Archive of Our Own

Shoto had been watching the human for a while now.

Growing up, his father had always insisted that the other species was a pest; a nuisance that needed to be eradicated. Apparently, the best way to do that was to lure the stronger ones out into the open—under the pretence of heroism—and kill them off one by one. When Shoto had made the mistake of asking how his father planned on accomplishing such a task, he’d spoken of princesses and kidnapping.

That wasn’t what Shoto was doing now though!

It had been years since he’d last seen his father. He’d escaped his clutches at the first opportunity, roaming the skies to his heart’s content, enjoying his freedom. He might have been labelled a monster by the creatures of the land, but he wasn’t cruel.

At least, he didn’t want to be.

Shoto rested his long jaw on his paws—claws sufficiently tucked away—and laid down on the cliff's edge, as he continued to observe the human below.

The man was no royal, certainly not a princess. His name, as he’d grown to learn, was Izuku and he was merely a squire, who attended to the kingdom's grand commanding knight. He was nothing remarkable to his peers, who treated him with disdain and spat at him for being a low-born. They thought him undeserving and weak. To Shoto, however, it was the opposite: the human intrigued him; he was something special.

He focused on the fluidity of Izuku's movements as he sparred with another squire, under the supervision of the commanding knight. While the other was rough and relentless, Izuku met every swing with a clash of metal. Shoto watched, entranced, as his wild green curls bounced with each manoeuvre, the way his verdant eyes hardened with determination.

How could anybody not be drawn to the man?

Shoto had suspected for a while now that the other humans were jealous of Izuku's capability. His strength and wit were truly something to marvel at and, with the elite classism that was deeply ingrained into human society, that meant he was a threat.

He was pulled from his thoughts when Izuku suddenly lunged forwards, knocking the other squire to the floor with a grunt, thus ending the fight. The knight laughed heartily and clapped his hands, commending both squires and offering guidance for where to improve. While Izuku listened animatedly to his elder, Shoto noted the way the blonde grumbled, barely repressing the vicious anger that brewed within him.

He shuffled, tail swaying behind him with unease, as he narrowed his eyes and continued to watch. Several more minutes passed, before the knight finally took his leave, dismissing the two for the day.

‘Go…’ Shoto murmured quietly. ‘Just leave.’ 

His words fell on deaf ears. Izuku continued stretching, seemingly unaware of—or perhaps just accustomed to—the other squire approaching him from behind, poised and ready for his dirty surprise attack. He didn’t lunge straight away though, pausing as though he was waiting for something.

Shoto’s ears pricked up then: five pairs of footsteps moving across the sand. He turned his head towards the noise and growled when he spotted several accomplices making their way towards the pair; malicious grins were plastered across their faces.

This was bad. Izuku was a competent fighter, but six against one?

‘Do we really have to do this again, Kacchan?’ The human spoke then, resignation in his voice. So, he had also noticed the approaching newcomers. ‘I don’t want to fight you all.’

‘That’s a shame.’ The blonde smirked, drawing his sword, as his cronies surrounded them. No escape. ‘Maybe, if you gave up on your silly little dream of becoming a knight, I wouldn’t need to keep beating the shit out of you.’

‘I’m not a defenceless child anymore.’ Izuku drew his own sword and turned to face them, determination written in the furrow of his brow. ‘I’m outnumbered, yes, but don’t think I’m going down without a fight.’

The others laughed cruelly, before darting forwards to attack. Izuku met the one closest to him, whacking their nose with the hilt of his sparring sword, then using him as a shield whilst kicking the legs out of the one on his left. Shoto watched, muscles stiff with worry. Izuku was fighting well, but he was already tired and his movements were quickly becoming sloppy from fatigue. All it took was the blonde brandishing a hidden dagger and breaking through his defence for the wind to change.

The smell of copper filled Shoto’s keen nostrils as Izuku’s tunic was ripped and his shoulder was sliced open. Fresh blood stained the garment, trickling down his torso, and Izuku stumbled on his feet. He clutched his sword desperately, slashing through the air in an attempt to put some distance between them.

Shoto had seen enough.

