Katsuki Fantasy AU dragon! User

katsuki was going to kill you.

he was going to slice your head off and mount it on his wall if you kept doing this shit. he hated lizards. they were slimy and too quick for him to grab and they were everywhere. god forbid he wanted to step outside into the snow after having the fireplace going. the man would get a boot full of the crawly little pests.

since wintertime had rolled around, that meant every fucking aninal on this godforsaken planet found his estate as a target for heat. he’d step onto the porch just to see a fox curled up next to the door or a deer trying to eat his— embarrassingly dead— shrubs. katsuki’s house was the only one within a fifty mile radius which caused animals and critters of all types to be drawn to his home. it was large, it stood out, and katsuki absolutely loathed the cold, so he made sure the fireplace was burning twenty-four hours, seven days a week.

katsuki doesn’t know why, but he swears the gods hated him. he wanted to be alone. he wanted to live in his far-too-big home and eat in his far-too-empty dining room all by himself, but you just had to flip him over on his ass and kick snow in his face. he was supposed to be the scary man in the woods that the little kids told stories of, but that goal was shit on the second he thought of it.

it was cold. it was snowing. it was windy and katsuki’s ears felt like they’d fall off any second now. he needed more wood to keep his fireplace burning, and all of the trees around were too skinny and twiggy for him to even consider. they’d last two seconds flat in the fire and he didn’t feel like going back outside again. with his woven basket strapped to his back and ax in hand, he made his way into the thicker part of the woods.

he was about thirty minutes into his walk when he spotted it. katsuki’s first response was to ignore it, the snow blurring whatever his eyes tried to focus on. a dead deer, he assumed.

turns out, he was wrong.

the wind had caused him to walk a little crooked, which caused katsuki to inevitably veer closer to the lump against the tree. his curiosity got the better of him, and he decided he’d take a look. what he thought was a deer turned out to be.. a little different. a low “what the fuck” left him as he crouched down to look at the not-deer. he expected to feel a cold, stiff mass, but before he could even reach out, his arm was met with claws. he yelled and fell back onto his ass, ax digging into the snow.

something lunged at his chest and his head thumped against a rock, vision swimming with swirls and odd colors distorting his view. a low growl rumbled through the woods, making his chest shake and his vision get blurrier. something felt hot. too hot. he felt like he was on fire. it took him a few— embarrassingly long— seconds to realize what was above him.

what the actual fuck?

katsuki didn’t think dragons even existed anymore. but, apparently they did because what other reason would he have to believe that this wasn’t a dragon hovering over him? what else could possibly be digging it’s claws into his chest? what animal burned hotter than magma and weighed a fuck ton? definitely nothing normal.

you were angry with him. he didn’t know if it was specifically at him, but you were growling and blowing smoke in his face so he must’ve done something wrong.

despite the fact that he could be dead within a millisecond, he decided to poke the bear.

“get the fuck off of me,” he had grunted, using as much force as he could to roll his body to the side, wedging his foot between your bodies to kick somewhere near your stomach. you moved a little too easily, wings flaring as you tipped off of him. katsuki was able to right himself, reaching blindly for his ax that was now covered in snow and freezing cold to the touch.

he didn’t want to kill you, he wasn’t evil, but he also wanted to make it back home in one piece. katsuki readied himself, knuckles white against the dark wood of the ax. you stood slowly, wings extended, the snow around melting to water as you huffed. you stumbled forward and katsuki raised his weapon in defense, stumbling back as you became smaller and lost your footing, falling face first and sliding against the snow.

you were human. you were bruised and you seemed paler than you should’ve been. katsuki was shaking. his ax fell back into the snow and he dropped to his knees, bringing one hand up to grab at his face. he ran his palm down to his chin, breath leaving in white puffs of air.

you were still alive.

you were naked, face smushed into the snow and dirt. he shifted on his knees, attempting to stand. you were obviously in no shape to go off on your own, and now katsuki realizes just why it was so easy to tip you off of him.

katsuki had heard the tales of dragons. they were shapeshifters, used for luxury products and sold to people who had awful intentions. he’d never seen one in person— only in photos and in writing— but now there was one at his knees.

he regrets his next decision.

katsuki couldn’t just let you die, he was better than that!

so, yeah, he lugged you back to his house, forgetting the reason he even left to begin with. he dropped you on the bed in one of his spare rooms, digging through his closet to find clothes that he’d be willing to share. he folded them on the edge of the bed, shutting the door behind him as he left. you woke up a little over eleven hours later, and it was when katsuki was checking up on you. he’d hate to open the door to see you had finally croaked, so he made sure to check on you when he remembered which was every twenty minutes because for some reason, katsuki was waiting for you to wake up.

and when you did, you socked him in the face. you were still human, and the hit hurt a hell of a lot more than he expected it to.

katsuki told you to stay until you healed. he didn’t care much for sob stories and trauma dumps.

that’s how it started, anyway. it wasn’t long until you were getting comfortable around him.

he let you eat with him, let you borrow his clothes, let you walk around his house and he let you do as you pleased. unfortunately, katsuki had yet to think of the fact that you were a dragon. he had yet to think of the fact that you had habits. like shifting into a dragon in the middle of his livingroom to stretch out and blow smoke to the ceiling, like stretching your vocal chords by screaming from the top of his house, like fucking lighting his shit on fire.

you pissed him off. you and your little annoying ass tendencies pissed him off. katsuki hated it when he started to look forward to them.

what he also hated was how warm you were. think back to the first time you two met— how the snow literally evaporated before it hit you. even as a human, you radiated heat like a fireplace. needless to say, katsuki no longer needed to look for wood. maybe you were useful.

it’s been about six months since he found you, and five months since he heard your backstory. he refused to ask and you refused to tell him until it slipped out one day, which led to a rant and some things catching on fire. you were a pet for richer humans. something to display and treat like shit, according to katsuki. you were being hauled out of the country when your chains snapped and you flew out without a second thought. they shot at you, tried to get you down so they could snatch you up again. it failed in the end, but you didn’t get away without a few injuries.

