Tie Now a Silver Thread
8 | to care and let go
When the long, dog days of summer are marching toward the end of the month of July, is when Izuku finds the most refined and beautiful cat he's ever laid his eyes upon.
He's tending to the garden, snipping away at the wilted bits of plants when the bushes behind him shuffle. Carefully putting down his pruning shears, Izuku turns and stands, waiting. Not long after, the bushes shuffle again and this time a large, long-haired gray cat emerges. Izuku wonders if they're one of the talking cats that Chise has told him of — if they're one of the ones that have lived many lives. However, before he can ask them a question, they blink cutely at him, tilting their head to the side before surging forward to his legs. They weave back and forth between his shins, purring happily.
Izuku crouches down, holding out a hand for them to sniff. They do, and then cheerfully headbutt his knuckles. "Hello there," Izuku says jovially. "What may your name be?"
"Mrow," perhaps not a talking cat, then. They jump onto a surprised Izuku and settle down on his right shoulder.
"Are you hungry?" he asks them. A talking cat they may not be, but they are still fairly intelligent. The cat stills, before tapping their snout and then tapping Izuku's lips. "I see! I see! Well, let's see what we can find, huh?"
Izuku heads inside with the silent promise to continue tending to the flowers later. Izuku steps into the kitchen to see it bereft of anyone, including Silky. So, he makes his way to the fridge and pokes his head inside, seeing the well stocked-fridge gives him a few options. "Let's see — how about some leftover salmon? Or even some chicken from two nights ago?"
The cat takes a look, before dismounting Izuku to point at the salmon with an insistent, "Mrow!"
"Good choice," Izuku says as he brings the container with the cooked salmon out. He serves it on a small plate, while also pouring some milk in a saucer dish for the cat. The cat, and wow Izuku really needs to figure out a name for them, eagerly eats the salmon and laps up the milk with gusto. Izuku waits until they're done before asking his questions.
"You're pretty smart, aren't you?" the cat nods. "I can't keep calling you 'the cat' in my head, so how about we come up with a name for you?" the cat bobs their head. "Matt?" a shake. "Eva?" another shake. "Well, I guess it would help if I knew your gender. A girl?" a shake. "Gender non-conforming?" another shake. "Then, are you a boy?" a nod this time. They went through a plethora of names, until, "Okay, how about Agustus? Gus, for short?"
This time, the cat — now Gus, nods his head. Izuku claps his hands in glee. "Well, Gus, wanna go meet mom?"
Gus meows eagerly, weaving his way between Izuku's legs expertly as they walk down the hall and to the green room in the back. There, they find Izuku's mom on a rocking chair, reading a heavy tome that she settles on her lap when they enter.
"Oh?" she says, looking up, "now, who's this?"
"This is Gus!" Izuku says. "He came out from one of the bushes while I was tending to the garden. He was hungry, so I gave him some of the leftover salmon. He wanted to meet you." Gus bobs his head in agreement. "See?"
"Oh my, aren't you a handsome cat?" his mom coos, and Gus preens. "And so intelligent, too!"
"Yeah, he's pretty smart," Izuku scratches his cheek absentmindedly. "Not one of the talking cats, surprisingly."
"He can stay for as long as he wants," says his mom, leaning down to pet Gus between his ears. He purrs as Izuku beams. "Chise should be back any minute now, and Elias is in his study. Go on ahead and finish tending to the garden, and then take a shower. We'll introduce Gus during our afternoon tea."
"Sounds good to me," he says. "Love you, mom!"
"Love you too, sweetheart."
Gus follows Izuku back to the garden, and there they both set to work. Gus sniffs around the plants and meows loudly when he finds a wilted part of a plant. Izuku sets to clip it away and Gus continues to do this until they're finished, and all Izuku has to do is water the flowers and bushes. At some point, Chrys joins them, and he and Gus have a staredown that has Izuku unsettled. Then, after a beat, Chrys says, "You're a long way from home."
Gus meows sadly, hanging his head.
"He is?"
"He is," says Chrys. "He says he had a dispute with his brother, and well, he just needs a place to stay until they both calm down." Gus hisses, hackles raised. "And I doubt that it'll be anytime soon."
