Archive of Our Own ^beta

Snow was coming down thick and fast making it hard to walk. It was coming up to Katsuki’s knees, and every step he took used more effort than it should. Dynamight, his wolf, trailed behind him, using his own tracks as a path.

Every so often the wolf would nudge against Katsuki’s hand, as though checking he was okay. Katsuki clutched his injured arm to his chest. He was exhausted, and he knew his injuries needed seeing to, but he didn’t know where to go.

He’d heard there was a village just beyond this ridge, but he wasn’t sure he’d get there. He was tired, he was cold, he was thirsty, and he was soaked through to the bone. He stumbled forward, and he almost fell but Dynamight surged forward to support him.

“I’m okay,” he said to the wolf, who whined. “Just a bit further.”

He stumbled forward again, almost squishing the wolf beneath him.

Dynamight bit down on Katsuki’s cloak, pulling him along. Dynamight growled as he pulled him towards the distant village.

“Stop, Dynamight, stop,” Katsuki said, pushing himself up with his one good arm. “I can walk.”

Dynamight growled again, bounding ahead, making his own tracks for Katsuki to follow.

“Good boy,” Katsuki whispered a s he followed him. “Good boy.”

He must have looked like a monster as he stumbled into the village. He was covered in blood and tattered clothes. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d bathed and he was obviously injured. Thankfully, the paths seemed to have been shovelled recently and it was easier to walk.

Katsuki made his way to what looked like the tavern, he pushed his way inside, and everything went silent. A dog near the fireplace growled and Dynamight snarled back, sending the creature scampering for his master.

Katsuki moved towards the counter, he reached for his coin pouch, placing it on the worn wood.

“Two bowls of stew,” he muttered.

“Right,” the tavern keeper said, relaying his order on his staff. “Nasty looking injuries you got there.”

“Bandits,” Katsuki said. “Killed ‘em all but they got in a few good hits.”

“They must be the ones plaguing the trade routes,” another man said.

“Probably,” Katsuki said. Two bowls of a meaty, potato heavy stew were placed in front of him. Katsuki picked up one of the bowls, placing it in front of Dynamight on the floor. The wolf happily began to eat his whilst Katsuki picked up a spoon.

“Pretty looking beast,” the tavern keeper said. “A wolf?”

“Mn, found him as a cub, poachers had killed the rest of the pack. Guess he wasn’t worth the fur on his back. I took him in, raised hm. Now he’s always got my back.”

“Nice,” the tavern keeper said as Katsuki ate his stew.

“You got a healer round these parts?”

“We have a witch,” the tavern said.

“A witch?” Katsuki asked.

“Keeps to himself, on the outskirts,” the tavernkeeper said. “Makes the locals uneasy, so people stay away. But from what I’ve heard, he’s always seen collecting herbs and stuff. And there was that time the Chief’s daughter was sick and he gave her some medicine. He’s your best bet.”

“Thanks,” Katsuki said. “I’ll check him out.”

Dynamight finished his stew first, but Katsuki wasn’t too much slower. He was reluctant to leave the warmth of the tavern. He was exhausted and he’d been out in the cold for countless days. He still felt frozen to the bone, it would take hours before he felt warm again.

But at the same time he felt light headed, and he knew his body well enough to recognise the early signs of a fever. He wouldn’t be surprised if his wounds were infected and he really did need to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

So, eventually, he convinced himself to stand. Dynamight walked slowly by his side, acting as a sort of crutch for him, as he stumbled out of the tavern. It was like the adrenaline that had been pushing him forward had completely evaporated, like he didn’t even have the energy to digest the food in his belly to make more energy.

He followed the directions the tavernkeeper had given him. He made his way to the entirely opposite side of the little village, and up a winding path that led to a fenced in cottage. In the spring, Katsuki could imagine that this cottage would be beautiful, covered in wild flowers, with bees dancing between a myriad of petals.

But right now, in the dead of winter, everything was coated in a thick layer of white. Katsuki pushed open the gate, struggling a little as the snow blocked his way. He stumbled up to the door, knocking on it three times.

Katsuki could hear some rustling inside and the sound of footsteps before the door he was leaning on suddenly opened and he almost fell inside. He grabbed the door frame at the last second to save himself.

The so called witch stood in front of him, and for a moment all Katsuki could do was stare. He had wild, curly green hair with a splattering of freckles across his cheeks and nose, and he had the greenest, prettiest eyes Katsuki had ever seen.

“Are you drunk?” the witch asked.

“No,” Katsuki said. “I am quite injured, and the tavernkeeper said you were the village healer.”

Katsuki tried to remember everything his mother had taught him about being polite, but he was feeling so floaty and light-headed, he couldn’t really remember. The beauty in front of him had gone all blurry and Katsuki blinked owlishly at him.

“Injured how?” the witch asked, looking him up and down, Katsuki had pulled his furs tight around him, so the witch couldn’t see his gaping wounds.

“I think there was an axe involved,” Katsuki said as black spots appeared in front of his eyes.

“An axe?” the witch asked, but before Katsuki could reply he was falling forward once again, losing consciousness before his head hit the ground.

Katsuki woke up warm, pleasantly warm, not the feverish kind he was expecting. He was comfortable, despite the constant thrum of pain in his bones. He was dry and he felt okay all things considered.

