bed and sitting next to me, thighs touching and knee pressed to mine.

I don't deign to mention it, we're both kind of touch starved.

That, and we both have the emotional range of a dead sea-sponge so bringing it up would not be a fun conversation.

"So what is it?" Katsuki asks, turning the present over in his hands.

"Open it and find out." I deadpan.

Katsuki shoves me and I elbow him in the ribs in retaliation.

"Just open it." I hiss, putting an end to our impromptu shoving session.

"Fine!" Katsuki hisses back, giving me one last light shove before he undoes the little green bow on top of the box.

I wait in expectant silence, the sounds of Katsuki tearing pastel orange wrapping paper and our breathing is all that fills the air.

Finally, he gets all the wrapping paper off and he gives me one more confused look.

I nod encouragingly and he opens the box and freezes.

Katsuki examines the contents of the box before turning to me with a little half-grin, the one that shows me he's surprised but still happy.

"This is the best fucking present ever." Katsuki's voice cracks a little as he leans back and I marvel for a second at the fondness that swells in my chest for him.

"Well I hope so considering the fact that I made them, why don't you put them in and I'll tell you about 'em?" I offer excitedly.

Katsuki nods and slips out his old hearing aids, sliding the new ones into his ears.

They match his skin tone perfectly and pride swells in my chest.

If I wasn't looking hard enough or if I was farther away, or you know if I didn't literally just watch him put the damn things in I probably wouldn't have known they were there.

"Woah..." Katsuki breathes, looking around the room. "I... I can hear your mom making food in the kitchen."

I feel a grin force my lips upwards, the shadows crowing in triumph at my victory.

"Yeah, your old hearing aids were shit and no best friend of mine is walking around in them." I wink at him, Katsuki turns back to me with fresh tears in his eyes.

Silence reigns for several seconds and I begin to wonder if maybe I should've gotten him something else.

'Shit, are the settings wrong? Did I fuck them up somehow? Are all the sounds wonky or something? Did something happen earlier and I just made it worse? Shit fuckfuckfuck-'

My thoughts are cut off by Katsuki dropping the empty box on my bed and turning to pull me into a harsh hug.

Katsuki rests his head in the crook of my neck, thin arms curled around my lower back tightly.

I splutter for a second, Katsuki's hair poking into my mouth, before slowly moving my arms to wrap around his waist.

Katsuki sniffles a little and I try to pull back but he doesn't budge.

'Shit... Well I can only hope those are happy tears but still... My fucking dumbass, I can't believe I fucking made him cry! I should let Karma in here so he can avenge Katsuki's emotions or some shit'

I silently mull over my idiocy as I raise one of my hands and rake it through his hair.

It's surprisingly soft despite it's spikey nature, it smells faintly of some rustic woodsy smell alongside the natural smell of smoking marshmallows and burnt sugar I've come to associate with Katsuki.

We sit there for a while, Katsuki sniffling into my neck, hugging me tightly as I softly pet him and rest my cheek gently on his mane of fluff.

He eventually pulls back, tears no longer brimming his eyes.

"I love them." Katsuki whispers.

"Good, because that's not all they do. Feel those dials on the side?" Katsuki reaches a hand up and nods once he does. "You can dial the sensitivity up or down, and you won't have to touch it when you use your quirk."

"Really?" He grins, giving me an impressed look that kind of makes me want to puff my chest out like an arrogant bird.

"Yeah! Turns out when you use your quirk, a certain set of muscles moves, including some behind your ears due to your mutation. So, these babies will detect the muscle flexing and automatically muffle the noise. And, you don't have to turn them back on because once that muscle stops flexing they return to whatever default settings you choose!" I ramble on for a moment, Katsuki soaking in the information like a sponge.

"How do I choose the default?" He asks, glancing at his hands in a way that tells me he wants to test out their new functions as soon as possible.

"You turn the dial to whatever you want on both ears, then press it in until it does a little beep and you're all set." I smile, feeling relieved and proud Katsuki is enjoying his present.

