coagulate

Chapter 4: The Ripper

Katsuki

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Four years earlier...

The glaring sun beat down on the small group of four as they walked side-by-side toward a small farming village just three miles outside of the military fort they were stationed at. Their heads were sweaty and their necks were sunburnt, but they still made the walk. The village was on the edge of their province, and it was an asset that they didn't want to lose. Considering militia members had been attempting to take over the fertile lands for the last few months, the military had finally been summoned. But the four of them didn't have any reason regarding the military to be there that day. No. Taking into account that it was their day off, they were going as a choice.

Or rather, Izuku and Chisaki had insisted on going to aid the villagers with the little medical knowledge that they possessed, and Kirishima and Katsuki had followed behind to make sure the dumbasses didn't get themselves killed.

"Man, it's a scorcher out here today!" Kirishima exclaimed as they heard the dilapidated entrance to the village. "You guys couldn't have waited a day or two for this heat to die down?"

Beside Katsuki, Deku frowned and made a small noise of protest. "Those people can't afford for us to wait!" he said passionately. "And I don't want them to die. If you want to, you can turn back now. But I'm still going."

"I agree," Chisaki said. "Those people are suffering. They're sick, and they need help."

Kirishima raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright. Alright. I'm sorry I asked."

Katsuki snickered beside him. "You know better than to ask the martyrs stupid questions Kirishima," he said with a quirked brow.

"Oh, c'mon Baku! You're tellin' me you wouldn't want to wait until tomorrow or the day after to avoid this heat? It's killer, man."

The blond merely shrugged his shoulders. He didn't mind the heat. Sweating had never bothered him. It was the idea of letting the greenette walking beside him take the three-mile trek alone. Especially since Deku wasn't the best with a damn rifle. If the province didn't have a mandatory military service requirement, he was sure the greenette would have stayed right in Musutafu to start on his medical career. He'd gone through medical school with flying colors. It was just the military service that he had to get done, otherwise Deku would be a full-fledged doctor. Now, he was a full-fledged military doctor.

And considering that these days Deku was better at saving people than he was hurting them... To say it kindly, he handled a gun worse than a damn child. He wouldn't ever be comfortable sending the freckled idiot off on his own with Chisaki. Sure, Deku could fight in hand to hand combat, but put him up against a militiaman with a damn gun, and he'd be dead faster than one could pray to god for salvation.

Not that he didn't trust Chisaki. The other man worked as a field doctor, too, but Chisaki had this way about him that Deku did not. He was actually really well off with a gun where Deku was sloppy. He was charismatic when Deku still had this boyish charm to him. He was quick thinking and resourceful where Deku had the tendency to overthink. Chisaki made up for a lot of Deku's qualities that weren't necessarily geared toward military work, but Katsuki still didn't feel comfortable sending the pair of them out on their own. If something were to happen to either of his friends out there, he'd never be able to forgive himself.

"I say I'd rather be safe than sorry," he said simply.

"Thanks, Kacchan!" Deku said with that bright, beaming smile of his.

"Whatever. I ain't doin' it for you," he quipped back. "Can't have Chisaki over there getting his ass kicked because you don't know how to handle a gun."