He was lying in a bed, somewhat clean, and his wounds had been sewn shut with such delicate tiny stitches. Katsuki ran a finger over the one on his forearm, impressed with the level of skill. His shoulder still throbbed, most likely still dislocated, but overall, he didn’t feel like he was on death’s door.

He pushed back the bed covers, finding he was naked underneath them, save for his loincloth, which didn’t do much to shield him from view.

“Oh!” a squeak caught Katsuki’s attention. He turned to see the little witch coming into the room, Dynamight trailing after him. The witch put his hand up to shield his eyes, avoiding Katsuki’s bareness. “Can you cover yourself please?”

“You’re the one that stole my clothes,” Katsuki said, but he let the blanket fall back to cover him. Dynamight made his way to the bed, begging for head scratches and Katsuki quickly obliged.

“Yes, well, I had to cut you out of them to see your wounds.”

“You cut my clothes?”

“Not the furs, I was able to get you out of those but the other things, yes,” the witch said. “They were torn to pieces and covered in blood anyway, you couldn’t have continued wearing them.”

“Could’ve washed them, sewn them,” Katsuki said.

“I’ve cleaned all your cuts and sewn the larger ones shut, your right shoulder is dislocated and I think your arm is broken,” the witch said.

“Oh, right,” Katsuki said.

“What happened?”

“Bandit attack,” Katsuki said. “They got me by surprise, but I killed ‘em all, my an’ Dynamight.”

“Who?”

“The wolf,” Katsuki said.

“Oh,” the witch said. “What’s your name?”

“Katsuki, yours?”

“Izuku,” the witch replied.

“Cute,” Katsuki said.

“Well, your ankle is all swollen too, I don’t know if it’s just sprained or broken as well,” Izuku said. “I didn’t want to adjust your shoulder or set anything while you were asleep.”

“Right,” Katsuki said. “Thanks for your help.”

“I’m surprised the tavernkeeper sent you my way, the people of the village like to pretend I don’t exist."

“How come?”

“They fear me, magic, stuff like that, scares them.”

“Do you have magic?”

“A little,” Izuku said.

“Interesting,” Katsuki said. “Never met a witch before.”

“Where are you from?”

“A tribe past the mountain range, you wouldn’t know it,” Katsuki said. “Its tradition for Clan heirs to leave and explore before taking leadership.”

“Oh, you’re not doing very well, you’re rather injured.”

“Yeah, well I was outnumbered,” Katsuki said. “I did my best, I don’t have magic after all.”

“Magic doesn’t help me fight, you know? I don’t have that much, I’m not a very powerful witch.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t have a familiar,” Izuku said with a shrug.

“What’s one of them?”

“An animal that a witch bonds with, it becomes a vessel for their extra magic,” Izuku said. “I can only store a certain amount of magic inside my body, a familiar allows a witch to store more. But you need the animal from a young age and they need to be open to you using them.”

“Oh,” Katsuki said. “Why don’t you have one?”

“Well, most people bond with cats, because they’re the most receptive to witches, but I’m allergic,” Izuku said. “I’ve never really bonded with any other animal.”

“I see,” Katsuki said, reaching out a petting Dynamight, who was resting his head on Katsuki’s lap. “I guess it’s like what me and Dynamight have. Not like magic or anything, but I raised him, and now he’s my best bud.”

“Yeah,” Izuku said. “He’s not really left your side whilst you’ve been unconscious. He followed me around a little, especially when he was hungry, but  he’d always come back for you.”

“Thanks for feeding him, I know he can be a glutton.”

“It’s okay,” Izuku said. “I’m friends with the local butcher, when I asked him what a wolf would eat he was more than willing to give me some left overs. He said he has too much to feed his own dogs.”

“Bet you’ve tried a lot of new things then, hm?” Katsuki said, petting Dynamight again.

“Sorry, you must be starving, you haven’t eaten in days, let me make you something.”

“You wouldn’t happen to have any clothes I could wear, do you?”

“Of course, sorry.”

The green haired man rushed out of the room like a little hummingbird, vibrating with energy. Katsuki watched him go, somewhat intrigued. He could hear the man muttering to himself in the other room, but it was too quiet to make out what he was saying, just a distant hum.

Dynamight sighed, flicking his ears back, looking up at Katsuki with big brown eyes.

“He doesn’t seem too bad?” Katsuki said. “Patched me up real good too, might not even scar with these little ones. And getting you meat too, you’ve been spoilt. Bet you got him feedin’ you every day, greedy pup.”

Dynamight snorted, moving his head off of Katsuki’s lap and stepping away, walking towards the door, presumably to see where Izuku had gone.

Katsuki still felt sore, especially his arm and shoulder. And now Izuku had mentioned it, his ankle did kind of throb. He was used to ignoring pain. After all, in his tribe, if something didn’t kill you, it wasn’t really worth complaining about.

But he knew he couldn’t leave here without risking his health, and perhaps his life. He couldn’t hunt like this, even with Dynamight’s help. He couldn’t fight. He’d probably be dead within the week. But he couldn’t just freeload off this witch. He needed to do something to prove he was worthy of all this help.

But what?

Izuku came back in the room a few moments later, his arms full of clothes.

“I wasn’t sure what would fit,” Izuku said.                

“I’ll make it work.”

