Y/N stood at the edge of the vast training grounds, shadows flickering in the fading light. The atmosphere was thick with tension and the crackle of energy. She watched as the League of Villains trained hard, their fierce determination evident in every move. It had been a few weeks since she had accepted All For One's offer, a few weeks since she decided to embrace her newfound power and purpose.
Her past echoed in her mind like a haunting melody. Growing up feeling like a misfit, she had never quite fit into the mold that society expected of her. Her attempts to integrate into U.A. had ended in disaster—framed by a boy whose envy burned like fire. The shame and guilt that followed had isolated her for years, drawing her deeper into the shadows until All For One had found her, a diamond in the rough.
"Y/N!" a voice broke her contemplation. It was Dabi, rolling his eyes as he approached her. "You should really get in there and train. We don't do downtime here."
"Yeah, I know," she replied softly, her eyes still fixated on the others. Her heart would race during each training session, not just from the workouts but from glances cast her way—particularly those from Shigaraki. He was such a mystery, a dark puddle of sarcasm and pain, but every time their eyes met, it sent a shiver of something indescribable down her spine.
Shigaraki was a force of nature, his aura palpable. She had seen him strike fear into the hearts of his enemies with just a single look. Yet, when she had caught glimpses of him training, the grim determination had been laced with a curiosity that seemed to orbit around her. He would avert his gaze swiftly as if embarrassed to be caught staring, a soft blush escaping onto his cheeks—but it was too fleeting to be taken seriously.
Days turned into weeks, and while Y/N settled into the routine of villain life, Shigaraki remained an enigma, hovering on the periphery of her thoughts. The balance of their dynamic was fragile, each of them caught in their own insecurities and doubts. She was determined to change the world after all—to create something meaningful that transcended the boundaries of a hero-driven society. But this ambitious goal didn't eliminate her desire for connection, especially with someone like him.
One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, they found themselves alone in the dimly lit hallway of their base. Y/N was nursing a bruise on her arm from a particularly hard sparring match, wincing as she leaned against the wall.
"You're getting better," Shigaraki remarked casually, brushing a hand through his disheveled hair. His voice was gruff, but there was an earnestness to it that made her heart flutter.
"Thanks," she replied, a shy smile creeping onto her face. "But I think your idea of 'better' is a bit skewed considering how I've been struggling."
His laugh was low and genuine, something she hadn't heard from him often. "Everyone has their own way of improving. Just don't let the others get to you. They'll only bring you down."
She looked up, meeting his gaze. It was peculiar, how intensely he looked at her, as if trying to read the very fabric of her being. "Shigaraki…" she started, feeling the weight of all the unspoken words that had tangled between them. "I've been meaning to ask why you avoid me. It's like you don't want to be close, but I sense… something. I just don't know what."
He took a step back, almost as if startled by her confession. Silence infused the air around them, tension ricocheting off the walls.
"And what would that 'something' be?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know… a connection?" Y/N suggested, her heart racing, adrenaline coursing through her veins. "We're both outcasts. We both want something different from this world."
Shigaraki's face morphed from confusion into realization, and then something deeper. "You don't get it," he said quietly. "I've always been damaged. I don't want to drag you down with me." He stepped closer, the words spilling out, raw and vulnerable. "But I'm drawn to you. It's terrifying. I'm terrified."
Her breath caught in her throat, realization washing over her. She took a step forward. "I'm not afraid, Shigaraki. I see you— the good and the bad. You're a part of this just as much as I am. And maybe we can figure this out together."
The air shimmered with unspoken possibilities. It felt as if time itself had halted—their worlds colliding in a moment of clarity amidst the chaos they embraced.
"I like you," he confessed, the words a gentle release as if they had weighed heavy on his soul. "I want to figure it out, too."
Y/N's heart filled with warmth, a sense of belonging blooming inside her. "Then let's not avoid each other anymore. Let's create something beautiful out of the chaos."
And in that moment, the past—filled with loneliness and heartache—began to dissolve, replaced by the promise of something new. Together, they were not just villains but two souls challenging the world and their own fears, standing side by side as they sought to carve their own path in this twisted reality.