Lani POV:

Nothing but the sound of my clacking heels filled the space between Eiichi and I as we walked down the dark, empty hallway of the banquet venue.

Silence was nothing new between us. There was a lot of it in our relationship, and those were always the parts I enjoyed the most. I guess, for that reason, I understand Shouto's point of view when it comes to Momo and why he doesn't want to date her. Dating someone where love—or even like doesn't exist just makes you feel trapped.

And, as much as I talked a big game to Shouto about separating himself and finding someone he actually connected with, the truth is that I was just as guilty as him of not believing shit like that existed. I also never really connected with anyone, emotionally speaking. I always thought I was 'broken' and that whoever I ended up with would only take me as a last resort. Because that's what I'd been conditioned to think my entire life.

But, now things are different, and that hurts because they can't be. Shouto proved me wrong, and I want nothing more than to tell him that—fuck, to experience it with him. A first time for both of us—in something that is very scary for me personally.

I've never truly wanted to take that step with anyone. Anyone except him...

But, I'll never get to have it. Once he finds out who I really am, I'll lose what I never had, and I didn't think that could hurt me as much as I know it will.

A cold grip on my wrist brought me out of my thoughts and I quickly ripped my arm away from Eiichi's hold, glaring and scoffing at him in disgust.

He mirrored my actions and put his hands up in mock surrender, gesturing to the closed door on his left impatiently, "Calm the fuck down, you prude. You passed the door. I was just trying to stop you."

Ignoring his comment, I sighed and turned towards the door, ensuring my pill filled clutch was in hand, "Alright, I'll be quick. You don't need to be present. The overseer usually just waits outside to keep watch."

I attempted to open the door before my wrist was roughly yanked again by Eiichi, "Nah. I'm going in, too." He practically shoved me out of the way. "A room full of men like this alone with a woman like you? No way."

"Wow. 'A woman like me?'" I retorted sarcastically, shoving him to the side to try and open the door again. "Funny, coming from the guy who always claims to be out of my league-"

Eiichi's shoulder knocked into my own, and I was forced to grab onto his arm so I didn't tip over in my stilettos, huffing in irritation as we both stubbornly placed our hands on the doorknob now.

"Take it from the best, Lani. Men just want a hole. They'll fuck anything." He said, smirking as he looked me up and down with proof for his next point. "Even the ugly ones."

"You're repulsive-" I seethed through my teeth before the door swung open on its own now.

The people on the other side clearly heard us outside, and Eiichi and I immediately stood up straight, putting our argument on hold as we looked at the giant seven foot tall man directly in the doorway.

"You the dragon?" The unknown hero narrowed his eyes at us, specifically and ironically, Eiichi.

For one last time, I shoved Eiichi out of the doorway and forced the burly man to look at me, immediately turning on my snarky facade.

"The 'dragon'—what a cringy 90s nickname for the bad guy—would be me." I bore my eyes at him, feeling my palms sweat when he didn't move from the doorway. "I'm impatient though. So I suggest moving out of my way before I lose interest in this."

I attempted to walk through the door before the man slid into my way once more, crossing his arms and looking down at me, "We weren't aware a woman would be selling."

"Aw. I didn't know big strong men like you were afraid of women." I chastised smugly. "Don't worry, I don't bite."

He glared at me for a few moments longer before finally stepping aside, causing me to brush past him with Eiichi following behind me.

Acting like this is the only way to set boundaries in this business. I guess it's not so different from my job as a publicist. Talking to heroes and villains holds more similarities than I care to realize.

A room full of men awaited me, and suddenly, I kinda understood what Eiichi was talking about. These unfamiliar men were supposed to be heroes—clearly shitty, unknown ones, but they looked more like villains with the way they looked me up and down, smirking to themselves and each other with intentions I could recognize.

Great. And now I know they look down on me 'cause I'm a woman. I need to turn this around and make sure they know where they stand...

Eiichi stood nearby like a convincingly good bodyguard, glaring daggers at the heroes and watching me turn to the man who had opened the door for us.

"Just for the record," I said to him, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. "I'm the one doing you a favor here. So if you ever make me wait at that door again, I'll make sure you highly regret it. Are we clear? Huh? Souta?"

The man's eyes widened for a millisecond at the use of his full name that no one was supposed to know, clearing his throat and looking around the room at the amount of people who heard it.

Perks of working for an illegal company. Information like that is given to me at the snap of a finger.

"Crystal." He said, barely nodding in apology before shutting up.

I didn't acknowledge him this time as I turned to the rest of the dimly lit room, seeing at least fifty to sixty heroes all crammed together...

Jesus. This drug is spreading like a wildfire. That is so not good. Not to mention...

The bigger it gets, the more I risk exposing myself. To the Mizuchi, or the heroes trying to catch me.