Katsuki gives me a quick hug and does exactly that, playing with the dials a little before setting the default with a little beep.

"What if they get damaged or something?" Katsuki suddenly asks.

"Well, my mom has a friend in the support department and he sent me some materials. So those hearing aids are fire proof, water proof, wind proof, explosion proof, and basically they're everything proof. So, don't worry about breaking them easily." I chirp, happy to reveal one of my favorite aspects of the hearing aids. "He also helped me make them, so if you need an upgrade or need to make adjustments I can call him."

"You really prepared for everything didn't you?" Katsuki snickers, voice teasing.

"Of course I did, I'm an anxious bitch by nature." I sniff haughtily, lips twitching as I try not to laugh.

Katsuki has no such reserve and promptly bursts into cackles.

I sigh fondly and roll my eyes, getting up and opening the door.

"I'm gonna let Karma in, wanna play some games?" I ask as Karma scampers into the room to ram into Katsuki, who then rakes his hands through Karma's fur.

"Fuck yeah, get ready to have your ass handed to you." Katsuki's grin was all confidence and eyes brimming with challenge as Karma settles on his lap.

"Oh we'll see about that Firecracker." I smirk back, shuffling over to turn the game console on and handing Katsuki a controller.

xXx

Mom bought me some rollerblades for my birthday and I had forgotten about them up until this point.

They're sleek and black, with matching green and blue lightning bolts on each skate and four black wheels with dark purple rubber brakes on the back.

Upon rediscovering them, I promptly skated around town for several hours.

My legs burned something fierce and I nearly regretted it the next morning.

Nearly.

Not enough to stop though.

After getting used to them, my mom joked that I was a speed demon after she witnessed me all but sail around the block.

I usually set them next to my shoes, they make store runs quick and easy.

During one of my escapades outside of the house I realized that just rollerblading around wasn't going to cut it.

If I was going to be a hero I needed to be able to fly through my environment like I've got wings.

So my next goal was parkour.

Alright, maybe I'm an adrenaline junkie, sue me.

If I wasn't zooming around town on the ground, I was usually scaling brick buildings and hopping over alleys or hauling myself onto fire escapes and kicking off dumpsters to swing myself up the railings of said fire escapes.

One fateful night I decided I wanted to fly.

And fly I did.

xXx

The sun was just setting when I told my mom I was going on a little escapade, kissing her cheek and grabbing the old polaroid camera we had found in some boxes a week prior.

Mom told me it was old and probably only had a few photos left in it, but I still put in a new cartridge and photo paper regardless.

I slipped out of the house, camera round my neck and shadows swirling around my ankles.

As I walk down the sidewalk I focus on the tallest building in town, a simple skyscraper not too far off.

The sun is setting and people are milling around, either on their way home or leaving for outings.

I ignore them and duck into an alley, kicking off the dumpster and banging my elbows against the fire escape as I grab onto it.

"Better not break this fucking camera, I swear." I mutter to myself as I continue my trek up the fire escape, disregarding the stairs for hauling my way up by the railings.

After finally making it to the roof I check the camera again and breathe a sigh of relief at seeing it's in fine shape.

The sun scatters rays of orange and yellow across the roof and I glance at the sky to see indigo mixing with reds like fire, pink staining the clouds, and blue crawling upwards like clawed hands.

I feel a grin take over my face, teeth sharp in the face of adrenaline beginning to set in.

Ripping my eyes away from the smattering of colors in the sky I begin to dash across the rooftop, leaping over an alley, shoes pounding against the new roof.

The next building is taller so I leap and throw the camera over my shoulder so it thumps against my back as I dig my fingers into the edge of the roof and swing myself onto it.

Gravel crunches under my feet as I leap over a large fan, shadows flickering in the edges of my vision playfully.

"Oh it's on." I smile as the shadows pull ahead of me challengingly, I speed up and leap over them with a taunting cackle.

