Chapter 89: Christmas at the LOV
On Christmas morning, the darkness of the League of Villains hideout was warmed by the faint glow of twinkling lights draped around a disheveled tree that seemed to be a mix of decades-old ornaments and new, hastily crafted decorations. The usual atmosphere of doom and despair was lifted by an air of curiosity as the members of the league stirred from their slumber.
As they gathered in the common room, murmurs filled the air. "Did you hear the news?" Dabi grunted, scratching his chin. "I thought we weren't getting anything this year."
Himiko Toga bounded over, her wild eyes bright with anticipation. "But look! Look under the tree!"
The room fell silent as they followed her gaze. Beneath the lopsided branches of the Christmas tree lay presents wrapped in shiny paper, each adorned with a colorful bow. Each gift had a tag with a name: Shigaraki, Dabi, Twice, Toga, Spinner, and even Kurogiri.
"What the hell?" Shigaraki blinked, his hands instinctively twitching towards his Quirk as he cautiously approached the pile. He leaned closer, eyes narrowing, uncertain if this was some sort of trick. "Who put these here?"
Suddenly, the room filled with a booming laughter that echoed off the cracked walls. All eyes turned to the shadowy figure that swept into the room. All For One, the mastermind behind their operations, stood tall and clad in a festive holiday sweater, his usual menacing aura softened by the ridiculous pattern of snowflakes and reindeers. "Merry Christmas, my beloved league!" he proclaimed theatrically.
"What's this supposed to be?" Dabi crossed his arms, skeptical. "A pity gift because we fumbled that last job?"
"Not at all," All For One chuckled, his voice deep with mirth. "I went through each of your wish lists and made sure to acquire everything you desired. After all, it's a day for giving, even for us."
The members exchanged glances, disbelief written across their faces. "You actually got what we wanted?" Shigaraki queried, brow raised, a mix of confusion and curiosity creeping into his usually apathetic demeanor.
"Indeed!" All For One exclaimed, gesturing dramatically toward the pile of presents. "Go on! Open them!"
Toga needed no further encouragement; she dove headfirst into the gifts, ripping off the paper with a glee that could only be rivaled by a child's. Her laughter echoed through the room as she unveiled a beautiful set of knives, each one gleaming with sharpness, lovingly crafted and suited just for her. "Oh my gosh! Thank you! Thank you!" She squealed, hugging the blades tightly.
With a sigh of resignation, Dabi pulled open his gift next, revealing an advanced flame-resistant jacket and custom lighter. A smirk broke across his face as he fiddled with the flame settings. "Not bad," he admitted, trying to appear aloof.
Twice took his time, methodically unwrapping his box to reveal a shelf full of high-quality cosplay materials and special edition manga. His eyes sparkled as he exclaimed, "This is amazing! I can finally upgrade my outfits!"
Spinner, with his love for all things nostalgic, opened his gift to find collections of his favorite action figures lined up inside. He could hardly believe it. "I… I never thought I'd own these!"
Even Kurogiri, usually the stoic shadow of the group, was caught laughing as he revealed his gift—a sleek, high-tech bartending kit complete with a range of spirits. "This is… unexpected," he finally admitted, a hint of warmth in his voice.
Shigaraki stood still, processing the scenes unfolding in front of him. He approached the last unwrapped present, a box marked simply with his name in elegant script. He opened it and found an array of gadgets designed to enhance his decay Quirk. For a brief moment, warmth filled his chest—a sensation that everyone was always so quick to dismiss around their leader. "You really…thought of everything," he murmured, glancing up at All For One.
"All for one, and one for all!" All For One called out, sweeping his arm around the scene of celebration and cheer. "Today, we forget our differences and enjoy what we have. Even villains deserve a Christmas full of joy!"
As laughter filled the once lonely hideout, the League of Villains found warmth in their unexpected Christmas celebration. For just one day, they could revel in camaraderie, not as villains on a chaotic path, but as a makeshift family enjoying the act of giving and receiving. And amidst the chaos, they shared something far more valuable than any gift—acceptance and the joy of being together.