Red as Roses

He could never have a fucking break, could he? Not one day to do whatever he wanted, which would obviously be sleeping, but that wasn't the point.

He charged taking offense, feet quick and silent, he slid to the right. Taking his opponent off guard, he twisted back the arm before kneeing them in the gut.

Being woken up at 10 in the morning when he only went to sleep 3 hours earlier was not a smart idea. But some people didn't get the damn memo.

His opponent wheezed before doubling over slightly splurging light curses. Not letting his opponent have time to recover he dropped down kicking out his legs, successfully tripping them.

As soon as he had gotten to the Boss's office he was given another mission. It was a simple assassination mission, but it was exactly the type of missions he despised. Not like he could tell the Boss that.

A crunch echoed off the ally walls as his opponent's head met concrete. Walking on his heels he crouched down over the body, blood pooling at his feet.

The mission was simple. An info breaker made their way into the system. Just be quick and silent. He always was.

Taking out a small dagger, he made a clean cut across his opponent's throat. Small gurgles sounded as they squirmed before going still. Dark crimson drizzled down to join the puddle beneath.

Folding their hands across their chest he pulled out a bright red rose. Tucking the rose between their hands, his picture was complete.

The smell of copper filled the air as he turned away from the now dead body, surrounded in blood and a single rose. Maybe once he had felt pity, but now the feeling as dull and bitter. No one survives if they show mercy.

That's how the world was.

  ~~~~~

The street was busy, filled with merchants and people, who were enjoying the rising of spring weather. Families and friends flocked together, laughing, smiling, having fun.

Completely unaware of what dangers lurked in the sea of unsuspecting victims. It was almost laughable of how careless people were due to 'heroes'.

But it was perfect for himself. Viran wasn't a known villain other than the simple warnings of 'petty theft' or 'pickpocketer', so large areas were the perfect hunting grounds.

Everything was going to plan as he stole 3 wallets and a watch already. Getting ready to hitch it to another street he spotted a woman with her purse hanging from her fingertips, not paying any attention to it.

A grin made its way to his face as he slowly made his way towards the woman. Gliding right by he tugged lightly at the purse expecting it to slip into his grasp.

But at the exact moment, the women gripped the purse causing him to tug the women along with it. Eyes meeting, he panicked activating his quirk.

The women screamed as sewage green sludge exploded from his body and filled the street.

People panicked, running and screaming, grasping onto their children, waiting for a hero.

Panicking he turned and ran for the nearest exit, which was a sewage drain. Quickly sloshing down the hole, three words made his blood run cold.

"I AM HERE!"

  ~~~~~

The flame flickered in and out, as puffs of smoke exhaled between his fingers. Letting the feeling fill his lungs, numbing his body and losing himself into his mind.

Leaning his head back against the wall, his lashes tangled together in clumps. Inhaling the smoke, it clouded his brain to a fuzzy blur of nothingness.

To a point where he couldn't remember who he was now, but to who he was then. Playing through the forest, going to school every day, to feel the embraces of his mother's hugs.

Another exhale, mind swirling with jumbled thoughts that he was too tired to care about. Enjoying the times playing with his childhood friend or watching All Might and other heroes on the tv.

These thoughts were dangerous, yes, but it was the only thing keeping him sane. The only thing to keep him grounded enough in the world. To keep him alive.

Eyes fluttering open slowly, darting around the underpass of the bridge as the hairs on his neck rose. Pushing off the wall while licking raw bitten lips, he reached for the knives laying in his pocket.

Suddenly, the sewage cap blew open with a sickly looking sludge pouring out of it. Dirt, broken bottles, and other litters of trash we're floating around inside the sludge with wide eyes and sharp yellow teeth.

Taking out his knife he went to attack the sludge, but green sludge coated his feet which inhibited him from moving. Pulling at his feet, he rendered it pointless and grumbled about having to reveal himself.

Only for the rest of the sludge to engulf him, cutting off his air supply. Wide-eyed, he struggled in the clutches of the sludge, ripping and pulling at it, only for it to end up pointless.

"You'll stand out quite a bit, but it's better than him. Don't worry, it will be over soon."

The sludge chuckled, its yellow teeth spread into a wide grin. Desperate, his lips parted to grasp for air, only to have sludge shoved down his throat.

