(Update: this has turned into a full Story now @linkeduniverse see the about page for more info)
It was fun drawing essentially the same character but adding as much variation as possible.
ended up putting way too much effort in this. is this an AU? yes, no, I donāt know. I just like the compare and contrast of them all side by side and the various personalities shaped by their adventures, so I added little annotations while I doodled.
WW had Linebeckās coat but it threw off the look. And Iām not feeling it with SS attire. Hero of warriors? have fans given that Link a tittle? heās not in the timeline but I donāt care, his game is amazingly fun. āHero of the four swordsā, b/c I combined ALL the links whoāve handled that sword, even the link from the intro in Minish Cap. (which is where he gets his look)
Iāll add the text down here b/c Iām sure you canāt read it from the images.
Hero of Time
the leader type
Mental age is unknown (the others guess 60+, but that may be their joke)
Very decisive (has dealt with the should/would/could of time travel)
Wise and Stoic like this āfatherā, but has a youthful sense of humor Ā
views the Master Sword as a curse/burden
good with fairies, they never run from him
Hero of Twilight
the leader type (though he feels otherwise)
amazing sword skill and marksmanship
fierce and focused in battle Ā
humble
animal whisperer
getting over a 'complicatedā relationship
Hero of Warriors
the leader type (captain)
keeps a polished look
prideful
the charmer of the group
has 'womenā problems
good with organizing and communication
he prefers to work in groups
Hero of the Wild
the survivalist
good runner, hunter, stealth but canāt swim well
takes any questioning of Zelda too personally (the failure thing)
identity crisis due to memory loss
insecure, the only one to have failed his role as hero
uses 'strangeā magic (Sheika tec)
the cook
The Chosen Hero
despite seniority, heās not the leader type
kind, joyful, bashful
the most open among them about his love-interest (Zelda)
views the Master Sword as a blessing
Hero of the Four Sword
yes he has courage, but this little one is brave
wields the Four Sword
confident, very quiet, calm, and collected unless ādividedā
small, with smaller friends
tends to 'disappearā at times
skilled smith Ā
Hero of the Wind
full of personality, very expressive
carefree-ness can be mistaken for laziness
the last to think of Zelda as a damsel in distress
good at stealth and navigation
though the youngest he keeps up just as well
The Hero of Legend
chooses not to be a leader type
the most experienced adventurer
heās got a tool for that
very mature for his age, however, still young at heart
the most reliable, you want him on your team
seems emotionally unaffected by his travels however he keeps Koholint his dark secret Ā
Hero of Hyrule
just a humble traveler
does not think of himself as a warrior like the others
he handles himself very well in battle despite not having any training
street smart
magic, tools, survival he can do it all
hello ew tumblr's new colours lmao what. anyways!! sorry ive been so busy ;; hopefully the chapter makes up for that a bit www to the like. 4 people who read this lmao
Genre: fantasy
Ships: kirishima x bakugou
Word Count: 6662
Author: @undinefin
First | Previous | Next
Eijirou had seen towns before. When he had finally perfected his human form, heād gone into a few near his nest before his family had to relocate. The towns there were simple. Eijirou liked that about humans. Their little daily schedules, the way they would pack bond with objects or other species, and how they put value on things like clothes or paper.
All the towns heād seen up until this point were quiet ones, where the most action or drama would be a party, or a bar fight. Occasionally the town would hold a festival and items would either drop or raise in price. But none of them were big, he could probably cross the town in a few strides as a dragon.
But Charnom was not one of those towns.
Above the buildings were streamers and flags of different colours. The central location where Katsuki had taken him was bustling with people. Eijirou was constantly being jolted from side to side. The boy had told him to look out for something called āpickpocketsā and if he did see one, he could punch them.
Eijirou could pick up all sorts of conversations. Some were discussing a ball that was supposedly next week, others were haggling for goods at stalls, a few were simply joking around with friends, though a few conversations seemed to hold some tension. The dragon had never been this overwhelmed before. Heād felt this sense of wonder from humans before, and the warm feeling of appreciation and amazement was filling him once more.
āClose your mouth, you look like an idiot,ā Katsuki ordered.
Eijirou smiled instead, letting his sharp teeth show. It was the one thing he was unable to fully change. He assumed it had to do with survival and his body ensuring he could still eat properly. Sometimes heād have little success with shaping them into small rectangles, but within a day or so theyād grow back to the sharp state.
Katsuki led them through the busy market. Eijirou wasnāt able to properly process all of the stalls around him. He could point out some food or clothing stalls. A few seemed to sell weapons, or rather strange-looking drinks.
āOh, Katsuki-chan! Itās been a very long time,ā an old woman said weakly. The pair approached a small stall that seemed to sell food.
