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For the first time in a while, the clouds part and sunlight streams through. It snows nonstop for days, and the earth is now blanketed in fresh, untouched snow. No blemishes or footprints mar the pristine surface. The sun’s rays make the snow sparkle like thousands of diamonds—blinding and beautiful. The crisp, fresh air is a welcome change from the harsh, biting wind of the storm that cuts their faces like tiny knives.
Unfortunately, Izuku, Katsuki, and their friends are about to turn this peaceful, beautiful winter scene into a makeshift battlefield of flying snowballs and ice forts.
“I’m going to make a stockpile of so many snowballs, and then I’m gonna rapid-fire throw them at Denki’s head,” Katsuki chuckles evilly.
“Kacchan, c’mon,” Izuku says exasperatedly. “He gets you real good one time, how long ago is that? And that’s what you do in a snowball fight! You can’t hold a grudge over a game.” He laughs.
“The hell I can’t. That bastard’s gonna get it, Zu.”
“First of all, that’s cheating. You can’t start until Kaminari and Kirishima are here!” Izuku points an accusatory finger at his husband.
Katsuki turns his head to the side and licks his sharp canine tooth. “Tch.” He stalks forward and peers down at Izuku just slightly. “And what’re you gonna do about it, I-zu-ku?” he taunts.
Izuku scoffs and playfully pushes Katsuki back with his gloved hand. “You’re annoying. You’re lucky we already made teams beforehand, or I’d go tell on you and still kick your ass.” He bats his lashes and starts to walk away.
“You’re infuriating!” Katsuki calls out into the freezing air. “When are those freaks gonna get here, anyways?” He sits on their snow-covered porch with his arms crossed, whistling out for Rin—his wolf, his loyal friend, and protector of his family, besides him of course.
Rin pads up and nuzzles into Katsuki with such gentle force that he falls backward, back landing softly in the snow. “Oof,” he grunts, a smirk tugging at his lips despite the cold. “Hey, girl, you keep warm in that storm? Where’s Mighty?” he mutters, pressing his face into the thick, warm fur of his wolf.
A low, rumbling growl vibrates from Rin as she settles beside him, resting her head comfortably on his lap. Katsuki sits up, absentmindedly scratching behind her ear, his mind wandering. “Hmm,” he hums thoughtfully. “Izuku! You checking on Mighty?” he calls out.
Just then, Izuku appears, walking steadily toward their cabin with a giant ram at his side. Soft bleating noises emanate from the ram as it communicates quietly with its owner and caretaker. Izuku smiles warmly, leaning down to press his forehead gently against the ram’s. Looking up, he calls back to Katsuki, “I’m glad they stayed warm these past few days. The storm really got bad.”
Katsuki sighs and stands, his gaze drifting over the snow-covered hills and mountains stretching into the distance. “Yeah, it really came down hard. I’m glad we had enough firewood to keep us warm all week, otherwise that would’ve sucked ass,” he grunts.
Izuku glances at the landscape too, then lets out a soft laugh, nudging his shoulder against Katsuki’s. “We have other ways to keep warm, too,” he teases.
Katsuki’s eyebrows shoot up, a slow smile spreading across his face as he bends down to press a gentle kiss to Izuku’s cold nose. “Oh no, I think we’re out of wood for tonight anyway. Maybe you can show me what you mean?” He peppers kisses across Izuku’s face. Both chuckle softly, watching Rin burst ahead, howling sharply to warn them that people are close.
Katsuki steps aside, dropping into a battle stance, eyes fixed on the hill where his friends appear. Izuku rolls his eyes, leaning back against Mighty with a weary sigh. “Good grief,” he mutters to the ram.
Suddenly, two figures with yellow and red hair crest the snowy hill. Katsuki’s voice cuts through the cold air, “Get ready to fuckin’ die today, you yellow-haired freak!” His manic cackle echoes sharply.
Denki clasps his hands around his mouth to shout, “Hello to you too, Kacchan!” He sings out teasingly. Kirishima chuckles and gives Denki a friendly whack on the back.
Izuku sighs. “Come on, Kacchan, save it for when we’re actually playing the game.”
Katsuki shoots Izuku a fierce glar. “This ain’t no game. This is war, Izuku.” His serious tone is so over the top it makes Izuku giggle.
“Oi, Izuku! I’m being serious right now! C’mere, you little shit.”
