"...I guess I finally lost my remaining sanity" the boy stated as he rested his head against Bakugo's leg. It felt as if time had frozen, Bakugo could feel his heart pounding in his ears. The blonde could feel his mind racing from one thought to the next. Everything about this situation was making him feel so many different emotions and he couldn't think straight.
"..."Bakugo tried to open his mouth but nothing came out. Aizawa realized that Bakugo wasn't going to move if he didn't snap out of his trance. The hero made his way to Bakugo and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"We need to find the antidote before it's to late for Tsukauchi." Aizawa said snapping Bakugo out of his thoughts. Bakugo was hesitant but nodded his head in agreement.
//what am I even thinking, he's....he's dead// Bakugo thought to himself before following the others.
The group then started to look around the room. Todoroki reactivated his fire quirk and started looking around. The group started at the door and worked their way around the room. There was nothing but skeletal remains and dust covering the room. There were no pictures or texts on the cave walls. All that sat in the room was the boy that sat kneeling on the cold ground chained up and locked away. His tale swaying from one side to the other creating a calming rhythmic sound.
"Do you think that snake lead us to somewhere completely off route?" Enji asked feeling a shiver run up his spine at the thought of such a large snake.
"No, we are on track with the map...but" Aizawa stated taking another look at the piece of paper. With Aizawa's pause Enji leaned his head over Aizawa's to see what the older hero was looking at.
"But the map stops here, there isn't anything else on here so whatever antidote we're looking for must be here." Aizawa stated just as confused as the other three. The heroes then looked to the wall that they hadn't completely inspected. It was the one in front of the boy with his tail still swaying from one side to the next.
"Then let's look it over I guess." Todoroki sighed while making his way over to the wall his quirk still active. The heroes wove their way through the numerous chains protruding from the walls. With two heroes on either side they started to make their way inward until Bakugo found something. Getting Endeavor's attention the taller male read it aloud for the other two to hear.
"A mutt that walks on the veil between our worlds will only cause the fires of hell to rise and our lives will be taken. With a master a mutt will do whatever it takes to fulfill your wishes but be warned" Endeavor read aloud before moving over a little to read the remaining text.
"Without a master a mutt will wreak havoc.Though if one dares to attempt and tame it you must first gamble with the goddess of life and death. For without their approval you will never gaine the beast's trust and you will find yourself just another skeleton littering the halls of their toomes." Enji finished and all four heroes felt a shiver race down their spines. With a gentle swaying of a tail against dusty stone the four heroes turned to look at the boy.
"Then he must know how to cure Tsukauchi." Endeavor stated while attempting to walk over to the boy. The hero lowered his flames do to the close proximity to the boy. When Endeavor got close enough to the boy that he could see the flames the reaction was, to say the least unexpected.
Sweeping his leg out from under himself the boy threw a pile of dirt, bones, and dust onto Endeavor. The dirt effectively putting out his flames. Endeavor was about to lose his cool but the boy once again spoke.
"The light burns..." the boy stated numbly as he leaned his head back. With this the heroes were able to see the full extent of the chains covering his body. Chains wrapped around his torso and arms while cuffs sat on his wrist and ankles. A coller wrapped around his neck and a muzzle covered his mouth and nose. His eyes looked cold and lifeless, there was no spark in them, just emptiness.
"Unless you want to end up like the rest of these pigs...you should leave." The boy stated as he tucked his leg back underneath himself. The boy once again dropped his head and swayed his tail from one side to the other.
"We need your help our friend is hurt and we were told the antidote was here?" Aizawa stated coming closer to the boy. The boy chuckled his ears flicking slightly.
"And just how is that my problem...if your friend dies it's your own problem not mine" the boy stated while looking at the three standing in front of him. Of course Todoroki stayed to the side being their only light source. The heroes were about to retort but the boy beat them to it.
