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Icicles pressed into his skin with every breath that he took. They clung to the small hairs on his face and crawled their way into his nose, slowly spreading over his skin with their frozen poison. Kirishima Eijiro forced his limbs forward, peeling off the speckles of frost with his numbed and shaking movements. 

He didn’t know how much longer he could move forward, especially not as he carried the body of another with him. The Prince’s weight teetered on his shoulder with every unsteady step that he took. His feet dragged in the snow behind them, his arms hung limply over his shoulders. The only sign that he was still alive was his breath, which tickled Kirishima’s ear. 

“Shouto?” Kirishima whispered. “I don’t think… we’re going to make it…” 

Of course, Todoroki Shouto didn’t reply. 

At that moment, Kirishima wished that the royal family hadn’t forced their youngest son out of the palace, out of the capital city, and into the land beyond the city walls. The world beyond their warm abode was harsh and filled with dangers around every corner, especially when the cool air of the north descended upon the land and covered everything in a layer of snow thick enough to hide a house. Of course, those that lived such a cushy lifestyle would never know that and possibly would never understand the dangers that came with it. 

No, they would expect farm-fresh air and people bending over to help in any way that they could. 

That assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.  

Aches of heat brought Kirishima out of his thoughts, whispering to him that his next step was faltering. His knee sank to the snowy floor and his body swayed, the Prince threatened to fall off of his shoulders. 

He resolved not to cry. 

Instead, he looked into the abyss of gray ahead of him and watched the snowfall. Cold set into his body like a flame, coursing through his nerves and tearing at him. His tongue felt too frozen to speak and his eyes felt too frozen to see. For all he knew, he was a frozen corpse still living. 

The snow moved in front of him, crafting a shape in the grays. That shape moved closer to him with each moment, almost swaying as if it was walking closer to him. Then a long foot stepped out of the shadows and a long snout, a body covered in fur. It moved closer and its shape became clearer. A wolf, the color of the snow, stood in front of them and watched them with dark eyes. 

Kirishima’s heart faltered, then jumped, and then faltered again. His bones filled with a new ache, the ache of fear, that reached into every part of his soul. 

The wolf stepped forward again, closer to them, and glared into Kirishima’s eyes. Its fur swished in the wind, its ears pressed backward, its breath stained the air, and its grunts filled the silent noise that accompanied the snow. As he watched it move forward, he felt its breath flush into his face. The wolf’s snout pressed close and its nose took up his entire vision. 

Then its head turned away from him, slowly moving up to the head that lay on his shoulder. 

“No,” Kirishima wheezed, though he wasn’t sure if he had even made a sound, “Not him, anything but him.”

Todoroki didn’t wake as the wolf’s breath covered his head and bled into his hair. 

Kirishima turned his shoulder, trying to take his Prince away from the wolf, but as his weight shifted, his body collapsed. His face met the snow and pain exploded from his nose. Todoroki’s body fell further over him, pressing into his shoulders and head. 

Even as he let go of the prince, even as he moved his hands to push up and away against the snow, he couldn’t pull himself to stand back up. He lay stuck to the blanketed snow, pain throbbing through his entire body. Only one of his eyes was free of the torment, free to look up at the wolf that loomed over them.  

Their eyes met again and the wolf sniffed as if it was judging them. Kirishima’s stomach shriveled more at the sight and his nerves flared. 

The wolf turned away from them and disappeared into the snowfall. 

Despite the danger that he was still in, relief had settled into his bones as the wolf completely vanished from sight. The weight of Todoroki still pressed into his shoulders and head, but he was grateful that it was still there, that the wolf hadn’t left with it. 

Soft breaths still pushed against his ear. 

The image of the road ahead appeared to him, of their adventure according to the royal family. Mountains stood tall between them and their destination in Hawks. Those mountains had trapped them in a snowstorm and had spun them in circles, until throwing them into the abyss to crawl their way out. They had trapped them in a space that gave no escape. 

Something rolled in his stomach and then pulled at his throat, leaving it raw as his eyes scream. Tears pressed against the backs of his eyes and threatened to flow down his cheeks. 

The cold sapped at the energy left in his chest and pulled at his eyelids. Fuzziness filled his mind and pressed against his scalp, letting darkness begin to sink into him. Tears left him, freezing on his face and spreading in the snow. 

It was becoming all that he knew. 

Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold. 

His mind chanted that single word, barely letting any other thought take center stage. 

He didn’t know how much time had passed since he had fallen, since the wolf had disappeared, and he had begun to wonder if the wolf had even been real. 

That thought stayed in the back of his mind as he slid his one eye open and looked back into the cloud of snow that the wolf had disappeared into. For a moment, he swore that the wolf’s shadow stood and stared at him. Yet, there was more than one shadow in front of him now, moving as if they were swaying. They grew larger and larger, one far taller than the other. 

His eye fell closed before he could see what stepped out of the shadows, but he heard the crunching of snow grow closer and closer. 

Kirishima fell into darkness.

---

Licks of heat stretched up Todoroki’s face, spreading up to his forehead as his head rolled to the side. Orange light lit up his eyelids, dancing across the darkness that had been there, and a rich smell flickered underneath his nose. The sensations trickled over him and his brain idled for a moment, before slowly coming back into focus. They pulled him from the realm of sleep that he had succumbed to, letting himself open his eyes.
Fire flickered in front of his eyes. Its base sat in a fireplace, cradled by stones of a hearth, and the smoke slowly crawled its way up the chimney. The limbs of fire licked against the bottom of a pot, perfectly balanced over the middle of the fireplace. Rich smells of cooking meat and vegetables drifted from the tiny cauldron. 

Todoroki blinked for a moment, letting his mind wander back in the past, to follow the footsteps of how he had gotten there. Blankets of snow filled his mind, red hair poked at his chin, and phantom aches filled his bones and joints. 

Where did Kirishima get us to? Todoroki thought. What is this place?  

His body screamed at him as he moved his head, pulling it up to look around the room. He rested against something soft and warm, his feet spread out in front of him. The fireplace was to his right, the direction that his head had rolled. 

His shoulders ached as he looked to his left side, eyeing the swadling of the blankets next to him. Red hair peaked out from under the covers, each one more sharp than the last. 

Kirishima slept on, peacefully unaware of their circumstances. 

Todoroki moved on and looked to the rest of the room. 

Dark wood wall stood out to him, covered in furs and woven blankets, and soft light flickered around the room from lit candles. Two doors were against the far wall, furthest away from the fireplace. Furniture dotted the room, but it looked as if it had been moved from its original place. The chairs at a table didn’t have enough room to be pulled out, the couch behind him wasn’t against the wall though a small side table stood there, and a rug was crooked and folded at one side. 

One of the doors along the far wall opened and a tall man stepped into the room, followed by a gust of cold air. A hood covered his head, fluffed up by furs, and the collar of his coat covered the lower part of his face. His eyes were the only features that Todoroki could make out. 

Red eyes, red like wine, and the setting sun. 

“You’re awake, huh?” The man asked. “It’s about fucking time.” 

Todoroki looked up at him and stared, feeling any words freeze on his tongue, air barely getting out of his mouth. 

The man frowned at him. “Don’t try it, dumbass.” 

Something moved behind the man and pushed into the room, lumbering in with sway. A wolf strolled up to the rug and then sat down, before flopping over. It let out a huff and closed its eyes. 

“Lazy fuck.” The man slammed the door shut and broke the stream of cold air entering the room. 

Todoroki let his eyes chase after the man as he moved into the room. He pulled off his coat and draped it over the table. Blond hair poked up from his head, swaying as he walked, and muscles bulged through the sleeves of his shirt as he moved. He walked over to the fireplace and looked down at the pot. Then he reached into the pot and picked up a wooden spoon inside, beginning to stir. 

“If I make you a bowl of this, will you eat it?” The man looked over at him. “It’s just a stew.” 

Mouth-watering smells filled the air as the man stirred the stew. The thought of eating made his stomach grumble. His neck cracked as he nodded, his shoulders shuddering for a moment. 

