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Izuku is a kind dog. He's a dog scarred and traumatized, kind hands and soft words lost to the dog. Izuku is misjudged. He isn't a ferocious beast that's willing to take your hand off at the drop of a hat; he's traumatized, scared, and fearful of mankind. Afraid of sickly sweet words. Afraid of muzzles and chains. Terrified of stepping into another ring and fighting against another dog to the death just for another small meal. Izuku doesn't know love, kindness, and genuine care.
All the poor dog knew (knows-) is harsh words, muzzles, and chains, cramped cages, and death. Izuku's gentle, soft nature is overlooked because of how aggressive and apprehensive the dog is. Coming from being seized from illegal dog fights and having been bred for power and aggression, with wild wolf blood and Tibetan mastiff and other [powerful breeds, Izuku was born, bred, and raised for blood, tearing, ripping, and danger.
He was the perfect opponent, trained from birth to kill on command. People don't see the kind dog under the low, threatening growls and booming barks from the dog. They don't see the gentle giant behind his large threatening stature, standing just shy of seven-and-a-half feet on his hind legs, weighing over two hundred pounds of solid muscle, equipt with large canines and sharp eyes. They don't see the blatant fear in Izuku's eyes, for Izuku does not know kind words, gentle hands, and sweet touches that many other dogs do.
Izuku is a kind, scared dog.
-
Kirishima sighs as he looks at the dented chain door on Izuku's cage. The large ceiling-high door was basically ripped to shreds from Izuku's issues with cages, the poor door barely hanging on the hinges. Izuku lays on his bed, glaring silently at the chain door, licking his large canines, resting his giant head on his paws. Kirishima groans under his breath as he opens the battered door, stepping in carefully.
Izuku doesn't seem fazed by his intrusion, staring at him curiously. Kirishima approaches the fluffy dog, bending down and scooping the dog up swiftly. Izuku doesn't even fight it as Kirishima bridal carries the two hundred pound dog without breaking a sweat, his long, spiked hair pulled into a large messy bun.
Kirishima has been a volunteer at Aka Ookami Shelters since high school when he was a hero in the making. They had visited the shelter when they were in downtown Musutafu (where Kirishima was currently stationed as the Number seven Pro Hero). Kirishima had fallen in love with the place. He had immediately wanted to work there, but volunteer work was much easier with his crazy schedule.
Kirishima grunts as he places Izuku in his new enclosure, the largest in the shelter. Instead of chain doors and metal bars, it was reinforced plexiglass and an invisible door that was also made out of plexiglass. They had made sure it was Izuku-proof.
He'd already ripped off three doors to shreds (not counting the one he /just/ demolished), they didn't need anymore. Even though they could afford it with Kirishima's funding (since his money goes to getting animals out of hoarder houses, abusive houses, and similar situations that Izuku had gone through), it got expensive to replace heavy-duty chain doors every few weeks whenever the overwhelming rage hit Izuku. So, with a little bit of splurging on Kirishima's part, they were able to make an Izuku-proof door and wall.
Izuku shakes his coat off, walking into the room, fully furnished, looking around as Kirishima shuts the sliding door, watching it hiss shut. Izuku turns at the noise, ears twitching as he turns to his bed, laying down.
Kirishima is no longer near Izuku, for the dog has apparently lost trust in the one man who was allowed near him. Kirishima mourns the lost trust, but with Izuku being the oldest resident to date, it's hard knowing that Izuku will most likely stay in the shelter for the rest of his life.
Izuku is four.
He's most likely going to live till he's eight to ten years old.
-
Katsuki groans, having been dragged to the shelter by Shitty hair to see a dog. He's been looking for a dog for years and had never found one. It's lonely when you are an asexual man whose hot-tempered attitude and lack of sexual feelings drive away any possible partner. Even if people aren't driven away by those two factors, they're usually gold-diggers trying to weasel their way into his bank account. Which is, loaded by the way, since...
Number one hero and all.