"Well," starts Izuku, directing his line of answering to Gus, "you're welcome to stay for as long as you wish." Gus shows his happiness by purring loudly at Izuku's heels. Chrys shakes his head, smiling slightly, before settling down on Izuku's shoulder. Silky gestures to him and then inside, then does a hand sign for a bathbefore heading back inside to continue her cleaning rounds.
Izuku picks up Gus without a fit on the cat's part, and then they head on inside and up the stairs. He sets Gus down on his bed alongside the dozing Sara — who's sunbathing in the afternoon sun. She opens her blue eyes and yawns, sniffing Gus curiously before yawning again and cuddling up to the stiff cat. Gus relaxes when there's no immediate danger, and purrs happily against Sara. Izuku coos a little before gathering his clothes and towel for his bath. Chrys follows him, as does Gus, into the bathroom. Izuku looks at Gus, as if inquiring about his decision, and all Gus does is sniff the air regally.
Izuku shrugs. "Have it your way, then," and so he strips down and steps into the hot bath that Silky prepared for him. He sighs, allowing his aching muscles to relax underneath the hot, bubbly water. Some of the water splashes over the brim when Izuku completely submerges himself, and Gus stares curiously when Izuku doesn't immediately reappear. When the green-haired boy does raise his head from beneath the water, it's after a 15-second wait, and he appears to be fine. Chrys sets on dumping a good bit of shampoo on Izuku's head, and from there on, Izuku sets to clean himself from the dirt and grime from gardening.
After drying and clothing himself, Izuku leaves the bathroom refreshed and clean. In his room, Wisteria and Iris finish drying his hair with short bursts of winds and then set to work, brushing and braiding his hair to make his growing hair presentable. It grazes just past his shoulders, and the longer it becomes, the more tamed it appears to be, like how his mother's hair is. It's even and smooth and less unruly.
Gus enjoys the short gusts of winds, jumping and pawing at them when it reaches his perch on Izuku's cherry desk. Sara merely enjoys the sun on his bed, while Bo and Peep zoom in and out of his room through the open windows with much energy to spare. They remind Izuku of toddlers, who run to and fro through obstacles with glee.
Izuku plays with his silver ring, twisting it around his index finger, before exhaling and reaching for the magatama resting on his chest. It's strange to think that it'd only been around three months since the Hatori-Ainsworth family had taken him and his mother in. That it'd only been close to two weeks since he saved Artemis and that now he could speak any language that he so wished, including those no longer spoken or even remembered. Or that he'd gained formidable weapons and that Nimue had been rather insistent that he keeps, stating that he'd never know when he might find a use for them. It felt like an omen; like saving Artemis opened floodgates that Izuku didn't want to close, and their conversation about beacons and hope and heroes ran rampant in his head.
"You're deep in thought, Izzie," says Iris. She flies closer to him, laying a delicate and small hand on the side of his nose. "What troubles you, our little merlin?"
Izuku smiles at the nickname. "Not much, just — I was thinking."
Wisteria ties his hair off, saying something or other about how the double Dutch fishtail buns look good on him. She's putting on the finishing touches on the braid, weaving Forget-Me-Nots through his hair, when she asks. "About what, sweetie?"
"It's just," Izuku struggles to find the right words, and settles for, "so much has happened in such a short time-frame. I went from nearly spitting my internal organs out to recuperating and living life once more in the span of three months. Then, we save Artemis from this so-called group, the League of Villains, and I don't know, it's all much but at the same time it all feels right. Like it should be happening. That this is the beginning of something grand and extraordinary."
His Ariel Neighbors exchange a glance. Izuku catches their act and is curious. Even Gus' curiosity is peaked if his perked ears and tilted head are anything to go by.
"Well," starts Chrys, shrugging minutely. "You're a Sleigh Beggy, and one with potential at that. We've suspected that you've been Marked for a while now, it's only a matter of when your patron deity approaches you, not if."
"Patron deity?" Izuku asks, turning his head to Chrys and away from Gus, whose tail swishes back and forth like a pendulum, who stares unblinking at the green-haired Sleigh Beggy. There's a certain wisdom in those light blue eyes, and a certain power that reflects off his gray coat, that has Wisteria staring intently at him. She then nods, and Gus nods back. Iris also bows her head in understanding, a small smile splayed across her lips. A vow is exchanged, like the one Chrys and Gus had had earlier in the garden.
