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It’s their sixth night on the road together during the lonely voyage as outlaws to Klayd. Shelter for the night is a partially collapsed house they found down a twisting dirt path far from the main road. It’s one of many dilapidated structures from an old, abandoned village that was likely deserted when the nearby factory closed. Some graffiti, old sleeping bags, and piles of rocks suggest that wanderers have used it for shelter in the past, though it doesn’t look like anyone has come by recently.
Rody and Deku have been laying near one another on the unrolled sheet Rody had “borrowed” when he acquired the rusty old truck that was bringing them to the border. His back is turned toward the young hero and his eyes are squinted shut but it’s no good. Pino keeps pacing back and forth between them, betraying the fact that Rody can’t sleep.
This has been going on for at least the past thirty minutes, and he keeps trying to sleep, he really does. But Pino’s pacing keeps his thoughts active, or maybe it’s vice versa.
“Rody?” Deku whispers, which of course makes the dumb bird pace faster, every tap of her feet on the sheet in perfect tune with his pounding heart. “Are you okay?”
He could pretend to be asleep if he wasn’t a freak whose quirk screamed his physical state from the rooftops. Instead, he shrugs and shuffles a bit, not daring to look back at the other boy. “‘m fine,” he lies.
“Can’t sleep?” Deku asks, and god why does he have to care so much?
“Just cold,” he lies again.
“Hm.”
He knows that the green-haired, freckle-faced, dork of a hero is studying Pino right now—probably realizing that she’s trembling, which is a good cover for his blatant lie.
“You sure?” he asks, because of course he does, he can’t ever hold still or shut up when he thinks someone might be hurting. He’s the complete embodiment of some nosy nurse who pokes and prods and asks too many personal questions. Rody’s never met anyone so…so selfless. So sweet?
Did he really just think that?
“Said I’m fine,” he snaps. He reaches back to grab Pino so she’s out of sight, though she fights back, little wings reaching for Deku in a way that makes Rody’s cheeks heat.
He hears movement behind him, the sound of air released in a sigh as gentle as the tickle of a breeze from the cracks in rotting wood, but much more welcome. Rody tenses, because that soft breath is whispering against his exposed neck, heat chasing away the fingers of cold that were pressed there before. There’s more shuffling, more wispy warmth swaying the hairs on the back of his neck, then the unmistakable sensation of an arm wrapping around him.
For a moment, Rody is sure he’s back home. He’s in the musty trailer with Roro and Lala, their small arms clinging to him as they snore and talk in their sleep. It’s the same warmth, the same comfort, the same oneness. These aren’t the small arms of children, however. The arm settling around him is thick with muscle, bare and covered from shoulder to forearm in the horrible welt of a pink scar.
Pino shrieks, feathers puffing and body jumping three feet into the air at the same time Rody registers what’s happening. “H-Hey, what’s with the cuddle session?”
“You’re cold,” Deku says, and his voice is dripping with concern that Rody doesn’t deserve. “If I can help, even just a little, I want to.”
So stupidly selfless. So caring. It makes Rody’s chest tighten so much that it’s almost painful. No one’s ever cared about him like this. Not since before his dad left. Usually, he’s the one doing stupid shit like this. Hugging his kid siblings and making sure they feel safe, warm, full, protected. It’s so weird to be on this side of it, to be the one protected, and…wait. Did Deku think of him like he thought of Roro and Lala? Was his affection brotherly in nature?
Of course it is. Idiot.
“Get off,” Rody snaps. “I lied, okay? I’m not cold, you don’t have to hug me. I’m not some kid that needs a good snuggle, alright?”
Pino drops down onto Rody’s head and pouts, wings crossed over her chest and tail fanned out in Deku’s direction.
“Rody…” Deku sighs as he jerks away from the hero’s grip. Rody hates when he says his name like that. In such a sympathetic, longing tone—as if he understands him, as if he wants to understand more. “You can tell me anything, you know?” he soothes. “I promise I’ll never judge you. Remember when you told me about Pino and I promised not to laugh? I didn’t disappoint you then, right?”
He doesn’t answer, because yeah, that’s right. Deku was the first person, the only person to tell him how much he admired his quirk. He talked about Pino like he was in awe. Like everything about Rody and his quirk was to be cherished, worshipped or something.
“Yeah, okay, whatever.” Rody sighs. “I’m scared, alright?” Pino shudders to emphasize this statement. “I know you’re a hero and you probably get chased by villains on a weekly basis, but this whole runaway outlaw thing isn’t normal for me. I’m scared, Deku. Scared they’re gonna kill me and my little brother and sister are gonna be alone.”
Deku doesn’t say anything for a long time, compounding the embarrassment already alive and twisting in Rody’s gut. Then, there’s that shuffling sound again, and the tickling warmth of breath and that stupid, bulky arm wrapping around him again. Only this time, he pulls him even closer, so that Rody can feel the heat of his bare chest radiating through the back of Rody’s shirt like warmth from a space heater—and he swears he can feel every hardened muscle from Deku’s pectorals to his defined abs.
“W-Weren’t you listening?” Rody stutters. “I’m not cold!”
“I heard you,” Deku breathes. “But you’re scared, and I think that’s a better reason to do this. You’re safe with me, Rody. No matter what they throw at us, I’ll protect you. Please, trust me. You can rely on me and I promise you’ll get back to your siblings safe and sound.”
Rody’s teeth clench and his heart pounds and dammit Pino moved and he doesn’t know where she is now. “You can’t just say crap like that, you know? It’s weird.”
“Is it?” Deku asks, genuinely surprised. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. But I meant what I said, Rody. You can count on me.”