He leapt off the cliffside, his large, serpentine form slithering through the air with purpose. Rocks clattered to the ground from the disturbance, alerting the humans, who paused to look up. Once they recognised the creature flying towards them, they yelled in terror and immediately bolted. Only Izuku maintained his position, focusing on the threat in front of him, instead of the dragon flying towards him.

Concerned, Shoto landed next to the human, circling his injured form. Verdant eyes focused on him then, before widening with shock. It was as if he was frozen to the spot, excluding the way blood continued to pulse from his wound.

Once they realised that Shoto’s attention laid solely with Izuku, the other six slowed in their retreat and turned to watch the spectacle; their jeers pierced the air.

‘Yes, dragon! Finish him!’

‘If you want to eat him go ahead. Probably tastes like shit though.’

‘Kill the bastard! He deserves it!’

Fury coursed through Shoto’s veins and, for the first time in years, he roared; a loud, bellowing noise that echoed through the air, shocking his own ears. The whole kingdom must’ve heard him—sheepishly, he looked down at Izuku, hoping he hadn’t deafened him too much. It had the desired effect though: the other humans yelled and the stench of sweat and urine dripped from their frightened bodies as they hastily fled.

Good. They were alone now.

However, before Shoto could examine Izuku’s injuries, several horns suddenly sounded from the distance, signalling that the palace had begun rallying its troops in response to his outburst.

It was dangerous to remain here. He had no business harming innocent humans, but he couldn't just roll over if they decided to attack him. That only left one option.

Shoto scooped Izuku up with his front arms, cradling him against his chest, then took off. The wind howled past his ears as he flew higher to escape any potential attack. His priorities now were returning to his nest and healing Izuku. He looked down to find the aforementioned passed out and hoped that it wasn't due to blood loss.

He had to be quick.

Izuku's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim candlelight that illuminated what appeared to be a cave.

He groaned—disoriented and confused—then shivered when he realised that his shirt was missing; the environment was humid and warm, yet his skin prickled from the exposure. Izuku raised a lethargic arm and felt around for a blanket of some kind, but to no avail. Foregoing that, he then reached for his shoulder to assess the damage, wincing at the ache that consumed the entire area. However, instead of a gaping wound or thick bandages, the flesh was smooth, albeit raised. Befuddled, Izuku turned his head to inspect it: a large, silver scar spanned the area; the only evidence of what Kacchan had done to him on the beach.

The beach…

Izuku sat up in one swift movement and breathed heavily. He remembered everything: the training, the ambush, the dragon. He remembered that ear-splitting roar—the venomous eyes—directed at his assailants. He remembered being held in those large arms as they ascended higher and higher into the sky. He remembered not knowing if he was going to live or die.

He was alive, that was one thing he knew for sure, but what was going to happen to him now?

'You're awake.'

Izuku's eyes darted towards the source of that deep voice, then immediately paled.

He'd read about dragons in his old history books, but to see one now, walking towards him with such grace, it was ethereal. Red and white scales spanned its long body, excluding its belly, which was pure ivory, like the claws which he knew were hiding in those scarlet paws. A mane of a similar colour cascaded from between its ears, all the way down to its tail, reminiscent of a raging fire. What most gathered Izuku's attention, however, was its eyes: one a stormy grey—like thick smoke—while the other shone a piercing blue that contrasted heavily with the rest of its body.

He'd never seen such a magnificent being.

'Y-You can speak?' He found himself saying, then immediately chastised himself for asking the obvious. Of all the things he could’ve said—this was his first time speaking to a real life dragon, after all—and he had to open with such a dumb question.

'Yes?' The dragon raised a crimson eyebrow. 'We were the ones who invented language, long before you humans.'

'Ah yeah, sorry.' Izuku blushed, embarrassed, and ducked his head. 'I was j-just surprised.'

'And afraid.' When he glanced up again, the dragon looked almost sad. 'I don't blame you.'

Izuku tilted his head to the side at that.