"You're heroes aren't you?..." The boy waited for a response but never got one. "It's your job to save people and help others no matter the cost...at least that's what all you bastards ever spout." the boy chuckled bitterly. It was obvious the kid didn't see heroes in the best light but they needed his help. During this conversation Bakugo had been biting his tongue and just listening. Though after hearing what this bastard just said that was going to be quiet difficult. The teen immediately started tugging and pulling at the chains in the wall.
"What are you doing Bakugo?" Todoroki asked unsure of what Bakugo was doing. That name, it caught the boys attention. Though he was going to wait and see because there was one trait above all else that he could recognize. The chains weren't even budging so Bakugo started using his quirk. The loud explosions echoing through the cave. The others soon got the idea and started ripping and using their quirks to try and break the chains. Yet there wasn't even a scratch on them even after several hours of this. With exhausted bodies the group fell to the ground not really caring where they landed.
"What the fuck are those stupid things made of anyways?" Bakugo panted still sounding as irritated and angry as usual.
"So I guess I still have a little sanity left..." The boy chuckled catching everyone's attention. All four heroes exchanged confused looks before looking back to the boy.
"What the hell have you been goin' on about?" Bakugo blurted feeling pretty exhausted. The boy raised his head and turned to look directly at Bakugo. Though his eyes still seemed lifeless to the others to Bakugo it seemed as if a spark had tried to light.
"It's been quiet a while hasn't...Kacchan." The boy stated as tears started to well up in his eyes. Katsuki's mind froze as his body, though exhausted, sprinted over to Izuku. The blonde wrapping his arms as tight as possible around the other teen. Aizawa and Todoroki both sat in confusion until they realized Bakugo had mentioned this once before. When they were picking heroes names, Bakugo had picked Kacchan and said it was from a kid he had known that died.
"I-I thought you were dead dumbass!" Bakugo spat while wiping the tears away.
"No unfortunately my useless ass is still alive." Izuku said while chuckling. Katsuki felt his heart pang with guilt at the word useless.
"So you have a friend that needs some help?" Izuku questioned his attitude completely different with Bakugo than with the heroes.
"Yeah, Tsukauchi...it's a bit of a long story but we'll have recovery girl explain everything in detail." Bakugo said while rubbing the back of his neck. The blonde felt so strange talking to Izuku as if he had never left.
"But first we need to find a way to get him out of these chains." Todoroki stated as he flicked one of them. Katsuki nodded and started looking at the cave walls for a way to maybe loosen them.
"Grab your friends and step back next to the doors." Izuku said Bakugo knotted his brows in confusion but went ahead and lead the heroes to the doors.
"What is he planning on doing?" Todoroki turned and asked Bakugo.
"I have no idea." Bakugo stated bluntly. The group watched as Izuku tilted his head back to check and make sure they were at a safe distance. When he knew they were he twisted his upper torso and the chains came flying out of the walls. A few went a stray and the heroes had to duck.
"Sorry I forgot to warn you guys about that." Izuku chuckled as he ripped out the second set of chains. This time a stray one went flying and Todoroki wasn't able to dodge in time. Though it luckily only sliced his cheek a little.
"Todoroki! You okay?!?" Aizawa exclaimed while rushing over to the teen.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Todoroki said while lifting himself up. Only to see a jaw dropped Bakugo.
"When did that happen?" Bakugo asked pointing at Izuku. The three heroes all turned to look at Izuku. They were all confused at what Bakugo was talking about. Though they had no idea how wimpy Izuku looked before now.
"Oh, umm...*sigh* I don't know I've been a bit busy try to just survive out here that I didn't even notice when I got a little muscle." Izuku said while scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Whatever lets just get these last few chains off of you." Bakugo said while shaking his head. Though when Bakugo got closer to Izuku he noticed something, Bakugo was only an inch taller than Izuku. This frankly surprised Bakugo because when he last saw him Bakugo was still at least a foot taller than him. Shaking his head Bakugo started examining the chains.
"We can break the ones on my wrists and ankles but I won't be able to break the one on my neck or the muzzle." Izuku stated catching everyone's attention.
