Work Text:
Katsuki stalks through a grimy, rat-ridden alleyway. He scowls as he surveys his surroundings, pulling his beanie down more over his distinct hair. Colored contacts hue his eyes brown. Make-up is smeared over the scar on his cheek. A pastel pink sweater covers his arms. A blank expression is forced onto his face. He can’t risk anyone identifying him.
He walks up to an innocuous side-door and slams his fist on it twice. The door cracks open and a toxic green eye peers out. Katsuki shoves the invite, he may or may not have stolen off a villain, into the guard’s face before they can speak. The door swings open revealing a lanky man with two eyestalks dropping down, who lets him in.
Katsuki strides through the dim hallway, following the sound of voices and music. He enters a doorway on his right and steps into a large room. Several are gathered here, some civilians, most villains. Drinks and drugs flow freely in this place, worsening impulses and loosening wallets. Usually, Katsuki would be busting some heads by now, but he has a different mission today with a specific person in mind. He leans against a wall towards the front, ignoring everyone as he waits.
Finally, a short, pudgy man in a suit walks onto the stage and welcomes everyone. The crowd falls silent as they await the main event. No time is wasted as the first item for sale is brought out a few minutes later. People quickly shout out offers until one outbids their competitors. Protests are heard and ignored as the next item is rolled in. This continues for quite some time. Katsuki shifts and scowls, no longer able to keep a straight face. He better not be wasting his fucking time and potentially risking his reputation for nothing.
After an hour, they finally bring out what he’s been waiting for: a limited edition Crimson Riot card, signed by the man himself. Just the thing Blood Riot would kill for. Bids are shouted out. Hero merch does make a ton of money, especially for rabid collectors. Although, eventually, it will hit a point where the amount spent isn’t worth it.
Katsuki searches the crowd and scrutinizes every bidder’s face. None bear any resemblance to Riot, even when considering a disguise. As the auctioneer counts down, Katsuki turns to Plan B. He shouts out a higher bid. The woman who bid last goes again, but Katsuki outbids her by a wide margin, not wanting to waste more time. No one else speaks up. The card is his.
The rest of the auction goes on, but Katsuki doesn’t bother paying attention. He goes through the side door to the back stage and grabs his purchase. Then, he leaves, keeping an eye on his surroundings. Although Blood Riot didn’t bid, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t there. He did love to roleplay as Katsuki’s shadow, afterall, though today Katsuki hasn’t sensed eyes on him once. It’s almost disconcerting how naked he feels without that everpresent gaze.
Katsuki shakes his head and stomps away faster. He should be relieved, not unsettled without his stalker hovering around him. Katsuki takes a few side roads back to his agency. Once there, he stops by his office and changes clothes. Then, he unlocks his hidden safe, placing the card inside.
Soon, Katsuki can finish Plan B, which is to lure Riot into a trap with the card. He kind of wishes Plan A happened instead, where Riot confronts him at the auction or afterwards, so they could fight then and there. Blood Riot rarely misses a chance to fight him, but in the last week there’s been no sign of him. No fights, no phone calls or texts, no letters or gifts left in his apartment. Katsuki wonders if he’s sick or injured. Or dead, but he refuses to even imagine that. If anyone’s killing that tanky bastard, it will be him and only him. He’s the only one strong enough to match Riot in battle.
His face heats up as he recalls what Riot talked about before, how compatible their quirks are as if they were made for each other. And, Riot challenges him every single time. He ignores Deku, Lemillion, and Shouto, who all fight for the top three rankings while Katsuki ping pongs up and down the rankings but never higher than fourth. Even when they try to interfere, Riot always does his best to keep their attention away. The extremely pissed off villain will rampage into a building or cause some other hazard just to distract any third wheels, leaving Katsuki to keep fighting Riot. After all, everyone knows Katsuki isn’t suited for rescue. Eventually, most heroes let them fight in peace, though sometimes a few try to sneak attack Riot in an unmanly manner as the villain would call it.
Katsuki frowns as he thinks about his plan. He guesses it would count as unmanly, too, but he needs to draw the bastard’s attention somehow, especially if he’s perfectly fine and just ghosting him for some reason. Katsuki ignores the little voice whispering in his head about how Riot must be getting tired of him. This obsession has to wear off sometime, especially considering Riot values strength above all else. Any of the top three would be better, would make him more pumped up and elated in battle.
Shit. He shouldn’t be worried about this. Who the hell cares about some villain? Katsuki needs to focus on the rest of his plan. Tomorrow, he should find a good place for a fight, away from any civilians and away from any areas most heroes patrol. That should minimize distractions and destruction.
Resolute in his plan, Katsuki walks home and fitfully tosses and turns, still wondering about Riot’s absence, until he falls into a deep sleep around four in the morning. When he awakes in the morning, exhausted from stressing, he finds coffee and breakfast from his favorite shops along with a wrapped up box. The wrapper covered in cartoon explosions and the red ribbon bow signifies that this is a gift from Blood Riot.
The tension in his body finally leaves at the familiar sight. He tears open the hard box and reveals a glass case with an offbrand All Might figurine inside. Katsuki frowns, disappointed at the lame, cheap present, before spotting the official logo of the main company that sells the old hero’s merch. He gasps as he realizes this is a one of a kind object. Rumors spread about the misprint of a prototype figurine that only All Might was given. Fans thought he threw it away and scoured dumpsters and landfills. After some time passed, most believed it was either already incinerated or never real to begin with. His excitement grows as he spots the real signature at the base of the figure. This is all authentic.
Katsuki spots a note tucked under the case and pulls it out to read. His bright smile shifts into a scowl as he reads what Blood Riot wrote:
Thank you for the gift in your office! You really are attentive and caring, going out so late to get this for me. I’ll treasure it forever! Especially since this is my first gift from you. I really do appreciate it. And, I hope you like my gift! I made sure to get it signed, too, just for you. And don’t worry, I won’t leave you alone again for a long time! I missed you too much to bear. See you later!
-Love, Blood Riot
XOXO
Katsuki scoffs at the ruined plan and the villain’s unbearable sappiness, but still. Joy and anticipation surge through him. Even without the bait, Riot will be there again, ready to fight and focus on him. While enjoying his breakfast, Katsuki thinks about what today holds. He smirks viciously at the thought of blasting Riot to kingdom come for making him worried. And, after he picks himself back up, Riot will demand a rematch which Katsuki will happily accept. He eats the rest quickly and rushes out the door, impatient for what’s to come.