Katsuki watches as Shitty hair shuffles on his feet, leading him further into the shelter, passing playing puppies and lounging kittens, binkying bunnies, and singing birds. The sounds make him light-headed, tempting him to reach up to his ears and tune out the noises with his hearing aids. They take another turn into the shadier part of the shelter that doesn't seem frequented as often as all the puppies, bunnies, kitten, and bird sections are—a deep growl sounds, echoing in the empty hall.
Shitty hair rubs the back of his neck, looking nervous. "This...is Izuku. The dog I was telling you about. He's not very happy with me right now," Shitty hair speaks, pointing to the shaded enclosure. Katsuki had to squint to see the snarling pile of fur glaring at the large redhead, toxic green eyes having a glowing sheen to them. Shitty hair takes a few steps back, and the snarls die down. Shitty hair looks up, giving him a nervous smile.
"I don't wanna get in the way of you two possibly bonding. I'll be in the back if you need me! Just text me if you need me!" Shitty hair gives him one last smile before flicking on a light switch, illuminating the dim hallway and disappearing around the bend.
Katsuki sighs, turning back and nearly startling to see the large dog directly next to him, standing a mere inch away from the plexiglass barrier, ears back, lips curled up to flash shiny, large canines. Katsuki watched the dog, and the dog watched him. Katsuki could see the fear and distrust in the dog's eyes; from years of abuse and fights, it was switched into the dog's eyes and body, body strung tight, muscles tightening under the boiling tension.
Katsuki reached forward, slipping his hands through one of the cut-out rectangles in the plexiglass barrier, not even flinching as Izuku snarled and bit his hand. Katsuki took his thumb, running it over wrinkled whispers, dog the side of Izuku's muzzle, feeling the bumpy skin and scars under the thick coat of fur. Izuku's jaw, previously locked around his fingers, carefully pulled apart, whining softly, seeing the damage to his hand. Nothing more than peeled skin and puncture wounds.
(Katsuki knew the dog could do far worse.)
Izuku whined as the man pet the sides of his muzzle, touch foreign but not unwelcome. His pink tongue, smattered with freckles, carefully licked across bleeding wounds as a silent sorry. Izuku cringes at the feeling of blood on his tongue and the taste of the iron on his tastebuds, remembering the blood of many dogs on his tongue, burning his raw, hot iron poured on his tongue, the vile taste burned into his tongue as a reminder for what he did. For what he was.
A monster. A killing machine. A dangerous, unpredictable dog-
Warm hands cupped his face, snapping Izuku out of his thoughts. The dog looked up, tail tucked between fluffy legs, legs shaking from fear. He whined softly as warm thumbs swept lovingly under his eyes, smoothing the tension out of his face. The touch was...nice. Kind. Caring. The man's hands were gentle and soft but worn and calloused, smooth to the touch, but a story behind them. Izuku could feel the raised and leathery skin against his face, knowing the feeling of scars all too well. Izuku could feel the tension in his body melt away, leaning into the man's touch.
It didn't feel like scorching iron burning his body; it didn't feel like bugs crawling on his skin whenever someone touched him.
It was nice. Warm.
Kind, was the word...right?
Izuku does not know kind. Kind is foreign to him (Just like the man's touch, so warm, please don't stop-) for he had never grown to know kind words, soft touches, and gentle things. He was born in the pits of hell, only knowing violence from a young age. Born to kill and bred to fight, Izuku was a dog that shouldn't /know/ kind.
Yet this man shows him kind.
-
Katsuki watches as the giant dog melts under the heat of his warm hands, stroking soft fur, watching the dog whine and cry when he tries to move his hands away. Watching the inspiration in those green orbs glow whenever Katsuki tries to move away from petting the dog. Izuku cries out when he removes his hands, trying to grab his hand with his paw, crying out in fear. Katsuki crouches down, taking Izuku's large paw in his hand, stroking boney toes, shushing the fearful creature.
