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Chapter Text

My name is Katsuki Bakugo. My home is District Two. I was in the Hunger Games. 

Fiona…Fiona was left behind .

Katsuki moved from room to room. Time was a construct, and he fucking hated it. Sometimes, he heard Fiona’s voice. Her humming of old songs that never quite stopped even when she was fast asleep. He tried to find the songs, to hear something that would remind him of her, but he could never find them. They were taken from her, just like she was taken from him.

“Mr. Bakugo?” One of the doctors asked, tilting his head. “You can't be in here.”

It was where they had put some of Fiona’s things. Gabriella had put her stuffed animal on the bed. It was just waiting for her. He could fucking pretend just a little longer. “I kept hearing shit. Just another five minutes.”

“You need to sleep. We can help you sleep.”

“Five more minutes.”

“No.”

The doctor took out a syringe, and Katsuki slapped it away. It stressed him out. He wasn’t going to be put under again. He wanted to kill everyone who took her away. “Don’t touch me, god damn it! Get off!” He felt a prick in his leg as his eyes fluttered shut.

Juzu was staring at the ground. “I wanted to go back for Fiona and Aimi, but I…I couldn’t move.” He ran a hand through his hair. He was shaking. Katsuki couldn’t touch him to comfort him. He had heard rumors from Miyuki and Miss Kayama about the shit the Capitol did to him. “They have Yuuga too. They took him away.”

“He’s in the Capitol,” Katsuki mumbled.

That made Juzu laugh through his tears. “I wish he was dead. I wish they were all dead and we were, too.”

“Bakugo.” He snapped up. A woman with dark skin and long white-almost gray hair smiled at him. She was wearing a Peacekeeper uniform. It stressed him out. He was wary of her. “I’m Colonel Usagiyama, District Thirteen's head of security. I know you've been discharged, but Madame wanted to meet with you first.”

Katsuki narrowed his eyes.

“I met your girlfriend once, if it makes you feel better about the situation.”

“It doesn’t fucking help.”

Colonel Usagiyama sighed. “Look, kid, I know this is a shitty situation, but we’re trying. Stay with us, because we need you.”

“No,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “You needed her.”

There was no response. She led him to a room where a group of people were talking. There were people he didn’t recognize. It was weird, seeing people he had seen in the Capitol sipping bulimia juice talking amongst the District people. He didn’t like this shit at all. 

“We were told Thirteen went to shit.”

“The Capitol bombed the surface to rubble. All Peacekeepers are trained to know about it, but no one dares venture past it. People’ve been down here for years, waiting.” She was wearing a wedding ring. She noticed his staring, and laughed a little. “Kairy made me get it.”

“You were married?”

Colonel Usagiyama laughed bitterly. It was a sad sound. Katsuki wasn’t sure if she wanted him to apologize for letting Kairy die, or just say something stupid. “We were married, yeah. Got married after she came back from her games. Best damn wedding the Capitol had ever seen.”

“It wasn’t on TV.”

“We didn’t owe anyone jack shit. It was our wedding, not the world’s.”

Chapter Text

Katsuki walked in, his eyes wide. Madame, as they called her, was a short woman, with short hair the color of snow. She was old, and she had a plethora of wrinkles. Katsuki didn’t like old people. They pissed him off. 

Miyuki laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck. “I present to you, Katsuki Bakugo, the boy who could.” Why did Capitol citizens love titles so much?

The woman smiled at him. “What an honour it is to meet you. You're a courageous young man. I know how disorienting this must be, and I can't imagine what it's like to live through the atrocities of those Games.” She shook his hand like it was her life’s purpose. It probably was. “I’m Madame. Please know how welcome you are. I hope you’ll find some comfort with us.” 

He wanted them to find Fiona and Aimi. He wanted them to come back. 

“We've known loss in Thirteen, too.” No, you haven’t . Katsuki contemplated attacking the woman in front of him, to make her feel true misery. To know how it felt to lose everything again. He could never stop smelling like blood. It wasn’t even his fucking blood. It was the blood of the people he killed.  “This is history. Right here at this table.” Everyone stared up at him. “I apologize. I wish you had more time to recover, but unfortunately, we don't have that luxury. Please, have a seat.”

Katsuki remained standing. Maiki looked guilty. She had lightening scars up her body. She must’ve gotten struck with lightning from the arena. She looked fine. Her eyes twitched often. She was constantly twitching. It was like a ticking clock, just like Mei was.

“Are you aware of what's happened?” He blinked. “Fiona Chiyoko sparked the exact outrage we needed. You are the brains and brawn of this operation.”

“You wanted her instead of me, idiots.”

“You are what we have. You were the most outspoken, she was a showgirl.” Madame talked about Fiona like she was useless, just some martyr. That wasn’t who she was. She was alive in the Capitol. She was still out there. 

“There have been riots and uprisings and strikes in seven districts. We believe that if we keep this energy going we can unify the districts against the Capitol. But if we don't, if we let it dissipate, we could be waiting another seventy five years for this opportunity.”

Katsuki didn’t care. He was just a face, to give the people something to believe in. These people were getting beaten and killed in the streets. Deku had always wanted to do this. He had always wanted to help the poorer Districts. He said he would give his earnings to them, and that’s what Katsuki had attempted to do. Then someone in District Eleven was beaten to death. They never told Fiona the outcome of that woman. Her name was Kaina Tsutsumi. She was Beni Kira’s adoptive mother. She was Hitoshi’s step mother. She was dead. 

“What about Fiona? Is she alive?”

“I don't know. And I wish that I did.”

Kiyoshi sighed. “I can’t contact anyone in the Capitol. They’re suppressing communication between the Districts.” He exchanged a glance with Sora, who was quietly typing into one of the computers in front of her. “Sora and I know the method. We can break it easily.”

Sora nodded. “All we need now is the perfect message.”

Madame smiled. Katsuki hated how she smiled. “Katsuki, here's what we need to do. We need to show them that The Phoenix is alive and well and willing to stand up and join this fight, 'cause we need every district to stand up to this Capitol. The way you did.”

Miyuki pinched the bridge of her nose. Katsuki mouthed the word: phoenix? Miyuki groaned. She looked around before mouthing back: Fiona’s pin is a Phoenix. Aimi put it in your hand before she got taken. It was the last frame everyone saw. 

“We're gonna shoot a series of propaganda clips,” Kiyoshi said, rolling over to present himself in front of Katsuki. “It gives everyone the message that shit is about to hit the fan.”

“You left her there.” Everyone tensed up. He was itching to just explode . “You left Fiona in that arena to die.”

“Katsuki, there are so many…”

“Fiona was the one who was supposed to live!” The room went silent.

Madame stood up, walking over to him. Kiyoshi had rolled back to sit beside Sora. “Mr. Bakugo, this revolution is about everyone. It's about all of us, and we need a voice.”

“Then you should've saved Fiona.”

Katsuki scoffed as Madame gave Miyuki and Maiki. “Maybe you should have rescued the girl instead.” Maiki made a face. 

“Oh, no,” Miyuki said, putting her hands up. She had red knuckles. Katsuki noticed that. “No one esle can do this but him.”

“This is not the boy you promised.”

Maiki rolled her eyes. “This is personal . Remind him who the real enemy is.”

Madame narrowed her eyes. She had an accent. Katsuki wanted her dead. “He knows who the enemy is. That's not the issue. Unless he’s forgotten.

“There's explaining and there's showing.”

Maiki swallowed, glancing at Katsuki. “Show him what they did to Twelve. 

“He can't handle it. The Games destroyed him.”

Maiki wanted to reach out to touch him. She hesitated, before touching his head. It was gentle as he glared at the ground. If he looked up, Katsuki wasn’t sure what would happen. “This is the only choice you have.” She glanced at Madame. “People don’t always show up in the way you want them to. There is anger, sure, but you want defiance driven by that. Show him the District.”

Sora nodded. “People want to be united, and if you can do that, then you have a way into their heads. We’ve been…been killing each other for years.” She adjusted her hearing aids, looking around the room. “Give them an inch, and they’ll run a mile.”

Akito was beside him in an instant. He wasn’t sure why he didn’t mind his company. It reminded Katsuki of Fiona. Akito Jin refused to leave him alone. “I can’t believe you’re going through with this,” he mumbled, looking at him with wide, confused eyes. “You could’ve said no.”

“I want to see it.”

They landed on the ground, and the first smell that hit his nose was smoke. Katsuki put his hand up, giving himself shade. Akito jumped down. He was shaking a little bit. “Thirteen swept everything, top to bottom. Mai did it herself. You sure you don't want me to go with you?”

“Yeah.”

Akito’s expression fell a little, but he gave Katsuki a look. The look of trust, and something else. Katsuki couldn’t exactly tell what it was. It made him feel something too. Katsuki hated feeling things. He wanted to bash the walls of the Capitol in until he found Fiona. 

“I’ll be watching in case you need help.”

“Stalker.” Aktio cracked a smile. 

It was a wasteland. The District was burned to the ground, and it was exactly like Deku said. It was ruined. Everything was taken from these people. Katsuki wondered how Deku would’ve reacted in this situation. He probably would’ve stormed the Capitol himself. 

He hated this.

Fiona would’ve tried to fix it.

Katsuki knew she should’ve been in her position.

He was always trying to catch up to her. 

Chapter Text

President Shigaraki was on the television. Katsuki threw a balled up napkin at it. Maiki found that funny. “Citizens, tonight I address all of Musuatfu as one. Since the Dark Days, Musuatfu has had an unprecedented era of peace. It is a peace built upon cooperation, and a respect for law and order. In the past weeks, you have heard of sporadic violence following the actions of a few radicals in the Quarter Quell. Those who choose this destructive path, your actions are based on a misunderstanding of how we have survived. Together. It is a contract. Each district supplies the Capitol, like blood to a heart. In return, the Capitol provides order and security. To refuse work is to put the entire system in danger. The Capitol is the beating heart of Musuatfu. Nothing can survive without a heart.”

There was a video of people who fought back. Their faces were covered in cloth. They were dehumanizing them. Katsuki wanted to scream. 