I quickly wiped the bead of sweat at my temple, snapping my fingers at the men in the room, "I want everyone in rows against the wall. No one is allowed to be behind me where I can't see you. Hurry up, I don't have all day." I ordered bitchily.

Like a bunch of mindless dogs, the men all scrambled into their places, all slaves to this tiny little pill as they obeyed the orders of a nobody like me. Some people might get a high off it, off that power of controlling others.

But, I don't. I couldn't give a fuck. I hate heroes. I hate villains. I hate everyone, and I just wanna be left alone.

Once they were all lined up like sardines, I scanned my eyes across their faces, trying to pinpoint any suspicious figures who might be trying to out me before I came across a guy who looked particularly fresh faced.

My breath faltered at the sight of him, and it wasn't because I thought he was going to out me. It was because he looked so....

"You." I called out to the boy who looked young enough to be a teenager. "Get the fuck over here."

He wiggled himself out of the crowd and came my way. I harshly gripped his cheeks between my hand once he was within my grasp, wrenching his head up into the dim light before scoffing in disgust, "Jesus. How old are you?"

"Eighteen. As of yesterday." He said, causing my heart to physically drop to the floor.

Fuck. Eighteen years old. How can I sell drugs to a kid who was just a teenager two days ago...

He reminds me of my brother.

I scoffed in conflict, barely glancing around the room at all the watching eyes. I know I couldn't force him to leave. But, still, that didn't stop me from trying.

My mouth hesitated at what I wanted to say—what I knew I shouldn't say. But, I needed to. For my own conscience. Even if it gets me in trouble. Even if it puts my life on the line....

"Are you even aware of what a drug like this will do to you?" I asked the boy, causing Eiichi's eyes to widen in alarm.

He immediately turned into me, whispering into my ear with low threat, "Hey, what the fuck are you doing?"

"Yeah. It will make me strong enough to climb the ranks." The kid said. "I'm trying to make the top ten by the first of the year. I need it."

He tried to snatch the pill from my hands but I quickly pulled back before he could reach, eyeing him with the same discipline face I give Raiga, "The only thing you'll be getting is a shallow grave if you fuck with too many of these. You understand that, right? You get that people are dying from this? It's not a game. Get out."

My arm was gripped harshly by Eiichi, feeling his fingers digging in hard enough to bruise.

"Lani." He whispered through grit teeth, with his hand starting to shake from how hard he squeezed me.

It hurt. But, seeing the face of the boy in front of me hurt more.

"Look, lady." The young hero huffed, cheeks going red in embarrassment as he looked at all the heroes watching the exchange. "I'm not here for a lecture. Just gimme the damn pills and shut up."

My fingers crinkled tightly around the pill bag in frustration, glancing around the room and knowing there was nothing I could do. Is killing one eighteen year old boy to save another justified? Absolutely not. But, I've made quite the mess of my own morality as it is.

Besides, this kid won't die. He won't die because I cut the pills in half. A half dose isn't enough to cause more than a three minute power surge followed by a bad three day migraine.

Now if he goes to another dealer next time, he will die. Me not giving him the pill today won't save him. If anything, it will be the thing to kill him if he goes to someone else who won't refuse. I need to make sure he comes back to me.

I shoved him back by his face slightly, caving without pride, "Fine. Money first."

He sighed in relief and pulled out his wallet, "150,000 yen. Right?" He asked before Eiichi immediately stepped in.

"No. The price is 300,000 yen-"

"No. 150,000 is right." I quickly cut him off, plucking the boy's money before pulling out one of the pills.

"What...?" Eiichi asked me before he saw through the translucent pill bag.

Fuck.

That's why I didn't want him coming in with me.

He reacted too honestly and the seven foot tall incel who was giving me trouble earlier immediately stepped in.

"Is there a problem?" He asked before Eiichi ignored him and ripped the pill bag out of my hand.

"Let me get you a different bag-" He said to the boy, trying to grab my clutch before I quickly pulled it back.

"No use. They're all like that. It's the correct amount. It's not an error. Right?" I asked, looking him dead in the eyes as a signal to shut up.

Eiichi's dreadful gaze of realization to the amount inside the bag let me know that I'd been caught, but in the eyes of so many others, saying anything would be deadly for both of us. He knew that, too.

"Right. Yes, that's correct. My mistake." He quickly brushed over, shoving the kid away and calling out to the room, "Next in line."

*

"You fucking bitch!" Eiichi slammed me up against the wall once we were alone, eyes wild with fear and fury. "You're cutting the pills?! You're cutting the pills!" He seethed through his grit teeth, shaking my body violently. "God damn it, Lani, are you trying to kill us!?"