āIāve brought some fruit.ā He placed his pack onto the counter and took out the pots. āOi, you too.ā Katsuki gestured to Eijirou, who took a moment to pay attention to the boyās orders instead of the thousand other things happening.
The old woman smiled softly. āItās always nice getting fruit from you Katsuki-chan. You donāt charge a lot for your services, even though finding these fruits is so hard.ā
Katsuki seemed almost concerned. āIs the business going okay?ā he asked.
āWell, my daughter is supposed to take over, but sheās been so busy taking care of her son. I know my son-in-law wonāt want to sit here running a fruit stall, but I donāt want to pressure the family either,ā the old woman explained.
āIs there anything we can do?ā Eijirou asked. He struggled to untie the pot lid.
The womanās face brightened. āOh, if you could! I wouldnāt want to trouble such nice young men. If you could, look after my grandson for a bit, then Iād be able to go out and sell my produce to a regular buyer.ā
Katsuki opened his mouth, about to reject the offer, but he turned to see Eijirouās pleading eyes. āFine, when do you need us?ā
The smile on her face made her weathering skin wrinkle more. āOh, just after lunch!ā
Eijirou nodded pleasantly as Katsuki dragged him back into the crowded street. They blocked themselves off into a side street. The smell of garbage and rotting food was extremely pungent there. Eijirou covered his nose in order to block out the disgusting stench.
āWhat the fuck man? I donāt wanna babysit some kid!ā Katsuki pushed Eijirouās shoulder back.
The dragon pouted. āWell I do! I almost never get to see human children.ā
āThatās what this is about? You want to see a kid?ā Katsuki shouted, his voice getting throaty from exasperation. The wrinkle between his brows became bigger, signifying his annoyance. The boy took a step back, realizing he was taking up the dragonās space and forcing him against a wall.
Eijirou nodded shamelessly, bouncing on the balls of his feet. āPlease?ā he begged.
Katsuki sighed, āWhatever, we already agreed. But youāre doing all the work, okay? If the kid shits himself Iām not cleaning it up.ā
āBut I donāt know how!ā
āWell neither do I!ā
This sent Eijirou into a bit of a frenzy, worrying and fretting over taking care of human children. He knew the problems of taking care of dragon babies, the most concerning issue being losing sight of a small reptile.
Dragons, like most creatures, were free to nature as their bathroom. However, humans, somewhere along the line, found the concept rather disgusting and insisted that there be rooms dedicated to personal hygiene. This was another interesting thing about humans, though definitely one that Eijirou found quite troublesome. A bit needless if anything.
āHow do you go to the bathroom, Bakugou?ā
Katsuki whipped his head around, glaring. āWhat the fuck man? Why do I have to tell you?ā
āWell, I didnāt see a bathroom in your house so I was just wondering,ā Eijirou replied. He didnāt match the embarrassment that Katsuki seemed to have.
āThereās a river a few hundred meters out I use if itās shit, but other than that Iām just like some animal,ā he begrudgingly explained. The red on his face spread to his ears. āWeāre not talking about this anymore.ā
The two reached the town centre, which was a large circle that held no large building or structures, save for a wooden board and a large tower. The area had a brick path that lead around it, but there was also a fair amount of greenery. All of it was planted though.
āHow are those flowers even surviving here...?ā Eijirou wondered aloud.
āWhy? Are they not supposed to?ā
āThese are Campanulas, they shouldnāt grow in Amagataās climate at all. Theyāre obviously imported, and someoneās regulating the temperature around them. Or maybe itās those weird...pesty-sides? Is that what theyāre called? Maybe itās fart-ill-eezer?ā
āFertilizer? Pesticides?ā Katsuki guessed.
āYeah that! Or magic I guess. But using magic for flowers seems like a lot more work than needed.ā
Katsuki stared at the pretty blue flowers. āYouād be surprised.ā
Eijirou watched in pure confusion as Katsuki approached the large wooden board. He could read some of the slips of paper with relative ease. They seemed to be requests, asking for favours in return for nik.
Eijirou found himself drawn to the large tower. It was made of dark brick that seemed to be fading in the sunlight. The structure looked far too thin to house people, but the exterior wasnāt particularly interesting either. He concluded it wasnāt a form of art, but still couldnāt make heads or tails of the weird circle at the very top.
āHey Bakugou, whatās the tower for?ā
The boy looked up towards where Eijirou was pointing. āThatās a clock tower,ā he said simply.
āWhat does it do?ā
āCan you shut up and give me a few seconds, then I can explain? If youāre not going to earn money then keep quiet,ā he ordered.
