5 months ago.

Magnus smiled, looking at the crowd, at the swirling bodies moving in time with the music.

Pandemonium was packed, just like Magnus liked because this was just the golden opportunity to meet his next lover for the night. There was no shame in thinking like that, he liked sex, he enjoyed it and he was adamant in looking for someone that was like him.

But first—

"I need to dance," Magnus shouted, still looking at the crowd, "get the blood pumping. Get in the mood."

This time, Magnus turned around just in time to see Catarina rolling her eyes and waving at the bar. Her plans were to get hammered and Magnus didn't judge. Of course, he didn't.

He took his time, feeling the heat of the place, the music reverberating in his ears. He could already feel sweat coating his back, the warm in his belly at the thought of just having a good time and the possibilities of what could happen next. Magnus was more than thrilled.

He started slow, moving his hips this and that way in sync with the music, arching his back and rolling his head, beads of sweat rolling down his neck. This, this was what he loved. Feeling everyone's heated look on him, the want but no one really brave enough to make a move.

Magnus smirked, keeping his eyes closed. The chase and heated looks were the best parts. The teasing. He could keep it all night if he wanted to.

"Moving like that," someone said right in his ear, "it should be criminal, Magnus."

And right after that, he felt two hands gripping his hips and pulling him closer to another body, to another wide chest.

Magnus smirked even more. He knew that voice, hearing it every day in class had him attune with this person. Both being so competitive in class, well, Magnus had his ears trained whenever it was Alexander talking just so he could debunk his answers.

"So, you dance now, Alexander?" he asked and even thought the music was loud, Magnus knew Alec could hear him.

Somehow, Alec pulled him even closer and Magnus went easily, loving the way Alec's hands trailed around his waist. Magnus threw his head back, giving Alec enough space make himself home in Magnus' neck if he wanted to.

"–'Cause it feels like we're just too close, too close for comfort. How can I be your friend when I wanna be your lover?–"

Magnus felt Alec shrugged, even when half of his mind was so focused on the way Alec was rolling his hips so deliciously behind him. Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the club being so dark and had this air of intimacy, or maybe Magnus was just horny but god, he never wanted this to end.

"I can dance if want to," Alec finally said against Magnus ear, but his voice sounded restrained. Just like Magnus, he was holding himself back and Magnus wanted anything but that.

"–I want you. I want you–"

Before Magnus could reply, he felt Alec trailing down his neck, brushing his lips on his pulse point, sending shivers down his spine. Magnus gasped loudly, not caring that someone near could hear him. He was too busy feeling Alec's hands traveling up and down his torso; he placed one his hands on Magnus' neck but didn't squeeze or held it softly, just the amount of pressure for Magnus to feel its weight, of what Alec was capable of and fuck if Magnus wanted more.

Alec huffed; his breath warm on Magnus' ear. "You like that, don't you?" this time, he tightened his hold just a little and Magnus felt like dying for how good it felt; he couldn't help the moan that escaped his lips. "Can't believe you hide all of this with your cocky temper and sassy comments."

"That's not for anyone to see, Alexander," Magnus replied, the perfect opportunity to be sassy and cocky, even when he was at his mercy.

Magnus never thought that he would end up his night dancing with Alexander Lightwood, but he was definitely not complaining. In fact, it seemed fitting that dancing was a competition between them too.

But Magnus had no opportunity to voice all of this because the hand that was holding his hip just moved closer to his crotch and Magnus held his breath, his heart hammering behind his chest and that simmering warmth he's been feeling, was inching closer to a burning heat.

The music changed.

But Alec's plans to kill him with his teasing were all the same.

“–Make a request, put in a favor. Just tell me yes, tell me you won't go–"

Alec pushed his hips forward, giving Magnus the golden opportunity to feel the outline of his cock and he wanted more, more—

"Tell me, Magnus."

Deft fingers started trailing down oh so slowly down Magnus' cock. Stroking him, slowly but with a purpose, knowing where this was headed. Teasing, driving Magnus crazy. He sucked on a breath.

"What do you want?"

Same deft fingers cupped his cock just so, stealing his breath and leaving Magnus panting. He didn't squeeze or stroke him, nothing. Alec left his hand there, just holding, like he wanted to feel Magnus growing cock and from how it felt, it was getting increasingly tight in his pants.

"Please," he whimpered, chest heaving. Not enough air around them.

Instead of replying, Alec trailed his lips and bit down hard enough to leave a mark. A moan escaped his lips again, but Magnus didn't care if it was loud, he wanted more. He wanted Alec to stop this teasing, to move his hand and do something. Magnus wanted less dancing, more fucking.

"Please what, Magnus?" Alec asked again, as if he didn't know what he was doing to Magnus last thread of sanity.

Magnus shook his head; he wasn't going to beg. Just one time was enough, and he wasn't like that—

Alec cupped his cock again and this time he squeezed, his thumb brushing just the side of it.

"– I wanna fuck you, I wanna fuck you right. I want you only thinkin' 'bout me when you're up at night."

Without stopping the roll of his hips, Alec kept his hands where they were, holding Magnus by his neck and teasing him until insanity with his hand on his cock. Lips kept brushing the side of neck, leaving kisses at its wake and Magnus was desperate.

"Stop teasing me and fuck me already." Magnus needed to feel those hands everywhere right about now because he was getting blue balls by this unnecessary teasing and foreplay and—

"Bathroom. Now."

And just like he came, Alec was gone, and Magnus found himself missing those hands on him. He finally turned around just in time to see Alec's retreating form disappearing down the dark hallway that lead to the bathrooms.

He was panting and hard. So hard he would combust at any given brush of fingers.

How dare him? How dared Alec to touch him like that and then leave? Magnus was the one to give orders, not the other way around. Alec would hear a piece of his mind. How dare he, how dare him—

He busted that door so hard it bounced back with the wall behind it, but it was meaningless compared to his task at hand: get Alec inside him.

"How dare you leaving me standing there like that?" All horny and wanting was left unsaid.

Alec smirked at him, leaning against the sink. But his gaze was traveling up and down Magnus' body, not being subtle about it. His eyes left that hazel hue a while ago and were instead dark with desire.

Magnus took his time too, to check him out. Alec wasn't one to wear over-the-top clothes, his wardrobe was very simple but tonight Magnus had the chance to see this man in a black tank top, showing off his biceps, black skinny jeans that looked like were painted on him and boots. A combination that, in other circumstances, would make Magnus reconsider this whole ordeal but right at that moment, the sight of his arms alone almost brought him to his knees.

Magnus wanted him just as much as Alec wanted him back

He straightened up and in two purposeful steps, he was right in front of Magnus, grabbing him by his hips muttering a "come here" before they met halfway for a searing kiss; even knowing what was coming, it didn’t stop Magnus for gasping in surprise, something that Alexander very much took advantage of.

The kiss was filthy and bruising and deep. Alec thrust his tongue into Magnus’ mouth while Alec’s hands danced around Magnus’ lower back and skittering down until he had his hands full with Magnus’ ass and squeezed, coaxing another moan from Magnus.

God, Magnus wanted this, wanted this man who was pretty much fucking his mouth with the way he was moving his tongue and the way he would lick his lips and nibble at his bottom lip and Magnus was ready to turn into much at this point.

When the lack of breath became unbearable, they parted but not before Alec bit down his bottom lip again one last time for good measure. Magnus didn’t need to look at himself in the mirror to know he was wrecked and completely hard and desperate. His lips were swollen, that was for sure but that was the least of his concerns.

Alec tugged him to the nearest stall and perhaps Magnus wasn’t the only one desperate in this bathroom. He wasn’t completely inside when Alec tugged him hard until he back was hitting the wall, the door closing next to him; Magnus was prepping another sassy remark when Alexander was on him again, hungry hands tugging at the hem of his shirt, lips biting Magnus’ neck and he was dizzy, his mind completely blank, only focusing on those hands keeping Magnus in place by his waist.

“When you're all dressed, send me that text. Tell me that you want me now. Tell me what you really need.”

Magnus gasped again when Alec’s hand started to work over his dick, his other hand keeping him firmly in place even though he only wanted more friction, for Alec to undress him and hold him and more, more, more.

“This. Off,” Alec said while tugging at Magnus’ pants.

And Magnus was happy to comply, stripping down his pants. Only his pants and while moving the offending garment away, he heard Alec sucking in a breath

“You’re commando.”

Magnus smirked, looking up at Alec even though Alec was clearly focused on something else. “Like what you see?”

Alec nodded. “Fuck yes.”

And that was enough of admission for Alec to get his hands back on Magnus again and his mouth on his too and Magnus couldn’t wait. Teeth met tongue and swollen lips; Magnus was delirious at this point and he just needed more, he just needed Alec to touch him like he was starved for it. Faintly, he heard the rustling of clothes; Alec was taking his off.

Alec thrust forward, meeting Magnus halfway there. That first contact, skin on skin, the roll of hips against Magnus’, it was delicious, but it wasn’t enough. He needed more, both of them did.

“Fuck me,” Magnus said, between ragged breaths.

Alec dropped his hands to hook behind Magnus’ thighs and lifted him so easily, his back clashing against the wall and another unbidden moan escaped his lips when his cock was pressed against Alec’s, letting Magnus feel the length of his cock and fuck, he couldn’t wait to have it inside him right about fucking now.

Alec’s hands were on Magnus’ ass again, kneading and spreading him. Back to teasing. Magnus threw his head back and took that moment to enjoy himself, enjoy the strong body between his legs, the drag of Alec’s cock over his, the hot puffs of breath against his neck. Magnus loved this.

The lower Alec went, the whimpers and moans from Magnus became louder until Alec was brushing the very edge of his hole.

Alec hummed appreciatively. “Already naked and ready for me.” And then he pushed two fingers inside him without any warning. “Love that in a man.”

Magnus opened his mouth, but no sound came. It felt so good, so good— He threw his hands over his head to hold on the edge of the wall while Alec started working on him, spreading him, brushing that bundle of nerves that just sent Magnus reeling and he could feel himself already leaking and it was so good, so fucking good.

“Now I'm all in your bed makin' you sweat. I said open up for me.”

Alec trust his fingers once more, scissoring him, taking Magnus over the edge with every brush and every bite on his neck. Alec biting his earlobe, dragging his tongue over the shell of his ear, the feel of his long fingers— Magnus could stay here all night just to feel this kind of pleasure building up.

“Don’t you fucking dare to stop,” Magnus warned him between moan after moan and ragged breaths. How he found his voice to say that, he didn’t know but the warning was there.