The man nodded back to him and then looked towards the back of the room. 

“Deku!” The man shouted. “I need some bowls!” 

Another voice responded to him, barely audible with the walls between them. “One moment, Kacchan!” 

The blond man, Kacchan, turned back to the pot and scowled as he stirred. Todoroki couldn’t take his eyes off of him, watching as his body moved and breathed. His eyes glared into the pot as if they were the ones cooking the contents inside. 

For a moment, he wondered if Kacchan was real and if this was a dream. 

His skin crawled as his thoughts came to focus, blurring the picture in front of him. Days and weeks away, his family was likely celebrating the winter festival with tables of food and drinks. Images of them dancing and singing filled his mind, drinking together and playing games. He could see his eldest brother hiding from their father and dodging questions from nosey lords and ladies, all while giving his husband the time of his life. His other sister and brother would be joined at the hip, leaving the sides of their own lovers to play games together and get lost in the music. Those two would bring back their childhood, just for the night. On top of it all, his parents would watch everything and speak to everyone, looking out for any potential suitors for their youngest son. 

Yet, here their youngest son was; swaddled in blankets and furs next to a fireplace. Kirishima slept at one side, peacefully snoring, and a stew made by a mysterious blond man sat at his other side. 

Todoroki settled his back into the couch behind him and smiled softly. He couldn’t imagine being anywhere better. 

Then the other door in the room opened and another man stepped in, carrying a stack of bowls and a smile on his face. Green curls bounced on his head as he walked, his own muscled arms showing off as he made his way through the room. He was shorter than Kacchan, but he held himself like that a gentle giant; carefully stepping over the sleeping wolf, slowly balancing the bowls, and smiling as he leaned forward. 

“Here, Kacchan!” The man set the pile of bowls next to him and smiled brightly. “I brought spoons too.” 

“Quiet, Deku, the shitty-haired one is still asleep,” Kacchan replied. 

Deku’s head swung over to them and his eyes widened as he met Todoroki’s eyes. Then another smile broke out across his face, wide and blinding. 

“Sorry, I didn’t notice you were awake, Prince,” Deku said. 

Todoroki frowned. 

“Give him this,” Kacchan said and pressed a bowl of stew into the green-haired man’s hands. Todoroki wondered for a moment how he had filled the bowl so quickly. 

Deku cradled the bowl as he walked over, the smile never leaving his face as he knelt down next to him. A splash of freckles appeared on his face as he looked up at him, his forest eyes gleaming. “Do you need help getting out of the blankets?” 

“Yes,” Todoroki croaked. 

Blankets slowly weaved their way away from him, pooling at his waist as his hands crawled free. Cool air flushed against his arms as he pulled them out, despite the warm flickering fire. He frowned as they shook when he lifted them, shaking far too much. 

“You’re still getting warmed up,” Deku explained, “Kacchan found you this afternoon… both of you were passed out and freezing, he thought that you were dead until he was closer.” 

The redhead beside him shifted, letting out a larger snore, and disappearing further into his confines. Todoroki looked over at him, squashing the urge to reach out to him and pull him close. 

We almost died, Todoroki thought. His throat clamped up, dragging emotions out of his stomach as he watched the bundle. Tears whispered at the edges of his eyes, but he pushed them back with a deep breath and looked back to the green-haired man. 

“My hands,” Todoroki croaked and looked to the stew, “Too shaky…” 

“I can feed you!” Deku chirped. “If that’s okay.” 

The nod he gave almost took off his head. 

Heat flooded his ear tips as Deku pulled out a spoon and gave him a soft smile. 

When he was a child, tutors had taught him how to eat. They had spent hours into the night teaching him the uses of different forks and spoons, teaching him how to sit and drink, teaching him when to speak and when to leave. Not being spoon-fed had been the first rule they had taught him. 

Yet, he often was when he was sick. Though, it had been by the old and fussy doctor, not an incredibly handsome man. 

“Kacchan made this, usually he cooks it spicy,” Deku said as he raised the spoon to Todoroki’s lips, “but I made sure that he didn’t make it too spicy!” 

Paradise burst onto his tongue, spreading through his mouth as he let himself begin to eat. Flavors turned into each other, balancing each other out, and exploding through his mouth. His eyes slid closed as he let himself sink into the taste. 

Even the chefs of his palace couldn’t compare to this. 

His heart was sold on this stew, he would sell his entire kingdom for a chance to taste it again. 

“It’s good, right?” Deku asked. 

Todoroki nodded and opened his eyes, meeting the forest-green eyes of the man beside him. Those eyes gleamed at him as a smile accompanied them, taking him away from the thoughts in his head and stunning him speechless. 

The green-haired man continued to spoon-feed him, all while beginning to mutter up a storm. Words flew out of him, far too quick for Todoroki to understand in his weakened state, but they painted as a picture as they did. His eyes were alight as he spoke, his smile bouncing on his face as he rambled on about the food, and his shoulders dropped open as if he was in awe of the food he must eat every day. 

Then the blond-haired man turned to them, two bowls in his hands and a frown on his face. 

“Hey, don’t feed him too much,” Kacchan said, “We need to save some of this for tomorrow.”

Another look grew on Deku’s face, softly hidden by another smile. Worry worked its way into his brows and nose, before being pushed away in favor of the mask of happiness.  The green-haired man nodded in reply and set the now-empty bowl aside. 

“I’m sorry that you can’t have seconds,” Deku muttered. 

“It’s okay.” Todoroki cleared his throat, feeling the warmth of the stew revive the life of his throat, and for a moment, he let words test his tongue. “It was the most delicious meal that I’ve ever had.” 

“Ha!” Kacchan said and a large smirk bloomed on his face. “You hear that, Deku?” 

Laughter filled Deku’s shoulders, but he shook his head and raised his eyes toward the ceiling. The smile on his face stood proud as he looked back down and met Todoroki’s eyes. 

Utter bliss filled the room as his laughter slowly faded away and he spoke again. 

“You should go to sleep then, Prince.” Deku turned to the blankets, beginning to pull them up and over Todoroki’s body once more. There was no energy left in him to argue, his shoulders were already losing their strength and his eyes were beginning to dip. 

Green eyes filled his vision and he felt himself smile. 

“Sleep well, Prince.” Kacchan’s voice was quiet, slowly fading into the background. 

A hand pushed into his hair and the sensation immediately pulled his eyes closed. Warmth flooded his heart as his shoulders slumped back and his head fell to the side. Sleep overcame him, whispering to him softly as he fell asleep with a smile on his face. 

---

Kirishima awoke to darkness, covered in a warmth that he couldn’t explain. His thoughts immediately sprang out; a void filled his mind as he tried to remember what had happened, he could only see the flicker of white and red hair slowly fading away. Snow filled his view suddenly and descended down upon him with a heavy fist. His heart caught and panic seeped into his bones. 

He kicked at the darkness, flailing his arms around with a screech clawing up his tightening throat. The blanketing senseless black wrapped around his limbs and pressed into his face. 

“Stop it!” A voice broke through the darkness. “Stop thrashing! They’re just blankets, idiot!” 

Cooler air whipped around him as the darkness was pulled back, pulling back the warmth that had enveloped him. He couldn’t stop the whine that left his throat at the loss of heat, but his eyes widened as he took in the scene in front of him.

A blond-haired man glared down at him with sharp red eyes. The wolf, apparently not hallucination, lay behind him with closed eyes and soft snores. 

Yet something was missing, something that crawled up the back of his spine and whispered into his mind. His heart jumped and froze, hanging on an edge. 

“Where’s the Prince?” Kirishima demanded, ignoring the way that pain raced across his throat. 

“Look next to you, idiot,” the man replied and waved a hand to his right. 

His head swiveled to the side and his eyes caught onto the bundle of blankets next to him. Todoroki’s head poked out of the bundle, his upper body leaning against a couch while his legs splayed out in front of him. The blankets rose and fell as snores left the man’s mouth and a small smile stretched across his face. 

