A/N: I might continue this later down the line, honestly! It was really fun to write. Once again, happy birthday Reciprocate! Also if you guys haven't read his works, I highly recommend them!
Fighting loneliness
Always seems so simple
But I can't lose anyone
Never you
The streets of Minasoto faded away into dirt roads and tall grass. They walked through the hot countryside, a few cicadas still buzzing around with persistence. Tatsuki let them down a side street that snaked through the woods until they stopped in front of a large house.
The sun was even lower in the sky, and it filtered through the leaves and cast dancing shadows upon the gravel path as Kouya walked up to the front door of the Midoriya household.
Man, he's got such a huge house! I wonder why we didn't hang here much.
Kouya's ears pricked as he heard the sharp sound of wood being cut. Sawdust invaded his nostrils and he snorted and snuffled to get it out.
Tatsuki laughed and patted Kouya's back. "Sorry 'bout that. The boys are still working today!"
"This late?" Kouya raised a brow. He saw a few figures moving about in the workshop beside the front door.
"Yeah. Dad keeps them late, but they get paid well!" Tatsuki grinned.
"Huh. And they like working with him?"
"Sure do! My dad can be nice!" Tatsuki crossed his arms and frowned.
"Yeah, when hell freezes over." Kouya rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Hey, is that Tatsuki?" A high-pitched voice called. A small mouse walked up to them from the noise of the workshop.
Tatsuki slapped the mouse on the back with a resounding smack, to which Kouya winced and the mouse yelped. "Hey, Chuukichi! How's the work goin'?" Tatsuki asked with a grin?
"It's goin' well! The boss got onto us earlier for bein' lazy, but we've almost finished the tables! Oh, and the chairs are done!" Chuukichi grinned. He then locked eyes with Kouya and raised a brow. "Who's this guy?"
"This is my good friend Kouya!" Tatsuki set a much gentler hand on Kouya's shoulder. Huh, I guess they do a lot of roughhousing with each other. Or Tatsuki is just being gentle with me in particular.
He has been acting strange today, alcohol or not.
"Kouya, huh? Well, nice ta meetcha!" Chuukichi extended his hand out, and Kouya shook it with the most charming smile he could muster.
"Pleasure is all mine, Chuukichi." Kouya winked and let go of Chuukichi's hand. He saw Chuukichi blush for a moment, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Tatsuki frowning.
"Are ya staying the night?"
Kouya nodded. "Yeah, Tatsuki invited me over for the night."
Tatsuki cleared his throat and grabbed Kouya's wrist, beginning to lead him away. "Yeah, and we're gonna go hang out now! You've still got work to do today, so get to it!" He dragged Kouya down the front steps and into the doorway.
Kouya yelped as Tatsuki manhandled him. What's his problem? I'm just trying to talk to Chuukichi!
Tatsuki opened the front door and ushered Kouya inside in front of him. Kouya thanked him and walked further inside Tatsuki's home.
When Kouya entered the living room, he was greeted with a massive dragon lounging in a recliner and drinking sake. His face was a bright red color, but he still kept drinking.
Oh, that's Tatsuki's dad. Was his name… Tappei? I think so…
Tappei perked up when Kouya entered. "Well if it ain't Mr. Aotsuki's boy! I haven't seen you for a while!"
Kouya grinned and rubbed the back of his neck. "Hi, Mr. Midoriya. It has been a while."
God, he's so damn intimidating.
"Glad to see Tatsuki is finally bringing a guy home for the night! It's about damn time he got action!" Tappei laughed and winked at Kouya before he belched.
Kouya's face flushed as Tatsuki barged into the living room with a shout. "Dad, Kouya's just a friend! It isn't like that at all!"
Tappei raised a brow. "Oh, he isn't, huh?" He hummed, and a glint appeared in his eye that Kouya didn't like. "Bo- Kouya, come here."
Kouya swallowed. "Uh, what?"
"I said come here!" Tappei roared before he sat up in his chair. Good grief! What's his freakin' deal?