We race to the skyscraper, laughing and gaining leads on each other only to lose them at the next leap or tumble.

Eventually, we reach the skyscraper and I begin to haul my way upwards, feet finding grooves in grey bricks, fingers digging into protrusions made by window sills.

I reach the roof with a triumphant cackle, people are scarce and city lights are beginning to glow.

"It's show time." I whisper to the shadows as I near the edge of the building by the alley.

The shadows trill, whispering back in crackles of static and overlapping voices in gravelly tones as I step backwards.

With a long sigh I break into a sprint, leaping off the edge of the building, hidden away from prying eyes as I plummet towards the earth.

I keep a firm hold on the camera, shadows curling out like smoke as the ground nears.

I plunge into darkness, easily skating to a nearby patch of trees, a small forest in an abandoned park just around the corner.

I scuff my heel twice, flying back through the air as I ready the camera, lens pointed at my face.

Weightlessness takes over my body as I raise a hand out to the sun behind me, presenting the sight like a dragon showing off it's hoard.

I click the shutter.

The sun dances in my eyes but I don't blink, smiling towards the camera as it takes the picture seconds before I begin to descend.

I hold the camera carefully as the shadows help me leap from tree to tree before I land in a crouch in the forest, grass crushed underneath my dark purple sneakers.

The camera spits out the picture and I carefully shake it.

The picture slowly comes into focus after a minute or so and I can only stare at it.

'It's perfect.'

The sunset is behind me, my hand reaching out to it like an offering, my face is contrasted sharply with dark shadows and sunshine. The black of my t-shirt is bathed in light, my torso cut off just before my hip, tan skin peeking from the bottom of the photo where my shirt rode up a little.

The dying light of the sun is shining on my face, coating it in golden hues, my pupils are gleaming and my eyes look like gems.

That's totally not a vain thought, not at all

My hair is sheened a dark green, trees behind me in similar shades, and the smattering of freckles on my face visible.

Teeth glinting white like pearls, lips pulled taunt as my crooked grin stares back at me, lopsided in a way that makes the sharpness of my teeth blatant.

The sky is like a watercolor painting, stars shining above me, clouds floating across the sky as it bleeds red onto darkening clouds, pinks and oranges swirling together.

The stars peek through periwinkle and sapphire, gleaming like sharp teeth bared in a challenge. The sun is lowering and the moon is rising, and I can only stare at the photo that perfectly captured the thrill of flying.

I carefully pull a pen out of my pocket and sign the bottom of the polaroid, putting the date, and my name.

I scrawl a quick title on the bottom before waving it to let it dry for a few seconds.

I jog home, making it there barely before the moon fully rises, grinning the entire time.

xXx

Mom fussed over my late arrival but upon seeing the photo she was appeased.

I did get scolded for public quirk use but mom helped me put the polaroid in a frame regardless.

I set it on my nightstand, glancing at it whenever I can.

'The peak of the summit, how fitting' I think amusedly as I read the title on the bottom of the photo as I button up my uniform.

xXx

School was a boring affair that I wish I wasn't obligated to attend.

I had better things to do than learn how to multiply fractions and shit.

Alas.

The teacher seems out to get me but every time I answer correctly her face does this funny little twitch like she's trying not to yell and honestly I really can't help myself.

I turned to Katsuki and sent a little shadows tendril to smack his ankle.

He turned to me, looking slightly irritated but I grin and raise my hands so he can see them.

'This class is b-o-r-i-n-g.' I sign carefully, finger-spelling the last word.

Considering the fact that Katsuki and I have only been learning it for a couple of months, I'd like to think we're rather good at it.

Katsuki lights up and grins at me.

'It is! Can't wait for today to be over.' He signs back.

'Want to get soda after school?' I ask, making sure the teacher isn't looking.

'Can't, going to doctor a-p-p-o-i-n-t-m-e-n-t.' Katsuki responds, tapping his ears and sending me a sullen look.

