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“Fuck.”
Ornaments of shells and corals harshly flung against the wall and shattered into pieces. While the forgotten remains of what was once prey cluttered against the stalagmites, chipping its ivory glory. The huge scaly tail had begun its assault once more. It targeted the sunken chests until it was nothing but boards and nails. Whatever things humans deemed to be treasure scattered back to the sea and its undertow. With each piece, the fish that happened to pass by quickly swam away.
The tail coiled and lengthened, determined to destroy everything in its wake. In its fit of anger. The underwater cave seemingly had been ravaged by a relentless storm as thunderous roars echoed within. Once it calmed, the vicious tail retreated on itself. It slithered close to its cool body, winding, and curling, trying to make itself small, despite its monstrous size.
“It can’t be. It’s still early…”
The serpent-like dragon god heavily sighed, resting his chin on the cold cave floor. His eyes ostensibly glowed viridescent in the dark cave but their shine reflected only longing , as he wistfully stared at the end of the cave where his particular prize sat.
One of the supreme god’s beloved moons.
If he could still call it a moon.
Especially not with the waxy dull appearance as it collapsed on itself. As it slowly waned just like how the sun took its place in the sky when morning came. He held back another sigh, fearing that his breath would hasten its demise. But he knew none of his efforts to preserve it would work.
This was not the first moon he had snatched from the beautiful night sky. It certainly wouldn’t be the last.
How could he not?
He spent his whole life in his dark domain and after a millennium, he started to hate every second of it. Life underneath the surface had always been dull and repetitive. The creatures under his protection would only spark his curiosity once or twice; especially with a new species or evolution. Yet it still hadn’t been enough to breathe joy into him.
He would outlive them anyway.
That was what he learned in his early life. He didn’t see any point in forming deep ties when they would disappear so soon. Besides, no creature had seen him beyond being their ruler or predator.
Perhaps that was what had drawn him to the moons in the first place.
He resided in the depths, devoid of any light for centuries. He left only to hunt. And on one fateful night, a prey had surprisingly got away. That was when he first saw them.
It was like an apparition. A beautiful dream.
He thought he was hallucinating with his eyes still not familiar to the change of environment. He would had guessed it was the sun— if it wasn’t for the multiple radiance of circles it exuded in the dark sky.
He never dared to approach the surface for fear of scaring the other inhabitants with his unseemly appearance. Yet, curiosity overtook him, pushed him to break through the water’s surface to catch a glimpse of them.
“I have never seen anything so beautiful. So bright and full of life.”
He felt overcome with the desire to touch it, to feel for himself if it weren’t a mere illusion conjured by his longing. So he did.
His heart pounded against his ribcage, a deafening beat, reverberated through his body. It overpowered the waves crashing against him as he was enveloped by an avalanche of panic when he saw the light source nearly disappear. Rippled it into pieces. Hethought his touch was deadly until the moons returned to their original shape.
It was but a reflection in the water.
There and then, the serpent-like dragon realized the moons weren’t for him. They never would be. He hated how cruel the supreme god was for giving him a taste of something that he could only dream of having.
Still, he admired them for centuries, yearned for how the moons were so close yet so far. He vied for their attention, for their light to shine his way for once. Until it slowly festered into greed and envy that caused him impulsively rise to the sky and snatched one for himself. He swallowed the moon whole, hoped that it would brighten his life like how it illuminated the night sky.
Even their light was not timeless.
He learned that brutal lesson when he witnessed the first moon collapsed in his arms after a century. He desperately tried everything to bring it back to its former glory, but it had been all for naught. The first moon left his side like everything else. And he was reminded of it again while he helplessly watched the third moon this millennium melt.
A whimper almost escaped his lips. He slowly reached out to the moon with his tail and fleetingly caressed it, watched it slowly dissipate into wisps of dimly lit stardust.
He couldn’t hold on to it any longer. He needed a new plan and opportunity to snatch another moon from the sky.
This time he promised to himself it would be the last.
Katsuki stared from the clouds. His feet dangled in the sky while enjoying the salty breeze brought by the night. He tried to distinguish the ebb and flow of the water, but it seemed as though he was staring into nothingness instead of the ocean. The more he stared at it, the deeper it seemed. With only his faint light, the abyss was staring back at him in hunger with its susurration.
