Fates Entwined (A TodoBaku ff) ✔

LXII

"Sighting up ahead!" Kirishima shouted from the front line, Shoto and Katsuki sharing a look before heading over to join their friend. "Is it him?" Kirishima asked, sending a worried glance at Shoto.

"It is." Even though his figure was hidden under silver armour, head shrouded by his helmet, and his fire nowhere to be seen, that overwhelming presence in Enji's stance as he and his army slowly crested the hilltop was unmistakable.

And it seemed his father had caught sight of him too, as even from all the way over here it felt like Enji's sharp eyes were stabbing right into his gut, wrenching and turning in a way that almost made his knees buckle with each step his steed took onto the open plain. After many months of not seeing the man who had kept him imprisoned his whole life, he couldn't help the rush of fear through his body, hand once again reaching out for that familiar comfort. And it greeted him without hesitation, warm and calloused and strong. Safe.

"Kirishima, check formation. Tell Sero to collect those helping set up medical in the forest."

"On it." Kirishima nodded, he and Katsuki sharing a strong look, one of unwavering confidence, before he sped off over to Sero, Shoto watching the man disappear into the forest to collect the rest of their warriors.

Their formations were strong, an initial show of their bravery, their lack of fear against Enji and his soldiers. But Shoto knew once the battle started it would be up to their smaller squadrons to shift and adapt to whatever Enji's soldiers had prepared for them, to use their training to protect each other and fight for the future they wanted to see. There was a shift in the air when everyone was ready, a ripple of fear under each breath, but atop that amounting and unwavering belief in themselves and their fellow soldiers. 

Shoto took a closer look at his father's army, recognising faces and flashes of powers, even some of the most prized steeds were armoured and ready, hooves treading restlessly against the frost-coated ground. Even with all of their allies there were far more of them, Enji's army almost double the size of their own, and whilst this was something he had predicted it did nothing to settle the unease in his chest.

He wondered if they were all knights in training, or whether Enji had conscripted anyone from the kingdom who was suitable to fight. He wondered how many innocent people were amongst those soldiers, holding a sword they didn't know how to use, scared to say no to his father for fear of him hurting their family. 

"Who are the ones you told us to watch out for?" Katsuki asked from next to him, drawing Shoto from all of his spiralling negative thoughts. It was so easy, so easy in the presence of his father to shrink and cower and feel that choking grip of fear around his throat. It seemed all those walls he had put up, all of that indifference and nonchalance he had mastered when living in Endeavour had gone, and now all Shoto had to defend himself from the man was sheer will alone. 

"Inasa is there at the front. Remember to not actively engage with him, your powers would be too dangerous if they interacted with each other. And next to him is Ibara, the one with the vines. We should focus Denki and Mina's groups on her."

"Like how they practised." Katsuki recalled with a nod. "Anyone else you see? A bigger fucking problem?"

"I can't see TetsuTetsu. Perhaps he is at the back for a later attack? I want Kirishima to focus on him, their similar powers may give Kirishima enough time to switch TetsuTetsu onto our side. As I will try to do with Inasa." Shoto added with a slight grimace. They were not friends and had a rough beginning when they first met, but Shoto knew Inasa's heart was good and perhaps he could convince the man to join them against his father. It was hard to know where the man's loyalties were, whether to his father or to the kingdom.