'That's fine, tomorrow then?' I hide my disappointment in carefully made signs.

Katsuki nods and gives me a thumbs up.

We turn back to the teacher before she can catch us, sometimes signing curse words to each other to help the day go by a little faster.

xXx

It was the end of the day, Katsuki left before me so he wouldn't miss his ride.

I stayed back, packing my bag slowly in the hopes that I might be able to get some bubble tea on the way home.

The shadows whispered to me about new experiments and pretty flowers they found in the school garden.

As I stepped out of the classroom, I noticed a group of five boys lingering near the lockers.

They're older than I am, barely preteens, with lanky limbs and voices that crack with every obnoxious bout of laughter.

'Why are they here?'

The shadows seem displeased by their appearance, no longer giggling about pastel hydrangeas in the green house.

Now they were hissing softly, coiling around my feet to brush the bone jutting out of my ankles in a silent question to be careful.

I realize it during my trek down the hallway, listening to their footsteps behind me.

'Oh yeah, those are the group of kids that tried to fight me and Katsuki after school a couple of weeks ago...'

As I walk I hear a set of footsteps speed up behind me.

'Are they trying to corner me for another fight?'

As always, the universe loves proving me right at the worst possible times and I duck at the shadows loud screech, just in time for a crystal encased fist to sail past my head.

"Oi! What the fuck?" I snap at them, sliding backwards as the kid with the crystal quirk readies himself for another blow.

The ringleader sneers at me, earring catching in the light as he clicks his tongue and more goons stride towards me.

'What the hell is this bullshit!? I'm only fucking eight! What kind of tom-fuckery is this? Whenever I die again I am so going to give whoever sent me here a piece of my mind'

I slide out of the way for a couple more blows but one of them grabs me by my bag and all but yeets me into the lockers like an empty water bottle.

I wheeze in discomfort, wind knocked out of me and vision blacked out for a second as my grip on my bag slackens.

'Fuck, what the hell kind of steroids do 12 year olds even take these days!?'

During my disorientation, two of the bigger boys lock my arms with theirs and all but drag me down the hallway.

The shadows snarl and hiss, spitting vitriol so fierce it nearly burns.

My head spins in a way that hasn't happened since I was five and it unsettles me.

'Oh yeah, that one kid had a quirk that basically puts you on drugs. Shit why is the universe so hellbent on making me suffer?'

I blink but the floor looks blurry and my mind is filled with cotton. My thoughts are like fog and anything coherent slips through my fingers like fine grains of sand.

I hear a door open and I turn sluggishly to see bathroom stalls.

'Oh fuck there are mirrors here and I don't have any contacts in'

I hear someone talking but I'm too focused on trying to orient myself.

The first blow catches me off guard and my head snaps to the side.

"The fuck?" I slur, mind turning to mush as laughter rings in my ears.

I can't hear the shadows at all, the cool radiator in the bathroom digs into my back uncomfortably.

More blows rain down on my face and ribcage, flashes of vivid r̶u̶s̶s̶i̶a̶n̶ blue eyes dance behind my eyelids.

One particularly hard blow to my jaw has me tasting iron, panic swells in my chest and ohgodh̶o̶w̶d̶i̶d̶h̶e̶f̶i̶n̶d̶m̶e̶.

ḩ̷͙͉̱̫͔̘ͪ̊ͧ̾ͩ̚͡o̵̤̲̓̔͡w ̡̧̺̣ͩ̾ͦ̈́̃̕iͫͩ͊҉̶̥̠͔̫S̷̴̤̫̳͉͈͍̍ ̷̢̧̠͓́͘͝͠H̷͚ͯ͝͠͡E̵̴̸̩̱͈͔ͨ͑͟͟͞ ̅͌̚͏̨͓̲̬͍̣́͜H̷͈̭̜̝̙͌̀E̡̖͎͆̅͛̇͛RĘ̑̎͝҉͎͘

