Hiro didn't know who had talked until he turned around to see his own father starring them down. His voice was deeper than he remembered, it also had a tinge of coldness that was very new for him.
The prisoners all wore expressions that could kill. You could see it in their eyes, they were all hungry, different starvation but one nonetheless. Some licked their lips wanting to kill, some were ready to do the same for their freedom.
Hiro couldn't recognise the man standing before him anymore, his kind eyes were no longer there. He just looked like a tired warrior, one that's fought thousands of battles not wanting to give and one that's killed thousands of enemies.
That's one thing he didn't want to think about, his father being a senseless killer. But he still wanted to save him, deep down inside of him, he didn't want to lose hope that he could still be saved.
It wasn't intentional, but his feet carried him forward, towards his father. He hadn't uttered the words 'dad' yet when he felt hands yank him back by the scruff of his neck.
He fell behind the person.
"What's the big idea—" He swallowed his words when he noticed that, in his dreamlike state of walking towards an enemy, they'd already attacked.
Kiro had saved him, he was blocking the man's arm but he was clearly outmatched. His strength was monstrous, he was somehow holding his own but it was clearly hard as his knees were fully bent under the monster that would kill him without a seconds thought.
"There's no time for sentimentality, I know what I'm saying is hypocrital but Hiro, he is different. He's clearly killed many people, don't put his blood on your hands too." He managed to say with much difficulty.
"Shut up! I know, okay? I know, but..."
"I know alright, just try your best not to get killed by him. Imagine his horror if he realises he'd killed one of the very people he'd been fighting to get to?" He tried to reason, he knew it'd be hard reasoning with emotions but he hoped his friend would see his point, even if a little.
Hiro didn't need to think about it, he knew his friend was right but it wasn't so easy to just fight your own father, trying your best not to get killed by him and if he was honest with himself, he didn't want to kill him either.
"We're supposed to believe that?" Zak snorted, he'd been a slave for ten odd years, he'd seen it all.
"Look old man, believe what you want, we don't have time to dilly-dally. Our only goal is to destroy the ring, don't stand in our way." Kiro said pointing his weapon right at him.
After the last reveal of what the President's toys could do, he was a little confident. He didn't want to be one of those people who killed innocents to move for a better world, but if it was necessary, if it was needed, it could be done.
"We only ask you don't stand in our way. Our target are the Blakesons who have been kidnapping and keeping you enslaved in this place." James gave his piece.
"Okay then, I'll fight with you." Lil said, the story Trent had given them sounded off to her.
"Lilian you idiot, come back here." Zak scolded her.
"Think about it Zak, we're doomed either way. I won't believe someone who has kept me in this place for ten years." She said breaking away from the initial group, to join the other side.
Zak sighed. He was hesitant, but he walked to where Lil was. They'd been together all this time, he didn't want their possible last time alive fighting against each other.
"Jin, don't be an idiot, I know what they'd done to you so you don't have to fight for them anymore." Lil voiced her thoughts once again.
Hiro's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his father's name by strangers. This is also when it sunk in that this was truly the man whom he looked up to and admired the most.
"Fight for them? I've never fought for them."
He said with finality, taking a fighting stance against those who stood in the way of his freedom.