Katsuki swallows the last drop fireproof elixir, fighting back his gag reflex. The difficulty in sourcing ingredients forced him to use even the worst batch. He throws the empty bottle back into his pack, annoyed at the gritty residue coating his mouth. Whatever Katsuki made, whether food or potion, was made to be perfect, but he couldn't account for everything out in the wild. He sure didn't expect the sudden impactful , reappearance of a certain loud-mouthed idiot halfway up an active volcano. He'd been holding precious few ingredients over a hot cooking pot when he'd been thrown to the ground. A set of big, red eyes hardly registered in his brain when the smell of scorched ingredients broke through the shock. He'd pushed the heavy weight off, rushing to salvage what he could.
"I guess I got carried away," Kirishima had said as the pair observed a still smoldering pile of ash. Without smotherwing butterflies he couldn't make proper elixirs for the summit. There was the Flamebreaker armor in town, but it was a clunky, giant pain in the ass to use. The only other option, Katsuki decided, was to spend the day butterfly catching. It could potentially take hours, but Kirishima would do most of the work.
"That's what I'm here for, Bakubro," he said with a determined nod, completely ignoring the threat attached to the demand. "You've got me all day."
And so here they are together now, walking up towards a high ledge, hoping to catch sight of something besides wisps of ash in the air. Despite the constant rumbling of falling rocks and lava, Bakugou finds it difficult to ignore Kirishima's voice. The questions keep coming despite his refusal to answer. Where had he been? What had he seen? What would he do? He doesn't ask when Katsuki returned, he sensed that the moment it happened. If Katsuki stopped needlessly picking fights with lizalfos he might even feel a little guilty over it. So he doesn't. He dodges those thoughts just as he dodges all of Kirishima's questions.
The entire morning is spent mostly fighting. And it feels good. It surprises him how easily they fall back in sync. He even high-fives Kirishkma after a well coordinated lizalfo kill with a combination bomb stun and final blade to the skull. They're each sportingin lizalfo made weapons and shields by late morning. The mismatch to his dyed Sheikah set mildly annoys him, but the lizalfo steel adds something rough and appealing to Kirishima's knight gear.
As good as battle might be, they still have their butterfly task at hand.
"Do you have enough dragon scales?," Kirishima asks, trailing a few steps behind, "Want me to get some?"
Bakugou looks back. "Gonna shed some for me, lizard boy?"
Kirishima sticks his tongue out. His grin is big and a little silly, like he remembers.
"No," he says, "But Dinraal would give them to me if I called."
Bakugou shakes his head. "I've got plenty already."
Receiving a blessing from a fire dragon, thinks Bakugou, is highly convenient. Kirishima could withstand as much heat as any Goron. With lava flowing freely close by, the heat is nearly unbearable. Not much further up the mountain and Katsuki could burst into flames. But Kirishima, who is preparing to toss a large rock on a larger unsuspecting bird, is completely unbothered. Despite the horns and teeth, Kirishima is practically a Goron. He talks like them, knows the mountain like them. But he looks much better, less like a potato. Just a bit.
A falling bird carcass distracts him from these thoughts. He side steps the bird, drawing out his bow, and sends a single burning arrow at Kirishima's chestplate. It hits the hastily drawn shield with a clink.
"You're scaring off all the butterflies," he shouts, not caring if he scares any away himself.
Kirishima laughs as he crouches next the now fully cooked drumstick on the ground.
"Hungry?"
Bakugou's face contorts in disgust. "I don't want some nasty floor meat. Get up and make yourself useful."
With a shrug Kirishima removes the drumstick, flinging it away where it reignites, bursting into flames.
Katsuki decides Kirishima's lack of potato appearance is offset by his mashed potato brains.
—
They keep moving. Even with the Sheikah slate trapping their targets proves tricky. Neither he nor Kirishima are particularly stealthy hunters. If not for fairy blessings and elixirs they wouldn't get anywhere. After another string of failures, Kirishima declares a break. Despite his huffing and puffing Katsuki follows. Not to be too cooperative, he removes the Sheikah slate from its carrier. He pretends to fiddle with the sensor while Kirishima sits heavily near to him. Five minutes pass before he hears cursing and the sound of frantic movement behind him.
