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Oct 31, 2019

A Bloom in the Fields

Pairing. Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku Rating. Pretty tame, but there is a few limey parts. Content Warning. Character deaths. Synopsis. The lives of the wolf Bakugou Katsuki and the ram Midoriya Izuku after their first chance meeting. Notes. I still wanted to do a Halloween fic, but the Haunted House stories felt complete. Then this sprung to mind, and I just rolled with it. Hopefully you’ll roll with it, too.

Hope you enjoy!

When Bakugou Katsuki was a pup, he caught his first sheep.

He attempted to bring the green mess of wool back to his family den, but catching something doesn't mean killing it. The sheep bleated and kicked, until he freed himself from Katsuki's too mall of maul.

They had a standoff that lasted into the sunset. The field they ran in was in was on the edge of the wood but on the other side of human lands. Katsuki chased him around, keeping him from the close farmlands and trying to get him to the wood where he knew he would have advantage. However the lamb was fast and good at changing directions. It took everything for Katsuki to keep up with him.

It was almost like when he played with the other pups in his pack. He forgot that he was chasing food at some point, and he became keener on catching him in some elaborate game of tag. He found the sentiment returned when the one time he caught him, he released him almost immediately. He stood in front of him, tail wagging and tongue out of his mouth as he panted. His eyes were on him, expectant as he watched the green eyes reading him.

The sheep bleated and charged toward him. He barked out a laugh and turned, giving way to chase.

The moon was high in the sky when the two finally tired of their chase and fell onto the field, panting. The sheep chewed on grass, and Katsuki found a rabbit to eat. It was clear he trusted his chances when he provided his name: Midoriya Izuku.

Katsuki scoffed but gave his own.

"So you aren't going to eat me?"

Katsuki shrugged. The grass was comfortable in the spot he found, and he hadn't moved from it since finishing his meal. "Too full now."

Izuku chuckled. "Good to know." He was lying close, he knew, but he was obstructed by the tall grass.

Katsuki clicked his tongue. "I'll just get you later."

"What makes you think I'll be easy to find again?"

"I'll go and steal you," he retorted. "I'm not afraid of any farmers."

"You don't think I'm an Owned, do you?"

Katsuki tried to glance at him, but could only make out some of the green. "You weren't wearing a collar, so I guess not."

There was a bit of a rustle. "My mother was talking about it," he said. "The farmer over the hill only makes wool."

"So he says."

"He’ll keep us safe from wolves."

Katsuki grinned. "My pack steals from him all the time."

"You're just saying that," Izuku retorted, though his voice was clearly unsure.

He snickered. He sat up and made his way closer to Izuku. "Do you think you'll be safe from me?" He found him through the high grass. He was on his knees and hands, almost like he was stalking him.

Izuku sat up and backed away from him. "I think I can outrun you," he said. His voice betrayed the confident look he was trying to force on his face.

"Only for so long." He was grinning as he lowered himself, ready to pounce.

Izuku started to stand up again, ready to run. They both stilled as a long haul drifted through the air. Katsuki cursed under his breath.

"Your dad?" Izuku asked.

"My mom," Katsuki corrected. "I have to go." He straightened up.

Izuku nodded and smiled. "My mom's probably wondering where I am, too."

Katsuki clicked his tongue. "Whatever. I'll catch you tomorrow."

Izuku chuckled. "Not if you can't keep up."

Katsuki smirked. "We'll see, won't we?" He turned and headed off, only barely catching wave from the sheep he had been hunting all day.

:: * ~~ * ::

Tag became a new favourite game for Katsuki.

For a long time after their first meeting, Katsuki and Izuku met in the field to chase each other. The wolf would threaten to eat the sheep, but it lost its bite after the first day. It was performative at best, a joke at most.

Izuku laughed when he said it. He then tapped his snout and ran off.

Within months, they were doing more than tag. Other games became incorporated, and they found themselves seeing each other almost every day. Even when Katsuki was supposed to be with his pack, or Izuku was supposed to be with his mother, they found each other.

Izuku would bring food some days. Snacks and drinks so he could keep up with the running around, and every time he would offer some. Katsuki would turn his nose at the offering, as none of it had meat in it.

How would he enjoy such things? He barely understood how prey worked at all.

"You should try it," Izuku asked one day. The sun was crawling down the sky, and they only had moments left together.

Katsuki stared at the cracker covered in cheese. "Is that from a goat? Isn't that weird?"

Izuku shook his head. "Cow," he corrected. "And it's not weird to share our goods." He tilted his head a little.

"Do you not do that in your pack?"

Katsuki raised a brow. What a weird question. "We hunt together," he said. "That's all we need."

"Do you cook it?"

"Cook?"

"You know, over a fire?"

Katsuki gave a confused look. "Like humans do?"

Izuku nodded. "Like them, yes." He pushed the cracker closer to Katsuki. "They cook it with spices and vegetables; sometimes it smells good even to me."

Katsuki took the crack and sniffed it. What a weird smell. "Why would you do that to meat?"

"Why make cheese?" Izuku asked in turn. "Why eat anything besides what you need?"

Katsuki tilted his head. "Why would you?"

Izuku smiled wider. "Because it tasted good," he said simply.

Katsuki didn't understand. What a weird thought process.

But the cheese wasn't so bad.

::*~~*::

The wolf and the sheep grew with the years.

When they were young, it was easy to see each other as often as they could. As the years went on, their priorities changed as their responsibilities changed. Though it wasn't every day, it was still every week. The hunts from his pack, the ones Katsuki was no fully part of, went like clockwork. He could come back to the field the day after a hunt; with his belly full, he could focus more on Izuku.

Izuku would bring a picnic basket every time. He brought cheeses, vegetables, smoked meats, among other things. Katsuki would eat them, feigning reluctance, though he had come to enjoy the bounty.

Izuku also brought things like herbs and spices to take home. Katsuki always scoffed, like he would so something so weird. But then he would go back to his pack and try cooking, always an experiment that ended in different ways. Sometimes good, sometimes awful.

A lot of his pack thought it was strange, but his mother encouraged it. She tried everything he made, honest in her response to how it tasted. She tried to help, give suggests where she could, but she was new to it as well. Nonetheless, she bragged about his skill, and she did everything to make it look more favourable to the pack.

Katsuki wanted to bring something for Izuku, but he knew he wouldn't accept the meats. He couldn't help the disappointment he felt that he couldn't share with him a skill he didn't even know he had without him. But Izuku was strictly a vegetarian, and it wasn't something Katsuki was even going to start to push.

Katsuki instead brought him a basket of flowers and mushrooms when he could. The foliage in the woods was much different than in Izuku's pasture. He started picking them after noticing he ate the flowers all over the field. He brought the few he could find, and Izuku seemed to enjoy them greatly.

While they ate, they talked about their lives. They caught up with the drama of getting older and the other relationships in their lives. Katsuki only had so many friends in his pack, but that was the way he liked it.

Izuku on the other hand had lots of friends. in his fields, there were more than just sheep, and Izuku went between many of the groups easily. Katsuki wasn't surprised by any of that. Izuku was one of the friendliest animals he had ever met. He was certain he could bring him home, and the pack would love him long before considering eating him.

Much like how Katsuki had.

There were a few names Izuku brought up over and over that made Katsuki's chest tighten. Of course he had his own repeated names, like Kirishima and Todoroki, but something about his closeness to his friends that made Katsuki almost upset. There was something in the words that spoke of a bond that went deep that he felt envois of. Did Izuku ever talk like that about him to his other friends? Or did he hide him like some shameful secret?

