Work Text:
Gripping his wicker basket by the handle, Deku waved farewell to the owner before stepping out of his herbal shop. Looking down, he smiled as he considered how lucky he was to get the herbs and plants he’d needed before they were sold out.
Walking through the open air market, he saw the people crowding around the various booths and haggling over prices and items. It was always so busy there, Deku was glad that he’d found what he needed at the shop rather than getting hung up with that mess. Pausing to adjust the basket, he could hear the conversation nearby between two middle-aged ladies.
“Well you know they let those Kamino barbarians into the town. I’m not sure what the king was thinking when he decided to open the borders of Musutafu.”
Her companion answered back, “The nobles are saying it’s to foster good relations with Kamino. They’ve even sent a prince of their royal family here to observe our country. I hear he’s quite an eyeful, too,” the younger of the two said with a giggle as her friend elbowed her in the arm before laughing as well.
Deku grinned at their silly talk and continued on his way to the end of town. He didn’t visit often enough to stay current with all the latest news, but he had known about Kamino, their neighboring country, taking Musutafu’s offer for an alliance into consideration. It seemed wise on their part to send someone as a way to start developing trust and understanding between their two countries.
Nearing the edge of town, Deku kept walking as he looked in his basket, “I do have everything I need, right? I’d hate to get home and realize I’d forgotten someth-- oof!” Without realizing it, Deku had collided with someone while he had been looking away, the contents of his basket now scattered on the ground around him.
“I’m terribly sorry! I didn’t mean to bump into you, I was just trying to recall if I needed anything else before I went home!” Deku squeaked out as he crouched down to start gathering his plants to return them to the basket. He glanced up, fearful to see if the person he’d walked into was angry.
To his surprise, he found a mountain of a man staring down at him with piercing red eyes. His hair was a mess of ash blonde spikes that looked like they could be soft to the touch even as rigid as they were. The clothes he wore didn’t fit with anything he had seen before in town. He wore a long cloak bordered with animal fur, which partially covered muscular arms that had many dark tattoos and ropes tied along his biceps.
Deku realized that this could be one of the barbarians from Kamino, exploring the town while their royal envoy spoke with their kingdom’s nobles and rulers.
The man’s eyes looked away from him and to the contents of his basket. “What is all of this? Are you a grown man playing with flowers?” His voice was thick and deep, the tone of it sent a shiver through Deku, who briefly wanted to hear more from him before realizing how rude of a question it was.
“Of course I’m not playing with them! I’m an herbalist, I take these plants and herbs and create medicine from them. It’s a perfectly respectable occupation, far more than just playing around with flowers!”
The blonde’s eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment Deku thought he may have gone too far with his words. Instead, the barbarian’s expression softened, leaving a smirk on his face. “You’re very serious about your flowers, maybe it’s because you look like one yourself,” he said as he patted Deku on his head gently before walking away.
Deku found he had no reply to the stranger’s words, standing at the edge of town with his mouth open and his hand ghosting over where the blonde’s had been only moments ago.
“Ah, Katsuki is back! Did you find the town market interesting?” Kirishima said as he saw their prince enter the house Musutafu offered them while they were visiting. Katsuki removed his cloak and draped it over the nearest chair before sitting down in the one beside it.
“It was chaos, everyone yelling over how much to pay for their wares. Our market back home is much better. Although,” Katsuki says with a wistful look in his eye. “I did find something intriguing, though it wasn’t part of the market. A small man scolded me today as I was teasing him.”
Mina turned around from where she was preparing vegetables for their dinner and shook her knife at the barbarian prince. “Katsuki! You’re in a foreign land, you cannot be ridiculing their people like you would in our country! It’s no wonder the poor lad scolded you. Wait, did he even realize who you were? Did you tell him your name?”
Shaking his head, Katsuki grinned, “I said nothing. It was nice to not be force-fed sweet words because of who I am. I found his honesty and fiery personality pleasing. His hair is a wild mess of moss and evergreen, with eyes the color of our emerald caves back home; they took me by surprise once he looked up at me. I wish to see him again, so I patted him.”
