The principal, Nezu, greeted me with a warm smile, his mouse-like features softening in his usual friendly manner. "Oh, hello there, Onyx. What can I get for you?" he asked, his voice light and welcoming, almost too casual given the circumstances.

I didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Do you have anything of Katsuki Bakugo's I can sniff?" I asked bluntly, my focus unwavering as I met his eyes.

Nezu blinked, his brow furrowing with mild confusion. "Yes, sure, but why?" he asked, his curiosity piqued by my strange request.

I could feel the irritation bubbling under my skin. "Don't you know? He's gone missing," I hissed, my voice laced with frustration. "All Might told me about it."

The shift in Nezu's expression was subtle, but I saw it—the flicker of concern in his eyes as the weight of the situation settled in. "I see," he murmured, his usual calm demeanor faltering for a moment. "In that case, I'll provide you with one of Bakugo's gym shirts. That should help you track him down."

He turned toward a cabinet, the light catching his fur as he reached for a folded item. I could tell he was trying to stay composed, but the tension in the room was palpable. As he handed me the shirt, I inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of Bakugo's sweat and fire filling my senses.

Without another word, I turned and left, my mind set on finding him. The search had just begun.

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Following the scent, I wound my way through the winding streets, the air thick with the acrid mix of city grime and something more—something darker. It grew stronger the deeper I ventured, until it led me to the entrance of a dimly lit bar, tucked away in the shadowy depths of the city. The scents that surrounded me were unfamiliar, but there were traces of something I recognized, something that tugged at the edges of my memory. My senses heightened, I cautiously slunk toward the door, nudging it open with my nose. The air inside hit me with a mix of stale alcohol, cigarette smoke, and something metallic—blood, faint but unmistakable.

As I stepped into the bar, my eyes scanned the room, taking in the motley crew of individuals occupying the dark corners. The place was a haven for those who thrived in the shadows. In the back, a man with dark hair, his skin an unusual blend of opalescence and bone-like features, gripped a glowing blue stone, its eerie light casting strange reflections across the room. 

Near them, a girl, perhaps no older than me, was dressed in a school uniform, her expression tight with impatience. She twirled a knife in her hand, the blade gleaming under the low light as she muttered to herself. "Oh, how long did Shigaraki say he would be gone?" she complained, tapping her foot in irritation. The words dripped with a mix of frustration and a deep-seated hunger for action.

I ignored her, my gaze locking onto something—or rather, someone—behind her. My heart skipped a beat. There, bound and shackled, was Bakugo. His fiery blonde hair hung low, his head tilted down as he stared at his feet, the weight of his silence hanging heavy in the air. His eyes were shadowed, distant—defeated.

My blood boiled as I took a slow, steady breath. I wasn't going to let this stand. I'd found him. Now, it was time to get him out.

A voice, gravelly and low, broke through the tense silence. "I don't know, but not too long, I suppose," said a lizard-like man, his form barely visible in the shadows. His eyes flicked over the room, his reptilian gaze scanning the others with an air of casual indifference.

My focus sharpened at the sound of his voice, but I didn't waste time on him. My senses, honed to their peak, locked onto Bakugo. The air around me felt thick with tension, and I felt the shadows pulse, alive with the same urgency I felt in my bones. I slipped deeper into the dark recesses of the bar, my large, sleek form blending into the shadows effortlessly, the cloak of darkness wrapping around me like an old friend. My claws clicked softly against the floor, but I moved with the grace of a predator, inching closer to my target.

The room felt suffocating, the quiet mingling with the hum of distant voices, but my focus never wavered. I circled around Bakugo, who hung shackled and restrained, his head bowed in defeat. The metallic scent of his chains mixed with the sharp tang of his sweat, and I let my tail flick out to test the air, making my way toward him with careful precision.

As I crept closer, I let my head peek into view, my elongated, reptilian eyes catching Bakugo's. He was startled at first, his body tensing, and his breath hitched as he almost leapt in shock. I reacted instantly, pressing a clawed finger to my snout to silence him.