He turns to ask, not so politely, what his deal is, but the answer is obvious. Somehow a bundle of flowers from Katsuki's pack has come undone. Carefully collected swift violets are now rolling down the slope, some snagging on the jagged rocks, the majority continuing down to a pool of lava. Katsuki reaches for his bag, shouting, "Go fucking get them."
"I AM," yells Kirishima already sprinting down the mountain, almost tripping.
Katsuki joins the chase, roaring curses as several butterflies disappear along the way. Ahead Kirishima has hopped onto his shield, rapidly sliding towards the lava pool. It's a mad dash down the mountain, Kirishima attempting to save the flowers as Katsuki attempts to stop him. As they pass over a large overhanging rock Katsuki takes a chance, using his own shield to take a leap just behind Kirishima. Somehow he manages to grab a horn, yanking him back, sending them both tumbling to the ground, up against a boulder, safe, but not without injury. Despite the groans and heavy beat of his heart he can hear clearly when the flowers disappear into the heat with a sizzle.
Eyes closed, Katsuki only feels Kirishima attempt to move away. He won't let him, keeping his grip tight on his horn.
"Shit… Sorry, Katsuki… Can you let go now?"
He does, first using the horn to push Eijirou down before lifting himself off the ground.
Teeth bared, hands clenching, he's unable to control his anger.
"You could have burned to death, you dumbfuck!"
Kirishima looks up at him, surprised and confused.
It takes a moment. Realizing his mistake Katsuki refocuses his anger.
"Who gave you permission to rummage through my shit?"
Kirishima gets to his feet, looking very apologetic.
"Sorry, Bakugou. I wanted to see all the cool stuff you collected," he says with an embarrassed smile, "I can't even go into town anymore so-"
Katsuki cuts him off, snatching the remaining flowers from Kirishima's hand, roughly shoving it back into his bag. Several petals fly off, catching fire before they can hit the ground.
The two stand there awkwardly facing each other. For a second Katsuki thinks Kirishima might push for answers again. Instead Kirishima points at a pair of smotherwing butterflies further up the mountain.
"They came back."
Not waiting for a reply, Kirishima begins his ascent, only pausing to silently urge the other man forward. Bakugou holds his pack protectively under his arm, both embarrassed and begrudgingly grateful.
—
Their second attempt proves more successful. Katsuki just barely snares another set of wings when Kirishima calls to him. He looks up towards a high ridge where his companion holds out his fist. Wings poke out between his fingers.
"I win!," yells Kirishima, his sharp teeth displayed in a wide smile.
Katsuki rolls his eyes, though he can't stop his own smile coming forth. It doesn't matter that he lost their game, the challenge had been enough to distract him. Because of course Kirishima knew it would.
"Hurry your ass down," he yells, motioning to him with his free hand.
Rather than climb down Kirishima lets himself slide, narrowingly avoiding a small fire chuchu. It readies itself, but Katsuki easily lands an arrow before it can jiggle any closer. He picks up chunks of jelly while scolding Kirishima for his indelicate treatment of the butterflies.
"Is this enough to get all the way up there?,"he asks, ignoring the lecture.
"It's enough. Just gotta find a place to make use of them."
"Bro, I know exactly where to go."
Kirishima points to a higher spot on flat ground.
"There should be a pot there. Come on."
Kirishima makes for Katsuki's hand, but he's wordlessly brushed aside.
—
The climb is easy, and so is the search. Katsuki throws a bomb into the air, letting Kirishima spike it towards a wall of suspicious rocks. He can't help but grin as Kirishima woops in excitement even for something so routine. Inside, as Kirishima promised, is an old cooking pot. Katsuki is ready to spend the evening making his high quality elixirs. While he removes the supplies from his pack Kirishima hovers over him, asking questions about the various things inside. Katsuki might have let this slide with just a few insults and halfhearted complaints, but the incident earlier made him nervous. A second more and Katsuki shoves his companion away.
"Don't be like that Bakugou."