Kirishima’s shoulders fell backward, the squeeze on his heart vanishing. 

“He woke up a while ago, but the strew we gave him put him right back to sleep.” 

“Uh.” Kirishima’s voice cracked as he spoke and his gaze turned back to the blond-haired man. His heart nearly missed a beat as their eyes met, red burning into red. “Sorry?” 

The man scoffed at him and shook his head. “Do you even remember what happened?” 

“I… not much…” Kirishima croaked. “There was a snowstorm?”

“You’re lucky that Akio found you, or else you would have frozen to death.” The man knelt down in front of him. 

“Akio?” 

“That lazy ass dog over there,” the man said and nodded to the wolf that slept behind him. 

“And you?” 

“Bakugou Katsuki.” 

Kirishima nodded and let his head fall back, his body sliding back down to rest on the floor and his eyes turning to look at the ceiling. His heart stuttered, relief filling his muscles and bones. 

“Thank you,” he whispered. 

“Hey, don’t fall asleep,” Bakugou said, “You have some questions to answer first.” 

“I’m not falling asleep,” Kirishima protested.

Bakuogu scoffed once more. “What the hell were you and the Prince of Endeavor doing out in that fucking snowstorm? Were you trying to die or are you just dumb?” 

“Kacchan! That’s mean!” 

The sudden voice of another person jolted Kirishima’s bones, his skin jumping up as his body sprang back into a sitting position. His forehead hit something hard and pain flared through his forehead. Immediately his eyes flew open, looking at the man beside him. 

“Fucker!” Bakugou swore, a hand rubbing his forehead, and glared at him. 

“That’s what you get for being mean,” the voice said. 

His eyes turned immediately to the voice and stared at the man it belonged to. A green-haired man beamed at him, ignoring the cursing from the blond man. 

“Nice to see you awake,” the man said, “I’m Midoriya Izuku.” 

“Uh, well, uhm… I’m Kirishima Eijiro,” Kirishima stuttered as the second man moved closer. “Uh, questions?” 

“Yeah, idiot, you’ve got to answer them.” Bakugou’s knuckles grazed his head, like a slap without any heat. 

“Ask him while he eats! Let me get you a bowl,” Midoriya said. 

Midoriya moved across the room, gliding across the floor and around the objects strewn about. The wolf’s ears flicked as he moved by, but nevertheless stayed motionless on the ground. Even as the green-haired man ducked towards the fireplace and picked up a wooden spoon, beginning to stir and release flavor smells into the warm air from inside a pot next to the fireplace. 

The fragrances brought water to Kirishima’s tongue, pooling at his lips as he thought of the tastes within. He wondered if potatoes bobbed away within the pot, swimming in a pool of broth and spices. The thoughts brought grumbles to his stomach, rolling through him as he sat up and stretched his arms. 

He couldn’t remember the last time that he had eaten, let alone something that smelled as delicious as that stew did. 

Midoriya dipped the spoon into the stew and poured its contents into a simple wooden bowl with a small wooden spoon. Glimpses of greens and browns stirred in Kirishima’s gaze, broth, and vegetables, savory and tasty. They sloshed together, out of view, as the green-haired man turned around and handed the bowl over to his partner. It hovered over Todoroki’s sleeping body before Bakugou’s hands accepted it into a cradle. 

The stew sloshed as the blond turned to him, the smell becoming stronger as the spoon twisted inside. Then it lifted out, held in Bakugou’s fingers, and leaned towards Kirishima’s lips. 

“I’m not letting you spill this shit all over these furs and blankets,” Bakugou snapped, “We worked too damn hard on them.” 

Kirishima’s eyes widened, his eyes darting to the mounds that covered him. “You made these?”

Patterns jumped up at him from the wool, little creatures playing across the woven fabrics. He wondered for a moment how such things were made, how the strings were dyed, how the creatures came to life on them. Then the furs stripped clean from animals, caught his eyes. They were strewn about the room; a bear’s fur lay across the floor nearest the door, a deer hide had been pushed up against the couch behind him, and a coyote’s fur hung on the wall. 

“All of these?” Kirishima choked. 

Bakugou grunted and forced the spoon into Kirishima’s mouth. “It’s not like it’s that hard… we have to make a living somehow, in more ways than one.” 

Kirishima nodded, his own thoughts falling away as new flavors covered his tongue and throat. He let the warm broth slip into his stomach as he chewed away on bits of potato and meat. His eyes began to water as he ate, tears making their way toward his cheek. 

“What? Is it that bad?” Bakugou’s voice snapped at him. 

“No, no!” Kirishima wailed as the blond pulled the bowl away. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten, it’s amazing!” 

A smirk showed on the blond’s face and his eyes darted over to the green-haired man, who sighed and shook his head. 

“Ha, you bet your ass it is,” Bakugou replied. “Now, you have some questions to answer, remember?” 

“Yeah, ask me anything!” I would do anything for another taste of that stew, please.

“What were you and the Prince of Endeavor doing in that storm?” Bakugou asked, his eyes glinting in the light as he glared. “And who the hell are you anyways, Kirishima Eijiro?” 

“Oh, well…” Kirishima looked toward Todoroki. “We were headed to Hawks because it’s standing as a neutral party for the Endeavor kingdom and the All Might kingdom. There was supposed to be a group of guards to come with us, but we got separated when the storm hit. I’m Prince Todoroki’s main guard, I’m not allowed to leave his side during long travels… so we got stuck together and lost.” 

“A meeting between Endeavor and All Might?” Bakugou looked away, a frown playing on his lips. 

“What for?” Midoriya’s voice cut in. “What’s the meeting for?” 

“I shouldn’t really discuss that with you…” Kirishima smiled sheepishly, letting the lies roll off his tongue. “I only know a few details anyways, you wouldn’t get much out of me.” 

He knew he could tell the truth, it would be public knowledge soon anyways, but somehow saying it out loud would make it true and his stomach curled at the thought of it. Lying was better. 

“It’s okay, we won’t make you uncomfortable by asking about it anymore.” Midoriya nodded to him, his eyes darting towards the blond and narrowing. Their two gazes met for a moment, before breaking apart as Bakugou turned to him. 

“You have to finish eating, Shitty Hair.” The blond forced the spoon into his mouth again. “Now listen up, I’m going to explain the house rules to you and you’re going to tell them to the dumb prince, okay?” 

Kirishima nodded. 

“The outhouse is at the edge of the treeline, but you won’t be able to see it in the snowstorm. You’ll have to get either Deku or me to take you to it, I don’t trust you not to get fucking lost again.” Bakugou kept feeding him as he spoke. “These blankets and furs are worth more than your life, don’t you dare fuck them up when you’re eating. If you need something to wash your hands or mouth, there are rags we can get you… don’t go trying to find them yourselves. You’re sick still, and you need to fucking rest, so don’t try to just wander around. Once you’re better, I’ll think about letting you walk around, but for now, just shut up and rest.” 

As he finished speaking and finished shoving the soup into Kirishima’s mouth, he pulled away. The wooden utensils clacked as he stood up and stepped away, his shoulders rolling. 

“If you need anything from Deku or me, just tell Akio to get one of us.” Bakugou nodded his head to the wolf. “He’s lazy, but he understands commands and will follow them through.” 

“He’s a good boy!” Midoriya added, appearing at Bakugou’s side with a large smile on his face. “He really likes belly rubs.” 

“Don’t tell him that!” Bakugou’s head snapped to the side, a glare blazing down at the green-haired man. 

“So what? He’s already spoiled.” 

“Ugh, shut up!” Bakugou shook his head, his arms crossing his chest, and glared towards the ceiling. 

Midoriya’s forest-green eyes brightened and bounced over to Kirishima, his smile pushing into his cheeks. “We’ll be in the other room, we’ll leave the door open for you to call us if you need anything.” 

“Yeah,” Kirishima replied, “Thank you… thank you for everything.” 

“It’s nothing,” Midoriya said, “We just wanted to help.” 