Kirishima and Mina’s jaws dropped simultaneously at Katsuki’s declaration. In the years they had been Katsuki’s personal guards and close friends, they’d never known their prince to show a romantic interest in anyone. Kirishima recovered first, “D-Did he answer you? What was his response?”
“He only stared at me, he didn’t pull my hand away, so I will continue our ritual until I get an answer.” Katsuki looked at the palm of his hand, remembering how soft Deku’s hair felt as he touched the top of his head. He resolved to learn more about the flower herbalist as he clenched his hand into a soft fist.
He knew it’d only be a matter of time before he felt the warmth of his chest and heartbeat with that same hand.
Deku’s next visit into town required more than a wicker basket, as he was delivering his medicines to the local doctor as well as restocking his food supply. So he brought his wheeled cart along, loading it up with bags of potatoes, vegetables, as well as his usual herbs and plants. He’d found more than he’d expected and soon had the cart filled to the brim.
“Ah, it’s the flower herbalist again,” a voice said from behind Deku, who only took a moment to recognize it as the barbarian from the week before.
“My name is Izuku Midoriya, but most of the townsfolk just call me Deku. That may be easier for you than ‘flower herbalist’ at least,” Deku responded as he turned to see the blonde hovering over him by at least a foot. It would have been considered intimidating if not for the crooked smile on his face, giving off a mischievous air rather than one of ill intent.
“Deku is a good name. I am Katsuki. You are buying more than flowers today I see,” Katsuki said as he placed his hand on top of Deku’s head once more. It lingered longer than it did before, but Deku only waited with a stunned expression on his face until Katsuki moved it away himself.
Thinking that the barbarian may not be used to their country’s consideration of personal space, Deku decided not to say anything to discourage Katsuki. Besides, even though he felt it must be some way of teasing him, likely his height in comparison to Katsuki, Deku didn’t mind feeling his large hand touching the crown of his head. It was strange, of course, but it wasn’t unpleasant.
“I should get going, these flowers won’t play with themselves,” Deku said in a mocking tone, his own sly grin on his face as he watched Katsuki’s expression go from stoic to amused in an instant.
Lifting his cart, he started pushing it forward, the large wooden wheels creaking as he moved. Deku had been using it for years and had grown used to the way the cart shook and trembled. Hitting a divot in the ground tossed the balance off, cracking the left wheel and bringing him to a sudden halt.
“Oh no!” Deku cried out as he nervously ran his fingers through his hair. He wasn’t prepared to handle a repair to his cart, and it’d take him at least three trips to bring home his supplies before even thinking of getting the cart home.
“What is the matter, Deku?” Katsuki said, appearing by his side. He saw the broken wheel and how worried Deku looked. “It can be fixed, I will fix it.”
“Huh? You don’t have to do that, besides I need to get all of these supplies back to my cabin first, which is going to take forever,” Deku said mournfully.
Katsuki laughed and patted Deku’s head once again before he grabbed the cart and hoisted the entire thing up and onto his shoulder. “It will not take forever now, will it? Lead the way.”
Setting down the cart close to the cabin’s front door, Katsuki helped Deku unload it by leaving the bags at the steps while Deku brought them inside. Once the cart was empty, Katsuki started looking at the broken wheel, using the tools Deku had brought out to him to take it off.
“Y-You really didn’t have to do all of this, Katsuki,” Deku said as he watched the man work. He couldn’t complain much as he enjoyed how Katsuki’s brow furrowed as he concentrated on repairing the wheel. It was impressive how he managed to fix it, Deku assumed that he must be some kind of builder in his own land.
“I want to make sure it works for you for a long time, this is how we reinforce them in my country, Kamino,” Katsuki said as he took some of the thick vines that grew near Deku’s cabin and wound them around the wheel once the crack had been fixed. When he finished with that wheel and reattached it, he gave the other wheel the same treatment. Lifting it, Katsuki showed Deku how much stronger the wheels were now before leaving it beside the steps.
“That’s incredible, I never would have thought of that,” Deku said, his smile wide and full of wonder. “I’m sure your country can teach us a lot of how to improve things here. You worked hard, why don’t you come inside and I’ll make us some tea?”