all of those wounds were healed now, thanks to katsuki. neither of you ever admitted it— let alone thought about it— but you two got close. it was hard not to when civilization was basically nonexistent in this area.

getting close meant getting comfortable. and getting comfortable meant you’d get all up in his space. you seemed to have no real sense of boundaries, unfortunately. katsuki was too soft-hearted to push you away, though (tell him that to his face and he’ll shank you).

sometimes you’d shift into a dragon, just to feel the strength and the power of being such an animal. you hunted with him, fought off dangerous beings, and you kept him company.

like right now.

katsuki was laying in bed, propped up slightly against his pillow. you had your head on his stomach, huffing smoke every few minutes. you had shifted to a dragon, body curled up on the floor with your head lifted to rest on his bed. katsuki was reading— and also using you as his personal heated blanket— book propped up against the side of your head because you’re stupid if you think he’s still not a little bit of an ass. his free hand was running over one of your horns, though you couldn’t feel it, you knew he was doing it.

it was quiet, save for the sound of the wind and snow outside and your breathing.

“quit huffin’ so damn loud. m’gonna mount your head on my wall.” he threatened, voice tired and a hell of a lot softer than he intended. he tugged at your horn, feeling your head away against his stomach.

sure, he liked you, but that didn’t mean he had to be a saint.

katsuki knew something was wrong when he couldn't find his favorite shirt.

not because it was his favorite.

he'd never admit that shit.

it was just comfortable. that's all.

old, soft, stretched out from years of wearing it, and it fit him better than most of the newer clothes he'd bought. there was nothing special about it.

except now it was gone.

he'd left it on the back of his chair the night before.

he remembered because he'd specifically decided he was going to wear it the next morning.

and now it wasn't there.

katsuki stared at the empty chair.

"...no."

he checked his room.

nothing.

his closet.

nothing.

the laundry room.

nothing.

the bathroom, despite the fact that there was absolutely no reason his shirt would be in the bathroom.

nothing.

he checked the kitchen.

nothing.

he opened the pantry.

stared inside for a few seconds.

"...why the fuck would it be in here?"

he shut it.

this was stupid.

he wasn't playing hide-and-seek with a fucking shirt.

katsuki dragged a hand down his face and sighed.

"where the hell..."

something caught his attention.

a tiny piece of black fabric was sticking out from underneath the living room table.

katsuki stopped.

slowly crouched.

grabbed it.

pulled.

his shirt came sliding out.

he stared at it.

there were claw marks running down the side.

one sleeve was slightly singed.

there was a suspicious dark stain around the collar.

katsuki's eye twitched.

"...no."

he knew exactly where this was going.

he followed the trail.

a sock was abandoned beside the couch.

his sock.

then another one underneath the stairs.

his scarf was hanging halfway out from behind a chair.

his sweater was lying beside the fireplace.

the sweater he'd spent three days looking for.

"...you're fucking kidding me."

he picked it up.

it smelled faintly like smoke.

of course it did.

everything smelled like smoke around you.

he kept walking.

another blanket.

one of his books.

a glove.

his wooden hairbrush.

the mug he'd bought because it was the only one left in the store that wasn't ugly.

well.

technically, it was ugly.

but he'd gotten used to it.

and now it was on the floor.

katsuki stared at it.

"...why do you have my mug?"

silence.

he looked toward the fireplace.

nothing.

"...i swear to god."

he rounded the corner.

and finally saw it.

your hoard.

katsuki stopped dead.

you were curled up in your dragon form beside the fireplace, your enormous body taking up nearly the entire corner of the room.

your wings were tucked neatly against your sides.

your tail curled around the pile.

and the pile—

katsuki just stared.

there were pillows.

so many fucking pillows.

blankets.

books.

shirts.

his scarf.

his sweater.

his socks.

his gloves.

a pair of sweatpants.

the mug.

his hairbrush.

the old hoodie he'd stopped wearing.

one of his boots.

he stared at the boot for a long time.

"...what the fuck?"

you lifted your head.

your eyes met his.

katsuki pointed toward the pile.

"that's mine."

you blinked.

he pointed again.

"that's mine too."

another blink.

"that's also mine."

your tail curled a little tighter around the hoard.

katsuki's eyebrow twitched.

"...you're stealing my shit."

you made a low rumbling sound.

"don't growl at me."

another rumble.

"i'm serious."

you lowered your head.

"don't you fucking ignore me."

nothing.

katsuki stepped closer.

you watched him.

he crouched down and reached toward his scarf.

your claw immediately came down over it.

katsuki froze.

"...move."

you stared at him.

"move your fucking foot."

you didn't.

katsuki slowly looked from your claw to your face.

"...you know that's mine, right?"

you pulled the scarf closer.

"you don't even wear scarves."

nothing.

"you have wings."

your tail flicked.

"you don't need a scarf."

you stared.

"...whatever."

he reached for the sweater instead.

your wing immediately folded over it.

katsuki's mouth fell open slightly.

"...you're doing this on purpose."

you blinked innocently.

"don't act stupid."

you nudged the sweater underneath yourself.

"...you've gotta be fucking kidding me."

he sat back on his heels.

this was ridiculous.

you were a dragon.

an actual dragon.

a giant fucking creature that could probably carry him halfway across the country if you felt like it.

and you were sitting here protecting a sweatshirt like it was worth more than gold.

katsuki reached for one of his books.

your claw moved again.

he stopped.

"...you don't even read."

you pulled the book closer.

"you can't read in that form."

your eyes narrowed.

"...can you even read?"

a low growl.

"okay. touchy."

he looked at the book.

then at you.

then at the book again.

"...you've had this for two weeks."

you curled around it.

"you've been sleeping on it."

a small rumble.

"that's not what books are for."

you ignored him.

katsuki sighed.

he should've known.

he'd been finding random shit missing for months.

the pillow he'd assumed he'd left somewhere.

the hoodie he thought he'd accidentally donated.

the book he'd blamed on himself for misplacing.

the gloves.

the scarf.

all of it.

it hadn't disappeared.

you'd been stealing it.

piece by piece.

and somehow, katsuki hadn't noticed.

or maybe he had.

maybe he'd just refused to put the pieces together.

because the first time he'd found one of his shirts underneath you, he'd thought you'd accidentally dragged it there.

then it happened again.

and again.

and again.

until apparently you had enough of his belongings to furnish an entire bedroom.

katsuki looked over the pile.