He had told his mother and Kirishima about the sheep. They thought it was strange at first, but as he spoke of him more, spent more time with him, they came around to the idea of him being with the prey.

Kirishima asked to go with him on more than one occasion. Each time, Katsuki found a reason for him not to go. Kirishima was disappointed, but he didn't question his reasoning. Katsuki was grateful that he didn't push it. He didn't want to admit his worry of the two meeting, his discomfort at the idea of how well they would hit it off.

It wasn't fair, but Katsuki knew he couldn't compete. Kirishima was friendly, a good listener, considerate, and in general just a better animal to be around. How could Katsuki possibly compare to his friend?

No, he needed more time alone with Izuku. Just enough that he couldn't be easily replaced. It was selfish, he knew. But he couldn't bring himself to do it all any other way.

There were gifts for birthdays. Izuku brought shiny things he found from the pastures and put on pieces of leather for him. Katsuki would hang them in his room in his family's den. In return, he used the wood carving hobby he had taken up to make beads for his hair and fur.

When his horns grew in, he made jewellery that jingled as he walked. Izuku said he loved wearing them: the sound made him think of Katsuki, that he was always there. Katsuki scoffed at the statement, but hid the flush that crossed his cheeks.

Holidays were spent together. The seasons changed, and they gave their offerings to their different yet still so similar gods. The year started with a light festival to welcome in the warm weather, and a planting holiday to wish for good crops and hunting. As the year went, they celebrated the longest day of the year and harvests. When fall came, so did the Thinness and remembering those who had based.

Winter solstice Izuku had to celebrate on his own. When fall was turning into winter and the weather was getting colder, the pack kept to their hollow, staying together for warmth and safety from the snows. When the light festival came was the first the wolf would come back to the sheep, and the year started again.

Every spring they planted bushes and made a garden in the parts of the field closer to the woods but still in the sun. In the fall, they harvested things together, and Izuku would help Katsuki preserve meat for the coming winter.

An apple tree grew stronger every year. They planted it from a handful of seeds Izuku had spat out after eating an apple. They nurtured it, making sure it had a splint its first year, as well as plenty of water and food. Katsuki leave ground bone around it, and Izuku had a more natural but embarrassing way to give the soil nutrients.

By the time it was ready to give apples, they were using it for shade on hotter days. They could only crawl under it for a time, but soon they were standing and picking fruit. Katsuki had no use for them, but he loved the smile on Izuku's face as he climbed up to the higher branches for him.

He would pick apples for hours if it meant Izuku would stay.

Every time they met, Katsuki was glad to see that Izuku's mother hadn't gone in to the farmer. It meant more time they would have together as Freed. If Izuku became an Owned, it was giving his life away, and soon enough he would be a Mindless. His life might be good, protected and fed, sheered when his thick hair would inevitably grow too much.

But if the farmer lied, there was no fighting back. The Mindless would not be able to recognise their fate, nonetheless prevent it. Katsuki hated to think about that.

So when Katsuki saw the leather strap around his neck, he couldn't help his instant reaction.

"What the hell is that!?"

"Katchan, let me explain--"

"Explain!?" Katsuki got closer, pulling on the front loop. Izuku gasped and flung forward at the tug. "There is no good explanation! All this does is--!"

"I know!" Izuku's eyes watered. He took Katsuki's hands and kept him close. "But they've been threatening to raze our pastures. What are we supposed to do!?"

Big tears started to fall down his cheeks. "We need land! The farmer is the only with any around, any safe land. Not like so many of us could get so close to the woods."

Katsuki frowned at the statement. He was right, of course. If they got pushed farther toward the woods, there would be no guarantee that the pack and other predators wouldn't go after them. He could vie for the protection of Izuku and his mother, but he doubted they would take such pity on the rest. Not without a good reason to.

But he still couldn't see him become a Mindless. He wouldn't have it.

Katsuki brought him closer so he could get a better grip on the collar.

"What- what are you doing?"

"Taking this stupid thing off of you."

"Katchan!" Izuku tried to pull at his hands, but Katsuki's determination was stronger. "If I come back without this--"

"What will they do?" Katsuki undid the clasp and started to pull it off him. "Just put another one on?"

"That's probably it."

Katsuki pulled the collar off him. "Then I'll take that one off, too." He held the leather triumphantly. "I'll take off as many as the put on you."

Izuku touched the area on his neck. He eyes the collar a moment before looking up at Katsuki.

"No matter how many times?" He asked softly.

Katsuki nodded, his eyes full of determination. "If it gets too many," he started, wrapping the leather around his wrist, "I'll just steal you instead."

Izuku laughed. "Steal me?"

Katsuki's look was serious. "They can't have you," he said. "I already claimed you."

Izuku's cheeks reddened. Katsuki had taken a step back, but the sheep was still close. "Claimed me?" He ran a finger over the leather. "Do you still have plans to eat me?"

Katsuki clicked his tongue. "Better me than some human, right?"

Izuku chuckled. "I guess so."

Katsuki pulled on his wrist, bringing him a bit closer. "Then come find me when they put the next one on," he commanded. "I'll wait every morning here, in case you need me."

"Katchan."

"I'm being serious."

Izuku smiled and moved into him, tucking his head under his chin. Katsuki tensed at the sudden touch, but didn't move him.

"I know you are," Izuku said as he nuzzled under his chin. "But my mother...."

"She shouldn't wear one either."

"It isn't so simple."

"It is."

Izuku sighed. "What should we do? Take the farmer's land?"

Katsuki grinned. "That sounds great," he agreed. "You all do the farmer's work. You only need his land, not him!"

Izuku rolled his eyes and smirked. "Okay, Katchan. We'll get right on it."

Katsuki pulled him close again. "I'll do it then."

Izuku didn't push away, but sank into his arms. "And when you get caught?"

"I won't." He nuzzled into Izuku's fluff. "And whoever goes with you, I'll tell the pack they can't have you."

"You don't have that authority." He put his arms around him.

Katsuki felt his heart beat faster. They had hugged plenty of times (mostly it was Izuku doing it to him), but this was different. This was somehow... closer.

"Make it worth our while," he said. "Keep other hunters away. We only eat those of you that get too close and we're hungry. We prefer Mindless."

"That why you chased me?" Izuku asked with a chuckle.

Katsuki scoffed. "I was a pup," he said. "I thought it would make me look good."

"Would it?"

"Not at all." He laughed. "You also would have been a shitty meal."

Izuku laughed and squeezed him. "Mom says I've always been small."

"Your wool would be more useful than your meat."

"...would you like a blanket? Or a sweater?" Izuku buried his head in his chest, but Katsuki still saw his flushed cheeks. "For winter this year...."

Katsuki hummed. "Did you really get sheared enough for that?"

"My mother makes plenty of things out of our wool every year," he said. "Especially since I got bigger."

"Only a little bigger."

Izuku pushed on him playfully. "I still make plenty of wool!" He defended. "I get sheared at least three times every summer now."

Katsuki snickered. "At least you'll have one thing to sell after you take the farmer's land."

They parted, sitting down to start on their picnic.

"Don't you think the townsfolk will notice he's gone?" He asked around some daffodil spirits Katsuki had made him. "I doubt they'll want to with any Freed."

"Maybe that'll change."

"When they find we've killed the farmer?"

"No, no, I'm killing the farmer, you guys are just making sure the land is in good hands."

Izuku rolled his hands. "It will work out so well."

