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“There you are!”
An ear twitches, and Shouto almost smiles. The wind is biting on his face and snow flurries catch onto his lashes, but still there’s no mistaking that ear twitch.
Katsuki calls him mad, says there’s no way someone can distinguish one wolf’s twitching from another’s, but really the joke’s on him because as he approaches, the giant beast turns his head towards Shouto—
And eyes like molten gold lock with his.
Yeah, there is no mistake.
Shouto sidesteps a fallen tree trunk as he approaches, and the beast shakes his head, dislodging the coat of white that has accumulated on his back.
Clearly, he’s been here a while.
“I’ve been looking for you, Murmur,” Shouto says then, extending a gloved hand towards the spot between the wolf’s ears—his favourite spot—but suddenly those eyes squint harshly and teeth are bared with a guttural snarl...
So Shouto retracts his hand.
It’s not often Murmur gets aggressive with him... He must be really upset.
It’s a good thing Shouto’s here, then, and not some other, more explosively reactive someone.
Calmly, he lowers his hand, though not his gaze, and Murmur snarls his way through their staring contest. To make sure the situation doesn’t escalate, Shouto winks—because Katsuki I'm serious, it really feels like he understands what I mean when I wink!—and slowly reaches for the fur bag at his side. His gloved fingers are numb and clumsy after having trekked almost one whole hour through the forest, but they still manage to close onto the thick cloth he’d packed for this particular journey.
And when he retracts his hand, cloth in his grip, Murmur’s nose twitches.
Good, he’s interested.
With a flourish—because he’s feeling indulgently playful after such a reaction—he unpacks the cloth, and Murmur’s snarl falls entirely, eyes interested and greedy. “This’ll be our secret,” Shouto declares conspiratorially as Murmur stands and stalks towards him, tongue suddenly lolling out as his tail swishes in anticipation.
The sight brings out another streak of playfulness in him, so Shouto sends the chunk of newly-uncovered steak high up in the air, making Murmur jump excitedly to chomp on the meat.
And as his powerful jaw snaps shut again and again, Shouto reaches a hand over to smooth down his fur. “Good boy,” he whispers fondly as the wolf’s tail now wags excitedly, cutting through the falling snow in a mesmerizing display of happiness that warms Shouto to his core.
Quickly enough, the wolf finishes his treat and twists around so his nuzzle pushes into Shouto’s hand. “Sorry boy, didn’t bring any more,” he declares, and as if he could understand him, Murmur’s ears droop. As an apology, Shouto doubles on his scratching efforts, reaching between the wolf’s ears until he sees him close his eyes in bliss, his head bonelessly following every movement from Shouto’s hand.
Soon enough, though, those eyes open once again, and Murmur starts moving. Smoothly, he begins circling around Shouto’s frame, his warm body pushing into Shouto’s sides and jostling him occasionally until he decides to lay back down, effectively leaning onto Shouto’s body.
And the boy’s heart melts.
He knows what this is.
The wolf knows how harsh it is out here, knows how even though Shouto enjoys the cold weather more than most, he’s been trekking through it long enough that it’s become uncomfortable.
This is a wolf’s apology.
So Shouto settles down into Murmur’s cocoon of warmth, and presses into his side comfortably. Like this, the wind isn’t as unforgiving, the darkness not as oppressing. “Thank you buddy,” he whispers happily, and Murmur snorts in response.
His breathing—with the way his rib cage expands in a constant, soothing rhythm—almost manages to lull Shouto to sleep, and frankly, this is ten times better than any tent or igloo he could’ve constructed out in the open... But Shouto didn’t come here for a nap in the wild.
No, he came with a mission.
Shifting around so he can comfortably watch the wolf’s head while still lying onto him, he hums. “You know, he didn’t mean it,” he begins then, and the wolf yawns, his strong jaw stretching wide then snapping shut before he shifts his gaze towards Shouto’s. And this time, there’s no duel for dominance, only intelligence and—dare he say—hope in those eyes.
Go on, Shouto likes to imagine they mean.
He snuggles closer into that warmly soft fur. “He just wants what’s good for you,” he finishes, and unfurls his arm so he can keep scratching between the wolf’s ears. The beast’s eyes close in contentment, accepting the gesture of peace for a few more moments, before he shakes Shouto’s hand off, snaps his head back, and howls.
