What Is Free? (Kiribaku Midevil Au)

Part 7

Kirishima's eyes fluttered open to reveal a world coated by gold and reds. His eyes gazed out to the makeshift knight camp. He noted how  most the knights in training weren't up yet and we're in their tents. Although there were some exceptions.  Deku was one of the people who was up. He seemed to be training with his huge sword. He lifted his head to peak out of the ribbons of flame. He didn't remember Bakugo setting up a tent. He gazed around at the different size tents looking for the blonde. He stood up in the fire and stretched. His muscles flexed, causing his scales to appear, and he relaxed them, causing his scales to disappear. He yawned, exposing his sharp bright white teeth. He then stepped out of the fire and dusted off the soot that accumulated on him over the night.

"Hey Izuku," Kirishima asked as he walked over to a training Izuku. "Have you seen Bakugo?" He asked. Izuku looked over at him and lowered his sword. His stance returned to his usual, more relaxed stance.

"Yea. I think he went into the woods earlier." Izuku raised his hand and pointed across the river. "I think he went that way." Kirishima smiled and nodded to him.

"Thank you Izuku." Kirishima walked in the direction that Izuku pointed out. He gentky hopped from stone to stone across the river. Slipper green algae coated the rocks making them difficult to cross. Soon his feet reached the grass covered ground on the other side of the banks. Then his red hair disappeared into the sea of browns and greens. He was on a mission. A mission to find the dragon rider. His eyes scanned the surroundings with a familiar gaze. He wouldn't let the memories resurface. He couldn't let that happen. He was weak at that point. He can't afford to be weak again.

"Oi! What are you doing shitty hair?" Bakugo's gruff voice called out from the tree canopy. Kirishima followed the sound up to where the blond stood.

"You were missing so I took it upon myself to look for you." Kirishima explained it like it was no big deal. Anyone would look for their missing friends right? Friends. Was that what he and Bakugo were? Bakugo saved his life twice and trusted him enough to keep him around. So why wouldn't they be friends?

"You don't need to babysit me." Bakugo narrowed his eyes and jumped down from his spot.

"I don't see it that way." Kirishima shrugged. He took a deep breath, allowing the cool morning air to fill his lungs. The familiar smells and sounds sent an unwelcome chill down his spine. He remembers being here. He remembers the feat and adrenaline pumping through him as he ran for his life. His legs ached a bit in remembrance of that day.

"I noticed a huge clearing up ahead. Is that where they were?" Bakugo asked. Kirishima's head bobbed on its own.

"At the base of the mountain." Kirishima bit his lip and would look anywhere but in the direction of the clearing. "W-we should head back. Sooner we bring them here sooner we can leave." Bakugo looked at Kirishima as he said that. It was pretty uncharacteristic of him. He acted fine when the knights asked if he could take them here so why was he acting so weird about it? Bakugo sighed.

"You're weird shitty hair." He confirmed and started walking back towards the camp.

"Thanks for noticing." Kirishima followed him closely. He was in a defensive state of mind. His sanity dancing on the edge between panic and dangerous. Mentally kirishima was balancing on a thin white line over an abyss of black void. The river's rushed melody soon flooded his ears. Escape. He has escaped. He was safe. He was almost free. He took a deep breath again. His warm skin pressed against the cool obsidian of the collar.
Almost free.

Bakugo crossed the river easily, followed closely by Kirishima. Most the knights were awake now. The tents were being taken down as the group mingled amongst themselves. Only the truly dedicated were practicing and sparing. Kirishima itched his arm.