Katsuki nodded. "Better than being a Mindless."

Izuku didn't disagree with this.

For a few weeks after, Izuku came with more collars. Each time, Katsuki took them all, ripping them off and putting them up his arms. He confessed that he was stealing the ones from his mother, so he had no right to get mad at his wolf friend's intentions.

Then when winter was coming, Izuku came without a collar: Katsuki came with blood around his mouth.

They didn't discuss it. It was never brought up, even as Izuku cleaned his muzzle. He gave him a sweater, and Katsuki feigned reluctance to wear it. He persuaded him with a blanket as well.

It was the first time Izuku kissed him on the mouth. He had kissed him on the face several times before, and Katsuki had licked him a few times as well. But this was different, a very welcomed difference, that they shared even as the fall winds picked up.

Katsuki was warm that winter, under his blanket and dreaming of visiting Izuku on the farm in spring.

::*~~*::

Katsuki had kept his word. The pack worked with the animals who had taken the farm and come to a truce. The wolves protected the farm in exchange for free reign over their former fields and pastures. The shared resources, trading things in their woods for crops and leathers and wools.

It wasn't unheard of for such alliances to exist, but it was rare. Nonetheless it was still working well for them.

The pack and the farm had freedom to walk between territories as long as they all behaved. With this rule, Katsuki was at the farm often, helping Izuku with his chores. No one said anything or questioned their closeness. Some of them saw their stolen affections, but there was no reason to bring it up.

There was no harm in their relationship, Katsuki mother had told the pack. Their intimacy had brought both groups fortune. And Katsuki wasn't required to bring more pups into the pack, so it wasn't really that big of a deal.

In private, she did ask that if something were to happen, to make sure it wouldn't hurt the alliance that had been forged.

Katsuki scoffed. Like something would happen to them.

Katsuki had become more confident in his relationship with Izuku. They were close, close enough that others referred to them as mates. Neither one had said anything, but they didn't disagree. It helped in a way to keep others from trying to mate with Izuku, which was good for Katsuki. It meant no unnecessary fighting from Katsuki.

They were able to meet each other's friends as well. Katsuki's selfishness had waned, and his need to kepp Izuku to himself felt less important. Their status among the pack and farm was known to everyone, and no one was out to interfere.

It was actually nice to share his time. Kirishima liked him and approved of their union almost as much as his mother did. Izuku's friends were a little more reluctant to accept him at first, but eventually came around. In the end, Katsuki expanded his friend base, something he had never expected to do.

There was only one thing left for them, a taboo that they only discussed a few times. They snuck off at night to lie together under the apple tree. Izuku would lay on Katsuki's chest, nuzzling into his fur. Most nights, they were under one of the wool blankets his mother had knit.

On the colder nights, they came close to it. They were almost in each other's clothes, trying to stay warm, and the contact was too much. They touched, kissed, and more; everything but the final act. But it was close. It was always close.

It was after winter one year where it came to be too much. Izuku had missed him too much when he was spending the winter deep in the woods with his pack, and Katsuki had dreamt of him the entire time. Their first time seeing each other was in their field, where the blossoms had just started.

They came together under their tree. Izuku marvelled at his thick coat and Katsuki went on about how long and curled his horns were getting. As it did, it led to more. Katsuki to relearned his body, mark him with his scent. Izuku had no objections, even when he bit the back of his scruff.

Izuku got on all fours, letting Katsuki push him into the tall grass. The sounds the sheep made drove him crazy. He went forward, where they would normally stop, and Izuku didn't stop him. He presented himself, opening himself for Katsuki almost naturally.

He wasn't as rough as he had been in his dreams. With Izuku there, in the flesh and fluff, Katsuki found himself to be gentle. It no longer mattered if just he felt good, but he wanted Izuku to feel good as well. And he thought by his soft bleating, he was enjoying it.

When it was over, and they were both coming down from the euphoria, Katsuki realised he was stuck. He cursed himself, forgetting something so important in his desperate need to be close to his mate. Izuku squirmed beneath him, mentioning the discomfort and wanting to change positions.

"I can't," Katsuki said. He was moving, trying his best to make it more bearable for the both of them.

"What do you mean, 'you can't'?" Izuku squirmed under him. "I love you, but please get out."

Katsuki stopped moving as his words sunk in. "You what?"

"Katchan!" Izuku bucked back, earning a loud, pained groan from Katsuki as he couldn't budge.

"Hold- hold on, stop moving." He pushed down on his should to keep him still. "Look, I'm sorry, I got excited, I forgot--"

"Forgot?" Izuku moved again, reaching back, and a shudder went through him as he moaned. "Are you bigger?"

"It's... fuck, okay, it's just how we work, okay?" Katsuki was finally able to get him to stop moving, but it wasn't a very comfortable position. "It's meant to make sure it, you know... takes."

"I took it already," Izuku said. He sighed. "How long is it going to be like this?"

"I don't know," Katsuki answered. "You know this is my first time, right?"

"Mine, too," Izuku reminded. "Would have been nice to know what would happen, though."

Katsuki sighed. He nuzzled into the wool of the back of his neck. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I got caught up in all of this. It's been too long, I just wanted to be close to you..."

Izuku looked at him over shoulder. "I wanted to be close to you, too." He pushed up and leaned back.

"Wait, wait."

Katsuki grunted as Izuku sat back, forcing him into a sitting position, the sheep in his lap. Katsuki buried his face in the wool as Izuku adjusted, sitting down on him fully. He put his arms around his waist, holding him from moving more than he was.

"Stop moving as much."

"This is more comfortable."

"Yeah, but..."

Izuku looked back at him, brow raised. "Does that hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt, just might... get... invested again."

Izuku put his hands on his arms and gave him a light squeeze. "You would really want to...?"

Katsuki grumbled against his fur. "Sorry, it's just... I know I shouldn't be, I missed all of you..."

Izuku leaned back to nuzzle Katsuki's jaw. "I was thinking about it, too..."

"Yeah?"

He nodded. "Winter would have been warmer..."

Katsuki held him tightly. "...did you mean it?"

"Mean what?"

"That you love me."

Izuku settled himself fully into Katsuki's hold, tucking into his neck. "Of course I do," he said simply. "Did you ever think otherwise?"

Katsuki shook his head and nuzzled into his fluff. "No, I thought so, just the first time I've heard you say it."

"Do you?"

"What?"

"Love me."

Katsuki clicked his tongue. "Of course, idiot." He nipped at his ear. "Why else would I put up with you?"

Izuku chuckled. He kissed him just under the chin. "I think I have more of a right to say that than you."

Katsuki scoffed and bit him a little harder, getting a yelp from Izuku.

"How much longer?"

Katsuki shrugged. "I told you, I'm not sure."

"All to make sure I have your pups, right?"

Katsuki squeezed him a little. "You wish," he said, though there was something in his tone. "Maybe I want to just cover you in my scent."

"What about mine?"

Katsuki blinked. "Your scent?"

Izuku nodded. "You could do with smelling like me."

Katsuki laughed. "Sure, fine. Not like I don't usually smell like you anyway."

Izuku hummed. "Not enough," he remarked.

"What would you suggest?"

"Well, this has been a good start..."

"This will happen every time," Katsuki mentioned. Izuku made a soft noise as Katsuki rocked up into him.

Izuku rubbed up his arms, scratching through his fur. "I think it's worth it," he said. "Just should try to end a little.... different."

"I'll be more careful," Katsuki said. "I won't let myself go like that again."

