Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When the moon comes out to shine her face

The birds are fast asleep

And the lanterns hang from every post

The fairies leave their keep

🍎

The air hung fuzzy and potent, with the promise of rain sitting on the breeze of that late summer night. The moon hung high in its perch amongst the stars, watching down on the small frame that wracked with silent sobs.

Making sure not to let her volume ever crest above a whisper, Eri sat in her cage-like crib with her knees tucked to her chest as tight as she could make them. Her wet and flushed face hid in the cradle of her arms, which tensed and shuddered with each new whimper that she couldn’t hold back. Her head throbbed, the pain from the growing bump that was sure to bruise by morning.

She only wished she could understand why. What had she done this time?

Of course, “why” never really mattered. Even at two years old, when she could only manage simple words and even simpler reasoning, her first lesson in life was that no matter what the reason would be, it wouldn’t make sense to her. Questioning only resulted in more pain or hurt or upset.

So tonight, when she dropped the plate to the floor because of the stumble in her step and was met with the hard still-hot edge of the pot thrown at her head, she knew there’d be no good in trying to understand. Clearly she’d done something wrong.

The memory caused another sorrowful tremble and sob to bubble out of her throat, barely able to contain its volume. She tightened her tiny arms around her legs, looking for any semblance of comfort she could find in the pseudo-hug she gave herself.

Her fairy doll, which she always needed to sleep, lay splayed on her bedroom floor. It was hastily thrown aside when Uncle shoved her into her crib with no gentleness, and she knew not to push her luck to ask for it. Now she could only look at it from the gap in her elbow forlornly, hoping it wouldn’t blame her for having to sleep on the cold floor tonight.

As she sniffles and snuffles, she’s unaware of the presence climbing its way up into her blankets. The strangely colored mouse, a yellowish blonde, who was a bit on the plumper side, stares at her shuddering frame. He knit his brows in worry, wrinkling his nose from side to side as he thought.

Every day Mirio would watch from his various stations in the house, and every day he could only wish to help the poor girl. Despite everything she was put through, he could see her kindness in her little actions. Her carefulness with her very few toys, her ghost of a smile when giving him a crumb of cheese or bread that she’d saved from her dinners.

He couldn’t protect her from that monster of a man, not with his size. He fought back in his own ways, like chewing holes into his better shoes and trousers, making sure he placed them in spots the man wouldn’t notice right away.

However, right now, all he wished he could do was make Eri smile. Her sobs and trembling tore through his own tiny heart like barbs, tightening with every new quiet exhale. Her silver hair hung in front of her face but it did nothing to hide the brandishing new mark coming to color on her forehead.

Mirio stared at it for a moment, before shaking his head at the burgeoning anger. Now wasn’t the time to be angry – Eri didn’t need anger. She needed happiness, love, reassurance and even though he couldn't tell her in a language she understood, he could do his best to show her.

So he skittered across her blankets until he stood in front of her clothed toes, letting out a series of small squeaks to grab her attention.

It took a moment, but finally Eri lifted her head just enough for her beautiful red eyes to meet his tiny pin-sized blue ones. He did his best to give a happy expression, though how much is really notable by humans is hard to say, and spun around to present his derriere.

Eri blinked in confusion, small sniffles and whimpers still whittling their way out against her will. Mirio began squeaking, attempting to make some sort of silly little tune, and shook his rump side to side and up and down, even around in circles.

The toddler blinked again, watching this strange little dance from her strange little friend. Had he gotten into something bad, and now he was going nuts? Or... was he trying to cheer her up?

Just the thought that she had a little friend like this who cared, was enough to get the edges of her mouth to begin curling upwards. Not by much, certainly not by a degree most could discern, but enough to start pulling her lips back and showing off the sporadic small teeth that were growing in.

Mirio continued his wobbly cha-cha, tossing his head around and making a show of himself. The longer Eri watched, the lighter she felt for a moment. The sight was so strange but silly in a way she wasn’t used to.

It was when Mirio looked back at her over his personal moonside and made a sort of “pff-fft” noise, as if he’d just had some sort of accident, and then squeaked in surprise that she felt it. A wobbly laugh bubbling up from her throat, broken and weak but just audible enough to give the mouse pause.

Eri was laughing! Sort of.

Mirio couldn’t help his squeaks of excitement. He’d never heard Eri laugh before, he wasn’t even sure she was capable given her circumstances. It wasn’t like there was anything funny or enjoyable for her to giggle at.

But he’d done it! The toddler, still holding herself tightly with tears still streaming down her apple cheeks, was giggling quietly at his foolish display. It was enough to make Mirio feel like he could take flight. There was nothing better than the sound of her laughter, he’d decided.

Alas, just as quickly as it had come, it began to pitter out, with her chuckles mixing with new sobs. She enjoyed his little dance, but there was no escaping her reality. A moment of joy wasn’t enough to rid her of the shadows that coiled around her heart.

Her sobbing returned, though softer, and Mirio chose to snuggle in close as a comfort and replacement to her beloved doll for the night.

Unaware to them both, in the gentle breeze that drifted through her open window, her little moment of joy carried. Wobbling and shaky in its flight, it pushed forward, scooping up two dandelions on its way to the second star.

Their travel was rocky on such an unsure bubble of joy, tainted by the pain it interweaved with, causing the buds to knock together before separating their paths.

Despite the damage and shuddering ride, the joy in the laugh also carried hope.

And with hope the one little bud made its way to Neverland.

🧚

It’s a beautiful warm day in the Summer Glade. Every fairy sets about their schedules, performing their roles with pride.

Spring is soon to end and the season change is on its way, so all of Pixie Hollow is preparing. The Gardening fairies are double checking their bulbs, the Light fairies practicing their rainbows, and of course the Dust Keeper fairies were-

“Ah, ‘cuse me!”

-making their deliveries.

The group of Tinkers gathered around the overloaded wagon are quick to dodge out of the way, most of them flittering up into the air as the spritely green haired Dust Keeper bounces his way past. He’s quick to turn and wave, apologizing for his disturbance but continues his leaping down the pathway, quickly gone just as he came and out of earshot from their sneers.

Course it would be nothing he’s never heard before.

Izuku can’t spare the time to worry about them today, as he’s already running behind schedule. That’s what he gets for staying up so late writing in his journal, only to wake up late and be behind on his deliveries.

He’s thankful for Hitoshi, who simply rolled his eyes at him and set him along, having covered for his absence with Fat Gum.

At least the day can get better, as he’s on his way to make his favorite delivery. He lands on a rock and glances around, orienting himself and the direction he needs to go before he’s off again. He passes by several fairies, though most hover above him.

They watch him pass, his bunny-like hopping always catching someone’s attention despite him having learned the trick not long after his arrival six years ago.

‘It’s so strange…’ they say. ‘He might as well cut those useless wings off.’

Izuku ignores it all. Though his wings can’t take flight, even with the help of pixie dust, they’re still useful in other ways. Like right now, as he hops along his delivery route. Every leap into the air comes with a flutter of his warbled and veiny wings, which allow him to hover for a moment in the air before he comes back down.

It’s not flying by any stretch, but it's proof they’re not ‘useless’ like so many say. It just took a little work and practice to find out how to use them best.

Lost in his thoughts, as he usually is, Izuku doesn’t notice he’s leapt from a particularly high ledge until he sees the ground rapidly approaching and his own speed picking up. He scrambles, arms flailing about in surprise, looking for a way to prevent the collision.

Before he crashes into the ground, he’s stopped by a soft whirlwind that catches him in the air and gently floats him down until he can stand. He chuckles, looking around for the source he knows all too well.

“Another close one, Izuku!” Ochaco calls out, fluttering over to him with her usual cheeky grin.

The fast-flying fairy tucks a piece of her auburn hair behind her ear, looking over Izuku with her big round eyes that almost match in color but shimmer with flecks of pink. His rosy cheeks grow darker as she smiles at him, landing on the ground nearby.

“Good thing you were there this time! I don’t feel like explaining to Kacchan how I twisted my ankle again.” Izuku chuckles and tucks his hand behind his head, bowing it a bit in embarrassment. 

Ochaco giggles, a sly look taking over her soft features. “Speaking of Kacchan, I’m guessing that’s who you’re on your way to?”

“Y-Yes! Cause he’s next on my delivery route- That’s what I was doing! My deliveries! W-Which I should probably get back to, haha!” He can feel his freckled cheeks tinge red with heat at the knowing look she gives him.

“Well Katsuki isn’t by his house right now, he’s over in the fields. He challenged Tenya to another race so I guess he’s practicing.”

Izuku brightens, his heart fluttering with excitement. If Kacchan is practicing, maybe he can watch for a minute before he has to go.

“Thanks! I’ll head that way then.” and he’s already turning to resume his journey.

