Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first thing Eijirou blurted out as he regained consciousness was, “Katsuki’s going to kill me…!”

He sat up quickly - too quickly - and felt his head spin. He groaned and held his forehead, keeping his legs stretched out to help balance himself as his tail splayed out behind him.

“Arruugghhh, Katsuki~ I’m sorry…!”

His body ached all over, from his shoulders to his legs, and there was a taunt stiffness between his wings that told him he’d probably landed hard enough to pop something.

Dazed, he tried to shake off the drunken heaviness in his head and looked around himself.

“Katsuki…?”

He couldn’t see the volatile blonde nearby, but he pushed down his panic because he could still feel his loveache out there somewhere. He knew better than to doubt Katsuki at this point - and not even crashing out of the sky would be enough to keep that barbarian down for long.

...though it definitely would be enough to piss him the hell off.

He dragged his hand down his face with a drawn-out groan, face flushed as he recalled with too vivid a memory what led to this.

Katsuki was going to be so ANGRY at him…!

“Oh boy, you woke up already? Yo, man, you good?”

Kirishima jerked his head up in surprise - alarmed he hadn’t heard anyone approaching since he’d been so sure no one had been around a moment ago - and came face-to-face with a tall, bare-chested hunk with blonde hair standing confidently right in front of him.

Which coincidently made him realize two things in that moment.

One of them being that, disappointedly, he knew at first glance this was not the blonde-headed, muscled bare-chested hunk he was looking for.

...and two, well, that being face-to-face wasn’t actually true. It was more face-to-pelvis, and coincidently this man wasn’t wearing pants - or much of anything really.

Again, he knew at first glance this was also not the pelvis he was looking for.

A shame.

“Yo?”

Smiling brightly, the naked blue-eyed stranger raised a hand in greeting.

“Hi there! You fell from the sky!”

Sagely, Eijirou nodded as he quipped, “Yeah, I did. You’re naked?”

As if seemingly realizing this himself, the stranger blinked then exclaimed, “Ah, I am naked! My willy!”

He covered his front at once with a loud laugh.

Eijirou resolutely kept his eyes on the stranger’s face - he was pretty sure nowadays that by human standards nudity in front of strangers was a bit of a taboo.

He dropped his hands into his lap as he calmly asked, “Are you a pervert by chance?”

His face screwed up at the thought. Katsuki normally exploded perverts, and he wondered if he was supposed to do that too.

Though if Katsuki wasn’t here, it wasn’t like he could get mad for him not doing it, right? After all, he used to walk in the buff whenever he could, and he wasn't a pervert to anyone but Katsuki - and only when Katsuki let him at that!

The stranger did a spit-take and sputtered.

“Ahahahaha, sorry, sorry! My bad, really, but you startled me so bad when you crashed through the forest like that I slipped right out of my armor and into the ground!”

Eijirou couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be startled out of your armor, much less how he managed to slip into the earth without disturbing it - but he wondered if maybe it was an expression of some kind?

“But wow, you really weren’t surprised by my nudity, were you? Most people scream or have some sort of reaction to it!”

He moved away and Eijirou watched with curious eyes as he began to dress himself in armor pieces he hadn’t realized were laying nearby a small boulder until now.

Eijirou stood up slowly, and began to stretch to test how stiff he was.

He answered bluntly.

“I used to walk around naked all the time myself. But my companions don’t like it, so now I wear clothes more often than not. Though,” he adjusted his vest, and eyed the tattered cape around his waist. “I guess I’ve grown to like feeling ‘stylish.’”

The half-dragon had his own sudden realization then, and eyed the newcomer as he stretched his legs.

The blonde was slipping on his pants with his tongue poked out in determination, but looked up when Eijirou asked, “Though I’m surprised you’re not asking about my wings or scales or horns or anything - that’s almost always an attention-grabber!”

“Hm? Oh, they are quite shocking to most people, I bet! But, hm, aren’t you a forest spirit…? A druid, or something?” He seemed to realize something then, reaching for his shirt with a hum as he continued to mumble, “Then again, I can’t imagine the other forest spirits causing you to crash unless you aren’t from here?”

Thinking it was a question, Eijirou stretched his back out only to wince at the tightness between his wings. He definitely pulled something.