Izuku kissed under his chin. "Now, don't say that...."

Katsuki rolled his eyes but smiled. He gave a small kick, toppling them bother over so they laid on their sides, his arms tight around him. Izuku yelped but soon was laughing. They cuddled close, happy with their proximity despite the situation.

:: *~~* ::

It was the dead of night when the townspeople came to the farm.

The pack wasn't even aware of the invasion until it was well under way. Izuku and a couple of others ran into the woods, bleating and undulating loudly to get the wolves' attention. They all came from their dens, ready to see what was bothering their neighbours.

By the time Izuku found Katsuki, a good deal of carnage was done. Many of the farm had been killed or Collared. They had come so suddenly, there was little time to fight back, not like they knew how to in the first place.

The townspeople had left them alone for years. They still got what they needed from the farm, even if it was clear they didn't like it. Maybe they didn't like the disappearance of the farmer, but when it was never proven the animals had anything to do with it, they begrudgingly worked with them.

(Months later, Katsuki would learn a distant family member of the farmer had come back to find the state of the farm. He got the town whipped up into a frenzy, and they launched their attack seemingly out of nowhere.)

The reason wasn't important at the time. What mattered was saving all the animals they could and push back the humans. It wasn't an easy task: they came with weapons including guns, and there was little they could do. The focus came more on saving who they could.

Fighting could wait for another day.

Katsuki helped round up everyone he could, Izuku at his side. They weren't the only ones; Kirishima was nearby, herding who he could. His mother and father were distracting them, keeping them away from the woods as the others shepherded them to the woods.

The pair made sure a good amount got to the forest before turning back to get more. They were stopped, just inside their field, by a small group of humans. Two had pitchforks and one had a gun, readied at them. Katsuki growled, eager to tear into them.

Izuku was at the ready to fight as well. Katsuki hadn't expected him to be so willing, normally one for a negotiating route, but he must have known, understood the severity of the situation. There was no talking to them, nothing that they would hear. They only saw them as beasts, lower than them, and needing to be tamed, and if not tamed, slaughtered.

Katsuki went after the one with a gun, knowing him to be the biggest threat. He had butted his stomach before going for his neck. The surprise gave him an advantage, and his fangs found their way into his throat. It wasn't the first human he had killed, and if the night went on the same way, he was sure it wouldn't the last.

When the human was down, Katsuki came to Izuku's side to help with the other two only to find one down and the other locked with a pitchfork in Izuku's horns. Katsuki made quick work of downed human, ripping his throat out. He attacked the one in combat with the sheep from behind, throwing him off guard.

Together, the human was dispatched with relative ease. The wolf and sheep stood over the body, breathing heavily, their eyes glazed over. Everything was gone and for a moment, all Katsuki could feel was Izuku next to him, and all else faded away. He had a span of time where he forgot what was happening, that there were more humans to dispose of and animals to save. All there was in his mind was Izuku.

The façade was broken as Izuku slumped to the ground.

"O-oi!"

Katsuki kneeled down next to him, looking over him. It wasn't easy to find it, but as his paws went over wool, Izuku winced when he got toward his abdomen. He pulled away, blood on his fingers.

"Katchan..."

"Stay still."

Katsuki nuzzled his cheek. "I'm going to get someone," he said, trying to hide the emotion in his voice. "Try not to make any noise."

"Katchan, wait." He gripped to his arm, keeping him from going. "Don't... please, stay..."

Katsuki squeezed his hand and removed his hand from him. "I have to get someone," he insisted. "I can't waste any time."

Izuku whined. He looked up at him, tears welling in the corners of his eyes. "You'll be quick?"

Katsuki nodded. "The quickest."

Izuku made another soft noise. He rolled into his side, a soft gurgle coming from his throat. Katsuki was tempted to stay, or at least pick him up, but he was sure that was ill advised. There was so much blood, and he wasn't sure where any of it was coming from. Moving him might cause him to into shock, from the little knowledge he knew of medicine.

"I'll come back," Katsuki whispered.

Izuku made a low sound, though Katsuki wasn't sure if it was words or not. He stayed only a breath more before leaving him hidden in the high grass.

The farm was almost devoid of animals. Katsuki looked for the old ewe, the one who knew about medicine, the one who took care of them when they were sick, but couldn't find her. Humans had won the battle, and had started to ransack the farm. They were pulling up crops and running away with carcases.

The hatred would lead them to steal Freed, if not eat them from some of the conversation they were having. How disgusting of them.

He would punish them later for it.

Katsuki rounded back to the forest, exploring the trees. After sniffing the air and using it to find the trail, he came across Kirishima and several animals he had led to safety. Among them was the old ewe he was looking for as well as Izuku's mother and a couple of his close friends.

"You," he said as he got closer to the group, his eyes on the healer. "Come with me."

"Oi! You have no right to be making demands like that!" The booming voice came from the bull Iida. "This is not the time—"

"Izuku is hurt," Katsuki explained to the ewe, ignoring Iida fully. His tone was getting desperate as he added: "Please."

The older animal nodded. "Of course," she said. "Take me to him."

Katsuki turned, leading back to the field. The group followed him, Izuku's mother right at his side.

"What happened?" Ink asked in a rush. "How did he get hurt?" There was something accusing in her tone.

"We fought some humans," Katsuki answered. "I... I'm not sure exactly when or how, but it looks like they got him at—"

"What do you mean you don't know?" she interrupted. "You're supposed to be watching him! It's your responsibility to protect us! To protect him!"

Katsuki winced at the words. She was right. Izuku was his mate, it was his duty to keep him safe. He not only failed him, but he was the catalyst for all of this. He killed the farmer, he insisted they take over the farm.

This was entirely his fault. He wouldn't be surprised if Ink was going through the same thoughts.

They came to the field quickly enough. Katsuki showed them to Izuku, still close to the apple tree where he had fallen. He stepped closer to help in any way he could, but found himself shoved out by Iida and Uraraka.

He glared at them. "Get out of my way."

"You've done enough," Iida said.

Uraraka stayed put. "Let Mother Recovery work."

Katsuki growled. "Move."

"Leave," came Inko's voice. She stepped between the two, tears in her eyes. "You need to go."

"I'm not leaving." He hated speaking to her with such a tone, but he refused to just abandon his mate. "I'm not leaving Izuku."

"You've already left him!" Inko cried. "When you let this happen! You brought this on us! You!"

"All I did—"

"C'mon, we should go," Kirishima said, pulling Katsuki's arm.

"No, I'm not going!" Katsuki shouted as he wrenched his arm away from him. "I'm not leaving Izuku! I won't!"

Inko's expression was hard on him. "You didn't protect him," she said. "Or us. We are done with your pack."

"Wait, let's not get ahead of ourselves," Kirishima interjected.

Iida stepped up to Kirishima, forcing the wolf to take a step back. "It can be revisited later, but I would have to agree. The consequences have not been worth it."

"You would have been Mindless otherwise," Katsuki reminded him.

"Maybe that would have been better," Uraraka said.

"You can't be ser—"

"I need quiet!" Mother Recovery yelled out, hidden in the tall grass.

Katsuki moved forward again, to be pushed back once more by Iida. Kirishima pulled on him again.

"We'll see him later," he whispered into his ear. "Fighting them now does nothing. We need to make sure everyone else is safe, anyway."

Katsuki growled but let himself be led away as the others watched them go.

"I should be with him," Katsuki grumbled. "He's my mate! I should be with him!"