Finally, Katsuki turned to him. āSo, you see the numbers inside the circle?ā he said out of the blue. Eijirou was surprised by the sudden conversation, but quickly nodded. āAnd the big sticks?ā Eijirou nodded again. āWell you read those, and it tells the time of day.ā
āIt...itās like a sundial?ā Eijirou asked. He was confused enough by the odd device at Katsukiās house, but the clock tower seemed even more vague. Time was another concept that Eijirou didnāt share with humans. It wasnāt something so organized for dragons. Perhaps because they lived so much longer, they didnāt need such strict schedules.
āNo, it doesnāt tell you the month or day. Itās just used as a general thing,ā Katsuki explained.
Eijirou did notice that the circle with numbers on it ā the clock perhaps ā was flat, unlike the sundial Katsuki owned, which dipped inside, creating a spherical shape. āCan you read it?ā
āYeah, itās not hard. But itās still sort of new to Piece. From what Iāve heard, theyāre gonna stop using sundials. Speaking of time, we have to go pick up that old womanās kid soon,ā he mentioned.
The dragon would have stayed and tried to figure out how the clock worked but the excitement of meeting a human child outweighed the clock tower. The two made their way back into the crowded marketplace. Again, his senses were overwhelmed from the commotion.
Between the different food stalls, potion shops, and lamp tents, Eijirou could have sworn he saw a booth that sold trappings made from dragon scales, blood, and teeth. He didnāt focus on the stall for very long. Most humans would pay thousands for items such as those. Causing a commotion would only lead to suspicion, but he still couldn't help but quicken his pace.
āKatsuki-chan, over here!ā the old woman waved from beside her stall, which had a sign telling patrons that it would be temporarily closed. Beside her was a very small child, which fascinated Eijirou more than anything. Human children were often extremely cute, with their miniscule hands and impossibly high voice.
As the pair approached the old woman, the boy sneaked behind her legs, using her as a barrier. āOh, heās just shy! Thank you so much for doing this, itās such a huge favour!ā
Katsuki grunted. He crossed his arms and refused to pay attention to the child. Eijirou on the other hand was excitedly waving towards the kid.
āItās no problem maāam. Weāll take care of him for a few hours!ā Eijirou promised.
The old woman stepped aside, forcing the kid out in the open. He still clung to her legs, but his small, red face was facing the pair at least. āThis is Kota, my grandson. Heās twenty-months old. He knows a few words, mostly āmommyā and ādaddyā butāā
āMommy!ā Kota cried out. Tears formed at his eyes, and he clutched onto his grandmother with greater strength.
āWell, Kota can walk just fine. Take him somewhere where itās distracting, but not busy. Itāll be great trouble if you lose him,ā she laughed.
Eijirou felt his heart melt as the child begrudgingly let go of his grandmotherās leg. The dragon held out his hand, hoping Kota would take it.
āNow Kota-chan, this here is Katsuki-chan.ā She pointed to Katsuki, who still refused to properly greet the child. āAnd this is...?ā
Eijirou was caught off guard. Should he use the name he gave Katsuki? Or would someone, somehow catch onto it? No, Eijirou couldnāt take any chances. Not with his family and dragonkind being at risk just because of some stupid fight, which is what landed him in this position in the first place (not that this position was necessarily awful, it was just dangerous).
āIām Kirishima. Nice to meet ya Kota-kun!ā
The old woman pushed her grandson towards the pair. āYes, this is Kirishima-chan. Be a good boy, okay Kota-chan?ā With a kiss on the cheek, the grandmother made her way through the busy marketplace. Kota tried to follow her with his eyes, but quickly lost her in the crowd.
āBaa...Baa-cha...ā he mumbled. His small voice, paired with teary eyes made Eijirouās heart squeeze. Dragon children werenāt this cute.
Eijirou managed to slip Kotaās small hand into his, and Katsuki led them down a side street to stay away from the busy crowd.
āSo, youāre twenty months old, huh Kota-kun?ā Eijirou asked. His voice unconsciously pitched when talking to the child. Kota nodded slowly, bringing his thumb to his mouth to suck on. āHow...how old is twenty months?ā Eijirou asked, realizing he didnāt actually know what the value meant.
āGod youāre a fucking idiot.ā
āHey! No swearing around the children!ā
Katsuki sighed. āI donāt care damnit. The kid isnāt going to pick up any words from just two hours of being together.ā
āCan I start calling you Katsuki-chan then?ā Eijirou laughed.
āAbsolutely fucking not! Also, twenty months is almost two years old, so heās still basically a baby,ā he answered Eijirouās previous question.
āI...I donāt know a lot about humans but something tells me thatās incorrect.ā
āKids are all the same to me,ā Katsuki defended himself. āWhatever. Where are we going with the brat?ā
Eijirou looked towards Kota again, who was getting saliva everywhere from sucking on his thumb. His eyes were pinned to the floor. āDo you wanna go anywhere Kota-kun? Or do you want me and Katsuki-chan to choose?ā
āHey! Fuck you!ā
āNo swearing!ā
Kotaās bottom lip trembled. āBaa-cha,ā he said quickly.
