Chapter Text
Katsuki crept through the forest. He'd been making this same journey for decades, and it remained as treacherous and unpredictable as always.
But the prize was so very worth it.
Well, normally it was. Right now, it was just fucking infuriating. No matter how quietly he crept, the terrible beasts of the forest seemed to find him.
And it wasn't like he was loud. At least, not while he was hunting. He moved like a shadow—making no noise and leaving no scent. Yet, the monsters that kept him from his goal could feel his every move.
A bear lunged for him, slashing with vicious claws at his midsection.
Where had it even come from?
No matter. He drew his sword as it lunged again.
Then he saw that fucking insignia on its giant, brown paw. "I'm not allowed to kill you, motherfucker," Katsuki snapped at it. "Just let me pass! Your lord will thank you."
The bear, being a bear, didn't respond except to bellow a roar that shook the trees.
Fuck. Fine.
He lunged at the bear (yes, he knew it was fucking stupid) and somehow managed to knock it back before scrambling up and sprinting away.
Killing forest guardians was a big no-no if you wanted to keep favor with the Lord of the Forest, and Katsuki was invested in keeping his good opinion.
The bear gave chase but Katsuki was quick, sprinting for the thickest cluster of trees and using his daggers to scale it as fast as he was able. The slash across his abdomen was bleeding sluggishly, but it was of no concern to him. He would be well taken care of when he reached his goal.
He lost the bear, but his luck didn't last long. He was faced mere minutes later with the flashing talons of a titan eagle—as tall as a man and as angry as a shaken hornet. It didn't bear an insignia though, so Katsuki felt no remorse when he sliced its foot off as it reached for him. "Suck on that, asshole bird!" he barked as it shrieked and flew away.
It took five hours for him to reach the clearing and he was injured from head to toe when he did.
He didn't care though.
Because there, sitting by the stream and singing softly to the flowers was the prize he sought.
He watched quietly for a moment—enraptured by the quiet smile that stretched freckled cheeks. His voice was soft and sweet and Katsuki couldn't look away from the glow in his eyes as the flowers blossomed around him in reply.
Katsuki was rough around the edges. The people of this land called him a barbarian—often to his face. He dealt in blood and warfare but here in this peaceful place that was guarded by the green-haired god of the forest, he was made soft and serene.
Izuku was a wellspring of life and love, and Katsuki would die in his attempt to drink it all down—his whole being a commitment to his wellbeing, and his life a sacrifice to keep him in smiles.
He was a simple devotee, and yet—
"Kacchan!"
He had gained his god's favor. His love.
Izuku flew into his arms, and Katsuki melted into him. "Hi Deku," he murmured into soft green curls that smelled like flowers, pine, and sun. He shouldn't be speaking to a god so casually, but he hadn't known that Izuku was a god when they met, and the diety wouldn't stand to hear him call him by any other name once he learned.
"You're back so soon," he sighed into the warrior's neck, lips brushing the juncture of his shoulder.
"Couldn't stay away," he admitted. "Missed you."