“Invite him to the tea party that Mina is hosting tomorrow! You know he’ll say yes if you ask.” Ochaco gives a small wave.

He stumbles a little with the assumption, but to save any more embarrassment he just nods and continues on, waving her goodbye without looking towards her. He swears he can hear her giggling as he goes.

It takes a little longer to get to the fields, but there’s no mistaking the grumbling he hears when he does. It brings an unconscious grin to his face.

He grabs onto a nearby sunflower stalk and climbs up, situating himself on the face so he can watch his best friend as he zips across the sky.

Kacchan, or Katsuki, is the best of the Fast-Flying fairies. Where Ochaco has good control of the winds, she’s not as skilled in flying in comparison. Tenya, the studious and somewhat rigid fast flier that Katsuki regularly challenges, has amazing speed and control when he flies but not as great technique when it comes to manipulating the winds.

Katsuki has both in spades.

While flying, he can build incredible speed and still maintain control, making hairpin turns in the air with ease. He’s gained a detailed understanding of wind manipulation, to the degree that he can create whirlwinds around his fists and launch forward as needed.

What makes him even greater in Izuku’s eyes is Katsuki’s unwillingness to settle. Everyone can recognize talent when it's in front of you, but it's much harder to see the hard work for what it is when only seeing the results. Katsuki never stops trying to get better. He’s always practicing, always working, and always challenging others because of it.

Even Izuku.

Despite Izuku’s inability to ever compete with Katsuki in the skies or in talent manipulation, Katsuki still challenges him like he’s equal in some way. Like he isn’t the broken or cursed fairy that so many others fear. Everyone else treats Izuku like a stain they can’t get rid of in Pixie Hollow, something to avoid or speak carefully to lest he somehow taint their own talents or pixie dust.

Kacchan never treats him differently. He’s as crass and brutish as he is with anyone. He challenges Izuku to ridiculous races and competitions just as he’d challenge the others. It never fails to fill Izuku with warmth.

“Oi! Deku! You gonna keep staring into nothing or answer me?!”

Izuku jumps at the sudden yelling right in front of him, pulled from his thoughts again. He stares up and into piercing crimson eyes who glare down at him from the hover position Katsuki’s taken above him.

It feels so familiar to when they’d first met on his arrival day. Constant reminders of Izuku’s favorite color.

He squeaks in surprise and leans back a bit, blush dusting across his face and twitching ears. 

“Kacchan! Sorry! I-I was-”

“Daydreaming again, I know. That’s all you ever do, dweeb. Are ya here with my dust?” Katsuki crosses his arms, muscles bulging slightly from the tension.

“Yes! I have it right here!” Izuku quickly glances down at his bag, his mouth feeling drier. 

He digs through the satchel, pulling out the small sack of dust and holds it out, chancing to look at the blonde again. It really is unfair how pretty Kacchan is, especially with the sunlight so strong and dusting through his hair like a halo.

Katsuki tuts and snatches the bag, popping it open to look inside, as if he can tell how much is there. Satisfied with what he sees, he tucks the bag into his pouch attached at his thigh, then turns back to Izuku.

“So you planning to stick around and watch like a little stalker, or finish your job?” he snorts.

“Well, I’m doing pretty good on my schedule, so I was thinking I could watch for a second...” Izuku twists the strap of his satchel, chewing on his bottom lip.

Katsuki hums, tilting his head to the side with the rise of one of his eyebrows. 

“Yeah? So you’re not late because you slept in after staying up all night writing in one of your dorky little journals?”

The green haired fairy flushes and glances away. How does Kacchan always do that?

The blonde simply snorts, amused by the unsaid confirmation. “I’m gonna practice later when the sun goes down a bit more, since it's getting too hot out here. Probably closer to the Home Tree.”

Izuku smiles at what he knows is an unspoken invitation. 

“Okay Kacchan! I’ll make sure to come by and watch!” He nods, wild curls flopping with the motion. 

“I don’t care what you do! Now get lost, I don’t wanna hear shit from the others on your list because you hung around here too long!” Katsuki scoffs and turns away, though the tinge of pink on the tips of his ears says it all.

Izuku stands and makes his way down the flower, chuckling at Katsuki’s concern. He may sound harsh with his words, but Izuku knows he’s worried about him being late with his deliveries given how everyone already treats him.

His feet hit the dirt and he looks back up to the sky, happy to see Katsuki staring back down at him. He flashes a cheerful smile with a wave up at him.

“Kacchan!” he shouts and the blonde curls an eyebrow. “Ochaco wants you to come to the tea party!”

“I don’t need to go to that!” Katsuki scoffs and rolls his eyes.

“Please? It’ll be fun! She said she made a new tea with the thingamajig that Mei made for her!” Izuku frowns, ears turning down. 

Katsuki wrinkles his nose, staring down at Izuku before he huffs and turns away. “I’ll show up if I feel like it! Now get out of here!” 

The dust keeper grins at what he sees as an agreement and heads off with a big grin plastered to his face.

He can’t help but feel just a tad bit lighter for the rest of the day.

🧚

Thanks to speedy deliveries for the rest of his schedule, Izuku makes it to the grotto by the time the sun is retreating from the sky.

Unlike the colorful cave of the Mermaid’s Grotto, the small alcove that Izuku traverses to by memory is hidden away in the Summer Glade. Dug out from under a small hillside that lines up against a river, it’s not an easy spot to see if you’re simply flying by.

He pushes past the tall grass at the edge and smiles at the old and almost skeletal form that faces away from him.

“All Might!” He calls out, causing the old fairy to jump and fall into a surprised coughing fit. Izuku rushes over to his side, hands hovering out in front of him, ready to assist in some way.

All Might regains composure and turns to Izuku with a finger to his mouth.

“Shhh, my boy! When I’m like this, it's Toshinori!” the king reminds, to which Izuku ducks his head in apology.

“Sorry! I promise I’ll remember next time!” He probably won’t.

Toshinori shuffles to the side on the beached piece of wood he’s sat on, allowing Izuku to take a seat next to him. He already begins to pull out his journal that’s tucked away in his satchel as Toshinori speaks.

“So, how have your days been? Keeping up with your dust deliveries?” he opens with. Izuku nods with a grin.

“Yeah! I even reduced my travel time by a minute, as long as I don’t get distracted.”

“Hmm, I see. And how often are you getting distracted?”

Izuku’s cheeks go pink, and he glances away, his ears dipping back in embarrassment. “N-Not that often! Really!”

Toshinori simply chortles a laugh in response. He then motions to the journal clutched in Izuku’s lap.

“How have your experiments been coming along? Any successes yet?”

This makes Izuku brighten in an instant, his eyes shimmering with excitement and ears twitching ever so slightly.

This arrangement of theirs started just a year after Izuku’s arrival. He’d have never expected that helping an elder fairy retrieve his cane from a pond would put him here, speaking so comfortably with the Fairy King of Pixie Hollow.

He’d also never have imagined that the King and the elder fairy were the same person.

All Might, or Toshinori as he prefers in this form, lives a double life. When important rulings or events are happening, he becomes All Might, the full-bodied muscled King of Pixie Hollow. All fairies know him and stand in awe of him, but hardly any get that close to the King.

As Toshinori, he’s simply an elder fairy with a broken wing. He wanders around Pixie Hollow, speaking to and assisting other fairies with no expectations.

When Izuku helped him that day at the pond, Toshinori revealed his secret to him, admitting he’d been keeping an eye on Izuku. Somehow impressed by Izuku’s attempts to be a helpful fairy of Pixie Hollow, despite others’ apprehensions towards him and his own limitations without flight, Toshinori decided to offer him something special.

Access to Blue Pixie Dust.

Blue Pixie Dust was a rare resource that could only be harvested every 8 years, when the Blue Harvest Moon rises and can hit the Moonstone during the Harvest Promenade. It’s used to keep the Home Tree alive and producing Gold Pixie Dust, which all fairies use to fly and do their work.

Toshinori explained at the time that he was informed by an old acquaintance that Blue Pixie Dust could be used to create other types of dust, which can do a various number of effects: replicate talents, perform unheard-of magical feats, and so on. However, said acquaintance was someone Toshinori could no longer speak to and their research had disappeared.

It was their research that allowed Toshinori to perform his separate forms, and he believed that Izuku could learn how to use Blue Pixie Dust to do more.

With all that, Izuku is given secret access to the storage room where the Blue Dust is stored, as long as he’s responsible about it and doesn’t speak of his experiments to others. Since then, Izuku spends his spare time experimenting- finding different ingredients from the various locations in Pixie Hollow, mixing them in various ways with the dust and seeing what happens.

