Video. un: Lord Explosion Murder

[hot_handed]

[Sitting precariously on some indistinguishable balcony outside is a teenager with wild, spiky blonde hair and even wilder red eyes. He scowls into the camera before getting right to it.]

Let me make this brief. I can't stand this shitty place, especially those shitty Moon Knights who act like they're so much fucking better than everyone else just because they swore some oath and they got the right to murder people because of it. Those extras ain't the best! You know who is the best?

I AM!!!

[He stands up on the edge, declaring his statement at the top of his lungs-

"Please sit down, you're endangering yourself and others!"

It turns out he's at some sort of cafe. Katsuki grumbles something about not being told what to do and sits back down, biting into the straw of his frappe before continuing.]

Listen up you extras, and followers of extras, and single celled organisms. I'm going to murder that exam for joining the Moon Knights, and then I'm going to murder all the villains, and I'm going to show all the whiny losers who think we're to be feared who they should be really fearing, because it sure as hell ain't the rest of you.

JUST WATCH YOUR NEW LORD EXPLOSION MURDER RISE UP TO THE RANKS AND OWN THIS SHITTY PLANET, EXTRAS, AND FOLLOW IN MY FOOTSTEPS IF YOU GOT THE GUTS!!!

["I need to ask you to leave."]

Fuck!

Comments

[numbertwohero]

[Those tuning into Katsuki's broadcast might also be able to hear the heaved sigh in the background, and possibly see the hand reaching over to grab Katsuki's shoulder as Shouto climbs out of his chair, stepping behind Katsuki and between him and the manager of the cafe.]

Sorry about him. We'll go, just let me pay--is this much okay?

[He's just gonna pay for their drinks and snacks, and definitely add a little extra to that tip, which seems to mollify the manager, if not the patrons around them giving them dirty looks and muttering about Moonblessed. The manager leaves, and Shouto turns back around, shaking his head.]

You keep getting us kicked out and eventually there aren't gonna be any places that let us eat here. Did you order that bubble tea for Angela before you decided to make that speech, Bomberman?

[Listen, if Katsuki's allowed to come up with shitty nicknames, so is he.]

[hot_handed]

[He accepts the hand on his shoulder. He even accepts Shouto's attempts at diplomacy, even if he doesn't agree or see the point.

What he doesn't accept is the other patrons talking shit.]

Shut the fuck up! You think it's our fault that you're incompetent?! Because it's not! You use us like we're batteries and nothing else, and then you blame us when shit goes down instead of taking responsibility yourselves! Well fuck you! It's not our fault that your world's screwed up and if I had it my way I'd-

[Bubble tea? Shit.]

I- [Katsuki grimaces.] I didn't want it to get warm before we brought it to her! And what did you just call me?!

[numbertwohero]

[He doesn't entirely disagree with what Katsuki says. They'd been perfectly happy to have the Moonblessed generating Chroma, until they realized that meant monsters and demigods, too, the risk of disaster. But this isn't gonna help. Yelling at them and insulting them isn't gonna help.

His hand tightens just a little on Katsuki's shoulder, an attempt to stop the ranting before this turned into something more than just grumbling.]

Katsuki, come on. Don't bother.

[At least the mention of Angela and the dumb nickname seem to have distracted him, and he'll take it.]

It's fine, we can pick some up at that other place down by the clinic. I promised we'd bring her some.

[This is him deliberately not addressing that last part, either!]

[hot_handed]

I'll show you exactly who you should fear-

[He turns back to glare at Shouto instead, his anger still swarming right below the surface.]

But this place is better. I'll demand that they give us the shitty tea and then we can leave this stupid place and never come back. And you didn't answer my question, Icy Hot Prince!

[numbertwohero]

[He understands, but come on, Katsuki. Sighing again, he holds his hand out, waiting for the other boy to take it. It's a casual gesture, one he's done plenty of times before, even if they usually don't have this much of an audience.]

How about you wait outside and try not to challenge anyone to a duel to the death, and I'll go ask for it?

[Prince, though? Shouto's caught off guard by that one, blinking before he hides a smile.]

You know prince is a higher rank than lord, right? I'm surprised you'd be that generous with me.

[hot_handed]

[He stares Shouto's hand down, his face twitching in irritation before finally taking it.]

Fine. Hurry up.

[And then just like that the moment is over and his anger is redirected at Shouto.]

Shut up! Don't look too hard into it, I'm still better than you!!!

[numbertwohero]

[Hey, better it's directed at him than the other patrons of the cafe. At least he's used to it. And he can tell when it's just a cover for being flustered at least 60% of the time.]

Right, right. What was I thinking?

[He was thinking 'prince???? why prince?? is it because of my dad? or what???' but hey, he's dumb, Katsuki already knows that.]

Anyway, come on. Let's go.

[hot_handed]

How should I know?!