"...what's the point?"

you lifted your head.

"why do you even want all this shit?"

you didn't answer.

obviously.

you were a dragon.

katsuki wasn't expecting a fucking verbal explanation.

still, he waited.

your head lowered again.

your nose pressed into the pile of clothes.

you breathed in.

slowly.

katsuki's expression changed.

just slightly.

he'd seen that before.

you did that whenever you were tired.

or upset.

or when something scared you.

you'd bury your face into one of his old shirts and just...

breathe.

katsuki had always assumed it was because dragons had weird habits.

dragons were weird.

you were especially weird.

but now he looked at the pile differently.

every single thing smelled like him.

his clothes.

his blankets.

his books.

his scarf.

even the stupid mug he'd left on the counter.

you hadn't picked expensive things.

you hadn't taken anything valuable.

you'd taken his things.

things that were familiar.

things that smelled like home.

katsuki swallowed.

"...oh."

you opened one eye.

he immediately looked away.

"don't look at me."

you blinked.

"i said don't."

he stood.

you watched him leave.

finally.

katsuki was gone.

you lowered your head again.

then heard footsteps.

your head shot up.

katsuki walked back into the room carrying an armful of things.

you stared.

he dumped them beside your hoard.

another blanket.

two old shirts.

a worn-out book.

a hoodie.

a pillow.

a pair of sweatpants.

you looked at the pile.

then at him.

katsuki crossed his arms.

"...what?"

you nudged the blanket closer.

"don't."

you nudged it again.

"don't look at me like that."

another little rumble came from your chest.

"...apparently you like having my stuff around."

your tail curled around the new clothes.

katsuki sighed.

"yeah, yeah."

he sat down beside you.

you shifted slightly.

your enormous head lowered until it rested against the pile.

katsuki looked at you.

you looked comfortable.

more comfortable than you'd looked in days.

he reached over.

his fingers brushed between your horns.

you didn't move.

so he scratched gently.

your eyes closed.

katsuki stared at the fireplace.

"...so that's your treasure."

a soft rumble.

"all this?"

another rumble.

he looked at the pile.

none of it was expensive.

none of it was rare.

it was just...

his.

things that belonged to him.

things you'd decided belonged with you.

katsuki's fingers continued moving slowly between your horns.

"...could've picked something more expensive."

you nudged his old hoodie closer.

"that thing has holes in it."

you curled around it.

"...you're fucking ridiculous."

but he didn't take it away.

he didn't take anything away.

instead, he leaned back against the couch and let you settle beside him.

the fire crackled.

snow tapped against the windows.

the room was warm.

quiet.

safe.

katsuki looked down at you.

he'd spent so long thinking about dragons as creatures that hoarded gold.

jewelry.

treasure.

things that glittered.

things that could be sold.

but maybe that wasn't what a hoard was.

maybe it wasn't about things being valuable.

maybe it was about things being yours.

things that made you feel safe enough to sleep.

things that smelled familiar.

things that reminded you that someone was there.

katsuki looked at the pile again.

his shirts.

his books.

his blankets.

his scarf.

his stupid mug.

all the little pieces of his life you'd gathered and tucked beneath your wings.

he exhaled.

"...you could've just asked."

your eyes opened.

katsuki immediately frowned.

"don't get excited."

you nudged his hand.

he rolled his eyes.

"...fine."

his hand returned to your horns.

"keep it."

your eyes closed again.

katsuki looked away, pretending the tiny smile pulling at his mouth wasn't there.

"...guess this place feels like home, huh?"

you made that soft rumbling sound.

katsuki's fingers slowed.

"...yeah."

his voice was quieter.

"...me too."

katsuki hadn't thought anything of the question at first.

you were standing beside him in the village market, arguing with some old woman over the price of apples.

katsuki wasn't even sure why you were arguing.

you didn't need apples.

there were apples at home.

probably too many, actually.

he'd watched you buy a basket three days ago, watched you forget about them, and then watched you complain when he pointed out that half of them were going soft.

and yet here you were.

doing it again.

"that's too expensive."

the woman frowned.

"they're fresh."

"they're fucking apples."

"katsuki."

"what?"

"you're being rude."

"i'm being honest."

you smiled.

katsuki pointed at you.

"stop smiling."

you smiled wider.

"you're annoying."

"you love me."

the words came out so casually that you didn't even seem to realize what you'd said.

katsuki did.

he went completely still.

you turned back toward the woman.

"fine. i'll take three."

katsuki stared at you.

you love me.

his face suddenly felt hot.

no.

absolutely not.

he was not getting flustered over some stupid joke.

he'd heard you say it before.

probably.

maybe.

had you?

katsuki couldn't remember.

which was somehow worse.

"earth to katsuki."

he blinked.

you were looking at him.

"you okay?"

"fine."

"you're red."

"i'm fucking cold."

you glanced at the snow-covered street.

then at him.

"you're wearing three layers."

"...shut up."

you laughed.

katsuki grabbed the bag of apples before you could say anything else.

the woman looked between the two of you.

then smiled.

"you two are quite close, aren't you?"

katsuki shrugged.

"we live together."

the woman gave him a knowing look.

"that's not what i meant."

katsuki frowned.

you looked at her curiously.

she glanced between you again.

"you remind me of people who've known each other for years."

katsuki opened his mouth.

nothing came out.

because suddenly, he started noticing everything.

you knew which chair he'd sit in without asking.

you knew when he wanted silence.

you knew when he'd had a bad day before he'd even spoken.

you knew exactly how much salt he liked in his food.

you knew which blanket he'd reach for when he was tired.

you knew he hated being fussed over.

you knew when he was lying about being fine.

and katsuki knew you.

he knew when your wings were bothering you.

he knew which foods you secretly liked.

he knew when you were restless because your claws would tap against the floor.

he knew when you were angry.

tired.

amused.

frightened.

he knew the difference between your footsteps.

he knew the sound of your breathing when you were asleep.

he knew which books you reread.

he knew which parts of the house you liked most.

he knew when you wanted him nearby.

and, more importantly, he knew when you didn't.

six months ago, he'd known absolutely nothing about you.

now he could recognize you from a single sound in another room.

katsuki looked away.