He doesn’t release Rody. If anything, that arm squeezes tighter, hand fanning out on Rody’s chest and he’s sure Deku can feel every thump of his heart against his rib cage, as if the stupid thing is trying to break out and jump into the other boy’s palm. And if he feels like this, then what is Pino doing right now?
He gets an answer when Deku chuckles, the sound reverberating through Rody’s whole body like the growl of the rusty truck’s engine. “Well, hello, Pino,” he says.
“What is she doing?” Rody asks, then swallows hard because he’s not sure he wants to know.
“Hopping around, hugging me, rubbing her feathers all over my face. Hey! Don’t nest in my hair!”
Rody’s now positive that his heart will shoot through his ribs and Deku’s hand altogether before racing into the countryside. It’s running so fast that it would definitely cross the border before they got there. “Just ignore her,” he advises. “She just does this sometimes before we fall asleep. It’s no big deal.”
“It doesn’t bother me,” Deku says fondly. “I think she likes me.”
Rody bites down on his own lip, resisting the tremor that threatens to work down his spine. What does Deku think he means by that? He knows Pino is Rody’s quirk. He knows what she symbolizes, so to casually claim that she likes him?
“I like you too, Pino,” Deku murmurs.
Oh no. Rody can hear the stupid bird cooing, her throat issuing a pleased melody as she no doubt nuzzles against Deku’s cheek. Don’t, Rody, he warns himself. Don’t think about it, just close your eyes and go to sleep. If you clear your mind…
It’s no good. Deku’s arm and chest are so warm, his breath keeps whispering against Rody’s neck, he’s laughing and mumbling to Rody’s quirk and suddenly all Rody can think about are his lips. “I want to be a hero who saves people with a smile.” Always a smile on those lips, a gentleness that lingered during his laughter and lit the space around them like an ever-glowing jar of stolen sunlight. Rody wants to capture that light, even just one, brilliant ray. He wants to taste the blinding gold with his tongue and swallow that soft joy poured from smiling lips. God, he wants to. So badly.
“Rody?” Deku whispers, so close to his ear that it almost pulls a moan from the recesses of his throat. Almost.
“What?” he asks, voice cracked like the splintering wood of the walls around them.
Deku doesn’t respond and Rody hears another soft coo, followed by an almost inaudible series of “chu” sounds. He realizes with horror exactly what Pino is doing.
He sits upright, forcing Deku to release him. He turns to find his suspicions confirmed. Pino is laying on Deku’s face, her little beak littering his cheek and lips with kisses.
“You stupid bird,” Rody growls before snatching her off the other boy’s face and shoving her under the sheet. He flips back down, humiliation clawing the back of his throat and making him wish he’d slept in the back of the truck instead. Anything would be better than this. He should have never told Deku about his quirk. There was no hiding anything from him now.
Deku’s arm doesn’t wrap around him again, which makes the knot of humiliation swell even larger in his throat. His eyes sting and he sniffles. He’ll be damned if he cries. The nail in the coffin would be Pino’s muffled sobs coming from under the sheet.
“It’s okay, you know,” Deku says. “You don’t have to try to hide things from me, Rody. You can trust me.”
Rody doesn’t respond because what is he supposed to say to that? It’s too late, he’s too embarrassed, and Deku is too close to him.
“Do you want to kiss me?”
Pino chirps loudly under the sheet, answering for Rody, who would rather die than try to speak at the moment.
“You can be honest, Rody,” he says. “I won’t laugh.”
God, now his eyes really are watering and he’s definitely going to cry. He can’t answer. He knows he’ll only croak out some lame excuse that won’t do anything to cover the truth that squirms and chirps and coos near his head.
“Because I want to kiss you, too.”
The confession hangs in the air, so absolute. He must have heard him wrong, he must be dreaming. Pino goes completely still, along with Rody’s heart. He feels numb but for a sudden and violent surge of electricity that shoots from his neck to his toes, sending shockwaves through his nerves.
Suddenly, there’s a hand on his hip, large and sure. He lets out a pathetic whimper as Deku tugs and pushes him gently onto his back. He’s hovering over Rody now, face gentle and green eyes shimmering like ponds in the sunlight. His freckles are cute, so stupidly cute, and Rody wants to reach up and brush them with his thumb but he’s afraid it will be like reaching up for the speckled stars, too far from reach.
“Can I?” Deku asks. Already, he’s leaning forward. Already his lips are parting and a light blush is touching his cheeks, illuminated by the pale moonlight that shines through the holes in the roof onto this unusual display.
“C-Can you what?” he asks dumbly.
“Kiss you,” Deku answers without hesitation.
“I…”
Pino forces herself out from under the blanket and nods vigorously, ruining any chance Rody had at acting suave. Apparently, a bird’s enthusiasm qualifies as consent to the other boy because a second later, Deku’s lips press against his and damn, maybe Pino is good for something after all.
His lips are soft but the kiss is firm, certain. Every motion of Deku’s mouth on his own is purposeful, heavy with intent and surety that makes Rody feel like he’s Pino’s size, at the complete mercy of the young hero. His body lowers and one of them moans but Rody’s not sure who. It doesn’t matter, because the sound echoes between the caverns of their mouths, vibrations chased by flitting tongues and nipping teeth. Deku’s arms encompass him, warm and strong. It’s a good thing, because Rody’s sure that the other boy is the only thing anchoring him to the earth at the moment.
He can’t stop himself from running his hands up those scarred arms, along his neck and into tangly, green hair. He can’t help holding him there, refusing to let him pull away as Rody finally gets to taste the sunlight.