H̅̉̅̑͏̶̶҉̦͓̙̜̕͞EŠ̽͑̉҉̴̷̥̫͈̣̼̝͟͞G̷͉̟̟̤̰ͩƠ͕̗̑͆͘IN̴̢̳̖̻̺̬̈́̿GT̸̢̡ͥ̿͢҉̠̗̮̯̬Ǫ̵͔͓͑̽̑͆ͪ͜͡K̪̪͎ͯ͡ͅIL̷̺̾̾̍͜Lͦ̊̀͝͠҉̶̢̯̰M̨̱̗̗̺͍ͯͭ͛͘E̐ͧ҉̢̝̫̖̥̠͖͠͠͝

Iͯͮ̇ͣͪ̐͝҉̜̫̤͙͍͕̦̭'̝̬̫͈͖̠̮̣̐̓́ͧ́ͅM̵ͫ͌͢͝͏͇̹͉̩̤̞̭̲͡͝ͅG̨̣̥̭͕̘͈͙ͯ͊ͦͅO̸̴̩̲̹̅̉̕͢ͅN̡NAD̶͈̭̭̩͍̉͐͢͢͡͞͞I̷̸̸͈̊͒̀̕͘͘̕͜Ë̷̷̢͙́̏̈́͞

N̎҉҉͖̙͉O̗̹͛ͫ͛͢͡

N̒̿̿͆O̵̿̒̀̀͘̕҉̴̡̗̝͓̫̠̕͟͟͡T̶̢̛͚̖͎̙̼͓͉̦͚̘̙͙̑͘͢͟͞͞ ̆͏҉҉̫͎̟͔͍͟A̷͕̘͇̤̅͒͌́͢͠G̡̢̤̯̬̘͈͚̥͕̱̞̗̩̐̉́A̴̶̒ͩ̓̄͊̑̒̉̍̃̀͘͜͢͏̨͏͟͏̯̼̙͈͟I̸̡̾̿͗̄̈́͛̃̀̃ͭ͒̀̀͠͝҉̢̩͎͖͓̱̬͉̀͘ͅŇ͋̋̑̚

N̴̶̶̷̡̹̬͙̠͚̦̹ͩͣͯ̊̃͆ͧ̆ͥ̑͐̓̚͜͞ͅȆ̷̢̱̬̤ͯͪ̐̿ͪ͒͑̋̐̌͞͡҉̢͎̠͚̙̀́͜͠V̉̊̃̓̆͗ͬ͗͢͏̸̨͚̣̩͔ͪ̊́́ͧͯ̂͡͞͏̹Ê͚͈̤͈̽ͩ̈ͮ͑ ̷̸̺̳ͪ̓̐ͥ̉ͯ͜ͅR̎̕͏̨҉͖̠̮̝ ̛̟̘̝͕̦̞̇͑͘͢͜͡Aͯ̎ͫ͑ͬ̆̿͠͞͞͏̴͟͡҉̜͙̘̠̫̟ ̸̴̡̼̰̟͇̦͍̝͒̅ͥ̊ͨ̅͟G̸̷̵̢̛̹̠̞͔͊͑̎̊́̇̈́́ ̴̡̧̗͆ͯĄ̛̼̺͍̬̘̬ͯ͆̆̆ͩͫ̿ͧ̾ͥ̀͟͢͢͝͞͡I̴̸̻͛̈́͆ͮ͊̉̂̾̈́͠҉̸̧̢͕́͢N̴̢̾̈̚҉̴̵̨̩̫̦

I feel a howl building in my throat but before it can escape something hits my face hard enough for it to bounce back off the tile.

Suddenly, I can see the tiles to the floor in startling clarity and I raise my head.

The ringleader looks irritated, his features crisp in my state of sobriety.

"You dumbass! I told you not to hit him too hard or it would wear off!" He snaps at the kid with pointed ears.

