What Is Free? (Kiribaku Midevil Au)

part 13

The sun rose in the sky, creating a beautiful gradient of reds and oranges. The air gave a cool and crisp breeze signaling the shift between night and day. They had been several miles away from the dreaded river. The weight hanging over Kirishima and Katsuki had dissipated. The other two group members didn't bring up what they saw that day. They valued their lives thank you very much. But they couldn't ignore the tone shift between the two. They became more dependant and open, which was strange to see Katsuki be open with anyone. They were practically attached by the hip now. Kirishima would follow Katsuki around like a lost puppy when Katsuki was gathering materials or hunting. That was pretty usual with Kirishima's personality and they figured that the bond between him and Katsuki was strengthening it. What was strange was to see Katsuki returning the favor. He would try to discreetly follow around Kirishima whenever he had something to do. It didn't matter how boring or time-consuming it was Katsuki was always right beside him. Todoroki wanted to ask the two about it but Izuku stopped it. He didn't want to piss Katsuki off but he also saw how he had changed. Katsuki had grown a bit and he was happy for him. He was happy for the fact that it was Kirishima that Katsuki trusted. Their personalities being opposites yet similar in more complex ways. Kirishima was what Katsuki needed to finally deal with his past and moved on. Izuku didn't want to jeopardize that. Despite everything that happened between him and Katsuki he still considered him one of his best friends and thus he wanted the best for him. He explained this to Todoroki who originally only saw Katsuki as the loudmouth problem child that most people assumed he was. However, he respected Izuku and his decisions so he left the situation alone. 

The two in question knew that something had changed between them, something neither of them knew the name of, but refused to acknowledge it. Kirishima out of fear of losing Katsuki and Katsuki out of confusion over the feelings he felt. He felt drawn to Kirishima. He wanted to train with him every chance he got but he also wanted to actively help him in every task he did, no matter how insignificant or menial they were. He wanted to be around him, even sleeping closer to Kirishima's fire than he did before. At first, he blamed his bond, that since they were tied together forever now he subconsciously reached for the one thing that will be in his life in the future. But soon he realized that wasn't it, but he didn't know what it was instead. An emotional understanding was not his strong suit. He still acted disgruntled and annoyed, but he felt more open with Kirishima and Kirishima alone, only confusing him more.

As usual, the group traveled through the woods, traveling in the mornings stopping in the middle of the afternoon, training and gathering supplies until the stars emitted their brilliant light down upon them. Days passed in this routine. 

"We should be reaching our target today," Todoriki informed the group. 

"Really? So soon?" Izuku asked. Todoroki nodded before he spoke again.

"We shouldn't go and attack right away though." Izuku nodded to the mage's statement. 

"Right, maybe we should locate where the league's headquarters was and stake it out? We can try and learn as much as possible." Izuku muttered to himself.

"Tch, how fucking boring," Katsuki said, "sit on top of a building and watch nothing happen. And having all four of us so close to their headquarters. We'd be sitting ducks."

"Well, what if we split up?" Kirishima offered, "And if something happens we have a signal we can send to each other and regroup to fight." The others looked at Kirishima for a second.

"That could work," Izuku said, "You and Kacchan could gather supplies and try to get information around town, while Todoroki and I stake out their hiding spot."

"But wouldn't Kirishima be spotted easily by a member of the league? They know what he looks like." Todoroki said.

"Good point but-" Kirishima was cut off as Katsuki poured a cup of the groups drinking water over his head, causing the spikes in his hair to fall. He remembered seeing this when they first met when he rescued him at the banks of the river. He then took a handful of black clay he had found the day before while gathering wood and plopped it on his head and rubbing it in with his hands. This temporarily kept Kirishima's hair down but also made it look black instead of its vibrant red.