The two men disappeared through the other door after that, leaving it open as they said. Kirishima could hear their voices softly speaking to one another, hear the rustling and scrapes of objects being moved around. The sounds softly played in his mind as he turned to the right, letting his eyes drift over to Todoroki. 

He’s alive, Kirishima thought, thank the gods. 

The blankets shifted around him as he moved closer and slipped under the ones that covered Todoroki’s body. He grasped and pulled at them until their two cocoons became one. Soft snores fluttered out of the taller man’s body as Kirishima pulled him closer, tucking him against his chest and leaning his chin against the top of his head. He leaned back against the couch, holding the prince close to him, and closed his eyes. 

The smiling warmth of his soul slowly bled out to his skin, his lips turning upwards and his heart fluttering softly. 

---

“Alright, wake up!” Bakugou’s voice jumped through Kirishima’s skull and he jolted awake, a gasp leaving his throat as his shoulders shuttered. Soft gray peaked as his eyes opened, growing out of its fuzz and into a clearer picture. Two ears poked out from the gray fuzz, followed by a snout with a pointy black nose. 

“Ah!” Kirishima froze, his heart screeching into his ears. 

Akio grunted and rolled over, smothering him further. 

Bakugou scoffed. “I told you, he’s lazy.” 

“He’s suffocating me.” Todoroki shifted then, pressing his elbow against Kirishima’s side. Groans stumbled out of their throats as they both tried to sit up. 

“Good morning!” Midoriya appeared in front of them, one of his hands pushing into Akio’s soft fur. The wolf rumbled and stretched across their laps, his tongue falling out of his mouth. 

“Morning, Midoriya,” Kirishima replied. Todoroki’s head swung up to him, a frown on his face before he looked away. His body slumped back into Kirishima’s side, his head falling on his shoulder. 

“How are you two feeling?” Midoriya asked. 

“Better,” Todoroki replied, “Your name is Midoriya? I thought it was Deku.” 

Midoriya’s face turned red. “No, no, that’s just Kacchan’s nickname for me… His name is Bakugou Katsuki, by the way.” 

“Ah, I see.” The dual-haired man sunk further into Kirishima’s shoulder, a small smile hiding against the cloth he pressed his face too. Something flicked at the back of Kirishima’s mind, the image of the strong prince slowly slipping away to the one that could be vulnerable. The one that smiled at him in the morning when they woke up, the one that cried for him, the one that whispered soft words of love from his tongue in the middle of the night.

His chin found the dual-haired man’s head, leaning against it as his eyes flicked to the two men before them. 

“Why did you wake us up?” Kirishima asked, letting his eyes dart to the unopened doorway. “Did it stop snowing?” 

“Yes, the storm has gone completely,” Midoriya replied. 

“But that doesn’t mean that you get to leave,” Bakugou said, “You both were at different stages of fucking hypothermia. The blankets we fucking swaddled you in have magic shit woven into them, it helped warm you up and heal you or some shit like that. But it’s a slow-ass process and you aren’t done yet.” 

Kirishima felt a prick slice through his heart. “How long?” 

“Two nights,” Midoriya replied. “You’ll be able to leave then… we’ll give you a map and travel supplies, enough to get you through the next few towns.” 

“Oh, thank you,” Kirishima said. 

“Yes, thank you.” Todoroki’s head moved slightly, his face peaking up to look at the two commoners and nod to them. His words pulled at his lips as he spoke, his eyes flickering quietly. If Kirishima hadn’t known this man for the past few years, he would have seemed happy, but he knew something about this disappointed him. 

Kirishima didn’t blame him for being disappointed though, especially not when another warm bowl of stew was pressed into each of their hands and Bakugou snapped at them to eat every last drop. Relaxation swept through the room as the bowls of stews were dug into, the contents being slurped up and eaten as quickly as possible. 

As the contents of his bowl began to dwindle, he looked up to the two men sitting opposite of him and he felt his brain begin to spark to life. A confusion that he hadn’t realized lifted from his shoulders, taking its hands away from his eyes. Just who were these men that took them in?

“You know about us,” Kirishima said, “But what about you? What are you doing living out in the middle of nowhere like this?”

Midoriya’s body shot straight up, his green eyes swinging across the room to look at the man beside him, and his finger dug into the sides of his bowl. Bakugou lowered his bowl from his lips, his shoulders rolling backward as he sat up straighter. 

“Guess it’s only fair that you know about us, don’t want you to think we’re murders or something,” Bakugou replied.

“Kacchan!” 

“What?” Bakuogu’s head swiveled to the man. 

“You can’t just say things like that!” 

“Well, I did!” 

The green-haired man huffed with crossed arms, his eyes sliding across the ceiling before landing on Kirishima and Todoroki. He gave a small shake of his head, and a small look, as if to say, Do you see what I deal with every day?

Warmth flooded Kirishima’s chest as he took in the scene. He felt Todoroki hide his amusement, slowly sliding it behind a carefully crafted mask, but his body trembled slightly as he tried to keep in the laughter that threatened to fall out. 

“Well?” Todoroki managed to speak with an even voice. “What are you doing out here? And what do you even do out here?” 

“We were born in a small town a long way from here, we became friends as children there” Midoriya replied, “But it was…” 

“A shitty ass town that didn’t care about anyone.” 

“Yeah.” Midoriya waved an arm. “Eventually we were kicked out… our parents had passed away from disease and the lord living there didn’t want two orphans running around.” 

“So we hopped from town to town, doing the worst jobs and picking up skills as we went until we made it out here into the bum-fucking mountains.” Bakugou punctuated his words with jabs and glares, his lips turning into sneers. “We managed to find this run-down cabin and fix it, then we started to live off the land with Akio and Deku’s fucking rams. We only have to go into town every so often, and they love us apparently because we have good shit to trade from the skills we acquired over the years.” 

“Like all these magical blankets and manly furs?” Kirishima asked. 

Midoriya nodded. “We sell them leftover wool too, anything that we don’t need, but for the most part we can survive on our own if we wanted.” 

“That’s impressive,” Todoroki said, “I think the skills you have are ones that everyone should learn if they have the interest.” 

“Speaking of which, Deku and I have work to do.” Bakugou set his bowl to the side and stretched, his spine popping with the movement. “Akio, work.” 

The wolf grunted, before pulling himself away from the two he had laid on. Shadows loomed across the room as he walked toward the exit door. He looked back at the group, eyes blinking slowly before he turned around and pawed at the door. 

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming, you stupid mutt.” Bakugou stood up and grabbed one of the jackets off the hook next to the door. It slid onto his shoulders, the hood covered his ears and buttoned it up to hide the lower portion of his face. “Let’s go.” 

Light poured through the door, blinding and white, but the two continued forward and disappeared into it. Moments later, the door swung shut and the light faded away. 

“I’ll clean up your dishes, but then I have to go too,” Midoriya said.  

Kirishima lifted his empty bowl to the green-haired man as he moved over to him. He let his eyes drift over him in that moment, taking in the freckles across his face, the small scars on his hands, the way he smiled, the way his body bent forward to them. His thoughts slowly filtered to the way that Midoriya fit next to Bakugou’s side, the way that he smiled at him, the way he scolded him, the way that he had stayed at his side since they were children. He could see the love that flowed between them, clear as day. 

They make such a cute couple, Kirishima thought. 

“How long have you and Bakugou been together?” Kirishima asked, keeping his voice soft. “I know that those types of relations are usually accepted in the countryside…” 

Red softness slowly rose to Midoriya’s face, his ears turning a bright shade of red. “You could tell?” 

Kirishima leaned his head against Todoroki’s head. “From one to another, of course.” 

“Oh.” Midoriya’s eyes went wide, his mouth falling into a small circle. “Well, I guess… since… since we began hopping around from town to town.” 

“You’re very cute together,” Todoroki mumbled. 

“Thank you!” Midoriya’s face couldn’t be more red and more words stumbled out of his mouth, too quick for Todoroki to catch. Despite this, he snatched up their bowls and turned around. His feet rushed him out of the room, the bowls and spoons carefully balanced in his arms. The door hid him as he stepped into the second room of the cabin, the stammering words fading into the background. 