Some are successes, like when he finally perfected the formula to create Sleepy Time Dust (3 drops of moonlight, 5 lilac petals, and a dash of fluffy cotton) which helped Fat Gum sleep at night.

Some are not-so-successes, like his current struggle with his Hiccup-Curing Formula. At the moment, it still produces more hiccups instead of fixing them.

However his primary interest is being able to replicate other Talents.

“Not yet, but I’m getting close! Since I figured out how to produce Gardening Talent last season, it made it a little easier to figure out others. Animal talent is almost there, as is Water and Light. I’m still having trouble with Fast-Flying, but I had a thought...” Izuku pulls open his journal (#14) and turns to his most recent pages.

He pauses, biting at his bottom lip as he stares down to the notes he’d made the prior night. He tentatively glances at Toshinori, who stares back with his full attention, now curious at Izuku’s pause.

“Well.... you see, I think there may be ingredients that I um... I could use to make the formulas better, but they grow in.... The Winter Woods...”

“Oh, my boy, you know-”

“I know! We’re not supposed to go there and it would be dangerous for our wings, but! I could have Shoto guide me and stay away from any Winter fairies so no one will really know I’m there! And if Shoto is around, he can lightly frost my wings to safeguard them for a bit so they don’t shatter, or grab some sunlight for warmth if needed-”

Toshinori grins, hands resting together on the top of his cane as he leans forward.

“Are you certain you wish to travel there? It’s quite a different terrain from the warm weather areas... and since you can’t fly, you’ll likely deal with more hardship in getting around.” 

“I know! But I have my other layers, and I can ask Mei to make something I could wear on my feet that would make it easier to walk through the snow! She always gets so excited for new projects, she probably won’t even ask me why I need it.” Izuku nods. 

The old fairy exhales, scratching his chin. “If you’re found crossing, I won’t be able to explain your actions for you. I can do my best to aid you with what's possible in my position, but...”

The green haired fairy shakes his head, 

“I know. I’d never ask you to reveal your secret. I’ll just be really careful!”

All Might hesitated but the deflate in his shoulders after a moment showed his acceptance.

“Alright... but! You can’t stay there for more than an hour or two. Even with the aid of sunlight and warm clothes, you’re not made for that climate. You don’t want to damage your wings or anything else.”

Honestly, a part of Izuku didn’t see the big deal if his wings got damaged. They don’t really work the way they’re supposed to anyway- but he still grins and nods his thanks. 

“Of course! I’ll be in and out, no problems whatsoever!”

All Might figured the truth of that was a matter of wait and see.

Chapter Text

It takes a few days for Izuku to get prepared for his border crossing.

After his meeting with Toshinori, he quickly sent Shouto a letter since he was still residing in the Winter Woods until Springtime ended. He knew it’d take a few days for Shouto to respond, given mail between the warm weather lands and the Winter Woods wasn’t common.

During that time, he prepared. He mentioned to Mei, the hap-hazardous Tinker Fairy whose inventions easily got away from her at times, about devices that could help someone walk across snow that they could attach to their feet. He avoided mentioning that he needed them specifically, hoping it would stave off any curious questions about why. Honestly, they may have never come, seeing as when he brought the idea up, Mei was already sketching away.

It took less than a day for her to appear at his home presenting her new “snow-stopper” boot attachments. Bits of thin metal wire, probably taken from the plethora of lost items Mei hoards, bent and weaved into a pattern not too different from the cap of an acorn shell. With leather straps attached, he can easily fasten them to his feet. Mei explains that the pattern of the metal would create some sort of barrier against the thick snow and prevent someone from sinking into it.

With a small white lie about taking them to Shouto for him to test them for her, Mei left her new “babies” to him. He still made sure to pay her back for her work by delivering a special lilac bun with her helping of Pixie Dust the next day.

To accompany his new “snow-stoppers,” Izuku also got his warmer clothes mended by Inko.

Inko was a lovely older Sewing Talent fairy and the only one that wasn’t fearful or disliking of him. She had green hair similar in hue to his own, which she often kept back in a half bun. Her big green eyes carried nothing but kindness and she always spoke with a soft loving tone.

Though he rarely had to use his cold-weather clothes, due to keeping to the Summer Glades most of the time, they’d still managed to get ratty. Some of the seams were loose, the warm cotton lining needed replaced, and he somehow lost his hat.

“Honestly Zuku, if your head wasn’t attached you’d lose that too.” Inko lightly scolded, an amused grin crinkling the corners of her eyes. Izuku blushed lightly and ducked his head a bit.

“You’re probably right, haha. Thank you for making me a new one. I’ll make sure to bring you some of Mina’s passion flower tea!”

Inko shook her head with a chuckle, finishing up on his new hat and adding it to the pile of newly mended clothes. She handed them back to Izuku with a curled brow.

“Now, why do you need these things? Spring is ending soon and taking the last of the chill in the air with it.” she asked.

“Ah- no reason! Just... noticed they were looking rough and figured it's better to be prepared!” he stuttered through his reply, chewing on the inside of his cheek after. Inko’s eyes narrowed in the way they did when she wasn’t sure she believed what she was being told; a look Izuku was a little too familiar with.

Before she could press further, he was already backing up to leave, waving with his free hand.

“I really should get going! Need to make sure Fat Gum didn’t need me for anything else today! Thank you again, Miss Inko!” He hurries out the door, not looking as he turns quickly which lands him face first into someone’s chest.

He manages to keep his footing as he stumbles back, though his new hat ends up falling from his arms and onto the ground in front of the fairy he’d just ran into. Izuku blinks away the surprise, apology already rolling onto his tongue until it dries and sticks there when he sees the familiar face.

Neito sneers down at him with a healthy amount of disgust, dusting off his chest.

Neito was a Storytelling Fairy with a grandiose personality to match. His wings were large and golden, the top set round and commanding and the bottom set tailing off with points shaped like arrows. His clothes were simple and dramatic at the same time, and he had an attractive enough face to pull off the contradiction.

The theatrical fairy reaches up and fixes his buttercup blonde hair, though Izuku couldn’t see how it needed fixing. He knew this was usually the wind up to Neito’s favorite pastime: verbally attacking Izuku. He attempts to cut Neito off with the apology that had gotten trapped behind his teeth.

“N-Neito! I’m sor-”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to!” Neito mocks, mimicking Izuku’s cadence and tone. That was Neito’s specialty: he was ridiculously good at imitating others. He was able to take on their speech patterns, their way of walking and moving, until he was practically copying them outside of looks.

Neito saunters into his space, picking up the hat off the ground as he does. His taunting grin makes Izuku’s skin prickle with anticipation at what he knows is coming.

“Updating your sad little wardrobe, Bad Seed? Ever heard of other colors outside of green?” he roughly flops the hat onto Izuku’s head, pushing it about so that Izuku can still see him. “I better not have issues with my performance later after making contact with you .”

Izuku glowers, gripping the clothes closer to his chest. He chews at his inner cheek, making sure to keep eye contact with the menace, remembering a piece of advice from a few years back.

‘Just cause you don’t wanna start shit with people doesn’t mean you have to back down! Face them and don’t let them think they fucking won!’

Izuku squares his shoulders and forces his spine a bit straighter. Neito’s eyes narrow in annoyance, though he keeps his grin for now.

“I’m sorry I ran into you. I was in a hurry and didn’t see you when I turned the corner. I need to get back to the mill, so if you’ll excuse me...” Izuku does his best to make sure his voice doesn’t waver, keeping his eyes forward as he begins to move to leave.

Neito wasn’t going to leave it there. As Izuku stepped to the side to begin moving around him, Neito jabbed his finger into Izuku’s shoulder, just under his collarbone where the pressure would hurt a bit, causing the shorter fairy to wince and step backwards.

“Didn’t see me, huh?! Your eyes going bad too? Would be awful if they end up as useless as those disgusting wings of yours!” he laughed loudly and theatrically, catching the attention of some nearby fairies who stopped and watched the encounter.

Izuku’s ears dipped downwards, but he tried to keep eye contact though it was becoming more difficult. He could feel a familiar heat in the corners of his eyes as the scene continued on. He really didn’t want to cry in front of Neito again.

“My eyes are fine and my wings aren’t u-useless.” he managed to keep the waver out of his voice still, which he was thankful for. Neito simply snorted with amusement.

“They aren’t huh? So you can finally fly? Well why didn’t you say so sooner! I’d love to see it! I’m sure we all would, right?” he motioned around, pointedly looking at onlookers who would nod in response.

Izuku could feel his chin dipping. He hated when crowds formed and stared at him. It made him feel exposed and dissected, just like he felt on his arrival day. Years of change, progress, and determination all washed away when scrutinized by a bunch of weary or hateful stares.

Just as Izuku opens his mouth to form some sort of response, a strong gust of wind blows through. It pulls the hat off his head and into the air, carrying it upwards until it's caught by a pale hand.