Against his cheek, Alec huffed a laugh. “I won’t. I will fuck you so hard and so deep, you will feel me for days.”

Magnus felt his cock twitch, more pre-come leaking from him and he whimpered. “Please.”

Then he heard paper being ripped off, Alec pulling his fingers off and Magnus whined at the loss of them.

“Aren’t we desperate?” Alec said in that cocky tone that Magnus was sure didn’t need but his body loved, nonetheless. “It’ll be a minute.”

Magnus was working on some snarky remark when Alec put his hands back on Magnus’ ass, spreading him and in a swift thrust, Alec was deep inside him. No warning, no heads-up, nothing, just the feel of his long and thick cock splitting him open. He sucked in a breath, trying to contain his screams of pleasure. It hurt but it was the kind of hurt that felt good, amazing even and he just needed more.

“I make that ass flex, watchin' you stretch. Screamin' put it all on me–”

Magnus didn’t notice that he closed his eyes somewhere between Alec’s fingers and his cock, but he took that moment to open them just in time to see Alec’s gazed fixed on his own cock between Magnus’ legs. Slowly, Alec looked up to meet Magnus’ eyes; his eyes stopped being green so long ago, they were dark with desire and if that didn’t make him twitch, the shark smile did it for him.

“You ready?” Alec grunted.

Magnus could hear Alec panting but his smile was still there, taunting him, tempting Magnus to wipe it off with his lips and if it wasn't for the fact that he was using the wall for leverage, he would have done so.

Alec shifted his legs to make his stance wider, taking hold of Magnus' hips. Magnus knew what was coming, so he held his breath in anticipation even though what he wanted to do was groan and moan when Alec's cock brushed his prostate with the movement. He tightened his hold on the wall and looked at Alec dead in the eye, challenging him.

"Show me what you got, Lightwood."

And those were his famous last words.

Alec slammed into him in a swift motion, knocking the air out him. Magnus threw his head back again with a thud but whatever pain he could have feel at that moment was overpowered by Alec's sheer strength to fuck him.

They were actually fucking in a public restroom and the high chance of someone finding them, just made him twitch and whimper. He was so close.

“I wanna fuck you, I wanna fuck you right
. I want you only thinkin' 'bout me when you're up at night.”

Alec shifted again and with every thrust, he was slamming right into his prostate, hard and fast, leaving Magnus out of breath but not before pleading for more and faster, harder, Alexander, fuck me harder.

The bathroom was filled with the sound of skin on skin, Alec's panting and Magnus' loud "ah, ah, ah fuck!" accompanied with the music overhead. His orgasm was building up, really close and by the looks of it, Alec was close too. He had to.

"I'm so– ah– close. I'm coming."

Alec smirked again, his face glowing with sweat. "Cum for me, Magnus. Let me see you."

And he didn't know what it was, if it was Alec's face, the way he was looking at him or the delicious drag of Alec's cock inside him, but his orgasm slammed into him like a freight train, making him cry out of simple pleasure. Alec followed suit, by the way he tightened his hold, leaving fingerprints on his skin. When he came down of his high, Alec slipped out slowly as to not hurt his oversensitive hole. How gentlemanly of him.

His arms gave out at last, but Alec was there to hold him by his waist and thighs. Finally, he put Magnus down and while his legs were still shaking and they were gross with sweat and cum, Alec didn't stop holding him close, his face inches away from his own. It felt oddly intimate, even more than the mind-numbing sex they just had. They were still panting, their clothes scattered around their feet and it was starting to get chilly, but Magnus simply couldn't look away.

"How was it?"

Magnus snorted and smiled in time with Alec. He shrugged. "I might need a second opinion."

"How insatiable of you."

They met for another hungry and filthy kiss.

Now

"But I still don't get how we missed it," Ragnor was saying while Magnus was finishing up the last touches of his outfit. "Are we really that clueless?"

"I'm a lawyer, dear Ragnor," Magnus countered while looking at his reflection. His blonde highlights taking front and center stage of his outfit. There was this one time that Alec told him he looked good with blonde hair and well, okay, that stuck with him. "I'm capable of keeping secrets."

"Yeah but you never were capable with us," Catarina countered back.

This time, Magnus turned around to look at his friends. "I honestly don't see the point of this conversation. We met, we fucked, we liked it and we kept doing it. It's not that deep. I kept it a secret because I don't need your nosy asses up on my business and you're gonna end up hurt, Magnus, this is wrong. I know what I'm doing."

"That sounds good and all, but Lightwood caught feelings and it's just a matter of time before you do too," Raphael said, waxing wisdom as if Magnus really needed it.

"Listen, I don't know if you are here out of concern or you guys want to gossip-"

"I want the gossip." "I was bored." Both Ragnor and Raphael said, respectively.

Magnus rolled his eyes, infuriated with his friends' antics. "I don't even know why I bother."

"In all seriousness," Catarina started, walking towards where Ragnor was seated and sat down next to him. Magnus crossed his arms, waiting for another lecture. "we all know what happened with Camille and-"

"Alexander is nothing like Camille, let's get that out of the equation first," Magnus snapped, his voice harsh. He didn't mean to but the sole idea of comparing Alexander with Camille was ridiculous at best and offensive at worst.

"We all know what happened and we know that you fall hard and fast without listening to the consequences, and it's up to us to pick up your broken pieces and mend you. We don't want that to happen again because you mix sex with feelings."

"Oh, so now I'm a burden. Thanks for that." He was really getting fed up with this conversation.

Catarina sighed in frustration while Ragnor shook his head next to her.

"That's not what she meant, and you know that. You started this... This–" Ragnor waved a hand in Magnus' general area, "I don't even know what to call it– do you even know the guy? Beside the size he wears."

Magnus looked at him unimpressed. Rude much? He knew Alexander, more than any other sex-partner he had, which wasn't the idea of their agreement, but the main purpose stopped being just sex and started being a bickering-flirting-stay-the-night type of relationship. One which Magnus could explain how and why Alexander got his feelings mixed up and Magnus would have too but he he had been extremely careful.

Until now. Because tall and handsome decided to serenade him a week ago, to ask him out on a real date and Magnus, against his better judgement, accepted because what if. What if Alec ended up being what Magnus wanted in a relationship, a real one. All the strings attached.

"You guys are acting as we don't know him. We've been in the same classes for the past two years. It's not like Lightwood is going to kidnap him," Raphael stated, standing next to Magnus. Magnus wanted to believe that it was in support. "Chill."

Magnus nodded, trying very hard to mask his surprise. Usually, Raphael would gang up with Ragnor and it was up to Catarina and him to defuse the situation and get them on his side.

Ragnor stared at him for a moment in silence and then sighed, like he was already lamenting what he was going to say next. "Just be careful. I don't want to repeat another heartbreak."

Magnus rolled his eyes. "Yes, dad. Whatever."

"No-uh. Don't call me that. Ugh." Ragnor pointed a finger at him. "I'm pretty sure that's what you call him."

Taking advantage of the silence, Magnus smirked at them and it was just a few seconds before the implication sank in and they were all groaning.

"Magnus!"

"You basically asked me," Magnus said, between laughs, "that's on you."

"Okay, that's it. I'm out." Ragnor stood up and walked out of the room without sparing one last glance at Magnus. Raphael followed suit.

Catarina was the only one who still sat there, looking at him.

"Something on your mind?"

She shrugged. "You tell me."

He threw a quizzical look at her and waited for her to elaborate. After a few seconds of their staring contest, he huffed and threw his arms up in frustration. "What?"

"You actually like him."

Magnus rolled his eyes and turned around to see his reflection and avoid Catarina's knowing stare.

"Maybe not now, but you like him," she added.

"I don't know what makes you think that. It's just a date," he mused; he wasn't going to elaborate on his own words because that was a train of thought he wasn't ready to dwell in. "Don't make it bigger than it is."

"Perhaps." That was the only thing she said.

Next thing he knew, Catarina was kissing his cheek, saying goodbye with a "catch you later. I want all the details."

He heard the door shut close. With the room empty except for him, Magnus let himself go and dropped his shoulders, his relaxed facade dropping. He was nervous, terrified and nervous but he didn't want his friends to know because they would misunderstand it.

He was nervous because he actually wanted this date to go well, amazing even. Alexander was a man like any other; without trying to sound cliché Alexander was different, even the sex was different. Countless times he had cared for him, even though he didn't have to. Alexander had shown him that he could be boyfriend material.

He shook his head. It was just a date and if it went well, then good. If it ended up being a disaster, they both knew they would call it off.

But deep down, Magnus wanted this go well.

∞

Magnus shook his shoulders and forced his body to relax. This is fine, I’m good, this is fine, fine, fine. Thoughts like that would go in his head in a loop.

He was so nervous; he could barely breathe. After millions of times meeting Alexander in a rather unconventional way, this was the one thing that could sent him back to be that school-boy that barely knew what dating was about. This felt like the very first date, which sounded completely ludicrous.

And yet…

He was waiting outside his bedroom building. They had agreed that Alexander would pick him up because according to him, he wanted to make this the perfect date, checking out all the boxes.

Right at that moment, a slick black car parked in front of him and Magnus let out a long shaky breath. Alexander was there, and Magnus was not nearly ready for this.

And then, Alexander was getting out of the car, his eyes focused on him and Magnus almost felt his knees gave out. Alexander wasn’t a flashy man, not a all but he could manage put a simple attire– a white t-shit, a black leather jacket over it, black skinny jeans and black shoes– and Magnus could feel himself shake with the thought of spending the night with him. Then he would look at Alec’s face and Magnus would just self-combust; even after all this time, Magnus would still feel himself getting all hot and bothered when thinking about their nights together. Just last month, Alexander decided to grow out his beard and well, Magnus still had some recollection about the delicious burn on his thighs.

“Hey,” Alec greeted him, smiling softly at him.

And then, without any prompting or warning, Alec pulled him by his waist, a hand on his chin and they were kissing like any other couple, and Magnus… His last working circuits sparked and short out with the feel of his lips and the appreciative hum. Would he be able to last the night? Probably not.

When they parted, Magnus kept his eyes closed for a second, relishing in the taste that was Alec.

God, when did he become addicted to those lips? Maybe he wasn't the only one who mix things up at some point in their relationship and that was a scary thought.

Alec did a once-over and then smiled. "You look amazing."

"Why thank you," Magnus replied, brushing his ear trying to play coy but that didn't stop that warm feeling in his gut to start spreading. He wasn't that brave to say it out loud, but he loved it when Alexander complimented him. It made him all kinds of hot and bothered.

