Work Text:
CLOWN + League of Villains
“This is literally the dumbest thing we’ve ever done,” Shigaraki informed them.
“You sure?” Dabi asked. “We’ve done a lot of stupid things over the past year.”
“No we haven’t!” Twice exclaimed right before nodding sagely and adding, “Yeah, we’re idiots.”
Spinner sighed and looked up at the dark sky. “I don’t want to do this.”
Out of all of them, only Toga seemed to be enjoying herself, cheerfully spinning in circles as she skipped ahead of them. “It’s going to be so much fun!”
All four of them gave her a look like they thought she was crazy, but instead of feeling like they were looking down on her, warmth blossomed in her chest. This was fun. They were friends. It wasn’t mockery but camaraderie. After all, they might not have wanted to be here, but they still stopped to stand in line for the main event.
With October upon them, there were a lot of things they could do for fun, but none of them were up for it. She had to needle all of them, even Twice, before they finally caved, which was how they found themselves standing outside a fake haunted house in the cold. She didn’t know why the boys had to be such party poopers about it, but she was excited. When she was younger, she’d wanted to go to one so bad, tugging on her parents’ arms and begging them to let her go, but they never let her.
In retrospect, they were probably worried about her getting too excited and something bad happening, which also might be why Shigaraki confiscated every knife from her before they left. And she meant every knife, even the ones she thought no one knew about. It made her sad for a little bit, only for it to be forgotten once they were out the door and off on their grand adventure.
“What’s the point of these things?” Shigaraki asked from behind his Persona video game mask.
“To get scared!” Toga said.
“To have a good time!” Twice added. “I’m going to be miserable though.”
Toga pat him on the head. He had been nervous to come, but since wearing a mask was a requirement, he hadn’t felt so bad. He’d been good for the most part, but she knew he was nervous about once they got inside. With so many people dressed up, acting, and ready to scare him, there was a chance he might have a moment. Maybe bringing him along was a bad idea, but he was the only one who immediately agreed. He was so sweet like that.
Dabi snorted and fixed the mask fully covering his face. Instead of opting for something elaborate like Shigaraki, Mr. Compress had allowed him to borrow one of his masks. “Considering who we are, shouldn’t the house be filled with people like us instead of” – he leaned to the side over the rope to get a better look at the front of the house – “whatever those are supposed to be?”
Shigaraki folded his arms across his chest. “We’re much scarier.”
Hanging behind them, Spinner picked at the over the top masquerade mask that Compress had found for him. He needed a bit more to hide his identity when going out in public, even if Dabi and Shigaraki were noticeable. “We don’t look scary now. I feel stupid.”
A bark of laughter slipped from Dabi. “So says the person who still wears a Stain cosplay.”
Even if they couldn’t see his face, Spinner’s eyes glared behind the mask. “It’s not–” He jammed his hands into his jacket pockets and turned away from them. “It’s meant to honor him.”
“Yeah, wearing shit you stole from the store is real honorable.”
“I didn’t steal it!” Spinner exclaimed, rearing back on him.
“So you bought and caved to capitalism and the very same companies that sell hero merch?”
“I-I wouldn’t–”
Toga pouted. “Stop arguing!”
Dabi held up his hands in surrender. Spinner turned away again. This was supposed to be a fun night, and they were ruining it with their bickering. She glared at them both until neither one of them could meet her unfamiliar eyes. When she glanced at Shigaraki, he simply shook his head. He wasn’t going to get involved. So much for being the leader of their ragtag group, but she supposed she should be grateful that he was here at all.
While Shigaraki’s hunched shoulders suggested that he didn’t want to be here either, his reserved nature told Toga something else. She’d learned to read him since joining the League. It wasn’t that difficult, but he hid a lot of himself underneath all that anger and disgust. Despite his desire to destroy everything, he was interested in learning. She could see his curiosity in the way he tilted his head and observed all the haunted house actors, like he was critiquing them in his mind.
“It’s just not the same as the real thing,” Toga sighed as they wanted an actor pretend to cut a shrieking doll open on a medical table. Dabi made an unpleasant sound, but Shigaraki continued to watch boredly. “Real blood has a certain smell and consistency about it.” A dreamy smile touched her lips. “And taste.”
“Don’t say things like that for everyone to hear,” Shigaraki scolded.
“Aw, it’s not that bad,” Toga cooed. She pointed at the various people in evil-looking costumes. Why, in another world, these people might’ve been confused with villains. “Everyone is pretending to be bad tonight!”
Once they neared the front of the line, they gathered in a circle to pool their money together. Toga handed it over to the ticketmaster, gleefully taken the tickets in return. Dabi watched the man go with an almost mournful look in his eyes and muttered, “Should’ve opened a haunted house instead of joined the League. Pretty sure these guys are villains with what they’re charging for this shit show.”
Only one group was ahead of them now. The doors opened, and the group of teenagers disappeared into the dark, music and echoing screams greeting them. Toga clapped her hands together and bounced up and down, too excited to contain her energy. She couldn’t wait! The doors quietly opened again, and one of the actors stepped out. No, he practically crawled out, a silent and dark energy radiating from him despite his bubbly and colorful clown makeup.
A smile lit up Toga’s face. “Hey, how much longer do you think we have before it’s our turn?” she innocently asked.
“Dunno,” Dabi said, turning to look at the door out of habit. “Could be– FUCK!”
Dabi stumbled backwards, having turned around to come within inches of the clown’s face, crashing into Spinner and nearly sending them both tumbling to the ground. Toga burst into hysterical laughter. The clown was a hulking beast of a man. He would’ve been terrifying as a villain. Maybe they should ask him to join their group, considering how much Dabi was cursing. No doubt his quirk was flaring up, but he’d managed to keep his flames doused.
Shigaraki rubbed his temple. “Idiot.”
“Do you see him?” Dabi demanded furiously.
“I didn’t know you were afraid of clowns!” Twice said.
Dabi clenched his hands into fists. “I’m not afraid of clowns!”
Shigaraki looked away. “Could’ve fooled me.”
While Dabi seethed, Toga connected eyes with Shigaraki and winked. He shook his head. Oh, this was going to be a good night indeed. Everyone could do with a little scare now and then, even one that wasn’t death-related.