‘Should I be?’ There was no doubt that the dragon could smell the beads of sweat which clung to his skin; could hear the nervous stutter that came with his speech. However, Izuku knew in his bones that he wasn’t as terrified as he should be. Swallowing heavily, he glanced at his healed wound, then back to the dragon. ‘I’ll admit that I’m afraid of the unknown, but was it not you who helped me?’

The dragon watched him for a moment, before bowing his head; a confirmation.

Izuku felt his shoulders relax and he smiled awkwardly. ‘Then, I have no reason to be scared of you—it would be hypocritical of me to be hostile towards someone simply because they’re different, after all—I have to wonder though… Why?’

‘Why what?’

‘Why did you help me?’ He answered, thinking that was obvious. ‘Dragons and humans aren’t friends and you hardly know me, yet you put yourself at risk-’

‘I'd hardly consider those insects a risk.’ The dragon scoffed, rolling his eyes, before he composed himself once more and looked off to the side. ‘But that's irrelevant... In truth, I couldn’t just stand by whilst they hurt you, Izuku.’

The protective edge to that voice—the words spoken with such sincerity—sent a shiver down his spine and he inhaled sharply.

'I don't know what to say.' He admitted. 'Thank you… I mean… that still doesn't explain why, but yeah, thank you. I appreciate your help, I-' Izuku paused then. 'Wait… You know my name?'

The dragon blinked, much to his amazement.

Huh… three eyelids.

'I do. I've been watching you for a while.' While half of Izuku's mind screamed that such an admission was creepy, the other part of him was intrigued by the earnestness in which that deep voice spoke. ‘I would never hurt you, but I wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anyone who wishes harm upon you.’

Realisation dawned on him then, and he recalled the way the dragon had circled its body around him almost protectively before; the way he’d silenced Kacchan and his followers when they wished death upon him. The very fact that his injury was merely a thick scar was proof enough that he shouldn’t feel threatened, but the question of “what next?” still consumed him. The dragon had saved him—what did he want in return?

‘I want nothing more than your happiness.’

He looked up into dichromatic eyes and slowly removed the hand that had started to fiddle with his lips. He’d been mumbling out loud again.

‘You do? Why?’

'You are kind and brave and strong. You are so much more than you think yourself to be. The other humans, except that commanding knight, don't like that. They don't appreciate you, they don't want to get to know you, but I do.'

Izuku took a moment to process the weight of the dragon's words, yet he still didn't understand. A dragon had been drawn to him? One of the most ethereal beings in existence had taken an interest in Izuku, a low-born bastard who's hated by his peers and scorned by his elders, sans Toshinori? It was laughable, albeit Izuku could only furrow his eyebrows and shake his head.

'I don't understand. You want to get to know me?'

'Yes.' The dragon took a tentative step closer, then another. 'Your fighting skills and compassion compelled me, but it's not enough. I’m tired of admiring you from afar. I want to know everything about you; your history, dreams, favourite food.' 

When the dragon reached Izuku's cloth-covered feet, he lowered himself down—resting his chin on his bent front legs—and gazed at him. After several moments, flared nostrils inhaled deeply, then warm breath fanned Izuku’s face as the dragon added. 'You're something special.’

His eyes widened at that.

‘Wh-Wh-What?’ He stammered, rubbing the back of his neck and chuckling nervously. ‘I’m really not… not in a good way anyway.’

‘I disagree.’ Izuku wasn’t aware that dragons could shrug until that moment. ‘Stay for a while and I can show you?’

Stay? 

Izuku knew he shouldn’t. He had other commitments; he had to go back home and let everyone know that he was safe… However, the thought made his shoulders slump. No one would care anyway, except Toshinori. The knight would surely miss him, maybe even send out a search party, but he would be the only one truly concerned—no one else would want to look for the runt of the village who had no family left. Kacchan would probably be overjoyed that he no longer had to deal with ‘useless Deku’—Izuku just hoped he wouldn’t then turn his aggression onto someone else and use them as an outlet instead.

He should return… He should thank the dragon for his kindness and ask to be taken back to his home…

But he never was one to follow what was expected of him.

‘Okay.’ Izuku nodded, determined. ‘But first, I need to know your name. It’s only fair.’