And there was a high probability that Alexander knew that by the way his eyes darken a little and there was no smile, just shameless lust. He leaned down just enough so there were inches between their mouths.

“But I’m sure they would look better on my bedroom floor.” Alec used the momentum while Magnus was still catching up, to swipe his thumb over Magnus bottom lip while biting his own.

His eyes flitted up to catch Magnus’ and they stared each other just seconds but they were seconds enough for Magnus to feel hot all over his body. It was intoxicating.

As soon as it happened, it was over and Alec was turning around in direction towards his car and saying “come, we don’t want to miss out reservation” over his shoulder, like nothing happened.

Magnus stood there, reeling from the clash of everything he was feeling. He took a moment to breath out and pray he would last the night.

∞

Against all odds, Alec decided to choose something simple, a dinner. At the most expensive restaurant in the area. Because he wanted to go all out with their first date and Magnus didn’t have the heart to tell him that whatever he decided for them to do was fine. Magnus didn’t need eccentricities.

But maybe Alexander was just trying to impress him, that he wasn’t that “simple” as everyone liked to think and it wasn’t like they talked about that (because that wasn’t a topic of conversation for two guys just having sex) but Magnus never thought of Alexander as “simple”. He was anything but that.

Magnus lowered his gaze to laser-gaze the menu after he realized he was staring at his date for far too long, feeling his cheeks getting warm. This is stupid, he thought, we had done far more shameless things behind closed doors and I get flustered because I’m staring. What the fuck, indeed.

“I’m thinking, maybe pasta?” Alec mused, doing that thing of his where he would squint his eye, looking more thoughtful. Adorable.

Magnus shook his head and continued laser-gazing his menu. Adorable? Since when? This was getting out of control. Ragnor was right, he was catching feelings just mere minutes after the date had started. Five months into no-strings-attached-sex and the moment they take the “next step,” he’s falling for Alexander? Unbelievable.

“Hey, Magnus.” Magnus looked up to see Alexander already staring at him. “You okay? You look constipated. We can rain check if you want.”

“No, no. It’s that… Well, um,” Magnus trailed off, closing his menu. It was obvious he didn’t have half the mind to think about food. “It feels weird to be like this.”

It certainly felt odd to be in a public setting like this.

Alexander didn’t say anything but closed his menu too. “If you feel weirded out, we can cut this short, Magnus. I don’t… The last thing I want you to think is that I’m forcing you.”

Magnus shook his head, vehemently. “I don’t want to cut this short. No. I'm fine. This is fine. I want to do this." Magnus frowned, going back to looking at his menu because looking at Alec's soft smile would probably melt his remaining brain-cells and the night had barely started. "Stop asking me if I'm fine."

Instead of being annoyed or mad at his comment, Alexander just snorted and leaned over the table. "Adorable. You're adorable."

Magnus raised his menu successfully hiding his face from this uncalled teasing and also preventing Alec from seeing the rosy tint on Magnus' cheeks. "Shut up," he grumbled.

Not even the menu could prevent Alexander for laughing at him for putting Magnus in this situation. Even though he never told Alec about his recent weakness for praise, Alexander was getting the idea and the fact that he was doing this in public, not fair. Alexander wasn't fair.

Right at that moment, the waiter came stopping whatever filthy thing Alec was cooking up in that head of his.

"Hi, good evening. My name is David. I'll be your waiter for the night."

Magnus looked up to see this guy, probably their age. Dark skinned, curly hair and warm brown eyes. He also filled his vest and white buttoned-down shirt in all the right places. The guy- David- was a sight, for sure but even with their odd relationship, Magnus could firmly say that he didn't hold a candle when comparing him to Alexander.

And he really believed that Alexander was the whole package he wanted in a man and he wanted this date to go right but maybe that wasn't clear enough because David did a once-over and there, right in front of Alec, he smirked and then licked his lips. Magnus glanced at Alec who was already looking at David like he wanted to squeeze the life out of him. It was subtle, of course, but Magnus already knew his death glares; Alexander wasn't happy.

"What can I get for you, beautiful?" David get looking at him.

And Magnus just wanted a hole to open up right there and then. "I, uh, can I get a margarita?"

David nodded, scribbling down on his notepad. "Classics. I like that in a man." He looked up just a moment to wink at Magnus and then back down. "And to eat?"

Magnus could feel Alec seething from his side of the table and he could bet this David felt that too, but he kept the shameless flirting, not caring for Alec. He cleared his throat. "I'll have what he's having."

David turned to Alexander with a bored gazed, his hips jutting out as he was so suddenly annoyed and in a hurry for leaving their table.

“We would like a Shrimp Alfredo,” Alec said, handing the menu but keeping his death glare on the waiter but David didn’t look faze by it. “Don’t come until they are ready.”

David took the menu, actually rolling his eyes at Alec and turned around.

There was this deep need of him to clarify the situation. Magnus wasn’t one to flirt with someone else if he was having a date and he wasn’t crazy enough to do so in front of

Alec, even when they weren’t together together. He wanted Alec to understand that he didn’t condone this shameless flirting and if there was someone that he would end the night with, that would be the man in front of him.

But before he would form his reasons, Alexander beat him to it.

“So, how was your day?”

Magnus whipped his head so fast it almost gave him a stroke and frowned. They weren’t going to talk about what happened? Was Alec fine with it? That couldn’t be it. But looking at his face— calm face, no traces of death glares— maybe he didn’t wat to talk about it.

“Well, same old, I guess.” Magnus shrugged while rearranging his cutlery, buying some time for him to come up with something interesting. It was never like this between them, but he was so nervous and there was no reason for it. It was Alexander, he knew this man inside out, even with their particular situation. “I have a whole entourage asking me what I was doing and how did I manage to pull this off because according to Ragnor, I can’t keep secrets.”

“Because you can’t.”

Magnus looked up, so offended that pulled a laugh out of Alexander, and crossed his arms. “Well, do tell.”

“Remember this exam we had for Constitutional Law? We were so anxious about it and you said that you would get hammered if you got the minimum to pass.

“We all got hammered, Alexander,” Magnus rebuked, crossing his legs over the other, “don’t put that on me.”

“Hold on– And then you said that your father couldn’t find out because I don’t need that kind of stress in my life, Alexander. That would be embarrassing.” It seemed that they had spent so much time together that he could imitate Magnus’ voice down to the flick of his wrists. Magnus rolled his eyes even though the was already smiling. Alec continued, “turns out your father showed up the next day for an “impromptu visit.”

“He said that he missed me and that he wanted to spend time together with his son and I was pulling that off until fucking Underhill showed up.” At that, Alec laughed loudly, immediately covering his mouth.

Magnus remembered that Wednesday night. They all knew it was a bad idea to go out on a school night, especially when they had another exam on Friday but they were all wound up about that day, they’d decided to just have a few drinks that turned into a competition of who could drink more tequila shots. Catarina had thrown up her weight in liquor, Ragnor had fallen asleep on the sidewalk because if he were to die that night, it had to be in the streets so he could be famous. Raphael got lost in the middle of the

night and Simon had spent half an hour crying because of that; turned out Raphael had fallen asleep in the bathroom.

Clary was so convinced that she could keep drinking but she couldn’t even stand on her feet; Alexander was a happy drunk while Underhill had hollered that he was amazing at dancing.

Asmodeus had showed up the next day saying he wanted to spend some quality time with Magnus since he was so caught up with his classes and as any other Asian parent, his father was strict with grades and classes. So, Underhill showing up that same morning saying that he could still feel the tequila shots, well, it hadn't been cute for Magnus and even though he tried to convince Asmodeus that he didn't know what Underhill was talking about, his father saw through the lie.

"I think he started hating Underhill after that," Magnus added, pulling a laugh out of Alec. "He even thought I was dating him, which not going to happen."

Alexander hummed, tilting his head a little. "And who are you planning on dating?"

That was a rhetoric question, it had to be because they were there, right? It should be obvious that it was—

"Here you go." David placed two steaming plates in front of them. It smelled delicious, so much that it made him salivate and his stomach grumbled. It was then that he realized he hadn't eaten anything yet. David looked up and winked at him again. "Enjoy. If you need anything, and I mean anything, you know where to find me."

Magnus opened his mouth, ready to turn that offer down but the guy was gone before he could mutter a word. He turned to Alec who was already eating from his plate.

It was stupid, ridiculous even, but they were on a date, right? Alec was the one who insisted and now that they were here and this guy was clearly interested in Magnus, the only thing that Alec had done was glare but just for a moment and that was it. Was the food more important than the possibility of someone coming and sweeping off his feet? But he couldn't complain, could he? It was not his place to do so. Maybe somewhere along the way, Alexander realized that they should just stick with sex.

Looking at his food, he wasn’t hungry anymore but they were here and he should make the best out of it. He picked his fork but that was as far as he could go.

"I hear you thinking over here. What's wrong?" Alec asked.

And Magnus should be quiet, they weren't together and if this didn't work out, he had this David guy to replace Alexander at least for the night. It was fine, they weren't together—

"This guy's been flirting with me since we sat down and it-it... I'm annoyed that you don't care enough to say something. What if I go with him and leave you alone?"

"Are you going to do that?"

Magnus spluttered and opened his mouth, coming up with nothing. "I could!" He sounded outraged and all kinds of offended.

But Alec remained the same, his face didn't change nor he spoke and maybe Magnus was exaggerating this whole ordeal because the only thing that really bound them was their mutual desire and their classes but that was it. Magnus shouldn't make a scene.

"I'm not going to fight with the waiter, Magnus." Alexander shook his head as if the mere possibility of that happening was mad. "Let's just have a good time."

Magnus looked at him, hard. So, the food was more important. Right, message received. Without saying a word, Magnus flicked his napkin over the table and stood up.

"Then have a good time alone," he hissed. He spared one last look at the food and huffed.

"What are you– Magnus!"

But Magnus was already halfway through the restaurant, ready to leave and no matter how many times Alec would call, he wasn't turning around.

∞

Magnus was so furious that he ended up walking to some park close to the restaurant. He was so blind by rage that he completely forgot that he could have called an uber or maybe Ragnor to pick him up and by the time he realized this, he was already in this park, alone, in the middle of the brightly-lit bridge and overlooking a small lake.

This is stupid, he sighed leaning on the railing and closed his eyes for a moment. Now that he had to the time to think about it, whatever that was, it was ridiculous, He actually ditched Alexander because the man didn’t want to yell at the waiter for flirting with Magnus. Who the fuck would think like that? Magnus, apparently.