Kouya jumped and shuffled over to Tappei. "What is it, Mr. Midoriya?"
Tappei laughed and leaned back in his chair. The bottle of sake fell from his hand and rolled away empty. His eyes had a hungry glint in them. "So if you ain't here to get with my son… then how about getting with me instead?" He grinned.
Is he serious? He's so drunk! "Uh, I'm good. Thanks." Kouta took a step back and shook his head.
"Aw, c'mon! You know you wanna get with this!" Tappei rubbed his belly and winked.
Kouya felt a sudden urge to hurl. "Yeah, no. Sorry, I'm not into it."
Tappei opened his mouth to protest, but then Tatsuki had grabbed Kouya's wrist. "Dad, please quit being drunk and weird! We're going to my room!" He led Kouya out of the living room as Tappei's protests faded.
Tatsuki led them up the stairs before he stopped and caught his breath. "Man, I'm really sorry about that! He gets… really inappropriate when he's drunk."
"I can see why you quit drinking." Kouya shuddered. Man, I don't wanna end up like Tappei. Maybe drinking isn't such a great idea!
"Yeah. Sometimes I wish he would too, but he wouldn't listen to me or Mom." Tatsuki shrugged.
"You could get her and your carpenter friends and stage an intervention."
"Nah, that won't work! They're all too afraid of him!" Tatsuki shook his head and crossed his arms.
"Maybe it's something to try later. You never know. Threaten him enough and he could crack." Kouya slammed his fist into his palm and grinned.
Tatsuki erupted in laughter and pushed Kouya along down the hallway. "Man, I wish it was that easy!"
"What, so he would win against all of you?" Kouya rolled his eyes.
"Yes." Tatsuki stopped laughing and looked at him with a stern expression.
"Uh, wow, okay." Huh. I didn't think Tappei was that strong. Maybe its when he's sober that he's a threat…
Tatsuki stopped in front of a door, and he suddenly started to blush. Kouya raised a brow and watched as Tatsuki huffed and kicked at the floor.
"What's wrong?" Kouya asked. He approached Tatsuki and set a hand on his arm.
Tatsuki jumped. "Oh, nothing! I was just… uh…" he cleared his throat. "You don't mind sleeping with me in my room, do ya?"
Kouya laughed. "Of course not! It's a sleepover, remember?"
"Right, yeah. Of course!" Tatsuki chuckled, but he was tapping his foot on the floor. His brows were drawn together while he stared at the floor. "But there's one more thing I gotta ask."
"Yeah? And what's that?" Maybe something silly, like if we will do this again, or if it was worth it… yeah, it was more than worth it.
"D- do you need to take a bath?" Tatsuki's face was the color of a tomato now, which made Kouya snort and smile.
"Well yeah, I'm tired. Been out the entire day!"
"I, uh… meant together. Both of us. At the same time, you know?" Tatsuki's voice seemed to continue rising as he spoke. He twiddled his thumbs and looked to the floor.
Kouya's mouth ran dry. Well, that's something. Something different.
"Uh, what for?" He finally got out.
"B- because our water bill is running high!" Tatsuki laughed and turned away from Kouya.
He's such a horrible liar. But… ah, what the hell. Let's play along.
Kouya held his hands up. "Alright, man. I'll take a bath with you." His heart started hammering in his chest, and he took a few deep breaths. Quit freaking out!
Tatsuki turned around with a small smile on his face. "Really?"
Kouya nodded. "Sure. Why the heck not?"
"Okay!" Tatsuki opened the door and led Kouya inside.
Kouya found himself in a small hallway before a spacious wooden room with a pool of water in the middle, not unlike a sauna. He glanced around; it was big enough for a lot of Tatsukis.
"You like it?" Tatsuki gestured around them before he walked over to a small pile of rocks and turned the heater on underneath them.
"It's nice. Your house must be pretty expensive, huh?" Kouya began to peel his tank top off as he spoke.
"Uh, yeah!" Tatsuki nodded and took off his blue jacket. "My parents make a lot of money, so they can afford this pretty easily!"