They take off running, chasing each other just like they do as kids. The cold air bites at their lungs, making it harder to breathe as they gasp for breath. Their cheeks flush pink from exertion, wide smiles stretch across their faces, and laughter bubbles nonstop.
Katsuki tackles Izuku into the snow. Their faces are so frozen from running that Katsuki can’t even form words, so instead, he kisses his husband.
Denki’s teasing voice cuts through the moment. “Do you newlyweds just wanna be gross all day, or do you wanna actually have this match?”
Katsuki pulls back from the kiss, smirking as he wipes snow from his face. “Alright, alright, enough of the mushy stuff. Let’s settle this.”
Izuku pushes himself up, brushing snow from his coat with a grin. “You’re going down, guys.”
They all stand there with shit-eating grins and a twitch in their fingers. The first one to break away in a sprint is Denki. “Get ready to cry again, Kacchan!” he yells over his shoulder, teasing him again.
“You asshole! I’m gonna kick both your asses!” he yells, grinning like a wild animal. Izuku groans but starts to run alongside Katsuki.
Denki and Kirishima quickly clear a small area nearby, marking the boundaries for their fort. The snow crunches under their boots as they take their positions. They all work quickly and efficiently to build what they think will protect them from oncoming snowballs.
Katsuki and Izuku quickly settle by a nearby snowbank; behind them is a giant tree that can help protect them from the back if necessary. They start working together to pack tight snowballs. Their breaths come out in frosty puffs as they form a small arsenal, stacking the snowballs carefully.
“Cover me while I grab more snow!” Katsuki barks, already sprinting off.
Izuku crouches behind a makeshift barrier, eyes sharp. “Got your back, Kacchan!”
Denki and Kirishima mirror their movements, scooping up snow and building their own stockpile. Izuku stares down Kirishima with deadly seriousness, while Kirishima struggles to keep a straight face. Neither can fully suppress their laughter, their eyes crinkling as they gasp for air, caught between their snowball partners’ frenzy and the silliness of how into it they are.
Despite the chaos, Izuku and Kirishima exchange a quick salute and get back to work, packing more snowballs side by side.
“How many do we need, Kacchan?” Izuku huffs, puffs of frosty air swirling around them with every breath.
“Enough to knock their fort down to win and one snowball to the nuts for Denki,” Katsuki mutters, the last part under his breath.
“Kacchan! You can’t just—you can’t throw stuff at your friends’ nuts!” Izuku protests, eyes wide.
“I sure can, and I will. I’m being generous not to nail him in the head—he’s already a fuckin’ idiot,” Katsuki chuckles lowly.
Izuku groans, throwing his head back, but he keeps shaping snowballs with steady determination. “I think we’re ready. Let’s check with them to see if they are too!” He stands up, brushing snow from his coat, and walks around the fort to announce the start.
But before he can say a word, Kirishima’s voice rings out: “Hey, Bakubro! Heads up!”
In the next instant, a massive snowball slams into Izuku’s head, knocking him flat onto his back.
Blinking in shock, Izuku brings a gloved hand to his temple. He has, in fact, been nailed square in the dome. Before he can even protest, Katsuki is already storming out from behind the fort, eyes blazing.
“Why you!! You wanna play dirty? Let’s fuckin’ go!” he snarls, hurling snowballs with reckless speed toward their friends’ fort. “This means war!”
Kirishima cackles over the barrage, rallying his side. “Attack!”
Denki screams in response, “Fire!”
Izuku groans, sitting up with snow clinging to his hair. “That’s totally not fair. Let’s destroy them!”
Katsuki grins manically, his teeth flashing. “You’re fine, yeah? Good. Then let’s fuckin’ kill them! We need more snowballs, Deku! We’ve got a good line, but I wanna tear their whole damn fort down right now!”
Izuku’s eyes light up, determination flaring as he scrambles back to their stockpile. “Right!”
Snowballs fly left and right, slamming into shoulders, backs, and the flimsy walls of hastily built forts. Each hit is met with shouts or curses as the four of them dash back and forth, hauling armfuls of snow to replenish their stockpiles. The air rings with their voices—screams, cackles, and unrestrained laughter echoing through the frosty field.
The sun hangs high in the pale winter sky, its light glinting off the snow. Wisps of cloud drift lazily overhead, with no sign of another storm on the horizon. Their battlefield has become a chaotic mess, the once-smooth blanket of snow now churned, scattered, and reshaped into the jagged geography of forts and trenches.