"They aren't going to see it that way right now," Kirishima replied. They were heading back to the farm. "That isn't the right battle for you to be fighting at the moment."

Katsuki didn't respond. He may have been right, but he didn't completely care. He only thought of the blood on Izuku's wool.

"We'll get him when he's better," Kirishima said. "Even if it means convincing him to stay with the pack, whatever you want to do."

The farmhouse came into view. He stopped to give Katsuki a serious look.

"But that's for later. We need to do this now."

Katsuki growled but nodded. "I'm not letting this go."

"I don't expect you to," Kirishima said. "And neither does he." He turned back to the farm. In the distance, they could see humans.

Katsuki watched this with a furrowed brow. He licked his maw, still covered in blood.

"Let's get this over with."

::*~~*::

The farm was never returned to the animals.

The humans had not only taken it back, but had forced collars on any animal they found. Some were lucky enough to get away with the help of the pack, but that was only a handful of the many. So many were lost, only to become Mindless. Many of them were slaughtered afterwards, leaving a scant few in the reclaimed fields.

The saved animals didn't stay with the pack more than a day. Their trust in their safety had faded, and there was nothing keeping them faithful to the wolves with the loss of the farm. They didn't say where they were going, but it was the last time the pack saw them.

Katsuki tried his best to get to Izuku before they left, but none would talk to him. Uraraka and Iida blatantly ignored him, turning and walking off. Inko started to cry when he brought up her son, and Mother Recovery just shook her head.

None of them would speak to him about Izuku, none would tell him where his mate was. He was growing in anger, but by the time he was going to do anything about it, they were all gone.

His mate with them.

Katsuki was inconsolable for months. During that time, the pack had to fight off humans and hunters, all coming for their territory. Part of it was retaliation for the night they invaded the farm, but the reason hardly mattered. They defended the woods, something they hadn't done in years, they hadn't needed to do in years.

The humans were brash with their attack. But the wolves were ready for them.

When Katsuki had found the farmer's relative, he dragged him into the forest. A few days later, there was a scarecrow along the path leading from the village to the woods.

The humans never bothered them again.

Katsuki kept himself occupied as best he could. He had not seen Izuku since that night, and his absence was more than hard on him. He did not understand life without his mater, not after building so many years around it. No matter what the pack did, the comfort they tried to bring him, it didn't seem enough. They just could not bring him out of his funk.

Every day, he went to the field to wait for Izuku. He had made fertiliser from the dead humans, and used it to help grow their apple tree as well as a cherry tree he planted. He hoped the new life would bring him back. He tended to them both as well as all the flowers he planted along the field. They were various ones Izuku had enjoyed eating.

Maybe if he showed he was thinking about him, he would come back. Anything to bring him back.

The seasons changed and time went by. Katsuki was alone as the year rolled on and got closer to the winter months. He made stores of the flowers and fruits, leaving them under the trees in obvious spots. Something Izuku would hopefully find while he was hibernating, to know how he still felt.

Fall came in with a chill. Katsuki wore his sweaters every day as he made his way to the field. The days were getting colder, ever close to the last holidays of the year. The last harvest one had come and gone, and it was getting to the day to celebrate those who had gone.

More than the skies were getting thinner.

Katsuki stilled as he came to the field as the sun was raising in the sky. The shock of green wool stood out against the dying grass.

He dropped the basket he was carrying, racing to the figure. He tackled the firm body, the body that was certainly there for the first time in months.

"K-katchan!" Hands came up, trying to keep him away as Katsuki licked over his face.

He didn't smell like him, he didn't smell like anything. He had to fix it, to cover him in his scent again.

"Where have you been?" Katsuki asked.

"I've been here," Izuku answered. He looked up, meeting Katsuki's gaze. "Katchan, I'm always here."

Katsuki frowned. "I've been here every day," he said. "You haven't been here."

Izuku took his face in his hands. "You never saw me, did you?"

"What are you talking about?" Katsuki shook his head. "Doesn't matter: you're here now." He leaned in to lick him again.

Izuku chuckled and nuzzled against him. "I missed you, too, Katchan."

Katsuki kept his body close to him, his arms around him as he pulled him into his lap. "Are you sick?" he asked. "You're so cold."

Izuku tucked himself into his hold, resting under his chin. "I'm fine," he said. "I'm just happy to feel you again."

Katsuki ran his hands over his back, trying to warm him up. "I'm glad you're here." He kissed over his face. "Were you with your mother? You weren't with her when she left."

"I told you: I was here."

Katsuki frowned. "What the fuck do you mean by that?"

"Katchan, can we just enjoy this?" He kissed under his chin. "I only have so much time."

Katsuki pulled away to look him in the eyes. "Time?" The confusion was clear in his voice. "We have all the time in the world now that you're back."

He held to him a little tighter. "Please, just come with me, stay with the pack. No one will bother you: since we're mates, you'll be welcomed."

"I know they would have me," Izuku said. "And it means the world to me, but things aren't so simple."

Katsuki kissed him softly. Distantly, he noted even his lips were cold and that his scent wasn't taking, but those were all thoughts and considerations for later.

"It is simple," Katsuki said. "It is all simple, I mean, no, what happened at the farm wasn't, but this, this can be."

He cupped Izuku's face, his expression serious. "I love you, you stupid sheep," he said. "And you're an idiot if you think I'm leaving without you."

Izuku's expression was gentle. He leaned in to press their foreheads together. "You don't know, do you, you stubborn wolf?"

Katsuki blinked. "Know what?"

Izuku shook his head. "Let's enjoy this," he said again. "I'm here with you, and right now, that's all that matters."

Katsuki was still unsure what he was getting at, but it didn't matter. He had Izuku back in his arms, and he couldn't find himself caring about much else.

"Whatever," he finally agreed. "We'll 'enjoy' the day."

And they did. It was like the days they had before the farm: catching up and just being close to each other. The only thing of their recent exploits that was included was a few rounds of mating. Katsuki enjoyed his company in many ways, only reminding him more how much he had missed his mate.

It stood out to Katsuki that he didn't share in any of the food he had brought. He made some comment about not being hungry, something easy enough to shrug away.

Izuku continued to be evasive about many things. Where he had been, where his mother and friends were, what he meant by 'not enough time.' Everything wasn't making enough sense, but nothing he said could get the truth out of him.

When Katsuki told him about the humans coming into the forest, Izuku was upset. He had hoped that the pack could just be safe and completely away from the townsfolk. It had only been an issue for so long, Katsuki affirmed, especially when he had gone after so many of them.

Izuku didn't seem happy with that response either.

The day went by too fast. The sun was starting to set almost too soon, and Katsuki was thinking of different reasons to get Izuku to come back with him.

"Katchan, I told you, I can't." Something was lost in his eyes, longing replacing his usual brightness.

"Why?" Katsuki held to him tightly as they cuddled under the apple tree. "You still won't tell me why. Is it your mother? She can—"

"You've said that," Izuku reminded. "And I still appreciate it."

"Then come back with me."

"If I could, I would. But I can't."

"But—"

"Will you come tomorrow?"

Katsuki's thoughts stopped at the question. "Of course," he said quickly. "I'll be here every day, especially if it convinces you to—"

Izuku put a finger to his lips. "I think I only have so much time," he said. "And I'm not sure when it ends. So please, just come back and see me as much as you can."

Katsuki sighed and nuzzled his nose. "If that's what you want." He was still confused by everything he said, but if it meant he got to see him again, that was all that mattered.

"But you will be here tomorrow?" Katsuki asked, just to be sure.