Katsuki settled into Izuku’s little cottage over the next few days. He felt somewhat bad for taking up space in the man’s home, but he was realistically too injured to leave, and Izuku kept insisting he stay.

Izuku had managed to realign his shoulder, and thankfully, even though it was still sore, he was able to use it. The issue was his broken arm and quite possibly broken ankle. Izuku was a good doctor and made sure to set and split everything in place, and he would regularly give Katsuki a pain relief medicine along with something to prevent him from getting infections.

Katsuki was very grateful for the care, and he did his best to help out around the house. Every day Izuku would leave in the morning to go and find berries and any herbs that could grow in the winter. He had to go a little further each day and was always tired when he go back home.

So Katsuki would spend his day cooking for Izuku, he’d make sure he had a nice meal to come home to. He’d wash all of Izuku’s berries and he’d prepare the herbs to be dried. He’d clean up Izuku’s little cottage and he’d make sure everything was neat.

He even did the other man’s laundry until Izuku came home incredibly flustered and asked him not to.

When he was feeling a little more comfortable walking without pain, he’d head to the village market, with a pocket full of coins and he’d trade. Izuku often used the berries he found to make healing tonics and salves, but Katsuki used some of the over ripe looking ones he couldn’t use, and turned them into a jam.

So he’d go to market with jars of jam and little ornaments he’d whittled out of scraps of fire wood, and he’d make enough money to buy something nice for dinner.

The butcher, Katsuki later learnt was called Eijirou, continued to give him scraps and offcuts for Dynamight to eat, and thus Katsuki started sending Dynamight on Izuku’s foraging adventures so the wolf wouldn’t get too fat on rich meats.

Katsuki was content with his village life. It was strange and not the dream he’d had when he’d first left his tribe but he wasn’t too mad about it.

When he’d left he’d been filled with excitement. He’d thought about travelling the world, meeting new people, fighting and hunting his way to the leadership of his tribe. Yet in reality, he’d barely gotten one mountain over before he’d been attacked and injured.

Part of him dreaded the day his ankle and arm would be healed enough for Izuku to kick him out. He was quite enjoying himself here.

He liked Izuku. The two of them often spent their evenings curled up in front of the fire. It was snuggly and cosy and Katsuki liked it. Izuku would talk, a lot, he’d tell Katsuki about all of the animals he’d seen that day, or explain to him how to know when the berries were right for picking, or even just something funny Dynamight had done that day.

“What made you call him Dynamight?” Izuku asked one evening. The sky outside was dark and they were resting inside. Izuku was petting a sleepy Dynamight’s ears.

“Theres a story, in the tribe I grew up in, of a man who first wandered the plains of the world. He was a mighty warrior, and he united the mountain people into one tribe. He ruled over them all with kindness and encouraged them to explore the world too. He was kind of my hero growing up, I wanted to be just like him, you know? Leave my tribe for my journey, and then come home and be an amazing ruler… anyway his name was All Might. I named Dynamight after him… and explosions, I love explosions.”

“No way?” Izuku said, sitting up, making Dynamight lift his head.

“What?”

“My mom used to tell me a story of All Might, but he wasn’t a nomad, he was the first witch,” Izuku said. “He was my hero growing up. They said he had so many familiars, all sorts of animals would follow him and trust him, and he was the most powerful man every because he could use all of those familiars together to store magic.”

“That’s so weird,” Katsuki said with a laugh. “I wonder who he really was. If he existed at all.”

“Maybe he was both, like a witch but  a nomadic one,” Izuku suggested. “Maybe that’s how he was the strongest warrior, if he had magic?”

“Hmm, I don’t know, a lot of tribes don’t like magic.”

“I thought you said there was one?”

“Under All Might there was one,” Katsuki said. “Now each mountain range pretty much has their own tribe, we’re spread out everywhere. Mostly peaceful though. We rarely fight anymore, sometimes there’s disagreements but life on the mountain is hard enough without fighting.”

“Your life is so interesting, I’ve just been in this village most of my life,” Izuku said. “I was in another one before that but they drove me out for being a weak witch.”

“That’s stupid, I’m sorry that happened,” Katsuki said. “You seem to be doing good here. People always ask for your tonics, and you helped that farmer with the big cut the other day. You’re really good at sewing things shut. Really neat.”

“Thanks Kacchan, that means a lot.”

“Kacchan…” Katsuki echoed.

“Ah, sorry, it’s just a nickname, it slipped out.”

“Nah, I like it,” Katsuki said, nodding his head. “I’ve never had a nickname before.”

“It suits you,” Izuku said. “You’re very sweet.”

“Sweet? I’m a nomadic tribesman, a barbarian.”

“Who makes jam and whittles little wolves?” Izuku smiled, teasingly. “You’re cute, sweet.”

“I’m not cute,” Katsuki said, pouting. “Cute is for baby animals and kids.”

“Baby animals are cute,” Izuku said. “But so are Kacchans, right Dynamight?”

Dynamight let out a little woof in agreement.

“Fucking traitor,” Katsuki huffed. “I’m hot as fuck.”

“I mean of course you are, you’re beautiful,” Izuku said. “Two things can be true at the same time.”

“You think so?” Katsuki asked.

“Of course,” Izuku said.

“You’re pretty too,” Katsuki said.