Katsuki looked at the open door of the cabin with an expression Deku could only describe as longing. It was a moment before Katsuki shook his head, “No, I must not. Perhaps one day, little Deku.” He rested his hand against Deku’s head once more, his crimson eyes focused and waiting for his reaction. His breath caught in his chest as Deku raised his hand up to cover his own.
Deku didn’t move it, only looked up at Katsuki with his eyes glassy with tears as he cautiously ran his fingers along the back of Katsuki’s hand, drawing goosebumps along the blonde’s arm.
Katsuki felt so close to an answer, whether his courting advances would be accepted or not, but it still seemed like Deku was hesitant. He refused to force his reply, so Katsuki drew back his hand, not missing the way Deku’s fingers curled inward at the loss.
“I will see you again, Deku,” Katsuki said as he cleared his throat of the building emotions gathering there. He watched as Deku blinked away the tears that threatened to fall and smiled.
“I’d like that, Kacchan.”
“You gave me another name? What was wrong with Katsuki?” Katsuki asked in surprise.
Looking away, Deku replied, “There’s nothing wrong with your name, but this is just something I’d like to call you,” Deku said as a blush grew across his freckled cheeks. “You don’t use my real name either, you know.”
“But you told me it was Deku!” Katsuki retorted with a laugh. “I don’t mind it though. You may call me by the name you gave me. Only you.”
“Of course, Kacchan.”
The next time Deku ventured into town, Katsuki was waiting near the entrance. The shock that Deku felt as he wondered just how long the man had been standing there was quickly replaced by his joy of seeing the man once again.
“Hello Deku, it is flower time again, right?” Katsuki said as he waved his hand out toward the shops, encouraging Deku to walk with him. From there, he accompanied Deku to the herbal shop, telling Katsuki what he intended to do with this batch of herbs and how to tell which ones were the best quality to take.
Katsuki listened with complete focus, his interest in Deku’s work genuine. He liked how passionate Deku was when he spoke of his craft, it was comforting in a way he hadn’t felt since he’d been made to go on this journey to Musutafu.
As they left the shop and walked toward the open market together, a loud voice cried out through the crowd that brought Deku to a hard stop. “What was that?” Deku questioned as he looked around.
“Ugh, it’s just my idiots,” Katsuki replied as he dragged a hand down his face. Kirishima and Mina parted the crowd in front of them and rushed over, startling Deku since they were both taller than he was, though not as tall as Katsuki. “This is Kirishima and Mina, my personal guard.”
“You’re going to be late for your meeting with the Todorokis, did you lose track of time or what?” said Mina, who then directed her attention to Deku. “Ahh, so you must be the herbalist we’ve heard so much about!”
The other guard, Kirishima, slapped Katsuki on the back with a laugh, Katsuki groaning in response. “Yes, this is Deku. I’ll be on my way to meet with those nobles in a moment.” He turned to Deku, who was thoroughly confused with what just transpired. “I have to go, but I will see you again soon. I enjoyed learning about your work today, you’ll have to show me more.”
He gave Deku a half smile as Katsuki once again perched his hand atop his head, sifting his thumb through messy green locks. Deku felt not only Katsuki’s eyes on him, but those of his guards as well. It was as though they were waiting for something, but he had no idea what it could be.
“Hey, Kacchan…” Deku said as Katsuki pulled his hand away once again, his face showing a slight twitch of disappointment. Katsuki looked to him, waiting for him to finish speaking, but Deku shook his head. “Nevermind, see you later!”
Nodding, Katsuki left with his two guards, who started elbowing him in the ribs as they walked toward the center of town where the nobility lived, namely the Todoroki family.
“Why would Kacchan be meeting with them?” Deku said out loud as he turned to head back home. He had called those two other barbarians his guards, but why would someone as strong and capable as Katsuki need them?
Then it hit him, and once it did, every interaction with Katsuki from their first meeting on to today flashed through his head and he felt like kicking himself in his own ass for not realizing it sooner.