A soft laugh pulled Kirishima away, all of his attention turning to the dual-haired man beside him. Warmth flooded his heart once again and he leaned further against him, letting his body sag against him. The prince didn’t falter to wrap an arm around him, holding him up and rubbing his side. 

“They’re very cute on their own, aren’t they?” Todoroki mused. 

Kirishima smiled. “Midoriya does have the cutest freckles, and though Bakugou’s care is aggressive… it's endearing.” 

“Yes, they’re very attractive, I don’t mind being taken care of by them.” 

Laughter bubbled out of Kirishima’s stomach, his spirit flowing through him as he shifted in his spot and turned to him. He pressed his lips against Todoroki’s temple, letting his eyes flicker close and the moment sink into bones. 

“You missed,” Todoroki snipped. His head snapped up, catching Kirishima’s lips in a quick moment, and pressing into him, before pulling away with a slight smirk. 

“Ah, my bad, my Prince,” Kirishima teased. 

The prince scoffed, but leaned closer, hiding against his shoulder and shaking his head. 

Years ago, Kirishima would have only dreamt of this moment, never believing that it could be a reality. He would have never thought that the prince would see him, choose him, love him. He had watched from afar, at the sides of walls and the shadows of doors. He committed to his job to protect the prince, just for the chance to see him, and the hope to see a rare smile play across his face. 

Now those rare smiles could be spotted every day, and the shine in his eyes was carefully hidden behind a wall of fire and ice. Now the prince invited him into the room, invited him away from the walls, and pulled him close to his side as they walked the corridors. 

Todoroki Shouto hadn’t dared to let go of his hand when the snow began to fall, not even when their sight began to disappear and the voices of the guard members faded away from them. When the wind howled and the snow pelted their faces, the prince had gripped his hand and followed behind him. 

That grip only faded when he fell, when his eyes slid closed, and his breathing became shallow. 

The thoughts jolted Kirishima back to the moment before him, back to the way that Shouto held him in his arms and pressed his head into his neck. He shifted his arms around the prince and held him closer like he could slip away at any moment. His heart ached as he took in the moment, and wondered how much time they had left before moments like these wouldn’t exist anymore. 

“Sho?” Kirishima whispered softly. 

Todoroki hummed. 

“Are you worried?” Kirishima asked. “About how we’re going to be late to your…?” 

The prince pulled back, a frown spreading across his face. “I don’t want to think about that right now.” 

“We’ll have to think about it, Sho…” 

“Not right now.” The prince leaned back into place. “I’m tired, let’s sleep.” 

“Okay, let’s sleep.” 

Kirishima leaned backward, letting them both slip back to the floor, back into the piles of blankets and pillows. He closed his eyes, listening to the world around him, praying to anyone that would listen for more time. He could only wish for it, he could only long for it. 

---

Rustling clothes hauled Todoroki from the realm of sleep that curled around him. His eyes drifted to the sounds, spotting Bakugou moving around the room. The blond carried jackets under his arm and hung them on the wall with his other arm. The muscles in his arms and back bulged through his shirt as he moved, Todoroki couldn’t help but follow them up to his hands.

It was the first time that Todoroki noticed the cabin didn’t have any windows, and for a moment, he wondered what kind of lunatics would live in a space without windows. 

His thoughts fell to a halt as the man turned to look at him, his chin jutting out and his eyes glaring. 

“Are you going to keep staring at me or are you going to say something?” Bakugou cocked an eyebrow. 

“Oh,” Todoroki breathed, “I didn’t have anything to say.” 

“Tch, whatever.” The blond turned back to the wall and hung up the final jacket. 

Todoroki cast his eyes around the room, letting his gaze bounce from the walls to the floor to the table to the fireplace. The small specks of snow at the door had been swept away, along with the fur that had littered the floor. Ashes and charred bark had been removed from the fireplace and replaced with fresh logs and a griddle with a pan. The bowls and stew next to it had been removed, replaced by slices of meat on a platter and cups of spices.

“You managed to do all of this while we were asleep?” Todoroki asked. 

Bakugou grunted. “The magic in the blankets makes you sleepier the more it heals you… we had to be taught by some old witch in the woods to make sure that was the only downside of the healing magic.” 

“Magic is very rare these days, you’re lucky that you had the opportunity to learn it.” 

“Nothing but the best for Deku and me.” The blond turned away from the wall, moving over to the fireplace and kneeling down. “Speaking of the best, this meat is fresh, so it’s going to taste amazing. Plus, Deku gathered all these herbs and spices before the winter set in, he made sure we had more than enough to last us… so this shit, might just be the best thing you ever eat.” 

“Better than the stew you made?” 

“Obviously, idiot.” Bakugou picked up the meat, beginning to spread herbs and spices across it as he spoke. “If Deku finishes with his portion in the other room, we’ll have bread too. Shouldn’t be too hard of a job for him.” 

Todoroki hummed in response, glancing towards the other room. The moment lapsed into silence between them, only filled back the crackles of fire and creaks of wind on the walls. Familiar comfort filled his body as he sat up, letting himself watch the other man continue to cook. 

His eldest brother use to cook, but it had been a long time since the white-haired man stepped foot into the kitchen. As a child, he’d watch his mother teach his brother and sister how to cook. He had been far too small to join them, far too willing to put his hands on the hot pans and grab the knives by the blades too. 

Though the meals they made never had stood to the standard of the kitchen chefs, Todoroki had thought that they were far better than any meal made by the kitchen staff. He could taste the care, comfort, and joy within the food his family created. 

He could taste the same care, comfort, and joy within the stew that Bakugou had made. 

“Hey, Prince.” Bakugou turned to him, breaking into his thoughts. 

“Yes?” 

Bakugou’s eyes caught onto him, gleaming red as they narrowed and searched him over. His studying eyes seared the sides of his face, singed the portions of his hair, and burned pieces of his soul. Then those eyes looked away, toward the floor. 

“Why did you idiots keep heading for Hawks?” Bakugou asked. “You might be idiots, but you aren’t oblivious enough to not notice the storm coming your way.” 

Dread opened up a hole in his stomach, swallowing his appetite and heart. He turned away from the man, looking towards the far wall while his fingers strangled the blankets. Images of his father speaking to him came to mind, then images of what lay before him in Hawks. 

His mother hadn’t done anything to stop it. 

“A wedding,” Todoroki replied, watching the blond from the corner of his eye, “My wedding.” 

Bakugou’s head snapped toward him. “Arranged?” 

“Of course.” 

“That kind of shit should have been burned years ago.” 

Todoroki’s neck burned as he turned to look at him, meeting the furious gaze of boiling red with his dual-eyes. Despite that, he felt something light up in his heart as the man looked at him. Knowing that someone was angry, furious, on his behalf… his heart couldn’t take much of it. 

“Do you even know who you’re marrying?” 

“I’ve met him a few times,” Todoroki admitted, “His name is Tokoyami Fumikage, a son of the family in the All Might kingdom, a powerful and political family.” 

The blond scoffed. “You shouldn’t be marrying because of your parents, you should be allowed to choose who you want to marry.” 

Kirishima shifted next to Todoroki, moving closer to him in his sleep. The dual-haired man reached out, shifting his hand into the red-haired man. He watched as the guard pulled his hand close, drool seeping out of his lips and splashing onto the back of his hand. 

“I wish I could,” Todoroki whispered, “But I can’t risk it… my father, he would take…” 

“Everything away?” Bakugou guessed. 

“Everything important, at least.” Todoroki squeezed Kirishima’s hand. “What about you…? I know you and Midoriya are together… it’s not hard to figure out, but are you married? Were you supposed to get married?” 

It was the first time that he saw a softer expression form on the blond’s face. His eyes widened slightly, losing the crinkles from his glaring, and his mouth slid into a small smile. Then a tiny blush dusted over his ears and he looked back toward the fireplace. 