He just wanted a nice date and he completely ruined it. It wasn’t farfetched to think that maybe Alexander didn’t want to see him again after this, that he wanted to cut their thing off.

“There you are.”

Magnus almost jumped out his skin at the new voice. He turned around to see Alec standing just a few feet away. He was close enough from him and Magnus didn’t even notice before.

“I’ve been looking for you,” Alexander added, walking the few feet between them until he was right in front of Magnus. “The valet told me you came this way.”

Magnus shrugged while turning back to the lake. “Well, here I am.”

“What was that all about?”

At the mention of his catastrophic demeanor, Magnus hunched over his shoulders and tried with all his might not to look at Alec. It was embarrassing enough to also have Alec looking at him with pity or disappointment.

“Magnus, look at me.” The command was clear in his voice and against all his wishes, Magnus turned. “What happened back there?”

Magnus looked at Alec in the eye and then to somewhere else because he couldn’t keep eye contact, not after that. “I don’t know. I… I got caught up in this “let’s have a date” thing and I forgot that we weren’t together.” He stopped for a moment and swallowed, embarrassment taking hold of him. “It was uncalled for. It’s just– I thought you were wooing me and turns out you only cared about the food. I’m annoyed, I don’t know. This guy was flirting with me and you didn’t care. I don’t know.”

He felt his cheeks getting warmer because saying it out loud sounded more stupid and he needed a hole to open up just so he could hide. He needed this conversation to be over right at that moment.

When he heard movement, Magnus looked up just in time to see Alec cutting short the distance between them until their faces were mere inches away, Alec’s hands on his hips. Magnus sucked in a breath, feeling his heart stopped for just a second.

“I keep forgetting that you’re not mine, not really. I can only call you mine in my bed, behind closed doors but the moment you leave, those moments are over.” He stopped and looked at Magnus as he was searching for something, but his gaze never wavered. “I was so mad that he was flirting with you and I wanted to call him out on his bullshit, tell him that you were with me but I… I didn’t want to assume, not when you didn’t have your feeling clear for me.”

Magnus pursed his lips and lowered his gaze. This could have been solved in a nice and peaceful conversation, not like this inn the middle of the night. The thing was, his feelings were clear and the fact that he was frustrated because Alec didn’t assume things right away, it was a dead giveaway.

“Assume. Do it.”

“What?” Alec frowned.

“I just pulled a reversed-jealousy stunt back there–”

“I don’t think that exist.”

“I want you,” Magnus cut him off, his voice determined. Saying it like that, caught him by surprise but it was true. It felt true. “I want you. All the strings attached.”

Slowly but surely, Alec smiled this big, bright smile of his that just melted the remaining of Magnus’ walls. “Are you sure?”

“More than that.”

Alec pulled him closer until their lips met.

∞

“–And then we kissed,” Magnus concluded, looking over at the mix reactions of his friends.

Ragnor raised his eyebrows. “That was extreme, even for you.”

“I really can’t believe you pulled that off. Lightwood must really like you,” Raphael added.

Magnus rolled his eyes in time with Catarina’s, but the snark aside, those words held some truth.

“I, for one, am glad that you guys are not keeping your relationship a secret anymore,” Catarina said, drawing Magnus’ attention. “I’m happy everything turned out fine.”

Magnus smiled, trying to go for nonchalant but in reality, he was glad too.


“Do you think…” Vergil’s voice brings you out of your daydreaming. You wait for a heartbeat, but he keeps his gaze on the window, silent and brooding.

“Do I think what, Vergil?”

He swallows thickly, closing his eyes. “Do you think we could be together. Like we did before?” He slides the Yamato back into its sheath.

A look passes over your face. Memories flit past, glimpses of happy and sad times with him before the incident, before he became V. And then happy times with V. The sadness you felt when you realised he wasn’t coming back. The tentative happiness of having Vergil back, the wariness. “Before?”

“When I was V. Could we go back to that?” Those icy blue eyes flit between your face and the floor, a strange expression of vulnerability on his handsome face. “Could you ever love me?”

Silence falls like a veil between the two of you, disrupting the once peaceful silence.

“Are you ready for that answer?”

“Yes.”

You lock eyes with him, fingers fidgeting on your blanket. He’s ready for that answer. But are you? You can’t deny that you’ve thought about it - each time he comes home and greets you with a shy smile, each time he rolls over at night and clutches at your hand, each time he wakes up and sighs contentedly. He’s not the man you used to know. Not the old Vergil. Not V. He’s…someone else entirely, a mix of both. You loved V and hated the old Vergil.

This Vergil. This new him that resurfaced from the Underworld with a grinning Dante by his side, who nodded at Nero, who quirked a tiny smile at Nico fangirling over Dante’s new blade. Who looked at you with great longing in his eyes, who stilled his trembling fingers when you approached him with wariness. Who ducked his head when you asked him where V was, if he was coming back. Who shook his head solemnly and steadied you when you swayed, eyes squeezed shut to stave off the tears.

You look at that new Vergil now. Really look at him. He feels completely different from the Vergil you once knew. He’s relaxed, content, no deep tension stiffening his shoulders, a sense of serenity in the way he lounges in that sun-drenched chair with a leatherbound book open on his lap. He doesn’t wear his coat or vest or any of his gear, a comfortable jumper and sweats replacing his outside clothes. Barefoot and with his hair escaping his normally slicked back style, Vergil looks like he’s at home.

In the mornings now he stays with you in bed, refusing to leave until you get up. In the evenings he doesn’t leave your side but gives you your space, only going to bed when you do and staying up until you do. He shows that he cares now, in that subtle, hesitant way. As though expecting rejection. Just like now. Though his back is straight and his head held high, there is a sense of anticipation in the way he seems to hold his breath. As if he was just expecting you to tell him that you can’t love him. Can’t forgive him.

You close your eyes and sigh deeply, setting your book aside. No matter your feelings, your own inward battle, you refuse to let him percolate in his own depressing thoughts. “Arms up."

Vergil complies without a thought, lifting his arms so as to give you space to slide onto his lap. With your legs flung over one thigh, you curl your arm around his neck and press your forehead over his temple. And just like that, Vergil relaxes fully, his arms falling around you and wrapping you in his intense warmth. In his strong arms. He swallows thickly and turns his face into your hair, inhaling deeply and dragging your scent into his lungs. Doing his best to make you sink into his pores and burn you into his memory.

"I think I can,” your murmur is so soft Vergil almost doesn’t catch it.

“Mmm?”

You clear your throat gently and pull away just enough so you can look at his handsome face. “I won’t say we can go back to when I was with V. But…” Your eyes flit over his hopeful expression, your hand pressing against his jaw and cheek. “We can try. V was you, but you’re not V.” His strangled breath is felt more than heard. “I want to love you for you. Not V. You."

A lump grows in Vergil’s throat and he fights not to avert his gaze. Hope and anxiousness build in his chest in equal measure. Hope for a new future; anxiousness that he won’t live up to your expectations. He raises a hand and presses your palm to his cheek, leaning into your touch and lowering his gaze just a tad. "But…I…”

You press your lips to his nose, his eyelids, his forehead. Whisper into his skin, “You deserve to be loved for you, Vergil. I won’t disrespect you by loving a memory over what is right in front of me.” A shaky smile crosses your lips and you pull back enough to tilt his head up, to make him look at you in the eyes again. “We’ve gotten off to a good start, baby. You’re opening up to me more and you’re letting me care for you. That’s really good. We just have to keep going, okay?”

For the first time ever, shiny tears start to build in Vergil’s beautiful eyes. They never fall, never trail down his chiselled features, but they turn his gaze wet and soft. “I just-” He just wants to be loved. Protected. Cared for by someone who loves him. Wants to love someone in turn.

“I know,” you whisper with a sad smile. “I know, baby.”

It’s not quite time for you to say those words, but deep in your heart, you say it clearly. I can love you.

Vergil shakes and his eyes widen, those icy blue eyes darting over your face as he hears what you can’t say. Hears the words that you’re not ready to utter. So he shoots you a shy little smile and buries his head into your neck, enjoying the feeling of you wrapping yourself around him and stroking his soft hair.

Okay. Okay, he can wait. He will always wait for you.


8am

      Scott opened his eyes with a groan. He'd rarely had such an awful night of sleep. Derek had warned him of course, but the electric feeling across his skin had been nearly unbearable. He'd finally fallen asleep around eleven, but had woken up multiple times throughout the night. He crawled into the bathroom and took a shower. Thank god he was already planning on skipping school for the day, the feeling on his skin was distracting enough, trying to deal with that and the bad night’s sleep might be a disaster.

      He crawled out of bed, ate a bowl of cereal, and slipped out of the house while his mom was still asleep. Derek was already waiting for him at the curb down the street and Scott hopped into the passenger side. Derek gave him a look and asked, "Breakfast?"

     "I already ate," Scott said.

     Derek nodded. "You'll want to eat as much as possible today. The first shift will really take it out of you otherwise. If you're normally careful about what you eat as far as calories, don't do that today."

     Scott nodded.

     "Are you more nervous or scared about tonight?" Derek asked.

     "Both." Scott said quietly. "Does it hurt?"

     Derek was quiet for a moment. "My shift was never the way yours will be tonight. I was born to be a shifter. Your body is changing to become one. So I'm not sure. I remember the first time that it felt like I was on fire and then I wasn't. But ask Allison and Gary how it was for them. I'm glad they're here, there's a lot about your experience that won't match mine."

      Scott nodded. "I'm also sort of excited for it. I'm not sure if I would have picked this, but I'm starting to get used to it. I have moments when I feel like I'm starting to get a real handle on my senses and it's amazing."

      Derek smiled. "I'm glad. I know that the tradition is that it's a curse, but it's never seemed like that for me. This is a blessing. I couldn't imagine not being able to change."

      Scott laughed. "I'd be more excited if I could do the full wolf shift, that is super cool."

      Derek shrugged. "Don't get too wrapped up in the idea you can't. There have been bitten wolves who've managed to do it. Mostly alphas, but I don't know that a beta can't learn. Your wolf knows it's shape, just let it take you there. Don't fight it, don't push it, just let the wolf take charge. Take comfort that there's nothing new about it, and there will be five other wolves in the room going through the same thing."

     Scott nodded. "I think I'm ready. But I'm still terrified." He laughed. "I'm kind of a mess today."