Beneath the wide branches of a tree that arches protectively over Izuku and Katsuki’s fort, Rin and Mighty lie curled in the snow. The pair barely stir, paying no mind to the squeals, shouts, and chaotic movements of their owners as the snowball war rages on around them.
Izuku springs to his feet, snow crunching beneath his boots as he launches forward with surprising speed. With a sharp twist of his arm, he hurls a perfectly packed snowball straight at Denki.
SMACK!
The snowball explodes against Denki’s face, sending him flying backward with a dramatic yelp before he lands flat in the snow.
“Wha—?! Dude!!” Denki sputters, flailing as snow clings to his hair and scarf.
Kirishima collapses to the side, clutching his stomach as he howls with laughter. “Bro—! Hahaha! You got wrecked! Oh man, your face—!” He rolls in the snow, tears forming at the corners of his eyes from laughing too hard.
Katsuki, meanwhile, is practically bouncing in place, cackling like a madman. “What a fuckin’ loser! Zu’, you nail him!” His grin widens and his eyes crinkle in excitement; warmth floods his veins and he suddenly leans in, pressing a hasty kiss to Izuku’s cheek before grabbing another snowball.
Without missing a beat, Katsuki begins pelting Denki and Kirishima’s fort, snowballs flying in rapid succession. “Let’s tear this shitty fort down while dunce face is down!”
The barrage cracks part of their wall, sending chunks of snow tumbling down. Izuku’s eyes light up, already scooping more snow to fuel the assault.
But Kirishima, still laughing, manages to recover just enough to retaliate. With an insane throw, he sends a snowball rocketing across the snow-covered field—
THWACK!
It slams directly into Katsuki’s stomach.
“Ghh—!” Katsuki doubles over, knees bending and hitting soft snow, clutching his midsection as the breath whooshes out of him. His manic laughter turns into a low growl.
Kirishima pumps a fist in the air, grinning wide. “Gotcha!”
It goes on like that for a while—snowballs flying, forts crumbling, and each of them trying to knock the other on their asses. Denki and Kirishima’s fort is barely holding together, its walls sagging and chunks missing. Just a few more good hits and it will be finished.
“Kacchan! We’re so close—we just need a few more hits!” Izuku shouts, his breath puffing in the cold air.
“Fuck, we got this, Izuku,” Katsuki growls, scooping up another snowball and winding his arm back.
But before he can throw, a battle cry rings out from across the snowy battlefield. A snowball comes whizzing at insane speed, slicing through the air and slamming into the tree beside them with a heavy thunk. Bark cracks, snow shakes loose, and Katsuki barks out a sharp laugh.
“HA! You fuckin’ missed!!” Katsuki roars, doubling over with amusement.
“Darn!!” Denki whines from across the way, stomping his foot in frustration.
While Katsuki is busy mocking them, spitting out insults Izuku would never dream of saying, Izuku’s gaze trails upward. His eyes widen as he follows the path of the snowball’s impact high on the trunk… to the trembling branches above.
“Wait—” Izuku gasps, but the sound is swallowed by the sudden, violent rustle overhead.
In one massive whoosh, the entire canopy of snow that has been balancing on the tree branches gives way. It comes crashing down in a single, suffocating avalanche.
Izuku squeezes his eyes shut, bracing for impact. The weight hits instantly, knocking him to his knees as the cold presses into every seam of his coat. He can barely choke out a word, his breath stolen by the sheer shock of it.
When he finally manages to turn his head, he sees Katsuki completely buried beside him—only his face visible, jaw dropped in stunned disbelief. Their fort is gone, flattened under the mountain of snow.
Even Rin and Mighty are caught in the downfall, their confused heads poking out of the white mound as they shake furiously, sending powder flying everywhere.
“Oh my gods…” Izuku whispers, staring at the wreckage.
“F-Fuck… so cold… shit!” Katsuki’s teeth chatter violently, snow clinging to his hair, his lashes, and the fur lining of his coat. The pile reaches up to his chin, leaving him half-frozen and seething.
Izuku scrambles to dig himself out, yelping as snow slips down the back of his coat. He turns immediately toward Katsuki, who is still half-buried in the drift, his scowl frozen in place.
“Kacchan! Hold on, I’ll get you out!” Izuku says, frantically brushing snow away with his gloves.
Rin begins pawing at the mound around Katsuki, trying to dig her human out quickly. Mighty stomps through the snow with a snort, lowering his horns to shove against the pile. With one powerful heave, he breaks apart the drift and helps push Katsuki free.