Eijirou frowned. āIām sorry Kota-kun, we canāt go to Baa-chan right now.ā The child hung his head, whimpering and mumbling āBaa-chaā over and over. āHow about the town centre? Maybe we can eat something there? Or look at the birds!ā
āBirdie?ā His face brightened at the response. The widening eyes and curious expression slowly turning into excitement was enough for Eijirou to turn, and beg Katsuki to lead the way to the town centre.
āLook, youāre the one keeping him entertained, Iām just here babysitting two idiots,ā he called from ahead. Eijirou paid the insult no mind, instead focusing on Kota, who was now excitedly jumping up and down.
āLet him run around, itās not as busy here. Just keep an eye on him and yell at him every so often,ā Katsuki said.
Eijirou nodded, telling Kota to not wander far. The boy ran towards the birds, excitedly chasing them as they either hopped or flew out of his grasp.
āYou know, the kid reminds me of you. I wonder if heāll be anything like you when he grows up,ā Eijirou commented. āLike, the spikiness of his hair is sortaā similar, and his eyes are scarily angled that it kindaā looks like heās a bit mad all the time.ā
āI do not look like some idiotic kid!ā
The dragon laughed, showing off his pointy teeth. āAww, is Katsuki-chan angry? Need a nap?ā he teased.
āShut your stupid face, or Iāll shut it up for you,ā Katsuki growled.
āOh yeah? How so?ā
āBy punching your damn jaw so hard you wonāt be able to laugh anymore.ā Katsuki cracked his knuckles, letting out an intimidating grin. His pupils seemed to reflect a fire that wasnāt present, but Eijirou could easily picture it.
Somehow, the dragon was disappointed by the response.
Eijirou had only seen balloons about two times in his life. They were a truly mysterious creation. He found it odd how humans found happiness and excitement in some thin sheets of paper being lifted by air. When he first saw them, he initially believed the user would control the balloon by manipulating the air. It turned out that a small flame would be conjured within the paper sphere, which would lift the entire contraption. Attaching a rope to it would give humans control over the balloon, preventing it from floating away.
Balloons could come in different colours, and different shapes too. Eijirou, who was a being that relied purely on magic, marveled at the amalgamation of science and magic. His intellect might play a part in his fascinationābecause Eijirou could never wrap his head around such subjects like arithmetic or scienceābut the limitless human imagination was still amazing.
Kota ran up to the two. āPlease?ā he pleaded, pointing at the balloon vendor.
Eijirou turned to Katsuki, who was in charge of the wallet. āPlease?ā he imitated the child. Ā The boy caved, handing a single nik to Eijirou. The dragon took Kotaās petite hand, leading him up to the vendor. As they approached the man, the toddler grew increasingly nervous.
After some fumbling, and broken conversation, Kota walked away with a forest green balloon. The pair ran back to Katsuki, who looked unimpressed by the decision.
āHere, pass me the string,ā Katsuki demanded. Kota looked hesitant, hiding his small figure behind Eijirouās legs. Eijirou slowly pulled the child from behind him, placing Kotaās hand into Katsukiās. The boy kneeled while tying the string around Kotaās wrist. āThere, now it wonāt float away.ā
Kota ran around again, this time his green balloon trailing behind him. Eijirou worried a bird would pick up the piece of paper, and fly off, leaving only a fire in a small wicker basket. To distract himself, Eijirou focused again on the clock tower.
āHow does it work? Magic?ā he asked, noticing how the rods of the clock were now in a different position.
Katsuki shrugged, āHell if I know. If it isnāt on magic, then it probably started with it. Most things do that.ā
āSo, you guys just develop from magic to science?ā Eijirou echoed.
āI think so. I dunno much about either of āem though,ā Katsuki said, finishing the conversation. āHey, didnāt we come here to get more books in the first place? Why donāt we go over there now? Even if the kid doesnāt wanna come he doesnāt have much a choice,ā he grinned.
āBakugou!ā
āI thought I was Katsuki-chan to you,ā he gibed. āOi kid, weāre going to a new place now.ā
Kota was startled by Katsukiās yell. He scurried over to Eijirou, and this time took the initiative to hold Eijirouās hand himself. Again, they followed Katsukiās lead to the bookstore. The building was further from the busy market place, and west of the town center. There were only four or five other people on the street where they walked, none of them conversing.
Walking into the bookstore, the unusual smell of parchment and leather filled Eijirouās nose. The room was filled with books of different lengths. There seemed to be signs on the shelfs, marking different genres, and even languages.