"A deity is a divine being. They are grouped in pantheons, like the Shinto or Celtic pantheons. A patron deity, on the other hand, is one of these divine beings but one who takes a certain interest towards a mortal. It's favoritism, in other words, but they help out where they can by sending messages or gifts when their Chosen is in turmoil."
"It reminds me a bit of Nimue," Izuku says tentatively. "She gifted me weapons, but it was for her own gain. I don't believe her to be my patron deity, however, Artemis is her Chosen, aren't they?"
"That's correct," Iris says. "Artemis is Marked by Nimue, and I gathered a guess that eventually their relationship formed into an apprenticeship."
"And you're saying that I'm Marked? That I have a patron deity?" They all nod. "Well, do you know who they are?"
"In a way," Wisteria says softly. "However, disclosing it would be rude. Your patron deity hasn't shown themselves to you yet. If we told you who we think they are, then we'd be stepping on one too many toes."
Izuku sighs. "I'll just wait, then, until they reveal themselves to me."
Gus flicks his tail merrily at that, and his Neighbors smile at him. Izuku goes about the rest of his day after that revelation, with it weighing heavily in his mind. He introduces Gus to the rest of his family. Ruth had looked at Gus a bit weirdly but had nodded in the cat's direction.
That night Izuku sleeps with Gus curled at his back and soon Izuku dreams of chariots pulled by large gray and blue-coated cats, and a cloak made of feathers fluttering about. There's a soft voice, too, whispering promises yet to be completed.
When Izuku wakes, he feels well-rested and Gus is already up and puttering about. The remnants of his dreams slip from his fingers, and he shakes his head to disperse his wandering thoughts.
A week goes by, and Gus is fully integrated into Izuku's schedule. Another two weeks pass by, and Chise brings up the idea to go visit Elias' old mentor and friend, Lindel, the Caretaker of the Dragons' Aerie.
"Dragons?" Izuku queries with stars in his eyes. Today his hair is braided with aster flowers, their vibrancy a nice contrast to his verdant hair. "I get to meet dragons?"
Chise nods as Ruth rubs his knuckles across Izuku's head. "They'll love you."
"I hope s—stop that!" Izuku swats Ruth's hand away. He turns to Chise. "When do we leave?"
"At noon." Chise takes a sip of her tea. "Ruth will take you while I take flight. Make sure to dress for a nice chill, but lightly enough for the warmth. Though, I have no doubt that Silky has already set out clothes for you." Here, she gives the Silver Lady a look to which Silky stares, then departs after pinching Chise's cheeks.
The red-haired woman rubs at her cheek as Silky disappears into the hallway. She glares half-heartedly at the disappearing pink skirt. Then, she laughs. "It doesn't matter how much I age, she's still a force to be reckoned with. Makes me feel young again."
"I would hardly call you old." Izuku rebukes. "You're just a couple of centuries young, is all."
"You flatterer." She says flatly, but she smiles and it ruins the image of stoicism. Gus purrs loudly by their feet, content. "What about you, Gus? Want to meet some dragons?"
Gus thinks for a moment but ultimately nods his head. Chise claps her hands. "Great! Lindel will appreciate the visitors. The more the merrier."
Izuku thinks on all that he has heard of the mage, from passing conversations between Elias and Chise to retellings of how Chise had acquired her wand as told by word-of-mouth by Ruth. The man seemed to be caring for his dragon wards, absolutely protective of them, and Izuku had the mild feeling that he would demolish any person who dared lay an unforgiving finger on his wards. He can't wait to meet such a person, with such an impressive knowledge from living even longer than either Elias or Chise combined, if what he gathered is anything to go by.
Chise leaves him to his own devices for a while and calls him to get ready once noon approaches. Chise was right about Silky leaving out his clothes for him; sensible dark washed jeans, an undershirt, and a soft yellow flannel paired with a light gray jacket are laid out for him. He should be embarrassed about the fact that Silky goes out of her way to do this for him, but instead all he feels is a sort of bubbly warmth swell in his chest.
He also can't deny that the outfit looks good on him. It makes him feel confident in himself.
He gives himself one last glance before gathering Gus up in his arms. Chrys and Wisteria settle in his pockets, while Iris plops herself down in his collar.
"Are you guys comfortable?" asks Izuku. "All ready to go?"