"...that's weird."

you looked at him.

"what's weird?"

"nothing."

he grabbed the bag of apples tighter.

"we're leaving."

the walk home was quiet.

too quiet.

you walked beside him, occasionally bumping your shoulder against his.

normally, he wouldn't have noticed.

now he noticed every single time.

your sleeve brushed his.

your hand came close to his.

you hummed quietly beneath your breath.

katsuki wanted to say something.

he didn't know what.

because he was still thinking about what you'd said.

you love me.

his stomach twisted.

he did.

that was the fucking problem.

katsuki stared straight ahead.

he loved you.

there.

he'd thought it.

and once he'd admitted it to himself, there was no taking it back.

he loved you.

not because you lived with him.

not because you'd become familiar.

not because the house felt different with you in it.

he loved you because you were you.

because he looked for you when he entered a room.

because he saved things to tell you.

because he knew exactly which expression you'd make when he said something stupid.

because he'd started buying your favorite food without thinking about it.

because when something funny happened, you were the first person he wanted to find.

because when something went wrong, his first thought was whether you were safe.

because he'd started measuring his days by whether he'd gotten to see you smile.

"...fuck."

you looked over.

"what?"

"nothing."

"you've been saying that a lot."

"drop it."

you smiled.

katsuki looked away.

he was fucked.

completely.

when you reached the manor, you kicked your boots off beside the door.

katsuki frowned.

"how many times do i have to tell you not to leave those there?"

you shrugged.

"put them away."

you walked toward the fireplace.

he sighed.

then picked up your boots.

and followed you.

you settled into your usual spot.

katsuki sat in his.

there was nothing unusual about it.

that was what bothered him.

this was normal.

you being there was normal.

your books mixed with his.

your clothes in the same laundry basket.

your things scattered throughout the manor.

a blanket you'd stolen from him draped over the couch.

your mug beside his.

your shoes by the door.

little traces of you everywhere.

katsuki looked around.

he'd once chosen this place because it was isolated.

because it was empty.

because he wanted to be left alone.

now there wasn't a single room that didn't remind him of you.

and he realized something that made his chest ache.

he didn't want the old version back.

he didn't want the empty house.

he didn't want the silence.

he didn't want to wake up and not hear you moving around downstairs.

he didn't want to eat alone.

he didn't want to come home to a house that didn't have your things scattered everywhere.

he wanted this.

he wanted you.

and suddenly that wasn't some vague feeling he could ignore.

it was painfully fucking obvious.

katsuki loved you.

he loved you so much it was embarrassing.

you looked over.

"why are you staring?"

"...i'm not."

"you are."

"shut up."

you laughed.

katsuki looked away.

then you reached over.

your fingers brushed his cheek.

"you're red again."

katsuki froze.

your hand was warm.

far too warm.

and you were close.

way too fucking close.

his brain stopped working.

"...what?"

"you're blushing."

"i'm not."

"you are."

"it's the fire."

you glanced at the fireplace.

then back at him.

"the fire is behind you."

katsuki's face got hotter.

"...you're fucking annoying."

you smiled.

"you really are blushing."

he caught your wrist before you could pull your hand away.

not hard.

just enough to stop you.

the room suddenly felt very quiet.

katsuki stared at your hand in his.

then at you.

his heart was pounding so hard he was almost certain you could hear it.

"...don't."

your expression softened.

"don't what?"

"don't look at me like that."

"like what?"

like you knew.

like you could see straight through him.

like you were waiting for him to finally say the thing he'd been too much of a coward to admit.

katsuki swallowed.

"...because i..."

the words caught in his throat.

you waited.

he looked at you.

really looked at you.

your eyes.

your face.

the tiny smile that had disappeared because you were suddenly taking him seriously.

his thumb brushed against your wrist.

"...i..."

he could say it.

three words.

that's all.

i love you.

his chest tightened.

he'd fought monsters.

he'd faced dragons.

he'd walked through blizzards alone.

and somehow, saying three fucking words to you was the hardest thing he'd ever done.

"...i love—"

he stopped.

his eyes widened.

you stared at him.

katsuki's entire face went red.

"...i love..."

nothing.

his brain completely abandoned him.

"i love..."

he looked away.

"...your fucking cooking."

silence.

you blinked.

katsuki wanted the floor to open up and swallow him.

"that's what i was gonna say."

you stared at him.

"...really?"

"yes."

"you were going to tell me you love my cooking?"

"yeah."

"you've complained about my cooking."

"doesn't mean i don't love it."

you raised an eyebrow.

katsuki refused to look at you.

"...you're a shitty liar."

"shut up."

you laughed softly.

and somehow that was worse.

because katsuki knew you'd heard the unfinished sentence.

you knew.

maybe not exactly.

but enough.

he could feel his ears burning.

"...forget it."

you gently squeezed his hand.

"okay."

katsuki looked at you.

you weren't teasing him.

you weren't laughing anymore.

you were just...

there.

beside him.

your hand still in his.

and somehow that made his chest hurt even more.

because he wanted to tell you.

god, he wanted to tell you.

he wanted to say it properly.

without stumbling.

without pretending he was talking about your cooking.

without turning red like an idiot.

he wanted to look you in the eyes and tell you exactly what he'd been feeling.

that he loved you.

that somewhere between rescuing you and letting you stay, you'd become the most important person in his life.

that he'd started imagining a future and somehow you were always in it.

that the thought of you leaving terrified him.

that coming home to you had become his favorite part of the day.

that he didn't know when it happened.

he just knew it had.

katsuki looked down at your joined hands.

"...i meant something else."

you went still.

his heart jumped.

