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“How…absolutely fascinating you are. You amuse me.” He grabs Haruo’s chin with much the same force as the hand on his shoulder. Eyes that practically glow stare at him in a way that feels unnatural. He’s tall, much taller than him and while that’s not unheard of in this day and age, it only serves to make the man seem even more out of place. “I could break you within a second, yet here you still stand. How is it that someone so weak can be so bold?”
“Wait, you’re—” Recognition flashes across his face but there’s a disinterest in allowing him room to speak.
“Oh, hush.” All For One sounds relaxed in an unsettling way, quietly unbothered by the situation. “I’m flattered you recognise me, but it’s been so long since we’ve been this close so there’s no point ruining it.” There’s an underlying hint of excitement to him. Hidden beneath the layers of demeanour, the satisfaction and joy almost seem like they’d be childish if he allowed them to overtake his actions. His gaze is wide and intense, like he doesn’t want to miss a single movement Haruo might make. Like he’s using his own body to cage him in.
A deep discomfort settles in his stomach.
This isn’t an encounter Haruo is prepared for. Of course, no one expects to have the country’s most dangerous villain staring at them like they’re a valuable painting, but he at least expects to have words come to him. Expects to be able to formulate some sort of out for himself despite the fact that he knows very well he’d lose even if he did act on something like that. All For One’s stare is wide and cat-like, uncomfortably so from the angle. He looks every bit and yet nothing at all like how he’s described.
“You came here to see me?” He finally comes to a logical question, after all there’s only a few reasons why someone like him might do that. “Why?”
“Am I not allowed to?” His hand slides up to hold Haruo’s cheek. It’s surprisingly gentle, his skin far more well taken care of than he would have assumed. “Is it strange to think perhaps I’d like to visit you?”
“Yes!?” How could it not be? He’s the kind of person to have an ulterior motive for everything, it’s hard to imagine it would be that simple. “You must want something if you’re risking being seen by heroes.”
All For One doesn’t look as if he’s paying much attention, but the corner of his mouth does twitch. “...you are…right. In some way.” His fingertips dance up and down the side of his face, fixated on that point of contact. “I would like something.”
“If it’s anything to do with—”
“You.” He finally meets his eyes, watching how the single word processes in Haruo’s mind. “You remind me of things. Things I enjoy.” His finger travels over his ear until he can hold the back of his neck, leaning down to meet a little closer to his height. “Must I need more reason to be here?”
Haruo blinks, unable to step back while being held so firmly. He knows as much about All For One as he’s been told. He knows far too well how this could end, how much danger not only himself but his whole family might be in. Yet every word that comes from his mouth has a sort of earnestness to it. There truly is something buzzing excitedly inside All For One and he can tell, it puts Haruo on edge in a way he can’t quite explain. He should hold onto that discomfort as tightly as he can…but it’s hard to focus when someone’s playing with your hair.
“You’re so…fragile.” He continues, allowing his gaze to wander to whatever detail catches his eye. “Unimpressive.” His thumb slips beneath his jaw. “Tell me every detail.”
Something inside Haruo twists - confusion and fear and curiosity filling him all at once and making him nauseous. He’d like to say that in that moment he understood how masterful of a manipulator this man is…
But he finds it hard to speak. Sees it coming for a split second and still doesn’t think fast enough to do anything about it. How All For One moves with insistence like he’s been waiting for this moment. Haruo has not had many kisses in his life, but this one is not the same. There’s desire there, but it’s different, demanding somehow but with no move to deepen the connection. He holds him there tightly, his satisfaction obvious through the way he smiles against him. Small flames dance across Haruo’s palms and his fingers twitch with the thought of pushing him back. The hand on his shoulder moves down to interlock their fingers, an amused hum escaping All For One as harmless fire licks his skin.
When he finally pulls back, his grin is completely unrestrained. The usually calculated look in his eyes can’t compete with the uncharacteristic delight, bringing Haruo’s hand to his mouth. “Even this is so pitiable, I want to let you keep it.” Despite the words, he doesn’t sound condescending in the slightest, kissing his palm as he makes eye contact with him. “And with everything I know about you…I’d like to put you someplace safe.”
Haruo has never been more aware of the heat in his body until then. His eyes burn from his blush, left floundering in his mind as he tries so hard to have this all make sense somehow. “...please don’t.” Is all he can manage to get out.
“Someday.” All For One adjusts his grip so he can kiss his knuckles, a sort of admiration as he stares at this new expression he’s managed to create. “We should arrange to have a more formal meeting. I would like the chance to talk with you for much longer than this.”
No, bad idea, terrible even. Haruo shouldn’t spend time with this man if he can help it. It makes him and the people he cares about vulnerable and leave him caught in the middle of it all. But with how All For One slowly stands himself up straight again without looking away for a second, how he makes sure he’s making physical contact until the very last moment…there’s a very good chance he doesn’t have a choice.