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]

[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.]

[hot_handed]

[Katsuki rolls his eyes, but he does turn and tries pulling Shouto down a little to kiss his scar.]

You're fucking obnoxious.

[numbertwohero]

[Out of all the things he could possibly be expecting Katsuki to do in response to his flippant answer, what Katsuki actually does isn't even on the list. He's caught off-guard enough that the other boy has no trouble at all pulling him down, and there's no denying the warmth that floods through him at the brief touch of lips against scarred skin.]

You've got shitty taste.

[The words are a little distracted and definitely softer than he meant for them to be, but how can he be expected to not react after a gesture like that?]

[hot_handed]

[Katsuki expects his skin to be rough- and it is. But everything else about him is so goddamn soft or silky, that it works. The unguarded, small affectionate smile on his face when he pulls away drops like a lead weight in his stomach when Shouto makes that comment.]

Hey. My taste is fucking phenomenal.

[He likes everything about him, even the parts that piss him off, and he leans in to press his lips on Shouto's this time, his hands still cupping his face and curled around his scar.]

How am I supposed to kick your ass when you say shit like that?

[numbertwohero]

[He'd meant it as a joke, honestly, and there's a flash of regret that floods him as he spots that small smile on Katsuki's face that quickly drops away. He doesn't want that. He wants more smiles. More looks like that, just for him.

He's ready to say something else, to try and change the subject, but then Katsuki does something that surprises him even more. Here they are, in public; the street is quiet, but it's by no means deserted, and here's Katsuki kissing him like that with a softness that almost makes him ache.

He's quiet for a moment, returning that kiss despite his surprise. And afterwards, he lifts a hand to touch the back of Katsuki's, cupping it to his cheek for a moment.]

Dunno. But I'm sure you'll find a way. It's one of the things I like about you.

[This time, at least, the warmth in his voice is obvious.]

[hot_handed]

[It's not like Katsuki gets embarrassed by the public, but he is a private person. He doesn't want to air his personal life out to the world and he usually doesn't care about anyone else's. Right now though, screw the public. Shouto's expression and the way he holds his face, something Katsuki wouldn't let most people live after doing, is more than worth it.]

You like it when I kick your ass?

{The dubious laughter in his voice is light.]

I'll have to do it more often.

[numbertwohero]

I like it when you try.

[There's almost a hint of a laugh in his voice in response, and he flashes Katsuki a small, quick smile before he leans in once more for a brief kiss before pulling back, hand dropping to take Katsuki's in his own again. They were on a mission to deliver boba to Prismom, after all.]