“Maybe this was what drove that snake mad.”
He mused and tried to cast a brighter glow to light up the ocean’s surface. As though his radiance was a beacon, Katsuki immediately felt someone’s presence approaching behind him. The cold night grew warm as a hand placed itself on his shoulder.
“What are you doing here?” Came a jovial tone as his sibling took a seat beside him.
“Waiting,” he replied, stating the obvious.
But Mina ignored it as she perked up and bombarded him with questions. “Waiting for who? Do you finally have a friend? Since when? Where did you meet them? When will you introduce them to us?”
Katsuki rolled his eyes at the word ‘friend’ and gazed back at the waves.
“No. And I don’t need one. I’m waiting for the snake.”
Mina blinked twice at what he said and asked him to repeat it, hoping that she heard him wrong.
“The snake.”
Mina’s eyes widened and shook him, trying to knock some sense into him.
“Have you finally lost your mind?! Why are you waiting for him? You know how dangerous he is. What if he takes you this time?”
Katsuki sighed and removed her hands from his shoulder.
“Relax. I’m not going to let him take me.” Then he smirked, “not without a fight.”
Mina paled at his reply and looked at him straight in the eyes.
“Katsuki. There’s a reason why he’s called a moon eater. You saw how he swallowed Toru last century. A-and before that… before you were born, he took five of our siblings.”
“Shut up. Do you think I don’t know that?”
“Then why are you waiting for him?”
“I’m going to fight him. I’m going to teach him a lesson about not to mess with us anymore.”
“You know that’s not up to you or any of us. He’s too powerful! You should wait for Bathala to—”
“Wait? How long do we have to keep on waiting? It’s been centuries but that idiot has not done a thing, supreme god, my ass.”
“Katsuki!” Mina gasped at the blasphemy and hit his arm, “Take that back. What if he punishes you?”
Katsuki rolled his eyes, “If he’s going to punish someone, he should punish that snake.”
“Katsuki..” Mina reached for his arm but Katsuki shook it off as he began to descend from the cloud. “Wait, where are you going? Mother warned you not to wander off at night”
“Nowhere. Don’t you dare tell her or follow me. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Katsuki ignored her protests as he landed on the island’s cliffs. He didn’t look back but each step he took got heavier but he was determined on the soil. He knew he had to do this, especially for the rest of them to survive.
Katsuki had to hunt the moon eater first before it hunted them.
The beach was the first place he looked for clues. Everyone he saw barely had information about the moon eater, as if they were afraid to even speak of its name; aside from the Bathal of course. But Katsuki knew it would not help them. He lost most of his siblings to the dragon god but it still went unpunished nor reprimanded. He couldn’t wait for the supreme god’s judgment forever.
This was the third night he searched for clues and he was already running out of ideas. He needed to find its weakness and fast. But all they knew was that the moon eater always resided in its domain, living in complete solitude until it would rise to the skies to devour a moon god after a century.
He asked the inhabitants once in disguise, but all the people that worship the dragon god knew nothing. The humans only sang its praises for bringing them the changing tides and their bountiful catches. If this kept up, he might have to resolve to look in the ocean. Even if he knew that it was a bad idea. It would be completely suicidal. Little was known about the moon eater’s domain and Katsuki didn’t want to do it without being prepared, especially since he was the very thing that the moon eater wanted.
The sand scattered before him as Katsuki paused in his tracks, staring at the shoreline.
“What’s that…?”
He was surrounded by the sun and moons’ radiance all his life but this particular sight… This was a completely otherworldly experience.
Katsuki slowly approached the shore, mesmerized by the water that glowed and glittered like the aurora in the sky. The waves gave off a vivid blue glow as they crashed ashore, lighting up the dark shoreline. The allure of the captivating waves, the glowing wet sand, and the salty but comforting cold breeze added a silver lining to the ocean and its mysteries.
He had never seen this happen before. He dug his bare feet under the wet and cold sand. Let the luminous waves brush against his ankles as he wiggled his toes under it. He used that short silence to mull over a decision again and again.
“That’s it. If I can’t find him, I can set myself as bait to send him to me.”
He dismissed the image of his siblings shouting at him for even thinking and considering a ridiculous and risky idea like that. Then again, it wasn’t that bad of a plan. He still had time before the moon god in the moon eater’s clutches completely wanes and collapses. And before Katsuki would have to take its place, he would have to have figured out the moon eater’s weakness by then.