Tears prickled at his eyes, his lungs and throat burning. Black spots appeared at the corners of his vision, his mind still fuzzy from smoke.

Letting his body go limp, he wondered if this was how he really died. Suffocated by sludge. Not really how he thought he'd die but here he was.

Would it really matter though? Only a few people knew who he was, so his body would most likely be cremated, forgotten like dust.

Eyes slowly drooping, his body felt more and more heavy. Finally, let feeling his eyes close he spotted another figure, too tired to care, his eyes closed.

  ~~~~~

A light tapping on his cheek woke him, as he quickly jumped up grabbing his knives. Light exploding his vision, nausea hitting him hard as he curled over and hurled.

Once his stomach settled did he realize someone was patting his back softly. Flinching away from the touch, he glazed up at the stranger.

But it wasn't a stranger. Izuku's stomach dropped and he felt like puking again as the #1 hero stood before him.

The man's eyebrows were furrowed in concern and worry. It didn't look right. No, he wasn't supposed to be looked at like that. Not by All Might at the most.

Toxic green eyes stared into the electric blue eyes, neither wanting to look away first. Both for two different reasons.

"Are you ok, my boy?"

He looked away first. All Might's voice was deep and powerful, like a crackle of thunder.

"M'h fine." Izuku's grumbled, his throat still sore from almost being suffocated.

"Ah, well good, but I must get going, villains won't catch themselves." Izuku winced at the joke. Oh, the irony.

Licking his dry lips, All Might turned and took off into the sky without another word. Wind whipped around, throwing his curls into different directions.

Letting out a long sigh, curls flopping into his face, he replayed what the hell just happened to him in the last 10 minutes. He almost suffocated. Got rescued by All Might. Talked to All Might. Then he left.

Groaning, he quickly tugged his loose curls into a bun atop his head before making his way back to the base. He's had enough of today, that was for sure.

Making his way down the street, hood pulled up despite the warm weather. He didn't need any more attention.

Off in the distance explosions echoed all the way down the street, ground shaking slightly. Curiosity gasping its hands around Izuku's head, he trotted off in the direction of the explosions.

Finding a large crowd of people and fire, it was safe to say this was it. Shoving his way to the front, his eyes gazed upon the fight and scoffed at the disgusting sludge villain.

I thought All Might took care of him?

Pushing closer towards the heroes he caught on a few words, "We can't... Hostage... Risk" before blood curling red eyes met the harlequin green. Izuku's breath hitched and his eyes widened as he recognized the boy.

His childhood friend. The boy he once admired. His friend turned bully. Someone who knew who Izuku really was. An enemy.

The pure irony of the situation left Izuku speechless before his body was moving on its own. Racing as fast as he could on his 2 feet, he felt his skin start to crawl and burn. His toxic eyes shimmering in the dim afternoon sunlight, breath ragged.

Slamming his foot down and hurling himself into the air, taking the villain by surprise. He ripped out the knives hidden in his pocket and using both hands piercing it straight into the villain's eye.

A blood curling scream made everyone freeze in shock and horror, as Izuku ripped the knife back out. Using the time everyone was frozen, and the villain catering to its now damaged eye, Izuku digs his hands into the sludge and claws the boy free from the sludge.

Katsuki's eyes widen, his mouth gaping at the air like a fish before he starts hacking up the sludge in his body. The heroes snap out of their haze and take action now that the hostage is free. The heroes manage to capture the villain, as both boys were ushered to an ambulance.

Izuku and Katsuki just stare at each other saying nothing. One prays that the other doesn't know who he is, and the other trying to figure who the strange male was.

Katsuki eyes widen and open his mouth to speak before the heroes lecture Izuku and praise Katsuki. Recognition swirls in Katsuki's eyes that slowly made Izuku's stomach drop.

Turning and looking at Katsuki again, they both study each other. Katsuki's sharp jawline and crazy spiked hair that matched with his dark crimson eyes. Dark as blood and red as roses.

Izuku's eyes gleam, swirls of gold and green were outlined by thick lashes that brushed his freckled skin. His bitten and bruised lips parted into a smile, that soon curled into a smirk.

The look Izuku gave Katsuki was wild and crazy, nothing like the sweet innocent smile like when he was younger. No, that Izuku was long gone, replaced by something else.

"Cya later, Kacchan~" Izuku teased in a singsong before he was gone as if only a figure of Katsuki's imagination.