“Kacchan is the prince from Kamino?!” Deku squeaked out in surprise, thankful that he was far enough from the town to not be heard. “But, but, oh my goodness, how could I have been so rude! I’m so embarrassed, that was no way to speak to royalty, Deku! You even gave him an endearing nickname, you dolt!”
Finished with verbally chastising himself, Deku got back to his cabin and promptly curled up in a ball on his bed, his face red and his eyes stinging with tears. He had no idea how he was supposed to handle his growing feelings for Katsuki after learning who he really was.
“How could I ever be enough for a prince?” he mumbled as his tears rolled down his cheek and soaked into the bedcovers.
Deku didn’t go on his usual town visit that next week, or the week after. He decided to go as little as possible to avoid running into Katsuki again and possibly saying the wrong thing to him. As much as seeing him would help lift the heavy weight in his heart, Deku felt it was for the best.
For the herbs that he needed replenished, Deku knew they could be found further into the forest, though venturing too far in could run the risk of meeting the dangerous monsters that lived in the darker parts of the woods. He felt sure that he wouldn’t have to get too close to their territory and went out to collect more of his plants.
Standing up with his basket full, Deku turned to see one of the monsters glaring at him. It resembled a gray wolf, though it was far larger, with thin fangs protruding from its mouth that delivered a dangerous poison if bitten. Backing away slowly, Deku watched it carefully, hoping that it wouldn’t see him as a threat or food and move along.
But Deku wasn’t that lucky. He found himself backed against a tree, with the monster coming closer. “Please, no!” Deku cried as it leaned down on its haunches, ready to spring forth and attack. He saw the creature move and closed his eyes, waiting for the worst.
Instead of feeling claws and fangs cut into him, Deku instead heard a voice yell out, “Deku, run!” Opening his eyes, he saw Katsuki fighting with the monster, a short sword in his hand as he charged it head-on. Deku could only watch with his hands over his mouth, relief finally washing over him when the creature had caught the edge of Katsuki’s blade enough to lose interest and run off.
“Kacchan!” Deku said as he rushed over to Katsuki. “Are you okay? It didn’t bite you, did it? Let me see.”
“I’m fine, Deku, nothing that won’t heal. How are you? I was worried when I didn’t see you in town. I went to your cabin but you weren’t there either. Your tracks were easy enough to follow, though.” Katsuki’s words slowed while his breathing grew rapid. Deku checked his arms and saw the puncture wounds he was dreading to find.
“It did bite you! You need to come back with me. I can treat it, but we have to be fast!” Deku said as he leaned Katsuki up against his side for support and started walking them back to his cabin. Katsuki’s legs gave out just as they approached his front steps. Deku did his best to pull him up into the main room, his legs left just outside the threshold as he got Katsuki as comfortable as possible before he started preparing the antidote for the poison.
“You just need to take this, Kacchan, please don’t fall asleep just yet!” Deku said as he finished grinding the mix together and added it to hot water. He knelt down beside Katsuki’s head, lifting him up until he was resting against Deku’s chest. “Here, drink it slowly,” Deku said softly as he carefully poured the elixir as Katsuki swallowed it down.
Setting the cup aside, he quickly wrapped the bite wound in cloth that had soaked in some of the mixture. Deku wiped away the sweat and dirt on Katsuki’s forehead, smiling through his own tears. “You’re going to be fine, okay? Now you can rest.”
“De-ku,” Katsuki said through labored breath. “Outside. Take me back outside. Please . I’ll, I’ll fail… I’ll fail to win your heart.”
“Wait, what does that mean? Kacchan!” but he passed out before he could give Deku an answer. He knew that rest was the best thing for Katsuki right now, to give his body a chance to fight off the poison without any additional stress. But what could he have possibly meant by his last words?
Deku decided to at least listen to his request. Perhaps with the fever that accompanied the poison, it would be better for him to be outside where it was cooler. But moving a sleeping giant like Katsuki proved more difficult than he thought. He tried to ease him a little at a time back through the door, but found it exhausting. Hearing the crinkle of dried leaves under foot had Deku look up to see Katsuki’s guard Kirishima approaching his cabin.
