·•●❈●•·

"Man, why do I have to help find that guy? I'm not even the one who forced him to come." 

Denki huffed in exasperation, annoyed that his free time was being imposed on because of Izuku's carelessness.

Don't get him wrong, he was surely worried for his friend, but he was also simultaneously reassured by fact that Izuku was both more intimidating, and generally fitter in stature.

He may have been a softie at heart, but the rippling scars, stray tattoos and bulging muscles still made him a force to be reckoned with when it came to complete strangers.

"Come on, don't be like that. He's not answering his phone."

Eijiro hissed, wiping a glass behind the bar counter whilst Denki scoured the nearby area without any coordination whatsoever.

"When does he answer his phone?"
Denki sucked his teeth, borderline ready to throw in the towel before he'd even started.

He was sure that Izuku was home by now, safe and sou–

"Excuse me,"

The blonde's gaze flickered upward, a pair of mismatched orbs glancing back at him with a peculiar deadpanned stare.

His lids were lax and cat-like, almost accentuating his already shockingly effeminate features.

If it weren't for his unmistakeably masculine voice, Denki would've mistaken him for a tall woman in the right lighting.

"I'm looking for my friend. Could you help me?"

Denki caught himself staring, shifting on his feet to heighten his posture.

"Sure! Can yo–ahem... I mean... Could you uh, describe your friend?"
His tone had come off a little more enthusiastic than intended.

The stranger's eyes glistened with admiration, seeing as he'd yet to get a serious response up until now.

"Oh, of course. Thank you so much, sir, you're too kind."
While those words were intended to impress his gratitude, Denki couldn't help but feel a little cheapened by his lack of expressiveness as a whole.

"No problem at all. We're actually looking for a friend as well. And you can call me Kaminari."

"Ah, understood. And that's... An odd coincidence. I hope there isn't anything strange going on."
His expression wavered slightly, a sliver of worry seeming to overpower his general demeanor.

"I don't think we have anything to worry about, if I'm being honest,"
Denki waved, a small smile blooming in fluster,
"and, uh...Could you tell me your name?"

"Right...
My name is Shoto.
We can all look for our friends together, if that's okay with you."

Denki nodded in agreement,
"Of course."

·•●❈●•·

The all-too-familiar sensation of audible ringing and stagnant air on his limbs were the last thing Katsuki would've wanted to wake up to.

He sat up in a panic, the covers that had been splayed over his chest falling to his lap.

The smell of oil and cologne wafted from the futon he'd woken up on, as an unexpected warmth overcame his body.

Where was he?

This place was definitely different from the last, and the level of hospitality he'd experienced were on different levels completely.

‘What is this dump, anyway...’

There wasn't much to behold in his room, aside from the set of draws to the far right corner beside his futon, and the curtains that'd been drawn for privacy.

There was a set of footsteps approaching at a relaxed pace, but Katsuki was still on his guard.

Just who in the hell was he dealing with?

“Dammit!”
A voice blurted out behind the muffling walls.
There was an abrupt thud, before a shuffling sound and metal rattling on floor.

Now even more perplexed than before, Katsuki cautiously removed the covers from his legs, and began approaching the doorway.

As he'd begun slowly peeking around the threshold, he felt his knees almost give way from beneath him.

‘Is that... Blood?’

·•●❈●•·

“Over here!”

The crunch of compiled dirt and gravel below Eijiro's heavy boots was imminent, a result of the fresh construction that'd taken place recently.

“Would they be here? It's just an abandoned construction site.”
Denki inquired, arm outstretched to assist Shoto as he followed him down the steep path of dug-up stone.
“Hey, I know Izu best--and if he's run off anywhere, I'd say it's in there.”
Eijiro pointed at the caution-taped tunnel at the other side if the construction site, determination only growing with every passing second.

“Why would he be at some random tunnel? Much less one that's supposed to be closed off to the public.”

Eijiro turned around, moonlight beaming upon his cheek and jacket.
Denki thought it was odd since it wasn't chilly, and Eijiro wasn't the type to put style over comfort.

“Are you kidding me? With the rumors surrounding that place, it's all he can talk about in his free time. I wouldn't put a couple uncalled visits past him."

Denki glanced up at the sky, letting out a shallow  sigh.
“Man, that guy needs a leash sometimes, I swear.”

“You're one to talk.”
Eijiro mumbled, turning on his heel and starting towards the tunnel.

Denki bristled.
“What's that suppos–”

“U-Um... I have a question.”
Shoto stammered, falling quite behind the group--almost intentionally.

The two halted in unison,
“Hm? What is it?”

“The rumours that you were talking about... What are they?”

Denki cocked a brow, genuinely surprised by the inquiry.
“You--You really don't know?”

Shoto shook his head, prompting Denki to explain.

“Well... To put it simply, there was a string of attacks and murders all over Japan over the last few months. People have gone missing, only to show up not a few days later,”
He pointed at the eerie tunnel,
“In places like that.”

Eijiro nodded.
“The weird thing is, that the attacks don't seem to be human. Some people are speculating a loose zoo animal or something, but all wild animals kept within a 200 mile radius of the city have been accounted for. Not to mention that the bodies were recovered in abandoned or secluded areas, which suggests that whoever's behind this is aware of the consequences if they were ever caught. Ergo, animal attacks don't make sense.”

“It sure looks like it, though. Unlike the disposal, the actual attacks are brutal and merciless.”
Denki shuddered at the recollection of one of the first cases ever reported, which had a front-cover article in the local paper.
There was no graphic imagery, but the vague descriptions were bone-chilling enough on their own.

“I see... But why would your friend put himself in immediate danger like that?”