Izuku nodded. He kissed him softly. "I'll be here every day until I can't."

"Will you tell me when that will be?"

Izuku hummed. He furrowed his brow, and didn't answer for a long moment as he seemed to consider something.

"The winter festival," he said. "I think that would be the furtherst I can stay."

"That... we're normally asleep by then," Katsuki said. He thought about it. "But I can stay up." He took in a deep breath. "Until you can't."

Izuku smiled softly. "Don't force yourself." He said the words, but Katsuki could tell he was grateful for the offer.

"Anything for you," Katsuki said. "Where... where will you be going after that? Can you at least tell me that?"

"I already told you, I'll still be here."

"Izuku."

"It's true." Izuku huffed. He looked frustrated. Katsuki was frustrated. He had no idea what he meant, and his tight lip wasn't helping.

"Whatever." Katsuki nuzzled under his fluff. "As long as you're here, I will be, too."

Izuku kissed under his chin. "Thank you, Katchan."

::*~~*::

Katsuki stayed awake that season longer than he ever had. It was getting closer and closer to the winter solstice but he made every effort to be at the field every day. He had to dig into some of his food stores to bring with him, but thankfully they had been bountiful with their hunts.

Not to mention his own private hunts in the village.

His reward for staying from his pack for so long was seeing Izuku every day. It was similar to their old days still, and worth every moment. Though things were still strange. Izuku still didn't eat and he was colder than the snow that was starting to fall.

No matter how many times Katsuki brought it up, Izuku never spoke about this mother or the others. The pack had been worried and just wanted to know they were okay, but Izuku seemed to not even know where they were. He seemed concerned, but restrained with how to find out the information Katsuki was looking for.

The questions would always circle around to where Izuku had been and why he didn't go looking for his mother if he wasn't sure where she was. And Izuku would always give the same, vague answers.

"I've always been here. I don't know where they went to."

"I can't leave. I have to stay here."

Katsuki exploded on him one night, too frustrated by the evasiveness of his answers. It had been such a long time since they fought, especially in such a loud and ferocious manner. Katsuki simply wanted to understand, simply wanted to know what was being kept from him. Izuku stood his ground, insistent that what he was keeping to himself was for Katsuki's benefit.

"Please, Katchan." Izuku's eyes were large and wet, threatening to spill over. "Please, let's just enjoy this. I don't know if I can come back next year. I want every second to count."

"Why? Why won't you be here next year?" Katsuki hated seeing Izuku so upset, but wasn't he allowed his anger? Wasn't he entitled to the secrets that were being hidden from him?

The moon was coming over the field of dying grass, illuminating the two in the thin layer of snow. Izuku's tears were obvious in the pale light, but something was off about the rest of him. His wool almost faded at the ends, disappearing into the evening sky. The glow around him was almost ethereal, almost unworldly.

He was beautiful, as he had always been, but Katsuki felt a chill looking at him he was sure wasn't from the wind around them.

"Why can't you trust me?" Izuku asked. His voice was soft, barely about a whisper. "The answer you're looking for, it will make everything too real. It might... I don't want anything to chance me not being with you."

Katsuki sighed. He reached and took Izuku's hands, holding the cold appendages to his chest. "There's nothing to keep me from you. I'll find you wherever you go."

This statement only seemed to renew Izuku's tears. "Don't say that," he said. "You have no idea what it means."

"It's true," Katsuki said. "I'll always have you, as long as you'll have me." He pulled Izuku into his arms for a tight embrace.

"If you don't like where I'll follow, then you have to stay here."

"Katchan, you don't know what you're saying," he sobbed into his chest. "You don't—"

"Bakugou!"

They both looked up and turned to the voice calling for Katsuki. He was coming close, by the way his voice was carrying.

"Maybe Kirishima can help convince you," Katsuki said. "Maybe he can help me get you to the pack."

"Katchan..." Izuku frowned. "I've told you, I want to. I really do..."

"Bakugou, you still out here?"

"Yeah, I am!" Katsuki shouted back. He pulled away from Izuku, kissing his forehead softly. He took his hand and turned to start out the field.

Izuku squeezed his hand, but Katsuki was stilled when he wouldn't move.

Katsuki glanced back at him. "What? It's just Kirishima."

Izuku had a solemn look on his face. "Come back tomorrow?"

"Of course, but—"

"Here you are!"

Katsuki turned just as Kirishima emerged into that part of the field. His friend looked worried, his ears and tail perked up.

"I've been looking for you forever!" he exclaimed. "Your mom was worried sick, said you kept leaving the hollow every day, and she didn't know why."

"What? It's obvious why." Katsuki gestured behind him to Izuku.

Kirishima blinked and looked where he meant. He looked back at Katsuki, clearly confused. "The tress are asleep for the season, bro, just like we should be."

Katsuki growled. Didn't he understand how important this was? How much it meant for him to have Izuku back?

"Look, I know I don't normally spend the season with him, but this is different."

Kirishima looked more taken aback than before. "With who?"

"What do you mean with who?" Katsuki was raising his voice. "With Izu—"

He pulled on his hand to drag Izuku forward, only to find air in his grip. He stopped and turned, bewildered by the sudden lack of presence in his fingers.

"— ku."

No one was there. The wind blew snowflakes in the air where Izuku had just been standing.

"Where the fuck—?" Katsuki stepped back and started to feverishly look around. "That stupid sheep! Where did he go!?"

"Bakugou, no one's been with you," Kirishima said. "You were alone the whole time since I found you."

"He was right here!" Katsuki snapped.

"Dude, we haven't seen him since—"

"Why do you think I've been coming here!?" Katsuki was still looking around. "Why else than for him!?"

"Bakugou." Kirishima was next to him, taking his arm. "No one's here." He started to pull. "It's getting cold: we need to get back to the hollow."

"But... Izuku..."

Kirishima frowned. He didn't let go until Katsuki started to follow him back to the forest, albeit reluctantly.

"We'll look tomorrow," Kirishima conceded. "For now, you need to warm up. You're freezing."

::*~~*::

Getting back to the field was a taxing effort after that. Katsuki's mother was keeping a closer eye on him, trying her best to keep him in the hollow. He got away long enough to see Izuku, but too soon he was being pulled back to the woods.

When his mother came a few days later, Izuku had once more vanished, leaving Katsuki no good explanation for his actions. He tried to reason with her, explain to her he had to come, had to be with his mate, but she dismissed him.

"I'm not going," Katsuki growled. "He said he can only stay so long, and I want to be here every moment I can."

"Katsuki, my pup, there is no way you've seen him." Mitsuki reached for her son, taking the sides of his face so she could keep his eyes on hers. "I know you're hurting, but this isn't the way."

"What the fuck are you on about, hag?" Katsuki pulled away from her. "He's been here! Why else would I be here!?"

"I don't know why you're here!" The exhausted tone was clear in her voice. "I'm trying to figure that out!"

"How many times do I have to say it!? Izuku! I'm here to see Izuku!"

Mitsuki's eyes were soft, but the words tore at her. "Oh, Katsuki... you can't see the dead."

Katsuki's eyes narrowed at the accusation. "He isn't dead," he retorted through clenched teeth. "He's been here! With me!"

Mitsuki took his hands. "He passed during the attack," she said. "Inko told me before they left. Why she wanted gone so quickly."

She looked over his face, and as the confusion fell on his features, her eyes watered. "I'm so sorry, my pup. I thought you knew. You were there, so I thought you were with him when—"

"I wasn't there," Katsuki said. "They wouldn't let me near him after I got Mother Recovery."