“Yep, I’m from the mountains south of here! I was flying overhead with my companion but…”

He could recall what happened, but was at a bit of a loss to describe why it had happened. So he explained the best that he could.

“These weird lights suddenly were around my eyes, and buzzing against my nose and ears! I couldn’t get them to go away and suddenly I got real dizzy, like I was suuuuper drunk! Before I realized what was happening we were falling and I was shifting back. I must have crashed down here… I’m not sure where my companion is.”

Eijirou wondered if he should pull his wings and horns back, if that too was a sign of ‘decorum’ like this stranger getting dressed - but really, he’d already seen them so was there any need to hide them?

He was still a bit too stiff to comfortably put them away, so he decided to confidently keep them out. 

“Ahh, the spirits did crash you then. Sorry about that. This forest is enchanted and unless you have permission you won’t be able to cross it. Trust me, I tried dozens and dozens of times years ago - even flung myself through the air and made an admirable effort doing so - but eventually, the forest will always spit you back out wherever you tried to forcefully come in at.”

Alarm surfaced through him.

“Oh no, does that mean we’re back at the beginning of the forest then?”

“Hum, no, actually… I’m quite sure we’re close to the middle of the forest right now. I guess maybe because you’re not fully human you haven’t been spat out or drawn in to meet with guardians here yet… Maybe the forest doesn’t know what to do with you."

He paused then, blue eyes regarding him in a way that made Eijirou stand tall. "...or maybe you landed next to me for a reason!”

Eijirou cocked his head as the taller man came closer, helmet tucked under his arm. Absently, he wondered how he comfortably wore it with his long blonde hair - even tied back in a low pony-tail as it was, it seemed like it might get in the way.

“Anyway, my name’s Mirio! It’s nice to meet you!”

“Oh, hey, same! My name’s Eijirou!”

They shook hands firmly, and Eijirou was impressed with how enthusiastic the other man shook his hand.

“Hey, about we travel together for a bit? I’ll take you to a forest guardian and you can get proper permission to travel through the forest.”

Eijirou considered the offer.

“I really should find my partner first, sorry man.”

“That’s right, you did mention a friend… Is he like you?”

It took Eijirou a moment to understand what he was asking. He felt embarrassed as he explained.

“Ah, oh no, hehe, I’m kind of one of the last of my kind… He’s a super powerful warrior though - and a mage with amazing explosive powers too.”

Mirio faintly worried expression was at war with his calm voice, “A mage, huh? Oh wow, he’ll definitely be with a guardian then.”

Eijirou wondered if that was true, and scented the air for a whiff of his companion but the forest only agitated his nose. He rubbed it stubbornly.

“Man, normally I’m super good at tracking things… But this place makes my nose itch like crazy.”

“Hum, that would be the spirits still I'd bet. It's odd they would bother another creature so much but…” Mirio sniffed him without warning.

Eijirou found it mildly uncomfortable and suddenly realized what bad manners he used to have.

“Yep, you smell like sulfur and flame. No wonder the spirits in these woods make you feel uneasy. Flame and forests don’t mix well.”

“Well yeah, but its’ not like I’m planning on setting things on fire!” He sneezed suddenly.

“That’s good. ‘Cause if you wanted this journey to be a one-way trip, setting fires would get you kicked out of this forest indefinitely.”

Eijirou froze, worry suddenly etching his features.

“What’s up man?”

“...you really think my companion will be with one of these forest guardians?”

“Absolutely. Mages are things of interest here. And well, considering what you said about his powers… I’m sure the guardians just want to make sure he’s a well-adjusting up-standing citizen and all. Just to make sure they don’t have anything to worry about.”

Eijirou swallowed thickly.

“Uh, haha, yeah…”

Mirio planted his hands on his hips and leaned to the side to get a better look at his paling face.

“What’s the matter?”

“W-well, I think I’ll follow you to these guardians after all… Not that my friend is a bad guy or anything - he’s actually really great and super dependable and wow, he's just an impressive guy all around, except, except…”

“Except?”

How did Mina phrase it again…?

“...he has bad interpersonal communication skills.”

Mirio threw back his head and laughed.

“I have a friend like that too!”