Iris pats his neck. "We're good, Izzie. Let's go." Gus mrows his agreement as well.
It seems like Izuku blinks and he's standing before Ruth's Grimm form in the front yard. Chise nods, pointing her staff down as she incants. Soon, with fire sprites giggling as they circle her, she erupts in a fiery inferno of warm flames. She trills, once, before taking off into the sky.
Izuku makes a questioning noise, to which Ruth answers. «We're traveling a longer distance, she's going to need some more help than her usual abundance of magic.»
"Ah," Izuku hums, sitting. "Makes sense, I suppose."
They wait, with Ruth looking steadily in the direction in which Chise disappeared off to, for roughly around 15 minutes, before he announces. «She arrived. Lesgo.»
Izuku stands and Ruth allows him to clamber on his back. And Gus who, by that point, had climbed and made himself home in Izuku's backpack with his head sticking out, meeps in anticipation. They soon disappear beneath the shade of a nearby tree. The first thing Izuku realizes once they arrive, is how chilly it is, and how his breath puffs out in small clouds in front of him. He notices how the air stings if he breathes in suddenly, and immediately checks in on his Neighbors. Iris had darted into his shirt; Wisteria and Chrys handed him hand-warmers to shake up to heat, and he quickly did so, handing them back for them to hold on to, including Iris.
"I didn't expect it to be this cold." Izuku tried not to shiver too much.
"We are in the mountains, so it's somewhat expected for it to be chilly." Ruth furrows his brows, scratching at his neck. "But it's usually nice during August. The sun's out too and Dragons' Aerie usually regulates its temperature for the dragons. I'm stumped."
"Ruth!" Chise waves them over, "Izuku! Over here!" There was a certain edge to her voice, so both of them hurried toward her and a blond, long-haired male beside her, that Izuku figures must be the famous Lindel. His face is pinched in worry as they approach. His simple robes shuffle as if he were moving side to side in agitation.
"— must be a winter sprite," Izuku catches Lindel saying. "No other explanation for this bout of cold."
"I understand," Chise, empathetic as always, lays a gloved hand on Lindel's forearm. "We'll find a way to fix this, I'm sure."
Lindel breathes out, a cloud of warm air forming past his lips. "I sure hope so, Chise. It's affecting my dragons."
"So we have a situation?" asks Ruth, sidling up to Chise. Izuku follows, going to Chise's other side. Chise murmurs something to Ruth that Izuku doesn't quite catch, but he figures it must be about what's going on.
Lindel looks at him, and when their eyes meet, he gives a strained smile. "I wish we could've met under better circumstances."
Izuku bows his head. "Agreed. My name is Midoriya Izuku. It's nice to finally meet you, Lindel."
"Midoriya Izuku," Lindel starts. "I used to know a Midoriya, however, I haven't heard from him in such a long time."
Izuku stares intently at him for that. Midoriya isn't a common surname, after all. Was this Midoriya that Lindel spoke of a distant relative of his? Was it a stranger? Maybe it was a Midoriya from long ago, or perhaps a recent development? However, that is all mildly forgotten as Izuku shrieks when a gust of frigid wind bursts through the valley. That isn't normal. Izuku swears that the wind giggled.
"There they go again." Lindel gripes. "I'm going to go check on my dragons and please, Chise, do what you must." With that, he turns heel and heads in the direction of a group of huddled dragons.
Ruth keeps staring on, to where the wind is picking up dead and fallen leaves. "How are you supposed to deal with a cold wind?"
"I… have no idea." Chise grumbles.
Izuku hunkers down as Chise attempts to chase out the winter sprite with her fire, the resulting damage is a force that of a small explosion due to the extremes in temperature, pushing Chise and Ruth back into the lake. It's been an hour already, and the sprite has simply played around with his mentor and her familiar. The sprite glides past him and giggles, ruffling his hair.
Izuku stands and cracks his back, he eyes the shivering dragons huddled together near the large fire on the other side of the lake with Lindel standing nearby. He watches as leaves from a nearby tree are ripped from its branches and how they dance merrily in the air before dropping to the ground.
"What's your name?" Izuku speaks up. Names have power, maybe he can use it to his advantage. "Why are you doing this?"
The wind giggles and stops in front of him. "You may call me Boreas. I have no rhyme nor reason for what I do."