The wind pushes Neito out of Izuku’s face, causing his hair to ruck about and his clothes to rumple. He gasps down at himself, before turning to glare behind him with a sour angry grin.

“I should’ve expected you’d show up!” he shouts.

Katsuki scoffs down at him, twirling Izuku’s hat on his finger. He cuts a glance to Izuku, who already feels a weight lifting when their eyes meet. Katsuki lowers slightly in the air, crossing his arms and tucking the hat underneath.

“I heard some annoying squawking sound and thought a baby bird had gotten stuck in one of the branches again. I’m not surprised the sound was actually you, Drama Queen.” Katsuki retorts, causing a few of the onlookers to snicker.

Neito sneers before huffing and moving to compose himself, fixing his hair and clothes. He’s smirking once again, as Katsuki lands next to Izuku and glares at him.

“Ohhh of course! Cause your arrival couldn’t have anything to do with Kacchan coming to aid his little reject pet, no?”

Izuku frowns at the nickname being said like an insult, then notes the wisps of a whirlwind starting around Katsuki’s enclosed fist. He looks up at the fast flyer, eyes pleading. Katsuki isn’t looking at him, still glaring at Neito and almost growling at his goading.

“Kacchan, don’t, it's okay-” he tries to reassure, jumping when the glare snaps to him, though it loses a fraction of its heat.

Neito gears up for another poke at the beast, but before it can leave his mouth Inko steps out of her home with her hands on her hips. She clears her throat and everyone looks over, some of the onlookers already getting the hint and scurrying away.

Inko is indeed soft and kind in every way, but she is also a fairy most don’t mess with. Including Neito, who makes eye contact with the shorter woman and shuts his mouth with a click.

Inko levels a stern look at the three of them.

“I do believe you boys all have work to get to, no? You should hurry along now.” Despite the light tone, there’s no missing the warning underlying her words.

Neito scoffs still, looking back at Izuku and Katsuki with a disgusted glower before turning on his heel and flying off.

Izuku sighs out the remaining tension he hadn’t realized he’d been holding then looks at Inko with a thankful smile. Inko simply grins back, before she heads back into her hut to continue her other mending and sewing work.

As he starts to turn towards Katsuki, he feels a sudden new pressure on his head as the blonde drops his hat onto his mess of curls. Izuku blinks and looks up at Katsuki, who stares down at him with a frown, studying the shorter’s face.

After a moment, he seems fine with whatever he finds and looks downwards at the clothes clutched in Izuku’s arms.

“What’s all that for?” he asks with a motion of his chin.

Izuku looks down at them, then back up to Katsuki, then at the remaining fairies who are slow to leave, watching them. His ears flick in irritation and nerves so he reaches out and grabs Katsuki’s wrist, causing the other man to startle ever so slightly.

“Um, maybe we could go somewhere else to talk?” Izuku nudges with his head at the lingering crowd, to which Katsuki practically snarls at like a rabid raccoon. That makes a few more leave, muttering amongst each other what Izuku is sure to be rumors and gossip for tomorrow.

Without forcing Izuku to remove his grip, Katsuki begins walking down the branch, shoving his way past anyone he comes across. He tugs Izuku along by his hold at his wrist.

The shorter fairy makes sure to keep pace, staring at Katsuki’s defined back only slightly obscured by his translucent wings.

‘And if you really can’t handle them, then I’ll deal with them! I can’t stand fairies who think they’re better with nothing to back it up!’

Izuku grins and hides the flush he feels creeping up behind the bundle of clothes.

💥

Katsuki flops down into the large poofy cushion that sits on Izuku’s floor and watches as he puts away the clothing he’d gotten mended.

Most fairies live in or around the Home Tree, in small homes or huts positioned in the branches. Dust Keepers especially, given their job and need to monitor the health of the tree and be close to the Dust Mill.

Despite being able to get up and down the tree fine with the help of the pulley systems the Tinkers set up around the place, Izuku’s home rests at the base of the trunk nestled underneath an surfaced root.

It’s not large by any means, but Katsuki finds it cozy and relaxing somehow. Izuku has nestled away various lost things, inventions gifted to him by that one crazy Tinker with the pink hair, and plenty of soft blankets and cushions probably provided by Inko.

Katsuki’s eyes trail away from Izuku’s bed and closet to the area on the other side. Hidden partially behind a leafy partition sits Izuku’s work area, with beakers and strange equipment used for his experimenting. Behind the table of instruments is a bookshelf filled with his journals, all containing his notes and observations.

He huffs, remembering back to when Izuku spilled his guts about the whole thing. The smaller fairy had never been great at keeping secrets, at least not from Katsuki. With how rocky and tumultuous their relationship could get at times, when Izuku suddenly got more avoidant and cagey while also getting into more and more danger by going out to areas he wasn’t equipped for, it nearly caused an irreparable tear to happen between them.

Of course, that definitely wasn’t just because Izuku was keeping a secret from him.

Before he can get lost in the memory, Katsuki notices a weird pair of... somethings tucked only slightly under Izuku’s work table. He rises from the floor cushion and flutters over to them, snatching them off the ground to inspect.

“What the hell are these? Strap on grill grates?” he asks, turning the objects in his hand.

Izuku looks over, surprised as he hurries and goes to grab the items from Katsuki. Always quicker, Katsuki dodges his hands out of the way and holds them up, higher than Izuku can reach. The shortie groans, stretching futilely to try and grab them anyways.

“T-They’re nothing! Something Mei gave me to test out for her! Just hand them- over-” he wheezes out as he stretches even further, his wings even jittering with the tension.

Katsuki snorts, amused at the wasted effort and goes back to observing the items. His right ear ticks up in curiosity.

“What are they for? Gonna try to grill on the go or something?” He looks back at Izuku, who finally stops his attempts and stares somewhat petulantly up at Katsuki.

“They’re not grills, Kacchan... They’re... to put on your feet so you can walk across snow without sinking in...” he mutters his answer, turning away from Katsuki as he fiddles with something on his work table.

Katsuki thinks about his answer for a moment then feels his wings bristle. He narrows his eyes and floats closer to Izuku’s back, leaning forward a bit.

“And why would you be testing that for her?” he asks slowly and precisely, lacing a hint of venom in the words.

He doesn’t miss how Izuku tenses, ears perking upwards and wings shuttering. The freckled fairy tucks his arms under, dipping his head down and angling it to the side away from Katsuki.

“N-No reason! I mean, obviously there’s a reason, but it's not a big one! Nothing you have to worry about- well, you wouldn’t worry obviously, because you’re you and you don’t worry about things, but you do sometimes seem like you’re worried even if you try to hide it- which why do you do that, isn’t it easier just to admit that you’re worried about something so that it can be fixed? That’s usually what I do, unless I think the worrying would make it worse-”

“Deku.”

“-because I don’t want to stress others out! Which is why you definitely don’t need to worry about what those are for, cause it's nothing to worry about! Even if you say-”

“Deku!” Katsuki shouts and grabs his shoulder, moving in front of him to force the eye contact the motormouth is avoiding. He squints at Izuku, who darts his eyes everywhere but Katsuki’s face. This is why he’s so bad at keeping secrets.

“The only way you’d be able to test these on snow is if you were going to walk in snow... and the only way you can do that is if you were in the Winter Woods, which you aren’t going to do because it's against the Border Ban ruling, right?” Katsuki hovers closer as he speaks, until Izuku has to make eye contact because his vision is filled by him, their noses almost touching.

Izuku stares for a solid second, a faint pinkness flooding his speckled round cheeks and Katsuki is trying very hard not to get distracted right now.

“... Well...” Izuku concedes.

“Deku!”

“Listen! I need to go see if there’s anything there that I can use for the Dust infusions! I’m so close to getting the talent changes to all stick for longer than a few seconds, and I haven’t even started with winter talents!” Izuku pleads as Katsuki moves away, pinching at the bridge of his nose in an effort to control his temper.

“What do you even need to try winter talents for?! You’re a warm weather fairy!”

“It could be useful to have them! The change to them probably would change what temperature someone can stand! Warm to cold, since you’d need to be in the colder area anyway for-”

“You can’t fucking fly, Deku! Even with these weird grills, how are you going to get in and out of there without getting caught?!” Katsuki looks back to him and sees Izuku immediately look away again, chewing at his lip.

Don’t. Get. Distracted. Katsuki.

“I... asked Shouto to help me.” he sheepishly answers. Katsuki feels his hackles rise at a speed that could challenge his flying record.

“Glowcicle?! You asked that monotone monobrain to help?!”

“Kacchan, don’t say that, he’s our friend!”