It was a different sense of wonder than the market. Here, Eijirou knew that the heart and mind of all humans were collected within these pages, all concentrated in this very store. People poured their thoughts, their studies, their emotions onto the pages and spun them so the words would turn into an idea, perhaps a different idea, in another personās head.
There was a certain kind of magic that humans held with these books; one that Eijirou hoped to understand, even just an inkling of what they contained.
Kota pointed to a book that was stood on a table at the front of the store. It was clearly on display for people to look at. āAw-Might!ā
āWho?ā Eijirou asked.
āAw-Might! Strong!ā he shouted. Kota ran towards the book, and flipped through it. When the contents proved to have no images, he sadly put the book down.
The shopkeeper spoke up, āOh! Are you Bakugou-kunās friend? I heard that you donāt get out much. But even if you live under a rock, you should surely know of the Champion.ā Eijirou shook his head in confusion. āAre you a foreigner?ā
āUh...yeah,ā he responded. āNot from Piece.ā
The old man beamed. āIād be glad to tell you about the Champion! You know, heās the Pride of Piece, the Unassailable Soul, the ChampionāAll Might! Heās a part of the Royal Guard, but heās so strong that heās basically a unit on his own. I donāt think thereās a day in Piece history, where heās lost or surrendered.ā
āWoah...so heās a super strong, manly, man?ā Eijirou asked.
āStrong! Aw-Might!ā Kota nodded. He held his hands out in front of him, fists balled, and began running around the room. The child spewed nonsense, copying phrases and words that were on the cover of the All Might Book.
āHe is!ā the shopkeeper laughed. Eijirou picked up the book, and noticed the image on the front. The Champion seemed to be a big, burly man with the largest smile Eijirou could conceive of a human. His hair seemed to be a signature of sorts. The way the blond locks formed a V-shape atop his head was unusual. On his shoulder was a massive sword, as big as the man himself. It was rusted, and cuts on the blade itself told stories in themselves of the battles the Champion had fought.
āIf youāve ever heard of the Chimera Crisis, it was the Champion who fought off the beasts from the west coast. He participated in gladiator fights when he was younger, winning them three years in a row. Itās how he became so well known. Oh! He also took out the entire Darkwing Organization on his own,ā the shopkeeper rambled on.
He listed many other achievements, including a preventing an assassination on the Royal Family, and resolving the conflict between the naiads and the selkies, who were flooding the towns and displacing many habitats.
āYou know,ā the shopkeeper chuckled. āBakugou-kun used to come in here and read all sorts of stories of All Might when he was a child. He was obsessed with the Champion, werenāt you Bakugou-kun?ā
The boy flushed, sputtering, though not denying the statement. āI was not obsessed!ā
āHe was passionate,ā the old man said gently.
āAll kids are passionate about All Might! Heās the strongest knight in Piece!ā
Eijirou laughed, mimicking whatever action Kota had done before with his arms outstretched and fists balled. āDid you pretend you could go around like this? And carry a huge sword? Huh, Katsuki-chan?ā he teased.
āDonāt call me that! All Might is the idol of every kid in this country, itās only natural that I was also a fan!ā
āOh? Are you going by Katsuki now?ā the shopkeeper asked, straying from the topic.
Katsuki let out a growl, grabbing Eijirou by the flaps of his vest. His voice was hoarse from shouting, his eyes filling with white. āI donāt! Shitty Hair if you donāt fucking stopāā
āKaccha?ā
The boy saw red.
Katsuki turned to see Kota looking up at him, but his small face rounded more, and his eyes looked much bigger. His red cheeks from excitement looked instead like he was crying. The small figure was shaking in Katsukiās eyes, and suddenly it wasnāt Kota standing in the bookstore anymore.
āKaccha?ā the toddler repeated.
Katsuki strode up to the child, his blood boiling. A part of him knew what he saw wasnāt true, but that alone wasnāt enough to stop his fist from raising above his head. Katsuki cocked his head to the side, his neck straining from the position. He stared at Kota, who was no longer Kota to him. Adrenaline ran through his blood, urging him to bring down his hand.
Kota swallowed, his eyes no longer glowing. ā...scary,ā he mumbled. The boy ran to Eijirou, who could only stare at the scene.
Katsuki turned to Eijirou, seeing the unnatural white in his face. Slowly realizing exactly what his actions had implied, he rushed towards the two, preparing an apology in his head. He was sweating, the palms of his hands wet from fear and anxiety.
āI didnātāā
āNo! Not Kaccha!ā Kota screamed. The sound ripped through Katsukiās ears. He lunged, preparing his hand to grab a throat.
At contact, Katsuki was holding onto small red scales. A small hiss, and a bit of smoke was released from his hand. Looking up, he met Eijirouās eyes which wore an emotion Katsuki had never seen in them before. His eyes shone, maybe because of his draconic nature, but to Katsuki, it felt as though the dragon was going to cry.