"You have no outlet, is what you mean." Izuku deadpans.
"Exactly!" the wind god says jubilantly. "However, I do have a favor to ask of you now that I'm here."
"If it is within reason."
"Don't worry," Boreas says, however, something in his tone suggested otherwise. "It is."
"And you have to leave the dragons alone."
"Consider it done. Now, hold out your hand."
Izuku does it without thinking as he blurts out, "Please don't make me regret this."
For a sliver of a second, a face appears. It's the youthful, tanned face of an adolescent. Boreas grins madly and suddenly Izuku feels the wind pick-up, with his feet slipping from underneath him as he shrieks, flailing his arms wildly. Izuku's mentor rushes over to him, her familiar hot on her heels. There's something akin to panic and resignation in her eyes, almost as if saying 'not again.'
"Don't worry, beansprout!" Boreas exclaims joyously, "I'll have you back in tip-top shape! We'll be back in a jiffy!"
"Izuku!"
"I'll be—" he yelps, and the cackling from Boreas doesn't help one bit, "— FINE."
"Come back in one piece, please!"
"I'll certainly try!"
And then, with the wind roaring in his ears, Midoriya Izuku disappears up into the sky and toward the clouds with Gus yowling in his ear.
↞ « o » ↠
They eventually arrive at a castle nestled comfortably in the clouds. Boreas settles them in the middle of a marbled and bronze courtyard. It's truly impressive, if a bit barren and cold. Izuku is just glad to have something solid beneath his feet once more. Gus clambers out of his backpack, a dull thud of paws against marble as he jumps down. His Ariel Neighbors flit around him, hovering nervously near his hair and shoulders.
Boreas fully materializes once more beside him, making Izuku jump, startled.
"Just follow me, they've wanted to meet you ever since you've saved the apprentice of Lady Nimue." Boreas uses the winds to push Izuku toward the gargantuan doors, already opened wide upon their arrival at the castle. Izuku lets out a startled yelp at being manhandled in such a way. Gus hisses in agreement, fur bristling as he settles beside Izuku once Boreas finishes. They're in the middle of a grand throne room, hexagonal in shape. Five of the walls had a throne nestled comfortably, and there were people, gods, already sitting upon four of the five thrones, the most auspicious looking throne across from the entrance of the castle.
Izuku feels uncomfortably small, incredibly and absolutely insignificant for a moment as his gaze goes from one throne to the next.
"Relax," Boreas says lazily as he floats up to what Izuku believes is his throne, right to the middle auspicious one with the stern-faced man. "My King, brothers, I bring you forth Midoriya Izuku of the East. I believe he can help us, as you all saw his performance to save Lady Nimue's apprentice from the clutches of those vile humans. He could, perhaps, help us bring peace to what happened to one of our own."
There were murmurs of agreement between the wind gods at large. Izuku took note of the stern-faced god's mien turning soft, as if in remembrance, before he brought his hand up to stop the chatter. "Thank you, Boreas. Now, Midoriya Izuku, was it?"
"Yes, M'lord." Izuku bows, trying in vain to remember if there was any etiquette he needed to follow for being in the presence of the Greek anemoi. He couldn't remember ever learning about it.
His Ariel neighbors had settled in his hair, with Wisteria near his ear and whispering softly.
"You may call me Izzie, I am a mere Sleigh Beggy of the East." says Izuku, copying what Wisteria is telling him. "I was meant to meet Lindel, Caretaker of the Dragons' Aerie, today. When we arrived was when we happened across Boreas. I struck a deal, and now I am here."
"I am the God Aeolus, little Izzie, Keeper of the Winds." said Aeolus, his voice booming across the Throne Room at the mention of his name. "To my immediate left you have Boreas, bringer of the north wind. To his left is Eurus, bringer of the southeast wind. To my right is Zephyrus, bringer of the west wind. To his right is Notus, bringer of the south winds. We believe we could come to an agreement, if you are willing."
Izuku swallows thickly, before agreeing to hear them out. "I am willing to hear you out," he starts. "And I hope to come to a conclusion we can all come to agree upon, for all our best interests.
The willowy, soft voice of Zephyrus comes from Izuku's left. "That'd be lovely."
Eurus smiles thinly, leaning onto the armrest of his throne. "I sure hope so, little Sleigh Beggy. We've waited a long time for this opportunity."
