Behind a smile

Part 24~Gases

~Zama POV~

I carefully burnt the air around Kirishima and I, keeping the fire close in enough to control but far enough away to not burn either of us. By burning the gas we could temporarily breath clean-ish air, the only problem being carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide levels. But if we kept this up, there wouldn't be any oxygen left for us to breath anyway.

"We need to get out! We can't just stand here like lemmings!" My eye twitched slightly at what he said.

"Did you not hear Mandalay? We should not fight and make our way back to camp," I said, grabbing his hand and stopping him from running off. "Please Kirishima, we need to get back to camp before we inhale the gas."

"Kirishima! Midoriya!" We turned to see Tetsutetsu running forward to us.

"Tetsutetsu." I lowered my flames to let Tetsutetsu through. as came up to me.

I noticed he was holding Ibra in his arms and had gas masks around his waist.

"Can we borrow one of those?" I pointed at the gas mask as he turned to allow us to get a hold of them.

I grabbed two, giving one to Kirishima, before placing one over my lower face and putting out my flames. "Tetsutetsu, we need to head back to camp."

"No way! I am tired of being one upped by you class A people. The only difference is you have had trauma, you got attacked over and over again and you always turned it into opportunity. And I am going to do the same!"

Before we could spot him, he ran off with Ibra on the floor. "Tetsutetsu!"

Kirishima was about to run after him but I grabbed him and held him back. I gently shook my head and practically begged him to stay.

"Please, Kirishima, we need to get back to camp."

He sighed but nodded and let me lead him away. He held Ibra in his arms as we made our way back. We heard Mandalay's announcement that the villains were after Bakugo and I which just made me want to get back to camp even more.

Bang!

Halting, we both looked over at the epicentre of the gas. Someone was getting hurt. I could see Kirishima wanting to charge into the mist to help and knew I couldn't stop him this time. Helping him to put down Ibra, I followed him into the forest.

By the time we got to the epicentre, we had heard a series of other bangs telling me more bullets had been shot.

We ran through the mist until we could see a man with an army style gas mask on and a gun in his hand pointing at Tetsutetsu who was cowery, blood dripping down his face. I could also see Kendo a bit to the left.

Kirishima ran forward and jumped over Tetsutetsu before I could stop him.

I ran to Tetsutetsu's side and created a basic air bubble by surrounding him in water. "Tetsutetsu, when I say breath, take a deep breath in. Okay, breath." I quickly filled the bubble with air which he sucked in, then dissipated it. A small headache formed from doing that, quick replacement was not good for me.

Tetsutetsu gave me a thumbs up before getting up. Kirishima was still being shot at and I could tell he was getting hurt.

I ran past him and sent the Earth up, but Mustard easily dodged to the side. I stopped in front as he aimed his gun at me. "You're one of the duplicates, that means I am allowed to do this." He pulled the trigger but I submerged it in water and stopped it from coming any closer.

He pulled the trigger again and again, none getting past my water.

Kendo took her chance to run forward and tried to attack the villain, who dodged to the side. "As I said, while my gas is around me, I can sense every movement you have."

He was going to attack Kendo but I wasn't going to let that happen. I sent forward some rocks as he jumped to the side. Kendo smiled before swiping at the air and dispersing the gas. He was going to attack again, but I jumped in and kicked him.

He dodged underneath my first kick but I sent another and sent him flying. "I really do hate getting psychical, but I think this time I shall make an exception. No one aims a gun at Kirishima."

I stretched my arm before launching at the villain who had sat up, I kicked his chest and tried to hit his mask but he ducked down.

I sent rocks to the side and stopped him from getting too far away.

I charged again but this time sent out my water to blind him from moving. He tried to send a bullet to me but I stopped it. "Will you please stop that, it is most uncouth to use a gun, why can't you just talk like a normal person?"

The villain didn't seem too pleased by my comment as he tried to shoot me down. I blocked the bullets one by one until I felt a stinging in my cheek. One had hit me, barely slicing the flesh and not burying into the cheek.

"Don't you dare!" Kirishima ran forward and tried to hit the villain but Mustard dodged and aimed his gun at Kirishima.

Kirishima dodged the bullet and went to punch the villain who dodged.

I came up behind the villain and punched the back of his head. I broke past his mask and knocked him unconscious. The gas around us cleared and we were able to remove our masks.

I gave a victorious smile to Kirishima and Kendo before going to check on Tetsutetsu who was very happy to be breathing fresh air.

Everything seemed well and good until a surging pain filled my every cell and I collapsed to the ground. At first I thought I was going to return to Izuku but instead, I was covered in darkness.