It’s deafening, powerful and compelling all at once...
And Shouto smiles, proud of him.
Because a howl means he’s stopped hiding.
So Shouto settles back onto the beast’s back with that smile still firmly in place, and lets contentment seep into his bones, imagining it can reach into Murmur’s core too. There’s no real way to know if he’s successful, but the wolf’s breaths against him are warm and gentle, steady waves rocking him to the sound of whistling winds and of night owls’ hoots.
It feels like he’s existing in a tiny pocket of a time, peaceful and inconsequential.
That pocket, though, inevitably bursts after who knows how long, but frankly he can’t say he’s too disappointed.
Not when there’s now a warm, insistent lick tickling his cheek.
“Hey girl,” he whispers, and opens heavy eyelids to be greeted by a most wonderful view—majestic, slow-blinking eyes and a twitching, pink little snout. He smiles fondly, and reaches out a hand to indulge his oldest friend.
“So that’s where you two fuckers went, huh?” a gruff voice proclaims then as the sound of crunching snow reaches Shouto’s ears, though he finds he can’t respond when he’s suddenly smothered by a grown leopard’s face.
Not that he minds much, really.
The heavy steps near their little cocoon, stopping just a few paces away. “I didn’t need a babysitter, Shou,” the voice reproaches then, and Shouto manages to open a playful eye to take in the new arrival.
Katsuki.
“Soba’s not a babysitter,” he responds lightly, and Katsuki’s face scrunches up so much that Shouto can see his brows touching. He wonders if he’s doing that adorable little pout too, under the scarf around his neck.
“Well whatever the fuck Soba is, you didn’t need to send her after me when you left on your noble quest for peace!” Katsuki bites angerly—pridefully—crossing his arms, and the breathing of Shouto’s pillow stutters.
Ah, Murmur’s waking up, then.
Shouto shakes his head gently, not wanting to jostle the beast. “That’s Zaru to you,” Shouto corrects, and Katsuki’s eyebrow twitches.
“Why the fuck would you even name her Soba if you’re the only one who can call here that, then, fucker?!”
“Her name is Zaru Soba, and I told you already: if other people call her that, it makes me think someone’s prepared us some soba, and I’m tired of living in disappointment!”
Murmur snorts then, head lifting disorientedly to face Soba’s, and they blink at each other in what Shouto imagines is happiness. “Look, you woke Murmur up,” Shouto continues then admonishingly.
And Katsuki’s eyes widen, his shoulders rising up to his ears as he exhales. His breath comes out of his nose in puffs of condensed water that Shouto finds oddly fitting, considering he looks pretty mad. “His name is fucking King Explosion Murder, you fucker!”
“Why would you name your wolf Fucking Kin—”
“Dammit Halfie, you’re such a pain in the ass!” Katsuki exclaims in frustration, and he suddenly stalks away, making Shouto smirk behind his scarf. He loves this, seeing Katsuki all riled up.
It’s cute.
Though... it reminds him of what happened earlier too, how things got a bit out of hand.
It also reminds him that though he might have managed to calm one side of this conflict, he hasn’t done so with the other yet.
So they need to talk.
With a glance thrown Soba’s way—finding her now playfully swatting a paw over her friend’s nuzzle—Shouto stands up. He pats Murmur’s back in thanks, and lets Soba take his place in the crook of the wolf’s belly to walk towards Katsuki’s retreating form.
He thankfully hasn’t gone far, his back clearly visible between darkened trees as he sits upon a boulder.
His shoulders are rising and falling exaggeratedly, and Shouto understands he’s using breathing exercises. The thought makes him oddly proud of him.
Because he’s come a long way, really, from the explosive character who couldn’t tell love from hate, teasing from insult.
Yeah, he’s trying.
It fills him with a sudden wave of affection that Shouto decides to channel into an embrace, wrapping his arms around the heavy coat on Katsuki’s back and squeezing as he settles his head on his shoulder. With Katsuki sitting down, he has to lean forward a bit, but he still manages to mold himself to Katsuki’s shape perfectly.