Kouya sighed. "Must be nice." He tossed his tank top on the counter beside the sink.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"Nah, it's cool." Kouya cast a smile in Tatsuki's direction as he shucked his pants off and set them with the shirt. "I'll get there one day."
"Absolutely. You're way more capable than I could dream to be!" Tatsuki had taken all his clothes off by now, and he was walking over to the bath to sit in the water.
Kouya felt his face heat up as his eyes drifted a little too far down Tatsuki's body. He bit his lip and looked away before he removed his underwear and followed Tatsuki into the bath.
"Ahhhh, isn't this nice?" Tatsuki leaned back against the edge of the bath and spread his arms out. Kouya sat opposite of him with his arms drawn in close. His stomach growled.
Kouya closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah. Don't get to take these at home." He felt his shoulders drop.
"I'm glad I can treat you, then!"
If only he could treat me to this stuff every day… then I would get really spoiled.
"I appreciate it!" Kouya opened an eye and gave Tatsuki a thumbs up. "This place is way nicer than anywhere I've lived."
"I mean… if you're ever in need of a room, you could always come live here."
Both of Kouya's eyes flew open. "What did you say?"
Tatsuki laughed so loud it seemed to shake the entire room. "You can come and move in with me if you ever need to!"
Man, he's way too kind for his own good. Kouya chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, man."
"Anything for you, Kouya!" Tatsuki set another rock atop the heater, which caused the room to be enveloped in a thicker cloud of steam.
They fell into silence. Kouya began to wash his fur, but his gaze wandered over to Tatsuki while he did. He watched Tatsuki scrub his scales until they were shining, and his huge muscles glistened as water poured off of them. His gut was big, but it complimented his figure in a good way. Kouya swallowed hard and looked back down to himself.
He was far too thin and gangly. He hadn't been eating enough, and there was only a little muscle left on his body. His stomach felt empty. When's the last time I had a filling meal?
"Something wrong?" Tatsuki asked. Kouya looked back up to see Tatsuki looking at him with a frown and a scrunched brow.
Kouya's shoulders tensed and he covered his body. "No, I'm alright." His voice was too tired, too pained. He sighed.
"You don't sound alright." Tatsuki scooted closer until they were sitting beside each other, only a few inches apart.
Kouya hugged himself tighter but didn't shy away. What do I even say? I just… I feel so awful now. But why? I was just fine a few minutes ago!
Tatsuki hummed. "Is it because you're uncomfortable in here?" Kouya shook his head. His stomach growled loud enough for Tatsuki to blink in surprise.
"Oh… because you're thin?"
"I don't know…" Kouya's voice broke as he spoke. "I'm not healthy. I live alone, nobody's around for company. I haven't done this in so long." He shut his eyes.
"You don't have to be alone, you know." Kouya felt something warm and soft on his shoulder.
He looked up into Tatsuki's eyes and gasped. There's… he looks so concerned and sad. Does he really care about me that much? I'm just some husky who went his own way.
"Why not?" Kouya asked. His voice was small, and he felt even smaller.
"Because you've got me and everyone else. You can talk to us about anything!" Tatsuki tugged on Kouya's arm and brought him a little closer. "You've got some sorta body problem going on, and I just want to help!"
"Tatsuki…" Kouya leaned in a little closer.
"What happened to when you were open with us?"
Kouya was quiet for a few eternal moments before he opened his mouth. "I don't-"
"Don't say you don't know, dammit!" Tatsuki pulled Kouya into a tight hug. Shock ran through Kouya's body and left him paralyzed as Tatsuki started to shake.
"Don't say that! Just give me a damn reason... I'm here, Kouya." Tatsuki's voice was shaky.
"Hey, why are you crying? That should be my job!" Even as Kouya spoke, he could feel a few tears welling in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around Tatsuki.
"Just talk to me."
Well, no getting outta this one. Least it's him, and not anyone else.