“The criminals that kneel before you use symbols for the purpose of sedition. Which is why all images of The Phoenix are now forbidden. Possessing them will be considered treason. Punishable by death. Justice shall be served swiftly. Order shall be restored. To those who ignore the warnings of history, prepare to pay the ultimate price.”

Katsuki flipped his tray. 

Akito Jin and Hitoshi Shinsou became the only people he talked to nowadays. They were loud and annoying. They followed him around, constantly. It was a never ending cycle. Gabriella liked to talk about Fiona to him, bragging about how she was the best big sister in the world.

She missed Fiona so much.

Katsuki asked questions, which seemed out of character to everyone around him. His own parents grew wary of his behavior. The hag asked if he was still having those dreams, and obviously, he lied. There was no Fiona to lull him to sleep. He would sleep with her head on his chest, and that weight was enough to put his brain at ease.

“What was she like?” Akito asked, putting down a chess piece. They had been whittling wood. Gabriella had picked up a habit, and now she had passed it to them. “I only saw her on television, but you guys knew her best.”

“She liked to sing,” Gabriella said, carving a mockingjay out of wood. She tilted the knife, fixing the wing. She was talented, Katsuki could admit it. “She picked up a ton of songs from our mami . She was from District Twelve.” Her voice faltered. Katsuki forgot the Chiyokos were now a was . “She had a favorite song. It was about a tree.”

Hitoshi looked up from his project, which was a silk scarf. “Her guitar is in the closet. I grabbed it before we left.”

Gabriella jumped. She put down her knife, jumping over Katsuki’s half-built grenades. He watched her dig around her sister’s things. She took out a guitar that looked well loved. It had a dozen paintings on it. Gabriella’s hands shook as she sat back down. The girl was barely old enough to work in the mines, and she was raising herself all alone. 

“Are you, are you coming to the tree?” Gabriella was whispering, like she didn’t want to be heard. Katsuki wondered why Fiona never mentioned the guitar, or the paintings. Why didn’t she mention her family’s history with District Twelve? Why was there still so much he didn’t know about her? “They strung up a man. They say who murdered three.”

“What’s the song about?” Akito asked.

Gabriella kept strumming the guitar, picking at each chord like her life depended on it. “I’m not sure. Fiona liked dissecting the words. She liked reading. She was the one who was good at all that stuff. Ask me numbers, that’s the shit I’m good at.” 

Hitoshi covered her mouth.  “Language.” 

“I’m grown up,” Gabriella argued. She made direct eye contact with Katsuki. It was eerie. “Did she ever sing to you?”

“She hummed. She was always humming.” Katsuki thought back to the cave. Fiona probably hadn’t realized, but she hummed to fall asleep. No one questioned it, and he guessed everyone was just used to it. “I kept hearing her in my damn ear, no matter the time.”

The littlest Chiyoko laughed. Her eyes were watery as she strummed the guitar. “Thank you.” She continued on with the song. “Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be if we met at midnight, in the hanging tree.”

Akito forced him to eat something. He spooned some food into his mouth, before Katsuki threatened to knife him in the throat. Akito said he wouldn’t get the chance. Miyuki split them up. It was funny, even if Akito Jin annoyed him every waking moment of every single day. 

“Hello! Good evening, and a big welcome to all in Musuatfu. I’m Hizashi Yamada, and whoever you are, whatever it is that you’re doing, if you’re working, put down your work. If you’re having dinner, stop having dinner.” Katsuki stopped staring at Akito. They both glanced up at the television. Gabriella stopped playing Fiona’s guitar, her eyes just as wide as everyone else’s. “Because you are going to want to witness this tonight. There has been rampant speculation about what really happened in the Quarter Quell, and here to shed a little light on the subject for us is a very special guest.”

His heart stopped.

“Please, welcome Miss Fiona Chiyoko.”

Katsuki bent his spoon back. Hitoshi was just staring. He tilted his head, his eyes tracing the scar on Fiona’s face. It was hidden under pounds of makeup. Her freckles hidden, and her cheeks a pale pink. Her eyes were so sunken it made Katsuki want to tear his hair out. 

“Fiona, a lot of people feel as though they are in the dark.”

Fiona nodded, fiddling with a ring around her finger. It wasn’t the one Katsuki gave her. “Yes, I know how they feel.”

“Now,” Hizashi began. “Set the stage for us. Talk us through what really happened on that final and controversial night.”

Fiona was silent. She chewed on her glossed lips. “She’s sick,” Akito mumbled, shivering. He did that a lot. He was chewing bread. He was allergic. Katsuki slapped it out of his mouth. Akito rolled his eyes, before they fell upon Fiona.

“When you’re in the games, you only get one wish. This can cost you.”

“You're alive.”

“It costs your life,” Fiona mumbled. Her eyes were so dull. They dropped, like they were pumping her full of drugs.

“I think it costs more than your life.”

Her eyes widened, like a deer caught in the headlights. “What do you mean? What's more than your life ?”

Hizashi hesitated. “I mean to murder innocent people, that costs everything that you are.”

“Yes.”

“So, you hold on to that one wish.”

“And that night my wish was to save Katsuki.” Hizashi nodded. “I should have ran after him.”

“Why didn’t you? Were you caught up with Sora’s plan?” The mere mention of her name was enough for Sora to storm out of the room.

“No, I was caught up trying to play allies, and then they separated us and... that's when I lost him. The lightning hit, and the arena just blew out.”

“It was Katsuki’s fault it blew up.”

Katsuki couldn’t remember shit. He was bleeding out for fuck’s sake.

“No.”

“You saw the footage.”

“No, he didn't know what he was doing.” Fiona’s hand rushed to her head. The ring was still glowing. It wasn’t Katsuki’s ring. “Neither of us knew there was a bigger plan. We didn’t know.”

“You had no idea?”

Fiona stared, blinking like a doll. “No.”

“All right. Well, Fiona, there are many who find this suspicious to say the least. It seems as though he was part of a rebel plan.”

“Do you think it was part of his plan to be almost killed by Aimi? Or to be concussed because of the lightning?” Katsuki wondered if they were brainwashing her. She didn’t sound the same. She sounded so afraid. Every word was painful. “We were not part of any rebel plan. We had no idea what was going on.”

“All right. I believe you, Fiona Chiyoko. Thank you.” She smiled at him. “And I was going to ask you to speak about the unrest but I think you might be too upset.”

“No, I can.”

“Are you sure?”

“I said I’m sure.” Fiona looked into the camera. Her eyes were sad, and her lips didn’t match the look in her eyes. The makeup barely covered her brand new black eye. “I beg all of you to stop and think about what a civil war could mean. We all almost went extinct once, and now, we barely have enough people as is.”

“That’s not her,” Hitoshi yelled, just as people began to shout. 

Itsuko hobbled to the front, using her cane to keep herself upright. She clapped her hands together. “Calm the fuck down.” She motioned to the television. “This is Capitol television, and what have we learned all these years?” When no one responded, she got even more upset. “The Capitol lies.”

“Everyone needs to lay down their weapons immediately.”

Hizashi pushed his goggles up. “Are you calling for a ceasefire?”

“I am.”

Someone yelled hang her. Katsuki threw a metal plate at them. 

“I want everyone to stop the senseless violence. This is not the path to change, and it’s not the path to justice.”

“There can’t be a ceasefire,” Akito said, picking petals from a rose. He was tossing it onto the ground. Katsuki just kept picking the strings of Fiona’s guitar. “Not after Shigaraki's done.”

“People are scared, stupid,” Katsuki grumbled. He groaned, throwing a ball at the walls. “They’re so scared they can’t see the bullshit Shigaraki is feeding them. They need to man up.”

“Isn’t that your job?”

“It’s supposed to be her job.”

Akito jumped down from the bed he was sitting on. He sat in front of Katsuki, grabbing the ball from his band. He had a serious expression on his face. It was out of character, and weird. “It’s your job now, you handsome son of a bitch. You have to lead them.”

“I can’t fucking lead them. It’s supposed to be Fiona’s job. She’s the whole fucking reason—”

Akito grabbed his cheeks, pressing his lips on Katsuki’s. It was warm. It was the same warmth from Fiona. He wasn’t good at feelings. It was fucking obvious by now. Katsuki put his hands on Akito’s shoulders, slowly moving to the back of his neck. Akito kissed him like he was hungry, itching to swallow him whole.

Katsuki would have probably let him.

Akito pulled away, his breath hot on Katsuki’s face. “Is that okay?” He then flinched as the door opened. Gabriella Chiyoko blinked at them. She looked surprised, and also amused. “Oh, hi, Gabi.” She muttered something under her breath. Akito stood up, adjusting his shirt. “So, um, what’s up?”

“It’s time to turn in. separate beds, you freaks.”

Katsuki didn’t say a word. He just kept feeling tingling on his lips. He wanted Akito to kiss him again, and he wanted Fiona to be with him. He wanted them both with him. He wasn’t selfish, because you couldn’t be selfish in times of war. Katsuki just wanted something for himself.

Chapter Text

Katsuki sat up, hearing Fiona’s voice. She was screaming. She always screamed when she had nightmares. He gripped the wall. His hands shook as he walked into Fiona’s room. She asked him to stay, and he agreed. She liked to hum. Katsuki missed her humming, it was comforting in a way.

He sat up in bed, and it was all a dream.

Katsuki’s mind was playing cruel jokes. He could imagine Deku’s voice, urging him to stop focusing on bullshit and do something. Deku would have been a better martyr. Maybe he already was. Katsuki remembered when he got his arms cut off, and they left him to die in a cave. That’s why Katsuki hated the cave. It was so similar to Deku’s cave.

This whole thing was bullshit. 

“You can’t sleep,” Gabriella noted, sitting up. She kicked her feet a little, petting their cat. “I’m good at keeping secrets, even from Fiona.”