That large mouth stretched into a smile—beautiful—and Izuku found himself mirroring the action; any previous fear had been extinguished and replaced by curiosity and excitement.

‘My name is Shoto.’

Izuku clutched Shoto's scarlet mane as they flew through the sky. The breeze was deafening; it prickled against his skin and made his eyes water.

He was addicted though.

He’d spent the past month alone with the dragon, getting to know one another and enjoying each other’s presence. It was nice. Izuku had never truly been able to relax before—the constant pressure of living alone amongst hostility had been exhausting, and it had only exacerbated when Sir Toshinori had taken an interest in him and commenced their training for the aristocrats to see—so being able to sit back and bask in the natural warmth Shoto emitted was a luxury he more than welcomed. That being said, Izuku still practised his skills daily—not wanting to become docile—which the dragon was always keen to watch; with Shoto, he was never alone.

That was the other aspect that enticed him further.

Folktales and legends always spoke of dragons as intelligent but cruel beings, who unleashed horror on poor, unsuspecting villages and burnt them to ash. They were revered, but they were also monsters to fear, as they weren’t bound by the complex emotions that made humankind unique.

It didn’t take Izuku long to come to the conclusion that those tales were a load of bullshit.

Shoto was the opposite of cruel. He was inordinately kind and was the first person Izuku had ever met who he could truly relax around. It was almost laughable, to find the presence of a dragon more comforting than his own people, but it was true. Shoto listened to him talk and offered his own insight, he never dismissed or insulted him; he was actually interested, just like Izuku was when the dragon would speak of his own life, his history with his human mother, who was stolen away by his brutish father.

To endure the upbringing Shoto had—and to escape without becoming consumed by that monster’s ideals—was a feat Izuku marvelled at. He thought about it now, as he loosened his grip on that soft mane and instead stroked the area softly. 

His heart was full of warmth, not even the cold chill of the afternoon sky could quench it, so he continued his ministrations. His calloused hands buried themselves further into scarlet hair, stroking and massaging the mane, until a low rumble vibrated throughout the dragon’s body.

Izuku leant to the side, trying to gauge Shoto’s expression, and was surprised to find the dragon’s eyes drooping ever so slightly as a content smile decorated his face.

‘You like that?’ His own lips quirked upwards. His voice was lost to the wind, but the dragon’s hearing far surpassed his own, as evidenced by the responding hum.

‘Very much.’

Izuku flushed and, in a moment of confidence, shuffled further up Shoto’s back, until he was settled just behind the curve of the dragon’s head. The heat beneath him was more profound there—likely due to the source of his fire-breathing—and when he reached out, the hair between Shoto’s ears was like a warm fuzzy blanket.

It’d be so easy to lean forward, to run his fingers across dichromatic scales and press his cheek against that soft mane…

So, that was exactly what Izuku did.

It was better than he had imagined—he practically slumped against the dragon and nuzzled closer, content to bask in the comforting feeling. With his head turned to the side, he also had a view of the horizon, where the sky kissed the ocean; tranquil against the current of the waves. It was a beautiful sight, Izuku couldn’t help the tears that escaped him.

‘Thank you.’ He murmured, smiling softly.

‘What for?’ The dragon started to turn his head, before remembering his passenger's position and reconsidering. ‘I didn’t do anything.’

‘For everything.’ Izuku rested his palm flat against Shoto’s scales. ‘You saved me and now you’ve shown me that there’s more to life than pure survival. I can live again and I love it.’

‘Oh.’ Those strong muscles tensed under him as they continued slithering through the air. ‘I love you.’

Izuku’s eyes widened and he froze.

‘W-What?’

‘I love you.’ Shoto repeated, louder. ‘I thought that was obvious?’

‘No? What–’ Before Izuku could finish his sentence, something knocked them both to the side and the dragon roared in pain. The sound was deafening, ringing in his ears. ‘Shoto?!’

He turned his head and gasped when he found an arrow—larger than a spear—embedded in Shoto’s stomach. Blood was pouring from the wound, dripping down alongside shattered scales. Izuku’s heart beat frantically and anxiety thrummed through his entire body, as he frantically searched for the source of the weapon.