"Shh...I'll be back soon. I'm getting you outta here, buddy," Izuku's whines die down as Katsuki gives a soft kiss to the large paw in his grasp, jogging off to grab an employee to file the adoption papers. Once Katsuki flags an employee down, the girl is surprised but gets the documents without fail. Signing them quickly, Katsuki swipes his card, not even blinking at the high adoption fee. Katsuki goes home to his house later that day, buying everything he needs. He was given a list of what Izuku eats at the shelter and a recommendation to what he should be eating, along with what he's allergic to. All the basic things.
Katsuki makes sure everything he buys is here within a day or so, eagerly waiting for Friday, the day he gets to take Izuku home with him and the day the adoption is finalized.
Katsuki falls asleep giddy and prepared that night and does so the next four nights, reading up on everything he needs and essential things to know.
Katsuki feels pretty damn prepared.
-
Katsuki walks into the shelter come Friday morning, feeling his entire body glow with serotonin, nerves, and giddiness. He steps past the singing and harmonizing birds, seeing Shitty hair in the puppy pen, chatting with some parents, and squealing children. Shitty hair spots him, eyes glowing with happiness, the same joy that radiated inside of Shitty hair's crimson irises when he told the large redhead about adopting Izuku. Shitty hair had nearly crushed him in the unwilling hug he was given.
Katsuki walks by the puppy pen, tossing a grin and a nod to Shitty hair, who currently had a lap full of rowdy puppies. Shitty hair's face lights up, sending him a blinding smile and a big thumbs up as Katsuki disappears around a corner. The employee from before, Hoshiko, was waiting for him around the bend smiling at him and leading the way. Katsuki follows behind the galaxy-haired woman, who goes over a few simple things, a small folder tucked under her arm.
They turn the corner to Izuku's enclosure as Hoshiko flips a light switch, illuminating the hallway. Katsuki's heart jumps in his chest, a broad smile on his face as he spots Izuku. Izuku sits in the exact same spot he was in, perking up when he sees Katsuki. The shift from depressed and scared dog to jumping with joy is instantaneous when Katsuki rounds the corner. Ears prick up, and Izuku howls and cries happily, tail whipping behind him quickly like a plane propeller.
The woman behind him gasps in shock to see the naturally aggressive and snappy dog light up like a Christmas tree, crying out as his paws dance and bounce on the floor as Katsuki walks into the enclosure, passing through the open door as Izuku whines and cries as he slips between Katsuki's legs while the man crouches, leaning on Katsuki's large, warm chest, tail thumping and whacking against the linoleum flooring.
Izuku radiates an aura of pure, unfiltered joy that makes Hoshiko tear up and Katsuki choke up slightly, watching the dog turn and twist in Katsuki's hold, licking the pro hero's neck and cheek, eyes glowing in pure happiness.
Kirishima snaps a few pictures, posting them to Twitter, grinding softly.
-
Izuku whines and cries in happiness, curling up into kind man's chest, tail wagging quickly. He came back! Kind man came back. Izuku wiggles and worms his way into the man's arms, soaking up the heat that rolls off of the kind man's chest, rubbing his muzzle and cheeks against solid muscle, huffing happily. He suddenly scooped up into large arms that held him like a baby, similar to how the red man carried him. Izuku looks up to see kind man grinning down at him, his warm body lulling Izuku into a relaxed state. Izuku's tail wags from where it's wedged between his rump and the kind man's arm, the soft tip thwacking against the man's arm.
Izuku is excited.
- Two years later -
Izuku awakes with a loud, languid groan, resting his head against Kacchan's left pectoral, feeling the ash-blond pet his back fur, running quirk warmed hands through the curls and waves. Izuku grumbles and sniffs happily, soaking in Kacchan's heat. "Alright, let's get up, lazy," Kacchan grumps as Izuku follows him off the bed, waiting for Kacchan by the bedroom door, which is opened for him once Kacchan has acquired a shirt.
Izuku trots behind Katsuki, who yawns languidly, scratching his stomach, stretching his arms above him as his spine cracks. Izuku yawns as well, stretching out, toes spreading apart as his back bows, feeling his body crack and release built-up tension. Izuku licks his chops as he hears the fridge door opening, lying on the carpet while he waits for his dinner to be served. After being transitioned to a raw diet six months into living with Kacchan, Izuku felt much better.