     "It's normal I'm sure," Derek said. "How long do you think before Stiles skips out to join us?"

     "He's done with Chemistry at 945, he'll be at the warehouse by 10." Scott predicted.

     "I saw him last night. Does he often have a hard time sleeping?" Derek asked.

     Scott nodded. "Every since his mom. How was he?"

     "I scared him," Derek said with a smile. "He was on the porch moving a chair around and I sneaked right up on him."

     Scott laughed. "That explains the text I got. It simply said 'Fluffy wolf is an asshole.'"

     Derek smiled.

     "Do you want him to be like us? Is that why you spend time with him?" Scott asked.

     Derek thought for a moment. "I think he'd be a fantastic wolf if he wanted it. And if he asked I'd find an alpha that would do it even if Laura said no. But if he doesn't want it, no. I just think he's great, and he's important to you and-" Derek almost added, 'the sheriff', "I keep an eye on both of you at night. In case the alpha comes sniffing around."

      "Do you expect him to?" Scott asked.

     "I don't know what to expect of him, to be honest," Derek said. "He's not doing any of the things I'd expect him to do. He bit you, then he abandoned you. And then he ignored you. I've expected to see signs of him hanging around and keeping an eye on you. But there's been nothing."

     "Maybe he just regrets biting me," Scott said quietly. "Maybe he really wanted Stiles."

       Derek looked at him closely. "When I went back out that next morning, before I saw you guys, I walked up that same walk you guys took into the reserve that night. His scent was everywhere. He followed you both, watching you both. Whatever he was thinking, biting you wasn't an accident. I'm not sure if he intended to bite Stiles too, I think he did, otherwise he would never have dropped you and turned back to Stiles. But he bit you because he wanted you too."

      "Is it weird that I'm glad a crazy monster werewolf actually wanted to bite me? That it wasn't an accident?"

       "I mean, I'd rather you got to decide for yourself that you wanted the bite, but that's kind of a perfect world option obviously," Derek said. "But it's nice to know the things that happen aren't accidents I guess."

      Scott nodded. "Do you believe in destiny? That, like, certain things are mean to to happen?"

      Derek thought for a moment. "Not really. I can't imagine a reason for what happened to my family. I can't believe that whatever divine author you like to imagine would find meaning in their death. I think that life just happens to us, and it's on us to give it meaning."

      Scott was quiet for the rest of the ride, but Derek could tell he was thinking over what Derek said.

       There was a white van parked out front when they pulled in at the warehouse. Derek slid out of the driver’s side and the van's driver got out and shook his hand. "Sorry, I got a bit of an early start this morning so I came a little before we'd said," the guy said. "I'm Randy from A and G Security."

       Martin had recommended the security company, of course, which he'd thoroughly vetted over the years. Derek introduced himself and then unlocked the door and turned on the lights. He explained in more detail what he wanted, and made sure that the resulting system would not be affected by the use of the sprinklers.

      Randy got to work and Scott and Derek went up the stairs to one of the second story offices so Derek could coach Scott on getting used to his expanded senses. They listened to Randy's breathing and heartbeat, and tried not to giggle a bit at his tuneless humming. By the time the hour had passed Scott was getting a grip on how to focus and, just as important, how to stop listening supernaturally.

       Around ten, as predicted, Derek and Scott both heard a vehicle pull up . Scott smiled and said, "Stiles."

      "How'd you recognize him?" Derek asked.

      "His heartbeat. I can't explain it, but it says Stiles to me," Scott said.

      Derek nodded. "They're like fingerprints, no two are the same."

      They heard Stiles bolt through the doors and ask Randy where they were hiding and then leap up the stairs two or three at a time. "Fluffy are you hiding Scott up here?" he shouted up the stairs. Derek smiled and rolled his eyes.

      "Stiles, I'm going to beat you if you start calling me that." Derek said evenly.

      "That's what you get for scaring the piss out of me in front of strangers," Stiles accused. "Like he doesn't even know who I am besides the ridiculous flailing kid who screams. How could you even do that to me?"

      Derek snorted. "Don't be ridiculous Stiles. He knows you as the idiot who attacks an alpha werewolf with a stick."

      Stiles mouth gaped. "Seriously? You tell people about that?"

      Derek looked at him, "Stiles, I’m telling EVERYONE about that. It's hilarious. It's like taking on a tank with a fucking slingshot."

      Stiles moaned. "Why couldn't I have been a coward?" he said. "Life is easy for cowards. No one laughs at them I bet."

      Derek smiled. "No one laughs at you Stiles, they might think you're stupidly brave, but no one laughs."

      Stiles perked up. "Really?"

      "Really." Derek said.

      "So you think I'm brave?"

      "I think if you ever do that again you won't have to worry about the alpha werewolf killing you because I will." Derek replied.

      "Who's going to pet you if you kill me?" Stiles shot back.

      "Scott."

     "Oh no, you guys leave me out of this." Scott said quickly.

      "Scott would protect me if you tried to kill me," Stiles answered back. "Cause he's my werewolf bro!"

      "And what am I?" Derek asked curiously.

      Stiles shrugged and thought for a moment. "You're like my werewolf cuddle buddy."

      Derek laughed. "Just make sure you try to avoid getting in a fight with any other wolves, okay Stiles?"

      "I'll try," Stiles said, "but I expect my werewolf bro and my cuddlewolf to keep me safe."

      "Deal," Derek said looking at Scott.

      Scott smiled.

       "Wait," Stiles said. "Does that mean you're planning to stick around after all of this is over?"

       Derek nodded. "Yeah, I actually started the process of buying a place here in town a couple of days ago. It's going to take some work but I'm looking forward to it."

       "Where is it?" Stiles asked. "When do I get to see it?"

       "I'll take you over to see it once I've signed for it. It's over off of 4th in the commercial district," Derek said. "It's going to require a pretty big remodel of the inside, but it's big and I think I can make it secure, and I'm ready to be home."

       Scott looked at him like he was hearing something that Derek wasn't saying, and Derek wondered what that was, but was too afraid to ask.

       "That's awesome!" Stiles said. "I kind of thought you'd be going back to New York after we found your sister and we'd never see you again."

       Derek shook his head. "No. Scott's going to need someone around for awhile til he's got control on his wolf at least, and I-" Derek paused and then said, "New York has never been my home, it's just been where I lived. For better or worse Beacon Hills is home."

        Stiles seemed quite cheerful after that, peppering Derek with questions about the building and didn't seem too disappointed that Derek wasn't planning to build some kind of Fortress of Solitude-esque retreat.

         Eventually Randy called up the stairs and said that he was done and Derek went down to check it out. The camera system included it's own low lighting system that would always be on, and had a back-up power source in case the power was cut. The cameras were discreetly placed and hard to see, even if you knew where to look, and Randy explained to Derek the couple of small blind spots the system left. Derek nodded and listened carefully, and he wasn’t surprised at all when Stiles asked several very good questions about access and recording. He was his father’s son.

          Randy helped them set up the live access and Derek let Stiles pick the password they used to replace the default. The system had a local video back up as well as a remote service that would both keep up to 1000 hours of footage, and had an easy process by which you could export raw footage to permanent storage. It was exactly what Derek had asked for, plus things hadn’t known to ask for. He thanked Randy, shook his hand and took the card from him.

          They had about a half hour after he left before the plumbing specialist was due to arrive to test the water sprinklers, and Derek handed Stiles his credit card and sent him out to get burgers for an early lunch.

        The plumbing guy showed before Stiles got back, and he was explaining to Derek how the system worked and where the manual trigger for the system was located, when Stiles rushed back in with bags of food and an endless string of words.

        When the system had been installed someone had clearly been thinking about the possibility of a localized fire on the main warehouse floor because the system actually had two manual triggers for the main warehouse floor, one for the east and one for the west side, as well as a separate manual trigger for the second floor, all located in the secure mechanical room under the stairs. They tested both the triggers for the main floor and both were in excellent working order, and Derek smiled. He thanked the plumbing guy, and made sure he had Martin's address to send the bill to.

        Scott and Stiles were eating burgers and talking animatedly about a movie that Derek had never heard of, and Derek had a moment where he was exactly where he wanted to be, other than Laura not being there, and it was exactly who he wanted to be with. He didn't know if Scott wanted to be pack with him, but he was increasingly sure he wanted him to be.


Sam had to pry Dean off Cas, tugging him back into an awkward hold to get him away from the mattress. Once he decided to act, Sam would be decisive, and he’d clearly decided to let the Nephilim try to get Cas’ grace back. Dean felt as though he was watching it through a screen, heavy grief already settling about him like a shroud.

Cas was dying.

“Sam,” he tried, but he couldn’t get any further. His voice sounded hollow. Numb.

“Just let her try, Dean,” Sam said, right into his ear, his mouth practically pressed against the side of Dean’s head. “Let her try and we’ll deal with the rest.”

He let go of Dean then, leaving him to catch himself on the cold concrete, his arms weaker than they had any right to be as he held himself upright. The numbness was stopping him from diving at her, from knocking her away from Cas.

She knelt next to him, a calculating look on her face, seeming to ignore Sam, who now crouched opposite her, tense and ready to move if he had to. If it would do any good.

Cas was more on his back than his side. She reached out and placed her hands on his shoulder. Dean twitched and she levelled a look at him that clearly told him he was being foolish.

“I do this or he dies,” she reminded him, and turned back to her work.

As soon as she got Cas onto his stomach, her eyes flared, even brighter than they had before, and she shifted, her shoulders pulling back and up in a way Dean had seen on Cas when he was facing an enemy. For a second, he could have sworn he saw shapes behind her, red and insubstantial, then his vision cleared and it was just her, just a woman with fiery starlight for eyes, plunging her hands into his best friend’s body, strange words spilling from her lips.

Cas stopped screaming.

In the place of screaming, small, short gasps filled the room and it took Dean a minute, but he finally realised that Cas’ eyes were open. Really open. Cas was staring at Dean and seeing him, for the first time since Sam and Dean had left the bunker to find their cure. One hand had landed on the mattress on the line between Dean and the angel, and now it opened, reaching.

Dean shuffled forwards, not wasting time getting to his feet, and almost fell on his own stomach as he lowered himself and grabbed Cas’ hand. He felt his friend grip tightly and squeezed back.

“Hold on, Cas,” he said, not caring if he could be heard over the chanting. “Hold on, man. We’re not losing you.”

He wasn’t sure if Cas heard him, but he kept a firm hold of Dean’s hand, still panting with what had to be pain. If he could do nothing else, Dean was going to make sure he kept hold, that Cas knew he wasn’t in this alone. He’d been alone all too often in the past. He’d let go too many times in the past.