“I hate the Capitol,” Katsuki mumbled. He took a bite of his food, the mush melting on his tongue. It was so ass, and he wished they’d let him cook something. But they wouldn’t let him do shit here. “I want to help, that’s my job.” He paused, remembering who he was talking to. “But there’s this thought in my mind, what the hell is going to happen to Fiona, once we win this war. She’s not save there, but she’s not even safe here.”

“I don’t think you understand how important you are to the Capitol,” Miyuki said, leaning in the doorway. She looked exhausted, her nails almost completely chewed off. “If you want something, you can just ask. You demand piles of cocaine, and they’d have to agree.” She leaned forward, giving Gabriella a look. “And you, Little Duck, should be sleeping.”

Gabriella rolled her eyes, and sighed. “Fine.” 

Miyuki then turned her attention onto Katsuki. “You too.”

“I’m going to be your Phoenix,” Katsuki said, hands crossed in front of his chest. They were all looking at him. “But I have shit I want. Fiona and the other Tributes, Aimi Shimura and Yuuga Aoyoma, will be rescued whenever we get the chance. When Fiona is liberated, she’ll get a pardon. She won’t be punished, and it’ll be the same for the other Tributes.”

“No.”

Katsuki almost threw a chair at Madame. 

“It’s not their fault you left them there to die. They’re doing what they can to survive.”

“Individuals don't make demands in Thirteen. There will be a tribunal, and a fair judgement. Thank you.” She was trying to shut Katsuki down. He wasn’t letting her do that.

“The Victors will be granted immunity, and you will announce that in front of all the fuckers who live here. You will hold yourself responsible for this or you will find another Phoenix.”

Kiyoshi snapped his fingers together. “And you’re trying to replace that? He has the shit necessary for this cause. He wears the costume, and we can make shit look cool. Fire in the background, and Katsuk emerges from the ashes of the battlefield. Our Phoenix.” 

Sora nodded. “Madame, people are losing home. We need to take risks now, because everyone else will die. This is worth the risk. He is worth the risk. Listen, think whatever you want, but those people are innocent .” Katsuki almost forgot Sora had won her games. She was eerie. “In wartime, it’s the least you can do. You need to remain human.”

Madame sighed, clearly won over by Sora’s words. “Any other demands?”

“Red’s sister gets to keep her cat.”

“Good afternoon. Thank you for interrupting your schedules. They have already been adjusted to compensate…U gave an announcement for the citizens of Thirteen. And our welcome guests from Two, Katsuki Bakugo has consented to be the face of our cause to help unite the districts against the Capitol.”

“There aren’t a lot of kids here.”

Gabriella fiddled with the hem of her skirt. “A lot of them died in this large epidemic a few years ago. Madame lost her daughter and husband.”

“In exchange, I have promised several concessions. First, we'll assess all opportunities for the extraction of the Victors held hostage in the Capitol. Fiona Chiyoko, Aimi Shimura…” Everyone shouted for Fiona to be hung again, and Katsuki had to grip the railing so he wouldn’t lose his shit. 

Katsuki turned to Juzu, who was swaying on his feet.  “Juzu, I made the deal for Yuuga too.”

“And Yuuga Aoyoma.  Once freed, they will be granted full pardon for any and all crimes committed against the rebel cause. If Katsuki Bakugo fails to fulfil his duties, the deal will be off. Thank you for your attention. Please, continue your day.”

Akito and Katsuki hadn’t spoken about the kiss. They went about their days, ignoring the elephant. Katsuki hated emotions, and he noticed Akito was just stupid. They grabbed their food as Gabriella played her usual music for the rebels. 

“You know what could use a revolution? Your hair.” 

Katsuki stared at Miss Kayama, his jaw hitting the ground. The woman got up, hugging him. She wasn’t dressed up like she usually was, and her natural hair was tied back with a bandana. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I'm a political refugee.”

“Madame saved you?”

“Rescued, yes, that's what she calls it. You and I were both in the dark. Now I'm condemned to this life of jumpsuits. It is wonderful to see you again.” She moved her cup around, sighing longingly. “Can you believe this place? I miss coffee. I never knew anyplace could be so strict. I mean, I thought at least in the higher ranks there'd be some… side action. I miss my wigs.” She touched her hair. “Thank God I remembered how to do my natural hair. Everything old can be made new again, like democracy.” She sighed, taking out a book. 

It was large, and Katsuki noticed a large D on the cover. This belonged to Daiya. He was Fiona’s designer, but Katsuki had watched Tsunagu die in front of him. They had blown his brains out, but Katsuki had to keep moving. “Daiya…he’s dead, isn’t he?”

Miss Kayama nodded. “He died a little after arriving here, I heard from Rumi. there were complications with his ribs and a punctured lung.” She pressed her lips together. “He made Kiyoshi promise not to show you this until you'd decided to be The Phoenix on your own.” 

“These were supposed to be for Fiona.”

Miss Kayama shook her head. “Fiona might have been the start, but you, Katsuki, are the Phoenix.” He tensed. Akito was looking over his shoulder. He smelled nice. “He knew the risks. As we all do. He believed in this revolution. He believed in you.”

“They’re something.” 

“They have it.” Katsuki blinked at her. “They have the Phoenix outfit. There's not much of a prep team here in Thirteen but we will make you the best-dressed rebel in history.”

Chapter Text

Kiyoshi and Sora were in charge of Katsuki’s propaganda video. He had been done up nicely, his arms on display for everyone to see. He felt like a doll, which was what the Capitol called him. The Dolls of District Two. That name made him feel fucking sick out of his mind. 

Miss Kayama put Fiona’s pin on his chest. He could feel the pain return, like he was void of something that was supposed to be there. 

Maiki clapped her hands together. “Everyone’s either gonna wanna kiss you, kill you, or be you.” Akito was staring at him, and it felt right for a moment. He looked up toward the camera. “Put the lights on him.” 

Kiyoshi nodded. “Okay. Put up the setting and add a little wind.” They did a little thing on their computers. Katsuki didn’t care. He just wanted to get this over with. “Okay, Katsuki, you’re gonna start on one knee, and then you’ll rise up waving your flag. Think of a scenario like you stormed the outskirts of the Capitol, and you’re leading all these people.”

“This is projection because you don’t have working legs,” Katsuki grumbled. The mics picked that up because Kiyoshi gave him a look. Katsuki didn’t care. He just wanted to get this over with. “People of Musutafu, we fight,we dare, we…what the fuck am I supposed to say?”

“Just say what’s on this board,” Sora said, giving him a thumbs up. 

“People of Musutafu, we fight! We dare to end this hunger for justice!”

Maiki slammed her hands on the table. She twitched. Everyone was just ignoring that, which was crazy considering she was constantly twitching. It was like she was getting electrocuted all over again. “Katsuki, focus. You’ve just been on the battlefield.”

“You do it then!”

“I can’t .”

They stopped, and both looked like they wanted to continue. Katsuki sighed. They got him ready again. Miss Kayama adjusted his hair. She let him keep it messy, spiking it up just a bit. His hair was soft. Miss Kayama said he was handsome. Katsuki tried not to have a reaction to that.

“People of Musutafu, we fight! We dare to end this hunger for justice. And that, my friends, is how a revolution dies.”

“Hello, Katsuki.” Miyuki walked in. she had been gone for one week, clearing out some base. Katsuki wanted to throw something at her, but she looked different. She seemed much happier. Katsuki glanced at a boy staring at the ground. He was quiet, and he had dark black hair.  “This how you greet an old friend?”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, trying to fight the smirt growing on his face. Maybe I don't recognize you sober.”

Miyuki sighed. “I guess it looks as bad as it feels.”

They played Katsuki’s video on the big screen. He felt embarrassed. He fiddled with one of the dead grenades he’d built, picking at the fried wires. He wanted them to turn it off. 

Miyuki shook her head, pausing the video. She got up, pacing up and down the aisle. “Madam, indulge me for a moment, if you would. Let's everybody think of one incident where Katsuki Bakugo genuinely moved you. Not when he announced Fiona’s faux pregnancy, or proposed, or when he killed dozens of people just to save his own skin, and definitely not with anything related to Fiona. No, I’d like you to tell me what made you feel something real .”

“His words,” Sora said. “He’s outspoken, and it shows in the clips from the games we saw.” She smiled at him, her bottom lip trembling. “You don’t take shit from anyone. That’s commendable.” 

“Great choice!” Miyuki wheeled over the white board and erased everything that was previously on it. “I hope that wasn't important. Good. What else?” She clapped her hands. “Come on, people, focus up!”  

Some people said when he threw himself at the other tributes during the first games, trying to play his cards right, was the most heroic thing he’d done, or when he’d done anything to protect Fiona. How Katsuki had created an image of Beni out of ash, just to send a message to the people in the Capitol. Katsuki had done shit to prove himself a rebel.

“Now, what do all these have in common?” No one made a sound. Miyuki sighed. “No one told him what to do. Unscripted, yes. So maybe we should just leave him alone.” She turned to Miss Kayama, sighing. “And watch his face. You can barely see his scars.”

“He’s still on television.”

“You made him look like a doll.” Katsuki felt like a doll every single time he stood in front of a camera, it didn’t matter where he was. He was constantly feeling like a doll. 

Akito and Hitoshi corned him. They were asking him to try and talk to Miyuki about letting them finally have dessert. They were begging for it. Katsuki gave them both a nasty look. Akito called him a party pooper, and Katsuki decided now would be a good time to threaten him with a knife? Why you may ask? 

Katsuki obviously was flirting. Keep up, loser. 

Akito kicked him in the shin, and Hitoshi just watched them fight at knife point for about thirty seconds. Miyuki had found them anyway, shaking her head. She corrected Akito’s stance, before saying that the winner of their fight got chocolate from the stash the officers were hiding. 

This was place a fucking nightmare. 

Chapter Text

Katsuki wanted to see the other Districts. There obviously was no Twelve, and Two was having mixed reactions, but what happened to the others? Did they get blown away? Did something worse happen? Was Shigaraki planning mass genocide?

He wasn’t going to learn anything from being trapped in a bunker. Don’t get him wrong, it was nice to be here with his family. It was nice to be able to sleep with a pillow instead of a bush under his head. He just…they called him a rebel . He hadn’t done anything rebellious other than dress up and send a message to the others. He had nothing going for him.