“People say I look weird because of my hair.”

“I like green,” Katsuki said. “It reminds me of the forest in summer.”

“Oh,” Izuku said, looking at Katsuki. “That’s a nice thing to say.”

“It’s the truth,” Katsuki shrugged. “I like your freckles too. They remind me of how the sun looks when it shines through leaves.”

“Kacchan,” Izuku said softly.

Katsuki looked at Izuku, finding tears shining in his big green eyes. His stomach rolled, he was trying to be nice, he hadn’t meant to upset the witch. He thought Izuku was beautiful. In the mountains everything was grey so to wake up every morning and see such a vibrant green, it was stunning.

“That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“You need better friends then,” Katsuki said.

“Why would I need more friends, you’re the nicest person I’ve met.”

“You should tell my Ma that, she always said I’d never find a wife because I was too grumpy and mean.”

“I’m sure you’ll find a wife, Kacchan,” Izuku said.

“I don’t think I want one,” Katsuki said. “Never really liked women, never really liked anyone like that.”

“Oh,” Izuku said. “Well you don’t need one, right? If you’re happy alone?”

“I’m happy here, with you,” Katsuki said.

“You are?”

“Mn,” Katsuki hummed. “Wish I could help out more, go hunting, stuff like that, but I’m happy.”

“When you’re all healed you can go and hunt,” Izuku said. “I just worry about you on uneven terrain, if you fall you could really hurt yourself.”

“I thought you’d kick me out when I was better.”

“I mean… I didn’t go into this expecting to get a roommate, but I like having you here. I like having someone to talk to, to come home to. You can stay here however long you like, Kacchan.”

“Thank you,” Katsuki said.

Katsuki was walking through the village. The snow had been cleared away the night before what new had fallen since then was just a light dusting over the cobblestone streets. Katsuki still limped pretty much where ever he went, his leg not quite  strong enough to hold his own weight just yet. But he was from the mountains, and they didn’t hold themselves back due to injury, they just carried on.

He made his way to the little stall he had set up, he’d made a few new wooden figures and was ready to sell them.  Izuku had shown him how to carve runes into the base of them, so now he could claim they were special in some way.

It was all bullshit, but someone was always more willing to buy a figure with a protection charm than just a wooden figure. He settled into his little stall, Dynamight sitting at his feet. For a town so small, it was always busy. It was along the main road and as such it had a lot of passing trade. A lot of people who brought Katsuki’s figures were passing caravans and wandering scholars.

Katsuki would usually spend a few hours selling things, until he ran out or the desire to be inside with a fire overtook and want or need to sell things. He was having a good day, two of his little wolf figures had sold, that’d be more than enough to buy some fresh cuts of meat for dinner.

However, then he saw Eijirou wandering through the crowds with a woolly bundle in his arms.

“What you got there?” Katsuki asked as Eijirou got near.

“A lamb,” Eijirou said. “Father bought a bunch of sheep from a farmer for their meat, but this one is too little to really give anything. Father wanted me to just kill it anyway but… well it’s so little it feels bad. It must have been born late or something. But now I don’t know what to do with it.”

“I could take it,” Katsuki said, looking at the sheep’s speckled face. It reminded him of Izuku.

“You’re not going to kill it, are you?”

“Keep it as a pet. Sheep can carry a lot of supplies, and they’re better on their feet in the mountains that horses,” Katsuki said. “ I’d grow him up and use him for that. You gotta start with lambs so you build a bond. Adult sheep are too skittish.”

“Oh, sure then, if you’re gonna look after it, I really didn’t want to kill it. I mean look at his big eyes, he looks so cute.”

Katsuki looked into the lamb’s big black eyes and nodded. Eijirou handed Katsuki the blanket wrapped sheep and pet its head.

“He’s still a baby so he needs milk every couple of hours,” Eijirou said. “You’ll know when he’s hungry,  he’ll start bleating and won’t shut up.”

Eijirou told Katsuki where he could buy all the supplies to look after this little lamb, and after selling all of his wooden figures, Katsuki made his way around the market to buy them all. Dynamight kept trying to sniff the little lamb in Katsuki’s arms, until he received a solid kick to his nose, and from then on he kept his distance.

“You got some fight in you yet, huh, little lamb?” Katsuki asked, petting the lamb, who let out a soft little baa.

Katsuki bought him enough food to last a few days as well as some straw for it to lie down in. It was all a bit difficult to carry, but unfortunately his carrying sheep was too little to carry anything, and Dynamight wasn’t much help in that department.

But he eventually made it back to the cottage, with a very noisy lamb under his arm. Izuku wasn’t back yet, and so Katsuki set up a little box for the lamb and made up a bottle for it. The lamb waggled its tail as it drank from the bottle, its continuous bleating finally falling quiet.

Katsuki built up a fire and lit it. He set up a little blanket nest for the lamb. He tucked it all in and Dynamight lay down next to him, licking his little face.

“Don’t eat him,” Katsuki said to the wolf. “He’s just a baby.”

Dynamight let out a soft woof, and the lamb bleated.

Katsuki kept an eye on the two of them

But thankfully Dynamight seemed to like the sheep and not want to eat him. Katsuki cooked a meal for himself and Izuku, and he fed his wolf. The lamb fell asleep in front of the fire and so, when Izuku got home, he didn’t notice the tiny sheep.

