Tonight was the night.

My palms were sweaty, my throat was dry, and my heart was going a mile a minute. I wanted to stay close to Dabi, but he was so busy; I didn't want to get in his way.
"Okay, so we all know the plan...Get to your posts..." The ravonette announced loudly. "Don't underestimate these brats. Kill who you need to kill, and remember our targets..."
"I'm gonna collect sooooo much blood! You should totally come with me, (N/N)!" Toga grabbed my arm and shook me excitedly; almost violently, and I swallowed my protests.
"Uh...sorry...I'm...supposed to go with Hiso...um, I mean, Mustard..." I murmured; eyeing the oddly quiet boy, who was standing a few feet away. He seemed...different after the training that was forced upon him. A bad kind of different.
"Oi..." I flinched as Dabi called out to me, but I skittered over to his side immediately. "Just stay in one form. You'll be fine...If anything goes wrong...you know where to find me." His ocean eyes gazed down at me; dark and stoic, and all I could do was nod once in understanding.
"O..okay..." I said quietly before lightly touching his arm. "P..please stay safe..." I didn't wait for a response and hurried away to follow Mustard, who had already started off towards his post in the middle of the forest. His gas mask covered his face, so I couldn't see his expression, but I knew it was cold and hard; just like Dabi's.

Normally he'd speak to me...

"Hey...Hisoka..? You okay, love..?" I asked timidly; matching his pace.
"It's Mustard...and I'm fine..." He grunted back as he sped up. Crestfallen, I fell back and left him to his own devices.

I wanna go home...

It was silent until we arrived in the small clearing; the summer air stifling. I kept my distance and just stood to the side; looking up at the stars between the foliage - daydreaming to get away from the whole situation.
"I'm...sorry for blabbing about your quirk, (Y/N)..." Mustard said out of the blue. "If I hadn't...then you wouldn't have to be here..." I didn't hesitate to shake my head; a wonky smile etching across my face.
"It's not your fault...He would've figured it out eventually, anyway! I just wanna know if you're okay..?" I walked over and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, and the poor boy was shaking, just like I was.
"I'm...great...Just excited...that's all..." He took my hand in his and pulled it from his shoulder, but he didn't let it go. "T..totally okay..." I knew he was lying; I wasn't that daft, and I hated it. He was a kid. He shouldn't have been dragged into a slaughter.
"I'll keep you safe, Hisoka. Cross my heart! I'll be your guard dog!" I puffed out my chest and grinned; faking bravery to ease his mind. He nodded, and we stood there for a few moments before a harsh scent reached my nose. Unmistakable smoke.
"It's time...Activate the MECMO..." He said in a rush; motioning to the small device Mr. Compress had equipped me with. Mini Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - something that would pump oxygen into my blood so I wouldn't have to physically breathe. It was limited, and it was intravenous, which made me extremely uncomfortable, but I did what I was told.
"R..right...well...let's do this then..." I gave one last faltering smile to Mustard before I morphed into my chosen form. It was something I hadn't used very often, so nobody would put two and two together. A dire wolf. I made sure to tweak my size; my snout level with Mustard's shoulders, as I began to pace around the clearing. The young villain began to emit his quirk; thick clouds of violet gas wafting through the trees, and it made the air heavy.
"They'll drop like flies...and then I won't have to use it..." I could hear him mumble under his breath, but I had no idea what it was. I had my suspicions, but I pushed them to the back of my mind; I had to focus on not inhaling the fumes, anyway.

----------------------

Time lapsed slowly; we could hear the cries of students and teachers alike from afar, and I was growing restless. One paw in front of the other; round and round in circles; I was nauseous.
"You're making me dizzy..." Mustard sighed; fiddling with the filter on his mask. "H..how about I give you a cool alter ego? Y..you know...to keep your mind off it..?"

You mean to keep OUR minds off it...

Padding over, I sat myself down at his feet and let my log of a tail thump a few times to show my agreement. I could see my strange contacts reflected in the glass of his mask; a gleaming topaz in colour.
"Let's see..." He hummed; his gloved hand coming to ruffle through my thick fur. "How about...Fang? Nah, that's too mainstream...uh...I know! Um...what about...Chusei*..? B..because you're always so loyal to us! E..even though you're not a villain..." He rubbed the back of his neck, and I proceeded to nuzzle into his palm in approval.
(*Chusei means Loyalty)

I like it!

"IT'S GETTING THICKER! THE BASTARD'S GOTTA BE CLOSE!" A loud voice sounded from the haze, and I immediately leapt in front of Mustard; ready to protect him. It was as though my instincts were taking over. I needed to keep my head above it all.
"THERE!" A female voice now, and two students appeared through the violet mist. They each wore a gas mask, but one of them was unmistakable.

T..Tetsutetsu..?!

He was one of Kirishima's closest friends, after their battle at the sports festival. I'd hung out with him a few times, and seeing him as an opponent made my stomach twist into knots.
"Holy fuck...look at the size of that dog!" The platinum-haired boy gasped; his fists up ready to fight. It came as no surprise when he activated his quirk; steeling his body in preparation. I was scared; not only because I'd have to go up against two fellow students, but the fact that I knew Mustard wasn't good with combat. His life typically consisted of reading vintage novels, playing co-op video games and a diet of thin mints and sour gummies. It was up to me to keep him safe.

My ears were deaf to their voices; Mustard was reciting some monologue about the cockiness of UA, and Tetsu; along with the ginger girl, were trying to get closer. I saw it; the second the boy lurched forward, and I tugged my young villain out of the way with my teeth hooked into the leg of his pants. My eyesight was far greater than theirs in this thick smog, as well as my hearing. My only setback was not being able to physically breathe.
"...They're still human, huh..?" The tone of Mustard's voice was chilling; a complete switch from what I was used to, but what really made my blood run cold was what happened next. The gun that was suddenly pointed towards Tetsutetsu's face, and the almighty bang of a shot that made my sensitive ears ring.