Seeing what he had caused would solidify in his mind that he was doing something good. 

They didn’t want him to go out there. They wanted him to stay here, safe and protected. You don’t win a war by hiding. You win a war by fighting, letting the enemy get up close and personal, see who you really are. He wanted this man to pay. 

“District Eight. They reported heavy bombing last week. There are no military targets left.”

They had decided to let him go somewhere. Akito didn’t want him out there. Neither did anyone else. Katsuki didn’t want people controlling his shit. He wanted the ability to choose what he could do. 

Miyuki frowned. “We can’t guarantee he’ll be safe.”

“I’m never fucking safe,” Katsuki spat, slamming his hands on the table. Mademe watched him. She was always fucking watching him. He really didn’t like her. “I want to go.”

“And if you’re killed?”

Katsuki grabbed the knob of the door. He glanced back. “Make sure you get it on camera.”

Sora clapped her hands together. She had a piercing that ran through her eyebrow. She looked fancy with it. Hitoshi was beside him, staring at her like she had hung the moon. He could barely make eye contact with her. Fucking weirdo. “I’ve made you some surprises.” She grinned, handing him new gloves. They were a little bulky, and they tightened a little around his wrists. “They’re gauntlets, in loose quotations. They store up your sweat, and the chemicals from your sweat will slowly generate enough energy to cause an explosion. I’ve been testing them on pictures of Shigaraki.”

She danced around the room with a smile on her face. Gabriella was there too, blasting music in her ears. She worked best in silence. 

“Since I run the Katsuki propaganda team, you might as well look the part.”  She pressed something into his arms. It was a jacket, lined with orange, just like the sunsets. “We asked your parents for your favorite color. I wanted you to have something that represented who you are.” Sora’s eyes were wide and a mixture of so many different colors it made Katsuki want to look away. “Maiki wanted to find a weapon for you that’d work for the sake of the propaganda we’re spewing, but they just wouldn’t work.”

“How powerful are the blasts?”

Sora shrugged. “Enough to blow up a small section of a mine in District Twelve. I tested them myself.” As if to show him, she rolled up her sleeves, where there had been skin grafting done. “Anything to win back independence.”

Katsuki wondered if the mad scientist stereotype still applied to people like Sora.

“Oh, and I made a trident for Juzu. whenever he’s up for it, of course.”

“You had all of this and you just left the districts to fend for themselves?”

Sora’s expression fell. Hitoshi decided now would be a good time to walk away from the situation. Fucking traitor. “It's not that simple, Katsuki. We are barely surviving. When we were rescued, we could barely do anything, and Miyuki told me that they couldn’t launch a counter attack.”

As if right on cue, Maiki Jin walked in. She was dressed for war, her paranoia growing each day she was here. Victors never come out the same, Katsuki knows that now. “Even if we did bomb the Capitol, they would’ve retaliated with at least twice the firepower.”

“Then what?” 

“There would've been nobody left to claim victory.”

Katsuki scoffed. “Red said the exact same shit, and half the people here wanted her dead.”

They brought a camera to District Eight. Akito added himself to the mission, much to Maiki’s personal preference. She gave them knowing looks before continuing on with her patrol. Akito was wearing casual clothes, which was much different than Katsuki’s formal attire. 

Kyouka Jirou slung her camera over her shoulder, holding a microphone in one hand and a flask full of coffee. She had purple hair.  Katsuki wasn’t sure how he felt about her. “You are camera-ready.”

“Don’t you look handsome?” Akito mused.

Katsuki frowned. “You’re all from the Capitol?” Two other women shared a look. “Madame got you out?”

“Don’t expect much from Kurenai,” one of the women mumbled. She was tall, with long brown hair and sharp eyes. She was beautiful. Katsuki remembered her from a movie he’d seen a while back. She had been one of those slasher girls. Katsuki didn’t like movies like that. They pissed him off. “Capitol cut out her tongue years ago.” She threw her hair over her shoulder. “And, no, it wasn’t any sort of rescue, if you’re already thinking that. We got out of there all on our own. For this—for you .”

Katsuki wondered if she was telling the truth. He was paranoid. Could you blame him?

A man with blond hair was staring at him. Katsuki knew his face all those years ago. He had been an escort. He had seen him during Yuuga’s games. It was funny, considering he was actually a victor too. “Katsuki, it’s awesome to finally get to meet you. Commander is just inside, he’s in crappy shape, but welcome to District Eight.”

Akito nodded. “Katsuki’s been recovering, but he wanted to come out, and see your wounded.”

“Well, we've got plenty of those.” Mirio Togata, former escort and victor, smiled at them, despite the misery boiling in the atmosphere. “We have a mass grave a few blocks that way, but we don’t have the people to move them. The hospital's past that curtain.” He glanced at the camera, noticing Kurenai’s bloody lips. “Any hope, anything at all, just give it to them. The Capitol’s done so much to try and break us, but we’re strong.”

“You have all your wounded in one place,” Noa Nakatsu pointed out. She adjusted her gun. “Aren’t you worried?”

Mirio paused, taking a moment. “I think it's better than leaving them to die. If you come up with another option, we’d be happy to make suggestions. Noa closed her mouth, and Kyouka raised her camera and microphone. They walked through debris, and Katsuki’s chest tightened. It was ruined.

There was nothing here. 

It was dead. 

He turned to Kyouka, covering the lenz. “Don’t fucking film me in there.”

“Just let them see you ,” Kyouka mumbled.

It was hell. People were bleeding out all over the place. No one looked happy, nor healthy. Katsuki was sure there would be an outbreak soon. Everyone looked so sickly. Deku hated how the Capitol treated the sick. They all treated them like shit under their boots. They were forever tortured with the screams of the dead. Katsuki wasn’t built for situations like this. This wasn’t his place. Fiona would’ve been better suited for this situation. She had a heart.

“If you’re thinking that you can’t do this, you’re wrong,” Akito said, touching his shoulders. Katsuki flinched. “You can do this. It’s okay.”

Katsuki hated this. He hated the situation. This wasn’t his place. These weren’t his people. Katsuki wasn’t a symbol, he was just a boy. Why the fuck hadn’t anyone processed that shit yet? He wandered around, making eye contact with people. He felt sick. He felt like shit. This wasn’t right. Fiona was much more empathetic than he was. She always was.

“Katsuki Bakugo?” one of the mothers whispered, mid feeding of her child. The baby looked sickly. They all did. He felt immense guilt even having the audacity to comb his hair. “What are you doing?”

“I came to see you.”

One boy walked forward. “Is your baby okay?” Right, people without television hadn’t seen Fiona’s message. They didn’t know there was no baby. The little boy was tugging on his leg. Katsuki wanted to tell him the truth.

“We lost the baby.”

“Are you fighting, Katsuki?”

“I am.” They looked up at him. “I will.”

Chapter Text

“Your mom is gonna freak out when she sees this,” Akito said, looking through some of the footage. He had been talking with one of the crew before they heard footsteps. Katsuki was the first to start running, his feet never stopping. He stared at someone hunched over a body, tearing them limb for limb. It was the corpse of a Peacekeeper. Someone was eating a Peacekeeper. “What the fuck is that?”

Katsuki paused, before it was Kurenai’s turn. She gently stood in front of the person tearing through the corpse. Kurenai didn’t speak, hell, she couldn’t even anymore. The person looked up and Akito gasped. The cannibal was none other than Beni Kira, the boy who had escaped the games.

There were two of them. Behind Beni Kira, there was another person. His hair was long and he looked so pale it was scary. Akito made a sound like gagging before he ended up throwing up. 

He didn’t move enough before Akito flinched. There was a feeling of dread, and it wasn’t coming from the whole cannibal in front of them. Katsuki could smell the nitroglycerin before the bombs start dropping. 

“We need to find cover,” Noa said, snapping her fingers. She had glitter in her hair. 

Kyouka gripped the strap of her camera. “There should be a bunker through there. Mirio mentioned it while Bomb boy was yapping his trap.”

“Go to hell, Headphones.” 

They ran to hide. Katsuki counted each bomb fall. He counted the screams. People were dying. Katsuki was here and people were dying. This was how Fiona felt everytime she did something. Fiona. Fiona. Fiona . Akito was holding his hand. It became mixed. Akito. Fiona. Akito. Fiona. Their faces blended into one and Katsuki felt immense guilt. 

Katsuki froze as Akito moved to try and get a rundown on the situation. He grabbed Akito’s arm, pushing him against the wall. “Get away from the wall.” He shoved him, and Akito’s eyes dropped to his lips. Katsuki should’ve kissed him.

Noa, on the other hand, was shaking. “Do that shit when we get home,” she barked. She gripped her gun, keeping an eye on Kurenai and Bousou. They were talking using only their eyes. Something was up. It wasn’t just the bombs, they were targeting a certain area. It wasn’t because he was hiding. Shigaraki had other plans. What would Katsuki do if he was some fuck ass dictator?

“They're targeting the hospital.”

He started to run. He had a vague understanding of who was running after him. Katsuki didn’t care. He started to sprint until he was staring at a torn down building. There were intestines, blood, and tears all over the sand. People were dead. Katsuki knew it was his fault deep down. 

Katsuki touched the hand of a corpse. It was still warm. The bodies hadn’t even gone cold yet. Kyouka was beside him, putting her camera in his face. “Katsuki, I hate this, just talk. Tell us what you feel.” He shoved her hand away. She put her foot down. “My friend died in the Hunger Games, I hate this shit as much as anyone. “The people deserve to know what their leader has to say. Tell them.”

He stood up, his hands covered in blood. He tilted his head. “I want the rebels to know that I'm alive. That I'm in District Eight  where the Capitol just bombed a hospital filled with unarmed men, women and children.” He pointed a bloody hand at the corpses on the street. “There are no goddamn survivors. If you think for one second that the Capitol will ever treat us fairly you are lying to yourselves, because we know who they are and what they do. This is what they do!”

He wasn’t breathing anymore.