“Deku and I have loved each other since we knew each other,” Bakugou admitted, “but not everyone approved of it.” 

“Is that why you ran away?” Todoroki asked. “You said the lord didn’t want orphans hanging around.” 

“Yeah, we just tell people that.” Bakugou waved a hand as if trying to hide the depth of the story under his disinterest. “There are tons of orphans where we’re from, but the lord didn’t like us because we were gay.” 

“I’m sorry that happened to you, truly.” 

Bakugou’s next words were cut off as the other room’s door swung open. Midoriya poked his head inside and smiled. “I got the bread!” 

“Alright, prince, wake up shitty hair.” Bakugou looked over to Midoriya. “The steaks are almost done, bring the bread and butter over here, nerd.” 

---

“Are you ready?”

Kirishima’s head shot up and tilted over to the voice that called to him. Midoriya’s smile beamed like a beacon, crashing into him and warming the jacket around his shoulders.

The memory of dinner the night before rose in his mind as the man leaned toward the door that led outside. 

“You’ll be able to get up and walk around tomorrow,” Midoriya had said, “I was wondering if you wanted a tour of the farm.” 

“Really?” Kirishima had nearly dropped his steak, letting it droop halfway on his jaw. “I would love to!” 

“Me as well,” Todoroki had said. 

Now the door stood behind Midoriya, his hand placed against the middle of it. Beyond the door was the farmland that Midoriya and Bakugou had spent dinner describing. They described a luscious garden full of plants, sadly hidden away in the snowy months by blankets of soft white fluff. There was apparently a barn too, where the sheep and rams stayed during the night or bad weather, but for the most part, they stayed on the mountainside within a fenced area. They had made trails through the forest around the farm, always well worn by their use, and had set up symbols in the trees to indicate that this was their land. 

Somehow, Kirishima was disappointed that he hadn’t been able to see any of it during the snowstorm. 

“Yes, we’re ready.” Todoroki glided over the floor, almost as if he was skating on ice, and stopped behind the green-haired man. 

“Born ready!” Kirishima promised. “Where’s Bakugou?” 

“He’s hunting with Akio.” Midoriya pressed open the door. 

Cold air billowed through the door and the bright light of snow burnt Kirishima’s eyes, but he felt his heart begin to beat and their breakfast bread warm his soul. His shoulders rolled as he followed the green-haired man, as he pressed one of his gloved hands into Todoroki’s hand. The world cast forth in front of him, wrapping around his senses as they stepped outside. 

Snow blanketed the ground like the thick frosting of a cake. A snow-trodden path appeared before them, leading from the door to the far outhouse before branching out into the forest beyond. Kirishima’s eyes flicked to the outhouse, taking in the features of it that he had only seen during the nighttime. He felt a little miffed at how small it was, he could have sworn it was bigger. 

“We’re going to take this tiny trail here,” Midoriya said. He turned to the right of the door, pushing down a thin trail that ran along the side of the cabin. Todoroki followed him first, tugging Kirishima along behind him.

As the cold air tickled his nose, Kirishima glanced over at the forest once again. Snow dusted the branches and clung to the trunks. Mounds formed over the areas of bushes and brush, perfectly hiding everything from sight. Yet, he could see patches of moist earth every so often and see trails left behind by animals, big and small. 

He wondered for a moment if Bakugou was following those trails to his prey or if he was finding somewhere to sit and wait for the perfect moment. A small part of him wanted to join, wanted to know how to hunt, how to feed himself and the ones he loved in this wilderness. 

He didn’t have time to think about it as they rounded the corner and another large structure appeared out of the snowy landscape. The barn stood tall against the backdrop of the mountains, probably twice the size of the cabin. Its large doors were shut with a board crossing over them, looking far heavier than anything Kirishima had ever lifted. Each step closer filled with sounds of rams, their soft bleats sliding through the wood and into the air beyond. 

“It’s not as insulated as the cabin, but their wool keeps them warm,” Midoriya said as he stepped up to the doors. 

“How many are there?” Todoroki asked. 

Midoriya hummed. “We have a small herd of eight right now, but Yorichi is starting to get old now… so we might be down to seven soon.” 

“I can’t wait to meet them!” Kirishima’s eyes darted up and down the doors. “How do we get inside?” 

“Oh, that’s easy.” Midoriya stepped up to the doors and braced his hands against the wooden beam keeping them closed. With a heave, the beam shifted, and then lifted into the air, balanced in the green-haired man’s hands as if it were no lighter than a book. 

“Woah!” Kirishima gasped. “You can lift that?” 

Midoriya’s ears turned red, but he nodded. “Yeah, could you get the doors?” 

The doors slid open easily against Kirishima's palms. The wooden beams glided over the stone floor, pushing inward toward the animals beyond. Light followed them into the building, illuminating the large space and the animals within. 

Todoroki Castle had sheep, had a few rams even, but Kirishima had never gotten close to a single one of them. They lived in a small barn on muddy floors, with a small area to roam. He hadn’t thought much about them until now, as he looked around at the barn before him and compared it to the one he had seen. 

Those poor sheep, Kirishima thought, They deserve to have a home like this one… it’s so clean, it’s so well kept, there is fresh hay, fresh food, everything!

“Hi, babies,” Midoriya cooed as his small herd began to awaken and stretch. “I brought some friends to meet you.” 

Kirishima looked at the differing rams, taking in the differences between them, and felt himself beginning to smile. One ram had a broken horn, another had a patch over his eyes, while another was just absolutely massive compared to the others. He wondered which ram was which and what their stories were. 

“Do you want to feed them?” Midoriya asked. 

“Can we?” Todoroki asked. “I’ve never fed an animal before.” 

“Not even a cat?”

The dual-haired man shook his head. 

“Well, that can’t last!” Midoriya spun away. “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you how!” 

Time passed by them, turning moments into hours as numerous pairs of eyes ventured over to the group. Hands were run along the soft wool that covered their bodies, hovered over their horns, and held to offer little nibbles of food. Kirishima felt himself smile as the ram fell into place, letting their dynamics show as they moved around. 

His eyes caught onto a  singular sheep that stepped out from the group, the only one in a group of rams, and settled down in between him and Todoroki. Her fur was soft to the touch, though there were bits of hay that stuck out from it. She looked up at them with large watery eyes brimming with curiosity. 

“That’s Nana,” Midoriya said, “I named her after the woman that taught me how to shear sheep.” 

A smile bloomed across Todoroki’s face and he offered her a hand, filled with little bits of greens. Her nose twitched for a moment before her whole body shifted closer to him and her snout pressed into his hand to eat. The smiles around grew warmer, bouncing off of each other and circulating in the air. 

Warmth flooded Kirishima’s chest, sending tingles down his spine and arms. His shoulders softened as he turned away, letting his eyes glide to a pair of rams approaching him. The two pushed against each other, their horns clicking with each push, and their mouths making grunting noises. Both eyed the food that Kirishima held up as they went, racing each other to it. 

“What about these two?” Kirishima asked. 

Midoriya looked over, a smile blooming on his face. “Oh, that’s Banjo and En.” 

“Did you name them after anyone?” 

The green-haired man nodded but held a finger up to his lips. “I’ll never tell you why though, it’s a secret! Not even Kacchan knows why… he only knows about Yorichi, Nana, and Toshi.” 

“Ah, that just makes me want to know more!” Kirishima whined and looked over to the two rams that Midoriya had mentioned. Yorichi lay across the ground, his head pressed against Midoriya’s knee, clearly older than any of the other rams there. Midoriya’s hand pushed through his wool, patting him gently. On the other hand, Toshi stood larger than life in the group. His horns curled beautifully on his head, accompanying his slightly golden fur. He puffed out his chest with every ounce of attention that he got. 

“How did you name Yorichi and Toshi?” Todoroki asked.

Midoriya hummed gently. “Toshi was named after the man that raised me after my mother died… he was old and had been injured sometime during a war, but that didn’t stop him from taking me in. He passed away a few years ago, around the time that I found this one.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry…” Todoroki looked down at Nana, his hand falling still for a moment.

