Chapter 30: Costume shopping part 3
The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the abandoned factory that served as the League of Villains' base. Inside, there was an unexpected buzz of energy as Twice and Toga, bursting with enthusiasm, bounded down the creaking staircase. They had decided that this Halloween would be different; it would be a celebration rather than a day of plotting and chaos.
"Please, Shigaraki!" Toga pleaded, her wide eyes sparkling with excitement. "It'll be fun! Just this once! We can be happy, I promise!"
Twice mirrored her excitement, his split personality syncing with Toga's contagious enthusiasm. "Yeah! Halloween is all about being spooky and having fun! You can't say no to that!"
Despite his grim demeanor, Shigaraki couldn't help but feel slightly swayed by their eagerness. He looked around at the ragtag band of misfits that was his league. They all needed this. Even Dabi, who typically preferred to sulk in the shadows, raised an eyebrow in interest, wondering what kind of costumes they could pull off.
"Fine, I'll go with you guys," Shigaraki relented, rubbing the back of his neck in resignation. "But if we get caught, I'm blaming you two."
Dabi smirked. "This ought to be good. I'll figure out something that screams 'badass'."
Hours later, they returned to the base, overflowing with bags of costumes and decorations. Toga and Twice had chosen a delightful couples costume – Toga as a cute yet slightly psychotic fairy and Twice as a whimsical jester with an assortment of colorful masks. In the meantime, Dabi and Shigaraki had opted for a more sinister theme: Dabi dressed as a classic demon with black, tattered wings, and Shigaraki as a scream-inducing ghoul with a tattered cloak and a chilling mask that could send shivers down anyone's spine.
Meanwhile, Spinner had chosen to channel his love of reptiles, simply dressing as a lizard creature, while Compress and Kurogiri went for a sleek and mysterious magician and his shadowy sidekick, respectively.
After everyone tried on their costumes, a wave of laughter filled the base, creating a warm atmosphere that had been missing for far too long.
"Now, it's decoration time!" Toga exclaimed, excitement bubbling in her voice. She led the others to a stash of Halloween decorations she had collected: fake cobwebs, hanging skeletons, glowing jack-o'-lanterns, and plastic spiders adorned the secret hideout as the League worked together to transform it.
As the last decoration was hung, Toga clapped her hands. "Ta-da! Now we need to have some fun! I've got a whole list of activities we can do! Pumpkin carving, baking spooky treats, and maybe even scary stories!"
Dabi rolled his eyes, but a small grin played on his lips. "I'll help with the carving if it means I get to use a knife."
Shigaraki, surprisingly warm from the ambiance and camaraderie, leaned against a wall, watching the others come together. He realized this was exactly what they all needed – a moment to share joy instead of just creating destruction.
Within moments, they were all ensconced in their pumpkin carving session, laughter erupting with each silly design they attempted. Dabi snickered at Shigaraki thumbing through his awkward attempt at a ghostly face while Toga squealed with delight at the dark-eyed pumpkin Twice had crafted.
When it came time for baking, Toga proved to be surprisingly adept at making spooky treats, while Kurogiri helped keep the chaos at manageable levels. Spinner tried to create a "lizard-shaped cake," which ended up looking more like an amorphous blob, making everyone laugh uncontrollably.
As the night deepened, the base was filled with joyous chaos, far removed from the darkness and despair that usually lingered in the shadows. They gathered around the flickering lights, sharing stories, indulging in baked goods, and exchanging jokes. Each villain could feel their hearts lightening, if only for this one night.
At that moment, the League of Villains wasn't a group of individuals bound by chaos and darkness; they were friends, reveling in each other's company, celebrating Halloween, and creating memories that would last far beyond the sinister landscapes of their plans.
As they finished up for the night, laughter echoed through the old factory, and in a surprising turn of events, they realized something profound: in a world viewed as chaotic and villainous, they could also create moments of peace and happiness. This Halloween wasn't just a distraction; it was a reminder — they were a family, even if they wore the masks of villains.