“He’s your friend and can’t lie to save his life! He doesn’t even try! If you’re caught he’ll just tell them the truth!” he can feel his temper slipping.

“So we won’t get caught! If we stay near the outer woods and keep away from the inhabited areas, no one should find us! Shouto travels through there every year, he’ll know how to navigate it! And he can put frost on my wings, so they’ll be alright for a few hours— And I already told All Might about it and he didn’t say I couldn’t!” Izuku crosses his arms, clearly deciding to stand his ground on this.

“Oh yeah? So All Might will fucking pardon you if you get caught and save you from Lord Endeavor?” Katsuki rises up slightly, snarling through his words.

Izuku doesn’t break eye contact this time, but does falter in his stance just a little.

“Well, no, obviously he can’t act like he knows-”

“So if you’re caught you’re fucked still!” Katsuki throws his arms up, his temper boiling over. “Have you not heard about Endeavor?! The man’s an asshole who deals out punishments like playing cards! He’s not gonna take pity on you just cause you’re with Peppermint Head!”

“I’m not going to get caught! Why are you so sure I will?!”

“Because its you, Deku, you’re fucking bad luck accident prone!” he motions at Izuku with an open palm and Izuku frowns. He stomps forwards to lessen the space between them.

“Well good thing you’re not going so it won’t be your problem! No need to save me this time, Kacchan! Sorry to always make it hard on you by being a curse!” Izuku spits out, then grabs the grills from Katsuki’s hand with force.

He turns away and takes the items over to sit with the rest of his warm clothing, shoving everything together into a trunk by his work table.

Katsuki bristles, following behind him.

“I never said that! Don’t put words in my mouth!”

“You might as well have! I get it! I’m a jinx, I lose stuff, I’m accident prone! That’s why this is so important to me! If I can make these infusions work, then I can be useful to everyone!” Izuku doesn’t look at him as he speaks but Katsuki doesn’t miss the wobble creeping into his voice.

Katsuki forces himself to take a breath and mentally count back from five, reigning in his temper the best he can. He steps up behind Izuku, crossing his arms and staring down at the mess of green curls as Izuku stays kneeled by the trunk not facing him.

“This about Neito? You know that loudmouth doesn’t mean anything, Deku, he just says a lot of shit because it's his only talent.”

“It’s not just about him... It’s a lot of things. It’s been years since my arrival and people still prefer I just leave their dust supplies by their doors than to take it from me by hand... Everyone still looks at me like I did something to them.” Izuku sniffles, head lowering more.

“I know I’ll never be anyone’s favorite, but with the dust stuff maybe I could at least not scare them anymore.”

“Oy.” Katsuki leans forward and flicks Izuku’s ear, causing it to flitter in surprise. The smaller fairy turns finally and looks up at him with big watery emerald eyes.

“Don’t be saying shit that’s not even true and quit getting so down on yourself. If everyone has a problem with you, that's their shit to work out, not yours.” Katsuki huffs, wrinkling his nose. “But if you’re so dead set on getting your ass in trouble, again , then I’m going with.”

“What? Kacchan, you have to help the others prepare for the season change- and I don’t want to get you in trouble too!”

“So you admit you’re probably gonna get caught.”

Izuku blinks before blushing, pouting in response. Katsuki chortles with a smirk.

“Whatever, at least if I’m there I can handle Lord Endeavor. I don’t care how old the windbag is, he doesn’t scare me. I could probably fly us back over the border before he was any wiser anyways.”

Izuku stares for a moment before smiling in that stomach-twisting-soft-way that he does. The kind of smile he gives when acting like Katsuki has given him some amazing gift just by speaking to him. Katsuki tucks his ears back when he feels them warming up.

“Thanks Kacchan.... I’m waiting for a response to my letter from Shouto, so when I know that he’s okay with the date and time I’ll let you know.”

“Yeah whatever, I’m not holding my breath or anything.” he turns away and maneuvers over to the cushion on the floor again, dropping down into it.

“Now explain to me how the fuck those grates are supposed to keep you from falling into snow.”

Izuku chuckles as he stands to grab the grates, showing to Katsuki how they attach and explaining how Mei said they would work in his usual mumbling and wordy fashion.

Katsuki listens with a faint smirk, humming periodically so Izuku knows he’s still there with him.

Chapter Text

It only took another day for Shouto to respond to Izuku’s letter, confirming the meeting. After getting his deliveries covered by Hitoshi and informing Katsuki of the time, everything was set for the Winter Woods exploration.

Though Izuku should’ve known bringing Katsuki along with Shouto around would mean for a lot of background noise.

“If you think you’re better than me then prove it, Half n’ Half!”

“You’re the one who implied there were different values in Talents. I’m just pointing out that by having two, technically, I’m double the value.”

Izuku stares at his hazy breath wafting upwards as he heaves out his fourth sigh in the last 30 minutes. He stands in the expansive Winter Woods, feet elevated above the thick snow’s surface by Mei’s snow-stoppers. Every way he looks is trees and snow, all cool shades of blue. The trees stand tall but somewhat barren, but he loved staring at the glittering snow covering every surface.

Behind him, Katsuki and Shouto continue to bicker like elder Script Keeping fairies.

“You could have 15 talents and still be no match for me!” Katsuki boasts, floating ever slightly higher than Shouto, who continues to give him a flat look in response.

“I don’t think it's possible to have 15 talents.” he replies, not rising to Katsuki’s level which only irritates the Fast Flyer more.

“That’s not what you should be focusing on, nimrod!” he bristles, tucking his arms closer to himself. Katsuki isn’t a fan of cold weather, Izuku now remembers. He barely likes to spend more than an hour or so in the Autumn Forest, even though he frequently volunteers to gather the leaves there.

Izuku looks back at them over his shoulder with a tired look.

“Can you two stop? Kacchan, if you keep yelling someone will find us!” he chides.

“Hah?! You’re blaming me?!” he snaps his head to meet Izuku’s stare.

“Well you were the one to start it.” Shouto adds, yet again sounding unfazed.

“I’ll be the one to finish it if you keep it up, Glowsicle!” Katsuki gathers a fist at his side, little wisps of wind already gathering at his hand. Izuku lets out his fifth sigh, hand coming up to hold his forehead, but pausing and glancing to the side when something catches his attention.

Leaving the other two, he hurries over to the base of a large oak only a few feet away from him. He’s not particularly fast in the snow, even with the help of Mei’s invention. It’s awkward to walk through, given its consistency. When he reaches the base, he gasps in awe at the cluster of icy blue mushrooms fruiting there.

Frost Cap mushrooms, if his identification is correct. He’d done a bit of research at the library before the rendezvous date, hoping it’d make the process of gathering materials easier. From what he could remember, Frost Caps are fairly harmless as long as you don’t pierce their caps. If he did, they’d puff out spores that could freeze the windpipe or lungs if inhaled.

Izuku quickly digs out his small knife from his satchel and an empty leaf bag for collection. He works away, slicing the shrooms at their stems, plopping them into the bag as he does and humming while he works. Now in his happy place with foraging, he’s completely forgotten the other two continuing to exchange words in the distance behind him.

At least, until something thick and very cold hits him in the back of the head and slithers down into the collar of his shirt.

Izuku yips in surprise, standing up straight and shaking about to get whatever it is off, before looking back at the source in shocked irritation and confusion. Shouto stands stock still, hand flicked in his direction as if he’d just knocked something away. Katsuki similarly floats in the air, already having started making a new snowball in his hands.

“Hey! Really?!” Izuku huffs, reaching back to shake the remaining now melting snow out of his collar.

“I’m sorry Izuku. I was simply knocking it away when Katsuki threw it at me, but I made it fly towards you.” Shouto bows his head a bit as Katsuki scoffs beside him.

“Won’t be deflecting this one!” he shouts, throwing his new snowball at Shouto. Shouto’s right hand takes on a cold bluish hue as he seems to drop its temperature, making it easier to deflect the snowball again.

And again, somehow by accident, this one also comes for Izuku and lands in his face.

He stumbles back and barely manages to throw his arm back, catching himself on the tree in an arch in order to not crush the mushrooms. A quick glance confirms they’re still intact, exuding relief with his sixth sigh. He snaps his head to the other two with a glare, both of them nervously hovering backwards.

Straightening himself up and regaining his balance, Izuku keeps his eye contact as he slowly reaches down and gathers snow into his hand. The other two exchange a glance before scrambling to retreat and take positions behind their own trees. Izuku rushes forward with his snowball as war ensues.

All three exchange blows and snowballs, moving through the woods as they do. Izuku can’t help but giggle at how whimsical it feels, enjoying the burn in his lungs from heaving the cold air. Though Shouto isn’t one for smiling, he sports a soft grin which is contrasted by Katsuki’s biting smirk.