Snapping his hand back, Katsuki stormed out of the shop. He didnāt look back, but did wait at the door for the other two. There was no movement for a long time. Katsuki simply stood, looking onto the empty street and forcing himself to push out his violent and grey memories. No, right now he had to focus on living. He wouldnāt see that damn useless guy anymore.
Katsuki slapped his cheeks. It was still a habit to call that guy useless, but Katsuki knew better than that now. Thatās what he promised.
The door beside him opened slowly, and Kota walked out shyly. His hands were gripping onto his shirt, and he closed his eyes. āIām sorry, Bakugou-san!ā he shouted.
āGood job!ā Eijirouās voice called from inside. The dragon lead the child out, so all three were on the street. Katsuki could hear the shopkeeper call out a farewell through the wall.
Katsuki took a deep breath. āMe too kid. Sorry for being bad.ā He bowed his head slightly. Bad was an understatement.
Eijirou nodded. āWe wonāt call you that anymore. Sorry.ā
Kota couldnāt hold it anymore. He began to whimper, and transitioned into a full-blown meltdown. Big tears fell down his cheeks, and his small mouth let out a perpetual, high-pitched cry. Eijirou tried to hush him, but Kota only panicked from the proximity, flailing his arms. Eijirou took the message and backed up.
The boy raised his hands and began rubbing the tears away from his eyes. Katsuki watched as the balloonās rope slowly slid off his wrist with each rub. When Kota finally pulled his hand away, the balloon took off into the sky.
This only prompted more crying. The child grasped for the string, which was already out of reach for him. Katsuki jumped to grab the string, but it slipped from his fingers which were still sweaty from before. He cursed, backing up and hoping to gain more leverage.
Before Katsuki could jump again, a pair of wings crossed his field of vision. When he blinked, Eijirou was on the ground with the balloon in his hand. His vest was tossed to the side, leaving a man shirtless in the street with a balloon in hand, and a smile of sharp teeth.
He put a finger to his lips. āKota-kun, donāt tell anyone you saw that okay?ā Eijirou bent down, and gave the balloon back to Kota.
āPretty...ā the child whispered. Katsuki watched the child stare intently into Eijirouās eyes, which radiated onto his cheeks. The beautiful gold had returned to the dragon's eyes, but slowly faded.
āYou promise you wonāt tell anyone?ā Eijirou asked again.
Kota nodded, still fascinated with whatever creature stood before him. āPromise!ā
***
The last purchase the pair made was a candlestick and saucer for the walk home. They didnāt share much conversation on the way back to the glade. Eijirou kept on asking if he could bring out his wings and fly back, since walking was really tiring, but Katsuki had already given him a heavy scolding from his stupid, past actions.
The Wyrm Forest felt much denser at night, as if the canopies closed in without the sun. It was eerily quiet, only the sounds of cicadas filling the air.
āAre you sure we wonāt be attacked?ā Eijirou asked for the nth time. āI swear this forest gets creepier at night.ā
Katsuki groaned. āI already told you Shitty Hair, wyrms donāt attack unless they feel threatened! And considering how big they are, that isnāt very often! Unless you go around poking a stick at them or some crap, they wonāt attack you. Theyāre your cousins yāknow. Theyāre smart.ā
Still jittery, Eijirou gave a hesitant nod. āHow do you make this journey so often? Itās so long,ā the dragon whined.
āYa get used to it. Why? Not strong enough to do it? Need me to carry your lazy ass?ā Katsuki jeered. He bent over, as if inviting the dragon for a piggy-back-ride.
āReally?ā Eijirou played along. He grabbed Katsukiās shoulders and almost jumped up onto his back, but the boy ran ahead, laughing.
Katsuki was the one holding the candle, but Eijirou needed neither light nor warmth. His glowing eyes provided enough light for him to see, and as a fire dragon, he could certainly regulate his body temperature. Katsuki found it almost frustrating how magical Eijirou really was. Every component of him worked off of, and in turn, exuded mana.
āYou wanted to know why my wing got torn, yeah?ā Eijirou broke the momentary silence.
Katsuki nodded rather shamelessly. His childlike curiousity took over from the main point he was trying to make.
āThe truth is that, well, I got too close to a group of travelling humans. They were hunting some egg or something. I was fascinated by their carriages, and the way they had enchanted their swords. I wanted to see humans do what they do best: make things happen.ā Eijirouās eyes flashed a brighter orange. āBut they mustāve had some ranger or someone else hiding where I couldnāt see, or even hear!