When his eyes landed on the distant walls of the kingdom he grew up in, he paled. He hadn’t realised they were so close to his hometown. Surely Shoto knew it was dangerous to fly around here after what had happened?

That didn’t matter now though. ‘Shoto, we have to get out of here! Do you think you can make it back home?’

The dragon grunted, before making a sharp turn and retreating, narrowly avoiding another giant arrow. Each flick of his strong tail increased their speed; Izuku pressed himself flat against Shoto as the wind howled, and gripped his mane tightly, lest he fall off. However, the further they travelled, the slower Shoto’s movements became, as adrenaline gradually gave way to exhaustion. Izuku could only murmur words of encouragement as the cave finally came into view.

The landing was sloppy. The dragon’s legs immediately buckled and Izuku barely managed to dive off his back as he rolled onto his side. The rough stone rubbed harshly against Izuku's skin, but he couldn’t care less. He was back on his feet in an instant, rushing over to Shoto.

He noted the puddle of blood around them and felt tears in his eyes. ‘Shoto… Shoto, I don’t know what to do? Oh, fuck. What do I do?’

‘Get rid of it.’ The dragon rasped out, a puff of smoke escaping his lips. Izuku shook his head, about to protest that he’d bleed out, but then piercing blue and grey eyes met his own. ‘I won’t be able to heal myself if you don’t.’

Heal himself?

Looking back, it was obvious: the dragon had somehow healed Izuku's own wound, in a way that didn't require the tools needed for human medicine. The easiest explanation was magic, and Izuku wasn't about to contest that when it was the only reason he was gripping the shaft of the arrow with both hands. He then pressed his foot flat against Shoto's unscathed scales, and pulled.

His grunts were immediately overshadowed by the squelching of blood and Shoto's pained growl. Smoke flared from those heaving nostrils and the cave turned incredibly humid, but Izuku persevered; yanking the weapon until it was fully removed.

He fell back on his arse from the momentum, while the arrow clattered to the floor. He didn't care though, all he could focus on was Shoto's sharp breaths as blood flowed from the wound; there was so much of it.

Too much.

Izuku had to trust the dragon knew what he was doing, but that didn't mean he would just sit by and watch.

He stumbled to his feet and hurried to Shoto's side—his pulse drummed heavily and his legs were practically vibrating—before collapsing by his head. Those captivating eyes were squeezed shut as short pants shook his body; he'd probably pass out before he could heal himself.

'Breathe with me.' Izuku placed a hand to the dragon's cheek and took a deep breath. 'Focus. In… and hold… and out.'

As he exhaled, Shoto tried to mimic him; he slowly opened his hazy eyes to watch each movement. It took a few tries before he could match Izuku's own calming breaths, but once he did, the dragon began to glow.

Izuku could only marvel at the sight for a few moments, before a sickening crack filled the air, followed by another, then another. Shoto's growls transformed into whines as he continued to steady his breathing.

'You're doing so well.' Izuku praised, stroking the dragon's scales, which now radiated an almost unbearable amount of heat. 'Keep going, you've got this.'

There was another crack—Shoto's entire body jolted from the action—and then he slumped against the cave floor, unconscious to the world. Those huge breaths came to a halt, while the scorching heat that accompanied his golden glow subsided; his scales began to cool rapidly.

Panic consumed Izuku. 

'Shoto… Shoto?!' He frantically shook the dragon, without much success. 'Fuck, I don't even know where your pulse would be… shit.'

Tears formed and his lip wobbled. Not knowing what else to do, Izuku crawled over to inspect the injury. However, when he found silver scales in place of a gaping wound—like patchwork over his ivory stomach—he let out a long exhale.

It worked then… So, why?

He didn't have to wait long for an answer, as a sharp intake of breath suddenly shook the dragon's body—mouth opening wide—but Shoto's eyes remained closed. A frown knitted his brows in what looked like pain, and a low grumble vibrated through his core.

Izuku pulled his lips together. 'Shoto?'