"...what?"

he swallowed.

this was it.

say it.

just fucking say it.

katsuki lifted his eyes to yours.

"...i meant..."

his voice came out quieter than he'd intended.

"...you're important to me."

you smiled.

"i know."

his chest tightened.

of course you knew.

you always knew.

katsuki squeezed your hand.

"...more than you probably realize."

your smile softened.

"then maybe you should tell me someday."

he stared at you.

his face burned again.

"...yeah."

a pause.

"...maybe i will."

you leaned your head against his shoulder.

katsuki went completely still.

then slowly relaxed.

his head tilted until it rested lightly against yours.

the fire crackled.

snow tapped softly against the windows.

neither of you spoke.

but katsuki kept your hand in his.

and this time, he didn't let go.

because he knew what he felt now.

there was no pretending it was friendship.

no blaming it on familiarity.

no telling himself that he'd simply gotten used to having you around.

he loved you.

painfully.

completely.

and eventually, he was going to tell you.

properly.

even if the thought of it made his stomach twist.

even if his face turned red.

even if he had to fight every fucking instinct telling him to run.

because for once, Katsuki didn't want to run from something that scared him.

he wanted to stay.

with you.

Katsuki had never considered himself a jealous person.

Possessive, maybe.

Irritable, definitely.

But jealous?

No.

That was ridiculous.

Until the day someone in the village started flirting with you.

It was obvious.

Painfully obvious.

The villager had been talking to you for several minutes, smiling too much and standing far too close.

"You know," they said, "I don't think I've ever seen anyone as attractive as you around here."

You laughed awkwardly.

"That's quite a compliment."

"I mean it."

Their smile widened.

"If you're staying at the manor, maybe I could show you around sometime."

Before you could answer, Katsuki appeared beside you.

"We're leaving."

You blinked.ik

"We just got here."

"We're leaving."

The villager chuckled.

"You sure? I was just asking them out."

Katsuki's expression immediately darkened.

"Didn't ask."

He stepped closer to you, deliberately putting himself between you and the villager.

His hand briefly settled against your upper arm as he guided you away.

The villager called after you.

"Think about my offer!"

Katsuki stopped.

Slowly, he looked over his shoulder.

"They won't."

You nearly laughed.

Once you were out of the village, you finally turned toward him.

"That was subtle."

"Shut up."

"You practically shoved them away."

"They were flirting."

"Yes."

"And?"

You smiled.

"And you're jealous."

"I'm not jealous."

"You put yourself between us."

"They were too close."

"You grabbed my arm."

"So?"

"You were glaring."

"They were annoying."

"You were jealous."

Katsuki's ears turned red.

"Keep saying that and see what happens."

You grinned.

"What happens?"

He narrowed his eyes.

"You really like pushing your luck."

"You make it easy."

He scoffed and started walking again.

You followed.

"So what exactly bothered you?"

"Nothing."

"You clearly cared."

"I didn't."

"You didn't like them complimenting me."

"No."

"You didn't like them asking me out."

"No."

"You didn't like them thinking they had a chance."

Katsuki stopped.

"...Obviously."

You smiled.

"Why?"

He stared at you.

"Because they're an idiot."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

You stepped closer, deliberately teasing him.

"They did think I was attractive."

Katsuki's expression tightened.

"I heard them."

"And they wanted to take me somewhere."

"I heard that too."

"You didn't seem very happy."

"I wasn't."

You laughed.

He looked away.

"...You enjoy this way too much."

"Maybe."

Katsuki sighed.

Then he glanced back at you.

"They don't know you."

You tilted your head.

"No?"

"No."

His voice was quieter.

"They don't know anything about you."

They didn't know your secret.

They didn't know you were a dragon shifter.

They only saw the human form you showed the village and assumed that was all there was to you.

Katsuki knew better.

He knew the truth.

And perhaps that was part of why the flirting irritated him so much.

"They're looking at you like they know you," he muttered.

You smiled.

"And you do?"

Katsuki immediately frowned.

"Don't make it weird."

"I'm just asking."

"You're impossible."

You laughed again.

He tried to hide the small smile threatening to appear.

Then he looked toward the village.

"If they try that again..."

You raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Katsuki shoved his hands into his pockets.

"...I'll handle it."

You smiled.

"Jealous."

"I'm not."

"Possessive?"

He paused.

"...Maybe."

You laughed.

"Thought so."

"Shut up."

katsuki noticed the first thing missing on a tuesday.

one of the shirts he'd given you.

then another.

he didn't think much of it.

you were constantly stealing his clothes anyway.

half his closet had somehow become yours, and he'd stopped keeping track months ago. every time he complained, you'd just smile and wear the damn thing anyway.

normally, he'd call you a thief.

this time, he kept walking.

it wasn't until he noticed the bag that he stopped.

it sat near the bottom of the stairs.

small.

packed.

katsuki stared at it.

"...what's that?"

you looked over.

"nothing."

"that's a fucking bag."

you hesitated.

then told him you'd packed some things.

for later.

those two words followed him around for the rest of the day.

for later.

he hated how harmless they sounded.

he hated how much they hurt.

katsuki started noticing things.

things he'd been too comfortable to notice before.

the way you'd been spending more time outside.

the way you kept looking toward the mountains.

the maps you'd started leaving on the kitchen table.

the supplies disappearing from the pantry.

the clothes missing from your room.

the way you sometimes stood by the front door for a little too long.

he noticed all of it.

and suddenly, every little thing he'd ignored became evidence.

you were preparing to leave.

katsuki told himself it wasn't his business.

you weren't his prisoner.

you never had been.

six months ago, he'd told you to stay until you healed.

then go wherever the hell you wanted.

he'd meant it.

he had.

so why did the thought of you actually taking him up on it feel like someone had reached inside his chest and started squeezing?

he became unbearable.

"where are you going?"

"out."

"where?"

"the forest."

"why?"

you stared at him.

"...to walk."

"then i'll come."

"you don't have to."