Katsuki's mind was reeling. There was no way this was really, no way this was true. He had been with Izuku, physically, and several times. How could he be dead when he had been with him?

None of it made any sense.

"But... no, no, no." Katsuki moved away from his mother completely. He gripped his head and shook it wildly, as if it would change the words he was hearing.

When he looked up and toward the apple tree, Izuku was sitting underneath it. He was staring at Katsuki, a look of regret in his eyes.

"You don't see him, do you?"

Mitsuki watched him a moment before looking way he was. Her head moved as she searched the area for whatever it was he was staring at. She looked back, frowning.

"There's no one there."

Katsuki sat down heavily on the ground. How...? How was any of this...?

The day Katsuki first saw him came to mind, and where it fell in the year.

"Katsuki, I know your heart is sore." Mitsuki ran a hand through his hair. "You lost your mate, and that's hard. We knew you weren't taking it well, but... I mean, it's you. We just thought you would ride it out how you needed to."

Katsuki barely heard her. His eyes were still on Izuku.

"Come here, pup," she went on. "Come home and let your pack take of you."

He was quiet, not sure what to hold onto.

"Katsuki—?"

"...one moment," he said softly. "I'll come back, I just... need a moment."

She looked over his face. "Try not to be long."

He nodded, almost as an afterthought.

Mitsuki nuzzled the top of his head. "If you take too long, I'll send Eijirou."

Katsuki clicked his tongue. "Whatever."

Mitsuki ruffled his hair. "Don't do anything stupid," she commanded softly. She turned and left him, her steps slow and light.

All the while, Katsuki's eyes were on Izuku, still under the tree. They kept their eyes locked as they listened for Mitsuki's full departure from the field. It wasn't until Katsuki was sure she was gone that he stood and made his way to the apple tree. Still not speaking, he sat back down in front of Izuku.

The silence between them stretched on. Their eyes were firm to each other, not looking away despite the sounds around them.

"You've been here all along," Katsuki parroted Izuku's most repeated words.

Izuku nodded. "I have been."

"Since..."

Izuku nodded again.

"You never said anything."

Izuku's smile was bittersweet. "With everything you did, I knew no one had told you, that you didn't know."

"And no reason to mention it."

"Katchan..."

"Enjoy every moment," Katsuki reiterated. "Until you can't have them."

Izuku was quiet.

"Is that why only so long?" Katsuki asked. "Until the Thinness is gone?"

"You couldn't see me until it started," Izuku mentioned. He ran his finger through the snow, making little patterns. "I had been screaming for your attention all summer. But then one day you were jumping on me, and I..."

He looked up at Katsuki, the tears falling. "I didn't have the heart. I couldn't tell you the truth." He put a hand on Katsuki's. "I just was so happy, and you were so happy."

Katsuki pulled on him, bringing him close. "I'm happy," he said. He nuzzled into his fluff. "I have you back: there's nothing more I wanted."

"But, Katchan, I'm still—"

"Will you be back? During the next Thinness?"

Izuku wrapped his arms around him, holding him tightly. "I'll try. It's not like I know how this all works."

"Well, be here anyway," Katsuki commanded. "Be here, because I always will be."

"I can't ask you to put life on hold like that."

Katsuki scoffed. "Not much of a life if you aren't in it."

"Katchan."

"I lived," Katsuki said. "I lived here and with my pack all summer. Even seeing you now, I still got my hunting done. My life has not changed from before because you are still in it."

He looked Izuku in the eyes.

"And I would have it no other way."

"The pack... you're the only one who can see me." Izuku touched Katsuki's face gently. "They'll worry about you, just like now."

Katsuki rubbed his back. "I'll make them understand," he said. "I'll make it so they don't worry."

He kissed his forehead. "But I have you now." He pulled him in again for another tight embrace.

"And I'm never letting go again."

::*~~*::

Katsuki kept his promise for years.

In the spring and summer, he stayed mostly with his pack. He still went to the field to tend the trees and garden. He left little things, trinkets and short letters, all to let Izuku his heart was still with him.

Even after Izuku faded with the Thinness, Katsuki was still treating him as if he were there. There was a change he would go, that he might not come back. But he didn't care: he knew he was still there, even if he couldn't see him.

He felt him. That was all he needed.

When the Thinness started, Katsuki spent more time in the field as Izuku came back. With every year, it seemed surer that Izuku would come back again.

The pack was reluctant to let him go so often. They found it hard to believe in his reasoning to keep going back, that he was clearly not coping well with the death of his mate. It wasn't until Kirishima went with him that they seemed willing to believe.

Izuku couldn't show himself to anyone but Katsuki, but he could still move things. After a few 'trick,' Kirishima left the field believing the sheep was still there, if only in spirit. He relayed this information back to the pack, and even though it still took some convincing, they finally eased up on Katsuki. It was clear there was still some concern over his mental wellbeing, but they finally stopping trying to impeded him from going.

Not that it would have stopped him anyway.

Katsuki hunted extra during the year. He made the meat into jerky to help preserve him during the winter when he was awake and moving more than usual. Izuku expressed some concern, especially now that he couldn't make him more sweaters and blankets. Katsuki waved it off, though: he had plenty from when Izuku was still alive.

One year, Katsuki built a small hut in the field, one that safely house a fire. This appeased Izuku some, especially when he started to fill it with more supplies. It allowed him to stay on several nights as well, allowing him even more time with Izuku.

Time went on, and Katsuki was content. Every now and again, he would be reminded that his mate, in reality, was gone. He would mope and bury himself in his room away from everyone as he quietly mourned his loss. He would be gone for days, curled into a ball on his bed.

When he was able to move, he came to the field each time. It was always the spring or summer, so he knew he wouldn't see Izuku's face, but he felt him. He was there with him.

What was he missing in all honesty? Half of the year he had him, physically. The other half, he had his presence. They were never going to have a litter, so really, what was the difference?

Things were good. Things moved forward. And Katsuki was content.

"Katchan should go home."

Katsuki grumbled and inched closer to the fire. "Not yet."

Izuku frowned. He was close to him, just barely touching, enough that his cold presence went through Katsuki's body. He had tried to move away, to keep his frozen essence from his shivering mater, but Katsuki just pulled him closer.

The little hut he had built only did the bare minimum to keep the cold out. The flooring didn't hold against the temperature, and Katsuki hadn't gotten to fix some holes in the siding before winter came on. It had come early and swiftly, covering the ground in frost before the last fall festival. Katsuki wasn't ready for it, but it wasn't going to stop him from being with Izuku.

He kept coming back every day even as snow came in. There was no day that he wasn't drudging through powder to get to the field. He was disappointed at how it killed his crops, but there was little he could do about it.

Izuku had grown increasingly worried. He reminded him that he would be back the next year, it was all right if he stayed in the hollow. Katsuki ignored it and came back just as often as before. He just brought more wood for the nights he stayed in the hut.

"The wind s picking up."

Katsuki could hear it. The gusts felt like it would push over the hut at any moment. It was barely into the last of the year, and it was as cold as it normally was into the turn of the cycle. It hadn't been so bad when Katsuki just got to the field earlier in the day, but as soon as the sun started to set, the clouds came in to burst. They went into the hut to wait the first wave out, but it seemed not to let up.

"You should chance it," Izuku went on. "Being with the others will be better than being here."

Katsuki huffed. He looked to Izuku, his brow narrowed. "I'd rather be here."