'Izu- ku.' Came his strained reply, giant mouth slurring. 'Soh- ry foh scaring you.'

'No, don't apologise!' He shook his head, lowering a hand to rest against Shoto's scaled cheek. 'Are you okay? Are you hurt? We're not far from your nest, can you walk?'

Shoto grunted with a slight nod of his head, then nuzzled against Izuku's palm. Taking that as a confirmation, Izuku stepped back and set a supportive hand against Shoto's side as the dragon staggered to his feet and slowly limped through the cave. Once they arrived—basked in the familiar humidity of Shoto’s home—Izuku guided Shoto down onto his bed of furs, then reached over to grab his flask.

'Drink.' He urged, pouring it into a ceramic bowl and holding it out. 'Then you can sleep.'

Shoto dutifully complied, allowing Izuku to rehydrate him. However, when he pulled away, he heard a strained whine.

'St- ay.' Dichromatic eyes stared into his own, begging. 'Pl- ease.'

'Of course.' Izuku smiled, shuffling into a lying position before allowing Shoto's long head to rest against his chest. Once he was settled, he raised a crooked hand and began massaging Shoto's mane. 'Now, rest. I won't go anywhere.'

'Izuku.'

It had taken Shoto a full two days to recover from the attack and honestly, he was immensely glad it hadn't been any longer; something didn’t feel right. He kept his eyes wide open and he tensed as he curled his tail around Izuku protectively. His senses had been messing with him since his accident, but this was different to the hallucinations that had plagued his foggy mind.

Subtle thuds against the cave floor; footsteps.

They were in trouble.

'Shoto?' Izuku blinked awake from where he was resting against Shoto's side. 'What's up?'

'Humans.' He murmured quietly, eyes trained on the darkness where his lair connected to the entrance tunnel. ‘At least a dozen of them.’

‘Shit…’ Izuku smelt of panic. ‘They must’ve tracked your movements after injuring you, seeing as you couldn’t afford to take a diversion back. Does this mean…?’

‘They intend to kill me, yes.’ Shoto nodded, rising to his feet. ‘But I’m not going down without a fight.’

‘Wait, Shoto!’ Izuku scrambled in front of him, waving his arms placatingly. ‘If they’re from my... hometown, then maybe I can talk to them. I’m sure if Sir Toshinori is among them, he-’

The footsteps grew louder, while faint shadows began to slither amongst the darkness.

‘We know you’re there!’ Shoto puffed his chest out as he addressed the intruders, hiding Izuku behind him. ‘Make yourselves known, lest I do something I might regret.’

All movements halted, as the humans seemed to consider his words. Shoto could hear their collective breathing, which betrayed the fear they tried so desperately to mask.

‘Have it your way, dragon.’ A loud, confident voice called out, before the first human stepped into the light of Shoto’s nest.

‘Sir Toshinori…’ Izuku whispered, so quiet that only Shoto caught it.

Of course, he recognised the human from all the times he’d seen Izuku training with him; the only other human he respected. He was a large presence, with a smile that made others feel at ease. Right now though, Shoto knew those bright teeth were biting back a snarl.

‘Why are you here?’

The knight remained where he was, as several others appeared behind him. Half of them were smaller in comparison to their commanding knight, miniscule, but that didn’t prevent Shoto from recognising the blonde boy by Toshinori’s side. A low growl vibrated through him as he narrowed his eyes at him—the boy who’d hurt Shoto’s human—relishing the way his tiny heartbeat quickened.

‘We’re here because you have taken one of our own.’ Toshinori answered, drawing Shoto’s eyes away from the malicious squire. ‘You stole Midoriya Izuku and we want him back.’

From behind the knight, Shoto noticed the way the other men shuffled nervously—the way “Kacchan” tsked and bit his tongue—as if they didn’t want to be here, fighting for the most precious human to walk the Earth.

‘Why did it take you so long to come, then?’

He felt Izuku stiffen behind him, also curious albeit apprehensive of the answer. Toshinori, to his credit, faltered slightly.

‘I was finally granted permission to lead a search party after your attack a few days prior.’

‘Shoto wasn’t attacking you!’