It feels freeing and playful and it makes a fuzzy warmth bloom in Izuku, despite the temperature.

Having to take the low ground, it’s difficult for Izuku to get the upper hand on either of his opponents so he resorts to being tricky. Like now, as he takes a brief cover by a thinner tree whose branches are weighted above his head with snow. Katsuki, being rather vigilant of where he is, closes in easily on him just as Izuku hoped. Once in range of the tree’s branches, Izuku gives the trunk a hearty kick. He just barely keeps his balance as he watches with glee at the snow from the branch above Katsuki’s head knocking loose, blanketing his head and shoulders.

Katsuki blinks in shock before sneering, shaking off the fluffy clumps.

“Alright, you think you’re smart?! Come out here in the open, Deku!” he shouts, scooping up an armful of snow as he rockets forward. Izuku gasps in surprise, laughing as he turns and runs as fast as he can.

He’s got no hope in outrunning Katsuki, especially not with the snow, so instead he looks around for an escape route. He finds it in a large stump that angles downwards over a slope. Without a second thought, he darts for it, ducking into the opening and sliding down the icy insides to the bottom.

While it worked perfectly to avoid Katsuki’s oncoming attack, Izuku didn’t quite anticipate the speed he’d gain sliding down an icy trunk. By the time he reaches the end, he’s not able to slow the descent and shoots out like a cannonball, rolling across the ground. Stopped only by rolling into another tree, he lays in the snow with a groan.

When he opens his eyes he can’t help but stare. The tree tops above, though some barren, form weaving pathways with their branches. They sparkle with the sunlight as the snow that covers them catches its rays. Around him is a quiet ambiance; a silence only known to Winter. Izuku lays there and takes it all in as he catches his breath.

It’s the snap of a twig that catches his attention again and has him sitting up, shaking off the snow that clings to his back. At first he assumes it's Shouto or Katsuki preparing for a sneak attack of some kind, but then something curious happens...

Out of the corner of his eye, just over his shoulder he notices a strange shimmer. Upon looking back, his eyes nearly double in size in surprise from what he’s seeing.

His wings were glimmering with rainbows.

Izuku is quick to reach back and run his fingers over what he can reach of his back and wings, but feels nothing particularly notable. Still, the glimmering continues and it's the strangest thing he’s ever seen.

He gets to his feet quickly and looks around. There’s nothing particularly significant about the woods around him, nothing that could be the cause of this phenomenon. Then he hears movement again.

It's faint, in the distance a bit, but with the surrounding silence he’s able to pinpoint a direction. With curiosity overriding any sense of preservation he heads in its direction, gripping the strap of his satchel tightly. It’s putting more and more distance between him and where he could hear Katsuki and Shouto but he can’t worry about that now, too invested in this phenomenon to think about it.

Navigating the woods gets more difficult as he goes deeper, denser formations of trees making it darker and creating more obstacles to dodge around. The sound of movement keeps a steady pace ahead of him, as if running from him and leaves him wondering if whatever he’s chasing noticed his approach.

That is until he comes to a clearing, exiting the thicket of woods, and tumbles head first into another fairy.

Both of them fall into the snow, Izuku landing partially on top of the other with an ‘oof.’ He’s quick to scramble onto his hands though, eyes snapping forward to look at who he’s been chasing and what he sees catches his breath.

Before seeing their face, he sees their wings. Similar to his in size and shape, though missing the black veins that plague his own, and glistening in rainbows in tandem. The colors shimmering in the translucent wings beautifully contrast the snow beneath them.

Izuku finally moves his eyes from them to take in the appearance of their owner, met with red eyes that stare back with apprehension and confusion. The fairy’s hair is white, just slightly longer than Izuku’s. His skin is pale, lips dry and scarred skin around his eyes. He wears dark clothing - layered pieces to keep warm, but the sleeves have pulled up during their fall. When Izuku looks down at the hands that hover by his own, not touching him but ready to shove him away, he gasps.

The pale skin of the other fairy’s hands are decorated with black veins, thicker and darker at his palms and snaking up to his forearm. Veins not unlike the ones that plague his own wings and back.

“You...” Izuku whispers out but before he can complete his thought, a sudden knee is jabbed into his side. He’s sent tumbling into the snow and off the fairy, who scrambles to his feet and is quick to put distance between them.

“Stay away from me!” the other fairy shouts at him, clutching their arms close to their body as if they were burnt. Izuku stands quickly, holding his arms out cautiously and shaking his head.

“Ah- I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to push you down! I was just following the sound a-and wanted to know why my wings were- I mean our wings! They’re both glowing! T-That’s strange, right? Wouldn’t that mean something? I just wanted to know why- and I ran into you! On accident! I’m sorry, again, I didn’t mean to- but um! We should talk! Maybe? I mean it's not just our wings right, but the- the black veins! They’re the same! Just not in the same place but- I’ve never met another fairy with them! So- um.. uh...” it was then he realized he had started rambling out of nerves, but the other fairy simply glowers at him.

Izuku scratches at his neck, the awkwardness of the situation trying to take hold. He’s too intrigued to know more about the other fairy and what their connections meant to leave, but he wasn’t any good at talking to new people. After a moment, he clears his throat.

“...Um.... I’m... Izuku. What’s your name?” he asked. The other fairy eyed him cautiously, glancing him over and clearly assessing. After a moment, whatever conclusion they come to seems to be good enough, as the fairy speaks.

“......Tenko.” he answers, his voice somewhat gravelly and guarded.

“It’s good to meet you!” Izuku brightens. He takes a cautious step forward as Tenko stays glued to his spot. Izuku holds out a hand with a kind smile.

“I really am sorry I fell on you, but I would like to talk more... If your arms are like my wings... then maybe you struggle with something too? I uh... can’t fly, so...” he offers, hoping to gain more trust. Tenko’s eyes widen at the admission. His stance softens a bit and he shifts, closing some of the distance between them.

“You... can’t fly?”

“Mhmm. They’re not broken or anything, just... pixie dust doesn’t really work on them? At least not for flying...” Izuku shrugs.

“....I see.” Tenko glances aside then down at his own hands. Now in their closer proximity, Izuku can see how the veins mimic his own: black and swirling, thicker and almost eclipsing at his hands and thinning out as they crawl up his arms.

“...It can be hard, not being able to fly. Pixie Hollow isn’t really built for fairies like me.” he grins “But I get by.”

Tenko relaxes a little, though he still regards Izuku cautiously. After a moment, he opens his mouth to speak.

“...I can’t-”

He’s cut off at the sound of shouting in the distance. Izuku looks in its direction, realizing its Shouto and Katsuki calling out and looking for him. He smiles, ready to call back to them but before he does he catches sight of Tenko.

Tenko looks scared and is already backing away from Izuku, preparing to run. The voices are growing closer, so instead of calling out to them, he reaches out and grabs Tenko’s bicep in an attempt to keep him from running.

“Wait-”

In response and surprise, Tenko grabs Izuku’s wrist with his bare hand. The effect is instant, as both look at the connection with growing concern. Originating from Tenko’s hold, Izuku can feel his skin growing colder and colder, to the point it feels like burning. It creeps up his arm quickly, swallowing up his shoulder and crawling up his neck. His body temperature, which was already cold from the environment, is dropping rapidly.

“W-Wait- Let-.. Go...” he tries to tug away and realizes that Tenko is stuck, the frost coming from him having frozen them together. Tenko is panicking, attempting to release and muttering under his breath but it’s not working. Izuku can feel himself getting more and more tired as he grows colder.

As his vision starts to blur, Izuku feels a warm hand grasp around his waist as a harsh gust of wind blasts from behind him and forces Tenko to release. He’s sent backwards into the snow before scrambling to his feet. Izuku tries to get his eyes to focus, getting hints of a terrified expression on Tenko’s face.

Slowly he looks back at who holds him, seeing familiar red eyes swimming with concern staring back at him.

“Ka...cchan....” Izuku winces out, trying to explain what’s going on but barely able to get his frozen throat or jaw to form words.

“Deku! What the hell is going on?!” Katsuki’s voice is laced with worry and he’s doing nothing to try to hide it. Izuku attempts to explain again, but it’s not working and he’s losing consciousness fast.

“Katsuki!” Shouto shouts from somewhere nearby. Suddenly Izuku and Katsuki are flying backwards, the fast flyer clutching him close.

Where they once stood a new fairy has appeared, crouched with something in his hand. Izuku assumes maybe he tried to hit them? He can’t make out much in his blurring vision outside of the layers of darker clothing contrasted by a bright green mask and purple hair.

“Watch it fucker! I’ll send you flying if you try that again!” Katsuki shouts, but the attacker only scoffs. Without turning away from them, Izuku hears him speak.