Katsuki staggers upright, teeth chattering, his hair sticking out in icy clumps. “F-Fuckin’—hell!” he growls, but his voice cracks in a way that makes Izuku bite back a laugh.
From across the field, Kirishima and Denki double over, laughing so hard they can barely breathe. Kirishima waves, still wheezing. “Guess that’s game, Bakubro! You’re buried, fort’s gone—victory’s ours!”
“Eat shit!” Katsuki barks back, though his lips tremble too hard to make it sound intimidating. “Rematch! You hear me? A fuckin’ rematch!”
Denki cups his hands around his mouth. “Sure, sure—after you thaw out!” He bursts into another fit of giggles.
Izuku sighs, looping an arm around Katsuki’s shoulders. “Come on, Kacchan. You’re freezing. Let’s get you inside before you turn into an icicle.”
“I’m fine,” Katsuki mutters, though he leans heavily into Izuku’s side as they start walking. Rin pads close on Katsuki’s other side, nudging him forward like a stubborn guide, while Mighty plods along behind them, bleating proudly as if he’s just won the war himself.
Izuku smiles softly, tightening his grip. “You’re not fine. Your lips are blue.”
Katsuki shoots him a glare, though it lacks any real fire. “Shut up, nerd. You’re the one who didn’t warn me about the damn tree.”
“I tried! You were too busy screaming at Kaminari!” Izuku protests, cheeks pink from the cold and exertion.
“Tch, fine. I’m gonna crush those extras next time.” Katsuki huffs, but when Izuku leans his head briefly against his shoulder, big green eyes peering up at him, Katsuki’s expression softens. “…But you did good out there, Izu. Nailed that dumbass in the face. That was fuckin’ beautiful.”
Izuku’s laugh is warm, his breath fogging in the air. “Thanks, Kacchan. But right now, let’s just focus on getting you warmed up.”
As the sun glints off the snow and the wind stays mercifully gentle, the two trudge back toward home—Rin guiding Katsuki with steady nudges. Behind them, Kirishima and Denki’s laughter still echoes, but Izuku only hears the quiet chattering of Katsuki’s teeth and the soft thump of his boots beside his own.
Izuku squeezes his hand once, smiling. “Hot tea, blankets, a fire, maybe some cuddles?”
Katsuki grunts, but a faint smirk tugs at his lips. “You better kiss me warm too, nerd.”
Izuku’s face flushes red, but he doesn’t argue. “Deal.”
The cabin door shuts with a heavy thud, sealing out the cold and muffling the distant sounds of Rin’s paws crunching in the snow and Mighty’s low, rumbling bleat. Outside, the world is white and bright, but inside, everything is dim and hushed, the air carrying only the faint scent of pinewood and herbs.
Izuku guides Katsuki toward the hearth, his arm steady around his husband’s waist. Katsuki doesn’t fight it—he never does anymore. He just lets Izuku help lower him down onto the thick rug before the fireplace, his body still trembling from the cold.
The cabin is simple but theirs: shelves lined with jars of dried herbs and teas, a small table with mismatched chairs, and furs draped over the backs of seats. A woven blanket Izuku made last winter hangs on the wall, its deep green threads catching the glow of the dying sparks.
“I’ll get the fire going again,” Izuku murmurs, already kneeling at the hearth. His hands move with practiced ease, stacking kindling and striking flint. Sparks catch, and soon large flames lick up the logs, spilling golden light across the room. Shadows dance along the wooden beams overhead, and warmth begins to seep into the chill.
Katsuki sits quietly, watching him. His lips are pale, his hair still dusted with melting snow, but his eyes soften in the firelight. He’d never admit it out loud, but he likes this part—the way Izuku always moves with calm certainty, like he’d been made to take care of them both.
When Izuku returns, he crouches in front of Katsuki, tugging at the frozen laces of his boots. “Lift your leg a little,” he says gently. Katsuki obeys without a word, letting Izuku peel the boots off and set them aside by the door. One by one, the layers come off—soaked gloves, the heavy coat, the scarf stiff with frost. Izuku’s hands are careful but sure, brushing damp strands of blond hair from Katsuki’s forehead as he works.
“You don’t have to fuss,” Katsuki mutters, though his voice lacks any bite.
Izuku smiles faintly, leaning closer. “I know. But I want to. You tend to fuss over me more often than not.”