The duo looked at one another, with just about identical expressions spreading across their faces.

Hell if they fuckin' knew.

Izuku had always been peculiar that way, immersing himself in the unknown just to expand his knowledge on nothing in particular.

Having gone through countless self-imposed trials since highschool, he'd built his lifestyle around his rather impulsive curiosity--one that got the better of him more often than not.
You could even say that he was his own detective, pursuing Art and Psychology but then bending those very morals for his hobby of investigation.

These specific cases had sparked his interest from day one, to the point where Eijiro would find him in the university library reading up on real crime cases and past serial murders in Japan.

His friends envied his passionate means of dedicating himself to every aspect of his life, whether it be studies, hobbies or health.

He was definitely a mysterious soul when it came to his personal interests, but his general demeanor never once faltered.

Izuku was always going to be the crazy fit painter, with an ear for anything unsolved.

“It's just how he is.”
Denki chuckled.

He knew Izuku about as long as Eijiro did, but was hardly as familiar with him. They'd only really started talking after graduation, and by that time, Eijiro and Izuku were already close acquaintances--having gone through so much together during their time at Yueii and building a friendship from that complex foundation.

They ended up going to university together, and were basically brothers at this point.
Though Izuku was known to be more antisocial nowadays, Eijiro was always the exception.

“Ah, I see...”
Shoto supposed that this friend was just some sort of sketchy fellow, that'd find himself in abandoned spaces to partake in morally questionable affairs.

‘Typical,’
He thought, biting back the natural grimace that would've bled into his features.

Eijiro and Denki flickered on their cells' flashlights, both of then taking to either side of the tunnel.

The ribbons of blinding illumination momentarily chased away the abyss that blotched the walls and ground, revealing the first few feet into the structure as unmistakably clear.

They continued, a rather nervous Shoto fumbling behind them, the inky black chasing at his heels due to his lagging.

“Hey, Sho? You okay?”

Denki looked over his shoulder, facing the light at his feet to avoid shining it into anyone's eyes.

“...'m fine, just a little hesitant about checking this place out. The atmosphere doesn't sit well with me.”
Shoto responded, uttering the last bit under his breath.

“...Odd.”
Denki shone his beam onto the cement-infused walls once more, slit as he scanned his surroundings with a bias.

Eijiro piped up,
“What is it? Did you hear anything?”

“...Does it seem to be getting... Colder?”

Eijiro took a step back, glancing up at the arch of the tunnel.

There were no cracks or incisions, so the airflow should've been nonexistent.

“Kirishima, give me your jacket.”
Eijiro cocked a brow before hesitantly complying, slipping off the article of clothing and tossing it to Denki.

The blonde nodded in thanks, now beginning to re-approach the entrance, making his way towards Shoto.

The bi-coloured man bristled with the sudden contact against his skin, the rough but pleasantly warm fabric sliding onto his shoulders.

“Wha--What's this for?”

Denki gave his padded shoulders a friendly pat,
“You seemed to be trembling. I doubt your vest is providing you any relief against the cold. Ei and I are dressed warmer, so I figured you'd need it more.”

Eijiro nudged Denki when he'd caught back up with him,
“You're lucky I agree with you, bro--or else I'd would've already smacked you for handing out my shit.”

The two started going further into the tunnel, hardly noticing Shoto standing in silence near the entrance, clutching the fabric that clung to his bare shoulders.

He didn't really need the jacket after all, since he'd begun feeling a rush of pure warmth from the tips of his ears to the base if his chest.

Is this what one would call... A fever?

·•●❈●•·

“My apologies, I seem to be in a bit of a mood today... I don't usually swear like that--Well, not unless I'm angry or provoked, really.”

Katsuki sat stiff--stare, posture and very breathing still enough to mock a statue.

Who...

Just who in the name of fuckery was this man?

Why was he making casual conversation with him--as if he'd asked in the first place?

Katsuki's stare only momentarily flickered down to the red liquid splashed against the stranger's shirt, the same substance that smeared across his scarred hands.

The man's glance mirrored his own to gage what caught his company's attention, a visible nervousness splaying across his face as he stammered,
“A-Ah, these? This is paint from when I was moving a few canisters so that this room would be clear when you woke up. It was initially the space I stored all my spare supplies in, but it seems one of the cans was already open.”
He laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

Katsuki knit his brows, now growing more annoyed, if anything.

This was just some creep interested in charming him out of his pants, wasn't it?

This 'shy guy' front wasn't fooling him one bit.

If this fucker was playing games in order to get his way, he'd another damn thing coming.

“Name.”

“Mm?”
he seemed a little surprised, despite being the reason Katsuki was there in the first place.

“Tell me your name. Now.”

“It's Midoriya. Izuku Midoriya.”

“Mm... Okay, Deku. This is what's what's going to happen. You're going to spill your fucking guts as to why I'm in your house, and what happened to those shitty gangsters. And if you don't start talking soon enough, I'm going to cut off your fucking dick. Capiche?”
Katsuki tapped his fingers against the wooden table, hoping that Izuku had heard him well and clear--he wasn't exactly in the mood to repeat himself.

Izuku frowned.
“I'm afraid that your guess is as good as mine.  I was drunk, and blacked out right as I left the bar. When I came to however, you and I...”
He trailed off, choosing his following words carefully.

“...We were, uh... Indecent.”

Katsuki's glare fixated on Izuku, allowing a solid minute to pass by before the words finally sunk in.

What was he trying to imply?
Why couldn't Katsuki remember himself?
And what did he mean by...

Veridian orbs widened in an almost tangible strike of realization.

“Oh... Shit.”

·•●❈●•·