The buildings began to change farther the boys had walked, it was more run down, most of them were boarded up with wooden palates or there were pieces of the house missing, roof tiles, windows, bricks and even doors were at times missing.

The streets were grim, with overgrown flora and abandoned houses, or houses that were used for other reasons than living inside. The air reeked and the clouds hung low, as if the safer part of the city was not sunny mere moments ago.

Clouds hung overhead, and the streets were cracked and worn out needing far more repairs than any roads close to Bakugo's house. The three boys were glancing around cautiously, not trusting a single person they saw or passed.

And it seemed the same way for the people who lived here. Wary, tense, stiff, as if even a single snap of a twig could set any one of them off, which was probably true. The boys continued to walk until they saw a certain building that just caught the eye.

It was a different colour than the others, a light shade of purple, similar to a cloud in the night. In front of the building was a man, with his eyes shut and a relaxed look on his face. A burnt mark scorched underneath his eyes and from his mouth down.

A yawn emitting from his lips, his eyes opened ever so slightly, and they landed on the three boys. A chuckle escaping his lips, he pushed himself off of the wall with the back of his foot and sauntered over confidently.

"Hey guys, you lost?"

"We're here to check out recruitments." Bakugo's head tilting back slightly, the man looked down slightly to see Bakugo's palm outstretched in a defensive position. Smiling slightly, he raised his hands mercily.

"Recruitments? For?"

"I think you already know what for. We just want to see if there's anyone we know in there."

"Ah. Right, well as long as you 'consider' joining, you can come right on in. We're open to anything." A grin spreading across his lips, he turned away from us beckoning us to follow, and he walked right through the door he was guarding before.

A wary look being cast by Kirishima, he quickly latched onto Bakugo before they continued forward. His eyebrows creased in worry, and his lips tight.

"Are you sure about this? We're going in blind."

"We're going in brave." Bakugo huffing past Todoroki, his shoulders dropped as he continued to follow the man with the burn marks. An uneasiness settled inside of Todoroki's chest, hoping Bakugo's impatience wouldn't cause things to turn disastrous.

Turning towards Kirishima, his expression softened as he placed a hand down on Kirishima's shoulder. Nodding towards Bakugo, Todoroki glanced to see if the guard was watching.

"We need to make sure he doesn't do something stupid. Anything can go wrong in there." Kirishima's face falling quickly, he nodded before running to catch up to Bakugo, staying by his side protectively.

Todoroki glancing between the two, he gazed up at the sky worried and wondering what the hell would happen. Even if the kid was there, would he want to leave? Why would he even be with the shades in the first place?

There's so many questions, but not enough time for answers. The door stays wide open, inviting them in, and with a grimace Todoroki steps inside only to be greeted with an odd scenery.

There was a tavern inside, with tables all about and different people sprawled across the room. The air was thick with power, and the boys were hit with a wave of intimidation just by standing in the room. Kirishima's eyes widening, he scooted towards Bakugo a little closer to make sure nothing bad would happen to his friend.

"Welcome home, this is the front door, boss is past the bartender but you gotta talk with the bartender first." Passing a wink at Todoroki, he walked past and out the door once more to make sure no intruders would think about coming inside.

Todoroki joined the other two at last, placing a shoulder on Bakugo's shoulder and spun him around so he was forced to make eye contact. Frustration smoking off of Todoroki, he pushed Bakugo slightly.

"Are you seriously going to go into a discreet room to the boss of this building made for shades?"

"You already know the answer so why are you asking." Growling at Todoroki, he moved slightly to the right to step ahead of Todoroki but with instinct Todoroki grabbed Bakugo's wrist.

"You're not thinking straight."

"Get out of the way."

"I'm trying to think of a plan in case things go south." Todoroki whispered. Glancing around at the people sitting in the tavern, he felt his stomach drop when he caught eyes with a few of the people there. The eyes...

Not a single one was coloured.

Todoroki's gut twisted in a way that had told him to turn around and leave as soon as possible, but if he left without the two boys well....

Something was bound to go wrong. Yet this didn't ease his worries any less, especially since Bakugo was determined to find someone who wasn't even guaranteed to be with the shades in the first place.

"They won't." Bakugo ripping his hand away seeing Todoroki's hesitation, Todoroki stepped back before leaning forward once more, point towards the tavern to hint at Bakugo what was happening.

"And if they do?"

"I'll kill them." Todoroki's eyes widening, he touched Bakugo's finger, freezing it as a warning. Bakugo opening his mouth to yell, he clamped it shut when he noticed the expression on Todoroki's face.

"You shouldn't say that so loud in the middle of their recruitment centre. You can't take on this many people." Todoroki hissing at Bakugo, he stepped backwards, his face showing no emotion.

"Don't blame this one on me if someone dies here." Bakugo's eyes widening for a split-second, he scoffed and turned the other way around, melting the ice and heading straight for the bartender.

Slamming his hand down heavily on the table, he got the attention of a few of the guests, but not the bartender. An impatient cough emitting from Bakugo's mouth, the bartender laughed dryly before turning around to face him.

His expression exhausted and his hair staying on his head messily, he rubbed his eyes with a small smile. An odd aura shone around him, but Bakugo pushed it away, eyes narrowing as he saw his irises. Damned shades.

"Do you want a drink or something?"

"I wanna talk to the recruiter." Bakugo's narrowing at the bartender, his eyes widened in surprise, placing a finger on his mouth, a thoughtful expression plastered on his face.

"Ohh? What kind of recruiter?"

"You damn well know what kind." A sarcastic grin spreading eerily across his face, Bakugo couldn't help but roll his eyes at the shitbag. How he loathed shades.

"Yeah, yeah, lapdog's inside."

"Lapdog?"

"Boss' puppet, fucking creepy kid dude."

"A kid?" Bakugo's eyes widening, the bartender laughed dryly, rubbing his eyes tiredly as he leaned onto the counter, leaning close to Bakugo whispering close to his ear.

"Did that catch your interest? If it did I insist you should talk to lapdog, he'll fix you up no problem."

"And why should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't really, but you must have some kind of drive because then, why are you even here?" Glancing towards Bakugo with an intimidating stare, he glanced up seeing Kirishima and Todoroki, his smile growing even bigger.

"Oh man, you even have your friends with you! That's sweet, alright, well because that's so touching I'll get lapdog's attention myself alright? You can count on me." A yawn emitting his lips, he hopped off the platform for the bar and walked down the hallway where the lights seemed to fade.

Once the bartender was out of sight, Kirishima and Todoroki walked up to Bakugo warily, an uneasiness settled in the room, and there were three words that nobody wanted to admit.

They were scared.

Kirishima glancing between the two, he inched closer towards them defensively, looking around the room and scanning all the possibilities of threats and what could happen if anything did go wrong.

Within minutes the bartender was back, and beckoned the three of them over, leading them into the dimly lit hallway, he let out a relaxed breath as he turned left and opened a door.

Pushing it open quickly, the door led to a room with a desk and a black desk chair looming behind it. The carpet on the floor red, and the desk a mahogany colour, with a banner draping behind. The boys didn't know the symbol, but it was something they felt meant more than it lead on.

The boys gazing at the desk chair, it swivelled around showing a boy sitting in the chair. His hair gleamed perfectly in the light, it wasn't too dim but just right to compliment its natural colour. His eyes gleamed brightly when he saw his friends staring back at him with terrified looks on their faces.

His tail swishing back and forth behind him in his chair, he raised his hand cheerily.

"Hey guys!"

".....O...jiro?"