"Don't listen to Eurus, πετρίτης," starts Boreas, looking regal, more so than when he was wreaking havoc, that's for sure. "He was closest to our little wandering cloud, after all."
Izuku mouths that, πετρίτης. Peregrine. Interesting concept of a nickname, especially for Izuku, that is.
Eurus harrumphs, and leans back on his throne, crossing his foot upon his knee. Notus sighs despondently as he tells Izuku. "Please, πετρίτης, consider our request with the utmost solidarity of those who've lost hope."
Lost hope. Izuku swallows thickly once more. Hadn't he, just a few months ago, lost hope in the face of death?
"Quite enough, all of you." Aeolus demands. The Winds still. Hushed, the quietness of the throne room only amplifies the soft breeze outside making its rounds. The Keeper of the Winds turns back toward Izuku, and the only thing keeping him upright is the presence of his Ariel Neighbors and Gus' steady warmth behind his shins, purring comfortingly.
And so, Aeolus tells him about their wandering cloud. He was Japanese, just like you. He said, reminiscing. We'd chosen him for his charisma. It didn't hurt that his quirk complimented our goldy domains. He ended up going to UA. Here, everyone grew somber. It was what led to his demise. And so, with the other winds piping in with their tidbits, Izuku's heart dropped lower and lower as they told their story. Their wandering cloud was a student at UA years ago, who had had a mishap sometime during his school years that led him to be killed, cutting the connection between the gods and their Champion. They never could enact their righteous anger upon the assailant, nor could they send off their Champion peacefully with his body on the pyre: for there were no remains to be found. It was as if all evidence of their Champion's life had just… withered after his death. That was unacceptable to the gods and to — a now rightfully pissed — Izuku.
"We ask, and request, that if you can help us find peace with the passing of our Champion, we'd forever be in your debt." Eurus said, uncharacteristically soft.
Forever is a long time, Izuku thought dazedly, and for a god to offer that? Unheard of.
Notus nods his agreement. "If you agree, we'll help you. You are not our Champion, and never will be, but you would be our intermediary. That comes with some prestige."
"Do you accept?" Boreas asks.
Then, there's a soft spoken, barely audible, "Please," from Zephyrus that has Izuku crumpling down like a dried houseplant.
Before Wisteria can talk him out of it, or have Iris threaten the literal gods, Izuku says, "I accept."
Aeolus and all the other gods smile widely, and next thing Izuku knows, he's taken into a bear hug by Zephyrus, who proclaims, "I'll take him back."
And so, Zephyrus takes Izuku and his friends back to the Dragons' Aerie and explains the happenings to Chise and Ruth.
"You're so stupid," is all Ruth has to say as Chise brought Izuku close to inspect him. "So, so stupid," Ruth keeps lamenting.
Izuku just grins ruefully until —
"We're telling your mother."
↞ « o » ↠
It's a starry night outside as summer approaches its end, a few weeks after the disastrous trip to the Aerie, and Izuku clambers onto the roof of the house to stargaze. Eventually, Gus accompanies his lonesome figure and sits by him, leaning against Izuku's thigh.
"Chrys told me you were leaving," he starts, staring up. Gus bobs his head in agreement. Izuku finally looks down at the cat. "Are you ready?"
A beat, and then Gus is leaping through the air, paws deftly moving and landing on air. Izuku looks on with wide eyes, and then, oho, and then a deep male voice answers. "Sure."
"YOU STINKER!" Izuku says, aghast. But he's laughing, and it's a joyous thing.
Gus merely laughs and settles beside Izuku once more. "I suppose I can stay one more night."
Izuku merely hums, a smile in place.
"Izzie," Gus starts, and Izuku looks down. "I'm proud of you, kid."
Izuku tries not to cry. Seeing Gus' sly look, he's failed quite spectacularly.
"What's your name?" he asks, instead. He rubs at his eyes with the hem of his shirt.
"I quite enjoy the name you've given me." Gus says in lieu of an answer. "But I do have another name. For now, though, keep calling me Gus. I've grown attached to it."
Eventually, Gus pesters Izuku to settle for the night, and nags him to go to bed. Izuku carefully makes his way down to his window and climbs inside his room. He eventually falls asleep to Gus' purring.
By sunrise, Gus is gone.