All eyes turned as Izuku stepped out from behind Shoto and glared at the humans; tears filled his eyes, yet to drop, but that didn’t deter from the bitter acceptance in them.

‘Izuku, my boy!’ Toshinori stepped forward, but faltered when he was met with a flinch. ‘Are you alright? Are you hurt?’

‘I’m fine.’ Izuku rubbed his arm as he struggled to look at his mentor. ‘But please, Shoto didn’t hurt me, he’d never, and he wasn’t attacking the kingdom. We were just flying past it. Please, believe me, Shoto’s kind.’

‘Pffft.’ The blonde boy rolled his shoulders and snarled. ‘That monster tried to kill us before it took you. The bastard’s dangerous and you're a fool.’

‘Young Katsuki is right, Izuku.’ Toshinori frowned. ‘... Somewhat. He attacked your friends, he stole you, what’s next? Dragons are dangerous.’

'You're wrong!' Izuku exclaimed. A single tear escaped down his cheek as he lowered his voice. 'He saved me.'

Shoto could sense the distress from the man he loved. He knew that the only person Izuku struggled to stand up for was himself. He saw the way he bowed his head, and bristled.

‘They are not Izuku’s friends.’ He met Toshinori’s eyes, steadfast. ‘They were attacking him until I intervened. He has the scar to prove it, forged from a man-made blade.’

Izuku refused to look up as he gingerly pulled back his shirt collar to expose the silver flesh along his shoulder. Shoto watched as turquoise eyes widened with realisation, before continuing. ‘I stole him because Izuku is precious to me and he was being hurt by those around him. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Your storybooks accuse dragons of being cruel, merciless creatures, yet you’re blind to your own viciousness. You, Sir Toshinori, are the only human who values him, that much is obvious. Look around you. Your men are only here to either kill a dragon or because they were forced to. They don't care about Izuku.'

He swung his tail out to curl around his human, while the knight turned to inspect his men; his disappointment was as obvious as Shoto’s fierce protectiveness.

He took a breath, leaving nothing unsaid. ‘I love Izuku with all of my heart. He's safe here, with me.’

The entire atmosphere changed with Shoto's admission. Toshinori’s eyes fixed on Izuku, whose body tensed; the other knights murmured to themselves, while the Katsuki boy snorted. That was when the comments began: confusion, disgust, disdain. Their voices all mingled into one, until Izuku finally looked up, gaze determined as he silenced them with his eyes.

‘And I love Shoto.’

There was no doubt; the way he spoke was resolute, as verdant eyes then turned to lock onto Shoto’s own. A small smile graced Izuku’s features—he was so beautiful—and it didn't falter when the other humans began their jeers.

‘Shitty Deku really fell in love with a fucking dragon?!’ Katsuki exclaimed, mirth in his usually brash voice. ‘Of course, only a monster could fall in love with him. They deserve each other-’

'Katsuki.' Toshinori's voice cut through the air. 'All of you, leave. Wait for me at the cave entrance.' He paused when he was met with hesitation. 'That is an order.'

Wordlessly, his men turned on their heels and retreated, with the exception of Katsuki, who scoffed.

'Really? You're humouring this dumbfuckery-'

'Out. Now.' Toshinori's ability to hold his smile was enough to unnerve Shoto, and Katsuki quickly turned to follow the rest of the group, albeit grumbling under his breath.

Once it was just the three of them, the knight sighed, finally dropping the smile and walking towards Izuku, before placing a hand on top of his head. ‘My boy, this is unorthodox.’

‘I know.’ Izuku agreed. ‘But it’s the truth. I’m happier here with Shoto. I do still want to be a knight, but I can’t go back when I now know what it’s like to truly live without fear.’

‘Fear…’ Toshinori contemplated; his eyes looked forlorn. ‘Was it really that bad? You could’ve told me, my boy… How did I not realise?’

‘It wouldn’t have changed things.’ Izuku shook his head. ‘Don’t blame yourself, I’m thankful that someone as amazing as you saw purpose in me. You believed in me and I hope it’s not too bold to say that I consider you family. You made surviving easier for me down there and I’ll be forever grateful, but I don’t want to return to that life.’