The sharp ache of Cas, letting go and stumbling back down an earthy slope, was enough to make Dean hold even tighter. Cas had come a long way since then. Hell, he’d told that Ritz-whatever that he wanted to live.

The chanting went on, and on, the words dancing at the edge of meaning, like they were some Ur-language that plugged right into the base code of the world. It was sort of like Enochian, with the raw power throbbing through it, but more fluent, more lyrical. More refined.

Whatever it was, Cas looked, if anything could be made out beyond the pain, resigned to it, whatever it was. He probably knew exactly what she was saying, being an angel and all. Except, he wasn’t an angel right now, and Dean had never thought to ask if that meant he lost any of his eons of knowledge, and anyway he hadn’t known the marks on his chest, so maybe he didn’t know this language, and Dean had to stop rambling in his head. Stop. Focus on Cas. Just on Cas.

The guy’s eyes were still blue, clouded by suffering, and paler than Dean had ever seen them. Even when Cas had been Steve, he’d still had that otherworldly blue going for him. Now, they were washed out. That spell seemed to have knocked more than just his stolen grace from his body.

As Dean watched, gripping his friend’s hand, the pale blue caught a soft glow, deep in the iris. Tiny sparks lit up, the truer, richer blue of Cas’ normal eye colour flashing in and out. All Dean could do was stare. Did it mean this was working?

More sparks lit up, died, lit up again. More. A whole cluster flared into being, then another, and suddenly half of Cas’ right eye was back to angel-blue.

Dragging his gaze from the blue, Dean checked what was going on above them. She still had fiery eyes, still had her shoulders pulled back like she had invisible wings of her own held aloft, but now her hands were in the air above Cas, pulling back and forth slowly, over and over again, like she was spooling yarn. Her skin was coated in blood.

Cas stopped breathing.

Dean jerked his eyes back to his friend, panic jolting thick nausea through him, ready to scream and yell and tear. Cas looked back, his eyes almost entirely blue, colour flooding back into his skin.

He’d not stopped breathing because she’d killed him. He’d stopped breathing because he didn’t need to anymore.

As Dean fathomed that fact, grace glowed electric in Cas’ eyes and the chant rose to a pitch, stirring and commanding. With a last cry, the Nephilim stopped, throwing her arms out wide as though releasing something, and it was Dean’s turn to gasp.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sam looking at the same thing, his face turned up and his mouth open wide.

Above Cas, stretching all the way to the ceiling, were the sketched outlines of shining black wings, crackling with blue grace, the dungeon still visible through them. They were a dream dragged partway into reality.

As Dean stared, he felt Cas’ hand slip from his, saw Cas push himself upright, saw the massive wings thrash. Something that big should have floored all three of the people round the angel, but Dean felt nothing.

The wings beat again. Once. Twice.

Cas stood tall by now, his head high and his shoulders up and back and…oh. Oh. That was when he was beating his wings, when they were flaring out above his head. Did he do that every time he fought?

Already, the outline was fading, but Cas still stood the same way. Perhaps, to him, the wings were always there. Had always been there, until losing his grace.

For the first time in a long time, Dean felt awe.


The Boss of the Anti-Symbiote Taskforce sat within the shadows, his broad-shouldered form reclining in the chair for a moment, before he sat forward, his shoulders hunched, his scared, pale hands interlaced before him. His face was still invisible to him, due to his positioning and how he had directed the lighting be placed within his office. He wore a dark burgundy suit, was about all Kinzokumure could tell. None of them of the AST, had been this close to their boss before. He had always contacted them through droids, emails, burner phones and other aspects.

“I have to attend a meeting in Tokyo with the Police, Public Safety Commission and other agencies over what occurred in Kamino.” The Boss explained carefully and slowly, his voice modulated by a machine. “You are in charge, Agent Kinzokumure. It is of the utmost importance we maintain this island base’s secrecy and security going forward.”

“Is All Might retired?” Kuishinbo asked aloud, voicing a rumor that had started to surface ever since the battle ended.

“He is in surgery for severe injuries taken in the battle, but he will make a full recovery.” The Boss replied simply. “There are many rumors abounding of past injuries. None of you are hired to worry about those.”

The others flinched at his words, as he continued on with his speech. “Doctor Cathal will continue studying Klyntar specimens Phage, Lasher and Agony, while I retrieve other specimens for study.”

He stood up, as Kuishino, Kinzokumure, Okiatsumaru and Tairana bowed, averting their eyes from him. “Within 5 hours, US Army Specialist Lee Price will be here for Symbiote M-22349, make sure he is ready.”

“I will see to it sir.” Okiatsumaru replied, keeping his head, and for once, his voice serious and controlled.

He walked past them, his shoes giving a metallic click as he left the room, marching to their right, then behind them, before finally leaving out the single brown wooden door. The Four agents waited for a long time, before finally looking up, all of them breathing a little harder then they should’ve. Of course, they had come close to seeing their boss, but he was adamant about them not seeing him. Kuishinbo had only looked at his back for a second, and the Boss had almost had him shot on the spot for it.

In the room, there was nothing. A simple desk with a computer, two windows, and nothing of personal effect. No pictures of family, no little toys and nick-nacks that he had gathered, no plants or even a stuffed animal. The only thing visible that was his own was two paintings, one of a red faced man, his mouth agap in terror, his silver eyes locked on something to his right, the other a man playing a flute, but his body and fingers made entirely of finger bones, his black eyes turned downwards.

All of it was sterile, besides those two paintings, that Okiatsumaru shuddered at every time he saw them. Kinzokumure turned to the others. “The Boss will not want us to linger here. Get a move on boys, girls and others.”

He was the last to remain, as they all quickly filed out of there. They had entered this room few times, but when they did, it was cold and unsettling. Very little heat was in the room, and there wasn’t even detectable smells of any kind. If one stood outside, they couldn’t even pick up what was being said within.

In this way, nothing could be found of the boss, even if you stood outside and listened in, or went inside and tried poking around, looking for any sign of something.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Doctor Cathal, meanwhile, was on the mainland himself, traveling along and resting at a motel, when the fight with All for One and All Might had went down. He had cared little, sipping his coffee calmly, as he watched the news reports and read his paper without a care in the world. Others had foretold of what was to come. It was like watching a movie, that he had already read the spoilers to. A few surprises, to be sure, but nothing he was unprepared for.

He sat back in his chair, lazily stirring his creamer into his coffee as the others in the cafe talked and gabbed among themselves excitedly, replaying parts of the battle, and wondering what this meant for All Might going forward.

‘Simple minded fools, clinging to symbols to hold themselves up...’ he thought for a moment, before the cafe’s doors opened with the ring of a bell.

He looked over his shoulder to see a young man in a white long coat and hood over his head, hands in his pockets, as he carefully and silently moved to the back booth with Dr. Cathal. He went immediately to the Doctor once catching sight of him, moving past everyone else, and taking a seat next to him.

The young man had pale and slightly delicate features, with light blue hair, styled into arrowhead point at the ends, framing his face. He pulled his white hood off, giving the Doctor a weary look.

“I thought I was meeting with Kai.” Cormac remarked with slight annoyance.

“You’re a government scientist, and we’re already under tight surveillance.” The Man replied simply. “I am Hari Kuruno. I represent the Wagashira Kai as the Shataigashira.”

“I thought Kai Chisaki was your Head Boss.” Cormac replied, now interested in this.

“What happens with our Oyabun and group is none of your business.” Hari replied, keeping his voice low, but anger evident all the same. “Now, do you have us a deal or what?”

Cormac gestured to the briefcase in the seat next to him, giving it a good tap with his hand. “It’s inside, do you wish to check.”

“When we leave, I’ll check it in some place more secure.” Hari replied simply, eyes still narrowed as he studied him closely. “So what do you gain, Cathal, by handing this over to us?”

Cathal took a long sip of coffee, looking out the window with a bored expression. “My employer asked me to create some things for him, but wasn’t happy with some of the products. I was asked to destroy them.”

“And instead you’re handing them over to us?” Hari remarked, tilting his head slightly.

Cormac nodded carefully. “Get me to Kai Chisaki, and it’s all yours, and a little extra something for you to study later.”

“Finish your coffee, and we’ll meet Overhaul.” Hari replied with a nod.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
A cup of coffee and a few hours drive spent randomly turning down street after street, hoping to keep any tailing figures or agents off their back, before quickly leading him. They made it past a number of low-ranking Yakuza grunts, as Hari placed a special plague doctor’s mask over his face, a gold and brown bird-like visage with blue goggles, leading him into a set of stairs. Cathal didn’t seem bothered by the advanced underground maze he was now being lead through at the end of the stairs, balancing on his bronze-headed cane and carrying the large briefcase close. A number of Yakuza had offered to carry it for him, but Cathal had insisted on handling it himself.

Finally, they reached a door at the end of the complicated halls and walls, the bunker leading to this simple room. Cormac said nothing, as Hari opened the door and lead him through. The room had cleaned green tiles, pristine white walls, and a clear glass coffee table.

Seated on the cough ahead was the young Boss himself, Kai Chizaki, Overhaul. He wore a simple dress shirt and surgeon’s gloves. His face was obscured by a red plague mask, embroidered with gold. Besides him was a small figure, almost the size of a child, all black, with a white beak and empty, void-like eyes over the beak, the other was a taller figure, dressed in a black overcoat, black fedora and plague doctor’s mask. He wanted to make a remark about their strange choice of attire, but given what organizations he was a part of...

“I hope you don’t mind the maze. We had to make sure you weren’t planning anything, Doctor.” Chizaki greeted coldly. “We have good reason not to trust you, given your...working history.”

“What will it take then?” Cathal asked, moving around the second fold-out couch, and setting his briefcase down beside him, and leaning his cane on the table, before slowly sitting down with a grunt.

Kai said nothing, nodding to the man in black, who stepped forward. “Did you agency send you here to infiltrate or sabotage us?”

Waves of blue emanated from the man’s mouth and around the room, before focusing in and warping into Cathal’s body. Without thinking, he answered immediately. “I am defying orders by being here. My superiors would kill me if they knew what I had.”

Chizaki nodded in satisfaction. “Good, good. That should do, Shin.”

The man stepped back, as Cormac nodded. “You have any other questions?”

“If what you said via your private messages was true,” Kai remarked. “You have something...like that Jet Black fellow?”