“Hi Kacchan,” Izuku said, putting all his berries on the table.

“Hey,” Katsuki said, plating up the food. “Good day?”

“Yeah, actually,” Izuku said. “I don’t think there’s any more berries to harvest this winter. I’ve collected a lot but I’m going too far out and I don’t want to risk getting caught out in the night.”

“Mn, you’ve got to say safe,” Katsuki said.

Izuku hung his coat up by the door and took off his snowy boots. It was then that the little lamb lifted his head and let out a weak little baaa. Izuku looked over to the fireplace, blinking his big green eyes.

“Kacchan what’s that?”

“A lamb,” Katsuki said. “Eijirou gave him me. He said he was too little to eat.”

“Why did you want a lamb?” Izuku said, moving towards the baby. He knelt down by it, petting the lamb on its little head.

“Thought we could raise it up, it would help you when you go gathering, he can carry stuff when he’s bigger. He’ll be really sure-footed and stuff. And then you won’t have to go out so often because you can bring more back with him.”

“Oh,” Izuku said. “He’s really cute.”

“Mn,” Katsuki said. “He’ll probably need another bottle soon. Eijirou said every few hours.”

“So he is a tiny baby?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki said.

“Dynamight’s okay with him?”

“Dynamight licked him, and the sheep kicked him in the face, so I guess they’re figuring things out,” Katsuki said. “I’ll probably keep him away from him when I’m not there to watch them. But I think they’ll be okay.”

Katsuki finished cooking their dinner and Izuku gave the lamb one last pet. They sat at the table together, and began to eat.

“I can’t believe you got me a sheep,” Izuku said, shaking his head.

“Maybe he can be a familiar for you or something,” Katsuki said.

“I hadn’t even thought about it,” Izuku said. “All Might had a sheep familiar.”

“He did?” Katsuki asked.

“Well he had a lot,” Izuku said. “But the stories always said he had a big sheep that would headbutt his enemies.”

“That’s cool,” Katsuki said. “You should teach this little one to do that too.”

“I don’t even know how you train a sheep.”

“Probably with food, the same as everything else.”

A few hours later, Katsuki showed Izuku how to make up a bottle for the lamb and how to warm it up. The little lamb came up to him, he latched onto the bottle easily, wagging his little tail.

“He’s so cute Kacchan,” Izuku whispered.

“You gonna name him?”

“I don’t know, he needs a big strong name doesn’t he.”

“Yeah, if he’s gonna be a mountain sheep he needs a good name.”

“All Might Jr,” Izuku said. Katsuki snorted softly. “You named your wolf after All Might.”

“Did I say anything?”

“Mighty,” Izuku said, scratching the sheep under the chin. “We’re going to be best buds, aren’t we?”

Somehow, time passed incredibly quickly in the village. Katsuki felt at home in the village and he felt content with Izuku. He’d go out to work during the day, selling things or going hunting, and he’d come home to a little woolly sheep and a friendly face.

He was happy, he was content, but he felt like his time in the village was numbered. Katsuki was only supposed to be gone a few months, and he needed to return to his tribe. As happy as he was, he missed his parents.

He knew he needed to go home. He needed to at least check in. He knew if he didn’t return, his parents would worry. After all his time away was expected to be dangerous, and he wouldn’t have been the first person to die on their adventure.

So, almost ten months after Katsuki had collapsed on Izuku’s door, Katsuki packed his bag.

“Kacchan?” Izuku asked, coming into his room. “Where are you going?”

“I’ve got to go home,” Katsuki said. “My parents will be wondering where I am. I’ve been out way longer than I should have been.”

“You’re leaving? Forever?”

“No,” Katsuki said. “I’ll come back if you’ll have me… I just need to check in, you know? I was supposed to be stepping up in the tribe when I came back. I need to tell them.”

“Oh, right,” Izuku said.

“You want me to come back, right?”

“Of course I do, Kacchan,” Izuku said. “This place wouldn’t feel like home without you and Dynamight.”

“This place feels like home too,” Katsuki said. “I should only be gone a week or so. I don’t think it’ll take me too long to get back. I’d only been travelling a few days before I was attacked.”

“You’ll be careful, right?” Izuku said. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’ll bring Dynamight with me, we’ll be fine,” Katsuki said. “He’s gonna keep me safe.”

“Okay,” Izuku said. “I worry about you.”

“I’ll be okay, I promise,” Katsuki said, smiling at him.

“The people of the village will miss you too,” Izuku said. “I wonder what Eijirou will do with all his extra meat without Dynamight.”

“Yeah, my wolf’s getting fat,” Katsuki said. “He needs a good walk.”

“I’m sure he’ll enjoy it,” Izuku said.

“Yeah,” Katsuki said, petting Dynamight who wagged his tail.

“I’ll make you some snacks to take with you,” Izuku said.

“Thanks Izuku,” Katsuki said.

Two days later Katsuki set off on his journey. The snow was light and Dynamight trotted by his side. He was dressed in his warm furs and he boots. His pack on his back was full of snacks and supplies. He was optimistic that his journey would be quick and he pushed ahead.

