Crimson Eyes

Chapter 35

I sighed and let my head fall back, glaring up at the ceiling. "I crave nicotine, this is stupid." 

Cold metal tapped the side of my arm not even a second later. My head whipped up and was met with the sight of Sero handing me a vape. I took it with zero hesitation. "Oh my god," I said in between rips. "You're my fucking savior right now, dude." 

Katsuki snagged the vape from my hands, tossing it back at Sero. "Don't give my boyfriend a nicotine addiction," I couldn't see the scowl, but I knew it was there. I could hear it in his snappy response. 

"Sounds like he already has one," The black-haired boy said with a shrug, pocketing the device again. 

"Used to," I admitted. "Pretty bad actually, but then my mom went all prison mode and I had to quit cold turkey." 

He cringed at the thought, shaking his head. "Sounds like ass, dude." 

Sero ended up hanging out until school ended, when Ashido and Kaminari joined the group. They had both quickly jumped at the chance to smoke with us, so I spent most of the day blazed. It wasn't until I headed back to my own house, drenched in Eijirou's body spray, that I started sobering up. All I wanted to do then was go to sleep, so I crawled into bed and did just that.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Over the next few days, Shigaraki's text became more frequent and personal. He was slowly piecing my life together from whatever shadowy hell hole he was hiding in. He knew exactly who was close to me and exactly how to piss me off with the information. 

I was understandably jumpy and on edge all week, every text freaking me out a little more than the last. I was snapping at my friends and boyfriends over little things and then immediately apologizing in a twisted cycle. Even though they were all very understanding, I could tell my anxiety was getting to them as well. 

It was Friday during forth hour, right before lunch, when I finally said fuck it. Shigaraki had been blowing up my phone all day, taunting me with all the things he knew about my life. 

Unknown~

You should tell the blonde to wear a helmet

Motorcycles can be so dangerous

It'd be a shame if someone wasn't paying enough attention and he ended up as nothing more than roadkill somewhere

It wasn't the first time he had indirectly threatened to kill Katsuki or Eijirou or any of my other friends, I was almost used to it at that point. I'd been silently taking everything he'd thrown at me, but I had finally had enough of the cyber bullying. 

Izuku~

Grow a pair and stop texting me like a preteen girl 

I'll be the first to admit it wasn't my smartest moment. Everyone, the cops, my mom, my boyfriends, all of them had told me to not text back. It was pretty much my only rule. 

Unknown~

Look at that, the little snitch does know how to respond

I was starting to get bored

I bit my lip as I read the conversation. The sneaking suspicion I had just made a mistake taking hold of my gut. 

Unknown~

Here's what's going to happen, little snitch

You're going to become my little errand boy again

And if you say a word to anyone, I run the blonde off the road

Sound like a deal? 

I stared at the phone in my hand, unblinking. My hands were clammy where they met the heated metal of the device, almost causing it to slip from my grasp. I reread the texts over and over again, but the words stayed the same. I had played right into his hands and now I was stuck. He knew exactly what to lord over my head. 

My thumbs hovered over the keyboard, while my brain tried to formulate a response. I couldn't just give in, but I knew Shigaraki's flavor of crazy. I was intimately aware of the fact he wouldn't hesitate to try and kill the people I care about. 

Unknown~

Don't keep me waiting

I'm not known for my patience

I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself as I typed out my response. 

Izuku~

What do I get out of this deal? 

Unknown~

The hearts of your friends and family keep beating

Do you need more incentive? 

My head shot up as the bell rang, signaling it was time for lunch. I released the breath trapped in my lungs, glancing back at my phone. 

Izuku~

How do I know you're not bluffing? 

I clicked the power button on my phone, watching the screen shift to black as I slid it into my pack pocket and stood. I slung my bag over one shoulder and started for the cafeteria. 

I was fully aware I was poking the bear, but I had a reason. I needed to know how far he was willing to go. Shigaraki was ruthless and vindictive, a violent and unfeeling person capable of murder, but he was also incredibly lazy. I had been close with him at one point, watching as he gave up on countless enemies for the sheer fact of losing interest. I was feeling him out with that text, sizing up his threat level for myself. 

My phone buzzed in my pocket, causing me to pull off to the side of the hall and fish it out. When I opened the chat, I was met with a photo. It was a candid shot of me, Sero, Katsuki, and Eijirou in the garage, Sero mid-rip off the joint in his hand, taken through a window. It was from just a few days ago. 

My breathing stalled. 

Unknown~

Does it look like I'm bluffing?