Kirishima nodded. “Yeah, I’m sorry for your loss, Midoriya.” 

“It’s okay,” Midoriya smiled, “I like to think that he’s living his next life as Toshi, safe and healthy with me repaying the favor.” 

“That’s so manly.” Kirishima held his hand to his chest and closed his eyes for a moment. He heard the green-haired man laugh, and he felt his chest grow warmer once more. 

Then his eyes slid back open and traveled back to the group of rams. As his gaze bounced from one ram to another, he noticed a pair of rams at the edge of the group. One faced away from them completely, facing towards the back door of the barn, while the other sat by his side. 

Slowly the standing one turned, his head twisting on his shoulders and his gaze glaring back toward him. Chills rolled down Kirishima’s spine as their gazes met. 

That one is planning my demise, Kirishima thought. A lot like Bakugou, probably.

“These guys have to go out soon, they’re restless,” Midoriya said. “Usually I shepherd them to keep them safe while they’re out there.” 

“Do you want help?” 

The green-haired man shook his head. “I’m going to call Akio back and have him do it.” 

“How do you call him back?” Kirishima asked. “Isn’t he with Bakuogu?” 

“I’ll show you.” The green-haired man smiled and stood up, ushering them back toward the entrance. The cold air swept around them once more as they stepped outside. The wind kissed their faces and curled around them, bending the snow at their feet closer. 

“Take the trail back toward the house, but don’t go inside.”Midoriya closed the door behind them, letting it fall shut with a loud thud. “I’m going to lock this up and then I’ll catch up with you.”

Kirishima slipped his hand into Todoroki’s as the two stepped into the snowy land, following the trail back to the house. Todoroki glanced at him, a small smile appearing on his face as they walked next to each other. 

“You took a liking to Nana, huh?” Kirishima teased. 

Todoroki smiled more. “She reminded me of my sister.” 

“You really are a sweetheart underneath that cold exterior.” Kirishima pressed a kiss to his cheek. 

Todoroki’s face turned pink and his hand shot toward his mouth, covering the wide grin that fell upon it. His eyes danced in the snow light, twinkling as they walked. The sun caught his face at the perfect angle, highlighting the colors of his hair, and catching the uniqueness of his skin. Kirishima felt himself fall in love all over again, and he squeezed the hand that held his, wishing for more moments like this. 

He wished that he could have Todoroki Shouto forever, that they wouldn’t ever be forced to leave each other’s sides. 

Yet, he knew that was wishful hoping, wishful dreaming, as the thoughts of Hawks echoed back into his mind. 

Todoroki squeezed his hand, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Don’t worry about it, Eiji… I’m not ever going to leave you.” 

Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks, his heart squeezing tightly as the man smiled at him. Then the dual-haired man pulled him close, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and nestling him against his side. Kirishima’s heart exploded and he leaned into the hold, letting his head slip onto Todoroki’s shoulder. 

“I love you,” Kirishima whispered. 

Todoroki hummed, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I love you too.” 

Their hold on each other didn’t last. Crunching snow appeared behind them, and Kirishima whipped his head up to look toward the noise. 

Midoriya froze in his step, his hands hiding something behind his back, before smiling sheepishly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin the moment.” 

“It’s okay, you didn’t know…” Kirishima shook his head. “You were going to show us how you call Akio back?” 

“Oh yeah!” Midoriya held up an old rusty pan and a metal-looking stick. “Cover your ears, this might be loud.” 

It was indeed loud. The green-haired man banged the two items together, looking off towards the forest while calling for Akio. The sound echoed across the mountains and trees, ricocheting around. Then slowly, after a few moments, he let the items drop back down to his side and nodded to the forest. 

“Now, we wait,” Midoriya said. 

Todoroki looked at the pan and stick. “You were going to bang those together if we hadn’t noticed you coming, weren’t you?” 

“Maybe,” Midoriya replied with a small smile. 

“You’re hiding mischief under all those freckles,” Kirishima gasped, “You totally meant to ruin the moment!” 

Laughter rang across the snow. Kirishima felt his stomach flop over, turning in on itself as his laughter gripped it. He could feel his abs burning as he tried to catch a breath, but his laughter pushed forward. 

Then a loud bark broke through them, resounding from the forest, followed by another. 

“Akio!” Midoriya called. “Over here!” 

The wolf appeared at the treeline and sprinted over to them, snow flinging up behind him with each bound. His tiny form morphed into a larger form as he approached. The sun caught onto his fur as he jumped, colliding into Midoriya, who caught him around his shoulders and fell back into the snow.

The laughter pooled around them once more. Crashing against the side of the house and spiraling into the air. Kirishima felt himself fall as he looked down at the green-haired man, letting the wolf lick him across the face with a large smile. 

“Wow,” Kirishima whispered, “Wow.” 

“What are we going to do while he watches over the rams?” Todoroki asked. 

Midoriya looked up at them, another smile crossing his face. “Chores, of course!” 

The moment was ruined. 

---

Later that day, Kirishima found himself back inside. The fire crackled softly, casting shadows across the room and bouncing in place. The room had been put back together, the couch now in front of the fireplace, the table back into place with its chairs. The blankets had been returned to a rack and the furs had been put back into a closet. The room looked more like a living room and dining room, unlike the sick room that it had been turned into. 

Kirishima sat on the couch, watching the fire and feeling his dinner sit in his stomach.  He leaned back onto the couch and looked up as Todoroki moved to sit next to him. The dual-haired man wrapped an arm around his shoulders, holding him close and squeezing his shoulders. His head fell on top of his. 

Silence crept up around them, only broken by the crackling fire and the sounds of the house’s owners in the other room. Kirishima sighed and leaned into it, letting his body relax and work away the aches in his bones. 

“I don’t want to get married…” 

Kirishima jolted and turned closer. Todoroki’s voice was quiet, barely a whisper, but despair and sadness dripped from his tongue as he spoke. 

“Oh, Shouto,” Kirishima said as he sat up and moved a hand to cradle the man’s head.  “I’m so sorry…” 

Todoroki’s head dropped forward and pressed into his hand. His eyes closed, his eyelashes softly tickling Kirishima’s fingertip. The red-haired man rubbed his thumb over his cheek, running it along the edge of his scar, and pressed a kiss to his nose. 

“It’s going to be okay,” Kirishima whispered, “We’ll figure out something… You don’t have to be the person you marry, you can live separately, or you could-” 

“No, Eijiro,” Todoroki said, cutting him off. 

Their eyes met as the dual-hair man opened his eyes and looked up. Intensity showed in them, dancing across his features as he looked at him. They rang through Kirsihima’s soul, taking his breath away. 

“I want to marry you,” Todoroki said, his voice rising from a whisper, “I don’t want to get married to someone I barely know. I’d rather run away and spend the rest of my life with you.” 

“You… Do you really want to do that?” Kirishima asked, his heart beginning to beat rapidly, his cheeks turning red. 

Todoroki nodded. “I do, but I need to know if you would come with me.” 

“Of course, I would come with you!” Tears pricked at his eyes. 

“And you’ll marry me too?” 

Kirishima cried. “Of course, I will marry you.” 

Todoroki’s hands cupped his face and pulled him forward, pressing their lips together. Kirishima leaned into the kiss, closing his eyes and feeling himself smile. Tears flowed down his cheeks, colliding with the hands that held him, only to be slowly rubbed away. 

The dual-haired man pulled away, before leaning in and slowly kissing away the tears on his face. The gentleness that he held him with made Kirishima’s face soar, his shoulders shaking as he leaned closer to him. 

“Where do you want to run away to?” Todoroki whispered. “I’ll follow you anywhere you go.” 

“I don’t have any family, we could go anywhere.” Kirishima pressed a quick kiss to the man’s lips again. “We don’t have to stay in Endeavor, we could go somewhere warm.” 

“After all of this… I might actually be partial to the cold.” 

A smirk played across his face and he leaned forward, catching the man’s lips and pulling him closer. Todoroki pressed against him, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. 