He wanted to reach home before the snow started to get heavier. The further he went up the mountain the worse the weather would be anyway, and traveling in snow was never a good idea. In reality he probably should have made the journey in the warmer months, but he’d been so busy,

Izuku’s garden did look truly beautiful in the spring, with all of the colourful flowers and crops. He’d helped Izuku with all the planting and tending in the earlier months of the year, and then he’d helped maintain and harvest them when it was needed.

He’d truly lost himself to the monotony of village life. But he’d been so happy he hadn’t even thought about leaving. His injuries had healed well, and Katsuki often went hunting with Eijirou, the butcher, and the two would prepare whatever they caught for sale and Katsuki would get paid, as well as some free meat to take home.

He’d cook for Izuku, whilst Izuku would make his tonics and treat the villagers for any minor ailments they received. Having Katsuki around seemed to make the villagers trust Izuku a little more. When they’d first heard the witch had taken in an injured barbarian, most of them never thought they’d see the traveller again.

 After all, they all thought Izuku was a powerful witch who would do experiments on them. But when Katsuki not only got better, but also started appearing around the village, helping out with odd jobs and providing food, well their fear sort of waned.

Now they weren’t afraid to reach out to Izuku if they needed help, and Izuku had become the de facto doctor for the village. Things were going well.

Part of Katsuki was sad he was going to be officially moving away from his tribe. He was worried he was turning his back on his family, but he couldn’t remember being as happy as he currently was. He liked having a house like Izuku’s, he liked having plumbing. The tribe lived in tents, they had to go to the river to get water.

Life was hard on the mountains, and as much as Katsuki loved his tribe, he couldn’t help but dread going back. He’d admit he’d gotten lazy, he’d got accustomed to Izuku’s way of life. But was that really a bad thing?

Katsuki walked until the sun started to set, and he knew he should really make camp. He had some supplies and he build a pretty rudimentary camp, and gathered some wood for a fire. He missed Izuku already, but sitting, shivering in front of a tiny little fire, it made him miss him more.

In his mind, Izuku was synonymous with the feeling of being warm and full, of being safe. Now in the dark, huddled up with his wolf, he felt anything but those things. He made a silent promise to himself that once he returned, he’d never leave Izuku’s side again.

Katsuki slept fitfully throughout the night, he’d grown used to the safety of a locked door and a bedroom, so every little noise startled him awake. Dynamight seemed on edge too because every so often he would let out a low warning growl, making Katsuki reach for his blade.

By the time the sun started to rise the next morning, Katsuki was done with trying to sleep. So he packed up his belongings and carried on his way. As he walked he ate more of the snacks Izuku had packed for him. He didn’t want to eat too many, just in case he got lost or something, only enough to keep him energised.

It was said that a tribesman would always find his way home, that it was impossible for one to become lost, and as long as they kept moving forward, they’d find home. Katsuki didn’t know how true that was, but he did find his home tribe quite easily after climbing the mountain.

It looked exactly as it had a year before when he’d left. People were preparing food, others were working with furs and hides to make clothes. Children sat around the tents, playing some kind of game. Nostalgia hit Katsuki as he watched for a moment, before a voice rang out.

“Hey, isn’t that Katsuki?” a number of people turned to stare at him and Dynamight nuzzled into his side.

“Hi,” Katsuki said,

“Someone get the chief,” another voice called, as people suddenly swarmed Katsuki. So many people were excited to see him back, They were all trying to hug him, some just stroking the fur on his back. Thankfully, Dynamight pushed his way through the crowd, and everyone was a little afraid of the wolf so they backed off.

"Katsuki, you brat I’ve been worried sick,” a woman’s voice called. The crowd around Katsuki dispersed, revealing Katsuki’s mother standing there, Chief Mitsuki, with her husband standing a few steps behind.

“Hey, Ma,” Katsuki said.

Mitsuki came up to him, pulling him onto a crushing hug.

“Where’ve you been?”

“The village at the bottom of the mountain.”

“Katsuki,” she said pulling back. “I think you were supposed to go a little further than that.”

“Can we just talk about it inside?”

“Okay,” Mitsuki said, frowning.

The chief’s tent was the biggest tent, it was the most like a house in the whole tribe. It had wooden flooring, and separated rooms. There was a big fire in the centre, with tables around it, prefect for a feast.

Katsuki had been hugged almost to death by his father before being instructed to sit at one. His father made tea and put on cup in front of Katsuki and one in front of his mother.

“So?” Mitsuki asked.

“I got attacked on my way down the mountain,” Katsuki said. “Broke my leg, some nasty cuts, dislocated my shoulder... I made it to the village and asked for the doctor, I’ve been there pretty much since.”

“Are you okay now?”

“Yeah,” Katsuki shrugged. “Let hurts when it rains for some reason, but I’m okay. I’ve been hunting for the village. It’s nice there, I’ve kinda made a home.”

“You met someone,” Mitsuki said, narrowing her eyes.

“Ma,” Katsuki huffed.

“There’s a saying, Katsuki, nothing will tempt a tribesman away from his tribe, except his own heart,” Masaru said. “The only reason you wouldn’t have returned sooner, is if you were staying for someone else.”

“Fine,” Katsuki huffed. “The doctor, he’s a witch. He let me stay with him this entire time. I don’t know he’s sweet.”

“And you want to say with him?” Mitsuki asked.

