#also if you guys have any good traitor kaminari fanfics you'd like to recommend please lemme know in the reblogs or comments

[deuteragonist1]

This is your reminder to go read 'A Mirror in the Dark' by Fastern on ao3 which imo is THE traitor Kaminari fanfic. I'll use color and bold for anything I deem spoilery. Let me know if it causes visibility issues.

1) It is finished, and clever, and hurts like hell.

2) Bakugou in it made me want to rip my heart out. No one has written him quite like this before, in terms of his behaviour with and regarding Kaminari and its development throughout the story considering, well, everything (PAIN), and I'd be surprised if someone did it again. I read his scenes with bated breath and my heart in my throat, and it only got worse as more chapters came out and I advanced in the story. They are still my favorites to re-read. He is the main reason why I want a follow-up to the story, which might actually be a possibility (see point 10). It's his complete trust in Kaminari for me, to the point where he doesn't look into him as well as he should beyond a cursory verification that Kaminari doesn't even *pass* and yet, still, he doesn't question it, not even passingly, even when everyone else is fair game. It's his explosive, violent anger when Midoriya dares to suggest that circumstances seem to point at Kaminari, to the point where Midoriya is scared of Bakugou. It's the knowledge that his reaction is going to be a thousand times worse when he discovers the truth. It's the way that he positioned himself as his most vehement protector, his first and best ally, only to discover the worst, the most impossible scenario was true. God, he didn't believe it at all until the very last second, when there were no more doubts to be had, no more excuses to believe without even questioning them, without thinking, wait, it doesn't make sense, though, because it's Kaminari, goddammit. It's Kaminari, of course it doesn't make sense, that doesn't mean harmless, kind, dumb old Kaminari is a goddamn traitor, of all things. It's Kaminari. No one has written Bakugou like this before (that I know of), all unapologetic watchfulness, furious, undisciplined care and 'fuck you you don't know him or care about him like I do' protectiveness, all throat-punching, wall-tearing, 'I'll rain hell on you for what you did after making me care about you when I didn't fucking ask for it' betrayal. God, how is he ever to trust someone like this again.

3) Ending is perfect, not rushed at all and brings a real sense of closure to the story that leaves you satisfied as well as curious for what happens after it.

4) It's the perfect mix of betrayal, extreme violence and softness, given the context.

5) Shigaraki and the other villains are so so fucked up, moreso than in canon, but it works great for this particular story.

6) The scene of the reveal. I won't say more.

7) Fastern can write. If you want a story that'll disturb you, stress you out for many reasons, make you care and fear for the main character, make your heart lurch in your throat, this is the one for you. As always, though, MIND THE TAGS.

8) ... Dadzawa. Without it being overdone, he's wonderfully in character.

9) Midoriya is still baby. Truly, you'll meet the class 1-A we know and love from the original story. Including and especially Kaminari.

10) It is a series, and the author very recently published a gorgeous (aka heartbreaking as well as original) one-shot belonging to the same storyline (the way I GASPED). There will apparently be a sequel in the future, but of course that might take time and the author has already given us so much, so be courteous and don't go harrassing them for a follow-up if you finish part one. They don't owe us one.

11) Forgot to specify it's gen.

Some extracts if it'll convince you (color and bold if deemed spoilery)

(1)

Kaminari’s breath came in sharp gasps, the unvented emotions that had built up throughout the night threatening to break out.

“You’re getting emotional again,” Shigaraki said flatly.

“I’m not,” Kaminari denied. “I know how to do my job, Tomura.”

“A job? Is that how you see it?”

Kaminari looked up and met Shigaraki’s eyes through Father’s fingers.

“A job,” Shigaraki let out a long, shuddering breath. “I’m hurt, Kaminari.”

“I didn’t mean it like—”

“Do you really see this as something so impersonal as a job? Something you can do from nine to five and then go home at the end of the day?”

(2)

Todoroki looked at him evenly, head tilting. The horrible scar that made girls find Todoroki mysterious and attractive just made Kaminari sick, and he could only look for so long, realizing just how much it bothered him. How much Todoroki hadn’t deserved whatever had caused it.

(3)

“You should’ve said something the moment you got hurt,” said Shouji.

“I know, I know,” said Kaminari. “Mr Aizawa will chew me out for it later. He’ll give me detention for the rest of forever.”

“Maybe you won’t cause so much trouble in detention,” Jirou scowled, though her eyes were tender. They were so soft, like a light haze at sunrise. Fear punched into his gut. No one looked at him like that before UA.

(4)

Midoriya froze, like he was a kid again, and Bakugou was the aggressive bully who’d tracked him down. Their dynamic had changed since then. There was some sort of strange respect present these days. The hostility was back in full force, though. The intensity of Bakugou’s glare, the fire in his eyes—there was a new emotion Midoriya hadn’t expected from him, something he hadn’t even seen him display towards people he was supposed to rescue. Protectiveness.

(This one made me unwell.)

(Came for the angst stayed for the 'Hey Kaminari's been acting really weird-' 'YOU SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH-')

Kaminari may not be the UA traitor in canon, but he will always be the UA traitor in my heart