There was warm blood on his hands. 

“I have a message for President Shigaraki. You can torture us and bomb us and burn our districts to the ground. But do you see that? Fire is catching. And if we burn, you burn with us!

They were watching the video in the meeting room. Madame was smiling like this was the best thing she’d ever laid eyes upon. “Kiyoshi’s faith in you wasn’t misplaced.” Katsuki wasn’t listening. He kept thinking about the corpses he touched. He had watched innocent people blow up. He still felt guilty. He never thought he’d felt guilt like this again. It had happened once before, when Deku didn’t come home after being reaped. Katsuki cried for the first time since he was little in his mother’s lap.

His best friend died in the games.

Beni Kira was in a cage. He had gone feral. No one knows he survived. He wasn’t sure how. He had died. He couldn’t have been alive. Katsuki hated that Beni was alive and Deku wasn’t. 

Katsuki had been ignoring everyone. Maiki tried to talk to him, so did Akito. Akito was silent too. He had been trying to see Bousou. They had competed against each other in the same games. Bousou would’ve won had he not escaped. Akito was the Capitol’s scapegoat. Bousou was locked away in some room. They were trying to figure out where exactly he went. He had been eating random things he could find, and that included people. Miyuki tried to see him. 

He called her a liar.

Miyuki offered him a bottle of liquor. They were sitting in MIyuki’s room. She was wearing a boy’s shirt. It was just a bit bigger on her, hanging off her limbs. The boy was a friend of Mirio. Mirio was missing. They didn’t find his body. No one knows where he went. Everyone was going missing. It was Katsuki’s fault.

“I should’ve looked for him more,” Miyuki laughed into the tip of her bottle. She shook her head. She wasn’t wearing her glasses, and she looked just as bad as Katsuki felt. “I stopped looking for him a year after his games. They killed everyone, and then they did the same thing to Aimi and other people after that.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Fiona said the same thing, and then she got kidnapped by the goddamn Capitol. I’m cursing everyone.” She was drunk. Miyuki had a drinking problem she refused to acknowledge. Katsuki probably would’ve ended up just like her if Fiona hadn’t come up with that plan. 

Katsuki downed the bottle he was given. It made him gag, and his throat hurt. “I wanted to kill you when you told me she got taken. I really did. I wanted to kill you fucking badly it drove me insane.” He wasn’t sure where this was going.  How bad was his alcohol tolerance? He felt sick already. “I didn’t kill you. I trust you. Your brother is going to trust you again.”

“One day,” Miyuki laughed, gripping her pillow. She cracked open another bottle. Katsuki should cut her off. “Beni comes back, Bousou comes back, but Fiona is still there. ” She shook her head in almost disbelief. Katsuki really should cut her off. “I want to just…I don’t know honestly.”

“They wanted Red. They didn’t want me.”

“They realistically wanted the both of you. I wanted it to be both of you. I wanted to get her out.”

“Her uncle fucking molests her.” Katsuki wasn’t sure why he said that. 

Miyuki threw her bottle at the wall. Katsuki wanted to drink himself to death. “And she’s in the Capitol with him. I’m the worst mentor ever. No wonder why my tributes die two days in.“

He left Miyuki when her boyfriend walked in.  He would help her where Katsuki couldn’t. He looked for his parents. He wanted to go find Fiona. He wished she was here. 

He wasn’t sure how he ended up in Akito’s room. He wasn’t sure how how he ended up with Akito’s lips against his own. He didn’t mind it. Katsuki was clawing ar Akito’s back, begging to be swallowed whole. Akito was like a cannibal, eating him with love in his eyes. 

That’s what Katsuki wanted, right?

To be devoured. 

Akito had taken off his shirt. Katsuki kissed his collarbones. He was kissing and kissing and kissing—Akito stopped. Katsuki wasn’t sure why. He wasn’t sure what he wanted anymore. He was so tired. He was tired of being a symbol. He was tired of being something . 

Katsuki missed selling clothes and bugging the hag. That was supposed to be his life after the games. He was supposed to get married to Fiona, and meet Akito at some other point in time. Maybe he’d get to love them both under better circumstances. 

“Kats, you’re crying.”

Katsuki Bakugo didn’t cry. Alcohol made him feel stupid. Katsuki was stupid. He wasn’t sure when Akito put his shirt back on. Or when they stopped having sex. He wasn’t exactly sure why everything felt like this. Should he give up? God, he sounded like Miyuki. He wasn’t a fucking quitter. 

He just wanted to give up for a little, that’s all. 

“Katsuki,” Akito whispered, touching his cheek. Katsuki wanted to hit him away. Akito looked so perfect that Katsuki wanted to put a fist through his jaw. “Do you wish I was Fiona?”

No. 

Obviously no. 

“Never.”

“Who do you see when you kiss me?”

Katsuki’s head hurt. “You. I see you.”

Akito’s eyes softened. Katsuki wanted to scream that he hated Akito Jin and his big eyes. Katsuki was mean. He didn’t want to be mean to Akito. 

“Why?”

“I like seeing you.”

They kissed again. They didn’t have sex after that.

Chapter Text

“There is no progress without compromise. No victory without sacrifice, but I stand here with The Phoenix to announce that our moment has arrived. Kiyoshi and Sora have worked tirelessly to increase our usage of airwaves tenfold. We will broadcast our message to all the districts tonight. The Phoenix’s words will inspire more to join our cause, and form an alliance that will be a force not to be messed with.”

Juzu was staring at him. “You don't like hearing a fight song at a funeral?”

Katsuki hadn’t realized he was frowning. “The more people on our side, the closer we are to Fiona and Yuuga.” Juzu didn’t smile. He just walked away. Sometimes, Katsuki felt like Juzu. No, not sometimes. Katsuki felt like Juzu everyday. When did that feeling end?

Hitoshi told him they were allowed to go above ground again. They had to hunt for food. Surprisingly, they let Bousou and Beni out. They were hunters. Miyuki didn’t go out with them. Tamaki had her locked away. Katsuki caught a glimpse of her, and she looked like she was grieving. She had been grieving for a while, but now that her brother was confirmed to be alive, well, she was grieving him all over again. 

Is that how everyone is going to feel when Fiona comes home?

”Fiona would have hated the lack of animals here,” Hitoshi mumbled. He had killed two squirrels. He would’ve been a good tribute. He was good with words. Katsuki hated that thought process.

Hizashi Yamada was on television again. 

Katsuki was starting to hate the sound of his voice.

“He was arguably our favourite Tribute. And I think that's what we all find most astonishing, is that this boy was adored in the Capitol. And I think for you, Fiona, it must be particularly painful.”

Fiona was skinnier now, and her freckles almost faded. Her skin lost it’s color, and her eyes were dead. They had sucked her soul out of her. The makeup couldn’t hide that. Even Hizashi noticed itm judging by the way his gaze lingered on her face. 

She turned to the camera, holding up a rose. It was pure white. Fiona loved roses. It was her whole brand. “I wish I could give this rose to you, Katsuki.”

”She’s changed so much,” Hitoshi grumbled, snapping his plastic spoon in half. ”What the hell are they doing to her?”

Hizashi patted Fiona’s leg, which was covered by a long dress. She was always in dresses now. Fiona enjoyed pants too. It was like they were dressing her. ”A sweet gesture for a boy who has inspired such violence. You must love him very much to be able to forgive him.”

Akito narrowed his eyes. “She’s shaking.” He hit Katsuki’s arm. “She’s vibrating .”

“I don't think that I could.” Katsuki didn’t want to watch this anymore.

“Unless, of course, Fiona, you think that perhaps he’s being forced into saying things that he doesn't even understand.”

She nodded. Her eyes closed a little. She was losing her grasp on the conversation. “That’s exactly what I believe.”

Gabriella was staring at her sister’s face. They were so identical, it made Katsuki want to scream. “Her voice…that’s not my sister’s voice. They took her voice.”

“They’re using her,” Katsuki grumbled, his voice cracking. He hated how weak he’d become. “I think it’s to bring out the rebels.”

Fiona looked toward the camera, her smile so tired of being worn all the time. “I doubt he knows what’s happening, or even what’s at stake.”

”Now, Fiona, I doubt that the rebels will ever let him see this. But if they do, what would you say to him?” Katsuki never broke his gaze on the television. She was so close to him, he could almost touch her. “To Katsuki Bakugo, the once sweet Katsuki Bakugo. What would you say to him?”

“I would...I would tell him to think for himself.” Katsuki wasn’t sure if he wanted to keep being awake anymore. “Don't be a fool, Katsuki. I know you never wanted the rebellion. The things that you did in the Games were never intended to start all of this. The rebels have made you into something that you're not. Something that could destroy all of us. So if you have any power or any say in what they do or how they use you, please, please, urge them to stop this w*r before it's too late. And ask yourself, can you trust the people you're working with?”

His chest hurt. 

“Do you know what they really want?”

Hitoshi was gripping his monitor. Madame was summoning them.

“Thank you, Fiona Chiyoko, for these revelations about the real Phoenix.”

Katsuki threw up all over the trash bin in the corridor. The hag was behind him, rubbing his back. Katsuki wasn't sure what he wanted right now. “Brat,” the hag mumbled. “I’m sorry for everything. You shouldn’t be here, doing this job. I wish we could take this from you.” 

Inko Midoriya killed herself a week after Deku died. 

“It’s my fault.”

His old man shook his head. His old man never was mad or upset with anyone, but he looked mad now. “It is not your fault you were reaped, and it’s not your fault everything was taken.” His old man hugged him. Katsuki felt numb. 

He went to District Twelve. 

He cried. 

He made another video. 

He had sex with Akito again. 

Gabriella Chiyoko had a panic attack, and he had to lure her to sleep. They both dreamt about Fiona that night. Akito had dreams about her too. They all should have met under different circumstances. Katsuki had known of her his entire life, and didn’t even do anything for her. Fiona was too independent for anything. Akito would come into their lives, and Katsuki would have something . 