Izuku yawns wide, licking his muzzle as he rolls around on the carpet, huffing and grunting as he wiggles around on the grey carpet. Katsuki, from the kitchen, snorts before whistling. Izuku shoots up, trotting into the kitchen, fluffy tail wagging behind him as he boofs, walking with Katsuki, sitting in front of his foot mat, watching Katsuki set the bowl down.
Izuku waits like the good boy he is, tail swishing on the hardwood floor behind him as Katsuki bends down, kissing his forehead, making his tail wag harder before allowing Izuku to eat. Katsuki walks off to get his own food as Izuku chows down on his raw bison, lapping up the egg-covered slab. Izuku doesn't shy away or skirt around the vitamins, happily lapping them up along with the second raw egg, tail wagging lazily behind him. Izuku's ears perk up at the sound of clinking dishes on their marble countertop, knowing Katsuki was eating now.
The two ate in silence, happy in each other's presence.
-
Izuku laid his head on Kacchan's lap, feeling the ash-blond reach down, petting his head and ears, easing the tension out of his face. The doorbell suddenly echoed around the house, Izuku's head picking up to look over the back of the couch, hopping off of it a moment later to follow Katsuki, ears forward, listening. Katsuki stepped into the genkan, slipping his house slippers on, Izuku next to his shins as he opened the door.
Tension bled out of Izuku at the sign on Kaminari, Kirishima, Mina, and Sero. He barked and wagged as everyone said their hellos to the blond, Katsuki smiling softly as he followed them into the house, Izuku hot on their toes.
Once they had reached the living room, everyone turned around to greet Izuku, smooching his head and cheeks, making his whine happily, tail starting to blur from how fast it was wagging. Izuku howled happily as everyone cooed at him, paws tapping on the hardwood floor. "Tone it down, extra's, you're gonna overwhelm Izuku with all the praise," Katsuki snorted as everyone eventually stopped their praise and kiss onslaught, talking about the upcoming hiking trip.
Izuku was very excited.
-
Izuku practically threw himself out of the car when they parked, not even waiting for the door to be opened, instead hopping out of the window. Everyone screeched when Izuku basically threw himself out of the window, barking and tipping with joy, dancing in place, standing in front of the car. Everyone else in the car burst into wheezing laughter at the excited dog, who seemed to cry out in protest, making them hurry up to follow after the vibrating dog.
They all hauled their backpacks onto their person, clipping them into place, locking the car as they shut the trunk. Katsuki shoved his car keys into his backpack as Izuku rejoined him by his side, pink tongue flopping out of his mouth as his tail wagged. Izuku huffed and ran ahead as they all started the three-hour-long trek up to the top. Nobody stopped the dog who sniffed around, often times diving face-first into a leaf pile, emerging with leaves sitting between his ears, like a hat.
It became quite clear that before Izuku was in the shelter and Katsuki's care, Izuku most likely never saw anything outside of dingy, moldy basements that were packed with other dogs and low-lit fighting cages. But here, with Izuku running around, tripping on protruding roots covered by leaves, Izuku seemed happy.
-
On schedule, three hours later, they reached the summit of the mountain they hiked up to, Izuku standing near the edge, chest puffed out, looking at the forest below. He looked beautiful, the wind whistling softly, tousling Izuku's thick black fur, emerald eyes glowing in the afternoon sun, ears pricked, taking in every sound echoing in the forest. They all watch quietly, Kaminari having pulled out his expensive professional camera to take in the beauty.
They all gasp quietly as Izuku tilts his head back, eyes closing softly, a low, crooning howl rumbling. Nobody moves a muscle, save for Kaminari, who clicks away on his camera, golden eyes glowing in wonder at the sight. Katsuki pulls out his phone, starting to record the beautiful scenery. Izuku's eyes slowly slide open, head dipping down, gazing out into the forest. Izuku looks back, jaw opening to open for his freckled tongue, tag starting to wag as he bounds over, barking and howling as everyone laughs at the dog.
Izuku is a kind, scared dog. Katsuki knows.