“Yes, many things like it.” Cathal replied with a cold grin. “They’re not exactly Quirks, you see.”

“It doesn’t matter. If my plans are to proceed, I need something to even the playing field.” Chizaki stated with a shrug. “You have the tools so I can come out on top of this power vacuum.”

“Yes, these are called Symbiotes, and not everyone is ignorant of them.” Cathal explained with a small smile. “In time, you will find them most useful, once you...overcome some hang-ups.”

“Well, let’s open up the case,” Overhaul replied, scratching the side of his face near the mask. “I want to know what I’m buying first.”

“Ah of course.” Cathal replied, reaching with one arm, grabbing the briefcase handle, and swinging it up, before carefully laying it down on the table.

He carefully clicked off the locks, put in the code for the last locking mechanism, and as everything came undone, popped the top of it off. He carefully opened it, checking it himself, before slowly turning it around for Overhaul, Mimic and Nemoto to see.

Inside were two large canisters, one containing a mostly white, with some black mixed in, roiling mass of slime, struggling within. The other, was crimson, like spilled blood fresh from the body, and struggling much more frantically to get out then the other. Nemoto and Hasi looked surprised for a moment, while Kai barely reacted, looking at the two canisters with more curiosity then revulsion.

“The first, the white one, is a creation of mine named...well, it’s code-name is much simpler.” Cathal explained, carefully pulling the canister out and setting it in front of Overhaul. “It is a clone of the same creature that brutally murdered ten of your grunts, some call him Black Death, Deathbringer, Jet Black, but his name is Venom. This, is his opposite, a mutated clone very different from him, named Anti-Venom.”

“How does this ‘opposite’ work then?” Kai asked, as his advisers looked at him curiously. Dealing in stuff like this, it didn’t seem healthy. They weren’t sure if Kai should continue talking with this man.

“It can absorb plagues and illnesses, like cancers, break them down and grow stronger, feasting on sickness while curing those it touches.” Cathal explained with the hint of excitement of a salesmen making his pitch. Kai felt some weight fall of his shoulders at his words. A destroyer of sickness, hm? “And of course, an assortment of weapons including claws, fangs and tentacles. Flesh keeps it sated, but chocolate will attract...less negative attention, I’d say.”

“What are the weaknesses of this thing?” Overhaul asked, narrowing his eyes. “Because the last one slaughtered my troops with little difficulty, and I want to know how to beat it.”

“Hmm, it’s good to know your own and your foes’ weaknesses. Such avoids loss of life and limb.” Cathal said pointedly, giving another cold, inhuman smile, Kai wanting to ask what he meant, before Cathal continued. “Fire and intense heat will burn it away without much resistance. Intense sounds up to 110 decibels can separate it from your body.”

“Good. So we’ll be ready for anything the Heroes have.” Kai replied with a nod, interlacing his fingers in front of him. “What about the other?”

Cathal gave a broad smile, chuckling in excitement at the question, as Mimic and Nemoto looked to the boss for a moment in worry. “This? This little beauty is a special one, found in some wreckage near Cletusville, Kentucky, in North America. It’s supposed to arrive next week, but I have pulled strings to get it now.”

“Won’t your own boss mind?” Kai asked, all too aware of what could happen if the government became aware of missing property. Heroes and police were already after him.

“I soon won’t be working for him.” Cathal replied with a smile, even his next words reeked of death and venom. “He won’t know until his agency is in the ground, gone. Dead and buried.”

Kai raised an eyebrow, surprised at how assured he was. “You seem awfully certain.”

“Oh, trust me, the Taskforce won’t be bothering your group or mine very soon, Chisaki.” Cathal remarked with another arrogant smile. “But, back to our subject here. Red and black and evil all over here, is named Carnage. Another like Venom, very related in fact, whose wild and unhampered by thoughts of mercy. Perfectly adapted for killing, murder and mayhem.”

“Wild doesn’t work in an organization unless it can tempered.” Overhaul said plainly. “Can it follow orders.”

“No.” Cathal said simply. “But the other organization I’m in, they need you to not touch it.”

“Not touch it?” Overhaul replied, not liking the sound of holding government property like this, and still being in the dark. “For what reason.”

“Essentially, we will be paying you big bucks, dollars, diamonds, Yen, whatever you want, to keep it in a very specific spot of my choosing.” Cathal explained. “I will visit to administer food and chemicals to keep it alive, and you may only worry about keeping it in the jar.”

“So I get Anti-Venom, and the other is basically a tenant here?” Overhaul asked.

“Yes, you pick up quickly, Big Boss.” Cathal said with a sideways grin. Shin and Hasi both wanted to warn him not to mouth off, before Overhaul gave a quick gesture to ignore his barbs.

“So what are you paying exactly for it’s rent?” Mimic asked carefully, pointing a thing black finger at the canister.

Cathal reached into his pocket, Shin and Hasi laying hands on their guns within their coats carefully, before he pulled out a notepad. He handed it over to Overhaul, who looked it over carefully, before raising another eyebrow in surprise.

“That is quite a bit. I’d almost not need Eri if I was getting that much.” Overhaul remarked to himself. “How are you getting this much money?”

“We have our ways.” Cormac replied with a distant look in his eyes. “You need only be concerned with keep Carnage in one place.”

“Even if your Agency isn’t after us, this other group you’re part of could turn on us,” Overhaul replied with narrowed eyes. “What’s to stop that?”

“Your trust,” Cathal remarked with an eerie smile, before pulling out and clicking on a pen. “And whatever amount you want. Do we have a deal?”

A few hours later, after Cormac had deposited Carnage safely, and left Overhaul with the container holding Anti-Venom, the Doctor walked out, cane clicking across the sidewalk as he happily hummed to himself. He pulled out his phone, leaning heavily on his cane, as he clicked the speed dial, and waited.

“Did you distribute our fellows among the Shie Hassakei?” A Voice asked on the other end.

“Yes, Supreme Prophet Al’Hazred, we positioned our two pieces nicely.” Dr. Cathal replied, keeping his voice low, as another, almost inhuman smile came to his lips. “What now?”

“Return to the Agency, and wait.” Kitab ordered. “Nakajima and Midoriya will do the rest for us.”

Cathal nodded, as he walked into the shadows of an alleyway, and quite literally, vanished within the darkness, disappearing from any sight or cameras that could’ve been watching him. It was as though he had not been there at all.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
A few hours after the chaotic evacuation and Police and Medics checking and seeing to the health of all the citizens and survivors, Izuku and his part of the group meet back up with Todoroki and Momo, getting to the police and passing on Bakugou to the authorities. He was quiet the whole time, seemingly struck silent by his inner thoughts and struggles. It wasn’t their place to pry, and so decided to leave him alone to process his thoughts and talk with the more capable adults.

Once everything was checked out for them and they retrieved their cloths, the five meet back up at the train station, preparing for the long ride home. It was a night that felt like weeks had passed instead of hours, and all of them could use the sleep. Iida was still shaking ever so slightly from the nerves, and the rest were obviously exhausted.

After saying their good-byes, Izuku settled into the train heading back to Mostafu, collapsing into the train seats, shaking his head to himself, looking out the window with a vacant, gaze in his eyes. Venom was silent for the whole trip. The two stopped at the last station home, going off and heading first to Mrs. Chen’s store, grabbing some supplies, then heading home.

He opened the door, taking a deep breath in. He entered their apartment, immediately greeted by his worried mother.

“All Might certainly had a lot of trouble. I’m grateful you weren’t there. You had enough trouble getting home without that.” She said, sounding relieved to have her son back.

“Yep.” Izuku said simply. He couldn’t think of anything else to say.

His mother gave him a last worried look, before turning to get back in the living room, Izuku trudging over to his bedroom, throwing up the door, and flopping down on it. Venom shoot a tentacle out, closing the door, as Izuku immediately went to sleep. The whole ordeal was a lot to take in.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
As Izuku was arriving home, All Might’s surgery had been completed. Despite some severe damage to his leg, hip and rib bones, and to his remaining lung and arm and leg muscles, he would make a full recovery. Unlike the first bout, All for One had not managed to completely ravage his body beyond repair. He had to say his prayers and count every last lucky star in the sky for that one. His right arm was in a slight, the other wrapped like a mummy in wraps, his side and much of his body.

After ensuring he was safe and stabilized, he was allowed visitors. Tsukauchi had a few bruises and scratches from his encounter with the Nomu horde, while Torino had the left side of his face covered wrappings, and bandages over some new battle scars. What surprised Toshinori the most was the appearance of Daisuke Nakajima, his right eye covered in a bandage, with a black eyepatch over it, his right arm in a sling, the other, holding a set of crutches for his left leg.

“Nakajima. I’m surprised you’re up.” Toshinori greeted in surprise, though slightly worried he might be pushing himself too much.

“I still got enough anti-Nuclear Bacteria to clean out Chernobyl in me, but I can walk.” He replied with his usual stoic expression.

“It’s good you’re here, because I want to include you in this.” Toshinori replied with a nod, looking to the other two to confer with them. “if that’s all right.”

“I’ve known his family. His grandfather was as good a friend as Nana. He’s a trustworthy one.” Gran Torino replied with a nod, leaning heavily on his old cane.

“I have no objections.” Tsukauchi remarked.

Daisuke looked around carefully for a moment, as Tsukauchi grabbed a chair, offering it to first Torino, who refused, then to Nakajima, who also refused, before sitting himself beside All Might.

“Nakajima, my Quirk, One for All, can be passed onto successors, giving them boosted power and strength compared to the last person. I’m the Eighth one to hold it.” Toshinori explained carefully. “I wanted Izuku Midoriya to be my successor.”

“Understandable.” Nakajima replied with a nod, not seemingly surprised by any of this. “Can you still access it? Those injuries...”

“I have full range of abilities, just for a set time.” Yagi said with a nod. “Once I pass it on, it will start to burn away.”

“And then we lose our Symbol of Peace once and for all.” Nakajima replied grimly, nodding to himself. “Do you want me to move operations back to Japan for you? I’ve been in America for my movie career and other things, but I can come home full time.”

“Not quite.” Toshinori replied, shaking his head, and raising his last good hand to stop him. “I will need to dedicate myself to teaching Young Midoriya full time going forward, and I need your and Gran Torino’s help.”

“He’s a spirited one, for sure.” Gran Torino remarked with a nod. “I’d like a shot at training him.”

“It will have to wait for Venom to...recover.” Daisuke replied carefully, nodding to All Might. “We should wait til both of you are at top health before the transfer.”