Hitoshi told him no one saw what happened after Fiona shot an arrow toward the sky. Katsuki didn’t remember that. She must’ve done it after they split up. Katsuki didn’t know that everyone was just as clueless as him. 

The arrow heard around the world. 

Only 915 people from District Twelve survived. Hitoshi had tried so hard. He wanted to save so many people. 915 out of 10,000. Hitoshi broke down. His mother’s lover had died for this cause. Hoshiko Machiya was there too, hand on Beni’s shoulder. 

Miyuki stopped making an appearance all together. 

“Without you, there would be no District 12,” Hoshiko confirmed. Hitoshi swallowed. “Not even the memory of it.”

Chapter Text

Gabriella came with Katsuki one day. She hadn’t been outside the bunker in a while. She wanted to visit her parents’ grave. Katsuki took her, and she cried. Their graves were placed beside each other, and Gabriella whispered to them in their native tongue. 

She made Katsuki say something. 

He wanted to apologize for making Fiona get back into the arena. He wanted to apologize for not dying. Their daughter was trapped. Katsuki stared at their matching graves, and thought back to the first games. Fiona existed.  Fiona existed and she was beautiful.

They made it to the river. The others were there and he spotted a mockingjay.  Kurenai put her lips together, before whistling. He remembered Beni’s face, the one he painted for Fiona. “Great, now they’ll never shut up.”

Gabriella whistled too, just like Fiona. Kurenai tapped the girl’s shoulder, humming a little. “You want me to sing?” She pressed her lips together, sitting on the edge of a rock. She played with some of the rocks, painted with different colors in the sun. “Are you, are you coming to the tree? They strung up a man. They say who murdered three. Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be. If we met at midnight in the hanging tree.”

Gabriella taught the others that song.

She taught them Fiona’s favorite song.

Katsuki knew she was still out there, alive. 

Are you, are you coming to the tree? Katsuki showed Sora how to build the bombs he had spent most of his life perfecting. Sora laughed, her eyes bright. Hitoshi was always there, trying to catch a glimpse of Sora’s smile. Katsuki found it funny how in love Hitoshi was with her. Where the dead man called out for his love to flee. Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be.

If we met at midnight, in the hanging tree.

Akito pierced his ears with a screw. It bled all over the floor. Kurenai taught him how to pierce his ears. She had been doing it with screws. 

Are you, are you coming to the tree? They launched a plan to bomb a dam in District Five. They were sending Akito and Maiki. Juzu still wouldn’t get out of bed. Katsuki wanted to yell at him, to wake him up, but he couldn’t force him. The dam blew up, and they all heard the sound of Gabriella’s voice. She didn’t want to be seen in the propos, but she had just as big of a part in this as Katsuki. Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free.

“Every district’s seen this?” Kasuki asked.

Kiyoshi nodded, pushing his hair back. “Yeah, but not the Capitol.” He pointed to the screen. “I designed this signal defense system for them, and I didn’t know I’d be trying to get through it. I did my job a little too well. I thought it was for science at the time.”

Sora touched his shoulders, giving him a firm smile. Her hearing aids were blue today. “We’ll get through it.”

Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be.

If we met at midnight, in the hanging tree.

Chapter Text

Fiona was on television again. It pained him to stare at her face. “I.m begging for restraint and decency.” Her eyes were so dim, and her skin was lifeless. She had nothing. He had nothing anymore, if she wasn’t there waiting for him to save her. She couldn’t save herself in this condition. Katsuki had failed.

The screen glitched and in came the propo. Kiyoshi cheered, both him and Sora high fiving. Apparently, they had been enemies for a short period of time. No one was too sure of their extensive lore, and he wasn’t going to bother asking. Fiona was the people person, not him. 

Fiona’s eyes went wide. “Katsuki?”

“She sees it,” Sora whispered, her eyes just as wide as Fiona’s. 

“Katsuki, are you there?”

Katsuki couldn’t breathe. He felt dizzy. “Fiona.”

“Fiona?”

Hizashi waved his hands in front of Fiona’s face, trying to regain her attention. “Fiona, please continue. You were telling us about these savage attacks.”

She blinked. “Yes.”  Fiona took a moment. “Think about it. How will this end? What will be left?” Katsuki’s chest hurt. “No one can survive this. No one is safe now. Not here in the Capitol. Not in any of the districts. They're coming, Katsuki. They're gonna kill everyone, and in District Thirteen you'll be dead by morning.”

Akito grabbed Katsuki’s hand. “She’s warning us. That was a warning.”

“No shit.” He turned to Maiki, who was chewing on her spoon. “We have to get her out before they kill her.”

The alarms began to go off, and Katsuki’s head spun. Was this the Capitol coming to finish them off? He grabbed Gabriella, and Hitoshi while he was at it. Akito was beside him in an instant. He had to keep Fiona’s family alive. Itsuko had been with Hoshiko and Beni. everything would be fine. They had to survive this. They had to live. 

“This is a code red alert. Please, remain calm and begin the evacuation protocol. Proceed to your nearest stairwell and descend to level forty. Blast doors will be sealed in six minutes. This is a code red alert. Please, remain calm and begin the evacuation protocol. Proceed in an orderly fashion to your nearest stairwell and descend to level forty.”

He overheard someone talk to Madame. There were three Capitol squadrons above them. 

Katsuki was going to throw up all over the floor. Akito was talking to him. Everyone was talking to him. Katsuki just needed to get everyone to safety. He had to protect Fiona’s family.

“All citizens should be inside the bunker.”

The hag found him. She was comforting him. Katsuki wondered if this was how he’d die. Not in an arena, or with Fiona and Akito. He was going to get buried underneath the rubble of a failed rebellion. 

Gabriella was missing. Katsuki shouted at everyone to find her. She went to find the damn cat. 

He felt like he was drowning.

Drowning. 

Drowning —

“Katsuki!” Gabriella shouted, grabbing his arm. She was holding Yamori, the cat’s black paws clawing at his face. “I’m right here, keep going.”

Keep going . Right, he had to keep moving.

It didn’t end until much later, with Akito whispering sweet nothings into his ears. Katsuki wondered if this was hell. He wanted to scream at Gabriella, but he shouldn’t. Hitoshi had disappeared, and Katsuki hoped he was safe. He couldn’t lose anymore people. He couldn’t afford another loss. 

The drill ended. Katsuki opened his eyes. 

He grabbed Gabriella’s shoulders. She blinked back at him. “You went back for the cat? What were you thinking?”

“I wasn't gonna leave him behind,” Gabriella yelled, shaking his hands off of her. “He belongs to my sister, and I’m not going to lose one of the last few things I have of hers.”

Katsuki couldn’t argue with her.

Kiyoshi rolled over to them, with the others right behind him. “There was damage to the aquifer in the Northwest quadrant. We lost a transport corridor.” Sora whispered something in his ear, and he sighed. “Nevermind, there is nothing in the Northwest quadrant.”

Sora swallowed nervously. “Our surface-to-air launches took a huge direct hit in sector three, and I think it’s because we revealed ourselves. They saw us firing.” It was her call. She looked mortified to even think anymore. Hitoshi had to run to gather some people. He was covered in rubble. “I’m so sorry.”

Maiki shook her head. “Don’t apologize. It was the right call at the moment.” Another thud rang through the bunker. “Wait, shut up for a second.”

Katsuki’s mouth was covered by Gabriella’s hand. 

“What’d they hit?” Gabriella asked, her voice shaking.

Maiki took a moment to answer, thinking for a moment. She twitched. “Bedrock, I think. They’re not aiming at us.” She grabbed Kiyoshi’s laptop, frowning. “They’re trying to seal us in.” She grabbed Juzu’s hands, making sure he hadn’t gone catatonic. Everything was falling apart. “Hitoshi, get Itsuko and come with me. Sora, Kiyoshi, keep monitoring the situation.” She glanced at the other group, and Katsuki wanted to die. “You need to stay together. Whatever you do, do not fucking leave each other’s sights.”

Sora burst into tears. Katsuki watched Hitoshi rub her shoulders before running with Maiki. Katsuki couldn’t help his legs from giving out. He sat on the floor, feeling a tingling sensation run through his limbs. He couldn’t move. Oh, so this was fight or flight. He hated it.

Kiyoshi touched Sora’s head, and gently caressed her hands. They were weird together. “Gabi,” Akito whispered, trying to keep it together. “Talk about something, anything. Whatever you want.”

“They promoted me at the hospital. I forgot to tell you. They're training me to be a doctor.”

Gabriella Chiyoko, a doctor, that was something. 

“That’s awesome,” Kiyoshi said, smiling at her. He had a scar under his eye. Katsuki hadn’t noticed it before. “Sing for us, Chiyoko.”

Katsuki sat beside Juzu. “Shigaraki’s using Yuuga to punish you. He’s taunting us with them.”

“I didn’t understand until just now watching that stupid cat.” Juzu’s words made him feel stupid. “After your first Games, I thought the whole romance was an act. We all expected you to continue that strategy, but it wasn't until Fiona’s heart stopped and she nearly died that...I knew I'd misjudged you. You love her. I'm not saying in what way. Maybe you don't even know yourself. But anyone paying attention can see it.”

Katsuki hid his head between his legs.

“How do you live with it?”

He laughed, keeping himself from tears. “I drag myself outta nightmares and there's no relief in waking up, but... it's better not to give in to the shit that happened. It takes ten times longer to put myself back together again, then it does to give into falling apart.”

Juzu leaned his head on Katsuki’s shoulder. They were trapped. 

Everyone wanted Katsuki to tell the country that they survived an attack from the Capitol. He was blinded by the roses. Dozens of white roses littered the ground. His chest hurt beyond belief. This had to be a joke. Kyouka was urging him, practically begging him. He couldn’t move. 

There was a thorn in his thumb.

“So Katsuki, it's "Thirteen is alive and well and so am I."” Katsuki couldn’t speak. Noa shook his shoulder. He slapped her arm. “Katsuki, come on. Never one to waste it in rehearsal, I know, but now is not the time.”

“Why would they drop these?” Miyuku mumbled. She had finally emerged in the attack. She looked a little better. She had some color back in her lips.