"didn't say i had to."

he followed anyway.

he followed when you gathered herbs.

when you went hunting.

when you climbed the ridge overlooking the valley.

he pretended it was coincidence.

it wasn't.

he just couldn't stand the thought of letting you out of his sight anymore.

because every time you disappeared beyond the trees, some ugly little voice in the back of his head wondered if you were going to come back.

and katsuki hated himself for it.

he'd spent six months telling himself you were free.

now he was terrified you'd actually use that freedom.

one evening, he found your room half empty.

he stood in the doorway.

your shelves had gaps.

your clothes were missing.

the little things you'd accumulated over the months were slowly disappearing.

things you'd brought into his house.

things that had become part of it.

part of him.

katsuki stared at the empty spaces.

"...fuck."

he backed out.

he couldn't breathe right.

he went downstairs.

the house was quiet.

too quiet.

for the first time, he noticed how loud the manor had been when you weren't there.

not because of talking.

because of you.

your footsteps.

your books closing.

your laughter.

the occasional crash from upstairs when you'd knocked something over.

the sound of your wings stretching.

the little noises you made when you thought nobody was listening.

he'd gotten used to all of it.

he'd gotten so fucking used to you that he hadn't realized he'd started depending on it.

katsuki sat down beside the fireplace.

your usual spot was empty.

he stared at it.

"...dammit."

he knew he couldn't ask you to stay.

that was the worst part.

what right did he have?

you weren't his.

you'd never been his.

he'd never asked you to be.

and maybe that was why you were leaving.

maybe you'd finally realized there was nothing keeping you here.

maybe you'd realized that a house wasn't a home just because he'd let you sleep in it.

maybe you thought he wanted you gone.

the thought made his stomach turn.

because he remembered every time he'd complained.

every time he'd told you that you were annoying.

every time he'd told you to get out of his space.

every time he'd acted like your presence was some inconvenience he was tolerating.

what if you'd believed him?

katsuki pressed his palms against his face.

"...fucking idiot."

he'd spent six months making sure you knew you were free.

he'd forgotten to make sure you knew you were wanted.

the realization hurt worse than anything else.

finally, one afternoon, he saw you standing at the edge of the forest.

you had your belongings with you.

a pack over your shoulder.

your things bundled together.

the clothes he'd given you.

the books you'd collected.

the scarf he'd bought you because you kept stealing his.

katsuki stopped.

snow drifted quietly between you.

for a few seconds, neither of you spoke.

his eyes dropped to the bag.

then back to you.

his hands slowly curled into fists inside his gloves.

"...you're leaving."

it wasn't a question.

you explained yourself.

you weren't necessarily leaving forever.

you were only preparing yourself.

you didn't want to stay somewhere you weren't wanted.

katsuki's face went completely still.

"who said you're not wanted?"

you looked at him.

he immediately regretted saying it.

because the answer was obvious.

him.

or at least, that's what he'd made you think.

his jaw tightened.

"...whatever."

he looked away.

boots grinding into the snow.

"if you're gonna leave, at least wait until spring."

you asked why.

his shoulders stiffened.

"because the roads are shit."

you waited.

"...and you're not stupid enough to cross half a frozen forest alone."

another pause.

his voice dropped.

"...right?"

you didn't answer immediately.

katsuki looked at you.

you were standing there with everything you needed to leave.

everything except a reason to stay.

his chest tightened.

"...i mean it."

you looked at him.

"mean what?"

he swallowed.

"you shouldn't go."

the words sounded wrong coming from him.

too vulnerable.

too honest.

he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.

"...not like this."

you frowned.

"like what?"

"like you're running away."

you told him you weren't running.

katsuki laughed once.

there was nothing amused about it.

"could've fooled me."

his eyes dropped to your bag again.

"you've been packing."

silence.

"you've been disappearing for hours."

another pause.

"you've been looking at maps."

his voice cracked slightly.

"...and you stopped leaving your shit everywhere."

that one hurt.

because it was true.

you'd been making yourself smaller.

quietly removing yourself from his life before you'd even left it.

katsuki looked away.

"...i noticed."

you said something softly.

he shook his head.

"don't."

you stopped.

katsuki took a breath.

his chest felt too tight.

"...don't tell me you're doing this because you think i don't want you here."

you looked at him.

he swallowed.

"because if that's what you think..."

his voice faltered.

he hated it.

hated that you could hear it.

"...then i fucked up."

snow landed on his shoulders.

he didn't move.

"i told you that you could leave whenever you wanted."

a pause.

"i meant it."

his eyes lifted to yours.

"...i just never said i wanted you to."

silence.

katsuki's throat tightened.

he looked down at the snow between you.

"...i thought you'd figure it out."

a bitter laugh left him.

"guess i was wrong."

you stared at him.

he clenched his jaw.

"...i don't want this house without you."

there.

he'd said it.

not enough.

nowhere near enough.

but it was the truth.

"i don't want your room empty."

his voice grew quieter.

"i don't want your books gone."

another breath.

"i don't want to stop hearing you downstairs."

he looked at you.

his eyes were painfully serious.

"...and i don't want to wake up one morning and realize you're actually gone."

you didn't move.

neither did he.

katsuki's hands were shaking inside his gloves.

he hated that.

hated that he was standing there practically begging without actually saying the words.

because he wanted to say them.

stay.

please.

stay with me.

but he didn't know if he had the right.

so instead, he forced the words through his teeth.

"...if you leave, i'm not gonna stop you."

his voice was barely above a murmur.

"i won't."

he swallowed.

"...but don't leave because you think i don't want you."

his eyes met yours.

"because that's bullshit."

a pause.

"...i want you here."

his voice cracked.

"...more than i know what to do with."

katsuki looked away immediately.

his face burned despite the cold.

"...fuck."

he kicked at the snow.

"there. happy?"

you didn't answer.

he glanced at you.

"...what?"

you stepped closer.

katsuki went still.

your hand caught the sleeve of his coat.

the same way he'd grabbed yours countless times.

his breath caught.

but you still didn't say anything.

katsuki looked down at your hand.

then back at your face.

for one brief second, something like hope crossed his expression.

then he remembered the bag.

the maps.

the empty shelves.

his expression fell again.