Katsuki knew the moon eater was lonely and he would take advantage of it. All that was left now was to find it.
Stealing one of the fishermen’s boats docked on the shore, Katsuki set out to the ocean. It was as though he was rowed in a tapestry of stars. He would occasionally dip his fingers in the water, watched as the blue glow parted and rippled at his touch. The light was all over the shore but now, it seemed like it lit up a pathway just for him. It felt as though it was a sign, or a trap, but Katsuki had already thrown caution to the wind. He had never felt so free before this, and he wouldn’t let the moon eater take it away from him—or his siblings.
He continued to follow the path, sailed smoothly across the water, until the ocean made its temper tantrum known.
For the first time, Katsuki experienced how relentless the ocean was. It was as if the abyss he stared at earlier suddenly came to life. A hungry void that wanted to devour everything in its path, just like the moon eater. The waves were already harsh as it continuously rocked the small boat he had. He looked up at the sky and sighed in relief when there was no storm brewing. Katsuki braced himself with every push and pull of the water, fearing that the boat would overturn with him in it. With the harsh waves’ arrival, the pathway given to him by the bioluminescent creatures had also disappeared, leaving Katsuki in the middle of nowhere.
“This is a fucking suicide mission. I barely scratched the surface.” Katsuki grunted as another wave made its power known. He couldn’t go back, not when he had come this far. He knew that if his siblings, or worse his mother, found out he had set foot in the sea, he would never be able to step outside anywhere ever again.
Fortunately, the water started to calm down. Katsuki had sighed in relief again as soon as the path had lit up again. He absentmindedly rowed as he stared at the azure glow, seemed to get hypnotized by it. This time, the glow was larger compared to the constellation-like dots on the shore. He didn’t know creatures could glow in the first place. Katsuki wondered what made them glow like that, so he reached into the water to touch one.
The ocean was always fickle. It got hungry again for chaos, swept the bioluminescent creatures away from his grasp. Then with a huge wave, it swallowed him and his boat whole.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Katsuki’s fingers twitched at the sound, wanted to shield his ears from the pitter-patter. But his body was full of protests. He winced as he tried to get up.
“Careful, little one. It was quite a current you got yourself into.”
His eyes snapped open at the voice, recognizing its undertone from somewhere he couldn’t put a finger on. He willed himself to get up as a shiver ran up his spine and caused goosebumps on his arm. He mustered up a glow in his hand but it only lit up the place he was sitting on.
“There’s no need to be alarmed. You’re okay now.”
Katsuki refused to bring his guard down as he saw a silhouette creep from the corner of his eyes. He gritted his teeth, forced his body to move around to look for the source of the voice.
“Show yourself coward.”
A deep rumble echoed in the cavern as the silhouette laughed, “You might not like what you see, little one.”
Katsuki huffed at the excuse. He had an inkling at who he was talking to but he wouldn’t let that scare him, especially when it was the very thing he had been looking for.
“Try me.” Katsuki challenged while wobbly standing, then tilted his chin up and looked ahead into the darkness.
“I’ve never had a willing prey before.”
A strong breeze brushed past him, cold scales fleetingly caressed his skin as a tail slithered away from him. Katsuki tried to make his glow brighter, waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness until he was face-to-face with the moon eater.
So blinding.
The words almost left his mouth as the moon eater’s eyes came into view. They were the hue of the new spring growth, so bright and soft all at once. It was the shade of green that only came as summer advanced, that spoke of fresh wands of grass and budding flowers. One would think that the moon eater would be an amicable god with eyes so kind and humble like clovers, but that was where it ended.
The moon eater’s presence was domineering and overwhelming. Enough to make other gods cower and drop to their knees with only a mention of its name. It stood taller than the rest of the creatures he had seen and was definitely larger than Katsuki imagined with a mouth almost the size of a large lake. Its body spoke volumes of the strength it wielded with its impervious dark viridian scales and front and hind legs ripped with powerful muscle.
The barbel on each side of its face fluttered along with its gills as the moon eater licked its lips. It stared down at Katsuki.
“Are you sure you’re not lost, little god?”
“I’m not lost. I’m right where I should be.”