“You’re only partial to the cold because of the men that have been watching over us,” Kirishima teased as he pulled back. 

Mischief-filled eyes flashed down at him, mirth swimming within them. “As if you aren’t in the same boat as me.” 

Chuckles floated up his throat. “Maybe we should take a page from their book then, run away into the mountains and build our own farm.” 

“Why would you do that when you can just stay here?” 

The pair jolted apart, gasps filling the air between them as their faces turned red. Midoriya’s smile reached them from across the room, his head sticking out from the doorway. Behind him, Bakugou’s head popped out too, his eyes glaring into the room. 

“How much of that did you hear?” Kirishima stuttered. 

“All of it,” Bakugou replied. 

Midoriya swatted at him. “Kacchan!” 

“The walls are very thin.” Bakugou caught Midoriya’s hand, turning it and holding it close to him. “We’ve heard everything you’ve said since you got here.” 

His heart jumped to his throat, his body immediately twisting to look toward the far wall, and red hot blood flushed into his face. 

They heard us call them attractive, Kirishima wheezed. 

Todoroki wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close once again. “Well, at least you know how we feel. We don’t have to tell you.” 

Midoriya pushed through the door, letting his feet carry him across the room. The green curls in his hair bounced as he walked and his eyes opened with a brightness that rivaled the sun. He smiled at them as Bakugou followed behind him, his red eyes glaring over his partner’s shoulder. 

Listen to him or else, Bakugou’s eyes said. 

Kirishima felt himself smile, it was endearing how protective Bakugou was. 

“If you don’t want to stay here, we won’t make you.” Midoriya waved an arm around. “But we would love it if you stayed with us.” 

“We wouldn’t be intruding?” Kirishima looked back to him, feeling the red grow on his face. “You know we’re attracted to you both, wouldn’t that be awkward?” 

“It’s not awkward if it’s mutual, idiots,” Bakugou replied. 

“Mutual?” Todoroki breathed. “You thought we were attractive too?”

“Have you seen yourself?” Midoriya laughed. “Of course we do.” 

With his lungs wheezing once more, Kirishima turned to lean against Todoroki and hide his face. His eyes fell closed as his heart began to beat quickly. He felt an arm wrap around him and hold him tight, the arm trembled as it held him. 

Todoroki spoke next, his voice falling into the commanding tone he had been taught since birth. “If we stay here, what will you expect of us? Do you want us to have relations with you?” 

“What the fuck?” Bakugou spat. 

“No, no!” Midoriya waved his arms. “If you stay here, you don’t have to have a relationship with us… if you ever wanted that, we’d want it to happen naturally, not because we expect from you as a form of payment for being here…” 

“Yeah, we’d only expect you to do chores and shit.” 

Kirishima lifted his head and looked up at Todoroki. Their eyes met for a single moment, understanding passing through them in a heartbeat before he turned to the two men watching them and smiled. 

“I guess we’re staying here then.” 

---

Years passed by, following the changes of the seasons. The farm itself had changed, going from a windowless tiny cabin into a much larger and nicer-looking cabin. Windows stood at all sides, taking in the breathtaking views of the mountains and forests. However, the chimney still stood in the same place, in the large living room, surrounded by couches and blankets. 

Todoroki let himself fall across one of the couches, rolled his shoulders, and groaned as the aches dove down his spine. 

“I made some tea for you,” Midoriya said, “It should help fight off this cold.” 

“Why not give me one of your magical blankets?” Todoroki whined. 

The green-haired man laughed. “You know those only work on severe cases.” 

A warm hand picked up one of his and pressed a hotter cup into it. The hand stayed around his as he sat up and turned to the man before him. Midoriya’s hands were scarred from the years of work he had put into his life, from the dangers that he had faced growing up, but Todoroki thought his hands were the most beautiful thing that he had ever seen. 

“Thank you,” Todoroki whispered, “Love you.” 

“I love you too.” Midoriya leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “You stick right here, okay?” 

“What are you doing?” Todoroki watched him get up, letting his eyes wander across his body as he moved across the floor. 

“Kacchan and Ei should be back by now…” Midoriya stopped at the door. “I’m going to tell them you aren’t feeling well so we can smother you.” 

“Oh, what a horrible fate.” 

“Just the worst.” 

Silence filled the cabin as the door closed behind Midoriya. The dual-haired man leaned into it, letting him lay back down against the couch and hold the tea close to his chest. His thoughts slowly drifted away from him, leaning into the past few years as he looked around the cabin. 

So much had changed, so many things that he had never expected, but had welcomed with open arms. From the new ram that they had gotten to teach Akio’s puppies how to herd and hunt, he had fallen in love with the life he had and with the people that he shared it with. 

He remembered the first time that Bakugou had tucked him and kissed him goodnight. The way that his lips had softly pressed against his in their first kiss ever, and how the blond had whispered to him that he was more beautiful than the universe, before piling another blanket on top of him and telling him to go to sleep. He could remember the first time that Midoriya had held him through his nightmares. How they had stayed up through the night recounting their fears and insecurities together, before pulling each other into a hug in front of the fireplace. He remembers Midoriya’s hand pushing through his hair and his breath on his cheek. 

He remembered all the ways those moments danced along his skin and the way their smells had filled the air. His heart soared as he thought about those moments, tears flowing to his eyes. 

Then he remembered the marriage that they had had, right here on the farm with only a few people from the nearby town to witness. He remembered the way that Kirishima had pulled him in first, whispering that he got to marry him first because he had asked him first. Then the ways that Bakugou and Midoriya had fought to be his next kiss, the laughter that had been thrown around the entire clearing. 

He reached a hand up to his face as the tears began to flood down his cheek, his heart bursting with warmth and love in a way that he had never thought possible. 

Then the front door opened. 

“Shouto, why the fuck are you crying?” Bakugou’s voice echoed through the living room, his stomping feet flooding the house before he appeared at his side and leaned over the couch. “What’s wrong?” 

Shouto smiled softly as he looked up at his husband. “I think I’ve contracted Midoriya’s feelings because only he cries when he’s this happy.” 

The blond snorted and pushed a hand through his hair. “You’re that happy to be sick? You must have hit your head or something.” 

“No, no,” Todoroki replied, “I’m happy to have the life that I have.” 

Bakugou’s face softened and his eyes showered down upon him. “Of course you are, why wouldn’t you be?” 

Todoroki shook his head and raised his free hand up to Bakugou’s, holding it in place. “I never doubted that I was happy with this life, I love it more than anything.” 

The door creaked open again and Todoroki heard the tell-tale signs of Kirishima moving into the house. The softer stomps, but still very much stomps, and the sounds of puppies barking in the background just outside the door. 

Todoroki looked over the side of the couch as his other husband walked into the room. He smiled softly as the red-headed smiled back at him. 

“Izu told us you weren’t feeling well,” Kirishima said, “Do you need anything?” 

Todoroki smirked. “Only all my husbands.” 

“Cheesy bastard.” Bakuogu shoved his head away and crossed his arms. “Think because you’re sick you can get whatever you want?”

“Well,” Todoroki said, “I was hoping that you’d make that stew again, it wasn’t nearly as good the last time you made it.” 

The blond glared at him. “It will be the best goddamn stew you’ll ever eat, bastard!” 

As the blond stormed away, Kirishima slid onto the couch next to him and threw an arm around his shoulders. Todoroki leaned toward him, he let his eyes fall close as his body cuddled into his husband. 

“Where is Izu?” He asked. 

“I think he might be trying to sneak Eri in here,” Kirishima replied. 

“That little sheep deserves a warm bed to sleep in,” Todoroki said. 

Kirishima sighed. “Not you too…” 

“Eri deserves the best.” 

“She’s an animal, Sho, and she has Aizawa with her; he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.” 

“Fine.” 

The door finally opened one more time, hopefully, the last time that day, and Midoriya stepped into the room. He pouted as Kirishima looked back at him, giving him a look that said, Eri better not be with you.

Todoroki smiled. 

He loved his life beyond measure.