"...you still might leave."

it wasn't a question.

just a fact.

your fingers tightened slightly around his sleeve.

katsuki stared at you.

he wanted an answer.

wanted you to tell him that he'd misunderstood everything.

wanted you to say that you were staying.

but he couldn't bring himself to ask.

because if you said no...

he wasn't sure what he'd do with it.

so he stepped back.

just enough to put the smallest amount of distance between you again.

"...whatever you decide."

his voice was rough.

"i meant what i said."

he looked toward the forest.

"...i won't stop you."

snow continued falling between you.

katsuki stood there with his hands buried in his pockets, pretending he wasn't waiting for you to make a choice.

pretending his chest wasn't aching.

pretending he hadn't just admitted the one thing he'd spent six months trying not to say.

and you still hadn't told him whether you were staying.

he hated that he had to wait.

he hated even more that, for once, there was nothing he could do to change the answer.

katsuki knew something was wrong the second he opened the front door.

not because the house was unusually quiet.

the house was always quiet when you weren't around.

well.

it used to be.

now he'd gotten irritatingly accustomed to the noise you made.

the occasional thump of your tail against the furniture.

claws clicking against the stone floor.

the rustling of wings whenever you stretched.

even your stupid little habit of humming when you cooked.

he'd complained about all of it.

now, when he couldn't hear any of it, the silence felt wrong.

too fucking wrong.

katsuki dropped the bundle of firewood beside the fireplace and looked around.

nothing.

he checked the kitchen.

empty.

the living room.

empty.

upstairs.

nothing.

his jaw tightened.

you'd gone hunting hours ago.

without telling him.

"...damn idiot."

he told himself he wasn't worried.

he wasn't.

he was annoyed.

there was a difference.

a very obvious difference.

he sat down.

picked up his book.

read the same page three times.

looked toward the window.

went back to the book.

read another sentence.

looked toward the window again.

"...fuck."

snow was coming down hard enough that he could barely see the tree line.

you should've been back by now.

katsuki shut the book.

"whatever."

he stood.

walked toward the window.

stared outside.

nothing.

he waited.

five minutes.

then ten.

then twenty.

eventually, he stopped pretending he was waiting for anything.

he was worried.

there.

he admitted it.

to himself.

that was enough.

then the front door opened.

katsuki's chair scraped violently against the floor.

you stepped inside covered in snow.

one hand was pressed against your side.

katsuki's stomach dropped.

"what happened?"

you shrugged.

that was enough.

"don't fucking shrug at me."

you told him you were fine.

"you're bleeding."

you insisted it wasn't serious.

"i didn't ask if it was serious."

you looked at him.

"i asked what happened."

you tried to brush past him.

he stepped in front of you.

"where?"

you sighed.

he stared.

"...where are you hurt?"

you showed him.

katsuki's expression darkened.

"you went out there alone?"

you nodded.

"without telling me?"

another nod.

"and you came back like this?"

you told him you could take care of yourself.

katsuki laughed once.

short.

sharp.

"yeah, clearly."

your expression changed.

"what's that supposed to mean?"

"it means you're standing in my fucking doorway holding your side because you decided you didn't need anyone."

you told him you didn't need him.

that was when it happened.

the argument.

you told him you could take care of yourself.

he told you that wasn't the fucking point.

you told him you weren't one of his animals to keep track of.

his jaw clenched.

"then stop acting like one."

silence.

the words hung there.

katsuki immediately knew.

he'd gone too far.

your expression changed.

so did his.

"...shit."

you looked away.

neither of you apologized.

you walked upstairs.

katsuki stayed where he was.

the front door was still open.

snow blew inside.

he didn't notice.

he just stared at the staircase.

"...fuck."

he shut the door.

then stood there.

alone.

the house felt different.

again.

too quiet.

katsuki eventually returned to his chair.

he stared at the fire.

his mind kept replaying the same sentence.

stop acting like one.

he rubbed a hand over his face.

"...fucking idiot."

he wasn't talking about you.

the next morning, there was food outside your door.

he didn't knock.

you didn't mention it.

the day after that, there was medicine.

then fresh water.

then another plate of food.

he never said anything.

you never thanked him.

for the next several days, the manor became a battlefield made entirely of silence.

katsuki still chopped enough wood for both of you.

you still kept the fire burning when he went outside.

he'd leave a cup of something warm on the table.

you'd quietly wash his dishes.

he'd fix whatever needed fixing.

you'd leave his things where you knew he'd find them.

neither of you said a word.

it was almost worse than fighting.

because fighting meant you were still talking.

this?

this felt like slowly losing each other while standing in the same house.

katsuki hated it.

he hated coming downstairs and not hearing you.

he hated eating without someone stealing food off his plate.

he hated sitting by the fireplace and seeing your usual spot empty.

most of all, he hated that he couldn't figure out how to fix it.

he'd never been good at apologies.

he'd never been good at admitting when he'd fucked up.

and somehow, with you, it mattered more.

late one evening, katsuki woke to the sound of coughing.

he sat upright.

listened.

there it was again.

a weak cough from downstairs.

"...shit."

he got out of bed.

walked down the stairs.

the fireplace was nearly out.

you were curled up beside it.

apparently, you'd fallen asleep there.

katsuki stared at you.

your breathing was uneven.

the room was cold.

"...unbelievable."

he walked toward you.

crouched down.

for a second, he just watched.

you looked exhausted.

smaller somehow.

nothing like the creature that could spread enormous wings across his living room and make the entire house shake.

katsuki sighed.

"you're gonna freeze to death just to prove a fucking point."

you didn't answer.

obviously.

you were asleep.

he grabbed a blanket.

held it over you.

then hesitated.

his fingers hovered near your shoulder.

he could've woken you.

could've told you to go upstairs.

could've left you there and let you deal with it yourself.

instead, he carefully draped the blanket over you.

he tucked the edge around your shoulder.

his hand paused.

"...still pissed at you."

nothing.

katsuki stared at you.

"...just so we're clear."

you didn't move.

his expression softened.

barely.