“Really now?”
Katsuki’s eyes narrowed and took a step closer to prove a point. “I’m here to hunt you.”
He was expecting to be eaten right there but instead of sharp teeth and a forked tongue, another laugh echoed in the cave.
“Are you now? If I hadn’t saved you, you would have been the ocean’s prey.”
“Shut up. That was a miscalculation on my part.”
The moon eater nodded with a hum, “The ocean is very unpredictable. Even to me. That’s why I’m giving you another chance.”
“What?” Katsuki blinked in disbelief, wondering if he had heard correctly.
“You’re here to hunt me, right? It’s only fair that you have another chance, tiny god.”
“Stop calling me tiny or little!”
The moon eater chuckled and inched closer to Katsuki, “Then I should know the name of the brave young god who’s going to kill me.”
“Ka—” Katsuki paused midway, remembering how knowing and using one’s name is a spell itself.
“Ka?”
“Just Ka.”
The moon eater drummed its claws on the cave floor and then perked up, “Then I’ll call you Kacchan!”
Katsuki protested at the ridiculous nickname but it was too late to change the moon eater’s mind when it was already made up.
He almost flinched when he saw the moon eater abruptly move as it looked up and used its tail to push him near the cave’s opening.
“It’s best that you go. Night is about to end. You wouldn’t want your family to know you sneaked out, would you?”
“You—” Katsuki huffed, “fine, but I’m the one letting you go. And I’ll kill you next time.”
“By the way, I’m Izuku. I’m looking forward to how you’ll kill me, Kacchan .”
Katsuki quickly turned as his body shivered at the way the moon eater rolled the nickname off its forked tongue. He walked on the path the moon eater provided for him and never looked back. It marked the start of his hunt.
But the tables turned again, quite literally his boat, proving his hunt to be difficult as it was foiled by the ocean and its temperamental weather.
“This is the second time I’ve saved you, Kacchan.”
Katsuki gasped for air and coughed out the water, slumping on the moon eater’s snout.
“You didn’t save me. I have it under control.”
“Sure you did. Naive little god who brought a small boat in this storm.”
“It was sunny a while ago. You did this!”
“You give me too much credit. I don’t control the weather, Kacchan.”
Katsuki hopped back into the boat as soon as Izuku turned it upright. He huffed, quickly holding the oars to row back.
“You’re going to sink again if you keep rowing in that direction.”
Katsuki almost jumped in his seat when he felt something behind him; heart palpitating when Izuku’s hands completely enveloped his, guiding him with rowing in the right direction.
The sail was oddly silent, expecting another comment or two from Izuku. Katsuki couldn’t hold back his tongue and looked back.
“You—”
Katsuki stared long and hard at his face, noting how messy his green curls were as if it’s a bird’s nest. He peered at his round jellyfish-green eyes, mesmerized by how expressive it was, watching it lit up in eagerness. There were a few green scales adorning his cheeks and neck that shone because of the moonlight. But what caught his eye the most was the scattershot constellations on his face.
“Is there something on my face?” Izuku tilted his head to the side.
Katsuki kept staring and boldly cupped Izuku’s face without realizing. His thumb fleetingly caressed the tiny dots on Izuku’s face. He had never seen anything like it. He always got to experience new things because of the moon eater.
“Your face… It’s dusted with stars like the sky.”
“They’re freckles.”
Katsuki whispered the word and slowly let go of his face, acting like nothing happened as he turned his attention elsewhere. But Izuku was adamant to keep their moment going.
“Speaking of stars, do you wanna know how I never get lost?”
Izuku turned him around and held Katsuki’s hands up, making a rectangle with their fingers that framed a few constellations. Katsuki’s cheeks grew warm as Izuku’s breath tickled his ear, explaining how he used the stars to navigate his way in the waters and how he taught it to the humans.
“... So whenever you get lost, Kacchan should think of me because my stars will help you find your way back to me.”
“S-Shut up.”
Katsuki shook Izuku’s hands off his and lightly hit his chest, turning away to hide the blush on his face. He wanted to ignore Izuku’s warmth but it lingered on him as if he was still within Izuku’s embrace. When the ocean started to glow again, Katsuki welcomed the distraction, sitting across Izuku and dipped his hand in the water.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it? I call them firefly squid. I’m sure you can see why.”
