Chapter Text
Shigaraki isn’t the worst boss he’s ever had. He’s young, but not exactly green –and not quite as unpredictable as someone like Toga, or unsure as someone like Dabi. No, he’s fairly reasonable, and he does put himself out there – not like those bosses who send out their minions to do everything for them. Atsuhiro dares to say, he’s pretty commendable.
When he approaches him with a humble request, Shigaraki takes it in strides.
“I know Toga and Bubaigawara weren’t told to be disruptive, per say,” Atsuhiro says, “but it’s a fair assumption that you would still hope for them to be, correct?”
Shigaraki’s eye doesn’t show, he just cocks his head to the side, being vague.
“They’re making themselves useful.”
“Indeed. Point is, we are waiting for a chance to go after that Overhaul punk, are we not?” Saying this, Atsuhiro strokes his new prosthetic, tenderly, making a show of it. He’s feeling pretty smug that he’s got it figured out.
“Obviously.” Shigaraki’s answer somewhat sounds like he’s trying to not sound too gleeful.
Atsuhiro removes his mask, baring his eyes and smile through the balaclava beneath.
“Then allow me to be so bold. I understand that all of us want to kill him, and I might not deserve it more so than you… however, I would much like it if I got to deliver the finishing blow when it comes to that. Asking as one villain to another.” He bows, mask to his chest and one hand stretched out, gentlemanly as can be.
When he rises, Shigaraki’s extended one long finger to scratch the back of his head.
“Nope, can’t have you do that.” The disappointment Atsuhiro feels at learning this is insurmountable, if expected. He should don his Mask of Dejection. “Actually, we’re not killing him at all” – oh, just pour more salt in the wounds, why don’t you, Shigaraki?
His displeasure must show, because Shigaraki groans, like he’s wont to do.
“We’re not killing him because it’s too easy,” his leader elaborates, then. When he sees he's gotten Atsuhiro's attention, he continues, smugly: “If we get him in that kind of position, that’s essentially letting him get off scot-free. Nope, not letting that happen. I’ve been thinking of something he’d hate even more. He’s an arrogant hypocrite, I can’t stand him, going on about how quirks are all a disease and then keeping his own…”
Oh. Oh. Why, Atsuhiro can get behind that.
“Then, you mean we use his own method against him? Erase his quirk? That’s poetic justice if I’ve heard it.” Not that they’re typically fond of justice itself, however.
“Even that’s too merciful, isn’t it?” Shigaraki grins so wide it shows behind his hand mask.“ If you want poetic justice… then, we’re gonna take away his hands. Reduce him to a handless, quirkless nobody, they won’t even have to put him in Tartarus.” He’s giddy, nearly laughing at the prospect, and it’s highly infectious.
This is just Atsuhiro’s opinion but villains these days don’t have nearly as much fun as they used to. There needs to be more focus on the art, the performance of it… ah, but Shigaraki gets it, doesn’t he? How charming.
“Hands, you say.”
“You can have his left,” says Shigaraki, still smiling, or is it just called smirking? Although he suspects that this thing about taking away Overhaul’s hands in particular is also somewhat of a personal thing for Shigaraki, there is absolutely poetry in Atsuhiro’s part of it, and for sure, this is what that man would hate the most.
Yes, this is what he likes about this boss: the evil genius, too pure to mimic, it’s the real deal, he could appraise it from their first meeting (although it was less refined then).
“Why, I could kiss you,” he says, a little offhandedly, a little suggestively. “Taking his left hand, you taking his right, it’ll be quite the show. What’s our setting like? I suggest bringing our friend Dabi along for the special effects of it, his flames would create quite the spectacle.”
“Yeah, well, that depends on the opening,” Shigaraki says, a little too disinterested –Atsuhiro puts his mask back on before his disappointment shows. He’s getting ahead of himself.
Of course, Shigaraki’s right, how they begin is everything too… the build-up must be worth the pay-off after all. Yes, his boss knows what he’s doing indeed.
Atsuhiro starts to slowly clap his hand and the prosthetic together to show his appreciation.
“Well said. I’m looking forward to this now, more than you can imagine. Yes,” he smiles behind his mask, happy with the outcome, “This will be a revenge to remember. I’ve got to hand it to you.”