I can feel blood sliding down the sides of my face, my lip is split and at least 3 of my ribs are cracked.

The blood rushing in my ears quiets down and I blink away the after images of him.

The shadows are howling and wailing for retribution and anger finds it way into my system.

My panic melts into white hot rage and I can see the shadows beginning to warp behind the group, long spindly lines of black stretching across the walls, leaving cracks and wire-like trails in it's wake.

Thick black liquid oozes from the cuts the shadows have made in reality, tearing a hole in the very logic of the universe itself to abide by my growing fury as the room darkens.

'Well this is new' I think to myself, belatedly, in the back of my mind.

The lights flicker ominously and I can see clawed fingers scraping along the tile, ripping it apart and sending dust into the air, fog creeping from the mouths of several humanoid shadows that cling to the walls.

The boys look around, grips slackening as the bathroom turns into a scene from a horror movie, doors slamming shut as creatures scuttle along the ceiling and walls, chittering away with disjointed voices overlapping in echoes of glass grinding together.

I flex my fingers into claws, eyes gleaming obsidian as shadows twist into grotesque shapes, nothing but sharp needle-like teeth and gleaming blood red eyes.

Fangs gleaming in flickering lights as tendrils creep up around the group, whispers of h̵̵̨̟̟ͦ̕̕͜͠o̵͕̱̘͈̬̘̻͐ͭ̾̐̎̕͝͞w̼͉͇̥͖̙̿̑d͊ͩ̑ͬ̚҉̮͉̼͈̼ą̵̝͑ͥ͊̾ͨr̷̶̡̢̲͔̘̳̘̊̔͆̽͢et̸ͪͤ͏̛̛̫̹̬he̡̨͔̪͖̻̫̞̎ͮ̿̚͟͟͡͠y̶̬̲̬̰̞̎̓ and w̲̞̞͙͎͚͂ͬ̄ͭ́͜͟e̷̛̛̜̟͎ͪ͋̔ͬ̔̀̔͘͘͘͢w̐̔͂ͯ͏̖̤̻͘͞ͅạ̴̧͓̮͕ͣ̃̃͡ͅn̶̒ͩ͘͏̱͉̼̀̕t̒̽̽͐ͪ̔͏̜̫̕̕ͅḇ̴̘͖̺͕̼͆̓͗͆͟l͎̪̙͉̮̠͒͝oơ̡̠̩͈̼ͪ̽̅͌͌́͘͡͝ḑ̷̶͈̯̯͚̘̲ͣ̀͜͟ bounce off the walls like thunder clapping, echoing in my ears alone.

"You better pick a god and pray." I snarl at the group of boys as I twist my left hand and jab my nails into Goon #2's ribs.

He yelps and scuttles away from me, lucky his skin crystalized in time because that was a blow meant to deal blood.

The shadows spring into action between one breath and the next, snaking around their limbs in a death grip, squeezing hard enough for me to hear small cracks and loud cries of pain.

I launch into action, slamming into one of the boys who had restrained me and sending us careening into a stall door that goes of it's hinges upon contact.

I leave him laying half in the toilet, blinking dazedly at the black ceiling, as I dive for the boy with the crystal quirk.

He gets out a strangled scream before his newly crystalized back breaks the sink and shatters the mirror, glass and ceramic raining down as the shadows slam into his temple hard enough to make him crumple upon contact.

The other three boys are watching with wide fearful eyes, horror painting their expressions, and skin so pale it's nearly grey.

"A-Akuma.¹" The boy on the left stutters, barely above a whisper and voice laden with terror.

My responding grin is all teeth as I slam my forehead into his, sending his shoulder-length silver hair flying as the shadows rip him backwards, sending him impacting a wall hard enough for it to crack.

I press one of my hands to the floor, acting on instinct more than anything.

Imagine my surprise when a shadow begins to come out of it, nearly nine feet tall, all thick limbs and 3 sets of glowing red eyes.