Katsuki nodded, mumbling how they’re like freshly fallen stars. “How do they glow like that?”
“They live a bit far from the surface but not as deep compared to where my cave is. They come up at this time of year for spawning. They just gather here and suddenly glow… along with other creatures.”
Katsuki’s head turned fast to look at him, “There are others?”
“Mhm. Do you wanna see?”
Katsuki stared at the calm waters, wondering how deep and vast it is to hide a lot of amazing things. But he knew how dangerous it was. With his hesitancy written on his face, Katsuki felt a hand on top of his.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.”
Katsuki looked at him incredulously, making Izuku chuckle.
“If you don’t believe me, then trust me when I say that I won’t let anyone take away my prey. Even if it’s the ocean, Kacchan.”
Katsuki snorted, “I’m not your prey.”
His reluctance slowly melted away at Izuku’s smile and then he slowly placed his hand in his.
“You better not make me regret this, Deku .”
Izuku internally rejoiced at the nickname and his answer, promising that he wouldn’t as they went in the water. Katsuki could only hope it wasn’t both his hand and life he put in Izuku’s hand for him to play with.
It was the most lucid of dreams. Katsuki was always amazed at how vast and dynamic the ocean was. They were only a few feet from the surface but it was already teeming with life. The fishes were rainbows under the moonlight as they swam in their respective school in waving arcs. While some swam alone, blending in their surroundings as they stalked their prey. Jellyfishes of myriads of colors were gracefully floating around, letting the current direct their path. He was tempted to touch them but he heeded Izuku’s warning not to touch them because of their venom. He glanced below and saw colorful stones decorated with plants that swayed with the current. What he thought were stones on the ocean floor were actually live animals.
“They’re corals, Kacchan.”
Izuku’s voice echoed in his mind. It was their way of communication now that Izuku shifted back to his serpent-like dragon form. At Izuku’s insistence, Katsuki was riding on his back, grabbing onto his scales so he wouldn’t get caught by the current. The fishes were avoiding them, even the predators, because of Izuku’s menacing appearance and presence but Katsuki had no qualms with it. He was happy to watch the ocean life from afar. This was more than he wished for when he dreamed of being free.
However, he didn’t expect that having front-row seats to the wonderful underwater experience would also mean being an audience to his mumbles. Katsuki didn’t particularly mind Izuku being quite the talker as Izuku rambled every fact about every creature they passed by. All Katsuki could think about was how no one would believe him when he said that the moon eater was nothing but an overgrown sea puppy instead of a monstrous ravenous snake.
Soon, they came into a halt. Izuku shifted into his human form again, causing Katsuki to yelp as he held onto Izuku. Katsuki didn’t know how to swim, especially when their mother forbade them to go near any bodies of water.
“A warning would have been nice.” Katsuki glared at him but still clung to Izuku as tight as he could.
Izuku grinned at him, wrapping his arms around Katsuki’s waist. “Sorry Kacchan. I’m not used to having someone on my back.”
“Why did you stop anyway? Did a shark scare you?”
“There’s no creature in the ocean that could rival me… well maybe except for..”
Izuku’s voice trailed off but stopped himself, seeing Katsuki stare at him with such curiosity. Izuku wasn’t that clueless.
“Why don’t you summon a brighter light on your hand?”
Katsuki blinked twice at his sudden suggestion. He wanted Izuku to continue where he left off but that would be too suspicious so he played along.
“Won’t I disturb them?”
“Do it. I’m sure Katsuki will like it.”
Katsuki wasn’t sure why Izuku suggested such a thing but he did what he was told. What happened next was something he couldn’t prepare his heart for.
There was nothing at first. It was just them and the calm sea for a moment but movement followed afterward. Small fishes slowly swam towards him—towards the light. They seemed cautious at first, hovering around the glow as if they were moths to a flame. But the fishes’ worries dissipated as they started to nip at Katsuki’s hand, almost tickling him.
It was as if Katsuki’s light had become the orchestral conductor of the ocean, sending in the fishes’ clicks and the swish of their tails into their crescendos’ all through the ballad that was Katsuki’s soft and rare chuckles and giggles. It was as if the goddess of music had entered the water and enchanted it with harmony to form a melodic symphony.