“For me.”

Noa raised her camera. “Ready to go, Katsuki? We’re going to do this just like we did in Eight. Tell us about the roses. Tell Shigaraki that Thirteen is alive and well.”

Katsuki thoughts raced through his head. “He’s gonna kill Fiona.”

“Let's try again. Can you speak up? We don't have a mic on you. "13 is alive and well and so am I."”

“He’s gonna kill Fiona.” He couldn’t catch his breath. He couldn’t hear anything anymore, just watching everyone’s lips move. Open. Closed. Open. Closed. “He's just gonna keep… He's never gonna stop.”

Miyuki stepped forward. She said something to Noa, and the camera was lowered. Katsuki gripped her shoulders. His chest hurt. Had he gotten everyone killed?

“It’s okay, Katsuki.”

He hid his face in her chest, looking down at the ground. He wasn’t sure why he went to Miyuki for comfort. He didn’t need comfort. “No. He warned me. He warned me about this. He's doing this because I'm The Phoenix. He's punishing Fiona to punish me.”

“Katsuki.”

“Don’t make me do this.”

Katsuki stormed through the bunker, hiding himself in his room. He didn’t open the door for anyone. He sat in the dark, playing with one of his defective grenades. He could catch his breath in here. The door opened, and Miyuki sat beside him. She sighed, and she smelled like mint. She didn’t smell like alcohol anymore.

“So this is the end?” Katsuki didn’t respond. “I suppose you're just gonna hide down here forever?”

“I can't be The Phoenix. I don’t want to do that shit anymore. I don’t want to be a martyr anymore.”

Miyuki laughed. “No one knows about Tamaki except you, honestly. You’re my real friend down here.”

“Did they drug you?” Katsuki asked. Miyuki laughed at that.

“You’re unbelievable, but I meant what I said.” She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Look, part of the reason I’m here is because of Fiona. They’re going to rescue them.”

Katsuki snapped up. “What?”

Miyuki pressed her lips together. “The dam that went down in District Five took out most of the power to the Capitol. Knocked out their signal defence. Kiyoshi’s inside their system right now, fucking around and hopefully, not finding out. There’s a window open for us.”

“How long?”

“I don’t know. I guess until the Capitol can get the power back on.”

“And Madame?”

Miyuki scoffed. “I don't like that woman in the slightest, but Kiyoshi and Sora found out that Fiona and the others are in the Tribute Centre, and since the powers out, Madame sees this as an opportunity.” She touched Katsuki’s head. He leaned into it, and he hated every second of this situation. “She knows that Fiona is the Capitol's weapon. The same way you're ours, and as opposed to having you two pointing at each other, she's going to get her.”

Katsuki frowned. “I have to go help.” He went to stand, but Miyuki grabbed his hand.

“Wait. Come on. What, are you just gonna jump out of the vent and go storm the Capitol? Besides, it's already under way. Six soldiers went in. Volunteer only, and guess who was the first brave soul to sign up.” Katsuki didn’t respond. “Akito went.”

Katsuki stared at the screen. Juzu was dressed, and his hair was neatly combed. He still looked like shit. He was braver than Katsuki was. “This is Juzu Kitsune-Jin, and I'm coming to you from District Thirteen, alive and well. We’ve survived an assault from the Capitol, but I’m not here to give you recent news.”

“Why is Juzu doing a propo?”

Sora looked at the screen smiling a little. “It’s more than that, Katsuki. Just watch.”

“The truth. I’m here to tell you the truth,” Juzu said, his eyes warm with tears. He was standing his ground. “Not the myths about a life of luxury. Not the lie about glory for your homeland. You can survive the arena.  The moment you leave, you're a slave.” He didn’t stop looking at the camera, and behind the camera, a sob rang through. That was Noa. “President Shigaraki used to sell me, or my body, at least. I wasn’t the only one. If a Victor is considered desirable, the President gives them as a reward or allows people to buy them. If you refuse, he kills someone you love.”

Aimi’s outburst in the arena. Her see through dress, and her sad eyes. Juzu’s lack of touch, and his revealing outfits. Maiki’s flinching whenever someone touched her face. They were so perfect the Capitol tore them apart. 

“To make themselves feel better, my patrons would make presents of money or jewellery, but I found a much more valuable form of payment. Secrets. See, I know all the depravity, the deceit and the cruelty of the Capitol's pampered elite. But the biggest secrets are about our good President, Hizashi Shigaraki.”

Kiyoshi threw up in the garbage bin beside his wheelchair. He looked so shattered. 

“Such a young man when he rose to power. Such a clever one to keep it. How, you may ask, did he do it?” Juzu tilted his head, and Katsuki remembered why people called him a fox. “One word. Poison .  He stopped every mutiny before it even started. There are so many mysterious deaths to adversaries. Even to allies who were threats. Shigaraki would drink from the same cup, to deflect suspicion, but antidotes don't always work, which is why he wears roses that reek of perfume. Help cover the scent of blood from sores in his mouth that will never heal.”

The roses. The perfume Fiona always wore. Her roses. Was everything fake? Was she fake?

“But he can't hide the scent of who he really is. He kills without mercy. He rules with deception and fear. His weapon of choice is the only thing suited to such a man. Poison. The perfect weapon for a snake.” 

The screen glitched out. Katsuki turned to Kiyoshi, who was struggling on the monitors. “I’m losing them.” Madame was fu,ming.

“The Capitol air defence system is rebooting. It's coming back online,” Sora grumbled, taking out her hearing aids to actually get to work. “Must be diverting power from another source, and filtering transmissions. Another 60 seconds and we'll be cut off.”

“Madam President, should we call the hovercraft back?” shouted one of the other workers. 

Katsuki turned to face Madame. “Broadcast me. If Shigaraki’s watching this, I want that motherfucker to let me in.” He slammed his hand on the glass separating them. “Put me on the fucking air.”

“The line's open,” Kiyoshi said. “He’ll only see you.”

“President Shigaraki? President Shigaraki, it’s Katsuki.”

He wanted that fucker to see him.

“President Shigaraki, are you there? Can you hear me? President Snow…”

The screen stopped glitching. “Mister Bakugo, what an honor. I don’t imagine you’re calling me to thank for the roses.”

“I never asked for this,” Katsuki spat out. He was holding his tongue. “I never asked to be in the Games. I never asked to be the Phoenix. I wanted to get in and get out, and defend her . I did just that.” He swallowed, gripping the monitor. “Just let her go, and the Phoenix will die. I’ll disappear, and you will never have to see my goddamn face again.”

There was a pause. Shigaraki’s lips curled into a sneer. “Mister Bakugo, you couldn’t run for this…anymore than you could run from the Games. You are not Bousou, and you are certainly not Beni Kira.”

“You’ve won, and you’ve beaten me. Release Fiona, and take me instead.”

“We're long past the opportunity for noble sacrifice.”

“Then tell me what to do. You don’t want war, and that’s what’s happening.”

Shigaraki shook his head. “I told you what a fragile thing peace was. And still, like a child, you took pleasure in breaking it. I know what you are. I know you can't see past your narrowest concerns. But please, Mister Bakugo. I doubt you know what honesty is anymore.”

“You asked me to prove to you that I was in love with Fiona. I’m assuming you did the same to her, but I convinced you. You know I did. I did exactly what you fucking wanted.”

He was in love with Fiona Chiyoko.

“Mister Bakugo, it's the things we love most that destroy us. I want you to remember that I said that. Don't you think I know your friends are in the Tribute Centre?” He sighed. “Tenshi, do what you’re supposed to do, and cut them off.”

The screen went dark.

“He knows that they’re in there. It’s a trap.” He was tugging at his shirt. Miyuki was holding his arms away. 

“Katsuki, hold it.”

“We have to get a hold of them,” Katsuki begged. He hated how pathetic he sounded. “We have to tell them to get out. He knows. 

“There's no signal,” Sora said, rocking a little. She couldn’t hear them anymore. Her voice was so quiet. “We can’t contact them.”

“No, Miyuki, he knew the whole time. He was taunting me.” Miyuki was holding him tight. “They’re in there.”

“No, we don't know that.”

He lost them both tonight. He lost them both and it was his fault. Katsuki was crying. He hated crying. He was crying so hard. He was on the floor. Miyuki wouldn’t let go of him. She kept shushing him. 

There was no news. They were waiting in the hangar. Katsuki couldn’t breathe. There was no news. Katsuki started thinking of what to say to Gabriella and Itsuko. Shit, he even had to explain what happened to Juzu. There's no news.

He heard Aimi’s voice first. Aimi screamed with terror. Yuuga was there, and Juzu was holding him. Juzu was shaking and crying and Katsuki couldn’t find either of them. Where was Akito? Fiona? Why hadn’t they come back.

Akito walked out and tackled him in a hug. Katsuki wasn't sure he was breathing correctly. “You’re safe,” he mumbled. “Are you okay?” Akito nodded. 

“I don’t fucking get it. Every gun was back online and on us and we flew right past them.” Shigaraki let them go. Why the fuck would Shigaraki let them go?

Miyuki grinned. She had her glasses pushing back her bangs. “She’s in there.” 

Maiki was beside him in an instant. “The gas we used on the guards knocked her out, too, but’s wearing off now. You should definitely be there when she wakes up.”

“Thank you.” 

Akito’s expression grew sad as they walked into the room. He waited for Katsuki outside the glass, and Katsuki touched Fiona’s cheek. She was so skinny, hollow even. She was sad looking. She was robbed of so much that Katsuki couldn’t bear to let Hitoshi or Gabriella see her like this. Itsuko would break down if she saw what they did to Fiona Chiyoko.

Her eyes slowly opened and Katsuki melted. “Fiona.”

There was a moment of peace before Fiona jumped onto him. She wrapped her hands around his neck. Katsuki couldn’t breathe. She was hurting him. Sweet Fiona Chiyoko with her soft voice and laugh that carried over the walls of the districts. 

He could feel his eyes bulge, and the pressure was growing. He couldn’t hurt her, even if he truly wanted to. He had waited so long to feel her touch. Anything was welcome, even if she was the last thing he’d ever see. 