"...doesn't mean i want you sick."

he sat down in the chair nearby.

he told himself he was only staying until the fire caught again.

that was all.

he added another log.

watched the flames slowly grow.

then looked back at you.

still asleep.

still there.

katsuki leaned back.

his eyes stayed on you.

"...damn it."

he hated how easy it was to forgive you.

he hated how much harder it was to stay angry.

mostly, he hated that the thought of you being hurt scared him more than the thought of being angry with you.

his gaze dropped to the floor.

"...i shouldn't have said that."

the words were quiet.

you didn't hear them.

at least, he hoped you didn't.

katsuki looked toward the fire.

"...you're not an animal."

his jaw tightened.

"...you're you."

silence.

he swallowed.

"...and i know you can take care of yourself."

his voice dropped.

"doesn't mean i don't worry."

he stared at his hands.

"...doesn't mean i don't want to know you're okay."

another pause.

"...doesn't mean i don't fucking care."

he stopped.

the fire crackled.

snow tapped softly against the windows.

katsuki looked over at you again.

"...more than i should."

he immediately frowned.

"...fuck."

he leaned back in the chair.

he wasn't apologizing.

not tonight.

he'd do it tomorrow.

maybe.

if he could figure out how to say it without sounding like an idiot.

for now, he stayed where he was.

watching the fire.

watching you.

making sure you were warm.

and when you shifted in your sleep, instinctively moving closer to the heat, katsuki reached over and pulled the blanket a little tighter around you.

"...still pissed at you."

his voice was quiet.

almost gentle.

"...but i'm not leaving you down here alone."

and for the first time in days, the silence between you didn't feel quite so empty.

katsuki had a problem.

a really fucking inconvenient one.

you.

more specifically, the fact that you'd gotten comfortable enough around him to stop asking permission.

not that he wanted you to.

that was the problem.

you'd started stealing his blankets without warning.

sitting beside him instead of across from him.

falling asleep near the fireplace with your shoulder against his.

sometimes you'd wander into the kitchen while he was cooking and stand close enough that he'd forget what he was doing.

he'd gotten used to it.

or, at least, that's what he told himself.

tonight, you were beside him again.

your shoulder rested against his.

your head had slowly found its way onto his shoulder.

katsuki had been reading for twenty minutes.

he hadn't turned a page.

"...you're heavy."

you hummed.

"you heard me."

you didn't move.

katsuki sighed.

"...of course you didn't."

his eyes returned to the book.

the words blurred.

he could feel your warmth beside him.

could hear the quiet rhythm of your breathing.

could feel every tiny movement whenever you shifted closer.

his grip tightened around the book.

this was getting fucking ridiculous.

you shifted.

your head slipped from his shoulder.

katsuki caught you before you could fall.

his hand settled against your arm.

you looked up at him.

he froze.

"...what?"

you smiled.

"nothing."

"don't give me that look."

"what look?"

"that one."

you raised an eyebrow.

"you're the one staring."

"...i'm not staring."

"you haven't turned a page."

katsuki glanced down.

the same page.

"...dammit."

you laughed.

he closed the book.

"happy?"

"very."

"you're annoying."

"you keep saying that."

"because you keep proving me right."

you smiled.

then your hand slipped into his.

katsuki stopped.

he looked down.

your fingers had settled between his.

his heart kicked hard against his ribs.

"...you're getting bold."

you squeezed his hand.

"maybe."

he looked at you.

"...you know what you're doing."

you tilted your head.

"do i?"

katsuki stared.

then looked away.

"...probably."

his thumb moved across your knuckles.

once.

slowly.

neither of you spoke.

the fire crackled.

wind pushed against the windows.

katsuki glanced at you.

you were already looking at him.

he looked away.

then back.

you were still looking.

"...what?"

"nothing."

"you keep doing that."

"doing what?"

"looking at me."

you smiled.

"you've been looking at me too."

katsuki opened his mouth.

nothing came out.

because you were right.

his eyes dropped for a moment.

then lifted again.

and suddenly, he couldn't seem to look anywhere else.

you were close.

not unusually close.

not really.

but somehow, tonight, the distance felt different.

katsuki's breathing slowed.

his fingers tightened around yours.

you didn't pull away.

neither did he.

his gaze flickered over your face.

then stopped.

he swallowed.

"...shit."

you tilted your head.

"what?"

"nothing."

but he didn't look away.

he should've.

he knew he should've.

instead, he leaned forward.

barely.

just enough for the space between you to disappear by an inch.

then he stopped.

his heart was pounding so hard he was convinced you could hear it.

you didn't move.

katsuki didn't either.

his eyes searched yours.

waiting.

hesitating.

he leaned forward another fraction.

then froze again.

"...fuck."

his voice was barely audible.

he had no idea what he was doing.

or, worse—

he knew exactly what he was doing.

his breath caught.

he looked at you.

you were still there.

still watching him.

still holding his hand.

katsuki's face began to burn.

the realization hit him all at once.

he was leaning toward you.

he was actually—

"...nope."

he abruptly pulled back.

his free hand covered his face.

"nope. absolutely fucking not."

you stared at him.

then smiled.

katsuki could hear it in your silence.

"don't."

you hadn't said anything.

"i know you're laughing."

you weren't.

probably.

"...you're impossible."

he kept his face covered.

his ears were bright red.

after a few seconds, he peeked through his fingers.

you were still watching him.

"...what?"

you smiled.

"nothing."

"don't copy me."

you laughed.

katsuki groaned and dropped his hand.

"...i hate you."

"you don't."

he looked away.

"...unfortunately."

his hand was still holding yours.

he glanced down at it.

then back at you.

his expression softened.

"...don't move."

you raised an eyebrow.

"why?"

he swallowed.

"...because i'm still trying to figure out what the hell just happened."

a pause.

his thumb brushed over your knuckles.

"...and i don't want you farther away while i do."

he immediately looked toward the fireplace.

"...and we're never talking about this."

you smiled.

katsuki's ears went red again.

"...i'm serious."

the fire crackled between you.

neither of you moved.

and the space he'd almost closed remained there.

small.

quiet.

and suddenly impossible for either of you to ignore.

.