That night was an opening sonata—the first of many. They continued to meet up every night, touring Izuku’s domain. Starting as enemies, their relationship slowly budded as they learned more about each other and their very different worlds, bonding over their similar experiences. They were no longer just the moon eater and the young moon god to each other but as Deku and Kacchan.
But Katsuki’s nightly excursions started raising eyebrows among his siblings until the news made its way to his mother. Mitsuki wondered what her youngest was up to every night that he always sneaked out when he thought no one was looking. She didn’t waste any time, wanting to get to the bottom of his strange behavior before it could get any worse. Together with Mina, they decided to follow him, stepping foot into the ocean much to their horror.
Mina figured he was bewitched by something, filling them with worry. They decided to finally intervene when Katsuki was just idly waiting in the middle of the ocean, as if he was waiting to be eaten.
“Ka—”
But Mitsuki and Mina knew nothing of the ocean’s hidden cruelty and danger. A huge wave suddenly appeared separating their boat from Katsuki’s, almost overturning theirs. But Katsuki was swept by the wave and was now in open waters, making him vulnerable to an unknown predator. He didn’t know he was followed, and worse, by his mother. But he couldn’t afford to think about it right now. He could barely stay afloat, trying to remember the swimming lessons Izuku gave to him.
“Katsuki!”
Mitsuki called out to him and urged him to swim towards them as she rowed closer to him. While Mina took the other oar and she extended it towards him. But the wave wasn’t the end of it. The ocean was just getting started. Just when the oar was within his reach, something wrapped around his ankle.
Bubbles took his place on the surface as he was abruptly dragged down. Katsuki lit up his hands to see what was dragging him down. He got a glimpse of a huge bite mark on the creature’s side but what caught his attention the most was its eye. To his surprise, it was a creature Izuku told him to steer clear of—the elusive giant squid. Katsuki didn’t think he would actually see one, especially when they live so deep in the ocean.
He mustered the hottest light he could and seared the tentacle wound tight on his ankle. It only angered the giant squid as it grabbed his limbs with its other tentacles. It violently trashed him around, slamming him against the rocks and corals. Katsuki squirmed and singed it with all his might but he was slowly losing his consciousness from all the hits he endured. His only wish was that his family wasn’t there to see his final moments like they did with his older siblings… and that he’d rather meet his demise in Izuku’s hands than this.
As though his wish was granted, a huge dark green blur emerged and rammed against the squid, biting at its tentacles to free him. Katsuki forced himself to stay awake, long enough to reach the surface for his family to help up their boat. His family’s worries fell into deaf ears. All Katsuki could hear was a shrill ringing sound and his slowing heartbeat as he looked into the water and shouted Izuku’s name. He couldn’t allow himself to pass out just yet when Izuku was out there battling the giant squid.
“Katsuki, let's get out of here.”
“No. Don’t or I’ll jump into the water.”
Katsuki’s anxiety rose as they witnessed some of the tentacles coiled around Izuku’s body. Both creatures wrestled on and under the water without a definite victory, sending big waves that continually rocked their boat.
It wasn’t long until Izuku resurfaced, proving his status to the creature after tearing it into pieces. Yet despite being the winner. Izuku didn’t feel like he won at all. His most awaited prize was missing. He never saw Katsuki again.
Katsuki’s family was convinced that everything was arranged from the start so they put him under house arrest. But that didn’t stop Katsuki as he reasoned with them, talking about how Izuku was different from the rumors. Mitsuki, however, wasn’t convinced. Not one bit.
“Stop going after him. Do you want to share the same fate with your siblings? He’s dangerous, brat.”
“If he was, then he shouldn’t have saved me that day. He could have eaten me since we first met.”
“He’s just manipulating you. Why can’t you see that?!”
Katsuki was heavily surveiled by his mother and siblings, keeping him from sneaking out ever again. Every movement, every breathing were being watched, stuck yet again in his prison with his very own family as his warden and guards. But Katsuki did not relent. He created a false routine and studied his family’s movements, enough to successfully slip away for the nth time. When he reached the end of the clouds, he witnessed the water ripple, waves slowly forming as if to call and welcome him home.
Izuku was also waiting for him.
Katsuki’s heart thundered in his chest at the taste of newly found freedom that lies in front of him. It was only a few days of being with Izuku yet Katsuki treasured those days unlike any other in his entire life. He simply did not want to just revel in its memory, especially not when it was just within his reach. All he had to do was descend from the clouds, into Izuku’s awaiting arms.
