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Bakugo trudged through the forest, swatting buzzing insects away with little explosions. He would have to find a place with people soon and get some more food. The stuff he’d grabbed from the kitchen when he left wouldn’t last much longer, and he wasn’t sure how far it was to the Great Evil those travellers had been talking about but it was at least another week away.
A strange noise drew him from his thoughts, and he paused as he turned his head towards it. It sounded kinda like... crying? It definitely wasn’t human, though. Did animals cry? He grinned, and pooled magic in his hands as he turned and headed towards the sound. If it was crying, it was probably hurt. If it was hurt, he could catch it and have it for dinner. He wasn’t much of a cook, but even his cooking would be better than stale bread and cheese.
He crouched low as he approached the sound, eyes flicking over the underbrush in search of the source. Nothing visible, but the sound was definitely in front of him not above him, so it wasn’t a mimicrow. “Where are you?” he muttered, stepping forwards again. The rock under his foot abruptly gave out, and he tumbled down the slope with a yelp until he hit something as solid and hard as any wall. Solid and warm he realized as he staggered to his feet with a groan. Warm, and scaly, and moving. He looked up, and drew a quick breath in through his teeth.
Change of plans, he wasn’t having fresh meat tonight. Not when his potential dinner was already in the clutches of a real live dragon. He was awesome, but dragons were massive and basically unkillable without a whole team of knights. All he had was his magic, which was fire, which would be totally useless against a fire-breather. Bakugo tried to sneak backwards, and winced as he tripped over his dropped satchel. Totally not cool.
The crying sound stopped, and Bakugo stared as the dragon’s head lifted from where it had been hidden behind the bulk of its red-scaled body. Slit-pupiled golden eyes focused on him, irises tightening, and Bakugo put on his best snarl. “I’m not scared of you.” he spat, scrambling to his feet and letting magic seep from his skin to wreath his hands in fire.
“You’re not?” the dragon asked, and Bakugo’s flames went out as he stared.
“You can talk?” he asked dumbly.
“Well, yeah.” the dragon sniffled, and Bakugo realized the scales on its face were glistening wet. It hadn’t been holding crying prey, it had been the one crying.
“Do you have a name?” he asked, picking up his bag and settling it on his shoulder. If he could get this thing to give him a lift, he could get to the Great Evil faster.
“Kirishima Eijiro.” the dragon answered, and Bakugo frowned.
“I thought dragons were supposed to have cool names.” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I wasn’t always a dragon.” Kirishima huffed, rolling to his feet. He wasn’t as big as Bakugo had thought at first, his shoulders coming about even with Bakugo’s head. “I’m supposed to be a boy.”
“Then why are you a dragon?” Bakugo prodded.
“I don’t know how to turn back.” Kirishima said despairingly. Bakugo scoffed.
“So don’t.” he rolled his eyes. “You’re a dragon. That’s almost as cool as my magic!” he held up his hand and produced a few concentrated bursts of fire from his fingertips, the flames exploding like tiny fireworks over his hand. Kirishima stared openly, and Bakugo grinned. “So, since you’re a dragon, you can fly right?”
“I guess?” Kirishima’s shoulders slumped, letting his wings unfurl as he craned his neck to look back at them. They looked leathery, and freaking huge. Deku would probably want to know dumb nerdy shit like how fast they could beat and stuff, but as long as they were big enough to get Kirishima in the air Bakugo didn’t care about the details.
“You guess?” Bakugo crossed his arms again. “You’re a dragon! How can you not know if you can fly?”
“I haven’t been a dragon very long.” Kirishima protested, tail lashing in distress. “My magic only came in a few days ago.”
Days? Bakugo tilted his head, examining the dragon critically. “How old are you?” he asked.
“Ten.” the dragon’s head dipped lower, until it almost rested on the ground. He looked like a sad dog, if dogs got as big as horses and were covered in scales instead of fur.
“You’re my age.” Bakugo blinked. “Wow, your magic came in late. That’s so lame.” he laughed, and Kirishima huffed.
“I liked being a null better.” the dragon grumbled. Bakugo rolled his eyes and kicked him in the snout.
“Don’t say that.” he said firmly. “Nulls are the least awesome people in the world, and you’re one of the most. Right up with me.” he jabbed a thumb at himself and grinned. “I’m gonna go find the Great Evil, and beat it up, and be the coolest person ever.”
“But- you’re ten.” he said, sounding really dumb for someone who was a big scary dragon.
“And?” Bakugo raised an eyebrow.
“Beating up stuff like that is for adults!”
“Says who?” Bakugo challenged. “My magic is the most awesome ever, and if you come with me then we’ve got two awesome magics. The Great Evil can’t possibly stand up to both of us.” he flexed his arm, flames springing to life around his fist. “Plus, even if you can’t fly, you can probably walk faster than me, so we can get there faster.”
Kirishima was staring at him, pupils no longer thin slits but instead wide and wondering. “But- I’m just a kid. I don’t even know how to use my magic.”
“You already used it to make yourself cool.” Bakugo said, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes. What was this idiot not getting? “But if you’re gonna be a lame chicken-dragon, I’ll just go beat it up on my own.” he adjusted his satchel, and turned to climb back up the slope he’d fallen down earlier.
“I’m not a chicken.” Kirishima lifted his head up off the ground, wings fluttering as his tail lashed against the dirt behind him.
“Then prove it.” Bakugo smirked, looking over his shoulder. “Come with me and make the world see how awesome a dragon can be.” he turned enough to hold a hand out to the dragon, despite the fact that the dragon didn’t have hands to take it with.
Kirishima just stared for a second, then his mouth opened in a grin that showed an uncomfortable number of very sharp teeth. “I would, but Mom always says not to go anywhere with strangers. You haven’t even told me your name.”
Bakugo blinked, and smiled back. “Bakugo. Bakugo Katsuki.”
“Nice to meet you, Bakugo Katsuki.” Kirishima bobbed his head, the movement rippling all the way down his long neck. “I’d be happy to travel with you.”
“Then get out of that ditch.” Bakugo gestured for Kirishima to follow him, and clambered up the slope. Finally, he had a friend who wasn’t lame. Kirishima seemed like a bit of a scaredy-cat, which was dumb when only special magical weapons could hurt him, but he’d only been a dragon for a few days. By the time they got to the Great Evil, he’d probably be the coolest friend Bakugo had ever had.