Chapter 27: Blades & Blood

The air hung heavy with warning as the Aizawa-Yamada clan congregated in the darkened war room. The atmosphere was strained, heavy with the weight of the mission to come. Izuku sat at the head of the table, his red eyes passing over the room, taking in the resolute determination of his brothers. Peril was near, and they all knew that. The Aether Order was a strong foe, but they were prepared to engage them in direct combat.

Izuku cleared his throat, shattering the silence. "Okay, everyone knows their job. We strike them, hard, quick, and brutal. But before going out, there's something I want to ask." He hesitated, looking each of his brothers—Katsuki, Minoru, Yuuga, Denki, Shoto, and Fumikage—up and down. "Did you inform your boyfriends about the mission?"

The silence in the room was momentary, the question hanging in the air like a time bomb ready to explode. But then, one by one, they shook their heads, their expressions of guilt and slowly dawning awareness.

Katsuki spoke first, his brashness toned down by the seriousness of the situation. "No, I did not speak to Akoyano. Thought best to leave him out of this."

Minoru also nodded, familiars dancing around him in anxious circles. "Same for me. Averill would just worry about it if I told him all the details."

Yuuga face-palmed, ruffling his hair. "I did not tell Mashirao about it. He'd try to stop me or, worse, go with me."

Denki rubbed the back of his head, a mischievous sheen on his face. "Hitoshi would completely freak out if he discovered it. I did not want to give him that kind of stress."

Shoto's face was as neutral as ever, but for an instant, a glimmer of guilt crossed his heterochromatic eyes. "Halil doesn't have to know. He'd just try and guard me, and I can't have that."

Fumikage spoke with a controlled voice, but there was a touch of regret in it. "Mezou would worry too much. I didn't wish to trouble him with this."

Izuku huffed in exasperation, mussing his curls. "Damn it, guys. Let's get this done. If Touya catches on, he'll warn them, and we'll have yet another problem on our hands."

Katsuki rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "Yeah, yeah. So what're we gonna do, geek? We just bull in here? Guns blazing and all?"

Izuku shook his head, a mulish glint in his eyes. "No guns. No quirks. We kill with knives—axes, swords, silencers, whatever do the job quickly and quietly. We don't want to attract attention down on us. The less bloodshed out there, the better. But in here." He paused, a malevolent gleam flicking across his face. "In here is a whole different ball game. We send a message."

The room fell silent once again, Izuku's solemn words sinking in. They each understood what hung in the balance and were determined to do anything it would cost to defend their family.

As they geared up, the atmosphere in the room grew tighter. They were all dressed in black, their faces stern. Izuku handed out small earpieces, which they all put on, allowing them to stay in touch with each other during the mission.

"Let's go," Izuku instructed, his voice steady and low.

They filed out of the war room, their steps silent as they proceeded to the compound of the Order of Aether. The chill of the night air struck them in the face, and they hurried along, their senses heightened.

As they approached the compound, they could see the guards patrolling the perimeter. Izuku held up a hand, signaling for them to stop. "Remember, quick and quiet. We don't want to alert anyone until it's too late."

They nodded, their grips tightening on their weapons. With a silent countdown, they breached the compound, moving through the halls like a deadly storm.

The first wave of guards didn't stand a chance. Izuku's sword flashed in the dim light, cutting through them with precision. Katsuki's axes swung in wide arcs, cleaving through armor and flesh alike. Minoru's familiars darted through the air, their sharp claws tearing through throats before the guards could even scream. 

Yuuga moved with a grace that belied his usual flamboyance, his daggers finding their marks with deadly accuracy. Denki's silenced pistol popped off rounds, each shot hitting its target with deadly precision. Shoto's katana sliced through the air, his movements fluid and precise. Fumikage's scythe swung in wide arcs, his shadows adding an extra layer of lethality to his attacks.

The compound was a maze of corridors and rooms, but they moved through it with purpose, leaving a trail of blood and bodies in their wake. The gore was intense, the walls and floors slick with blood, but they didn't stop. They couldn't stop.

Yuuga, despite his usual distaste for blood, was surprisingly efficient. His daggers moved with a speed and precision that left even his brothers impressed. He grimaced as he wiped blood from his face, but he didn't slow down. "I hate this," he muttered under his breath, but he kept going, his resolve unshaken.

Katsuki let out a low chuckle as he cleaved through another guard. "Looks like Sparkles is finally pulling his weight."

Yuuga shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "Shut up, Katsuki. I'm just as capable as the rest of you."

Denki grinned, despite the situation. "Yeah, but you're still the one who complains the most about getting dirty."

Yuuga rolled his eyes, but he didn't respond, focusing on the task at hand.

Shoto and Fumikage moved in tandem, their weapons cutting through the guards with deadly efficiency. Shoto's katana left a trail of frost in its wake, while Fumikage's scythe left a trail of darkness. They were a deadly duo, their movements perfectly synchronized.

Minoru's familiars continued to dart through the air, their sharp claws tearing through any guards that got too close. He moved with a quiet determination, his eyes focused on the task at hand.

Izuku led the charge, his sword cutting through the guards with a precision that left even his brothers in awe. He moved with a deadly grace, his eyes cold and calculating. He didn't stop, didn't hesitate. He couldn't afford to.

The compound was a bloodbath, but they didn't stop until every last guard was dead. The halls were littered with bodies, the walls and floors slick with blood. It was a gruesome sight, but it was necessary. They had sent a message, and the Order of Aether would never forget it.

As they regrouped in the central hall, Izuku surveyed the carnage with grim satisfaction. "We did it," he said, his voice low but steady. "The Order of Aether is finished."

Katsuki let out a low whistle, his axes dripping with blood. "Damn right we did. Those bastards didn't stand a chance."

Minoru's familiars flitted around him, their eerie eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement. "We need to make sure there are no survivors," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Yuuga grimaced as he wiped blood from his face. "I hate this," he muttered, but he didn't argue. He knew it was necessary.

Denki grinned, despite the situation. "Yeah, but you did great, Sparkles. I'm impressed."

Yuuga shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "Shut up, Denki." 

Denki chuckled, knowing he had hit a nerve. "Aw, come on, Yuuga, don't be like that. You know I'm just messing with you." 

Yuuga rolled his eyes, unable to suppress a small smirk. "I swear, sometimes I wonder why I even put up with you." 

"Because deep down, you know you love me," Denki teased, earning himself another glare from his friend. 

Ignoring the glare, Denki continued, "But seriously, are you okay? You seem a little on edge lately."

Yuuga's expression softened slightly, and he shrugged. "Just a lot on my mind, that's all. It's nothing I can't handle." 

Denki nodded understandingly, knowing when to back off. "Well, if you ever need to talk about it, I'm here for you, man. Just don't tell anyone I have a soft side." 

Yuuga chuckled, feeling grateful for his friend's support. "Thanks, Denki. I appreciate it."

Denki smiled brightly. Despite the blood that was littered on his face and clothes, he smiled because he made his brother laugh and that's all that mattered.