Eijirou rubbed the back of his head as Mirio spun and began walking in what he assumed was the correct path.

“Though, it sounds like your friend might have a different trouble than mine does. What’s he like? Loud or something?”

Ducking a branch, Eijirou muttered, “You could say that, yeah…”

“Is there something to be worried about?”

Eijirou decided to be honest with his new friend.

“Katsuki - that’s my friend - he’s super dependable like I said… but his personality is a bit overbearing and rude. That, and he’s… well he doesn’t take surprises well. Or strangers well. Or… people in general. He’s better than what he used to be like of course, really…! But uh, he’s also the kind of guy who might be in a really bad mood right now considering we just got pulled out of the sky by an enchanted forest.”

Mirio was walking a bit faster now, but it was still just a crisp walk.

“Well, hmm, that sounds like Fatgum would be perfect for someone like that… But he’s currently to the south investigating some sort of forest fire that had occurred there a few days ago and I’m not sure when he’ll be back.”

Something about the name ‘Fatgum’ struck a chord in Eijirou, though he couldn’t recall why. Before he could think too hard on it, Mirio continued on: “That being said, I’m sure you’re friend won’t be too much to handle for my friend. He is the druid of this forest, after all!”

Mirio looked back at him and winked, offering a thumbs up.

Eijirou didn't know what expression he was making, but Mirio immediately laughed at it.

"Really," his armored companion chuckled, "just what kind of trouble could your friend get up to in an enchanted forest of all places?"

Chapter Text

Just moments ago Tamaki had found where the spirits had blasted the dragon’s rider. He lay half-curled on his side, face pillowed on his arm, a few scratches littering his arms and torso and cape - but otherwise appeared unharmed.

He’d honestly marveled at what the spirits told him - how the crass young man had realized only moments too late what the spirits were doing to his dragon companion, and how he’d tried to blast them away.

Even when his friend had fallen and shifted - a dragon changeling of all things! - the blonde stranger still managed to call great destructive magics from his palm and send himself soaring after his falling partner. Only the old and powerful wind spirits and their all-consuming gusts had been enough to send him flying toward the forest floor. And even then, Tamaki was pretty sure he'd sensed Nejire lending a hand at the very end. 

Still, this warrior had taken his plummet with grace. He lay crumbled now, but Tamaki knew to be wary of him. He’d heard enough of the explosions overhead to know this young man bore incredible gifts that could easily be turned into a horrible curse for this forest.

He approached hesitantly, leaning half behind his own staff as he did so.

Really, why did Fatgum have to be gone now of all times? Tamaki just wanted to go home and pretend the stranger wasn't here - but he was only here because the spirits had insisted they be landed and have to abide by the same law as all others must. If they'd been flying higher it would have been another matter - but a dragon flying so closely to a forest just spelled disaster. 

Tamaki sighed to himself, and continued his hesitant approach. He meant only to bend and touch the mage's shoulder to rouse him, but the second his hand got close enough to touch the stranger - they moved.

They launched out their hand in a clawed motion, explosions firing out from their palm in increasingly powerful bursts as he raised himself up in a crouch with a snarl.

Only the wings on Tamaki’s back were swift enough to propell him back from the danger, and he wielded his staff defensively in front of himself.

Red eyes - and such a terrifying expression regarded him mercilessly.

“A witch. It’s always a damn witch, isn’t it!?”

He sounded furious.

As in, eat your children furious.

Tamaki regarded him warily.

“Be at p-peace, stranger. I- I am the guardian of this forest. I mean you n-no harm.”

A cruel smirk, and now they raised both hands at their sides, explosions booming.

“Well, that’s too bad. You should have thought of that before you shot my dragon out of the sky and took him away. Now you’re dead.”

Tamaki always considered himself a peaceful person, and liked to think he was a pascifist.

That being said, he’d never been so grateful in life for his training with Mirio, because if not for having first-hand experience with dodging and evading his partner’s attacks when he launched himself out of the ground - he would have been hopeless to avoid the head-on attack.

As it was, he had experience, and he was not helpless.

He flew overhead at the last moment, reaching down with talons to grip the barbarian by his calf and yank him upward, taking his body and his balance with him.