"Don't say a word," I whispered, my voice a low, guttural growl that rumbled in my throat, barely audible to anyone else. "Just sit still. I'm going to cut your bonds."

Bakugo froze, his eyes wide, but his body obeyed. The tension between us was palpable, his trust shifting as he locked eyes with me—two creatures caught in a moment of understanding, however fleeting. I bared my teeth briefly before pulling out a sharp claw, the gleam of it cutting through the dim light. With one swift movement, I slashed at the chains that held him, my instincts telling me that the time for silence and stealth was now or never.

The moment Bakugo's shackles crashed to the ground, the villains spun around in unison, their eyes wide with surprise. "Eh?" they exclaimed, their voices tinged with disbelief as they tried to process the sudden noise.

I emerged from the shadows, my form silhouetted against the dim light, and the room froze. Their shock was palpable. "Ooh, a new plaything," the girl said, her excitement bubbling over as she jumped to her feet, her knife gleaming in her hand. "How did it get inside? What even is it?" asked the lizard-like man, his reptilian gaze narrowing, trying to make sense of my sudden appearance.

I snarled, showing my teeth, before I lunged at the blue-eyed man. My claws scraped along the floor, ripping into the ground with a sharp screech as I closed the distance between us. He yelped in panic as my claws tore through the air. "Stay still, you revolting chicken nugget," I hissed, my voice dripping with anger.

But as I glanced back at Bakugo, I saw the fear in his eyes, his body tense with the weight of the situation. His breath was sharp, and I could feel his anxiety from here. "Run, kid!" I barked urgently, my voice low but fierce.

His eyes met mine, wide with panic, and then he yelled, "Catch you bastards!" before darting for the exit. I growled, unwilling to leave him behind. "I'm not leaving you," I snarled at him, even as the villains began closing in around us. My tail lashed, swiping at one of them, warning them to stay back.

"Run!" I barked again, my desperation mounting as I saw the look in his eyes—he was getting it. Finally, Bakugo dashed out of the bar, the sound of his footsteps a beacon of hope in the chaos.

The dark-haired man tried to retaliate, spinning on me with his claws raised, but I lashed out, my claws digging into his flesh. He screamed, but I barely had a moment to savor the moment before his tail whipped around and smacked into mine, sending rocks crashing down from the ceiling and blocking the exit.

I turned back to the blue-eyed man, who was trying to recover. His softening eyes locked onto mine for a split second before I launched myself at him again. My jaws clamped down on his hand, and he screamed in agony, his voice shrill as he struggled to shake me off. "Argh! Get off!" he howled, thrashing desperately.

But I refused to release him, my grip tightening, my fury only growing as I kept him pinned.

As the man beneath me stopped struggling, I could no longer hear Bakugo's voice. The silence hit me like a physical blow, and my stomach twisted in worry. My heart hammered in my chest, but I knew I couldn't falter now. I snarled, my claws tearing into the ground, and bared my teeth at the humans closing in around me.

"You're gonna regret that, sweetie," taunted the dark-haired man, his voice dripping with malice as he rose to his feet, blood dripping from his wounded hand. He was trying to stand tall, despite the pain, but I could see the flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

I snorted, my breath heavy with defiance. "Never," I spat, my voice thick with contempt. With a final snarl, I turned invisible, vanishing from their sight in an instant. The shadows swallowed me whole as I darted away, leaving the villains to fumble in confusion, unsure of where I had gone.

My thoughts raced as I slipped through the darkness. Bakugo was free, and the immediate threat had been dealt with. With each breath, I felt the adrenaline surge through my veins, the rush of escape making my heart pound faster. I didn't stop to look back, didn't waste a second on anything other than putting distance between myself and the chaos that had erupted.

The city stretched out before me, silent and sprawling, the night air cold against my scales as I disappeared into it. As my mind settled into the rhythm of running, my heart slowly began to calm, but the weight of the moment lingered. Bakugo was safe—for now. And I wouldn't rest until he was out of danger for good.