Fucking koala, he hears in his mind, though the real Katsuki says nothing.
But he feels Katsuki’s shoulders inch down on a long exhale, and then they stay that way—marking the end of the exercise, no doubt.
“You shouldn’t have meddled, Shou,” he breathes, the words exasperated but his voice so soft it almost hurts. “I swear, you’ve spent so much time with Deku, the nerd’s rubbing off on you.”
Shouto snuggles into his neck then, distractedly eyeing the skin there beneath his scarf. “Maybe,” he concedes. He knows, after all, how much Katsuki hates having other people fight his battles—and always makes sure to respect his space... That said, he’s really not sorry he meddled this time, so he adds cheekily instead, “but Midoriya’s not the one I like to spend my time with the most.”
Katsuki snorts.
“Yeah?” he asks, stepping onto no man’s land.
“Yeah,” Shouto promises, meeting him there. And on a whim, he presses his icy nose to Katsuki’s neck, just because he can.
Katsuki yelps delightfully.
“You little shit,” he gripes, but there’s a smirk in his voice, so Shouto smiles and plants a kiss over the abused skin in a quiet apology.
They stay like that for a while, Shouto draped over Katsuki as they’re enveloped by the sound of the dying wind and Soba’s playful mewling. It’s calm, almost ethereal in its quietness, and it’s only made better when Katsuki lays his head on Shouto’s, heavy and warm.
That’s how he knows he’s truly forgiven.
So Shouto melts back into him, closing his eyes to soak in the feeling.
Unexpectedly, Katsuki presses a kiss to his forehead then, and Shouto’s heart skips a beat at the gentleness of it all. He tries to carve into his heart this little, perfect moment—the feel of his coarse fur coat digging into his chin, of his warmth seeping into Shouto’s heart, of his frozen lips on his scar.
And when Katsuki leans his head back onto his like he’s found his new home, Shouto knows he could just stay like this forever.
That’s when Murmur howls behind them, though.
Oh right, his mission.
“You should’ve let Murmur have that extra bison chop,” Shouto pipes up then.
Katsuki scoffs. “King Explosion Murder won’t be getting fat on my watch.”
“But he was really sad, Katsuki.”
“He’s just a dramatic shit, and you’re playing right into his grubby little paws. Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been sneaking him extras, sweetheart,” he says as he knocks his head gently with Shouto’s.
“Well yeah, that’s why he likes me best,” Shouto huffs.
And suddenly, he loses his cushion. “You fucking take that back, Halfie!”
“Ok ok,” Shouto chuckles, “there’s no way King Explosion Murder could ever love someone more than he loves you,” he amends quickly.
And it’s Katsuki’s turn to huff. “Damn straight,” he says, and Shouto feels him about to settle back against him when they both hear the crunch of snow approaching them. They turn in unison towards the sound, and find Murmur padding towards them, Soba on his tail.
The wolf stalks forward, slowing down as he eyes his master, and his ears flatten on his head. Katsuki huffs again, and extends a hand towards his head, a peace offering that’s quickly accepted through means of headbutting. “Hiya there mutt,” Katsuki greets then fondly, and Murmur’s tail starts to wag happily, narrowly missing Soba’s eye.
The snow leopard recoils indignantly, and Shouto beckons her forward too. He knows how jealous she gets when someone’s petting someone that isn’t her. So he obliges, scratching her throat gently, and relishing in the purr he gets in response.
“What would I do without you?” Katsuki says then, eyes so incredibly soft, and his wolf butts into Katsuki’s midsection, all traces of his earlier discontent up and gone.
"Eh Shou?" Katsuki looks up, locking eyes with Shouto’s, twin rubies twinkling under the moonlight. “What would I do without you?”
And oh, he didn’t... didn’t know Katsuki’d been talking to him.
His stomach flutters, but a smile stretches over his icy cheeks. “You’ll never have to find out, Katsuki,” he promises.
A moment passes, and Katsuki digs his chin into his scarf—to hide a smile, no doubt.
“Well,” he shrugs, nonchalant, “if you insist.”
But Shouto’s true answer is in eyes of crimson red, vibrant and true—where he finds a promise of his own, and a thank you murmured in the wind.