Only there was no mad scramble for the earth; instead hands immediately raised to blast his leg. It hurt - quite a bit - but shell he’d grown over his legs protected him well enough for him to fling the barbarian into a nearby tree trunk.

He shot quills that missed all body parts on the barbarian, but trapped his cloak against the tree.

“Be at peace at once, or I will remove you from this forest!”

In a fluid motion, the barbarian unclasped his cloak and was again, blasting in his direction. Tamaki tried to predict the following right hook but the follow-up kick hit him squarely in the side - but thankfully he was no longer alone.

Vines wrapped around the man’s ankles and slammed him into the dirt.

Tamaki winced at the impact, and then half-doubled over from the pain in his side blossomed.

The man kicked as hard as a horse!

If anything, winded as they both were, the barbarian’s gaze was still somehow more ferocious than before.

“Alright then, if that’s how you and stupid fuckin’ forest want to play this…” Tamaki could see something in their red gaze change, then. It was more than anger, or calculated impulse - it was a desire to win.

“Let’s see how you handle my *mass impact!”

Tamaki tensed as he felt and saw great swirls of fire spirits twisting around the barbarian’s hands, even as vines tightened around his legs and waist - whatever was coming was summoning massive amount of elemental flame spirits - and that could only mean a truly destructive attack was coming.

He was already launching himself forward, one leg turning into that off a horse’s hoof to knock them unconscious before they could finish and release the attack just as they were raising their hands outward in challenge, expression fierce with a smirk --

-- when all of a sudden something was slamming into his side and an all too-familiar face was beside his.

“Tamaki, hiya!”

A red blurr flew past toward the barbarian with a hollar of, “Katsuki, NO!”

And suddenly, the world around them went red.

Chapter Text

Nejire always knew her boys were interesting, and they were always up to interesting things, but even she had to admit - this was a joyous first.

Tamaki was on the ground quite awkwardly against some tree roots that were woven around him and Mirio. She knew it was Mirio because she could recognize the naked butt of that human anywhere. Furthermore, she had never known anyone else to wrap themselves around Tamaki like that, or to gently thumb under Tamaki's eye in a caressing manner like that. 

The roots seemed like they were probably raised and twisted around the two as if to protect them from the explosion - and just a quick glance told her there was a lot to unpack on that side of the clearing as well - but for now she floated down beside her boys.

Tamaki noticed her first, seeing as he was on his back and blinked owlishly at her, which caused Mirio to turn - the best he could - to look at what had caught his attention.

“Oh, Nejire!”

“Hey, hey, Mirio, is this what they call bondage? Are you and Tamaki making bees and birds again, are you, are you?”

Tamaki's face turned as red as a tomato in a moment's notice, and he quickly tried to hide his face in his hood. 

Mirio did a spit-take.

“Hey, hey, is this one of those times where I should close my eyes again?”

The roots began to move and shift away with Tamaki feebly patting them to encourage them to move faster.

Mirio sat up and shook his head out, making his pony-tail swish in that pleasant way she and Tamaki liked, before he chuckled, “You don’t need to do that, Nejire.”

“Okay good because there’s a lot of naked men today.”

She gazed in the direction of the other two, where Mirio and Tamaki followed her gaze.

Where once a giant red dragon had huddled and contained a massive explosion with his own body, now flames and smoke dissipated to show a very naked redhead straddling a rather half-stunned half-pissed looking blonde with red eyes.

“You can’t just go exploding forests, Katsuki!”

Apparently, the redhead dragon shifter was chiding the other. Nejire was curious to get closer and examine him in greater detail - those wings, those horns, the scales and talons, and tail - she had so many questions!

They were bubbling up excitedly, but before she could fly toward them Mirio gently blocked her path with his fingers extended in front of her, like a gate. His smile never left, but he shook his head quickly.

Pouting, she decided to wait and listen for a bit.

“You idiot. Don’t try to take my mass impact like that ever again! If I hadn’t toned it down when I saw you I could have blown your ribcage open!”

“Puh-lease, I couldn’t be King Katsuki’s dragon if I couldn’t take his explosions!”

That seemed to silence the angry blonde, who flushed lightly at those worse.

“Tch.”