“Whoa, what happened to Katsuki? I thought he was just gonna come to visit!” Kirishima said as he rushed over to the doorway. Deku rushed through a quick explanation of what had happened, with Kirishima paying close attention. He ended with Katsuki’s request to go back outside.
Without even being asked, Kirishima easily lifted Katsuki and carried him out, waiting until Deku had laid out some of his blankets and furs before setting him down. After getting Katsuki as comfortable as possible, the two sat outside near him, Deku taking a wet rag and wiping away the dirt and blood from Katsuki’s exposed skin while Kirishima looked on.
“Can I ask you something, Kirishima?” Deku said softly as he continued cleaning Katsuki off. A brief nod from the red head was enough for him to know to continue. “Is there a reason your people prefer to stay outside? Kacchan, err, I mean Katsuki, he didn’t want to stay inside my cabin today, and he also refused to enter when I invited him in for tea weeks ago.”
Kirishima chuckled to himself, his eyes red with worry over his prince but trusting enough in Deku to know he was being well cared for. “We have no need to stay outside. It’s only when we are courting someone that we know not to go into our chosen mate’s home before an answer has been given.”
“Wait, wait, what did you say? Courting? Mates? I don’t understand, was Katsuki courting me?” Deku asked, his attention leaving Katsuki and falling onto Kirishima, who grinned and shook his head.
“It doesn’t surprise me that you were not told, Deku. The people of Kamino are aware of this ritual from when they are little. We consider the head to be a vital part of who someone is. It houses all that we are. When we want to show interest in a partner, we express it by placing our hand on the top of their head.” Kirishima opened up his hand wide and held it out as though he would be patting it against someone else’s head as an example.
“The person who is being patted can answer in one of two ways. If they aren’t interested in them, they simply move the hand away and that is enough to know they refuse to be courted. But if they take the hand and place it against their heart, it shows they wish to continue with the courting ritual.”
Thinking of all the times Katsuki had placed his hand against his head, Deku realized just why he was waiting for something, eventually pulling away. “And what if the person doesn’t move the hand at all?”
“We don’t touch someone’s head unless we feel strongly for that person. If we give up without an answer, then there was no point in starting to court them in the first place! Katsuki speaks of you often, and had no intention of stopping until you moved his hand.”
“But how could I have known? I didn’t know anything about Kamino’s courtship rituals until now! I-I care about him too, but I didn’t think he’d have any interest in a simple herbalist once I learned he was your prince.”
Kirishima smiled and leaned over, patting Deku on the shoulder. “I’ve known Katsuki since we were children, he’s never been great at communicating with words. He was so sure that you’d pick up on the intention, even though Mina and I told him that you wouldn’t know of our customs.”
“Yeah, he does seem to be more about action than words.”
Rising up, Kirishima dusted off the back of his clothes. “It appears that he will be just fine under your care. Once he wakes up, let him know that he doesn’t have time for careless naps and that he has duties to attend to in town. Of course, after the two of you settle things, that is.” He grinned, patting Deku on his arm while giving him a look that made it clear he had Kirishima’s support.
Deku watched the Kamino guard walk back towards the town, thinking hard about what he had just learned. So many moments began to make sense now. As he returned to cleaning Katsuki up, Deku realized what needed to be done now.
Katsuki woke up with a groan, sitting up to see that he was just a few yards away from Deku’s cabin. His body cried out with aches and pains from the fight with the creature, but otherwise felt alright. Noticing that his bite wound had been dressed and he’d been cleaned off, Katsuki looked toward the door to the cabin, eased himself off of the furs and walked cautiously over to the steps.
Knocking lightly, he waited only briefly before Deku threw the door open and stepped out over the threshold, his eyes glimmering as he got closer to Katsuki than they had ever been previously. Something had changed with him, Katsuki sensed. Without a word, he set his hand down on Deku’s head once again.
With a blush on his face, Deku gently took Katsuki’s hand and pressed it against his chest, his other arm coming up to embrace it as tears of joy pooled in his emerald eyes. Katsuki could only think of how the caves of gems in Kamino were nothing compared to what he saw before him now. Before Katsuki could even find the words to express his happiness, Deku spoke first.
“Come inside, Kacchan.”