Embarrassed, but unwilling to admit anything, he lets out a frustrated sigh.
"I have to stir."
Whether it be food or potions Katsuki enjoys his time around a cooking pot. Typically, he prefers to be alone, letting time slip away unnoticed. Now he lets Kirishima talk.
Where had he been? Where was he going?
These are the questions. Katsuki uses the Sheikah slate to answer, using one hand to stir and the other on the slate balanced on his knee. He pretends not to watch Kirishima's face as he marvels at the pictures. He points out the places he recognizes. Places they'd seen together so long ago.
"I remember this fountain!," he exclaims excitedly, "I pushed you in."
The memory is so much older than it feels. He can remember they had been traveling together from the castle, returning to meet with Daruk. They stopped to rest the horses by the fountain. A recipe he'd gotten from the royal chef had been ruined in his pocket.
"Fucker," he says, giving Kirishima playful a shove. "It's your fault we never had cake."
Kirishima pretends to fall over from the push. He feigns shock, gasping with exaggerated surprise.
"You were gonna make cake?," he asks, sitting back down.
"I was until someone soaked the recipe."
"You deserved it. You pushed Midoriya in first."
Katsuki's jaw clenches reflexively. He didn't want to waste time talking about Deku.
"Talk about something less stupid."
Kirishima nods, understanding.
—
It's dark by the time all of elixirs are ready. Kirishima is next to him as he corks the last bottle. He points questioningly towards a leftover pile of smotherwing butterflies Bakugou has brushed aside.
"Extras," he explains, "This is the last one."
So he has overshot the total needed. Before he can start tidying up Kirishima grabs a few mushrooms and some rice.
"Guess I'm making dinner," he says, eyes twinkling with excitement.
Rarely does Katsuki allow others to cook for him. It's been a long while since he's eaten anything not prepared by his own hands. Others have given him food as thanks during his travels, all of which he'd sold. Quality only mattered in terms of quantity of rupees it could fetch. If memory serves right, Kirishima's cooking isn't the worst. So he lets him.
The risotto tastes like he remembers. Good.
"It's okay," he says between spoonfuls, "Better than before." Kirishima smiles, scooping more food into Katsuki's bowl. He eats a little more than he wants to.
Full, he sets his dish aside. He can sense Kirishima watching him stare at the fire, trying to read him.
There was no reason to stall now. The gorons had been waiting too long. Katsuki wishes he could make them wait longer. He'd been avoiding the final beast. He spent too many days and nights trudging through snow, trudging through the desert in search of the right bow, the right armor. Doing fuck all towards his real goal.
It was stupid, but he'd been saving this trip for last.
He looks over at Kirishima. He doesn't move. Can't move. Kirishima has dropped his disguise. There's a red glow around him, further lighting on the cave walls. It was just like talking to the king on the plateau.
"It was fun today."
"It's still today."
"Yeah, but I'll have to go soon."
"Why?"
Kirishima hums, likes he's thinking of what to say.
"I wanted to see you again. And I did."
"So stay longer."
"I want to."
Regret hits Katsuki all at once.
"I shouldn't have come. You could've stayed on this mountain."
"Hey, it's not like that. I was dormant until you came. Half asleep, waiting."
Waiting. Everyone had been waiting for him. Many are still waiting for him.
He looks up, wondering how long before Kirishima's spirit leaves him all alone again.
But he abandoned him first, hadn't he? During the guardian attack Kirishima had stayed behind, giving he and Midoriya a chance to run. Kirishima was skilled, strong. He'd even been blessed by a dragon spirit. Katsuki had been so sure he'd get away.
There's no use in apologizing now. Kirishima had sworn to protect them to the end. It was both their duty. If only knowing this could lessen the guilt embedded deep in his chest.
Kirishima gets so close Katsuki is afraid he might try to touch. Neither try. There's nothing solid for Katsuki to hold on to.
"I know you'll defeat him, Katsuki."
"Yeah," he says in a rough whisper, "I'll win."
There's only an hour left before tomorrow. Kirishima suggests they sit out on the ledge and watch the sunrise. So they do.