He seemed much calmer compared to the angry man she’d met earlier in the sky. She wondered if he would like to know she was the one who had helped the wind spirits blast him down at the end, and was curious to ask him, but decided against it at the last moment.

"... you're late Mirio. You were supposed to be here hours ago."

"Sorry, sorry, the spirits caught me and made me talk for a bit... Then a dragon almost landed on me, can you believe it?" 

Mirio removed his hands and helped Tamaki to his feet. He seemed mostly unscathed from the explosion - much like Mirio - but slightly dazed, as if he’d hit the ground too hard. Considering Mirio properly tackled him, Nejire could understand. As it was, with Mirio so distracted patting Tamaki clean - and simply just letting his hands wander all over him as Tamaki fidgeted in that quiet way of his, Nejire saw her opportunity. 

...now that her path was unobstructed, she gently pulsed her way over.

The blonde one - ‘Katsuki’ - noticed her first and sat up at once with Eijirou in his lap, expression hard and mean again.

“Hey, hey, what are you going to do if it gets stuck like that? Did’ja know that could happen? Your face getting all stuck like that?”

Katsuki seemed confused, but the dragon shifter twisted to face her, and immediately his expression lit up.

“Whoa, are you a fairy? Katsuki, its a fairy.”

“I can see that, Ei.”

Ignoring his gruffness, Eijirou immediately held out his hand toward Nejire before balking and then extending his pinky.

“Hi, I’m Eijirou. It's nice to meet you, and uh, I’m sorry about the mess! We’ll clean it up!”

Nejire eyed the blast radius and could already see other fairies putting out the fires and spreading the word. Still, it wasn't often a firestarter offered to put out their own flames.

She decided then that she liked this boy. She gracefully accepted his pinky and gave it a gentle shake before letting go and darting all around him eagerly.

“I’m Nejire. And don't worry about it.”

He turned at the sound of her voice, but she was already behind him again.

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

He spun again.

“It’s been a long time since I met another dragon shifter! I was so excited when I saw you shift in the air earlier!”

“W-wait, you know another dragon shifter like me? Really?”

He tried to stand up but Katsuki grappled with him for a moment.

“Heyyy, what’s the big deal, Katsuki! Let go!”

“You’re naked Eijirou. And dammit stop shifting!”

“I don’t mind,” she giggled, “I’ve seen all of him already anyway. Besides, this forest is full of naked men.”

She turned to look at Mirio at that, who was shamelessly approaching as Tamaki stumbled after him in haste, his white cloak lifted out toward an oblivious Mirio.

Eijirou wiggled his way free and stood up then. He turned to face him.

And with the spirit of truly manly men (ridiculous) manly man, in the buff they both greeted each other enthusiastically with a single raised hand.

“Yo.”

“Yo. You’re naked again.”

“Ahahahaha, that I am…! Though this time you are too.”

Eijirou flushed a little, but it seemed to have nothing to with embarrassment because of his nudity - but instead at a seemingly lack of skill on his part.

“Sorry, normally I can make my clothing part of my transformation by absorbing it… But Katsuki’s blast hit me before I could.”

Now that he said it, Nejire could see bare scraps and partial remains of his clothing littered him in very fine lines, and they stained the ground here and there.

With a growl, Katsuki rose and stomped toward the tree at his back and began yanking giant quills out of his clock. Somehow he marched back with even more force and began hastily wrapping the cloak around Eijirou’s middle, who half-heartedly complained.

Mirio meanwhile accepted the white cloak Tamaki was desperately trying to give him, seeing as Tamaki looked like he would faint if he saw any more nudity today. Mirio was tucking and adjusting it into place as he hummed.

“It sounds like there’s been nothing but miscommunication on all our parts here, haha. How about we have a chat and start over?”

Katsuki stepped in front of Eijirou, less protectively and more threateningly, as he menaced, “You shot us out of the air and now you want to talk?”

Nejire fluttered close to his face, making him take a step back with a grimace.

“Hey, hey, y’know what? All the spirits were swirling like crazy when they realized a dragon was flying overhead. Dragons normally mean lots of fire, like massive fire, right? Did’ja know how scared a lot of little spirits were? This is one of the True Havens for forest spirits and a dragon flying so low was bound to wind them all up!”