"Why do you say that?" Aizawa questioned as he walked up to Izuku.
"Because you guys couldn't even break those chains and they are the lightest. The ones attached to my limbs are a lot more durable than them and the one on my neck and the muzzle are all alcor infused....So unless you have a large heavy duty light nano saw then we can't remove it by force." Izuku stated while breaking the chains attached to his limbs off. The two older heroes nodded and started to think. No ideas came to mind except the writing on the wall.
"What about the mutt must have a master or whatever that was does that have anything to do with the 'leash'?" Endeavor asked using air quotes. Izuku visibly tensed and started tapping his finger tips together.
"What is it Izuku, I know you know something about this." Bakugo stated firmly knowing that when Izuku knew something he would get all nervous and sweaty.
//guess some things never change, huh?//Bakugo thought as a smirk crawled it's way onto his face.
"In order for us to get the chain to release the collar I have to strike a deal with a so called Master....but..." Izuku said while fidgeting with his thumbs. Bakugo raised an eyebrow and motioned for Izuku to continue. The jade eyed teen grew a nervous smile and averted his lifeless eyes.
"But, the only person I can trust to make the deal with here is, Kacchan." Izuku stated his voice and posture getting a little more stern and not so timmed.
"Okay so what's there to be so nervous about?" Bakugo scoft wonder what the hell Izuku was so nervous about.
"Well I can't be more than twenty feet away from you at all times and you can do whatever you want to me and I can't fight back without the collar shocking the shit out of me and if my actions are bad enough it will start to tighten and try to cut off my windpipe..." Izuku stated while averting his eyes and looking around the barely lit room.
"So you're basically a slave to who ever you make this deal with?" Aizawa asked unsure of what he just heard.
"Yes that's pretty much it." Izuku said while nodding his head.
"Then why hasn't anyone else taken you?" Endeavor asked having an idea of where all these skeletons came from.
"If I don't give my consent to the deal then there will be a fight....and whoever wins will decide on what the deal in tells." Izuku said his face becoming stone cold. "And I'm not one to go done so easily anymore." Izuku growled his ears flattening against his head and the hair on his tail standing on end. Bakugo was stunned he had never seen Izuku like this. The three heroes were more concerned with the fact that Izuku had to add the anymore and was staring directly at Bakugo.
"If you have any intentions of using me as your personal punching bag or let any of your lackies around me you can find someone else to help you friend." Izuku stated coldly as he sat back down the chain attached to his collar rattling with his every move. Bakugo only sighed.
//of course things aren't going to be like they used to be dumbass.// Bakugo spat at himself in his thoughts.
"All we need you to do is help our friend, after that you can do as you please." Bakugo said while reaching his hand out for a hand shake. Izuku just huffed and shook his head.
"Is that how you make a deal with a mutt?" Izuku asked while rolling his eyes. The group of heroes stood completely confused as to why Izuku kept degrading himself in this manner.
"Well then how am I supposed to make this stupid deal, dumbass!" Bakugo spat feeling extremely annoyed and irritated. It seemed that Izuku was the only person alive or dead that could string along his emotions like this. Izuku just scoft and got on all fours before crawling towards Bakugo. The blonde just looked at Izuku as if he was fucking retarded. Though before any of the heroes could say anything Izuku nuzzled his head into Bakugo's large hand. Then a soft glow flowed through the chain, collar, and muzzle all turning a soft jade green.
"I will help your friend but you must agree to gift me my freedom in return, do you agree to the binding terms?" Izuku asked his eyes finally opening ever so gently. Without thinking Bakugo responded his mouth moving without his consent.
"I accept" Bakugo stated and with that the chain coming from the ceiling and connecting to Izuku's collar broke. Part of it made a thin choker for Bakugo that matched Izuku's. Though it had an elegant design and was smaller than Izuku's. Once that was done Izuku got up and dusted himself off.
"Let's get going now that, that's done." Izuku stated waiting for Bakugo to lead the way.