Shoto felt the way the knight’s heartbeat quickened; he noticed the distress he hid so well from Izuku. Toshinori was a good man, he knew, and it was evident that he saw Izuku as his son.

‘I thought you were dead.’ He confessed, lowering his hand from messy green curls to his scarred shoulder. ‘When they told me you’d been taken by a dragon—that Katsuki and his friends tried to stop it—I did everything in my power to try and track you down. I couldn’t just abandon you… but your highnesses dismissed my queries and the townsfolk were sceptical. I even heard… cruel things, when they thought I wasn’t listening. To learn what they really thought, to learn that you were being abused by those around you, I can only apologise for my blindness, and…’

He closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled carefully, before looking at Izuku once more. ‘As much as it will pain me, I accept your decision. If you want to stay with,’ he glanced up, ‘Shoto, then I’ll support you. It is the least I can do, my boy. After all, I also consider us family.’

Shoto didn’t need heightened senses to know Izuku had tears running down his face as he wrapped his arms around Toshinori’s waist and hugged him tightly.

‘Thank you.’ He murmured. ‘Thank you.’

‘I’ll miss you, Izuku.’ The knight returned the embrace. ‘But I know you’ll do great things, especially with Shoto by your side.’

Shoto bowed his head when Toshinori looked at him, then backed away, allowing the two humans to say farewell in private. Several minutes passed—he could hear everything being said, but tuned it out, instead practising small fire-breathing techniques—before he heard footsteps and turned to watch as Izuku walked over to him, Toshinori no longer in sight.

‘Are you okay?’

‘I think so.’ His love nodded, wiping away stained tear trails. ‘I don’t regret anything.’

‘And if you ever do, you can leave.’ Shoto told him sincerely. ‘I love you and your happiness is what I crave most in the world.’

Izuku didn’t respond straight away. Instead, he searched Shoto’s gaze, before reaching out to hug his muzzle, nuzzling his cheek against the bridge of Shoto’s snout.

‘I love you too.’ He replied, stroking the scales under his chin—it felt incredible. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t say it back earlier. I…’

‘You don’t need to explain yourself.’ Shoto reassured, noticing Izuku relax against him. He then wrapped his tail back around his human and brought him close. ‘I’m just glad you feel the same. I hope I can make you as happy as you make me.’

Izuku didn’t reply, but the soft kiss pressed to his nose had his heart skipping a beat.

Izuku finished tightening the straps around Shoto’s torso, making sure his packed treasures were secure—he wasn’t accusing the dragon of being a kleptomaniac, but he had stolen way too much useless shit over the years—before he then donned his own backpack.

‘You ready?’ Shoto smiled down at him.

‘Yeah.’ He nodded, before mounting the dragon’s back and stroking his mane.

They were finally leaving the cave. Izuku hadn’t been lying when he said he still wanted to be a knight, plus he knew that he was the only thing keeping Shoto here; it made sense to move on to the next place. As long as they were together, Izuku felt like they could achieve anything.

Shoto jumped up into the sky—the wind immediately slammed into Izuku's face—and began slithering through the air. Even after all these months, Izuku still had to marvel at the dragon's abilities; he couldn't believe he found someone so perfect, who actually wanted him by his side.

'I love you.' He leant forward and rubbed one of Shoto's ears.

'I love you too.' Came his immediate response. 'How're you doing?'

'I'm great!' Izuku smiled brightly. He couldn't wait to start his new adventure with Shoto, although now that he thought about it, there might be a problem. 'I just realised though, you're probably going to be difficult to hide from people, especially those prejudiced towards dragons.'

His love hummed for a moment as the forest below was replaced by a shimmering ocean; the breeze smelled of salt and waves crashed against the water. Izuku waited with anticipation—Shoto was incredibly smart, after all—maybe he'd already thought of a plan.

That large body shuffled.

‘Is this the part where I’m supposed to tell you that I can also turn into a human on occasion?’

Izuku blinded dumbly.

…

‘I’m sorry, WHAT?!’