“Tenko! Are you alright?!” he asks behind him. Tenko nods and Izuku can now see other fuzzy figures have joined him but they’re even harder to discern.

He wants to tell them to stop and let him explain, wants to comfort both Katsuki and Tenko but darkness creeps into the corners of his vision. His head falls against Katsuki’s chest, causing the other to tense in surprise.

“You need to get him back to the Glade. He won’t get warmer while in the Winter Woods. I’ll keep them at bay,” he hears Shouto say from behind him, now standing close to Katsuki. He feels Katsuki hesitate only a moment, before the telltale feeling of the wind hits him.

At this point, Izuku’s eyes have fallen shut and his breath rattles in his chest. He’s so cold . The only reprieve is the heat he feels from all points of touch with Katsuki, which helps only a little as the frigid winds whip against him as Katsuki flies quickly through the woods.

He passes out before they make it back to the Glade, with Izuku only hearing pieces of Katsuki grumbling before everything fades to black.

🧚

When Izuku awakens again, he’s warm. Very warm, actually, and notably snuggled into something solid and comforting. After a moment just enjoying it, he finally cracks his eyes open, only to see a purple tunic and a pair of pale pecs. He blinks a few more times to adjust his eyes, before glancing upward. His face grows warm as he realizes he’s being cuddled by Katsuki, wrapped in the larger fairy’s arms and pressed against his chest.

Katsuki seems to be asleep, breathing softly and unaware Izuku is awake. Carefully, Izuku looks around and sees he’s in his home, both of them in his bed surrounded by every blanket and warm fluffy thing he owns.

Wanting to stretch his arms but not wake up Katsuki, Izuku carefully attempts to turn and wiggle around. To his surprise, Katsuki seems to be a heavy sleeper, as the movement doesn’t have him stirring— at least at first.

Once Izuku gets turned around, he pushes his arms out in front of him and over the edge of the bed. His limbs shake a little with the pull, perking his ears upwards and his eyes squeezing shut. He takes note of the dullness in his head, a runny nose, and an overall soreness he wasn’t experiencing before the woods. However, a sudden pull and squeeze around his middle makes him squeak in surprise and his eyes pop open to look for the source.

Katsuki, though still asleep, has moved so he’s hugging Izuku from behind now. His strong arms securely wrap around his Izuku’s midsection and his legs curl up a bit so his thighs press just under Izuku’s butt.

It’s a fairly intimate position, causing Izuku’s head to start spinning and his face to heat up. He was spooning with Kacchan!

Izuku started to question if he should wake Katsuki up. This was wrong, wasn’t it?? Katsuki wouldn’t do this if he was awake! However, if Izuku wakes him up and he realizes what he’s doing, Katsuki will definitely fly off the handle. He doesn’t really want to deal with that right now, with the stuffy head and aching body  he seems to have. No! Even if he has a headache, it’s wrong to just do this with Katsuki when he isn’t aware! He-

Izuku is pulled from his mental spiral when he hears a giggle and faint coo-ing noise. He blinks, lifting his eyes from where they stared at Katsuki’s arms to look upward.

Mina, sitting nearby the bed with a pitcher, gives him a cheeky grin and wave.

“Hi hi~” she quietly sings out.

Izuku can feel his face heat up in record time, to the point he gets dizzy from it. He tries to respond to her, but is left gaping and floundering out half-made noises as he fishes for an excuse for what was happening. This only gets worse as Katsuki, with his ever-amazing timing, hugs him even closer and nuzzles into the curls at the back of Izuku’s head.

The amount of blood rushing into Izuku’s face so quickly does make him too dizzy to control anymore and he flops into the bed with a whimper. Mina, surprised and amused, stands up quickly to hurry over and check on him. “Izuku! Are you okay?” she asks.

Finally, Katsuki wakes up in response to her voice. Groggily he seems to register what she’s said, as he sluggishly moves to try and find Izuku’s face.

“D’ku?” he grumbles out, voice raspy from sleep, which is definitely not helping Izuku calm down.

Katsuki’s hand finally finds his face, tracing it with his thumb before cupping it surprisingly gently. His eyes creak open to peer at the Dust Keeper, trying to assess his condition. Izuku can’t do anything but stare back, still in shock from all the physical contact this morning.

“Yer too warm...” Katsuki mumbles then looks over at Mina, blinking more awake. As he registers her staring back, a giant grin plastered across her face, his complexion finally starts to match Izuku’s.

Katsuki quickly gets out of the bed and flies up, though unfortunately in his frazzled response he flies too fast and smashes the top of his head against the ceiling. He lets out a string of curses, hands reaching up to scrub at the blooming pain on his crown.

Izuku, now without the weight behind him, rolls back and flops onto his back with an ‘oof!’ He struggles like an overturned roly-poly bug to get righted in the bed again.

Mina watches this comedy of errors with a hand pressed tightly to her mouth, though it does nothing to hide her bulging cheeks or clear amusement.

“Shut your mouth, petal pusher...” Katsuki growls out through gritted teeth, slowly lowering himself to the floor next to Izuku’s bed. He reaches down and helps Izuku sit up, harshly pushing a pillow behind him so he doesn’t have to support his weight.

Izuku still feels dizzy, waiting for the walls of his home to stop spinning back and forth. He clears his throat, realizing how rough it feels and the stuffiness in his head has only gotten thicker since he awoke. Mina finally stops staring at them and picks up the pitcher she’d been grasping, pouring water into one of Izuku’s acorn cups. She moves closer, offering the cup to him which he gingerly accepts before downing the water in a few gulps. It’s cooling, to some degree, but is almost equally grating - feeling like small knives carving canals down his throat.

After handing the cup back he glances between the two, eyes squinting in mild confusion. It’s difficult to look at Katsuki with everything that just occurred, but he manages to make eye contact to ask his first question.

“What happened? Why are we in my house?” he croaks out. Katsuki stares for a second before his eyes shoot to look at Mina, who seems to quickly get the hint.

“I’ll go inform Chiyo that you’re awake so she can come check on you. Be right back!” Mina sets her pitcher on the floor by the bed and flutters her way out the front door.

Katsuki sighs and crosses his arms, plopping down onto the stool Mina had sat on. He levels Izuku with a look, brows knit together in his usual scowl.

“What do you remember?” he asks.

“Uhm.. I remember running into a Winter fairy... and then you and Shouto arrived and so did other Winter fairies... maybe his friends? I was really cold.... oh right! Because of Tenko! The other fairy- He grabbed my arm and couldn’t let go and his talent was acting up!” Izuku’s volume grows as his memories flood back, swimming in varying clarity amongst the fog in his head. Katsuki nods, making one of his displeased faces with a wrinkle to his nose.

“Yeah. After I got him off you, you were too cold to fight off the frostbite that was trying to take over. You started passing out, so I jetted us both out of the forest and back to the Summer Glade. I took you straight to Chiyo and she did what she could to stabilize your temperature again,” he frowns. Izuku just stares in surprise, so Katsuki continues.

“Once you weren’t in danger, you were still really cold and she said you were probably going to develop a cold in response to it. So we brought you back here and monitored you while she did routine checkups. You’ve been asleep for about a day and a half.” Katsuki finishes.

“A day?!” Izuku straightens up, eyes bugging out in surprise. A day and a half? Was he really that bad off? For the others to have to take care of him while he was sick...

“I’m sorry you all had to do that...” he bows his head in apology, though it causes his head to swim and he keeps tipping forward until a warm hand catches him by the forehead.

“Idiot- you’re still sick, so don’t move around so much. Chiyo said it’s a normal cold, so as long as you drink fluids and take it easy it’ll be gone quickly.” Katsuki grumbles, irritation mixing with the concern that hides under his words as he helps Izuku sit back against the pillow again.

Izuku sighs, his vision settling as he sinks back into the cushion. He stares down at his hands resting atop his blankets and remembers the black veins that streaked Tenko’s arms. Familiar but foreign at the same time. He thinks about the frost that crept up his arms; about Tenko’s horrified face as he tried to release him.

If Izuku’s wings are plagued by the same veins and he can’t fly, even with pixie dust... does that mean that Tenko can’t control his talent? In shape and hue, from what Izuku could recall, his and Tenko’s were the same. If not for the black lines that scrawled across Izuku’s wings, he wondered if their wings were identical. What would that mean? What is this connection they have?

“Oy, your head is working so hard I can see steam coming out of your ears. What the fuck are you thinking about?” Katsuki speaks up, snapping Izuku out of his mind. He blinks and looks over to the blonde, who is staring at him with mild irritation.

“I.... think I need to talk to All Might. Tenko... on his arms, he had veins like the ones on my wings. I don’t think he was trying to hurt me when you found us. I think he couldn’t control his talent.” Izuku confesses.