“Are… are you saying this is his fault?”  

Nejire was kind of impressed by his ability to reach different levels of anger, and again wondered if his face might get stuck like that - but it was the dragon changeling whose expression twisted. Lines of pain appeared around his eyes.

“...I frightened a bunch of spirits?”

She flew past the blonde to flutter in front of the dragon shifter.

“Mm! You were flying so low it sent panic through many of the spirits! Besides, these are enchanted and sacred woods! You’re not allowed to cross unless you have permission.”

There was sincerity in the shifter’s words as he hesitantly said, “I… I was flying low to look for something to eat. I’m really sorry. I had no idea it was an enchanted woods, much less a sacred place.”

“You can’t hunt here either, nope nope! Not without permission.”

The angry blonde pushed Eijirou back, getting in her face as he snapped, “Don’t you dare try to blame him and make him feel bad for existing, much less for being hungry!”

Mirio quickly approached, waving his hands in a placating manner.

“Woah there, no one is blaming anyone! See? It was all just a misunderstanding. The spirits just thought a dragon was coming to attack them. There have been fires in the south and we haven’t learned why - another forest guardian is currently investigating that. They were just being cautious.”

“Cautious my ass. What the hell were you simpletons planning to do once you brought a dragon down in the first place? You didn’t stop to think it wouldn’t be seriously pissed off and hellbent on razing this place into ashes once it realized what had happened?”

Tamaki stepped forward then, even though he looked like all he wanted to do was step away.

“The dragon would have been put into an enchanted sleep should its heart been filled with ill-intent. The sleep could have lasted for years or even decades depending on the darkness within its heart. We would have had ample time to deal with the- the situation then.”

Katsuki looked shocked, then distrustful.

“Bullshit. If magic like that existed, one strong enough to put dragons to sleep like that then…!”

He seemed to realize something.

Nejire happily chirped, “Did’ja know there aren’t many dragons nowadays? Wow. Most have simply gone away haven’t they?”

An uneasy silence seemed to descend, but before it could settle Mirio suddenly boomed with laughter.

“It’s a good spell, right? And from it, we know we have nothing to worry about. This guy,” he had somehow moved to be beside Eijirou and slung an arm around his shoulders, “was out for literally seconds before waking up again. I think it's safe to say he’s not an evil dragon at all. Not even a little.”

Eijirou flushed slightly at the praise and tried his best to straighten up and shake off the ill-mood that had settled in his gut.

Katsuki snarled and swatted at Mirio, but the man simply… sunk into the ground?

He appeared again about a foot away with a laugh, just shoulders and arms, as he took the cloak and stood back up, adjusting it into place again.

“You’re a feisty one, alright!”

“Katsuki, don’t be so rude, man!”

Mirio strolled back to Tamaki and slung his arm around him instead.

This time Eijirou stood in front of his partner.

“I’m really sorry for all the trouble, Sir Druid Sir. Despite his bad attitude and rude manners, we really don’t mean any trouble. We’re adventurers and mercenaries right now - but the good kind! We work in a guild and we go and slay monsters that cause trouble! I’m sorry Katsuki attacked you, and I assure you as offensive as it was, it was his way of being defensive!”

Tamaki trembled at his words, easily overburdened by them. He seemed as if he wanted his cloak back so he could hide his face in it.

“...’Sir’? Well… I mean you seem like a g-good guy I guess… Not so sure about h-him though…”

“ Haah?”

“Katsuki, I thought I told you to stop being so rude! And apologize already, man!”

“There’s no way in hell I’m apologizing to these assholes. And especially not after they shot us out of the sky.”

He crossed his arms stubbornly, chin set.

Eijirou groaned.

“Katsuki, we can’t cross this forest unless we have their permission, remember!? That means we can’t complete this job if they say no!”

“We’ll just fly around the whole forest if we have to, dammit!”

“It’ll take three more days, that’s why we went this way in the first place!”

They seemed absorbed in their bickering, so Nejire pulsed over to Mirio and Tamaki, watching as Mirio beamed a thumbs up at his partner.

“Wow, you really held your own today Tamaki! I mean, you’re really living up to your name as a guardian spirit!”

