Bakugou's PoV

The landscape was barren and rough. Only the distant noise of the waves and the slightly salty smelling air revealed that we were close to the sea. After a few hours of walking, my mouth was dry and my lips brittle and I realized that we had nothing - and I mean really nothing - with us. We had no provisions and no water. Red stumbled again and again over the uneven ground and I looked at him worriedly from the side. Whether a Kirishima or not, he was badly injured and his body would need a lot of energy to heal. If we had had another choice, I'd have made sure that he could heal properly. But we didn't have that choice, even though I didn't like Kirishima having to endure this hike.

All this time, I held his hand in mine to support him. Even though he kept smiling and not complaining in any way, I knew he was at the end of his tether. It was important that we reached Ariko today. He had to refill his reserves of energy to heal quickly.

Twilight fell already when we reached Ariko. The small town had a simple small city wall. Even from a distance, we could see two guards standing at the city gate, clearly recognizable by their red capes as subordinates of the king.

I stopped briefly and turned to my companion. Red breathed heavily, but looked at me with a little pained smile. His red hair stuck to his sweaty forehead. I didn't like that at all. I laid a hand on his glowing cheek. Did he have a fever?

"You don't have to worry," said Red, who had correctly interpreted the worried look on my face. "I told you about my broken leg. I think it's normal for the body temperature to rise a little when all the energy goes into the healing."

"Maybe." I hummed with little conviction. "But I still don't like it. As soon as we're in town, I'll make sure you can lie down." Kirishima closed his eyes briefly and nodded. He was really very exhausted. "But now we have to pass the guards. That should be easy. After all, I'm a quite well-known dragonslayer and I don't think the news that I'm missing would have reached them by now. But you have to try to pull yourself together for a moment. You should stand upright and self-confident beside me. I have to let go of your hand. Can you manage that?"

Red straightened the shoulders, stroked through the wet strands of hair and lifted the chin. I had to smile. He was really strong. "Perfect," I said quietly and squeezed his hand briefly before releasing it.

Silently we walked all the way to the wall. When the guards saw us arrive, they broke away from their casual posture and crossed the lances.

"Name?" asked one of the guards, bored.

"Are you fucking serious?" I hissed.

The man's eyes widened when he recognized me. "Forgive me. Dragonslayer. I just hadn't expected you. So completely without a horse and ...", his gaze wandered slowly to Kirishima.

"What matters to you how I do my missions?" I said harshly and turned his attention back to me before he could look too closely at Red.

"P-Pardon me!" he apologized again. Then he raised his lance, told the other guard to do the same and let us both in.

We went down the main street together and turned around the next corner. Immediately Red slumped again. I grabbed his arm to support him and looked around carefully. Although it was already evening, the streets of the city were crowded and we hardly noticed.

"Are you alright? We'll take the next hostel right away. It's not far," I encouraged him. I reached for his hand again and a little smile lay on his lips.

Thank God I had been here before and knew where the next hostel was. It was just a few blocks away, small, cheap, and housed mostly people passing through. So we shouldn't attract too much attention. I was glad that I hadn't lost my coin purse during my fall. Otherwise we would really have been up a creek. Because as far as I knew, Red had left all his belongings at the hostel.

When we arrived at the inn, he tried again to straighten his shoulders a little, but he didn't really succeed. The sweat was on his forehead and his gaze was tired and exhausted. Carefully I led him up the steps to the entrance before opening the door and entering with him.

We stood directly in a well-filled guest room and I breathed out relieved. As I had already thought, we were hardly noticeable here. I headed straight for the counter to get us both a room.

"Unfortunately, we are quite fully booked," said the woman and nodded into the full guest room for clarification.

"Whatever," I grumbled irritated. "Give us what you have."

She nodded and handed me a room key. "That costs three silver coins," she said with a friendly smile.

Kirishima's PoV

I focused on not revealing my condition. Nevertheless, I swayed a little when Bakugou let me go to count the coins. I gritted my teeth and waited patiently until everything was cleared up. But I was so horribly tired. I hardly felt the hunger, but my body was hot and my mouth so incredibly dry.

Relief came over me when Bakugou grabbed my hand again and led me up the stairs. Even more than just supporting me, he showed his affection and concern and I felt infinitely well taken care of. As incapable of action as I was, I needed him more than ever.

Bakugou led me into a small barren room and pushed me towards the bed. Without hesitation I let myself sink to it immediately. Relieved I breathed out.

"You can go to sleep in a minute. But let me get some water first. You are completely dehydrated," he said and I nodded, my eyes already closed.

When he came back a few minutes later, I was almost dozed off and I forced myself to open my eyes again.

I stood up halfway and he placed a mug on my lips. Obediently I drank the water sip by sip. The cool liquid felt insanely good for my coarse throat. Exhausted I sank back into the pillows when I had finished drinking. Sleep. I wanted nothing more than to sleep.

Slowly my mind drifted away and as I almost completely immersed into the realm of dreams I felt the featherlight touch of Bakugou's lips on my forehead.

"Sleep well, Red." Bakugou whispered quietly.