He woke up with a strange contraption around his neck. Usagiyama shook her head, urging him to not move. “Everything’s okay, kid. Just don’t talk. You’re really swollen.” Katsuki tried to speak but it pained him to do so. “Fiona’s okay. I promise. I just had to get her off you.”

Kiyoshi was looking down at his notebook, and several things were scribbled out. “It's called hijacking. We don't know how long the Capitol's been doing this to Fiona. It's fear conditioning. Enhanced with tracker jacker venom.”

Sora leaned over Kiyoshi’s shoulders, nodding. “It’s a powerful hallucinogenic too. The venom puts the subject in a dissociative state, and thye torture her.” Miyuki exchanged a panicked look with Katsuki. They tortured her, just like it happened before. “They wanted to strip her of her identity.” She put Kiyoshi’s notebook in front of Katsuki’s face. “Then after all of that, they turned all that suffering and fear onto someone else, especially on the memories of someone positive in her life.”

“They can change her memories of Katsuki?” Usagiyama asked.

Sora looked down, her lips curling into a frown. “To make him seem life-threatening.”

“They turned her into a weapon, Katsuki. To kill you.” Miyuki’s words sunk in. Fiona was trained to kill him. His Fiona hated killing people. His Fiona wanted him dead. Katsuki wanted to scream, but he had no mouth. No words. Just silence. 

“But you can reverse it?” Miyuki asked.

Maiki leaned on the doorframe. She was wearing a dress. It looked nice on her. “The fear is the most difficult thing to overcome. We're hardwired to remember fear best.” She gave him a determined look that didn’t make him feel all that safe. “It's new terrain. But we've put together a team. I'm optimistic.”

“Good evening,” Madame began, looking over at the people of District Thirteen. Katsuki didn’t want to be here. He wanted to die. “Yesterday, I authorized a covert rescue mission inside the Capitol. I am pleased to announce that the Victors have been liberated! Let this day mark an historic change. With The Phoenix and the Victors beside us, we have sent a clear message to the Capitol.”

The Capitol was going to kill them all.

“That we will never again endure injustice.”

They weren’t going to endure shit. 

“Today, a day on which we reunited family, friends, and loved ones. Let all of Musutafu come together. Not to battle for the amusement of the Capitol, but to join hands in this fight. Let today be the day we promise never to give up, never to give in until we have made a new Musutafu, where leaders are elected, not imposed upon us. And where the districts are free to share the fruits of their labours and not fight one another for scraps!”

Akito was holding his hand. Katsuki felt his heart race. Akito had seen Fiona attempt to kill Katsuki. Katsuki was public enemy number one. Katsuki wanted to die. Why wouldn’t they just let him die? 

“This new Musutafu is on the horizon, but we must take it for ourselves. The road there leads through the sharp mountains and deep ravines of District Two. There in the heart of Musutafu’s steepest mountain range lies the Capitol's principal military facility. We can conquer this stronghold because we are one people, one army, one voice. Because today is our new beginning.”

Katsuki didn’t feel liberated. He wasn’t sure what the hell Madame was talking about. They were still trapped, except now, their prison had a different name.

“Today we have freed the Victors. Tomorrow, Musutafu!”

Chapter Text

He was finally allowed to talk freely. His throat was still heavily bruised, and he couldn’t swallow solids well, but he could finally get this shit removed. Katsuki was so tired. They tried to get him to speak. “My…” They encouraged him to speak. “My name is Katsuki Bakugo. I want…I want to talk to her.”

No one would let him see Fiona. 

“She’s been calmer with doctors, but they’re strangers to her. So, we’re going to test her response on someone she remembers from home. Someone she trusts.” They were letting Gabriella finally see her.

“Hi,” Gabriella whispered, looking up at her sister. Fiona’s eyes softened, and she leaned forward. She didn’t go to attack her sister, unlike her reunion with Katsuki. Katsuki was a little jealous, not even just a little. 

“Gabi.”

The littlest Chiyoko smiled. “How you feelin'?”

Katsuki put his hand on the glass. Miyuki shook her head. “She’s way too close.”

Gabriella was holding Fiona’s guitar in her hands. She wanted to touch Fiona, hug her. Katsuki wondered if Gabriella was afraid of her now. Katsuki thought she would be. “How’d you get here?”

She took a minute, and Fiona’s eyes twitched. “We live in District Thirteen now.” She smiled. “It's a real place. Stories are true. You were rescued.”

“Why haven’t mami and papi come and visit me?”

Gabriella paused. “There was an attack while we were escaping.”

“It’s Katsuki. It’s because of Katsuki.”

“It wasn’t because of him,” Gabriella clarified. Fiona’s body shook. Katsuki felt guilty. “Wasn't because of him.”

“Did he tell you to say that?”

“She didn't tell me anything.”

Fiona’s voice cracked. “It’s a lie, Gabi. it’s a trick.”

Gabriella touched Fiona’s cheek, and she smiled. It was sad, and mature. Fiona leaned into her sister’s touch, and for a moment, Katsuki saw the old Fiona under all the other things they had done to her. “Fiona, what you’re saying isn’t real.”

“He sent you here to talk to me. She knows you're here now.” Fiona sounded desperate now. Katsuki felt like tearing his hair from his head. 

“It's okay. He knows…”

Fiona shook her head. “You can't trust him!” She screamed, her chest rising rapidly. Katsuki was watching Fiona’s mind break all over again. It was painful to watch, and it must’ve been painful for her. “He’s a monster! He’s a mutt that the Capitol created to destroy us.” She lunged, but Gabriella didn’t move. Fiona didn’t go to hurt her little sister. They were muttering about how they should’ve never let Fiona and Gabriella talk. “You have to kill him, Gabi! You have to kill him”

Gabriella left the room, shaking as she held her sister’s guitar. She didn’t start crying until she could hide her face in Itsuko’s shirt. 

“This is just a conditioned response. It’s not her,” Sora said, rubbing a thumb on Katsuki’s shoulder. She didn’t look entirely convinced of her own words, and Katsuki felt sick all over again. Fiona just came screaming. They didn’t put her to sleep. The room went dark.

Katsuki wished he could help her. 

He wished he could help himself.

Madame wanted to speak with him. Katsuki didn’t even want to look at her. “Will you excuse us for just a moment?” Katsuki followed her through the corridor, and leaned against the wall. “I'm glad you're feeling better.”

“Shigaraki has to pay for what he's done. I wanna help the rebels in any way I can. It's hard to see Red like this. They took everything from her.”

“That's not Fiona.”

Yes, the fuck it is. “Send me to the capitol. I'll do anything.”

“I can't. I can't send you there. We can't get into the capitol until we control District Two.” Katsuki was from District Two. He could get them on the right side of this situation. He could convince his friends back home. He could do something .

“Then send me to Two,” Katsuki said, narrowing his eyes.  “You want me to fire up our troops? Call out to the loyalists? You've seen what I can do.”

“Yes, I have.”

“Then let me do something.”

Chapter Text

Akito was staring at Fiona again. They hadn’t really spoken about the situation. Katsuki wasn’t sure what had happened between them. He swallowed. “She cried when she got her out,” Akito said. He fiddled with the chain around his belt. “She cried so hard, Kats.”

“What did you think?”

“Something selfish.”

Katsuki watched Fiona color in some drawings they had given her. She looked so young. “You don’t need to be jealous of her.” He didn’t say anything else, but Akito seemed to understand. They watched Fiona, and she looked miserable. “Red’s tough.”

“Hell yeah she is.”

After that moment, they decided to send Akito Jin in to speak to Fiona. She watched him, her eyes narrowed. She gasped when Akito handed her a stuffed animal. It was a cat, a black cat with a white tipped tail. She welcomed him with a smile on her face.

Katsuki didn’t feel anger. He felt acceptance. He accepted Fiona wasn’t going to see him anymore, or at least, not as she was right now. Akito sat on the floor with Fiona, talking. Sora raised the volume, and Katsuki sat down.

“You can name it,” Akito whispered, fiddling with one of the crayons Fiona had been using. She hummed a little. You could hear the songbird threatening to escape her chapped lips. They had stolen the joy she had in singing. 

“I can’t think of a name,” Fiona mumbled. She touched the stuffed animal’s head, caressing it with a shaking hand. “Why’d you come in? Did something happen?”

“No, I just wanted to see you.” Fiona’s expression softened. She touched his arm, and Akito just blinked at her. He wiped tears away from his own face, before laughing. “They’re telling me about your visit with Gabriella.”

“She brought my guitar,” she whispered. She pointed to the corner of the room. “The Capitol didn’t like when I sang.” Katsuki leaned forward, wondering if this was the moment Fiona would break away from the hijacking they’d done to her. “It’d probably bother you too.”

“No, no, you can sing if you want,” Akito said, handing her the guitar. Fiona’s eyes widened. She smiled before strumming the first chord. It was like this was who she was. “Whatever you want, sing, songbird.”

Fiona Chiyoko, girl of roses and song. 

Katsuki liked seeing Fiona like this. She looked like her normal self. She looked so warm and loved, even if she was malnourished. Her ribs protruded underneath her gown, and her eyes were so sad. Akito made direct eye contact with Katsuki, and the world froze. ‘She’s so fractured ,’ Akito mouthed. Katsuki pressed his lips together. ‘I know , ’ Katsuki mouthed right back.

“You come home late, fall on your cot,” Fiona mumbled, her voice shaking as she strummed her guitar. Her skinny fingers brushed against each string with a faraway look in her eyes. “You smell like something that money bought.”

She was alive again, even for a bitter moment. 

“We don’t have cash, or so you say,” her voice cracked, and she looked frightened. Her eyes darted around the room. “So where did you get it and how’d you pay?” Fiona swallowed, pausing to stare directly at Akito Jin. “The sun don’t rise and set for you. You think so, but you’re wrong.”

Akito was staring at her like Fiona hung the fucking sun. She had. Katsuki would believe that.

“You tell me lies, I can’t stay true. I’d sell you for a song.”