Kouya sighed and pulled back a bit to make eye contact again. "I'm just a mess. I do a pretty good job at hiding it most of the time, but I'm a huge mess." He gestured down at his body before covering it back up. "Don't have enough money to eat, can't take baths often, live alone."
Kouya bit his lip. "I think it's my body that I hate most."
"Hey, you're welcome here anytime." Tatsuki smiled. "We can feed you!"
That almost sounds like a plea… why's this such a massive deal to him?
"I appreciate it, but I shouldn't impose."
"No, please! Let me help you." Tatsuki's grip on Kouya tightened. "Please."
Kouya was taken aback. Maybe… jeez, he means business. He really cares about me. Kouya's face heated up.
"Okay." Kouya's exposure broke and he grinned. He relaxed his arms and exposed his body. "Fine, I'll let you take care of me, but don't spoil me!" He waved a finger in Tatsuki's face.
"Great! Thank you!" Tatsuki laughed and pulled Kouya back into a hug. Kouya sighed and wrapped his arms around Tatsuki. Gosh, this is nice.
Kouya raised a brow when his hand fell on a strange lump on Tatsuki's back. "Hey, Tatsuki. What's this thing here?"
Tatsuki tensed up. "Oh, that's one of my wings."
"How come they're not big?" Kouya asked.
"Most dragons are born without em nowadays. I got unlucky, I guess. Can't fly."
"That doesn't sound horrible. You can't even see them, anyway."
Tatsuki sighed. "But that's the worst part. Do you remember when we were little?"
"Ugh, some?" Kouya squinted and hummed. "What about it?"
"Well, you guys saw my wings, and you always wanted me to fly you guys around." Tatsuki chuckled. "But I couldn't; couldn't even fly myself. You guys would cry every time, and there was nothing I could do about it."
Vague memories resurfaced in Kouya's mind as Tatsuki spoke. A smaller Tatsuki with those awkward wings on his back. Everyone fighting to get a piggyback ride from him first. A sad mood on his mind when everyone left.
How could I have forgotten that stuff?
Kouya sighed. "I'm sorry, Tatsuki. I should've remembered sooner." He pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Nah, it's cool!" Tatsuki smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You sure it's cool? Doesn't sound like it." Kouya touched Tatsuki's smooth shoulder.
"Problem ain't anything I can fix easily." Tatsuki i shrugged.
"Dude, what is it? You can tell me too, you know." Kouya put on his best pleading face, widening his eyes and pinning his ears back.
Tatsuki groaned. "Ugh, fine! Why do you have to look so convincing?"
Kouya shrugged. "I was going for 'cute' or 'adorable,' but that works too." He scooted over and put a few more rocks on top of the heater.
"Alright, fine." Tatsuki pressed a hand to his face and blushed. "I still feel guilty about not being able to fly you guys. I'd try to say 'maybe next time I'll be able to fly' when you guys started crying, but that didn't help."
Kouya bit his lip. "I didn't know you felt this way."
"Eh, I thought it was pointless. Still bugs me, though."
"That's okay, some stuff is like that." Kouya smiled. "I still feel bad about knocking Shin into a pool a few years ago."
"Yeah, but I feel so guilty! All you guys wanted to do was fly!" Tatsuki threw his hands in the air. "I couldn't do anything for you!"
"Hey, it's okay! It was just our wild imaginations, after all." Kouya set a hand on his shoulder. "Nobody blames you for having wings."
"I sure as heck do," Tatsuki mumbled into his hands.
He's really not gonna let this go, is he? "Well, is there some way for you to make up for it?"
Tatsuki brightened and nodded. "Yeah, I think so!"
Kouya clasped his hands together. "Cool, so what is it?"
"Well, it was supposed to be a surprise for everyone. Can I show you tomorrow?" Tatsuki flashed Kouya a pleading look.
Man, I can't say no to that face! This must be how he felt. "Okay, okay. You're lucky I don't have work tomorrow." Kouya crossed his arms.
"Hell yeah! I'll show you first thing in the morning!" Tatsuki pumped his fist into the air.