āBefore I knew it, I was being fired at. I couldnāt properly protect myself without jeopardizing all dragons as a whole. I tried to fly away, but as I began to flap my wings, they mustāve shot some explosive projectile or maybe some magic but whatever it was, it tore my wing.ā
The two broke through the forest wall, entering Katsukiās glade. He watched as the form beside him fell onto all fours, the skin and hair stretching and slipping off. It was sickening to watch Eijirou's eyes roll back into his head, and his nails growing abnormally long. He struggled to get off his vest and pants while scales enveloped his entire body, which was now four times the size of Katsuki. The dragon took a step forward. His body mass was finally big enough to shake the ground. His sharp teeth simply grew in size, and a second row sprouted up behind the first. Finally, with a shake of his head Eijirou returned to his full form and his eyes slid back, fiery orange.
āThat was horrifying what the fuck. Doesnāt it hurt?ā
Eijirou nodded. āA bit. It hurts more to go the other way though. Anyways, after my wing was shot, I set some nearby trees on fire and ran until I reached the North Mountains. Stayed up there for a few days but that damn Cherufe was so infuriating I left. Thatās when I got to the forest, and I met you soon after.ā
āHuh, youād think dragons could heal faster,ā Katsuki mentioned.
āMan, I wish!ā Eijirou exclaimed. āItās because weāre so reliant on magic, and so huge that it takes a long time to heal stuff. We can take lots of blows, but it usually requires a year to recover from a full fight. Well, then again, a year isnāt worth much to a dragon.ā
āWhy do you still like humans if theyāre trying to kill you all the time?ā
āYouāre not trying to kill me,ā Eijirou said. Katsuki glared. āOkay, okay. To be honest, I donāt even know. But everything you liāl guys do is so fascinating. Youāve built castles and churches larger than even some of the biggest dragons! By yourselves too! And the paintings, or songs, or the way you live your lives is so odd, but always so interesting.ā
āSo, youāre just a fuckinā nerd,ā Katsuki concluded.
Eijirou snorted, āSure.ā
Katsuki stopped at the door to his hut. He looked the dragon in the eye, and hardened his expression. āIām definitely gonna do it. Iāll create a kingdom where Iām the king, and thereās gonna be dragons everywhere. You and I will be sitting on a massive pile of gold.ā
Eijirouās amber eyes shone, and the dragon gave a massive, toothy grin. He nodded, nudging Katsuki with his snout. With the silent exchange, Katsuki watched the dragon walked away to hide himself in the woods to sleep.
Katsuki dreamed of flying in the sky. He couldnāt tell if it was from his own abilities, or another force, but beside him was Eijirou. Instead of a dragon, it was his human form with wings sprouting from his back. The sky was a clear blue. The boy knew it was a dream. Eijirou wouldnāt fly so freely when he could be spotted, but Katsuki wanted to stay in the moment a little longer.
But the Eijirou in his dreams was too one-dimensional. Sure, the dragonās laugh was pleasant to the ears ā almost addicting ā but it was the only thing that dream-Eijirou could do. There was no banter, and no matter how hard he tried, Katsuki couldnāt say a word. Possibly the worst element was the distance between them. Katsuki couldnāt move closer to the dragon at all.
Slowly, the form began to fall, like heād seen earlier. His skin dripped off, like candle wax and fell to the earth. Underneath the layer of skin was unnervingly slimy scales. Even with the sounds of his bones cracking, and eyes rolling back and forth, the dragon was still laughing. The sound became distorted, low and then high frequencies replacing the once beautiful laughter.
Eijirou fully turned to Katsuki, revealing the blood on the side of his face, hemorrhaging from a chunk taken off his head. Bits of bone were visible, and the blood slowly turned to scales on his face, locking the dragonās despairing expression in place.
He woke up in a sweat. Katsuki took a moment to regulate his breathing, hoping his heart would slow down with it.
āBakugou.ā
The boy screamed, nearly jumping out of his bed. He turned to see Eijirou in his human form, with the same expression on his face that Katsuki had seen in the dream, minus the blood.
Eijirou looked ready to cry.
āIām sorry,ā he mumbled. āIām sorry I couldnāt be a better guest here. A better man. Iām so sorry,ā he whispered it, speaking quickly.
Katsuki stood up. āWhat do you mean? The hellās going on? Were you attacked?ā
Eijirou pursed his lips, which were trembling. āNot yet. I was too careless in town, I know theyāre coming I can feel it, I can hear it. Theyāll come here eventually.ā
āNoāā
āI have to leave. I canāt put my family in danger anymore.ā His eyes were a bland maroon. āIām sorry,ā he said it again. Katsuki could see light out his window. The sun hadnāt lifted into the sky. No, it was torches, and with torches came humans.
