"Bakugo?"

"What?"

It had been after a particularly rigorous training session that day in the camp. They had been pitted against each other again. Shinso was gaining better control of his capture weapon while Bakugo was sincerely thinking of adopting a whip because the sticks weren't that useful.

"You seem distracted," Shinso said calmly.

"I am not."

"Alright."

They were nearing the place where the smoke was the densest. Shinso cast a side glance at Bakugo. He couldn't see much in the smoke, but something about his demeanor felt off. Like, a ticking time bomb, corresponding to his incredibly volatile personality.

"Bakugo—"

"Listen up Purple Hair. I trust you with this, alright?"

"What are you—," Shinso didn't get to finish his sentence as the boy beside him lunged straight at the man, his right arm glowing. He came to a stop himself, not quite believing it. The smoke cleared fast, and Shinso saw that his right arm was broken.

"The hell—"

"Later."

Shinso shut up. It was all too much to process and by the way Bakugo was glaring at his broken arm, he could tell that he wasn't interested to talk about it.

Luck wasn't with them for much longer. Bakugo's running had slowed down considerably with his broken arm, and Shinso was gasping a bit as well. The smoke clearing had enabled them to breathe, but this was hardly the ideal situation. Grass scrunched under their feet as they ran, almost blindly, in the forest, without a clear sense of direction.

Which led them to Tsuyu Asui pinned to a rock, her tongue bleeding and Ochaco Uraraka being restricted by ice shackles.

An apparently bored Shoto Todoroki was watching the proceedings.

"When the hell can I get back to sleep?"

Without thinking, Shinso shouted, "Who the hell are you?"

It was to Toga, who turned right away and grinned, seeing Bakugo's battered form. Shinso had a few cuts and scratches here and there too, and Toga looked exhilarated. He took a visible step back.

"I AM TOGA," she began chirping excitedly before her body went lax.

Todoroki pinched the bridge of his nose and sent an ice cube at her, smacking her in the forehead.

Toga snapped back.

"Izuku SPECIFICALLY stated not to answer Hitoshi Shinso. The only thing we are supposed to do with those two boys is to kidnap them. Not slice them up."

Todoroki's tone sounded like this was the millionth time he had said this.

Shinso warily looked at them. His enemies being this alert to his power was dangerous. If he got one under his control, the other would shock them and the effects would wear off. He still hadn't managed to control more than one person at a time.

But it appeared that Tsuyu was pretty deft with her tongue even if it was bleeding. She smacked Toga aside and grabbed Ochaco, hopping over to their side. Ochaco stood up, immediately making a few rocks float.

The ground froze immediately, the ice covering them up to their hips before they could move.

Bakugo was sullenly glaring at the person responsible for this.

Toga whined.

Shinso felt the acute, suffocating fear of death for the first time in his life.

Ochaco was trying to break the ice using her floating stones, which wasn't a bad tactic except she was looking greener by the minute.

Tsuyu had collapsed into hibernation, and was therefore unable to help.

Shinso opened his mouth to speak. If he could make them answer to him, just by a stroke of luck—

"So how does the most charming villain feel after murdering his daddy dearest?"

Todoroki's eyes narrowed but he didn't say anything.

Shinso sincerely felt bad for goading him this way. He was perfectly aware of Endeavor's doings (somehow Izuku's irritation at that particular pro hero made sense now) and he felt awfully guilty by even trying.

Bakugo silently willed One For All to his legs to generate enough force to break the ice. The ice started melting due to the heat generating from his legs and he jumped up, feeling his bones creaking.

Aizawa-sensei was going to have his head when he found him.

Ochaco didn't notice because she was too sick at that point. Good news was that she had managed to break free from the ice. Bad news was that she had fallen to the ground heaving soon after.

Bakugo smashed the ice covering Shinso who started and jumped backwards.

He was going to grill him, shouting or not, for the answers because he felt too confused at that moment.

"Run," Ochaco managed to choke out, "They are looking for you, not us. We can fend them off, don't worry."

And she threw up again.

She had a point, Shinso conceded. But he doubted that Todoroki's ability would allow them to go too far.

Todoroki was watching them dispassionately, like he might view the walls. Shinso personally felt offended. And by Bakugo's stormy expression, he was annoyed too.

A sudden crushing sensation was felt, followed by the world becoming impossibly small. He heard crashing sounds in the trees and then something black and purple came at him, engulfing him.

He had probably screamed, in confusion and terror, because his entire sense of perception had twisted and he couldn't see a thing properly.

And when he got it back, he was promptly knocked out.

What a day.