Kouya nodded and then proceeded to yawn very loudly. "Should we wrap it up in here? Think it's getting late."
"Sounds good." Tatsuki grabbed his washrag. "Hey… uh, could you get my back? I can't reach it."
"Oh, sure." Kouya took the rag from him and started to scrub Tatsuki's back.
Man, how does he get his scales so smooth? It's so soft and nice to touch! Kouya blushed as he worked. He found his efforts being focused lower and lower almost against his will until-
"Hey, at least invite me out to dinner first before we get all handsy!" Tatsuki laughed and twisted to wink at Kouya. Kouya's face got even redder as Tatsuki spoke.
"Oh God, sorry! I didn't mean to!"
"Hehe, it's alright dude." Tatsuki got up and stretched. "I'm all clean now! We should get outta here so the others can take baths too."
"Not until you get my back too." Kouya grinned and turned around. If I get to do it, so should he.
"Fair enough! I hope you're in for the scrubbing of a lifetime!" Tatsuki shouted into Kouya's ear as he sat back down behind him.
"Hey, you better not-" Kouya was cut off when a pair of gentle but firm hands pressed into his back and started scrubbing. "Oh… damn…" He leaned back and sighed.
"How's it feel?" There was a smug edge in Tatsuki's voice, which made Kouya elbow his stomach.
"It's nice, jerk." Kouya closed his eyes. "You're a master at this."
"Me and the boys have to help each other a lot. It comes easy!"
"Yeah, no kidding."
Tatsuki continued to wash Kouya's back while he closed his eyes and relaxed. God, I just want this moment to last forever. If this is how Tatsuki is gonna take care of me, then I've got no complaints.
Sadly, the moment was not going to last forever. Tatsuki finished and patted Kouya's shoulder before they both got up.
"What did you think of our bath?" Tatsuki asked as he turned the heater off.
Kouya's face grew warm. "It was nice." He grabbed a towel from a hook by the door and started to dry himself off.
"Great! I wanted to treat you to something nice!" Tatsuki walked to the sink and picked up a toothbrush.
"I dunno if I can go back to my cold shower after that." Kouya found his gaze wandering to Tatsuki's backside as he brushed his teeth, and he silently cursed at himself. Quit it! That's not something to be thinking about!
"Then I guess you'll just have to live here from now on!"
Kouya stuck his tongue out at him in the mirror. "I wouldn't have to become a carpenter, would I?"
Tatsuki shook his head. "Only if you want to. Pops wouldn't force ya."
Kouya didn't reply as he continued drying himself off. I wouldn't have to work under Tappei if I was here… huh.
"But the other carpenters already live here; I don't want to be a liability." Kouya's ears drooped.
Tatsuki shook his head. "Nah, my dad wouldn't care. Long as you aren't here doing nothing all day!"
This sounds way too good to be true.
Kouya finished drying off and slipped his black briefs and pants on. He grabbed his shirt and waited while Tatsuki finished brushing his teeth. He dried off soon after and tied his fundoshi back on.
Kouya blushed when Tatsuki didn't make a move to put his pants on. "So… are you staying like that?"
Tatsuki blinked. "Huh?" He looked down. "Oh, I sleep like this!" He laughed. "It's way comfier than clothes!"
Can't say I'm complaining. He looks… good. "Alrighty, man." he stepped out of the bathroom and back into the dim hallway.
Tatsuki led them down the hall and to the door at the end of it. "Well, here's my room!"
He opened the door and Kouya stepped inside. Kouya was met with a small, but cozy room, and nearly tripped on the tatami mat when he stepped inside.
"Gah, sorry about that!" Tatsuki shoved the mat into a corner. "I forgot to put it away this morning." He rubbed the back of his neck and blushed.
"It's alright." Kouya's gaze fell upon an easel by the only window, which held a canvas on it. "I live in an apartment this size." He walked over to the easel.
Kouya's eyes widened while he took it in; it was breathtaking. The painting wasn't finished, but it showed a clearing in a forest. The grass was as bright as emerald, and the trees looked real. The sky wasn't painted, but it looked almost ethereal in its unfinished state.