“I was just planning on visiting here, telling you I hadn’t died or whatever,” Katsuki said. “I want to stay in the village. I want to stay with Izuku.”

“You’re supposed to be my heir, you know?” Mitsuki said. “The next village chief.”

“Not my fault you only had one kid,” Katsuki muttered, earning himself a smack from his mother.

“I’m not saying it is,” Mitsuki said. “Just… you seemed so eager when leaving. You were so excited to come back and earn your place.”

“I guess things changed,” Katsuki said. “I love you guys, I really do, but in the village… I have friends, I have a shop, people buy my carvings… I help Izuku with the garden, I help him train his sheep… I feel like I belong there, more than I do here.”

“When you were born, we went to the fortune teller,” Masaru said. “And she told us you’d never be chief. Your mother dismissed her, sent her away from the tribe, I was always worried that she meant you’d die before you got the chance. I see now that the gods never intended to keep you in this tribe.”

“That woman didn’t know what she was talking about,” Mitsuki scoffed. “I sent her away because she didn’t say anything about us being attacked by a bear, which did happen. It had nothing to do with Katsuki.”

“Who’ll be chief if not me?” Katsuki said.

“We’ll just have another kid,” Mitsuki shrugged.

“Gross,” Katsuki said and Mitsuki snorted.

“If I don’t have an heir, the next chief will be decided through combat,” Mitsuki said. “Although I would have liked you to succeed me, it is not something that has to be.”

“Besides with your temper we’d be waring with the other tribes within the month.”

“I’m not that bad,” Katsuki said, pouting.

“We’ll have to come and meet this boy though, if he’s enough to tempt our Katsuki away,” Mitsuki said.

“You’re not mad?”

“Katsuki I didn’t come from this clan,” Masaru said. “I met Mitsuki on her journey, she passed through my tribe’s territory and I fell for her as soon as I saw her. When she asked me to leave with her, I did. I didn’t have any family left alive to tie me to my old tribe, but I’d be a hypocrite to be mad at you for following your heart.”

“I mean I’ll still be nearby,” Katsuki said. “I’ll come and visit, and maybe Izuku would come too. The journey is tough but he spends a lot of time in the forest foraging so maybe he’d be okay.”

“I’d like that,” Mitsuki said. “But you’re staying for a few days, okay? I want to hear all the stories you have to tell.”

Katsuki enjoyed being home with his parents. Eijirou was already sick of his daily ramblings about Izuku, so it was nice to be able to start from the beginning and tell all his stories again. He told his parents how Izuku had helped him, how he’d slowly nursed him back to health.

He told them about that stupid nickname and how Izuku thought he was cute. He spoke of how they’d spent a full day weeding Izuku’s garden, with Izuku teaching him all about different medicinal plants.

He told his parents of their countless walks throughout the village, their joint business adventure selling healing tonics and protection charms. He told them about the difficult of raising a lamb together. There wasn’t a single story he didn’t tell them at least twice, because once he started talking about how great Izuku was. He couldn’t stop.

“Why haven’t you kissed this boy yet?” his mother said one night. “All these stories and you haven’t kissed him once.”

“I don’t know if he likes me like that, Ma,” Katsuki huffed.

“Nonsense, who wouldn’t like you?” Mitsuki said, waving her hand dismissively. “You’re strong, you’re brave, you’re smart.”

“That doesn’t mean someone has to love me,” Katsuki said, reaching out and petting Dynamight’s ears.

“You don’t know unless you try,” Mitsuki said.

“I can’t just kiss him, what if he doesn’t want me to?”

“Then he punches you, you’re a big boy, you can take it.”

“I don’t think he’s like the tribes Ma,” Katsuki said. “He’s all soft and nice.”

“You’re too soft,” Mitsuki said.

“Try talking to him, Bud,” Masaru said. “Explain to him how you feel.”

“And what if he doesn’t feel the same?”

“Then you move on,” Masaru said. “You’ve always got a home here if things don’t work out.”

“I guess,” Katsuki said. “Why’s stuff like this so hard?”

“Because you care so much,” Masaru said, patting Katsuki on the back. “It’s a good thing, I promise.”

“I’ll talk to him when I get back.”

Katsuki began his journey back to Izuku after spending a week with his family. It was a little later than he’d intended to, but once he was reunited with his parents it was hard to leave them again. He missed Izuku, of course he did, but he missed his parents too.

On the day he left his father gave him the biggest squeeze of his life and promised to visit the village in the springtime. His mother peppered his face in kisses and made him promise to be safe. Katsuki of course dismissed her concerns, gesturing instead to Dynamight who was happily accepting chin scratches from Masaru.

“He’s got my back.”

“But who’s got your front?” Mitsuki asked.

“Me?” Katsuki said, frowning. “I’ll be fine, you’re stressing me out more than the journey back.”

“You should be worried,” Mitsuki said.

“You should get going Katsu, before the snow starts,” Masaru said.

“Yeah,” Katsuki said. “I’ll miss you guys.”

“We’ll miss you too,” Masaru said, kissing Katsuki’s forehead. “Go on.”

“Bye Katsuki,” Mitsuki said.

As Katsuki began his journey, his excitement to see Izuku again rose. He couldn’t wait to see him. He wondered if Izuku missed him as much as Katsuki missed him. He longed to spend a lazy evening in front of the fire, telling each other about their days.