[It's because Shouto is pretty and kind of graceful in the same way a dumb cat is. It's perfect in his opinion. He takes the lead as if this was his idea all along.]

Don't tell me what to do.

[Of course, he has to have the last word. So he uses his free hand to flip off the entire establishment as they depart.]

[numbertwohero]

[Of course he does. Whatever, it's fine, it's fine.

Shouto only leaves Katsuki outside for a minute, and when he returns it's with a drink in hand for Angela, something faintly pink and frothy. It seemed right. And of course, now that's he's accomplished that mission, he's just gonna take Katsuki's hand again. That's totally fine right.]

Peach melon milk tea. Seemed like a good idea for her. What do you think?

[hot_handed]

{Katsuki stews in his own rage while he waits, using every ounce of his willpower to not lash out at anyone who looks at him wrong. When Shouto returns he holds onto his hand tightly and stares at the drink.]

It's pink.

[numbertwohero]

Yeah, so?

[It is?? What's wrong with pink?]

It smells good, and I know she likes sweeter stuff. Seemed like a good option. Should I get something else...?

[hot_handed]

Why'd you smell her drink? What? No. It's fucking fine. Stop overthinking it.

[He pulls Shouto's hand to keep going.]

[numbertwohero]

They had samples, I didn't smell hers. But if you think it's a bad choice--

[Okay fine he is overthinking it. But just because it's Angela, honestly. He just wants to do good things for mom. But sure, fine! He'll just tighten his fingers around Katsuki's and keep them going towards the clinic.]

[hot_handed]

If I thought it was shit I would tell you!

[Katsuki scoffs, grumbling something under his breath that sounds like 'don't insult me by thinking I'd hold back you stupid toothpaste looking prince,']

It's just really pink. I didn't know drinks could be that pink. But she's probably into that.

[numbertwohero]

[There's that word again, 'prince'. And even toothpaste seems almost affectionate. He hides a smile, fingers squeezing Katsuki's briefly.]

It is pretty pink. But you're right. Seems like the kinda thing she'd like.

So...I've got my usual training with Grimm tomorrow. Thought maybe you'd wanna come. It's usually a good workout. And we could get breakfast after?

[Is this how you date.]

[hot_handed]

[He skips a step and nearly stumbles, his heart somersaulting. As irritating as it is that such a small gesture could create such an intense reaction, he can't find it in himself to complain. He just looks do the side, his face hotter than before, and shrugs while he tries to ignore any implications of the invitation.

Shouto just wants to spend time with him. It's no different than every other time they've spent time together lately moonlacing or when Katsuki's ended up at his place or stop fucking thinking about it-]

...Yeah, sure. I'm always up for kicking your ass.

[It ain't a bad ass either FUCKING STOP.]

[numbertwohero]

[It's not a date. He's not gonna call it a date, because that's going to ruin everything, and so it's just what they always do. Train, and then eat. The only difference is Katsuki's also going to meet the being who's basically been the closest thing he has to a mentor here. Bugdad's approval is important, okay. But other than that, it's totally just normal!

Except the weird thing his stomach does when Katsuki agrees begs to disagree, and the fact that when he looks at Katsuki the other boy is weirdly red-faced, and his own cheeks heat faintly, and this is dumb stop thinking about it.]

I kick your ass at least half the time, you know. It's not a guaranteed thing.

[Why are his cheeks still burning???]

[hot_handed]

[No, it's totally not a date, just like nothing they ever do is a date. And yet he doesn't find himself eager to hang out and moonlace with anyone else after training. He doesn't hear the storm in his ears that drowns out everything else with anyone but Shouto.

Irritation boils and for a moment, it's easy to forget about that.]

You beat me forty percent, tops! Don't get ahead of yourself, Icy Hot!!!

[numbertwohero]

[The sudden bickering feels almost like a relief. Something familiar, something that doesn't make his heartrate suddenly jump through the roof. Or, it does, but in a different way. Still not a bad way. Shouto rolls his eyes, but he's still holding Katsuki's hand which might take away some of the edge.]

Are we going to have to start asking someone else to keep score? Because I think your math is a little off.

[hot_handed]

My math is impeccable. [Like Shouto's stupid perfect face.] I scored higher than you on the midterms, remember?

[numbertwohero]

Your memory, then. Anyway the midterms were months ago at this point, no matter how you're counting, right?

[hot_handed]

...Whatever! I'm still older than you!!!

[numbertwohero]

Exactly my point. I didn't think memory started to go this early...

[He is absolutely just fucking with Katsuki now. Sorry.]

[hot_handed]

[He just growls, irritation building. God, he just wants to...shove him against a wall and-]

Then explain your crap memory, Icy Hot!

[numbertwohero]

[And maybe he wouldn't exactly mind being shoved against a wall. What a weird feeling.]

Probably the childhood trauma.

[Is he joking? Is he not? Honestly, it's kind of hard to tell.]