❖

"Damn, let's get out of here." Bakugo grabbed Midoriya by his arm and dragged him along.

"You think one of them will tell the soldiers what he heard?" asked Midoriya.

"I don't know and I'm not going to find out."

"What if-"

"No, stop. Shut up." snapped Bakugo, "Seriously, you're giving me a headache."

He was angry. Well, Midoriya had never seen Bakugo not angry, but his gut feeling told him it would be better to do as the rebel said.
His harsh words weren't just him being rude right now, he was truly pissed.

They spent the rest of their time together in silence.
Bakugo led Midoriya to a place he could recognize, and Midoriya followed.
No words, no noises, no looking at each other. They just walked, each thinking his own thoughts.

"Here, this is around where we were last night. You know your way home from here?"

Midoriya's eyes fluttered over their surroundings, he nodded.

"Good." said Bakugo, "Then, goodbye."

"Can I ask you a question?"

Bakugo turned around to face him again, clicking his tongue.
"You just won't let me go, huh?"

"Sorry, it's just that... I'm just..." Midoriya took a deep breath, "How does it feel?"

Speaking that question out loud made Midoriya feel exposed, like he was admitting something a part of him deemed shameful.
He had no doubt Bakugo will make fun of him for that, or yell at him for asking stupid questions, and so, he was not fully prepared for the silence that followed.
This question came from his deepest, most reserved parts, and Bakugo, that could hear it from the tone of his voice, suddenly turned quiet and serious as well.

"How does what feel?"

Midoriya wasn't sure if he found the right word, but figured it was close enough.
"Being so ...Free."

"Free?"

"It seems like nothing is tying you down, you do whatever you want to do."

"Well..." Bakugo watched Midoriya, although the other's eyes avoided his, "What you saw us doing... We don't exactly want to do it."

"Then why are you doing it, despite the risk?"

"Rather than wanting, it's more like we need to do it. The risk is just something each of us had to accept from the start."

"Exactly... You took the risk and moved on. If something goes wrong it only affects you, so you don't have to constantly think about the consequence."
Midoriya closed his eyes, "It must feel liberating..."

Not to worry about anything but yourself. To be the master of your own destiny.

"Do you want to try it?"

Midoriya froze, raising his eyes to meet Bakugo's for the first time since he started that conversation.
The blond watched him with a raised brow, and his eyes, which only ever stared at Midoriya so coldly, had now a spark shining inside them.
For a moment, Midoriya could understand why Kirishima decided to be a friend of his.

Bakugo's offer was too sweet. His voice too welcoming. But there are some things that you just can't do, right? Some things in life were meant for other people.
"Try it? What do you mean?"

The spark in his eyes kept drowning midorya in. "Let's take a risk. You want to feel it, right? This freedom you're talking about, then let's take a risk together, today. Let's do it again."

Midoriya shook his head, "I can't. That's the whole point."

"Why?" Bakugo didn't believe him, although it was dim, he could recognize something in Midoriya, something similar to himself.
"Think about it, just for one day, one night. Do what you want, do what you feel is right. Don't think about the consequences. Free yourself from your responsibilities just for one night."

Midoriya bet his bottom lip, he could never forget about his responsibilities, he could never be as free as Bakugo was. But if it's really just for one night... then maybe...
Just maybe...

◇ Decision ◇

Midoriya opened his mouth to speak-

❖ "Okay." ❖
⌘ "No." ⌘

——————————————————-

If you chose "❖" your next chapter is:
"Just one night"

If you chose "⌘" your next chapter is:
"Coward"