“Katsuki!”
His first step was cut off by his mother’s warning, already picturing that familiar disappointed look on her face accompanied by her arms crossed over her chest. But when he looked at her just to get one last look at his family, she had a different but familiar expression on her face. It was the same look she always had whenever she would lose yet another child to the moon eater. And this time, she might lose another one in a different way.
“Come back to us, Katsuki. Please .”
Katsuki never thought he would be on the receiving end of that word. He could count in his hands the amount of times his mother begged: pleading for the moon eater to stop and the Bathala to intervene. And as years passed by, Mitsuki hardened her heart, knowing that no one would extend a hand to them, much less hear their pleas.
Katsuki took a step back but his gaze lingered back and forth to his family and Izuku who was still waiting below.
“You don’t have to choose me over your family, Kacchan.”
Izuku reached out into his mind again, telling Katsuki to stay with his family, trying to convince him that Izuku could persuade his family so they could still meet up in one way or another.
Katsuki clicked his tongue, grumbling, “Just whose side are you on?”
A chuckle reverberated in Katsuki’s mind. “I am always on your side, Kacchan.”
Despite Izuku’s insistence, Katsuki’s mind was already made up. He still wanted to stay with Izuku no matter what. But he also knew that it would make things harder for Izuku. The ball was on his court yet he felt as though he was caught in a stalemate.
Suddenly, a bright light flashed before them. Katsuki could feel a hand on his shoulder that was not previously there but his attention was affixed elsewhere. Izuku was suddenly in front of him and Katsuki wanted nothing but to run into his arms.
“De—”
And he almost did. Almost. If it were not for the heavy weight on his shoulder, keeping him still.
“What are you doing here?”
Mitsuki’s sharp voice made Katsuki’s head turn, looking up from the stranger’s hand to see who it was.
“We begged you for years. For centuries! Yet you show up now when I am about to lose everything?!”
It was then that Katsuki realized the man was none other than Bathala, their supreme god who had forsaken them to this cycle of grief.
Bathala said nothing in defense and solemnly looked at the ground in regret and then looked at Izuku for a few seconds. He heaved a heavy sigh as he gently squeezed Katsuku’s shoulder.
“This young god is of age. Let him choose for him—”
“No!”
Mitsuki immediately protested, letting out colorful expletives at their supreme god without a care for the consequences. Yet her disapproval fell into deaf ears as Bathala asked Katsuki as he glanced at Izuku.
“Is that what you really want? For you to stay with him ?”
“Ye—”
“Katsuki! Please! Think about this carefully.”
Katsuki shrugged off Bathala’s hand from his shoulder, turning towards his mother.
“And I did. This isn’t your choice to make.”
“Katsuki…”
Bathala could only look at the moons with great sadness, briefly looking at Izuku once more who still stayed still and silent on his corner.
“Katsuki! Don’t go to him. Please!” Mitsuki sobbed as she fell to her knees, mourning yet another child.
Katsuki slowly approached his family, only to help get his mother back on her feet.
“I can’t… don’t want to stay here anymore, mom. I…”
‘Love him’ was left unsaid as he turned his back on them to walk towards Izuku who was waiting for him.
“No, Katsuki! It’s all a trick.”
Katsuki never paused in his steps yet each foot was heavy as he heard his mother call for him so desperately.
“ If it was… a trick that is,” Katsuki thought to himself. He would rather be free in a field full of Izuku’s lies than be shackled by his family’s truth and overprotectiveness.
Bathala, sighing once more, glanced at Izuku who only stood in anticipation to wrap his arms around Katsuki again.
“Young Katsuki can stay with Izuku. But—”
Izuku’s relaxed disposition seemingly broke as his eyes gleamed, pupils almost narrowing into slits as he looked at Bathala.
“...they can only be together when the moon is enveloped by a shadow.”
Bathala suddenly proposed, surprising both parties. The condition seemed to favor Katsuki‘s family. But Izuku and Katsuki could care less. Izuku didn’t mind as long as he could still take Katsuki to his domain. Izuku wouldn’t worry about his moon melting away, for he could light up Katsuki's world, just as Katsuki would for his domain.