It's face is humanoid, but it's got a mane of smoke and pointy wolf-like ears, a thin reptilian-like tail smooths over the floor in a lazy wag.

Spines the length of my leg pop out of it's back, going down it's spine and ending just before it's double-jointed legs.

The Eldritch abomination, that I have apparently summoned, leans forward on it's burly forearms, coming face to face with the drug-quirk boy.

I watch as it's spines stand up and begin to tremble, filling the air with a haunting rattling noise, like bones being ground into dust.

The boy whimpers as the creature breathes out a sinister laugh at point-blank in his face, mouth stretching to show of an impossible amount of thin, needle-like teeth stuffed into it's mouth like an angler fish and- oh, he passed out.

'What a shame'

I turn to the leader, lips curling into a snarl.

"I hope this is a good reminder on why you don't try to corner children and beat them up, yes?" I sneer, idly running my free hand along the smooth surface of the beast's tail.

The leader looks at the shadow creature turning to look at him, it's face made of horrors and fresh nightmares, before turning back to me crouched on the ground and petting said creature.

"Shinigami²." He breathes with the utmost certainty, like he just found every secret to the universe in the black abyss of my eyes.

"Alright, he's lost it. Knock him out will ya, Darlin'?" I whisper to the shadows, last word curling with my accent thickening by the sudden wave of realization and fatigue that washes over me.

"O͈̘̳͈͌̔́͞f̵̶̙͈̩̠͖͔̌͌ͥ́ c̡̠̺̘̊͜͡͞͡ͅou̸̡ͥ͠҉͇̕͜r̸̴̡͇͕̼͔̺̈́̕͢͡ş͍͈̞ͩ̓ͫ́͘͠͡͝ͅe̝͓ͩ͆̃ͮ̏́,̧ͩ͆̀͟͏̵̦̘̜͓̰ a̗͇͊͋̕͠͠n̨͖̬͍̺̄̚̕͝yţ͓͓̤̟̘ͤͬͫ̓̇͘͢͠h͒̑͋҉̶̴̭͘i̓̚n̡ͮͬͪ́͏̷̜͖̹̳̘ͅg̨̅ͮ͌̊҉̛͜͞͏̘͔̩̼̗ ḟ̧̛͕̎ͦͮ̓ͤ̀͝͞͠ȯ̊̕̕͜͟͠͏͔͎̪r̢̬͂̍̂͌ͭ͝͝ÿ̡͍́͌ͥ́ͨͨ͞o̢͔̹͋̒͗ͧ͟ų̷͖̠͔͔͋̑́̍ͤ̊͝" The shadow whispers back, voice like gravel, a deep noise that rumbles in it's chest and rattles in it's throat on the way out.

The creature raises a large hand and slams it into the side of the boy's head, sending him sailing into another stall.

I suddenly sway a little, tired from... Whatever I just did with my quirk.

The creature's form wavers and it disappears like smoke.

The room brightens, lines and strange goop fading into nothing and leaving me in a suddenly very bright and very trashed bathroom.

I sigh, licking my lips absentmindedly as I shuffle out of the bathroom to go find my bag and clean up.

xXx

The next day Katsuki heard all about my little battle in the bathroom because people would not stop referring to me as Shinigami*.

Katsuki stopped having doctor's appointments after school after that.

And, turns out I can basically call forth the 9th realm of Hell, with the creatures to match if I use enough energy.

However, considering the fact that I passed out for 3 days afterwards, I'm not likely to try that again for a little bit.

Maybe next time I should start out small?

Hmmm...

Some characters are OOC for this chapter but since we don't know much about canon Katsuki or canon Izuku's background, I think it's safe to let it slide. I'm NOT abandoning this story, there's just been a lot of things going on recently and writers block is kicking my ass. I also apologize in advance because my update schedule is gonna be kinda wonky for a while, but I'm gonna be making some chapters longer to make up for it.

1: *Demon/Devil

2: Means God of Death or Death Spirit