āI know itās selfish to leave you here in danger. Iām so sorry, Iāll try to throw them off somehow butāā
āYouāre damn right itās selfish,ā Katsuki growled. His hands were getting sweaty again, but this time with anger. āYouāre just gonna go? As if nothing ever happened? I canāt believe that youāre just abandoning me! If you were so worried about this why didnāt you tell me earlier!?ā He felt his heart beat faster with every demand.
āI didnāt want to worry you! Youāre too headstrong, youād try to fight that entire town if I told you. Iām leaving,ā the dragon declared.
āSo, what!? I told you, I said it myself I would fight every damn person on this continent if it meant that you could fly freely.ā Katsuki grasped Eijirouās arm, feeling the unnatural heat emanating from it.
Eijirou smiled sadly. āI know you would. And I know you can definitely do it, but not now. Now isnāt the time.ā
Katsuki almost screamed. āThen when is the time!? Huh?ā
Eijirou began backing out of the hut. āIām sorry,ā he said again. The boy followed him, grabbing his sword in case he did need to fight.
The dragon broke out into a run, letting his wings form, but they were stuffed into his vest. Katsuki ran after him, putting every ounce of energy he could into chasing down the Eijirou. āWait!ā he cried. āYouāre definitely coming back, right?ā
Eijirou stopped and turned. He seemed to wipe a tear from his eye. āI will. I promise Iāll come back.ā
āWhen?ā Katsuki begged.
āSoon.ā
āHow soon is that!?ā his voice broke. He cracked on the last word, some foreign feeling filling his throat. Katsuki wanted to blow something up, he wanted to destroy whatever awful thing was tearing at his heart right now.
The dragonās eyes reflected light that wasnāt his. The people were drawing closer to the glade. Even though they couldnāt hear him from across the field, Eijirou still lowered his voice. āI donāt really know. It could be months, it could be years.ā
Katsuki seemed to whimper at the response. āSo...youāre really going? Just like that? If you could stay, we could lie, or fight them off. Donāt just leave you asshole,ā he matched Eijirouās volume.
Eijirou nodded. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a smoothed claw. āThis is... actually really weird and mildly disgusting if you think about it but...I didnāt want to leave everything behind, and I selfishly wanted you to remember me, even just a bit.ā Eijirou held the orange claw in his hand, which gleamed under the moonlight.
āI made this quickly. Itās one of my claws but itās smaller for obvious reasons.ā He placed it in Katsukiās hand.
āMagic?ā the boy guessed. Eijirou nodded. āYeah itās sort of disgusting,ā Katsuki agreed. āLike, really disgusting. I couldāve gone without the fucking details.ā
Eijirou laughed. He pulled out another claw that was similar to the one Katsuki was given. Holding his empty hand above both of the claws, he casted a small light upon them. āItās a weak sort of tracking. This is the best I can do to keep you and I safe,ā he explained. āItāll grow warmer the closer we are to each other. Iāll definitely find you again.ā
Katsuki bit his lip, trying to compose himself. āOkay.ā He nodded. āOkay, you better find me again, you lazy asshole.ā
Eijirou leaned in, touching his forehead to Katsukiās. Neither of them could say a word. Katsuki couldnāt bring himself to give a proper farewell. The boy wanted to grab Eijirou and force him to stay. Maybe he could tie him down, or barter with the nymphs to protect him. Though, Katsuki knew that none of those were the best option for the dragon. Eijirou would have to leave.
He felt the heat leave his forehead. Katsuki watched the dragon give him one last, toothy smile before flying off into the night. Katsuki could only follow his figure until he reached the clouds, where only a wisp of Eijirou was left.
The claw in his hand was cold.
Turning to face the torches, Katsuki could make out a horde of people. They carried pitchforks, weapons, and hatred. They were angry. They were envious. The boy couldnāt help but scream, let the sound know exactly what he intended to do.
He made his promise, and he was going to keep it. Katsuki was going to build his throne of gold, sit upon it, and create a kingdom. Once he did, his dragon would surely return to him.
ahhHH the plot continues to move~ in case you haven't noticed it, these two are about 4 years in the past from the others in their timeline. after this chapter, everyone will be in the same time. hope that isn't too confusing!!Ā
thanks for reading ;;; if u have any comments or wanna let me know u liked it!! the like button!!!! i sound like a bad youtuber okay thank u!!!
I FORGOT I SAW THIS ON FACEBOOK A WHILE AGO COMPLETELY UNIRONICALLY OH MY GOD IāM SCREAMING BA-SING-SE REPRESSED FREE SPEECH AND LITERALLY LIED TO ITS CITIZENS HOW DID YOU THINK THIS WAS A GOOD METAPHOR
Not to mention that the wall didnāt do jack shit because guess what? Azula still got in and took down the government, using the corrupt system to aid her, allowing the fire nation to take over the city. The wall didnāt protect them from that.