“Agreed. The world will still need All Might for a little bit.” Tsukauchi added.

“That. And there’s still one more thing I gotta do.” Toshinori stated firmly, the fires of determination returning to his eyes.

Gran Torino narrowed his eyes, giving a weary glance. “Tomura Shigaraki is the Grandson of our dear Nana Shimura.”

“That Nana Shimura?” Nakajima asked carefully. “Gramps spoke highly of her. How could this be?”

“Yeah, don’t forget who told us this to begin with.” Tsukauchi cautioned, looking among the group carefully. “All for One has every reason to want to toy with us mentally.”

“You two didn’t keep in contact with the Shimura family?” Nakajima asked.

“No. Nana’s husband was murdered. To keep her sun safe, she put him up in the foster care system, to keep him from the world of heroes,” Torino explained with a note of sadness in his voice. “She told me and Toshinori to not contact him if anything happened to her.”

“And that promise was twisted by All for One into this,” Tsukauchi remarked with a sad shake of the head.

“To think, one of my master’s descendants could fall so hard into evil,” Toshinori stated bitterly, clenching a fist. “I have to find him, reach out to him and...”

“And what, Toshinori? If you treat him as anything less then a villain, only tragedy can follow.” Gran Torino stated firmly. “No matter his ancestry, he’s still a dangerous criminal.”

“There’s worse news.” Nakajima stated, looking to the group in worry. “That one Villain with them, ‘X’, I have every reason to believe he’s related to my own nemesis, an ancient Villain I put away a long time ago.”

“I have a bad feeling I know which one...” Tsukauchi mumbled to himself in worry.

“If All for One and the Golden Demise are working together, I have to find out.” Daisuke declared stubbornly. “I have to reach X, and help him. He may not be a foregone figure like his father, his actions and attitude tell me as much. I have to try and save him.”

“All the same, it’s for the best you watch Midoriya as well.” Gran Torino replied carefully. “X is now in with a group that’s done incredible damage. Even if he’s nothing like his father, it won’t stay that way. Tsukauchi and I will handle the arrests. You can reach out to either of them once we know they can’t do any more harm.”

“That sounds good.” Toshinori replied, looking down at his injuries morosely.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Within the Hero Public Safety Commissions’ HQ, were the leading figures of the operations that coordinated and lead heroes. Giving out licenses, writing and reworking the codes of conduct, investigating malpractice and Hero Brutality within the ranks. It was all the sort of stuff that anyone could expect, bu their fingers reached far further then simply that. Some of those more weary of them, whispered they were involved in operations that defied any laws, and even the recruitment of Hero Hopefuls as their private soldiers.
The President, with 9 of the top figures in the HPSC, were seated, discussing the recent loss of All Might’s status as the legendary unstoppable hero.

“All Might’s injury is now public knowledge.” One of the officials said worriedly, his face resembling a Kamodo Dragon, his hands like scaled-talons. “Even if he doesn’t retire, he’ll be recovering for many months, and if he does get back to work, Civilian and Villain alike will know his limits.”

“The police chiefs said relying on one man could be bad.” Another remarked with a sigh, rubbing a hand through his thinning gray hair. “Now we see where that leads.”

“All for One is being held at least in Tartarus, and we’ve scattered his Nomu across other high-level prisons,” A third stated tiredly, paging through some papers. “But the hangar didn’t have the proper facilities for that level of biologic reconstruction, and the bar is scrubbed of any evidence we could use to find Shigaraki.”

“Speaking of biology, we need good news on things,” The President said, shooting a determined glare at the ASTF leader. “I hope you have some for us in the Ogasawara research base.”

The Boss, as always, did not appear in person, but rather via an experimental hologram, his face obscured in shadow, as steppled his fingers in front of him, one leg crossed over his knee.

“Yes, actually. The research I’ve developed will change things.” He declared with a prideful note in his modulated voice. “I, with my teams and Doctor Cathal, am nearing the end of the First Phase. With US Soldier, Lee Price as the first Field Test Subject for our new batch of Heroes we can deploy.”

“What exactly is this you’re working on?” The first demanded, narrowing his reptilian eyes in annoyance. “You hide behind proxies, you never meet face to face, you scurry off to an island with some of our best agents, and only tell us that it’s ‘Operation:Black Death’. What is going on?”

The President spoke up before any others could join in, cutting through the agitation instantly. “Kotaio Hanashinku is working on something too important to compromise. Do not let his idiosyncrasies distract from his results.”

The hologram did not move from his position, narrowing his eyes slightly at his rival. The holographic figure nodded slightly to the President before speaking again. “I can bring it to completion. No time at all, we will have the ability to turn even Quirkless children into Heroes with few weaknesses.”

“What has Lee Price done to deserve this supposed gift, Hanshinku?” Another asked. “If this works as well as you claim it does, at this stage, why not give it to the Heroes who work directly for us, like Hawks, Gyges and his brothers, etc?”

“Early development. I have high hopes, but if there are glitches in this, Lee Price will be the one we’ll work them out of,” Kotaio explained coldly. “If this is found to be perfect, everyone, from Slidin’ Go, to All Might himself, can receive these ‘implants’ and be all the more equipped for their jobs. Sickness will not hobble them, injuries will be healed instantly. I can do this.”

“Even if All Might doesn’t retire, we are calculating an 80% chance of a 35% increase in crime in the coming months and weeks.” Another board member replied stoically. “Get Lee Price outfitted and ready, and we’ll see just how well your new ‘implants’ work, Kotaio.”

The Hologram nodded, as the President gave him a weary glance. Even with small aspects and details known about the project, she didn’t know the full details. She had hoped giving him free reign wouldn’t come back to bite her.

“You have other jobs to see to, Kotaio?” She asked.

“Yes, Madam.” He replied gruffly.

“Then you may see to them.”

“Yes ma’am.” He said, bowing his head, as the hologram flickered off.

Kotaio stood up from his chair, smoothing his suit, as he turned to the board to his right. His hotel room was dimly lite, keeping him framed in shadow. He looked around, his eyes wide with fury and paranoia for a moment, before he focused on the board. There, were pictures of Izuku Midoriya, Tomura Shigaraki, Daisuke Nakajima and others involved in the case.

He walked towards it slowly, laying a hand on the board, as he glared intently at Izuku Midoriya. “Of all the malcontents to come to my sphere of influence, you are the most interesting, intriguing. And the most dangerous!”

He turned away, clenching his fists in rage, his teeth bared like an animal. “A boy can have dreams, but these monsters do not. They claw and eat and kill and devour worlds. And now one toys with me as we speak. It joins UA, like a normal child. It learns, like a normal child. It befriends others, like a normal child. But I know that malign intelligence within!”

He went over to a desk, barring folders and profiles of all the Class 1-A students who would be linked to Izuku. He paged through the one for Katsuki Bakugou, teeth still bared like a wolf. “Has his mother noticed a change behavior? His friend, Bakugou, perhaps? Surely, even if it could hide it’s behavior and emulate it’s host, it would’ve made a mistake!”

He tossed away the folders onto the old, beat-up bed, before digging his nails and fingertips into the desk. “My agents have to get closer to you, Venom, and give me the proof that you’re a threat! You can’t hide your nature!”

He closed his fists tightly on the edges of the desk, smashing it into splintered wood and chunks as his fists shook with rage, drops of blood tracing down from his fingertips and palms, but he barely seemed to notice.

“All for One called you and your kind here before we could prepare, and now I cannot punish him for disrupting the way of things in the world.” He growled to himself, shoulders hunched. “But I will not let this surprise ruin my plans!”

He went over to the picture of Daisuke Nakajima, glaring off to the right, dressed in a suit instead of his usual ‘Bancho’ Hero outfit. His eye twitched with annoyance at the sight. “The way of things cannot be disrupted, even by a hero. I cannot entrust this to any of my subordinates. Your niece, the Hero-in-training Mina Ashido, will become an example for you, Nakajima.”

He looked to the folder, eyes narrowed, releasing his fists as the blood continued to run down them, before the wounds sealed themselves up. ‘He will not, after what occurred with Katsuki Bakugou, let his family be easy to reach.’

He stopped in an instant as one of his burner phones went off, his breath catching in his throat as a feral growl escaped his lips. He clenched a fist in rage, standing there for a moment, eyes unblinking, his entire body tensed up, not sure if this was happening, before slowly walking over. The number was not available. Someone he didn’t know had found a burner number he used.

‘I specifically have my numbers not listed for telemarketers and other scam calls.’ He thought in disgust, the blood rushing in his ears. ‘This is one of my rivals, prying into my business. Trying to gag my weaknesses.’

He picked it up, studying it for a moment, before calmly flipping it open and answering. “Yes, who is this and how did you get this number?”

“Hello, is this Hanashinku Kotaio?” An unfamiliar voice asked, it’s tone easy-going and relaxed.

“How do you know my name and number?” He snarled, his voice low and filled with barely controlled rage.

“It’s not important, Mr. Hanashinku. What is important, is your subjects of interest.” The voice replied.

“Do you think you can toy with me?” He snarled. “What do you want?”

“The Venom Symbiote within Izuku Midoriya, is pregnant.” The voice remarked. “You could do much with this right? Venom will be weakened from the process, the newborn will be fresh and ready to mold. All of this, and more, is an easy victory for you.”

He said nothing for a moment, breathing hard, as he focused on the words, repeating them to himself within his head, before speaking again in a hushed, angry tone. “Are. You. Sure?”

“I am not toying with you, Kotaio. The Symbiote will reproduce.” The mysterious man assured him. “Keep your agents tracking it, and you will have anything you could want.”

“If your tip is worthwhile, thank you,” He replied, his voice soft and congratulatory at first, before it shifted again into his fouler tone. “Either way, I won’t allow someone to know me and my business. I will find you.”

“Pleasure doing business.” The voice replied, hanging up before he could offer any more threats.

Kotaio growled, holding the phone before him in rage. “This, this is worse then anything else. The Flow of Balance, requires Heroes maintain the current society as constant. And, it requires me to rule from beyond the touch of anyone, even fate itself!”

He smashed his phone to smithereens within his hand, releasing the pieces to the floor. “I will not let anything threaten my eternal equilibrium.”

He crushed the pieces that remained beneath his shoes, turning back to the board, his eyes focused and intent upon Izuku Midoriya’s face for a long time, before shifting his focus to Mina Ashido. Even with the chaos caused by All Might’s reveal and the League of Villains, his plans and Eternal Equilibrium, would be unchallenged by anyone, be they hero or villain.