He wanted to settle down with a warm bowl of stew and freshly baked bread and listen to all the things Izuku had been up to while he’d been gone. He just wanted to be with Izuku.

He couldn’t really define his feelings for Izuku, except to say he wanted to spend every waking moment with him, to sleep by his side, to protect him and provide for him for the rest of his life.

His father said that was love, and maybe it was. Katsuki had no real frame of reference. He didn’t know how Izuku felt about him. But he hoped it was the same.

His journey home was tough. He wasn’t as fast as he’d have liked and the snow began to fall around midday on his first day. It was thick and heavy and Katsuki was reminded of his first journey, trudging through knee deep snow, wounded and exhausted. Funny how that had been almost a year ago.

He made camp a little early that day, but he’d wanted to find somewhere he could settle down whilst the snow wasn’t too deep and he could warm up a little before nightfall. He probably should have waited until spring to make this journey, but he didn’t want to wait anymore and he knew Izuku was probably worried about him.

He huddled in his shitty tent with Dynamight sitting on his feet. Katsuki buried his frozen fingers in Dynamight’s fur, trying to absorb the animal’s warmth. It made him miss the warmth and homeliness of Izuku even more.

When morning came, Katsuki haphazardly packed his belongings and resumed his journey. He was determined to make it back home before night fell again. He needed to.

Dynamight bound along next to him, his tongue sticking out his mouth as he tried to play. He loved the snow, he loved winter, and he was completely oblivious to Katsuki’s desperation. He would run ahead of Katsuki for a few paces before returning to him, running in circles around him.

Any other time Katsuki would have played, but not today, he had to stay focused and get home.

He weaved through the familiar woodland as he got closer to the village. He knew he wasn’t far now and he relaxed a little, knowing he could easily make it home from here. This was where he and Izuku would pick berries all throughout the year, different bushes growing different things.

Dynamight seemed to sense Katsuki’s changing mood, because he brought him a stick to throw and Katsuki obliged.

Dynamight let out a soft bark and chased after the stick, running through snow like it was nothing. Katsuki just continued to walk, weaving in and out of trees, solely focused on reaching the cottage.

However, as Katsuki was walking, he came across something somewhat unexpected. Several trees ahead, stood a rather rotund ram. It had thick off-white wool, making it look like a puffy cloud and large curved horns on his head.

He stood there, chewing on something absentmindedly. Katsuki recognised Mighty straight away. Excitement coursed through him, if Mighty was here, Izuku must be nearby.

It was then that he saw Izuku. He looked beautiful; he was all dressed in his winter clothes, thick gloves on his hands whilst his cheeks were flushed red from the cold. He cupped Mighty’s face, making the sheep look up at him.

“I miss him,” Izuku said. “When will Kacchan be back, hm? You don’t think he’s decided to stay with his family after all, do you? I mean I wouldn’t blame him… what’s there to come back for? Me?”

Katsuki watched Izuku, his own cheeks flushing red. He dropped his belongings on the floor, making Izuku jump and spin round.

“Of course I’d come back for you,” Katsuki said after a moment. Izuku’s face broke out into a smile and he rushed forward, toward Katsuki. Katsuki pulled Izuku into a hug as soon as he was close enough; lifting him off the ground and squeezing as hard as he could.

“Kacchan,” Izuku laughed breathlessly. “You’re back.”

“I’m home,” Katsuki said. Izuku’s smile grew wider and Katsuki felt butterflies swirl in his stomach. “I’ve missed you, more than I thought was possible.”

“I’ve missed you too Kacchan,” Izuku said.

Katsuki put Izuku down, but he continued to hold him close. He rested their foreheads together, looking into those bright green eyes.

“I don’t even want to leave your side again,” Katsuki whispered. “I want to stay here with you, forever. I want to protect you and keep you safe. I want to make you feel happy and loved. I want to be with you for every single step you take.”

“I’d like that Kacchan,” Izuku said. “It’s been so lonely here without you and Dynamight. Mighty missed you too, he keeps looking for you.”

“You’ll never have to look for me again,” Katsuki said, as their noses brushed against one another. Izuku let out another breathless laugh before he leant forward, closing the gap between them and pressing his lips against Katsuki’s.

Katsuki moved to cup Izuku’s cheeks, kissing him deeper. There was no distance between them. But still they both tried to pull each other closer. As they kissed Dynamight ran over to them, crashing into them and sending them both sprawling in the snow.

Izuku laughed as Katsuki did his best not to crush the smaller man.

“Dynamight!” Katsuki scolded.

“He wants some love too,” Izuku said. “I can love you both.”

“I love you,” Katsuki said.

“And Mighty?”

“And Mighty.”

Izuku and Katsuki were happy together. Katsuki fully embraced village life, working to supply to butcher’s with meet and even patrolling the village to make sure bandits didn’t try anything. Dynamight would trail after him in the day and the two of them would return to Izuku in the evening.

Izuku grew more powerful as a witch, now being able to bond with Mighty and make him his familiar. He was able to great more potions to heal people, as well as learn new spells to make life easier.

The two of them were happy together. Katsuki moved into Izuku’s room and the two would cuddle together at night. The two of them were happy, and in love. Katsuki never thought he’d end up here when he started on his journey a year ago, but he was happy with the outcome.