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Ever since he became fully aware of himself and his surroundings, he knew that he was fundamentally different. It wasn't the fact that freckles dotted his skin, that he was fatherless, or even the fact he had vibrant green hair. No, it was because Izuku could morph into a monster of scales and talons.
Well, at least that’s what his mother called him the first time it happened. And so, he left, not immediately considering he was still so small, but he made a plan at ten years old. In five years, he would be fifteen, and by then, he should have grown big enough to protect himself and will have learned the way of humans before deserting his village. And sure, the years were not kind as his mother provided less and less, meaning he had to scavenge more often, but at least it got him practice for when he left, and for that, he should be grateful.
. . .
On the eve of his fifteenth birthday, he pocketed as much food as he could carry, not really caring that he was leaving Inko with so little. She attempted to starve him his entire life, and while he isn’t quite repaying the debt, he thought this was the least of what he could do.
He also took his measly bedding and the extra bedroll she had stashed away for whenever Kacchan used to visit, seeing as though she wasn't using it anytime soon.
Izuku quietly shut the door, not forgetting to grab some healing herbs before going on his merry way. Chirping his goodbyes to the village cats earned him several concerned meows in return, yet he ignored them to start his adventure. A single dirt road was his escape from the village into the surrounding forest, which he would follow for as long as needed. It was dusk when he took his first detour, finding a long abandoned cave to set up camp in. He didn’t dare make a fire, being so close to civilization and his mother, who he technically stole from, so he just ate some rations and wrapped himself in the furs of the bedroll.
. . .
Panic flooded his veins as he awoke before he remembered.
He was free.
Free!
He could shift if he wanted without being outed and killed; he could shift without the loathing eyes of his mother; he could shift and fully expand his wings! And he was so tempted at that moment. But he needed to get back on the road and get as far as he can before the sun rests again.
So, he set out.
He happened across no one on his travels for days, and he was immensely grateful for it. No people meant no questions, and thank the gods for that. He didn’t have to explain why he, a not-quite adult, was out by himself without his people. Truthfully, if he did meet a traveler and they questioned him, he hadn’t a clue what to respond with. He had no family, not since his mother emotionally abandoned him at the tender age of four, but he can’t exactly tell them that! So, perhaps he should come up with a story. He’s short for his age, a scholar traveling to learn the wonders of the world and to pick the mind of others. Surely that was interesting enough to leave him be?
.
. .
. . .
Well, perhaps it would have been, if not pitted against a mind-reading dragon who is often clingy to the little ones.
Shouta loves Hizashi, he truly loves him, but by his tail, the dragon and his mind are loud. He adores it sometimes. After all, loud is his mate‘s personality. But he needs to decompress. And the constant on on on of his husband destroys some of that peace he requires.
So, he leaves every once and a while. Of course, he tells the other, and Zashi understands, considering they’ve known each other since they were hatchlings, so nothing is wrong with his absence. He ends up moving to his old hideout, morphing into his human self to prevent the onslaught of excess stimulation and sleeps.
It’s a cycle he has, sleep, eat, drink, perhaps bathe, then sleep again. It’s a great routine, in his opinion, perfect for rejuvenation. But on his supposed last day of vacation. Someone stumbles into his cave, and it happens to be a child. A dragon pup.
Perhaps Zashi wouldn’t mind raising a child together. Oh well, he doesn’t have much of a choice now.
This bush of a child was his now.
Whoever left him shouldn’t have left him without a parental scent.
It was their loss.
Izuku just wanted a place to rest his feet.
He made the stupidest, most regrettable decision to walk through the night and right onward the next day. His back itched to use his wings because his feet felt like millions of fire ants were eating away at his soles. But he refused. Though perhaps that was because he never learned how to fly. But that was a problem for future Izuku.
He didn’t know exactly where he was, and considering he was still on the road, he didn’t want people to find him. Plus, he was looking out for food. He’d eaten the rest of his rations that morning, and his stomach was yearning for something more filling. When the sun once more dipped into the horizon, the painting of the sky a backdrop, he headed once more back into the forest to find a place to rest. His nose had also been stuffy that day, meaning he had to use his eyes to survey his prospective rest spot to ensure its safety.
It’s great that the village never taught him how to identify predator signs. Really, he loves that he’s going into this blind. But, what else was he supposed to do? His feet would fall off if he walked any further. So that was not an option.