N..no! Tetsu!

He was alive. He'd barely moved an inch backwards; but the mask that had covered his mouth and nose had been destroyed by the bullet.
"A gun won't work, huh?" There was that rasp again, and it made me utter a low whimper. I needed to keep them away. If things continued the way they were, somebody was going to get killed. A deep growl made my body vibrate, and I darted forward; snapping at the air between Mustard and Tetsu with piercing teeth. The metallic boy stumbled backwards a few steps; eyes wide and startled.

STAY BACK, TETSU! AWAY FROM HIM!

"Oh yeah...I saw you on the live broadcast of the sports festival...There were guys who could turn hard..." Mustard chuckled; gun smoking from the barrel. "But it doesn't matter...because it's just a matter of how long you can hold your breath in this gas!" This side of my young friend made me want to cry. I was certain I would have if I hadn't been in animal form; a predator, no less. Again, Tetsu raced forward in hopes of landing a strike, and I yanked Mustard away, just in the nick of time.
"Tetsutetsu! It's no use! That dog thing is his eyes!" The girl called out; glaring daggers at the two of us with sweat beading down her temple.

Stay away...I'll tear you all u...wait...no! I won't! Shut up!

"Even if you harden yourself, you're charging straight in? Give me a break..!" Mustard cackled; a heavy hand petting the top of my head. "You go to a prestigious school, right? You're smart, right?!" He was trying to dig under those layers of steel, straight into his skin.
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!" I couldn't move fast enough to stop this second shot; the clang of metal against metal made my joints buckle, and I didn't want to look up.

"Are you pretending to be the Terminator?!" Mustard wheezed; though he was still quivering against my side - his weight pushing into me as though I was his only pillar. "Use your head a little..!" This time, the gun was pointed towards the girl. I was sure my own eyes reflected hers; filled with terror.

I..I can't let him..!

It happened so fast. I saw Tetsutetsu try to dive between them; a trickle of blood dribbling down his metallic forehead from the last bit, but there was no way he'd make it in time. My legs moved on their own. The bang, the pain, and the ground. The heavy thud of the weapon being dropped to the ground, and the feeling of arms scooping my upper half into a chilled lap.
"Sh..shit! Fuck...I..I...I didn't mean..!" Mustard's voice rattled along with his shoulders, and no pain was worse than what I felt hearing that. The bullet had gone straight into my shoulder; I was alive, but the feeling was excruciating. I sat myself up a little; my cold nose pressing up under his covered chin.

I'm...alive...see! Just...stand back up...you can't get distra-

I was beginning to hate the sound of metal. I couldn't help but yelp as Tetsutetsu's fist connected with Mustard's face; his token mask shattering on impact as he sprawled out on the ground, unconscious. Ignoring the searing pain, I leapt up and over the defeated boy; taking in our clearer surroundings. The girl had used her quirk; her hand how ginormous, and had fanned away the gas, and Tetsutetsu was standing at the ready - his breathing deep and laboured.
"E..easy, Rover...easy..." He tried to soothe me as he took a step forward, but my panic had caused my predatory state to take the reigns. Snapping and snarling, my hackles raised as I lowered myself over Mustard.

MY BOY! STAY BACK! DON'T TOUCH!

Surprisingly, Tetsu halted in his tracks; his arms coming up to show he wasn't going to initiate another fight. Once I was sure he would stay back, my ears flattened against my head, and I nudged Mustard's hand with my muzzle. He didn't respond. I could see the faint rise and fall of his chest, but he was out cold. Whimpering, I just stared down at the poor boy; crying on the inside.

I'm s..so sorry, Hisoka! I just...I couldn't let you kill her!

"What are we gonna do about that...dog..?" The girl piped up; having moved over to Tetsu to check his minor injury. "It...kinda saved my life..." The silver haired student took another step forward, but stopped the moment my lip curled back; baring threatening cuspids.
"Easy, big fella...We're not gonna a hurt you..." He murmured; continuing his cautious advance. "We just gotta sort this guy out...It's okay...we're not gonna hurt you..."

Back...back...back..!

When his fingertips were in reach, that's when my senses snapped. He didn't have time to activate his quirk before I bit the flesh of his hand, but the moment I realised what I had done, I bolted. Only a few feet, but I had left my post over the unconscious boy; my tail tucked tight between my legs. Being able to breathe again, I could smell the scent of blood, and the taste was awfully sweet in my mouth as I allowed the excess to drip from my panting muzzle.

No...I didn't mean to...but...Hisoka..!

I knew I couldn't stay with him without getting caught. Tetsutetsu looked startled, but not angry. As far as he was concerned, I was just a distressed, injured animal.
"Tetsu...just leave it be..." The ginger cautioned; already moving to check on Mustard.
"But...it got shot..! It saved your life...Villain or not, I don't want it to die!" He retorted as he inched closer. Each step he took forward, I backed away.

No...Tetsu...let me go...

With one final look at Mustard; full of guilt and regret, I turned tail and ran off into the forest. Each movement sent a wild pain up my shoulder and down my side, but I ignored it. I had to get out of there. I had to avoid everyone.

I had to find Dabi...

***OKAY, IT HURT ME SO BAD TO WRITE MUSTARD'S DOWNFALL - I LOVE MY GASSY THIN MINT SON AHHHHHHHHH
Also, reminder, costume design contest ends October 20th!***