"Did you draw this?" It's so wonderful… how does he do this?
Tatsuki chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I did! I really like art, but it's just a hobby."
"You're amazing! I can't wait to see it finished!" Kouya sat down beside a low table in the center of the room and placed his shirt beside it.
"Thanks, but it'll probably just go over there." Tatsuki pointed behind Kouya to a pile of canvases and papers leaned against a wall. They were covered in a thin layer of dust.
"What- why aren't you hanging those up? They're really cool!"
"Not any space left in my room." Tatsuki shrugged, and Kouya felt a hot pang in his chest.
"It doesn't feel right to leave them there, though. You could sell them or something." Kouya scratched his chin.
"Maybe, but there ain't much of a market for them." Tatsuki moved the tatami next to the table and grabbed a few pillows scattered around the room.
I could ask to take some home for him, but… "That's a shame; maybe you'll find some customers soon." He gave Tatsuki a thumbs up. Part of me wants to stay here. A big part.
"That would be awesome!"
Kouya smiled at Tatsuki's enthusiasm. At least one of us can be excited all the time. He watched as Tatsuki laid down on the mat. "So where am I sleeping?"
Tatsuki patted the space next to him. "Right here?"
Kouya blushed. That doesn't sound so bad. "Oh silly me, how could I have forgotten?" He started moving to the mat, but then stopped.
Aw hell, why not join him? Kouya took his pants off and set them by his shirt, which made Tatsuki clear his throat and look away. Kouya snickered and laid next to Tatsuki, his back to him.
The mat isn't as good as my bed, but something about it feels right. This feels so familiar somehow.
Kouya smiled and rested his head on his hands. "Hey, Tatsuki."
"Yeah, Kouya?" Tatsuki's voice quivered.
"Thanks for asking to hang out. This was a good idea." He turned over and found that Tatsuki had done the same; his face was inches from Kouya's.
"Yeah, it was! I had a great time!" Tatsuki nodded.
"We should do it more often."
"Like I said, you can come live here if you want. Offer is open." The look on Tatsuki's face almost made him cave right then and there, but he didn't.
Yes. Just say yes! You really want to! "I'll think about it."
Idiot.
"Hell yeah!" Tatsuki pumped his fist in the air and grinned. "I hope you'll decide to stay!"
Me too, dork. "How about I sleep on it?"
"Alrighty."
Kouya bit his lip and shivered as a breeze passed over him. "Hey, is it okay if I-"
Tatsuki cut him off and drew him into a tight hug, pressing their bodies close together. Kouya tensed for a moment but soon relaxed. He doesn't hate my body, even if I do. It's okay.
"This alright?" Tatsuki's voice was suddenly so very small.
Kouya sighed and wrapped his arms around Tatsuki. This is perfect. "It's great." Tatsuki's heat enveloped him like a thick blanket and made him drowsy. "This whole day has been great. Thank you."
"You're welcome! We both needed it." Tatsuki yawned and held Kouya a little tighter. Kouya buried his head in Tatsuki's chest.
A revelation shot through Kouya's chest and left a blooming burst of warmth and color in its wake. I really don't want to leave Tatsuki. Not ever.
His face began to warm and his stomach twisted itself into knots as he forced his tail not to wag. Oh, well… I guess I'm in love with him. I like that. He tightened his grip on Tatsuki and relished the feeling of those smooth scales against his fur.
"Good night, Tatsuki. Thanks for everything."
"Naw, thank you!" Tatsuki ruffled Kouya's hair. "You helped me out a ton!"
Kouya chuckled. "Alright, dude. Good night." He closed his eyes and listened to Tatsuki's steady heartbeat.
"Nighty night, Kouya."
This is so perfect. I don't ever want to leave him.
I'll take his offer tomorrow.
And I can be with him.
Kouya drifted into sleep with only a green dragon on his mind. Sure, strange odds brought them together, but it all worked out.
For once, Kouya was happy.
Thank you, Tatsuki.