Shoto sighed, watching his breath freeze over the frigid atmosphere.
He truly hadn't understood what he'd done to earn such a reaction from that bartender.
Tenba, was it?

Whatever.

This had made his night sour, and all he wanted now was to get back to his cold, sweet metal asylum.

•°♠°•

♠Back inside the bar♠

"How's it going, pretty boy? Got any Intel?"

The harsh voice called.

Tenya looked down, his hands shaking against his sides.

His lips were pursed out of pure terror.

A hand shot outward and grabbed ahold of his jaw, pressing the skin of his inner cheek against his teeth.
The back of his head swiftly made contact with the shelves behind as a result, forcing rattles from the fragile glasses placed upon them.
"I asked you fucking a question."

"I-I... I'm working on it. This was the first day they even spoke to me afte–"

"Not good enough,"
He slipped a small pocket-knife from his jeans, drawing it lightly across Tenya's jawbone.
"Not good e–"

"Yes! Cut him up into little pieces, Tomu-chan! Make him bleed!"
The eager blonde cupped her rosy cheeks, swaying from side to side excitedly.

"Shut up, idiot!"
Tomura snapped, his dry, unkempt hair snapping with his mannerisms.

He turned back to Tenya, his words etching through his skull.

"Don't think I didn't see the look on your face when you were with that bastard from the Honō gang just now; you better not triple-agent me with a rivalling gang."

"Ooh- is he your lover?"

"I said shut up, Toga!"
Tomura hissed.
He sighed frustratedly, raking his pale, spiny fingers through his hair.

"If me or any of my men feel threatened by the Honō gang in any way, I will personally see to it that you and your family die a painful death. Understood?"

Tenya gave a shaky nod.

"Get me something soon, y'here?"

Tomura retracted his knife, placing back into his back pocket.
He, along with his handful of goons started out of the bar.

"Uh- Shigaraki, sir."

"What?"

"I saw your van from across the street. That Shoto Todoroki picks up up on these things- next time you might not be so lucky."
Tenya gulped.

Tomura's eyes widened.
"Why I oughta!–"
"Just shut up and work on your damn stealth, Shigaraki."
The taller man mused, his dark, spiked mane covering his eyes- much like Shoto.
"Shut it, Dabi!"
They finally exited the bar, leaving Tenya with a racing pulse and weak knees.
He'd had enough heart attacks for one day.

Tenya's older brother, Tensei, had taken a loan in secrecy that tied back to the Honō gang.
When he'd started working off the debt, however, he'd been gravely injured with no means of returning to work.

That's when Tenya decided to step up for his brother's sake.

However, soon after he began working, he was pinned by the "AFO" gang, also known as the All For One gang.
They planned on using him to gather vital information from the Honō gang.
The fastest way of doing so was to stop supplying their payments, resulting in a stir they'd have no choice but to handle personally; hence Shoto's visit.
Now with two illegal organizations breathing down his neck, Tenya wasn't left many options but to silently comply- and stay alive.

He wasn't sure how long he could keep doing either.

~•∆•~

[A/N]: Hi! So, just letting you guys know, I'm planning on making this a slowburner with a hint of mystery. So don't expect smut or anything right off the bat lol
Happy reading!<33

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Thank you for reading part 3 of 'Flames & Roses'! Please leave a '⭐' or comment if you enjoyed!

[S.K.]