“Couldn’t control it? How’s that possible?” Katsuki cocks his head to the side, eyebrow arching.

“I’m not sure, but I think we’re... connected somehow. Maybe All Might will be able to answer my questions.”

Katsuki sighs, glancing off to the side. His face looks unhappy and Izuku feels a bit guilty, but he’s not sure what for. The list of things he probably should apologize for gets longer, starting with ‘sorry you had to save me again.’

Before he can voice the apology, Katsuki huffs and nods. “Fine, I’ll go grab All Might after Chiyo checks on you.”

Izuku blinks and smiles softly, a tiny lopsided thing that he only ever seems to do about Katsuki.

“Thank you Kacchan.”

🧚

It’s another two days before All Might visits in his smaller form. During that time Izuku makes a lot of progress in recovering from his cold, all thanks to Chiyo, his friends, and Katsuki.

Though still feeling slightly weak and recovering energy, Izuku moves around his home as much as possible. Laying in bed all the time had grown old quite quickly. It doesn’t mean his want to do things wasn’t met with complaints from Katsuki.

He really reminded Izuku of a mother hen sometimes.

Izuku couldn’t begrudge him though, despite the hovering being somewhat irritating at times. It surprised the Dust Keeper that Katsuki stuck around during his entire recovery period, shirking his own Summer preparation and schedule to dote on Izuku in his own prickly way. The only time Katsuki left was to get food or check in with others, and he would only do it if someone else had stopped by to be with Izuku.

All of it did no favors to Izuku’s hopeful heart. He knew Katsuki was just a good friend, and someone who had to see everything he took on til the end. This was just another case of Katsuki taking a commitment seriously.

Nothing more.

When Toshinori appears at his front door, he’s surprised to see a basket of cut fruits and berries in the crook of the old fairy’s elbow. He moves to collect the basket but Katsuki, always quicker, gets to it first. Toshinori murmurs a ‘thank you’ as Katsuki grunts and moves to put the basket away.

Toshinori takes a seat as Izuku does, concern etched in his eyebrows.

“How are you feeling, my boy? I heard you had been quite ill.” he asks.

“I’m doing much better! Kacchan and everyone took great care of me. The only thing hanging around is a sniffle.” Izuku smiles to be reassuring. Katsuki floats over from behind Toshinori and sits next to Izuku, crossing his arms.

The king smiles, hands resting on the top of his cane.

“I see! How thoughtful of them. I’m glad to see you’re cared for.” he chuckles, his comment making the tips of Izuku’s ears warm up.

“Now then,” Toshinori starts, leaning back in his chair. “Let’s hear about what happened.”

Izuku gives his best recollection of the trip, trying not to leave out any details and aided by Katsuki for information at the end after Izuku passed out. Toshinori listens, humming in response. When they finish explaining, he sighs and rubs his hands together.

“The glowing wings are known to indicate siblings,” he explains. Both Katsuki’s and Izuku’s eyes widened.

“Siblings? Tenko is my brother? How does that work?” Izuku prods.

“Sometimes when a laugh is making its way to Pixie Hollow it can split apart, and two fairies are created instead of one. Usually it will carry two dandelions with it.” Toshinori explains.

“But I was the one who found Izuku’s dandelion when it arrived. He was alone and the laughter was shaky at best.” Katsuki speaks up.

“Mm yes, well, since Tenko appears to be a Winter Fairy, it’s likely his dandelion split apart from Izuku’s on their descent and drifted to the Winter Woods instead. Because fairies from there are unable to live in the warmer climates of the Summer Glade, they have their own root of the Home Tree that supply them with Pixie Dust. Lord Endeavor handles arrivals in the Winter Woods instead of me using that root.” Toshinori clarifies. Izuku’s hand drifts to hold his chin as his thoughts begin to race.

“The same laugh... so, would that explain why we also have similar veins? Because we’re siblings?”

“It’s possible. Not knowing what caused your affliction makes it hard to say for certain, but with him apparently struggling from a similar issue, it makes the most sense.”

“I see... I wonder what that could mean then...” Izuku mumbles, his other hand twitching on his thigh until a pen and notebook are shoved into it by Katsuki. Izuku moves to start scribbling without a second thought, amusing Toshinori.

“I wonder why it affected us differently though? I can’t fly, but he can’t use his talent... at least, that’s what it seemed like. He couldn’t turn off the frost from his hand despite trying to.” Izuku mumbles, Katsuki scoffing at his words.

“He could’ve just not grabbed you then.” the Fast Flyer grumbles.

“I startled him, Kacchan. He avoided touching me with his hands until then.” Izuku clarifies, but Katsuki still wrinkles his nose. Toshinori smiles.

“I’ll reach out to Lord Endeavor and see if he can provide any information about Tenko. You said others joined him just before you ran away?”

“Yeah. A motley crew of weirdos.” Katsuki scoffs “Looked like a Scout, a Winter Animal Talent, and maybe another Frost fairy. Two guys and one girl.”

“Thank you, hopefully that can narrow it down.” the king nods.

“Do you think he’ll be able to respond quickly enough for me to return to the Woods in a few days?” Izuku asks, only to be met with the shocked expressions of both blondes.

“Return?!” they say in unison, making Izuku blink in surprise back.

“Y-Yes? I have to go back and speak with Tenko properly! Learning that we’re siblings and we have similar problems, means we should help each other. I can’t just not see him again!”

“My boy... right now, it would be too dangerous for you to return. You only just recovered and it is likely that Lord Endeavor has heard of some sort of disturbance near the border. He’ll be more vigilant for crossings now and is probably setting up patrols with scouts as we speak. We may have an amicable relationship, but it's strained. I can’t petition him to allow you back anytime soon.” Toshinori frowns. Izuku’s mouth hangs open a bit trying to think of a response but Katsuki speaks instead.

“And you don’t know how to deal with that Frost freak if he does something to you again! What if it wasn’t an accident and he really hurts you? Plus there’s that Scout that tried to attack us. You won’t be able to run away quick enough.” he huffs.

Izuku can’t help but feel shocked at both of them. Of course he knows it could be dangerous! Of course he knows Lord Endeavor will be difficult to sway. But... this is his sibling! Can’t they understand he needs to speak to him again?!

“Be that as it may, Izuku, to go back so soon would be a mistake. You’re just going to have to wait.” Toshinori responds, and Izuku realizes he said the latter of his thoughts out loud.

“But... I...” his hands form fists on his thighs, staring downwards as he doesn’t feel he can meet either of their eyes right now. Toshinori’s eyebrows knit in understanding and he reaches over to place a bony palm over one of Izuku’s fists.

“I understand your desire to learn more about what’s happening, my boy. But we can’t rush into things like this. It could cause more problems in the long run. Just give it some time, alright?” he tilts his head to try and catch Izuku’s eye.

Izuku stares for a moment before giving a small, dejected nod in response. Toshinori gives an apologetic grin and sits back before rising to his feet.

“I shall get going and reach out to Endeavor. In the meantime, you both can return to your duties as normal. I am glad you came back unharmed, my boy,” and with that final word, the king takes his leave.

Izuku and Katsuki sit in silence for a moment, Izuku still staring down at his hands. He can’t help but feel a sense of betrayal for some reason, and it cuts into him like dull knives. Katsuki watches him before sighing and standing as well.

“Just focus on your experiments and work, Deku. You don’t need to go back. So what if he’s your sibling? It’s weird but it doesn’t change anything,” he says as he flies over to the door to Izuku’s home. Izuku lifts his head and watches him, the dull knives plunging deeper, twisting before getting stuck.

Katsuki looks back at him, glancing over him assessingly before meeting his gaze.

“...M’sorry Deku, but you can’t handle something like that on your own. Just drop it.”

Izuku just stares, his chest aching for some reason. The betrayed feeling solidifies and creates a poisonous taste on the back of his tongue.

“...Just leave, Kacchan.”

“Deku-”

“Go. I need to rest anyways, right?” his tone pulls tight, painful.

Katsuki stares, hand forming a fist at his thigh. His mouth moves to speak for a moment before he clicks his teeth shut and clenches his jaw in a sour look. He turns and leaves without another word.

Izuku sits there for a long moment after Katsuki leaves, unsure if he wants to cry or throw something. Maybe he was wrong in thinking Katsuki saw him differently from the others...

Maybe even Katsuki has had enough of his failures, tired of having to save him and too busy to keep catering to him. He can only humor someone like the useless “Deku” for so long.

He glances over and sees the abandoned snow-stoppers with his discarded winter gear. He stares for a moment, before standing and going over, picking them up and placing the gear in his satchel.

Maybe he’s not useful to them. Maybe it's dangerous and stupid to go back. But if there’s anyone who might really truly understand what Izuku feels, he’s in those woods.

Izuku has to go back.