~BNHA~ Burning Hunger Within

Chapter 22

Katsuki stood in the ballroom, glass of wine in hand, his eyes scanning the crowd with disinterest. The dim lighting flickered across the crystal chandeliers overhead, casting a cold glow on the finely dressed guests that milled about, unaware of the darker undercurrents running beneath this estate. He'd rather be anywhere else—somewhere quieter, somewhere less crowded—but playing this part was necessary.

The wine was shit, bitter on his tongue. He hadn't come here to enjoy the luxuries, though. He swirled the liquid idly in the glass, the weight of the small device in his coat pocket grounding him as he kept his gaze focused on the large double doors at the entrance. Izuku should be arriving soon, leaving the business in the pink level behind.

When the door finally opened, Katsuki's eyes narrowed. Izuku entered, posture stiff but composed, his face an unreadable mask. It didn't take a genius to know he was still running on pure adrenaline. The tension coiled tight in his shoulders, but from a distance, he appeared calm, like he always did in moments like this—cold, professional. Only Katsuki would notice the subtle signs of strain in the tightness of his jaw, the way his eyes flicked around the room, searching for something or someone.

Izuku moved toward him with purpose, his movements sharp yet graceful, cutting through the crowd without a second glance at anyone. Katsuki didn't need to speak as Izuku reached him; they had already agreed to keep it quick and discreet.

"The documents?" Izuku asked, voice low and controlled.

Katsuki set his wine glass on a nearby table and casually pulled the device from his pocket. It was small, compact, and inconspicuous—easy to slip unnoticed into Hawks' hands. He handed it over without a word, their fingers brushing briefly, a simple reminder of the trust between them despite the tension that now lingered in the air.

Izuku didn't linger either. He tucked the device away, not breaking his mask for even a moment as they made their way toward the far side of the ballroom, away from prying eyes. Hawks stood near one of the large windows, positioned just out of sight, his back to them as he feigned interest in the view outside.

"About time," Hawks murmured when they reached him, his smile half-hearted as he kept his attention outward. "Was starting to think you two were enjoying yourselves too much to remember the job."

Katsuki rolled his eyes but didn't engage, his focus remaining sharp as he kept an eye on the room. Too many people. Too much noise. He hated places like this, where everyone wore a mask that didn't quite hide the real threats lurking beneath.

Izuku was the one to speak, his voice quieter now as he glanced toward the device Hawks quickly stowed in his coat. "Momo will know what to do with the pictures. Todoroki can handle any legal follow-up."

"And the pink level?" Hawks asked, still keeping his casual demeanor but with the slightest edge to his tone. "Did you find anything else? More evidence?"

Before Izuku could respond, Katsuki stepped in, his mind drifting to Kirishima's earlier clue. "Forget the pink level. Kirishima mentioned something about a traitor with a scar. An informant tried reaching out to him before getting jumped. We need to find that guy to get into the black level."

Hawks turned to them now, his expression losing some of its ease. "A scar, huh? And you think you can find this guy?"

"That's the plan," Katsuki replied curtly. "If we get to him, he'll help us get into the black level. It's the only way."

Hawks nodded, a slow smile creeping back onto his face. "Always straight to the point, aren't you?" He glanced toward Izuku, who had been scanning the room with narrowed eyes. "Think you can pull that off?"