Izuku smiled softly. He wrapped another blanket around his shoulders before leaning against him. Katsuki could still feel his coldness, but it was lessened through the two blankets.

"Do you have enough wood? Just in case?"

"It'll work," Katsuki answered. "Anything outside would be too wet by now."

Izuku nuzzled into him. "Maybe you should still try..."

"How deep is it now?"

Izuku moved and faded as he stood up. A moment later, he faded back in, leaning against Katsuki again.

"Probably half a metre."

Katsuki considered this. "I think it's safer here," he said. "I just have to—"

His words were interrupted by a loud sneeze.

Izuku frowned. He reached up to touch his forehead with the back of his hand. It was a meaningless action: his hand was cold, and he couldn't feel temperature either way.

"I told you not to stay when it rained the other day."

"I wanted those acorn squashes," Katsuki retorted. He wiped at his runny nose. "The hag likes them for decorations."

Izuku made sure he was fully covered by the blankets. "And you're a good son for it."

Katsuki scoffed at the comment.

"But you won't do any good to anyone being sick."

"I'll be fine."

"You'll go back in the morning, right?"

Katsuki huffed and nodded. "I'll go back."

"And stay there."

"What? Why?"

Izuku fixed him with a serious expression. "What if it keeps snowing? What if your cold gets worse?"

"Izuku, I don't—"

"I will be here," izuku assured. "Katchan, I'm not going anywhere."

Katsuki sighed and nodded. "I know," he said softly. "Fine, I'll stay in the hollow if it gets bad."

Izuku smiled again. "Thank you, Katchan."

Katsuki shrugged. Izuku leaned in and they shared a kiss. Moments more, and Izuku had gotten under the blankets.

Their intimacy was slow and soft. It was the only time Izuku's body felt warm: when he was opening up for Katsuki. Which was good in the long run for how long their bodies stayed in contact after they finished. Izuku lazed on top of Katsuki, nuzzling into his chest as he waited for him to be able to move.

When they could finally separate, Katsuki put his clothes back on. He would have loved to stay with him so close for longer, but Izuku's heat had faded, and there was no sense in him getting sicker.

Katsuki put more wood on the fire before tucking back into the blankets. He gave a loud sneeze before yawning.

"You should get some rest," Izuku said.

Katsuki grumbled.

"You need it," Izuku went on. "There's nothing more to do until the morning."

Katsuki grunted but laid down on his side, facing the fire. Izuku put another blanket on him before sitting next to him. He lifted his head and put it in his lap. Katsuki nuzzled his thigh as Izuku petted through his fur.

"Only for a bit," he said. "Don't let me sleep too long."

Izuku nodded. "Of course."

Without another exchange, Katsuki closed his eyes. He was still cold despite the layers on him. He thought Izuku might be right; maybe he should have gone back to the hollow. But as the wind howled outside, it reassured him he had done the right things.

Katsuki knew he was shivering as he drifted off into slumber, but it wasn't all too concerning for him. He had been cold plenty of times in the hollow during harsh winters. He just had to get through the night.

When he awoke, something was different. As he opened his eyes, he found something... off. Like the floor had shifted or the light wasn't right. The air was hanging as if it had been stilled. However, when he looked closer, dust still played in the air.

Light came from corners where it shouldn't have. It was heavy to move at first, but as he sat up, it got lighter. Almost weightless.

He jutted forward when there was a sudden push on his back. Arms came around him, and a face buried in his neck. He thought he felt moisture, but it was more... a memory of moisture.

"Katchan." The name was said through a sob. "Katchan, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

Katsuki found it hard to turn with how Izuku was holding him. He tried to get a better look at him, but still found it impossible.

"What's happening?" Katsuki asked. "Why are you crying, you stupid sheep?"

"I didn't mean to." Izuku's words barely came through his sobs. "By the time I noticed..."

Katsuki scrunched his snout. Noticed what? The only thing he could focus on was Izuku's body heat.

The warmth he hadn't felt in years outside intimacy.

Something was wrong. Something wasn't right about any of this. Katsuki didn't feel cold anymore, but he could see the snow still falling through the small window. Why wasn't it cold? And where was all the light coming from?

Katsuki struggled against him again. Izuku grunted as he pushed him away.

"Katchan, wait, just one—"

The both stopped as Katsuki's eyes fell to the floor. Time almost halted as neither of them moved.

"I... I don't understand."

Slowly Katsuki looked to Izuku, searching for an answer.

Izuku sat close to him again. He wrapped his arms around his shoulders and nuzzled his neck.

"It was like that for me, too," he said. "I heard everyone making a commotion, and I was trying to figure out what was going on, and then I saw..."

The both look at the lifeless form. Katsuki had no idea what to believe.

"When... when did you know...?"

"When I say my body, I guess."

Katsuki shook his head. "No, this can't be..."

"I-I'm sorry."

Katsuki growled as he turned to him. "Why are you apologising?"

Izuku winced. "I should have woken you up."

Katsuki glanced back at his body. "What happened?"

"I think the temperature dropped again."

"Think?"

"It's not like I can feel it."

"Right."

Izuku nuzzled him again. "When I realised you weren't breathing, I tried waking you up." He sighed. "But it was already too late..."

Katsuki furrowed his brow. "...you did try, right?"

Izuku pulled away, his brow furrowed. "Of course I did! Why would you ask that!?"

Katsuki shook his head. "No, you're right, I..." He ran a hand over his face. "I don't know how I'm supposed to handle this."

"You could cry."

Katsuki rolled his eyes. "Not much point in that."

Izuku shrugged. "I cried for like... a week."

Katsuki raised a brow. "So long? Why?"

"Because I thought I wasn't going to see you or my mother again."

Katsuki considered this. He stared at the dead fire and narrowed his gaze. "Fuck. The old hag..."

"She'll miss you."

"Yeah, yeah."

"You'll miss her."

"...yeah."

Izuku ran a hand through the fur of the cold wolf. "I hope they find you soon."

"At least it's cold."

Izuku chuckled at that. "At least..."

They were quiet for a moment.

"I'm glad it was here," Katsuki broke the silence.

"What do you mean?"

Katsuki stood up and glanced around. "You're stuck here, right?" He reached for the door handle, but found it did nothing when he went to turn it. "In the field?"

Izuku nodded. He stayed with his body as he watched him trying to be physical with the door.

"I guess since I died here," he offered. "Though, sometimes I wonder if it's because of how important this place was to me."

"So maybe I'd always have come here." Katsuki decided to forego habit and just tried at putting hand through the door. He had much better luck with this.

"It's possible." Izuku followed him outside of the hut.

The snow had gathered more over the night. It was beyond their knees, but they had no troubles as they walked atop it.

"Still better it's here," Katsuki said. His eyes were on the hibernating apple tree. "I wouldn't want to chance it."

"Chance what?" Izuku asked as he came to stand beside Katsuki.

"Not being with you."

Izuku laughed. "Somehow, I think you'd find a way back here."

Katsuki chortled. "You're probably right."

He reached out and took his hand. Izuku laced their fingers together and squeezed.

The wind picked up again, but neither felt the chill of it. They sat down together, close now than they had ever been in life. With the snow blowing around them, they spoke to each other, unhindered by time and consequence.

Together, they talked about spring and watching their trees bloom.

#katsudeku #bakudeku #bakudeku fanfic #bakugou #deku #midoriya izuku #bakugou katsuki #wolf!bakugou #sheep!deku #bkdk halloween story

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