I shoved him back in anger, satisfied when his back slammed into the wall, "Me? Not totally. But, I'd love it if you kicked the bucket. Feel free to anytime."

The two of us were sweaty and stressed in the dimly lit room, clearly at our own wits ends for very different reasons. Eiichi tensed his jaw and threw his head to the ceiling, slamming his fist into the wall to try and control is anger.

"Do you understand what will happen to us if they find out you're cutting the pills?" He kept his wild gaze to the floor, voice low and shaky. "Price is sold by the weight of the drug. Does this mean you're only giving the Mizuchi half the money?"

"No, do you think I'm an idiot?" I crossed my arms with a scoff. "I'm replacing the other half of the money with my own. They don't suspect anything that way."

Eiichi's eyes closed with a grimace, "You can't afford that." He rubbed at his temples achingly.

"I'll cross that bridge when I get there." I shrugged, trying to hide my own nerves.

Eiichi's reaction was in no way overdramatic. I understand it, and I've gotten myself—and now, him, into a very serious and possibly dire situation by cutting the pills. I'm playing with fire and practically dangling my head over the chopping block, waiting for it to slice my neck off clean at any given moment.

I'm just doing what I can to make Raiga and all those stupid heroes survive. I didn't leave any room for my own safety in that equation. Mostly because there isn't any room for me to begin with.

"There's a reason you're supposed to sell the whole pill, honey." Eiichi's sarcastic voice came out hoarse, lifting his bloodshot eyes back towards me. "Half a dose isn't enough to get people hooked. Or to kill 'em for that matter once they get enough of it in their system. It won't have them coming back for more."

"I'll attribute it to an error of the drug." I reasoned, causing him to scoff.

"Yeah? And you don't think it'll look suspicious when you're the only dealer who has that problem?"

"It's worked out so far-"

I remained unbothered—so incredibly unbothered and practically dissociative in my responses. It's a defense mechanism, and it's always been one whenever I find myself stressed. I try not to think about the consequences, I just make it up as I go.

I always did that back then. When the hurtful words of others hit my ears. They'd always make fun of me for crying, so I trained myself to not react at all. Because if I don't react, then there's nothing that they can make fun of.

Or, so I thought. People always find a way. They're very creative when they want to be mean and heartless. And, right now, my voidness to the situation was pissing Eiichi off, because in his mind, I just don't give a fuck about any of this or our lives.

"No. Shut up. You shut the fuck up and listen to me." He stormed over to me with threat, only becoming more furious the calmer I became. "I will not be dying for your sorry ass, do you understand? If you don't start selling the full thing-"

I laughed laxly in his face at whatever half assed threat he was getting ready to spew, looking up at him like he was pathetic trash under my shoe, "Then what, tough guy? You'll tell them? You're my overseer, asshole. You tell them? They'll blow your head off before you can blink. No matter what you do, I'm your collateral damage. Not the other way around."

Beads of nervous sweat continued to roll down his temples and he bore his copper eyes at me with resentment, clearly knowing I was right.

"Maybe I'll just kill you myself instead then." He stated lowly, and once again I laughed.

For starters, I know Eiichi, and he's too much of a pussy to ever do something like that. He likes to talk a big game, but never actually follows through. And, on the one percent chance he would follow through, let's not forget I'm the one who was about to go skydiving off a bridge with no parachute a few years ago.

"As if I care. Then you'll be doing both of us a favor." I uttered in monotone, feeling my mind slipping out of the conversation.

It sounds so lame, but right now, I kinda just want to go sit in a dark room on the floor, and...

Nah, I'm not even gonna finish that thought. Too lame.

Eiichi barely calmed down as he growled a breath of malevolence through his nose, looking me up and down with a glance I recognized now, "If you're going to force me to keep your little secret," He uttered just a touch lighter, "At least give me something for it."

He barely ran his fingers along the material of my dress before I smacked his hand away, "I'd rather die."

He didn't seem surprised by my answer that time, rolling his eyes and placing his hand on the wall next to my head, "Maybe you will. I haven't decided what to do with you yet."

I snorted at his empty threat, "You give yourself too much credit. Pussy."

"Wanna bet?" He asked, raising a brow of spiteful challenge at me.

"If you've come to terms with your own death, then go ahead and tell them. Otherwise, I expect you to keep your mouth shut and go along with it, partner-" I said before the door swung open.

Eiichi and I's eyes widened in a simultaneous look of 'oh shit', because this is why the overseer is supposed to wait outside the door and keep watch. Both of us quickly looked towards the door to catch sight of the culprit...

And there was Katsuki Bakugo staring right back at me.

*****
A/N: today i posted a free preview of another bad habits canon smut chapter on patreon! It's free so check it out if you'd like to see. Link to my patreon is on my page.