“Wh-what are you talking about I’ve completely fumbled these relations… This is such a disgrace… I wanna go home quickly…”

“Ahaha, no man,” he took Tamaki’s hands and held them firmly. “When you saw the danger you took direct action, against a dragon, and you even held off what might have been a great enemy! You kept your cool! I’m always amazed by how brightly you shine!”

“You’re- you’re definitely mistaken I only made things worse one decision after another and-”

“You were definitely a hero today, I’m sure of it!”

“Mirio, stop, please, you’re shining so bright… I’ll definitely be sunburnt…”

Mirio laughed brightly then.

Nejire felt a little lonely with all the flirting going on around her.

One pair of boys were bickering back and forth, but she could read enough by their stances and quick touches to wrists and arms to know these barely-there touches were second nature to them.

And here her boys were embracing much more boldly, wild praise shared between both of them in their own unique ways.

It suddenly made her miss her Yuuyu.

She decided if she was going to be lonely, she might as well go hold hands and get praise from her own special person.

Besides, Yuuyu always told her she was the cutest thing in the entire forest, and she really wanted to hear her voice! More than anything else!

She pulsed away without a goodbye.

Tamaki and Eijirou watched her go in surprise.

“Ah… oh no, Nejire flew away.”

“We’ll apologize to her properly tomorrow, together.” Mirio winked at Tamaki.

Eijirou watched her fly away, questions still on his tongue about what she’d mentioned before. Katsuki watched his face impassively, crossing his arms over his chest.

A soft silence descended over the four who remained.

“Well… It’s getting late.”

Mirio broke it with a statement, as if he were stating something simple but profound.

“No kidding.”

Eijriou lightly smacked Katsuki’s shoulder.

“What I mean to say is, how about you two stay the night in the forest? We’ll have a campfire and talk. This here druid is the only one who can give you permission to go as you please… so instead of boggling the night down with more apologies, how about you simply talk about your adventures with us tonight? Let us hear what kind of people you are from your stories.”

Katsuki was still scowling, but Eijirou immediately took him up on his offer with glee.

“Of course, we have plenty of good stories to share - and Katsuki is the greatest cook, ever!”

“Hey shitty dragon, I never agreed to stay or to cook for anyone…!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, besides…”

He flushed a little.

“I might actually be a little more sore from your mass impact than I let on…. I could use an easy night, y’know?”

“If you were hurt you should have something sooner, idiot!”

“I’m not hurt…! Just a little sore. I’ll be fine by the time we lay down tonight, I promise, really!”

He adopted a begging gesture with his hands.

Katsuki scowled for sometime before turning away.

“...do whatever you want.”

“Sweet! You’re so manly, Katsuki!”

“Tch.”

“Good, if that’s all settled then…”

Mirio turned to Tamaki who cowered at two energetic people suddenly focusing all their attention on him, and one scowling blonde with red eyes.

This wasn’t what he meant when he said he ‘wanted to go home.’

“...follow me. We can stop by the hot springs and start making dinner at the cooking pit. There are places to bed down all around there.”

As they slowly made their way, Eijirou suddenly blinked.

“Wait, I thought we couldn’t hunt here?”

“You can if you have permission,” Mirio supplied.

All four had wildly different things on their mind during the walk to the campsite, but as Eijirou’s eyes spotted Mirio take Tamaki’s hand from behind, and the soft smile the two shared, Eijirou sensed this long day was going to become a very good long night.

He extended his own hand back to Katsuki and although the irate blonde partially scowled at him, he squeezed his hand tight enough to bruise in turn.

Which in Katsuki-speak, Eijirou had learned meant a lot of things.

Like, I’m glad you’re okay, you’re an idiot, and how do you always get dragged into messes like this, and even I hate you far less everyone else. In fact I hate you in a positive way.

And Eijirou squeezed back in a way that simply meant I love you.

..o0o...

...and somewhere off in the distance, two fairies also shared hands, and a few hours later fluttered over to the campsite to listen in to the stories being told around the campfire.

And as things grew dark and the others tired, if two set of fairy eyes relaxing in a cozy nook at the top of a nearby tree saw two couples retire that night with tender moments shared between them, well, that was simply something for fairy eyes only.