Hmm, maybe he could fight off a bear if needed. He is a monster, after all.
It took him till the sun was almost snuffed out to find a cave. It was large, and his eyes couldn't really see anything concerning, so he settled down for the night and slumbered. Unknowing that his life would change forever.
. . .
Waking up, Izuku was surrounded by warmth. It was heavy, nearly suffocating, but it was lovely.
Oh, it was lovely.
He snuggled further into the warmth, his mind not registering the amused chuffs emanating from the source. It wasn't until the thing moved that he froze and finally took a sniff with an unblocked nose.
It was another dragon. Someone like him. But why is he there, allowing Izuku to snuggle into him?
Why-?
The dragon shifted into human form, the man’s hands clasping around Izuku’s neck. Hugging him, embracing Izuku.
It was all too much for him. The hugging, the niceness of it, the lack of screaming or yelling. It was a simple hug from a stranger, yet he was falling apart.
A useless human and a useless dragon.
A Deku, as Kacchan would call him.
His lungs were parched for air as he pushed away from the man’s hold, eyes squeezed shut, unwilling to see the stranger’s face. He needs to leave, set back on the road. He doesn’t need- he doesn’t want- he doesn’t deserve this. And this seems so clear to him as he struggles to inhale oxygen, but the world bleeds black around him as slumber takes hold of him, silencing his turmoil.
Shouta could feel the pup's panic, could feel the craving yet the repulsion from his touch. The boy wanted it deeply, yet wouldn't allow himself such luxuries.
There was no doubt about it. With or without Hizashi, this pup will be his to protect, his to love, and his to cherish.
When silence radiates from the child, Shouta makes the decision.
He shifts back into his dragon form before gathering the pup into his jaw gently before flying back to their shared territory. The kid might hate him at first, but it’s for their own good. No dragon should be left alone for long periods of time, especially not a pup. And judging by the fact they traveled independently, they had no one.
And they happened upon the one dragon who had a soft spot for pups.
Lucky them.
The smells were the first thing Izuku smelled as he came to. He didn’t hate them. In fact, they comforted him, but it didn’t stop the growl emanating from his muzzle. He had shifted back into his dragon form sometime while was sleeping evidently and was currently sitting on some beautiful, soft cushioning.
But why was he here? Who the hell brought him? Why-
But then he remembered black. Black wings, black hair, black clothes. And the scent was similar, yet another was mingled with it.
But he was still so confused. Why was he brought here?
His eyes snapped to the entrance, his question lost as his growling heightened when he heard noise approaching. He put on the nastiest snarl he could muster, ready to face whoever it was.
And by the gods, he was not ready.
Two giant dragons stalked through the doors, their tails entwined together as they walked. He remembered the black one, although he was clearly bigger now, and the blond, green-eyed one was observing him curiously. Whatever he was going to stand his ground, he was going to-!
But as they got closer, he kept backing up, his snarl still high on his face as he was forced farther and farther back. It wasn’t until there was nowhere else to move that the panic started to fill him. They were still moving toward him, and he could do nothing but wait for his demise! Do dragons eat other dragons? What could they want with him? He didn’t mean to stumble into the other’s den! He didn’t! He just wanted to sleep, and now-!
Confusion suddenly overrode his panic as the blond chuffed at him, bonking his head against Izuku’s. He did it once more before retreating to the opposite corner of the den, nest, whatever it was. And he just watched him. And Izuku, not knowing what to do, stood as still as he could. Was this some weird pre-ritual to something? Was it to deceive him into thinking he wasn’t going to be eaten?
Why do others have to be so confusing?!
He was about to make a run for it because he wasn’t going down without a fight when black scales entered his vision and scruffed him.
Scruffed. Him.
He’s seen mother cats do it to their kittens, but never in his life did he think that it would happen to him. And he couldn’t even fight back! He was limp as he could be as he was brought over to the blond and placed right in between them.
He was going to protest. He was. But both rumbled quietly around him, and their scents were awfully nice to smell. Something he was incredibly susceptible to. Not to mention how warm they were. Perhaps it wouldn’t be terrible to fall asleep here. It seemed safe.
Maybe he was safe.
And so, he drifted.
And while he drifts, he swears he heard the black one say something about home and that sounded wonderful.
A home.
What a nice dream.
Perhaps, he could have it one day.
Perhaps.