Katsuki huffs, looking away, but his ears burn pink. He’s used to this now—Izuku’s quiet persistence, the way he always makes sure they’re both cared for. And though he’d never say it in front of anyone else, he leans into it, letting Izuku’s hands linger as they smooth the fur blanket around his shoulders.
The kettle begins to whistle softly on the fire. Izuku rises, pours steaming water into two cups, and returns with tea that smells faintly of mint and honey. He presses one into Katsuki’s hands, wrapping his own around them briefly to steady the tremor.
“Drink,” Izuku says softly.
Katsuki takes a sip, the heat spreading down his throat and into his chest. He sighs, shoulders finally loosening as the warmth seeps into his bones. “…Better,” he admits, his voice low.
Izuku smiles, settling beside him on the rug. He tucks himself under the furs too, their legs brushing together as the fire crackles. Katsuki shifts, pulling Izuku closer until their sides press firmly together.
“See?” Izuku teases gently. “You always say you don’t need me to fuss, but you never complain once I do.”
Katsuki turns his head, pressing a kiss to Izuku’s temple. “That’s ‘cause you’re good at it, nerd.”
Izuku laughs quietly, leaning into the kiss. “We’re good at it. Taking care of each other.”
The firelight paints Katsuki’s face in gold, softening the sharpness of his features. He looks at Izuku for a long moment, his expression unguarded in the way it only ever is when they’re alone. Then he leans in, catching Izuku’s mouth in a slow, lingering kiss.
When they part, Izuku rests his forehead against Katsuki’s, his hand finding his husband’s beneath the blanket. Their fingers twine together naturally, like they’ve done it a thousand times before.
The cabin is quiet except for the steady crackle of the fire, the faint whistle of wind, and the soft rhythm of their breathing. Wrapped in warmth and each other, the world outside feels impossibly far away.
Izuku brushes his lips once more against Katsuki’s jaw, whispering, “I love you.”
Katsuki’s lips curve into a small, rare smile as he turns his head, pressing his mouth briefly to Izuku’s hair. “…Love you too,” he murmurs, his voice low and steady.
Izuku’s heart flutters at the words. He tucks himself closer beneath the furs, their legs tangled together, sharing body heat. For a while, they just breathe in each other’s warmth.
Then Izuku lets out a quiet laugh, his shoulders shaking. “I still can’t believe Kaminari knocked the whole fort down with one snowball at a tree. The odds of that happening—”
“—are bullshit,” Katsuki cuts in, though his smirk betrays him. “That dumbass couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn if he tried. He just got lucky.”
Izuku giggles, resting his forehead against Katsuki’s. “You should’ve seen your face, though! You looked so shocked when the snow came down on you.”
Katsuki huffs, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, well, you weren’t much better. You were flailing around like a damn nerd trying to dig me out.”
Izuku laughs harder, covering his mouth. “Okay, maybe I was. But Rin and Mighty helped!”
“Yeah, the animals did a better job than you,” Katsuki teases, though his voice is warm, fond.
They both dissolve into laughter then—the kind that leaves their cheeks flushed and their eyes bright. When it finally fades, Izuku sighs happily, his smile soft. “It really was a beautiful day, though. Being out there with our friends, laughing, playing… it felt good.”
Katsuki leans in, brushing his lips against Izuku’s cheek. “…Yeah. It was fun. Haven’t laughed like that in a while.”
Izuku’s hand tightens around his, their fingers twining together. “And now we get to end it here. Just us.”
Katsuki’s smirk returns, sharper this time, though his eyes stay soft. “Heh. Yeah. Just us. Fire’s nice and warm…” He leans closer, his breath hot against Izuku’s ear. “…but if I remember correctly, you told me we had other ways to beat the chill?”
Izuku’s cheeks flush deeply, his laugh breaking off as Katsuki’s breath ghosts against his lips. He turns, meeting him in a slow, heated kiss that starts soft but quickly deepens, the type of kiss that pulls the air right out of the room. The firelight flares, painting their skin in gold and shadow as Izuku’s fingers curl into Katsuki’s hair at the nape, tugging him closer until there’s no space left between them.
“Your turn to warm me up, Kacchan,” Izuku murmurs against his mouth, voice low and teasing.
Katsuki’s grin curves, rough and hungry. “Don’t have to tell me twice.”
He tilts Izuku back into the furs, the heat of the fire mingling with the warmth of their bodies. The world narrows to the sound of breath, the brush of skin, and the quiet hum of affection and devotion that lingers even as the night deepens around them.